Undivided

Micah Olivia
 sixteen hours old

February 8, 2015, 9:03 a.m.

For to you a child is born,

To you a daughter is given,

And joy shall be upon her shoulder,

And her name shall be called bat-shalom!

~ Terence Ha

My fourth grandchild was born at 3:02 p.m. yesterday, February 7, 2015. 

Weighing 5.11 pounds, she looked tiny... but when I first saw her in the observation room, two hours after her birth, I sensed so much peace and tranquility surrounding her.

A few weeks before her arrival, I had already begun asking God how she was called in heaven. I did not receive an immediate reply, but each time I would pray for her and her mom God-given, there would be a quiet sense of peace on my heart. It was as if my Abba Father was assuring me that everything would be fine.

A gentle feeling of peace would wash over me.

I began praying for God's peace to protect the mother and the baby in the last few weeks before the scheduled birth.

God-given had not been well the past weeks. She has had a hectic schedule at work, and she developed a cough, probably due to a compromised immune system.

I continued to pray for God's peace to keep them both safe.

Her heavenly name was impressed upon my heart about a week ago... She will be called Shalom, the Peaceful One.

One day before the baby was due, Forerunner developed a fever, together with frequent bouts of vomiting and diarrhea. He complained of abdominal pain and headache. In the evening, he had to be hospitatlized to make sure dehydration did not complicate matters.

The next morning, God-given had to be prepared for her C-section delivery later that day.

Naturally my heart was heavy as I prayed for God's protective hand to be upon them all.

Once again, Abba Father has proven Himself faithful. As of last night, Forerunner was much better, and just before she was wheeled into the operating room, I sensed that God-given was at peace and emotionally ready for the birth.

Shalom was born yesterday... and her birth brings so much peace to my heart.

According to Strong's Concordance 7965 Shalom 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. In modern Hebrew the obviously related word Shelem means "to pay for," and Shulam means to be fully paid.

Wow!

That's just a wonderful name, if I may say so myself.

a bouquet of cupcake roses for God-given

February 6, 2015... eve of her baby's birth

I pray for you dear Peaceful One, that your presence in our family will bring unity, and peace, and harmony, healing, and joy.

Your name Shalom means contentment, completeness, well-being, wholeness.

I declare that you will live up to your name and you will be a peacemaker as you grow up.

Your heart will be whole for God's kingdom, and you will be an agent of unity wherever you go!

In a world riddled and torn apart by division and strife, I pray that in everything you do, your heart will be undivided, and will be led forth by the peace of God! 

A song for my dear Shalom, my first granddaughter (one of your Grandpa Ernie's favorite songs):

Undivided (by First Call)
We may worship different ways
We may praise Him and yet spend
All of our days living life divided
But when we seek Him with open hearts
He removes the walls we built
That keep us apart
We trust Him to unite us

In our hearts we're undivided
Worshiping one Savior, one Lord
In our hearts we're undivided
Bound by His Spirit
Forevermore undivided

It doesn't matter if we agree
All He asks is that we serve Him faithfully
And love as He first loved us
He made us in His image
And in His eyes we are all the same
And though our methods they may be different
Jesus is the bond that will remain

Related post:

Peace, Not As the World Gives
Day of Birth - February - Shalom: Undivided
First month - March - Love
Second month - April - Joy
Third month - May - Patience
Fourth month - June - Kindness
Fifth month - July - Goodness
Sixth month - August - Faithfulness
Seventh month - September - Gentleness
Eighth month - October - Self-Control
Ninth month - November - Prudence
Tenth month - December - Dependence: Heart of Mary