Through the Lattice

Feast of Dedication -- Teaching my little grandchildren the roots of our Christian Faith

2011-12-31T07:51:00.002-06:00

Hanukkah
Words and Music by Marty Goetz
Make my life Your temple
L-rd at this season start
To pull down every idol I have raised up in my heart
Chorus
On this Hanukkah
On this Feast of Dedication
I dedicate myself to You
Take my defiled altar
Come and cleanse and come repair
So every time I falter I can run to meet you there
Chorus
On this Hanukkah
On this Feast of Dedication
I dedicate myself to You
Bridge
And with every candle on the menorah
That illuminates the night
Comes a prayer You’d kindle
In me, Yeshua, a desire for Your fire, for Your light
Make of my mortal body
A house worthy of Your Name
Rid me of what’s ungodly and every hidden thing of shame
Chorus
On this Hanukkah
On this Feast of Dedication
I dedicate myself to You
Bridge
And with every candle on the menorah
That illuminates the night
Comes a prayer You’d kindle
In me, Messiah, a desire for Your fire, for Your light
Take my supply of oil
Not enough to burn long I fear
But, oh, how I pray I may one day say, “A great miracle happened here!”
Chorus
On this Hanukkah
On this Feast of Dedication
I dedicate myself to You
My Yeshua I dedicate myself to You.

The Other Paraclete

2011-09-09T04:49:00.003-05:00

Paraclete -- from the Greek word "Parakletos" meaning a strong person called in to help in time of trouble.

F.B. Meyer, in his book Love to the Uttermost, writes of the other Paraclete. "There is no adequate translation for that word Paraclete. It may be rendered Comforter, Helper, Advocate, Interpreter; but no one word suffices. The Greek simply means one whom you call to your side, in a battle, or a law-court, to assist you by word or act. Such a one is Christ; such a One is the Holy Spirit. He is a definite Person whom you would call to, lean on and work with. If a man were drowning, he would not call to the wandering breath of the wind; but to any person who might be on the bank. The Spirit is One whom you can summon to your side..."

A Sevenfold Parallel Between the Advents of the Two Paracletes--

(1) Each was in the world before his specific advent. Long before his incarnation the delights of the Son of God were with men. In Angel-form, He visited their tents, spoke with them face to face, and fought on their behalf. He trod the holy fields of Palestine with noiseless footfall that left no impress on the lightest sands, long before He learned to walk with baby-feet, or bore His cross up Calvary.

So with the Spirit. He brooded over chaos, strove with men before the Deluge, moved holy men to write the Scriptures, foreshadowed the advent of Messiah, equipped prophets and kings for their special missions. In restraining evil, urging to good, preparing the way for Christ, the Holy Spirit found abundant scope for his energies. But His influence was rather external than internal; savored rather gift than grace; and dealt more often with the few than with the many--with the great souls that reared themselves to heaven like Alpine summits touched with the fires of dawn, rather than with the generality of men, who dwelt in the valley of daily commonplace, enwrapt in the mists of ignorance and unbelief. It was to be a special prerogative of this age that He sould be poured out on all flesh, so that sons and daughters should prophesy, while servants and handmaidens participated in His gracious influences.

(2) The advent of each was previously announced.

From the Fall, the coming of the great Deliverer was foretold in type and sign, in speech and act, in history and prophecy. Indeed, as the time of the Incarnation drew nigh, as Milton tells us in his sublime ode on the Incarnation, surrounding nations had caught from the chosen people the spirit of expectancy, and the world was in feverish anticipation of the coming of its Redeemer. He was the Desire of all Nations. All the ages and all the family of man, accompanied Mary to Bethlehem, and worshipped with the Magi.

So with the Holy Spirit. Joel distinctly foretold that in the last days of that dispensation, God would pour out His Spirit; and His message is echoed by Isaiah, Zechariah, Ezekiel, and others; till Jesus came, more specifically and circumstantially led the thoughts of his disciples forward to the new age then dawning, which would be introduced and signalised by the coming and ministry of the Spirit.

(3) Each was manifested in a body.

The Lord Jesus in that which was prepared for Him by the Father, and born of a pure virgin. We are told that He took on Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of man. Similarly the Holy Spirit became, so to speak, incorporate in that mystical Body, the Church, of which Jesus is the Head.

On the Day of Pentecost, the hundred and twenty who were gathered in the upper room, and who up to that time had no corporate existence, were suddenly constituted a Church, the habitation and home of the Divine Spirit. What the human body of Jesus was to the second person of the Holy Trinity, that the infant Church was to the third; though it did not represent the whole body, since we must add to those gathered in the upper room many more in heaven and on earth, who by virtue of their union with the risen Christ...which is His body, the fulness of him who filleth all in all.

(4) Each was named before his advent.

"Thou shalt call his name Emmanuel." "His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace." Thus was the Lord Jesus designated to loving hearts before his birth.

So also with the Holy Spirit. The last discourses of Jesus are full of appellatives, each setting forth some new phase of the Holy Spirit's ministry; some freshly-cut facet of His character. The Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit; the Paraclete; the the Spirit of Conviction--such are the names by which He was to be known.

(5) Each was dependent on each other.

Our Lord said distinctly, "The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do;" and He said of the Holy Spirit, using the same preposition, "He shall not speak of Himself, but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak."

What a conception is here! It is as though the Holy Spirit were ever listening to the Divine colloquy and communion between the Father and the Son, and communicating to receptive hearts disclosures of the secrets of the Deity. The things which eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, God hath revealed unto us by His Spirit; "for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

(6) Each received witness.

