Truth

Remember two things:
1. Do not add to or take away from the Word of Elohim (which is transliterated in our bibles as 'God' but more closely means 'mighty ones' or Mighty One). When we do this we begin to make His Word say whatever we want it to say, and that's definitely not a good thing.
Our Elohim's word as a WHOLE (Genesis to Revelation) is ALL relevant for us today to learn from.
However, if we add to/take away from it we are choosing to say that we decide what is important and what is not in the Word.
Eve did this in the Garden and look at the mess we ended up with. She added to Elohim's word.
How did she do that?  Yahuah (Elohim's name) told Adam that he could eat of any tree in the Garden except for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The day he ate of it would be the day that he would die.
When the serpent told Eve to eat some of the fruit of that tree, she said that they could neither eat it nor touch it.
Did you catch that? Eve added to the word of Yahuah, because He never said they couldn't touch the fruit, only that they would die if they were to eat it.
Either Eve thought it was a good measure not to touch the fruit, or Adam didn't relay the instructions correctly, but he was standing there beside her and never spoke a word, so in the end they were both disobedient.
When Eve added to Elohim's word, Satan saw an open door and walked right in. He said, "Surely you will not die" and when Eve touched the fruit and saw that she didn't die, she then believed that she could eat the fruit and live. However, we know what happened.
We cannot add to nor take away from Elohim's word without receiving judgment for it, and He has a standard which His judgment is based on. That standard is His Law.

We have to look at the foundation of Yahuah's Word which is Genesis through Deuteronomy, also known as the Torah (meaning instructions or teachings). This is what Elohim established as the foundation for His entire word, and the Prophets, the Writings (Psalms, etc...), and the whole New Testament confirm what He said in His Torah while bringing further revelation.

If we understand this, then things really start to make sense. No more trying to fill in the blanks like we've done before.  Elohim intended His word to be read and understood by anybody and everybody, and for His people to obey it.

2. The Scriptures can't contradict themselves if they are the inspired Word of Yahuah. In fact it will always explain itself if we read not just a verse or two, but the whole context of what is being said in any given chapter or book. We have to look throughout Elohim's word and keep our mind focused on what He is trying to say to us.

We also have to try and set aside many of the commentaries, books, and devotionals where men try and "explain" the bible.  Don't get me wrong because the Spirit of Elohim does bestow gifts of teaching to men but when any man teaches anything in contradiction to the Word he is in serious error and sin.   We need to simply look at what Yahuah Himself is saying in His word, remembering that His Torah(Law) is the foundation for everything He says.

It's not that all those men and women aren't educated or don't have a heart for Yahuah, but when we look to their writings and commentaries for our answers instead of the One who has all the answers we'll often get confused and misdirected by the enemy.  The gift of teaching is there to confirm what the Spirit has already said to someone who reads His Word.

The heart of every man is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked! (Jeremiah 17:9). When we look to the teachings of man and hold them at or even above the word of Elohim then we are standing in great peril.
We don't need a scholarly professor to tell us the truth of the Scriptures. Remember, the Holy (set apart) Spirit is here to teach us which means we really CAN understand what Elohim is saying through His word!
If we are saved then we have the Spirit Who sets us apart from those things that oppose His truth and He will teach us the truth.   As Jesus (Yahushua) said, "..Your [the Father] Word IS truth" - John 17:17

"Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your Law is truth" - Psalm 119:142

The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever." - Psalm 119:160

Just keep reading the Scriptures everyday, keeping in mind that as New Covenant believers Elohim's WHOLE word, Genesis to Revelation, is relevant and applicable for us even today! Nowhere in the Scripture does Yahuah say that the "Old Testament" in now done away with or useless or just "for the Jews". In fact, every New Testament author and even Yahushua Himself proclaimed the relevance and importance of the Old Testament (Scriptures) and proved that point by constantly quoting from it. And they did so, not just to point to fulfilled passages about Jesus, but to also show how important and applicable the Old Testament is in the life of a New Covenant believer!

Walking in the Spirit

What does it mean to "walk in the Spirit"? Paul uses this phrase in Galatians 5:16, but what is it that he's speaking of?

Many professing christians today believe that walking in the Spirit is many different things depending on how they interpret the Scriptures.

John MacArthur, a well known pastor and author, said this of the Holy Spirit:
At the moment of salvation the Holy Spirit takes up residence in the life of a believer and becomes the source of power for his life."

The question is - "The source of power for his life...to do what?"

Is the Holy Spirit working in us to give us power so that we can live according to how we think we should? Many people believe so. How many times have you heard, "If God wanted me to do that, then He would have..." Just fill in the blank, as I'm sure we can come up with a million reasons as to why we disobey the Lord in what He tells us to do.

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked;
Who can know it?
Jeremiah 17:9

The fool has said in his heart "There is no God."
They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity;
There is none who does good. God looks down from heaven
upon the children of men to see if there are any
who understand, who seek God. Every one of them has turned aside;
They have together become corrupt; There is none who does good.
No, not one.
Psalm 53:1-3

How can we think that we can know best, that we can set the standard of how we should live? Yet we do all the time. "Oh no, not me!" Yes, even you. I have found myself far too many times deciding that I know better than God what is best for my life, and I'm sure that you've done it from time to time.

How do we do it? By adding to His Word, or taking away from it. It is a constant process of submitting to His will and letting go of ours that will give us direction, because we are choosing to follow the One who knows ALL things, and certainly knows what's best for us.

Only by keeping (treasuring) His Commandments can we begin to see the corrupt nature of our flesh and crucify the "old man", that sinful nature.
This is where the discussion usually has people spewing out terms like, "legalist" or "bondage", in reference to a believer choosing to obey God's Commandments. "We're free from the Law." "The Law is dead." Really? That's not what Jesus said,

"Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For assuredly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled."
Matthew 5:17-18

Until when? Until heaven and earth pass away, not one single mark will be removed from the Law (His Word)! Has heaven or earth passed away yet? Nope. When will they? Not until Messiah returns to consumate the marriage with His bride (the church). In 1 John 3:4, John writes that "sin is lawlessness." Jesus Himself said that there will be people who come to Him and claim to have done great things in His name, but He will say to those people, "I never knew you, depart from Me you who practice lawlessness." (Matthew 7:21-23)

How can we know Christ if we do not know His Law? The answer is - we can't. Remember, it's HIS law, not ours. Since He is the Creator of life and the giver of all good things, then He knows what is good for those who love Him.

"If you love Me, you will keep My commandments" Jesus said this in John 14:15 and it is not an ultimatum or a command, but simply a fact. If we truly love Him, then we will naturally obey His Word, His Commandments. This is walking in the Spirit.

The Spirit is our Helper, our seal of redemption, and He gives us the power, by His grace, to obey His Commandments through faith. It is only through faith that we can access grace and it is only by God's grace that we can hope to be obedient to Him. Like James writes,

"faith without works, is dead"
James 2:26

If our faith is real, then good works will follow. Those works are proof that our faith is real. These are the fruits of the Spirit. These are the works that God prepared beforehand in Messiah for us to walk in (Ephesians 2:8-10).

So let's look at Paul's discussion of what walking in the Spirit is about, in Galatians 5.

He writes:

"I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law."
Galatians 5:16-18

Before we move on I want to point out that this argument is identical to what Paul wrote in Romans 7 and 8.

