The past few months, I've found myself crying out in prayer, that YHWH keep me from letting the care of this world "choke me out." In researching for and writing the Goshen Gazette, as well as facilitating a discipleship class, and building Bethesda Wellness Centre, life has been just a tad busy. None of my other responsibilities have diminished, as the homestead is still operating full swing and the natural products business is continuing to expand. By nature, I'm a workaholic, who always enjoyed "too many irons in the fire" as my Daddy would call it, but this past couple of weeks, I actually said aloud, "I have all I can do." Also, in these past few weeks and months, I've found myself saying aloud, frequently, "I can do all things through Messiah who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13. Of course that passage is true, but He strengthens us to do the work in which He is leading, and not the numerous distractions that can often weigh us down and choke us out!
I can honestly say, I haven't spent my time leisurely or on entertainment, which is also a point unto itself. How many of the "so called" servants of YHWH spend a significant amount of time on sports and entertainment? I'm not claiming spiritual superiority in that fact that I don't, but rather raising the concern and observation of just how easy it is to be distracted. I openly confess, too many irons in the fire for a workaholic is no more holy than Monday Night Football, video games, or movies. As a matter of fact, in researching for articles, I am exposed to just as much secularism or more; and sadly in this sad state of our society, the ongoing continuation seems endless. Unlike football, there is no two minute warning to announce the end. Research is also quite different from entertainment, in that, again, there is no "end of game or end of movie." It's been quite harrowing. I believe I'm getting a handle on this, but it can happen so subtly . . . I certainly do not lean to my own understanding in this, but literally cling to YHWH and His Word.
The Goshen Gazette has moved from weekly to semimonthly, and that will eventually change, but for now, it is what it is. Watching Isaiah 5:20-21 come to pass is heart breaking. The warning, as our society is literally inverted to redefine good and evil, seems to be virtually unheeded as we plunge headlong into an abyss of chaos. Intercessory prayer must sound so redundant to Our Father, by now.
As I looked at the interpretation of the parable that has been coming to my spirit, I noticed once again, that seed among thorns represented both "the care of the world" and the deceitfulness of riches. While I've not been one drawn or attracted to the prosperity teachings, and my desires in this world are not of great material value, the headlines that I research definitely fall into the category of "the care of this world." It became pretty tense and quiet for a time in my life. I delight in the Voice of our Creator, and I have indeed experienced now, just how the care of this world feels strangely dark, quiet, and suffocating.
I will continue to sound the warning of the redefinition being done in our society, but I will not be joining discussions on where the Jews got it wrong with Talmud or where the Christians are misinterpreting the New Testament. Nor am I particularly interested in the history of ancient cultures or pagan rituals. I am interested in Living Scripture and following Messiah who is The Way, The Truth, and The Life. I don't need to have the most information about a Biblical topic, I need to know the Author and His Son, more. I've been noticing, not only is our society calling good evil and evil good, but those in the "religious know" are doing some horrendous redefinition and re-prioritizing, as well. Many of the religious debates can be found in this parable as well. Stony places and no deepness is often displayed and voiced in discussions and social media comments.
3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; 4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: 5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: 6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: 8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. 9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear
18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. 19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. 20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. :22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. 23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23
Time is short. Even if Messiah's return is not as soon as many of us hope, our days are not promised and none of us are getting any younger. Meanwhile, Scripture very clearly tells us we will give an account . . .
Showing posts with label prayer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label prayer. Show all posts
Sunday, March 13, 2016
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Your Call Is Important . . .
We've all heard the familiar recording when placing a call we do believe is important. The recorded voice that states, "Your call is important . . ." is not so convincing or reassuring at all, that our call is important to whomever is busy serving other customers, receiving higher than normal call volumes, or is away from their desk. As I sat on hold the other day, the question came to me: How often do we do this to our Heavenly Father? How often do we place other priorities ahead of our prayer time with Him, or worse yet allow our time of prayer to be interrupted with non-emergencies or simply being distracted?
