Do First, Understand Later

Exodus 10:7-8 So Moses wnet back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the L-rd had commanded him to speak.  The people all responded together, "We will do everything the L-rd has said."  So Moses brought their answer back to the L-rd.

The Israelite people, the people who G-d had called out of the darkness of slavery to Egypt (sin) did not hesitate to say, "Yes, L-rd."  They did not stop to contemplate, intellectualize, or try to understand all the words of the law.  They did not even ask, "why?".  They simply said, "Naase V'nishma - we will do first and afterwards understand." 

I was listening to a devotion this morning and the person sharing quoted an Oswald Chambers statement, "Simplicity is the secret to seeing things clearly."  In the course of this devotion the speaker gave an illustration of a parent teaching a child to look both ways before crossing the street because a small child doesn't yet understand the dangers of traffic and the reasons for looking both ways.  But once a child matures and grows and understands the danger and his own mortality he know longer looks both ways out of obedience but out of understanding. 

As I listened to this illustration I couldn't help but make the comparison to the state of mind of the Israelite children when Moses presented the L-rd's words to them and their response.  They were like the little child who obeyed first before he understood because the child first recognized the authority of the parent and understood the necessity of obedience and dependence.  They first obeyed because they recognized G-d's authoruty and in obedience to His authority they followed literally the words in His law recorded in Deuteronomy 6:4-8: ...to write the commandments on their hearts, to teach them to their children, to talk about them all the time. 

So in accordance to the example and commandment set before us, every Shabbat we read a portion of the Torah, we discuss it with our children and with each other.  We learn more and understand more each and every Shabbat that we obey G-d and spend time in His Word.  And we are eternally grateful to our people for protecting and guarding the Torah these 6000 or so years so that we still have it today.

1 Corinthians 13:11-12 - When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.  When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.  For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.  Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

One day, L-rd willing, we will leave this temporary residence and spend eternity with our L-rd and Savior.  We will know fully then but for now, we are children feasting and growing on the Word left for us. 

If you want to know why we need to still keep and do the commandments the illustration of the little child and these verses should shed a little more light on the whys.....

But in spite of the evidence I have now with 20-20 hindsight.....I say

Na'ase V'nishma - Yes L-rd.....

Words Paint Pictures

Restoration Specialist
Father Knows Best

This morning I was listening to the radio as I was driving to work and the news came on.  I wasn't totally focused on what the news person was saying but I caught one phrase, "restoration specialist."  I believe he was saying that some company called "restoration specialists" was funding the program on the air.  But when I heard the phrase, "restoration specialist" I immediately thought of Father G-d.  He is in the business of restoration.  He restores us to a right relationship with Himself through His Son, Yeshua.  He also restores relationships.  He is the only One who can through His infinite love, grace and unbounding mercy. 

After I arrived in my office and checked my email I began reading a daily devotion I receive in my email.  The person writing the devotion began by alluding to the old TV show, "Father Knows Best."  Again, I made the connection between this TV show title to our heavenly Father.  He does know best.  Always.....

Words are something aren't they?  G-d used them to create our universe and He later said that no one can control the tongue.  Words can be used for for evil.  Scripture also tells us that the heart is deceitful above all things and Yeshua said, that what is in the heart will proceed out of the mouth.  Jeremiah 17:9 and Matthew 12:34

Jeremiah sums it up this way in chapter 9, verse 8:  Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks deceitfully.  With their mouths they all speak cordially to their neighbors, but in their hearts they set traps for them.

What is the remedy, therefore, for our tongue?  How can we tame it and put it in submission that only wholesome and praiseworthy words are spoken?

Those are good questions and some that we should come back to frequently.  A good tool to use is something like BibleGateway where you can search for passages of scripture even with just one word.  Try doing a keyword search with the word "mouth" and you will be astounded about how much is in scripture concerning "mouth" and "words."  This is a good place to start in healing your speech.

Psalm 37 is one of my favorites.  There is so much in this Psalm.  Concerning what we are thinking about this morning, look at verses 27 to 34: 

 

Depart from evil and do good, so you will abide forever.  For the L-rd loves justice and does not forsake His godly ones;  they are preserved forever, but the descendants of the wicked will be cut off.  The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.  The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.  The law of his G-d is in his heart; his steps do not slip.  The wicked spies upon the righteous and seeks to kill him.  The L-rd will not leave him in his hand or let him be condemned when he is judged.  Wait for the L-rd and keep His way, and He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.

This passage answers the question of how can we tame the tongue?  Verse 31 describes the righteous who controls his tongue like this:  Let the law of G-d be in your heart.  How do we do this do you say?  First of all, study and read the law over and over.  This is something we do on Shabbat.  There is a Torah reading for every Shabbat of the year and we repeat this cycle over and over.  It is necessary to give health to our bones and strength to our souls.  Psalm 119 is the longest Psalm and the entire missive is given to the subject of the law.

Another way to let the law of G-d get in and stay in our heart is to DO the law.  If you reading the Torah every Shabbat you will be reading the laws and commandments.  You will know what G-d thinks about tatoos, eating, holidays, deaths, prayers, dress, relationships, and all other life lessons.  In Exodus 19, Moses spoke the L-rd commanded words to the people and all the people answered, "All that the L-rd has spoken we will do!"  In Hebrew this read, Na'ase V'nishma!.  We will say and we will do.

John 14:15 says that of we love G-d we will obey His commands.  And Psalm 37:31 says that the righteous man's tongue speaks justice and the righteous man is one who has the law of his G-d in his heart.  Need I say more? 

Psalm 119:1 - Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the L-rd......

Beauty For Ashes

I have had a heavy burden on my heart and mind for several days now.  I can think of some tangible things that are bothering me but I really don't think it is any one thing that is brining me down.  Joy seems like something I have to work to dredge up from within. 