Paul cries out "O wretched man that I am who will save me from this body of death?" Of course we know the answer - Yeshua! (Jesus). But why does Paul say that? In verses 14 through 23 we see the struggle that is in all of us! Our spirits want to do one thing, but our sinful nature wants to do another, and sometimes we end up doing things against the will of our spirit because we've given room for our flesh to win a victory in our lives instead of yielding control over to the Holy Spirit. In Romans 6:18-19 Paul points out that we are to be slaves of righteousness, going against the will of our flesh and obeying the Law of God.

In Romans 7:14 he writes that the Law is spiritual. The Spirit and the Law work together in the life of the believer because they are both "spiritual" (Romans 8:2-4). The flesh hates both the Spirit and the law. In fact Romans 8:7 says this:

"Because the carnal mind [sinful nature] is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be."
Romans 8:7

Did you get that? Our flesh CANNOT be subject to God's Law and it is hostile toward Him. Is it any wonder that we don't "feel" like obeying the Commandments of Yahweh?! That's because our flesh is lying to us, telling us that we don't need to follow a "dead law", as it says. However, the Law is NOT dead, as Jesus already said He didn't come to destroy it, but to fulfill it. That word "fulfill" actually means to fully preach!

What about Paul's statement back in Gal. 5:18 about not being under the law if we are led by the Spirit? The same thing we just talked about. To be under the Law is to be under God's wrath and the condemnation of death. Remember, the Law shows us what sin is, what sinners we are, and our need for a Savior. This is being "under" the Law. Perhaps you recall the verse that says "Christ is the end of the law". Well, it says

"For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes."
Romans 10:4

If Christ already said that He didn't come to destroy the Law but to fulfill (fully preach) then what is being said here? The word for end in the above verse actually means 'goal' or aiming for a mark.

G5056
τέλος
telos
tel'-os
From a primary word τέλλω tellō (to set out for a definite point or goal); properly the point aimed at as a limit, that is, (by implication) the conclusion of an act or state (termination [literally, figuratively or indefinitely], result [immediate, ultimate or prophetic], purpose); specifically an impost or levy (as paid): - + continual, custom, end (-ing), finally, uttermost. Compare G5411.

The Law is all about Messiah - the Living Word! It points to Him, but that doesn't mean that He did away with it in the process of fulfilling it!

To be under the Law is death, that's one of it's ministries
(1 Corinthians 3:7) as it was, written on stone. The Law is the knowledge of sin and therefore shows us our sin - that which leads us to death, but it is also for our good (Deuteronomy 10:13; Romans 3:17-18) and David and Paul both said they delighted in the Law of God (Psalm 1:2; 19; 119; Romans 7:22). Paul also said that he serves the Law of God with his mind and that we, as believers, actually establish the Law through faith! (Romans 7:25; 3:31)

"Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kindgom of God."
Galatians 5:19-21

Practice what things? All of the things Paul just listed - which are sinful. Sin is what? - lawlessness. People who practice lawlessness will be told by the Lord that He never knew them and they will be told to depart from Him.

"but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."
Galatians 5:22-24

The Law of God, which not only shows us our sin, but shows us how to live for Him, tells us what HE wants from us. The Spirit, testifying with our spirits that we are children of God, shows us this by acknowledging whether or not we love Him and whether or not we'll follow Him.

We crucify our flesh by dying to it daily. Laying ourselves on the altar as living sacrifices. How do we do that? By loving the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, and strength and loving our neighbor as ourself - by obeying His Torah/Law which can only be accomplished by an indwelling of the Holy Spirit!

"On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."
Matthew 22:40

How do we love God and love others?...by obeying His Commandments. Simple.  What does walking in the Spirit look like?...by obeying His Commandments. Again, simple.

Romans 7:18 (The NEED for God's Torah)

"For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find."

This was written by the apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans, and here in the seventh chapter we see in such clarity the struggle between our spirit and our flesh (sinful nature).
In particular, Paul makes an interesting case for the importance of God's Law(Torah) in our lives as followers of Jesus(Yeshua)!

We of course have to remember that in Paul's case that he's making to the Romans, it is not just for them....it's for us as well. Simply put, Paul is building a case against all mankind that we all are sinners in need of a Savior. That savior is Christ.
We cannot do anything to earn our salvation, because we are sinful from birth and have no hope of attaining perfection outside of our Savior. In fact, His salvation is a free gift, but it still must be excepted under His terms or it will not take effect in our lives.
His terms are that we walk in His truth (word) and come to Him in repentance, otherwise we will never be able to receive His salvation.

So in verse 18 of chapter 7, Paul points out that in his flesh (sinful nature) there is NOTHING good. But then he says, "for to WILL is present with me". What does he mean by this?
"for to will" is simply referring to what Paul wants to do according to his spirit, which is born again of God. Remember, there is no struggle between the flesh and the spirit in someone who isn't saved.
Only those who have accepted Messiah Yeshua as their Savior and walk in obedience to Him are saved/born again, and therefore experience the battle between the spirit and the flesh. Or in other words, what the mind wants to do (according to the will of God) and what the flesh wants to do conflict within the life of the believer.

Paul also writes that to will is "present with me". The will to do good in the sight of the Lord is "with" him and us because the Spirit of the Living God is within us. He is with those who are His and works in us to will and to do for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). Since, as he first said, there is nothing good in a person because of our sinful nature which we inherited at birth, then it is only God who is the ONLY good thing present within us.

Then Paul makes the statement, "but how to perform what is good I do not find". To truly understand the context of what Paul is saying here one must go back and read through the preceding chapters of Romans. But we can understand from just a few verses back that Paul, in and of himself, cannot find anything good within him nor can he find out how to perform that which is good.

So how can he, or any of us know what is good and how to perform it? By the Torah of God and His Word in it's entirety. As Paul just wrote back in chapter 6 verse 12,

"Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good."

AND

"and know His will and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law," - Romans 3:18

The Torah of God is not only good but also our instructions of His good will. He therefore, through His commandments, instructs us as to what is good and how to perform them.
That is why Paul goes on to say in verse 25 of chapter 7 that he thanks God through Messiah for delivering him from his own body of death and that with his mind he serves the Law of God!

Paul served God's law and delighted in it because he served in the newness of the Spirit, not in the oldness of the letter which brings condemnation and death.
That's why Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 3:6 that we are ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills but the Spirit gives life, which is a partial fulfillment of Jeremiah 31:31-34.

The Law for an unbeliever brings about wrath and death, showing us what our sin is and that we need a Savior. However, once we're in Messiah, we are no longer under the Law but are free from sin and death and free to become servants of righteousness...now walking in His Law which is a light unto our path (Psalm 119:97-106).

Sadly, many in professing Christendom have twisted the message of God saying that His Law is bondage in the life of a believer and thereby, in essence, they make sin good. This is heretical to say the least!
It is through the Law that we know what sin is (Romans 7:7) and it is by faith that we establish the Law (Romans 3:31). So how does repentance figure in to all of this? Well, quite simply, if we don't repent then we harden our heart to what the Lord is trying to say to us through His Law.
In Psalm 51, David writes,

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart -
these, O God, You will not despise." - Psalm 51:17

In Ezekiel 36, the prophet, speaking of the new covenant, shows us what God says about the heart.

The Lord said, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and you will keep My judgments and do them." - Ezekiel 36:26-27

Notice that he says the "heart of stone" and "a heart of flesh". It's the heart of flesh that the Lord is giving us when we are born again. This heart of flesh is soft and workable, and the more so, the easier it is for God to reveal His Law in our hearts and minds. But our heart is workable only when we come before God in repentance. If we continually refuse to humble ourselves before the Lord and His mercy then we will harden our hearts and make it more and more difficult for His Law to penetrate it. This will eventually lead us away from His love and salvation until we are no longer in Him (Hebrews 6:4-6).

