Heaven Bound

I don’t know about you, but, the biblical admonition to “in all things give thanks” has at times been a hard one for me.  It’s one in fact, that I have been struggling with all week due to a hardship my daughter is going through.  I see and hear her tears and as a mom, I want to not only dry those tears, but, make everything right in her world.  Because my heart is breaking for her, I plead with God for his wisdom, help and care, but, I sometimes find it hard in these kinds of situations to be thankful.   I’ve been thinking about this all week and asking, “Lord, how do you want me to pray?”  As I pondered this question, God answered my prayer in a most unexpected way.  He answered me by reminding me of his love and his charachter through a story on one of the blogs I read.  On Five Doves forum, someone had written in with the most amazing story about a group of Jewish men in a concentration camp during world war II, men who faced certain extermination just because they were Jewish.

 Let me set the story up for you, its winter and the Jewish fall feasts have concluded with the exception of one last day, the day known as Simchat Torah, (which means “joy of the Torah.”)   Its a special day for celebrating the unique joy and purpose the word of God brings to our lives.  In the synagogue,during the shabbat service, it is customary to lift the Torah scrolls high over head as they are carried throughout the congregation with dancing and great joy.  Its a visible and tangible way of elevating the word (the Bible as represented by the scrolls)  showing its prominence in our lives.  The men in the concentration camp did not have a Torah scroll, in fact, they had nothing,  stripped of all earthly possesions, even food, their captors did everything possible to dehumanize them.  The german guards relished the power and control they had over their prisoners.  But, in this instance, they are about to get a surprise, they would be witness to something completely unfathomable to their depraved minds – they would witness the power of the human spirit when that spirit recognizes that it belongs to God.   Read the story below:

 
Simchat Torah: The Dancing Souls
Tishrei 20, 5770, 08 October 09 11:23
by by Rabbi Lazer Gurkow
(Israelnationalnews.com) Saved by the Dance
It was a cold autumn day; the skies covered with the perpetual cloud of ash that hovered daily over Auschwitz. A group of fifty young yeshiva students were herded into the gas chambers, ostensibly for a cold shower. This was
The bewildered Nazis stood just beyond the gas chamber and could not understand the meaning of the incongruous celebration.
well enough into the history of Auschwitz that the cold truth of the cold showers was well known to the young men. They all knew that the nozzles would soon open and bathe them in a cascade of noxious fumes that would choke off their air supply and drain them of life.

The Nazi guards – gleefully awaiting the usual onset of panic, complete with frantic banging on the doors, desperate efforts to reach the sealed windows and futile clawing against bare walls – were surprised by this unique group.

Just before the showers released their poison a young man addressed his friends.

“Brothers,” he cried, “today is Simchat Torah, when the Jewish world rejoices having concluded their annual reading of the Torah. During our short lives we have tried to uphold the Torah to the best of our ability and now we have one last chance to do so. Before we die let us celebrate Simchat Torah one last time. We have nothing; no clothes to cover us or Torah with which to rejoice. But we have G-d who is surely here among us today. So let us dance with G-d Himself before we return our souls to Him.”

With this, he placed his hand on his fellow’s shoulder and fifty young men broke out in joyous dance, the song of Vetaher libeinu leavdecha be’emet (“Purify our hearts to serve you with sincerity”) on their lips.

The bewildered Nazis stood just beyond the gas chamber and could not understand the meaning of the incongruous celebration. The beastly commandant, who was accustomed to humiliated, broken Jews, could not countenance this spectacle of Jewish pride and flew into a rage. Bursting into the chamber he grabbed the first boy and demanded to know the reason for the dance. Calmly, the boy replied, “We are celebrating our! imminent departure from a world ruled by beasts such as you.”

The commandant decided to put an immediate end to the festivities with a cruel announcement. “You think you will escape your tortuous existence in the peaceful gas chamber, but I will grant you a truly painful departure. I will spare you today, but tomorrow I will torture every bone in your bodies; I will slice your flesh till you expire.”

