ASHES to ASHES...

REMEMBER:

You are dust, 

and to dust 

you shall return. 

Repent, 

and believe the GOSPEL+. 

+  +  +

In the Name of Our LORD JESUS CHRIST,  the invitation is extended to each and every one, to a season of self-examination and repentance. The Season of Preparation for the remembrance of the Great Passover, the Great Pascha, is upon us. 

Let us therefore spend time in  thinking upon the Mirror of GOD'S HOLY WORD ... and the reflection we see of ourselves in it.

All are invited to make a right beginning of repentance and to COME at the Invitation of Our HOLY LORD JESUS CHRIST WHO+ said:

Come unto ME+

all ye that labor 

and are heavy laden

and I+ will give you rest.

Take My+ Yoke upon you 

and learn of ME+, 

for I+ am meek and lowly, 

and ye shall find rest 

unto your souls. 

For My+ Yoke is easy, 

and My+ burden is Light.

Matthew 11: 28-30

+  +  +

Have mercy upon me, O GOD, 

according to Thy lovingkindness: 

according unto the multitude 

of Thy tender mercies 

blot out my transgressions.

Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

Against THEE, THEE only, have I sinned, and done evil in Thy sight: that THOU mightest be justified when THOU speakest, and be clear when THOU judgest.

Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. 

Behold, 

THOU desirest truth 

in the inward parts: 

and in the hidden part

THOU shalt make me 

to know wisdom.

 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which THOU hast broken may rejoice.

Hide Thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

 Create in me a clean heart, 

O GOD; 

and renew a right spirit 

within me.

Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy HOLY SPIRIT from me.

 Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors Thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto THEE.

 

Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O GOD, THOU, GOD of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of Thy righteousness. O LORD, open THOU my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth Thy praise.

 For THOU desirest not sacrifice; 

else would I give it: 

THOU delightest not 

in burnt offering. 

The sacrifices of GOD 

are a broken spirit: 

a broken 

and a contrite heart, 

O GOD, 

THOU wilt not despise.

 Do good in Thy good pleasure unto Zion: build THOU the walls of Jerusalem. Then shalt THOU be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon Thine altar.

 Psalm 51

+  +  +

 

REMEMBER: You Are DUST, and to DUST You Shall Return

REMEMBER:

You are dust, and to dust you shall return.

REPENT,

and believe the GOSPEL+. 

+  +  +

ALMIGHTY GOD . . .

THOU hast created us out of the dust of the earth. 

Grant that these ashes may be to us a sign of our mortality and repentance, that we may remember that it is ONLY by Thy gracious gift that we are given Everlasting Life, through JESUS CHRIST our SAVIOR+.  Amen.

+  +  +

ALMIGHTY and Everlasting GOD Who hates nothing that THOU hast made and Who forgiveth the sins of all who  heartily repent; 

  Create in me a clean heart, O GOD; 

and renew a right spirit within me. 

That I, lamenting my sins and acknowledging my wretchedness before THEE, 

May obtain of THEE, the GOD of all mercy and truth, a perfect remission of my sins, 

Through The LAMB+ of GOD, JESUS CHRIST our LORD, 

WHO+ lives and reigns with THEE and Thy HOLY SPIRIT, 

ONE ELOHIM,

to the ages of the ages. 

Amen.  

+  +  +

 Repent, and be baptized 

every one of you 

in the name of JESUS CHRIST

for the remission of sins, 

 and ye shall receive the gift 

of the HOLY SPIRIT. 

Acts 2:38

+  +  +

Ashes to ashes, 

dust to dust 

in sure and certain hope 

of the resurrection 

unto Eternal Life, 

through  

Y'SHU+ the M'SHIKHA , 

our LORD. 

+  +  +

 

HE+ SHALL PURIFY...

Behold, I will send My messenger, 

and he shall prepare the way before ME:

and the LORD, whom ye seek, 

shall suddenly come to His+ temple,

even the Messenger of the Covenant, 

whom ye delight in: 

behold, HE+ shall come, 

saith the LORD of Hosts.

But who may abide 

the day of HIS+ Coming?

and who shall stand 

when HE+ appeareth? 

for HE+ is like a refiner's fire, 

and like fullers' soap:

And HE+ shall sit as a refiner 

and purifier of silver: 

and HE+ shall purify the sons of Levi, 

and purge them as gold and silver, 

that they may offer unto the LORD

an offering in righteousness.

