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Walkabout: Day Fifty-four (Stop and Think)

Posted in Challenging words, Joshua's Trip with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on Thursday, September 24, 2009 by crazychristcraver
Do you ever stop and examine your life? When was the last time that you stopped everything that you were doing, and contimplated the things that you have done, where you are right now, and where you are going? This world continues to pile on the distractions, the going-going-going of day-to-day, and leaves little time for practical thought, or for anything of real value. Any time that you do have to sit is spent on the internet, or glued to the T.V. We then excuse this time as relaxing. When was the last time that you actually felt rested when you got off of the couch after watching T.V.? Did you really feel better than you did before you sat down? No way! Not possible. If anything, you were more drained than before you started. Not to mention, you just wasted that time doing absolutely nothing.
Now this post is not to bash television, it is just an example of the wastefulness of our lives. As Americans, we have been taught to go, and do, without stopping to ask questions. We don’t think about why we are doing something; really, we just don’t care. For example, why do you go to work? To pay your bills; so you can have nice things; to eat; a sense of accoplishment; to retire? No matter your answer, it all comes down to the simple fact that is what you have been trained to do. Do you know where jobs came from? Who was the first person that started “working?” Do you know why that person had to start working? My guess is you have no idea.
Here’s another one: Are you a good person? What makes you good, or bad? By what standard should you measure your actions; your heart? Are you good because you are better than some, or because a majority of people that you know do the same thing? Why are you a good person? Does calling on the name Jesus make you a good person? Does praying a prayer of salvation make you a good person? Does praying daily? What about reading your bible, or going to church, or doing your best, or tithing, or good works? Why do you think that any of those things make a difference? Who makes the standard that you live up to, or try to live by? How are you doing against that standard?
I challenge you to go before the Creator of the heavens and the earth, and lay everything that you have done at His feet. Are you so confident in yourself to go before Him and declare to Him that you are a good person? What about your plans, your goals, the direction of your life, are they pleasing in His sight? Do you feel comfortable taking these things to Him, and offering them as sacrifices? Is the sacrifice of your life a pleasing aroma in His nostrils, or is it be a pungent stench, disgusting? I know that you can harden your heart before Him, as pride overtakes your being, and exalts your will over His, but if you are truly honest, you know the direction that you are going is not towards Him.
How can I say with such confidence that you are not going in the right direction; that you are not running to Yahuah your Elahim, the Creator of all things? How can I know this? The Scriptures are clear in saying that if you were going in the right direction, running to Him, clinging to His righteousness, that the fruit of your life would be love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustworthiness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). I know that if you truly believed in the Messiah, the Anointed One of God, Yahushua, the One and only Son of the Most High Elahim, if you truly believed in Him, the works that He did on this earth would be done in and through your life (John 14:12).
Why then have you fallen short? Why does your life not look like His?  The answer is simple: COMPROMISE. You have compromised your life through the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things (Mark 4:19). Yahushua clearly stated that it is impossible to serve two masters (Matthew 6:24). Yahushua then states what a life that chooses to serve Him would look like in the rest of chapter six: you would be more radiantly clothed than even king Solomon as you are clothed in the very pressence of Yahuah; taken care of without storing in barns, with no thought of tomorrow; no worry–focussing continuously first on His kingdom is the only thing produces righteousness. At the beginning of this same sermon, Yahushua says that those who hunger and thirst after this righteousness, will be filled (Matthew 5:6). Filled with what? They will be filled with life–eternal life–the same life that flows out of Him, the life that flows from the very thrown of Yahuah, and later He says that that life would flow out of your belly like rivers of living water (John 7:38).
Now, some how it is of greater importance to please ourselves, than to please Yahuah. It is far more important to be accomplished, than to walk intimately with our Creator. It is of more value to follow the status quo, following after men, than to deny yourself and follow Him. After all, we can provide for ourselves what He can’t. We can protect ourselves better than He can. Our life, the life of this decaying world, is better than anything He has to offer. We don’t need Him. It would be nice if He would bless me a little more so that I could get a bigger flatscreen T.V. though, and if he would help me get a new car. As long as what He’s doing doesn’t distract from my life, the things that I want to do, having God in my life is great. Does that not sound incredibly foolish? Yet, that’s exactly what we are doing.
If you deny that you have become nothing less than an enemy of Yahuah, you are relying upon your own goodness, and you will most certainly find that you aren’t good enough. In fact He views your good works, your righteousness, as a menstral stained rag; disgusting, putrid (Isaiah 64:6). That is the life that you are depending upon when you face you judgement. You will find no mercy. You spit on His precious grace. You didn’t want to be burdened by His goodness during this life, and therefore you will be burdened with your own for eternity.
Will you continue to ignore that your life is miserable, that your life is substandard? Will you continue to harden your heart against the cry of the Set-apart Spirit, the cry of the good Shepherd calling for His lost sheep? Or will you begin to contemplate these questions; begin to examine your life? There is only one standard: HIS. There is only one life that measures up: HIS. Will you choose Him, to receive His grace through which all the promises of Elahim are Yes and Amen? You have no excuse to continue in sin. You have no excuse to live a life that is not pleasing in His sight. You have been given everything necessary to walk in the righteousness that He has called you to. All you must do is trust Him; deny yourself (everything that you know), take up your staff, and follow Him. In losing your life in this world (all the things you once treasured), and setting your eyes upon Him, you will gain His life; eternal life that can be lived today. Eternal life is not something that speaks of heaven, but what has been given for you to walk in today. Eternal life comes from intimacy with Yahuah, today.
You can truly know Him. You can go past reading about Him, go farther than just knowning His name, and begin to experience His pressence. You can find your purpose, what you were created for. You are created to be His living temple in this earth; that He would abide in you, and for you to abide in Him, inseparable. You were created to manifest His pressence, His character, to the rest of creation. You were created to take no thought for yourself, but to rest, to trust, in Him as your Lover, your Husband. When you focus all of your attention on Him, do you not understand that the infinite Elahim focuses His attention on you? He cares for you far more than you can imagine. His plans for you are far greater than you can comprehend. He is the only thing worth treasuring, the only thing worth setting your eyes on. Do not fail to see that He has set His eyes on you.
Grace and peace be multiplied to you in knowing Him who loves you.

Do you ever stop and examine your life? When was the last time that you stopped everything that you were doing, and contimplated the things that you have done, where you are right now, and where you are going? This world continues to pile on the distractions, the going-going-going of day-to-day, and leaves little time for practical thought, or for anything of real value. Any time that you do have to sit is spent on the internet, or glued to the T.V. We then excuse this time as relaxing. When was the last time that you actually felt rested when you got off of the couch after watching T.V.? Did you really feel better than you did before you sat down? No way! Not possible. If anything, you were more drained than before you started. Not to mention, you just wasted that time doing absolutely nothing.

Now this post is not to bash television, it is just an example of the wastefulness of our lives. As Americans, we have been taught to go, and do, without stopping to ask questions. We don’t think about why we are doing something; really, we just don’t care. For example, why do you go to work? To pay your bills; so you can have nice things; to eat; a sense of accoplishment; to retire? No matter your answer, it all comes down to the simple fact that is what you have been trained to do. Do you know where jobs came from? Who was the first person that started “working?” Do you know why that person had to start working? My guess is you have no idea.

Here’s another one: Are you a good person? What makes you good, or bad? By what standard should you measure your actions; your heart? Are you good because you are better than some, or because a majority of people that you know do the same thing? Why are you a good person? Does calling on the name Jesus make you a good person? Does praying a prayer of salvation make you a good person? Does praying daily? What about reading your bible, or going to church, or doing your best, or tithing, or good works? Why do you think that any of those things make a difference? Who makes the standard that you live up to, or try to live by? How are you doing against that standard?

I challenge you to go before the Creator of the heavens and the earth, and lay everything that you have done at His feet. Are you so confident in yourself to go before Him and declare to Him that you are a good person? What about your plans, your goals, the direction of your life, are they pleasing in His sight? Do you feel comfortable taking these things to Him, and offering them as sacrifices? Is the sacrifice of your life a pleasing aroma in His nostrils, or is it be a pungent stench, disgusting? I know that you can harden your heart before Him, as pride overtakes your being, and exalts your will over His, but if you are truly honest, you know the direction that you are going is not towards Him.

How can I say with such confidence that you are not going in the right direction; that you are not running to Yahuah your Elahim, the Creator of all things? How can I know this? The Scriptures are clear in saying that if you were going in the right direction, running to Him, clinging to His righteousness, that the fruit of your life would be love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustworthiness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). I know that if you truly believed in the Messiah, the Anointed One of God, Yahushua, the One and only Son of the Most High Elahim, if you truly believed in Him, the works that He did on this earth would be done in and through your life (John 14:12).

Why then have you fallen short? Why does your life not look like His?  The answer is simple: COMPROMISE. You have compromised your life through the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things (Mark 4:19). Yahushua clearly stated that it is impossible to serve two masters (Matthew 6:24). Yahushua then states what a life that chooses to serve Him would look like in the rest of chapter six: you would be more radiantly clothed than even king Solomon as you are clothed in the very pressence of Yahuah; taken care of without storing in barns, with no thought of tomorrow; no worry–it is through focussing continuously first on His kingdom that we can walk in His righteousness. At the beginning of this same sermon, Yahushua says that those who hunger and thirst after this righteousness, will be filled (Matthew 5:6). Filled with what? They will be filled with life–eternal life–the same life that flows out of Him, the life that flows from the very thrown of Yahuah, and later He says that that life would flow out of your belly like rivers of living water (John 7:38).

Now, some how it is of greater importance to please ourselves, than to please Yahuah. It is far more important to be accomplished, than to walk intimately with our Creator. It is of more value to follow the status quo, following after men, than to deny yourself and follow Him. After all, we can provide for ourselves what He can’t. We can protect ourselves better than He can. Our life, the life of this decaying world, is better than anything He has to offer. We don’t need Him. It would be nice if He would bless me a little more so that I could get a bigger flatscreen T.V. though, and if he would help me get a new car. As long as what He’s doing doesn’t distract from my life, the things that I want to do, having God in my life is great. Does that not sound incredibly foolish? Yet, that’s exactly what we are doing.

If you deny that you have become nothing less than an enemy of Yahuah, you are relying upon your own goodness, and you will most certainly find that you aren’t good enough. In fact He views your good works, your righteousness, as a menstral stained rag; disgusting, putrid (Isaiah 64:6). That is the life that you are depending upon when you face you judgement. You will find no mercy. You spit on His precious grace. You didn’t want to be burdened by His goodness during this life, and therefore you will be burdened with your own for eternity.

Will you continue to ignore that your life is miserable, that your life is substandard? Will you continue to harden your heart against the cry of the Set-apart Spirit, the cry of the good Shepherd calling for His lost sheep? Or will you begin to contemplate these questions; begin to examine your life? There is only one standard: HIS. There is only one life that measures up: HIS. Will you choose Him, to receive His grace through which all the promises of Elahim are Yes and Amen? You have no excuse to continue in sin. You have no excuse to live a life that is not pleasing in His sight. You have been given everything necessary to walk in the righteousness that He has called you to. All you must do is trust Him; deny yourself (everything that you know), take up your staff, and follow Him. In losing your life in this world (all the things you once treasured), and setting your eyes upon Him, you will gain His life; eternal life that can be lived today. Eternal life is not something that speaks of heaven, but what has been given for you to walk in today. Eternal life comes from intimacy with Yahuah, today.

You can truly know Him. You can go past reading about Him, go farther than just knowning His name, and begin to experience His pressence. You can find your purpose, what you were created for. You are created to be His living temple in this earth; that He would abide in you, and for you to abide in Him, inseparable. You were created to manifest His pressence, His character, to the rest of creation. You were created to take no thought for yourself, but to rest, to trust, in Him as your Lover, your Husband. When you focus all of your attention on Him, do you not understand that the infinite Elahim focuses His attention on you? He cares for you far more than you can imagine. His plans for you are far greater than you can comprehend. He is the only thing worth treasuring, the only thing worth setting your eyes on. Do not fail to see that He has set His eyes on you.

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in knowing Him who loves you.

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Walkabout: Day Fifty-two

Posted in Joshua's Trip with tags , , , , , , , , , , on Tuesday, September 22, 2009 by crazychristcraver

Yahuah is my shepherd; I do not lack. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters. He turns back my being; He leads me in paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake. When I walk through the valley fo the shadow of death, I fear no evil. For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You spread before me a table in the face of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup runs over. Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; And I shall dwell in the House of Yahuah, to the length of my days!

                                                  Psalm 23 (The Scriptures)

Thank you all for follow my trip this far. I’m headed out today. So very hard to leave my family. This time here has been an amazing time of healing, and restoration. There is so far to go, but I know that as I follow Yahuah, my shepherd, all that I must do is rest, and be. He is my Savior, my Rock, and my Redeemer. It is He that works out the kinks, all of my mess-ups for good; and it is He that deserves all the praise, all the honor, and all glory.

I don’t know where I’m going; don’t know what I’m doing; I’m just following my shepherd. Yahuah has been so good to me; His provision simply humbling. I am not worthy of such extravagant gifts, not worthy of the King, yet He still loves me. When He looks upon me, overwhelming; no words to describe it. His glory, His esteem; it’s only because He looks at me that I am of any value. I rest in His presence. I rest in His love. I rest, because I know that all that I must do, is be. I’m loved by the King.

