Hidden in the NDAA

As most of you know, this particular section is usually dedicated to a current topic in the Land of Goshen, but this week, I felt led to share this link.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/29/opinion/selling-off-apache-holy-land.html?_r=1

Saints

Actually, I'm not going anywhere at this time, but others will be coming.   Once I wrote last week's article announcing there would be no "formal sukkot" gathering, something changed.  I then was awakened Sunday morning to hear, "Prepare for the Five Fold Ministry that is to come."  I've prayed for this gathering for years, long before I was even homesteading.  Oh, how I longed to be a part of the ministry team listed in Ephesians 4:11.  It has truly been a desire of my heart for nearly 20 years.  There have been a few times I just about jumped the gun and tried to do it in the flesh, but that was in the early years.  Abba has given me time to do some much needed maturing.

Recently, having witnessed the attempt to do G-d's work in the flesh, I cringe at the number of times I've done the same thing.  I still have a tendency to jump in, although not as often; but when I realize what I've done, I don't try to spiritualize it or rationalize it, I stop and go back to where I jumped.  Jumping in, in the flesh, means jumping out of the actual plan.  Paul said it well in Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.  Many folks use this particular book, Galatians, in an attempt to disregard Torah, but the reality is, this book addresses putting on an outward appearance for admiration and recognition, or even sadder yet, addresses the attempt to imitate the presence of the Holy Spirit in one's life.  Having begun this covenant walk asking for discernment, with confession for why I needed it, Abba gracious gave me that spiritual gift, but not in it's fullness.  I couldn't have handled that!   As things are intensifying in this world, I've noticed they are amongst the religious as well.

So here's the deal for those of the five fold ministry who would gather here.  The work has already been established and is currently underway.  I'm not one who appreciates the cliche "We have to walk the walk and talk the talk."  I'm a woman of fewer words.  I say, "We have to walk our talk."  So, it's time to really start heading toward Abba's full provision of promise.  He says He provides and He does.  I don't go out and collect manna every morning, but I do harvest from a garden, except through Shemitah.  The wild greens and berries have been abundant this year.  I go out every morning to tend to chickens, calves, and goats, and every evening I bring in eggs and milk.  Although the beef is only harvested annually, it provides until the next fatted calf is processed.  I vacillate on how I handle processing chicken.  For fried, it needs to be young, but baked or stewed, I can leave it "on the hoof" and available year round.  Do I believe manna could fall?  Absolutely, I saw it one morning, the first autumn of the starter homestead.  I received it as confirmation, not presumption!  I saw it only once.

The next biggie for this 5 fold ministry is health care.  No compromise with the system!  If we don't receive a miracle and can't find a natural solution, it's time to get ready to meet our Maker.  The health care system will very definitely be a strong arm of power as the New World Order takes shape.  Check Germany's history in the late 20s and 30s.  Much of the government control began with disease control . . .  This will be one of the most powerful means of outreach to the remnant.  There is much to be received and taught from Scripture regarding our physical health and this will be a vital part of the ministry of this "Goshen."

Teaching the truth of Torah and Moshiach is truly the fulfillment of the Great Commission.  We are to teach all nations, baptize, and the topic of the teaching is to observe the commandments, to follow Messiah.  The original Greek term for "observe" is [tereo] meaning to guard and keep!  I noticed and appreciate how similar this term is to the Hebrew term Torah.  We learn something new every day!   I am commissioned to share the fullness of "tereo Torah."  As we prepare for this ministry, those who will gather are already in my prayers, as well as those who will gather elsewhere in this same ministry.  The Revelation 14:12b gives us a powerful definition of what it is to be a saint.

. . . saints: here are they that keep the commandments of YHWH, and the faith of Y'hshuwah.

Getting in Gear

I've seriously thought of making an official announcement that there would be no "formal Sukkot gathering" and I'm still leaning that way.  I am thinking I'd rather spend my time, energy, and what funds I have toward true preparedness and longer term necessities for the days of Noah, rather than amenities, entertainment, and conveniences for a weeklong gathering.  I'm looking more into the long term investments and necessities for down the road.  It seems to me at this point, a few more batteries in the off-grid bank would be beneficial.

