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Human Opinion
What do we see in most newscasts, many TV shows, and on social media? Human opinion; opinion that leaves God out of the mix. But, we are lost when human opinion means more to us than God’s! Read 1 Sam 15:22-23, not in light of King Saul, but in light of what is occurring in our government and in society in general–man’s opinion rules and God’s doesn’t count. He won’t allow that to go on forever! Those of us who are part of God’s family through the blood of Yeshua, must, absolutely must bring God into our every interaction, every opinion that we express to others — especially our leaders.
Until next time…“May the LORD bless and protect you…May He give you Shalom.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
Bill
Do Not Listen!
Do not listen to the voices of hate! Why not? Because God will always get the last word!
God created the nations — ALL of mankind. He created every race and nationality. If you hate or even dislike someone because of their race, country of origin, even creed, you have a problem with God!
He hates any actions of His creation that do not align with His instructions in His word. However, He loves every individual and commands us to love them as we love ourselves.
So, again, I encourage all of us, myself included, to ignore the voices of hate that swirl around us and focus on loving and praying for tgem. Pray that their actions, beliefs, and/or hate will change to align with His instructions. Most importantly, pray that, if they do not know Yeshua as their savior, they will repent and turn to Him. And if they claim Him but have strayed from His Word, that they will repent and return to the Truth.
If you are reading this and need to repent of your hateful words or actions, and/or need to accept Him as your savior, I encourage you to do so right now. Simply tell Him that you repent of, are really sorry for your actions, and that you give Him control of your life.
If you make this decision, please let me know by replying to this post.
Until next time…“May the LORD bless and protect you…May He give you Shalom.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
Bill
Would I Be a Peter?
By Sue
While reading about and pondering the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus this past week, my heart has been drawn to Peter. I have been asking myself if I would have done what Peter did—deny Jesus, not once, but three times?
After walking with Jesus for a longer period of time than Peter did—51 years compared to 3 years—would I declare my love and devotion to Him, only to deny my closest friend and teacher?
On Palm Sunday, the crowd was cheering and welcoming Jesus as royalty. Peter and the disciples probably thought they were even more dedicated to the Master than the crowds. Then, less than a week later, some of those same people were calling for His crucifixion. And, at a desperate time when Jesus needed them the most, the disciples fell asleep and finally deserted Him.
When times of persecution come to us in our nation—and that is happening right now. When I am told that I can no longer worship or possibly even speak to others the Name of Jesus, how will I respond? When those in authority ask me whether I believe in Jesus what will I say? What will you say?? Will I be willing to lose my life to keep it? Will I stand with Jesus or desert Him?
These are very real questions that we need to wrestle with NOW! The day may be coming, though I pray not, when we will be challenged to stand firm with Jesus or deny Him. And, if we don’t have our hearts and minds settled now, we may find ourselves being a “Peter”!
Until next time…“May the LORD bless and protect you…May He give you Shalom.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
Bill
Happy Ressurection Day
I hope that you are enjoying your Easter Sunday, which is better referred to as Ressurection Day because we are celebrating the resurrection of Yeshua, the Son of God, and the Passover Lamb who was slain for your and my sins. As the following Stepping Stones devotion asks, “Where do you keep Yeshua (God)?”
Do You Keep God in a Box (or Tomb)?
Transformational Thought
For our Easter celebration, let’s continue our journey back in time to that first glorious Easter morning than more 2,000 years ago. When Mary, Mary, Salome, and the rest of their crew visited the tomb that day, they were sad, upset, worried, and edgy. They had just lost their leader at the end of a bizarre and devastating but prophesized week. It actually started with a triumphant entrance on Palm Sunday and ended with the execution of Jesus by all the powerful ruling elements in their land.
Would they be rounded up as well to endure a mock trial, persecution, and violent execution? What should they do next? Remember, they didn’t have the benefit of the completed Bible like we do. They only had a promise of something that had never happened before. But they must have forgotten the prophecy that was passed down over the years.
So imagine their surprise when they saw the stone already rolled aside. They had no idea what to make of the empty tomb. They still didn’t remember the prophecy. Thankfully, they met two angels who explained that Jesus was not there, He had risen. But, they still didn’t believe. They just thought the body had been stolen. Then they ran to tell Peter and John, who were perplexed as well. Didn’t they read all the Old Testament prophecies either? They needed to come to the tomb to figure it out. Once inside the tomb, seeing the evidence of the wrappings, they were still confused. Mary really didn’t get it until she spoke with Jesus outside the tomb.
