“When Rehoboam…had strengthened himself, that he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel along with him…Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had transgressed against the LORD, with twelve hundred chariots, sixty thousand horsemen, and people without number.”2 Chronicles 12:1-3

With his kingdom rich and at peace, Rehoboam was in a strong position. Yet he became afraid when Egypt attacked. Why? Because the Egyptians attacked with hundreds of chariots. In fact, Egypt was among the first people in the ancient world to utilize chariots which enabled their army to act with unprecedented speed. A chariot attack could force their opponents to either break and run, or surrender. But God told Rehoboam that the real reason he was vulnerable was not because of Egypt’s chariots or armies, but because “he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel along with him.” The prophet told Rehoboam, “You have forsaken Me.” Faced with this warning, Rehoboam and other leaders humbled themselves. God allowed them to realize what would happen when they stopped trusting in Him, but He did not allow them to be destroyed. Rehoboam’s grandfather, David, once wrote, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God” (Psalm 20:7-8). In the flesh, David could not combat Egypt’s resources, but he was safe and secure as long as he trusted in God. Brothers & Sisters Today, no matter what you may face, trust in God. Do not put your faith in the horses and chariots of this world. And don’t allow your heart to be filled with fear. Humble yourself and trust in Him. Remember His name, and He will protect you and give you His peace. THE CHARIOTS OF THIS WORLD!

"Now the blood shall be a sign (Hebrew word – OHT) for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt."Exodus 12:13

As we discussed, the word for "sign" in ancient Hebrew is "oht". It was used in Genesis to designate God’s covenant sign with Noah, (the rainbow). And we see now the same word again, in Exodus, identified with the deliverance of the Jewish people from the tenth plague, when the angel of death passed through all Egypt to strike the firstborn. Anyone under the "sign" of the blood was spared. This "sign" of deliverance for the ancient Israelites, spelled "aleph"-"vav"-"tav" in ancient Hebrew letters, explicitly, the sign of blood on doorposts and lintel, also clearly spells out, "leader", "nail", and "cross". Just as blood on the doorposts was the only sign of deliverance for Israel, the cross of the Messiah Jesus, the Christ, is the only sign of deliverance from eternal death for all mankind. [Acts 4:12] Brothers & Sisters, the mystery of salvation was originally revealed in the very letters God used to unfold its story. In the ancient Hebrew He speaks to us from the beginning of time, that the sign of the covenant would be "the leader who was nailed to the cross". Be in awe of the Father’s love for us! DO YOU HAVE THE SIGN FOR DELIVERANCE?

"And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws (Dat in Hebrew): and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time."Daniel 7:25

ancient hebrew religionWe continue looking at the ancient Hebrew alphabet: the modern word for "religion" is the word – "dat" – spelled in Hebrew, "dalet"- "tav". The ancient Hebrew letter "dalet" pictures a door. And as we have previously shown, the "tav" is a covenant sign which is pictured as a simple cross. So the word "religion" in ancient Hebrew, could also be expressed as "the door of the covenant sign (a cross)”. There are many religions around the world today – but only one is a "doorway to a cross". That is the true faith of the One true God, revealed in the Hebrew scriptures and especially in the Brit Chadasha (New Covenant). Apart from this pathway and this cross, all religion is simply man’s own vain attempt to strive for righteousness, spirituality and relationship with God. It is interesting that, using the ancient Hebrew letters, it's impossible to write the word "religion" without this "covenant sign" and the "door" leading to it. When the antichrist arrives on the scene, he will wear out the saints of the most High and change times, (perhaps establishing a new "era"), and "laws", "dat" or "religion", i.e. the path to Truth or to God. The enemy, Satan, who inspires this end-time figure, has worked hard to persuade humanity that there have been many "doors" to God or Truth. In fact, they all led to his darkness, deception and ultimate condemnation. But in the end, Satan's Antichrist will actually claim that he is the one true door and pathway to God. This will be the ultimate blasphemy and the last deception. For Jesus said, "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved"; [John 10:9]. This "Door" to salvation, the Lord Jesus, is still OPEN to everyone. Brothers & Sisters, if you have entered the true "Door", that is, Jesus, then you may be worn out, but you cannot be deceived or condemned. He is the one "Door" to salvation. And the ancient Hebrew alphabet, only one of many testimonies, points to this simple truth: that the one authentic "religion" is the "door to the cross", where there is forgiveness of sins and eternal life. DO YOU HAVE TRUE RELIGION?

