Courage To Encourage

This day was challenging. Much transpired, and it got away from me altogether. Some days when I have struggles and doubts, it is a challenge for me to lift my head to encourage others. But My God never fails to encourage me, even in these troubled times. Here is a word for those that need such encouragement.

Psalms 59:16 But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.
17 Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.

Praise God for His deliverance!

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You are our King. We bless the name Yahuah! Send us today Your overwhelming provision. Forgive us for our sins. Heal and deliver us. Come quickly. In Yeshuah’s (Jesus’) name. Amen.

We Must Persevere

When I was thinking of this title today I must admit it made me smile a bit. It sounded like such a, well, sort of sophisticated title. Lately when I consider our great and marvelous Father, Creator of the universe, I feel a sense of emotion. That is a good thing for us, I believe, because we are created to be compassionate just like our Father.

Mark 6:34 And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.

This is one of the examples when Yeshuah (Jesus) multiplied the food. In another place when He had compassion He healed the eyes of two blind men, at their request, after they refused to stop crying out to Him as told to do by the leaders. Our God always wants to meet our needs. He cares for us because He is a Father.

Today, as You ponder the life we have and consider our Father, perhaps you will find encouragement in knowing that He is a compassionate, wonderful Father that cares for us.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You are our King, and You have a kingdom where we want to dwell at all times. We praise and bless the name Yahuah (Lord)! Send us today Your overwhelming blessing that even those standing near us are also blessed. Forgive us our sins. Heal up these hearts of ours, and soften them with the oil of Your Spirit. Deliver us from those that would steal from us what You alone have provided. Deliver us with a very strong hand. We ask all these things in the name of Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). Amen.

We Can Make It If We Don’t Give Up

This post will be short. I have been thinking recently about all the challenges we hear about in the news, both now and in the coming months. When believers pay attention to try to hear from God, I am very glad. On the other hand, it concerns me when I see so many comment and complain about what is or is not happening, but when given the opportunity to take a stand, all I hear is excuses, I become concerned.

America, and the world, needs leadership.

Joshua 24:14 Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord.
15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Sometimes serving Yahuah (Lord) means DOING SOMETHING other than talking, or other than not just doing what others are doing.

America, and the world, needs leadership.

Who will you be?

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You are King, and we bless the name of Yahuah! Send today Your overwhelming provision. Forgive us our sins. Heal us and deliver us. In Yeshuah’s (Jesus’) name. Amen.

As Real As Ever

Last night I had a spiritual dream. In the dream I was being pursued by someone that wanted to slay me. We both had swords, but in the dream it seemed he was an expert assassin with a sword, and I was just a person that knew a little bit about carrying one. Running seemed to be the wise option.

We were in some type of very large building, perhaps the largest I have ever seen. There were many structures that made it appear as though this was also a place for storing and selling items of merchandise, some of which were on the shelves, although I do not remember anything about what was there. He was very acrobatic and leapt from place to place. I just out ran him at first, but he kept leaping from structure to structure an was gaining on me. He also had a bow so I knew if I did not move around, he could shoot me with an arrow at a distance.

In the dream, I decided to begin to get into the structures and jump from one to the other as well. Surprisingly, that worked for me, and I was able to move quickly through the structures. Just as I thought I was getting good at this form of movement, I realized that he was getting closer. It was then I realized that I was trying to win by imitating his strategy. I was trying to be acrobatic. It was at that moment that I remembered I could fly (as I have in many of these dreams), but why was I not trying to fly. He was not far away now, and I had to decide what to do. The wrong decision could be deadly for me. I remember thinking that I had chosen wrong earlier, that I had chosen to “play his game” and that I needed to use what I had been given, not respond to him like he would respond. As I made up my mind to fly, there were thoughts in my mind like where to fly to or what if it doesn’t work. But in this world I had flown many times and knew that I could, as naturally as walking in this world. Just as I took a leap into air to fly, I woke up.

When I woke up to my alarm I started to put one leg out of bed and reach for the clock. Suddenly I was hit with the worst leg cramp (“charlie horse” my dad called them) I can ever remember in my adult life in my left calf, the leg I put out of bed. It literally caused my leg to fold up. I began to rub it, as that is what I was taught in sports in high school. The pain was extremely intense and not receding. I was calling out to Yahuah (Lord) to help me. Suddenly I stopped rubbing my leg and said, repeatedly, “Peace to this leg in Yahuah’s name. Peace to this leg in Yeshuah’s name.” Instantly my leg felt some warmth, and the muscle began to relax. The pain dissipated as well. If I moved, it would begin to cramp again. I continued to speak to my leg, and with the cramping stopped, I began to rub my leg and tried to pull it to be straight, continuing to repeat that phrase. Finally it was straight enough to walk and I got out of bed.

