It was right after Messiah asked that question of His disciples and Peter gave the famous answer, "You are the Messiah. The Son of the living Elohim.",1 that He began to prepare them for the coming sacrifice of His death.
We are entering the time of Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread and I have come to understand that it is most fitting that He would bring this message now because He is asking the same question all over again to every one of us, "Who do you say that I am?"
When Messiah entered into the city of Jerusalem before the Feast of Passover, He chose to ride upon a donkey's colt. In doing so, He fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah which stated,
"9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
10 And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth."
Zechariah 9:9-10
He rode into the city at the time when lambs are being inspected for Passover. After the selection, lambs were to be brought into homes of the people for four days. Exodus 12:3-6. The people cared for them and bonded with them - a very easy thing to do where lambs are concerned. When the time of the sacrifice was made, the entire assembly, including women and children were present. It was done this way to reveal to them the cost of their sins.
Yeshua was their spotless lamb. As He approached Jerusalem, Luke tells us, "And when he was come near, he beheld the city and wept." 2
He wept.
He wept not only because He foresaw the destruction of the Temple, but because He knew what lay ahead in the coming moments ...and in the coming days. He had left heaven and was always about His Father's business and for three concentrated years of ministry was in their very midst, and they still didn't know Him or love Him for who He was. He watched as the crowds were gathering, waving palm branches and laying down their cloaks. He heard them shouting, "Hosanna, to the son of David: Blessed is he who cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest." Matthew 21:9 Hosanna means "Save us! Help us, we pray!"
King David they knew. He was a mighty warrior made a king. These people were under the hand of Roman rule and they believed that this rabbi descendant of King David would deliver them as evidenced by the fact that four days later, when He didn't fulfill their expectations, they cried out for His death.3
They didn't know who He was or understand what He came to do and He wept because of it.
They didn't know His Father, either.
As I was praying two nights ago, I drifted off to sleep and as I did so, the Father awakened me, saying, "A branch to the nose." I knew the Bible story in which that phrase is referenced and found that it is in Ezekiel chapter eight. When you turn there to read the entire chapter, you will find that Ezekiel was in his house before the elders of Judah when the hand of the Lord God fell upon him.
"2 Then I beheld, and lo a likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his loins even downward, fire; and from his loins even upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the colour of amber.
3 And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north; where there was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy."
Ezekiel 8:2-3
We are shown in this chapter through Ezekiel's vision what the abominations of YHVH's people look like to Him. In verse 14 we see women weeping for Tammuz who was born Nimrod, son of Ishtar/Easter and Noah's grandson, Cush. After Cush died, Tammuz and his evil mother married and began organized Baal worship. Tammuz was also called Molech and was the first to be called Baal.
http://suebendorf.blogspot.com/2013/12/ho-ho-ho-beginning-part-1.html?m=1
The women of Israel were so caught up in their idolatry that they mourned for forty days (where Lent comes from) prior to the anniversary of Tammuz's death by a wild boar. His death was commemorated by the eating of, yes, Easter ham. THIS is the person whose death they wept for and it doesn't stop there!
Ezekiel was also shown what the men of Israel were doing. They were holding Barsom branches to their noses, a pagan practice given to the worship of false gods. With their backs to the Temple, they were bowing down to worship the sunrise. Yes, that practice is where Easter sunrise services came from! If there was any remaining doubt as to whether or not I should celebrate the pagan practice of Easter, this chapter would be enough to answer it for me!
What did YHVH do about their idolatry? His fury began to be clearly seen in verses 17 and 18 of chapter eight, but go with me into chapter nine.
"1 HE CRIED also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.
2 And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; an one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brasen alter.
3 And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's inkhorn by his side;
4 And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereov.
5 And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity:
6 Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. ..."
Ezekiel 9:1-6a
By Ezekiel 11:23, because the abominations did not cease and the people did not repent, the Glory of YHVH had literally moved away from Israel and they were sent into exile for seventy years. Judah alone returned. The ten northern tribes are still scattered across the earth.
