Do You Know the Sign?

29 Tuesday Nov 2011

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I received an interesting email from Worthy News.  George Whitten put together an excellent devotional on the letter tav.  Enjoy!

Blessings,

Pastor

…………………………………..

 

Ezekiel 9:4-6 and the Lord said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark (Tav in Hebrew) on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.”  To the others He said in my hearing, “Go after him through the city and kill; do not let your eye spare, nor have any pity.  Utterly slay old and young men, maidens and little children and women; but do not come near anyone on whom is the mark (Tav in Hebrew); and begin at My sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were before the temple.
Yesterday, we began identifying the ancient Hebrew alphabet and exploring the potential symbolic meanings of its letters. The last letter, “Tav”, as we saw, strongly resembles a cross. Today, we’re going to look at how “Tav” is spelled in ancient Hebrew. The phonetic spelling of “Tav” is  Tav (T)-Vav (V).  Now the ancient letter, “Vav” strongly resembled a commonly used tent-peg, and then, later, a common nail. So the spelling of “Tav” contains a cross and a nail.

 

The Ancient Word Tav is illustrated to the left, which is also the spelling of the Hebrew Letter Tav translated as mark in Ezekiel 9:4,6. The Vav is the image to the left of the cross which means in Ancient Hebrew a nail or a wooden peg. To the right of the Vav is the image of the cross, which was the way the Hebrew Letter Tav was originally written. If you cannot view the image to the left, please visit Worthy Devotions.

This word in Hebrew is translated, “mark“, in the verses above; so, this ancient Hebrew “mark” that was on the foreheads of righteous men who grieved over abominations in the Lord’s house, was identified by a word containing a cross and a nail. Interesting…since the prophet is told to pass over all those that have that mark, beginning at the Lord’s sanctuary, we have an Old Testament picture of the protection of the Lord’s cross, expressed by ancient Hebrew letters. Perhaps this is just another way in which the Lord has expressed His sovereignty, weaving His revelation into the entire fabric of His Word, revealing the protection of the cross in both the Old and New Testaments.
       Another interesting aspect of this verse is the location where the Lord’s judgment begins: the Lord’s sanctuary. 1 Peter 4:17 states that, “it is time for judgment to begin with the house of God.” I understand this to mean that those who are most accountable, who stand, as it were, closest to place where God dwells, will come under His judgment first. For us who believe, this judgment will be purification, possibly through suffering, as Peter suggests. For the wicked, who are increasingly distant from God, His judgment means eternal condemnation.

       The Lord is returning for a bride who is prepared to meet Him. She will be pure and spotless, made white by His cross and purified through her submission to His careful preparation. Illustrated by the letter “Tav” in ancient Hebrew, her identifying mark will be that very cross.

Are you prepared as a bride should be for her husband? Your sorrow and weeping over the abominations in our Lord’s world, and even in His body, confirm the mark which is upon you. Wear the sign with honor — glorying in it, and carry your cross faithfully to the end, protected from the eternal judgment which awaits all men at His coming.
Your family in the Lord with much agape love,
          George, Baht Rivka, Elianna & Obadiah

Do People See Jesus In You?

27 Sunday Nov 2011

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       I was watching the news this week and saw all the crowds trampling on each other, spraying peeper spray and yelling at each other on Black Friday.  It was a tough week.  It reminded me of a story of how believers need to not respond in kind but exhibt love.

Blessings,

Pastor 

 

The story is told about a good citizen who was being tailgated by a stressed-out woman on a busy street. Suddenly, the light at the intersection just in front of them turned yellow. The good citizen did the right thing by stopping at the crosswalk – even though he could have beaten the red light by gunning it through the intersection.

        The tailgating woman hit the roof – and her horn. She was screaming in frustration because she had missed her chance to get through the intersection. As she was still in mid-rant – alternately pounding the steering wheel and gesturing to the fellow in front of her – she heard a tap on her window and looked up into the face of a very serious police officer.

        The officer ordered her to exit her car with her hands up. He put handcuffs on her. He took her to the police station, where she was searched, fingerprinted, photographed, and placed in a holding cell. After a couple of hours, a police captain approached the cell and opened the door.

      The woman was escorted back to the booking desk where the arresting officer was waiting with her personal effects.