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Walkabout: Day Fifty-One

Posted in Challenging words, Joshua's Trip with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on Monday, September 21, 2009 by crazychristcraver
Why do we have  to confess our sins before God when He already knows everything? God wants us to own what we’ve done. If you will not own it, you cannot receive forgiveness for it. You can’t receive the mercy necessary for the crime that you have committed if you will not admit to the full crime. You can only receive forgiveness for the depth of your confession. Basically, if you feel that your violation was small and not a big deal, you will receive a small portion of mercy, because in reality that’s what you’re asking for. The problem is that you need an infinite measure of mercy even for the smallest of sins. Any amount of drawing back from Yahuah causes eternal death. The only way to regain life, is through His mercy. For this reason, any amount of sin (selfishness) has a penalty of eternal death, and needs a full measure of God’s mercy.
We like to rate sin, saying, “Well I’m not that bad,” and “What they did was far worse than what I did.” However, in the Father’s eyes, lust is the same as adultery, and hate is the same as murder. So you may not have slept with someone else other than your spouse, or physically committed murder, but chances are that you are guilty of both offenses. You are an adulterer, and you are a murderer. The fact that you didn’t physically do those things only matters in this world system, but in God’s kingdom, your crimes are worthy of the death penalty, and God’s death penalty is far greater than the one we face in this physical world; it’s spiritually dying for eternity.
Here is something that may come as a surprise to you, God is not concerned so much about what particular sin you have committed, but more importantly, what caused the sin. What causes sin is a heart that draws back, choosing our way not God. We like to think that as long as we pray a little bit, maybe read the bible here and there, go to church, and do our best to be a good person, that somehow this is meeting the requirements of ‘getting into heaven.’ Well, the whole topic of heaven is going to have to come at another time, but the requirements are far greater than you might think.
Sin can be defined as falling short of the mark. It would then be important to know what, or where, the mark is. The mark is God’s perfection, or righteousness. Did you know that you will actually be measured by, and held accountable to, the perfection of Yahuah? Here enters one of the largest problems in common church thinking. Does God’s grace allow you to remain in sin, and still be found justified, made righteous? This may be a shocker, but the answer is NO. God’s grace enables you, or sets you free from sin, not only the penalty. God’s grace is most easily understood as the medium through which He gives. It is through grace that God gives us everything; gives us himself. It is through grace that God’s mercy flows. It is through grace that we have freedom from sin and death, or said a little differently, we no longer are bound to a life of sin that leads to death. Through God’s grace then, we can live a life that is pleasing in His sight. You have absolutely no excuse to continue in your sin, because He has extended everything necessary for you to walk free from sin.
Now, I have not said that I am perfect, but Yahuah is, and it is His standard not mine.
So, why are we still living in sin? I think that the most important reason that we continue to walk in sin is because we have little to no understanding of what we are really supposed to do. We are called to be holy, set-apart, unto Yahuah, as He is holy. We are not to look anything like this world. Our time is to be spent worshipping, praying, admonishing, tearing down strongholds, being dispersers of grace as rivers of living water flow from our bellies. That is what we are truly called to do. Why don’t we then see people walking in this if it’s really possible? Extremely simple answer: COMPROMISE. We try to live in two realities at the same time. These two realities are polar opposites, and there is nothing in between; it is impossible to live in both. God’s way is nothing like the world, and He says that if we are friends, just being familiar, with the world we are His enemy. Did you read that; His enemy. What does that mean? Will you make excuses to allow yourself to remain in a substandard lifestyle, or will you begin to allow Him to show you what that, and the other Scriptures, truly means?
If you are defining, or interpreting, what the Word of God means, I can pretty much garauntee that you will miss its true meaning. Only He can give you the understanding that you need; only He can share with you what He meant when it was written. This life is about Him, not you. This life is about serving Him, not your needs. The truth is that He can meet your needs far better than you can if you would let Him. He has so much more for you than you could ever imagine, if you would just allow Him to show you. How can we begin the process of allowing the Spirit of Yahuah to show us who we truly are, what we were created for, what He has planned for us? Simply by choosing Him. When He is the most important thing in your life, not just the thing that you say is the most important, but really the most important, revelation will begin to flow; life will begin to fill your being. That is what repentence really looks like: turning from everything that you ever knew, ever did, the things that you value, EVERYTHING, forsaking your life, and choosing His by choosing Him.
When we really get down to it, I am not a good person, and neither are you. Not even Yahushua (Jesus) would allow someone to call Him good, but said there is none good but One, and that’s Yahuah. When you say, “but I’m a good person,” you are justifying your substandard lifestyle, your sin before God. Basically, you are excusing yourself, saying that your sins, choosing yourself over God isn’t really that big of a deal. In so doing, you saying that you will rely upon God’s justice when you face Him on the Day of judgement. I can garauntee you that you do not want to rely upon your goodness on that Day, as His justice will measure against His standard of perfection. The only way to be pardoned from you wickedness, the life that you have lived, is to admit your full crime. Your crime, however small in your eyes, is deserving of a eternal punishment. You may say that that isn’t fair, but He has offered to pay your penalty, so… seems more than fair to me. All that you must do is choose Him to receive His mercy, to receive the pardon from death, to receive the adoption papers into His family.
The greatest commandment is this, to love Yahuah your God with ALL of your heart, ALL of your soul, ALL of your mind, and with ALL of your strength. Just know that for every second that you are not doing this, not putting Him first, you are in violation of His law, and it is punishable by death. When you recognize what you have done, how gross your sin truly is, cry out for His mercy, cry out for forgiveness.
Yahuah will never leave you nor forsake you, He’ll never be selfish, but in your selfishness, you have forsaken Him, cheated on Him with another; you have violated Him. The most amazing thing is that if you just recognize what you have done before Him, confess that to Him, run to Him, He will forgive you.
Yahuah, I pray the conviction of sins for all who read this; that they would see through your eyes; that they would know your heart; that they would have ears to hear. Praise your Name, Yahuah. Thank you for your sent One, Yahushua, Your one and only Son. Thank your for the redemption, the ransom paid for our lives. You now own all that is in the world, and I pray that we bow to you as Master and King, and that we would run to you, fleeing the lies of this world. Fill us with your Truth, your life, your Love, that we would be like you, take on your character, and magnify your Name in all the earth. Yahuah we love you. To your Name be all the glory, all the honor, and all the power. Amen.

Why do we have  to confess our sins before God when He already knows everything? God wants us to own what we’ve done. If you will not own it, you cannot receive forgiveness for it. You can’t receive the mercy necessary for the crime that you have committed if you will not admit to the full crime. You can only receive forgiveness for the depth of your confession. Basically, if you feel that your violation was small and not a big deal, you will receive a small portion of mercy, because in reality that’s what you’re asking for. The problem is that you need an infinite measure of mercy even for the smallest of sins. Any amount of drawing back from Yahuah causes eternal death. The only way to regain life, is through His mercy. For this reason, any amount of sin (selfishness) has a penalty of eternal death, and needs a full measure of God’s mercy.

We like to rate sin, saying, “Well I’m not that bad,” and “What they did was far worse than what I did.” However, in the Father’s eyes, lust is the same as adultery, and hate is the same as murder. So you may not have slept with someone else other than your spouse, or physically committed murder, but chances are that you are guilty of both offenses. You are an adulterer, and you are a murderer. The fact that you didn’t physically do those things only matters in this world system, but in God’s kingdom, your crimes are worthy of the death penalty, and God’s death penalty is far greater than the one we face in this physical world; it’s spiritually dying for eternity.

Here is something that may come as a surprise to you, God is not concerned so much about what particular sin you have committed, but more importantly, what caused the sin. What causes sin is a heart that draws back, choosing our way not God. We like to think that as long as we pray a little bit, maybe read the bible here and there, go to church, and do our best to be a good person, that somehow this is meeting the requirements of ‘getting into heaven.’ Well, the whole topic of heaven is going to have to come at another time, but the requirements are far greater than you might think.

Sin can be defined as falling short of the mark. It would then be important to know what, or where, the mark is. The mark is God’s perfection, or righteousness. Did you know that you will actually be measured by, and held accountable to, the perfection of Yahuah? Here enters one of the largest problems in common church thinking. Does God’s grace allow you to remain in sin, and still be found justified, made righteous? This may be a shocker, but the answer is NO. God’s grace enables you, or sets you free from sin, not only the penalty. God’s grace is most easily understood as the medium through which He gives. It is through grace that God gives us everything; gives us himself. It is through grace that God’s mercy flows. It is through grace that we have freedom from sin and death, or said a little differently, we no longer are bound to a life of sin that leads to death. Through God’s grace then, we can live a life that is pleasing in His sight. You have absolutely no excuse to continue in your sin, because He has extended everything necessary for you to walk free from sin.

Now, I have not said that I am perfect, but Yahuah is, and it is His standard not mine.

So, why are we still living in sin? I think that the most important reason that we continue to walk in sin is because we have little to no understanding of what we are really supposed to do. We are called to be holy, set-apart, unto Yahuah, as He is holy. We are not to look anything like this world. Our time is to be spent worshipping, praying, admonishing, tearing down strongholds, being dispersers of grace as rivers of living water flow from our bellies. That is what we are truly called to do. Why don’t we then see people walking in this if it’s really possible? Extremely simple answer: COMPROMISE. We try to live in two realities at the same time. These two realities are polar opposites, and there is nothing in between; it is impossible to live in both. God’s way is nothing like the world, and He says that if we are friends, just being familiar, with the world we are His enemy. Did you read that; His enemy. What does that mean? Will you make excuses to allow yourself to remain in a substandard lifestyle, or will you begin to allow Him to show you what that, and the other Scriptures, truly means?

If you are defining, or interpreting, what the Word of God means, I can pretty much garauntee that you will miss its true meaning. Only He can give you the understanding that you need; only He can share with you what He meant when it was written. This life is about Him, not you. This life is about serving Him, not your needs. The truth is that He can meet your needs far better than you can if you would let Him. He has so much more for you than you could ever imagine, if you would just allow Him to show you. How can we begin the process of allowing the Spirit of Yahuah to show us who we truly are, what we were created for, what He has planned for us? Simply by choosing Him. When He is the most important thing in your life, not just the thing that you say is the most important, but really the most important, revelation will begin to flow; life will begin to fill your being. That is what repentence really looks like: turning from everything that you ever knew, ever did, the things that you value, EVERYTHING, forsaking your life, and choosing His by choosing Him.

When we really get down to it, I am not a good person, and neither are you. Not even Yahushua (Jesus) would allow someone to call Him good, but said there is none good but One, and that’s Yahuah. When you say, “but I’m a good person,” you are justifying your substandard lifestyle, your sin before God. Basically, you are excusing yourself, saying that your sins, choosing yourself over God isn’t really that big of a deal. In so doing, you saying that you will rely upon God’s justice when you face Him on the Day of judgement. I can garauntee you that you do not want to rely upon your goodness on that Day, as His justice will measure against His standard of perfection. The only way to be pardoned from you wickedness, the life that you have lived, is to admit your full crime. Your crime, however small in your eyes, is deserving of a eternal punishment. You may say that that isn’t fair, but He has offered to pay your penalty, so… seems more than fair to me. All that you must do is choose Him to receive His mercy, to receive the pardon from death, to receive the adoption papers into His family.

The greatest commandment is this, to love Yahuah your God with ALL of your heart, ALL of your soul, ALL of your mind, and with ALL of your strength. Just know that for every second that you are not doing this, not putting Him first, you are in violation of His law, and it is punishable by death. When you recognize what you have done, how gross your sin truly is, cry out for His mercy, cry out for forgiveness.

Yahuah will never leave you nor forsake you, He’ll never be selfish, but in your selfishness, you have forsaken Him, cheated on Him with another; you have violated Him. The most amazing thing is that if you just recognize what you have done before Him, confess that to Him, run to Him, He will forgive you.

Yahuah, I pray the conviction of sins for all who read this; that they would see through your eyes; that they would know your heart; that they would have ears to hear. Praise your Name, Yahuah. Thank you for your sent One, Yahushua, Your one and only Son. Thank your for the redemption, the ransom paid for our lives. You now own all that is in the world, and I pray that we bow to you as Master and King, and that we would run to you, fleeing the lies of this world. Fill us with your Truth, your life, your Love, that we would be like you, take on your character, and magnify your Name in all the earth. Yahuah we love you. To your Name be all the glory, all the honor, and all the power. Amen.