An opportunity has arisen that is taking quite a bit of my energy and I absolutely know that is energy well spent.  A door has opened to work with area youth and a church.  I have seen, without a shadow of a doubt, our youth are crying for some stability.  If they can't find it at home, they look for it at school, and peers.  School has derailed and most of their peers are searching too.  A group of young people searching are going to find something, often that "something" is not good . . . Many are seeking spiritual answers and/or a place to belong.  If they don't find it at church, they'll look in a mosque.  I've come to realize the "sinner's prayer" didn't offer any hope; and salvation without repentance amounts to nothing.  I've taken a serious look at why so many young people who were raised in progressive Judaism and compromising Christianity abandon those for atheism, new ageism, or other religions.  People need something real and when Judaism became politically progressive and Christianity compromised calling itself relevant, they both lost the part of Biblical truth they held.  

There are many young men in prison who are converting to Islam while their Christian grandmas are praying.  Why is this happening?  A great many of the boomers just walked away from church and synagogue, but sadly raised children with minimal spiritual influence and little stability.  Often the truth is rejected because it had been mixed with so much compromise and political correctness.  Many cannot separate the truth from the counterfeit wrapping and so when they recognize the counterfeit, simply dismiss the entire package.

I've grown weary with the religious debates of social media.  I'm not sure our Creator really cares what shade of blue is used in tzitzit, but I do know there are no instructions as to special knots or tying.  I've grown weary with so much internet teaching on extraneous topics when I simply want to follow Messiah and be used by Him as the early apostles were.  Internet teaching is a lot like televangelism of the 90s.  Some of it's entertaining, but most of it is just filling time and space, and the opportunity to express one's own views.    I was truly blessed last Sunday to hear a fiery sermon from the book of Judges.  With that wonderful sermon, I was blessed to minister both before and after.  Wow!  Encouraged, fed, filled, and the opportunity to share as well, and all of it by simply being prayed up and where I was led to be.

I'm believing Sukkot could be the same way this year.  I'm certainly not disinviting anyone, nor would I turn anyone away who is seeking to celebrate the Feast Days of YHWH, but I'm not doing any extras beyond Scripture.  I'm not an activities director, so there will be no activities program.  I'll share what I have and that's enough.  Since the shemitah year will have ended, I'll be sowing the winter wheat field as Sukkot comes to an end.  Preparing for long term needs seems more urgent this year than planning an event.

Since beginning this article I have made my decision.  This is the official announcement that there will be no formal Sukkot gathering this fall.  Folks are still welcome to visit, even consider "communitying up" but there is just too much going on to even consider major expenditures for a short term event.

And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work, and ye shall keep a feast unto YHWH seven days:  Numbers 29:12

A Dream

I had a dream the other night, that I believe had spiritual significance.  It was busy, to the point of chaotic, yet held a constant.  Everything I was doing and every place I was going, seemed to be detaining me from my actual priority.  Needless to say, I awoke with a start!  The apparent purpose throughout the entire dream was to attend a funteral to give a eulogy that evening, but I had to "get there" and that was beyond difficult.

Upon my agreement to this task, I was then told the location had been changed, but they couldn't tell me where it would be held.  I suddenly realized I was unsure how to accomplish the task to which I'd agreed.  I didn't know where the service was.  I didn't know how to get there, as my location seemed unfamiliar, and I was on foot with a walking stick.  The only thing familiar in the dream was my walking stick. Throughout the entire dream, I was in different scenarios asking people where the funeral was to be held.  Many had no idea what to tell me, while others seemed to send me on a what seemed like wild goose chases.  At one point, a hearse came into view and I thought I'd found the location, but it was still distant and I was unable to access a direct route.

Through this dream, I found myself at some sort of long term care facility asking directions, more than one restaurant, a gas station, a convenience store; all to no avail.  I also clearly remember walking by casinos, which are in abundance in my area; but not entering to ask directions.  The search was scenic at times, and at other times grueling.  Thankfully, the weather was decent throughout my dream, even pleasant.

