Wonder sent from God!

We are always surprised by the wonders of God. Sometimes we get more than we think we need. Most of the time we don't thank him for the blessings we recieve.  This wonder from him is a 5 month jewel from his little angel cloud.  She is already almost pushing up to crawl. She is the apple of her grandfather's eye and has everyone, including Gail, eating out of her hand.  We love her!

To be Baptized into our Spiritual Life

I love the song sang currently by Alison Krauss, "Down to the River to Pray." It encourages me to spread the message to all around me to hear the message of the spiritual Father who gives us life, breath and meaning in our lives. I hear from some baptism is necessary. Some say, it is a physical work that can not save us. I believe we see the importance of baptism as we read of John baptizing in the river west of Jerusalem. The Father had instructed the messenger to immerse in the river Jordan. He was humbled to see Yeshua come to be baptized. John wanted Jesus to baptize John. But Yeshua knew YHWH's plan.

I can only assume from the conversions of the jailer, Cornelius, the eunuch and Paul's own conversion that God intends us to be baptized to complete the physical acknowledgment of belief in our salvation, Yeshua.

photograph: preachercarl.blogspot.com
References: http://blogthechurch.wordpress.com/category/baptism/
http://www.bebaptized.org/Somecommonarguments.htm

Life and Godliness

God's power has given us everything we need for life and godliness, through our knowing the One who called us to his own glory and goodness. By these he has given us valuable and superlative great promises, so that through them you might come to share in God's nature and escape the corruption which evil desires have brought into the world. II Peter 1:3

To escape the world's corruption, I know I must remove myself at times. Remove myself from instances which I will become carried away from what I know YWHW wants for me. I know others may not understand my distance, my extremisms and my neglect. I don't always know what is best. I think God plants those thoughts in my mind. I am not listening to supernatural voices but that small conscience that the all mighty placed there almost 50 years ago. Oh yes, that was a long time ago and I didn't always listen to the voice.

I didn't always study from a translated version of the Bible which uses Hebrew names specifically for YWHW and Yeshua. I was one who accepted the KJV for the dedication inside its cover. That King James (or the people around him) wanted to give the English speaker a version of the all mightly's words for all the common man to know. I don't want to force someone to accept a very Hebrew view of the Bible as being the best translation. I strive only to understand my Master, Salvation and our Father in the most natural way.

I am tossed on every side. Who is right? What is wrong? Am I wrong? Did I understand it correctly? Did they translated it correctly? Do I know actually what Adonai wants from me? Did I truly obey his commands all of these years? Where does he want me to turn? What does he want me to accept in my future and from those around me? Doubt? Oh, yes doubt compasses me from every direction. I know others have doubts and grief from the way they receive information, love, criticisms and attention. I struggle at the smallest moment of strife when its bony finger it pointed at me. What does he want me to let go of and remember not forever?

For this very reason, try your hardest to furnish your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with perseverance, perseverance with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection and brotherly affection with love. For if you have these qualities in abundance, they keep you from being barren and unfruitful in the knowledge our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. (And) Indeed, whoever lacks them is blind, so shortsighted that he forgets that his past sins have been washed away. Therefore, brothers, try even harder to make your being called and chosen a certainty. For if you keep doing this, you will never stumble. Thus you will be generously supplied with everything you need to enter the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Deliverer, Yeshua the Messiah. II Peter 1 : 5-11.

I want to hear the Master and the Messiah, say of me in that Great Day, "see my daughter in whom I am well pleased."

Picture is from Wikipedia, on the Hebrew alphabet, beginning of Joshua 1.

Guarding Your Heart

Your heart is the most important leadership tool you have. It is not your experience, knowledge, or skills. It is your heart that matters most of all.

This is the beginning two sentences on Michael Hyatt's Intentional Leadership blog. I will let King Solomon set up Mr. Hyatt's words. King Solomon said it best: “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” (Proverbs 4:23).

Michael Hyatt explains it better than I.


Sword picture at www.dragonscavern.com

Let your Conscience be your Guide?

I was deeply moved today in the assembly when one of our brothers spoke on the idea of "Letting your conscience be your guide." Many of his views where: What if you were trained as a child to steal or cheat your friend. So your conscience would lead you to believe it was all right to steal and cheat others when you became older and began to disregard others. You would be allowing your conscience to lead you away from the narrow way or the teachings of our Saviour and Messiah and our heavenly Father.

He pointed out the Father intended for us to have a conscience. The Gentiles knew the principles of righteousness from their actions of treating their neighbors as they wanted to be treated. Gentles would be hospitable, giving and cared for those around them who were less fortunate. Gentles would not have immortal relationships. Tom also pointed out sometimes we in all good conscience believe our decisions are in line with Yeshua's teachings. Saul of Tarsus to the Sanhedrin said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.” Saul persecuted believers thinking our Father would want him to "bring them to justice."

