SHARE Magazine October 2016 | Page 7

BROKEN Peace was Pablo Picasso who made the dove a modern symbol of peace when he used it on a poster for the World Peace Congress in 1949. The poster inspired a new family of varied peace doves created by artists around the world. www. peacefuljewelry.com/history.html History of The Peace Dove The dove has been a symbol of peace and innocence for thousands of years in many different cultures. In ancient Greek mythology it was a symbol of love and the renewal of life. In ancient Japan a dove carrying a sword symbolized the end of war. In the story of Noah and the Ark, when the rains that flooded the earth stopped, Noah sent out various birds to see if they would bring back any sign of land to his boat. One dove eventually returned carrying an olive branch. There was a tradition in Europe that if a dove flew around a house where someone was dying then their soul would be at peace. And there are legends which say that the devil can turn himself into any bird except for a dove. In Christian art, the dove was used to symbolize the Holy Ghost and was often painted above Christ’s head. But it The Priestly Blessing And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel.” Say to them: “The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.” Numbers 6: 22 - 26 Peace in Hebrew is Shalom, which means harmony, wholeness, completeness, prosperity, welfare and tranquillity and can be used idiomatically to mean both hello and goodbye. It can refer to either peace between two entities (especially between man and God). In the above passage of Scripture peace means completeness wholeness. The Lord give you completeness and wholeness. You may be thinking what relevance is this in today’s society? What has this got to do with Jesus and peace at Christmas time? a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men.’” The message of peace was coming to mankind by God Himself. Before Jesus went to Calvary He said these words: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.” Wholeness/Completeness (peace) I leave with you. We can stand complete in Him. So peace is not just having a rest or finding a place of quiet it is in Jesus and only found in Him. “These things I have spoken to you that IN ME YOU MAY HAVE PEACE”, wholeness/completeness. John 16: 33 It is one of the greatest gifts He has given us. If you are seeking peace this season, a real peace which is permanent, you will find it when you accept Jesus as your Saviour. You will no longer need a blessing from priests, as in Moses’ day, to give you peace. YOU WILL HAVE IT IN JESUS who was God made flesh amongst us. He has the authority to give it to us for God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself. 2 Corinthians 5:19. “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts you.” Isaiah 26:3. May God richly bless you this Christmas time, as you think again upon the true meaning of PEACE. p In Luke chapter 4: 13-14 “And suddenly there was with the angel October - December 2016 By Barbara Payne intercessor, worship leader, retired minister and Divorce Care counsellor SHARE|MAGAZINE | 7