Giraffe Neckbone Bracelet

The giraffe, chewing contentedly, was gazing out over the field sloping down to a valley where cars zipped by on the road nestled there. How he got out of the Lion’s Park enclosure, I’m not really sure; perhaps he just stepped over the 12’ fence. Excitedly we stopped the car to get a picture of the giraffe roaming beyond his confines. With the giraffe in the background, I encouraged my friend to snap a picture of me quick. Suddenly she became animated instructing me to get back to the car when “humph” the giraffe had come over to me “nudging” me as he traveled on his way. In memory of my giraffe experience, I picked up a bracelet made of neck bones. Little did I know the importance of that bracelet for me till later.
As someone who ministers to women who have been abused, it is important for me to help heal the issues of the hurting heart. Many times in situations of abuse the heart says: I must have done something wrong to warrant these accusations, I must be what they say I am, I must be of no value. The truth is the abuser yells, screams, accuses because of his own fears, insecurities and poor character traits. However often the lies implanted by the screamer into the heart of the person being ranted over, take root deep inside the heart and grow into bushy weeds of fear and feelings of worthlessness.
Ambushed by words of hatred, the abused shrivels in pain and agony. They have no support and their growth into the person they were meant to be is stunted. They do not realize how important and valuable they are. They have no idea they are a prized treasure placed and stored in a secure alcove high above the grumbling rambling crowd. They have no idea they are a precious princess daughter of the most High King. I know this not just because I minster to hurting women but because I live with that scenario. Over a decade ago a person very close to me had a stroke. They are not the person they once were. Hurt and frustrated stroke victims act out of their own pain, hurting others.
One day as I was cleaning up and feeling “kind of down”, I picked up the giraffe bracelet and slipped it on. As soon as I did a question popped into my mind.
“What bracelet are you wearing?”
“A giraffe neck bone bracelet,” I answered.
“Then hold your neck up straight like a giraffe. Hold your head up high so you can see what is important and not important. Put your head up in the clouds where it belongs. Don’t you know who you are and where you are seated? You are a daughter of the Most High King. You are a precious princess with value, worth and dignity. You are seated in the heavenlies with your bridegroom Jesus. Don’t look down anymore. I know its tough however don’t look down into your circumstances but into the face of your bridegroom, who loves you dearly. He thinks you are beautiful and valuable. As long as you’re looking into his face what anybody else thinks doesn’t really matter.”
As I contemplated these thoughts, I remembered the giraffe outside of the Lion Park coming along side of me, nudging me. Is it possible he was trying to tell me something back then?
“Come on get with the program. Straighten your neck; hold your head up high like me.”
“Nah …,” I laughed. “…Then again… who knows? …either way…”
“Be like a giraffe. Straighten your neck; hold your head up high. Know who you are – a precious daughter of the King. Look up into your bridegroom’s face. Dance with Him. Let him embrace you realizing, “Weeping may last for a night, but in the morning comes rejoicing. In time everything will indeed be looking up.”

