So this idea came to mind very recently as I was riding up and down I-91 and I-89 in Vermont last saturday. We spent 5 hours (round trip) on these highways. I think we saw a grand total of 3 state troopers posted waiting to grab any excessive speeders or otherwise dangerous drivers.

Here's the thing that caught me: Whenever our driver saw a state trooper, he dropped from 70-75mph to 60-65mph (speedlimit 65). This led me to ponder and seek God on it. "Why are you slowing down only when you see a representative of the Law?"

This man is a very strong man of God. He leads the flock I've been a part of for over four years. Everyone does this, but this made me believe that as Christians, we must obey the laws we are placed under, not just temporarily modify our behavior in the presence of an enforcer of the law.

Today's sermon at the church I visited today with my wife reaffirmed any thoughts I may have had on this issue. We were in Exodus 19 - God's introduction of Himself to the people of Israel, whom He had just deliverred from the slaving hand of the pharoh. How did God introduce Himself to Israel? What were the first words the Israelites audibly heard from their God?

"And God spoke all these words, saying:
I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
You shall have no other gods before Me.
You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.
You shall not murder.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s." (Exodus 20:1-17)

God's first words to Israel were His ten commandments! Why? Because they were not readied to see and accept His Grace! See, we need to be aligned to God in our hearts to truly hear grace from Him. God can speak to us, "Go, and exalt the poor!" Then we can either do one of two things:
1) Go, and exalt the poor;
2) Tell God, "I can't go... I have a dentist's appointment. I'll go later when I have time."
Now, of these two answers, which one is likely to receive the graceful God, the face of God that Moses met on Mt. Sinai, and which is likely to receive God's Law, that which the Israelites got?

#1 will meet with God and be given Grace.
#2 will meet with God and be given His Laws.

Why does God need to respond in two different ways? Through His Law, He means to discipline us, to change us, to mold us into who He needs us to be - obedient, fearful, and humble. Those who respond to God already through obedience, fear of the Lord, and humility will be those in camp #1. If we're still proud, unlawful, and stubborn towards God... we will get His Law to demonstrate to us clearly, "This is what's wrong in your life. Change, grow, and learn to fear who I am!"

Look at Israel's reaction to hearing God speak to them His Laws:

"Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. Then they said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.” And Moses said to the people, “Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.” So the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was." (Exodus 20:18-21)

They feared Him! They "trembled and stood afar off." God had demonstrated that He was real, He was there, and He was powerful enough to save or destroy them. They had been lulled by Egyptian gods, and they, until then, still had not seen God in the miracles that saved them. The didn't realize how terrible and great the Lord is. And so their hearts were not ready for grace.

Now, back to the speeding issue that spurred all of this. God will send us the Law to mold us, and prepare our hearts through fear and trembling in His presence so that we may be able to fully receive grace! We, as children of God, have a choice to make when God needs to send us the Law, and not His grace:
a) Slow down until the presence of the law is no longer there (until you know the state trooper can't see you); or
b) Slow to the speed limit and stay there.

That's what hit me saturday: When we mend our ways, even occasionally to excess of what's needed, in the face of the law, why then do we revert to our old ways of breaking the law? Even less than 60 seconds after we were corrected by the law, we revert to our old, broken, ungodly habits... Why? Because God doesn't linger on those who won't listen to Him, and learn to obey Him. He'll get someone else to do His work, and you'll miss the blessings of it, and have all the more to push through the next time God speaks to you.

So I say to you, when the Lord delivers you His law, repent! Turn around from the wrongs God is calling you on! And do it now! Don't just do it now, but continue to persevere and continue to be obedient to the law God sent to you! Now and forever! Slow down to the speed limit, and every time you are behind the wheel from now on, stay at the speed limit, wherever you are! Humble yourselves and love to serve God, don't resist God in your prideful ways, but I say to you, "resist sin to the point of bloodshed" (Hebrews 12:4)! Follow His commandments and He will make you a King and a Priest! Greatness and glory unknown and unimaginable will be ours in God's Kingdom if we will just humble ourselves and keep God's commands! Halleluliah!

