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Tuesday, December 29, 2020

Love Simply

 My favorite scripture, So as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, gentleness and patience.  Col. 3:12 was shown to me visually the other day and the "Chosen" and "Beloved" words were surrounding the word "Holy", and the picture was saying to me, that when we are secure in His choosing us, and in being His beloved, then and only then, "Holy" can grow in us from a place of purity and rest, NOT FROM A PLACE OF PERFORMANCE AND TRYING HARDER.

We are His priests and we are the living sacrifice, SO, the place that we come to is a place of total death to self, so that with us securely and lovingly bound to the altar with cords of love, His Life is free to flow through us and we as priests are in the ultimate place where heaven meets earth, where the people we come into contact with are touched by the pure holy heart of God for their lives.

 We are all just helping each other get home.

It really is as simple as receive the love of God and give it away.

Love is sacrificial by nature, but it is totally unaware of it.

1 Cor. 13 is the most amazing thing ever written by a human, period.

Very blessed by Christmas gifts this year.  A nice card from my oldest, and a book about the history of the United States from the perspective of the indigenous peoples'.  That was a perfect gift because frequently I have thought that maybe part of the reason that the Kingdom of God is not coming to the followers of the Messiah in this country is because of the curse brought on it by the greed and evil of our ancestors who pushed and killed their way to land ownership.  David Brainerd was a missionary who sought to simply love the indigenous people and show them the heart of God, he did it right, but for every David Brainerd there were 1,000 greedy, self-centered, entitled idiots who specialized in stealing, killing and destroying...that should sound familiar, it is one of the very few descriptions of the work of satan found in the Bible.  Another gift was a revolver, a .22 with an eagle painted on it.  It was a gift of extravagant love, and a reminder of good times shared together.  Another gift was astronaut ice cream, again, a reminder of good times shared together at the Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.  Another gift has a homemade wrist bracelet in the pattern and colors that I asked for.  As always, a homemade gift is a gift of time and love and is much appreciated.  On the practical side, a hat and gloves and JIF peanut butter and jelly rounded out the gifts I received.  Practical gifts can remind you every time you use them that you are loved.

So good-bye 2020, my guess is, if we received all of your training, as training, we will be prepared for 2021.



Tuesday, December 15, 2020

OUR GOD!

 When you can't improve on something, you copy and paste...

"In pagan mythologies the gods had their consorts. And they were all divine, beautiful, powerful, influential.
In the Bible YHWH has also a wife - poor, sinful, unfaithful Israel, fallen and wallowing in her own blood and filthy rags (cf. Hosea and Ezekiel).
Paganism has always celebrated power, beauty, youth, fertility, influence, assertion.
YHWH is different. He decided to share his divine nature with what lies in the gutter.
For the Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost.Luke 19:10
And in the process of this "seeking and saving" He went to the gutter Himself.
That, my friends, is the real, eternal, pagan, raw context of Christmas.
That's why before it being merry, Christmas is holy... and it will remain a mystery for pagans."

Wednesday, December 9, 2020

Tongues

The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. 1 Cor. 14:14

 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 1 Cor. 14:18

 Felt really bulldozed, flattened, beat up by the current situation in health care and the challenges of extra work, changes and just being worn out. 

So I felt led to shut everything off and just pray in tongues 1/2 way into work on my drive. God really did edify me and by the time I got there I felt ready to walk in and start the whole 8 hour shift with His Life and Spirit in me.

 I know various things and factions have made it controversial, but our goal is always to let the Word of God change us, not to change the Word of God, right?

Wednesday, December 2, 2020

Devastating, Faithful Love

 "Just as I watched over them to uproot and tear them down, to demolish, destroy, and bring disaster, so will I be attentive to build them and to plant them," declares the LORD.   Jeremiah 31:28


“And I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will faithfully plant them in this land with all My heart and with all My soul."  Jeremiah 32:41  THAT IS ALMIGHTY GOD TALKING, DO YOU GET IT?  

BEHOLD the goodness and the severity of God.  

When you choose to turn from love, love will do whatever it takes to turn you around.  

Love is faithful.

Love is fully committed.

Love is all in!


Thursday, November 19, 2020

What's That Behind Your Back?

You cannot say, "Have Your way in my life Lord."

 and at the same time be holding something precious

 to you behind your back, like a little child.


When we pray, "God we want to know Your will."

but we have a program, a method, or a building,

 that we have decided is not something we will ever see,

 or allow to be changed...there we sit.


Our words are saying one thing, but our actions are saying the complete opposite.

Surrender is absolute, full, total, complete or it is not surrender.

The unwillingness to see the fulness of His Son, poured out on His body NEVER, EVER finds its source in the Giver of every good thing.

May God in His mercy pour out repentance for the blatant self-centeredness of choosing to go away sad,

and thereby block the healing, restoring work of God,

instead of answering the call to give it all away.

 ALL OF IT!

Tuesday, November 17, 2020

MANY Random thoughts

 Luther went off on the Jews when he saw that their obstinacy threatened the reformation.  Their obstinacy did not threaten the truth or the kingdom of God, it threatened his kingdom and his response was pure evil.

The power of the lie is totally contained in the person believing the lie.  

the power of the truth is true power, in alignment with God.  The lie will eventually fade, the truth never will.

The goal is to meet with HIM.  There above the mercy seat and under the covering wings of the angels the goal is simply to meet with Him and out of that meeting bring His life.

There was real bread in the holy place, real practical help, real practical nutrition.  This can never be just a spiritual help.


