Torah Portion: Noach

This Torah Portion (Noach) is just full of nuggets of "amazing-ness"!!!

I found a new Bible study tool and it is amazing too. You can find it at theWord.net. After you download it, if you click on 'NET' above the center box, it allows you to just hover your mouse over the word in scripture and you can see the Strong's number, word and definition. As I said, it is amazing and makes studying scripture so much easier! 

Here are my notes from the Noach...

Parsha Noach ~ Gen. 6:9-11:32

Haftarah: Isaiah 66:1-24

Brit Hadashah: Matt 24:36-46; 1 Peter 3:18-22; Heb 11:7

11/5/16:

Discussion Notes:

·         1 Peter 3:18 ~

o   v. 19 – spirits in prison (blinded Israelites)

o   v. 20 – through water

·         Noah – means rest

o   But, eventually, it will be Israel that brings rest.

·         Noah –

o   Just, perfect in his generations (his family) – walked with Yah

o   Col. 1:1(?) Heb. 7:11?

·         One of all the clean animals (from Noah) preserves our life today. (Sacrifices of Noah)

·         Isa. 41 – 49 ~ Read to understand covenant w/ Israel.

·         Eph. 2:18 – “grafted in”

·         Mary thought Yeshua was the gardener when she saw him after the resurrection. Brad Scott   believes that Yeshua was a gardener.

o   John 20:15 – “…Because she thought he was the gardener…”

§  Gardener > G2780 kepouros (kee-pou-ros') n. a garden-keeper, i.e. gardener. [from G2779 and ouros (a warden)]

o   Mark 6:3 – carpenter (#G5045 – tekton - plotter – gardener?)

§  “Is this not the carpenter’s son…”

·         Rev. 6:2 – first seal opened…rider has a bow (rainbow? Rainbow destroyed?)

o   Indigo is missing from gay pride rainbow…leaving even number (6)…number of the beast (& man)

§  Must leave nefesh behind….conquer it!

10/21/17 & 10/13/18:

·         Gen. 7:10 ~ they were “sealed” for 7 days before rains.

·         Gen. 9:25 ~ Canaan cursed by Noah.

·         Ark events…

o   Gen. 7:11 ~ 600^th year of Noah’s life…2^nd month (Cheshvan), 17^th day = rains and floods

o   Gen. 8:4 ~ 17^th day of the 7^th month (Nisan) = Ark came to rest on Ararat.

o   Gen. 8:14 ~ 27^th day of the 2^nd month (Cheshvan) = the earth was dry.

o   In the ark for a little more than a year.

§  Gen. 7:24 > “The waters prevailed over the earth for 150 days.”

o   Similarity to the millennial kingdom?

·         Animals were killed too…they were doing wrong.

o   Gen. 6:12 > “…for all living creatures on the earth were sinful.”

§  Sinful = H7843 שָׁחַת shachath (shaw-chath') v. 1. to decay. 2. to rot or corrode.

·         Root: H1870 דֶּרֶךְ derek (deh'-rek) n-m. 1. a road (as trodden). 2. (figuratively) a course of life or mode of action, often adverb.

§  Man (and Beast) departed from THE WAY  !!!

·         Heb. 11:7 > Noah had holy fear…

o   “…with reverent regard…” G2125 εὐλαβέομαι eulabeomai (ev-la-ɓe'-o-mai) v. 1. to be circumspect. 2. (by implication) to be apprehensive. 3. (religiously) to reverence. KJV: (moved with) fear

·         Shem > Yeshua came from his lineage (Abraham).

·         Gen. 6:16 > “Make a window [H6672 צֹהַר tsohar (tso'-har) n-f. a light {Root is #6671 ‘tsahar’ – meaning to glisten} (i.e. window): dual double light, i.e. noon] for the ark and finish it to within a cubit [H520 אַמָּה 'ammah (am-maw') n-f. 1. (properly) a mother. 2. (unit of measure) the fore-arm (below the elbow). 3. a cubit. 4. (also) a door-base (as a bond of the entrance] from the top.”

o   Literally…To make a light for the box to complete it to a mother above.

o   From Bill Cloud…Suggests something that makes a “circle of light.”

