God's Sovereign Timetable

The subject of God's timetable and that God is always in control in  my life has always been a hard pill to swallow. It is hard to see that God has his hand in  one's life especially when times are the hardest. When we are sick, or in lots of pain, or lack of money seems to occur all too often, we wonder where is God in all of this? Then we are reminded through most of the stories in the Bible  that God is in control of all of our circumstances and nothing slips by him without his consent , even in the hardest of times. Although from our perspective it looks like God is far from us, or at times it may seem that God doesn't even love us,but that is only because we are too short sighted to see the bigger picture, and so it all comes down to trusting that God knows what he is doing. God knows the best time to allow whatever we need into our lives and we can trust that this is so, which is one of the messages of the timing of the birth of Christ and all the circumstances that surrounded that  great event.
On the Eve of Christmas here is a devotional that reminds us that God is always in control .
May you all have a blessed Christmas.

GOD'S  SOVEREIGN TIMETABLE



"In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. And everyone went to his own town to register."
--Luke 2:1,3
Unpleasant circumstances often have a way of being the best part of God's most magnificent design. Performing their civic duty under the census posed a great inconvenience to Mary and Joseph.

The distance between Nazareth and Bethlehem was no short hike over sixty miles of rugged terrain. Despite Joseph's attempts to make the trip comfortable, it must have been extremely difficult for Mary, into her ninth month of pregnancy, to make the three-day journey. But God decreed to have His Son born in the City of David, and He used an external circumstance-the census-to get the Holy Family from point A to point B. Despite the headache and hardship, God's sovereign timetable was ticking off right on schedule.

Sometimes we make the mistake of thinking that only the right things, the comfortable things, are a part of God's design. A good job, an adequate home, and money in the bank give us the impression that we must be doing something right. Then when inconvenience or hardship hits, we wonder what went wrong.

Maybe nothing has gone wrong. Maybe we just need to realize that our most unpleasant circumstances, much like Mary and Joseph's, often have a way of being the best part of God's most magnificent design. God's sovereign timetable is working in the life of your family, too.
O, help me to see, Lord, that every unpleasant circumstance in my life is, indeed, part of Your wonderful design for my life. I thank You for the example of Joseph and Mary, who did not complain over the inconvenience of a census, a rough road, a cold night, or a crowded inn.

Blessings,
Joni and Friends

http://www.joniandfriends.org/

REMEMBER MY SONG IN THE NIGHT

Remember My Song in the Night
STREAMS IN THE DESERT DEVOTIONAL by Mrs. Charles Cowman
"I call to remembrance my song in the night" (Psalm 77:6).

I have read somewhere of a little bird that will never sing the melody his master wishes while his cage is full of light. He learns a snatch of this, a bar of that, but never an entire song of its own until the cage is covered and the morning beams shut out.
A good many people never learn to sing until the darkling shadows fall. The fabled nightingale carols with his breast against a thorn. It was in the night that the song of the angels was heard. It was at midnight that the cry came, "Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him."
Indeed it is extremely doubtful if a soul can really know the love of God in its richness and in its comforting, satisfying completeness until the skies are black and lowering.
Light comes out of darkness, morning out of the womb of the night.
James Creelman, in one of his letters, describes his trip through the Balkan States in search of Natalie, the exiled Queen of Serbia.

"In that memorable journey," he says, "I learned for the first time that the world's supply of attar of roses comes from the Balkan Mountains. And the thing that interested me most," he goes on, "is that the roses must be gathered in the darkest hours. The pickers start out at one o'clock and finish picking them at two."At first it seemed to me a relic of superstition; but I investigated the picturesque mystery, and learned that actual scientific tests had proven that fully forty per cent of the fragrance of roses disappeared in the light of day."And in human life and human culture that is not a playful, fanciful conceit; it is a real veritable fact. -Malcolm J. McLeod

THE TEST OF SELF INTEREST

THE TEST OF SELF-INTEREST
by Oswald Chambers

"If thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left." Genesis 13:9

As soon as you begin to live the life of faith in God, fascinating and luxurious prospects will open up before you, and these things are yours by right; but if you are living the life of faith you will exercise your right to waive your rights, and let God choose for you. God sometimes allows you to get into a place of testing where your own welfare would be the right and proper thing to consider if you were not living a life of faith; but if you are, you will joyfully waive your right and leave God to choose for you. This is the discipline by means of which the natural is transformed into the spiritual by obedience to the voice of God.Whenever right is made the guidance in the life, it will blunt the spiritual insight. The great enemy of the life of faith in God is not sin, but the good which is not good enough. The good is always the enemy of the best. It would seem the wisest thing in the world for Abraham to choose, it was his right, and the people around would consider him a fool for not choosing. Many of us do not go on spiritually because we prefer to choose what is right instead of relying on God to choose for us. We have to learn to walk according to the standard which has its eye on God. "Walk before Me."

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The goal in many of our lives is for the 'self' , to try to change our circumstances and make it what we want to happen in our lives, but to live the life of Faith in God is to let go and let God be Lord ,Master and King in our lives, to have the faith to know that what ever happens in our lives that it is God who either brought it about or allowed it to happen for His purpose in us. The goal of the Christian life is to walk in faith and believing that Gods Spirit knows what we need in our lives . Many of us are not quite here, we don't realize that it is God who is shaping our lives, and it is the 'tests' that we go through that help us realize our weaknesses and total dependence on God ,that is the outcome of the ordeals we go through in life. This is what it means to walk in the Spirit or to be Spirit led, it is the trusting of our lives to His care that will produce the transformation that God desires in us.
God is the Master Artist , crafter, gardener and He is the one who decides how we are to be molded and formed as a vessel for his use. It is worldly ,fleshly and self thinking to always try to change our circumstances, but it is an act of faith to rely on God to do what we need to have done to form us into vessels fit for the King.The reason why I do not believe in 'spells' or positive affirmations to try to change my situation or circumstances in my life, is because I believe that the 'role' of a Christian believer in Yahshua/Jesus is to believe that whatever comes our way is for a purpose that only God may know, and it is a walk of faith on our part to believe that God knows what situations or circumstance we need to go through in order to grow in HIM. That does not mean that if we are sick, in pain, or dis-eased not to get medical help. We must do what we need to do but we must trust that it is God that is allowing these things to happen. The serenity prayer is a good place to understand this process.

The Serenity Prayer
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.
--Reinhold Niebuhr

DREAM OF A HOUSE ,LIGHTS AND FLOOD

I was reminded of a dream I once had while reading about someone else's dream that was quite similar. Although I can't remember what was happening in my life at the time of this dream, I can be quite certain that I was in 'search' mode looking for God and the way S/He would have me go and I can be certain of having many fears and worries about all aspect of my life.

My Dream:

There is this big 2 story house I am in it and the house had been pushed off it's foundations and was floating down a river during a very turbulent storm, I believe it was a flooded river. In this house are many rooms and decorated nicely and it still had electricity in it even though there were no 'external' source . The lights were on inside this house as I floated down the river! I remember wondering what was keeping the lights on.

After reading about this other dream I now have a better understanding of my own dream.

Dreams relating to a house often refers to various aspects of the Self.To see your home in your dream, signifies security, basic needs, and values. Because this house still had it's lights on without being plugged in to an external source is very revealing to me, The 'light' comes from within me within my 'house', I am that house or it is Gods house and S/He is the only light/life source needed.


To see a storm in my dream, signifies some overwhelming struggle, shock, loss or catastrophe in my waking life. The storm also represents unexpressed fears or emotions, such as anger, rage, turmoil, etc. On a more positive note, the storm symbolizes my rising spirituality. It may signal rapid changes ahead for me.
To see a raging river in my dream, signifies that my life is feeling out of control. I am feeling emotionally unsettled. Alternatively, a river means that I am ready to confront life's challenges and life's twists and turns.The river is the river of life we are all on, sometimes things get wild and turbulent and the floods really do knock us off our foundations, but God will always be there within each of us.God is not out there somewhere, but within us, especially if we have asked for God to be there, like I have done. So in this dream I am being reassured that my lights are on inside of me, that God who is the light is alive and well within. And no matter what happens as I go down this river of life, God will be with me.


