Author: songofmary

God has called me to Serve Him

Originally posted on August 23, 2013

mary-magdalene-2

I had the urge many, many months ago to shave my hair off.  I didn’t, though I wanted to.  The same urge returned with more fervor a few months ago.  I had the clippers in hand and a friend told me not to.  Then one day my entire family went on a two week road trip and I awoke one morning after spending much peaceful time meditating on God and His Word, and I just knew it was time, and that He was asking me to do it.  For Him.

Cutting hair during hard times, or change is not unusual for me, or other people.  I have cut my hair short, for example, after the birth of a child, or some other life event that seemed noteworthy.  It wasn’t a external idea so much as an internal one; I felt changed and needed to represent that in my body somehow.  Some express this same sentimentality regarding tattoos, how you can want to mark your skin to express on the outside some deep change on the inside.  So clipping my hair entirely off was an extreme manifestation of that same feeling.

But it was more too.  I had been going deeper and deeper into my study of God’s Word, and I had been opening myself up to His Holy Spirit, and I had been offering to him more and more of myself in this process.  Until I finally decided to offer everything of me to Him.  Shearing off my long, pretty hair was a symbol that I would give Him anything of myself, even my looks; my prospects for finding an earthly mate; my vanity; my pride; and essentially, my ego.  I realized I wanted to only be a vessel for Him to fill with Him, not me.  There is a purification inherent in it too because my hair had been through a lot over the years, increasing bouts of dyeing, stress, greying, and it wasn’t feeling healthy anymore, though I was feeling completely reborn and new.

Being a priest to me means that I serve the LORD.  It means I think about Him all the time, and I come before Him ceremonially every day and worship Him.  It means I delve into His Word constantly and I try to ascertain His Truth.  It means I serve Him first.  It means I listen to His will for me, and I try to implement it at all times.

In doing this, it necessarily means that I testify because I love Him so much I cannot keep quiet about Him.  It means that I offer myself to others selflessly as I offer myself to Him.  It means that I do whatever it takes to reunite people to Him because He misses them and wants them to come back to Him.  It means I share insights into His Word and Spirit when I receive them, because He gives them to me.  It means that I strive to unconditionally love everyone because He unconditionally loves me.

I do not believe everyone is a priest who accepts Jesus Christ as the Lord Messiah.  I believe the priesthood is a higher level than mere believer.  It is a place for those who are willing to sacrifice the majority of worldliness in exchange for Godliness.  It is for those willing to sacrifice fleshly desires for spiritual fruits.  It is for those willing to lay themselves on God’s great altar and give themselves entirely up for Him, and His will.

Love,

~Mary

Is it God or is it Hammurabi?

Originally posted on August 22, 2013

 

The Old Testament Law concerning violence:

“But if any lasting harm follows, then you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.”  ~Exodus 21:23-24

Is a paraphrase of Hammurabi’s Code written in or around 1750 B.C.:

“If a man has knocked out the eye of a patrician, his eye shall be knocked out. If a patrician has knocked out the tooth of a man that is his equal, his tooth shall be knocked out.”

We know Abraham, the father of Judaism, came from Ur in Mesopotamia on or around 1800 B.C. The influence of the land of the Babylonians extended far, and would have likely influenced Abraham and the Patriarchs, either before he ventured westward, or after.  Polytheism eventually gave way to monotheism in Babylon (1500 B.C.) and Egypt (1400 B.C.) for a time, and this was after the Code of Hammurabi was written because when Hammurabi’s law was circumscribed (!) at the top of the stele, which was erected (!) around 1750 B.C.,

File:Code of Hammurabi.jpg

Hammurabi refers to his ‘God’ but the relief depicts him standing before the sun god Shamash, god of law and justice, who extends a rod and ring to Hammurabi, as a symbol of his royal authority; and not his later favored god, Marduk, the ‘solar calf’, whom would come to replace all other gods of Babylon in a streak of monotheism, by mid-century:

File:Milkau Oberer Teil der Stele mit dem Text von Hammurapis Gesetzescode 369-2.png

“Anu and Bel called by name me, Hammurabi, the exalted prince, who feared God, to bring about the rule of righteousness in the land, to destroy the wicked and the evil-doers; so that the strong should not harm the weak…”

The Patriarchs of Judaism were undoubtedly influenced in Mesopotamia, Egypt, and/or Canaan by the rise (and fall) of monotheism.  But what are we to do about the source of the Law?  Can the oldest epic material in the Torah be the Word of God, but also have been predated by a polytheistic ruler?  Did the Patriarchs adopt it, along with other traditions and weave it into their own epic story, attributing it to their one and only God??  Did the ancient Hebrews come up with the law first, as an oral tradition, to be quickly followed by Hammurabi stealing it and engraving it on his stele 750 years before the Israelites could even start recording their story?

