“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.”  The Master

In John 14:1 Jesus is telling us not to have a troubled heart.  In the original Greek text this phrase is in a present tense and a passive, imperative mood.  What all that means is that the heart will receive this troubling yet Jesus is commanding (yes commanding – that’s what is revealed in the imperative mood) us not to allow our heart to be troubled, to be disturbed, to lose the calmness of our mind and to become anxious and stirred up inside. 

What is the remedy when overwhelming circumstances come our way?   To believe; to place our confidence in Jesus Christ.  This may not whisk the problem away but it will give us peace and grace in the midst of it.  Amen and Amen.

Shalom Ladies,
It’s time for Girls of Grace again (whoo-hoo).

Our topic is Praising God with Dance. However, this message is about much more than just dance. We are going to look at prophetic acts, declaration, and intercession.

Please join us at 9:30 at The Bridge Christian Church in Rotterdam NY.

“Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You.”  (Psalm 63:3)

The Hebrew word used here for praise is not your typical word for praise, this one is shabach  שָׁבַח (Strong’s #7623).  While shabach means: to commend, praise, adore, or to glory in something, interestingly, it also means to still, quiet or pacify someone.  Therefore shabach can be seen in two ways: praising or calming. 

Praising God has the power to soothe a screaming soul.  HalleluYah!!  We praise You Lord Jesus and find rest in Your amazing love.  Amen and Amen.

In America, we are living in a day where there is a church on every corner.  Leaders have provided a smorgasbord for seekers to choose from in order to connect with their Creator and grow in a meaningful relationship with Jesus.  Sadly though, Goldilocks is still not satisfied.  She can’t fine the church that is “just right.”

In John 4:23-24, Jesus had a conversation with a Samaritan woman at a well.  She asked Jesus “where” to worship, however, Jesus replied with “how” to worship.  Unfortunately the “how” is often determined by the “where” but it doesn’t have to be so, beloved. 

Click here to read this month’s manna, “The Heart of Worship.”  We hope it is a blessing to you.

Here is a model prayer for the National Day of prayer taught by our Master and paraphrased by the Message Bible at Luke 11.

“Father, reveal who You are. Set the world right.  Keep us alive with three square meals.  Keep us forgiven with You and forgiving others. Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil. “  Amen and Amen

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?”  (Matthew 6:25)

There is an interesting little word in this precious passage that is often cut out when quoted.  The word is “therefore” and it is there to connect this passage to the one just prior to it.  Therefore (no pun intended), let’s back up then and see what is written. 

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”  (Matthew 6:24)

It gets even more interesting as we look at what mammon means.  The typical translation is “money” or “riches” but it actually goes a smidgen deeper than we might expect.  Mammon (Strong’s #3126) is a common Aramaic word for “riches”.   However, scholars say that it is linked to the Hebrew word aman אָמַן as “that which one trusts”. 

I’m going to be real honest with you and tell you that I am surprised and just how many things I place my trust in on a regular basis.  Even things like turning on the light switch.  I trust that if the power supply to my house is interrupted that the electric company will come and restore it.  However, if I stopped paying my bills I would have no electricity.  Therefore, I need mammon…right?  Yes and no.  What we really need is Jesus, Amen personified and He will take care of the rest.  Let me explain.

You are very familiar with the Hebrew word mammon is related to.  The word is “amen”.  We are most familiar with this word at the end of prayer, meaning surely, so be it… amen. However, amen means something much greater than that. It has the core meaning of firmness and support. It is used to describe a foster-father/mother or nurse who supports and nourishes a child.

What a precious picture of our faithful and true witness, Jesus Christ, who personifies Himself as the Amen in Revelation 3:14.  “These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God.” 

He alone is that which we can place our confidence.  He is to be trusted to support us because He is firm, steadfast, and faithful.  Can I get an Amen? 

How profound that in Luke 18 when Jesus was asked by a rich young ruler what must be done in order to inherit eternal life His answer was to sell all that he had and give the money earned to the poor and to follow Him.  In essence then Jesus was saying release yourself fully into My arms, trust me completely. 

Following Jesus as we walk this journey is our treasure friends.  It may not always be pleasant but He is always present.  As we seek Him first above all other things in our life what we need will be added to us by our faithful and true Amen, Jesus Christ. 

“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”  (Psalm 20:7)  Amen and Amen.

“Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise…” (Matthew 21:16b) 

I found great delight in this familiar passage today and just had to share God’s goodness with you all.  Our key text today comes from Jesus as He defended the children of Israel from the religious leaders, the Scribes and Pharisees.  The crowd was joyously shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” as Jesus made is final entry into Jerusalem on His way to the cross.  The enemy was not happy…but God was. As He always did, Jesus quoted the Hebrew Scriptures.  Here He quoted Psalm 8:2 and that’s where I found today’s treasure. 

“Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, because of Your enemies, that You may silence the enemy and the avenger.”  (Psalm 8:2)

The phrase, babes and/or nursing infants, speaks of an individual who, like a child or nursing infant, is totally unable to accomplish a task.  Nevertheless, God in His infinite wisdom “has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty.”  (1 Corinthians 1:27)

The cries of praise from the crowd, the men, women, and probably children, as they shouted “Hosanna” were silencing the enemy which was in that case, the Scribes and Pharisees. 

God has honored the weak, meek, and humble, the babes in His kingdom, and made them a tool to overthrow the enemy. 

What is your enemy today?  You may not feel like you have the strength to get through the battle that you face and in essence you are not…but He is!  God has ordained and established that in your weakness He will be strong.  Your cry of praise has the power to silence the enemy.  Keep crying out beloved.  Amen and Amen.

In part 2 of this message, Tiffany Ann shares a Hebrew pictograph that is found in Jesus’ cry from the cross “My God why have You forsaken Me?” This revelation has become a source of inspiration to her when faith and fear collide within her being. We pray it is a blessing to you too.