You might ask, "What does this have to do with us? What they did and our innocent practices are two different things! He knows our hearts! He knows we love Him! We are honoring Him!" I lay weeping on the floor in the middle of the night telling Him that some of you would think that. That because of the accumulated centuries of indoctrination you wouldn't see it as spiritual adultery. As though Ezekiel eight and nine were not enough, He instantly brought to mind the image of a man telling his wife that he loved her and kissing her good night; but then he turns to leave, his back to their marriage bed which YHVH calls sacred,4 in order to bow down to computer images of other women. And then He said, "Speak to that wife and tell her heart that what her husband is doing isn't adultery!" How DARE WE continue to justify our abominations calling them HOLY! Answer me this, who were the ones who were spared YHVH's righteous judgment? The ones with His mark on their foreheads. And what characteristics did they have? What set them apart? Reflect on that.
In the last post I put up, I wrote that history repeats itself. Ecclesiastes tells us in 1:9 that there is nothing new under the sun; that what has gone before will be done again. So be not surprised when His judgment falls! The book of Revelation tells us that those who are among His numbered 144,000 have HIS mark on their foreheads 4:9, 14:1. They are not defiled with falsehood. His witnesses will proclaim HIS TRUTH to the nations! Great exploits will accompany them because they honor His character, His teachings, and commands! Nothing has changed in that regard since His obedient ones of old! And be assured of this, no lies, no paganism will have any part of their message as they exclaim, "REPENT for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand!" John 3:2
This post began with telling the story about how the Messiah wept over Jerusalem, in part because they didn't know Him for who He was. It continued with telling how they didn't know who His Father was either, as evidenced by their refusal to honor his heart and obey His commands. Commands that were given for their own good, because He loved them and wanted them to be well, blessed and protected from the bitter results of sin! "Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the Lord thy God." Deuteronomy 12:28
In conclusion, "Who do you say that I am?" is just as relevant for us today because evangelicals are greatly confused. We have despised His Torah so much that we don't know the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob so when the wolves come in to lead us astray, we are proving to be easy prey. I will end with an example of the point being made.
A friend sent me a video of something last week that I never thought I would see. The video contained footage from Kenneth Copeland's annual evangelical minister's conference. An attractive and charismatic, middle-aged Episcopal bishop stood before them and said that he had come in the spirit of Elijah and John the Baptist to bring the hearts of the children back to their fathers (priests) and the hearts of the fathers (priests) back to their children. He went on to tell them that the Catholic church was where it all started and that the protest (Luther's) was over and they should come back to their beginnings. Did people stand up in protest? No. The sheep gone astray, led by blind guides, stood to their feet and cheered in standing ovation to the lies that he proclaimed!
The roots of our faith are NOT in the Catholic Church!
"4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:
5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:"
Deuteronomy 6:4-6
"4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."
Ephesians 4:4-6
True believers belong to the YHVH of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The roots are the patriarchs of that faith. The Vine is the Messiah, Yeshua Ha 'Machiach. The branches are the children of Israel and wild shoots, the Gentiles, are grafted in.5 There is only one covenant that the Father made with His people. The only covenant that He made with Gentiles is that He would never flood the earth again. Genesis 9:11 Gentile means, a foreigner, stranger, pagan, out of covenant. To be grafted in means that we are in covenant with YHVH through the atoning blood of His Son. So either we are in covenant with THE ONE TRUE ELOHIM, or we are not! If we are His, then we had better learn to live like it! It's His house! It is time to return to our First Love, remember the heights from which we have fallen, and do the things that believers did at the beginning of the Christian faith!6
Please, I implore you to pull off the veil of pride. The door of grace is closing and judgment comes. To those in the clergy, "God takes the deception of His people personally."7
References used and for further study:
John chapter 8
1. Matthew 16:15, Mark 8:29, Luke 9:20
2. Luke 19:41
3. Mark 15:13, Luke 23:21
4. Hebrews 13:4
5. Romans 11-12:5
6. Revelation 2:4-5
7. "God takes the deception of His people personally." Taken from www.theberean.org Archive. Devotion from April 11, 2014 - Jude 1:3 www.theberean.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Home.showBerean/BereanID/2119/Jude-1-13.htm
8. http://standupforthetruth.com/2014/02/pope-to-copeland-catholics-and-charismatics-must-spiritually-unite/
9. For a look at the life and teachings of the apostle Paul, plus concise information about Replacement Theology, Separation Theology, and Remnant Theology: http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Articles/Israel/israel.html
10. For an additional look at the teachings and life of Paul, please consider reading, The Letter Writer: Paul's Background and Torah Perspective by Tim Hegg
11. Barsom branches: http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/barsom-av
12. http://womanassigned.blogspot.com/2014/04/his-still-small-voice-one-year-ago.html?m=1
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
HIS
Looking at the clock, I see that it is already 2:14 in the afternoon where I live. I have hesitated in writing this post. Having to write it is one of the reasons for my heavy heart, but not wanting to have another experience that brought forth A Cleansing Rain for My Sin, I decided to stop trying to draw out the inevitable and sit down at the computer.