I turn to the L-rd of course in times like these; I hate feeling down and depressed.  I try to flip those feelings over and think on "good and pleasant things."  Phil 4 - But still that heaviness is like a blanket.  The talk this week at work, on the news, on the radio, etc. has been all about remembering 9/11 - certainly a horrific event that we should never and couldn't possibly ever forget.  The only certainity we have in this life is that all of us will die someday.  Not a very pleasant thought really.

But this morning in the middle of all this turmoil swirling in my thoughts I remembered Rosh Hashanah is coming soon.  Rosh Hoshanah is a holiday that celebrates a new year full of hope and promise.  It reminded me that G-d is bigger than all of the depressing things around me. 

I was reading through some notes written by Tim Hegg at www.TorahResource.com concerning the High Holy day of Rosh Hashanah.  My heart was revived when I read these words:

On this Yom Teruah we are called, once again, to reassess, to reconsider our priorities in light of G-d's rule.  We are asked by HaShem to remember that even though it often does not appear to be so, He actually is reigning upon His throne, and He is bringing to pass those things which accomplish His will.  We are compelled again to put away our natural way of thinking and seeing, and trust His description of reality.

What a timely message this Rosh Hashanah.  The L-rd of Hosts knows our makeup and He knew and knows that life on this earth separated from Him through our sin would be difficult and He, in His infinite and vast wisdom established His Holy days before the world began.  I am so grateful to Him that His ways are higher and His thoughts are greater and His power is greater than anything I can even imagine.  Ephesians 3:20

This Rosh Hashanah as you listen for the sound of the shofar, I pray that you will be compelled to trust HaShem's description of reality and purpose in your heart to follow Him no matter what happens in this world. 

G-d Sufficient <> NOT <> Self-Sufficient

This morning as my husband was doing his morning prayers over us he prayed for healing and help with losing weight which we are both trying to do.  As he prayed I thought of the phrase, "will-power" which led me to then think of self-sufficiency but I was quickly admonished in my spirit and reminded that it isn't my strength, power or sufficiency that I can lean on for help....it's G-d's sufficient power that gives me strength to do His will which is what Grace is. 

Many people believe or treat the words mercy and grace as synonyms which they are not.  Mercy is G-d's unmerited favor bestowed on us in love through the blood of G-d's precious Son Yeshua HaMashiach.  The definition of grace that I love, I first heard from a Rabbi many years ago.  I'm not sure if he coined the phrase or if it's actually in the dictionary but he said grace is "the power and might to do G-d's will."  I love that definition.  It perfectly articulates the meaning and conveys how we can rely on G-d and what deliverance truly is.

Sometimes G-d may choose to deliver someone instantaneously but I have not had the privilege of seeing this too many times.  Most times, in my opinion, deliverance is a process.  I've experienced it and had to learn how Grace works and how to apply it.

Many years ago I was struck with the demon of jealousy.  If you don't think jealousy is a demon you are sadly mistaken.  I knew when the demon attached himself to me - it was after I deceptively did not forgive my husband for something he asked forgiveness for.  It wasn't a major infraction as infractions go but it was a bad habit that he had maintained for many years and when he realized it he confessed it to me and asked me to forgive him.  On the outside I said yes but in my mind I was thinking, "you've done this to me for 10 years now and all of a sudden you're over it and I'm just supposed to say OK and go on with life?"  I did not realize it at that moment; it was a few months later but that thought and action of unforgiveness allowed that demon my husband was extinguishing with confession to jump on and attach itself to me because of unforgiveness.

I also knew it was a demon because of what it provoked in me.  I didn't just have a feeling or thought....I acted on that thought and feeling.  I was accusatory and angry to the point of venomous attacks on my husband.  It was almost like a drunken binge even to the extent that the next morning I would reflect on what I had done and could not believe what I had done nor could I conjour up the feelings that had provoked those actions in the first place. 

I had never felt any jealousy in all of our marriage.  I trusted my husband and his affections for me but very soon after this incident I began experiencing jealous feelings for very stupid things that really were of no consequence.  These feelings grew and grew until I really realized I was fighting a demon and a "monkey on my back" that I could not seem to overcome.

I did everything I could think of:  I prayed on my knees, I fasted, I repented, I cried out to G-d, I had prayer for myself, etc., etc., etc.  all to know avail!  It was during this time of fierce struggle that the L-rd took me back to that instance when my husband asked for forgiveness and I refused.  The L-rd showed me how unforgiveness on my part resulted in that demon being able to latch on to me.  Now I had to figure out how to overcome it.  I knew I could because of scripture but I had to somehow get deliverance which seemed easier to say than do.

One day I was speaking with a lady about deliverance and she said something so profound it rocked my world.  Her statement to me was this:  "Deliverance is a PROCESS!"  I immediately thought of that definition of grace and realized that I had to work in partnership with G-d.  He wasn't going to tap my head with a magic wand and make the jealousy go away.  I had to be an active participant.  I had the power - G-d gave it to me but I had to use it just like you use a weapon.  A gun can be sitting on the seat next to me but it isn't going to wield it's power unless I pick it up and fire it.  Something was required of me and now that I realized it I needed to put it into action.

The next time I felt that jealous feeling that so over-whelmed me and controlled me I literally had to use a lot of mental force to refuse to allow it to take over and cause me to react and lash out.  I had such a feeling of victory that first time but it wasn't the end.  It took a few years for me to really be rid of it.  I had some victories and I had some failures but eventually the bad habit of reacting to satan's attacks on me were replaced by standing on G-d's Word and wielding the power He had graced me with.  That was deliverance. 

