The Biblical Recipe

 I don't consider myself to be a great cook, especially since I have become a widow. Cooking for one is not exciting, and trying out recipes that contain a multitude of ingredients is not my idea of fun, not to mention the cost associated with purchasing so many items just for one sit-down meal for myself. Nevertheless, I have recently decided to try out some healthy recipes that look appetizing, in addition to being simple one pan dishes with few ingredients. I'm even learning to improvise a little when the recipe might call for chicken and I substitute sausage, or I might add an ingredient or two that may add flavor, such as mushrooms, garlic or a certain spice that I feel would be a good fit. I find myself enjoying creating flavorful meals and have even invited a couple of my friends over to share a meal with me. My culinary skills are improving greatly, and my meals are becoming much more exciting and something I look forward to rather than dread.

With that said, The Lord used this new experience to reveal something about His word that really spoke to me in a tangible way I had never given thought to before. The Bible is, in many ways God's recipe for life. His word contains everything I need to live out my life in obedience to Him and to inherit the Eternal life He promises to all who follow His commands.

However, I cannot substitute ingredients as I do with my meal prep. His recipe is perfect. It doesn't need me to tamper with it. Deuteronomy 4:2 instructs "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you". These are very clear instructions.

I see a lack of reverence for God's word in today's culture. We are getting further away from the Bible and creating our own "recipe" for life according to our desires. What does God have to say about this?

 Isaiah 55:7-9 "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."

We need to follow God's recipe as it has been given in His word. We have no right to change it or make substitutes to it. It is perfect! Unfortunately, not only in our secular world, but even in Christianity, we have often disregarded God's instructions and chosen to create our own substitutions. Each of us needs to return to the Bible to discover what God really instructs and make the necessary changes in our lives to conform to His ways. They are the path to eternal life and there's no substitute for that!

The Pictures in My Mind

 I find it amazing where my mind takes me as I sit quietly in the early morning hours contemplating life itself. I can turn the pages of my life's album and view snapshots of myself as a young child, playing gleefully with my sister, the schoolyears, growing up years, my wedding, the birth of my precious daughter, the working years, my body as it has aged and changed over time. I see good times and bad, happy times and sad. I've experienced miracles. It has been quite a journey. The picture that looms the largest is the day I gave my life to my Savior and asked Him to come into my life. He has always remained by my side and my life has been enormously blessed, through the lowest valley or highest mountaintop. He is my everything.

Through His word, I can open another album of the future. I can glimpse scenes of eternal joy in His presence. As I turn each page, I see the new heavens and new earth (II Peter 3:13). I can see Yeshua on His throne in Jerusalem, ruling over mankind (Jeremiah 3:17). If I have long slept in the dust at His return, He will awaken me and change this mortal body to an immortal one (I Corinthians 15:51-52). If I am alive at His coming, He will lift me up and I will rise with all who are His and meet Him in the clouds, to be with Him forever (I Thessalonians 4:13-17). I see the thousand-year reign, His Sabbath rest, where the saints will live and rule with Him over all the earth (Revelation 20:6). I see the earth at peace, mankind learning to live as He intended, being taught to obey His Torah (Micah 4:1-5). I see animals at peace with one another, little children sitting alongside lions, stroking their manes as if they were cuddling kittens (Isaiah 11:6-9). I see all mankind living in exuberant health, enjoying satisfying lives, no more pain or suffering (Revelation 21:4). His Holy seasons will replace those of the nations. I can see clearly all peoples going up to Jerusalem to celebrate His Sabbaths and festivals, as He has foretold in His word (Isaiah 66:23, Zechariah 14:16). I can see the day when God Himself, our Father, comes to live with us forever in the new Jerusalem that will come down out of heaven (Revelation 21:1-3). 