The light decreases from the outer courts to the holy place (menorah) to the holy of holies (no light just the glory of God).


the condition to truly hear from God is to be destitute

Monday, November 16, 2020

Dig Channels, Ditches, Trenches

@ Kings 3:15-18 "Then it happened, when the musician played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him. 16 And he said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Make this valley full of ditches.’ 17 For thus says the Lord: ‘You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you, your cattle, and your animals may drink.’" 

 Sometimes the Lord gives a word as you are listening to another word. 

 

 He highlights it, and says, 

"That right there is what I am saying right now." 

Listening to Art Katz yesterday morning and got the final piece of what I was given while praying for our little gathering of believers. 

Dig deep channels.

Simple as that, a pretty general statement that I would sum up by saying, prepare, there is no water now but water is coming, dig deep channels to handle what I am about to pour out.  

A very encouraging word, from a very encouraging, merciful God.

Friday, November 13, 2020

Just Your Trust

A friend is having religion broken off of her step by painful step and this was the latest revelation given to help her out from under the heavy weight of performance God said,
"I don't want your efforts I just want your trust."

Tuesday, November 3, 2020

Jacob

 

Genesis 32:27 The man asked him, “What is your name?”

“Jacob,” he answered.

 

One other time when asked, Jacob had deceived his father Isaac, and

answered the question, "Esau".

This time in the presence of the angel of the Lord, we get the honest

answer.  The answer that reveals a name that means, cheater, supplanter,

 one who takes the heel.  

It is in this place of providing an honest answer, the admission of the 

guilt of who we are, that opens the door for us to be given a new name.

Admitting who we are allows the release of His life.

We are transacting with God on His terms.

Saturday, October 31, 2020

Sin, Righteousness and Judgment

"And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:" John 16:8 Maybe I got a little insight into this verse today. The Holy Spirit comes to glorify Yeshua, who came to glorify the Father. The Holy Spirit convicts the world concerning 

sin

 You are not right with God you need his forgiveness.

 righteousness

 Only Yeshua lived a righteous life, only His life can bring you life and forgiveness

 judgment

 Judgment when you are in Yeshua is a blessing, you are loved, the Judge loves you.

Saturday, October 24, 2020

See To It

Looking at Hebrews 12 with a friend the other day and this section stood out. 12:12 Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed. 14 Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; 16 that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal." Before the, therefore, is the section about the Lord's discipline, so no believer has an accident, God is in control, if stuff is happening in your life, He knows, He cares, He wants to help you through, and use it all for the good of His Kingdom. Our fellow believers may be under the Lords discipline and that is our opportunity to strengthen them, and make there path a little straighter and in general help them throught that time. SEE TO IT the emphasis is on the love that we can show the life that we an bring into their life and situation that will keep them from being overwhelmed and making a poor decision like Esau did. By allowing the Lord to guard our heart and not let a root of bitterness spring up, we are a fountain of living water for the believers around us and we can SEE TO IT THAT NO ONE COMES SHORT OF THE GRACE OF GOD That is a high calling in the Messiah Yeshua, for sure!

Thursday, October 22, 2020

Love Never Fails

Daniel 11:40 speaks of the king of the south and the king of the north in an end times battle. Isaiah and Micah both speak of "the Assyrian" as an anti-Christ like ruler at the times of the end. But love never fails and so we read this little section in Isaiah chapter 19. "19 In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the heart of Egypt, and a monument to the Lord at its border. 20 It will be a sign and witness to the Lord Almighty in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to the Lord because of their oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and he will rescue them. 21 So the Lord will make himself known to the Egyptians, and in that day they will acknowledge the Lord. They will worship with sacrifices and grain offerings; they will make vows to the Lord and keep them. 22 The Lord will strike Egypt with a plague; he will strike them and heal them. They will turn to the Lord, and he will respond to their pleas and heal them. 23 In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will go to Egypt and the Egyptians to Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together. 24 In that day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing on the earth. 25 The Lord Almighty will bless them, saying, “Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance.” Love never fails and ultimately the God of Israel is gathering and loving and healing.

Wednesday, October 21, 2020

Four Weeks

Given four weeks to pray for direction for the fellowship that you gather with to worship the Messiah of Israel, what would you pray for? We are very early into the 4 weeks. How can we reach our community? How can we be His hands and feet? My first thought is, I will pray for unity. For one theme, one heart to be expressed. May He give us His heart for our community.

Monday, October 12, 2020

Wise Words

"We cover for sins we are inclined to 

by damning those we have no mind to.

 Frank W.Boreham

Tuesday, October 6, 2020

Yeshua Wept

Yeshua wept over Lazarus grave and there was a resurrection from the dead. Yeshua wept on the Mount of Olives before His crucifixion and there was a resurrection from the dead. Yeshua wept over Jerusalem and ... there will be a resurrection from the dead. Matthew 23:37-39 Grateful to Scott Volk for that insight. Paul wept over his kinsmen according to the flesh. They are our kinsment according to the spirit. I believe Yeshua is bringing us (gentile followers of the Messiah) closer to His heart, and when we get it, we will weep over the horrible price that Jerusalem has and will pay for rejecting the Messiah in His first coming. But the result of those tears and that intercession will be the most amazing outpouring of grace and supplication on an entire nation that the world has ever seen. National repentance, resulting in national salvation. Oh what a glorious day. In these days, the true followers of the Messiah are being drawn to the heart of God in intercession for the chosen people of God, that is a sign and a mark of true followers, those who will fall away in the times that are about to start unfolding are those who arrogantly think the faithfulness of the God of Israel is up for questioning. IT IS NOT. The faith of Abraham, a gentile who trusted in God is the only faith that there is.

