Are You Wandering in the Wilderness??? Sometimes I Do...

And YHWH went before the children of Israel by day in a pillar of a cloud to lead them by THE WAY; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night...

I am like the children of Israel...sometimes 


Each time I look back and say:  "That was a better time."  Or, "I hate this (wilderness) situation we are in."  Or, "I want to go back to where I came from, back to what was comfortable, desirable or familiar." Or, "I wish we could go back to the way our lives were before we headed out into this wilderness."  Each time I allow myself to do this, I am like the children of Israel as they wandered in a land that was not the land of promise, which is not unlike us, here. (And I do think those things sometimes...not often but sometimes I catch myself thinking it.)  We have been on a very long journey, or at least it has felt very long...about 16 years now.  And to say the least, often times it has been a challenge.  In these last few years, I have faced my life's biggest challenges which I won't go into here but I will say that this road has felt long, difficult and often very, very lonely.

Do you really want to go back?


Wanting to "go back" only takes me away from where YHWH is taking me.  It shows fear which is a lack of faith and I then I begin to place my desires above YHWH's.  This was Israel's sin while wandering in the wilderness.  While on this path I must desire and ask for strength to go forward.  What has past, is a season gone by.  Also, I am reminded that waiting on YHWH to move IS my purpose.  It must be Him to call us no matter which direction we go or we will go in vain and without fruit.

My High Places; may not always be so high...

Sometimes "THE WAY" that He leads is down in the valley.  Sometimes "THE WAY" is up in the mountains.  And, often my companions are fear and discouragement and many times loneliness but YHWH never does not know "THE WAY."   He is  never wrong in His directions.  He is never late to His destinations and He is never afraid and never discouraged.  He knows where my feet are each step that I take and "He Is" right here where I am at this moment in time.  He knows "THE WAY" and I must allow Him to lead me (us) in His time according to His plan.  I can't put the cart in front of the proverbial horse, ya know (Ooooh, but you know I've tried to put that cart out there many times in my day...but I'm gettin' better)!

Why all this now (again)?

We have contemplated moving outside the states recently along with a few other things and as a result have found that I had a bit of anxiousness come over me about this...wanting to hurry or not wanting to go but Abba's still small voice reminds me that I must wait on Him to make the way for whatever we are to do.  Nothing is more important than what He desires for us.

The amazing thing...

In searching for the picture for this blog post, I typed in "children of Israel wilderness wanderings images" to bring up pics I could use.  Lots of images came up but strangely (or at least unexpectedly) a picture of a family with a blog that had a neat name which sounded like they were travelers also came up...so I clicked on it just for that reason and this post blew me away!  What perfect timing Abba has.  He so knows our hears and hears our prayers.  I cried when I read this post because it spoke to me because it exactly where I am (we are)!

Here's the post from:  Borneo Butterfly
You know, I am reminded at how God used clouds in the Old Testament, particularly to lead the children of Israel through the wilderness. When the cloud picked up and went, they went. Well, we've had a similar experience with a cloud!

Almost two years ago when we really, diligently started praying about going back overseas, I was a bit nervous, shall we say! So I decided I needed to know for myself from God if He was wanting us to go. I began praying without telling Dave what I was praying, just so I would know in my own heart if God was saying "go". Maybe because it would take a lot of courage for me to say "yes". So, several days after I began to truly seek the Lord on this issue (even asking God to show us where He wanted us to go if that was the case), Dave came home from flying and said he'd seen something weird.

Of course my curiosity was picqued so I asked him what he'd seen. "A cloud," was all he said, "and it was so strange that I wasn't even going to tell you." Now he really had me going. "Well, what was so weird about it?" I queried. "It was in the exact shape of Papua, Indonesia." My mouth dropped open because I know my husband. He is so detailed that if he said it was in the exact shape of Papua, it undoubtedly was. "It was right there in front of me," he ended.

I went to bed shocked. I didn't tell Dave yet what I'd been praying, but instead asked a couple of my friends what they thought about it. "Well, I think that was God!" Both of them ended up saying. "Yeah," I had to muse. "I guess I do too!"

So, I told God "Yes," and then I told my husband. And then we waited to see what God would do next! He'd answered us SO obviously that we thought He'd just make it happen! But, nothing. Absolute silence. "Hmmm," we thought, "I guess God is saying to wait." So, we figured we'd better wait on God's timing, but both of us accepted that God had shown us He would send us to Papua, Indonesia.

Imagine our surprise when later that fall we got an invitation from our old friend David Holsten to come to Kalimantan, Indonesia, where we had served almost 10 years ago! My first thought was, "Kalimantan? We're not supposed to go to Kalimantan!" But then God gently whispered to my heart, "Linda, this is a step along the way." Then I got excited, and then I got sad because I realized God was taking us back to the place where we had left quite a few memories of our daughter Hannah, who had since passed away. Then God said, "I'm taking you full-circle." Woah.

Next morning at women's Bible Study, the Beth Moore video was all about coming "full-circle." I leaned over to my friend Amy and said, "I'm going to Indonesia!" And cried. Well, now that we've been here it has been SUCH a blessing! God truly is taking us full-circle in our healing with Hannah.

So....imagine our surprise when, while we are here in Kalimantan, God started opening the doors for us to go to - you guessed it - Papua! God truly works in mysterious ways, and I'm so glad He knows what He's doing! All that to say that as of last Wednesday we have officially accepted a new assignment with MAF to the island of Papua, Indonesia. We are excited and a bit nervous as it means going through all our things in America and truly saying good-bye to our life there. I know it won't be easy, but I can honestly say that I am thoroughly enjoying the excitement of living a life on the edge with God. There's never a dull moment!

Give Thanks for what He has done and will do, it is the remedy for your anxiety while on your wilderness journey.