All important questions to be answered.

Love,

~Mary

The Priestly Writer

Originally posted on August 22, 2013

“A source, marked by the style and cultic interests of the priestly circle, which comes from the period after the fall of the nation in 587 B.C.–that is, the time of the Babylonian Exile.”~Bernhard Anderson, Understanding the Old Testament

It is understood by historians and scholars of all the main religions that the Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament, also called the Pentateuch, was composed of various sources blended together.  The books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy give attribution to Moses, but since Moses was preliterary, by the time the Oral Torah gave way to the Written Torah, Moses had long been gone.  Four main sources have been identified:  A Judean source (who calls God Yahweh), an Ephraimitic source (who calls God Elohim), a Deuteronomy source (who is responsible for the whole book of Deuteronomy), and a Priestly source, as described above.

The oral tradition began, as far as we can tell, around 1800 B.C.  Moses arrived on the scene in 1391 B.C.  The Israelite story was shaped orally during all this time, and only began to be written down in King David’s time, 1000 B.C.  The Judean source is credited to 950 B.C., The Ephraimitic source to 850 B.C., the Deuteronomic source to 650 B.C. and later, and finally the Priestly source to 550 B.C. and later.  The Priestly source was the last to shape the story because by 400 B.C., the Pentateuch was in its present and final form.

How much of the Torah was shaped by the most original Mosaic story?  About half?  The book of Genesis, chapters 19 through 24, and 32 through 34 of Exodus, and the book of Numbers 10:10 through chapter 36.  Because the last half of the book of Exodus, all the book of Leviticus, and the book of Numbers up to 10:10 are attributed to the late Priestly Writer.

As I am compiling God’s Law from His Word, I began to detect a definite cultish feel in the Priestly Writer material.  I don’t think he functioned alone, but represented the whole circle of priests who had probably, over time and persecution, shaped the backstory of Moses’ experiences on Mount Sinai into something esoteric, which only they could understand.  For example, whereas the old epic traditions of the Judean source and the Ephraimitic source are more concerned with who, beyond the years of longevity (which I suspect was also later influenced by the Priestly Writer), it becomes obvious to any astute reader that the Priestly source is more concerned with how many.  Reading how many cubits the tabernacle had to be, and how many bowls the Gold Lampstand had, seems somewhat overkill and nonsensical for our time, so it is natural to want to skim over that part, leaving it to a bygone era.  But when one delves deeper in the numbers, we find that The Priestly Writer is definitely into numerology, as was related in my post in this blog on The Gold Lampstand a month or so ago…And especially the concept of pi and the circle represented by the numbers 1/22/7/3, and 12/400 and 40.

Without a doubt, one must necessarily abandon literalism as the primary methodology for interpreting the Old Testament, for to understand the full meaning of the Priestly Writer, one must view much of the Old Testament content as symbolism.  Yet, no doubt some things were to be taken literally, such as the concept of offering and sacrifice as it relates to forgiveness.  But those who choose to just view it literally are at the least missing great teachings (see post on Out of Captivity and Into the Wilderness, for example), and at the most missing the heart of the statutes, as Jesus so aptly expressed and demonstrated.

For myself, I will have to work out whether these hidden meanings are of more of a Godly influence, or a worldly one.  Are they meant to inspire a higher echelon of worshipers, those who desire to study and delve deeply into God and His Word; or are they the ego-fixations of a Pharisaical group who wanted to sequester special knowledge?  Jesus spoke in parables for a reason.  To avoid rapid persecution, yes.  But he states there is a deeper reason:

And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”

He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.  Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.  And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:

‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand,
And seeing you will see and not perceive;
For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.’  ~Matthew 13:10-15

There is an implication woven into the bible, conspicuously stated in the New Testament as above, and more inconspicuously in the Old Testament, that there are levels to understanding and knowing God.  And a further implication, based on Jesus’ example, that the people should not be told outright, but that they have to work for the knowledge from out of a heart that wants to know God.  We are supposed to let our light shine to be a beacon for God to others, but that does not mean we should cast our pearls before swine, but allow people to come to God’s Word via our Lighthouse as they will.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”  ~Matthew 5:14-16

 

Even Luke admits to secret knowledge:

”For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all.”  ~Luke 8:17  

It was when I began to discern this knowledge myself, from reading the Bible, that I also realized God was really calling me to be a priest, because I was uncovering priestly knowledge of those highest priests represented in the Bible.