“He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them.”Matthew 4:21

Andrew and Peter had jobs and careers. As trained fishermen, they carried on a profession that had been passed on from generations past. But their lives changed when they had an encounter with Jesus. Walking by the Sea of Galilee, the Lord saw them casting their net and asked them to follow Him. At that moment, they left behind their careers and plans. In fact, they would learn that following Him meant leaving everything else behind. At the same time, He suggested that He would use their background and skills. They still would be “fishers,” but instead of seeking “fish,” they would fish for people—for Souls (vs. 18-19). Then Jesus approached two other fishermen, James and John. He made the same appeal to them, but this time He used a different word: He “called” them. As these men followed Him, they would realize that this was a “calling.” And they would realize that this was different from having an ordinary job or pursuing a career. Paul, too, knew that He had been “called” by God. He had been “called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God.” And he knew he was writing to people who had been “called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours” (1 Corinthians 1:1-2). Today, Jesus still calls men and women to follow Him. But when we do, it is important that we understand what this means: Putting aside our own plans and interests…letting Him decide our future…and following Him whatever the cost may be. However, Jesus’ call on our lives will also mean using the skills and resources we have been given. It is likely to build on our experiences and interests. But it means using them in the ways He directs. Brothers & Sisters, Have you answered God’s call on your life? Are you wholeheartedly following Jesus?

"For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:"Hebrews 4:4-6

The Hebrew word "Shabbat", what we call "the Sabbath" in English, means: "to rest". The ancient Hebrew word picture unfolds its meaning profoundly and even "prophetically". Shabbat is spelled "sheen"-"beit"-"tav". Yesterday, we looked at the word, "repent", which also means to "return". This word in modern Hebrew, "shoov", contains the same letters that begin the word "shabbat". As we analyzed the word "repent" yesterday, we learned that it means "to acknowledge that your old house is destroyed", and to go forth (without looking back). Now today's word, "shabbat", ends with the letter "tav" which, you remember, represents a cross, and means, "covenant". So, a literal rendering of the letters in the word "shabbat" could read, "return to a covenant" – or "repent toward the cross"! Brothers & Sisters, isn't it amazing that the word for "rest", in ancient Hebrew, "Shabbat", the day which all Jews love, wait for, and look forward to as a picture of the days of Messiah, -- also points by its very letters, to "repentance toward the cross", the cross which gives us (and them) eternal rest?! Is this "coincidence" or "providence"? We see the Lord's Hand in it; His "writing on the wall", as it were. We pray you are enjoying these studies on the ancient Hebrew alphabet; enjoy your weekend – your "Shabbat", remembering the One who gave His rest to you through His finished work on the cross! ENJOY YOUR SHABBAT!

"But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt."Genesis 19:26 ; "Remember Lot’s wife!Luke 17:32

The modern Hebrew word for repent is 'shoov', spelled "sheen"-"beit" ("vet", the secondary form of "beit") In ancient Hebrew script the letter "sheen" is represented by teeth and means "to destroy". The "beit" in Hebrew represents a tent or a house. So a literal reading of "sheen"-"beit" would be "to destroy the house"! The word picture of the original Hebrew portrays the meaning of the word, which is, "to be taken captive". In the ancient world, conquerors wanted their captives to become part of their kingdoms, and this could only happen if they destroyed homes. So in horror, those who were taken captive would witness their houses being completely destroyed by the conquering kings, so they could never return. From this understanding of being taken captive we grasp the true meaning of "returning" and "repentance": you have left no house behind! Brothers & Sisters, real repentance means "no turning back" (as the song says). It means that the house you lived in before has been destroyed and you have "died" to living there. Don't look back, in futility, at what has ended forever. Live in the choice you have made to love and serve the resurrected King, Jesus. Remember Lot's wife. She escaped Sodom, but became a statue of salt, an eternal monument to half-hearted repentance. Don't let your only testimony be a longing for a house you can never return to. LEAVE IT ALL BEHIND!

