The Covenant of Peace

The Peace of God... it is an amazing gift that truly does, in those moments when you MOST need it, surpass all understanding... and yet - when you most need it, there it is!


However, I believe that just as we are to live a life of worship to our King... (and not just run to Him in times of trouble - but stick close to Him at all times) I believe we are called to live a life of Peace. Of course - when we are in the midst of battle or are at risk of losing our peace - the Lord comes in like a flood and showers us with His Presence - but even in our day to day, crazy busy lives - we are to live in an atmosphere and mindset of Peace and Love. The good news is just as with Love... (in how we are unable to love at all times on our own, depending on our own capacity to love) the Peace is not our own either! It's His Love and His Peace that He gives to us and allows to flow through us to others.

I believe that wherever we go - we should carry with us the fragrance of God... and what is that fragrance? I think it has huge portions of Love and Peace in the mix! Last Tuesday we talked a lot about Peace and several great scriptures were brought up and many things were imparted. One thing that I kept thinking about but couldn't find in my Bible was a scripture reference that I LOVE! It is actually found in the Amplified version. (I know - you are all shocked?) But it talks about how we need to let Peace be our umpire. Don't you just love that? I love it... an Umpire, according to Websters is defined as: "1: one having authority to decide finally a controversy or question between parties: as a: one appointed to decide between arbitrators who have disagreed b: an impartial third party chosen to arbitrate disputes arising under the terms of a labor agreement 2: an official in a sport who rules on plays 3: a military officer who evaluates maneuvers"

So in letting the Peace of God be our umpire - that means that we allow Him to be the One who has authority to decide for us... He knows what is fair and can look at it (whatever 'it' is) from an objective position... and we come to Him and allow Him to evaluate our maneuvers! So - in all things, we run to Him and ask His opinion and His decision on what action to take or not to take... (or what job to take or not to take... or what house to buy or not to buy... etc!)

We know that He tells us in His Word that He will "direct and guide our feet in a straight line into the way of peace." (Luke 1:79) The key is letting Him!

Here's the thing about our God... He has made us a Covenant of Peace. He says in Isaiah 54:9-10 that "For this is like the waters of Noah to Me; For as I have sworn that the waters of Noah would no longer cover the earth, So have I sworn that I would not be angry with you, nor rebuke you. For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has mercy on you." That is a great promise, don't you think? The Covenant of Peace... one translation puts it the Covenant of Blessing and they are most often closely related. Oh yes - so here's the thing about our God... He is NOT a Covenant breaker! He doesn't enter into a covenant lightly, and He will not (can not) go back on His Word!

I remember hearing someone teach on this portion of Scripture and he inserted an implied commentary in between verse 10 and the rest of the Chapter... so it sounded like this:

"For this is like the waters of Noah to Me; For as I have sworn that the waters of Noah would no longer cover the earth, So have I sworn that I would not be angry with you, nor rebuke you. For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has mercy on you."

(So, until I come back for you, this will have to do:)

“ O you afflicted one, tossed with tempest, and not comforted,
Behold, I will lay your stones with colorful gems, and lay your foundations with sapphires.
I will make your pinnacles of rubies, Your gates of crystal, and all your walls of precious stones. All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children. In righteousness you shall be established; You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you. Indeed they shall surely assemble, but not because of Me. Whoever assembles against you shall fall for your sake.
“Behold, I have created the blacksmith Who blows the coals in the fire, Who brings forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the spoiler to destroy. No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is from Me,” says the LORD."

Wow?! Nice Covenant!!!

I pray that you will allow the Peace of God to be your umpire - to rule and guide you as you walk into the fullness of His Promises, and His Purposes for you!

Peace be with you!
In Him,
~Karrilee~

"Come Away With Me...."

Aaah... do you remember that song from a few years back? It is a Norah Jones song and I loved it from the first time I heard it... a slow jazzy romantic song... What's not to love, right? Of course, I am a romantic at heart and that comes as no surprise!

