"It's Gonna Be Worth It All"

Backwards and Forwards

The King is Coming

Earth, bow, low

Inhabitants seek shelter –

Its depths or heights

Village and hamlet

You will see

Melech comes here

His Splendor and Brilliance

A White Horse, He Rides

His outstretched scepter

And crimson banner

Melech Y’Shua .  .  . See

King, Coming in Splendor and Majesty

Whose Breath earth stills

And falls silent

Ungodliness ceases

He reigns, Hallelujah

Reverberates

Earth, rocks, and grass

Sing Him Praises

The Olive Mountains twain

Perpetual living waters flow

Regard, the Lord has kept covenant

Rescued His People

Redeemed the earth from bondage

Bondage from the Earth

Redeemed !

His People Rescued!

Covenant Kept!

Has the Lord regard?

Flow waters

Living, perpetual

Twain splits the mountain

Praise Him

Sing, grass and rocks

Earth reverberates

Hallelujah reigns

He ceases ungodliness

Silent falls and stills earth

At Breath, whose majesty and splendor

In coming King,

See,

Y’Shua, Melech

Banner Crimson

Scepter out-stretched

Rides He,

Horse White

A  Brilliance

and splendor

here comes Melech

See will you?

Hamlet and Village

Heights or depths

Its shelter seek

Low, bow, earth

Coming is Melech

Oy Vey: The Lesson of Joy

Most of us have heard the acronym J-O-Y: Jesus first, Others Second, and You, last.  I have recently had my own applecart overturned.  I generally placed Jesus first, served others without always really letting them into my heart, and quickly running to the Y part of the acronym. Jesus has been pushing me 'out of the nest,' so to speak- asking me to really engage with people, despite their track records.  While attempting to do that, I have found that Jesus got shoved to the side as I tried to make sense out of the O and Y. When you put the two together, you get the great Yiddish word, Oy as in Oy Vey! Translation: "Oh, My Gosh! That's what happens when you take the "J" for Jesus out of Joy. You are simply left with Oy Vey!

I have spent the last week listening to teachings on joy from the book of Philippians.  I have wondered how I can serve the people. It is only through God's strength that I can serve others. As I am in God's presence, I am enabled and empowered to serve: "Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our LORD: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10).  God enables me to give to those who cannot give back to me and all the while without being angry. In the natural, we would think these people are simply moochers or leeches.

If I look at my 'watch,' I might think that too much time has passed and why aren't there greater changes in the Body of Christ. I have recently realized that it is more about timing than time. Paul's joy is based on his right relationship and the presence of God in believers: "More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation" (Romans 5:11). He realizes that they are a 'work in progress,' and so must I; otherwise, I will lose my joy in being frustrated over what I see as too little change in too much time.

For months, I have sought reconciliation with a dear friend, so I understand Paul's desire to be reconciled with other believers. When there is a break in relationship, there is a sapping of power and joy. My prayer is that all believers "be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified [us] to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins" (Colossians 1:11-14). When I remain cognizant of my position and the position of every believer as purchased by grace, I can extend mercy to myself and others.

"Y"- Only when I center on God, do I really understand me, for it is God who "make[s] known to me the path of life; in [His] presence there is fullness of joy; at [His] right hand are pleasures forevermore" (Psalm 16:11). I know who I am and what my purpose is- to love and serve Jesus and others. It is nothing for God if we act badly when mistreated; however, if I can respond with love and joy, it truly is a testimony- a living epistle to others around me.

Lord, help me to see people through your eyes; to esteem others higher than myself and do nothing out of selfish ambition.  As I esteem Christ in others, I am free to enjoy others and allow God to use me and give me purpose. As I rest in God’s hands and allow others to rest in God’s hands, I remain in joy.

Joyfully Yours,

M. J.

How to Be A Man: The Lesson of Boaz

Men want to leave a legacy:  Not just sons or grandsons who have their names -but men of power and grace of whom they can be proud. David, the grandson, of Boaz was such a man.  David, this son of Obed led his nephews to be leaders of mighty men:  "In still another battle, which took place at Gath, there was a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He also was descended from Rapha. When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimea, David’s brother, killed him " (1 Chronicles 20:6-7).

David is described as a man after God’s heart. What happened that Obed,his father, did not recognize God’s call on David's life. He was raised at least partly by Naomi. That may answer some of the questions, but Obed did something right because David knew his God. But let's start at the beginning with the first honorable man in this story: Boaz.

Who taught Boaz how to be a man? How to honor a woman’s reputation?  How to care for the widow? How to manage his servants with grace and kindness? To be a man who keeps his word? His reputation proceeds him as a promise-keeper;  community members recognize and characterize him as diligent, straight-forward, and even shrewd when necessary. Gentle and generous. Wise and careful.   Boaz, this man of standing (Ruth 2:1) causes Naomi to proclaim, "The Lord bless him!” Naomi declares of Boaz, “He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead” (Ruth 2:20). She adds, “That man is our close relative; he is one of our kinsman-redeemers” (Ruth 2:21). 

