Pursue Gold, Eternity Starts Now!
Psalm 45 is one of my favorite Psalms. It’s a picture of Yeshua as the King, and his bride as his queen.
Verse 9 says, “daughters of Kings are among your ladies of honor; at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir.”
Wow – that’s us! We’re the bride of the King, we’re the Queen standing in gold!
(more…)9 Ways to Restore Broken Relationships
The fruit of the Spirit is a byproduct of having the Holy Spirit dwell inside us. These are nine of the qualities that are evident and increasing in our lives as we nurture the Spirit’s presence and influence within us.
Having said that, we can further excel in these areas when we focus on them intentionally. In addition to being the natural result of spending time in the Spirit, when we seek to increase these qualities by living in the Spirit, this is one of the ways we are transformed into the image of Yeshua.
(more…)I have been crucified with the Messiah, who loved me and gave himself for me.
I have my Yeshua time the first hour and the last hour of every day. But besides that, during this one week, he had been waking me up during the night to show me things about this one specific topic. So on this night when I woke up and heard his instruction, I figured we would be on the same topic.
While I was lying on the bed, he told me to raise my arms. I did that and praised him and told him I loved him. Then my arms got cold, so I turned over and covered up.
But I kept hearing him instructing me to raise my arms. Again I figured he had something he was going to show me. So I obeyed him. And he did!
Yeshua Loves You With The Fruit of The Spirit
Have you ever tried to describe Yeshua’s love to someone? It almost leaves us speechless, because there are hardly words to describe how multi-faceted it is. He alone possesses this kind of love, and therefore mere words cannot do it justice.
Paul tells us in Ephesians 3:17-19:
“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
13 Ways to Shut the Door on the Enemy
One day after I had sold my house, I was cleaning it. I was in the living room and I heard the Lord tell me to hurry. I wondered about that and asked if I should not be doing this right now. He said, “Yes, just hurry.” So I went ahead.
Suddenly a man walked in my front door and started talking to me. I realized I had left the door open.
(more…)A Snapshot of Five Servants
Although he already had my full attention, I could hear in my spirit Yeshua call to me by name. My name, Christi, means “like Christ, the anointed one” in Greek. I’ve come to realize that when Yeshua says my name, he’s getting ready to tell me something transformative, to continue transforming me into his image, more like him.
That morning it was servanthood. He has called me his servant, and this is one more tool he wanted me to have. He showed me five servants and asked me what they had in common. Then he asked what each one was known for. The whole lesson took 30 minutes to write, but will serve me for a lifetime in my transformation into his image.
(more…)Fearfully & Wonderfully Made
Purim and the reading of the story of Esther provides us so many amazing insights into how Yehovah works. Somehow he combines his sovereignty with who he’s made us to be and invites us to participate with him in creating a masterpiece.
(more…)Yehovah is Answering Your Prayers
You’ve prayed and prayed; you’ve put your request on the prayer chain; you’ve prayed without ceasing for as long as possible and agreed with two or more other believers. Yet, you still have no answer. Where’s Yehovah? Why is he silent? Is he listening?
I believe he is listening, and that he never ignores your prayers. He doesn’t always answer you, but I believe he always responds. Even silence can be an answer. There are many ways he responds to us and many ways we can miss his answers.
Yeshua’s Life-Changing Love
“I belong to my love and his desire is for me.”
Song of Songs 7:10
That’s not just a song from Solomon to one of his many wives. This is a picture of how Yeshua wants to live with us every day, every hour, every minute.
(more…)Pursue the Mysterious Voice of The Creator
“God works in mysterious ways.” We hear that phrase frequently. Usually it’s when we can’t understand what Yehovah is doing, or make sense of why things are like they are. And sometimes it’s when something unexpectedly good happens out of a bad situation.
Although it’s not a quote from the scriptures, it is scriptural:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9
But typically, when we throw something in the “mysterious” category, we leave it there. We chalk it up to never being able to understand God’s ways. But in doing so, we miss what he would like to reveal to us.
(more…)Five Keys To Speeding Up God’s Will In Your Life
Do you believe God has something exciting planned for your future? Maybe you’re in a difficult situation that you’d like to move through more quickly? Possibly you feel stuck in a rut and don’t know how to move into what God might have for you.