§  It is ambiguous as to what this was exactly; legend says a “precious stone.”

§  It supposedly illuminated the entire ark; according to Midrash:

·         “During the entire twelve months that Noah was in the ark he did not require the light of the sun by day or the light of the moon by night, but he had a polished gem which he hung up: when it as dim he knew that it was day, and when it shone he knew it was night.”

o   Interesting… Prophetic? Yeshua as our precious corner stone…“Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious.” – 1 Peter 2:4

o   And…“And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. . . . The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.” - Rev 21:10-11, 23

o

·         Left Behind > We DO  want to be left behind!!

o   Matt. 24:37-39…”As in the days of Noah…”

§  Noah (& his family) were ‘sealed’, ‘covered’ and…Left behind…while everyone else was taken.

·         Fire and brimstone fell on the people of Sodom...Lot and his family were spared (left behind) while everyone else were taken in judgement.

§  Luke 17:37 > “Where [will they be taken], Master?” He answered, “Where the body is, there also the vultures will be gathered”.

·         The corpses of those taken away will be food for the birds.

Genesis again...Parsha Bereshit!

It is so exciting to start our Torah cycle again each year!  Yahweh shows me so many new things, intricate details that I haven't noticed before. I have been keeping notes on the readings for the last few years. I add to, change and add more each year. I dearly love my study time...time with Yah and His word! Here are my notes for Bereshit...

Parsha Bereshit ~ Gen 1:1 – 6:8

Haftarah: Isaiah 42:5 – 43:11

Brit Chadashah: John 1:1-14; Col. 1:15-17

10/29/16 ~ Bereishit Genesis 1:1 – 6.8 ; Isaiah 42:5 – 43:10

• Relationship between man and the garden.

o   Vegetation dependent on rain for growth (& man?)

• Parsh - a – (paragraph) to separate and spread out; to divide out / to consume (in taking of the word of Yah)
• Sidra – he who stands at the door
• After Adam ate the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge…when Yah called for him…Adam HID himself, trying to become invisible. To try and make himself…naught.
• After ALL that Adam / Eve did…Yah embraced  man. Punishment, yes, but Yah clothed man and, even in the face of man’s disobedience, Yah made sure that man knew he would not be alone.
• Point of Bereishit…just to believe in Yah. Belief that He created me…and re-created  me.  Our year is new now because we begin the Torah cycle again, NOT that we begin the Torah cycle again b/c it’s a new year.

10/14/17 ~

• Deut. 31:10-13 ~ At the end of every 7 years (at Feast of Tabernacles), read the Torah in everyone’s hearing.

o   Year – Not the same as in Hebraic thinking…Aviv begins the year.

o   3 Great Feasts are seen as a YEAR, also.

§  Shena - End means to change over or repeat (as in starting the Torah cycle again).

• All patterns set in the beginning of Genesis, which repeats throughout the Bible.

o   Seth replaces Abel, NOT Cain.

o   Man began…corruption began.

Isaiah 42:5 – 43:11 ~

• Haftarah – means to open up / release.  Have the seed from Genesis (and now will see the opening up of the seed).
• Isaiah 42:1-4  ~ Picture of the Mashiach.
• Create, Light, Called forth, Spread forth…  Breath, Spirit

Discussion:

• Comparison of Adam/Eve & Cain: (Which was the GREATER sin? Sin against God or Sin against Brother?)

o   Adam & Eve:

§  NOT cursed! (Serpent WAS cursed!! – Gen 3:14)

§  Had a consequence…cursed is the ground, etc. (Gen 3:17)

§  Hid from Yah’s presence

§  Yah covered them!!!  (Gen 3:21)

o   Cain:

§  WAS cursed!! (Gen 4:11)

§  Murderer (against Brother)!

§  Left Yah’s presence (Gen 4:16)

·         Was HIDDEN from Yah (Gen 4:14)

• Adam’s sin…

o   First sin…sin of OMISSION (failure to do something…) – didn’t guard the House (Beit).

§  Yah told him to guard the garden (House).

§  Failed to cover his wife.