I can’t understand their stupidity, ignorance, disbelief, and nearsightedness. Jesus performed so many miracles, talked of ruling His kingdom, raised Lazarus from the dead, and taught that He would rise from the dead in 3 days. Why were they afraid, sad, and surprised instead of expectantly excited? Why were they fearful when they saw an empty tomb? Why weren’t they expecting it, rejoicing and happily guessing where they would see Him for the first time?
Stupid, thick, dim, mistrustful. Can you guess where this is going, cause we need to get off our high horses. How often do we react the same way as they did? Thinking that God is limited like us and restricted to the same reality we are indicates we don’t believe His promises and predictions either. We underestimate His power and knowledge every day. I have no right to criticize Mary, Mary, the disciples or other followers. I have the whole Bible, know how the story ends, and I still limit Jesus and God just as they did.
So today of all days, don’t put God in a box. My life has really changed since I realized He is bigger than I am and that He will stand by His promises. I now expect the awesome unexpected and so can you! Don’t think He’s dormant in a tomb. He is at work in and around you. Expect it, embrace it, and enjoy it. Thank God the tomb is empty. I hope you aren’t dismayed in the midst of your everyday trials, because God will show up. Remember, He didn’t rise from the dead immediately. He waited three days for a specific reason. So be patient. His timing is always better than yours.
Happy Easter from Honey Lake Clinic and Lighthouse Network. May His power over death give you boldness and courage as you advance against whatever trials and threats you face. Please go and wear His power on your sleeve so that everyone without exception will see your joy and His glorious victory over despair and death. Whether you let God be God, or you put God in a box and keep Him in the tomb is your decision, so choose well.
Prayer
Thank You, Father, for Christ’s death and resurrection, which has given us power over sin’s grip and Satan’s schemes. Give me a heart that will love You even 1/1000th of what You love me. Keep Your promises and character fresh in my mind, so that I don’t put You in a box and limit my expectations and understanding of Your plan and power, especially during times of uncertainty. I pray You grant the Stepping Stones readers eyes that see and trust to accept Your awesome plans for them. In Christ’s powerful and magnified name; and all God’s children say – AMEN!
The Truth
For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Matthew 12:40
for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him. Mark 9:31
Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” John 2:19-20
The post Do You Keep God in a Box (or Tomb)? appeared first on Lighthouse Network.
Until next time…“May the LORD bless and protect you…May He give you Shalom.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
Bill
Disclaimer: As mentioned in my Welcome post, I do not necessarily endorse authors or organizations that I quote or repost. This also applies to Lighthouse Network. I am blessed by many of the Stepping Stones devotionals and they give blanket permission to share them. However, I have not researched any of their help resources and, therefore, I do not personally endorse them.
An Appointment with God—Passover
This year (2021) Passover is March 28, but it starts at sundown on March 27 because the Hebrew or Biblical day runs from sundown to sundown. Passover is then followed by a 7-day feast called the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Over time, the two feasts have been grouped together and simply called Passover.
But, what is Passover, or Pesach (PAY-sach)? You may know it as something that the Jewish faith celebrates every year, but what and why are they celebrating?
Passover is one of the seven appointed times (meeting appointments with God) that He scheduled with the Israelites (Jewish people) in Lev. 23:1-2. Through each of these meetings, He reveals more of Himself and calls His followers into a deeper relationship with Him. All seven yearly Feasts or festivals commemorate His faithfulness and the many miracles of deliverance that He performed as He set Israel apart as His own special people. They serve to remind us of His holiness, our impurity, and that, despite the disparity between God and man, He wants us to be in fellowship with Him.
But, you ask, “I am a Gentile, why should I care, even if I follow Yeshua as my Savior?” Well, I’m a Gentile as well, so I’ll try to provide a brief answer to your question.
The fact that these festivals are part of the Old Testament, or better yet Bible Part 1, they are often considered as being irrelevant for New Testament, or Bible Part 2, believers. However, they open up a complete understanding of the continuity of the Scriptures and just how central Yeshua is to all the festivals. And, Yeshua faithfully observed each of these seven festivals. If we are a follower or disciple of Yeshua shouldn’t we follow His example? After all, a disciple emulates his leader.
So, without digging deeper into that question (we’ll cover that in a future post), let’s move on to the subject of this article, the Feast of Passover. God introduced Passover and the Feast of Unleavened bread in Ex. 12:1-20 and Lev 23:5-8. As you probably recall from Sunday school, the first Passover occurred, on the night of the last plague when God was releasing the Israelites from Egyptian slavery. Now, He could have easily accomplished this very quickly without doing the “plague thing.” However, He wanted the Egyptians to know without a doubt that He was greater than every god they worshipped. Each of the plagues was a direct assault on one of those gods. I encourage you to read the story of the plagues and the first Passover for yourself. It is found in Exodus 6:28-12:32.
