Worry and Trust

As you do not know what is the way of the wind,

Or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child,
So you do not know the works of G-d who makes everything.

In the morning sow your seed,
And in the evening do not withhold your hand;
For you do not know which will prosper,
Either this or that,
Or whether both alike will be good.

Ecclesiastes 11:5-6

 

Can not stress enough, on how often we must sit and reflect on the amazement of our G-D. We may be able to pinpoint which way the wind is blowing, and have the knowledge of how a child is created in the womb and born but regardless of our knowledge it is still a miracle and absolutely astounding the formation and creation of everything. Despite how "advanced" we are in this day and age we still do not know everything, and we surely don't know the works in full detail of our G-D, nor can we know them all because His knowledge is far superior then ours, and it always will be. The more we think we know G-D, the more we think we know how something is going to turn out, watch as He acts in the opposite. We surely like to think we know His will, and generally speaking we place "what we" would do as something G-D would obviously do, but G-D is not us and every action that is chosen is far better than we could ever possibly do.

 

We like to say G-D is going to prosper whatever we put our hands to, but maybe the question should be "Why is he?" instead of "Can he?" there are those who talk about the blessings of G-D as if they deserve them and there are those who seek not there will but HIS. If he prospers us, the question that should be asked is why? and the answer should always be "For His own glory". Everything that happens is in His control, even when it looks horrible...what needs to be dealt with is our ideals and our actions, how we receive and how we trust in every situation, to know we surely don't know what tomorrow will bring but we will walk and praise Him the same today no matter what it brings. 

 

We tend to look forward or we look back, but should we not be content in the present? let us rejoice that we are no longer in the past, let us look to how we have grown in Christ, and in that growth keep our eyes, mind, body, and soul fixated on Christ, and let us in the present moment lift all worries cares and burdens to not be frantic about the future that is out of our control, let us rest in HIM who knows all.

 

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Matthew 6:34

 

Therefore  let us be rested in HIM, let us trust that He is in control and stop trying to cause things to happen by our own doing, after all who's way is better....our way? or HIS way? G-D I would assume would know the best way to act, speak, and walk, so why do we not just be rested and give HIM complete trust in any and every situation. If we rely on us...it will never be glorifying enough, but if we rely on HIM we are building the foundation blocks of trust.

 

But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak;

Matthew 10:19

Lamentations 3:21-26

.This I recall to my mind,
Therefore I have hope.

Through the L-RD’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.

They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.

“The L-RD is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I hope in Him!”

The L-RD is good to those who wait for Him,
To the soul who seeks Him.

It is good that one should hope and wait quietly
For the salvation of the L-RD.

Lamentations 3:21-26

 

Be still follower of the way, rest completely in Him. G-D is merciful to the meek, acknowledge faults and rely on HIM. The creator of all things who spoke and brought the universe to existence, formed us out of the dust of the earth, shapes all things, controls all things, and knows all things, has purpose for all things that are done under the sun. We must not only strengthen our faith but we must guard it, for our faith is constantly under attack whether we realize it or not. Where is your hope when looking into the eyes of the hopeless, to whom do you direct the broken, and when the mountains upscale around you to whom do you trust to get you to the top? Being strong minded will only get you so far, and self will can be broken, but G-D will not be broken, can not be consumed, and will never leave or forsake us.

 

I neither learned wisdom
Nor have knowledge of the Holy One.

Who has ascended into heaven, or descended?
Who has gathered the wind in His fists?
Who has bound the waters in a garment?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is His name, and what is His Son’s name,
If you know?

Proverbs 30:3-4

 

We must know for ourselves, and we must know for others to be the shinning example that we are called to be. To what do we find purpose? what do we define it as? everyone finds comfort in positive mindset, but this doesn't save...positive might be comforting  but if it's not pointing to the source of being positive and full of joy then it is useless. We must be a conduit for His light...this is the only way to truly transform lives, this is where wisdom and knowledge resides, not in our thoughts, not in our purposes...but in HIS. We must walk and lead to the one who HAS established the ends of the earth, who is Holy, who is righteous, who is creator of knowledge and wisdom, a mercy that abounds and makes us whole.