The commandant ordered the boys released from the gas chambers and housed in a barrack overnight. Despite their fate, the boys celebrated Simchat Torah all night with joyous song and dance. They sanctified G-d’s name by dedicating their last night to expressing gratitude for the privilege of their Jewishness and for the precious gift of the Torah.

Later that night, the boys were miraculously selected for transport to another camp by a high-ranking Nazi official who was not aware of their “crimes.” This selection saved their lives and Auschwitz survivors testified that the entire group survived the Holocaust.(1)

*After reading this amazing story, I was reminded that it is the giving of thanks in the most dire of circumstances that we are most emptied of self and focused on God.  When we are weak, He is strong!  When its still possible to do things  in our own strength, he is never really glorified. For this reason, I liked the simple encouragement given in the story, “God is surely among us today”.  Yes, God is surely among us today.   And with that in mind, we have more than enough for which to give thanks.

After yesterday’s stunning announcement that our own dear President has won the nobel peace prize, can we really be all that suprised?  With  Al Gore, Yasser Arafat and anti-semite Jimmy Carter as winning predecessors, did we really think that this year, they might actually give the prize to someone who truly deserved it?   Its a strange, but, shrewd group that bunch in Oslo.  Think about it.  Can the new Nobel Peace Prize Winner really muster what its going to take to win the war in Afghanistan or take the hard stance that is needed against Iran right now?  Isn’t that an oxymoron? Peace/War,  Peace/War.   This simple selection by our northern friends, may do more to change the face of world politics than any other single event!

The Bible says that the end of days will come when people are saying “peace, peace, when there is no peace. (Jeremiah 8:10-12)  With the middle east  ready to go up in flames at any moment, all talk and rhetoric about peace is  just that, talk and rhetoric.   Unless the current powers that be change from the course they are on, (seeking to divide the land) any peace achieved in the middle east will be short lived and the world will find itself not only in deep trouble in the middle east, but, on a collision course with God!  The book of Exodus tells us about one such confrontation.  The God of the Israelities vs Pharoah, (self proclaimed God of the Egyptians).  The Pharoah back them then didn’t fare too well and the new Pharoah, the new King Tut of the world, won’t either.

The timing of the award strikes me as significant and ties in with what I have already written in my last two postings, in regard to the Feast of Tabernacles.   Yesterday was the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles.  As I mentioned, it is the last and greatest day of this seven day Feast,  the same day that Yeshua (Jesus) stood up in the temple some 2,000 years ago and cried out to the people  of Israel to come to him for living water.  He called them to come, 1) because he has authority and 2)  because is the true Prince of Peace.   But, yesterday another was annointed,  a usurper who promises and pretends that he can (yes, we can) meet all our needs.   One who seeks to wear a crown of which he is not deserving and one who was  nominated for this prize less than two weeks into office, and was by the way, in consideration for the prize when the first letters went out last September!    When I read that, I got the same kind of icky feeling I got last year pre-election, when I heard slogans like:  “you will have an epiphany, (defined by my  on-line dictionary as: 1) a sudden, intuitive perception or insight  or 2) the manifestiation of a diety ) and you will vote for me.”

It appears that this years prize was given, not for what has been done, but, for what will be done.  It’s the “what will be done” that’s worrisome.

But, for those of us who do know Jesus, the true Prince of Peace, we have his assurance that He will never leave us nor forsake us.  So, take heart fellow believers, we are his prized possession, he gave his life for us and He is coming soon!  Now, that’s peace worth talking about!

Without a doubt, we are living in a prophetic time period like none other since the first advent of Jesus some 2,000 years ago.   Over the course of the last year or so, the signs of the soon return of Jesus and the start of the Tribulation preceding his return are everywhere.  Increasing in frequency and severity, they appear much like the birth pangs, we were told by Jesus to expect before he would return again.