Anyway, thank you Abba that you remind me time and time again that you hear my heart and that you have a plan at work.  Thank you.  Thank you.  Make me strong so that I can stand when I must stand or wait when I must wait or move when I must move.  Be my ears to hear what the world who does not know you cannot hear.  Be my heart to understand what cannot be understood and be mouth to speak what cannot be uttered without you.  Bless us with your mercies each day.

Shalom

Words to "The Assembly"

Here are a couple of my favorite verses.  

They're my favorite because they remind me that YHWH is in control. 

 They remind me that ALL things work for our good, even when we are unable to see it.  

They remind me that I am on a path and sometimes the path is moving upward, sometimes it seems to be going nowhere and sometimes the path appears to be moving away from where I thought it should go but YHWH knows my way that I go and He will get me to my destination. 

They remind me that YHWH doesn't want me to look back but to keep looking forward and  pressing toward the goal.  The goal is complete trust in Him and obedience.

Ecc. 7:14

Be Glad in the day of prosperity but when evil comes, take note that Elohim has appointed one as well as the other, so that man should not uncover what shall be after him.

  *I can rest assured that YHWH is aware of the path that I am on and He is with me where ever I am and He has a plan and a path for me.  This, as all things are, is a season also.  It will pass.

Ecc. 7:10

Do not say why were the former days better than these?  It is not wise of you to have inquired of this.  

*Don't look backward desiring to return to what was.  Your path is ahead of you, not behind you.  YHWH will direct you.  Seek Him where He is.  He is right here, right now. 

Confessions of a Hospitality Hater...a great post I found

So, I found this blog post called, "Confessions of a Hospitality Hater" and I really related to it.  Not because I hate being hospitable, I looooove the thought of it!  I love people who have the gift of hospitality.  Some people just make you feel so special,  just like you're at home!!!  BUT...I am going to share a secret with you.  It's a secret that only a few people know about me.  Most would not guess it...well I don't think they would or maybe they know and they're just too nice to let on that they do, ha!  Okay, here goes...hospitality for guests just stresses me out!!!  Oh, yes.  I'ts true.  It's really an issue of perfectionism.  You think to yourself: What should I cook, I can't cook, there's nothing to cook, the house is a mess, or the house will get messy, I don't want to, I have so much to do, I don't have time, or maybe you're just thinking that on some other day all the conditions will be better for entertaining...excuses, nothing but excuses. That perfect day will never come.  Oh, I can think of a million excuses when I am afraid of something or when I would rather be my elusive, hermit self.  I am an introvert who loves the peace and quiet solitude of life and the older I get, it seems the more introverted I become.  Guess what?  I married and extrovert, go figure.  How is it Abba works that way?  I guess He gives us the opposites because He knows just how to make us whole even though it often seems to be just plain annoying...can I say that?  Ya, let's just be real.

 Anywho, back to the reason for this post.  We have people in our home at least every other Shabbat, you'd think by now I wouldn't even think twice about it!  I have struggled with wanting to be a good hostess for about...forever!  I want to be a wonderful hostess. I want to be calm and cool, relaxed and inviting at the drop of a hat.   I want to be gracious and have hospitality oozing from my apron strings.  I want to have the gift of great cooking and provide an atmosphere that just invites you to sit and chat.  But even though my heart longs to be Proverbs 31 woman of the year...there's the dreaded introvert inside me who has a grip on nearly every fiber of my being and it says, "You need some peace and quiet" or "you're really too busy to take the time for this, you know, so maybe they could come another day."  And there's that twinge of general discomfort knowing people are coming and things aren't just right (as if they ever are, ha!)...and now I have to make things that should be tasty and creative...aaahhhh!!   The introvert part of me likes solitude.  It likes life without strife, without drama, without pain.  But you know what they say...no pain, NO GAIN!

So the reason for this confession?  The blog post: "Confessions of a Hospitality hater                                        I so appreciated reading this post (from InCourage blog) and learning that Abba has created people who are like me.  It makes me know that while people like me of coarse aren't perfect, we do have purpose and that life is about balance.  I think to some degree we all struggle to find balance so as not to tip the scale too far in one direction.  It is very easy for me to just bypass all the things in life that I'm afraid of and enjoy my very small world but I am learning that in doing that we just end up excluding relationships from our lives.

I am content, or perhaps I should say, "becoming content" with the way I am created, however, I am still in search of the balance that will make my life everything it is created for but in the mean time, confession is good for our souls and so I am openly confessing what I see as a short coming.  My aversion or fear or whatever it's called to entertaining guests.   Can I just say here that I don't like disclosure very much.

I found another site from reading the post"Confessions..." and it is called: "The Reluctant Entertainer
It's a fun site to look at for people like me or maybe just anyone who wants to do better at being hospitable.  It has things about how to entertain stress free:)  I would like to do that, I said smiling.  She also has"The Reluctant Entertainer's Ten Commandments of Hospitality"
which I kinda liked too.  It's good to have written reminders so we don't fall back into bad habits like running down the street screaming and pulling your hair when your husband says, "That really nice family is coming over for dinner on Friday evening, honey and they may be spending the night too!"

So thanks to Rambling Heather for writing such an inspiring post.  It gives me hope that  I can have a heart blessed with genuine, stress free hospitality just for the sheer joy of doing it, not for what it should look like to others (it never looks like Martha Stewart did it) but for what it is, an opportunity to share friendship and love.

Have a blessed day,

Traci:)

To Everything There is a Season...Everything

I've been doing some spring cleaning.  I had been thinking about the seasons of our lives and how as we grow older we change.  Sometimes, I think it's not so much that we change but perhaps we learn more about who we are and are able to accept who we have grown into.  Maybe we know better what we really like and what we don't and are okay with that too.  But what about our "stuff", maybe it should also change as we do or maybe we should learn that it's okay to grow out of some of our "things" and hopefully we can cast aside the "stuff" that doesn't reflect who we are.

