Lets Talk Politiks

I know folks say never talk about religion or politics, but I  do it anyway.  The upcoming US Presidential Election is 5 days away at the time of this writing.  The tensions are high,  the propaganda is deep, the lies are astronomical, and folks are at extreme odds with one another.  I've seen a dozen or so YouTube videos from respected Bible teachers talking about the election,  half say Christians have a moral responsibility to vote,  and the other half say Christians should have nothing to do with this corrupt system. I'm not going to advise anyone on that.  Make a decision with which you can live. That's what I will do. 

I would like to bring one thing to your attention: left wing, right wing = one eagle

The more I learn, the clearer this comes into focus. The pendulum swings, and it's likely to swing wide. Right now we've got far "left/ progressive" rulership. The swing far "right/conservative" will be bad too, just different. In a fair representative republic we should be able to keep each side in check,  but that's not what is going on.  The checks and balances have been corrupted. 

I'd like to leave you with some verses from 2Esdras, this is a book written by Ezra that was removed from our canon (books of your Bible). But is still included in the Ethiopian Orthodox canon. When you search it you will find western Christianity disavows this book.  Hmmm why? Read it for yourself.  

In His Name

Teresa

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Esdras%2011&version=CEB

Vision of the eagle and the lion

11 On the second night I had a dream. I saw an eagle, with twelve feathered wings and three heads, rising up from the sea. 2 As I looked, it spread its wings over the whole earth, and all the winds of heaven blew toward it, and the clouds[a] gathered around it. 3 Out of its wings grew opposing wings. These became small, tiny wings. 4 Its heads were at rest. The middle head was larger than the other heads, but it was also at rest with them.

5 I kept looking and saw the eagle flying with its wings to rule over the earth and over those who lived on the earth. 6 I saw how everything under heaven was made to submit to it, and no one opposed it, not a single creature that lives on the earth. 7 I looked and saw the eagle rise on its talons and call out to its wings, saying, 8 “Don’t all watch together. Let each one sleep in its place and take turns watching, 9 but the heads will be kept for the end.” 10 I looked and saw that the voice didn’t come from its heads but from the middle of its body. 11 I counted its opposing wings, and there were eight of them. 12 A wing arose on the right side, and it ruled over the whole earth; 13 and while it was ruling, it came to an end and disappeared so that its place vanished. The next one rose up and ruled, and it held sway a long time. 14 While it was exercising its rule, it came to its end, so that it disappeared like the previous one.

15 Then a voice rang out, saying to this wing, 16 “Listen, you who have held sway over the earth all this time. I announce[b] this to you before you begin to disappear. 17 No one after you will hold sway as long a time—not even half as long.” 18 A third wing raised itself up, and it also exercised rulership like the previous ones, and it too disappeared. 19 And so it happened to each of the wings in turn, to come to power and then never to be seen again. 20 I looked, and indeed the wings that followed on the right side also rose up in time so that they too might rule, but some of those who came to power disappeared immediately, 21 while others of them rose up but didn’t succeed in establishing their rule. 22 After all this, I looked again, and the twelve wings and two of the little wings had disappeared. 23 Nothing remained on the body of the eagle except the three heads that were at rest and six little wings.

24 I looked and noticed that two of the six little wings were set apart and remained under the head on the right side, but four remained in their place. 25 I watched as these little wings plotted to rise up and take power. 26 One was raised up, but it immediately disappeared, 27 and then a second, but this one disappeared more quickly than the previous one. 28 I saw the two that were left plotting among themselves that they too should rule, 29 and while they were making their plans, one of the heads that had been at rest, the one in the middle, woke up. This one was bigger than the other two heads. 30 I saw how it formed a partnership with the two other heads, 31 and then how the head turned with those that were with it, and it ate the two little wings that had planned to rule. 32 Moreover, this head gained power over the whole earth and dominated those who lived on it, inflicting great distress. It had greater power over the whole world than all the wings that had gone before.

