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
Please take the time to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Please take the time to give gratitude to our active duty military personnel who protect our freedom. Enjoy time with your family and friends during this Memorial Day Holiday weekend.
The older I get the more I realize that family is everything. I regret time not spent with them. Cousins were my first best friends & are the ones that will always have my back. There’s a special bond & love in family that honestly can’t be duplicated. Family is love!
Tomorrow is never guaranteed, so don’t live like it is. Live each day as if it’s your last. Choose to spend your time wisely, doing what’s good & loving others. God gave us this life for a purpose, live with that purpose.
1 Corinthians 13:7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Ephesians 5:16 Make the best use of time, because the days are evil.
James 4:14 Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time & then vanishes.
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Let us not forget the freedom we have in Jesus. He sacrificed Himself for all of humanity.
Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.”
Have a purpose filled Memorial Day Weekend my friends!!!
The context of this series of posts is the course of the Jewish people for the initial 49 years of the 483 year period communicated from the angel Gabriel to the prophet Daniel. The city of Jerusalem has been rebuilt post exile. These events are covered in Nehemiah 8-13. Israel is returning to God’s Law. The focus is Temple worship service. The showbread or shewbread was the first topic. Up next is the grain offering.
Nehemiah 10:33b …the regular grain offering and burnt offerings…
The focus of this section of Temple worship service is the daily sacrifices. Nehemiah is effectively going to review Numbers 28. This is the source of origin from God Himself to Moses.
Numbers 28:3 And you shall say to them, This is the food offering that you shall offer to the LORD: two male lambs a year old without blemish, day by day, as a regular offering.
God says there are to be two sacrifices a day, one in the morning and one at twilight. Two perfect lambs are sacrificed and roasted every day.
Numbers 28:4 The one lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight;
Then, God gives a recipe for how to make bread.
Numbers 28:5 …also a tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a grain offering, mixed with a quarter of a hin of beaten oil.
An ephah is roughly one bushel or 8 dry gallons or 35 liters or 8 pounds. Multiply x .1. We are talking a little less than a gallon or 3.5 liters.
Beaten oil is from pressed olives. The liquid measurement of a hin is roughly 1.5 U.S. gallons or 5.7 liters. Multiply x .25. This is about .375 gallons or 1.425 liters.
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Lastly, God requests a “strong drink“. This would indicate fermentation or alcohol. The Hebrew word shekar is associated with drunkards in the Old Testament.
Numbers 28:7 Its drink offering shall be a quarter of a hin for each lamb. In the Holy Place you shall pour out a drink offering of strong drink to the LORD.
God states a quarter of a hin of likely wine for each lamb. A quarter of a hin or .375 gallons or 1.425 liters x2 = .75 gallons or 2.85 liters in total.
Numbers 28:8 The other lamb you shall offer at twilight. Like the grain offering of the morning, and like its drink offering, you shall offer it as a food offering, with a pleasing aroma to the LORD.
A lamb is sacrificed and burned. Symbolically, judgment has been delivered perpetually. In conjunction, bread and wine are served. These are the elements for what we know as communion. And the Lord is pleased with this sacrifice.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
I wanted to share my experiences and help you see a personal side of those who are hurting. I wanted to give you some insight into the moments that help and heal, as well as the moments that hurt and scar.
These appendices are specifically written for those who work in the helping professions or ministries or who desire to help the hurting. I want to give you a few tools to help you do your much–needed work as effectively as possible. What you do can open or close doors in a hurting person’s life. I believe in the work you do and I want nothing more than to see you fling those doors wide open for those who need it. So, this isn’t a story. This is a toolbox.
I have been a hurting person. I have been broken, deceived from spiritual disenfranchisement, bought and sold, and trauma bonded. I have suffered at the hands of domestic violence. I have been consumed by the darkness of hopelessness and addiction, stigmatized by the world around me, and blanketed by guilt and shame. I have been harmed by professionals, leaders of faith, and the folks who seemed to be the okay people of the “normal world.” I have been excluded by agencies for services that cherry–picked clients to assist.
Unfortunately, there are many “helping agencies” out there that select to help only those with the highest chance for success. The successful clients are used to pursue grant money that would be impossible to access by those with the greatest challenges or barriers. If someone is deemed “too needy,” then they pose a risk, because if their success can’t be qualified and quantified, then there is no financial compensation for helping them.