Its an exciting time for keeping an eye on the news.  I came across  a story today that I found interesting.  Apparently, residents of Colombia (South America)  woke up to see the river that runs through their town had turned red. You can find this story by googling – “Medellin River Colombia turns red”. (I tried to paste the link, but, for some reason, it wouldn’t cut and paste)  I found it interesting, that the article for the story began this way.  “People in Medellin, Colombia woke up to what looked like a bad biblical omen Tuesday”.  When I looked at the video of the river, it appeared at least on film to be purplish in color, an apparent distortion of the actual color red that it had turned.  With no apparent explanation, its anyone’s guess, why this normal colored river should change color over night.  Hmmmm …..  bad, biblical omen …..  shades of things to come ????    One of the ten plagues was water turned to blood and will be repeated during the tribulation period when the rivers and the seas all change to blood!

Another event that will be big news by the time anyone reads this blog tomorrow is the bombing of the moon which will take place at 4:30 a.m. EST …. just a few hours from now Hawaii time.  I’ve learned a little more about this “special event” since my last post, titled “By the light of the silvery moon”.  For one thing, I found out that the mission is called L’Cross and one of the missiles being used is named Centaur.  I found that more than a little interesting as a centaur is (as defined by my on-line dictionary)   –   1) a monster with head, trunk and arms of a man and the body and legs of a horse  2) from the constellation centaurus, a skilled horseman.    This is supposed to be a spectacular event, which if successful will kick up plumes of dust visible from space by amateur and professional atrologers alike.  This whole event  is curious to me, as it has  already been pretty well established  that there is frozen water on the moon.  So, why this highly publicized mission and why might it coincide with the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles?  ( For more information on that subject, see my last post).     A skilled horseman …. would that be anything like the skilled horseman of Revelation 6 who ride white, red, black and dappled horses? 

Earthquakes increasing in severity and frequency.  Is the earth itself contracting in anticipation of its soon delivery?   For an up to the minute account on the latest earthquakes, try googling “Most recent earthquakes.”  Its a real eye opener!

And most significant of all, Israel is fast finding itself being painted in to a corner from which they will not survive without divine intervention.  It looks like besides the dire threat directed at them by Iran’s Ahmadinejad, Israel may also face tremendous pressure to give up their own nuclear weapons and there is even discussion of them being forced to split their land,  creating a palestinian state, without their approval!     All of these things hold tremendous repercussions, for the middle east, the world and most of all, with God!   You can read more on this subject  by googling Joel Rosenbergs weblog  of October 6 or clicking on my link to John McTernan’s  insights.

And all of these developments have taken place just in the last week!  Whew!!!

If anyone reading this has not yet asked Jesus to forgive their sin and come in to their life and live as Lord and Savior, I strongly urge you to do so now.  All of the signs tell us that there is not much time left.  Jesus loves you, he paid for your sin at the cross.  Its a free gift to you, if you want it.   If you pray and sincerely ask Jesus to come in to your heart, take away your sin and cleanse you from all unrighteousness, he will do it.    The moment you do, your name will be written in the book of life and you will become a child of God.  How wonderful is that!!!!

                                   Jesus said,   “Behold, I stand at the door and knock, if any man (or woman) here my voice, I will come in”.  Revelation 3:20. 

Grace and blessings in Messiah Jesus, waiting with you, for His soon return!   Cindy

  Friday October 9, NASA begins the ambitious project of bombarding the moon in search of water.  Firing a missile at twice the speed of a bullet, they hope to blast a hole in the moon at its south pole in an effort to find ice deposits  for water.  They are hoping, if water is found,  the burden of carrying supplies in to space for  future projects would be eased.  The timing of these kinds of things fascinates me, especially given the time period we are living in.  How fitting is it, that this quest for water on the moon, falls on the last and greatest day of the feast of Tabernacles, which has everything to do with water. 

In the Bible, the moon is important, particularly the new moon, (Rosh Chodesh as it is known in Hebrew) , as each biblical  feast, as well as biblical month begins with a new moon.    In the book of Genesis, God establishes the sun and the moon as signs in the heavens for appointed times and for seasons.  Less seasons in the sense of fall, winter, spring and summer, as we might think of them and more in the sense of God’s appointed time for his particular sabbaths and feasts. (Leviticus 23)   Valerie Moody in her book, The Feasts of Adonai, states,  “celebrating the new moon honors God as the creator of time.”    When you think about it this way, the sun and moon are really not necessary for giving us light, they serve a much greater purpose, in fact, the book of Revelation  tells us that some day, we will have no need for their light at all,  for the glory of God will be all the light we’ll need!