If you are battling something that seems bigger than you, ask G-d for more Grace and determine in your spirit to obey G-d.  Just take it one step at a time.  Eventually you will overcome the enemy by the blood of Yeshua, by the word of your testimony and because you love NOT your life even when faced with death.  Revelations 12:11

Unity - Life Forever

I love Psalm 133 - Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!  Or in Hebrew:

Henei ma tov umanaim
Shevet achim gam yachad
Sinei ma tov umanaim
Shevet achim gam yachad

This morning I was listening to a devotion someone on the radio was giving concerning social networking like Facebook, etc.  He used that to  parlay into making the point that we are not who we are in and of ourselves....we are who we are as a combination of who we "network with."  Or to put it another way, we are the sum total of all of the influences we've received (and will receive) from our friends, family, and acquaintances.  As I thought about that I remembered Psalm 133 and what G-d had to say through David about the excellency of brotherly (or sisterly) unity.  According to the Psalmist unity is as precious as the annointing oil falling down Aaron's beard and the dew of Hermon coming down from the mountains of Zion - because that is where the L-rd commanded the blessing.....Life Forever! 

We can choose this life by choosing to follow G-d's Torah (Ex 30:19-20)  And Yeshua said this one commandment sums up the entire Torah, "Love your neighbor as yourself."  We cannot do that if we are an island unto ourself.  We need people and they need us:  we need each other.

Have you ever thanked G-d for the people He has put in your path?  Not just the people that were easy to love or made you feel good about yourself....but all of the people from teachers you loathed and friends who irritated or let you down.  G-d uses all things to speak to us if we will just listen.

I had a teacher in high school that I had a love/hate relationship with.  I loved English and writing and she fed that love as any good English teacher can do.  But she was a no-nonsense kind of person.  Looking back on it I realize she probably had faced some very big difficulties in her life because she was somewhat cynical.  Her cynicism however, held a lot of truth and that truth is what was the throrn in my side but has influenced my life to this day.  One thing she said I have never forgotten was this:  "Fairness is for the playground."  I had shared that experience with my husband years ago and he frequently reminds me of that because fairness is something I have demanded, searched for, felt entitled to and have gotten frustrated over not seeing in this world.  Hence, the irritating truth that this phrase held for me.  But the subject of fairness is for another post.  I used this little story to illustrate how G-d can use people whom we do not necessarily 'gel with' to mold us into who He wants us to be.

So next time you get alone with G-d, reflect on all of the people in your life currently or in the past who have contributed to who and what you are in G-d.  And bless Him for it.  Pray and ask G-d to use you in someone else's life and you will discover "how good and how pleasant it is to dwell together in unity" with all of G-d's children.

Shalom

Planned Parenthood?

When I was a teenager I had one goal - get married and have babies.  I was mature in a lot of ways but immature in others.  I married at 19  and had my first baby just before turning 21.  We were poor because neither of us had "careers" only jobs that paid mediocre salaries.  As I met other young married couples who seemed to have it all together I began to feel very inferior.  A lot of these couples were "waiting" to have babies for when they had enough money or made room for them in their lives.  I always felt like I must be a major screw-up because I didn't plan.  I started hearing buzz words like "planned parenthood."  Always in the back of my mind was this niggling little doubt about my ability to become a mature adult if I didn't "plan" for children and carve out a career before trying to reach my goal of being a mommy.

I am now 54 years old, my 5 children are all grown up, most of them married, and many of them having babies of their own.  They all have wonderful G-dly character and are trying to walk a Torah lifestyle.  I can't ask for much more than that.

This morning as I was reading a devotion something in the author's words reminded me of this battle I had with doubting my ability to be a responsible parent since I "didn't plan" for children - I just gave in to my desire and had babies.  The devotion had nothing to do with planned parenthood by the way but the author shared a verse I love from Psalm 139 - "For you formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. - vs 13 and continuing on in verse 15 - "My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them."  The author's words in the devotion that triggered this memory were these:  "we were created by the One who knows us best and loves us most.  There are no accidents with G-d.  He never has to say, "Oops!"  Before we were ever conceived in the heart and mind of MAN, we were conceived in the heart and mind of G-d."


Isn't this awesome?!

The author goes on to say that we were wanted, loved, AND planned since BEFORE the world began!  She's right....Psalm 139 is scripture proof of her words.  I've read Psalm 139 hundreds of times but this morning the intensity and truth of these central verses were a sword pentrating my mind and soul.  First of all, I was not a "screw-up" because I wanted to have babies - that is one thing G-d created me for as a woman.  And I believe He put the desire for those babies in my heart.   Not only did He plant the desire.....He planted those seeds in my womb.  My babies were also thought about and planned by their heavenly Father before their earthly parents ever could.  I am filled with awe when I think of this.

We are all precious in G-d's sight.  Not one hair on our head has ever gone unnoticed by Him.  Every child that has been assaulted, maimed, or mistreated and sadly killed before they had a chance to live their lives has not been forgotten by G-d.  One day He will raise their precious bodies and restore life to them and they will live with Him in eternity.  He will be a Father to them and they will be glorified in Him.

For us who have been given the privilege of living our lives on this earth, we can give our hearts to the One who planned for us and has plans for us and we too shall be raised on that day to live with Him in eternity. 

Psalm 139:23-24
Search me, O G-d, and know my heart;
Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
And see if there be any hurtful way in me,
And lead me in the everlasting way.

Fear The L-rd - ONLY

I read a blessing from the Psalms over my husband every Shabbat.  The Psalm I use is 112 and it is packed with blessings and promises for the one who fears G-d.  Each Sabbath as I recite this Psalm as a blessing over my husband a different verse or verses will jump out at me and have a stronger impact than any of the others.  Frequently the verse that pops out is vs 7 -

"He will not fear evil tidings"

 I thought of that verse again this morning because I was reading 2 Kings 6.  The King of Aram and Israel had been warring and Elisha was constantly revealing the secret plans of the King to the King of Israel.  When the King of Aram discovered this he sent an army to capture Elisha.  Elisha's servant heard about it and in great fear he rushed to tell Elisha.  Elisha's response reminded me of the blessing from Psalm 112 - Elisha said this in verse 16:  "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them."  Elisha's servant  must have thought Elisha had taken leave of his senses because as far as he could "SEE" there was no army with them.  Elisha then prayed in verse 17:  "O L-rd, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.  And the L-rd opened the servant's eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha."


