**** "JESUS...HE HIMSELF IS OUR PEACE(Ephesians 2:14/Luke1:79) "JESUS SHALOM, JESUS SHALOM JESUS SHALOM JESUS SHALOM****

Definitions:  (1) JESUS (Greek);  (2) YESHUA  (Hebrew): HE IS OUR SAVIOR/OUR WHOLENESS!!!!

(3) "SHALOM" : ("Sha-loam"), (Strongs #7965) "Completeness, wholeness, peace, health, welfare, safety, soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfection, fullness, rest, harmony; the absence of agi-tation or discord.  Shalom is much more than the absence of war and conflict. It is the wholeness that the entire human race seeks"!!!            ****In (Isaiah 53:5) "...The chastisement (punishment)  NECESSARY for us to have peace was put upon JESUS, the Suffering Servant."

****Please allow me to here insert some information that will enable the rest of this message to be more clear and meaningful:                      In the BIBLE, each letter in each word---has a Numerical value.  "The  number eight (8) is specially associated with Resurrection, Re-  generation, and the beginning of a new era, or order." (Number in Scripture. E. W. Bullinger.  Kregel Publications. Grand Rapids,Mich).

Two Examples: (A) On the ark, during the flood (Genesis 8:1-22), there were Noah, his wife, their (3) sons, and each son's wife = 8!!!!                                                                                                          (B) In the New Testament, the numerical value of the letters in the name JESUS is 888********                                                                  **** As you read this message, you will notice that Alternate sections are the Name Jesus and Shalom (8) times!!!!*******

****Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom****    ****Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom  Jesus Shalom****   

"The woman said to Him (Jesus), 'I know that Messiah is coming...HE will tell us all things,  Jesus said to her, I Who speak to you am HE." (John 4:1-19).

****Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom****  ****Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom**** 

"I AM the Living Bread Which came down from heaven."( John 6:51).

****Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom****    ****Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom****

"It is the Spirit that gives life; the flesh profits nothing.  The words that I speak to you are spirit and they are life." (John 6:63).

****Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom****    ****Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom  Jesus Shalom**** 

"I AM the light of the world.  He who follows ME shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." (John 8:12).

****Jesus Shalom  Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom****   ****Jesus Shalom  Jesus Shalom  Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom****

"Most assuredly, I say he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up another way, the same is a thief and a robber.  But he who enters by the door is the Shepherd of the sheep." (John 10:1-2).

****Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom****  ****Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom****

"Then Jesus said to them, I am the door of the sheep. (John 10:7).    Footnote: Entering the sheepfold through Jesus is a saving action and provides the sheep with abundant life and provision. (The picture is one of security and safety in Jesus as the door to the sheep's daily comings and goings.")

****Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom****  ****Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom****

"Now Martha said to Jesus, 'Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died...I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.' "Jesus said to her, I AM the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in ME, though he die, he shall live." (John 21-27).

****Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom**** **** Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom****

"Jesus said " 'I go...and prepare a place for you...I will come again and receive you to MYSELF; that where I AM there you may be also..Jesus said to him,  L AM the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through ME." (John 14:1-6).

****Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom****  ****Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom Jesus Shalom****

"If you love ME, you will keep MY commandments.  And I will pray the Father, and HE will give you Another Helper that He will abide with you forever. (The Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive.  But you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.)  {"Another: one just like Me...He will do in My absence what I would do if I were physically with you.  (John 14:15-16/(Word Wealth Edition).

 In JESUS CHRIST'S HOLY NAME!!!!!!!!            Shalom   Shalom                

****PRAYER...PRAISE...WORSHIP...UNTO GOD LEAD TO... PEACE, REST, JOY, AND THANKSGIVING AND VICTORY IN LIFE!!!!!!!!

PRAYER, PRAISE, WORSHIP, GIVING THANKS TO GOD... ALL BEGIN WITH "A"???

Oh GOD our Heavenly FATHER - So Gracious and Merciful and Loving---YOU  give to us gifts that display YOUR Character ---           because "...everything that is Truly Good comes from YOU!!!!!!!!       (James 1:17).

When I have difficulty going to sleep, or when I am waiting for someone...GOD has given to me a way to use that time for HIS Glory, and to  Bless others!!!...

"Beginning with "A"???

