Memory Stone: Campfire

Sometimes its good for the soul to visit a memory stone. I was thinking about this blog the other day and although I  haven't posted anything in years, I thought I'd revive it.  I'll be reading my blog and if I see something that I think is meaningful I'll tweak it a bit and post it again.  

Condensed & Tweaked from November 12, 2009

It's true that GOD ignited a doused fire pit. He did so with Elijah in 1 Kings 18:`16-46.  HE can do it again, today with us!  We first need to prepare our hearts for His fire. A lightening bolt might start a fire but the best fires provide a steady source of heat. I believe that the supernatural parallels of the natural world. Building a campfire in the natural world carries with it a deeper meaning. 

Location:  If we consider that a campfire pit is a place to gather family and friends, tell stories and enjoy one an other's company, eat and warm yourself, then the location of a fire needs to be in a safe place. It should be free of trees, brush, and tall grass. Are we separated enough from the world? Have we found that safe place? Are we really ready for the fire?

Gathering materials and setting stones: We would outline our chosen site with brick or stones to protect the fire. Protect a fire?  Yes, lest it burn uncontrollably and burn out too fast or be in a spot where it wouldn't burn at all.  Spiritually, have we gathered our blessings and promises from GOD?  Have we searched the Word of God? Have we found the foundational stones and prepared a space neither too large or too small? 


Dig a trench:  In the natural world if building a substantial campfire, we would dig a trench in the middle of the site to keep it from flickering through the rocks and becoming unmanageable. Do we go off flickering self-righteousness toward others and set other fires? It's sad but true that many times we can be quicker to condemn than to love.  We need to dig a trench in our hearts in order to contain sarcasm, poor attitudes, and unrealistic expectations concerning others.

Make it level:  After digging the trench, we would scrape the bottom and pour pea gravel into the pit to level it and smooth it out to help with drainage. Ouch! did you get that? Scrape the bottom of your heart? You have to get serious to do this spiritually. As we scrape away old offenses we free our hearts to love others and to be loved.  As long as old offenses are there (starting as early as childhood), we will not have a healthy fire. We must get rid of hardened scabs.  No one can do this for us,  we can only do this for ourselves. We prepare for proper drainage when the rains will come but instead of accumulating in a huge puddle the storm waters will slip right through the gravels. These rocks represent scripture promises that won't be washed away but will filter and allow the pain and sorrow to escape our campfire site.


Add sand:   This is interesting. We don't often think about anything becoming a problem underneath us, but the sand is to act as fire prevention so that fire can't spread to the roots under the pit. This is another case where we are so closely knitted to others that some of them may be damaged from the fire because they are so close to us. This is usually our immediate family and generally are the tender roots of children. We become impatient and cross to the point of harm. It's not the HOLY SPIRIT fire but a false fire that burns within us! We need to protect others from our false fire so that none will be destroyed by our lack of preparation. The sand represents the flow of protection that comes when we study scripture and truly begin to want the best for others. We don't want any harm to come to our loved ones. The grains of sand are many. These are scriptures where spiritual concepts are mastered.


Build the fire:   Last, we gather the kindling and wood and build the fire. We build the fire in the natural, but our prayers are the kindling and the wood so that the HOLY SPIRIT may light the fire in the supernatural. Let the fire burn within each of us. May it give off enough light that others desire it for themselves so that they may realize it is of GOD. May it give off enough heat that cold hearts would melt and be filled with the true love of our Savior. May we continue to pray and invite others to be warmed by the fire and immersed in the light. 


As a final note, the lining of the large stones, the mid sized stones and the grains of sand are all natural elements in the building of a campfire pit.  In the spiritual, all these natural elements represent scripture.  The different sizes of stone represent our level of study and commitment to understand. We may have remembered scripture and those would be the largest stones of faith that surround our fire. Faith is what holds it all in place.  
Prepare for the fire of the HOLY SPIRIT to ignite within you that you might be a light in the darkness...

Heavenly Father,  Teach us to prepare our lives in such a way that we are always ready, willing and able to carry the fire of your presence with us where ever we go.  Help us to remember to pray.  Give us faith and favor when we are weak and struggling that we may not hinder others from your love and power.  In Jesus name. Amen

Living the Christian Life in the End Times

Why are Jews and Christians always on the chopping block? Why do the nations despise and hate the Jews? Why does the media find great pleasure in “slandering” pastors, evangelists, and other men and women of God?

