To whom do you submit yourself? These last few weeks we have seen many kneel in submission to people who gain authority over another through acts of violence. Is it out of fear or just a show. When a person kneels before another that person is trading allegiance from one thing to another. I submit to you that all who have kneeled have submitted themselves to the Adversary and are giving up on their beliefs to save their own skins. What they have done is given themselves over to a fate worse than physical death and have turned their backs on God. 

Stand For What is Right
There are two ways this movement is going. One ends in disaster and the other could end in harmony if people would pay attention. When we look at the world today we see people trying to do right by others and accept that an ethnic group has truly been wrongly treated for many years. People have tried to correct this but there have been societal problems that leaked into the church and caused many to cause disharmony. This is not what God wants.

 If we want to be good Christians then we stand up for the truth of the Scriptures hand in hand with our brothers and sisters of all nationalities and ethnicities. If we don’t then we are as guilty as our predecessors who had a church for every ethnic group and no “contamination”. That was not what Jesus called for but to stand firm in the true faith which is for all God;s Children. 

Stand For Where We Believe We Belong
Mankind cannot stand for a belief alone. Anyone can believe anything for a time and belief systems can change. If we stand firm in the foundation of belonging to God then when we are told to kneel we can be like Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who did not give in but stood firm. They only kneeled to God in prayer. 

If we kneel then we submit our beliefs were wrong and accept a false authority over us. If you watch anyone in the military there is no kneeling in acceptance of any leader, the body remains upright and standing with differing hand and feet positions. This is a recognition of an authority figure of whom the soldier follows. 

We belong to God and if we truly believe that, we will humble ourselves and kneel when entering His presence through prayer. There is a difference between believing in and being in.   
We can believe what we stand for to be right and just but we are not fully in it unless we are willing to die for it. Being in Christ we have given up our lives and put our full self into His will. We have died to the materials of the world so we can focus on being one in the Spirit with God.

Kneel to No One But God 
This is our battle cry and if you cannot see past the color of skin before looking into the heart then what are you doing? If you find only sinfulness and hatred from your heart you cannot see the true heart of your brothers and sisters. If you see jealousy, repair it through grace and mercy. If you see hatred, counter it with God’s Love. If you see loss, help them discover to be found. 

There is a thing going around social media where some are bringing up the lost sheep and calling the black American that lost one. I submit that the lost sheep are the ones with hate in the heart who cause others to believe they are lost and will never be found to be equal. Found people feel lost every day and lost people do not realize that they are lost because of the blind deceit the Adversary has wooled over their eyes.

We Are Family
Brothers and sisters, in my temporary secular job I work with many different nationalities and ethnicities. We do not have tension because of our skin or the way we talk but we do squabble as brothers and sisters normally would. We are a family and when one of us is down we all lift the person up. If there is trouble then we stand in the way of said trouble ‘cause that is what family does. Be a family first and always. Show Our Adversary who is the real boss of our lives.  

Kneel to no one but God 

In God’s Loving Arms, through His Grace and Mercy I pray that we can find common ground and defeat this evil that has plagued our land, those in authority over us, and those who believe they rule over us. Send your Holy Spirit and the Angels to conquer them using us as needed to be lights and bring them back to you Father God. In Jesus Name, Amen

Rob, Servant of God

​

Stay sober, stay alert! Your enemy, the Adversary, stalks about like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8)
 
Our Adversary, the devil, works to get our hearts and minds away from God. He sets up snares to catch us in any way possible using whatever and whomever to distract us and turn away from our Time with God, our Walk with Jesus, and the Guidance of the Spirit. But God did not leave us defenseless, His Word is always with us.
 
Don’t Stray 
Before I was humbled, I used to go astray; but now I observe your word. (Psalm 119:67)
 
When we neglect our time with God we lose the desire to pray and read His Word. Keeping His Word on our hearts and minds as He commands us and then talking with Him through prayer keeps our life, both spiritual and physical, healthy. Too many Christians still do not know what it is like to feel alive and released when they do not spend time with God daily.
 
Sometimes it is hard to say no to our non-Christian or straight up non-believer friends. The temptation to return to our former life (B.C.) is sometimes so overwhelming that we yield to the past and fall into the trap the Adversary set before us. If we stray once, the devil has control and we must vigilantly return to the Word and prayer while surrounding ourselves with the Body of Believers to get back on track and defeat our personal demons.
 
So how do we keep ourselves from straying? Devote everything to God. He desires time with you and the same should be true from us. Spending time in devotionals and drawing nearer to Him through prayer, reading the Word, and practicing His Ways keeps us from falling into the temptation of straying. Having an active faith life keeps the devil coming but also keeps him at bay.
 