There is a true story about a woman named Diane who was visiting some friends.  She stayed longer than she planned and had to walk home alone.  She wasn't afraid because she lived in a small town and she didn't live too far.  Hiwever, she decided to take a shortcut through an alley and noticed a man at the end of it.  She became uneasy and began praying.  She relaxed and continued on home safely passing the man with no incident.  The following day however, she read in the paper about a young girl who was assaulted in the same alley minutes after she had passed there.  She went to the authorities and reported her experience the day before and was able to identify the man in the alley as the assailant.

When the man was confronted by the authorities, he broke down and confessed.  The woman later asked the authorities why the assailant had not attacked her.  The policeman told her that he saw she had two tall men walking on either side of her! She was not alone.  She feared G-d and He sent His angels to walk her safely home. 

If we fear G-d, He will protect us.  If asked what does Messiah mean to me I will answer without hesitation, "He is my Refuge!"  Those aren't just words quoted from a remembered verse - those words come directly from a heart that has experienced G-d's protection in times of trouble.  He guards my heart and mind and fills me with peace and joy no matter what I am going through. 

The enemy will continue to taunt our minds with doubt and fear but if we truly fear the L-rd and trust Him with all of our heart, "we will have no fear of evil tidings."  Just like Elisha when he was told by his servant that the king had amassed all of his armies to capture Elisha, Elisha trusted in the G-d who had called him out of darkness into His marvelous light.  1 Peter 2:9

In order to know this G-d personally and fear (trust) Him we need to stay in the Word of G-d daily.  Memorizing verses to recite is great but reading everyday and getting that word down in your spirit is better.  Even if I can only set aside a few minutes every morning to read a few verses from the Psalms, I will find that later that day through some incident G-d will bring that word back to me.  That is how I hide scripture in my heart and apply it to my daily life.  I may not be able to recite chapters but I can remember a particular location of a passage the L-rd taught me through faithful and diligent reading of His Word.  Meditate on His Word day and night so you will be ready to call upon Him in a moment of trouble.  A lengthy, wordy prayer is not necessary for G-d to hear you.

One quick story and I will close this post:  one day I was coming home from work.  It was raining lightly and a car in front of me was going very, very slowly.  I was afraid of being rear-ended so I carefully began to pass the vehicle.  For some reason the vehicle came over in my lane and I had to apply the brakes to slow down and get back behind him.  This caused my car to fishtail and I went into a spin I could not control.  In sudden fear I called out to the L-rd "Oh G-d, help me!"  All of a sudden my car came to a stop and when I opened my eyes I realized my car was parallel to the road with the front tires in the grass on the side of the road.  I slowly pulled off so I could calm down and praised the L-rd for coming to my aid.  It was then I realized the value of daily communion with Him - in that moment I called out to a G-d I had come to know personally.  At that moment I did not have time to articulate a lengthy prayer - all I could get out was "O G-d help me."  And thanks be to my L-rd, I was not alone in that vehicle - Yeshua was at the front of the car guiding me safely home.

Shalom!

Forgiving and Forgetting

Forgiveness is a powerful weapon that can heal and restore brokenness and separation.  There is a popular song with these lyrics as the chorus:

7 times 70 times

I'll do what it takes to make it right

I thought the pain was here to stay

But forgiveness made a way

In my devotions this morning I came across this verse in Isaiah 28:
Does the farmer plow continually to plant seed?  Does he continually turn and harrow the ground?  Does he not level its surface and sow dill and scatter cummin and plan wheat in rows, barley in its place and rye within its area?  vs 24-25

When we hold onto wrongs that were done to us, retelling about the offense over and over, we are the farmer that continually plows and never plants seeds of forgiveness.  If the farmer never plants he will never see a harvest. 

Joel chapter 1 talks about the devastation to the land and the all of the vegetation.  This chapter laments the various fields and grains that have been dried up, ruined, and destroyed.  In verse 11, Joel speaks to the farmers; be ashamed and wail he says to them because the harvest of the field is destroyed.  How much of that destruction stems from unforgiveness which produces bitterness, hatred, pride and loftiness?   In chapter 2 Joel begins to describe the "day of the L-rd" that is coming. 

I don't know about you but when I am out in a bad thunderstorm I am always subdued and pensive because the loudness of the thunder and the danger of the lightning reminds me how small I am compared to the G-d who created this world and controls the weather and everything in it.  This leads me to think about the coming day of the L-rd and His judgment.  He is a loving G-d and right now Yeshua is on the mercy seat, but one day soon He will come back as a Judge to judge righteousness.  I want to be clean before my L-rd as much as possible.  I don't want unforgiveness and bitterness to steal my peace and destroy my relationships.  Holding on to wrongs suffered produces nothing and erodes the soil of your heart.  Heed the warning in the following verses and begin to plant seeds of kindness in your heart so that when the day of the L-rd comes, He will find a great harvest you have contributed to.

Joel 2:12-13  Yet even now, declares the L-rd, return to me with all your heart and with fasting, weeping, and mourning; and rend your heart and not your garments.  Now return to the L-rd your G-d, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness and relenting of evil.

Forgiveness makes the way possible.  The L-rd's prayer has these words at their core:  Forgive others as I have forgiven....... Selah!

Being Remade

Romans 12:2 ...Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of G-d is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

This morning I shared with my husband an incident that happened at work the previous day.  Something really trivial had gotten me very aggravated and agitated.  At the time of the incident I recognized that my emotions were getting out of control but instead of putting the brakes on and listening to the Holy Spirit I convinced myself that I had a right to be mad and let it show.  I remained in an agitated state for about an hour or so - pretty long for me really.  I managed to shake it off but really took the incident home with me and planned to share it with my husband to garner his sympathy.

Well, this morning it backfired on me.....my husband did sympathize to a degree but he reminded me that I had done similar things to provoke agitation in him.  Of course I did not want to hear that and stormed off and became agitated once again.