There may be some Jews who have been false and not righteous. Their lives may have been slammed across headlines of recent days. It seems the world has need to blame someone for all their misery, and as a group, it has always been “the Jews” to blame. After all they have always been a little different and we can’t have that. (What ridiculous reasoning! Yet, it is taught to children around he world to hate “Jews”.)


Then Christians, who are truly Christians, come along and are the second most hated people. Don’t believe me? Just listen to how the secular world jokes about Christ and in so doing are joking about us. You don’t poke fun at that which you honor and love, but only that which you trample beneath your feet. Think about it…


Look at laws that have been created in the past and that are even now being created. The issue of separation of church and state is always at hand. It’s interesting how when tax money is the question, it can be debated that churches should not be tax exempt. Oh, so in essence lawmakers are saying that church and state are not separated!  Hmmm. But, on the other hand we are to maintain a secular atmosphere in our public and government buildings and grounds, so in essence lawmakers are saying the church and state are separate. You can’t have it both ways. Political man speaks with forked tongue! Think about it…


Well, back to my original thought, there are some who are “falsely” proclaiming to be Christians. There are some who were once on fire for God, but have fallen away and their lives have been scrutinized. There are some who stand up and say things in the name of Jesus, but they don’t know Him. We are all judged by the world according to the ones who have failed or fallen. But there is an ultimate judge who will be honored above every other judge or king.  He is the only one that is worthy of honor!  But we live in this imperfect world now, what can we do about this injustice now?


First, realize that the true Christian leaders are being hindered by what seems at first glance to be ordinary men and women. But principalities and powers are driving these men and women. God is the light and darkness is trying to hinder the Kingdom of God. These principalities and powers may cause havoc and we may experience great turmoil around us in the dark. But God says we are to be light! When we obey Him then we are the light.  When we obey Him, then we will know the peace and strength that comes from none other than our Jehovah Jireh, our Great Provider.


Second, we must study to understand fully that we were not promised that life will be easy; knowing that the more we walk forward sharing the good news of our faith, this light of God with others, that the more  darkness will try to hinder our ministry. (Yes, we must understand that it is a ministry to spread the light of God.) Our strength comes from the Lord. We must continue to commune with him daily through every circumstance whether these times are good or bad that we go through. We must read His word to find the “rehmah” word that is meant for us. He will provide understanding when we search. He will bring clarity to a muddy situation.


Third, then we are to always continue with the admonition that we are to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. It is not our job to point fingers and ridicule others. It is our job to seek out from our Father what words he would have us use. If we are to continue obeying Him and saying nothing, then let’s be obedient. If we are to speak, then let’s be obedient. Each circumstance is different and He is to guide. He can’t lead us until we are willing to follow!


Fourth, God tells us we aren’t to be concerned with the circumstances that are ripping the atmosphere around us. He tells us that we are to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. His chosen people are not perfect but He is perfect. We are to obey. If we know the Lord Jesus as our Savior, it is because God  revealed Himself to us and we had a choice of whether to repent or not.


I cannot explain faith to anyone, but when the Lord God reveals Himself to you, anyone or me then there was, is and no longer will be any excuse to disbelieve.
I can only give testimony of what he has done for me in my life. I cannot through my words alone make anyone else believe in the Lord Jesus. I cannot make my family and those I call friends believe. But, I know that when my Father is ready to reveal Himself and draw them to Him, not even my bloodline will have an excuse not to honor His calling. There won’t even be an excuse that all of us have been hypocrites. When dealing with us as individuals, God will not look at others. He will be looking straight at us as individuals.


God is not a hypocrite. He is Holy. I know Him and exalt Him above every person or thing that I have ever encountered in my life, even my own family, whom I love beyond imagination. Yet, I can love my family and friends more because He has taught me to love.  I can love Him above all others because that is the way in which he desires it to be and I understand the ultimate outcome of that order of loving.  He has loved me unconditionally. I haven’t arrived at that state in my walk with Him yet. I am on my way. The first step was forgiveness, but that’s another devotional entirely…


Lastly, we are to grow in faith, wisdom and understanding of the Kingdom of Heaven.  Preachers are leaders but in actuality all Christians are called of God and are to be leaders in this dark world. So get ready leaders because the blessings of God begin in the house of God.

