You've probably heard the old song that is most-often sung at Christmastime that says, "Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me". It's a nice thought and something we could certainly use right about now in our world, but I have to ask, how is that working out? The world, and even many believers, are being crippled with fear and angst as seemingly every single new day brings something scarier than the one before it. While those who know Jesus Christ and trust in God's sovereignty should be moving away from fear and toward faith, many are finding that the exact opposite is happening. How can we have peace as we see what is going on? Why are so many people angry at each other and unwilling to get along, love one another, and overcome the chaos? My friends, I submit to you that the answer to these questions is that we have been searching for peace within OURSELVES, but that's not where it's found. This week at Friendship, we'll finish out the FORTIFY series by discussing what it means to be fortified with God's peace. We'll talk about the story of Gideon, who came to realize that "The Lord is Peace" (Jehovah Shalom). Peace is not something that happens accidentally in our lives; we must submit to the Lord and clothe ourselves with HIS character. This is our only true hope as we battle the fear and anxiety associated with our present world.