What We Hear And Do

The priests anointed the right ear, the right thumb, and the right big toe with blood for cleansing. We may wonder why these three areas. In truth, that is not recorded in scripture. However, we can have a good idea if we look a bit deeper. We need to look to the book of Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:

The word “Hear” comes from the Hebrew word “Shema” (pronounced “schmah”). The word more literally translated means “hear and do” as in hear the words I am saying and go do them. Taking a look at the snointing of the right ear, the right thumb, and the right big toe, we see an interesting correlation. Our ears are what we hear. Our thumbs are our hands – what we do. And our big toe provides balance as we walk our journey.

This is one of the many examples our Father has woven into scripture. On this Sabbath, let’s remember to shema.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are King. We praise the name Yahuah! Send us now Your overwhelming blessing. Forgive us our sins. Heal up our hearts and minds that we might serve You in truth. Deliver us from the thief. Restore unto Your people one hundred times one hundredfold. We ask these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). Amen.

Helping Those That Help

Growing up I heard a saying, ‘The Good Book says ‘God helps those that help themselves.’” By the Good Book I think they meant the bible. However, in all my years of study, I have never found this scripture, or anything close to it. There are scriptures about helping that are sometimes not appreciated for all they contain. One such scripture is second of the two that sum up the Law and the Prophets.

Matthew 22:35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

The first of the commands is about loving God above all else. There is much to be said about that command, but we will leave it for the moment. Let’s focus on loving our neighbor. This is the second command.

It says to love our neighbor as our self. Most likely, we all adhere to that pretty well. The problem here is that many people do not love themselves. In fact, they don’t even like themselves. However, they are treating the people around them, their neighbors, the way they feel they should, tied to how they feel about themselves. The end result is a wide array of possibilities from exalting others far above themselves to just plain treating people badly. For us to truly fulfill this scripture, we must come to grips with self forgiveness and focusing on God instead of us and our past, or whatever is giving us a negative self image. Only then can we truly love others well.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are King. Praise the name Yahuah! Send us now Your overwhelming provision. Heal up our hearts and minds. Deliver us from the thief. Set us free. Restore Your people one hundred times one hundredfold that which has been taken. We ask these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). Amen.

Counting Helps

In the early hours of the morning while it was still dark, I woke up several times. Each time I remember praying to our Father for His help and guidance. This happened again as I finally got up to face the day. Life has a way of stacking up on us, sometimes without our noticing it. We can give way to the pressure to deal with so many challenges that we don’t stay as focused on the one that can actually get us through those challenges. This morning, in answer to my prayer for help at being a better person, Yahuah gave me a vision of the times when I sin being like me stepping into a box. When I step into that box, I am shut off from life, from family and friends, and from our Father. Seeing this helped me to focus on a way to avoid the sin – stay our of the box. And how can I help in this regard? By what I say. When opportunities for sin arise, I can instead count my blessings, thanking God for each one. For me, doing this out loud helps, even if I am whispering. Thank You Father for always showing us who we are so we can change. Thank You Father for giving us the power to change. Thank You Father for Your Son, Yeshuah (Jesus), who took on all the sin that was, is, and will ever be, and ended its power over us forever. Thank You Father, for reviving us, for certainly we were dead in our sin. Thank You Father for Your love, grace, and mercy, without which we would certainly cease to exist or have hope. Thank You Father for being our Father Yahuah, our God.

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;
21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

Today, if you find life stacking up, try counting your blessings out loud. You can borrow my list if you wish. Our Father loves to hear our voices.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You are King. Praise the name Yahuah! Send us today Your overwhelming provision. Forgive us for our sin. Heal up our hearts and minds. Thank You for Your forgiveness and mercy. Deliver us from the thief. Restore unto Your people one hundred times one hundredfold. Show us a sign for good that all men might know that You alone are God, that You alone have done this. We ask all these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). Amen.

