Why I dont Play The Lottery

Matthew 19:23-25Amplified Bible (AMP)

23 Jesus said to His disciples, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, it is difficult for a rich man [who clings to possessions and status as security] to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man [who places his faith in wealth and status] to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were completely [a]astonished and bewildered, saying, “Then who can be saved [from the wrath of God]?”

Shalom and Good Evening:

I wanted to share some biblical thoughts with you this evening . Recently , I have heard talk about how large the Lottery was and what would someone do with all that money. Of course most of us, including myself, have thoughts of new cars , paying of bills, new home, fancy vacations etc. the list goes on and on. 

However , I wanted to share this thought and about God, The Kingdom of God, and Faith. I was thinking , after hearing how large the Lottery was, how thankful I am to have all the simple things in my life. I was reflecting that there are so many things that could be worse and I am more then thankful to have my health, my family and friends. I have a job, and all my bills have been paid on time. Of course my vehicle has lots of issues and I could use a new car, but it still gets me around. I have bills and responsibilities that I owe, however, I have been given the opportunity  to work and have all my bills paid and been responsible to pay them. 

The main point to all this is that , all that I have and that I am could change in an instant. everything hangs on a balance of a thread. I am thankful for all the blessings of the Lord and that all these things that are in and around my life have been taken care of. 

I have had plenty of storms, trials and tribulations in my life to be well aware of being thankful of the little and simple things. I am sure the there will be plenty of more storms , trials and tribulations to come , however, I am thankful for the calm and of the peace I have today and now. Not yesterday nor tommorrow but now. 

I have no reason to play a lottery system that removes my faith in God and have it my way. I am sure that having plenty of money can make life a whole lot easier , however, I much raher rely on my faith In God through Yeshua Hamoshiach ( Jesus Christ) to bring me through and to the places I need to be. Its through these tough times that we are taught to wait , hope, pray , lean and rely on God in Christ to get to where we are going. With lots of money at my disposal, it will be my will to use and spend. I know I have made plenty of mistakes in the past and I am sure I will make plenty more in the future, but , I much rather make mistakes being zelous for God in Christ then being Zelous for worldly posesions that do not appreciate the small and little that are huge in my life now. 

I appreciate being able to breath normal, running and biking. I have close family that struggle to do simple things like breathing normal without the use of oxygen and other breathing equipment. Money cannot buy us these things. 

Because I do not have money in the way to buy whatever my heart desires at a whim, I have to rely on God, which in turn makes me realize how much He loves me and us and I rather rely on HIM that anything else. My Father in Heaven supplies all of my needs. Amen!

Have a blessed evening and Shalom!

Avodah

Jay

Be Aware of The information that is being Given to you!

2 Timithy 23-26


Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.  And the Lord's servant[e] must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,  and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.


Shalom and Good Morning:

This morning I wanted to bring to your attention some things that have been going and what it does. In the recent days were seeing the rise of news stories that are showing us images and pictures of Hate groups and politics that are inflaming people to act out. 

These stories and images are inflaming people to emotions and choosing a side for which they relate to or about.  As a believer in Yeshua Hamoshiach ( Jesus Christ) we are also chosen to be a soldier as well in Gods army and choose a side too. However the side were to choose is of this. To choose to pray for those people who are causing the break down of our society. To choose to not to engage in these injustice type of behaviors or even argue about them, even if we can relate to one side or the other.

To use the bible as our go to for our actions , it is our rock , it is our example to display kidness and love to our enemies . To be gentle and seek a Godly peace for ourselves and others. 

We also need to be aware of the wolves in sheep's clothing too. The wolves will hide behind the scene waiting for its time. It will say wonderful things to sound great and very loving but remember and always know that anything said and done has to be tested to know its fruit. A good tree cannot bare bad fruit. So if someting is said by anyone or political or even faith based teacher, that sounds nice and wonderful but inflames you to foolishness as the bible talks about , you must know that person is not from God. 


Have a great day! God is merciful and He is awesome and His grace is sufficient, however , He is serious and HOLY. So dont waste your day. Dont let the foolishness of this world cause you a distraction away from GOD. Keep your eyes looking towards Heaven and the Kingdom of it. Amen!

Avodah

Jay

Religion

James 1:27

Religion that GOD our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this; to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. 