· Stop saying you’re too old… God says your best is yet to come.

· Stop saying you’re the wrong color or background… God says whatever your color or background, you are made in the image of God! You are made perfect and God is no respecter of persons!

· Stop saying if I were a different gender… God says that you’re a woman in His world… God says… Men be men in My world.

· Stop saying anything that sounds like put downs against others. Quit saying things against “those ____ people”

Remember that somewhere in the past parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and beyond have prayed for you. Christ, Himself prayed for you. He has given us power and authority to have restored health and wealth in this life. It is to be used for the glory of God, not just for ourselves but for God.


Why haven’t we been told this or understood this before? Why haven’t we utilized this information before? Why haven’t we been healed and made wealthy before? It’s all about God’s timing. When we begin to understand God’s timing, he reveals more and more to us and we will be blessed more and more...


Study to learn. Grow in wisdom. We are beginning to understand Purim. If you don’t know what it is; ask God to reveal through your study what it is.


Study to learn. Grow in wisdom. We are beginning to understand Malachi 3… Three times in a year we are to come to God and bring Him our due and offerings. He says come unto me and I’ll come unto you. Jesus told us give and it shall be given to you.

Taste and see that the Lord is good, blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.  Psalm 34:8


When we understand and do the things that honor God, He will honor us with blessings that we cannot begin to contain. The blessings will overflow us. When we study and learn these things, He will bless us in our coming and in our going. We are in the end times right now! Just look around.


Our Jewish roots are important. Read the scriptures… we have been grafted in and God dwells in the secret place! We must go there and dwell with Him. Jesus says, But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. Matthew 6:6


The secret place is when you are hidden in your closet, hidden in your tent, hidden under your tallit… I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel. Isa. 45: 3…



If others aren’t going into the secret place, we are to do it for them. Go as an intercessor so that God might be revealed to them. As we receive His abundance let us share it.








Interesting Information and Food for Thought:
February 27th, this year was the beginning of the Hebrew month Adar. This year is a Jewish leap year. Here’s the explanation. It’s truly exciting knowledge! Enjoy the revelation. This was supposed to be here especially for someone reading this today!



The Torah says that Passover has to be celebrated in the spring. So, the second month of Adar was added for this reason to the Hebrew calendar. It is considered a leap year, but its not just a day that is added but an entire month. This means that seven times every 19 years, we have two months of Adar. (The Hebrew calendar is based on the lunar cycle. It has 354 days. So by having leap months occasionally, Passover occurs in a completely different season.)

"Mishenichnas Adar, marbim b'simchah - "When Adar begins, we increase in joy." (Babylonian Talmud, Taanit 29a) Simchah, or joy, is a necessary ingredient in Jewish life. This is especially true during the month of Adar when we celebrate the miracle of Purim. Tradition teaches that simchah (happiness) comes from k’dushah (holiness), whereas sadness and dejection come from the "other side."





My devotions were motivated by the teaching of Larry Huch. http://www.larryhuchministries.com/media/stream/#WatchVideo

Praise & Prayer

I truly enjoyed a wonderful time of prayer and worship Friday night with a small group gathered just to bring honor to the Lord. It was a last minute invite, brought together by a sweet young woman who felt that God had told her to open her home for a meeting so she called those that were brought to her mind. Before the night was over there were  twelve of us in attendance and great revelations were pouring through as we shared some of our personal devotions with one another.  It's amazing how God speaks to His children.  We found that each of us was learning the same lesson as everyone else but in a unique way meant just for us.  God is so good!




During that time, God revealed the great importance of praying once again. I've prayed ever since I accepted the Lord Jesus as Savior years ago.  Over the years I’ve listened to many messages on the subject of prayer and read a multitude of books about praying. I've belonged to prayer teams and Intercessor groups, but this revelation was somehow different.  This time the urgency of God's children coming together in prayer was more like a strategic team of warriors.


