Getting Back Up

When we fail, we need to get back up. That can be easy when we fail small. If we fail big, that is more challenging, or so it seems to us. The truth is, it is really all the same as far as what we need to do. We need to repent from what we have done, and change to what we need to be doing. Granted, the aftermath of the “big fail” can leave more fences to mend. But the “little fails” can also leave much repair behind that we are not even aware exists. Ultimately, it is our Father that mends the fences and makes things right.

Zecharaiah 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.

When He turns to us, He mends us.

On this Sabbath, let us return to Him.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You are our King. Praise the name Yahuah! Send us today Your overwhelming blessing. Heal our hearts and minds. Deliver us from the evil that surrounds us and our dwellings to steal from us what You have provided. We ask these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). Amen.

Still Have To Care For The Chickens

Today, continuing from yesterday, I was quite ill. The flu, I believe. I tried to get up and do a few things, but the more I did the worse it got. Finally I laid down to rest. In the afternoon, I remembered I had not been out to see the chickens since yesterday morning. Regardless of how I felt, they still needed me. Even if I was sick and it was the Sabbath. As I went out in the rain to care for them, I was reminded of a scripture when the Messiah healed on the Sabbath. The leaders of the day wrongfully accused Him of breaking the Sabbath, just as the leaders of today wrongfully tell us we do not have to keep the Sabbath.

Matthew 12:10 And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.
11 And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?
12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
13 Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.
14 Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

The Master has spoken. I choose His words. The chickens are taken care of, I rest, and all is well.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are our King. We praise and bless the name Yahuah (Lord). Send today Your overwhelming blessing that overflows our ability to hold it. Release Your ministering spirits to battle for the release of it. Forgive us our sins. Heal us today. Deliver us today. We ask all these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). Amen.

Meditating On Wisdom

This morning my wife and I talked about several scriptures about Yahuah’s (Lord’s) wisdom. They were about how sometimes the unbelievers are more wise in their discerning of good and evil than we believers. Then there was the wisdom of Solomon in understanding who the baby really belonged to and who was lying. And the scriptures in general that speak of God giving us wisdom. There are so many, but here is one that speaks to these collectively.

Proverbs 2:1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
8 He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.

Today, as we are keeping the Sabbath, I think of the wisdom that Yahuah (Lord) has given to us. He wants His children to follow Him and spend time with Him. He is our source, not our jobs, not our businesses, and not our bank accounts. He alone is worthy to be considered in that spot in out heart.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You are the Living King of the universe. Please send us Your overwhelming provision that we might not have any debt, and plenty to overflow to those around us. Forgive us our sins. Heal us and deliver us from those that would steal from us what You alone have provided. We need Your mighty hand against the evil that steals and destroys. We ask these things in Yeshuah’s (Jesus’) name. Amen.

Waiting For The Soon Return

On this Sabbath I pondered the rest that Yahuah (Lord) has bestowed upon us. We are given opportunity to learn at the feet and at the side of the Master, our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). When we attempt to serve Him with our whole heart, we may find that portions of our heart still need a cleaning. If we are faithful to cry out to Yahuah (Lord), He will help us get a renewed heart.

Psalms 51:9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
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.

David knew that even when He had committed a grievous sin, Yahuah would be merciful because that is who Yahuah is. As we wait upon Yahuah (Lord) for His kingdom to be restored upon this earth, we can know that He will help us to change. He will be the one that leads us to His change, if we will surrender like David did. Today on this Sabbath, let us remember to call upon His name for understanding. Let us find a greater reality in Him than in the world we see around us.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are our King and we desire none other. We need Your kingdom here now, Father. We bless the name Yahuah! Send us today Your overwhelming abundant provision. We ask that You forgive our sins. Heal up our hearts. Deliver us from the evil that would steal what You alone have provided. We ask these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). Amen.

Not Like Us

We are different from God in many ways. And yet we were originally created in His image.

Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

When we walked away from Him in the garden, we lost part of that connection to being like Him. We are trying to get back to being like Him. And He will show us the way. As I was trying to think about the Sabbath, I thought about how we fall short in many ways, short of following our Father Yahuah. I was saddened as I thought about me and my own struggle from time to time to maintain doing the right things and wondered how Yahuah (Lord) could be willing to have me around.