To dream that I am floating in water/river, suggests that I still have a handle on my emotions even though sometimes I might feel out of control of the things happening in my life.



I have always searched outside of myself for God and God has been within me all along! And no matter what will try to disturb my since of security in life, when the storms come and they will, I can have faith that I am not alone in them. My lights will still remain on no matter if I get unplugged from some outside source.

HOW SMALL IS YOUR god?

"The person who does not know the living God is condemned, by the gods of their own making".
These  small gods are petty and not that much better,if at all, than the rest of humanity.These small gods  that men and women have made for themselves ,throughout the ages,are jealous ,petty and lacking love and mercy, only a little greater than they themselves.They are  only a little stronger, only a little wiser, but never anything any better. Immortal they are thought to be and always afraid of their mortal children, they are conveniently protected by a too fortunate gift of immortality. These gods are always fighting amongst themselves and never it seems, ever lead by  good  and loving examples. Are the people ever transformed by these gods? Are the people who worship and honor these man-made gods ever transformed into loving,compassionate and forgiving people? I have found that people who honor the gods of their own making are just like their gods. And those who honor and follow the Infinite and true God sooner or later WILL be transform in that likeness as well. So who do you want to emulate? Do you have a small and petty god, a god that is not loving, nor do they care about what is going on in your life, nor help you try to change it?

Let me tell you about the True Living God. This God of abundant love and amazing grace has willed to give us everything we truly need ,as a free gift. Jesus left the realm of heaven and came to the place of death to show us who the Living God truly is, who gave His life so that we might live. That is not what any puny man -made god,has ever been able to do.

I think many times we as Christians bring with us to the Body, that is Christ, a small vision or expectation of who or what the True God really is. Many of us bring the man-made vision of god with us. Here is were our problems begin and end. I think many of us read into the Bible this very small god, the god of hate and fear that we thought we left behind. I think a major hindrance we bring to our Bible study is that we have in many places a too literal reading of scriptures and in other places our reading should be more literal. We fail to understand that although Scriptures are God Breathed they are written by mere mortals with their own beliefs,  filters and blockages. The Scriptures reveal the true and infinite God in the person of Jesus Christ and in all references to Him ,I take for the most part as literal, the rest I take as a means for the Holy Spirit to guide me daily in the way I should go. The Bible is a revelation of the 'experiences of God' that people have had, and the walk they had trying to figure out what it all meant to them. These people were not perfect in any way ,shape or form, but they experienced the Infinite God in personal and unique ways to them and the Bible is the stories of those encounters, with all the good , the bad and the ugly of their own personal natures put in there for good measure. We must also remember that the culture 2000 to5000 years ago is very different than our own as well! Our Infinite God does not condone all the behaviors we read about, and just because it is in the Bible does not make it the way God would have us personally to go now in this age, that is why we need our own personal encounter with the Infinite God and the personal guidance with that Holy Spirit on a moment by moment basis.

I read earlier this month that the author Anne Rice said she had left Christianity because of well ,Christians,  many leave for the same reason , but I ask  all of  you who have left Churches for that same reason : "Are you really more perfect than the rest of us Christians? Are you able to live the life of Christ better than the rest of us? Can you hear from God better than the rest of us? Are you always able to respond in all circumstances with total love, peace and forgiveness? Are you the only one that can read Scriptures as they were intended? If so , then you have made it to perfection, but please forgive the rest of us who are still in the process of becoming all that Christ would have us to be. I am glad you have made it, but please have patience with the rest of us because we are slow learners."

The Body of Christ the Church which is ALL  Churches and Denominations that  put their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ are not perfect only the Head which is Christ IS. The perfection we seek, we will never fully comprehend nor master until Christ returns , until then the Church will have to learn to put their trust in the Living God  and follow after the Spirit of Christ. The Church is a family and like all families we are a disfunctional lot most of the time, but once in a while we get it right, but hey, that is why we are family we need each other to help  when we are not able to get off the ground and stand up by ourselves,  you see, we have to embrace one another before we can get up on our own 2 feet, and that is why we need each other and it is not wise to go it all alone.
The Infinite God I love has told us that we will know His true followers by 2 things............LOVE, for God and one another and  by our FRUIT. So if you go to a church that does not have these signs, then either stay and love and guide them back to God  , or go to a Church that does have fruit and love but either way let the Spirit of God lead you  in the way you are to go, it won't always be the same guidance for everyone, some are told to stay and love and others told to move on.
So how small is your god? My God led by example in the life of Jesus Christ and I have chosen to follow him, as imperfect as I am.
Go in love and shalom
blessings

Mother/Father God according to Gods own revelations

      Eagle by P.A.T.C. taken near Bryant Creek, Missouri.

Many Christians have a problem when someone in their ranks have the nerve to call on or to view God as 'Mother God'. They say we cannot call God Mother because it goes against God's own revelation as to who he is. What I have come to know is that within the pages of Scriptures both Old and New Covenant, that our God has revealed 'itself' in many ways using many names and metaphors to describe Gods awesome wonder and magnitude. If God has revealed himself within the pages using many names or metaphors then I as his child  of God and believer in Jesus can use anyone of these names and or metaphors to talk to God and to hope in God and to rely on God according to my present need.
As one whom his mother comforts,so will I comfort you;
You shall be comforted in Jerusalem. Isaiah 66.13

"As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him." Deut. 32:11-1


In the Bible we read that God is like a loving father, a courageous warrior, a good shepherd, a mighty king, a passionate lover.

But God is also like a mother eagle, a woman in labour, a midwife delivering a baby, a nurturing mother feeding her infant at the breast.
The wisdom of God in the Hebrew Scriptures is personified as a woman called Sophia.
Needless to say, the masculine metaphors have been more commonly used than the feminine ones.
But the Mother Eagle Speaks of the Nurturing of Our God


God is perfect in His attributes. All that is good and righteous in women and mothers have their foundation in God. Our Lord has the attributes of both the perfect father and perfect mother. We see women as supportive and nurturing, while men are seen as strong and direct. Though God is depicted for the most part as male in scripture, I believe that is because of the times and mindset of the people when these Scriptures were written. He is actually the perfect representation of both males and females. That is why scripture uses the mother eagle as an illustration of God's greatness.
We have   witnesses on the earth, nature and all of creation to teach us about God and his nature  they are both in  the written Word, and  in Nature. In Matt 6:26.it says:" Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. And are you not worth much more than they? " Jesus tells us to look at how God takes care of the Natural world and it's inhabitants, revealing Gods love for His creation by looking at creation to see the love of God.


God's Power is Seen in Nature
Joshua 2:11. For the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on earth below.
Romans 1:20. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - His eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

Conclusion: God reveals Himself throughout His Word and through creation 'nature'. Sometimes He shows Himself powerful and mighty. Other times He is a still small voice. But one of the most beautiful and revealing pictures of our Lord is that of the Mother Eagle. If we could only live moment by moment in the assurance that God is our Protector and Sustainer, our Power and Strength. Like the mother eagle, God teaches us of His ways. Like the mother eagle, God protects us from all enemies. Like the mother eagle, God nurtures and loves us. May we be always mindful of that love and nurturing.
So is it ok to call our Awesome God both Father and Mother God? Well if we take nature as a witness to God's invisible qualities then we know that in order for any man to be called a Father to His Children that it takes a Mother to make it so.So my argument is this, if God has revealed Himself to be something, and has given us his names to reveal something about who God is then I have much to base my conclusions. God is Both Father and Mother to us all.
blessings to ya.

http://www.allaboutgod.com/
Names of God: A Way to Understand His Nature and Character
The Names of God used in the Bible act as a roadmap for learning about the character of God. Since the Bible is God's Word to us, the names He chooses in scripture are meant to reveal His true nature to us.