       He said, “I’m very sorry for my mistake. You see, I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn, flipping off the guy in front of you, and cursing a blue streak. Then I noticed the ‘Choose Life’ license plate holder, the ‘What Would Jesus Do?’ bumper sticker, the ‘Follow Me to Sunday School’ bumper sticker, and the chrome-plated Christian fish emblem on the trunk. Naturally, I assumed you had stolen the car.”

Ouch!

Ten Inspirational Faith and Life Quotes

26 Saturday Nov 2011

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I thought I would pass along some quotes to help you recover from the Thanksgiving Holiday.

Pastor

…. If you like these quotes you also might like these other posts on “faith”

http://wp.me/p1GmG0-6o

http://wp.me/p1GmG0-dR

https://eisakouo.wordpress.com/2012/03/24/journey-of-faith-picture-quotes/

 

Blessings,

Pastor

Being a Blessing!

24 Thursday Nov 2011

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      I received this story via email and thought I would pass it along to you this Thanksgiving.  Have a blessed Thanksgiving Day and weekend. 

Pastor

 

      One day, when I was a freshman in high school, I saw a kid from my class was walking home from school. His name was Kyle. It looked like he was carrying all of his books. 

      I thought to myself, ‘Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday? He must really be a nerd.’ 

      I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friends tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on. 

      As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him. They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt. His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him… 

      He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes . My heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him as he crawled around looking for his glasses, and I saw a tear in his eye. 

       As I handed him his glasses, I said, ‘Those guys are jerks. They really should get lives.’ ‘ He looked at me and said, ‘Hey thanks!’ There was a big smile on his face. It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude. 

      I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived. As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before.

     He said he had gone to private school before now. 

     I would have never hung out with a private school kid before. We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his books. 

      He turned out to be a pretty cool kid. I asked him if he wanted to play a little football with my friends . He said yes. We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him, and my friends thought the same of him. 

      Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again. I stopped him and said, ‘Boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday! ‘ He just laughed and handed me half the books.’ 

      The next four years, Kyle and I became best friends. When we were seniors we began to think about college.  Kyle decided on Georgetown and I was going to Duke. I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never Be a problem. He was going to be a doctor and I was going for business on a football scholarship. Kyle was valedictorian of our class. I teased him all the time about being a nerd. 

      He had to prepare a speech for graduation. I was so glad it wasn’t me having to get up there and speak . Graduation day, I saw Kyle. He looked great. He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school. 

      He filled out and actually looked good in glasses. He had more dates than I had and all the girls loved him. Boy, sometimes I was jealous!

      Today was one of those days. I could see that he was nervous about his speech. So, I smacked him on the back and said, ‘Hey, big guy, you’ll be great!’ 

      He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled….’ Thanks,’ he said. 

     

      As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began … 

      ‘Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years. Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach…but mostly your friends…. 

      I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them. I am going to tell you a story.’ I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the first day we met. 

     He had planned to kill himself over the weekend. He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn’t have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home. He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile. 

     ‘Thankfully, I was saved. My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable.’ 

      I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment. 

      I saw his Mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile. Not until that moment did I realize it’s depth. 

     Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one small gesture you can change a person’s life. For better or for worse.

      God puts us all in each others lives to impact one another in some way. Look for God in others.

 

Fortune Cookie Wisdom

19 Saturday Nov 2011

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I don’t put much stock in the “fortunes” of fortune cookies, but here are a few gems to make you smile. 

Blessings,

Pastor

 

…………………………………….

 

Tennessee Farm Kid in Marine Corps Recruit Training

18 Friday Nov 2011

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It’s Friday!  I thought I would share a letter from a Tennessee farm kid recently stationed at Marine Corp Training Base.  We grow ’em big and strong here. 

Blessings,

Pastor

…………………………………..

 

 

Dear Ma and Pa,

 

I am well. Hope you are. Tell Brother Walt and Brother Elmer the Marine Corps beats working for old man Minch by a mile. Tell them to join up quick before all of the places are filled.

 

I was restless at first because you got to stay in bed till nearly 6 a.m. But I am getting so I like to sleep late. Tell Walt and Elmer all you do before breakfast is smooth your cot, and shine some things. No hogs to slop, feed to pitch, mash to mix, wood to split, fire to lay. Practically nothing.