The point was if we didn't get our minds in the scriptures, learn and listen to the Father and the Messiah's teaching, and train our minds in the ways of the eternal Father, then we would be in jeopardy of teaching and practicing our thoughts and beliefs which could be opposite of the true way.

So what was Saul of Tarsus teaching the Romans in Chapter 2: 12-29? "For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without the law: and as many as have sinned under the law shall be judged by the law; for not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified:(for when Gentiles that have not the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having the law, are the law unto themselves; in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness therewith, and their thoughts one with another accusing or else excusing them); in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men, according to my gospel, by the Messiah."

"But if thou bearest the name of a Jew, and rest upon the law, and gloriest in God, and knowest his will, and approvest the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law, and art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them that are in darkness, a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having in the law the form of knowledge and of the truth; Thou therefore that teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou rob temples?"

"Thou who gloriest in the law, through thy transgression of the law dishonorest thou God? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you, even as it is written. For circumcision indeed profits, if thou be a doer of the law: but if thou be a transgressor of the law, thy circumcision is become uncircumcision. If therefore the uncircumcision keep the ordinances of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be reckoned for circumcision? Shall not the uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who with the letter and circumcision art a transgressor of the law? For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh: but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God." AVS

Picture: Mary Cassatt: Children at Play

Dry are my old Eyes

One of my favorite songs is from the late Keith Green, My Eyes are Dry. It reminds me of the trust and faith I must have in the power of the Spirit of love our Messiah has for each and everyone of his sheep.

"My eyes are dry, my faith is old, My heart is hard, my prayers are cold, And I know how I ought to be, Alive to You and dead to me" When I look into the eyes of a child of our Almighty like Sharbat Gula, I realize anything I have felt as a trouble is insignificant, or trivial. The National Geographic Magazine went back to find Sharbat to see if this refugee had survived the forced march across the mountains into Pakistan from Afghanistan during the Soviet occupation. This woman as an orphan child with her grandmother traveled on foot to be released from an occupied country. I wonder about the women, children and families of Afghanistan who are in an American occupied country. I forget a lot about the suffering of others, the suffering of the Messiah and have self-pity during my days. Will I see my child again, will I be alone and will I ever loose this weight.

"Oh what can be done for an old heart like mine, Soften it up with oil and wine." The olive tree bears fruit that is washed, cleaned, beaten, grounded up and centrifuged a heated pulp to extract the largest and best droplets of oil. Oh, have I beaten, washed and cleaned my soul of impurities to help soften my heart. Grapes are harvested, crushed and pressed, fermented, clarified, and aged to be bottled once to provide a unique drink our Messiah used at the dedication of his remembrance supper. Oil and wine to soften my weary heart. We are purified when we obey the Truth, which enables us to grow in our spiritual habitation "Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God." 2 Corinthians 7:1.

Keith Green's lyrics from "My Eyes are Dry", National Geography photograph by Steve McCurry, 2008

I love songs, especially when they remind me of Yeshua. He is our everything. "Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD." Psalm 34:11 "But Yeshua called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God." Luke 18:16 A friend of mine above the States sent this today and I greatly appreciated the revision of an old favorite.

"Senior version of Jesus Loves Me"
Here is a new version just for us who have white hair or no hair at all. For us over middle age (or even those almost there) and all you others, check out this newest version of Jesus Loves Me.

JESUS LOVES ME
Jesus loves me, this I know,
Though my hair is white as snow
Though my sight is growing dim,
Still He bids me trust in Him.
(CHORUS)

YES, JESUS LOVES ME.. YES, JESUS LOVES ME..
YES, JESUS LOVES ME, FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.

Though my steps are oh, so slow,
With my hand in His I'll go
On through life, let come what may,
He'll be there to lead the way.
(CHORUS)

When the nights are dark and long,
In my heart He puts a song..
Telling me in words so clear,
"Have no fear, for I am near."
(CHORUS)

When my work on earth is done,
And life's victories have been won.
He will take me home above,
Then I'll understand His love.
(CHORUS)

I love Jesus, does He know?
Have I ever told Him so?
Jesus loves to hear me say,
That I love Him every day.

YES, JESUS LOVES ME.. YES, JESUS LOVES ME..
YES, JESUS LOVES ME, FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.

"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. " John 13:34-35 Oh, that all of us would love the Messiah as Yeshua loves us.

Picture of H.D. Dennis from Rising Blackstar.com

http://rising.blackstar.com/southern-lights-the-old-preacher-man-on-highway-61.html/comment-page-1#comment-20665