Don’t Strut
Pride goes before destruction, and arrogance before failure. (Proverbs 16:18) 
I could sum this up in two words and many will get this right away, be humble. But I am going to go a little deeper because everyone needs to be reminded on how to act in humility before God.
 
Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God. (John 12:42,43)
No one can tell me they do not know someone like this. Everyone from Cardinals and Bishops down to the small Church Pastor, Bible Study Leader, and Parishioner, know someone who does “God’s Work” but for his/her own personal gain and glory. Why do some seek approval from people rather than just pleasing the Father God? Why do some seek to get rich off of their “work” for God when all it leads to is sorrow and pain with the desire for more earthly riches? This is the devil’s snare of strutting one’s own stuff.
 
So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” (John 8:28,29)
Jesus was a humble man who declared He could nothing by Himself but was dependent on the Father. In saying and doing this, He pleased God. When we have an active faith and do not physically try to gain self-accolades we are doing our best to be humble and live a Christ-like life.
 
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. (James 4:10)    
Doing things that are pleasing to God and placing Him as first in our lives creates a humble heart within us. When we think of others before ourselves we are showing humility, not weakness but a strength that is beyond a non-believers comprehension. People may see us one way but God knows who we are trying to please. When people see a person rise up in being known not for what he/she has done but what God has done in the person’s life, the devil cannot touch him.
 
Don’t Stoop  
Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good. (Romans 12:21)
We are living in a time where evil is seen as good and good is seen as evil, this must be changed and we must change it. We are condoning everything that is against God’s Word in the name of being socially acceptable. We have let the immoral become the normal, and we accept violence as a natural way to get things done. Moral standards have dropped so low that we allow immoral behaviors and confusions to be taught to our children as young as Kindergarten age.
We cannot accept all sinfulness as normal or we will have lost. We must, however, remember that God Loves all people so then we must as well but that does not mean we must accept their sinfulness. Jesus ate with sinners, yes but He did not let their ways influence His behavior nor His relationship with the Father. He showed them the truth and many repented, never looking back.
 
Don’t Stop 
Everyone will hate you because of me, but whoever holds out till the end will be preserved from harm.(Matthew 10:22)
Keep the faith and continue to walk in the path with God. Do not stop, keep walking, pass go, and collect eternal life. Do not let the devil’s snare of distraction or his attacks get in the way of the prize. Sometimes what the devil offers looks attractive but it leads to nowhere but down. No problem is too difficult, no trial is too severe, and no burden is so heavy that Jesus cannot bear it and us to get us through. God’s Grace and His Mercy are sufficient.
 
I leave you today with this thought:
No, in all these things we are superconquerors, through the one who has loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers, neither what exists nor what is coming, neither powers above nor powers below, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God which comes to us through the Messiah Jesus, our Lord. (Romans 8:37-39)
 
In God’s Arms,
Rob, Servant of God
 

There are so many prophesies around the world in different religious and civilization belief systems that no one can be sure what is true. The truth is, we are not supposed to know the time or date but we are given signs in the heavens that prepare us for it. We also receive signs on the earth. One of the signs talks about pestilence and disease. This is our current state.

The world has gone through many plagues in its history and humans have fought each one in one way shape or form by either letting it run its course or finding ways to stem the effects which cause the sickness and deaths. Our current coronavirus (a common cold) started in the respiratory system and is now mutated enough that there is no way to keep up with the damage it can do to our bodies. It is even finding ways to take our children. I really hate to say this but did we have it coming?

God Punishes to Show His Power
Many times in Scripture, God uses the earth’s defenses to remind us who is boss. He took the Egyptians down so that the Pharaoh would release the Hebrews. He caused pestilence on His chosen Israel when they sinned (numerous times). He has wiped out entire people groups for their disobedience.
 
Revelation May Not Be a Single Short Period
When we look into Revelation how certain can we be that everything is going to happen in quick succession. Every plague up to now has hit certain bodily functions and stayed local to those systems. Every time there was a chance, people were told to isolate just like we are now. Back then, people listened but now, the Adversary has so many people in his grasp that we are helping this one spread and find new ways of killing us.

