Monday, December 4, 2023

Lord Lift Me Up

 

We were born for such a time as this...every day brings news of war and rumors of war.  We have a choice.  We can focus on the world, the depressing news, our personal problems, or we can focus on God's Word.  We can be depressed or we can be at peace.  I wrote about this being our time to shine in this previous POST. 

I knew a gentleman who lived in constant pain.  I asked him how he kept such a happy demeanor.  He said, "It's a choice.  I can be depressed or I can be happy for all I have."  I try to remember this when trials come my way. 

Following is from a weekly email devotion by Nancy Campbell of Above Rubies, used with her permission.  She sends a weekly email that you can sign up for on her website.  www.aboverubies.org

"Are you familiar with the words of the hymn by Johnson Oatman, Jr.? I’ll print them in full at the end of this devotion in case you are not familiar with them. The chorus says:

 

Lord, lift me up and let me stand,

By faith, on Heaven’s tableland,

A higher plane than I have found;

Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

 

This is my prayer. I am sure it is yours too. God wants us to walk in an uplifted spirit. He does not want us to be “down in the dumps” and depressed. He wants us to be a “lifting up” and an “uplifting people,” in our homes and wherever we go. And because of this, God gives us lots of encouragement. The Bible speaks of ten areas He want us to lift up in our lives. Shall we look at these together?

 

  1. LIFT UP YOUR EYES

Where are your eyes today? Your physical eyes and the eyes of your heart? Are you looking at all you must accomplish today? Are you looking at your problems and dwelling on them?

 

Can I encourage you to change the direction of your eyes? When you look down, when you look at your problems, and you look at the mess around you, life seems overwhelming. But this is not the right place for your eyes. Lift your eyes, dear mother. Look up to Jesus. It’s amazing what happens when you look up to Him. Your circumstances may not change, but your attitude changes. Instead of living under your problems you will live above them!

 

During scorning and contempt from people, the Psalmist confessed: “Unto THEE lift I up mine eyes” (Psalm 123:1). He didn’t get into depression because everyone was against him. He found his victory in putting His eyes upon the Lord.

 

I think of the tragedy in David’s life when he and his army came back from battle to find their city of Ziklag burned to the ground. And worse—all their wives and children taken captive! The people wept until they had no more power to weep. They wanted to stone David they were so grieved. David was at his wit’s end, but then he “encouraged himself in the LORD his God” (1 Samuel 30:6).

 

Before this, David didn’t know what to do. But when he lifted his eyes to the Lord instead of the devastation around him, God showed him what to do. He gave him a plan and with God’s help they were able to rescue every wife and every child.

 

When your eyes are fixed on your problem you can’t even think straight, let alone know what to do. But when you lift your eyes to the Lord, trust Him, and rest in Him, you will hear His voice speaking to you. He will show you His plan and give you His peace.

 

Don’t you love 2 Corinthians 4:16-18? “For which because we faint not; but though our outward man perishes, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a FAR MORE EXCEEDING AND ETERNAL WEIGHT OF GLORY: while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” Do you notice God gives five adjectives to describe the glory that He works in us as we go through our difficulties?

 

Psalm 34:5: “They looked unto him, and were lightened, and their faces were not ashamed.”

 

Psalm 59:10,11 (KNOX): “TO THEE I LOOK, the God who strengthens me, the God who watches over me; my God, and all my hope of mercy.”

 

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

 

PRAYER:

“Dear Father, I want to keep my eyes upon You. The things of this world are temporal. Why should I waste my time groveling over them? Help me to constantly keep my eyes upon You and Your truths and Your eternal values. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

 

AFFIRMATION:

My eyes are ever toward the Lord!



 

I’M PRESSING ON THE UPWARD WAY


I’m pressing on the upward way,

New heights I’m gaining every day;

Still praying as I’m onward bound,

“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

 

Refrain:

Lord, lift me up and let me stand,

By faith, on Heaven’s tableland,

A higher plane than I have found;

Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

 

My heart has no desire to stay

Where doubts arise and fears dismay;

Though some may dwell where those abound,

My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.

 

I want to live above the world,

Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled;

For faith has caught the joyful sound,

The song of saints on higher ground.