 

Men got to shave but it is not so bad, there’s warm water. Breakfast is strong on trimmings like fruit juice, cereal, eggs, bacon, etc., but kind of weak on chops, potatoes, ham, steak, fried eggplant, pie and other regular food, but tell Walt and Elmer you can always sit by the two city boys that live on coffee. Their food, plus yours, holds you until noon when you get fed again. It’s no wonder these city boys can’t walk much.

 

We go on ‘route marches,’ which the platoon sergeant says are long walks to harden us. If he thinks so, it’s not my place to tell him different. A ‘route march’ is about as far as to our mailbox at home. Then the city guys get sore feet and we all ride back in trucks.

 

The sergeant is like a school teacher. He nags a lot. The Captain is like the school board. Majors and Colonels just ride around and frown. They don’t bother you none.

 

This next will kill Walt and Elmer with laughing. I keep getting medals for shooting. I don’t know why. The bulls-eye is near as big as a chipmunk head and don’t move, and it ain’t shooting at you like the Higgett boys at home. All you got to do is lie there all comfortable and hit it. You don’t even load your own cartridges. They come in boxes.

 

Then we have what they call hand-to-hand combat training. You get to wrestle with them city boys. I have to be real careful though, they break real easy. It ain’t like fighting with that ole bull at home. I’m about the best they got in this except for that Tug Jordan from over in Silver Lake. I only beat him once. He joined up the same time as me, but I’m only 5’6″ and 130 pounds and he’s 6’8″ and near 300 pounds dry.

 

Be sure to tell Walt and Elmer to hurry and join before other fellers get onto this setup and come stampeding in.

 

 

Your loving daughter,

 

Alice

 

 

The Others

17 Thursday Nov 2011

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“Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment.  They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.”  Hebrews 11:35b -40

 

We like to tell the stories about the great men and women of faith who in the last-minute were delivered by God from their fiery ordeal.  It makes for good copy and good sermons.  But what shall we say about “the others.”  We don’t like to hear the rest of the story when it comes to the men and women who died before receiving their promise.  These others cause us to cringe and wonder if we could remain so faithful in the midst of the same hardships and difficulties.  The transition that we see here is important, not all men and women of faith experience miraculous deliverances. The scriptures are faithful to remind us of this point.

What distinguishes the people in the first half of Hebrews 11 from the people in the last half of the text? In some cases, nothing. In some cases, the same people are listed in both halves of the text. They saw wonderful victories and at other times they endured seeming defeat.  These “others” had faith, but God did not see fit to deal with them in the same way he dealt with those who had experienced victories.

      Let me make this point again…these unknown men and women of faith were not delivered from difficult circumstances, yet God honors their faith. In fact, it takes more faith to endure than it does to accept an escape.

 

      These believers are like the three Hebrew young men of Daniel 3 who, when threatened with death by fire, exclaimed in verses 16-18, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.  If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.  But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

Verse 37 reminds us that one of the hardships of faith is knowing some “were slain with the sword.” Although Elijah escaped the vengeance of Jezebel, other prophets of the same period were slain (1 Kings 19:10).  Jeremiah’s life was delivered from Jehoiakim the king, but his fellow prophet Uriah was slain by the sword and his body cast into a common grave (Jer. 26:33).

This truth is emphasized in the New Testament as well. In the time of the Apostles, Herod Agrippa killed James with the sword but Peter escaped (Acts 12:1-11).

        It is better for the believer to believe and prepare for both deliverance and hardship.  In fact, it is better to plan for hardship and receive deliverance than to plan for deliverance and receive hardship.  This seems to be the approach of the great men and women of faith. 

 

 

In spite of the fact that the world held these men and women of faith in low esteem,  this was not the estimation of God. God said of them, “of whom the world was not worthy” (v.38).

It is said they did not accept deliverance that “they might obtain a better resurrection.” (v.35).  How can the death of a martyr be a “better resurrection?” Better than what?

The resurrection that martyrs aspired to was a resurrection to eternal life. This “better resurrection” is the hope of all who die in Christ (1 Thess. 4:16).

John Piper says,

“The common feature of the faith that escapes suffering and the faith that endures suffering is this, both of them involve believing that God himself is better than what life can give you now, and is better than what death can take from you later. When you have it all, faith says that God is better, and when you lose it all, faith says that God is better.  What does faith believe in the moment of torture? That if God loved me, he would get out this? No. Faith believes that there is a kind of resurrection for believer’s which is better than the miracle of escape. It’s better than the kind of resurrection experienced by the widow’s son, who returned to life to die again later.”