My life's album is filled with memories that I enjoy flipping through from time to time, but God's album is one I look into every day, for it declares my future with Him into eternity. I speak with others often, those who attend church each week, and have never heard these things. They are amazed when I open God's word and share these marvelous truths with them. God has given me a gift and a calling, to teach His word to any who will listen, to reveal to them what they may never hear in their weekly assemblies, but that which will change their lives forever as it has mine. I pray I can fulfill that mandate until I take my last breath.

Life Interrupted

(This was originally written in 2015)

As I was praying and meditating this morning, wondering what direction I would be led in now that my job recently ended, I contemplated how important it is for me to wait upon Yehovah to lead me in all aspects of my life. I rehearsed in my thoughts all the many blessings he has already bestowed upon me throughout my life and how he has never abandoned me. Surely I can depend upon him today as I look to the future. Who knows what he has in store for me?

Suddenly my thoughts turned to a dear friend of mine, Susan, whom I have known for only a short time, just a year, but who has impacted me in such a profound way. I met her October a year ago when I began attending a small Torah study group in my area. Each month, her insights and knowledge of scripture propelled me toward a much deeper understanding of our creator and his plan for our lives. She has played a huge role in my growth as a believer on so many levels and I marvel at how Yehovah has used her to advance his Kingdom message.

Susan had been a believer for many years and raised her children in a local Assemblies of God congregation. One day Yehovah spoke to her heart and revealed to her that she was going to be taken in an entirely new direction. He revealed himself to her in ways that few of us experience. She and her husband, along with a friend, started this small fellowship in order to teach others Torah, the biblical festivals, the Sabbath, and the beauty of the Hebrew language, through which Yehovah first revealed himself to mankind. Several years ago, Susan's husband suffered a sudden heart attack that took his life. They had shared a long marriage, resulting in eight children. All are grown now, except her youngest, Nathan. 

Last Fall, events in Susan's life took an unexpected turn. She and Nathan had to move out of their townhouse apartment and she didn't have money enough to relocate. One of her sons is in the State Dept, stationed in Bangkok, Thailand, and invited them to come there for a couple of months for a visit, allowing Susan to save her money and get a new start upon her return to the States this month.

Upon preparing for the trip, a friend in Israel told her of a small group of believers in Bangkok, who were studying the Torah, that she could connect with upon her arrival. The rest of the story is truly amazing. She not only began meeting with this group each Sabbath, but her knowledge of scripture also blew them away and they began asking her to teach them. Our small group was able to provide ten bibles, "The Scriptures" version and have them drop-shipped to Bangkok. This version is a closer translation to the original, using the original names of the Father and son, as well as the original names of people and places spoken of in the bible.

These believers are so zealous for Yehovah's word and, through Susan's teachings, are growing in ways they never could have imagined. And Susan.......one thing has led to another, and she has been invited to speak before other groups and even Churches that don't even teach the Sabbath or Holy Days. She shared four hours with a Muslim man and shared the teachings of the Messiah with him. Invitations have been extended for her to travel to other places; Cambodia, India, all expenses paid.
She was due to return to the States this month, but her visa had to be extended. Yehovah has other plans, and she is fully aware that each day her steps are ordered by him.

As I thought of the significance of these events this morning, my mind began thinking of all those before whose every day, ordinary lives were "interrupted" by a divine calling. I thought about Noah, Abraham, Moses, Daniel, David, the prophets, and the disciples. If we are willing to follow Yehovah with all our hearts, minds, souls, and bodies, we too can be used mightily in advancing his soon-coming Kingdom on this earth. Each day we have an opportunity to step up and make a difference.

Each new day is a mystery. We make our plans, go through the lives that we have built, and one day....who knows? Our everyday, ordinary lives just might be interrupted! Yehovah might call out our name and say, "Come, follow me! I have a job for you."

May Yehovah continue to bless Susan and all who eagerly answer his call with a resounding YES!

The Seventy-Week Ministry of Messiah

If you ask most Christians today how long Yeshua's ministry was, you will no doubt be told 3 1/2 years. That's what I was told many years ago and took at face value. That's what I was taught in Church.