Sunday, October 4, 2020

How Can You...Part 3

"How can you believe [in Me], when you [seek and] receive glory and approval from one another, and yet you do not seek the glory and approval which comes from the one and only God?" Amplified God's approval is the only approval that is reality. "23 Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name. 24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. 25 He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person." John 2:23-25 So there is a place where you know God and you know people and you become aware that only His approval is real, and the approval of men is not important. That is the place of the freedom of a slave. A willing, loving, servant of the Most High.

Saturday, October 3, 2020

How Can You Part 2

How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God?" Yeshua in John 5:44 How can you believe, when you...It appears Yeshua is saying believing must be single-eyed. To believe in the truest sense is an act of putting your trust, hope, and desire wholly on God alone. To be looking at another human and setting their opinion higher than God is a subtle form of idol worship. Praise God for the grace that reveals the height, the width, the depth, the breadth of the Father's love for us. To know that we are a people chosen, holy and beloved by God enlivens us to be a people of kindness, gentleness, humility, patience and love.

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

How can you...?

"That’s why it is hard to see how true faith is even possible for you: you are consumed by the approval of other men, longing to look good in their eyes; and yet you disregard the approval of the one true God." John 5:44 Voice version. Believe? How can you, when you are busy seeking the approval of men. Do we really believe these two things are so completely opposed that one can cancel out the other? Yeshua is the one who said it, so we should pause and see what He is saying.

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Correction is Good

Correction is good. It is proof that God is still working on us. He is still making us into the image of His Son. Indifference would be a very bad thing. So thank You, God, for correction. As we looked at Zechariah last week, one of our group, was lead to share how when it comes to raising his children, God made it clear that a disconnect occurs in children if they hear us say one thing and see us act in a way contrary to what we say. Also when we make a child obey without loving them, it is just for our convenience, and as soon as they are old enough, we will see the fruit of that and it will not be good. Most studies now see a massive leaving of the faith occuring in late high school, early college, but the children have left long before that in their hearts. The late high school time of life is just their first opportunity to reveal what has happened in their heart. As a parent I have had to apologize to my two oldest kids especially, because I demanded behavior of them without ever doing the hard work of hearing their heart and loving them through the many struggles of growing up. Thank God they are forgiving and healing is happening.

Monday, September 28, 2020

Simple Powerful Truth

Wouldn't it be great if we could all see this as our purpose in life....................... we are all just walking each other home

Sunday, September 20, 2020

Sowing in Tears, Messiah Still

Psalm 126:5 "Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! 6 He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him." If our heart is broken by the condition of whoever we are praying for and we carry the true heart of God for them, tears will flow, HIS TEARS, and His tears, raise the dead! Singing a song in the gathering today that used the phrase, "Messiah still" and I felt strongly the double meaning that could be attached to those words. Still because he was in the tomb, but STILL because no matter how it looks from our perspective He is Messiah STILL. Even when He is not responding and we feel He is silent and not helping, He is Messiah STILL!

Saturday, September 12, 2020

Deeper Still a psalm of Chuck

Written years ago over about a 9 month period of time as I adjusted to overwhelming changes in my life. Deeper Still Deeper Still The feelings are gone Deeper Still The vision, the purpose is gone Deeper Still Those who understand are gone Deeper Still You are gone Deeper Still But I cling to You in the night I cling to You without feeling purpose friends You The mocking voice arises "Where is your God?" I don't know where He is But I do know who He is I must remember Your faithfulness I must believe Your truth Lest I die I wanted just a thread to have Not to hang on to - honest - just to have But even a thread is evil even a thread would be used to destroy So Your love removed the thread And I mourned my loss I didn't really know You till I knew You as a consuming fire All of me belongs to You Oh to be used by You That others would know Your love Faithful Redeemer, Precious Friend Go Deeper Still

Tuesday, September 8, 2020

Burdens and Provision

I tend to exaggerate my burdens I tend to minimize the provision of God Self-pity what a joke A follower of the Messiah has all resources of the Life of Almighty God at their disposal Lift up your eyes, see that you are in the presence of God See that you are chosen, holy and beloved Be deaf and blind to the distractions Hear only Him, See only Him "Who is blind but my servant, or deaf as my messenger whom I send? Who is blind as my dedicated one, or blind as the servant of the LORD?" Isaiah42:19

Monday, September 7, 2020

No More Business as Usual

"When that day comes, there will no longer be merchants in the house of Adonai-Tzva’ot." Zechariah 14:12 The principle of Babylon is a business, a utilitarian model, when you do for me and then I do for you. "What's in it for me?" is the driving question. The principle of Jerusalem is sacrificial lovingkindness from a pure heart. Oh Lord, remove from us all of Babylon and do your divine exchange give us Zion in our hearts.

Saturday, September 5, 2020

My Brother's Suicide

Changed everything. Everything What was the cause of the hopelessness? (The autopsy was a stupid, cruel joke focusing only on the immediate cause of death, not investigating any other health issues or problems) What drove the thoughts of despair that led to such a planned event? (He had all his papers organized and in sealed plastic bags) Love was still alive in your heart (He did not do it in the family home, he drove his truck somewhere only strangers would travel and find his body) The act made me more compassionate (I am acutely aware of hopelessness and I desire to fight despair and lying thoughts when I notice them) Grace and mercy (Oh to be aware of the amount of grace and mercy that has been shown to me by the sacrificial love of God and then to be a freely flowing vessel of His grace and mercy, period)

Friday, September 4, 2020

And She Took and She Gave

Listening to a Rabbi yesterday and he pointed out that the words are the same when Eve gave the fruit to Adam and when Sarai gave Hagar to Abram. Covering and protection are a part of the love that a husband shows to a wife, as the Messiah loves His people. Here are two key moments in time. Two times when love would have had the difficult conversation and brought in to the picture God's truth, love and faithfulness. That covering is done by Yeshua to us all the time if we are listening. I repent of frequently turning the channel when He wants to sit me down and give me the words that will give me the power to resist temptation. I am so grateful for the love that will not let me go.

