Welcome to Grafted: Jewish Roots of Christianity! TikTok content creator, Laura Metzing is my guest. We had an awesome conversation about the end-times by looking at Revelation 19, Zechariah 14, and Israel.
Laura Metzing is a devoted wife, mother, and passionate homesteader who has found fulfillment in creating a life rooted in faith and family. A gifted singer, songwriter, and worship leader, Laura has long used her musical talents to inspire and uplift others.
Growing up as a pastor’s kid, she developed a deep connection to her faith, which has continued to evolve over the years. For the last two decades, Laura has followed the Torah, shaping her worldview and spiritual journey. Today, she shares her unique perspective with others as a TikTok and YouTube content creator, (@Womanofvalor4Yeshua) where she engages with her audience on topics of faith, spirituality, and end-times prophecy. Her passion for these discussions, combined with her personal experiences, makes her a relatable voice in the online community.
Sarah Williams is the Grant Compliance Officer at The Warriors Refuge, where she plays a vital role in writing and managing grants that fund critical programs for homeless veterans. Her professional journey in this field led her to earn an associate’s degree in business management, further strengthening her dedication to service and support for those in need.
A former Marine, Sarahโs life took a transformative turn in 2017 when she felt a deep calling to follow Yahuah. This spiritual awakening sparked her passion for teaching the Torah and sharing the message of Yahshua Messiah through her ministry, Wind of Change Torah Ministry. She focuses on restoring the original biblical foundations and spreading the truth of Yahuahโs love and salvation.
In addition to her ministry, Sarah is a devoted wife and mother, actively developing a homestead with her husband. Together, they embrace sustainable living, spiritual growth, and community outreach, recently preparing to raise chickens and goats as part of their self-sufficient lifestyle.
Sarahโs personal journey is one of healing and deliverance, having overcome numerous challenges, including sickness, addictions, and spiritual battles. Now, she experiences a deep peace and Shalom that surpasses all understanding, a gift she shares with others through her work and ministry. Inspired by the words of 2 Corinthians 12:9, Sarah has learned to embrace her weaknesses, trusting that in these moments, Yahuahโs power is made perfect. Her mission is to help others find the same healing, peace, and empowerment she has experienced through her faith.
Welcome to Grafted: Jewish Roots of Christianity. My guest is Kayte Abaffy.
Kayte and I cover a variety of topics such as Biblical parenting, the Millennial faith, cancel culture, anxiety and depression in Millennials, and identity confusion.
Kayte Abaffy is an “accidental” documentary producer, a title she defines with her unique journey into the world of film and storytelling. A food enthusiast and former TV actor, Kayte has carved out a niche working alongside her husband, journalist Luke Abaffy. Together, they produced The Way Documentary and The Christmas Question Documentary. The Way Documentary is the story of countless believers who have traded Easter ham for Passover lamb and Sunday church for Saturday Sabbath – all in an effort to live like their Savior.
In addition to her work in documentary production, Kayte is also involved in the realm of apologetics. Reformation 2.0, is a light-hearted, hard hitting, apologetics resource written to equip Torah observant believers to understand and defend their faith using Scripture.
More recently, she and Luke launched The Life Podcast, that is meant to inspire Torah Observant believers to thrive as peculiar people in a modern world.
A proud mother of three, Luke and Kayte live off grid in a tiny house on their homestead, embracing a sustainable lifestyle. With a life filled with faith, family, and creativity, Kayte Abaffy continues to explore and share topics of relevance that matter most to her.
Simonette and I discuss the Living Word of God/Yeshua, the Gospel, and our body, soul and spirit.
Welcome to Grafted: Jewish Roots of Christianity! My guest today is Simonette Cherepanov.
Simonette is a pastoral counselor who emigrated from Venezuela to the United States with her husband and children when she was thirty. With a diverse professional background, she has worked as an EMT, an EKG tech, and a phlebotomist. She is also a dedicated teacher of the Creation Gospel by Dr. Hollisa Alewine.
In her forties, Simonette returned to school to earn a Bachelor of Science in Ministry Leadership and became an ordained minister. In her sixties, she pursued further education to become a Brain Health Professional and is currently working toward a doctorate in Creation Therapy. Additionally, Simonette is the Founder and CEO of Seven Lamp Wellness, LLC, where she continues to integrate her passion for spiritual and physical well-being.
Hi Welcome to Grafted: Jewish Roots of Christianity! Brittani Ramirez is my guest today.
Brittani Ramirez is the heart and soul behind Scribbles and Scriptures, a whole Bible-believing Christian family dedicated to creating and sharing books that honor the true names of Elohim and the Messiah. In a world where mainstream Christian literature often omits these sacred names, Brittani and her family strive to restore them to their rightful place in hearts and teachings. While the Torah-led believers community embraces a variety of names, they frequently use “Yah” to encompass diverse beliefs in many of their works.
At Scribbles and Scriptures, Brittaniโs journey is one of continuous learning and growth in love for YHWH. Her mission is to provide families with wholesome, truth-filled books that they can cherish and add to their libraries. Covering a wide range of topicsโfrom prayers and being set-apart believers to the significance of the rainbow, biblical feasts, and mainstream holidaysโBrittani seeks to instill truth without adhering to man-made doctrines.
With a focus on avoiding traditions rooted in human customs, Brittani emphasizes the importance of teaching children to anchor themselves in the Word and in prayer. Above all, her aim is to nurture a deep, personal relationship with YHWH through the books she creates.
Brittani is a proud mother of five wonderful children and a devoted follower of YHWH. When she’s not managing sibling squabbles or scrubbing the kitchen, Brittani can be found hunched over her keyboard, pouring her heart into her writing. She writes not only because it brings her joy but also because she feels a deep calling to share the beauty and challenges of her spiritual journey. Through her words, Brittani invites others to join her in exploring faith, family, and the joys and trials of living a Torah-observant Christian life.
Welcome to Grafted: Jewish Roots of Christianity! My guest is archaeologist Abigail Van Huss.
Abigail Van Huss serves as the Assistant Dig Director for the Shiloh excavations for ABR (Associates for Biblical Research). She is ABD (All But Dissertation) in her PhD program at Ariel University and has held roles as Area Supervisor at Tel Rafid and as a member of the Manasseh Hill Country Survey.
Abigail has been involved with archaeology since 2007, working at several archaeological projects including The Temple Mount Salvage Operation, Khirbet el Maqatir, Mount Zion and Tel Shiloh. She served as square supervisor and objects registrar on the Khirbet el Maqatir excavation, and as assistant registrar on the Mount Zion excavation.
She has co-authored two articles on Judean Pillar Figurines. โA Headless Judean Pillar Figurine From Tel el-Fulโ was published in in theย Near Eastern Archaeology Society Bulletin,ย and โThe Mystery of the Headless Statueโ was published inย Bible and Spadeย magazine. Abigail has also co-authored an online article entitled โABR Researches Jerusalem Tombs for the Shroud of Turin Projectโ published on the ABR website. Abigail hails from Lewiston, Idaho, but is now residing in Texas, where she is a student at The Bible Seminary.
โJessica says: “Spiritual warfare and prayer is about discernment. This is an important tool and character of prayer that we need to be walking in and using all the time. The word armor in Hebrew sounds like the word Sharon. It’s spelled S H R I O N. And again, that’s meaning to protect, to make secure… The Aramaic to that, is a word called Zanga, Z A N G A H, and that’s not just referring to armor, but it’s referring to military might, military equipment.”
Welcome to Grafted: Jewish Roots of Christianity! My guest is Jessica Knock.
Jessica Knock is a passionate co-founder and seasoned leader in both ministry and broadcasting. Alongside her late husband, Shane Knock, she dedicated over 40 years of service as an itinerant preacher and missionary. Together, they pioneered several impactful projects, most notably co-launching the Hollywood Classics Network on the Sky Television platform in Europe and the UK. This groundbreaking initiative marked the first-ever faith-based movie, comedy, and family channel, blending silver screen favorites with Christian content and ministry programming, designed to evangelize the Gospel across the airwaves.
In 2020, Jessica took her wealth of ministry and broadcasting experience to new heights by founding EWHAL, Eatin Wild Honey and Locust, an online Torah-based teaching ministry. With a heart for shepherding and equipping the Body of Christ, she has made it her mission to bring a Hebraic understanding of Scripture to believers in todayโs worldโparticularly in these prophetic times. Through EWHAL, Jessica has fostered the growth of Torah communities both in-person and online, and she actively hosts and introduces the appointed feasts in regions such as the UK, Australasia, Europe, and Africa. Her work continues to inspire and empower believers to walk out their faith with a deep, rooted understanding of the Word of God.
Welcome to Grafted: Jewish Roots of Christianity! My guest is author, writer, and speaker Terry Murphy.
We talked about the wedding betrothal in Scripture, picking up your cross, and the Feast of the Lord as well as her book, A Place for Me in God’s Tent.
Terry Murphy is a writer and speaker who is passionate about uncovering the clues of Godโs presence and wisdom in both His Word and creation. She is dedicated to helping others grow in their wonder, appreciation, and understanding of God, believing that by discovering fresh ways to approach Scripture together, we can all expand our ability to apply and share the truths we learn.
When she isnโt writing or speaking, Terry mentors fellow writers through Word Weavers International, a community where writers can network, form critique groups, and refine their communication skills. Outside of her professional work, Terry finds joy in tending to her garden, a personal reward after finishing her writing. If you happen to visit her home, be prepared for a lively atmosphereโespecially if her grandchildren are around! However, even if the noise makes conversation tricky, youโre sure to be entertained. If Terry isnโt available to chat, she may be out hiking with her husband in one of the nearby nature preserves, but donโt hesitate to leave a note, and sheโll get back to you as soon as she can.
Jessica and I talk about spiritual warfare, prayer, and understanding our authority in Christ.
Welcome to Grafted: Jewish Roots of Christianity! My guest is Jessica Knock.
Jessica Knock is a passionate co-founder and seasoned leader in both ministry and broadcasting. Alongside her late husband, Shane Knock, she dedicated over 40 years of service as an itinerant preacher and missionary. Together, they pioneered several impactful projects, most notably co-launching the Hollywood Classics Network on the Sky Television platform in Europe and the UK. This groundbreaking initiative marked the first-ever faith-based movie, comedy, and family channel, blending silver screen favorites with Christian content and ministry programming, designed to evangelize the Gospel across the airwaves.
In 2020, Jessica took her wealth of ministry and broadcasting experience to new heights by founding EWHAL, an online Torah-based teaching ministry. With a heart for shepherding and equipping the Body of Christ, she has made it her mission to bring a Hebraic understanding of Scripture to believers in todayโs worldโparticularly in these prophetic times. Through EWHAL, Jessica has fostered the growth of Torah communities both in-person and online, and she actively hosts and introduces the appointed feasts in regions such as the UK, Australasia, Europe, and Africa. Her work continues to inspire and empower believers to walk out their faith with a deep, rooted understanding of the Word of God.
Welcome to Grafted: Jewish Roots of Christianity! Today’s guest is Pastor Jim Pierce.
Pastor Jim Pierce is a devoted pastor and Torah teacher (moreh) based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. His deep spiritual journey has been profoundly shaped by the Shema from Deuteronomy 6, which he credits with deepening his relationship with Yeshua and expanding his understanding of the Torah. Through his powerful testimony, Pastor Jim shares how this pivotal scripture changed his life and led him to a deeper walk with the Lord.
In addition to his personal story, Pastor Jim sheds light on the incredible history of St. Patrick, revealing that he was born into a Jewish family before being taken captive and brought to Ireland. Through his teachings and discussions, Pastor Jim uncovers hidden aspects of faith and history that bring a greater understanding of God’s plan.
Pastor Jimโs ministry, both online and in person, has touched countless lives, and he also shares his own story of discovering a father and family he never knew he hadโan inspiring tale of revelation and connection. His unique blend of teaching and storytelling continues to inspire thousands on platforms like TikTok and YouTube, where he helps people explore the depths of their faith and heritage.
Welcome to Grafted: Jewish Roots of Christianity! My guest is Laura Lee.
Laura Lee and I discuss narcissism, abuse, deliverance, and our identity in Yeshua.
Laura Lee is a Modern-Day Samaritan Woman, deeply committed to guiding others toward the healing and freedom she has experienced through Yeshua. Like the woman at the well in John 4:7-29, Laura Lee was seen by God, confronted by truth, and set free by the transformative power of the Messiah. Her story is a testimony of how Jesus met her in her darkest moments, offering compassion, understanding, and complete healing from shame and despair.
With empathy born from her own journey through deep struggles, Laura Lee now dedicates her life to helping others find the same freedom. She combines her personal experience with a professional background in Chemical Dependency Counseling, along with certifications in Peer Recovery and Substance Abuse, to offer both expert guidance and compassionate care. Her approach empowers individuals to break free from addiction and pain, guiding them toward restoration and a life of hope in Christ.
Welcome to Grafted: Jewish Roots of Christianity. Today, Iโm thrilled to have Dr. Phil Gigliotti as my guest.
Dr. Phil and I discuss the book of Hebrews, the Torah, Scripture, and Sheep!
Phil is a retired internist and an insightful Bible teacher at Gift of Grace Ministries and One in Messiah on the Messianic LAMB Network. He is a prolific educator, with a wealth of video and audio teachings available on two websites and YouTube, reaching countless people with his wisdom.
Did you know some constellations have been changed from their God-given names and meanings?
Welcome to Grafted: Jewish Roots of Christianity. My guest, Shauna Manfredine, has been teaching on Archaeo-Astronomy from a biblical perspective for many years.
Shauna and Mark Manfredine are the co-founders of Lighted Way Ministries. Their journey with Torah began in the late 1990s, and since 2007, they have been dedicated to full-time ministry. They were married in 1990, and are blessed with two children and five grandchildren. The couple resides in Roseburg, Oregon, where their ministry center is located, enjoying the local river wildlife and stargazing.
Lighted Way Ministries is known for hosting Sabbath worships, retreats, and annual Feast camps. The ministry also offers a variety of resources, including books, online classes, and weekly Sabbath broadcasts. Both Mark and Shauna are passionate about teaching Bible prophecy in relation to current events, Torah, and spiritual warfare principles. Shauna, in particular, is an expert in Archaeo-Astronomy from a Biblical perspective. Her current projects include writing her twelfth book, “Ancient Hebrew in the Stars,” and developing a YouTube series called Preschool Praise, aimed at teaching Torah stories and principles to children aged two to five.
Archaeoastronomy studies how ancient cultures understood, interpreted, and used celestial phenomena. It combines aspects of archaeology, astronomy, and anthropology to explore the connections between the sky and ancient human societies. Specifically, it examines how historical peoples observed and recorded astronomical events, for example, the movements of the sun, moon, stars, and planets, and how these observations influenced their architecture, calendars, religion, and daily life.
Shauna’s online Torah and Prophecy classes will start again on September 2 (and run weekly through May, meeting on Mondays and Wednesdays).
Welcome to Grafted: Jewish Roots of Christianity. This week my guest Rachel Lish talks about walking away from the Mormon church and being healed from depression.
Rachel and Matt are worship leaders who lead a traveling ministry and own a campground called Hope Acres, where visitors can vacation and celebrate the Lord’s Feasts. A gifted psalmist, Rachel began writing music at just five years old. Although she was raised in the LDS church, she left it in her teens to follow Jesus.
Rachel loves to share her story of incredible healing from depression, offering hope and encouragement to others through her testimony.
Have you ever seen into the spiritual realm? My guest today has! Join us as we discuss her experiences and how the Father has used her to bless others.
Welcome to Grafted: Jewish Roots of Christianity! My guest today is Simonette Cherepanov.
Simonette is a pastoral counselor who emigrated from Venezuela to the United States with her husband and children when she was thirty. With a diverse professional background, she has worked as an EMT, an EKG tech, and a phlebotomist. She is also a dedicated teacher of the Creation Gospel by Dr. Hollisa Alewine.
In her forties, Simonette returned to school to earn a Bachelor of Science in Ministry Leadership and became an ordained minister. In her sixties, she pursued further education to become a Brain Health Professional and is currently working toward a doctorate in Creation Therapy. Additionally, Simonette is the Founder and CEO of Seven Lamp Wellness, LLC, where she continues to integrate her passion for spiritual and physical well-being.
Did you know that the beginning of each month used to be the time of the New Moon?
Welcome to Grafted: Jewish Roots of Christianity. I’m delighted to have Erica DeNeve with us today. We will discuss the New Moon, their Hebrew names, descriptions of each month, and why it’s important to us. This is not astrology or New Age; this is God’s calendar, His months, and appointed times.
Erica is a wife and mother. She works as a Corrections Counselor. Erica is a certified teacher of the Creation Gospel by Hollis Alewine.
Her specialized teaching is on the New Moon, which she has taught on the Rooted Kafe. She also teaches on the FB group Torch teaching the Torah portions.
Welcome to Grafted: Jewish Roots of Christianity. Today’s guest is Angie Sickler.
Angie is a dedicated wife and mother of five who has been passionately following Jesus since 1995. An avid student of scripture, she focuses on the Hebrew language and culture.
Angie has served in various teams and leadership roles at her home church and has been a guest speaker at numerous churches and conferences, including James Nesbitโs Tribe Quantum and The Gateway Prayer Garden in Colorado Springs. In addition to her speaking engagements, Angie is an accomplished author and a traveling speaker for both large and small congregations.
She regularly shares her deep knowledge of Biblical Hebrew concepts with her followers on YouTube and her Facebook ministry page. Angieโs passion is to join others in awakening the Bride of Christ, encouraging believers to explore and embrace the Hebrew aspects of their Christian faith.
Welcome to Grafted: Jewish Roots of Christianity. Todayโs guest is Dena Smiley, a seasoned professional whose journey encompasses social work, faith, and service.
Dena began her professional odyssey upon earning a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Denver in 1998. With a passion for helping others, she obtained her clinical license in 2000. She delved into psychiatric care, serving in both inpatient settings and within the reputable Kaiser Permanente outpatient mental health clinic.
Transitioning her focus towards the educational domain, Dena found fulfillment in partnering with children and families navigating diverse special needs. Her expertise blossomed as she assumed the role of a district-wide coach for positive behavior support, leaving an indelible mark on the school social work landscape.
The arrival of her own family in 2006 prompted Dena to establish a private practice, allowing her to harmonize professional endeavors with the joys of motherhood. Complementing her professional pursuits, Dena generously volunteered in church counseling ministries and shared the transformative practice of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) at womenโs events and bible studies.
Denaโs spiritual journey, spanning three decades, has been a transformative force in her life, igniting a genuine desire to utilize her God-given gifts for the betterment of humanity. Driven by compassion, she has embarked on numerous international missions, advocating for the marginalized and underserved in third-world countries.
In recent years, Denaโs faith journey has deepened as she and her family embraced the restored Hebrew names, observed biblical feasts, and honored the original Sabbath. Amidst her professional and spiritual commitments, Dena finds solace in nature, indulging in hobbies such as hiking, paddle boarding, and herbalism. Alongside her family, she has cultivated a serene homestead in East Tennessee, where they embrace the joys of homeschooling and cherish the bonds of family and community.
Welcome to Grafted Jewish Roots of Christianity. My guest is Stacey Fitzgerald.
Stacey is a multifaceted individual who has channeled her life experiences into powerful avenues of healing and expression. As a singer/songwriter, Stacey brings her heartfelt emotions and stories to life through her music. She is also a Trauma survivor/thriver, having overcome a near-death horse accident and emerged victorious over a challenging battle with an eating disorder.
In addition to her artistic and personal triumphs, Stacey is a certified nutritionist, dedicated to promoting health and wellness. She combines her professional knowledge with her journey to inspire and educate others. Stacey’s deep faith is reflected in her commitment as a student of the Bible and a teacher, where she shares her wisdom and insights with others.
Moreover, Stacey is known as a “Horse Whisperer,” a testament to her profound connection with horses and her ability to communicate and aid in bringing healing to these majestic animals. Her journey is a testament to resilience, strength, and the transformative power of faith and healing.
Welcome to Grafted: Jewish Roots of Christianity. My guest is Dejah Phillips.
Dejah is a digital creator with a strong presence on TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram, amassing a following of over 80,000. As a Messianic Jew, Dejah views social media as her mission field, where she passionately shares her insights on a range of biblical topics. Her content delves into subjects such as the sons of God, demons, and the Nephilim, with a focus on addressing cultural misunderstandings of Scripture. Through her engaging and thought-provoking posts, Dejah aims to educate and inspire her audience, shedding light on often overlooked aspects of biblical teachings. She has a bachelor’s in education and a master’s in reading. She studied Jewish and Christian theology, world religions/history, and had missions training.
Welcome to Grafted: Jewish Roots of Christianity. My guest is author, speaker, and coach, Lauren Crews.
Lauren is an award-winning author and social media coach certified through the Advanced Speakers and Authors Association. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, a Master of Divinity (MDiv) from seminary, and Digital Marketing Certifications from both Google and HubSpot. She is passionate about championing Godโs word and equips new authors to overcome their fear and frustration with social media and the publishing process. Through her coaching services, she empowers aspiring writers to build their social media presence and create compelling content.
Her acclaimed book, “Strength of a Woman: Why You Are Proverbs 31,” explores the Proverbs 31 passage through the imagery of the Hebrew alphabet and has earned the Christian Market Book of the Year Award. Despite her victories, she carries deeply etched battle scars, which she uses to help women understand that their scars are not signs of defeat but marks of resilience, enabling them to walk in the fullness of Christ. Her love for biblical language has inspired her to write “Strength of a Woman,” its accompanying devotional, and her latest work, “Word Made Flesh.” She promises that this is not your typical interpretation of Proverbs 31; readers will never look at the passage the same way again.
Lauren shares her home in Jacksonville, Florida with her husband and their two well-trained brown dogs.
Lori-Kate Lowenhar is a talented and passionate musician from the Israeli musical group One Lev, One Heart. The group’s name beautifully captures their mission, as “One Lev” translates to “One Heart” in Hebrew, and “Lev” means “Lion” in Russian, symbolizing their dedication to bringing glory to their King, the Lion of Judah.
Lori-Kate hails from Elkhart, Indiana, but has called Israel home for twenty-five years, embracing her dual citizenship. Her musical prowess spans several instruments, including the clarinet, flute, saxophone, and piano. Beyond her musical contributions, Lori-Kate is an international speaker committed to encouraging and empowering women. She shares her profound insights on finding God’s transforming joy amidst life’s hardships and challenges, offering Scriptural wisdom on how to “Hang On!”
The dynamic trio of One Lev, One Heart is completed by Ilan Gorny and Mikhail Bogdanov Monkevich. Born and raised in Haifa, Ilan is the son of Romanian Holocaust survivors and has been playing drums since his teenage years. From St. Petersburg, Russia, Mikhail brings his exceptional talents as an artist and accomplished composer to the group.
Together, Lori-Kate, Ilan, and Mikhail create a unique and inspiring musical experience that transcends cultural and linguistic barriers, united by their shared passion and faith.
Welcome to Grafted: Jewish Roots of Christianity. My guest is Bonnie Manning, who writes under Tekoa Manning.
Tekoa Manning is an award-winning author renowned for her captivating fictional works, including “Walter the Homeless Man” and “Polishing Jade.” Her literary contributions extend to inspirational teaching books, with popular devotionals such as “Thirsting for Water” and “Jumping for Joy in the Midst of Sorrow.”
Her book, “The Spirit of Leviathan, Jezebel, and Athaliah,” offers profound reflections, making it an ideal choice for book clubs and study groups. Manning’s “Unmasking the Unseen” series, celebrated for “Spirits Unveiled,” earned the prestigious Literary Titan book award.
In 2020, Tekoa Manning was recognized as a distinguished favorite in Women’s Fiction at the NYC Big Book Award for her novels “Polishing Jade” and “Satan Unmasked.” Her achievements continued in 2021 when the Independent Press honored her with an award as a distinguished favorite in the Christian genre Tekoa’s deep love and dedication to studying Godโs Word shine through in her writing.
Tekoa is the mother of three sons and the wife of a retired police chief. Together, they reside in a serene beach community, where she continues to inspire and touch lives through her writing.
Welcome to Grafted: Jewish Roots of Christianity! I have two special guests today–Ryan White and Dr. Dinah Dye and we are discussing a different view of the Book of Revelation. This is not a view we hear often, but I ask that you keep an open mind.
The video features Dr. Dinah Dye and Ryan White as they delve into a nuanced discussion about the Book of Revelation. Rather than predicting a new end date, they focus on examining the culture and context in which the book was written. Their goal is to understand how the original audience interpreted Revelation and why it was deemed valuable enough to be included in the biblical canon.
This eleven-part series covers various topics, including the four primary methods of interpreting Revelation, the symbolic nature of its visions, and the depiction of Yeshua (Jesus) in the book. They also explore the historical and geographical context of the seven cities addressed in the letters to the churches, the significance of Babylon and the great tribulation, and the characteristics of the antagonists in the narrative. The series further investigates the symbolism of numerical values, the concept of the bride and the New Jerusalem, and the Olivet Discourse. The final segment connects these insights to contemporary issues, emphasizing the importance of enduring suffering and resisting compromise in today’s world.
Ryan White is the voice and vision behind Faith of Messiah, where ancient wisdom meets modern hearts through the study of Scripture. With hundreds of hours of video teachings, I endeavor to bridge the millennia, connecting the cultural context of the Bible to the relevance it holds for us today. As one of the founders of the Saturday Church Community, Ryan is deeply invested in creating a space where faith and fellowship flourish side by side.
Dr. Dinah Dye was raisedย in Ottawa, Canada, in a conservative Jewish home.ย She attended Hebrew school, celebrated the festivals with her family,ย and enjoyed summers at an Orthodox Jewish summer camp.ย ย Dinahย spent her teen years and early twenties deeply involved in the New Age movement.ย During those years, sheย came to the belief that truth would be based on three things:ย ย it would be easy to understand, it would be for everyone,ย and it would be based on love.ย ย She met that truth inย 1979 inย Yeshuaย (Jesus) the Messiah.ย
Welcome to Grafted: Jewish Roots of Christianity! My guest is Jeff Morgan from Jews for Jesus.
Jeff is the host of the SO BE IT! YouTube channel, which documents his street outreach efforts in Israel. Born and raised in a secular Jewish home in the United States, Jeff has always had a passion for the arts and athletics, leading him to a career as a personal fitness trainer.
At twenty-four, Jeff made a significant life change by moving to Israel. He immersed himself in the culture there, learned Hebrew, and worked on a kibbutz in the southern Judean Desert. For two decades, Jeff practiced New Age spirituality and meditation, but these practices ultimately left him feeling depressed, hopeless, and spiritually tormented.
A profound turning point came when Yeshua (Jesus) revealed Himself to Jeff, his wife, and his eldest son simultaneously, yet individually. This divine encounter saved Jeff from his despair, liberated him from years of torment, and transformed his life, and his family’s lives overnight.
During his thirteen years in Israel, Jeff met his wife, with whom he has three sons. After completing missionary training in San Francisco, the family returned to Israel. Now residing in the Tel Aviv area, Jeff serves as a full-time missionary and media team member with Jews for Jesus, dedicated to spreading the message of Yeshua and sharing his journey through his YouTube channel.
Welcome to Grafted: Jewish Roots of Christianity! My guest is Robin Bales.
Robin Bales is a dedicated wife and mother who balances her family life with a successful career as an Insurance Agent at Legacy By Design. With a deep passion for biblical studies, Robin is not only a student of the Bible but also a Certified Teacher of The Creation Gospel. Her commitment to sharing and teaching the Word is evident through her active involvement in her Facebook group, Torch, where she and her friends teach the Torah portions weekly. Robinโs multifaceted roles highlight her devotion to her faith, family, and professional endeavors.
TORCH is a women’s discipleship group that fosters spiritual growth and community outreach. Through Bible study and supportiveย fellowship, members are equipped to flourish in their homes and ministries, spreading the gospel message in their communities.
Welcome to Grafted: Jewish Roots of Christianity. Today’s guest is Dena Smiley, a seasoned professional whose journey encompasses social work, faith, and service.
Dena began her professional odyssey upon earning a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Denver in 1998. With a passion for helping others, she obtained her clinical license in 2000. She delved into psychiatric care, serving in both inpatient settings and within the reputable Kaiser Permanente outpatient mental health clinic.
Transitioning her focus towards the educational domain, Dena found fulfillment in partnering with children and families navigating diverse special needs. Her expertise blossomed as she assumed the role of a district-wide coach for positive behavior support, leaving an indelible mark on the school social work landscape.
The arrival of her own family in 2006 prompted Dena to establish a private practice, allowing her to harmonize professional endeavors with the joys of motherhood. Complementing her professional pursuits, Dena generously volunteered in church counseling ministries and shared the transformative practice of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) at womenโs events and bible studies.
Dena’s spiritual journey, spanning three decades, has been a transformative force in her life, igniting a genuine desire to utilize her God-given gifts for the betterment of humanity. Driven by compassion, she has embarked on numerous international missions, advocating for the marginalized and underserved in third-world countries.
In recent years, Dena’s faith journey has deepened as she and her family embraced the restored Hebrew names, observed biblical feasts, and honored the original Sabbath. Amidst her professional and spiritual commitments, Dena finds solace in nature, indulging in hobbies such as hiking, paddle boarding, and herbalism. Alongside her family, she has cultivated a serene homestead in East Tennessee, where they embrace the joys of homeschooling and cherish the bonds of family and community.
Welcome to Grafted: Jewish Roots of Christianity. My guest today is Yoel Ben Yisrael.
Inspired by a profound connection with King Yahweh in 2020, Yoelโs journey into writing became more than just a passion; it became a calling.
It began with a prayer, the Kingdom of Heaven Constitution, and a blog titled Leb Tahor, meaning Clean Heart in Hebrew. Through this platform, Yoel explored anecdotes, delved into Scripture, conducted interviews, crafted poetry, and spun creative tales, all while seeking the presence of Yah in the mundane.
From a young age, Yoelโs fascination with words was nurtured by his family, who gifted him dictionaries, further fueling his love for language. Today, as a devoted citizen of Heaven deeply connected to his Israelite heritage, Yoel recognizes the profound impact of written words across generations.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Yoel embarked on a personal exodus from corporate America to hone his writing skills and understand the transformative power of storytelling. Guided by his unwavering faith, Yoelโs writing is not merely a vocation but a divine mandateโa means to glorify King Yahweh and inspire others on their spiritual journeys.
Welcome to Grafted: Jewish Roots of Christianity! My guest today is David Wilber.
David is an author, Bible teacher, Messianic/Christian apologist, and joint CEO of Pronomian Publishing LLC. He has written several books and numerous theological articles. Additionally, David speaks at churches and conferences across the nation. He has served as a researcher and Bible teacher for 119 Ministries, Founded in Truth Fellowship, Freedom Hill Community, Inspiring Philosophy, and Talk About Doubts. David lives in Lake Wylie, SC, with his wife and two children.
D’vorah is a distinguished Torah teacher, known as a “morah,” whose passion for biblical understanding and connection runs deep. With a rich background in biblical studies, she brings a unique perspective to her teachings, illuminating the intricate links between the Torah of Moses and the teachings of the Apostolic Scriptures.
As a co-founder of Bless Israel Network, a prominent media organization based in Israel, D’vorah, alongside her husband, is dedicated to sharing the prophetic role of the Jewish people and Israel in God’s divine plan. Through insightful programming, they aim to inform and inspire viewers, fostering a deeper understanding of the significance of Israel in the unfolding of biblical prophecy.
D’vorah’s commitment to bridging the gap between the Old and New Testaments is evident in her writing and hosting of “Heartbeat of the Torah.” In this engaging series, she skillfully connects the beauty of the Torah with the teachings of the New Testament, providing invaluable insights into the Jewishness of the Scriptures, the Gospels, and the Messiah.
Beyond her media endeavors, D’vorah is a beacon of hope and comfort in the online community. As a weekly contributor to “Gift of Thorns,” a Facebook community dedicated to spreading positivity, she shares her wisdom through her series, “Getting Down to the Root,” offering solace and encouragement to all who engage with her uplifting messages.
With her profound knowledge, unwavering dedication, and compassionate spirit, D’vorah Calic continues to impact lives profoundly, guiding others on a transformative journey of faith and understanding.
Welcome to Grafted: Jewish Roots of Christianity! Today, I am delighted to introduce my special guest Rebecca Smith.
Rebecca, alongside her husband Ron, is the co-founder of Scholar Ministries. They have been involved in the leadership areas of the Worship Team, Childrenโs Choir, Royal Rangers, Youth Ministry, Tech Ministry, and Adult Bible Study.
Their relational ministry has influenced many families as they teach scholars of all ages from all walks of faithโฆJewish, Messianic, and Christian. When Yeshua/Jesus called them to move to Northwest Arkansas, they struggled with leaving their hometown and, even more difficult still, their home church. However, when they chose to follow the design of their Abba, their Father, they began to feel Godโs Shalom (peace) amid each battle that eventually birthed Scholar Ministries. Now the organization is thriving in both committed persons and passionate services providing instruction in Hebrew language and culture as well as acting as a resource for pastors.
Her commitment to excellence in worship extends beyond theory, as she embarked on intensive training in worship photography in 2015.
Rebecca’s intellectual pursuits go beyond the realms of theology. With a degree in Landscape Architecture, she founded a design firm in 1992, which has thrived under her guidance.
In partnership, Rebecca has shared the journey of marriage with Ron Smith for over thirty-six years. Described as a walking, talking encyclopedia of biblical proportions, Ron’s wealth of knowledge undoubtedly enriches their shared ministry.
Join us in welcoming Rebecca as she shares insights into her fascinating journey on Grafted: Jewish Roots of Christianity.
Welcome to Grafted: Jewish Roots of Christianity! My guest is Ryan White, the voice and vision behind Faith of Messiah, where ancient wisdom meets modern hearts through the study of Scripture.
With hundreds of hours of video teachings, he endeavors to bridge the millennia, by connecting the cultural context of the Bible to the relevance it holds for us today. As one of the founders of the Saturday Church Community, he is deeply invested in creating a space where faith and fellowship flourish side by side. Holding a Master’s in Biblical Studies with a focus on the Old Testament, he blends academic rigor with spiritual insight, providing a unique perspective that enriches the understanding of my listeners and readers.
His role as a husband and father to five remarkable boys is at the core of my journey. The lessons he learned from his family life often seep into his teachings, providing a personal touch that resonates with those navigating the beautiful chaos of everyday living. Join him as he unravels the threads of ancient texts to clothe them in contemporary relevance, all while balancing the dynamic roles God has bestowed upon him. Dive into the depths of faith with him at faithofmessiah.com and be a part of our growing fellowship at saturdaychurchcommunity.com.
Welcome to Grafted: Jewish Roots of Christianity! I’m delighted to introduce our guest today, Misty Harber. Misty is not just a teacher but a licensed Minister and a compelling speaker, whose lessons focus on character.
With a background as the Chief Financial Officer of The Rooted Kafe, Misty has not only managed financial matters but has actively contributed as a teacher, guiding others through classes and Torah Portions. The breadth of her experience is evident as she shares her insights and teachings on The Bridge every second Friday of the month, reaching out to a wider audience on Facebook.
