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.

Our God Provides

Today I was looking into the scriptures and was reminded of the story of Abraham offering up his son. At the last moment, our Father provided a ram for a sacrifice instead. Today, we live this out at the moment we become believers. I would suggest we live it out every day after that as well. Our God, Yahuah (Lord), has provided the sacrifice of His Son, Yeshua (Jesus) as that replacement for us. We deserve death, yet we have life. It is because of the work of our Father through the death and resurrection of His ultimate Passover Lamb, Yeshua (Jesus). We are passed over when we deserve death and evil. We have a substitute.

Genesis 22:8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.
10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
11 And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.
12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.
13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.
14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah–jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.
15 And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,
16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:
17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

All nations are blessed because of the faith of Abraham.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are worthy of all praise. We praise the name Yahuah (Lord)! Send now Your abundant provision. Let it be such provision that we cannot contain it, and that it overflows. Forgive us our sins. Help us to find our way to Your paths. Turn again to us. heal us. Deliver us from temptations. Deliver us from evil that would take from us what You have provided. Crush the evil and drive it back. Deliver us with a strong hand and an outstretched arm. In Yeshua’s (Jesus) name. Amen.

Cast Off The Burdens

We have opportunity as believers to be free from some of the heavy burdens of life. Yeshua (Jesus) spoke about this.

Matthew 11:27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Yeshua (Jesus) is referring to His teaching here when He speaks of the yoke. It was a common Hebrew understanding that a rabbi and his followers were yoked together by the teachings of that rabbi. Yeshua (Jesus) is speaking to the people (and to us) saying that His we are to be yoked to Him by His teachings and that they are light, unlike the spiritual rulers of that day (or perhaps this day). Interestingly it says here that only those that Yeshua (Jesus) determines to reveal the Father to will see Him. This very thing is happening in churches around the world today. Many are becoming aware that the bible is a whole book, not one with half of it to be thrown away. To Yahuah (Lord) be the glory!

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You are the Majestic One. You are King. We praise and thank the name Yahuah! Send us Your overwhelming provision today, Father. We need You. We need Your provision. Forgive us our sins. Heal up our hearts. Deliver us from those that would steal from us and take what You alone have given to us. In Yeshua’s (Jesus) name. Amen.

Peter And The Dogs

The Sabbath is a time of rest and reflection. Today as I reflected on the scriptures I saw something in a different light. It was in Peter’s second letter.

2 Peter 2:21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

In the past I always considered this to be referring to people that become believers that did not know God, going back to their old ways. Certainly this is not good. However, I believe what we are seeing here Peter describing people that know about the Father giving us His commandments, and then saying that they are not for today. Or saying that the Old Testament is not for today – “…to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.” This is further supported by an earlier verse.

2 Peter 2:15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.
18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

He is comparing these people to Balaam who was willing to try to self the influence of the Father against the people of Israel, contrary to what Yahuah (Lord) had said. When we speak against God’s commandments, law and precepts, we become these people. Let it not be said so of us who serve the True and Living God, Yahuah (Lord).

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You are the True King. We praise the name Yahuah. Send us Your overwhelming abundance today. Forgive us our sin. Help us to know and to follow You in Your ways. Heal up our minds and hearts. Deliver us from the evil that we see. Deliver us from the evil that would take from us what You alone have provided Yahuah (Lord). In Yeshua’s (Jesus) name. Amen.

Zeal For Life

Recently I was considering how powerful the force is that tempts us to follow after darkness. There seems to be this strong influence that can pull at us. I tried to consider what makes it so strong. Why are we pulled in the direction of doing the wrong thing with a force that hols on to us in a way that we seem helpless to resist, while we struggle at times to believe that our Father God will keep His promises to us to give us life and meet our needs? I believe there are many answers. For me I know that if I do not stop to take time out specifically to spend alone with Yahuah (Lord) each day, then my reality changes. I lose track of the ever presence of God. I get caught up in the superficial make believe world we call reality.

David had this thought it seems as well. Unlike me, he faced enemies in this world that were trying to kill him, not just the spiritual world. He had this response.

Psalms 55:16 As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me.
17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
18 He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.
19 God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.