 

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Walkabout: Day Fifty

Posted in Challenging words, Joshua's Trip with tags , , , , , , , , , , on Sunday, September 20, 2009 by crazychristcraver
Matthew 5:3 – 7:27
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, because theirs is the reign of the heavens. Blessed are those who mourn, because they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, because they shall inherity the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, because they shall be filled. Blessed are the compassionate, because they shall obtain compassion. Blessed are the clean in heart, because they shall see Elahim. Blessed are the peacemakers, because they shall be called sons of Elahim. Blessed are those persecuted for righteousness’ sake, because theirs is the reign of the heavens. Blessed are you when they reproach and persecute you, and falsely say every wicked word agaist you, for My sake. Rejoice and be glad, because your reward in the heavens is great. For in this way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt becomes tasteless, how shall it be seasoned? For it is no longer of any use but to be thrown out and to be trodden down by men. You are the light of the world. It is impossible for a city to be hidden on a mountain. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it shines to all those in th house. Let your light so shine before men, so that they see your good works and praise your Father who is in the heavens. Do not think that I came to destroy the Torah or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to complete. For truly, I say to you, till the heaven and the earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall be no means pass from the Torah till all be done. Whoever, then, breaks one of the least of these commands, and teaches men so, shall be called the least in the reign of the heavens; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the reign of the heavens. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and the Pharisees, you shall by no means enter into the reign of the heavens. You heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder,’ and whoever murders shall be liable to judgement. But I say to you that whoever is wroth with his brother without a cause shall be liable to judgement. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raka!’ shall be liable to the Sanhedrin. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be liable to the fire of Gehenna. If, then, you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother holds whatever against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go, first make peace with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Be well-minded with your opponent, promptly, while you are on the way with him, lest your opponent deliver you to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Truly, I say to you, you shall by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny. You heard that is was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone looking at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. And if your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is better for you that one of your members perish, than for your entire body to be thrown into Gehenna. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut if off and throw it away from you. For it is better for you that one of your members perish, than for you entire body to be thrown into Gehenna. And it has been said, ‘Whoever puts away his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the matter of whoring, makes her commit adultery. And whoever marries a woman who has been put away commits adultery. Again, you heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to Yahuah.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all, neither by the heaven, because it is Elahim’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Yerushalayim (Jerusalem), for it is the city of the great Sovereign; nor swear by your head, because you are not able to make one hair white or black. But let your word ‘Yea’ be ‘Yea,’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No.’ And what goes beyond these is from the wicked one. You heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth,’ but I say to you, do not resist the wicked. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. And he who wishes to sue you and take away your inner garment, let him have your outer garment as well. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wishes to borrow from you, do not turn away. You heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those cursing you, do good to those hating you, and pray for those insulting you and persecuting you, so that you become sons of your Father in the heavens. Because He makes His sun rise on the wicked and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those loving you, what reward have you? Are the tax collectors not doing the same too? And if you greet your brothers only, what do you do more than others? Are not the tax collectors not doing so too? Therefore, be perfect, as your Father in the heavens is perfect. Beware of doing your kind deeds before men, in order to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in the heavens. Thus, when you do a kind deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do, in the congregations and in the streets, to be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a kind deed, do not let you left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that you kind deed shall be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret shall Himself reward you openly. And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the congregations and on the corners of the streets, to be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into the room, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place. And your Father who sees in secret shall reward you openly. And when praying, do not keep on babbling like the gentiles. For they think they shall be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. This then, is the way you should pray: ‘Our Father who is in the heavens, let Your Name be set-apart, let Your reign come, let Your desire be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into trial, but deliver us from the wicked one–because Your is the reign and the power and the esteem, forever. Amen. For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father shall also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither shall your Father forgive your trespasses. And when you fast, do not be sad-faced like the hypocrites. For they disfigure their faces so that they appear to be fasting before men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place. And your Father who sees in secret shall reward you openly. Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart shall be also. The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore the eye is good, all your body shall be enlightened. But if the eye is evil, all you body shall be darkened. If, then, the light that is within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! No one is able to serve two masters, for either he shall hate the one and love the other, or else he shall cleave to the one and despise the other. You are not able to serve Elahim and mammon. Because of this I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you shall eat or drink, or about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than the clothing? Look at the birds of the heaven, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into storehouses, yet your heavenly Father does feed them. Are you not worth more than they? And which of you by worrying is able to add one cubit to his life’s span? So why do you worry about clothing? Note well the lilies of the field, how they grow. They neither toil nor spin, and I say to you that even Shelomoh (Solomon) in all his esteem was not dressed like one of these. But if Elahim so clothes the grass of the field, which exists today, and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more you, O you of little belief? Do not worry then, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For all of these the gentiles seek for. And your heavenly Father knows that you need all these. “But seek first the reign of Elahim, and His righteousness, and all these matters shall be added to you. Do not, then, worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow shall have its own worries. Each day has enough evil of itself. Do not judge, lest you be judged. For with what judgement you judge, you shall be judged. And with the same measure you use, it shall be measured to you. And why do you look at the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the plank in your own eye? Or how is it that you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the splinter out of your eye,’ and see, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you shall see clearly to remove the splinter out of your brother’s eye. Do not give what is set-apart to the dogs, nor throw your pearls before the pigs, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces. Ask and it shall be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and it shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened. Or is there a man among you who, if his son asks for bread, shall give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, shall he give him a snake? if you then, being wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in the heavens give what is good to those who ask Him! Therefore, whatever you wish men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Torah and the Prophets. Enter in through the narrow gate! Because the gate is wide–and the way is broad–that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter in through it. Because the gate is narrow and the way is hard pressed which leads to life, and there are few who find it. But beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are savage wolves. By their fruits you shall know them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? So every good tree yields good fruit, but a rotten tree yields wicked fruit. A good tree is unable to yield wicked fruit, and a rotten tree to yield good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, by their fruits you shall know them–Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Master, Master,’ shall enter into the reign of the heavens, but he who is doing the desire of My Father in the heavens. Many shall say to Me in that day, ‘Master, Master, have we not prophesied in Your Name, and cast out demons in Your Name, and done many mighty works in Your Name?’ And then I shall declare to them, ‘I never knew you, depart from Me, your who work lawlessness!’ Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does them, shall be like a wise man who built his house on the rock, and the rain came down, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not do them, shall be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand, and the rain came down, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and they beat on that house, and it fell, and great was its fall.”

I pray that you will be able to read these words without interpreting them. Remove the lenses of culture, schooling, doctrine, and theology. Allow the Set-apart (Holy) Spirit to speak, teach, and challenge. I pray that the eyes of your understanding be opened; that you would know the incredible depths of the Love of the Father, the Creator of all things, Yahuah. What do these words say?

Matthew 5:3 – 7:27 (The Scriptures translation)

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, because theirs is the reign of the heavens. Blessed are those who mourn, because they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, because they shall inherity the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, because they shall be filled. Blessed are the compassionate, because they shall obtain compassion. Blessed are the clean in heart, because they shall see Elahim. Blessed are the peacemakers, because they shall be called sons of Elahim. Blessed are those persecuted for righteousness’ sake, because theirs is the reign of the heavens. Blessed are you when they reproach and persecute you, and falsely say every wicked word agaist you, for My sake. Rejoice and be glad, because your reward in the heavens is great. For in this way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt becomes tasteless, how shall it be seasoned? For it is no longer of any use but to be thrown out and to be trodden down by men. You are the light of the world. It is impossible for a city to be hidden on a mountain. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it shines to all those in th house. Let your light so shine before men, so that they see your good works and praise your Father who is in the heavens. Do not think that I came to destroy the Torah or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to complete. For truly, I say to you, till the heaven and the earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall be no means pass from the Torah till all be done. Whoever, then, breaks one of the least of these commands, and teaches men so, shall be called the least in the reign of the heavens; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the reign of the heavens. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and the Pharisees, you shall by no means enter into the reign of the heavens. You heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder,’ and whoever murders shall be liable to judgement. But I say to you that whoever is wroth with his brother without a cause shall be liable to judgement. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raka!’ shall be liable to the Sanhedrin. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be liable to the fire of Gehenna. If, then, you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother holds whatever against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go, first make peace with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Be well-minded with your opponent, promptly, while you are on the way with him, lest your opponent deliver you to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Truly, I say to you, you shall by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny. You heard that is was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone looking at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. And if your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is better for you that one of your members perish, than for your entire body to be thrown into Gehenna. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut if off and throw it away from you. For it is better for you that one of your members perish, than for you entire body to be thrown into Gehenna. And it has been said, ‘Whoever puts away his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the matter of whoring, makes her commit adultery. And whoever marries a woman who has been put away commits adultery. Again, you heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to Yahuah.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all, neither by the heaven, because it is Elahim’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Yerushalayim (Jerusalem), for it is the city of the great Sovereign; nor swear by your head, because you are not able to make one hair white or black. But let your word ‘Yea’ be ‘Yea,’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No.’ And what goes beyond these is from the wicked one. You heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth,’ but I say to you, do not resist the wicked. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. And he who wishes to sue you and take away your inner garment, let him have your outer garment as well. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wishes to borrow from you, do not turn away. You heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those cursing you, do good to those hating you, and pray for those insulting you and persecuting you, so that you become sons of your Father in the heavens. Because He makes His sun rise on the wicked and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those loving you, what reward have you? Are the tax collectors not doing the same too? And if you greet your brothers only, what do you do more than others? Are not the tax collectors not doing so too? Therefore, be perfect, as your Father in the heavens is perfect. Beware of doing your kind deeds before men, in order to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in the heavens. Thus, when you do a kind deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do, in the congregations and in the streets, to be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a kind deed, do not let you left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that you kind deed shall be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret shall Himself reward you openly. And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the congregations and on the corners of the streets, to be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into the room, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place. And your Father who sees in secret shall reward you openly. And when praying, do not keep on babbling like the gentiles. For they think they shall be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. This then, is the way you should pray: ‘Our Father who is in the heavens, let Your Name be set-apart, let Your reign come, let Your desire be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into trial, but deliver us from the wicked one–because Your is the reign and the power and the esteem, forever. Amen. For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father shall also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither shall your Father forgive your trespasses. And when you fast, do not be sad-faced like the hypocrites. For they disfigure their faces so that they appear to be fasting before men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place. And your Father who sees in secret shall reward you openly. Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart shall be also. The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore the eye is good, all your body shall be enlightened. But if the eye is evil, all you body shall be darkened. If, then, the light that is within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! No one is able to serve two masters, for either he shall hate the one and love the other, or else he shall cleave to the one and despise the other. You are not able to serve Elahim and mammon. Because of this I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you shall eat or drink, or about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than the clothing? Look at the birds of the heaven, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into storehouses, yet your heavenly Father does feed them. Are you not worth more than they? And which of you by worrying is able to add one cubit to his life’s span? So why do you worry about clothing? Note well the lilies of the field, how they grow. They neither toil nor spin, and I say to you that even Shelomoh (Solomon) in all his esteem was not dressed like one of these. But if Elahim so clothes the grass of the field, which exists today, and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more you, O you of little belief? Do not worry then, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For all of these the gentiles seek for. And your heavenly Father knows that you need all these. “But seek first the reign of Elahim, and His righteousness, and all these matters shall be added to you. Do not, then, worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow shall have its own worries. Each day has enough evil of itself. Do not judge, lest you be judged. For with what judgement you judge, you shall be judged. And with the same measure you use, it shall be measured to you. And why do you look at the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the plank in your own eye? Or how is it that you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the splinter out of your eye,’ and see, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you shall see clearly to remove the splinter out of your brother’s eye. Do not give what is set-apart to the dogs, nor throw your pearls before the pigs, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces. Ask and it shall be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and it shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened. Or is there a man among you who, if his son asks for bread, shall give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, shall he give him a snake? if you then, being wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in the heavens give what is good to those who ask Him! Therefore, whatever you wish men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Torah and the Prophets. Enter in through the narrow gate! Because the gate is wide–and the way is broad–that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter in through it. Because the gate is narrow and the way is hard pressed which leads to life, and there are few who find it. But beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are savage wolves. By their fruits you shall know them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? So every good tree yields good fruit, but a rotten tree yields wicked fruit. A good tree is unable to yield wicked fruit, and a rotten tree to yield good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, by their fruits you shall know them–Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Master, Master,’ shall enter into the reign of the heavens, but he who is doing the desire of My Father in the heavens. Many shall say to Me in that day, ‘Master, Master, have we not prophesied in Your Name, and cast out demons in Your Name, and done many mighty works in Your Name?’ And then I shall declare to them, ‘I never knew you, depart from Me, your who work lawlessness!’ Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does them, shall be like a wise man who built his house on the rock, and the rain came down, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not do them, shall be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand, and the rain came down, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and they beat on that house, and it fell, and great was its fall.”

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Walkabout: Day Forty-One

Posted in Joshua's Trip with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on Friday, September 11, 2009 by crazychristcraver

Hello everyone! Sorry it’s been so long since my last post. There’s been so much that has gone on since we last talked, I don’t even know where to start.
My time in Denison has come to an end. I left Monday September 7th on my way to track down my walking stick that I had forgotten in Frank from Oregon’s truck. I had planned on leaving it, but God had different plans.
I got dropped off here in Waxahachie, TX by a friend that had come to visit me in Denison. He was on his way to the Houston area, and this was pretty much on his way. That was Monday, now it’s Friday, and I still don’t have my walking stick. I got to minister to a guy down here that picked me up on Tuesday morning, and he gave me a place to stay.
Let me just stop and say praise Yahuah!!! Halleluyah, Halleluyah, He deserves the highest praise! In all reality this week has been pretty rough, and this morning God has just been blessing me beyond measure. As I’m sitting here at McDonald’s I felt led to give these two guys a pack of Speak’s. Not only is one of them on their way to get me a walking stick that He has put some work in, they blessed me financially. We prayed before they left, and wow, wow, wow… It’s amazing how quickly the enemy can come in and convince me that I’m way off track, and start to beat me up. But Yahuah continues to uphold His servant never letting me fall too far. I’m overwhelmed with His love for me right now.
I don’t have a whole lot more to say right now about the last few weeks, other than PRAISE YAHUAH!!! He is my salvation and my rock. My strong tower and my comfort. I am nothing without Him; He is my strength.
I encourage you, if you get down, don’t stop praising (I know it’s hard), don’t let go of Him. Whether you messed up or not, makes no difference, He’s not going to leave you or forsake you. He is faithful, even if your faith seems to have run out. All you have to do is know that He is, and that He is a rewarder to those who seek after Him. He isn’t looking to beat you up, or make you feel bad because you made a mistake, He loves you far beyond your comprehension, and He will never give up on you. He’s not interested in your strength, only that You would draw near to Him. His strength is more than enough! Halleluyah!

