tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59042263160906116292024-03-19T05:06:35.667-07:00PrayerFullyConsideredTaking time to consider the prayerful times in our lives.Yochevedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03763116335378427204noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904226316090611629.post-76723035503827583532013-08-07T18:14:00.001-07:002013-08-07T18:16:09.927-07:00Reflections on Elul<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlD1UViasm9DuriqeW2im0ahPtreka6iQAEuH1GGOohtRQGX-Z93yW_k0kT2PeiPETnh80X_zW4TglBoa4KaXenyBvw3tKqQ-JblFQdJgULb27vYmXBEyRzKX79nr8c2iOBQI32Sw5cos/s1600/elul_main.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlD1UViasm9DuriqeW2im0ahPtreka6iQAEuH1GGOohtRQGX-Z93yW_k0kT2PeiPETnh80X_zW4TglBoa4KaXenyBvw3tKqQ-JblFQdJgULb27vYmXBEyRzKX79nr8c2iOBQI32Sw5cos/s400/elul_main.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<h5 class="uiStreamMessage userContentWrapper" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent">At
sundown on th'day, (August 8th) the moon will re-appear over Israel
thus marking the beginning of the 6th month of the Scriptural year, Elul. In rabbinic thought,
Elul is an acronym for the Hebrew of "I am my Beloved's and my Beloved
is mine." Elul starts the 40 days that lead up to Yom Kippur, the Day
of Atonement for Israel as a nation. These 40 days are marked by introspection and repentance.
During this time, we connect with those we may have offended during the past year and ask
forgiveness. We also freely forgive those who have taken a pin to our ego's balloon. </span></span></span></h5>
<h5 class="uiStreamMessage userContentWrapper" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent">In the Disciples' Prayer (Matthew 6) we recite, "and forgive us our
trespasses *AS* we forgive those who trespass against us." We, each and
every one of us, must forgive in order to be forgiven. That is a tall
order. Think about it: In our own sense of righteousness, we tend to
hold on to those hurts and pains that we believe others have caused. The Truth is, every emotion is a choice. -- Love is a choice; anger is a choice. -- We need to be
delivered from that Spirit of Offense because it is holding us back from
us climbing higher and and having a deeper, more meaningful
relationships with YHVH/Y'shua and family, friends, and humankind in general. Our
unforgiveness (self-righteously holding onto our pain) blocks our
spiritual growth. We get 'stuck' at that pain (be it real or imagined)
and can go no farther in our growth as a Believer. </span></span></span></h5>
<h5 class="uiStreamMessage userContentWrapper" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent">The first step in any healing process is to realize that there is a problem. From that point, we then have the ability to make choices. Without realizing that there is a problem, we are STUCK in place -- as if you are trying to run a race on this emotional or situational treadmill. And this spirit of offense can come between families, friends, lovers and spouses until one day, there is nothing left but resentment. Resentment is a poison that can fester in our spirits for years! That is not Y'shua's way! Even from the execution stake, He cried out, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do!" He had to go through that Door - make that transition from life to death - unburdened by offense and resentment. </span></span></span></h5>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent"> <b>May it be our Father's will to deliver
us from this spirit of offense and resentment and in doing so gather us more closely to
Himself. Oh, Father, our spirit is indeed willing, but our flesh is so weak! We want to
be everything You designed us to be, Father, yet we keep getting in the
way of that glorious new creation that You desired and You designed.
Help us, O Yah, to be the salt of the earth and the light to the nations
You called us to be. Give us the strength to face this challenge with
grace and dignity. Help us to divest ourselves of pride and the spirit of offense - and in love - forgive and be reconciled one to the other, b'shem Y'shua!</b></span></span></span></blockquote>
<h5 class="uiStreamMessage userContentWrapper" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent">Shalom b'shem Sar Shalom / Peace in the Name of the Prince of Peace --</span></span></span></h5>
<h5 class="uiStreamMessage userContentWrapper" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent">yocheved </span></span></span></h5>
Yochevedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03763116335378427204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904226316090611629.post-60836446871495356392013-07-10T19:25:00.000-07:002013-07-10T19:25:14.272-07:00Full Heart, Full Hands<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj92hD1_OgHekJ0Ee9xht7vQ4B1eVsoGqAALWiLGW2ykbUxnhjBeHudY4ymlWiEy5FHE7DC_PIQsZT1Hk1ap6K1VXbjttedONuVW1B7y_48qfsHefeoSM0iDe1EXqWsX2WQDnQ7JAHgAWs/s1600/full+heart+charm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj92hD1_OgHekJ0Ee9xht7vQ4B1eVsoGqAALWiLGW2ykbUxnhjBeHudY4ymlWiEy5FHE7DC_PIQsZT1Hk1ap6K1VXbjttedONuVW1B7y_48qfsHefeoSM0iDe1EXqWsX2WQDnQ7JAHgAWs/s400/full+heart+charm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I haven't been writing so much lately.
“Life” is in full swing and it has been difficult to get a block
of quiet time. I thought about sharing my weekly schedule with you,
but then I thought of my beautiful daughter-in-law who spends her
days on the road, delivering and collecting children from different
schools and varying extra-curricular events and I thought to myself,
“Quit whining! You're not the only one who ever tried to fit 10
pounds of stuff into a 5 pound bag ... YOU, Princess, can do all things
through Messiah who strengthens you! Get with the program.”
</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So, here I sit, staring at the
electronic 'empty sheet of paper' before me and wondering what words
will appear on the screen.
</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Quite frankly, an event a couple of
weeks ago has left me feeling empty and faded from technicolor to
shades of gray. Yes, I have prayed. Yes, I have given it to my
Father. (OK, I may have taken it back a time or two.) I have trusted
Him for guidance, I have trusted Him for healing, but still the peace
hasn't come. And now, now that I want the luxury of brooding time, it
just ain't happening. Maybe that's the Father's way of lopping off
some dead wood.
</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Y'shua faced many such obstacles. There
were times when He was not believed by His own family. Times when His
best friends betrayed Him. Times when the very ones who were looking for
Him rejected Him. Times when His mission and His humanity were at
odds with each other. The Word says He was tempted in all ways, just
as we are; yet, He did not sin. This is how He gained victory over
sin, death and the grave. He had to have wrangled over every sin that
faces us, otherwise He could not claim victory over it and provide us
an avenue of healing.
</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So, I will keep believing for my
spiritual and emotional healing. I'll keep trusting the One who
created me that what I am going through has a purpose. I'll keep
believing that the refiner's fire is burning away the dross in me.
I'll keep choosing to love and choosing to forgive, because my own
salvation depends on it. I'll keep praying for wisdom and guidance,
strength and stability.
</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And I WILL have peace, because He has
put His Name on me (see Numbers 6:24-27) and He will fill me with
shalom, because He is the Sar Shalom (the Prince of Peace) and I live
for Him.
</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Shalom b'shem Sar Shalom / Peace in the
Name of the Prince of Peace,
</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">--yocheved</span></b></div>
Yochevedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03763116335378427204noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904226316090611629.post-10214654521589482322013-06-19T21:41:00.000-07:002013-06-19T21:41:12.717-07:00Gila, al fresca<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghKsRZ4kkJfJluFDfHsR3cHA_XdJPI6mWD9RHsMJtNq00EZrLy5kx9Z5B3R_sK-0I5KzEU7Do2qx3V3ZZfyy1tb2atxdqPoBWSF6I0TqA3l6QudTcMthAEWMXDF-orYAxfg5w9yOguJDc/s1600/gila+n+jett.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghKsRZ4kkJfJluFDfHsR3cHA_XdJPI6mWD9RHsMJtNq00EZrLy5kx9Z5B3R_sK-0I5KzEU7Do2qx3V3ZZfyy1tb2atxdqPoBWSF6I0TqA3l6QudTcMthAEWMXDF-orYAxfg5w9yOguJDc/s400/gila+n+jett.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My little dog, Gila, apparently enjoys
dining 'al fresca' – outside. Tonight, my lovable 18 month old
bundle of mischief toted a carrot from the house all the way to the
back corner of our 3 acre property, laid down in the sand and, under
the ¾ moon and the twinkling stars, to the hoots of a nearby owl,
calmly enjoyed her carrot while our 2 cats (Guido and Gracie) and
Jett (our terrier mix) and I looked on. When she had eaten at least
half of it, she got up, grabbed the remnants of her carrot and
trotted back to the house, at one point pausing to sniff the air as
if enjoying the aroma from the field of black-eyed Susie wildflowers.
</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Once inside, a noisy commotion erupted
from the bedroom. Gila repeatedly leaped onto the bed on one side,
ran across it, jumped down to the floor on the other side and
continued this acrobatic circle while barking in a wild frenzy of
excitement. Why? How should I know? I don't speak Havanese bark!
</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Jett, bless his pea-pickin' little heart, taught Gila how to bark. Gila and Jett are best buddies. Jett
looks like a cross between a Scottish Terrier and Pumbaa the warthog
in the “Lion King” movie. Something in the way he walks.
Anyway, they are quite a pair, wrestling in the living room over
their favorite toys, running the local squirrels ragged, and
competing for their favorite treat, salmon jerky. Can you tell I
love my fur-babies?
</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So what has this got to do with
spirituality or prayer?
</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I just find myself thinking about our
Heavenly Father. I imagine Him looking down from His throne and
watching us frantically bustling around or wrestling with some
concept or .... just maybe ... pausing to reflect on the beauty of
His creation with a grateful heart. How great and wonderful He is and
how very compassionate to all His creation!</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And so, this week's prayer is one of
thanksgiving.
</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I give You thanks, my Father and King,
for simple joys: the scent of wildflowers, the glow of moonlight, the
symphony of crickets and the hoot of the owl. Thank You, my Father,
for my little fur-babies who rival circus clowns in their antics and
make me smile when I get too serious for my own good. Thank You for
my mishpokha, the family of the heart, who have bound themselves in
love to You and thus to me. Thank You for the health, happiness and
prosperity You have given me to enjoy. Thank you for the freedom to
worship You in spirit and in truth. Thank You for removing the
scales from my eyes so that I could see You more clearly. Thank You
for Messiah who paid a debt I could never possibly pay. How I pray I
will one day hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful
servant!” Keep me from all things that would derail that aspiration! Thank You for the encouraging words of scripture that
tell me (when it seems all the rest of the world says otherwise) that
I "can do all things through Messiah who strengthens me." Thank You,
Father – just, thank You for who You are. How great is Your glory,
Your strength and Your power! and yet, You are mindful of me. I
praise You with all that I am, with all that I hope to be.
HalleluYah! Amein!</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Shalom b'shem Sar Shalom - Peace in the name of the Prince of Peace,</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">yocheved</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></b></div>
Yochevedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03763116335378427204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904226316090611629.post-41117610964357517352013-05-22T17:50:00.000-07:002013-05-22T17:51:36.764-07:00Every Prayer Is Necessary<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYQQEeTWcWnmBFpJuaxsxDEu9fV_nWBP_r207pw3SR-cjmsYJRO-XWEGt1aFXZyyVUuGXJXmw5dc_qUUzOF0oovIxPvq2Umjkr17ZnF7Ez8aMgDZqFrK5d4n9IfI1mDRisFu3vqLZnrKo/s1600/soup+in+pots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYQQEeTWcWnmBFpJuaxsxDEu9fV_nWBP_r207pw3SR-cjmsYJRO-XWEGt1aFXZyyVUuGXJXmw5dc_qUUzOF0oovIxPvq2Umjkr17ZnF7Ez8aMgDZqFrK5d4n9IfI1mDRisFu3vqLZnrKo/s400/soup+in+pots.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">As those who know me personally know, I
was born to cook. I never met a recipe I didn't like .... or an
eclair either, for that matter, but that is a subject for another
time. So, it comes as no surprise that I do a lot of cooking ... for Yah's feasts, for Shabbat and most recently for the soup kitchen in
town.</span></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The soup kitchen here is run on some
funding, but mostly, on love. Various area churches take turns
preparing and distributing the food. Our congregation handles the
second and fourth w'days. Plans are in the works for there to be a
second location to feed the homeless on the west side of town. Those
that work with me on soup kitchen days are service to the kingdom in
action. For us, w'day is the extension of Shabbat. On Shabbat we
learn Torah, on w'days we DO Torah. We not only prepare, package and
deliver food to the homeless of Lake City, we also fellowship with
those that come for a meal. Sometimes, we can only share a smile,
other times, it is a full fledged conversation. We also have a brief
prayer of thanksgiving with them before the lunch boxes are served. And yes,
we do Torah the other days of the week too, but somehow, w'days are
special.
</span></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I have often said that if YHVH has
appointed a task, He will anoint us for the task. That is certainly
the case with our cooking for the homeless. No fingers have been
cut, no backs have been wrenched, no hands burned while working for
our King. He is more than gracious and we praise His name!
</span></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Especially since today could have been
so different.</span></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">As it has been our habit, we pray
before we package the meals. This is the gist of what we say: “Our
Father our King, we thank you that You have called us to this service
of feeding Your lambs. Thank You for keeping us safe as we have
prepared the food, and now we ask that You keep us safe as we deliver
the food to the people. Help us to share Y'shua's love to all that
we meet. We pray that you bless this food to their bodies and our
actions and words to the benefit of their souls, b'shem Y'shua. Amein.”
</span></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We bustled around filling the boxes
with food; toting the boxes to waiting pick-up trucks to bring the
food downtown to the waiting people. We were anxious about running
late. The last batch of tater tots were due out of the oven at 11:30
and we were usually fully packed and down the driveway by then! Our
delivery crew left the kitchen around 11:50. While those that stayed
behind at the kitchen cleaned and straightened, the delivery crew
made its way across town ... and then came to a full halt. There had
been an accident and on its approach, one of our trucks almost
slammed into a stopped vehicle. But YHVH is gracious and not only did
they escape injury but they were routed past the stopped vehicles and
made their way downtown with no further incident. It seems that had
we left on time, we might have been part of the original accident! We
are ever so grateful to our King! Had there been a collision, not
only would there have been injuries, but it would have effected
dozens and dozens of needy souls waiting for our arrival.
</span></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We praise our Father and King for His
love and mercy. And we thank the Ruach Elohim (Spirit of Elohim) for
inspiring the words of the prayer and for hearing and responding to
it.
</span></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And we're glad the tater tots were
late.</span></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Shalom b'shem Sar Shalom / Peace in the Name of the Prince of Peace --</span></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Blessings and hugs -- yocheved </span></span></b></div>
Yochevedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03763116335378427204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904226316090611629.post-30568527859447760312013-04-10T20:47:00.000-07:002013-04-10T20:47:00.996-07:00And When You Have Eaten<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFV885BQDoQjFI5qdlazxHWhJqsHHcy0zQasCOjnDRLuVA09WHxaOFnxgqfC2RWqbHrpN7VPM4RBlqU4j-5Fnyuu20fMGDw6s7Ag61LsxohokTSHvs4ZNA3pb8vy0zDSjd5MfD_2iuRE/s1600/stuffed+cheeks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFV885BQDoQjFI5qdlazxHWhJqsHHcy0zQasCOjnDRLuVA09WHxaOFnxgqfC2RWqbHrpN7VPM4RBlqU4j-5Fnyuu20fMGDw6s7Ag61LsxohokTSHvs4ZNA3pb8vy0zDSjd5MfD_2iuRE/s400/stuffed+cheeks.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="color: teal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Deu
8:6</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">
So obey the mitzvot of YHVH your Elohim, living as He directs and
fearing Him. </span></span></span><span style="color: teal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">7</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">
For YHVH your Elohim is bringing you into a good land, a land with
streams, springs and water welling up from the depths in valleys and
on hillsides. </span></span></span><span style="color: teal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">8</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">
It is a land of wheat and barley, grapevines, fig trees and
pomegranates; a land of olive oil and honey; </span></span></span><span style="color: teal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">9</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">
a land where you will eat food in abundance and lack nothing in it;
a land where the stones contain iron and the hills can be mined for
copper. </span></span></span><span style="color: teal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">10</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">
So you will eat and be satisfied, and you will bless YHVH your
Elohim for the good land He has given you. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Lucida Casual, cursive;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">For
the health of it, I'm trying to eat raw foods. You know the sce<span style="font-size: x-small;">ne: too many good, rich foods at Pesach / Passover ... and beyond. I've got to rega<span style="font-size: x-small;">in some <span style="font-size: x-small;">semblance of control. </span></span>And now, <span style="font-size: x-small;">s</span></span>omehow, cooked food
keeps showing up on my plate. It's aggravating<span style="font-size: x-small;">!</span> But you know, I am
privileged to have the choice! In so many places, people have rice;
rice and beans; beans and rice; rice and rice; rice and fish heads.
Today, I had fresh bananas, and later a smoothie made with pineapple,
berries, dates, coconut water and kale. Somehow, spaghetti showed up
on my plate for lunch (a group of us coo<span style="font-size: x-small;">ked</span> meals for the
homeless and later together had lunch from the leftovers ); and because I was in
writing mode tonight, the salad I planned for dinner became heating
up some frozen spanakopita instead. (spinach pies with feta cheese.
Major YUM) The point is although I am by no means wealthy (my car is
14 years old, my house 25 years old and I have some articles of
clothing to match!) I am affluent enough to have a choice. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Lucida Casual, cursive;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Startling
when you think of it in those terms, isn't it?</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Lucida Casual, cursive;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Our
Heavenly Father has promised to supply all our needs, which is reason
enough to be grateful. Who are we, that the Creator of the Universe
and everything in it commits to His creation –- obligates Himself
to it -- that He will supply us with all our needs – we will lack
nothing? It is amazing to me that He should do so! I have a closet
full of linen clothes that I can't get around to ironing. My husband's slacks still wait for their new hem. Sometimes,
my dogs have to remind me what time it is ... their dinner is late
again. But YHVH has been gracious -- and faithful to His
graciousness as well. I am in awe of His benevolence! It is right
to thank Him!</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Lucida Casual, cursive;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">So
I'll promise myself to do better with my eating habits tomorrow. I'll
mark my penance with a kale salad – yeah, that will show me! And
afterward, I'll sing:</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dycFZ96vdLqhruhbnXJQNyHgbFD4n8YHOyApaqjznEJ75eV7uNRuCXz5CvvH7bX7A7Rvfh4Xc2MWOwGHjvAiw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Lucida Casual, cursive;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">And
when you have eaten, and when you're satisfied, praise YHVH all you
children, praise YHVH. And when you have eaten and when you're
satisfied, praise YHVH all you children for the Land He's given you.
