When I do not understand my life.

 Where can they find understanding? If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.  But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. ^{Job 28:12, James 1:5-6}

 Trust in YHVH with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.  Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. 

All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen. Prov 3:5-6, 1Tim 1:17

 “O Sovereign YHVH,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!”  YHVH replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you.  And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, YHVH, have spoken!” ^{Jer 1:6-8}

At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy. You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.” ^{John 16:23-24, Matt 21:22}

Sunday Morning 12/4 Daily Light nlt

1 John 1:3

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See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. 1 John 1:3 nlt

Not to worry, here is a link to the Christmas Story and the Battle of Ai. 

Sabbath rest vs religion

OK, I'll admit it. Sometimes my morning devotional time is more duty then devotion. I arose this morning asking the Almighty, "What have you got for me today LORD?" But even that was a question based on duty more then dedication to The Way.

Le Meraviglie di Matilda

After scanning my Amy Carmichael book, Edges of His Ways" usually a sure jump start to my mornings, nothing. So I picked up my Mark Study, really not expecting much before moving on to Urban Farm plans and projects.

One Sabbath Day, as Jesus was walking through some grain-fields, his disciples began breaking off heads of grain to eat. But the Pharisees said to Jesus, "Look, why are they breaking the Law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath?

Jesus said to them, "Haven't you ever read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry?He went into the house of God (During the days when Abiather was High Priest) and broke the Law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat. He also gave some to his companions."

Then Jesus said to them, "The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people and not people to meet the requirements of Sabbath So the Son of Man is Lord even over the Sabbath.     Mark 2:23-28 nlt

I was not expecting much. Honestly my understanding of Sabbath tends to come down to the Church rejecting it because the Pope said we should (or because it is too Jewish and we are free) and all the physical religious limitations practiced by the few synagogues (even Messianic synagogues) that I have attended. I'll save you the tedium of seeing that there is a difference between following Y'shua/Jesus and practicing religion. I came to verse 28, So the Son of Man is Lord even over the Sabbath. Mostly just glancing at my Greek Interlinear Bible which says (in Greek, I'm just giving you the English) Therefore (the) Lord is the Son of Man also of the Sabbath. Wait, What?

Sabbath was made to meet the needs of People. YHVH became one of us, Ben Adam (son of Adam) But why did he do that?

In a nutshell we were created to be what Peter calls Priests and Kings, or a royal priesthood. (1 Peter 2:9, Revelation 1:6, 5:10) All of creation was put into our care (Genesis 1:26-28) but we gave it away for a pretty little bite of the forbidden. The result was the first death in all of Creation to cover sin, Grace (Genesis 3:21) For the very first time, relationship with our beloved Creator was replaced by slavery to our overlord. (Ephesians 2:2). From that time on, most of humanity could have religion or freedom from religion, but not a relationship with the Almighty... not until Y'shua came as the Son of Man.

Men have a desire to be part of something big. Religion is all about being part of something big and relevant. Pious people will generally submit to the rules of religion because we believe in God. But we only have men and their understanding of the Scripture as a guide to living. Wanting to serve the Almighty, we submit ourselves to religion. Freedom comes from submitting ourselves to relationship with Y'shua ben Adam, Jesus the Son of Man. Following him, religion became irrelevant to the disciples. When they were hungry they were fed, even on Sabbath. The religious were shocked and vocalized their shock. "Why are they breaking the law by harvesting on Sabbath?"  (vs 24)

Sabbath is a beautiful picture of rest. It is religion that makes it hard to "do right" We do not want to be bound up in the regulations for rest. Religion has made Sabbath so bad that the church has said that God eliminated this "top ten" commandment. I do not agree with that. But I do think that a born again, follower of Y'shua in The Way has a freedom that the church and Synagogue cannot understand in their pious attempts to please our God. Y'shua is the Son of Man, Lord of Sabbath! He is the creator (John 1:1-4) and never sinned. He sets us free to walk in His joy, freedom from slavery to the prince of the power of the air and our own march toward death (the natural man).

The Almighty gave you a gift. It is Sabbath, it is to be guarded. Some say that "In Jesus, every day is the Sabbath to me." If so then I do not understand most of what they do, usually it is not about resting in their Jesus. Stop a while and rest, Shabbat Shalom! He is Lord, give him his crown and he will give you peace.

Mrs. Hagerty November 22, 2016

New Wine: Mark 2:20-22

...a garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness Isaiah 63:3

But the days will come when the Bridegroom is taken away from them and then they will fast in that day. No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; otherwise the patch pulls away from from the new from the old, and a worse tear results. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wine will burst the skins and the wine is lost, the skins (as well) but (one puts) new wine into fresh wineskins. Mark 2:20-22

The mystery of new wineskins has stumped me for years. How many of you know that prayer is powerful? I know that, I've prayed over this passage, crying out for understanding. (Proverbs 2:3)... nothing. At least that is what I thought. But it was another example of everything being done in YHVH's time.

A question has been posed. Why doesn't Y'shua require his own disciples to fast when the disciples of John the baptizer and the Pharisees practice religious fasting?

According to Michael Rood in his brilliant work, The Chronological Gospels, this passage takes place at the feast Matthew has prepared during Rosh Khodesh (or Chodesh), the celebration of the New Moon. He has invited Y'shua and "assorted tax collectors and sinners" to his home in celebration of his own salvation. The religious were shocked! (Mark 2:18) Even more shocking, Y'shua tells them to their face that those who have the bridegroom (the Messiah) cannot fast while they cling to him instead of religion.