I’m not sure we can actually speed up God’s will in our lives. He already “created us for good works, which he prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10) Ultimately everything will be done in his perfect timing. But, I do think we can delay his will. Distractions, ambivalence, or sometimes just being unaware can require that he goes slower than we would like, maybe even slower than he would like. I’m guilty of all of these.
(more…)
This Tisha b’Av, Kick the Enemy Out of Your Promised Land
On the Hebrew calendar, the 9th day of Av (Tisha b’Av in Hebrew) is a notorious date of tragedy for the Jewish people. Many major tragedies are recorded in the Bible and continue up to modern history.
The Bible tells us that Aaron died on the first day of Av. Although he was a faithful servant for 40 years, he was part of that first generation that did not get to go into the Promised Land because of unbelief. Later, both temples were destroyed on the 9th of Av, as well as many, many other calamities down through the centuries.
Spiritual Obedience Brings Physical Victory
Obedience in our spiritual life is a form of spiritual warfare, because obedience creates an atmosphere that brings righteousness to dark places.
Intuitively we know this. But I want to break it down into practical actions that will make it a continual reality in our lives. The bottom line is, it’s supernatural, it doesn’t make logical sense here on earth. We have to move beyond the natural to even discuss the topic of spiritual warfare.
Passover to Pentecost – The Spring Feasts: When are they and how are they relevant today?
The Lord’s Holy Days, Feast Days, Jewish Feasts, Appointed Times, Mo’edim — whatever term you use, don’t miss these days! If you are seeking more intimacy in your walk with Yeshua, learning about, experiencing and keeping these feasts (including the Sabbath) will bring you not only into deeper intimacy with him, but Yehovah will shower you with new understanding, unexpected blessings, strengthened faith and fresh excitement daily. I highly recommend it!
Included here is a list of my blog posts about the Spring Feasts and a Biblical haggadah for Passover.
First of all, this quick reference guide shows the 2023 Hebrew and Gregorian dates, the Hebrew names, the purpose of the Feasts and Biblical instructions for observing them from a Messianic understanding.
Although for me the first time through the Feasts was more learning than experiencing, with each passing year, they grow in richness and revelation of Yeshua. In the following posts I’ve attempted to share some of those insights in the hopes that you will be encouraged to start or continue your pursuit of your own journey into intimacy with Him.
- Why celebrate all these Jewish holidays? Haven’t those been done away with?
- The Feasts of the Lord: Going Through the Motions
- The Spring Feasts: A Time to Remember, A Time to Anticipate
- Preparing Ourselves for the Spring Feasts – Part 1
- Preparing Ourselves for the Spring Feasts – Part 2
- Passover and Easter: What are You Celebrating?
- Messianic Passover Haggadah for use at home or in a group setting
- Learnings from Leaven
- Why Count the Omer? Part 1: The First 40 Days
- Why Count the Omer? Part 2: Nine Days of Prayer
- Why Count the Omer? Part 3: God’s Spirit Poured Out
- 2023 Omer Count Calendar
- Pentecost: 2000 Years Ago or 2023?
- The Day of Pentecost Guarantees Yehovah’s Promises
- Yeshua’s Ascension Brings a Double Portion on Pentecost
You + Yah Can Take the Land
Parsha Sh’lach L’cha, Numbers 13-15, is centered on our first glimpse of the Promised Land after leaving Egypt. We read the exciting report that the scouts brought back, the good and the bad.
But I want to focus on just one verse – not even a whole verse, just one sentence. It’s a statement that is easily overlooked in the highs and lows of the story. It’s easy to miss the significance of it, because in most of our cultures today, it doesn’t carry the same meaning. However, in this case, it was life-changing and destiny defining. If we can capture the significance of this concept in our own lives, it can be the same for us. (more…)
Observing the Sabbath in Your Home
If your Sabbath gathering has been cancelled due to COVID-19, take heart – you can still keep the Sabbath! Once you’ve kept the Sabbath for any length of time, it is truly painful when you can’t. Somehow your physical and spiritual clock knows when the Sabbath is and longs for it when you cannot observe it in your normal custom. Don’t let the disruption of a cancelled gathering take away your Sabbath peace and joy. Continue to guard that time and begin your own traditions and routines in your home that bring that same spirit and refreshment to your island of sacred time with the Lord. (more…)
Purim – A Reflection of our Own Faith
While not one of Yehovah’s commanded feasts, I believe Purim, the remembrance of the story of Esther in the Bible, is worthy of its annual celebration.
