Sunday, September 11, 2016

Romans 8:28

Even before following Messiah in Covenant with YHWH, I knew this verse and repeated it to myself on many sad occasions through my young adult years.  Looking back now, I'm still not sure I understand all the insight of "work together for good" in some of those instances, other than to serve as reminders to never "go there again."  Some relatively recent comments have taken me back to 2012, and the number of times that year I repeated to myself, Romans 8:28.  The year 2012 stands out as one of the most difficult years, if not the most difficult, in my Covenant walk.

"Can We All Be Wrong?" was published in 2011 and it was exciting, but I also knew it would be a game changer.  My daughter, with whom I'd always had a very rocky relationship, responded so positively after reading my book, I got my hopes up for awhile, a short while . . . as it wasn't long until I was recognizing the usual serpentine twist to my words . . .  Although, it ultimately ended badly, the reality of the situation became crystal clear and the end was simply grieved and put in the past.  Much revelation knowledge came through that situation and within a short time, I could truly embrace and appreciate the fact that all the human plans had fallen empty.  YaH did not have to protect me from the situation of my own doings, but He did . . . and from what I hear, she is happier than she's ever been.  So, although it didn't turn out as I first hoped, another old saying has played over and over in my head as I've moved forward.  "Sometimes the only thing worse than not getting what you asked for, is getting exactly what you asked for."  But that was just one factor in what was a difficult year.

In my attempt to be self-sustaining I've been raising many of the basic needs, so thought I'd launch into a few specialty items, one of those being, red pepper sauce.  I went to a local nursery and bought a four pack of what was supposed to be tabasco pepper bedding plants.  As it turned out, they were red, but the shape didn't look like any tabasco pepper I've ever seen, but that didn't deter me from attempting my first jar of pepper sauce.  I placed a few in the blender with water, vinegar, and a dash of salt and hit the button.  When I removed the lid, my eyes immediately began to water.  There was no way this sauce would be good on chicken wings.  My son in law recognized the peppers and likes 3 or 4 in his chili.  As it turns out, I raised a bumper crop of habanero peppers.  In that same summer, we had a drought and a plague of grasshoppers.  I noticed there were no grasshoppers on the habanero plants, so the batch in the blender became a pesticide, and I began soaking several in grain alcohol to make an extract, planning to maintain my organic pesticide.

By then I really was feeling like Jonah, knowing the situation mentioned in the second paragraph that was taking place was not G-d's will for this place and my ministry.  This community game that we were all playing was not the plan, and I knew it, but I really didn't want to know it . . . Sadly it took a couple more calamities for me to face reality.

At the beginning of the summer, I broke my arm, then did so again and the end of the summer . . . The "pseudo community" had collapsed and dispersed, and I was alone finishing up chores, the second time I broke my arm.  it was obviously quite damaged in a number of places, so I gritted my teeth, straightened it as best I could and called the neighbor to help me wrap it.  The pain was pretty severe, so I began to contemplate some natural pain killers, besides straight alcohol, when Father led me to do a bit of research on spicy peppers.  Within an hour, I had a formula of essential oils with this wonderful pepper tincture, that I applied, every few hours.  The relief was amazing.

I'd started a company the end of 2011, but it had basically taken a back burner to the mayhem that ensued in 2012, and as I settled in to actually get the soap business rolling, it became clear it was to go beyond just soap and skin care systems.  The years of natural health study was going to be poured into this business and what was helping myself and my family, I would make available to others, via an internet store.  Now, nearly four years later, the product I shakily made for myself in the fall of 2012 (that is both definitions of "fall") has become one of the products in greatest demand.

If all that hadn't happened the way it did in 2012, I can't imagine how things would be.  The way it all happened, though, opened doors for me to minister to and help hundreds of people who are trying their best to stay out of, or get out of the system.  Although 2012 was a rough year, it really did work together for my good, and the good of many who have benefited and will benefit.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love G-d, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  Romans 8:28

Friday, January 1, 2016

Fears are Not Solutions

Recently, I heard an interesting sermon, based upon II Kings 7.  As Scripture proves, once again, there is nothing new under the sun.  Syria has been a problem to the people of YHWH for centuries upon centuries.  Several parallels to our current situation leapt off the page, as I read and listened.  I've read this passage many times.  Although Elisha was the prophet of that time, and of course his words did come to pass, it wasn't his words that caught my attention this time.  The words of the man who spoke against Elisha's prophecy hit with a thud in my spirit.