Before I began to type today, I went back and read the last few posts, ending with the cleansing rain one. It wasn't until I came to the final two paragraphs that I had written in that post, that I knew the real reason for my procrastination. History repeats itself and reading the words anew was enough impetus to get me to click on the pen icon to write this piece.
Before I get into the heart of this message, let me tell you a story about myself that, given the nature of this blog, you may find hard to believe. This week, a friend of mine shared her blog with me that has been off of the Internet for awhile, and let me tell you what, the woman can write! Her bare bones honesty is refreshing. Her wonderful illustrations were beautifully written and engaging and drew me in because they were so easy to relate to. I loved every minute that I spent reading through the experiences of her life! She didn't hold back the achingly good and the awfully painful, and in every story, HE was there! Each illustration painted a lovely picture of His Word and His presence in not just her life, but in all of our lives. It was an honor that she trusted me enough to open up in that way and I don't take it lightly.
I bring that up to of course tell you of my joy at reading her blog and also to tell you that when the prophetess told me a few years ago that I would have one of my own, that is how I expected it would be. A devotional of sorts that grew out of my day to day experiences. Tales from my life that would make people laugh or cry, or smile and nod in identification; as well as bring forth truth from His Word to take it much deeper than mere story telling.
When the Father asked me more than a couple of years ago during a church service, if He could use my writing and I instantly answered, "Sure!", I did so not knowing what that would mean. I expected that it would a continuation of the same things that I had been doing, so of course I had no problem with it. Composing things like Bible studies, letters, cards, e mails and wordy texts were no big deal, right? Shifting gears to make those kinds of things into a blog was where I thought He was headed. I'm shaking my head as the irony of, "A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps."*, is going through my mind.
Nope, that isn't where He was headed. This is where He was going. And as His chosen title for the blog reveals, these hard truths are the things that He has chosen For Such a Time as This. Do I feel badly that my plans were aborted in lieu of Him taking this blog in a direction I never saw coming back when He asked if He could use my writing; even taking into consideration the costs and losses that have come with it? If you could see the slow smile that's building on my face and the shake of my head that accompanies it, you would already know the answer to that question. His "life more abundant" promise is manifesting itself in my life to a fullness that it never has before! I wouldn't trade one second of the peace, depth, discovery and blessings of this walk on the ancient paths for anything this world has to offer!
Yesterday, I published a post that told you that my heart is heavy, in part, because of something He has asked me to convey to you. All morning I hesitated to write it and when I finally got up the guts to do so, this is what came. It appears to me that He wanted you to see the difference between Him and me so as to clear up any doubt when the message comes.
I will close this piece as I began it, with my telling of re-reading some recent posts that ended with A Cleansing Rain for My Sin. When you come to the last two paragraphs that I wrote, you will see why I don't mind that He has always made For Such a Time as This, HIS.
http://suebendorf.blogspot.com/2014/02/a-cleansing-rain.html?m=1
*Proverbs 16:9 NKJV
Before I began to type today, I went back and read the last few posts, ending with the cleansing rain one. It wasn't until I came to the final two paragraphs that I had written in that post, that I knew the real reason for my procrastination. History repeats itself and reading the words anew was enough impetus to get me to click on the pen icon to write this piece.
