Tag Archives: Names of God in Judaism

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It is Sunday evening as I type these words. Our Soul Detox study is complete. Now what?

Where to now with THE WHITE STONE or more affectionately known by long time friends – IDOK Devotions?

Our Home page says THE WHITE STONE is A Gathering Place for Christian Devotions and Prayer. And so we are. Can we be more? Is there a need to be more? Is there a need to be less? Shall we ponder those a while?

A Bible exercise this morning. I trust you will play along. Please read the following (redacted for ease of reading) Text and list the similarities and differences then and today when we gather for corporate worship.

Nehemiah 8 Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)

1 all the people gathered with one accord in the open space in front of the Water Gate and asked ‘Ezra the Torah-teacher to bring the scroll of the Torah of Moshe, which Adonai had commanded Isra’el.
2 ‘Ezra the cohen brought the Torah before the assembly, which consisted of men, women and all children old enough to understand. It was the first day of the seventh month.
3 Facing the open space in front of the Water Gate, he read from it to the men, the women and the children who could understand from early morning until noon; and all the people listened attentively to the scroll of the Torah.
4 ‘Ezra the Torah-teacher stood on a wood platform which they had made for the purpose; beside him on his right stood . . . .
5 ‘Ezra opened the scroll where all the people could see him, because he was higher than all the people; when he opened it, all the people rose to their feet.
6 ‘Ezra blessed Adonai, the great God; and all the people answered, “Amen! Amen!” as they lifted up their hands, bowed their heads and fell prostrate before Adonai with their faces to the ground.
7 The Levites . . .  explained the Torah to the people, while the people remained in their places.
8 They read clearly from the scroll, in the Torah of God, translated it, and enabled them to understand the sense of what was being read.

via Neh 8 CJB;NASB – all the people gathered with one accord – Bible Gateway.

Blessings Friends + + +

ABBA, thank You for the privilege of reading Your Word and sharing it here in this forum. I pray we will have eager hearts to read, to hear, to pray and to obey. I pray for each one who gathers at this screen to read and to pray that, HOLY SPIRIT, You will encourage them, will give them answers to the questions they have and the quandaries they face; I pray You will strengthen them in their love for You and their trust in You. I pray You will heal their diseases and prosper their homes and their families as they seek You with their whole hearts — and me too, ABBA, in the Mighty Name of YESHUA, our Savior and coming King.  And in particular I pray for Leslie’s recovery and steady gaining of strength and practices for health; Kerri – always holding her up before You and Dylan too; Dori – she blesses me so, broaden her boundaries I pray; and I pray for those whose names I am not privy to but who are held close in the hearts of our Readers here; that You will make them whole, LORD JESUS. Amen and amen.

Good and Bad

Day 33 of 35 — Soul Detox

Genesis 39:1-23

Devotional

Another way to handle toxic relationships is to end them. The Bible is full of examples of people who cut off their toxic relationships such as Joseph and Potiphar’s wife in Genesis 39.
In what types of circumstances do you feel it would be necessary to end a toxic relationship?

via Soul Detox | YouVersion.com.

Obvious from today’s TEXT, there are some relationships we flee. There are some circumstances wherein we do the right thing and we still suffer; in fact, we suffer BECAUSE we did the right thing. Even so fleeing what is not honoring to our ABBA is always the right thing to do; even if it hurts.  We need to hear this!!

And we need to hear something more. Please note with me that  GOD was with Joseph in the good and the bad.

2 Adonai was with Yosef, and he became wealthy while he was in the household of his master the Egyptian.

via Genesis 39:1-23 CJB;NIV – (v) Yosef was brought down to Egypt, – Bible Gateway.

I’d say that was a GOOD time for Joseph, wouldn’t you? He became wealthy and second in command in the Nation – a lot of power and wealth there!

21 But Adonai was with Yosef, showing him grace and giving him favor in the sight of the prison warden.

via Genesis 39:1-23 CJB;NIV – (v) Yosef was brought down to Egypt, – Bible Gateway.

I’d say that was pretty bad, wouldn’t you? Joseph went to prison for a crime he DID NOT commit. Joseph did not wind up in prison because he did evil; he went to prison BECAUSE he did not do evil!

BUT GOD – don’t you love those two words: BUT GOD?!

In the good times and the bad GOD was with Joseph. Is He not the same with you and me?  Reminds me of a song. Here. Enjoy the words, the music and scenes of ABBA’s creation.

ABBA, in the good times and the bad, You are faithful; You are GOD and that’s just the way it is. Thank You. ABBA, we know some having some bad times and here and now we proclaim You are good! And here and now we ask and trust You to intervene. A heart cath for Leslie. Recovery and then more surgery for Terri. Various needs for Kerri, Dylan and Dori. Comfort for BT and others grieving. Wisdom and knowledge for exams to take. Family chaos. Stubborn and wayward souls refusing to repent. New babies needing a chance to live to know You. Children discarded and abandoned. Wives thrown away like refuse. And these are matters near by,  ABBA, no doubt others coming to this page have faces on the screens of their hearts just as tender and desperate. BUT YOU are faithful and You are our Help, our Source and our Strength; our Defender and Provider. We praise You and trust You with them all in YESUHA’s Name.

1. 2. 3.

Day 26 of 35 — Soul Detox

1 Thessalonians 5:21-28

Psalms 24:1-6

Devotional

How do you deal with cultural toxins when you encounter them? You test them by asking these questions: 1.) Am I being entertained by sin? 2.) Is this pleasing to God? and 3.) Does this lure me away from Christ?

What are some things you can do to completely remove cultural toxins from your life?

via Soul Detox | YouVersion.com.

3 Who may go up to the mountain of Adonai?

Who can stand in his holy place?

4 Those with clean hands and pure hearts,

who don’t make vanities the purpose of their lives

or swear oaths just to deceive.

via 1 Thessalonians 5:21-28; Psalms 24:1-6 CJB;NASB – But do test everything — hold onto – Bible Gateway.

Clean hands
Pure hearts
Humble purposes with
Honest Promises

There is no room for cultural toxins in our lives when the foregoing is practiced.  What a gloriously joyous life we would experience. So what is stopping us? 

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