 

L-RD G-D creator of the heavens and earth nothing will ever satisfy my soul

nothing can ever grant me a state of peace

except your mercy, except for the provided sanctification of my soul

YOU and you alone renew and establish children returning home

YOU and you alone break strong towers that can no longer hold

 

Help us L-RD, create in us a heart that always seeks to glorify you

Help us L-RD, to not abuse the grace that you've given free of charge

Help us L-RD, to walk in your Spirit and not in our old ways

Help us L-RD, to endure in patience and not lean on our understandings

Help us L-RD, to embrace what You've already made.

 

It's Enough

Will my mouth declare your praise, when the salt starts to lose it's taste..

Will my heart be contrite, when I'm standing in Your light..

If pride didn't come before a fall, would I even seek you at all?

 

How can I forget, it's not about how I walk

but what you've done to cause me to

How can I think it's by these hands that I've been given rest

when all I do is fall on my knees in forgiveness.

 

I'm sorry it took this long to see, how far I am from who you want me to be

In the distance are the mistakes I've made, in Your forgiveness I'm saved

pardoned and redeemed by a grace that's finished and complete.

 

How can I forget, it's not about how I walk

but what you've done to cause me to

How can I think it's by these hands that I've been given rest

when all I do is fall on my knees in forgiveness.

 

I wake from a sleep of being broken, blessed to be forgiven

In silent confession I find, that I was walking blind

May I hold to what you love, and know it's enough...

 

Philippians 4:6-8

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to G-d;

and the peace of G-d, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

Philippians 4:6-8

 

Followers of The Way, how hard it is to keep ones mind from falling away, how hard it truly is to be centered and focused on virtuous things when our surroundings and circumstances are generally not so. We all go through periods of doubt, some of us are oblivious to how much we actually doubt, and we are quick to claim that we are strong in faith, but the words and actions that pour forth are far from walking in faith. We like to hide our feelings because we want to seem pious and holy, but a real pious and holy person isn't one who hides doubt, failure, and struggle, a truly humble person admits struggle and admits when they are in the wrong. We must be prayerful for guidance, and in times where we feel we hear nothing from G-D doesn't mean He isn't there, it could very well mean that His silence is the answer, that you already know the actions required... so walk in it.

 

Having concern and worry doesn't make you less of a believer, it just makes you human, but it is what you do with the concern and worry that matters. The first priority is to completely surrender it to G-D, and that is more than just proclaiming it to Him, it is fully trusting in the fact that G-D is who He says He is and if we trust in Him... He will not only ease our minds but will guard our hearts from further bitterness towards the situation. The situation that causes worry and stress may still remain and not be quickly solved but if we truly depend and trust in G-D we should be confident and strive forward no matter what is going on.

 

We may prayerfully speak our worries to G-D, and our doubts but we don't actually fully surrender it to Him... because what we really want is for Him to completely fix and take away what causes the worry and when He doesn't we go right back into the state of mind before we sent our petitions to Him. Faith isn't an easy road, and having stress and doubt is opportunity to trust fully on our G-D, to not let the bitter seed of these doubts and worries grow but to understand no matter what happens, even if our biggest fear comes true, that G-D has a purpose and a plan in it, and we must submit and trust in HIM, to rest in whatever comes because we know G-D is bigger than our circumstances and that He is our shelter, our rock, our peace even in chaos.