A modern example of one who had this kind of faith was a man named Dietrich Bonhoeffer.  He left his prestigious position as a professor at the University of Berlin to join the ranks of those who stood against Hitler and the Nazis within the German church. The professor of systematic theology said that Bonhoeffer was foolish saying, “It is a great pity that our best hope in the faculty is being wasted on the church struggle.” God chose for Bonhoeffer the same route as that of the saints in the second half of Hebrews 11. He was arrested and imprisoned. He was eventually hung in the Flossenburg Concentration Camp. His body was tossed aside into a pile of corpses and burned. His death came only two days before the Americans liberated the Flossenburg Camp. As he faced the fury of the Third Reich, Bonhoeffer said, “The ultimate responsible question is not how can I heroically make the best of a bad situation, but rather how the coming generation can be enabled to live.”

When I review the great men and women of faith, I am reminded that service to God is a privilege and honor.  It is not that you “have to serve” the Lord, but you are “given the privilege and opportunity” to stand with the men and women of faith who faithfully serve the Lord in both good and bad circumstances.  The only question is will you choose to stand with “the others” and count it as a priviledge and honor to serve the Lord it all circumstances?

Blessings,

Pastor

“Now Faith Is…”

16 Wednesday Nov 2011

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Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence (conviction) of things not seen.  Hebrews 11:1

People have always struggled in trying to define faith.  Now I am not talking about trying to manipulate God into moving favorably in our lives.  I am also not talking about making a “blind leap in the dark.”  People who believe this is a good description of faith miss the central truth of faith’s meaning.  Hebrews 11 reminds us, “Now faith is!”

True faith is confident obedience to God’s word in spite of circumstances or consequences. Faith is described in a two-fold way.  It is the “substance of things hoped for,” and “the evidence of things not seen.”

The word translated “substance” (hupostasis) in the Greek, means literally ‘to stand under or to support.’ Faith is the foundation that gives the believer the confidence to stand. The verse could be translated “faith is the confidence of things hoped for.”

This is illustrated in the life of the missionary Hudson Taylor. “When Hudson Taylor, the famous missionary, first went to China, it was in a sailing vessel. Very close to the shore of cannibal islands the ship was caught in a calm. It was slowly drifting toward the shore …and the savages were eagerly anticipating a feast.

The captain came to Mr. Taylor and sought him to pray for the help of God. ‘I will,’ said Taylor, ‘provided you set your sails to catch the breeze.’ The Captain declined to make himself a laughing-stock by unfurling the sails in a dead calm. Taylor said, ‘I will not undertake to pray for the vessel unless you will prepare the sails.’ And it was done. While engaged in prayer, there was a knock at the door of his stateroom. “Who is there?” The captain’s voice responded, ‘Are your still praying for wind?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Well,’ said the captain, ‘you better stop praying for we have more wind than we can manage.’”

Here is a great example of faith being present in a person’s life.  When a need came to Hudson Taylor’s attention, he was willing to pray about it.  First, he wanted the captain to exhibit a little faith himself in the Lord’s provision.  He was the man in charge of the vessel.

How many of us have asked people to help pray for our own personal needs at times?  Did we believe in those moments God was really going to answer right away?  We should always set our sails to catch the wind of heaven’s actions.  Why?  Because the Bible plainly states that “Faith Is!”

Blessings,

Pastor

Inspirational Corrie ten Boom Quotes

14 Monday Nov 2011

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“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”
― Corrie ten Boom

 

“Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength.”
 ― Corrie ten Boom

 

“Hold everything in your hands lightly, otherwise it hurts when God pries your fingers open.”
― Corrie ten Boom

 

“This is what the past is for! Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our lives is the perfect preparation for the future that only He can see.”
― Corrie ten Boom, The Hiding Place

 

“If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. If you look at God you’ll be at rest.”
― Corrie ten Boom

 

 

“Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart.”
― Corrie ten Boom

 

“What wings are to a bird, and sails to a ship, so is prayer to the soul. ”
― Corrie ten Boom

 

“Any concern too small to be turned into a prayer is too small to be made into a burden.”
― Corrie ten Boom