Praise YHVH all you children for the Land He's given you! </span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Lucida Casual, cursive;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Lucida Casual, cursive;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Shalom
b'shem Sar Shalom / Peace in the Name of the Prince of Peace --</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Lucida Casual, cursive;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">yocheved</span></span></span></div>
Yochevedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03763116335378427204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904226316090611629.post-90234573424036558332013-03-06T18:30:00.003-08:002013-03-06T20:50:26.611-08:00Praying For My Children<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ9A_-G9g8ScHM_gAZM46LVaBBwVAbGzTzbZHPmYbSW96GVy1zZi0ces1wh2q_cc4tPe37IZ18bdTp47J-oz1z53h5lguP9WmzDw-5hURVT21mD9st2XMdWNWYPuN7gOBMmyPr_wHCqyc/s1600/whatever+you+ask+when+you+pray+lions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ9A_-G9g8ScHM_gAZM46LVaBBwVAbGzTzbZHPmYbSW96GVy1zZi0ces1wh2q_cc4tPe37IZ18bdTp47J-oz1z53h5lguP9WmzDw-5hURVT21mD9st2XMdWNWYPuN7gOBMmyPr_wHCqyc/s400/whatever+you+ask+when+you+pray+lions.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">At the tender age of 60+ I have come to
the realization that I have wasted a lot of time. There were days –
years, even – that I did not pray. I did not know how and I was so
busy wrangling with life that I didn't even know how to approach the
Master and Giver of Life. Even the past 28 years of being a committed
Believer have not been perfect. But then, whose life is? No one is perfect,
except the One who gave us life and for Whom we now live. I cannot
flip my life into 'Rewind' and have a do-over. But, I can pray for my
sons, my daughters-in-law and my grandchildren so that they won't
need a do-over. I can pray for the members of my congregation whom
I've come to see as family: the brothers, sisters, children and
grandchildren of the heart.
</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So many needs .... so little time!</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5904226316090611629" name="yui_3_7_2_1_1362612083051_6789"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5904226316090611629" name="yui_3_7_2_1_1362612083051_6771"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5904226316090611629" name="yui_3_7_2_1_1362612083051_6788"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5904226316090611629" name="yui_3_7_2_1_1362612083051_6783"></a>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Psalm
127:3</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />I praise
YHVH that He has seen fit to reward me with these children, both of
the flesh and the heart. Who am I that the Sovereign of the universe
has taken notice of me?!<br /><br /><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Exodus
20:12, Colossians 3:20, Ephesians 6:2</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />I
praise YHVH that they honor me with their respect and compliance –
not for my sake – but for the blessings it imparts to their own
lives. <br /><br /><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Ephesians
5:2, Galatians 5:22</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />I
pray that they continue to live lives filled with love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self-control
for these are good spiritual fruits and will fill their lives with
peace and blessing.<br /><br /><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Psalm
25:21</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />May they be
kept in integrity and righteousness; let their hope always be in YHVH
my Rock and my Redeemer. <br /><br /><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">1
Thessalonians 5:6</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />O
Abba YHVH, let my children walk in the light, not the darkness; and
may they have alert and sober spirits all their days.<br /><br /><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Psalm
19:10</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />Father,
help my children to love Your Word and find it sweet and precious all
their days.<br /><br /><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Psalm
11:7, Micah 6:8</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />Dearest
Sovereign, we know that You are righteous and that You love
righteousness; fill my children's hearts with the desire and strength
to love grace, act justly and walk in humility before You. <br /><br /><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Luke
6:36</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />Help my
children to always and everywhere show the compassion that comes from
You. <br /><br /><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Ephesians
2:10</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />Father we
know that You created us to be in union with Messiah Y'shua and help
us to faithfully complete the things that You have prepared for us to
do. <br /><br /><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Proverbs
3:3</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />I pray that
grace and truth never leave my children; that they hold fast to them
as if they were engraved on their hearts.<br /><br /><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Psalm
63:8</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />Father, let
their hearts cling to You; help them to know the Right Hand that
supports them.<br /><br /><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Galatians
6:5</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />Help them to
be - and continue to be - responsible. Help them to understand how to
carry their own load. <br /><br /><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">1
Timothy 6:18-19</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />Father,
please help each one to DO good, to BE good and to be generous in
their sharing. Help them to know that this life is not all there is
and that they are storing up good things for the future – the TRUE
reality. <br /><br /><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Romans
14:19</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />Help them
to pursue shalom / peace and help them seek to build others up rather
than tearing down to build up self. <br /><br /><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Romans
15:13</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />No matter
what they see happening around them, may my children be filled with
joy and shalom that comes from You, dear Father; and by the power of
Your Set-apart Spirit, may they have hope that overflows.<br /><br /><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Hebrews
12:1</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />Help my
beloved children to run life's race and not be burdened by sin,
rather help them to put sin aside and kick it out of their lives so
they can endure to the end. <br /><br /><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Ephesians
6:18</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />Father, in
Your mercy, hear the prayers they cry out to You – both for
themselves and others.<br /><br /><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Philippians
4:12-13</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />Grant
them contentedness with their lives whether they have abundance or
not; help them to know that You are the Giver of every good gift and
that no matter what the circumstance they can overcome because You
are with them. <br /><br /><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Luke
17:5-6, Hebrews 11:1-40</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />Please,
Father, help their faith in You to grow. Help them to recall the
challenges our ancestors had and how You upheld each one and granted
the ultimate victory.<br /><br /><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Ephesians
6:7</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />Help them
Father to do all that You set before them with their whole strength,
for they are not doing this for men, but for the Sovereign of the
universe.<br /><br /><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Psalm
51:10 </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />Create in
us all, clean hearts, hearts that are resolutely set on doing
righteousness. <br /><br /><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Proverbs
1:3</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />Help us have
an intelligently disciplined life enabling us to do what is just,
right and fair. <br /><br /><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Psalm
96:3</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />Be with us
so that we can be living testimonies of Your Glory among the nations
and demonstrate Your wonders among the peoples.<br /><br /><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">1
Thessalonians 1:6</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />Help
us, dear Father to become imitators of Messiah Y'shua so that no
matter what troubles come our way, we are steadfast and filled with
the joy given by Your Ruach<br /><br /><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Deuteronomy
31:6</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />Help us all,
Abba YHVH, to be bold and courageous no matter what comes our way
because You are going with us and will never fail us or abandon us.
Help us to be faithful. </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Hear
our voice, YHVH our El, pity and be compassionate to us, and accept –
with compassion and favor – our prayer – for the Elohim Who hears
prayers and supplications are You. From before Yourself, O our
Sovereign, turn us not away empty-handed, for You Hear the prayer of
Your people Israel with compassion. Blessed are You YHVH Who hears
prayer!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></b></div>
<b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></i></b>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></b>
</div>
<b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></i></b>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Shalom
B'shem Sar Shalom / Peace in the Name of the Prince of Peace,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></b></div>
<b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></i></b>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">yocheved
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></b>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Yochevedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03763116335378427204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904226316090611629.post-54600763744163887512013-02-20T19:40:00.001-08:002013-02-20T19:40:14.805-08:00Week in Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAuwCQHjD33KRXRxkrXmXESq-WJ2mr4tsXJzcMjsQyQI6y9iiE8Z1S9LZdYx5qKypqPzuP4_DvpdakLc592yaVuOIQvz0LtkW-F8u-nEch9xpGs1t_L2uvL7G1gd66_O1CgUtsMJQKnv8/s1600/week+in+review.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAuwCQHjD33KRXRxkrXmXESq-WJ2mr4tsXJzcMjsQyQI6y9iiE8Z1S9LZdYx5qKypqPzuP4_DvpdakLc592yaVuOIQvz0LtkW-F8u-nEch9xpGs1t_L2uvL7G1gd66_O1CgUtsMJQKnv8/s640/week+in+review.jpg" width="344" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">What an incredible week this has been!!</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Meteors zipped across the skies over
Mexico, Chile, Scotland, Ireland, England, Cuba, USA, China and in
Russia where one hurt over 1000 people.</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The Carnival cruise ship “Triumph”
had a fire on board and subsequently drifted without power, running
water or hygienic services for over a week. Several passengers
literally kissed the earth when they finally made landfall.</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">For the first time in six centuries the
leader of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Benedict, resigned. At
first we heard stories of his heart condition and blindness. Then we
heard stories of EU nations wanting to arrest him for the child
molestation scandals during his time as Pope.
</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Women praying at the Kotel, also known
as the Wailing Wall which is considered to be a remnant of the Second
Temple, have been arrested for praying in tallitot (prayer shawls)
and tefillin (phylacteries).</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Horse meat DNA has been found in
European Burger King Whoppers and in butcher shops in Great Britain.</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">North Korean officials have claimed a
successful atomic bomb development and detonation. The Iranians, who
are close allies of North Korea, went there for a look-see. I imagine
there was ice cream and cake afterwards.
</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Over thirty earthquakes over magnitude
5 have hit this week; Russia, the Phillipines and New Zealand being
the hardest hit with magnitudes over 6.1.</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Approximately 315 murders were
committed in the US.
</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">American leadership continues to play
the blame-game amongst themselves while hundreds of thousands of our
fellow countrymen go without necessities. Let's hear it for those $20
million dollar vacations with golf lessons by Tiger Woods. and let's
not forget the salary increases for the same group of people ... who
will continue to get their salaries for the rest of their lives. No,
I'm not kidding.
</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And that is all in this past week.</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Taken individually, any one of these
things is a mere blip on the radar screen of life. Taken together,
and in such close proximity, now we're talking about the need for
being alert. Like labor pains increasing in frequency, duration and
magnitude, things are starting to 'heat up'. Unfortunately, there is
no epidural for life. We have to go through it all: Good times, not
so good times and horrible times are all part of the mix. Like an old
friend who passed away about 20 years ago used to say, “It takes
the bitter to appreciate the sweet.”</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">King David, who penned a majority of
the Psalms, had seen quite a bit in his 70 years. The Psalms recount
his days of triumph and his times of grinding defeat. But he always
had hope for tomorrow. He always asked YHVH for and trusted YHVH for
better days ahead, days when he would look in triumph at his enemies.
King David had confidence in his King, YHVH ... and so must we.</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The very same things could be written
about Moshe. He too, experienced the soaring victories and the
crushing defeats. He saw the Creator of all face-to-face, yet never
lived in the promised land. During his time as leader of the
Israelites, he experienced victory over the Amalakites, he saw
Aharon's rod bud and send forth flowers and ripe almonds in a single
night; he saw the ground open up to swallow Korach and his followers;
he saw water gush forth from a rock and bring life giving water to
two million people. And yet, with all he saw and accomplished, he was
humble enough to pray and intercede for those who made his life a misery.</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So
where am I going with this news recap and mini-biographies of David
and Moshe? Right here, to Psalm 91. </span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Psa
91:1</span></span></span><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
You who live in the shelter of `Elyon, who spend your nights in the
shadow of Shaddai, </span></span></span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: teal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">2</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
who say to <b>YHVH</b>, "My refuge! My fortress! My God, in whom I
trust!" - </span></span></span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: teal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">3</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
he will rescue you from the trap of the hunter and from the plague
of calamities; </span></span></span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: teal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">4</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will
find refuge; his truth is a shield and protection. </span></span></span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: teal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">5</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
You will not fear the terrors of night or the arrow that flies by
day, </span></span></span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: teal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">6</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
or the plague that roams in the dark, or the scourge that wreaks
havoc at noon. </span></span></span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: teal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">7</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand;
but it won't come near you. </span></span></span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: teal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">8</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
Only keep your eyes open, and you will see how the wicked are
punished. </span></span></span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: teal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">9</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
For you have made <b>YHVH</b>, the Most High, who is my refuge, your
dwelling-place. </span></span></span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: teal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">10</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
No disaster will happen to you, no calamity will come near your
tent; </span></span></span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: teal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">11</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
for he will order his angels to care for you and guard you wherever
you go. </span></span></span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: teal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">12</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
They will carry you in their hands, so that you won't trip on a
stone. </span></span></span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: teal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">13</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
You will tread down lions and snakes, young lions and serpents you
will trample underfoot. </span></span></span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: teal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">14</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
"Because he loves me, I will rescue him; because he knows my
name, I will protect him. </span></span></span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: teal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">15</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
He will call on me, and I will answer him. I will be with him when
he is in trouble. I will extricate him and bring him honor. </span></span></span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: teal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">16</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
I will satisfy him with long life and show him my salvation." </span></span></span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">For
the rest of our days, be they long or short, we will see terrors that
fly by night and arrows that fly by day. We will see plagues; we
will see those we know, dropping – either physically or
spiritually; we will see ourselves rescued, protected and extricated
from calamities. We will see long lives, blessed with honor. We
will see Yah's salvation, if only we would live in His shelter (in
Hebrew makhaseh [Strong's H4268] an extension of khasah [H2620] a
place one flees to for protection; a place of hope, refuge and
trust). Go there. Stay there. </span></span></span></span></b>
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">And
give no thought to tomorrow. Today has trouble enough already.</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Shalom
b'shem Sar Shalom / Peace in the Name of the Prince of Peace,</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">yocheved</span></span></span></span></b><br />
Yochevedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03763116335378427204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904226316090611629.post-31150879712428273112013-02-06T17:41:00.000-08:002013-02-06T17:41:03.748-08:00Getting Our Prayers Heard<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQF8CsVwgj04DWAJk-z7rzStDbLR-0FaZt12wpfflYcAGuxzl5GUiU8EpDriFp9AbAxZCDU4p-48fNchficfKSmMo40-yYsoKUjUpQ6Dqq9FJwwRLhpPu-wLYvIRjgQLBv7V0UmKIkHA/s1600/dont+worry+I+heard+you.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQF8CsVwgj04DWAJk-z7rzStDbLR-0FaZt12wpfflYcAGuxzl5GUiU8EpDriFp9AbAxZCDU4p-48fNchficfKSmMo40-yYsoKUjUpQ6Dqq9FJwwRLhpPu-wLYvIRjgQLBv7V0UmKIkHA/s400/dont+worry+I+heard+you.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It seems the more I think about prayer,
talk about prayer, read about prayer, meditate about prayer, the more
I hear about prayer and how to pray. When I was a child, as I
mentioned in an earlier post, I was raised in a Catholic home. My
concept of prayer was very different then. Although I don't remember
it being said or taught overtly, I got the impression that the words
of my heart were just not good enough for “God” and that I had to
pray what I now think of as “formula prayers”. If you had a
similar background or history, you know what I mean: The “Our
Father,” the “Hail Mary,” and the “Glory Be.” The Our
Father, more popularly known as the Lord's Prayer or the Disciples
Prayer is found in Matthew 6:9-13, when Messiah Y'shua's disciples
asked Him how to pray. The “Hail Mary” has its roots in Luke
1:28 and 1:42 plus some additions deemed suitable by various popes
along the way. And the “Glory Be” started with the simple praise
to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in the early 300s CE. In 529 CE,
the rest of the prayer was added. And so, I was left with the
impression that my own words were not good enough and that any matter
for prayer needed to be “Hail Mary'ed” into submission. In my
youthful mind, tough issues required the rosary, the repeated
repetition of all three of the above prayers.
</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We grow. We learn.</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My convictions are much different now.
David said in Psalm 19:14, “<span style="font-size: x-small;">May
the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be acceptable in
your presence, YHVH, my Rock and Redeemer.”</span> YHVH's
interested in what I THINK?!?! He's interested in what I have TO
SAY?!?! I have a chance of what I think and what I say being
ACCEPTABLE to the Creator of the Universe?!?! Astounding!!! I don't
even fare so well with a good portion of my family who see me as the
universal definition for the term “fruitcake.”
</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">But now, since I know I have a chance
to be accepted by YHVH, how can I approach the throne of my Creator?
I love Psalm 15 for its clear instruction:
</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.49in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Oh, YHVH, who
shall sojourn in Your Tent? Who shall tabernacle on Your holy
mountain? He who is walking flawlessly and effecting righteousness;
he who is speaking truth in his heart. He has not vilified with his
tongue; he has done no evil to his associate and has borne no
reproach against the one near him. Despised in his eyes is the
reprobate, yet he glorifies those fearing YHVH. He makes an oath and
does not change, [even if] it hurts. He has neither lent his money
at interest or taken a bribe against the innocent. He who does these
things shall not fall at any time.
</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Proverbs 28:9 is FAR more blunt:
</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.49in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">“<span style="font-size: x-small;">If
a person will not listen to Torah, even his</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">
prayer </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">is
an</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">
abomination.” </span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Every
fiber of our being cries out “NO!” “Unfair” and we ask,
“What about the sacrifice of Messiah?” Beloved, the potency of
Messiah's sacrifice for us is dependent on our obedience to Torah.
Y'shua HIMSELF said that the situation existed where He could say
(Mat. 7:23), “</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">'I
never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">
lawlessness!' for He said in John 14:15, “If you love Me, keep my
commands.” Even as late as the Book of Revelation (written in 96
CE for our time) Y'shua is still pleading with those that say they
follow Him, </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">“As for me, I rebuke and discipline everyone I love; so exert
yourselves, and turn from your sins!” </span></span></span></b><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">(Rev. 3:19)
</span></span></span></b></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">
My point is that to fully connect with YHVH, even through the
atoning sacrifice of Messiah Y'shua, we must turn from and avoid sin.
