Train up a child...

Today I would like to give a shout out to my niece, Skylar and everyone else who works with children. 

Whether you are a youth pastor, teacher, day care worker, babysitter or a parent you have the ability to shape the mind and heart of a child. 

Train up a child in the Way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it ~ Proverbs 22:6 

Plant seeds of love, peace, tolerance, forgiveness, purpose and most of all plant the Word of God in these precious ones. They are our future and we need strong men and women of God to lead this country!

Thank each and every one of you for your commitment to these wee ones. It is a huge responsibility that you have taken on. May God richly bless you for your work.

Have a blessed day, my friend. May there always be Shalom in your heart and in your home.

Loving Life...

When we are in the Will of God, we will be loving life! I am not saying that our lives will be perfect or like a fairy tale. The truth is there will probably be many struggles and pain along the way but do not let that that stop you. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave nor forsake you. (Joshua 1:5)

However, there is NOTHING that feels as wonderful knowing that you are in sync with God's Will for your life. When you have reached your destination...fame, money, materialistic things will pale in comparison to what rewards God will shower on you!

Have a blessed and destination seeking day, my friend. May there always be Shalom in your heart and in your home.

Lessons Learned and Applied....

No experience will ever be wasted if you learn the lesson it left. We need to remember the lessons because there will come a time in our future when we will need to apply them to a different circumstance.

There are times when throwing in the towel will seem like the easiest and best way to end an unpleasant situation however, you will keep going through the same type of situations until you take and learn the lesson you were meant to take from it.

No matter what you are going through remember that Y'shua (Jesus) is on your side and will help you get through anything.

Have a blessed and lesson absorbing day, my friend. May there always be shalom in your heart and in your home.

A Candle Loses Nothing...

When we take the light we have inside of us and pass it on to others, we do not lose anything...in fact, together we produce a much stronger light!

We should never worry about depleting ourselves when we pass along anything we have to others. This is a biblical principle...so how could it hurt us? God gave us all different gifts and talents that we are called to use to help others.

Have a blessed and bright day, my friend. May there always be Shalom in your heart and in your home.

Sin is Sin....

Everyone sins...that is a fact because we ALL fall short of the Glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

It is funny how WE classify sin. We justify and dismiss some sin. For example..."It's only a white lie", "I had to lie to spare their feelings", "It was a victim-less crime", "They deserved what they got" etc.

Then we judge others for their sin. "They should be locked up for life", "They must be satanists", "They have no soul" etc.

How does GOD see sin? Sin is SIN...the end! It does not matter WHAT sin is committed...it is sin. So we need to stop judging others for their sins, since we are just as guilty in God's eyes for our sins.

We should love all sinners enough to pray for them. We should also pray for strength and courage to overcome sin ourselves.

Have a blessed and prayerful day, my friend. May there always be Shalom in your heart and in your home.

One Of The Happiest Moments Is When...

Sometimes we load ourselves down with so many things that we cannot do anything about but we just hold on to them anyway.

When we learn that it is not only OK but it is actually healthy to let go of anything we cannot change, we are setting ourselves free of worry, stress and everything else that comes with not being able to "fix" things. 

Life hands us so many things that we need to take care of...why should we add to the load we already have? When we put time and energy into something that we have absolutely no control over, we take it away from something we can do. 

The best thing you can do, is give all the things that you cannot change to Y'shua. He will take it from you and you will no longer have to give it a second thought.

Have a blessed and freeing day, my friend. May there always be Shalom in your heart and in your home.

Jealousy is...

If everyone would be grateful for the blessings that they have in their own life...there would be a lot less jealousy and much more sincere happiness for others when they are blessed!

Why do we have to have what everyone else has? We are all different...we should have different things. God knows that, that is why He blesses us all differently. Does that mean He loves us less than someone else? No...it most certainly does not! 

It means He recognizes our uniqueness and gives us things accordingly. Just as parent would not give each of their children the same gifts at Christmas. Instead, they give them things that they know their child wants, enjoys and/or needs. Remember, a blessing to one just might be a nightmare to someone else!

Look more closely at the things you have in your life and less at the things others have. You have to be grateful for what you have before God will bless you with more.

Have a wonderful day enjoying the things you have been blessed with, my friend. May there always be Shalom in your heart and in your home.

Do What makes YOU happy...

You should do what it is that makes you happy. You should not do the things that others think you should if it is not what is in your heart. 

Be confident in the knowledge that you do not owe it to anyone (except God) to live your life according to their opinions. Be happy, laugh, love and do not be afraid to live. That way your memories will be sweet and treasured.

Have a blessed and happy day, my friend. May there always be Shalom in your heart and in your home.

Joy Comes In The Morning....

Things may seem hopeless in the dark of night. Tears may fall, pain may fill your heart. However, in the morning things will take on a different look. Hope will infiltrate the darkness giving way to joy.

Believers are not immune to life's sorrows...we just have to keep our eyes focused on the One Who can and will lift us up and help us through. 

Thank You Y'shua for your never ending, never failing help. Please help me to live up to my potential and leave no soul uninformed of Your love for them. Please bless everyone who reads this and surround them in your loving arms.

Have a wonderful and blessed day, my friend. May there always be Shalom in your heart and in your home.

The Edge of a Cliff....

Sometimes the best thing we can do when we feel like we are about to go over the edge is to close our eyes and just trust God. He will never fail or forsake us. 

Even our best friends and biggest supporters are restricted to human limitations...God is NOT! He has NO limitations and is able to take total and complete care of us.

I have decided to surrender everything to God and let Him handle things...I will just follow where He leads and guides me. At times, it may be scary but I know I could not be in safer hands.

I hope that you too can release yourself from all the worries of this world and allow God to guide you. Have a blessed and wonderful day, my friend. May there always be Shalom in your heart and in your home.

Good Is NOT Good Enough...

Good Is NOT Good Enough

A lot of people do not want to hear this but it is something that must be said. Just because someone is a good person does not mean that will get them into heaven when they die! This is a sad but very true fact. Good people DO go to hell…

Y’shua (Jesus) answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

There is no getting around this fact. If you do not accept Y’shua as your Lord and Savior AND follow His ways…you will not enter eternal life. Please, take this very serious…you have to repent for your sins and FOLLOW HIS WAYS…allow Him to change you.

"I'm basically a good person, so I'll go to heaven." "OK, so I do some bad things, but I do more good things, so I'll go to heaven." "God won't send me to hell just because I don't live by the Bible. Times have changed!" "Only really bad people like child molesters and murderers go to hell."

These are all common rationalizations, but the truth is that they are all lies. Satan, the ruler of the world, plants these thoughts in our heads. He, and anyone who follows his ways, is an enemy of God (1 Peter 5:8). Satan is a deceiver and often disguises himself as someone good (2 Corinthians 11:14), but he has control over all the minds that do not belong to God. "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God" (2 Corinthians 4:4).

I love you and I want to spend eternity with you! I do not want anyone to have a false sense of salvation...and many people do. You cannot have Y'shua in your life and remain the same sinful person you were before you invited Him in. That goes against EVERYTHING He died for.

Have a blessed and thought provoking day, my friend. May there always be Shalom in your heart and in your home.

Guard your Speech...

Guard your Speech

The bible tells us to guard our heart, but how do we do that? A great place to start is by guarding your words. You will feel better about yourself if you pay careful attention to the things you say. The bible is full of verses that instruct us to bridle our tongues.

So, rid yourselves of all evil, all lying, hypocrisy, jealous, and evil speech. As newborn babies want milk, you should want the pure and simply teaching. By it you can grow up and be saved. 

1 Peter2:1-2

Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out.   Colossians 4:6

If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.   James 1:26

Have a blessed and uplifted day, my friend. May there always be Shalom in your heart and in your home.

Discover your Gifts and Talents.,,,

Discover your Gifts and Talents.

Did you ever wonder how the top athletes, the great performers, the successful artist have all achieved their dreams? They are human like the rest of us, so why can they do it and others can’t?

It is because they have used their God given talents. They decided to pursue their passion. God gave each of us gifts and talents before we were even born.

Find your gifts, and then discover your passion. Once you know what that is…work hard and be the best that you can be at it. Allow your passion to become your job and you will always love your work! ​God wants us to be happy and do things that we enjoy. It was never His intention that we lock ourselves up in a job that we do not like.

Have a blessed and talented day, my friend. May there always be Shalom in your heart and in your home.

Whose Voice Do YOU Hear?

Whose Voice Do YOU Hear?

If you listen carefully, you will know that both God and Satan talk to you. They both want you to “hear” their voice and follow them. Both of them try to woo you, to draw you in. However, there is only one of them that will lie and trick you into following him and that is Satan.

God stays true to His character. He will not force you or trick you into following Him. When God speaks, there is calmness, peace, directness, reassurance. However, with Satan there is chaos, confusion, discord, and uneasiness. Satan will justify your feelings; he will use your emotions to encourage you in his direction.