In today's passage, Y'shua then tells the religious that days are coming when believers cannot cling to him, the bridegroom. At that time they will fast, but not like the religious did at that time. They will live by faith. Old religion cannot be patched up with believing faith. The shadow of things to come will not be clothed in Glory. The living word is clothed in glory, but not the man-made rituals. The divide between believers and the religious will be worse then ever if we attempt to walk by faith in dead mans skin. Life will simply not be contained by rotting flesh. You must be born again! It is that simple.

In other words, the blood of animals will no longer do for us what the blood of Messiah has done. 

We have a new high priest of the order of Melchizedek, not of Aaron.
We have a new lamb of sacrifice, but he is not an animal.
We have a new temple, but it is not built by men's hands.
We still have Torah, but it is written on hearts instead of stone.
We are still circumcised, but not in the flesh by men.

The old way will no longer suffice. This new life can no longer be contained in the rags of religion. It does not matter if the old way was Orthodox or Paganism. The fast of Rosh Chodesh has no more meaning then the Christmas Tree of paganism. You must be born again (John chapter 3). It does no good to patch up your old way. We must each fully commit to the new. The old guard in not like the new man. The new man will burst out of the old way on the journey of life, clinging to Y'shua.

So, what do we cling to while the bridegroom is taken from us, while he prepares a place for us?

As you receive Messiah, so walk in Him
Colossians 2:6

Did you receive him by Believing Faith or by a ceremony preformed by religious people? By Faith. That is how we are to walk in Him, Believing Faith. It is like nothing you ever experienced before!

Mrs. Hagerty, November 13, 2016 

Mark 2:19 and Beauty for Ashes

Jesus replied, "Do wedding guests fast while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. They can't fast while the groom is with them."

Mark 2:19 nlt

The question has been asked, Is fasting required to be a disciple? (Mark 2:18) It is a good question. All the people that are admired for their religious piety, the Pharisees and the disciples of John, fast for Yom Kippor, But Y'shua's disciples stand out because they do not fast.

Isn't that what religious people do? Y'shua answered them, "They absolutely can not fast (something done when your mourn) when they cling to Himself. Mark 2:19.... in deb world.

A little bit of Greek word study. This verse contains multiple words that are either left out or translated differently then I would like to see... a presumptuous statement from a woman who does not speak Greek, so take it with the grain of salt of your own study.

G3361 MEE is a negative adverb connected to the verb translated "can" The kj says, ...can ___ the children of the bridechamber fast,... In English we put the subject before the verb. "the children of the bridechamber cannot fast..."

G2192 ECHO a verb meaning to hold, to have (continual possession) It is the idea behind our marriage vows when we say, "To have and to hold from this day forth." It indicates a continual possession. The ability to recognize something for what it truly is.

Y'shua said, 'No way can the son of the bridal bed possibly fast when he clings to Myself'

There is a time to recognize the hopelessness of your sinful state. It is right to fast and mourn about the sin you deeply regret and the wall it puts between you and life you long to live. Life with your loved ones whom you have crushed, life with your family that you have not developed a relationship with, eternal-life with the One (ECHAD) who loves you unconditionally and whom you would love to spend your eternity with. But the God who created you cannot be in the presence of sin. You have been spoiled and are good only for the flames of a different eternity.

But Jesus... The Son of God, is the only just One (ECHAD) in all the world and history Who is willing to be your justifier (Romans 3:26)... He alone can pay the penalty for the sin that separates you (2 Corinthians 5:21) from eternity with the Almighty and those who love Him. Y'shua-Jesus died your death so that you can live His life! (2 Corinthians 5:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:10; 2 Peter 2:24) That kind of love was described by Isaiah.

To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty (a garland) for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness they will be like great oaks that YHVH has planted for his own glory.    Isaiah 63:3

The despair becomes the power of Joy. We need not practice religious mourning when we have Y'shua, the Son of God, to cling to!

Mrs. Hagerty November 7, 2016

Mark 2:18

Jenny e il Piccolo

Once when John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting, some people came to Jesus and asked, "Why don't your disciples fast like John's disciples and the Pharisees do?"

Mark 2:18 nlt

Words have meaning. Years ago, after being introduced to Word Studies in Precept Bible Studies, I developed a hunger for knowing what the Bible said in the original language. It is what sent me on my quest to learn Hebrew, something I know only in part. In the study of Mark's Gospel, I keep coming across Greek words that mean something a little different then the English word they are translated into. If you have been following my Mark study, you know that my intrest was lit with the English word "Immediately" which comes from a Greek word that has been translated from Hebrew. The Hebrew gives a whole new feel to the English translation. It isn't about doing something quickly so much as it is about being upright before the Almighty. Did the translators make a mistake? I do not think they did. The Greek word can carry the idea of a straight edge (like a ruler) or the shortest distance between "here and there". In America we would say, "as the crow flies" meaning the shortest distance from where we are to where we are going. If you do not go all the way back to the Hebrew word YASHAR, then "immediately" is correct. Translation is tricky.

Mark 2:18 starts with G1510 EIMI (in Textus Receptus, not in Nestle) which is a preposition meaning "to be". We would say, "To be a disciple of John and of the Pharisees...."

It seems to say that there are requirements for membership. John the Baptizer and the Pharisees require fasting. It does not seem to be a requirement for the disciples of Y'shua-Jesus. Why, the people wonder, is that?