We will experience change in our life. It causes us to cry out to Yahuah (Lord). When we cry out morning, noon, and night, just as he did, we too can experience the mighty hand of deliverance from Yahuah (Lord) that David did.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You are the majestic King of all. We praise the name Yahuah. Send us Your overwhelming provision today. Forgive us our sin. Deliver use from evil that wants to consume us and what You have given to us. We love You. In Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name. Amen.

This morning I was the first one up. We have a new dog in the house, a two year old female Rottweiler named Sadie (Hebrew for “Princess”). After letting her out I took her upstaits to get our daughter out of bed. She woke up happy and laughing because although Sadie is large, she still acts like a puppy. When the dog and I cam back downstairs I opened the kitchen blinds and looked outside at the grass, green from all the rain. It is a good day.

I mention these things because I was reminded of several scriptures that renewed a sense of thankfulness in me.

Psalms 23: 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Mercy and goodness travel together to be with us always.

Psalms 85:7 Shew us thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us thy salvation.
8 I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.
9 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.
10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
11 Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
12 Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase.

Mercy and truth meet together. Our Yahuah (Lord) grants us salvation. Yahuah (Lord) gives us what is good (goodness) and we prosper because out land gives increase. And all of these things are available to us when we turn toward Yahuah (Lord) with a repentent heart.

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.

Our Father in heaven loves us very much. He has made a way for us where there was none. He wants to bestow upon us mercy and truth and goodness for all our days, if we will turn to Him.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are our merciful King. Praise the name Yahuah! You give us truth and goodness. Send us today Your overwhelming abundance. Bless the work of our hands, and cause men to give to us. Forgive us our sins. We turn to You. Turn to us with Your goodness, mercy, and truth. Heal us and we will be healed. Deliver us from those that would take from us what You alone have given. Confound them and their doings. Deliver us with a strong hand and outstretched arm. Shew Yourself strong, Yahuah (Lord), on our behalf. In Yeshua’s (Jesus) name. Amen.

Battle Weary

“Fighting the good fight” as the saying goes can cause us to grow tired. But in this tired state it is important not to give up or surrender to our enemy. Paul wrote about this to the Galatians.

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

In the midst of these times of being weary, it can help to think of those that went before us. There was the deliverance from Egypt. The building of an ark. And most notably our Messiah who suffered all unto death.

Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
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.

This one thing we know, our enemy is already defeated, no matter how challenging the battle may seem. Our Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) defeated Him on the cross. SO, no matter how tired we get, or how impossible the situation may seem, we can know and trust that our Father, Yahuah (Lord), is watching over us and we will see victory if we will stand fast.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You are King. We thank and praise the name of Yahuah (Lord). Send us Your overwhelming provision now. Heal us, guide us, forgive us, and deliver us. 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.

We Can Move Forward

We are truly a blessed people. We have a Father in heaven that is perfect in every way. He gives to us many good things in this life. It is what any good father would do. This includes the ability to know and to understand, which is important for us to make it through this world. Paul mentioned this in his writings, to offer us encouragement.

Ephesians 1:15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

We are the body of our Messiah here on earth. We are raised from the death of sin. When we are faced with challenges from our enemy, we know that God is with us to provide the victory.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are our King. We praise the name Yahuah! Send us today Your overwhelming provision. We long to serve You. Forgive us when we fail, when we sin. Heal and deliver us. Show Yourself strong on our behalf. In Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name. Amen.

A Heart Lifted

Life has a way of presenting us with many different moments. Some are really great and we want to remember for a lifetime. Others, not so much. But in all these things, it is good for me to feel that I have someone that will give me guidance and watch over my life. Our God does that for us. In these times there is a list of things that is good for us to remember that we can do to help us through.

Philippians 4:4 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.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Paul encouraged the Philippians to rejoice in Yahuah (Lord) at all times. He then tells us what to consider, such as truth good reputation, the law, morals, good speaking, and so on. These are what we are to try to get ourselves to think about. By thinking on these things, we can learn to focus our expectations on the good things of God, who watches over us.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are our God and King. We love You and praise the name Yahuah (Lord). Send us Your overwhelming provision that our barns would be filled to overflowing and we can extend blessings to others. Forgive us our sins. Heal us, for there are those that need Your touch. Deliver us from those that steal from Your people, from those that would try to blot out Your name. We love You. In Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name. Amen.