I can still be surprised

Recently I read, "Reading translations are like drinking downstream of the source. You cannot be sure it is pure." I wish I had taken time to write down the authors name so she could have credit.

Picture by Leah Tetzlaff

That phrase sums up why I study Hebrew. Meaning is often lost in translation. I am convinced that translators do their work with the best of intentions, but as the translation ages, readers, even teachers and preachers add their own understanding to the translated passage. I'm sure that happens even with perfect understanding of the original language.

Trust YHVH with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

The surprise this morning is Psalm 23. That simple psalm of trusting the Almighty when life is scary. We teach it to our little ones to give them comfort from the shadows that hide in the closet or under the bed.

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. Psalm 23:1

The pictograph message of the Hebrew letters tells me more about "my shepherd" and "shall not want". Shepherd is ra'ah and tells of man who looks to the hand of the Almighty for his needs. But want is chacer which tells the story of being fenced in and dependent on man for my needs. Those who look to the hand of the Almighty are not wanting, Those dependent upon men suffer from want. It is rather like government health care. There are all sorts of benefits promised to citizens but we are wanting what was promised. Benefits and good health remain unattainable. We who look to the Almighty already have... what we desire.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou are with me. Psalm 23:4

This verse might have been an even bigger surprise. The Valley of the Shadow of Death is not a dark hike through the mountains, but a trench that is dug for your dead body, a grave.

All of our lives, all that we do, how we live on this earth, lead to one unavoidable destination. A grave. I honestly thought that this passage was about the difficult times of life. It is actually about our ultimate destination on earth. Death.

Hope is found in the pronoun "Thou" from the Hebrew attah, which speaks of Y'shua-Jesus. The root word of attah is the Aleph-Tav 'ot whom Y'shua-Jesus said was him. (Revelation 1:8, 21:6 and 22:13) We get our English translations down stream of Hebrew. The phrase came to us from Greek so we say that Y'shua is the Alpha and Omega from the Greek alphabet, which has no real meaning (unless we lean on our own understanding instead of acknowledging Him). The 'ot has a hey (the 5th Hebrew letter) as a suffix. Hey pictures insight from heaven. As a suffix it makes the root word fruitful (Some say it feminises the word, assuming that Hebrew is like French or Latin). When a believer goes to the grave, Y'shua-Jesus is with them.

And God raised Him (Y'shua-Jesus) up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it is impossible for Him to be held in its power. Acts 2:24

When life ends and your remains are set in the trench, the grave, Y'shua-Jesus is with you. Since death has no power over Him, it has no power over those who are in Him. But you MUST be born again. If not... you probably know the consequences of death without the Savior. I urge you, look to the Almighty, not men. ...and dwell in the house of the LORD for all eternity Psalm 23:6b

Maranatha,
Mrs. Hagerty, March 23, 2017

What does the Bible say about Overcoming trouble?

"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." John 16:33 nasu #Overcomers

Overcome: from the Greek nikao (nik-ah'-o) G3258 from the Greek root word, nike meaning conquest and the means of success. Subdue (literally or figuratively) Strong's Greek Definitions to Conquer Thayer's Greek Definitions to win a Victory over- to be Victorious over, to be a Victor, to Conquer, Victory Louw and Nida Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testiment to be Victorious, to Prevail: From the Hebrew Zakah (zaw-kaw) to be translucent, to be innocent. H2135

What does it mean to be an overcomer? We live in a world that at one moment is filled with forbidden delights and things we dread the next. But now we live in the world as new creations, fresh and clean in heart by the blood of Y'shua (Jesus). Daily we feel the pull to go off of The Way of life because the way of the world, the broadway to death, seems easier; after all, everyone is doing it.

How can a young man keep his Way pure? Buy guarding it according to Thy Word Psalm 119:9 rsv

In Hebrew, the word that comes to us as "overcome" (from the Greek word nikao) is zakah and means to be translucent, innocent. The Almighty has created a clean heart within us (Ps 51:10) and set our life on the difficult, narrow Way of life. How do we continue on that Way? By living according to the Word of the Almighty. (Ps 119:9) That is what overcoming is all about.

Coffee to start the day's Journey

Zzig.comunidade

My mom is probably coming home today. Bypass surgery is life-saving but the road to recovery and strength is long. It cannot be walked alone. She has my dad and he is fully committed to being there for her; but my dad doesn't know what many of us who have been caregivers before know. One person, even in the strength of love, cannot do it all. Exhaustion is harsh.

My brothers, my sister-in-law and I have committed the next four to eight weeks of our lives to being full time care givers while my mother recovers. It is as much for my father as it is for my mother. My husband wants to be there for her, but he is committed to taking care of me and our home during this time. That IS how he can best minister to my mom... it makes this old woman able to give this time.

If my mom comes home today, then tonight is my first shift.

"All to Jesus, I surrender... " More then once I have sang this song from my heart. Always I mean what I sing. All to Jesus. Seldom does He ask for ALL. But like Israel who would not leave Egypt without their wives, their little ones or without their livestock because they were not sure what they had that the Almighty would require of them, (Exodus 10:26) I too bring all that I count as mine. Whatever he wants is his. That does not make it simple, but it is simply what we who believe do.

Honestly, the next four to eight weeks is not "ALL," it is only the comfort of my own bed, the sounds of my husband sleeping, the comforting heat of my little dog snuggled against the small of my back. I may be giving the March chores that make early summer in the garden bountiful. For a brief time I am giving up the morning routine of letting the dogs out while I make coffee, and the warm nest of my quilt during morning prayer with the Word (and if I am honest, time on facebook).

Four to eight weeks of my small, normal life because the Almighty answered my prayer for my mother. Hallelujah! I love the grace that is my life. Today I am praying for a manifestation of the Power of YHVH through Y'shua to minister; not just to my mom, but to my dad, my brothers and Sheri, to my sons and my husband, even to my students. I long to hear the words fall easily from the sweet mouth of my LORD, "Well done," because I chose Him instead of the little things that are me.

March 4, 2017
Mrs. Hagerty