In conclusion, the Priestly source is responsible for MUCH of the Law that God emphatically states for us to follow in His Word.  So the question becomes, if the Priestly Writer embellished the Mosaic story with numbers, to relate a hidden code or message (which doesn’t seem very Godly), what else has he embellished?  Does his writing represent well the actual Word of God, or another agenda, one of the fraternity of priests, who held themselves aloft and sequestered, holding a sacred and special knowledge?  A sort of mouthpiece of God, but instead of a golden beacon of light shining for all to see, some reverberation shaped by the horn of a Baalish goat or ram which the pagans might have worshiped in their polytheism?

It is my quest to compile a list of Laws which God really does want us to know and follow.  Like an archaeologist slowly sweeps the dust away from an artifact with a toothbrush so as not to lose any valuable material, I want to discern as much as I possibly can about the context and agendas of the times of the Old Testament so as to know what God is really telling us through true Prophets, like Moses and Isaiah and Jesus, from what non-Prophets might have written into His Word as His Word but not His Word at a later, more influential time.

Love,

~Mary

Out of Captivity and into the Wilderness

Originally posted on August 20, 2013

God gives us a paradigm for dealing with addiction and enslavement to unhealthy habits and relationships in the form of the primary story of His chosen people, those who choose to believe He exists and to live for Him, following His commandments and His Word through All His Prophets.

The Exodus story, followed by the Sinai Covenant relates the great tale of how the first Hebrews were enslaved 400 years by the Egyptians.  It wasn’t just any enslavement, it was a difficult and harsh reality with which they had to contend.  Baking the bricks, and building all the great structures for Pharaoh in the hot desert sun nearly every day of the week took its toll.  Yet they were helpless to see a way out for themselves.

Then Moses came along.  An orphaned Hebrew boy who was raised in Pharaoh’s court, Moses came to be acquainted with His people’s plight, and God spoke to him, giving him a special mission to deliver his own people out of captivity, and into an unlikely and miraculous freedom.  They followed the Word of God by following Moses’ leadership, even though there was no rational reason for ever thinking they would be able to come out of the yoke of their centuries-long bondage.

After many amazing signs and wonders, they believed God really was their sovereign LORD and Master, and out of Egypt they went.  As they left, Warrior God smited final attempts made by their captors to seize them again, and afterwards the Chosen Ones fell down on their knees and made music and danced and praised His Holy Name!  The Songs of Moses and Miriam are recorded forever in history for all to regard:

Song of Moses

“I will sing to the LORD,

For He has triumphed

gloriously!

The horse and its rider

He has thrown into the sea!

The LORD is my strength and 

song,

And He has become my salvation;

He is my God, and I will

praise Him;

My father’s God, and I will

exalt Him.

The LORD is a man of war;

The LORD is His name.

Pharaoh’s chariots and his 

army He has cast into the sea;

His chosen captains also 

are drowned in the Red Sea.

The depths have covered them;

They sank to the bottom like a 

stone….”~Exodus 15 1-5

God then made a covenant with them on Mount Sinai, promising them, if they obeyed his commandments, He would lead them on into the Promise Land “flowing with milk and honey,” as He had also promised their forebears, since Abraham.  However, the Promise Land was currently being inhabited by The Canaanites, who worshiped idols and practiced pagan rituals, like child sacrifice; and it was necessary for the Hebrews to camp in the wilderness until such time as they could enter it.

It turns out they had to wander in the wilderness 40 years.  That is a long time.  This time in the wilderness meant they were free, but they were fraught with other perils, like starvation and lack of water and shelter, and battles with rogue enemies.  They were basically nomads, traveling around on foot, a motley caravan that moved in the formation of a cross with the central group consisting of the priests, the Levites, who carried the most holy of their treasures, The Ark of the Covenant of God, which housed the Ten Commandments which had been given to Moses by God on the mountain.