Names of God: His Titles Revealed in Scripture
"ELOHIM" (or Elohay) is the first name for God found in the Bible, and it's used throughout the Old Testament over 2,300 times. Elohim comes from the Hebrew root meaning "strength" or "power", and has the unusual characteristic of being plural in form. In Genesis 1:1, we read, "In the beginning Elohim created the heaven and the earth." Right from the start, this plural form for the name of God is used to describe the One God, a mystery that is uncovered throughout the rest of the Bible. Throughout scripture, Elohim is combined with other words to describe certain characteristics of God. Some examples: Elohay Kedem - God of the Beginning: (Deuteronomy 33:27). Elohay Mishpat - God Of Justice: (Isaiah 30:18). Elohay Selichot - God Of Forgiveness: (Nehemiah 9:17). Elohay Marom - God Of Heights: (Micah 6:6). Elohay Mikarov - God Who Is Near: (Jeremiah 23:23). Elohay Mauzi - God Of My Strength: (Psalm 43:2). Elohay Tehilati - God Of My Praise: (Psalm 109:1). Elohay Yishi - God Of My Salvation: (Psalm 18:47, 25:5). Elohim Kedoshim - Holy God: (Leviticus 19:2, Joshua 24:19). Elohim Chaiyim - Living God: (Jeremiah 10:10). Elohay Elohim - God Of Gods: (Deuteronomy 10:17).

"EL" is another name used for God in the Bible, showing up about 200 times in the Old Testament. El is the simple form arising from Elohim, and is often combined with other words for descriptive emphasis. Some examples: El HaNe'eman - The Faithful God: (Deuteronomy 7:9). El HaGadol - The Great God: (Deuteronomy 10:17). El HaKadosh - The Holy God: (Isaiah 5:16). El Yisrael - The God Of Israel: (Psalm 68:35). El HaShamayim - The God Of The Heavens: (Psalm 136:26). El De'ot - The God Of Knowledge: (1 Samuel 2:3). El Emet - The God Of Truth: (Psalm 31:6). El Yeshuati - The God Of My Salvation: (Isaiah 12:2). El Elyon - The Most High God: (Genesis 14:18). Immanu El - God Is With Us: (Isaiah 7:14). El Olam - The God Of Eternity (Genesis 21:33). El Echad - The One God: (Malachi 2:10). "ELAH" is another name for God, used about 70 times in the Old Testament. Again, when combined with other words, we see different attributes of God. Some examples: Elah Yerush'lem - God of Jerusalem: (Ezra 7:19). Elah Yisrael - God of Israel: (Ezra 5:1). Elah Sh'maya - God of Heaven: (Ezra 7:23). Elah Sh'maya V'Arah - God of Heaven and Earth: (Ezra 5:11).

"YHVH" is the Hebrew word that translates as "LORD". Found more often in the Old Testament than any other name for God (approximately 7,000 times), the title is also referred to as the "Tetragrammaton," meaning the "The Four Letters". YHVH comes from the Hebrew verb "to be" and is the special name that God revealed to Moses at the burning bush. "And God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM; and He said, thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, I AM has sent me to you... this is My eternal name, and this is how I am to be recalled for all generations'" (Exodus 3:14-15). Therefore, YHVH declares God's absolute being - the source of everything, without beginning and without end. Although some pronounce YHVH as "Jehovah" or "Yaweh," scholars really don't know the proper pronunciation. The Jews stopped pronouncing this name by about 200 A.D., out of fear of breaking the commandment "You shall not take the name of YHVH your God in vain" (Exodus 20:7). (Today's rabbis typically use "Adonai" in place of YHVH.) Here are some examples of YHVH used in scripture: YHVH Elohim - LORD God: (Genesis 2:4). YHVH M'kadesh - The LORD Who Makes Holy: (Ezekiel 37:28). YHVH Yireh - The LORD Who Sees/provides: (Genesis 22:14). YHVH Nissi - The LORD My Banner: (Exodus 17:15). YHVH Shalom - The LORD Of Peace: (Judges 6:24). YHVH Tzidkaynu - The LORD Our Righteousness: (Jeremiah 33:16). YHVH O'saynu - The LORD our Maker: (Psalm 95:6).

Names of God: The Lord Revealed in YHVH is the Lord Revealed in Yeshua (Jesus)
The LORD who revealed Himself as YHVH in the Old Testament is revealed as Yeshua (Jesus) in the New Testament. Jesus shares the same attributes as YHVH and clearly claims to be YHVH. In John 8:56-9, Jesus presents himself as the "I AM." When challenged by some Jewish leaders regarding His claim of seeing Abraham (who lived some 2000 years earlier), Jesus replied, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I AM." Those Jewish leaders understood that Jesus was claiming to be YHVH. This is clearly established when they tried to stone Him to death for what they considered blasphemy under Jewish Law. In Romans 10:9, Paul declares, "if you confess with your mouth Yeshua as LORD... you shall be saved." Immediately thereafter, in Romans 10:13, Paul backs up this declaration by quoting the Old Testament, "Whoever will call upon the name of the LORD (YHVH) will be saved" (Joel 2:32). Calling on Yeshua (Jesus) as Lord is the same as calling Him YHVH, because Yeshua (Jesus) is YHVH (LORD), the Messiah foretold throughout the entire Old Testament.

STREAMS IN THE DESERT

Streams in the Desert - http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/desert



April 8

Don't Rush"Who is among you that feareth Jehovah, that obeyeth the voice of his servant? He that walketh in darkness and hath no light, let him trust in the name of Jehovah and rely upon his God" (Isa. 50:10, RV).

What shall the believer do in times of darkness -- the darkness of perplexity and confusion, not of heart but of mind? Times of darkness come to the faithful and believing disciple who is walking obediently in the will of God; seasons when he does not know what to do, nor which way to turn. The sky is overcast with clouds. The clear light of Heaven does not shine upon his pathway. One feels as if he were groping his way in darkness.Beloved, is this you? What shall the believer do in times of darkness? Listen! "Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and rely upon his God."

The first thing to do is do nothing. This is hard for poor human nature to do. In the West there is a saying that runs thus, "When you're rattled, don't rush"; in other words, "When you don't know what to do, don't do it."When you run into a spiritual fog bank, don't tear ahead; slow down the machinery of your life. If necessary, anchor your bark or let it swing at its moorings. We are to simply trust God. While we trust, God can work. Worry prevents Him from doing anything for us. If our minds are distracted and our hearts distressed; if the darkness that overshadows us strikes terror to us; if we run hither and yon in a vain effort to find some way of escape out of a dark place of trial, where Divine providence has put us, the Lord can do nothing for us.

The peace of God must quiet our minds and rest our hearts. We must put our hand in the hand of God like a little child, and let Him lead us out into the bright sunshine of His love.He knows the way out of the woods. Let us climb up into His arms, and trust Him to take us out by the shortest and surest road. --Dr. Pardington

Remember we are never without a pilot when we know not how to steer."Hold on, my heart, in thy believing--

The steadfast only wins the crown;

He who, when stormy winds are heaving,

Parts with its anchor, shall go down;

But he who Jesus holds through all,

Shall stand, though Heaven and earth should fall.

"Hold out! There comes an end to sorrow;

Hope from the dust shall conquering rise;

The storm foretells a summer's morrow;

The Cross points on to Paradise;

The Father reigneth! cease all doubt;

Hold on, my heart, hold on, hold out."