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Walkabout: Day Twenty-Four (How To Battle)

Posted in Challenging words, Encouraging Words, Joshua's Trip with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 by crazychristcraver
1 Corithians 13
If I speak with the tongues of men and of messengers, but do not have love, I have become as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophecy, and know all secrets and all knowledge, and if I have all belief, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am none at all. And if I give out all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but do not have love, I am not profited at all. Love is patient, is kind, love does not envy, love does not boast, is not puffed up, does not behave indecently, does not seek its own, is not provoked, reckons not the evil, does not rejoice over the unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth, it covers all, believes all, expects all, endures all. Love never fails. And whether there be prophecies, they shall be inactive; or tongues, they shall cease; or knowledge, it shall be inactive. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part shall be inactive. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought as a child, I reasoned like a child. But when I became a man, I did away with the childish matters. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know, as I also have been known. And now belief, expectation, and love remain–these three. But the greatest of these is love.
How does a person walking in this kind of love, totally selfless, and without thought or regaurd for themselves, fight in a battle against the dark things of this world?
I guess the place that we would actually need to start would be, who and what is the fight against? The fight is against selfishness–every thought and imagination, every high thing that would raise itself against Yahuah. It is this selfishness that we are called to wage war against. It is this gross darkness that we are called to tear down, bring to nothing, bring into obedience to the Master. The Master is Love, Truth, and Light, and therefore our warring causes darkness to be enlightened, lies and deceptions exposed and transformed into the image of Truth, and the self-centered exaltation of a pride-filled existence would instead be brought low, highly reguarding others, that they may love Yahuah their Elahim with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength. This is the outcome of our warring, and is great commission that we first see given to Adam in the garden (part of our created purpose) and is expounded upon many times throughout the scriptures.
We see the great commission in Genesis 1:26-28.  And Elahim said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the livestock, and over all the earth and over all the creeping creatures that creep on the earth.” And Elahim created the man in His image, in the image of Elahim He created him–male and female He created them. And Elahim blessed them, and Elahim said to them, “Bear fruit and increase, and fill the earth and subdue it, and rule over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over all creatures moving on the earth.”
The commission is expounded upon in Isaiah 61:1,2, and again in Luke 4:18-19:The Spirit of Yahuah is upon me, because He has anointed me to bring the Good News to the poor. He has sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send away the crushed ones with a release, to proclaim the acceptable year of Yahuah.
We further see the commission expounded in Matthew 10:7-8:”And as you go, proclaim, saying, ‘The reign of the heavens has drawn near.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the leapers, raise the dead, cast out demons. You have received without paying, give without being paid.”
2 Corinthians 10:3-6 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not fight according to the flesh. For the weapons we fight with are not fleshly but mighty in Elahim for overthrowing strongholds, overthrowing reasonings and every high matter that exalts itself against the knowledge of Elahim, taking captive every thought to make it obedient to the Messiah, and being ready to punish all disobedience, when your obedience is complete.
In the previous verses we have seen that we are supposed to bring all things into subjection, to rule and have dominion in this earth, to bring freedom and healing, making whole that which is broken, etc, but how? What weapons do we have? How do we fight? What protects us from attack?
Ephesians 6:10-18…be strong in the Master and in the mightiness of His strength (His strength comes from His peace; there is peace within Him, because in Him all things are in agreement; He is never divided within Himself, and it is when we come into agreement with Him that we too will walk in the same strength, walk in Him). Put on the complete armor of Elahim, for you to have power to stand against the schemes of the devil (the schemes of the devil are simply to cause conflict in your thinking through deception, and therefore stealing peace in your relationship to Truth, with Yahuah). Because we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against authorities, against the world-rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual matters of wickedness in the heavenlies. Because of this, take up the complete armor of Elahim (we do not put on the armor of God to protect our junk; this suit of armor does not allow us to remain in an unchanged state, but as we take on these things we are transformed into His image), so that you have power to withstand in the wicked day, and having done all, to stand (we fight by standing agaist these things, standing agaist selfishness; as we pull down strongholds in our thinking, and come into agreement with Yahuah, by simply standing we defeat the enemy; we stand in His completed work, we stand in His victory, and it is in this place that there is rest). Stand, then, having girded your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace; above all, having taken up the shield of belief with which you shall have power to quench all the burning arrows of the wicked one. Take also the helmet of deliverance, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of Elahim (the finishing blows to the enemy are not vicious, are not out of revenge, and actually they are not done with any thought of self, but they are the Truth of His Word; the finishing blows are simply standing on the Rock, the Word, standing in Him), praying at all times, with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, watching in all perseverance and supplication for all the set-apart ones (as we begin to stand in victory in the smaller arenas of our own thinking, we can begin to reach outward, praying for those around us, standing in the gap for them, encouraging them to take on this armor as well).
In this post I just wanted to explore what it is that we are warring against, and how we fight this battle. This is the epic battle of good and evil, light and dark, self and selfless. I started this post with 2 Corinthians 13, talking about love, because this is who Yahuah is, this is who we are to be becoming, this is how we battle, and anything that would raise itself against this way of thinking is what what tear down. Yahuah is Love; our purpose is to return that love to Him, and to be dispensers of His Love to this earth. Halleluyah!!!

1 Corithians 13 If I speak with the tongues of men and of messengers, but do not have love, I have become as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophecy, and know all secrets and all knowledge, and if I have all belief, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am none at all. And if I give out all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but do not have love, I am not profited at all. Love is patient, is kind, love does not envy, love does not boast, is not puffed up, does not behave indecently, does not seek its own, is not provoked, reckons not the evil, does not rejoice over the unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth, it covers all, believes all, expects all, endures all. Love never fails. And whether there be prophecies, they shall be inactive; or tongues, they shall cease; or knowledge, it shall be inactive. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part shall be inactive. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought as a child, I reasoned like a child. But when I became a man, I did away with the childish matters. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know, as I also have been known. And now belief, expectation, and love remain–these three. But the greatest of these is love.

How does a person walking in this kind of love, totally selfless, and without thought or regaurd for themselves, fight in a battle against the dark things of this world?

I guess the place that we would actually need to start would be, who and what is the fight against? The fight is against selfishness–every thought and imagination, every high thing that would raise itself against Yahuah. It is this selfishness that we are called to wage war against. It is this gross darkness that we are called to tear down, bring to nothing, bring into obedience to the Master. The Master is Love, Truth, and Light, and therefore our warring causes darkness to be enlightened, lies and deceptions exposed and transformed into the image of Truth, and the self-centered exaltation of a pride-filled existence would instead be brought low, highly reguarding others, that they may love Yahuah their Elahim with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength. This is the outcome of our warring, and is great commission that we first see given to Adam in the garden (part of our created purpose) and is expounded upon many times throughout the scriptures.

We see the great commission in Genesis 1:26-28 And Elahim said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the livestock, and over all the earth and over all the creeping creatures that creep on the earth.” And Elahim created the man in His image, in the image of Elahim He created him–male and female He created them. And Elahim blessed them, and Elahim said to them, “Bear fruit and increase, and fill the earth and subdue it, and rule over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over all creatures moving on the earth.”

The commission is expounded upon in Isaiah 61:1,2, and again in Luke 4:18-19 The Spirit of Yahuah is upon me, because He has anointed me to bring the Good News to the poor. He has sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send away the crushed ones with a release, to proclaim the acceptable year of Yahuah.

We further see the commission expounded in Matthew 10:7-8 “And as you go, proclaim, saying, ‘The reign of the heavens has drawn near.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the leapers, raise the dead, cast out demons. You have received without paying, give without being paid.”

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not fight according to the flesh. For the weapons we fight with are not fleshly but mighty in Elahim for overthrowing strongholds, overthrowing reasonings and every high matter that exalts itself against the knowledge of Elahim, taking captive every thought to make it obedient to the Messiah, and being ready to punish all disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

In the previous verses we have seen that we are supposed to bring all things into subjection, to rule and have dominion in this earth, to bring freedom and healing, making whole that which is broken, etc, but how? What weapons do we have? How do we fight? What protects us from attack?

Ephesians 6:10-18 …be strong in the Master and in the mightiness of His strength (His strength comes from His peace; there is peace within Him, because in Him all things are in agreement; He is never divided within Himself, and it is when we come into agreement with Him that we too will walk in the same strength, walk in Him). Put on the complete armor of Elahim, for you to have power to stand against the schemes of the devil (the schemes of the devil are simply to cause conflict in your thinking through deception, and thereby stealing peace in your relationship to Truth, with Yahuah). Because we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against authorities, against the world-rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual matters of wickedness in the heavenlies. Because of this, take up the complete armor of Elahim (we do not put on the armor of God to protect our junk; this suit of armor does not allow us to remain in an unchanged state, but as we take on these things we are transformed into His image), so that you have power to withstand in the wicked day, and having done all, to stand (we fight by standing agaist these things, standing agaist selfishness; as we pull down strongholds in our thinking, and come into agreement with Yahuah, by simply standing we defeat the enemy; we stand in His completed work, we stand in His victory, and it is in this place that there is rest). Stand, then, having girded your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace; above all, having taken up the shield of belief with which you shall have power to quench all the burning arrows of the wicked one. Take also the helmet of deliverance, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of Elahim (the finishing blows to the enemy are not vicious, are not out of revenge, and actually they are not done with any thought of self, but they are the Truth of His Word; the finishing blows are simply standing on the Rock, the Word, standing in Him), praying at all times, with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, watching in all perseverance and supplication for all the set-apart ones (as we begin to stand in victory in the smaller arenas of our own thinking, we can begin to reach outward, praying for those around us, standing in the gap for them, encouraging them to take on this armor as well).

In this post I just wanted to explore what it is that we are warring against, and how we fight this battle. This is the epic battle of good and evil, light and dark, self and selfless. I started this post with 2 Corinthians 13, talking about love, because this is who Yahuah is, this is who we are to be becoming, this is how we battle, and anything that would raise itself against this way of thinking is what what tear down. Yahuah is Love; our purpose is to return that love to Him, and to be dispensers of His Love to this earth. Halleluyah!!!

 

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Walkabout: Day Twenty-Three

Posted in Joshua's Trip with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on Monday, August 24, 2009 by crazychristcraver

I also finished up getting these verses put together today, or at least I posted them, my dad did the work and finally sent them to me. They kind of help put into perspective what the word says about forsaking all things.

I love you all so much. Blessings.

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Walkabout: Day Twenty-Two (about walkabout)

