"Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven." 1 Corinthians 15:45-49

On the sixth day, as the universe stood complete, God paused. One final creation remained—a masterpiece unlike any other. This being would bear His own image, a living reflection of the Divine (Genesis 1:26-27). The Hebrew word for “image,” tzelem, is profoundly connected to tzel, meaning “shadow.” God fashioned Adam to be His shadow on earth—a living, breathing reflection of His glory and nature. From the first Adam to you and me, we are not just flesh and blood; we are living reflections of the Almighty, cast upon this earth to reveal the unseen God. God reached down, gathered adama (earth), and molded it into a vessel. Then, He breathed His Spirit into that lifeless clay, and Adam became a living soul—a blend of dust and blood, adama and dam. And in this divine act, a profound truth was revealed: when the blood (dam) ceases to flow, life departs, and we return to the dust (adama) from which we were formed. Centuries later, the Second Adam, Jesus, entered the world—the visible image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15-17). Just as the first Adam was formed from earth and infused with divine breath, Jesus was born of human blood yet carried the very breath of God Himself. And just as Adam was called to reflect the Creator, we are called to reflect the Messiah—to walk as His shadow, bearing the imprint of His life, love, and light. Brothers & Sisters, never forget: You are His divine shadow—a living, breathing reflection of the Almighty. Let His light blaze through you, that those around you may behold the One who shaped you from dust and ignited your soul with His very breath. BE A DIVINE REFLECTION!

"And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness. Genesis 15:17-18 When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. 18 On that day, the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, " Genesis 15:6

In the stillness of a desert night, surrounded by cut offerings and the lingering scent of sacrifice, Abram beheld something utterly sacred -- God Himself, in the form of a smoking oven and a burning torch, passing between the pieces of a covenant. It was not Abram who walked through the blood-soaked path. It was God alone. And that changes everything. This act is one of Scripture's clearest pictures of divine grace. Covenants in the ancient world required both parties to walk through the cut pieces, symbolizing mutual responsibility. But here, only God passes through, taking full responsibility for fulfilling His promise. He binds Himself unilaterally to Abram and his descendants—Israel. The land promise, the coming redemption, and the future inheritance were not based on man’s faithfulness but on God’s unbreakable word. Yet the scene also shows a battle in the waiting. Before the presence of God appears, vultures descend—unclean birds seeking to steal the sacrifice (Genesis 15:11). Abram drives them away, foreshadowing every believer’s struggle. We offer God our worship, our lives, our praise—but the enemy comes, trying to rob us of our faith and steal our promises. Like Abram, we must rise up, stand guard, and fight to protect what God has spoken. Let us not passively watch while doubt, distraction, or discouragement pick apart our altars. The symbols that appeared—smoke and fire—are rich with meaning. The smoking oven speaks of judgment, refining, and awe; the burning torch speaks of mercy, light, and hope. Together, they reveal the character of the God of Israel: just and holy, yet merciful and near. In Messiah (Jesus), we see both realities embodied. He is Zion’s salvation that burns like a torch (Isaiah 62:1), and He is also the one cut off for the sins of His people (Isaiah 53:8). He walked between the pieces, taking on the burden of blood so that we could walk in the freedom of grace. Yet, this covenant speaks beyond the personal—it is national. God's promises to Abram include a literal land for his descendants, and Scripture affirms that this land promise is everlasting (Psalm 105:8-11). The modern restoration of Israel in 1948 was not the result of mere human determination—it was the unfolding of God’s unbreakable covenant. Even after dispersion and judgment, He has remained faithful. Ezekiel 36 gives voice to His divine intention: “... It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name ... And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen... and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD... when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you... A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you...” (Ezekiel 36:22–26) From the beginning, God’s plan has echoed with both physical return and spiritual awakening, calling His people back to their land and stirring their hearts to return to Him. His promise was never just to bring them home, but to cleanse them from defilement, ignite them with new life, and fill them with His Spirit through their Messiah. The exile is ending. The restoration has begun. This is the same God who calls to us today. He still walks between the pieces. He still sanctifies His name through mercy and judgment. And He still offers to remove hearts of stone and replace them with hearts of flesh. In Jesus, we become part of this redemptive story—grafted in, renewed, and rooted in eternal promise. (Romans 11:11-32) Brothers & Sisters, so rise up, and stand your ground. Bring your offering of praise with boldness. Guard the altar of your heart—drive away every vulture that dares to steal what God has spoken. Trust the One who walked the blood-stained path alone. His fire has not gone out. His torch still blazes in the darkness. And His covenant promises remain unshakable, eternal, and true. A CONVENT OF FIRE, MERCY & PROMISE!