"and the Lord said to him, "Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark (Tav in Hebrew) on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it." To the others He said in my hearing, "Go after him through the city and kill; do not let your eye spare, nor have any pity. Utterly slay old and young men, maidens and little children and women; but do not come near anyone on whom is the mark (Tav in Hebrew); and begin at My sanctuary." So they began with the elders who were before the temple."Ezekiel 9:4-6

Yesterday, we began identifying the ancient Hebrew alphabet and exploring the potential symbolic meanings of its letters. The last letter, "Tav", as we saw, strongly resembles a cross. Today, we’re going to look at how "Tav" is spelled in ancient Hebrew. The phonetic spelling of "Tav" is Tav (T)-Vav (V). Now the ancient letter, "Vav" strongly resembled a commonly used tent peg, and then, later, a common nail. So the spelling of "Tav" contains a cross and a nail. This word in Hebrew is translated, "mark", in the verses above; so, this ancient Hebrew "mark" that was on the foreheads of righteous men who grieved over abominations in the Lord's house, was identified by a word containing a cross and a nail. Interesting...since the prophet is told to pass over all those that have that mark, beginning at the Lord's sanctuary, we have an Old Testament picture of the protection of the the Lord's cross, expressed by ancient Hebrew letters. Perhaps this is just another way in which the Lord has expressed His sovereignty, weaving His revelation into the entire fabric of His Word, revealing the protection of the cross in both the Old and New Testaments. Another interesting aspect of this verse is the location where the Lord's judgment begins: the Lord's sanctuary. 1 Peter 4:17 states that, "it is time for judgment to begin with the house of God." I understand this to mean that those who are most accountable, who stand, as it were, closest to place where God dwells, will come under His judgment first. For us who believe, this judgment will be purification, possibly through suffering, as Peter suggests. For the wicked, who are increasingly distant from God, His judgment means eternal condemnation. Brothers & Sisters, the Lord is returning for a bride who is prepared to meet Him. She will be pure and spotless, made white by His cross and purified through her submission to His careful preparation. Illustrated by the letter "Tav" in ancient Hebrew, her identifying mark will be that very cross. Are you prepared as a bride should be for her husband? Your sorrow and weeping over the abominations in our Lord's world, and even in His body, confirm the mark which is upon you. Wear the sign with honor -- glorying in it, and carry your cross faithfully to the end, protected from the eternal judgment which awaits all men at His coming. DO YOU HAVE THE SIGN?

"And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it."Luke 9:23-24

I introduced to the ancient Hebrew alphabet by Jewish friend; letters which were originally written much like ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics in the time of Moses. In this written language it was often possible to derive the meaning of a word, because each letter was a symbol, which had its own particular meaning and significance. The different combinations of these letters/symbols formed "words" which were closely related to the meanings of the letters. Some fascinating revelations emerge from looking at this linguistic phenomenon, so we're doing a series of devotionals to unveil, letter by letter, the mysteries hidden in ancient Hebrew, and how these can be applied to our lives. Ancient Hebrew Tav written in 2000 B.C.Beginning with the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet, which is called "Tav", we learn that this letter was used to indicate a mark or sign of the covenant. Can it be a coincidence that the letter "Tav" is easily recognized throughout the world today....... as a cross! The ancient Hebrew alphabet ends with a sign of the covenant -- a cross. The last letter of the Hebrew alphabet, aptly, symbolizes the end of our Lord's human life on this earth, as He put and end to sin by His crucifixion, establishing the New Covenant. Drawing a close parallel in our own lives as believers we realize that our natural lives as sinful humans must end at the cross. We are crucified with Christ (Messiah) and we no longer live, but Messiah lives in us; and the life that we now live, we live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved us and gave Himself for us. [Galations 2:20] In this resurrected life of faith, we "take up our crosses" daily, walking in the finality of the death of our sinful nature; and this is a sign to the world of the New Covenant which God has established through His Son. Brothers & Sisters, don't despise your cross, the sufferings or hardships in this short life – for the cross you are carrying is a sign of your identity with Jesus, a reflection of His sufferings. And as you follow wholeheartedly after Him, your life will reveal the victory of His cross through the love, joy, and peace of His resurrection life which also dwells in you – a great paradox: as the end of the Hebrew alphabet, the letter "Tav", also points to -- a completely new Beginning! IT ENDS WITH THE CROSS!

