From the Whirlwind

How can it be?

2008-04-21T13:27:20Z

Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen: Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen. For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses.

Isaiah 44: 1-4

Obviously, humanity is fully incapable of properly showing and reciprocating love. This gift, we only receive from the Father. Therefore, when we love down here it is often unrequited.

Nevertheless, here in Isaiah, the Creator speaks to Jacob, the despised, reminding him of his birthright. In Isaiah 44, the Creator, Giver of all things reminds Jacob that he was no mistake, that he has been loved anc cared for since inception.

Not only is he noticed, loved, designed-- but he has a most Holy protector. There is a deliverer of note who has chosen him, touched him in the process of forming him, Who finds some usefulness in him, allowing him to be His servant. Chosen, again, and given a meaningful nickname.

If you have ever been very thirsty, very hot or very dry, the pouring out of water over you is a tactile experience to which you can perhaps relate. The arid desert of the soul, drenched from the unending fountain of perfection, finding a foothold in the ethereal darkness becomes able. In the next lines, it brings forth seed.

Like the welcome flood, the Spirit falls on the seed. The offspring is blessed-- what a miracle of Love, that we even have offspring!

How deeply intimately is our heart known to the Warm Hand that formed it. How passionately He comforts, revealing that future and hope (Jeremiah 29:11). Jacob, the despised, who had to fight for everything he had, was actually chosen. Jacob would be shepherded and blessed with new life.

Shema, Ya'acov! Listen, Jacob! The Lord God, Creator of all things, the Eternal, Only Divine Name, Loves you and will keep you, defend you, reproduce you...

Never Quit the Master

2008-04-08T14:04:17Z

"Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher, "All is vanity." And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yes, he pondered and sought out and set in order many proverbs.

- Ecclesiastes 12:8,9

All is vanity, says the Preacher, still his wisdom pushed him on in the education of his people.

It is a simple message. Don't give up.

Admit that the pattern of existence is colored with banalities. Ok. Say that youth and beauty are fleeting. Alright. We know that money is vanity, too, because it has a tendancy to get lost or kidnapped. Maybe it decides to transform itself into a 60 foot golden calf-- but you can't take it with you and it sure won't follow you to the grave. IRiS will show up and marry it before it does that.

So, OK. All is vanity and the flushing-est vexation of the spirit. But don't give up.

Don't give up because you've got God. Your God is bigger than all of that fly by night, super shiny plastic imagination of a perfect normal world we've spent 6,000 years cooking up.

Depend on that. Dream about that. And don't give up.

(2003, Katy\\Records Worship)

My Odeo Channel (odeo/db252eee9c491ff8)

But they that wait...

2008-04-07T09:36:26Z

But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
- Isaiah 40:31

"I've got sound bites in my head," my sister always says. I guess that I have, too. Maybe we all do. But every time I hear the text about 'wings of eagles' and about running and not fainting, I think about an old story animated and broadcast by "Your Story Hour" (*see below).

A little boy almost lost his legs in a fire way back when they used to heat school houses with pop belly stoves. However his mother refused to let the doctor amputate.

Sure enough, beyond belief, the little boy grew up to be a man, walking, running-- He even ran and won Olympic races!

I know. But it's a true story.

Not everybody faced with physical challenges is going to be allowed to overcome them on earth. We've seen examples recently, in the past; we'll probably continue seeing them. We press on, because we know that the meaning of life cannot be found within the flesh.

Still, with the promise of all things being made new, we see even further than the edges of the gritty, crusty world, into a different place where the term 'perfection' is legitimate. And everybody flies.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Your Story Hour, Inc. is an international, non-profit Christian organization
that produces thrilling character building audio programs and more.
Go to YSH.

Forgiveness, submitted by Ronald Willis

2008-04-04T10:52:33Z

The Bible says we should forgive others seventy times seven (Matthew 18: 21,22), what about forgiving ourselves?

We can go thru life dwelling on mistakes we have made, things we have done, people we have hurt. Sometimes we may think we may not be worthy of God's love and mercy, and we have gone too far or done too much to forgive ourselves.

Satan may try to convince us we should give up; that God won't listen to our earnest plea. But he is a liar. God is waiting to hear from us. Just ask Him to help us to forgive ourselves and for peace within. The dark clouds of our past will go away.

<:od>Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. (Matthew 18: 21,22)

For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5: 19-21)

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. (Galatians 2:16)

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud. (Proverbs 16: 18,19 eg. It isn't about us. If we deny the offered forgiveness and new life, continually reviewing past sins, we deny the gift and the very Power of God.- Rebekah)

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (Romans 3: 23-26)

I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God. (Ezekiel 37:23b)

April Fools

2008-04-02T13:42:53Z

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Galatians 6: 7,8

I love the story of Hagar, Ishmael's mom-to-be, when she thinks Sarai is being too hard on her and runs out into the desert. The Lord catches her out there and tells her to go home, letting her know that He's involved in their lives and that her child is going to have a respectable end. (Genesis 16)

Hagar names the Lord "The God Who Sees". Indeed, the Creator is the only One who sees everything and Who has a perfect memory. When the Lord makes a promise... Well, we ought to be patient, because you can bet your sweet bippy it's coming to pass.

