A young woman sought spiritual help because she had gotten married and for several years could not have a normal relationship with her husband. For some reason, she just couldn't fully give herself to this man. She loved him, but she couldn't stand for him to be close to her and to be intimate with her. As you can imagine, this problem was destroying their relationship.

She tried to change, but she couldn't do it. She said, "God, what is wrong with me? Why do I act this way? Why can't I be a normal wife?"

One day she had a dream, and it reminded her of something that had happened when she was a young girl. In this dream, she saw herself out at the lake swimming, and several young boys came over and sexually assaulted her. She was so angry and so filled with hatred toward those boys, she began to scream, "I hate you! I hate you! I'll never let another man touch me as long as I live."

When she awakened, she realized that she still had all that anger and hatred in her heart toward those boys. It was buried deep down inside, and it was affecting her relationship with her husband many years later. She knew it wasn't going to be easy, but she recognized she had to deal with that unforgiveness, or she would never have a healthy relationship. She decided to release all that hurt and pain. She said, "God, You know it wasn't right. You know what they did to me. But I'm not going to hold on to it any longer; I'm not going to allow the pain from the past to poison my present and my future. God, I forgive those boys right now."

Interestingly, from that moment on, she was able to enjoy a healthy relationship with her husband. She couldn't change by dealing with the fruit; she had to get down to the root. And once the bitter root was gone, she was able to break free from her past.

A young woman sought spiritual help because she had gotten married and for several years could not have a normal relationship with her husband. For some reason, she just couldn't fully give herself to this man. She loved him, but she couldn't stand for him to be close to her and to be intimate with her. As you can imagine, this problem was destroying their relationship.

She tried to change, but she couldn't do it. She said, "God, what is wrong with me? Why do I act this way? Why can't I be a normal wife?"

One day she had a dream, and it reminded her of something that had happened when she was a young girl. In this dream, she saw herself out at the lake swimming, and several young boys came over and sexually assaulted her. She was so angry and so filled with hatred toward those boys, she began to scream, "I hate you! I hate you! I'll never let another man touch me as long as I live."

When she awakened, she realized that she still had all that anger and hatred in her heart toward those boys. It was buried deep down inside, and it was affecting her relationship with her husband many years later. She knew it wasn't going to be easy, but she recognized she had to deal with that unforgiveness, or she would never have a healthy relationship. She decided to release all that hurt and pain. She said, "God, You know it wasn't right. You know what they did to me. But I'm not going to hold on to it any longer; I'm not going to allow the pain from the past to poison my present and my future. God, I forgive those boys right now."

Interestingly, from that moment on, she was able to enjoy a healthy relationship with her husband. She couldn't change by dealing with the fruit; she had to get down to the root. And once the bitter root was gone, she was able to break free from her past.

Patrick, a native of Britain, was chiefly responsible for converting the Irish people to Christianity. In the course of his ministry, he is said to have baptized more than 120,000 people and founded more than 300 churches. He died in 465 A.D. In his own Confession, he describes how he was taken from his homeland as a prisoner to Ireland. While he was a captive, he developed his prayer life. Every day he had to tend sheep. And many times a day he prayed. The love of God and His fear came to him more and more, and his faith was strengthened. His spirit was moved so much that in a single day would say as many as a hundred prayers.

By faith in Jesus Christ Patrick overcame loneliness, self-pity and bitterness toward his Irish captors and grew in the experience of the love and provision of God. After six years in Ireland, Patrick escaped and returned by ship to his homeland. About 20 years later, he felt that God called him to return to Ireland to preach the Good News of Christ. At that time, the Irish worshiped objects and idols. As St. Patrick wrote: "Those who never had a knowledge of God until now, always worshiped idols and impure things, now they have been made a people of the Lord and are called the sons of God" St. Patrick is an outstanding example of what one man, with God, can accomplish.

Patrick, a native of Britain, was chiefly responsible for converting the Irish people to Christianity. In the course of his ministry, he is said to have baptized more than 120,000 people and founded more than 300 churches. He died in 465 A.D. In his own Confession, he describes how he was taken from his homeland as a prisoner to Ireland. While he was a captive, he developed his prayer life. Every day he had to tend sheep. And many times a day he prayed. The love of God and His fear came to him more and more, and his faith was strengthened. His spirit was moved so much that in a single day would say as many as a hundred prayers.

