MEM

Matt 10:28 "And do not fear those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Ps 89:14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Thy throne…

Matt 12:36 I tell you that every idle word that men speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

"To begin to grasp the concept of the Creator God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God who called Moses, who led Israel out of Egypt with a mighty hand, who revealed Himself at Sinai, speaking face to face to Moses and the people, the God whose Name is YHVH, and whose WAY is summed up in the TORAH - is to begin to understand just who God is.

The Great Commandment, summed up in the Shema, tells us we must love YHVH our God with all our heart, soul, and might. How is it that God would command us to love Him? Is love something that can be demanded? When one begins to grasp the greatness and goodness of God, fear and love are the response. In other words, to truly know YHVH is to fear and love Him, Psalm 145 puts it well: Great is YHVH, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable…YHVH is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works. (vs. 3, 9).

In this Psalm the precise description of YHVH’S character as revealed to Moses in Exodus 34 is repeated, namely that YHVH is "gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy" (145:8). Our love for YHVH arises from our deep realization of His goodness, as expressed toward us and to all creation, and in keeping with His revealed character. In other words, this is what He is like! To know God, as so revealed, is to love Him. As we truly come to experience and understand God’s nature, we are drawn in love toward Him. Notice how Moses puts all of these concepts together in his great farewell address to the people of ancient Israel.

And now, Israel, what does YHVH your God require of you, but to fear YHVH your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve YHVH your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of YHVH and His statutes which I command you today for your good? (Deuteronomy 10:12-13).

Here is a very definite, unfolding sequence of responses in coming to truly know YHVH, the Eternal God - as the verbs indicate. First, and absolutely vital, is the fear of YHVH. Without this fear of God, there is no possible relationship, and certainly no love. Moses goes on to say:

For YHVH your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God! (Deuteronomy 10:17)

These three terms are, in the final analysis, the only legitimate terms we can really use to talk about God. All other descriptions of God are anthropomorphic, that is they are merely analogies (i.e., God as Father, King, Lord, Warrior, etc.). The "fear of YHVH" is the beginning, that is, the absolute foundation, of everything else (Psalm 111:10). To fear God is to have a deep and awesome reverence for Who and What He is. This fear, or absolute awe, is based on the majestic nature of God that is ultimately indescribable and comparable to nothing else. As David said, His greatness is unsearchable, past finding out.

First and foremost, YHVH is the Creator. The Scriptures declare, "By the word of YHVH the heavens were made" (Psalm 33:6). YHVH is the one who spoke order and life into existence on this planet. He gives us our very life and breath. Through this awesome creative force, that is grounded in God our creator, our planet Earth is a lovely garden rather than a vast and empty wasteland, like Mars or Venus. Likewise the "fear" of YHVH rests upon His great and mighty acts in history, particularly at the Exodus from Egypt and at Sinai (Psalm 136). This fear of YHVH necessarily results in a concrete response, that is, walking in all His Way’s. Moses tells the Israelites that the awesome display of His power and glory at the giving of the Ten Commandments at Sinai was intended so that "the fear of Him may remain before you, so that you may not sin." (Exodus 20:20). This idea of fear or awe involves a profound sense of the righteous power of YHVH, to punish transgression. As Moses reminds the people of Israel: "For YHVH your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God." (Deuteronomy 4:24). By walking in the WAYS of YHVH, which involves the most specific and concrete knowledge, understanding, and action, one comes to know, and accordingly, love YHVH-analogous to the way one comes to know and love a fellow human being.

There is no separation between these elements: fearing, loving, and obeying God. These are the foundation of an intimate relationship, or "friendship," with YHVH. Recall that the Shema begins by speaking of loving God with heart, soul, and might, but immediately adds, "and these words, which I am commanding today, shall be on your heart" (Deuteronomy 6:6). Ultimately, the way in which a deep fear of YHVH, coupled with a heartfelt following of the WAY of YHVH, results in a profound and total love of God Himself, is something that can only be experienced. Such a relationship is only found as one learns to walk in all His ways."

Eccl 12:13 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.