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How many times have we just pushed on through when we should have just waited for GOD's timing, and found ourselves in deeper waters? It is hard for me, it seems I am always in a foggy situation , not hearing from GOD and wandering why I haven't heard anything. I get anxious and begin to doubt and worry, and fear comes in like a whirlwind when that happens.Many times I don't know what to do, I get so confused as to what GOD really wants. Sometimes I get so confused about who is telling me the truth. There are so many voices out there,many it seems have just that little bit ,that is not exactly right, and not all of them have your best interest at heart.  So what does one do in these situations? Like the above devotions states. Stand and wait , get in the Word, and stand on the promises in your particular situation and listen for GOD to speak to you within the darkness. GOD will never let us down.
blessings and shalom

A SPECIAL WORD TO THE CHRISTIAN BELIEVER

Here is a quickened word for you a believer in Jesus/Yeshua the Messiah, the Anointed of God.

Now what is   Holy Spirit? Is it a third 'personality' ? Or something altogether different than what is taught in most Christendom? Spirit is the mind of God , and now since Jesus  is with HIM at the Right Hand of God, it is also the Mind of Jesus as well. Spirit is the mind and thoughts and energy of God HIMSELF. It is the essence of THEIR mind. Is that not simple? It is the essence of their mind. Jesus said, "The Father and I are one," because their minds are so much alike. The Holy Spirit is the power that issues forth from them, and when we accept it, what does it issue forth from us in? What is the  fruit or by-product of God's mind and power in us? Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, meekness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.Nothing we can boast about in doing or having,   because with out the Power of God in us we would not have the ability to produce such wonderful fruit.

It emanates directly from THEM for the express purpose of influencing us directly and personally, and that is why you can be called "the called," "the chosen," "the elect," because now child of the living God, if you are a Christian then listen closely here to a special word from God directly to You and to me, personally of all the people in this world, God chose directly to influence YOU and I. If you have been drawn to God, if You can not get God out of your thinking, If you have been changed and no longer want to do what you once did as a non believer, this is for YOU  . Remember Ephesians 2:2? Satan indirectly affects everyone on earth with his spirit. He broadcasts it forth, and it goes out in a general manner. But the relationship You now have with God is direct and personal. It does not go to everybody. It came directly to you. He sent forth His Spirit(power ,mind and thoughts). He was thinking about you, and He was creating thoughts in His mind (also spirit) about you, and what you could become, where you could fit in His Kingdom, and what He needed to do to prepare you for it. Now you need to soak that in for a while, if you do not think you are special in any way by the worlds standards, Friend and fellow sibling of God , you are indeed special to GOD!
He was thinking about you before He ever let you know, and when the time came that it was right, He sent forth His Spirit(his mind,thoughts,power and essence) and began to create you spiritually. He sent forth His mind, and began to interface with you personally. That is the difference between God's approach, and Satan's approach. Once you understand this, you will be able to thank God from your innermost being! God chose YOU to be in fellowship with Him in thought and deed,in this darkened world we live in He has made you to be Light . You have been given access to God HIMSELF, that all unbelievers do not have. And it was nothing we could have done to receive such a gift, but it was ALL GOD. We can not even have a proud thought on this because it was not that we are better than anyone else, but that when He called YOU and I  we listened and obeyed His word, when others would not. WOW what a blessing, what a gift, what love. Praise God for his love for us.
So just what is this Holy Spirit  that we have? It is the essence—it is an emanation from God's mind and thoughts to yours, how marvelous is that?!!
I don't believe the Holy Spirit is a different or separate person from God, Nor is Jesus/Yeshua a different person from God, They ARE GOD. God is the Holy Spirit and God is Jesus /Yeshua in the flesh, and God is the Parent in the Heavenly realms. They are ALL GOD.They represent different functions and workings of God.So then GOD is ONE.
I am a mother and so my children treat me as a mother and my function and workings with them would be that of a mother. I am a wife, and so my function and action and workings and relationship with my husband would be that of a wife, I am not a wife to my kids nor am I a mother to my husband. I am a daughter to my parents, so therefore my relationship with my parents would be that of a daughter , not as a mother or a wife. But in all these instances I am still ME. I am Me the Mother , Me the Wife and Me the daughter, but in all ways I am still ONE>ME. This is how I view the so called Trinity, God is All 3! But functions differently in what ever capacity God is working in but God always remains God no matter who or what God is doing.
Shalom and in HIS service.
ENDURA

GOD IS LIGHT

"Believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light". John 12:36

Yahshua/Jesus the Messiah, the light who enlightens every person who comes into the world.
Yahshua/Jesus, the light of the world, who if  any person  believes and follows, will have the light of life,
and will be reconciled and restored to God, who is light,
to become children of that light.
It is truth that sets us free,not the knowledge of error,we are not called to dispel the darkness, we are called to turn on the light.
The greatest symbol, metaphor, image of who and what GOD and Christ is would have to be LIGHT. I compiled scriptures about the word 'light'  below, and I am amazed at how many times , who GOD and Yahshua the Messiah is identified as , is declared to be LIGHT  so many times. Our path, our life, our work ,our identity is called LIGHT. This is amazing to me. 

Jesus is the Light that enlightens ALL people that come into the world. He is the life, the light of ALL people. The Light is in each one of us, whether we have been 'saved' or not. The Light is dim and shines in darkness; the Light is suppressed by the darkness of our hearts. Yet the Light is what quietly reasons with us throughout our lives. As we seek God, the Light is what exposes what is hidden in our hearts. The Light is what we either love or hate. If we are committed to truth, we love the Light and welcome the Light to show us how to improve ourselves to be acceptable in His sight. If we are committed to our selfish nature, we run and hide from the Light, or we try to extinguish the light, because we hate the Light. If you love the light, it is your Teacher. If you hate the light, it is your condemnation. As we respond to the what the Light tells us to deny and how to live a godly life, the Light increases within us; our selfish spirit decreases, and the Light increases.

It is theoretically possible for someone who has never heard of Christ, the gospel, or the cross to attain salvation by complete obedience to the Light within their conscience. The Lord has even told me he will reveal himself to people from other religions who seek the Light; but unfortunately, they typically reject him because of loyalty to their faith( traditions), or because of the poor record of people who call themselves Christians. Whoever lives in an area where the record of Christ is known, to seek salvation without acknowledgement of Christ would violate Christ's own statement: If any man(person) desires to do His will (God's pleasure), he will know (have the needed illumination to recognize, and can tell for himself) whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking from Myself and of My own accord and on My own authority. John7:17 Many of the early Quakers have written records on this site about their experience with the Light's reproving of sin and evil in them, early in their youth. In my youth I can remember at least one experience where the Light was reproving me; as convincing as it was, I was clueless at to its origin and ignored its advice, continuing on my course of error. Had I been taught in my youth to expect God to reprove me periodically, I would have probably recognized the source and would have been far more attentive. This leads me to question what kind of world we would live in if we were taught at an early age to expect the convincing reproofs of God. The world might be a much better place.
Just as God sent Jesus to the Jews, to either be accepted or rejected, so he has given to each of us the Light within, to either be accepted of rejected. Our conscience tells us we have been wrong when we lie or steal. The Light of our conscience, has been quietly reasoning with us all of our life, gently pleading for goodness. Our challenge is to become wholly directed in word and action by the Word and Light, Christ, within us. http://www.hallvworthington.com/

I. THE POWER OF LIGHT

A. Light is a powerful provider

Light is energy-pure energy. The greatest natural source of light is the sun. Jesus Christ is called "the Sun of righteousness" (Mal. 4:2), and just as the sun's light is the physical source of our energy, Jesus Christ is the true source of our spiritual energy.

Whatever we eat ultimately comes from the energy of the sun's light. Green plants, through photosynthesis, convert light energy into stored energy. When we eat the plant, we are consuming energy that was once light.

We cannot escape the power and energy of light, just as the power of Jesus Christ is the thing which keeps all things together (Col. 1:17; Rom. 11:36) and the power that gives us the ability to be what we spiritually can be (Eph. 3:16, 6:10; Phil. 4:19; Col. 1:11).

