irritability challenge, pt 1

Faith Tabernacle December 18,  2012

SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by MARSHA BURNS:   Many of you, My people, are experiencing an almost unexplained sense of irritation with people around you.  Beloved, this is something in you that has come up so that you can deal with the root of your irritability.  Do not blame others for your reactions.  Look squarely at the cause in yourself that creates this haughty response.  It is an ungodly attitude that needs to be adjusted, says the Lord.  I will give you wisdom and help you overcome.    Romans 12:21 Don't be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------     Look squarely at the cause in yourself that creates this haughty response. Blogging inspiration comes in many shapes and sizes! I read this email approximately ten minutes prior to typing these words. I admit my irritability, and I accept this internal reflection challenge. To be continued. :)

happy Sabbath

2 Peter 1:5-9

 

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

worship in spirit and truth

Yesterday was so much better! I started my electronic day with the the Berean: Daily Verse and Comment newsletter.

John 4:23,24
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and truth.

"In the current war over Christmas and religious symbols, Satan has pitted the secular humanists, who want to blot out Christianity and encourage almost any other form of worship, against mainstream Christians, who are fighting for the right to worship as they see fit by putting evergreen trees in schools per Jeremiah 10:2-5. Atheists and agnostics arrayed against Christmas-bent "Christians"--for whom do we root?

The truth of the matter is that Satan is the real winner regardless of the outcome." -David C. Grabbe

I felt more empowered to be in the world right now. It makes me spiritually visualize the waters of the Red Sea parted. Waters is usually a metaphor for people, and it feels like walking between two ginormous groups of opposing people. I wore a shirt I bought several years ago. I got it 75% off after that particular christmas season. :)

 

 

Wrinkled and messy. Isn't that how I usually am on this walk with YHWH?

 

I picked this shirt because I had recently added the backside scripture.

(Yes, I did it with a red sharpie, and the first wash turned it pink, adding more personality!)

I helped with a fundraiser involving a booth at "candy cane lane." My burdened spirit wanted to witness in peace, so I added this. I wore my sword so to speak.

 

I had seen, read, and shared the front's verses, but today, I SAW it again.

 

John 4:23

The LORD was speaking to me! Even if I felt heavy, uncomfortable, and not confident, He reminded me there was purpose in this new pain.

 

You see, I'm used to causing the pain I go through. Maybe not directly, but I know my decisions have hurt me many times.

 

It seemed so easy, answering the call, "Don't worship me like that. Worship as my Word asks you to."

 

My christian upbringing taught me all about spirit and a little about truth. Truth is most difficult at times... to understand, to accept, to find, to convey.

 

 

 

 

sitting next to a vain tree

I didn't have words earlier. mostly feelings, indescribable.

I clicked over to blogger multiple times today, opened a new/blank post, and typed a mere sentence to only delete after rereading ten times.

I didn't want to force it, so I went throughout the rest of my day. I visited my mom. She lives down the block, so I walked the 8 houses between us. Today was her 2nd at home since her heart attack and double bypass surgery.

We haven't seen eye to eye on my changing beliefs. She didn't have her tree up till today. My children were mesmerized.

I sit in pain. This isn't easy. Its painful to admit that I like all the things God is asking me to forsake and turn away from. I try to be sensitive to my mom now. I won't celebrate, but I sit next to the tree. An incredibly intense yuck, dark oppression filled my guts.

Seeking His voice in this time. Praying for healing, patience, and grace.

My September Clean

My september clean was only the beginning of bittersweet sorrows and joys.

September. I moved my family to the streets of my childhood. Many life preparations taking place, I began unpacking and sorting christmas items. I knew I would have to face it. The emotional and spiritual battle would wage till information processing began, deciding what step followed God's voice.

Isaiah 44:18,19
They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand. And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals therof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abominations? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?

It was easy to throw away the trees. Some of the decor was vain, meaningless. Then I found my children's ornaments... and those of my childhood, my birth year.

Jeremiah 7:18
The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.

I cried. And prayed. Then, following Him, I threw most things in the trash.

Jeremiah 7:23
But this thing I commanded them, saying, 'Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the was that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.'

I kept some of the lights. I want them for my backyard summer adventures this next year.
I kept a Hallmark glass manger scene. Simple. Mary, Joseph, and baby Yeshua (Jesus). I've kept it out as decor since I ravaged the decorations box. I also kept a couple differing items. Its 3 months later, and I still have yet to decide the others' future.

