Comfort Slap

 

The Lord has been reminding me about the need for us to comfort one another. People around me seem to be going through really hard times, not just financially but with health and family issues. There seems to be this unsettledness in my spirit and with people in general. We all need to hear encouraging words and to know that someone is not only listening but cares about us. 

On the other hand sometimes I'm so focused on others I forget to make sure my own family is getting the comfort they may be needing. I'm trying to make that a priority right now.

My grandson Anthony plays soccer. I remember when he was 4 and just started playing my kids and I were at his game and of course cheering for Anthony and his team. When we weren't yelling for him personally we would be yelling “GO GREEN” cause that was his teams color that day. 

As the game went on Green starting scoring quite a few goals and the black team had none. The children on the black team were getting discouraged and needed some comforting so my daughter and I started cheering for them too.

My grandson heard us yell “GO BLACK” and he stopped playing, turned and looked at me with a very stern look and stormed off the field over to where we sat. He looked at me and said “Nanna what are you doing!?" 

We are Green stop saying go black!” We laughed, behind his back of course, because he was dead serious and he let us know we were not to cheer for the wrong team. 

He's 7 now so when I'm going to encourage or comfort the other team I yell the number on the jersey so he won't know what I'm up to. 

Sometimes being an encourager for the “wrong team” is not what I feel like doing. Let me explain. The other night I wanted to beat up a homeless woman. Yea you read that right but hear me out.

I was helping to feed the homeless like any other Tuesday night making sure everyone has enough food and drink and helping the moms with small children. There was a woman with her son about 4 years old sitting at a table in front of me. Like most 4 year olds he was squirming around and ended up sliding off his chair. Without missing a beat the mom grabbed him before he totally hit the ground. I thought to myself nice save. 

I wasn't prepared for what happened next. She pretty much threw the child into the chair and started slapping him. She was yelling at him in Spanish so I didn't know what she was saying but I could tell by the look on her face it was mean. At first I just kind of froze in my spot, then I started walking toward her. By now the boy was trying to lay his head on her lap and she kept pushing him off her in disgust. 

Four times he tried to lay on her and she pushed him away. 

It all happened really quick and I remember saying “Lord do something cause I'm gonna pounce on her.” I was ready for a fight and made my way through the tables toward her. Just as I got behind her and reached my arm out she got up and walked away. I'm telling you it was God because only His timing could be that exact.

I looked down at the little boy and asked if he was OK. Seriously Gems this boy had the face of an angel with a head full of curly red locks. His face was swollen from crying and he looked like he hadn't bathed in a while. I just wanted to pick him up and take him home. I comforted him and asked again if he was OK and he shook his head yes. I then did what any mom would do, I asked if he wanted a cookie.

I talked to him for a few minutes and then the strangest thing happened. The Lord told me to go find his mom and comfort her.

Are you kidding me! I want to slap her not comfort her. The Lord reminded me that if I got in her face she would only take her anger out on the boy. If she behaved that way in public how much worse would it be in private. I took a deep breath and walked toward her. I came up behind her, grabbed a bat, just kidding, and touched her arm. I asked her if I could give her some fruit and cookies for her son. She said he already had a cookie but I handed her the bag anyway. 

Then because of my obedience the grace of God came through. I told her that I was proud of her for making sure she and her son were there to have a hot meal. I went on to say I know how hard it is to raise a child and the challenges of doing it alone. I followed her back to her chair and asked her if she wanted me to pray for her. Her whole demeanor changed from an angry woman to someone in need of comfort. I prayed for her and just talked for a few minutes, hugged them both and walked away. 

Gems it was easy for me to be judgmental toward this woman and I'm not condoning her behavior but I know what it's like to be a mom on the edge and go off on my kids. 

The Lord wanted me to comfort her with the same comfort He gave me. 

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 

This woman was so focused on her circumstances she was forgetting to comfort her team or in this case her son. Maybe if we obeyed this verse more often people would be less stressed and be kinder to one another. 

The King James Bible uses some form of the word comfort 119 times. It started in 

Genesis 5:29 He named him Noah and said, “He will comfort us in the labor and painful toil of our hands caused by the ground the LORD has cursed.”

Obviously God knew we were going to need comfort. 

Definition of Comfort - to soothe, console, or reassure; bring cheer to. 

Many times we relate giving comfort to someone who just had a loss or is dealing with sickness but if we look at what Webster says it also means to reassure or bring cheer to. We need comfort when we are stressed or concerned about something in our life that are out of our control or just new to us. 