We can't live wanton lives and expect our prayers to be heard.</span></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">So,
in a nutshell, here's the plan: When we approach our Father in
prayer, first make sure there are no impediments, that nothing stands
in the way of our prayers getting heard. Thus, every prayer should
start with thoughts and words of repentance. On any given day, anyone
who is human has stuff for which to repent. Whether it was just a pen
that followed us home from work or we rolled our eyes at our spouse,
we need to clear the way to the Throne of YHVH. Next, having
thoughts and speaking words of thanksgiving is in order. Most of the
time we go running to the Throne with a shopping list of needs, as if
our Creator was some sort of blessing 'Dispense-O-Matic'. If we had
focused on what YHVH has already done, we just might see that the
need we think we have is already taken care of. (Don't worry, I've
got more fingers pointing back at me than will ever be pointed at
you.) And while we're sharing our needs with our Father, let us not
forget that HE KNOWS our condition FAR BETTER than we do. We just
see our current circumstance, He knows the cause and His intention
for the outcome. He knows the end from the beginning. That is why
praying for OUR intention may not be the best thing to do. Case in
point, had Hezikiah died when YHVH wanted him to, he would have never
seen the destruction of his kingdom. He wanted to live, and so he
did. If we pray for our Father's will to be done and for us to have
the grace to accept and understand His will, we are maturing in our
walk with Him. We are building our TRUST in Him as our Father and
Sovereign. He says in Jeremiah 29:11-13, </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">“11
For I know what plans I have in mind for you,' says YHVH,'plans for
well-being, not for bad things; so that you can have hope and a
future. 12 When you call to me and pray to me, I will listen to
you. 13 When you seek me, you will find me, provided you seek for me
wholeheartedly” </span></span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">And
TRUST is probably the best thing to do in order to get our prayers
heard, for we must come to Him like little children, trusting in
expectant hope with thanksgiving.</span></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Shalom
b'shem Sar Shalom / Peace in the Name of the Prince of Peace</span></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">yocheved</span></span></b></div>
Yochevedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03763116335378427204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904226316090611629.post-9102833583112897122013-01-23T20:52:00.000-08:002013-01-23T20:52:58.298-08:00The Power of Prayer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5lsIaec__bOqNAsAr2DHmH418EPTaXeW0RvkJvu3-sx-cPvo9gcJ5Z6OjxcscFihAD80RsFVs0ptGkSHLK8ArSt83SBlDfj9EP6VRdRWPjCsrGe_bbxJJyRCtAg_XqKXJeTwDTNi_pdE/s1600/happy+girl2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5lsIaec__bOqNAsAr2DHmH418EPTaXeW0RvkJvu3-sx-cPvo9gcJ5Z6OjxcscFihAD80RsFVs0ptGkSHLK8ArSt83SBlDfj9EP6VRdRWPjCsrGe_bbxJJyRCtAg_XqKXJeTwDTNi_pdE/s400/happy+girl2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Over the years, hundreds of studies
have been done on the power of prayer. Some have been informal, such
as pastors keeping track in prayer diaries. Others have been rather
clinical and have been published in professional journals. Either
way, prayer is one way our heavenly Father has given us with which to
communicate with Him. Messiah's disciples who were life-long
Israelites and thus very aware of the concept of prayer, asked
Messiah if He would teach them to pray. Rather than teaching them
new, in-depth concepts, Messiah taught them to pray for the simple
things: today's food, forgiveness of sin, strength for face today's
temptations and so forth. So it is fitting that when we are in pain,
when our marriages are falling apart, when we're consumed with
concern over financial affairs that we pray. Research shows that it
is just those things for which prayer is beneficial.
</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In the study published in <u>Arthritis
and Rheumatism</u><span style="text-decoration: none;"> published in
December 1989, it was demonstrated that of those who prayed for pain
relief, the majority received that pain relief; prayer was more
effective than dietary changes, massage, swimming, exercise, bed rest
and relaxation techniques. Other studies have shown that prayer is
helpful in lowering pain in back injuries, nerve disorders, traumatic
injury and other pain scenarios. Those who engage in prayer have had
their lives made more livable, by the grace of YHVH. </span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">First
appearing in the </span><u>American Health</u><span style="text-decoration: none;">
periodical and later in his book, </span><u>Timeless Healing,</u><span style="text-decoration: none;">
Dr. Herbert Benson described how cardiac patients could reduce their
blood pressure and angina episodes. He also went on to document how
the test subjects had reduced risk of heart attacks, strokes and
other stress related illnesses. </span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">In
the </span><u>Archives of Internal Medicine</u><span style="text-decoration: none;">,
November 1985, Dr. Richard Smith and associates documented immune
system response and how it responded to prayer. When prayer was part
of the subjects' testing, the immune system response skyrocketed and
the activity of the viral allergens were minimalized.</span></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">So,
I said all this to say: prayer works. It works for provision, for
healing, for serenity in the midst of life's storms. Prayer works.</span></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">One
of the classic prayers in Judaism is “Mi shebeirakh.”
<a href="http://youtu.be/HX5TWsfykSs" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Immortalized in song by Debbie Friedman</a>, the ancient words from
centuries long gone have been used across the generations to plead
for health and healing. Read the words and let them connect with your
spirit:</span></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">May
the One who blessed our forefathers, Avraham, Yitzchak and Ya'akov;
Moshe, Aharon, David and Shlomo and our fore-mothers, Sarah, Rivkah,
Rakhel and Leah, May the One bless and heal this (</span><u>person's
name)</u><span style="text-decoration: none;"> daughter / son of
(mother's name) because we will contribute to charity on his / her
behalf. In response to this, may the Holy One, Blessed is He,
compassionately help him / her to recover, to heal him / her, to
strengthen him/her and to revive him / her. And may Elohim send him /
her a speedy return to wholeness from heaven for all his / her organs
and blood vessels, among the other ailing people of Israel a renewal
of spirit and of body swiftly and soon. Let us respond: Amein. </span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Wait
a cotton-picking minute!!! Do I mean that you should try to bribe
YHVH by giving to charity? Of course not! It is right and proper to
thank YHVH for what He has done and for what He will do. It is right
to imitate the mercy we wish to receive from YHVH by being merciful
to those who are less fortunate than ourselves. YHVH cannot be
bought. But we can, in the tradition of our ancestors who brought
their gifts to the Temple, demonstrate the generosity that our
Messiah encouraged when He told us to have a 'good eye'. The
generosity you demonstrate unleashes positive thoughts, happy,
uplifting energy that sets in motion a positive (healing) atmosphere.
</span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">So
as we move forward in time towards the day when the need for healing
will be a thing of the past, let us support each other, agree with
each other in prayer that we will be our most vibrant, healthy
selves, that our spirits and bodies will function according to our
Father's design and we will, in unity and strength, occupy until
Messiah comes, b'shem Y'shua.</span></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Shalom
b'shem Sar Shalom / Peace in the Name of the Prince of Peace,</span></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">yocheved</span></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
Yochevedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03763116335378427204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904226316090611629.post-82368996508797979962013-01-09T18:25:00.000-08:002013-01-09T18:25:46.425-08:00Who You Gonna Call?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPeDI2DG8zCiwlRvHB5D0zHLifsGw5F5tJ22bg_aRlCLRhJKDWujKtY2qM8a6ZsnMAW1pJwyZ2v_jXJr6Z15icoplxt1KRNm4kJ-ahYDOmsV8hUgFJVsQaGCa8pfNfm8ss4DOc8V54dI4/s1600/hubble05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPeDI2DG8zCiwlRvHB5D0zHLifsGw5F5tJ22bg_aRlCLRhJKDWujKtY2qM8a6ZsnMAW1pJwyZ2v_jXJr6Z15icoplxt1KRNm4kJ-ahYDOmsV8hUgFJVsQaGCa8pfNfm8ss4DOc8V54dI4/s400/hubble05.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hubble telescope image from www.Nasa.gov</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">If there is any thing that is constant
in my life, it is change. Sometimes it is a roller coaster of
activities and emotions. Other times it is an endurance test, a time
of squaring one's shoulders and persistently, doggedly, moving
towards the finish line. It is never dull, that is for sure. I
imagine some of my readers nodding their heads in agreement. That is
because whether we are short or tall, rich or poor, funny or serious,
bubbly or quiet, we are all human. And, humans have lives. Humans
have situations.</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I am blessed to be supported by a
husband and mishpokha that love me. I am blessed beyond measure that
YHVH, my Creator, Redeemer, Bridegroom and Sovereign Master has taken
notice of me and has had mercy on me. He has privileged me to work
for Him and I am awestruck by the magnitude of the blessing. In
attempting to heal His world through good works to others, I myself
have been healed. I am not talking about various maladies du jour
like colds, flu, injuries and such, although all those needs have
been met along the way as well. I am talking about the broken soul,
the life that was so filled with self-doubt, self-loathing,
self-condemnation that for a while ... well, let's just say, I'm
happy to be here to experience my “now”. And that is all I will
say about that.
</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Through it all, YHVH has been there.
Since before time began and after it ends, He will be there. When
Moshe asked the Voice from the burning bush, “Who shall I say sent
me?” YHVH replied, “I am / will be that I am / will be.” For
me, the most accurate interpretation of that title is “The Eternal
One.” As humans, we cannot fathom eternity. We live for the 5
o'clock close of business or the next family reunion. We have no
concept of FOREVER. And yet, that is what YHVH tells us. He has been
here, He is here, and He will continue to be here, FOREVER. There
won't be a sunrise or a sunset without Him. There won't be a turn of
a leaf or the turn of the seasons without Him. There will not be life
or death without Him. He is FOREVER.
</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So then, who shall I call when I'm not
feeling well? A doctor whose life is as fleeting as my own who will
probably be dust in another decade? A banker whose riches depend on
market manipulations and thus may be penniless himself in a twist of
events? A lawyer whose job is to find the loophole rather than the
truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth? I choose to call
on YHVH, Maker and Owner of heaven and earth and all they contain. He
is my Champion, He is my Rock, He is my all in all.
</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">What I am saying to you in this
blog-post today is not a new discovery. It is something I ruminate
on quite often, but it was brought to the surface today with a prayer
I discovered in an online siddur (prayer book) – yes, there's an
app for that too! I share it with you here. May it be for a
blessing.
</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">True and firm,
established and enduring, right and faithful, beloved and precious,
desirable and pleasant, revered and mighty, well-ordered and
acceptable, good and beautiful is Your word unto us forever and ever.
It is true, the Elohim of the universe is our Sovereign, the Rock of
Ya'akov, the Shield of our salvation; throughout all generations He
endures and His Name endures; His throne is established and His
kingdom and His faithfulness endure forever. His words also live and
endure; they are faithful and desirable forever and for all eternity,
as for our ancestors so also for us, our children, our generations,
and for all the generations of the seed of Israel His servants.</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">For the first and
through the last of the ages Your Word is good and endures forever
and ever. It is true and trustworthy, a statute which shall not pass
away. True it is that You are indeed YHVH our Elohim, and the Elohim
of our ancestors, our Sovereign, our ancestor's Sovereign, our
Redeemer, the Redeemer of our ancestors, our Maker, the Rock of our
salvation; our Deliverer and Rescuer from everlasting, such is Your
Name, O Yah; there is no mighty one besides You.</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The winds of change will continue to
blow in our lives. YHVH can see the past, the present and the future;
and so He moves His servants to where He wants them for the sake of
His kingdom and for the esteem of His Name. Change will happen as
part of His plan. When I want a sure foundation and a Rock to which
I can cling, I call on YHVH, the Eternal One, because there is none
like Him, for He is FOREVER.</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Shalom b'shem haSar Shalom</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Peace in the Name of the Prince of
Peace --</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Yocheved</span></b></div>
Yochevedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03763116335378427204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904226316090611629.post-62673844421081468792012-12-26T22:21:00.000-08:002012-12-26T22:21:27.536-08:00Against Babylon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnVecLpd-K1XdJLMu4P1AFohQIDmdNbAnSbIRey-hdj5cVzONZWdZvEe9_xe-OIGmv8zKyn1mClu5YO8AF57g5L7gXl9-Dg8cOVjzc8thaM16D63h7g_u2Wnan4H0XGbJ4KXwLKQi5lg0/s1600/narrow+gate3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnVecLpd-K1XdJLMu4P1AFohQIDmdNbAnSbIRey-hdj5cVzONZWdZvEe9_xe-OIGmv8zKyn1mClu5YO8AF57g5L7gXl9-Dg8cOVjzc8thaM16D63h7g_u2Wnan4H0XGbJ4KXwLKQi5lg0/s400/narrow+gate3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">For people who are Torah pursuant, this
past week has been most difficult. It will probably be just as
difficult next week, too, as these popular festivities unfold.
Naturally, I am talking about the feasts commonly known as Christmas
and New Year's Day, but have since ancient times been celebrated as
Saturnalia and Janus. Being Torah pursuant, I see the fertility
symbols behind the tree and the tree skirt; the mistletoe and the
holly. I see the convoluted thinking that says we give gifts to each
other because it is “Christ's birthday” and try not to roll my
eyes. I see the drunken debauchery that is satan's counterfeit for
true joy. I think of how our heavenly Father must be so hurt that the
people that call on His Name are twisting the Gospel story to serve
their own pleasures and ambitions. And in a few days, people will be
celebrating the feast of Janus, the two headed god that looks ahead
to the future and behind to the past. Unknowingly, they will listen
to and watch TV specials that capture the year in review, and they
will make New Year's resolutions to control their future, not
realizing that they are practicing ancient rites. And then there is
the drunken debauchery thing again ... “ringing” in the New Year,
they'll call it.
</span></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">There is a way that seems right to a
man, says Proverbs 14:12 & Proverbs 16:25, but the way thereof is
death. And, YHVH gave His only begotten Son, so that none should
perish says John 3:16, but have life everlasting. Hebrews 6:6 says
that by willful sin they
crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open
shame. </span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So,
how can we pray for those friends and family members that “just
don't get it”? First of all, our motivations must be pure. We
have to approach this with an attitude of love, and not let it be a
contest of wills, for that is nothing other than manipulation and
witchcraft. Humbly, we must consider how long it took for us to “get
it” and put away any pride over having “gotten it,” because we
did not “get it” on our own. It was YHVH's mercy ALONE that
allowed the scales to be taken from our eyes so that we could see
what we were doing; so that we could see the vast distance between
our own actions and the Word of Yah. So we start with repentance, for
our own shortcomings and for theirs. We pray that YHVH in His mercy
will hear our prayer for their highest good and remove the scales
from their eyes. We must not give into the temptation to use sarcasm
or try to control their activities. Lastly, we must realize they are
YHVH's baby too, and sometimes, you just gotta let go. This affords
our Father the opportunity to deal with them without interference or
any rescuing on our part. Experience is an expensive school, but
some will learn no other way. </span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This
week's blog is, by admission, a expose' of my own spiritual
wranglings. Those who mean the world to me think I am a nut-job
because I choose to not participate in the festivities they find so
wonderful. But, in the words of a song by Lenny and Varda, “I
choose Life, I choose Blessing, I choose to live by [Yah's] Word / I
choose to follow You, my L-rd. (Song: <u>I
Choose Life</u><span style="text-decoration: none;">
from the CD </span><u>Torah
is Life</u><span style="text-decoration: none;">
</span><span style="text-decoration: none;">©
Adonai Echad Music 2004) They think – or, rather, I presume they
think – that they can do what they want without having to face
judgment. I'm sure they would tell me that there is nothing wrong
with parties, gifts, drinking etc. They are right! There is nothing
wrong with parties, gifts and drinking. What's wrong is forsaking
the feasts YHVH gave us. If we say we follow Y'shua – even if
we're still calling Him Jesus – then follow Him! Do the things He
did, celebrate the feasts He celebrated. Consider holy / set-apart
what He considered holy / set-apart and eschew (to avoid something on
moral or practical grounds) the things He eschewed. He is, after
all, the Word of Yah in the flesh!</span></span></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">So
how is all this “Against Babylon”? YHVH, in Genesis 3 mentions
two seeds. The seed of the woman, which we understand to be Messiah
Y'shua; and the seed of the serpent, the world system, that is,
anything that is apart from or different from Yah's
Word-in-the-flesh, Y'shua. It is really black and white. We are
either YHVH's servants or Babylon's. We are either promoting YHVH's
kingdom or Babylon. In Revelation 18:4, YHVH pleads with us, “Come
out of [Babylon] My people, so you will not take part in her sins and
you will not receive her plagues.” </span></span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Recently,
in response to something I said about keeping Sabbath, someone called
me 'elitist'. Although offended at the time, I see their point. They
are right. Narrow is the gate that leads to eternal life and broad
is the way to destruction (Matthew 7:13-14). Only a few will travel
that narrow road. I am pursuing it and I pray their spiritual GPS
can find it. Soon. Every day we spend is another day we don't have.</span></span></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Shalom
b'shem Sar Shalom / Peace in the Name of the Prince of Peace</span></span></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Yocheved</span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
Yochevedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03763116335378427204noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904226316090611629.post-28074765691764677642012-12-10T20:44:00.000-08:002012-12-10T20:44:34.235-08:00The Mourning After<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheMReO-9uimTcc8wZfYcq0Qf22TGSfEx-6meT2hfr1VqUwn-87PVsuwtnTRVetuGmZefxz7Dm_p_gLQ20qrZ_nZ2AuVj4CbzBkybpn1f3rsCdtKaGCnstHI18lA1Hd9NA7NeeIBwt15L8/s1600/butterfly+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheMReO-9uimTcc8wZfYcq0Qf22TGSfEx-6meT2hfr1VqUwn-87PVsuwtnTRVetuGmZefxz7Dm_p_gLQ20qrZ_nZ2AuVj4CbzBkybpn1f3rsCdtKaGCnstHI18lA1Hd9NA7NeeIBwt15L8/s400/butterfly+collage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">These past few months have been
touching emotions that I don't often take out and play with. One of
them being 'mourning'.</span></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A couple of months ago, Uncle Jimmy, my
father's youngest brother and last living sibling, passed away. He
had taken up residence in the nursing home to be with Aunt Yvonne who
was there to recover from a stroke. She lived about another 6 weeks
after his passing, and then she joined him. They were very special,
very sweet and I love them. In a way, it was almost like losing Dad
(who passed in 1984) all over again.</span></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Then, the proverbial ball really
started rolling a couple of days before Thanksgiving when we learned
of the deaths of our brother and sister in faith, Don and Jo. Don
had gotten news of his own father's death at the age of 96, so he and
Jo flew his plane to Connecticut for the funeral. They never
arrived. Their plane went down just shy of the runway, just a couple
of miles from his daughter's house. I learned later that his son in
law heard what sounded like a crash, but at that time, “Pop's”
plane wasn't late yet. It may take a year before all the
investigations into the whys and wherefores are complete. I still
expect to see Pop sitting on the back row of the shul, playing his
bass guitar and Mama in her usual seat, smiling as she always did.
