Joanna Fruhauf

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Ponder point ---Ex 35:30 - God calls out Bezalel by name - endowed him with a divine spirit of skill, ability and knowledge to craft the furniture of the ark...His name means 'In God's shadow' - that's what it takes to build God's house....Be about God's business from the presence and proximity of being in His Shadow...

What does that mean??? 

Ever have a conversation with someone outside and the sun is behind them and you are talking to them but the glare is nearly unbearable.    They recognize that you are squinting at them having trouble facing the brilliance of the orb and so they step into the sun shielding your eyes and helping you to pay more attention to them and less distracted by your inability to handle the overwhelming glory of the sun! 

I've heard too many people talk about basking in the GLORY of God....as if they can just soak in His unbridled power, splendor and majesty for hours....I used to feel cheated - less of a christian- and guilty that I just didn't even have that kind of time! - bad christian girl

I'm sorry, but even camping on the beach for a week at a time - I know you have to take precautions!!! -  I've been sorry...forcing myself to get more sun, just so I can say I've had it, show off my tan to others, have people shocked at how much sun I've had....Don't we do that sometimes too with the SON....I've been guilty....seeking glory to wear for myself, rather than having it happen naturally.....while actively living within His presence....gardening, tending to the weeds of life, working the yard of my heart....moving about in active preparation.....diligent and faithfully maintaining a housing for Him.....

In all honesty - The glare of the Son and His full brilliance is more than these human eyes, human mind and heart can fully grasp while within the confines of this sinful body of flesh.  I can look upon Him briefly, Then need the Mercy of God, by the Holy Spirit shielding me, shading me, covering me, teaching me, leading into the restful places of His shadow... passing over me with the cool breezes of His spirit as I drink of His living waters and take in the things which are His......

We move out, move forward refreshed with the understanding gained in the shadow of His wings - ps 91 - His Covering, protections and provisions...

I Love it when science, history or archeology validates and reinforces my faith in God...Cause let's face it, we aren't always as strong in our faith as we would like to portray ourselves.  And when I come across certain facts in the realms of these secular disciplines, I get excited.  

Knowing that God has created all things and that everything He has said in His Word is true, sometimes is mental assent...you know, just believing because it's stated....but actually having a grasp of it, understanding that it is true, I feel like the guy in scriptures when asking for a healing Jesus replied, do you have faith, and he answered, yes I believe, ohhhh help me in my unbelief.... I feel like that some times... anyone else out there????

Annnny Whooooo.....I came across this really cool blog from a gentleman on facebook through friend and was blessed by it on alot of levels.... I love to lead worship and minister in song, and I love to teach the word of God, and this spoke to those two passions....

By Mark Batterson)

[Edited]

There never has been and never will be anyone like you. But that isn't a testament to you. It's a testament to the God who created you absolutely unique.

All of creation is singing a worship chorus to God. And it's not just the meadow lark with its 300 notes or the nightingale finch with its 24 songs. According to the German physicist and pianist, Arnold Summerfield, a hydrogen atom emits 100 frequencies which makes it more complex musically than a grand piano which emits 88 frequencies.

For what its worth, Pythagoras said: "A stone is frozen music." Very interesting in light of Jesus' teaching that if his disciples were silent, even "the stones will cry out."

My point? All of creation is singing a unique song to the Creator. And you are part of that universal chorus. No one can worship God FOR you or LIKE you. God has given you a unique voiceprint. There are millions of people praying and worshiping God in every language all the time. But your voiceprint is unique. Like a parent who knows His child's unique cry or scream or laugh, God knows your voice. He hears your voice. The Heavenly Father loves your voice.

THIS FRIDAY - we should all be praying for our country (well everyday) - begging for mercy, forgiveness and correction for all of the sin this country has permitted, encouraged and embraced, and not just the 'country' but those who proclaim to be Christians...Aren't we all guilty!...If I don't see my guilt it's because I am refusing to acknowledge what I know is there...that's not true ignorance, it's embraced..And I now realize and see in scripture that God is only merciful on one form of ignorance.... Just like Daniel of the Old Testament, he prayed recognizing the great and horrible sins of God's own people...Are we willing to admit our errors?

THIS Fri, Sept 25,There will be 50,000 muslims praying on the capitol steps, that they would eventually have, Sharia law accepted here like they do in England and that the United states would become a nation for Allah...I've seen it in newspapers, and on line....

