Mbostrom2's Blog

ONE THING

Today is the Hebrew Shabbat (Sabbath) and the Torah reading that all Jews will be reading around the world is from Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19. It is called Ki Tetse, meaning ‘When you go out’ which are the word beginning this Shabbat Torah reading. This reading is full of does and don’ts that are part of the 613 laws the Jewish people are to keep.

When Jesus had a visit from the Pharisees, as recorded in Matthew 22, they tried to pin Him down as to the most important law of the 613. His answer was, “Jesus said, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important and first of any on the list. But there is a second to set alongside it’; ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs: everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hands on them.” (Message Bible)

David fulfilled that command but recording his desire as found in Psalm 27, “One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple.”

ONE THING  

One of the people who has most affected my life is Dr. Billye Brim of Prayer Mountain in the Osarks. One of her main assignments in these last days is to prepare the people to pray for the Second Coming of the Lord. When her prayer group was meeting to pray about the 2008 elections, the Word of the Lord came through Billye: 

One thing will save America.
And it is NOT the election.
It is an awakening to God!
One thing will help Israel and the nations.
It is an awakening to God.

I encourage you to go to her site and listen to last Wednesday’s world wide prayer meeting. She speaks of the intense intercession that came on her group last Sunday for Israel. www.billyebrim.org. 

On 9/11/10 at noon, in each county in our nation, a group of pray-ers &  intercessors will be meeting at their county court house to pray in one accord for our nation. I am leading Galveston County in Texas and would love to have you join me.  http://www.awakeningamerica.us/

ONE THING

Psalm 27:4, “One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple.”

I have heard several people say when their laptop was in for repairs, “I was lost without my laptop”.

When we experienced Hurricane Ike on the coast we were without power for quite some time. We desired our air conditioning back. We desired hot water. We desired to used our stoves and have our refrigerator back. We desired to watch TV, use our telephone, check our emails. When you are without something you have a strong desire to have it back.

For Americans, our desire to spend time with God is lost and almost non existant because of our constant feeding on junk food. That is why fasting is so important, to fast all else and only get the meat that your spirit, soul and body really need.

Get quiet before God and ask the Holy Spirit to show you how to get that ONE THING desire for Him back. Each of us are unique with seperate finger prints, each have a different walk with God.

We have all left our “first love.” This is all part of spiritual housecleaning, getting rid of things we don’t need and making room for what is most important. There is nothing more important than our spiritual walk with our LORD.

PROCRASTINATION IS FEAR BASED

The textbook case for spiritual procrastination would be Pharoah when he told Moses he wanted the frogs to be gone ‘tomorrow‘.  (Exodus 8:9-10) Who or what was he afraid of? If I was Pharoah I would want the frogs out of my bed & soup NOW! Was he afraid of his reputation, that he could not handle a little thing like frogs?

Amplified Bible, Psalm 27:1, “The LORD is my Light and my Salvation – whom shall I fear or dread? The LORD is the Refuge and Stronghold of my life – of whom shall be afraid?”

I want to focus on DREAD today. Now is the time during Teshuvah for Fall Housecleaning- both in the natural and spiritual. If your closets and drawers are like some of mine, it is overwhelming and easier to tackle ‘tomorrow‘.

God has been teaching me to ‘order my day’ and to  ‘value my time’. The other day I was so tired, but asked Him quietly what He wanted me to do that day regarding the fall housecleaning. Two the things he told me to do were to clean out the refrigerator and pantry. I felt so good when that was done, plus, I did not get hard on myself for just getting those 2 things accomplished that day because I knew it was God’s will.

Whatever it is we need to do today we need to do today. Procrastination surely is the thief of time. There are many reasons why we put things off—apathy, fear, anxiety, uncertainty, habit, indifference, passive resistance, and/or just plain not-getting-around-to-doing-it. Whatever the reason, there are some things that are far too critical to put off until a more convenient time—especially putting our life right with God. Today is the only day we ever have. Yesterday is gone forever. Tomorrow never comes.

