Our Father...

 The context

The reasoning

The beauty

of the "Our Father" is basically the same prayer as Maranatha!

It is a prayer for the coming day of God.

Why don't we know this?  Same answer as it is almost all of the time...

2,000 years of gentiles putting their hands in the soup and making some sort of concoction that has absolutely nothing to do with the Jewish roots of the faith, and makes everything about us, the gentiles, the stars of the show, the ones that Jesus was waiting for to welcome Him, blah, blah, blah, blah, blahhhhhhhhh!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XKqHFkCw7s

A good place to start, hopefully I can add more later.

Marriage

 Marriage is two people trying to out do each other in love.

What Can Be Shaken and The Battle of the Near Future

 "25 See to it that you do not refuse the One who is speaking! For if they did not escape when they refused the One who was warning them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject the One who warns us from heaven. 26 His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heavens.” 27 Now this phrase, “Yet once more,” shows the removal of those things that are shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude—through this we may offer worship in a manner pleasing to God, with reverence and awe. 29 For our God is a consuming fire.

Grateful for a Shepherd who speaks the truth. What we need as followers of the Messiah of Israel, the Son of the Most High God is Him alone.  What we need in this evil age will be provided by the Son of the Most High God in His time, in His way.  This is the end of the "consumerism" spirit that is over this land in the individual's life. As individuals join together small communities that come against this spirit can exist by the will of God and what cannot be shaken will remain to the glory of God.

Listening to Art Katz on Paganism he makes this point. The great battle at the end of this age will not be between good and bad, but between the good and the perfect. I would add that the key will be to discern where the power is coming from and who is getting the glory.

The gifts of the Spirit will be 100% necessary as the end draws near, those who say they have passed away are 100% wrong, and those who use them to inflate their name are equally wrong. Very sad.

Deuteronomy 32 is an Endless Treasure

 "Oh that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end." Deut. 32:29

A friend put this chapter into song and he chose to repeat, "Oh that they were wise" and I was so happy that he did because it felt to me like it needed to be repeated. Being wise here is knowing your end, considering the latter end. 

Years ago, I thought that a good technique for witnessing would be to simply ask, something about a person's future and then say, "Then what?" because eventually that will come to their "latter end." 

Altar = Temple

If we replace "altar" with "temple" we will have most of our songs ready for the millennial reign.

The temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem and the gentiles are invited to come to it and rejoice in the choosing of the Lord God of Israel.  

The temple is the center of worship, the altar is a part of the temple worship.

Since we gentiles don't have a temple in Jerusalem and don't acknowledge the need for one we also fall far short in crying, Maranatha and putting our hope in the return of the Lord and putting the proper weight on the Day of the Lord.

Moving the center of God's work from Jerusalem to Rome was a fatal gentile mistake and led to a 1,000 more mistakes.

Let Me Be Very Clear

 The God of Israel and the Messiah of Israel and the Ruach HaKodesh are never ever telling a woman to stay in an abusive relationship. Anyone who says different is reading the scriptures WRONG! 

Anyone who teaches different will pay a horrible price on the great and terrible DAY OF THE LORD!

Barabbas and the Larger Picture that Explains What Looks Like a Contradiction

 I imagine you can count on one hand the number of events mentions in all 4 gospels.  The synoptic gospels have a lot of overlap, but when you throw John in there and demand that all three of the synoptics record an event, you are eliminating most of the gospels content.

Pilate presenting Barabbas as the alternative "criminal" to save, to the Jewish crowd, Yeshua being the other "criminal", is one such section.  All 4 gospels mention it and here is where the trouble begins.

Every Police Officer knows that if you interview 4 different people about events that happened during an intense time there will be variations in the story, throw in a couple or 60 years in between those events and Wow, the rate goes up and up, but if every minor detail agrees, the officer knows, these people got together beforehand, to cover up what really happened, they agreed on a "story".

The gospels do not agree on every detail, not because they are not true, but because they are true.  Do you get it?

Now we come to Barabbas. Luke 23:19 says he was thrown into prison for rebellion and murder.