Since the time of the writing there was the Plague of Justinian, The Black Death, Bubonic Plague, Cholera, Ebola Virus, and Spanish Flu. There have been diseases like small pox, measles, anthrax, and rubella, to name a few. Ladies and gentlemen, Corona Virus:
 Human Coronavirus Types
Scientists have divided coronaviruses into four sub-groupings, called alpha, beta, gamma, and delta. Seven of these viruses can infect people. The four common ones are:

• 229E (alpha)
• NL63 (alpha)
• OC43 (beta)
• HKU1 (beta)

The three less-common ones are:

• MERS-CoV, a beta virus that causes Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)

• SARS-CoV, a beta virus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)
• SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19

Gamma and Delta are the sub-groups that affect animals. From these we can get numerous diseases. But what I want you to see is that there are seven currently that affect us. The number seven is an important one in gematria and other numerical studies. So important that it has been related to good fortune.

Seven
The number seven, in gematria, is related to the Creation of the world. It is the most powerful number and has been used in so many good ways. There are seven days in a week. There are seven attributes to physicality (height, width, depth, top and bottom, front and back, left and right, and the total connection of the six). There are seven notes to an octave (the eighth note is a repeat of the first at the next tone). The seven notes correspond to seven colors:
Royal blue
Do

Scarlet Red
Re

Yellow
Mi

Emerald green
Fa

Orange
So

Violet
La

Purple
Ti

So why is it the number associated with the sadness of “Tribulation”?
Seven years, seven trumpets, seven lamp posts, seven plagues. Those are found in the time before the return of Jesus. Seven years Satan will control then be locked away. Seven physical years? Maybe not.
  
What is the importance of all this. If seven in creation and connection in the physical reality, would not God use that to prepare us for the reality of the Spirit? 

Seven Types That Harm Us
If there are seven types that harm us would not the seventh be a completion of all the areas affected? What is happening now is that this virus has affected the body as a whole and there is no telling where this will end. Could it be that the trumpet has sounded?
 
Corona’s Numerical Value
The numerical value of the word Corona (קורונה) is 367. There are many word combinations with the same numerical value, yes, but the one that immediately out is the expression “Messiah, Come” (משיח בוא) which also equals 367. Why is this significant? Is this not the prayer of many people right now? So many people looking for answers and look in the wrong place. They seek physical healing when their spirit is what needs the doctor.

Theoretical Thinking
This virus, if my theory is correct, will affect all of humanity and be responsible for the death of one-third of mankind. Most of us have followed the authorities appointed over us as Jesus told us to do but there are many who deny authority. Brothers and Sisters it is a time for true discernment. There are questions that must be asked but we have to put our personal, human needs and desires aside if we are going to beat this.

Closing Thoughts
Can we live how we were living to a certain extent? Yes and No. Can we survive with the conveniences and things that take our attention away from God and our mission? Not really. Do we have to make amends and repent? Yes. Can we continue in our sinfulness? No.

The one thing that will save us is truth in repentance and doing as the Lord God commanded us to do. We need to remember the teachings of Jesus who was the truth of the Word and not confuse them with the man made perversions of the times. Keep His Word on our hearts and look at the world through the eyes of the Spirit.   

Remember this is a theory from research and does not constitute prophesy. I am no prophet but a learner and follower of God’s Word. If He gives me words to speak then I will speak them. I am unimportant but God and His Word are Eternal.
God Bless,
Rob, Servant of Our Father 

​God provides joy in our lives but some people have to wait almost a lifetime to receive it. For Elizabeth, relative of Mary and wife to Zechariah a priest, it was a child. She was in her 80s when she gave birth to John and it was all about God’s timing.
 
The Visit and Announcement
Zechariah was in his term of entering the innermost part of the Temple when he was visited and told about his future son. Of course he did not believe this because he was way too old to be a father much less Elizabeth being well past her birthing years. So the messenger made him mute. In fact, he was not even able to tell Elizabeth that she would be with child. What a surprise that was going to be.
 
Both Zechariah and Elizabeth were Levites so to be barren and no heir meant that they were looked down upon by all. It was considered a disgrace not to have children especially being a daughter of a priest so to be told about having a child at that late age would have been seen as a joke. When she announced her pregnancy there must have been many controversies and naysayers especially since Zechariah was deaf and mute. But God has a plan.
 
Mary Seeks Refuge
Elizabeth was six months along when Mary came to visit. Mary was just barely into her first term and sought protection being an unwed pregnant youth. The story goes that at the first meeting, John lept with excitement in Elizabeth’s womb so she knew there was something special about both children. Mary is immediately taken in until the decree for a census had been given.  
 