+  +  +

Now the GOD of peace, 

that brought again from the dead 

our Lord JESUS,  

that Great Shepherd+ of the sheep, 

through the Blood 

of the Everlasting Covenant,

Make you perfect in every good work to do HIS will, working in you that which is well pleasing in HIS sight, through JESUS CHRIST our LORD.

 to whom be glory for ever and ever. 

Amen. 

Hebrews 12:20-21

+  +  +

The Time of the Preparation for the GREAT PASSOVER is upon us once more. 

Repentance is due now .  .  .

for WHO may abide 
the Day of HIS+ Coming ?  

As the people of YHWH were in the wilderness 40 years, as Our LORD JESUS CHRIST was in His+ wilderness being tempted by the devil for 40 days, let us SET ASIDE these next 40 days before HOLY WEEK and even now, remove the leaven out of our hearts and homes and lives.  

As followers of JESUS,  we know HE+ forgives the repentant one.  But let us walk these days in the awareness that we are mortal: 

"Remember: you are dust 

and to dust 

you shall return," 

REPENT and 

BELIEVE the GOSPEL.

+  +  +  

The GREAT Passover... the Time of Preparation

 

But HE+ was wounded

for our transgressions,

HE+ was bruised

for our iniquities:

the chastisement 

of our peace

was upon HIM+;

and with HIS+ stripes

we are healed.

Isaiah 53:5

+  +  +

The Lenten Season is upon us once again. It starts on Wednesday, March 1. 

It is the season observed by many Christians in many church groups to remember the GREAT Passover of the LAMB+ of GOD… the Greatest Passover … and the Last Passover… recognized by GOD. 

The Lenten Season is NOT the sole property of the Roman Catholic, the Eastern Orthodox, or any of the liturgical churches. It belongs to all Christians everywhere.

During this time on the Christian church calendar, Ash Wednesday ( arbitrarily selected)  starts the remembrance of The LORD'S journey towards Jerusalem as HE+ headed towards His+ Crucifixion.

Many churches observe this Season as a time of serious reflection upon what it cost The LORD to save us from our sins --- and the Second Death in the Lake of Fire, for all Eternity ---  and thus, as a serious season of repentance. 

During this time, Christians try to bring the body under more control of the HOLY SPIRIT. To do this, supernatural strength is required. So, Christians fast, calling upon The LORD for help. 

Some Christians choose to fast from a favorite food (coffee,  pizza, chocolate, popcorn, sweets, all snacks,  etc.) simply as a way to REMIND their flesh that the spirit is in control, not the body. When they do this, they are usually shocked at the battle such a small commitment begins between their flesh and their spirit. 

Others choose to fast from a meal or  do one or two days of total fasting. Oddly enough, THIS type of fasting actually is easier; there is no battle, once the commitment is made. The "eating" time then becomes Quiet Time of Refreshment from The LORD.

There are other types of "fasts" that some Christians do during this( arbitrarily selected ) 40-day season.

Here are some little ways one could choose to submit the body to the spirit:  

   No parties or social get-togethers.

No games.

No reading, apart from the Bible.

An hour of total silence per evening / day.

No "chit-chat" or long conversations.

No un-necessary conversations.

Limited social interaction, be it by phone, emails, or visits.

No dining out.

No DVD's, No magazines, No computer... Nothing that could be construed as "entertaining."

No music or no up-beat music.

Only dark purple clothing is worn or no bright clothing until after the Resurrection.

The purpose of fasting is not to be ascetic but to cut away worldly distractions IN ORDER TO FOCUS more fully upon The LORD JESUS.

Time with HIM+;

Stillness with HIM+.

UN-CLUTTERED TIME WITH HIM+

.... a stillness that is SO STILL

that it ceases to think about

the day's events and duties.

Some Christians have heavy work-loads. Some work in the public; some attend classes and have time-absorbing assignments and exams; some have small children in the home; some home-school.

Whatever the situation,

The LORD will

show the WILLING HEART

what kind of fast is pleasing to HIM+

... and how much

... and WHEN

it is to be done.

Even a 5-minute break with The LORD . . . 

and a brief meditation on a verse of Isaiah 53 or a verse of a Psalm --- instead of a cup of coffee and a doughnut --- will increase the closeness one has with The LORD during this season.  Much good fruit of repentance and Quietness before HIM+ refreshes the body more than coffee and doughnuts.

 

But HE+ was wounded ...

is a good place to start the Lenten Season of Meditations focused upon The LORD JESUS CHRIST.