33 After all this, I watched as the middle head, just like the wings, suddenly disappeared. 34 There were two heads left, however, which also ruled over the earth and over those who live on it. 35 I looked and watched as the head on the right side devoured the one on the left. 36 I heard a voice saying to me, “Look in front of you and consider what you see.” 37 I looked and saw something like a lion being roused, roaring out of the forest. I heard how he spoke in a human voice and said to the eagle, 38 “Listen, you, and I will speak to you. The Most High says to you, 39 ‘Aren’t you the last of the four beasts that I made to rule in my world so that I might bring about the end of my times through them? 40 You, the fourth that has come, conquered all the beasts that came before you, ruling over the world with much terror and over the whole world with harsh oppression. You have lived in the world with deceit for so long! 41 You judged the earth, but not in truth, 42 for you have oppressed the meek and injured those who caused no unrest. You hated those who spoke the truth and loved liars. You destroyed the dwellings of those who bore fruit and tore down the walls of those who had done you no harm. 43 Your insolence has ascended to the Most High and your pride to the mighty one. 44 The Most High has reviewed his times. Look! They are finished, and his ages are complete. 45 Therefore, eagle, you must utterly vanish, you and your terrifying wings, your dreadful little wings and your evil heads, and your dreadful talons and all your worthless body. 46 Then the whole earth will be refreshed and restored, set free from your violence, and will hope for the judgment and mercy of him who made it.’”

Footnotes

2 Esdras 11:2 Syr and other versions; Lat omits clouds.

2 Esdras 11:16 Syr

2 Esdras 10

2 Esdras 12

Common English Bible (CEB)

Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible

Sukkot 2024 Part Deux

 Sukkot 2024 Part Deux: what I learned, because it's all a learning process. 

In a nutshell I learned that I still have a lot of baggage. Ewww yucky things that I hide away in my regular life. Self protecting stuff that I tend to give myself excuses to use. I desire relationship with other believers yet I am still so guarded. I keep much of myself behind curtains of quiet defensive behaviors. I feel like I'm always on the outside looking in,  and am convinced that I do it to myself.  Well rejection hurts, that's why.  

Bill and I tend to be reclusive in general. We don't have many "friends" we have over for dinner.  When we do anything,  it's with family. And our family members are not living as Grafted in Believers of Yahusha. Bill and I are the odd men out, so to speak.  Our family tolerates the differences, so that's great,  but it does instill in us a desire for fellowship with like minded people.  Our prayers of course are for the individuals in the family, that they too will see this walk as truth. 

Ok, few social friends, no local fellowship,  negative past experiences from church people and secular people alike. The meanest folks I ever met, I met in church, and the pain from a back stab delivered by a "friend" while embracing you is, well... you know.  Plus childhood trauma...things many of us have come thru. These things create baggage. We want to forgive, and pursue forgiveness with all our hearts, but the more baggage that's piled on, the harder it is. Ha Satan knows this.  If he can use enough willing people to help him pile on the wounds and rejection, then he may just keep a person from seeking other people.  A person could be closed off from Yah himself, not able to receive all the promises.  

Needless to say,  I don't want that.  I want the fellowship,  I want the promises. I pray for help in this matter, of course, but some practical steps to be walked out would be most helpful. I'm open to suggestions.  Over these many years Yah has allowed me to be alive and follow Him,  I've learned some things.  #1 For Yah loved me so much He gave His only begotten Son that I may have eternal life with Him.  #2 all things I experience work for my good. #3 He has a plan to prosper me, to better me, to make me like Yahusha.  #4 if I keep my focus on Him alone,  He will protect me in His wings, no one else really matters #5 He will lift me up regardless of who puts me down #6 I am blessed when I'm rejected for His sake.  And so many more.  

To see this baggage is the first step to getting rid of it.  I can see. 

A work in progress 

Teresa

Sukkot 2024

 

Sitting in my sukkah (travel trailer) this morning,  sipping coffee and listening to the sounds of the camp waking up. It's reported that there's around 300 people registered this Sukkot, and soooooo many new babies.  I heard a praise report last evening that prayers were offered last Sukkot for fertility in our young women.  Lo and behold many families were blessed with babies this year, including one who was believed to be barren and another who had suffered a few miscarriages. Yah is Good all the time.  