Elizabeth, Mother of John
Mary was there for the birth of John and then was whisked away for the next miraculous birth to occur. During this time Zechariah was given his hearing and his speech back but had to remain silent about the coming birth of Jesus. What a blessing and a curse. It must have been hard for both of them. Zechariah did not live much longer and Elizabeth died while John was still young but understood his mission. I imagine that Elizabeth was able to see the truth of things before she died but imagine the joy that she must have known and the peace she received.
 
Mother of the Pronouncer of Truth
Elizabeth bore John who would become the one who introduced Jesus to Israel through baptism. She became the mother of the one who would cry in the desert wilderness for the Lamb of God, the Word in the Flesh. It would be John who was given the opportunity to pave the way for the repentance of man through cleansing and it was his mission to announce Jesus’ arrival.
 
Elizabeth was a barren woman used by God to bring forth the man would be called John the Baptist.
 
Heavenly Father, Gracious Lord, If it be Thy Will, bless those who are barren so they may conceive. Bless those who have had children so that they bring the child up in Your ways and not the ways of the world. Guide all parents to be after Your heart and fill the children with Your Word. In this time of pain, suffering, and many unknowns, be with us and fill us with the Hope that You are beside us and have not left us to the devil’s enjoyment. Thank You Father for Your Son. Thank You for John, Thank You for Mary and Elizabeth. In Jesus we ask these things. Amen.

Our backyard has become a sanctuary for birds and squirrels as of late. We have begun placing bird seed with nuts and other things for them to eat in various places in our fenced in backyard. These creatures that God hath made are a site to see. Many types of birds have come to visit. From Blue Jays and Cardinals to Doves, Robins, and Finches, we have a sanctuary for them to feed and nest in. The squirrels have grown from three to eleven as of this morning and even though they sometimes fight, they sit and eat as a community. Our dog Lili, a pug terrier mix, does not bother them but occasionally patrols the area and the others somehow know not to fear her. This is how it is supposed to be.

How beautiful is God's World in which He placed us to watch over and cultivate. We are to live with the land not against it yet too many abuse the material resources from the earth that makes it impossible for the earth to rejuvenate itself. How much easier it would be if we did not poison the earth with so many emissions and man made chemicals so we could live without fear. 

Occasionally, God steps in and halts man from doing things but some men see the opportunity for control. That is the current state all over the earth. Basic human rights are being stripped away. The family and friend gatherings are being broken down and minds are being programmed to believe certain people in the government have total power over our lives. 

Children of God, we need to take back His world. We cannot sit quietly and beg for mercy from persons who cannot give what they themselves have not received. There are certain men and women who are abusing their authority and they must be stopped.

The Children of God should prepare the Way of the Lord. How do we do this? There is a call for repentance all over the world. The Hebrew word is Teshuvah, the Arabic word is Tawba. The Chinese word is Huǐgǎi, in German it is Buße. I could go on and on but you see, all around the world there is a word for repentance so we need to tell them it is time to recognize our wrongdoing and repent for our sins. Seek the problem and fix it. 

We can defeat evil but only through the power of the Holy Spirit. I will no longer be quiet. We must return to God.  

When some people talk about a relationship with God there is more of a one sided view that says God has done everything that He needs to do for our Salvation which is a correct statement but a lot of people leave it there. Yes God loves us, sacrificed His Son for us and covers our sins but....didn't God say He needs something from us? I am pretty sure if you look at the Old Testament you will find many instances where God Commands us to do certain things to give Him Glory.

Love
The first thing involves many but is encompassed in one simple word, "Love". With love comes an unquestionable understanding that He Loves us because He created us, yet people do not believe in a creator God. God's Love knows no bounds but if you do not love back there are issues.

How do we show our love for God. The first thing is trust. We must fully trust God with our lives and everything we do. With trust comes obedience. If we put our trust in God that means we listen and do what He asks of us. This is all part of faith. In Hebrew, faith and trust are the same so if we trust someone we have faith that the person will also trust us. If we break our trust through disobedience, we are in danger of losing faith.

With obedience comes action. There are two types of faith, active and inactive. The person who has an active faith reads, studies, follows, and puts the Word into Action. The inactive reads, maybe studies, tries to follow but lets the world distract so the Word is not active in the person's life.

Worship
When you sing in adoration, pray, study the Word, talk to others about God, this is worship. When feeding and clothing the hungry without self adoration, that is worship. When you sing praises, sit and enjoy the beauty of creation, stand hand in hand with others in His Name, that is worship. When you place the plan of God above all else, that is worship.

Render To God What is God's
When the Israelites rendered a sheep or other item used for food they left nothing of the animal but had a use for every part except the voice. Everything used was for the well being of the family and in one way or another used for God's Glory. The same goes for everything, it all belongs to God. So when Jesus said, "Render to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's", He was literally saying that we owe nothing to another who will not put it to use for God's Glory. The greed of man deserves nothing.