Not under the law but under grace

I so much appreciated the message I listened to yesterday. We all need to be refreshed in our understanding that God’s word has a message, is authoritative, and is relevant for today.
What I especially appreciated, and as a believer with Jewish heritage mull over quite a bit, is the trend in today’s congregations that God’s word is somehow no longer relevant or valid for today. I know that there are unbelievers who are going to invalidate creation and God, but what gets frustrating is the subtle attack from within. In other words I am sorrowful knowing there are believers who do not think Scripture is valid for today. I can’t but wonder if somehow this isn’t in part due to our misappropriating some of the words of the New Covenant?
For instance, when Paul wrote: 2Timothy 3:16 KJV - All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, Hebrews 4:12 KJV - For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart: the New Testament wasn’t canonized yet. Neither was the New Testament canonized when ‘the Bereans, of more noble character than the Thessalonians, received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.’ Act 17:11 NIV. Since there were no canonized New Testament writings, these righteous believers were looking to the words of the Old Testament (the Holy Hebrew Scriptures). If you talk about the Old Testament now, even just in passing, the proverbial response is “we’re not under the law.” Wait - what? Why is this, the almost instantaneous response? I believe it relates to Peter’s response to Paul’s writings - His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. 2 Peter 3:16 NIV
For instance, in the most notable passage Paul is quoted from on this topic: Rom 6:14,15 KJV - For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace," 4 things have to be taken into consideration: sin, law, grace and the next verse.
1. Sin is defined as transgressing the law: 1John 3:4 KJV - Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
2. THE LAW IS NOT AND NEVER WAS ABOUT JUSTIFYING US. Rom 3:19,20 KJV – “Now we know that what things the law says, it says..: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for (truly therefore) by the law is the knowledge of sin.” The law is to show is what is and is not sin. The Law is about WHAT IS AND IS NOT LOVE. “If you love me you will keep my commandments. Love is the fulfillment of the law.” The law is about WHAT DOES AND DOES NOT PLEASE GOD. The law can never justify us but it is MEANT TO CORRECT, REPROVE AND TRAIN US IN RIGHTEOUSNESS (It’s even good for health and healing- Deut 28). Rom 8:4 KJV - That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. The Sword of the Spirit is the WORD of God – His laws, his guidelines his instructions Eph. 6:17 (See Psalm 119. Of the 176 verses in the psalm, there are only 2 or 3 that don’t reference His laws and guidelines guiding us, instructing us, preparing us). Yet all I ever hear is we’re “not under the Law but under grace.” By harping on this and not balancing it with “be ye doers of the Word,” we have given the church and the world the ammunition they need to be lawless, to have no standards, to have no absolutes.
3. Grace defined by Strongs yes includes unmerited favor as it relates to forgiveness. We understand God is not obligated to forgive any of us of our sins. It is favor that is bestowed upon us though unmerited. However grace in our daily life walk goes beyond that. In the New Testament Greek perspective Strong’s concordance also conveys it as, (this is a quick rendition) “Divine intervention on the heart to do that which is right.”* In the Hebrew context, Strong’s Grace is almost portrayed as God beseeching us, “Please do what is right.”* In either case, Grace is not a blank check for one to do whatever one wants and get away with it as some people suppose and the general church wants to run with. As is supported by the next verse.
4. .”- What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. “, Powerful verse, yet no one quotes this when referencing this passage from the New Testament. Why?

Take the above definitions, the heart of what Paul is trying to reveal and insert them into Roman 6:14,15.
For transgressing the law shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under or inferior to the law, but under Divine intervention on the heart to do what is right (- which is superior to the law). What then? Shall we keep transgressing the law because we are not under the law for justification, but have unmerited favor? God forbid.
Through all of this, can’t you hear the God of the Holy Hebrew Scriptures saying, “Please do what is right.”? Wow that meaning is totally different than what Mainstream Christianity wants to acknowledge lately and responds with regardless of the situation. If we go that route, we are truly missing His voice, His spirit speaking to us with tender loving kindness and mercy, "My spirit can help you do what is right, I believe in you and you can do what it right with my divnine intervention in your heart. You can be loving and kind and good."

Do Chinese Meridian Points have validity?

Over the last couple of days I have been struggling with intense lower back pain.  Prior to that, I have had these small points of pain in body.  A friend of mine who worked in a sports medicine office noticed that those points related to the meridians for the kidney and spleen.  So I wondered if the back pain, I was experiencing, was related to a kidney issue more than a tweaking of my back issue.  As such I have been supporting my kidneys with various herbs and conscientiously drinking an allotment of water every hour.  (You want to drink half your body weight in ounces of water.  In other words, if I weigh 150 lbs; I want to drink 75 ounces in water.)  Without seeing a doctor or a chiropractor I have alleviated the pain. Needless to say, I have become very intrigued and interested in these meridian lines (basically nerve paths). In my interim of blog spot silence, I have been studying out these meridians and their corresponding linked elements as it relates to our Biblical spiritual heritage. I feel like my journey is only just beginning, and I will be sharing those findings shortly but this little update is to just give you a heads up. It’s good stuff.