Then there is the question of today's text. It has been carried over the generations throughout all times and cultures. We reap what we sow. So if we know this, why does the writer think it important to tell us not to be deceived?

If we are honest with ourselves, we have to admit that many times it doesn't appear that those who sow evil, reap evil, or that those who sow good seed, reap good things. Sometimes the very same person who gives to everyone ends up without and the guy who is continuously knocking the wind out of people seems to receive every wonderful thing this world has to offer.

But don't be fooled.

Everything we do is noted by the God Who Sees, things we act on and things upon which we do not act. Our thoughts, hopes for others, personal desires, struggles and successes are all seeds. Our tears are seeds, whether they are the precious seed mentioned in Psalm 126, or seeds of selfishness.

Our reward is coming. The reality of life extends beyond the borders of our societies and dreams. Sowing to the flesh will kill us, but sowing to the Spirit will bring us eternity in the presence of the only One Who ever mattered. Them that sow in tears will reap in joy.

Don't be fooled today. "He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap." (Ecclesiastes 11:4) If you're looking for the perfect time to do something just, you will never see it. If you are looking for the perfect time to bring in the harvest, it will never come.

Now is the time ordained for your deliverance. Now is the time ordained for your renewal. Now is the time ordained for you to love your neighbor. Now is the time ordained for you to allow your neighbor to show love to you.

The Lord is many things, but never mocked. Whatever we sow, that we reap-- and this only because our Judge is Righteous. He takes into account all that we are and makes ultimate recompense.

Love covers a multitude of sins-- every second our Messiah's sacrifice saves us where the damning hammer ought to fall. Eternal growth is the goal, as a sweet heart isn't forgotten, though buried in bitterness. He woos and sustains until we allow Him to deliver. A mean spirited act will not slip by unnoticed. A life redeeming lesson must be learned, though it take decades to learn it. A widow's mite is the best gift given, even when it is openly despised by Man. Defense of the defenseless is honored, though those who hear reject it.

Creator, we thank You today for all Your wondrous works, for Your delivering hand, and for just compensation.
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------

Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same. (Job 4:8)

He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail. (Proverbs 22:8)

For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk; the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up. ...Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.
(Hosea 8:7, 10:12,13)

But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
(2 Corinthians 9:6)

Newsletter 4/1/08

2008-04-01T12:45:20Z

Newsletter - April 1, 2008

Text of the day:

Isaiah 58: 5-11

Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?

Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy reward.

Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day: And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

Psalm86.org recommends you check it out!

	The Kokoda Trail A missionary remembrance by Pastor Bill Liversidge of Creative Growth Ministries in April 2002. It's an amazing story of deliverance with many lessons you won't forget!
	The Fight of My Life If you haven't already heard this new music by Kirk Franklin, we think you should look into it. This may just well be the most motivated, genuine set of tunes to have come from the heavy hitter so far. We think you'll be encouraged.
	Check out our Podcast Arcive here! To get new episodes of the podcast downloaded daily, click here, and follow the instructions. You may also listen to our podcast in an online player here, on the podcast or podcast archive pages.
	It is now possible to make secure donations online! Click here to visit the Giving Link and make your donation and/or purchase a product from our continually growing inventory. All proceeds will go directly to the Rebekah Willis Legal Defense Fund.

________________
The following is a missive from Pastor Philip Willis, jr, who is currently serving in the Iraq War as a Chaplain from the Michigan National Gaurd.

Dear Friends,

After 85 days of challenging training at Fort Hood, Texas I will be leaving again for the second time in less than three years for Iraq. The Lord must need me there to spiritually support the young men and women at this pivotal time in their life.

Many things are different about this tour. This time I will live in Kuwait but work in Iraq. I will be the installation chaplain responsible for the following:
1. Installation chapel management
2. Provide religious support for over 1,400 soldiers
3. Provide religious coverage for incoming and outgoing transient units
4. Supervise 3-4 chaplains that will also be present on the base.

The purpose of our units mission will be to provide convoy security for military vehicles as well as civilian vehicles throughout Iraq.

The challenges again are great. As the seasonal temperatures are rising so is the incidence of sectarian violence, suicide bombers and improvised explosives. Romans 5:20 states "But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound."

I look forward to seeing God do mighty things as He did before with me in Operation Iraqi Freedom 2005-2006. Keep us in your prayers as we move forward to minister to the living, care for the wounded and honor the dead.