In today’s conversation, Misty and I delve into the profound verses of 2 Corinthians 3:2-3. We explore the symbolism behind “tablets of stone” and “tablets of human hearts,” unraveling the significance of these metaphors in the context of the Jewish roots of Christianity. Together, we navigate the intricate terrain of biblical interpretation, aiming to shed light on how these ancient teachings continue to shape our understanding of faith today.
Beyond the verses, Misty and I engage in a discussion about being historical rather than hysterical. Drawing from her expertise and spiritual insights, Misty guides us through connecting with the historical roots of our faith, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for the foundations that have shaped Christianity over the centuries.
Welcome to Grafted: Jewish Roots of Christianity. My guest is Sarah Kiefer, who is the founder of the Surge Women’s Conference.
Sarah Kiefer lives with her husband and three kids in the Austin Texas area. She is the founder of the Surge Women’s Conference happening this summer in Waxahachie Texas.
Her heart is to support and unite sisters who are on a journey with their Bibles to walk with the King and know their Father on a deeper level. From ladies new to walking out the whole Bible, to the most seasoned and wise, there is a workshop for all ladies who want to dive deeper, learn more, and have a whole heck of a lot of Texas-sized fun.
The Surge Conference was born in 2022 after seeing the division caused by prideful doctrine and judgmental mindsets. Sarah always says there is no room for sibling rivalry in Yah’s house and unity starts with YOU. The army of women being built through the unifying spirit of the Surge Conference will spill over into their families’ hearts and, ultimately into their communities. She is a strong believer that Yah blesses everyone with gifts that can be used for His Kingdom and hers is throwing a really good party! She loves hanging out with her family and friends, at Texas wineries, making homemade soap, and planning the next big event.
To find out more about the Surge Women’s Conference go here.
Welcome to Grafted: Jewish Roots of Christianity. My guest for today is Dr. Hollisa Alewine. Hollisa has had an illustrious career as a teacher and a federal law enforcement officer. She taught high school students for seven years before joining the Bureau of Prisons. Hollisa holds a Bachelor of Science degree and a master’s degree in Secondary Education from Texas A&M-Texarkana. While serving as a law enforcement officer, she pursued her passion for religious education and theology, earning two more master’s degrees in these fields, one in Religious Education and another in Theology in Rabbinic Studies. She also has a doctorate from Oxford Graduate School. Hollisa is a television programmer at Hebraic Roots Network and frequently travels to teach at conferences and other venues. She is the author of Standing with Israel and is currently working on a book series called the Creation Gospel workbook series. She has also recently launched a new book imprint called BEKY Books, which stands for Books Encouraging the Kingdom of Yeshua. Hollisa is a dedicated student and teacher of the Word of God.
Welcome to today’s podcast! My guest Doug Reed is a next-generation pastor, passionate leader, and gifted communicator with twenty years in ministry.
In 2022 he became the Senior Pastor of The Tabernacle in Buffalo, NY. Before the Tabernacle, he was the Senior Pastor of Bridge of Hope in Youngstown Ohio for nine years. For the nine years before that, he served as youth pastor at three churches in NJ where he was born and raised.
Doug co-hosts a podcast called Shoulder to Shoulder with Rabbi Pesach Wolicki that they launched together in 2021. This is a show where a pastor and a rabbi get to the heart of issues that matter to people of faith through interviewing leaders from across the globe. Doug loves Israel!
After his 2016 trip to Israel with Eagles Wings he routinely leads trips to Israel. One of his greatest passions is connecting Christians to a deeper understanding of their faith by connecting them with their Jewish roots. Doug is also a regular guest on Christian television, and various podcasts, and a speaker at churches and events as he carries a passionate but pragmatic approach to the scriptures and truths of God.
Above all else, Doug loves God, his high school sweetheart and wife Samantha, and their four beautiful children: Charlotte, Graham, Benjamin, and Abraham.
Welcome to another episode ofโGrafted: Jewish Roots of Christianity! Today, I have the pleasure of hosting Miriam Stalsworth.
Miriam Stalsworth was born in Chicago, Illinois. Her early years laid the foundation for a life dedicated to education, her Jewish community, and spiritual exploration.
Miriam’s journey led her to the heartland of Oklahoma, where she embarked on a fulfilling career in education.
During her time in Oklahoma, Miriam found Yeshua, a pivotal moment that transformed her life spiritually. This encounter became a guiding light, influencing her choices and actions in the years to come.
Miriam’s journey took a delightful turn when she met her husband, forging a bond that had lasted over four decades. Together they founded the Bet Ami Messianic Congregation.
Miriam’s dedication to her Messianic community extends beyond the home. She served on the board of The Rooted Kafe, contributing to the growth and development of this vital community hub. Her role as a producer for the Hebraic Root Network showcased her commitment to fostering connections and disseminating valuable knowledge.
Join us as we delve into Miriam Stalsworth’s rich tapestry of experiences, exploring the intersections of education, spirituality, and community. Her journey is sure to inspire and resonate with our listeners.
Welcome to our show! Today, I am thrilled to have Jenn Dubey as my guest.
Jenn is not just a wife and mother; she is a multifaceted individual with a passion for sharing knowledge and fostering meaningful conversations. As a dedicated podcaster, blogger, and teacher, she wears many hats in her pursuit of a relationship with Yeshua and His followers.
Formerly part of the Rooted Kafe, Jenn has embarked on a new journey with her website, Pursuing Torah. This platform reflects her commitment to exploring and understanding the depth of the Torah and its relevance in contemporary life. Through Pursuing Torah, she aims to create a space where seekers can delve into the rich tapestry of Jewish wisdom.
Jenn’s voice echoes through the digital realm with her podcast, “The Praise Podcast.” Here, she engages in thought-provoking conversations that span various topics, including spirituality, faith, and the intricacies of daily life. The podcast serves as a virtual meeting place for those seeking inspiration and connection in their spiritual journey.
In today’s episode, we have the privilege of delving into the depths of the New Covenant and exploring the nuances of Hebrews 8 with Jenn. Her insights and perspectives added a layer of richness to our conversation, making it an enlightening and truly awesome experience.
Thank you, Jenn, for gracing us with your presence and sharing your valuable insights.
My guest today is Amy Kay Guenther, of Torah Sisters.
The Father brought Amy to Torah in early 2014 after a lifetime of walking with her Savior in wonderful Gospel-centered mainstream churches. Since coming to Torah, her walk has been deeper than ever, and she loves Yeshua and His Word more than she ever could have imagined. She desires to live more like Him every day.
My guest today is Loyla Louvis. She is a Certified Professional Parenting Strategist, Life Coach, Speaker, Teacher, Columnist, and Mother to four Homeschooled Kids.
As a young single parent with no real strategy or role model, she was no stranger to the challenges some families face today. The journey started on a rocky road. Broken relationships set the stage for a marriage destined for disaster and heartache. She was divorced at twenty-four, with a sweet, strong-willed child to care for, single parenting, and long hours of work consumed daily life. Those days were riddled with financial concerns, health issues, loneliness, and a growing sense of despair.
After years of helping others resolve parenting challenges, and receiving encouragement from like-minded professionals, Mothers In Training, LLC became a reality in 2010. Loyla is a wife, a mother to three sons and a daughter, a Certified Professional Parenting & Life Coach with the American Association of Christian Counselors, a public speaker, a homeschooling mom, and a teacher to home-schooled children in the tri-state area for over nineteen years.
My guest, Christal Welch is a veteran, military resiliency trainer, Maxwell-certified coach, speaker, master class trainer, and behavior analyst. Her personal growth and leadership expertise come from years of dedicated service alongside my veteran husband.
Distinguished as a Senior DISC Consultant, she specializes in decoding personality styles resulting in effective communication and harmonious relationships, nurturing an environment where individual strengths are accentuated and potential is clarified.
As John Maxwell says, “Leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less.”She wants to give you the tools to increase your influence, enhance your effectiveness, and inspire and motivate you on your journey and into your greatness.ย ย
I am excited to have Skip Moen on my podcast today!
Author, professor, photographer, and business consultant, Skip holds two Bachelorโs degrees, two Masterโs degrees, and a Ph.D. from Oxford University in England. With over thirty years of business experience, he created several successful entrepreneurial enterprises and was president of a high-tech company. He taught at four universities and has authored ten books and dozens of articles. His work on business practices, ethics, and spiritual development has appeared in many periodicals.
For twenty years, Skip has written a daily exploration of the cultural and linguistic background of verses in the Bible. His work focuses on understanding the ancient cultures that have shaped the fundamental ideas of the modern world. He has traveled worldwide lecturing on culture, language, history, and the development of civilization.
You can also see Skip on Living Waters: Falling Deeper in Love with God’s Word, on the Messianic LAMB Network on Jan. 12, 2024, at 5 pm EST– a show Lauren Crews and I do together each week.
My guest is content creator, pastor, and social media evangelist, Dan Bergman!
Dan was saved as a 15-year-old boy and called to preach when he was 16. The Lord greatly burdened him for the salvation of his Jewish father. God called him into Jewish missions when he was 17.
He and his wife, Lois, began their deputation with Jewish Awareness Ministries in 2010, and in 2011 began a ministry to the Jewish population of Cleveland, OH. In 2015, they felt the Lord leading them to move to North Carolina to work out of the ministry headquarters and to help grow and strengthen the ministry.
All of this prepared and led them to a new ministry that God had already abundantly blessed!!
Andrew Gabriel Roth and I had an amazing conversation about the Star of Bethlehem and the birth of the Messiah!
You don’t want to miss this episode. Through YEARS of research with a friend from NASA, Andrew can give what he considers an accurate date of Jesus’s birth–based on the signs God gave in the heavens and Old Testament rotation of priestly service.
We could only touch on the high points of his research, but you can find the full two-hour video below.
Rebecca Cruz is an author, writer, teacher, and the owner of Audience of One Creations.
One of her greatest joys is teaching the body of the Messiah the beauty of God’s Word in a way that encourages all to a deep dive and not be intimidated.
Rebecca Cruz believes in YHVH, she is the mother of an incredible young man, an author, and a creativeโin that order. I am passionate about digging into the Word of God and discussing all things Bible. Audience of One Creations was born in my heart over 15 years ago.
Dreama has been writing poetry and stories for over 40 years. She is excited to begin the journey into the publishing world and is looking forward to a long and wonderful relationship. Over the past few years, she has been attending writing conferences at least twice a year and has won seven awards.
She has been a puppet team director for twenty years, writes all the scripts, and is known for her puppet, Ms. Moody; her ridiculous laugh is always the giveaway between the two.
Martin Johnson is an award-winning writer and screenwriter. Martin shares his experiences of living with a traumatic brain injury and how God has used his brain injury to humble him. Martin is both a speaker and advocate for the Brain Injury Association of America.
Martinโs desire to walk humbly with God was birthed from the faith that the Scriptures say โwalked humblyโ with God. Martin believes the Christian experience isnโt about achieving and sustaining earthly greatness, but instead, a kingdom greatness that is only achieved through servanthood. You can read Martinโs monthly blog and connect with him viaย MartinThomasJohnson.com. Follow Martin on Twitterย @mtjohnson51.
Weiss Ministries, Inc. of Chesapeake was founded in 2000 as a covering for the theatrical productions, preaching and teaching ministry, and publications opportunities by Juanita Weiss intended to bless the Body of Messiah. Weiss Ministries’ primary goal is the bridging of gaps between diverse demographics: ethnic groups, socio-economic groups, generational groups, and denominational groups.
We Were Reborn For This: In a world of chaos and division, we have been born again to work with God to rescue souls and bring redemption. Who knows best how to live from heaven while we live on earth? Jesus, of course! Check out his latest book, We Were Reborn for This: The Jesus Model for Living Heaven on Earth.
Robyn K. Hesley-Cowherd has been an integral part of Blossoming Rose since its founding. She, along with 3 other ladies formed โBat Tzion,โ a Davidic Dance worship team that danced throughout the Midwest at the Blossoming Rose banquets in the early years.
As a โPKโ (Preacherโs Kid), she has been a student of the scriptures from childhood. She served on the Education Committee with Blossoming Rose and was integral in the Blossoming Rose Symposia as well as the โTimes of the Messiahโ Forums held by Blossoming Rose before information became so widely available through the internet.
Robyn has served for 20+ years, and continues to serve, at Congregation Bet Ami where she holds ordination.
Brendan and his wife, Katie, are passionate about reaching the Jewish people with the Gospel and equipping fellow believers to do the same.
After coming to know the LORD himself at the age of 24, it was Brendanโs first reading through the Bible that he noticed the important place that the Jewish people hold in Godโs heart. They are called Godโs โfirstborn sonโ (Ex 4:22), they are โthe apple of His eyeโ (Deut 32:10), and God says that He will never reject them (Jer 33:25-26).
The Maynards began in Jewish ministry with Chosen People Ministries in Chicago where they were involved with local outreach and work with the Chicago Messianic Community. Then, from 2017 to 2021, were actively involved in outreach to Israeli tourists in the country of New Zealand.
Through her many trials and life experiences, including the death of her son, Beau, Corry presents the hope that only comes through the revelation that God not only exists but that He cares deeply for the affairs of human beings and wants an intimate relationship with everyone who calls on Him. Her message is simple, clear, honest, and sometimes very raw. She willingly and eagerly shares her tragedies to help others heal, reconcile, and come to a place of coexistence with pain and suffering, but with a deep and abiding peace and joy.
Corry is presently married to speaker and fellow musician, Randy Keeler. Between them, they raised nine children, traveled the world, and continue to serve their community on the worship team at their congregation, Beth Emunah, as well as serving in the band, Lev Shelo. Corry is a co-director of Lev Shelo Ministries, a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization. She is also a writer, journalist, copy editor, and speaker at venues wherever she is invited.
Today’s guest is Julie Zine Coleman. She is a biblical scholar, enthusiastic teacher, author, and mentor.
Julie Coleman loves to teach the Word of God! With contagious enthusiasm, she brings hope and encouragement to her audience through rich biblical teaching. Audiences appreciate Julieโs warmth, humor, and insight.
Dr. Deb Gold from Gold Star Coaching is my guest today. She is a psychologist, trauma specialist coach, and author.
She has helped hundreds of women overcome the trauma of abuse and divorce using the principles of therapy and coaching and depending upon the power and inspiration of God. She also is the Director of a non-profit organization Women of Merit Ministries.ย
Today’s guest is Andrew G. Roth. Andrew is a Bible translator, specializing in Hebrew and Aramaic, a Torah teacher, author, and founder of One Faith One People Ministries.
We had an awesome conversation about Simon the Leper, (Mark 14:3-9, Matthew 26:6-13), the Trinity, and understanding the text.
Lauren is the founder and a life coach with Shalom Strategies (shalomlifecoach.com). She has a B.A. in Christian Education and Ministry and her Masters in Spiritual Formation and Evangelism from Wheaton College. She wrote her thesis on the Bridal Paradigm and included a creative project of Bible Devotional on Song of Songs.ย
Lauren became a widow at twenty-five after being married just over a year. However, she has since remarried and has four children. She has helped her husband plant two congregations under the Tikkun American network. Which creates space for Christian and Messianic Jewish believers to worship Jesus (Yeshua) together in unity with distinctions.ย
Lauren has been involved in the International House of Prayer movement in Kansas City and prayer leads at the First Coast House of Prayer in Saint Augustine. Her passion is to walk out Jesus’s prayer in John 17 to be One with Him and His Body.
Lauren believes the key to walking this out is allowing the Holy Spirit to live through us so we can be a beautiful Bride made up of the whole body of Messiah for His Return.ย
The Feast of Trumpets. You don’t want to miss this episode if you have wondered what this feast means and where Jesus fulfills it!
Kisha Gallagher explains Rosh Hashanah or Feast of Trumpets. In this two-part series, she discusses the meaning of moedim or appointed times, the biblical meaning of Rosh Hashanah, the coronation of the King, as well as the Feast of Trumpets many facets.
Tracy L. Smoak is my guest blogger today. She has a great post on the Encouragement from Hebrews! Tracy is a Bible study writer and a photographer–both of which we have in common. I hope you enjoy her post on one of my favorite books of the Bible.
Finding Encouragement from Hebrews
A recent visit to the ocean reminded me of Godโs glory. Standing on the shore before dawn, I watched the sunrise in all its grandeur of reds, golds, pinks, and oranges.
Thereโs something about that pageant that inspires awe.
I see Jesus rising to His throne with the crowning of each day as light blazes into what used to be dark.
The Son is the radiance of Godโs glory.
Hebrews 1:3, NIV
Life has trials that can discourage us. Things havenโt turned out like we thought. We strain to see beyond hardship and sorrow to find hope.
Since the heavens are works of Jesusโ hands (Hebrews 1:10), we have the assurance of His power and might. Jesus not only creates beauty with a spoken word, but He carries us when we canโt walk.
Because Jesus suffered temptation, He is able to help those of us being tempted to despair, give up, or give way to bitterness when disappointments damage our dreams.
Hebrews 2:18
Focus on God Through Adversity
In the middle of a storm, the only true refuge is in Jesusโ arms. When my marriage failed, when my son turned away for five years, when my health gave out, and when I lost my job, the only place of safety was in the certainty of Jesusโ love.
When adversity upends our expectations, we have a choice: Trust God to redeem the agony or deny He is able to rescue us. The writer of Hebrews, no stranger to persecution or pain, cautions believers: โDonโt let hardship and trials harden your heart and make you turn away from Godโ (Hebrews 3:13-15).
Though Jesus was the Son, He learned obedience from what he suffered (Hebrews 5:8-9). With time, we too can see how nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39). Jesus lives forever and has a permanent priesthood. He lives to intercede for us (Hebrews 7:25).
Like Jesus, let us say, โHere I amโI have come to do Your will, my Godโ (Hebrews 10:24).
Faith in Adversity
When we step forward in faith, trusting God will lead us to better places we can endure. โLet us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promises is faithfulโ (Hebrews 10:23).
By sharing our stories, we can help each other find the strength needed for today. โLet us spur each other on toward love and good deedsโ (Hebrews 10:24).
If we remain resolute and donโt throw away our confidence, God will richly reward us (Hebrews 10:35). Think here of the joy Lazarusโ family experienced seeing him arise. Did lepersโ skin tingle as the flesh became new? What must it be like to see colors after the dark of blindness?
Now faith is the confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.
Hebrews 11:1-2
Be confident that God sees you today and will move heaven and earth to demonstrate His love.
A native Floridian, Tracy L. Smoakโs passion, is to encourage others in their faith journey. Smoak contributes to Guideposts. Her debut novel is Who Brought the Dog to Church?, and her Bible study is Refuge of Grace: Finding Your Safe Place. She loves photography and authored two hardcover devotionals with original nature art (Redemption Press: Living Water to Refresh Your Soul and Arranged with Love). Smoak holds a masterโs in Education and a bachelorโs in Communication. Her website is www.tracysmoak.com. Devotions with her photography set to music are available: http://www.youtube.com/@tracysmoak/playlists.
You can get Stephanie’s study on the Book of Hebrews here.
Barb is a certified Sexual Risk Avoidance Specialist and has completed extensive research on pornography and its effects on individuals and society. As Lead Facilitator at E3 Family Solutions, Inc., I equip youth at local schools to avoid risky behaviors and make healthy choices.
When one of my sons was fourteen, he confessed to watching pornography. I was shocked, mad, and ashamed. I questioned my parenting skills. The stigma surrounding his behavior kept me from talking with others, so I suffered in silence. The pain and emotional turmoil left me feeling empty and alone.
Since that time, Iโve learned a thing or two about pornography, screens, online relationships, hookup culture, grooming, human trafficking, and the teenage brain. My experience combatting this monumental problem and my desire for no other parent to feel alone in this battle led me to create this site. Itโs a place for parents, grandparents, and caregivers to find support, encouragement, and practical tips for parenting in this digital world. Oh, and HOPE.
My guest, Brenda Johnson, has dedicated her life to empowering and uplifting others through her various roles as Conference Speaker, Course/Content Creator, Bible Study teacher, and Womenโs Ministry Leader. She is known for her vibrant personality and infectious enthusiasm.
Brenda has created an outstanding Video series โThe Hebrew Alefbet: Discovering the Energy of the Letters.โ This has been her lifeโs work. Over two decades, she has studied with Rabbinical Scholars, Ministers, and teachers on this subject. However, her goal is not to impart head knowledge, but rather heart knowledge of the amazing depth of the Word of God.
Brenda shares how the letters of the Hebrew Alefbet tell the gospel story, revealing the Love of God for His people and creation, The Character of Jesus, our Messiah as He walked it out among us, and the impartation of His Love into us and through us to others. As Brenda takes you through each letter, you will discover for yourself the healing and restoration that His Word and His letters provide.
For those who wish to connect with Brenda directly, she can be reached via email at brenda@lifewithbrenda.com or Brenda.therootedkafe@gmail.com. She genuinely looks forward to hearing from you and supporting you on your journey toward healing and restoration.
The Bible nerd in me loved talking with Terry Murphy!
Terry Murphy is as much a student as she is a teacher, writer, and speaker. Her goal is to stir wonder by finding fresh ways to retell the story Godโs written about himself in both his Word and his world. Sheโs currently a mentor for Word Weavers International.
Her devotional, A Place for Me in Godโs Tent, takes the reader on a 90-day tour of Mosesโ Tabernacle, showing just how welcome God makes us in his dwelling place.
Here is a blurb of her book A Place for Me in God’s Tent:
A Place for Me in God’s Tentย shows God had family in mind when He drew up His plans for the Tabernacle in the wilderness. Discover what life is like dwelling with Him as you take a step-by-step, personal tour of Godโs holy habitation. In this 90-day devotional/Bible study you’ll discover how He made His tent a welcoming place for us. Useย A Place for Me in God’s Tentย for personal reflection or as a guide for group study. Daily readings, prayer, and โDeeper Stillโ segments will help you discover how the Old and New Testaments merge into a fresh revelation for today.
Gena Hood is my guest once again. She is a wonderful Bible teacher who has studied under rabbis and speaks Hebrew.
Gena and I discuss what a chiasm is and why it will help you understand Scripture better. We love them! She will take us to the latter chapters of Exodus to see a large chiasm within these chapters.
Traci Rhoades is my guest today. She is a writer and Bible teacher living with her family outside of Grand Rapids, Michigan. She is the author of two books; the award-winning Not All Who Wander (Spiritually) Are Lost, and Shaky Ground: What to do After the Bottom Drops Out. In her writing, she shares her journey of being spiritually curious and falling in love with her Savior, Jesus Christ, and his bride, the Church, a little more with every faith discovery.
She is in her second year of a doctoral program at TKU (https://www.tku.edu/), The Kingโs University in Southlake, Texas. In November of 2023, Lucille intends to open a Worship Center that focuses on Messianic Judaism.
In today’s podcast, I talk with Luke and Kayte Abaffy. Luke is a videographer and writer. His book, The Truth: Reformation 2.0ย is a lighthearted, hard-hitting apologetics resourceย written to equip Torah observant believers to understand and defend their faith using Scripture.
Katye Abaffy is a Certified Life Coach, who brings biblical wisdom, life-tested tools, and best friend enthusiasm to each client she serves, as she helps them do the things theyโve been meaning to do and become who they were meant to be.
Book blurb for The Truth, Reformation 2.0:
For 2,000 years, Christians taught that trying to keep the laws of the Old Testament is at worst, a blasphemous attempt to earn oneโs salvation and at best, a misguided pursuit meant for Jewish people alone. Thanks to our fortunate involvement in the New Covenant, we don’t need to concern ourselves with now-symbolic food laws or the shadow-picture feasts of Leviticus 23 … or do we?
What if those laws are essential to the New Covenant and tied to the very purpose of life? What if they reveal more of Jesus’s example for us to follow? And what if the law of God is a perfect reflection of who He is, allowing us to know Him in a deeper way than ever before?
Dr. Dinah Dye and I have a great conversation on God’s Mountain, Temple, and Heaven. You will not want to miss this! What does it mean when God said, “This is my Son whom I love”? Why does He say, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated”? Learn about all this on today’s podcast.
In this day and time, many are confused about who they are and their purpose in life. Believers in Jesus are no different in many ways. Trauma, abuse, and injustices can change the way we once saw ourselves and leave us empty and searching for a new identity. But, as my guest, Ruth Camargo shares, Jesus is the fulfillment of who we are and why we are here on this Earth. She shares how Jesus showed her who she is and how much she is loved by Him.
Ruth Camargo is a wife and mother of four. She has over a decade of experience as an Early Childhood Educator. She has a heart for the unborn and has been a Sidewalk Advocate for Life. She and her husband Pedro lead a Childrenโs Ministry called Torah Heroes in Albuquerque, NM. In her free time, she enjoys having tea, baking, creating, journaling, & studying Hebrew. She enjoys connecting with other women & sharing in all areas of beauty. She is passionate about encouraging others to walk in their true purpose & identity in the Messiah.
We have an awesome show today with my guest, Charli Brown founder of The Rooted Kafe. Charli is a nurse, speaker, author, and leadership coach.
You will laugh, cry, and be inspired to change with Charli. As seen on The Practical Portion (Messianic Lamb Network) and The Portion, Charli Brown is that speaker and author that personally connects with you while taking you on a journey of change. Her passion is breaking down tough topics using humor and relatable stories. She is the founder and director of the international ministry, The Rooted Kafe.
In Itโs Not My Weed to PullโDiary of a Control Freak, author Charli Brown shares through humor and garden imagery how God showed her that not every problem was her problem to solve and that when she tried to hop over into othersโ โgardens,โ to help, the result usually ended in disaster. In her no-nonsense, cut-to-the-chase way, Charli opens up about her own experiences and guides readers to understand the problem that being a control freak really is, for yourself and for others, and what God has to say about pulling up weeds in someone elseโs garden.
D’vorah is back with me for a two-part message on Redressing the Messiah. Have we redressed Jesus to make Him look less like the Jewish man and Messiah and more like a Gentile Savior? He is both, but how does that turn the Jewish people away from Him? Listen in to hear out discussion on this topic and more.
The Scriptures:
– on provoking the Jews to jealousy/zealousness: Romans 11:11-14
– on dressing the High Priest Aaron: Exodus 28:3-6, Leviticus 8
– on Messiah being the Prophet like Moses Deuteronomy 18:15
– on the four things required of the Gentiles Acts 15:19-21
– on the yoke of the Torah/Kingdom Matthew 11:29-30
Is the Torah still relevant to us today? Does it have anything to do with Salvation? Do we really need to keep the Torah with its laws and teachings? Is there a more significant spiritual blessing for those who do? Holly and I discuss that and more in today’s episode.
From Holly’s website:
My family and I are on a journey to grow spiritually and strengthen our Christian faith through a deeper understanding of the Old and New Testament and the culture of our Messiah, Jesus.
Studying the bible from a Jewish perspective can provide a great deal of biblical understanding. Each member of my family has grown spiritually since we started practicing our faith according to our Biblical roots and making this a part of our familyโs legacy. Itโs my desire for other Christians and their families to grow along with us and I welcome you to join us on this journey. Iโll share our beliefs, traditions, recipes, and more to help you on your Hebrew Roots journey also. I hope itโs as much a blessing to your family as it has been to ours!
Her book, Bring Shalom to Your Home welcomes Christians to bring peace and completion to their lives by providing ways to live out their Biblical faith. Led by ancient traditions and Scripture, Holly Eastburg teaches the basics of practicing the Hebraic Christian faith through these topics:
The Hebrew Roots of the Christian Faith, The Sabbath (Shabbat), The Biblical Holy Days (Moedim), Passover (Pesach), Unleavened Bread (The Feast of Matzah), Firstfruits (HaBikkurim), Shavuot (Pentecost), Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah/Rosh Hashanah), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles), Hanukkah (Feast of Dedication), Purim, The Shema, The Biblical Hebrew Language, A Biblically Clean Diet, Studying the Bible, The Biblical Calendar, Finding a Church, Teaching Your Children, Explaining Your Faith to Your Others.
Barri Cae Seif (formerly Mallin) is an instructor, author, and theologian. Her experience has led her through opportunities in corporate sales, Sunday school education, travel, Bible college instruction, authoring, conference speaking, and twice-annual trips to Israel as President of a humanitarian organization. Here is her testimony. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDewMB8Hs_I
In addition, Barri is an Associate Professor and Director of Online Teaching Effectiveness with Grace Christian University. She maintains her status as an online adjunct faculty member at several universities, teaching Graduate-level Business classes and undergraduate Bible and Business classes. She also serves as a content chair for several doctoral students.
Barri holds a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies from Trinity Theological Seminary. Her focus was the Exegetical study of Romans 10:4. She earned an MBA from Amberton University with a concentration in General Management. She earned a BA in Psychology at Stephens College.
As an Ordained Minister and a student of the Bible for over 50 years, Rev. Kay Mortimer brings her deep passion for the Bible into all that she teaches.
Called to be a minister of the gospel at an early age, Kay has been in a lifelong pursuit of understanding the Bible and Christianity. As an Ordained Minister, she now shares treasures from Godโs Word through all available means to reach others, inviting them to come into a vibrant relationship with the Lord Jesus and grow as His disciple.
With special emphasis on the Hebraic roots and Jewish connection to the Christian faith, and with deep study of the riches of the Old and New Testaments, CTM seeks to bring a fresh perspective and insight of Godโs mighty revelation contained in the Holy Scriptures. https://covenanttruthministries.com/
Shonda Fischer and I talk about the Exodus, Passover, and the Resurrection of Yeshua/Jesus. Have you ever wondered why Jesus wasn’t actually in the tomb for three days and three nights as He said He would be? The math doesn’t add up…We will discuss that and more on today’s episode.
My friend, Shonda Fischer, and I discuss Genesis chapters 2 and 3 on today’s podcast.
It’s a little different format than some of my other podcast episodes–more like a Bible study. So, if you can, grab your Bibles and join us as we dive into the story of God’s creation of Adam and Eve, and that naked, uh crafty serpent.
Michael Mistretta is the CEO of FIRM: Fellowship of Israel Related Ministries (https://firmisrael.org/). Born in Toronto, Canada, Michael was raised in the church and later received a call to Israel where he met Pastor Wayne Hilsden and helped to start FIRM. From starting his own company as a teenager to his 10 years of ministry experience, Michael is an entrepreneur and innovator who is passionate about seeing ministries in Israel thrive and people coming to know Yeshua (Jesus) as Messiah.
My guest Michayla White shares with us today. Michayla is the Chief Executive Officer for INCM–International Network of Children’s Ministry. https://incm.org/
She has had the privilege of serving in childrenโs and family ministry in various capacities. She champions the community through her leadership of INCM, writing, speaking, and coaching. Michayla has a Bachelorโs in Psychology with specializations in Christian Counseling and Life Coaching from Liberty University. Her heart for the importance of childrenโs ministry started at a young age observing her mother who was a volunteer childrenโs ministry director.
My guest today is Ted Wright from Epic Archaeology.
Ted Wright currently serves as the founder and Executive Director of EpicArchaeology.org. He has a B.A. in Anthropology & Archaeology from the Cobb Institute of Archaeology at Mississippi State University, and an M.A. degree in Christian apologetics with a concentration in philosophy from Southern Evangelical Seminary, where he served as a graduate research assistant to Dr. Norman Geisler. For over a decade, Ted has been a speaker on Christian apologetics as well as Biblical Archaeology across North America & internationally. In addition to public speaking, Ted was the former Executive and Teaching Director of CrossExamined.org, the apologetics ministry of Frank Turek. Ted has also appeared on numerous television and radio programs including the History Channelโs TV miniseries โ โMankind: The Story of All of Usโ (2012), โMankind Decodedโ (2013), and CNNโs miniseries on the historical Jesus, titled, โFinding Jesus: Faith. Fact. Forgeryโ (2015). He has also appeared on ABRโs TV program โDigging for Truth.โ
Although initially trained as a registered nurse, Dinahโs life was refocused in early 2000 when she sensed a call to full-time ministry. She attended Grand Canyon Universityโs Christian Leadership program and became ordained by Messenger Fellowship.
Dinah has served in a myriad of leadership roles including staff pastor within the local church, as well as para-church ministries and is passionate about helping individuals understand their identity and inheritance in Christ and experience greater depths of intimacy with the Triune God.
Dinah recently graduated from Primus University of Theology with a Masters in Ministry focused on Leadership and Christian Counseling.
She has spoken nationally, as well as internationally at womenโs retreats, and taught men’s and womenโs classes.
Who doesnโt love Christmas and the memories it brings?
As you think of your favorite Christmas, what makes it memorable for you? Was it where you spent it, who you spent it with, or the gift you received? Maybe it was unforgettable because of the gift you gave to someone special.
My Favorite Christmas
My favorite Christmas was the time I put my name on every gift under the tree. I have a large family with five sisters, plus my mom and dad. My aunt and uncle came over on Christmas Eve to stay the night with us. While everyone was busy preparing for Christmas Day, I sat on the floor by the Christmas tree with wrapping paper, scissors, and a pen, making new gift tags with my name on each one. I added those to every gift under the tree. The next morning, while my uncle handed out the gifts, the pile in front of me grew larger and larger as I got most of them. The expressions on everyoneโs faces were priceless. My mom knew something was not right and as she looked around the room, her eyes stopped on me. I confessed my deed, and she gave the packages, unopened, to their rightful owners. We all laughed, and my family still reminds me of that Christmas. It is a fun memory for us all.
Godโs Favorite Christmas
Have you ever thought about Godโs favorite Christmas?
Which parts do you think He most fondly remembers?
God created us to have fellowship with Him. But sin penetrated His perfect world and separated us from Him. We could no longer experience life with God, only death without Him. Alone. Heaven must have been lonely with only the Godhead and a mere myriad of angels, and not one human being in sight. He wanted us to live with Him in His home.
God knew the Way to make that happen.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 (ESV)
The Father entrusted a young girl with His only Sonโa human-carrying deity. She wasnโt the richest or the most experienced or even married. But Mary loved God, and she was the perfect mother for His Son. Even knowing His people would threaten His Sonโs life before He was two; God sent Jesus to be born and laid in a manger of hay in the company of sheep and shepherds. Imagine how proud He must have been on that day and how bittersweet it was when Heaven became even lonelier.
The Angelโs Favorite Christmas
God watched as the angels rejoiced in His perfect plan. Their instructions were to proclaim the good news to the lonesome shepherds in a field guarding their sheep that night. God didnโt tell the wealthy or the well-known. Instead, He sent His angels to the shepherds, the ones who protected their sheep and looked for the lost lamb.
They would understand His King.
How the Father must have loved the expression on their faces when His angels ignited the dark sky! I imagine His eagerness for them to behold His Gift.
God looked forward to the day His Son returned Home ushering men, women, and children to live with Him forever. Yet, how grievous the sting God felt knowing what Jesus must endure so He could welcome us into Heaven.
Godโs Favorite Gift
God put His name on His present, tooโImmanuel, God with us.
All He wants is for us to accept His gift. Donโt leave this precious One unopened. Godโs favorite Christmas is the most unforgettable because of Who He gave us.
I have another guest post this week by Sandy Scarboro. Sandy is also a contributor to Room at the Table: Encouraging Stories from Special Needs Families. She is mother to Miles and Grace, and a retired English teacher turned writer. Thank you, Sandy, for your thoughtful and relevant post on Christmas. We all need Hope!
