Keep The Faith

As I’ve been studying God’s Word, I have found that our English translation seems inadequate to me to get what the writers of the original text meant to say; especially the words used where we are to ascertain God’s character and how we are to meet with Him. The words like wrath, vengeance, hate, anger, fear, etc used to give us a picture of God; I believe they are sending us the wrong impression of Him. Why do you think that when Yeshua (Jesus), God’s Son, was here on earth with us that He referred to God as Father; Matthew 23:9 “Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.” In the Gentile “Old Testament” (Jewish or Hebrew Bible “Torah”), God is also referred to as “Father” Malachi 2:10 Yeshayahu- Isaiah 64:7 . There is great confusion also as to who are God’s children and again, there is reason for us to be confused because of the wording used in our English translations. Personally, I believe we all are His children because of scri...

Who Do You Pray To? A short reflection on prayer, clarity, and the relationship between Yeshua and the Father. Christians often pray without ever stopping to consider who they are addressing. It may seem like a strange question, but for many believers, this is a very real point of confusion. I know it was for me. For years, I struggled with whether I was praying to Yeshua (Jesus) or to Father God. Sometimes my prayers felt directed toward Jesus; other times toward the Father. It wasn’t until a profound vision—an experience I’ve shared before—that I finally understood with clarity: I pray to Father God, YAHUAH, YAHWEH, HaAv. Scripture gives us a complex but beautiful picture of the relationship between Yeshua and the Father. Many passages teach their oneness— John 14:9–11 , John 10:38 , John 8:58 , John 5:17–18 , John 10:30–33 . Yet Yeshua Himself says the Father is greater than He ( John 14:28 ). In John 14:6–7 , we see both truths held together: unity and distinction...

Father God has been teaching me about giving; His giving to us and our giving to others. A few days ago, my wife talked with our young grandson, we’ll just call him Tim. After their conversation, my wife tells me that Tim heard from his mom that PopPop (me) could use some help cleaning out my garden beds and he was willing to help. My wife told Tim that it was very nice of him to offer his help and maybe PopPop would reward you. Tim perked up and asked, “Do you really think he would reward me, grandma?” Well, Tim had told me several days before that there was a new toy he wanted to buy and he was saving up his money, so I though he wanted to earn money to buy it. I asked my wife what she thought I should give him and she told me that it doesn’t matter that he was just wanting to help his PopPop; just give what I thought would be appropriate; he would accept any reward I give him. Now I’m starting to wander, was Tim’s original thought, help his PopPop and not expect anythin...

Our mother passed away recently, Feb. 1st to be exact. She left to my sister, my brother, and I an inheritance of equal portions of all that she had. Because of some things that happened in the past, my sister made a comment about not feeling deserving of her portion. It made me think a lot this morning about this whole inheritance thing. I think I understand more clearly now about the story in the Bible about Jacob and Esau . Esau didn't put much value on his birthright, same thing as inheritance . In a way I have not put much value in my inheritance from mom, so I count myself as not being deserving. You know, it was mom's good pleasure to give the three of us equal portions of all that she had. She could have given it to someone more deserving but she loved us equally to divide what she had equally. I think it matters most how I honor mom and dad (dad passed 44 years ago) by how much I value it or by what I do with it. This has taught me so much a...

Why wait until the day Father God lifts the veil and reveals our true selves — the way He sees us and the way others have seen us? Why carry baggage into that moment that we could lay down now? You and I still have time to work on these things while we are here. Ask Father God to soften your heart. Ask Him to reveal the wrongs you’ve done to others, and the wrongs others have done to you. Ask Him for the strength to go — while they are still alive — and seek forgiveness. And ask Him for the grace to forgive those who have wounded you. For those we have wronged who have already passed on, we will have to wait to see whether they forgave us. If not, we will bear that grief and shame ourselves. Better to settle matters now, while mercy is still within reach. Luke 12:57–59 Yeshua (Jesus) spoke directly to this, urging us to settle our accounts before we stand before the Judge. He warns that if we ref...