We've reconnected with loved ones we met last year, and made new relationships we hope to nurture and consider brothers and sisters.  It genuinely feels like family we never knew we had. I've been Torah pursuant for over 25 years, sure wish I could remember exact dates, but it's been a journey.  In this time I have kept the Feasts sometimes  alone, most times in my backyard,  but always desiring to keep this feast with other like-minded, simpatico hearted Believers in Yahusha. This is our second year to do just that. Praise Yah!

This Sukkot will soon come to an end, and we will hug, collect emails and phone numbers to stay in touch till next year. I will immediately miss them and begin planning for 2025. I will "go back to the real world" and do my part, but my heart will remain in Sukkot Shalom. Praises to Yah for providing me a husband who feels the same way.  We have each other and our mutual hope that our children and grandchildren will one day join us and be grafted in to Israel. 

For this minute we still have a couple of days to be in this place of peace, love and unity, so I'm gonna go love on my Seed of Abraham Family. I don't want to waste a second.  

Loving every minute of it

Teresa

Fasting

 

Fasting is an important part of discipleship of which I never received instruction when I attended regular Sunday go-to-meeting Church. Why? It didn't seem to be given any value in a believer's walk. 

I have since learned that fasting is not only important,  it's necessary.  I used to be convinced that I couldn't fast. I got nauseous before 24 hours had passed and would cave and give up.  But when I got determined, I was able to press thru, the nausea would pass, I didn't barf. Once I got passed that I began to notice how great I felt. I also had clarity of mind that I hadn't experienced before. I still struggle thru the first 24 hours, but the next 24 hours are so encouraging.  But the best thing was hearing from Yah. No, not an audible voice, yet I do have a story for that I'll tell later, but a clear message either thru a person, the Scriptures, or an enlightening on a subject I'd been studying but I hadn't seen before.  Confirmation, understanding,  and clarity. 

I learned more self control thru fasting, it's satisfying to be master over my own body and fleshly desires. I find situations where fasting from my words prevents many problems.  Selfcontrol is a powerful feeling. If I can be master over my fleshly desire for food, and my tongue, what else can I do? Thru Yahusha/Jesus I can do anything set before me.  Perhaps routine fasting will strengthen my resolve when faced with temptation, fear and evil. The mental picture of believers lined up before a guillotine being given a choice of  Yahusha and death or rejection of Him and a reprieve from the blade comes to me. 

Fasting has the added benefit of being a parasite cleanse and a weight reducer. Also studies show that after 17 hours of fasting our bodies attack sick and abnormal cells. Like natural cancer fighting abilities. Fasting is a win win activity for those who practice it. 

No fasting during the Feast of Sukkot for me. I'll get back on my routine after the Feast.

A work in progress. 

Teresa

Head Covering pt2

 

It's been 3 years since I first blogged about head covering. Primarily I am speaking of head covering for women who are followers of Yahusha/Jesus. I am still covering for Holy Days including every Shabbat. As I was studying this subject 3 years ago, I was listening to other women's testimonies regarding head covering. One comment stood out to me: be consistent. Whichever way I decide to implement covering in my life, I'm to be consistent.  And I have been.  

I still feel (my personal beliefs, not Scripture) that covering is one way I make the Holy Days more special.  I wear a variety of styles and colors of head coverings, so to me it's fun to coordinate my clothing with my scarfs. Lately I've been sorting my outfits for Sukkot, and matching scarfs to them. When I'm at Sukkot I blend in, many ladies cover, but in regular life, I'm always the only one.  And I don't mind.  Clearly, I am set apart from the others.

I still enjoy the sense of security my head covering gives me,  and the respect I get from strangers, but the attentiveness I receive from my husband is the confirmation I need. Why? Well bottom line, my head covering is an outward expression of my submissiveness to my husband. He never requested it, but he was present when I was studying these things and he understands the why. He is the head of our household, and I will always honor him. 

