Sometimes Reading Helps

As I pondered what helps me feel encouraged I realized that often it is just reading scripture. With that in mind, I decided to quote one here that a friend mentioned today.

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.
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.

We have a good Father.

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 now Your overwhelming provision. Forgive us our trespasses and transgressions, and help us to forgive those that have trespassed or transgressed against us. Completely wipe away any thoughts or memories of evil that has been done to us or evil that we have done. Replace these with thoughts and memories of only You. Restore unto Your people one hundredfold all that has been taken or held back in any way that is good from Your people, and the more besides. We ask all these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). Amen.

Arms That Hold On

We are surrounded by the arms of a Father that will not let go. It is a simple thought for sure. But it is one that brings us comfort in times of trouble.

Psalms 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

Deuteronomy 33:27 The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.

Let us run to the arms of our Father, and have Him hold us up.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are our King! Praise the name Yahuah! Let Your will be done here in the 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 and transgressed against us. Heal us from the inside wiping away completely all the thoughts and memories of those that have done wrongs to us and those we have wronged. Deliver us from the evil here. Restore unto Your people the good that has been taken or held back in any way, one hundredfold, and the more besides. We ask all these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). Amen.

Finding Peace

This morning as I was studying scripture and praying, I decided to do some research on common beliefs believers hold. Interestingly enough there are many videos on an Internet location with the word “Tube” in it that contradict each other. There are also many interesting pages of documentation that contradict each other. In the end, how do we get to a place of peace, especially peace with God? It comes with knowing who He is, acknowledging that He is God, and demonstrating that we trust in Him.

Isaiah 26:1 In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks.
2 Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.
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:
5 For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low, even to the ground; he bringeth it even to the dust.
6 The foot shall tread it down, even the feet of the poor, and the steps of the needy.
7 The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.
8 Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O Lord, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.
9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

With God alone there is peace. He gives it to those that follow Him.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are our King! Praise the name Yahuah! 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. Completely wipe away every thought or memory of the wrongs we have done to others or that others have done to us, and replace them with thoughts only of You. Deliver us from evil, and heal us. Restore unto Your people one hundredfold all that has been taken or held back in any way, and the more besides. We ask all these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). Amen.

Making A Commitment

It is easy in life to try to just move through it. Maybe we have had experiences that “taught” us to not become involved in other people’s lives. Maybe we are just trying to hold on ourselves. Or maybe times are so good that we are just enjoying the moments, one after the other. Whatever the reason, there are times when we are faced with a need on our part or the part of another that requires someone to make a commitment to action. It is in those moments that the future is truly shaped, for even inaction is an action. There are many scriptures that could be used here to address this point, but there is one that expresses it very well.

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.
16 And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the Lord, to serve other gods;
17 For the Lord our God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we passed:
18 And the Lord drave out from before us all the people, even the Amorites which dwelt in the land: therefore will we also serve the Lord; for he is our God.
19 And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the Lord: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.
20 If ye forsake the Lord, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.
21 And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the Lord.
22 And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the Lord, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses.
23 Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the Lord God of Israel.
24 And the people said unto Joshua, The Lord our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey.
25 So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem.
26 And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the Lord.

Ultimately, the action our Father is always calling us to take is to serve Him, and leave behind those things, those gods, which we served in days past.

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 to forgive those that have trespassed or transgressed against us. Heal us from the inside out. Deliver us from the evil here. Restore unto Your people all that has been taken or held back in any way, and the more besides. We assk all these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). Amen.

Revelation Changes The Heart

This morning I thought about how when things are revealed, good or bad, the heart changes. Sometimes this if for good, sometimes not. I see this in the scriptures.

Hebrews 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

We have a way to cause our sins to be removed and no longer remembered. This is through the sacrifice of the body of our Messiah Yeshuah. Today, let us be thankful that our Messiah came and died for us that we might have our sins forgotten.

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 today Your overwhelming provision. Forgive us our trespasses and transgressions, and help us all to forgive those that have trespassed or transgressed against us. Wash away and completely remove any and all thoughts or memories of the evil that has been done to us or the evil we have done. We want to walk in forgiveness toward others. Deliver us from the evil that is here. Restore unto Your people one hundredfold all the good that has been taken or held back in any way, and the more besides. Rise up, O King, and heal and restore this day that all men might know that You alone are King, that You alone are God! We ask all these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). Amen.