This kind of repeated rejection can only happen so many times before individuals seeking help give up. Their view of help becomes so tainted that they believe they can’t be helped. As you saw in my journey, I myself reached this point after trying to seek help many times.
These experiences on their journeys shape their perceptions of “helping people” or “good Christians.” If these experiences have been negative, then your work is cut out for you. Remember: Every action, or inaction, has the potential to heal or to destroy. My goal is to help you increase the chance that your efforts to help will accomplish the former, not the latter. I don’t believe that the people in most helping agencies intend to compound the problems; they simply lack the inside understanding of these individuals’ experiences and true needs. There are some ways to become authentic and relational with these hurting folks that will assist you as well as them.
As you begin to read this, remember that you are engaging with hurting persons. Some of you engage with homeless individuals, trafficked/prostituted persons, rape victims, violent crime survivors, and more. While many of these tools are relevant to women/girls and the types of things they endure, the general approach and considerations can be used with men/boys who are hurting as well.
Why do we believe the words of those that hurt us, but can’t see what those that love us see in ourselves?
If you think those that are hurting you love you, you need to understand that they don’t know how to love. That’s not love or truth. So many lack confidence in themselves because they only hear about the negative that some may see.
Focus on the good in others & build them up. Believe those that are building you up & try to see just a portion of what they see. Praise the positive you see in them. Give them confidence. Confidence is appealing.
Be confident in yourself…
Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those that hear.
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What do the Bible and the prophets have to say about the modern day Gaza Strip? Who were these people in the context of the Bible?
Gaza, the Philistines, and the Cherethites are synonymous.
The prophets have communicated and God has pronounced judgment on the modern day Gaza Strip. See what the prophets have to say.
Hamas and the Palestinians and Israel have announced a cease fire after 12 days.
Where does President Joe Biden stand on the issue? The Democrat Party is divided on the issue. Not all fall in line with President Biden when it comes to Israel.
While missiles were inbound towards the nation of Israel, a group of priests headed west of Jerusalem to Mitzpe Yeriho to reenact a Shavuot Temple service. The group was headed by Baruch Kahane who was appointed as the High Priest by the Sanhedrin back in 2016.
Mitzpe Yeriho is located between Jerusalem and the Dead Sea.
For a video of the reenactment, see the link below from i365 News.
So my mom and I are walking in the park and we see a puddle in the shape of a heart. Jesus always sends us messages if we just open our eyes! Betty Epley
If we just look around we can see the fingerprint of God everywhere, even on a nature walk. Here on the sidewalk 5 years ago I saw the love of our Father in heaven outlined in glory! He said a big, “I love you!” in that moment. Notice all the little flower pedals that fell into the water and surrounded the heart. With the sun shining on it, the heart that He put there for anyone with eyes to see, radiated with His glory! His glory is the Protector our hearts.
“Guard your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)
Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:13)
“This hope (of glory) we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence (of glory) behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever.” (Hebrews 6:19-20)
“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,” (Ephesians 2:4-6)
Yes and Amen! Have a blessed day everyone! Jesus and our Father both love you immensely and intensely! Don’t be afraid to come near Him. God is love. There is no need to be afraid of true love.
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love drives out fear,” (1 John 4:18)
His glory is designed to protect our hearts where we can safely trust in Him without any fear at all.
Revelation 6:5-6 When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!”
A hallmark of the beginning of the tribulation is hyperinflation as noted in Revelation 6 which leads to global famine. Revelation 6 talks of a time when it will cost a day’s wage just to eat. We should pay attention. And inflation is in the headlines. We are trending and living in inflationary times.
Wall Street Banks like Goldman Sachs are calling for inflation.
Inflation in Commodities has risen 73%, Lumber futures have risen 400%, Steel has risen 216%. However, homes have risen 11.2%… prices could go much, much higher.
Do not be priced out of the market. Particularly for Baby Boomers: protect your purchasing power! Protect yourself against inflation! Go buy a House right now!!!
Don’t forget about the cost of food. Soft commodity prices are on the rise as well. Prices at the wholesale level are taking up and off.
Are we on the verge of an inflation cycle??? We are living in the times of a historic money supply. The velocity of money is increasing. Money has to go some where in the economy. Governments around the planet are printing money as well.
Michael reviews the real estate cycle. Where are we in the cycle? Check out Michael’s financial update below.
May 16, 2021: The fourth of seven God Appointments, Shavuot or Pentecost, is scheduled to begin Sunday, May 16th at sunset. For Shavuot, Jewish men have been commanded to come to Jerusalem and the Temple for over 3,500 years since the time of Moses.
