Shalom, welcome to June 25^th


><//>--------------------Thought for the Day

One of the most encouraging facts of life in Christ is that our weakness can become our greatest asset. Kites and airplanes rise against the wind. In climbing up a high mountain, we need the stony crags and rough places to aid us in our climb. So our weakness can become an asset if we will face it, examine it, and trace it to its origin. Set it in the very center of our mind. No weakness, such as we are prone in our own individual favorite sins that so easily beset us, ever turned into an asset until it was first fairly faced.

Am I making my weakness my greatest asset?


><>--------------------Meditation for the Day

God’s Friendship

I am your Friend. The Companion of the dreary ways of life.

   I rob those ways of their grayness and horror. I transform them. Even in earthly friendships the common way, the weary way, the steep way, may seem a way to Heaven if the presence of some love human friend transforms them.

   Let the Sabbath calm enwrap your minds and hearts. Let it be a rest from the worry and fret of life, a halt by the busy highway when you seek some rest and shade.

   Have you ever realized the wonder of the friendship you can have with Me? Have you ever thought what it means to be able to summon at will the God of the World?

   Even with a privileged visitor to an earthly king there is the palace ante-chamber, and the time must be at the pleasure of the king.

   But to My subjects I have given the right to enter My Presence when they will, nay more they can summon Me to bedside, to worship – and I am there.

   Could Divine Love do more? Your nearest earthly friend cannot be with you on the instant. Your Lord, your Master, your Divine Friend – Yes.

   When men seek to worship Me they think of the worlds I rule over, of creation, of mighty law and order – and then they felt the awe that precedes worship.

   To you I say feel awe, feel the desire to worship Me in wondering amazement. But think too of the mighty, tender, humble condescension of My Friendship. Think of Me in the little things of everyday life.


><//>--------------------Prayer for the Day

Father, we pray that we may accept the limitless and Eternal Spirit. We pray that It may express Itself in our lives. Amen.


A Disciple’s Reflections: The Road Narrows

Beloved, I’ve heard it said that children can be cruel. Allow me to use my own experience to make an important point.

I can tell you first hand that this is true. As a youngster, I was never quite accepted by my peers and always felt as an outsider looking in. I have often felt the stinging barbs that the young often and easily toss to those whom they sense are a little different from themselves.

I hear daily from many, who like myself, are less active in the social structure of this world.  I believe we must consider if there may be some Divine providence at work in this state of affairs for some of us.  Allow me to share my reflection on this for so many of us have difficulty seeing how our God is using this very same experience for good for so many of us.

I share this with you because I have had some of those differences in my personality that has caused me to often stand-alone. Today, I believe that God was at work even in my youth causing this servant to be an observer rather than a participant in normal human activity. When one objectively observes even the best of human behavior one can fully agree with the Lord that we are all found wanting.

If honesty is to prevail, I must share that one of the ways I dealt with rejection since my youth was to quickly turn to the pleasures of this life. Eating, sex, excitement, getting into trouble, and the free expression of anger became my fortes and eventually became my bondages. 

One would think this is such a terrible waste to spend one’s youth in such a way.

I consider that it may be quite to the contrary. Every weakness in me that has been revealed under the pressure of this world has become the very cornerstone in my relationship with God.  I really do need Him, and… I know it!

He’s more than just a Savior to me.  He’s a S-A-V-I-O-R in capital letters to me. He’s not just saving me in the future after I die. He’s saving me every day, right now, from all I’m capable of doing that harms myself and others, and all the harm that other's may attempt to do to me.

From the moment that God tapped me on the shoulder and awakened me to His reality in the spirit, I knew and understood Grace before I even knew of Jesus or read the Bible. He came at a time when the principle of self-honesty became premier in my life.   For the first time ever I was being true to myself as only the dying are known to be and recognized my condition in its totality. 

We know today this was the work of the Holy Spirit convicting of sin, but that wasn’t the only issue to keep me interested. The issue was simply not dying from my mental and physical state at the time. I was wounded in every area of my being and could relate to the fellow in the Lord’s story who was beaten and left naked dying on the side of the road while everyone just passed him by. I was likened unto that man until Jesus, Himself, stopped by the roadside of my life to save me.

As foreign as the word grace seemed to me I was able to reason that God, as I could best understand Him at the time, knows all about us. He knows all we have done or evn thought of doing, and would do. He knows our tendencies and proclivities to do some rather bizarre things in the light of today’s knowledge. Yet, He takes the trouble to save us, fill us with His Spirit, His Divine Life, and spend twenty-fours a day tantalizing our soul with His revelations.  Most of all, though forsaken by my mother and father in this world, the Lord adopted me and has made me and so many others His own and one with Himself and cares for me where my earthly parents have simply been unable. 

Though my intent to behave was always there, in all actuality, my behavior was quite perverse. Did He depart from me because of this?  Not at all! As a matter of fact He drew even nearer since my need was so much the greater.  This is the real blessing – grace, isn't this so wonderful for us who have difficulty adhering to God's word as much or as quickly as we would like?