A true leader is one who commands respect in the gate, in whose speech lies no duplicity- a godly man who fears the Lord: "Meanwhile Boaz went up to the town gate and sat there. Boaz took ten of the elders of the town and said, “Sit here,” and they did so. Then he said to the kinsman-redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our brother Elimelech. I thought I should bring the matter to your attention and suggest that you buy it in the presence of these seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, do so. But if you will not, tell me, so I will know" (Ruth 4:1).

“I will redeem it,” replies the closest kinsman. Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the land from Naomi and from Ruth the Moabitess, you acquire the dead man’s widow, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property.” At this, the kinsman-redeemer said, “Then I cannot redeem it because I might endanger my own estate. You redeem it yourself. I cannot do it.” (Ruth 4;,3-6).

The other male relative sought his own gain. If marrying Ruth would devalue or threaten his inheritance, he had no interest in helping the widow.  Yet, Boaz acted as the kinsman redeemer: "So the kinsman-redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it yourself.” And he removed his sandal.Then Boaz announced to the elders and all the people, “Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelech, Kilion and Mahlon. I have also acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property, so that his name will not disappear from among his family or from the town records. Today you are witnesses!” (Ruth 4:8-11).When Boaz took off his shoe, he began to walk in Elmilech’s shoes – to fulfill responsibilities to Naomi and Malchon’s widow.

Today, we are God's witnesses that Y'Shua redeemed you from our desperate situation and gave you a new inheritance. Because you are now a member of Christ's family, you can leave behind generational curses and limitations and embrace Christ's future for you. God knows the plans He has for you, plans to bless you and prosper you, and not to harm you, to give you a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11,13).

 

Here's to your new future,

M.J.

What happens in Vegas . . .

When people spout the adage,"What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas," what they are saying is that their sin will not find them out and there are not consequences. But this is a lie straight from the devil's heart.  Sin has consequences: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:23).

What is done in Las Vegas is supposed to stay there. But what happens when it doesn’t? Sin can never stay contained. What is done by an individual affects the corporate body.  A scourge of  recent murder and suicides have left children orphaned and people deeply scarred. These tragedies have left people questioning how could something like that happen. Pretty simple. Someone looked the other way. Someone did not speak out.

 Thank God, the community women did not let  Naomi ‘off the hook.’ Her ungrateful attitude after Ruth’s faithful service was not palpable to them. Her ungratefulness and murmuring needed to be addressed. And so they did so, blessing her at the same time. They emphatically state that  Ruth is the best thing Naomi got- better than seven sons: "The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth” (Ruth 4:14-15).

I have a question: "do we have the moral integrity to confront the sin we see in others?  More importantly, do we have the chutzpah to confront sin in ourselves (see the blog entitled “Confession Anyone”)? Someone will pay for our individual sins.  Ultimately, Y’Shua paid that price on the cross (I Peter 2:21-25); however, that does not nullify the effects of our actions. We can not make sinners our heroes; we can not make of our sins some tribute. It is sin and its consequences are painful- to our children and their children’s children. Every wound and dysfunction we pass on devalues and constricts the lives of those we profess to love: "He committed the same sins as his father before him, and he was not faithful to the LORD his God, as his ancestor David had been" (1 Kings 15:3).  Yet, God promises, "But suppose this son has a son who sees all the sins his father commits, and though he sees them, he does not do such things" (Ezekiel 18:14).  Let's not be deceived by sin's allurement. Thank God that "The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever" (Isaiah 32:7). Let us leave a godly inheritance for our children and their children.

May we walk out of sin through confession and accountability,
M. J. - A fellow penitent

The Lord of the Harvest

Men’s roles and women’s role: In the context of the story of Ruth, the women arose and spoke into Naomi’s life and blessed Ruth as well. The men sat at the gate for they judged and maintained order. The men had a role as essential as the women.The women surround each other; for instance, they helped Ruth a first–time mother in the birthing process (Ruth 4).  Both parts, male and female, are necessary for good government and community. When the strictures of society are out-of-place or simply do not exist, we have the dissolution of family and community.

The Proverbs 31 woman makes her husband strong in the gate. She does him good and not evil, all the days of his life.  Still, men need to observe other men to learn how to act. Developing as a man for a traditional Jewish male included the meeting in the gate, the traditional praying as a minyan or quorum of ten, and the study of God's word together. Allowing young men to observe and experience civic duties and study of the Torah in the synagogues and yeshivas were intrinsic aspects of the male maturation process. Bar mitzvah was the cumulative exam of what the traditional Jewish youth had learned. How would you like being considered an adult, morally responsible for your choices by the age of 13, yikes?

Men normally look at their wage-earning abilities as the definer of who they are. Men look  to be providers, but ultimately, God is the Provider: "Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest" (Jeremiah 5:24).

It is Adonai who causes the earth to put forth sprouts and grow. Therefore, Boaz must rely on God to cause the barley harvest  to grow.  A man or a job is not ultimately our provision. Ultimately, we rely on God as our provision. Boaz relies on God, and Ruth relies on God's provision through Boaz. Ruth 2:8-9 states, "Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens: Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn."  Adonai is Jehovah-Jireh- the Lord our Provider. Our trust as women and men should be solely in Him- whether dealing with relationships, finances, or whatever we face.