What Have You Rendered to God?
Everything we do, everything we have, is for God. If we continue down the path of self-indulgence and self-adoration then we are not giving everything to God but keeping it for ourselves. We cannot and should not do that. Remember, He is the one who saves us, money cannot cure a disease, it provides temporary relief but does not cut down to the true cause. So give everything, do everything for God. He Loves you, we need to show Him love in return.

In God's Loving Arms,
Rob, Servant of God

 

Brothers and Sisters, today marks the remembrance of the Triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. He entered the Golden Gate riding on a peaceful creature, a donkey. He knew that there would be people there announcing His arrival who sang Hosanna, Savior, King. Jesus knew what was going to happen even though He entered on a humble creature and signified that He would carry our burdens, our sins, when He was killed on the execution stake we call, the Cross.

Why a Donkey
Donkeys are beasts of burden yet they are also known as peaceful creatures. Jesus rode in on a donkey to show that He did not want war, He wants peace. He rode in with humility even though He knew the crowd would greet Him with calls of triumph. Jesus already was feeling the weight of the burdens so this was a physical representation of the spiritual battle He was already fighting.  
Significance Of Palms
Palms were laid for kings upon entering a gate after a victory in battle. When they laid them down for Jesus they were proclaiming His coming victory over sin even though they thought He was entering to take back the city. We wave palm branches on this day to remember the entry and victory in Jesus.

The Priests Did Not Understand
When Jesus entered the Gate there was a jealousy that ran through the minds of the religious leaders. They wanted the people to stop but they did not. They continued to sing praises to the king. But the funny thing is they were falling right in line with the plan. They rejected Him just as Isaiah 53 had seen. They set in motion the stage for exactly what needed to happen to save mankind.

Sing Hallelujah, Hosanna Has Come  
It is by God’s Grace and Mercy that He gave us His Son to prepare us for what He was doing. God made it possible for us to regain full communion with Him with the only mediator being His Son. No earthly priest can save us. No Pope has right over us. Only Jesus by the right decisions of the Father can save us from eternal death.
Brothers and Sisters, Sing God’s Praises for He has saved us. Trust in Him and speak with Him. Remember His Word and keep in on your heart.

In God’s Embrace,
 Rob, Servant of God

One of the hardest things for a person to do sometimes is to forgive another for a wrong done. Part of our heart as a Child of God is that we forgive because we are forgiven. If we cannot forgive another then God may not forgive us.

Jonah was a prophet from Gath Hepher who had restored the boundaries of Israel from Lebo Hamath to the Dead Sea. He listened to God and spoke His Word so that others would remember God but he was not always the good and faithful servant as required to be a prophet. There was a time where Jonah was disobedient because he did not want an enemy saved and turned to God. His desire to have God only in Israel and Judea outweighed his designated mission of returning Nineveh to God.

Jonah heard God’s command but blatantly ignored it by going the opposite way and catching a boat to hide from God. We all know that we cannot hide from the All Powerful Father but he thought he could. Jonah’s unwillingness to be obedient caused the ship to nearly sink. He was thrown overboard and the sea calmed down only for Jonah to be swallowed by a large fish. While inside the large sea creature, Jonah repented and agreed to do God’s bidding but there was still doubt in his mind.

After Jonah delivered the message as ordered, there was a jealousy that turned to anger. He had set up shelter for himself but it did not cover his head fully so God placed a leafy plant over him. But because God knew Jonah was not right in his heart with forgiveness for the people, God removed the shelter of the plant.

God was trying to teach Jonah a lesson in forgiveness. Because his heart was heavy with grief and jealousy, God took away the one thing Jonah needed at the time. Jonah’s heart was in the wrong place as he only had concern for his well-being and not the souls of the Ninevites. When God turned away from Jonah, He was teaching him that how he felt about the Ninevites was wrong and that we all deserve God’s Love and forgiveness.

God loves everyone. When we cannot forgive or show God’s compassion towards others we are not showing God’s Unconditional Love as we should. When we are unforgiving, God is unforgiving to us. Jonah had to realize this so that his heart could be set right and go on doing God’s will throughout all the land.

If we love our neighbor as ourselves, we are loving them as God loves us. This love makes it easier to forgive. Those who do not know God cannot forgive no matter the circumstance. They become embittered with unkind thoughts. Though justice still must be done, a forgiving heart may touch the person who wronged in ways that only God can change. We can be God’s instruments of change but without an unrepentant, forgiving heart, our work means nothing.

