Bread & Roses

Volunteering in your community is one of the most profound ways you can "love your neighbor as yourself". One organization out of the San Francisco Bay Area has been doing just that through the vehicle of live music.

Bread and Roses is an organization that enlists musicians to volunteer their time visiting hospitals, nursing and group homes as well as cancer and AIDS patients. Musicians perform free of charge at various facilities including jails and orphanages. These are often the most marginalized members of society. Shut away and unseen, they are often simply forgotten.

Another musician shared how much it meant when a guitarist came to visit his father who suffered from Parkinson's Disease. His body was so wasted, my friend relates, that the only strength he had left was to sing. Despite the ravages of this disease, he could still vocalize his old time favorites which the volunteer guitarist would play. Here's where it gets difficult. My friend said that would hold his father up to sing and would deliberately stand behind him so he would not see the tears of joy streaming down his face while the woman played. I know both my friend and his father will always remember the kindness shown to them by this volunteer musician.

Our Heavenly Father loves a cheerful giver. What we often miss is that we can receive wonderful blessings ourselves when we put others first. I can't tell you how much joy I have right after ministering to others with Christian music. In fact in Ephesians 5:19, Paul said..."Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord," This is an incredible blessing!

King David said, "I will sing to Yahweh as long as I live. I will sing praise to my God while I have any being." None of us is promised tomorrow and we know not what the future will bring. I try not to let a day pass without singing and playing my instruments in praise of my Heavenly Father and His Son. It is so easy to get caught up in our own daily problems but Yeshua, (Jesus) says to seek first the Kingdom and all other things will be added to us. The Kingdom of God is about sharing with others. This includes sharing the message of Yeshua's coming reign and blessings for all who believe his words. Can you find it in your heart to donate your musical talents? Visit Bread and Roses online to see what others are doing to serve in their communities and join in.


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The Gift of Music

Heart Notes

Giving is Better!

Yeshua, (Jesus) said, "It is better to give than to receive." Most of us by nature prefer to be on the receiving end of things! Who doesn't like to get gifts, especially when they are unexpected? Yeshua isn't saying receiving gifts is a bad thing. The second part of John 10:10 quotes Yeshua as saying: "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." In fact, he gave his life so that we all could have life to the full and everlasting life in the age to come.

However 1 Timothy 6:17 Paul offers wise advice regarding material riches:

"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment." (1 Timothy 6:17)

See, God Almighty, El Olam, is the biggest gift giver in the universe. He did not spare His Son but gave him up to the shame and pain of the cross. Everything we have has been given to us by God for our daily provision and enjoyment. Salvation is also a free gift from God. If our hearts are more focused on material things and wealth do we really believe that God is able to supply our needs? Perhaps He could still use our help, right? We may not be trusting God at all if this is the condition of our hearts.

Yeshua was not teaching that receiving gifts is wrong. What he did say is that giving is simply better. Doing something kind for someone who can not return the favor means storing up wealth in heaven or in God's memory. The prophet Nehemiah served in exile as the King of Shusan's cup bearer. After showing incredible charity and helping his people return to pure worship of the only true God, Yahweh, he said:

"Remember me, Oh my Elohim,(God), for good."(Nehemiah 13:31)

True wealth is what can not rust or be stolen away. Such riches can only be stored with God our Father. When we show kindness or lend to someone we know can not pay us back, we are in fact lending to Yah. When we set a dinner for people who may not have a fine home to serve us in return we will have riches in heaven. When we forgive and do good to people who like ourselves do not deserve it, we are imitating our Heavenly Father. This is what Yeshua did so to be like him and the Father, we have to do the same thing. Really, we have no good thing apart from Yah. King David recognized this. Even the resources we give to others were His in the first place!

HYMN: Psalm 25:7 7 "Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O Lord."

PRAYER: Open my eyes oh Yah to see the needs of others today. Take my eyes off my self and the material things that draw me after them instead of You. In Yeshua's name...Amen.

The Right Spirit

"For God has not given us a spirit of cowardice, but of power, and of love, and of wise discretion." (2 Timothy 1:7)

How true! If we do have an overly timid spirit, we should ask ourselves, "Who is THAT from?" I think we all know the answer! In this context Paul was speaking about partaking in the trials of sharing the saving Gospel (Good News), of Yeshua and God's Kingdom. As Paul records, there were many perils in doing so. The Greek word "deilias" does not mean normal fear even though it is often translated as that in many Bibles. Deilias is actually better translated as "cowardice".

Although cowardice is difficult to define outside of specific social contexts, it is generally held to be "ignoble fear in the face of danger or pain". When we trust in our Heavenly Father we can ask and expect to receive that power, love and wise discretion to complete the preaching of the Gospel. A spirit of cowardice by contrast is what the enemy gives us in order to thwart that goal. See, it is by the preaching, hearing and receiving of the Good News that people are saved. Yeshua is quoted in John 10:10 as saying that Satan only comes to kill, steal and destroy. Satan puts this sort of ignoble fear in our hearts to silence the telling of God's wonderful plan of salvation. No message=no hope. Are we going to let him get away with that? Absolutely not! Fear of man is never a good thing. Jesus said not to fear those who can destroy the body which includes those who oppose the Kingdom word.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, giver of all good things, it is by You that we live and move and breathe. We are Your offspring. Give us a bold spirit to preach the same saving Gospel as Your Son and the apostles. Give us that power, love and a keen mind to accomplish all that You would have us to do for Your Kingdom. In Yeshua's way, religion and teachings we pray...Amen.

