My soul whirls in anguish
With hopeless thoughts
Of my mind
As the sun sets
For another day
Where is my God?
The world smiles
Indifferently goes on
As I agonize alone
The sorrow of my soul
In the loneness of my mind
Where is my God?
Two Shall Be One
For Your Dew O Lord Is a Dew Of Light
(Isaiah 26:19-21)
Life sustaining in that small sparkle of condensed water called dew is formed when the temperature is low and the atmospheric vapor is condensed. When we walk in the early mornings being greeted by those crystals like drops of water, with the sun barely shinning its light on it, making its sparkle more visible, we think nothing about it. But in reality, these little drops speak of life. It is life sustaining for the grass and plants, especially in dry climate, as in the desert.
Anxiously, the vegetation waits for them to fall over them in the dawn on the day to be refreshed, after a day of intense heat, for their roots depend on its water which slowly, slowly penetrates deeply enough to moist them, for it is the only source of water they have for sustenance, besides occasionally some rain. Its silence contrasting with the noise of the rain, is gentle; it nourishes the vegetation one drop at a time. If we could only take the time to learn the importance of little things as dew, we would appreciate God’s wisdom in His creation and His love toward us, in His care for us by providing means to sustain life through a small drop of water, called dew. The word dew is mentioned more than thirty times in the Bible, symbolizing blessings. Used poetically and symbolically, dew is light out of darkness, as it comes with the dawn of a new day. It speaks of bounty, as we see in Isaac’s blessings over Jacob: May God give you of the dew of heaven and of the fatness of the earth and plenty of grain and wine (Gen. 27:28).
YAHSHUA
YAHSHUA is the seed of eternal life that had to die in order for Him to see His spiritual offspring through the travail of His soul; He is the source of men’s eternal salvation and there is none other in heaven or earth that has been given the power to save. By one single offering He has forever completely cleansed and perfected those who are consecrated and made holy. Therefore, there is no longer any offering made to atone for sin; now with purified hearts and sprinkled from a guilty conscience, let’s seize and hold fast and retain without wavering the hope we cherish and confess our acknowledgement of it; for He Who promised is reliable and faithful to His word (Heb. 10). In His death, He carried our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses and distresses), He carried our sorrows and pains. His Father shone on Him our guilt and iniquity and considered Him the guilty one deserving of the cross in our instead. Yet we turned away from Him; we like sheep rejected His leading and followed our own way. But He took all upon Himself as if He deserved, in submission without a word coming from His mouth; just like a lamb led to the slaughter. He was taken away by oppression and unjustly judged; He was cut off out the land of the living, He was stricken to His death- yes for the transgressions of us all. He was assigned with the wicked, as if He were one of them, although He was innocent and pure of all sins; He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth (Isaiah 53). How can we escape the eternal punishment, if we continue rejecting Him? The Word of God says, If we go on deliberately and willing sinning after once acquiring the knowledge of the Truth, there is no longer any sacrifice left to atone for sins; [there is nothing left for us then] but a kind of awful and fearful prospect and expectation of divine judgment and the fury of burning wrath and indignation which will consume those who put themselves in opposition [to God] (Heb. 10: 26, 27). The love of our YAHWEH extends to all men, apart from race and color. His love is unconditional and infinite; it is available at all times with opportunities for all to receive His Son. However, opportunity we have only now. Tomorrow it might not be available.
God’s Perfect Plan of Salvation
After the fall of men God’s plan of salvation surfaced when He told Adam and Eve that His Son was going to strike the head of the serpent (Gen. 3:15). What does this mean to us? It means victory over Satan and over death, when YAHSHUA took upon Himself our sins and carried them to the cross and there God disarmed the principalities and power that were ranged against us and made a bold display and public example of them, in triumphing over them in Him and in it (the cross) (Col. 2:15). We read in 1 Peter 1:1 the involvement of the trinity in the plan of men’s salvation in its several aspects: God the Father chose and foreknew us; the HOLY SPIRIT consecrated and sanctified us for obedience to YAHSHUA; and YAHSHUA sprinkled us with His blood. The meaning of His blood being sprinkled on us is the process of cleansing us from our sins followed by sanctification by the Holy Spirit. Glorification is the next step of the process at the consummation of our salvation. This proves that God is three in One taking individual part in our salvation. It is a beautiful picture of God’s harmonious and perfect salvation.