The Father bore witness to His Son on three occassions. On the first, at his baptism, He said,"This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased;" on the second, when the three apostles were with Him on the Mount, and He received from the Father glory and honor; and on the third, when the inquiry of the Greeks reminded Him of his approaching death, and the voice from heaven assured Him that glory would accrue to the Father through his falling into the ground to die.

So in regard to the Holy Spirit. Seven times from the Throne the ascended Lord summons those that have ears to hear what the Spirit saith to the churches; as though to emphasize the urgent importance of his message, and the neccessity of giving it our most earnest heed, lest we should drift past it.

(7). The presence of each is guaranteed during the present age.

"I am with you," saith the Lord, and they were among the closing words of his posthumous ministry, "all the days, even unto the end of the age," and here it is foretold that the Comforter would abide during the age, for so the phrase might more accurately be rendered.

This is specifically the age of the Holy Spirit. He may be grieved, ignored, and rejected; but He will not cease his blessed ministry to the bride, till the Bridegroom comes to claim her for Himself...

The work of the Holy Spirit in and through us is conditioned by certain great laws, which call for our definite and accurate obedience. Not an emotion, nor on hysteric appeals, not on excitement, but on obedience, does the power of God's Spirit pass into human hearts and lives. Therefore, let us walk in his gracious influences, which will bear us on their bosom ever nearer to our Lord. Oh, to glorify Him; to know and love Him; to become passionately eager that all hearts should enthrone Him regardless of the personal cost it may involve! Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now and shall be forevermore. Amen.

The Seasons Change

2011-09-05T12:28:00.002-05:00

A cool September morning on Long Lake...feeling like Autumn. The view from my living room window. All's grace.

"By the breath of God frost is given: and the breath of waters is straightened." Job 37:10

Joy Unspeakable

2010-10-17T07:15:00.003-05:00

Psalms 148:1 to 150:6. The last three Psalms are a triad of wondrous praise, ascending from praise to higher praise until it becomes "joy unspeakable and full of glory"—exultation which knows no bounds. The joy overflows the soul, and spreads throughout the universe; every creature is magnetized by it, and drawn into the chorus. Heaven is full of praise, the earth is full of praise, praises rise from under the earth, "everything that hath breath" joins in the rapture. God is encompassed by a loving, praising creation. Man, the last in creation, but the first in song, knows not how to contain himself. He dances, he sings, he commands all the heavens, with all their angels, to help him, "beasts and all cattle, creeping things and flying fowl" must do likewise, even "dragons" must not be silent, and "all deeps" must yield contributions. He presses even dead things into his service, timbrels, trumpets, harps, organs, cymbals, high sounding cymbals, if by any means, and by all means, he may give utterance to his love and joy.—John Pulsford.

2010-03-14T05:14:00.003-05:00

"And when they had plaited a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and a reed in his right hand...and they spit upon him and took the reed and smote him on the head" (Matthew 27:29-30).

Why a crown of thorns? I can understand the scarlet robe, the hyssop. They were used in the Red Heifer Sacrifice (Numbers 19). Jesus said the He did not come to destroy the law and prophets but to fulfill them. He said not one jot or tittle would pass away until all was fulfilled. He fulfilled completely the Red Heifer Sacrifice. But, why the crown of thorns?

The book of Genesis gives us the answer. "...cursed is the ground for thy sake...thorns and thistles shall it bring forth to thee..." (Genesis 3:17-18). Jesus wore a crown of thorns to take the curse from the ground. He bore the curse for us.

Joshua and Passover

2010-02-22T04:36:00.005-06:00

On that day the Lord magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses all the days of his life (Joshua 4:14).
And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho...And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal and kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month even in the plains of Jericho (Joshua 5:10).

The first thing Joshua did when the children of Israel crossed Jordan into the land of promise was prepare the Passover meal. All the people of the nation of Israel came to a table spread in the presence of their enemies. "He prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies."

The first meal the Israelites ate in the Promised land was Passover. The first meal we will eat in the land God has promised will be the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, the Passover. At His last Passover on earth, Jesus told His disciples, " But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine until I drink it with you in my Father's Kingdom." (Matthew 26:29.

"For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us..." (I Corinthians 5:7).

With a Loud Voice

2010-02-07T16:11:00.002-06:00

The book of Matthew tells us that Jesus was beaten so badly he was barely recognizable. Nearing death, Jesus did an amazing thing. Most people who are so near dying can hardly whisper, not Jesus! "Jesus when he had cried again with a LOUD VOICE, yielded up the ghost." (Matthew 27:50). Was God blowing the trumpet over the sacrifice?

A Beautiful Hanukkah Season

2009-12-29T05:05:00.002-06:00

Yeshua, our Messiah, celebrated Hanukkah. "And it was at Jerusalem, the feast of dedication and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the Temple in Solomon's Porch (John 10:22-23)." He was there to celebrate Hanukkah, to light the lights to commemorate the great miracle of the oil.
We are the Temple of the Lord. Jesus pours in the Oil of the Holy Spirit and lights it with His fire. It will never run out. Now we can say, "A great miracle happened here!" Thank you Lord, for the fire, the light and the oil.

A Light to Lighten the Gentiles

2009-12-23T11:10:00.005-06:00

For thou wilt light my candle;

The Lord will enlighten my darkness (Psalm 18:28).