Why do we Love Christmas?
People love Christmas–for Christians, it is the ultimate gift of Hope.
We all notice how it seems to come a bit earlier each year. The White House turkey pardon and the arrival ceremony of the grand presidential Christmas tree happened on the same day this year.
ย ย ย ย According to www.statista.com, the average American spends almost a thousand dollars on Christmas expenses. They report most shoppers begin hunting for the perfect gift in October. This site also claims 85% of Americans plan to celebrate Christmas and these merrymakers include โan increasing number of non-Christiansโ.
ย ย ย ย Some radio stations play Christmas tunes soon after Thanksgiving. Christmas decorations and parades are everywhere. And letโs not forget the Hallmark channelโs stocking full of sugarplum-sweet movies of love and really good hair. Finding love during the season of carols and mistletoe is even more thrilling than usual.
ย ย ย ย Why do we love Christmas time so much? Oh, let me count the ways. Presents. Who doesnโt love receiving a surprise, bought with love and wrapped in colorful paper topped with a bow? We love the food and the chance to overeat with others and for it to be okay. Because today is Christmas. Christmas grants everyone a respite from work or school. We get to use this time off to travel and see our family. The season offers us a fun intermission into our mundane lives.
Christmas Expectations and the Gift of Hope
ย ย ย ย I believe another reason the Yuletide season is so loved is that there is an underlying feeling of hope. If I decorate every room in the house, weโll have a grand Christmas. We put our aspirations in gifts, ones given, and ones received. The diamond necklace will make my wife love me more. If I get a blender, Iโll make smoothies every day and lose weight. This party will be the best one Iโve given, and people will talk about it for years. If I attend my bossโs party, I may meet someone who can help me in my career. When I march in the parade, my picture will be all over social media. I just know my boyfriend will propose and give me a ring.
ย ย ย ย Every year Christmas comes and goes, leaving our bank accounts slimmer, our waistlines bigger and our homes overstuffed with stuff. The Christmas blues have come to town. Weโve spent months planning for the special day and now itโs over. In a 2015 survey by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, โ64% of people report experiencing the post-holiday blues.โ I feel itโs even higher in todayโs post- covid, politically divided world.
The Gift of Hope at Christmas
ย ย ย The hope and joy of Christmas are real, but it doesnโt come in a gift bag. Christmas is a birthday, and we should celebrate it by singing, having parties, and presents. It is the birthday of hope. God sent his son Jesus, the ultimate gift, to live and die as a man. Jesusโs death paved the road for our eternal life. You canโt buy that at Walmart. This is where our hope lies, not in the painful, difficult life on earth, but in the anticipation of heaven.
Before retiring from teaching, I spent several years teaching fifth grade in a Christian school. We were doing a unit about heaven as a new girl enrolled in my class. Unlike most of the other students who had grown up in the church, it soon became apparent this girl had almost no knowledge of God, the Bible, and Jesus. For example, I asked the class to turn to John 14:2. She raised her hand and asked, โWhat page is that on?โ. The other students gasped. Yes, a gasp of sheer unbelief.
ย ย ย ย A few days later, we were continuing our study of heaven. I noticed she was exceptionally quiet. I discussed biblical descriptions of heaven. She jumped out of her seat and said, โI want to go to heaven. How do I get there?โ I spoke to her about confessing your sins and believing in Jesus. She later spoke to the pastor as well. It was pure, childlike faith combined with hope.
Selfless Love
Two years ago, God gave me the chance to experience Christmas in a very different way. I was suffering from diverticulitis (infection in the colon). I had surgery and stayed in the hospital for three weeks. Between the infection, lack of food, and recovery from the surgery, I felt awful. Surely, Iโd be out in time for Christmas. But every day the doctors would say, โa few more daysโ. It was during COVID, so no visitors could come. It was not a holly, jolly time.
ย ย ย ย I learned a lot about selfless love during that hospital stay. My older sister had organized my friends and family into what my father would call a platoon ready for battle. Itโs her superpower. Iโm divorced and my daughter, seventeen, still lived at home. My son, Miles, was home from college for his Christmas break. Why did I need a fighting platoon? My daughter, Grace, is autistic and needs constant supervision. Between my family and Graceโs regular staff workers, the days were covered, however, we needed someone to stay with her at night. Miles stepped up to the task. Most evenings were uneventful. My mom would bring over food for supper. Miles would give Grace her medication, spend some time with her, brush her teeth, and tuck her in at night. He only complained once. A few days before they released me Miles called my hospital room. โHey, mom. I hope youโre feeling better and Iโm not rushing you, but when do you think you might come home?โ
Love and Kindness at Christmas
ย ย ย ย He seemed relieved when I told him only another day or two. I asked how things were going. He said everything was going smoothly. But apparently the night before, Grace had an issue with going to the toilet. Her stomach was upset and afterward, Miles said our bathroom looked like a crime scene. He was the only one there to clean it up. And he did.
A less foul-smelling memory occurred a few days earlier. I was so tired of the hospital and missing all my people. I turned on the camera in Graceโs room just in time to catch Miles tucking her in. He read her a book, said prayers with her, and covered her with her favorite blanket. It was such a touching moment.
ย ย ย ย The nurses in the hospital also showed me compassion and brought as much cheer to my room as they could. I understand they were doing their job, but several of them did more than they had to and did it with such a loving spirit. One young nurse stands out in my mind. After weeks of lying down, your hair gets matted. She helped me get a bath, washed my hair, and then braided it into a French braid. Yes, it looked better, but I felt like a new person. Other nurses told me about their Christmas plans and about the world outside the hospital. They made me laugh. Some even prayed with me.
My church family also came together. They started a meal chain, which lasted for weeks. Even when I wasnโt home or still could not eat, the food was manna from heaven. Miles, my mother, Grace, and the caregivers had wonderful meals. Made with love.
ย ย ย ย Christmas is all about selfless love and hope. This year, as you prepare to celebrate the birthday of the King, our gift of hope, remember to share that love and kindness with someone who isnโt expecting it and maybe doesnโt deserve it. God did.
About Sandy:
Sandy Scarboro is the mother of two extraordinary people. She retired after twenty-eight years of teaching English to middle schoolers. Retirement has given her time to devote to writing. Sheโs contributed articles to the newspaper and local magazines. Sandy self-published a Christian romance, โCotton Candy Skyโ and a Bible devotional for teen girls called, โTwo are Better Than Oneโ. She is currently working on another Christian romance entitled โWaiting for the Sunsetโ and a womenโs devotional called โLife Lessons โ. Sandy enjoys walking and exploring local, historical places. Sandy is a member of Serious Writer and sheโs currently looking for a new group of aspiring authors to create a new writing group.
Today’s blog post is by Theresa Pierce. Theresa is a contributor to our book Room at the Table: Encouraging Stories from Special Needs Families, where Theresa writes about living with her brother.
My favorite Christmas memory was being part of a living nativity scene at Spilman Baptist Church in Kinston, North Carolina. The living nativity of Spilman Baptist Church was epic! Everyone in town rode slowly by and many families filled the churchyard to take a closer look. That is what they told us, but to tell you the truth, I was always in the spotlight and could not see the record crowds. Every year, for as long as I could remember, I was an angel, literally.
An Angel in the Living Nativity
I was an angel next to Mary, the mother of Jesus. One year, I remember trying not to laugh as the donkey kept trying to eat my mommaโs scarf while my dad swatted his efforts. They tried not to laugh. Eventually, they promoted me to the roof, where we crawled precarious ladders to position ourselves as angels who appeared to hover over the lowly manger. When the Halleluiah melody belted out, it was our angelic responsibility to raise our arms for the entire chorus. It felt like an eternity. Our arms ached, but we did not dare to let them drop. We took our duty seriously. Even our Sunday School teachers reminded us that our ministry mattered. And it did!
Divine Intervention
I was fortunate to grow up across the street from the church, what I believe to be divine intervention. My best friend and I got to watch the church men build the nativity set from the ground up. We watched farmers deliver sheep and a live donkey. I must admit there was slight disdain on our part because the portrayal of Christโs birth took up the space where we usually played kickball for two weeks. We were children with limited space for our daily play. I know God understood our childlike innocence.
ย We worked in thirty-minute shifts as angels and shepherds. When our hands felt like they might freeze, we changed places with opposing actors. Just when our hands thawed, they offered us hot chocolate and cookies. The chocolate burned our tongues, but the marshmallows had to be eaten before they lost their foam. We traded burned tongues for frozen hands for about three hours and loved every minute of it.
I vividly remember how the wise men rotated bringing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The shepherds knelt with their sheep. My big brother wore a bathrobe and headdress. The manger was in the spotlight, and I remember worshipping in my own childlike way. โAnd He shall reign forever and ever.โ At such an impressionable age, it was a privilege to portray one of the angels who witnessed the birth of Jesus.
About Theresa:
Theresa Parker Pierce lives in Historic Salisbury, North Carolina, where she enjoys spending time with family and friends. She has thirty-five years of experience teaching reading and history. She has a Masterโs degree in education and is National Board-certified. two-time Rowan Salisbury Teacher of the Year, Theresa enjoys storytelling about her childhood in eastern North Carolina and the history of life in Rowan County.
Her manuscript, Up Dunnโs Mountain, won first place for Young Adult Literature at Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference in 2020. The sequel, Miss Clairmontโs Christmas, won third place for Novellas in 2022. Most recently, her poem Mrs. Claus Bakes was published in Christmas Spirit. The sales of this collection will benefit Samaritanโs Purse.
Theresa is a member of Word Weavers International, Blue Ridge Christian Writers, Room at the Table, and the 540 Club. She writes monthly for Senior Savvy magazine. She shares her volunteer time between the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer and the Rowan Museum in Salisbury.
My guest today is Dr. Phil Gigliotti. He is a retired medical doctor, teacher, speaker, and lover of the Messiah. He teaches the Jewishness of Scripture online at the Messianic LAMB Network as well as https://giftofgrace.podbean.com/. He also has class at Calvary Chapel of Cleveland. #OneinMessiah
We had a wonderful conversation about Phil’s amazing redemption story, and how the Lord led him to a Messianic congregation as a Gentile, and we talked a lot about Scripture. You won’t want to miss it!
Today’s special Thanksgiving post is by Eric and Joy McPherson. They are contributors to my and co-author, Starr Ayers’, recent book, Room at the Table: Encouraging Stories from Special Needs Families. Eric and Joy live in Mid-Michigan and love spending time with their family. They are the parents of two children and a very animated puppy named Ike, who has inspired many light-hearted tales.
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV
In my attempt at family bonding, I like to bring crafting projects, yummy treats, and table decorations to my parentโs holiday parties. It doesnโt happen at every get-together, although I try to incorporate it into our yearly festivities.
You see, I lived away from my family for many years, and those holiday seasons brought me an indescribable amount of sadness. When I moved back home, I changed my focus and tried something different during the holiday season โ doing table projects.
The Perfect Thanksgiving Craft
Last year was no exception; I spent a good part of thanksgiving week researching the perfect craft project. I perused Pinterest diligently, creating a Thanksgiving board of perfection with all of my top choices for the yearโs family holiday crafting projects. There were so many to choose from, and with my son, Eli having autism, this was becoming quite a challenge. He has a limited attention span and it was important to me that everyone at the table enjoyed their time together.
Finally, after hours of contemplation, my husband Eric and I decided we would all color turkey hats together. This was a good idea, of course. I convinced myself everyone would just love it and participate. At the end of the day, we could take a picture of our masterpieces and each other; this was a win, win in my book!
As I reflect on this Thanksgiving day, I love to think about how much fun we all had making those silly turkey hats. Sharing our colored markers and pencils across the long table, helping Grandpa put his hat on correctly. Taking pictures of everyone smiling, laughing, and having fun.
The Albino Turkey
Iโm giggling now as I think about my brother Jim and my nephew Sam on this day. They would not color their turkey hats! Telling me their turkeys were special because they were ALBINO TURKEYSโones that couldnโt be colored.
ย It makes me laugh to this day how unique and hilarious the two of them were. They joined forces to remind me how special an albino turkey was, how rare it was to find one, and how being different is not only ok, itโs beautiful. Tears come to my eyes even now as I think about how much those two taught me on my journey toward celebrating and giving thanks for everything.ย
This Thanksgiving
This year, Thanksgiving will be at my parentโs house. I looked for a craft on Pinterest this weekend, searching diligently for that eye-catching idea to make a memory last a lifetime.
Things are different this year, as we lost Jim in February.
With an unbearable loss, I only know to reach out to the Lord and hold on to his word. I grasp onto it and repeat it as it sinks into the depths of my troubled heart. Iโm reminded of the verse in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 about giving thanks in all circumstances.
Sometimes, itโs hard for me to give thanks, especially now when my heart hurts. But remembering Godโs promises gives me the strength to walk in faith and try to put one foot in front of the other. Believe me, this is not easy, but all things are possible with God.
So, this year, Iโve decided to do something unique and something a little of the same for our Thanksgiving crafting tradition at the table. I will put those crayons and markers out, and Iโll pull out some paper, and we will see what happens. As we all found last year, an albino turkey is rare and special. This is just beautiful.
You can purchase Room at the Table: Encouraging Stories from Special Needs Families here.
Carl Gallups and I talked about, Yahweh, God’s Name–The Tetragrammaton–the reason we call on Him, the importance of His Name, and the Jewishness of His Name.
Carl Gallups is a critically acclaimed Amazon Top-60 bestselling author. He is a former decorated Florida law enforcement officer, the long-time senior pastor of Hickory Hammock Baptist Church (since 1987) on the Gulf Coast of Florida, and the internationally known radio talk show host of Freedom Friday with Carl Gallups. Carl also serves on the Board of Regents at the University of Mobile in Mobile, Alabama. Carl frequently appears in television, radio, and print media interviews as a commentator and pundit for all things geopolitical, biblical, and prophetic. He is also a well-known biblical conference speaker. Carl was featured on the Fox News Business Report as an “influential evangelical leader.” Carl was asked by the Trump campaign to open the internationally broadcast Trump for President Rally in Pensacola, Florida, in January 2016. Pastor Gallups lives in Milton, Florida, with his wife, Pam.
Best-selling author Lois Tverberg joins me on today’s podcast. She has authored many books including Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus, Reading the Bible with Rabbi Jesus, and Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus.
Lois Tverberg has been speaking and writing about the Jewish background of Christianity for the past twenty years. Her passion is translating the Bibleโs ancient setting into fresh insights that deepen and strengthen the Christian faith. Lois grew up with plenty of Sunday school knowledge. Still, it wasnโt until after she had earned a Ph.D. in biology and was teaching as a college professor that a seminar at her church ignited her fascination for biblical study. She has since studied several times in Israel, taking courses in biblical Hebrew, Koine Greek, and the physical and cultural context of the Bible.ย
Gena and I had a great time on my podcast talking about how she came to learn the Jewish Roots of Christianity and so much more!
Gena is first a Christ-follower and a Bible student of many decades. She is also a wife and mother of two young adult sons. Gena writes this expository Christian blog to share what she learns in her own personal devotions. She writes for her own learning, and the edification of her readers, but most importantly, for the glory of God. https://resplendentdaughter.blogspot.com/
The vision and mission of the Besorah Institute are to help increase understanding among the members of the Body of Christ (The Church) of their Jewish roots, to train individuals for lay ministry to share the Gospel message with non-believers from a Judaic-Christian perspective, and to add to the literature on Biblical research.
David Stern, in his Complete Jewish Bible, translates this phrase from Romans 1:16, โto the Jew especially, but equally to the Gentile.โ The Good News is offered โequallyโ to Gentiles; thus, it is โalsoโ for the Gentiles (NASB). (Messianic Foundations, Dr. Sam Nadler, pg 24)
My guest today is Dr. Sam Nadler.
He is the president and founder of Word of Messiah Ministries. Sam is a Jewish believer in Jesus, and over his forty years in Messianic ministry, he has focused on raising leaders who plant congregations and make disciples of Yeshua (Jesus).
My guest Miriam Feinberg Vamosh was an Israel tour guide for forty years. Today she “walks” us through the Temple Mount with Psalms of praise, the Garden Tomb, the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, the pool of Bethesda, and the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem.
Miriam was born in Trenton, New Jersey, and has lived in Israel since 1970. Her love affair with the Bible and ancient sources โ which led to her series of books on daily life in Bible times, her historical novel The Scroll, and hundreds of articles โ grew over many years as a tour educator. Miriamโs interest in the New Testament began with the respect that she learned for people of other faiths and cultures from her parents, older brother, and sister. Her writing, and her translating, and editing of scholarly research on biblical antiquity on the one hand, and her work as a translator on the news desk of the critical, cutting-edge Israeli daily, Haaretz, on the other, come together in a complex whole that, for Miriam, makes life in Israel a never-ending search for meaning.
Diane and I tackled a whole lot of subjects on this episode of Grafted: Jewish Roots of Christianity. Messianic Judaism, Messianic Gentiles, and Jewish names for the Old and New Testaments.
Diane is a graduate of Messianic Jewish Theological Instituteโs graduate certificate program and will be entering the Master of Jewish Studies program in Fall 2022, as well as regularly attending classes at the New School for Jewish Study and MJTIโs Panim el Panim Programs. Rav Carl Kinbar describes her as a lifelong learner (or a โgeekโ if you ask her children). Her favorite topics to study are Second Temple Judaism, Prophecy, Jewish prayer, Luke/Acts, and Midrash.
My guest, Rabbi Darryl Weinberg, discusses the Torah and its function in the Christian’s life.
Darryl has over 30 years of experience in sales and marketing, leadership development and training, and recruiting. In addition to preaching the gospel, Darryl is also passionate about health and finances. He ran an organic meat business for 10 years and truly believes you are what you eat so we need to learn about what is good for us and what isnโt. He is also on a mission to help people learn sound financial principles to get out of debt and live a life of freedom. Believing that we are all intended to have an abundant life, Darryl seeks to help people understand Godโs blueprint so that people would experience all that He has designed for them.
My guest, Steven Neptune, talks with me about Israel and the nations, replacement theology, covenant, and the Tanakh, as well as other topics found in his book Jesus and the Olive Tree: Re-engaging the Mystery.
Steve is the Senior Pastor of Gateway Church in Aurora, OH. He is an author, speaker, and President of HarvestNet Institute. In the tradition of C. S. Lewis and Francis Schaeffer, Steve is passionate about presenting the truth claims of the Christian worldview in a relevant way to his and future generation.
My guest, Lauren Crews, is such an engaging teacher as she unpacks the Hebrew alphabet and language. You won’t want to miss this episode!
Lauren is a teacher at heart and loves nothing more than teaching Godโs Word. She holds a Master of Divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and has 14 years of teaching experience.
My guest, Eva Marie Everson, talks about her trip to Israel and how it changed her life and the way she read the Bible.
Eva Marie Everson is a multiple-award winning author and speaker who hails from the picturesque Southern town of Sylvania, Georgia. She is president of Word Weavers International and the director of the Florida Christian Writers Conference. She enjoys coaching new authors through her company, Pen in Hand. Eva Marie and her husband make their home in Central Florida. They are the parents of three fabulous children who have blessed them with the worldโs greatest grandchildren.
D’vorah explains Matthew 5:17. What did Jesus mean when He said, “Do not think I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but fulfill them.”
D’vorah and her husband are co-founders of Bless Israel Network, a media organization based in Israel. The focus is to provide programming designed to inform viewers of the rightful prophetic role of the Jewish people and Israel in Godโs prophetic plan.
Dโvorah writes and hosts โHeartbeat of the Torah,โ where she connects the beauty of the Torah of Moses to the teachings in the Apostolic Scriptures (New Testament), assisting in understanding the Jewishness of the Scriptures, the Gospels, and the Messiah. In addition, she is a weekly contributor to โGift of Thornsโ, a Facebook community spreading hope, good news, and comfort. Her series is called โGetting Down to the Root.โ
In today’s episode, I have Aaron Eime. Rev. Aaron Eime is a Deacon at Christ Church, Jerusalem, Bible Historian, and teacher for CMJ Israel. Aaron studied at the Hebrew University in the Master’s Program, focusing on Early Jewish and Christian Interpretation of the Bible. He also studied Psychology and Sociology at Queensland University in Australia. He is a dedicated Bible teacher exploring the Hebraic Roots of the Christian Faith and has taught internationally including in Europe, North America, Hong Kong, and China. He lives in Jerusalem with his wife and 3 children.
Episode One of Grafted: Jewish Roots of Christianity.
Introduction: Are you a Christian who wants to go deeper into the roots of your faith? In this weekly podcast, your host Stephanie Pavlantos will explore the Hebraic significance of Scripture with teachers and scholars while providing a deeper understanding of Jesus, the Torah, and the Old and New Testaments. We will help you understand Scriptureโs meaning through the Hebrew language, culture, and history.
Have you ever wished you could have a scenic overlook of your lifeโa past, present, and future look to see why youโve experienced the failures, grief, and struggles? Wouldnโt it be nice to see the bigger picture and understand what God is doing?
The Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference
A Writers Experience
When I went to the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference last week I was able to visit the scenic overlook at the top of the mountain where we stayed. There were beautiful sunrises and picturesque views, and I took lots of pictures.
While itโs so good to catch up with writer friends and make new ones, the conference can feel like you are drinking from a fire hose.
I took classes on marketing my book, starting a podcast, and branding, as well as how to join various groups that help you become a successful author. Iโm still praying about how much to spend in these areas and which of them God is leading me to do.
Then there are the contestsโฆI have a love/hate relationship with them. Itโs nice to win an award, but the sting of not placing is tough. Contests are an affirmation for me. Itโs nice to know your peers like what youโve written enough to rate your piece high enough for an award. Contests can also make you feel like you are on the right track.
But what happens when you donโt place? Does it mean that everything you write is bad? No, it doesn’t. We have to trust God with all we do. Our writing, our art, our promotions and jobs, and our education.
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
As I drove my friend to the airport, I said, โIt would be nice to understand what God is doing!โ Of course, she agreed and said, โWouldnโt we all like that?โ Itโs true.
I stopped at a scenic overlook on my drive home to Ohio. While there was a steep path going up to the overlook there was another path at the parking lot level to see the same view. Of course, I took the steep path. I didnโt even see the other deck until I was walking back to my car.
As I looked out at the mountains, I couldnโt help but feel small. They were so far away and so high. The trek I made up the path was nothing compared to climbing one of those mountains. We often think of mountain experiences in our Christian walk as highs or the happiest moments in our lives.
However, when I look at these mountains, how often do we think about the trip to the mountain? Only those who prepare for it get there.
!. Equipment: the right boots, outerwear, pants, and layers of clothing for the heat and the cold weather.
2. Food and water: That kind of hike would take a lot out of us physically. We would need to carry enough food and water to stay hydrated.
3. Protection: We would need bear spray at least to protect ourselves from any predators that might follow us or block our path. Also, there might be underbrush. We would need to have a knife to get through the undergrowth that may hinder or prevent us from getting where we need to be.
4. Rest: We could not do that hike in one day. We need to rest.So we would need to have a sleeping bag and/or tent to camp out in.
5. Preparation: That hike would not happen in a few hours or a day. A trip like that could take days. Be ready for the trip. Rest up and exercise to prepare your body for the climb.
Do you see the parallels in our Christian walk?
Spiritual Mountain Highs
Six essentials before we get to that Mountain High
What do we need to prepare for a spiritual mountain high experience?
1. Equipment: Prayer and Godโs Word. We need the Holy Spirit to prepare our hearts and the Word of God to equip us.
โNow may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.โ Hebrews 13:20-21 ESV
2. Food and water: Jesus. He alone can keep us going in our Christian walkโwhether it is a mountain high or a valley low.
Jesus. He alone can keep us going in our Christian walkโwhether it is a mountain high or a valley low.
โJesus said to them, โI am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.โ John 6:35
โBut whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.โ John 4:14
3. Protection: Satan is our predator. He lies in wait to overwhelm us or convince us to stop so we will not make it to the mountain. Are you ready with Godโs armor? In the Old Testament, men in a covenant relationship switched their armor with the other. God has given you His armor to fight satanโs attacks.
โPut on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.โ Ephesians 6:11 ESV
4. Rest: Our “walk” with Christ is a marathon, not a sprint. We need to rest–that’s why He gave us the Sabbath.
“There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters Godโs rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.” Hebrews 4:9-10
5. Preparation: Just as we wouldnโt climb a mountain without preparing, we canโt have a mountain-top experience with God without some preparation.
โTherefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. โ 1 Peter 1:13 ESV
Heaven–the Scenic Overlook
So, while we don’t get that scenic overlook experience in this lifetime–a chance to see and understand all God is doing, we will someday in Heaven. Everything we have gone through will make sense. God was working on your mountains and in your valleys, He is working now and will continue to do a good work within us until the day we die.
This is the last installment of my month of stories of the Holidays.
We must remember that Christmas is not a happy time for all people but can bring about feelings of grief, sadness, and depression. the nearly two years have been difficult for a lot of people in more ways than one.
My friend, Dar Myers, tells her stories of grief and how best to deal with it, not only during this time of year but all year long.
ย Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,ย who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.ย For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.ย If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.ย And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.ย
2 Corinthians 1:3-7 KJV
COVID-19. Delta variant. Omicron variant. Country lockdown. Mandates. Loss of loved ones. Unrest and dissension in our Country. Authority in question. Law enforcement officers were ambushed and killed. Claims of bias and profiling. Rogue police officers. Demand for defunding of police. Stress. Chaos. Unanswered questions. Uncertainty of future.
Grief and Sadness
All the above can bring sadness and grief to many individuals. Todayโs society has various opinions on how to manage sadness and grief and is not afraid to offer their advice. Entering the holiday season, societyโs advice adds pressure to individuals to suppress grief and sadness.
This advice of theyโre in a better place, itโll pass, it gets better with time, or itโs been a year, itโs time to move on, is meant out of love. But most times, it causes more anguish.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18 KJV
My World Stopped
On September 24, 2015, my world changed in a matter of five-and-a-half hours. My cell phone rang at 9:00 am; my sister, Robin, was on the line. A call from her this early was a bad omen.
Shocked, all I heard was โJimmy, my brother, an Okaloosa County Sheriff Deputy, was shot while serving a domestic violence injunction at an attorneyโs office.โ Robin said they transported him to a hospital, but she had no further information.
I headed for Shalimar, Florida, the community he lived and served.
Once I got to Tallahassee, Robin called again, explaining Jimmy had died at 2:30 pm. He was shot three times, twice in the back and once in the back of the head. I headed back to Jacksonville, Florida, to await arrangements.
My world stopped.
Over the next nine months, I felt the bullets that riddled Jimmy were catalysts as flint to fire. Unable to attend the funeral due to poor health, the televised funeral allowed my mom to watch. In December 2015, she died of a broken heart; the official cause of death was a heart attack.
In June 2016, a friend of eighteen years died of a sudden heart attack and two weeks later, a fire engine driving down Mayport Road in Mayport, Florida, found my daughterโs father dead in a creek. An autopsy ruled the cause of death as a heart attack.
I was reeling, had no sense of control, and was numb. There was a sense of detachment so I could function for the sake of my daughter, who was in denial.
Memories flooded my conscious and subconscious minds. Most predominant was the sound of Taps, 16-gun salute, and Last Call. I quake, fill with sadness, and find myself shutting down to this day whenever I hear these.
Stifled Grief
Society today has what they call โStifled Grief,โ meaning we donโt speak about it. We put it in the past and try to get over it quickly so we can move on.
Most people assume grief and sadness have a solvable solution.
The new Model of Grief contends to find a middle ground, one where we can directly face the grief. By directly facing the grief, allowing the reality of grief to exist, we can focus on helping ourselves, and others, survive within or inside the pain.
Self-compassion is approaching ourselves, our inner experience with spaciousness, with the quality of allowing which has a quality of gentleness. Instead of our usual tendency to want to get over something, to fit it, to make it go away, the path of compassion is totally different. Compassion allows.
Robert Gonzalez, Reflections on Living Compassion
In David Kesslerโs Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief (2019), the six stages of grief include denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance, and meaning. Finding meaning has the following components to assist in the processing:
Itโs relative and personal
It takes time
It does not require understanding why a loved one died, or loss occurred
When you find out, it may not be worth what it cost you
Kessler indicated loss happens to you; meaning is what you make happen.
Love Does Not End with Death
Unknown
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Matthew 5:4
Holidays and special occasions intensify feelings of loss, sadness, and personal. There are no guaranteed simple guidelines to take away the hurt. However, below are suggestions that may help.
Talk about your grief. Ignoring the grief will not make it go away while talking about it often makes you feel better.
Recognize your physical and psychological limits. Low energy and fatigue are residual effects. Respect and honor what messages your body is relaying to you.
Avoid unnecessary stress. Do not overextend or isolate yourself. Make special time for yourself. Acknowledge โkeeping busyโ does not distract, but increases stress.
Be with supporting, comforting people.
Do what is right for you during the holidays. Focus on what you want to do, not what other want or expect you to do.
Embrace your treasured memories. After the death of a loved one, memories are the best legacies that exist. Treasure them, donโt ignore them. Feel your feelings.
โCome to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.ย Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.ย For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.โ
Matthew 11:28-30
Resources
Kessler, David. (2019). Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief. ISBN13: 9781501192746
Living Observance Blog. (January 1, 2021). The New Model of Grief.
The Holy Bible. (2011), Zondervan: Grand Rapids, MI.
Wolfelt, PhD., A.D. (N.D.) Helping yourself heal during the holiday season. Concerns of Police
Survivors.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read all the stories from my friends this month. I hope you enjoyed them and learned from them as I have done. May the Lord bless you in this coming New Year!
Today’s post is from my friend Cherrilynn Bisbano. She is part of my weekly Christmas posts. Her story is precious and amazing. It is truly a story of God’s love for us–working through a child. Please enjoy her story!
Merry Christmas!
Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who hope in the LORD.
Psalm 31:24
“Your son saved my life,” my friend whispered to me after the church service.
A few days earlier we were at a Christmas Dinner together and my then eight-year-old son ran to her and gave her a big hug. Bonnie welcomed his interruption. I was curious why he clung to my friend because he did not hug strangers. Bonnie held tight. I deduced it was because I was standing with her and, after all, it was Christmas.
“What do you mean, my son saved your life?” I touched her arm.
My friend shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “Remember the party when your son ran hugged me?”
“Yes. Is that the first time you met him?”
Placing her hand on top of the table to steady herself, she shared.
“Yes, that was the first time. My life is horribleโmy daughter and grandchildren don’t want me around for Christmas, and I am devastated. I was seriously thinking of ending it all. When your son hugged me, I felt the love of Jesus. I knew I would be OK. He truly saved my life”
I was speechless. We hugged, cried, and parted ways.
While driving home, I asked my son if he had met my friend before.
“No mommy, I like her; she is nice.”
“So, Michael, why did you run to hug her? I know you don’t hug people unless you know them?”
“Oh Mommy, God told me to do it!”
Tears of joy wet my cheeks as I praised God for my son’s courage.
The angel Gabriel interrupted Mary’s wedding preparation. He told her not to fear. He proclaimed she would conceive the Messiah.
“The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.”
Luke 1:30 NASB
Mary’s Courage
She revealed courage when she declared,
“Behold, the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.”
She did not question the angel about the consequences of her holy pregnancy. The results could have lifelong ramifications if no one believed her. Her marriage could end, and people would have labeled her an adulterer and a liar.
Bravery led Mary on a spectacular journey.
God calls us to be courageous. The word in the original language is: ‘amats confirm, be courageous of good courage, steadfastly minded, to prevail.
I learned from my son that listening to God and believing is life-changing.
What is God calling you to do today?
Take Courage.
Meet Cherrilynn Bisbano
Cherrilynn is an award-winning writer, speaker, and coach. She loves encouraging her brothers and sister to stand firm and shine for Jesus. She is an expert in Book Proposals and memoirs. Her book Shine Don’t Whine is helping many women overcome fear, anxiety, perfectionism, and worry. She considers it an honor to be published twice in Chicken Soup for the Soul-; Award-winning books, Kiss Guilt GoodBye, Heart Reno, Breaking the Chains, and Get to the Margins Author’s
Anthology. She is a monthly contributor to Arise Daily Devotions, Blue Ridge Writers Blog, and VineWords.net.
Cherrilynn proudly served in the military for twenty years, earning the John Levitow Military leadership award. She lives with her seventeen-year-old son, Michael, Jr., and husband of 23 years, Michael, Sr. She loves Christ, chocolate, coffee, and cats.
For the month of December, you will see more posts than usual in your email. This month I wanted to celebrate Christ’s birth by getting some friends to share a story or posts this month.
I have six guest posts for the month of December. I hope you enjoy their stories as much as I did.
This week’s post is from Sharon Beth Brani. She writes a beautiful story of adoption–after many years of waiting for a child, she gets a Christmas miracle. Please enjoy her story.
The Wait
I spun the globe as I sat on the living room rug. โWhere do you want to go?โ the social worker had asked.
The question puzzled me. Where? After many, many years of longing to hold my own sweet-smelling baby, it almost seemed foolish to think about. A broken marriage and, along with it, dashed dreams of that happy family. Where? That wasnโt the question. It was more if God would choose to bless me. Up till now, the answer had been no.
โLord, Iโm willing to go anywhere,โ I whispered aloud. With that, the adoption wheels rolled and now I was sitting in a small room upstairs in the Russian orphanage with three other couples. Waiting. Longing. Simply.
The clock ticked slowly on this Christmas Eve.
My thoughts wandered back to my family in the states. I knew they were praying for me as I completed the adoption of my 6-month-old daughter. The tension was great. We waited for the signal to quietly get our little ones and slip them out of the orphanage into the frigid coldโwaiting to catch the overnight train back to Moscowโwaiting to get everything completed so we could bring our children home.
On this Christmas Eve many years ago, the waiting was painfulโthe longing even more so. Would disappointment win again?
The clock ticked slowly, and I watched as the hands moved to 11:00 pm. When would they give the signal? Would this be the Christmas Iโd remember for always?
ย ย ย Many years ago, Jesus was born into this dark and hurting world. He came. Quietly. Simply. While the world slept, all the angels sang, โGlory to God in the Highest.โ The long waiting was over โ Hope was fulfilled.
ย ย Many years ago, Jesus was born into this dark and hurting world. He came. Quietly. Simply. While the world slept, all the angels sang, โGlory to God in the Highest.โ The long waiting was over โ Hope was fulfilled. #ThisSideofHeaven #SharonBethBrani #LongExpectedHopeFulfilled
I rubbed my hands together and caught the anxious eyes of another mom-to-be. We were all tense.
Suddenly, the door opened, and the Russian facilitator gave a simple nod. My heart jumped.
Joseph knew when it was time. He never forgot it.
Mary knew and leaned in with all her trust in her Lord.
And I knew.
I followed the others up the darkened steps to the baby room. Then the nurse stepped out into the hall and put the warm, sleepy body of my baby girl in my arms. Quickly, I removed her Russian clothes and dressed her in a new pink traveling outfit. Wrapping her in a soft pink blanket, I picked her up and walked down the hallway to the door. The door that led to life. And love. And a whole new world.