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.

Here we see that God has always been merciful. He will pardon when we return to Yahuah (Lord). Why? Because His thoughts and ways are not like us. Where we might not pardon, He will. God has always been love.

Prayer
Father, we love you. You are our King. When we think of Your kingdom, we long for it to be here. We praise the name Yahuah! Send us today Your overwhelming provision such that it overflows from us to others. Forgive us our sins. Heal up our hearts. Deliver us from the oppression that tries to steal from us what we have received from You. Rise up and come in Your strength for Your people today Yahuah (Lord). We ask these things in the name of Messiah Yeshuah. Amen.

Sabbath Message From The Boat: “Lead Yourselves”

This morning looking our into the green of the backyard and forest, I thought about the visions Yahuah (Lord) has given me recently. I began by reading Psalms 141 as a part of my Sabbath readings. In prayer I asked Yahuah if there was something He would show me. That is when He said, “Lead yourself.” I asked Him to teach me what that meant. He referred me to Jeremiah where the promise of the new covenant originates.

Jeremiah 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord:
33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

The new covenant is the Law written in our hearts and minds. We now have the commandments inside our very being, if we have named the name of Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus) as our Savior through repentance and seeking of forgiveness of our sin. Verse 34 does not mean we have no one to turn to for teaching, or that there are no elders among us. Rather, it means we have the power to direct ourselves in the right path, the path of Yahuah. This is what Moses wrote to us about.

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.

We see that the mouth has the power to give us the strength to follow Yahuah’s paths. The mouth is powered by the heart, according to the teachings of Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus).

Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

If we have the new covenant, which is the Law written in our hearts and minds, and what is abundantly in our heart is what we will speak, then when we speak according to the Law from our hearts, we will lead ourselves to follow into the paths that Yahuah (Lord) has made for us. I then asked for Yahuah to show me, and He gave me a vision.

The Vision
I was in some type of a boat. As I looked into the sea, I saw many waves, and we were going up and down. I am not familiar with what is normal on the sea, but it was really rolling and I could feel the seas in my vision (I was awake sitting at my table writing this). I asked Yahuah what I should do – Look up at the sky? Look at the horizon? It was very choppy. Then He reminded me of the time Yeshuah was asleep in the boat and the waves of the sea were choppy, scaring the disciples. They woke Him and Yeshuah rebuked the wind and waves and their was calm. He commented on their little faith. I asked Yahuah how that happened. He showed me that we have power over the evil in this world through the words from our mouth if they come from the new covenant. I said I do not know how to have that, and He said, “It must be in your heart. You must treasure the Law that I wrote in Your heart, and nurture it. Those are My words I put there. You are My people. When You speak these words, You speak for Me, and I make My words come to pass.” As I thought on these things, I saw the waters in the vision grow calm, and the day became sunny. It made me realize that the words must truly be in me, and that my speaking helps to maintain them there.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You are King. We praise and bless the name Yahuah. We proclaim Your kingdom here. Send us today Your overwhelming abundant provision. Forgive us our sins, for we fail You. Help us to stay the course with You. Heal our hearts, and renew Your Law in our hearts. Deliver us from the evil that would steal from us what You have provided, and turn their evil upon themselves. We ask these things in the name of Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). Amen.

Resting, Not Sleeping

Our Father in heaven wants us to rest on the Sabbath. We spend time with Him and with each other, trying to find our way to the truth of who He is and who we are to be. We long to know Him, and to be in a place where we are more like Moses and less like the children of Israel.

Psalms 107:7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.

As I pondered this scripture this week, I thought of what it means to me. I believe it means that I need to stay alert to what He is doing in my life. Does Yahuah try to communicate with me at times and I miss it? Would I have seen the burning bush, or rubbed my eyes and turned back? On the Sabbath our goal is to follow Him and learn about what He is doing.

Today, I want to better understand this scripture. I want Yahuah to reveal to me His ways, not just His acts.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You are our King. We bless Your name, Yahuah! Send us Your kingdom. Give us today Your overwhelming provision we need now. Heal our hearts. Thank you for the temptations You have delivered us from. Keep healing and delivering us that all might know that it is you alone that is doing these things. We ask all these things in the name of Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). Amen.

