Working for a living

Reading Thessalonians - 4 and 5  the other day it became very clear to me that although we are called to live by Faith and Trust in God he also has given us skills and talents that we should share with others in the building up of the community we live.

If we were to sit on our hands and fold our arms as in proverbs we would soon become nothing, poor and desolate and unable to feed ourselves.

Yet looking at the activities of the Virtuous Woman her day was packed with activity of building her home, making sure her family had everything that was needed.  Including running her own business - wow buying a field to plant it and work it - does this sound like someone who just sits back and does nothing all day.

When the children of Israel were brought out of the land of Egypt did they come out empty handed - no they had flocks of sheep, goats, cows, oxen and amongst them would be farmers, traders and builders, blacksmiths, furniture makers, people with a vast array of skills.  (which were used in building the Tabernacle in the desert and many other things that would have been needed along the way)

Yet today we see people sitting idly by just watching tv, feeling sorry for themselves and waiting for their next dole cheque - yet in the Bible it makes it clear we should be earning our own living and taking care of our own families and helping others to do the same.

We see in our society today, disabled people thriving in their abilities, many who are soliders coming back from the war torn areas of the world, - we saw this in the Olympics these people did not sit down and just wallow - but utilised their gifts within them.  Just as God had intended all mankind.

We see too in the acting profession many people who have suffered great hardship come through and shine in their fields.

We all have something to contribute, no matter where you are in life, every one has had a story to tell.  Each on has an adventure to share - why is it so hard to get up and walk with the skills you have.

Can you read and write, can you speak a second, third or fourth language.

I met a man who was in his 80's who was sharing with me what he was doing in his retirement - he is helping young people to learn how to interact with one another, teaching them about model railways, sharing his knowledge with young people in small village.  - there is so much that we have to offer one another - please help you fellow human being and share your time with someone who is in need.  

We all have had bad times, we have all experienced pain and suffering from one form or another. None of us are immune to what is going on in the World - in fact we are all part of it.  No one is an island - yet we treat each other as if we were.

Something to share

Genesis - Word for Today

Complete Jewish Bible-OE


I have recently reread Genesis and have had a wonderful time discovering the most amazing things that God did for his people - those that were called and were led into the desert.

The incredible mercy God has on mankind to allow human beings to be able re-cover the earth after the mighty flood, the incredible generosity of God to give us all that we have need of in the way of food, water, sky, sea, sun, moon, stars, We as a species are incredibly blessed.  God made us in His Own image to share in His wonderful handiwork.

For me it is just awesome that this amazing God and His angels look down on us and have mercy on us and want us to be given so much - yet we despise him, and reject him, deny his very existence yet all around us is the evidence of his handiwork.

All through Genesis you can see the thread of how beautiful God has led Mankind.  When Joseph was carried off and taken to Egypt - all seemed lost - yet out of the tragedy there came hope and salvation - for when the famines came on the world God had in place already Joseph who had taken care to follow Gods plans and prepared for the people - the storehouses of Egypt were full and there was plenty for everyone - even those that were outside Egypt were able to go buy from Egypt - we see just how important everything fitting together for God's purpose. 

Even on thier dying beds, both Jacob and Joseph predicted that the Israelites would be led out of Egypt and taken back to the promised land.

WE today in our society fail to see the Hand of God in the movements in the earths events.  Yet His hand is definitely in control.  For without his intervention we would be annihilated by the decisions of those in office - determined to win at all cost - using bombs and terrorisim to affect their ends.

Yet Here is God - looking down and seeing just what an outcry mankind had become - again, he must be thinking "what have I done - allowing this mankind to continue" it seems we never seem to learn the lessons of history - yet many look to history for the evidence of how to behave.  We really do not look far enough back to see just how much we are dependent on God and his ways to live the life of peace with our neighbours.

For me, when I read the scriptures and see just how much we could learn from the facts which are clear to see - on how these terrible times in Israel and the Arab nations - who by the way are brothers and cousins to each other as they are both of the Seed of Abraham.  They along with many families in Asia are also related to Abraham.  For when you check out the names of the families - the son of Abraham both from his wife Sarah and his concubines you will realise just how far and wide the sons of Abraham are spread.  We are all in some way related to each other. 