Pastor P. C. Willis Jr.

My address:

Chaplain (CPT) Philip Willis Jr.
HHT 1-126 CAV SQDN
Camp Virginia
APO AE 09327

Watch and Pray, Part 2

2008-04-01T11:02:36Z

We get a little deeper into the concept of sacrificial prayer offerings and intercessory prayer.

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Watch and pray... (part 2)

2008-04-01T10:31:43Z

"And Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him: and Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king on his face upon the ground.

"And Araunah said, Wherefore is my lord the king come to his servant? And David said, To buy the threshingfloor of thee, to build an altar unto the LORD, that the plague may be stayed from the people.

"And Araunah said unto David, Let my lord the king take and offer up what seemeth good unto him: behold, here be oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and other instruments of the oxen for wood. All these things did Araunah, as a king, give unto the king. And Araunah said unto the king, The LORD thy God accept thee.

"And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver." (2 Samuel 24: 20-24, bold accent added)

So we know that prayer as we know it today is the issuance of the temple service. In fact, when Y'shua moved into the temple in the fall of 1844, He began the service as our High Priest, our Rabbi in the order of Melchisidek.

Just as back in the day the blood was sprinkled and the incense was lit, our prayers to the Father through our High Priest are a part of the plan of a particular God.

All prayer is good, given to us from Above, even when we pray the wrong thing or selfishly. The perfect thing about it is that while we pray, the Holy Spirit is working on and in us. The Righteous Redeemer is there to make sense of our requests, so we are free to request them.

I believe with all my heart that the Lord remembers the prayers we make as little children. It is something we see again and again, when the little ones make petition to their Father and receive miraculous response within the bounds of their childhood years. We have also seen how we have prayed, forget our prayers and yet are blessed and led by the Father into answers many years later.

Prayer is a powerful thing and therefore should not be taken lightly. It isn't a chore of religiosity, but a transformative, humbling sacrifice of time, flesh and self-righteousness.

Just as David brought a worthy offering to Hashem at the threshing floor, we are blessed when we come to the Lord with prayer that means something. Of course, sometimes we can pray as we rush from here to there-- in fact, that kind of prayer is vital, in that we should always be in contact with our Redeemer.

Nevertheless, the secret place prayer is the richest, sustaining kind. We cannot rush forever, putting our Lord on the back burner, making Him less important than that extra hour of sleep in the morning or the time clock at work.

Sacrificial prayer is placed before all of us. We will all meet that fleshy challenge when we are required to choose between staying a while with the Lord or running off into our own way-- "overcharged... [by the] cares of this life"(Luke 21:34).

Prayer is sweet life in the making. Earthly explanations can do it no honor. Prayer is free and is constantly associated with the power of the Holy Spirit. In order to receive this power, we have to take it seriously. "A revival need be expected only in answer to prayer. ...We must pray more, and talk less."-- EGWhite, Review and Herald, Mar. 22, 1887

It isn't always easy, but it is most certainly worth the cost!

See this article's podcast companion!

Watch and pray...

2008-03-31T14:00:04Z

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Matthew 26:41)

Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. (Mark 13:33)

Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. (Mark 14:38)

Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. (Luke 21:36)

But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. (1 Peter 4:7)

Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. (Collosians 4:2-4)

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. (Ephesians 8:18-20)

Honestly, I don't think there is anything more important to the Believer than that quiet time (or sometimes not so quiet time) spent in prayer. I mean, Jesus put it better than anyone, telling His friends to 'keep the watch', praying, so that their souls could be strengthened in the same way He had been strengthened; through communion with the Father.

In fact, the record from Luke 21 is even more specific regarding the power this communion affords the worshiper. Jesus is teaching about the end of time and the destruction of the second temple. Although He lists the terrible events which proceed the destruction and ways in which the people can escape it, His main focus seems to shift to the more intangible weightier issues of spiritual safety.

"And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth." (Luke 21:34,35)

The snare of distraction, which is a threat to all of those who dwell on the surface of this planet, is the major destroyer. Self-indulgence, willingly or carelessly giving oneself as a slave to the system of pay/earn (cares of this life) and personal representation, is what gets the folk in the last day. The only thing that combats this is the prayer watch.

I know you've experienced it before, when you find yourself fighting the rising waves of daily life, a heaviness growing in your pit and the growl of the flesh taking precedent over the pleading of the spirit.

The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. The Spirit is willing, but Man is weak.

You see, our gifted spirit cannot carry the burden of repulsing the generational curse without daily and continual contact with the Spirit of origin. Just as the Garden which was planted in the East of Eden included the Tree of Life for Adam and Eve's use, we have continual access to the God of creation for the purposes of being sustained.