Dare To Win

Thinking of the children of Israel in captivity in Egypt, they were slaves for generations. Not only slaves, but to cruel task masters that at one point killed all the baby boys of a certain age. By the time Moses returned to set them free, their mind must have been very conditioned to losing. It would have been miserable, and they would have been used to it, for generations.

Exodus 6:1 Then the Lord said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land.
2 And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the Lord:
3 And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name Jehovah was I not known to them.
4 And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers.
5 And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant.
6 Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:
7 And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
8 And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the Lord.
9And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.

Certainly it is easy to understand how they might be afraid. They might not want to take a chance on winning, on freedom. They might not know what it was. And they would only have stories of distant relatives that were free. In many ways, that is us here in the United States, right? We are not four hundred years old yet, but over time we are less and less free. Even if one owns their own property, taxes on the land must be paid or they take it from you. A small thing, but then their is the debt. Yes the country has debt, but what about the people. Most live in great debt that they were encouraged to take on themselves – willing bondage.

Proverbs 22:7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

It is still possible to get closer to freedom. There is a way out. First, pray and as Yahuah our Father to get you out. Determine what that would be for you. Write it down and say it out loud. Then learn about ways to make that happen. One such source is here (click this link). This site describes many tools to help. My personal favorite is the one called Total Access. And you can even have your own.

God always makes a way, even when we think there is no way.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are King. We bless the name Yahuah! Send us today Your overwhelming provision. Forgive us our sins. Heal up our hearts and our minds. Deliver us from the thief. Restore to Your people one hundred times one hundredfold. We ask these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). Amen.

Line Upon Line

From the beginning, there exists in scripture the concept of building. For Adam and Eve, they were to populate the earth. This means that over time, the population would grow in numbers – it would build. Noah was charged with building an ark to same a remnant of mankind and the animals. That building of an ark reminds me of another scripture that came much later.

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.

This scripture shows that we need to work out our salvation, which means we need to follow our Father and His ways. An interesting point here in the scriptures. In verse 11, the use of the word “Lord” is interesting. If this were in Hebrew, that word would literally be our Father’s name, Yahuah. Some might say Jehovah. Without great detail, I suggest it is Yahuah. Therefore, we could substitute His name as well as the Hebrew for Jesus and get the following translation.

Philippians 2:11 And that every tongue confess the Yeshuah Messiah is Yahuah, to the glory of Elohim the Father.

If we build, and we build with truth, we build something that will last forever, because God is on our side.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are King. Praise the name Yahuah! Send us today Your overwhelming provision. Forgive us our sins. Heal up our hearts and minds. Help us to be cleansed. Deliver us from the thief. Restore unto Your people one hundred times one hundredfold that which has been stolen. We ask these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). Amen.

You Can Do THIS!

For many of those reading here, this will be the first work day of the week. Some love their jobs. Some not so much. Here is what I know – we decide. I am not suggesting that there are not challenging situations for people in their work environment. I am suggesting that that is not who we really work for if we are believers. We work for our Father, and He loves us.

Ephesians 6:5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.

Not only do we work for Him, who knows if perhaps we are there for a reason, whether we like the job or not. We can shine the light of God for them, if we will follow in His ways.

Matthew 5:14 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.
20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

The light within us needs to shine to all men. That is the light of the New Covenant – the Law written on our hearts and minds.

Shine, and we can do THIS!

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You are our King. You alone are worthy of our praise. Praise the name Yahuah! Send us today Your overwhelming provision. Forgive us our sins. Heal up our hearts. Deliver us from the thief. Restore unto Your people one hundred times one hundredfold. We ask these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). Amen.

It’s Off To Work We Go

This morning as my wife readied for work and I was able to sit at my computer to begin my day, I thought about how this is the first day of the week. It is the first day of yet another of the weekly adventures with our Father. I was thinking about the various business opportunities I have already lined up for the day, and am wondering what others our Father has in store. It is a great comfort to know that our Father is watching over us at all times.

