The Sweet Aroma of the Ruach

Two days ago I was walking around the track during lunch, and was thinking about how I had forgotten to put on deoderant that morning, and was starting to smell a little!  About that time, a coworker was coming from the other direction on the track.  When I got about 10 feet from her, I could smell a nice floral fragrance.  I made a mental note as I passed by that I should start wearing my perfumed body spray, and then maybe I could smell like that all the time!  Then it dawned on me, that having the Ruach HaKodesh, or Holy Spirit, within us, is like having a sweet aroma surrounding us.  Not only that, it is like hearing someone's gentle, familiar voice, before you even see them approach.  It's like seeing someone from afar off, with a smile on their face, and a look of recognition.  It's like feeling someone's body heat as you stand next to them.  In a spiritual "sense," we can radiate His presence to those around us.  We can also experience His presence as we fellowship with others. 
If we bathe regularly, and use soap, we will smell and look nice.  Likewise, if we get washed spiritually, we will shine like a new penny, eminating His presence like a sweet aroma.
If His words are sweet to our taste, sweeter than honey to our mouths, then the aroma of His words from the kitchen should make our mouths water....

Tisha B'Av

It's Tisha B'Av once again.  This time the nation of Israel faces pressure and persection from all sides.  Let's let the people of Israel know that they have not lost their best friend, America. 

Visit http://www.sherlockballyministries.com/ to learn how you can support Israel's maintaining it's sovereignty by influencing the national votes of Carribean nations in the UN.

Heavenly Blood is Crystal Clear

My son asked a profound question the other day.  We were riding along the road, and he said, "Mommy, are the raindrops G-d's blood?"  Immediately I said "No, sweetie," as I chuckled to myself.  But the more I thought about it, the more I realized he was on to something.  Yeshua is our fountain of living water.  Moses hit the rock and water gushed forth.  The life is in the blood.  When He was pierced, blood and water flowed.  The water and the blood testify.  It also helps me to understand why Yeshua, at the Last Supper, said to drink his blood.  His heavenly blood is the living water that gives eternal life!!  And his blood in the heavenly realm cleanses us from all sin!
John 19:34
Leviticus 17:11
1 John 5:8

Spiritual Dehydration

What happens when you fast?  You not only get hungry, but your mouth gets dry if you're not drinking water.  If you went several days without water, you would get dehydrated, and eventually could die.  Well, it is the same with our spiritual lives.  We need to drink the "living water."  Be "filled to overflowing" with the Spirit of G-d!!

"...but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst.  Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:14

Yom HaShoah

What I learned about the Holocaust growing up was very minimal information.  Then, our 10th grade World History teacher, bless him, showed our class a video about the events of the Holocaust, with graphic details.  I remember thinking, "That happened in THIS century????"  I had previously thought that it had taken place in the ancient past.  Not that it changed how horrible it was.  It was just that I was baffled that something so horrific could happen in our modern society.  It goes to show that some things never change.  Anti-Semitism is one of them.
Anti-Semitism, just like all forms of hatred, can be overt or subtle.  While the Holocaust is just one example from history of the overt kind, the subtle variety exists all over.  Even saying the "Old" Testament is akin to saying, "Wow, your clothes are outdated!"  This kind of thing may not be apparent to many people.  It certainly wasn't to me for too many years of my life.  But now I want to be educated in sensitivity, so that I can show love to the very people who are our physical link to Messiah himself.  I want to learn what it means to be Jewish, because it is through this exercise that I can more closely connect with my beloved Yeshua (Jesus).
Am Yisrael Chai!!
(Long live the people of Israel!!)