Thursday, September 3, 2020

Completed Work In Progress

This is the truth of our condition as followers of the Messiah. All that is necessary for us to be right with God is completed. From that place of total love and His power and presence being 100% available to us we are a work in progress. His life draws us, His love compels us. We are a Completed work in progress.

Wednesday, September 2, 2020

A Taste of the Millennial Reign

Sitting with brothers and sisters around a table and a ZOOM meeting with the Bible open and the beautiful truths of Zechariah 3 being brought home to our hearts, and one brother noted, that this is a taste of "‘In that day,’ declares the Lord of hosts, ‘every one of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and under his fig tree.’” From this observation he pointed out that the beauty of this time will be the simplicity of relationships and enjoying each other. Thank you God for little foretastes of the time when You will rule and reign from Your chosen city.

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

The Transfirguration - It Ain't Over Till It's Over

"were speaking of His departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem." Luke 9:31 Only Luke gives us insight into what Moses and Elijah were talking about. His departure would be the cross and its seeming defeat. The cross and its seeming failure. The cross and the appearance of unfinished business. A Messiah who did not bring peace, elevate Israel, and reign as a King from Jerusalem. Moses and Elijah are perfect for this job. Moses who had the unfinished business of not being allowed to enter the promised land. Elijah who was taken to heaven at a time when Ahab and Jezebel were still ruling and reigning and when some things that he was supposed to see accomplished were undone and left for Elisha to perform. So there is hope when we do not see the results we had hoped for. There is hope when this life goes not at all go as planned. There is hope when a cross appears and looms so large you cannot see beyond it. Life triumphs. His Life is eternal. Mercy triumphs over judgment. There is hope.

Saturday, August 8, 2020

TRUST defined

Trust

 Rest 

Until 

Supernatural help comes 

 Trust

Wednesday, August 5, 2020

In Love With a Girl

The book of Ruth is a deep well that you can return to again and again for a fresh drink. This gentile woman who loved her Jewish mother-in-law so deeply that she left, home and kindred and went to a place she new not of, just like Abraham was called to do. This convert, who desired the God of Israel above all else. This humble servant, who never attempted deception or manipulation. This (former) Moabite, who did not try to convert Israelites to the Baal god or false worship, no not this girl, she erased the memory of all such deception with the simple words, "I am Ruth, spread your wings over me to cover me." She followed Naomi even though she was offered no way of having offspring or getting married. She just loved. She just served. Simple acts, that preserved the line of King David and the Messiah.

Saturday, August 1, 2020

Tower Builders vs. God Worshippers

In Genesis 11 we see people who are out to build a tower to make a name for themselves.  The unity that they had would have caused them to be able to do so many things and to never call on the name of God.  So God in mercy destroys that unity and sets out to choose one family and call them to a life of worshiping Him and making His name great and being a blessing to the nations.
It turns out this is a process.  Abram's first interaction with Pharoah, is not much of a blessing to the nations, but God redeems it all and fixes it.  Abram's next interaction with Abimilech is a little improvement and God refers to him as a prophet, but only the intervention of God saves the day.  Abram is beginning to the know the God he serves, beginning to trust the God he serves.  Their relationship is building and growing.  It seems the way to worship God and make His name great is to love your brother and lay down your life for your brother.

Saturday, July 18, 2020

The Fourth and Final Part

Our final part tied it all together.  We looked at Moses interceding for the children of Israel, willing. to have his own name blotted out of God's book to see them saved.  We looked at Paul being willing for his name to be removed from the book of life for his brothers.  When you see other people as your beloved brothers you are willing to love sacrificially for them. 
That kind of love will be shown to the chosen people when they are being hunted down by the forces of the anti-christ.  The followers of the Lamb that was slain will willingly put themselves at risk to hide Jews and preserve the lives of those targeted for death and destruction. 
But there is a need for something even greater than what was shown by the tenBoom family during the Nazi time because technology has increased astronomically since then.  The powers that be will have at their disposal infrared technology that will allow them to view how many bodies are in the house from the road outside of the house.  Currently electric power and water are able to be tracked in such a way as to tell how much is being used, and when it is being used.  God knew all this and He gave the body gifts supernatural abilities wisdom, prophecy, tongues, interpretation of tongues, etc. for the purpose of building up the body for the common good.  Sadly in times where there is no persecution these gifts have been used in a "look at me" kind of a way that cheapens them.  During the times of the persecution of the end times.  Love will be working through these gifts to supernaturally protect the people of God.  Many will still fall, but we cannot be killed, really.  Like the Lamb that we follow, there is a real victory even in our death. 
So the call for Messiah's community right now is to be preparing a body that as a community loves sacrificially and begins moving in the giftings in love with the essential idea being building up the community to be ready for times of extreme adversity.