Before I get into the heart of this message, let me tell you a story about myself that, given the nature of this blog, you may find hard to believe. This week, a friend of mine shared her blog with me that has been off of the Internet for awhile, and let me tell you what, the woman can write! Her bare bones honesty is refreshing. Her wonderful illustrations were beautifully written and engaging and drew me in because they were so easy to relate to. I loved every minute that I spent reading through the experiences of her life! She didn't hold back the achingly good and the awfully painful, and in every story, HE was there! Each illustration painted a lovely picture of His Word and His presence in not just her life, but in all of our lives. It was an honor that she trusted me enough to open up in that way and I don't take it lightly.
I bring that up to of course tell you of my joy at reading her blog and also to tell you that when the prophetess told me a few years ago that I would have one of my own, that is how I expected it would be. A devotional of sorts that grew out of my day to day experiences. Tales from my life that would make people laugh or cry, or smile and nod in identification; as well as bring forth truth from His Word to take it much deeper than mere story telling.
When the Father asked me more than a couple of years ago during a church service, if He could use my writing and I instantly answered, "Sure!", I did so not knowing what that would mean. I expected that it would a continuation of the same things that I had been doing, so of course I had no problem with it. Composing things like Bible studies, letters, cards, e mails and wordy texts were no big deal, right? Shifting gears to make those kinds of things into a blog was where I thought He was headed. I'm shaking my head as the irony of, "A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps."*, is going through my mind.
Nope, that isn't where He was headed. This is where He was going. And as His chosen title for the blog reveals, these hard truths are the things that He has chosen For Such a Time as This. Do I feel badly that my plans were aborted in lieu of Him taking this blog in a direction I never saw coming back when He asked if He could use my writing; even taking into consideration the costs and losses that have come with it? If you could see the slow smile that's building on my face and the shake of my head that accompanies it, you would already know the answer to that question. His "life more abundant" promise is manifesting itself in my life to a fullness that it never has before! I wouldn't trade one second of the peace, depth, discovery and blessings of this walk on the ancient paths for anything this world has to offer!
Yesterday, I published a post that told you that my heart is heavy, in part, because of something He has asked me to convey to you. All morning I hesitated to write it and when I finally got up the guts to do so, this is what came. It appears to me that He wanted you to see the difference between Him and me so as to clear up any doubt when the message comes.
I will close this piece as I began it, with my telling of re-reading some recent posts that ended with A Cleansing Rain for My Sin. When you come to the last two paragraphs that I wrote, you will see why I don't mind that He has always made For Such a Time as This, HIS.
http://suebendorf.blogspot.com/2014/02/a-cleansing-rain.html?m=1
*Proverbs 16:9 NKJV
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
A Red Sea Experience
My heart has been heavy the last couple of days. There are reasons for it. Some I have been aware of, others have been veiled. I have prayed and waited for Him to show me all of the reasons.
As I stood in the shower this morning, a song from the past came to mind with such force that I found myself singing it. I haven't sung it in a long time so these lyrics will be from memory. I don't want to look it up to make sure that all the words are correct. In this instance, it would feel like I was cheapening the time I had spent singing it to Him.
"Sometimes my little heart can't understand. What's in Your will? What's in Your plan?
So many times I'm tempted to ask You why.
But I can never forget it for long,
Lord, what You do, could not be wrong.
So I believe You, even when I must cry.
Do I trust You, Lord?
Does the river flow?
Do I trust You, Lord?
Does north wind blow?
You can see my heart.
You can read my mind.
And You've got to know I would rather die,
Than to lose my faith in the One I love.
Do I trust You, Lord?
Do I trust You?
Lord, I'm keepin' my eyes on You, following You, following You.
My Lord, I'm keepin' my eyes on You, following You, following You.
I won't look to the left or right.
My only hope, is keepin' You in my sight.
