'Tis the Season

The time for Christ-mass festivities has begun, and I've read many social media posts asking a variety of questions like how to tell relatives they aren't participating any longer without offending relatives, including an unbelieving spouse, or should a person put up decorations, etc. I know The Most High knows your dilemma and hears your prayers. Don't lose heart! Thankfully, everything changes and when you walk in His ways, HE will steer you in the right path. 

Prov 3:6-8 "Trust in El־Yahuah with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes: fear Yahuah, and depart from evil. It shall be health to your navel, and marrow to your bones."

I could testify about His goodness and direction in my life since my family and I left the man-made traditions and have been Torah-observers for over 20 years, however, I want to bring up the real reason to stay away from the season. Read and ponder the original sin of Yarov'am (Jeroboam), see 1 Kings 11-14, you'll read why The Most High judged the House of Israel (10 northern tribes). The bottom line is... Yarov'om (Jeroboam) had committed evil more than any before him! Yikes! How so? by making other elohim and molten images that provoked The Most High to anger, and then Yarov'oam cast YHUH behind his back. Ponder that phrase, and if you look up the Hebrew, it means the same thing.

1Ki 14:7-18  "Go, tell Yarov`am, Thus says Yahuah Elohai of Yashar’el, Forasmuch as I exalted you from among the people, and made you prince over my people Yashar’el, and rent the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it you: and yet you have not been as my servant David, who guarded my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, to do that only which was right in my eyes; But have done evil above all that were before you: for you have gone and made you other elohiym, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and have cast me behind your back: 

A deeper look at Yarov'oam's life will take you back to 1 Kings 11 where the prophet Achiyau (Ahijah)  prophesies to Yarov'am that The Most High will make him a king over 10 tribes of Israel because of their idol worship and not walking in His Ways. What exactly did Yarov'oam do? Well, in 1 Kings 12:25-33 explains the sin. He made 2 golden calves and accredited them for the deliverance out of Egypt! Setting them both in the towns of Beyt־El (Beth-El) and Dan. Then, Yarov'oam created his own priesthood and feasts, so the 10 tribes would NOT return to Yerushalyim (Jerusalem) to celebrate Sukkot (7th mo, 15th day). Instead, he made a similar feast on the 8th mo, 15th day. WHAT!?

Do you see how similar his celebrations were to The Most High's ways? Yet, his motives and observances were not innocent. He provoked our Father that his actions brought judgement on the 10 tribes, so that we are feeling the effects of those behaviors today. Only Yeshua can reunite us back with Yehudah (Judah). Thankfully, by His blood, we can choose to walk in His ways. Howbeit, we must repent and return to the ancient paths outlined in Lev 23 & Deut 16. Much more detail on these kadosh (holy) feasts are described throughout the TNKH.

As you consider your own faith and convictions about this season, I hope you are strengthened by these biblical passages and can stand a little stronger as you navigate your own circumstances. Choose wisely, achot (sisters).

How Do I Begin to Walk in His Ways?

Thinking back on my early years of faith, I remember praying a lot. Many times, I cried out to Elohim for deliverance or guidance as I was prone to suffering the consequences of my dumb mistakes.  But after I grew up a little bit, in my faith, I really loved reading the Psalms, and still do. They are such inspirational prayers and petitions and can be very comforting. They are also a great tutor on how to pray.  Here are a couple of examples:

Psa 5:2  Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my Elohiym: for unto you will I pray.

Directing our prayers to our Father, our Elohim, is in line with this psalmist. Asking Him to hear us is an attitude of humility.

Psa 55:17  Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

Praying 3 times a day as a regular practice is a standard that was set when the daily sacrifices were initially set up. Now we can pray at least that often and even without ceasing.

Psa  122:6  Pray for the peace of Yerushalayim: they shall prosper that love you.

Even in the verses about prayer, there is even a blessing for our obedience in praying for the peace of Yerushalayim.

Jer 29:12  Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.

When we call upon The Most High, He says he will hear us. HalleluYah!

Another good example of prayer is our Messiah's guidance as He gives instruction to the disciples:

Mat_6:5-15 And when you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Amein I say unto you, They have את their reward.

6:6  But you, when you pray, enter into your closet, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father which is in secret; and your Father which sees in secret shall reward you openly. 

6:7  But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

6:8  Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

6:9  After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  6:10  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

6:11  Give us this day our daily bread.

6:12  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

6:13  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

6:14  For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

6:15  But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

We can grow closer to our Creator through our prayers. He hears those He calls as His own, the covenant people. Walking in His Ways definitely includes a regular prayer life. It is a simple habit and one worth investing your time and effort.  

 

 

Let's rave and celebrate The Most High!

On this breezy Sunday morning, I am enjoying the cool air and relief from the heat before it comes in with the sun. I remember and still feel the good vibes from our Sabbath meeting yesterday.  The Most High has opened a door for us to have fellowship with other like-minded believers, a couple times a month, in a nearby church building. We sing praises to our Elohim and lift up His name! 

Chad shared some Truth from Ps 149.  By looking at the Hebrew meanings of words, we can always find greater meaning. The teaching was really eye opening.  

From the Strong's Concordance, we learn the deeper meaning of the word "Praise" (H1984) - הָלַל - hâlal - (haw-lal').

A primitive root; to be clear (originally of sound, but usually of color); to shine; hence to make a show; to boast; and thus to be (clamorously) foolish; to rave; causatively to celebrate; also to stultify: - (make) boast (self), celebrate, commend, (deal, make), fool (-ish, -ly), glory, give [light], be (make, feign self) mad (against), give in marriage, [sing, be worthy of] praise, rage, renowned, shine.

