Psalm 90 - Relating to Moshe (Moses)

I can relate to Moshe (Moses) in this Psalm.  Verse 12 says; So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.  Followed later in Verse 17 - And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands. 

As the Psalm outlines for us, we are here but for a fleeting time.  All of our efforts to live this life as our own master is for naught. 

A life lived for the purpose God has put us here for is the only fruitful way to live. 

So yes, just as Moshe asked of God, I do as well; Please show me Your meaning for my life in these last years that I have, let it all be for your glory.  Establish my work in Your Kingdom and give me the wisdom to recognize it.

Shabbat Thoughts 6-6-15 Behaalosecha - When You Set Up

How many times have you heard people say, or seen people post - God goes before you?  I think about all the times I've ventured into something and spoken or thought this very same thing;  "I have nothing to worry about, God goes before me".

I had a realization as I was reading this weeks portion of the Torah.  Specifically, Numbers 10:35.  God did go before the people but not until: 

1.  He had told them to move.

2.  There was a prayer of invocation

Numbers 10:35  And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said: 'Rise up, O Lord, and let Thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate Thee flee before Thee' 

A thought to ponder:  Does God "always" go before us?  I am rethinking my position on this.  Why would God go before you, if it weren't something He would lead you into?  If your journey is of your own making, and not one that He alone has led you into, how can you expect that He is going before you to scatter your enemies? I've not been able to find one single Scripture, that supports our erroneous assumption that God goes before us in all things.  If I'm wrong, please show it to me.  We might be well served as these times draw near, while secure in our salvation in Yeshua - to also be mindful that we serve a Mighty God, a Holy God, a God of Justice, Mercy and Grace - but one that we should not fit into our own box.  Claiming God goes before us, as far as I can see - to be said in truth - should be said by first knowing you've heard Him tell you to move!

Again we see in Scripture that the people did not come or go without first hearing from God; 

Exodus 40:36-40

36 Whenever the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would go onward in all their journeys.37 But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not journey till the day that it was taken up.38 For the cloud of the LORD was above the tabernacle by day, and fire was over it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.

What are your thoughts?

Torah (Old Testament) and Yeshua (Jesus)

So it has been a very very long time since I have used this blog.  It is VERY apparent I am a "Woman in Transition" if you happen to take the time to read prior posts.

As life would have it, I now have 4 grandchildren.  God knew what He was doing when the process of adoption fell through years ago.  No matter how heartbroken I was at the time, HIS plan was bigger and better!

I've also grown spiritually to a different and better place - that I would never have even dreamed of years ago.  Which brings me to my current post.

I just can no longer comprehend why Christian churches do not teach from a Hebrew perspective but continue in Greek thought (almost dismissing Torah/Old Testament teaching if favor of "life application" sermons that are designed to grow mega churches and make everyone feel good).  When Yeshua (Jesus) walked this earth and walked out the Father's will - he was doing so as a Hebrew.  All that he taught, was from Hebrew perspective.  If that is what He taught, isn't that what we should follow?  Seems pretty logical to me.

So many want to say there is a NEW covenant - I beg you to change your way of thinking.  Pray about it.  It is a RENEWED covenant, not a new one.  Case in point......

As I was reading through the weekly Torah Portion (something all Hebrews do on a yearly cycle - all the same Scripture - all at the same time [wow, pondering the powerful spiritual thought of that concept]) - I got hung up, so to speak on Leviticus 9.  All that reading of sacrifices and offerings just bungles my brain sometimes!  I decided I was going to really think about it this time and not just read on through - knowing Yeshua is my once and for all sacrifice.  I'm so glad I did.

These are just my naive thoughts - and are subject to change as I grow and transition according to the Father's will for my life - but I am going to share all the same.  Leviticus 9 outlines the first sacrifices of Aaron as high priest (along with his sons as priests and the firsts sacrifices of the newly ordained priests).

I am focusing my thoughts on Aaron and am thinking of Yeshua as the High Priest.  Below is an outline of the offerings as best as I can explain - and I ask this IMPORTANT and IMPERITIVE question - If I had not studied from a Hebrew Perspective (and I know someone is going to correct me on something I have wrong here, but that's ok - I'm still learning [hopefully until the day I die]), how would I have seen the very significance and parallel of what Yeshua did for me?  How would anyone have known the foreshadowing of His coming and what he fulfilled - the truthful understanding of what He did and continues to do for us - if we are not studying Torah along with the renewed covenant?  I am very sure the great voices of the past did this very thing, so that even those that don't study Torah weekly - are afford the blessing of their commitment - as the message has been extrapolated over time without having to delve in for ones self.

1. For Aaron, sons, and elders:
1. Bull calf = sin offering - denoting purification
1. Yeshua gave his very life to purify us from sin
2. Ram = burnt offering - indicating self surrender to God 
1. Yeshua submitted his complete will to the Father
2. For children of Israel (whom you are if you have accepted Yeshua as you are grafted into the family of God - Israel):
1. he-goat = sin offering 
2. Calf & lamb = burnt offering 
3. For all:
1. Meal offering mingled with oil - consecration of service/toil
1. Yeshua's whole life was that of service to His Father
2. Peace offering - ox and ram - symbolizing friendship with God

Shouldn't we all want and desire to follow God's design?  Do you see the pattern? 

1. To rid ourselves of sin by repentance (as Yeshua is our sacrifice for sin)
2. To submit our will to the Father (as Yeshua submitted His will to the Father)
3. To consecrate our daily toil to His service (just as Yeshua served His Father and all of mankind)
4. To be at peace with the Father so that we may enjoy Divine communication which is our supreme experience in life

So I ask - don't you really want to know for yourself - and not what other men teach you? Don't forget that every man that teaches you - comes from his own life experiences!  Let your life be influenced not by another man's but by the very One who created you!  Get in the Word for yourself.  He is true to be there with you.  He is true to teach you His own ways - lest you not be led astray.

Random Thoughts About My First Sukkot (Before, During and After)

• Sukkot is agricultural in origin a biblical name for this festival is The Feast of Ingathering
• 2 Thessalonians 2:1 And now, brothers and sisters, let us tell you about the coming again of our Master Yeshua (Jesus) Messiah and how we will be gathered together to meet him.

YHWH/God uses things in the natural to shed light on things that are spiritual - When YHWH set the Israelites free - He gathered them together under His protection - He dwelt/tabernacled with them by night in a pillar of fire and by day in a cloud - the people pitched tents as they dwelt with the Father. 