Purim is a microcosm of our own lifelong quests: to walk in Yehovah’s ways despite the pressures around us, to trust that his purposes are being manifest in the events of our nation and world, and to have the courage to submit to his sovereignty and will at every turn. In short, it’s about living a life of faith.
As you read the story and the following posts, you will see yourself and your circumstances, as well as Yehovah’s sovereignty and guidance in your own life.
The New Moon – Who Knew?
New Moon Observance
I had been reading the five books of Moses (Genesis through Deuteronomy) every year for five years and observing the Sabbath, Feasts and Festivals for five years. But as many times as I’ve read the Bible and practiced the Feasts, Yehovah never fails to show me new insights every time. This year has been no exception.
I had signed up to speak on the portion of scripture called “Phineas,” Numbers 25-30. Not knowing what I would speak about, I figured there was plenty to choose from. Numbers 28-29 are commonly referred to for teachings on observing Yehovah’s appointed times or Holy Days.
As I came to those chapters, I read quickly through the list: The daily offerings, the Sabbath, the New Moon, Passover, Unleavened Bread, Pentecost… Wait, the New Moon? When did they start that? Is that one of Yehovah’s appointed times? Why have I never observed this day? I decided I had to look into this. (more…)
Month 8 – Cheshvan: A New Beginning
The eighth month on the Hebrew calendar centers around the theme of renewed life – where righteousness and sin are separated from each other. From our Torah readings, to Noah, to the New Heaven and Earth, and even the name of the month itself, we see this pattern of renewed life over and over this month. (more…)
Why Count the Omer?
The Omer Count always begins at sundown on the Feast of First Fruits, and ends on the day before Pentecost (Shavuot) – 7 weeks, 49 days. (See the dates here.)
So what’s an Omer? Why would Yehovah want us to count it? Is it still relevant today? Those were my questions, and these links discuss the answers I found in my search.
If you’ve never counted the omer, I encourage you to begin the journey and see how Yehovah answers these questions for you. If you’re counting the omer and looking for fresh insight, I pray He will use this teaching to enlighten your path. I hope you will leave a comment about what he’s taught you as well.
- Why Count the Omer? Part 1: The First 40 Days
- Why Count the Omer? Part 2: Nine Days of Prayer
- Why Count the Omer? Part 3: God’s Spirit Poured Out
Month 7 – The Feast of Trumpets & the New Moon
What’s the only feast that falls on a new moon? Feast of Trumpets! The Feast of Trumpets always begins on Tishrei 1, the beginning of the seventh month on the Hebrew calendar. It’s always marked by a new moon.
Genesis 1:14 tells us:
“Then God said, ‘Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years;'”
Month 6 – Elul: Preparation for the Day of Atonement
On the Hebrew calendar, Elul is the sixth month of the year. On the 10th day of last month – the month of Av – we began the Season of Comfort. The season of comfort continues seven weeks, until the first day of next month, which is Tishrei 1, the same day as the Feast of Trumpets. So we have seven weeks in the Season of Comfort, Av 10 to Tishrei 1.
Elul 1 also marks 40 days until the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), which is always on Tishrei 10.
Month 5 – Av: Mourning Turns to Joy
The Month of Av is the fifth month of the year on the Hebrew calendar. We are still in the season of Judgment & Exile as the month of Av begins. But during Av, the seasons change. Similar to the Gregorian month of March, we have the expression “In like a Lion, out like a Lamb,” so the month of Av can be broken into two phases.
Month 4 – Tammuz: A Season of Judgement; A Call to Repentance
Tammuz is the fourth month on the Hebrew calendar. It is considered a season of Judgment and Exile. This season includes all of Tammuz and half of next month, the month of Av.
There are six references to Tammuz (or the fourth month) in the Bible: (more…)
Messianic Sabbath 