The Weapons of Warfare!
In my mind’s eye, I saw angels with bowls, hurling them down to earth and the contents were prayers.  Prayers are the weapons of  warfare.  This image came to alert me to that very fact.  Our prayers are important. God hears them all and stores them for His use. Before the throne of the Lord Jesus right now are created beings and elders. I pray that you can understand that as we pray here on earth, our prayers are received as holy incense filling the bowls that the angels hold.  If you are unfamiliar with any of this, seek Him in the scriptures for yourself. I'm still learning as I go.  New revelations are gathered as little by little the scriptures are read.  We can’t get what He has for us with only listening to a message once in a while and saying a prayer when we need something.  We must be renewed daily in His word just to have the strength to carry on another day.

And when he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. Revelation 5:8


The harps show the praise and the golden bowls represent our faith-filled prayers, for if we did not believe then we would never have prayed. The two are in company together.   The revelation to me was that we are to pray more often and in belief.  The golden bowls need to be filled.  God has an angel army.  These are not the little Renaissance cherubs we see painted on the walls and in portraits. These are mighty warriors.  Scripture says we activate them to aid.  The way we activate them is through prayer.  (This is an entirely deeper subject to be studied further. I would suggest searching the scriptures and also reading books by Perry Stone and Ron Phillips on the subjects of angels and of demons.)


Pray with our hearts!

How many times have we said a “functionary” prayer? You know what I mean, it’s meal time and so we bow our head and say a few words of grace with our lips but our hearts are not involved. We have a routine and follow it as a ritual and prayer is included but once again where is our heart?  We may say, “Oh, how devoted that man is because he prays five times a day.”  But God is not impressed. 1 Samuel 16:7… But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” God knows our hearts!





Pray with Thanksgiving!

So let us be fervent in prayer that we may fill the bowls in heaven with holy incense. If you have never thought of prayer as a weapon, start thinking that way today!  Prayer is our weapon of choice. The first thing we must remember in prayer is to be thankful and give praise to our God. Psalm 69: 30-31 Then I will praise God’s name with singing, and I will honor him with thanksgiving. For this will please the Lord more than sacrificing cattle, more than presenting a bull with its horns and hooves.


Prayer for ourselves!
Usually the first prayers we pray are for ourselves.  It's easy to ask God to help us and give us things.  When we make supplicaton to Him, believing that He is able to help us with our requests, this honors Him. We pray knowing that God the Father  willingly gives to His children.  But we must realize and acknowledge that God knows what is best even in our prayerful requests.  We might not get what we want.  We might think we know what we need but God doesn’t always answer every prayer the way we think He should. We need to pray as Jesus did with this attitude,  “Not my will, but thine, be done.”

Phillipians 4:6-7 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.



What about intercession?

This is standing in the gap for someone else. There are many to pray for during. We are to pray for our enemies. Yes, you heard that right! (Read Matthew 5:44 and Luke 6:28) We are to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ. (Acts 12:5 and 1 Thessalonians 5:25). We are to pray for the sick and those who need healing (James 5:14)

We are to pray for one another.  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16.



When do we pray?

We must learn to do it all the time. (Romans 12:12 and 1 Thessalonians 5:17)



Why do we pray?

Ephesians 6: 12-19 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike.

Praise Him and Pray

Praise (“Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever” Revelation 5:13)

Prayer (“The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects,” James 5:16)

These are only two weapons of our warfare. There are more weapons available. He grants the use of these weapons that are housed in His arsenal (His Word) when we seek Him out.



So dress for battle and be ready at His call!  You will need the belt of truth (this is the ministry of God’s Word going forth into the world), the breastplate of righteousness (this is the ministry for acts of kindness that we bestow because of Christ’s blood covering on us), sandals of peace (this is the ministry of reconciliation ~ peace with God and peace with man), the shield of faith (this deflects the fiery arrows of doubt and despair that the enemy fires upon us) and the helmet of salvation (this is the protection of our mind to fight against discouragement from within us) and the sword of the Spirit (this is the double edge of God’s revealed truth).



Being ready for spiritual warfare is not a one-time thing but a way of life for the believer. As we learn to wear our armor and use the armaments, we can resist satan and his demonic forces. When the fight is over we will be standing because that is the place God wants us to be while on the battlefield.  Stand!


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Joy in the midst of trouble… (I've modified my notes taken from Curt Landry)

Do you know that the wisdom and knowledge of God is directly involved with your joy?