Posted in Joshua's Trip with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on Sunday, August 23, 2009 by crazychristcraver
I have wanted to do this post for some time now. I have started doing a video multiple times, but was always interupted. With no better time than now, it’s finally time to put this together.
The other day I wrote a little about the struggle that I go through missing my kids, and my relationship with their mother. Rachel (the mother of my children) responed to that post, and this is my response to what she had to say. I will not make this an argument, and this is not a public attempt to prove who is right or wrong. I do not feel as though I have hidden anything from anyone, and do not claim to be anything other than a servant of Yahuah. I am not perfect, but He is. I did not choose my calling, and it was not my idea to quit my job to follow after Him. I am not using God as an excuse to not pay my bills and to not pay for my children. All I have done is simply follow after my God as He would lead me, and I take full responsibilty for any selfish motive that may distract me from doing what He has called me to do, and living a life that is pleasing unto Him.
If you know me and/or have read my testimony you know that I have not always followed after God, but instead was living a life that was totally consumed by self. I was a sinner of sinners in total rebellion against Yahuah. Halleluyah, praise Yahuha my deliverer because I have been set free from, and forgiven for, all of my wickedness. I do not make light what I have done, and I take responsiblity for and confess all of my sin before Yahuah. First John 1:9 says that if I confess my sins to Him, He is faithful and just to both forgive me my sins and cleanse me of all unrighteousness. Halleluyah! By the blood of Yahushua the Anointed I have been set free from sin and death, set free from my selfishness. That means that I am no longer going to die an eternal death because of my selfishness, and I no longer have to continue today bound by selfish thinking (all sin is selfish; all selfishness is sin; sin is selfishness).
I now choose Him, His way, and His will. I will follow wherever He leads. I am no longer bound by the old man who lived a perverted life, as I have been made new through the same power that raised the Anointed One from the dead. As I die to self I am being raised in His likeness and in the image of Him who created me, the image of the Selfless One. Of myself I am nothing, and in me no good thing dwells. My righteousness is filthy and disgusting to the Perfect. Yet again, halleluyah! because as I pick up my cross crucifying my flesh, my will, my way, my thinking, so that I may follow after Him, it is no longer I who lives in this world, but Him through me. The life that I now live in this flesh is by faith in the Son of Yahuah. I live to praise His name. I live to bring glory unto my Father who is in Heaven. I live to serve the Master, the King of kings Yahushua the Anointed One who sits on the throne at the right hand of power in the seat of the authority of Yahuah. This is why I have willingly forsaken all things.
I started my trip because I was told to do so by the Holy Spirit. Leaving everything is something that Yahuah has been preparing me for over the course of the last two years (the more that I would choose Him, the more that I layed down to the point of having nothing but Him). In that time I had gotten glimpses that this was coming, but I had always twisted what it looked like through selfishness, lacking understanding. Only a couple weeks before I left the Master spoke to me, asking, “Am I enough? Even if you have nothing else, am I enough?” A quick response says of course, but are we really ready to live out that choice of knowing only Him, and Him crucified, and having only Him and what He provides. This question provoked much thought and meditation during those last weeks of preparation for the day that I would finally start this walkabout. I now can say without a doubt, “Yes, you are enough! I want you and you alone! Your will be done in and through my life no matter the cost.”
There are so many places found through out the Scriptures where we are called to forsake all things so that we may follow wherever the Spirit may lead. We have examples of many men living in the wilderness, set-apart (holy) unto Yahuah. This is the life that we are all called to live. The command was to “be holy (set-apart) as He is holy (set-apart).” He is set-apart from this world because this world has set itself apart from Him through selfishness. Yahuah is Love. Love is selfless, and is therefore the total opposite of worldly (selfish) thought. Being apart from Love we are in violation of our Creator and our created purpose, and it is for this reason that we experience destruction and ultimately death. We cannot love apart from Him. We are incomplete without Him. We were created as beings of love, and can be complete only through intimate love relationship with Him, choosing Him and His will.
Gratifying the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, the desires for other things, and the pride of life that comes through selfish ambition is the way of this world. It is through this self-reliant, self-pleasing, independant way of thinking that everything around us was conceived, and is the foundation for “life” as we know it. This is the complete opposite of man’s created purpose, but this is how we live and think; everything that we are apart from Him is contrary to who we are called to be. Man was created not to be independant (bringing about his own will), but to be soley dependant upon Yahuah for everything (bringing His will into the earth). Man was created to selflessly tear down anything and everything that would selfishly raise itself against Yahuah. This was the command to Adam, have domminion, and bring into subjection. This was What Yahushua came to do, set free and make whole. This is what we as His followers are called to do, bring peace, bring truth, bring life, bring Him to all inhabitants of this earth. As servants of Yahuah we are to be the manifestation of Him in this physical realm.
Matthew 6:33-34 says, “…seek first the reign of Elahim, and His righteousness, and all these matters (food, drink, and clothing) shall be added to you. Do not then worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow shall have its own worries. Each day has enough evil of itself.” I have chosen to take what Yahushua has said here litterally. I fully believe that all the promises of Elahim are yes and amen! in the Anointed One, meaning that they are for me, and it is in Him, through forsaking all things and following Him that we can experience what He has so lavishly provided. I have been called to forsake everything that is in and of this world, and that is all that I have done. I choose Him and Him only.
As for my wife (now ex-wife) and our children: I can not speak about what she believes, but going down this road with me is not something that she wanted to do. I chose to follow what the Master is leading me to do, and will no longer place her will over His. When she chose to seperate herself from me, and what the Spirit was doing in me, she chose to seperate herself from the provision that came from the place of obedience (I am talking about God’s provision for me, not my willingness to provide for her). When I have done work that I received a paycheck for, I have always sent money to help them out. It is not my desire to be separated from her or the kids, nor is it my intention to not help them financailly, but in the work that I have been called to there is not much money. I think and pray often about the pain that my children go through daily because I am not there. They have suffered greatly, and far more than I am free to talk about in this post, but even in their pain I will not return to anything that Yahuah has not personally called me to be. Many want to say that God would never tell someone not to do what I have done, but in Matthew 19:29 it says, “…everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundred fold return and inherit eternal life.” If you want to be my judge, you are opposing not me, but my Master. I do not seek the approval of men, and I only want to live a life that is pleasing in His sight, no matter the cost, and I trust Him that He will uphold His servant. Again, I do not ever excuse my behavior, nor will I blame God for my mistakes. I tried to blame Him, and that’s how I ended up out here (jk, read my testimony and you will understand).
Forsaking everything has been the hardest thing that I have ever done without question, but it has by far been the best choice that I could ever make, and I continue to make it daily. I never want to go back to living according to my own understanding, those things that seemed so right to me, but the end thereof is the way of death. I never again want to live a life based in selfishness, the life that the world, and even the church taught me was okay. I never want to back, but I press on and press into Him. The really awesome thing about making the choice to serve Him, the choice of His will and not my own, is that it is only hard when there is selfishness. When I focus on Him, it is actually incredibly easy, and it is in focusing solely on Him that I receive the grace to live a life that is pleasing in His sight.
Father, I choose you and your will. I pray that each and every person that reads this post would be taken deeper in their relationship with You. Give unto them a new understanding; that they would see through Your eyes, and know that the end of this world is nothing less than infinite death. I pray that they would receive strength, and they would daily make the choice to follow you. You are enough, no matter what, You are enough. Halleluyah! Praise you my King!

I have wanted to do this post for some time now. I have started doing a video multiple times, but was always interupted. With no better time than now, it’s finally time to put this together.

The other day I wrote a little about the struggle that I go through missing my kids, and my relationship with their mother. Rachel (the mother of my children) responed to that post, and this is my response to what she had to say. I will not make this an argument, and this is not a public attempt to prove who is right or wrong. I do not feel as though I have hidden anything from anyone, and do not claim to be anything other than a servant of Yahuah. I am not perfect, but He is. I did not choose my calling, and it was not my idea to quit my job to follow after Him. I am not using God as an excuse to not pay my bills and to not pay for my children. All I have done is simply follow after my God as He would lead me, and I take full responsibilty for any selfish motive that may distract me from doing what He has called me to do, and living a life that is pleasing unto Him.

If you know me and/or have read my testimony you know that I have not always followed after God, but instead was living a life that was totally consumed by self. I was a sinner of sinners in total rebellion against Yahuah. Halleluyah, praise Yahuha my deliverer because I have been set free from, and forgiven for, all of my wickedness. I do not make light what I have done, and I take responsiblity for and confess all of my sin before Yahuah. First John 1:9 says that if I confess my sins to Him, He is faithful and just to both forgive me my sins and cleanse me of all unrighteousness. Halleluyah! By the blood of Yahushua the Anointed I have been set free from sin and death, set free from my selfishness. That means that I am no longer going to die an eternal death because of my selfishness, and I no longer have to continue today bound by selfish thinking (all sin is selfish; all selfishness is sin; sin is selfishness).

I now choose Him, His way, and His will. I will follow wherever He leads. I am no longer bound by the old man who lived a perverted life, as I have been made new through the same power that raised the Anointed One from the dead. As I die to self I am being raised in His likeness and in the image of Him who created me, the image of the Selfless One. Of myself I am nothing, and in me no good thing dwells. My righteousness is filthy and disgusting to the Perfect. Yet again, halleluyah! because as I pick up my cross crucifying my flesh, my will, my way, my thinking, so that I may follow after Him, it is no longer I who lives in this world, but Him through me. The life that I now live in this flesh is by faith in the Son of Yahuah. I live to praise His name. I live to bring glory unto my Father who is in Heaven. I live to serve the Master, the King of kings Yahushua the Anointed One who sits on the throne at the right hand of power in the seat of the authority of Yahuah. This is why I have willingly forsaken all things.

I started my trip because I was told to do so by the Holy Spirit. Leaving everything is something that Yahuah has been preparing me for over the course of the last two years (the more that I would choose Him, the more that I layed down to the point of having nothing but Him). In that time I had gotten glimpses that this was coming, but I had always twisted what it looked like through selfishness, lacking understanding. Only a couple weeks before I left the Master spoke to me, asking, “Am I enough? Even if you have nothing else, am I enough?” A quick response says of course, but are we really ready to live out that choice of knowing only Him, and Him crucified, and having only Him and what He provides. This question provoked much thought and meditation during those last weeks of preparation for the day that I would finally start this walkabout. I now can say without a doubt, “Yes, you are enough! I want you and you alone! Your will be done in and through my life no matter the cost.”

There are so many places found through out the Scriptures where we are called to forsake all things so that we may follow wherever the Spirit may lead. We have examples of many men living in the wilderness, set-apart (holy) unto Yahuah. This is the life that we are all called to live. The command was to “be holy (set-apart) as He is holy (set-apart).” He is set-apart from this world because this world has set itself apart from Him through selfishness. Yahuah is Love. Love is selfless, and is therefore the total opposite of worldly (selfish) thought. Being apart from Love we are in violation of our Creator and our created purpose, and it is for this reason that we experience destruction and ultimately death. We cannot love apart from Him. We are incomplete without Him. We were created as beings of love, and can be complete only through intimate love relationship with Him, choosing Him and His will.

Gratifying the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, the desires for other things, and the pride of life that comes through selfish ambition is the way of this world. It is through this self-reliant, self-pleasing, independant way of thinking that everything around us was conceived, and is the foundation for “life” as we know it. This is the complete opposite of man’s created purpose, but this is how we live and think; everything that we are apart from Him is contrary to who we are called to be. Man was created not to be independant (bringing about his own will), but to be soley dependant upon Yahuah for everything (bringing His will into the earth). Man was created to selflessly tear down anything and everything that would selfishly raise itself against Yahuah. This was the command to Adam, have domminion, and bring into subjection. This was What Yahushua came to do, set free and make whole. This is what we as His followers are called to do, bring peace, bring truth, bring life, bring Him to all inhabitants of this earth. As servants of Yahuah we are to be the manifestation of Him in this physical realm.

Matthew 6:33-34 says, “…seek first the reign of Elahim, and His righteousness, and all these matters (food, drink, and clothing) shall be added to you. Do not then worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow shall have its own worries. Each day has enough evil of itself.” I have chosen to take what Yahushua has said here litterally. I fully believe that all the promises of Elahim are yes and amen! in the Anointed One, meaning that they are for me, and it is in Him, through forsaking all things and following Him that we can experience what He has so lavishly provided. I have been called to forsake everything that is in and of this world, and that is all that I have done. I choose Him and Him only.

As for my wife (now ex-wife) and our children: I can not speak about what she believes, but going down this road with me is not something that she wanted to do. I chose to follow what the Master is leading me to do, and will no longer place her will over His. When she chose to seperate herself from me, and what the Spirit was doing in me, she chose to seperate herself from the provision that came from the place of obedience (I am talking about God’s provision for me, not my willingness to provide for her). When I have done work that I received a paycheck for, I have always sent money to help them out. It is not my desire to be separated from her or the kids, nor is it my intention to not help them financailly, but in the work that I have been called to there is not much money. I think and pray often about the pain that my children go through daily because I am not there. They have suffered greatly, and far more than I am free to talk about in this post, but even in their pain I will not return to anything that Yahuah has not personally called me to be. Many want to say that God would never tell someone to do what I have done, but in Matthew 19:29 it says, “…everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundred fold return and inherit eternal life.” If you want to be my judge, you are opposing not me, but my Master. I do not seek the approval of men, and I only want to live a life that is pleasing in His sight, no matter the cost, and I trust Him that He will uphold His servant. Again, I do not ever excuse my behavior, nor will I blame God for my mistakes. I tried to blame Him, and that’s how I ended up out here (jk, read my testimony and you will understand).

Forsaking everything has been the hardest thing that I have ever done without question, but it has by far been the best choice that I could ever make, and I continue to make it daily. I never want to go back to living according to my own understanding, those things that seemed so right to me, but the end thereof is the way of death. I never again want to live a life based in selfishness, the life that the world, and even the church taught me was okay. I never want to back, but I press on and press into Him. The really awesome thing about making the choice to serve Him, the choice of His will and not my own, is that it is only hard when there is selfishness. When I focus on Him, it is actually incredibly easy, and it is in focusing solely on Him that I receive the grace to live a life that is pleasing in His sight.

Father, I choose you and your will. I pray that each and every person that reads this post would be taken deeper in their relationship with You. Give unto them a new understanding; that they would see through Your eyes, and know that the end of this world is nothing less than infinite death. I pray that they would receive strength, and they would daily make the choice to follow you. You are enough, no matter what, You are enough. Halleluyah! Praise you my King!

For a list of verses about forsaking all, click here.