But that's not to be.</span></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Then earlier this week, I learned of
the death of someone I knew in the 1980s. We had traveled to Europe
together then. He insisted on driving through Germany. I was the
navigator. Armed with only a paper map and NOT knowing German, every
day was an adventure. Unfortunately, the names of the towns were at
least 31 letters long and by the time I had gotten to letter 17 of
the 31, we had passed the exit (Ausfahrt in German). We were going
at least 90 mph on the autobahn, which had no speed limit, in a 2
cylinder Fiat – and yes, this roller-skate sized car could go 90!
So we would argue because we had to turn around at the next exit.
Ours was a brief but tumultuous relationship, so although not
particularly saddened, I was shocked. He was “only” 54 when he
died.
</span></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Today's encounter with death was a
little different. A co-worker / friend I had in the late 1980s was
very dear to me. It had been ages since I had heard from her and I
wondered what had happened to her. Last I heard, she was the manager
of the Humane Society in Sarasota, FL. I thought that FaceBook would
be a good place to start, since I remember her as a very social,
energetic, and outgoing person. There was nothing on FaceBook when I
searched her name, but there was a link to a devotional she had
written. Cool beans, I thought; I knew Sheree was just discovering
Jesus in a Presbyterian church when I was discovering Y'shua in a
Torah observant community. Praise Yah! I dug a little further. I
went limp when I came to the Social Security Death Index. Sheree
passed away in June 2005, three weeks after her 50<sup>th</sup>
birthday. The thoughts she expressed in the devotionals became all
the more precious. I share them with you here. I don't think she'll
be too upset at my not asking her permission.
</span></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b><div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">10%</span></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b><div align="CENTER" style="margin-left: 0.49in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Written by Sheree Motola</span></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b><div align="LEFT" style="margin-left: 0.49in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A tenth of the produce of
the land, whether grain or fruit, is the Lord’s and is holy.
Leviticus 27:30 (The Book)</span></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b><div style="margin-left: 0.49in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">God’s word clearly sets up a system
for giving back to the church. The Lord decreed to Moses that ten
percent (a tithe) of everything that He blesses His people with, in
the way of money or produce, should go back to Him.</span></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b><div style="margin-left: 0.49in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Recently, some friends of mine have
given me cause to challenge this principle. Last week, on two
separate occasions, two different friends called me to offer help (I
have not been feeling well lately) by providing meals, groceries, and
to help tidy up my house (including changing my kitty litter!). Their
reason for offering went beyond friendship and fellowship; both had
been blessed recently and wanted to return the blessing to someone
else. One had just sold a house and received some unexpected profits;
another just got word that her husband had been awarded a big
promotion. Both of these ladies give their tithe to the church, they
wanted to give beyond the tithe; they wanted to give back a portion
of the time, love and help that God had given them in the past week.</span></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b><div style="margin-left: 0.49in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">What would Christianity look like if
we all agreed to give back one tenth of ALL the blessings God gives
us? God has totally forgiven us for every wrong – what if we
forgave just a tenth of those who had wronged us? God loved us enough
to send His son to die for us, before we even knew Him or loved Him –
what if we gave a tenth of that love back to strangers who don’t
know us, much less love us? God blesses many of us with good health
every day – what if we gave back a tenth of that health and helped
others who were less healthy by giving blood or volunteering for a
health organization? God hears all of our prayers – what if gave
back a tenth of those prayers and prayed for or with others? God
gives us 24 hours every day to use as we choose – what if we gave
Him back 2.4 hours every day?</span></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b><div style="margin-left: 0.49in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Take inventory today of the ways God
has blessed you and ask Him to show you how to bless others in
return.</span></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b><div style="margin-left: 0.49in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Bye, Sheree ... I hope your
transition was peaceful and I hope to see you again. This time we'll
be rejoicing before our King, rather than lighting up Sarasota. I'll
hold you in my heart til then.</span></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Blessed are You, YHVH our
El, Ruler of the universe who is Ha Dayan Emet, the True Judge.
Blessed are You, YHVH, who gathers to Himself the remnant of His
People in peace. May we be comforted among the mourners in Zion; and
may our solace come from Heaven, b'shem Y'shua, who bore our griefs
and who wept at the death of His friend, Lazarus.
</span></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></b><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Shalom b'shem Sar Shalom, </span></span></b></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Peace in the Name of the Prince of Peace, </span></span></b></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Yocheved</span></span></b></div>
Yochevedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03763116335378427204noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904226316090611629.post-76487264969072449452012-11-28T21:58:00.000-08:002012-11-28T21:58:29.593-08:00Praying for my Husband<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5dDNZv2hgaJdiJuCYLFD3q3ZK4gP_P7riCH_5RUHsF-_-UPtVbA1LmZVxfwyvRstF7XPx0qlsGRvjQGkEErf_cKWQAgQOGaVQ6-CH5gmo3o57ZMGmI07wJAaXkpx2L3EW-6R2msZpArE/s1600/rings+with+love+tiles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5dDNZv2hgaJdiJuCYLFD3q3ZK4gP_P7riCH_5RUHsF-_-UPtVbA1LmZVxfwyvRstF7XPx0qlsGRvjQGkEErf_cKWQAgQOGaVQ6-CH5gmo3o57ZMGmI07wJAaXkpx2L3EW-6R2msZpArE/s400/rings+with+love+tiles.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">One day, after a particularly animated
conversation [read: argument] with my Beloved, I came to the
realization that he, for all his foibles, is YHVH's gift to me and I
am YHVH's gift to him. Wow! What an eye opener! I always knew that
YHVH put us together ... and keeps us together, but, GIFT??? He
worries about me, cares for me, tries to make me laugh, gets
flustered when he can't 'make it better,' and - I have no doubt –
would die for me if need be. So, yes, gift. With that realization,
what can I pray for this man Yah gave me to love, honor and cherish?
Health, of course. Strength, physical and emotional, without a
doubt. But how do I pray to protect this precious gift? What words
can I say that would find their way to the very heart of Yah and keep
my Beloved in the best of health and in complete shalom?</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I know that YHVH hears my heart ... I
know that YHVH's Word cannot return void. With that thought in mind,
it occurred to me that praying scripture on his behalf would be the
best. But which scriptures? After some reading through the Word and
other texts, here are a few that I thought would apply.
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">Ephesians
1:17 </span></span></span></span><br />Oh,
YHVH, glorious Father, I thank you that You give my husband a spirit
of wisdom and revelation, so that he will have full knowledge of You.<span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">
</span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">Philippians
1:9-11</span></span></span></span><br /><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">I
pray that my husband overflows with knowledge and discernment so
that he will be pure and spotless on the Day of Messiah.</span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">Colossians
1:9-12</span></span></span></span><br /><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">I
pray that he lives a life that is worthy of You, my Sovereign, and
that he is pleasing to You, being fruitful in every good work. May
he be continually strengthened and patient in every situation, joyful
and thankful to You, oh Yah.</span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">11
Timothy 1:9</span></span></span></span><br /><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">I
thank you that he has been called to a life of holiness in unity with
Messiah Y'shua.</span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">Proverbs
19:21</span></span></span></span><br /><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">I
give thanks that Your Counsel will stand, oh Yah, no matter the plans
in one's mind.</span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">Joshua
24:15</span></span></span></span><br /><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">Strengthen
us – our whole household - dearest Father, to turn our backs on the
'gods' and distractions of our past and to serve You completely and
wholeheartedly. </span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">Psalms
101:2</span></span></span></span><br /><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">I
thank You, my Father that we follow the path of integrity and with
Your help, we will run our lives with sincere hearts inside our
home.</span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">Proverbs
6:22</span></span></span></span><br /><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">Dearest
Father, lead my husband, watch over him and speak to his heart every
day.</span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">Ephesians
5:25</span></span></span></span><br /><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">Thank
You my Creator, Redeemer, Bridegroom and King that my husband, in
imitation of Messiah, loves me and gives himself for me.</span></span></span></span><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">
</span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">Genesis
18:19</span></span></span></span><br /><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">I
thank You that he commands his children and his household after You
YHVH, and we shall keep the way of You YHVH, doing what is right and
just. </span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">Proverbs
18:21</span></span></span></span><br /><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">In
my husband’s tongue are words of life and not death; may the fruit
of his lips always be sweet.</span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">1
Corinthians 13:4-6</span></span></span></span><br /><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">I
thank You, my Father, that my husband is patient and kind; he is not
jealous; he is not easily angered and he keeps no record of my
faults. May he always delight in the truth.</span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">Matthew
5:9</span></span></span></span><br /><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">Father
I thank You that my husband, Your son works to make peace in Your
world and in Your set-apart community.</span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">Psalms
5:12</span></span></span></span><br /><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">I
praise You my Father that you surround my husband with favor like a
shield and that You bless the righteous.</span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">Psalms
112</span></span></span></span><br /><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">Thank
you, Father, that my husband fears You and delights in Your Mitzvot.
I praise You that prosperity abides in our home and we have plenty to
share with the needy. We trust You, Father, and fear only
You.</span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">Psalms
1:1,2</span></span></span></span><br /><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">I
praise You, my Father, that my husband rejects the advice of the
wicked and that he delights in Your Torah. </span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">Psalms
103:4</span></span></span></span><br /><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">Oh,
almighty Eternal One, thank You for redeeming my husband from the pit
and surrounding him with Your grace and tender mercies.</span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">11
Corinthians 9:7</span></span></span></span><br /><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">May
he forever be a cheerful giver and please You, Oh, Yah with his
wholeheartedness toward You.</span></span></span></span><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">Exodus
20:3</span></span></span></span><br />I
pray that h<span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">e
will never have another elohim before You or beside You.</span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">Ephesians
3:18-19</span></span></span></span><br /><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">I
pray that He will be given the strength to grasp the breadth, length,
height and depth of the love of Messiah and may he always be filled
with the fullness of Yah.</span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">Psalms
42:2</span></span></span></span><br /><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">I
pray and thank You that my husband always thirsts for You as a deer
desires water.</span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">Ephesians
5:33</span></span></span></span><br /><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">Abba
YHVH, I pray and thank You that my husband loves me as he loves
himself. Help me to always and forever see him as Your precious gift
to me and treat him with the honor and respect due his position as
representative of Messiah and priest in our home. </span></span></span></span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">Thank
You, Father, for Your precious Word that strengthens, encourages and
brings clarity and fullness. Thank You for Messiah Y'shua who modeled
Your Torah for us to learn and incorporate into our lives. Thank You
for joining me to a man of integrity who has a heart for You. Bless
our days with Shalom in all areas of our lives, b'shem Y'shua.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">Shalom
b'shem Sar Shalom</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">Blessings
and hugs --</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">Yocheved</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
Yochevedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03763116335378427204noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904226316090611629.post-44251740389335383732012-11-07T09:11:00.000-08:002012-11-07T09:18:26.325-08:00Think This, Not That<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJ59g0WAkH-ouKdbN3avb72uosWN5hPXC-Z_lxkjojyx06PF8_MjEyJ9_xlW9DccbsqWN6GSmhs3oUhbrv_zXfgaap8Vo0B1ndxV-5Q2mcyBTvyT9AIyifmPR-w3IQFsT1awN2SknKM8/s1600/you+are+my+hiding+place+flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJ59g0WAkH-ouKdbN3avb72uosWN5hPXC-Z_lxkjojyx06PF8_MjEyJ9_xlW9DccbsqWN6GSmhs3oUhbrv_zXfgaap8Vo0B1ndxV-5Q2mcyBTvyT9AIyifmPR-w3IQFsT1awN2SknKM8/s400/you+are+my+hiding+place+flowers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I have been on a diet since the age of
nine. Although born at a trim six pounds, I became a portly child by
6 months, with fat rolls, chubby cheeks and creases at my wrists,
elbows, ankles and knees. My mother said I was always hungry ... I
believe it! I have the baby pictures to prove it!
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In the course of my trying to get some
semblance of 'law and order' over my weight, I came across a series
of books called, “Eat This, Not That.” The basic premise of
these books is to help us make healthier choices and not really give
up the indulgences that make life a happy place. For example,
instead of a milk shake (600 to 1000 calories) have a single cone
(about 300 calories). Instead of Chicken Caesar Wrap, have a grilled
chicken sandwich. See? You don't have to live on kale and
toothpicks! You can eat well and have fun while making healthier
choices.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">But I'm not writing today about food
choices. I am writing about thought choices. Last night was
election night. One thousand days of campaigning, mudslinging and
promises made to be broken culminated in another four years of what
we've just had four years of. Broken hearts and broken dreams on one
side; empowerment and exhilaration on the other, with neither side
really wanting to communicate or compromise with the other. But does
it have to be that way?</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Every day, in every circumstance, we
are given choices. Fruit or eggs for breakfast; turning right or left
out of our community to drive to work; jump in someone's stuff when
they offend us or gently explain why we've been offended. Each
action is preceded by a decision, each decision is preceded by a
thought. The important thing (again learned via dieting) is to think
about something before it's 'crunch time'. So before we get hungry,
it's good to think about appropriate food choices and plan
accordingly; before we blow our stack at a (fill in your own
description) co-worker, think about various scenarios and peaceful
resolutions; before the emergency arises, think about escape routes
out of the house and where you will all meet when disaster strikes.
In other words, be proactive instead of reactive.
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">For those of us with a deep abiding
faith in our Creator and the sanctity of life and the holiness of
marriage, last night's election results are disturbing. For those of
us who have seen the values of our homes decrease and our household
expenses increase, last night's election results are disappointing.
For those of us who haven't worked in a while, last night's election
results portend more of the same. It is easy to slide into the
thought patterns of helplessness, hopelessness,and powerlessness. But
YHVH's psychology is very different! He tells us:</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">YHVH is my rock, my fortress and my
deliverer; my Elohim is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my
shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. <span style="color: #45818e;">Psalm 18:2</span>
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">"So
don't be anxious, asking, 'What will we eat?,' 'What will we drink?'
or 'How will we be clothed?' For it is the pagans who set their
hearts on all these things. Your heavenly Father knows you need them
all. But seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these
things will be given to you as well. Don't worry about tomorrow —
tomorrow will worry about itself! Today has enough tsuris (troubles)
already!” </span><span style="color: teal;">Matt
6:31 - 34</span><span style="color: black;">
</span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">“For
I know the plans I have for you,” declares YHVH, “plans to
prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” <span style="color: #45818e;">Jeremiah 29:11</span> </span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">“Moreover,
my Elohim will fill every need of yours according to His glorious
wealth, in union with the Messiah Y'shua.” </span><span style="color: #198a8a;">Philippians
4:19</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Also,
we can't forget that in Yah's economy, we must not hold grudges; we
must not keep track of the hurts; we must not savor the pain: </span><span style="color: #198a8a;">
</span><span style="color: black;">“For
if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will also
forgive you; but if you do not forgive others their offenses, your
heavenly Father will not forgive yours.” </span><span style="color: teal;">Mat
6:14 - 15</span><span style="color: black;">
</span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">So,
no matter how elated or deflated we are by the results of the
election; no matter the joy or frustration, we put the events of the
past one thousand days behind us, we roll up our shirt sleeves and
forge ahead, occupying until Messiah Y'shua's return, remembering
that 'occupy' is a military term meaning to stand our ground and
exert our influence, that being the influence of Yah's Kingdom. We
speak kindly, we encourage, we love, we serve, and we also oppose and
work to displace the works of darkness. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">In
all this, I am reminded of Lot, the nephew of Avraham. He chose to
live near Sodom and Gomorrah, initially for the benefit of his flocks
of sheep. Ultimately, he had a house in Sodom. BUT, when the sun went
down he went to the town square to seek out and save travelers by
inviting them into his own home. Until the return of Messiah, let us
restructure our thinking. Let's reject the notion that it is
hopeless and 'this' is all that there will be, and make positive
strides in providing encouragement to each other and to those around
us. Let us give practical help and feed the poor and homeless.
Mostly, let us know that YHVH is in charge, there is no “Plan B”
and submit to our Father's plan with grace and humility. Let us walk
by faith, not by sight. Let us stop focusing on the mess we see
around us and lift our eyes to the hills from whence comes our help.
Our citizenship is a heavenly citizenship. Our riches are stored in
a heavenly storehouse. So if the market crumbles, if our homes zero
out, so be it!! “They” cannot take our souls, “they” cannot
take our heavenly reward. Only we can hand it over. Let's not do
that! Let's do this: </span><span style="color: black;">Finally,
brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things </span><span style="color: black;"><i>are</i></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;">
honest, whatsoever things </span></span><span style="color: black;"><i>are</i></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;">
just, whatsoever things </span></span><span style="color: black;"><i>are</i></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;">
pure, whatsoever things </span></span><span style="color: black;"><i>are</i></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;">
lovely, whatsoever things </span></span><span style="color: black;"><i>are</i></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;">
of good report; if </span></span><span style="color: black;"><i>there
be</i></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;">
any virtue, and if </span></span><span style="color: black;"><i>there
be</i></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;">
any praise, think on these things.</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;">
</span></span><span style="color: #198a8a;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Philippians
4:8</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;">.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Shalom
b'shem Sar Shalom --</span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Yocheved</span></span></span></div>
Yochevedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03763116335378427204noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904226316090611629.post-34460235193717457632012-10-17T15:53:00.000-07:002012-10-17T15:53:01.071-07:00Answered Prayer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPR-4qWIQngueYA5HqmscwvxWcWUuxm0lGK1LFXOpKgd1Aam7sui-scwkZuy4iOGPRpWWggRpDTBikvu639o1AIcrgf5PQafrQv4rOTPeghMbtP-PLxw8io0uqyOvRT3hbi9P_KeS3tY/s1600/whatever+you+ask+in+prayer+believing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPR-4qWIQngueYA5HqmscwvxWcWUuxm0lGK1LFXOpKgd1Aam7sui-scwkZuy4iOGPRpWWggRpDTBikvu639o1AIcrgf5PQafrQv4rOTPeghMbtP-PLxw8io0uqyOvRT3hbi9P_KeS3tY/s400/whatever+you+ask+in+prayer+believing.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My life, especially recently, is full
of answered prayer.
