Past And Future

It is the middle of the night here and when I woke up God had me begin praying. As it turns out a message had been left on my phone that someone had a death in their family. Their grandfather, in his 90s and struggling in the hospital, had passed away. It is difficult to hear such news because we have the past full of memories and we want those days to always live on. But in every moment we are alive, we create more past and step into new and uncharted future. That is the way of life. In times like these it is good to remember that our heavenly Father has a way and wants us all to walk in it. There is a plan for a future in which we are all reunited and live in a very different set of circumstances. That future is in a new heaven and new earth.

2 Peter 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Peter spoke of a future time when there would be a new dwelling place for the people of God. This new place was to replace the current heavens and earth, it would seem. John also wrote about such things.

Revelation 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

We can see that the believers that came before us were anticipating a very different future. They lived for that future. They placed hope in Yahuah (Lord) and in His deliverance once and for all into this amazing new place of peace and rest. It is true that many have different opinions about what will be in the future. Perhaps the most important point is, there will surely be a future, and because we serve Yahuah the God of mercy and truth, it will be wonderful.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are worthy to be praised. We love You and praise the name Yahuah (Lord). Send us today Your overwhelming provision. Forgive us our sins. Help us to overcome fear and pride. Heal up our broken hearts. Deliver us from the evil that would draw us away from You. Deliver us with a strong hand and outstretched arm from the evil that would steal from us what You alone have provided. In Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name. Amen.

My Deliverer

Actually, our Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) is our deliverer. But I have come to realize how important it is to personalize my conversation about our Father in heaven. He is here for each of us as individuals. When I read the writings of people like David and Paul, it is clear that they spoke plainly about a very personal relationship to the Messiah. There is one of David’s writings that has always struck me as a very personal calling out to Yahuah (Lord).

Psalms 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. We love You. You are our King. We give Praise and thanks to the name Yahuah (Lord). Send us today Your provision. Let it rain down on us, in Your reign. fForgive us our transgressions of Your commands. Heal us up, for we are broken. Deliver us from those that would steal from us what you have provided. Be our Mighty Deliverer today. In Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name. Amen.

Moving On

Time. All men are subject to time. The result is, we all move forward in time. This is a blessing that our Father has given to us. We do not live in the past. Sometimes we look to our past and find reasons to dwell on it, good or bad. But Yahuah (Lord) always provides newness to us.

Lamentations 3:21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
22 It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

If we think of the past and see good, then we should focu on today to make it better. If we think of the past and see bad, then we should focus on today to make it better. Yahuah’s (Lord’s) mercies are new every day. He only wants us to turn to Him, and He will turn to us.

Zechariah 1:3 Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the Lord of hosts.

Today, if we will but turn to Yahuah (Lord), He will turn to us and renew His mercies to us.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are our King. We praise the name Yahuah (Lord). Send us Your overwhelming blessings and provision. Forgive us when we sin. Heal and deliver us with a strong hand. In Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name. Amen.

We Build A Future

A wise man once said that the person who does not learn from the past is destined to repeat it. Our lives as believers certainly fit this saying. We experience certain aspects of our walk with our Messiah, Yeshua (Jesus), and from this we learn what to do or not when faced with similar challenges in the future. However, we can learn another way. We can learn from our Father.

Proverbs 4:1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.
3 For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.
7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.
9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

We see here that our heavenly Father has provided us with good teachings. If we follow them, we have wisdom and understanding. They give us life.

Proverbs 3:1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

This promise of wisdom and health are repeated often.

Proverbs 9:1 Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:
2 She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.
3 She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,
4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.
7 He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.
8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.

If we want to build a better future, we need to pursue the wisdom of Yahuah (Lord). He will give it to us when we ask, believing and trusting in Him.

James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are King of all. We praise the name Yahuah! Send us today Your abundant provision such that our barns are overflowed. Forgive us for our sin. Heal our hearts, for they have been broken. Deliver us from temptations, for we are human and frail. Deliver us from those that would steal from Your people. Come Yahuah (Lord) and be our strong deliverer today. In Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name. Amen.

Stand Fast And Rejoice

Faced with the many situations of life, we as believers can find our way to a better life in our Messiah Yeshua (Jesus). Paul wrote about this very thing in his letter to the Philippians.

Philippians 4:1 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

When we seek out the Father, He hears us. He is the ultimate cheerleader, always encouraging us to stand fast. He is also our Defender, making sure tht we are protected. Sometimes the deliverance of God takes longer than we expect. But in the end, God always comes through for His people. He created the world, and He sets it right.

2 Thessalonians 1:3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;
4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:

Today, if we face struggles, let’s pass through them unto the place of deliverance, rejoicing that we have a God that will see us through to the end.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are our God and King. We praise Your name Yahuah (Lord). Send us today Your provision that overflows our abilities to hold it. Forgive us our sins. We need Your love in our hearts. We need to be able to share Your love with those we meet. Deliver us from temptation to go astray from Your commandments and Your path. Let us remember Your testimonies. Deliver us from those that would take from us what You have provided. We need You and we love You. Move today with a strong hand and outstretched arm on our behalf. In Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name. Amen.

Sometimes Slowly

We can have a tendency at times to want life to move more quickly than it does. But as believers it is good to remember w that what we are building is significant. It takes time to refine gold. It takes time to refine us and our lives.