The Bible says the joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10) but there is more than that…


The joy of the wisdom of the Lord and the knowledge of God gives us joy in the midst of troubled times. God wants to reveal to us what we are to do with our lives, our business, everything. It’s not enough in today’s time to have a Wednesday-Sunday God, but He wants to be the Lord of our lives every day of the week.



Do you need joy in your life? Of course, we all do. There is a difference between joy and happiness. Happiness is like a butterfly. It will light on you and flutter away, leaving you with other emotions. But joy is solid and steadfast, just like the Lord. Joy does not change, just like the Lord. You can experience joy even in the midst of trouble. Joy is a non-wavering calm and peace that engulfs our entire being. There is no fear in joy!

But where does this joy come from and how can we get it?




For the person who pleases Him, God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy… Ecc. 2:26 (Amplified Bible)



His ways bring joy… when we please Him…



Are your ways pleasing the Lord? Are you kind and helpful to others? Are you worshipping and praying with other believers? Are you living out the life He called you to? Are you bringing your tithe to the Lord? Are you giving of yourself to the Lord in service other than the tithe and offering?



The main question is this, are your surrendered to Jesus in all things?

Another thought, are your finances surrendered to the Lord?

Have you given the Lord your house? Dedicate your house to the Lord. Separate everything to the Lord. Thank him that you have a place to live and give that place over to Him.



Thank you Lord, that you have provided me a safe dwelling place to live. This is your house, your house payment, your car, your bills...



When we give everything to the Lord, He is pleased.

He says it pleases me that you are the Lord’s Monday through Sunday

His ways are prosperous… One of His names is Wonderful counselor...

You can go to Him and seek His counsel.  If you know Him as your Lord and Savior, He waits for you to come to Him in prayer. He will reveal Himself to you and give you insight as to what you need to do.


He will tell you when to buy, sell, move, stand still. The steps of a good and righteous man or woman are ordered of God. (Psalm 37:23)


Meditate about this and seek God’s wisdom and knowledge. He will answer.
May you prosper even as your soul prospers. (3 John 1:2)



In the name of Jesus.

My Life is a Puzzle

Picture an unfinished jigsaw puzzle here. I had one to share but I’m not sure how to add it to the post. Sorry! Guess that’s another part of the puzzle! LOL


Puzzle piece; where does this fit? It’s been an interesting morning. Bob and I got up and went to the post office to pick up the last of my Christmas presents, a study kit from Jerusalem. You may think I’m crazy and you’re probably right, but for at least two years I’ve (secretly at first) wished that I knew the Hebrew language so that I could read original scripture without any watering down or changes. I have never been interested in the Greek. After all, the Hebrew language came first chronologically and historically.

Puzzle piece; this one is already in place. I often found myself on the most popular Hebrew site, http://www.aish.com/ There I was able to learn cultural information as well as study because there is a wealth of knowledge on the pages. Puzzle piece: this one fits into the one above. Many times, I’d click on segments of blessings and songs in Hebrew and listen to this mystical (to me) language. It was nice because I also had the pleasure of reading the translation, but sometimes I just soaked in the sound and it was all good!


However, as good as that was—it wasn’t enough—I longed to know more. So, Bob signed me up to learn Classical Hebrew. It’s an online course that meets weekly for 9 months. Puzzle piece: lesson one. This past Monday was my first lesson. There are 8 students meeting online from the states of Utah, Michigan, Louisiana, Virginia (that would be me) and New York, as well students from Jamaica and Canada. We are all beginners, of course.

Puzzle piece; you have this one and I’m not sure where you’ll put it.  Anyway, with that said, I ask that you pray with me that I am able to learn and keep up with the studies associated with this class. Thanks!
 
 
The core of this devotion is from Oz Hillman and later down the page from Rabbi Freeman. I take the liberty of believing that everyone who is reading this truly knows the LORD JESUS as their personal SAVIOR. So when I study and share it is with that viewpoint in mind.  There are some scritures to the side of this blog post, if you doubt your relationship with JESUS.  May GOD bless you in your journey.  

Read on…


The questions asked were, “Do your sails no longer have wind to move you? Is your engine broken? Does it feel like GOD has propelled you into the open sea only to stop midway with no options?”

