Praise Yah we made it through 2023 together! We’ve endured shakings and hard times, but more is yet to come. Many are anticipating major changes, prophecies unfolding and judgment falling. What do the Scriptures have to say about what will happen to you in 2024 and future years?
Although Judah had grown up with his younger brother Joseph until he was 17, Judah still did not recognize him seeing him down in Egypt. When all the brothers grabbed him and threw him in the pit, Judah sized him up and figured he could make some money on him by selling him into slavery. All Joseph had then was outward value.
Manger or Hammer?
How does our Heavenly Father want us to view the Savior of the world during this holiday season?’ Should we be testifying that the Messiah came to the world as a baby in a manger on December 25th? We can find the ‘reason for the season’ in the Word.
What did the Messiah Yeshua say this time of year?
Then came Hanukkah (Greek: egkainia, Hebrew: Chanukah; both mean ‘Dedication’); it was winter in Jerusalem. Yeshua was walking in the Temple around Solomon’s Colonnade. Then the Judean leaders surrounded Him, saying, “How long will You hold us in suspense? If You are the Messiah, tell us outright!”
John 10:22-24
Have any misunderstandings about you caused rejection in your relationships lately? I don’t know about you, but at this time of year, relationships often come with being misunderstood. Where do misunderstandings originate and what can we do about clearing them up to restore relationships?
Who is God? How would you describe Him? How do you know what you believe is true?
One thing I have learned from many testimonies of our mishpochah is that the Holy Spirit challenges us to question everything. Oftentimes, no man challenges us on the basic tenets of the faith – the God of Israel does. It’s a common theme you can hear in The Way Documentary available at hebrewnationonline.com/store
The documentary starts with the Holy Spirit persistently asking a believer who had sold out to the Way – “How do you know?” That started him down the path of discovering the roots of the faith in the God of Israel and how to truly live like our Savior Yeshua.
Why would anyone want to rest their head on a rock? You’d have to be a tough, rugged individual to be able to sleep with your head on a stone. Back when memory foam pillows first came out, I couldn’t sleep on what I thought was a hard pillow. Most of us spend about a third of our lives in bed and need to sleep on something comfy. It’s no wonder the My Pillow Guy has been so successful!
Why do human beings have strong inclinations towards competitive contests? The drive draws many into all-out competitive contests like wrestling, football – and even war.
Have you ever known anyone to enter into a contract to buy a property with a shady seller? A real estate deal can turn into a major headache, if there are strings attached that cause legal trouble, such as a hidden pitfall with an adjacent landowner.
You’d have thought I’d been in dental school training, I was always so down in the mouth. The last time I could remember laughing was when momma tickled my belly saying, “Coo-chee-coo-chee-coo!” Yeah, I was a sad sack college student smoking pot to get high, only to sink lower in depression. Who could lift me out of my sad state?
But once I heard the Gospel and was born again by the seed of the Messiah, I became a son of Abraham, an offspring of Isaac, whose name means ‘laughter.’ Yeshua turned my sadness into joy, my gloom into laughter! It was then I could rejoice in the LORD!
What motivated Abraham to leave his family and familiar community in Ur of the Chaldees for a city that the eye had not seen, nor ear had heard? What motivates a believer to ‘walk by faith and not by sight’ every day? Abraham didn’t leave just to be circumcised and to learn how to keep the commandments in his flesh. Total trust and dependency on our Elohim is required for us to make it to our Promised Land, for ‘the just shall live by faith.’ What kind of faith does it take to make it to the end?
he Torah portion, Noah, gives us instructions on what walls of salvation will protect us from the destruction of Hamas, the Hebrew word for violence. The whole earth was corrupt in the sight of Elohim and full of Hamas, the Torah states twice (Gen 6:11,13). There is no coincidence that the news today is full of reports on the violent acts of Hamas against Israel at the time of studying this Torah portion.
Reports abound on corruption in governments and every realm of society around the world. What instructions should we be adhering to to navigate the troubled waters of our day?
By building relationships with this Sukkot, some of our like-minded mishpocha increasingly desire to live in a community. We’re talking about how living in separate dwellings on a big piece of property could work for us. Taking it one step further, could we all get along living in one great big house together?
But are we ready for that? Each of us is still working out our salvation from the fallen nature of the old Adam. Thank God the Father has had a plan for our restoration from the very beginning. Our Adonai Yeshua is working on us, preparing us for the regathering of the exiles of Israel back to our homeland. He’s maturing the manchild, raising overcomers to take back dominion over our fallen flesh and the old serpent, our adversary from the very beginning.