A. "Amen"---used most often to end prayer (meaning -  "I agree, let it be   so!"  Also to end the "Blessing" before eating a meal.

"Amen" is actually one of the Names of JESUS CHRIST!!! In (2 Cor-  inthians 1: 20):  "For the SON OF GOD , JESUS CHRIST...for all the  promises of GOD in HIM are Yes, and  in HIM, AMEN, to the Glory of GOD through us."

B. In (John 1:29), John the Baptist says "Behold the LAMB of GOD WHO takes away the sin of the world"!

C. CHRIST - the Greek translation of MESSIAH!  Also, JESUS is coming back for those of us who have accepted HIM as Savior and LORD.  

D. HOLY GOD, HIS SON JESUS is not a distant deity.  HE is the One True GOD---Who chooses to live in our hearts when we ask HIM to!!!  "They are the excellent ones in whom is My delight."             (Psalm 16:3).

E. GOD loves you/me/us with HIS "Everlasting love.." (Jeremiah 31:3).  "The Eternal GOD is your refuge...and underneath are the         Everlasting arms."  (Deuteronomy 33:27).  *The word for "ever-        lasting can also be translated "Ever PRESENT".

F.  GOD is our Heavenly "Father...Forever...Faithful". (Ephesians 

1: 1-6/ 1 Timothy 2:13/Amplified Bible).

G. GOD is SO good that HE gave HIS ONLY SON to save us from our sins. (John 3:16).

H. GOD is "HOLY! HOLY! HOLY!" (Isaiah 6:3).  HE is "Here with us...and For us always." (Matthew 28:20/Psalm 1:39:1-12/Romans 8:  31).

I. "I AM WHO I AM" (Exodus 3:14).  JESUS says "I AM the resur-      rection and the Life." (John 11:25).

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I (Barry) do not have room enough in this space to give an explanation for all 26 alphabet letters. But I have something better for you near the end of this message.

J. JESUS is "the name above all names" (Philippians 2:9).  K "KING

OF KINGS". (Revelation 19:16).   L LOVE; "LORD of LORDS".        (Revelation 19:16).   M  "Father of Mercies" (2 Cor. 1:3).   N  " I will  never leave you nor forsake you..." (Joshua 1:5).  O  Omnipotent "Al-  mighty" (Genesis 17:1).  Omni-Present "With you always." (Matt. 28:  20).   P.  "PRINCE of PEACE". (Isaiah 9:6).  Q.  "...looking forward to His promise...be found by HIM in gentle and quiet spirit..." (1 Peter    3:14).   R. "Jesus became for us Righteousness from GOD..."(1 Cor.    1:30).  S.  Salvation (John 3:16)/  Safety "I will both lie down in peace and sleep For YOU alone,  O LORD, make me dwell in safety."  (Psalm 4:8).    T TRUTH (John 14:6).  U  "I am understanding..." (Proverbs 8:14).  V. Victory. (Acts 2:29-36).  W.  Wisdom "...JESUS     became for us wisdom from GOD...".  (1 Cor. 1:30).  X. "GOD has      bestowed on us all things suited to life and godliness, through the full,  personal knowledge of HIM WHO called us by and to HIS glory and excellence." (2 Peter 1:3).  Y. YAHWEH. (Exodus 3:14).  Z. Zion "The city of the LORD." (Isaiah 60:14).  (Personally, I like to use "Zip code" for (Z).  GOD always knows where I am (Psalm 139:1-16), and HE can communicate with me any way that he wants!!!

My personal experience: I have been doing this for several years...and it (HIS WORD) always calms me, strengthens my faith, and richly blesses me in ways unspeakable!!! (Ephesians 3:20).

Occasionally our Most Intimate FATHER GOD gives to me a New word for 1 of the 26 letters...and it is genuinely thrilling how it touches my heart - how intimate HIS love is (HE WHO knows my thoughts before I think them, my words before I say them - He wrote  down my every day before I was born, and He always has good plans  for me (Psalm 139:1-24/Jeremiah 29:11).

PLEASE, I Urge you, TRY this for two (2) weeks, and personally experience HIM for yourself!!!

AMEN (let it Be So in my life)!!!                                                          ALL GLORY TO JESUS CHRIST!!!!!!!!! (Rev 5:12). 

