And a Christian! Praises to God that we live in a country that was founded on freedom and Biblical principles!
Sadly, Biblical principles and the truth of the freedoms that steeped deep within our country's forefathers and founders isn't readily understood by the majority of our culture...
But we have each been strategically positioned to influence the people and the culture around us.
Yes! YOU! Even you!
But how you might ask?
As this graphic post today states:
Sow righteousness for yourselves,
reap the fruit of unfailing love,
and break up your unplowed ground;
for it is time to seek the Lord,
until he comes
and showers his righteousness on you.
The NIV puts the emphasis on looking to your own heart first, and that is what you can do today...
1. Sow to righteousness (righteousness is right standing before God - seeking Him, growing in Godliness, putting away the things He tells you to and walking by faith are all ways we can 'sow to righteousness for ourselves')
2. Reap the fruit of unfailing love (the love that comes through dependence on Jesus and the Holy Spirit to produce).
3. Break up your fallow ground - this is a farming reference. Before a seed can be planted and expected to grow, the ground has to be broken up, softened and prepared, sometime amendments to fuel the growth of the seed is added. Fallow ground in particular is ground that may have been prepared at one time, but now is overgrown with weeds and thorns. It needs to be turned again to be good for seed growing. Soil is turned upside down and broken apart when the plow blade furrows through it. You may have been living through difficult circumstances, where you feel everything in your life is being broken apart. This is plowing. Where might you have strayed from the Lord? This is where your heart, your 'land', is fallow.
4. The final instruction is to seek the Lord until He comes. This means to seek Him and keep on seeking Him until you have the evidence of being in step with Him once again...the evidence is the "rain of His righteousness"...you might think of this as a fresh outpouring of His Spirit.
When you experience the fresh outpouring of His Spirit...that is when you know you are equipped to be an agent of change for the your world and your culture!
Spend time with Jesus. Let the Spirit of Truth flow through your heart and mind today, allowing yourself to be open to what He reveals...
(And comment below to share it with all of us - we can encourage one another!)
I am forever enthralled with the depth of meaning in the Hebrew language and in the Feasts of the Lord - especially how the appointed Feasts point to the Lord Jesus! As Christians, we are not under the Law, of course. But the principles God reveals through the Law are important to understand and incorporate into our lives today. I am (re)posting a highly edited older entry about the shofar blow during Rosh Hashaha - the Feast of Trumpets! There are so many ways to view the blowing of the Shofar - I want these words to reflect the desire for relationship that our Jesus has, and that relationship rests on the truth that He has provided all that is necessary for life and godliness - the foundation of salvation through Him...
I am just captured by the depth and layers of symbolism in the Jewish Feasts of the Lord and how they apply to our Christian walk! Read on to find out more about the shofar...
(image found on Google)
The Feast of Trumpets features 4 different blasts of the ram's horn trumpets; each actual blast and the spiritual meaning of the blast is described below.1 1. TEKIAH - Pronounced tuh-KEE-ah, the tekiah blast is one long note that acts as a kind of summons. Others have suggested that it is the sound of a king’s coronation. On Rosh Hashanah, we are traditionally called to reaffirm God’s sovereignty. A pure unbroken sound that calls man to search his heart, forsake his wrong ways, and seek forgiveness through repentance. The tekiah called the people to attention and to gather unto Moses. It is the calling note, calling your attention and holding you. It would be in general the summons to listen to God, to receive from Him the orders for the day.
2. SHEVARIM - Pronounced shih-vah-REEM, this word literally means “breaks” or “fractures.” The shevarim blast is three medium-length notes that have been compared to the sound of weeping.A wave-like sound of alarm calling upon man to stand by the banner of God. Teruah in Hebrew means not only a certain unique sound. It also connotes "to break", denoting breaking something and/or causing damage. It is the note for bustling, speedy activity, the signal for breaking up, for striking tents and breaking up camp.
3. TERUAH- Pronounced tih-ROO-ahh, the t’ruah blast is a series of very short, staccato sounds that have been compared to an urgent alarm, calling us to rouse from our spiritual slumber. A broken, staccato, trembling sound. It typifies the sorrow that comes to man when he realizes his misconduct and desires to change his ways. It must be at least 8 notes, most make 9 blasts so as not to accidentally do too few.
4. TEKIAH GEDOLAH - The prolonged, longer version of the first Tekiah, unbroken sound typifying a final appeal to sincere repentance and atonement.