 

“Some knowledge is too heavy…you cannot bear it…your Father will carry it until you are able.”
― Corrie ten Boom, The Hiding Place

 

 

“It is not my ability, but my response to God’s ability, that counts.”
― Corrie ten Boom

 

“Happiness isn’t something that depends on our surroundings…It’s something we make inside ourselves.”
― Corrie ten Boom

 

“You can never learn that Christ is all you need, until Christ is all you have.”
 ― Corrie ten Boom

 

 

“Don’t bother to give God instructions; just report for duty.”
― Corrie ten Boom

 

“There is no panic in Heaven! God has no problems, only plans.”
― Corrie ten Boom

 

“When we are powerless to do a thing, it is a great joy that we can come and step inside the ability of Jesus”
― Corrie ten Boom

 

 

“There is no pit so deep, that God’s love is not deeper still.”
― Corrie ten Boom

 

 

“…..joy runs deeper than despair.”
― Corrie ten Boom

 

“Love is larger than the walls which shut it in.”
― Corrie ten Boom, The Hiding Place

 

“Faith is like radar that sees through the fog — the reality of things at a distance that the human eye cannot see.”
― Corrie ten Boom

 

“When I try, I fail.
When I trust,
He succeeds.”
― Corrie ten Boom

 

“There are no ‘ifs’ in God’s Kingdom. His timing is perfect. His will is our hiding place. Lord Jesus, keep me in Your will! Don’t let me go mad by poking about outside it.”
― Corrie ten Boom, The Hiding Place

 

 

A Remnant Is Rising In The Land!

13 Sunday Nov 2011

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This is a repost from an email I received.  I pass it along for those of you who are praying, watching and preparing for the next move of the Lord.  This word is from Dr. Robert Stearns the executive director of Eagles’ Wings. 

Blessings,

Pastor. 

 

…………………………………………

 

Dear Friends,
I was in Israel on Yom Kippur, preparing to enter the Holy Days of the Biblical calendar, when I felt the Lord impressing this word on my heart… I pray it is an encouragement to you.

Dr. Robert  Stearns

 

 

A Remnant is Rising in the Land.

Unseen, unrecognized, they know Whose they are and have died to this present world’s ambitions. They want nothing of a consumer Christianity, where God exists for their earthly pleasure. They have caught a whiff of Heaven’s fragrant food, and just the smell has satisfied them more than the sweetest delicacies of this passing age, and motivates them to remember that they are just passing through.

 

A Remnant is Rising in the Land.

They will not be bought or sold with position or money. They are remembering why they “got into this” in the first place – for the Lamb. For Jesus Christ’s honor, for the sake of His worthy name. Their backbones are being steeled in the furnace of affliction, and purified of contemporary dross. They are old-school, hard-core Jesus freaks, and they are not apologizing for it. The remnant is not ashamed!

 

A Remnant is Rising in the Land.

They are blood-bought,and fiercely committed to the Word – the Logos and the Rhema.
Something within them stirs because they know they are here on a kairos assignment. They realize that they may have forgotten that for a moment, been diverted off the path for some years, but like soldiers who remember drills from long ago, they are coming to attention and position and awareness.
They are here on purpose. They are necessary to Heaven’s narrative. They are not bystanders. They are the players on the stage of His-story.

 

A Remnant is Rising in the Land.

This army is realizing they never should have eaten Babylon’s food in the first place, even if it was served in halls decorated to look like a cheap imitation of Zion. They would rather be pilgrims than settle. They would rather be fools for Christ than wise in the world’s eyes. They would rather be known in Heaven and feared in Hell than recognized on earth.
Whatever happens to them in the world really doesn’t matter. They have locked gazes with the Lamb’s eyes, and locked step with the cadence of Heaven’s march.
His remnant understand that this is the Final Act and there is no turning back now.

 

A Remnant is Rising in the Land.

They are nowhere to be seen and everywhere to be found. There are very few of them chosen, and a great host of them who will emerge.
It’s going to be very, very intense, for the sword they carry is stained with the blood of their lesser desires and their crucified carnality. They’ve had their battles, faced their own personal Valleys of Decision, and made their choice.
I have Decided. To Follow Jesus. No Turning Back. We have decided. Have you decided?
Ready or not, here they come.