The 8 Step (New Beginning) Emergency Plan for

 Peace in Difficult Situations.

A simplified edition for when all hell is coming against you,

Utilizing the last words Jesus did and did not say before he died.

·         He answered his accusers not a word and before his accusers he was silent. (Isaiah 53:7,)  When he finally did say something he said,

“It is as you say, and you will see me standing as the point of origin for the right hand of God and coming in the Clouds of Glory.

Someone who is labeled schizophrenic means they did not have a true grasp of what reality is and how to interact with it.  Your abusive accusers also do not have a grip on what is the true reality. NOTHING YOU WILL SAY CAN CHANGE THEIR PERCEPTION OF THEIR REALITY!

We are called to be like Jesus. BE SILENT BEFORE YOUR ACCUSERS. Don’t defend yourself or retaliate back with accusations. Ultimately, this is truth, we as believers are forgiven, beautiful, chosen, and spiritually sealed in him.  Someday we’ll be at his side returning to the earth in clouds of glory.  Feel the need to say something before you walk away from the situation?

“I’m sorry YOU THINK that is true.” (Just remember, someday they will see you standing at the right hand of God and coming in the Clouds of Glory with Him.

·         Father, forgive them for they know not what they do

You can almost break this prayer down into 3 parts: forgive them, they know not, what they do.

“Forgive them” Forgiveness is not an option for us as believers.  Our own salvation is on the line if we do not walk in forgiveness.  If you don’t forgive you won’t be forgiven.  If you can’t say it on your own heart’s volition say it outwardly anyway.  The Father will work out your desire to obey him into a reality - just stay in touch with the prayer.

‘They know not…”  This is key, if you can understand that the individual hurting you is really “clueless” to the fact that they are sinning.  Our society now says there is no absolute truth.  Truth is determined by the individual.  So whatever is deemed right to do, is done. They are acting out of their own pain, having not known true love and not out of the consideration or lack of consideration for you.

“what they do”  That there may be an injustice done, is only known when it is done to them. They don’t realize they are sinning against you and when they sin against you, they sin against God.  They also do not realize that when they are messing with you, they are touching the apple of God’s eye.  As such they are piling up consequences for their behavior.

·         Woman here is your son… here is your mother.

Note: when it comes to people who care, who are on the scene and unable to thwart injustice or who stand idly by, there was no invocation by Jesus to have them bring him down from the cross or to rise up to help fight the injustice, simply the call to care for one another. As such, likewise we are called to let go of trying to manipulate people to stand with us and for us.  We are to release them to one another’s care and its consequences – but most of all to your heavenly Father’s care. Again the call is for you to let go and remove yourself from the situation.

·         I assure you today you will be with me in paradise.

Though scripture says that we as believers are already seated in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus, sometimes the darkness that is around us presently can eclipse this understanding. We need to focus on the fact that Jesus desires us to be connected with Him. He wants us to actively sit with him and experience the pleasures that are at his right hand forever more. 

·         My God My God why have you forsaken me

The rejection of man can often be interpreted as the rejection of God, but this is not so.  For the joy set before Him (a restored relationship with us - his bride) He endured the cross and the rejection of God for our sake.  We are his joy and this - knowing that I am his joy- this joy of the LORD is my strength, my comfort and my encouragement.

·         I’m thirsty. 

O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. - Psa 63:1 NIV As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. - Psa 42:1 NIV   Discipline yourself for the sake of Godliness to be thirsty for God’s presence in your life.  Don’t let that void meant to be filled by God’s presence be replaced by TV, books, or people.  Feel him enfolding you with his presence; feel His kisses caressing your cheeks. For He will never leave you, never forsake you. 

