Sunday, March 30, 2014

The Calling and the Culling

Scripture tells us many are called, but few are chosen.  There were some pieces that fell into place yesterday for me, that I wasn't really expecting, nor was I waiting for.  I have sought to be obedient in my walk with Messiah, so although confirming; the missing details hadn't left me feeling a lack in my life.

One of the most difficult struggles I've had in ministry is the fact that I'm a woman.  Although Mary Magdalene was the "first official witness" of the resurrection and specifically told to go tell the disciples, our society has discouraged women in ministry throughout history, and many sects of Judaism as well as Christian denominations still do.

I knew I had a call on my life, and when I surrendered to that call, I headed to both the synagogue and the church.  The timing was perfect, in that Sabbath and Sunday didn't have a scheduling conflict.  The synagogue was cordial, but unaccepting of Messiah.  The church was happy the prodigal had returned to the Father, but . . . in that particular denomination, I was told I should have been a pastor's wife, but being damaged goods [divorced] that would not be possible, either.  Now isn't it interesting that some mainstream denominations teach the law was abolished, yet cling to high priest marriage rules and tithing?  Yet I digress . . .  I wasn't called to be a pastor's wife, and with the exception of the call of pastor, the other four ministry offices are not gender specific.  

As our Heavenly Father continues to call His people to unity, we are told there will also be a great falling away.  Separating wheat and tares is not our task, but as the unity takes place, division will also.  The offices of ministry are not titles, but a responsibility that those who are called will choose to meet.  

Along with the calling, there will be a culling.

Saturday, March 22, 2014

Revelation In Further Preparation

I had an eye opening experience early the other morning as I was praying.  I whole-heartedly recommend that you include plenty of quiet listening time in your prayer time.   A couple of years ago, there was a big fall-out here in the Land of Goshen.  I was literally fighting to keep this place heading in the way YHWH called me to establish it, had shown me years ago He would lead me to land with a well.  Well it was ultimately resolved, but the wounding was deep; very deep.  At any rate, having been shown before the explosion that it was coming, I had considered parcelling off 1/4 of an acre.   As these people told me their "hopes and plans and pending changes," I stood my ground.  The only offer on the table was their choice between two far corners, and that was their only choice.

Thankfully they left, although not graciously or gratefully, but finally.   Now that the dust has settled and the wound is healed, the other morning YHWH showed me how even a corner of this place was not mine to give away.  Oh it would have been, years back, but this place has been dedicated to becoming a remnant community, the whole place has been walked and corners claimed.   My giving any parcel away or even selling it would have been no different than Ananias and Saphira had done, in holding back some of the money when they had sold their land.

He went on to show me, the land was mine at the time I bought it, but once I walked it off and claimed it for the remnant community, it was no longer mine to negotiate.  Although I desperately wanted the people who were talking the talk a couple of years ago to be a part of this, I knew we were not in unity.  In retrospect, I'm truly thankful things worked out the way they did, and it never came down to that!  It's even been confirmed by a dream earlier this week, in which I was offered an outrageous sum of money for this place.  It's not given to me to sell it.  It's been dedicated and purposed.  Regardless of my standing, and I've been in each of these places in life . . .  No excuses!

If a woman also vow a vow unto YHWH, and bind herself by a bond, being in her father's house in her youth; And her father hear her vow, and her bond wherewith she hath bound her soul, and her father shall hold his peace at her: then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she hath bound her soul shall stand . . . And if she had at all an husband, when she vowed, or uttered ought out of her lips, wherewith she bound her soul;  And her husband heard it, and held his peace at her in the day that he heard it: then her vows shall stand, and her bonds wherewith she bound her soul shall stand . . . But every vow of a widow, and of her that is divorced, wherewith they have bound their souls, shall stand against her.  Torah of Holy Scripture - Numbers 30


Sunday, March 16, 2014

A Bit of Advice

I qualify giving advice, with "Not to offer unsolicited advice, but . . ." so perhaps my advising is becoming much more frequent than I realize.  With that being said, I shall now proceed without caution to offer, if not advice, some thoughts for consideration, regarding Scripture, prophecy, end of days, space, taxation, and debt.

We know Scripture states that we must all work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, yet calls for unity.  So far, the multitudes appear to set the truth aside to get along.  Clearly not an option.  I know my call to service includes serving as a hostess to this way of life.  I believe a five fold ministry will gather here to live in community, but I don't think it will be much larger than that.  I do, however; believe it will become a place of sharing and training for others who will also be gathering in remnant communities.  It will be a place of learning and discussing, while hopefully avoiding strife and derision.

Prophecy is interesting, fascinating to many, but nobody knows with absolute precision, how everything will be unfolded.  What we do know, is this; if YHWH has said it, it will happen . . . The prophets themselves, didn't realize how and when what they penned would fully come to pass, and the apostles proclaimed the words of the prophets through their ministries, without knowing when the fulfillment would come to pass.  All I can say with absolute certainty is, from Peter's quote of Joel 2 in Acts 2, we are about 2,000 years closer!

As for space for a community, the measures vary, with many looking at quite large areas.  I'm sitting on 10 acres, which would realistically support not more than 20 people in natural provision, but by the provision of YHWH and working together, I don't know.  I believe it will support those who are supposed to be here.  A couple of things to consider, though.  More than 10 acres usually requires a tractor to maintain, and tractors are not cheap.  I am able to maintain 10 acres with a tiller, a riding mower, and livestock.  Besides when there is no buying and selling without the mark, I'd have no way to obtain gasoline for a tractor.  Replacing the tiller with manual labor is not something I'd relish, but it is doable, and I have already obtained a functional, antique cultivator.

