Facing It

 

Lord help me face
the reality

of where my sin
has led

repenting of
my own ways

waiting on You
instead.

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You are with me so I can face the truth of my situation.

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“In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength. But you would not.”

“And you said, ‘No, for we will flee on horses’ – “

Isaiah 30:15,16. NKJV

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For the next two weeks I will be doing little poems inspired by The Power Of Quiet, a bible study written and taught by Aimee Walker (www.onbecomingesther.com)   and The Joyful Life Company (www.JOYFULLIFEMAGAZINE.COM). I encourage you to visit both these sites.

The Goodness Of God

 

Circumcision is of
the heart and Spirit

not just according
to the flesh

for the goodness of God
leads us to repentance

and His praise is ever
on our lips.

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You are with me and lead me to repentance.

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“Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?”

“For He is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.”

Romans 2:4,28 NKJV

Return

 

Return to Me
for I am merciful

it is never ever
too late

and I will handpick shepherds
to care for you

according to My love
which is great.

You establish the way of repentance for me.

“‘Return, backsliding Israel,’ says the LORD, ‘I will not cause My anger to fall on you, for I am merciful,’ says the LORD. ‘And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.’ ” Jeremiah 3:12,15 NKJV

My Face

 

Repent
of your sins

turn again
to Me

for My face is
towards you

look now
and see.

Jesus establishes my times of repentance .

“But the rest of mankind . . .did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols . . .whcih can neither see nor hear nor walk. And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.” Revelation 9:20,21 NKJV

“When You said, ‘Seek My face,’ my heart said to You, ‘Your face, LORD, I will seek.’ “. Psalm 27:8 NKJV

What Shall We Do

 

“Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” Luke 3:9  NKJV
“So the people asked him, saying, ‘What shall we do then?’ ” Luke 3:10  NKJV

John gave the people simple , specific , doable ways to respond:  to give to those who don’t have food and clothing if they did have those things. Tax collectors were told not to collect more than appointed them. And soldiers were not to intimidate or falsely accuse and be content with their wages.

Thank You, Lord, for helping us bear good fruits that glorify and honor You.  And here’s a simple poem . . .

You will bear fruits
worthy of repentance
as I gather you
unto Me

and each time you ask
“what shall we do”
I’ll answer, “do justly
and love mercy.”

God bless you as you bear the fruit of repentance today!

Godly Sorrow

“Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance.  for you were made sorry in a godly manner that you might suffer loss from us in nothing.” 2 Corinthians 7:9

“For godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation, not to be regretted but the sorrow of the world produces death.”  2 Corinthians 7:10

I tend to not want anyone to feel sad or sorrowful, but God sees it differently.

Thank You, Lord, for using even our sorrow to draw us closer to You.  And here’s a simple poem . . .

Even This

If I never know sorrow
or see my own sin
then I won’t repent
and turn away from it to Him.

While I love moments of happiness
and deep abiding joy too
truly sadness has its place
when it brings me back to You.

Inside Israel – 1st Installment of Yom Kippur

Hello again! Please forgive me for sending another post out today, but J of Jerusalem had much to share lately. Here is one of her letters about Yom Kippur. God bless you and lead you on, as you pray and worship Him! Now, here’s J . . .

Having come down with a nasty case of bronchitis just before our Rosh h’ Shana dinner, it seems as if the days of this ‘week of awe’ have been compressed. As I have shared before, Yom Kippur is the holiest and most solemn day in the Jewish year; the day of repentance…of atonement…of searching for ‘approval’ before a Holy God. (Exodus 35 – Deut 16:29-34, Levit 23:26-32, Deut 16, just to list a few of the many scriptures) Where as last week the joyful greetings filled the air ‘Shana tova omevorach!’ (Good and blessed year!), this week, in contrast, the hushed greeting is voiced between friends and strangers alike “Gamar khatima tova” (may you finish [your repentance and fasting] with a ‘stamp of approval’ or ‘good signature). It is loosely translated into English as “May your name be found in the book of life” and it is a very serious desire. I am very uncomfortable with this greeting and have searched for years for appropriate alternatives. I have tried to say that I KNOW that I am engraved in The Lamb’s Book of Life…but am I saying this for my benefit or for theirs? What does it mean to the hearers? “Amen! L’col am yisroel!” (Amen! And all of the house of Israel!) I have been answering this year, but my heart aches for my brethren, who wonder and agonize and work to attain. (this under 5 minute video sent to me by a sister will help you understand how deeply Jews seek to understand real repentance – repentance from a modern Jewish view: http://www.aish.com/h/hh/yk/theme/Yom_Kippur_Partner_Track.html Does God really care about the nuances of my life?)