Shalom and Good morning :

I often heard people say " I am not religious, or are you a religious person."

This statement, one way or another, has been misused by so many to reference people who show faith in God or to show the lack of faith in GOD. 

Interesting enough if you let this scripture sink in, it sums up what our faith in God is about . 

To look after orphans , what does that mean ? To look after babies ? Or can that mean anyone who is spiritually and physically not able to take care of themself ? Think about it . 

What about the widow? A woman who is is not married and her husband has died. What is a role of a wife compared to the husband ? A husband is a cover and provider for his wife . What happens when he is gone ? She must provide and seek shelter and protection . 

This scripture brings out Gods heart and understanding how HE veiws things . How HE  provides . HE shows men favor in scripture when he finds a wife, however , HE also has a biasness towards and for  HIS women and children .So HE expects us as men to do our jobs . To be responsible to our position as men . Not abuse women and or take them for granted . To seek our best for women as if we are seeking it for ourselves . 

Lastly the scripture ends with not to be defiled or polluted by the world . Is this just religion or our faith being spoken of ? 

Words of truth spoken through his chosen to be brought to life in you today . God is not dead nor his words are not either . Thoughts for you this morning . 

Take charge of Gods word in your life this morning and seek and trust to know HE is our rock and our foundation . H

ave a great day ! Amen ! 

Avodah
Jay

Time , Money and Faith. Are you wasting them?

Matthew 22:20-22King James Version (KJV)

20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?

21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.

22 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.

Good morning and shalom

Isn't interesting how Yeshua was able to capture the essence of faith in this passage . 

Yeshua was revealing the things of God and of man as it states in the Torah ( the books of instruction)

Deuteronomy 29:29Amplified Bible (AMP)

29 “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things which are revealed and disclosed belong to us and to our children forever, so that we may do all of the words of this law.

Although in the picture of this scripture we see money . However, what is being revealed is faith by way of use of money and time . 

Money will come and it will go however how do YOU spend your money ? Are they on the necessary things in life or do they reflect your heart ? 

Alcohol, drugs and pornography ? Remember all of these things in different forms are still the same . 

How do you spend your money with the time you have ?  

Time is a measurement that comes directly from God . We have only a set amount of it here on earth . We don't know exactly how much, however, all of us think its about 100 years or so , give some or take some ....

Either way, time is a direct God given gift . How are you spending it ? Are you wasting time on the empty things in life that does not bring you the things of God and in heaven ? 

Its so interesting that the bible clearly marks out faith in measurement . Time and money are tools of that measurement . God never leaves us without proper scripture to study to measure ourselves within Him . 

Do you spend your time and money at clubs, bars , and parties on alcohol, cigarettes , drugs?

Today's society has been taught do find the quickest measure to fix whatever it is that causing a problem but not taught , shown or the knowlegde of leaning and waiting on God. 

To lean and wait on God is just that to stop what you are doing and to lean and wait. To stop the drugs, pornography and the alcohol and to lean and wait . To stop going to bars ,clubs and parties and to lean and wait. 

It also  could be food, video games, TV , movies , Facebook, social media, that is absorbing all your time and money and casuing the strife in your life. Again , whatever is that white elephant in the room causing your issues, God is waiting on you to surrender those things and lean and wait on Him.

To pray and read your bible. when you lean and wait , read your bible and pray, you will find those empty things will pass and God will open new doors that are of from HIM. 

How long do you lean and wait?

 You lean and wait on God as long as it takes! Until those things that are empty and not of God are not within you any longer. Thats How long.

Just because the world says certain things are ok , your choices and your measure are different from the next person. Each of us  will have to give an acounting to God .  He will want to know what did you do with the measure He gave you.

Today is new . Tomorrow is past . Every new day is a gift that's why its a present . Don't worry about the things of tomorrow Because today has enough trouble for itself . 

Make your day a fulfillment of God today to the most you can . Appreciate the things , people and opportunities you have . Don't waste it . Give back to God what he has given you and he will give you the increase and the responsibility !

Desire to Aspire to Inspire! ( Taken from Pastor Paul)

Lastly the ABC's of Salvation( Taken from Pastor JD)

A = Admit your a Sinner and or Acknowlege it . That your in need of a salvation ; Romans 3:10 " No One Is Rightous " Romans 3:23 All have sinned have fallen short of the Glory of God.

