In Hebrew class we have been translating our way through Psalms 90 - A prayer of Moses.
Adonai, you have been our dwelling place in every generation.
Before the mountains were born, before you had formed (literally "whirled")
the earth & the inhabited world,
from eternity past to eternity future you are God. (verses 1-2)
You bring frail mortals to the point of being crushed, then say, "People, repent!"
For from your viewpoint a thousand years are merely like yesterday or a night watch.
When you sweep them away, they become like sleep (or a dream);
by morning they are like growing grass, growing & flowering in the morning,
but by evening cut down and dried up... (verses 3-6)
The span of our life is seventy years, or if we are strong, eighty... (verse 10a)
So teach us to number our days, so that we will become wise. (verse 12)
After attending the Hebrew class today, I drove to my parents' home. Both Mom and Dad are 80 this year and viruses tend to linger with them now. They were both breathing shallowly so they could talk without hacking. Their flu virus has shown more respiratory components than the stomach flu like Tano Chidwick had recently. They appeared pale and more frail even than normal. I leave each visit with them now, thinking how I should treasure each moment spent with them. I wonder how many more years they will be able to manage a home by themselves. They are still involved with their church, the hospice and hospital patients they visit and our extended family. PTL! Mom filled me in on all the changes occurring in our family. My sister and husband are selling the "old homestead" and will be building a home soon. Their oldest son will be doing the same. Their youngest son is getting married in June. My brother's oldest son is getting married in the Fall... & so forth. I sensed I was observing & hearing Psalm 90 all over again in a fleshed out format. The chapters of our lives fly by so quickly. The comfort is that Adonai is our habitation or dwelling place - even as He will be throughout eternity!
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
A.D. Chronicles
For over 20 years I have enjoyed reading books written by Bodie & Brock Thoene. My favorites were their Zion Covenant, Zion Chronicles & Zion Legacy series until they started the A.D. Chronicles. "First Light", "Second Touch", "Third Watch" & "Fourth Dawn" are set in the time of Yeshua of Nazareth's public ministry and have numerous Messianic facts woven throughout their story lines, which I love. They are well reseached and well written. So... I highly recommend them to any of you who may have not already found them. I reread them the last couple of weeks as a wonderful stress reliever, as they refocus me on the eternal perspective.
Friday, March 10, 2006
Purim & Spring are around the corner
Hamentaschen baking has consumed a couple of days this week. My kitchen is lightly dusted with flour, but smells of orange peel and cookie dough! We will be eating those delicious three cornered cookies tomorrow at Beth Tephila & through the week since Purim arrives Monday evening. (I posted the recipie for the cookies a year ago.) We also read out-loud the story of Queen Esther in dramatized fashion each Purim. Haman's name is covered with the noise from our noise-makers and Mordecai's name is praised. Esther gets oohs/ahs/ or wolf whistles. Our Esther, Sweetheart Queen, has been a 17- going on 18 year-old- handful recently. Yet, with my friend Sherry's help, the prayers of many & the Lord's allowing rare glimpses into her heart, I have hope that this time too will pass. We will all benefit in increased maturity as a result. The LORD will deliver us from the enemy. He is so able!
Spring is almost here. Our recent snowfall has melted. We are expecting lambs any day and are beginning the preparations for Passover, April 12th. Yes, it takes much of a month for us to host a large Passover Seder each year. We always find it's worth the effort. This is one holiday we are commanded to keep. We enjoy keeping it along with Beth Tephila and many others.
Spring is almost here. Our recent snowfall has melted. We are expecting lambs any day and are beginning the preparations for Passover, April 12th. Yes, it takes much of a month for us to host a large Passover Seder each year. We always find it's worth the effort. This is one holiday we are commanded to keep. We enjoy keeping it along with Beth Tephila and many others.
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
El Shaddai
One of the principles I taught my 4th grade Sunday School class over a year ago has been returning to me as I'm jogging my 31/2 miles on the treadmill or just working in the kitchen.