Still a work in progress 

Teresa

Trials and Testing

 

I often think to myself, "it's all a test".  Every interaction with another being, every choice, every moment of every day we are being tested. These tests are sometimes obvious and other times hard to detect. But as a Believer in Yahusha, we usually quickly notice when we've failed a test.  

Recently I have been tested by forgetting to ring up my carbonated drink, got all the way out to my pickup before I noticed.  After I loaded my paid for purchases, I took my cart back thru the self checkout and paid for that carton of drinks. I could have talked myself into just loading up those drinks and head home: the door checker person should have caught it, it's inconvenient to go back in and pay, oh I could probably come up with some great excuses to keep from doing the right thing. But I would have failed the test. 

Also this week I saw a post on Facebook that reminded me of a deep wounding I received this year. I claim to forgive this offense, but I reposted what I saw and elaborated on the situation that hurt me.  I failed that test. Reposting and commenting on that situation clearly showed a lack of forgiveness and peace on my part. All I really did was potentially stir up drama and self pitty. 

My prayer for myself is that I recognize the test and do the right thing. Yahuah loves and and accepts me just as I am,  but He's not willing to leave me that way.  He is working continuously to make me like Yahusha.  These test and trials not only grow me spiritually, they strengthen my faith and my security in knowing my Abba loves me enough to challenge me and mature me.  

Still a work in progress 

Teresa

Have You Heard?

 

Have you been listening to all the warnings about October? #1 the signs in the heavenly bodies that reflect messages in the Book of Revelation,  #2 election cycle October surprise,  #3 escalating military operations in Ukraine and the Middle East

What if October is when End Times events actually take off? Are you ready? Are you grieved by what's going on in our world? Is your heart in the right place? Have you warned everyone? These are my internal questions.  

Yah, His Son Yahusha, and the faithful prophets told us what to look for to know that the Day of Yahuah is at hand.  Wars, rumors of wars, like in the days of Noah, people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy. Unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self control,  brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong,  haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of Yah. We are told that the sun, moon and stars are a method of communication from Yah.

Here are some links to a few videos I have watched lately:

https://youtu.be/K-wimuCg0M4?si=r54tulbabq4p7KU6

https://youtu.be/np7tad9Dvj8?si=TqgXvhEcSYkvn9aL

https://youtu.be/dRxhk5LdjaQ?si=80YdHNDlDTPqOL-n

https://youtu.be/o6tQcWc-ajQ?si=NnezelID6BsLdjHz

Eager to see Yahusha, and concerned about my loved ones

Praying to be found worthy

Teresa

Discernment

 

I was listening to Tucker Carlson speak with John Rich and Russell Brand ( don't judge lol), and they were speaking about a Christian awakening they claim is happening all around the world ( I sure hope so). Tucker Carlson said, "when you hear truth it resounds within you like a bell". Then Russell said, " it's discernment, and not everyone has it". Those statements hit me like a lightning bolt. I, 100%,  agree with them. 

Have you ever tried to share truth with someone and they cocked their head like a confused dog? Or you share a truth and they wish to argue the point? They don't have discernment.  Try as you like,  until they ask for discernment from Yah, they won't get it.  This is so logical,  the things of Yah seldom make sense to us, after all His ways are not our ways, the wisdom of this world is foolishness with Elohim, but if He's given us discernment, we can make some sense of it.  Don't waste your time with frustration or anger, they can't get it right now.  

Our Scriptures warn us: lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him. Seems to me that we understand very little of the world around us if we're only relying on our own ability to comprehend. But if Yah gives us discernment, we can see behind the veil, in the spiritual, so to speak. When the situation comes upon us, when we need to see more clearly, that discernment comes into play. This discernment acts like an instinct sometimes giving us a heads up to "something not right". Like hairs standing up on your neck. Showing us the truth. 

Seek Truth with all your heart. 

A work in progress.