We must repent before the LORD and seek out His Law for our instruction in the things that He approves of for our lives. In this, we will be like a lamp for all to see and glorify Him thereby.

Green Protein Smoothie

Need some protein and wanna get some greens in too?

Here's one recipe for a smoothie full of protein and good greens.





Serves: 1-2


Ingredients w/ Protein Content:
1-1/2 to 2 cups - Milk  (9-16g of protein; depending on whether it's goat or cow)
4 - raw eggs or favorite protein powder (24g)
1 - Banana (ripe)   (1g)
1 - half Avocado   (1g)
1 cup - Spinach   (6g)
1 teaspoon - Honey (or 1/2 t of Stevia)   (0)

1-2 dashes - Cayenne Pepper   (0)

Directions:
Pour the Milk in blender and add other contents.  Blend.  Drink!

A few notes:
It should go without saying but always try and use Organic ingredients.

Milk:
I use raw goat milk rather than cow's milk because:
   A) Goat milk is healthier and more bioavailable to the body.
   B) Goat milk is higher in protein than cow's milk.   Approx. 9grams of protein in Goat milk as
        compared to 5-6grams of protein in cow's milk per 1 cup. 

Eggs or Powder:
You'll also notice I listed RAW eggs.  This is ONLY because I raise my own chickens!  If I didn't have my own fresh, healthy source of eggs I wouldn't be using raw.  If you have your own, or you know of a trusted source for them, there's nothing better for protein (and a host of nutrients and vitamins), as well as omega 3 fatty acids, than a raw chicken egg!  6 grams of protein in 1 egg.
But if you don't (or just can't bear the thought of downing raw eggs) then your favorite protein powder will do just fine.   Here's a couple of recommendations I have:

Jay Robb Egg White Protein powder.  24grams per serving!

 The Jay Robb Egg White Protein powder is a great choice because it has NO junk in it.  They use only all natural and/or organic ingredients and give you a good amount of protein in the process.  Not to mention it tastes AMAZING!

Nutiva Hemp Protein powder.  15 grams per serving.

 If you want to make your "green" smoothie more GREEN then try Nutiva's Hemp Protein powder.  It supplies you with 15 grams of protein per serving (less than the 4 raw eggs or the Egg White powder though) and also gives the added benefit that comes with hemp, including an ample amount of Omega 3 fatty acids.  The taste isn't quite as delicious as the Jay Robb protein powder but you can always add a little more honey or stevia.  :)

Spinach:
Not only do you get the benefits of added iron, vitamins K, A, C, and E and fiber BUT you get 6 grams of protein in a cup of spinach!  Yes, it would seem Popeye knew what he was talking about.

Avocado:
While the Avocado doesn't have all that much protein, it DOES have some amazing benefits.  One of them is the fact that it supplies some really good fats to your system.  Our bodies need protein, carbs, and fats so survive.  Healthy fats are needed for brain and nerve function, as well as much needed energy.  Plus the avocado adds a nice creamy texture to the smoothie!

Cayenne Pepper:
In a smoothie???  While there's no protein benefit in adding some cayenne pepper to your green smoothie (it's even the wrong color!) it adds a nice little "kick", but it's certainly not necessary.  :)
Cayenne does help support blood flow and pressure.  It also boosts the metabolism, thereby helping to burn excess fat!

Spaghetti...Squash!

In the mood for some spaghetti tonight, but want a little something different?
How 'bout Spaghetti Squash?

Here's a super easy recipe for a new twist
on an old favorite.


Serves: 2-4
Prep Time: 10 mins.
Cook Time: 25-30 mins.
Total Time: 35-40 mins.

Ingredients:
1 - Spaghetti Squash
1 - Red Pepper
1/2 - Red Onion
1/2 cup - Sliced Almonds
1/3 cup - Pepitas or Pumpkin Seeds
3/4 - 1 cup - Sun Dried Tomatoes (chopped)
Feta Cheese...and lots of it!  :)
1/2 teaspoon - Sea Salt
1/2 teaspoon - course ground Garlic Powder
Marinara sauce of choice

Directions:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
Cut your Spaghetti Squash length wise down the middle and scoop out seeds.  You will be left with a long crater in the center of each squash half.
Lay each half face down on a baking sheet.  If you need to wipe a little oil on the sheet first then do so.

Next, slice up your Red Pepper, removing as many seeds as you can (unless you like some extra heat in your spaghetti).
Slice and chop the Red Onion half into small chunks.

By this time, or maybe a little sooner, your oven should be preheated so go ahead a place your squash halves inside and bake for 25-30 minutes.  30 is probably best unless the squash is very ripe and your oven runs real hot.

Chop up the Sun Dried Tomatoes.

Now place a skillet on your oven and warm it up on Med/Hot.
Coat the skillet with Olive Oil and let it warm up for a few minutes.

When your squash is done baking, pull them out and let them cool for a 5 minutes or so.  Caution, they will be hot to the touch for a few minutes.  Duh, right?  Well I didn't think they'd be THAT hot, but I twas wrong.

Okay, so now place your slices of Red Pepper, Almonds, and Pepitas in your skillet and saute for 3-5 minutes.  Watch out for that hot oil.  Then add in your Onion for just a couple more minutes.
You can also throw in the Sun Dried Tomato if you want to warm them up a bit, but I don't.

Once everything in the skillet has only a minute or so left grab one half of the spaghetti squash and scrape out the "noodles" into your bowl or plate.  Trust me, if you've never had spaghetti squash before, it's too much fun to see the squash come out as noodles.  :) 

To add your salt you want to divide it evenly among the bowls or plates of  spaghetti squash.  So if you're serving 4 divide your salt into 4 portions.  Otherwise if you're only doing 2 then dividing the amount of salt in half is whatchya want to do.
Mix up the "noodles" and salt.

Pour some Marinara sauce of your choice onto the squash and add the skillet contents.
Sprinkle...oh, who am I kidding?...DUMP a bunch of Feta Cheese on top!  There's nothin' betta' than Feta!
Sprinkle a little Garlic Powder to finish it off and you have Spaghetti Squash for dinner!

The Feast of Tabernacles (pt. 2)

What's the point?  Of life, I mean.  You're born, you might live a good 80-90 years, and then you die.  So what's the point of it all?  You can't take anything with you so what's the use in accumulating a bunch of "stuff" that will just get passed on to the next person?

Well, I'm going to tell you why we're here. 

...drum roll, please.....

To be in a relationship.

Eh hem, I said...TO BE IN A RELATIONSHIP! 

Was that possibly not the answer you were looking for?  Okay, okay, so I'm being a bit vague, but I just wanted to get your cranial juices flowing.  :)

An intimate relationship (which is what I'm talking about here) involves 2 persons who deeply, courageously, and fervently love and care for each other.  A strong and steady marriage between a man and woman best pictures this.  Each of them is willing to sacrifice whatever they have for the other person.  Their possessions, their time, even their life become inconsequential when compared to their true love.  Remember this.

Again, what kind of a relationship am I talking about, here?  Well, the only kind that matters of course!  A relationship with the one who actually MADE YOU.  No, not your dad or mom.  No, not the person who might make you feel like a better person, like say, your spouse or children.  No no, I'm talking about the one who crafted seeds, formed clouds, spoke stars into existence, and made your heart beat for the very first time in your mother's womb.  The one who had you in His mind before time existed.  The one who paints beautiful artwork in the heavens day and night just to get your attention.  I'm talking about GOD! 