What can I bring for Sukkot to bless the brethren? That’s the kind of question I’ve fielded from many coming to our celebration. My reply is that the most important thing for us to bring is what YHWH first commands for us on that first day – ‘the fruit of goodly trees’ (Leviticus 23:40)
Why the fruit of beautiful, goodly trees? We know from Paul’s epistle to the Galatians was that the deeper, spiritual meaning behind the fruit is that of the Spirit. (1 John 13:34-35; 15:12,17; Romans 12:10; 13:8)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23a
The guy was a loser. At an immature, young age, he dared to tell his dad to give him his share of the property. Instead of investing or building a business with it, he took it all to a far country and squandered it with loose, riotous living. Have you known anyone like that? I do. When I was a young man, I foolishly did the same kind of thing. I found myself in the same kind of miserable predicament when I came to my senses.
During these end times of tribulations and tyranny, what deliverance do we have to look forward to? Who can rescue us? When Ha’satan seems to have the upper hand in every realm of authority in this world, where on earth is the triumph over the enemies of mankind? What do we have to shout about and blow our horns over this coming Yom Teruah, the Day of Trumpets?
The world is sensing something big is about to happen. Many call it ‘The Great Reset.’ Somebody is about to come and make a lot of changes in this world to right a lot of wrongs. Who and for what is the world preparing for? Who are we getting ready for? How do we prepare for world-changing events?
The children of this world are casting off all restraint to do whatever their flesh and mind-controlling powers direct them to do. ‘Lawlessness’ and “Do what thou wilt” is running rampant in our society today. What is happening to the rule of law in America?
When you go out, what do you take with you? Your wallet and cell phone? Your bug-out bag and silver coins? I don’t know about you, but I’m getting ready to head out for the amazing adventure of the greater exodus! What’s more important than anything else to take with us to the world out there?
“Judge not!” It’s one of the most commonly quoted words of Yeshua in our day, especially by young people. I know, I heard it a lot from young people when our daughter was a teenager. If you, like me, don’t like confrontation or conviction, that’s an easy idea to slip into – usually quoted as “Don’t judge.” (Matthew 7:1)
To go by “judge not” is about like going by another two words Yeshua said, “Think not…” (Matthew 5:17) That would make life ‘easy’ too. Let’s just think not and let the religious leaders do all the thinking for us. Or even easier, just don’t think about the Scriptures at all and go on our merry way in life thinking about whatever we want to think about.
Of course, that’s not what the Master intended. What did He mean by these words?
You’re alive! We’re not dead! Thank Abba the enemy of our souls isn’t having his way with us! Think about the reality of what’s going down in the streets of Amerika from the top down!
When it comes to rocky relationships, we often seek the root of the problem. Whether it’s deliverance ministry or a business deal, finding out where the issue first began is where to begin rooting out the problems. Working on the soil of the heart, mind, will and emotions prepares the heart ground for better production and fruitfulness of the good seed.
Are Jewish observances okay for a believer in Yeshua to keep? Do they offer us any advantage? Should we go by the premise that because Jews do not accept Yeshua as the Messiah, we should have nothing to do with their observances or writings?
Okay, I’ve heard enough of Jews who are not Jews, the Jews in the land being Kazareans and rich and powerful banksters, and the Jews who are of the synagogue of Satan. Who’s left? Who is ‘the Jew’ that we’re supposed to bring the Gospel to first?
When reading a book, aren’t we wanting to know what the author had in mind when it was written? Wouldn’t we then understand the book better? What about the last book of the Torah – Deuteronomy? What was on Abba’s mind when He had Moses write it?
Where are the people of Yah headed during these troubled times of confusion and uncertainty? Is there any kind of prophetic road map that the Scriptures lay out for our journey into the future? One question I’m hearing from our mishpocha to their leadership is: “What is our direction?”
The hen went berzerk! She came barreling down the trail at me squawking and flailing her wings with a fury I’d never seen before in a bird! I asked the Father, “What’s up with that?” While studying Phineas, I discovered I’d seen a paleo picture of real zeal!
Why would YHWH command the mysterious red heifer ritual to be performed after a series of rebellions in the camp of Israel? Can the keys be found for rebellion to be turned around into humble submission before Elohim?
Ever feel like your world was giving way under you, where everything you depended upon was collapsing? If not, do you believe a time like that is coming to a proud America? How do we ride out sudden destruction and calamity when it comes our way?