"Everything Works Together for the Good"

The other day I was in the van, and was looking for my cell phone charger.  As I sat in the driver's seat, I searched everywhere within arm's reach several times over, with no luck.  I went through the drive thru at one of my fav restaurants, and as I was putting the change in my wallet, it slipped out of my hand, and fell in between the space between my door and the driver's seat.  In the process, the contents spilled out in a pile.  Great....  So I pulled over in the parking lot, got out, and picked up all of the stuff, and stuffed it back in my wallet.  Just then, I noticed a cord and lighter plug sticking out from behind the seat.  Oh, it must be my charger!!  What a neat way to end up a little accident here-by finding my charger.  I thought, "Thank You, L-rd.  And what a nice drash this could be about You letting us have trouble so that we can find nuggets of wisdom in life." 
But alas, it turned out to be the small dustbuster vac that I keep behind the seat.  Oh well, since I was already stopped and out of my seat, I decided to go around to the side door, climb in, and do a search and seizure for my car charger!!  As I was digging through junk, I found several items that I had been looking for!   Then, finally, under partially-tipped storage containers, laden with snacks, maps (I'm anti-GPS at the moment lol), beauty supplies, and writing utensils, laid my phone charger, pretty as you please!  Now I was in business.  But I was bummed about my earlier idea for a drash, b/c my adventure didn't really turn out the way I thought it would.  But then I realized that I was learning patience (and not to mention organization).  While the end result was that I DID find my charger, I also found some other things I had been missing, tangible and intangible.  Thank You, L-rd, for all things. 

"...in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Messiah Yeshua (Jesus)."
1 Thessalonians 5:18. 

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."
Romans 8:28.

"Everything Works Together for the Good" song

Parable of the Lost Coin  - She's looking for a coin belonging in her marriage garment.  I have heard a teaching that Christianity is searching for its lost coin - the Sabbath, as one of the ten commandments, in preparation for the bridegroom's coming.  Cool, huh?

Simcha (Joy)

A song of love to my Simcha (Joy)-which is the L-rd, the maker of heaven and earth!

What is it that truly makes me happy? Who can shine some sunlight on my face? Where can I go to get away from it all? When will I be in that special place?

Why is it so hard to read the paper? And see the headlines covering the page? How can I know true joy in the midst of it all? Will You help me out of this cage?

Simcha, Your joy fills my heart and floods my life... Oh Simcha...You're my joy, my all, you save me from this strife.
Simcha, Oh Simcha, You know I need You more and more each day.

Where can I go to catch a rainbow? And save it for another rainy day? How can I live to see tomorrow? There's so much toil, and very little play.

Who can bring a sparkle to my memory? Why can't I sit and dream of You all day? Is it just a tale, a song, a story? Or do you really love to hear me say....

Simcha, Your joy fills my heart and floods my life... Oh Simcha...You're my joy, my all, you save me from this strife.
Simcha, Oh Simcha, You know I need You more and more each day.

Simcha, Your joy fills my heart and floods my life... Oh Simcha...You're my joy, my all, you save me from this strife.
Simcha, Oh Simcha, You know I need You more and more each day.

Oh rescue me, take me to where you are, and breathe on me, wrap me up in Your heart....

Instrumental.......

Will you stay with me for now and always? Can I cry some tears before You here? Will You dry them from my face and hold me close? With You, dear L-rd, what do I have to fear?
　
Simcha, Your joy fills my heart and floods my life... Oh Simcha...You're my joy, my all, you save me from this strife.
Simcha, Oh Simcha, You know I need You more and more each day.

Simcha, Your joy fills my heart and floods my life... Oh Simcha...You're my joy, my all, you save me from this strife.
Simcha, Oh Simcha, You know I need You more and more each day.

Oh Simcha..........................
　
　

Little By Little

Little by little an hour, little by little a day, little by little you reach your goal, or let it slip away.

Long Live the People of Israel!!

Happy Purim!! Gnosh some hamantashen!! I'm going to make mine this weekend, when I'll have more time. Read the book of Esther, it's a wonderful drama about how GOD saved the Jewish people from destruction. He has promised that as long as creation remains, Israel as a people will be here. Am Yisrael Chai!!

Jeremiah 31:35-36
New International Version (NIV)

... 35 This is what the LORD says,

he who appoints the sun
to shine by day,
who decrees the moon and stars
to shine by night,
who stirs up the sea
so that its waves roar—
the LORD Almighty is his name:
36 “Only if these decrees vanish from my sight,”
declares the LORD,
“will Israel ever cease
being a nation before me.”