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I married my husband as an answer to
prayer. (The part of me that is home to the “class clown” is
saying, “What was I thinking???”) But the reality is that 21
years ago, after a history of failed relationships where I had played
chameleon to please the boyfriend du jour, I pleaded with Abba YHVH
to guide my love life. I had failed miserably. I couldn't trust my
own judgment in this area of my life, that was clear. I needed Him to
take over. And He did. I met “Mr. Wonderful” AKA “he who
must be tolerated” (depends on which day) just a week after I
prayed that prayer. We met in the parking lot of the Christian radio
station where I volunteered as a prayer partner. We've been together
ever since.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A few months ago, I asked Abba for help
during Sukkot / the Feast of Tabernacles. If things worked out as I
anticipated, I would be cooking for 300 people for eight days ... and
those who had helped me in the past had moved away, one family to
Wyoming, another to Arizona. Those of our congregation who would be
attending the feast had deterrents to kitchen duty of their own: tiny
newborns, farm animals that would require their attention, illnesses,
injuries ... It did not look good. But “I lift my eyes to the
hills from where my help comes.” (Ps. 121:1) I know my Creator,
Redeemer, Bridegroom and Sovereign “did not give me a spirit of
fear, but of power, love and a sound mind.” (2Tim 1:7) I also kept
my concerns to myself, I did not want to face the barrage of
questions about how I was going to pull this all off. The truth is,
I wasn't going to do anything. YHVH was. And He did.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Early in September, I got an email from
someone who offered to leave their home for a month and essentially
join herself to my hip and help in whatever way possible. I have had
help in the past that got upset when I did not say 'please' and
'thank you' at every request. I'm not mean ... but I do get stressed
and I get terse. So, I was a bit skeptical at her very gracious
offer. I needed someone I could work with. As Yah would have it, she
was not deterred by the tepid response I gave at the time. And so
she essentially moved in during the first week in September. We
baked banana bread, carrot-pineapple bread; we made carrot juice and
meatloaf. We chopped; we diced; we measured and re-calculated. She
was wonderful ... and we were doing all things through Messiah who
strengthened us. (Phil. 4:13) I was giddy with delight.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">On the erev Shabbat / f'day before the
feast started, we had another case of 10 pounds of events wedged into
a 5 pound bag of a day. The rental RVs for the speakers had to be
picked up in Gainesville (45 miles away, thus a 3 hour project) and
the grocery truck bearing $7000 worth of groceries was arriving on
that same day. Both projects were slated to be handled by the same
men. Our Father's sense of timing – and comedy – is impeccable!
As the guys who picked up the RVs returned to Lake City they drove
past the truck bearing the groceries. They pulled into the driveway
at our shul seconds before the truck did. They parked the RVs and
then scrambled like ants at a picnic toting hundreds of boxes of food
and supplies. Inside, the queens of cuisine checked the items off
the list and loaded groceries onto shelves. We went into Shabbat
tired, but with a great sense of victory and peace.
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And just for the record, all 271 souls
who signed up did not show. Although we had cooked for 300, “only”
200 arrived. This means lots of leftovers. I now know a half dozen
ways to serve left over meatloaf. Let's hear it for the spaghetti
with meat sauce and Tater Tot casserole!</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The bottom line seems to be that
worrying would have been a huge waste of energy! Abba made sure that
I had help, that the food was served hot and on time every day and
there was enough to share with the clients of the local soup kitchen
... and the best bonus of all, I emerged without being totally
exhausted!! Our Sovereign is good beyond description!! HalleluYah!</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So, all I can say is, “Trust Him.”
He knows what you need far better than you do and will move heaven
and earth to empower you when you seek to do things His way.
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">May it be for a blessing ...</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Shalom b'shem Sar Shalom / Peace in the
Name of the Prince of Peace --</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Yocheved</span></span></div>
Yochevedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03763116335378427204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904226316090611629.post-33918081180612423532012-09-12T22:56:00.001-07:002012-09-12T22:56:18.011-07:00Water, Water Everywhere<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKSfx758ugKtAubT64OZYyaDcKvFNQzvGkjIimKFq_CxJbHC1zyR7skAuZ9RcOu3-l2J8A05QYiEcjirktNwGI7EXhae0-OX3E-npbmd2HinXqQ5Mlkn4QNAVuMYAfC_rlQ_GevrM0ylk/s1600/river-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKSfx758ugKtAubT64OZYyaDcKvFNQzvGkjIimKFq_CxJbHC1zyR7skAuZ9RcOu3-l2J8A05QYiEcjirktNwGI7EXhae0-OX3E-npbmd2HinXqQ5Mlkn4QNAVuMYAfC_rlQ_GevrM0ylk/s400/river-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This summer has certainly been the
summer to remember so far as rain goes. Tropical storms, hurricanes
and just plain ol' rain. It's been wet, that's for sure. My
neighbor's yard was under water for about 2 months; the one road into
our community stayed underwater for just as long and baby frogs were
underfoot – hopping frantically away at our every step while
outside. Between the frogs and the crickets, walks with the dog at
night gave me thoughts of being in a tropical rainforest. After
years of insufficient rainfall in this area, the rain is certainly a
blessing, and we are grateful for our Father's provision once again.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">But I was feeling swamped in a
different way ... One hundred twenty days before Sukkot, we realized
(courtesy of the County Building and Zoning Department, thank you
very much) that if we wanted to put in a few RV spaces at our
congregation's property for hospitality purposes, we also had to put
in a new septic system, run water lines from the existing well and
have the power company put in an additional power pole. So we made
inquiries, got some estimates and settled on someone who had been in
business for years and with whom it would be 'one stop shopping'. He
could and would do all the components of the job. Yay! Less minutia
for me to manage! Simple? yes; easy? Not so much.
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Did I mention the rain??? For the next
90 days it rained virtually non-stop. Day after rainy day went by
and calendar page after calendar page turned in synchrony. Then
suddenly -- Divine Providence I am sure -- the rain stopped ... and there
were 30 days separating us from the Scriptural Fall Feasts when these
RV spaces would be needed.
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I realized we got the right people for
the job when we got the phone call that said, “We'll be out there
this morning” instead of me having to make the call and ask, “Where
are you?” I praise You, Father! What a blessing!</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">As the job progressed, because of the
new septic and the new network of water lines I was tasked with
dealing with the Department of Environmental Health. My Beloved does
not do bureaucracy well. He is fluent in hammering, tinkering,
mowing and fixing, but schmoozing is not his forte. So off I went to
deal with the 'Powers that Be'. These fine folks make sure that our
water is pure and that it stays pure for everyone's safety and well
being. I am happy they do what they do. They decided, like Shakespeare's Shylock,
that a pound of proverbial flesh was in order. I was tasked with
collecting a multitude of water samples. These water samples had to
be done at certain times of day, with specific amounts of time
between them and in a specific order. All the while, my Beloved is
emoting over the agony he perceives in the process. (Fancy talk for
he's kvetching my ears off already. It's OK. I don't like bureaucracy either.) Am
I flummoxed? No, not I -- I have peace that is flowing like a river.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In just a few days, b'ezrat YHVH (with
Yah's help) the state inspectors will inspect and Yah willing, we
will be done, done, done! And then a flood of a different sort will
be upon us. We will be flooded by the blasts on the shofar calling
to awaken us from our spiritual slumber and prepare us for an
appointment with our King. We will be flooded with our own salty
tears as we recount the times we've disappointed our Father in
Heaven. We will be flooded with joy as we are reminded of His
forgiveness and His promise to separate us from our sin, burying it
in the deepest depths of the sea. And just five days after that, we
will again be flooded with the excitement and joy of reuniting with
our fellow Israelites and guests for our feast of Sukkot /
Tabernacles. Wave after wave of emotion, wave after wave of love ...
I could stand a flood like that!</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This is the traditional prayer for rain ... </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">YHVH, Our El and El of our ancestors:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Remember Avraham who flowed to You like water.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">You blessed him like a tree planted by streams of water.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">You rescued him from fire and water.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">He passed Your test by planting good deeds by every source of
water.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5904226316090611629&pli=1" name="dtx-highlighting-item"></a>For Avraham's sake, do not
keep back water.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5904226316090611629&pli=1" name="dtx-highlighting-item1"></a>Remember Yitz'chak, whose
birth was foretold when Avraham offered the angels a little water.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">You asked his father to spill his blood like water.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In the desert Yitz'chak dug and found wells of water.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5904226316090611629&pli=1" name="dtx-highlighting-item2"></a>For Yitz'chak's sake, do not
keep back water.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Remember Ya'akov who crossed the Jordan's water.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">He bravely rolled the stone off the mouth of the well of water.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">He wrestled with an angel made of fire and water,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5904226316090611629&pli=1" name="dtx-highlighting-item3"></a>And therefore You promised to
be with him through fire and water.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5904226316090611629&pli=1" name="dtx-highlighting-item4"></a>For Ya'akov's sake do not
keep back water.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Remember Moshe, who was drawn in a reed basket out of the Nile's
water.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Who helped Yitro's daughters: He drew water and gave the sheep
water.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">He struck the rock and out came water.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5904226316090611629&pli=1" name="dtx-highlighting-item5"></a>For Moshe's sake do not hold
back water!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Remember Aharon, the High Priest, who, on Yom Kippur, washed
himself five times with water,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">He prayed and was sprinkled with purifying water,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">He kept apart from a people who were as unstable as water.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5904226316090611629&pli=1" name="dtx-highlighting-item6"></a>For Aharon's sake do not hold
back water.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Remember the Twelve Tribes whom</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">You brought through the divided waters;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5904226316090611629&pli=1" name="dtx-highlighting-item7"></a>For whom You sweetened bitter
water;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Their descendants' blood was spilled like water.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Turn to us<i>, Yah</i>, who are surrounded by troubles like water.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5904226316090611629&pli=1" name="dtx-highlighting-item9"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5904226316090611629&pli=1" name="dtx-highlighting-item8"></a>
For the Israelite people's sake, do not hold back water.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">You are YHVH, our Elohim</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5904226316090611629&pli=1" name="dtx-highlighting-item10"></a>Who causes the wind to blow
and the rain to fall.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5904226316090611629&pli=1" name="dtx-highlighting-item12"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5904226316090611629&pli=1" name="dtx-highlighting-item11"></a>
For blessing and not for curse. Amein.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5904226316090611629&pli=1" name="dtx-highlighting-item14"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5904226316090611629&pli=1" name="dtx-highlighting-item13"></a>
For life and not for death. Amein.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5904226316090611629&pli=1" name="dtx-highlighting-item16"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5904226316090611629&pli=1" name="dtx-highlighting-item15"></a>
For plenty and not for lack. Amein.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">May the Creator and One who maintains all there is shower you with abundant blessings, now and always ... </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Shalom b'shem Sar Shalom / Peace in the Name of the Prince of Peace,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Yocheved</span></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
Yochevedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03763116335378427204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904226316090611629.post-87751452863492792152012-08-22T19:00:00.000-07:002012-08-23T07:40:21.272-07:00At The Crossroads<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhafhKs82NW7FmhcrinSWqOLvIM7KQa6eJ6VZjjA30Qul2rC7j_nqZbCylvoXCGDO_AN4PKvm_e2OHfirdHjKSp8gZwOu13SQao0BcSGHa9pQIpKuP_J-T0cvYgFPhCmkdxx1k9lxvtB7A/s1600/crossroads2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhafhKs82NW7FmhcrinSWqOLvIM7KQa6eJ6VZjjA30Qul2rC7j_nqZbCylvoXCGDO_AN4PKvm_e2OHfirdHjKSp8gZwOu13SQao0BcSGHa9pQIpKuP_J-T0cvYgFPhCmkdxx1k9lxvtB7A/s400/crossroads2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">This is an interesting time to
be alive. Things that were absolutes not so very long ago are called
into question now .... or even denied! In my own lifetime, I have
seen many of these changes; and now I am witness to the questioning,
the challenging, the groping for answers that now takes place.
</span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">When I was growing up, we believed in
God; we prayed; we went to church and we knew that there was judgment
after this life, and if love of God didn't keep us on the straight
and narrow path, the fear of judgment did. It was only as a working
adult that I came to the realization that there were those who just
didn't believe. Whether they were raised in homes that were not God-centered or they left the faith for reasons of their own, I don't
know. They just didn't want any part of "God".
</span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">A few weeks ago, dear Hubby and I were
confronted by a mutual acquaintance who started the dialogue with,
“I've seen your video bible teachings online. How can you believe
such bulls--t?” In the first place, years ago, in polite company,
one's beliefs, although they may not have been shared, were respected.
Elders and teachers were respected. It was a tough conversation. I
must admit that dear Hubby handled it a whole lot better than I did.
For the life of me, I cannot understand the aggression ... unless ...
they feel threatened by what the bible says. And if they don't
believe what the bible says, then why do they feel so threatened if it is of no
consequence? So without all the gut-wrenching details, suffice it to
say that this acquaintance is searching, but is 'too smart' to be
'hooked' by such drivel.</span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">On the other hand ...
</span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Just today, an acquaintance of mine
asked if we could have lunch together. She is a beautiful soul, full of love
for our Savior and His Word. She wrestles with what all Believers
wrestle with: How to be in and stay in our Father's will; and how to
please our Creator / Redeemer / Bridegroom / King. Having been raised
in mainstream Christianity, she is having trouble reconciling recent
revelations. Cultural norms, familial expectations and other
concerns keep presenting road blocks (or at least speed bumps) to
embracing the life of a Torah Observant Believer in Y'shua. But, she
is knocking and continuing to knock, asking and continuing to ask and
seeking and continuing to seek. Coming to this life is a process –
two years, at least. It takes time to discard the habits of a
lifetime and embrace the teachings of the Word ... like getting the
Sabbath on the right day, ditching the pork and shrimp, and celebrating our Creator's feasts and not
the ones of our current culture. The two years are an average, of
course. The point is it takes a while to overcome the misunderstandings created by
linguistic and cultural differences. But it can be done!</span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">So here in a relatively short period of
time, dear Hubby and I have been exposed to two very different
examples of people at the crossroads. One of the things I
learned along the way is that for every 'one' who verbalizes a thought,
at least 'ten' were thinking about it. That means that all around us
are people who are concerned with thoughts of God, the after-life or about the
Heavenly Kingdom, whether they verbalize it or not. This puts a
greater onus on those of us who believe the Word to act like it! We have an
audience – a judgmental one at that – wherever we go! Do we have
to be 'at the ready' to deliver a sermon? Well no, and yes ... as my
favorite quote (attributed to St. Francis of Assisi but actually a
paraphrase of his teachings) attests: “Always and everywhere,
preach the Gospel. If necessary, use words.”</span><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: small;">May it be our Father's will to gather the dispersed 'Lost Sheep' back into the fold having them submit to the authority of the One True Shepherd Who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. May He give each aching, hungry heart what it needs to turn to Him. Where illumination of the Word is needed, may the Word have sudden clarity. Where objections need to be overcome, may the objections evaporate like smoke. May the stony hearts be massaged into hearts of flesh, b'shem Y'shua who paid the price to reconcile us back to the Almighty.</span></blockquote>
</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Although we will not fully grasp all the ramifications of faith, we have in the words of Isaiah / Yeshayahu 35 'a clue':</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="color: maroon; font-size: small;">Isa
35:1</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
The desert and the dry land will be glad; the `Aravah will rejoice
and blossom like the lily. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: teal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">2</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
It will burst into flower, will rejoice with joy and singing, will
be given the glory of the L'vanon, the splendor of Karmel and the
Sharon. They will see the glory of YHVH, the splendor of our Elohim.
</span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: teal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">3</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
Strengthen your drooping arms, and steady your tottering knees. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: teal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">4</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
Say to the fainthearted, "Be strong and unafraid! Here is your
Elohim; He will come with vengeance; with Elohim's retribution He will
come and save you." </span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: teal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">5</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf
will be unstopped; </span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: teal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">6</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
then the lame man will leap like a deer, and the mute person's
tongue will sing. For in the desert, springs will burst forth,
streams of water in the `Aravah; </span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: teal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">7</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
the sandy mirage will become a pool, the thirsty ground springs of
water. The haunts where jackals lie down will become a marsh filled
with reeds and papyrus. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: teal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">8</span></span></b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>
A highway will be there, a way, called the Way of Holiness. The
unclean will not pass over it, but it will be for those whom He
guides — fools will not stray along it.</b> </span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: teal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">9</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
No lion or other beast of prey will be there, traveling on it. They
will not be found there, </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">but the redeemed will go there.</span></span></span></b><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span></b>
</div>
<div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: teal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">10</span></span></b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>
Those ransomed by YHVH will return and come with singing to Tziyon,
on their heads will be everlasting joy. They will acquire gladness
and joy, while sorrow and sighing will flee.</b> </span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Shalom b'shem Sar Shalom / Peace in the
Name of the Prince of Peace</span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Yocheved</span></div>
Yochevedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03763116335378427204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904226316090611629.post-73382882516113744042012-08-01T19:43:00.001-07:002012-08-02T09:02:57.469-07:00Roadtrips and the Traveler's Prayer<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJDwaD49FC38dnKHcTTBso7XLWul74c2XBzsW8nOQIppnHG5YsjogP714iGJ1t0FMnTMHpnRQgJJBIgSencdr1iF7dp0wmMrw7rLb7asVAfFfhPiVYJhct7T20_SVKUuXbB9vxQGu4U4/s1600/Sienna+and+Ocean1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJDwaD49FC38dnKHcTTBso7XLWul74c2XBzsW8nOQIppnHG5YsjogP714iGJ1t0FMnTMHpnRQgJJBIgSencdr1iF7dp0wmMrw7rLb7asVAfFfhPiVYJhct7T20_SVKUuXbB9vxQGu4U4/s400/Sienna+and+Ocean1.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My lovely granddaughters</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I very seldom get to see my son, my
only biological child -- only about once a year or so. He lives 1000
miles away in TX, so every visit is precious. When he called a few
weeks ago and asked, “Can you pick me up on July 30<sup>th</sup></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">?”</span> it was all I could do to contain my excitement. In my heart, I was
already on the way to the airport; but, I had to contain myself for a
few more weeks. The days were filled with activities and as his
visit approached a bit more cleaning and cooking. You know how it
goes ....</span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Finally, the 30<sup>th</sup> arrived
and we headed towards Orlando to collect him and my two gorgeous
granddaughters (ages 6 and 7 ½.) Hubby and I and Gila (our new
puppy) loaded in the car and headed south on I-75. Three hours drive
and plenty of time to think. This past Shabbat's message was still
in my head. This past Parsha, D'varim, (Deuteronomy 1:1 to 3:22)
spoke, in part, about just before the Israelites entered the promised
Land, they had to rout the Canaanites. Sichon, king of the Emori and
Og, king of Bashan stood in the way of the Israelites possessing what
they had been promised. Would the Israelites rise to the occasion or
would they fail the test? How badly did they want to acquire what
they had been promised? We are no different. We face the same
challenges daily. How badly do we want to take possession of what
we've been promised? Our enemy lulls us to sleep with apathy or
distracts us with a substitute for the greatness that has been spoken
over us. We are super-conquerors according to the scriptures, but
do we give up when the task seems difficult? Do we get diverted by
the smoke and mirrors offered by the enemy? The questions facing the
Israelites and us is do we have faith in Word; do we have faith in
the promise; and are we willing to be obedient? Lots of people
believe <u><b>in </b></u>God, the real question is, Do they <u><b>believe
God</b></u>? Huge difference!</span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The enemy had put up roadblocks to my
joy on this occasion too. The week before meeting up with my Son and Grand-girls included a trip to the
dentist for a difficult extraction (who knew that the root of the
canine/eye tooth went up to the eyeball ... or so it seemed!!). I
came home and while putting something in the cupboard a can of black
beans fell out and hit me in the face ... in just about the same
place. OWW!! (Don't worry, I got even. I ate them!!) A few days
before, someone in the mishpokha had spoken unkindly which saddened
me; Hubby and I had quarreled which left me smoldering; and work and
projects seemed to multiply in the dark and that feeling of being
overwhelmed was starting to take hold. “BUT WAIT!! There's More!”