 

It is all easier said then done. To think on virtuous, pure, lovely and noble things in times of major struggle is a process that is going to take our utmost, it's going to be a battle of fighting our flesh, even more so then we are usually. In this fight we are going to be drained physically and emotionally which will make it hard to keep fighting, for it is easier to just give up and let our minds run wild with negative thinking and even anger but this doesn't solve or help the situation but only adds fuel to it's fires, we can never be the ones in control of renewing our minds, we may be self willed and strong in positive thinking, and appear before others as strong, but G-D is the only one we should worry about how we are appearing. It's not about the power of positive thinking that makes you an overcomer it's about the total surrender of your mind, body and soul to G-D who will then, through the spirit, make you sufficient, it is about ultimate reliance on HIM. Notice how in Philippians the first requirement is to go to G-D in supplication and prayer, to fully come and trust in Him and then you will be able to fully think of positive things because G-D is the ultimate positive we should be focused on, and though we may be able to think positive without Him...we will never understand or have full peace of mind without HIM.

1 Corinthians 15:43

It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.

1 Corinthians 15:43

 

quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.

Hebrews 11:34

 

Never do we see strength in weakness, never do we see uplifting in sorrow or the very hand of G-D in any and every situation. Though no action is allowed, no action is made without the very distinct purpose and will of G-D. Hell has no furry, Satan  himself has no power and can do nothing without G-D allowing it to be done. Quick to find a reason, quick to find someone or something to blame but never are we quick to just surrender and glorify G-D all the same. The days that misery is at the door, the days where everything is going wrong, the days where death snatches away, or when our very health seems to wither away...does our focus on HIM remain the same?

 

We are tried through fire, made stronger through times of pain and even sorrow has it's time and place. This is when we are to find our place of rest, our full assured shalom in G-D...not just peace to know He is there, but full assured resilience! that we can be stretched like a rubber band but yet not break, that every conflict, commotion, and life disaster can not pull us one inch away from glorifying our MASTER. Where is the sting of death? there is no sacrificial line that can be crossed, no thorn in the side that G-D chooses to remain that will ever separate us from His Kingdom.

 

We may claim to boast in our weakness like Paul did, but do we strive like Paul did, do we live as though there is no glory but HIM.. like Paul did, do we say come whatever may L-RD I will not falter from this place! I will not lose ground, will not lose hope, will not turn my eyes away even when I can barely raise my head like Job.... even amongst the most horrific tragedy I will place my hope in HIM...this should be our stance, this should be where we surrender, where we learn to put action to our faith and prove we are indeed His children.

 

1 Peter 2:16

“ As free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice,but as bondservants of G-D. “

 1  Peter 2:16

Thy freedom servant of The Most High, comes paid in full. The fine of perpetual wrath has been lifted and now thy soul is free. Oh but what a mistake, what a deception it is to use thy freedom as an excuse to sin! Your liberty comes on the blood of His Holy Son! Thy chains that clamor and bound you to a prison that you most assuredly deserve have thus been broken. You, being freed from such darkness, such long suffering of thy flesh, now must learn to walk! what fool, what vile snake...after being freed would choose to continue to sit chained in filth, only to mock the one who set free!

To claim freedom and yet be bound by your own delusions, to use your freedom you never could earn as an excuse to live exactly as you were, isn’t freedom at all! For you are still enslaved by your wicked vice, you just now think it’s by your choice...

Faith Refining

I am ADONAI; there is no other. I form light, I create darkness; I make well-being, I create woe; I, ADONAI, do all these things.

Isaiah 45:6-7

This is where you prove your faith opened up to every mistake closed in by trials and tribulations and pulled to pieces in every direction.

This is where trust comes in when dark clouds of doubt overwhelm and your flesh screams there is no hope This is the moment we DIE to our self.

This is where we sink or swim Only by the spirit can we stand again opened eyes moving past what made us blind every failure nailed to my saviors hands

This is where we prove who we are in every struggle and pain in our heart 

to keep rising up as children of G-D and not let it tear us apart.

Bring on distress and pain

bring on rejection and heartache enemy,world, and flesh do your worst

for in His death i’ve found my rest

Now forever I crucify my self-image and this is only the beginning

of how He brings change just a taste of how we prove our faith.