Well, we've been very busy cleaning up the place.  To be more specific, getting rid of stuff.  After living in a house for several years, it's amazing just how much "stuff" one accumulates.  I and my husband seem to have an affinity for "saving" things.  Things that may not work but could possibly be fixed and used...someday.  Things that have a memory attached to them.  Things that are faded, thread bear, war torn, dusty, untouched, forgotten about and so on...get the picture??  Well, I guess I woke up the other day and I thought to myself, "Self, you are at a time in your life of change.  A time where the towels you bought years ago have threads hanging from their ends and almost no color left in them.  You have picture frames sitting around your house that you don't even like anymore!  Things packed away in cabinets, drawers, closets, Tupperware containers and the garage that you NEVER use...things that you have saved for a day that hasn't come in over 8 years."  Then I said to myself again, "Self, if you haven't used it by now, maybe you never will...so, it's gotta go!"

Trends change, our tastes change, seasons change...why not let our homes and lives reflect the season of  change that we are in.  Now mind you, I haven't gone off the deep end and thrown out everything but the kitchen sink but the thought that I keep repeating to myself over and over as I go through each closet and each drawer is, "Less is more, less IS more!"  I am 47 years old (I think, I can't keep up with my age anymore, I have to keep asking Craig how old I am) and I don't necessarily like the same things I liked 16 years ago...and a LOT of the stuff we have is from waaaaaaaaaay back then, not that there is anything wrong with that, it's just that keeping so much of it just leads to clutter.  It clutters my home and my path and fogs up my head.  I hate clutter.  I love organization.  I like everything to have it's own spot.  I like to be able to see everything in the drawer upon first glance...Oh, that excites me just to say it!  Ahhh, you say, "That's not realistic, you can't do that when you have kids!"  Well, like I said, I haven't gone off the deep end, I just woke up.  I think I may have had a Oprah moment, haha:)  I'm not an Oprah fan but I've heard a few phrases from her show that I liked...one of them went something like..."Live today who you want to be."  I don't think that's exactly how it went but you get the idea, right?   Craig and I are on the same page on this one.  It's time to lighten the load.  How refreshing.  It makes me feel lighter already.

I'm kind of a paper and pen freak...oh, and note books too.  I think I covered that a little in a previous post.

So, each room is gone through methodically.  Each drawer, each closet, each shelf.  I found lots of stuff that was just waiting to be thrown away and lots more things that someone else may be able to use...you know, one man's trash is another man's treasure!  I myself like to go to the second hand stores for stuff that's useful to me every now and then and  I love to save a buck so why not send my stuff there for someone else to benefit from?

Here are the rules I'm following to keep me on the right path as I am sorting through all our "stuff":

• If I haven't touched it in a year or longer...it's gotta go.
• If I can walk out of the room and forget all about it being here (so as to indicate I didn't need it anyway)...it's gotta go.
• Oh, and don't forget...Less IS more!

That's about it.  That's all the rules.  Pretty simple, huh?

Looking around, I see LOTS of things we could still do without and I'm still hoping to get rid of at some point but we don't have to do without it all just yet, we're just doing it with a little less clutter.  We can keep the "stuff" we we use, the "stuff" we really like and the "stuff" we are just content with until the next season in our lives changes.


Ecc 3:1  To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:...
 Ecc 3:6  A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

Shalom!

Elohim...try me and know my THOUGHTS. A Refiner's Story

Psa 139:23-24  Search me, O Ěl, and know my heart; Try me, and know my thoughts; 

  And see if an idolatrous way is in me, And lead me in the way everlasting. 

I am still pondering the effect of thoughts on our lives and our walk with Abba.  I am still praying about the thoughts that creep in from time to time.  Today as I was talking with Abba, this scripture (noted above) was open in my bible and as I was praying I looked on it (I hadn't read the passage  yet) and read it and I considered it.  I began to just be so amazed at how Abba's great mercies are toward us as I thought about what the verse was saying...David is asking Abba to search his heart and to know his thoughts, which Abba certainly does know, and then David asks Abba to try him.  I thought about that a bit...David asks Abba to try him.  If we consider ourselves as silver or gold, then we know we must be tried or refined in order that all impurites (idolatry, wickedness, anything placed above Abba's truths) are purged from us so that we are pure and come forth as pure gold so that we then are  in the way of everlasting life.  

The sages refer to the years of the wilderness wanderings as “the iron crucible”.  A metaphor of the vessel silversmiths use to refine silver. 

 See Malachi 3:3 Elohim will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver and He will purify His people.  

THE WORK OF A REFINER

When learning about how a silversmith does his work he explains that he has to hold the silver where the flame is the hottest in order to burn away all impurities.  The silversmith was asked, “do you have to sit there the whole time with the silver?”  He replied, “Not only do I have to stay with it the entire time but I must keep a careful eye on it, because if the silver is left in the flame a moment too long it will be destroyed.”

The next question asked of him:  “how do you know when the silver is fully refined?”  “That’s easy, he replied.  “When I see my image in it.”

When we learn of this process of refining, we can see the meaning behind the metaphor more clearly.  Abba holds His people in the hottest part of the fire in order to purify them but in the process He does not leave us or allow us to be destroyed.  And the purification will be complete only when God see’s His image in us.

Such an amazing picture of the work He is doing in us, isn’t it?

I am so amazed that Abba considers my path, He knows the way that I go and He cares to hear me when I call on Him and He brings light to my path that He leads me on.  

