Friday, October 8, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
The Love of God
Today begins Yom Kippur at sundown, it is the day of at-one-ment (atonement). When I think of God and His love for me, I stand amazed in His presence. That God should love a sinner such as me, His love truly knows no bounds. I was just reading in Genesis where God commanded light, He spoke and there it was. He commanded and it came forth, but God formed man and woman. Why did God form us? He formed us in His image to be His children to live in His Kingdom to Worship the King.
The love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell, it goes beyond the highest star and reaches to the lowest hell. It is the goodness of God that draws men to repentance. We cannot even approach God without His drawing. The Good Shepherd takes His staff and draws His sheep to Him. There He cleans us and washes us whiter than snow, He feeds us, He puts the oil of blessing upon us, He anoints my head with oil and my cup runneth over. Our God is an awesome God. Words are often insufficient to express what HE does for us. The Shepherd does everything for the sheep. What does the sheep do for the shepherd? The sheep are purchased. Sheep offer value to the shepherd when they are sheared (naked) before Him. Sheep are of value to Him when they die. I guess the shepherd likes gyros (not really). It is hard to say in natural terms what value the sheep have to the shepherd. They follow Him, they follow His voice and obey His commands.
The day of atonement is a day of remembrance. We remember what the great shepherd did for the sheep. He was the "lamb of God" that took away all of our sins. Who could be perfect, without blemish, without fault, and Holy unto the Lord. No one in all of mankind could wipe away the "sin debt" caused by Adam and Eve. The sacrifice had to be perfect, nothing else would do. The law was not enough to make men anew, because it kept the focus on the problem and not the solution. Only the "lamb caught in the thicket" was sufficient to take Isaac's place. Yom Kippur is a day of remembrance, today we remember Ha'Messhiach (Jesus - The Christ, or Messiah). No work was to be done on Holy Days, I guess that is the difference between a Holy Day and a Holiday. On a Holy Day, there is a focus and a purpose.
The Love of God brought to us the atoning sacrifice of the Lamb of God. The perfect One died for you and for me. Agape (love) is the best love, the love that does not require a gift back. Agape love is a love that keeps on giving. Thank You Jesus for Your Holy Love. Thank You Yeshua for your atoning work on Calvary. Baruch haba B'Shem Adonai!
The love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell, it goes beyond the highest star and reaches to the lowest hell. It is the goodness of God that draws men to repentance. We cannot even approach God without His drawing. The Good Shepherd takes His staff and draws His sheep to Him. There He cleans us and washes us whiter than snow, He feeds us, He puts the oil of blessing upon us, He anoints my head with oil and my cup runneth over. Our God is an awesome God. Words are often insufficient to express what HE does for us. The Shepherd does everything for the sheep. What does the sheep do for the shepherd? The sheep are purchased. Sheep offer value to the shepherd when they are sheared (naked) before Him. Sheep are of value to Him when they die. I guess the shepherd likes gyros (not really). It is hard to say in natural terms what value the sheep have to the shepherd. They follow Him, they follow His voice and obey His commands.
The day of atonement is a day of remembrance. We remember what the great shepherd did for the sheep. He was the "lamb of God" that took away all of our sins. Who could be perfect, without blemish, without fault, and Holy unto the Lord. No one in all of mankind could wipe away the "sin debt" caused by Adam and Eve. The sacrifice had to be perfect, nothing else would do. The law was not enough to make men anew, because it kept the focus on the problem and not the solution. Only the "lamb caught in the thicket" was sufficient to take Isaac's place. Yom Kippur is a day of remembrance, today we remember Ha'Messhiach (Jesus - The Christ, or Messiah). No work was to be done on Holy Days, I guess that is the difference between a Holy Day and a Holiday. On a Holy Day, there is a focus and a purpose.
The Love of God brought to us the atoning sacrifice of the Lamb of God. The perfect One died for you and for me. Agape (love) is the best love, the love that does not require a gift back. Agape love is a love that keeps on giving. Thank You Jesus for Your Holy Love. Thank You Yeshua for your atoning work on Calvary. Baruch haba B'Shem Adonai!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Reflections on Marriage
Well, my wife (Pam) and I will be married for 25 years on August 10th. Marriage is a "good thing," not a bad thing. The Bible says "He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and (the bonus) obtains the favor of the Lord. Like most people in marriage, we've had our ups and our downs, BUT God is Faithful!!!
The institution of Marriage is a "Holy" thing, thus it will not work without GOD! Even with God, it can be tough at times. There is a third cord though, that is the glue that holds things together during the "tough times." Tough times will come in various forms: arguments, disillusionment, false expectations, unrealistic goals and dreams, and so forth. Real love will last to the end. Real love is NOT based on emotion, it is based on commitment. "Feel good" marriages do not last when people no longer "feel like it." That is why it "must be" based on the rock of Jesus Christ and the Word of God.