The Passover was the defining moment in Jewish history. God called them out of slavery and delivered them from 400 years of bondage in Egypt to give them a land of their own and make them not only a people but a nation. Now, that is something to celebrate! It even surpasses our Fourth of July. 🙂
Even better, though, is that the Passover is prophetic of the coming of Yeshua. It presents a scene or a shadow of something yet to come. The Feast of Passover looks back to the liberation of Israel from the land of Egypt, and it looks forward to the saving work of the Messiah, Yeshua, our Passover Lamb. Because Yeshua came 2000 years ago, we, Jew and Gentile who follow Him, can celebrate Passover as a celebration of His death as our Passover Lamb and Resurrection as our Savior. There is nothing more worth celebrating than the sacrifice of Yeshua. It completed His purpose of proclaiming that the Kingdom of God is at hand and His call for all mankind to repent of our sins and turn to Him, our once-and-for-all sacrificial Lamb.
The celebration of Passover is centered around a meal. What’s a “feast” without food? The story of the first Passover is retold with various food items as symbols of the suffering and sacrifice associated with the first Passover. Leaven is not permitted at the Passover meal and during the following 7-day Feast of Unleavened bread. Leaven, or yeast, symbolizes impurity, sin. The Passover feast includes a specific remembrance service called a Seder (SEY-der). The order of the service is outlined in a booklet called a Haggadah (HAH-gah-dah), which means “telling”. It guides the service and prayers using the symbolic food items while it explains the significance of the event. A full-blown Passover Seder can last for hours, though most are only an hour or two.
In future posts, I plan to cover the meaning of the symbolic items in a modern-day Seder, Yeshua’s last Seder before His crucifixion, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
Until next time…“May the LORD bless and protect you…May He give you Shalom.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
Bill
Scriptures related to Passover:
Exodus 12:1-20, 39; Leviticus 23:4-8; Deuteronomy 16:1-8; Luke 22:1, 7; Acts 20:6; 1 Cor 5:7-8; Hebrews 11:28
For further study:
Arlene Bridges Samuels, “Passover and Easter”, The Christian Broadcasting Network
Barney Kasdan, “God’s Appointed Times”, Lederer Books
Jewish Voice Ministries, International, “The Spring Feasts and Purim”, JVI Publications
Kevin Howard, Marin Rosenthal, “The Feasts of the Lord”, Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Be Careful and Don’t Be a Storm-Chaser?
Life is full of storms and troubles. The 2/20-21/2021 Stepping Stones devotion from Lighthouse Network addresses storms. I share it with permission.
Be Careful and Don’t Be a Storm-Chaser?
February 20-21, 2021
Transformational Thought
Some people get a high from drugs, alcohol, or even cutting themselves. But others find ways to get a natural adrenaline surge by putting themselves in challenging or even dangerous situations. Tornado chasing is one of these thrill-seeking activities made popular by the movie Twister, where both professional scientists and amateurs literally chased tornados hoping they would turn into life-threatening storms. The more dangerous the tornado, the closer they would get to being swept up into the funnel. At times they got so close that injuries occurred and their lives were definitely at risk. Obviously, some people are actually drawn to the storms. Most do it to take once in a lifetime photos. But those who do it solely for the thrill and the danger are adrenaline junkies.
One of our taglines at Lighthouse Network is “Guidance through life’s storms.” Many past Stepping Stones Devotionals reference “storms” in our lives. Storms are times of turbulence, anxiety, darkness, and usually, impending doom. The journey is tough and we might be pushed far from our intended course. The usual assumption is that storms come out of nowhere and hit us when we least expect them … that we have no early-warning signs or system. Oftentimes this is true.
But, if you look closely, there are certain people who actually create or chase after life’s storms. I have done that myself on occasion. Sometimes, we aren’t aware that we are creating a storm while making mistakes and poor choices out of ignorance. But oftentimes, we make conscious choices, knowing we are choosing the wrong fork in the road … addictions, eating issues, emotion management problems, sexual dalliances, gossip, tantrums, giving into temptation, staying up too late, etc. These behaviors lead us right into the eye of a storm. Not only do we create storms for ourselves, but the storms we create can also blast innocent bystanders.
