Trusting, Trusting, Trusting

Messianic Jews 11:1-2 Trusting is being confident of what we hope for, convinced about things we do not see. It was for this that Scripture attested the merit of the people of old.

Messianic Jews (Hebrews) 12:1-4

1 So then, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us, too, put aside every impediment - that is, the sin which easily hampers our forward movement - and keep running with endurance in the contest set before us, 2 looking away to the Initiator and Completer of that trusting, Yahshua - Who, in exchange for obtaining the joy set before Him, endured execution on a stake as a criminal, scorning the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of Elohim. 3 Yes, think about Him who endured such hostility against Himself from sinners, so that you won't grow tired or become despondent. 4 You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in the contest against sin.

 

Each Shabbat, we start our service with an interactive reading of Psalm 150. To announce that this is about to happen, someone calls out “Let me hear your Hebrew!” which is followed by reciting Psalm 150 in Hebrew and English. The ‘commands’ contained in the Psalm are followed with the congregation responding as the Psalm says; playing the instruments, dancing, etc. All the directions are followed with rejoicing and happiness. Then we hear a declaration: “Okay Silver Trumpets, knock down that wall of impediment to our freedom of worship”. And the trumpets and shofars and everything else that makes a joyful noise is sounded!

We read in Messianic Jews a very similar declaration. We are told to put aside every impediment –that is, the sin which easily hampers our forward movement. We do this to keep running and enduring all that may be in our path in order to achieve the great contest before us We focus on YHVH and Yahshua. “Yahshua, who in exchange for obtaining the joy set before him endured execution on a stake as a criminal, scorning the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of Elohim.” Have we not already learned that should we focus only on the Father and His Faithful Son, that we too may be included at the gathering by His right hand?

Then what stops us? What can be more powerful than our Heavenly Father? Who can be more honest and trustworthy than our Mashiach? For me the answer is nothing and no one. Yes, that is the answer to the question. Then why would I let myself get “down” and saddened just because events in my life are not necessarily the events that I would want to happen? 

A long time ago, last September, was when I had the accident with the trencher. No, I have no desire to go into that again, even if it is not over. I only want to clear my head of a recurring thought that has been spinning around. This is my way of speaking to YHVH, another person, and me….fastest way in the world to reduce any negative or mood depressing thought. Next week should be the end of this seven month ordeal except for a brief healing period after surgery. So now is the time that for some reason I have begun reflecting. No harm in doing some reflecting now is there? Except, reflection without the presence of Yahweh Elohim means I have taken my eyes off that which gives me the ability to trust. After I replayed this entire scenario of the accident that led to the loss of blood flow to my lower legs and feet, I got hung up on one thought. At one point in time during the third angioplasty, I was two minutes into a four minute bleed out. Prior to going into the cath lab, I said my very brief prayer asking YHVH to be with me, as I did each time before. Now, for the last four or five days, I have thought very heavily on how close I came to not being here. It never troubled me, that I know of, before now. In fact, I was asked if I would let the surgeons go into that leg one more time. Sure, go ahead. I trust you. Even asked them to go into my right leg so I could possibly walk with a little less discomfort. I think they were more hesitant than I. The right leg is yet to be opened. 

Anyway, what I am saying and a bit embarrassed to reveal, but I must so I can clear my head…..I now am aware of how easy it is to revert back to my distrusting self. I pray to YHVH to strengthen me and please stay with me. There will be a brief, 15 minute surgical procedure performed at the end of next week. Then within a few weeks, the final procedure to correct my blood flow in the right leg will take place. Then, with YHVH’s blessing, I will be back on my feet and able to run about as has been my habit since birth. Thank you Father for these opportunities. The blessings You have bestowed upon me are many and I pray that You please stay at my side…. I have no desire to turn from You… Thank you for all and especially Yahshua haMashiach. 

 

As it is written in Proverbs 3:11-12, My son, don’t despise YHVH’s discipline or resent His reproof; for YHVH corrects those He loves like a father who delights in his son.

Shalom, shalom

Love you and thanks for being there,

Pinchas a/k/a Frankly Speaking All The Time

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Shul

When this blog began, I was asked to simply share my thoughts about life and YHVH in my thoughts as I traveled in a desire to see His face. This past week has been totally breath taking for me. I am not able to tell my thoughts. I can’t remember all that went through my head. Some of the events are ingrained in my thoughts and override so much else. And that is alright with me.