...YHVH doesn't see things The Way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but YHVH looks at the heart.     1Samuel 16:7b

Mark is going to answer the question of "why" but for now it is enough for me to know that the Almighty does not look at what men see. He looks at my heart, the shepherds house. Men can only judge by what their eyes see. A person who fasts looks like a person who is more committed to the Kingdom of Heaven then they are to the flesh. If you have ever fasted you know that it is not simple. It takes commitment and knowing secrets like, "feasting on the Word feeds the hunger of the spirit in the same way eating food feeds the flesh." Fasting is an important religious practice. But is it required for membership in religious groups? I think that is the question being asked.

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father     Colossians 3:17 

There is only one requirement to become a disciple of Messiah. You must be born again! John 3:7 After you are born again, where he directs you is where you must go. If it is to fast, then you must fast. That does not make it a requirement for membership. How will you know his will?

...the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.     Micah 6:8

Who are you living to please? Who is your audience? Turn your eyes to Y'shua-Jesus and live for Him!

Mrs. Hagerty, November 6, 2016

Edges of His Ways; November 3

Now dear brothers and sisters, let us clarify some things about the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and how we will be gathered together to meet Him. 2 Thessalonians 2:1

Photo Credit: Jenny e il Piccolo  

Our gathering together unto Him.                2 Thess. 2:1


These words have been a continual comfort to me of late. We may be separated now,we may see little of some whom we want to see often. There are many partings in life; never once are we promised the joy of long continuance together here, but "our gathering together unto Him" is a certain joy. Every day as it passes brings us nearer that day when we shall gather together unto Him. If it can be such joy to be together here (and I at least have drunk deep of that joy), what will it be to be gathered There?

Amy Carmichael Edges of His Ways

Ray and I had the privilege of attending the funeral of a man who devoted his life to bringing people to Salvation in Jesus Christ. I have been to a handful of funerals of men whose life was a celebration of The Joy of the Lord rather then the heart break of loss. My own father in law, Ray Hagerty Sr had that kind of funeral. So did Fred Dibble. Pastor Ed Perry was celebrated too. The lives he affected, and I am one of them, amaze me. Our King Y'shua-Jesus is coming soon, and we will be gathered together with them in Glory.

Make sure you are there!
Mrs. Hagerty; November 3, 2016

Hebrew word of the day: RUWACH

Usually translated "Sprite" in English, it means breath or wind.

Think about the word play Y'shua-Jesus did with Nicodemus.

Y'shua answered, "Amen, Amen, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit (RUWACH), HE CANNOT ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF YHVH. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the RUWACH is RUWACH.

The word translated "spirit and wind in John 3: 5-12 is the Greek word, PNEUMA, but that same word has been translated from the Hebrew, RUWACH. The pictograph for RUWACH is (vav) staking (resh) yourself (chet) within. To me it says you have planted your stake within the kingdom.

Born of water I have listened to many really smart people try to describe to me what it means to be born of water. So have you. This is what I have come to understand. Be a Hebrew. What is a Hebrew? It is those who have crossed the water by faith in the Almighty. Not everyone who stood on the shore of Egypt were Jewish, but everyone who walked the dry path through the sea to the other side were Hebrew. They were born of water. It happened again when Joshua took the next generation through the Jordan on dry land. It happened to me when, by faith I came for Salvation. Baptism is the symbolic act of crossing the water. Baptism did not save me and it will not save you. You must be born of the Spirit, the RUWACH.

And when Y'shua had said this (vs 21 ...Peace be with you...), He breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the RUWACH" John 20:22

Today's verse is actually Zechariah 4:6

...this is the Word of YHVH to Zerub'babel (those who were not born in Israel), "Not by might (CHAYIL), nor by power (KOACH), but by my Spirit (RUWACH), says YHVH of Hosts.

Three times the Apostle Paul tells us to "stand firm" in our battle against the devil. To stand firm does not mean we need physical endurance or physical strength. What it does mean is that by the power of the RUWACH: the Spirit, the breath of Almighty God, we stay the course. Warriors for God are not all about physical might, CHAYIL, a word that became dear to me when I did my study of Proverbs 31 means to be valiant, a pious warrior for God. But all the effort that you can put into being CHAYIL, a Valiant Warrior, will not cause you to prevail in the battle against darkness. A believer who prevails does so by the RUWACH, the Spirit of the Almighty. Strength and valor are of great value in the Kingdom of God, But if that is all you have (and they are of great value, I do not mean to make these attributes small), then  you are nothing. It is the RUWACH of the Almighty that takes you from being a legalistic religious person to being powerful in your freedom to be God's Valiant Warrior.

But as many as received Him (Y'shua), to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe (A'men) in His nae, who were born not of plood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God John 1: 12-13

And he (Elijah)said, "I have been very zealous for YHVH, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Thy covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away." So He (the Word of YHVH) said, "Go forth, and stand on the mountain before YHVH." and behold, YHVH was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before YHVH; but YHVH was not in the wind. And after the wind, an earthquake, but YHVH was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but YHVH was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing. And it came about when Elijah heard, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, a voice to him said, "What are you doing here Elijah?" 

Not by strength, not by piety, but by my RUWACH (the gentle blowing) says YHVH
Mrs. Hagerty, October 31, 2016

Hebrew Word of the Day BaTACh

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight.

Proverbs 3:5

Hebrew word of my day: BaTACH.

BaTACH is usually translated "trust" in English. When I see BaTACH I think of a safe place to fall or make my stand.

