Each Day

Everywhere we turn, there’s evidence of the brevity of life.  In 2020 it is a daily occurrence to see violence and death in the news.  “Back in the day” as they say, these news stories would be so rare they would cause shock!  Today many acts of mayhem, violence, murder and more barely even make the news at all.

With all that, the stark ugly reality of this current world, along with the memory of that tragedy 19 years ago that we commemorate today, remember to live each day…really LIVE.  Don’t just exist.  Don’t live in fear, worry or hate.  Hold your loved ones close.  Cherish each moment the Creator gives you.

Photo from beth-anne2.tumblr.com

Tragedy in the Mishpacha

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Messiah, one of our Faith Family has been struck down in violence.  As this family were returning home from spending Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles, with a group of their brethren, this wife and mom was shot and killed.  Please lift the husband, children, and their fellowship family up in prayer.

http://44news.wevv.com/arrest-made-woman-shot-front-husband-kids/

http://44news.wevv.com/funeral-arrangements-set-chanda-hatt/

Prayers for Las Vegas

There are hardly words to utter in situations like this.  How?  Why?  Those are questions we may never, on this side of eternity, know the answer to.

The rapid succession of tragic events in the last six weeks has been shocking!  It certainly seems like prophetic times are upon us.  One thing I fear is that we will develop compassion fatigue and grow numb and uncaring.  “Oh, just another tragedy.  We have so many these days that I can’t keep up.”

Abba YHWH, may You be glorified forever and ever.  Please fill us with Your compassion and love.  Help us to have hearts of flesh not of stone.  Comfort those affected by this tragedy in Las Vegas.  Heal those who are injured.  Bring renewed faith in You, and forgiveness between people, in our divided nation.  Draw people to Yourself in these days.  Protect Your people wherever they live and wherever they go.  Show us how to shine Your light to a dark and dying world.  We trust that You hear and answer prayer.  We trust that Your answer and timing are always perfect.  We ask these things in the name above all names, Yeshua our Messiah…Amen!

It’s Gettin’ Deep!

The difference between full blown calamity and a minor bump in the road is often just perspective.  Stand tall in Yeshua and don’t let the mud sink you.

Graphic from loisnaps.com

How to Develop a Positive Attitude Regardless of Circumstances

It is truly possible to be joyous within the midst of tragedy.  No, not happy, but positive even when the most horrible situations have enveloped us.

This is a process that takes time, not a quick-fix pill.  Five ways to develop a positive attitude that resonates regardless of circumstances include:

• Understand that the current moment “is what it is” and the immediate moment can’t be changed. Accept it.  You don’t have to like it but acknowledge and accept it.  This will help melt anxiety away in the present.
• Recognize that worry is not beneficial, of no value, and is actually useless, worthless, and needless. This is much harder to believe internally than to agree to logically.  But understanding and really getting a grip on the fact that worry provides no benefit, and is useless, is a very liberating truth.  Someone might say, well this just means “you don’t care.”  No, the actual reality is different.  This truth won’t make someone a slacker.  It is more likely to increase performance, since they are no longer hindered by their worry.
• Understand that cheerfulness is the best life strategy for dealing with all circumstances (including tragedy). Again, this is something that must transcend intellectual belief into heart-felt belief, through consistent repetitive action.  We can mourn while still choosing to be hopeful and cheerful.  It is a conscious choice to focus on better things.
• Pay attention to your thoughts and take conscious control of them. Reject the automatic negative thoughts that come up and replace them.  Work at it.  Don’t let the easiest, most automatic thoughts and responses rule your mind.  Make a deliberate change.  It will take effort.  Be aware of your thoughts then redirect them.  Repeat over and over daily.
• Take action in positive ways. Do good things for yourself and others.  Don’t expect repayment or anything in return.  Work toward a goal.  Resist the temptation to be stagnant or frozen in inaction.

People can be positive and still be realists.  Being positive doesn’t mean fairy tales and lollipops, or that everything goes your way.  No, the goal is to be positive regardless of what bad things come your way.  Because, face it, bad things do come to everyone.  You can’t count on your positive thinking to create good outcomes.  Being positive regardless of circumstance is a more carefree lifestyle, but it is not careless or uncaring.

There are a lot of motivational speakers out there that talk about positive attitude with an emphasis on the results you get from it.  This is wrong.  It creates an outcome based scenario where bad things make you stumble or reassess what you know you should be doing or thinking.

Most importantly, I believe our Elohim intends for us to live this way, rejoicing in Him regardless of circumstance.

For even if the fig tree doesn’t blossom, and no fruit is on the vines, even if the olive tree fails to produce, and the fields yield no food at all, even if the sheep vanish from the sheep pen, and there are no cows in the stalls;  still, I will rejoice in Adonai, I will take joy in the God of my salvation. ~~ Habakkuk 3: 17-18

Always be joyful.  Pray regularly. In everything give thanks, for this is what God wants from you who are united with the Messiah Yeshua. ~~ 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

Regard it all as joy, my brothers, when you face various kinds of temptations; for you know that the testing of your trust produces perseverance. ~~ James 1: 2-3

Meanwhile, through trusting, you are being protected by God’s power for a deliverance ready to be revealed at the Last Time. Rejoice in this, even though for a little while you may have to experience grief in various trials. Even gold is tested for genuineness by fire. The purpose of these trials is so that your trust’s genuineness, which is far more valuable than perishable gold, will be judged worthy of praise, glory and honor at the revealing of Yeshua the Messiah. ~~ 1 Peter 1: 5-7

Rejoice in union with the Lord always! I will say it again: rejoice! Let everyone see how reasonable and gentle you are. The Lord is near! Don’t worry about anything; on the contrary, make your requests known to God by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving. Then God’s shalom, passing all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with the Messiah Yeshua. In conclusion, brothers, focus your thoughts on what is true, noble, righteous, pure, lovable or admirable, on some virtue or on something praiseworthy. ~~ Philippians 4: 4-8

Ninth of Av

The Ninth of Av on the Hebrew calendar has historically been a day of tragedy and exile for the Jewish people. Depending on which Biblical calendar you believe is more accurate, this year’s Ninth of Av falls either tomorrow, Saturday July 25^th or Sunday July 26^th. There is no guarantee this year’s date will bring more calamity, but it is certainly a time to be watchful and aware. Let us spend time today and this weekend in fervent prayer for Israel, Jerusalem, Jews who do not yet acknowledge Yeshua as Messiah, and our brothers and sisters in Yeshua both Jew and Gentile.