What is looking beyond? It is not some ethereal concept that many seek to escape the pressures of our lives. It is The Kingdom of God - "The coming world order will be here and now, on this earth, however transformed." (James Tabor - See Isaiah 11:25-26; 65:17-25; 66:1-24 Gen 3:22-24)

And we can make a difference in today’s world by our relationship (walk) with YHVH.

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge…

Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom…

Proverbs 10:27 The fear of the LORD prolongs life…

Proverbs 14:26 In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence…

Proverbs 8:13 "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way…

Proverbs 16:6 …by the fear of the LORD one keeps away from evil.

Proverbs 23:17 … live in the fear of the LORD always.

Fear God and Look Beyond our present conflicts to these promises

"The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today. Let us move forward with strong and active faith." - Franklin D. Roosevelt

"Never, Never, Never quit!" Winston Churchill

Matt 24:13 "But the one who endures to the end, he shall be saved.

FACTS:                                         

In 2012 the NFL had an issue with Tim Tebow kneeling for each game to pray, they also had an issue with Tebow wearing John 3:16 as part of his eye black to avoid glare, and made him take it off.

In 2013 the NFL fined Brandon Marshall for wearing green cleats to raise awareness for people with mental health disorders. 

In 2014 Robert Griffin III (RG3) entered a post-game press conference wearing a shirt that said "Know Jesus Know Peace" but was forced to turn it inside out by an NFL uniform inspector before speaking at the podium. 

In 2015 DeAngelo Williams was fined for wearing "Find the Cure" eye black for breast cancer awareness… 

In 2015 William Gay was fined for wearing purple cleats to raise awareness for domestic violence.

(Not that the NFL has a domestic violence problem...) 

In 2016 the NFL prevented the Dallas Cowboys from wearing a decal on their helmet in honor of 5 Dallas Police officers killed in the line of duty. 

In 2016 the NFL threatened to fine players who wanted to wear cleats to commemorate the 15th anniversary of 9/11.

So tell me again how the NFL supports free speech and expression, all of a sudden...

It seems quite clear based on these facts that the NFL has taken a position against any action by NFL players demonstrating RESPECT for any issue:  For God, social causes such as mental health, cancer, domestic violence, for cops killed arbitrarily for being cops, for the Memory of 9/11... 

But, they will allow demonstrations of DISRESPECT for our National Flag, our National Anthem, for America, and for the American People… 

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Seenager

I just discovered my age group!  I am a Seenager. (Senior teenager)

I have everything that I wanted as a teenager, only 50-60 years later.

I don't have to go to school or work.

I get an allowance every fortnight.

I have my own place.

I don't have a curfew.

I have a driver's license and my own car.

The people I hang around with … aren’t scared of anything, they have been blessed to live this long, why be scared?

And I don't have acne.

Life is Good!  Also, you will feel much more intelligent after reading this, if you are a Seenager.

Brains of older people are slow because they know so much.

People do not decline mentally with age, it just takes them longer to recall facts because they have more information in their brains.

Scientists believe this also makes you hard of hearing as it puts pressure on your inner ear.

Also, older people often go to another room to get something and when they get there, they stand there wondering what they came for.

It is NOT a memory problem, it is nature's way of making older people do more exercise.

SO THERE!!

I have more friends I should send this to, but right now I can't remember their names.

Have you ever been in a group of people with some of them talking about a subject only they were familiar with? Did you feel excluded? This is considered bad manners in polite company. It is more gracious to find topics of conversation that are inclusive. Do you talk about the Kingdom of God? This is a topic that applies to all whether they have an expressed interest in or knowledge of it or not. Then they that feared YHVH (The LORD) spoke often to one another and a book of remembrance was written before Him of those who thought upon His name. Fulfill the Great Commission by including others in this conversation.

(Adopted from a blog post by Dale Cresap)

Ps 145:19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will also hear their cry and will save them.

Ps 34:7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them.

Ps 86:11 Teach me Thy way, O LORD; I will walk in Thy truth; Unite my heart to fear Thy name.

Ps 103:13 … So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.

Ps 115:13 He will bless those who fear the LORD, The small together with the great.

Ps 147:11 The LORD favors those who fear Him, Those who wait for His lovingkindness.

Ps 128:1 How blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, Who walks in His ways.

Blessed be YHVH (Genesis 14:20 And blessed be God Most High…)