What Matters Most

This can be a tough one. In spiritual warfare, what matters most? Some would say prayer. Others might say doing good. Still others the work of the Messiah. And all would be partially correct. Ultimately, it is you – and me. Each of us is the most important part of spiritual warfare in our lives. If we don’t show up, the rest really doesn’t matter for us.

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.

Today, don’t quit!

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You are our King! Praise the name Yahuah! 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. Heal our hearts and minds, and wipe away all bad thoughts and memories. Deliver us from the evil here. Restore unto Your people one hundredfold all that is good that has been taken or held back in any way, and the more besides. We ask all these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). Amen.

Active Speaking

Thinking about how it is that we go about building one another up in the Messiah, one thing became clear to me. One way for sure that we do this is by the words coming out of our mouths. We can build up or we can tear down with the words that we say. This has been said and heard often. I would also suggest that the words that we sing have importance as well.

Ephesians 5:19 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;

Many songs I hear on the radio do not have the impact of building people up. Often they are about destruction.

Today, let everything that proceeds out of our mouths for this one day be positive, building someone up. We each hear everything that comes out of our own mouth, so we are impacted by what we say. In building others up, we build ourselves up as well.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You are our King! Praise the name Yahuah! Let Your will be done here with and among us 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. Heal up our hearts and minds. Wipe away every thought or memory of evil that we have done or that has been done to us, and replace these with thoughts and memories of only You. Let us all rejoice together in love for one another and the unity of peace. Deliver us from the evil that is here. Restore unto Your people one hundredfold all that has been taken or held back in any way that is positive from Your people, and the more besides. Rise up, my King, and let the whole world see what You alone have done. We ask all these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). Amen.

Wealth And Fame

Many years ago as a young man I had a desire for wealth and fame. Then life happened. These days I do not think about these so much, although being debt free is on my “100” list. These days I like to think more about impact. What can I do for impact? A stated goal for me is to get to the place where when I pass on, it matters that I was here. This is true for many people, I believe. There is a drive in us to do something for our Father that makes Him proud. But how do we do this? First we say what it is.

Mark 11:22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

And then we walk it out.

Philippians 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Today, let us say and do what makes our Father proud.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are our King! Praise the name Yahuah! 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 trespass and transgress against us. Heal us from the inside in our hearts and minds, wiping away completely every thought or memory of evil that we have had done to us or that we have done. In their place place thoughts and memories of only You. Deliver us from the evil here. Restore one hundredfold all that has been taken or held back in any way that is good from Your people, and the more besides. We ask all these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). Amen.

God Comforts The Weary

It is good for us to know that we have hope in our Messiah. Isaiah knew this, even before Yeshuah was born.

Isaiah 40:1 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God

We will be comforted when we turn and again when we return to our Father. We can do this when we read and reread His scriptures. He renews us.

Isaiah 40:28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Today, let us call our to our Father, and have our strength renewed like the eagles.

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 today Your overwhelming provision. Forgive us our trespasses and transgressions, and help us all to forgive those that have trespassed or transgressed against us. Heal up our hearts and minds, wiping away all thoughts and memories of evil. Replace these with thoughts and memories of only You, Father, only You. Deliver us from the evil here. Rise up, my King, and send us now Your power. Restore unto Your people all that has been taken or held back in any way, and the more besides. We ask all these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). Amen.

Family And Friends

We have a great blessing in life in our family and friends. As believers, there is an added blessing in that even if in the natural, our flesh and blood family is no longer with us, we still have family. Those that follow after the Messiah, we believers, are children of God.

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

As children of God, we are brothers and sisters in the Messiah Yeshuah (Christ Jesus).

1 Timothy 5:1 Rebuke not an elder, but entreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;
2 The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.

On the Sabbath, we can meet with our family, and enjoy the blessing of rest.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are our King! Praise the name Yahuah! Let Your will be done here as it is in the heavens. 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. Restore peace in our hearts and minds, delivering us from evil. Restore all that has been taken or held back in any way, and the more besides. We ask all these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). Amen.