We're born, we live, we die.  None of this is pointless IF (and I mean IF) you know the Maker of heaven and earth.  However, if you choose to reject Him who gave you life in the first place then you will find yourself alone...for eternity.  All alone.  

Deep down inside none of us want to be alone.  God certainly doesn't want you to be alone!  He made you for a reason; that He might show you His love and give you an eternity to get to know Him better.  But, because He is true love He will not force Himself upon anyone, because then their love for Him wouldn't be real.  We don't want someone we love and care for to just be a mindless zombie and say they love us when we know they really don't.  No, we want that person in our life to really, truly care for us!  That's exactly how God feels about you!  That you would see just how much He has sacrificed for you to give you the opportunity to know Him.

Sacrificed?  What has God sacrificed for you, you might ask?  Only EVERYTHING!  For those of you who don't know what I'm talking, listen up, and for those of you who DO know what I'm talking about let this be a reminder...God sacrificed His only Son for you.  He gave Him up to be sin for you and I, sinners.  Yeshua (Jesus) came to earth in the form of a man, lived a life in perfect obedience to give us a perfect example to go by, and was murdered by people who professed godliness but knew nothing of it.  Our Savior was born, lived, and died.  Sound familiar?  Oh, I forgot one thing...He rose again!!!

Now, if Yeshua rose from the dead, what do you think that means for those who trust in Him?  YES!  They will live again too!  Death will have no hold on us who follow our Messiah now into eternity.  But again, if you don't know Him when you die then there will be no resurrection for you.  Just a second death.

But I want you to think about the "living" part of things here for a minute.  The Son of God came to the earth He created and lived among those whom He foreknew.  Yet, He was rejected and despised by many around Him.  But He didn't come to be Mr. Popular.  He came to heal the sick, raise the dead, and speak truth to everyone who knew it when they heard it! 

Yeshua is God, but He subjected Himself to a life of having nothing but a little food and water and the air He breathed.  He who was outside of the very time that He created stepped into it and was governed by it.  He who was/is eternal allowed His life to be taken.  His possessions, His time, and His life was inconsequential when He considered you and I.

This life isn't about gaining a bunch of things, but rather, losing everything for the chance to know Him who can give you everything!  In other words, if you want to invest in this world and live for yourself then you are going to miss out on all that truly matters, because nothing you have will save you when death comes.  However, if you let go of those things (and sometimes people) in this world that are keeping you from possibly hearing your Creator and allow Him to reveal Himself to you, you will know what I'm talking about.  Your life will be brought into perspective and you will be challenged in everything you've ever known...and that is a good thing. 

If you're in a relationship with your Lord then you know that not every step in this journey through life is easy, but it is one more step with your true love.  Yes, your true love.  You know, the One who made that sunset for you to enjoy? 

The Feast of Tabernacles (pt 1)

Here it is...the last feast of God's calendar year!  The Feast of Tabernacles, also called the Feast of the Ingathering.
What does this feast mean for the people of God today?  How are we to celebrate it?  Well, it's a pretty large feat to try and tackle that all in one post so we're going to look at this feast in several parts.
Again, going to Leviticus 23, which speaks concerning all the feasts of the LORD, the feast of Tabernacles follows the Day of Atonement, on the fifteenth day of the seventh month.  They (the children of Israel) were commanded to offer up sacrifices and offerings and to rest on the first and last days (high sabbaths) of the feast.  They were also commanded to dwell in booths, or temporary shelters.
Before we get into things too much, let's take a look at the word "tabernacle" itself.   That IS, after all, the name of the feast!

The word, in Hebrew, is "suka", meaning - "a hut or lair; booth, tent; a rude or temporary shelter".

The Israelites were commanded to build sukas and dwell in them throughout the feast in order to commemorate their deliverance from Egypt by the hand of the LORD.

 The idea of building a temporary dwelling place was also a picture of dwelling with the LORD during the time He was leading them out of slavery in Egypt.  I can say, in a sense, that my Savior has delivered me from my "Egypt" in the fact that I was a "slave to sin", but now I am a "slave to righteousness" (Romans 6:17-18).  I was not, however, delivered from literal Egypt.  I'm saying that for a reason which I'll get to in a later post.  Nonetheless I AM free in HIM!  Messiah is the reason I celebrate.  In fact, He is the reason for everything, which is what we have to realize and remember when looking at things like the Feasts of the LORD.

As I dwell in this body, which Peter references as a "tent" (2 Peter 1:13-14), as does Paul (2 Corinthians 5:4), I am reminded that this world is not my home.  And while there are many wonderful things about this creation that He has given for me to enjoy, it is not my destination.  It is a place of learning.  It is a battlefield.  It is a 'temporary' dwelling...as is my body.

As I look forward to the next seven days of the Feast of Tabernacles I am reminded to not get ahead of my Lord.  Each day and every step is a glorious opportunity to walk with Him...and that is what it's all about...the journey with Him. 

The Day of Atonement

In Leviticus 23:26-32 the LORD speaks of another feast day - the Day of Atonement.
10 days following the Feast of Trumpets falls the Day of Atonement, which speaks of the atoning sacrifice for sins.  Under the First Covenant and the Levitical priesthood we saw that only once a year the high priest would enter into the Holy of Holies (the very back portion of the Tabernacle where the ark of the covenant was kept and the glory of the LORD would dwell) to make atonement for his sins and the sins of the people.  Speaking to Moses and the Israelite people, the LORD said it was to be a day of solemn rest and one in which the people were to afflict their souls.

Again, is this feast only for Jewish people, or is it for whoever calls on the name of the LORD to be saved...Jew and Gentile alike?

Over the centuries, those who have kept this feast day have done so by fasting and "afflicting" their souls, though how one actually accomplishes the affliction of their own soul is not clearly understood. 
The word for "afflict" in Leviticus 23 is the Hebrew word, 'ana' which literally means, "to depress; abase self; chasten self; deal hardly with; through the idea of brow-beating".   What exactly does that look like, practically speaking?  Well we'll take a look at a few passages of Scripture in just a second, that will hopefully shed some light on that.
The word for "souls" is 'nepes' which can have the meaning of a living thing or appetite.  Because appetite is there in the meaning of the word 'nepes' it is often ascribed as the reason that many abstain from food and drink on this day.

Something interesting is that which concerns the idea of fasting.  Nowhere in the commandment concerning this feast day is fasting mentioned.  So why do so many abstain from food on the Day of Atonement?  Is it because of the meaning of that word 'nepes'?  It has been a tradition of the Jewish people for millennia yet it isn't commanded in Scripture.  Fasting from food can certainly be afflicting, but does that afflict the soul or simply the flesh?  I do believe that denying the flesh does have some effect on the spirit since our spiritual nature and carnal nature are intertwined while still in this existence.  However, the concept that fasting from physical food can truly afflict the soul is not entirely proportionate as one might think.
I believe there are many who fast from food and drink because of tradition.  It's something that's always been done so let's keep doing it, right?  Also there are those who fast because of the fact that 'appetite' is in the meaning of the word 'nepes', but remember that word primarily means "a living being" or a "soul".

Also, we know that fasting from physical things doesn't completely afflict one's own soul.  And does "appetite" simply lend itself to eating?  No.  We have many appetites in this world that need to be abstained from such as those things that the flesh relishes in...like selfishness, anger, lying, murder, etc...