I know it has been a few weeks since I have written here... I have been busy making some much needed changes to help me to achieve that Breakthrough I last wrote about... my breakthrough will NOT be a surprise... because I have come to the realization that it will come through the Lord, of course - but also partnered with my own hard work!

One thing that the Lord has been speaking - really, for some time now, is in essence our need to depend on Him and let Him shine through us however He chooses! While in my Prayer meeting last week, the teaching was focused in on Communion, and the leader referenced several Scriptures of course - but the one that really stood out to me is one of my most favorite verses! Honestly - it is... and I know you will not be surprised that is references the Bride! It is found in Rev 22:17 "And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely."

As I was pondering on this verse, I was reminded that according to Jewish tradition, after the bridegroom is betrothed, he goes away to prepare a place for his bride. She doesn't know the day nor the hour of his return, so she waits in anticipation. As the time nears, she must train her ears to HEAR him call for her. When he comes, he is not sure of which house she is waiting in, so when she hears him (and his friends) coming to get her, she cries out to him and runs (often times with her lantern) to meet him in the streets. He hears her cry and comes to find her and claim her as his own!

(OK... everyone let out that collective sigh of romance!)

Our God is a God of Romance and Love... He is so into the intimacy of love... but He is also really into the Chase of it all! He loves the pursuit! ...and the good news is that He never stops pursuing us! In the beginning, it was all about salvation - and as we grow, (while, of course, it is STILL about salvation - as we are being saved every day!) it is all about transformation and translucence!

As we entered into Worship, I heard the Lord speak this:
"Allow My Light to shine with
how I have fashioned you to be One of a Kind,
& how I am alive & living in you!
It is meant to be that as you grow in me,
you GLOW in me
& you attract attention because of the
love & beauty & treasure that is in you!
DO NOT shy away from the glory & colorful splendor
that shines through as you surrender
to one thing after another!
For as you bow down in surrender to Me,
you allow My Light - unfiltered, radiant,
& the only true pure white Light,
to shine forth evermore to reach those around you.
As you lay your crowns down in surrender & worship,
I will rise up for you in battle & in victory
to shine forth Truth & Favor!"

So many people recently have received words about Light and Surrender... it comes as no surprise to me that the Lord is saying that it is in our Surrender to Him, that we allow His Light to shine most clearly! I remember years back being prophesied over about the Love that God has put in me. It was a word of warning of sorts... the person said that the Love of God flowed through me, but I had to be careful because some would be attracted to that for the wrong reasons or with the wrong purposes, yet others would need that Love of God to reach them and to transform their lives. Wow... I had to really think on that Word. I knew that it was true - and I do have a good level of discernment... however I did not want to hesitate for fear of attracting attention. Really - since I am being so honest here - I will say I didn't like the idea of drawing attention of any kind - good or bad. However, as I have surrendered to the Lord and allowed Him to flow and to shine through me... as you can all attest I am sure - I can so clearly see that it is so not about me... and it is all about Him! It is in surrending to His will and timing, and pushing aside that dreaded Hesitation... that I have found those divine encounters and opportunities in abundance!

So this word He spoke last week, gave me such a great visual! A few of the other scriptures our leader spoke on dealt with how we are living stones... and she read in Revelation the list of precious gem stones found around the throne. When we come to Him, and surrender, not only does He illuminate us and cause us to shine for Him, but He helps us to shine forth as the unique and precious gemstone that He created us to be! And as we continue to bow down to Him, His Light truly does shine through in greater brightness and with greater precision!

I pray this week He calls out to you, and you have trained your ears to hear Him! I pray you run out to meet Him, shining brightly as His Bride... (cue background music, "Come away with me, in the night.... come away with me, and I will write you a song....")

I pray He sings a love song over you this week,
romancing you & polishing you to
SHINE FORTH!

In His Arms,
~Karrilee~


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