There is one easy way to know if you are hearing from God or not. Everything that He tells you can be backed up with the Word. If you hear anything contrary to the Word, you can be assured that it is NOT God talking to you!

Have a blessed and day, my friend. May there always be Shalom in your heart and in your home.

Nothing Shocks Y’shua…

Nothing Shocks Y’shua…

Think of some things that have absolutely shocked you, rocked the very core of your world. Things that were so inconceivable it took you awhile to register it happened. All we have to do is turn on the news, pick up the newspaper, look on social media and we will find something shocking on a daily basis.

Now here is a sobering thought…NOTHING shocks Y’shua (Jesus). He knows what is going to happen before it even happens. He has known evil from the very onset of it. He has watched it grow darker and more devastating each passing day.

There is no need to try to hide what we are thinking; feeling, doing or plotting…NOTHING can be hidden from God, Y’shua or the Holy Spirit! They see all; know all and they stand ready to help us through anything just for the asking.

God knew every sin we have every committed, our evil thoughts and what we will choose in the future. Y’shua chose to pay the ultimate price to overcome the world and it’s evil influence and set us free from our sins. He has given us a choice of who our spiritual Father would be…God or Satan. Seems like a no-brainer doesn't it…but for many, it is not.

In a world filled with evil, greed, power, and materialistic things, Satan is pulling people into it at an alarming rate! While there are a handful of strong advocates for God…they do not come with the glitz and glamour as their dark counterparts. 

However, if we truly walked in the full power of the Y'shua, we would be healing the sick, raising the dead, delivering the oppressed...Y'shua said we would do the same things HE did and MORE! No amount of glitz and glamour would ever outshine the Glory of God!

May there always be Shalom in your heart and in your home.

What is Purim…

What is Purim…

Purim starts tonight as sunset and ends tomorrow night at sunset. It is a spring holiday that commemorates the Jewish community's narrow escape from collective destruction in the ancient Persian Empire. The word itself, purim, comes from the Persian word for "lots" and is a reference to the fact that the date set for the Jews' annihilation was chosen by casting lots.

There are several major components of the Purim holiday, including public readings of the Book of Esther, giving charity to the poor and delivering gifts to friends. But Purim is most obviously characterized by a boisterous feast during which participants dress in costumes and drink to excess. Jews are instructed to revel until they cannot tell the difference between Mordecai and Haman. A fool's errand, it would seem.

In the Book of Esther, Mordecai and Haman are portrayed as the embodiments of good and evil, respectively. In the story, Haman, the right-hand man of the Persian king, feels personally insulted when Mordecai will not bow to him. Discovering that Mordecai is Jewish, he decides to punish the entire community, decreeing that all Jews will be killed. The king approves, and Mordecai declares a time of mourning and penitence for the Jews. Meanwhile, Esther, the wife of the king and the niece of Mordecai, asks all the Jews to fast with her for three days (this part of the story is honored every year on the eve of Purim and is known as the Fast of Esther). The king does not know that Esther is Jewish. The king also does not know that Mordecai has foiled an attempt on his life. At the end of the fast, Esther arranges a succession of feasts, inviting both Haman and the king. Esther reveals that she is Jewish and that Haman wishes to kill her and her people. The king decrees that Haman should be hanged instead, and Mordecai eventually takes Haman's place alongside the king.

I wanted to share this story of God's divine protection with you. If you remain faithful to Him in the face of all trials and tribulations, He will protect you against your enemies too. Have a wonderful and blessed Purim, my friends. May there always be Shalom in your heart and in your home.

Just Because…

Just Because…

Just because things seem one way does not mean that is the way they are. Just because road blocks pop up in your life does not mean you have to put things on hold or find another path to take.

Sometimes the best thing to do is slap a smile on your face and keep walking forward. Do not be defined or limited to your current situation. If things are not working for you, then rearrange what you have to, to make them work. Never give up on your dreams, your goals or your destination. 

Remember, you are a role model to those watching you. Show them your determination and tenacity…it is contagious! 

Have a blessed day, my friend. May there always be Shalom in your heart and in your home.

Celebrate Today...

I hope this day brings you happiness and joy. Please take a few minutes out of this day to just celebrate life. All too often we are caught up with all the things we have to do; we ignore the simple things that can bring so much joy to our souls.

God has designed beauty in almost everything we see. He has given us things all around that will tantalize our senses. We do not have to spend a penny to enjoy it. So while you are taking a moment to indulge yourself, remember to whisper some words of thanks to Him as well.