These four sounds form a set, called a Tekiyot of shofar blasts. In the sounding of the Shofar the Tekiah is 1 blast, the Shevarim is 3 wavering continuous blasts, and the Teruah is 9 staccato blasts, finishing with the longer final Tekiah.
See if you can pick out the different blasts in this video:
The meaning of the Shofar blowing is:
1. The Tekiah is sounded first to call man's heart to give attention and hear the following 'sound' of the Shofar message.
2. It is then followed by the Shevarim which would then give His order to break off and away from every attachment that estranges us from God, and from our own purposes and present mode of life which is displeasing to God, and leave behind every worthless activity. The broken sound reminds us that we have a job of "breaking" to do as well - the breaking of our evil inclination.
3. The Teruah 'speaks' for the heart of man initiating the call to repentance and godly sorrow of heart.
4. The tekiah which then follows, calls one to a new standpoint, a new attitude, of faithfully following God's way of life. It is to rally us to come to a new place in Yahweh God.
The repetition of these sounds is for the purposed of penetrating deep into the recesses of man's being to bring a complete change of heart and complete reconciliation with our heavenly Father.
Here is a longer video of Shofar blowing that shows the variety and beauty that can be achieved using these 4 blasts:
My "quick notes" take away for the meaning of the Shofar blasts is as follows:
1. AWAKE: The blast called "teru'ah," nine staccato blasts, is the "alarm" sound meant to wake us up! This idea was stated in the New Testament writing: "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Messiah will shine on you" (Eph. 5:13-14). This theme of "awakening from sleep" is used elsewhere in the Scriptures (e.g., John 11:11, Rom. 13:11, 1 Thess. 5:6, Dan. 12:1-2, Psalm 78:65, etc.).
2. RETURN: Because the shofar is curved in appearance, we are reminded that this is the preferred posture of God's people. We are not to arrogantly rely on our own wisdom or to think we can correct our spirit to align with our Father. Instead, we are to take the humble stance of the shofar; that is, to be curved or bowed in submission to what God would tell us. 3. SEEK: Rosh HaShanah is a time to take an honest look into our hearts and spirits to make sure we are aligned with our Father's plan for us. The curve of the shofar tells us that the only way to find God's best is to bend our will to his will. The sound of the shofar calls us to return to the LORD and seek His face. This blast of the shofar is "the joyful sound" spoken of in the Psalms ... and since finding God is our greatest joy, King David rightly wrote:
One of the drawbacks of online work is the inability to actually have you come to me in person, but with technology’s innovations, we can work "face to face" in a manner of speaking at least! Another benefit of technology is the ability to work at one’s own pace, or even work during the middle of the night instead of the normal 9 to 5 office hours!
So, if you were going to come see me on a professional basis, there is a little paper work you need to fill out first. One of the most important questions in my intake form is this:
“When was the last time you saw a doctor?”
More than the answer, this question serves as a “trigger” to get a client thinking about the possible organic roots of the problems they are having. I am serious about getting a medical evaluation though, and will work with a client to get them a check up if one is due. Many problems have organic roots, and relationships between the mind and the body aren't always understood. Sometimes medical doctors don't understand these relationships either, so I also seek to provide valid information to educate my clients. What am I talking about? Habits of our daily lives may be contributing to organic issues, which in turn affect our minds and emotions.
You see, we live in an industrialized nation. We know that air pollution and water pollution are issues that we need to be concerned about. But we may not be as well educated about the toxins or chemicals that we come in contact with or absorb due to our laundry soap, our cleaning products, our cosmetics, our soaps, our fabrics, our furniture, our convenience foods, our processed foods, or even food that is marketed as healthy. Chemicals added to our water supply to make it safer for consumption can cause their own problems in our bodies.
I was glad when the Lord began to open my eyes to the need to eat clean and be aware of physical toxins that are common in the environment (not just toxic people and relationships!), yet it is overwhelming for me to keep up with it all! What I have found are several bloggers and business people whose passion is to educate others about how to live and eat “clean”. Today I am sharing my favorites, the ones that I subscribe to so I can have access to good research, handy tips, and great recipes for living "clean", whole foods and natural remedies!
I am NOT getting any revenue from sharing these businesses - these are simply the ones I love and choose to follow.
“25 Day Grace Filled Journey to Real Food”. Her recipes are fantastic and her approach is truly grace-laden. She shares her somewhat recent struggles after being exposed to mold in the home they were renting, and how that struggle has refined her health journey. You will love reading her encouraging words.