“David inquired of the LORD…‘When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly. For then the LORD will go out before you’…David did so…and he drove back the Philistines from Geba as far as Gezer.”2 Samuel 5:23-25

Many people have the same kind of experience with the battles of life. While winning minor skirmishes, they fail to gain victory in major issues. When David faced his enemies, his triumphs were complete. He not only won battles; he also won wars. Why? Because he allowed God to devise the strategy. And then he obeyed Him in every detail. In 2 Samuel 5 for example, we see how God gave David specific directions. All he had to do was obey and the victory was his. Brothers & Sisters Today, remember that God wants you to be victorious in every situation you face and in everything you do. He wants you to know that He has a plan for your life. Commit your ways to Him. Seek His guidance, and His wisdom. Allow Him to give you the plans and strategies you need to be successful and victorious.

"One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple. For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock."Psalm 27:4-5

The world these days is full of bad news, with tensions growing in the Middle East, economies on the brink of collapse, and nature constantly adding to the chaos with one disaster after another. It's a time of trouble all right, and for us believers it may sometimes be hard to believe – but it never is as bad as it seems. Let me illustrate with a joke I like to share with my messages. Way out west (in America, of course), a cowboy is driving down a road, his dog riding in the back of his pickup truck, his faithful horse in the trailer behind. As he takes a curve on the highway he suddenly loses control of the vehicle and has a terrible accident. Sometime later, a State Police officer comes on the scene. A great lover of animals, the officer's attention is first drawn to the horse. Realizing the serious nature of its injuries, he draws his service revolver and puts the animal out of its misery. Then walking around the accident he finds the dog, also critically wounded, and whining miserably in pain. This grips his heart and he quickly ends the dog's suffering as well. Finally the police officer locates the cowboy, who has suffered multiple fractures and can barely breathe. "Hey, are you okay?", he says. The cowboy takes one look at the smoking gun in the trooper's hand and quickly replies, with unexpected energy, "Never felt better!" Brothers & Sisters, we are pilgrims in this dangerous world, which will wound us at times so badly it will seem unbearable -- yet we have this promise from God, "in the time of trouble He will hide me". It's because my real life, my true life is in Him and with Him no matter what happens to me here. So when the world approaches me with a smoking gun, ready to put me out of my misery, I can find a supernatural strength, and simply say, "I never felt better!" IT'S NEVER AS BAD AS IT IS!

"You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever."Psalms 30:11-12

This is one of my favorite promises in the Bible -- that God turns mourning into dancing! He takes away the anguish of being clothed in sadness and replaces it with gladness. However, notice what God doesn't do -- simply stop your mourning and make it disappear. No, He transforms it...into joy! He turns your sorrow into gladness. He takes your failure and creates success! We serve an awesome and mighty God, who says, "all things work together for good to them that love Him, and to those who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28) Brothers & Sisters, let's take time to dwell on this promise. Our sorrows, disappointments, tragedies and failures are very real -- but they are also "raw material" for a divine transformation that our Lord will accomplish in His time for His glory. And we WILL dance! God will do it. Our part is simply to wait...believe...and cling tightly to this wonderful promise! YOUR MOURNING WILL BE TURNED INTO DANCING!