B. Light is powerful in its speed
Light travels at approximately 186,282 miles per second. Nothing in our experience can move faster. It is the universal, absolute standard of speed. Einstein, in fact, postulated that everything-even time itself - is relative to only one existing constant: the speed of light.

Jesus Christ is the absolute standard by which all other things are measured (Acts 17:31). He never changes His character (Heb. 13:8). It is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for anything that comes from His mouth to be annulled, changed, or altered (Matt. 5:18, 24:35) - and even time itself is subject to Jesus Christ, He was alive before there was time (John 1:1), and He will be alive when the new heavens and new earth are made (Rev. 21:6).
When Jesus wants something done, nothing can slow Him down; nothing can hinder Him from the execution of His plan (Matt. 28:18).

II. THE "PROBLEM" OF LIGHT
It is very difficult to explain or fully understand exactly what light is. This is because light has a dual nature.
For 300 years, there have been fierce arguments in the scientific community whether light was a particle or a wave. Presently, scientific dogma says that is both - even though scientists readily admit that this is "impossible." They shrug their shoulders and call it a "wave" when it does what a wave is expected to do, and they call it a "particle" when it does what a particle is expected to do. According to all the present evidence, light is not part particle and part wave (or a particle moving in a wave like pattern, as many falsely imagine), but it is all wave and all particle, all at the same time.
Jesus Christ is all God and all man. He is proclaimed to be God (Isa. 9:6; Jn. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:16; Tit. 1:3; Heb. 1:8), and yet we know that He is all man (I Tim. 2:4). He tried (Jn. 4:6), He wept (Jn. 11:35), He thirsted (Jn. 19:28), and He was "in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin" (Heb. 4:15).
III. THE PURPOSE OF LIGHT
Light is that which makes manifest. Obviously, if it were not for light, nothing could be seen. Light shows things for what they really are. Light never lies. If there is a scratch in the paint, light will show it. If there is an imperfection in a diamond, light will manifest it.

A. Light manifests sin for what it is
"And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light" WHY? "because their deeds were evil" (Jn. 3:19). One reason that the world doesn't love Jesus Christ is because He, as the Light, shows people that their sin is hopeless, wicked, and unprofitable. The "angel of light," the devil (2 Cor. 11:14) tries to glorify sin, but this is a counterfeit light. The true Light tells the truth about sin.
B. Light manifests God for Who He is
Jesus bore witness of the Father (Jn. 1:18; 148,9; 17:26) and Himself (Jn 8:18). He manifested God and God's character to us.
C. Light, because it manifests, dissolves our unfounded fears.
There is nothing more terrifying than not knowing what is scaring you. Being in the dark is the worst. If you see something fearful, at least you know how to deal with it. But when you are in darkness, that is fear.
Jesus Christ scatters all of our illegitimate fears with His glorious light. He tells us that we do need to fear-we need to fear God (Luke 12:5), but if we have that mastered, we will fear very little else, and will live a joyful life (Rom. 14:17; Gal. 5:22; Phil. 1:4,25; 1 Pet. 5:7- 1 Jn. 4:18).

D. Light makes it possible to work
In the context of Jesus' proclamation that He is the light of the world (Jn. 9:5) comes the statement, "I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is yet day: the night cometh, when no man can work" (vs. 4).
Without Light, it is virtually impossible to do any kind of profitable work. Without Christ, service to God is meaningless, and in vain (2 Cor. 13:5). Works without Jesus Christ is as much vanity and worthlessness as trying to paint a picture in absolute darkness. With the light, however, all labor is worthwhile. You can see what you are doing. You can work what God has asked you to work without frustration, knowing "that your labour is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Cor. 15:58).

101 Scriptures of the word 'light'.
1.Isaiah 42:6


"I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles.

2.Isaiah 42:16

I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.

3.Isaiah 49:6

he says: "It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."

4.2 Chronicles 21:7

Howbeit the LORD would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a light to him and to his sons forever.

5.Psalm 4:6

Many are asking, "Who can show us any good?" Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD.

6.Psalm 13:3

Look on me and answer, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death.

7.Psalm 18:28

You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.

8.Psalm 19:8

The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

9.Psalm 27:1

The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?

10.Psalm 36:9

For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.

11.Psalm 38:10

My heart pounds, my strength fails me; even the light has gone from my eyes.

12.Psalm 43:3

Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.

13.Psalm 44:3

It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them.

14.Psalm 49:19

he will join the generation of his fathers, who will never see the light of life.

15.Psalm 56:13

For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.

16.Psalm 76:4

You are resplendent with light, more majestic than mountains rich with game.

17.Psalm 89:15

Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD.

18.Psalm 90:8

You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.

19.Psalm 97:11

Light is shed upon the righteous and joy on the upright in heart.

20.Psalm 104:2

He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent.

21.Psalm 105:39

He spread out a cloud as a covering, and a fire to give light at night.

22.Psalm 112:4

Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.

23.Psalm 118:27

The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine upon us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar.
24.Psalm 119:105

Your [living] word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

25.Psalm 119:130

The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.

26.Psalm 139:11

If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,"

27.Psalm 139:12

even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

28.Proverbs 4:18

The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

29.Proverbs 13:9

The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.

30.Ecclesiastes 11:7

Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun


31.Job 24:13

There are those who rebel against the light; they do not know its ways nor abide in its paths.

32.Isaiah 2:5

Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD.

33.Isaiah 5:20

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.

34.Isaiah 9:2

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.

35.Isaiah 10:17

The Light of Israel will become a fire, their Holy One a flame; in a single day it will burn and consume his thorns and his briers.

36.Isaiah 30:26

The moon will shine like the sun, and the sunlight will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven full days, when the LORD binds up the bruises of his people and heals the wounds he inflicted.

37.Isaiah 50:10

Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the word of his servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God.

38.Isaiah 51:4

"Listen to me, my people; hear me, my nation: The law will go out from me; my justice will become a light to the nations.

39.Isaiah 53:11

After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.

40.Isaiah 58:8-10

Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard... and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.

41.Isaiah 59:9

So justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us. We look for light, but all is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows.

42.Isaiah 60:1

"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.

43.Isaiah 60:3

Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

44.Isaiah 60:19

The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.

45.Isaiah 60:20

Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end. [When you enter the Kingdom, you no longer see by the light of the sun and the moon, but walk by the light of God ].
46.Jeremiah 13:16

Give glory to the LORD your God before he brings the darkness, before your feet stumble on the darkening hills. You hope for light, but he will turn it to thick darkness and change it to deep gloom.

47.Lamentations 3:2

He has driven me away and made me walk in darkness rather than light.

48.Ezekiel 1:26-28

Above the expanse over their heads was what looked like a throne of sapphire, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him.

This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.

49.Daniel 2:22

He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.

50.Micah 7:8

Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.

51.Micah 7:9

Because I have sinned against him, I will bear the LORD's wrath, until he pleads my case and establishes my right. He will bring me out into the light; I will see his righteousness.
52.Matthew 4:16

the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."

53.Matthew 5:14-16

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

54.Matthew 6:22-23

"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

55.Matthew 17:2

There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.

56.Matthew 24:29

"Immediately after the distress of those days " 'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.

57.Luke 2:32

a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."

58.Luke 8:16

"No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.

59.Luke 11:33-36

"No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness.

Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shines on you.

60.Luke 16:8

"The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.

61.John 1:4-5

In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
62.John 1:7-8

He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

63.John 1:9

There it was--the true Light was coming into the world that illumines every person.

64.John 3:19-21

This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.

Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

65.John 5:35

John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.

66.John 8:12

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

67.John 9:5

While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

68.John 11:9-10

Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world's light. It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light."
69.John 12:35

Then Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going.

70.John 12:36

Believe in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light." When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.

71.John 12:46

I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
72.Ephesians 5:13-14

But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

73.Acts 9:3-6

As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?""Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied.

