Habakkuk 1:5 Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told. -LORD God
Genesis 1:26-27 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Genesis 3:20 Now the man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all the living.
In the Hebrew, Eve means “life”.
Bible Wiki
And so it begins…
Genesis 4:8 Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.
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Malachi 2:10 Do we not all have one father? Has not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously each against his brother so as to profane the covenant of our fathers?
Matthew 24:12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.
Sino Japanese War wikipedia
May 7, 1945. Lt. A. E. Samuelson. (Army) NARA FILE #: 111-SC-204480 WAR & CONFLICT BOOK #: 1103
Iran Iraq War Pinterest
Apartheid AfricaReport.com
Stalin & Hitler Moscow Times
Arab Israeli Conflict Guardian
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Acts 17:26a and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth…
When does it end???
Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
It has been a couple of years since I met her at that event, but she still messages me from time to time to let me know she is still in the free world and has not returned to prison. She remains clean and tells me that I sparked hope in her to move beyond her past. She has thanked me repeatedly. She says she looks at her shame differently today and is now full of hope. The most recent message I got from her said, “I know stealing is wrong.” She said she had prostituted herself for money to get high, but had never stolen things before. She considers stealing my book the best criminal action she has ever committed in her life; she has no regrets. When she heard I would be at the event that night, she walked a number of blocks to ensure that she had a chance to meet me in person and to share with me that my journey gave her hope.
I love how a minor infraction isn’t a stumbling block; it is actually the chance for redemption! She stumbled, yet she needed that stumble to take her to a different place. That is why I do what I do. She may never know how her sharing her experience with me helped affirm that I am living my purpose. My journey and my experiences not only empower those in similar situations, but they also help those outside of these situations better understand what their lives can look like. The struggles, the stigmas, the hurts, the pain, the shame, the guilt—they are real. Those who are hurting have to understand this, and those who are on the other side have to see this in order to connect.
Sometimes it is good–better–best. This young woman left the recovery center, yet she came back, and now two years later, she is still clean. They did not judge her for leaving or for using again; they just received her with open arms. This time, it was her time.
I know from experience that getting help is not easy. Facing our demons is not easy. As the gardener pulls weeds from the flower beds, often there are thorns, and they hurt. But the rewards of the lovely flowers in full bloom are worth all the hard work. We have to get through the hurt in order to heal. It takes courage to face our past and the hurts others have inflicted upon us. In the middle of the process, it can get messy and it can be hard, but as we press through, it is so worth the joy that comes in the morning as our Christ has promised us. That joy does come in the morning. He doesn’t tell us which morning; we just have to hold on and believe we are worth the work!
It takes courage to survive, and it takes courage to heal. We have to make sure we are allowing the hurting to hurt and the healing to happen at its own pace. We can’t force the healing journey on those we serve, those we love, or those we encounter on our path of life. We just have to love them through it. And if they run, we must be there with our arms open wide to receive them when they return. We must be ready to receive them where they are at that new moment, not using the past to dictate a judgment or opinion of the new moment. We never know when it is “their time.”
After all, it is their journey. We just get to play a part, our own agendas side. When we are ready to meet them where they are, God can use us to assist them on that journey and empower them to look beyond their past hurts to find their inner strengths and beauty.
The following is courtesy of the Temple Institute in Jerusalem, Israel.
This year’s First Fruits & Twin Loaves reenactment took place in Itamra, in the Shomron. It was led by Rabbi Yisrael Ariel of the Temple Institute and Professor Hillel Weiss, and performed by the kohanim of the Nezer HaKodesh School for Kohanim.
Thanks to Professor Hillel Weiss for providing this footage.
Ezekiel 38:5 Persia, Ethiopia and Put with them, all of them with shield and helmet…
These are Noah’s grandchildren. The sons of Ham by and large settled in Africa. Historical Put is a country that will join Russia, Turkey, Iran and others in their future invasion of Israel per the prophet Ezekiel.
Military ties continue to strengthen in the 21st century as promised by the prophet Ezekiel roughly 2,600 years ago.
Put or Phut means “a bow”; a nation and people of northern Africa; probably Libyans. Consensus among researchers and scholars is noted that Put is modern day Libya. –Strong’s Concordance.