It is through and because of prayer that we are able to withstand temptation. Through and because of meaningful interaction with our Father we are able to act from the spirit, in the light of our conversion and not from the weight of the flesh. It is through and because of ceaseless prayer that we are kept in touch with the pulse of time, warned of danger, relieved of Man's true birthright - misery, and delivered from temptation by the Way of escape.

Prayer is our ministry and our method.

Daniel, who was a captive member of Darius' heathen administration, prayed to the Father three times a day. Like many of us, he recognized from whence had come his stamina. His spiritual stamina, his mental acuity, his physical health and all the wide and narrow understandings of his wellbeing came to him as a gift of the Creator. "Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime."(Daniel 6:10)

Even as we read this story, we may flinch a bit at what could be interpreted as methodical service, which in may ways conflicts with the modern view of healthy spirituality. However, his mechanized prayer was not of his invention alone. The order of offerings in the temple called for multiple services each day, a type of our post-Redeemer supplications. We are admonished to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). In Acts 12, when Peter was imprisoned, prayer was made for him without ceasing and triggered one of the most fascinating acts of deliverance in the whole recorded record.

These examples are to be the rule, not its exception.

Prayer brings us to a place where the recommended sobriety and vigilance can be attained, which only comes through the presence of the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit, sober, vigilant people are nothing more than obsessive, depressed and a bit boring. Y'shua was nothing like that, even though He carried the heaviest burden ever known from His very first days.

His peace was the result of continual interaction with the Sustainer. His joy came from the Father of Love and all goodness. He was steady, sure of Himself, His mission and the eventual outcome of His earthly suffering. When met by haSatan, He met the challenge with confidence and an awareness of the will of His Father.

Prayer builds a relationship that allows us to see beyond seeing and live above the constraints of life.

Recently, the Lord answered a question I posed while I was still asking it with one of the texts from above-- "pray without ceasing".

What can we do, when the Omniscient Lord reveals His will to us, but follow?

Today, my prayer for you is that you will find a sustaining prayer life, which will become more to you than a passing joy note. May all our prayer life be enriched by regularity, purposefulness, more prayer for others, more conversational prayer, and more meditative prayer.

An excerpt of Hashem's answer at the dedication of the temple: "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place." (2 Chronicles 7:14,15)

An exclamation of Paul: "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." (2 Corinthians 6:19,20)

Prayer is our offering; the sweet smell coming from our temple. It isn't only for blessing or giving thanks for food, rest or waking. Prayer is a tool of Elohim that draws us closer to Him and turns our feet onto the path of righteousness. Prayer is a soul call to the Creator; a walk through the Garden in the heat of the day. Prayer is an action worth dying for, because it is requested of us by the one Who has given us everything and Who above all seeks to continue the relationship.

It delivers us. It delivers others.

Podcast- Guest: Baxters

2008-03-28T12:28:05Z

Alaina Baxter and Mina Baxter, of "Baxters", the sibling group which brought us Laina Lane. We learn more about their writing style and enjoy the debut of Alaina's new single, My Father...

MY FATHER
by Alaina Baxter, copyright 2008

Chorus:

Sometimes at home it feels like

no one cares

Sometimes at school it feels like

no ones there

But then wait, I remember

My Father

He's been there through the thick and through the thin

My Father (2x)

Verse:

Oh believe me there's been times

I've been at school, in front of other people

And I cried

But then in came my Father

He came and saved his little daughter

He calmed the fire in my heart

-he gave me

-he gave his daughter a new start

Bridge;

God's not dead, he's always been there

He loves me and would never leave me

Chorus:

Sometimes at home it feels like

no one cares

Sometimes at school it feels like

no ones there

But then wait, I remember

My Father

He's been there through the thick and through the thin

My Father ...

Podcast - Guest: Taneka Davis-Johnson

2008-03-27T16:40:27Z

A good friend of mine joins me from afar to discuss some of the joys and challenges of living through distressed times. Also, how efficient the chemistry of the "Body of Christ" is...

...

When you return to Me...

2008-03-25T10:14:22Z

"And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

"And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death."
-- Luke 22:31-33

We all have a breaking point. This is the simple truth, not a convenient excuse to fail, or something to throw into the face of the Creator when it happens. It is just a fact.

Jesus knew about this fact. So much so that He warned about the last days, "except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." (Matthew 24:22, Mark 13:20)

So, it is that we are tested. After minutes, weeks or months of euphorious highs and long journeys in the presence of the Most Divine, we blink and suddenly it seems as if we have wandered off alone. The pain of the discovery is intense as we seek the voice of the Comforter and ponder earnestly each decision to be made. We search ourselves mercilessly, trying to discern the exact moment when we offended Him. Was it this sin, Lord? Was it the failure to move immediately on that?

There is a time when the Messiah endured testing such as this, recorded in Matthew's account. It was just after Jesus visited the great prophet in the wilderness and was baptized. Matthew notes that He was "led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil." (Matthew 4:1) The account says that the Holy Spirit led Him into the wilderness for the purpose of being tempted.