74.Acts 13:47

For this is what the Lord has commanded us: " 'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.' "

75.Acts 26:13-18

About noon, O king, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' "Then I asked, 'Who are you, Lord?' " 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' the Lord replied.' Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'

76.Acts 26:23

that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles."

77.Romans 2:19

if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark.

78.Romans 13:12

The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

79.1 Corinthians 3:13

his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work.

80.1 Corinthians 4:5

Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

81.2 Corinthians 4:4

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

82.2 Corinthians 4:6

For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

83.2 Cor 6:14

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?

84.Ephesians 5:8-10

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.

85.Colossians 1:12

giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

86.1 Thessalonians 5:5

You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.

87.1 Timothy 6:16

who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.

88.2 Timothy 1:10

but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

89.Titus 1:3

and at his appointed season he brought his word to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior.

90.Hebrews 10:32

Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering.

91.1 Peter 2:9

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

92.2 Peter 1:19

And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

93.1 John 1:5

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.

94.1 John 1:7

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

95.1 John 2:8

Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.

96.1 John 2:9-10

Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble.

97.James 1:17

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

98.Revelation 21:10-11

And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.

99.Revelation 21:23

The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.

100.Revelation 21:24

The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.

101.Revelation 22:5

There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

#3 - God Is One

Here is a Jewish foundation teaching that I believe we all need to learn, I know that it woke me up and is helping me understand how things really should be seen. It is hard to comprehend that both good and evil are of God, if we only believe this life is all there is then God is truly not all that good, but if we understand that this life leads us to perfection and One with God then it all begins to make since.May you be blessed as well
#3 - God Is One

Good, evil, success, failure. Life is full of challenges that distract us from the underlying truth that the only reality is God's existence.

by Rabbi Noah Weinberg
Everyone is familiar with the Shema, the Jewish Pledge of Allegiance: "Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one" (Deut. 6:4).

"Oneness" is crucial to a proper understanding of God. In fact, Maimonides writes that the highest level of wisdom a human being can attain is to comprehend the oneness of God.

Why is "God's oneness" so central to our belief? Why do we declare the Shema twice each day and aspire to say these as the last words before we die? Does it really matter whether God is one and not three?

ATTACHMENT VS. AUTONOMY

Before the creation of the world, only God existed. There was no separate entity in any form.
Even after creation, everything in the world remained part of God.
The only difference is that through the miracle of creation, God gave each human being free will. With this, we have the unique ability to think for ourselves and to act upon those thoughts. It's as if from within God, we maintain a certain autonomy.
Through the miracle of creation, God gave each human being free will, a certain autonomy.Yet we're still part of God. Because that's all there is.
So what was the purpose of making us a separate entity from God?

Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto (18th century Italy) explains in his famous book "Path of the Just": The purpose of creation is to earn pleasure. The ultimate pleasure is attachment to God. Where is this pleasure most manifest? In the eternal World of Souls, where we have absolute clarity of God's unity, and recognize that we are totally attached to Him, as we always have been.

The autonomy of this world -- free will -- can mislead a person into thinking there is something else outside of God. Therefore it is a constant, lifelong challenge to overcome this illusion -- and see that the only existence is God. That God is one.

EVIL IS NOT INDEPENDENT

Constant Mitzvah #2 -- "Don't believe in other gods" -- spoke about the Yetzer Hara, our self-destructive inclination to move away from God. We said that it is a mistake to follow the Yetzer Hara, because it is an illusion, a temporal gratification that is ultimately dissatisfying.

This mitzvah of "God is one" goes much further. If the Yetzer Hara exists, it must also be part of God. And if it's part of God, it is by definition good. Which begs the obvious question: How can the Yetzer Hara be good?

Think of an athlete, a world-class high-jumper. When the coach raises the bar, is he trying to make life difficult -- or is he drawing out the athlete's potential? Of course the coach wants the athlete to succeed! And if he's a good coach, he knows the right time and amount to raise the bar. Of course, the athlete might fail to clear that height. But the coach knows that with enough concentration and effort, the athlete will succeed.

The coach knows that with enough concentration and effort, the athlete will succeed.Since the purpose of creation is to earn eternal pleasure, the purpose of the Yetzer Hara must be to enable us to earn additional pleasure. So although the Yetzer Hara seems to be pulling us away from God, it actually provides opportunities to grow closer. Evil gives you another struggle for truth -- so you can take pleasure in that discovery.

Without "challenge," there is no appreciation in doing the right thing. Instead, you're just doing what you'd naturally do anyway. All the challenges, all the nuisances, are only designed to bring out the best in you -- not hinder you.

It is an axiom of Jewish thought that God never gives you a challenge which is too difficult.

Learn to read life's messages properly. When your Yetzer Hara comes and tells you to sin, he's really saying, "Here's a challenge. Let's see you overcome this one!"

GOOD AND EVIL ARE THE SAME DIRECTION

We misunderstand evil because we take it seriously. We think it's an independent voice. But that's an illusion.

For example, what if you say, "I'd really like to learn Torah today, but I have a headache which prevents me from learning."

This is a misunderstanding of "God is one." Is the headache a nuisance that blew in from Mars? Of course not! This headache was especially designed to bring you closer to God -- no less than prayer, charity, or any other mitzvah opportunity.

So why a headache? There are many different aspects to spiritual growth, and there's a certain lesson that a headache is coming to teach you. Part of your job is to figure out what that lesson is.

Everything in life is part of the same system, stemming from the same source, with the same purpose. Obviously, there are different pieces to the puzzle, different spiritual muscles which need to be flexed and exercised. But "bad" and "good?" It all has the same goal.

In the times of the Temple, a person who emerged from a difficult situation -- e.g. someone who was sick and then got better -- would bring a "Thanksgiving Offering." We could understand thanking God for getting better, but God is also the one who made us sick in the first place!

For that we are thankful, too. As difficult as it may seem at the time, the sicknesses and ordeals was somehow what this person needed in the overall scheme of life. Because of that ordeal, he is now a stronger person, a wiser person, a more compassionate person.

Because of that ordeal, he is now a stronger person, a wiser person, a more compassionate person.We humans tend to look for the easy route, happy to find an excuse to "give up." A headache makes it harder to concentrate -- so we think that gives us an excuse to stop. But really, since it's all part of "God is One," it's an opportunity to take on a new challenge.

This applies as well to setting goals in life. Of course we need to set milestones in order to make meaningful progress. But we mustn't set these plans in stone. They should be flexible enough to accommodate new challenges. That's God's way of steering and guiding us. He may "change the weather" to make sure we're heading in the right direction. But if plans are so clearly defined that they can't accommodate changes, that's a lack of belief in "God is one."

We must constantly battle the illusion that the forces of good and bad are fighting each other. In reality, every occurrence in life is all pointing in the same direction. "Bad" is a challenge which brings us closer to God -- by giving us the chance to make the right choice and earn that closeness.

OTHERS ARE ALSO OUR RESPONSIBILITY

The Talmud asks: "Why was Adam  created alone? So that every person should say, 'The whole world was created just for me.'"

Isn't that a bit egocentric?

On the contrary. It is a recognition that everything in the world -- including the needs of every other human being -- was created for you. If someone needs help, it is part of your challenge. Everything on earth, including all the problems, as well as the beauty, offers new opportunity. All of it was tailor-made by God.

Every experience you encounter is something that you need to learn from, at the time you need it most. Look around at absolutely everything and ask, "What is this saying to me? Why was this sent as part of my road to perfection?"

If God is giving you many responsibilities at the same time, then you have to figure out which one He wants you to choose. What's the proper balance? The dilemma itself was sent by God, in order to help you grow. It's not the result of some opposing force that's getting in your way. It's not that there are different aspects of life and we have to learn to compromise one for another: "I would have liked to, but..." There is no such thing. You're given the whole array of possibilities, and based on your capabilities, there is one clear answer for you.

The key is to be objectively honest with yourself, and not choose physical or emotional comfort over facing the challenge.