When They Got Into the Boat
(Matthew 14)
The death of John the Baptist, lead YAHSHUA to withdraw to a solitary place by Himself. It was a time of reflection; a time alone with the Father, not because He did not know John’s future, but to consider His position in the world without his forerunner, who openly declared that him to be the Messiah. The timing for all to happen was perfect, as His ministry reached out with healings to all who needed them; not only physical healing, but also spiritual. It was a busy time for YAHSHUA and His disciples. The news about Him had reached far into Israel, as well into other countries at the time of John’s death. It was a solemn hour for Him, nevertheless, enough to want to spend a time alone. YAHSHUA must have spent the entire night praying, as it was His custom to do. The crowds came in the morning and stayed with Him all day until the day was over. He satisfied them all with healings and with food in a miraculous way. They counted about 5,000 men without the women and children. That was the perfect timing, indeed for Him to manifest Himself as the Messiah through the supernatural happenings that only He as the Son of God could do. When the crowds heard where He had gone, they followed Him on foot. That in itself confirmed the importance of His ministry. He looked at the crowds with His heart and He was full of compassion. He saw the matter of the hearts of those who were there anxiously waiting for their healing.
When YAHSHUA Saw It, He Was Indignant
(Mark 10: 13-16)
What was the reason for YAHSHUA’S indignation at that time? Why did He get so upset? What was so important to Him? It was against the disciples who were prohibiting the parents from bringing their children to be blessed by Him. It was in defense of the children’s right to be blessed, as it was the Jewish custom. We read in Mark ten that “they kept bringing young children to Him (YAHSHUA) that He might touch them (but) the disciples were reproving them [for it]. Although YAHSHUA was surrounded by so many people, by so much noise, even those interruptions did not keep Him from noticing the disciples’ reaction against the children’s coming to Him to be blessed. And when He saw what was happening, He took a stand against such behavior and said, Allow the children to come to Me – do not forbid or prevent or hinder them- for such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive and accept and welcome the kingdom of God like a little child positively does not enter it at all; and taking them [one by one] in His arms He invoked a blessing, placing His hands upon them(Mark 10:14-16). When YAHSHUA stood to defend the children, He valued them with the standard which an adult must take in order to enter the kingdom of God. The example of a child’s humbleness is essential for a person to receive salvation.
No Weapon Formed Against You Shall Prosper
It is well known about weapons in the spiritual realm ready to be used against the believer. It is a reality we must realize every time we are struck by temptations. The armor of God is given us to put on and keep it on, for we are not wrestling with flesh and blood, but against the powers against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly sphere (Ephesians 6:12). That’s the only way we will be able to resist and stand our ground on the evil days. Wicked forces are real; and they are under the control of Satan. These are fallen angels called demons. Peter warns us to be well balanced, be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of ours the devil, roams around like a lion roaring, seeking someone to seize upon and devour. Withstand him; be firm in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are appointed to our brotherhood throughout the world (I Peter 5:8-9). We can resist the weapon formed against us by prayer. Prayer is a very important part of God’s armor to fight Satan’s weapon coming against us. Praying at all times in the Spirit with all prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (Ephesians 6:18). Praying constantly in the language of the Spirit, imploring God with enduring faith and persistence, with intercession for those of the God’s family, until our prayers reach the throne of our Lord.
Hanna, A Woman of Faith
A virtuous woman who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls (Proverbs 31).
Hanna was one of the wives of Elkanah from Ephraim; Peninnah, the other wife, had children, but Hanna was childless. This weighted heavily in her heart. Every year they would go up to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord at Shiloh. Hanna deeply in her sorrow would go pray to the Lord for a child. She made a vow to the Lord saying, Lord of Hosts if You will take notice of Your servant’s affliction, remember and not forget me, and give Your servant a son, I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and his hair will never be cut (I Sam. 1). So it was that the Lord heard her prayer and she became the mother of Samuel. As she vowed to the Lord, she gave him back to Him and Samuel grew in the temple serving the Lord all his life. He became a prophet and judge in Israel; the Lord let none of his words fall to the ground; and all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord (I Sa.3:19-21).
Signs of the Times
Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away; for, behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land; the fig tree puts forth and ripens her green figs and the vines are in blossom and give forth their fragrance; The time of the singing has come! (Song of Solomon 2:10-13)
Light from the Word 