Sneeze a Smile on Me - No Hand Sanitizer Needed =D

I watched a video this weekend in a class I'm taking.  The video was about how the happiness of one person is contagious, much like a cold or other virus.  One person's happiness can affect countless numbers of people in the interconnected web of relationships, acquaintances, and friends.  The video was from a purely scientific point of view, but I can see how the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) uses us to bless the lives of others, and uses them to bless our lives.  His Spirit permeates and moves through our interpersonal relationships when we allow Him to be part of our lives.  He can use anyone and anything to touch us.  I am thankful for the myriad of people that have blessed me in some way.  May I be able to share the happiness I've received with someone who needs it, every day of my life.

Use Your Noodle!!

Sometimes I feel like I'm as unstructured as a noodle.  I have difficulty in the area of promptness, routine, predictability.  I am fairly organized, but I am also very spontaneous, with a creative spark (my Mom called it a "wild imagination").  I have trouble fitting into boxes, and I ooze all over the lines.  I have no trouble "thinking outside the box," but have trouble staying in the box!! 
Today as I was driving along early in the morning, and was very tired, I had the thought, "I am just NOT a morning person."  I know people who wake up and start the day bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, ready to go.  Then, in the early evening hours, those same people have trouble keeping their eyes open.  I feel like the opposite:  even when I am awake in the morning, I am still sluggush and slow-thinking.  If I have to sit for awhile in the morning, I fall asleep!  So I have to walk around to keep myself awake.  By late morning, I am fully awake.  Late afternoon is my peak awakeness time, my best productivity.  At any rate, as I was driving along, I decided to get something to eat at a fast-food restaurant.  The restaurant had not started cooking the items I wanted, it was too early in the day.  I was dismayed!  How dare they not get up even earlier than I did this morning, go to work, and cook me my favorite food, so that when I just happened to arrive today, it would be ready for me!  Then I realized how paradoxical that was for me to even think that.  If it was too early for me, could it simply be too early for them?  Then I realized how much like a noodle I am, unstructured and floppy.  Suddenly, I realized that I should be thinking positive thoughts about myself, instead of negative ones.  Alas, a noodle "uncooked" has plenty of structure!!  I just have to find a way to not let myself get too overcooked!  Because a noodle cooked al dente has just the right amount of firmness.  Not to crunchy, not too soggy.  Perhaps that object lesson could help me in "real life."  If I am more mindful of the pot on the stove, and not let myself get distracted, I will notice when the noodles are done, and not let them get too squooshy.  In life, if I put effort and concentration on the tasks at hand, and not get distracted by things that don't matter in the long run, perhaps I will be more successful in "coloring inside the lines."  May the L-rd above empower me by His Spirit to be held together and structured. 

 

1 Corinthians 15:58 (NASB)

⁵⁸ Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

Colossians 1:17 (ESV)

And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Be Mine ♥

The L-rd is my Light and my Salvation. Whom shall I fear? The L-rd is the Strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?
The L-rd stays near to me, even when I don't feel near to Him. He shows me that He loves me, in so many ways. I'm thankful for His presence, which is here at all times. He never leaves me, nor forsakes me. He gives me strength, wisdom, joy, and the words to say at just the right time. He lifts me up. He is ever-faithful!! The more I talk about Him, the more excited I get, because I know His love for me is never-ending! And it is perfect!! His love never fails. He never gives up on me. He is always by my side.

Wanna know why I think the L-rd has so many different names in the Bible? Because He is personal. To everyone, He is their personal friend. So all the prophets and Bible heroes had their pet names for G-d, like "The L-rd is my healer," "The L-rd is my banner," "The L-rd is my salvation" (Yeshua), "The L-rd is my G-d." So G-d is so intimate and personal in His relationship to us, that we can call Him by a sweet name that we want to for Him. I'm not going to tell you my name for Him, because that is a secret! Just between me and Him, ya know? LOL Come up with your own name for

G-d, for He is YOURS.