Psalms 121:1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.
6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

Our Father Yahuah (Lord) is always watching over us. He allows no evil to befall us. What a great comfort to know as we begin a week.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You are King. Praise the name Yahuah! You comfort us at all times. Let Your kingdom be with us. Send us now Your overwhelming provision. Forgive us our sins. Heal our hearts, minds, and bodies. Deliver us from the thief. Restore unto Your people one hundred times one hundredfold. We ask these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshua (Jesus). Amen.

Shabbat Shalom

This is a saying used to greet people or bless people upon the Sabbath. The Sabbath runs from sundown Friday night to sundown Saturday night. Today we are in the daylight hours of the Sabbath as I am writing. And it is snowing in April! That being said, a few more thoughts on the Sabbath might be in order.

Exodus 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

We see that God went to extra length to tell us to observe the Sabbath throughout our household. This is for a reason – actually probly far more reasons than we know. And Shalom means peace. But this peace means that our Father Yahuah (Lord) steps in to push our enemies out and give us prosperity in every area of life. We can count on Him, if we will but follow Him in His ways, like keeping His Sabbaths.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You are King. We praise the name Yahuah! Send us this Sabbath Your overwhelming abundant provision. Forgive us our sins. Heal up our hearts and minds. revive the Law You have written in our hearts and minds – Your new covenant with us. Deliver us from the enemy that kills, destroys, and steals. Restore unto Your people one hundred times one hundredfold. We ask these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). Amen.

Keeping The Faith

We face life everyday. Whether we are among those that choose to follow our Father or we are among those that choose not to follow Him, we all will still have life to deal with daily. How we view that beginning of the day plays a significant role in how life turns out, I suggest. Certainly we want to be among those that choose to follow Him. Life without God is far too cold and dark. If we turn to Him, He turns to us, and we can have hope.

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.

We can look at life differently with Yahuah (Lord) our Father on our side. WE win. These days when I wake up I am excited. I watched numerous people graduate from a course they were taking. They were happy with their accomplishments. I was happy that I was able to play a small role in that. And I was happy because I was able to wake up and set adversity aside. If we can focus on the understanding that our Father has already determined that we are the winners in life, then we truly can stand and watch and see the miracles as they happen.

Deuteronomy 28:1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:
2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God.
3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.
4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.
5 Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.
6 Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.
7 The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.
8 The Lord shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
9 The Lord shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, and walk in his ways.
10 And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the Lord; and they shall be afraid of thee.
11 And the Lord shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers to give thee.
12 The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.
13 And the Lord shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:
14 And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

Today, let us commit ourselves to keeping the faith, and watch what our Father can do.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You are the most high King. We love You and Your ways. Praise the name Yahuah! Let there be a reign on this earth of Your kingdom just like in heaven. Send us now Your overwhelming abundant provision. Forgive us our sins. Heal up our hearts and minds. Deliver us from the thief that has stolen and is stealing from us. Restore unto Your people one hundred times one hundredfold that which has been taken in all these areas as the scriptures show us here. We ask these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). Amen.

Thankful Heart

This morning I awoke to thinking of all that has come and is coming my way. For me, it is always a challenge to figure out the difference between acting in faith and acting a bit in foolish pride. Of this I am certain, God is on our side, and I am very thankful for that for sure. Our Father, is always trying to move us down the road in a positive way. He is always there, removing things we never even see. For example, as I looked at my current situation, I suddenly realized I have the perfect working arrangement. Yahuah (Lord) has set it up so that I will have my time free to focus on the kingdom, work out, spend time with my family, and make a good living! What a blessing!

Psalms 100:4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Today let’s be thankful from our heart for all that our Father has done for us.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You are our King. Bless the name Yahuah! Send us now Your overwhelming provision. Forgive us our sins. Heal us and deliver us. Restore unto Your people one hundred times one hundredfold all that has been taken. We ask all these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). Amen.