Have a wonderful and joyous day, my friend. May there always be shalom in your heart and in your home.

Diversity…

What does a Jew, a Christian, a Muslim and an atheist have in common? Y’shua loved them all enough to die for them!

We are not to judge others, we are to pray for guidance on how to reach them in the name of Y’shua (Jesus). Love without judging, accept without conditions and pray without pride. We all believe that what we have been taught is the right thing. It is not for us to tear down anyone else’s beliefs…that is for God to do.  If nothing else be a silent witness to the One True God you serve and by your actions others will want to know Him.

Have a blessed and truthful day, my friends. May there always be Shalom in your heart and in your home.

Humility...

Some people have a mistaken notion that in order to be humble, you need to think less of yourself. That is not humility that is low self-esteem! Being humble is to think of yourself less and think of others more.

While God can use anybody, He chooses people who are secure in the knowledge of who they are. If you do not believe in yourself, how can you expect others to believe in you?

You can be a strong, independent driven yet humble person. Think of Moses, he had to lead many people in the desert, he talked with God on a regular basis yet he was the most humble person in the bible! We should try to follow his example.

Have a blessed and humble day, my friend. May there always be Shalom in your house and in your home.

Comfort or Truth...

It is our duty and obligation to share Y’shua (Jesus) with everyone. This is not always easy or comfortable for us to do but nonetheless, we were created to do just that. This is the one of the greatest things we can do for someone because it will change their eternal destination should they accept Him as their Lord and Savior.

Imagine where we would be if we did not know Y’shua as our Savior. Come Judgment Day!  We would be crying out asking “Why, why didn’t we know about Y’shua?” Can you imagine the horror of living an honorable life, being a good person and still being sentenced to an eternity away from God? It is unimaginable to us but this IS the reality of many people who do not know Y’shua.

If this thought is not enough to make you overcome your comfort zone to share the Good News with others…what will it take?

I know there are a lot of people who get tired of me sharing this message and other messages that are strictly about Y’shua. Some people have even stopped reading my daily “sermonations” because of this. However, my need to get an understanding of urgency into your hearts for the lost is greater than my desire to have a large following.

Again, if you have trouble talking to others about Y’shua, you can still pray for them and ask God to send season workers into their paths. Time is short; eternity is forever…do whatever you can to make a difference!

Have a blessed and wonderful day my friend. May there always be Shalom in your heart and in your home. 

Easter or Resurrection Day

As you are preparing for Easter, what is your focus on? Does your household celebrate with the colors of spring, the Easter Bunny, eggs, candy and baskets or is the focus on the Passion and Resurrection of Y’shua (Jesus) with gratitude and joy for our Salvation?

It is time we stop sharing our Holy Days with the Holidays of Pagans! The stores are filled with “Easter Symbols” displaying new Easter outfits, plastic eggs, baskets, candy, toys and other “must have items” to ensure that your child has the best Easter.

I know some people who do not allow their kids to go through their “Easter Baskets” until they come back from church. That is good but let me ask you this…is your child’s focus on the meaning of why they are in church or are they just anticipating what they will get when it is over?

What good is any of the material things if your children are unaware of what Y’shua sacrificed for them? If they do not grasp and take hold of the GREATEST gift they will EVER get, they will be lost forever.

We have to answer to God for what we instill in our children and others. As for me and my household we celebrate “Resurrection Sunday” instead of Easter. The focus is and always will be Y’shua.

Have a blessed and grateful day, my friend. May there always be Shalom in your home and in your heart.

False Hope

Do not place your hope in some fictional comic book hero, as a child would. You cannot depend on others to swoop in and rescue you in times of trouble. When you do this, you are setting yourself up for false hope.

Our hope, our true hope can only be found one place…in Y’shua (Jesus). He is our hope and our truth. Unlike people, He will NEVER let us down if we wrap ourselves up in Him! No matter what problem pops up, He already has the solution.

Likewise, never depend on someone else’s belief in you. It does not matter if anyone else believes in you. You need to believe in yourself! No one knows the inner strength and determination you have and their discouragement might deter you from reaching your full potential. 

You need to surround yourself with people who will encourage and believe in you when things are not looking the way you want them too. Surround yourself with people who love you enough and will have the courage to tell you the truth…even if it will be hard hear.

Have a blessed day, my friend. May there always be Shalom in your home and in your heart.

Shabbat Shalom...

It’s here, it’s here it is finally here…today at sundown is the Sabbath! It is like a party with just One person...the only One that matters...God! This is the time where we can give Him our undivided attention.