God’s Chosen People grumbled much on this journey, as it is told in the bible.  Historians have marveled at the honesty of this recount because usually a people do not like to put to paper any of the negative aspects of their development, but prefer to focus on the positive aspects, flowing from a natural bias.  They often complained to Moses that they wanted to go back to Egypt, that life in Egypt was hard, yes, but at least they had seasoned food!  Undoubtedly they had some amnesia about how hard life had been there and how merciless Pharaoh had treated them.  But in the wilderness, as the years went by, they sometimes only remembered how difficult today was, as yesterday became numbed by time and growing older.  At one point, they even lapsed into idol worship, God’s worst crime for man, because Moses had disappeared for longer than they expected him to, and, without their holy leader, they became lost again.

Finally, even though it is debatable how well they kept loyal to the commandments and statutes overall, God delivered on His promise and they came into their long sought after Promise Land.  Did that end all their problems?  No, they then had foreign battles to contend with along with civil feuds.  However, they were finally their own people with their own place to call home.

It occurred to me that God is giving us a message in this epic story.  He is telling us that He understands we are in captivity.  Captivity is a human phenomenon, one that most of us understand, whether we have been enslaved by taskmasters at some point in history, or whether we have made our own shackles out of addiction or unhealthy habits.  Most of us have our own private Egypt with which to contend.  God wants us to know that He understands:

And the LORD said:  ”I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows…”~Exodus 3:7

And if we will only listen to His Word and Holy Spirit–called ‘angels’ in the old testament–(His insight may occur at church, or through a friend, or come as a sign to us personally), He will, with many signs and wonders which we could never conceive nor accomplish on our own, show us the way out.  It may be likely in such a way that no one else can see or hear or understand, but what is important is that each of us understands.

But once we come out of captivity, we still are not delivered yet.  This is the part I think that we as humans do not fully understand.  We expect it to get easier once we do the hard work of breaking that yoke of bondage.  And it seems like it should get easier!  But it just really gets harder in a different way.  Usually humans do not do very well with change, so it can feel even harder because at least we knew what to expect in our captivity!  Like the ancient Hebrews, we can easily slip back into our Egypt, our familiar patterns and vices that have come to not only be a part of us, but have likely been a part of our families for many generations.

The good news is that God is telling us it will only last a fraction of what our captivity lasted.  If we choose to break our bond of slavery sooner, we will heal sooner.  The longer we let our captivity take us over, the longer we will be wandering in the wilderness before we can finally be delivered into our homeland, where we can fully be ourselves.

God is telling us it will get harder, in a different way.  We will want to return to our captivity.  We will not feel at home.  We will fight battles and go hungry and thirsty and our desires will not be met very well.  But He guarantees to us repetitively in His Word, and He will show us with His Spirit, that we will someday finally be free, and we will enter the Promise Land, if we but honor Him and trust Him and obey Him and all his commandments.

I know this to be true.

God’s Peace and Love,

~Mary

God is Tolerant

Originally posted on August 18, 2013

I am sitting in a booth at the annual fair today for the birth center of which I am a participant.  The booth next to me is for Falun Dafa, a Chinese philosophy that involves Godless peace and exercises (like tai chi).

I just heard a man say he was attracted to it because he was raised as a Christian but he wanted something ‘more tolerant.’

More tolerant than God?

The thing is, that God is sovereign and makes the rules. We follow them and He graces us with abundance.  There is no negotiating–God simply knows what is best for us and gives us His Laws and commandments to follow.  God has a plan for each of our lives and we can choose to follow it completely, not at all, or anything in between.  He gives us the free will to do this!  What is not tolerant about that??

I guess he is talking about Christians who do not validate people’s choices in their own life, but judge them according to God’s Law and Word.  Thing is, as believers, we are commanded to rebuke our brethren when we see them committing sin, and are in a special role whereby we can educate people and point them in the right direction.  However, as Jesus taught, we become hypocrites when we go beyond that and judge each other, and allow our notions to put distance between us and our neighbor, whom we should always love, no matter what.  One of the Great Commandments is to love your neighbor as yourself.  It doesn’t say to love them with conditions.  Unless someone harms others, they should not be judged, and only then by the proper adjudicator or Priest.  And God, as we know, is the Ultimate Judge, and is perfectly capable and able to punish and reward His flock.

If God allows them to choose their path, who are we to judge them?  I made all kinds of Godless choices and I have reaped the consequences of them.  No one rebuked me at the time, but even if they had, it is doubtful I would have listened.  It is only by the grace of God that I can hear Him now.  Once you are born again (and I literally was–I underwent a psychophysiological rebirth)–you want to share the Good news with everyone!