May 2020: Russia is moving fighter jets into Libya. It is believed Russia is looking to support General Haftar and the Libyan National Army (LNA). Libya’s Government of National Accord (GNA) has the support of the United Nations. Turkey has moved troops into the arena to support the GNA. The situation is showing signs of mirroring Syria.
Libya is Africa’s largest source of oil and natural gas. Libya is also the launch point of immigration into Europe from Africa. Human trafficking is estimated to be a 6 to 7 billion dollar per year business.
The following is a press release from U.S. Africa Command.
US AFRICOM: Russia deploys military fighter aircraft to Libya –
“Russia is clearly trying to tip the scales in its favor in Libya. Just like I saw them doing in Syria, they are expanding their military footprint in Africa using government-supported mercenary groups like Wagner. For too long, Russia has denied the full extent of its involvement in the ongoing Libyan conflict. Well, there is no denying it now. We watched as Russia flew fourth generation jet fighters to Libya, every step of the way. Neither the LNA nor private military companies can arm, operate and sustain these fighters without state support, support they are getting from Russia.” – General Stephen Townsend, U.S. Army
“If Russia seizes basing on Libya’s coast, the next logical step is they deploy permanent long-range anti-access area denial (A2AD) capabilities. If that day comes, it will create very real security concerns on Europe’s southern flank.” -U.S. Air Force General. Jeff Harrigian, Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa.
US AFRICOM: Russia deploys military fighter aircraft to Libya – "For too long, Russia has denied the full extent of its involvement in the ongoing Libyan conflict. Well, there is no denying it now." – Gen. Townsend https://t.co/cc3XakXyn2 via @USAfricaCommandpic.twitter.com/LT0G1zdpul
Proverbs 27:23 Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds…
The Economy is trying to bottom and start the recovery. GDP is worse than the Great Recession, the damage is widespread and Many retailers and restauranteurs will not recover. However, change will bring new innovation and Huge Investment Opportunities.
Michael continues to watch the global impact of the U.S. Dollar. Diversify your resources and do your home work. Seek a financial adviser.
Click on the link below to get the latest economic news from Michael Douville.
Leviticus 23:15-16 ‘You shall also count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day when you brought in the sheaf of the wave offering; there shall be seven complete Sabbaths. You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall present a new grain offering to the Lord.
On a Gregorian calendar in the year of 2020, the holiday of Shavuot/Feast of Weeks/Pentecost begins at sunset on Thursday, May 28. The God Appointed holiday ends at sunset Saturday, May 30. The Feast takes place in the month of Sivan on the 6th and 7th of a Hebrew calendar. This is the Hebrew year 5780.
In the Old Testament and in the Hebrew, this holiday is referred to as Shavuot. The word means: weeks.
Shavuot is one of the three holidays where Jewish men are required to come to Jerusalem (Exodus 23:14-17). The men were to make their presentation and sacrifice before God at the Temple.
Jewish traditions for Shavuot include reading the book of Ruth. Jews also stay up all night and study the Torah. Although not indicated in the Bible, an interesting tradition of the holiday is King David died on Shavuot.
The story is about a gentile widow, Ruth. She was married to a Jewish man who died. His name was Elimelech (meaning “My God is King” per Strong’s Concordance). Ruth freely decided to follow her Jewish mother in law after her husband’s death.
Ga`al is the Hebrew word used in the book of Ruth of Boaz who is the kinsman redeemer. Boaz is a pattern or type for Jesus Christ. The custom of the kinsman redeemer is played out in Ruth 4.
There are two conditions for Boaz or any kinsman redeemer to meet. The land of the relative has to be purchased or redeemed and the bride of the deceased relative must be acquired if the deceased was married. In this case, Elimelech was the deceased relative.
The legal transaction was made in front of ten city elders. Another relative of Elimelech was on board with land acquisition. But he was not interested in acquiring Ruth, the gentile Moabite. Boaz stepped in and exercised his full right as a kinsman redeemer. Boaz purchased the land and acquired Ruth.
The legal contract was a sandal. Witnesses were present and confirmed the transaction.