Afterwards, as I sat to write, it seemed to me that we can hear a scripture often enough that we forget the intensity of it. This weekend at fellowship we read from Revelation, and it sounded as if there were some very intense things happening at the seventh seal and beyond.

Revelation 14:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.
10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

Then I thought of Zechariah where there is a return of the Messiah, and whole mountains split apart.

Zechariah 14:1 Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.
2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
3 Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.
4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

We read over and over of Messiah destroying the enemies of Israel in a battle, and we become numb to what that means. There will be battle. People will die. Many people will die. It will not be pleasant. It will be real. But just like in the case of my dream and my leg, we need to not fight like the enemy fights. We need to use the power of the name of our Father Yahuah (Lord), and the power of the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus), for these are the gifts and wisdom given to us by the Father, to win the battle in the day of adversity.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are the Master. You alone are our King. We praise and exalt the name Yahuah! Only through You can we win against our enemy. Only in Your kingdom will truth and mercy reign! Send us today Your overwhelming provision, so plentiful that it overflows to those around us. We exalt Your name! Forgive us our sins. Help us to be Your people that overcome the darkness. Heal up our hearts and make them pure. Deliver us from the evil and the system that would steal from us what You alone have provided. Set Your people free to keep Your feasts Father! Come today with a strong hand and outstretched arm. Come now, Yahuah, rise up for Your people. We ask all these things in the name of Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). Amen.

We Can, We Will

Our Father wants us to have a life that is filled with opportunity to spend time with Him. He loves us, and always has our best interests in mind as He walks us through the events of our lives. Many of us, if asked, would acknowledge this. But as a people we must get to the place where no one has to ask. We must get to the place where we walk around looking for what He is doing to do it. this is what Yeshuah (Jesus) did.

John 5:19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.

If we believe that Yeshuah (Jesus) was and is the Messiah, then we start down the right path. If we believe that He was sent from the Father, then we too should want to look to see what the Father is doing, because we want to be like Him. Our Father, Yahuah (Lord), has given to us the ability to do His commands. That power is in our mouths.

Deuteronomy 30:11 For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off.
12 It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?
13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?
14 But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.

This was the simple message from Yeshuah (Jesus). We will have to fight off what others say, what is in our mind, and possibly the traditions we have been taught. But He has given us the power to do these things. We have to adopt the belief, the attitude, and the action to make it happen.

We must agree with Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus) and say, “We can, we will!”

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. We ask that You go with us today, because You alone are our King. We need You and Your kingdom. We bless the name Yahuah! Send us today Your overwhelming abundant provision, for we have only You. Forgive us our sins. Heal up the broken hearts, Yahuah, the many broken hearts. Deliver us from the evil that would steal from us. Stretch out Your arm and show yourself strong on our behalf today. we ask these things in the name of Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). Amen.

Unnecessary Fear

We will come up against those that will oppose us in life. In those moments, our mind can be filled with thoughts about how something unfortunate will occur to us. But we do not have to give in to those thoughts. We do not have to live in fear. If we will turn to our Father and seek his face and call out to Him, He will hear us.

Psalms 55:16 As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me.
17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
18 He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.
19 God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.

When we are faced with the opportunity to trust and believe, or doubt and fear, we can know that Yahuah (Lord) is there to respond to our call. David would actually sing at these times, because he knew Yahuah (Lord) would not forsake him.

Psalms 18:1 I will love thee, O Lord, my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
3 I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

We can win this! We just have to be willing to try. We need to sing praises to Yahuah and to call upon His name. When we will call upon His name, He will deliver us. Praise Yahuah (Lord)!

Prayer
Father, we exalt You! You are King! We praise and bless the name Yahuah! Let Your kingdom reign on the earth today. Send us today Your overwhelming provision that we need. Forgive us our sins. We are weak vessels Father. Help us to be strong. Rise up against the evil that would harm us and steal from us. Heal us and deliver us now. We ask these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). Amen.

Courage To Change

In life we have to be ready for what comes next. That will mean that from time to time we have to change. But change is rarely fun. We have a tendency to want to just have everything stay the same. But our God wants us to move on with Him.

Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

We need to become what God has planned for us to become. And we can. We just need to trust that God will help us make the changes we need to make.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are our King. We need Your kingdom here. We need hope that You hear us and will come to our aid. We praise the name of Yahuah (Lord). Send us today Your overwhelming provision. Forgive us our sins. Heal us from within. Deliver us from those that would steal from us what You have provided. In Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name. Amen.