This week as we prepare for Thanksgiving I challenge you Gems to ask your family members if they need comfort in any area of their life. I also challenge you to reach out to someone you may want to slap and offer comfort to them as well. 

Isaiah 40:1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.

 Isaiah 49:13 Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones. 

Isaiah 66:13As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.” 

Jeremiah 31:13Then young women will dance and be glad, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.

2 Corinthians 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort!

I wish you all A Very Happy and Comforting Thanksgiving!!

I Miss Funerals

 

I know that's a weird title and not something I ever thought I would say, so let me explain.

I was raised in a large Italian Catholic family from New York, so needless to say funerals were part of my culture. I grew up in a time when community still existed. My mother was one of 12 children and my grandmother one of thirteen. My uncles all owned businesses in town and the fire department was pretty much all bloodline family. It was common to stop by my uncle Franky’s shop in the early morning and see the men gathered around drinking coffee and shootin the breeze. If I was in town I would definitely run into at least 6 people I was related to.

It went without saying that all funerals were held at Robertaccio funeral home in Patchogue, no other information was needed for the family everyone knew where it was the and the agenda.

My own parents' funeral was there even though they had not been residents of New York for many  years. 

The arrangements consisted of the expected 3 days of viewing then the funeral the next day. An automatic 3 to 5 days of bereavement was given by your job with no questions asked so everyone could come together to honor the passing of a loved one and support the family.

As a kid I always found it weird that you would meet in a room with a bunch of people talking while there was a dead body in a box in the front of the room. No one around me seemed to find it strange so I kept my thoughts to myself. I would watch as the people would go to the casket, if it were open some would caress or kiss the person, the prayer bench  was there for those who wanted to say a prayer, then there were those like me who stood a few feet away to pay our respects and the final group who didn't go near the dead person for whatever their issues were with death. 

 

The room would be full of conversations of memories of the person who had passed, some from family and friends, stories you had heard a thousand times then the new ones from individuals you were just meeting who brought yet another side of the person you thought you knew everything about. It was common for family to randomly take your hand and give it a little squeeze or kiss on your face where a tear just laid. It was chaotic and endearing at the same time.

The burial was next and then the festivities really began. The entourage would meet at a family members home or if the group was too big at the fire department. Catering was unheard of as Grandma Sophie, Aunt Tessie and too many names to list showed up with hot meals they prepared themselves. Recipes that could never be recreated to taste the same as grandma's.

There were enough desserts to open a bakery and love and laughter would fill the room along with the tears and sorrow. They were family reunions where we reminded each other that we still mattered. If there were disputes they were laid aside. Let bygones be bygones was the sentiment.

So much has changed in such a short time. Now because families are spread so far apart and funerals are such an expense the custom has been altered drastically. Most people you do life with now have never even met your extended family.

I recently  attended a funeral and experienced some of the memories I had as a child. I noticed a man across the room sitting alone, a long time friend of the one who passed, he was  crying inconsolably and it was obvious he was there by himself. I walked over and placed my hand on his back, he didn’t look up but I could tell he was comforted by the touch. It was a moving moment of grief sharing that can’t be explained. Human touch will  never be replaced, I think it’s why Yeshua (Jesus) made it a point of touching everyone including  lepers.

My youngest brother died a week ago. Along with the normal feelings of grief, a new sting of death has pricked my heart. It’s the unfamiliar process I am grieving in. As I shared, family is so spread out and friends don’t have a relationship with your loved one so the reaching out is almost nonexistent. I had 2 dear friends stop by for a much needed hug with flowers and a much needed meal but other than that I have been on my own. When my family who is nearby call I can’t bring myself to answer the phone. What should bring comfort  instead brings a feeling of hollowness.

I realized they have no idea how losing a loved one, and not having family physically with me has impacted my emotions. I long for a hug! They have not grown up with my "normal" so they respond with theirs.

I took off from work the day I got the call, I work from home so that helps, but the next day it was back on the phone like nothing happened. Life goes on theory. There's no bereavement time so I  take breaks and just lay on the floor and cry to Yeshua then pull myself together and get back on the phone.

I have had this feeling of abandonment and loneliness that has been as difficult as dealing with my  loss. Perhaps some of you can relate to what I'm sharing.

I have felt anger instead of any kind of comfort and I ask the Holy Spirit each day “what’s wrong with me?”