The Spirit then went about His work convicting my heart until I would come to hate the sins I loved.  I use the future imperfect tense regarding conviction of sin because He is working this in me still to his very day.  He's leading me to a clean, wholesome life that would make the 1950's look like an orgy in comparison.

Some of us remember the 1950's when boys and girls dated and treated one another with awe, reverence, and respect. The mores of the day were not perfect, but they certainly weren't the Sodom and Gomorrah of today. Today, it's a little different. People just use one another to satisfy their selfish desires and throw one another away more like wrappers on a candy bar.

It was then that God opened scripture for me, a Jew born of the flesh and blood of Abraham. He made clear the disloyalty and selfishness of my ancestors regarding His calling for them, and how they became blinded to the new and better covenant of Yeshua, Jesus Christ.

I just knew from personal experience that I am a sinner and need a God Whom I can turn to in my unbelieving DIS-obedience for His help to be made right. That He desires a relationship with the lowest of the low and I was just what He was looking for. Wow! Do I qualify!

Yes, for the first time in my life I was accepted just as I am in all my crooked ways. Not to remain this way, but to be converted into something new. Yet, all along the way my very weaknesses and failures only cause this relationship between this man and His God to grow stronger and more intimate each every day.
 
Imagine how wonderful our earthly relationships would be if only we wouldn't walk in the denial of our true condition.

Imagine if we could embrace one another with all our weaknesses and pray and encourage one another to turn them into assets. Let us just imagine how beautiful marriage would be when all family members could be open with each other and pray together revealing weakness and failures to each other and to God together instead of concealing them until they grow too large and we start rejecting one another for the very reason Christ came and died for us – sin.

This is how I live today and is one of the reasons I live alone. I have yet to find another who would live this type of open transparent life of continued repentance before another person and before God. I discovered other believers  would run for cover from the all-seeing eyes that reveal our true character and the need we all have to be changed. There is no behavior more protective of evil spirits than this pride.

Today, when we accept that God continues to turn every weakness into an asset, we are then able to be of help to all those who suffer from that which we have been delivered. We begin to understand the "imperious" nature of our sexuality, and receive the grace to be set free and take command of that part of our lives as well.

Think of how the fortunes of so many Catholic priests, Jimmie Swaggart, Ted Kennedy, Bill Clinton and the entire world would have been different had they gained command over their sexuality before engaging in public ministry or high public office. This maturity and discipline is not only a possibility in Christ, but also a necessity as we mature spiritually.

I finally found an organization, the body of Messiah, where I meet all the prior requirements for joining and need never fear being rejected. I'm an unbelievable sinner, even in my own eyes, and that's all that is needed to avail ourselves of one of the most intimate and awe-inspiring relationships to be had in all Creation - a deep and personal relationship with our Creator - Father God, through His Son, and our Brother, Yeshua, Jesus Christ whom He has sent. 

I've heard it said, "I'm not the person I want to be, but Thank God I'm not the person I used to be."  This is so appropriate for most us.

This is well true of me and so many others.

We falter regularly, and with sorrow during these times we may approach our God, our Friend, and our Savior in truth and in spirit to seek His forgiveness and Divine Intervention that we may be a more faithful friend to our Messiah and King, the Lord. After all, He deserves the very best, don't you agree?

Precious one, this is the narrow way so rarely traveled.  Yet for our membership in Believers Hope it is a road most familiar.

When we live like this under His endless infinite grace - this is exactly what He is getting from us – the very best.


The Narrow Gate - The Lord's Way

[Jesus said,] "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." – Matthew 7:13-14

Everyone has probably heard the phrase, "Take the path of least resistance." But, as in many things, the easiest path may not be the best path. It is common today (as it has been throughout time) for most to seek the easiest way out. Jesus illustration speaks to the value of taking the right road, which leads to eternal life. Though it seems to defy logic, it seems that many prefer to take a path other than righteousness throughout their lives.

We know that it is often easier to do what feels right, rather than what IS right. Oh so many think that choosing to follow the Lord and the path of righteousness is a life that is dull, or boring, or lacking in happiness. The truth is just the opposite. It is true that the narrow road is harder to travel, but the rewards are great on earth as well as in heaven.

It is my hope that we all will diligently seek the path of most resistance. There are many temptations that can lead us from the path of righteousness, but I encourage all of us to remember Jesus' words and seek the narrow gate, the narrow road, and life; for only a few find it! In the end, many will try to enter the narrow gate, and they will not be able to fit through with all their baggage. Today, may we jettison our excess baggage and find abounding blessings along the road to life!

[Jesus said,] "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to." –- Luke 13:24

Our Prayer:  Dear Jesus, it is such a blessing to walk with you. May we show others how to also become blessed. Amen. 


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Please have a blessed day, be hopeful, be encouraged, and know you are not alone.

“God Calling” compiled by A. J. Russell.
"Twenty-Four Hours A Day” Hazelton – adapted.
Ron Newhouse writes The Breakthrough.
Barry Gray writes A Disciple’s Reflections.