On the last and greatest day of the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus stood in the temple and cried out in a loud voice “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink!”  John 7:37.    The timing of these words was incredibly important, because they were spoken just as the water was being poured out  by the priest during the water ceremony.  Can you imagine, the great crowds at the temple watching the priestly procession carrying the water up from the Pool of Siloam as they sang  the 118th Psalm.  Then as the Priest prepares to pour the water, a hushed silence, when suddenly, a voice rings out!   The voice of one calling his people to salvation!    The voice of one, calling them to the living water, water that only he could provide.   The water, you see,  poured out on the altar  was symbolic of  the water that came  forth from the rock at Mount Sinai.  It was generally understood that the water represented a redeemer who would come one day to bring salvation.  Therefore, when Jesus cried out these words at this precise time,   it was an unmistakable claim to be the one whom they were looking for. 

I  don’t know if they will find water on the moon this Friday.  It really doesn’t matter much to me.  I see it quite symbolically, as an attempt by man to look for water(spiritually speaking)  everywhere, except right in front of him.  So as the Feast of Tabernacles concludes this Friday October 9, I will be reminded that as NASA blasts the moon in search of water, I will be greatful to the one who came so long ago to give us living water, the only water we truly need –  we need search no further.

With all the events of Biblical significance happening the last week of September, I can’t help, but, think the story regarding the discovery of Egyptian coins bearing the name and likeness of Joseph has some significance to the times we’re living in.   If you haven’t yet read about this incredible find, take a moment and read it here;  http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/133601   

I think this is a particularly amazing find, as once again, the historic accuracy of the Bible is authenticated.   It appears to me, that God, in his loving kindness, is in these last days, making himself known in every way possible, so, that man is without excuse. (Romans 1:20)

I love this story from Genesis 37.   How God used Joseph in the midst of unfair and unfortunate circumstances, to fulfill his will and purpose.  If you remember the story, Joseph was the  youngest son of Jacob who was sold in to slavery in Egypt by his jealous brothers.   After a series of unfair and unfortunate circumstances, Joseph eventually became ruler in Egypt, second only to Pharoah, by successully  interpreting  Pharoh’s dream of 7 fat cows and 7 lean cows, 7 green stalks of grain and 7 lean stalks of grain.  The dream had to do with a famine that was coming on Egypt, but, because of Joseph’s dream interpretation, Pharoah who wisely listened to Joseph’s counsel, stored up grain during the years of plenty so that Egypt would not starve during the years of famine.   There is much more to this story, as Joseph is a type of Christ, who rejected by his brothers, saved them and became King over them.

I’m not sure why this discovery has been made at this particular point in time, but, I feel very sure that it is not without a purpose.  Is  God is warning us as he did in Pharoah’s time of the ” famine” to come?   Is God calling those skeptics who doubt his word, to once again consider the evidence?  Is this archaelogical find a message for Israel of their coming King, the one they rejected?   I don’t know for sure, but, this I do know.  God is not willing that any should perish and he has provided us as believers with every opportunity to be his witnesses, (so, that we are without excuse) for telling others about him, in fact,  he has even provided our opening line ……”have you seen today’s headlines?”

This morning, a strong earth quake of 8.0 or greater magnitude centered off Samoa and American Samoa triggered a tsumani watch for those of us living here in Hawaii. When you live on an island, a tsumani watch is something that definately gets your attention. As the day progressed the tsunami watch was downgraded until it was finally called off by early evening. But, in the Samoan Islands, the impact was both immediate and devastating with news reports of people and cars being swept out to sea by 15 to 20 foot waves. I’ve seen big waves before, not tsunami waves,, thank God, but big waves just the same. Every winter on the North Shore of Hawaii, we get waves coming in at 20-30 feet. If you have ever seen one of these waves, you know they are monsters, thunderous mountains of white foam, the liquid version, of what’s known in the mountains as “white death” when snow avalanches come roaring down.