"As nations such as Canada, Great Britain, the Netherlands (and many others in Europe) have become more secular, they have demonstrated a willingness to embrace virtually anything – anything except their traditional Christian foundations. In fact, they now regularly repudiate those foundations"  This has energized many Muslims in those countries and they are displaying a new boldness that is vocal, visible, and demonstrably assertive. Each year, nearly 5,000 Muslim "honor killings" occur across the world  Dozens of those murders are committed in Europe, but in many of these formerly Christian nations, those who commit the "honor killings" (i.e., the murder of their own children) often go unpunished since the death of their child was "required" by Islamic law (now included in the legal law of the land). Additionally, many public personalities across Europe who criticized Islam have been murdered, causing Parliaments in the Netherlands and other European countries to forbid criticism of Islam in an effort to prevent further murders. These nations, having given up precious ground, are now having difficulty retaking it.

Historically, on this continent Christian America adopted an open free-market approach to all religions from the beginning. American Christians then (and now) were not fearful of other religions. They were confident that Christianity would prevail on its own merits and they therefore followed the Biblical precedent set forth in both the Old and New Testaments of simply presenting God's word in a straightforward manner, expecting that the Holy Spirit will confirm His word in the hearts of hearers. Christians believe that on a level playing field, Christianity will always prevail through the voluntary choice of the people.As a result, Christian America welcomed all religions, with Muslims arriving here by 1619, Jews establishing their first synagogue in 1654, and Buddhists, Hindus, and others also being present from the early days. Significantly, only America extended (and continues to extend) a free-market religious tolerance to others while still preserving the core societal values of our Christian heritage. But the culture has begun to shift.

The level playing field is being eroded. As in Europe, Christianity is being knocked down and Islam elevated.For example, a federal court of appeals ruled that public schools in nine western states can require a three week indoctrination to the Islamic faith in which all junior high students must pretend they are Muslims and offer prayers to Allah (students are further encouraged to take Islamic names, call each other by those names, wear Islamic garb, participate in Jihad games, and read the Koran during those three weeks). Yet that very court also ruled that it was unconstitutional for those same students to voluntarily mention "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance. Likewise, a federal court on the east coast ruled that public schools may display Islamic holiday symbols but not Christian ones. And the University of Michigan recently spent $25,000 of taxpayer money to install foot-washing facilities to accommodate the religious practices of Muslim students but made no similar expenditure on behalf of students from any other religion.As a result of such actions, many Muslims are exercising a new boldness in America.

In fact, Muslim "honor killings" have now arrived in the United States (most recently in Texas); and just a few weeks ago, direct action was taken to prevent the honor-killing of a 17-year old Muslim girl in Ohio who converted to Christianity and, in fear of her life, fled from her parents to Florida.American Muslims have also enjoyed the direct support of President Obama. In April, he traveled to Egypt where he told the Muslim world that America no longer considers itself a Christian nation. He later traveled to Turkey and announced that America was one of the largest Muslim nations in the world (despite the fact that 78% of Americans claim to be Christians but only 1% claim to be Muslims). Then in May, President Obama refused to invite Christian and Jewish leaders to the White House to participate in the National Day of Prayer (as former presidents have done), but in September, he did invite Muslim leaders to the White House for a special Muslim Ramadan celebration to commemorate Allah delivering the Koran to his prophet Mohammed.Heartened by this new encouragement, Muslim leaders have called 50,000 observant Muslims to come to the Capitol this Friday, September 25, for a day of Jummah (Friday congregational prayer). The sponsors promise that from 4AM to 7PM, "the Athan [the call given five times each day for Muslims to participate in mandatory prayer] will be chanted on Capitol Hill, echoing off of the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument and other great edifices that surround Capitol Hill."

The goal of this event is that "the peace, beauty and solidarity of Islam will shine through America's capitol." In fact, their website for this unprecedented event proudly and unabashedly declares, "Our Time Has Come!"As Bible-believing people, let's also make this Friday a day of prayer – and please encourage others to participate with you. We know that our contest is with spiritual forces (Ephesians 6:12), and we firmly believe that He Who is within us is greater than any other god or force (1 John 4:4), so I encourage you to fill America with prayer to the True God this coming Friday.

God Bless!