 

    

 

++++PURE LIGHT++++ www.galileebreeze.blogspot.com

 In Exodus 26-27 we find Moses passing on GOD'S commandments      about how to make, and how to use, the items used in the tabernacle.  

In Exodus 27:20 He is giving the commandments for "The care of the   Lampstand." 

"And you shall command the children of Israel that they bring to you   PURE OIL of Pressed olives for the light to burn Continually."             ("JESUS is the Same yesterday, today, and forever."  (Hebrews 13:8).

From the Footnote under Exodus 27:20: "The oil to be burned in the lamp was symbolic of the Holy Spirit.  BEATEN olive oil, which was  the Best, was used in the tabernacle.  To obtain the oil,  olives were gently pounded in a bowl and the oil was extracted from the pulp."

I recall reading in a study about olives...that "..harvesting the olives    was accomplished by using poles to beat the limbs of the olive trees...  this caused the olives to fall to the ground,"

JESUS' limbs (arms, legs) head, and body were BEATEN: ("they struck HIM on the head...and they spat on HIM") (Mark 15:19).            "Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, delivered JESUS to them, after he had scourged HIM,..to be crucified." (Mark 15:15).

JESUS was Beaten/Whipped---                                                                Footnote for Matthew:27:26--- "A victim to be scourged was stripped  and tied to a whipping post.  Then he was beaten mercilessly with a    whip consisting of several leather thongs, each loaded with jagged pieces of metal or bone and weighted at the end with lead. Fragments  of flesh would be torn from the victims, some of whom did not survive the ordeal."

(JESUS)- "A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief, HE was wounded for OUR transgressions, HE was crushed for OUR iniquities  ...the Chastisement NECESSARY for OUR peace was upon HIM, and by  HIS stripes We are healed."  (Isaiah 53:3-5).     

The place where JESUS was betrayed, and arrested---was named the Garden of Gethsemane.  "Gethsemane" means "OLIVE PRESS"---       a place where the oil was pressed out of the olives by CRUSHING the olives.

IN (JOHN 8:12) JESUS declares: "I AM THE LIGHT..."

"For GOD WHO said, 'let light shine out of darkness' (Genesis 1:3-4)  HE has shone in our hearts so as (to beam forth) the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the MAJESTY and GLORY of GOD  (as it is manifest in the PERSON and is revealed) in the FACE of JESUS  CHRIST, the MESSIAH." (2 Corinthians 4:6/Amplified Bible).

So, what is to be our (Ongoing) response to this HIS WORD?

Let us confess our sins quickly, ask GOD for forgiveness, and repent...so that HIS PURE LIGHT shines through us.

JESUS says: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and GLORIFY your FATHER IN HEAVEN>"            (Matthew 5:16).

AMEN.   

****BECOMING ONE****

JESUS PRAYS FOR ALL BELIEVERS.....                                                                     

"FATHER, the hour has come.  Glorify YOUR SON, that YOUR           SON also  may glorify YOU.  YOU have given HIM authority over         all flesh, that HE shall give eternal life to as many as YOU have         given HIM.

I have manifested (revealed) YOUR NAME to those whom YOU        have given ME out of the world.  They were YOURS, YOU gave them to  ME, and they have heard Your Word.

"Now they have known that all things which YOU have given ME      are from YOU.  For I have given unto them the words which YOU have  given Me, and they have received them, and have known surely that  I came forth from YOU; and they have believed that YOU sent ME.

"I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who believe in ME    through their word...that they may be one, as YOU, FATHER, are in ME, and I in YOU, that they also may be one in US, that the world      may believe that YOU sent ME.

"And the glory which YOU gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as WE are ONE. (John 17:1...22).

"I in them, and YOU in ME; ...that they may be made complete in one, that the world may know that YOU HAVE SENT ME, AND        HAVE LOVED THEM AS YOU LOVE ME." (John 17:23).

FATHER, I desire that they also whom YOU gave ME may be with ME where I AM, that they may behold MY glory which YOU have given  ME, for YOU have loved ME before the foundation of the world."        (John 17:24).