Remembering Why

This morning as I sit at my kitchen window I look out at grass green from overnight rain. As I think about this life we lead, and that we are in yet another Sabbath where we get to rest with our heavenly Father, I think of another overnight reign that changed history forever. When Yahuah (Lord) freed the children of Israel, delivering them with a strong hand and outstretched arm, smiting all of the firstborn AND the gods of Egypt in one night, He set the example that would stand forever to those that believe. When He did it a second time, sending our Messiah Yeshuah to die on the cross for us, we could now see that our Father was always planning to spend eternity with us. He was always planning to defeat the evil one and all of the false gods and dark spirits that try to steal from His people. And He will always bring His plan and His words to pass.

Isaiah 55:8 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.

Today as I was considering our rest with Yahuah on the Sabbath, I realized how many things He has shown me and continues to show me, when I am open to listening to Him. One of those things I have learned is that He has given us the power over our own mind to dispel evil thoughts and think on Him alone and on His ways. Formerlly I thought we just had to put up with “the buzz” that entered our brain with distractions, condemnations, fear, and more. Not so. Our Father did not call us because we were perfect. He called us to help us, that we might follow Him, that He might deliver us from such things. When I remember this, I realize that there has always been a way to win in our heads and in our lives. It begins with calling out to Yahuah for His help. David knew this to be true.

Psalms 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

A Vision
In the middle of the night I was awakened. After praying and battling the enemy for a time, I was given a vision. I saw what was today’s “world”, today’s “society”, in a full color movie. It was not a specific location. Then there was a violent back and forth horizontal movement, as if the movie was being shaken back and forth. Nothing in the movie responded. But when the shaking stopped, the movie instantly when to black and white and the content seemed to be the same “place” only it was like the 1930’s or 1940’s or 1950’s. It was as if society was turned back in time. When I asked Yahuah what this meant, He said He was going to shake the world and the result set the comforts of society back in time. Then he gave me the scripture Isaiah 60. To Yahuah be all the glory and power forever and ever, amen!

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are our King. We long for You to come in Your power and reign from Jerusalem! Praise the name Yahuah! Send us today that miracle we need, that provision in a day, that resets our ability to make Your truth known through our lives lived here. Forgive us our sins. Heal our hearts and minds Father. Lead us in the way everlasting. Destroy the works of the evil ones that would steal from Your people all that You have provided. Rise up, O King! Come to our aid today, for we are the weak humans that You created, and we can only survive through Your grace and mercy. We ask all these things in the name of our Messiah Yehsuah (Jesus). Amen.

The Balance

We are called to maintain a balance in our life. It is not like the balance that we might think, as if everything in life has the same weight. The balance is to weigh everything against our life in God. If we maintain that correct perspective, then we will have the ability to balance the rest of the load. It is almost as if the pivot point of the balance is the scriptures, the Torah. If that is maintained within us, the rest of the load is self leveling. How it works is not completely clear to me, except to say that God is in charge. He makes it work out.

Psalms 138:1 I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.
2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
3 In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.
4 All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O Lord, when they hear the words of thy mouth.
5 Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord: for great is the glory of the Lord.
6 Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.
8 The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.

Yahuah (Lord) will reach inside us to set the balance of our souls aright, if we will seek him and keep His commands.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are our King. You alone are worthy to be praised and we praise and bless the name Yahuah! Let this land be home to Your kingdom. Dispel the darkness. Send us today Your overwhelming provision. Help us, Father. We need You. We need Your forgiveness from our sins. We need Your love, Your healing, and Your deliverance from those that would steal what You have provided. Move in a strong way and help us today. In Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name. Amen.

Freedom To Rest

Most of what we do we do by choice. We choose to work, or not. We choose to be involved in others lives or not. And we can choose to rest, or not. This Sabbath my wife and I chose to rest. It was very good for us. And we had a good time with other people as well. It made life more bearable. Especially when I talked with others and listened to what they had to say to me. We all need to take time to rest. Paul states this in his letters.

Hebrews 4:7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
9 There remaineth therefore a rest [Sabbath in the Greek] to the people of God.

Today is a good day to rest.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You are King. We need Your kingdom. We praise the name Yahuah. Send us Your provision. Heal and deliver us. Help us to be free. In Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name. Amen.