Predictions or Promises?
Acts 1:9-11
After saying this, He was taken up before their eyes; and a cloud hid Him from their sight. As they were staring into the sky after Him, suddenly they saw two men dressed in white standing next to them. The men said, “You Galileans! Why are you standing, staring into space? This Yeshua, who has been taken away from you unto heaven, will come back to you in just the same way as you saw Him go into heaven. “
All about us, in earth and air, wherever the eye or ear can reach, there is a power ever breathing itself forth in signs, now in daisy, now in a wind-waft, a cloud, a sunset; a power that holds constant and sweetest relation with the dark and silent world within us. The same God who is in us, and upon whose tree we are the buds, if not yet the flowers, also is all about us- inside, the Spirit; outside, the Word. And the two are ever trying to meet in us. ~ George MacDonald ~
~~~~ ~~~~~ For T-do ~~~~~ ~~~~
The horizon was still flamed like eye liner in brazen fire hues but as the eye moved up towards the dome of evening celestial azure fought with the stars to hold dominance.
Shamar sat with her Papa, in the evening tradition of watching a new day dawn. At 16 years, the flames of youth seemed to be the horizon matched in flames in her mind, but like the azure sky her heart fought with pin pricked realities that competed with her heart.
“Papa, is it wrong to want good things when we know that Yeshua is coming?”
Naham’s gaze broke from the night tapestry to look at his daughter. So aptly named, he thought, Shamar – to observe, to keep, to watch, to preserve. He could see the burdens and blessings of this name sake was like a blanket on her soul. Both protecting and perhaps, obscuring – as Hashem wills.
He chuckled, “Good things? Your mind is attempting to clarify in a way, I’m sure. Yeshua’s return is the most good thing there can be. What good things are you referring to?”
Shamar’s lower lip slipped up between her teeth. A small sigh escaped. “I mean, yes, Yeshua’s return is the best good! I was thinking of Amar, we are betrothed. Marriage, children… you know good things…”
Naham let the clarification saturate the moment. Indeed, all good things. The balance of living now yet for eternity… things hoped for… things unknown…a prayer began in his mind for words to form as the answer to her question in real time.
“No, these good things are not wrong, Shamar, good they are – all. Why do you ask for more than what you can see already?”
The flood burst.
“To marry, and have children is a dream only beheld in my mind as what we’ve always known. Yeshua said there would be no marriage in heaven. I makes me feel torn. To be fully invested in His will for me in marriage and family here, when His return is imminent – feels contradictory. I don’t want to desire Amar more than Him, but I do desire to marry him and have children. I look at these stars that speak of His coming, promises and predictions… tell me Papa, how do you divide your heart aright in such times? Tears were small pools about to burst in her brown tawny eyes, one blink and they would follow the path to her chin.
Naham gathered Shamar into his arms. Again I am praying Creator of all, create discernment here and give it life in my answer…
“Shamar my treasure. Your Ima and I are giving you in marriage to Amar. Here and now, marriage is a legal and binding contract, because of sin, it is needed. In heaven or in the millenial Kingdom, we won’t give our children into such covenants. Elohim alone shall do so, like before the fall, remember? He made marriage perfect, not contractual. Yeshua was speaking to those fools trying to trick him, remember? The widowed wife, who would be her real husband in the resurrection? (Matt. 22:23-32) He ends this debate with the promise that He is the God of the living not the dead! Your heart frets over words that I fear an enemy is trying to rob joy from you in.” He pulled her face up to meet his gaze. “Shamar , we do not know many things about how our glorified bodies will be but there are things we do know. They will be without illness, disease, dysfunction. They will be as He made them in the Garden. We know He made them for a soul mate. We know He honors our marriage covenants more than we do. We know children are a gift from Him. What we know far out weighs any fears we could have about what we don’t. Because His predictions are promises. He said we can not imagine the good He has for us, waiting for us that shall never be parted in or with death. I fear not, losing your Ima, because death shall not part us. If death is the only thing that can separate us from good we have His promise that even that shall not separate us from His love. His love formed Adam and Havah in the garden, His love told them to be fruitful and multiply. Before the fall. Dear one. His promise is to set things right… back to when He called all things good. We need not fear or stretch out towards this life thinking His heart is not still here. You will marry Amar at the appointed time… if Yeshua comes before that it will be He that gives you away or to Amar if that is His will. If it is not, would you want differently?”
