Archive for the ‘Hebrew Months’ Category

Teshuvah – Day 14 (9/4/17)

Posted: September 4, 2017 in Teshuvah 40 Day Devotional
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We are now 2 weeks into the 40 days. That may not mean time much to you, unless you are fasting something or some foods for these 40 days. I have found after 14 days that I don’t miss those things the same as I did in the first few days. I choose to stay with this for the next 16 days and then intensify the fast for the last 10 days, which are the Ten Days of Awe. More about that when we come to it. If you have not chosen to fast, you may ask God if there is a ‘time waster’ He would like you to put down as these next 26 days of Teshuvah continue, ending on Yom Kippur.

Psalm 27:5, “For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.”

Rock– tsuwr (tsur) rock or cliff, rock of God

The first place we find tsuwr in the Bible is Exodus 17:6, where the Hebrew children were without water and thought they would die of thirst in the Wilderness. Water to satisfy the thirst of the entire nation was found in that rock. That rock actually ‘followed’ them and satisfied the nation’s thirst for 40 years!!! I Corinthians 10:3-4 reveals ‘they drank from a Spirit-sent Rock which followed them, and that Rock was the Messiah.’

The second place we find tsuwr in the Bible is Exodus 33:21-22. Moses was on Mt Sinai for the 2nd set of 40 days seeking atonement for the nation for the Golden Calf incident. Moses wanted to see God’s glory, but Yahweh showed Moses His goodness. He told Moses “And the LORD said, Behold, [there is] a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: And it shall come to pass, while my glory passes by, that I will put thee in a cleft of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:”

Deuteronomy 32:4 praises Yahweh, “[He is] the Rock, his work [is] perfect: for all his ways [are] judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right [is] he.”

A marvelous little book called His Names Are Wonderful by Elizabeth L Vander Meulen and Barbara D Malda shares on page 135 about The Rock, HaTzur. “The expression, ‘like the rock of Gibraltar’ has come to mean something or someone that is impressive, dependable, steady, or immovable. God is our rock-solid place. Firmly plant your feet on The Rock and you will not be moved, no matter what storms of life come crashing your way.”

Teshuvah – Day 13 (9/3/17)

Posted: September 3, 2017 in Teshuvah 40 Day Devotional
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Psalm 27:5, “For in the time (day) of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.”

Our 3 places of safety in the ‘day’ or ‘time’ of trouble are pavilion, tabernacle and rock. Yesterday we remembered how Yahweh was so faithful in the Wilderness for 40 years, remembering their inhabitation of ‘pavilion’, tents.

TABERNACLE:

  • First we must remember that the Tabernacle is a ‘secret place’, not open to strangers. It was a place of ‘hiding’, a place of safety
  • In the Wilderness, the Tabernacle was a tent that housed the presence of Yahweh, where God might dwell among His people. It is described in Exodus 26 and 36-40. The entire last part of Exodus recalls the building of the dwelling place for God in the Wilderness.
  • Ohel, comes from the root ‘ahal‘, which means ‘shineth‘. The glory of God would be in the Tabernacle, and when the glory cloud moved they moved. When the glory cloud stopped they stopped. The entire nation was camped around the presence of God and there they found their safety.

The safest place is in God’s presence! But we have a life here on this earth we must live out, so we go into His presence in the morning, and then carry His presence with us throughout the day.

Matthew 7:24 tells us, “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock (25) Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.”

The Word tells us that it ‘rains on the just and the unjust’ (Matthew 5:25). In this Hurricane Harvey and TS Harvey we see this happen again and again. Some of the best pastors in our area lost everything in their home, some had incredible damage in their churches. Plus the loss of income for so many will affect the church finances. But one thing I learned, those who trust in the Lord for their help will dig deep into the roots of Truth and come out stronger. The Rock is Jesus, and He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. He is faithful, the author and finisher of our faith. Amen and Amen.

Teshuvah – Day 12 (9/2/17)

Posted: September 2, 2017 in Teshuvah 40 Day Devotional
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HISTORY MERELY REPEATS ITSELF!

Psalm 27:5, “For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of  his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.”