I can be at peace in the midst of any storm because my God is Sovereign! We defined the word sovereign by the words within it...God reigns over this world. He always has the deciding vote and can turn around any situation to suit His purposes and will. I am believing Him for that very basic fact as it applies to my family. In the meantime, in my devotions I have started to once again study the Hebrew names of God. A couple days ago I did a word study of EL SHADDAI - God Almighty. The first time this word/name is used is in Genesis 17:1. "When Avram was 99 years old, Adonai appeared to Avram & said to him, ' I am EL SHADDAI. Walk in my presence & be pure-hearted.' Adonai had not spoken like this to Avram for 13 years, since Hagar bore him Ishmael (Avram's son of the flesh.) Now Ishmael, being 13 years old, was considered a grown up & responsible male. God was rejecting this 13 year old as the heir of the covenant between Him and Avram; He would institute circumcision as the sign of that covenant and tell Avram that his son of the Spirit would be born of Sarai; He also renamed Avram (exalted father) to Avraham (father of many) and Sarai (mockery) to Sarah (princess). First though, ADONAI revealed a part of His nature: EL SHADDAI - the One who reigns in power. He is so powerful, He can create life where there is death. That is, EL SHADDAI would create Isaac (laughter) from a 100 year old man and 90 year old woman. In Hebrew, Isaac is made with three consonants. The first is a tzadee with a numerical value of 90. The last is a kof with a numerical value of 100. Between these two letters is a chet which is often used in Jewish necklaces and pins, etc. to symbolize life since it begins chaim the word which means life. So EL SHADDAI would take a 90 year old and a 100 year old and between them create life. That life would become heir of the covenant and father Israel/Jacob.
God took the initiative by appearing to Avram, speaking to him, commanding him and promising things to him. Because of who EL SHADDAI was, Avram/Avraham was to do 2 things. 1. Walk in God's presence. (Although God is omnipresent and Avram was always walking in God's presence, I understand this as a synonymous way of saying "Fear the LORD" or walk consciously in my presence, knowing I hear every word you say & see every action & judge every thought & attitude & motive.) 2. Be pure-hearted. The Hebrew word for pure-hearted is tamiym and has the meaning of pure, complete, entire, whole, integrity, sincere, without blemish or spot.
As I meditated on these things and asked God to apply them to my life. I am reminded that at a time when the fleshly works I have born have matured, I am aware that they do not satisfy or complete me. In fact, they are extremely frustrating and destroying my dreams and peace. The Almighty, Sovereign God reminds me not only who He is, but that I am unable to do for myself what He asks. He alone can circumcise my heart, enable me to fear Him and be whole-heartedly His. I expect Him to take over from here and create life out of the ashes of my poor attempts to please Him in my way.
I can be at peace in the midst of any storm because my God is Sovereign! We defined the word sovereign by the words within it...God reigns over this world. He always has the deciding vote and can turn around any situation to suit His purposes and will. I am believing Him for that very basic fact as it applies to my family. In the meantime, in my devotions I have started to once again study the Hebrew names of God. A couple days ago I did a word study of EL SHADDAI - God Almighty. The first time this word/name is used is in Genesis 17:1. "When Avram was 99 years old, Adonai appeared to Avram & said to him, ' I am EL SHADDAI. Walk in my presence & be pure-hearted.' Adonai had not spoken like this to Avram for 13 years, since Hagar bore him Ishmael (Avram's son of the flesh.) Now Ishmael, being 13 years old, was considered a grown up & responsible male. God was rejecting this 13 year old as the heir of the covenant between Him and Avram; He would institute circumcision as the sign of that covenant and tell Avram that his son of the Spirit would be born of Sarai; He also renamed Avram (exalted father) to Avraham (father of many) and Sarai (mockery) to Sarah (princess). First though, ADONAI revealed a part of His nature: EL SHADDAI - the One who reigns in power. He is so powerful, He can create life where there is death. That is, EL SHADDAI would create Isaac (laughter) from a 100 year old man and 90 year old woman. In Hebrew, Isaac is made with three consonants. The first is a tzadee with a numerical value of 90. The last is a kof with a numerical value of 100. Between these two letters is a chet which is often used in Jewish necklaces and pins, etc. to symbolize life since it begins chaim the word which means life. So EL SHADDAI would take a 90 year old and a 100 year old and between them create life. That life would become heir of the covenant and father Israel/Jacob.
God took the initiative by appearing to Avram, speaking to him, commanding him and promising things to him. Because of who EL SHADDAI was, Avram/Avraham was to do 2 things. 1. Walk in God's presence. (Although God is omnipresent and Avram was always walking in God's presence, I understand this as a synonymous way of saying "Fear the LORD" or walk consciously in my presence, knowing I hear every word you say & see every action & judge every thought & attitude & motive.) 2. Be pure-hearted. The Hebrew word for pure-hearted is tamiym and has the meaning of pure, complete, entire, whole, integrity, sincere, without blemish or spot.
As I meditated on these things and asked God to apply them to my life. I am reminded that at a time when the fleshly works I have born have matured, I am aware that they do not satisfy or complete me. In fact, they are extremely frustrating and destroying my dreams and peace. The Almighty, Sovereign God reminds me not only who He is, but that I am unable to do for myself what He asks. He alone can circumcise my heart, enable me to fear Him and be whole-heartedly His. I expect Him to take over from here and create life out of the ashes of my poor attempts to please Him in my way.
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