B= Believe Yeshua is Lord ( Jesus) : Romans 10: 9-10 If you believe in heart that God raised Jesus from the dead you WILL be saved.

C = Call upon His Name: Romans 10:9-10 The confession your mouth with the belief in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead and is Lord you will be saved.

 Amen! 

Finding Your Way !

How do you revive your soul, your inmost being, when all is lost and hope seems fruitless?

How do you become wise, when you seem to have failed?

How do find joy, not happiness , inside your heart when you feel hurt, bitter, lost etc?

How do you see again the light and the dreams of Hope , like when you were just a child and you had all those dreams and aspirations when you grew up?

How do you see your future and wanting to endure it in hope?

What is more precious then all the money in the world? More sweet then any food eaten?

How can you be easily rewareded with all of these things?

How can you keep yourself from willful Sin and not be ruled by them?

Good Morning and Shalom:

I wanted to share something with you while on my journey and path and walk in this thing called life. How do we navigate through all the obsticles of them?

I have spoken , talked with, listen to various and many takes on their own philosphy of life. Its interesting how many interpret and justify many things. However, what I have foud , the tie to each of their own beliefs has been taken, stolen , used and abused from the bible into may other forms and twists of their own faith, their own take. But each one thing stolen always leave some type of emptyness , some type of wonder.

When I speak with people , I explain to them a very simple truth, which is , to read the Bible, to learn to pray and Understand that God wants a relationship with Us. Through reading the bible and praying, to act upon those things instructed in the bible. To stop those things that the bible call sin and wickedness. 

As you read and pray you will build a bond, closeness , a relationship with God. He will teach you you,  as  a  Father in Heaven, He will show you His Salvation of His redemption in Himself through His Son Yeshua Hamoshiach ( Jesus Christ) and He will have you learn to be lead in a Holy, Pure and sanctified way set apart from the world and sin through the Ruach Ha Kodesh ( The Holy Spirit).

If you want answers to the questions above that I opened the Post with its in Psalm 19:

Verse 7 shows how your soul can be renewed and revived

The law of the Lord is perfect (flawless), restoring and refreshing the soul;
The statutes of the Lord are reliable and trustworthy, making wise the simple.

Verse 8 Brings Joy, and light to your heart and eyes of Life

The precepts of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

Verse 9  and 10 shows you what is more valuable then all the money in the world and greater then any food eaten

The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true, they are righteous altogether.
 
They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.

Verse 11 brings you great reward

Moreover, by them Your servant is warned [reminded, illuminated, and instructed];
In keeping them there is great reward.

Verse 13 and 14 Keeps you from sin. However , you must put in the work for this to happen. You must make a choice in your heart and in your actions to choose not sin and seek the Lord in this for this to work and He will help you and give you will power to not sin and chastise you when you do so you don't repeat the sin. Once you choose not sin God will meet you at your weakness to give you what you need to complete your action or not to act.


Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous (deliberate, willful) sins;
Let them not rule and have control over me.
Then I will be blameless (complete),
And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.
 
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable and pleasing in Your sight,
O Lord, my [firm, immovable] rock and my Redeemer.

I Challenge you today to seek God , and meditate on God and his word , to read the bible, and be quiet in Him today. Pray and ask Him for help, ask him to help you examine your heart and how to move foward today .  Shut off and turn off those things that distract you from God and His plan. Speak His word out over your life. Tell God what you hope and wish for , just like when you were a child. Also listen to how he directs you and what is in your heart that may need to change.

Have a great day and be blessed . Amen!

The Lottery: What Faith do you have in God?

Psalm 66:16-18

Come and hear, all who fear God,

            And I will tell of what He has done for my soul.

      I cried to Him with my mouth,

            And He was extolled with my tongue.

      If I regard wickedness in my heart,

            The Lord will not hear;......

Good Morning and Shalom:

Some thoughts recently I wanted to share with you especially about gambling and the lottery. 

Several years back during my travels , I used to like to buy lottery tickets from all the places I used to visit. I was always hoping that one day, my numbers would hit, and all my dreams and hopes would be taken care of. 