Trust in YHVH with all your heart. The word for heart is LEB; in Hebrew it is a picture of "shepherd's house" Isn't that kewl!) My heart is to be the shepherd's home. I am encouraged to trust the Almighty with my whole heart. I am not like a landlord who must check on the condition of my investment, constantly coming to see how the tenants are living. No, I am the tenant in this illustration. Me, living for Jesus is what he oversees. But I am blood bought, a sister-bride. I am not a stranger. I have been given the Holy Spirit to guide my decisions and protect me when I need to run back to the shepherd of my soul. I no longer rely on my own insight (thinking with my brain instead of my heart where Y'shua-Jesus is at home). I am free to be carefree (not the same as careless) when Y'shua makes my whole heart his home. Proverbs 3:5.

No wonder the Psalm proclaims, "The fool says, "in his heart there is no god." (Yes, I changed the English punctuation a little to make my point). Psalm 14:1

BaTACH - Trust with all of my heart, can only be true if Y'shua lives with in my heart.

Mrs. Hagerty, October 28, 2016

Morning Prayer and Stealing from God Psalm 66:16-20

Come listen all you who fear God; let me tell you what He has done for me. I cried out to Him with my mouth; His praise was on my tongue. If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer. Praise be to God who has not rejected my prayer or withheld His love from me!     Psalm 66:16-20 

Have you talked to the Almighty today? Have you told Him what is on your heart. We who believe pray in Y'shua-Jesus' name knowing that God answers our prayer... doesn't he? 

Most of us know that Y'shua-Jesus chose us when he chose to go to the cross. We could not pay for our own sin. We owe our life, meaning we gave up the right to eternal life because we are "in Adam" and we sin. Y'shua-Jesus NEVER sinned, so his death was not a payment for his own sin. He chose to pay for YOURS. 

Because He paid for your sin, He owns them. When you keep some sin in your heart, something to play with, maybe something that defines you, then you are stealing from God. You are enjoying something that you stole from Y'shua-Jesus. 

If we confess our sin He is faithful, and just and forgives us our sin, and leads us in The Way.     1 John 1:9 

He hears us when we pray, he powerfully answers our prayer, but He loves you and makes a clean heart His priority. Don't steal from God, give him what he paid for.... then pray and see what He does! 

Mrs. Hagerty; September 21, 2016

Be a door...

When He had come back to Capernaum several days afterward, it was heard that He was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them. And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men. Being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying. Mark 2:1-4 nasu

I am continually surprised by Mark. For instance, today's passage. I have taught the story of the man who was let down through the roof to Y'shua countless times. It is one of our basic Sunday School and Children's Church stories. I really did not expect to see anything new in this reading. I may have even mentioned that sad detail in my prayers for open eyes before reading the passage.

...and many were gathered together, that that there was no longer room, not even near the door...

The apostle John lets us know that Y'shua is the door, I get that. He is the only way to the Kingdom (John 10:9). I also understand that Y'shua stands at the door and knocks, desiring that we answer. I sort of get that. But in this passage four friends bring someone who is unable to come to Y'shua and stop at nothing to get him to Y'shua. But what is the point? Is it their faith? (their "amen" or standing firm on the Word?). 

Here is the place where knowing a tiny bit of Hebrew throws open a window on the passage. There were four friends. There is nothing coincidental or casual about Scripture. Four friends is very specific. Four is the number of the Hebrew letter Dalet. Dalet is symbolic of a door. Read that again, The four friends are symbolic of a door. They made a way to get the paralytic to Y'shua. Dalet is also symbolic of a choice to enter into hope. 

We cannot "save" anyone, but we can be the door that Salvation (Y'shua) uses. We know the firm hope that the Almighty is for our life. We know the hope that the hopeless have no vision of. We are to make a way for the hopeless and helpless to come to Y'shua, the door, the way to the Kingdom of God. Be that door, don't let anything from this earth keep you from being the door to hope! 

Mrs. Hagerty

August 19, 2016

Why don't we know his name? Mark 1:10-45

Mark 1:40-45

And a leper came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, "If You are willing, You can make me clean." Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed."  Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed. And He sternly warned him and immediately sent him away, and He said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."  But he went out and began to proclaim it freely and to spread the news around, to such an extent that Jesus could no longer publicly enter a city, but stayed out in unpopulated areas; and they were coming to Him from everywhere. NASU

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Why don't we know "the Leper's" name? The first time I read this passage I was moved to tears with the realization that we are often known by our labels, not by our name. For instance, we may have been a liar, but in Y'shua (a.k.a Jesus) we are cleansed from that label. Now we are know as a child of the Almighty! Once we were a drug-addict, an alcoholic, a thief, adulterer.... or any other label but once we encounter Y'shua and are cleansed, we become "a child of the Almighty". That is what being born again is all about.

I am pretty sure that is what happened to this man. In case you have not seen my earlier posts on the book of Mark, I will remind you that I believe the word "immediately" is mistranslated. It should be translated from the Hebrew word YASHAR meaning, upright in relationship to YHVH (the LORD). The Leprosy left him (he was cleansed) putting him in a right relationship to the Almighty, Next, Y'shua sent him on his Way in a right relationship to the Almighty with a command.

• See that you say nothing to anyone; 
• but go, show yourself to the priest 
• and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.

In Greek, the first part of the command is for him to "slink away" to go on his Way in secret. He is not to SHOW himself to ANYONE, not a single soul! (the Greek repeats "anyone" as emphasis that he is not to show himself to ANYONE) ...until he gets to Jerusalem where he is to show himself to the priest. Why the priest? He is to be Torah observant in making the offering to the priest that Moses commanded. Leviticus 14 He had the privilege of being a "Christian" witness to the priest. That was his purpose in life. I do not think that anyone since the gentile Naaman 2 Kings 5:1-14 had been cured of Leprosy, and being a Syrian, he was sent on his Way instead of to the priest. This would have been HUGE if the man had obeyed! But our un-named man disobeyed. He told EVERYONE instead of no one. There is no indication that he even started on The Way to Jerusalem.