However, that's not what I believe today. History records that the early church fathers all believed his ministry was about one year. Eusebius, the court bishop of Emperor Constantine in the fourth century, was the first to argue for the 3 1/2 year ministry and his chronology has continued through the centuries, although there are many voices that do not agree with his timeline.

I was first introduced to a dissenting view by Biblical historian, Michael Rood, the author of "The Chronological Gospels, The Acceptable Year of the Lord, The Life & Seventy Week Ministry of the Messiah". This book is the result of a 40-year study of the chronology of the gospels. Michael believes that Yeshua's ministry is the second layer of Daniel's seventy-week prophecy. He contends that from the day Yeshua was baptized until he baptized with the Holy Spirit was exactly seventy weeks. In my opinion, this book as a masterpiece and has opened my mind to so much understanding regarding Yeshua's ministry.

Through Michael Rood's book, I have been able to see with greater clarity the events surrounding Yeshua's life and teachings in their proper context as recorded in the four gospel accounts. Each gospel writer gives us a glimpse of the role of the Messiah from a different perspective. Matthew's gospel focuses on his role as our King, laying down the rules of the kingdom. Mark focuses on his role as a servant, caring for the needs of the people. Luke's gospel speaks of him as the son of man, and John's as the Son of God. Luke's gospel is chronological as it follows Yeshua week by week and often day by day throughout his ministry. John follows Yeshua as he goes up to the yearly feasts in Jerusalem. The one miracle recorded by all four gospels is the feeding of the 5,000, which allows us to synchronize the gospeel accounts of Yeshua's ministry with startling accuracy.

I want to focus primarily on John's gospel accounts as pertaining to the annual feasts, as this is where the controversy comes in regarding the duration of  Yeshua's ministry. Not many days after his temptation in the wilderness, John 2:13 has him at Passover in Jerusalem. Chapter 5:1 has him again at Jerusalem for a "feast of the Jews", which chronologically would be Shavuot or Pentecost, where he heals a lame man at the pool of Bethesda. Next, we come to John 6:4, which tells us that Passover is nigh. This verse seems to be missing from many of the early manuscripts and thought by some scholars to have been added with the intent of lengthening Yeshua's ministry, although Eusebius did not include this particular verse in the defense of his 3 1/2 year chronology. Interesting!

If we look at the context, Yeshua is in the Galilee feeding 5,000 men, along with women and children, barley loaves and fish. If Passover is nigh, why is he not in Jerusalem for a feast he would be commanded to keep and why is this great multitude also not going up to the feast? Why are they in the Galilee eating leavened bread? Remember, this miracle was recorded in all four gospels. Luke's gospel is in chronological order and the next event following the feeding of the five thousand is the transfiguration eight days later according to Luke 9:28. This is believed to be on the Day of Atonement, in which Peter, James, and John encourage Yeshua to stay on that mountain where they offer to erect tabernacles for the upcoming feast, fearful that he will not be safe going up to Jerusalem. John's gospel confirms the timing in John 7:2 that Tabernacles is approaching. Interject John 6:59 where Yeshua is in a Capernaum synagogue teaching on the last great day, a theme of the Day of Trumpets. John 6:4 absolutely breaks up the chronology of the gospel records. In John 5:1, Yeshua is at Shavuot. Then in John 6:59 he is in Capernaum for Trumpets. In Luke 9:28, he is with his disciples on the mount of transfiguration in the Galilee on the Day of Atonement and in John 7:2, he is going up to Jerusalem for Tabernacles.

Also, as we have already established, Luke's gospel follows Yeshua's ministry often on a day by day basis. If John 6:4 is recording a Passover and we have seen that the next named feast in John 7:2 is Tabernacles, we have a serious break in chronology and months of silence by the gospel writers who record no events during this entire time.