This is my first year to reject and expose the "christianized" winter solstice celebrations. Its been heart breaking. I knew it would be tough after my first Passover celebration. Actually, I had completed my first year of celebrating YHWH's feasts. There was much joy, and I know for sure I did not do it perfectly. Actually, I stumbled through it like a beginning standard transmission driver.

Leviticus 23:2
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, "Concerning the feasts of (the LORD) YHWH, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts."

Its writing day 2. I want to convey my conviction the most. I am a very messy sinner. I always have been. I'm that typical worldly christian that happens to know more verses than most. I do not say that with pride, but even in the midst of my filth, God always had His Word on my tongue when it was needed for love, mercy, and understanding. To Abba be the glory forever and ever.

Psalm 119:120
My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgements.

Let me get real with you. I smoke cigarettes, cuss, gossip, fornicate, rage, and am not soberly minded all the time. Filthy and rotten, and the watered down christianity I've grown up with didn't do much to change that. I was saved at 15, and 15 years later, I have more conviction about pleasing YHWH through His appointed times and Torah than I ever did about any of the sins I listed above.

Jeremiah 8:7
Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the LORD.

It made so much sense to me. If I couldn't follow Him in the celebrations and removing of idols and idolatry, then how could I ever quit smoking cigarettes. I'm not saying it wasn't possible. I have gone through several non smoking seasons, relying on Him. But I wasn't conscious to all the idols I bent my knees to.  

The best metaphor I've heard concerning this is plumbing. Yeshua, Jesus describes the living waters flowing down upon us. If idols, idolatry, disobedience are the grime clogging the pipes, then I can still receive blessing, grace, mercy, healing, but its a dripping stream instead of a powerful flow.

John 7:37, 38
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture had said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

I smile when I think of where YHWH has brought me today. My mom hurt me upon every pagan celebration. I know she hurts because she sees my rejection of these celebrations as a rejection of her and our heritage. Although I try to maintain boldness, its hard claiming the victory over idolatry and warning those in my life... but back to why I smile.

Matthew 10:34-36
Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to "set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law, and a man's foes shall be they of his own household."

As I transferred to my new town, I offered free counseling services to my home church. I didn't have a paying job but still wanted to follow God in where He was leading. I am now the head nursery attendant with a staff salary. I still offer free counseling, but this was a great way for me to continue to fellowship but observe a Saturday Sabbath. I know a day encroaches involving me and my pastor conversing about biblical understanding. I'm not afraid.

Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

I try to convey my walk with grace and love. I hope I can continue to gather my notes and thoughts here. I've been away a few months, studying and seeking. I reread this composition with anxiety as I do not want to seem prideful or all knowing. I seek and share in humility.

Deuteronomy 30:11-20

vs.14 But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth and in they heart, that thou mayest do it.

I've missed the blogs of the ladies and gentlemen this environment lead me to. I hope to visit more and lift you up in prayer. If there are any special requests, please share them. As for me and my family, I ask prayer for my mom's heart health, my grandparent's overall health, my sister for peace and banishment of her anxieties and fears. I ask for strength and wisdom in parenting my daughter. She is turning into quite the preteen.

Peace and blessings, friend. <3

the cities

     And the cities had four judges to four cities, and these were their names: Serak , Sharkad , Zabnac, and Menon. Eliezer the servant applied to them different names, and he converted Serak to Shakra, Sharkad to Shakrura, Zebnac to Kezobim, and Menon to Matzlodin.

     The cities' four judges told the people to erect beds in the streets of the cities, and if a man came to these places, they seized him, brought him to one of their beds, and by force made him lie in them. As he lay down, three men would stand at his head and three at his feet, and they would measure him by the length of the bed. If the man was less than the bed, the six men would stretch him at each end, and when he cried out to them, they would not answer him or stop. If the man was longer than the bed, they would draw together the two sides of the bed at each end til the man was close to death, and if he continued to cry out to them, they would answer him and say, "This must be done to any man that comes into our land."

     When men heard about these things the people of the cities did, they refrained from going there.

     When a poor man came to their land, they would give him silver and gold, but give an order throughout the whole city not to give him a morsel of bread to eat. If the stranger should remain there some days and die from hunger, not having been able to obtain a morsel of bread, then at his death, all the people of the city would come and reclaim their silver and gold they had given him. Those that could recognize the silver or gold they had given him took it back, and they also stripped him of his garments. They would fight about them, and he that prevailed over his neighbor took them.

     After that, they would carry him to the desert and bury him under some of the shrubs; so, they did this to any one that came to them and died in their land.

