Thank you for visiting this site. Please feel free to join the forum. The Shofar is the blog and website of Brother Raymond Schwab, recovering addict and dependent on the grace of God to live a life of victory. Currently I am a student at Denver Seminary with a desire for evangelism and learning to live a life of victory free from the bondage of alcohol and drugs. If you have any questions or are in need of help and resources for walking a life of victory in Yeshua (Jesus) please contact me. It is by being community that we are made complete in Him where every member works toward edification.
Beit Shalom is Hebrew for House or dwelling of peace. Yet shalom has a deeper meaning than just peace. Shalom is a state of wholeness which brings forward life and healing in every aspect of our existence.
We are to declare the gospel (Good News) that Yeshua came to give us life and reconcile us who had been enemies of God. Through this reconciliation we are given power to become the children of God and the Shalom between us and the creator radiates into every area of our life, overflowing in abundance in order to bless others as well.
“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” Ephesians 4:15-16
The path is not easy but the yoke of Yeshua is light compared to the yoke of slavery to our sin nature. Know this today if you are struggling, there truly is hope. The gospel is the power of God and His word is living and active. This does not mean your life will not begin a process of restoration and learning to die to ourselves. But even if you have struggled for years, fallen seventy times, lived in despair and hopelessness, been rejected by friends, family, or even the body of messiah (The Church) Jesus will never leave or forsake you if you cling to Him, look to Him and trust in His ability not only to cleanse you but set you free.
We are not perfect, but we are being perfected. May God give you grace today!
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ISAIAH 58
Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?Is it not to deal your bread to the hungry, and that you bring the poor that are cast out to your house? when you see the naked, that you cover him; and that you hide not yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth as the morning, and your health shall spring forth speedily: and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then shall you call, and the LORD shall answer; you shall cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If you take away from the middle of you the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; And if you draw out your soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall your light rise in obscurity, and your darkness be as the noon day: And the LORD shall guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and make fat your bones: and you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. And they that shall be of you shall build the old waste places: you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in. If you turn away your foot from the sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honorable; and shall honor him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words: Then shall you delight yourself in the LORD; and I will cause you to ride on the high places of the earth, and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father: for the mouth of the LORD has spoken it.
There are those who claim to be spiritual but not religious. While I understand the root of what they are saying it is a false statement. There is a religion which cannot save and a religion which honors God. This is spoken of in the book of James,
“If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridles not his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” James 1:26-27
Beit Shalom’s vision is to possess and practice pure and undefiled religion. It is about walking in the way and seeking to bring the light and love of God through action not just words. While it is through the foolishness of preaching God has determined to save those who believe the twice born life is one of service and being servants of all that we may save some.
Also foundational to my life and practice is the promise in Joel. When we live a life contrary to the ways of God the enemy kills, steals and destroys. Everything we touch has the fragrance of death and crumbles into futility in the end.
“What the locust swarm has left the great locusts have eaten; what the great locusts have left the young locusts have eaten; what the young locusts have left other locusts have eaten. Wake up, you drunkards, and weep! Wail, all you drinkers of wine; wail because of the new wine, for it has been snatched from your lips.” Joel 1:4-5
Yet God does not promise just to heal us but to restore the years that were eaten up by living a life of sin. God will restore, and restore abundantly if we will turn to Him with all our heart. I can attest that this promise is true and right. If you are reading this and feel hopeless…don’t. This promise is as true as the fact the sun will rise tomorrow. The heavens and earth will pass away but this promise, this reality WILL NEVER FAIL!!!! So turn to the Lord with all your heart and be restored.
Therefore also now, said the LORD, turn you even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn to the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repents him of the evil. Who knows if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering to the LORD your God? Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare your people, O LORD, and give not your heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: why should they say among the people, Where is their God…
Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things… And I will restore to you the years that the locust has eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. And you shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that has dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. And you shall know that I am in the middle of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed. And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: Joel 2
Do not give up hope give praise and God will come.
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