And then it came to me.... As I laid in bed at O Dark Thirty this morning, the answer came to me

“I MISS FUNERALS …..”

You Can't Learn to Swim While Drowning

 

If you see a person drowning it would NOT be the time to teach them to swim. Can you imagine yelling to this man “just let the water get on your face first, close your mouth, close your eyes so they don’t sting, try floating on your back, kick your feet, are you familiar with the dog paddle??”

Obviously none of these suggestions would be helpful to this drowning person. Why?

The same theory applies to our walk with God. Yeshua/Jesus tells us in the Bible:

”My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” 

 John 10:27 

Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, "Today, if you hear his voice."

Hebrews 3:7

The first question I pose to you is, do you know God’s voice? 

If not, how can you follow Him if your not sure it’s Him speaking to you?

This may sound so elementary and not have much impact on you while you’re reading this jewel safely from your home or office, but what if you were “drowning?”

What if you were in a place in your walk that you HAD to know God was speaking to you and you HAD to know what He was saying!

It may be to late to ask your pastor or friends how to know His voice

If you call for a help line and I give you some scriptures to look up or send you a video teaching on the voice of God it will be as helpful to you as our swimming suggestions to the drowning man.

Like anything else in life you get better at it with practice. God usually starts small, He did with me. He may tell you to turn right instead of left, or talk to the person next to you.  He may later ask you to give money to a certain individual or offer to pray for someone when your not in a church setting.

There are multiple lessons.  First you have to believe He talks to you, then you have to be listening for Him. If God finds you faithful to the first part and obedient to the task He will begin to ask you things that will take a little more faith.

Example:

Years ago I knew the Lord was telling me to move to Tennessee. As you can imagine it was a big step for me moving alone to a state where I didn’t know anyone.  I had to know God’s voice and have faith is in His provision to take such a huge leap. I prayed for Him to give me a specific verse I could hold onto when I felt like I was drowning. He gave me

Isaiah 30:21 And your ears shall hear a word behind you , saying, “This is the way, walk in it.” when you turn to the right or when you  turn to the left.

I can’t tell you how many times that verse was like a life preserver being tossed to me.

I keep a framed picture of the verse in my living room to remind me of God's faithfulness during a very scary time. It's a stone alter that serves as a memorial that proves nothing is too difficult for my God. I do hear His voice and He gives me clear instructions on what to do next. Turn to the left or turn to the right.

My youngest daughter is having her first child this summer and there are some decisions she needs to make that will effect her and her sweet baby.  Each decision carries it's own uncertainty which also holds an element of fear. She and her husband will need to stay in an attitude of prayer so they can feel peace with the decision.

But if they don't know God's voice they won't know which way He is leading them. I'm thankful they have both been taking "hearing lessons" for quite some time and won't have to wait for the day of the birth to have to make a last minute decision that will impact three lives.

I hope this jewel encourages you to start your lessons before you find yourself in need of a life preserver.  You may drown when safety was just an answer away.

 

Who's your dance partner?

People are often surprised with all the God stories I share with them. I am often surprised that people don’t have more of their own. It’s not like I’m some super Christian or live a more Godly life than others, as you well know if you are regular Gena’s Jewels reader. I have come to realize the only difference is I recognize them more. I see myself in a daily relationship with the Lord.

I spent the weekend with a friend and I asked her about her relationship with her husband, what she thought was the reason they have stayed together for so many years and continue to like each other. Her response was beautiful. She said she believes each relationship writes its own song, and then you dance to it. 

She said every song is different you can’t give your song to someone else, everyone has their own.

I started thinking about what she said, what were the words to the song? I realized the words were the things that are important to each person, what makes each person tick.

What could wound and what could make stronger, the gauge to picking your battles, these things are the lyrics to the song. Then you create a dance that will move to these words. Get your own rhythm to your dance that allows you to move as one. I thought of ball room dancing and how the couples just seem to float across the floor as one. What a beautiful picture this made in my mind.

The same theory is applied to your walk with the Lord. It’s about dancing with Him through this journey we call life. You have to recognize Him as your partner and how He is involved in writing your song. 

It doesn’t always have to be big things, as in any relationship it’s the day to day life that keeps it going. It made me think that the lyrics to the song are the events that happen in your life, including the battles, and the chorus would be the good times including the praises you give to God for getting you through the battles. 

The Bible says in 2Timothy 2:8a so do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord.