Don't Be Ashamed!

When looking at Yeshua's (Jesus'), many teachings, we have to admit as did others that he spoke with authority. Not his own authority but that of his Heavenly Father, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Read John 12:49 " because I have not spoken on my own authority. Instead, the Father who sent me has Himself commanded me what to say and how to speak."

Yeshua adds:

"For whosover shall be ashamed of me and my words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed, whensoever he shall come in his glory and that of the Father and of the holy (set apart) messengers (angels)." Luke 9:26

What are Jesus' words? Well, we have to listen to all that he says but especially when he tells us our life in the age to come is tied to them as seen here:

"And this is the age-abiding life, (everlasting life), that they should know Thee, the only true God and him whom you have sent, Yahshua the Messiah." John 17:3

Yahshua is speaking of someone other than himself, his Father, as the only true God. All other gods are false. The qualifier "only" means that there can be no others. It is like introducing one woman as your only true wife but then saying another woman is your wife also. Only ONE can be your true wife!

You know what? I believe Jesus and am not ashamed of telling others what he says whether or not it conflicts with popular religious traditions or beliefs. For it is by HIS words we will be judged so it is best to proudly quote our only Teacher and Rabbi. This is pleasing to both God our Father and the Lord Yeshua. Don't be ashamed!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, Almighty God, You said from heaven, "This is My beloved Son, listen to him!" Father give us willing hearts to truly hear what he says even if it not popular today. Lord Yeshua your words are like life-giving water for this thirsty soul. You are my Rabbi and only what you say matters. Amen!

God Sings Over Us!

I often wonder about things we sometimes take for granted. Think about our natural ability to respond to and play music. That is a gift that animals lack although one could contemplate the complex chorus of the Northern Mockingbird. Still our enjoyment and ability to create music as well as instruments is something quite different than what we see in the animal kingdom. If we were to apply Darwin's theories, there is no explanation for human singing. It doesn't help us to survive or procure food. It surely won't help us avoid being attacked.
So what is the biological purpose behind singing and or playing a musical instrument. Could it be that a loving Creator enjoys music and gave it as a gift to people for His glory?
Zephaniah 3:17 says, "The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."
It is pretty obvious that the Author of all music Himself sings with rejoicing and delight over those who honor Him. And who honored Yahweh more than Yeshua?
Yeshua, (Jesus), quotes a Psalm as his own in Hebrews 2:12, "saying, 'I will declare Thy name to my brethren, in the midst of an assembly I will sing praise to Thee;' and again, 'I will be trusting on Him;'"
How wonderful is that? Yeshua leads us in praise of his Father whom he declared to be the ONLY True God, (John 17:3). Almighty God reciprocates by taking delight and singing over us with rejoicing. Think on how we might please Yah today by praising Him with loving ways and obedient hearts.

Standing in the Gap

Think of the ship's watchman standing at the bow watching for dangers at sea. A sudden squal, rocky shoals, turbulent seas. His eye is set on the horizon. The first mate stands between disaster and safety for the ship. One of the things believers are called to do is pray. The Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 6:18, "And pray in the spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." Praying for the "Saints" or other believers is pretty easy. How about government officials? Yes, Paul includes them also in 1 Timothy 2:1-3, "First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior," This shows who are included with those "in authority". That would also mean magistrates, judges, congressmen and many more power figures. Why pray for them? Well, partly so that we may live peaceful and quiet lives. Can you imagine a world with absolutely no authority in place? Chaos! That is a far cry from a peaceful and quiet life. Fact is, all authority is relative to the Father and Creator, Yahweh. This power is His to delegate. Roman's 13:1 makes it quite clear:"Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God." We are to intercede as fellow workers with God to bring about His will. Part of that will is for all people to be saved but it is also so that everyone will hear the saving message of His grace to that end. That's why we should watch and pray. We are ready and alert for opportunities to "stand in the gap" for all who would need our help through prayer no matter what their assigned stations.

Heart Notes

I encourage everyone to start serving in their community. My calling was towards a music ministry but I did not have tremendous skills to offer. I just offered my heart and trusted my Heavenly Father to make up the rest. It's the same analogy of stepping out of the boat. Peter had faith to step onto the water but often we lose sight of our focus, in this case Yeshua. These distractions and fears cause us to sink because we're looking at our circumstances and not him! If we take ourselves out of the mix, "Oh I don't have a good enough _______(fill in the blank), I'll make a fool of myself", etc., God can work with what we have and even multiply it. However if we insist on going by how things appear, we can actually hinder God's grace. I can say that my music ministry has been deeply blessed and it is a joy to serve in the hospitals and nursing homes as a chaplain and musician. God did that. Consider yourself called!

Saving Grace

I am often shaken to my core over the absurdity of many legal mandates which are at clear odds with the 1st Amendment. Case in point. Two Florida school officials may face jail time for saying grace at a luncheon attended by adults? Does this sound right to you? Here is CBN's Report: