Christmas Blessings from Shekinah Path

Blessing God for His Help

Psalms 28:7 in the NKJV says, "The LORD Yahweh is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him."

This verse of David speaks so much! First David rightfully recognizes the Almighty as his strength and his shield. This gives us the idea of Yah's power to both intervene and shield us from evil. Secondly King David confirms his heartfelt trust by saying "I am helped". Spoken in the past tense, he is confirming that as far as he is concerned, it has already been done for him. Do we have faith like that? Do we trust that our Heavenly Father will always help us when we call out to Him? David did!

Notice what David says next. He is glad in his heart and rejoices by magnifying God with a song of praise. How often do we do that? I mean we pray and pray for something and then when God does it for us, do we remember to thank Him with our whole heart as David did? See, our Creator gave us all of these wonderful gifts to show gratitude and praise for His loving care. Many of us can sing and some of us can even play an instrument. Can't we direct some of that talent back to bless the One who gave it to us in the first place? We can sing of His wonders and even proclaim the Lord Messiah's Gospel to a world in dire need.

If we are truly thankful for all that Yah has done for us, such as His help, forgiveness of sins and salvation through His Son, Yahshua, (which means "Yah's Salvation") we will find ways to express our joy. He our AWESOME GOD and so worthy of praise!

A City on a Hill

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;" Matthew 5:14

Yahshua's own words proclaim that WE are the light of the world. There is a lot of focus on HIM which is only appropriate but not if it takes away from hearing his WORDS. Think of the Menorah, the lamp stand used in the temple and now for Hanukkah.

If you notice, the Menorah has a center light that is higher than the rest. It is used to light all of the other oil lamps or candles on the branches. Yahshua is that middle light, the foremost of the world:

"In him was life, and that life was the light of men." John 1:4

The reason for the Messiah's coming was to spread that light to us. WE are that city on a hill! Our purpose is light up this dark world with HIS Gospel. Not so much the Gospel about Yahshua but the Gospel of Yahshua, namely what he taught. It is quite clear to see that the main focus of his teachings was the Kingdom of God and its righteous rule. We then, should be beacons lighting the way for people to find it. In fact, Jesus said that this was something for us to seek first:

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33

I Say: Merry Christmas!

I saw a video on Facebook today showing a Flash Crowd doing a portion of Handel's Messiah replete with Hallelyah Chorus! It was glorious but made me think back to a time not very long ago where I learned that 1700's composition for an Christmas Concert performed in a public school.

We all know from secular history that this country was founded on the bedrock of Judeo-Christian beliefs. So when did we become an atheist nation, afraid to mention our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ? The truth is ... we didn't. There are certain voices in the liberal media trying to dictate and rather harshly so, what Americans are supposed to believe.

This sort of intimidation includes ridicule and singling out Biblical beliefs as being "myths". This is serious because it is our faith in Yahshua's words that will either save or judge us:

"There is a Judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day." John 12:48

No way of getting around it. Yahshua believes the Law and the Prophets because he said he came not to abolish the writings of Moses but to fulfill it:

"Don't misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose." Matthew 5:17

All of that which was written was a foretaste of the glory and redemption to come! So, Jesus wasn't ashamed to believe the Law and the Prophets. Now that his work has been accomplished, we shouldn't be either. We are NOT a nation of agnostics and atheists no matter what the mainstream media would have us believe. Think for yourself and don't let anyone quiet you for your beliefs. Freedom of Speech is part of our National Heritage. So I say, "Merry CHRISTmas"!

Heart Matters

"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight Oh Yah!" Psalm 19

Yahshua was more concerned with a man's heart than his outside actions. In fact he made a point to show that it is not what goes into a man's mouth that defiles him but what comes out! What is inside definitely will come to the surface:

"Out of the fullness of the heart, the mouth speaks." Matthew 12:24

Listen to someone or yourself speak and you will quickly see where the deepest thoughts and affections lay. If we are always talking about money, material things and our pleasures, well, there you have it! If we bless God and then curse people who are made in His image, we are showing which is the dominant spirit within us. God really can't do His work within us if we allow our thoughts and motivations to be dominated by the flesh.

We know that Yahshua is our righteousness and his finished work is enough to prepare us for the Kingdom, still in order for that set apart spirit to dwell richly within us, we must examine our hearts. People may say, "Follow your heart!" but the course of wisdom is to lead it.

A Thankful Thanksgiving

"...and be thankful!"

This is the time of year that we are supposed to do that. When I see the glorious blaze of fall colors, the geese fattened up for their migration and all the lovely vegetables and flowers, I can't help but bless God for them all. Thanksgiving is about having an attitude of gratitude for all God has given us. Really every good and perfect gift comes down to us from our Heavenly Father through Christ. Still there is something more our Creator wishes to give us.

"Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful." Colossians 3:15

So what is robbing you of your peace? Worries and anxious thoughts over the Bush Tax Cuts? Perhaps your health is not what it should be. Maybe your finances are a mess and family members or friends are mistreating you. Whatever it is, this is not God's will for us to be worried, afraid and apprehensive about the future. We are told:

"Casting all your care on him; for he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7

When we do this, then we can invite God's peace to rest on us. With that peace should come a thankful heart for all that Yah does for us each day down to the smallest details. The Bible says He opens His hand and satisfies the desires of every living thing. How much more so will He care for those made in His image and subject to Yahshua? Jesus trusted Him and now we can also!

"You open Your hand And satisfy the desire of every living thing." Psalm 145:16

This is something that we surely can be thankful for! The peace that we have comes from a lifetime of trusting in God, looking back on all He has done to preserve, guide and bless us. This gives us rest and confidence in His future provisions seen or unseen. Yes, and be thankful!

Compassion

"[It is of] Yahweh's loving kindnesses that we are not consumed, because his compassion doesn't fail." Lamentations 3:22

How awesome to know that even when our faith and power to do good fails, our Heavenly Father's does not! This is because of who HE IS:

"If we are faithless, he remains faithful. He can't deny himself." 2 Timothy 2:13

What God looks for however is a contrite and honest spirit. One that acknowledges our inability to be sinless on our own. Self-righteousness is one of the main things Yahshua cited the Pharisees on during his ministry. Why? Well, when we are so full of ourselves, there is no room for God to fill us with His spirit. Not only that, we can become cruel and lacking in compassion of others who like everyone except Yahshua have sinned and missed the mark of full obedience to God:

²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23

So if we recognize our own short-comings, it will be easier to reach out to others with the Good News of God's Kingdom. People need to know that right now they can have peace with the Creator of the Universe through His Son. We can and should show the same compassion towards them as Yah has shown us!

"for through the Messiah, God was reconciling the world to himself by not counting their sins against them. He has committed his message of reconciliation to us." 2 Corinthians 5:19