I'm beginning to take note in my own life when a subject of prayer becomes a tangent or distracted thought. I've also considered how easily I am distracted from matters of spiritual intimacy to focus on work and projects. I do it with people, I know I've done it with Abba. Although Mr. B and I do not really share any personal time, nor have we for several years . . . I do try to at least set aside some time in the evening to go through the motions of conversation. Sadly, and admittedly, it's such a ritual, that I can do that on autopilot while I think about other matters. As our society continues to become more impersonal with random priorities, I believe our brains and hearts are following suit. I don't want my prayer life to become ritualistic, autopilot, or filled with distraction.
Personal phones, smart phones, whatever seem to intensify the situation. More and more, it seems people are not really where they are . . . I watched a couple of people out to lunch recently, and both of them were looking at their phones nearly the entire time. It seemed so odd to watch them dining at the same table, but never engaging in any conversation. Then I considered the fact, I was at the same table with Mr. B, and we weren't talking either, as I was people watching while I ate. I've gotten to the place of realizing when incoming calls and texts repeatedly control the current conversation, the current conversation is simply not as important. That's fine in some situations, but it really shouldn't be a way of life. Every call is not more important than the person in the first conversation.
My mom gave me great insight in this when she got call waiting, years ago. More than once she'd tell me to hang on, then leave me on "hold" only to come back to tell me she forgot about me. She would then proceed to explain that when she hung up from the other call, her phone rang, reminding her the first line was still tied up . . . It didn't take me long to just end our calls when she received another call, telling her to call me back when she finished, thinking it would be just fine if she forgot about me. Through the years in ministry, I'm always saddened at the number of people who are unhappy in a personal relationship and feel something is amiss in their relationship with our Heavenly Father, yet they invariably interrupt the conversation or even prayer to prioritize the very individual with whom they are having problems.
I don't want any priorities ahead of following Messiah and I certainly don't want any distractions when I've been granted the privilege to come before the Throne of Glory. How many times do we presume, the Creator of the Universe will always be available, even at the end of our distracted priorities?
I'm beginning to take note in my own life when a subject of prayer becomes a tangent or distracted thought. I've also considered how easily I am distracted from matters of spiritual intimacy to focus on work and projects. I do it with people, I know I've done it with Abba. Although Mr. B and I do not really share any personal time, nor have we for several years . . . I do try to at least set aside some time in the evening to go through the motions of conversation. Sadly, and admittedly, it's such a ritual, that I can do that on autopilot while I think about other matters. As our society continues to become more impersonal with random priorities, I believe our brains and hearts are following suit. I don't want my prayer life to become ritualistic, autopilot, or filled with distraction.
Personal phones, smart phones, whatever seem to intensify the situation. More and more, it seems people are not really where they are . . . I watched a couple of people out to lunch recently, and both of them were looking at their phones nearly the entire time. It seemed so odd to watch them dining at the same table, but never engaging in any conversation. Then I considered the fact, I was at the same table with Mr. B, and we weren't talking either, as I was people watching while I ate. I've gotten to the place of realizing when incoming calls and texts repeatedly control the current conversation, the current conversation is simply not as important. That's fine in some situations, but it really shouldn't be a way of life. Every call is not more important than the person in the first conversation.
My mom gave me great insight in this when she got call waiting, years ago. More than once she'd tell me to hang on, then leave me on "hold" only to come back to tell me she forgot about me. She would then proceed to explain that when she hung up from the other call, her phone rang, reminding her the first line was still tied up . . . It didn't take me long to just end our calls when she received another call, telling her to call me back when she finished, thinking it would be just fine if she forgot about me. Through the years in ministry, I'm always saddened at the number of people who are unhappy in a personal relationship and feel something is amiss in their relationship with our Heavenly Father, yet they invariably interrupt the conversation or even prayer to prioritize the very individual with whom they are having problems.
I don't want any priorities ahead of following Messiah and I certainly don't want any distractions when I've been granted the privilege to come before the Throne of Glory. How many times do we presume, the Creator of the Universe will always be available, even at the end of our distracted priorities?
Sunday, January 25, 2015
Speaking Out
Early the other morning through prayer, I heard a simple question and a concise statement regarding the "great falling away." First the question. "How can a group of a few hundred people who cannot agree on a name to call themselves, a day of the week, or when the month begins even be considered a "great number?" Now the statement. "Men who speak to tens of thousands every week under a generic title of cohesiveness, while endorsing a Pope who endorses Islam could indeed lead a "great falling away."