When God gave Abraham the promise that ALL NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED BECAUSE OF ABRAHAM - it makes you wonder just what the Blessing is that God is talking about - could it be restoration back to the Father Creator because it is only through the line of Judah that we have the safe keepers of the Word as it was - it is only through the history of the nations which were developed from the sons of Abraham does the World really have any secure path of living in peace.

Perhaps we should all take a closer look at what the book of Genesis has to offer and start to understand the historical significance of how today is played out.  While we ignore the truth in the book of Genesis and ignore the fact that both Arabs and Jews are related they were both promised a share in the promises of God then perhaps we can start to come to some understanding on how to resolve the issues.

God gave Hagar - Ishmael - the father of the Arab nations a promise that his twelve sons would also be receiving a blessing alongside Isaac - yet because Isaac was the son of Sarah whom God had chosen to be the mother of Israel and many nations would be developed from his sons - we need to look at the concubines as well because Abraham had to send his concubines east ward from where they were because at the time there was not enough room for them all - you can imagine the amount of people we are talking about - all shepards tending to their flocks and livestock - it is an amazing story of how the East and West were populated by the Sons of Abraham - how the sons of Abraham were spread about the whole earth - even to the isle of the sea - which means there is possiblities that the Isles of the Sea would need to be researched to see which ones were in evidence in Abraham's time.

There is so much in the Bible which gives us hope and security in knowing that we are all one under God - he made us all equal in his sight - none of us are better than the other - we are all here because He has designed it that way.

For me the journey through the scriptures is not just a spiritual one but a step across time and space and events - a time of reflection of how things were and how things could be when we choose to follow Gods teachings and his precepts.

It is amazing what you can learn about yourself as well when you see others feeling like you do and understanding the you are not alone - we are all here because we are wanted by God for a purpose - the thing is we as human beings need to discover for ourselves is how we can serve God best and understand His ways of doing things.

For me, discovering that God is so omnipotent and merciful and gracious and so incredible it makes me stand and look around at the amazing things He has done.

His Word - gave us the light in the heavens, His Word gave us Stars, Sea, Land.  By His Word all things were created, even the flies and the mosquito's have a place (although I am not sure what - as they are a nuisance)  Nevertheless God created everything in His order and at his command.

The scriptures are a great source of History - Even the archaeologist use the Bible to start their hunting for evidence - otherwise what would they have to give them any beginning of guidance - even with the history of the people around the world's own history there comes a point of "where did they come from" we are all here because God planned it that way.  He is also very able to squash us like bugs and wipe us all off the planet and start again if He should desire - he has done it before remember - in the time of Noah.

Remember also that Yeshua/Jesus said that as the days of Noah so shall His coming be.  Therefore we are called to watch and pray that we are not caught with our heads looking into the sand but rather looking up for His redemption draws nigh.

When reading the book of Genesis and reading how families were developed and the wonderment of why God created Man and Woman - (I myself had never felt the need to be with man -yet now I can see that there is a purpose even in that - I for one have struggled with marriage and understanding the importance and relevancy of it - looking at the scriptures there is a clear and divine pattern which evolves from it.)  I see that being married to the man or woman that God chooses for your life is very important - we often run ahead of God in choosing our own mate - with devastating results - broken homes - failed marriages, divorce.  God had not intended it to be that way.

When I look at the length of time Jacob had to wait to marry his beautiful Rachel and the length of their marriages - today's modern ways is a definite no no.  For me, if God saw fit to bring a man into my life that would be how He wanted him to be - I would accept it with all the grace that God would give to me to live with that person according to Gods ways.  (I have lived and married to two men in my life - yet both were not the man God would have chosen for me)  These things I have had to face.

Coming back to the Father and seeking his wisdom on the matter has been a real eye opener -taking me right back to the beginning of Genesis and seeing just how important a relationship with man and woman is - not just the bearing of children, but working as a team to develop ones life's journey with another human being.  That takes courage and patience and love - again something I am learning along the way.

I hope that when you read my word for today - you will see I am not trying to preach to anyone just hopefully share with you the inner-workings of my mind and share my experiences with you.

Your journey with God is your own.  Yet we all have something to contribute to one another.

My studies have brought me right back to the Father and I look for answers for my life and also in looking for the answers I can see the answers also for society at large.