Yeshua, my Lord and savior! Blessed be your name on high. Send to me your law to correct me! Send to me your grace when I'm able to receive it. Lord, I give up my life and all the desires of my flesh. Please, help me keep all the commands you have sent me. Help me live a life worthy of the words, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." Lord I love you! May, through your Holy Spirit, my words and actions do naught but to strengthen and advance your kingdom and your glory! Take all I say and rebuke me where I am led astray, and bless me where I am speaking your Word.
In Yeshua's Name, Amen!

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. (Hosea 4:6)

Hosea says clearly that nobody who rejects the knowledge God has provided for them is accepted as a priest to His people. I was provoked by this verse mostly due to the fact that my wife has been wanting a child since pretty shortly after we were married, and I too have wanted one. But mostly financial worries have prohibited us from having a child as of yet. But this verse has convicted me. God spoke through Hosea saying "I will also forget thy children." 0_0;

I know I need to be the spiritual leader of my household. My wife would not have married me if she couldn't trust me as such. But I also know that I am lacking of the knowledge of the Lord. There have been many times when I've rejected time I could spend with the Lord, gaining His knowldege that He wants to give me and equip me with, by playing games, idling about, or being actively ignorant to my need of Him. I have been, at those times, choosing to destroy myself. Though I can rest assured that I have salvation of my sins through Yeshua's sacrifice and ressurection, if I continue to destroy myself spiritually by rejecting the knowledge and wisdom God wants me to ask for, my children will be in danger of being forgotten by the Lord.

However:

On that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, “Ask! What shall I give you?” And Solomon said to God: “You have shown great mercy to David my father, and have made me king in his place. Now, O LORD God, let Your promise to David my father be established, for You have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. 10 Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?”
Then God said to Solomon: “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life—but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king—wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like.” (2 Chronicles 1:7-12)

God offers and grants those who with the option to choose anything for God to grant them, who choose knowledge and wisdom everything. Through faith my salvation is assured. Through faith the forces of Satan are set at bay. Through the application of God's knowledge and wisdom, using His Word, Satan and his forces are destroyed and rebuked!

... above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints... (Ephesians 6:16-18)

"The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Taking God's written word (the bible) and applying it through the Holy Spirit is the weapon we as Christians wield. If we simply wield the bible alone, and seek not God's knowledge and wisdom, but yet reject it, we become those who are not fit to lead, to be of the priesthood. I believe the term "Bible-thumper" is derived from such persons. Solomon wasn't blessed with honor, wealth, and glory above and beyond all kings before him, and all kings to come after him because he chose something, anything, other than God's knowledge and wisdom. God gave him the chance to tell Him what his heart really was after, and he proved to God that his heart was after God's heart. Much like David was called "a man after My own heart" by God (Acts 13:22). God has always appointed only those whom are those after God's own heart to be priests, ministers, leaders, elders, and shepards.

“Return, O backsliding children,” says the LORD; “for I am married to you. I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion. And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.
"Then it shall come to pass, when you are multiplied and increased in the land in those days,” says the LORD, “that they will say no more, ‘The ark of the covenant of the LORD.’ It shall not come to mind, nor shall they remember it, nor shall they visit it, nor shall it be made anymore. (Jeremaiah 3:14-16)

So lets seek the Lord's heart alone. From His heart He will pour out His love and grace upon us, and if we make our free decision to accept His Son, Yeshua the Messaiah of all, then eternal life shall also be given to us. After receiving His Son, we will be baptised in the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11, Mark 1:8, Acts 1:8, Acts 2:1-47). Through the Holy Spirit, and earnest seeking of God's knowledge and wisdom of His Word, God will grant us the knowledge and wisdom to fortify our own faith in Yeshua, our God, and fight back against the attacks of the enemy (as opposed to simply defending yourself against them).