Lord, You are the fragrant beauty of my life

2009-11-01T06:03:00.005-06:00

My sister, Patti's "Christ in the Manger" in full bloom.
This one is mine. It took days for it to open fully. It is called a night-blooming cereus cactus. Our grandmother gave it to our mother over fifty years ago. We all took cuttings from it. What a story behind this scraggly, brown in spots looking plant! When the weather begins to cool, from the side of the plant a little bud forms. At first, it is hard to tell if it will be another leaf forming or the bud of the most beautiful flower in the world.
Our mother told us it was the story of Christ's birth. Look deep into this mysterious flower.

God writes His story in Nature!

The cereus catus, with it long slender, scraggly leaves is not an exceptionally pretty plant. Neither was Jesus. "For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground, and He hath no form or comeliness, and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him (Isaiah 53:2)."

This plant can take years to produce its first bloom. The Messiah was promised to Adam and Eve. "But when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law (Galatians 4:4)."

The bloom only opens late in the night, usually after midnight. "The people that walked in darkness, have seen a great light, they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death upon them hath the light shined (Isaiah 9:2)."

When the bloom begins to open, the most wonderful fragrance spreads out to fill the night air. "...Christ also hath loved us, and given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor (Ephesians 5:1)."

Watch the progression of the bloom.

She has adorned herself in white velvety softness as she cradles the newborn babe. Slowly, she pulls the soft folds of the swaddling clothes back for all the world to see the star, the cradle, the little one's face. But, O, the fragrance of His presence fills the night sky and draws shepherds and the hearts of those who have longed for this beautiful bloom. "And she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger...(Luke 2:7)."
"Now, lettest Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word, for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation...(Luke 2:29)."

Thou Art Worthy!

2009-10-20T04:59:00.002-05:00

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things

and for Thy pleasure they are and were created. (Revelation 4:11)

2009-10-13T15:37:00.002-05:00

For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground

I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed and my blessing upon thine offspring.

And thy shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses (Isaiah 44:3-4).

When Dust Sings

2009-08-05T07:15:00.002-05:00

I read the words this morning, Isaiah 26:16. Trembling hands struggle to hold the Book. Who can hold words like these?

Dust rises and sings? How can it be? Can we see in these Words the Rapture of the Church....Arise my beloved and come away......The Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout.....the dead in Christ shall rise first, then we who remain shall be caught up together......Come away My Beloved.

Laminin

2009-08-04T09:01:00.001-05:00

Gifts from a Sweet Friend

2009-07-23T15:23:00.005-05:00

My grandson, Dylan, brought the mail in and laid it on the coffee table. When I found it a little later in the afternoon, I squealed. It was from my sweet friend, Sharon at Sit with Me Awhile.
What great gifts! I won her giveaway on her blog. I'm listening to the music now. It is wonderful. Thank you Sharon for the book, the CDs, the pin, the candles, the gel and for the precious note. If you visit her blog
Sit with Me Awhile, you will be blessed.

Sprinkled by the Blood of Jesus Christ

2009-07-17T06:32:00.002-05:00

It is not the season for Passover, which occurs in the spring, but it is always the season for the "sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ" (I Peter 1:2). "...in the day of salvation have I succoured (rescued) thee; behold, now, is the accepted time; behold, now, is the day of salvation (II Corinthians 6:2)."
I Peter 1:2, is one of my favorite scriptures. Peter reminds us we are the elect of God according to His foreknowledge, sanctified and sprinkled. Being sanctified means to be set apart for God's purpose, but what does being sprinkled mean?

How can an ancient Israelite ritual of sprinkling the blood be relevant to us today? We must remember Jesus' words about the Law that was given to Moses. Jesus said, "Think not that I have come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy but to fulfill. For verily, I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled (Matthew 5:17-18)."

Jesus had to fulfill all the Law, to become our Kinsman Redeemer, to become our ransom. How did He fulfill the law of the "Sprinkling of the blood?"

When God instituted Passover, the children of Israel had to take a lamb without spot or blemish and sacrifice it. They had to dip a bunch of hyssop in the basin of blood from the lamb and strike the lintel and the two sideposts of their dwelling. When the death angel passed over all the houses with the blood sprinkled on it, no one died.

Only three times in the Bible was the blood of animals ever sprinkled on people.

(1) The giving of the Covenant
"And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people and said, 'Behold the blood of the Covenant, which the Lord hath made with you concerning all these words (Exodus 24:8)."

(2) The ordination of the Priesthood -- calling Aaron and his sons from the Tribe of Levi
"And thou shalt take the blood that is upon the altar, and of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it upon Aaron and upon his garments, and upon his sons and upon the garments of his sons with him; and he shall be hallowed, and his garments, and his sons' garments with him (Exodus 29:21)."

(3) When a person was cured of Leprosy
"And he shall sprinkle (the blood) upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean...(Leviticus 14:14:7).'

Only three times .... Now look what Jesus did!

(1) He sprinkled us with His own blood upon our hearts and
Gave a New Covenant
"In that He saith, A New Covenant, He hath made the first old (Hebrews 8:13)."

(2) He sprinkled us with His own blood and made us to be a Priesthood of believers
"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light (I Peter 2:9)"

(3) He sprinkled us with His own blood and healed us of leprosy
Leprosy, in the Scriptures, is a picture of sin. He has cleansed us from all unrighteousness.
"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him (II Corinthians 5:21)."

