Category Archives: TORAH

ALTAR OF INCENSE

Psalms 13 How Long Lord…? How Long?

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David laments about how long it’s taking to overcome their enemies. Enemies arise back-to-back. But the Children of Israel are only facing enemies’ generation after generation because they are not staying under the anointing of GOD. Acts of disobedience are opening the door to their enemies.

In verse 1 and 2, David ask, “How long…”, a total of 4 times. It’s interesting to note that Israel went into exile a total of 4 times; Babylon, Persia, Greece and with Rome.

Where else in the scriptures do we find similar language.... [Using one of the 7 Rules of Biblical Hermeneutics (Rule #6) known as ‘Ka-yoẓe bo mi-maḳom aḥer‘ (“Like that in another place”), i.e., the explanation of a Biblical passage according to another of similar content].

We see:

Exodus 16:28 “And the Lord said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws?”

Numbers 14:11 “And the Lord said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?”

Numbers 14:27 “How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me.”

David recognizes and expresses two ways in which we can feel that GOD is not with us…

  1. Removal of His Presence; (1a) can cause us to feel forgotten.
  2. GOD Conceals His Face; (1b) can cause us to feel abandoned.

Yet, in the Book of Jeremiah we find GOD’s reply to apathy, idolatry, apostasy…

“Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.”

Sure, we can come up with our own strategies to save ourselves, and we have. But when will we trust GOD enough to abide with Him, without turning our backs, getting comfortable and complacent, without crossing over into apostasy, forgetfulness, apathy?

What causes us to drift back into the world and turn away, and get caught in the cycle of exile? Isn’t that one of the things that David wants us to figure out?

Lighten our eyes LORD, give us Your plan. We purpose to hear Your plan; we purpose in our hearts to listen and obey. We need Your counsel to keep us out of the snares of the enemy, we need to outwit them. It is imperative that we outwit them. If You do not give us the plan, or the instructions, to keep us from venturing into the traps, plots, plans or snares of our spiritual enemies, we will sleep the sleep of death (Jer. 51:9).

Enlighten us with torah… cause us to see beneath the verses… cause our eyes to open so that we understand the message… open our ears to hear… least our enemies prevail over us, over our children and over our futures…

This is why we can trust in Your Mercy…This is why we can rejoice in Your Salvation… This is why we can sing and find joy in the midst of pain and disappointment, or distress… because we don’t allow our feelings to rule over us… because our hearts are not seared, we can receive correction, we possess the humility to repent, because we know you are Faithful, More Faithful that we are… whether we can see Your Face, or feel Your Presence, we trust in You and on Your Name, and we already know that you will never leave us or forsake us…

Amen.

Sources Citied: Artscroll, The Writings, The Psalms

ALTAR OF INCENSE, Praying the Psalms

Praying the Psalms… OUTLOUD

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Children’s names are dressed in Royal Apparel… The Purple Ink.

Come alongside us and pray for every name on this altar. Everything they need is just a prayer away! Ask The LORD to show you which people on this list you are assigned to pray for. I hope it’s every name, but if you are called to cover children…

My granddaughter asked about the people that you pass by, and you can look at them and see… knowing they need prayer, but you don’t know their names… how do we include them?

So, I made a reminder on the list for “The Unknown Name.” We are covering everybody, hidden in plain sight, everybody passing by anonymously, but we can see pain, hurt, devastation, secret pain… we’re binding every lying suicidal spirit, every spirit of sabotage, depression, we cast out vain imaginations… We are praying for you to have divine encounters, divine interventions, a Word from the LORD, that only you recognize must be coming from Him, because flesh and blood could not reveal it to you… Give your servants a Word for the lost, the broken, the lonely, the hurting… anoint my granddaughter to be one of your servants, to see behind the mask the people wear, to see the truth, to see beneath the surface, and be that servant, to give them a Word from the LORD, a Word that retrieves them from behind enemy lines. (Feb 5, 2023)

DUST OF THE RABBI

WHERE WILL YOU DECIDE TO LIVE?

THERE’S A CUSTODY BATTLE FOR YOUR BODY, SOUL, MIND, AND SPIRIT.
WHO WILL YOU GIVE YOURSELF TO? AND WHO WILL YOU DECIDE TO LIVE WITH?

I am rereading, Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus by Lois Tverberg with everyone and I came across a passage in the book I fell in love with a long time ago and saw it again today. Thought I would make a quick post from the teaching in Mark 12:17for everyone!

God Bless

bookclub, LOIS TVERBERG

WHAT DOES IT MEAN… “WALKING IN THE DUST OF THE RABBI?”: BOOK CLUB CHOICE FOR APRIL

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Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus ~ How the Jewish Words of Jesus Can Change Your Life by Lois Tverberg

Pirkei Avot 1:4

Let thy house be a meeting house for the wise;
and powder thyself in the very dust of their feet;
and drink their words with thirst. (Sefaria.org)

Our most cherished goal in bible or torah study is to follow so closely behind Jesus that we are covered by the dust of his feet, as we follow after him. This imagery is not just literal. We are easily like Mary, sitting at the feet of Jesus while he taught (Luke 10:39), or we might envision Paul, as he stated in his own words that he was, “…educated at the feet of Gamaliel” (Acts 22:3).