On the way to work G-d began speaking to me and I had nowhere to go to escape...I listened of course and He began to soften my heart.  A song came on the radio about that time called "I Am New" sung by Jason Gray.  Here are a portion of the lyrics:

I am not who I was

I am being remade

I am new

I am chosen and Holy

And I'm dearly loved

I am new

The words had an effect on me and I began thinking about what a Rebettzin said to me years before.  She said "if an offense is never taken an offense was never done."  In other words, I can refuse to take offense about something even if the other person meant to offend.  If I refuse to be offended I will not become agitated, my witness will not be ruined, and most importantly, I will not lose my G-d given peace. 

I don't need to operate in the flesh all the time - that is conforming to how the world acts.  I have the Holy Spirit in my life speaking to me, leading me, cautioning me....I look forward to the day when I can listen the first time and avoid a situation instead of learning my lesson afterward.  But as the song says, I am being remade.  His mercies are new every morning.  This morning I am reminding myself that I AM chosen and I AM dearly loved by the Master and Creator of this world.  Why should anything steal my peace when I have perfect peace knowing that my heart is safe with Yeshua and I am ensconced in His love?

So my heart hurts this morning for having grieved my L-rd but I pray that this message stays with me and I can be transformed by it so that I CAN prove that the will of G-d is good and acceptable and perfect.

Shalom and Amen.

The Promise of the Spirit

Joel 2:28

It will come about after this, that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; and your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.

Last night I woke up screaming - you know the kind of scream where you are deep in a dream and it seems like you can't really scream but there is some noise coming out of your mouth?  I woke up with my husband consoling me and trying to calm me down.  I was still in the throes of sleep but I remember that his soft words of comfort dispelled the evilness attached to the dream.  There was a tremendous heaviness on my whole being and I felt it within and all around me. 

I got up to use the restroom and began thinking about the dream and felt that there was some meaning attached that I needed to delve into.  I do believe G-d can communicate to us through our dreams and to me the proof that it is G-d is that the impressions will cause me to search within myself and come clean or repent of wrong behavior, actions, thoughts, etc.  G-d is Spirit and He can communciate to us through our spirit. 

I went and sat in my rocking chair with my journal and attempted to recall the dream.  It was difficult to put it into words and make some sense out of it and I always find that interesting; that while we are dreaming the visions and impressions all make sense but when we wake up and try to describe it we usually can't do it adequately.

As I was recalling the dream I remembered a book I am reading right now and realize that it may have something to do with the fact that I've been aware of my dreams for the last two weeks which is a little unusual for me.  I know I probably dream most nights but rarely do I remember or am impressed by them.  The book I am currently reading is by Robert Whitlow and is called, "Mountain Top."  It's about a lawyer turned Pastor who is asked to become a lawyer one last time for a man who has dreams that come true and serve as warning most times.  It challenges this Pastor to go deeper with G-d and he slowly changes his mind about this man who most of the town despises.

But even though I feel that the book may have prompted the dream I am always listening for G-d to speak to me and there seems to always be this yearning inside me to want His opinions to guide me.  So I sat there with my journal and put on paper as best I could what the dream was about.  Some of what I wrote was actually what I felt G-d was speaking to me through the dream and not the dream itself which I guess is fine since that is the real purpose anyway.  I believe the evilness I felt was really a warning.  The gist of the dream was to show what can happen if we become attached to the world and the things of the world.  I've read those scriptures many times but last nights dream really made me understand how dangerous it is to become entrenched in the things of this world. 

In my dream there were these dolls that were my possessions.  I did not want to share these dolls and didn't want anyone to have them or touch them.  They were all mine.  I believe these dolls represented opinions and viewpoints more so than actual possessions.  But in my dream I wanted to make some life change - not sure what but I couldn't make this change unless I gave up the dolls.  This is where the evilness comes in; because I could not extricate myself from these dolls.  When I tried to put them down or away from me these extremely strong, with an incredible magnetic force attached themselves to my hands and had these large sharp tabs that embedded themselves in my hands.  Trying to pull them out only produced more as if they were being shot from a nail gun.  Other people even tried to help me but it only increased the onslaught until it became obvious that it was an impossibility. 

That is where I started screaming and was awakened by my husband stroking me and calming me down.  But that also became part of the message G-d was giving me; I can't push people away because I need them - we need them - to help us, love us, convict us....we need each other.

I loved my parents and always tried to be respectful and submissive.  Having said that I can say this:  Even though they were good parents, they were not perfect and there are some "sins" that were passed down to me.  Namely, from my father there is a character trait that I always hated in him (even though I loved him) and now I see this character trait in me.  Just like he did, I find myself pushing people away.  Even people I love more than myself - family.  I don't know what motivates this except that I feel more in my comfort zone when I am alone.  Comfort zone cravings deprive us of things G-d would like to bless us with.  The dream showed me I resisted Him by pushing Him away just like I do other loved ones in my life.  But my husband waking me and consoling me rubbed salt in the wounds of these actions.  I felt better by having him wake me and comfort me and needed him.  G-d put him in my life - isn't it the enemy then who would like his influence out of my life as well as others G-d has put there?  Need I say more?

I was very depressed and weighed down this morning as I woke and remembered my struggle of the night.  But I was also grateful that the Holy Spirit pursues me and never gives up on me.  When I was 6 years old I prayed and asked G-d to never leave me and to make sure that I make it into heaven - NO MATTER WHAT!  And He has kept His promise these 54 years of my life so far. 

Shavuot is soon approaching and each feast day seems to have its way of bringing us to the altar of forgiveness.  Shavuot has always been a time for relationship restorations in our family.  I'm thankful for this summer of counting the omer and anticipate the time under the Tallit this year to repent and receive restoration (Psalm 51).