Friday, July 10, 2020

Intercede or Die

It turns out "To Be Chosen" was part 1, "Wilderness" was part 2 and this is part 3.  We looked at Joel 2:12-17 and we saw that God is calling His people to intercede.  All of his people are to gather, to fast, to realize the sober seriousness of the times and cry out for mercy.  We looked at Amos 7:1-6 and we saw Amos being given a vision of the wrath of God being poured out and crying out to God for mercy.  We read in Romans that only a remnant will be saved among the sons of Israel.  Ezekiel 5:2 and 5:12 seem to indicate 1/3 of the people, so we lined up 6 people and saw that this would mean 4 of those 6 would die in the tribulation the great one.  Amos 5:3 and Ezekiel 20:37 combined with Leviticus 27:32 seem to indicate that those in the direct line of fire from the anti-christ, those not hidden or helped would see 9 out of 10 die. 
So the call is to intercede, the call is to prepare to love and preserve life, the call is to wake up and stop thinking the gospel is just about us, a friend recently said, it is never about us, and by that I think he meant, when we are born again and become a child of the most high King, all that is "us" is taken care of, then we, as recipients of so great a love, give it away, give it away now!

Sunday, July 5, 2020

Wilderness - Let's Talk

This week we looked at wilderness in the Bible. 
We saw that it is definitely a place where God calls us out to be in a place with Him where there are no distractions.  This is just a face to face meeting with Him. 
There is a purpose in the wilderness for your life but also way beyond your life.  Just like every widower can talk with more compassion and comfort to another widower - God has a purpose in our wilderness to prepare us to talk of His faithfulness to the next people going through that wilderness.  Our words will cause hope and healing to spring up in their lives, because we will be speaking from a place of having gone through that same space.  Therefore, judgment begins at the household of God, we have our meeting with God where everything that can be shaken will be shaken and then we are ready to be released as wounded healers, people with the same limp Jacob had.  The wilderness reminds us we do not worship a God we can control. 

Friday, June 26, 2020

To Be Chosen Means To Be...

You are chosen to bless others not to impress them.
The tribe of Levi basically owned nothing and were dependent on the bare arm of the Lord, the "I will" of God for their day to day needs.
You are chosen for death that leads to resurrection life.
You are chosen to pay double for your sins and experience the grace of the discipline of the Lord.
You are chosen and your failures can bring glory to the mercy of God.
You are chosen because you are weak to reveal His power.
You are chosen because you are fallen to reveal His mercy.
You are chosen because you are not wise to reveal His wisdom.
To be chosen is to wrestle with God in a fight that He starts and He finishes, you end up with a permanent limp and a greater trust, you win by losing.
To be chosen is to recognize that your life is not your own, to be available to the Master 24/7.
To be chosen is to know sovereign love, which is grace.

Friday, June 5, 2020

Repent and Be Baptized

Numbers 23:19 is the first occurrence of the word "repent" in the Bible (NASB version) 
“God is not a man, that He should lie,
Nor a son of man, that He should repent;
Has He said, and will He not do it?
Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?"

This gives us insight into the word, ultimately God is good, and therefore has nothing to repent of.
Ultimately man is fallen and evil, and needs to repent of who he is.

So repentance is an admitting of our fallen condition, and immediately we seek out the solution, to be baptized, to go down into the water, and leave our old fallen man, dead in the water and to rise to newness of life in the Messiah of Israel.  His life flowing through us. 

The proof of this life is not found in perfect following, but in the conviction of God when we fall.  Our hearts are no longer stone, they are soft to the conviction of the Holy Spirit and we turn, we confess our faults to one another and we are HEALED.  Our relationship with our Father is restored to its beauty and perfection once again.

We go forward in life, as set free, beloved, holy, chosen sons and daughters of the Most High! 

This is the gospel of the Kingdom!

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Sect of the Hebrew Faith or Something Totally New

"But we would like to hear from you what you think. For concerning this sect, we are aware that it is spoken against everywhere.”  Acts 28:22
 Paul is asked about the sect of the Hebrew faith that he is known to be associated with.  Here is his golden opportunity to rebuke these people and say, "No, no it is not a sect of the Hebrew faith, this is something totally new that was birthed at Pentecost.  This is a separate and distinct gathering from that old thing.  We are new and so much better."  But he never said any of that because he never thought any of that, because none of that is true.
The fact is if the followers of Jesus had said they were starting something new that was not intimately connected to the Hebrew faith the Jewish authorities would have not cared, but their message was Yeshua is the Messiah and King of Israel.  Their message was not Jesus is the head of the church, if it had been that unbelieving Jews could have cared less.

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Messiah's Community Has Great and Precious Promises Not Available to Any Other Gathering

2 Corinthians 6:16 - 7:1"16 What agreement does God’s Temple have with idols..  For we are the temple of the living God—just as God said,

“I will dwell in them and walk among them;
    and I will be their God,
    and they shall be My people.[f]
17 Therefore, come out from among them,
    and be separate, says Adonai.
Touch no unclean thing.[g]
    Then I will take you in.[h]
18 I will be a father to you,
    and you shall be My sons and daughters,
                    says Adonai-Tzva’ot.”[i
Therefore, since we have these promises, loved ones, let us cleanse

ourselves from all defilement of body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."

Foot notes   f   2 Corinthians 6:16 cf. Exod. 29:45; Lev. 26:11-12; Jer. 32:38; Ezek. 37:27.

                  g    2 Corinthians 6:17 cf. Isa. 52:11.

                   h   2 Corinthians 6:17 cf. Ezek. 20:34, 41.

                   i    2 Corinthians 6:18 Grk. Kurios Pantokrator (Lord Almighty); cf. 2 Sam. 7:8, 14(2 Ki. 7:8, 14 LXX); 1 Chr. 17:13; Isa. 43:6; Hos. 12:6(5).