In this chapter (John 17) JESUS declares THREE (3) times that we are to be ONE IN HIM.                                                                                      ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  From the book "Numerics in Scripture" by E. W. Bullinger/Kregel Publications:                                                                                            "All things that are specially complete are stamped with the number three (3),  GOD'S attributes are three (3); Omniscience-(All-Knowing- Psalm 139:1-24).  Omnipresence - ("with us always" (Psalm 139:1-12/Matt. 28:20).   Omnipotence - "I am Almighty" (Genesis 17:1).  THREE Persons in the GODHEAD: FATHER, SON, HOLY SPIRIT. THREE    DENOTES Perfection."

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THE Vital Importance of gathering together:                                         "Then those who Revere (hold in AWE) the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before HIM for those are reverent to HIM  and who meditate on HIS NAME.

"They shall be MINE says the LORD of HOSTS, on the day that I       make them MY special treasures.  And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him." (Malachi 3:16-17).

"And let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering,      for HE WHO promised is faithful.  

"And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good        works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much more as the  DAY (of JESUS RETURNING) approaches." (Hebrews 10:23-24).

"O Righteous FATHER! The world has not known YOU, but I have known YOU; and these have known that YOU sent ME." (John 17:25).

O!!! That it may BE SO in our lives!!!!!!!!!       

 AMEN.   

"OUR HEAVENLY FATHER'S BEAUTIFUL, INTIMATE LOVE FOR US!!!

**** Please Read This Aloud ****

JESUS CHRIST - HE WHO "...upholds, maintains, guides, and propels the Universe by HIS Mighty Word of power." (Hebrews           1:1-3/Amplified Bible).

HE WHO Creates Beautiful Flowers with such Exquisite designs of     color and shape, And creates the Beautiful Butterflies that love the       flowers so---

May HE breathe on you the very breath that says: "I love You with my everlasting love...". (Jeremiah 31:3)...

"THE ETERNAL GOD Is your Refuge...and underneath are the            Everlasting Arms..."  (Deuteronomy 33:27).

"Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD, the Shield of the LORD."  (Deuteronomy 33:29).

The breath that says "I call you Friend". (John 15:15).

The breath that says: "It is Finished".  (John 19:30).

AS I went outside to give these thoughts back to GOD our Heavenly    Father...I saw a butterfly on the ground, walking--- I very gently picked  it up, and carried it to some beautiful flowers that were growing in the sunshine.

As I sat underneath the White Dogwood tree...exchanging these thoughts with our Heavenly Father...a breeze stirred the White              dogwood tree  -  causing a shower of white petals to Blanket me.

In (Revelation 22:2) "the leaves of the tree of life are for healing          and restoration..."

May this (HIS) word be for Your healing and restoration:

"I have called you by your name, You are Mine..."  (Isaiah 43:1).

"I am called "...a child of God..."  (John 1:12).

" I (Jesus) have called you 'Friend' ".  (John 15:15)

"I love you with My everlasting love..(Jeremiah 31:3).

"...in Me, you may have peace."  (John 16:33).

"JESUS CHRIST is the same yesterday, today, and forever."                  (Hebrews 13:8).

In the paragraph about the Butterfly (above)...The Hand that moved    the butterfly, placing it gently among the flowers in the sOnshine        is our Father God's hand... You are the butterfly...the breeze is the        Holy Spirit, JESUS says in (John 8:12): "I AM the light." 

Now, Please read it Two Times more!!!                                   

 

"SOUNDS OF MERCY, AND GRACE...AND..."

 Once while serving on a Christian Men's Retreat, I heard the Worship Leader singing the song "Amazing Grace".

That song begins with the beautiful and Holy Declaration: "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me..." As I sang along with that song...the Holy Spirit prompted me to ask:  "Father, what were those Sweet Sounds?"  He answered me, giving to me understanding:  "Those 'Sweet Sounds' were music."...I said..."Music?!?!?".

In the music---the "percussion instruments" were (1) The HAMMER DRIVING the spikes through JESUS' wrists into the wooden cross; and, (2) The "Thump!" as the cross hit the bottom of the hole in the ground.  (That caused a very Painful "jerk" on JESUS' muscles as the cross came to a sudden halt when it hit the bottom of the hole,).

The "String Instruments" were the lashes of the whip that ripped and tore JESUS' back, sides, arms and legs!!!  

