As for me and my house

If serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.... As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.
- Joshua 24:15

Every day we are faced with the opportunity to choose to obey God or not. Obedience leads to blessing and disobedience to regrets, curses and pain. In the Christian walk, sometimes obeying God leads to pain, we call it persecution, trials, testing...

James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3. knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

In these times, we run to our Father for strength, we wait on Him, we rest in His love, we relish His grace and trust in His faithfulness;

"They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." -Isaiah 40:31

Then He lifts us up, He takes pleasure in us and He fills our mouths with good things, yes, as for me and my house, we will serve Adonai!

Sinchat Torah

Today is "simchat torah" which literally means joy of the torah signifying when the last parasha (torah passage) is read and the torah reading is started all over again. It is also called the rolling of the scroll (in the olden days, the torah was written on scrolls, not bound books like we have today). The significance for us Christians is that the word of the Lord is a joy, we are opportuned to read the word, go through every scripture and re read the word. What a blessing!

Psalm 19:7-10 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Feast of Booths

Today, Wednesday, October 7, 2009 is half day and midway in the celebration of the the feast of booths which will end this Shabbat. Amongst many things, I've learnt to rejoice before the Lord and wave the lulav declaring His goodness and blessings. it is indeed a great privilege to belong to God and enjoy His presence.

One minister I greatly respect once said that the power, presence and promises of God must never leave the Christian, once those three essential "p"s are gone the Christian is doomed... this feast has rekindled those three "p"s in my life.

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto Thy name, O most High: To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night. Psalm 92:1,2.