Shamar’s tears had began to wane. She looked into her Papa’s eyes and let the question fling about inside, like a thing with wings. Certain that right now was a moment of trust building decision. Do I trust Yeshua no matter what? She straightened up and gazed back up at the stars. So… even if…El Shaddi You would not have Amar and I be as one… do I trust You? I suppose it is really more a matter of giving him or my idea of him and us back to You before we are married. I can see why so many might rush to do things their way, especially now. Oh, Abba, my Adonai, I will trust You.
Naham watched his daughter. Watched the Ruach (Spirit) of Hashem work on her heart. He knew the answer was not for her to answer to him but was, now, being answered to Adonai.
Shamar looked again at her Papa… their eyes met. They smiled and embraced.
“I am looking forward to Yeshua’s return, and Amar and I’s betrothal. However Elohim wills it. I am His servant first and He is my husband. I will trust Him, Papa. Like the angels…I will trust Him.
The dome of heaven, now cast with only the light of stars…a new day…twinkled in the joy of its Maker and shone down upon His children with delight. Father and daughter sat… for just a few more minutes. Each thinking of what it will look like to see Yeshua, coming on a cloud… the best good thing… predicted and promised. In heaven, there’s no difference.
Grace and shalom in the name of Yeshua the Messiah… to Him be the glory!! May He come soon!
Lamb of God
I follow this YouTube channel that recently posted the harvest of their lambs. This small homestead farm is full of integrity and the graciousness and passion for honoring God in their everyday lives is quite the testimony. The harvest video was… hard and…sobering…and beautiful in its execution. Pun intended. While watching Dan so respectfully kill his lamb, with tears flowing down his face, and then with as much respect in the skinning and removal of its inward parts as he had for tending the creature from birth, it can’t help but bring Yeshua (Jesus) to mind and those many years previous to His birth where lambs (among others) were sacrificed for our sins daily. Sin costs, and a precious price. Dan and his young son live the knowledge of this in ways most of us don’t, every year at this time. I don’t think it’s ironic the timing; as so many people are gearing up to celebrate the “birth” of the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.
Most of us have no concept of raising our own food and tending the earth as God intended. It would be grotesque and even considered barbaric to do so now, with our modern and updated, more knowledgeable and “smart” ways these days. Even those who hunt for their food stay much removed from understanding what sin cost the whole of creation. But raising and righteously and tenderly caring for any creature from birth to the table is the only way to fully comprehend the depths of it; even now with Yeshua having done the ultimate sacrifice – once and for all.
At Passover, God instructs His people to bring the spotless lamb (no replacements are allowed this time, it has to be a lamb) inside to the family dwelling for two weeks prior to the sacrifice. This was done on purpose, because the heart can disconnect still if the “cattle remain separate” at harvest time. Still not easy but much easier. So at Passover, He brings a bonding element into the sacrifice – to teach and cement the gravity of sin. The earth and animals are completely innocent of sin, but suffer the effects because of us. It’s one thing to bring in an annoying animal and keep some distance at heart. Imagine a goat, for instance, braying at all hours and wrecking the home for a week before it’s time to sacrifice it. If anything, that would bring an element of relief or even a sense of justice to kill it. But lambs are gentle and in new environments reduced to calm out of fear and adjustment of the change that occurs and removal from their herd. They are obedient and docile and well… so sweet and innocent looking…cuddly. Before the two weeks is up, the family could not help but have their own heart strings attached to theirs. Especially the children and the parents suffering doubly, watching their children hurt so badly at the lambs loss on top of their own breaking heart. God knows how to make a point, drive it home and etch it for reminders in our hearts, not just our minds. Today, on the small homesteads, they attend their animals, their children tend them with affection, they watch them be born and raise them, some raise them with tenderness and reverence. Harvest time for these is flat hard. For those who believe and follow Yeshua, the cost of sin puts its full weight on their hearts once a year. For those of us who go to the butcher or grocery store… we have very little access to this lesson and the depth it brings to the Word – thankfulness. I suspect Dan, whose heart is fully invested in honoring God in EVERYTHING he does, knows this and thus posted this video on Thanksgiving day but at midnight – the landslide before Black Friday which has no life…a day totally deprived of meaning what so ever.