 

I want to scale the utmost height

And catch a gleam of glory bright;

But still I’ll pray till heav’n I’ve found,

“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

 



Thursday, November 30, 2023

Bible Translations

 


After you read this post, please read my blog post about this subject.  I agree with the following post, and want to add an important note.  I recommend The Complete Jewish Bible and also the Tree of Life Version.  I checked both Bibles related to the Scriptures above.  They both have a footnote with the "missing" verses.   Also, I recommend using the Bible Gateway website for comparing translations.  It is eye opening and an invaluable resource.
 
***
 
VERY CRITICAL ALERT!!! (from Jude Seddon on Facebook)
 "The NIV and English Standard Version (ESV)has now removed 64,575 words from the Bible
including . . . Calvary, Holy Ghost, and omnipotent to name but a few... 

The NIV and ESV has also now removed 45 complete verses. Most of us have the Bible on our devices and phones especially "OLIVE TREE BIBLE STUDY APP."Try and find these scriptures in NIV and ESV on your computer, phone or device right now if you are in doubt:
 

...you will not believe your eyes.
 
Refuse to be blinded by Satan, and do not act like you just don't care. Let's not forget what the Lord Jesus said in John 10:10 (King James Version).
 
THE SOLUTION:
If you must use the NIV and ESV, BUY and KEEP AN EARLIER VERSION of the BIBLE. A Hard Copy cannot be updated. All these changes occur when they ask you to update the app. on your phone or laptop etc. Buy and KEEP EARLIER VERSIONS AND STORE THEM.
 
There is a crusade geared towards altering the Bible as we know it; NIV, ESV and many more versions are affected."
 
***
 
I hope you will take this to heart, Gail-Friends, and please, please, please take a look at "The Message", a version that is being promoted to young adults and teens.  The only thing I can say is do your research and make careful comparisons.  It is abominable.
 
 

Tuesday, November 14, 2023

March for Israel

 

Today, in Washington D.C., over 250,000 are gathered to show support for Israel and to say, "NEVER AGAIN!"  You can view this event and hear the speakers at this link: March for Israel on CBN

Watch and Pray:

  • for the safe return of the Israeli hostages
  • for the war wounded
  • for the families and loved ones of those killed
  • for the Israeli Defense Force
  • for the leaders to have discernment and understanding in decision making
  • for Jews all over the world who are experiencing anti-antisemitism (including us)
  • for the shalom of Jerusalem
  • for Yeshua Ha Mashiach to return -- soon!  

 I hope this event will be available for later viewing.  I especially was blessed to hear a Pakistani American Muslim, Anila Ali, speak of her support of Israel.  Don't miss it.

Last month, Rabbi Jem and I were blessed to attend a local rally for Israel.  As we waved flags, many honked in support.  It did our hearts good to see the many people who came out.




 This is an interesting read from Chabad.org: 

The Promised Land

We find many times in the Chumash that G‑d promised Eretz Yisrael, the Land of Israel, to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and his descendants.

“The L‑rd appeared to Abraham and said, I will give this land to your descendants.” [Bereishit 12:7]

What is so special about Eretz Yisrael

Many of the 613 mitzvot are connected with Eretz Yisrael, e.g. Tithes, the Shmittah [Sabbatical year when the land lies fallow], worshiping and sacrifices in the Temple etc. Eretz Yisrael has a special kedushah — holiness —  read more at this LINK

*****

I've been blessed to make aliyah two times and I can tell you it is a special place.  We don't know why this has happened, but I can assure you -- Adonai is in control.  This did not take Him by surprise.  

My prayer is that this horrible event will bring every Jew, including the grafted in ones, to their knees and make a commitment to follow Adonai's commandments.   Why? Because the Scripture says:  "Those who keep Torah fight against evil."  This is a spiritual battle, Gail-Friends.  The evil one has come to steal, kill, and destroy.  Let's join the fight in support of Israel - with prayer, praise, and righteousness.  

This verse is still true for Jews as well as those grafted in:  2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV)
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 

Read 2 Chronicles in context and you will see clearly that "turn from their wicked ways" means obey His commandments.   We were born for such a time as this -- to proclaim obedience to Torah -- and the saving blood of Yeshua Ha Mashiach as the payment for our sins (disobedience to Torah).