We continue to follow Yeshua as he travels back to Jerusalem for Hanukkah, the feast of dedication. where he heals a man born blind, John 9:1-41, 10:22. He is fulfilling his role as the light of the world.
John's gospel ends with Yeshua returning to Jerusalem for Passover, where he will become our Passover through his death, burial and resurrection.

So we have it. According to the chronology of the gospel writers accounts, we see that Yeshua's ministry begins at Passover and a year later he is crucified at Passover. Fifty days following the Feast of Firstfruits, the Holy Spirit is poured out on the disciples at Shavuot. Again, from the day of his baptism to the day he baptizes with the Holy Spirit is 70 weeks to the day, the fulfillment of the second layer of Daniel's seventy-week prophecy.

One last thought for you to ponder. If Yeshua's ministry began at Passover, which is evident according to the gospels, and his ministry was 3 1/2 years in duration, that would take us to Tabernacles, which is impossible. He was crucified at Passover.

Come Out of Her, My People

I find myself at a crossroads today, the same one I found myself at more than 30 years ago. I never imagined I would find myself back at the beginning of my journey, having to once again fight the same battles I thought I had won so long ago. At that time I was a member of a small Baptist church, comfortable in my faith, my religion. I was part of a community of believers, was active in Sunday School, served as a teacher, was a member of a weekly women's bible study. I was your average Christian I guess, much like most of my neighbors in that small town, living a quiet life, active in my daughter's school as a room mother, helping her with her studies, teaching her the Bible, raising her up to be a good, moral person.

Then one day, God interrupted my quiet, comfortable, peaceful life. He began showing me, through his word, that my "religion" was not as acceptable as I thought. Over time, he began dealing with me about the customs and traditions that the whole of Christianity had adopted, which were in direct violation of his commandments. I must interject here, that some years before, I had been exposed to this same understanding, but my heart was not open at that time to receive such revelation. It was as if a veil covered my eyes so that I was unable to comprehend the truth that God was offering me.

However, this time, I truly received revelation. I hate to admit that it wasn't readily received because it shook my foundation to the core. All that I had believed and lived by was being challenged. My whole world view was crumbling beneath my feet. My acceptance of these truths would result in a massive upheaval of my entire life and isolate me from everything and everyone that had been the sum of my entire existence up to that point. In reality, that's exactly what happened. As I began to repent and turn my life around, I was immediately met with opposition. My family and friends thought I had gone completely mad, my church brethren pleaded with me not to leave the congregation. They questioned my salvation. It's hard to explain but I was filled with joy and wonder over what God was teaching me and, at the same time, extremely saddened by my isolation from my former associations.

The one saving grace was that I lived in a very rural community and had several years to spend alone with God in training, My days were filled with bible study, meditation, and prayer. I would walk and talk with him for hours on end as he fed me the bread of life. When it was time for me to be thrown back into the world, I was like a butterfly emerging from my cocoon. I was able to stand firm in my faith, even after I began working outside of the home to help support my family.

Surrounded by "Christians" of all denominations, as well as non-Christians, I often engaged in biblical discussions where I was able to share my understanding, but rarely was able to break through the denominational strongholds that held them captive. I was surrounded by the pagan customs and traditions that had embedded themselves into the very fabric of our society and my heart was often grieved by the inability to awaken others out of their slumber to embrace the truth. I often had to remind myself that I too was once as they were, a part of it all. But for the grace of God, I would still be deceived and oblivious to God's awesome plan for mankind.