Each one of these is ours by Christ's finished work on the cross. Praise the Lord!

To the Jew First ------- A Look into Romans

2009-07-07T05:48:00.006-05:00

The book of Romans is fascinating. We learn much about the whole Bible when we get an understanding of this epistle. My prayer today is, "Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law (Psalm 119:18)."

"For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. (Romans 11:25)."

What is the "fullness of the Gentiles?" What does that mean? The Greek word for fullness is plhvrwma or pleroma. It means abundance or completeness. For years when I read this scripture, I thought it meant a set number. When the last Gentile made up the saved, then all Israel would be saved. The word pleroma or fullness has to do with that which is brought to completion. The fullness Paul is speaking of is the fullness in the Spirit, the full regenerate life to which we are called as followers of Christ. "And He gave some, apostles, and some, prophets, and some evangelists, and some, pastors and teachers for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, and for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ...(Ephesians 4:11-13)." The fullness of the Gentiles is not numeric. If it were, we would not need to witness to the Jews. We would just wait until the last Gentile was saved.

As we take all of Romans in consideration and rightly divide the Word of Truth, we see the reason God would wait until the fullness of the Gentiles was complete before all Israel would be saved.

We must remember the blindness that shrouds Israel now, is only partial. God always has a remnant of His own. "Even so then, at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace (Romans 11:5)." There is a remnant now, of Jews that follow Jesus. The remnant is growing quickly, as Jews from all over the world are accepting their Messiah, Yeshua.

Why was salvation offered to the Gentiles? Romans 11:11, "I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall, salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy."

One of the reasons we Gentiles have been offered the gift of salvation is to make the Jews jealous. Now I ask, how can we make the Jews jealous? At this time, Jews are not jealous of the Church. The Church today, is a far cry from the first century Church. We have allowed the traditions of men to dull our light to the Jews. Yeshua (Jesus) said, "Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered and many such like things do ye (Mark 7:13)." Our children know more about Santa and the Easter bunny than they know about our blessed Passover Lamb or the Light of the World, Yeshua.

How can we, as the Church, make the Jews jealous? We need to teach ourselves and our children our Jewish roots. As the wonderful chosen people of God, the Jews, see us waving their flag, lighting their Menorah, breaking their Matza, wearing their Tallit, blowing their shofar, they will become jealous and curious. As we pray for them and love them, God will bring His remnant in and the Church will reach her fullness. Then all of Israel shall be saved.

"And one shall say unto Him, 'What are these wounds in thine hands?' Then He will answer, 'Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. ( Zechariah 13:6).'

Rejoice my brothers and sisters!
HEAVEN IS COMING TO EARTH!
IT'S ABOUT TIME!

Some Shoutin' Music

2009-07-04T08:50:00.000-05:00

Listen to Paul Wilbur. You'll be on your feet dancing!

Jerusalem of Gold

2009-07-04T08:38:00.001-05:00

I love the music of Maurice Sklar. He is one my my favorite violinist. His music brings tears.

Lion of the Tribe of Judah

2009-07-03T20:34:00.007-05:00

"...a lion...is strongest among beasts and turneth not away for any...(Proverbs 30:30)."

Why is Christ compared to the Lion?

In Genesis 49, we read Jacob's prophecy of Jesus in these words: "Judah, thou art him whom thy brethren shall praise; thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee. Judah is a lion's whelp; from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Binding his foal unto the vine, and his donkey's colt unto the choice vine: he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes: his eyes shall be red with wine and his teeth white with milk (Genesis 49:6-12)."

Jesus grew up like a small lion or whelp, with little power, until He became an old lion when He became a man. The lion couches, to enjoy peace and rest. Even in the midst of His greatest turmoil, Jesus rested in the perfect will of God. He prayed in the garden, "Not my will, but thine be done."

People have made the mistake of thinking that the love and compassion of Jesus were a sign of weakness. But, consider this, Jesus was beaten, bruised and hurt so badly, He could barely breathe. When an ordinary man is dying, he can barely whisper, but Jesus, when He took His last dying breath, shouted for all to hear. "Jesus, when He cried again with a LOUD VOICE, yielded up the ghost (Matthew 27:50)." Was He blowing the trumpet over the sacrifice? I think the great Lion of the Tribe of Judah roared over the sacrifice.

"The Lion hath roared, who will not fear? The Lord hath spoken, who can but prophecy (Amos 3:8)."

Such beauty in the prophecy of Jacob of Old. Scriptures tell us that Christ washes His clothes in the blood of grapes and His teeth are white with milk. Wine and milk, where have we seen these two drinks together before?
"Ho, everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye buy and eat; yea come buy wine and milk without money and without price (Isaiah 55:1)."

We are all invited to come. Whoever can be picked out of the hedges and highways. The only qualification is to come thirsty. No need to bring money. Jesus has already paid the price with "His own blood."

Come to the water of life. You will find healing here. Come to Jesus those who are thirsty and those who are heavy laden find rest in the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.

For God Will Save Zion (Psalm 69:35)

2009-06-18T04:51:00.007-05:00

"tziyon yoshia elohim ki"

In Hebrew, we would read this from right to left. So it says, starting with ki (for) elohim, (God) yoshia (will save) tziyon (Zion). Zion is a poetic form of the word Jerusalem and occurs over 160 times in scriptures.

(Letters and prayers crammed into the Wailing Wall at Jerusalem)

Why are Christians so captivated by Jerusalem?