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Walkabout: Day Twenty

Posted in Challenging words, Encouraging Words, Joshua's Trip with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on Friday, August 21, 2009 by crazychristcraver
Being here in Texas with my kids is totally awesome, but is extremely hard as well. There is so much going on physically (running and playing and chasing and jumping), emotionally (love for my kids, frustration with their mother), and spiritually (an all out war as the darkness continues to fight for my children). Staying focused on Yahuah, and living in / by the Spirit while spending time with my kids and Rachel (their mom), is rough. I got the chance to put them to bed last night, and as I snuggled each of them so close, the emotions that I can usually keep at a distance flooded my thinking and my eyes as the tears of so many mixed feelings dripped onto the blankets. After leaving the house last night I was fighting with thoughts of hatred and unforgiveness towards Rachel, and sitting here I’m seeing that some were mine, but the majority of what I was experiencing was being fed to me by the enemy. They were not my thoughts, but in the middle of everything that was going on my defenses were down, and the attack was subtle.
Six months ago I had come down to see the kids, but the main focus of my trip was to see Rachel. I had spent hours in prayer over her, and saw a change in her behavior as result. This was not me attemping to manipulate her, but pushing back the darkness, the deceptions that had controlled her life. That week was the first time that I had ever been with Rachel that I did not give her (or her rulers) authority. As I wared in the spirit over her through out the week I saw a sweet and genuine side of Rachel that I had never before seen, but it came to an end when she asked me to leave. I could see that there was a huge part of her that didn’t want me to go, but her rulers said that I had to, and so she agreed. The ground that I had taken slowly slipped away over the next few weeks until she was again consumed by darkness.
I must continue to realize that I am not fighting against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, the powers and principalities, the dark things of this world. We have been commissioned to have dominion over all that is in the earth bringing all things into subjection, setting the captives free, bringing sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf, making strong what is lame, loosing the chaines of bondage as we walk, overthrowing strongholds and reasonings and every high matter that exalts itself against the knowledge of Elahim, taking captive every thought to make it obedient to the Anointed One. This is what we have been called to do. This is what my life is about. All authority in heaven and earth was given to Yahushua, and He in turn gives that same authority to those who would follow after Him. This is what my walk is about: to learn how to live in Him, and walk in His authority and power. It’s never my authority, I am only an ambassador of the King, a dispensor of grace.
Master, teach us how to walk as you have called us, and to complete the works that you have prepared for us. Show us how to live and abide in you. Arm your servants with wisdom and understanding for battle. Cause us to be well disciplined soldiers in your army of Truth and Love. Father we need you. You are not a means to an end, but you are the end itself. You are my destination. You are my strong tower, my fortress, and my rock. You will never leave me nor forsake me. You lead me and guide me in all Truth, and empower me to live a life that is well pleasing in your sight. You are faithful, and you uphold your servant. You are the Almighty Elahim, my deliverer, my salvation; You are Yahuah, the Elahim of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and the Creator of all things. You know my name, and you have called me for your purposes. Help me to walk in Your authority, and to use the weapons that you have given me. Help me in battle as I war against this gross darkness that covers the earth. Let your light shine brilliantly through Your servant. Let Your pressence go before me, and prepare the way. You have armed me for battle, now show me how to fight. O how I love you my Master, my Elahim. I praise Your set-apart name, Yahuah. Halleluyah!!!

Being here in Texas with my kids is totally awesome, but is extremely hard as well. There is so much going on physically (running and playing and chasing and jumping), emotionally (love for my kids, frustration with their mother), and spiritually (an all out war as the darkness continues to fight for my children). Staying focused on Yahuah, and living in / by the Spirit while spending time with my kids and Rachel (their mom), is rough. I got the chance to put them to bed last night, and as I snuggled each of them so close, the emotions that I usually keep at a distance flooded my thinking and my eyes as the tears of so many mixed feelings dripped onto the blankets. After leaving the house last night I was fighting with thoughts of hatred and unforgiveness towards Rachel, and sitting here I’m seeing that some were mine, but the majority of what I was experiencing was being fed to me by the enemy. They were not my thoughts, but in the middle of everything that was going on my defenses were down, and the attack was subtle.

If you know me, or have read my testimony, you know that I have been separated from Rachel for a little less than two years. Being apart from her is not something that I ever wanted, but I when I was with her I could never do what God was calling me to do, because I would try to serve both God and my wife. Six months ago I had come down to see the kids, but the main focus of my trip was to see Rachel. I had spent hours in prayer over her, and was seeing a change in her behavior as result. This was not me attemping to manipulate her, but pushing back the darkness, the deceptions that had controlled her life. That week was the first time that I had ever been with Rachel that I did not give into her (or her rulers) and forsake my God. As I warred in the spirit over her through out the week I saw a sweet and genuine side of Rachel that I had never before seen, but it came to an end when she asked me to leave. I could see that there was a huge part of her that didn’t want me to go, but her rulers said that I had to, and so she agreed. The ground that I had taken through many hours of prayer, slowly slipped away over the next few weeks until she was again consumed by darkness.

It is so easy to be upset with Rachel, but I must continue to realize that I am not fighting against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, the powers and principalities, the dark things of this world. Yahuah has continued to use my relationship with Rachel to teach me this, and many other important lessons as well. I obviously have a ways to go, but Yahuah has begun to teach me about the authority, as well as the responsibility that we have in this earth.

We have been commissioned to have dominion over all that is in the earth bringing all things into subjection, setting the captives free, bringing sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf, making strong what is lame, loosing the chaines of bondage as we walk, overthrowing strongholds and reasonings and every high matter that exalts itself against the knowledge of Elahim, taking captive every thought to make it obedient to the Anointed One. This is what we have been called to do. This is what my life is about. All authority in heaven and earth was given to Yahushua, and He in turn gives that same authority to those who would follow after Him. This is what my walk is about: to learn how to live in Him, and walk in His authority and power. It’s never my authority, I am only an ambassador of the King, a dispensor of grace.

Master, teach us how to walk as you have called us, and to complete the works that you have prepared for us. Show us how to live and abide in you. Arm your servants with wisdom and understanding for battle. Cause us to be well disciplined soldiers in your army of Truth and Love. Father we need you. You are not a means to an end, but you are the end itself. You are my destination. You are my strong tower, my fortress, and my rock. You will never leave me nor forsake me. You lead me and guide me in all Truth, and empower me to live a life that is well pleasing in your sight. You are faithful, and you uphold your servant. You are the Almighty Elahim, my deliverer, my salvation; You are Yahuah, the Elahim of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and the Creator of all things. You know my name, and you have called me for your purposes. Help me to walk in Your authority, and to use the weapons that you have given me. Help me in battle as I war against this gross darkness that covers the earth. Let your light shine brilliantly through Your servant. Let Your pressence go before me, and prepare the way. You have armed me for battle, now show me how to fight. O how I love you my Master, my Elahim. I praise Your set-apart name, Yahuah. Halleluyah!!!

 

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Walkabout: Day Eighteen

Posted in Joshua's Trip with tags , , , , , , , , , on Thursday, August 20, 2009 by crazychristcraver
Well, I made it. The last few days were a little hard as I struggled with being tired, due to poor sleep. I got a ride from Cline’s Corners in New Mexico, where I got rained on, all the way to Henrietta, TX. Frank was the driver of the Uhual truck that we road in, and he was on his way to Waxahachie, TX; moving from Oregon. He was an older guy, and had lived quite a life from what it sounded like. The trip with Frank was enjoyable, well at least the parts that I could stay awake. We drove until Frank couldn’t go any farther that night making it almost to Wichita Falls, TX. The next morning he drove me another 30 miles or so before dropping me off there in Henrietta. Yasha and I walked into the small town looking for a place to re-up our water supply. We stopped at a Dollar General, got some water, and met a nice woman who treated us to breakfast. I talked with her for a short while before she had to leave, but I then got to share with the woman working there at the Dairy Queen; too cool. We walked six or eight miles before Christian stopped to pick us up. He was 23, and had been really going through a hard time. He had went to church in high school, and was even an assistant in the youth ministery before he quit going altogether after finded out that the youth pastor had been taking advantage of one of the girls in the youth group. It was an awesome time to be able to share with him, as he was kind of blown away at the “chance” that he would pick me up at this specific time. The night before, Christian had checked himself into a mental hopital to try and find out if he was bi-polar. He had been experiencing crazy mood swings, and was often unable to control them. He was never happy, and never really felt like talking to anyone. He told me that he used to pick people up all the time, but that I was the first in quite a while. I shared with him the sources and causes of what was causing his emotional problems, and shared some really deep stuff with him. He soaked it all up, and when he was dropping me off he let me pray for him. Overall, it was an awesome ride and he brought me all the way into Denison, TX where my kids live.
I made it before Hadley’s birthday with time to spare, had an amazing trip so far, and just look forward to spending time with Yahuah today. He is so amazingly good. Halleluyah!!!

Well, I made it. The last few days were a little hard as I struggled with being tired, due to poor sleep. I got a ride from Cline’s Corners in New Mexico, where I got rained on, all the way to Henrietta, TX. Frank was the driver of the Uhual truck that we road in, and he was on his way to Waxahachie, TX; moving from Oregon. He was an older guy, and had lived quite a life from what it sounded like. The trip with Frank was enjoyable, well at least the parts that I could stay awake. We drove until Frank couldn’t go any farther that night making it almost to Wichita Falls, TX. The next morning he drove me another 30 miles or so before dropping me off there in Henrietta. Yasha and I walked into the small town looking for a place to re-up our water supply. We stopped at a Dollar General, got some water, and met a nice woman who treated us to breakfast. I talked with her for a short while before she had to leave, but I then got to share with the woman working there at the Dairy Queen; too cool. We walked six or eight miles before Christian stopped to pick us up. He was 23, and had been really going through a hard time. He had went to church in high school, and was even an assistant in the youth ministery before he quit going altogether after finded out that the youth pastor had been taking advantage of one of the girls in the youth group. It was an awesome time to be able to share with him, as he was kind of blown away at the “chance” that he would pick me up at this specific time. The night before, Christian had checked himself into a mental hopital to try and find out if he was bi-polar. He had been experiencing crazy mood swings, and was often unable to control them. He was never happy, and never really felt like talking to anyone. He told me that he used to pick people up all the time, but that I was the first in quite a while. I shared with him the sources and causes of what was causing his emotional problems, and shared some really deep stuff with him. He soaked it all up, and when he was dropping me off he let me pray for him. Overall, it was an awesome ride and he brought me all the way into Denison, TX where my kids live.

I made it before Hadley’s birthday with time to spare, had an amazing trip so far, and just look forward to spending time with Yahuah today. He is so amazingly good. Halleluyah!!!

 

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Walkabout: Day Sixteen

Posted in Joshua's Trip with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , on Thursday, August 20, 2009 by crazychristcraver
As I’m begginning to warm up drinking my coffee and eating breakfast, let me just say that last night was not my favorite. I was out by the on ramp past dark before I felt released to go over to the gas station. I got to watch an amazing sunset as well as a small storm role in from the southwest. The storm finally got here around 10:00, and blew right on by in short order. From what I had seen earlier, I figured that was it. I was extremely tired, and all I wanted to do was lay down. I now know that I the Spirit was prompting me to remain where I was under the awning at restaurant by the gas station, but with everything going on and having my heart set on laying down I failed to listen (let me just say that being tired isn’t a good enough excuse to be selfish). I walked back over to the field next to the on ramp to a place that I had scoped out earlier (here was one of the expectations that I had). The wind was blowing pretty good, and was cool enough to keep me awake as it whipped through my light blanket, but for some reason I didn’t get in my sleeping bag. As you can see I wasn’t thinking too straight. Around 2:00 a.m. the wind began to pick up just as it had done before it started to rain earlier. It started to sprinkle, then rain, I tried to command the rain to stop, and acted like it was going to quit, but instead it dumped on me pretty good. It wasn’t enough to soak my pack and its contents, but sure was enough to drench my blanket, sleeping bag, and me. Frustrated, and a little hurt, I headed to the gas station to try and find a place that I could get out of the cool wind which was now causing me to shiver. I spent most of the night huddled up with Yasha doing what I could to stay out of the wind, trying to get some sleep. It wasn’t the best night in the world.
I am now writing the rest of this post a few days later looking back on that day, and it all started when I allowed myself to have expectations. For some reason I expected to get a ride, and if I didn’t get a ride, I expected that I would sleep in the feild near where I had spent much of the evening. Because of these expectations and being really tired, my focus was not so much on hearing the Spirit. When we were on the side of the road, I would ask what we were doing, and the Spirit would ensure me that I was where I needed to be, but would then ask, “Do you trust me?” I would answer, “Yeah, all I want is you. I trust you.” The Spirit asked me this multiple times through out the afternoon and evening while waiting there on the side of the on ramp.
This should have been my first clue that something was up, but instead I continued without checking too indepth to find out more.
Anyways, the lesson that I learned from all of this is that even when I’m tired, even when things might be a little uncomfortable, there is no room for selfish expectations or desires. The last time I had to walk about a mile, in the heat, when I didn’t want to walk anymore, and also had to carry Yasha. This time, I spent the whole night shivering cold without sleep. There is absolutely no room for selfishness whatsoever. This is the reason that the Spirit continued to ask if I trusted Him. To a certain extent I was trusting that Yahuah would take care of me, but I was believing that He was going to do it how I had it figured out. Don’t be surprised if what Yahuah has prepared for you doesn’t look anything like what you expected. Actually, better go ahead and ditch those expectations altogether, because they can cause you to totally miss what He’s doing. The deeper I get into this, the more that I understand that it’s moment by moment, and simply hanging out with (waiting on) Yahuah. My thoughts and expectations can cause me to totally miss out on what He has prepared. My selfishness, even in relatively small quantities, makes it extremely hard to hear what He is saying and trying to show me.

As I’m begginning to warm up drinking my coffee and eating breakfast, let me just say that last night was not my favorite. I was out by the on ramp past dark before I felt released to go over to the gas station. I got to watch an amazing sunset as well as a small storm role in from the southwest. The storm finally got here around 10:00, and blew right on by in short order. From what I had seen earlier, I figured that was it. I was extremely tired, and all I wanted to do was lay down. I now know that I the Spirit was prompting me to remain where I was under the awning at restaurant by the gas station, but with everything going on and having my heart set on laying down I failed to listen (let me just say that being tired isn’t a good enough excuse to be selfish). I walked back over to the field next to the on ramp to a place that I had scoped out earlier (here was one of the expectations that I had). The wind was blowing pretty good, and was cool enough to keep me awake as it whipped through my light blanket, but for some reason I didn’t get in my sleeping bag. As you can see I wasn’t thinking too straight. Around 2:00 a.m. the wind began to pick up just as it had done before it started to rain earlier. It started to sprinkle, then rain, I tried to command the rain to stop, and acted like it was going to quit, but instead it dumped on me pretty good. It wasn’t enough to soak my pack and its contents, but sure was enough to drench my blanket, sleeping bag, and me. Frustrated, and a little hurt, I headed to the gas station to try and find a place that I could get out of the cool wind which was now causing me to shiver. I spent most of the night huddled up with Yasha doing what I could to stay out of the wind, trying to get some sleep. It wasn’t the best night in the world.