Sukkot/The Feast of Ingathering/Festival of Shelters - so many Scriptures refer to the "harvesting of people" - I can just visualize the most wonderful "ingathering" of all time when people who have let the seed grow in their spirit - let it lead them to journey to the conquering King!  But for now, let us remember this time, this season, as the Father has called us to do - and join in the celebration with our brothers and sisters of past, present and future - to call to mind the provision of the Creator - and let our hearts be filled with joy of a time to come in which we will all be together in His presence!

DO THESE SCRIPTURES NOT SCREAM TO YOU THAT THE FATHER CARES TO GATHER US TOGETHER TO DWELL WITH US? Both spiritually now, and physically in the future? What a day it will be!

1Ch_16:35 And say, O save us, Elohim of our Y'shua*; and gather us, and deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks to Your holy name, that we may glory in Your praise.

Neh_1:9 But if you will turn to Me and keep My commandments, and do them, though you were cast out to the outermost part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and will bring them to the place that I have chosen, to set My name there.

Psa_106:47 Save us, O YAHWEH our Elohim, and gather us from the nations, to give thanks to Your holy name, to exult in Your praise.

Isa_11:12 And He shall lift up a banner for the nations, and shall gather the outcasts of Israel, and gather those dispersed from Judah, from the four wings of the earth.

Isa_40:11 He shall feed His flock like a shepherd; He shall gather lambs with His arm; and carry them in His bosom; those with young He will lead;

Isa_43:5 Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your seed from the east, and I will gather you from the west.

Isa_58:8 Then your light shall break as the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of YAHWEH shall gather you.

Jer_23:3 And I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all the lands where I have driven them there, and I will bring them again to their fold. And they shall be fruitful and multiply.

Jer_29:14 And I will be found by you, says YAHWEH. And I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places where I have driven you, says YAHWEH. And I will bring you again into the place from which I sent you into exile, from there.

Jer_31:8 Behold! I will bring them from the North Country, and gather them from the recesses of the earth. Among them the blind, and the lame, the pregnant one, and the travailing one together, a great company shall return here.

Jer_31:10 Hear the Word of YAHWEH, O nations, and declare in the coastlands far away, and say, He who scattered Israel will gather him and keep him, as a shepherd his flock.

Jer_32:37 Behold, I will gather them out of all the lands, there where I have driven them in My anger, and in My fury, and in great indignation. And I will bring them again to this place, and I will cause them to live in safety.

Mat_24:31 And He will send His cherubs with a great sound of a large trumpet, and they will gather His chosen ones from the four winds, from the ends of the sky to the other.

Mar_13:27 And then He will send His angels and will gather His elect from the four winds, from the beginning of the earth up to the beginning of heaven.

Joh_11:52 And not only for the sake of the nation but that also the sons of YAHWEH who are scattered that he might gather into one nation.

Rev_14:18 And another cherub went forth from the altar having authority over the fire. And he spoke with a great cry to the one having the sharp sickle, saying, Send your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, because its grapes are ripened.

Rev_19:17 And I saw one cherub standing in the sun. And he cried with a great voice, saying to all the birds flying in mid-heaven, Come and gather together to the supper of the great Elohim,

You are a Tent

Sometimes, when I am reading in the mornings I just have to jump on to blog what exciting thoughts pop into my head!  This morning is one of them.  

⁵ “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord has declared: Are you the one to build a house for me to live in? ⁶ I have never lived in a house, from the day I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until this very day. I have always moved from one place to another with a tent and a Tabernacle as my dwelling. ⁷ Yet no matter where I have gone with the Israelites, I have never once complained to Israel’s tribal leaders, the shepherds of my people Israel. I have never asked them, “Why haven’t you built me a beautiful cedar house?”’

⁸ “Now go and say to my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to be the leader of my people Israel. ⁹ I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before your eyes. Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on the earth! ¹⁰ And I will provide a homeland for my people Israel, planting them in a secure place where they will never be disturbed. Evil nations won’t oppress them as they’ve done in the past,¹¹ starting from the time I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies.

“‘Furthermore, the Lord declares that he will make a house for you—a dynasty of kings! ¹² For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong. ¹³ He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for my name. And I will secure his royal throne forever.¹⁴ I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do. ¹⁵ But my favor will not be taken from him as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from your sight. ¹⁶ Your house and your kingdom will continue before me^[b] for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.’”

There is SO MUCH to say about these words, but I've committed to keep my posts short.  So here goes: 

Are you as humbled as I am to realize that the Father enjoys and is content to be in a tent and not a building?!  He reminds me so often that I am both His temple and His tent.  I am where He chooses to dwell, inside my heart, mind and soul.  This shell, this tent is temporary - yet He moves with me everywhere I go.  Oh, what an honor has been bestowed upon us, by His mercy and grace - and not because of anything we did to earn it.  How mindful we should be in our interactions with others, to get ourselves out of the way so He alone can shine through to love unconditionally.  For surely it is He and not ourselves that can do such a thing.

Yet, just as he revealed in the picture/allegory in the Scripture above, there will come a day that indeed that we will dwell in His palace forever and ever just as He promised.  For our Savior who has come, will be the eternal King of Glory in the future.  He came as a Shepard but will return as a Conquering King.

Haggadah of Passover

How is the marriage covenant seen in Passover?

Please click on the link below for the Haggadah (the narration/telling) of Passover 2013 I will be haapy to email it to you.  It is well worth your time to study and read.

donnab050864@yahoo.com

Stirred and Willing

Good Morning Everyone - As I mentioned before, I am working on making my posts shorter (not everyone wants to dissect every word like I do).  I came across the Scripture below in my reading this morning in Exodus 35:

²⁰ And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. ²¹ Then everyone came whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and they brought the Lord’s offering for the work of the tabernacle of meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments.

As always we see that YahWeh (God) does not force us to do anything, our hearts are stirred and we have to make the choice whether or not we are willing to respond.  I started thinking about "being willing" and realized you don't just pop up out of bed one day and make the decision to be "willing" to offer your time, your energy, your resources, and your talents to something overnight.  It is a process.

A few verses earlier in this chapter (verse 5) it says: Take from among you an offering to YahWeh.  Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as an offering........