G-D is faithful, He is merciful...He pours water upon the thirsty. Isaiah 44:3

Ending with encouragement, the direction and focus is to be upon G-D, it’s easy when you get a vision, but hard once you start walking in it...

But keep focused on Him as Proverbs 3:5 says; do not lean on your understanding but His!

When we are going through a “refining process” it’s easy to give up, and run...but G-D has a purpose in it, let us not miss it, but glory in the fact that He is

considering us worthy to be put through the fire to refine like Gold...

Love & Repentance Part 2(Passover)

Love & Repentance part 2 (Passover)

And thou shalt love the LORD thy G-D with all thine

heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

(D’varim)Deuteronomy 6:5

Seems cliche, does it not? Loving G-D with all your heart, soul and strength, the question becomes do we really do that? Sure we can say we do, but our actions prove other wise...it’s like the saying; 

“Actions speak louder than words”

Kind of puts a new perspective on (James 2:18) if you think about it...you know; “Show me your faith without works, and I will show you my faith by my works”. This all goes hand and hand with “Love and Repentance Part-1”

You can claim to accept Messiah, and even claim to love Him...but where’s the proof? where’s the fruit?

Where’s the brokenness? Where’s the change, and the daily surrendering of self, and putting Him above everything else.

How dare we claim to love Him with all our heart and soul, and yet cling to the world...

How dare we say we are His children and we call Him Abba...but don’t show Him honor or give any reverence to His Torah(law). (Malachi 1:6)

But displaying grace unto thousands of them that LOVE me and keep my commandments.

(D’varim) Deuteronomy 5:10

exactly what Yeshua(Jesus) said;

“If you love me, keep my commandments”

John 14:15

Great peace have they which love thy law, and nothing shall offend them.

Psalm 119:165

We are so confused about what LOVE is, and yet we claim to have the author of life...We say we know His word but somehow miss the definition of it, we miss the context and the meaning between the lines. If ever we are in a quandary about what love is, we have the directions, we have the manual right at our finger tips.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, if you want to know what real love is than go read your Bible...because it does nothing but scream self-sacrificing love. I could also tell you to just go and read 1 Corinthians 13

Love is patient and kind, not jealous, not boastful,

not proud, rude or selfish, not easily angered...

ect ect ect..

And of course again, just look at our passover lamb Yeshua. But you see, the reason Love and repentance go hand in hand, is because we may know love when it is given to us, but how do we respond to it? How do we show love back becomes a key element. This is what I mean by Love and Repentance are a perfect marriage, For we wouldn’t know what real LOVE is if we didn’t know G-D, the author of love and creator of it, who first loved us before we even knew how to make a response. You see, G-Ds response is Love ours should be REPENTANCE, we show love in return to our Abba(father) by honoring what He honors, walking in His light, being led by His spirit, cherishing His torah(law), and abhorring what He abhors. 

For those that don’t know this is Passover week, This is the time we are called to remember what happened in Egypt with G-Ds chosen people(Exodus 12:14). Specifically G-D tells us in Exodus 12 that they were to slaughter a lamb or goat without defect on the 14th day of the month at dusk, and than they were to smear the blood on their door posts, and G-D would go through out Egypt slaying all the firstborn but passover the houses whose door posts were covered by the blood.

You may be asking: 

“And this has to do with Love and repentance..because?”

Well did G-D not show His love to His people by freeing them from slavery? Did they do anything to deserve it?  Most people say the “Old Testament” is full of an angry Holy god and the “New Testament” is full of a god of mercy and love...

I find that idea to be completely stupid, because I see G-D as exactly the same in “both” Testaments, and the bible makes it absolutely clear that He doesn’t change.

He is merciful to forgive and yet righteous and Holy at the same time, we absolutely see this in the sacrifice of the lamb of G-D Yeshua Ha’Mashiach. You see, Passover is symbolic of the crucifixion of Yeshua, passover should mean the world to us. Through the blood of the lamb we are freed from slavery of sin!