The Bible gives us answers to every problem before they happen. That is why we need a constant, steady, daily Bible reading plan.

Ecclesiastes 1:9 in the Amplified Bible reads, “The thing that has been—it is what will be again, and that which has been done is that which will be done again; and there is nothing new under the sun.”  The New Living Translations reads, “History merely repeats itself.”

  • Pavilion– Hebrew cok (soke), root word means a hedge, fenced about or shut in.
  • Tabernacle– Hebrew ohel (o-hel)- nomad’s tent, dwelling place, sacred place in the Wilderness
  • Rock– Hebrew tsuwr (tsur), rock, cliff, rock (of God)

The first one I want to look at today is ‘pavilion’. Where do we find the safety of pavilion in the Bible? Cok is the root for cukkah (sukah) , where we get the word Tabernacles, booths.

Leviticus 23:34 instructs, “Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month [shall be] the feast of tabernacles [for] seven days unto the LORD.”  The Jewish people continue annually to make booths outside their homes once a year to keep them in remembrance of the 40 years in the Wilderness, when their shoes did not wear out, or their feet swelled. The daily rehearse before their children and their children’s children how God fed them for 40 years in the Wilderness, how God protected them from their enemies.

Jehovah is the same, He never changes. Take today and remember how He protected you in your personal wilderness. Then, thank Him. He is worthy of all praise and glory and honor!!

Teshuvah – Day 11 (9/1/17)

Posted: September 1, 2017 in Teshuvah 40 Day Devotional
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ONE THING

This Saturday  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 royal command,  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.” He was not perfect, but he worshiped an awesome God, who is worthy of praise.

We are in the midst of the extensive cleanup from Hurricane and Tropical Storm Harvey. People all over the world are amazed that they are seeing everyone helping everyone, no stories of looting, rioting or complaining. There are no racial divisions, no political barriers, no denominational problems. All those labels are down and people are being treated with respect and honor. I think the Lord is pleased with this outcome to tragedy. Whenever I see people on the news giving a report, they are giving praise to God and very grateful.

It is not over yet, there will be several stages of grief involved with loss. Please keep Texas and Louisiana in your prayers. Texas is known for their pride, but this is a very humbling experience. These are the days of Teshuvah, may our nation turn back to God.

Teshuvah – Day 10 (8/31/17)

Posted: August 31, 2017 in Teshuvah 40 Day Devotional
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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.

American Standard Version of Psalm 27:4 reads, “One thing have I asked of Jehovah, that will I seek after; That I may dwell in the house of Jehovah all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of Jehovah, And to inquire in his temple.”

That still stands today. ONE THING is not a bank, a doctor, a president, not any one person or system. Our hope must be in our Lord Jesus Christ and understand our responsibility to the authority He gave the Body of Christ in Matthew 28:18-20.

Remember, what you look at the longest becomes the strongest. Look to Adonai, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He will save us. He will complete the good work He has begun in us and perfect all that concerns us.

Teshuvah Day 9 (8/30/17)

Posted: August 30, 2017 in Teshuvah 40 Day Devotional
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Question: Where is your faith? Read Psalm 27 out loud daily during these 40 days of Teshuvah (repentance) and you will increase faith ‘for such a time as this’.

There is one Question everyone is asking during this TS Harvey in the greater Houston area and now in the Golden Triangle area of Beaumont, Port Arthur and Orange, TX. “Do you have Flood Insurance?” That is the main question. People put so much hope in insurance. I know that it is necessary and good wisdom to be prepared, but all our confidence should not be put in an earthly system. Last year Houston flooded twice and many of  those people are still waiting to finalize those floods and now are flooded again.

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 ‘Battle’ name. (I Samuel 17:45) The Lord of Hosts, the Lord of the Angel Armies, the Lord Almighty that has everything at His disposal when you call upon His ‘battle’ name!

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 dispel the works of darkness is light. He is your light! Allow Him, let Him shine in your life today.