This year the fast begins on Friday evening at sundown until an hour after sundown on Saturday evening. The streets will be silent and empty and no cars will be moving. A quiet spirit of …not quite ‘mourning’…not quite ‘heaviness’… would you understand if I say a ‘closet spirit’ (?) seems to rest over us…closet in that it is private, not shared…a feeling that everyone IS standing alone before God, although so often in groups in synagogues.

As believers, most of us join in with the prayer and fasting, but having peace with God, we pray for our nation, after we have searched our own souls.
My personal search began early this year and I am so thankful that God answers prayer and chastens those whom He loves.
And just as I think that I have a measure of victory…He tries my heart and shows me that I must continue to press into His mercy. He did that for me today in an unusual way…for it was on the train this morning.

For those of you who don’t know me…I’m SHORT! For those of you who USED to know me (in the flesh) I’m SHORTER! (under 5’) Age can do that I guess. I also used to be some 90 pounds (40 kilos) larger. When I lived in the ‘old country’, my ‘shortness’ stood out A LOT, but I didn’t think about it that much. Here, I blend in better as ‘short’ is the general stature. HOWEVER…I am at the short end of short, and having lost the weight, I might now be considered rather ‘small’. Sometimes, in crowded buses, trains or in the shuk, I can feel down right diminutive. I get stepped on and knocked into a lot just because, well, I’m not ‘much there’. It can be very trying. I can get annoyed and loose my peace. I can be ‘not kind’, and I didn’t realize to what extent it had become a ‘work of the flesh’. Today I was given a firm reminder in a way that broke my heart.

I was standing in a corner in the crowded lite rail car, holding on to a pole for stability when a young, rather hefty woman in her late 20s or perhaps 30 stood in front of me. She didn’t just ‘stand’ in front of me, but she was about 3 inches from me and leaned against the pole squishing my hand. I didn’t budge. (not that I could have moved back…my back was against the rear door) Instead of moving my hand away I tightened my muscles. She pressed harder. It became a ‘war’. There were other bars and other places to stand. I was tired. I was set against her. This type of event happens daily. This one was about to take a different turn. Suddenly the young woman collapsed onto the floor. She wasn’t having a seizure, but the look on her face was of something awful. She was only partially conscious. I called for a doctor or nurse but there was none in the car. I directed someone near the other door to press the button and call for the driver to send help. This procedure on the lite rail was new to everyone but the driver finally got the message and many of us left the train. I ran to the front window to make sure that the driver knew someone was in need of help and I saw that he was calling for someone. Minutes later I heard the ambulance.

As I began walking to the shuk I was praying for the woman and I couldn’t shake off the feeling of the expression on her face. There was such a deep grief on her face. Working, as I do, in a doctor’s office, I have gotten to help in a number of emergencies and been the first one on hand when someone lost consciousness and needed help, what was different here? Some look very frightened, or pained…but this girl looked grieved and alone. I continued to pray for her. I began to wonder, if I had not been walking in the flesh…reacting to her ‘assault’ on ‘my space’… would I perhaps have been able to discern her need? I wondered if I had been less concerned with my SELF if The Lord might have nudged me to see her … It was just so obvious to me, suddenly, how I was in desperate need of His mercy to die to myself … again… kita aleph… first grade…this is basic, foundational stuff…AND (He reminded me) a glaring answer to a prayer that I had been praying, crying out to Him :…’Lord! Show me where I am not yet dead to self! Show me where flesh still rules me!’ My embarrassment turned to loving thankfulness as I was flooded afresh with joy at His faithfulness to answer prayer…to not only SHOW us our hidden sins, but that He Himself had already opened the door of forgiveness and deliverance wide…and the NAME of that door is the door of repentance; the door of repentance with the precious Blood of The Lamb on the lintels there of! Oh that my people would see and understand! He has left them a picture…a road map…AND A PROMISE! “And so all Israel will be saved…” Romans 11:26

I must be off to bed. This is just a few ‘notes from the day’. Thank you for letting me take your time. May we all be found in Him in (HIS) peace…for His glory. I plan to write more on Yom Kippur if not before. Lovingly, your sis

ani b’derek

Jesus Said “No”

“And Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered such things?'” Luke 13:2
“I tell you no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” Luke 13:3

I thought I was too messed up, too far gone, too bad. But Jesus said, “No”.

Thank You, Lord, for the hope and joy of salvation and redemption when we turn away from our sins and call on You. And here’s a simple poem . . .

None Worse

Fingers point
surely we’re the worse
our conscience sears
we hurt because we hurt

but Jesus stands ready
to say “No” to all the pain
as soon as we are willing
to believe upon His name.