Many times, I have heard a number of Christians say that the “Old Testament was replaced by the New. I have seen too many treat the Hebrew Scriptures as if their only purpose is that of a reference book. Simply as if we are carrying around 39 books of outdated info. It’s not their fault. This is a fallacy that any Christian could easily fall victim to. But we do not have to remain that way, and you do not have to spend another day in the dark.

You can draw much closer to GOD when you accurately know what He was actually saying.

Fortunately, Tverberg’s work brings to light many teachings that were overlooked in our earlier biblical studies in the church. She does a great job of reconnecting us with our Hebrew Roots in the Scriptures. Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus highlights key words, phrases and expressions from the Hebrew that are misunderstood through the lens of our western mindset. We have some catching up to do!

I’m sure you have noticed that I am continually setting before you a series of books that increase your knowledge of the Hebrew language. This is because I earnestly desire that you hear the Word from its Hebrew origins, culture and times.

I hope you take hold of these insights as they have the power to increase your wisdom, knowledge understanding. This is essential, because this is the kind of wisdom that has the potential to increase your power in prayer… If by hearing you hear, and by seeing you see.

I hope you read this book with our book club and leave a reply or grace us with your comments below as you read. I would love to hear from you!

The Book is available from many retailers and publishers as well as Audible.com.

Enjoy.

CONNECTING THE DOTS

BUILDING THE LINE OF YESHUA

Connecting the Dots…

“In the same way it took both Gentiles and Jews to birth the line of Jesus, it takes Gentiles and Jews to birth the Kingdom of GOD”, Rabbi Jason Sobel, Mysteries of the Messiah

Together we do great things!

Included in the Connecting the Dots Series – Don’t Miss Your Opportunity to Pray

To find out more about the torah, see previous article: Why We Study the Torah

ABRAHAM J. HESCHEL

Announcing The Selection for Our Next Book Club Reading…

Between God and Man by Abraham Joshua Heschel (1907-1972)

Reading begins: November 24, 2021 Ends: January 7, 2022

Heschel puts forth the question, “Does the worth of wonder merely consist in its being a stimulant to the acquisition of knowledge? Is wonder the same as curiosity? He proposes to us that, knowledge is not the beginning of knowledge, but an act that goes beyond knowledge… it is an attitude that never ceases.”

Heschel suggests that our sense of wonder [and awe] has declined. I agree. However, I know we can recover it!

He concludes that, ” life without wonder is not worth living,” finding that, “What we lack is not a will to believe, but a will to wonder.”

As we begin our journey through his book, consider the level of awe from which you approach the world each day? Do you marvel at the creation miracle that we continue to experience day by day? Can you see and sense the hand of God throughout creation?

Are you able to cut past the noise, the indifference, and the difficulties and still gaze in radical amazement at the workings at the hand of God?

Would you agree with Heschel’s claim that the way to faith leads through acts of wonder and radical amazement? What are your thoughts?

Join us as we explore these depths and experience the awe of wonder between God and man.

In the Meantime….

Remember This Torah Training Assignment:

Look for the Awe, the Wonder, the Essence of GOD within every person that you encounter this week and during this Season of Hanukah. Practice finding the awe of God within every person, within every experience and discover for yourself whether or not wisdom increases, while blocks to insight are removed.

Everyone is welcome to post their comments below as we read through the text together and share our thoughts and ideas!

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ELUL, THE 29th DAY OF PRAYER, 5780

Rosh Hashanah 5781 – Dwelling in the Secret Place of the Most High

Rosh Hashanah September 18, 2020 is The Beginning of Your Sacred Journey into 5781. How excellent is it that we usher in the Eve of Rosh Hashanah with Psalms 91!

September 17th: READING & PRAYING PSALMS 91-97

Ref: ELUL, OUR 29 DAY BANQUET OF PRAYER… TO HONOR THE KING OF GLORY! ELUL, The Month of The Search… Praying The Lord’s Prayer IN HEBREW & ENGLISH

PSALM 91

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

Terror (pakh-ad) is disaster, We chose to fill our hearts with faith instead of fear. It’s a choice.

The arrow divides (khaw-tsats), and cuts in two.

Attacks are design to divide and conquer, husbands from wives, brother from sister, friend from neighbors, on every imaginable platform.

GOD says not to operate in fear. In fact, ‘fear not’ appears

Biblegateway.com shows us that the words, ‘fear not’ appears 170 times in the KJV.

The concept of fear is addressed over 500 times.

GOD is very serious about us NOT operating in the spirit of fear!

Fear disrupts our peace and impairs our ability to flow in the things GOD. Fear produces torment and manifest in faulty thinking.

Fear paralyzes, solves absolutely no problems and births out bigger giants that are much harder to fight than fear itself.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18

“Shouldn’t I be worried, or afraid?”

Our level of love will only take us so far. Let difficulty arise, hardship in relationships, distress, pain, conflict, etc. and relationships of every kind are in danger of crumbling. It takes another level of love to get through it.