"Friends how can we forget Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:22)? Is she not our mother (Galatians 4:26)? Are we not her citizens, indeed her exiles in this age? Doesn't Zion represent our eschatological future -- our home in olam haba (the world to come)? Indeed, even the Heavens and Earth will be called Jerusalem--Zion in her perfection (Revelation 21). We are instructed to 'pray for the peace of Jerusalem' (Psalm 122:6), but we are further told to 'badger' the Lord until He makes Zion a praise of the Earth (Isaiah 62:7)."
~ John J. Parsons ~
The Levitt Letter

"I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night; ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence, and give Him no rest, till He establish, and till He make Jerusalem a praise in the earth (Isaiah 62:6-7)."

May Your rightful place on David's Throne in Jerusalem come quickly, Lord Jesus!

They Shall Be My People

2009-06-16T03:08:00.000-05:00

"...Behold, I will save my people from the east country and from the west country; And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness (Zechariah 8:7)."
Ezekiel33graphics.com

117 Words

2009-06-16T03:02:00.000-05:00

One hundred seventeen words that changed the face of the Middle East.

In the book of Ecclesiastes, King Solomon hands us a golden key to understanding prophecy. He tells us, "The thing that hath been it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun (Ecclestiastes 1:9)." In the light of this scripture, the old adage, "History repeats itself," rings true.

The words of Nehemiah read, "Moreover, I said unto the king, if it please the king let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come to Judah. And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me (Nehemiah 2:7-8)." King Cyrus signed a decree to allow the children of Israel to return to the land God had given then.

Now read the Balfour Declaration. Papers were signed to allow the children of Israel to return to the land God had given them. God reveals future things through things that happened in the past. He foreshadows them.

"That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath been; and God requireth that which is past (Ecclestiastes 3:15)."

Fulfilling Prophecy

2009-06-13T08:00:00.000-05:00

Soon we will study Cyrus' Decree in Nehemiah and the relationship between Britain's Prime Minister Arthur Balfour and Chaim Weizmann, a Zionist scientist who later became Israel's Prime Minister. Is there a parallel? Cyrus signed the decree to let the Jews return to their homeland. Balfour signed a declaration that allowed the Jews to return to their homeland. Weizmann and Balfour changed the course of history which resulted in the rebirth of the nation of Israel.

Chaim Weizmann

Arthur Balfour

...he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye (Zechariah 2:8)

2009-06-13T06:19:00.000-05:00

What is all the uproar? This minuscule stretch of land in the Middle East, only 1/6 of one percent as large as the land the Arabs possess, is in the midst of bitter conflict. It seems the whole world wants a piece of Israel's land. Why? For years it was just wilderness. There's no oil there, not a lot of natural resources. Why the unprecedented struggle?

"Why do the heathens rage and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel,together against the Lord and against His anointed saying, 'Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.' He that sitteth in the Heavens shall laugh. The Lord shall have them in derision (Psalm 2:1-4)."

Only in the Bible can we find the answers to these puzzling questions. The struggle Israel is facing is not just about land, or politics, or even inheritances. At the very center of all the violent conflicts is the fight against "spiritual wickedness in high places." Even though her people and leaders don't acknowledge God's purposes now, one day they will see it all. "And I will pour out upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn (Zechariah 12:10)."

When we read and hear the news from Washington and the world about the state of Israel, we are reading and hearing prophecy being fulfilled. Recently, President Obama urged Prime Minister Netanyahu to move swiftly on the peace plan with the Palestinians and to stop building Jewish settlements in the West Bank. Netanyahu stood his ground and would not stop building. We are watching ancient prophecies being fulfilled in our day.

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not. Behold your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth till ye shall say, 'Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord (Matthew 23:37-39)."

Some Quotes By Golda Meir

2009-06-12T06:11:00.000-05:00

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"Let me tell you something that we Israelis have against Moses. He took us forty years through the desert in order to bring us to the one spot in the Middle East that has no oil." 1973

"We will have peace with the Arabs when they love their children more than they hate us."

"We do not rejoice in victories. We rejoice when a new kind of cotton is grown and when strawberries bloom in Israel."

Golda

2009-06-12T05:37:00.000-05:00

Not long ago, I finished reading the book, "My Life by Golda Meir." As I was reading it, I sat with my Bible opened, and I cried. The hand of God was in this woman's life as she fought for Israel. Golda Meir was born in the Ukraine in 1898, and moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1906. She and her family escaped the attacks that were focused on the Jews in Russia at the time. Meir was a leading figure in Zionism and helped to establish Israel. In 1969, Meir became the Prime Minister of Israel.

"But, the Lord liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them: and they shall dwell in their own land (Jeremiah 23:8)."
I have a great love and a deep respect for the Jewish people. They are still the Chosen people of God.

"For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles come in. And all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: for this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins (Romans 11:25-27)."

I've Set Watchmen on Your Walls

2009-06-12T05:10:00.001-05:00

Prepared as the Morning

2009-06-10T08:47:00.000-05:00

Then we shall know, if we follow on to know the Lord: His going forth is prepared as the morning and He shall come to us as the rain as the early and latter rain upon the earth (Hosea 6:3).

For as the lightening cometh out of the east and shineth unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be (Matthew 24:27).

...look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh (Luke 21:28).