For more details on the Appointment, click on the link below.
For additional information and analysis, click on the YouTube video below.
It would appear Israel’s military is not stopping their intervention to formally recognize the holiday.
“The party that bears the guilt for this confrontation is not us, it’s those attacking us,” Netanyahu said in a televised speech. We are still in the midst of this operation, it is still not over and this operation will continue as long as necessary.” -Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Over 2,300 missiles and rockets have been fired into Israel since Monday. Today is day 6 of the conflict. Watch the Iron Dome anti missile battery in action.
Hamas and Islamic Jihad continue to fire rockets from Gaza toward Israeli civilians.
Below is an interesting message and response from Twitter. The social media site blocked the IDF from sending messages regarding missile and rocket warnings to the citizens of Israel.
We tried to tweet about sirens sounding in Beersheba but Twitter wouldn’t let us.
We know it’s repetitive—but that’s the reality for Israelis all over the country. pic.twitter.com/nqyhfbxrWI
The press is now further upset with Israel. A building that housed Middle East Eye, Al Jazeera, the Associated Press, and other press outlets was destroyed with a precision munition. The building was destroyed with surgical precision. Accounts indicate the building was empty of human personnel.
The IDF gave a one hour notice and multiple warnings to evacuate the building. The IDF indicated the building was home to Hamas intelligence.
“…entities belonging to the military intelligence of the terrorist organization Hamas.”
Click on the video below from Middle East Eye.
#BREAKING Israeli forces bomb a tower block in Gaza City housing several international media offices including Middle East Eye and Al Jazeera pic.twitter.com/UhQwuMBrkX
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has recently issued a statement in English in regards to the events taking place over the last week. Listen for yourself the Prime Minister’s complete comments.
PM Benjamin Netanyahu: "It has been 5 days since Hamas brazenly fired rockets at Jerusalem and other Israeli cities in a totally unprovoked attack. This past week, millions of Israelis were forced into bomb shelters as missiles rained down on our cities."https://t.co/ToeJPuwMCBpic.twitter.com/qCuvnfYkIB
We continue to keep an eye on the northern border of Israel.
NBC News Analyst Evan Kohlmann tweeted out the following. Upwards of 5 rockets were fired towards Israel. Currently, the Quneitra Province in Syria is home to Russian, Syrian, Iranian, Hezbollah, UN Troops and other factions. This is different than the three rockets fired from Lebanon the day before.
Representatives of Iraqi Shiite insurgent faction Ashab al-Kahf are insisting that "your Iraqi brothers participated" in the rocket attack earlier today targeting the Yesud HaMaala/Kfar Blum area in northern Israel launched from Syria's Quneitra Province.
May 13, 2021: As of a few hours ago, Israel has launched ground forces into the conflict with Hamas. As of this posting, ground forces have not entered the Gaza Strip. Israel has called up 9,000 reservists. Israeli citizens within a few miles of the border have been ordered to their bunkers.
IDF air and ground troops are currently attacking in the Gaza Strip.
Of note and extreme interest are the missiles being fired toward Israel from Lebanon. Are Hezbollah and proxy Iran entering the conflict? This needs to be monitored very closely. Is Israel on the verge of fighting a war on two fronts?
BREAKING: A short while ago, three rockets were fired from Lebanon into the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of northern Israel.
Tonight, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a public statement on the conflict. The goal is to restore calm and security to the nation of Israel. Netanyahu’s statement is made in Hebrew. See the English transcript below.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, tonight: "We are dealing with a campaign on two fronts. The first front – Gaza. I said that we would exact a very heavy price from Hamas and the other terrorist organizations. pic.twitter.com/5eHS8QZ3Mv
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, posted: “I said that we would charge a very heavy price from Hamas. We do it and we will continue to do it with great intensity. The last word was not said and this operation will continue as long as necessary.”
The article below has a wealth of information and many photos.
At some point in the future, this is coming to what we know as the modern day Gaza Strip.
Ezekiel 25:15-17Thus says the Lord God, “Because the Philistines have acted in revenge and have taken vengeance with scorn of soul to destroy with everlasting enmity,” therefore thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I will stretch out My hand against the Philistines, even cut off the Cherethites and destroy the remnant of the seacoast. I will execute great vengeance on them with wrathful rebukes; and they will know that I am the Lord when I lay My vengeance on them.”