As the sun was moving across the southern sky, I found myself still wandering.  In my mind, I knew I still had chores to do at evening and get cleaned up before the service.  I had to find the funeral home and then get to Goshen in time to get my work done and get back to the funeral home.  The thought also entered my mind that perhaps I could just get cleaned up at the funeral home and do chores after the funeral.  Seriously, this dream was both chaotic and frustrating, but strangely never hopeless.

Whether this ends right or wrong for those reading, I awoke without arriving at my destination.  I truly believe the chaos was just too much to sleep through, and my own voice asking directions, awakened me.  I was talking in my sleep.  Immediately though, I was aware that although I have died to self and continue to do so, I had to die to a long held tradition.  Holding to this tradition became a stronghold that was actually keeping me busy and distracted, rather than focused and directed.  It was later confirmed that I absolutely had to let go of this bondage of tradition which is revered in our society.

In dying to self, there was an area in my life in which I was surrendering to religious tradition rather than my King.  I'm sharing this, because there may be others clinging to a similar seemingly good tradition that is, in reality, a bondage.

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? . . . Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith EL Shaddai.  II Corinthians 6:14, 18-19

Preparing

I'm still seeing a great many people discussing spiritual preparedness separately from physical preparedness.  Yes there are obvious differences, but I'm seeing an unnecessary disconnect, as well.  Storing food and hoarding bullets without the protection of YHWH will obviously not be enough.  Eventually, food runs out and one of two things happens with bullets.  Either you use them all up, which sounds horrendous, or when the food is gone, you realize you can't eat them.  Same with those who are cashing in currency for gold.   Some precious metals is not a bad idea, but when the time comes that there's no buying and selling without the mark, precious metals won't help.  I do think they'll be good for paying taxes, for awhile; but that's about it.  Let's get to the heart of the matter, on this, though.

So many of us say the words, "what begins in the spiritual will be made manifest in the natural!"  I believe that.  The condition of our nation is an obvious testament to that fact, albeit; a negative one.  For those of us who are preparing, I'd like to think I'm preparing in the proper order.  First, spiritually, but in that spiritual preparation, I do feel led to make it manifest in the natural, and believe for Abba's protection and provision.  I'm not one to just sit on my "blessed assurance" and expect manna.  Y'hshuwah didn't say the end of days would be as in the days of Moses, He said the days of Noah, and Noah had a great deal of preparing to do, besides being "prayed up!"

 I'm working the land, well it's resting this year, but I was led to the wilderness to be prepared and to prepare, and Abba has since given me more instruction.  Spiritual preparedness is to be made manifest in the natural.  As James put it, "faith without works is dead."  As our world continues to degenerate, life will become more difficult.  I'm at the point of understanding a few more things.  I've always tended to be a doormat kind of individual and Abba told me in no uncertain terms, "He's had enough of that!"  Meekness is not weakness.  Folks who have had good jobs, good opportunities, and still cried poor mouth and victim, are not the ones to be taken care of, in the coming problems.  It's widows and orphans, and those who have been seeking.

I'm not saying manna won't fall, but I am saying for those who are planning on provision falling from the sky, I'm not raising any of that here!  The words and faith of the prophets and apostles were manifest in the natural and it's time the people of YHWH expected that same thing now!  Abba has blessed me with wonderful land that produces good food, continually in season, if I work it.  He has blessed me with pasture for the herds and flocks, but called me to care for them.  I haven't bought milk or eggs in a decade!  The branches of the blackberry bushes are literally, weighted down with ripening fruit.  Abba does provide, but I have to pick them!

I have discovered what we know Adam and Eve experienced, and Scripture indicates Noah and Abraham did as well.  Adam and Eve were created in the Garden of Eden.  Noah was a farmer, and Abraham had flocks and herds.  Through times of gardening, farming, and tending the herds and flocks, is a great time to hear the Voice of our Creator and receive the instructions of preparation.

And Elohim said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth . . .
And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them.  Thus did Noah; according to all that Elohim commanded him, so did he.  Genesis 6:13, 21-22