The lyrics (words) of the song were the seven (7) statements that JESUS made while HE was on the cross; plus what the thieves said as they hung on their crosses; plus the Roman soldier's Declaration: "Surely that is a Righteous Man."  JESUS' last statement was "It is Finished!!!". (John 19:30). (Please YOU! look for yourself by reading the New Testament to find the other six (6) things JESUS said while on the cross.

***From a footnote below John 19:30: "It is Finished - The Greek tense indicates that the work of redemption has been COMPLETED ONCE AND FOR ALL, AND it's results are ABIDING CONTINUOUSLY."*****

I Must insert another insight here that the HOLY SPIRIT gave to me just now: The sounds are Sweet to HIM---because HE ALREADY KNOWS the Sweet Sounds that we will sing to HIM for eternity in Heaven (because we accepted HIS sacrifice for our sins!).

Some Helpful definitions: 1) Grace = favor, kindness, affection, un-merited favor, un-deserved Blessings. (Zech. 12:10/2 Cor. 12:9).           (2) Mercy = unfailing love, tenderness, pity, love; active desire to remove distress. (Micah 6:8/Hosea 2:13/Romans 9:15).

There are many great Blessings---From Genesis 1:1-3 "In the beginning...Let there be light"...all the way through Rev. 22:20-21 "Surely I am coming quickly...The grace of our LORD JESUS CHRIST be with you all. Amen."

A partial list of "Sounds" of Grace and Mercy: 1) "...thus says the Lord Who created you..."I have called you by your name...you are Mine,"(Isaiah 43:1.  (2) "I have chosen you, adopted you, and accepted you as Mine in JESUS..." (Eph. 1:1-6). (3)  "I will have Mercy on (him/her) (Hosea 2:2-3).  (4) "The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make HIS face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the LORD turn His smile upon you, and give you peace." (Numbers    6:23-26).  (5) "The Eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms." (Deu. 33:27).  (6) JESUS says "I am with you always." (Matt. 28:20). (7) "Because Your loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You." (Psalm 63:3-4).  (8) "But YOU are Holy, you enthrone Yourself in the praises of Your people." (Psalm 22:3).  (9) "As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people.." (Psalms 125:2). (10) Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is in within me." (Psalm 103:1-2)  (11) "Fear not, for I am with you, I will hold your right hand." (Isaiah 41:1-3). (12) "I know the plans that I have for you...plans for you to give you a future and a hope."  (13) "Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, His compassions  fail not...they are new every morning, Great is Your faithfulness..." (Lamentations 3:22-25).  (14) "And Mary will bring forth a Son, and you shall call HIS NAME JESUS, fot HE shall save His people." (Matt. 1:21). (15) "Heaven and earth will pass away, but MY words will by no means pass away." (Mark 13:31).  (16) If you, then being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much More will your Heavenly Father give The HOLY SPIRIT to those who ask HIM."  (Luke 11:13). (17) "...HE, the SPIRIT of TRUTH, will guide you into all truth." (John 16:13).

The above is only a partial list.  You Will have deep, thrilling blessings as you add your OWN list!!!  You can read all of GOD'S WORD this year---only about 30-40 minutes each day!  (Get your OWN plan at www.shilohplace.org

Our Sounds to GOD OUR FATHER, JESUS HIS SON, THE HOLY SPIRIT - are to be GIVING THANKS, PRAISE, and WORSHIP!!!  And our Sounds to others shall be: "I forgive you...Please forgive me...JESUS LOVES YOU...THANK YOU...I BLESS YOU IN JESUS CHRIST'S HOLY NAME!!!!!!!!               

*** REJOICE!!!...IN?...OVER? ****

 "REJOICE IN THE LORD"!!!!! ALWAYS!!!  Again I willl say Rejoice!!!"   (Philippians 4:4).

Definition: Rejoice - Joy, to  be greatly happy; to be excessively Happy!

In "THE MESSAGE BIBLE" this verse (Phil 4:4) says:                         "CELEBRATE GOD ALL DAY, EVERY DAY, I MEAN REVEL IN HIM!"

IN the NEW KING JAMES  BIBLE HE declares it this way:                  :...King David LEAPING and TWIRLING  before the LORD...".        (2 Samuel 6:6 New King James Version).).