Who am I that you would consider me...I am yours.

Thank you Abba for the way you have prepared for your people, may you have mercy on us as you try our hearts!  

Amein

Power of Our Thoughts...

Thoughts
My thoughts and how I perceive situations has really been on my heart lately.  I have been praying lately and asking Abba to help me really change the way I think.  I think what I mean by that is that I desire Him to help me have thoughts that are bound in His truth and not lies that the old evil one desires for me to take hold of and be defeated by.  Our thoughts have so much power over the health of our bodies.  I have come to understand that satan (I don't even like to utter that "s" word:} desires to wound us and ultimately destroy us and he often attacks us at our first line of defense which is our thoughts.  While in the midst of pondering my path recently, Abba has revealed more insight to an avenue that has set me off my path at times, that avenue is my very own thoughts!  When I allow wrong thinking into my mind and let it take hold, it steals my rest and my peace and causes me to forget the forgiveness that Abba has told me is mine.  I first began to understand some of these things a couple of years ago after my grandma passed away and before that it was an issue when my oldest son turned 18 and moved away from home, although at that time I really had no idea that there was hope for it or even what "it" was that was taking place in me and causing so much sadness.  It was during these times of difficulty especially that I was focusing on every short coming I ever had.  Thoughts about my own selfishness, foolishness, fears, etc., just plain regret for all the things I wasn't, all the things I didn't do, things I had done and all the things I can't take back, or give back now.

Recently I have been talking to my Abba (who is so amazing and wonderful) about this topic again because it still creeps in to me at times.  He knows my weaknesses and desires to show me His compassion.  You know how at times He just opens things up to you?  Well after my grandma died I was so overtaken with regrets and broken heartedness but in the midst of that I had no where to go but to Him and Abba showed me what His true rest meant and how it applies to us...I began to understand that true rest (for this problem) was being willing to walk in what He says is true and not what I think or feel is true, no matter how HARD I think it, it doesn't make it true!  In an hour of deep remorse and regret, He gave me His amazing forgiveness and showed me that it was actually sin to NOT accept it, believe in it and rest in it and I was NOT to pick up the thoughts and feelings of regret anymore!  That was an amazing revelation!!

Well, I'd like to tell you that now that Abba has taught me this amazing truth I no longer look back in regret, I no longer think negative thoughts, I am healed of wrong thinking!  No.  However, Abba is speaking to my heart.  He desires to restore a right spirit within me for all time, for everyday, for every situation.  He knows that satan comes to steal and Abba has a "way" to defeat satan and Abba desires to write that "way" upon my heart.

The other day as I was considering how I occasionally still think about things and I was asking Abba to help me, He brought another thought to my mind and it was this:  Why so often when I look back on memories or sometimes photos, etc. do I have such a sense of regret and sadness instead of thoughts of happiness?  I couldn't answer the question.  I don't know.  But, I continued on in my quest to renew my thoughts with Abba's WORD, thinking in scripture, not letting thoughts of negativity take root.  Then today, I sat down at my computer with every intent to put all of my collected Passover materials into more "organized" organization...(that makes me laugh a little) but one thing led to another and I ended up on a blog that I have only been to maybe once before, a blog called "She Looketh Well...".  What she wrote about in her last entry was EXACTLY what Abba had just spoken to me, only she wrote it in a way that was so clear to me!  I had never heard anyone say that they had the same thing happen to them...never!  It was wonderful to read what she had written.  She had two posts that related to this, the first one was:
 Freedom is Sweet and the next one was: Guilt and Shame
It was so amazing to see that everything Abba has been teaching me on this matter was being confirmed in someone else and He even brought more clearly to light so that I could receive it.

The WORD of Abba speaks about bringing all thoughts captive:
 2Co 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Messiah;

And I believe it is for this purpose:

Pro 17:22  A rejoicing heart causes good healing, But a stricken spirit dries the bones. (the Scriptures)

Pro 17:22  A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. (KJV)

Abba created us and He knows quite well that all areas of our lives in which we allow satan to take hold of, he will use it to wound us and ultimately destroy us if possible.  But Abba has given us a "way" that leads not unto death!

What an amazing Father we have.  His mercies are new to me every day.  I am always so amazed that He considers me in my need and weaknesses!

1Ch 17:16-20  And David the king came and sat before YHWH, and said, Who am I, O YHWH God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto? 

  And yet this was a small thing in thine eyes, O God; for thou hast also spoken of thy servant's house for a great while to come, and hast regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree, O YHWH God. 

  What can David speak more to thee for the honour of thy servant? for thou knowest thy servant. 

  O YHWH, for thy servant's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all this greatness, in making known all these great things. 

  O YHWH, there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 

This afternoon at our study, we listened to Brad Scott and he just happened (just happened?  Not really, no such thing as coincidence) to mention that we should NEVER look back in regret because where we have come from is ultimately what has brought us to where we are today...and (this is me speaking now) if that place is closer to Abba then that is His perfect plan in action.  Only Abba has the power to turn darkness into light...satan only "appears" to be light, Abba is the true light!

I pray that I can allow myself, mind and body, to be a sacrifice by allowing Abba to be what He says He is in me.

I want to add one last thought...when men of the scriptures prayed to Abba and when Yahushuah was faced by satan who tried to get Him to stray from Abba's WORD, they either prayed Abba's WORD or spoke it.  Why?  Because the power over death and hell is in Abba's WORD.  His WORD alone spoke life into existence "In The Beginning", His WORD alone reins over death!

Blessings

Created in His Image

What does it mean to be created "In His Image"?

I surly cannot say I know entirely what that means, but I can say I know that certain things that He has placed in us are to be an example of His image or character.

