The Matthew 5 Man -vs- the Luke 6 Man

I strive to stay positive and to exhibit a positive presence. While, all the while, around me I see persons being consumed by unidentifiable enemies. There comes a time in a man’s life when he stops and asks himself: What am I doing? What is the whole purpose to it all? 

The Serenity Prayer has me asking YHVH to “Grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the Courage to change the things I can; and the Wisdom to know the difference.” Having skinned my knees many times before, I came to understand that the simplicity of it all is laughable. But, not in a funny way. Had I understood what these few words meant and how they pertain to me, I wouldn’t have taken so long to grab hold of the tzitzit! Let's look at it for a moment. …accept the things I cannot change. That means accepting that I didn’t create this world and I certainly have no power to change it. Since YHVH created the world and continues to work out His plan for it, I can only change my role in this world, that is, I can be “in” the world or I can be “of” the world. He gives us the choice. …. Then there’s the courage to change the things I can. Well, if I can’t change the world that I did not create, what is left to change? Me! So I need courage to change me while I am in this world. That change takes guts! So, to not have to take the circuitous route on the road to maturation, I need wisdom to know the difference between what I am responsible for and what is not mine. Before I can even begin to make a positive difference, I need wisdom! Where does wisdom come from? (This is not a multiple choice question). Answer coming soon. 

 

As I researched and journeyed on this path, I learned that WISDOM IS THE FEAR OF YHVH. Now, I have to learn what  “fear of YHVH” means.  I Love YHVH; why would I fear him?  Well, duh! Fear means respect! Like, I have a certain respect for electricity. I am not afraid of it; but I fear it will knock me down if I touch it and I can’t even see it coming. 

Okay, we’ve sorted this out. I want serenity and that translates to shalom. So, I pray to my Father to give me the serenity, the peace that surpasses all understanding, so I can learn to accept the things AROUND me that are not mine and I have no control over.  Better yet, to have enough courage to change the things about ME that do not permit me to live a serene and peaceful life.

When I think about all this and its simplicity, I am steered to Matthew 5 and Luke 6. Matthew 5 presents Yahshua talking to the people. This section is referred to as the “Beatitudes.” Beatitude is a little Greek word indicating Blessed or Blessing. And when we're blessed, we're happy, right?   In Matthew 5, Yahshua says the poor in spirit, those who are mourning, the meek and those who hunger for righteousness are blessed. He also calls blessed those who are merciful, pure in heart, are peacemakers and the ones who are persecuted for standing up for righteousness. And all those who speak the truth of the Word and stand up for Yahshua, He calls them because they have been reviled and persecuted and spoken of falsely. 

As Matthew 5 was about being blessed, Luke 6 refers to some sorrows. This is one reason I should know what about me that I can change and what I can’t. The blessings tell me about the rewards that are presented for those who suffer internal, spiritual and/or moral conflicts. The meek, the merciful, pure of heart and peacemakers do not appear in Luke. However, the four that do are the Poor, the hungry for the Word, those who are weeping and all who are hated and cast out as evil for following Yahshua. The four in Luke are often referred to as the four Woes. These are the people sitting on the fence and not fully accepting Yahshua because the things of THIS world are too distracting. 

So, when I ask “What am I doing? What is the whole purpose to it all?” I am brought back to reality and accept me in this world with the goal of being prepared for the journey of a lifetime. 

Homework: (Matthew 5:3-12, Luke 6:20-26)

Answer(s) to quiz:

the first and foremost point of wisdom is the fear of Yahweh; all those living by it gain good common sense. His praise stands forever. Psalm 111: 10

The beginning of wisdom is; get wisdom! And along with all your getting, get insight! Prov. 4:7

Trust in Yahweh with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths. Proverbs 3: 5-6

Love you all, Shalom and shalom

Pinchas, 

a/k/a Frankly Speaking all the time.