Brothers and Sisters this completes this month’s concentration on Disobedience. Jonah learned to listen before it was too late. His problem was he did not want to share God with an enemy but had a change of heart. Lot’s wife and Aaron’s sons were not as fortunate dying quickly before restitution could be made. There was no returning for Saul even when he tried repenting, the power hunger was much to great for him to conquer. Saul’s disobedience set the example for future generations and he had to live with the decision made. He could have tried to change and been a better leader for and with God’s people, instead he chose death which caused the death of his sons on the battlefield and the eventual destruction of his line altogether.

What must we do? Listen, trust and obey God’s Word in all things. If we fall short we can return but we must choose to do so. Forgive even in the worst of circumstances. Show and share God’s Love with others.

In God’s Loving Arms,
Rob, Servant of God       

The new strain of flu that has surpassed the death toll of SARS is coming to a country near you. I was reading the news and decided to do a little research and what I found really startled me. There have been many diseases and epidemics that started in East Asia because of what they eat. This led to more research but for this I turned to Scripture.

 Did you know that there was a Torah before the Torah? Did you know that this Torah was meant for all mankind and can actually be found in many different cultures with certain omissions? There is a law that governs the plants and animals that we can use for food and the unfortunate thing is that the latest virus comes from two of the forbidden animals.   

What Happened

The people of the earth were doing their own thing and cared not for God. How many times in history have we heard that take place? The very first time it happened, God and the heavenly council took drastic action by covering the entire earth with water. This great flood was to remove the sinfulness of the world and start over. Noah, a faithful servant of God, and his family were the only humans kept alive. With one purpose, save two of every kind of animal. Unfortunately the every kind piece somehow also applied to Noah and family because sin was not completely washed away.

Noah and the First Food Law
With the flooding done, Noah was given specific instructions on the food he and his family could consume.  
Every creature that lives shall be yours to eat; as with the green grasses, I give you all these. You must not, however, eat flesh with its life-blood in it. Genesis 9:3-4

In other words, God is saying do not eat something that is still alive nor are you to eat anything that has not been properly prepared (a.k.a. it must be killed, slaughtered, and cooked).  Blood is life. To eat or drink the blood which still flows through the veins is considered sinful. Without properly preparing and cooking that which we eat can cause anything that was in the animal to transfer into us. This provides for healthy eating so that viruses and other contagions do not spread by blood or other means.  

God had set up many laws and guidelines for living that He imprinted in Adam so they are imprinted (yet distorted) in us. Throughout history God has set written reminders of these laws and guidelines on anything that it could be seen on. Including our hearts and our DNA. One of these governed food. In continuation of the above verse, more on blood is written:  
I will certainly demand an accounting for the blood of your lives: I will demand it from every animal and from every human being. I will demand from every human being an accounting for the life of his fellow human being. Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; For in His image did God make man. Genesis 9:5-6

These verses led to the fourth Universal Law of Noah:
Do not eat a limb of a living animal.
i.e.
Respect the life of all God’s creatures. As intelligent beings, we have a duty not to cause undue pain to other creatures.

Later in Leviticus:
The following you shall abominate among the birds—they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, the vulture, and the black vulture; the kite, falcons of every variety; all varieties of raven; the ostrich, the nighthawk, the seagull; hawks of every variety; the little owl, the cormorant, and the great owl; the white owl, the pelican, and the bustard; the stork; herons of every variety; the hoopoe, and the bat. Leviticus 11:19

 The Human Problem (Yum This Tastes Good)
Just because tastes good going in does not mean it is good for you. There are reasons God set about certain food laws later. One of the suggested reasons has to do with environment and the fact that sin had reentered the world on a global scale.

There are certain delicacies that people eat which may not have immediate bad reactions but over time do more harm than good. Certain bacteria, viruses, and other non-cooperative to good health are in the animals that are specified not to consume in Scripture. Even well-cooked there are negatives even if our bodies change to accept the foods available. When our bodies adjust to these foods our DNA changes to accept these as nourishment. Problem, when DNA changes it replaces our original structure and God is distorted.  