Is that important? Was the compassion of Y'shua wasted on this man? No! He was restored. In all likelihood, his family was also restored. The people of Galilee knew that Y'shua is the only hope for the hopeless. But that is not what he was told to do as one who is Upright in his relationship to the Almighty. We never learn his name or anything he ever did for the Almighty except for making Y'shua's ministry difficult.

What has he asked you to do? Have you done it?

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you 

• to do justice, 
• to love kindness, 
• and to walk humbly with your God?         Micah 6:8

Mrs. Hagerty, August 13, 2016

The Power of Love (Amy Carmichael)

We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 1 John 4:16 nasu

What I specially want to bring you is this: young children and all who do not know our Lord have only one way of knowing how loving He is. They look at us. If there be any flaw in our love, if we fail them at any point, we make it just so much the harder for them to see, to know, to apprehend, His love. Do not let us fail our children. "Love through me, Love of God".

Miss Amy Carmichael

Edges of His Ways,

August 4

Photo: Jenny e il Piccolo...

Love Through Me by Amy Carmichael

Isaac Gautschi Photography

Love through me, Love of God,
     There is no love in me;
O Fire of love, light Thou the love
     That burns perpetually.

Flow through me, Peace of God,
     Calm river flow until
No wind can blow, no current stir
     A ripple of self-will

Shine through me, Joy of God,
     Make me like thy clear air
That Thou dost pour Thy colours through,
     As though it were not there.

O blessed Love of God,
     That all may taste and see
How good Thou art, once more I pray,
     Love through me, even me.

Miss Amy Carmichael
Edges of His Ways
August 1

One (ECHAD) is Coming (part 2), Salvation Came

Link to Part 1 One (ECHAD) is Coming.

Mark 1:4-11 Part 2

In Part 1 we were introduced to the man, John the Baptist. Part 2 is about John's ministry and the introduction to "The One - ECHAD - our Salvation.

John's ministry

John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. Mark 1:4-5 nasu

• The miracle baby had become a man: 
• Luke 1:66  All who heard them kept them in mind, saying, "What then will this child turn out to be?" For the hand of the Lord was certainly with him. 
• Luke 1:76-77  "And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; For you will go on BEFORE THE LORD TO PREPARE HIS WAYS;  To give to His people the knowledge of salvation (from the Hebrew word Y'shua)  By the forgiveness of their sins, 
• Luke 1:80  And the child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

...and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River.

How do you preach baptism? If it were me, I would preach repentance but John preached baptism. He also baptized. The baptism we are familiar with means, to immerse, to put under water. It communicates the Hebrew idea of washing. But to "preach" baptism is to overwhelm emotionally instead of physically immersing. He could preach baptism because baptism has more then one facet of meaning, depending on how it is spelled in Greek.  To overwhelm and to immerse are similar ideas but communicate different actions.

The question I have is, Why did the people of Judah and Jerusalem leave the comfort of their homes to go to the wilderness to be overwhelmed by their sin? Why did they submit to being immersed in the Jordan for the remission of that sin? According to Michael Rood's "The Chronological Gospels" this baptism of John took place in winter. There were no hotels or comfortable conference centers in the wilderness. No restaurants or campgrounds with showers and toilets; so why did they go? Surly there were plenty of adequate preachers and teacher in the big city of Jerusalem. The Jordan river ran close to the city where they could be comfortable on their pilgrimage. 

Was it curiosity about who Zechariah's son had become? If that was what they wanted to know then they could just ask around. How children turn out is something we like to talk about. I believe that they were not curious, but that they were supernaturally compelled to go. John was filled with the Spirit from his conception. The prophet Samson is the only other baby that was said to be special even from the womb. Everyone I've ever met who is filled with the Spirit had to repent of sin and invite the Holy Spirit into their heart before it could happen. There was something very special about John.

The Hebrew word ECHAD-One The people were supernaturally compelled to come and hear what John had to say; "After me, One-ECHAD is coming." Not "someone is coming" but One is coming. To our English speaking culture, "One" does not have much meaning beyond counting, but to people who had said the SHAMA all of their lives (Hear O Israel... ), One-ECHED, had a very specific meaning.

"Hear (SHAMA), O Israel! The LORD (YHVH) is our God, the LORD (YHVH) is One (ECHAD)!" Deuteronomy 6:4

YHVH is ECHAD (One)! Hebrews are very careful with the name of YHVH. They NEVER want to profane (take in vain) the name of YHVH. By saying "ECHAD-One is coming after me, Judah understood who John meant. They also knew that they needed to be sanctified and washed before they could be in the presence of ECHAD, just as YHVH instructed Moses in Exodus 19:10.

The LORD (YHVH) also said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate (baptize) them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments; Exodus 19:10

Confess your sins, repent and be washed. The people came to John to prepare to meet their God. They came from their comfortable homes and beds to be overwhelmed by the burden of their sin, confessing and repenting of it, being immersed in the Jordan for the remission of sin.