Living With Intent

In Life we have the option of just putting on the cruise control and throwing our head back and just ride along. Or, we can choose to make the necessary changes that result in changing our lives. Those changes are not usually easy, or at least some are not. But what makes them easier is when we can connect them directly to the Father’s desire for us in our lives.

Hosea 10:12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.

It is our hearts that we must plow. We must find a way to get past the challenges in our lives that hold us back. figuring out what they are is a challenge for me at this point. But we will find them out.

God is on our side.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are worthy, You alone are King. We praise the name Yahuah (Lord) above all names. Yeshua has gone before us, Father, and we long to be with our Brother. Send us Your overwhelming provision today. Heal up our hearts and minds that hold us back. Deliver us from those that would steal what we have been given by You. We ask these things in Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name. Amen.

How We Move Forward

We are called as believers to “do the right thing” in life. When we are faced with challenges, then we are given the opportunity to respond to those challenges based on the truth before us. That truth is provided to us through the scriptures. If we elect to follow that truth, then we will find ourselves in God’s paths of righteousness When He judges, we will be found to be with Him, and the rest that is shaken will have no effect on us. Those that end up on another path, either by choice or by accident, may have new choices to choose to be on the right path. These are the choices set before us in life.

Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
20 That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

This is the very thing that Moses was speaking about. We need to make sure that we move forward with diligence and with integrity. We have a limited amount of time on this earth. If we call out to Yahuah, He will answer us and make things right in our lives. It may not be the easy choice up front, but it will be the right choice long term.

I love Yahuah. It is moments like these that help me to see what a loving Father He really is. He is always willing to help us when we try. Alone we are weak vessels. Alone we will fail. Even in this life if we succeed but have not surrendered all to our Father and called upon the name of Yeshua the Son, then we will be ultimately lost. At the end of time, we will either serve God, or we will not exist.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. Today I have a greater need for Your kingdom in my life. I am saddened at the conditions here. So many call evil good and good evil. We need You. The land needs You. Please send us today Your abundant provision. Forgive us our sins. Help us to Your paths of righteousness. We need to be on those paths to make things right. Help us to learn Your ways above all others. With You we can make our way through life. Without You we cannot. Father there are so many evils in this world. How do we make it through uncontaminated? We grew up in this surrounding and are trained to see things in a certain light. I am overwhelmed when I think of what I don’t know that I may not know. This is Your creation Father. Please do not turn away. Please send Your angels to deliver us. Help us. Heal us. Open the eyes of those that do not see. We ask all these things in the name of Yeshua (Jesus). Amen.

Trading The Old For The New

We believers are offered the deal of the century. When we were in a bad state and downtrodden, we were offered a brand new life for the old dilapidated one we owned. As I thought about the transaction, I wondered if there was a clear description of it in scripture. What I wanted to find was some passage that described how to move from where we were to where we wanted to be with the Father. We all know that it was the work of our Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) on the cross that bought us this new life. But how did we get to that point, and how do we move beyond that point? This morning I found a passage that describes this transition well.

Psalms 19:7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

The law of Yahuah (Lord) is perfect. It converts the soul. This is the new covenant.

Hebrews 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

The passage from Psalms 19 actually records the events of turning to God from the perspective of the point of new birth looking backward. At the new birth the Law is written in our hearts and minds. That which testifies of God, like the signs and wonders He did for the children of Israel in Egypt and the desert make us wise enough to consider Him. When we hear about the Father and that through our Messiah we can have access to Him, our heart rejoices. Yahuah’s commandments enlighten our eyes to the need to change our lives. The reverent fear of Yahuah is clean, unlike the fears from darkness that make us feel like we need a shower. And God’s judgments bring truth and reorder things to being right and true. It is God’s Law that teaches us and brings us to the Messiah, just as this scripture describes.

Galatians 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

What a wonderful trade we have been offered from the Father! He gives us the source of teaching that brings us to the Messiah, then He gives us Messiah Yeshua (Jesus), trading His life for ours. Indeed, we are a most blessed people.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You as the Most High. You alone are King. We thank You so much for saving us through the blood of Yeshua (Jesus) on the cross. How You were ever able to endure that, we do not know, but we are glad You did. We need Your kingdom here. We bless You, and we praise Your name Yahuah! Send us today Your overwhelming provision that we might not have the room to contain it, that it overflows to those around us. Forgive us our sins. Help us to get past temptations in this world. Open the eyes of people to Your grace and mercy in the Law. Let Your people see Your desire to dwell in Jerusalem. Help us to mourn for her, and for the evil that is done in this world amongst Your people. Heal our hearts, creating new ones in their place. Deliver us from the evil that would steal from us what You alone have provided. Come with a strong hand and outstretched arm and deliver Your people. We pray all these things in Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name. Amen.