Shalom

Most know that the Hebrew word shalom is universally understood to mean "peace." However, "peace", or freedom from warfare, is only one small part of the meaning . "Shalom" is used to both greet people and to bid them farewell, and it means much more than "peace, hello or goodbye"....According to Strong's Concordance Shalom also means completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord. Shalom comes from the root verb shalom meaning to be complete, perfect and full.  When Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.” John 14:27, he was blessing us with everything that we could ever need.  All things physical, mental, financial and spiritual would be taken care of.

 We don’t bless people very much anymore, probably only when someone sneezes, but we should.  Proverbs 18:21 tells us there is life or death in the power of the tongue. Therefore, whenever you employ the word "shalom" you are speaking into someone's life all the wonderful things that shalom means! Why not begin today to think in terms of passing along God’s goodness, bless someone. Shalom my dear friends!!