Through the blood of the lamb we see the absolute Holiness and Righteousness of G-D by fulfilling His wrath by crucifying His Son on a Tree, and His mercy,LOVE, and forgiveness by the same action.

So finally...and again I ask, what should our response to this be?

Love & Repentance Part-1

Love  &  Repentance

He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and FORSAKES [them] will have mercy.

Proverbs 28:13

I don't care who you are, everyone is in need, and everyone wants change in some form or another. I tell you though, don't ever, don't you ever... say; 

“I’d come to messiah but I have to change my life first. I have to deal with this sin, or this issue, or this problem.. before I come to Him.”

A lot of preachers or christians would then go into a dialog about “Repentance” to someone who would say that, and I would be for that.. if they(meaning the preachers) understood what repentance was. Your life does need to be cleaned up, and you do have to deal with your issues, but the fact of the matter is.. if you wait until your issues are cleaned up then you will be waiting your whole life! You will never come to messiah because you will never be able to change! Only messiah can change you..

Messiah is the one who gives you new eyes to see, and a new heart that seeks after Him, He is the one who makes you holy and able to flee from sin! If you could do that by your own power then you don't need HIM! 

If you honestly want Messiah then get on your knees and repent, but be fore warned! Repentance isn't just being sorrowful. Repentance also brings change, seeking Messiah and accepting His mercy whole heartedly isn't a one time event, and it will produce a change in you that will not be by your own hands. His mercy should open the flood gates, His love and forgiveness, His sacrifice should overwhelm our very being and produce His likeness in us! If it does not, then you do not have Him! no matter how much you claim to accept Him

Many claim to have "accepted him" but no real change of heart has come! Preach repentance and it falls on deaf ears! Because its a word that doesn't hit home in this generation of lawlessness! "Repent you shout!" But this generation says "we have!" Foolishness! A bunch of whitewashed tombs, like in Jeremiah’s time! people have turned their backs on G-D but not their faces! Nor their hands asking for blessing when they deserve wrath!

“Roam the streets of Yerushalayim(Jerusalem) look around, observe and ask in it’s open spaces: If you can find anyone (If there is anyone!) who acts with justice and seeks the truth, I will pardon her. And though they say, ‘As Adonai lives,’ the fact is that they are swearing falsely.”

Yirmeyahu(Jeremiah) 5:1-2

Following Messiah is more than “I’m sorry”...if you claim to love and “accept” Him, then why do you hold onto what He abhors? Why do you look on what He says is good and perfect, and Holy as something disgusting and burdensome? You claim that He died so you can have freedom to SIN, you have totally missed the part of repentance in turning away from what G-D abhors. There’s no turning from the flesh and looking unto Messiah, and thus there is no renewal of heart and mind! You stay in your chains of sin while claiming you’re free...HERESY! 

They refused correction. They made their faces harder than rock, refusing to REPENT.

Yirmeyahu(Jeremiah) 5:3-4

“Why should I forgive you? Your people have abandoned me and sworn by non-gods.

When I fed them to the full, they committed adultery, thronging to the brothels.

They have become like well-fed horses,

lusty stallions, each one neighing after his neighbor’s wife. Should I not punish for this?” asks ADONAI

Yirmeyahu(Jeremiah) 5:7-9

If you don’t understand true repentance, then you surely can’t understand Holiness, nor the fact that G-D is righteous, you wont understand His righteous judgements. G-D to you, will just be someone who is required to forgive you, and your part is to continue living as you wish. You will have absolutely no FEAR of G-D because why should you? your god doesn’t punish, and your god isn’t holy which thus makes your god NOT the G-D of Abraham,Isaac, and Jacob.

“Hear this, stupid, brainless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear: Don’t you fear me?”-says ADONAI.

Won’t you tremble at my presence?