Other good Lenten Season Meditations include: Isaiah 53, Psalm 51, Psalm 32, John 14, John 15,  and John 17. Revelation chapters 2 and 3 lend themselves to serious reflection for repentance, also.

During Lenten Season, there is no great rush ...

to finish a Psalm or Isaiah 53. Line by line, phrase by phrase of Isaiah 53 ... one phrase a day...  works well for the spirit to meditate upon WHY HE+ was wounded.

What did your life, your sins cost HIM+ ?

What are your life and your sins

still costing HIM+ ?

Is HE+ being wounded

by your sins

that you choose to hide

and not confess and turn from ?

Is HE+ again being wounded

because you refuse

to yield the controls over to HIM+ ?

Are you wounding HIM+

because you are being sovereign

over some areas of your "own" life ?

Are there any worldly values or goals

you are holding or pursuing

that are wounding HIM+ afresh ?

+  +  +

Thus, whether "your church" does the Lenten Season remembrances or not, each Christian can still choose to observe the 40-day time of preparation for the Great Passover ... the greatest Passover the world has ever had, and the last.

Thus, I pray each one of you search your heart and see if HE+ is calling you to observe this season of the preparation for the Great Passover ... not from duty, but from a sincere heart of love for what HE+ has done for you. 

~ Sr. Judith Hannah  + + +

AS IN THE DAYS OF NOAH...

A guest post by Brother Brendon  + + +

Our LORD+ warned us that as it was in the days of Noah, so it would be in the days just prior to HIS+ Return.

WE are in those days.

Evil and darkness are covering the earth. The nations are crazed. Good is called evil. Evil is called good. Human beings are yielding control of their minds and bodies over to unclean spirits. Human life is being accounted as nothing.

Because INIQUITY ( Vicious wickedness) has abounded, the love, the natural affection, normal human feelings have grown cold, and are near to death, and in some cases HAVE DIED.

In the present “days of Noah,” the followers of MESSIAH+ must separate themselves from the standards and values of the world and even of their own nation and societies.  ( As Noah did from that society.)

They must separate themselves from all that would distract them from actually following and obeying JESUS / YESHUA+, and keeping HIS+ Words.

If we do not do this and prepare ourselves for the Time of Testing (Luke 21:35) that is about to come upon the face of the whole earth, we will not know how to conduct ourselves in the Fire of Global Persecution.

The cares of this life and the deceitfulness of riches have caused the church to become complacent and spiritually dull-witted. It is time to wake up and draw near unto our LORD+ . HE+ promises that when we do HE+, will draw near to us.

Many possessions, houses, and lands will only be a burden in the coming storm. Our LORD+ has taught us to place our treasures in Heaven, where nothing can corrupt or steal them. All here is only Temporal, gone in a flash.

Evil is overtaking the earth.

The imagination of men’s hearts is only evil continually. Evil and debauchery is spreading at an epidemic rate, enhanced by modern communication. We must lift up the standard of Holiness and a Sanctified lifestyle.

We must

“Put on the Whole Armor of GOD”.

  Our battle is NOT against flesh and blood, but against “Kosmocrators and Archons,” Principalities and Powers , against spiritual wickedness in the heavenly places that move and operate in the atmosphere of this earth, that need no rest or food, and are TOTALLY MALEVOLENT, are unable to do ANY good, but can ONLY kill, steal, and destroy human beings.

Flesh and blood cannot stand

against these entities.

We MUST be

“Clothed with Power from on High“.

The times are getting VERY serious. These times will weed out the true Christians from the “Religionists” and the “Churchians”. Our LORD+ counseled Laodicia to buy from HIM+ Gold that has been tried in the Fire.

The FIRE is COMING! 

  Prepare for it as a soldier prepares for combat, by training daily. Spend time with your LORD+. Know HIS+ Voice. Obey HIS+ Orders. Do not go against HIM+ in ANYTHING!

HE+ is your Commander+ and Chief+, your great High Priest at HIS+ FATHER’S Right Hand.

HE+ Intercedes for you.

HE+ is your Life.

+++++++++++++++++++++

HEAVENLY FATHER, STRENGTHEN US,

WE PRAY,

FOR THE BATTLE.

COVER US WITH THE MOST PRECIOUS ETERNALLY-LIVING BLOOD OF YOUR BELOVED SON+, MASHIACH+, LAMB+ OF GOD, AND CLOTH US WITH YOUR MOST BLESSED HOLY SPIRIT AND FIRE.