Matthew just calls him "notorious".  (Matt. 27:16)

Mark says he took part in an insurrection and committed murder. (Mark 15:7) 

John, written much later, says, "Now Barabbas was a robber." (John 18:40) Some translations replace robber with insurrectionist, but this is not right, the word appears 15 times in the Greek New Testament and is  always translated "robber" or "thief". 

To me this is not a contradiction but an expansion. 

Satan came to steal, kill and destroy. 

Satan is the ultimate rebel. 

Barabbas is a notorious rebel who is willing to murder and steal to get what he wants.

Get the picture? 

If You Are Only a Spectator...

 Just shut up.

You don't know what it is like to be hit in the face.

YOU DON'T KNOW NOTHIN'

A GREAT TRUTH

 Nothing is impossible when your wife loves and supports you.

Nothing.

That is all.

Nothing Without YOU

 26 years I've been married to the perfect one God picked out for me.

She is much younger than me so she has been with me more years than she was without me.

I suck at accepting help. I was single for 38 years and content to be single 4 ever.

I suck at loving people who need compassion and the unconditional love of God, the lovingkindness of God, the chesed (Hebrew word for lovingkindness) of the God of Israel.

Had I gone that route, staying single, I would have been a self-centered, self righteous, know it all.  All the work that needed done on my stony heart outside of the temple, all the work that needed done to shave it and trim it and make it humbly fit into the place selected by the sovereign God would not have been done. 

My old saying is, "The best way to stay married is to stay married."  This does not apply to abusive situations, or even addictions situations and the Bible says it does not apply to adultery, although, if you extend mercy in that situation GREAT HEALING can and does occur.

But if you run from a marriage that is stretching you, you will not be stretched, growth will be stunted and bitterness could take root. BEWARE.

But if you stay and pray, and humbly take your place in the union God ordained and gives grace and mercy to continue. You will grow and grow and grow, so much so that the Master Gardener will need to prune you to keep the growth healthy and productive. If I did not trim the bushes in front of our house we literally could not get out of our house!

Marriage is a picture of the Messiah and Messiah's community, "church" is a bit of a sucky word. (Mark Klafter taught me that and I am forever grateful.)

Marriage is a mystery.

Mystery as used in the Bible just isn't what we think it is.

Sadly, I don't fully know or understand what the word meaning is in its entirety.

Doesn't it seem like it is something we are being asked by God to seek Him about, to spend time with Him not seeking answers or a teaching, or a system (especially a system, right T. Justin Comer?). We are just seeking Him, walking with HIM in the garden in the cool of the day, and one day our hearts desire to understand what "mystery" means becomes clear.

My friend Dane who helped me a lot today. made it clear that when we pray it flows from a place of acknowledging who HE is, sovereign King of the universe, the God who delights in mercy, because Mercy is how He gets us back on track. Praise Him, worship Him and then let prayer flow from that place of rest and trust.

At Rest, In Him. 

Song recommendation  "What If"  Jess Ray

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZnqMS7kVgg&list=RD0ZnqMS7kVgg&start_radio=1

Saved - From What?

 Thanks to John Patrick Harrigan and others, I am able to show you the words that every first century Jew would have put right after, “and you/we will be saved” from the wrath to come at the day of the Lord!

Bonus; Years ago my friend shared with me her understanding of “the fullness of the gentiles” spoken of in Romans 11:25. Just like the fullness of the Amorites in the book of Genesis chapter 15, what is being waited for is the fullness of sin. When the gentiles sins pile so high that God identifies it as the fullness of the gentiles, then He pulls the plug on this evil age and all Israel is saved!

Maranatha!

Time

 It was shared tonight at men’s group that the sacrifice of time, is a very real sacrifice that shows very real life-changing love.

A baptism and a new life in the Messiah Yeshua started today because God used the faithfulness of one of His servants to show sacrificial love. 

Time is something we all have. Are we using it for the Kingdom? Are we living in light of the Day of the Lord?

Ecstasy!

 Paul is ECSTATIC at the end of Romans 11!

The God of Israel has revealed HIS perfect plan to the apostle to the gentiles and it is beyond amazing and proof positive that the God of Israel knows the end from the beginning.  

 

³² For God has shut up all in disobedience, so that He might show mercy to all.