§  Failed to guard the House ~

o   Gen. 3:7 ~ Interesting!  After they BOTH had eaten of the fruit, we are told their eyes were opened.

§  I think this is confirmation that Adam could have ‘covered’ Eve’s sin before Yah, with a very different outcome!

• Gen. 2:18 ~ ‘helper’ - # 5828 – ezer; ‘for him’ - # 5048 – in front of him (looking at him to see what is at his back)
•  Shabbat (Gen 2:3 & Job 1:6)

o   First thing Yah made HOLY!

10/6/18:

From FFOZ…

·         Tz’enah Ur’enah says, “Man was created on the sixth day, for within six thousand years the Messiah will come.” The book of Hebrews compares the age to come to the Sabbath and speaks of the Sabbath as a foretaste of final salvation and the Messianic Era. The book of Revelation speaks of a coming millennium of peace—a thousand-year reign of Messiah during which the adversary is bound in chains. The Apostle Peter reminds us that “with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day” (2 Peter 3:8).

o   Why doesn’t it say in regard to the Sabbath “and there was evening and there was morning” like it does for the other days? Because the Sabbath alludes to the world to come, and it is called the day that is completely Shabbat, and there is no night. (MinchahBelulah)

Do I "work iniquity"?

"Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we no prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils; and in thy name done may wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Matthew 7:21-23

YHVH (God) brought these verses to mind this morning. As I was reading them, so many things jumped out at me. I used to be startled when I read these verses...maybe, concerned would be a better word for how I felt. It can be easy to read Yeshua's words here, gloss over them and think "Yep, I'm good." But, what if I don't gloss over them? What if I look deeper into His words? Well, I should always look deeper into His word. YHVH did not give me His word for me to read it like a novel I pick up for enjoyment. Of course, I can find peace and enjoyment in His word, but was that His only purpose?  Absolutely not!

So, as I delve deeper into understanding these verses, I could (as many people should) have trepidation over His words here. Do you?

First, I looked up the word 'will' from verse 21 in Strong's Concordance.  Here's what I found...
   
will (G2307) = θα

• will, desire
• of what YHVH wishes to be done by us (commands, precepts)

I think we can all agree that YHVH wants us to follow His commands and precepts. But, what exactly does that mean? Let me look further into the verses to find out.

Looking at verse 23, I see the word 'iniquity'.  What does "ye that work iniquity" mean?  Again, I went to Strong's Concordance.

iniquity (G458) = ἀνομία

• transgression of the law
• the condition of without law
• because ignorant of the way
• because of violating it
• contempt and violation of law

So, if I use these definition's within the scriptures, verse 21 says, "Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will [what YHVH wishes to be done of me ~ following His commands and precepts] of my Father which is in heaven. And, verse 23 says, "And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity [transgression of the law ~ contempt and violation of law]."

This tells me that I need to actually follow His law. That there will be those that violate (transgress) His law and He will tell them that He doesn't know them.  So, thinking further...  He tells us that there will be those that think they are His people that are not doing His will.  And, what is His will? His will is for us to follow Him and not for us to "work iniquity", for us to follow His law and not violate it.

I am so very thankful that there is no "grey" anymore in His will.  I know His will. His will is for me to follow His Torah.  Have you read His Torah? Have you read the laws (instructions) that most Christian's say are "nailed to the cross"?  His love for us, which is so beautiful, shines through as I read them! I am so very, very blessed that the "grey" is gone!

Now, does this mean that I follow His Torah (instructions) perfectly?  Of course not!  Only Yeshua (Jesus) did that.  But, do I attempt to follow it?  Oh yes, I certainly do. But, through Yeshua's grace, I am forgiven when I fail. 

May your day be blessed! Shalom!

His face (panim)...

Exodus 33:18 “And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.”