Love can only be made perfect through a relationship with GOD. We can hit a brick wall, operating in our level of love, and cry out, “I’m done!” The quality of love is so fragile, when handled with unskilled hands and limited by our own thoughts, ways and devices.

Once we hit a wall with our capacity to love… we are done. It takes the love of GOD in you to help you break through the walls and move forward. This is called dying to self…

When you’re sick of love, tired of love, broken by love, have no more love left inside you, anywhere… only the love of GOD can break you out of this cycle.

This is how you will know…

that you have been made perfect in GOD’s Love...

Should you ever have to endure a future crisis (GOD forbid), but if you do, another problem, complication, situation, instead of being afraid, you will find instead, that you can’t find any fear in you. You will search yourself for fear, and won’t find any at all.

Let’s start over…

Psalm 91

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

pestilence (words that speak forth death & destruction, words that are like a plague to your spirit, speech that operates like a plague, words that cut off, destroy…)

waste (devastate, ruin, deals violently with…)

7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

Christians are quick to rejoice over grace and being free from commandments. But it’s observing and obeying GOD’s commandments that bring for the blessing. Yes, we are saved by grace. But in the present state of our enjoyment of grace, we have done more harm to our soul because we operate (as a community as a whole) in a constant state of privilege and disobedience.

We love to claim grace as if that absolves us of our behavior problems. Grace with no rules of behavior is dangerous.

The commandments show us how to get back to GOD and holiness. When we face ourselves in the mirror and deal with all of our compromise and complacency, we need a few commandments to reorient, retrain our spirit — we need discipline.

An undisciplined spirit, a spirit that makes excuses for our behavior- needs a few commandments to get back on the right track.

Some want to argue denominational teachings and legalism. This is not going to help a spiritual ailment. GOD is not denominational. Man invented that to separate, cut off, limit, prohibit, segregate, beliefs and create further distance between mankind. (I know this is radical, but bear with me).

I said before… as you study the WORD of GOD…to keep your eyes on what is happening to the soul. Our legalistic and separatist attitudes are corrupting our souls, and our world.

We see the damage in the world, but we act as if our souls are unharmed. They are not.

We are spiritual creatures first. We just can’t keep that in the forefront of our brains and go outside and live with each other.

Don’t Fear a Commandment, Embrace them. Grace will still be there. It’s more important to get our spirit in line with the image and likeness of GOD.

This is a personal spiritual soul searching issue, not a denominational one.

Love thy neighbor is the culmination of the commandments, the torah, the teachings, etc.

But if we have no sense of direction in how to accomplish that, the commandments are invaluable guideposts. i.e., don’t sever your connection with the erroneously labeled, “Old Testament”, The torah, the Hebrew Scriptures are LIFE and GODLINESS. There is nothing OLD or outdated in them.

12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

Draw Closer to GOD and He will Draw Closer to You.

Tomorrow is the Eve of Rosh Hashanah. GOD’s New Year. GOD said to proclaim it throughout your generations, before there was such a thing as denominations. All our work in prayer means nothing, if we still enter the New Year according to GOD’s Calendar, with the same old attitudes and behaviors we came into the year with last year.

The Church has so much power to transform!

ELUL, is about Elevation and Transformation. Transcend denomination… transform your denomination into inclusiveness, kindness, forgiveness, love, oneness with GOD and Man.

Our faith is for everyone, our prayers are for everyone, our love is for everyone.

I know how hard it is to love the lovable and the unloveable. I have my issues too. I can be perfectly holy all day, as long as I don’t go outside, don’t talk to anyone I meet, and don’t take any phone calls.

Once I walk outside those doors, holiness is quite the challenge. Without a prayer life and a relationship with the LORD, only self would be with me on the other side of that door… and that is not a good idea.

Whatever you decide, know that I am praying for you and your household and will all year long. I speak blessings over all the nations that are represented on this blog, and those who are not. I give thanks for your lives.

As I pray for you this year, I will call you each by one name… aw’nah

It means to answer, to respond, to pay attention, to testify, to give account, to witness…

We were all created to be an answer in the earth. I pray we save, raise and nourish as many answers as we can.

I pray that we each bring solutions and benefits to each other. I pray we honor GOD in every conversation and every interaction. I pray that we lead with compassion, empathy and love.

LORD, I speak to the next 365 days, may they serve the people of GOD and lead your people to salvation. May we each walk on the high places of the earth, may we be in constant remembrance that we are spirit first, then flesh. May our spirits rule over our flesh this year as never before, and cause us to build, edify and encourage each other. May GOD rule above our legalistic mindsets (wherever that remains in us) and may we each set GOD’s WORD, His Way and His Thoughts above all the traditions of man. May we cast off and cast down all shackles that limit, divide, cause adversity, cast down all destructive words, language and thoughts.

May we each serve the One True GOD of Love, Kindness, Compassion, Empathy, Healing and Hope…

May we each strive to excel in at least One aspect of Your Character and Nature this Year!

I chose healing through prayer.

AMEN & Amen.

  • WELCOME TO Rosh Hashanah!