Therein lies the answer - it is a condition of your heart.  For your heart to become "willing" is a process.  From your heart comes an overflowing love and passion, it isn't about demands or orders - it is about a willingness to lay down "self" and reciprocate and engage in the love relationship the Father is reaching out to you with. It is a choice, not a feeling - you must first acknowledge that which has been given to you, that thing you know you don't deserve - and to be "willing" to accept and receive your position in this relationship with the Father.  What more could you be given than the life of the Father's Son?  Yes, we know that this is for Salvation but in the depths of His "willing heart and Spirit" - His love for you, creates in you a willing heart - your spirit WANTS to offer up to Him all that you have.  This isn't because a church tells you it's time to be a contributor, not a consumer - it is a process in the love relationship with Him that brings you to the point in which your spirit responds to ETERNAL LOVE!  My prayer for you today is that you will seek a deeper love relationship with the Father.  One that softens your heart to the very whisper of His voice, so that you may come to a place where your heart and your spirit are willing to offer all to Him that He alone calls you to do.  Amen.

The Holy Annointing Oil

My comments, questions and prayer for you today come from Exodus 30: 22-33 (noted below for your convenience-NKJV).

² Moreover the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: ²³ “Also take for yourself quality spices—five hundred shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much sweet-smelling cinnamon (two hundred and fifty shekels), two hundred and fifty shekels of sweet-smelling cane, ²⁴ five hundred shekels of cassia, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, and a hin of olive oil. ²⁵ And you shall make from these a holy anointing oil, an ointment compounded according to the art of the perfumer. It shall be a holy anointing oil. ²⁶ With it you shall anoint the tabernacle of meeting and the ark of the Testimony; ²⁷ the table and all its utensils, the lampstand and its utensils, and the altar of incense; ²⁸ the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the laver and its base. ²⁹ You shall consecrate them, that they may be most holy; whatever touches them must be holy.^{[a] 30} And you shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister to Me as priests.
³¹ “And you shall speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘This shall be a holy anointing oil to Me throughout your generations. ³² It shall not be poured on man’s flesh; nor shall you make any other like it, according to its composition. It is holy, and it shall be holy to you. ³³ Whoever compounds any like it, or whoever puts any of it on an outsider, shall be cut off from his people.’”

I find it interesting that YahWeh (God) revealed the ingredients of the holy annointing oil but then said it was never to be compounded for any other use than to consecrate the Tabernacle.  He took this oil very seriously.  Verse 33 says:  "Whoever compounds any like it, or whoever puts any of it on an outsider, shall be cut off from his people."  Which means they would be killed.  Sound serious to you?

As always I found myself asking if there was a picture of Messiah (Jesus) in this?  He is our holy annointing.  He is the one that makes us holy before the Father.  There is NONE like Him!  His life was poured out for those with faith - not outsiders (those who are outside would be those who have not chosen to walk into the Father's house by faith, by believing in what they cannot see).  Messiah consecrates us for service to the Father, like the oil consecrated the items and priests in the Temple.

I find myself wondering what the meanings of the oils (myrrh, cinnamon, cassia, cane, olive) mentioned are, what their properties are, and if they have any significance to the character of Messiah..... all a topic for another day.  There is just so much revelation and things to learn about the love the Father has for us! 

In closing today, my prayer for everyone is that you lay hold of just how important our consecration to the Father is - He gave His Son - His Beloved - to be poured out for your life.  Willingly, knowing the cost - the torture - the heartache.  Do you think He did that for something that was of no importance to Him?  MAY IT NEVER BE!!!  YOU BELOVED - ARE IMPORTANT TO THE FATHER!  Come into His house today.  Search His Word, let Him teach you.  Let Him love you and accept what Messiah did for you on the cross so that you may never spend another day separated from His love.

The Ransom of Old is Still New

I would like to start off this blog asking you to read the following Scripture:

Exodus 30:11-16

New King James Version (NKJV)

The Ransom Money

¹¹ Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: ¹² “When you take the census of the children of Israel for their number, then every man shall give a ransom for himself to the Lord, when you number them, that there may be no plague among them when you number them. ¹³ This is what everyone among those who are numbered shall give: half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (a shekel is twenty gerahs). The half-shekel shall be an offering to the Lord. ¹⁴ Everyone included among those who are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering to the Lord. ¹⁵ The rich shall not give more and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when you give an offering to the Lord, to make atonement for yourselves. ¹⁶ And you shall take the atonement money of the children of Israel, and shall appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of meeting, that it may be a memorial for the children of Israel before the Lord, to make atonement for yourselves.”

While reading a few things occured to me.  Just as the Father had Moses number the children of Israel in their day, Yeshua says:

John 6:39 - This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.

The number of His children [YahWeh's children] has been given to Yeshua [Jesus] - none of that number will be lost as they have been counted to have accepted Yeshua's ransom on their behalf. Just like you and I [if you are a believer].

In verses 11-12 - ¹¹ Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: ¹² “When you take the census of the children of Israel for their number, then every man shall give a ransom for himself to the Lord, when you number them, that there may be no plague among them when you number them. 

*Things I see in the Scripture: We see here that in times past every man gave a ransom [as instructed in the Torah] for himself to the Father. He essentially gave a ransom for his family members as well - those who would submit to his spiritual covering/authority over them [man being the spiritual authority of the household, etc].......Yeshua is our ransom - when - we submit to Him spiritually [Ask Him to be our Lord and Savior and choose to walk in His Ways].  He is our covering and our spiritual Authority.

It is up to each of us individually now that the veil has been torn, to be accountable before the Father on whether we accept His ransom [His life on the cross] or not.  The ransom has been paid. [His blood has covered our sin so that we would never be eternally separated from the Father]  Are you going to believe and receive?  Are you going to be counted "among them?"

**Things I see in the Scripture: The ransom removed plague from the people; Just as our ransom Yeshua removes sin from us before the Father as we come to His Throne and ultimately, will remove all plague from our lives in the Kingdom.

¹⁵ The rich shall not give more and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when you give an offering to the Lord, to make atonement for yourselves.

