Keep The Faith

Lead Us Not Into Temptation I was thinking about something in the Lord’s Prayer the other day—something I’ve prayed thousands of times without really stopping to ask what it means. Jesus teaches us to pray: “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” And I found myself asking a simple question: Does God tempt us? Would a loving Father ever lead His children toward sin? Scripture gives a clear answer: “God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone.” — James 1:13 So why would Jesus tell us to pray this? The meaning is deeper than the English words The Greek word Jesus uses— peirasmos —can mean temptation, testing, trial, pressure, or a situation that reveals what’s inside a person. So the prayer isn’t saying, “Father, don’t tempt us.” God never would. It’s saying: “Father, don’t let us be taken into a trial that overwhelms us.” “Don’t let us be drawn into situations where we might fall.” “Protect us from th...

Why the Gospel of John Matters Most ( Yochanan 1  Orthodox Jewish Bible ) Introduction The Gospel of John may be the most important book in the Bible to read and study. Its unique perspective, deep spiritual truths, and eyewitness testimony make it essential for anyone seeking to understand Jesus more fully. John: The Beloved Disciple John, the apostle, is widely believed to be the author. He was among the first disciples Jesus called, alongside his brother James. John was an eyewitness to Jesus’ ministry, miracles, and glory. He was one of the three chosen to witness the transfiguration ( Luke 9:28–36 ) ( Lukas 9:28-36  Orthodox Jewish Bible ) Known as “the disciple whom Jesus loved,” John stood at the cross with Mary, Jesus’ mother. Jesus Entrusts Mary to John When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her int...

Unity Series — When Nations Rage, God Still Leads His People When the nations rage and wars drag on year after year, it is easy to feel overwhelmed, confused, or even numb. Yet Scripture reminds us that God has always led His people through impossible situations, and that His Kingdom remains unshaken even when the kingdoms of this world collide. 03/02/2022 This morning my mind went to the war that began when Putin’s Russia invaded the smaller nation of Ukraine. I can only imagine the fear the Ukrainian people must have felt. They were suddenly facing a powerful military force with overwhelming weapons and resources. As I watched the news, my thoughts went back to another moment in history — one recorded in Scripture (Read the story⇾  Exodus 14 ). God brought the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt; He led them straight to the edge of the sea with nowhere to go. Behind them, the Egyptian army wa...

Forgiving Each Other – Part 1 Forgiveness has been on my mind lately. It’s something Jesus spoke about often, yet it’s not a topic I remember hearing many sermons on. And yet, in the Lord’s Prayer, forgiveness sits right at the center of how we are taught to pray. “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” ( Matthew 6:12 ) Jesus doesn’t leave forgiveness optional. He makes it clear: “For if you forgive people their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive people, neither will your Father forgive your sins.” ( Matthew 6:14–15 ) Why is forgiveness so important to God? Why does He command something that can feel so painful, so costly, and sometimes so impossible? A Personal Story Let me explain through a personal story — something unpleasant, but something that helped me understand forgiveness in a deeper way. Back in August, I began experiencing severe pain in my lower body. Sitting hurt. Sleepin...

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...

Where’s God? Have you ever wondered if God is only present when we call on Him—stepping aside at other times to leave us to our own paths? Or do you sometimes feel that He only intervenes after events unfold? I’ve thought about this too. I believe God is always at work, guiding us within His will—not just in the lives of those who believe, but also in the lives of those who don’t yet know Him. Everything that happens aligns with His purposes. When difficult times come, it’s often hard to understand how they fit into God’s will. But I don’t believe God brings hardships to harm us or to punish us for not being perfect. Our lives, as God sees them, have already been fully known, and within that understanding, He makes adjustments along our path, shaping circumstances to yield what’s best for us. How could that person happen to be there when you needed food, or a place to stay, or money at just the right time? How did someone so special enter your life fro...

My first post, a prayer: Father God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the all-mighty God, the all-knowing God, and the everywhere-present God, if You see good in this blog, I ask that you bless and protect it. Use me as a tool in your work and I give You all the praise and glory. Please bring about a clear understanding of your truths. I pray this in the name of Your precious Son, Christ Jesus. Amen