This always bothered me, especially since not too many verses later Adonai points out that it is written that we should not tempt the Lord! I justified it to myself by saying that the plan of redemption made such temptation imperative, but I never truly understood what was happening-- why our Father would see fit to put Y'shua in such peril-- what it meant and would mean to all His followers.

It was during this lonely desert temptation that the Son of Man revealed to us the method by which we can endure these seasons in the void. After haSatan (Heb. the evil one) had watched Him go without food or human companionship for forty days, when He was physically weak and most vulnerable, he slithered in with his "A-game". Y'shua was unscathed, due to His faith in the Most High and His knowledge and dependence on the Word.

Peter was to endure such temptation. It had been requested of the Father, and evidently permission was to be given.

You have to wonder why haSatan would become so interested in only one of the Lord's students. The others would obviously endure temptation and trial, but none of them to the point that Y'shua felt it prudent to give a particular warning.

Peter was a zealot. Passionate, bold, committed and serious, he failed to see how many portions of his soul were left unguarded. Of all the men, he was an easy target. Like many of us, he bore incredible potential to lift up the kingdom of God. He was talented, energetic and honest. And like so many of us, he was riddled with shortcomings.

The dragon knows how easily we can become discouraged. Through the failings he believed he could extract from Peter, he thought he might be able to end his witness and bind him in the grip of the damnation of hopelessness. Hopelessness in itself denies the power of God. In foolishly allowing it, we cut ourselves off from His redemptive efforts, thinking we know more than Y'shua. It is idolatry at its most base, mistakenly placing oneself above God.

The New King James Version (by Thomas Nelson, 1982) puts part b of verse 32 this way, "and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."

I love them both. "When you have returned to Me", "when you are converted" both speak of a time beyond failure! When you come back, when you understand better, when you see by the Light...

Oh, join with me in blessing the Name of the Most High God! Our failure is not the end of the road. We are to learn from our failure. In testing the bridge, we find the weak points-- just as a research scientist discovers more wrong ways to do a thing than right ways!

Not only is Y'shua teaching us how to overcome temptation, but how to recover after having failed. Through the power of Hashem, not only do we learn from practice in perfection, but we learn from our losses. We are stronger no matter what happens, as long as our faith is in the unwavering Redeemer!

Yet, Jesus advises us to pray, "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil..."(Luke 11:4, Matthew 6:13) Too many failures can be demoralizing. Not to mention the flawlessness of the will of the One who perfects us in the first place. We shouldn't challenge Him or bait the devil. We should remember Who He Is.

It is my prayer for you today that the Lord our God, Abba and Teacher, will deliver you from self-deprecation. I pray for you in this hour that Hashem will lift your intellect to Him, that He will redeem you in the midst of your trials and that we will learn what He has already taught.

In the name of the Most Divine...

Bible Talk, Episode 2

2008-03-24T09:40:05Z

"If God knew everything from the beginning to the end, did He make a mistake or did He do it on purpose-- allowing sin to come into Lucifer's heart and then to Earth?"

This is the question we attempt to address during our little half hour of study today. Join us and be blessed!

...

What the Lord Gives Back, Part 2

2008-04-01T10:47:38Z

...humbly prostrated before the feet of Jesus, crying, "Oh my dear Savior! You stripped me of all my well meant dreams and burned my tender heart. You peeled back the layers of what seemed to be Your divine plan and hoisted me from my fervent efforts. What is left for me? What is between me and You?"

Most people do not understand the sufferings of others. We try our best to empathize by drawing from somewhat similar personal experiences, but often find only disappointment at the quick visit to the inner passions hub. It is empty, or desperately lacking, when it comes to our buddies'' unfamiliar trials.

Many years ago a very loved friend of mine was allowed to be taken by a very painful, debilitating chronic condition. I truly did the best I could to support her, comfort her, be there for her. I even began a journey of research that lasted for years. Accessibility, which was always an important issue to me, became even more relevant, as I tried to bring her information which could keep her 'on her feet'.

Sometimes, though, it was obvious that I just didn't get it. She was gracious, but ever so often, I could see a pained or frustrated look on her face because of something I had said, done, or left undone. I didn't have a clue how to remedy this.

Not too many years later, the Lord led me into the most agonizing leg of our journey I had yet met. Day after day, I enjoyed revelation upon revelation, regarding the true nature of my friend's suffering. Then, I learned a little more about how to be grateful.

Perfection in timing, spirit, implementation and purpose -- all characteristics of the Lord's will. However, this can pose quite a problem for the Believer. We do not know everything. In fact, sometimes it feels as if we are only groping in darkness.