Tsunami’s, earthquakes and avalanches when unleashed are some of the most powerful forces on earth. These types of events are so big, so massive, so uncontrollable, they are often called “acts of God”, because they are beyond human control. Life is sometimes like this, sometimes we are hit with sudden and devastating circumstances beyond our control. One day we’re fine and the next we’re ill, maybe deathly ill. One day we’re fine and the next, we’re without a job. One day we’re fine and the next, we’ve lost someone we love. Its as if we;ve been hit with a tsunami! Suddenly and without warning, we find ourselves swept in to a current of circumstances beyond our control, struggling sometimes just to survive, it often takes all the strength we have just to cry out “God, where are you?!”

Well in to my 54th year, I’m old enough to realize that life comes with tsunami’s. It just does. Its not a matter of if, but, when. Jesus said, “in this world you will have tribulation” – no question about it, this one is guaranteed! And I know, this is true, having faced some monster waves myself! Its taken me some time to realize, but, its oh so true. When the circumstances are big, overwhelming, God is bigger! Lest that sound like a cliche, its true! For us as believers, its the anchor we hold to. The storms may rage for a while, but, the Father has promised to “never leave us nor forsake us”. In other words, we can be assured, when the winds cease and the rains stop, holding tightly to the hand of Jesus, we, will be exactly where he wants us to be.

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With all that is in the news this week, I wondered at the possible significance of this incredible find coming from an amateur treasure hunter in England.  Apparently, while searching English farmland with a metal detector, Terry Herbert, 55,  uncovered a massive stache of silver and gold crosses, sword decorations and other items dating from 1066 back to the fifth century.  What really caught my attention in all this anglo saxon booty was the photograph of one particular piece, a piece which is a gold strip with an inscription from the Bible, from the book of Numbers to be exact.  The inscription believe it or not, reads, “Rise up O Lord and may thy enemies be dispersed.”   You can see a photograph of this strip here:http://www.earthfiles.com/.  For me, I find this reference from Numbers 10:35 to be especially interesting, when this week of all weeks, the enemies of Israel are working over time in planning their destruction.  I think this might just be a subtle reminder from heaven, that our God sees and it won’t be long until his enemies are avenged.

President Obama, it appears is losing patience with Israel and the Palestinians,which is more evidence in my opinion, that he is on a tightly guided timeline, remember his  “the stars are aligned” comment from this past summer?   Now he is demanding that, they, (the Israeli’s and Palestinians) return to the table in 3 weeks, ready to proceed on a peace agreement.  Why 3 weeks from now?????   Oh, the arrogance of the man who would be king!

For some interesting insight to the conclusion of this weeks nefarious activities at the UN, read this commentary by Sue Bradley on Obama’s choice of Pittsburgh for the G-20 meetings.  Just as Obama’s choice of Denver for accepting the democratic nomination was loaded with symbolism, so, is the choice of Pittsburgh.  Check out Sue’s article here:http://pidnews.com/?p=2602 

As I thought about the days ahead and what surely is on the horizon, the Lord encouraged me with these words from Isaiah 35:3-

 “Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, Be strong, do not fear,  your God will come with vengeance, with divine retribution, he will come to save you!”

Until then, grace and blessings in Messiah Jesus!  Cindy

I have a plant in my front walk way, that every now and then gets a very thorny vine entwined about it.  I hate this vine, because its very sneaky, its similarly colored to the stalk of the host plant and wraps its self so tightly about it, that at first glance, its hardly noticeable.  When I finally do notice it, I curse it (darned weed!!!) and immediately get my pruning shears.  I give it a good whacking, gingerly untangle it from about the good plant and throw it into the rubbish bin.  The problem is, I never get to the root of that weed and before I know it, its back again!  Oy!!!   I love a simple analogy and for me this is a good one.  The Bible talks about a similar kind of problem in our relationship with God.  How the things or cares of this world, can choke out the things of God, keeping us from the full and rich relationship that God desires with us. Makes me wonder, as I’m untangling that thorny vine, what in my own life, I have to keep dealing with over and over again, because, I fail to get to the root of it.  I’ll be giving that some thought this week.