I'm guessing if Elisha posted the coming economic change, on social media; there'd have been plenty of folks jumping in to comment negatively on the thread.  So, it began with conviction and went from there . . .  Immediately, I took note of the fact the naysayer saw that which was prophesied come to pass, but he didn't get to enjoy the blessing as he was trampled to death.  Just a little something to ponder . . .  The death of the naysayer was gleaned the first time I read this passage, and it continues to stand as a reminder, we just might be guilty of the same thing if we're not careful.  

It was the lepers that stood out this time, and the fact that there were four.  The number four resonated with Messiah's parable about the soil.  These four men were facing "certain death," one way or another.  They were very obviously sick.  There was a famine.  There were Syrians.  Sadly, as they looked at their circumstances, they determined their best chance of survival was the Syrian camp.  It's even stated, if the Syrians allowed them to live, they would, but if not, they would be killed.  It seemed a quick death by the hands of the Syrians would be preferred to starvation or disease.   Adonai provided divine intervention of "noise" to cause the Syrians to flee in fear.

As I thought of the lepers and the fearful Syrians, I realized our country is divided very much in extreme illness and fear . . . even before adding the variable of Syrians.  Our nation is facing some very real enemies, as well as some imagined, but I believe the programming is the most dangerous.  Now, to breakdown the potential "answers" to our current threat, we need to realize it is our own government that is introducing some very frightening solutions . . .

First and foremost, Syria has been a problem for centuries and able bodied, healthy male Syrian refugees should be a red flag.  Sadly, after San Bernadino, at least one "vetted" woman has proven to be a problem as well.  She wasn't a Syrian refugee, but she was a follower of the "peaceful" religion of Islam, which I will address in the next paragraph.  She's proven problematic on two hands.  One, obviously the fact that she was a young woman changes the whole concept of "saving the women and children."  Second, the vetting procedure performed by our government to reassure us, is flawed, seriously flawed, or the vetting procedure isn't to intended to prevent what we the people think.

As for Islam, Americans have now been warned and labeled regarding negative comments about Islam.  I have no idea the percentage of radical extremists vs. peaceful Muslims there are, but I do know the government isn't calling negative comments about Christianity or Judaism; hate speech.  If mainstream Christianity follows their history, the majority will go with the flow, leaving just a remnant to embrace Torah and the true Feast Days of YHWH.  The remnant within Christianity will truly come to realize, the church has not replaced Israel, but has been invited into the same covenant, by the grace of our Creator through the blood of His Son.

A few reporters have actually blamed the Messianic Jewish victim for upsetting the guy who went on the rampage.  Obviously, if the Messianic Jew and Muslim had discussed their differences, the Messianic Jew had a completely different approach to resolution than the Muslim chose.  Nicholas Thalasinos was one of the victims of this massacre.  To even hint that his open discussion of his beliefs provoked this attack is on the same level as blaming the victim for being raped.  In America, it should be safe to be "pro-Israel" and openly free about one's religion without fear of death.
This isn't Nazi Germany . . .

Of course, the shootings have once again been used by the gun control advocates.  California has some of the strictest gun control laws in the country.  So, the good guys had no guns, and bad guys just don't care about the laws.  Let's not forget, there are also explosive jackets, suicide belts, and pipe bombs.  What's next on the control list?  Should we outlaw hoodies and plumbing?  Removing American's first two Amendment rights is not going to keep Americans safer, but it will be two giant steps toward captivity and containment . . . and we already lead the world in that, as it is.

The loudest argument to manage gun control is using the issue of mental health in this country, to better vet gun purchases.  Using mental health seems to be a back door approach to the same end:  the end of the Second Amendment.  In light of the latest DSM5-R, mental health labeling could be the most sweeping loss of freedom this country has ever seen.  Determining gun ownership based upon a subjective opinion is nothing more than "thought policing."  Who wants that?  Apparently, this is the latest political division that is actually bringing together both a part of the liberal base along side with "concerned" conservatives.  I've heard first hand, a supporter of the NRA say, they should determine who can own guns . . . Basically, the second amendment has become a political hot button issue and will continue to be, until those upholding full Bible beliefs and the Bill of Rights are outlaws.

Adonai YHWH which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.  A Prophet of Holy Scripture