Back to Where I started

 

 

 

 

 

Thinking back to when this little blog thing started… it was all about sharing my thoughts along the way while seeking my Father’s Face…I looked back a little bit tonight in order to catch up on where I left off with the promises…and I find that I am supposed to explain the similarities and differences between Orthodox Jew and Orthodox Christian…that was a long time ago… and then a couple of weeks ago I said I would explain the benefits for ingesting Leviticus and feeding your blood too.  Well folks, I have now relearned, what I learned when I had young children, never, ever promise anything…Torah tells us this…when we make a promise it is an oath and then something comes along and we find ourselves becoming distorters of the word (our word, not His).  Well, I am asking that you please don’t take umbrage (oh what a word!) with me… I am keeping my first statement first…sharing my thoughts along the way….

From last week we went right into this week and nothing changed…except the names and places.   I want to tell you that I have no joy in telling you this, most of you already know, but the rest of you should know….Harold Prichard, a true man of faith, leader of the Kahal Fellowship in Waynesville GA , passed away last Thursday night.  He was laid to rest Monday and many, many people will be missing him.  I am one of the many.  His words were gentle and very direct.  He showed me the discipline necessary to never lose sight of our Heavenly Father.  If I counted the number of words Pastor Harold said to me directly, I would guestimate, less than one hundred total in the last couple of years. I cannot count the number of ‘looks’; from confusion over where to place his camper during the conference, to the quiet hug he granted me when I became bit little anxious.  Thank you YHVH for introducing me to this kind man.

 

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After a good night’s rest and a great day at treatment, I’m back and hope to finish this.  About the great day in treatment: the healing is coming along just fine, as far as anyone can see.  Did a little trimming of the excess today. Grateful it was not so painful.  Maybe I’m just getting tougher!

Back to what’s on my mind.  Last night and today I truly searched for what I must be missing in His message to me.  ‘Ten thousand will fall at your side'  keeps running through my head.  I see so much pain and suffering, and I don’t consider myself in pain or suffering when I look around.  When I am asked what my pain level is each time “they” see me, I have to remember to stop saying none.  So, I tell the nurse “a one or two is about it”.  But they are asking for physical pain, not spiritual or emotional.  My definition of pain is not what the average person would agree with.  Physical discomfort and physical pain are not the same.  We can be uncomfortable and we can be ill at ease, but that doesn’t mean life is bad!  It’s okay to have shoes that hurt your feet.  They remind you to either take better care of your shoes (and all things that make you uncomfortable) or get a change….a new pair of shoes can hurt just as much as an old pair.  So, I take it that we shouldn’t be in too big of a hurry to make lots of external changes to our selves.  This puts me back into the realm of spiritual discomfort.  So, we maybe need to focus on the internal, the only part that we can change.

Having experienced the great spiritual awakening; {the one where I woke up and realized that I am not the center of the universe}  I know firsthand what pain is.  For me it is not physical.  Here’s a tough thought – unless a person has been run over by a Mack Truck, the majority of physical pain is a manifestation of spiritual pain!  Now don’t go away thinking I have lost my mind.  Just think about it.  How many times have ‘we’ witnessed persons who had a conflicting spiritual walk and not long after developed physical ailments and no one can identify the source?

Folks! I have completely lost my train of thought and  keep telling myself to just stop and chunk it and start all over!  Now, what good would that do if I am attempting to share my thoughts with you as I journey to see His face.

 

I am nearby a fantastic discussion about how the history is showing us the present times and the truth of the word is only understood when we begin to understand all that is around us.  So……..(I won’t get in to their conversation)

So, let me end this so Yocheved can wrap up her newsletter and we can get to bed and back to the hyperbaric chamber tomorrow….Friday may be my last day in the chamber…. I hope not, but there isn’t much else to do but keep cutting off the bad and praying that the good keeps growing.  However, it is the chamber with the Father’s blessing that facilitates the good tissue growth….so, we’ll see.

If this doesn’t make any sense at all, I apologize….. but then again, my disconnected thoughts are now on paper…

 

Love you all, Shalom and Shalom

Pinchas  a/k/a Frankly Speaking all the time!