I’ve added a new link which I think you will find interesting and I hope you take the time to check it out.  If at all possible, look at the post from September 18 entitled, “From the enemies camp.” I think the information presented there, may be especially pertinent in the not to distant future.  The link is to L.A. Marzulli and he is an expert on UFOlogy and how it pertains to biblical end time events. Now, if you’re not exactly sure what that is, or if you’re thinking in terms of “little green men,” then you need to get up to speed real fast.  The research shows, that the great deception the Bible speaks about is under way and for those who do not know, little green men are not only, not green, but, they are also, not from outer space.  They are manifestations of the “prince of the powers of the air” which we know from the Bible as Lucifer.  I won’t take the time to try to explain all of that here, for Mr. Marzulli does a superb job on his website. Get your spiritual antenna up, I’m convinced, we are poised for the greatest deception the world has ever seen!  We need now more than ever to be grounded in the truth, for the Bible says, that even the elect will be deceived in possible.

While I’m at it, I want to refer you to one of my other links, Raiders News Network.  Author Tom Horn has been publishing monthly installments on his new book called “Apollyon Rising”.  If you haven’t been reading it yet, that’s ok, you can get caught up, but, please, read todays post.  Most of us have no idea, the crossroads at which we are at.  The technological advances in manipulating the framework of what it means to be human are being tinkered with and we are closer than you might think in accomplishing what the nephilim in Genesis 6 set out to do, in corrupting the seed of Adam.  Tom Horn, raises the question of the possibility that the mark of the beast, will in fact, be an injection that alters the DNA in a way which changes cell structure, so that the innoculated are no longer “human,” but, hybrid.  In other words, once rendered no longer sons of Adam by the injection, they become unredeemable.  This explains why, once the mark is received, a person is doomed to hell!  Only the sons of Adam can be saved!!!   Therefore, taking the mark, may involve much more than just making allegiance to the anti-christ!  Sound like science fiction???  I know, but, these days, truth is stranger than fiction!!!  Read Toms hypothesis.  I think he’s done some great work and whether we agree fully or not,  its great food for thought.  

The Feast of Trumpets is over, we now enter the ten days of awe that lead up to Yom Kippor.   Thank God for our salvation in Messiah Yeshua!  Because of him, our names are written in the Lambs Book of Life permanently!  We’re not dependent on a yearly sacrifice to take away our sin. With that in mind, L’shanah tovah, Happy New Year 5770!  and pray for the peace of Jerusalem!   Cindy

Tonight at 6:32 p.m. (Hawaii time), I joined countless others around the globe in blowing the shofar inviting and welcoming Messiah Jesus to come for his bride.  Thanks to the organizational skills of Mark Biltz of El Shaddai Ministries, I was able to participate in a wave that started in Jerusalem  and crossed all time zones until  finally reaching and ending here in Hawaii, the last time zone.  It was exciting and exhilarating blowing the virtual shofar provided by El Shaddai Ministries, participating in what Mark referred to as a “dress rehearsal” for things to come.  The real thing, which will be of course,  the sound of the heavenly shofar, the rams horn, calling us home to forever be with the Lord.

Its a New Year, 5770 on the Jewish Calendar to be exact.  We don’t know whats ahead, but, we do know who is in control. We wait expectantly with great joy, knowing God has great things in store for his children, his bride and is coming for her soon!  But, whether we stay or go this year, we know, without a doubt, that HE WILL COME!  And when he does, it will be like these beautiful words from the Song of Songs 2:10-13

 “Arise, my darling, my beautiful one and come with me,  See!  The winter is past; the rains are over and gone.  Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land, the fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.  Arise, come my darling; my beautiful one, come with me.”