*Things I see in the Scripture: The atonement is being given unto the children of Israel.  The Father's chosen people.  Throughout Scripture we see examples of the fact that through Yeshua we are grafted in - or - adopted into the family of God - as children of Israel.  His chosen people.  His chosen people have not changed.  They were and always will be the children of Israel.  That should not be a stumbling block for us as Scripture says we are grafted into that family which consisted of the entire 12 Tribes of Israel (not just the Jews - tribe of Judah and Benjamin).  The following verses point to this very thing:

Romans 8:12-17
Romans 9:1-5
Galations 4:4-5
Ephesians 1:3-6

*Note: The world "law" in Galatians 4:4-5 is referring to the law of sin and death.  Not The Law as referred to The Torah [instructions for living a holy life set-apart to the Father - it has not been done away with and is still very relevent for our holy living today].  Within The Torah is the very place we find that a penalty needs to be paid for sin.  If we are to interpret law here to mean we are no longer under The Law, The Torah [instructions of the Father] then we have no need of a ransom because we would not know there is a penalty to be paid for sin.

*Things I see in the Scripture above: Whether rich or poor all were required to give the same 20 shekels.  None could boast one way or the other that they were somehow more in favor before the Father because of their circumstances.  The atonement was being accepted through the choice to be obedient.  Just as we have a choice as to whether we are going to be obedient to the call of the Father and accept our ransom - the life of His Son to cover our sin and eternal death.  Will we accept that gife of grace?  The atonement - and live an eternal life without plague in Heaven?

In these verses I read today, I see yet again how Moses is a picture of Yeshua.  I am so in awe that every single word in The Word is still somehow relevent, alive and active for us today.  Nothing, absolutely nothing about the Word has been done away with.  It is the Living Word! None of it is stagnant or old.  If there is one thing the Spirit is Teaching me - it is this:


DO NOT LEAN ON ANY MAN TO TEACH YOU MY WORD!
I AM YOUR TEACHER!
I WILL LEAD YOU INTO UNDERSTANDING!
DO NOT BE PART OF A LAZY GENERATION!
SET YOURSELF APART WITH ME.
DO NOT BE INFLUENCED WITH MAN'S IDEA OF TRUTH!
BE LED TO MY NARROW PATH FILLED WITH LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE AND LEARN MY WAY!

**Final pondering thought:  What does the number 20 represent - 20 shekels, men age 20 - etc. I found while looking that the number 20 could represent "expectancy" - that just short of spiritual perfection (which would be the number 21 - 3 times 7).  Could it be that all of the Word here is showing that atonement here is just short of what we can expect - - of what we will experience in Heaven with the Father - the ultimate fullfillment of the ransom of our Savior - the eternal, plague free, holy existence for eternity with our loving Father and Creator?





 

Do you know you are a priest?

I hope you find this as interesting as I did/do!

It was my intention tonight to get through a large portion of my reading schedule in my Bible.  That has not happened.  As I got to the later part of Exodus 28:1 (NLT)....They will be my priest and they will minister to me - I was immediately struck yet again by love and beauty of the Almighty and how He has woven such a moving and dramatic story of love to this life we live.

It occured to me that this was another Scripture that was a shadow in the Torah and that apostolic writings have given futher revelation.

1 Peter 2:9 - But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own spiritual people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of YAHWEH, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

The Father originally chose a special people to reflect His glory to the world.  Those people were the Israelites (**note: not just the Jews [who were descendents of the Tribe of Judah] but the Israelites; the people group that encompassed all 12 tribes).  Furthermore, he chose special men to be set apart to minister to Him.  The priests.

I began to ask myself, if I am now part of a royal priesthood because I am adopted into the family of God, or grafted in as some may say - then what is it that the priests did, what made them set apart and special - and shouldn't I be paying attention to that, if I am now part of the chosen generation - a royal priesthood - and part of a holy nation?

The priests ministered or "served" YAHWEH.  To serve is to direct ones self and others to the proper service to YAHWEH.  What others see in us, the fruit we bear is a reflection of a love relationship we are experiencing with the Father.  It helps to give direction to those around us that points to the one true Way - which is an intimate and loving relationship with our Creator.  Just as the priest in the Tabernacle submitted himself to the Father in service, which brought through radiant blessing and influence into the world - we also should be striving to do the same.

"It is not incumbant upon you to complete the work, but neither are you at liberty to desist from it." (Avot 2:21) [we each have a purpose and part to play out in the greatest love story of all time]

The priest was the illumination of YAHWEH's presence giving a daily blessing over the people of Israel:

And YAHWEH spoke to Moses, saying,
Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying,
In this way you shall bless the sons of Israel, saying to them:
YAHWEH bless you and keep you;
YAHWEH cause His face to shine on you, and be gracious to you;
YAHWEH lift up His face to you, and give you peace.

A beautiful blessing of peace and love given to the people!

Can't you see how this opened up the gates of mercy towards the people!  Through it the people of Israel (which now includes us as we are in the family of God by the blood of His son) are blessed with offspring and long life, spiritual blessings, Divine protection and true peace.

We need to represent these attributes people!  We need to bring the Father's blessing down once again to this world in which we live!  What is our model to do that?  Where do we learn?  It's not a new lesson, or a new plan!  It's been there for us all along - and the fullness of it is in the Messiah who came to show us the way!

Just as Peter says - you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own spiritual people!

You have to ask yourself, "what does it mean to be a holy nation?"

First you have to be set-apart.  We are set-apart and sanctified [made right with the Father] by the blood of Messiah - but do we reflect that to others around us?  Are we SERVING the Father like the priests in the Tabernacle did.  Are we speaking blessings over our families, our friends, our co-workers, our enemies, our people in authority?  Are we reigning down the Father's mercy?  Are we illuminating the love relationship we have with Him?

Or are we looking the opposite of holy...... mundane and ordinary? [doesn't that make you want to cry.....it does me......because I realize so often, I'm not laying hold of what He has already given me.....I'm not walking in the light that He shines upon me everyday.  I so often am stumbling in the darkness, because I can't get SELF out of the way and just submit and serve my Father].

We have the greatest Teacher known to mankind.  Messiah is Living Instruction - He is the Living Torah - How did He really live out His life?  He was obedient to His Father - He celebrated the Feasts as commanded for all time by His Father - He loved - He loved His enemies (of which we all were at one time) - He gave grace to those finding their way - He didn't judge - He lived out both everything you read in the Old Testement and the New.  Nothing has been done away with - the New just shines a brighter light on the Old - but you don't know it's true brightness if you can't see the contrast - you have to read and understand the shadows.