Oz tells us perhaps HE is saying it is time to die in order that HE might live through you.

He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven (Ps 107:29-30).

WHAT IF—you began an exciting sailing adventure. You've been trained to navigate and sail on the ocean and be ready should trouble arise. You are confident you can handle the challenge. Then, midway in the journey your resources have dried up. It almost seems GOD has intentionally destroyed all the skills you have to deal with the weather and the obstacles and your sails are now damaged. Even your engine has broken down. And to make matters even worse, your oars were lost overboard. You are stuck in the middle of the ocean and there is no wind to propel your boat. You are, as they say, "up the creek without a paddle." All of this leads you to the end of yourself and you say, "Lord, I don't know why you brought me out here only to die." The silence is deafening.

Finally, the LORD speaks, "Yes, you are right. I did bring you out here. I did destroy your sails. I did break your engine. And yes, I do want you dead. Not in a physical sense, mind you, but in a spiritual sense. In order that you may LIVE."


You say, “WHAT?”


GOD says,


"You see my child, you are nothing without ME. You cannot do anything without my grace and power in your life."   John 15: 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

The sailor (that is you) quietly yields. Suddenly, a gentle wave lifts the front of the boat. An easterly wind blows through the broken sail moving the boat in the right direction. You realize GOD is moving your boat! Your role now is to steer it.
 
Are you exhausted? Are you dragging in your spirit? What are you trying to do on your own? Is that really what GOD wants you to do? Are you sure?
 
Give the LORD total control today and you will see your life change in dramatic ways. Yes, there may still be times that you are tossed about but the difference is that GOD is in control and we can rest in HIS promises:
 
Then you will go on your way in safety, and y our foot will not stumble; when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Have no fear of sudden disaster. Proverbs 3:23-25
 
Yet I am always with YOU. YOU hold me by my right hand. YOU guide me with YOUR counsel, and afterward YOU will take me into glory. Psalm 73:23-24
 

And that’s not all (I sound like an infomercial, LOL)… I was also reading from Rabbi Tzvi Freeman. He gives insight concerning the Torah, especially the first five books of Moses. Read on…
 
This Torah given to us is not of the world, neither is it something extraneous to it.


It is the hidden essence, the primal thought from which all the cosmos and each thing within it extends. It is not about the world, it is the world—but it’s the world as its Creator sees it and knows it to be. (This is not, perhaps, the world we see with its filth, and violence and sin piled on the surface. It is the original world GOD created with nothing added and only HIS goodness and grace for our senses to behold.)

The sages say that the Torah is the blueprint GOD used to design His creation. Even more, they say, GOD and His Torah are one, for His thoughts are not outside of Him. Now we must realize that they are not saying that Torah came first. Torah is the WORD of GOD. Torah is GOD!


So now, when our mind grasps a thought of Torah (of WORD), with utter clarity, we grasp that inner essence of the wisdom of GOD.

When our mind and spirit engages, we are completely absorbed in the process of thought, comprehension and application to our lives.

Our very self is being absorbed in infinite wisdom, in HIS essence! Wow! What a thought!
 
But wait… it is not that we have grasped it (GOD's essence and HIS wisdom). It is that it has grasped us!

In truth, we become part of that essence and that essence is GOD. In that thought and in that truth, we are one with GOD! Hallelujah! I can now see how Oz Hillman and Rabbi Freeman’s messages can work together for my learning and benefit...
 
When I am a child, everything is about me. “Feed me, clean me, sing to me, and take care of me! These are my demands and everyone knows when I am not happy. Boo Hoo!"
 
With Oz's message, it appears that we take on tasks in this life without giving GOD a thought. We don’t look for HIS guidance or blessing. It’s all about us! It’s all about me! Then we get into some tight spot, but still many times we become so proud that we believe that we can do it without GOD (or I believe I can do it all myself). Some of us even think that we are so tiny and insignificant in GOD’s eyes that HE doesn’t want to bother with us (or poor pitiful me, I’m nothing). That is a lie from satan! Don't buy into the lie!
 
Get real, people! GOD gave everything up as a sacrifice for us! HE gave HIMSELF in the form of JESUS that we might have life and have it more abundantly! Why would we think that we are not important to HIM?! (Or why would I think that I’m not important to HIM?!)
 