By using the word, "rave", in the place of praise, we can get a deeper understanding.  Chad went through the Psalm and shared several Hebrew words and their meanings.  He conveyed how our praises can be like warfare as we sing the praises of The Most High.  See v. 6,7.  Very powerful!   

Let's walk in His ways with praises on our lips!

Psa 149:1  HALLELUYAH. Sing unto Yahuah a new song, and his praise in the assembly of the chaciyd. 

Psa 149:2  Let Yashar’el rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Tsiyon be joyful in their King. 

Psa 149:3  Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp. 

Psa 149:4  For Yahuah takes pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with yeshu`ah. 

Psa 149:5  Let the chaciyd (saints) be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. 

Psa 149:6  Let the high praises of El be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand; 

Psa 149:7  To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; 

Psa 149:8  To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; 

Psa 149:9  To execute upon them the judgment written: this honor have all his chaciyd (saints). Halleluyah. 

Why did we name the ministry, "Walk in His Ways"?

In the mid 1990's, not long after we were married, Chad and I were leading praise and worship sets for our home church in the Tucson community and at local and tribal Christian events. These outreaches developed into teaching times as well as playing worship sets, and people began to ask us what our ministry was called. Hmmm.... we never thought about labeling ourselves! 

We began to think about what our ministry name should be and how it would best suit us. After thinking up some goofy names, not worth mentioning, we turned to the Bible for inspiration - what a concept! I know that we both regularly read Psalms and there was one Psalm that really spoke to us, Psalm 119. Here is what it says in Ps 119:1-5:

Psa 119:1  ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. 

Psa 119:2  Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. 

Psa 119:3  They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways. 

Psa 119:4  Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.  

Psa 119:5  O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!  

Wow! Verse 3 really came alive! I shared this with Chad and he was in agreement. Little did we know that years later, this ministry verse would expand into a Hebrew understanding of the Bible way beyond where our faith was at that time. In our songs and our teachings we tried, and still try, to encourage people to follow the Most High God (Yahuah), with all their heart, mind and strength. 

One of our favorite songs to sing is, "More Love, More Power", by Jude del Heirro. The words are almost a direct quote of Deu. 6:4 which coincide with walking in His ways. It would be another 10 years before we would learn that that song was a derivative of the most important verse in the Bible - the one that Yahusha quoted, Deut 6:4.

In another portion of the Torah or OT, these words, "walk in His ways", is originally spoken by the LORD (Yahuah) to Moses (Moshe) to give to the 2nd generation of those who came out of Egypt, who would take the Land as promised:

Deu 8:1  All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers.  

Deu 8:2  And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.  

Deu 8:3  And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.  

Deu 8:4  Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years.  

Deu 8:5  Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee.  

Deu 8:6  Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him.  

Deu 8:7  For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills;  

What an amazing promise to the children of Israel! As a believer in Messiah living in the 21st century, it can be hard to believe these promises are still available to us today. Why? Because as believers in Messiah, we are grafted into the Commonwealth of Israel and have the same rights or blessings as the earlier generations. See Rom. 11, Gal. 3:26-29, Eph 2:12. 

As for the blessings that come to us as believers in Messiah and walking in His ways, which is keeping His commandments, here is what Deu 11:22-28 declares: 

Deu 11:22  For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, to do them, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cleave unto him;  

Deu 11:23  Then will the LORD drive out all these nations from before you, and ye shall possess greater nations and mightier than yourselves. 

Deu 11:24  Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours: from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the river Euphrates, even unto the uttermost sea shall your coast be. 

Deu 11:25  There shall no man be able to stand before you: for the LORD your God shall lay the fear of you and the dread of you upon all the land that ye shall tread upon, as he hath said unto you.  

Deu 11:26  Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse;  

Deu 11:27  A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day:  

Deu 11:28  And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known. 

Again, The Most High confirms His blessings upon His children. The only stipulation is that we obey the commandments. When we do, we will be blessed. Our Father is so loving, yet, He does not force His Will upon us. We must follow and obey because we love Him. 

See the words of Yahushua from Joh 14:15, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." And again in Joh 15:10, "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love." Or read the 5 chapters of the book of 1st John and see his resounding emphasis on keeping the commandments. So how do we follow commandments when many teachers say the "law" has been done away with because of the blood of Yahusha or Messiah? Good question! Well, there is a way and it is true and right. More about how this plays out in one's life in another post.

As for our ministry name, "Walk in His Ways", you can do a Bible search for yourself and see how this phrase comes up at least 7 times. Much more could be said about our ministry title because the Hebrew words carry such deep meaning. Again, that is a weightier matter meant for another post. My final verse is Deu 8:6 as follows: 

Deu 8:6  Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in His ways, and to fear him. 

Together Chad and I have purposed to live our lives according to the Holy Bible and to promote such a devoted life first to our children, then to extended family, and finally to our community or workplace wherever the Holy Spirit leads us. Let's lift up the Name of The Most High and love His people as we all endeavor to Walk in His Ways.

2022 Refresh on Walk in His Ways ministry

It's officially summer now. The heat is here and the calm, cool rains of spring have moved on just like the spring feasts of the Lord (Yahuah) we celebrated. The refreshing of the Holy Spirit was with us from Pesach (Passover) to Shavuot (Feast of Weeks). Now we endure the long hot days as we look forward to the fall feasts of the Lord (Yahuah). During this stretch of time, I hope to post some nuggets of Truth about how to walk in His (Yahuah's) way. Chad and I have been on this way of life for nearly 20 years, and we're still learning many things. 

This blog spot will also include our musical notes as we journey on with our recording projects. This most recent one is called, "Walk In His Ways", and will have 12 songs making it a complete CD. I'll be posting more about each song and its inspiration. Feel free to comment.