James 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

It takes time for us to become who Yahuah (Lord) wants us to become. It is not an easy or simplistic thing. But God will help us, if we ask Him, believing.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. We thank the name Yahuah (Lord) and long for Your presence among us. You alone are worthy of all praise and honor. We ask that You give us now Your abundant provision. Heal us, please, from the inside out. Deliver us from evil that would beset us. In Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name. Amen.

Each Step Of The Way

It has been said that each journey begins with a single first step. While this may seem simplistic, it is true. We can have dreams and desires about life, but if we never do anything about them, then they just fade into wishes that never come true. For us to ever get to the end of the journey, we have to have a beginning. The same is true with our walk with Messiah Yeshua (Jesus). We have to take steps in the direction He wants us to go and trust that He will help us along the way. There are many times in scriptures where we are encouraged that He will be with us to help us.

John 10:25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.
26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
30 I and my Father are one.

Here we see that we belong to the Father. He gave us to Yeshua (Jesus), and He says there is nothing that can take us from His hand. That sounds like He is not only with us but holding on to us.

Philippians 1:3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Here we see Paul recognizing that our Father will complete the work He began in us.

Isaiah 55:6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

God has said we are His Our God Yahuah (Lord) never fails, and if we will turn to Him He will forgive and help us make it in victory to the end.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. Praise Yahuah (Lord) of hosts! Let the whole earth praise and thank the name Yahuah. Send us today Your overwhelming provision. Forgive us our sin. Deliver us from temptation, Yahuah (Lord), and we will be delivered. Heal us physically and emotionally from the inside out. Deliver us from the past that has scarred so many. We are Your children and we need You, Father. Crush the evil that would steal from Your children. Do not let it be said that there is no God and none to deliver us. Show Yourself strong on our behalf. Move with a strong hand against all that would oppress and steal from Your people to deliver us into wholeness and Your promises. Show us as a sign for good that all men might know that Yahuah (Lord) alone has done this. In Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name. Amen.

Watching And Waiting

Just over 2000 years ago today was going to turn out to be a very special day. It would be a day that we as believers would look to as the source for our lives changing forever. It was the end of the third day after Yeshua (Jesus) had died on the cross. There was only one sign given to the Jews, the sign of Jonah.

Matthew 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.
39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

We see from this scripture that Yeshua (Jesus) had to be three days and nights in the earth, just as the prophet Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, or Yeshua (Jesus) would have been considered a false prophet. Since we know He did not lie, then we know that He was there three days. We know that sometime near twilight today is the anniversary of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Messiah Yeshua (Jesus Christ)! Isn’t it interesting that today many who profess great authority in the spiritual kingdom tell us contrary to the words of Yeshua (Jesus), just as the Sanhedrin of His day?

For me and my house, we will go with what our Messiah said.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You as the Most High King of the universe. We praise and thank the name of Yahuah (Lord). You alone are worthy of all praise and glory. Send us today Your abundant provision. Magnify our ability to get wealth as You said in Your scriptures. Make men to know that You alone are the One True God. Forgive us our sins. Heal us up that we no longer look at our past to define our future, but that we look to You. Deliver us from those that would steal from us what You have provided. Crush their efforts to powder. Confuse them and those that follow them. Make their comings and goings froth with confusion. Show Yourself strong on our behalf. In Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name. Amen.

Simple Building

Today I was moved as I spoke a friend about a death in the family to think of the coming Blood Moons and that we could all soon be home. It is humbling to think of how great our God Yahuah (Lord) really is. In that vein I wanted to simply provide a scripture and encourage everyone to go out and build someone up today.

1 Thessalonians 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

Let us be the brother or sister that causes another to be built up today.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You are King. We praise and thank the name of Yahuah (Lord). Send us Your overwhelming provision today. Forgive us our sins. Heal us and deliver us from the darkness that would steal from us what You have given to us. Crush them to powder and scatter them in the whirlwind. In Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name. Amen.

We Can Build Something Better

Once I heard a wise man say, “We should strive to leave things better than we found them. as a legacy to our children.” As a younger man I thought of this as a wonderful ideal. As an older man I see this as an almost absolute need for the future to have any hope of being better than our present. I believe it is also the charge we have since the Garden of Eden. We are all on a mission to get the earth and mankind back to where we started. Acts spoke of this in part.

Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

Here we see there has been prophesied from the beginning a restoration of all things. I do not suggest that we of our own power are to try to make things right. Our Father in heaven will restore the earth through His Spirit. But if we believe that it seems reasonable for us to be in cooperation with His Spirit. And a primary place to begin is something that each of us individually has control over already – ourselves. We need to take what actions we can to transform ourselves into the people God wants us to be. But how?

Ephesians 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

Today we can continue the process of build ourselves up in the pursuit of the restoration of all things by following this advice.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You are King of this universe. We praise and exalt the name of Yahuah (Lord). Send us Your abundant provision today. Heal up those with broken hearts. Deliver us from the evil that would steal from us and rob us of what You have given. Those dark forces, whether spiritual, physical, or personal that eat away at the things You have given us to possess, in small bites or in whole, let them be crushed by the power of Your might. Let Your judgement fall to set things right. We love You and need You at all times. In Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name. Amen.