Since the "Therefore" is referring back to the promises, which put us in a place of rest in the Messiah, from which

we can then LIVE a life of where His government is ever increasing in our lives, our unity with Him is ever growing

and our place in His community is the catalyst for others to become more on fire for the Messiah the King of Israel, let's look

more closely at these precious promises one by one.  Paul did a beautiful job of mashing them up all together.


Exodus 29:45 So I will dwell among Bnei-Yisrael and be their God.

Leviticus 26:11-12   11 I will set My Tabernacle among you, and My soul will not abhor you. 12 I will walk among you and will be your God, and you will be My people.

Jeremiah 32:38   They will be My people, and I will be their God.

Ezekiel 37:27  My dwelling-place will be over them. I will be their God and they will be My people.

Isaiah 52:11  11 Leave, leave! Get out of there!
                       Touch no unclean thing.    
                      Go out of her midst. Purify yourselves,
                      you who carry the vessels of Adonai.

Ezekiel 20:34   I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries
                        where you are scattered, with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm, with fury poured out.

Ezekiel 20:41  With your sweet aroma I will accept you, when I bring you out from the peoples
                        and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered. I will be sanctified in you in the sight of the nations.

2 Samuel 7:8-14   8 So now, thus you shall say to My servant David: Thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel. I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make your name as great as the greatest on earth. 10 I will also set up a place for My people Israel and will plant them, so they may dwell in their own place and not be disturbed again. Nor will the children of wickedness afflict them anymore as in the past, 11 since the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel. So I will give you rest from all your enemies.

“Moreover, Adonai declares to you that Adonai will make a house for you. 12 When your days are done and you sleep with your fathers, I will raise up your seed, who will come forth from you after you, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He will build a house for My Name, and I will establish his royal throne forever.  14 I will be a father to him, and he will be a son to Me.  If he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and with the strokes from sons of men.


1 Chronicles 17:13   I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me,  I will not withdraw My lovingkindness from him, as I withdrew it from the one who ruled before you.

Isaiah 43:6   I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
                         and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’
                     Bring My sons from far
                           and My daughters from the ends of the earth.

Hosea 12:5-6  Yes, he wrestled with the angel and won;
                            he wept and sought his favor.
                      At Bethel he will find us,
                            and there He will speak with us.
                       6 Even Adonai Elohei-Tzva’ot
                           Adonai is His memorial-Name.

Oh the burden on my heart is that we would remove, discard, cast away any preconceived notions and let the Spirit of God reveal this truth.

These promises that Paul is pointing out to the mostly gentile gathering in Corinth,  are promises spoken to the chosen people of God and their Messiah King of Israel.  You become a beneficiary of these promises by coming in to His chosen people, bowing to enter the tent of Shem, shaking off the gentile, Japheth pride that would say you have to build something new.  No, in humility, rejoice and accept and come in to the fullness of your calling to come into the already existing, one faith, the faith, the faith of your father Abraham, the chosen people in the one book with one story and One Truly Great Shepherd, who has one bride! Messiah's Community is the organism on the earth that is empowered to "heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons" all to demonstrate the glory of the coming Kingdom.  All to proclaim that the King is good, merciful, kind and has all power.  The high calling on our lives is fulfilled in Messiah's community and no where else.



Thursday, April 9, 2020

Messiah's Community is Life

Acts 16 4" As they were traveling through the cities, they were handing down the rulings that had been decided upon by the emissaries and elders in Jerusalem, for them to keep. So Messiah’s communities were strengthened in the faith and kept increasing daily in number."

So here goes Paul the Jewish apostle to the gentiles, after having been to Jerusalem to hash out with the leaders there, the answer to the question, "How do we assimilate gentile believers into this already existing chosen people, sons of Abraham?"

The leaders very wisely went back to Leviticus where this problem had already been addressed.  There they found 3 or 4 rules that would guide gentiles into inclusion with the people of God, without the need for circumcision or the following of all the laws lovingly given to the Jewish people.  

Paul took these rules to the gentile gatherings that were being established all over the then known world and what was their response?  Did they push them away and say, no we don't need these rules and we don't need to submit to the decision of the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem, we are a new entity, we are called the church and we are superior to everything Jewish.  No they didn't they rejoiced, they accepted the rules and they were strengthened in the faith and kept increasing in number.

So if "church" appears anemic to you especially in light of the current crisis, maybe it is because years and years later.  Man created something that did reject everything Jewish, God in His mercy always maintains a remnant, but "church" that cuts itself off from Jerusalem and the chosen people is a lie, and in the coming times when everything that can be shaken will be shaken it will fall.

Run to the Good Shepherd, Yeshua the Messiah and King of Israel, and be a part of His already existing beautiful community.

Friday, March 27, 2020

Messiah's Community

So Messiah's Community is the most important organism on the earth.  Naturally Satan knows this and has done everything he can to sabotage it from way back in 180 AD having a creed which did not mention that Yeshuah was the Messiah and King of Israel and that we gentiles were now happily grafted in to something that we were formerly not a part of.
From there it just got astronomically worse, until it got to the point that some can look at 30,000 denominations, more properly called divisions and say that they are all okay. 
None of this would have happened with a proper understanding of Messiah's Community.
NONE OF IT!
So what do you now want us to roll back everything we call 'church' and start over?
Why yes as a matter of fact I do!
Because it will be worth it.
Because then we will have a free flow of the living water.
Because then we will be the ladder between heaven and earth.
Because then we will be His body, with His authority, love and power.
IT IS WORTH IT TO DITCH THE WHOLE THING AND START OVER!