 

We Are Indebted to Everyone

Ever think about how much has been done for us, and how much we owe other people?  Even if we gave everything we had away, and gave the rest of our lives up helping other people, I'm convinced we would never be able to pay back the kindness, measure for measure, that has been shown to us over the course of our lives.
From the stranger who smiles at us as we pass by, to the person holding the door for us, to the driver letting us in a lane when traffic is bumper-to-bumper.  Our parents, feeding & clothing us, reading books to us, taking us to school and home again.  That special teacher, who saw potential in us.  The person who cleaned up our mess, or who suffered in silence for something we inadvertantly did.  The person who greeted us when we got on the bus.  The people whose blood, sweat, and tears helped build our towns, churches, libraries, hospitals, and roadways.  The person who told the worker in the restaurant that the paper towels were out in the bathroom, so that we would have something to dry our hands on.  The friend who gave us a ride when our car was being worked on.  The neighbor who put our trash cans back next to the house when the trash had been picked up (Thank you, Mr. Bill!!).  The songwriter whose song touched our hearts over, & over, & over......  And the GOD who made all this possible, who is working in and through it all.
Matthew 25:40 -

Gratitude

Today I saw several people that I had not seen in years.  Most of them had heard about my back surgery, and asked how I was doing.  They said I looked like I was doing well.  And I am!!  Wow, it's hard to even remember what it was like for me before my surgery.  I feel so far removed from that now. 
A friend and I were discussing how it's easy to take things for granted, until we lose them.  I told her I could identify, because before my back problem got so bad, I would complain about doing certain things.  Then, when I was no longer able to do them because of my debility, suddenly I longed to do those same things.  I guess what it boils down to is, being thankful in every circumstance.  1 Thessalonians 3:18 - "In everything give thanks."

The Day for Trees

Today is Israel's tree-planting day, Tu B'Shvat!
http://www.hazon.org/healthy-sustainable-tu-bshvat-resources-2012-edition/

Since I can't physically plant a tree in Israel, today I will just eat some veggies, breathe some oxygen, give off some carbon dioxide, and perhaps help to plant a spiritual mustard seed in someone's life, that will have the potential of growing into a giant tree of faith in the G-d of Israel!!  (Matthew 17:20, 1 Corinthians 3:6-7)

"He grew the tree, that He knew would be.................."

Be Careful of Thoughts

"Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks."
Luke 6:45
Matthew 12:34

Cool verses.  Our thoughts DO influence our actions.  So be careful what you think!  We can control our thoughts with a little practice, and some help from above.

Oh Be Careful
(To the tune of "If You're Happy & You Know It")

"Oh be careful, little eyes, what you see,
Oh be careful, little eyes, what you see!
For the Father up above
Is looking down in love,
Oh be careful, little eyes, what you see.

Oh be careful, little ears, what you hear,
Oh be careful, little ears, what you hear!
For the Father up above
Is looking down in love
Oh be careful, little ears, what you hear.

Oh be careful, little minds, what you think,
Oh be careful, little minds, what you think!
For the Father up above
Is looking down in love
Oh be careful, little minds, what you think.

Oh be careful, little tongues, what you say,
Oh be careful, little tongues, what you say!
For the Father up above
Is looking down in love
Oh be careful, little tongues, what you say.

Oh be careful, little feet, where you go,
Oh be careful, little feet, where you go!
For the Father up above
Is looking down in love
Oh be careful, little feet, where you go.

Oh be careful, little hearts, whom you trust,
Oh be careful, little hearts, whom you trust!
For the Father up above
Is looking down in love
Oh be careful, little hearts, whom you trust."