Now what about the command to afflict one's soul?  Well, one of the truest examples the LORD gives us is found in what He spoke through the prophet Isaiah.  In chapter 58 of Isaiah the LORD gives HIS interpretation of true fasting.  For sake of space I'm not going to type the whole chapter out so I HIGHLY SUGGEST YOU READ IT.  But a few verses say this:

"Is this not the fast that I have chosen:
To loose the bonds of wickedness, 
To undo the heavy burdens,
To let the oppressed go free,
And that you break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;
When you see the naked, that you cover him,
And not hide yourself from your own flesh?"
- Isaiah 58:6-7

Wow.  Do I do those things?   That's pretty afflicting to the soul. 
If you read the entire chapter you'll get the full picture of why God is saying this to His people.  Their hypocrisy was in that they were fasting from food but not from their appetites for injustice and strife!  Basically we're talking about lawlessness here.  The very thing our Savior came to abolish by living and fulfilling His law.

The result of doing the things God commands is found in verses 8-9.  Read them in conjunction with Matthew 5:13-20.

Then the Lord says this in verse 10 of Isaiah:

"If you extend your soul to the hungry 
And satisfy the afflicted soul,
Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, 
And your darkness shall be as the noonday."
- Isaiah 58:10

Again, wow.  That cuts right to it, doesn't it?  We have been given the ministry of reconciliation according to what Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, which means the same thing that Isaiah was pointing out - that we are to be about reaching others with the love of God by walking in His commandments.  God has reconciled us to Himself through the ATONING sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Yeshua Messiah), so we ought to be about reconciling others to Him as His ambassadors and His body!

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."
- Matthew 5:16

What good works?  The ones HE prepared beforehand for us to walk in (Ephesians 2:10): His commandments, statutes, judgments, laws.  HIS WAYS.  Not our own.  Not the world's.  Not the devil's.  HIS ways.  HIS works.  That's the only way our ministry can be truly affective for HIS glory.

So afflicting your soul is a commandment for the Day of Atonement and it's a pretty serious one.  How you do that, though, is simply walking in God's truth and loving instructions and allowing Him to bring about real change in your heart.  Presenting an offering made by fire.  As we've looked at before, that looks like what Paul wrote in Romans 12:1.  To offer YOURSELF as a living sacrifice, acceptable to God.  If your offering is acceptable to God then He will consume it!  Our God is a consuming fire, thus you become the burnt offering!

Yeshua already made atonement for your sins...are you willing to walk in that knowledge and truth?  Are you willing to afflict your soul His way rather than trying to do it in your own?

The Feast of Trumpets

 

What is the Feast of Trumpets?

Well, on our calendars it's known more familiarly as Rosh Hashanah. However, in reality we're talking about two completely different feasts.

Rosh Hashanah actually means "Head of the Year"; in other words, it's the Jewish New Year. The Jews believe that it is the beginning of their civil year, but it has very little to do with Yahweh's Feast of Trumpets as read in Leviticus 23.
In fact, the new year celebration of the Jewish people comes directly from the Babylonian calendar system which many of them began to adopt after their captivity there, some 2,500 years ago.

The Feast of Trumpets.
"Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
Speak to the children of Israel, saying: 'In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a sabbath-rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation.
You shall do no customary work on it; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD.'" - Leviticus 23:23-25

First of all let's define a few things:
The Seventh Month: While we're looking at the end of September, which is the ninth month, how can we say that the feast is in the seventh month?
Well, the LORD told Moses and Aaron before He led them out of Egypt that the beginning of their months, or the true new year, was actually in the spring around the time of our months March/April. So starting from there we end up with the seventh month falling around this time of year. God's calendar is the true time keeper, not the Gregorian calendar we use today.

A Holy Convocation: What does the word convocation mean? The Hebrew word for convocation is "miqra" (mik-raw) which means a public meeting; also a rehearsal.
The idea is that the feasts of the LORD are holy meetings between Him and us, as well as rehearsals. "Rehearsals for what?", you may ask.   Rehearsals for the time coming when we are with Him for all eternity.
The word for feast is "moed" which means appointment, or a fixed time. The Feasts of Yahweh are appointed times that He has specifically set aside to meet with us throughout the year. They are important for that reason alone, but He also works in many ways during the feasts, in the lives of His people.

In verse 24, the LORD says that the feast of trumpets should be a memorial of blowing of trumpets.

Memorial = zikron - a memorable thing; a record
Blowing of Trumpets = teruah - clamor, that is, acclamation of joy or a battle cry.

It is a memorial of an acclamation of joy!
In Nehemiah 8:1-12, Ezra read from the Law to all the people assembled on the Feast of Trumpets. As he read, the people were convicted upon hearing the Commandments and began to weep, however, the Levites who taught the people said,
"This day is holy to the LORD your God: do not mourn nor weep...do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

So how can we say that the Feast of Trumpets, which Yahweh gave to the Israelites, is for us as believers in Christ? And what about the 'offering made by fire to the LORD'? How does that work today under the New Covenant?

Quite simply, the feast itself speaks of not only hearing the voice of the Lord, but responding to Him with our lives as we await His return.
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service."
Romans 12:1

If we offer up not only our praises, but our very lives as a sacrifice to God, then He will accept that offering if we are living in obedience to His Word.
And because our God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29), our lives then become a "burnt offering" in a sense.
This is not spiritualizing the matter, since the idea of literal, animal sacrifices were simply a shadow, or picture, of the sacrifices which we are to now offer up.
In fact, in Hosea 14:2 it reads,
"for we will offer the sacrifices of our lips."
The word for sacrifices in the Hebrew is "par" which means literally - bull calves.

The Feast of Trumpets speaks clearly of Jesus' (Yeshua's) return for His saints. Whether or not we respond to His calling by repenting of our sins is the decision we must make.

Because of this, it is beautiful to see that The Feast of Trumpets is literally Yom Teruah, or the Day of the Awakening Blast!
The Trumpet (Hebrew - shofar) was often used as an alarm, a call to battle, or an awakening blast for the people to respond to. This is why the shofar (trumpet) can be best identified with the voice of God. It represents His voice because the Lord often uses the trumpet as a picture of calling His people to Him.
Exodus 19:16 tells us of the shofar which sounded from Mount Sinai. It grew louder and louder and the mountain shook (as did the people!).
Moses spoke and God answered Him by voice. Moses responded to the blast of the shofar and God then answered him.
This should be our response as well. The shofar sounded louder and louder, just as the Lord does with us to get our attention.
Our prayer should be that we would hear His voice and respond to Him before He has to cry out to wake us up!
Like Elijah, we too should listen to the 'still, small voice' of the LORD. The one that is gentle and peaceful.
Otherwise we will not fully understand what He is saying to us when it comes to the point that He's shouting to get our attention.

The Day of the LORD (the Day when our Savior returns) is a Day which Joel describes as terrible, and a Day of darkness and gloominess (Joel 2:1-2), and all accompanied by the sound of the trumpet (shofar). This is 'terrible' to those who do not know the voice of the LORD - those who do not have a saving relationship with Him and reject His commandments (Matthew 7:21-23).  Keeping His commandments, by the way, is what He uses to give us better understanding and wisdom concerning Himself (Psalm 111:10) and proves our faith in Him and love for Him is real (John 14:15; James 2:14-26).