as the infomercials say. The deal is, I know Who I believe in. He
has promised to love me and take care of me. I have been promised the
peace that passes all understanding. The only time I don't have that
peace is when <u><b>I-I-I-I-I</b></u> lay it down!</span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">So to occupy my time while I rode the
three hours to Orlando (also, to ignore driving rain and the ballet
dance of lane-changing that the semi-trucks seem to find so amusing)
I got out my tablet and kept myself busy working on this blog. I got
a substantial amount done and ... I hit the save button. It all
disappeared. The original of this blog and all the other documents I
had in the que were gone. I searched the file manager. Gone. I
searched the SD card. Gone. All that was left was the documents that
had been uploaded to “Dropbox”. I considered crying. Nope. That
just leaves me with fat lips, red eyes and a stuffy nose. Again, the
basics of the book “The Garden of Emuna” came to mind:
Everything happens for a reason. “Must have been something in that
blog Abba YHVH didn't want me to say.” I told Hubby. Hubby, to his
eternal credit, was quiet. No “could-a, should-a or would-as”
crossed his lips. We were close to Orlando; I put my tablet away and
let out a deep sigh.</span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">A few minutes later there was jumping
and bouncing around the car as we reunited with my family. Only
Gila, who at 8 months old has only been with Hubby and I, was not
elated to see Son and Granddaughters. She warily stared at them and
trembled like a leaf during a hurricane. We stuffed the luggage and balloons into the trunk. Once
we were back in the car, Gila laid down next to my leg and slept all
the way home. I drove -- </span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The visit was so short, just 2 days!
But I am ever so grateful for the time we had together. We went to
the natural history museum, the butterfly pavilion and drove around
showing the Grand-girls the sites of our personal history. We had
pizza; we had ice cream. We watched “Lion King” .... again. My
grand-girlies got massages from Grandma. They brought me baby frogs.
(Ewww!) We spoiled each other rotten. It was glorious!!</span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Then, this morning came. I lavished
one more indulgence on them: pancakes ... with whipped cream. And
the 6 of us (counting Gila) piled in the car to make the return trip
to Orlando. Again, the semi-truck ballet and the driving rain.
Again, the Traveler's Prayer:</span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">May it be your
will YHVH our El and El of our forefathers, that You lead us toward
peace, emplace our footsteps toward peace and guide us toward peace
and make us reach our desired destination for life, gladness and
peace and return us to our homes in peace. May You rescue us from
the hand of every foe, ambush, (bandits and evil animals) along the
way, and from all manner of punishments that assemble to come to
earth. May You send blessing on all the works of our hands and grant
us grace, kindness and mercy in Your eyes and in the eyes of all who
see us. May You hear the sound of our supplication, because You are
the Elohim Who hears prayer and supplications. Blessed are You,
YHVH, who hears prayer (and I add) Through Y'shua our Messiah who is
the Way back to You. Amein.</span></b></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Ambush ... an interesting word. Evil
animals ... surely, not in this day and age. Hmmm.</span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Hubby and Gila and I took the long way
home, taking back roads and stopping for lunch at Chic-fil-a. The
lines were long, but the service was excellent and everybody was in
high spirits. We ate in the car and enjoyed every bite. Celebrating freedom of speech is delicious!</span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Around 4 pm, when I realized I hadn't
heard from my son, I sent the following text (His responses are
preceded by an asterisk * ; mine by a dash - ).
</span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<ul style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<li><span style="font-size: small;"> - Hola'! Hope all is well. Just
wanted to check on you. Love you.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<ul style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2012/08/san-antonio-airport-evacuated-after-bomb-threat/1">*
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2012/08/san-antonio-airport-evacuated-after-bomb-threat/1</a></u></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">* We are stuck in the airplane on
the tarmac. Luckily S fell asleep and O is playing her video game.</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">- OMG ... What a homecoming! YHVH
be with you. Big hugs.</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">* Update at 4:25 pm ET: At a
briefing, San Antonio's police chief said a caller reported three
vehicles in the lower level of a parking garage contained
explosives. Bomb sniffing dogs 'got three positive hits for possible
explosives on three separate vehicles/” The male caller also made
“non-specific threats” for both terminals. Police are trying to
trace the call.</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> - Scary. Our feeling is that
this may be a terrorist's test run or diversion (for a different target)</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">* No, this is real. There are
about 15 planes waiting. They just brought ice. S is still asleep.
</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">- Let me know when they release
your plane.
</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">* (at 6:15) OK, we were let out.
Getting out of the airport is the challenge now.
</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Ambush! Who would have thought that
the word would be so appropriate? Evil animals. What other
description could apply?
</span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I am indeed grateful that my Creator /
Redeemer / Bridegroom / King saw fit to answer my prayers so
positively. I'm even grateful that the tablet “ate my homework.” The story wasn't finished when I wrote that version! I am so happy to have this opportunity to praise my Father! He is indeed
great, and greatly to be praised! My Son and Granddaughters are safe and the enemy is defeated again. Praise Yah!!</span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">May your travels on this sod be filled with peace. </span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Shalom b'shem Sar Shalom – Peace in
the Name of the Prince of Peace --</span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Yocheved</span></div>Yochevedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03763116335378427204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904226316090611629.post-37560584438383504912012-07-25T21:36:00.000-07:002012-07-25T21:37:23.324-07:00Two Opposing Concepts OR A Tale of Two Doctors<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9TNWOgKI1F1-VVT0I6DlSN_Jq4EXNs5tQCKtSNRtAmRPw7wRo8SawJbK_1mfLcwy3I-wNC_l_lhSyPVabQjTI06uArT8RSMwfjNuzp9N_HJZXpA1_0ieVIk7AvEvxSEpZFsdjPRLpuE/s1600/aurora-borealis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9TNWOgKI1F1-VVT0I6DlSN_Jq4EXNs5tQCKtSNRtAmRPw7wRo8SawJbK_1mfLcwy3I-wNC_l_lhSyPVabQjTI06uArT8RSMwfjNuzp9N_HJZXpA1_0ieVIk7AvEvxSEpZFsdjPRLpuE/s400/aurora-borealis.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">This week, as I pondered the topic for
this blog, I gravitated towards two opposing concepts: Healing
Attitudes vs The Divine in Exile. At one point, as I wrestled with
the philosophical fork in the road, I saw the connection ... or
rather, their mutual exclusivity. That being said, here we go:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">A couple of weeks ago, my dear husband
had another doctor's appointment. He, until his injury last
September, had not been to a doctor in the entire twenty years of our
marriage. Since September, however, he has well made up for lost
time. The doctor on this occasion was his primary care physician.
It's one of those things that Medicare requires – that you have a
primary care physician. During the visit that day, we were greeted
with some interesting news, and I am quoting the doctor here: “The
human body was designed to live 50 years and doctors keep you alive
after that.” I was too stunned by the arrogance to launch into
scriptural statements, arguments of personal belief or anything. I
just sat there with my mouth open. He then ordered 5 vials of blood
to be drawn and told my beloved that even though his cholesterol was
fine, he (the doctor) was putting him on statins for the rest of his
life. Not, “I'm giving you thirty days to make some dietary
changes” but, “This is what we're going to do.” Period. That
was the only time he made eye contact. The rest of the time, he read
paperwork and initialed pages. We complied with the blood tests –
the doctor wanted to check his vitamin D level – it's all the rage
now, I imagine. We even got the prescription filled, since the
doctor's office called our pharmacy and they called us to pick it up.
The first pill was never taken. Nor was the chemical stress test
that he ordered. My husband and I both felt that these tests,
medications and chemicals were outside of our Father's will – for
US.
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Rather than comforting, encouraging and
“educating” which is what the word 'doctor' originally meant, we
were distressed, agitated and confused. All the tests ordered so far
by the vascular surgeon who had done the repair on my husband's
injury had unremarkable results, so, why this fishing trip from the
GP? How could someone so completely disregard the Divine in the
creation and maintenance of the human frame? We were baffled at the
whole event. And saddened.
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">We put out some feelers with our
friends in the medical profession as to which doctors they would
recommend. We just could not see going back to this particular
doctor. One friend gave us a glowing recommendation of someone that
she saw professionally and for whom she has worked. We made an
appointment immediately.
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">We walked into his office and were
amazed at the difference between the two. Where doctor A had modern
and streamlined décor, a blaring TV and automatic doors, doctor B's
office was filled with handmade decorations and photos of them on a
medical mission trip(s). One painting depicted the many names of God.
WOW! What a difference! The personnel in Doctor B's office were
loving and caring. We even prayed with the office manager that day.
The attitude of healing – LOVE – permeated every corner.
Everyone had a smile, a kind word and the doctor took his time with
us, getting to know us and making sure he understood the medical
history in context. My darling husband, who sometimes embarrasses me
with his candor, asked the doctor point-blank why he hadn't retired
yet. The doctor was surprised by the question and then laughed. “I
love my work,” he said. “I am visiting with my friends.” Oh,
my! If ever there was a medical version of love at first sight, this
was it.
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Where we had, with doctor A,
encountered coldness and people just doing their job, we now had, in
the case of Doctor B, been invited into a compassionate family of
wellness. We had experienced the distinction between the Divine in
Exile and Healing Attitudes. The term 'Divine in Exile' comes from a
quote I heard from Rabbi Martin Buber, of blessed memory. He said,
in essence (paraphrasing), that the Shekinah is the Divine Presence
dwelling in the human frame. The Shekinah is at home only where there
dwells a potent will for a covenant with the Almighty and an equally
potent STRIVING for the realization of the covenant with the
Almighty.
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Y'shua said, “love your enemies,
do good to those hating you, and pray for those insulting you and
persecuting you </b><u><b>so that you become sons of your Father in
heaven</b></u><b>.”</b> Matthew 5:44-45. So now, I have someone /
something else to pray for: May the hardened, arrogant heart of
doctor A be softened and turn toward his only hope for life and
salvation. May it be our Father's will to break the hardened heart
and caress it back to life, in Y'shua's Name. May the Divine leave
its exile and dwell with him, giving him new life, new hope and
revitalized insight and abilities. Also, May our beloved Father in
heaven, bless Doctor B with all this and more, always and forever.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">So now it is time for some 'one on one'
time with the face in the mirror. What have I done or said that
would push the Divine, the Ruach haKodesh / Holy Spirit, into exile?
Have I been rude, knowingly or unknowingly? Have I been unkind?
Have I gossiped? Have I been self-righteous? Have I been arrogant,
ungrateful or mean? Have I strived, with all my might, to be in a
covenant relationship with You, my Creator, Redeemer, Bridegroom and
King? Oh Abba, why is the person I want to be always wrestling with
the person that I am? </span><span style="color: teal; font-size: small;">Psa
51:10</span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">
Create in me a clean heart, O Elohim, And renew a steadfast
(Strong's 3559, upright, faithful, stable) spirit within me. </span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Matthew 5, verse 46 continues: “For
if you love those loving you, what reward have you? Are the tax
collectors not doing the same too? And if you greet your brothers
only, what do you do more than the others? Are the tax collectors
not doing so too? Therefore, be perfect (Strong's 5046, complete in
mental and moral character / fully mature) even as your Father in the
heavens is perfect. Amein, and amein.
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Shalom b'shem Sar Shalom --</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Peace in the Name of the Prince of
Peace --</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">With Love,
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Yocheved</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>Yochevedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03763116335378427204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904226316090611629.post-69082260592152240582012-07-11T08:52:00.000-07:002013-02-06T17:46:18.709-08:00Modah ani l'fonecha -- I Gratefully Acknowledge You<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxUsquarnqlJKOdL3GH7oaCcsRK_DePal4aNO1Egihr1oldbzREdDbALjX5Fb31ddT1KmtzKAITHs0rH4Y86GtSEe3NwNRj53RsoxHdYi2LbDQlb7ZtTvgHT_CRecxId2yhEI8JArtB0/s1600/begin+each+day+w+a+grateful+heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxUsquarnqlJKOdL3GH7oaCcsRK_DePal4aNO1Egihr1oldbzREdDbALjX5Fb31ddT1KmtzKAITHs0rH4Y86GtSEe3NwNRj53RsoxHdYi2LbDQlb7ZtTvgHT_CRecxId2yhEI8JArtB0/s400/begin+each+day+w+a+grateful+heart.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I was not born into a Jewish home.
Quite the contrary: My family is as Italian and Catholic as they
come. And that was the way I was brought up. I knew rosaries, fish
on Fridays, confession and novenas. I received 'First Holy
Communion;' I was confirmed; I was married at 18 in a Catholic church
– to a Baptist!! “Scandalosa!!” as my grandmother would say.
But, somewhere in my DNA (whether my physical or spiritual DNA, I
don't know) is a Jewish gene. Something in my soul responds to
things that are typically Jewish. I'm not talking about blintzes and
knishes, although those <u><b>are</b></u> little gastronomic
wonderments; or even Hanukkah and hamentaschen at Purim. I'm talking
about the Jewish way of thinking about things. I've got a part of
that. HOW that happened exactly, I can only speculate. Yah alone
knows for sure ... But, I do have a part of that.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Here's what I mean:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">One thing that is typically “Jewish”
is answering a question with a question.
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.49in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“How are you?”
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.49in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“So, with all
that is going on, how should I be?”
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">See what I mean? I do that. I also
start reading a book from the back. I knew exactly how all those
Agatha Christie mystery novels that I read as a teen would end from
the start, but that's what made the rest of the book make sense to
me. I could more clearly see the character development and trace
the story line by knowing the end in advance. Although my Agatha
Christie days are well behind me, I do the same thing with magazines
and newspapers now. Drives my husband nutz.
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Prayer throughout the day is another
“Jewish” thing. Granted, my personal goal is not to be “Jewish”
so much as it is to be conformed to the Scriptures in all areas of my
life. At the risk of being offensive, I did not trade in the Pope for
10,000 rabbis who don't agree with each other. The only way to have
unity and peace is in conformance with the Master Document: The
Scriptures. It is the 'Owner's Manual' for life. Not what we think
it said; not what we were told it said; but what it actually says.
I'll give you a case in point. You know the verse about, 'life is in
the blood' (Lev. 17:11) the word used for life in that instance is
not chai or chaim but nefesh. Nefesh means 'breathing being' or
'soul'. The soul – the life force that gives us breath. The soul
being in the blood is a more complex concept. Nefesh is spelled in
Hebrew: nun, pey, shin. Each letter in Hebrew, similar to
hieroglyphics, has a meaning. The letters of 'nefesh' nun <span lang="he-IL">נ</span>,
pey <span lang="he-IL">פ</span>, shin <span lang="he-IL">ש</span>
mean respectively, life/activity; mouth/word/speak; and
eat/consume/destroy. To put those concepts together then, it becomes:
Soul: life's activity that consumes the Word. THAT is what is
inherent in our blood! (As an aside, I know that the verse I mentioned is speaking of animal sacrifices as atonement for sin. I know that animals, although they follow their own Torah - that is, you won't find a dolphin in a tree or a giraffe diving for seaweed - don't consume the word. My focus was the word nefesh, because our concept of Scripture says is incomplete, at best.)</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Upon rising each morning, the observant
Jew prays,
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.49in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“Modeh/Modah ani
l'fonecha” I gratefully acknowledge You, (which continues on ...) O
living and eternal King, for you have returned my soul within me with
compassion – abundant is your faithfulness!
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Imagine that! Thanking our Creator for
having survived the night; thanking Him for the blessing of another
day with our consciousness intact. No stroke or heart attack felled
us by night. No mayhem, like falling tree limbs crashing through the
window or home invaders shook our shalom/peace or injured or killed
us. We slept. We awoke. We can think, breathe, move. Our bodies
function as they were designed. There was no fatal hiccup. Do we
celebrate these things ... or do we swat at the alarm clock and
mutter obscenities? (Years ago while working the night shift, I may
have come in contact with these behaviors. =) ) Connecting with the
notion that we can choose our thoughts is empowering! We do not have
to be locked into behaviors of the past. We can choose, this day,
who we will serve: the grumbling behavior of the past or the
gratitude, appreciation and love of today.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">If we had energy to go through our day
with a <u><b>sour</b></u> start, can you imagine the energy and joy
we might have if we started the day with gratitude? I say, it is
certainly worth a try. What we've been doing for ages has not worked
so well for us, has it? For those who are parents or have had
parents, how much more did we get from our folks or do we give to our
children for a simple, “Thanks, Dad” or “Thanks, Mom”? Throw
in an “I love you” and we parents are over the moon with delight!