Being the Light of the World

Yes, I've heard it all my life.  The "Light of the World."  But what does this really mean?  Recently several people have commented to me that I have a lot of "light," an "aura."  I was thinking, what does all this mean?  That really sounds new-agey.  Sort of freaking me out.  The mental gears in my mind, turning over and over, trying to process what in the world that meant.  I even thought, OH NO, what if I'm possessed by some sort of bad spirit?  But all of that nonsense and fear didn't come from G-d.  Then the L-rd, Baruch HaShem, showed me the meaning of it all. 
When we have Messiah, we radiate good spiritual light, b/c He is the LIGHT OF THE WORLD.  We shine light to into a dark world, to light up the way for people to see the truth, in the midst of confusion.  "Thy Word is a lamp until my feet, and a light unto my path."  Psalm 119:105  And people pick up on this.  They are drawn to this.  They want what we have.  It's contagious, and it's joyful!!  It's enthusiastic, exuberant, and yet peaceful, all at the same time!  A friend posted a verse on Facebook that sums up this whole drash in a nutshell:

2 Corinthians 4:6-7

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

⁶ For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”^[a] made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. ⁷ But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.


RADICAL, DUDE, or what??  LOL, now I'm dating myself.  Anyway, as the verse says, the reason His light is so noticeable to others, is that our bodies, these "jars of clay," don't naturally radiate light.  In fact, the only time mine shines is when I'm so oily b/c I haven't taken a shower  haha.  But His light is supernatural, and people pick up on that - it's not something they can fabricate themselves.  It's like an emotion that doesn't exist in our brains' lexicon of emotional states.  People are going, "How do I get like THAT.  Nothing I've ever done has made me feel like THAT.  No drugs, food, relationship, vacation, or experience has made me feel like THAT."  Their brain says, "010101010111100001111000  This doesn't compute.  No feeling in human experience matches input."  LOL  So that is why people notice it. 

So, go out there, and LET IT SHINE.

"This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine."

"Shine" - Newsboys

We Are the Bible

Ok - stay with me.  Here is an algebraic equation that I will apply to spiritual matters:

G-d spoke = Creation came forth
G-d spoke = Bible came forth
Yeshua = Living Word = Bible lived out = Light of the World
We = light of the world = the only "Jesus" some will ever see

Therefore,

We = Bible

Ok, not exactly algebra, but you get the point.  So, the way I see it, all of Creation, before the fall, and after restoration, is the Bible!!  Now wait a minute, this is not pantheism.  And I'm not saying that we are all God and that God is everything, etc.  This came to me because the L-rd speaks to me in so many different ways.  Through songs, movies, situations, conversations, relationships, and more.  I don't have to actually be sitting in a chair, with a Bible in front of me, and reading posture, quiet room, etc., to experience the truths of the Bible.  I look at myself:  "I am fearfully and wonderfully made."  I look at the sky, "The heavens declare the glory of G-d."  I look at my children, "As a mother comforts her child, so I comfort you."  I hear lines in songs and see situations in movies (even ones not rated G) (not advocating watching bad movies, just that the L-rd can speak through anything) that remind me of the truths of the Bible.  And, when we walk in His ways, emulating Messiah, we are living out the Bible, and so we are the Bible!!  Of course we need to read and study, and listen to mp3s and CD's of Scripture, and listen to sermons and hymns and Scriptural songs.  This is how we learn these truths, so that they will be readily available, at a moment's notice in our minds, when the Ruach is trying to teach us something, or remind us of His presence.  What I am saying is that being in the presence of the L-rd can happen all over life. 

So don't save your time with the L-rd for worship services and quiet times.  Experience Him, love on Him, and let Him love on you, even in the most unlikely of places.  ♥

Spirit Candy

I finally achieved my goal a few weeks ago, which was to eat half of a candy bar, then save the rest for the next day.  I was skeptical at my level of self-control, but, behold!  I did it, with almost no agony!  LOL  Now I have since done the same thing several times.  I suspect that I was given supernatural strength to withstand the temptation to eat the whole candy bar, just because it was there.  Ever wonder why G-d has rules in the Bible about which foods to eat and not to eat?  I figure it must be because it is a lesson in self-control.  If we can shun a piece of tasty-looking food just because G-d says not to, then self-control in other, more significant matters in life becomes more doable.  Think about it, what was the one thing G-d said NOT to do way back in the Garden of Eden?  To not eat something.  It wasn't a monumental request, but the implications were collossal.
Now if I can apply the same principal to portion control...As my deceased grandfather said once (may his soul rest peacefully), "I know the answer to all these new diets:  DON'T EAT SO DARN MUCH!!"  Pretty profound, huh?