I was thinking about how much I love my children.  I think that the love a parent has for a child is so deep and unfailing.  I think that children certainly also love their parents, but in most cases our parents love us more, with a deeper attachment.

This brings me to my thoughts of how we are created in Abba’s image with this deep love for our children.  It certainly is the example of how Abba loves us.  His love to us is full of forgiveness, and patience, filled with the desire to instruct for our good so that we might go in all the ways of life, health,  happiness, and fruitfulness.  I know that is what I desire for my children.  I desire for them to be wise and understand truth and for them to be blessed in their lives.  It pleases me when they accept discipline/direction without fussing and it pleases me when they choose to honor my instructions that I have placed over them not to control them but to protect and direct them.  Those desires in us come from Abba and are the image to show us His nature and His relationship to us as His children.

Also, I would say the desire to find a mate, get a home and start a family is also part of the example of the His image Abba placed in us because the whole story of the WORD is one of a wedding, a family and a home that is protected and provided for by the Husband and Father who loves His bride and family above all else and desires to place His name on her and bring her to His home that He created just for her!

Isn’t that amazing!  Creating us in His image is to be an example to us that shows us how He thinks about us and revealing it to us in how we think about our families!

Abba is so great (big and vast) that this does not begin to touch on the wonders that lie in the image of Him but as I pondered a parents love and How our creator/Heavenly Father loves us, these things occurred to me.

Jer 31:3  YHWH hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

Coming to life...Around Our House

The Geese are back on the pond.  They come every spring.  I love to watch them.  I love that when they come, it means spring is here.  They usually show up in pairs because when they mate, they mate for life.  When one shows up alone, I feel sad for them.  I hope they just haven't found their mate yet but soon will and that they won't be alone for long.

Green is starting to pop up all over, it is beautiful.  I love green.  The frogs are awake again, chirping really loudly.  I love to hear them.  It sounds so "woodsy" to hear them.  Once they start, you can hear them in the morning and at night.  As I stand here by the pond admiring the life around it, I can also hear the sound of a wood pecker, hard at it.  I can't see him in the trees, I can only hear him.

Isn't the reflection on the water, beautiful.

This picture isn't really that pretty because things are still mostly brown but if you look closely, you can see all the little ducks out there.  They're so cute and little.  They won't let me get near them.  They quickly move to the other side of the pond when I even look as though I might be headed in their direction.  I don't like to scare them, I just want to watch.

Ole Sam.  

I love his eyes.  I love how they look so gold against his blackness.  He always looks so very stern and serious...looks can be so deceiving.

He follows me out to the pond to see what I'm up to.  He just wants some good pettin'.  He's such a good boy.  He's one of my favorite kitties that hang out here.  He sits by my door all the time, waiting for me to come out and pet him (and probably feed him).  He's a lover.  He's so playful and ornery.  I watch him as he lays in wait for the other kitties so he can jump on them (as if they didn't see him waiting to pounce on them) and take them by surprise.  I watch him as he playfully scurries up a tree playing with his kitty friends.  He makes me laugh at how silly he is.  So innocent.  He doesn't know there's a bad thing in the world...except those mean ol' tom cats, but they don't really bother him yet either.  For him, life is just a pond, food in the morning, a little girl who chases him around trying to make him her "baby" 4 days out of the week and his kitty friends.  Not bad. 

These pictures brought to you by my new:

Canon Power Shot, SD 4500 IS, Digital ELPH

(I have no idea how to use it yet but I have every intention of figuring this out!) 

Thank you Craig, you're a good man:)

I love you.

To My Friends Dan and Sharyl

Job 19:25-27  For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the Last, shall rise over the dust; 

  and after my skin has been struck off, then in my flesh I shall see Eloah, 

  whom I myself shall see on my side, and not a stranger.

I just wanted to remind you that we love you and our hearts are with you.  The above verse was one of my Grandma's favorite verses because of the hope it gave her, knowing that one day if she should pass on, she would still see Yah...face to face and not through another's eyes.  What hope we have in His promises.

I know your heart is filled with the pain of loss but I pray for your peace and comfort and for your Dad also today and in the days ahead.  I pray your memories are joyful and your hearts strengthened because of Yahuah's mercy and strength.

We love you both.

This time, this blessing is for you...

Num 6:24-27  “יהוה bless you and guard you; 

  יהוה make His face shine upon you, and show favour to you; 

  יהוה lift up His face upon you, and give you peace.” 

 “Thus they shall put My Name on the children of Yisra’ĕl, and I Myself shall bless them.”

May Shalom rest upon your family now.

Blessings, we love you both.

Shabbat Shalom

I am so thankful that Abba watches out for my family.  I am still pondering little B's words to her Daddy.

Abba is able to bring about what He chooses to do in spite of what the enemy has planned.

Jer 29:11-13  ‘For I know the plans I am planning for you,’ declares יהוה, ‘plans of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and an expectancy.
  ‘Then you shall call on Me, and shall come and pray to Me, and I shall listen to you.
  ‘And you shall seek Me, and shall find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

I am thankful Abba is true to His promises.  Thank you Abba.

Blessings family.

I pray your Sabbath is set apart.

Disaster Preps: Just a reminder

This post is in no way intended to be a fully detailed plan.  Simply a reminder of the times we live in.

Around the world

By now everyone who is watching world events is aware of the chaos occurring in so many places.  The situation in Japan is the worst thing I think I have viewed in my life time.  The pictures that I have seen are unimaginable, Ships larger than two-story houses brought inland onto roads, entire villages gone without anything left of the people who once lived there.  The wall of water that surged inland at 500 miles an hour, the nuclear power plant explosions, all of it more than I can imagine, more than anyone can imagine.

Also, the workers who remained at the power plants in Japan have actually sacrificed their lives to save the lives of others, exposing themselves to deadly doses of radiation…can you imagine that?!