But to those who love and obey Him, the Day of the LORD is a great day of salvation to all His people who wait for Him!

"And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they willl gather together His elcet from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."
Matthew 24:31

Notice the 'great sound of a trumpet' that accompanies our Lord's return.
Also,
"For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first."
1 Thessalonians 4:16

Notice the words like 'shout' and 'voice' which are alongside the phrase 'trumpet of God'. There is a definite link between the shofar and the voice of the Lord.

"I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying,
'I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and the Last'
Revelation 1:10-11a

We see from the context of this chapter that the 'voice' that John heard was the Lord Yeshua's, and it sounded like a trumpet.

Clearly, the shofar that sounded from Mount Sinai, as God spoke to the children of Israel, was also a prelude to the coming of our Messiah when the heavenly shofar will sound again and He will gather His saints to Himself!

Yeshua said, "'My sheep hear My voice,'" - John 10:27a

Do you hear His voice?
Can you tell where the Lord is directing you?
If not, then you must search His Word to determine whether you truly know the Shepherd or not. If you don't, then when the shofar sounds from heaven and our Messiah returns for those who love Him, He will say to you,

"I never knew you, depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness" (Matthew7:21-23).

The Value of Companionship

"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.
For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
But woe to him who is alone when he falls, 
for he has no one to help him up.
Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm;
but how can one be warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered by another, two can
withstand him.
And a threefold cord is not quickly broken."
- Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Stress

Are you stressed? 
How often have you had a sore neck because of stress?  Maybe it was even a little stiff?

The Bible says that a stiff-necked person is one who is rebelling against God.  Does that apply to you?

In Exodus 32 we read about a bunch of "stiff-necked people" who made a golden calf and worshiped it rather than the Living God who brought them out of Egypt.  Certainly we aren't like them!  Or are we?

I can think of several times right off hand that my neck has been stiff and NOT because I slept on it wrong or wrenched it somehow.  It was literally stiff for a duration, and each time I was in rebellion against my Creator.

"Yes, but I'm simply stressed out!  You can't tell me it's because I'm rebellious!"  Well, I think I can.  The bible says that the heart of man (and woman) is deceitful and desperately wicked and only God truly knows it (Jeremiah 17:9-10).  We are a rebellious lot to begin with, but let's consider what "stress" really is.

When we are under stress, or even feeling a little depressed, we are under the barrage of the things of this world.  Whether it be our job, our relationships, our bad habits, or what-have-you, a stressed out body is simply the effect of an underlying cause. 

If we are stressing over something could it be that we are simply not trusting God?

I think in most applications this applies.  Our bodies were created to give off warning signs whenever we get away from the design of our Creator. 
Consider Psalm 38:7-8 or Psalm 32:3-4!  Real physical results of a person out of sync with YAH. 

God is so faithful to give us warning when we get off track, and yet so many times we refuse to listen.  We can become sick if we don't take care of ourselves, which is a form of rebellion.   Even eating in opposition to what God says we are to eat is a rebellious attitude (when we are aware of it) and can bring judgment.   I believe that when we are stressed out and burdened we are simply in a place of doubting or not trusting God, or rebelling against His commands.

He has given us everything we need in order to have faith in Him...do we hold on to that?

Consider the event with Peter and Yeshua (Jesus) during the storm at sea.  In Matthew 14:22-33.
In that story the disciples were caught in the midst of a tumultuous storm while Yeshua had gone up to a mountain to pray.  It says that the boat was being tossed about because the waves were "contrary". 
Then we're told that Messiah came walking on the water about the "fourth watch of the night" - the time just before dawn.  The disciples thought it was a ghost but Yeshua called out and told them not to fear.  Then Peter (you gotta love this) answered and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."  So Yeshua did and Peter came out of the boat and...walked on water!  All because of his faith in his Shepherd!  But we all know what happened next.  Peter began taking his eyes off of the Lord and focused on the storm around him.  When he did, he was afraid and began to sink and cried for Yeshua to save him.  Messiah did save him.  He stretched out His hand and caught him.  What He said to Peter, though, is so interesting.  He said, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"  Why did you doubt?  Whuh?!  The guy just walked on water!  I can not imagine having the faith to walk on water like Peter did.  However, I think I'm finally seeing what Yeshua was saying there.  No matter how big the "storm" is, when we take our eyes off of Him, we begin to place our faith or trust in something (or someone) else.  When we take our eyes off of Yeshua we LET the cares and/or fears of this world overpower our faith in Him.  I've understood that concept for a good number of years, but it actually sinks in more and more the further I walk in this life.  And the more storms I face.

The Creator of all things is able to save us from anything, yet we doubt.  We become afraid.  We grow weary.  Why?  Because we don't trust Him.  We don't cry out to Him.  We rely on our own strength. 

Don't beat yourself up if you are under stress, tribulation is a part of life.  However, seek the Lord during that time.

Remember, God is the God of peace and He promises His peace toward us!  He also promises to work all things to the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose!  What awesome promises.

Sure, stress is a part of this world and something that we will probably always have to deal with on this side of eternity, but it is NOT something that should rule over us.  Stress is simply another challenge to overcome by trusting in our Savior and walking with Him.  The effects of stress (which could be a stiff neck, sore shoulders, inflammation, etc...) are warning signs that we need to stop and seek the Lord for answers and direction. 

Life Insurance

I saw a commercial the other day in which a dad and his young son, probably around 7 or 8, were watching t.v. and a 'commercial' came on about life insurance. The boy turned to his dad and asked, "Dad, what's life insurance?" The father turned ever so caring to his son and said, "Well...it's something that....if anything happened to me or your mom, then you kids would be taken care of." Or at least something to that effect. The boy faced the television again, reassured now that dad had answered his question and then turned back to his father and said, "Do you have life insurance?" The father answered "Yes." and then the boy paused for a moment then replied, "I'm glad we have life insurance."  Cheesy?  Yes.  Thought provoking?  Hopefully.

Seeing this advertisement made me stop and think for a bit.  Having life insurance for your family is not a bad idea, but money only goes so far.   If anything happened to you, they would be taken care of financially, but is that all you're giving to your children?

For some people that's more than enough.   If they can give their children a good "cushion" should anything happened to them then they're doing alright.  However, I think that there's a whole lot more that we can be doing for our children besides life insurance. Let me explain.

The first question we have to ask ourselves as parents is, "Am I teaching my children the ways of the Lord according to His Word?"  "Do they see Him in me and His work through my life?"

Raising children is a privilege and huge responsibility, that's for sure (especially in this world today), but I'm reminded of what the Lord commanded for His people to do,

1. "Now this is the commandment, and these are the statutes and judgments which the LORD your God has commanded to teach you that you may observe them in the land which you are crossing over to possess,
2. that you may fear the LORD your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged.
3. Therefore, hear O Israel, and be careful to observe it, that it may be well with you, and that you may multiply greatly as the LORD God of your fathers has promised you - 'a land flowing with milk and honey'.
4. "Hear O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!
5. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
6. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.
- Deuteronomy 6:1-6

Notice how many times the Lord mentions His commandments, statutes, and judgments in these few verses. Also, see that the purpose of these are that we would fear the Lord and keep His commandments. The LORD is one and they were to love Him with all their heart, soul, and strength. Sound familiar? Jesus said this to the Pharisees in Matthew 22:37. We know that we are to do the same, yet notice what the Lord continues to say,

"You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up."
- Deuteronomy 6:7

What are we to teach our children?  His commandments. And we are to teach them diligently, the Lord says. The word for teach them diligently is the Hebrew shanan which means 'intensively to pierce'; prick, sharpen.' Think of it, we are to pierce, or prick our children's ears and hearts with the commandments of Yahweh! To sharpen them with His Law. Notice that it's not just a quick prayer when they head out the door, or a quaint bible story before they go to bed. No, it should be throughout the entire day...when we sit, walk, lie down and wake up together.