 I think about Moses compared to Adam and Eve.  Unlike them, Moses is a man that is doing the will of his Father, yet is leading a people that are stiff-necked and have turned away from YHVH.  Due to their sins (sins of the people), YHVH’s panim (face) is turned away from Moses.  This obviously foreshadows Yeshua and the cross.  As I compare these two situations, I wonder at the magnitude of pain that is felt by both Moses and Yeshua…both suffering for the sins of a people, both at that moment being rejected by YHVH.  I can’t comprehend the pain.  I can’t feel the over-whelming sense of despair that they felt as His panim was turned away.  I think about the comfort I find in Him (as one who hasn’t seen His panim), the solace I find in His arms, and then I imagine His turning away.  The vast sea of rejection, the falling from His arms…  Desolate, abandoned, forsaken…    I don’t bask in His presence enough.  I don’t appreciate His loving presence enough.  I don’t feel the magnitude of Yeshua’s sacrifice enough.  I should feel it every moment of every day.  I should thank YHVH every moment for His grace and mercy…that I have felt, and still feel, the freedom to worship Him…in the open, during the day when the sun can shine on my face.  So many people in our world today do not have the blessing of freedom of worship.  My prayers are not with them often enough. 

I am humbled today, humbled by YHVH’s love for me. 

Thank You, Father…for it…all.  Thank You for the Bible that I have studied this morning.  Thank You for time with You.  My thoughts and prayers are with all of your people today that aren’t blessed with freedom…the freedom that knowing You brings and the freedom to worship You after they have found You. 

Are we a set-apart people? Really?

"For how else is it to be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people, other than by your going with us? That is what distinguishes us, me and your people, from all the other peoples on earth.” Exodus 33:16 

Are we really a set-apart people? Do we, as a people, mingle the Holy with the profane?

I already felt YHVH's leading on how very, very important the golden calf incident was and the correlation to today.  Everything that went on then was mixing and mingling...of the Holy and the profane. They took something they knew (that was pagan in origin) and mixed it with Him.  Exodus 32:5-6 says, “And when Aaron saw it, he built an alter before it (golden calf); and Aaron made proclamation, and said, Tomorrow is a feast to YHVH.  And they rose up early on the morrow and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings…”  They did all this (using the culture that they grew up with) for YHVH…not to worship another god.  No, they mixed the profane (pagan) with the Holy.  And, what did YHVH say?  Exodus32:8-10 says, “They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy might ones, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.  And, YHVH said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiffnecked people.  Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.”

 The turning away from Moses (and His Torah) was the basis of the mixing and mingling. I am in awe of how YHVH shows us the exact path we are to follow (narrow is the gate – Matt. 7:14) and then shows us how His people moved away from it (for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction – Matt. 7:13). He showed us exactly what (and how) we are to live. But, even today there are many "golden calves" in Christianity and few see the correlation. I realize that even then (in Exodus) that they didn't realize that there was anything wrong with their worship, anything wrong with the mixing and mingling. After Moses came down from the mountain, did they really understand and believe that Moses was right and that they had really done anything wrong? Or, did they think "it's what's in my heart" that matters?  (“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9)  

History repeats itself…again and again.  We must test everything we see and hear against His word and His truth!

I am completely and totally in love with YHVH!!!! And, I am so very thankful that He loved me first!

Bible in 90 Days: Day 6 - 9

Oh boy!  The end of Exodus and Leviticus are difficult reads for me. I seem to get bogged down in all the laws. I can’t even imagine how the Israelites felt as Moses explained it all to them. I felt as though, as I read them, that I would have been doomed before I even started. But, as I continued to read through them, I began to see them not so much as laws but as ways that God was helping them to be healthy and stay safe.

I mean, who doesn’t want God to keep them healthy? I never realized how totally involved God was with His people. Of course, it’s easy to believe that He’s interested in the state of our soul.  But, well…what about our house?  Is there mildew in our house?  What about mildew on our clothing?  Is He interested in that?  Yep!!  He is!! In Leviticus 13:47-59, He gives guidelines on mildew in clothing and then in Lev. 14:33-53 He speaks about mildew in a home.  WOW!!  God cared about the Israelites.  He cared about their health.  He cared about the details in their life.

So…that means He cares about not just my soul but the details of my life too. Yes!!!  "A personal relationship with Christ"…what a catch phrase.  One that people don’t really think about sometimes.  These chapters that I’ve been reading have given me new insight into God and how He is interested in ME, all of me and everything that has to do with me.  Maybe even some mildew!

