IT is wholly impossible to live according to Divine order, and to make a proper application of heavenly principles, as long as the necessary duties which each day brings seem only like a burden grievous to be borne. Not till we are ready to throw our very life's love into the troublesome little things can we be really faithful in that which is least and faithful also in much. Every day that dawns brings something to do, which can never be done as well again. We should, therefore, try to do it ungrudgingly and cheerfully. It is the Lord's own work, which He has given us as surely as He gives us daily bread. We should thank Him for it with all our hearts, as much as for any other gift. It was designed to be our life, our happiness. Instead of shirking it or hurrying over it, we should put our whole heart and soul into it.
-- James Reed, Joy and Strength for the Pilgrim's Day by Mary Wilder Tileston, p. 39
Oh Lord, I beg of you to help my poor attitude!
31/01/2010
28/01/2010
A Blog I read today....
Sombra's Blog
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:17-20
These are strong words written by my Lord. Where did we get the idea that He doesn't want us to celebrate the Feasts anymore? or celebrate the Sabbath? I mean He gives us very specific instructions on how to celebrate the Feasts and the Sabbath...but nowhere can I find where it says we are to stop. I think about church today that are trying to "fit in" and be "relevant" in today's world...that to me is walking on very dangerous ground...I'm in a hunt to find other Torah Followers in Calgary, not many Christians are willing to entertain these thoughts. I wonder if I'll lose friends...my support groups...ah well, we'll deal with that when it comes to it! Now go back up and read Sombra's Post! Go on, clink on the link! It even has a nice song!!
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:17-20
These are strong words written by my Lord. Where did we get the idea that He doesn't want us to celebrate the Feasts anymore? or celebrate the Sabbath? I mean He gives us very specific instructions on how to celebrate the Feasts and the Sabbath...but nowhere can I find where it says we are to stop. I think about church today that are trying to "fit in" and be "relevant" in today's world...that to me is walking on very dangerous ground...I'm in a hunt to find other Torah Followers in Calgary, not many Christians are willing to entertain these thoughts. I wonder if I'll lose friends...my support groups...ah well, we'll deal with that when it comes to it! Now go back up and read Sombra's Post! Go on, clink on the link! It even has a nice song!!
23/01/2010
Paganism...it's EVERYWHERE...what's a girl to do!?!
So, I've often wondered what the big deal is about mythology stuff. I knew my parents didn't bother to teach us anything involving this, and I never saw the point of learning about it and teaching it to my kids...but I didn't know why! I'm happy to say that I will continue to follow my instincts on this issue, and here's why...
1Corinthians 14:20 "Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults." To me this is pretty straight forward! and then I'm led to this verse in Exodus!
Exodus 23:13 "Be careful to do everything I have said to you. Do not invoke the names of other gods; do not let them be heard on your lips."
And according to wikipedia Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices...hmmm, I think it's pretty obvious what I should and shouldn't be doing...others can study them and learn about them, but it is not for us.
So now I have another question...should we then change our calendars to that of the Hebrew calendar?? I mean even the very days of the week are paganistic! And how about the months of the year?
If we are not to even SAY the names of other gods, then I think perhaps we are a lot more off than what the world would have us believe...these are just some thoughts stemming from my research of the day....
1Corinthians 14:20 "Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults." To me this is pretty straight forward! and then I'm led to this verse in Exodus!
Exodus 23:13 "Be careful to do everything I have said to you. Do not invoke the names of other gods; do not let them be heard on your lips."
And according to wikipedia Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices...hmmm, I think it's pretty obvious what I should and shouldn't be doing...others can study them and learn about them, but it is not for us.
So now I have another question...should we then change our calendars to that of the Hebrew calendar?? I mean even the very days of the week are paganistic! And how about the months of the year?
If we are not to even SAY the names of other gods, then I think perhaps we are a lot more off than what the world would have us believe...these are just some thoughts stemming from my research of the day....
14/01/2010
Answers to the quiz...
1. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
2. The First Noel
3. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
4. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
5. Silent Night
6. Twelve Days of Christmas
7. Deck the Halls
8. Santa Claus is Coming to Town
9. Joy to the World
10. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
11. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
12. Silver Bells
13. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
14. Grandma Got Ran Over By a Reindeer
15. Christmas Song (O Holy Night)
16. All I Want For Christmas is My Two Front Teeth
17. Jingle Bells
18. We Three Kings
19. White Christmas
20. Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire
21. It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas
22. O Little Town of Bethlehem
23. Winter Wonderland
24. I'll Be Home For Christmas
25. We Wish You a Merry Christmas
26. Good King Wenceslas
27. Little Drummer Boy
28. Away in a Manger
29. Do You Hear What I Hear?
30. Frosty the Snowman
2. The First Noel
3. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
4. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
5. Silent Night
6. Twelve Days of Christmas
7. Deck the Halls
8. Santa Claus is Coming to Town
9. Joy to the World
10. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
11. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
12. Silver Bells
13. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
14. Grandma Got Ran Over By a Reindeer
15. Christmas Song (O Holy Night)
16. All I Want For Christmas is My Two Front Teeth
17. Jingle Bells
18. We Three Kings
19. White Christmas
20. Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire
21. It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas
22. O Little Town of Bethlehem
23. Winter Wonderland
24. I'll Be Home For Christmas
25. We Wish You a Merry Christmas
26. Good King Wenceslas
27. Little Drummer Boy
28. Away in a Manger
29. Do You Hear What I Hear?
30. Frosty the Snowman
Christmas Song Quiz...answers posted tomorrow!
Can you name these Christmas Songs??
How many of the following songs can you identify just by the initials of the words in the first line(s)?? (example: OCAYF= O Come All Ye Faithful
1. HYAMLC
2. TFNTADS
3. GRYMGLNYP
4. ICUAMC
5. SNHNAICAIB
6. OTFDOCMTLSTM
7. DTHWBOHFLLLLLLLL
8. YBWOYBNC
9. JTTWTLIC
10. TKDADAPAVCACADAB
11. ISMKSCUTMLN
12. CSBSDIHS
13. HTHASGTTNBK
14. GGROBAR
15. OHNTSABS
16. AIWFCIMTFT
17. DTTSIAOHOS
18. WTKOOA
19. IDOAWCJLTOIUTK
20. CROAOFJFNAYN
21. IBTLALLC
22. OLTOBHSWSTL
23. SBRAYLITLSIG
24. IBHFC
25. WWYAMCWWYAMC
26. GKWLOOTFOS
27. CTTMPRPPP
28. AIAMNCFAB
29. STNWTTLL
30. FTSWAJHS
How many of the following songs can you identify just by the initials of the words in the first line(s)?? (example: OCAYF= O Come All Ye Faithful
1. HYAMLC
2. TFNTADS
3. GRYMGLNYP
4. ICUAMC
5. SNHNAICAIB
6. OTFDOCMTLSTM
7. DTHWBOHFLLLLLLLL
8. YBWOYBNC
9. JTTWTLIC
10. TKDADAPAVCACADAB
11. ISMKSCUTMLN
12. CSBSDIHS
13. HTHASGTTNBK
14. GGROBAR
15. OHNTSABS
16. AIWFCIMTFT
17. DTTSIAOHOS
18. WTKOOA
19. IDOAWCJLTOIUTK
20. CROAOFJFNAYN
21. IBTLALLC
22. OLTOBHSWSTL
23. SBRAYLITLSIG
24. IBHFC
25. WWYAMCWWYAMC
26. GKWLOOTFOS
27. CTTMPRPPP
28. AIAMNCFAB
29. STNWTTLL
30. FTSWAJHS
01/01/2010
A Poem I fell in love with....
"Dangerous Place"
--by Julie Miller--
Little ones to him belong,
Little ones, where have you gone?
Was it a war that stilled your voice?
No, it was your mother's choice.
Where was the doctor's healing hand
when children died across the land?
Was it in search of saving life?
No, death came from his knife.
It's a dangerous, dangerous, dangerous place,
Dangerous, dangerous place to be these days.
Now five months early you survive,
but 'til you're born, well, you're not alive,
Convenience has a sacrifice,
and children are the price.
It's a dangerous, dangerous, dangerous place,
A mother's womb is a dangerous place to be these days.
Little ones to him belong,
You are weak,
and we were wrong,
Now we will never hear your voice,
and it was our own choice.
Jesus loves me,
this I know
for the Bible tells me so,
Little ones to him belong,
They are weak but He is strong.
--by Julie Miller--
Little ones to him belong,
Little ones, where have you gone?
Was it a war that stilled your voice?
No, it was your mother's choice.
Where was the doctor's healing hand
when children died across the land?
Was it in search of saving life?
No, death came from his knife.
It's a dangerous, dangerous, dangerous place,
Dangerous, dangerous place to be these days.
Now five months early you survive,
but 'til you're born, well, you're not alive,
Convenience has a sacrifice,
and children are the price.
It's a dangerous, dangerous, dangerous place,
A mother's womb is a dangerous place to be these days.
Little ones to him belong,
You are weak,
and we were wrong,
Now we will never hear your voice,
and it was our own choice.