Friday, March 13, 2020

How Easily We Lose Our Focus

The faithfulness of our merciful God revealed two things recently.


1)  I should not be a part of putting other people down.  I have
     felt the Spirit depart when I knowingly, willingly, join in
     anything that is putting another human being down.


2)  This whole virus thing, is making one thing clear, it is
      painfully easy for us to lose focus on Him.  If it takes me
      away from the awareness that I have access to face to face
      communion with our Father, it is a distraction plain and simple.
      In His presence is where I belong.  period.

Tuesday, March 10, 2020

ULTIMATE

Here's the problem.
We are focused on immediate.
God is laser-focused on Ultimate.


How is my day going?
How can I make it through this immediate circumstance?
How do I react to the latest stimuli in my environment?


Nope, all those questions are too small. 


What is at the root of your anger?
Why do you consistently react that way?
Who are you?
Who is your God?
What is the goal of God for your life?


Our questions need to be bigger and we need a new
found earnestness in our seeking out the answers.


Modern life is designed to distract us from reality.
If we do not know the truth of our condition, all is lost.


There is a link for an MP3 at the end of this article.
http://www.voiceofrevolution.com/2011/05/12/the-purpose-for-creating-all-things-art-katz-recognize-the-influence/

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Partial Preterism is a Partial Lie and Full Preterism is a Full Blown Lie





It is amazing how easy it is to agree with preterism (partial or full or whatever), as long
as you are willing to see God as unfaithful, non-covenantal, and totally unable to keep
His unconditional promises because those Jews (as a nation not as individuals) are just
so damn bad, and rejected their Messiah so horribly, that only judgment was left for
them (as a nation not as individuals).
Once you are willing to shaft, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, believing
preterism becomes the reasonable, well-thought-out thing to do.
Once you are willing to spiritualize all of the physical promises made in the last few chapters of
both Ezekiel and Zechariah the "church" in all its glory can become the focus of the promises
of God.
Once you are willing to ignore the principle of God preserving a remnant of His chosen people throughout scripture (a remnant of the nation not just individuals) you can say that His rejection of
the nation of physical Israel is complete and total.
Once you are willing to pay absolutely no attention to the Holy Spirit inspired songs of praise of both Mary and Zechariah (John the Baptist's daddy) that speak of a necessary physical blessing upon the nation of Israel, the nation that the Messiah of Israel came to save, you can accept preterism.
Once you are willing to completely ignore this part of Jesus answer to the question about Elijah coming before him, "And He answered and said, “Elijah is coming and will restore all things;" "IS" coming, so there is a partial and a yet future time, because there is a yet future 2nd coming.  So John the Baptist is not the full and complete and only fulfillment of this.
Preterism is a blindness based on the pride of man, period.  Done.

Saturday, February 29, 2020

The Veil of Self

This recording of a message by Art Katz was recommended to me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbIwumBChe8

This is a transcript of it for those who prefer reading.
http://artkatzministries.org/articles/the-veil-of-self/

I put my ear buds in and went for a walk while listening to it for the 2nd or 3rd time.

God was faithful to meet me, in His mercy.

I asked Him what part of my self was in the way, keeping me from the full enjoyment of being within the veil of the holy of holies, which is part of the amazing Salvation that Yeshua has purchased for all those who trust in His life, death, and resurrection.

I knew the way that He would reveal self is when I honestly looked at my interactions with others and the times when I react totally in my flesh and turn from the Spirit.

Self-assertion was the first area that He brought up.  I have in my head a limited amount of time or effort that I am willing to give to another, I always consider it to be an over-the-top, nobody-else-would-do-this-much, amount of time and energy, but when that set time is over, I am done, and God, our faithful, merciful, Father who knows what is best for us and loves us too much to not make sure we get it, will set it up that someone says, or a call bell goes off at work, or something happens that requires, "just one more thing", and at that point the self rises up and even if I do the request it is not done in love so it is a farce, typically, I groan, moan and let it be known that "this is too much", but guess what, that moment after being asked to do "just one more thing" is the moment where the life, love, and power of God could come in and receive all the glory.  We we are beyond ourselves as Paul says in a few places, that is the place of weakness and death, where God's power and resurrection life can come in and be the most real thing on the planet!  So self-assertion had to go to the cross, both as a moment in time and as a continual ever unfolding way of living, the process that we are all in.

Self-judging was next up.  Every word ever spoken in thought or judgement against another could be traced back to the root of self, "to his own master he stands or falls".  I am nobody's master.  Any unveiling or revealing of a weakness of another that comes to me, is to be taken to prayer, and a cry for mercy for them.  One word, thought or attitude of judgement, reveals self-judging in me and that needs to go to the cross, both as a one time event and as a continual cleansing.

God likes doing things in threes and sure enough there was a third area He wanted to bring up on our walk.  Self-provider.  The way that this shows up in my life is when it is pointed out that something in me, my parenting, my salary, my way of living, is not good enough, and I react in defensive anger, I am thinking that I am the provider, I am not the provider.  God will provide, and has provided everything necessary for life and godliness.  A friend pointed out that when Isaac's wife, asked for children, Isaac prayed.  When Jacob's wife Rachel asked for children, Jacob got angry and defensive, "What do you expect from me, I can't open your womb and give you children!"  See the difference, Isaac rested in the Provider, and Jacob took it as if he was the self-provider for his family.  That one is very clear to me and I feel God had already started a good work in this area, so that goes to the cross as a one time event and as an on-going "giving up" whenever it comes up in every day life.