What Blessings Look Like

G-d encouraged my heart with another song that struck a chord within me because I've had thoughts and questions much like the composer's in this song.  The song, "Blessings" by Laura Story was birthed out of struggles and questions she and her husband have dealt with during his illness.  I think we can all relate.  Psalm 23:4 says that "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death..." - The psalmist did not say "IF" I walk through  - he said "EVEN THOUGH" I walk through..... This verse tells me that all of us will endure difficult things in this life but the good news is and the "blessing" is we will not walk through them alone.  And notice how verse 4 refers to the death as "the shadow of death."  I haven't studied this passage at length to see what the Hebrew implies but I do know that death from this life is simply entrance to our eternal life with Messiah if we believe.  There aren't enough blog postings available for me to exhaust the number of promises G-d has for those that believe. 

Blessings come in many different ways and not always the way we expect.  Most of the time our perspective is too limited and our flesh longs for something different than what we have.  You can listen to this song on YouTube - here are the lyrics.

 Blessings - by Laura Story
We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise

The Living Water

I've written one or two posts recently about Laura Story's new song, "Blessings."  This song continues to speak to me or I should say G-d continues to speak to me through the words of this song.  This week one of the last lines of the song really jumped out at me and I cannot stop thinking about them.  The line I am speaking of is this:

What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy?

I think we can take off the first two words, "what if" and change this question to a statement; a true statement.  I don't know about you but I think I've spent an inordinate amount of time in my life fretting over disappointments and a longing for something I couldn't identify.  If you look around your world you can quickly identify how we are all guilty of trying to fill voids in our lives with temporal things.  As believers, we know how futile and pointless this is.  The book of Ecclesiastes is full of the author's observations concerning the things that are futile in this life.  The author concludes his observations with a statement that "all is vanity" and follows this with the solution:  "...fear G-d, keep His commandments, because this applies to every person."


This past weekend in my Beth Moore study that I've been slowly working my way through I read in Exodus 15 when the Israelites come to the waters of Mara after passing through the Red Sea and seeing G-d's great deliverance.  They had become thirsty which is understandable considering they were in a desert.  Their joy at discovering water was quickly replaced by disappointment when they tasted and discovered the water was bitter.  They quickly began to grumble to Moses.  Isn't that what we do when we face another of life's disappointments?  We try to find someone to blame and the enemey is always quick to attend our pity party and point fingers.  He will do anything to get our eyes off of our Great Deliverer and Provider.  When Moses cried out on behalf of the people G-d used a tree limb to make the waters sweet for drinking.


The study drew a parallel between this "stick" and the tree used to execute Yeshua.  The tree our sins were nailed to made the "living water" sweet for drinking and sustaining eternal life.  There is a lot we can draw on here for many meditations and analogies but I really want to point out what G-d spoke to the people after clearing the water for drinking.


He says in Exodus 15:26:  If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the L-rd your G-d, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the L-rd am Your Healer."   G-d provided Himself a lamb that satisfied the requirement of the law.  Romans 8:3-4 - For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, G-d did:  sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh so tthat the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.


Yeshua, the Living Water, is what we thirst for.  No other can satisfy.  When the Israelites allowed bitterness to work in their soul, G-d sent serpents to bite the people so that many died.  Yeshua says (John 3:14-15) that if we behold Him, as the people did the bronze serpent in the wilderness, and believe, we will have eternal life.  The solution to all our searching and thirsting is in Him alone.


Let us spend quality time with the lover of our soul and not use our prayer time as if we were sitting on Santa's lap spewing forth our wish list.  G-d knows our needs and is intimately acquainted with us.  He wants us to pour our hearts out to Him "but He loves us too much to give us lesser things." (from the song, Blessings")  Can we trust Him and be His friend?  True friends do not usually just visit when one wants something from the other - they visit because they love each other and enjoy each other's company.

John 15:15  No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.

Lessons From The Bamboo Farmer

I love being a mother but it is a difficult job.  It's hard when they are little because they require so much care.  It's just as hard, if not harder when they are grown because you cannot control their lives and must sit back and watch them struggle with life's decisions.  I could wax eloquent and describe all the heartaches and trials of parenting but anyone who is a responsible parent knows the heartaches.  Instead I'd like to borrow a little story I had in my devotions today that really encouraged me and gave me a broader view.

The devotion is from Girlsfriends In G-d if you'd like to sign up for it.  Here you go:

When the Chinese plant bamboo, first they plant the seeds, then water, and fertilize them. The first year, nothing happens. The second year they continue to water and fertilize the seeds, and still nothing happens. The farmer continues this process for a third and fourth year with no visual results. Then sometime during the fifth year, in a period of approximately six weeks, the Chinese bamboo grows ninety feet.

The question is, did it grow ninety feet in six weeks or did it grow ninety feet in five years? The obvious answer is that it grew ninety feet in five years. If the grower hadn't applied water and fertilizer every year, there would be no bamboo.

It is the same way with raising children. We pour into their lives. We plant seeds of character, pull weeds with discipline, water with prayer, and fertilize with encouraging words. Then one day, if we are persistent and consistent, we will see beautiful results.

If you are in the midst of raising your children, or even a parent of grown children waiting to see the results, I want to encourage you to press on. Don't give up! Keep praying! Keep encouraging! Keep loving! And one day, when you least expect it, your child will "rise up and call you blessed."

What Faith Can Do

This morning as I was leaving for work I felt a panic attack rising within me.  The fear was heavy on my shoulders and in my heart and I felt overwhelmed with grief.  My heart was crying out for G-d to minister to me and as I started the car the radio came on with this song that had just started by Kutless.  I had never heard it before and the words spoke directly to me; it was as if G-d was speaking.  And in fact, I believe He was. 

Romans 1:20 says that G-d's invisible qualities, His eternal power, and His divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made so that people (me) are without excuse. 

 So I've posted the lyrics here - hope they minister to someone.

What Faith Can Do

Everybody falls sometimes
Gotta find the strength to rise
From the ashes and make a new beginning
Anyone can feel the ache
You think it’s more than you can take
But you're stronger, stronger than you know
Don’t you give up now
The sun will soon be shining
You gotta face the clouds
To find the silver lining

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn't ever end
Even when the sky is falling
I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do

It doesn’t matter what you’ve heard
Impossible is not a word
It’s just a reason for someone not to try
Everybody’s scared to death
When they decide to take that step
Out on the water
It’ll be alright
Life is so much more
Than what your eyes are seeing
You will find your way
If you keep believing

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do

Overcome the odds
You don't have a chance
(That’s what faith can do)
When the world says you can’t
It’ll tell you that you can!