Jesus loves me,
this I know
for the Bible tells me so,
Little ones to him belong,
They are weak but He is strong.
Forsaking Traditions and Embracing Convictions....a journey.
So like always, I'm feeling challenged by some people...I don't know them in real life, just through reading their blogs and talking with them through various yahoo groups...here are some of the things I'm being challenged in...I have no resolutions to my wondering thoughts...just lots of questions...lol And without being all legalistic, our family will be going through these questions this year and exploring what God has to show us and teach us...
What calendar should I follow? Daniel 7:25 "He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time." Now I realize that we shouldn't be just taking one verse and wonder what it means...lol but after reading the whole chapter 7 of Daniel, I DO wonder what it means and if it's referring to something that happened in that time or is it referring to the calendar that man made which makes no sense really...especially when compared to the lunar calendar, which in my head makes the most sense!
According to Exodus 12:1-2 "1 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, 2 "This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year." this is in referance to the Passover also stated in Leviticus 23:5 "The LORD's Passover begins at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month." Deut 16:1 "1 Observe the month of Abib and celebrate the Passover of the LORD your God, because in the month of Abib he brought you out of Egypt by night." So in those verses, it tells us what month God has stated as the first month of the year. This month is Abib...no where in Scripture have I yet found a place that even states Rosh Hashanah (a Jewish fall festival) to be the new year. Here is some good calendar info...if you're intrigued!
Also, when does our day really begin? Genesis 1:5 "God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day." The term "and there was evening, and there was morning-the ______ day" is used throughout the creation story...to me this means our day starts at sundown and goes until the next sundown. This verse backs up this theory as well, Neh 13:19 "When evening shadows fell on the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I ordered the doors to be shut and not opened until the Sabbath was over." but then you have verses like this one Gen 19:34 "The next day the older daughter said to the younger, "Last night I lay with my father. Let's get him to drink wine again tonight, and you go in and lie with him so we can preserve our family line through our father." Just to add to confusion..."In the time of the Roman Empire, the day may have begun at midnight, as indicated by the Gospel of John (4:6; 19:14)." (from above link...)
Is it ok to follow "christian" holidays if we are lovers of the Lord??? or follow the Feasts that He Himself has asked us to remember in Leviticus 23? Here are many thoughts that I share...Grab a cup of coffee though, because it's a very interesting read full of facts and history...
One thing we DO want to remember this year, regardless of what we end up doing with our holidays/feasts, is to remember our Lord. I pray that each and every holiday/feast we celebrate, ultimately points to Him....He is the ONLY reason for us to keep on breathing. We were made for HIS glory!!
What calendar should I follow? Daniel 7:25 "He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time." Now I realize that we shouldn't be just taking one verse and wonder what it means...lol but after reading the whole chapter 7 of Daniel, I DO wonder what it means and if it's referring to something that happened in that time or is it referring to the calendar that man made which makes no sense really...especially when compared to the lunar calendar, which in my head makes the most sense!
According to Exodus 12:1-2 "1 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, 2 "This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year." this is in referance to the Passover also stated in Leviticus 23:5 "The LORD's Passover begins at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month." Deut 16:1 "1 Observe the month of Abib and celebrate the Passover of the LORD your God, because in the month of Abib he brought you out of Egypt by night." So in those verses, it tells us what month God has stated as the first month of the year. This month is Abib...no where in Scripture have I yet found a place that even states Rosh Hashanah (a Jewish fall festival) to be the new year. Here is some good calendar info...if you're intrigued!
Also, when does our day really begin? Genesis 1:5 "God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day." The term "and there was evening, and there was morning-the ______ day" is used throughout the creation story...to me this means our day starts at sundown and goes until the next sundown. This verse backs up this theory as well, Neh 13:19 "When evening shadows fell on the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I ordered the doors to be shut and not opened until the Sabbath was over." but then you have verses like this one Gen 19:34 "The next day the older daughter said to the younger, "Last night I lay with my father. Let's get him to drink wine again tonight, and you go in and lie with him so we can preserve our family line through our father." Just to add to confusion..."In the time of the Roman Empire, the day may have begun at midnight, as indicated by the Gospel of John (4:6; 19:14)." (from above link...)
Is it ok to follow "christian" holidays if we are lovers of the Lord??? or follow the Feasts that He Himself has asked us to remember in Leviticus 23? Here are many thoughts that I share...Grab a cup of coffee though, because it's a very interesting read full of facts and history...
One thing we DO want to remember this year, regardless of what we end up doing with our holidays/feasts, is to remember our Lord. I pray that each and every holiday/feast we celebrate, ultimately points to Him....He is the ONLY reason for us to keep on breathing. We were made for HIS glory!!
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