Lord, I'm keepin' my eyes on You, following You, following You. My Lord.
We will glorify the King of Kings.
We will glorify the Lamb.
We will glorify the Lord of Lords. Who is the Great I AM.
Who IS.
I will trust You, Lord, when I don't know why.
I will trust You, Lord, 'til the day I die.
I will trust You, Lord, when I'm blind with pain.
You were God before and You never change!
I will trust You!
I will trust You!
I will trust You, Lord!
I will trust You!
I will trust You!
I WILL TRUST YOU, LORD!
Do I Trust You Medley by Twila Paris
Every time I think of this song, I remember a dream that I had shortly after becoming a believer. In the dream I was crossing the Red Sea on dry ground like the Israelites had done in their escape from Pharaoh's army. The sound of rushing waters was incredible as was the height of the brilliantly blue walls of water that flowed upward. I saw animals of the sea swim up the sides with the direction of the flow. As you can imagine, I was in complete and utter awe as my eyes traveled everywhere! I had walked for awhile when I came to a fork in the road. A path went to the right and one went to the left. Although I reasoned that the right would be the best route to take, I wondered if it was a test. So I first took a few steps down the left and backed up. Then I took a few down the right, but that didn't feel right, either. So I came back to the place in the middle and stared at it. I told myself that it was just a veil of water and no matter what happened, I knew that what I was thinking was what I was supposed to do. I pushed through the wall of water and found that indeed, it was only a thin veil. It was then that I heard in my spirit this command,
"Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left, following other gods and serving them." Deuteronomy 28:14
After hearing those Words - that I had no prior knowledge of, my ears beheld people cheering and in the midst of their cheers, I heard that they were shouting my name! Needless to say, I started to run and my excitement grew with each step! I came to another veil and this time with no hesitation, I pushed through, careful to keep my eyes tightly shut so as to not ruin the surprise of whom I would meet on the other side. SUCH CELEBRATION! Someone picked me up and hands were patting me and crying out how good it was for me to finally be HOME!
When I awakened with a huge smile on my face and tears on my eyelids, I knew that not only was the dream from Him, but that it was prophetic. That at some point on my walk I would have my own "Red Sea experience" and have to make a decision that would affect my arrival Home. In the dream I had clearly made the right choice. Through the years I wondered if I would make the right one when the time came for me to face it in real life.
As I stood in the shower this morning with Twila's song and my Red Sea dream on my mind, I knew all the reasons for my heavy heart and I knew what He was asking me to do. But for today, this story is enough and will be an introduction for what's to come.
Red Sea crossing - Exodus 14
"26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil."
Proverbs 4:26-27
As I stood in the shower this morning, a song from the past came to mind with such force that I found myself singing it. I haven't sung it in a long time so these lyrics will be from memory. I don't want to look it up to make sure that all the words are correct. In this instance, it would feel like I was cheapening the time I had spent singing it to Him.
"Sometimes my little heart can't understand. What's in Your will? What's in Your plan?
So many times I'm tempted to ask You why.
But I can never forget it for long,
Lord, what You do, could not be wrong.
So I believe You, even when I must cry.
Do I trust You, Lord?
Does the river flow?
Do I trust You, Lord?
Does north wind blow?
You can see my heart.
You can read my mind.
And You've got to know I would rather die,
Than to lose my faith in the One I love.
Do I trust You, Lord?
Do I trust You?
Lord, I'm keepin' my eyes on You, following You, following You.
My Lord, I'm keepin' my eyes on You, following You, following You.
I won't look to the left or right.
My only hope, is keepin' You in my sight.
Lord, I'm keepin' my eyes on You, following You, following You. My Lord.
We will glorify the King of Kings.
We will glorify the Lamb.
We will glorify the Lord of Lords. Who is the Great I AM.
Who IS.
I will trust You, Lord, when I don't know why.
I will trust You, Lord, 'til the day I die.
I will trust You, Lord, when I'm blind with pain.
You were God before and You never change!
I will trust You!
I will trust You!
I will trust You, Lord!
I will trust You!
I will trust You!