That’s really what it all comes down to, not being ashamed or embarrassed to talk about God, how He’s alive and living with you. Why is it that we are more afraid of what someone may think of us than we are in not giving God the credit that’s due Him? You wouldn’t tell people how happily married you are and never give kudos to your spouse would you?

Psalm 92:1a it is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name O most High. 

It takes music/praise or testimonies to have a song, then in Psalm 119:24 "testimonies also are my delight." 

It’s not just God delighting in my testimonies but me delighting in His. Like I said it takes two people to do the dance. The Holy Spirit has a sense of humor, He just said to me “unless it’s break dancing”

 I thought even the name “break dancing” doesn’t sound as romantic. We tend to “break” when we are trying to do this dance alone. 

The ball room dancer doesn’t look quite as graceful holding her hands out with no partner. OK I got off track that’s not hard for me to do, as I was saying.

I have witnessed the Lord do little things like have someone give me something I just mentioned to God I needed to seeing God heal me of a blood clot on my lung. Everything you go through is part of your song, your testimony.

I was doing a Bible study one time and the instructor had us make a time line of our life.

I remembered not wanting to do that exercise because I didn’t have many good memories of my past but what she had us do next was see where God was at each point.

When I really remembered each situation, I also remembered people God put in my life at that same time that were so good to me. Now when I think of my past I have more good memories than bad and it’s the same past. I’m just dancing with a new partner. 

I pray you too will take time each day to see if you’re “break” dancing, tying to live this life by yourself or if you’re allowing the Lord to be your dance partner.

Like my friend said each dance is personal and no one can do the same dance. Your walk is a personal one with the Lord so I hope you give testimony about God in your life and delight in each other. Write your own song and then “I hope you dance.”

Bruised Butterfly

 

I entered this world with wings, what great travels I will find

My colors begin pale waiting for adventures to bring vibrancy

I land in different places each one a triumph of grace

My legs are getting stronger my path to open space.

Fly Butterfly fly

Some flights I climb to heights unknown, optimistic in my search

Others bring feelings not yet charted, emotions not yet embraced

I look for something familiar to overcome the fear

I travel closer to the path, to others I hold dear

Fly Butterfly fly

Colors now take on a shade to identify my kind

I’m free, I’m fierce, I have not yet learned to truly despair

My curious eyes begin to see a world that's cold yet loving

I am a sojourner with anticipation of joy both far and near

Fly Butterfly fly 

My wings are now vivacious, my determination strong

I have conquered many battles and endured many scars

I have given love and experienced it’s grasp

I have been rejected and felt lost amongst the stars

Fly Butterfly Fly

My flights have lost some power, I glide a little slower

Many travelers I once entertained have gone their separate ways

I reminisce of days gone by, the wonders that filled my heart

I pray I’ll soar until the end, grateful for all my days

Fly Butterfly fly

May the eyes of my heart always see in those first colors

A stained glass piece of art, the pure beauty of the earth

Filled with faith and trust to my God the true creator

May I end my flight as full of hope as I was at my birth

Fly Butterfly fly

Bruised Butterfly your wings still hold beauty

Your spirit rising as you soar

Your destiny to Heaven, your future held secure

Bruised Butterfly embrace Yeshua your home forever more

Fly Butterfly fly

Written by RAD

Dedicated to Nathanael Duran

Cast a lot Catch a Purim

 

Have you ever noticed the book of Esther doesn’t mention God?

Of course He’s in the underlining story or it wouldn’t be in the Bible, but God himself is not talked about directly. It’s like He’s hidden.

Guess what Esther means in Hebrew, “hidden.”

Let me start this jewel by giving you the “Gena translation” of the book of Esther.

Esther is a Jewish girl raised by her uncle Mordecai. She is seriously beautiful. The king at the time is Xerxes and his wife, the also beautiful queen, is Vashti.

Now Xerxes is having a huge banquet with the leaders from all the countries that are under his command and after many days of partying he tells one of his servants to go get Vashti.

He wants to parade her in front of the men so they can all see how beautiful she is and wish they were married to her.

Well Vashti is having a party of her own with the women and when the servant shows up to bring her before the king she refuses to go. She has no intentions of parading in front of a bunch of drunk men. As you can imagine the King is not happy that he’s been disrespected in front of his kingdom so he asks his “advisers” what he should do.