Remission of Sin When we talk about cancer being in remission we are saying that the horrible radiation treatment has done its job and the doctor can no longer find evidence of cancer in the body or blood of the victim. It does not mean the person is cured, but that for this season there is no evidence of cancer (which may last to the end of a person's normal life or it may be only a matter of years), the treatment can be stopped. Remission of sin is similar. When there is not evidence of sin, the treatment (confession to repentance) can be stopped... until there is again evidence. Mark tells us that all of Judea wanted to be set free and went to great lengths to find freedom from the cancer that is sin. THIS is how John was to "prepare the people for 'the One' coming after him"

 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Mark 1:9

Y'shua-Jesus came from Galilee. Judah is south of Galilee with Samaria in between them. It is almost like saying that John was baptizing in the Snake River in the wild country between Oregon and Idaho. The people came from California and Los Angeles to be baptized by John in the Snake. In those days Y'shua came from Lake Chelan in Washington to be baptized by John in the Snake River.... except that the western states cover a lot more acreage then Galilee, Samaria and Judah. The point being that Y'shua did not come from the religious center of the Promise Land, where the city and throne of his father David was located, where most Jewish people lived, but from the North. Few people even know who he was. He had not attended Yeshiva (Jewish school) or attended synagogue with any of the Judeans who came for John's baptism. John was one of the few people who had any idea who He was.

He came to be baptized, but He had no sin to repent of. He went into the water, just like everyone else, but without sin. Coming out of the water is where the difference was obvious. He did not come out of the water "immediately" (that is a bad translation), instead, He came out "YASHAR" (upright in his relationship to the Almighty). Not since the creation of the first man, Adam, had a man been YASHAR, and then only for a short time.

Immediately coming up out of the water YASHAR (in an upright relationship with God), He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; Mark 1:10 corrected

Not one other person, baptized and in remission of sin, came out of the water in a right relationship with the Almighty. Sin in remission is not free from sin. They were still carriers of the sickness of sin, still susceptible of being struck down with sin at any moment. Not so for Jesus. He did not have any sin, it was not even in his nature to sin, a concept that I have a difficult time understanding, but that I believe by faith. Being YASHAR - in right relationship with God, he went where His Father directed Him, submitting fully to Him. He came out of the water just as as He went in, YASHAR - upright in His relationship to God. He stayed the course. Philippians 2: 14-15

Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, Philippians 2 14-15 

...He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him...

Nothing is ever written "by chance" in Scripture, nor is it written poetically simply for poetry's sake. What I have learned about "like a dove" is too wonderful for me, I can only scratch at the surface. 

The Hebrew word for Dove is YWN (Hebrew letters yod-vav-nun sofit). When the Hebrew letter"hey" is added as a suffix to the  Hebrew word for "dove" it becomes Jonah. Jonah was one of the rare prophets who came from Galilee. Equally rare, Jonah's ministry was to gentiles. The Hebrew word for dove is also related to the Hebrew word for "wine". Wine is the "drink offering" that is poured out on the sacrifice and the service of the child of the Almighty. (Philippians 2:7). Being controlled by the Spirit of God is comparable to being controlled by wine (Ephesians 5:18). In a very simplistic way, Mark 1:10 tells us that the Spirit of the Almighty God was poured out like the drink offering on Y'shua the sacrifice, in the book of Mark, the servant. It descend as a dove... on the Son of God, who like Jonah, would bring Salvation to the Gentiles.

and a voice came out of the heavens: "You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased." Mark 1:11

Link to the next study questions: Mark 1:12-20

Epistle to Diognetus

Amidst the confusion of conflicting parties there were true teachers, able and eloquent in directing souls in The Way of Salvation. One, whose name is unknown, writing in the second century to and inquirer named Diognetus, sets himself to answer the questions asked as to the mode of worshiping God among the Christians, the reason of their faith and devotion towards God, and love to one another, why they neither worshiped the gods of the Greeks, nor followed the Jewish religion, and why this new practice of piety only so late entered into the world.

He writes:

"Christians are distinguished from other men neither by country, nor language", living in such places "as the lot of each of them has determined, and following the customs of the natives in respect to clothing, food, and the rest of their ordinary conduct, they display to us their wonderful and confessedly striking method of life. They dwell in their own countries, but simply as sojourners. As citizens, they share in all things with others, and yet endure all things as if foreigners. Every foreign land is to them as their native country, and every land of their birth as the land of strangers... They pass their days on earth, but they are citizens of heaven. They obey the prescribed laws, and the same time surpass the laws by their lives... they are reviled and bless"?

Then, speaking of God, he says:

He "who is Almighty, the Creator of all things, ...has sent from heaven, and placed among men, Him who is the truth, and the holy and incomprehensible Word, and has firmly established Him in their hearts. He did not, as one might have imagined, send to men any ...angel or ruler ...but the very Creator and Fashioner of all things - by whom He made the heavens - by whom He enclosed the sea within its proper bounds" - whom the stars obey. "This messenger He sent to them... As a king sends his son who is also a king, so sent He Him; as God He sent Him; as to men He sent Him; as a Saviour He sent Him." Not as judging us He sent Him though "He will yet send Him to judge us, and who shall endure His appearing?" As to the delay in sending the Saviour, God has always been the same, but waited in His long-suffering. He had "formed in His mind a great and unspeakable conception, which He communicated to His Son alone." As long as He concealed His own wise counsel He appeared to neglect us, but this was to make it manifest that of ourselves we cannot enter into the kingdom of God. But when the appointed time had come, "He Himself took on Him the burden of our iniquities, He gave His own Son as a ransom for us, the Holy One for transgressors, the blameless One for the corruptible, the immortal One for them that are mortal. For what other thing was capable of covering our sins than His righteousness? By what other one was it possible that we, the wicked and ungodly, could be justified, than by the only Son of God. O sweet exchange! O unsearchable operation! O benefits surpassing all expectation! That the wickedness of many should be hid in a single righteous One, and that the righteousness of One should justify many transgressors!"