After we get over our selves and repent of pride (or after I get over myself and repent of pride), we can truly trust GOD (or I can truly trust GOD). Then we can begin to understand what the Rabbi is trying to say to us…

The WORD is GOD and when I learn the WORD, truly learn the WORD, then GOD can truly dwell within me and within you! Hallelujah!

Don’t we remember this?

Genesis 1:1 in the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.3 And God said… (The WORD)

John 1:1 in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God.

Only when we study and seek HIM will we find HIM.

Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. (Seek out the WORD and we will find it and the meaning of it for us.)

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Wow!  What power GOD gives us!  But we usually can only glimpse a small portion of it now and then. Would to GOD that we could be in a spiritual position that we could see it at all times! Let that be part of our prayer… that we see HIM in HIS power and glory at all times!

My prayer:

Heavenly Father, May it be YOUR will, that all those we earnestly pray for come to know you and YOUR power and glory in their lives and in the lives of others around them. May it be YOUR will that we may all be a testimony of YOUR majesty.

ETERNAL ONE, Our GOD and the GOD of our ancestors, May it be YOUR will to lead us toward peace, direct our footsteps and guide us so that we reach YOUR desired destination for our lives.

May YOU see the love that we have for one another and help us to love even greater than we do now. May we show greater love each day so that the world will know us as YOUR children and YOU may be glorified through it all.

May YOUR heavenly angels guard and protect us on our journey in this life from the enemy as YOU have directed them...

May YOU rescue us from the hand of every foe, ambush, bandits and wild animals along the way whether in the natural or the spiritual worlds. May YOU rescue us from all manner of punishments that assemble to come to earth in the natural world and in the spiritual world.

We pray to YOU, honor YOU and worship only YOU.

May the coming evil pass over YOUR children just as the death angel passed over the doors in Egypt saving YOUR households from grief and loss.

May YOU send continual blessing in all our every handiwork and may we remember to honor YOU for it.

May YOU grant us peace, kindness and mercy that the eyes of all who see us will know that YOU are our FATHER and that walk in this world to honor YOU.

May YOU hear the sound of our supplication and worship because YOU are the GOD who hears prayer and YOU are our GOD who accepts our worship.

May YOU help us to become unified in the body of CHRIST so that we may magnify YOU above everyone and everything for YOU are worthy to be praised! Hallelujah!

Blessed are YOU, FATHER, ETERNAL ONE, who sees our tears and hears the groaning of our spirit and knows just what to do about it.

In JESUS’ name, Amen

PRAYER REQUESTS:

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  Be careful how you pray, friends.  You may be praying at cross purposes and that shows confusion and disunity amoung us.  Let us pray in wisdom.  We know because of the words in the LORD's prayer,  "thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven" that we can pray that there be no sickness, disease, hurt, etc. because these things are not in heaven and we can pray for individuals that "thy will be done."   Pray GOD's will in each situation, not our will.
  
  
  
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  Pray with your co-workers, not for them.  Matthew 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. 
  
  
  
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  Prayer and fasting... maybe, just maybe our prayer is not enough... Luke 2:36 And there was one Anna... 37 and she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
  
  
  
• 
  
   and  Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. 21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
  
  
  

1. 
   
   staff/faculty-- contemplating major knee surgery
   
   
   
2. 
   
   staff/faculty-- concern of paper work regarding career
   
   
   
3. 
   
   staff/faculty--continued prayer for those and/or family members we have had on the sick list
   
   
   
4. 
   
   staff/faculty--another batteling cancer that exhaustion deminish and that treatment is successful
   
   
   
5. 
   
   staff/faculty--continued prayer for several on our staff with family members who are still looking for work and those who have setteled but are not happy in their current positions
   
   
   
6. 
   
   continued prayer for our government servants and our place as active citizens
   
   
   
7. 
   
   continued prayer for all who are without the security of our LORD JESUS, that they come to know HIM and serve HIM unashamed
   
   
   
8. 
   
   continued prayer for one another that we be strengthened by the HOLY SPIRIT to do GOD's will everyday...
   
   
   
9. 
   
   continued prayer for those who teach us, preach the word, watch for us and will some day give an account to our HEAVENLY FATHER.  Hebrews 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
   
   
   

 Love and Prayers, Monica