The cold hit my face as I carefully walked down the steps into the night. And my heart kept saying, โThank you, God. Thank you for this amazing gift. Glory to God.โ
Suddenly, the wonder of what was happening filled my soul, and I glanced heavenward. It seemed at that moment as if I was all alone with God. Snowflakes circled me and pure joy overcame my soul.
ย ย ย Then I heard the softest sound that seemed like music. I listened carefully as more snowflakes fell around me. Then I heard it again. It seemed like the sound of angels singing. Once more, God had broken into the darkness, giving hope. A hope that would forevermore change not only my life but the lives of many around the world. My heart overflowed and still does with the wonder of His faithfulness and forever love.
Meet Sharon Beth Brani
Sharon Brani is a licensed professional counselor in the state of Virginia, a Board Certified Coach, an educator, published freelance writer, and speaker whose life is committed to helping people discover the way life is meant to be.
She gets excited teaching people how to develop a greater sense of purpose, peace, and passion in their lives.
Sharon is the mother of two daughters whom she adopted from Russia. As a nurturer, she is well equipped to coach parents at every stage of the adoption process. Her personal experience as a single parent as well as her career as a teacher for over twenty years gives her a rich foundation from which to counsel, coach, and consult.
For the month of December, you will see more posts than usual in your email. This month I wanted to celebrate Christ’s birth by getting some friends to share a story or posts this month.
I have six guest posts for the month of December. I hope you enjoy their stories as much as I did.
Whitney Ward’s story is touching and supernatural. Do you believe you have met an angel? Read her story!
My eyes opened in shock as the tube in my nose gave my body the oxygen it so desperately lacked. I immediately noticed the eight doctors and nurses crammed into my tiny hospital room. โWhatโs my hemoglobin?โ I asked in a hoarse whisper.
My mother leaned close and caressed my brow. โYou remember a few years ago when your hemoglobin was 4.8, and you were really sick? Well, itโs kind of like that now.โ
Nightmare in the ICU
I suffered from rare autoimmune and immune diseases, so battling a low hemoglobin blood count was a hurdle I jumped over many times. A normal hemoglobin range is between 11 to 14. Itโs the part of the blood that carries the oxygen throughout the body and to the brain, so when itโs low the body isnโt getting the oxygen it needs to function and in extreme cases, the mind canโt remain lucid.
Even in my sickly state, I saw the hopelessness in the medical professionalsโ eyes. I was aware of their nervous glances.
I understood for the past two hours I was locked inside my body, unable to speak, incapable of doing anything but stare.
The deafening silence of the doctors and nurses gave me the real answer: This was nothing like the time when my hemoglobin dropped to 4.8 โ it was worse.
โDo you know your name?โ the ICU attending compassionately asked to see if I remembered my identity.
I shook my head, โItโs Whitney.โ
โWhere are you?โ The doctor wanted to see if I was in touch with reality.
โIโm on the Hemoc floor.โ
โWhat day is it?โ Was my sense of time still intact?
โItโs Tuesday night.โ
I answered the questions correctly, but the test I just aced didnโt change the nightmare we were all living: My hemoglobin had dropped to 2.8 and I was fighting for my life.
The ICU staff rushed me to their unit. On the way, the specialists prepared my parents for what lay ahead. I would have to receive several units of blood, the IV treatment I took every six months, and an antibiotic. I had never taken this antibiotic before and it commonly causes an allergic reaction where a personโs whole body turns red.
They warned my parents it was imperative I didnโt experience any reactions to the treatments they were administering because my body could take no more trauma.
This news devastated my parents because they were painfully aware I had always had an allergic reaction during blood transfusions and to my IV treatmentโso how would I survive?
The Angel in the Waiting Room
The staff directed my father and mother to the waiting room while they took me to a room to be hooked up to machines. The only other person in the waiting room was a man sitting at a computer. This was unusual because the ICU was maxed to capacity with patients. My parents were very familiar with waiting rooms, so they knew there should have been more family members holding vigil for their loved ones.
Sitting down, they took advantage of a nearly empty waiting room and began calling family and friends, asking them to touch Heaven on my behalf.
As my mother talked to one of her dear friends and shared the heartbreaking details, she began sobbing. My father took the phone from her to finish explaining the dire situation.
Suddenly, the man got up from the computer and walked across the room to my mother.
โWhatโs the childโs name?โ he asked compassionately.
My mother stared into the clearest and bluest eyes she had ever seen. โItโs Whitney.โ
โOkay, Iโll put her on The Prayer Chain.โ Then he turned around, walked out of the waiting room, and my parents never saw him again.
He didnโt say Iโll put her on my churchโs prayer chain or Iโll let my pastor knowโhe said The Prayer Chain.
The next night, the ICU waiting room was completely full.
Living Life to the Fullest
My parents are convinced the man was an angel sent from God. For the first time in my life, right after he left, I did not have a single reaction to my treatment, transfusions, nor did my body turn red from the new antibiotic. My body did a complete 180, and I got better quicker than any of my doctors thought medically possible.
They admitted me into the hospital on Monday, December 19th, 2011, and I got to come home on Saturday, December 24th, 2011 โ The best Christmas gift ever.
Two weeks later, I went back to college to finish my degree, and in May 2012; I graduated with a Bachelorโs in creative writing.
Looking back at that Christmas seven-ten years ago, I marvel at the timing and pieces God intricately sewed together during that week so I could remain on this earth. #WhitneyWard #ThisSideofHeaven #AnAngelinWaiting #ChristmasMiracle
Looking back at that Christmas seven-ten years ago, I marvel at the timing and pieces God intricately sewed together during that week so I could remain on this earth.
The best part of the story, though?
God placed His healing hand on my diseased body, and I went from fighting for my life to living life to the fullest.
I never have doubted when the miraculous turnaround happened in my bodyโThe minute the kind man told my mother he would put my name onย The Prayer Chain.ย Not everyone gets to attend to angels unaware, but Iโm so thankful God gave my parents and me the peace and assurance we needed in our darkest hour through an angel in the waiting room.
Meet Whitney:
Whitney Ward
Whitney Ward is a public speaker and writer who seeks to encourage her audiences to overcome their circumstances. As someone who has a disability, it is her wish to give hope to others with illness so they will persevere and scale every mountain they face.
For the month of December, you will see more posts than usual in your email. This month I wanted to celebrate Christ’s birth by getting some friends to share a story or posts this month.
I have six guest posts for the month of December. Not all of their stories are happy, because we know that bad things can still happen around the holidays. We must all be aware that some people are hurting during Christmas. I hope all of these posts speak to you in different ways.
The second post for December is from Betty Kulich.
As we approach this Advent season and the lighting of the Advent Candles, it reminds us of the Christmas Story, the birth of our Savior, and Jesus Christ. The very first candle is the Hope candle. It reminds us of the provisions for eternal life we gain by making Jesus our Lord.
But what about hope for the current season we are dealing with? What if you need hope in a current troubling or trying circumstance? Is there a provision of hope for now?
In the week leading up to Thanksgiving and the beginning of family celebrations, I needed a fresh supply of hope and a deeper depth to my faith storehouseโnot for eternal life, but for hope in a serious family crisis right now. My 47-year-old daughter had a massive stroke that left her unable to function as a mother and nurse. Unfortunately, being alone at home, she wasnโt found until dinner time, long after the window for the miracle shot that reduces the strokeโs effects.
What was her future going to be? How would this crisis forever change the family dynamics? My daughter has four children; a single young adult struggling to make it on his own, a senior in pre-med at university feeling the stress of good grades and upcoming exams, a sophomore in high school trying to find his adult identity and a second grader who is the center of the household. All of them need a healthy mom. I needed hope that going forward life could be good for my daughter and family.
Hope that is an anchor
โWe have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.โ
Hebrews 6:19 (NKJV)
Jesus is my Lord, and He is my daily peace. But now. I needed more than just peace. Jesus was the only one who could give me a hopeful future for my daughter and family–an anchor in this life storm and sea of unknown outcomes. I needed Jesus to be big for a big situation. My soul needed firm and secure hope.
I needed Jesus to be big for a big situation. My soul needed firm and secure hope. #BettyKulich #Hope #HopethatSeesUsThrough #Christmastime #ThisSideofHeaven
The emotions of a motherโs heart for her helpless, hurting child threaten to become a raging storm filled with waves of grief, winds of torment and flashes illuminating scary glimpses of possible crippling aftereffects. My firm foundation was suddenly quaking, shaking, and swaying like a magnitude seven earthquake.
The future hopes were crumbling even as they rushed her down for a head scan while doctors spoke of brain swelling and emergency surgery. Scriptures had to become a reality at a level I never needed before. My hope had to become anchored and tethered, my faith firm and secure.
Looking for the Glorious Hope
โThis same grace teaches us how to live each dayโฆ and it equips us to live self-controlled, upright, godly lives in this present age.For we continue to wait for the fulfillment of our hope inโฆ our great God and Savior, Jesus.โ
Titus 2:12 -13 (TPT)
I cried out to Jesus to be the Rock that securely anchored my emotions, so I could weather this storm. Immediately, I felt a fresh new installment of faith, peace, and hope come, firmly securing my thoughts and emotions.
Self-control arose when all I wanted was to collapse into a puddle of tears. Where I was weak and wanting someone to comfort me, Jesus comforted the four grandchildren through me. Hope pushed back the darkness, bringing calmness and rays of glorious hope for life from this death of future dreams.
Hope Has a Name
โLord, the only thing I can do is wait and put my hope in you. I wait for your help, my God.โ
Psalm 38:15 (TPT)
There is a song titled Hope Has a Name.
โOn mountains high and valleys low, my soul will rest, my confidence, in You alone. Hope has a name; His name is Jesus.โ
Hope Has a Name
My hope and that of the family came to rest on Jesus Christ and what He will do in the days ahead. He alone can become our needed emotional strength, uniquely tailored for each of us. Only He could keep her brain from swelling necessitating a dangerous surgery. Additionally, I knew only Jesus could fix her body, creating pathways of blood flow and nerves so she could regain her ability to walk and use her arm and hand. Only Jesus, as the Creator of her body, could heal her.
Through this valley of the shadow of death, we could all pass, guided by Jesus, our Rock and Hope. Now this Christmas I will sing O Holy Night with a new understanding of โa thrill of hope, my weary soul rejoices.โ
Hope will see me through the unknown days ahead. Hope is Jesus, and He is enough.
Meet Betty Kulich:
She is an ordained pastor and serves as an Associate Pastor, alongside her husband at the Redeemerโs church, Columbus, Ohio.ย ย Married for 49 years, she has one daughter and four grandchildren. In addition to her responsibilities at the church, Betty serves as the Womenโs Ministry Director for Harvest Preparation International Ministries of Sarasota, Florida for Mexico & Central America.ย ย Winner of the 2021 CIPA Book Award for General Fiction and Winner of the 2020 Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award, she hosts short vlogs on Facebook called โLife Outside the Pagesโ.
For the month of December, you will see more posts than usual in your email. This month I wanted to celebrate Christ’s birth by getting some friends to share a story or posts this month.
I have six guest posts for the month of December. I hope you enjoy their stories as much as I did.
The first is Alexis Wohler. I hope you enjoy her post on focusing on Christ at CHRISTmas.
Christmas isn’t about buying gifts, seeing Santa, or putting up beautiful decorations to make your house look festive. It’s all about spending time with your friends and family and celebrating the true reason for the season- Jesus and His birth.
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:14 NIV
Where’s your focus?
Our focus should not be on giving and buying gifts to impress the people we love. Our focus should be on sharing God’s love with the people around us. We can tell our kids the story of Jesus’ birth and how He was born in a manger and came to save us all. We should help the most important people in our lives realize that Jesus’ birth is the true reason to celebrate.
Jesus came to save all the world from sin, death, and the power of the devil. He is the main reason why we celebrate Christmas every year. @AlexisWohler #FocusingonChristatChristmas #Christmastime #ThisSideofHeaven
Our Father wants us to enjoy the time with our family and friends–not rushing back and forth trying to get the ingredients for the perfect meal or stressing ourselves out by trying to get every gift correct for each person. Rather, He wants us to be still in His presence and to be present with everyone we love on the holidays. He wants us to enjoy the holidays, not dread them every year.
We can embrace Christmas for what it really is, an amazing gift given to us by God. What an honor it is for us to celebrate Jesus’ birthday every year and to know what He came down to earth to do for us. We can thank Him for His love, devotion, and care for us every year. It is a privilege to gather with our loved ones, year after year, and be given another year of life.
Thankfulness
There is so much to be thankful for each and every day, but especially on Christmas.
Thanking God for the ability to breathe, see, walk, and talk.
We can also thank God for giving us another day of life to be His witnesses to the next generation.
No matter what happens, we can continually thank God for another day and another year of life to celebrate His goodness in our lives by concentrating on Him all year round, not just when Christmas comes around. There is nothing more precious than family and there is no one who is more worth celebrating than Jesus. Let’s learn to celebrate Him and be grateful all year round, especially during this holiday season.
Lord, please help us focus on you and the gifts that you have given us. Help us remember you are the reason for the season. Thank you for everything that you have given us another year to celebrate with our friends and family.
Meet Alexis Wohler
Alexis Wohler
She is a Christian writer with six years of experience. Alexis loves to talk to God in prayer and reading devotionals. She writes features, interviews, editorials, opinions, blogs, and devotionals. Alexis loves singing, watching her favorite movies and TV shows, and spending time with her family and friends.
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christโby grace, you have been savedโ and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus…
Ephesians 2:4-6 ESV
Have you ever had a dream about Heaven? Do you think about what it will be like? With all the bad news we have had in the last year and a half, we need some good news. What could be better than being in the heavenly places? Nothing!
When Jesus taught about the Kingdom of Heaven or Kingdom of God here on earth, He was referring to the Kingdom being in our hearts. The only way to experience the Kingdom of God is to know His Son. I believe Paul, in Ephesians, was basically speaking of the same thing as Jesus but referred to it as the Heavenly Places.
In this two-part series, we will first look at the “Heavenly places” and next week we will discuss the New Heaven and Earth.
I love the above verse in Ephesians 2. Only Ephesians uses the phrase “In the heavenly places.” We will discuss all five times Paul used it in Ephesians and what it means to us.
Blessings
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 1:3 ESV
The phrase “In the Heavenly places/realms” is unique to Ephesians. It is the Greek phrase แผฮฝ ฯฮฟแฟฯ แผฯฮฟฯ ฯฮฑฮฝฮฏฮฟฮนฯ or epourรกnios meaning, heavenly, referring to the impact of heaven’s influence on the particular situation or person.
In the Ephesians 1:3 passage, God gives all our blessings, including our gifts and talents to us through Jesus from the heavenly places. The heavenly places are our source of spiritual blessings.
Above allRulers and Authorities
And what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe… that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
Ephesians 1:19-21 ESV
God seated Jesus in the heavenly places long before time began. HE is far above every name, king, president, power, authority, or demonic ruler on earth in every generation–past, present, and future. The heavenly places are a place of all authority and power.
The heavenly places are a place of all authority and power. #ThisSideofHeaven #TheHeavenlyPlaces #Biblestudy
But God…made us alive together with Christโby grace you have been savedโ and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
Ephesians 2:4-6
God seated us with Jesus. As He sat Jesus in the heavenly places, God has seated us as believers and followers of His Son, with Him as well. How can we be seated with Jesus in the heavenly places when we are still very much a part of this world? Like the Kingdom of Heaven, it is in our hearts.
We live where the natural and the spiritual intersect. The Holy Spirit comes to live in us when we repent of our sins and accept Jesus as our Savior. We are now in direct communion with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Jesus told us in John 15 when we abide with Him, He abides with us; and Hebrews 4 tells us we can approach God’s throne and receive mercy and find grace…
How do we approach God’s throne? How do we abide in Jesus? By being in a relationship with Him. We pray and read God’s Word; we tell Him what we are thinking, how we feel (the good, the bad, and the ugly) what we need and desire. We talk to Him. We depend on Him. We seek Him.
My good friend, J.D. Wininger has a great relationship with the Lord. God talks to him. They have conversations–many of which he records on his blog Around the Cross-Dubya (https://jdwininger.com/). I believe this is what Jesus meant by “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
How often do we talk to God–just to talk? Not wanting anything but to know Him better? He seats us with Him (spiritually) to have a relationship with us. Someday we will see Him face to face!
The heavenly places are a place where we are raised and seated together.
The Church
So that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
Ephesian 3:10 ESV
Through the Church, or community of believers both Messianic and Christian, God’s wisdom is made known to all. As the Church, we are to spread the Gospel of Christ and God’s love, mercy, and grace to all. We display this to all rulers and authorities both spiritual and human. The Church is a witness to all rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
The Church is a witness to all rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. #ThisSideofHeaven #IntheHeavenlyPlaces
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:12 ESV
Without the Kingdom of God within us, we would have no power over the forces of darkness. Only with the power from the heavenly places where we are seated with Jesus Christ our LORD, can we fight these battles in His Name.
Before Jesus, people had little if any power over the spiritual realm. They were captives in prisons and bondage to satan and spiritual principalities. Jesus freed them–by showing His power over the demonic forces and death. With the power of the Holy Spirit within us, God gave us this power as well.
Unfortunately, we don’t always recognize it or use it because we lack belief in the power within us. We fight demonic and spiritual forces in the heavenly places.
We fight demonic and spiritual forces in the heavenly places. #IntheHeavenlyPlaces #ThisSideofHeaven
Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”
John 14:12-14 ESV
What is the stipulation in the verses above? That the Father may be glorified! We don’t ask to glorify ourselves but God through the Son. Use the power God has given you to glorify Him.
God has seated you with Christ and blessed you with everything you need for this life–all your giftings and talents come from Him to use for Him.
Today, I have guest blogger–Penny Cooke. She is an author, Certified Biblical Life Coach, and has been a womenโs ministry leader for over 25 years. Her passion is to encourage and equip women with the Word of God and see them empowered by His Spirit through prayer for this battle we call life. I met her at a writers conference a couple of years ago when she won an award for her book, Pursuing Prayer—Being Effective in a Busy World.
I will include her social media links and the Amazon link to her award-winning book on pursuing prayer. Please enjoy her post today!
Pray then like thisโฆ Matthew 6:9
Do you ever find it difficult to pray, find the time to pray, or know what to pray? Do you know people who seem to pray all the time? Who has time to pray like that when thereโs so much else to do? Shouldnโt we just be able to pray once and see results? It all seems so mysterious.
Jesusโ disciples must have wondered some of those things too, because they asked Him, โTeach us to pray.โ In response, He gave them what is called, โThe Lordโs Prayerโ (Matthew 6:9-13). Did He give us this prayer to recite, one and done? I donโt believe so. Besides, He had just told them not to recite vain repetitions (v.7 NKJV).
The Lordโs Prayer is beautiful, but I think thereโs more to it than we grasp when we recite it. Perhaps Jesus wasnโt teaching us a prayer, but how to pray โ the elements to include in prayer. What are those elements and why are they important to us today? The book, Pursuing Prayer โ Being Effective in a Busy World, teaches those elements using an acrostic for prayer. Here is a brief overview of that acrostic:
P โ Proactively Pursue Prayer
Jesus left us an example of intentionally getting away from it all to pray (Mark 1:35, Luke 5:16, 6:12, 9:28). Scripture urges us repeatedly to proactively pursue prayer (Matthew 26:41, Luke 18:1, Ephesians 6:18, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, and 1 Timothy 2:1).
In todayโs busyness, we need to be proactive about a lot of things if weโre going to get everything done. It is no different with prayer. And if we have so much to do, shouldnโt prayer be on the top of our list?
Jesus told them, โPray then like thisโฆโ
In todayโs busyness, we need to be proactive about a lot of things if weโre going to get everything done. It is no different with prayer. @penny_cooke #PursuingPrayer #ThisSideofHeaven
Jesus began His prayer with worship, โHallowed by thy name.โ Worship helps us remember who God is and what He has done for us. It builds our faith and also our faithfulness. God repeatedly warned Israel, โโฆbeware, lest you forget the LORDโฆโ and โโฆyou shall remember well what the LORD your God didโฆโ (Deuteronomy 6:12, 7:18)
Psalm 100:4 tells us, โEnter into His gates with thanksgivingโฆโ Remembering generates thankfulness and thankfulness produces worship.
A โ Acknowledge Sin
This is the โforgive us our debtsโ piece of the Lordโs Prayer. This does not suggest a brief and general, โForgive my sins,โ but a time to acknowledge and confess specific sins in our lives, and to repent. To repent is to adjust our lives to the ways of God.
Confession is a vital part of prayer, which is often overlooked when we pray short, on-the-go prayers. David recognized, โIf I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hearโ (Psalm 66:28).
Y โ Yield to His Will
This covers the โYour Will be doneโ part of the Lordโs Prayer.
To yield is to submit, to surrender or relinquish control and trust Him whose ways are best. When we pray this part of the Lordโs Prayer, we welcome His will and His kingdom into our lives. It is to, โSeek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousnessโฆโ Then the promise: โโฆall these things shall be added to youโ (Matthew 6:33).
E โ Enjoy His Daily Bread
Praying for daily bread is about knowing where our provision comes from and trusting God to provide. It is to have faith that He will do what He said He will do, pertaining to daily bread or any other promise He has made to us (John 14:14).
Ultimately, God longs to give us Himself. He gives us Himself through Jesus, the Bread of Life. He provides daily physical bread for our physical life, but He also provides daily spiritual bread for our spiritual life.
R โ Rest in the Waiting
We want quick, instant everything nowadays. We expect things to happen now, and weโre always in a rush. Weโd do well to hurry up and slow down.
God is never in a hurry. He sees the end from the beginning and knows exactly what and when things need to be done for our prayers to be answered. And He is much too concerned for our spiritual wellbeing to give us anything one minute before its time.
When we trust and wait patiently with thanksgiving, our anxiety is replaced with His peace. We can rest when Godโs peace guards our hearts and minds, no matter how long it takes our prayers to come to fruition (Philippians 4:6-7).
When we trust and wait patiently with thanksgiving, our anxiety is replaced with His peace. @penny_cooke #PursuingPrayer #ThisSideofHeaven
How much more effective do you think our prayers could be if we proactively prayed this way more often? Thatโs not to say there arenโt times when all we can squeeze out is a weak, โHelp me, Lord.โ Iโve certainly had those times, and Iโm sure you have too. I assure you, He hears those prayers. Psalm 34:18 (ESV) tells us, โThe Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.โ
But in general, when you look at our world today, wouldnโt you say we need more prayer, not less? How do you think our families, our country, and our world could be changed if more of us prayed more like this more often?
โThe effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.โ James 5:16b NKJV
Would you like to enrich your prayer life? Would you like more power and more answered prayer? Pennyโs Six-week Bible study, Pursuing Prayer โ Being Effective in a Busy World is ideal for group or personal use. Pursuing Prayer uses the acrostic for prayer to help us understand more deeply what Jesus taught when He gave us The Lordโs Prayer and how important its elements are in our prayer lives today. This book will inspire and motivate us to more fervent and effective prayer.
Find out more at https://www.pennycookeauthor.com where you can download Pennyโs FREE ebook, Pursuing Prayer Devotion and Coloring Page.
Penny is the author of Pursuing Prayer โ Being Effective in a Busy World, a multi-award-winning Bible study (New Hope Publishers, 2019), most recently a First Place 2020 Selah award (Bible Study category). She has been a contributor to Heart Renovation โ A Construction Guide to Godly Character (Lighthouse Bible Studies, 2018), and Let the Earth Rejoice devotional (Worthy Inspired, 2017). She has written for CBN.com and Thoughts-About-God.com and has been a columnist for Blessed Living Womenโs E-Magazine. She also enjoys blogging about things of life and faith at pennycookeauthor.com.
Penny and her husband live in Florida and have three grown children and seven grandchildren.ย
If you were expected to bring an offering to God like Cain and Abel were, what do you think your offering or gift to God wouldโve looked like?
Would the offering have been the most beautiful flowers from your flower garden, or vegetables from your vegetable garden, or maybe the most perfect animal you raised? Have you ever thought about why God had a problem with Cainโs offering in Genesis 4? Why did He react one way towards Abel’s gift and the opposite towards Cain’s? What was different about the offerings?
The Offering
We read in Genesis 4:3-5 ESV:
In the course of time, Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering, he had no regard.
Genesis 4:3-5 ESV
In the Hebrew language, like other languages other than English, there are masculine and feminine pronouns.
In the verse above, the pronoun his is masculine because it is Abelโs flock, but the pronoun their is feminine because Abelโs flockโs fat portion was from a female lamb or goat.
Why does that matter?
My husband and I have raised both sheep and goats. When they are pregnant, we hope for female offspring because we can either breed them one day for more lambs or kids or sell them as breeders to another farm.
Unfortunately, you donโt need a lot of male offspring on a farm. They end up fighting over the girls and get aggressive towards the humans. Farmers need a few males for breeding, but other than that, they have no other purposes except for food. In the time of the Temple sacrifices, God allowed the Jewish people to bring their male animals to be sacrificedโฆbulls, bucks, and rams. They kept their females to grow their herd.
The Sacrifice
However, sometimes you can have a half dozen animals give birth and have more than half born male. This is not what we hope forโฆit thrills us to see little girls being born, but too many boys, and we know we must castrate them to sell them for pets or they will be food. Abel brought God a female sheep or goat offering. This was a genuine sacrifice. He gave God a perfect lamb or kid that would have been an excellent breeder for him. God knew his offering was good.
For this reason, I believe Cainโs offering was not a true sacrifice. He sees Godโs displeasure with it and becomes angry.
So, Cain was very angry, and his face fell. The Lord said to Cain, โWhy are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.โ
Genesis 4:5-7 ESV
Freedom from Strongholds
At the end of verse 7, we see two pronounsโits and it. The word Its is feminineโthe word sin is feminine in Hebrew. Sinโs desire is to control Cain. The pronoun It is masculine. The word angry is masculine. That it is referring to Cain’s anger.
God told Cain to rule over his anger, not his sin. Sin is always waiting for an opportunity to use our emotions against us. We may not always be able to control sin, but sin will control us through our anger or jealousy if we do not control it.
God gave us His Son, the Perfect sacrifice, whose blood can free us from the power of strongholds of anger, lust, fear, rage, and rejection to name a few. Freedom comes when we ask for it.
God gave us His Son, the Perfect sacrifice, whose blood can free us from the power of strongholds of anger, lust, fear, rage, and rejection. Freedom comes when we ask for it. #ThisSideofHeaven #TheOffering #Biblestudy #Devotion
Like Cain, God does not want our strongholds to rule over us. He made a Way so they wouldn’t.
Let go of the strongholds that hold you captive and allow sin to crouch at your door. Ask Jesus for freedom, fall out of agreement with satan and his lies, and forgive those you need to forgive (especially if they don’t deserve it).
Dear Heavenly Father, we ask you to help us forgive those who have wronged us. Help us let go of the pain, wounds, and anger we hold on to with our unforgiveness. Free us from our hurt and strongholds that open doors to sin. Forgive us as we forgive others. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
After four months of dating, my then, boyfriend, got all our friends together and planned a three-day cruise. There were eight of us total, four guys and four girls โ two rooms (one for the guys and one for the girls). Then off we went to the Bahamas. We had a great time together. On the last night of our cruise there was a formal dinner with great food, friends, and fun.
At the end of the night, my boyfriend, Mike, took me to the top deck overlooking Nassau (the port city of the Bahamas). It was a beautiful star-filled night with the lights of the ship and the city reflecting on the water. As we looked toward the beautiful city on the ocean, he knelt on one knee and ask me to be his wife.
I said, โYes!โ
He wanted to go get the captain and be married right then. But I resisted, knowing how upset my family would be if I did that.
We planned our wedding for six months later when our family and friends could be with us. Ten months after we started dating, we became Mr. and Mrs. Mike Pavlantos. We just had our twenty-ninth anniversary in April.
Has it always been easy and full of fun? Absolutely not.
Marriage can be hard. But God created the marriage to be a covenant. Even though many people experience the heartbreak of divorce, that is not what God intended.
God modeled the marriage covenant after His Son.
What does a covenant mean?
In the Bible, when two parties instituted a covenant between them, they took a fattened animal, the best of the flock or herd, and โcutโ it into two pieces. Then the two parties of the covenant would pass through the pieces symbolizing their dedication to the covenant and by this action are saying, โIf I do not hold to the agreements of this covenant, you can do to me what we did to this animal.โ (https://www.ancient-hebrew.org/definition/covenant.htm)
Pretty serious stuff, right? But, that is what the Father made with us through His Son.
A betrothal, is a marriage contract and it involves a covenant. The betrothal began with the father choosing a bride for his son, but the bride had to agree.
The Father has chosen us, too.
Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.
Ephesians 1:4 ESV
We must agree to our Betrothal as well.
The bridegroom and his father go to the house of this woman whom he has chosen to be his bride. The family knew he was coming, but it was the daughterโs decision to open the door. If she opened the door, they came in, had dinner, and ironed out the details of the marriage contract or Ketubah (the Jewish word for the contract).
If she had cold feet or decided she did not want him as her husband, she did not open the door and the two men left.
Hereโs how that looks in our Bibles:
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
Revelation 3:20 ESV
The Bridegroom comes to the door of our hearts and knocks. When we let Him in, it begins an amazing relationship that will challenge us to be holy. However, if we do not open the doorโHe leaves. That doesnโt mean He wonโt try again, but continually refusing to open the door leaves Jesus with little choice but to walk away.
However, the bride could back out of the betrothal at any time before the ceremony.
Jesus will never change His mind about wanting us as His Bride. But we can back out at any time. We can walk awayโas many have.
Jesus will never change His mind about wanting us as His Bride. But we can back out at any time. We can walk awayโas many have. #TheBetrothal #ThisSideofHeaven
During the betrothal process, the first thing the couple and their family do is drink the first of four glasses of wine together. The first cup represents servanthood. As they drink this cup, they vow to serve one another throughout their lives. This cup compares to the first cup of Passover.
While on this earth, Jesus shared three of the four cups of wine with his disciples during the Passover meal. The first cup is the Cup of Sanctification, representing a setting apart for God, serving Him only. Just as our new spouse wants all our affections and faithfulness, Jesus does too.
Jesus sets us apart for Him. Is that easy? No.
The world can ridicule us for being pure (holiness), for not using foul language, for not watching or listening to raunchy popular movies or music, or for not partying and getting drunk, which can make us feel, well, separatedโwanting to fit in.
But being set apart shows Godโs love for us. Staying pure and holy shows our love for Him.
When we are faithful to our spouse, no matter what, it shows our commitment and loyalty to them.
How are we unfaithful to the Lord?
With our idols…. humans have always had and will always have idolsโunless we acknowledge them and give them to Jesus. We need to ask Jesus to point out our idols so we deal with them.
I often need affirmation. There was a time when the Lord pointed out to me that my need to have people recognize what I was doing or writing was an idol. The Holy Spirit revealed to me His opinion and pleasing Him was all that mattered.
Our idols can be many things, but mainly whatever pulls and keeps our attention from the Lord. When we use food, alcohol, or anything else to self-medicate our hurts or failures, we make it an idol. When our spouse or children are more important than our relationship with the Lord, they become our idols.
A day or two before the wedding ceremony, the bridegroom comes back for his bride. But if he found she had been unfaithful; he could divorce her.
In our relationship with the Lord, He may find us unfaithful, but He is compassionate; He forgives our unfaithfulness even though He could cut us off forever. He requires one thing from us, though…repentance. Repentance is His gift to us.
Return, faithless Israel, declares the Lord; โI will not look upon you in anger. For I am gracious,โ declares the Lord; โI will not be angry forever. Only acknowledge your iniquity, That you have transgressed against the Lord your God.โ
Jeremiah 3:12-13 ESV
Jesus is our Bridegroom who longs to make us His Bride forever. Answer the door and let Him in.
My German shepherd, Mia, had surgery almost a month ago to remove a growth on her back foot. She injured it a couple of years ago by jumping our fence. She had a nasty wound that we cleaned and sprayed with an antibiotic and thought it had healed. However, after a year and a half, it grew into a mass. The vet checked it and told us if it kept growing to let him know.
Wounded
It grew and grew, so off to the vet, then to a surgeon.
On March 10th, we took her in to have it removed. The vet warned us the there would not be enough skin to suture it so she would have a large wound which we would have to keep very clean and bandaged.
Every three days, we took her back to the vet and had the bandages changed.
One night soon after surgery, I took her outside, and a cat ran past us–Mia took off after it. Despite her pain and bandage, her instincts took over, and she ran all over our four-and-a-half acres of property and into the creek which runs through it. I was mad at her, but madder at myself. I had not put the leash on her because she could hardly walk, and never in my wildest dreams thought she would run.
We had an appointment already made for two days later.
After the appointment, the vet told us Mia’s wound was infected.
It was ugly–bright red and inflamed. The vet removed more tissue to culture it for bacteria. Mia was in pain, too. I felt so bad for her.
The vet told us, if we did not act soon it would only get worse and move into the bone. From there it could mean amputation of the lower leg. Since Mia is a very active outside dog, who watches over our ducks and chickens, this would be devastating for her and us. (And because we love this dog…).
The vet removed her bandages for good so her wound could heal better. We also started laser treatments. She had three sessions, which were very short–about a minute long–but it helped a lot! After the first treatment, we saw a difference the next day. From their webpage, this is how it works:
K-Laser therapy targets damaged tissue with specific wavelengths of light. The light energy passes through the skin at the cellular level, initiating the bodyโs natural regenerative process. Laser therapy accelerates wound healing…
The only thing we could do was keep it clean, give her medication, and wait for her body’s immune system to take over and heal her foot. It was a waiting game.
She also had to wear an extra-large cone because she kept figuring out how to get out of them. She hates the cone!
Our entire house has centered around this dog of ours. The smaller bath near her dog bed became her personal clinic, storing everything she needs to keep her comfortable and well. It has been a month, but she is doing very well. So much so, I took her out today for about forty-five minutes on a leash.
We’ve all experienced wounds–whether from sports, accidents, or abnormal growths– and had to have a doctor or surgeon intervene in order for us to heal properly. It’s especially hard when it’s your child or pet going through something like this.
In this world, people wound us emotionally and spiritually as well. They hurt, betray, slander, bully, and abuse us. Sometimes those wounds are even more painful, taking even longer to heal than a physical wound.
In this world, people wound us emotionally and spiritually as well. They hurt, betray, slander, bully, and abuse us. Sometimes those wounds are even more painful, taking even longer to heal than a physical wound. #ThisSideofHeaven #Wounded #Mia
Our emotional wounds can last a lifetime. Our hearts become an open wound–ugly and inflamed. If something triggers a memory of our wounding, we react in anger or pain.
We try to medicate the pain with temporary fixes like food, alcohol, drugs, or one relationship after another. The problem is, it doesn’t help. The infection goes deeper…it can even make us physically sick.
Forgiveness is kind of like the laser the vet used to promote healing in Mia’s foot. It penetrates damaged hearts and souls with light–the Light of Jesus.
Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
Isaiah 58:8 ESV
We are not condoning the injustice someone did to us when we forgive. But, we free ourselves from the prison and the damage it is causing.