Having learned the tenderest way to kill his lambs he raised, named, nursed, pet, comforted, pastured, and played with for 7-8 months.
Some having kept as breeders, so watching them give birth several times to feed his family. He weeps as the knife traipses its way across their throats, while he holds them in the position of their utmost vulnerability but also totally submitted…trusting… and waits for them to become motionless, such a heart can not but help but run to his Savior! Feel gratitude and magnitude of life all at once. And find a perspective of forgiveness as he carves away the skin and organs of vitality in a way most of us will never experience. The living like this every year transforms this man into an image bearer of the Most High God that can not be denied.
His first year killing his allotted lambs, set aside for food. He did his homework, he did his best to get the set up for the kindest kill, the least stressful for all involved. He hired a professional butcher to come teach him. He stepped away for a moment for the call of duty, and returned to find the butcher had proceeded without him. Grabbed the first lamb, kicking and screaming around the corner, in front of all the other lambs and killed it before he could join him. That entire harvest session took weeks for his family to recover from. It broke their hearts, some didn’t recover and left. I couldn’t help but think of how most the meat we consume is harvested, and how blind those who do the deed must become to do it, heartless. How robots and machines now carve the sacrifice removing the stain from human hands. Conveniently packaged and ready to cook this important process – meant to bring depth to our character – brings expectancy and depreciation instead.
So… you say…”since Messiah died and replaced this whole sacrifice thing… what is the point to all this?”
You see… Yeshua fulfilled the sacrifice, but God’s desire for us to partake in the understanding of the gravity of life for our life, this never changed. Too many people live in the land of complaint and blame because WE gave our food into their hands and they became heartless and evil in their management of it while we moved on to the ‘more important things’ of life: like insurance, vacations, early retirement, possession accumulation in the disguise of inheritance, education, careers and hobbies. We have lost the depth of character for whom whose Image we are born to bear. Then we grumble about who took over and their lack of integrity and righteousness in their duties. Protesting loudly but doing… nothing… really to change it. Not like Dan. A police detective, headed towards what we would consider a bright and promising career, providing well for his family in a realm of “stability” most thought He was nuts to leave. He took responsibility for his health and family back into his own hands with the full understanding that he’d fail completely without God’s own shepherding of his heart while He teaches him how to shepherd others.
This is the message. The managing and caring for this earth, the animals and all God made was placed in our hands to tend. A great honor and responsibility. Full of hard work, requiring a trust and reliance on God that one can only experience in such a way of life. That integrates all God said from the beginning to the end of the book we call the Bible into every decision and action we take everyday to etch it on our hearts in action so as to make a permante mark on our souls. Yeshua never changed this.
We must heed the lessons to learn them. Grieve our excuses, blindness and neglect, take full responsibility back into our hands, and honor the Lord each moment forward. This is repentance.
We may not all be able to homestead to gain this perspective. Yet, I’m here, sharing this blog, having tapped into the message and can start where I can today. So can you. It starts by truly being thankful, fully repenting and beginning with just one obedience a day to trade your thoughts for His thoughts, your ways for His ways…
To acknowledge the state of disaster our health, food, water, air, and systems of commerce, education and the like is OUR failure. Not the government’s, not our grandparents, not illegal aliens, not politics, no… none of these things can keep you and I from the love of God that strengthens us to live according to His integrity. Not now, not ever.
May we be truly grateful for such a profound grace. In this, the year of our Lord 5779 or 2018.