This is not a panic message.  It is a message to remind you that we are living in an uncertain world at this time.  Government and nature both seem to have stepped out of their boundaries all around the earth.  It is a message to urge you not to take your “peace and safety” for granted.  This is a message to practice  setting time apart to seek Abba’s leading.  More than half of the earth is in turmoil at this time.  It is just a reminder that we cannot forget that we don’t know what tomorrow holds but there is one who does. 

Preparations in the home

Everyone’s situation is different no doubt, but  if possible, you might consider at least one week of extra groceries, more if possible (I suggest a month or more).  Remember special needs of elderly, children, babies, and animals (meds, special foods, diapers, etc.).  Have a plan for communication or a meeting place for those who are away from home at times or with others who may or may not live nearby.  It may be a good idea to have a well stocked backpack near the door for everyone in the house who might need to leave quickly during an emergency and possible, a predetermined meeting place if you must leave.  Have a few items in the car, blankets, food / snacks, water, tarps, matches (whatever is seasonal for your area), any tools that you may need and maybe even a couple of books, paper and pens, even a deck of cards...something to occupy time if needed.  Keep your gas tank full (make the half way mark the mark that reminds you to refill).

 Don’t forget to keep your medicine cabinet up to date and stocked with tinctures which are long lasting, and simple things like Epsom salts, peroxide, drawing salves, pain killers, water, essential oils (keep a list of what to do with them posted on the medicine cabinet door), herbs, activated charcoal, Grape fruit seed extract, colloidal silver (learn how to make your own), zinc oxide ointment, cayenne pepper, and vodka (for tinctures and bartering) are a few ideas.  (I hope to elaborate on this information soon.)

Also, parents, teach your children to listen to your voice.  Be sure the young ones are able to follow simple instructions (come, stay, sit...that may sound strange but it may save a life!)  Make sure you've discussed the "possibilities" with older children who can comprehend emergency situations.  If you are like us, you discuss all these matters with you family, not to frighten them but to make them aware so that if an emergency were to arise, we won't be taken completely off guard.

The Real Disaster Prep

As for me, I have done all the above and then some, but the real disaster prep is allowing my heart to become tender.    I feel I have been hardened by distractions, hardened by sadness and maybe even anger or fear.  I don’t want those things to come between me and Abba’s plan for me and His plan for those who I am to be praying for.  I pray that I am in His will, doing the things I was created to do and saying the things I am to say, nothing more, nothing less.   So I pray that Abba will wash away my hardness and heal my heart to hear Him and be where He is.  There, I am assured that He will keep me in the palm of His hand come what may.


Php 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 
  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Messiah Yahushuah.  Amein

Just a few of my thoughts

Quote of the Day

You Shall know the truth and the truth shall  make you... odd.

-Flannery O'Conner







I saw this quote on another blog (on the blog of a Jewish woman) and I thought how true it is...as much to them as to us.

   I have known for a long time how our beliefs set us apart from all mainstream faiths but I didn't realize just how much it set us apart from some Jewish people too.  I understood how different we were from Christianity now that we have begun to understand that the OT is as much for us today as it ever was at any time in history.  And I have felt the sadness when people who we loved looked at us like deer in head lights when we shared the things we had learned with them...thinking they would leap with joy at the revelations.  But, what I did not understand was how the Jewish community views those of us who have left mainstream Christianity because of a desire to apply the whole word of God to our lives...Many Jewish people see us as misfits too because we do not fit the accepted norms of either faith.  It seems to me that they have had the first half  (OT) of the book and the gentiles (the Goim/gentiles) have claimed the second half (NT) and there is a vast river in between that apparently is there to keep us apart.  I no longer believe that is how it will remain in the end.  I believe two (Old Test./New Test.) are created to be one, thus, the example of the union of Adam and Eve and the example of the two sticks that become one in Abba's hand.  Why?  Because that's the business Abba is in, making two into ONE or maybe this is more clear...Abba places two parts together that make something whole...but it wouldn't have been whole without both parts...get it?  Remember He is ONE...(Gettin' off track, sorry.)

I have often heard how the Jewish people have long felt themselves as "strangers" or outsiders.  People without a place to call home, outcasts.   I have begun to understand how we too really have become "strangers", people who have no "earthly place" to call home, no place we fit because of how we believe.

The thought that has kept going through my head today is the general message given to the Jewish people during the Passover, given to them I believe, to remind them that when they felt they could remain exclusive...not to forget that they too were once a people without a place of their own.  He told them:

Exo 12:48  And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof. 
Exo 12:49  One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you. 


Abba has made provision for those of us who desire to come in and partake in His Torah as long as we agree to abide by His ways in faith and because of that,  He reminds those who were already in His house to remember what it was like to be a stranger and not to treat people as such, He said:

Exo 22:21  Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. 

Exo 23:9  Also thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. 

Lev 19:34  But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. 

Anywho...if you don't know by now, the truth does set you free but freedom doesn't usually make you blend in with the crowd...in fact, often there isn't a crowd anywhere around you.  


Thank you Abba for the eyes and hearts that you are opening as you bring your promises to pass to restore your house out of all tongues and nations.  Amein


Just mt thoughts.