I hope that as you read your Word of God and ask for wisdom and Him to teach you His ways -  you will be open minded enough to let the Holy Spirit to teach you all truths - do not go to God with precepts of your past life - Coming to God with an open heart and mind wanting to learn from him is vital.

Here is something I use for my journey.

Family Values

One of the most important books that has for me the best way to bring about true family values has always been the Bible.  No matter what you think, most of today's modern psychiatric foundations is based on some premise of the Word of God.

God had his own idea of family and he created it with a specific plan in mind.
When he created Man in his own image and woman out of man and gave them to each other to love hold, trust and obey he gave them the wonderful gift of able to bring offspring into the world to cherish and nuture.

For me when I have been doing my studies on how to improve my relationships with people around me I always go back to the Book and read what God had said about treating each others fairly and in the same way we would want to be treated ourselves.

I came to the conclusion over the years that in reading what God had to say about family life and values it is up to each individual to ask themselves whether they would be honest in their dealings with their families, some who would agree that not in every way have we been able to show our feelings, emotions, sentiments, sometimes we have shown our anger and our frustration.  We need to take a closer look at what God has said in His Word. 

Ephesians 6 - has always stuck in my mind.when trying to instruct my child the way it should go - here is a clear indication that obedience and encouragement run hand in hand.

Ephesians 6 -
 1) Children, what you should do in union with the Lord is obey your parents, for this is right.
 2) "Honour your father and mother" - this is the first commandment that embodies a promise -
 3) "so that it may go well with you, and you may live long in the Land"
 4) Fathers, do not irritate your children, and make them resentful, instead, raise them with the  Lord's kind of discipline and guidance.

As an adult looking back on my childhood I can see just was not working in my life.  There were times of terror and violence and venomous words which cut deep and stayed with me most of my life.

When we as adults become parents we look round to see just how others are doing it, if you have not had the kind of supportive system you would like to share with your own children it is difficult to understand how to put into practice what you have not received yourself.  For me coming back to my heavenly Father gave me the best teaching ever - not only for my own life but also for the life of my child.  Teaching me to be loving, kind, understanding, thoughtful and ready to discipline when needed was quite a challenge to me.  All the past 30 years I have been aware of my weaknesses and how my former teaching as a child was marred by uncertainty and unclear boundaries, now as as an adult I have been able learn a new path of following God in my journey through life.


Without really understanding the need for boundaries in my life it was difficult to create a boundary for my child to really understand and follow - Only following the Word of God has given me the confidence to face life and all that it has to offer.

For me coming back to the father and learning family values from his word has enabled me to really move on in my life.

When I read the Commandments of God - the ten he gave Moses to start with, I suddenly had my eyes opened to see that if we were as mankind to follow in His footsteps for sure we would be living in a land of peace and harmony with all mankind.

We are all from the same father - the creator of the universe and all that is in it, we all have a spark of God within us therefore it stands to reason that we would all benefit from relearning what God has said about family life.  Not just the unity of man and woman but also how we should bring up our children and teach them to respect their elders, and being kept safe and pure so that there would not be the issue of unwanted babies - abortions, honour killings,   We would not be suffering in society today with battered wives, battered husbands, degenerate children, gangs of youths murdering their neighbours.

There is much to be said when God said to Abraham that he was to be separate from the world around him, to steer clear of the idolatry that was happening in the land he was living in.  Abraham being the father of many nations - and also the one who found honour with God because of his faithfulness to His word.  Yes he too had his off days, but on the whole he did lead a life in obedience and taught his children the same way of life, to live in honour of the father God and honour their parents and each other.  Sadly today we do not see too much of that.  Children are rebellious and their parents are rebellious because that is what they learned from their parents.  Today's society is full of rebellion and witchcraft and idolatry no wonder it would take a miracle of God to change the minds of the people to bring them back to him in all repentance and truth.

For me, the family values taught in the Word of God starting with the Ten Commandments is a must for all mankind, if we are to live in peace.

Complete Jewish Bible-OE

Introduction to Messianic Judaism: Its Ecclesial Context and Biblical Foundations
Messianic Prophecies in Historical Succession (Classic Reprint)
God's Appointed Customs: A Messianic Jewish Guide to the Biblical Lifecycle and Lifestyle