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do
That's what faith can do!
Even if you fall sometimes
You will have the strength to rise

Our Life is Sweet

We put on a seder last night for a group of lovely people in Fanning Springs.  Something happened to me as we were reading the haggadah.  It was the same haggadah we've used for several years so I'm sure I read this particular phrase numerous times.  But last night the L-rd quickened it to my heart and I was convicted about something.  

We were at the part of the seder in which we were about to taste the parsley and salt water to remember the tears our ancestors shed because of their harsh slavery.  The author of the haggadah stated, "Even though we have a sweet life today, let us remember...."  The phrase reminded me that in spite of the problems, issues, inconveniences, irritations, etc. I may have in my life those things are nothing compared to the hardships the Israelites had as slaves to Egypt.  I have not had to endure the grief of having a baby boy ripped from my harms to be slaughtered or had to work in the hot desert sun to produce bricks from nothing.  

I was convicted because earlier that day I had let something bother me to the point that it aggitated me all day long and really robbed me of the joy of the L-rd I should have been basking in as a child of the King.  This thing that bothered me was really something trivial which made me feel even more sheepish when I reflected on it under the light of G-d's love.  I realized how differently I could have handled the situation and the opportunity I had to let my light shine.  Needless to say I was humbled speechless.

So I'm hoping this experience will stay with me so that I can avoid making this same mistake again.  I'm so grateful for a G-d who understands my humanness and makes a way for me to walk after Messiah.  I'm grateful that the L-rd's grace allowed me to receive His gentle correction and enabled His light to reveal those hidden places of sin I needed to deal with.

And today's Omer (day 2) counting verse supports this lesson:

Leviticus 19:18 Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD

Have a great day in your sweet life..... Healthy love must always include an element of discipline and discernment; a degree of distance and respect for another's boundaries;

Where Does Our Help Come From?

As Passover approaches I anticipate what the L-rd will impress upon me this year.  I feel that each of G-d's feasts are an opportunity to go deeper with G-d.  I love the Jewish traditions because they work to "flesh-out" His living Word in my own life.  For example, when I light the Sabbath candles and say the blessing to usher in Sabbath the L-rd always shows me some new aspect of Shabbat and light even though I say the same blessing every Sabbath.  Because G-d's Word is living, it never grows stale or lacks in its ability to broaden my understanding.  And G-d frequently uses my current circumstances to feed my Spirit what it needs at that point in time. 

I've been meditating on an article by Tim Hegg in which he explores the meaning of the Hebrew word for Passover (or Pesach).  I always thought it meant that the L-rd "passed over" the homes which had the lamb's blood applied to the lintels but I now agree with Mr. Hegg's conclusions that

"the word means that Adonai Himself will (as it were) "hover" over the door to protect all who are within."

You can read the article yourself (and I encourage you to do just that) at TorahResource and draw your own conclusions.  One very interesting aspect of all of this is that the L-rd was both the destroyer and the protector.  But that tidbit is outside the scope of my post - I will definitely revisit that this week during Pesach.


One of the verses Mr. Hegg uses comes from Isaiah 31 which is an exciting portion of scripture.  It answers the question in Psalm 121:1 "From where does my help come from?"  I've been posting my struggle with trusting as I walk through a particularly difficult situation in my life right now.  I need to be reassured that the L-rd sees me, that He knows me, that He is intimately acquainted with me and Isaiah 31 as well as Mr. Hegg's wonderful article(s) fills this need.  Isaiah 31 is very much to the point and begs no argument as to who is in control. 


I love verse 1 that describes how all of us tend to think when we are in trouble.  Like the Israelites wandering in the wilderness we want to go back to Egypt but to our misguided notions of the grandness of Egypt and the strength of horses and chariots G-d says this: 

verse 3 - ...the Egyptians are men and not G-d, their horses are flesh and not spirit..."

The L-rd will wage war;

He will fight our battles;

He will bring deliverance;

He will heal all of our diseases;

He will fill us with perfect peace;

He will put joy in our hearts;

He will restore us to the place we once were!

He will bring restoration to all relationships!

The verse Mr. Hegg used as one of his supporting verses about the meaning of Pesach comes from verse 5:  Like flying birds so the L-rd of Hosts will protect Jerusalem.  He will protect and deliver it; He will pass over and rescue it. 

He hovered over the homes that applied the lamb's blood in faith and trust.  Psalm 91:14-16 says that He will deliver those who love Him, who call upon Him.  He will answer them when they are in trouble and He will rescue them. 

The security of those who trust in Adonai is something no one can take away.  So this Pesach, apply the blood of the lamb to the lintels of your heart and stand firm.  He is hovering over your heart and will not allow your foot to slip.  He will not allow any harm to befall you.  Lift your eyes and see your Father G-d - He is your help!

Perspective - Another Blessing

There is a subtle line in the movie, Fiddler On The Roof that my husband loves and always comments on every time we watch the movie.  It's right after the matchmaker leaves Golde's house and the Sabbath is getting ready to start.  Tevye is introducing his children to Perchik and finds Motel is there (his daughter's beau).  When Tevye's wife, Golde realizes Motel is also staying for dinner, instead of complaining that they have another mouth to feed she says, "Another blessing!"  This is an attitude I need to adopt for many of life's situations. 

Preparing for Passover and the seders is a lot of work.  In the transcript of an interview with Levana Kirschenbaum, a New York City chef, she is asked, "What is your favorite part of Pesach?"  She answer that her favorite part is seeing people at the seder who seem to be far removed from everything yet they so enjoy the closeness and togetherness at the seder that they return again and again. 