An un-named Christian, to Diognetus
Late 2nd Century 

God remembers, Exodus 2:24

And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 

Exodus 2:24 RSV

The Almighty is the one who hears in today's SHAMA verse. He hears the cry, the groaning of his people in their bondage and remembers his promise to the covenant people.

Did the Almighty forget his people were in Egypt, did he not see the bondage of their slavery? How could he forget? His eye was ever on them. To remember is to ZAKAR. It involves meditation on What is remembered. He never forgets, never becomes distracted with something more important.

Did the Almighty forget the people Y'shua spilled his blood for? They are being killed all over the world, they are humiliated in America, believing that wealth and ease of life are symbolic of His love for us. But he remembers the pilgrims, and believers through the ages, the fox-hole promises, the baby dedications, the wedding vows, the sick bed cries. He remembers that we called on him when he came near because of our need, our weakness. Isaiah 55:5, 2 Corinthians 12:10 He hears, he remembers, Hang on to that promise, trust him, and at the perfect time (his not yours), when the hordes are closing in on you and there is no escape because of the sea, He will make a way that would be impossible without him.

Mrs. Hagerty, July 27, 2016

Psalm 26:7

Singing aloud a song of thanksgiving, and telling all thy wondrous deeds. 

RSV

Thank you Stacy Bergstrom for the beautiful sunset

What a huge responsibility it is to translate the Word of the Almighty into a language that I can understand! I have nothing but respect for those who did this great work for me and for the missionaries who continue this work for the people who still are without the Word. I want to state that up front.

The phrase "singing aloud" or "that I may publish" in the kj is translated from the Hebrew word SHAMA' to hear. Well known as the first word of Deuteronomy 6:4

Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God is One.

David's SHAMA' tells us to "listen (SHAMA') and worship out loud, the mighty wonders, the extraordinary, surpassing (deeds isn't even part of the description, we just do not know how to communicate who YHVH is and what He does without a handle to hang it on) ...our King, our brother, our beloved Betrothed, Salvation; Y'shua

Mrs Hagerty, July 26, 2016

Deliver us from evil...

Sing praise to YHVH, you His godly ones, and give thanks to His holy name.
For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime;
Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning.
Psalm 30:4-5

What a night! I awoke with a burden on my heart ...not for the soul of someone else, but for my own. Feeling dull and useless to my beloved Y'shua-Jesus, cast aside, and lost in my own thoughts instead of His; all I could do was pray "The Lords Prayer". It is what I do when my mind does not co-operate with my heart.

I love Hebrew. John Parsons of Hebrew for Christians, has written an essay on the Hebrew translation and meaning of the Lord's prayer. I go back to that essay when my mind is only spitting up rote words instead of letting my heart cry out to Messiah. The Spirit of the Almighty led me directly to the problem.

.Matthew 6:13b ..deliver us from evil...  hatzileinu min-hara

John Parsons essay said that this idea is yetzer hara.

...the inner impulse to gravitate toward selfish gratification (idolatry). This concept first appears in Genesis 6:5 where the wickedness of man is described as "every imagination yetzer of the thoughts of his heart was only evil ra"...

It is overwhelming to realize that my problem with sin is exactly the problem that brought the flood! Could my beloved LORD be sorry that he wasted His time with someone like me? Genesis 6:6-7 Despair! What hope is there for me? Wouldn't the evil one, min-hara be delighted if he could freeze us up with that horrible thought. I was almost there in the darkness of my morning.

Is God finished with me? Feeling a little numb I started flipping through Facebook and came across an Anne Graham-Lotz post. It was a verse of scripture that ended with the hash-tag #PrayerAndPraise. Why was that on FB? Aren't hash-tags for twitter? Curious, I clicked on it and came to a page filled with encouragement. The love of God began to flood every fiber of my being.

The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. Psalm 145:18 NIV #PrayerAndPraise 

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1-2 NIV #PrayerAndPraise 

he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken. Isaiah 25:8 NIV #PrayerAndPraise

On and on it went until I came to Philippians 1:6

being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  Philippians 1:6 NIV #PrayerAndPraise

The amazing love that filled my soul and set my spirit to singing! I wanted to make this old body dance, to lift up my hands in praise... but for the sleeping, hard working man next to me who needed a few more hours of rest. Never mind! God is not through with me, I am not trash that He is sorry He tried to redeem. That is not who He is. With joy, I proclaim the words of Paul...

Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God's mercy to you. For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.
    Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
    How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!
    "Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?"
    "Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?"
    For from him and through him and to him are all things.
    To him be the glory forever! Amen.  Romans 11: 30-36 NIV #PrayerAndPraise :)

Mrs. Hagerty, July 25, 2016

Gospel of Mark; Chapter 1:14-20, week 3

Study Notes; Mark 1:14-20

 Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, " The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."

 As He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, "Follow (after) Me, and I will make you become fishers of men."  Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away to follow Him.           NASU

(Bold print words are the subjects of word studies)

Day 1, Mark 1:14-15

What does the passage say?

14 (when?)   Now after John had been taken into custody, 

     (who?)    Jesus 

     (where?) came into Galilee, 

     (what?)   preaching the gospel of God,

What does this mean?

John, the rock-star preacher of his day, was arrested for daring to preach his message of repentance to a government man. His father, Zechariah, gave his life to protect John the forerunner. Luke 11:51b His mother, Elizabeth, raised him alone in the wilderness, in poverty, during her old age to protect the forerunner of Messiah. Was it all for nothing? 