I realized later on, this type of faith was like how the bible states "chasing after the wind." There were and are never any guarantees for  winning in the lottery. It always became saddining when someone would hit the lottery and all my hopes and dreams seemed to just keep on passing. 

My life was, as it seemed, to reflect this empty hope that has no promises to it. As I started to read the bible and grow in the Lord, I was being taught a new understanding to what hope and faith are and what "Luck" is not.

Luck is not something the bible teaches. The bible teaches that we do live in a circle and God has everything to do with that circle or that bubble. That God is always reaching out to us and trying to get our attention. However, we as people cannot say the same thing back. 

God is teaching about faith in Him and trusting, leaning , and hoping in Him. Things like the Lottery has no place to allow and have any faith and hope in GOD. 

I have heard many people say the same thing, this includes myself, " if I hit the Lottery, I would do this or that." If you listen to this statement in yourself, where does faith and trust and hope of God come into that statement? 

Our walk in this life seems long but truly is a short walk. I have always heard and I often said it, where does the time go? It goes so quickly and my understanding of biblical context and my relationship with YHVH is this, This life is a training ground for our eternal life with GOD. If we make biblical choices and waiting on God, His promises will never return void. Yes , we cannot have it when we want it but he is always on time. With faith in hoping to win the lottery, as a Christ Follower, I would suggest to examine your Heart and see where your true faith is in. 

Our hearts are easily swayed into believing many things, However, God wants our hearts focused in on Him. Many things in this life and world can distract us from holding on steadily on our Faith and Hope in God. However , I assure you this one thing , Money will not be with you always . It cant buy you the peace that God has for you . Also , you cannot trust in Money and also trust in God . 

So think about it , what is your faith in? What is your hopes in? Why is the world so eager for you to buy a lottery ticket? Why are there so many places to gamble and drink? 

Jesus states in Mathew 7:13-14

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it. 

Truly the road that God leads us on is a harder road to travel because it is so simple. However, this road does not please our sin nature. Wherever you are at right now, looking backward on the path you were on, to looking foward to path you are on, should be some clue to where your heart is , what you hope in, and all the mistakes you ever made that you don't want to repeat again. 

God wants us to lean on Him. Hold onto Him. Trust on Him, in all things , the good , the bad and the ugly. To scream at the top of our lungs if we have to , to cry, to laugh , to sing to worship and even to argue and discuss all the things in our heart with HIM. The Lack of those things with God is the Lack of our Faith in God.

I hope and trust that this may be hopeful and helpful in your walk today in Christ. I pray that your blessed . Amen!

In Service to Yeshua HaMoshiach

JAy

Shalom ! What is it ?

Judges 6:24

 

And Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and named it Yahweh-Shalom (which means “the LORD is peace”). The altar remains in Ophrah in the land of the clan of Abiezer to this day.

 

Good Morning and Shalom:

 

I haven’t sent out any text messages or blog entry's in a while, however , I have been examining some things in my life and life around me.

 

So often we say we search for peace but we are the ones causing so much strife and discord. We have been sold a bunch of lies that everything in our life has to have movement, activity, time and space filler. The enemy has sold us to smart phones, tv , radio, magazines , books and every type of media possible. 

 

We also have been sold the lies of  having to react to every emotion. God specifically tells us to guard our hearts, He states to us we can be angry and not to sin, He says wait on Him and be patient and know he is God.

 

In a society filled with everything having to be here and now , there is no time to rest our minds , souls , emotions.


In my study of what peace truly is , I have found the dictionary term of peace is  the absence of strife and discord. This is a good partial understanding. True  peace  is not possible without the absolute fulfilment of God in all aspects of our lives. Meaning, no matter what chaos is around us that we hold onto tightly and guard our minds , hearts , souls and emotions to a faith that absolutely know GOD  is working in our behalf.


Whenever , strife and confusion, discord , bad news , hard emotions face us, were to  be patient and continue pray and obeiediant to God and watch Him work in our lives. Without that, all we may have is quiet for a moment.


We are to bring all of our emotions, prayers and supplications to God, good and bad . He sees it all. Allow Him to bring His peace into your heart, soul, mind and body, so that you can have his peace that supersedes our understanding .  Amen. Have a blessed day. That is what is going to set us apart!