Tag Archives: Torah

Christian Living, Holy Soap Box, Political awareness, Repentance, Something Jewish

Forego the Distance

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Matthew 24:12 and many people’s love will grow cold because of increased distance from Torah.

via Matthew 24:12 KJV;CJB – And because iniquity shall abound, the – Bible Gateway.

This verse is holding my attention today. For a deeper understanding we have to become acquainted with the broad meaning of Torah. Yes, it is the first five books of the Old Testament but Torah is more.

Look I am borrowing from Hebrew4Christians.com which tells us this:

The word Torah (תּוֹרָה) comes from the root word yarah meaning \”to shoot an arrow\” or \”to hit the mark.\” Properly used, the word means \”teaching\” or \”instruction.\” Teaching is associated with the Holy Spirit, just as God taught Moses what to do and say (Exod. 4:15). And it is clear that Yeshua our Messiah assumed the title of Rabbi and performed much of his ministry as a Teacher (John 1:38).  via The Written Torah – Torah Shebikhtav.

When you read the word Torah in the CBJ or Law in Gentile translations of Scripture think teaching or instruction; think the WHOLE COUNSEL of GOD – all that HE has said to us in the Scripture.

Now return to Matthew 24:12.

Love grows cold when we distance ourselves from the Teachings of GOD. When we distance ourselves from abiding in obedience to the WORD of GOD, all manner of unloving behavior begins to go on in our day-to-day walking about.  Not only do I see counsel here for me to heed. I see that the World at large and in particular America has distanced Herself from Torah – it shows in Her behavior.

I can’t change America but I can allow the Torah (the Whole Counsel of ABBA) to transform me. And so can you; and enough of us behaving in real, godly love will put America back on solid footing!

Now that’s something to ponder on Day 3 of 2014.

Kathie

Christian Living

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I think a very brief Word is all I have for us today.

Psalm 19:8  (7) The Torah of Adonai is perfect,
restoring the inner person. [source]

When we as Gentiles see the Word Torah we have been taught to think law. That is not wrong but a proper understanding of Torah is more than just Law.  Torah in our English language would be more closely related to our word Teaching. The Torah of the LORD is law, instructions, commands, and counsel, all as our schoolmaster to teach us we need a Savior and to teach us how to live while we are here on this planet.  The Torah, the Teaching, the Whole Counsel of GOD applied to our minds and hearts by the HOLY SPIRIT restores our souls.

So when our souls are parched; when we are ill-tempered and out of sorts; when our countenance is downcast and moody, we are in need of the Torah of the LORD. His Word WILL restore and make glad our souls. We just have to feed on His Torah and allow Him to strengthen and heal us.  It is my hope we will.

Thank You, Father. I pray, HOLY SPIRIT, You will apply Your Word to our souls and we will be healed in the Mighty Name of ADONAI.

Kathie

A Quick Hello, KWT Paraphrasing

Reading Myself

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Reading myself on August 6, 2013 written on January 5, 2010 and this phrase from Scripture stood for attention: 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, [source].

The flesh lusts against the Spirit. 

Flesh. That would be my old unregenerate nature with which I was born.

Spirit. That would be the new nature infused into my being at the moment of rebirth.

Lust. a passionate or overwhelming desire or craving [source].
An even more appropriate definition, I think, is that lust is desiring to or actually fulfilling any legitimate passion, desire, or craving in an illegitimate or ungodly, unholy way.

And so with this background thinking, this is the message I heard: my flesh is constantly trying to overthrow (in acts of war) my Spirit in order to satisfy my legitimate needs, passions, desires, and cravings in an unholy way; unholy being any way other than the way GOD has prescribed in His Word by HIS SPIRIT for my needs, passions, desires, and cravings to be fulfilled.

Romans 7:15 I don’t understand my own behavior — I don’t do what I want to do; instead, I do the very thing I hate! 16 Now if I am doing what I don’t want to do, I am agreeing that the Torah is good. 17 But now it is no longer “the real me” doing it, but the sin housed inside me. 18 For I know that there is nothing good housed inside me — that is, inside my old nature. I can want what is good, but I can’t do it! 19 For I don’t do the good I want; instead, the evil that I don’t want is what I do! 20 But if I am doing what “the real me” doesn’t want, it is no longer “the real me” doing it but the sin housed inside me. 21 So I find it to be the rule, a kind of perverse “torah,” that although I want to do what is good, evil is right there with me! 22 For in my inner self I completely agree with God’s Torah; 23 but in my various parts, I see a different “torah,” one that battles with the Torah in my mind and makes me a prisoner of sin’s “torah,” which is operating in my various parts. 24 What a miserable creature I am! Who will rescue me from this body bound for death? 25 Thanks be to God [, he will]! — through Yeshua the Messiah, our Lord!

To sum up: with my mind, I am a slave of God’s Torah; but with my old nature, I am a slave of sin’s “Torah.”

via Romans 7 NKJV;CJB – Freed from the Law – Or do you not – Bible Gateway.

And one more to sum up.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through him who gives me power.

via Phil 4:13 NKJV;CJB – I can do all things through Christ who – Bible Gateway.

Kathie

P.S. Summer has been full and ABBA continues to be AWESOME in ALL He is and does. Autumn is approaching and plans are forming for ministry and fun. Blessings to you my Friends!

A Quick Hello, Just Chatty Today

Horizon

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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.