Fast forward to today. I am now retired. Since my husband's passing last September I have been blessed with friends that have taken me under their wings to keep me encouraged and lifted up. One dear friend, who has been an absolute angel to me, invited me to attend a weekly bible study at her church. You would think I would be absolutely thrilled and I am to a certain degree. However, I find myself again facing the same things I thought were buried 30 years ago. The new friends I am meeting are from varying denominations and, the more I associate with them, the more I am reminded of the great gulf that separates us. They want to invite me to attend their Sunday services and other community events that are common this time of year. I have attempted to share my beliefs with them, but they fall on deaf ears. It's not my intention to rail accusations against their chosen denominations, but I know I must separate myself from such worship. I am well aware that the longer I allow myself to be drawn into their fellowship, the more they will attempt to bring me back into "religion". I learned a long time ago that Jesus did not come to start a religion, but to have a personal relationship with mankind. It is a good thing that Christians meet together in worship. I believe everyone benefits from congregational fellowship, but it must be in accordance with the word of God. Unfortunately, the "Church" as we know it today has been infiltrated by the enemy. He has brought in leaven that has diluted the pure word given by God in the beginning, resulting in a mixture of truth and error. God says he will not accept this form of worship. It breeds confusion and contention and corrupts our worship of him. He has instructed his followers to come out of Babylon.

He has given us the knowledge of his ways if we will heed them. They are embedded in the Sabbath and Holy Days he gave to Israel millennia ago. They all point the way to Messiah and his plan for humankind. But modern Christianity has adopted customs and traditions that are diametrically opposite to those of our creator. Each one of these appointed times has been replaced with those of ancient sun-god worship. The Sabbath has been replaced by Sunday, Passover by Easter, Tabernacles by Christmas. Throw in New Year's day, Valentine's Day, Mardi Gras and Halloween. Add to them the days devoted to so-called saints and you have a witch's brew that bears no resemblance to the biblical instructions in the word of God.

We are two thousand years removed from the teachings of the Apostles and many have abandoned the faith once delivered to the saints. I will admit that the majority of Christendom today is totally unaware of how they have been deceived by evil forces that have corrupted what they earnestly believe to be the true worship of God. But being ignorant of it does not make it any less the truth. It has been and remains my deepest desire to educate any and all that I come in contact with and bring them out of deception into the true worship of the living God. With that said, I know that most will choose to remain in their comfort zone, to that which is familiar to them. They will hold tightly to their customs and traditions to the very end. The good news is that Jesus will soon come back to the earth to establish his divine rule and mankind will learn to keep his commandments and live by his standards. He will open the eyes of the "spiritually" blind and lead them into all truth.

Today, he has blessed me with the opportunity of sharing his word through a home Bible study. My friends have requested that I teach them the meaning of the biblical festivals. They have been very receptive and are blown away by the beauty and real meaning of these holy seasons. I sincerely pray that God will increase us in numbers and that we will receive much truth and understanding in this study that will result in untold blessings for those involved in this endeavor.

The Eye of the Storm

Having lived through three major hurricanes, Betsy in 1965, Camille in 1969 and Katrina in 2005, I am more than familiar with the destructive nature of these powerful storms and the impact they have on the lives of those in their path. They come ashore with a vengeance, their intense winds and torrential rains leaving utter destruction in their wake.

One thing that has always fascinated me is the eye of these storms. While the outer bands, often extending hundreds of miles in diameter, descend upon their target with incredible force, the eye itself remains calm. As the storm moves in, these bands bring in the wind and rains, their intensity growing stronger with each hour. Then, in an instant, quiet settles in. The winds dies down, the rains abate. The eye is passing over. It is short-lived, however. One doesn't let their guard down. Once the eye has passed, there remains another round of intense winds and rain to weather through on the backside.

Although many may have never experienced the fury of a hurricane, everyone must navigate through the storms of everyday life that assail us on many fronts. We are buffeted on every side with a myriad of issues and problems that scream for our attention. There is hope, though, in the midst of our storms. Jesus (Yeshua) is that hope!. Like the eye of the hurricane, in him is peace and calm. The closer we draw to him, the more peace we have. Psalms 91:1 tells us "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." That is comforting to know.

Yeshua told a parable in Matthew 7:24-25 of those who hear his words and obey them. They are likened to a wise man who builds his house upon a rock: Though the rain descends and the floods come and the winds blow and beat upon that house, it does not fall for it is founded upon a rock.