When the Lord comes to drop a burning coal on our lips, have us swallow something bitter, bless us with a bum hip, a troubling message, an early death or even a stint in prison the best thing for us to do is nothing.

Seriously. I mean, take the example of the martial arts student in some ancient fighting country. This guy is just a student. He feels leagues lower than his teacher and lo and behold, here come a troop of angry karate guys!

What is he gonna do? If he starts swinging, he only opens himself up to more attack options. If he runs, he's probably going to get caught anyway. What happens if he sounds the alarm? "Maaaaaaster!" He screeches, in his crackly little voice.

Lo and behold (again), help is on the way! What if this other guy has been with his master a little longer than the first novice. What if he positions himself and scrolls through his memory for the voice of the one who leads him, giving him guidance as to how to move? What if this story was about us and the master was The Master, the voice in his head was the Holy Spirit, and the angry troop was a legion of fallen angels mixed with some misguided humans?

How do you think that would work?

Oh, the best place to be in the world is helpless under the wings of Elohim! How freeing it is to know that there is nothing left for us to do.

"This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

"The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. ...For the LORD will not cast off for ever: But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies." (Lamentations 3:21-25, 31-32)

This good word is coming from the perspective of one who knew the struggle was due to turning away from the Lord. How much more will the Lord champion the righteous?

We need to wait.

What the Lord Gives Back

2008-03-31T14:12:10Z

"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. " (Isaiah 64:6)

We are nothing. No, I don't mean that we are worthless. The truth is quite the contrary, in fact. We have value that is inestimable.

You can describe it easily by making a market metaphor. When someone spends a great deal of money on some piece of art or new fangled product, the rest of world stands in awe, the price of all other items similar usually skyrockets and the market is fed. It's the simple law of supply and demand.

Well, you're aware that some time ago a very wealthy Merchant came to our region and dispensed more than has ever been spent for anything in order to only have the opportunity to dwell with us. So... yes, we are invaluable.

Nevertheless, we are nothing. We are silly, futile, misguided, wretched, poor, blind and naked. (Shall I go on?) Thus, the purchase of Love is even more amazing. Love designed a creature who would be capable of a level of achievement we cannot fathom. "A little lower than the angels" we were made, with the design that we would grub at the table of wisdom and grow.

Ah... growth. How eagerly I have pursued it! How often have I thought that the pleasure of the Creator would be something the created could grasp. How often did I believe that I could, with my effort and my good works, cause the implementation of His masterful plans?

One of my favorite Psalms is number 19, especially where David notes: "Who can understand his errors? Cleanse Thou me from secret faults."(v12) It is no mistake that this interjection comes on the heels of several verses praising the law. Oh, yes, it is perfect, right, pure, clean, and true. The Word of the Lord converts, increases wisdom, brings joy, and enlightenment.

But WE... have started from a long ways back. We can never catch the will of God and hold it, maybe squeezing out a little GodWill juice to rub into our 5 year plan. All our goodness, our flawless perfection, our good intentions and/or calmly borne suffering, is nothing but filthy rags. We sin without even knowing it, before we can stop ourselves, or when we just can't take it anymore.

So, this inconstant cannot divine Constancy. This mortal cannot consort with Immortality.

My friend Job seemed pretty sure his role in this world was to be a clean example, serving God, praying for his family and friends and just plain staying out of trouble until the Good One brought him to his end. I have to admit that this appears reasonable. In the light of Job's goodness, I would even say it wasn't too much to ask of God.

Yet, Job was wrong. The Merciful Love had a bigger mission for his life. Job could not have imagined how important it was.

When we find ourselves humbly prostrated before the feet of Jesus, crying, "Oh my dear Savior! You stripped me of all my well meant dreams and burned my tender heart. You peeled back the layers of what seemed to be Your divine plan and hoisted me from my fervent efforts. What is left for me? What is between me and You?", may it be that the King of the Universe with raise us up quickly. The mirror we carry is a stumbling block. We can neither succeed by looking at our current righteousness or reflecting on any point in the past.

We cannot stare into the law, further defining, self-adjusting, shifting, constantly nervous about the God of justice. (For even if we do, we do not understand His ways... Check out Isaiah 30:18-22)

We must be still.

No matter what is taken, it is insignificant according to the fruit--the perfection of His harvest. What He gives back is the stuff of supernatural transformations, super-rich constellation matter, timelessness and majesty!

My mind can only go so far, but Elohim is without limit. If I can cause my flesh to lounge in Him, then I have bested every dream and accessed every mission.

"O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

"When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

"Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.

"O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!"(Psalm 8)

Who taught you how to overcome temptation?

2008-03-19T10:38:33Z

The following is an excerpt from "Shoulder Mountain" by Rebekah Willis

Jesus was very careful to speak the word into every challenge. By His example, we know that the scriptures give answer to every question – especially showing us the will of God when the deceiver is about.