·         It is finished

Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, …And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world. - Hebrews 4:3 NIV   From the very beginning the LORD had set in his heart to endure the cross for our sake. It’s time to rest in his presence, provision and protection that his death on the cross purchased for us and his presence wants to bring in us.

·         Father into your hands I entrust my spirit

 But the LORD is with me like a feared and dreaded champion; therefore my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will be utterly ashamed, because they have failed, with an everlasting disgrace that will not be forgotten. Jer. 20:11 NASB - He is our champion and vindicator; he desires to fight for us on our behalf.  If we are in the midst of our situation trying to bring about retribution for our cause we delay his acting on our behalf. Entrust your spirit into his kind care and vindication.

Jasper: The First Foundation Stone -Step One- of the New Jerusalem Part 1

Jasper: is an opaque stone that comes in red, yellow, black, white, and tans.
Rev 4:3 NIV - And the one who sat there (on the Saphire Throne) had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne.
 This stone reminds us we are all made in His Image, the Image of the On e who sits on the throne. It reminds us that we all are precious in his sight.    Jasper is also the color of the First Foundation stone of of the New Jerusalem coming down from Heaven. 

The perfect living space or environment is often called: paradise, utopia, heaven, garden of Eden, nirvana,  happy hunting ground, and so on (etc.). Some people think they can have utopia – perfection – here and now.   What do you think? Can we?

It sounds great but we have a problem.  Everyone makes mistakes or has screwed up, somewhere, somehow.  We say and do things that hurt each other. That is a FACT – a truth that no one can argue with.  For instance can you name someone that is absolutely perfect?  Can you name someone in your life that has never sworn at you, never lied, never talked bad about others, never cheated, never been frustrated and blown up?  Well if you thought about someone in your life that you think has never done this to you, I can promise you that they have done it to someone else and it is just a matter of time before it happens with you and your relationship with them.  There is no one that is absolutely perfect, no not one.

In Hebrew, the language of the Bible, there is a term that many people say means to miss the mark – fall short of perfection.  In the original language, (which was formed with pictures like Chinese)  that word is chatath (tauh) and it actually has a target in it. See it in the middle of  the word?   It is the x with a circle around it. 

We will come back to this word but for the moment let’s go back to your life. When people treat you in a less than a perfect way how does this make you feel? Let’s say they lied to you or called you names, took your money, hit you, threw away something important to you, cheated on you.  How do you feel?  Do you feel let down and betrayed?  Do you feel hurt and angry? Do you feel you can’t trust them anymore?  Do you feel like there is a separation in your friendship or relationship? Would you say you put a wall up or a fence?   When we fall short of perfection in our relationships it puts up barriers in those relationships. Now this is true sadness isn’t it?  Two people who are really important to each other but yet they can no longer relate to each other and have a friendship because there is a barrier dividing their friendship.  There is a saying from long ago, “An offended brother is more unyielding than a fortified city, and disputes are like the barred gates of a castle.” (Pro 18:19)

Now back to the word chatath (tauh), there is a fence or bars in it too. Do you see it? It is the picture letter on the far right?  In this word we see that there is a target, a goal to hit.  In front of the target is a fence that doesn’t allow you to hit the target. More importantly this word also shows the fence as a barrier or a boundary marker stopping us from a relationship with a significant other. (tauh). The 2 symbols on the far left are the first and last symbols in the ancient Hebrew alphabet. They represent the Creator: the One who is the First one and the Last one.

 The Creator is the one who formed the universe, lights, plants, and animals and said that it was good.  He fashioned man in his image - the colors of jasper stone: red, yellow black, and white. He calls mankind a wonderful creation. He made each of us with special gifts and abilities.  He made us all unique and important and wants to be absolutely best friends. He so much wants to have a relationship with you because he made you and fashioned you.   He’s excited about you, like a man is about a woman and a groom about his bride.  This Creator wants to be our support and encouragement in the fulfillment of our purpose.

Along with that, He wants us all to be best friends.  But somewhere along the line we have missed the mark and fallen short of perfection.  We’ve set up little thrones for ourselves to try and rule and reign from and have treated others less than they deserved. Having done this we’ve set up a barrier between those friends but most importantly between the one who created us.