They tell him he better replace her quick because if the rest of the wives hear about this they might start disrespecting their men and the whole kingdom will be in an uproar.
They also come up with this great idea to find all the beautiful virgins in the kingdom and let him pick a new bride.

  In comes Esther. Her uncle tells her not to let her new husband know that    she is Jewish.

  Mordecai used to visit with Esther in the courtyard and they would keep      each other updated on what was going on.

  One day Mordecai overheard a couple of the kings officers planning to        kill the king so he told Esther who in turn told the king, giving credit to     Mordecai.
  The officers were hanged and the whole issue was recorded in the official    books in the presence of the king.

Now in order for any story to be suspenseful we need a villain. As luck would have it, we have one. His name is Haman.
Haman is your typical egomaniac and to make matters worse he’s the king’s top advisor!
He was so stuck on himself that he passed a law that everyone had to bow down to him. 

Mordecai refused because the only one a Jew was permitted to bow before was God. This ticked Haman off so bad that he decreed that all Jews would be killed on a certain day that of course he would pick.

Haman was very superstitious so he drew lots to find out which day to carry out his plan.
Now interesting enough the word for “lots” in Persian is purim.

It was decided that the plan would begin the month of Adar, which was the same month that Moses died. Haman figured that was a good omen, he would wipe out the Jews the same day a famous Jew died. Kind of an in your face thing.

What Haman didn’t know was in Jewish tradition great men die on their birthdays because their lives are complete. Moses was born and died in Adar so this was not a time of misfortune for the Jews but a month they considered blessed.

Back to our story. Haman tells the king there's a group of people scattered among your kingdom whose customs are different from ours and they don’t obey the kings laws and it would be in the King's best interest not to tolerate them.

He tells the king of his great plan to destroy them. The king figures it’s a good idea and uses his signet ring to seal the orders and make sure there carried out to the various provinces to annihilate all the Jews and to take all their goods.

When Mordecai found out what had been done he of course is greatly troubled and the bible says he is wailing loudly and bitterly. In every province there was great mourning among the Jews when they were told what was going to happen.

Esther sends one of her servants to ask Mordecai what’s wrong?  why is he so upset? Mordecai tells him the whole story and sends her a copy of the edict for their annihilation which was published. He tells Esther to go talk to the king and beg for mercy for her people.

Now you have to understand, in those days if the king didn’t invite you and you showed up and he wasn’t in the mood to talk to you, you would be killed. Esther lets her uncle know it’s been over a month since the King asked for her.

When the servant told Mordecai what Esther said he sent back this answer?

“Do not think that because you are in the King’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to a royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:13-14

He was letting her know God’s plan would be carried out with or without her help but if she chose not to help she was still going to die.

I want to move away from our story for a minute. Sometimes we may not “see” God in our circumstances but that doesn’t mean He’s not behind the scenes doing His thing. We may be right where we are supposed to be when God needed a person in a strategic place to work out His will. However, if we do not do what is asked when we know we are the one called, He will replace us.

Esther let’s Mordecai know that she will do her part and asks that all the Jews in Susa would fast and pray for her for 3 days and nights.

When you have a huge job before you I can’t imagine doing it without serious prayer and or fasting. Not just you praying but making sure you have prayer warriors praying with you.
Esther let’s them know she will go before the king and if she dies, she dies.

In our lives God asks us to do things that at worse might hurt our feelings and possibly our pride but I don’t know many people that are doing what God asks with the possibility of death.

On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood before the king and her God behind the scenes was standing with her.

The king allowed her to come to him and he asked what she needed, he even offered to give her up to half the kingdom. Talk about God’s favor.  As part of  Esther’s strategy to reveal Haman's evil plan she invites the King and Haman to a banquet she’s throwing and they both agree to come.

Now remember Haman is a total ego maniac so you can only imagine how big his head is right now that HE was singled out as an honored guest from the queen.

At the party the King asks Esther again what she wants and she says come back tomorrow night for another banquet with Haman and I’ll tell you then. So Haman leaves thinking he’s all that but he runs into Mordecai at the gate and as always Mordecai didn’t even stand up when he sees him and to really tick him off he’s not even showing any fear!

Haman blows him off for now because he wants to tell his family and friends all about his night and how he was the only one Esther invited to the parties. He tells his family about everything but then he says “but all this still doesn’t satisfy me as long as I see the Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate.”
Esther 5:13

Isn’t it amazing when we become obsessed with something, we just can’t let it go. It torments our minds and no matter what else is going on we can’t totally enjoy it because we are hanging onto something destructive, anger and rage.