This doesn't mean that we should constantly be shoving the Law of God down their throats, pointing out every thing they do in which they break the commandment, thereby causing them to disdain His Word. Certainly not, for if we are looking unto our Savior and living for Him according to His Torah/Law, then His grace in our lives (divine influence upon the heart with a reflection through the life) will almost effortlessly come out in our relationship with our children. We must make a constant effort to teach them the Ways of Yahweh, in His entire word. If we are walking in Torah, obeying the voice of the Lord, and teaching our children how to hear His voice, then they will very early on begin to hear Him. In their lives they will know Him intimately and walk on their own with the Spirit in His Torah.

I confess that I have rarely done a great job at teaching my children.  In fact, I feel like I hardly ever get it right!  And the enemy of our souls is right there agreeing with me.  We have to remember, though, that we are NOT perfect and we will mess up from time to time.  Don't allow the enemy or your sinful nature to bring about condemnation.  If you're really trying to follow the ways of the living God and His Word and teaching them to your children then just trust Him to accomplish the work in their lives.  YOU just need to be obedient to Him with your own life!  He will speak to your children through that!

A Torah life is one that exalts the Lord of heaven and earth and seeks to know Him more and to be obedient to Him in all that we do. It is not bondage, as some say, but true liberty. The truth shall make you free indeed! Messiah said this to those who did not fully understand the purity of God's whole word. Yeshua (Jesus) also said,

"Sanctify them by Your truth, Your Word is truth."
- John 17:17

When we look at Psalm 119 we read,

"Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your Law is truth."
- Psalm 119:142

Here specifically we see that God's Law is truth. We know that it is His instruction, His standard, and His direction for us. The word Torah actually has the meaning of "a prescribed grazing". His Law is food for us, much like Jesus said in Matthew 4 quoting....well Himself from Deuteronomy 8:3, saying,

"It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'"
- Matthew 4:4

What 'word' was He speaking of? The entire Word of God including the foundation - the Torah!

If we teach our children about who the Lord is and train them up in obeying His Commandments, then we are giving them everything they need for life and godliness. His Torah is His standard by which He judges all men. Our children were sinners from birth and they need to be born again in Messiah Yeshua, believing that He is the only way, truth, and life and that there is no other way to the Father except through Him! The Law of God teaches them this and will lead them to a point where they must either except Him as Savior or reject Him. They are not saved just because they are born into a family that follows Messiah. They must make the decision to follow Him on their own.

We CANNOT make the decision for them, no matter how badly we want to. We cannot force our will upon them anymore than our Father WILL NOT force His will upon us. But like He does with us, so we must do with our children....love them by being patient with them, disciplining them when they disobey, and teaching them along the way to be obedient to Yahweh, because His love for them is far greater than ours.

So life insurance, as best we can provide in our limited abilities, can be money related (though only temporary), but at best is simply living in obedience to God, training our children up in Torah, in the way they should go, and as they grow they will not depart from it. This will hold true if WE hold true to His Word and our children will see that in our lives. They will see that no matter how much we love and care for them, their heavenly Father cares much more.

We must give them more....much more than money. We have to offer up our lives as living sacrifices to God, praying that our testimony and our parenting will result in our children's obedience to Him. Though they may not choose Him, that will be between them and Him in the end. But we must be faithful and they must be warned that only HE can provide a true assurance of life eternal....a real life insurance.

Fixing a Water Heater

Water not quite as hot as it was?
Not warming up that fast?

Could be bad heating elements in your water heater.
 
Changing the elements in your electric water heater is a pretty simple job that can save you a good   chunk of change.
Here's a really good article on how to do it!

Click HERE to read the full article.

True Friendship

Lately it seems as though the Lord has been bringing to my attention the idea of friendship.
In particular, can believers in Yeshua/Jesus truly be friends with non-believers?
I think first we have to define the word "friend" according to the Scriptures.

"Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, 'Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.' And he was called the friend of God." 
- James 2:22-23
 
You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you." 
- John 15:14-16

Moses was also called a friend of God, and as we just read what Yeshua said to His disciples, a true friend of God is someone who is obedient to Him, which is proof of his love. A more specific definition, in accordance with Scripture, would be 'One who obeys the Lord's Torah/Law out of love for Him and by His grace through faith'.
I believe that the better we understand this concept of friendship as being defined by walking in God's commandments (His Torah), then we will better understand why Paul writes what he does to the Corinthian church.

"Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of God. As God has said: 'I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people." Therefore "Come out from among them and be separate says the LORD. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty.'" 
- 2 Corinthians 6:14-18

Notice the temple of God and idols, light and dark, Christ and Belial... all things that are complete opposites and have no union what-so-ever. And Paul also includes a believer and an unbeliever. We have no business being in fellowship with unbelievers. But why?
It is because of where Paul quotes from first in Leviticus 26:12 and Jeremiah 32:28.
God will dwell in and among His people only when we are holy (separate) from the uncleaness of the world.
Does that mean we have to be perfect before He'll dwell with us? Well, yes. But not on our own accord. It is impossible for us to be perfect on our own, but through the blood of Messiah we are made spotless!
So then, if we are born again in Him we ought not to have a relationship with those who are lawless.
He quotes from Isaiah 52:11 which exhorts us to not touch anything unclean. Isaiah was writing to those who carried the vessels of the LORD, which were the priests. According to Scripture we are priests in God's kingdom (1 Peter 2:5,9) which means we are not to be a part of this world (that which is unclean).

But what about witnessing? How are we supposed to witness to unbelievers without being friends to them? The Lord tells us that the most effective way of witnessing is to simply be obedient to His Word and walk in love for other believers (Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 5:16-19, 22:37-40; John 13:35; 1 John 5:2-3).
We have to remember that while the Lord wants us to be a light to those in darkness,  HE knows that if we 'have fellowship' with those who are immersed in sin, that lifestyle will eventually draw us into it because sin is always looking for a way to get in. In fact, the LORD told Cain this:

"...sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should overcome it." - Genesis 4:7b

We are constantly told not to walk in the ways of the world nor to turn back to our old ways, but to keep our eyes on things above...things of the Lord.
If we truly care about the lost (and we should!) then we must do all we can to walk in obedience to God's Word and show unbelievers the truth of it. As living epistles, we are His letter to those who are lost. If they 'read' us as we walk in accordance with His commandments and share His good news, then His Word will not return void and people will see our good works and glorify God (Matthew 5:16).
A final thought from the epistle of James on those who are friends with unbelievers and the world:
"Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, 'The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously?'" 
 - James 4:4-5

Unity

Many in this world are preaching a message of unity with other religions and beliefs, not that this is anything new, but it is becoming more and more prevalent.  Tolerance is the word for the day.
What is more frightening is the fact that professing Christendom is accepting, or even proclaiming in many cases, this same message.
It is the spirit of antichrist, plain and simple.
James says that friendship with the world makes yourself an enemy of God (James 4:4).
The giant blanket of Christianity is encompassing many "faiths" and leading people to destruction. The many teachers in the professing church are making people twice the son of hell as they are. Certainly not all christians are like this, but more than there should be.
And yet it doesn't stop there. Far too many Jewish people are progressing in this belief at any cost. It seems that not only are many Jews still denying Yeshua/Jesus as the Messiah, but they are believing that there are many ways to God and the message of unity which the world is preaching. In fact, many of them (though not all) are not just believing it, they are the cause.

