Prince of Peace

“For to us a child is born, to us a child is given,

and the government shall be on his shoulders.

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government

and peace there will be no end.”

Isaiah 9:6-7 (NIV)



Isaiah prophesied about the coming Christ. He told the people of Judah that the Messiah would come as a child and that God would willingly give it to them and, by extension, to us.

The child would be called by various names. I am intrigued about Jesus’ title, Prince of Peace.



Prince-a male child of royal parentage.

Peace- harmony; concord.



Isaiah seemed to save this title for the Messiah for last because God may have wanted his people to remember this part of the child’s character. What would our world today look like if we followed Jesus and his pursuit of peace? Here are a few of my thoughts.



1.) We would have no times of inner stress over interpersonal relationships. (personal peace)

2.) There would be no times of harsh feelings between individuals. (interpersonal peace)

3.) People groups would not harangue over differences of viewpoint. (political peace)

4.) Nations would not feel the need to destroy one another. (world peace)



I know my list sounds a bit naïve, given the stance of our world in my lifetime. But when Jesus becomes in control of each heart all these thoughts will become reality.

When Jesus Christ comes again we will have peace on earth. He is the Prince of Peace.

Perfect Praise

Perfect Praise

“Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws.”

Psalm 119:164



We are not confined to praising our God just in the mornings or evenings. The scripture verse tells us we can praise Him when we are led to. The words say, “Seven times a day.” Let’s remember that seven is a perfect number.

When we take the time to praise our Lord, we are giving Him glory and honor due Him. Our praises place our hearts and souls at His feet and we give honor to Him for who He is as well as what He has done for us.

Not all times for praising the Lord are joyous; sometimes we have to look for the smallest glimmer of light to praise Him for. I have a friend whose sister has been a resident of a nursing home for close to a year. We know God is at work in this circumstance and we give praise for His deeds in the sister’s life.

Some of our praises are that God will bring us through a trial or a trouble. The news is bad but we can enter God’s presence and give it to Him. We give thanks for Him being there with us as we go through the steps to come out from under the burden we carry.

Across our side yard sits an empty house. At one time, this house had a very cute interior. The last family that lived there let it go back. It has sat empty for three years. Last summer, the yard was neglected and weeds took over. This year, there is a for sale sign in the yard. From time to time, I find myself praying for God to find the right family to live there. I need to praise Him in advance for working this out.

Praise Often

“Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws.” Psalm 119:164 (NIV)



We are not confined to praising our God just in the mornings or evenings. The scripture verse tells us we can praise Him when we are led to. The words say, “Seven times a day.” Let’s remember that seven is a perfect number.

When we take the time to praise our Lord, we are giving Him glory and honor due Him. Our praises place our hearts and souls at His feet and we give honor to Him for who He is as well as what He has done for us.

Not all times for praising the Lord are joyous; sometimes we have to look for the smallest glimmer of light to praise Him for. A family I know is awaiting the result of a tragic situation that occurred last winter. I praise the Lord for their standing by one their family members during the months since that tragic day.

Some of our praises are that God will bring us through a trial or a trouble. The news is bad but we can enter God’s presence and give it to Him. We give thanks for Him being there with us as we go through the steps to come out from under the burden we carry.

There are times in our lives we have to praise God for things that are personal, these acts He does that no one else knows about. But, the important stance we should take is to praise the Lord when we feel the Holy Spirit’s urge.

Praise Throughout the Day

“May people ever pray for him and bless him all day long.”

Psalm 72:15 (NIV)



“Whisper a prayer in the morning.

Whisper a prayer at noon.

Whisper a prayer in the evening.

‘Twill keep your heart in tune.”



As I found the scripture for this entry, this campfire song from my youth returned to my mind. Its message is more than a nice little rhyme. We can stay in tune with God when we take time to pray as we see our days unfold.

Most of the times I am out since my prayer walk through our city’s business district and the near west side; I feel the need to pray for our businesses and the neighborhoods where we live. I give praise for the presence of the majority of the businesses. I ask God to find new tenants for the vacant commercial buildings. I noticed a beauty shop down the street has a sign ad for Vacation Bible School at a church on the west side town. I thank Him for the person who placed the sign. I thank Him for His leading the residents who keep their yard mowed and for those who are improving their homes. I ask Him to find the right people to live in the vacant houses.