Here's an example. We say: "I know I ought to learn Torah and help others, but if I do, I won't be able to earn a living." Are you saying there are different forces? Let's put it all into the equation: God has given you the responsibility of supporting a family; God has given you the responsibility of helping repair the world; God has given you the responsibility of getting to know Him through His Torah.

Now how do you manage all that? What does God want you to choose? And in what proportion and when? Those are your questions.

We say the Shema twice each day to review the concept of "God is one." That's because we have to live with this reality 24 hours a day -- and fight the constant temptation to say: "I'd like to learn, but I'm tired. I'd like to do this mitzvah, but I'm not feeling well."

"God is one" demands that we put everything, including the headache, into the equation, and work out the right approach. We don't lead dual lives, one for ourselves and one that's religious. It's all one.

EVEN DEATH CAN BRING YOU CLOSE TO GOD

The Talmud tells the amazing story of Rebbe Akiva. Almost 2,000 years ago, the Romans tried to obliterate Judaism and made the study of Torah illegal. Rebbe Akiva could not bear the idea of abandoning Torah, so he gathered together his disciples and taught them Torah.

The Romans arrested Rebbe Akiva and executed him by brutally tearing the skin off his body with iron forks. As he was being tortured, Rebbe Akiva joyously recited the Shema -- "Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One."

His bewildered students asked, "Rebbe, how can you praise God amidst such torture?"

Rebbe Akiva replied: "All my life I believed that a person has to give 100 percent to God. Now that I have the opportunity, I joyously perform it!"

Didn't Rebbe Akiva want to live? Certainly "dying" is not the goal of life! We seek to become closer to God -- and once you're gone, you can't achieve any more. It would seem that death is one aspect of life that moves us in the opposite direction. Everything else can be seen as a challenge, an opportunity, a way of getting closer to God. Except death. Death stops the growth process. You've only reached the level you've attained during your lifetime -- and that's it for eternity.

So if there's one thing a person should not want, it's death. That's why Rebbe Akiva's students were puzzled. They asked, "Rebbe, we understand the power of dying in sanctification of God's Name. But where does the joy come from? There's nothing left of you to grow!"

There's no question that Rebbe Akiva wanted to live, and that he appreciated life more than we ever will. Yet Rebbe Akiva was teaching his students that even though it seems death goes against the whole growth process, sacrificing even the growth process for God is in itself the highest level of growth! Are you willing to give up all those opportunities to come close to God simply because that's His will? This gets you as close as you can get. You're actually moving at hyperspeed in the right direction.

Sacrificing even the growth process for God is in itself the highest level of growth.When something stops us from learning or growing comfortably, we are tempted to view it as emanating from another source. But Rebbe Akiva taught us a key lesson in "God is one." Regardless of circumstances -- even if it makes it more difficult to learn, to grow, and to be aware -- it is still an opportunity, another step in coming closer to God.

Of course, a headache is different than dying. But philosophically, it's the same concept.

WITH GOD IS ONE, THERE'S NOTHING TO FEAR

In the afternoon service on Shabbat, we say, "You are one, and Your Name is one, and who is like Your people Israel." This prayer speaks about the End of Days, when the Jewish people will be united, working in harmony for one goal, and when all humanity will recognize that everything comes from God.

In daily life, we're often torn because one day we're moving in one direction, and the next day another. But how about when we see the singular purpose to everything? The prayer tells us the result of this exalted state is Menuchat Shalom -- total tranquility. Peace of mind.

We get caught off-guard with different challenges than we expected. That's when we start picking up the wrong messages. But if you know the truth, you won't fear any surprises. If you know that whatever "gets in your way" is all part of God's plan, then actually nothing can get in your way.

This outlook brings a deep sense of security. If you know that everything God sends is for your good, then there is nothing to fear.

King Solomon says there's only one thing to fear: Forgetting the oneness of God.

The Shabbat prayer also speaks about Menuchat Emet V'emunah -- true peace and security. On Shabbat, we step back from our daily efforts to shape the world -- and instead let things flow in their natural order. That is when we most intensely perceive that God created the world and there is one purpose to everything.

The clarity of "God is one" gives us this peace of mind seven days a week. Of course, we still have to struggle to figure out what's right, and then we have to find the strength to stand up for that. But at least we don't feel like we're fighting against some outside force. Your goals can never get derailed because "things didn't work out." There's simply no such thing. Difficulties are merely a new challenge in your journey toward perfection.

The only possible setback is self-imposed -- by not focusing on how the challenges are sent by God to guide us.

So why is "God is one" so important? Because in reality, there is nothing else. God is everything.

CHRISTIANITY WITHOUT REVELATION IS ONLY A RELIGION

The Church is not established upon her understanding of end time events, but upon her revelation knowledge of Jesus Christ.
The Book of Revelation itself is NOT primarily the revelation of what the end of the world will be like (although we do learn that), but the Revelation and Testimony of Jesus Christ (Revelation 1:1,2). How many of us have been taught that the book of Revelations is mainly about end times?How many of us have been taught that the Book of Revelations  main topic  and point  is the revealing of Jesus Christ as the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last, is beyond dispute?
The Church is not built upon Peter the individual,as the Catholic Church believes and teaches, but upon all those who know Jesus Christ by revelation (Matthew 16:17,18). Apart from this we cannot be numbered among the Ecclesia. This IS the Church: those to whom the Father has revealed the Son by the Spirit.
 
Paul, formerly known as Saul, was a self-proclaimed "Pharisee of the Pharisees", religious, devout, learned, and righteous according to the law of Moses, zealous for the things of God and the traditions of the Jews. Yet, we find him to be persecuting the Church of Jesus Christ, erroneously thinking that God was pleased with him. How is it that Saul, with all his learning, did not understand Who Jesus Christ was?The same way that 90%+ of the Church is doing right now! Simply because it had not been revealed to Saul by the Heavenly Father. Indeed, it was the Pharisees and other religious leaders and teachers who rejected the Lord and had Him crucified. They lacked the Revelation, as does the large portion of Churches today. The Pharisees and Scribes had the written Word memorized, but there stands the Word made flesh and all they see is "the carpenter's son", a demon-possessed man, a blasphemer, a magician. This demonstrates how worthless religious flesh and blood knowledge is.That folks is what most of us claiming to be Christians have!
One day the grace of God determined to grant Saul the Revelation of Jesus. That is to say, Saul was not seeking revelation, he believed he had it already. Is that not true of most of us who claims that we have it already? But if many are honest with themselves they find that their lives  still sucks ,because in all honesty their lives from within has not changed, although they have made changes on the outside, they were not done because of any inner change but because it was expected of them to do! When Saul met the Lord, Jesus didn't say, "Why are you persecuting My people?" With the simple words, "I am Jesus, the One you are persecuting," Paul received revelation into the Person of Jesus Christ as well as the Church. To persecute the followers of Jesus is to persecute Jesus Himself. Why? Because Christ and the Church are one!
 