His wife, trying to be helpful, tells Haman to build a huge gallows 75 feet high and have Mordecai hanged on it before you go have dinner with the King and Queen Esther.

Women can be brutal! Go hang a man before dinner and then eat and enjoy yourself. The really sick part is this delighted Haman and he had the gallows built.

Well once again our God from behind the scenes is at work.

That night the king can’t sleep so he ordered the book of chronicles be brought and read to him.
Get a good legal book to put you right to sleep.
He’s reminded of what Mordecai had done for him, letting him know about the planned assassination. He asks his officers if he ever did anything to repay him and they say no.

Now here comes the best part. The King asks if there’s any one in the courtyard and they say yes Haman. Of course Haman's there to ask if he can hang Mordecai!

Before Haman can speak the kings ask him “what should be done for the man he delights to honor?” Haman of course thinks the king's talking about him, remember ego maniac, so he tells the king all these great things that should be done, ya know royal robe, beautiful horse, parade him around town and let everyone know how great he is.

The king says great idea! Go ahead and do all those things for Mordecai. I’ll even let you be the one to parade him around!

Talk about a plan gone wrong....

After doing all this Haman still has to go to the banquet Esther invited him to. This is where it gets really ugly because now when the king asks Esther what she wants, remember up to half the kingdom so he really likes her, she tells the king that she and all her people are scheduled to be annihilated in a few days. The king asks, “who is the man who dares do such a thing?”
Guess who?

As you can imagine things did not get any better for Haman.
You can read the story for all the details but the gist of it is because the king signed the first ruling he could not go back on it. He made a new ruling telling the Jews they could fight back. They did and of course won not only their lives but the plunder as well. As for Haman he was hung on the very gallows he made for Mordecai not only him but his family as well.

Sometimes even if God is not mentioned directly you can see His hand all through a story. In the Bible and in our lives as well. It may appear He’s hidden at times but He is always in control.

Jews have events to celebrate things God did for them and they want remembered by future generations. The feast of  Purim is one of  those celebrations.

Purim commemorates the victory of the righteous over the wicked. God did not use any supernatural events to save His people in this story. No floods or plagues, like I said His name doesn’t even appear in the story. It was the coincidences of the story beyond all statistical probability and even possibility that makes you know it was directed by God. Purim is a record of “hidden miracles”.

When a lottery is drawn, the chosen name seems to be an accident, but the result is divinely predestined. It may seem they were all coincidences but I know there is no such thing. These things happen all the time we just don’t take notice of them. A coincidence is nothing more than God’s way of choosing to remain anonymous.

Purim is a feast where wine freely flows because that is when the king decided to get rid of his wife making way for Esther. It was also a party with lots of wine that Esther revealed she was a Jewess to her husband.

Every year on the anniversary of Haman's death the Jews read the story twice both on Purim night and morning. Every time Haman’s name is mentioned, which is quite a bit, the entire congregation is expected to boo, make a noise and try to wipe out the memory of this villain. The thought behind this ritual is a powerful way to teach Jews from childhood that they should never remain silent in the face of those who want to destroy them. In addition, it is customary to send out gifts of food or drink, and to make gifts to charity. There is also a small fast done before the celebration to signify the fast Esther arranged.

I’m sharing this with you because I believe the Jewish culture is wise in remembering feast and special Holy days. It is a constant reminder to their families of how great our God is, the God we serve.
I think if we remembered more of His miracles we wouldn’t get so freaked out when life took a bad turn on us because we would know how God is able to take care of His children whether behind the scenes or in your face.

Gems we don't know when God will call us for a situation He needs a warrior in.

I hope you enjoyed the story of Esther and I think it would be OK, Jewish or not,  to join in on the celebration as all believers are part of Israel! 

Teach Your Children Well

 

"And you (Can you hear?) of tender years (And do you care?)

Can't know the fears (And can you see?)

That your elders grew by (We must be free)

And so, please help (To teach your children)

Them with your youth (What you believe in)

They seek the truth (Make a world)

Before they can die (That we can live in)"

Lyrics Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is older he will not depart from it.

I have quoted this scripture to myself when I desperately needed a reminder and have used it to encourage many parents with prodigal children. However, this week I realized a whole new meaning to the outcome of not training up a child in the way he should go.