Below is the devotional from Marsha Burns

August 13, 2010:  Beloved, I am separating the precious from the vile so that you can draw closer to Me.  This will manifest on all levels of your experience as you are now able to discern what you need to keep and what you need to let go of.  This process will result in greater simplicity and focus.  Don’t be afraid to remove that which is no longer relevant.  I am with you to give wisdom and help you in this time of sorting, says the Lord.  Jeremiah 15:19 Therefore thus says the LORD: “If you return, then I will bring you back; you shall stand before Me; if you take out the precious from the vile, you shall be as My mouth.”

Hazak! Hazak! V’nit’ chazak! Be strong! Be strong! And let us be strengthened!

Every day for 40 days the entire Psalm 27 is read aloud by every observing Jew. As they proclaim this they are forming a protective shield over themselves by the words of their mouths and as an army of covenant people they are forming a shield around the nation. Verses 2-3 read, “When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, my enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell. (3) Though an army may encamp against me, my heart will not fear; though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident.”

On August 13, Newsmax.com published an article by David A. Patten titled “ John Bolton: Russia’s Loading of Nuke Fuel Into Iran Plant Means Aug. 21 Deadline for Israeli Attack.” Russia had recently told the US this would not happen this year, but now it is evident they were not telling the truth. This year, we see Russia & Iran being 2 of the nations involved as the wicked, enemies, foes, army and threatened war mentioned in the above 2 verses.

The date of August 21 on the Hebrew calendar is Elul 11. I looked up in history and on that day 3 things stand out in history. (all 3 have to do with moving Jewish people)

1. 1563– Expulsion of the Jewish community in Moravia
2. 1943– Liquidation of the ghetto of Minsk and Lida
3. 1950– Operation Magic Carpet was concluded (1949-1950) 430 planes were secretly used to bring 45,000 Jews from Yemen to Israel as on ‘wings of eagles’, mostly Yemenite children. (some figures say 50,000) These were part of the Lost Tribes of Israel and had been in Yemen since 7th century BC.

Hosea 14:1, O Israel, return to the LORD your God, for you uhave stumbled because of your iniquity. Verses 5-8 tell of God’s promises to restore His people with fruitfulness (the lily), stability (roots like the cedars of Lebanon), beauty (olive tree), and fragrance (wine). Hosea’s name means ‘Salvation’ or ‘Deliverance’.

May this be the Teshuvah (season of returning to the Lord) that God’s covenant people spiritually come back to the Lord.  My prayer is from Ephesians 3:19, (Amplified) “[That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]: that you may be filled [through our being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself].”

I WILL NOT FEAR – I WILL TRUST

Sunday morning I awoke at 1:00 am and was not able to go back to sleep. I decided to get up and read the weekly Torah & Haftarah from the Message Bible as is my current weekend custom.

The Haftarah was what really ministered to me because when I awoke I was meditating on Psalm 27:1 which reads, “The LORD is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear. The LORD is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid.”

 The Haftarah for this week was Isaiah 51:12-52:12. It begins ‘What are you afraid of – or who?”

“I, I’m the One comforting you. What are you afraid of – or who? Some man or woman who’ll soon be dead? Some poor wretch destined for dust? You’ve forgotten me, God, who made you, who unfurled the skies, who founded the earth. …… For I am God, your very own God, who stirs up the sea and whips the waves, named God-of-the-Angel-Armies….(Hafarah ending with Is 52:12) God is leading you out of here, and the God of Israel is also your rear guard.”

What a blessing for our Lord to wake me up, give me that assurance, and then allow me to go right back to sleep, waking up refreshed to go worship Sunday morning.

So I am asking you, what are you afraid of- and who? Today, boldly say:

“A psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation– so why should I be afraid? The LORD protects me from danger– so why should I tremble?

The LORD is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear.

Now is the time to settle it in your heart- The LORD is your salvation.  The government is not your salvation, the doctor is not your salvation, the banker is not your salvation- The LORD is your salvation.

The Hebrew word for salvation here is yesha, meaning ‘deliverance, salvation, rescue, safety, welfare, prosperity and  victory. This word is used in the 1st & 9th verse of Psalm 27.

Does it make a difference to our lives what we say? Our body is made up of 60% water and recently science is proving what the Bible has told us regarding words.  Here is a sample of that scientific study done by a Japanese doctor, Dr Emoto. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIX76QZ-d58

Proverbs 18:21 tells us “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit“.