Gain salvation through faith in Yeshua (Christ Jesus), then receive the Holy Spirit through faith, the seek God's heart for His knowledge and wisdom, then apply it for His Holy Kingdom, and to free others from Satan's grasp and protect those of your flock from his attacks when they are too weak. "I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding," says the Lord. Remember what a shepherd is: "One who herds, guards, and tends." (dictionary.com) It takes a lot to become a shepherd, but we should all desire the place of service that is respected to the shepherds God has placed in our lives. Be sure to strengthen yourselves to not be lead astray by those who pretend to be shepherds, but a really driven to steal you away from your true shepherd, Yeshua.

I pray Lord God that you will bless those who read these words to discern through your Holy Spirit for themselves the validity of what is written here. I pray that those who don't know you, or the sacrifice of your only begotten Son for our sins may be lead to learn more about you. Lord, through that I pray that their hearts will open to you and may they eventually come to accept you as their personal savior from their sins, and have their names written in your Book of Life for all eternity. Yeshua, please bless me as I strive to seek and learn your knowledge, and receive your wisdom to become a shepherd for all those you deem to put under my care. May you prepare my heart, my soul, my mind, and my life to become a good righteous father in your due timing. Lord, I trust into your hands all that I am, all that I have, and all that I do. Bless all those who would seek you, and I pray against all detours set up by our enemy Satan, in Yeshua's name destroy the fortresses of Satan in the lives of those longing to be touched by your Love and grace, and by your hand.
In Yeshua's Holy name, Amen.

Hopefully I can start getting some extra income somehow... I really need it. My job doesn't give me more than 37.5 hours a week, and my wife only gets random comissions for proofreading... so needless to say, until things perk up for one of us, we're tight on the finances and any little bit would help, a lot.

Fortunately, it seems my VP is liking me and the work I am/can do. That's a plus, since I'm currently a temp and my term ends March 31st... and I still am waiting to hear if I get to keep working, or become a permanent employee. Odd state really... but meh. God's going to do what He needs to, and I'm going to thank Him for any and everything He gives me. Without Him, I'm sure I'd be one miserable sod... just from guestimating the way my life was going before I came to know Yeshua.

Thank you Lord for saving me and pulling me out of the wretched lifestyle I was leading. I pray for your continued peace, and may I not fall into complacency through it.

In Yeshua's name I pray, Amen.

So yeah, I started this thing in hopes of focusing down and outputting a self-study of God's word each day... needless to say, I've been failing. Between just about everything, I haven't. I still have some dishes that I haven't washed in a couple weeks, just because the large mass of dirty dishes is depressing, and act as a strong inhibitor of me cleaning them.

However, I must insist that I get all of them washed, and also that I should get to updating this at least once a week, and work from there to a daily update once I get used to the idea and habit of writing more often (and composing purposful thoughts to write).

So, check back in a while, if you're interested. I may even try to update tonight again, at least saying something!

Well. I've decided to create a blog that I may (hopefully) daily strive to strengthen my understanding and knowing of God (the biblical God for those curious). I'm still just starting my journey here, and I want the opportunity to share and discuss things I believe God may be teaching me, and may teach you through as well.

I'll start with this: Yeshua (or more commonly called Jesus) is the one and true Messaiah (Christ) for mankind through His sacrifice on the cross for our sins. This I believe, and with this founding knowledge is where I begin my devling in the Word of God to better understand who God is, and what He wants to do with my life. I also hold true that the bible stands as a historically accurate document that is also 100% inspired by God. Translation errors etc are granted, but the Word of God (using the bible as a primary written medium) has not erred. God doesn't and can not lie, and all we learn from God's Word can be understood and accepted as truth (yes I believe in absolute truth... relativism is just annoying to me... I'm sorry).

Why Yeshua instead of Jesus? Well simply put: I, an almost 4 year old born-again Christian married a Mesianic Jewish woman who wanted a Jewish household. After praying about it, I found only delight in the idea of serving God further through biblical traditions uphelp by most Messianic Jews. So, I myself have become (or more so am striving to become) a Messianic Jew myself. There's a whole lot to learn I find, but I've had no regrets yet, and don't expect any (save wishing I'd learned more about traditions sooner :P).