I am now writing the rest of this post a few days later looking back on that day, and it all started when I allowed myself to have expectations. For some reason I expected to get a ride, and if I didn’t get a ride, I expected that I would sleep in the feild near where I had spent much of the evening. Because of these expectations and being really tired, my focus was not so much on hearing the Spirit. When we were on the side of the road, I would ask what we were doing, and the Spirit would ensure me that I was where I needed to be, but would then ask, “Do you trust me?” I would answer, “Yeah, all I want is you. I trust you.” The Spirit asked me this multiple times through out the afternoon and evening while waiting there on the side of the on ramp.

This should have been my first clue that something was up, but instead I continued without checking too indepth to find out more.

Anyways, the lesson that I learned from all of this is that even when I’m tired, even when things might be a little uncomfortable, there is no room for selfish expectations or desires. The last time I had to walk about a mile, in the heat, when I didn’t want to walk anymore, and also had to carry Yasha. This time, I spent the whole night shivering cold without sleep. There is absolutely no room for selfishness whatsoever. This is the reason that the Spirit continued to ask if I trusted Him. To a certain extent I was trusting that Yahuah would take care of me, but I was believing that He was going to do it how I had it figured out. Don’t be surprised if what Yahuah has prepared for you doesn’t look anything like what you expected. Actually, better go ahead and ditch those expectations altogether, because they can cause you to totally miss what He’s doing. The deeper I get into this, the more that I understand that it’s moment by moment, and simply hanging out with (waiting on) Yahuah. My thoughts and expectations can cause me to totally miss out on what He has prepared. My selfishness, even in relatively small quantities, makes it extremely hard to hear what He is saying and trying to show me.

 

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Walkabout: Day Fifteen

Posted in Joshua's Trip with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on Sunday, August 16, 2009 by crazychristcraver
Today is Sunday August 16th, and I’m back on the road as I start the third week of my trip. I have greatly enjoyed spending time with my cousin and her husband in Surprise, AZ, but I am so glad to be on the road. They brought me to Albuquerque, NM and we stayed in a Hotel last night. Around noon today, after checking out of the hotel, I had them drop me off near the highway, and I got to do some walking (probably about seven miles so far today). It was really nice to walk as I have been spoiled getting rides everywhere.
Changing gears, I wanted to share what the Spirit has been showing me the last couple of days. As with many of the revelations that I get it can be quite challenging. The question is: are you becoming more like Christ, the Anointed One? This is the standard or check to see if your religion and / or doctrine is of God and is taking you in the right direction. Is your religion training you to be like Him, and is your doctrine producing His character and His life in and through you? This is a daily process, and daily you should be becoming more like Him. Most religion and most doctine is selfish (self pleasing, self centered, self promoting, granting the desires of the self). Religion that is pure is selfless, and focuses on loving Yahuah, and loving others, considering others to be more valuable than yourself. The greatest in the kingdom of heaven are the servants; this is how we rule and reign with Him as kings and priests. “Powerful” pride-filled leaders are not something that God is interested in. Meekness, humility, lowliness are all words that describe the great ones in His kingdom. Those who take no thought for themselves, laying their own life down for their freinds, this is who we are called to be. Living sacrifices set apart unto Him having forsaken the things and thinking of the world inorder to look like are Master, our big brother, Yahushua the Anointed. If you are merely looking at this as some life long process, and that you have plenty of time to do this, you are mistaken and have been deceived.
When you met the one who would be your spouse, how long did it take, or with what urgency did you want to please them? Why do you not have the same urgency to please the Master? Would you spouse have waited a life time before you would finally choose them? Then why do you continue to make God wait? You have been lied to. You have been deceived into thinking that where you are today is okay. Serving yourself and saying that you love God too is what we have been trained to do in the church. This is not okay, and it is deceptions like these that are so widespread and have overtaken the church. We have become complacent, stagnent, and putrid. We as the church are the ones that the Master spews from His mouth. Having lost touch with Truth, being covered by thick and gross darkness, we are comfortable in our sin; daily blaspheming His name.
You who are reading this, I pray that your eyes would be opened to see the deception that has come against us in this time; that the Light would press back the darkness that has clouded your understanding having led you astray. I pray that you would be filled with Life and Truth, and that you would be broken before Yahuah. Forsake the world and its training in which you have been raised, and enlist in His army; turn yourself over to His discipline, the trials that bring out His character. Do not turn aside and be crushed, but press in even harder, never to be satisfied with anything less than His best, His perfection. Receive the grace, the empowerment of the set apart Spirit to live a life pleasing unto Yahuah, the ever-living God.
It’s really quite simple, you see, all He ever asked of you was to choose Him. Is He enough? Even if you had nothing else, is He enough? If you answered yes to that question, maybe it’s time to start living like it.
Please know that I love you guys. I greatly appreciate all of your support and prayer.

Today is Sunday August 16th, and I’m back on the road as I start the third week of my trip. I have greatly enjoyed spending time with my cousin and her husband in Surprise, AZ, but I am so glad to be on the road. They brought me to Albuquerque, NM and we stayed in a Hotel last night. Around noon today, after checking out of the hotel, I had them drop me off near the highway, and I got to do some walking (probably about seven miles so far today). It was really nice to walk as I have been spoiled getting rides everywhere.

Changing gears, I wanted to share what the Spirit has been showing me the last couple of days. As with many of the revelations that I get it can be quite challenging. The question is: are you becoming more like Christ, the Anointed One? This is the standard or check to see if your religion and / or doctrine is of God and is taking you in the right direction. Is your religion training you to be like Him, and is your doctrine producing His character and His life in and through you? This is a daily process, and daily you should be becoming more like Him. Most religion and most doctine is selfish (self pleasing, self centered, self promoting, granting the desires of the self). Religion that is pure is selfless, and focuses on loving Yahuah, and loving others, considering others to be more valuable than yourself. The greatest in the kingdom of heaven are the servants; this is how we rule and reign with Him as kings and priests. “Powerful” pride-filled leaders are not something that God is interested in. Meekness, humility, lowliness are all words that describe the great ones in His kingdom. Those who take no thought for themselves, laying their own life down for their freinds, this is who we are called to be. Living sacrifices set apart unto Him having forsaken the things and thinking of the world inorder to look like are Master, our big brother, Yahushua the Anointed. If you are merely looking at this as some life long process, and that you have plenty of time to do this, you are mistaken and have been deceived.

When you met the one who would be your spouse, how long did it take, or with what urgency did you want to please them? Why do you not have the same urgency to please the Master? Would you spouse have waited a life time before you would finally choose them? Then why do you continue to make God wait? You have been lied to. You have been deceived into thinking that where you are today is okay. Serving yourself and saying that you love God too is what we have been trained to do in the church. This is not okay, and it is deceptions like these that are so widespread and have overtaken the church. We have become complacent, stagnent, and putrid. We as the church are the ones that the Master spews from His mouth. Having lost touch with Truth, being covered by thick and gross darkness, we are comfortable in our sin; daily blaspheming His name.

You who are reading this, I pray that your eyes would be opened to see the deception that has come against us in this time; that the Light would press back the darkness that has clouded your understanding having led you astray. I pray that you would be filled with Life and Truth, and that you would be broken before Yahuah. Forsake the world and its training in which you have been raised, and enlist in His army; turn yourself over to His discipline, the trials that bring out His character. Do not turn aside and be crushed, but press in even harder, never to be satisfied with anything less than His best, His perfection. Receive the grace, the empowerment of the set apart Spirit to live a life pleasing unto Yahuah, the ever-living God.

It’s really quite simple, you see, all He ever asked of you was to choose Him. Is He enough? Even if you had nothing else, is He enough? If you answered yes to that question, maybe it’s time to start living like it.

Please know that I love you guys. I greatly appreciate all of your support and prayer. Have an awesome day.

I’ll apologize now for your ears, but God thought it would be a good way for me to be stretched. I don’t hardly ever sing loud enough for anyone to hear me, so this was pretty hard. I had a great time. I hope that it does bless you and encourage you to step out and praise His name. Love you guys.

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Walkabout: Day Eleven

Posted in Joshua's Trip on Thursday, August 13, 2009 by crazychristcraver

For the most part I just rested today. My cousin came and picked me up in Flagstaff and brought me back to Surprise, AZ. Not much to update about, but I hope to do another post later. I love you guys so much. Thank you everyone for your prayer and support. I hope that you all have an awesome day.

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Walkabout: Day Ten

Posted in Joshua's Trip with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on Wednesday, August 12, 2009 by crazychristcraver
Day ten was a pretty amazing day. I woke up to a beautifully clear Arizona sky. The air was cool and crisp, almost cold. Praising Yahuah for such an amazing start to the day I packed my things, and headed to McDonalds for breakfast and updates. After getting my electronics charged, and finishing all updates and what not, I began walking slowly towards the Freeway. On the way I met a homeless guy, we exchanged words and prayers, I gave him a pack of Speakables, and then I walked the rest of the way to the on ramp. I was only there maybe thirty minutes before catching a 32 mile ride into Flagstaff. After being dropped off, almost right away I had someone to talk to: a guy who had gotten kicked out of his sisters house the night before, and was now trying to hitch a ride back to New York. We talked a while before he headed off somewhere else, and I made my way to the on ramp. In the hour and a half, or two hours that I was out by the road the flow of Life and power was the most intense that I had felt yet. As I stood there, waving and smiling as the cars passed by, I prayed whatever the Spirit would lead me to pray: corprately and individually tearing down strongholds, speaking Truth and Life, and letting the Light shine. It has been totally awesome ministering to hundreds of people a day, and yet almost none of them know it. Not one of them know that I was standing in the gap for them. As each of them rush by going about their busy lives, not one of them would even recognize me if they saw me again. I love to talk to people face to face, but I so much rather that the people never saw me, never to look at me thinking that I did something. I don’t want to be recognized by the people that I did something for them, because it wasn’t me… it was all the set-apart Spirit of Yahuah. Again, don’t get me wrong, I love talking to folks, ministering to them, and that’s exactly where the Spirit led me after my time on the side of the road. I was led down to McDonald’s where I got a couple of sandwichs. The woman behind the register was trying hard to be nice to customers, but was having a hard time. As she helped me, I reached in my pocket and “just happened” to have a pack of Speakables (I usually just have them in a pouch that hangs from the side of my pack). I knew that they were there for her, and so I gave them to her as she handed me my receit. As she looked them over she shook her head a little and said that it was so cool that I would give her these, and that she really needed them in the time that she was going through. Immediately there was a break in the spirit over her, and her whole countenance changed. I went and ate my sandwiches, messed around on the computer, but just felt like I was there. I wasn’t feeling like I was supposed to be doing anything other than to just be there, and didn’t understand why I was just hanging out. Finally it was time to leave, but I really had no idea where I was going. I walked outside and there was another homeless guy checking out my pack. He was surprised at how big it was, and how I could carry it, but he thought that it was really cool. What began as just talking and normal chit-chat became the single most powerful experience I have ever had while ministering. This guy was possibly possesed, definitely oppressed, and although beaten down he had some serious spiritual gifts. I was there ministering to him for at least two hours before he had to go. He wouldn’t take a pack of Speak’s and he wouldn’t let me pray for him, but still I know that there was a huge breakthrough, and I definately prayed for him as he walked away.
Overall, the day was the most powerful that I have ever  had. I saw some pretty amazing things in the spirit, as well as seeing that I have a long way to go. Great day. Halleluyah!!!

Day ten was a pretty amazing day. I woke up to a beautifully clear Arizona sky. The air was cool and crisp, almost cold. Praising Yahuah for such an amazing start to the day I packed my things, and headed to McDonalds for breakfast and updates. After getting my electronics charged, and finishing all updates and what not, I began walking slowly towards the Freeway. On the way I met a homeless guy, we exchanged words and prayers, I gave him a pack of Speakables, and then I walked the rest of the way to the on ramp. I was only there maybe thirty minutes before catching a 32 mile ride into Flagstaff. After being dropped off, almost right away I had someone to talk to: a guy who had gotten kicked out of his sisters house the night before, and was now trying to hitch a ride back to New York. We talked a while before he headed off somewhere else, and I made my way to the on ramp. In the hour and a half, or two hours that I was out by the road the flow of Life and power was the most intense that I had felt yet. As I stood there, waving and smiling as the cars passed by, I prayed whatever the Spirit would lead me to pray: corprately and individually tearing down strongholds, speaking Truth and Life, and letting the Light shine. It has been totally awesome ministering to hundreds of people a day, and yet almost none of them know it. Not one of them know that I was standing in the gap for them. As each of them rush by going about their busy lives, not one of them would even recognize me if they saw me again. I love to talk to people face to face, but I so much rather that the people never saw me, never to look at me thinking that I did something. I don’t want to be recognized by the people that I did something for them, because it wasn’t me… it was all the set-apart Spirit of Yahuah. Again, don’t get me wrong, I love talking to folks, ministering to them, and that’s exactly where the Spirit led me after my time on the side of the road. I was led down to McDonald’s where I got a couple of sandwichs. The woman behind the register was trying hard to be nice to customers, but was having a hard time. As she helped me, I reached in my pocket and “just happened” to have a pack of Speakables (I usually just have them in a pouch that hangs from the side of my pack). I knew that they were there for her, and so I gave them to her as she handed me my receit. As she looked them over she shook her head a little and said that it was so cool that I would give her these, and that she really needed them in the time that she was going through. Immediately there was a break in the spirit over her, and her whole countenance changed. I went and ate my sandwiches, messed around on the computer, but just felt like I was there. I wasn’t feeling like I was supposed to be doing anything other than to just be there, and didn’t understand why I was just hanging out. Finally it was time to leave, but I really had no idea where I was going. I walked outside and there was another homeless guy checking out my pack. He was surprised at how big it was, and how I could carry it, but he thought that it was really cool. What began as just talking and normal chit-chat became the single most powerful experience I have ever had while ministering. This guy was possibly possesed, definitely oppressed, and although beaten down he had some serious spiritual gifts. I was there ministering to him for at least two hours before he had to go. He wouldn’t take a pack of Speak’s and he wouldn’t let me pray for him, but still I know that there was a huge breakthrough, and I definately prayed for him as he walked away.