Can you imagine what the Creator could do for us, could do with us or
could give us, if we just remembered Him as the source of all
goodness and thanked Him for each gift? Bribing the Creator of the
universe are we? No, there is nothing we can do to bribe Him. But
when we thank Him, when we gratefully acknowledge Him, don't you
think we make Him happy? The Word says that “the joy of YHVH is
our strength”. May I suggest that it is not the Joy He gives us
that keeps us going; rather, it is the joy we give Him. In my mind,
thanking Him for what we have tears down barriers to having more. It
opens the flood-gates, if you will. Quite frankly, when we have more,
we can do more – for our families, for our community and for YHVH's
Kingdom. Consider this graphic:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOtIIlL0mYg2X3rdz2U8SKKUYkuCEGXDy52zIQkmuPEawm5Sd8BbIaBc3HUtExoD-zuSdrYucyoxnJURSA-GXluFXPm32sBVwL-4NZ1f8c1DO9tfAGhgQlEKdPV9JbqT3vc5ir3ZJBdiA/s1600/gratitude+and+statistics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOtIIlL0mYg2X3rdz2U8SKKUYkuCEGXDy52zIQkmuPEawm5Sd8BbIaBc3HUtExoD-zuSdrYucyoxnJURSA-GXluFXPm32sBVwL-4NZ1f8c1DO9tfAGhgQlEKdPV9JbqT3vc5ir3ZJBdiA/s640/gratitude+and+statistics.jpg" width="396" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">So, let's do this. This coming week,
let's start each day </span><span style="font-size: small;">by
thanking our Creator for our very lives </span><span style="font-size: small;"><u><b>before we get out of bed</b></u>. I'll do it and you do it
too. Let's meet here, by next week and compare notes. Comment with
your experiences and I will with mine. I'm willing to guess that
someone will report a miracle. How about it?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Modah ani l'fonecha -- I gratefully
acknowledge You, O living and eternal King, for you are great and
worthy to be praised forever!</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Shalom, shalom from our house to yours
--</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">~ yocheved</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Yochevedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03763116335378427204noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904226316090611629.post-42214047790642590052012-07-02T13:35:00.001-07:002012-07-02T18:47:03.650-07:00In the Beginning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoIvwOb5kTTaVP7DsHUtslMmQi_tk7pcE2_JCgFPrBISQ6A_VtZTS4amujT2ZjdVelqZEb7ODjhBS-QzFRIPX4eORCwiW843kJV0hrL0sQXUY_WY_h5pjKqXVnQOqLPlGCZDFF7w1iP5M/s1600/Alyssa+only+praying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoIvwOb5kTTaVP7DsHUtslMmQi_tk7pcE2_JCgFPrBISQ6A_VtZTS4amujT2ZjdVelqZEb7ODjhBS-QzFRIPX4eORCwiW843kJV0hrL0sQXUY_WY_h5pjKqXVnQOqLPlGCZDFF7w1iP5M/s1600/Alyssa+only+praying.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As some of you may know, I moved my blog here to "Blogger" because the site </span><span style="font-size: large;"> crashed on which </span><span style="font-size: large;">I </span><span style="font-size: large;">had previously </span><span style="font-size: large;">had it. This was my initial offering from May 2012. I'm including it here simply because in it I share the rhyme and reason for starting this blog about prayer. May it be for a blessing. ~y</span></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;">This
blog has been a long time coming -- the idea for it came to me years
ago. As with any commitment, for which my husband asks, "What are you
willing to give up in order to assume this new responsibility?" I took a
while to ponder the consequences of starting such a venture. And so,
finally, we begin ...</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;">A
few years ago, frustrated at getting catapulted into my day without
having time to pray, I thought that by having a blog in which I studied
prayer, verbalized prayer and invited prayer, I might actually get
around to praying on a regular basis. Just like when the Temple in
Jerusalem stood: the sacrifices and prayers were brought on time, every
time. Over the intervening years, I've purchased prayer books with the
thought of using them to springboard into my own conversations with Yah.
I've read the Psalms; I've read the Scriptures looking for examples of
prayer; and I've "beat myself up" .... and, oh, yes, I've prayed. I've
prayed in the car, I've prayed with friends, I've prayed with my
husband. I've prayed for rain, for wisdom, for healing, for provision,
for 'special intentions' and more. I've wrestled, travailed, cried out
and groaned. I've spoken to the Almighty as one speaks to a Dad, a
Lover, a Friend and my King ... all the while hungry for more.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;">I
don't know where you are in your walk. Heck, I don't really know where I
am in my walk. What I mean is, I know where I've come from; I know
where I want to go; but the reality is since we don't know the end of
the beginning as YHVH does, we don't know all the twists and turns our
lives will take until we take our last breaths. All we can do is focus
on what Yah wants from us and do our very best, confident that He will
supply the grace and the strength to push through the adversities that
will undoubtedly assail us. With that thought, let's look at the
Disciples Prayer, found in Matthew 6:9-13. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><b>Our Father</b></span>
-- What comforting words! He wants to be Daddy to us. Not just me; not
just you; but all of us who inhabit the earth. Daddies provide for
their children, keep them safe, love and encourage them. Daddy, Our
Father.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><b>Who art in heaven</b></span>
-- Heaven, the abode of the Almighty; Heaven, the place that completely
complies with the Creator's will and thus experiences perfect peace.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><b>Hallowed by Thy Name</b></span>
-- His Name is 'kadosh', a Hebrew word that means 'set-apart', not
common. We would say 'holy'. He is so holy that even His Name is holy.
We cannot fathom the intense purity and holiness that is YHVH / Yahweh.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><b>Thy Kingdom come</b></span>
-- We say these words, but do we understand what we're asking? We're
asking for YHVH's kingdom, in all its fullness, purity, holiness and
majesty to manifest ... now, in our lifetime!</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><b>Thy Will Be Done</b></span>
-- Are we willing to completely release our own will and submit
ourselves to Him to let His will be done? This is such a personal
emotional wrestling match! We are so used to having our own way! We
decide virtually everything about our lives: what to eat; what to wear;
where we live; who our friends are and so forth. What if every decision
were submitted to YHVH? What if we asked 'permission' to eat that
cream puff or drink that coffee? Would we hear, "Yes, my child, go
ahead" or is it more likely that we would be guided to fruit and pure
water? What if we submitted ALL areas of our life to Him? What if that
submission unleashed victories in our lives that we never knew were
possible? Would we <span style="text-decoration: underline;">then</span> let His will be done?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><b>On earth as it is in Heaven</b></span> -- YHVH's
will is fully manifested in the heavenly realm. In Heaven, all is
perfect order and peace. It boggles my imagination to consider the
soaring, infinite possibilities of what this earth would be like if this
earth were completely submitted to YHVH's will.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><b>Give us this day our daily bread</b></span></span> -- <span style="font-size: 16px;">Notice
that we are not asking for a massive 401K, a mansion in the midst of
1000 acres, or a fleet of servants, houses and cars at our disposal.
We're asking for this day's bread. Provision, not riches</span><span style="font-size: 16px;">.</span> <span style="font-size: 16px;">On
another level, it is the "Bread of Life" Y'shua we are seeking. He is
the physical embodiment of the entire Scriptures. Every prophecy is
about Him. Every expectation is of Him. Every daily rendezvous with our
Father in prayer takes place because of Him. He is the Bridge back to
the good graces of our Heavenly Father. HalleluYah!</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><b>Forgive us our trespasses</b></span> --</span> <span style="font-size: 16px;">We
all fall short of the mark. In fact, that is what 'chet' the Hebrew
word for sin means: missing the mark. We don't have to be raging
rebellious renegades to be in trespasses -- having done wrong -- we just
miss the mark. May our Father in His mercy overlook our fragile will
to do right and and "lead us into paths of righteousness for His Name's
sake", as Psalm 23 says.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><b>As we forgive those who have trespassed against us</b></span> --</span> <span style="font-size: 16px;">Oh!
the innumerable times someone has taken a pin to our balloon!! It could
be as simple as a look or an unanswered email or a forgotten
anniversary. If we harbor all those resentments, not only do we do
ourselves harm, physically and mentally, but we block the forgiveness
that YHVH holds ready for us! Y'shua's last few words on the execution
stake included a plea that His Father forgive us because we had no clue
as to the scope of our transgression, sin and savagery to Him. By our
sin, we all had a hand on the hammer that drove the nails.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><b>Lead us not into temptation</b></span>
-- One version of this prayer says, 'Lead us not into hard testing'.
Every day we face tests as did our father Abraham. Without knowing
where he was going, Abraham left the only home he had ever known to
follow the "Voice" of Yah. Without taking time to wallow in the grief of
the impending loss of his son Yitzchak / Isaac, he saddled his donkey
himself to take the son of the promise to Mt. Moriah to be a sacrifice
to the "Voice" of the One who brought him to the Promised Land. May we
never face such excruciatingly painful</span> <span style="font-size: 16px;">choices. May we never be tested or tempted beyond our capacity to choose the right thing -- the will of the Most High Elohim.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><b>But deliver us from evil</b></span>
-- This is the ultimate blessing, to be beyond the reach of our
adversary, satan. May he who roves about as a hungry lion seeking to
destroy the flock of the Shepherd, be left hungry ... toothless and
clawless.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><b>For Thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory, forever</b></span>
-- There is no other Elohim. YHVH is the Most High El, the Kingdom,
power and glory belong to none else. At some future point, Messiah will
be given the full measure of His authority as Ruler of this world during
the 1000 year Messianic Age, at the end of which time He will hand this
then perfected world over</span> <span style="font-size: 16px;">to our Father.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><b>Amein</b></span> --</span> <span style="font-size: 16px;">This
word means "I agree" or "So be it". And by uttering this word we give
our full concurrence and compliance with the words Y'shua spoke as He
taught His disciples. We have no rebuttal to His teaching us how to
pray.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;">So, this concludes my initial
offering. May it be for a blessing to you and yours. I look forward to
your comments and to praying with and for you. May YHVH bless and keep
you!</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;">Shalom, shalom --</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;">Yocheved</span></div>Yochevedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03763116335378427204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904226316090611629.post-81973588699266464392012-06-27T22:14:00.004-07:002012-06-27T22:14:59.186-07:00Stretching Me, Stretching You<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOdhqotONdSsQ3UQJDdMp7sSXyM5tHHqGzwpVYDDbwaQjIXpELVNnP72rZUIHLi6uvkEdUgPyZ2PcBiNstYJ296MZ5Rl3G9JRoJpRbYuiGNq5IIYKGPIotz0IjGkhIBABl8FuDYcXO4Xc/s1600/bird+on+a+reed+drinking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOdhqotONdSsQ3UQJDdMp7sSXyM5tHHqGzwpVYDDbwaQjIXpELVNnP72rZUIHLi6uvkEdUgPyZ2PcBiNstYJ296MZ5Rl3G9JRoJpRbYuiGNq5IIYKGPIotz0IjGkhIBABl8FuDYcXO4Xc/s400/bird+on+a+reed+drinking.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I feel helpless ... It's been raining
for days. Several in our congregation had their homes and lands
flooded by the rains of Tropical Storm Debby. Although we are all
grateful for the soft gentle rains that are filling the Floridan
aquifer, and we are certainly very grateful that the “promised”
winds did not materialize, we can't help but feel a little chagrined
that there was still destruction. There is still a degree of upset.
Here are a few examples:
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">One family who was supposed to move
into their brand new house this week cannot because the rain water
flooded it. It will have to be repaired before they can move in.
So, moving into their dream home has been pushed a month further
away. So close, so far.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Another family runs a business in a
shop on their property. The shop was waist deep in water. This
means all their equipment has been destroyed. They were rescued by
other family members and taken to safety. When we last spoke, they
did not know the condition of their house. Their “back-door
neighbor's” house was covered with water to the roof.
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I was sent pictures of a town 25 miles
away. The entire downtown is under 3 feet of water. Roads buckled
and crumbled. Sinkholes swallowed homes and cars as if they were
toys. Many lost all they owned. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Remarkably, only three fatalities in
the whole state are attributable to the storm.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We are SO VERY
GRATEFUL for the mercy extended by our loving heavenly Father.
Although there are tears, fears and bewilderment, we are not beaten,
we are not destroyed. We are being trained up. We are being tried.
We are being stretched.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Several years ago, I read a book called
“The Garden of Emuna” by Rabbi Shalom Arush. Emuna means 'faith'
or 'trust' in Hebrew. The gist of the book is that things happen for
a reason. We cannot see beyond this moment; we often don't remember
what happened in the past. All that we know is 'now'. But YHVH
Elohim knows all. He is well acquainted with our past and our future.
He has our best interests at heart. Romans 8:28 says, “All things
work for the good of those who love YHVH and are called according to
His purpose.” We see the equipment and household furnishings
ruined by the flood. He sees their replacements, or perhaps better
yet, our realizing that we are not as dependent on things as we
thought we were.
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So, getting back to my feeling
helpless. How can I tell my mishpokha, my family in faith that I
love with all that I am, while they are sandbagging and pumping out
their homes, that YHVH has something better lined up for them. I
worry that it may seem trite and minimalizing to their sense of
grief. Yet it is the truth.
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">In Ya'akov / James 1:3 we read:</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> for you know that the testing of your trust produces perseverance. </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">4</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
But let perseverance do its complete work; so that you may be
complete and whole, lacking in nothing. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">And
in Luke 6:</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">47</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
Everyone who comes to me, hears my words and acts on them — I will
show you what he is like: </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">48</span><span style="font-size: large;">
he is like someone building a house who dug deep and laid the
foundation on bedrock. When a flood came, the torrent beat against
that house but couldn't shake it, because it was constructed well. </span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">So
it is with this flood. The torrents have beat against us, (literally
and figuratively) but when we trust in Yah, we will be complete and
whole, lacking nothing because we are on the solid bedrock, our faith
in YHVH Elohim. Does this mean we will have a splendid home or a
massive 401K? No, but we will have everything we can imagine, in
this world and in the world to come. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">As
I walked Gila in the cool evening after the storm, watching her
little black and white body bounce over the wet grass, I looked up
and saw the half-moon smiling from the dark blue-black sky. Stars
scattered across the sky sparkled like diamonds on that same
blue-black velvet. What a lovely evening! It seemed that, in the
moon and stars, Yah provided lovely promises that life would go on.
A sense of normalcy. A confirmation that He is still in control. How privileged I felt, once again, to know Him and be known by Him.
As it was said of Messiah Y'shua, “Who is this that
the winds and waves obey Him?” I praise His name that they obey
Him still!</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Psa
116:1</b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
I love that YHVH heard my voice when I prayed; </span></span>
</div>
<div style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">2</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
because He turned His ear to me, I will call on Him as long as I
live. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">3</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
The cords of death were all around me, Sh'ol's constrictions held me
fast; I was finding only distress and anguish. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">4</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
But I called on the name of YHVH: "Please, YHVH! Save me!"
</span></span>
</div>
<div style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">5</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
YHVH is merciful and righteous; yes, our Elohim is compassionate. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">6</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
YHVH preserves the thoughtless; when I was brought low, He saved me.
</span></span>
</div>
<div style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">7</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
My soul, return to your rest! For YHVH has been generous toward you.
</span></span>
</div>
<div style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">8</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
Yes, you have rescued me from death, my eyes from tears and my feet
from falling. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">9</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
I will go on walking in the presence of YHVH in the lands of the
living. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">10</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
I will keep on trusting even when I say, "I am utterly
miserable," </span></span>
</div>
<div style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">11</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
even when, in my panic, I declare, "Everything human is
deceptive." </span></span>
</div>
<div style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">12</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
How can I repay YHVH for all His generous dealings with me? </span></span>
</div>
<div style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">13</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
I will raise the cup of salvation and call on the name of YHVH. </span></span>
</div>Yochevedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03763116335378427204noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904226316090611629.post-71227651619750228942012-06-26T21:26:00.000-07:002012-06-26T21:26:43.210-07:00Shabbat Morning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO6Hx-OJJPkf9qJCr1lKPsBO8lPT9RUj9DgmBiI5JGYZyCZCiRHa3o9LVenCNj1m3Gc1i39jBx6vpz2W48Mq2e_y12UpCKjZ9QUUAyZGYig5WqV1t6cGq69Je_yiG5-VFZ6MlwwC48tKk/s1600/SHABBAT_by_Leonidafremov.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO6Hx-OJJPkf9qJCr1lKPsBO8lPT9RUj9DgmBiI5JGYZyCZCiRHa3o9LVenCNj1m3Gc1i39jBx6vpz2W48Mq2e_y12UpCKjZ9QUUAyZGYig5WqV1t6cGq69Je_yiG5-VFZ6MlwwC48tKk/s400/SHABBAT_by_Leonidafremov.jpg" width="310" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Shabbat mornings are always special ...
they are the one day of the week that our Creator set apart to
Himself as holy. (Gen. 2:3) It is the observance that He said was
the sign we are His people (Exodus 31:13) – our wedding ring, if
you will. This morning, though, I think He outdid Himself.
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
As I sat in the back yard, I drank in
my surroundings: The sun shown brightly in the summer sky, yet the
air was cool and refreshing. The birds sang their praises from tree
tops. Squirrels raced from limb to limb in the trees in an on-going
game of 'chase', with the occasional trip to the ground for a nip of
wild mushroom. One cat at my feet, industriously cleaning her front
paws while the other was married to the food dish at the time; and
Gila sat contentedly in my lap, giving the air an occasional sniff
and me an occasional lick. Sweet contentment, Sabbath delight. What a
lovely oasis in time!</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
My heart welling up inside me brought
forth the words of the Shema from Deuteronomy 6:4: “Shema,
Yisrael! YHVH Eloheinu, YHVH echad.”
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Shema</b> – The word literally means
hear, but the connotation is that once you hear something, it effects
you and you must conduct yourself accordingly because the sound has
become part of you. Some would say, “Hear and obey”.
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Yisrael</b> – Not the contested piece of
real estate known as the state of Israel in the Middle East, but all
who follow the Elohim / God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob. In Psalm
147, our Creator says He has made His covenant with no other.