Clothed in Fine Linen, White and Clean

2009-06-09T04:00:00.000-05:00

Linen was spun from the flax plant and bleached before being woven into the curtains for the Tabernacle in the Wilderness. "Moreover, thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet; with cherubims of cunning work thou shalt make them (Exodus 26:1)." The high priest's garments were also made of fine linen. "And they shall make the ephod of gold, and blue, and purple, of scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cunning work (Exodus 28:6)."
The making of linen was a common household chore in Biblical times. Proverbs 31:13 tells us the virtuous woman seeks wool and flax and willingly works with her hands.
Linen is very special in the Bible. At the Passover Sedar (meal) Jews wrap the matza bread in linen. The middle piece is broken and half of it is wrapped in linen and hidden. This is the afikomen. "And as they were eating, Jesus took the (matza) bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, 'Take, eat; this is my body (Matthew 26:26)." Jesus is the afikomen. He is the unleavened bread. He knew no sin. Just like the afikomen is wrapped in linen, Jesus' body was wrapped in linen and hidden away for three days in a borrowed tomb. "And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth (Matthew 27:59)."
The study of flax and linen in the Scriptures is fascinating. We are told in the book of Revelation, "And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white; for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints (Revelation 19:8)."
For my Sunday School class, I wrapped a package of flax seed in a piece of real linen to remind us that someday, soon, we will be clothed with fine linen as we follow our Commander, the one called Faithful and True, clothed in a vesture dipped in blood who sits upon a great white stallion, into battle. "And the armies which were in Heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean (Revelation 19:14)."
COME QUICKLY, LORD JESUS!

Shevar ---- Break into Pieces

2009-06-07T08:45:00.000-05:00

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to ... bind up the brokenhearted... (Isaiah 61:1)."
Shevar is the Hebrew word used here for broken. It means to wreck, smash, break into pieces. Jesus, Himself, read these words in the synagogue at Nazareth. Then He added, "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears (Luke 4:21)." Jesus, the great healer of the broken-hearted, waits to touch us with His love and kindness. Just one touch from Him and all the brokeness of sin and shame have to vanish. He gives us beauty for ashes. We are no longer clothed in filthy rags, but we wear garments of praise. Thank you Lord. Those words fitly spoken so many years ago, ring in our ears and hearts today. He that hath an ear, let him hear...

I Finally Found It!

2009-06-07T08:21:00.000-05:00

I have been searching for a picture of lattice to put in my header. Then I remembered, I have some lattice. I clipped pieces of my Bleeding Heart flower and tucked it in the lattice. The lack of paint gives it a vintage look and how fitting for the Bleeding Heart to be tucked in. Without the Blood of Christ, we would not be able to see, as the Shulamite woman in the Song of Solomon, our Beloved peeking through the lattice work of the Old Testament into the New Testament. We would not hear Him say those blessed words, "Rise up, my love and come away." Is this a picture of Christ calling to the dead in Him first, then we which are alive and remain will be caught up to be with the Lord in the air?" I think it is. O Blessed Hope!
"O, Blessed Day, When will you dawn?" ~ CH Spurgeon ~

Morning Prayers

2009-06-05T06:13:00.000-05:00

My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up (Psalm 5:3).
Pictures taken in my front yard early one spring morning.

If I Forget Thee

2009-06-01T05:14:00.000-05:00

If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy (Psalm 137:5-6).

2009-04-13T05:28:00.000-05:00

The True Lion

2009-03-22T05:36:00.001-05:00

Ezekiel33graphics.com

In First Peter, we read of a great lion impostor. Proudly he walks the earth looking for his prey to devour it. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour (I Peter 5:8)." Peter tells us that Satan is like a roaring lion. He can only act like one, but never be one. He lost all his power at Calvary. It was there that Christ defanged and declawed him. Jesus tells us in Luke 10:18-19, "...I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you."

Jesus defeated Satan at Calvary. The keys of death, hell and the grave now jingle in Christ's pockets. "I am He that liveth, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen; and have the keys of death, hell and the grave (Revelation 1:18)."

The true lion is from the Tribe of Judah! Listen to Him roar!!!
"The Lord shall go forth as a mighty man, He shall stir up jealousy like a man of war; He shall cry, yea, ROAR, He shall prevail against His enemies (Isaiah 42:13)."

John wrote of this mighty Lion, "And no man in heaven nor in earth, nor under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, for no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not; behold, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah the Root of David hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain... (Revelation 4:3-6)." To His enemies He is a Roaring Lion, but to His children He is the sacrificial Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world.

This Hebrew Rabbi, wrapped in His Tallit (prayer shawl), will one day, soon, mount His valiant white horse and give a mighty roar.
"And I saw the Heaven opened and behold, a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He shall judge and make war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns, and He had a name written, that no man knew but Himself. And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood; and His name is called, The Word of God (Revelation 19:11-13)."

Our God Reigns!

Orion's Belt

2009-03-04T04:53:00.000-06:00

Orion Nebula The Hubble View

2009-03-04T04:23:00.000-06:00

www.antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap090222.html

"Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades or loose the bands of Orion? Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons? Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth? (Job 38:31-33)

Many years ago, E.W. Bullinger wrote, The Witness of the Stars. He speaks of how God wrote the redemption story across the sky. (Click on The Witness of the Stars above to see Bullinger's work).

What a comforting thought. Even as we sleep, salvation is above us, keeping us.

Be Blessed,today. The same God who flung the stars into place and called each one by name, knows us, knows our name, counts the very hairs on our heads!

See the three stars in a straight vertical line? That's Orion's belt. Cody and I would look for it every morning when I walked with him to the school bus stop. The name Orion means "The Coming Light" and is a picture of Jesus.