Praying that everyone digs deep into God’s Word today and finds something new!

Return to Day 3: Jacob and his limp

Yes, I know. We’re actually on Day 9 but I just have to stop for a moment and re-visit Day 3.

Back to Jacob. Jacob wrestled with God in Genesis 32:24. What would be the consequences for wrestling with God? What would be the benefits for wrestling with God? Well, Jacob got a new name…Israel “because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome”. Gen. 32:28 But, that is not all he got. Jacob, or Israel, went away from that night with a limp.

Do I want to wrestle with God? Off the top of my head, I would have to say No! I want a joyful, peaceful, uplifting time with my Lord. But, is that all God has for me? I don’t think so. For me to only desire a “joyful, peaceful, uplifting” time with God, that is like saying to God…I only want a piece of You…a piece of a relationship with You. I don’t really want to know You or understand You, not really. I only want to know the pretty part of You.

It is scary to want to wrestle with God. It is scary to want to really know God. Because I might walk away with a limp…different…not quite whole, by worldly standards. I am afraid. Oh, it’s easy to say “I want to know God and I want a personal relationship with Him”. But, I know that our relationship takes on a truly new dimension when I walk through those valleys.  It is the valleys that give my relationship with Him a deeper understanding, a deeper commitment. But, valleys are HARD!!!  They are scary!!

Sometimes I think about my worst fear and I wonder if God would have me walk in that valley…the loss of a child. Oh Lord, how I pray not.  Or the loss of my husband or a parent. Lord, please no.  There are SO many other women to whom this valley is so very real.  I have witnessed the Lord’s grace in their life. They walk with a horrible limp but I wonder if they realize how very beautiful they are to others? To me? How God’s very own light shines so beautifully from their soul, do they realize?

I want to want to wrestle with God. I feel unworthy. I feel insecure. But, I do know one thing. I am delving into God’s Word.  “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God” (Psa. 42:1) is the perfect verse that represents how I feel. God’s Word is the stream from which I drink and the Bible in 90 Days is helping to fulfill this need.

The Bible in 90 Days has helped me to literally walk around all day with my Bible in immediate reach. Even though I love reading the Bible, I am surprised that I don’t want to stop reading when that day’s reading is complete. I can’t seem to put it down. God is amazing!!!!!

Will I one day walk with some sort of limp? I don’t know.  But, God knows.  I do know that He will see me through whatever valleys are in my path. He will carry me when I cannot walk. He will always be there with me.

Bible in 90 Days

I have joined a group at Mom’s Toolbox.  It is a group of around 900 people that have joined and committed to read the whole Bible in 90 days.  I got The Bible In 90 Days from Zondervan (NIV) and it’s already set up for each day.  If you are interested, check out http://www.momstoolbox.com/ and http://www.biblein90days.org/ for more infomation.  I am going to try to blog here often with thoughts on my reading and how it’s going.  

And, yes…I really will try and keep caught up with this blogging thing.  It is really hard though, life is SO busy!  LOL!!

Bible in 90 Days: Day 5

Scripture: Exdous Ch. 1 -15

Moses…his is such a well-loved story. One that most every Sunday School child knows by heart, has colored pretty pictures of, and has seen the story images placed on a felt board.

But, this isn’t an easy “story”. The historical transcript from God’s Word is fraught with disparaging images and truths. Moses is someone to whom most of us can relate. No, obviously not his birth and trip down the river in his tar covered basket. No, definitely not his early life in the Pharaoh’s household. No, not even his life as he fled to Midian, leaving everything and everyone he has ever known. No, certainly NOT when God spoke to him from the burning bush. WOW!! No, it is hard to relate to these histories. But, we CAN relate to Moses as God called him to serve Him. God calls each of us individually and personally to serve Him!!!!!!!  How many of us, as Moses did, ask “Who am I” to do _____???  I do not think that God calls us for something easy.  No, I know we aren’t called to lead the Israelites out of Egypt but I think that we each have our own insecurities to overcome in order to fulfill God’s calling.  How often have I thought, “Oh NO not me, I can’t/don’t want to do that!”  How easy is it to sit in the pew and let someone else sing in the choir, be an usher, teach Sunday School or teach Awanas, be on the visiting committee, or fulfill some other area of need at the church/in the community?  I can tell you IT IS EASY to watch others fulfill those needs.  It is NOT easy to stand up and fill those needs myself.