Repeatedly in the Torah, He says there is one law for the native born
and those grafted into the family of faith. In Galatians 3 He tells
us, “If you are in Messiah, you are seed of Abraham and heir
according to the promise.” What is the promise then? That YHVH
would raise up a nation from the one called barren and from that
nation would come a Redeemer and part of that covenant promise
included rules to live by and a plot of land on which to live. By
faith, those who believe are part of that covenant community. Not to
usurp those who are in the covenant since before birth (our Brother
Judah – 'the Jews') but to stand alongside them in support and in
compliance with the role we've been given to play.
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>YHVH </b>– The Tetragrammaton, the four
letter Name of the Creator. Written in Hebrew, it is the yud, hey,
vav, hey [<span lang="he-IL">יהוה</span>]
It is the name He gives Himself in the Torah. Before declaring His
Name, Yah describes Himself as “I am / will be what I am / will be”
in other words, The Eternal One, The One who was, is and will be
forever. Modern Hebrew is the descendant of paleo-Hebrew which was a
pictograph. The individual letters each have a meaning. The yud ( <span lang="he-IL">י</span>)
means 'hand'; the hey ( <span lang="he-IL">ה</span>)
means 'Look! Behold!'; the vav ( <span lang="he-IL">ו</span>)
means 'nail'; the hey ( <span lang="he-IL">ה</span>)
means 'Look! Behold!' Essentially, “Behold the Hand; Behold the
Nail”. Strikes a familiar chord to believers in Messiah, doesn't
it?
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Eloheinu</b> – our El / God. Through
this simple word, meaning OUR Elohim, we are taking YHVH as our
Elohim. That means we are “pledging allegiance' to Him. Otherwise,
we would have simply called Him, Elohim / God or ha (the) Elohim /
God. In saying 'our' we bind ourselves to Him and to others who
believe in Him.
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>YHVH</b></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Echad</b> – One. Not just 'one' in the
sense of being unique, the one and only, which He is; but also in the
sense of compound unity. In Hebrew, a cluster of grapes is echad and
a husband and wife are echad. The latter illustration, the husband
and wife, is a perfect example of the relationship we're supposed to
have with Him, intimate and seeking the welfare of the other above
our own. Echad: there is only ONE elohim, YHVH who was able to
manifest Himself as Fire and Cloud for the Israelites of old; and who
manifested Himself as a man to demonstrate how to live out the
commandments and how to be fully committed, even to the point of
death. YHVH echad.</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The rest of the Shema comes from the
Talmud: Barukh shem kevod malkhuto le olam va'ed. Translated, that
is: Blessed be His Name whose glorious kingdom is forever and ever.
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Matthew 12, Mark 2 and Luke 6 all
record that Y'shua / Jesus said that the Son of Man (His favorite
title for Himself, mentioned over 80 times in the Brit Chadesha /
Renewed Covenant) is “lord” of the Sabbath. I do not think that
the One who is the same yesterday, today and forever is declaring His
lordship over the Sabbath to change it or negate it in any way.
Rather, I believe He is declaring a special relationship to it; it is
His kingdom, so to speak. Why would we not want to be in His
territory since it is He who has rescued us from bondage to the wages
of sin? Why would we not want to enjoy the Sabbath which demonstrates
our resting in the salvation He provides? We see this theme being
played out in Hebrews chapter 4: <span style="color: teal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Heb
4:9</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">
So there remains a Shabbat-keeping for Yah's people. </span></span><span style="color: teal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Heb
4:10</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">
For the one who has entered Yah's rest has also rested from his own
works, as YHVH Elohim did from His. </span></span><span style="color: teal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Heb
4:11</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">
Therefore, let us do our best to enter that rest; so that no one
will fall short because of the same kind of disobedience.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Yes, Shabbat / Sabbath is very special
– to me and to the One who gave it in Genesis chapter 2 and exhorts
us to keep it dozens of times in the Tanakh / Old Testament. Blessed
be His Name forever.<span><span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><span style="background-color: #ffe599;"></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="color: maroon;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Psa
92:1</b></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span><span style="color: grey;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">[A
psalm. A song for Shabbat:]</span></i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
It is good to give thanks to YHVH and sing praises to Your name,
`Elyon, </span></span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="color: teal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Psa
92:2</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
to tell in the morning about Your grace and at night about Your
faithfulness, </span></span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="color: teal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Psa
92:3</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
to the music of a ten-stringed </span></span></span></span><span style="color: grey;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">[harp]</span></i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
and a lute, with the melody sounding on a lyre. </span></span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="color: teal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Psa
92:4</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
For, YHVH, what You do makes me happy; I take joy in what Your hands
have made. </span></span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
HalleluYah!</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Shabbat blessings from our home to
yours --
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Yocheved</div>Yochevedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03763116335378427204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904226316090611629.post-38445896787596558142012-06-26T20:41:00.000-07:002012-06-26T21:15:50.670-07:00Death Dark Ravines<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCYyCLQRAU-31sxieIaFqujj2_qNVPuOEur8H0bjEUwPSwMwwSjoProTHCR2n74nJ67Utzm8-afT920LwFL4lr2KpI3Egv3vlYdrbpaYtnb8NBARKBsL0aFRTfcdizYPdhL9LIAZAJbw/s1600/dark+valley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCYyCLQRAU-31sxieIaFqujj2_qNVPuOEur8H0bjEUwPSwMwwSjoProTHCR2n74nJ67Utzm8-afT920LwFL4lr2KpI3Egv3vlYdrbpaYtnb8NBARKBsL0aFRTfcdizYPdhL9LIAZAJbw/s400/dark+valley.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
Only a few days ago, the quiet of our evening was broken by my phone
ringing at 8:45 pm. Certainly, this is not an unusual occurrence. It
was who was on the other end of the line that was unusual: It was my
husband's vascular surgeon. "Mrs. B.," he started, "I won't be in the
office on the 18th to do your husband's procedure. Can you come in on
the 7th?" Knowing what my husband has been through during the past 8
months and his angst to get blood flow restored to his leg after the
injury sustained last year, I readily agreed. "We'll be there!"</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
The
next few days sped by. I marvel at where time 'goes'. One moment we
sleepily shuffle our way into the day; next moment we're shuffling back
to bed at night. The days are crammed with activities - even during
'down times' there is a 'busy-ness'. There were things we both wanted to
do to prepare for the days of recuperation that follow his procedures.
I had to pare Mount Wash-more down to size and he wanted to mow the
grass …
all 5 acres. In between time, we discovered that Gila needed her
ears attended to and the bugs that accompanied the barley I bought for
some soup I intended to make suddenly and swiftly overtook my kitchen.
YUCK!!! So we added to the work-list a whole lot of scrubbing cabinet
shelves and washing every can before they went back in the cupboard. Who
knows where those little bugs had been and what eggs they left behind! I
am happy to report t<span data-mce-style="color: black;" style="color: black;">hey are now returning to the earth from whence they came!</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
This
morning, the 7th, came and, as usual, we made a mad dash out of the
house and down to Gainesville, some 50 miles away for the procedure. We
arrived at 11 am and he JUST went into the cath lab at 2:45 pm. I'm not
upset. .. in fact, I am happy that he got moved to last so they can
take their time and get it right. So now …
I wait. The first procedure he had, back in November, was supposed to
take 1 hour; they worked on him for four. So I stand at the precipice,
staring at the death dark ravine and I wait; and I pray. Again.</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span data-mce-style="text-decoration: underline;" style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Psalm 23, a psalm of David --</strong></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<strong>YHVH is my Shepherd</strong></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
Shepherd!
What a lowly title for the Creator of the universe and everything in
it! But He means it and He fulfills it. He watches us, He guards, He
guides, He supplies, He takes joy in us, He longs for quiet times with
us. He is gentility personified; He is authority; He is YHVH.</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<strong>I shall not want</strong></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
I
must say that through the 60 years of my life, I've been well fed and
well provisioned. Even in those years of wandering and drifting,
looking for love in all the wrong places, I did not lack. Anything and
everything I ever needed and everything I will ever need has already
been created.</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<strong>He has me lie down in grassy pastures</strong></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span data-mce-style="color: black;" style="color: black;">YHVH
knows we need to eat. YHVH knows we need "things" be it a place to
live or clothing or even stuff for fun. Grassy pastures is more than a
place to be at rest and be satisfied. It is, essentially, sheep heaven!
When we follow Him, even through the difficult times, we will be able
to rest. But we've got to trust Him as the sheep trust the Shepherd.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<strong>He leads me by quiet water</strong></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
Sheep
are not so very smart. But, this is one thing they do know, that if
their wooly furry selves get wet, they get heavy. They fear drowning.
The Shepherd knows this. He doesn't put the sheep through undue stress.
So he leads them to quiet water instead of loud rushing water so that
they are not afraid. Our Shepherd has told us, "I have not given you a
spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind." Whatever fear we
have, does not come from YHVH.</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<strong>He restores my inner person</strong></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
Just
when we feel depleted, empty, and spent, His grace fills us with
strength to continue. 'Restores' could be re-phrased as He makes new
again. His mercies, His grace are new every morning. We are renewed
every day.</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<strong>He guides me in right paths</strong></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span data-mce-style="color: black;" style="color: black;">Literally, the Hebrew reads,</span> <span data-mce-style="color: black;" style="color: black;">“</span><span data-mce-style="color: black;" style="color: black;">He
guides me (leads me forth) in the cycles (circular track) of
righteousness. Each one of His feasts in the yearly cycle speak to us
of His saving power and His supplying a way to restore us to the time
when we walked with Him in the garden. Those are the paths He wants us
to take</span> <span data-mce-style="color: black;" style="color: black;">…</span><span data-mce-style="color: black;" style="color: black;">the paths of righteousness that lead us back the Garden with Him.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<strong>for the sake of His name</strong></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
Yes,
YHVH does all these things for us, but He also realizes that He has a
reputation to protect. If He wants people to follow Him, and I believe
He does for the word says that He is not willing that any should perish,
then He will demonstrate constancy forever. He cannot change, He cannot
be capricious. He is ever mindful of the obligations He has taken on
Himself (the well-being of all those who follow Him) and so He acts
accordingly.</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<strong>Even if I pass through death dark ravines,</strong></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
Death
dark ravines are particular to the person experiencing them. If you
are a teen and tonight is your prom and you've got a zit the size of
Mount Everest on the end of your nose, you may feel it is a death dark
ravine moment. If your baby or spouse is very ill, it is a death dark
ravine moment. If you have 6 children and you just lost your job, it is a
death dark ravine moment. We each experience the troubles of this life
in our own way. Don't let anyone tell you you're being silly. Your pain
is your pain. But next comes the good news:</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<strong>I will fear no evil, for You are with me.</strong></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
YHVH
is the Maker and Giver of all -- There is nothing He cannot do. There
is nothing that escapes His notice. He has promised in His Word that He
will never leave us or forsake us. He has told us to be strong, because
He is with us WHEREVER we go. The father of evil and lies has NO POWER
over us! NONE!!! You are YHVH's beloved. He is with you always!</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<strong>Your rod and Your staff reassure me</strong></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
Rods
and staffs to the shepherd are instruments of correction and tools for
rescue. The Shepherd of our souls has played both these roles in our
lives. He has corrected, because if we go too far astray, we might be
lost forever. He has rescued, because we've pushed His hands away,
wanting to do it ourselves and we've made quite the mess. So when we
trust Him, His rod and His staff are reassuring to us; they are evidence
that He has our best interest at heart!</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<strong>You prepare a table for me</strong></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
When
a table is loaded with food, we get ideas of plenty, of celebration, of
festivity. In the Hebraic mindset, we see that food was shared during
the making of a covenant. The table YHVH prepares is all of this. We who
are either 'Jewish' or grafted into the House of Israel have accepted
His covenant. Psalm 147 says He has made His covenant with no other
people. And notice WHO is setting the Table! He is! This covenant is
not dependent on what WE do; it is dependent solely on His Will. Just
as when He had Abraham sleep through the making of the original
covenant. </div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<strong>even as my enemies watch</strong></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
Ever
eat something in front of someone and notice hunger or envy flash across
their eyes? The same thing is happening here, but on a much grander
scale. The Creator of the universe has rest His favor on us! Can you
imagine the chagrin, jealousy, ire of all the other nations of the
world? And they are powerless. All their machinations cannot change how
our Beloved Shepherd feels about His Chosen People. Smile! It will make
them wonder what you've been up to!</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<strong>You anoint my head with oil</strong></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
In
the scriptures, Priests, kings, prophets and the recovered lepers were
anointed. Anointing was a demonstration of setting someone apart for a
certain task in Yah's kingdom. Priests ministered, taught and were the
people's liasion to YHVH; kings wrote their own copy of the Torah and
ruled Yah's people; Prophets "told it like it is" from Yah's
perspective; and recovered lepers were restored into the community of
YHVH after their time of being outside the camp because of their
disease, which was usually because of their dissatisfaction with their
lives.</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<strong>from an overflowing cup</strong></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
YHVH created
and owns all the resources of the entire world. The fact that this cup
is overflowing shows the unlimited supply of, not only the provision of
oil, but unlimited supply of His grace, strength, Spirit and joy. Don't
limit Him or 'put Him in a box' with unbelief! He won't lose -- but you
would!</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<strong>Goodness and grace will pursue me</strong></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
Inescapable goodness, inescapable grace pursuing us, chasing us down to bless us!</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<strong>every day of my life;</strong></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
Not
just the high times, or the low times; the times we've been good, or
the times we've been bad, but every day YHVH will manifest His
loving-kindness to us -- if only we would receive it!</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<strong>and I will live in the house of YHVH</strong></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span data-mce-style="color: black;" style="color: black;">For
a moment, consider the magnitude of that statement. Living in the very
house of YHVH! Beyond one's comprehension really. Even Rav Shaul / the
Emissary Paul said that mind cannot comprehend the awesome things that
are prepared for us! To try to address such a monumental topic within
the confines of this blog is</span> <span data-mce-style="color: black;" style="color: black;">…</span><span data-mce-style="color: black;" style="color: black;">well</span> <span data-mce-style="color: black;" style="color: black;">…</span><span data-mce-style="color: black;" style="color: black;">unreasonable. As infinite as Yah is, so is His abode!</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<strong>for years and years to come.</strong></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
As
infinite as His abode is, as infinite as time is, as infinite as He is,
so is the time we will dwell with Him. What we are seeing here is not
all there is! Don't get so caught up, staring at the death dark ravine
that you lose sight of the beauty around you! And, as a dear friend used
to say, "It takes the bitter to appreciate the sweet".</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
As I write
this, it is now 5:43 pm. Three hours have passed since my beloved was
taken into the cath lab. The nurse just came in to tell me that they
will be wheeling him into this room in a moment. He'll be groggy and
silly from the sedation. I'll be rejoicing that the love of my life
will be sharing more days with me, and praising my Heavenly Father, YHVH
Tz'va'ot, that He has turned us away from the death dark ravine one
more time. HalleluYah!</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
PS. We are now home at 10:30 pm. Still praising the Father for a day full of miracles. </div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
Blessings from our home to yours –</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
Yocheved</div>Yochevedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03763116335378427204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904226316090611629.post-27611496025005285772012-06-26T20:33:00.001-07:002012-06-26T21:15:50.666-07:00Midnight Rendezvous<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-zVFhHO3vtyqRuNqJDMx8eJ5sQdivol5YrpbhUsgNNR34h0dcW7FVEfLECiSqoafQBQvPZrwPe0tLFFe5BBK7DKvdagIyTK1krp8rKb4M5JVtY76ZT5EVIq2tZd7S8LTWLuz-BLBRjY/s1600/moon-over-trees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-zVFhHO3vtyqRuNqJDMx8eJ5sQdivol5YrpbhUsgNNR34h0dcW7FVEfLECiSqoafQBQvPZrwPe0tLFFe5BBK7DKvdagIyTK1krp8rKb4M5JVtY76ZT5EVIq2tZd7S8LTWLuz-BLBRjY/s400/moon-over-trees.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Having a puppy has had an unexpected
benefit, besides new uses for my kitchen sink (puppy bath tub) and
more exercise (walking her every four hours, round the clock). I
have found another “rendezvous point” with my Heavenly Father.
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
It's 1 am and I've just come in from
walking “Gila” (as in Hava nagila) our 6 month old Havanese
puppy. She's a pretty little black and white powder puff on 4 legs –
very sweet, very anxious to please, but still a puppy with a tiny
bladder and an avocation of sniffing every leaf and blade of grass on
our property. But I digress ...</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The Midnight Rendezvous with the Lover
of my soul is so sweet. Walking along with flashlight in hand and
Gila at my feet in the cool midnight hour has a charm to it that I
find difficult to fully express. It's quiet, but not really:
crickets sing their praises as do the owls and a dog's bark in the
distance punctuates their chorus. Occasionally the neighborhood
mocking bird wakes up and steals the show, singing unto Yah a new
song ... sometimes for several hours! The moon floats above us,
playing tag with wispy clouds. Fragrances from the water plants in
the pond gently perfume the air. All in all, each night (even the
rainy ones as tropical depression Beryl made its way through here
recently) is perfect. It is as if He gifted ME with each of these
walks. Sounds crazy, I'm sure.</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I think about these things just as I am
about to let loose with the latest barrage of needs, fears and trivia
... and then I stop! How could I not praise Him for these nightly
gifts? How could I not tell Him how awesome I think He is and thank
Him – even for little Gila and her tiny bladder -- so that I could
savor the serenity of the moment? Truly, He has prepared a place for
me, in this world and the world to come. Oh, my Father, my Sovereign
Master, I thank you for Your abundant loving kindness! There are just
not enough words to praise You adequately. Please accept this meager
offering of words. May they be a fitting sacrifice of praise to You,
my Creator / Redeemer / Bridegroom and Sovereign Master!
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Walking back to the house through the
inky darkness into the light of the back door lamp, the words of the
23<sup>rd</sup> psalm float through my head. “You prepare a table
for me ... you anoint my head with oil ... goodness and grace will
pursue me every day of my life ... I fear no disaster for You are
with me. Suddenly, the realization that all the fears and griefs
that I was going to belch out at YHVH just a few short minutes
previously no longer were the trouble. My own impatience and
unwillingness to “Be still and know that He is YHVH” was the real
'problem'.
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Hmmmm ... “Be still” ... I wonder
if that is the real issue all the while.
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Thank you, Abba, for the Midnight
Rendezvous ... and Gila's tiny bladder.</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
Yochevedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03763116335378427204noreply@blogger.com0