Even IF Yeshua is not the Messiah (though we know He is), God in His Torah (loving commandments) still states that there is ONLY one way to Him and salvation - by walking in Him and His commandments through faith (Exodus 19:5; Deuteronomy 10:12-16; 26:17). He clearly says not to worship any other gods (Exodus 20:3-6; 23:19). He says He hates false gods and religious practices (Leviticus 19:26-31; Deuteronomy 7:25-26) and the ways of the other nations (Deuteronomy 9:5; 12:30-31).
Yahweh (God) condemns other religions and false practices because He is the ONLY true God.
So now we come to the fact that Yeshua is God in the flesh (John 8:57-58; Colossians 1:15-16; 2:9-10; 1 John 4:2-3). So in accordance with that fact, He is also the ONLY way to the Father (John 14:6).
Messiah did not come to destroy or do away with the Torah, but to fully teach it (Matthew 5:17-19; 7:16), thereby establishing the foundation of our faith.

He (Yahweh/Yeshua/Holy Spirit) is God and the only way of salvation. We as human beings in the flesh (sinful nature) do not like to hear when we're wrong about something. But if we are in a lie, shouldn't we let go of that and hold fast to the truth, no matter what the cost? The truth is the truth and we can't change that, nor should we want to. Yeshua IS salvation for us and His commandments (Torah) are our instruction in obedience to Him. It's by His grace, through our faith that we are saved so that we can then walk in obedience to Him - proving our faith is real.
There is no substitute for Yeshua, no other way to be saved, and anyone who believes otherwise will NOT be excepted into the kingdom of God (John 3:36; Hebrews 2:3; 10:29; Revelation 20:15). That's not my words, but His.

Storms

Storms are amazing.  They're at once terrifying and peaceful.  

An awe-inspiring reflection of our Creator.

As I was driving home the other day a storm was heading in from the west.  It was moving very quickly and changing constantly.  As I came to a certain place on the road I noticed this large field and how the clouds looked at that moment and I thought, "I've GOT to get a picture!".
So I pulled over, got out and started snapping away on my iphone.  Oh, if only I had a really nice camera!  Someday, perhaps.  But for now I'm very thankful that I've got something to take pictures with that I have handy all the time (and doesn't do half bad ;)   ).

Anyway, as I stood there taking pictures of this huge storm moving my way I could feel the wind picking up speed.  The trees blew more violently around me and I could smell the rain coming.  What a frightfully wonderful moment!  It reminded me so much of my God.  How amazingly powerful HE is.

The One Who created all things and controls all weather was watching me as I stood there, pretty helpless really, as the storm approached.  Though in HIM I'm not helpless.  Granted it could have been a much worse storm, but that's the thing with them...you never really know how the storm is going to be until you're in it.  God knows this.  He knows what the storms of life are going to be like for us because He knows the outcome.  He also became as one of us so that He might be able to be our perfect intercessor and author and finisher of our faith.  Able to identify in EVERY way with us, no matter what the temptation is that we face.

Hebrews says,

"For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings."
- Hebrews 2:10


When Messiah came to earth in the form of man(kind) He did so for the purpose of dying and defeating the devil who has the power of death.  To give us hope for victory over our own sinful nature.  He did not count His own life more than ours.  He allowed Himself to be murdered by lawless hands so that we might have hope for eternal life...in HIM (Acts 2:23).

I'm still learning that the "storms" I face in life are there to teach me to reach out to my Savior more and more.  The event with Peter comes to my mind in which, when he focused on the Lord he actually walked on water, but as soon as he took his eyes away from HIM and looked at the overwhelming (so he thought) storm around him, Peter began to sink (Matthew 14:22-33).  Everytime I face that storm I have a choice to make:  Will I be fearful and try to save myself, OR will I keep focused on my God and trust HIM to increase my faith in HIM and lead me through it?  This is a question we all must ask ourselves often.  Sometimes we will trust in ourselves, but praise the Lord for His mercy to not allow us to be wiped out and instead give us another chance to trust Him.  However, I don't want to keep making that mistake of trying to do it on my own.  I want to trust Him more everyday, and actually FOLLOW Him through the storm.

There's great peace in the midst of a terrible storm...when you trust the One who allowed it in the first place.


"For You have been a strength to the poor, 
a strength to the needy in his distress, 
a refuge in the storm,
a shade from the heat;
for the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall."
- Isaiah 25:4 

Is Your Faith Alive?

What is faith? This is probably the most important question that we can ask ourselves as we seek to trust the Lord with our salvation. Is faith simply saying you believe and nothing more? Or is it doing something with your faith?

In his epistle James writes,
"For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." James 2:26
Our bodies are nothing but empty shells without our spirits filling them up. Granted our bodies are amazing in their construction, but they are useless without the breath of God breathed into them.
Let's look a little closer at what James is saying in chapter 2.
"What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?
If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,' but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?
Thus also faith by itself if it does not have works, is dead.
But someone will say, 'You have faith, and I have works.' Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.< You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe - and tremble!
But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?
Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?
And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, 'Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.' And he was called the friend of God.
You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." - James 2:14-26

Some people seem to think that James is contradicting what Paul says in Galatians 2:16 "for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified."
However, look at what Paul says in his letter to the Romans -

(for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; - Romans 2:13

Paul and James are not in opposition to each other since they were both inspired by the same Holy Spirit!
We are NOT saved by our works (Ezekiel 33:13), but rather, our works PROVE that our faith is REAL!
If we do good works in accordance with the Torah of God, out of love for Him and His people, then we have shown our faith is more than just an empty shell.
Though most people still choose to believe that faith is simply saying you believe and nothing more. "God knows my heart" they say, yet they overlook what the Lord says in His Word about walking in obedience to His commandments:
"I will put My Spirit within you and CAUSE you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and DO them." - Ezekiel 36:27

"Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches the, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 5:19
 
He who has My commandments and KEEPS them, it is he who loves Me." 
- John 14:21
 
"You are my friends IF you DO whatever I command you." - John 15:14
 
"Through Him [Christ] we have received grace and apostleship for obdience to the faith..." 
- Romans 1:5
 
"Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision?" - Romans 2:26
 

"Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law." - Romans 3:31
 
"But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should SERVE in the newness of the Spirit [Jeremiah 31:31-34] and not in the oldness of the letter." 
- Romans 7:6

"I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself SERVE the Law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin." - Romans 7:25
 
"that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." - Romans 8:4
 
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." - Ephesians 2:8-10
 
"work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." - Phillippians 2:12b-13
 
"who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works." - Titus 2:14

"Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, 'I know Him' and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk just as He walked. Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandmentis the word which you heard from the beginning." - 1 John 2:3-7
 
"and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests [by implication to SERVE] to His God and Father ..." - Revelation 1:5-6

There are more Scriptures that show us that faith is more than just "saying" we believe. It is an action, something we DO. Proof of our faith.
Not proof for God, since He does see our hearts, but proof for ourselves and those around us. This is an essential part of God's design for our relationship with Him and those who are in Him.

Faith IS what saves us, but again, our works are proof of that faith which makes them very important. God wants us to know beyond the shadow of a doubt that we are saved by faith and that our faith is alive.