Answering God’s call for our life…  It takes a listening heart.  It takes commitment.  Dedication.  Time. Skill. More commitment. More dedication. More time. More skill. It takes MORE than I have!!!!!!!!! It takes MORE than you have!!!!!!!!! I CANNOT do it!!!!!!!! That’s what Moses thought. That’s what I think. That’s what Moses knew. That’s what I know….

But, God told Moses, “I will be with you…” Exodus 3:12 (NIV)  I’ve seen church signs with a thought that I think is true.  God doesn’t call the qualified, he qualifies the called.  I think many times that God calls us to serve in areas that leave us feeling insecure. God wants an humble servant. One that looks to Him for strength and security, not within ourselves or through our own knowledge or strength.   If He called us to service only in areas or things that we are “good” at, then would we really rely on Him completely? Probably not.

Beth Moore has said before that she doesn’t like to speak in front of large crowds.  It makes her nervous and she just doesn’t like it. What??????  She teaches millions of women every year, huge crowds of women all the time.  Wow!!  I never would have thought that she didn’t like it!  She seems so secure.  Oh but wait…it’s security through God and dependence on Him that allows her to do what she has been called to do.  Of course I don’t think that God has called us all to be like Beth Moore. LOL!
But, He HAS called each of us!!!  Am I following God’s will for my life?  Am I using His strength to serve Him in the area he has called me to?  Am I sitting in the pew thinking that “I can’t do that” or that God has called OTHERS with more talent to serve in those areas?   No, I hope not.  No, I pray that isn’t the case.
I pray that, like Moses, I am serving God in the way He intends even if I feel as Moses did…”Who am I…” to do this!!!!  I feel unworthy.  I feel like He could do so much better.  But, I trust Him and want His will for my life!!!!!

Moses was amazing only because he allowed God to use him so wonderfully.  God is true and good and faithful!!!!!!!!!

I am really enjoying my time in the Word each day.  Thanking the Lord for Mom’s Toolbox and The Bible in 90 Days.  I pray that each of you are finding time for Him daily, maybe even moment to moment!!!    May God bless you today as you do His will!!!!!!

Joyful…no, peaceful…no, kindness…no…then WHAT???

Today…

Today….

I am called today to joyful, peaceful, kind, patient, gentle and to have self-control.  Wow!!  That is a TALL order.

Paul tells me in Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”  Hmmm…what fruit do I (or others) see in my life…daily, moment by moment?  Those moments, like this morning, when my children are being noisy and I need them to be quiet.  Or, when my precious 9 year old son, who is making maltomeal for his siblings, puts WAY too much maltomeal in and didn’t measure correctly?  What fruit came from my mouth?  “She opens her mouth in wisdom; and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.”  Proverbs 31:26  Was that me this morning, or did the irritation of my sinful heart creep out when I spoke?

My children and husband are much too precious for me to let myself get bent out of shape over a few mishaps!  Paul also tells me to “Do everything without complaining or arguing.” Phil. 2:14   And, listen to this...James says, “Take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.  Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says.” James 1:19-20, 22   Do what it says….  Many times that is easier said than done.   

And, what if I am able to keep my mouth shut but my heart hasn’t changed?  No, I have to dedicate myself from the inside out, to doing God’s will.  That means it must be my heart’s desire to be joyful and peaceful and kind and patient and gentle.  And, to be all those things, I must have self-control. That must be my heart’s desire today then…self-control.

Lord Jesus, You have led me on a journey this morning.  A journey seeking knowledge of Your will for my life.  Thank you for walking with me this morning, as I read scripture in search of Your truth.  I know You are leading me to something so amazing, so wonderful, that my life will never be the same again.  I also know that it will not be easy, this self-control that You desire to see in my life.  But, I will do what You ask of me.  I dedicate myself to You this morning.  May I be a light for You today.  May I lead my children to love You and seek You first.  I love You, Lord, more than life itself!!  In Jesus sweet name I pray, Amen!