Ruth 4:7 Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning the redemption and the exchange of land to confirm any matter: a man removed his sandal and gave it to another; and this was the manner of attestation in Israel.
It is from this prophetic transaction, blessing would come to Israel and the world. Over 1,000 years later, a Savior would be born in Ephrathah, the area in and around Bethlehem.
Ruth 4:11 All the people who were in the court, and the elders, said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built the house of Israel; and may you achieve wealth in Ephrathah and become famous in Bethlehem.
So a Jewish groom born in Bethlehem purchases a gentile bride…
Psalm 18:19 “He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.”
@beholy404
A bunker is a defensive military fortification designed to protect people and valued materials from falling bombs or other enemy attacks. Chiefly underground, they were deployed during the two world wars and in the long period of the cold war that followed the second global conflict in the 20th century. But they were not invincible. They would fail in the event of very powerful blasts or when hit by bunker-busting warheads developed to penetrate hardened targets buried deep underground.
These military-type shelters, despite their limitations, might have come in handy for David to hide as Saul and other enemies sought to destroy him. Caves, mountains and the wilderness were his hideouts. Death always stalked him and his fellow fugitives, numbering about six hundred as informants exposed him often.
Finally, after being severely buffeted by the “sorrows of death”, “the sorrows of hell”, and the “floods of ungodly men”, David ran into the arms of God, the ultimate and unfailing Shelter, more secure than a thousand and one bunkers put together. That was where he got deliverance and sweet relief. Thereafter, instead of walking in the shadows of caves and mountains for the fear of Saul, he was brought “into a large place” by God.
Today, Jesus Christ is the Tower all men and women worldwide should run to for deliverance from a warring Satan and his agents. The sinner needs Him for the salvation of his soul. The backslider must go to Him for restoration to his first love. How about the redeemed? We must remain with Him in faithfulness and ask for more grace to continue to serve Him in righteousness and holiness till the end.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Trusting in God thrusts you into His everlasting arms for protection.
Today, Hamadan is believed to have approximately 554,000 people per 2016 census numbers. Hamadan is home to the tombs of Esther and Mordechai.
May 16, 2020: The tombs of Esther and Mordechai have been set on fire. Allegedly, there was not significant damage.
“Since February, members of the Iranian Basij militia have once again threatened to raze the tomb of historic Jewish heroes Mordechai and Queen Esther. It appears that these domestic terrorists attempted to carry out this outrageous act of desecration with this premeditated attack,” Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.
The Basij is a volunteer militia of the Iranian government. The Basij was set up by the Ayatollah Khomeini in 1979. The stated purpose of the Basij is as follows: “create the necessary capabilities in all individuals believing in the Constitution and the goals of the Islamic Republic to defend the country, the regime of the Islamic Republic, and aid people in cases of disasters and unexpected events.”
The role of the Basij is to handle “resistance areas” within Iran…
Here is a quote that likely best describes the role of the Basij in Iran. This is a group of enforcers.
“But because they receive less training than other Iranian security forces, their tactics are often the toughest against dissidents—and in turn generate more public anger that could weaken rather than strengthen the regime long-term.”
If interested (highly recommended) in more detail of the Iranian Basij, click on the link below.
Kifl, Iraq: An ancient synagogue at the tomb of Ezekiel has been replaced by a Shiite Mosque. Ezekiel is a prophet listed in the Quran as well as the Bible. He is called Thel Kifl in the Quran. Hence, the town in Iraq is named after Ezekiel. Iraqis call him Hidkel.
Kifl is located about an hour and 45 minutes south of Baghdad on the Euphrates River.
It is thought Ezekiel died in 569 BC.
Now it is Muslims making the trip to Ezekiel’s tomb instead of Jews and Christians.
Esther, Mordechai, and Ezekiel were real people. They lived and died and they were buried. Esther and Mordechai were buried in what is modern day Hamadan, Iran. Ezekiel was buried in the middle of Iraq and has a town named after him. The book of Esther and Ezekiel are not fables or a fairy tales. Shiite Islam is trying to erase their memory from history.
On a trip out of state a couple of months ago, I spoke to a large group of individuals exiting prison, as well as their families and supporters of faith–based recovery groups.
