Settle Down

This morning I awoke to my mind running a million miles an hour. I knew I wanted to focus on our Father, but the temptation to do otherwise was very strong. Grabbing that first cup of coffee, I sat down to write here, and to deliberately shift my thinking. That seemed to work. Looking back over the last four years or so, I can see how having a topic every day to consider has been a very present help to getting focused on the things of God.

Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
4 Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength:

I am so thankful now as I look back that I had this blog to turn to for a reference point in the past. And I am so thankful that our Father never left me by the wayside to flounder. He is always with us.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are our King! Praise the name Yah! Let Your will be done here as it is in heaven. Send us today, as You do everyday, Your overwhelming provision. Forgive us our trespasses and transgressions, and help us all to forgive those that have trespassed or transgressed against us. Heal our hearts and minds. Wipe away all thoughts and memories of the evil done to us or that we have done. In their place let their be thoughts and memories of only You. Heal us from the inside. Heal our bodies. Restore one hundredfold all the good that has been taken or held back in any way, and the more besides. Rise up today, O King, and help us. Rise up and show Yourself strong on our behalf. We ask all these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). We ask these things in Your name, Father, the name Yah. Amen.

Think Before You Speak

Often we will say something just because it comes into our head. This can be both good and bad. Our imagination is powerful, and it can imagine both good and bad. If we allow ourselves to think in an unrestrained way, then whatever comes is whatever comes to our mind. But what if we were to control this process? What happens then?

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 must fight to renew our minds. One way is reading scripture. Another is to speak scripture to ourselves out loud. These things will be in our minds and hearts when we do this. It is not easy, but it truly is our hope if we are to become all that our Father wants us to become.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are our King! Praise the name Yah! Let Your will be done here as it is in heaven. Send us today, this very day, Your overwhelming provision. Forgive us our trespasses and transgressions, and help us all to forgive those that have trespassed or transgressed against us. Wipe away all the thoughts or memories of evil done to us or by us. Replace them completely with thoughts and memories of only You. Restore all the good things one hundredfold that have been taken or held back in any way from Your people, and the more besides. We ask all these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). We ask these things of You in Your name, Yah, Father. Amen.

Gradual Change

This morning I am feeling the impact of recently beginning to exercise. It is an interesting experience. There have been a few times in my life when I have taken opportunity to try to improve my overall conditioning, and actually stayed with it for a while. Mostly, it falls away quickly, giving way to “really important stuff”. So I have set aside the slower process of improving my physical conditioning over time. There is a parable this process reminds me of that our Messiah told.

Matthew 13:18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Today, as I ponder these things, I pray that each of cry out to the Father to understand, that we might bring forth fruit one hundredfold, now in this time.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are our King! Praise the name Yah! Let Your will be done here as it is in heaven. Send us today Your overwhelming provision. Forgive us our transgressions and trespasses, and help us all to forgive those that have transgressed or trespassed against us. Wipe away completely all thoughts or memories of evil done to us or by us, and replace these with thoughts and memories of only You. Heal us with the oil of the Holy Spirit, that we might hear and understand. Restore one hundredfold unto Your people all that is good that has been taken or held back in any way, and the more besides. Let there be a great spiritual awakening, Father. Let it begin today. We ask all these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). We ask all these things in the name of Yah. Amen.

Thinking It Through

We are an interesting lot, are we not? Faced with various choices to believe or to doubt, often we choose doubt. And yet history shows that there is good reason to be encouraged. I think of the story of something better than silver and gold.

Acts 3:2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

Whether we have such miraculous healing in our own personal experience to recall, we each do have some moment with the Father where we can see His workings. When faced with thoughts, if we can just meditate on what is written in scripture, and also on our own experiences, we will overcome any negative thinking that might plague us. We just need to give ourselves that one chance to think it through.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are our King! Praise the name Yahuah! Praise the name Yah! Let Your will be done in this earth as it is in heaven. Send us now Your overwhelming provision. Forgive us our trespasses and transgressions, and help us all to forgive those that have trespassed or transgressed against us. Wipe away any thoughts or memories of evil done to us or by us. Heal with Your oil, Your Holy Spirit, replacing these with thoughts and memories of only You. Restore one hundredfold all the good that has been taken or held back in any way from Your people, and the more besides. SHow Yourself strong, my King! We ask all these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). We assk all these things in the name of Yah. Amen.

Coffee And Donuts

There is a place near here where they sell the most amazing donuts. It is run by the Amish, and is become world famous. On a cold winter’s day, a cup of hot coffee and one of those donuts… mmm-mmm! Now THAT is comfort food to most. To me, I do enjoy it, I must confess, but I would add something. My Bible to read, and maybe a fire in the fireplace. In truth, I find that whatever is going on, good or bad, a few moments with the scriptures comforts me. Here is one I like.

Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
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.

Now that is comfort food!