I did it...no, GOD did it!!!

First and foremost, God has been working on me. Showing me what I should be…  

In my Sunday School study this week, He is again showing me that I am His, body and soul, inside and outside!!!  Just listen to this…

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.                Romans 12:1-2  (NIV)

Wow!!!  As I have said in past bloggings, I dedicate myself to Him each morning, praying that my actions, thoughts, and feelings will glorify Him.  I am realizing more and more that as I am "transformed by the renewing" of my mind, that I can "see" His will so much more clearly.  PTL!!!  I can hear the Holy Spirit speaking to me on so many different things; sometimes I am being chastised, other times I am being uplifted by my choices.  But, always, I feel His guidance and involvement in my life, minute by minute. 

As I grow daily in Him, I enjoy listening for His guidance.  I have been getting an email update each morning on the 40 Days for Life campaign that has been going on here in the US.  It is basically prayer vigils outside of abortion clinics around the US, not protests in the extreme sense of the word but peaceful and dedicated praying for all the unborn babies.  My husband and I are very concerned and saddened by all the abortions going on around the world.  😭 This is one of the utmost issues for us in the upcoming election, regarding who will be placed on the Supreme Court in the next 4 years.  

I told my husband one evening last week as we were driving home from church that if there was a clinic near us that did abortions, I would go and be a part of the prayer vigil. Well, the Holy Spirit prompted me and I had the thought that there was one in Lufkin so I searched and searched online to find it, but I couldn’t. The next day, I got an email from David with 40 Days for Life and he encouraged us to read his blog.  I did and I found the Lufkin location of Planned Parenthood. They do not do surgical abortions but they give the Morning After Pill, IUD’s and birth control pills.  I contacted the lady in Lufkin that was the contact person for 40 Days for Life.  And……………on Friday, I meet with her in front of PP for a prayer vigil!!!!!!  I took Houston and Delanie with me.  We prayed, the kids sang "Jesus loves me" and we read the Bible together.  It was the most wonderful experience!!

I spoke Sunday at church during the morning service, telling others my experience.  Bro. Randy has said so often that "this isn’t the service (Sunday morning preaching), your service begins when you walk through those doors as you leave…"   He is so right.  I hope that this blog will be an encouragement to each of you to dedicate yourself to God’s will.  Get involved where He guides you!!!  We must stop being a passive Christian body, we must stand up for His will each and everyday!!!

May the Lord bless you all today as you go about doing His will!!!

Spring (oh, I mean Fall) Cleaning

I am staying very busy today.  The Lord has me on a Spring cleaning (in the Fall) mission.  I had been praying that the Lord would help my days be filled with joy.  As John 10:10 (KJV) says, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:  I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."  I know that Satan is here, ready at every moment, to suck the joy right out of my day.  But, I want to be joyful!  I chose to be joyful!!   I chose to live life more abundantly.  In order for me to do this, the Lord has shown me that I must purge my life of anything that "sucks the joy" from it.  For me, that is clutter.    I can’t stand clutter.  And, He’s also shown me that I will live life more abundantly and joyful if I will keep up with my cleaning/organizing.  So, for the past 2 weeks, I have been cleaning and organizing and de-cluttering like mad!  Trying to find any and everything I can to keep up with all the day to day "must do’s".  I’ve gotten my weekly chore lists updated and now I’m down to the de-cluttering.   

I’ve also found joy in this verse, "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands…" 1 Thessalonians 4:11 (NIV)

I see work now as a way I can glorify God.  I know without a doubt that the Lord wants me to work diligently taking care of my children, my husband and my home.  How blessed I am to have a home to clean and de-clutter.  How blessed I am to have children and a husband to take care of and love.    It also helps when I listen to praise music as I do my "chores".  This helps me to use the time for praising God and realizing all the blessings He has brought to my life. 

So, today I praise the Lord that He has shown me how to do all these things more abundantly through Him.  I chose to glorify Him by working with my hands as I de-clutter!   What a great way to begin finding that extra joy in my life!