Romans 1:19 says, "Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead..."

Death by Grasshopper

2009-03-01T04:48:00.000-06:00

By: Myrtle Gilliam

A grasshopper mentality will cause death in the wilderness.

When Moses sent the twelve spies into Canaan to spy out the land, only two, Joshua and Caleb, gave a good report. The others cried, “…There we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight (Numbers 13:33). When Joshua and Caleb saw clusters of grapes, pomegranates, figs, and victory, the other ten spies feared when they saw the inhabitants of the land. Their unbelief in the God who would make them victorious over their enemies, caused their death in the wilderness.

Of all the original people who were delivered from Egypt, only Joshua and Caleb were allowed to enter Canaan. They brought back a good report. “And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, ‘Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it (Numbers 13:30).’ All the others died in the wilderness because of their unbelief. The writer of Hebrews tells us Canaan was a place of rest, even though there were more battles to fight. Israel would not be victorious by their own strength, but by the power and might of the Lord. “But with whom was He grieved for forty years? Was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcass fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief (Hebrews 3:17-19).”

How many of us have died in the wilderness because we saw ourselves as grasshoppers? How many of us have not possessed all the land God has given us because of unbelief?

You are not a grasshopper! You are “more than a conqueror through him that loved us (Romans 8:37).”
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!”

Go, possess the land!

Psalm 1:2

2009-02-15T07:41:00.001-06:00

The Warrior King

2009-02-08T07:55:00.000-06:00

Zola Levitt has a new series called The Warrior King - David-like Leaders in Goliath-like Times. You can view a preview if you click here on Zola Levitt Ministries You will be blessed.

Pictures of our Hanukkah Celebration I Promised

2009-02-08T06:34:00.000-06:00

And with every candle on the Menorah that illuminates the night, comes my prayer you'd kindle in me, Yeshua, a desire for your fire for your light. Take my supply of oil, not enough to burn long I fear. But, oh how I pray that one day I may say, 'a great miracle happened here on this Hanukkah, on this feast of dedication. I dedicate my self to you.

Celebrating Hanukkah 2008

2009-02-08T05:50:00.000-06:00

Here are the pictures of our Hanukkah celebration that I promised to show. What a great honor to share the story of the Maccabees with my grandchildren.

Yeshua (Jesus) Himself celebrated Hanukkah. And it was at Jerusalem the feast of Dedication and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch (John 10:22).

I love how God has painted pictures of Jesus in the laws and customs of Israel's history. Hanukkah simple means dedication. The Jews rededicated the Temple to the Lord during the Macabees' revolt. There was enough oil to last only one night, but God miraculously caused the Temple menorah to burn for eight days. A great mircle happened.

We are the Temple of the Lord. Every day we need to Hanukkah our Temple of the Lord.
On our own, we could never have enough oil to last, but because of Jesus, we can say, "A great miracle happened here!" The oil in scripture is symbolic of the Holy Spirit. We need His oil in our lives to light the way. He leads us in truth and righteousness.

Clearing the Leaven

2009-02-05T03:52:00.000-06:00

God's Word is so amazing! When the Holy Spirit shines His light on the scriptures, our eyes are opened to see great truths. One of the events during the Passion week of Christ, was clearing the Temple of the money changers. To me, this was a strange event and hard to understand. Christ had visited the Temple many times during His 33 years here on earth. The money changers had always been there in the past. Why did Jesus choose to make the money changers leave now?
Please remember Jesus' words, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am come not to destroy but to fulfill (Matthew 5:17)." According to God's will, Christ had to be a fulfillment of the Law.
Remember, way back in Exodus on the day of the death of all the firstborn of Egypt? God instructed Moses about the Seven Feasts of the Lord. "Seven days shall ye eat unleaved bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses...(Exodus 12:15)."
Before Passover could begin, all the leaven had to be cleaned from all the Israelites homes. Remember Leaven in scripture always is symbolic of sin. Jesus told the disciples to "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees..." The children of the household hepled in the removal of the leaven from the house. Now, look, right after Jesus entered the Eastern Gate of Jerusalem and the people cried, "Hosanna to the Son of David," Jesus went into the Temple, into His Father's house. Just like His ancestors had cleansed their homes of all leaven before Passover, Jesus begins to clean His Father's house of all leaven.
"And Jesus went into the Temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money changers, and the seats of them that sold doves, and said unto them, 'It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves (Matthew 21:12-13)."
Jesus was fulfilling the law. He was helping His Father clean the leaven from the house before Passover.
How awesome is God! Jesus our Passover, was sacrificed for us.

Seeking Another Country

2009-02-05T03:00:00.000-06:00

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country (Hebrews 11:13-16).
The great temptation for Israel in the Old Testament and for the Church today, is to forget that we are pilgrims not natives in this world. The temptation is to let the Lord's delay make us settle into the world and become passive as we wait, to forget that we are aliens, sojourners, strangers on the earth, seeking another homeland, desiring and yearning for a better country. John Piper
Graphic by Heartlight.org

2009-02-01T06:16:00.000-06:00

Please pray for Doris and Peggy. Peggy is facing surgery soon, and Doris is recuperating from surgery. She is also having some blood work done.
Bless the Lord, o my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases... Psalm 103:2

Feasts of the Lord

2009-02-01T04:43:00.000-06:00

“These are the Feasts of the Lord, even holy convocations which ye shall proclaim in their seasons (Lev. 23:4).”