John the Baptist came to prepare people's hearts for the Messiah. Judah and Jerusalem responded. When he moved into Galilee with his message, he was arrested by Herod. Y'shua-Jesus went straight to Galilee and began preaching the Gospel. (Mark 1:2-3)

After John was arrested, silenced, Y'shua (salvation) walked into the center of the fight and began preaching the message of John. Repent! The Kingdom is At Hand. 

The government said, Enough of this repentance talk. It does not apply to the rich and powerful. But that did not silence the message. All it meant was from that day forward, though religion fell, Life still stands.

The Question Am I ready to stand even if my hero falls? Will I hide in fear or take up the message?

15  What does the passage say? 

and (connects to verse 15--Y'shua proclaimed the Gospel)

(what?) saying, "(1) The time is fulfilled, 

             and         (2) the kingdom of God is at hand; 

                             (3) repent 

             and         (4) believe in the gospel."  

What does this mean?

The time the prophecy pointed to was the time of John's arrest. It (and everything else to make perfect circumstances) has fallen into place.

The Kingdom is at hand: One day, the kingdom with be a physical kingdom and every knee will bow in submission to Y'shua; but today, that same kingdom is found in the Spiritual realm and must be submitted to by faith. Look up the following passages

Romans 11:14Philippians 2:10
John 4:24
Revelation 21:2

repent: G3340 (G is for Greek, you might use NT for new testament. The number is a reference in the Strong's Concordance) The simplest meaning of "repent" is "stop; turn around and go the opposite direction." But I do not think this passage is about a physical journey. When it comes to living by faith, I like to say that "repent" means to think differently, so differently that you have a change in how you live your life. What do you learn from your study of repent?

believe: G4100 (pist-yoo'-o) to think something is true and worthy to be trusted (Louw and Nida) Believe is the noun, faith is the verb, the action taken because we believe.

What is it we are to believe? What is the Gospel? The essence of Mark's Gospel is Mark 1:3, John, and then Y'shua called us to repent and "walk THE WAY of YHVH (the LORD). Repentance from our philosophy of life (even if we have not really thought through what that philosophy is) prepares us to live a YASHAR life, "straight" Mk 1:3. It is the same word that gets translated into Greek (G2117) before being wrongly translated "immediately". Adam and Eve were created to have a YASHAR (upright-straight) relationship with the Almighty. But they chose sin and lost that. YASHAR is like a plumb line that shows how far off our lives are. It is the perfection of Torah, buy which no one can be saved; rather we see how far off plumb we are. By faith in Y'shua-Jesus we are back in plumb in relation to the Almighty, not because we work at it but because we believe and have faith in the Son of God.

Now is the time to enter the presence, the kingdom of the Almighty, by faith (you must be born again-John 3:16). First repent of how you used to think of life, then, trust in YHVH with all of your head, strength, and essence (heart) and you will be born again, belonging by faith to the Kingdom.

The Question Do I believe the gospel? Do I have a different way of thinking about what is good, how to live, what my hope is?

All over the world, Believers are falling by the crescent sword of Islam while I live in peace. The peace is lovely but it is not real. If one member of the body suffers, then we all suffer together. If one of us is honored, we all rejoice together. 1 Corinthians 12:26. What can I do from Everett, Washington as believers in Central Africa are systematically slaughtered; How do I stand with a believer jailed in Rowan County Kentucky from this safe place across the country? First you pray.

Day 2 Mark 1:16-18

As He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen.      And Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men."      Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.

What does the passage say?

(who?) He (Y'shua-Jesus)

            Simon

            Andrew, the brother of Simon

(what?) was going along (Y'shua)

             He saw (G1492)

             casting a net (Simon & Andrew) (why?) for they were fishermen

(where?) by the sea of Galilee (where Y'shua was going)

                in the sea (where the nets were cast)

saw (G1492) not just viewing something, but to see and remember.... Y'shua saw the brothers and remembered seeing them from earlier (John chapter 1 for instance)

net the net is part of a play on words. In verse 15 Y'shua declaires, "the time is fulfilled..." Fulfilled (G4137) can be described as "a full net" He comes to the brothers "casting a net" (G292a) is more about tossing the net too and fro trying to find a way to fill it. I'm not solid on what it all means (if anything) but it seems like a kewl connection.

for is a flag word. It answers the question of why. 

Why were Simon and Andrew casting a net in the sea? For (because) they were fishermen. Start looking for the flag word "for" and see if you can find the question that it answers. Sort of like playing the game Jeopardy... I'll take Mark 1 for a hundred Alex. The answer is, "because they were fishermen" The answer(must be in the form of a question); Why were Simon and Andrew casting a net in the sea?

What does this mean?

Y'shua see's the chosen and no matter where you are or what your do, he sees you, he remembers you and you. He meets you where you are. Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist (John 1:40) but he was also a fisherman. Peter met Y'shua because of Andrew, Y'shua even gave him a name, Keph (a hollow rock... sort of a man cave?) but he also went home to go back to work. Was it because they were not yet convinced that Y'shua was the Messiah? I do not think that is why they went back. It was not until Y'shua met them casting their nets at the sea, that was when the  time was "fulfilled". What happened between the first and 2nd meeting is a mystery, but I bet it involved a lot of thought about what happened when they met.

The Question

Where is your life going? If it seems as if you are on hold, be patient, perhaps the time is not yet fulfilled. Give your life to Y'shua-Jesus and he will sort it out.

Day 3 Mark 1:19-20

What does the passage say?

What does this mean?

The Question