In closing, I hope you search your lives - that you believe you are part of a holy nation - that you know you are a royal priest and that like me - you get back to understanding that responsibility on a deeper level, fall ever deeper in love with your Savior - and let Him illuminate His love in this world through you and your life.

 

Shabbat Notes 2-9-13

In my reading this week, I studied more what it really meant in Exodus 21 about being a slave and discovered - basically - it's the same as when we engage in an employment contract - we need an income to survive so we sell ourselves to a place of employment and get paid in exchange of our services. 

 

When the Hebrew was down on his luck and needed sustenance to survive, he would sell himself into service to another Hebrew who could provide for his needs. On the seventh year the master was to set him free - but the slave could decide to stay forever as a bondservant because he loved his master so much.

 

In essence he and his family (if he had a wife and children) became part of the masters family. As I thought more on the subject, I came across something that one of the Torah teachers (Mike Clayton) had written and thought it was so beautiful from the perspective of our relationship with The Master - that I wanted to share. Hope you enjoy it! My notes are in parenthesis. Donna~

 

Mishpatim (the rulings) Exodus 21:1-24:18 Jeremiah 34:8-22; 33:25-26 Matthew 5:38-42; 15:1-20 Acts 23:1-11 Hebrews 9:15-22; 10:28-39 The Master's Awl We stand this week in a holy place. The giving of the Mishpatim (rulings) is much more than just providing standards for life. Here is witnessed the Ketuba, the marriage contract. Hashem (God) is setting forth the terms of the marriage. For those who have ears to hear, we will see that the theme of this Torah portion is not commandments, the theme is love. Exodus 21 tells us what to do with slaves. It is all too easy to read over this section and consider this for a different time and people. What could this possibly have to do with life in the year 2013? Truth is, these verses are just as relevant today as they have ever been for the person who will take the time to look past the surface and gaze into the depths of scripture. Let us look not at the master, but to the slave. The slave has served his master well for six years. He has been treated well and his daily provision has been met. Though life has been good overall, he is still a slave. He lacks the freedom to come and go as he pleases. At the end of six years a decision must be made. The slave can now go free or he can decide to voluntarily give up his freedom and become a bondservant. How will the slave make his decision? Will it be based on provision, rules of the house or even his own family? Chapter 21 verse 5 gives us insight into the heart of the matter. The slave declares, "I love my master, my wife and my children, so I don’t want to go free!" Notice the slave places his master first, even above his wife and children. Because of love, the servant places himself under the subjection of his master. With this subjection comes obedience to the rules of the household and the desires of the master. His declaration is that he will obey, not from fear or duty, but out of love for his master.(I was thinking of how this should be our heart towards the Messiah. We should mindfully bring ourselves under obedience, out of love, to His rules for our lives.) In Isaiah 56:6 we see this progression when it speaks of the foreigner or gentile who is grafted into the family. We are adopted into this family through faith, faith which in the early days brings forth service. We are looking for something to do in His Kingdom, more through duty to the One who has redeemed us, not as much out of love, for in the early days we do not know Him that well. Follow the verse though. This service causes us to love His name, which in Hebraic thought is to love Him. This love then produces a new kind of service, the work of the bondservant. See, obedience to His word is not a master-slave issue. Obedience to His word is a love issue. This is what Yeshua was saying in John 14:15, "If you love Me, keep my commandments." We need to understand that the person giving the commandments to Moshe was none other than Yeshua Himself. The person the elders ate and drank with was the person of Yeshua, a manifestation of Hashem. The commandments Yeshua was speaking of were the very words given to Moshe, the Torah! If we love Him we will obey His Torah. This simple means that if we are having an obedience issue, it may have nothing to do with obedience. It may truly be a love issue. As the seventh day, the seventh millennium approaches, it is time for a decision. Do we walk away, free to do our own will or do we walk to the door to have our ear pierced with His awl? Do we receive His mark upon our lives, a mark of love, not of fear? http://www.joinedtohashem.org/

Increase and Responsibility

As most of you already know, I opened my own business last year.  There have been great moments of stress, mostly brought on by learning curves.  My business is commission driven, so, no sales equals no money.  There have been months I have beaten myself up wondering if at the end of the month I was going to be able to make ends meet.  As I opened my Bible this morning and read Exodus 21 and 23, I was overwhelmed with how much the Father really loves us.  He did not miss one tiny detail instructing us on how to live.  There were some verses that spoke to my spirit in a very personal way- but isn't that just how He loves me?  To make it living water for me.  To make His Word my instruction and guide?  Amazing. 

As the Father was teaching the Israelites how to live now that they were coming into their Promised Land - He lets them know - Hey, this isn't going to be accomplished over night.  You don't have enough population yet, to handle the responsibility it takes to have dominion over the vast amount of land I'm about to give you as your inheritance.  I'm letting you know right now, the land will become yours a little at a time, listen to my instruction.  As you are multiplied, so also will your land and responsibility be increased.

Exodus 23: 27-31 says:

²⁷ “I will send my terror ahead of you and create panic among all the people whose lands you invade. I will make all your enemies turn and run. ²⁸ I will send terror ahead of you to drive out the Hivites, Canaanites, and Hittites. ²⁹ But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals would multiply and threaten you. ³⁰ I will drive them out a little at a time until your population has increased enough to take possession of the land. ³¹ And I will fix your boundaries from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea,^[f] and from the eastern wilderness to the Euphrates River.^[g] I will hand over to you the people now living in the land, and you will drive them out ahead of you.

Personally, I think the overall premise of this Scripture for me personally is - Hey, Donna!! Did you see that????  It isn't going to happen overnight!  I have things to teach you about running a business.  Your greater success is coming, but it is coming a little at a time - because if I poured out my full blessing on you right now - you do not have the people nor the tools to handle it.  I AM meeting your needs step by step and giving you proportionate responsibility along the way.  Now get out of the drivers seat and just enjoy the ride!  Oh HOW I LOVE THAT LIVING WATER!  IT IS A FEAST TO MY SOUL!

Shabbat Thoughts 2-2-13

I just thought I would share some of my gleanings from my time with the Father today.  I hope you are blessed by it in some small way.

Exodus 19:6 caught my attention; “and you will be to me a kingdom of priests, my holy nation.” 

How prophetic – for we are living in these very times.  The very moment the Messiah died on the cross for our sin, the veil was torn and because the blood of our Savior covers our sin and makes us white as snow, we are welcomed to the throne of the Father!  There is no longer a need for one man to offer prayers and sacrifices on your behalf because the PERFECT MAN has done that for you, once and for all time! 