We are not condoning the injustice someone did to us when we forgive. But, we free ourselves from the prison and the damage it is causing. #ThisSideofHeaven #Wounded
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:31-32 ESV
Forgiveness allows the healing power of Jesus to restore and regenerate you. Let go of the hurt and the reruns that play in your mind and let the power of Jesus heal your heart and soul as you forgive those who have wounded you.
Mia outside on Tuesday. She had a red bandana around her wounded leg while we were out.
Growing up, I loved Easter Sunday. We dressed in our new dresses, ate the candy from our Easter basket, went to church, and spent the day with family eating a lot of food.
I grew up hearing the same story every year of Jesus’ crucifixion, death, and resurrection. I’m not sure how much it meant to me until I was out of college.
I remember hearing a song called Watch the Lamb by Ray Boltz in the late 1990s. It was an amazing song, which helped me put myself in that moment. (Here’s the video https://youtu.be/UNT1AThOgME)
I heard little about the Jewish feasts, the Passover Lamb, and the Jewishness of Jesus in church. So, I began reading and seeking people who could fill in the gaps in my understanding.
The Lamb of God
Years ago, while reading the first chapter of John, I heard the Holy Spirit speak to me about the passage. That passage was John 1:35-36.
The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples,and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, โBehold, the Lamb of God!โ
John 1:35-36
Suddenly, the Holy Spirit helped me understand that John prophesied about Jesus. John could not have known without the Holy Spirit that Jesus was the Lamb of God.
Many years later, I heard a familiar story from Genesis explained in a way I had never heard. Genesis 22 recounts the story of Abraham taking Isaac to Mt. Moriah to sacrifice him. In Genesis 22:7, Isaac wanted to know where the lamb for the sacrifice was. Abraham told him, โGod will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.โ
In Genesis 22:11, an angel stopped Abraham from killing his son. When Abraham looked up toward the land, he saw a ram caught in the bushes by its horns. This ram became the sacrifice.
Why does this matter?
Rabbis and priests read this story to thousands of people every year. The Hebrew words lamb (seh) and ram (ayil) are very different and do not rhyme like they do in English. As a result, once the people heard how Abraham said the LORD would provide a lamb, the Jewish people waited for a lamb–a type of Joseph or a suffering Messiah. As John pointed to Jesus and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God” he was letting his disciples know this was the Lamb they were waiting for.
Passover
On the tenth day of Nisan, also known as the Day of the Lambs, before the Passover feast, the Jews brought an unblemished lamb into their houses. They cared for the lamb until they took it to the priest for slaughter on the fourteenth day of Nisan at the ninth hour or three o’clock in the afternoon. The Levites hung the slain lambs on a hook with their forearms stretched out like a crucifixion and skinned them. They called this the day of preparation. The Passover started at 5:30 pm or sundown (the 14th of Nisan).
Before Passover, the priests hung the slain lambs on a hook with their forearms stretched out like a crucifixion and skinned them. They called this the day of preparation. #ThePassoverLamb #ThisSideofHeaven
You already know that the Sabbath or Shabbat takes place every week from sundown on Friday until sundown on Saturday. The Jews also had other Shabbats. The first day of the Passover feast was a Shabbat. There were six additional Shabbat days, each one of which occurred on the day of each of the other six feasts. That created two Shabbats on each of the weeks having a feast, in addition to two preparation days, since no one worked on either of these Shabbat days.
The Triumphal Entry
Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!
Luke 19:38 ESV
We see in Luke 19, John 12, and Matthew 21, the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem on what would have been Sunday, the 10th of Nisan–the same day families took their lamb into their homes. The family tested the lamb to make sure it was free of blemish. That is exactly what we find in Luke 20. The priests and scribes challenged Jesus’ authority as a way of testing Him.
On the day of preparation before the Passover Feast, Jewish families cleaned their houses to remove any traces of leaven or yeast. Of course, this represented sin.
After Jesus came into Jerusalem, He entered the Temple and cleansed it.
And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, โIt is written, โMy house shall be called a house of prayer,โ but you make it a den of robbers.โ
Matthew 21:12-13 ESV
The Last Supper
On the evening of the 13th of Nisan, Jesus sent His disciples to prepare the Passover for them.
Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, โGo and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it.โ 9 They said to him, โWhere will you have us prepare it?โ 10 He said to them, โBehold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters 11 and tell the master of the house, โThe Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?โ
Now, remember, the day began at sundown. On the 14th of Nisan, the following afternoon, they slaughtered the lamb.
The significance of the man carrying a jar of water is that he was an Essene. They were a certain sect of Judaism who wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls, who didn’t marry–hence they carried their water–and celebrated Passover the day before the Orthodox Jews.
Jesus would have celebrated Passover the day before all the other Jews because He was the Passover Lamb.
If you have never been to a Passover feast commonly called a Seder Meal, please do it sometime–it is so worth it, especially with a Messianic Rabbi leading it. It all points to Jesus the Messiah!
After Jesus washed His disciples’ feet, they went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. The soldiers arrested Jesus that night and took Him to Annas, first. They then took Him to the high priest where they questioned Him, and the soldiers mocked and beat Him.
At daybreak on the 14th of Nisan, they took Jesus before the assembly of elders, scribes, and the chief priest (Luke 22:66).
Then, they led Jesus to Pilate, His armed guards, who were Jewish, didn’t go into the governor’s headquarters because it would defile them, and they could not eat the Passover feast (John 18:28).
Of course, we know Pilate sentenced Jesus to death by crucifixion.
From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, โIf you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.โ 13 So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha. 14 Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, โBehold your King!โ 15 They cried out, โAway with him, away with him, crucify him!โ Pilate said to them, โShall I crucify your King?โ The chief priests answered, โWe have no king but Caesar.โ 16 So he delivered him over to them to be crucified.
John 19:12-16 ESV
As you can see from this verse, it is the eve or Preparation Day of Passover (Thursday, the 14th of Nisan about 12 pm).
The daily sacrifices would end soon about one or two o’clock in preparation of the slaughter of the Passover lambs.
It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour,45 while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, โFather, into your hands I commit my spirit!โ And having said this, he breathed his last.
Luke 23:44-46 ESV
Jesus died the ninth hour or about three pm, while the priests slaughtered and hung the Passover lambs on a hook with their front legs spread out as if crucified.
Jesus had to die on the cross at the very time the Passover lambs were being killed to be the Lamb of God. He is our unblemished, perfect Passover Lamb who took away the sins of the entire world with His precious blood.
Jesus had to die on a cross at the very time the Passover lambs were being killed to be the Lamb of God. He is our unblemished, perfect Passover Lamb who took away the sins of the entire world with His precious blood. #ThePassoverLamb #ThisSideofHeaven
Everything that happened during the Passover, Jesus fulfilled PERFECTLY! God is amazing.
He wanted His people to see the feast they kept for thousands of years was all about His Son. Yet some missed it.
Please don’t miss the precious gift God has given–His Son.
The Tomb
Since it was the day of Preparation [Thursday], and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. (Emphasis mine)
John 19:31 ESV
As I already said, Jesus died on the day of Preparation for the Passover. The Sabbath, mentioned in the above verse, is the first day of Unleavened Bread.
The Resurrection!
John tells us as Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, she saw two angels.
But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet.
John 20:11-12 ESV
Imagine, as Mary looked within the tomb at those two angels sitting there where Jesus had lain. She was told He was not there. He had risen! Hallelujah, Jesus arose on Sunday morning!
But, look at this.
In Exodus, God gave Moses directions to build the Ark of the Covenant and Mercy seat.
You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold…. 18 And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work shall you make them, on the two ends of the mercy seat. 19 Make one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the other end. Of one piece with the mercy seat shall you make the cherubim on its two ends. 20 The cherubim shall spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, their faces one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubim be.
Exodus 25:17-20 ESV
Can you imagine? God looked down through history to the day His Son would be laid in a tomb. He sees Him lay there for three days and three nights until His Resurrection. He sees Mary come to the tomb, the angels–God placed at each end–sitting there facing one another with their wings spread out over the place Jesus’ bloody body had been.
Then, He told Moses to build it.
The Bible is such an incredible book!
However, there is no One like our Savior, Jesus the Christ. He suffered and died a horrible death for you and me because He loves us. Take time this week to thank Him for all He has done and will do.
Remember, He was thinking of you and me on that cross.
For the past eight weeks, we have been looking into the Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount. The other day, I read Psalm 32 and noticed it begins with the same wording as Matthew 5.
Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
Psalm 32:1-2 ESV
While looking for a commentary about these verses, I came across an article from โWorking Preacherโ called The Pursuit of Happiness.
The Hebrew word, ashre, translates into Blessed are. The Working Preacher described it as Happiness isโฆ This is an interesting translation of the word. You can read it here.
What comes to mind when you hear happiness is?
I found these quotes during a quick online search:
Happiness is a warm puppy.
โฆhaving you in my life.
โฆbeing weird every now and then.
โฆthe privilege of friendship.
โฆletting go of your worries.
โฆ not out there, itโs in you.
What would you say happiness is? To me, happiness is laughing with my family.
The Bible is full of these Blessed are /Happiness is statements.
There are Beatitudes in Deuteronomy, Job, Jeremiah, Psalms, Revelation, and probably others.
Let’s look at a few other examples I found in the Bible, and my Happiness is interpretation below them.
Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.
Jeremiah 17:7 ESV
Happiness is the man who trusts in the Lordโฆ
Isn’t true happiness being able to fully trust in Someone? Knowing our Father will never lie, cheat, hurt, or disappoint us is a wonderful feeling. I was thinking the other day, if I truly believe God can not lie, then everything He has told me is truth. Everything He has promised He will do, because He has to–He. Can’t. Lie. Lying would go against His holy and perfect nature.
Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.
Job 5:17 NIV
Happiness is getting corrected by Godโฆ
This isn’t exactly a quote we would make into a poster and paste on our wall, right? No one really likes correction or discipline. However, I would prefer the Lord correct or discipline, me now, in this life, rather than in eternity. Hebrews 12:6 says, “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”
In addition, Hebrews 12:11 tells us, “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
A number of years ago, I developed a bad attitude with my pastor (Many others saw my poor attitude, as well). It didn’t seem to matter to him what I wanted to teach because he would either say he taught it or he was going to teach it. To me, it seemed as if he didn’t want me to teach at all.
One Sunday morning during worship, I grumbled to the Lord. I complained how my pastor wouldn’t let me teach or lead any groups. As a result, I felt useless and angry. Suddenly, I heard the Lord’s voice inside me, AND it was neither gentle nor caring. Sternly, He answered me, “Your pastor didn’t say ‘No,’ I DID!”
If I could have crawled under my seat, I would have. God made it clear I needed to quit grumbling about the pastor and accept his answer. This was the closest to having the Lord yell at me as I have ever gotten. I won’t forget it either. But God changed my relationship with my pastor for the better through this. I realized all the things I thought he was doing, he wasn’t. I publicly apologized for my bad attitude.
Godly discipline yields fruit–and happy children.
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
Ps. 34:8 ESV
Happiness is the man who takes refuge in the Lordโฆ
A refuge is “a condition of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or trouble.”
I have a picture my mom took on my fifth birthday. I wore a little flowered dress with a bow in my hair sitting on my dad’s lap. That was my safe place.
My dad died almost thirty years ago. One day as I prayed, feeling lonely and a bit depressed, the Lord reminded me of that picture. He spoke to my heart and told me I sit on His lap in much of the same way I sat on my dad’s as a little girl. My Father sees me as His little girl and He holds me when I am happy or sad. The Lord protects me, comforts me, speaks to me and loves me. He is my refuge. The words the Lord spoke to me gave my heart peace, and also joy and happiness.
Here’s the last one for now…
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.
Psalm 1:1-2 ESV
Happiness is not walking with the wicked, standing in the way of sinners, or sitting in the seat of scoffers, but delighting in the Law of the Lord…
1 Corinthians 15:33 says, “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals.'” That’s certainly a good reason not to walk, stand, and sit with people who will corrupt us. How many people have you known who didn’t regret following others into trouble?
I looked up the word happiness online. As I read over the definitions given, I realized God, in His Word, gave us the true meaning of Happiness. It is not following Him in a half-hearted, on-again, off-again, when-it-is-convenient way.
What if true happiness is being poor in spirit, peacemakers, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, being meek, mourning over our sin, being merciful, getting persecuted, taking refuge in the Lord, getting corrected by God…#ThisSideofHeaven #Beatitudes #HappinessIs
What if true happiness is being poor in spirit, peacemakers, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, being meek, mourning over our sin, being merciful, getting persecuted, taking refuge in the Lord, getting corrected by God…
You get the picture.
We will never find true happiness by looking at the world around us. It comes from looking up.
It comes from gazing past ourselves to the One who is the meaning of happiness.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Matthew 5:10-11 ESV
Years ago, a recruiter contacted me because he saw my resume online. He called asking me to come in for an interview for a state-of-the-art histology lab in Cleveland–even offering me a desired salary.
This company pursued me for my skills.
We use the word pursue in many ways. Pursue is one of those words which has a negative or positive meaning.
Matthew 5:10 uses the Hebrew word radaph (pronounced raw-daf’) for persecuted. It means to run after (usually with hostile intent; –chase, put to flight, follow (after, on), hunt, (be under) persecute(-ion, -or), pursue(-r).
As I sit here writing these words, my mind is going in many directions as far as where to take this post. I haven’t written much in the hours I have sat in front of this laptop! I feel the Lord taking me in a direction I didn’t intend to go.
And that direction is the topic of persecution.
Persecution is not too far off in our future. You don’t have to be a prophet to know that.
As I read and re-read related verses these stuck out to me the most:
Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
2 Timothy 3:12-13 ESV
If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.
John 15:18 ESV
Remember the word that I said to you: โA servant is not greater than his master.โ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
John 15:20 ESV
If we’re honest, we recognize the signs of the times. It won’t be long before every sold-out Christian/Jesus-lover will be insulted, falsely accused, and persecuted.
In this Beatitude, Jesus said people will persecute us for righteousness and Him. What does that mean?
I’m sure you understand what Jesus meant.
But, I can’t help but think of another verse right now.
Not everyone whoย says to me, โLord, Lord,โ willย enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one whoย does the will of my Father who is in heaven.ย On that dayย many will say to me, โLord, Lord, did we notย prophesy in your name, and cast out demonsย in your name, and do many mighty works in your name? And then will I declare to them, โIย never knew you;ย depart from me,ย you workers of lawlessness.
Matt. 7:21-23 ESV
Why will Jesus say to many who have cast out demons, prophesied, and done mighty things, “I never knew you”? Because they did not do the will of the Father.
The will of the Father includes being sexually moral and pure. It is holiness. When it comes down to it, the will of the Father is for us to be nothing like the world and everything like Jesus! It is every characteristic Jesus spoke of in the Beatitudes.
When it comes down to it, the will of the Father is for us to be nothing like the world and everything like Jesus! #HappyarethePursued #ThisSideofHeaven #TheBeatitudes
We live in a world where it is not politically correct to talk about Jesus or to tell people they are sinners. If we want, we can find a church and Bibleversion that suits our worldview. Many claim to be Christians. But are all who claim that title, righteous?
So, what does it mean to be righteous?
In my post on the Beatitude, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness…” I explained righteousness this way:
Tsedeq [the Hebrew word for righteousness] has the idea that desperate people like those who are starving or dying of thirst will hunt for Godโs righteousness or justice as a person would for food and water.
Do you Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness?
Here is the way Jeff A. Brenner describes righteousness. But, let me say this first, evil, according to the Hebrew language, is to depart from God’s way–righteousness is the exact opposite.
A righteous person is not one who lives a religiously pious life, [which is] the common interpretation of this word, he is one who follows the correct path, the path (way) of God.
Jesus is that way and the Father puts us on the path of His choosing. The only way to be righteous is through the righteousness of Jesus. The only way to know God’s path and to avoid departing from it is to be in the Word.
Jesus said to him, โI am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6 ESV
Who or what do we love the most? That is who we worship. What is the promise in this Beatitude? The Kingdom of Heaven.
Going back to the title of this post…Why are the pursued/persecuted happy? Because they know Who they belong to. This world will persecute those who stand for God’s truth and ways.
I can’t think of a better verse to demonstrate how Jesus’ disciples lived out this Beatitude.
The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus.
How blessed are those who make peace! For they will be called sons of God.
Matthew 5:9 CJB
I am a middle child. I have three older sisters and two younger ones. My oldest sister, Cindy, is nine years older than me, while my youngest sister, Melanie, is nine years younger.
The term most often applied to middle children is peacemakers. That was my role as a child in our loud and sometimes chaotic family. I hated conflict and strove to make peace.
What is a peacemaker?
Google defines it as: “A person who brings about peace, especially by reconciling adversaries.” But, the Hebrew language doesn’t use the word peacemaker, but the phrase “those who make peace.”
In English, the word peace means, “freedom from disturbance; tranquility.”
Perhaps the best-known Hebrew word for most Christians is shalom. Although people use it as a greeting, most people will say shalom means “peace.” But, if you know me, or have read my blog for any amount of time, you might predict I will tell you there is more to the meaning of the word shalom than just peace. ๐
Shalom means more than “freedom from disturbance” or absence of strife. Strong’s Concordance, as well as the Hebrew, defines shalom as:
Isaiah 9:6 tells us Jesus is the Prince of Shalom or Peace. However, Jesus never promised us a world without disturbance or strife. Actually, quite the opposite.
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.
John 16:33 ESV
They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.
John 12:53 ESV
But, Jesus did promise to make us complete. He promised to give us a sound mind and told us He would never leave us or forsake us.
For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
Colossians 2:9-10 NKJV
Jesus said, “O the Blessedness of those who make peace…” So, how do we carry out completeness and soundness?
How can we bring people to a place of completion while helping them withstand the battles around them? Prayer, discipleship, helping them discover their identity in Christ, and simply walking this Christian life beside them.
Again, taking in all the Beatitudes we have covered up until now, we find it begins with our heart, humility, and compassion.
In Exodus 34, God describes Himself to Moses:
โYUD-HEH-VAV-HEH!!! Yud-Heh-Vav-Heh [Adonai] is God, merciful and compassionate, slow to anger, rich in grace and truth; showing grace to the thousandth generation, forgiving offenses, crimes and sins;
Throughout these Beatitudes, Jesus tells us to be like Him and the Father.
This brings us to the promise of this verse: For they will be called the sons of God. We are most like the Son of God when we are a peaceful, encouraging, and a loving presence in people’s lives.
We are most like the Son of God when we are a peaceful, encouraging, and loving presence in people’s lives.
My twins were born at twenty-seven weeks, weighing two pounds and unable to breathe without a ventilator. Women from my church provided me with rides to the hospital since the doctor had not cleared me to drive. I remember one particular day clearly. While sitting next to their isolettes, I watched Alexandria’s tiny body struggle to breathe–her lungs collapsed. She was already on a ventilator, but the neonatal staff could not keep her lungs inflated. She was so weak and gray-looking from the lack of oxygen circulating in her fragile body.
My driver, who I met for the first time that day, was eight months pregnant and had three other children at home. I knew she needed to go, but I could not leave Alexandria. I told her to leave me there, but she would not go. She stayed with me until my baby girl was stable. My husband was at our restaurant and since this sister did not want me to be alone at home, she took me there. I donโt see her anymore but will never forget this womanโs kindness and the care she and the other women who took me back and forth to the hospital gave me for six weeks.
They were Jesus to me during my time of need.
Ask the Lord how you can give peace to someone this week.
Here are links to the other Beatitudes in this series…
How blessed are the pure in heart! For they will see God.
Matthew 5:8 CJB
I read a great quote on the Beatitudes by Skip Moen, PhD. He says, “[A Beatitude] is not a โblessingโ that implies one party granting a favor to another party. A Beatitude is really a macarism, an announcement of an existing state, a status of happiness. https://skipmoen.com/2018/02/character-1/
Today, we will explore the sixth Beatitude of Matthew 5. As said above, these are not blessings over you or me, but a state of happiness when understanding that we are nothing more than beggars in need of the Lord, when we mourn over our sin when we look inward to see what keeps us from God when we are desperate to be righteous like Jesus, and when we are merciful and compassionate to others.
However, this is not the happiness the world teaches, but the happiness of a child of the Father.
I remember reading an article about the “sinfulness” of the seven deadly sins. The majority of the people polled did not regard pride as a sin. But yet, according to the Bible, God hates pride.
We cannot look at the Bible through the lens of the world or even with our American knowledge. We must look at it through the eyes of our Father. As we dig a little deeper while depending on the help of the Holy Spirit we will understand as much as He allows.
In my research of this Beatitude, the Delitzsch Hebrew Gospels puts it this way:
O the gladness of the pure in heart! For they will behold God.
Matthew 5:8
I don’t know about you, but I struggle daily to have a pure heart. If it were pure, I wouldn’t have to seek forgiveness when I have the wrong attitude, or when I feel envy, jealousy, or anger.
The word Jesus would have used is the Hebrew word tahor, which means clean. This word has the connotation of cleansing. To be clean, someone must do the cleaning.
We can see this in John 15 as well.
I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
John 15:1-2 ESV
In John 15:2, we see the word prunes. This is the Greek word kathairรณ, meaning clean or cleansed–the same Greek word used for pure in this Beatitude. God is the gardener who prunes the Vine of the extra weight of dead or overgrown branches (us).
A pure heart is a pruned heart. It is a heart that has allowed God to make it clean. No heart becomes clean on its own; we have a part in the process of cleansing as well.
A pure heart is a pruned heart. It is a heart that has allowed God to make it clean. No heart becomes clean on its own; we have a part in the process of cleansing as well. The Bible tells us:
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
Jeremiah 17:9
What is our part in the process of having a clean heart? We must surrender it to God so He can prune it. Google’s dictionary describes pruning as, “Trim (a tree, shrub, or bush) by cutting away dead or overgrown branches or stems, especially to increase fruitfulness and growth.
How does our heart become dead and overgrown?
By the cares of this world, hurts, wounds, and the desires of our flesh. The Lord prunes us because He loves us–He wants our hearts to be fruitful and our lives to look like Jesus as we walk with Him.
So what is the promise to those willing to have their hearts pruned?
To see or behold God. This is not future tense.
This is now.
The pure in heart will see God EVERYWHERE. They will see Him at work around us. They will not have to wait until Heaven, they will see Him moving here on earth.
Think about that. Why do some see God at work around them, and others don’t? Why do some ask where is God? Could it be related to the condition of our heart?
I was in a meeting about the Church and the current culture of disunity and division. At the end of the meeting someone asked,
Do we have a clear picture of what a healthy follower of Jesus looks like?
The answer was so clear to me…Yes!
The healthy follower of Jesus is the one who is in a state of happiness because they are living as Jesus told us to within the Beatitudes.
Remember, Jesus blesses you because He loves you, but you are a Blessed onebecause you do what He says.
How blessed are those who show mercy! For they will be shown mercy.
Matthew 5:7 CJB
One of my mom’s favorite expressions of surprise is “Mercy!” (Imagine a Southern accent with that) ๐
My youngest son, Michael loved to imitate her by repeating it when she visited. My mom always got a kick out of it. Even though my mom is no longer able to drive up to see us–and for now is living in South Texas–Michael will occasionally go around the house saying, “Mercy” like her.
Today we are going to discuss the next Beatitude on mercy.
In other posts in this series, I have reminded you that each of the Beatitudes build on the first one. The fifth Beatitude comes with the promise: you get what you give.
For us, a place of mercy comes only after knowing we are beggars in total dependence on God (see Blessed are the Poor in Spirit), mourning over our sin (see Joy Comes in the Mourning), being meek in the sense that we look into our hearts for areas of uncleanness (see O the Blessedness of the Meek), and our desperation for God’s righteousness (see Do You Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness?).
Mercy is not getting what we deserve.
So, what do we deserve?
Death! We certainly don’t deserve eternal life, forgiveness, or the ability to repent. But, eternal life is the gift of God through His grace.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9
Grace is getting what we don’t deserve.
However, in Hebrews we see that when we approach the throne of God we receive mercy like a gift.
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Not only is it a feminine organ, but life begins and grows in the womb. The bond and compassion a mother has for child is the very definition of mercy.
I couldn’t help but take this another way as well.
Abortion is the antithesis of mercy–tearing a baby from its God-given shelter is not merciful.
I am pro-life and I will not apologize for that. Life starts at conception and ends when God decides. All life is precious to God–the life of the unborn and born, the disabled–physical, mental or otherwise, the foster child, homeless, rich, poor, abused, and elderly–Their. Life. Matters. God created them in His image and their life should not end until God deems it.
Our mercy should extend to any person or animal that is in need of our care. Someday it might be us needing care. We get what we give.
Jesus also told us He will show mercy to the merciful.
If you are anything like me, you need mercy everyday. Fortunately, God is ready and willing to give us mercy. But, we must receive it. Will you take it? Taking this gift has one reqirement…to give it away.
I give mercy when I forgive someone, when I overlook a bad mood, or a mistake. Mercy can look like buying a coffee or lunch for someone who isn’t very nice to you.
A little over a year ago, a woman we’ve known came over for instruction to take care of my goats and ducks while we were out of town the following week.
It had rained for over a week and our property was muddy. The goats, ducks and chickens didn’t want to leave the barn, either. Because of the mud, my husband was unable to get his tractor into the barn to clean it up. As a result, the goats’ white coats and legs were getting dirty and the barn was ripe.
Instead of lying on the raised pallets my husband gave them, the goats sat in the mudโฆ
Everything seemed okay until she left and I started getting texts.
Apparently, our friend didn’t think much about our barn or animals so she complained to her friend by texting her on the drive home. However she didn’t stop there. She included how much she disliked my husband and our strange Amish religion (we are not Amish, obviously).
How did I know she sent her friend these texts?
She texted me before she came over, so instead of sending her messages to this friend she mistakenly sent them all to me.
After the first two, I stopped looking at them. They were hurtful and mean.
My husband on the other hand, saw all of them. See, she was driving while recording and sending each message and didn’t see my response to the first one which was: “I don’t think these messages are for me!”
Finally, after about ten or eleven messages (she must have gotten home) she realized the messages went to my phone and tried to explain.
She didn’t apologize except to say she was very particular about her animals, but she really did like me and thought I was a saint for putting up with my husband.
Yep, not really an apology. My husband is a good man and a hard worker who takes care of our property by himself.
After we told her we wouldn’t need her to take care of our animals, I think she realized we were upset.
Did I mention I also tutored her son twice a week?
We talked it out a bit more when she came by to drop him off a few weeks later. She is very frank, blunt, and a little outspoken, as well as an atheist.
I felt the Lord tell me to put this situation behind me. I needed to be merciful.
Amazingly enough, the Lord healed my heart and gave me the ability to forgive her. She still comes over–except we don’t let her in our barn–and I still tutor her son.
I pray for her to know Jesus and that she will let Him change her heart.
God taught me that I am no better than this woman at times. I can easily complain about someone who does things differently than I do or who practices their Christianity in a way that seems legalistic or strange to me.
I need mercy when I treat others badly, too. He is Good!
How blessed are those who show mercy! For they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Matthew 5:6
We are continuing our series on the Beatitudes. Today, we will examine the fourth Beatitude found in Matthew 5:6. You can go back and read the last three posts if you haven’t already.
We didn’t have much growing up. My father had a stroke that paralyzed him on his right side. With a fairly young family, he could now, no longer work. My mom had five girls to care for at that time, so it was difficult for her to work outside the home.
We had a farm, so we helped plant, water, and weed our large garden and played outside all day in the nice weather.
By the time Mom made dinner, we were all ready to eat. We always seemed to have enough food, though. My dad would never take seconds until he was sure the rest of us were full. I’m sure there were days when he went to bed a bit hungry for our sake.
The hunger mentioned in Matthew 5:6 is not this kind of hunger but means a poor person who works to fend off starvation. The Hebrew word for this kind of hunger is reab and it means famine, dearth (the scarcity of something), and hunger.
I can only hope I seek out God like a person starving for Him. I believe many who are persecuted in their countries probably could teach us about that…but I’m not sure that is the norm here in the U.S.
The word thirst, in Hebrew, is an interesting word. It, as well as the word for righteousness, begins with the Hebrew letter tsade.
ืฆ
It has the sound of the letters Ts, like the end of the word pots. The ancient Hebrew letter looked like this:
In the Hebrew language, the letters have names as you can see, and the names have meanings. So, the meaning of the word tsade is “to hunt, catch, or capture.” However, the letter in ancient Hebrew looks like a man bent in a position as a servant with his hands lifted up to the Lord in humility. https://www.hebrew4christians.com/Grammar/Unit_One/Aleph-Bet/Tsade/tsade.html
Another scholar describes the tsade as a servant carrying a burden and suggests this letter is most like Christ as we see Him in the scriptures. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SG7RIw9IJsc
See how this and all the Beatitudes come back to Christ-likeness?
Many years ago, my church had a Bible study that suggested we practice brokenness. I asked the Lord how I could practice something I wasn’t feeling. He spoke to my heart and said, “Get on your knees.” Since that day, I prayed on my knees alone in my room.
How would you practice brokenness?
The word for thirst consists of the letter tsade and the letter mem, meaning water. So, this kind of thirst means to hunt for water, in the pictorial Hebrew.
Within this Beatitude, we have a picture of a person who is desperate for food and water, not just hungry and thirsty. Remember I told you there is a reason the Beatitudes begin with “Blessed are the poor in spirit…”
Within this Beatitude, we have a picture of a person who is desperate for food and water, not just hungry and thirsty. #ThisSideofHeaven #Beatitudes #HungerandThirst
Now, for the word righteousness. This was where I started my research, actually.
It is the word, tsedeq. As I said above, it begins with the same Hebrew letter as thirst. And, just like that word, the first letter oftsedeq means, “to hunt, catch, or capture.”
Tsedeq means righteous, but it can also mean justice.
We find this word also used in many Old Testament verses. The bold word is tsedeq.
Justice, and only justice, you shall follow, that you may live and inherit the land that theย LORDย your God is giving you.
Deuteronomy 20:16
You shall have just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin:ย I am theย LORDย your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.
Leviticus 19:36
I will give to theย LORDย the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of theย LORD, the Most High.
Psalm 7:17
So, tsedeq has the idea that desperate people like those starving or dying of thirst will hunt for God’s righteousness or justice as a person would for food and water.
But, unlike many who are starving for food and water in this world, the promise from God for those who are truly seeking Him is “They will be satisfied.”
God wants us to seek Him as our lives depend on it…because they do. We need Him more than He needs us.
But, He. Does. Want. Us. The Creator of all things wants to have a relationship with you and me. The Beatitudes tell us how to do that.
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By the way, you may wonder where I got Hebrew words when the Gospel of Matthew was written in Greek. Well, the Gospels were first written in Hebrew. After many years, these manuscripts have finally been published, so you can now purchase the New Testament Gospels written in Hebrew on one page with the English translation on the page facing it. It’s pretty cool, but I like that sort of thing.
I realize I have changed the days I am publishing my blog posts. I am going to stay with Wednesdays since another blog I contribute to (called VineWords, Devotions and More at http://www.VineWords.net) has my posts coming out on Thursdays, so I don’t want both coming out on the same day of the week. Thank you!
We are continuing our series on the Beatitudes. You can go here and read about the first Beatitude called ThePoor in Spirit and here to read about the second called Joy Comes in the Mourning.
Now, we will look at the third Beatitude found in Matthew 5:5.
O the blessedness of the meek! For they will inherit the earth.
Matt. 5:5
Let me start off by saying, Wow! I found some cool meanings of these words in my research of ancient Hebrew, and I am really excited to show and tell you what God led me to.
I just bought a really cool book called Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible by Jeff A. Benner (Yes, I am a total geek). It doesn’t just explain the Hebrew of the Bible but goes back even further to the early Hebrew when their language looked pictorial or like hieroglyphics.
The Hebrew word for meek/humble is anah and we write it like this: (Remember you read right to left.)
ืขื ื
Ayin (ืข) is the first letter in the word anah, but in the early Hebrew language it looked like an eye:
So, the word anah has to do with our eyes and careful watching. In this case, it has to do both with where we place our eyes (on God, not ourselves), but also what we are watching.
What are we to watch?
Our heart.
What are we to watch…our heart. #ThisSideofHeaven #TheBlessednessoftheMeek
Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth.
Numbers 12:3 ESV
What made Moses so meek? Jennifer Ross explains on The Torah Class website.
G-d requires cleanlinessโฆ thus Moses strove to remain clean. In his heart, he knew that he must be clean in order to approach or to be approached by G-d. Simply put, Moses didnโt want to be called by G-d and be found in an unclean state and therefore unable to answer the call. Imagine that for a moment.
Moses watched his heart. He kept guard over his heart and his thoughts and obeyed the Torah or Law in order to prevent anything (uncleanness) from coming between him and the Father.
Consider this, Deuteronomy 18:15 says,
Theย Lordย your God will raise up for you a prophet like me [Moses] from among you, from your fellow Israelites.
Deut. 18:5
According to John 5:46, Jesus told the people accusing Him that Moses wrote about Him. He was/is the Prophet like Moses. He came in humility.
Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Hebrew4Christians.com is another great website for information on the Hebrew language. In their explanation of this Beatitude, it says,
This word [meek] does not suggest weakness, but rather one’s recognition of one’s proper place in the universe before God. It is not self-effacing, but reality-focused. The meek inherit the earth because they are grounded in the truth of reality…
That answer goes back to my post called The Poor in Spirit based on the first Beatitude in Matthew 5:3.
O the Blessedness of the poor in spirit! For theirs is the Kingdom of God.
Matthew 5:3 ESV
I explained the poor in spirit recognize their position as beggars who are in absolute dependence on the Father. We need humility to be willing to look at our hearts in comparison to a Holy and Perfect God and see we are nothing more than beggars in need of a compassionate God to take care of us.
This verse tells us the meek will inherit the Earth. What does this mean?
In the Midrash below, one rabbi said:
For it is said: Now the man Moses was very meek (Num. 12:3). Scripture states that whoever is meek ends by having the Shekhinah dwell with him ( the man) on earth…
Midrash Mekhilta
The Hebrew word for inherit is yaresh and it means, to occupy (by driving out previous tenants and possessing in their place); by implication, to seize, to rob, to inherit; also to expel… http://classic.net.bible.org/strong.php?id=03423
I believe this is suggesting that God gives the meek power in the spiritual realm to drive out and take possession of the things satan has stolen.
This world is under satan’s control right now. Revelation tells us of the war between Jesus and satan while God is sorting it all out. (very simplified).
God desires us to be humble.
There are many verses about humility and what the Lord thinks about those who are proud and those who are humble. But, not only that, many verses include what the humble receive from God.
A manโs pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor.
I hope you’re beginning to see the progression of the Beatitudes: When we know that we are nothing more than beggars who are dependent on our Lord (Matt. 5:3), we will mourn over our sins (Matt. 5:4), and keep our hearts clean so nothing can come between us and God (Matt. 5:5). Then the Kingdom of Heaven (or The Lord) is in us, the Lord will comfort us, and we will inherit (or take possession of) the earth.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Matthew 5:4
When was the last time you mourned over someone or something?
There are days my heart is heavy over the things I see in this world–in politics, in the church, or in our country. I have mourned over the death of family members and pets, and the loss of relationships.