The state of our world – its cultures, societies, marketplaces, educational institutions, economies, and governments all appear to be going from bad to worse. Families have fallen apart and have become dysfunctional and unhealthy. We wonder how anything or anyone good can stand up to it all. With all the bad news, where can we find the good in life here on Earth anymore?
The sun had set and the skies were darkening. After a delightful Shabbat, Leslie and I enjoyed a large, full moon rising in the east, softly lighting up the darkened landscape. Our hearts were glad to realize that Sukkot, to be starting on a full moon, is now only four lunar months away! I’ve often wondered why a rising full moon is so attractive to us.
In today’s world, vows don’t mean much anymore. It’s too common to find spouses who refuse to acknowledge and uphold the vows they made with each other on their wedding days. Shockingly, whistleblowers reveal that no one in any position of government authority takes an oath of office anymore (see MISSING OATHS, May 26, 2023 on Brighteon.com). Nope, a genuine, authorized oath of office to uphold the U.S. Constitution has not been found for many years. Who does make or keeps oaths today?
After His ascension and before Shavuot, Yeshua promised His disciples a gift of empowerment for them. Yeshua told His disciples to keep the Torah by sending His men to Jerusalem for one of the three aliyah (ascension) festivals. Hear His words:
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” Acts 1:8
For most believers in the Messiah, heaven is a place we’ll all fly away to in the sweet bye and-bye. That seems to be what we first think about when we hear or sing about heaven. There certainly is joy in the hope of our glorious destination when He returns!
Bigger Than Any Mountain
Sometimes I feel so small and the mountains I face seem so insurmountable. My problems don’t seem to go away, at least not when I want them to. I can sure identify with this lyric from the 1994 song ‘Hold me Jesus:’
“Sometimes my life just doesn’t make sense at all. The mountains look so big and my faith just seems so small.” — Rich Mullins
Sometimes it’s my view of life, my perspective that needs changing. Is there something I’m not seeing from my Father’s eyes that can help me overcome the mountains I face?
Ever need to stop by a friend’s house, but they didn’t want you to come? Why would that be? Because they’d be embarrassed if you saw their place. But then because of an urgent matter you do come, you step in the house and think ‘This place looks in better shape than mine. So what’s the problem?’
The greatest fear people face in life is the fear of death. There is no escaping its inevitability. Forces of evil manipulate even young people with its threats in our world, where the causes of death are ramping up. Recent statistics prove that more people are dying in our world than ever before. What does it take for the forces of death to be arrested and for life to reign, even in death? We all long for it.
Have you ever felt hung up and don’t know how to get down and get moving in life? Does anyone have to be held up with anything in life like a bad rap or a dis-ease all their life? I’ve had to ask myself: is my hang-up with YHWH, or is it with me?
For days now, the snow has been falling afresh every morning here around our home in the Cascades of Oregon. Morning by morning, beautiful white snow covers the majestic trees around us. Reminds me that we are like clean trees of righteousness (Psalm 92:12, Proverbs 11:30).
Couples are challenged with keeping their marital fires burning. Both man and wife need to find ways to stir up the passion they had when their marriage started. They fuel the fire with romantic dates, special gifts, selfless acts of service, surprise tokens of their love and appreciation, and other ways to rekindle by the breath of love languages.
Yet whatever they do, nothing works like selfless sacrifices for the other partner. A marriage relationship takes work like keeping a fire burning in a wood stove. But oh is it worth it!
The Command to Keep Burning
Fire shall be continually burning on the altar; it shall never go out. Leviticus 6:13
There is nothing like entering a room where essential oils are being diffused into the air! Aromatherapy is widely used to diffuse scents in the atmosphere that can help soothe the soul, promote health and, induce a sense of relief and well-being while feeling relaxed.
What more could He give? Our Messiah gave His all, His very life; given to save the sinner, given to find the lost. Yeshua is my great inspiration – to give as He gave the best that I can give as acts of worship to my Lord and King. For He gave nothing but the best to me!
Standing in the Gap
It’s no conspiracy theory anymore to realize that the rulers of this world want us all dead. There are so many ways that globalists with power are making covenants with death – working on depopulating this planet with bioweapons, food industry sabotage, weather modification, geo-engineering famines, triggering earthquakes, WWIII provocations, releases of deadly toxins into the nation’s air and water, just to name a few.