Since taxes are not buying and selling, I'm guessing the New World Order already has a clause in place to collect taxes from "unmarked" land owners.  Another good reason to pool resources and talents!  I'm sure there will be personality differences in all of the gatherings, but our Creator knows just who to bring together to encourage each other and bring Him glory and honor.  He also knows how to keep the discouraging disputers out of the communities.

As for debt.  I, along with Dave Ramsey, discourage the notion.  I'd rather have less that actually belongs to me, than payments.  And that's not to say, earthly possessions are the goal, but to have places that are not shared with the banks and lending institutions will be helpful as the end of days continue to become more turbulent.
The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.  a Proverb of Holy Scripture

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Preparing for the Gathering

I'm thinking some believers are going to be hearing some moving instructions and/or seeing a destination very soon.  I still remember this time several years ago, when I saw a pillar of fire, but was told "not yet."  Although some may scoff, I was also fire chaplain at the time, and there were no reports that night of a fire that went to the heavens.  I remember very clearly the direction to which I looked as the flames rose to the sky.  The pillar was south by southeast of my location, and then it was gone.

This was a particularly interesting thing for me, in that I'm the type that begins to implement immediately when I've been shown something, but this time I was told "not yet."  I was a bit surprised that G-d would show me something so Biblical, ahead of time.  I mean the children of Israel were already on their way out of Egypt when the pillar of fire appeared, but I waited . . .

A few loose ends later, the same time of year, I was given a vision and told, it was time.  Some folks I know have heard this or read this before, but I want to share it again, for encouraging confirmation for those who may receive their "marching orders" this year at Passover.  I now see why YHWH showed me something and told me to wait.  He did that with a list that became a book, as well; the previous Sukkot.  He was preparing me to prepare.

Fortunately, there is a wonderful interstate that ran precisely south by southeast from the location I was.  That morning I called a realtor, and by afternoon the for sale sign was in the yard and I was on the road.  I didn't find what I'd been shown in the vision that first day, but by evening the next day, I was standing on the place.  Upon arriving at my first destination, it wasn't long before I was shown that was a training ground for another place, a larger place.  Five years ago, this week the deed to this place was signed, sealed, and delivered to my hand.  The sixth year of working the land is just beginning, and I also believe the five-fold ministry that I've been praying for and about will be gathering soon.

I believe there will be several gatherings, but this will be one.  This may be a place of learning and healing, it may serve as a cross roads gathering for Holy Days, or it may soon be home to four other servants of YHWH, or all of the above.

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Messiah:  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of G-d, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Messiah:  

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Bored, Boring, or Content?

I shared this particular meme earlier this week on social media, and the comments that ensued were very illuminating and thought provoking.



I was corrected by a few, telling me I was not boring, while others jumped on board confessing their own "boringness."  In the many comments and confessions, something occurred to me.  Many do find my life to lack entertainment.  I don't have to go somewhere special, I can't stay awake to watch a movie, but I always have something to do, so even if I'm boring, I'm not bored!

Our society has programmed us to believe we have to have something going on, through all our waking hours, but the programming has also instilled the belief that leisure time and entertainment are essential to our well being.  People that work more than 40 hours a week are now called workaholics, they used to be called entrepreneurs and independent business people.  The problem our society has created in that thinking, is that we work for money, rather than fulfillment.  The idea of fun got interwoven, because so many do not like their jobs, but need the money . . . 

Fun is such a superficial term.  I can have fun working!   Forcing myself to go to a movie is not fun!  Since we are not all created with the same interests and talents, a standard definition of what is enjoyable, isn't possible.  I have friends and acquaintances who enjoy certain tv programs and some like electronic games.  I enjoy these people and if that is what they do for fun, that's great, but it's not my idea of fun.  On the other hand, these same people probably would not find my latest label designing or product formulation, an enjoyable way to spend their free time.  What has caused these friendships to form, is not our free time, but our faith.  

I have a friend who is a storm spotter, which certainly does not go in the category of boring!  I can tell by the way he talks about, it's an absolute passion of his.  It's not "fun" to him, but he certainly enjoys doing it for the reasons he has.  I look forward to hearing his reports and watching his videos, but I would never want to join him on this endeavor.  I'll stand outdoors and watch the sky, but the last thing I want to do is be in a vehicle.  I'm glad there are people who do what he does, but I'm simply not one of them.  If that makes me boring, so be it, but the practical fact of the matter is, I know myself well enough to know I'd be a hindrance.

I have a friend who likes to read, and so do I.   I could see us in the same room for an evening, but I'm guessing we'd both prefer to be in our own home in our jammies for a nice settled in evening of reading.  I have several acquaintances who like to bake, and I certainly admire that gift in others.  Baking doesn't really make anyone boring or fun, but I know it brings pleasure to their loved ones.

 We've blurred the meanings of fun and enjoyable, of boring and content.  I think many of us find the simpler things in life to be enjoyable, and being able to use the passions and gifts instilled in us by our Creator, is to be content.

 But godliness with contentment is great gain.  I Timothy 6:6