Tending the Temple Daily

       "Abba, Father, give me a heart for people" because I don't like them very much.  That's an ugly thing to admit,  but mostly true. I don't want to feel that way.  I want to be warm and inviting, a social butterfly, open and comfortable around others. But I am not. I am guarded and distrusting, keeping people at arm's length. That way they can't stab me in the back while hugging me. How do I love people when I feel like this?  Avoiding people is a natural reaction, yet not a righteous one. I can't avoid people outside of my inner circle all the time, even if I was inclined to do so.  I am NOT inclined to do so because I want to love people, even if my only motivator right now is to walk in obedience to my El and Messiah.  Why I feel this way is key for me to overcome the lack of faith I have in this area of my life. I feel this way because of my life experiences. People, including myself,  can pour out on us the ugliest thing t...

  "God knows my heart". Yes, yes He does.  Let's see what He says about that:  Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) 17:9  “The heart is crooked above all, and desperately sick – who shall know it?" ‭Marqos (Mark) 7:21-22  “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil reasonings, adulteries, whorings, murders, [22] thefts, greedy desires, wickednesses, deceit, indecency, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness." Ok. So,  the inclinations of our hearts are wicked, self serving and in opposition to Yah. What now? Ask him to show you where you're in error, and to lead you into repentance. The goal here is to let Him change you and your heart to be in unity with Him. ‭Tehillim (Psalms) 139:23-24  Search me, O Ěl, and know my heart; Try me, and know my thoughts; [24] And see if an idolatrous way is in me, And lead me in the way everlasting. ‭Tehillim (Psalms) 66:10 "For You, O Elohim, have proved us; You have refined us as silver is refined. One day He will giv...

  Life in The Way is a series of tests. Will you be obedient to Yah's instructions? Will you be wise enough to shut up when necessary? Will you put others before yourself? Will you exhibit the fruit of the Spirit? Will you choose Yah's ways over your own? And on and on. Learning to abide in The Spirit, living moment by moment listening for the direction of the Holy Spirit, is truly our safe place.  My new favorite quote is from Jim Staley, goes like this: The trials you hate are the proving grounds for your spiritual promotion.  And I say Amen and Amen. In going thru these trials we must be constantly checking our behaviors, and attitudes,  to measure if we are listening to the Holy Spirit. Check yourself before you wreck yourself.  We can clearly see the errors of others and severely judge them, but are we checking ourselves?  It's been my experience that when I've severely judged someone,  I soon find myself in a position to be judged for the same th...