Rick Warren "Our Pope"
"I love the fact that's he's made the Church more inclusive," he said. "Not trying to make it smaller, but to try to make it larger — to take everybody in. So, that just resonates with me," Osteen added.
I never really thought of needing a religious label, although it does come up now and again. I've been a Torah observant follower of Messiah since before the turn of this century. I still remember the day I clearly heard The Name of Messiah, then the many aspects of our Creator with His Name. That also occurred before the turn of this last century. I've known my call, since I first heard our Creator speak it to me, so servant of YHWH, follower of Y'hshuwah has always been adequate for me. Our gracious Heavenly Father has let me know, He calls me His child, and we find in the Matthew 12:50, Y'hshuwah calls us siblings.
As of late, however; I've come to understand humanity has many labels, most of which can seem a bit confining. The Hebrew Roots Movement was never attached to me, although for a time I did try to generically use the term, Messianic, but as it turns out, I seem to go in the "Sacred Namer" category. Having had the "cult" word aimed at me through the years, that now tends to fall on me like water off a duck's back. The apostles were referred to as the Sect of The Way, and I've grown to love that label. Paul is quoted in Acts 24:14 to state, "But this I confess unto thee, that after The Way which they call heresy, so worship I the Elohim of my fathers, believing all things which are written in Torah and in the prophets:" In checking the original Greek, it would appear the religious right of the day, considered the apostles to be heretics. The terms sect and heresy were both translated from the same Greek word: Hairesis.
In studying just how many verses Paul wrote in his epistles that can be chosen to be interpreted to be anti-Torah, a realization has come to me. There are a great many verses in Paul's writings that confirm Torah. There is also another correlation with Paul and Moses. According to Acts 17:23 Paul makes a very concise statement that the Creator of the Universe does in fact have a Name and title. There is absolutely no doubt, once Moses encountered that burning bush, he came down that mountain a "Sacred Namer."
And Elohim said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, YHWH Elohim of your fathers, Elohim of Abraham, Elohim of Isaac, and Elohim of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is My Name for ever, and this is My Memorial unto all generations.
Being a "Sacred Namer" may get you thrown out of some groups, but it also lands you in pretty good company!
Rick Warren "Our Pope"
"I love the fact that's he's made the Church more inclusive," he said. "Not trying to make it smaller, but to try to make it larger — to take everybody in. So, that just resonates with me," Osteen added.
I never really thought of needing a religious label, although it does come up now and again. I've been a Torah observant follower of Messiah since before the turn of this century. I still remember the day I clearly heard The Name of Messiah, then the many aspects of our Creator with His Name. That also occurred before the turn of this last century. I've known my call, since I first heard our Creator speak it to me, so servant of YHWH, follower of Y'hshuwah has always been adequate for me. Our gracious Heavenly Father has let me know, He calls me His child, and we find in the Matthew 12:50, Y'hshuwah calls us siblings.
As of late, however; I've come to understand humanity has many labels, most of which can seem a bit confining. The Hebrew Roots Movement was never attached to me, although for a time I did try to generically use the term, Messianic, but as it turns out, I seem to go in the "Sacred Namer" category. Having had the "cult" word aimed at me through the years, that now tends to fall on me like water off a duck's back. The apostles were referred to as the Sect of The Way, and I've grown to love that label. Paul is quoted in Acts 24:14 to state, "But this I confess unto thee, that after The Way which they call heresy, so worship I the Elohim of my fathers, believing all things which are written in Torah and in the prophets:" In checking the original Greek, it would appear the religious right of the day, considered the apostles to be heretics. The terms sect and heresy were both translated from the same Greek word: Hairesis.
In studying just how many verses Paul wrote in his epistles that can be chosen to be interpreted to be anti-Torah, a realization has come to me. There are a great many verses in Paul's writings that confirm Torah. There is also another correlation with Paul and Moses. According to Acts 17:23 Paul makes a very concise statement that the Creator of the Universe does in fact have a Name and title. There is absolutely no doubt, once Moses encountered that burning bush, he came down that mountain a "Sacred Namer."
And Elohim said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, YHWH Elohim of your fathers, Elohim of Abraham, Elohim of Isaac, and Elohim of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is My Name for ever, and this is My Memorial unto all generations.
Being a "Sacred Namer" may get you thrown out of some groups, but it also lands you in pretty good company!
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