We need to go back to the beginning when God tells Moses to have 12 spies search out the promise land and bring back a report. Now remember, the children of Israel have been taken out of Egypt, experienced first hand all the plagues that God personally did, walked through the Red Sea and watched Pharaoh and his army drown, ate heavenly food daily called manna, saw water come from a rock and if all that wasn't enough, personally saw the cloud of God by day and the fire by night to know when and where to go!!!

You can read all this for yourself in Exodus.

Move onto Numbers 13 to see the outcome of the spies who were sent out and the fearful, faithless report they bring back to the children of Israel.  Only Hoshea son on Nun, whom Moses called Joshua and Caleb still believed in the miracles of God, even though they all directly saw the events.

Numbers 14:6 But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; 7 and they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: “The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. 8 If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, ‘a land which flows with milk and honey.’ 9 Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them. ”10 And all the congregation said to stone them with stones. Now the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of meeting before all the children of Israel.

God's response:

22 because all these men who have seen My glory and the signs which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put Me to the test now these ten times, and have not heeded My voice, 23 they certainly shall not see the land of which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected Me see it. 24 But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it.

29 The carcasses of you who have complained against Me shall fall in this wilderness, all of you who were numbered, according to your entire number, from twenty years old and above.

30 Except for Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun, you shall by no means enter the land which I swore I would make you dwell in. 31 But your little ones, whom you said would be victims, I will bring in, and they shall know the land which you have despised.

To sum it up, God is saying that even though you saw with your own eyes that I AM all powerful and I alone saved you, yet you still don't trust me, you will not enter the land I promised you.

Moving forward God tells His children to have nothing to do with the following people and the reason why.

Exodus 34:10 And He said: “Behold, I make a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation; and all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the Lord. For it is an awesome thing that I will do with you. 11 Observe what I command you this day. Behold, I am driving out from before you the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite. 12 Take heed to yourself, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land where you are going, lest it be a snare in your midst. 13 But you shall destroy their altars, break their sacred pillars, and cut down their wooden images 14 (for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God), 15 lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they play the harlot with their gods and make sacrifice to their gods, and one of them invites you and you eat of his sacrifice, 16 and you take of his daughters for your sons, and his daughters play the harlot with their gods and make your sons play the harlot with their gods.

God is teaching His children from the beginning of Exodus to this point what He needs them to learn and know. How their decisions will effect their future and that of future generations. He warns them against marrying people who will turn them into whores for other gods. 

Moses is on the journey with them all the way up to the book of Joshua, teaching the children of Israel the laws of God.  Because of his own disobedience God has forbid him from entering the Promise Land with Joshua, however, Moses passed the mantle of leadership to Joshua.

Deuteronomy 34: Now Joshua the son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; and the sons of Israel listened to him and did as the Lord had commanded Moses.

We will pick up now in the book of Joshua as they enter the new land.  God speaking:

Joshua 1:7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Interestingly enough God does another miracle with water for His children as they crossed the Jordan River. Read Joshua Chapter 3 for the details.  After the entire nation finished crossing the Jordan the LORD spoke again telling Joshua to take one man from each tribe, and remove a stone from the middle of the Jordan as a sign.

Joshua 4:6 "Let this be a sign among you, so that when your children ask later, saying, "what do these stones mean?" 

OK where am I going with this you ask? I know I'm taking the long way but I need YOU Gems to know the facts before I make my humble point.

Think about it, every man from 20 years and above died in the wilderness before they crossed over to the promise land right? So other than Moses, Joshua and Caleb I don't think there were many old people with them, Elders if you will. The real issue here is other than Joshua and Caleb at this point in history they are the only two eye witnesses of God's past miracles.

The book of Joshua goes through battles and the giving out of the inheritance of land to each tribe of Israel.  The book ends with Joshua once again recapping all that had happened in the Nations history with God from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He goes over the events with Moses and the exodus from Egypt.  After the recap he asks a question of the people, who will you serve as  you enter the land of the Amorites? These were the people inhabiting the land they were entering.  He let's them know as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Joshua 24:16 So the people answered and said: “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods; 17 for the Lord our God is He who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, who did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way that we went and among all the people through whom we passed. 18 And the Lord drove out from before us all the people, including the Amorites who dwelt in the land. We also will serve the Lord, for He is our God.”  19 But Joshua said to the people, “You cannot serve the Lord, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins. 20 If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you, after He has done you good.”  21 And the people said to Joshua, “No, but we will serve the Lord!” 22 So Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the Lord for yourselves, to serve Him.” And they said, “We are witnesses!” 23 “Now therefore,” he said, “put away the foreign gods which are among you, and incline your heart to the Lord God of Israel.”  24 And the people said to Joshua, “The Lord our God we will serve, and His voice we will obey!”  25 So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made for them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem.  26 Then Joshua wrote these words in the Book of the Law of God. And he took a large stone, and set it up there under the oak that was by the sanctuary of the Lord. 27 And Joshua said to all the people, “Behold, this stone shall be a witness to us, for it has heard all the words of the Lord which He spoke to us. It shall therefore be a witness to you, lest you deny your God.”

