Good Memories

I'm fond of November, some people I cherish were born this month and about five years ago, this month, a godly dream was birthed in me. That dream has taken me on a journey that equipped me in becoming the person I am today. I have good memories of November, the 11th month on the Julian calendar but the second or third month (depending on the day) on the Jewish Calendar. Today is also the tenth day and number ten signifies God's cycles, http://www.biblestudy.org/bibleref/meaning-of-numbers-in-bible/10.html Today I also spoke with someone I consider a father in the faith, it brought back a lot of lovely memories. Yes, I love good memories!

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.

Loshanah Tovah Bashem Yeshua

Loshanah Tovah Bashem Yeshua (To a good year in Jesus name)!

The Jewish New Year began yesterday at sundown. It is a two-day celebration ending tomorrow at sundown. Usually called Rosh hashanan (head of the year), this holiday required that every Jew came up to Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) to meditate on God's goodness and reflect on their ways, repent and honor God's word and celebrate His faithfulness.

I did that yesterday night with other like-minded believers. The video clip gives you a preview of the shofar blasts. Adonai Tov (The Lord is good), baruch bashem Adonai (blessed be the name of the Lord) and Yeshua ben Elohim (Jesus is the Son of God).

Iba Yin

Iba Yin
Jesu o
Iba Yin
Ọmọ Ọlọrun
Ẹlẹruniyin mo juba Yin
Ẹ ma ṣeun ṣeun

Thank You Father for the end of a decade in my life and the start of another one. Thank You for Your faithfulness, I am thankful and awed by Your love for me and to me. Kabiyesi, mo juba!

Ẹru Ọba ni mo ba, Ọba to!

Languages of Apology

I read the book discussed - Five languages of apology in April this year and it's helped me understand myself and my relationships a little more. I ended up giving my copy to a friend back in April but I had to get another copy, I love referring to it. - "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cfs7SwNxAak" Thank you Drs. Chapman and Thomas!

Another clip I like is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n496drnvB8g&feature=related where reconciliation and forgiveness is discussed.

It's a new month

What is it about September that just makes me feel refreshed? Maybe it's because it's my physical birth month, or because the Jewish new year (Rosh hashanah) usually falls in September, or because one of my sons was born in September... whatever the reason(s), I always feel refreshed in September...I am grateful to God for this month!

Maturity

Hebrews 6:1 (ISV) "Therefore, leaving behind the elementary teachings about the Messiah, let us continue to be carried along to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, faith toward God,"

The Hebrew word for maturity is sachal...it's noteworthy that God defines our growth levels in His word. He also defines what is elementary and what is full age.

HEBREWS 5: 12-14 "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."

It appears that the process of maturity or the journey from elementary to full age depends on the type of food one eats and the exercises one has accomplished.

New Beginnings!

August is a special month for me. It's the month I celebrate my new birth in Yeshua. I heard a simple story about God's love and the victory that Jesus wrought over the Devil and I was fascinated. I wanted that powerful Jesus to be my Master and He honored the prayer of a toddler (I got saved before I was five years old). God is truly AWESOME! It's a blessing, a priceless treasure to belong to God!

The Seven Things

There are seven things which the author of Proverbs chapter six calls an abomination to Adonai, I was at an oneg this afternoon and during our fellowship this issue came up. Proverbs 6:16 - 19 declares:

16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

If Adonai hates these things, we should hate them too.

Bringing In The Sheaves

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtFVgeLg8Is

The chapter below and the two verses from the B'rit Hadashah (New Testament) have ministered to me, the emphasis is mine. Our God is good!

Psalm 126 NIV Version
A song of ascents.
1 When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion,
we were like men who dreamed.

2 Our mouths were filled with laughter,
our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
"The LORD has done great things for them."

3 The LORD has done great things for us,
and we are filled with joy.

4 Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like streams in the Negev.

5 Those who sow in tears
will reap with songs of joy.

6 He who goes out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with him.

God's faithfulness ensures that we do not labor in vain, we return with a bountiful harvest. Like Rabbi Kefa wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) - 1 Kefa 5:10-11 (Complete Jewish Bible)

You will have to suffer only a little while; after that, God, who is full of grace, the One Who called you to His eternal glory in union with the Messiah, will Himself restore, establish and strengthen you and make you firm. To Him be the power forever and ever. Amen.