There were many years between Noah and Moses. So many that those who were separated in Babel no longer knew God as He desires. God chose a specific people but had to get their human bodies healthy and change their DNA back to the time of Noah. To do this God gave the following:

20 “‘All winged swarming creatures that go on all fours are a detestable thing for you; 21 except that of all winged swarming creatures that go on all fours, you may eat those that have jointed legs above their feet, enabling them to jump off the ground. 22 Specifically, of these you may eat the various kinds of locusts, grasshoppers, katydids and crickets. 23 But other than that, all winged swarming creatures having four feet are a detestable thing for you. Leviticus 11:20-23
 29 “‘The following are unclean for you among the small creatures that swarm on the ground: the weasel, the mouse, the various kinds of lizards, 30 the gecko, the land crocodile, the skink, the sand-lizard and the chameleon. Leviticus 11:29-30
41 “‘Any creature that swarms on the ground is a detestable thing; it is not to be eaten — 42 whatever moves on its stomach, goes on all fours, or has many legs — all creatures that swarm on the ground; you are not to eat them, because they are a detestable thing. Leviticus 11:41-42

Do these sound familiar? They should because they are constantly the subject of attacks by non-Christians to which the answer is Jesus and what He approved. I cannot say for sure but I am guessing that those who believe can eat certain things but are still held to all the Noahide Laws as well as the Ten Commandments. We are bound to them because we are God’s creation. I will cover the Noahide Laws on another time but I can tell you that all of the morality and ethical laws of Moses come directly from the law given to Noah.

Eating Right Leads to Good Physical and Spiritual Fitness

Throughout time we humans have experimented with different kinds of food. Our bodies adapted to the foods in the areas we live but there are always drawbacks to everything that is listed as detestable to God. Think of how many civilizations have died out because of their eating and health habits.

If you ask me, I think God is trying to tell us something. Isn’t it about time for the world to listen. Could this latest flu strain be a sign. Think about this: a large portion of a population whose leaders have had those who believe in God persecuted through jail and or murdered. This flu is mainly attacking young adults to 55 or 60 year olds. This affects the elders who have to care for them and leaves children without parents. They are seeking a cure. The cure is simple, eat right and turn to God.
Eating right and caring for the physical has an amazing effect on the spiritual self. The more we return to the habits and character God desires of us, the closer we are to Him and He will take care of us.
I do feel for those who have had to suffer due to the losses and those who are infected. I pray that the doctors and scientists can create a temporary solution that can lead to removing this current strain and help people back to decent health. Once they recover it will be time to reintroduce them to God.
I know this is a lengthy one but a good portion of spiritual fitness really does involve physical fitness. Our physical fitness and challenges are used to bring us closer to God. Some of us may never heal but if our spiritual resolve is stronger than our physical pain, we are on the right track.

May God spread His loving arms around us,
Rob, Servant of God     

When we disobey God there are three routes a person can take. One way leads to forgiveness, one way leads to losing God’s favor, and another leads to immediate death. Last Sunday we discussed King Saul’s disobedience that discredited him and he was removed from God’s sight as the anointed one. This week’s discussion on disobedience takes a look into the consequence of a simple statement which has deadly results. Let us see what happened to Ado, the wife of Lot.

A Troubled Mind  

Even with all the evil that Sodom and Gomorrah had been accused of and had been proven, Ado had found happiness in the lives of her daughters. There were many warnings and chances for Lot’s family and extended family through his son in laws to get the whole family out of the land but Lot’s married daughters had enjoyed life too much to leave and they also would not leave their husbands even though they were part of the evil in the land.

Lot and Ado’s youngest daughter, Paltith, had been killed by the authorities for being kind to a beggar who was starving (Book of Jasher 19:24-43). Ado had many memories that she would not let go of. Her life was filled with happiness, but she suffered through many incidents and those kept her in the world she knew even when given the chance to start over when saved from destruction.

The Order is Given

When they had brought them out, he said, “Flee for your life! Don’t look behind you, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain, but escape to the hills! Otherwise you will be swept away.”  Genesis 19:17

God told the messengers, who were sent to get Lot and family out, very specific orders. He wanted them to leave that life behind so that the family could start over again sharing the Word of God. Lot, seeing that the area they were being directed to was far off and possibly still in the destruction zone, pleads with the messengers:

Lot said to them, “Please, no, my lord! Here, your servant has already found favor in your sight, and you have shown me even greater mercy by saving my life. But I can’t escape to the hills, because I’m afraid the disaster will overtake me, and I will die. Look, there’s a town nearby to flee to, and it’s a small one. Please let me escape there — isn’t it just a small one? — and that way I will stay alive.” Genesis 19:18-20

The family made it to Zoar just in time for God to rain destruction on the cities. Without second thought Ado made a deadly choice.