³³ O the depth of the riches,
    both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are His judgments
    and how incomprehensible His ways!
³⁴ For “who has known the mind of Adonai,
    or who has been His counselor?”
³⁵ Or “who has first given to Him,
    that it shall be repaid to him?”

³⁶ For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.

 

If you don't have that reaction when you get to the end of Romans 11, you are not reading it correctly.

 

Matthew 10:23 Let’s Dive In

 

“When people realize it is the living God you are presenting and not some idol that makes them feel good, they are going to turn on you, even people in your own family. There is a great irony here: proclaiming so much love, experiencing so much hate! But don’t quit. Don’t cave in. It is all well worth it in the end. It is not success you are after in such times but survival. Be survivors! Before you’ve run out of options, the Son of Man will have arrived."the Message

 

 

Whenever they persecute you in one town, flee to another! I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. NET

 

"In the end of days, you will only have two choices, self-sacrifice or idolatry!" Art Katz 

Two Psalms

 Entered 2 songs in a contest today (lyrics only)

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
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 used by You
That others would know Your love

Faithful Redeemer, Precious Friend
Go Deeper Still!

LOVIN YOU OUT Of The DARK. 

 When we met I knew you were special

Kinda shy but so tender and kind
We grew closer, I sensed your pain my beloved
You hid, but it was showing through the window to your soul

Chorus
What they did was awful it’s true
But it’s not all over for you
I promise my patience
I promise my heart
While I’m lovin you out of the dark 

Through the years, little cracks in your armor
One here, another one there
Began to show a hurting young woman
Then with tears of rage and betrayal your story poured out

(Chorus)

My heart wept for your overwhelming, terrible pain
You feared my reaction I’m sure
But my love I want only to heal and protect
I’ll never walk out that door 

(Chorus)

You are not damaging goods or all dirty
You’re my wife so faithful and true
My love I will give freely
To the one so special it’s always “I DO!”

(Chorus)

I promise my patience
I promise my heart
While I’m lovin you out of the dark

He Yelled IT!

 Luke 7:9"And when Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned and said unto the multitude that followed him, I say unto you, 'I have not found so great faith, 

 no, not in Israel.'"

In Matthew when the story is told it is literally a few minutes after the sermon on the mount, so a large crowd, a multitude, is still right there, following Him, probably talking with each other about the greatest 15 minute teaching ever given, or marvelling at the healing of the leper that took place right before this in Matthew and proved that those 15 minutes were being spoken by someone who had the power of the Spirit of the Most High God flowing through Him and in Him.

The back story presented to a similar event, that probably occurred more than once is presented in Matthew. 

5And when he was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, 6and saying, Lord, my servant lieth in the house sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. 7And he saith unto him, I will come and heal him. 8And the centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant shall be healed. 9For I also am a man under authority, having under myself soldiers: and I say to this one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 

When I read scripture and study scripture I long for the knowledge of the tone of voice that Yeshua was using at the time, and I strongly feel that since Yeshua just heard this amazing confession FROM A MEMBER OF THE GOYIM, THE NATIONS, THE GENTILES HE (the God of the universe, who knows the end from the beginning, who in fact knows everything) marvels!!!!

And then in my not as humble as it needs to be opinion, He turned and yelled to the multitude of people following Him.    

 “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel! 11And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world—from east and west—and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven. 12But many Israelites—those for whom the Kingdom was prepared—will be thrown into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”       

Some of the scariest and yet most comforting words in all of scripture.  You gentiles, not included, with rare exception from the people and plans of God, this Centurion is an indicator that you will be coming in, in great numbers and you Jews who think you are in automatically, no, you are not, I AM the gate, I AM the Way, I AM the truth, you have to go through me or you don't get in. 

500,000 views

 Sure it took 10 years and possibly many bots from Brazil and Singapore choosing to follow me on google, but as of today, this little blog is over 500,000 views.

Kind of scary, but most of the stuff on here is truth and most of it I will stand behind. 

The Tent of Shem May Be Larger Than I Thought

 Listening to Art Katz message, The Tent of Shem and I think God gave me the idea that the tent of Shem is larger than I would have expected it to be. The Arabs and the Jews are both in that tent. Egypt and I don't really know who else are descended from Ham and Canaan.