Some translations state that "GOD rejoices over US with SINGING       and DANCES with Delight over US "!!!!!!!!

"The LORD your GOD in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; HE    will REJOICE over YOU with gladness, HE will quiet you with HIS  love, HE will rejoice over You with Singing."!!!!!!!! (Zephaniah 3:17).

If we focus on OURSELVES, or focus on our Circumstances--- that can make it more difficult to believe that HE REJOICES OVER US!!!

But many times in GOD'S WORD we are taught/Commanded to focus  on HIM---"but we all...behold the Glory of the LORD, being transformed into the same image from glory to glory...by the Spirit of the LORD." (2 Corinthians 3:18).

As we CONTINUE to focus our thoughts on HIM---we are reminded that HE is the "ONE TRUE GOD" (John 17:3)/ "THE LORD MOST HIGH" (Psalm 47:2) 

When HE looks upon us - HE KNOWS by HIS PERSONAL EXPERIENCE the Most Terrible Price that HE paid for us---and knowing what we will be when "...HE completes HIS good work in us..." (Philippians 1:6)

ONCE FOR ALL TIME AND INTO ETERNITY - HE-THE ONE TRUE GOD SET OUR VALUE TO HIMSELF by paying the HIGHEST POSSIBLE PRICE for EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US-   by sending HIS SON JESUS to a Tortuous death on the cross---to pay for OUR sins!!!  SO, BECAUSE GOD HIMSELF does NOT change     (Malachi 3:6); AND Because JESUS  CHRIST IS THE SAME YESTERDAY, AND FOREVER." (Hebrews 13:8).---

"THE LORD YOUR GOD in your midst will save...(HE) will rejoice over you with gladness...[In HIS LOVE...He will make NO mention of past sins, nor even recall them].  HE will exult over you with singing." 

Several years ago,  when my wife Mary worked in a town (Dahlonega, Ga.) several miles from our home in Cleveland, Ga.---several times each week I would drive to a gym in Dahlonega-to exercise.  On some of those trips I would first stop by to visit Mary at her office .

On a certain day in April, I stopped by to visit Mary.  As I talked with her---I realized that she was experiencing a day which was even more stressful than usual!

My plan for that day was that I would go to the local library to look for a specific book.  But as I prayed and drove toward the library--- Our LORD gave to me understanding---that rather than look for a book---I should sit outside the library, enjoy the warm sunshine and the spring flowers that our LORD had provided for me...so that I could sit there and pray for Mary!!!

{Please allow me to insert here some information that will help make the rest of the story to be more clear:  Whenever we pray for someone OTHER THAN OURSELVES---it is called Intercessory Prayer}.

As  prayed for Mary, I also began to rejoice and thank our LORD for the warm sunshine, the beautiful flowers, And for the FREEDOM to be there and pray...and to praise and thank our LORD that "...HE HIMSELF is our peace..." (Ephesians 2;14); HE HIMSELF "... is our Strength and our Song..." (Exodus 15:2);  "JESUS CHRIST is the SAME yesterday, today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8); and that JESUS is "...with us always..." (Matthew 28:20)

SO, I was rejoicing IN HIM---As i continued this---the HOLY SPIRIT moved me to ask:  "LORD, does this mean that I am to Rejoice IN YOU in an Intercessory manner for Others???  ONLY by HIS grace and by HIS FAITHFULNESS I do now, and I am to continue to "rejoice in the LORD..." in an Intercessory manner for others. HOW GOOD!!! Our HEAVENLY FATHER IS!!!!!!!!!!!!

As I mentioned earlier...Rejoicing can be "to dance and twirl in joy."

Back to Mary: As I talked to Mary later...her stress had eased, and her peace Increased As i rejoiced For her!!!

***(You may find this (following) Amusing---                                        Because i am now age 79, I sometimes have difficulty with my balance=so I do dance and twirl SLOWLY!  Sometimes in the parking lot outside the gym - I lift up my hands and twirl...and people walking nearby call out to me, asking "are you OK?" "Do you need help?"  That gives to me an opening to witness to them about "Rejoicing in the LORD"!!!

GOD REJOICES OVER US!!! HE IS WORTHY FOR US TO REJOICE IN HIM!!!!!!11!

HE     IS     WORTHY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!