First off I find it intriguing he says the stone has heard and will be a witness....

Joshua was the last of the prophets, now enter the era of Judges.

Chapter 1 opens with Israel asking who will fight for them against the Canaanites and the Lord says Judah.  He let's them know He has given the land into his hand and they would win the battle.

However, each following leader in Judges does not drive out the Canaanites like they were commanded by God to do. The chapter begins with God's judgment against the Canaanites and ends with God's judgment against Israel.

When the last generation who saw what God did died the next generation did not follow God's rules. Why?

They didn't know God. 

Joshua 2:7 And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who survived Joshua, who had seen all the great work of the LORD which He had done for Israel.

They served God while Joshua and the elders were alive. Where the people failed was not continuing to teach the children about God and His laws, the blessings in following them and the curses for disobedience. 

We see that by Judges 2:10-11 When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel. Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served the Baals;

They failed their children. This whole generation of Israel didn't just decide not to follow God anymore they didn't have a relationship with Him. They followed the god's of society that were available to them at the time. Baal was a god of fertility in your family, land and harvest. It was an attractive god to them, they were never farmers, they were slaves they "needed" a god of soil for their crops. They would "believe" in God they were just adding other gods to the list. They didn't know the part about “You cannot serve the Lord, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins, If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods!

When I was in Haiti leading vacation bible school we did a program at the end for the parents and to my surprise, the local witch doctor came. There he was seated in the front wearing all his garb. I asked a local Haitian about it because I thought the witch doctor forbid believing in God. He told me it was ok for them to believe in "our god" as long as he, the witch doctor was still the main god.

Same concept here in the history of the Israelites.   The story gets pretty gross with all that went on with the children of Israel, not much different than how gross we have become as a people who say we believe in God.

An angel calls them out and let's them know that because of their disobedience God would no longer drive out their enemies from  them, they would become as thorns in their sides and their gods shall be a snare to them. The people wept BUT they did not repent, conviction is not the same as repentance.

Gems back to the beginning of this jewel, teach your children well...  Most people today don't know God, they know about Him. The generations still have not been faithful in sharing the truths of God's love. The blessings and the curses that we choose by being obedient or disobedient. We still don't understand the only way to the Father is through the SON.

I remember years ago I was leading multiple bible studies and decided to join a group at the local church. As soon as I sat down I felt the Holy Spirit say "you keep sharing with friends and strangers but how much do you share with your own children and grandchildren?"  I went home and started testifying to my family about all the miraculous things God did in the past for me and them and how He was still moving in my life. Do I do it all the time? God forgive me the answer is no.

Train up a child in the way he should go so he won't depart from it generations later! Nothing blesses me more than seeing my sons teach their kids about God. When we praise together as a family and I see my grandchildren watching their parents sing to God I about explode with joy. I pray daily that they will marry believers and all my grandchildren after them will know God and be known by HIM!

When we lose sight of God's glory we lose sight of our need for forgiveness. People don't think they need Yeshua (Jesus) when they can just serve the gods of society. 

What gods are we showing our children are important to us? What gods do we turn to in times of need or trouble? Who do we cry out to for help? Do we understand there is a difference between being sorrowful and repentance? 

God definitely disciplines those He loves but honestly Gems most of what happens to us is the consequences of choosing sin over God's commands. This is why we have to know what God's commands are. He sent His son Yeshua so we have the perfect role model. Yeshua said "If you love me keep my commands."

Children love nothing more than hearing you read a story.  My grandsons can tell you the names of most Pokémon and what their super power is. Most men can tell you the name of NFL teams and the quarterbacks stats and most women can give you a play by play of their favorite movie. My point is we learn what's important to us. 

We are so blessed to have an abundance of teaching recourses for children and adults. It's not to late to start teaching or learning!

I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

3John:4