This trust issue came to a head for me when I visited Israel. I had limited finances, but I decided that I would trust God. I did not carry a credit card. But, God placed in the heart of people, unknown to me prior, a willingness  to give me shelter and invite me into their homes. I would go into a bakery and leave with more than I actually purchased.  Irealized that God's favor is worth more than any money.
In these trying financial times, we can rest in the fact that nothing is too hard for God. He meets
all our needs; He knows we are no longer in Moab, and we have thrown caution to the wind and are foolish enough to trust Him. God has promised, "While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease" (Genesis 8:22).

May we trust the Lord of the Harvest,
M.J.

Bitter and Foolish

It's interesting how one person can bring healing and another wounding where they go. Sinkholes of pain mark their every step, and they do not seem to notice or care. They are marah or bitter. You remember 'marah'- it was the name Naomi asked to be called upon her return to Bethelehem.  Her countenance and bearing were so different that the townswomen questioned if it were really Naomi at all: "So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem. When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them, and the women exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?”  (Ruth 1:20)

You might think the cause of the drastic transformation was merely the shifting of seasons, but what if her countenance was changed by grief and bitterness or anger and disappointment with God? Naomi complains, “Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty  has made my life very bitter.  I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted^[me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me” (Ruth 1:20).

I  understand Naomi;I have been embittered with what God has allowed to pass through my life at times; haven't we all? I learned last week that the word marah can also mean to disobey. When we continue in disobedience and disbelief, we become hard brittle people and embitter the lives of those around us. One of the worst things that can be said of us is that it was better when we left- and it actually be true.

Let's jump ahead three generations and continue our story. Abigail, whose name means 'gift of the father' was married to a churlish, evil man named Nabal (I Samuel 25:3). This man looked successsful on the outside, but inside his wickedness was a cesspool of vanity, selfishness, and stupidity.

Nabal- his name literally means fool (v.26). He endangered his life and those of his household when he refused to honor King David's request for food afer David and his men had protected Nabal's shephereds while in the field. Because Nabal was a wicked man even his servants feared bringing him a request. Instead, they asked Abigail to bring the issue before their master. Maybe, that's why we don't confront our Nabals- we fear their tongue-lashing or isolation: "One of the servants told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, “David sent messengers from the wilderness to give our master his greetings, but he hurled insults at them. Yet, these men were very good to us. Night and day they were a wall around us the whole time we were herding our sheep near them. Now think it over and see what you can do, because disaster is hanging over our master and his whole household. He is such a wicked man that no one can talk to him” (I Samuel 25:15-18).

We all have nabals or foolish people in our lives, those who refuse God's anointing, who can't be thankul for God's gift through us. In the end, Abigail, 'the gift of the father' was given to one would appreciate her- David -after her foolish husband died. Together, they gave birth to a king, Rehoboam. Despite circumstances, we can remain pleasant (naomi) and know that like Abigail, 'the gift of the Father,' will end in the hands of those who can appreciate it. Meditate on the psalm below and let it calm your ravaged heart. Your times and days are in the Father's hands. Let God take care of Nabal as He did with David. Don't get distracted by evil men's behavior and thus lose your position with the Father. Remain steadfast and do good in the land.

 

1Surely God is good to Israel,

to those who are pure in heart.

2But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;

I had nearly lost my foothold.

3For I envied the arrogant

when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4They have no struggles;

their bodies are healthy and strong.^a

5They are free from the burdens common to man;

they are not plagued by human ills.

6Therefore pride is their necklace;

they clothe themselves with violence.

7From their callous hearts comes iniquity^b;

the evil conceits of their minds know no limits.

8They scoff, and speak with malice;

in their arrogance they threaten oppression.

9Their mouths lay claim to heaven,

and their tongues take possession of the earth.

10Therefore their people turn to them

and drink up waters in abundance.^c

11They say, “How can God know?

Does the Most High have knowledge?”

12This is what the wicked are like—

always carefree, they increase in wealth.

13Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure;

in vain have I washed my hands in innocence.

14All day long I have been plagued;

I have been punished every morning.

15If I had said, “I will speak thus,”

I would have betrayed your children.

16When I tried to understand all this,

it was oppressive to me

17till I entered the sanctuary of God;

then I understood their final destiny.

18Surely you place them on slippery ground;

you cast them down to ruin.

19How suddenly are they destroyed,

completely swept away by terrors!

20As a dream when one awakes,

so when you arise, O Lord,

you will despise them as fantasies.

21When my heart was grieved

and my spirit embittered,

22I was senseless and ignorant;

I was a brute beast before you.

23Yet I am always with you;

you hold me by my right hand.

24You guide me with your counsel,

and afterward you will take me into glory.

25Whom have I in heaven but you?

And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

26My flesh and my heart may fail,

but God is the strength of my heart

and my portion forever.

27Those who are far from you will perish;

you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.

28But as for me, it is good to be near God.

I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge
I will tell all of your mighty deeds. (Psalm 73)

May God make an end to every nabal in your life,
M.J.