HELP US TO OVERCOME AND TO PROCLAIM YOUR ETERNAL SON+ TO THE WORLD IN THESE LAST DAYS.

IN HIS+ PRECIOUS NAME WE PRAY,

AMEN

Upon THIS BED-ROCK, I + Will Build the Church ... of ME+ !

^{MATTHEW 16: 16 -18 , Courtesy of Bible Gateway}

And Simon Peter answered and said,

THOU+ art the CHRIST,

the SON+ of the Living GOD.

¹⁷ And JESUS answered and said unto him,

Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona:

for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee,

but My+  FATHER  which is in Heaven.

¹⁸ And I+ say also unto thee,

That thou art Peter,

and upon this rock I will build my church;

and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

+  +  +

BEDROCK: In geology, bedrock is the lithified rock that lies under the loose softer material at the surface of the Earth or other terrestrial planet. The broken and weathered regolith includes soil and subsoil.

PETRA …

in the Greek, means  a BEDROCK, a FOUNDATIONAL Bed of Rock .

PETROS… Peter

Petros, in the Greek, means a rock OF THE SIZE  A PERSON CAN PICK UP AND THROW. We would call a “petros”  a STONE. 

LOOK AT THIS…

OR THIS …

NOW,

LET’S look at Matthew 16:18 under a

GREEK microscope QQ !

Here it is in the Literal GREEK: 

,

I+ ALSO MOREOVER TO YOU ( singular “you”)

I+ say, that you ( singular)  

are PETROS (nominative-MASCULINE-singular…  a rock the size I can pick up and throw )

and  upon this ( dative-FEMININE-singular “this”)

the (dative- feminine- singular “the”)

PETRA ( dative- FEMININE -singular) … a FOUNDATIONAL BEDROCK …

.

OF ME+   ( this is a genitive or possessive pronoun usually translated "my" but the literal translation is " OF ME" .)

 .

I+ will build the church of ME+

And the Gates of Hades

will not prevail against her.

+  +  +

We plainly see that the PETRA, the Bedrock of CHRIST JESUS HIMSELF+ , is the SOLID FOUNDATION upon which HE+ HIMSELF+ builds the Church of the Living GOD  …. of HIMSELF+. 

Of HIS+ own Flesh and Blood, Our LORD builds His+ Church and places it upon the SOLID ROCK FOUNDATION of Himself+.

1 Corinthians 10:4, Courtesy of Bible Gateway

And did all drink the same spiritual drink:

for they drank of that

spiritual PETRAS+* that followed them:

and that PETRA+* was CHRIST.

* PetraS is the genitive form of petrA, i.e., the same word.

PETRA is a different word than PETROS.

+  +  +

Thus, upon a closer inspection of this passage, we see that the BED-ROCK is CHRIST+ , the SON+ of the Living GOD, as Simon Peter confessed HIM+ to be. 

Furthermore, That CHRIST JESUS will … it is determined… build His+ Church of Himself+ , through Himself+, by means of Himself+. 

Those who try to implode that Bedrock+ will only find out, in terror, that HE+ CANNOT BE MOVED.  HE+ CANNOT be moved from His+ intention to build His+ Church.  HE+ cannot be deterred from His+ determination to do it. 

HE+ cannot be vanquished because… HE+ has already met the worst that they could do to him ( humans in conjunction with the satan) …

and HE+ won !  

So, tremble, you devils and all the enemies of CHRIST JESUS… you host of wicked ones who lead the world astray … dragging as many with you into hell as you possibly can. 

TREMBLE! 

For your day of destruction is coming soon; all can see it looming on the horizon. You will terrorize NO MORE. 

And furthermore, we hereby give notice to you that the Church of The LORD JESUS CHRIST  will stand against you to defeat you in the Name of The LORD JESUS CHRIST and by all the power of His+ Blood that HE+ grants us… the least little one of us in His+ Living Church ! 

And according to His+ Will, The Living Church of The LORD JESUS CHRIST will rescue ALL we are enabled to free from the grip of the satan.

By the Power granted to us through HIS+ BLOOD and His+ Blessed HOLY SPIRIT, we will demolish satan’s lying illusions  and deliver as many as we can from the strongholds of the satan … until HE+ calls us HOME unto the Church VICTORIOUS. 

+ + +

In the Name of GOD the FATHER ALMIGHTY,

and of His+ Beloved, Eternal SON+ 

Who+ has Redeemed us by His+ Blood,

and The Blessed , Eternal HOLY SPIRIT,

Who sanctifies us.

Amen

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