As I read on and read once again the Ten Commandments – it resonates within me that this foundation of instruction is a fountain from which rich knowledge pours forth.

Exodus 20:24 …..build altars in the places I remind you where I am, and I will come and bless you there.

While in the past the alter was a place for the sacrificial system that was put aside with the sacrifice of the Messiah – 1 Corinthians 6:19 tells us; “Or do you not know that your body is the Dwelling Place of the Set-apart Spirit who is in you, which you have from Elohim, and you are not your own?  1Co 6:20  For you were bought with a price, therefore esteem Elohim in your body and in your spirit,¹ which are of Elohim. 

Bought with a price…..the price of His Son!  A price that no tag can be put upon!  A price so painful, it is unimaginable.  A price paid because I am loved. 

Therefore esteem your Father in body and in your spirit.  How do I do that?  By obeying the Torah (the Father’s instructions and commandments) and walking out my faith in this world.   

A Scriptural example for walking out my faith is to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit:

Gal 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustworthiness,

Gal 5:23  gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no Law (Torah/Instruction).

Gal 5:24  And those who are of Messiah have impaled the flesh with its passions and the desires.

Gal 5:25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Gal 5:26  Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. 

When we realize just how short we all fall from being the holy people the Father wants us to be, it should break our hearts.  We may look around at others in our lives and desire to be closer to the Father as they seem to be – but remember this; In one sense it is good to desire and be encouraged by the walk of our fellow brothers and sisters in Messiah – However, we must also be mindful that we all come to different levels of spiritual maturity at different times in our lives.  Until we are resurrected we all come to the throne with our brokenness – and there is always hope in our brokenness for further maturity in holiness.  

Psa 147:1 HalleluYah; for it is good to sing praise to our Elohim; because praise is delightful and becoming. Psa 147:2 YAHWEH builds up Jerusalem; He gathers the outcasts of Israel.Psa 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their sorrows. 

I pray for  you – that in your time of Shabbat with the Father – that He revealed to you, your brokenness and that through that time, you were matured in the love He has for you!  Shalom~

Vacation 2012 Sneak Peek

Our first stop was in Groom, Texas - at a place called The Cross.  Below are a couple of the amazing life size sculptures.  It was a wonderful spiritual experience.  I hope to go back one weekend to stay for a longer period of time.  I'll write more about the place later and post a link.

THE TOMB IS EMPTY - HE IS RISEN!

Foundations 2-27-12

Yesterday was a pretty surreal day for me.  Without going into a lot of detail - to have my husband, my brother and my son in my backyard putting in a concrete slab/patio - really got me to thinking.


Foundation - what a powerful word.  What exactly is my foundation?  My foundation is the Gospel.  The Truth.  Transformation.  Faith.  It wasn't always that way.


In reading my Bible this morning, I am in the book of James which of late has been very theraputic for my soul. 


James 2:26 - For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.


My love for Jesus - My oh so deep need to know Him better - my holding fast to the fact that He loves me deeply - not because of one single thing I can do for Him but what He did for me - bears out in my soul an overflowing love that ultimately participates in His redemption in this world.  I believe in what I cannot see, I have faith - therefore I have work to do.


I must confess - I have more than one stumbling block in my life.  My stupid human thought that I must work for God gets me into a lot of trouble.  I venture out "doing" things for God.  When you really sit and think about it - it is completely proposterous - laughable - that I think I can do one single thing "for" God.


In watching that foundation poured yesterday - what started out to be a day full of tension, brokenness and pain - ended up being a moment of grace, mercy and redemption handed down to me by the Father.


He redeems - He works to make right - He loves, we live - my foundation begins with letting the Lord of my life - have my life.  I need to stop "doing the works" I think I should be doing - and let Him do the work in me - I need to quit seeking out "the things to do" and let Jesus bring His work to me.  I need to focus on the foundation of my family and quit thinking I need to make some big huge difference for God in the World.  He already did that - His name is Jesus Christ.


May you have a day of peace in Christ.  Knowing your simple work is to love your neighbor as yourself.  Let your love overflow in every circumstance and your faith in God is made perfect in His peace.

Wandering

Prone to wander - Lord, I feel it - prone to leave the God I love. 


It never fails when this song is sang at church, that when it comes to this line, the tears start rolling - every -- single -- time. 


There is so much truth and emotion wrapped up in that one little line for me before the throne of God.  Shame, brokenness, sadness, failure - His grace abounds to me but my flesh so badly desires to be it's own god. 


I've said more times than I care to recall my inability to empathize with those who have addictions.  I've always been able to recognize their pain, but never understood the lack of strength to just say - I'm not going to live my life this way anymore - and just do it!  I've never struggled with alcohol or drugs.  I've been exposed to it, but it's never been one of my demons.  


God has hit me over the head with a baseball bat in the last few weeks.  I have an addiction all right.  It's called anger.  Oh, what a horrible addiction it is.  That struggle to not sucumb to it - having such victories on some days - and such bouts of failure on others can zap the zest for life right out of you.  And trust me, when you struggle with anger everyone knows it - when they need a defender - you can be assured you will be the one they call for help - but at any other time, they will steer clear of you so that they don't become your target.  It's a catch 22.  And believe me, you don't acquire any loyalty for coming to anyones aide, it just doesn't work that way.  It causes you to get so wrapped up in the situation emotionally, and physically that - you wander from the God you love.  It's a crushing addiction.


I've been in a cycle of terrible failure of late - but this post is not meant to focus on my failure but rather God's glory.  I was reading Psalm 66 tonight - line 3 says "Say to God, How awesome are Your works! Through the greatness of Your power Your enemies shall submit themselves to You! - when I first read it I thought yes Lord - the day will come when all of those people who have not accepted your gift of Salvation will come to a point in which they will submit to you - but the Holy Spirit said - Why Donna, aren't I speaking to you?  The sin in your heart is My enemy!  But because I love you so completely, I will test you as I am doing now - and I will refine you as silver is refined (line 10) and you will come to know the root of your anger in my good timing.


Oh, bless our God, you peoples! and make the voice of His praise be heard! (line 8).


I pray that my life becomes - as God heals me and transforms me - a life that because of the way it is lived, not only my words but my actions as well, will shine God's praise and glory.