Maybe the gentiles are being called to help to reconcile the Arabs and the Jews.

The Jewish people have an army that is called the Israel Defense Force, the purpose of their army is defense. That is why the "thing" in Gaza does not feel right, Israel was on the offensive, not just for a little bit and not in proportion to Oct. 7th, most would say that they went a little to far in leveling the entire area.  I don't have an opinion on that.  I know that we gentiles in Messiah's community are called to love the individual Jew in our lives at the sacrificial cost of our lives.

Isaac and Ishmael were reconciled in some way at the death of Abraham, who was still alive in the days of Jacob and Esau.

There may be more here than meets the eye. 

Wise As Serpents

 First of all I am quoting from Matthew 10:16, but if you only read that verse you are lazy, arrogant, and beyond repair in ever becoming a teacher worthy of the Master!

Context is key. 

This famous statement is only recorded in one of the synoptic gospels.  

 -----The word "synoptic" means "together sight." The Synoptic Gospels are called such because the authors "saw together with a common view."-----from GotQuestions.org

Not.Very.Synoptic.

Only one gospel mentions this section. It is a truly beautiful section with deep insights into what it means to be a follow of the Messiah of Israel in this evil age.

Don't expect peace.

Don't expect success.

Don't expect support from your entire family.

Don't expect to fit in.

Don't expect power.

Matthew 10:16 -  “Take note! I am sending you out like sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore, be as cautious as snakes and as innocent as doves."

Schindler's List got me thinking of this as the Jews have to be wise as serpents to preserve life in the time of Nazi domination, forging documents, lying about abilities, lying about production.  

Sheep in the midst of wolves. Doesn't sound like a formula for success to me. Sounds like it is doomed to failure and it should have as a movement, and the Jewish people should have been wiped out by now, but the God of Israel specializes in showing mercy to preserve a remnant.

It is all mercy, sometimes it is just hard to see it. Praying for eyes to see and ears to hear His mercy and faithfulness is a good prayer.

10: 22 "and you will be hated by everyone because of my name. He who endures to the finish, however, will be saved."  This is the expectation of a true disciple in this evil age. Period. End of Story.

10:25 is a key to this passage. ^"It is enough for the disciple that he be as his teacher, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more them of his household!"  Yeshua is stating an important principle that was known in the Jewish world, your life will be like the life of your rabbi. It is an uncomfortable truth for the disciples, the leadership does not like Yeshua and they have the might of Rome behind them.

Here is something I don't understand and if anyone does, chime in.  Matthew 10:23 “Now when people begin persecuting you in one town, flee to another. Amen, I solemnly tell you this: You will certainly not finish going through all the towns of Israel until the Son of Man comes." 

Jerusalem and Israel is where they started preaching and they went out from there to the gentiles. So you would think there was a time when they "finished going through all the towns of Israel". This seems to indicate Yeshua would have returned in the neighborhood of AD 60 or so?

 One last question since I am asking questions.

Why does Yeshua from the cross assign John to Mary and Mary to John, he was going to see them in three days and then, an unknown number of times over the following 40 days, my questions regards the timing, Why then? From the cross?

Hope everyone has a good day. Life is filled with highs and lows, this evil age has no justice, no peace, He is our peace and He will bring justice. 

Lord, Lord Did We Not,,,

 Recently I was part of a little curfluffle with a person who had an agenda to emphasize the gifts of healing the sick and casting out demons above everything else. Very grateful for the grace of God. He gave me the wisdom to say, “scripture contains a very clear warning that people with these exact gifts can be looked at by Yeshua himself and told  “I do not know you.” Yet never ever ever ever ever anywhere in scripture is a person who loved sacrificially with the love that Jesus has put inside of them ever ever ever been told, “I do not know you.” So, put down your agenda to make other people feel bad because they’ve never healed the sick cast out demons or raise the dead like you’ve done, because if they are loving the poor, the widow and the orphan and showing mercy they are untouchable by your accusations and your agenda. Who is told you what is good O man??   YES WHO INDEED!