As dedicated followers of Christ, knowing that we must pattern our lives after His example, “it is written,” are the first words that should come from our hearts when tried. “The Bible says,” is just as effective.

There is a certain power in meeting temptation with truths from the word of God. The Psalmist sings, “I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”(Psalm 119:8-11)

It is the Word that strengthens the experienced, repentant sinner in the path of righteousness. It is through the Word that we are able to build the house of holy visualization and step into the one built by the hand of God.

There is no good thing in Man. It is the Word that levels the rough places, brightens the mind and opens the eyes to salvation. Without the Word, we are lost, for “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17)

Not only is the word of God our guidebook, but the Word is Y'Shua.

The Word, is the testimony of the will of the Father. Long before the creation of our world, the Word was. Serving as the wonderful Michael, the Word was the one and only representative of God. When the Word spoke, all knew that the Father’s desires were expressed. The Word stood in the image of the created beings with which He held communication, showing His love and confirming the deep understanding held by the Godhead of all His creations. They call it infinite wisdom for a reason.

So the “Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”(John 1:14) God’s Son said many times during His walk in Israel, “he that hath seen Me hath seen the Father”.(John14:9) He points out the intricacies of the Holy relation and the resemblance between Father and Son.

So it is today. When we pick up the Word, we pick up the sanctified mystery of the Holy Spirit, the inspiration, dictation and visions of the Messiah and the God of all creation. Contact with such power, wisdom and love directly affects the workings of the heart and mind. Thereby, the ‘young man cleanse[s] his way’.

It’s a question of miracles.

But how does that explain the power of using the word against temptation? Simple. Jesus is the Word. Sin cannot abide where He is; not in your heart, not in your home, not anywhere.

As for the ones who let you call them friend...

2008-03-19T10:45:52Z

"And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses' father in law, We are journeying unto the place of which the LORD said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the LORD hath spoken good concerning Israel.

"And he said unto him, I will not go; but I will depart to mine own land, and to my kindred.

"And he said, Leave us not, I pray thee; forasmuch as thou knowest how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and thou mayest be to us instead of eyes. And it shall be, if thou go with us, yea, it shall be, that what goodness the LORD shall do unto us, the same will we do unto thee."
Numbers 10:29-32

Nobody likes a wilderness journey. It's hot -- in fact, the temperature is an experiment in the extreme, often freezing, often scorching. There isn't much water, there are weird bugs and no shade or comforting beauty to speak of.

Yet, we are all destined to spend some time out there and doubtless, we will need our own 'Hobab'.

Hobab was Moses' father-in-law and was familiar with the wilderness. He was not invested in the hope of the children of Israel one way or another and would just as well have let them on their way, while he repared to the comforts of his home and family.

While Y'shua HaMashiach (Jesus the Messiah) was in the wilderness, His holy Father's gift -The Word, served as His 'Hobab'. Each time He was tempted, when He needed comfort, encouragement and strength, He deferred to the word, instead of relying on His human vision.

When the senior we spoke of in the last post was in her personal wilderness, her 'Hobab' (her roommate) failed her, by joining her in weakness. Job's 'Hobabs' (his wife and three 'friends')failed him, too.

When we cannot see clearly, whether we are in unfamiliar territory or being led out into the wilderness by our Father, where will we find our 'Hobab'? Sometimes, Jesus Himself serves us, allowing every other ground to fall away. Sometimes, He prepares others to serve us, giving them words of encouragement, guidance and hope.

Wherever we find him, he is blessed. In the same way the Lord caught Job's 'friends' and commanded them to repent for their misrepresentation of His will when Job needed just the opposite, He will catch the righteous Hobabs and do good to them. The children of Hobab lived to receive this promise, because the Lord said He would "bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee..." (Genesis 12:3a)

Someone you know is suffering a long journey. If we endure, the Creator has promised great reward. As the 'Body' we are called to love each other enough to see the vision when the eyes fail. My prayer today is that the Lord will make us 'Hobab' according to His perfect will.

By Faith... Not By Sight

2008-03-19T10:46:08Z

Things are not always what they seem.

"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."
Hebrews 13:5-6 kjv

A friend of mine, who happens to be a little older than 89, lives in what I consider to be a lovely senior care home not too far from where I live. She doesn't have any family in the region, so sometimes we find things to do together. I make sure she gets to services each Sabbath, take her shopping, etc.

Well, one windy afternoon we had just returned from a nutrition luncheon and were slowly making our way up to her door, when a nurse who works at the facility knocked on the side door and motioned for us to enter through there instead of the front door.

Thinking nothing of it, I smiled and we made our way. When we got close enough, I moved ahead a little and tried to push open the door, but it seemed much harder to do than normal. When I looked up, I was surprised to see the nurse in full struggle with one of the other women living in this very comfortable home. She yelled, "Come over here and help me!"