What a blessed Pesach and Passover. But Pesach and Passover are such a deep spiritual experience. I ask, how can I sit here and tell you that it was exhilarating? How can I tell you that I felt the Presence during the Special Presentations? When the “home grown” musicians and singers got together to welcome in the Sabbath with a heartfelt sound of praise that brought me back to how it must have been when people were just moved to worship. No fancy stuff, just heartfelt giving. And when the children and adults joined together for a musical dance and skit routine that had everyone amazed at the interaction of the ages. What a thrill to see the children showing how Torah will overcome evil and then they caught up with the adults and joined the dance without missing a beat! You had to have been there. Next was the Seder meal and the telling of the Exodus. The opportunity for each person, young and old alike to tell the story, in turn, reading from an Haggadah where the text was Words from the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. The were rare occasions where ‘man’s’ words were inserted for flow and continuity. This was differentiated from Scripture by a change in font style and a leader from the congregation would speak that part. The transition (the 400 years between the Old and the New Testament) was gracefully tied in vocally with the song "Via Dolorosa", again by a member of the congregation. 

 

Oh yes! The food! The food was wonderful and followed the Word for content. Nothing added as has been at so many other Seders with man-made Haggadah’s… Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the others too. But this one just seemed different…from the very beginning it “felt” different. At the end, for a closing, the guests were asked would they like to sing a closing song to round out the night… and they did! There were no strangers here. The Spirit led and we followed. What a wonderful gathering. We all truly were part of a family. A family that our Father called together to have supper on the back porch and to speak with one another about how it was, what happened, and what’s happening now. Yahshua has made it possible for us to stay together and never take our eyes off YHVH. Yahshua is guiding us back to Torah, the Prophets and our Father, YHVH, Elohim.

On the 18^th of Jan, in a Blog entitled “Remember”, I asked: “So, what is this blog all about anyway?” Then I got all carried away with trying to actually bring you into my thoughts. I said, that if you read between the lines, you could see that I find some difficulty in communicating with my Creator.” Then I laid it on the line; “Oh how I long for the day when it all comes together and we can transcend the barriers that prevent us from total understanding and cross over and truly become Hebrew and meet with Him and speak with Him and there would be no reason for words for we would know, just know, just really know what He expects of us and we wouldn’t even have to question it…we could meet Him where He is and if we were as versed as we thought we were in the lives of those who spoke to Him such as Abram and Moshe then we would do what is His Will and that would be that, and there would be no blogs such as this….the blog of that day will be titled REMEMBER! And that would be it!..Nothing else to say! The End! REMEMBER! Before it was written, He said REMEMBER!”

This past week I feel as though I came closer than ever to transcending the barriers. The mighty and glorious miracles that unfolded are too numerous to inventory; right down to the couple who somehow were positioned to be the last two readers at the Seder. Not too many people knew that they had planned not to read; she without her glasses and he a bit shy in a new group. But they did read and the Father blessed them with a smooth delivery! No one knew, just the visiting couple and the Father! Yes, Yahshua loves us, and He wants us back in Torah where we all are welcomed.

On Sunday I engaged in a discussion with someone I met during the Seder. Yeah, I actually took time to sit and be with someone….time is on my side right now. I have forgotten how refreshing it is to sit and chat. About nothing in particular but doing as He says…while you’re traveling on the road, when you sit at home, when… (you know the drill……) So we were sharing experiences and ensuring each other that YHVH is in charge, no matter how much we can solve all the problems of the world. This behavior was different for me. I plan to make this a part of my life. In my early days I had no desire for anyone to know me…I wanted to stay lost in the crowd. A lot of this came from insecurity. Anyhow, with the incident of my foot/toe last September, I have been learning. This is not the guy I was. But it is the guy I am. No way would I disclose about me. It is not about me. It is all about Him. So why should I run my mouth about anything but Him. 

 

I’m going to go. I just stopped myself from erasing all this. So, I will say Shalom for now….. Peace, Love and Brotherhood (LOL ..a blast from the past!)  It is Wednesday evening. 

 

Love you all, Shalom Shalom

Pinchas a/k/a Frankly Speaking all the time