David Barton

P. S. This call for Christians to pray this Friday is not a prayer "competition" between Christianity and Islam, nor is it a spiritual Christian "jihad" or "holy war" (what an oxymoronic term – a holy war!). After all, in I Kings 18, Elijah encouraged the prophets of the god Baal to take more time in their praying; he didn't object to their prayers, he just wanted to make sure that he was able to make his own prayers to the True God. This Friday offers a similar opportunity for those who fear God and believe His Scriptures to offer up their own prayers to Him."  

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Interesting - DANIEL 9:4 “O Lord, you are a great and awesome God! You always fulfill your covenant and keep your promises of unfailing love to those who love you and obey your commands. 5 But we have sinned and done wrong. We have rebelled against you and scorned your commands and regulations. 6 We have refused to listen to your servants the prophets, who spoke on your authority to our kings and princes and ancestors and to all the people of the land.

   7 “Lord, you are in the right; but as you see, our faces are covered with shame. This is true of all of us, including the people of Judah and Jerusalem and all Israel, scattered near and far, wherever you have driven us because of our disloyalty to you. 8 O Lord, we and our kings, princes, and ancestors are covered with shame because we have sinned against you. 9 But the Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him. 10 We have not obeyed the Lord our God, for we have not followed the instructions he gave us through his servants the prophets. 11 All Israel has disobeyed your instruction and turned away, refusing to listen to your voice.

   “So now the solemn curses and judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured down on us because of our sin. 12 You have kept your word and done to us and our rulers exactly as you warned. Never has there been such a disaster as happened in Jerusalem. 13 Every curse written against us in the Law of Moses has come true. Yet we have refused to seek mercy from the Lord our God by turning from our sins and recognizing his truth. 14 Therefore, the Lord has brought upon us the disaster he prepared. The Lord our God was right to do all of these things, for we did not obey him.

While daily reading through portions of scripture I find my self  this morning in Ezekiel 8 - 10.  Strange to me how God lines things up sometimes...As I read about things that have been done in the name of God, wretched thing...historically, currently and personally...things God becomes upset with, I see a scene that is repeated by Jesus Christ as He thrashed, overturned and displaced people from His Holy Sanctuary because of their lack or respect for His reputation.... Aren't we all guilty of having done this from time to time... I certainly am... 

What has particularly struck me this morning is how God sends and angel to go through the midst of his own people, and 'put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the bad things that are done within it'  and then sends another angel to destroy anyone without the mark God has set.

Lord I desire your mark on my head.  I desire to be numbered among your people.  I desire to see your reputation upheld, preserved and reverenced with holy fear. 

Oh Lord - forgive my heart. in those times I have brought things into your holy place,  into our relationship and expected them to be sanctioned by you because of my frailties, my fears, my ambitions.  Forgive me for seeking any thing other  the courts of my God!

I tremble at your presence - and realize how fearful a thing it is to fall into the hands of an angry God.  Lord do not be angry, have mercy, forgive, redeem and reconcile...  Show yourself strong and restore your people.

or to be more scriptural, Carnal Wisdom vs. Spiritual Wisdom.

We as Christians need to recognize that there is a difference.  That there is common wisdom, or common sense or as some may say natural law, understandings about our world that are common knowledge, applicable to everyone and can be easily understood by everyone.  Unfortunately, there are people who don't even desire the basics in seeing wisdom...like a simple agricultural law of 'what you sow, you reap' back in abundance. These types of wisdom, if adhered to, would help people to live a bountiful healthy life.  Many people though don't want to believe that the consequences they deal with have any thing to do with choices they have made, instead they want to blame someone else and often God himself - I'm talking about Christians!

As someone who teaches, and mentors others, I see this often. 

Scripture tells us in James, that if we desire wisdom, and ask for it, God is willing to give it generously.  But we need to be willing to adhere to it and be corrected by it, otherwise asking for it and receiving it is of no benefit to us. 

Now that's just simple, common wisdom and sense, or worldly wisdom.  What about Spiritual Wisdom.  Is it different?   Yes!  It is something that God grants to those with ears to hear what the spirit is saying to them... and it is greater than the worldly wisdom because it has eternal ramifications. 

Jesus used some comparisons and examples of Worldly wisdom vs. Spiritual Wisdom.

Matthew chapter 5:21-43 has several examples and comparisons between the two.

1 Corinthians 2 speaks alot about the difference of Worldly Wisdom vs. Spiritual Wisdom.  Verses 10-14 say, "God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.   The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.  Wehave not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.  The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned."