I am not here on this earth for my own selfish desires - but to be a pleasing aroma to my Father in heaven.


For those of you who share in the addiction of anger as I do - I pray the Lord blesses you and sets you free along with me.  Amen

The Crab Apple Tree

I don't know why it's been so long since I blogged.  Life - there is so much about that word that I could say today - that would be a post all it's own and likely go on for weeks!


My life this past week has been spent at home, sick.  But it's been a great time of just slowing down and resting.  I think I'm actually thanking God for allowing me to be ill!


I've spent every morning this week bundled up on my patio, enjoying the birds singing - and the fresh morning air.  It's been really wonderful weather here in south Texas this week.


Which brings me to my post today.  Studly - my dog, and trusty companion - and I - were enjoying another morning of cool air - when I noticed my crab apple tree. 


My husband and I planted this tree three years ago.  It was so spindly at times we didn't know if it was going to make it, so we staked it against one of those metal poles that farmers use to put up fencing.


 As I looked at the tree this morning - it reminded me of my life as a Christian.


When I first planted that tree it was weak. It blew anyway the wind took it. It's root system didn't have hold of any foundation.  The stalk was thin and it didn't have very many limbs, leaves or flowers during spring time. Then along came the stake to strengthen it - to hold it steady into the foundation it was given until it's root system started taking hold. 

I thought about my life, my past - how weak I used to be - going anywhere the wind took me - with no thought of the consequences. Then Christ came alongside me - and held me steady. He held me in the foundation He laid down for me before the beginning of time.  He shored me up in Himself and gave me strength.


The stake that has held my crab apple tree into the foundation - has helped it's roots take hold.  The tree has produced a trunk three times the width of when it was first put in the ground.  It is strong enough now to withhold the many branches that have grown upon it. In springtime - it has an abundance of flowers - and for the first time this year - it produced fruit! Those tiny little crab apples that will draw in the birds I love so dearly. 


Once again, I akin the  tree to my life.  Over the years Jesus has rooted me in His Word that has steadied my life.  I am rooted in His life and love which has given me the strength to bear the burden of life's many branches.  The love that over flows from a life lived in Him has produced many flowers in my life as well as the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control.


I am so thankful that the stronger the winds of life become - there is the ever steady, non-changing peace and strength of Jesus Christ by my side.


Thank you Jesus - for Your crab apple tree and may I be ever reminded each time I look at it - as to who You are in my life!

Overshadowed by His Love

Now, when the spouse was sitting down, restful and delighted, she was overshadowed.  She said, "I sat down under his shadow."  I do not know a more delightful state of mind than that of feeling overshadowed by our beloved Lord.  I was black with sin, but His precious blood overshadowed my sin and hid it forever.  My natural condition was that of an enemy to God, but He who reconciled me to God by His blood has overshadowed that also, so that I now forget that I was once an enemy in my joy of being a friend.

I am very weak, but He is strong, and His strength overshadows my feebleness.  I am very poor, but He has all the riches of the universe, and His riches overshadow my poverty.  I am most unworthy, but He is so worthy that if I use His name I will receive as much as if I were worthy.  Indeed, His worthiness overshadows my unworthiness.

It is very precious to put this truth another way and say, "If there is anything good in me, it is not good when I compare myself with Him, for His goodness quite eclipses and overshadows it."  Can I say I love Him? I do, but I hardly dare to call it love, for His love overshadows it.  Do I think that I serve Him?  I want to, but my poor service is not worth mentioning in comparison with what He has done for me.  Have I thought that I had any degree of holiness?  I must not deny what His Spirit works in me, but when I think of His immaculate life and all His divine perfections, where am I?  What am I?

Have you not sometimes felt this?  Have you not been so overshadowed by your Lord and hidden in Him that you became as nothing?  I myself know what it is to feel that if I die in a poorhouse it does not matter, as long as my Lord is glorified.  Men may slander me (Luke 6:22), if they like, but what difference does it make, since His dear name will one day be written in stars across the sky?  Let Him overshadow me; I delight thatit should be so.   Charles Spurgeon - Grace & Power - pgs 316-317.

The Holy Spirit in Action

I'm sharing with you today, because maybe my experience will encourage you to see that Jesus is always right there with you.

The truth:  Prayer is difficult for me.  I have the best intentions of being dedicated to prayer, but I always fall short.  I start out with a bang, and end in a fizzle.  I fall asleep.  I ramble.  I get discouraged by my own failure of being dedicated.

I've decided that as I go through my bible reading, I'm going to write down every Scripture that mentions prayer.  Today was my very first day putting it in to practice.

In short, I am ............ in awe (for the second time this week) of the power of the Holy Spirit.

Below is what the Holy Spirit revealed to me today in my reading (you can click on it to enlarge).  I hope you can see it well enough - and make sense enough - of my notes.

If He can do this with me - speak so strongly into my life - what is it you need Him to speak to you?  Once you ask, just listen - you'll hear that resounding answer, or that silent whisper.

.

I'm guilty, I've done it!

The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.  But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations (Psalm 33:10-11)

My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways (Isa. 55:8)

If you're anything like me at all, you've done this...............

Do you remember that time that you were being fruitful - and doing good deeds - that were born out of your love for Jesus?

Do you remember all the planning the task may have required?  Did you get caught up in the planning - and all of a sudden, your prayer time - your devotional time - your time with Jesus - was finding itself in second place?

I'm not saying doing good things are bad - I'm just saying that when we do strike out to do something big, something that requires large effort, and lots of planning - we better make sure that God asked us to do it.  Otherwise, you'll find the tables all upside down!  Besides, when God tells us what to do - it's done is HIS power, and not our own wisdom.  Things done in God's power - Pour out His glory to the world.

Believe me, I'm here to confess - I AM GUILTY!!  I am a planner.  This is something I struggle with constantly.  I'm ashamed to admit, that on more than one occassion, I've put Jesus in the backseat of my life - because of getting caught up in all my planning. 

I know, that in those times, life's struggles become more apparent - I'm out of kilter - the God shaped hole in my heart is running on empty.  I've walked away from the ONE that has His arms stretched out to me always!

I love this quote from the Experiencing God Bible Study: "Planning is a tool God may lead you to use, but it must never become a substitute for trusting Him".