“After the two days He went forth from there into Galilee. For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country.”John 4:43-44

We tend to think differently about people we don’t know well. It can be easier for these people to shape their reputation and position themselves as authorities. On the other hand, it can be easy to feel differently about the people we know. Why? We know more about them. We can think of them just as ordinary people, not “experts.” Jesus addressed this point when He observed that “a prophet has no honor in his own country.” The Greek words suggest Jesus’ meaning here: Among the people of the land of one’s father, prophets are not valued, prized, or honored. Because many were familiar with Jesus and His earthly family, they did not listen to Him objectively. They were prejudiced. Why? Because He had lived among them, they had closed ears to His message. This is a practical matter that applies to each of us. How do we look at the people around us? Is it possible that God actually can be speaking through them? Could they have insights that would be useful to us? Are we ignoring the people we know, and placing an imbalanced importance on people we don’t know? In your life, remember that God can use anyone. Brothers & Sisters be careful not to ignore someone just because you may know them. And don’t just honor someone because they are unknown.

"Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you."Acts 17:22-23

Several hundred years before Jesus was born, a plague broke out in Athens, Greece. In an effort to stop the plague and appease the 'gods', the Athenians sought counsel from a wise man named Epimenides from the island of Crete. When Epimenides arrived in Athens, he was amazed at the number of statues of gods the Athenians had erected, to which he stated, "Gods must be easier to find here than men!" The elders of Athens eagerly gathered on Mars Hill the following day to hear the wisdom of Epimendies and his recommendation for dealing with the plague. So the wise man instructed the Athenians to gather at Mars Hill, bringing with them a flock of sheep, a band of stonemasons and a large supply of stones and mortar. He also commanded that the sheep be prevented from grazing the entire night, so that when they arrived the following morning they would be hungry. The following morning, Epimenides stated, "Learned elders, you have already expended great effort in offering sacrifice to numerous gods, yet all has proved futile. I am now about to sacrifice based upon three assumptions rather different than yours." "The first assumption is that there is still another god concerned in this matter of the plague—a god whose name is unknown to us, and who is therefore not represented by any idol in your country. Secondly, I am going to assume also that this god is great enough—and good enough—to do something about the plague, if only we invoke his help. Thirdly, that any god great enough and good enough to do something about this plague is probably also great and good enough to smile upon us in our ignorance—if we acknowledge our ignorance and call upon him!" Next, Epimenides ordered the sheep to be released, and he prayed, "O thou unknown god! Behold the plague afflicting this city! And if indeed you feel compassion to forgive and help us, behold this flock of sheep! Reveal your willingness to respond, I plead, by causing any sheep that pleases you to lie down upon the grass instead of grazing. Choose white if white pleases, black if black delights. And those you choose we sacrifice to you—acknowledging our pitiful ignorance of your name!" As the sheep were released, the people were shocked when the sheep started lying down instead of grazing! Wherever they lay, an altar was erected and a sacrifice was made to the "unknown god!" The Athenians were freed from their plague, and the legend of their deliverance at the hands of the "unknown god" continued unto the time of Paul when he entered into Athens. This amazing event became Paul's point of departure for reaching the Athenians with the gospel of Jesus. God had laid an historical foundation to prepare their hearts for seeking and believing in a legendary "unknown god"; a god who had already demonstrated his saving power among them, but one whom the apostle had now come to identify.... and fully reveal to them! Brothers & Sisters, God continues even now, preparing souls in mysterious ways, throughout the world! He is looking for laborers to go into the harvest fields! And no matter where you are, there's a harvest field right outside your door…so go forth! THE HARVEST IS BEING PREPARED!

“Jesus answered and said, ‘Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine—where are they? Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?’”Luke 17:17-18

It seemed impossible. The respected business consultant asked how people would respond if he announced the discovery of a “magic potion” that could make them “happier, healthier, more optimistic and more productive.” What if this “cost nothing” and required “very little effort”? The consultant then admitted that he actually didn’t have a potion. But, he said, “Each of us has something even better.” What was he referring to? Gratitude! He described how gratitude improves relationships and reduces negativity. It improves problem-solving skills, because it opens our minds to new possibilities. And it helps us learn, by enabling us to recognize that behind every problem lies an opportunity. Gratitude is an important Biblical principle. We see this when Jesus was approached by 10 lepers. After they cried out for mercy, He commanded them to “go and show yourselves to the priests.”Before they departed, nothing had happened. But “as they were going, they were cleansed.” Nine of the 10 went on their way, never stopping to give thanks. But one was overwhelmed with gratitude. Returning to Jesus, He glorified God “with a loud voice.” Then “he fell on his face” at Jesus’ feet, “giving thanks to Him.” Jesus was amazed that only this man—who was a Samaritan—had returned to give thanks. He told him, “Stand up and go; your faith has made you well.” The nine others received their miracle, but they seemed to have taken Jesus for granted. Yet there were special blessings for the one who was grateful. Brothers & Sisters Today, remember to be grateful for all that God has done for you. Be specific about thanking Him for the many ways He has blessed you and met your needs. Praise Him for the prayers He has answered. Don’t take Him for granted.