Afterward, I was approached by a lovely woman. At first, she said she wanted to shake my hand. I said, “Shoot, we do hugs around here,” and I hugged her. She went on to say she had been in a recovery center/community that also had housing. They had an area for reading with a shelf of books, and my first book, Cry Purple, was one of the books on the shelves. She said she took my book to her room with every intention of reading it.
That night, her addiction called her, and the urge to use was out of control. She said she fought it for a while but finally grabbed her purse, combed her hair, and walked out of the recovery community center, but not before stepping back into her room and putting my book in her bag. She said she just stole my book. She told me she couldn’t help it and wasn’t sure what made her grab it.
She got high, ran out of money, and ended up in a house with other people getting high. She tried to settle into sleep. A day and a half passed. Then she picked up my book and read it. It took her four hours, but she read every page. She fell asleep, got up, and went back to the center with the book in hand. She said that even though she had stolen the book and gotten high, she had to return it because every female in the center/community needed to read it. So she returned to the center to return the stolen book and tell the staff that every woman needed to read it.
She was allowed back into the program, which is where she was at the time when we met. She thanked me for writing the book and said she felt like she was not alone when she read it.
It has been a couple of years since I met her at that event, but she still messages me from time to time to let me know she is still in the free world and has not returned to prison. She remains clean and tells me that I sparked hope in her to move beyond her past. She has thanked me repeatedly. She says she looks at her shame differently today and is now full of hope. The most recent message I got from her said, “I know stealing is wrong.” She said she had prostituted herself for money to get high, but had never stolen things before. She considers stealing my book the best criminal action she has ever committed in her life; she has no regrets. When she heard I would be at the event that night, she walked a number of blocks to ensure that she had a chance to meet me in person and to share with me that my journey gave her hope.
The devil likes to threaten and cause fear, but the glory of God is always eternally greater than anything the enemy can throw at us. All suffering is meant for one thing: God’s glory (Romans 8:18). His glory isn’t in the suffering; His glory is on the other side of it.
Photo: Rodna Epley
The cloud in this photo could have been a ferocious tornado that dropped down out of the sky right in the center of Yukon, OK like 4 years ago. It was swirling and ominous. So I did what any normal Okie would do. I stopped my car and got out to take a picture. I knew the tornado was impotent because I could see the glory of God all around it. There was no power to the threat, making it no threat at all in my eyes. There even appears to be an angel right in the center of it; although, I just noticed that after all these years.
This is how we should view every threat that comes to us: in light of the Father’s glory which has an eternal weight and can flip any negative condition like a pancake. There is no actual threat at all because nothing can compare to His glory. But God wants us to compare stuff to His glory as long as we use His accurate weights and honest scales (Proverbs 16:11), because that’s how we end the threat or suffering.
With His glory on one side of the honest scales and the threat on the other side, the threat immediately leaves. Like a skinny kid on a teeter totter, when the Hulk plops down on the other side, the skinny kid goes soaring through the air far far away never to be seen again. So when we use accurate weights and God’s honest scales in any situation, the only one that remains is the Hulk.
“Honest weights and scales are the Lord’s; all the weights in the bag are His work.” – Proverbs 16:11
This is how God’s promises work on our behalf. The promise needs to be revealed to you by the Holy Spirit (Rhema Word; John 16:13-15). You’re reading the Word and say “Wow! I never saw that before!” and His Presence of hope, love, joy, and especially perfect peace accompanies the discovery—that’s a Rhema (revealed) Word. If you couple that with 1 or 2 other witnesses (similar promises in the Word; 2 Corinthians 13:1), and then you speak out those promises while watching for the situation to change because you are trusting in the glory of His Word to accomplish what He promised, then He WILL turn that trouble into glory and cause you to overcome. And He will do it shortly.
This is a promise from our Father in heaven to those who are in blood covenant relationship with Him in Christ. He will ALWAYS hear you and answer if you do this. Be sure to NOT mix it with negative doubtful words. It must be pure. But He will not fail you.
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” – 2 Corinthians 4:17-18
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be (is soon to be, about to be) revealed in us.” – Romans 8:18
“But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.” – Ephesians 5:13
