Time for a break

This should be interesting.  We have five children, all married and all with families.  For my sixtieth birthday most of us will be getting together at an amusement park for a day of fun.  L-RD willing, there will be 24 of us going.  We will see how the day goes  "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine:..." Proverbs 17:22a

Spring

Spring is around the corner. We have had a mild winter in this section of the country. Today is in the 60's with a small breeze. The sun is shining. It is the kind of day that makes you want to be outside, to go somewhere, to see places or do something, a light hearted day, fresh and new.

This so reminds me of redemption, when a person's sins are lifted, guilt is gone, a clear conscience with G-d. We have been forgiven, sins forgotten and everything is new, fresh, and enjoyable.

Passover is also almost here. A time to remember deliverance from hard bondage, bitter tears, separation from family. Without G-d's passover there would have been no looking forward to a better tomorrow.

The passover is symbolic of our hard bondage in sin, the bitter tears and separation from family. Without the shedding of blood is no remission. The blood of G-d's perfect lamb was shed for our iniquities.Through faith in the supreme sacrifice on Golgotha and the resurrection of the Messiah we can have new life in Him. We can be made clean, our sins forgiven and have a clear conscience with G-d, to live with Him forever.

The L-RD sings

I love to sing and worship the L-Rd in singing. This verse amazes me in that the L-RD will sing to us one day.It just makes me want to worship the L-RD even more . He is so humble, giving, and kind. I hope you enjoy this verse found in Zephaniah 3:17

"The L-RD thy G-d in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing."

Apology

I apologize for being late again. Time is getting away from me.

The best part of the week was yesterday when I met Jacques at a nursing home. He had been raised orthodox and was living reform, not attending synagogue anywhere. What bothers me is he is in a nursing home away from family and no one there for him.

When I entered his room automatically my eye saw the cheerfulness and beauty there. This man had taken a common room and made it a home. Plants of all kinds lined the window sill (this attracted my attention because it reminded me of my mom who loved plants and always had the window sills full of different types). There were fresh apples on his side table and simple comfortable looking chairs for guests.

We had a good conversation. He does believe in G-d. Jacques only sees Yeshua as a founder of a religion like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob founded Judaism. Jacques does not recognize Yeshua as the Messiah (He does not know enough about Yeshua to know him as the Messiah)When asked how he would recognize the Messiah when he came, Jacques replied he did not know. He received a special edition of the New Testament and has allowed me to visit him again. Please pray for this man to go on to learn who the Messiah is.

Falasha Jew

While sitting in the ER waiting room last Friday night I had the privilege of meeting a Falasha Jew. This woman had such an understanding of the scriptures, quiet demeanor, and joy in knowing the Messiah of Israel. Truly, she made an admirable impression on me. The lady is on the nursing staff at the hospital. Without being forward she was able to explain ways to do the work easier and better to one of her coworkers.

Growing up , this lady's mother had taught her the prayers in Hebrew which she is still able to recite being well into adulthood, She was taught many things from the Tenach. ( You should have heard her tell names for Elohim that is in Hebrew) Later in coming to the United States she had joined a Messianic Synagogue. Her face radiated love and joy.

This lady reminds me of the scriptures in Isaiah. "Fear not; for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; I will say to the north , Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far and my daughters from the ends of the earth; Even every one that is called by my name for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him yea I have made him.

Today we see the Jews being brought back to Israel from all directions, all lands and all countries. It is thrilling to see G-d's word being fullfilled .

North Carolina

I have not lived here all my life and am still getting aclimated to the weather and the culture. After six years I am starting to enjoy the area. The weather is almost acceptable. This summer my toes actually warmed up and I perspired for some of the days. Now that it is cooling off again it is uncomfortable to me but not like in the past. When you read this post we will have been in the mountains of North Carolina to see the changing colors of the leaves. Oh, am I looking forward to seeing the beauty of G-d's handiwork displayed.

Now that we are back from the Blue Ridge Mountains and Franklin, NC I can say we were not disappointed and it was not what I was expecting. From the pictures you can see the lack of fall colors. We were a little late for that. What we did see was snow and ice on the Blue Ridge Parkway(which was so scenic.) The trip that should have taken 6 hours took us eleven hours and was so beautiful. Yes It would be fun to go again and try to see more autumn leaves, to explore all the little towns. There is so much to see and do in the mountains. Maybe there will be another opportunity to go again.

Power and Hurricane Irene

Hurricane Irene did very little damage in our area but did manage to take away our power. We had to sit in darkness for one and one-half days.

The power went out in mid morning, no lights, refrigerator, stove, washer, dryer, telephone, Internet, etc.

At first, a person does not really miss the power, One is able to live off the remnant of the power, refrigerator and freezer still cold, still have hot water in the water heater, enough light from windows to be able to see.

As the day starts to turn to night the lack of power becomes more noticeable until one is sitting in total darkness with no way of functioning properly. Still existing but no power.

Religion is like that. We don't notice the power being gone because of living off past supply. When we realize there is no power we institute laws, rules, and good works to take the place of the power of G-d and substitute religion for a personal relationship with G-d. Only through the shed, redemptive blood of Yeshua are we able to have true power from the G-d of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. There is power in the blood.