My prayer for you today (and myself) - is that you always seek Him first.  That you are able to develop a heart that waits for Him to speak.  That you devote your life to a relationship with Him, so you can hear Him.  That all the things that you do, are driven by His perfect guidance, and that you join Him in His Kingdom purposes.

Love in Christ, Donna~

Do you chose to be blessed?

And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fullfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.  Luke 1:45

Wow!  Have you ever had that moment?  You know........when you are reading your bible, walking in the woods, praying, listening to your minister - and it happens! You hear that soft whisper, full of love from the Lord of your life. 

In some unique way, He speaks to you in a way only He can do.  You know without doubt He has spoken a revelation into your life.

For days you walk about full of the love of Christ.  You probably share your joy with your brothers and sisters in Christ.  Your relationship with Him has crossed yet another milestone.  You have to be near Him.  You wait expectantly, for that moment in which what He spoke to you, becomes fruitful in your life.

Time begins to pass. What seems like forever to you - - comes around the corner.  Have you let go of what He spoke into your life?  Are you still holding on?  Are you still filled with joy and drawing ever near to Him - or has life gotten in the way, and taken you away from your first love?

Chose to be a Mary today!  Chose to blessed by Your Creator!  Who wouldn't want that?

Hold fast and believe that there will be fullfillment, of what you know God has spoken to you!  Draw near to Him!  Let Him love you!

Don't let the world take away from you, your divine moment with the Lord!  His timing is always best!  His ways are not our ways!  Rest in His peace.

Are you anything like me?

Does the Holy Spirit ever reveal something to you, and you struggle to believe it's possible?

Well if you do, you're not the only one!  I've had my struggles with belief - and so have people in the bible.

Zechariah struggled with believing his wife Elizabeth, would have a child in her old age, even though he was being spoken to by the angel Gabriel.

Thomas struggled with believing he was looking at the resurrected Christ.

The list goes on.

But when the angel of the Lord came to Mary, to tell her that she would birth a child, who would be the Son of God, she believed.

What helps one believe and not another?  I don't know all the answers.  The one thing I do know, is that for me to believe in, to trust in another person, I have to spend time with them.  I need to get to know their character.

I do believe that to come to a place, where you trust God. You need to get to know Him.  How do you do that, you may ask.  Well it starts with reading your Bible.  To read for yourself, how God has been at work since the creation.

Luke 1:37 says:  For nothing is impossible for God.

So won't you challenge yourself today, to get to know the things of God?  Search and see that all things are possible for Him. Even that thing that has been revealed to you, that in your minds eye seems impossible.

You are Imperishable!

When we were born, our parents determined who we are genetically.  On this day, as we celebrate Mother's Day - we also recognize how much our Mother's speak into our lives.  How they model for us, what the love of Christ is.  She points us to the cross for hope and victory.  She imparts on us wisdom, and the meaning of good choices.  She shows us what love and forgiveness mean.  She lays the ground work, for us to accept the love of Christ into our lives.

If you have accepted Jesus Christ into your life, you are a child of God.  1 Peter 1:22-23 says:

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.  For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

You see, the genetics we get from our parents are fleeting.  We are from dust, we will return to dust, but the DNA we get from being alive in Christ is imperishable!  The seed that Christ places in your heart, is a seed that has eternal growth.

The seeds of the earth are cared for with rain and sunshine, pruning and weeding.

The imperishable seed you have is watered with mercy - He shines His grace into your life - you are pruned and weeded with life's circumstances and challenges - which produce in you good character, and a life that is filled with His spirit, which produces good deeds and fruit.

Today, as I give thanks for the Mother I have - I lift my face to heaven, give thanks for the SONshine I have in my life, and I give thanks for the imperishable seed that is taking eternal root in my heart and soul.

Happy Mother's Day to all you special women!

Pressing on......

The Holy Spirit is really showing me, that I need to PRESS ON!!!

Phillipians 3:12 says:  Not that I have already attained all of this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that which Christ took hold of me.

Why did Jesus take hold of me?  Well there are a host of reasons - not the least of which is to redeem me to God the Father.

But today, I want to talk about the fact that He took hold of me so that I could live in VICTORY!

I need to re-train my mind, in order to press on.  I too often get caught up thinking about the past and my failures.  Worrying about the future.  Dwelling on my weaknesses.  Fill in the blank _____________

That is NOT why Christ layed hold of me!

I purpose to set my mind on whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - I will think on such things!

Christ lives in me!  Not the evil one - he may mess with my mind - but I don't have to accept his impressions of who I am, or where my life is going! 

God has a plan for my life!  He will prosper me!  He gives me HOPE - He has my future in the palm of His hand!

My friend - He wants to be your REDEEMER as well!  Your VICTORY!  He loves you and your name is written on the palm of His hand, if you have asked Him in to your heart.  Walk in His glory today....knowing you are PRESSING ON~

CONGRATULATIONS LIFT!

Well Ladies! You did it! You made it through 13 weeks with me and Beth!  You all have challenged me, inspired me, and filled me with joy!

My prayer for you, is that you take all you have learned about the fruit of the Spirit, and apply it to your daily walk with the Lord.

Peace be with you my friends!

Your humble L.I.F.T (Ladies in Fellowship Together) Leader~

I Found My Wall!

Beth Moore is teaching me a thing or two about my sanity this week!

Isaiah 58:12

And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in.

In ancient times the thick walls that surrounded Jerusalem, were for the protection of the city.  They set a firm boundary. When the walls came tumbling down, in came the destruction of the city.

Christ lives in me, but self control is my wall, it's my boundary of safety. In Him, I have the victory to overcome all things.  But, the enemy is always lurking about, seeking to devour me.  He knows my weaknesses better than I do.  When he sees an opportunity to pounce, and try to destroy my relationship with the Lord - you can be sure he is ready and waiting, to do all the damage he can.

This past week, I temporarily lost my grip on self-control.  I let doubt and frustration crumble my wall!

Isn't God's timing always perfect?  (even though I embarassingly admit, I'm not always good at waiting). Could there have been any other Scripture more powerful for me to read today?  Praise God!! that He is the repairer of my breach in self-control!  Praise God!! That He encourages me to know, that in my obedience to Him, and all that He teaches me, the foundations of many generations will be raised up.

Oh yes!  I've made my mistakes, but what joy there is to know, that in Christ, all things about me are new!

This is a new moment in my life.  Against all odds I chose to hold fast to what I know God has revealed to me.  Even when the world tells me NO - He has told me YES!