Revelation is the difference between religious activity and true knowing (Matthew 7:23).Calling yourself a Christian these days is almost the same as calling yourself a Republican or Democrat. Becoming a Christian these days is a simple matter, we come forwards during a meeting and we decide to be a Christian, and then carry on with life as usual, we now are saved from hell because we did what we were told to and followed the procedure down to the letter. It has become more of a label for social convenience sake than a true testimony that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, dwelling within  us.That the potential exists for us to do things in the name of Jesus without truly knowing and being known of Him ought to put us on our face before the Lord, praying for experiential knowledge of Him by way of revelation. There's no other way to truly know Him. God has made sure of that.Most teachers are teaching what was taught to them, and their teachers learned it from their teachers, and so on it goes until we no longer have Spirit-birthed revelation, we have third and fourth-generational head-knowledge, yesterday's manna and hand-me-down flesh and blood doctrines. There is an ocean of difference between repeating what you have heard and speaking of what you have experienced! Is it any wonder that there is much learning, but no experiential knowledge of Truth.Paul says once he obtained revelation he had no need to confer with flesh and blood,why? Because the Revelation of Jesus is sufficient guidance. Flesh and blood cannot add to or take away from the Revelation.
When a person has the Revelation of Christ they will gladly and with great joy suffer the loss of all things. A person who has the Revelation will willingly lay down their life for what they have seen (Revelation 6:9;12:11).To be sure, when you really and truly meet Jesus of Nazareth, when you "see" Him for the first time, when He reveals Himself to you, it will immediately put you at enmity with those who claim to see but do not see: mostly, the religious and "spiritual" ones, the denominations and Towers of Babel which dot the landscape of Christendom, the scribes and Pharisees of Organized Religion. From time to time I will visit 'ex-Christian' sites on the Internet, and when they give their de-converting testimony , many times in the response section, some Christian will reply that apparently they never were Christians in the first place, and boy do they (the ex christian) get animated about that, they will say that they had did what all Christians were told to do, repented, confessed, was baptised, and went to church and opened their Bibles from time to time and Prayed to God as often as most of us do, there are even ex ministers and ex-pastors and even ex-bible scholars and ex-Bible translators stating the same criteria of what it means to be come and to be called a Christian. They are right they were as 'Christian' as any of us are, but NONE OF THEM every had a Revelation of Jesus Christ by the Grace of God, and His good pleasure! That is why they are Atheist they understand more than the rest of us who play church, that Christianity the Religion, as is preached and taught today is truly a sham! It's too bad that we can not come clean with the same truth  and understanding as well.

Matthew 7:21 – 23

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

If you notice in the verse above that these Christians were doing all the right stuff , and yet Jesus Christ does not even know who they are? Why is that? They were considered evil doers, really? aren't they preaching and healing and doing miracles? It is evildoing if we do not have Revelation Knowledge of Christ ,acting like Christians is not true Christianity, it is having a Revelation of the King of kings and Lord of lords, and if that is not our experience, then we are wasting our time playing church, because getting people saved is not the deal , introducing others to the fact that life without Christ is meaningless is the deal, when we realize our need, then  our need, will be met in Him. 
Once our eyes are open to see God as/in Jesus, we will naturally fall down to our knees in awe and worship.
I, speaking from my heart can honestly say that I have not Seen  this Jesus, I have only head knowledge of this man but no revelation as a gift of God that he was not just man but God . I know that the 30+ years of Bible study, and listening to Preaching and teaching, that I can safely say I have NOT had such a revelation of Jesus!. I have not eyes that see, truly see, and ears to hear that truly hears the Revelation of Jesus, I have had religion taught to me, but I can truthfully say, that God has not graced me with the Revelation of Jesus, and that my friends has been MY personal problem, I will not  and have not gotten very far on faith alone, because it has not done a thing for me yet. But I know that I know, that when God by His Holy Spirit gifts me with that Revelation then and only then will I be a Christian and then and only then I will be truly born again, and then and only then I will be known to Him, but until then, I am just playing church and tossing around some words and teaching here and there, and definitely doing nothing to furture the kingdom of God. I know , flesh wise, that there has to be more to life than my life I am living now, there has to be more to Jesus Christ than I have experience thus far, how do  I know that ? It must be a revelation from God, because I do know from experience that all my years of learning the Bible has led me no where and left me with an empty religion, and a religion , I know I do not   want.
 
God, what a sham my life is! Forgive me for living such a wasteful life. God I know there must be more to it that what I have experienced thus far.  I know I do not know you or Jesus Christ, and unless you by your grace reveal him to me, I literally have nothing in this world that is worth my time and effort. If Christ be true, reveal Him to me and to the rest of the world.

GOD PLEASURE

          A Coleus from my garden


I think one of the problems I  and many others, have with trying to see God is that we don't see God as having the very emotions that He has created in us. To try to visualize just what God is , since He ,being Spirit has been hard for many of us. Can we see God as being a person? Having emotions? How God feels about us, should be understood in the same way that we feel about God. Do we feel love and joy, of course we do, sadness and pain? yes, and we must come to the realization that Our God has these same feelings toward us.

There are more than 100 verses that speak of God being pleased with us or taking pleasure in our obedience. One of them is this: " Do not fear little flock,for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." Luke 12:32 NKJV.

Our God feels joy when He is able to give to us the gifts that He longs to lavish upon us. Our obedience is what releases in us His pleasing gifts -the power of His pleasure.

Just how powerful do you think His pleasure in us is? When we believe that we are pleasing God, 2 things happen. First we will feel good about our selves. Second, without our awareness we help change the world for good, through God working in and through us.

Every choice we make either grieves and disappoints ourselves , and God, or it will please us and God. When we are selfish it will grieve us and God.When we live in this constant state of disappointment and grief, we will live powerless lives.But if we live to please and give pleasure to God, we live lives full of the very Power of God in us. We as children of God either give God pleasure or cause Him pain.

We must remember that it is God's Good Pleasure to give us His Kingdom, what a gift that I believe many of us really do not understand. We serve a King and it is HIS Kingdom that He is literally giving to us!!!!

Our obedience to what God tells us we must each do in our own individual lives ,gives immense pleasure to Our God, His pleasure releases His Power within us to do what we are called to do.When our heavenly Parent is pleased, joy is then present and the power of His pleasure is ours.

What is your worth and what is it based on? God wants our worth to be based on the value that God gives to us. How we feel about ourselves can only be based  how God feels about us.God's pleasure gives us a double joy, one is the power to face all things, this power is what allows us to be achievers.Second when we feel that through our achievements God has given us the joy of redeeming His world, we receive our second joy, we become people of confidence, our achievements come from dependency on God which leads to confidence in what we can do through Him.
I think much of the world's ways has been adopted by Christians and that is why most Christians have low self esteem and walk in disappointment and depression. Striving to be number Ono wraps us in a tight package of ourselves.It gives us a false view of life.We come to see  the world and our lives in terms of ourselves, the world exist for our pleasure, our challenges and provide us with much materialism. So we take the bait, we eat it and digest it, but does it ever really satisfy us?Apparently not for most of us, me included here, are so discouraged, and depressed and lack any real and meaningful purpose for even being here in the first place. When we finally get to the place that we realize what we have been doing, and how wrong we have been in the choices we have made, when we come to the end of our 'selves' what then?

Confession is God's gift to us, to help us empty ourselves of self, it pulls the plug on our egos,draining from our lives all that was most toxic which in truth is 'self'.Has the constant focus of our selves on our selves, ever really provided us with the happiness and joy we so desperately crave? NO.You know full well it has not.

In the bible it states twice, when God said that he was well pleased with Jesus/Yahshua, Once at Yahshua's baptism Matthew 3:17 and the other time at the transfiguration in Matthew 17:5. The Father's pleasure in Jesus is what gave Jesus the completed view of who He was and why he was in the world, even at the cross Jesus knew that God was pleased, and his terrible circumstances that He found himself in at the cross was of no importance, than that of  the pleasure His Father had in Him.

Like Jesus, once we know that God takes pleasure in our obedience, little else matters.Our circumstances should never determine how we feel about ourselves. There is great power doing that which is right and our success or our failure is not a part of the equation, when we seek to please God , the bondage of always trying to get ahead is no longer relevant. If we succeed , the glory is God's if we fail, He is pleased when we, get back up and  try again, and when God is pleased there is never no failures. If God is being served , what appears as failure to us, may be in fact the most glorious of successes, remember the Cross, all thought Jesus a failure, but His death turned out for our good, and thank God for that.

So in closing, our self esteem, how we see ourselves , should always be through God's eyes, and how He sees us. When we seek to please God, we know that He sees nothing but pleasure in us. Let us seek His kingdom and all things will be ours.

SHALOM IN CHRIST THE MESSIAH