King David didn't seek the wisdom of God in one situation in particular...instead he operated in the worldly wisdom that worked for others...David desired to bring the most precious and holy Ark of the Covenant into the City of God.  Previous to bringing it into the city the ark had been captured by an enemy army and held within their territories several months...After being cursed by God for keeping it the Philistines decided to send it back to the Jews...They had no idea how to handle it according to the designs and heart of God, so the simply made a brand new cart and got some beasts of burden to pull it and sent it  away.  Miraculously, the animals brought it back, unguided to the Israelites. 

David sought out his counselors, his leaders, those incharge of 100's and 1000's to see what they would say to bringing the 'Presence of God, the Ark' to the city.  They all thought it was a great idea, they presented it to the people and everyone was in agreement that to further the Kingdom of God they decided to use the WISDOM of the Philistines.  They set it on a new cart and had it  pulled by animals.

Within a few short steps.  Uzzah DIED!

David was angry, distressed and confused with God and the situation.  Why didn't this have the Blessing of God?  Why did something so tragic take place?  Why didn't God Bless this?  Why didn't the same wisdom used by the Philistines/world work for the people of God?

Because God has mercy on those ignorant of His ways, But those of His own House he holds to a higher standard, to Spiritual truths!  David had sought the counsel of men, the wisdom of the world and the approval of the masses, Not the counsel or approval of God.

Finally after much time had passed, David figured it out...He sought the scriptures, the Word of the Lord, and learned that for GOD's people there was a specific manner in approaching and handling the things and blessings of God...Once he followed through on handling the Things of God with Spiritual understanding and Wisdom, God Blessed!

This was not the first or the last time a situation is given in the scriptures comparing worldly/carnal wisdom with Godly/Spiritual wisdom... It is constantly repeated... and we today should learn from it...

Compare 1 Samuel 6 and 1 Chronicles 13 & 15

LEVELS OF Clarity and Strength  [in order of importance] 

Continually through the scriptures we see an order ofclarity within ones life.  Each level isbased on the strength of the previous level’s strength.

Individual – A Double minded man is unstable in all His ways, Let not that man think he will receive anything from the Lord  - Make your calling and election sure – Know who you are in Christ, Know who Christ has made you!! 

Marital – Husbands love your wives as your self, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her.  The husband should cherish and nourish his wife the way he would his own flesh.  Wives submit to your husbands as even unto the Lord 

Family – Children obey your parents, Honor your father and mother.  Fathers do not provoke your children to wrath.  A leader should have his house in order  for if he can not rule his own home how can he rule the church of  God. 

Church Local – Leaders need to lead by example not compulsion.  They are for the edifying and building up of the body that the body may come to maturity.  Those who are babies need to respect those that are elders because they are responsible for their souls.  Proper structure must be in place for body to function well.  There must be a skeleton for flesh to be placed upon.  If there is a weak skeleton, God may withhold growth knowing the structure couldn’t support it and thereby spare it ending up more damaged by the excessive weight. 

Church Abroad –Jesus told the Disciples to start in Jerusalem then Judea then all the world,  smaller circles working outward in larger ones.  Churches helped  other churches in scriptures.  They helped in prayer, financially, in food, and in growth.  Can only reach out of ourselves to others if we truly have something within.  We can’t  pour out to others something we don’t have.  If we can’t affect change locally, don’t try abroad! 

You can not haveTRUE unity in any level if the previous levels are not unified.

Example: If a marriage is fallingapart, then the previous level of unity must be dealt with.  Someone in the marriage, is not sure of whothey are.  They are double minded.  Healing of their foundations will benecessary for the repair of the marriage.

I remember a childhood acronym for FEAR:

F alse

E vidence

A ppearing

R eal

and recently came up with one for FAITH:

F ortifying

A dventures

I n

T rusting

H im

It can be hard to make choices.  They put us in a pincher hold sometimes and we feel lost, confused, hard pressed or torn.  I desire to make choices based on a faith in God's provision. Yet, too often I have made choices based on fear. 

Fear always seems to cause a rush to judgement, it always seems so overwhelming and a reaction to itis often where the decision comes from...Fear of failure, fear of rejections, fear of the future, fear of the unknown, fear of pain orsuffering, fear of wrath, fear of hunger, fear of loneliness, fear of what others will think,  fear oflife.  Those rear their ugly heads in so many ways...