They cover healthy living in all of its facets, including home making, cooking (healthy whole food of course), natural remedies and natural products, essential oils, child rearing, and on and on…If you only had time to read one blog, this is the one I would recommend.
There you have it, my top 5 healthy living blogs. I hope these recommendations help you on your journey towards health and peace!
Below I am sharing an article I just this morning had time to read, and I wanted to keep it handy for both myself and for my friends here whom I thought would be encouraged by it too, especially since my tagline is "Ancient Wisdom/Peaceful Pathways".
Note the first line of the article:
Hope is an essential ingredient to possessing joy, peace, and faith.
"What to Do When You've Lost Hope"Curt Landry, Grove, OK
Hope is an essential ingredient to possessing joy, peace, and faith. Every Believer needs to fully understand what Biblical hope is and how to protect it. Before we begin to look at what hope is, how to renew it, and how to keep it, let's look at what it isn't.
Worldly Hope Is Wishful Thinking
People throw around the word hope about as often as they do the word love. In the world today, we hear hope referred to as situations or circumstances that may or may not come to pass. It's as though many see it as pure chance. They say things such as, "I hope you have a great day," or "I hope you enjoy your trip." It suggests wishful thinking rather than something certain.
Biblical Hope is an Assurance
The Word of God tells us something almost opposite of the world's view. It tells us that hope is promised, sure, and always present. God tells us it's an assurance. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence (or assurance) of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1 emphasis added)
Assurance is a positive declaration intended to give confidence. It's a promise of what will come. Your faith is the manifestation of the hope you have and what will take place in your future.
Think about that... the promises of God: abundant life, joy, peace, and hope are PROMISES THAT WILL TAKE PLACE. God's statements are not, "Good luck, My child, I hope you find peace and joy."
He tells you it's a guarantee—how amazing! Therefore, He tells you to have confidence. As you keep faith alive, what you are hoping for has to happen. You don't have to try in your strength to make things happen for yourself. When you maintain the faith, which comes by love, hope is manifested in your life by the power of God. Now remember, this is not an earthly hope. It's not a hope for nice things and lavish living—it's a certainty of God's decree over your life, your identity in Christ, and a fulfillment of His will. "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord." (Jeremiah 17:7)
When Does Hope Come?
Hope comes when you don't quit. The problem with quitting is that it steals your hope. Quitting and giving up your hope only hands it over to the enemy. Endure with patience so that the manifestation of hope becomes a testimony of faith.
Unfortunately, so many Believers hand over their hope before it has had time to be made strong in the Lord. The Lord wants to do a good work in you, so that you become a testimony of His love. He also knows other storms lie ahead; therefore, after you have passed over one mountain and your hope has grown, you will be able to recall His faithfulness to withstand the next.
Your testimony of enduring faith not only encourages those around you but also strengthens you. God wants to build a spiritual repertoire in you so that you can easily arm yourself with His armor and be well prepared for your destiny.
Encouraging Words
"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." (James 1:2-3)
"...rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer..." (Romans 12:12)
"But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does." (James 1:25)
How Do I Keep Hope Alive?
You keep hope alive by nurturing and protecting it. Hope is like a small seed that grows by the living water and the light of the Word. As it begins to grow inside, it begins to break through, just as a plant breaks through the crust of the earth. This is the time it is most vulnerable. It is delicate and requires attention and protection until it can stand firm in the elements. Be patient as it matures and grows strong.
"So Jesus said to them, 'Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.'" (Matthew 17:20)
Make a commitment to take the seed of hope within your heart and raise it up in the protection of God's Word. Water it daily with devotion. Wrap it in prayer and ask the Holy Spirit to place ministering angels around you to guard and protect it. Ask the Lord for the impartation of wisdom and daily revelation of how to maintain the hope you've been given.
"Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you." (Deuteronomy 31:6)
Hope in The Resurrection
When you are born-again and the Holy Spirit dwells in you, you have been given hope of the resurrection. The Holy Spirit gives you the assurance and testifies on your behalf of the righteousness you have been given through covenant restoration.
"...I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked." (Acts 24:14-15 NIV)
Let this truth soak in to your inner-man. You who are saved have been given hope! You must declare it with your mouth, believe it in your heart, and release it! God's Word does not come back void. "May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you." (Psalm 33:22 NIV)
Let's Pray:
"Father God, in the name of Jesus, I release the joy of my salvation. I decree and declare Your Word is true and every promise that You have spoken over me will prosper in what it was sent to do. I release the hope that You have given to me for a time such as this, to bear fruit that will last. I release the hope that I am an heir to the throne. I decree that every word You have spoken is final, and that every storm I face can be conquered by Your Word. I live victoriously when I trust in You!"
"Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you"(Zechariah 9:12 NIV).
Permission is granted (and you are also encouraged) to reprint these articles in hard copy form, as well as sending them to your own email lists and posting them on your own websites. We ask only that you keep Elijah List website, email contact info, and author contact information intact.
Another image by Gwen Meharg - a friend and inspiring artist.
6. Covenant
mark and oath
This step of covenant has multiple parts, so I am breaking the teaching up into two parts so that you are not overwhelmed and can truly internalize the richness of this step of covenant!
Parts of making the covenant mark:
a. Both parties' right arms are raised, the palms cut and then they bring their palms together.As this is done, the blood of the covenant
partners intermingle.As the blood
intermingles, it was believed that their lives were intermingling and becoming
one life.This is because “the life is
in the blood” (Leviticus 17:11).Our blood is our life and
to intermingle blood is to intermingle life….so…in a sense, covenant makers are "putting off their old
nature and putting on the new nature" of the blood covenant partner.We two are becoming one.Man has always believed that intermingling
blood is intermingling life.Thus, this act symbolically shows the two of us becoming one.
This 'bringing together of palms' is what we know as a handshake.
b.As
the partners stand there with their blood intermingling, they exchange names.“I take your last name as part of my name, and you take my last
name as part of your name.” The new name was a way of announcing to the world that there had been a covenant made between the ones whose names were changed and joined.
A Biblical example of this is when Abram's name was changed to Abraham in Genesis 17, verse 5. God had initiated a covenant promise with Abram in Genesis 15 (you can read the passage here and you will recognize the covenant steps!) and some 15 years later (Genesis 17), God appears again to Abram, speaking in covenant language and initiating the name change, combining Abram's name with God's..."Abram" + "Yah" of God's name "Yahweh"...what a powerful reminder to Abraham, that God is forever on his side; eternally and irrevocably linked to him!
c.Making
the scar:
The
next step is to rub the intermingled blood together and make a scar as a
permanent testimony to the covenant; a type of "seal".The
scar will bear witness to the covenant that was made.It will always be there to remind the
partners of their covenant responsibilities to each other.It is the guarantee of their covenant.
If
anyone tries to harm one of the partners, all they have to do is raise up that
right arm and show their scar.By that
we are saying, “There’s more to me than meets the eye.If you’re coming after me, you’re also going
to have to fight my blood covenant partner.And you don’t know how big he is.So what are you going to do?Are
you going to take your chances or back off?”If the would be attacker has any sense, he’s going to back off.So the scar is our seal that testifies to
the covenant.
II Corinthians 1:21-22 declares that the giving of the Holy Spirit is our 'seal of covenant' with God:
"...it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us,22 and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee."
and Ephesians 1:13-14:
"In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,14 who is the guarantee[d] of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it..."
Such powerful truths about our covenant making and keeping God is woven throughout the scriptures that we hold dear, even when we don't understand the incredible depth of meaning they contain!
When despair for the world grows in me And I wake in the night at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be, I go and lie down where the wood drake rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds. I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief. I come into the presence of still water. And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light. For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
The Feast of Epiphany is celebrated on January 6th, the 12th Day of Christmas. As in any story, it impacts us most if we see ourselves in it, when we become one of the characters acting in the story itself. When we read an ancient story {or any story for that matter}, we can imagine what it must have been like to be there, to experience it, to be faced with the circumstances those we read about faced, and to contemplate what our choice might have been if it had been us.
For Epiphany, the story is found in Matthew 2:1-12. This is my summary of the well loved and ancient text: Wise people - the curious, the seekers, the analytical ones, the intelligent ones, the spiritually sensitive ones - recognize the sign of an incredible event, and go on a journey to find the meaning. They go prepared, they embarked on a journey, they remain alert, they find what they were looking for, these wise, intelligent, curious, scientists remain open to the supernatural, bow in worship, and return to their home, different than when they left.
What lessons can I learn by their story?*
1. Follow the star to where it leads
The story begins with the our travelers heeding the message that comes in the night. Navigation in ancient times was largely by stars and constellations. Travelers had to know the night sky and trust the path through darkness and unknowing. Embracing mystery was a regular occurrence, a part of life. So often we want exactness, assurances, predictability, to know the end before we begin or we won't begin. This isn't living in the reality of the world we are a part of - it is trying to create fiction. The wise men travel along on a journey with no set answers, but with knowledge and faith about what their destination will hold...this drives their preparation.
