Peace

    Peace is one of God's greatest blessings, to those that follow Him.
Paul calls it peace beyond understanding. David wrote the 23rd Psalm
about it. Paul and Silas after a beating and being put in stocks, in a
cell, sang about it.
    Some of our greatest hymns and music in Christendom are about this
very unusual peace, that envelopes a believer, in the worst of times, in
our lowest valleys. It is Well, Peace in the Valley, Peace like a River,
just to name a few of these precious hymns.
    This peace is a gift from God, in our times of struggle, in our sorrow,
in the deepest and darkest valleys and tests of our life. Though we are
walking in the midst of Satan's demons, there is a peace, because we
know that God is not only with us, but that God is protecting us, until
it is time for us to go home with Him.
    David Wilkerson wrote The Cross and the Switchblade, about His
ministry to the street gangs of New York City. One of the cruelest and
meanest people that he met in this ministry was Nicki Cruz, the Sargent
at Arms and Chief Enforcer of the Mau Maus.
    Nicki was running from God, from the police and from rival gangs,
when he has a confrontation with David. Nicki pulls out a switchblade
knife and tells David, "I'll cut you into a million pieces preacher." What
happened to David in that moment, in that very instant of time, is amazing.
    David in the book describes this crazed kid, with fire and hate in his
eyes. David describes Nicki in his flaming red Mau Mau jacket with the
knife out in front of him, slashing at the air. David says a peace fell over
him, as he answered Nicki.
    "Nicki, you may cut me into a million pieces,and everyone of those
pieces will tell you, that Jesus Loves you, Nicki."
    Nicki put the knife away and continued running. That confrontation
changed Nicki Cruz. A few years later he became a Christian and worked
with David Wilkerson in what would become Teen Challenge. Later Nicki
started Nicki Cruz Outreach.
    We have choices to make everyday of our lives. We can live in fear
of telling others about our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Fear brings
with it, pain, worry and suffering. Or
    We can live in this unbelievable peace, beyond our understanding, that
continually gives us boldness and strength, as we proclaim the Gospel
of Christ. This peace that passes all understanding, comes at a price, it
is not cheap and it is not free. This peace comes when we are 100%
sold out for Jesus Christ. Then just like the poem, Footprints in the Sand,
Jesus carries us through our trials and our tribulations.
    We have the security and the comfort of being held in the arms of
     Christ. There is not a better feeling in this world, than that!

   
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