Ruach=wind=spirit

Imagine a small fire in the woods.  The wind blows.  Does the fire flicker, burn out, or spread?  It all depends on the speed and force of the wind.  I never took a physics class, and my understanding is rudimentary at best.  However, it occurred to me today that this simple picture of creation explains a deeper spiritual concept.  The Holy Spirit, or Ruach HaKodesh (Hebrew), blows like a wind.  The word "ruach" actually means wind, or spirit.  Fire, when controlled, can bring warmth, light, and a cooking source.  Out of control, it can bring destruction and devastation.  Yet, without oxygen, it will die.  As such, the wind can either help or hinder the growth of a fire.  Perhaps this is how the Ruach is revealed to us.  In small, gentle bursts, just enough for us to handle at the time.  We receive warmth and light from the fire.  We receive the grain of Scripture, the living water (Yeshua), the salt of the covenant, and a well-controlled fire (G-d the Father), kept alive with just enough wind (Ruach).  We are nourished by the bread that results.  Too much wind at once, and our bread would be torched by the engulfing flames, and we would also get burned in the process!!   G-d allows us to understand His truths in small doses.  If He gave us complete understanding all at once, we would be overwhelmed, and would not be able to handle it.
So don't be pushy with your friends and family members to learn Biblical truths that it took you years to learn.  Allow G-d to work with them in His own timing, for He knows exactly what they can handle.

Hebrews 12:29

New International Version (NIV)

²⁹ for our “God is a consuming fire.”

John 3:8

New International Version (NIV)

⁸ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”^[a]

Footnotes:

1. John 3:8 The Greek for Spirit is the same as that for wind.

Acts 2:3-4

New International Version (NIV)

³ They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. ⁴ All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues^[a] as the Spirit enabled them.

Footnotes:

1. Acts 2:4 Or languages; also in verse 11

 Song- "There's A Wind That Blows," by Joel Chernoff

Don't Give Up

This song, which is my son's favorite, is a drash all by itself.  Enjoy:

Shawn McDonald - "Don't Give Up"

Sometimes it is hard to go on
It's hard to see the reasons for breathing, living,
        letting love guide the way
But you must hold on

Don't give up, don't give up
Hold on for one more day
Don't give up, don't give up
Hold on for one more day

Sometimes we fall down,
We get ourselves in trouble but it's okay,
'Cause we still have another chance to get it right,
      to get it right

Don't give up, don't give up
Hold on for one more day
Don't give up, don't give up
Hold on for one more day

I've come too far, I've seen so much
I've heard the call and felt the touch
I've tasted love that I cannot deny
I've come too far, I've seen so much
I've heard the call and felt the touch
I've tasted love, tasted love that I cannot deny

Don't give up, don't give up
Hold on for one more day
Don't give up, don't give up
Hold on for one more day

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuJsdiwyGEs&feature=player_embedded

Forgiveness

Forgiveness is a liberating thing. Allows me freedom to soar, not being anchored down by bitterness. For a few moments, I forget everything I was resentful for. Sometimes, a demonic force will remind me of the hurt I experienced. But then Yeshua guides me back into His truth - that He has set me free, and that healing is in His wings.
A wise friend told me that going through hurt sends a person into chaos. Eventually, we start climbing upward to the next level of growth in life. It is possible from time to time to fall back into the chaos, then get back on the path upward. We reach a plateau, then another life-changing event happens (good or bad), which sends us into chaos, and starts the cycle over again. It is how we grow. This is comforting to think about, that going through difficulties is a normal part of life, and how we are refined with fire to come out GOLD.
So don't get angry with the person(s) who hurt you.  Just forgive them, and allow G-d to "work all things together for good" in your life (Romans 8:28).

Song entitled, "Forgiveness"

Song entitled, "Gold"

Zechariah 13:9