Pam and I had good role models, both of our parents stuck it out to the end. That helps!!! We have been blessed in many ways, but there were problems which have extended to even this day. Healing takes time. Learning to forgive can be hard. Learning to effectively "deal" with past problems can be almost impossible, but with God ALL things are possible.
I give God the glory for making it this far. Twenty five years is a long time, but it is a spit in the bucket compared to Eternity. I have a beautiful wife and I have failed her many times, and vice versa. The Good News is that God has never let us down. When we call upon Him, He is always there to help mend the broken fences, to kiss the "boo-boos," and to offer a word of encouragement.
We are now at a place where we truly are "one flesh." We often laugh when we have the same idea at the same time, when we finish each other sentences, etc... We are growing old together. I don't know all that God will do over the next 25 years or so, but I KNOW that God is our friend, He's on our side, and like a dear friend says "God is faithful!"
In closing, I am very, very Thankful to my loving God, Jesus Christ, for all of His blessings. I am thankful for His guidance, His counsel, His love, and for everything. Deus Nobiscum, Emmanuel, He is "God with us" and the lover of our souls. All honor, All glory, All Power, and ALL Dominion are HIS. He is our Father. We have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry "ABBA" Father. "Let every man be found a liar, God's Word is true." Thank You Jesus! Thank You Mom and Dad! Thanks to all of you who have been a part of our lives! Shalom!
The institution of Marriage is a "Holy" thing, thus it will not work without GOD! Even with God, it can be tough at times. There is a third cord though, that is the glue that holds things together during the "tough times." Tough times will come in various forms: arguments, disillusionment, false expectations, unrealistic goals and dreams, and so forth. Real love will last to the end. Real love is NOT based on emotion, it is based on commitment. "Feel good" marriages do not last when people no longer "feel like it." That is why it "must be" based on the rock of Jesus Christ and the Word of God.
Pam and I had good role models, both of our parents stuck it out to the end. That helps!!! We have been blessed in many ways, but there were problems which have extended to even this day. Healing takes time. Learning to forgive can be hard. Learning to effectively "deal" with past problems can be almost impossible, but with God ALL things are possible.
I give God the glory for making it this far. Twenty five years is a long time, but it is a spit in the bucket compared to Eternity. I have a beautiful wife and I have failed her many times, and vice versa. The Good News is that God has never let us down. When we call upon Him, He is always there to help mend the broken fences, to kiss the "boo-boos," and to offer a word of encouragement.
We are now at a place where we truly are "one flesh." We often laugh when we have the same idea at the same time, when we finish each other sentences, etc... We are growing old together. I don't know all that God will do over the next 25 years or so, but I KNOW that God is our friend, He's on our side, and like a dear friend says "God is faithful!"
In closing, I am very, very Thankful to my loving God, Jesus Christ, for all of His blessings. I am thankful for His guidance, His counsel, His love, and for everything. Deus Nobiscum, Emmanuel, He is "God with us" and the lover of our souls. All honor, All glory, All Power, and ALL Dominion are HIS. He is our Father. We have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry "ABBA" Father. "Let every man be found a liar, God's Word is true." Thank You Jesus! Thank You Mom and Dad! Thanks to all of you who have been a part of our lives! Shalom!
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Ahmadinejad's Plan for America
This morning while viewing a video by Benjamin Netanyahu, I believe I had an epiphany. I saw in the spirit Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's plan to destroy America. He is developing long range missiles and nuclear bombs which he will use against the "Great Satan" which is America and Israel. What would the target be in America. They destroyed the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001. One of the targets was missed that day, and it was a big one. When President Bush shut down the airports, he shut off their plans to destroy the oil in America. Exxon-Mobile will be one of his first targets in America. Ahmadinejad will target large oil centers, one of the largest is in Louisiana, and the other target will be the capital (unless Obama is in office) and other large cities (like Los Angeles, New York City - because of the Jews, Atlanta, Chicago, etc...). If Ahmadinejad is successful, he will ruin America, and that is his plan. Then he will go after Israel, and he wants to completely wipe Israel off of the map.
Baton Rouge would no longer be on the map, a nuclear bomb would do to us what we did to Hiroshima and Nagasaki. My beloved church would crumble like sand, and thousands if not millions of lives would be lost. Panic would ensue and people would panic. Marshall law would take over and America would become like a third world nation, stripped of all power. May we stand in prayer against this man Ahmadinejad, but even more - may we vote in an American President that will act before it is too late!!! In God We Trust!!! He is our best hope, and our only hope (Hatikvah).
Baton Rouge would no longer be on the map, a nuclear bomb would do to us what we did to Hiroshima and Nagasaki. My beloved church would crumble like sand, and thousands if not millions of lives would be lost. Panic would ensue and people would panic. Marshall law would take over and America would become like a third world nation, stripped of all power. May we stand in prayer against this man Ahmadinejad, but even more - may we vote in an American President that will act before it is too late!!! In God We Trust!!! He is our best hope, and our only hope (Hatikvah).
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