MEM

How can anyone find Joy in the midst of a trial? This goes against any normal human thought. But we are not talking about normal human thought. What we are talking about is thought led by God’s Spirit.

So what is this joy that we should feel? The type of joy we are supposed to have is not the typical good feeling that first comes to mind when you hear the word joy. What people usually call "happiness" or "joy" is often a selfish, inward joy, which is short lived.

Think about trials you have experienced. Many things we consider to be trials are brought on by our own foolishness, selfishness, ignorance, or stubbornness. Think about financial, marital, and relationship difficulties. Often—especially while we are in the middle of these trials— we blame God or others around us. Many times, upon careful and prayerful examination, we find we have played a role in causing the trial.

Should we take joy in self-induced trials? Yes, if we are learning and growing from them. However, James was not speaking of these types of trials. Read the very next verse.

Also Peter adds:

God is most interested in instructing and training us to be His servants and children, living our lives in the way He desires.

We can take joy in trials because we know it is God who is testing us to improve our spiritual state, our relationship with Him and, by extension, with others.

Trials are used by God to develop our character and strengthen our faith. Because of trials, we know that God loves us! He is the source of our satisfaction and true joy. We must have a relationship with Him that will still be strong even if the entire world turns against us. Just remember Yeshua (Jesus) will never leave you.

Last issue we talked about HANUKKAH. A recent article stressed the importance of understanding this time in the history of Judah. Below are a few excerpts from the article by Eddie Chumney, entitled "Hanukkah Lessons for Today".

THE END OF DAYS AND HANUKKAH

When speaking about what to expect in the end of days (Matthew 24) (prior to the Messianic Era), Yeshua referred to the events in Daniel and the events surrounding the story of Hanukkah to give understanding regarding those days. If you don't celebrate and understand Hanukkah, you won't understand the end-time teachings of the Messiah.

THE SPREAD OF GREEK CULTURE AND INFLUENCE

Alexander the Great believed that the Greek culture could unify the world. Alexander founded a new city in each country of his empire that would serve as a model for the furtherance of the Greek culture. Public buildings, gymnasiums, open-air theatres, the spread of Greek-names, Greek dress and a common language were all products and desires of the Greek empire. The acceptance and furtherance of Greek culture and values is known as "Hellenism".

THE WORSHIP OF HELLENISM TODAY

Today, the USA and the Western world is fighting a war of terrorism. VICTORY in the war against terrorism is the spread and acceptance of the Hellenistic culture and values of the west. The "Hellenistic" values that the west is parading as the ultimate victory in the war against terrorism is called, "Democracy and Freedom".

Number 8

And so it was, the cloud was turning to a glowing fire when the third trumpet was sounded and the tribe of Ephraim began to move.

Jeremiah and his family could see as if it were by day yet their travel was by night. They went down through the valley where the southern tribes had been, made a slight turn to the left and up the other side where the eastern tribes had been camped and then on to the northeast. It was the next day as the sun was rising, when the tribe of Ephraim was passing Oak Ridge. Father Jeremiah left the moving family in Joseph’s care and set out to find Benjamin and the sheep.

Benjamin, on the way the get the sheep, had gathered enough manna to mix with some nuts and raisins for his food yesterday, and had re-filled the goat’s skin with water at the river, which flowed through the Valley of the Eagles. A twelve-year-old can drink and eat a lot. The water from the river was never as good as that which flowed from the rock at the camp. But he would have to wait until the next camp sight to enjoy that better tasting water.

This morning the sheep were content grazing when Benjamin began gathering manna, filling his shepherd’s bag for the rest of the family as they were on the move. At the same time he kept an eye on the sheep. The sun was getting brighter when he heard his father’s call. He answered with a shrill whistle that identified him from the other shepherds. Half of the flocks had moved out as six of the tribes had passed by.

Jeremiah began helping Benjamin gather extra manna for Aunt Abigail and Ezra. Jeremiah told Benjamin to take the manna to the rest of the family and he would herd the sheep along the trail of the slow moving column. Taking the staff and rod Benjamin had, father Jeremiah began to call to the sheep and lead them along.

Benjamin did not have far to go to find their tribal standard and his family were close behind. When Tama received the manna she and Sarah walked along behind the cart. Pulling down the gate attached to the back of the cart, which they used as a moving table. Even though the cart jostled once in a while, the ladies were able to grind, mix, stir and combine ingredients to make a wholesome cereal. Joseph was sent with a container and some of this cereal mix to the goatherds along the trail. Cereal mix was traded for goats milk. Soon the Jeremiah family was enjoying bowls of cereal with milk.

Joseph went off to lead the sheep while Benjamin got to ride on the wagon while driving the oxen. Elisabeth was recruited to help clean up the dishes. Tama took over the cart driving and Sarah walked along holding on to the donkey that pulled the cart. That seemed to keep the donkey going. He seemed to enjoyed the companionship.

There were these Two Trees… Click here for online article.