Sometimes as I mourned, I felt Jesus mourning with me, and other times I felt alone and unable to find peace or comfort. That didn’t mean Jesus wasn’t there. In the case of a few friendships, Jesus just let me cry it out until no more tears fell; then told me to let them go.
If you look at this verse from the standpoint of mourning or grieving over loss, you may always expect to be comforted. After all, Jesus promised comfort to the mourners.
Last week, I explained the meaning of the phrase Blessed are. It means, O the blessednessof or the gladness of…
If you combine O the gladness of with the phrase those who mourn, it doesn’t really make sense. Did Jesus really tell us that it is a blessed or a happy thing to mourn? How can we be happy while we are grieving?
Mourning is not exactly what I find happiness in.
However, the type of mourning Matthew 5:4 refers to is the kind of mourning we do over our sins.
That’s the kind of mourning God wants to hear and see. When we come to Him with remorse and repent for our lost tempers, unkind words, lies, or attitudes, among many others, He forgives us—thenHe comforts us.
He doesn’t hold our sin against us, send us on a guilt trip or condemn us, either.
I believe genuine remorse over our sin is a song in His ears. Why? Because He can now bury that sin in the deepest sea or as far as the east is from the west. He will never have to look at it again.
Genuine remorse over our sin is a song in the Lord’s ears. #ThisSideofHeaven #Blessedarethosewhomourn
Jesus’ blood is the reason He can do that. One precious death for a multitude of sinners.
The Old Testament verse similar to Matthew 5:4 is Psalm 30:5.
Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.
Psalm 30:5 NLT
I can also see a bit of play on words in this verse…Joy comes with or in the mourning.
You see, repentance is a gift. True repentance starts with understanding our position as beggars (Poor in spirit) in total dependence on God’s grace and mercy.
If you have experienced a burden of sin lifted by God’s forgiveness, then you know the joy that comes next and the amazing gift you have been given.
It’s true – weeping may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning.
And you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.
Revelation 5:10 ESV
Biology was and is my favorite subject. I loved learning about the different plants, animals, cells, and fungi in the world, especially how we as humans fit into it all. This world belongs to our Creator and everything in it He made it with a purposeโexcept mosquitosโฆ.Iโm not sure of their purpose other than to feed bats and dragonfliesโฆbut thatโs another subject.
As a biologist, I have taught many classes on the six different kingdoms of biology. Starting from the smallest single-cell kingdoms like Archaebacteria and Eubacteria up to the largest multi-celled kingdoms of plants and animalsโfrom the mosquito to the Blue whale. These kingdoms represent every life form on this planet.
The largest is the animal kingdom, which includes humans.
Amongst all the kingdoms we learn about, the most important one we will ever know is Godโs. He created His Kingdom, and appointed Jesus as King, to represent and usher all humans into it.
Because we canโt see this awesome place God has for us, many people decide to build their own out of their dissatisfaction.
One way the enemy entices us is through our profession. We may be a secular business, a Christian ministry, or even an authorโtrying to build a personal kingdom of followers to buy our products and embrace our vision. Our kingdom and brand adopt our name.
You are the customer. Everyone we knowโfrom people we worship with to friends and family becomes potential clients and/or purchasers.
We become the king of our kingdom.
This is what others teach us to do.
Now, Iโm not saying we are trying to usurp Godโs Kingdom and authority. But, it is easy to get caught up in our own kingdom-building.
Even the Pharisees had problems with this. They werenโt all bad either. We see in Luke 17:20:
Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, โThe kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, โLook, here it is!โ or โThere!โ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.
In Matthew 5, we learn what type of people make up His kingdom.
The Poor in Spirit
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The phrase Blessed are translates from the Hebrew as O the blessednessof or The gladness of. This is not a condition of the person who is poor in spirit, but the reality of the person.
This represents a person in absolute need of God to take care of them. This is humility at its best.
A person who is poor in spirit is the opposite of worldly thinkingโindependent, proud, with an โI have it all-I need nothingโ attitude.
Have you ever wondered why Jesus begins with the poor in spirit in the Beatitudes?
Without the knowledge and understanding that we are nothing more than helpless beggars, we will never be peacemakers, we will never mourn, never be humble, or hunger and thirst for His righteousnessโฆ.get the picture?
But that is only in this world. In the Heavenly places, God will esteem the humble, poor in spirit, peacemakers, persecuted, and the compassionate. God loves these traits in us.
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
James 4:10
O the gladness of being poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Matt. 5:3
It is a blessing as well as a state of gladness to recognize we are poor in spirit. We will have the Kingdom of Heaven living within us until the day Jesus takes us to Heaven to live with Him forever!
And His delight shall be in the fear of theย LORD.
Isaiah 11
Happy New Year! 2020 was a rough year, let’s expect 2021 to be better–Lord willing, it will be.
It has been a while since I have been on my blog. So many things have been going on.
My publisher released my Bible study, Jewels of Hebrews, December 1, 2020. It is available on Amazon, Walmart.com, and Barnes & Noble as a paperback or Ebook. I am so excited this labor of love is finally available to you.
Both my mom and aunt battle dementia and we moved them out of their homes. They had a hard time moving but, they’re thriving now and enjoying the places they are living. If you have been there with a parent, then you know the peace of mind that comes with knowing your loved one can’t get hurt from being alone and confused.
A New Word
Like a lot of people I know, I asked the Lord for a word this year. I haven’t done that before but decided to ask and wait for His reply. I felt like He gave me the word “merciful.” I immediately asked for a different word like “grateful” :).
The word merciful slightly scared me.
Why?
Because I thought that would mean the Lord wants me to be merciful towards people who might cause bad things to happen to me or my family in the coming year. But, as I thought more on the word, I realized the mercy of the Lord when I mess up. So, I decided to “keep” my word and look at it from the Lord’s point of view.
If He can be merciful to me when I mess up–and I really do mess up at times–then I can be merciful when others do as well.
I found this verse on the Lord’s mercy:
The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.
Psalm 145:8-9
Delighting in the Fear of the LORD
The Lord also has me reading the book of Isaiah. I started in December, reading each chapter a couple of times and thinking about how it relates to me and what God wants me to learn from it.
A few days ago, I read chapter eleven and the Lord impressed on me the words of the first part of Isaiah 11:3. It says,
And His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what His eyes see, or decide disputes by what His ears hear.
Isaiah 11:3
The verses before this are referring to the Messiah as a shoot from the stump of Jesse.
There shall come forth a shoot from the stump ofย Jesse, ย ย ย ย and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. Andย the Spirit of theย Lordย shall rest upon him, ย ย ย ย the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, ย ย ย ย the Spirit of counsel and might, ย ย ย ย the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of theย Lord.
As I read this I stopped and reread, “…His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.” This verse is speaking of the Messiah’s delight, but I wanted that to be my prayer for the year. I want my delight to be in the fear of the Lord. So, I asked the Lord to help me make that my motivation and the place of my strength.
I did a little research to find out exactly what I was praying for.
Delight
The first word search I did was on “delight.” Hebrew often has meanings that we just can’t fully express in English. They have root words, too. Although not exactly like ours.
Hebrew root words use three consonants separated by a period – like B.C.D. When you insert the vowels you make different words. But because these words come from the same root it connects their meanings.
For instance, both “amen” and “faithful” have the same root word (Reading right to left):
Add different vowels and you have two different words.
This brings me to “delight.” The Hebrew comes from the same Hebrew root as “smell.” So, delight=smell – delightful, right?
If you go back to the rest of Isaiah 11:3, you find it says, “He shall not judge by what His eyes see, or decide disputes by what His ears hear. (Emphasis mine.)
Hebrew likes to play with words. It happens all the time in the Bible which when translated by the Greeks, puzzled them. That’s why some phrases in the Bible, especially in the New Testament, are hard to understand.
Have you ever heard the expression about a dog or other animal being able to “Smell fear?” But this kind of fear has a delightful scent. One scholar spoke of it as “Fear of Jehovah is fragrant to Him.” Not His own fear of the LORD, but the fear He smells in others for the LORD.
Others say instead of using His sense of sight and hearing to judge, the Messiah will use His sense of smell to judge. Kind of like, “I can smell a rat” type of thing.
Respect or Fear
My second word search was on “fear.” Most of us have read this word over and over or heard it explained by our pastors.
Fear means, “pertaining to respect toward a superior” as well as “being afraid”.
(James Swanson, Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Hebrew (Old Testament) (Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997)).
I think there should be a combination of both these meanings in our fear of the LORD. (The word for the Lord in this verse is YHWH or Yehovah.)
The Creator of EVERYTHING deserves all our respect, but we should also have a healthy fear of God.
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Matthew 10:28
So, my prayer is both to delight in the fear of my God, Yehovah–the Maker of all things, and to delight in the fragrant aroma of YOUR fear of the LORD as well.
You may have heard “Fear not!” is said 365 times in the Bible–one for every day of the year.
Fear is a stronghold and fear has a voice we can listen to most of our lives.
A stronghold is like an iceberg–the sea of our thoughts and emotions hides the majority. The ten percent we show to those around us is no indication of its depth and size.
Fear talks to us and for us, too! I hear the fear in people when they say things like, “I’m not doing that!”, “I can’t do it!”, or “I won’t go there!”
Freedom From Fear
God does not want us to live our lives in fear. He wants us to be free!
For God did not give us a spirit of fear,
but of power and of love and a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7
Why does this verse mention a sound mind? Because fear causes us to imagine everything bad that can happen to us. It messes with our thoughts and can make us irrational.
God gave us the power over fear through the Holy Spirit and the saving power of His blood. Jesus’ blood releases us from the bondage strongholds keep us in.
I admit, I have my share of strongholds. I am learning to be free by the truth of God’s Word and His Holy Spirit, reminding me of the lies of the deceiver.
Satan desires to keep us captive. But we need to come out of our cells.
Satan desires to keep us captive. But we need to come out of our cell. #ThisSideofHeaven #Fear #Getoutofthatcell
[Jesus will] deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.
Hebrews 2:15 ESV
No Fear in Love
Did you know Fear has friends? Their names are Control and Distrust. All three usually go together. Fear loves to control everyone and everything around it.
Fear does not trust.
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
1 John 4:18 ESV
In order for us to truly love, we must not fear. Fear equals distrust. Love is trusting.
Trusting God for answers, for wisdom, for healing. for light in our darkness and confusion. When we trust God, we show how much we love Him.
Of course, I am not saying we have to trust everyone, and if we don’t we have fear. That’s not what I mean.
In order for us to truly love, we must not fear. #ThisSideofHeaven #Fear #Love
When we think we are the only ones we can depend on or the only ones who have the answers, we are not trusting God. Our Father puts people into our lives to teach us.
We must be teachable. God lets nothing go to waste. If He can’t use it for our good, then it won’t happen.
Trust God with your day-to-day life–with your fears–your desire to control–and your distrust.
I am so excited, and I wanted to share it with all of you who have not seen my FB page!
I wrote about my Bible study, The Jewels of Hebrews, last week in the post called Gift of Gab. Mt. Zion Ridge Press will publish it in December 2020. Yay!!
It is definitely a huge praise and an answer to prayer! I am so thankful the Lord has allowed this to happen and I look forward to how He uses it.
Who is like you, LORD God Almighty? You, LORD, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.
Psalm 89:8 ESV
He is faithful. So many times, I nearly gave up. So many times, I figured writing wasn’t for me….
The naysayers beckoned me to listen to them, too.
Satan’s voice was loud, but God’s was louder. He kept me on the right track and at the very moment I needed it, I received encouragement from someone who read my blog, or one of my devotionals, or a fellow writer or Word Weaver.
I remember a time I was praying, asking God if my writing mattered to anyone. That very day a woman named LuAnn sent me a message telling me how much my post on Yoga (which she read on Charismamag.org) meant to her. It was something I needed to hear.
God cares about our discouragement. If we ask, He will send someone to encourage us. I can’t tell you how many times He has for me and I am not special.
God cares about our discouragement. #ThisSideofHeaven #Signingthecontract #Biblestudyauthor
A few years ago, I had some genetic testing done through 23 and Me, a branch ofancestry.com.
In addition to findingย out I have a few enzymes missing, I found out I am 87% Irish/English. My great-grandfather came from Ireland to the United States, but I had no idea I had that much Irish in me.ย
Throughout my adulthood, I have been told by complete strangers how “Irish” I look. I have even been asked where I’m from because of my “accent.” When I said Ohio, they laughed and said, “No, it’s not an Ohio accent I hear.”
I have never been to Ireland, but I am dying to go!
I read more about Ireland and things to do there. One interesting article I read had to do with theย Blarney Stoneย foundย near the top of an old castle.ย Youย mustย hang upside down and kiss it to receive the gift ofย gab.ย
The gift of gab is defined as the ability to speak with eloquence and wit.
I need to kiss that rock!
The Irish American Mom, whose website you can visit here,quotes John OโConnor Power, an Irish politician.
โBlarney is something more than mere flattery.
It is flattery sweetened by humor and flavored by wit.
Those who mix with Irish folk have many
examples of it in their everyday experienceโ
~ John OโConnor Power (1846 โ 1919)
I really love to talk but write, uh, not so much.
I want to speak with eloquence and wit. But, I’m not sure that is me.
Sometimes I write like I talk, too. Ugh!
So, when God called me to write I felt obligated to explain to Him that I was NOT a writer. He seemed unconvinced.
I wrote and taught a Bible study twelve years ago on Revelation. It was okay and my class liked it. Soon after that I felt led to write a Bible study on the book of Ephesians. I included Spiritual warfare since it is covered in Ephesians 6 and I titled it The Few, the Humble, the Church; A Study in the Book of Ephesians and Spiritual Warfare. (You can purchase yours at the bottom of my web site.)
I self-published it eleven years ago. Since I was inexperienced in marketing, I did my best to get it into churches and bookstores. I got very discouraged when it proved to be difficult.
I knew I was to keep writing, but I really had no interest in it. I avoided it for many years until 2017.
The Lord led me through the book of Hebrews during my quiet time. When I wanted to move past it, I felt the prompting of the Holy Spirit to write a Bible study on it.
I didn’t want to!
“Who will read it?” I asked. “What’s the purpose?”
He replied, “I can’t do anything with it if you don’t write it.”
“Okay, fine!โ
It has been quite a ride writing this study. I have learned so much from Him and His Word. I began small Bible studies as well as attending writers conferences, and I have recently become a chapter president for a critique group called Word Weavers, International. My sister was an immense help reading and working through it as I wrote each chapter.
Its title is: The Jewels of Hebrews
Each chapter is named after a beautiful gemstone, like amethyst, ruby, sapphire, emerald, plus many more. #JewelsOfHebrews #ThisSideOfHeaven #StephaniePavlantos
Each chapter is named after a beautiful gemstone like, like amethyst, ruby, emerald, oe sapphire, plus many more.
You will also STUDY the Bible!
I take you through the Torah, or Law, the Prophets, and the New Testament as we study Hebrews. It is a mixture of reflection, teaching, and fill-in. I pray God will use it to set people free and reveal His Son to everyone who reads it.
Here is the โback coverโ for the book:
You are a treasure hunter on a mission to find hidden jewels. Your guide Stephanie Pavlantos has gone before you and now joins you on an expedition to unearth a hidden gem from each chapter of Hebrews. When you open your beloved Bible and dive deep into the book, you will find a rare diamond, ruby, sapphire, and other gems. You will explore the rich history of the early church and the connections the book of Hebrews has to the Old Testament. The supremacy of Yeshua and his royalty will be revealed as the Jewels of Hebrews are discovered one chapter at a time. Learn about these jewels and the meaning of their color as you find relatable and practical applications for modern times. Get ready for a life-changing journey! Yeshua is eager to reveal the Jewels of Hebrews to you and crown you his prince or princess.
Jewels of Hebrews
It is not published, yet. That’s my next step.
But someday, Lord willing, I will be able to gab with you through my book while you read and study God’s Word.
I may not be the most eloquent or witty, but my desire is to teach you about Yeshua through my studies.
As I was driving home this weekend from my sister’s house, I saw a sign on the overpass with the words, “Are you breathing?”
Obviously this sign referred to the senseless death of George Floyd.
But, as I thought about it, I also realized that Covid-19 took away the breath of many people. As we all know this virus attacks the lungs, leaving its victims unable to perform the most basic of needs–breathing.
The verse that immediately came to me was:
Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.
Genesis 2:7 ESV
What sets us apart from every other created animal? God Himself breathed into us.
EVERY human being gets their life from God.
But what do we do with that breath? Scripture tells us…
Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence.
Psalm 27:12 ESV
Our country has seen so much violence over the last few weeks. Unfortunately, there are those who “breath out violence.” Anger and bitterness can breed this kind of aggression.
Forgiveness can put an end to it…even undeserved forgiveness.
Satan wishes to divide us….that is not God’s will. Yet, here we are living in a divided world in many ways, a divided country with divided families.
In John 20, Jesus met with his disciples after He rose from the grave. After He showed them His hands and feet, He said, “Peace be with you…”
…He breathed on them and said to them, โReceive the Holy Spirit.If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.โ
John 20:22 ESV
As Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit on them, He spoke of forgiveness. We need filled with the Holy Spirit in order to live the life God wants us to and be able to give forgiveness as well.
\What are we to do with this breath the LORD gave to us?
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
Psalm 150:6 ESV
I saw many videos of people praising God instead of the hateful, hurtful speech and actions of some. Where there is praise, the Spirit of God resides. God is the answer for this world.
We are broken.
Only Jesus can fix what is broken…
He gave us His Word that we may know Him and know His ways. It says in 2 Timothy:
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
2 Timothy 3:16 ESV
God breathed out His Word as Jesus breathed out His Spirit on those He breathed life into. His Word with the power of the Holy Spirit can change the hardest or most wounded heart. HIs Word will teach us His ways and His will, it shows us our faults and sin, it corrects us and judges our intentions, and it trains us to be righteous and mature.
God breathed out His Word as Jesus breathed out His Spirit on those He breathed life into. #Breathe #ThisSideOfHeaven #Forgiveness
Has God healed you from an illness, injury, or some other condition?
Do you believe God heals today?
In my Bible study, Jewels of Hebrews, I wrote about Jesus/Yeshua healing us body, soul, and spirit. I had someone proofread two chapters for me and surprised me when she suggested I remove the part about Yeshua healing physically and rather say, “He heals the sickness of our sin.”
Unfortunately, she no longer believed Yeshua healed our physical bodies since God had not healed a few people she knew. I thought that was sad, but I know sometimes Yeshua does not answer our prayers for healing in the way we hope.
Why? Why doesn’t God always heal our bodies from the aches, pains, chronic illnesses, cancer, and injuries we sustain?
There is more to healing than we can understand.
I have had a nasty fungal infection for at least ten years on my foot, and I have tried everything. Nothing gets rid of it. I prayed for healing, I removed all sugar out of my diet since I know fungus feeds on sugar. But no change.
I also have TMJ, which is when the joint in my jaw becomes inflamed and often slips out of joint. As many of you know this is painful. After it popped out while flossing my teeth, I prayed and asked Yeshua to heal it.
For about two weeks it felt great. It stopped dislocating and I could yawn and floss my teeth without pain.
One day while reading my Bible, my jaw suddenly went out. I immediately asked God why.
I said, “I thought you healed my jaw, Lord, why is this happening?
He spoke to my heart with the words, “Don’t believe satan’s lies.” I rebuked satan and his lies and told him, “Yeshua has healed my jaw and nothing you do can change that.”
My jaw has been fine since that day two months ago.
There are reasons we don’t experience healing:
I think God knows whether the healing or the suffering will keep us close to Him. Does the pain or the healing give testimony to Yeshua? Does the pain bring you closer to God in complete dependence or will the healing bring you closer to God? Only God knows which one it is.
Are we sabotaging our health by our diet? Has God put people and doctors in your path to instruct you about eating right, yet you ignore them? God has given us many good fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, and lean meats to eat. Has He spoken to you about your way of eating? Our poor diets will affect our bodies negatively. We want to eat all the fats, sugar, and bad carbs, then we want Yeshua to take away the adverse effects of it.
Believe it or not, even critical attitudes, bitterness, and unforgiveness can affect our health. We open a door to demonic spiritual influence through our sin.
Our sin can make us sick.
I have told this story before, a friend of mine called me complaining of her heart palpitations. She made an appointment to see her doctor but wondered if she should be worried. We prayed for healing.
Within a few days, the heart palpitations had stopped…. but within two months they were back. When we prayed together again, the Holy Spirit dropped a line into my heart: “Her heart problem is a heart problem.”
This friend was dealing with bitterness and resentment, which she confessed to me later. Once she asked for forgiveness, her heart problem went away.
Satan can also lie to us about our healing. God heals us, then satan comes along and makes all the symptoms return, leaving us feeling like the healing was not real.
That is what he wants us to believe. Does satan have that kind of power? Yes. He has the power to deceive us. Without knowledge and understanding of satan’s’ ways, tricks, and deceit, he steals what Yeshua has given, destroys our peace, and kills our faith.
Without knowledge and understanding of satan’s’ ways, tricks, and deceit, he steals what Yeshua has given, destroys our peace, and kills our faith. #IsHealingforReal? #ThisSideofHeaven
I have heard of many healings which have “reversed” themselves. We must not allow satan to steal our healing!
I was once praying over a young man who had come up for prayer at a Sunday morning service. He wanted prayer for healing of a family member who had cancer. While a friend and I prayed for him, the Holy Spirit surprised me by saying, “I will not heal him on this earth. I’m taking him home.” I wasn’t sure I heard correctly, so I ignored it…The next morning, I began praying for this young man’s family member, and again the Holy Spirit stopped me with, “Don’t ask me to heal him, I will heal him in Heaven.” I stopped praying for his healing and instead prayed for the family.
The man passed away a few months later, He is perfectly healed in the arms of Jesus.
This may sound strange or even unloving of God, but I know of a close friend who also had God tell her something similar while praying for healing.
Godโs compassion and love says, “I will not let you suffer here for long; I am taking you home.”
So, our physical healing can be instantaneous, over time, or in Heaven. It is God’s decision.
There is a word in Greek which means saved. It is sozo.
Sozo means: to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction, rescuing one (from injury or peril), to save a suffering one (from perishing), i.e. one suffering from disease, to make well, heal, restore to health, or to preserve one who is in danger of destruction, to save or rescue.
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save [sozo] the lost.โ
Luke 19:10
Yeshua came to find us and to save us by giving us eternal life, healing of our hearts, souls, minds (emotions), and bodies, and by rescuing us from the evil one. He is our hope, our Savior, and our Refuge.
How has Yeshua saved you? Please share your story!
This past weekend was Pentecost or the Feast of Shavuot. It is celebrated fifty days after Passover and the death of Jesus/Yeshua.
In the Christian church we think of it as the day the Holy Spirit was given to the disciples waiting in the upper room. But the first Pentecost occurred for a different reason.
Exodus 19:17-20 tells us the first Pentecost was when God came to Mt. Sinai to meet with the people. God called Moses to the top of the mountain so He could give him the Law as we know it. It is also thought Moses received the Oral Law or Talmud at this time as well.
Exodus 20:18 says, “Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid[a and trembled, and they stood far off.”
Can you imagine walking towards a smoking, trembling mountain with thunder, lightning, and fire coming from it as the God of the Universe descends upon it because He wants you to hear His conversation with Moses?
“Moses spoke and God answered him with thunder…” Exodus 19:19
Moses apparently understood thunder.
Exodus 20:18 is describing the same scene, and according to what I have learned, the original Hebrew states this verse as “The people saw the voices and fires…” It’s an interesting way to think of this, but as God spoke they saw His voice as fire and the people were afraid.
How does that compare to Acts 2?
In the New Testament Pentecost, we read Yeshua gave the Holy Spirit as tongues of fire to His disciples. The people who had gathered in Jerusalem for the Feast of Weeks heard the disciples speaking to them in their own languages and were puzzled, amazed, or amused.
It may not have been thunder or fire coming from their mouths, but it was still impressive.
The very first Pentecost, God spoke to everyone through Moses.
After Yeshua ascended, God spoke through His Holy Spirit through fishermen, tax collectors, shepherds, and other people.
God still speaks through His Holy Spirit! #ThisSideofHeaven #ASignandaSeal
In Exodus 32, Moses came down the mountain to find the people worshipping a golden calf. In verses 25-29, Moses instructed the Levites to strike down those who built and worshipped this idol. Three-thousand people died on that [Pentecost]…
Fast forward to Acts 2:41 and we read on that Pentecost, three-thousand people were added to the numbers of those who believed in Yeshua.
God does not work on a linear timeline, but a circular one. Everything comes back to redemption.
I miscarried my first baby in late September 1995. The following year on September 23, 1996, I brought my twins home from the hospital. That date was not lost on me. I knew God was redeeming the loss we experienced.
He is so kind. He loves us like He loves His Son.
Nearly everything God did in the Old Testament reflected Yeshua.
As the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, God had Moses number each tribe and gave them a specific order when they camped and traveled according to Numbers 1 and 2. As they camped, all twelve tribes sat around the tabernacle, in four groups of three, while the Levites circled the tabernacle in the center of all the other tribes.
Most drawings I have seen of this looked like a mess of tents and camps around the tabernacle.
But, using the numbered group of tribes as “legs” you see a pattern in the orderly arrangement of this camp.
They were arranged with the tribes of Dan, Asher, and Naphtali grouped together with 157, 600 north of the tabernacle.
The tribes of Reuben, Simeon, and Gad were south of the tabernacle numbering 151, 450. These two groups are close in size giving them equal โlegs.โ
Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun were east of the tabernacle with 186, 400 – the longest leg.
And finally, west of the tabernacle numbering 108,100 were Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamรญn, with the shortest leg. When you lay the tribes out as they would have looked from the top of a mountain, you get a shape like this:
In the Hebrew alphabet, the last letter is a tav, which at the time of Moses was shaped like a cross or a lowercase “t.” Their alphabet letters have meanings unlike ours. According to the Talmud, the tav means truth. It is also the first letter in the word Torah. https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/137287/jewish/Tav.htm
Along with truth, the tav means a sign, seal, or mark.
Deuteronomy 6:4-8 is called the Shema. God told us His commands (Torah) should be on our hearts. It should be taught to our children and spoken about in our homes and wherever we go.
“You shall bind [my commands] as a signon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.”
Deuteronomy 6:8
The Torah was a sign or mark of following the Lord.
In the New Testament, we read that we have been sealed with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a sign of our faith in Yeshua as born again believers.
Ephesians 1:13 tells us, “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit
From the beginning of time as we know it, God has orchestrated signs, wonders, and miracles to show Himself to us, lastly sending His Son as a sign of His love for us and desire for relationship.
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.
Hebrews 1:1-3
When Yeshua said, “I am the Alpha and Omega,” in Hebrew it would have been, “I am the Aleph and the Tav. Aleph being the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet meaning Leader or First. This letter is used to represent God. Essentially what Yeshua was saying is, “I am God, and I am the sign of the covenant.”
Today’s post is a little different for me. It’s a poem which comes from a friend, Brita Alaburda, who is very artistic and has a love for words. She loves God, people, poetry, and chocolate cake (: among other things. She is also a fellow Word Weaver. Please let her know what you think of her poem! Thank you.
Corrosion comes to this corruptible goblet
When a decision is made
to play out
my mindโs ecstatic imaginations
eating away
at the incorruptible lustrous silver
of the conversations
between the King and I
preferring the gradual, vain destruction
of thoughts causing selfish reaction
and in doing
the organic metallic is blemished
I am left dull
as a woman tarnished
I succumb to my stained silence
no longer articulating the artistic,
with the only sound being my discolored groaning
I close my eyes
feel a sensitivity to
majestic Life unlike myself,
commanding a seeking
So I do what I know to do โ ask โ
If it is possible, my cup has become dark–
clean me?
And I am empty–
fill me?
Allow the words of my living to speak freely again?
Or maybe you found out your child would be diabetic, deaf, blind, autistic, or have some type of disability.
Since my son was premature, he didn’t hit developmental milestones on time. He was taking his time crawling; he rolled everywhere he wanted to go.
We held his hands while helping him stand or take a few steps. But he did not want to do that. He cried and clung to us terrified we would let go of him. After a while of this, and taking him to our doctor for regular checkups, our doctor recommended an orthopedist.
Matthew was nearly two years old when he saw Dr. Schrader.
After being in his office for three minutes, Dr. Schrader told us, “I’m pretty sure I know what’s wrong, but let me do some x-rays first.”
He came back to the room with the diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy.
This diagnosis shocked us and left us in disbelief. I knew of Cerebral Palsy, but my husband did not know what this meant. He immediately thought it was like Muscular Dystrophy, which can mean death at a fairly young age.
The doctor assured us Matthew would get no worse. He would need physical and occupational therapy but would be fine.
Still, it was hard to see our son barely able to walk at four years old, and needing extremely painful surgery. It killed me. He recovered well but used a tiny walker for two years or so, and needed multiple surgeries.
My husband didn’t take it well. We sought prayer for healing many times; even taking him to a local faith healer. We wanted Matthew to have a “normal” life.
Mike and I wondered what God was doing, and why He allowed this. I struggled with my faith at times as well.
Mark 9:14-29 tells us of a story of a man struggling with his faith.
The disciples could not cast out the demon in his son, so he took it up with Jesus. The father asked Jesus,
“If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” I love Jesus’ answer…”If I can?”
The father cried out, “I believe; Lord help my unbelief!”
What does this mean? I have heard many explanations about it and have attempted to explain it myself.
I read a devotional on this by Chaim Bentorah from Biblical Hebrew Studies. He explains that a certain Aramaic (another Semitic language) word for faith or believe (there is more than one) refers to a mother nursing her baby. There is an underlying meaning, he explained:
Faith or belief in the Semitic mindset is a bonding, an expression of love, honor and respect. We tell people in our Western culture that they must believe, like it is a great effort. They must grit their teeth, clutch their fist and like the child in โMiracle on 34th Streetโ keep repeating over and over: โI believe, I believe.โ Yet hayaman (belief, faith) is as natural as a mother nursing her baby. The baby looking up into its motherโs eyes and the mother looking into her childโs face shows pure love, commitment, and bonding. Nothing is forced, disciplined, it just happens.
We can imagine the father in Mark’s story having plans for his son’s future just as we do for our children. I often thought about Matthew’s life when he was an infant–who he would grow up to be, do, and what sports he may play.
When this father said, “Help my unbelief,” the Aramaic word for unbelief correlates with “little faith” more than lack of faith.
Chaim goes on to say this father loved his son and he loved Jesus, but he needed his love in the proper order. We know we need to love Jesus more than anything, but when your child, spouse, or other loved one needs healing, it’s hard to think of anything else.
Chaim explains this even more:
His love at that moment for his son was greater than his love for Jesus, but what little love he had for Jesus he asked that Jesus accept that as its priority. The man was literally saying: โI want to love you more than my son, but to be honest, that is a little hard right now, accept what love I can give you.โ
How did Jesus respond to this..?
Jesus responded by healing the manโs son.
He is so good! When we struggle with unbelief or putting our love for God in the right order, He understands!
He understood how much we wanted Matthew healed. He understands the love of a parent for their child…God knows the love of a child as well as we do.
When we struggle with our faith, sometimes it’s not that we don’t love Jesus, it’s just that we need our love put in the proper order. Jesus can help with that. He doesn’t hold back healing or His love because we struggle.
Jesus doesn’t hold back healing or His love because we struggle. #disablities #specialneeds #ThisSideofHeaven
God did not heal Matthew all at once. He had other issues, medications, and surgeries until he was seventeen. But God loves us and always knew our needs. He has never stopped providing for us or our children.
Matthew still has some minor difficulties. Our pastor at that time, asked us if complete healing meant Matthew’s personality, love for God, and his gentle spirit changed, would we still want it?
Our answer was NO.
Matthew’s struggles (and ours) are creating us to be who God wants us to be. Matthew’s love for the Lord is evident to all who know him. He has never felt sorry for himself or wanted pity from others. He is stronger than most people I know.
We wouldn’t want it any other way.
In what ways do you need help putting your love for Jesus in the proper priority?
It has been my life. In 1992, I married my Greek husband, Mike (aka Minas). Little did I know what I was getting into.
On our wedding day, An Egyptian friend brought a pan of his famous baklava to our reception as a gift. Watching all the Greek women surround that pan of baklava, smelling it and holding it to the light as they whispered in Greek, “What is this?” “Who brought it… it’s not Greek…” was embarrassing.
Moral of the story? Take nothing but Greek baklava to a Greek wedding or any other Greek get together…They know the difference!
When Mike and I got engaged, we went to a family party for his uncle. I have never had so many people kiss my cheeks in one day. About the time I met everyone, it was time to say our goodbyes and start the entire process again.
Just like the movie, Greeks name their children after someone else in the family, and as a result, you have many of the same names in one family. There is a Louis 1, 2 and 3, and Louis 1’s daughter is Louise, who has a daughter named Mary after Mike’s mom. So, there is Mary, my mother-in-law, Mary, my husband’s cousin, as well as a niece, and our daughter’s middle name is Mary. Mike’s dad was Theodore, then there is Mike Theodore, Anthony Theodore, Teddy, and T.J. (Theodore James.) There are two Michaels and one Mike, too.
And, no doubt, I have missed some!
His family is wonderful! His parents, who have now passed, never made me feel anything less than family. They had big hearts with which to love all their children, in-laws, and grandchildren. They would have done anything for you.
I learned a great deal about the Greek culture and language living in this family. My husband likes to say โGreeks are proud of their prideโ or is it, โThey take pride in being proud.โ Anyway, it’s true. They have a lot to be proud of.
There are many Greek words that can’t be translated into English. Mike’s family owned a restaurant which I helped with every once in a while. Mary spoke both Greek and English. With us she would sometimes start in English and suddenly switch to Greek in the middle of the sentence because there was not a word in English to say what she wanted to say. When I asked her what she said, she would answer in two or more sentences to define the Greek word.
This knowledge helped me appreciate the language and culture of the New Testament. Word studies fascinated me, and they deepened my understanding of scripture.
However, I have learned there is a big difference between the Greek and Hebrew minds and/or thinking. It’s good to understand this when studying scripture.
Greeks are logical thinkers. Their (ancient) language is made up of mostly nouns, and the pronouns used most are “I” and “me.” The Greeks heavily influenced our culture, as well as most of Europe starting with Alexander the Great.
Greek philosophers taught more about the mind than the heart. They believed only the state could teach children, parents were incapable.
The Hebrew mind is quite different. Consisting of more verbs, their language is about doing, not thinking.
The pronouns they use most are, “we,” and “us.” They thought with their hearts, not their heads. In the ancient language there was no word for mind, they included it in the word for heart. They also believed in teaching the child from home. Every son learned the skills of their father, like Jesus.
In Hebrew, a word for believe is aman, it is compared to a tent peg.
“The word, ‘believed’ is the very same Hebrew verb aman.
The picture we have from this is that Abram was firm in his devotion to God. Just as a stake planted in firm ground supports the tent, even in a storm, Abram will support God, even in the storms of life.”
“The Hebrew verb aman means more than just knowing something to be true.”
The Greek word believe deals with what we think to be true, and where our confidence or persuasion lies, while the Hebrew meaning represents a firm foundation in God and His Word. Hebrew deals with action, not thought.