What journey are you being called to? What is your "map", your "guide"? Is there a path to follow, even if the endpoint is not directly known? How will you know when you reach the end? What preparations do you need to make to go on the full journey?
2. Make the journey your own
We must act. We must initiate the journey and travel the path. If we stay "home" (where we are comfortable, where we are right now) we will never find that destination we are being stirred to seek out, we may not find that Hope, that Purpose, that Person who promises to be our Lord and Savior. We cannot life on our parents' or friends' faith...we must make faith our own. Herod and all Jerusalem see the signs, but will not travel 3 miles to find the Hope that awaits there. They want to remain in control (granted it is an illusion, but it is what they know and are familiar with)
Where are you content to allow other's opinions to shape yours? Where are you telling yourself you are "OK where you are" and not making a journey to freedom, hope and stability? Where are you reading and learning, but never stepping out in action yourself? How might you enter into your own journey of life more deeply this year?
3. Open your heart to joy by recognizing God's hand
The scriptures tell us that "When they sawthe star,they rejoicedexceedinglywith greatjoy.” In the original language, the last 'joy' means "grace recognized". The fullness of the verse indicates that they rejoiced abundantly because they recognized God's grace! A sign in the sky such as this star must have been could strike terror into men's hearts, or men might have been mostly indifferent like Herod and the religious leaders of their day. Or, men can recognize God is doing something powerful and rejoice.
What circumstances do you need to see "grace recognized"? In looking at the past, where has God's grace blossomed when you faced unknowns and journeys you didn't necessarily choose? How can these times direct how you face they mystery and unknowns of a new year?
4. Look for holy encounters in humble places
The wise man find a humble baby in a home and they bow down and prostrate themselves in worship. Prostration is an act of humility and honor.
As you encounter the holy in every ordinary place you move, how might the wise men's actions be adopted into your situation? How can you embrace the sovereignty of God in every situation, every moment, every day?
5. What if you haven't prepared to meet your King?
The wise men give baby Jesus the gifts they have brought of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. There is much rich teaching about these gifts and what they symbolize! But for our purposes I want to focus on the fact that each gift represents one of Jesus' offices: 1) gold represents His Kingship and Deity, 2) frankincense acknowledges His High Priestly authority and position as Intercessor (corresponding to prayer - both his and ours), and 3) myrrh represents His position as Messiah - the Anointed One and His anointing. The gifts show that the wise men acknowledged Jesus as the One prophesied to come.
In what ways can I show Jesus is my King? In what ways can I show that He is my High Priest? In what ways can I show that He is my Messiah?
6. Listen to the voice of the Lord, in any way He talks to you
The wise men - in their intelligence and wisdom - remained open to the supernatural, and acknowledged that the Lord had led them thus far, and listened when He spoke to them through a dream. God loves us and in that love communicates with us. He will warn us, comfort us, lead us. He speaks to us many ways, through dreams and visions, through the written Scriptures, and through gentle guidance and leadings of the heart. In our culture, the supernatural tends to be frowned upon, even in Christian circles. Belief in a personal God is relegated to superstition and simple mindedness. But true science always points to an Intelligent Creator. And He came to be "Emmanuel, God With Us". His presence with us means He WILL speak to us!
How do you know when God is speaking to you? Do you act on it? Commit to following His voice, His communication with you this year and acting on it. Again, keep a journal to document your journey.
7. Be open to change
The wise men heed the message from God they received in a dream; they go home by a different way. When we encounter God, we are changed, our journey (or at least how we experience our journey in life) changes, it takes on a new meaning.
How does hearing God change you? How does hearing God change how you approach life (or does it)? Is there some area He is speaking to you that requires a change? Spend some time allowing awareness of these areas to emerge. Are you allowing the Holy Spirit to change you or are you resisting? Have you ever had problems/trouble because you didn't heed the Lord's words - either generally in the Scripture or specifically through the ways He speaks to you? Is there any place you are resisting His direction for you? Do you KNOW that you hear God speak to you? How can you develop an "ear to hear" if you don't already know (hint: ask someone whose spiritual walk you respect)?
Spend some time every week this year to reflect on the story of the wise men and on your answers to these questions. Document the journey you are on through journaling {written or art}
*Response from an article from http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2017/01/06/feast-of-epiphany-follow-the-star/