A time to forget all your cares, all your sorrows, all your pain and just spend time with the only One who loves you unconditionally and is longing just to spend one on one time with you! It is such an annointed time.

He longs for this more than any other parent awaiting their child to come home. Allow yourself to be wrapped up in His loving arms and you will know that all that troubles your heart is not really that bad!

Shabbat Shalom my friend! Have a wonderful and blessed day. May there always be Shalom in your heart and in your home.

Rock Bottom...

As I looked up at the mountain ahead, I felt a little overwhelmed. Then I heard the Holy Spirit whisper “You can do all things through Christ Who strengthens you!” I took a deep breath and started to climb.

My foot slipped a few times but I held on tight and used my upper strength to get me stable. I took another deep breath, then another step up. And so I continued…another deep breath, another step up.

The closer I got to the top, the more excited I became. It seemed like I was gaining strength and momentum that I didn’t have before. Excitement and joy overflowed in me as my hand reached the very top.

I pulled myself up and took a look around. I was feeling great, like I had accomplished the impossible. That is when I saw it...my jaw dropped and my victory dance came to a screetching halt! My heart sunk, the breath left my body and I thought I was going to collapse. I was in udder disbelief as looked at the sign that read, “ROCK BOTTOM”!

As I looked at the sign, I felt a so overwhelmed. Once again, I heard the Holy Spirit whisper “You can do all things through Christ Who strengthens you!” I had a choice. I could either stay here and wallow in self pity or I could get up and rise. I took a deep breath and started to climb…

It does not matter how far you fall or how many times you get knocked down…as long as you get up again and fight back you are a winner! When you hear that voice deep within you encouraging you to go on, believe in your heart...that God will NEVER leave or forsake you!

Have a blessed day filled with hope and determination, my friend. May there always be Shalom in your heart and in your home. 

Have a Thrill....

Remember, it is important to balance out your day…if you are all to consumed with work and all the day to day responsibilities you have and never take the time to relax and recharge then you are not maintaining balance.       

God gave us many emotions to use…against popular belief STRESS is NOT an emotion and even if it were, we shouldn’t lock ourselves up in it. Stress is the result from not having the proper balance in your life!        

I think that we all should have a “Thrilled Filled|” day. You should take some time out of your day to make sure you get a thrill! Call a long lost friend, take a child out for ice cream, sing out loud in your car with the windows down and encourage other drivers to sing along with you. It doesn’t matter what you do…just DO IT!      

I truly care about you and I want you to be happy! Have a wonderful and thrill seeking day, my friend! May there always be Shalom in your heart and in your home. {{{giggles & hugs}}}

Joy and Love

Joy is the balm for all the ills of the world, the spirit-cure for every ailment. There is nothing that JOY and LOVE cannot do.

Set your standard very high. Aim at conquering a world, the world around you. Just say “Y’shua (Jesus) Conquers” “Y’shua (Jesus) Saves” in the face of every doubt, every sin, every evil and every fear.

No evil can stand against that for there is “No other Name under Heaven given among men, whereby men can be saved.”

Say to every want or lack…”Y’shua saves from poverty.” Say to every fear…”Y’shua saves from fear.” Do this to every ill and it will vanish, as night when the sun arises.

Have a blessed and joyous day, my friend. May you always have Shalom in your heart and in your home.

Forgive Yourself...

You have to forgive yourself for the choices that you have made in the past. Everyone has some regrets for foolish things they have done, or poor choices they have made. Forgiving yourself shows that you have matured and are taking the necessary steps towards freedom of your past.

If you cannot forgive yourself, then you will never be able to completely forgive anyone else. Unless you forgive yourself and finally let go of the things that have kept you bound, they will continue to control you and have power over you.

If God has forgiven you…why do you continue to deny yourself forgiveness? I will tell you why…you are listening to the lies of the enemy. Now is the time to be confident and comfortable with the person you are today….forget who you were yesterday…it is not important. Yesterday is gone, you only have today and you can be whoever you want to be. So shine on!

Have a blessed and free day, my friend. May you always have Shalom in your heart and in your home.

Everyone Matters...

There is not one single person that means more to God that YOU do! In saying that…you need to know that He feels the very same way about EVERYONE else as well. He does not love one person more than another.

That is why He wants us to love one another. Every soul is precious to Him. So before we go judging others, let’s keep in mind that they are very important to God. We should be letting them know that He loves them and wants them in His life!

Have a blessed and beautiful day, my friend. May you always have Shalom in your heart and in your home.