Overall, the day was the most powerful that I have ever  had. I saw some pretty amazing things in the spirit, as well as seeing that I have a long way to go. Great day. Halleluyah!!!

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Walkabout: Day Nine

Posted in Joshua's Trip with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 by crazychristcraver

Day nine was a great day. I started off a little slow, still recovering from the spiritual attack of the day before. I was out by the road before I was led to go sit in the shade at Burger King. I got breakfast and enjoyed some much needed time with God. I got a bit of a nap before reading the rest of Revelation (man, the things that are coming in the next couple of years are going to be super intense and we better be ready). I had hung out for four hours or so before it was time to head back over to the road. It was pretty hot out, but until I saw the temperature when I was picked up I had no idea that it was 104 degrees. When I got to where the Spirit said stop, He told me that He wanted me to keep my pack on, so I did. As I was standing there, I was praising Yahuah as it was nice to finally be free from what had been attacking me earlier in the morning and especially the day before. I had to root out all of the thoughts that were contrary to what God was doing and what He was speaking over me; all of the thoughts of failure and condemnation, everything that said that I was not good enough, and that I was letting God and everyone else down. Anyways, so I was there in the heat with my pack on standing on the side of the road having a great time in the Spirit. When I got there (to that spot) I was hearing really good, knowing exactly what the Spirit was saying and what not, but as time ticked by (probably close to two hours) I started getting tired and wanted to put my pack down and / or go sit in the shade. Even though my focus was still on doing what the Spirit wanted me to do, it was shifting towards me being hot and tired. And while it was really minimal, selfishness was creeping in and it became harder and harder to hear what the Spirit was saying. I was still hearing, but because I wanted to hear something else (like go sit down), it was becoming harder to distinguish what was me and what was the Spirit. I reached into my pocket, pulled out my phone, and saw that I had missed three calls. I called my parents back, but with all the traffic it was too hard to hear, so I walked over by the gas station in the shade, took off my pack, and sat in the shade to talk to my mom. A minute or two later, Karolyn (an amazing woman of God who I was blessed to have met) pulled up and asked if I needed a ride. She had seen me on the road, and the Spirit had told her to pick me up. She went inside to go potty, and get a snack, before she would pick me up, but when she got back out on the road, I was gone. She looked and happened to see Yasha, and then pulled in to come pick us up. The reason that I have included so much detail in this incident is to show that if I would have left my post (where the Spirit had me) just a few minutes earlier, she wouldn’t have seen me, and wouldn’t have stopped.

Karolyn was such a blessing. We talked for hours as we drove into Arizona, and I only hope that I was anywhere close to being as much a blessing to her as she was to me. At the end of day nine I had made it all the way to Williams, AZ (30 miles west of Flagstaff), made an awesome new friend, was blessed with a few things for my pack that I had wanted but hadn’t had a chance to go to the store to get, and got to see Yahuah’s awesome provision. Day nine was such a blessing.


There was one problem though. As I was laying down at the end of the night, pulling stuff out of my pockets, and getting ready to do my end of the update video, I realized that I didn’t have my camera. Some how I lost it, and so unfortunately unless it gets miraculously returned, the videos that I did for the past day or so are lost. I’m still trying to figure out my web cam on this computer, and hopefully I’ll be able to still do video updates. Sorry everyone.

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Walkabout: Day Eight

Posted in Joshua's Trip with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 by crazychristcraver

Day eight was a bit of a rough day. I was under spiritual attack for much of the day, and was kinda getting beat down. Getting beat up in the spirit is never a fun experience, but it was a good experience and I learned a lot from what went down.

The morning started out great. At some point I felt led to pray for a girl who worked at one of the gas stations there at the truck stop. She had a growth on her ear, and when I saw it while on my way out the door I felt like I was supposed to pray for her. Well, I began to argue with the Holy Spirit (or at least try and explain away or ignore what I had heard to do). I was unsuccessful at convincing myself that it was just me, and so I turned around to head back inside, and as I did I thought, “If I’m gonna go back in here, you better heal this girl.” Anyway, I caught the girl as she was walking back to the stock room and prayed for her. As soon as I left the attack increased, and I was beaten with thoughts of failure and condemnation. To some degree I knew that they weren’t my thoughts, but I gave them enough room to take hold and from there it was quite a struggle to get rid of them. When I finally began to recover from the whole ordeal, Yahuah began to show me that when praying for folks, like a surgeon, I have to get cleaned up afterward. And also, like a surgeon, I have to go into surgery (or battle) protected against contaminants, both from the patient to me and from me to the patient (also known as the armor of God).

Also, Yahuah is continuing to show His control and how I need to rest in and wait on Him. When John (the guy that I had stayed with for the previous two nights) had dropped me off in the morning I forgot my walking stick in the back of His truck. As soon as I realized that I had forgotten it, I really felt like I was going to be there until he could bring it back (which I knew would be all day). False humility said, “No, it’s not important,” and ” he can just mail it to my parent’s house,” and other things. Well, come to find out, the stick is a little more important than that, and Yahuah really wanted me to have it before I left. Anyway, though out the day I would be like, “What are we doing?” “Should we go over here?” I was really “working” at trying to be in the “right” place and do all of “right” things that would cause me to get picked up. I did end up getting to share with some folks, and I do believe that I was in the right place most of the time, I just thought that I was in the right place to catch a ride. All of this to say that John finally called me about twelve hours after dropping me off, and as soon as he was on his way out I had two opportunities for rides, ended up turning one down, and then within three minutes of getting my stick back, I caught a ride. Again, that’s after being out there for twelve hours not having one person even hint at giving me a ride.

So I guess the lesson from the day of the walking stick, is multiple. First, Yahuah cares about small details, and things that might seem unimportant or that we could do without. Second, everything works according to His timing. When we are selfish, thinking only of ourselves, we can become impatient, frustrated, or bored. On the flip, when we are walking in Love, selflessness, putting Him and His will first, everything just seems to flow as He fills every second. I can tell you that there is nothing better then being in that place of selflessness. He fills every thought; nothing takes too long, nor is time too short… it just flows. I love going with the flow, however not all flow is equal. I used to flow with the crowd, or maybe whoever was talking the loudest, and often times that led to trouble, and most always led to death (the penalty for selfishness). Flowing in / with the river of Life is awesome, and I will be a tuber down Yahuah’s raging river for life. Halleluyah!!! Praise God for tough lessons.

Sorry, no video update for today. I lost my camera, and the videos that I had done on day eight were all on there, so no videos for this day unless I get it back.

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Walkabout: Day Six

Posted in Joshua's Trip with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on Saturday, August 8, 2009 by crazychristcraver

Day six started early. I didn’t sleep all that awesomely due to the steady stream of semi trucks pulling in and out of thier parking spots, but I was ready to spend another day with the ever so sweet Spirit of Yahuah. As I woke up and started praying, I slowly packed up my gear. I felt impressed upon that I was not supposed to eat anything that morning, and instead I read the first three chapters of Revelation. I walked over to where the road met the on ramp and dropped my stuff. Little did I know that I would be in the same place for over nine hours.

About two hours into the day, having only been spending time in the Spirit, I felt like I was supposed to take a pack of Speakables over to the guy running the barbeque at the gas station across the street. I walked over, handed him the pack, saying hey, and that I just felt like I was supposed to give this to him. We exchanged a couple of words about what they were, and I returned to my spot. Almost two hours later, when I was starting to wander a bit, thinking maybe I could do something or go somewhere else, Mr. Barbeque himself brought over a styrofoam box of ribs, country beans (both of which were his own recipe), and a dinner roll. I asked Yahuah if I could eat it, and He said yes. Yahuah wanted me to know that I was in the right place, and to trust Him. He drove home the point that He had been teaching me the day before of just spending time with Him.

A little after five o’clock I got a ride for about twenty miles before getting dropped off at another gas station. As I got out and handed the driver a pack of Speakables, he offered me some money. I said that I had some, and that he didn’t have to give it to me. He insisted that I take the money, seven dollars, which ended up being the exact amount necessary to buy sub sandwich inside the gas station. So cool. I sat outside in the shade with Yasha and ate my sandwich. It was only about a third of a mile walk down to the on ramp where I waited less than five minutes before John and Rick stopped to pick me up.

It wasn’t long into the drive before John invited me over to his house for dinner, and to stay the night if I liked. I totally felt that it was from God, and so replied that it would be great. I got a ride to Bakersfield, a shower (my first all week), washed my clothes, had an amazing dinner (trout caught by Rick, halibut caught by John in Alaska, pork steaks, potatoes, broccoli, and locally grown grapes for dessert… WOW!!! Yahuah’s provision is soooo good), and on top of all of that I got to sleep in a comfy bed. Also, before John went to bed he offered for me to stay an extra day and get some rest before heading out, which at first I shrugged off and said that I probably would hit the road in the morning, but that I would let him know. After he went to sleep I realized that it was the Sabbath day, and the seventh day of my trip, and that this was all planned by God so that I could rest (again, WOW!!!).

Overall, just an amazing day. I spent the day focussed on Yahuah, abiding in Him. I had plenty of chances to choose myself and become selfish, but instead continued to seek His will. It didn’t seem to make sense to stand there all day, but He had the whole thing planned out, and all I had to do was trust Him. Yahuah is so awesome!!!

This is the a compilation of videos made throughout the day.

This the update from the end of the day.

 

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Walkabout: Day Five

Posted in Joshua's Trip with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on Saturday, August 8, 2009 by crazychristcraver

Day five was a great opportunity to practice the lessons I had learned the day before. I started out much slower, just waiting on the Spirit to lead me and guide me rather than simply the routine of getting up and going. I went and did my day four update and had breakfast, and then spent more time just hanging out in Spirit before He led me to the nearest freeway on-ramp. The first hour of standing on the side of the road was interesting. It was a time of breaking down expectations, and over the course of the day those expectations were pummled into dust. I stood there praying and praising Yahuah, interceding for the people as I watched the cars zoom up the on ramp. With a huge smile on my face and a dorky wave I greeted each and every passerby. There was a temptation to get upset with these people for not stopping to pick me up, but the Spirit was quick to show me that none of these were supposed to stop. My time spent on the side of the road was a time of intimacy with the set-apart Spirit, and a time to pray and minister to those who were driving by even though I didn’t even speak to them (and even though most of them wouldn’t even look at me). Yahuah has continued to show me that the largest part of my ministery will never be seen or recognized by the people that I am ministering to. It’s not an exchange of words, but a warring in the spirit; warring against the darkness, the deception, the lies that hold them in bondage.

I made it from Turlock to Tulare, CA having gotten two rides, and sitting on the side of the road a total of about three hours. I ate some pretty awesome nachos at the hole in the wall truckstop mexican food restaraunt there in Tulare before I found a place to crash out. Overall it was a really great day (like I could have anything less when I spend it with the Ancient of Days).

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Walkabout: Day Four

Posted in Joshua's Trip with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on Thursday, August 6, 2009 by crazychristcraver

Today was by far the hardest day, but I got the most out of it. I didn’t end up sharing (physically) with anyone, although I was warring in the spirit most of the day. In my exhaustion, I thought it better to just press on than to wait on Yahuah. I quickly found, and paid for it physically, that I had missed what He was wanting me to do. I knew that I was supposed to wait in a particular place, but because of the expectations that I had I didn’t that was what He would ask me to do. I thought that I had done so well to not have expectations about this trip, but unfortunately I did and really hope that I have learned my lesson. The Spirit also showed me the consequence of selfishness, and although this time it only affected me, next time it might hurt others, even eternally. Selfishness is so disgusting, and ultimately has eternal consequences. Yahuah, Your will be done; have Your way. Teach me to live a Love filled selfless life. Praise Yahuah and the Son Yahushua.

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Walkabout: Day Three

Posted in Joshua's Trip with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on Wednesday, August 5, 2009 by crazychristcraver

Yesterday was quite a day. We pressed hard all day, but didn’t make it all that far in the time that we walked. Later we found out that we made it exactly as far as we were supposed to in that time as we met Marco and his beautiful family at McDonald’s (my new favorite hang-out… wi-fi and electricity). I got to share some really deep things with Marco as he shared with me. Way cool! Yahuah is soooo good! We got back on the road to later meet Shaun who we hung out and walked with for like four or five hours. He had a pretty crazy story, and I so enjoyed sharing Truth with him and just loving on him. I’m so thankful for the 0portunities I have had to share the gospel and minister into people’s lives so far, and look forward to what I’ll be used for today. Thanks for following. I love you guys.




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