But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a column of salt. Genesis 19:26

What Choice Would You Make

God gave Lot and his family a second chance and the family would have been fine staying in the city. Ado chose to look back out of sadness and concern for the daughters she left behind with their husbands. She probably wanted to see the destruction of her daughter Paltith’s killers. I do feel sorry for her but at the same time she held on to things God wanted left behind. Choices were made and Ado’s disobedience led to her death.

When we choose to follow God we are held accountable for conducting ourselves in a way that is pleasing to God. Being pleasing to God means obeying His Word the best way possible. We all know we cannot do what He asks without messing up so He sent us Jesus. We still have to move forward without looking back and desiring our past. We have to let go of the things that will keep us from God which sometimes means leaving family and friends behind. It also means leaving our worldly ways that distract us from being in communion with God.

Sometimes God asks some very challenging things of us and it is up to us to make the choices that will be pleasing to Him. We are not to look back and desire our past like Ado had done. Granted we might not be turned into a pillar of salt but if we preserve our past in our minds, we fill ourselves with salt that dries us and consumes us leaving no space for God. What choice would you make?
 
In the Father’s Embrace,
Rob, Servant of God   

As children we are taught to be obedient to our elders. Our parents and those who are older are supposed to teach us right from wrong and make good choices so that when we are older we continue to choose a right way of living that makes our parents and ancestors proud. Unfortunately we are given into temptation because of the Fall and we are prone to make bad choices which have consequences. Each type of behavior has different consequences which can be life changing or completely ignored and people go back to their ways.

The life of Saul, the first king of Israel was filled with disobedience to God and the consequence ended in the removal of his kingship and destruction of those around him. At first he was a good king and led the people to victory but he had been seduced by the power given and began to disobey God while thinking he was doing the right thing. He was blind to the temptations that led to his sins.
   
Let’s examine one instance where Saul let his soldiers disobey God’s Word:
And Samuel said, “Though you are little in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king over Israel. And the Lord sent you on a mission and said, ‘Go, devote to destruction the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’ Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? Why did you pounce on the spoil and do what was evil in the sight of the Lord?” And Saul said to Samuel, “I have obeyed the voice of the Lord. I have gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me. I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and I have devoted the Amalekites to destruction. But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.” And Samuel said,
“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
    as in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
    and to listen than the fat of rams.
For rebellion is as the sin of divination,
    and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
    he has also rejected you from being king.” 1 Samuel 15:17-23

Saul’s first mistake was not having the Amalekites completely destroyed by sparing King Agag. He then allowed his troops to take the best of the flocks instead of slaughtering them as ordered. The intention was to bring them back and sacrifice them to God but God did not want that. Saul believed he was doing the right thing but he was blinded by his perception that he was pleasing God through the sacrifices.

What God desired of Saul is the same that He desires of us. God gave us His Word so that we could know Him and desire a relationship with Him through obedience. Saul had a relationship with God when he was chosen to lead the people. God relied of Saul to be the example of what it is like to be obedient and have a close personal relationship with Him. When Saul made this mistake it was the nail in the coffin for his role as he had made small mistakes up to this point. Saul did not understand that sacrifice was only a temporary solution to the larger issue of sin. God was trying to convey that He desired the relationship with us that He had with Adam and Eve before sin entered the world.

Saul rejected the Word and thus rejected the relationship that had developed between him and God. In doing this, God rejected Saul as the leader example for His people Israel. It is from this point that Saul continued down the path of sinfulness and lived in fear of being replaced while he still lived.

David was eventually chosen to rule in Saul’s place. Although he was a man after God’s own heart, David was not without fault. David’s line of kings were the examples of disobedience and obedience that led to the eventual exile from the Land of the Promise so that they could learn to trust God and return to Him. It is this trust, this faith in obedience to God that leads to the personal relationship that is desired.

God sent His Son Jesus, the Word made Flesh, to the people in order to return them to the right way of living that God desires for us. A life of caring for our fellow man and having a personal relationship with God. The mission was successful in that Jesus made the final sacrifice and defeated sin and death, covering us with His blood and sanctifying us in God’s presence.

But just because we are covered does not mean that we can be disobedient and remain in God’s good graces. We must live a life in obedience the best we can and repent of our sinfulness, trusting that Jesus is the one who God sent to save us so that we can have a relationship with God. We place our faith in God so that He knows us as one of His children and that spiritual death has no power over us.

Brothers and Sisters, as we go through our daily lives we need to remember to keep God’s Word in our hearts and live in obedience through our love that is a reflection of God’s love for us as His children. In obedience we will live with God. In disobedience we will remain in darkness away from God. Share this love with others and do your best not to fall into the temptation as Saul did.

In God’s Loving Arms,

 Rob, Servant of God