HaShem...The Name used here

HaShem means:  The (Ha) Name (Shem)

I think I may have gotten my first questionable comment on my "Yahweh is His name" post from someone who I do not know.  So, in light of that I want to clarify the post, if possible.  I know this topic (The topic of pronunciation of "The Name" of our creator) continues to be one of much controversy.  So everything posted here is my understanding only, however, my goal is to share why I understand things the way I do...not to force anyone to believe the way I do.  You will ultimately come to your own understanding as well.  That is why I started this blog, to share my thoughts


Why did I post it at all?
 I chose the picture with the caption "Yahweh is His Name" as a thumbnail for my post because that is a  familiar pronunciation to the Hebrew spelling of our creator's name.  (The Hebrew letters used to show the Creator's name are: Yod-Hey-Wah-Hey and they are often prounounced "Yah-way" by many believers NOT ALL) to take the opportunity to explain that what they would be seeing in my blog would not be the usual "God or LORD" they are accustomed to.   
 Occasionally, you will see me use Yahuah (pronounced Yah-OO-ah) or Yah on my pages and often, I just use Abba (Father).   I wrote the post out of a desire to introduce that Abba does have a name and it's not LORD or God because this is something that many people just don't know or haven't heard, all be it the exact pronunciation of the  name is not  certain, Yah is certain and there is much evidence that the rest of the name can be deduced from Hebrew writings (you'll see that info below).


My thoughts...
I believe that NO ONE knows the true pronunciation of Abba's name at this time but more and more info is being revealed to bring us to a clearer understanding.  We do know for sure the actual Hebrew letters used in "The Name" they are the Yod-Hey-Wah-Hey...the question is how are they prounounced???  In Abba's time, the whole world will know His name and there will be no mistake.  Since we don't have a complete understanding and we are desirous to be pleasing to Him, we walk in the understanding as it is given to us for today.  In this blog, I write what Abba has let ME see.  I do not write to offend.  I do not write to condemn.    I am in the search of truth and I hope that I am teachable.

More of my thoughts...
Perhaps it's time to look at my post to see if I need to re-word it so as to be clearer. Perhaps I just need to change the thumbnail...perhaps I can't please everyone even though I'd like to. (I have updated the post AND changed the thumbnail...but most likely the latter is the truest...you won't be able to please everyone because we are all at different points on the path)  I do believe that there is still a lot of confusion between the faiths and sometimes even between people who are of the same faith on these matters and still much separation that will no doubt continue to some degree unless we let some of these differences be worked out by Abba in His time.   This and many other matters are high controversial where ever we have visited.  I have my preference of how to say "the Name" and how I don't really care to hear it pronounced but I will let Abba change my heart on the matter if needed and must also let Him show others in His time as well. 

Father, I pray I have a heart to hear and not to have a heart of offendedness when others cannot see my heart toward you.  Help all your people to walk in truth and love toward you and one another.  Amein

The crazy thing is that we just watched the video tonight at our study called:  Restoring the Creator's name:  HaShem Revealed...for the second time
.MY OPINION IS THE NAME IS PRONOUNCED "YAHUAH"  (Yah-oo-ah ) and as I said..."That is MY opinion" I am not compelled to require others to accept that.  Also,  I don't know of any reason why someone who believes it is pronounced Yahweh can't say it that way.  Abba is the only one who is able to bring the light of understanding, you can't force it on anyone and again, He will work it out just like all the other messes He has to fix!!.

Anywho, I'm attaching the link to this You Tube video by "Messenger of the Name" and 
the actual You Tube video is just below this post.

 ( Restoring the Creator's Name... is parts 1-7 if anyone is interested in watching) 
http://www.youtube.com/user/messengerofthename#p/search/1/0AkWmZq1FR8

My apologies if I have offended, that was in no way my desire.  But I am sharing what I have learned.  I hope I will never stop being changeable and moldable.   I hope I always choose the higher road and at the same time I hope that I will always choose not to compromise.


Thank you for taking the time to read this if you did and I hope it clarified this matter if it was a question to you.


Traci

Wisdom and prudence

This is the verse that is rattling around in my head today as I consider current world events.  

There is much to be said in scripture about prudence.  As with all things, there is prudence that comes out of wisdom from our Creator and there is prudence that comes from earthly knowledge and understanding which will not last.

Pro 14:8  The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit. 

Because of wisdom placed in our hearts from Abba, we seek to understand "the way" in which our path which we are walking is leading us, we then begin to seek Abba's ways, to know and understand Him and how He works, to find the path that He instructs us to walk that leads to eternal life.

Pro 14:15  The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going. 

Some will continue in the path of the majority, believing it is the right way because that is the most popular and the loudest message being shouted AND  often, it seems, to be the easiest way to go.  But, remember, there is earthly wisdom and wisdom from above.

Pro 14:18  The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. 

Remember the verses:  Seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened (Matt. 7:7)?  Wisdom and understanding are the blessings we receive for our efforts to sincerely know Abba's truths.  They are "the crown" given to us...a crown that shows what family we belong to, the family of the ONE, true Father who has instructed us in the way we should go.

Remember, there is heavenly wisdom and prudence and there is earthly.  Those who desire the earthly ways will also receive a reward...but it is not a reward of blessing, rather, a reward of shame and judgment.

Jer 8:9  The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them? 

The word of Yah is described as wisdom to men here in Jer. 8:9 and those who reject it will be ashamed.

Psa 33:4  For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth. 

Yahushuah said:  Joh 17:17  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

We are sanctifed or set-apart by the word of Yah, first  by hearing then believing and doing (hear and do...Deu 4:5  Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. 

Deu 4:6  Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. 

Deu 5:1  And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them.) 

The word of Abba in all it's forms are one and NO MAN IS TO TAKE IT APART by adding to or taking away from what is says...It is to all generations, perpetually.  The word appears to man in the written form as instructions to all generations and as the word made flesh which became the final sacrifice for sin.  The two forms in which they have appeared to man are one, joined by Abba because each is created for a specific purpose (if you're getting the picture of a union between a man and wife in which each serves a specific purpose but are designed to operate as one...you're getting the picture!!  One does have dominion over the other but does not do away with the other).  It is a picture of how our Father operates in wholeness or unity or completeness.  