“Paul…came to Ephesus, and found some disciples. He said to them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’ And they said to him, ‘No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.’”Acts 19:1-2

Imagine people who have read about swimming. They may think they know how to swim. But regardless of their intelligence or imagination, they can only provide a secondhand account, without the conviction of real experience. They’ve never known the feel of the water…the challenge of breathing correctly…or the exhilaration and exhaustion of the process. Such things can be observed by others, but only can be described accurately by those with firsthand experience. It’s not enough to know about swimming if you’ve never actually done it. The same principles apply to our spiritual lives. Although we can gain a certain understanding from study, we ultimately must have personal experiences. This applies to being born again and forgiven…to experiencing God’s power…to knowing that the Gospel is true…and to being led by the Holy Spirit. Paul knew what it meant to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and he knew that the Believers in Ephesus still needed the Spirit’s power! So he laid his hands on them and “the Holy Spirit came on them.”This must have been a life-changing moment for these Believers, when they experienced the full reality of the Spirit with dramatic evidence. Can we imagine the conversations these men later had with friends and relatives? Perhaps some people argued with them about their experience. Others may have doubted what had happened. But these disciples knew they had been changed by this encounter with God’s Spirit. Some people today have had the same kind of supernatural experience as these Ephesians. They have “received” the power of the Holy Spirit, and they know it. Yet many others are like the hypothetical skeptics. Content with their own experiences and explanations, they’re reluctant to embrace something that seems new or different. Brothers & Sisters Today, be filled with the Spirit, and let Him change your life.

"Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby."Hebrews 12:11

Nearing the ripe old age of twenty - two, our little man -- Tapiwa (Isn't it amazing how fast time flies?), has quite a mind of his own lately. The glory days, when he used to be happy with wherever we were going and whatever we were doing -- hmmmm...those days seem to be over. Now he has his own agenda. He wants to do what he wants to do when he wants to do it and boy, don't even think about getting in his way! Why is he suddenly behaving this way? We think it is maybe because he is maturing. And as he grows in ability, he grows in his desire to act upon that ability. He wants the right to do the things he has become able to do. But he needs accountability. He needs direction. He needs guidance. He needs boundaries. His will and his life need to be shaped by his loving guardians. He may not appreciate the boundaries and discipline but deep down, I believe he knows it's because we love him that we do it. In the same way, we are growing in gifting and calling as we walk with the Lord. We were created to be mature, responsible, accountable people who operate freely and powerfully in the gifts and abilities our loving Father has given us. But we too need guidance, boundaries, discipline. We must strive to know God deeply and to understand His direction for our lives. We must love His discipline and accept it humbly. Because He knows what's best for us. Brothers & Sisters, are you feeling discouraged or frustrated about you gifts and your calling today? How and when will I be used, Lord?! Let's lay it all out before the Lord today...our gifts, our abilities, our desires. And let's ask the Lord to tame us and to shape us for use in His Kingdom. He wants to use us but we must be made ready for His use! DISCIPLINE TRAINING!