Various reasons exist for repeatedly making these bad choices, but the bottom line is that we get some satisfaction or perceived benefit from them. The gain might not outweigh the downside of the decision. But in the moment we don’t care. That small gain is all we focus on. We feel we are invincible … or that the storm will blow in a different direction … or that we’ll be able to minimize the damage from this particular storm.
Some storms arrive without warning and we cannot avoid them: catastrophic illnesses, car accidents, a fallen economy. There are also storms created by our poor decisions. Of course, we know that the enemy is constantly trying to influence us to make bad choices that damage our lives and souls. However, we must also accept that we were created with this beautiful thing called free will. We can always choose to avoid a storm, or to step right in the middle of a tornado.
Today, be honest and examine yourself. Identify the areas of your life where you are a storm-chaser. Bad habits, a loose tongue, a caustic attitude, guilt, anger, anxiety issues, addictions, impulsivity, relationship problems with a spouse, kids, parents, or co-workers. These usually have some element of storm-chasing. Do you make choices that once again place you smack in the middle of a storm? Consider choices you could make to avoid a storm. Think about how you might create your own great sunny weather. WITHIN REACH will help you examine your decisions, helping you step away from storms and into clear sailing. Whether you avoid a storm or you step right in the middle of a life-interfering twister is your decision, so choose well. If you know someone caught in an acute storm and needs any kind of treatment, call 844-Life-Change (844-543-3242) and we can usually find Christian options for you.
Prayer
Dear Father God, I humble myself under Your almighty hand. As I truthfully examine my past actions, I see I am guilty of creating and chasing storms. I no longer want to seek storms. I also know that You are my lighthouse in the storms I cannot avoid. Help me, Lord, to stop chasing storms and chase You instead. Help me run away from storms by constantly setting my compass toward You. I pray in the name of my early-warning system, Jesus Christ; and all God’s children say – AMEN!
The Truth
“Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. For I command you this day to love the LORD your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy. But if your heart turns away and you refuse to listen, and if you are drawn away to serve and worship other gods, then I warn you now that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live a long, good life in the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy. Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the decision you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the LORD, you will live long in the land the LORD swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Deuteronomy 30:15-20
The post Be Careful and Don’t Be a Storm-Chaser? appeared first on Lighthouse Network.
You may also want to read “Got Trouble?“ by yours truly.
Until next time…”May the LORD bless and protect you…May He give you Shalom.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
Bill
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Disclaimer: As mentioned in my Welcome post, I do not necessarily endorse authors or organizations that I quote or repost. This also applies to Lighthouse Network. I am blessed by many of the Stepping Stones devotionals and they give blanket permission to share them. However, I have not researched any of their help resources and, therefore, I cannot personally endorse them.
Got Troubles?
In Matthew 6:34b Yeshua says that “Today has enough trouble of its own.” We see trouble in our own lives, in the lives of family and friends, or our nation. In Matt 6:34a, Yeshua tells us not to worry about what we will eat, drink, wear. This includes the many other troubles we encounter as well. So, what’s the solution?
The solution is found in the verse before, Matt 6:33: “Seek the Kingdom of God* and His righteousness.**” But, how do we do that? By just being a good person? No, it’s more than that. First, it’s accepting Yeshua as Savior. It’s allowing Him to be the ruler (Lord) of your life. It is in following His commands—living according to them, making Him the focus of our life above everything else.
Does this mean that you and I will never have any problems? No, Yeshua never promised that. He said that we would have tribulations (trials, distress, frustration) in this world. (John 16:33; Acts 14:22) However, He will see us through them (John 16:33; Rom 8:35; Rom 12:12) and will use them to help us grow in our knowledge and faith in Him if we allow Him to do so.
Life’s troubles can also be called “life’s storms”. The Stepping Stones devotion for 2/20-21/2021, “Be Careful and Don’t Be a Storm-Chaser?” talks about life’s storms. I think you will find it enlightening and encouraging. I will post it on this blog on 2/23/2021 at which time this link will become active.
Until next time…”May the LORD bless and protect you…May He give you Shalom.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
Bill
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*The Kingdom of God is the coming time when Messiah Yeshua rules and to which all His followers belong.
**Righteousness is living a life of obedience to God (Gen 6:22). God makes the rules that define morality. Sin is breaking God’s rules. Righteousness is the opposite of sin.
He Shall Reign!
We sang “He Shall Reign” by Paul Wilbur in our 2.20.21 Shabbat service. I’ve heard this song many times, but what struck me this morning is the word shall. The song doesn’t say will, it says shall!
