Busy busy busy!
With time being so short in our digs since the puppies were born back in Dec. of last year, I haven't had much time for things like blogging. We've also started a garden in our back yard, and that's somewhat time consuming as well. Maybe I'll get some pics of it into an album one of these days. It's kinda pretty, and it provides food for us too!
I have been making time to study Father's word though, using my FREE Bible Study App e-Sword to open to a random verse each day and at the very least summarizing the entire chapter it appears in. At times, the synchronicity with whatever happened to be going on has been beautiful, at times I haven't been able to see any relevance at all to what was happening in my life. It's always rewarding to learn more about my father in heaven and my Lord Ye'shua though, there's something rewarding about just knowing I've taken the time to seek Him.
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Heb 11:6)
God willing, I'll be publishing the studies I've done over the past months at my Bible Study Fellowship site. I'm hoping to devote any spare time I find in the coming months to doing that and getting caught up with our other reading plan at the site, which follows along with the Torah portions and accompanying readings read in synagogues each sabbath. Don't worry, I'm not handing out yarmulkes or anything, I just wanted to get back in touch with Father's schedule and Father's calendar.
Here's a preview of today's random verse study. You're seeing it here first, the section doesn't even exist at the site yet, but I hope you'll visit the site from time to time, and if you do, be sure to hit the contact page and let me know you were there, maybe tell me what you thought about what you saw!
Here ya go...
Intoduction: Salvific Anger and Violence... Gasp!
Have you ever felt God's hand on you for punishment, felt his anger directed toward you? And please don't tell me that doesn't happen if we're in Christ!
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? (Heb 12:6-9)
In this graphic, Ye'shua uses a whip to drive the money changers out of the temple. How does that reconcile with his nature and character?
Hint:
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. (Mat 5:17)
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
(Mat 6:24)Random verse for the day:
Namely, of the gods of the people which are round about you, nigh unto thee, or far off from thee, from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth; (Deu 13:7)
More context:
If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers; Namely, of the gods of the people which are round about you, nigh unto thee, or far off from thee, from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth; Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him: But thou shalt surely kill him; thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people. (Deu 13:6-9)
The chapter in general:
Well, idolatry, that is to say worshipping or serving other gods, is definitely out for Father YHWH's people. I wonder if you've ever wondered why that's so important... that we worship the One True God and Him alone. Remember that Father's torah is there to protect us when we walk in obedience. The corruption inherent in idolatry is so contagious and so lethal to true faith that it requires radical surgery to eliminate it at once, before it spreads any farther.
In short, anyone who would speak a word to entice Father's people away from Him, the One True God, the Living God, was to be immediately and cruelly put to death, and the news to be published throughout Israel in order to put the proper terror in their hearts should they even think about doing such a thing themselves.
Not only was the false prophet or enticer liable to be put to death, but if anyone enticed a population (in this chapter called a city) to worship any false god, that person and, oh yes, the entire population (city) was to be put to death with the sword (single individuals were to be stoned to death). The city and it's riches were to be destroyed, burned with fire, and left as a heap never to be inhabited or built on again.
The chapter ends by saying that by following through on these laws, the people of Israel would turn away God's wrath from the entire nation. The obvious implication is that if those who entice God's people to worship false gods and those who follow them are not destroyed by the very people they try to entice, God would destroy the house of Israel in wrath and fierce indignation.
The less obvious implication is that by carrying out the prescribed executions in such an event, they would be serving as God's powerful arm and hand, destroying them Himself.
Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. (Luk 17:21)
Thought for the day:
Yikes! Fortunately for property owners and insurance companies everywhere, burning down cities doesn't seem to be a part of the mandate for followers of Christ today. But there are still strongholds we are to bring toppling down...
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. (2Co 10:3-6)
When we feel His terrible rod on our backs, we should be thankful, for then are we truly His sons, and we can know that He is taking us back to square one for a refresher course in what salvation is for and is all about!
In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding. (Pro 10:13)
The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame. (Pro 29:15)
And what is wisdom?
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever. (Psa 111:10)
Happy Endings:
The LORD'S voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it. (Mic 6:9)
Rejoice when our Father corrects you or inflicts discipline; It's a universal experience for those whom He calls His sons! For those whom have been called to be sons of the Living God, punishment is for teaching and to impart wisdom, not vengeance or wrath.
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isa 53:5)
Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: (1Pe 1:13-14)
Peace 
May the Lord heal you and bring you to health soon! 