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are our King! Praise the name Yah! Let Your will be done here as it is in heaven. Send us now Your overwhelming provision. Forgive us our trespasses and transgressions, and help us all to forgive those that have trespassed or transgressed against us. Deliver us from the evil here. Wipe away all the thoughts and memories of the evil done to us or by us. Replace these with only thoughts and memories of You. Restore all that was good that has been taken or held back in any way from Your people, one hundredfold and the more besides. We ask all these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah. We ask all these things Yah. Amen.

What It Says

Simply put, it seemed good to limit my commentary today to what scriptures say about the Sabbath. Here is one scripture that makes it plain.

Leviticus 23:1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the Lord, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.
3 Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings.

The word feasts here is moedim, or appointed times. Enough said, I think.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are our King. Praise the name Yah! Let Your will be done here as it is in heaven. Send us now Your overwhelming provision. Forgive us our trespasses and transgressions, and help us all to forgive those that have trespassed or transgressed against us. Deliver us from the evil here, and restore that which has been taken or held back from us. We ask all these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). We ask all these things in the name of Yah. Amen.

Kingdom Impact

What are we doing here? Why are we doing it, and why are we here? These are questions that for some of us come to mind often. For others of us, perhaps not so much. These are certainly worth asking, and I suggest, trying to find the answers. Mostly, we are to walk out our lives, experiencing our Father’s world, as He directed from the beginning.

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.

Secondly, we are here to help others, especially those that are trying to follow after the Father.

Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

This would be a good way to describe having kingdom impact. And it would be a good way to live.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are our King! Praise the name Yah! Let Your will be done here as it is in heaven. Send us today Your overwhelming provision. Forgive us our trespasses and transgressions, and help us all to forgive those that have trespassed or transgressed against us. Wipe away all the thoughts and memories of evil done to us or by us, gently but completely. Replace these with thoughts and memories of only You. Deliver us from the evil here. And for all the good of life that has been taken or held back in any way, restore one hundredfold, and the more besides. Rise up, my Father and my King, and come to our aid while it is called today. We ask all these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). We ask all these things in the name of Yah. Amen.

Gratitude Is Attitude

Sometimes the best pay for a job well done is receiving a heartfelt “Thank you” from the person receiving the benefit of the work. I can think of a number of times at work or in interactions with others away from work when a boss or a new acquaintance said these words. Something happens on the inside that makes us want to do even more. Given that we are created in God’s image and likeness, I can only imagine that He has a similar response. And He is certainly worthy of the thanks.

Psalms 107:1 O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
3 And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.
4 They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.
5 Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.
6 Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.
7 And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.
8 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
9 For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

Let us remember today to thank our Father for all He has done, and then watch as He reacts with even greater ouutreach to us.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are our King! Praise the name Yahuah! Let Your will be done here as it is in heaven. Send us Your overwhelming provision. Forgive us our trespasses and transgressions, and help us all to forgive those that have trespassed and transgressed against us. Wipe away our thoughts and memories of evil done to us or that we have done. Replace these with thoughts and memories of only You. Deliver us from the evil here. So much has been taken from Your people that is the good You meant for us to have, or held back. Help us, Yah! Rise up and restore all these things one hundredfold, and the more besides. We ask all these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). We ask all these things in Your name, in the name Yah we ask. Amen.

Fighting To Believe

We can experience many different types of “battles” as believers. One of the most fundamental is just the most basic choosing to believe. Believing in something as a human sometimes can be a challenge. We have this ability to perceive through our five senses. And then, for the believer, there is this other something we call the Holy Spirit. The Spirit teaches us all things.

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Not only will the Holy Spirit teach us everything, He will cause us to remember whatever our Messiah has said to us. We need not fear or worry. He can even teach us how to believe.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

If we will cry out to the Father, He will have the Spirit teach us, even to believe.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are King! Praise the name Yahuah! Let Your will be done here as it is in heaven. Send us today Your overwhelming provision. Forgive us our trespasses and transgressions, and help us all to forgive those that have trespassed or transgressed against us. Wipe away all thoughts and memories of the evil done to us or by us, and replace them with only thoughts of You and memories of Your goodness. Deliver us from the evil here. Much has been taken or held back from Your people Father. Rise up my King! Rise up and restore these things one hundredfold, and the more besides. Rise up and show us a token for good, show Yourself strong, that all men might know that You alone have done these things. We ask all these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). Amen.

Tired Hands Keep Stacking

For those that have worked in the building trades, the end of the shift at the end of the week has good and not so good in it. We are weary. We ache. But there is a sense of accomplishment as we close a rough-in of what will one day be a safe home for someone. Though we are tired, we smile, and keep building.

Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

It feels good to be tired and to build, knowing that our Father will use what we build for others.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are our King! Praise the name Yahuah. Let Your will be done here as it is heaven. Send us now Your overwhelming provision. Forgive us our trespasses and transgressions, and help us to forgive all those that have transgressed or trespassed against us. Wipe away all the thoughts or memories of evil done to us or done by us. Replace them with only thoughts and memories of You. Deliver us from the evil here. Restore all the good that has been taken or held back in any way from Your people one hundredfold, and the more besides. We ask all these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). Amen.