As you study to seek truth and wisdom, remember the word of Yah is always teaching a division but the division is that of holy and unholy.  There is always both being shown in scripture.  The scriptures speak about life and death, cups of blessing and cups of curses, earthly wisdom and Heavenly wisdom, two types of burdens (good and evil), two yokes of bondage (one good, one evil).  You see, WE HAVE TWO CHOICES IN ALL THINGS...life or death, blessings or curses.  That's it.  That is why we are instructed to:

2Ti 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 

We are called to study, to learn the difference between clean and unclean, holy and profane and these truths are taught in the book that Abba left us that explains to His children how to live so He can be with us forever.  We all desire to do the same for our own children...to teach them the best ways to go in so they don't see trouble, right?  He puts that love in us for our own children to show us that that is the same, deep love He has for us.

All that to say this, I guess...  I pray that we have prudence to prepare our hearts and our homes for any storm that we may encounter along "the way" that we will travel today or in the future.   I pray that we might sincerely seek to honor Yah the way He has instructed us to do and not in the way that seems right to us.  I pray that we will have enough of His wisdom and spirit of life in us to be a light to a world that is dieing.  I pray that we will stand firm with good courage and strength with  "a face like flint" with our "minds set" to show honor to our Father in all matters.

Lastly, I want to give thanks for this wonderful day that He has made!  Thank you Father for the opportunity to study your word today!!  You are so good to me!!

Blessings,  Traci

My High Places

Do you ever have times when you think, "I'm just not really doing anything that matters?"  That is a thought in my head that rears it's ugly head on occasion.  I used to work part-time outside the house and home school the boys but after Grandma passed away, I basically quit my job that I had worked at on a part-time basis for 16 years.   I was just so heartbroken when she died I couldn't hardly think clearly for about a year.  Since her death,  I have really had to consider what things matter most as I have pondered life and what is meaningful and how I spend my time.  I have come to realize that we are exactly where we are supposed to be on any given day, if we are following Abba.  His plan is perfect and His timing in always right.  So, I don't have to think I am supposed to be someplace else, doing some other job because He has brought me to "my high place" for today.  That is a real revelation...walking in that revelation on a daily basis is another matter.

I have been given trust over a husband, two boys (three really but my oldest is married now) and now I have the honor and blessing to see my children's children and care for them too while there Mama and Daddy are working.  Is there more than this?  Is there a higher blessing in this life?  It is all my heart desires...and yet, I still have my moments when I hear that voice that says, "You just aren't doing anything that matters, you should be out there occupying your time with (I don't know what...anything that's meaningful right?) saving the world.  Then I wake up again and remember, if I weren't doing what I'm doing...someone else would be doing it because someone has to do it!  Guess what?  I've been appointed, chosen even called to bring the skill Abba has placed in my heart (that is to be a keeper of my home and a teacher of my children, a guide, a protector, a wife and all the other things Abba has placed on me to desire to do) so that I am building my part of His house!!! (That's the general lesson in this weeks Torah portion in Ex. 35!!) That is so amazing to me.  To think that Abba places desires on us that serve the purpose that we are created for.  The important thing is to let others walk in the purpose that they were created for and not  have the attitude that everyone should be doing what your doing...That is Abba's decision, not mine.  So, I encourage you to consider what "desire" is within your heart to fulfill for His purpose and let your prayer be to ask Him to help you get to your high places and let you help others get to theirs.

Anywho, I wrote this rough draft up last evening not really knowing where I was going with it entirely but today I found this You Tube video from Aish that said it very well.  I hope, if you have time, you will take just a few minutes to watch this little uplifting video.  It's message is good... and I hope that no matter where your high places are, whether they are found in great recognition or quite servitude, that you are able to find the joy in being in "the way" chosen for you today.

Have a blessed day of preparation!

Traci

Take The Shot for...My High Places

Power of the Tongue

I think in our daily lives when life is just being life or when it is hurried or we are angered or down, sometimes it can be easy to forget the power in the words that we choose to use.  It is so, so important to remember the power of the spoken word. We can choose negative words which can harm us or others or words that can bless.  Father, help me to remember your words which are life...

The Power of the Tongue

With His words, Abba caused the creation of heaven and earth…

Gen. 1:3

And Elohiem said let there be…

And there was…

Abba’s very words have power to create life.

The power of life and death, blessings and curses exists in the WORD, both written and spoken.

Pro 18:21  Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Jos 8:34  And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law.

We are instructed to Choose Life…we do have a choice.  Both have been set before us…life or death, blessings or curses.

Deu 30:19  I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

Pro 15:4  A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

We can become bound because of the words from our own mouths…

Pro 6:2  Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.

Or set free from the path of wrath and folly.

Pro 15:1  A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

Pro 15:2  The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.

Our Words are Health to the Bones or Affliction to the Soul

Pro 16:24  Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

Pro 26:28  A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

They are Either Wise or foolish

Ecc 10:12  The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.

The Promise in Abba’s WORD to Those Who Mind Their Conversation

Psa 50:23  Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.

My Prayer

Psa 19:14  Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Yahuah, my strength, and my redeemer.

Job 27:4  My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.

Psa 145:21  My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.

Psa 35:28  And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.

Job 6:24  Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

Psa 34:13  Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

1Pe 3:10  For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

1Pe 3:11  Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

Please hear my prayer today Abba and help me to remember the power that is in every idle word I speak and that every word is recorded.  One day when I stand before you let it be found that I have applied wisdom and my words have produce life, been wise, taught truth, and been gentle.  Abba hear me today and let me be found pleasing before you.

Thank you that you hear me.  Amien

Hope you all have a blessed day of preparation and a Shabbat filled with peace and good fellowship.