I WILL TRUST YOU, LORD!
Do I Trust You Medley by Twila Paris
Every time I think of this song, I remember a dream that I had shortly after becoming a believer. In the dream I was crossing the Red Sea on dry ground like the Israelites had done in their escape from Pharaoh's army. The sound of rushing waters was incredible as was the height of the brilliantly blue walls of water that flowed upward. I saw animals of the sea swim up the sides with the direction of the flow. As you can imagine, I was in complete and utter awe as my eyes traveled everywhere! I had walked for awhile when I came to a fork in the road. A path went to the right and one went to the left. Although I reasoned that the right would be the best route to take, I wondered if it was a test. So I first took a few steps down the left and backed up. Then I took a few down the right, but that didn't feel right, either. So I came back to the place in the middle and stared at it. I told myself that it was just a veil of water and no matter what happened, I knew that what I was thinking was what I was supposed to do. I pushed through the wall of water and found that indeed, it was only a thin veil. It was then that I heard in my spirit this command,
"Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left, following other gods and serving them." Deuteronomy 28:14
After hearing those Words - that I had no prior knowledge of, my ears beheld people cheering and in the midst of their cheers, I heard that they were shouting my name! Needless to say, I started to run and my excitement grew with each step! I came to another veil and this time with no hesitation, I pushed through, careful to keep my eyes tightly shut so as to not ruin the surprise of whom I would meet on the other side. SUCH CELEBRATION! Someone picked me up and hands were patting me and crying out how good it was for me to finally be HOME!
When I awakened with a huge smile on my face and tears on my eyelids, I knew that not only was the dream from Him, but that it was prophetic. That at some point on my walk I would have my own "Red Sea experience" and have to make a decision that would affect my arrival Home. In the dream I had clearly made the right choice. Through the years I wondered if I would make the right one when the time came for me to face it in real life.
As I stood in the shower this morning with Twila's song and my Red Sea dream on my mind, I knew all the reasons for my heavy heart and I knew what He was asking me to do. But for today, this story is enough and will be an introduction for what's to come.
Red Sea crossing - Exodus 14
"26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil."
Proverbs 4:26-27
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Winds of Change
It probably goes without saying that the last post I put up has remained a part of my thoughts and prayers. I have continued to think about Saul and why he was rejected as king. Remember, he told Samuel that he had obeyed ...as the bleating of sheep and the lowing of oxen were heard in the distance. His obedience went only part of the way. I remember telling my children while they were growing up, "Delayed and partial obedience is disobedience." This was true of Saul and it is true of us.
The good news ...
...is that there is still time for us to repent!
After sending out the post on Saturday, I awoke Sunday morning to reach for my phone to check the time. I saw that my husband was already on his phone checking sport stats from the night before. The Berean is a devotional that comes to my Inbox early each morning. As I finished the devotion that came that day, I said, "Oh my word!" and handed it to my husband for him to read.
http://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Home.showBerean/BereanID/2045/Amos-8-3,htm
I cannot explain how grateful I am to the Father for bringing His comfort and continued confirmation through His Word!
Then today, my Inbox held the following post from a sister in the Lord who received a very similar message a year ago, today.
HIS STILL SMALL VOICE: One year ago today - April 1, 2013
For all shall come tumbling down, tumbling down.
Yes, they cry, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, but My hand is removed from the churches that men have built.
Build My Church! Build My people! Cleanse My alters. I shall purge all the leven, all that is not of Me.
Oh My Daughter, how I tire from looking upon all this false worship and none of it is for Me. They don't even realize that I don't hear them, for they are not sincere. A few honor Me, but then even they are stifled because of the corrupt hearts of them that are amonst them.
NO MORE. NO MORE.
to see the rest of the post, please go to: http://womanassigned.blogspot.com/2014/04/his-still-small-voice-one-year-ago.html
The wind is blowing hard today where I live. Hmmm ...There was a morning filled with sunshine and strong winds a year ago when I was hanging out my first load of laundry of the season. I was talking to the Father about the things that were on my heart and as I bent down to pick up an item from the laundry basket, He spoke to my spirit, "Everything you have known is about to change." As I sit here this morning, listening to the wind blow around the corners of the house and whistling at the windows, the memory of that morning is very vivid in my mind.