Shall is a legal word, used in legal regulations to express something mandatory. It is also used to express what is inevitable, determined, or absolute—it will happen without fail. Though usage in the English language varies, this usually has more force than the word will, which carries more of a meaning of desire, choice, or willingness, though it can express determination. However, although I’m not a lawyer, I think that you will find that shall is used in legal documents as opposed to will because it has a stronger meaning.
Regardless of which word you use, the point is that He, Yeshua, the Jewish Messiah and Savior of Jew and Gentile alike, will one day reign over the entire earth. This is promised by God in Scripture: Matt 16:28; 19:14; 25:34; Mark 9:1; 11:10; 1 Cor 15:24; Rev 12:10 and others.
So, who will be part of this Kingdom? Everyone who is a member of God’s family! Who is that? Everyone who has proclaimed that He is their Savior and who has made Him the Lord of their life!
When will He reign? When Father God says it is time for Him to do so. While Scripture doesn’t give us an exact time, I believe that it is closer than we may think. I don’t say that because of all the problems we see on earth today. There are always problems on earth. We just may not be as aware of them as we are now. But when isn’t important because you must be adopted into God’s family while you are alive here on earth.
So, are you a member of His family? Have you acknowledged Him as your Savior? That was the primary purpose that He came to proclaim the coming of His Kingdom, died on a cross, and was resurrected.
If you are a member of His family, you can rejoice today, and every day, that He is going to reign in the not-to-distance future, maybe in your lifetime!
If you are not a member of his family, you can be adopted today, right now! Simply tell Him that you are sorry for disobeying His instructions (sin), that you repent (turn around, change your direction), and want to be adopted into His family. And He will do it! He will immediately place His Holy Spirit inside of you to guide you as you study His instructions (the Bible) and allow Him to guide your life, instead of trying to guide it yourself. Does this take away your free will, your ability to do whatever you want? No, it doesn’t, but it takes away the real desire to do so.
When you do pray and ask Him into your life, please let me know by commenting on this post. There are no strings, I am not a ministry that is going to ask you for money, but I will pray for and with you as you start your fantastic journey.
Until next time…”May the LORD bless and protect you…May He give you Shalom.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
Bill
Withering America
“A disease that lies in the spirit cannot be cured by that which doesn’t”*
We have been watching America wither away morally and spiritually for many years. The politicians are campaigning that they will fix everything–“they”, not God! At least I haven’t heard any say that God would do the fixing, the curing. As Jonathan Cahn said in his recent book, “A spiritual disease cannot be answered by cures rooted in other realms, political cures, economic cures, ideological cures. No such cure can stop the withering. A spiritual disease can only be answered by a spiritual cure.”*
Are those of us who follow Yeshua willing to pay the price to obtain that cure? God is the source of that cure, but it starts with each of us. In our hearts, yes, but also in the way we live openly for Yeshua! It will require spending significant time on our knees beseaching God! It will require standing up publically against the antichrist forces that want to see the US continue to wither! And, it will require the dedication of every believer–there is so much that needs changed in our personal lives, the “church”, our government, and our nation in general.
Where, oh where do you start? If you haven’t voted, do so according to scripture, not according to your pocketbook or the personality of the candate. Once you’ve voted, find ways in your daily life to blatantly live out your faith. Doing so with love for your fellow man, regardless of his views, but being strong and forthright about the truth!
Until next time…”May the LORD bless and protect you…May He give you Shalom.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
Bill
* Jonathan Cahn, The Harbinger II, Charisma House
Did You Hear It?
Did you hear it last weekend?
Will you hear it this weekend in Washington, DC?
You will if you listen carefully.
What will you hear? You’ll hear the Trumpet of God sounding an alarm and calling America to repentance. This is the Biblical time of year when shofars are sounded. I believe that this year, more than any other, the shofar of God is being sounded to wake all of us in America up! It is a warning of imminent danger. He is calling American citizens and all who live within our shores to wake up before it is too late! I am confident that He loves America. Otherwise, we would never have become the world power that we have been. But we have strayed far from what made us great as a nation and as a society. We are being called to stop sliding down the slippery slope.
I believe that God is not done with America yet. He is calling us, all of us, including followers of Yeshua, to wake up before it is too late—for our own souls and the soul of our nation! We need to join with those in Washington, DC this Saturday, and raise our voices, calling out to God in repentance and asking for mercy on our land. But not stop there; we each need to seek God for how we can be part of the solution instead of just pointing our fingers at the problem.
Until next time…”May the LORD bless and protect you…May He give you Shalom.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
And, may He extend His Grace to our great country!
Bill
WJB's Turn 