You see that highest power - the creator God is loving, He doesn’t want anyone hurting. He doesn’t want us hurting ourselves or someone else by making wrong choices.  How do you think the Creator feels when we have lied to one another or cheated each other?  But that is exactly what missing the mark of perfection does in our lives, our friendships and in our relationship to God.  It crumples the paper house dreams we live in, causing hurt, pain and chaos. Part 2 coming soon.

Hebrew Word Picture for LORD

The name for Jehovah is contrived from the consonants JHVH known as Yod, He, Vav, He.  These consonants in the original pictoral language were pictures of a hand, someone saying behold, a nail, and someone saying behold.  The pictures literally say,” what comes from the nail revealed in the heart of the hand.”  Here is a complete prophetic picture of Jesus’ arm outstretched on the cross pierced through with a nail. 

No greater proof is really needed to understand the connection between Jesus and his DIVINITY AS LORD.  But even so the name for Jesus is Jod, Shine, Vav, Ayin.  Aagain the Jod, & Vav are repeated, but literally translated we could say, ‘The hand that destroys, secures wisdom & experience.  Isn’t that what salvation is?

Other Hebrew pictoral names of God are equally informative.  Jesus said he is the first and the last.  The first letter, Alef, is an ox head and reminds us of the numerous oxen that were sacrificed for mankind’s behalf.  The last letter, Tav, is a cross representing c covenant.  ‘Jesus is the sacrifice on the cross that brings us our redeeming covenant.’

Also check out the more indepth description of Elloheim.

The letters for Adonai are a picture of the sacrificial ox, a doorway and a symbol for life; we can see that ‘the sacrifice is the doorway to life’. 

THE MEANING OF ELLOHEIM

 The MEANING OF ELLOHEIM

This Hebrew Word picture is about the Hebrew word that gets translated as God in an English version of the Bible.  First let me say that Elloheim is a plural noun.  This means that the object being talked about is not a singular object; it is more than one.

Singular form of God is Ellohah written in the ancient pictoral language as ela. As we can see it is made up of 3 parts.  The first part is (reading right to left) is Alef.   Alef is the ox : the sacrifice that is done on behalf of the whole community. Here is a picture of one who is willing to sacrifice himself on behalf of the whole world. The second is lamed.  Lamed is a cattle goad: it represents the control of the ox, the ultimate authority.  The third symbol is the hey.  Hey is a picture of someone with their hands up lifted saying, “Stop look behold.”  Here is a picture of one who doesn’t point to himself but only to the Father & the Son, the Holy Spirit.  We have here a picture of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.  But what is in this passage is actually a plural noun.  miela The second to the last leter is a Yod (i).  It is a mighty powerful hand. The last letter in this plural noun is Mem.  Mem is the picture of water: an element that can either provide life or bring death.  These 3 personages of God together have the power to bring life or destruction. 

Name of God – Gen 1:  Elloheim	Singular noun=ela	Plural noun=miela
Alef:    a=ox	a== the  sacrifice done for the Priests & whole community	a=  the Son - Jesus is the sacrifice done for the world - John 3:16
Lamed:   l=cattle goad	l= represents one who controls the ox , ultimate authority	l= Father This day have I begotten you. Psalm 2:7, Heb 1:5
Hey:   e=Man w/ lifted arms	e= saying, “Stop, Look, Behold”	e=Holy Spirit Points only to the Father and Son not to itself.
yod: = i a hand/arm		i=mighty ability to control
m= waves coming to shore, includes tide pulling wave back to sea. Represents Life, chaos, and death		m= life or death.  To sum up: the 3 persons of the trinity have the ability to control life and death.

To sum up: the 3 persons of the trinity have the ability to control life and death. In Genesis it says He created us in his image.  We are created in the image of “3 part harmony.” I have the ability to be creative and to a limited extent life or death are within my hand.