🙏 May we comprehend the magnitude of Your sacrifice, Yeshua, Salvation, Lamb of God, and may we not lose sight of its effects on the innocent and life giving sources that our sin continues to taint until Your return. May we understand the depth of Your forgiveness and respond with our whole lives as if it makes all the difference, eradicating blame and slackness in stepping up to the full gift of tending and caring for all you’ve given us in this life, Oh Author of Life and great Shepherd. May our every minute chant “To God be the glory” until your return! Amen. 🙏
When Flee Becomes Refuge
It’s that time of year again. Where evil is celebrated and by its minimization made good. Yes, even the body of Messiah has let it leak into each home. It’s called: Halloween. Many in the body have converted it to a harvest celebration, but still the candy and traditions that seem less evil creep in. We don’t want our kids to feel “left out”.
Why?
I doubt anyone has a problem with their kids feeling “left out” from committing murder, thievery, child sacrifice… to name a few. The grossest of evils we all have no compunction about our children pouting or crying about not participating in. So why do we not teach them, to be in favor with the Lord is often to be left out of the worlds traditions? That this is an honor, and…a command of The Lord. Yeshua (Jesus) said: “this world will hate you on account of Me.” “If you love Me, you will keep my commands.” To feel left out of this world’s celebrations and events is to be steadfast in His Presence. Heres our path:
Many times the word flee is related to the action we take with evil. Heres an interesting perspective:
There are two Hebrew words for flee:
1) nus (noos ) נוס – put to flight, run away, escape, lift up a standard.
Isn’t it interesting that our english word – noose – sounds similar?
Isaiah 35:10
Those ransomed by ADONAI will return and come with singing to Zion, on their heads will be everlasting joy. They will acquire gladness and joy, while sorrow and sighing will flee.
Psalms 104:7
At Your rebuke they fled; at the sound of Your thunder they washed away.
(Amos 9:1)
Notice the references to flee? Past tense fled? It’s always connected to God’s rebuke.
2) barach – ברח – flee; to go through; refuge; rescue
Psalms 97:10
You who love ADONAI, hate evil! He keeps His faithful servants safe. He rescues them from the power of the wicked.
(Job 27:13-23)
Evil is always connected to the rebuke of God – this fellow-sheep is why we flee. Fleeing becomes refuge. Psalm 50, is the perfect illustration in plain words of this. Let’s also remember: Yeshua rebuked evil…Matt. 17:18; Mark 9:25; Luke 4:41; Mark 8:33/Matt. 16:23.
We must also remember that His rebuke for those who love Him is called discipline.
Revelation 3:19
As for Me, I rebuke and discipline everyone I love; so exert yourselves, turn from your sins!
A famous argument of a christians rationale: ‘well, I don’t celebrate Halloween that way… but this way… so that the kids can have fun.’
May I be so bold and say… then no King is in your heart.
Judges 17:6
At the time there was no king in Israel; a man simply did whatever he thought was right.
Proverbs 21:2
All a person’s ways are right in his own view, but Adonai weighs the heart.
Proverbs 16:6
Grace and truth atone for iniquity, and people turn from evil through fear of ADONAI.
Proverbs 14:26-27
In the fear of ADONAI is powerful security; for His children there will be a place of refuge. The fear of ADONAI is the fountain of life enabling one to avoid deadly traps.
Do you see it? The fear of the Lord is His rebuke. He rebukes evil, if we enter in, in any way, we get swept away with it. Now is the time to get rid of every little thing that will get swept away in His FINAL REBUKE. I will provide a link to a video that explains exactly what we, if we enter in, and what we teach and therefore lead our children into, if we in anyway take part of Halloween. Our part of fleeing is resisting, having no part, and instead running into the ways of the Lord as a refuge. Every single scripture from Genesis to Revelation says this over and over.
Let us repent and turn away in this last hour. Let us be ‘left out’ to evil and hidden in the goodness of God. Let us teach our children that this is a blessing. Let us stand apart from every evil thing in this world, be hated for Yeshua’s sake, loved instead by the Father… waiting for the day where no evil shall temp is again. No danger of compromise shall ever darken the door of our lives.
🙏 Grace and peace to you in Messiah Yeshua, He’s coming soon! 🙏
Unfolding My Wings One Day at a Time
buttrflygrl14