Teshuvah Day 8 (8/29/17)

Posted: August 29, 2017 in Teshuvah 40 Day Devotional
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HURRICANE HARVEY UPDATE: I have not been writing the blog for the past 2 days because we had water come in our home, what a mess. But we are fine, safe. Five miles from us an entire city was under mandatory evacuations, but we are still in our home. We are taking our authority and allowing no fear. During the 40 days of Teshuvah, Psalm 27 is read aloud every day. It has been a big help every day to refuse to fear, that is one thing we cannot afford. We have been spending our day trying to reorder our home and rip out carpets and we cannot afford to listen to the weather forecasters and 24 hours of watching the horror of people on their roofs. That may sound cold, but we have to keep our hearts in faith and refuse to fear. We are standing in faith for our neighbors and friends, praying with authority and no fear. Blessings to you all and thank you for standing with us in the greater Houston area.

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’. One day in a past Teshuvah season 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.

 

Teshuvah Day 5 (8/26/17)

Posted: August 26, 2017 in Teshuvah 40 Day Devotional
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The LORD is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear. We live off the Gulf Coast, just on the mainland off Galveston Island. We are in the second day of Hurricane Harvey and I am so excited how the Body of Christ here has linked shields as a mighty army. Very, very few have evacuated. Most are determined to stay on the prayer wall and not come down. They are fearless and speaking to the storm to break up and tone down!!!

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.

Teshuvah 5777 – Day 4 (8/25/17)

Posted: August 25, 2017 in Teshuvah 40 Day Devotional
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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, especially those who are in the path of Hurricane Harvey on the West Gulf Coast. The worst thing you can do is sit and listen to the 10 spies report and build your fears. Use wisdom in all things, but trust God and don’t be afraid.

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.

Elul 3, 5777 – Teshuvah Day 3 (8/24/17)

Posted: August 24, 2017 in Teshuvah 40 Day Devotional
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Psalm 27:1, The LORD is my light…….

 

Several years ago I was in the kitchen washing dishes, singing with Paul Wilbur’s newest CD.  I heard the voice of the Lord really loud and strong: “There will be war, but now what you think. It will be a war between light and darkness. And those in the light will be safe”

John 1:5, (AMP) “And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it [put it out or absorbed it or appropriated it, and is unreceptive to it]”

Immediately after the Lord spoke that the thought came to me, ‘remember that blood is congealed light.’ I heard Ray Hughes say that and it really surprised me. Ray Hughes said in a meeting in Houston, “Light and blood are the same thing. Blood is nothing more than congealed light. The blood of Jesus was a light to the world. Gen 1 is about creation. John 1 is about new creation.”

In 1953 the DNA structure was discovered by Francis Crick and James Watson, bio-chemist that decided to look into the nucleus or darkest part of the cell. It was in this place of thick darkness (holy of holies) of our 3-part cell that Light was discovered in the form of the scrolled Book of Life. (A seal was broken off the book/scroll within). Since that time DNA has been called by scientist the Book of Life, God within man. … Our blood is made up of congealed light. In our DNA it has been recently discovered that there are bio-photons, LIGHT-ENERGY-SPIRIT-GOD. (wwwatam.org/DNA.html)

Gwen Shaw wrote in “Love, The Law of Angels”, that the protection of the believer in the coming “battle of the ages” will be the LIGHT shining through them, which she has previously defined as “enlightenment” or “illumination”:

“The Blood of Jesus is going to become more powerful in the end time. More powerful than the day it poured from His veins, until it will touch our very bodies, and not only will our spirits be changed, but our bodies will be changed.” (Love, the Law of the Angels, p. 115)

The speed of light is 186,000 miles per second. That means there is a frequency or sound when we plead the Blood of Jesus that is heard in the spirit realm.  God heard the voice of the blood of Abel crying out from the ground in Genesis 4:10. In Hebrews 12:24, the blood of Jesus cries out better things than the blood of Abel. The Blood of Jesus is crying out mercy, for mercy triumphs over judgment.

Do not limit yourself to what you understand. Apply it by faith. Be a child of God who practices the “sprinkling of the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.” Sprinkle it anywhere there is evidence of pressure, tension, or any kind of satanic effort to thwart the complete will of God in your life.” (taken from the last paragraph of the Honor the Blood track of Osterhus Publishing, Minneapolis)

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