When I pushed through the door the older woman, who towered over the nurse by a foot and a half, backed around the corner and leaned on the wall. I stood in front of her and smiled, "How ya doin?", while the nurse rushed my friend through the door and back to her room. My friend likes to scold, and I could hear the panting nurse tell her, "I don't have time for fussing, now."

I watched the woman. I had seen her on other occasions, usually watching television or waiting in the cozy kitchen nook for a meal. This time she was clearly agitated. She leaned in.

"I'm a prisoner here. They won't let me out."

"You are?" I responded. "Why do you say that?"

She proceeded to tell me about her beautiful home and family and how she had come to visit and been trapped. Another woman approached us, volunteering that indeed, the woman had come to visit her and had been subsequently held against her will. I motioned for us to move into the living room.

"You know..." I ventured slowly. "Sometimes, when we get a little older, we can make a little move and forget all about it. I'll bet if we go in this room we'll find some of your things."

"I'm not stupid." The lady said. Now, she needn't have said that. I was well aware that what was happening had nothing to do with stupidity.

You have to understand. This lady is 80 years old. She served in the military for 31 years, mostly Air Force, but she also spent two years in the army. She knows her stuff and is sometimes sharp as a whip.

Today, she wakes up in unfamiliar territory. Someone she has a bad feeling about is telling her what to do and everywhere she looks there are crabby old people. Her roommate knows that she is being held captive. On other days, she has tried to help her escape through the windows. She confesses that she clearly remembers the day she came to visit and was never allowed to leave. All the doors are bolted with a key.

I ask about her family, if she knows any numbers for them. I suggest she call her daughter and see what she says. The nurse makes the call, explains the situation and then hands over the phone.

"Come get me." The call does not go well. "Even my own daughter has turned against me!" She huffs.

After checking that the nurse would be ok, I finally left. I mentioned to my friend that she should be careful to pray before leaving her room in the mornings. She's got a clear mind, but a frail body and a hankering to calm the raging soul. I suggested she tell the other lady the story of Joseph.

You see, although the family of this woman had placed her in quality care for her own protection, she felt the restriction more than anything. When asked, she had nothing really negative to say about the home, only that it wasn't her own and not where she wanted to be. To her, the love and protection she was receiving manifested as misery. She didn't know where she was going, she only wanted to get out.

This incident runs parallel to many a spiritual journey.

How often does our Father lead us into a tight place in order to protect us and all we do is struggle and complain? How often have we demanded He come and deliver us, only to be told to endure? Sometimes the constriction is painful, but can't we see how pleasant the environment is? How He has surrounded us with care, satisfied our needs and sent a Comforter?

Compliment the Savior and all His perfect will. No matter what the situation, how unfair it may seem, how dark the outcome, how painful the suffering, the Lord is righteous. When we embrace this truth, the Holy Spirit turns our captivity into joy. Never are we alone.

He is not killing us. He is bringing us to life!

What she said...

2008-03-19T10:42:56Z

If you were to make a search of the word 'prayer' at whiteestate.org, you're likely to find nearly 5000 hits.

Here's a sample:

"There are precious promises in the Scriptures to those who wait upon the Lord. We all desire an immediate answer to our prayers, and we are tempted to become discouraged if our prayer is not immediately answered. Now my experience has taught me that this is a great mistake. The delay is for our special benefit. Our faith has a chance to be tested to see whether it is true, sincere, or changeable like the waves of the sea. We must bind ourselves upon the altar with the strong cords of faith and love, and let patience have her perfect work. Faith strengthens through continual exercise. {OHC 134.2}"

I know you've heard the song which laments, "way down yonder by myself... couldn't hear nobody pray". Well, I guess I'm one of those folks out there who can actually feel a prayer. I mean, I can literally tell the difference between the moments before the petition is made and the moments after.

Most recently, I was blessed to pray with someone I didn't even know. The morning I was having, could be described as a mixture between stout courage and faith, but I had been hit by unwarranted cruelty and needed someone to speak to the Father on my behalf.

I told her, "Please pray that I don't carry this sorrow with me all day!" She prayed in agreement with me, and by the end of the day, I found myself laughing.

Sometimes when we pray, we cannot see the results. Sometimes our prayers in themselves are all the growth we need. Our Creator knows all our needs even before we make a request. He sees beyond our words, our posture, our passion and designs the perfect path for our feet.

When we arise from prayer, we can do so knowing not only that we have been heard, but that the impeccable will of the Father is in action. Any "delay is for our special benefit".

This is reason for hope. We may not always feel a 'yes' answer, distinctive closeness, or see things change, but we should always remind ourselves and each other that the One who is the King of all Creation is perfect in character, righteous in judgement, merciful beyond understanding and the very definition of Love.