"And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat."Exodus 16:15

When Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt I'm sure several million people were wondering, "How am I going to be fed? How am I going to survive in this wilderness?" Imagine the logistical nightmare. An incalculable quantity of food and water were needed to survive in the desert. Where would it come from? Yet, in this seemingly impossible situation, God provided! He provided Manna from heaven. When the people first saw the Manna on the ground, they wondered in amazement saying to each other, "What is this?", which is exactly what "Manna" means in Hebrew -- "What is it?" They were receiving the food of angels, [Psalm 78:24-25] which sustained them the entire time in the desert. But we know what happened as time passed...the people got used to this miraculous provision, began to take it for granted, and even be bored with it, and, of course...the wonder of God's supernatural provision evaporated. Israel lost sight of the miracle that God was doing in their lives each and every day. Brothers & Sisters, each and every day is a miracle from God. Each day of our lives we walk through a world filled with the wonders and glory of the Lord. But we, too, can become dull and lose the wonder of all that He has done and provided for us, even our very salvation. We need to awaken to the daily miracles of life, and to the never ending opportunities the Lord is opening, to pour His love into us, and through us. As we do, may we always be saying to ourselves, "Wow -- what amazing love is this that's been given to me!" DON'T LOSE THE WONDER!

"Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD."Jeremiah 17:5

A young woman at a textile mill in Kadoma was new on the job. A flaming red warning sign on her sewing machine read “If Your Thread Becomes Tangled, Call the Foreman Immediately." After working diligently for an hour or two, suddenly the young worker’s thread became tangled. Fearing the foreman’s reaction at such an early mistake, she thought, “I’ll just quickly straighten this out myself.” Though she tried desperately to untangle the thread, the situation only worsened. Finally, she had no choice but to call the foreman. As soon as he arrived, the foreman could tell that the young worker had tried to do some of her own maneuverings before calling him. “I did the best I could,” she said. “No you didn’t,” the foreman replied. “To do the best, you should have called me. Now this sewing machine will need to be repaired. If this happens again, you will be fired.” Hmm. I cannot begin to tell you how many times I have tried to do something on my own strength. I exhaust myself trying before becomes clear that I just can’t do it without my Great Foreman. Thankfully, He hasn’t fired me yet! It may sound radical to say but when we rely on our own strength, really, it is a form of idol worship. We exalt our own strength above the Lord’s. This is unacceptable to a Holy and All-Powerful God. Even our greatest efforts cannot compare with how much more effectively a job can get done if we would only call upon His Name! Brother & Sisters, we are weaklings in need of a great God. We cannot do anything without Him. Let’s begin putting our trust fully in the Lord today and see great things get accomplished! MAKE THE CALL!

"And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD and wept in anguish. Then she made a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.”I Samuel 1:10-11

These words are written about Hannah, who was barren. But God answered her prayer by giving her a son, and he became one of the most prominent figures in Biblical history—Samuel. Perhaps there is a “barrenness” in some area of your life, and like Hannah, who was tormented by her adversary—so it is with you. Prayer can change things. It did in Hannah’s life, and it can in yours. But there are several things about Hannah’s prayer that we need to consider: Hannah’s prayer was not casual. It was heartfelt and deep. Too much of our praying is “skin deep.” Only prayers that originate from deep within us get God’s attention. James 5:16 declares that the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Hannah’s prayer was specific. She asked for a male child. Too much of our praying is too general. Don’t be afraid to be specific in your requests. Hannah wanted the answer to her prayer to glorify God. Her boy would be dedicated to God’s service. When our prayers take on the purpose of glorifying God, we have moved into a higher realm. Brothers & Sisters, If you are experiencing a barrenness in any arena of life, pray. And let your prayers be heartfelt, specific, and for the glory of God. OVERCOMING BARRENNESS!

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."Colossians 3:23-24

Those who celebrated Passover recalled the deliverance of the Jewish people from the land of Egypt where they had served as slaves. The word for slaves in Hebrew is "avadim", which, interestingly, is also the same word for "servants." Pesach recalls to us our own personal deliverance from the slavery of sin -- and the amazing joy and privilege of being free to be servants of the Living God who redeemed us. The same root letters which form the words for "slave" and "servant" also give us the word "avodah", the Hebrew word for "work", which is also a word that means "worship"! Brother & Sisters, to be a freed SLAVE of our God is to be a devoted SERVANT whose WORK is WORSHIP. So, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." [Colossians 3:23-24] YOU'VE BEEN FREED TO WORSHIP