The nature of strong winds is to move in fronts that bring change.
"13 And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the Lord: I have performed the commandment of the Lord.
14 And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?"
1 Samuel 15:13-14
"9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
2 Peter 3:9
"30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.
31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye."
Ezekiel 18:30-32
"13 When thou criest, let thy companies deliver thee; but the wind shall carry them all away; vanity shall take them: but he that putteth his trust in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountian;
14 And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people.
15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
16 For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.
17 For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart,
18 I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.
19 I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord; and I will heal him.
20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
21 There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked."
Isaiah 57:13-21
Amazing, isn't it?!
To all of those who abide in His Word, be thou comforted for it is eternal, it is alive, it will never pass away! Those of you who are led by His Spirit who put your trust in Him and are led in His Word, you will not be put to shame! It is its own witness to the truth! HALLELUYAH! AND AGAIN, I SAY GLORY TO THE ONE WHO SITS UPON THE THRONE AND IS WORTHY!
"12 ...Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever."
Revelation 5:12-14
Again, I say, WORTHY IS THE LAMB!
The good news ...
...is that there is still time for us to repent!
After sending out the post on Saturday, I awoke Sunday morning to reach for my phone to check the time. I saw that my husband was already on his phone checking sport stats from the night before. The Berean is a devotional that comes to my Inbox early each morning. As I finished the devotion that came that day, I said, "Oh my word!" and handed it to my husband for him to read.
http://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Home.showBerean/BereanID/2045/Amos-8-3,htm
I cannot explain how grateful I am to the Father for bringing His comfort and continued confirmation through His Word!
Then today, my Inbox held the following post from a sister in the Lord who received a very similar message a year ago, today.
HIS STILL SMALL VOICE: One year ago today - April 1, 2013
For all shall come tumbling down, tumbling down.
Yes, they cry, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, but My hand is removed from the churches that men have built.
Build My Church! Build My people! Cleanse My alters. I shall purge all the leven, all that is not of Me.
Oh My Daughter, how I tire from looking upon all this false worship and none of it is for Me. They don't even realize that I don't hear them, for they are not sincere. A few honor Me, but then even they are stifled because of the corrupt hearts of them that are amonst them.
NO MORE. NO MORE.
to see the rest of the post, please go to: http://womanassigned.blogspot.com/2014/04/his-still-small-voice-one-year-ago.html
The wind is blowing hard today where I live. Hmmm ...There was a morning filled with sunshine and strong winds a year ago when I was hanging out my first load of laundry of the season. I was talking to the Father about the things that were on my heart and as I bent down to pick up an item from the laundry basket, He spoke to my spirit, "Everything you have known is about to change." As I sit here this morning, listening to the wind blow around the corners of the house and whistling at the windows, the memory of that morning is very vivid in my mind.
The nature of strong winds is to move in fronts that bring change.
"13 And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the Lord: I have performed the commandment of the Lord.
14 And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?"
1 Samuel 15:13-14
"9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
2 Peter 3:9
"30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.
31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye."
Ezekiel 18:30-32
"13 When thou criest, let thy companies deliver thee; but the wind shall carry them all away; vanity shall take them: but he that putteth his trust in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountian;
14 And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people.
15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
16 For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.
17 For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart,
18 I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.
19 I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord; and I will heal him.
20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
21 There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked."
Isaiah 57:13-21
Amazing, isn't it?!
To all of those who abide in His Word, be thou comforted for it is eternal, it is alive, it will never pass away! Those of you who are led by His Spirit who put your trust in Him and are led in His Word, you will not be put to shame! It is its own witness to the truth! HALLELUYAH! AND AGAIN, I SAY GLORY TO THE ONE WHO SITS UPON THE THRONE AND IS WORTHY!
"12 ...Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever."
Revelation 5:12-14
Again, I say, WORTHY IS THE LAMB!