So, many can say, “I believe in God”, or “I believe in Jesus” without really putting their trust in Him. Unless there is an action, or devotion, and a firm foundation in God and His Word, believe can mean little more than, “I think he is real.”
Do we want to be thinkers or doers when it comes to our belief in Jesus?
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
James 1:22-27
We need to consider whether we want to be like the Greeks or the Jewish people in our thinking. Do we want to be thinkers or doers?
Not a fight with your spouse, your kids, or even a friend, but against the forces of darkness? Wow, you weren’t expecting that, right?
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12.
Over the last few months, I have heard from friends and family who were struggling with terrible dreams, difficulty sleeping, and noises in the house for no apparent reason. Now, I am not the kind of person who sees a demon under every bush.
But….sometimes, the Holy Spirit just tells it like it is.
There are reasons evil spiritual forces are at work around us.
We can open the door for them to walk on through.
By what we watch on TV, take part in, or expose ourselves to gives satan the right to be in our lives or homes. Pornography opens a huge door into our livesโfrom magazines to movies to books we read, they can all contain different levels of porn.
Others can open the door, and as a result, we will be attacked.
The people we surround ourselves with can have open doors in their lives. If they are our spouse or child, then we can protect ourselves with the Blood of Jesus.
Sometimes, the Lord allows spiritual warfare to teach us how to stand and pray against it.
We would not know how to fight if we were never in that situation.
Lack of unity.
Satan loves when we are against one another. He loves when we let our disagreements and passions turn us on each other.
Training
The military trains by running scenarios. Real-life scenarios, so the soldier knows what to do if he or she is ever in a particular situation. The TV show Seal Team, often shows them going through simulations to rescue a hostage within a model of the building known to hold the person. The warriors practice “rescuing the hostage” until they can do it precisely and timely.
As Christians, we are warriors living where the Natural and Spiritual realms intersect. We can have interactions with the angelic or demonic realm whether or not we believe in them. We must know how to deal with the forces of evil. Jesus has given us the authority to act.
Satan loves ignorance. But God doesn’t want us to be unaware. He allows situations and battles with the enemy to prepare us and keep us spiritually sharp.
We must also be in His Word. It is our training manual. The word Torah (the word for the first 5 books of the Bible) is often interchanged with the word Law. But Torah, in Hebrew, means to teach or instruct. God gave us His Word so we can learn about the ways of satan, man, and God. So, we can become prepared for the life of a believer in Christ.
Jesus never promised it would be easy. But He will teach us, are you willing to learn?
Lack of Unity
We are also living in a period when time as we know it has never been closer to the Last Days.
A pandemic has overtaken our world, our country is divided over politics, and abortion has taken the lives of over 60 million babies.
Social media allows people to say things over the internet they would never say to your face.
Not to mention, you can get beaten up for supporting the wrong political candidate.
Satan is having a heyday!
He is pitting brothers and sisters, and husbands and wives against one another, church members are in opposition to one another, and even various church denominations contend against one another over theology.
We aren’t even happy about the versions of the Bible some people read, for crying out loud.
Our country, our world, needs the believers of Jesus to be united. Our President needs our prayers as well as our Representatives, Congress, and Governors.
Jesus calls us to be prayer warriors not pew warmers!
Jesus calls us to be warriors, not pew warmers! If we canโt stand up to satan for our family or ourselves, how will we ever stand up to him for our cities, states, country, and world?
Letโs not watch from the sidelines but get involved in the battle.
โYou are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.โ 1 John 4:4, ESV.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 ESV
At twenty-five years old, I had a stomach ulcer from the unbearable stress of my job.
I had found a laboratory who would hire an inexperienced college graduate with a B.S. in biology. The VA hospital needed a histology technician, and they would train me to do the job.
Histologists make slides from the tissue removed from the body during surgery, which pathologists review to make a diagnosis for the patient.
My lab consisted of my supervisor and one other histology lab techโI was the youngest. Both women had been working in this lab for years. I came in excited to learn. But I didnโt realize that I would learn more than histologyโฆ
God was about to throw me into the middle of a spiritual battle.
My supervisor, a Jamaican woman fond of talking about curses and voodoo dolls, did not like me from day one. I believed her goal was to make my life and job miserable.
She began by criticizing my work clothes, the way I styled my hair, and wearing my contact lenses. She demanded I pulled back my hair and wear glasses. Good thing I wasnโt there to find a boyfriendโฆ it wouldโve never happened. Although she thought I flirted with all the doctors who came into our lab because I acknowledged their presence.
It got worse. She didnโt allow me to take some of my breaks and if she decided she wanted me back in the lab before lunch was over, she would stage a mysterious phone call from a family member, who hung up before I got to the phoneโฆ
My supervisor criticized my work in every way and at times compared it to that of a five-year-old. Equipment from my locker disappeared after she watched me stow it away for the night. She even called my house to see if I was sick after I had called off.
I cried to the Lord every single day. I was too demoralized by her to complain and fear and intimidation held me hostage.
Even though it seemed like discouragement and hopelessness were my constant companions, I sensed Godโs presence. He met with me each morning as I worshipped and poured out my heart to Him; He filled my soul. I grew in faith and dependence on my Savior.
However, the more I matured in my faith, the worse the harassment got.
So we can confidently say, โThe Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?โ Hebrews 13:6 ESV
After a year, I interviewed for a job on another floor of the hospital. They offered me the position, but I knew the Lord did not want me to take that job. As I turned it down, God gave me immediate peace.
Once I had endured that job for two years, the head lab manager gave me a significant pay raise and promotion because of my degree and two years on the job. My supervisor, who had no control over this, was furious. She increased the attacks, wanting to prove I was undeserving of this promotion.
I begged God to let me leave; He did.
If I had taken my eyes off Jesus and surrendered to the hopelessness of my circumstances, I would have missed out on a job I loved.
During those two years, the Lord surrounded me with praying friends and mentors who taught me how to pray against the spiritual darkness I faced. I had faith the Lord was with me.
After I quit, the Lord had an incredible job waiting for me in cancer research. They were looking for a histologist with two years of lab experience!
If I had taken my eyes off Jesus and surrendered to the hopelessness of my circumstances, I would have missed out on a job I loved.
No matter what situation you may find yourself in today, whether a bad relationship, a difficult job, or a health problem, donโt give up. Keep your eyes on Jesus and hold on to your faith.
He has you in the palm of His hand. He will never leave you or forsake you.
In what way is the Lord teaching you to trust Him?
In what way is the Lord teaching you to trust Him?
The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense. Proverbs 27:9 NLT
I didnโt know I needed a friend like her, but God did.
I liked her as soon as I met her. Fifteen years older than me and married with children, Marilyn was a charming woman who smiled with her eyes, not just her mouth.
I was out of school, single, looking for a full-time job in biology, and trying to get involved in a new church. I wasnโt sure how well I knew who God was, even though my parents reared me in a Christian home. It was confusing being told most of my life to be good, wear the right clothes, act godly, go to church, and watch my language. None of these helped me have a relationship with Jesus.
God sent Marilyn into my life to show me who Jesus was and how much He loved me. She was an excellent teacher and godly woman. She loved Jesus, and her love for Him rubbed off on everyone she knew.
Her way of teaching drew me in when she and her husband began instructing our Young Adult Sunday school class. The old stories came to life as she gave me a new understanding of the book of Daniel and Isaiah, and her teaching on Spiritual Warfare showed me I could be victorious in this life.
Most of all, she opened my eyes to a Savior who wanted a personal relationship with me. His love for me was not based on my works, but on His. Jesus wanted to be my friend. No one had explained Jesus was interested in meโin my life. He wanted me to talk and walk with Him. Jesus really loved me!
Marilyn and I laughed, cried, and prayed together. She was always there for me and so patient when I showed up at her house unexpectedly during dinner.
Although Marilyn and I donโt live close anymore, she is still my spiritual mom and friend.
Have you had someone be like Jesus to you?
Today, more than ever before, our world needs men and women with the heart of Jesus. Itโs what our teens, college kids, and young adults need. Like us, they desire to have someone love them for who they are, to come beside them, and walk out life with them.
No judgment, no criticism; just acceptance and love.
Itโs what Jesus did.
Today, more than ever before, our world needs men and women with the heart of Jesus. #Disciplemakers #disciples #Friendship
I pray my children meet someone like Marilyn one day; someone who will model the character of Jesus to them.
This culture is so different from the one I grew up in during the late 70s and 80s. Our teens and college students need direction, love, and the truth of Jesus and His Word in their lives.
Jesusโ desire is for us to do as He did; make disciples of all the nations.
And Jesus came and said to them, โAll authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)
God may never call us to another country, but making disciples in our families and right in our own backyard is the perfect place to start. You may be the friend who is as sweet as perfume to someone in need.
Who are you discipling?
The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense. Proverbs 27:9 NLT
โRemember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.โ Exodus 20:8-11.
How do you view the Sabbath? Is it going to church on Sunday? On Saturday? Is it twenty-four hours of rest or just going to church in the morning?
Growing up, my family went to church on Sunday morning without fail. We went on Wednesday nights, revival weeks, missionary weeks, and when the Evangelists came to town.
But Sunday was special. We had a big meal in our home after church, most often with friends or family. We could not do laundry or clean, and we could do no yard work, either (we LOVED those rules).
But, it could be legalistic, too. Sometimes a girl needed to wash her favorite pants for school on Sunday night. Nope, not allowed. It was Sunday, we should’ve done that on Saturday.
Although, this seems extreme to some, I realized later, my parents were trying their best to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.
My father loved sports. He watched all the games throughout the week and weekend, until one day…The Lord convicted him of spending too much time on Sunday in front of the TV, watching sports and ignoring Him and his family. From that day on until he was in a nursing home later in life, he never watched sports on Sunday.
God takes Sabbath rest seriously.
He set the example for us in Genesis 2:2-3:
“And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on theseventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.”
Do you think God really needed to rest?
In Babylon, starting around 605 BCE, the evil king Nebuchadnezzar took the people of Judah captive three different times. God even called Nebuchadnezzar “His servant.” (Jeremiah 25:9.)
They stayed in Babylon for seventy years until king Cyrus allowed them to return to Jerusalem to repair the desolate city.
Not only were they to rest on the seventh day, but as a country, their land was to rest on the seventh year as well. They did not do this.
Why did God allow this exile and captivity to happen? Judah was disobedient and would not listen to the Lord. (Jeremiah 25:3-4.)
Bottom line, they did not keep the Sabbath for 490 years. So, God sent them to a pagan country where they might appreciate what they had, and have plenty of time to make up the Sabbaths they missed.
When I consider the time we are in with nearly every restaurant, park, movie theater, sports event, and anything fun closed indefinitely, I can’t help but consider how many Sabbaths have we missed?
Could the Lord be using this time to make up for our missed Sabbaths? Have we ever celebrated Sabbath like God wanted us to?
Rest.
Unless you are a healthcare worker or considered an essential business employee, we all have time to do that, right?
I wrote a post a while ago called Living out the Sabbath (Shabbat). I wrote about a time we visited Israel and ate a Shabbat meal with an Orthodox family. They explained the customs as we ate the meal and we watched them honor each member of the family. They wowed us the entire night.
There was not a dry eye.
Would it be so hard to carry out the real Sabbath, now? Can we enjoy the rest God has granted us once this is all over and (hopefully) things return to some normalcy?
God gave us the Sabbath for our restโfor our benefit. Rest allows our bodies to heal, our spirits to renew, and our minds to quiet down.
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 KJV.
I like the King James version of this verse because it uses the phrase “sound mind” instead of self-discipline or self-control. Fear tends to make us conjure up a lot of possible (usually frightening) outcomes as a response to something we can’t control.
Fear takes away our usual sound or rational thoughts.
I am not usually a fearful person, but this past week tested me.
My 23-year-old daughter started showing symptoms of the coronavirus last Tuesdayโsore throat, headache, and fever. We hoped it was a normal virus or cold. But by Friday she had pressure in her chest and was weak and dizzy.
She could barely walk across the room without resting. She was nauseous if she thought about eating.
My momma heart hurt for her, and fear was crouching at the door of my emotions. I told the Lord I didn’t want to give in to the fear that was threatening to take over me. I told Him this many times. I kept praying for Alexandria.
If you’ve read many of my blogs, you know my twins were preemiesโborn at 27 weeks. They had their share of ventilators, pneumonia, and asthma. We worried that her lungs could be ripe for this virus.
Let me just say here she was never officially tested or diagnosed. We were told to stay away from hospitals and doctors’ offices unless you were having trouble breathing. She wasn’t. So we stayed away.
We have a holistic approach to health care. So, we had her on liquid silver and zinc, and vitamins A, B, C, and D. I felt like a pill pusher…
On Friday morning, my husband and I anointed her and prayed for healing. During prayer, the Lord gave me a picture of Alexandria as an infant in the NICU isolate. I remembered this day.
We received a call at 4:30 in the morning telling us our baby girl was in critical condition. She had pneumonia in both bronchial tubes within her chest. She was no longer breathing on her own.
When I got to the NICU, I saw my very sick baby girl. She was gray and still. The doctor gave her a drug to paralyze her so she would not fight the ventilator. We prayed for her and asked everyone we knew to pray for healing.
So, I as saw this picture in my mind, I felt as though the Lord reminded me He healed her then and He could heal her now.
Peace ran through my body, just as it had twenty-three years ago.
Monday morning Alexandria got up, feeling herself again. The fever was gone, the headache, aches and pains disappeared. She wanted to eat.
I am thankful for all the people who were praying for our daughter.
But, mostly, I am thankful for my Heavenly Father who knew her plight and never left her or our family.
My family is in quarantine for at least another week or two. The rest of us have no symptoms and I am praying it stays that way.
But my house seems small with five adults here ALL. DAY. LONG! Let me tell you.
I am thankful for friends who have dropped off groceries and hair color, too :).
Stay healthy and don’t give in to fear. It has no place in your home or life. Give it to Jesus and let Him send it to go back to the place it came from.
We have much to be thankful for. We have homes, food, and people who love and care about us.
With the current state of our world, many are thinking this is the beginning of the end. While Scripture tells in Matthew 4:8, “All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.” What does that really mean?
Unfortunately, this world is not getting better. People are inherently selfish and evil without God. The Bible tells us this.
I saw a video with Chinese nurses, doctors, patients, and dead in Chinese hospitals. (I am not sure when these videos were filmed, it may have been at the height of the epidemic). It was heartbreaking!
It’s so easy for us to see China as the enemy, or a place filled with godless, evil people. But, these are people under extreme stress, crying, wailing, and begging for help. Nurses watching people die before their eyes, while working 15-18 hours or more everyday–overwhelmed.
These people are tired and hopeless. They need our prayers and they need a Savior.
The truth is there is a growing, thriving, underground church in China. When people are denied human rights for their emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being, hopelessness escalates. But, when they search for hope they will find Jesus. And they are!
How long will it take for our country to become this hopeless? We are already on our way. But, are we so bad that we are searching for Jesus? Are we willing to surrender our will, pride, materialism, and desires to be wholehearted, all-in, followers of Jesus, yet? What will it take?
How bad does it have to become?
Persecution grew the early church. Laziness and apathy stunt its growth.
Would we be willing to go against our government and meet in underground churches in the cover of night for hours, feeding on the Word of God and mouthing songs of praise? No, we don’t have to live this way, thank God!
But can you imagine your neighbors, or you or your family doing this?
The United States is becoming more and more godless. Some churches forego teaching holiness for a feel-good, do-as-you-please-God-will-still-love-you gospel.
God is Holy. He tells us to be holy as He is holy.
God is also LOVE. He is the very embodiment of love. He calls us to Himself. The Father disciplines us in this lifetime, so He does not have to punish us in the next.
โSo have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” – Matthew 10:26-28
We need not be hopeless! Neither do we need to let fear overcome us. The almighty, all-powerful Creator loves us.
God can right all wrongs with a thought or eradicate a pandemic with a word.
So, why doesn’t He?
Did God create this virus? I don’t believe so. But whether man created it or it was the result of eating animals we were never meant to eat, we have free will.
God will not take our free will away even if we use it to kill ourselves and those around us.
The Father uses all things to bring glory to Himself and for our good. If God cannot use it for good, then He will not allow it to happen.
This is not the end of the world.
Could this virus be a wake-up call? Can it change the way we have been living? I hope so.
I believe God will and is using this virus to open people’s eyes and hearts.
We are fragile. A microscopic, non-living organism has brought some parts of this world to its knees. Did this catch God by surprise? No.
We have a non-fragile God who can help us in our time of need.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
This is God’s promise.
We love to quote these promises. But there is more to these verses….
“Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you…” Jeremiah 29:12-14
This is our part…
I’ve studied Revelation. It’s gonna get much worse than this.
Birth pains tell us something is getting ready to happen–new life is on its way. This present time may or may not be birth pains. Only God knows.
That is not meant to cause fear, but to encourage us to live a life for Jesus. He is on the winning side. We need to take that seriously.
There will be New Life–God has promised that for all who love and follow Him.
Have you ever been in a difficult or dark time when you felt all alone?
Did it feel as though everyone you knew had forsaken you? Maybe it was a crisis in your family or marriage and your friends didnโt know how to handle it. A difference of beliefs or conviction can drive a wedge between people and leave us feeling heartbroken and isolated.
Jesus experienced dark days near the end of his life. The men he had spent three years of his life with abandoned him when trouble arrived.
Heavily armed guards sent by the chief priest and scribes arrested Jesus after He prayed all night preparing for the upcoming universal battle between life and death. His disciples saw Him walk on water, feed thousands of men, women, and children, heal the sick and give sight to the blind; they even saw Him raise the dead. Yet, they deserted Him.
Jesus said to them, โYou will all fall away, for it is written, โI will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.โโ Mark 14:27 (ESV).
Years ago, my husband and I shared a friendship with four other couples. We attended the same church, dined at each otherโs home, shared life, worshipped and studied Godโs Word together. I loved these people as though they were my flesh and blood.
I was preparing to teach a Revelation study I had written for our class. One day during prayer, the Lord warned my husband the Bible study would come under attack.
We prayed and asked our friends to pray for the study and us as well. Halfway into the study, a division within our ensemble of friends developed. The split was not because of the Bible study but resulted from one couple walking away from their faith and God. No one knew what to do, so they ignored it. As a result, it divided us.
Because I wanted to fix it, I reached out to my pastor for adviceโmy friends viewed that as disloyalty. I was a snitch.
Those once close friends now treated my husband and me as if we no longer existed. It was horrible. Not only had a great friend walked away from the church and God, but our other brothers and sisters ostracized us for seeking help outside our group.
I was miserable while I continued teaching my study without them. My family sat alone during Sunday services while the remaining three couples of our once tight-knit group filled a separate row.
God did not leave me; He moved in closer.
I experienced a more intimate relationship with Him than I had never known. God healed my hurt and my wounds as I forgave those friends. We no longer see each other, but I hold nothing against them and have told them as much.
Jesus forgave His disciples, too. He restored them and used them mightily in the days that followed. He never left them nor forsook them.
Matthew 6:14 reminds us we all have debts to pay. If we forgive those who have wronged us, the Father will forgive us. If we do not forgive others, the Father will not forgive us of our sin.
If you have read many of my blog posts, you may already know my husband and I have three children, two being twins. Two weeks ago I wrote on a dream involving the pregnancy of my twins before I knew I was pregnant. You can read that here.
By the time my twins were a year old, I found out I was pregnant again (can you say surprised!). Because of the problems I had with the twins, I spent most of the first trimester in fear of losing this baby.
One day around week ten or eleven, I felt the calming voice of the Holy Spirit say, โYou will not lose your baby and it will be a boy.โ
Surprised, I was like, โI wonโt lose him? And heโs a boy?โ Nothing like having the God of the Universe speak the fear right out of you. Fear had no place in me nowโฆ I thought.
Later the doctor confirmed he was a boy. But it wasnโt long before fear crept back into my mind.
Another day, the Lord dropped a question into my mind: โWill you still love this baby if he is not perfect?
After catching my breath, I thought, Yes. I will still want and love this baby even if he has a birth defect, illness, or genetic issue. ย The Lord was preparing me for something, what, I didn’tt know. But, I had peace.
I told my husband. We waited and prayed for this little boy, yet to be born.
Michael was born early at six pounds. He was completely healthy. Mike and I thanked the Lord for him.
About the time Michael was four months old, my twins were twenty months. Their development was behind because of their prematurity, and Alexandria had just started walking.
It scared Matthew to try the slightest step and he didnโt crawl well either. We noticed he moved his little legs awkwardly as he tried to take a few steps with our help.
We made an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon soon after.
Mike and I thought he may need surgery on his hips since he wasnโt walking. But we were not at all prepared for what the doctor told us. Matthew had Cerebral Palsy (CP). Now, this is not at all a death sentence, but we never suspected our little boy would have long term problems.
Cerebral palsy results from damage to part of the brain controlling muscle tone. Matthewโs legs and other muscles were stiff (from the nerves over firing) making his muscles stay in a state of contraction. We noticed Matthew didnโt smile as quickly as Alexandria did, or roll over, or scoot on the floor. He was behind her in every way.
Matthew would not get worse but could get better with therapy.
By his second birthday we began physical and occupational therapy. Matthew got some braces for his legs and a cool little walker. He got good with the walker, too. Children use a walker differently than you see older adults use them. His went around his back and was open in front of him.
He would take off down a slight decline and raise his feet off the ground like he was on a ride.
Matthew had to have some painful surgeries, too. He had surgeries which stretched his muscles to lengthen them. See, his bones grew long, like they were supposed to, but his muscles remained contracted. That surgery took place when he was four. It was hard to see him in such pain.
It was hard to see kids ignore him, when he couldnโt keep up. Sometimes walking past families in McDonaldโs, Iโd hear children asking their parents, โWhatโs wrong with that boyโ, as they pointed to Matthew. Iโd see the mother mouth, โIโm sorryโ when she knew I overheard. It didnโt bother me. Children are children, mine did the same thing.
Itโs important to teach our children about things like these. For children to ask questions about what they donโt understand, is normal.
Itโs our job as parents to teach our children compassion and understanding for those different from them.
Although, Matthewโs twin, Alexandria became very sensitive to children with any kind of special need. She sought to become friends with the rejected and different kids in school. As a college student coming home from a trip to communist country, she was heart-broken how the government treated their deformed, and special needs children and adults. She couldnโt imagine Matthew treated that way.
From the difficult beginnings of his life Matthew always had good self-esteem. We never held him back from trying something. I remember as a toddler, he wanted to get on a small rocking horse which sat on the floor. He would try again and again to pull his little leg over the โsaddleโ of the horseโฆ until one day he got it. He sat on that horse so proud and rocked it!
Thatโs how our son is.
Matthew is twenty-four years old and he is very high functioning. He has been to Israel three times, graduated from college with a degree in International Relations, he speaks Arabic, and works as a financial analyst.
Nothing has held him back.
My husband had a hard time with Matthewโs diagnosis as first. He prayed and prayed the Lord would supernaturally heal him. Mike took him to a local faith-healer when Matthew was just four. I stayed home. Not that I didnโt want Matthew healed, it was just that the Lord had been so faithful to him!
My Fatherโs hand was on this little boy!
Our pastor asked us once if we would want Matthew healed if it meant Matthew might change from the compassionate, tender-hearted, God-loving boy he was. We both answered NO. We loved the little boy God had made him, disabilities and all.
God has a plan and purpose for every man, woman, and child born on this planet. Every child has value and is loved by the Father.
As he got up to answer it, he realized how late it was. โWho could be here at midnight?โ he thought. As he opened the door, there stood a friend who had traveled a long way and was both tired and hungry. Realizing he had nothing in his house to feed his friend, he hurried to his neighbor.
As he pounded on their door, the man shouted he had company who just arrived, and he had nothing to feed him. The neighbor called out, โLeave me alone, Iโm in bed!โ The man who had company did not give up. He continued to shout his need until his neighbor gave him what he wanted.
Before Jesus taught this parable in Luke 11:5-8, he taught the Lordโs Prayer. With that prayer, He showed us the way to pray. However, the parable explains how we are to pray. Itโs not just the words we use, but the persistence we show.
In Luke 11:8 (ESV), Jesus said about the neighbor who didnโt want to get out of bed, โI tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence (or persistence) he will rise and give him whatever he needs.โ What does this mean? The neighbor didnโt get up because his friend asked him for food; he got up because he knew his neighbor was not going away until he got what he needed.
The Hebrew equivalent of the word impudence is chutzpah and it means brazen tenacity. We can better understand this if we know the meaning of these two words, too. The word brazen means to be bold and without shame[1] and tenacity means to have determination. [2]
Is this how you pray? I honestly canโt say it describes all my prayers. In some rabbinical (Jewish) literature, they describe Mosesโ intercession for the children of Israel as if he took hold of Godโs garment and pleaded with Him to pardon them. [3] This is chutzpah. This is what Jesus taught.
In Luke 8:43-48, Scripture tells us about a woman who knew Jesus could heal her of a bleeding disorder if she could only touch His garment. There was a great crowd around Jesus; people were pressing up against Him making it almost impossible to get close.
Yet, her brazen tenacity didnโt let a crowd stop her from getting to the feet of Jesus. When she touched his garment, Jesus knew power had gone from of Him. After the woman came to Him and told Him why she touched Him, Jesus said, โDaughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.โ
The blind beggar in Luke 18:35-43 didnโt stop yelling for Jesus to have mercy on him even though people told him to be quiet. When Jesus asked him what he wanted, he replied, โLord, let me recover my sight.โ Jesus said, โRecover your sight; your faith has made you well.โ The beggar had brazen tenacity. He would not be silent, so Jesus stopped to talk to him.
Like them, our brazen tenacity evidences our faith. There are stories throughout the Gospels about people who did not take โnoโ for an answer by pushing past boundaries to get to Jesus. These were only a few stories in which Jesus said, โYour faith has healed you.โ
What about the times our faith and tenacity donโt get our prayer answered in the way we hope? We all know someone who didnโt get healed or lost a child or spouse from a terrible disease. Or maybe itโs you whose prayer has not been answered. Does Jesus love us less? Did He not hear our cries in the dark or at the altar? We donโt always know why we get a โnoโ or โwaitโ from our Lord.
In her book, To Live is Christ, Beth Moore explained that in the Bible Jesus healed for two reasons. One was to prove His authenticity. He was and is the Son of God. The second reason He healed was when natural methods were not possible. [4]
The healing or the suffering? God knows which one it is. He doesnโt want us to suffer, but if our suffering takes us deeper into our relationship with Him, then itโs worth it. He knows our ultimate healing is in Heaven. But that does not mean we pray with any less brazen tenacity. Like the man who needed food from his neighbor, keep pounding on Heavenโs door.
Is there anything you have not asked the Lord because you thought it wasnโt worthy or because you felt embarrassed by it? In the verses which follow the parable in Luke 11:9 (ESV), Jesus said,
โAsk and it will be given you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you.โ
Jesus doesnโt want us to stop asking, seeking or knocking. Approach His throne boldly knowing He hears you and He loves you. Never give up. Pray boldly with shameless determination.
It was night, and I was in the middle of a forest when I saw him.
It was difficult to make out his features; I only saw darknessโevil. He had something in his arms. What was it? It was small but moving on its own. It was a baby! I knew it could not be his, and I feared he would harm it. As I walked closer to him, he ran.
I chased him for what seemed like hours in the humid night air. My heart pounded and my chest heaved, but I couldnโt stop until I had the baby. Not knowing what I would do once I caught up with him, I kept running. I prayed hard.
God needed to help me rescue the baby.
I donโt know why, but he stopped. Catching up to the man, I snatched the baby from him, although I canโt remember how. Then I just ran and ran with him on my heels. I ruined his plan, and he was angry. He chased me to exhaustion. Suddenly, I realized there was nowhere to go. I had come to a white fence too high to climb with the baby in my arms. With my back to the fence, I watched as the figure approach meโhis arrogant eyes victorious. I didnโt know what to do.
I called out to Jesus; He was the only one who could rescue us.
As the evil one stood before me, trying to pluck the child out of my arms, I could only whisper the name of Jesus. I realized this man hated that Name. Although it was dark, I could see his body recoil. It made me brave. I shouted Jesusโ name with everything I had.
The Name terrified him and he ran as I pursued him, yelling Jesusโ name. I watched until he was out of sight.
Then I woke up.
The next day, I got up feeling nauseous. Since my husband and I were trying to get pregnant, and I worked in a hospital lab, my coworkers gave me a pregnancy test. It was positive.
Little did I know how difficult this pregnancy would be.
At eight weeks, I passed some blood. I panicked. I was sure I had miscarried. As the doctor did an ultrasound, he discovered I had twins and explained I passed nothing more than an isolated clot.
But it continued to go downhill from there. The morning sickness was terrible. I couldnโt eat anything but ice and lost weight for the first fourteen weeks of my pregnancy. The headaches and migraines were awful, too.
I passed out one afternoon at work while on my way to the bathroom. That freaked out my coworkers. The doctor told me later my babies had pressed against my abdominal aorta and temporarily cut off blood flow to my brain. It was the last time that happened.
At twenty-seven weeks, my water broke on my way to work. The shuttle driver, who picked me up at an offsite parking lot, drove me straight to the emergency room.
He was more of a mess than I was.
The doctors and nurses seemed amused by the shuttle driverโs reaction because I looked full-term. Once I explained I was twenty-seven weeks with twins, they sobered.
Fear overwhelmed me. I called my husband to tell him the bad news: our babies were coming too soon. They transferred me to a different hospital which was better equipped to handle premature births.
As they prepped me for a caesarian section, the nurse informed me my babies would only be a pound and a half each and would stay in the hospital until their due date, which was thirteen weeks away. I prayed they would be bigger than the nurse claimed.
After their birth, Alexandria and Matthew were each a little over two pounds. A nurse told me I must have been farther along than I thought. But I knew better. Doctors and nurses rushed to hook them up to ventilators, IV lines, and heart and respiratory monitors.
One day, two weeks later, my daughter developed pneumonia in both bronchial tubes. The phone call from the hospital, informing us our baby was in critical condition, woke us at four a.m. We prayed the rest of the morning for her. When I got to the NICU later, she looked as if she were dying. Alexandriaโs skin was gray from a lack of oxygen, and the doctor gave her a drug paralyzing her to prevent her from fighting the ventilator. God was faithful, though. He healed her tiny body and before long; she was as feisty as ever.
Another time, Matthew stopped breathing after the doctor removed him from the ventilator. As I watched the nurse bagging himโforcing air into his lungs, his tiny lifeless body refused to respond. She called the nearby doctor for help. I stood, wanting to scream for someone to help my baby. Instead, I prayedโbegging God to save Matthew.
Suddenly, it felt as though someoneโs hands were on my shoulders and I felt a peace I cannot describe. I heard the Lordโs assurance Matthew would go home with me as I sat back down in my chair. My babies came home after ten weeks at the hospital.
Matthew and Alexandria are now almost twenty-four years old. Although they had difficulties at times, they are healthy and happy college graduates.
The baby in my dream represented the babies I did not know I was pregnant with. At the time of my nightmare, we did not have a fence, nor was it in our plans to have one.
My husband had a six-foot white fence installed after I gave birth.
I realized after a year or two, it was this enclosure I had seen in my dream. The woods behind our property is where it had taken place.
ย The Lord gave me that vision to prepare me, not just for the battle my babies would go through to survive but to show me He would be there as soon as I called His Name. He had already won the battle; all I needed was faith.
Matthew 21:22 ESV says, “And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive if you have faith.”
This is my devotional on Psalm 18. It is my favorite Psalm. You can read my article plus many more devotions in the book, Feed Your Soul with the Word of God, a compilation by Beebe and Katy Kauffman.
He was in a fight for his life!
He knew who he wasโhe would be king. God chose him. But the reigning, evil ruler refused to give up his throne. He pursued the young ruddy shepherd to kill him. Saul wanted to show David who was stronger. David, however, was resilient and sharp. He knew where to hide and how to fight. After all, he had killed lions, bears, and even a giant. How could Saul overtake him?
But, even would-be kings have moments of weakness.
David had enough. He was tired of fighting, hiding, and running. He got weaker and Saul seemed to get stronger and more persistent. Believing his life was ending, David cried out to God.
God heard his cry.
The earth rocked and quaked as lightning streaked across the sky. Godโs eyes glowed with fire and smoke rose from His nostrils. On a cherub, He thundered out of the heavens under cover of darkness. Riding on the wind, every cloud parted as hailstones and arrows went before Him. As He broke through the sky, the brightness of His glory brought everything to light and exposed the earth.
He saw His beloved and gripped his hand as a sea of destruction threatened to take him over. He set David in a safe place away from his enemy. Why?
As fruit ripens on a branch before it is eaten, God was making David a righteous man. The shepherd who would be king kept the ways and laws of the LORD. He knew who he was and to whom he belonged. Davidโs heart was after Godโs.
God is a God of magnificent character. He never changes. God is kindhearted, blameless, and pure. The Lord loves the humble and is light in our darkness.
As Godโs strength and righteousness surrounded him, Davidโs fear left him. God replaced it with invincibility. He was feeling like himself again.
Bring on Saulโs troops! There was no wall he could not leap. As a buckโs hooves balance him on the mountain tops, David knew he could not stumble. God trained him for this war. Now he could bend a bow of bronze.
God is perfect. His Word is true. He is the shield which protects us. There is only one God, and He is our Rock. He saves us. As a mother wraps her arm around her toddler to keep him from falling, God supports us to make us great.
David could stand, with the power of God working in him. He was no longer the pursued, but the pursuer. David destroyed his enemies, and they did not rise again. He was no longer the one who feared; he put the fear of the Lord in his adversaries. There was none to help them, no one to hear their cries. They were as dust in the wind; as mud on the road.
The conflict with his people disappeared. David became the head of nations and people from all over revered and obeyed him. Strangers feared him because the power of his God was on him.
The LORD lives; blessed be my Rock and exalted is the God of my salvation.
God gave David justice and conquered nations under him. He delivered him from his enemies and exalted him above those who sought to destroy him. The LORD rescued him from the man of violence.
David sang Godโs praises to all nations. God made him king. God showed His love to David and his descendants and will forever.
____________________________
Remove Davidโs name and put yours in its place. See the truth of what God will do for you. Satan is your enemy. God will rush to you when you cry out to Him as He did David. Why?
Because He delights in you!
Godโs nature is to rescue, to love, to protect, and to restore.
Itโs what He did for David and what He will do for you. Sometimes God fights our battles, and in others He strengthens us to fight. Even now, He is training you how to win. With every battle you become stronger to lean more on your Savior and Rock.
Do you know the meaning of your name? My name, Stephanie, comes from the Greek word, stephanos which means crowned. Revelation 19:12 (ESV) says of Jesus:
“His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems [stephanos], and he has a name written that no one knows but himself.”
I really don’t like to be called anything but Stephanie, meaning I don’t like my name shortened. It ends up sounding like stuff or staph…who wants to be called staph?
In English we call the Son of God, Jesus. Messianic Jews call him Yeshua. In Matthew 1:21, an angel came to Joseph in a dream and told him the name for her son.