Matthew 12:27 records Jesus saying, “The words you say now reflect your fate then; either you will be justified by them or you will be condemned.” (NLT) 

James 1:26 records Pastor James instructing, “If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are just fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. (NLT)

In Rabbinical teaching, holding one’s tongue is called “Shmiras Haloshom“. Below is a comment from the devotional, Chofetz Chaim, A Lesson A Day:

“It is Hashem’s desire to shower His people with His limitless store of mercy. When people act compassionately by using their words for good, they allow Hashem’s compassion to flow from its Source into their lives. Shmiras Haloshon not only opens the gates of Heaven to one’s prayers, it manifests Hashem’s protection upon His beloved nation by drawing upon them generous measure of His limitless mercy.”

Today is a good time to begin sowing your words that our Lord Jesus Christ is our Salvation. Our body and life will respond best to our words. We are designed to be the prophet of our own lives.

Sometimes I like to read different translations in my devotion times and the Message Bible is so rich in the wording for Psalm 27. Read this aloud to yourself today. Remember, faith comes by hearing and your voice will impact your faith more than anyone else can.

PSALM 27 (MESSAGE BIBLE TRANSLATION)

Light, space, zest- that’s God! So with him on my side I’m fearless, afraid of no one and nothing.

When vandal hordes ride down ready to eat me alive, those bullies and toughs fall flat on their faces.

When besieged, I’m calm as a baby. When all hell breaks loose, I’m collected and cool.

I’m asking God for one thing, only one thing: to live with him in his house my whole life long. I’ll contemplate his beauty; I’ll study at his feet.

That’s the only quiet, secure place in a noisy world, the perfect getaway, far from the buzz of traffic.

God holds me head and shoulders above all who try to pull me down. I’m headed for his place to offer anthems that will raise the roof!  Already I’m singing God-songs; I’m making music to God.

Listen, God, I’m calling at the top of my lungs; “Be good to me! Answer me!” When my heart whispered, “Seek God,” my whole heart replied, “I’m seeking him!” Don’t hide from me now!

You’ve always been right there for me; don’t turn yor back on me now. Don’t throw me out, don’t abandon me; you’ve always kept the door open. My father and mother walked out and left me, but God took me in.

Point me down your highways, God; direct me along the well-lighted street; show my enemies whose side you’re on. Don’t throw me to the dogs, those liars who are out to get me, filling the air with their threats.

I’m sure now I’ll see God’s goodness in the exuberant earth. Stay with God! Take heart. Don’t quit. I’ll say it again: Stay with God.

Psalm 27:1, The LORD is my light……. 

I get a daily email devotional from Marsha Burns and this so ministered to me regarding light: 

Jesus is the Word and when you set your desires to spend time reading and meditating on the Word of God, you are fellowshipping with Jesus. Cleansing yourself of unrighteousness is not such a hard thing to do, you don’t have to tarry long at the altar, weeping, begging to be cleansed. Just purpose to spend time  in the Word of God and the light will dispel all the darkness. The more you walk in the light, the freer you will become. 

I John 1:9, But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Psalm 27:1, A Psalm of David. THE LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 27 is read aloud every day for the 40 days of turning ourselves back to the things of God, and God Himself with our whole heart. It is a time of cleansing ourselves of anything that would draw us away from His perfect will and presence.

First of all, we see this as a Psalm of David, known as a ‘man after God’s own heart’. 

Acts 13:22 says, “But God removed him from the kingship and replaced him with David, a man about whom God said, `David son of Jesse is a man after my own heart, for he will do everything I want him to.’ ‘” (I Samuel 13:14)

We have read how David failed, but after he returned to the Lord he was cleansed of all unrighteousness and brought back to a place of new mercies. This morning when you woke, you woke to new mercies. God is faithful. He loves you and wants to make all things new in your life, a fresh beginning. Return to the Lord where there is forgiveness, safety, love and healing.

David got to know his covenant LORD through his trials, battles, successes, failures and worship. David killed a giant while he was bragging on his LORD’s name. (I Samuel 17:45)

He understood how the LORD was his shepherd and took good care of him as a helpless little lamb. (Psalm 23)

Magnify God- make Him the biggest part of your day today! Make God bigger than your mountain and see what the Lord of Hosts will do!!

All it takes to dispell the works of darkness is light. He is your light! Allow Him, let Him shine in your life today.