Ms. Kirschenbaum refers to these guests as "blind dates" because they are usually sent by others who run into people who do not know how to make their own seder and want to experience one in a traditional home.  This conversation reminded me of the Fiddler on the Roof scene I mentioned above and I was nudged by the L-rd to appreciate the guests that show up for Passover and feel blessed not only by their presence but by the fact that I have a home and family that makes them feel welcome and loved. 

Psalm 112:3 says of the righteous man, "Wealth and riches are in his house and his righteousness endures forever."  When I say this blessing over my husband as we usher in the Sabbath each week I look around my table at my guests and receive the truth of this scripture.  I may not have wealth the world recognizes but I have wealth and riches that comes from blessings the L-rd sends my way.

Perfect Peace

Isaiah 26:3 - "The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in you."

Perfect peace comes to us IF we keep our mind on G-d.  The storms come when the enemy intrudes on our minds.  Have you ever noticed how pity parties are very lonely parties?  You're the only one invited to the enemies' party.  And boy does he take liberal license with our mind when we attend his party of one.  He lies to us, he discourages us, he makes our minds focus on all that's bad in our life and he occupies our thoughts so completely that our peace vaporizes.

We need to "take every thought captive" (2 Cor 10:5) and submit it to our Holy G-d who is "able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, ACCORDING TO THE POWER THAT WORKS WITHIN US...."  If our minds are steadfast on G-d instead of on the things that are tormenting us, that power (HIS power) will work within us to defy the enemy of our soul who wishes to keep us in bondage. 

But I admit, it is so hard when our minds slip and we are reminded of those things that aren't right in our world....they can get us down and make us so quickly forget the promises we need to remember.  But how my heart rejoices with the truth when I allow the L-rd to minister to my spirit and remind me of all His wonderful promises He has granted me as His child and heir to the kingdom.  My mind once again regains that "perfect peace." 

John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.  Do NOT let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

The Power of a Standard

Continuing with my study in Beth Moore's book, "A Woman's Heart: G-d's Dwelling Place," I was reading Deuteronomy 4: 1-4.  Moses is reminding the children of Israel about the cost of not following G-d's commandments.  In verse 4, he says, "BUT you who held fast to the L-rd your G-d are alive today, every one of you."  This got me thinking about our descendants; our children and grandchildren.  The way we live our life and the choices we make can directly impact our children's future.  Holding fast to the L-rd without wavering is a wonderful legacy to leave our children.  When they face trials in their life they can look to our examples and draw strength for the obstacles they face.  Notice I did not say "if" they face trials....it is inevitable in everyone's life that trials will come at some point. 

Standards (or flags) have been used throughout generations for identification - to identify whether friend or foe.  The troops rallied behind the standard - it was their strength, their point of unity and the line they stood behind.

The moral standard we set can be viewed the same way.  Others, not just our own children, can look to the standard we set and be strengthened, and made wise in the same way we can read Torah examples such as Deuteronomy 4 and see what not to do.  There is a cost to keeping a standard but there is an even greater cost in not having a standard.  Many people throughout history have lost their lives in order to keep their standard of holiness and to observe G-d's commandments with all of their heart.  But their legacy they leave behind for the rest of us makes it all worth it. 

I'm keeping a standard right now that is causing a separation in my family.  It is a difficult walk I'm endeavoring to "hold fast to" but I am trusting in the testimonies of my L-rd.  I have come to accept that I may not see the reward of my obedience in my lifetime but I do know that the reward is there.  I have faith to see it and believe it.

Deuteronomy 4:6 says,

"So keep and do them [G-d's statues and judgments] for that is your wisdom and understanding in the sight of the peoples...." verse 9, "Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons."

Buried Treasure

My discovery of living a Torah lifestyle was literally like finding a buried treasure.  The discovery was the fruit of a diligent search that began 3 years prior when I asked a heart-felt question of the L-rd:  I asked, "How do you want us to worship You?"  For the previous 20 years I thought I was serving G-d but that day I sincerely asked that question from a pure heart.  The answer I immediately heard in my mind was the verse, "He that wants to worship me must worship me in spirit and in truth."  My mind then questioned the L-rd concerning truth:  "L-rd, what is truth?"  The heavens were silent thus my heart began seeking an answer earnestly.  To remind myself to keep asking, I mentally asked G-d everytime I passed or entered a church.  When we first walked into a Synogogue (three years later) and heard about a Torah lifestyle the L-rd answered my truth question with

Hebrews 11:6 - He is a rewarder to those who diligently seek Him.

This morning I was reading Jeremiah 29:13 -

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

I can testify to the truth of these words by my own experience briefly stated above.  This is another reason to have His word hidden in your heart (as a buried treasure) so that the answers you seek will be there when G-d speaks to you.  And the Psalms state that G-d requires truth in our innermost being.  His word is the only real truth.


His word is the buried treasure - Yeshua is the Word made flesh which dwelt among us.  John 8:32 says that if we abide in His word then we are truly His talmadim.  It goes on to say that when we abide in His Word, we shall know the truth and the truth shall make us free.  Abide means to continue in, to tarry, to dwell, to remain.  It doesn't mean to hurry through the Word, or just read it when we are in dire need....it means we will spend time there, we will feast on it, we will meditate on the verses in it....it will be a major priority in our life.  I recently heard a phrase I thought apt.....a Bible that is falling apart usually belongs to a person who isn't.  I love that statement!


Continuing with the idea of G-d's Word as treasure I recall Isaiah 45:3

I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden wealth of secret places, so that you may know that it is I, the G-d of Israel who calls you by name. 

Isn't this a tremendous verse full of promise?  First of all, it thrills me to know that He will call me and has called me "by name."  I'm not just a nameless grain of sand invisible among the gazillions of people that have existed in this world since the beginning of time.  If you have any doubt of your worth to G-d, I urge you to read Psalm 139....that should chase away any doubt that everyone of us is important to Him and does not go unnoticed.

He is literally only a prayer away.  If you feel alone all you have to do is call out to Him.  Your treasure awaits you in the heart of Your King.