“She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.โ
Yeshua means salvation. In Hebrew, we find his name written as Yeshuah. It is the word for salvation. We see this word many times in Scripture.
“But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation [yeshuah, Jesus].” Psalm 13:5 ESV.
โBehold, God is my salvation [yeshuah, Jesus]; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation [yeshuah, Jesus]. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation [yeshuah, Jesus].” Isaiah 12:2-3 ESV.
There are many more: Exodus 15:2, Psalm 27:1, 62:1-2, Isaiah 49:6, 49:8, 62:11 Jonah 2:9…(Read this in a book called, The Rabbi, the Secret Message, and the Identity of the Messiah, by Carl Gallups, 2018.)
We often refer to the Father as God or Lord. God can be god as well when we are referring to a false god or idol. But, the Father has many names.
Jewish people call him Adonai, which means my Lords or Masters (yes, it is plural). They refuse (out of reverence) to call him Yahweh, which is a four-letter word in Hebrew: Yod Hey Vav Hey = YHVH. Our Bible translates this as LORD. Here is a cool video which explains this better. Please watch it.
Yahweh is also known as Jehovah. Jehovah means (I AM). In her book, To Know Him by Name, Kay Author explains Yahweh or Jehovah means, “I am that I am. I am the self-existent one. I am everything and anything you will ever need.” ( Multnomah Books, 1995, pg. 61).
Then there is his name,Elohim. This is a masculine, plural name as well. From my Bible study The Jewels of Hebrews, I wrote:
God is referred to as Elohim in Genesis 1–the account of creation. This name for God in the Hebrew language is ืึฑืึนืึดืื, and it consist of five consonants (read right to left). Hebrew is both a written and pictorial language. Each letter represents a picture or symbol adding to its meaning. The first letter of Elohim is an Aleph, or ื. It illustrates an ox and stands for leader or father. The next consonant, depicted by a shepherdโs crook, is a Lamed or ื, and it symbolizes the Son or shepherd. The third character is a Hey or ื, and it portrays a man with his arms raised. It represents the Holy Spirit or revealer. The fourth consonant, signifying a mighty deed or life, is a Yod, or ื, while the last letter is a Mem or ื, and suggests separation of the waters. This name for God is a plural, masculine word, and this one name contains the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit pictured as the mighty Creator. [i]
Names are important.
God knows your name, too. He knew it before you were born. He calls you by your name. You are a Somebody. You are known.
I watched my dog, Agape transform into a predator.
From my front window, I could see a herd of twelve deer, all does, walking up my long driveway. We have a six-foot-high fence and gate surrounding our five acres of property.
Our German shepherd guarded it. She saw them and at once went into hunter mode. Agape crouched, never taking her eyes off the deer while inching her way toward the herd. As she tore into a full sprint, they saw her and ran.
First, she separated them into two groups. The first group jumped over or went through the vertical PVC splines of our fence forcing them to expand to the circumference of their bodies.
She stayed with the second group, chasing them to the back of our property.
I followed window to window trying to keep up.
My dog drove the next group into two, and then separated a doe and her yearling, from the others. At this point, I ran to my garage to watch this match unfold.
The mother doe, who Agape separated from the yearling, came out of nowhere nearly knocking me over as she ran past me back to the front yard. The yearling ran along the opposite side of the driveway with my shepherd on her heelsโฆ uh, hooves.
We have a fifteen-foot-wide rock-lined creek across our front yard.
As I watched the yearling run towards it, I could see my dog getting excited as she anticipated the kill; the deer had nowhere to go.
Then, it happened.
In one graceful leap, the doeling sailed over the fifteen-foot cavern, catching up with her mother on the other side. My breath caught; it was a beautiful site.
But my sweet, defeated dog stood there, dumbfounded, staring at the creek and the deer on the other side. I called her. She came with her head bowed as she lost the will to chase the pair any longer.
What I Learned from this
First, watching this 100-pound dog go after twelve100-200 pound deer, I wondered how different the outcome may have been if those deer stopped acting as prey and realized they outnumbered and out-weighed my dog.
They could have turned the tables on her and left her running to her doghouse with her tail between her legs.
Our Predator
Satan is our predator.
Satan separates us from our family, church, or friends, with lies, confusion, hurt feeling, and unforgiveness as he moves in steal, kill, and destroy.
When Satanโs prowling turns into an all-out sprint against us, we can stand against him as the body of Christ. There is no need to scatter in fear.
Two years ago yesterday, we lost our sweet dog, Olivia. It was a very warm winter day. She went out onto our pond (that was frozen the day before) and fell in. We were at a funeral for a family member and no one was there to rescue her.
I was heartbroken and inconsolable.
I didn’t understand why God had let our sweet dog die this way with no one to help her.
As I reflect on that day, God was there with us. He did not let my children be the ones who found her. It was my husband. A friend was there to help him pull her from the pond.
A friend was there for me as I wept uncontrollably over the phone.
As I questioned God, He gave me this verse-
What is the price of two sparrowsโone copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. Matt. 10:29 NLT
If a single sparrow can’t fall to the ground without Him knowing, Olivia did not die without His knowledge either.
God understood my pain and was with me through it. He never left me.
When it was hard to pray–and it was–He was there praying for me. The Holy Spirit was interceding for me, too.
Adonai (God’s name meaning my Lord) promises:
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Ps. 34:18.
God sees all things and knows all things. Pain and death are terrible things. Unfortunately, this is the life we live on this earth.
Death is normal. Death is a part of life, whether or not we like it.
One day death will be thrown into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:14). No more death, only eternal life.
Until then, parents will mourn over the loss of their child or unborn baby; people will mourn over the loss of parents, friends, and siblings to terrible diseases and accidents. Friends will lose friends.
It was not part of God’s original plan. It came as a result of sin and the fall.
The good news is God is with us. He will never die; He will never leave us or forsake us. In our pain and grief, we can find God, and He promises to be near us.
Jesus knows loss, pain, and grief. He experienced everything we do so He would understand exactly how we feel and how to comfort us. (Hebrews 4:14-16.)
My son had a dream one night after Olivia died. In his dream every animal we have loved and lost came up from a hole in the ground. Each was perfect and alive. Each one remembered us. He shed tears thinking we would see Olivia and our other beloved pets again.
But, we have this hope: we can see those we have lost–every child, mother, father, sibling, and friend–in Heaven. All we need is to put our faith and trust in the One who died and rose again to give us eternal life–Jesus the Messiah.
I pray you know Jesus as your Savior and Lord!
If this spoke to you or feel someone can relate to my story, please share it.
I feel as though it’s been a while since I have written on my blog. I hope you had a great Christmas and I pray blessings on your new year.
This past Sunday I was talking to friends after church and one commented on my husband’s leather coat. She said it reminded her of the ’70s. I laughed and told her it was that old. My husband throws nothing away. But he has taken very good care of this coat so it does not look old at all.
Somehow our conversation drifted to Adam and Eve. My friend commented about God making clothes to cover Adam and Eve and the blood spilled to make those clothes.
According to Hebrew tradition[i], God did not just kill any animal to clothe the first couple, He killed the serpent who deceived them. It was this skin that’s believed to be the clothes Adam and Eve wore. This garment, passed down through generations, was eventually worn by John the Baptist.
God doesn’t make clothes that wear out.
Speaking of clothes, when the garments of the priests wore out, the priests tore them and used them for other things because they could throw none of them away. God made these clothes holy.
These pieces of cloth were used to wrap around the scrolls of the Torah, or Law to protect them from dirt and wear and tear.
The priests used other strips of the cloth for torch wicks within the Temple.
Yet, they used others for the sacrificial lambs. There was a group of shepherds known as Levitical shepherds who worked for the high priest. They lived in Bethlehem and raised sheep for the Temple sacrifices.
As new lambs were born, the shepherds swaddled them with cloth from the old priestly garments to protect them from cuts and bare spots in their wool.
They needed to be perfect.
The night Yeshua was born, it was these shepherds who the angels visited with the Good News. They were told there would be a sign, a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths….
Hebrew tradition shows that Mary would have wrapped Yeshua in the same priestly cloths as the sacrificial lambs. That was the sign these shepherds understood.
God gave another sign or clue way back in Genesis. This sign is easy for us to miss– but the Jewish people who heard the story of Abraham and Isaac didn’t miss it.
Abraham was told by God to take his only son Isaac and sacrifice him.
Genesis 22:1-2 ESV:After these thingsย God tested Abraham and said to him, โAbraham!โ And he said, โHere I am.โย ย He said, โTake your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go toย the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.โย
After getting everything ready for the sacrifice, Isaac asked his father, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?โ Abraham said,ย โGod will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.โ Genesis 22:7-8 ESV.
But, did God provide a lamb? Genesis 22:13-14 tells us.
“And Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called the name of that place, โThe Lord will provide.โโ
Does it matter that God provided a ram instead of a lamb? Yes, it does.
The rabbis read these stories aloud to the Jewish people, so they recognized that God provided a ram instead of a lamb. Since God did not provide the lamb in this situation, the Jewish people waited for Him to provide the Lamb.
That is why in John 1:29, John’s announcement is very important!
“The next day [John] saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, โBehold,ย the Lamb of God, whoย takes away the sinย of the world!โโ ESV
Only John called Yeshua a Lamb. He was the expected Lamb and prophet the Jewish people were waiting for.
Let me know your thoughts.
1 I have learned much from a man named Rev. Aaron Eime, who
is Deacon and Director of Research and Education at Christ
Church, Jerusalemand studied at the Hebrew University. Originally
from Australia, he is a dedicated Bible teacher exploring the
Hebraic Roots of the Christian Faith.
I believe he speaks and/or reads Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic, and Latin. (You
can google his name and watch different videos recorded of his speaking
engagements here in the US and Canada.) I’ve seen him a few times when he’s come to the Cleveland area.
Most of what he teaches comes from the Jewish tradition, meaning some of
these facts and beliefs were recorded by Jewish scribes and historians in
sources other than the Bible.
While every New Testament is the same around the world, the Old
Testament is not. As the disciples of Yeshua spread the Gospel, they also left
some of their own writings where they served. As a result there are other books included in other country’s Bibles, some places have sixteen additional Old Testament books.
Do you ever find the Bible difficult to read or understand? I think most of us could answer this with a ‘yes’.
The Bible was written over a span of 1500 years by Jewish men who lived in a Jewish culture and spoke Hebrew, Aramaic, and sometimes Greek. No wonder we can have trouble. The Bible is filled with Hebrew idioms which are hard for us to understand without their proper context.
If I told someone who was born and raised in Iran, โDonโt count your chickens before they hatch,โ she would have no idea what I meant because the saying’s origin is English. Thatโs how it can be when reading the Bible.
For instance, Matthew 6:22-23 says, โThe eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light,but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!โ
The Hebrew idiom states if you are a generous person then your eye is healthy, but a selfish manโs eye is bad. That is why Matthew 6:24 says, โNo one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.โ
About ten years ago, I got excited when a local rabbi taught me a few things about the Hebrew language. He told me interesting things about the Hebrew letters and their meanings. You see, not only does Hebrew have an alphabet, it has a pictograph and a numerical part to its language.
The first letter of the Hebrew language is Aleph and looks like this:
ื
It has three parts to it, but its numerical value is one (can you say Trinity?). Its pictograph is of an ox and means strength and leader. It is the letter which represents the Father. It is used in El as in Elohim.
Every letter in the Hebrew alphabet has a name. English has the letters a, b, c, dโฆ but that’s it. There are no words or names to represent them. Hebrew has a letter much like our “W”, but sounds like a โsโ or โsh.โ It looks like this:
ืฉ
Its name is shin (pronounced sheen) and it means sacrifice. We find this letter in Jesusโ Aramaic name Yeshua.
Every name and word have more meaning when you know the meaning of the letters and what they represent.
But enough of the alphabetโฆ By the way, Hebrew is where we get that word, too. The first letter of their alphabet is an aleph and the second letter is a bet. You can find more on this at http://www.hebrew4christians.com.
We have been taught for a long time that Luke was Greek. But from what I have learned he was actually a Jewish man and probably one of Yeshuaโs seventy-two disciples mentioned in Scripture.
If you pay close attention to not only who Luke writes to, but what he writes about in his Gospel and Acts, you can see clues to who this man was. He dedicates his book to Theophilus (Theophilus ben Ananus). It has been found that this man was a high priest during the time of the second temple period from 37 to 41 CE. (https://www.geni.com/people/Theophilus-ben-Ananus-High-Priest-of-Iudaea/6000000021729306527)
Why would a Jewish high priest read a letter from a Gentile? He wouldn’t. Luke gave an account of Yeshuaโs life to this high priest who was concerned who the priests under him were following. (Many priests from the temple followed Yeshua).
Second, Luke wrote a lot about Yeshuaโs life where the temple is concerned. He starts off his book introducing Zechariah, a temple priest and the father of John the Baptizer. He moves on to the birth of Yeshua, his presentation by his parents at the temple, and later, his bar mitzvah and being found by his parents talking with the rabbis in the temple in Luke 2.
There is much we can learn from our Jewish (Messianic and Orthodox) friends about the Bible.
You may or may not agree with me. That’s okay. We do not worship the Bible or its human authors, but we worship the Author and perfecter of our faithโJesus Christ.
I have much more to share. Stay tuned.
Please let me know what you think. If you have questions, I will do my best to answer them. Thanks for reading!
This week’s blog post is by suspense writer, Leanna Sain. Her book, Hush, just released and is available on Amazon. Her bio will follow along with a link to purchase her book.
It looks so good; I can’t wait to get my copy. Please check it out!
How well I remember the day.
My dad couldnโt take care of Mama by himself anymore. Alzheimerโs had wreaked its havoc, stealing away the woman Iโd always known and leaving an empty shell.
She looked like my mother, but wasnโt.
She was just as much a stranger to me as I was to her. My brother and I had convinced Daddy that Mama needed more care than he could give her, that they were trained to handle her, and that it was too dangerous for him to continue as her primary caretaker.
She had โmeanโ spells and we were afraid sheโd hurt him and heโd unable to call for help. So we chose a Memory Care facility. It was for the best. Thatโs what I kept telling myself, and it was probably true, but it didnโt make the guilt go away.
I fixed her room up as pretty as I could. Homey? Yes, but
not โhome.โ I prayed she wouldnโt notice.
The weather echoed my mood. Dense fog and dreariness. Daysโฆ
no, weeks of it. The wettest February
weโd had in recent history. It didnโt help that I had the flu, and that my
husband would be flying to the other side of the world in a couple of days.
I was in bed, fighting the fever when my phone rang. Mama was having a meltdown. I could hear her yelling in the background.
My heart sank.
The hopes Iโd had of a smooth transition swirled down the drain. They transported her to the hospital where they could manage her meds, figure out the magic balance between keeping her calm enough for them to handle, and zombie-like.
It was hard for me, but I couldnโt imagine what my daddy was
going through. His sweetheart of over 60 years had been stolen away and in her
place was this stranger who didnโt know him. That wasnโt even counting how sheโd
hurt himโฆemotionally, physically; scars I could see and those I couldnโt.
After two weeks of medication in the hospital, I got another
phone call. This time it was my dad who informed me that Mama just fell and was
complaining of pain in her hip. X-rays showed the fracture. Surgery was
scheduled for the following morning. What else?
Rehab followed, such that it was. She was uncooperative with
the physical therapist, and lost her ability to walk. Then her ability to talk.
Then her ability to swallow. She was sliding downward to the end, and there was
nothing anybody could do to stop it.
It was during this horrible time that God gave me the idea for a story. I write suspense. The edge-of-your-seat kind, but always with a good ending.
This time the story was a bit darker: a serial killer uses verses of the lullaby, โHush, Little Babyโ as the blueprint of his murders, while the protagonist is able to dream bits and pieces of the murders before they happen, but there arenโt enough clues for her to stop them. I decided to make that characterโs mother have Alzheimerโs.
Not nice; I know, but that decision allowed me to use some of the things Mama said and did in the story.
It was a way to keep her memory aliveโฆ to honor her. And it also allowed a release of some of the negative emotions that came with watching her die.
I decided to take it a step further, though. Iโll be donating a portion of sales to Alzheimerโs research to help them find a cure. Itโs my hope that someday soon others wonโt have to go through what my family did, and thatโs the best gift I can give.
From back cover of Hush โ by Leanna Sain
She dreams a murder before it happens. A young woman is
strangled while her killer sings the words from the lullaby, โHush, Little
Baby.โ
Lacey Campbellโs life is full, but not idyllic. As head chef for
a chic restaurant and primary caregiver to a mother with Alzheimerโs, she
doesnโt have time for the nightmare and at first she tries to deny it. But the
next day, she discovers it’s a disturbing reality. When she dreams the second
heinous murder she knows itโs time to tell the police.
Detective Ford Jamison is called back to the little coastal town
to help with the case and soon notices an alarming trend: the killer is using
the lullaby as a โblueprintโ to target women who resemble Lacey. This doesnโt
slow the killings and now Lacey is afraid to fall asleep at night because the
next face she sees in her dream might be her own.
As a hurricane churns ever closer to the little coastal town,
danger and suspicion spin out of control. Time is running out. Can they stop
the killer before the last verse of the lullaby?
Leanna Sain, earned her BA
from the University of South Carolina before moving back to the NC mountains.
She calls Miracle Hill Farm home, but she lives mostly in her imagination. Her
Southern suspense or โGRIT-lit,โ showcases her plot-driven method that
successfully rolls elements of best-selling authors Mary Kay Andrews, Nicholas
Sparks, and Jan Karon all together, making it her own. She loves leading
discussion groups and book clubs. For more information or to contact her visit: www.LeannaSain.com
Today’s post is by my friend Diane Virginia. She is a wonderful storyteller and I love to read everything she writes. This story was first used on www1.cbn.com for a Memorial Day post. Since it is Veteran’s Day, I thought is was appropriate to use it.
I hope you enjoy it.
In Ronald Reaganโs 1986 Memorial Day[1]ย speech given at Arlington National Cemetery,ย [2]ย the President says, โItโs the young who do the fighting and dying when a peace fails and a war begins.โ Heย lists hero after hero, outlining through these examples why we honor our fallen military men and women.
Reagan shares, โNot far from here is the statue of the three
servicemen. โฆ Perhaps youโve seen itโthree rough boys walking together, looking
ahead with a steady gaze. โฆ The three are touching each other, as if theyโre
supporting each other, helping each other on.โ Reagan is stirred by this
artistic rendition of the three young men because it typifies the commitment
and courage of the United Statesโ armed forces, some having given their own
lives to save the lives of their loved ones at home.
What does the Bible say about celebrating fallen heroes? We
donโt have to look far to see it is Godโs intent to remember our valiant
military men and women, and to recount their accomplishments.
King David, for example, like Reagan, makes an accounting of his
military men and their achievements. First, he names Adino the Ezinite who
spears eight hundred enemies in one battle. He continues his honorarium and
names Shammah the Harite who stands his ground in a barley field refusing to
yield it to the Philistines (see II Samuel 23:8). David mentions other heroes
along with their accomplishments.
This is only one biblical example where military heroes are
recognized. There are many other places in the Bible where heroes are named and
honored.
If God is โThe Prince of Peace” (see Isaiah 9:6), then why do we fight wars in the first place? ย President Reagan answers this question towards the end of his speech by saying, โIf we really care about peace, we must, through our strength, demonstrate our unwillingness to accept an ending of the peace. We must be strong enough to create peace where it does not exist and strong enough to protect it where it does.โ
Sometimes peace needs to be enforced by military prowess. When godless men oppress our children, women, and elderly, it is then we must call upon the courageous amongst us, including our brave young men and women, to save us from these intruders.
Our peace is not freeโฆ. It is the gift of selfless heroes who look beyond their needs to secure ours. Jesus says,
โThe thief comes only to kill
and steal and destroy. I [Jesus] came that they may have life and have it abundantly
(John 10:10b ESV).โ
Our military robs the enemy of his assignment to destroy, and
secures life for us.
It is fitting for us to honor our fallen American mighty men and
women, for they have paid the ultimate price to secure our freedom, because
their love is like our Lordโs. When Jesus faces death on Calvaryโs cross to
save humanity, He says,
โGreater love has no one than
this, that someone lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13 ESV).โ
Jesus leads the spiritual army, and conquers the ultimate
battleโand in the process, secures for us eternal life.
It is worthy of a national pause to thank God for the United
Statesโ armed forces, who have followed in the footsteps of Commander Jesus by
giving their lives to save ours.
Thank You Lord, for our
fallen heroes, for they have made the ultimate sacrifice to keep America
free.
[1]Memorial Day was first called
Decoration Day, and established as a national observance by General John A.
Logan in May 1868.
Copyright ยฉ 2019: All rights reserved:ย VineWords Stories and Devotions Inspired by the Vine:ย Author Diane Virginia Cunio; Pen Name, Diane Virginia:ย Fallen Heroes: Our American Mighty Men;ย www.vinewords.net
About the Author
Diane Virginia Cunio is the author of The Kiss of Peace: An
Intimate Exploration into Song of Solomon (awaiting publication). She
is passionate about sharing Beloved Jesusโ divine love for you, His bride, as
allegorically portrayed in the vignette, Song of Solomon.
She has developed the
model for motion-activated musical prayer-stations for use in the garden
retreat, themed to the places you as Belovedโs bride travel to in Song of
Solomon.
Diane is a regular
contributor for Christian Broadcasting Network. She has written for Faith
Beyond Fear, Pentecostal Publishing House, The Secret Place, and other
ministries.
I am almost finished writing my Bible study called The Jewels of Hebrews. It is a study covering the New Testament book of Hebrews while helping Christians understand the Hebraic roots of our faith.
It’s called The Jewels of Hebrews (JOH for short) because each chapter is named after a gemstone such as a sapphire, ruby, pearl, opal, or diamond which have a biblical meaning based on their color. These colors correspond to the theme of each chapter.
Here is an excerpt from Chapter 8 of my study which correlates to Hebrews 8:
In his book, The Jewish Gospel of John, Eli Lizorkin-Eyzenberg explains the Greek word for โhis own peopleโ from John 1:11, is better translated to mean Yeshuaโs tribe, or the Judeans. [i] It was the tribe of Judah who did not receive him. Overall, many Israelites accepted Yeshua. He came first for the Jews. In Matthew 15:24, Yeshua told the Canaanite woman, โI was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.โ He came for Israel, and he sent Israel to the Gentile world (Matt 28:19-20).
Yeshua may have come first for the Jew, but he came for the entire world. The Jewish people were the first evangelists. Just think what would have happened had they not shared the good news of the Messiah with the world.
In Joshua 13-21, God had Joshua place the twelve Tribes throughout Israel. Judah was south of Jerusalem, between the Dead and Mediterranean Seas. If you lived at the time of Yeshua, you entered the Temple from the land of Judah.
As you crossed the threshold, you came to the square, bronze altar where the priest waited to offer your lamb as a sacrifice. He laid it on the altar, and you โcrushedโ its head with your hands to transfer your sin to the perfect, white lamb.
We can now see this altar as our sacrifice of praise, or where we surrender our hopes, dreams, future, spouse, children, or job to God in prayer.
Next, you came to the bronze basin for washing. Before entering the Holy Place, you washed your hands and feet; you must be clean. Exodus 30:21 says, โThey shall wash their hands and their feet, so they may not die. It shall be a statute forever to them, even to him [Aaron] and his offspring throughout their generations.โ Yeshua washed us clean once and for all as our Lamb.
As we enter this place in our imperfection, we wash by confessing and repenting for our sin each day as we spend time with the Father. Now we are clean to enter the Holy Place.
As you walked through the veil into the Holy Place, you saw the menorah on your left with its seven lamps lighting your way to the Holy of Holies. We will never again walk in darkness because Yeshua is the Light of the World (John 8:12).
On your right, the gold table held the steaming bread of the Presence. The warm, moist air from the fresh, baked artisan bread surrounded you. Itโs the true Bread from Heaven; the Bread of Life. You will never hunger once you have eaten this Bread (John 7:32-35).
Ahead was the altar of incense
before the veil which led to the Holy of Holies. This golden table held a
fragrance of sweet and spicy licorice. We are a sweet aroma to the Lord as
Yeshua leads us into Godโs presence.
A thick veil made of blue, purple and scarlet yarn with cherubim woven into it separated all but the high priest from the Most Holy Place. YHWH (YaHWeY) descended onto the gold-plated Ark of the Covenant and mercy seat. Never to be closed again, God ripped this veil from top to bottom so we have access to him (Luke 23:45).
Our High Priest allows us to approach his throne with boldness to find grace and receive mercy in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16).
When we pray, we approach God starting from the outside courts making our way to the innermost Holy of Holies. When God deals with us, he starts in our Holy of Holies out to our courts. When God addresses our needs, desires, or problems, he goes straight to our Holy of Holies (our heart and spirit) then out to our courts (physical body). But, we approach God starting from the outside (praise and worship) to his intimate presence, (his desires and will for us).
In prayer, I take my time getting to the heart of God. I worship the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit by reciting scriptural descriptions of them: You are a good Father, worthy of praise, Faithful and True, rich in mercy, loving, kind, compassionate, my Savior, Redeemer, teacher, Helperโฆ I praise him, reminding and thanking him for answered prayers. Next, I confess and repent for my sins, as Yeshua washes off the grime of my sin so I can move toward intimacy with him.
As I step closer into his presence, I lift loved ones, my needs, my questions, my desires. I ask for truth, discernment, wisdom, and peace to know his will. I seek his heart for me and for those I love.
When God responds he goes right to my spirit. He takes care of my heart problems first. Sometimes, he reveals a motive behind my questions or hurt. The Lord may bring Scripture to my mind to answer my need or fill me with his love. He fills me with peace, calming my fears or distress. God cares for my physical needs (or my court).
What ways can you add to or change how you approach God in prayer? Ask him to inspire you to come to him daily. Renew your commitment to seek him.
That’s all for now.
Please share your thoughts about this short excerpt. I would love to know what you think! Thank you.
[i] Eli Lizorkin-Eyzenberg, The Jewish Gospel of John, (Tel Mond, Israel: Israel Study Center, 2015) xi-xiii
Picture is from my trip to Israel. It was a microscale representation of the city of Jerusalem and the Temple at the time of Jesus.
We sing more love songs than any other song. We hear Country songs
about what a man will do for his love, and pop singers singing about the love
of their life. And who doesnโt like a great love story? Hallmark movies,
romance novels, and magazine articles all boast of love. It is everywhere. We adore
love.
History holds incredible love stories. King Edward VIII of England
abdicated his throne for the love of an American divorcee, Wallis Simpson, in
1936. He could not take her as his bride as king, so he gave his kingship to
his brother, King George, and married the woman he loved. They became the Duke
and Duchess of Windsor.
Who doesnโt remember reading about the famous Egyptian Queen,
Cleopatra and the Roman General Mark Antony? After losing a war on Rome, they took
their lives rather than be apart in life. [i]
In a recent El Paso Walmart shooting, a man shot a couple, Jordan
and Andre Anchondo, to death while they tried to protect their two-month-old son.
The shooter shot Andre as he threw his body in front of his wife and then shot
Jordan as she tried to protect their son. [ii]
When
my children were young, my husband built them a swing set and fort with a slide
and tunnel to play on in our backyard. He started it in our garage in the
middle of winter. I have the cutest pictures of my three bundled children
sitting on the steps of the garage watching my husband, hammer nails, saw wood
and piece together this surprise. They could not wait to play on it.
On
Fatherโs Day, I gave Mike a small plaque inscribed with โFrom Daddy, with loveโ
to attach to the wooden beam of the playset so my children would always
remember who built it for them. My kids are nearing the end of their college
careers and that playset still stands in our yard.
Hebrews
1:3 says that
Jesus is โThe exact imprint of [Godโs] natureโฆโ God
sent his Son as a loving imprint of his nature and love for us. One of
the most famous Bible verses is John 3:16 (ESV),
โFor God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever
believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.โ
We could also say, โFrom Daddy, with love.โ
Who among us would give their child for the life of a good person,
let alone an evil, selfish, or hateful person? Only a loving God would offer
His Son for sinners like you and me. Jesus suffered and died for us, for love.
Hebrews 2:9 says,
โBut we see him, who for a little while was made lower than the
angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death,
so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.โ
Not only was Jesus willing to die, but Hebrews tells us how He went
to the cross. Hebrews 12: 2 says,
โLooking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who, for
the JOY that was set before Him endured the crossโฆโ (Emphasis mine).
The Greek word for joy means gladness, state of rejoicing,
happiness. [iii]
Why would Jesus be in a state of rejoicing in going to the cross? Because He knew that cross would restore the
relationship He, the Father, and the Holy Spirit wanted with us. We could finally
come to the Father, be in the presence of the Godhead, and experience Their
love.
Jesus said in John 15:13,
โGreater love has no one than this; that someone lay down his life
for his friends.โ
There are many people who have not only laid down their life for a
friend or family member but also a total stranger. How often do we see videos
of or read about someone who risked their life to save another or gave their
life saving someone? Just as Andre Anchondo threw himself in front of his wife
to save her from the shooter, Jesus did the same for us.
Jesus took the blame and punishment for a crime He did not commit.
Soldiers beat Him and He bled the blood we should have bled. He allowed the
soldiers to nail His body to a cross that ours should have been nailed to.
But, Jesus did what we could not do. He raised himself from the
dead (John 2:19, 10:18). Love raised Him. Love gave Jesus life from a horrible
death. Love left scars on His resurrected body. Love seated Jesus at the right
hand of the Father.
Remember, when we read verses like โLove is patient, love is kindโฆโ
from 1 Corinthians 13, we can replace all the โLove isโ with God is.
God is love. So God is patient, God is kind; God does not envy or
boastโฆGod never ends.
A filter is a common word in todayโs
vernacular. Growing up, it meant a white, paper thingy you used in your Mr.
Coffee to keep the coffee grains from getting into your cup of caffeine. Now,
we have the French press and the Keurig, and there is no need of the big, white
filters anymore.
Filters on our phones and computers
make our selfies and pictures look anyway we want. I can make myself look
twenty years younger, glamorous, silly, or like a cat, dog, biker, or a banana.
I have friends and family who love to take
selfies with Snapchat. We send crazy photos to each other, laugh at one
another, and make comments.
You can turn a color photo into
black and white or a vintage-style picture. On Instagram, there are over twenty
different filters to choose from to apply to every picture we take.
Butโฆ.
All of us have filters ingrained within us.
We can have filters for different reasons:
We inherit certain filters, people teach them to us, or they develop in us by circumstances beyond our control.
We had a German shepherd named
Olivia who loved us as much as we loved her. She knew we would protect her so
she protected us. She knew she could trust us, too. Whenever anyone came over,
she would walk up to them and roll onto her back so they could rub her belly.
She loved people because no one had ever given her a reason not to. (I realize
that is not always the case.)
Our current dog, Sophie, does not
trust anyone. To us, she is the sweetest dog, but let someone visit or drop off
a package and she will bark and growl at them until we make her stop, which is
why she must stay behind a fence.
Sophie has a pancreatic problem which also causes behavior (fear) issues. Before we knew what was wrong with her, she was already starving. Her body did not digest the large amounts of food we gave her so she ate everything she found. Believe me it was not good. She ate dozens of eggs from our chickens and a couple of times she ate the chicken, too. :((
Two dogs raised in the same way, but
one loved all people and the other is afraid of everyone.
Just like our phone apps, filters
influence the way we see ourselves and other people.
Hurt, betrayal, pain, illness, or any injustice can be a filter causing us to see things a certain way. Our worldview can skew how we perceive God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, or how we read and interpret the Bible.
For example, sometimes I may need to examine why I react to particular things. I have a friend who told me if I always over-react to the same kinds of comments or behaviors (triggers); I can ask God for the cause of this reaction.
He has been faithful to show me why
certain things trigger a negative response from me. My trust issues and
disappointment with others stem from family dynamics which affected me as a
child.
God has done deep healing in me over
the years.
I want to see Him without the
filters caused by my parentโs dysfunction. And I want to know truth that only the
Holy Spirit and the Word of God can teach me without the negative filters of hurt
instilled by teachers and pastors through their erroneous teachings.
Ask God to remove your current filters through his healing and truth. Ask Him to reveal the root of those filters.
Be transparent. Remove the filters telling people you are happy all the time and you donโt need anything. Be vulnerable. Let people get to know the real you.
A year ago, January 2025, was a bitter cold and difficult month for us on our little homestead. Besides the polar vortices and the negative temperatures, we had an older lamb get very sick and two ewes give birth. During this time, I developed bronchitis and coughed like a barking dog.
However, it doesnโt matter if you are sick; the animals still need to be cared for.
With the help of a Facebook friend, April Pope, my older lamb got better quickly. April has a lot of experience and knowledge with most livestock and has helped me more than once when I didnโt know what was wrong with one of my sheep or lambs.
But going back and forth to the barn on our slippery driveway and sidewalk was not the adventure I needed or wanted. One of our ewes had rejected her lamb after it was born. So, either my husband or I carried it back and forth from the house to the barn so her mother could feed her (even though she didnโt want to).
We have two German shepherds who walked with us on every trip to the barn and back.
Mike laughs when he sees me walking around the yard or up and down the driveway because I have a GSD on either side of me. He always says, โSomeone would have to be crazy to mess with you with those dogs beside you.โ Mia is always on my right and Sophie on my left.
Miaโs my velcro dog.
On one of our trips to the barn, my husband had the little lamb in his arms, carrying her back to the warmth of our house. I was not far behind him with the dogs when I slipped on the ice and started falling forward.
Mia moved her strong ninety-pound body in front of me, catching me within half a second. I never hit the ground. As I got my legs under me using her body to stand up, I marveled at her speed and ability to break my fall.
See, the reason Mia could help me when she did was that she walked so close to me and kept her eyes on me.
Scripture often recounts people who walked with the Lord as well as reminding us to walk with Him:
Micah 6:8 tells us to โwalk humbly with the Lord.โ
Genesis tells us both Enoch and Noah walked with the Lord.
Isaiah 30:21, โAnd your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, โThis is the way, walk in it,โ when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.โ
Galatians 5:25: โSince we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.โ
Psalm 128:1: โBlessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him.โ
I learned an important lesson from Mia for my relationship with the Lord. Stay close to His side, keep my eyes on Him, go where He goes– turning left or right as He does, and stopping to rest when He does.
When I am that close to Him, He catches me when I fall. I can lean on Him to stand when my feet give out beneath me. And I need not fear because He is right there, โcloser than a brother.โ
We are His sheep, and He is our Good Shepherd. He carries us when we are weak, neglected, sick, or scared. And He protects us.
Yeshua loves us. He looks at us with love, not with condemnation or remorse.
Sophie has the biggest and most affectionate brown eyes. When she looks at us, we know she adores us. One time, I asked the Lord how He sees me. He responded with, โI look at you the way Sophie looks at you.โ I love how He uses my dogs to teach me about His love and protection.
My husband and I are going through a nasty lawsuit with a renter who is suing us. It was a hard year, and it isnโt over yet. But all these moments that Adonai has given us as lessons from our homesteadโdogs and sheepโsustain us and encourage us to keep moving forward and wait on Him to get us through our trials and tribulations. He is faithful, and we can trust in that faithfulness.