By faith in Jesus Christ Patrick overcame loneliness, self-pity and bitterness toward his Irish captors and grew in the experience of the love and provision of God. After six years in Ireland, Patrick escaped and returned by ship to his homeland. About 20 years later, he felt that God called him to return to Ireland to preach the Good News of Christ. At that time, the Irish worshiped objects and idols. As St. Patrick wrote: "Those who never had a knowledge of God until now, always worshiped idols and impure things, now they have been made a people of the Lord and are called the sons of God" St. Patrick is an outstanding example of what one man, with God, can accomplish.

Patrick, a native of Britain, was chiefly responsible for converting the Irish people to Christianity. In the course of his ministry, he is said to have baptized more than 120,000 people and founded more than 300 churches. He died in 465 A.D. In his own Confession, he describes how he was taken from his homeland as a prisoner to Ireland. While he was a captive, he developed his prayer life. Every day he had to tend sheep. And many times a day he prayed. The love of God and His fear came to him more and more, and his faith was strengthened. His spirit was moved so much that in a single day would say as many as a hundred prayers.

By faith in Jesus Christ Patrick overcame loneliness, self-pity and bitterness toward his Irish captors and grew in the experience of the love and provision of God. After six years in Ireland, Patrick escaped and returned by ship to his homeland. About 20 years later, he felt that God called him to return to Ireland to preach the Good News of Christ. At that time, the Irish worshiped objects and idols. As St. Patrick wrote: "Those who never had a knowledge of God until now, always worshiped idols and impure things, now they have been made a people of the Lord and are called the sons of God" St. Patrick is an outstanding example of what one man, with God, can accomplish.

Patrick, a native of Britain, was chiefly responsible for converting the Irish people to Christianity. In the course of his ministry, he is said to have baptized more than 120,000 people and founded more than 300 churches. He died in 465 A.D. In his own Confession, he describes how he was taken from his homeland as a prisoner to Ireland. While he was a captive, he developed his prayer life. Every day he had to tend sheep. And many times a day he prayed. The love of God and His fear came to him more and more, and his faith was strengthened. His spirit was moved so much that in a single day would say as many as a hundred prayers.

By faith in Jesus Christ Patrick overcame loneliness, self-pity and bitterness toward his Irish captors and grew in the experience of the love and provision of God. After six years in Ireland, Patrick escaped and returned by ship to his homeland. About 20 years later, he felt that God called him to return to Ireland to preach the Good News of Christ. At that time, the Irish worshiped objects and idols. As St. Patrick wrote: "Those who never had a knowledge of God until now, always worshiped idols and impure things, now they have been made a people of the Lord and are called the sons of God" St. Patrick is an outstanding example of what one man, with God, can accomplish.

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?" And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible." Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. Luke 1:26-38 (NKJV)

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?" And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible." Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. Luke 1:26-38 (NKJV)

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” Luke 2:8-14

When Jesus was born, angels announced peace and good will toward people. The mission of our Lord to this world was to bring PEACE. Peace and harmony are part of God's nature. He created man and woman to share His divine Life and His immeasurable Love. But sin entered the human race. Its evil seed produced violence, unrest, rebellion, fear, hatred and death.

God's peace is a redemptive blessing, paid for on our behalf and in our name when Jesus died on the cross. The Bible says, "The chastisement of our peace was upon him" and he ''Made peace through the blood of his cross" for everyone who believes. Jdg. 6:20-24, Isa. 53:5, Col. 1:20

God has forgiven us so we must forgive ourselves. Christ endured our punishment and freed us from all guilt, in order to give us His peace. We can now declare “Lord, you bore my judgment and made peace by the blood of the cross. My account was settled. I embrace your peace”

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” Luke 2:8-14

When Jesus was born, angels announced peace and good will toward people. The mission of our Lord to this world was to bring PEACE. Peace and harmony are part of God's nature. He created man and woman to share His divine Life and His immeasurable Love. But sin entered the human race. Its evil seed produced violence, unrest, rebellion, fear, hatred and death.

God's peace is a redemptive blessing, paid for on our behalf and in our name when Jesus died on the cross. The Bible says, "The chastisement of our peace was upon him" and he ''Made peace through the blood of his cross" for everyone who believes. Jdg. 6:20-24, Isa. 53:5, Col. 1:20

God has forgiven us so we must forgive ourselves. Christ endured our punishment and freed us from all guilt, in order to give us His peace. We can now declare “Lord, you bore my judgment and made peace by the blood of the cross. My account was settled. I embrace your peace”