"I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet." Revelation 1:10; "On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” John 7:37-38

Throughout Scripture, the number eight carries profound prophetic significance. It speaks of new beginnings, fresh starts, and divine separation from what was, to embrace what is to come. Think of Noah, stepping out of the ark with seven others—eight souls total—to restart humanity after the flood. Or Isaac, the first recorded in the Bible to be circumcised on the eighth day, a covenantal sign that marked a new identity and set-apart life before God. And then, Jesus, our Messiah, who was also circumcised on the eighth day, entered into His earthly mission as a Jewish boy set apart from birth. But the most powerful "eighth day" of all was the day of resurrection. After Sabbath -- following havdalah (Hebrew for separation - a weekly ceremony that marks the end of Shabbat and the ushering of a new week) -- Jesus rose from the grave. In that moment, which coincided with the Feast of Bikoreem (First Fruits), He conquered death and ushered in a new covenant and a new way of life for all who follow Him. Just as havdalah marks the transition from Sabbath to a new week, Messiah’s resurrection marked the separation from the old and the beginning of a new and living way (Hebrews 10:19-24). The Apostle Paul often wrote of this separation—the old covenant giving way to the new, the law of death replaced by the law of life in Messiah. (2 Corinthians 3:5-18) This is why the early Church began celebrating the "Lord's Day" on the first day of the week -- not simply as a memorial of Jesus’s resurrection, but as a weekly reminder of the eighth day. It was a day that pointed beyond time itself, toward eternity -- a "time outside of time" -- when all things would be made new and God would dwell forever with His people. (Revelation 21:1-6) Every Lord’s Day became a prophetic rehearsal for the age to come, when death would be no more and the fullness of redemption would be complete. Remarkably, 2,000 years ago, on the eighth day of the Feast of Tabernacles -- on Simchat Torah, Jesus stood in the Temple and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink” (John 7:37-38). On that sacred day, traditionally linked with rejoicing in the Torah, He pointed to Himself as the source of living water. It was a prophetic marker of a new beginning -- in connection with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Brothers & Sisters, today, if you feel stuck in the past, remember this: the eighth day is coming. In God’s Kingdom, every ending is the doorway to a new beginning. In Jesus, the end is never the end—it’s a call to rise. His resurrection was not merely a moment in history, but an open invitation to live a resurrected life and walk in the unshakable hope of eternity. Jesus didn’t rise just to display power -- He rose to give it, lifting us from what was and leading us into all that is yet to come. THE EIGHTH DAY - A NEW BEGINNING IN MESSIAH!

"In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." John 16:23-24

As we ask in His name, and we see our prayers being answered, we realize how real and faithful our God is. But I want to focus on the life that is overflowing with JOY! Have you ever met someone who just seemed radiant with joy? Joyful people always seem to be overflowing with life. No matter the obstacles the enemy throws their way, they always seem to live in victory. You’ll also find that they are spending time in the prayer closet...because the outflow of prayer is JOY! When we commune with God at that intimate level, dwelling in His presence, as the Psalmist says, “In your presence is fullness of joy!" [Psalm 16:11] Brothers & Sisters, prayer is intimately connected to the joy in your life. If you’re struggling with anxiety about the future, or the present, or a deep concern that is robbing your joy … it's time to enter your prayer closet, set the time apart, and determine to enter His presence. The Lord's joy will strengthen you from that place. Try it and see. OBTAIN THE FULLNESS OF JOY!

"Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. 9a Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’" Isaiah 58:8-9a

When we hear the word Hineini—"Here I am," many of us immediately think of the prophet Isaiah in chapter 6, standing before the throne of God, overwhelmed by His holiness. After being cleansed by the burning coal, Isaiah hears the Lord ask, "Whom shall I send?" and responds with the now-famous phrase: "Hineini—Here am I. Send me." It's a powerful moment of surrender and commissioning. But what's easy to miss is that God Himself also uses this same word in Isaiah 58:9: "Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say: 'Hineini.'" Selah -- Think about that. We usually think of Hineini as our response to God: “Here I am, send me.” It speaks of readiness, obedience, and surrender—and it is. But in this passage, we see something even more stunning—God says it first. The God of the universe answers the cries of His people not just with action, but with His presence. He says, “Hineini”—“Here I am.” When God called Abraham to lay his beloved son on the altar, Abraham didn't hesitate—he answered, “Hineini.” (Genesis 22:1) When God called Moses from the burning bush to confront Pharaoh and deliver a nation, Moses stood barefoot on holy ground and said, “Hineini.” (Exodus 3:4) When God’s voice thundered through the heavens in Isaiah’s vision, the prophet stepped forward and declared, “Hineini, send me.” (Isaiah 6:8) But in Isaiah 58, the pattern is reversed. God says to a repentant, humbled nation: “Hineini.” He’s not just summoning us to come near—He is declaring that He already has. He’s not far off. He’s not waiting for us to earn our way through ritual or religious perfection. He’s watching. He’s waiting. He longs for people who will humble themselves, not just with words but with their whole heart. To a repentant people, God doesn't just answer prayers—He shows up. Not through an intermediary. Not from a distance. He steps in and says, "Hineini." I’m here. I’m near. I’m with you. Ultimately, we see Hineini in Jesus, who knocks at the door of every heart. In the Hebrew New Testament, Revelation 3:20 begins with this very word—Hineni—"Here am I, I stand at the door and knock..." This is a clear echo of God’s continual desire to be present, personal, and available to all who will open to Him. Brothers & Sisters, so yes, let's be like Isaiah and say, "Hineini--Here am I, Lord, send me." But let's never forget--we can say it because God said it first. WHEN GOD SYAS HINEINI!

"A soft answer turns away wrath: but harsh words stir up anger." Proverbs 15:1

People who fight fire with fire usually end up with ashes. How often, in all the issues we have to deal with talking with people, we know or we feel we are right; our idea, our position, our interpretation is it, and we're ready to fight for it. Forget the fact that we may not be, or that there might be something we're completely ignorant of. The truth is that sometimes we know better, and sometimes we don't. But the scripture teaches us, and I've learned from experience (most of the time), that arguing, forcefulness, and violence in my own voice are almost guaranteed to start a futile and ugly war of words. People are naturally defensive, and often, naturally offensive. But I can be the one to break the pattern...with a gentle answer. Brothers & Sisters, if my heart attitude is “Come, let us reason together, hear each other out, respect each other, speak softly, and trust the Lord for the outcome", and my tone of voice carries that spirit, I can actually help the other person to calm down and prevent a war. The fruit of the spirit is..... self-control. What a blessing! Do you want to start a fight.....or finish one? Give a gentle answer today and see what the Lord does! SOFTTER IS BETTER!

"Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?" 10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more." John 8:3-5, 10-11

Jesus knew the heart of every man and woman. As a totally pure and righteous human being, His experience of every other sin-filled person is really impossible for us to imagine. He knew that every repulsive thought, attitude, and action of every person in the world would soon fall on Him and that He would carry them...away. And so Jesus did not come with a spirit of condemnation -- but with a spirit of grace and truth. Caught in the very act of adultery, and brought into His presence, the woman's sin was immediately exposed and her conviction was absolute. The sin was condemned.... but not the sinner. Her accusers wanted to stone her, sacrifice her life, and use the law of Moses to condemn Jesus, out of their jealous hatred of Him. But the Lord, in His beautiful, understated way, quietly wrote in the sand and then turned their hatred into deep conviction. The whole world is convicted in Jesus's presence. But only the ones who really appreciate His grace are filled with amazement and gratitude. Can you imagine how this woman must have felt? Her mind had been filled with voices of accusation, rejection, and condemnation. Jesus didn't feed the frenzy, but calmly observed, "He that is without sin, let him cast the first stone." When no one did, the Lord freed the convicted sinner and restored her life, saying, "Go and sin no more." Brothers & Sisters, voices of accusation, rejection, and condemnation will rise against you in the presence of your sins -- but Jesus will write in the sand and expose the hearts of your accusers. Confess your sin, and stand amazed and grateful, for His grace. WHERE ARE YOUR ACCUSERS?