Why study the Feasts of the Lord? What relevant truths do these ancient rituals hold for us today? Jesus spoke these words in Matthew 5:17-18, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law and prophets; I am not come to destroy but fulfill. For verily I say unto you, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law till all be fulfilled.”

Paul tells us in I Corinthians 10:6, that everything that happened to Israel in the Old Testament is an example for us today. Remember, these feasts were not Jewish feasts, they were the Feasts of the Lord.

The seven feasts were part of the Law that God gave to Moses. Sometimes we get the idea that the law was not a good thing, but we are wrong. Psalm 19:7, “The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul…” The law given to Moses on Mt. Sinai was a picture or a shadow of good things to come. Paul tells us in Galatians 3:24, “Wherefore the Law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified through faith, but after faith is come we are no longer under a schoolmaster.”

“For the law having a shadow of good things to come, can never with those sacrifices continually make the comers thereunto perfect (Hebrews 10:1).”

Why study the Feasts of the Lord? By studying the seven feasts of the Lord, we can gain a deeper revelation of Jesus. He has fulfilled the feasts and will fulfill them in the future.
“Then ye shall know if you follow on to know the Lord. His going forth is prepared as the morning, and He will come to us as the rain, as the early and latter rain upon the earth (Hosea 6:3).”

Three times a year, the Israelites had to travel to Jerusalem to celebrate the 7 Feasts of the Lord.

(1) Passover ----- Nissan 14 (March/April)
(2) Feast of Unleavened Bread ---- Nissan 15
(3) Feast of First Fruits -------- Nissan 16

Notice these three feasts are celebrated in the spring during the barley harvest. Keep the Barley Harvest in mind. It is a very important part of God's redemptive plan. We will talk more about the Hebrew's three harvests later.

Fifty days later or 7 Sabbaths plus one day

(4) Feast of Weeks or Pentecost --- Sivan (June)

This was celebrated during the wheat harvest, another important harvest to remember.

The Israelites had to come to Jerusalem to observe the fall celebrations.

(5) Feast of the Trumpets ----- Tishri 1 (Sept./Oct)
(6) Day of Atonement -------- Tishri 10
(7) Feast of Tabernacles ------ Tishri 15

This was during the vintage harvest (grapes, pomegrantes, figs). Israel three harvests are very important. The harvests are, spring Barley Harvest, the Wheat Harvest, and the Fall Vintage Harvest. These harvests happened around the rainfall in the land. Remember the words of Hosea, "Then we shall know, if we follow on to know the Lord. His going forth is prepared as the morning. And He will come to us as the rain; as the latter and former rain upon the earth (Hosea 6:3).

Christ has fulfilled the Passover. He became our Passover lamb. “…for even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us… (ICorinthians 5:7).” He became the unleavened bread because He knew no sin. He fulfilled the Feast of First Fruit because He was the first one to rise from the dead to live forevermore.

The Law was given to Moses on the fiftieth day after the Israelites left Egypt. At the giving of the Law 3,000 people lost their lives. “And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses: and there fell the people that day about 3,000 men. (Exodus 32:28).”

Remember, God works in patterns. The Feast of Weeks was celebrated fifty days after the Feast of First Fruits. The Feast of Weeks is also called Pentecost. Also, remember that the Old Testament Law was a “shadow of good things to come.” Now look at Acts 2:1-4 “Now when the day of Pentecost (or the Feast of Weeks), had fully come they were all in one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

We remember when God gave the Law, 3,000 people lost their lives. Now look, what happened when God made the New Covenant, the Covenant of Grace. “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized; and the same day there were added to them about 3,000 souls. Look at the pattern of God. At the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai, 3,000 men lost their lives. At the giving of the Holy Spirit in the Upper Room on the feast day of Pentecost, 3,000 men were saved.

Jesus told his disciples that He would not leave them comfortless after He left them, but God would send a comforter. “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you (John 14:26).” On the Feast day of Pentecost or the Feast of Weeks, God sent the Holy Ghost, and just as He breathed His breath into Adam and Adam became a living soul, God breathed His breath, the rushing mighty wind, into the church and the Church became a living entity. This all happened on the Feast of Weeks. Why study the Feasts? We can’t have a clear picture of God’s plan without searching deep into His word and studying our deep Hebrew roots.

Dedication (Click on the picture)

2009-01-27T04:21:00.001-06:00

This blog is dedicated to Yeshua Hamashiach (Jesus the Messiah) and to my Sunday School Class at Sonrise Christian Ministries in Lakeland, Florida. I have co-taught and taught this class for almost six years. My brothers and sisters in the Lord who faithfully attend have a deep thirst for the Lord. You can see it in their eyes and hear it in their voices. It has been a great joy to bring you the Word of God weekly. We have prayed together, studied the scriptures together, shared our concerns, questions and our hearts with each other.

I am so thankful God has put these "living stones" in my life. We lean against each other, as we lean against the Chief Cornerstone in this holy Temple of the Lord called His Church.

This blog is also dedicated to all those who hunger and thirst after righteousness. We live in a fallen world, and we sometimes fall short. But, God is faithful to forgive. So, we press on, ..."being patient...unto the coming of the Lord. The husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receives the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh (James 5:7).

Every week I will try to post our Sunday School lesson here for those who can't make it to Church.

May God "comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good work
(II Thessalonians. 2:17)."

Blessings,
Myrtle