Thank You Faithful Merciful God!

Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Philip Haney

For about 8 years in a row I was blessed to be a part of a gathering in Ohio that centered on the great themes of the prophets of the Bible.
Many of the people I met there have a special place in my heart.
Philip Haney was one of those people, there were a few years when he could not attend, but his input was so valued that arrangements were made for him to video call in to the conference.
Phil's very ordinary appearance belied the fact that he knew many languages and had studied to show himself approved in many ways.
But that was not the important part.
Phil loved people.  He took time for people.  He sought out people on the fringe and engaged them in deep conversation.
The apostle John points us to 2 things to identify the true follower of the Lamb.
1) Filled with the Spirit
2) Love for their fellow man


Philip Haney was a true follower of the Lamb, so really it is no surprise that he was taken from us.


It is a comfort to know he was much smarter, had much more wisdom than those that opposed him.


This is not over, and I say with confidence,
it has only begun.


Phil, I was blessed to know you thanks for loving me.


Some one has collected some of his videos on youtube
some of which are from the gathering of saints in Ohio.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54BI7KpsvRk&list=PLXQAUc4t9sQ0HhJtfzKHHmqkPk5nxwIhU

Monday, February 24, 2020

Be Unto Your Name

The lyrics to this are blessing me
along with this anointed piano
interpretation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLIfJvS-5OE


                          BE UNTO YOUR NAME


We are a moment You are forever
Lord of the ages God before time
We are a vapor You are eternal
Love everlasting reigning on high

Holy Holy Lord God Almighty
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Highest praises Honor and Glory
Be unto Your name
Be unto Your name

We are the broken You are the healer
Jesus Redeemer Mighty to save
You are the love song we'll sing forever
Bowing before You blessing Your name





We give day to day, moment to moment stuff too much weight,
our focus is best kept on His eternal, covenant love.


(Still not ready to get back to Phil Haney, still processing.)

Sunday, February 23, 2020

"Israel reveals the hearts of men... and Jerusalem will sift the nations"

 "Israel reveals the hearts of men...
 and Jerusalem will sift the nations" Phil Haney


Sometime in the early 2000's, I was led to the wisdom of a man named Art Katz.  Shortly after
I found out about his life, he died.
Some men who had interacted with him during his life arranged for a gathering, a convocation, at a small camp in Ohio.  I was drawn to this gathering, and was incredibly blessed to have a few short days with my middle son Elijah and these men of God.  I continued to commit to carve time out of my schedule to attend these gatherings for many years.
One of the men at the camp...(and here there is a long pause, because I am about to try to describe Phil Haney and I know my words are going to fall far far far far far short of my heart for this man) ...(and now I am crying, so I will have to come back to this later)



Friday, February 21, 2020

suicide

I know of two people recently who have threatened or attempted suicide but have not succeeded.

Glory to God.

Another chance at life, another chance for those who love them to express that love.

Another moment to pray for Living Hope to over take them in all His wonder!

Monday, February 3, 2020

Using God

"They tried to get their own way with God,
clamored for favors, for special attention.".  Isaiah 25            Using God as a means to an end, is a deadly trap leading to resentment and anger toward Him since He didn't do what we who are eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil think He should have done. The answer to this is sacrificial love that has no agenda is willing for whatever the Master wants. Eating from the tree of life.  Cain whose name means acquire was offering a sacrifice but John tells us his deeds were evil.  His main concern was for himself as demonstrated in how he responded to God's punishment.  We just have to be SUPER aware of our own heart and our own motivation.  Oh God cleanse and keep cleansing our hearts of false motives.

Friday, January 31, 2020

Abel's Willingness

Abel knew his sacrifice had been accepted.
Abel knew Cain was angry that his sacrifice was not accepted.
Abel knew Cain was angry at him.
Abel knew God, he was accepted by God and then
his sacrifice was accepted.
Abel knew that a sacrifice was necessary to cover sin.
Abel was willing to go for the walk with Cain.
Abel was willing to be God's instrument to reach out
to Cain one last time.
Abel was willing to be a sacrifice of love for his brother Cain.

Sunday, January 26, 2020

Cain and Abel

The first 3 teachings on this page are
Art Katz
sharing in a prophetic school on
Cain and Abel.


It is hands down, one of the most wisdom
filled teachings I have ever heard in my life.


Listen to it and we will be discussing it
in this blog for the next few posts.


Please listen to it, the downloads are
free.


http://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/scr_index.php?act=topicSermons&topic=Cain+and+Abel&page=0&fbclid=IwAR27EqIUE9fvRmRCPLbWsCRdx3QG9VPGwduLjMmZuuLymrIrPckBWvzoifg





Saturday, January 25, 2020

Where Are You?

If the question is "Where are you?", isn't it amazing
that by the blood of the Messiah
we can rest and trust in the fact
that our answer is, "In His presence."


No matter where we are, we are in
the presence of the One who said, "I will
never, leave you or forsake you, no never."



Friday, January 17, 2020

A Prayer

A Prayer from Eugene Peterson's "Praying with the Psalms" 

"Oh God what good would it do me if I did know the answers to the querulous (complaining in a whining manner) questions with which I badger You?  
You know what I really need--
not more information, 
but more love,; 
not Your timetable,
but Your presence.  
Thank You for giving me Yourself in Jesus Messiah.  Amen"