Personally, I believe if our choices do not line up with God’s Law and divine will for us, we are not going to live up to our fullest potential.  But that is also our choice!  We have a gracious God that allows us much wiggle room (as long as we do not break the greatest commandments), even when He knows we are hurting ourselves.  That is what I call tolerant.

The Holy Eucharist

Originally posted on August 16, 2013

To be celebrated daily by the Priest:

The Word of God

Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

And blessed be His kingdom, now and for ever.

Amen.

Bless the LORD who forgiveth all our sins. His mercy endureth for ever.

Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love Thee, and worthily magnify Thy holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Shema

Hear, O Chosen Ones: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart; you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. [deuteronomy 6:4-9]

Therefore, you shall love the LORD your God, and keep His charge, His statutes, His judgments, and His commandments always. And it shall be that if you diligently obey My commandments which I command you today, to love the LORD your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, then I will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil. And I will send grass in your fields for your livestock, that you may eat and be filled. Take heed to yourselves, lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them, lest the LORD’s anger be aroused against you, and He shut up the heavens so that there be no rain, and the land yield no produce, and you perish quickly from the good land which the LORD is giving you. Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.

You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. And you shall write them on your gates, that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land of which the LORD swore to your fathers to give them, like the days of the heavens above the earth. [Deuteronomy 11:1, 13-21]

Speak to the children of God: Tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue thread in the tassels of the corners. And you shall have the tassel, that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of the LORD and do them, and that you may not follow the harlotry to which your own heart and your own eyes are inclined, and that you may remember and do all My commandments, and be holy for your God. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD your God.” Amen. [Numbers 15:37-41]

Pick up your cross and Bible and carry them wherever you go, for all to see, so that we might always and everywhere proclaim our adoration and worship of the One Great LORD Almighty~

Holy God,

Holy Mighty, Father Abba,

Sovereign Immortal One,

Have mercy upon us.

Glory be to God on high,

and on earth peace, good will towards men.

We praise Thee, we bless Thee,

we worship Thee,

we glorify Thee,

we give thanks to Thee for thy great glory!

God’s Creed

I believe in one LORD, one God,

Father of all creation, I AM WHO I AM,

Who has always existed and will always exist.

He is Warrior and Nurturer, Master and Friend.

I believe that, by the grace of God,

The Holy Spirit infuses us with

Guidance and wisdom if we only

Draw close to Him and allow Him to enter us fully.

I believe in all His Law and all His Prophets,

And that His Word is The Truth inasmuch as

It bespeaks His divine will,

Which is also the perfect plan for our lives.

That by God’s divine will, Jesus Christ was sent

To be our Lord Messiah,

The perfect propitiation for our sins,

And that by proclaiming and acknowledging

His sacrifice for us, we may be redeemed unto God.

I believe that through Love, Faith, and Obedience

We can draw close to our LORD

And enter His realm, which is unconditional Love.

He will make straight our paths,

And grace us with abundance for

‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard,

no mind has conceived

what God has prepared for those who love Him.’

Amen.

The Prayers of the People

Almighty and everliving God, Who in Thy holy Word hast taught us to make prayers, and supplications, and to give thanks for all men: Receive these our prayers which we offer unto Thy Divine Majesty, beseeching Thee to inspire continually the Universal Church with the spirit of truth, unity, and concord; and grant that all those who do confess Thy holy Name may agree in the truth of Thy holy Word, and live in unity and Godly Love.

Give grace, O Heavenly Father, to all Priests, that they may, both by their life and doctrine, set forth Thy true and lively Word, and rightly and duly administer Thy holy commandments, statutes, judgments, and sacraments.

And to all Thy people give Thy heavenly grace; that, with meek heart and due reverence, they may hear and receive Thy holy Word, truly serving Thee in holiness and righteousness all the days of their life.

We beseech Thee also so to rule the hearts of those who bear the authority of government in this and every land, that they may be led to wise decisions and right actions for the welfare and peace of the world.

Open, O LORD, the eyes of all people to behold thy gracious hand in all Thy works, that, rejoicing in Thy whole creation, they may honor Thee with their substance, and be faithful stewards of Thy bounty.

And we most humbly beseech Thee, of Thy goodness, O LORD, to comfort and succor all those who, in this transitory life, are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adversity.

And we beseech Thee to grant us grace so to follow the good examples of Thy Prophets and Saints, that with them we may be partakers of Thy heavenly kingdom.

Grant these our prayers, O Father, for Jesus Christ’s sake, our redeemer, mediator, and advocate. Amen.