Through a relationship with Yeshua, we can experience total peace in the midst of our storms. In John 14:27 he tells his followers on the night he was betrayed, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

Knowing that, after his death, burial and resurrection, his followers would endure many hardships, he gave them encouragement to see them through. John 16:33 "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

We will experience many storms in this physical sojourn, but Yeshua is the eye in the midst of them all. If we stay in the center of his will, we will experience the peace that passes all understanding.

LABELS

Labels, as they apply to each of us, are the major source of division in the world today. They are used to divide us on every level imaginable, from our individual families to the collective family making up humanity as a whole. We are all guilty of using labels to identify one another in a myriad of ways. Consider for a moment the divisions these labels cause in every area of our lives. We relegate people into boxes, categorized by gender, race, nationality, education, social standing, political affiliation, appearance, personality......the list is endless.

I believe the most dangerous label of all is "denomination", as it pertains to our religious beliefs and  practices. Our world is so divided by religion. It is estimated in 2018 that there are 4,200 different religions in the world. That is incredible! Why do I find that to be such a frightening statistic? Because, as a Christian (here I go labeling myself), I believe God hates division. In this great, big universe (uni =one, verse = song), humanity is meant to live in harmony and unity under the leadership and guidance of it's creator. We are breaking down the very fabric of our world through our divisions, our intolerance of any and all who are not "one of us".

Now, I know there are many religions that do not believe in the Holy Bible as the word of God or Jesus as the Son of God and savior of the world. I cannot speak to those. Christianity, encompassing 32% of the world's population and 2.5 billion adherents, has division enough to fill volumes without focusing on the other 4,199 religions on the planet. What is the primary cause of division within the Christian churches? Denomination!

Denominations are a man-made invention. It is estimated by some that there are more than 30,000 different denominations of Christianity today and some sources believe this number to be much higher. Jesus didn't come to earth 2,000 years ago to build religious institutions but to build a bridge  between God and man through a relationship. Religion is as old as man's sojourn on earth. The dominant religion in Judea at the time Jesus came into the world was Phariseeism, which was developed 300 years prior to his birth. The Pharisees had instituted many man-made laws and commandments into their religion, replacing God's instructions to the nation through Moses. This was  in direct violation of Torah, in which they were told not to add to or take away from any of the words given them by the Almighty at Mt. Sinai. (Deuteronomy 4:2). Throughout his ministry, Jesus vehemently spoke against and violated their customs and traditions, by which they held the Jewish population in bondage, exposing their so-called authority over the people as worthless. He came to set his people free from religion and into a relationship with his Father. He came to reveal the true character of the Father, that of never-ending love, mercy, grace, forgiveness and acceptance. Rather than bondage, Jesus brought us a message of hope and freedom, a message of oneness with our heavenly Father.

The accurate definition of the word "church" is not a building, but the collective body of called out, set apart believers in Jesus.....his body.  According to Ephesians 4:13,  we are to grow in the unity of the faith and knowledge of the Son of God, unto perfection, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:4-14 "Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many."

1 Co 12:27-28  "Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues."

God intends the body, though many members, to work together as one unit for the edification of all. However, what the church has been more than successful at for almost two thousand years is dividing the body up into pieces. Labels, under the guise of denominations, keeps believers sequestered in their own camps, where "never the twain shall meet". Each focuses on one gift of the body, i.e. miracles, prophecy, healings, or tongues for example and dismisses anyone not holding to their particular doctrinal viewpoint. This ought not to be. Unless the collective body learns to work together, sharing in the unique gifts each individual member has to offer, it will never be fully effective in sharing the gospel with the unbeliever. I don't care how many "mega" churches we build, if we don't build up the body according to the Word of God, removing the labels that divide us, we will never grow into the spiritual house Jesus sacrificed himself for.