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?
Tag: Peace
A Calm Mind and Heart
A calm and undisturbed mind and heart are the life and health of the body.
(Prov. 14: 30)
Mind and heart are connected through multiple pathways according to Dr. Dominique Surel: neurologically (Autonomic Nervous System), biochemically (Hormones), biophysically (pressure and sounds waves) and energetically (electromagnetic interactions). “The heart is the coordinator of the body’s functions, binding and synchronizing the system as a whole” (Dr. Dominique Surel). The heart, as a coordinator of symphony of functions of the body, can be compared to the conductor of an orchestra in coordinating the instruments to harmonize with each other.
The three functions of the mind comprise of thinking, feeling and wanting. it is the body’s faculty where reasoning and thoughts lodge. It is invisible; the mind resides in the physical organ of the body- the brain, which is also associated with the consciousness. The heart, however, as a visible organ, is a pump with its main function to pump blood to the lungs saturating it with oxygen then pumps it out into the blood the cells with oxygen. It is a pump of the circulatory system providing a continuous flow of blood throughout the body. The heart is the sustainer of life. But the heart has the invisible side when it connects with the mind. It is regarded to be the source of love and emotions according to poets, prophets, and philosophers. The Bible has much to say about the heart’s invisible functions. even the Lord YAHSHUA Himself attributed the heart as the source of emotion and belief in John 14:1, which reads: “Let not your heart be troubled, believe in God, believe also in me.”
A Book of Remembrance
Then those who feared the Lord talked often one to another; and the Lord listened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him of those who feared the lord and who thought on His name (Mal. 3: 16)
I remember when young while living in the orphanage in Brazil, I was given a book of remembrance where friends and acquaintances wrote beautiful thoughts of encouragement and what they thought of me. It registered sentiments that would later bring me memories of those days, although not all positive, but sifting them through in my mind, there were a few wonderful memories which I treasured. They bring me joy as I relive those days. It is to me a privilege to know that the Lord is aware and taking notice of the things we say that is pleasing to Him to the point of having them written in a special remembrance book.
Interruptions Are Life’s Stoplights
(Mark 5:22-34, 41-42)
One certain day one of the rulers of the Synagogue named Jairus, came to YAHSHUA prostrating himself at His feet begging Him to come and heal his daughter who was at the point of death. This leader was one of the board members of elders who governed the activities and oversaw the building and whatever else that pertained to do with the synagogue. They were lay leaders who did not get paid for services rendered. Jairus, in spite of his position, had to make a decision not acceptable by the Pharisees or the Scribes- the spiritual leaders of the country. Based on the testimony of many concerning YAHSHUA’S power to heal the sick, and possibly having witnessed it himself, he believed YAHSHUA could heal his daughter who was at the point of death. No doctors could turn her around and give her life. Jairus could be thrown out of the synagogue’s leadership position due to his decision, but his daughter’s health situation was of more value at that moment. He courageously went to see YAHSHUA humbly begging Him for his daughter’s healing. His heart was filled with hope when YAHSHUA decided to follow him to his house.
Go Into the Plain and I Will Talk to You There
(Ezekiel 3:22-27)
The Prophet Ezekiel was one of the prophets who received from YAHWEH difficult tasks to represent the spiritual conditions of the nation Israel. He grew up in the environment of the temple, having been born in the priestly family. Unlikely some prophets, he grew up knowing the things of God firsthand. He was only thirty years old when YAHWEH called Him while he was in the midst of idolatrous surroundings of Babylon. In chapter one of his book, he describes the vision given him. He starts by saying, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God (Ezekiel 1:1). After seeing the vision in its completeness, he was instructed in three things: to hear what YAHWEH was telling him; not to be like those rebellious people, and to eat the words given him. Meanwhile, the Lord warned him that the people were not going to listen to his message, for they were a rebellious nation. Ezekiel’s responsibility, however, was to warn them, listening or not, otherwise, he would be held responsible for the blood of that person. The instructions how to deliver YAHWEH’S message were difficult for one to follow. Ezekiel, however, had no complaint, except for one. He willingly did exactly what the Lord commanded Him. Arise, YAHWEH told him, go forth into the plain and I will talk with you there (Ezekiel 3:22b).
The Last Three Feasts Yet to Be Fulfilled (part 2) – The Feast of Tabernacles
The Feast of Tabernacles points to the future restoration of the Jewish nation. The meaning of the Feast of Tabernacle is of great importance in its fulfillment. According to A.E. Ware, the Lord YAHSHUA was born on the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles, which was on the 29th of October (The Restored Vision). One might doubt the date and disregard the point on that occasion, but YAHWEH established His feasts with a future in His mind. It was as if He was indirectly telling the world through Israel that those feasts were a shadow of what were to come in His prophetic plans for the world. They were not just ordinances to be observed, they were pictures of the true fulfillment embed in YAHWEH’S future. When YAHSHUA was born on the first day of this feast, Israel was unaware of the Light being shone that day through Him as the incarnate God. This was the most important feast of that year, signaling God’s faithfulness and love for all mankind. That feast would have been fulfilled completely if the Jewish nation had accepted YAHSHUA as their Messiah. However, they didn’t and therefore, the Feast of Tabernacle’s fulfillment was set for another time in history.
One Colt Among Many
(Matthew 21:1-11)
And when they came near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage at the Mount of Olives, YAHSHUA sent two disciples on ahead, saying to them, Go into the village that is opposite you, and at once you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to Me.
The day that that colt was born, one more page was turned forward on YAHWEH’S book. In the obscurity of His plan to His disciples and everyone else, even though the prophets of old had mentioned the things they were experiencing, their eyes were closed and their understanding was dull to the Light that was shining prophecies being fulfilled right before their eyes. Heaven however, was connected with YAHSHUA, and so were Moses and Elisha when they appeared to Him at the Mount of Transfiguration and discussed His exodus from earth in that year of A.D. 33. Five days before the Jews’ Passover our Lord makes a royal entry into Jerusalem in fulfillment of the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9: “Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, you King comes to you; He is just and having salvation, patient, meek lowly, and riding on a donkey, upon a colt, the foal of a donkey.”