Confession of Sin

Most merciful God,

we confess that we have sinned against you

in thought, word, and deed,

by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.

We have not loved you with our whole heart;

we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.

We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.

For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,

please have mercy on us and forgive us;

that we may delight in your will,

and walk in your ways,

to the glory of your Name.  Amen.

And now, as our Savior Jesus Christ hath taught us, we are bold to say,

“Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be Thy Name,

Thy kingdom come,

Thy will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us,

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.”

The Breaking of the Bread

Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us!

[wave offering of bread and wine]

The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for us, preserve our body and soul unto everlasting life. I take and eat this in remembrance that Christ died for me, and feed on him in my heart by faith, with thanksgiving.

The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for us, preserve our body and soul unto everlasting life.  I drink this in remembrance that Christ’s blood was shed for me, and am thankful.

The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ keep us in everlasting life. Amen.

Lord God, Almighty and everlasting Father, You have brought us in safety to this new day:  Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

The LORD bless you and keep you,

The LORD make His face shine upon you,

And be gracious to you.

The LORD look upon you with favor,

And give you peace.

Let us go forth in the name of Christ. Thanks be to God!

God’s Creed

Originally posted on August 16, 2013

I believe in one LORD, one God,

Father of all creation, I AM WHO I AM,

Who has always existed and will always exist.

He is Warrior and Nurturer, Master and Redeemer.

I believe that, by the grace of God,

the Holy Spirit infuses us with

guidance and wisdom if we only

draw close to Him and allow Him to enter us fully.

I believe in all His Law and all His Prophets,

and that His Word is The Truth inasmuch as

it bespeaks His divine will,

which is also the perfect plan for our lives.

That by God’s divine will, Jesus Christ was sent

to be our Lord Messiah,

the perfect propitiation for our sins,

and that by proclaiming and acknowledging

his sacrifice for us, we may be redeemed unto God.

I believe that through Love, Faith, and Obedience

we can draw close to our LORD

and enter His realm, which is unconditional Love.

He will make straight our paths,

and grace us with abundance for

‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard,

no mind has conceived

what God has prepared for those who love Him.’

Amen.

A Woman is made for a Man

Originally posted on August 16, 2013

e9e3400ccb785338c9e1d0421173abf4--the-creation

God resides in our soul because He is Sovereign LORD and is the only One with dominion over Life.  He is our primary soul mate, and we all should embrace this~

…But if His plan is for us to be joined in marriage, He makes a match for us in heaven:

God took a rib from the man and He made it into a woman, and he brought her to the man.  

The man said, “This is now bone of my bones 

And flesh of my flesh; 

She shall be called Woman,

Because she was taken out of Man.

Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”  ~Genesis 2:22-24

Note how she is called his wife before they are joined…God is the Perfect One for each of us, but He might have made the perfect partner for you while you are here~

Our Soul Purpose

Originally posted on August 13, 2013

In life is to glorify God and do His will.  He made each of us for a certain purpose.  To discern that purpose takes time and walking with God in obedience.  As we grow closer to Him, He reveals more and more of His Divinity to us, including our ultimate reason for being.  It is enough for us to start by obeying his Law and Loving Him.  As we do this, we begin to reflect His glory in us.  As we reflect His glory in us, we become translucent, and His light can shine to be a beacon to others, always glorifying Him, never ourselves.

Before we were able to contemplate the Divine Creator, we were similar to animals.  It is our ability to worship our Creator, God, that sets us apart from the animals.  Our sole purpose is to give thanks to Him for creating us.  Do you realize each of us, by being born, has won a 1 in 1 trillion chance lottery?  (I’m a midwife, I’ve worked out the numbers yo).  You are more likely to win the super lotto than to be created!  So everyone you know is already a huge winner.  Why wouldn’t we bow down and worship our maker, give Him praise, and live for Him?

For that is our sole purpose in life.  God wants us to know Him and love Him and live for Him.

~Mary

Things I love that God made. Thank you Father Almighty~

Originally posted on August 8, 2013

~warmhoneyinthecomb~hotbaths~essentialoils~seedoils~rainbows~flowers~coffee~gemstones~

~silverandgold~warmsunshineonbarenakedskin~cottonandsilkandwool~babies~clearlakes~

~snuggles~alcoholandnaturaldrugs~melodies~moonshine~snow~warmfires~birdsong~

~berries~paths~views~chocolate~freshair~woods~springs!