     After a while, Eliezer was sent to the cities to find his master's nephew and inquire after his welfare. When he went to the cities, he met a countryman fighting with a stranger, and the man of the cities stripped the poor man of all his clothes and went away. This poor man cried to Eliezer and found favor with him because of what the man of the cities had done to him. He said to the countryman, "Why did you act like this to the poor man who came to your land?"

     And the man of the cities answered, "Is this man your brother, or have the people of the cities made you a judge today, that you're allowed to speak for this man?"

     Eliezer argued with the man on behalf of the poor man, and when Eliezer approached to recover the poor man's clothes from the countryman, he quickly threw a stone and hit Eliezer in the forehead. The blood flowed copiously from Eliezer's forehead, and when the man saw the blood, he grabbed Eliezer, saying, "Pay me a service fee for having rid you of this bad blood from you forehead, for this is the custom and the law in our land."

     Eliezer said to him, "You have wounded me and require me to pay you a fee?" Eliezer would not hearken to the words of the man of cities, so the man captured Eliezer and brought him to Shakra, the man's city for judgment. The man spoke to the judge, "I beseech you my lord, this man is unwilling to pay my fee for hitting him with a stone and releasing the bad blood from his forehead."

     And the judge said to Eliezer, "This man speaks truth to you. Pay him his fee because this is the custom and the law in our land." Eliezer heard the words of the judge, and he lifted up a stone and hit  the judge on his forehead. The blood flowed copiously from the forehead of the judge, and Eliezer said, "If this then is the custom in your land, give this man what I should have given him. This has been your decision, and you did decree it." Eliezer left the man of the cities with the judge, and he went away from the cities.

     Another poor man came into the city to seek help, and he remained in the city some days. All the people of the city communicated their custom not to give this man a morsel of bread to eat. They talked about upholding the custom until the day he dropped dead. A woman of the city, Paltith, saw this man lying in the streets starved with hunger. No one would give him anything to sustain him, and he was upon the point of death. Her heart was filled with pity for the poor man; she fed him secretly with bread for many days, and the soul of this man was revived. When she went to fetch water, she would hide the bread in the water pitcher. She would visit the place the poor man was and give him  the bread to eat; she did this many days.

     All the people of the cities wondered how this man could bear starvation for so many days. They spoke among themselves, saying, "No man can bear starvation for so many days or live as this man has; therefore, he has to be drinking water and eating food," so three men concealed themselves in a place where the poor man was located to discover who was brining him bread to eat.

     Paltith went that day to fetch water, and she put bread into her pitcher. She went to draw water by the poor man's place. She took out the bread from the pitcher and gave it to the poor man, and he ate it. The three men saw what Paltith did for the poor man, and they said to her, "It is you who has supported him; therefore, he has not starved, nor changed in appearance nor died like the rest." Then, the three men came out of hiding and seized Paltith and the bread from the poor man's hand. They brought Paltith before their judges and told them what she had done for the poor man. They demanded, "Declare to us the punishment due to this woman for having transgressed our law."

     The people of the cities assembled and kindled a fire in the street, and they took the woman and threw her into the fire where she was burned to ashes.

     And in the city of Admah, another woman was also put to death, because a traveler came into this city to stay there during the night with the intention of going home in the morning, and he sat opposite the door of the house of the young woman's father. The young woman saw him sitting by the door of the house. He asked her for a drink of water, and she said to him, "Who are you?"

     He said to her, "I've been traveling on the road and reached here when the sun set, so I will stay here through the night, and in the morning, I will arise early and continue my journey."

     The young woman went into the house and fetched the man bread and water to eat and drink. This woman's actions became known to the people of Admah, and they assembled and brought the young woman before the judges, that they should judge her for this act. The judge said, "The judgment of death is awarded to this woman because she transgressed our law, and this is the decision concerning her actions.

     The people of those cities brought out the young woman and covered her with honey from head to foot, as the judge had decreed, and they placed her before the bee swarm's hive. The bees flew upon her and stung her, causing her whole body to swell. The young woman cried out because of the bees' stings, but no one took notice of her or pitied her, and her cries ascended to heaven. The Lord was provoked at this and at all the works of the cities, because they had an abundance of food and peace amongst them but would not sustain the poor and the needy.

                                                                                          -The Book of Jasher, Chp 19, concerning
                                                                                                           Sodom and Gomorrah

To the seven churches write:

Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;  I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

⁸ And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.


 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate. Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

¹⁸ And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.
 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Revelation 3

And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.  Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. 

And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with the eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.