Our street is a main route to the hospital. When I hear sirens coming toward us, I ask God to be with the people involved in the event that caused the ambulance run.

I believe if people who call themselves Christians will send up prayers of praise, intercession, and thanksgiving throughout the day that our world will be a better place.

Praise With One Another

One of my cousins and me at Cracker Barrel

“I will extol the Lord at all times;

His praise will always be on my lips.

My soul will boast in the Lord;

Let the afflicted hear and rejoice.

Glorify the Lord with me;

Let us exalt his name together.” Psalm 34:1-3



God deserves our highest praise. We can praise him for the tiniest thing in our lives. For some of us, we can praise Him for the ability to get out of bed in the morning. I praise God whenever I can hold a small child.

Sometimes our praise is about the work God is doing although we can’t see it yet. Yes, we can give thanks for work He is yet to do.

In conversation with friends, we can praise the Lord with them when God blesses them. When we realize He has bestowed a gift upon us, we can share that kindness to others and give praise with our friends.

When we take the time to praise God, we magnify what the Lord has done for His children. Those who are ill or spiritually impoverished will hear and learn of His goodness. Then, they will join us in rejoicing.

Let us all honor God by raising Him up before our nations as one people-His people.

We Praise Him

“Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.

O Lord our God, as for all this abundance you have provided for

building you a temple for your Holy Name, it comes from your hand

and all of it belongs to you.”

1 Chronicles 29:13, 16 (NIV)



King David prayed to God, giving thanks for what He gave to build the Temple. He led those in attendance in praising God for His abundantly providing the needed supplies and furnishings for the edifice for worshipping Him. He verbalizes that all the things the people have given have come from God.

In my living room sits a wooden bookcase with doors. Our brother-in-law told me I could have it when he found out we planned to move into our home. When hubby refinished it, he chose to put Plexiglas instead of glass like it had originally. He didn’t want our son to fall into it and get hurt. I don’t believe anyone would know the ‘glass’ was a man-made product. As I wrote this, I realized that glass, while being fashioned by man, has natural elements from the earth in its makeup. I’m not sure of the ingredients in Plexiglas but, I believe, there could be some natural ingredients in it.

When we start up our computers, do we think of the elements of nature that man has harnessed in order for us to use our modern wonders?

Do we praise Him for the knowledge He has given our doctors and nurses, our pastors, our missionaries?

Can we think of anything in our lives that doesn’t ultimately come from God? Please think on this question for a minute or two before you answer.

Praise in Tough Times

Do we have times when we find we have to praise God although the times are tough? I received a phone call from my friend who lives in Virginia; she has lost a nephew to Cancer. She also has a brother who, depending on the state of his lungs, may be having open heart surgery this week.



“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines,

though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food,

though there be no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,

yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”

Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NIV)



Habakkuk prayed that he would rejoice in the Lord under the most devastating times. How many of us could pray that prayer? I know my friend would have a hard time with it.

Could we imagine what our land would look like if we had no fruit trees budding? In the Midwest we would have no cherries, apples, or peaches.

My husband grew up in a farming community. What would it look like if the soy beans, wheat, and corn didn’t germinate? I believe it would look pretty bleak-for the farmers and for the consumers.

We know some young people who have raised sheep as a part of their 4H projects. Every year the county fair has an auction of the animals the youth have tended. But what if there were no animals- sheep, cows, swine or chickens?

Habakkuk painted a bleak forlorn picture of Judah. His thinking is that if all the things deemed vital to their well being no longer existed, he would still feel bound to give thanks to God.

Under those circumstances what would Habakkuk, or even we, find in our lives under for which we could praise God?

1.) God is present with us in such difficult times.

2.) He will guide us through travails such as drought and loss of income.

3.) He will fellowship with us as we pray to Him.

4.) Our Lord will encourage us as we worship Him.



Dear God:

Please allow us to praise You whatever our circumstances in life. We ask You to accept our thanks for Your presence as we go through tough times. Please show us how to continue to praise You in the hard times. We will give You thanks for everything You have done for us. In the name of Jesus, we pray. AMEN.