Fruits of Repentance

“Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance. . .”  Matthew 3:8

John was talking to the Pharisees, but I hear him talking to me as well.  I can say I’m sorry and confess my sins.  But when I repent, I turn away from what I’m doing and face Jesus.  The results of that act will always show up.

Jesus, please help me keep turning to You and away from sin. Here’s a simple poem . . .

Taking Sorry One Step Further

I can say I’m sorry
– and even really mean it
but it won’t make much difference
– in my life or theirs
but if I repent
– and turn to face You, Jesus
everything changes
– when I see You standing there.

Inside Israel

Hello and welcome to another Sunday where I post something special from J of Jerusalem.  (Thank you so much, J!)  Today she gives us an understanding of Tisha b’Av. Enjoy!

I suffer far more from the cold (believe it or not!) then from the heat.  I can always wet down my shirt, or my hair, or just my wrists if it’s a real scorcher…but today was different.  We have several models of buses here reflecting the changes over the years.  Some have air-conditioning…some have air-conditioning ‘after a fashion’…and some have, well, bigger windows.  We also have ‘long buses’ which are two buses connected by an accordion center.  Today was well into the 90s (f), between 33 -37 (c), but on the bus…wow!  It was an oven!  I happened to be blessed with an older double bus coming for my trip home from work today.  It was PACKED!  The windows were open, but we were stuck in traffic most of the way so there was very little breeze.  I was struck by the fact that, although most people looked pretty flushed and uncomfortable, I didn’t hear any complaining.

Perhaps that is because we entered the 9 days of intensified mourning (following the 30 days leading up to the mourning) which precede Tisha b’Av (or the 9^th of the month of Av on the Hebrew calendar).

I have written about it each year, but this year I felt an urge to learn a little more about some of the ways that it is observed by the more religious Jews.  No.  I am not looking to ‘become more…’ whatever.  I only want to follow Yeshua.  But I DO want to understand, and as I read in 1 Corin this morning, Paul wrote “For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more: and to the Jews I became a Jew, that I might win the Jews:…” so, I looked up a religious web site and found some fascinating food for deep thought.  NOT, again, to adopt a tradition or form, but…well…let me share part of a very thought provoking article (if you would like the rest I will be happy to send it, but don’t want to overwhelm you).

First, though, I will refresh you, very briefly, concerning what Tisha b’Av is, and how it is observed.

Tisha b’Av is a day of deep repentance with fasting for our sins and grief over the destructions of the first and second temple and the woes that have befallen the Jewish people.  I, and many believers, join in, praying for the Shekinah Presence of The Lord to once again come to our people and for the fulfillment of Rom 9, 10 and 11.  The book of Lamentations is ‘read’…meditated in…ingested and becomes as real as if Jeremiah wrote it today.  There is much more that I perhaps will share as we approach Tisha b’Av, but I would like your input on this article…and how it applies (or CAN apply) to all of us as believers today.  I think I will share the whole article, but will divide it into two portions, the first half being what I ask to you read (go on if it interests you.)

Here it is.  I must close here for now.  Lovingly, your sis

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LEAST WE FORGET

by Rabbi Mendel Weinbach

What do we get from Tisha B’Av?

We Jews have a long memory.

Something that happened almost two thousand years ago comes back to haunt our collective consciousness as if it happened yesterday.

This is what so impressed the French ruler Napoleon Bonaparte when he looked in on a synagogue in Paris on Tisha B’Av and saw Jews sitting on the floor chanting lamentations and shedding tears. After inquiring about the cause for their mourning and hearing that it was the destruction of their Holy Temple in Jerusalem he expressed astonishment that he had heard nothing about this tragedy from his reliable intelligence sources. When it was explained that this event took place close to 1800 years earlier he reportedly declared that a people who can still mourn for their Temple and their homeland after so many years have a real hope for regaining them.

Napoleon distinguished something unique about the long memory of the Jewish people but could not truly understand its meaning.

A Jew mourns the fall of Jerusalem, the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash and the two thousand year exile which followed not out of a sense of nostalgia for the glory and prosperity of bygone days. For a Jew loyal to his conviction that he is the proud member of “a nation of priests and a holy people” who were chosen to receive the Torah at Sinai and to serve as “a light unto the nations” there is much more involved in remembering the past.

Rambam points out (Laws of Fasting 5:1) that the purpose of the fast days which were ordained by our Prophets is to reflect on the mistakes made by our ancestors which were the catalysts for the tragedies which took place on those days mistakes which we perpetuate in our own days. By learning the lesson of history we can hope to avoid repeating it as we take to heart the need to correct those mistakes and fully return to the lofty spiritual level with which we once served our Creator.