Yirmeyahu(Jeremiah) 5:21-22

False sheep claim they have repented, they say they are sorry, but are they? Are they really? you ask them do they know the cost of their transgressions, and they say; “Surely we do! It cost Messiahs life!” Then again I ask, why do they continue to live as if they are crucifying Messiah all over again!? They don't live by His mitzvah(His commandments) they say they love Him, but only love Him when he blesses them! They say they are sorry, but are only sorry because they got caught! They don’t wish to turn from evil at all, and they openly hang on to their idols and wickedness while claiming to be a child of G-D 

(that’s called mocking kiddies and G-D doesn’t take kindly to it.) don’t tell me Ezekiel 8 doesn’t peg a lot of Christianity today that hangs onto paganism in one way or another.

“Human being, did you see what the leaders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each one in the room of his own carved image, because they say, ‘ADONAI can’t see us; ADONAI has left the land.’ ?” He also said to me, “You will see even worse abominations that they are doing.” He brought me to the entrance of the north gate to ADONAI’s house; and there before me were women weeping for *Tammuz*.

Yechezk’el(Ezekiel)8:12-14

*(“Tammuz” by the way means “Sprout of Life” and was a sumerian deity of food and vegetation, and so hence in Ezekiel we see that Hebrew women were following the ritualistic mourning to “Tammuz”. Whoring after other gods..)

Christianity today is essentially whoring after other gods, because they seek to make the G-D of the bible into their own image, they take G-D and His commandments and take the parts they like while ignoring the parts they don’t. Either G-D is everything the bible says He is...or He is not...you don’t get to pick and choose what works for “you”.

Here’s a question for you, since when have such important words like Repentance and LOVE lost complete meaning? 

You may be asking yourself, what does Love have to do with Repentance? My reply would be; “it has everything to do with it.” I’ve tried explaining true repentance, and I’ve tried explaining love before...but it seems like a good time to do it again.

Not understanding love is why there is so much divorce in this world today! And among christians who are suppose to know what love is! They get into relationships that they think were built upon love, but in reality it was built upon the flesh, and so they think all love is about is take, take, and take, and when trouble or disagreements come in the marriage (and they will!) They are quick to say things like "oh well...we fell out of love". Or "I'm not feeling this anymore" and they get a divorce and walk around telling people "I just fell out of love, just don't love him or her anymore"

How the hell do you "fall out of love"..??? I’m completely serious, it seems love has been brought so low that it’s now just some whimsical feeling that you can fall in and out of. True love isn't a light switch you can turn on and off, once its on, its on, and there's no falling out of it! I'm glad G-D doesn't fall out of love for us, and actually knows the meaning of it! He is the author of Love after all.

How quickly the world wishes to tell you about love, how quickly the world interjects it’s opinions. Yet, the world and the flesh are both equal in the fact that they are ignorant of it. Love is more than yearning, it’s far more than a primal urge. Love is simply put willful surrender, willful change, Yeshua(Jesus) was the perfect example of Love(and obedience). Yeshua wasn’t about simplistic  fleshly carnal desire, blind by some happy sappy love. Yeshua was all about the Father, only cared to do His will, and willfully surrendered Himself to DEATH, that is real LOVE.(John 15:13)

Real Love doesn’t think about what has to be changed, doesn’t think about personal gain, it doesn’t think about surrendering...NO...Real Love just does! it’s not about what is being given up, the thought doesn’t really enter the mind, it’s like everything is considered a loss without the person and a total waste, and we willfully give everything up for the person. When truly in love we want the very best for the person, even if that means we get nothing in return, and even if that means letting the person go.

Again it’s willful surrender for the betterment of them, that’s LOVE!

So why do we not love G-D like this? I’m convinced we don’t know true love, we have listened to the biggest talkers giving us wrong advice on what love is, we listen to the flesh and the world, and they say love is all about take, there’s no give, only take....So we view G-D and love for Him exactly the same way...

Hence...Love & Repentance go hand and hand, it’s a beautiful marriage.

Part 2... coming soon

You “choosing G-D” isn't the miracle to glory in, the miracle is G-D unveiled your eyes too choose Him, even though you were wicked from the start.