Gratzie! Gracias! Merci! Todah! Thanks! - the many facets of grace

Was pondering the meaning of the words "grace" and "gratitude" today, and how the meanings of the words are similar, and even overlap.  Grace has always had the connotation of "mercy" to me, but I realize now a whole new level of meaning to this word.  An essence of gratitude surrounds it.  The two words even share the same root, gratus.  To think of the grace of G-d meaning gratitude simply astounds me, as I imagine our blessed Yeshua being thankful for US!!!  Contemplate that for a second....  He is everything to me, and yet He is thankful for ME, little me.  And you too!!  Isn't that delightful?  And the action that flows from His gratitude is the immense blessing of mercy, forgiveness, love, rejoicing, shalom, understanding, wisdom, faith, consolation, and favor, to name a few.  So we can be all of these things to others in our lives, through his power, by giving them grace, ie being grateful for them..........  G-d is awesome, isn't He?

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?