Looking at scripture, fear of the Lord is considered the beginning of wisdom. This is a different kind of fear from what most of us base our decisions on. 

Fear of the Lord is a REVERENCE of His authority. 

A RESPECT for that authority. 

A RESPONSE to that authority.  Much the way we Fear Fire.  We recognize its power to create or destroy - and we respect that and respond appropriately or deal with the consequences of our own foolishness.

Reverence for the Lord is to be  faith based and love motivated. When we make choices based on a relationship we have with Him, on one that knows His heart, trusts Him and relies on Him to provide and protect we will make the right choices, from the right motivations...

Fear is based on our inability to control life and causes us to worry and focus on non-realities, hypothetical irrational possibilities that stand precariously on the smallest statistical possibility.

Faith, also based on our inability tocontrol life causes us to trust and focus on possibilities and promises that have in time past proven true for those whose hearts recognize that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

They have two completely different foundations and outcomes, one is based on the absolute faithfulness of an unchanging and Loving God the other onour poor and desperate attempts to grasp at the wind.

How many of us struggle with our identity?

Last night I was speakingat a women's Group at Lighthouse Tabernacle down in Central Islip - and that scripture I used was that of Ez 16-  Often I refer back to this scripture because starting in verse 6, here is a young woman that the Lord has taken notice of who is wallowing in her own blood!   And she has grown up in it...What a horrible past this young lady has -despised, rejected, neglected unloved and YET God's tender mercy takes her, covers her, swears Himself to her, cleans her, washes her, places beautiful ornaments of His splendor and glory on Her and raises her up to a position of royalty!

A true Rags to riches Love story! Unfortunately, she gets a bit prideful and boastful as if she has secured these things in her self and she falls away from the one that Loved her, redeemed and glorified her... Just so you know eventually she is restored, not because of Her goodness but because Of HIS!!!!

There were 4 women mentioned inthe Lineage of Jesus Christ in Matthew chapter 1 - Tamar, Rahab, Ruthand Bathsheba - all 4 of these women had sorted pasts!  YET God in his love for them and their willingness to submit and walk in faith brought them into a place of receiving God's abundant love for them.... Tamar was refused, neglected and uncared for by her family members, Rahab was a prostitute and a pagan, Ruth was a descendant of Moab, which was a tribe started in incest and considered an enemy of God's people, and Bathsheba was raped, her husband killed and a child died - YET GOD intervened in their lives and re set their course to HIS  coordinates! They found in the God of Israel - Hope, and life! --  They could have stayed in where they were and remained in their life of despair, but chose God regardless of the cost!

In doing so, He redefined who they were and what fruit they would bring forth in their lives.  If they had allowed their past, their families history to define them, they never would have changed!!!!  Instead they believed the promises of God, not just in mental ascent, but in their walk day to day - in their submission to His kingdom, His authority and correction for their lives...

He in turn made them NEW, fully embraced and accepted into the promises that He pours out on those that obey Him out of their love and devotion to Him!

Phil3:14 says that we are to forget those things which lie behind us and press forward into the high call of God which is found in Christ Jesus

Remember what 2 cor 2:15 says - that is ANYONE is found IN Christ - HE is a new Creation, all things have passed away, Behold all things become New!!!

I pray you will all find yourselves Hidden in Him - aside from that, we will never find out who we are.

Are we allowing things in our life that have error to die?  Are we hungering after righteousness, or are we just getting by?  Are we looking to justify our sin with a sloppy type offorgiveness and mercy?

Do we really recognize that itis the same power that raised Jesus up from the dead that is supposed to live in us?  Do we willingly lay down attitudes, agendas, actions that would bring shame to Him or do we justify them as being like the world so that we might win some? 

"Should we continue in sin in order that grace may multiply? ABSOLUTELY Not! How can we who died to sin still live in it? or are you unaware that all ofus who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the FAther, so we too may walk in the new way of life.  For if we have been joined with Him in the likenss of HIs death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of His Resurrection.  For we know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that sin's dominion over the body may be abolished, so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, since a person who has died is freed from sin's claims....So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.  Therefore donot  LET (that's our choice) sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey its desires, and do not offer any parts of it to sin as weapons of unrighteousness. but as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God, and all the parts of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness. "  Romans 6:1-13