Sinners are being sentenced to death throughout this crazy world. Statistics prove that death rates around the world are on the rise like never before. What can we do about it?
Have you wondered why people still wear face masks in public? A recent survey found that a large number of mask wearers think that they’re ugly and just want to hide their faces. Yeah, they don’t think they’re worth looking at and don’t want to talk much.
But did YHWH make any human being ugly? Or, is how people view themselves as looking good, or not, really more about what they believe about themselves? One thing I know about myself is – sin makes me look ugly. True good looks are what emanate from the inside out, from the heart of a born-again, regenerated believer full of the fruit of the Spirit. What good are surface deep looks anyway? True beauty begins with the heart.
One of the joys of my life is working on a building project with the brothers that benefits others. Tomorrow, I’ll be happily working with a brother building a deck for another brother. Working with wood with a team of guys has always been a real joy in my life.
When it comes to building a house, the Creator’s ways are not like our ways. No builder on earth builds a house starting with the most valuable, interior furniture first. Why did YHWH our Elohim command Moshe to build the Tabernacle in the wilderness that way?
Okay, so the picture off the internet is kind of corny – an ear of corn on a red door!?! But notice the red cross pattern that the ear is fastened to on the door.
No coincidence, the number 240 above the ear is the value of the Hebrew root word – ‘ram.’ The numerical values of the two letters are 200 for resh, and 40 for mem, totaling 240. We saw this word ‘ram’ last Shabbat in Isaiah’s vision where he ‘saw Adonai (the Lord, Master) sitting on a throne, high (ram – resh mem) and lifted up.”
Yeshua referred to the Ten Commandments when He was asked about what good could be done to have eternal life (Mat 19:16-24). A rich young man had vast possessions on earth, but knew he was missing the greatest possession in all of life. So he asks Yeshua what good he could do to acquire the only thing that could fill the vast void in his soul.
Knowing the young man’s heart, Yeshua quoted five of the Ten Commandments that He knew the young man thought that he had kept well enough. (Mat 19:18-19) He also gave him the second greatest commandment as an answer for us to ponder:
‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matthew 19:20
If only I knew, I would be so much better off! In this day and age, I shouldn’t have to be ignorant about any important matter in life!
In the age of information, just about anything you or I want to know is at our fingertips. If I need to know how to fix a car, I go to ‘YouTube University.’ How do I treat a sickness? Want to know what’s going on in the world? You or I could quickly find out.
Even some of the strangest, most obscure prophecies in the Bible are making sense right now on how they play out in our day. News reports of the world are sounding more biblical than ever! Knowledge of both good and evil is clearly on the rise.
But you, Daniel, close up the words and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will run back and forth and knowledge will increase.’ Daniel 12:4
“What goes around comes around,” so they say. Some call it karma. Yah calls it reaping what we sow.
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. Galatians 6:7
The word ‘mock’ comes from the Greek word ‘mukterizo’, meaning ‘to turn up the nose or sneer at, to mock, deride.’ This attitude pictures the pride and arrogance of Pharaoh and his taskmasters over their lowly Hebrew slaves. They snubbed their noses at their God for Whom he had no regard. Today’s authorities in positions of power are so much like Pharaoh.
Like a wild horse, something inside of me does not want to submit to the hands of a master. Most people don’t like being told what to do, especially if it’s by tyrants.
Everyone I know wants to be free of the hands of corrupt politicians and unauthorized agencies that oppress us in so many ways. Masters of the deep state control many of our rulers, but they’re not going to control me! Yet not many, including myself, want to face what’s even closer to home – tyranny within our souls. We all have to face the decisions in life – who will I allow to be my master?
If you could design your own house, what would you prefer to build the walls with – bricks or stones? Which material in your home would you rather look at day in and day out?
Bricks are made by man in factory kilns out of pulverized clay; whereas stones are made by the Creator, although often cut to size by men’s tools. Bricks are made to be the same shape, size, and texture with every brick, usually of the same shades of color. On the other hand, stones found on the earth can come in any shape, size, color, or texture.
Emmanuel, God With Us!
His mother had named him ‘Ya’aqov’ meaning ‘heel holder.’ Ever since the day he came out of the womb, Jacob found himself holding an enemy off his head from destroying him. Esau, Laban, men of Shechem, all brought fear to his heart. If Jacob wasn’t afraid of Pharaoh and the Egyptians, YHWH would not have needed to command the heel holder to ‘not fear to go down to Egypt.’
View past articles from Klug’s Korner for 2022!