Dancing in the Rain

29 Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 

30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. 

31 And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

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The word, “LOVE” that Jesus used -

Love of intelligence, Love of sacrifice, Love of will, Love of the purpose, love of choice, love of sacrifice, love of obedience… not the love of attraction.

• Love connected to fearing God… He is worthy of our affection.

He is talking about giving the most complete love and allegiance only to the Father in Heaven.

The Ark of the Covenant also known as the Ark of the Testimony, and in a few verses across various translations of the Bible as the Ark of God, is a gold-covered wooden chest with lid cover described in the Book of Exodus.

• The Ark of the Covenant symbolizes the Holy of Holies of the ancient Temple of Jerusalem, it is the holiest place in the synagogue and the focal point of prayer!

If we want to have God’s blessing on our house or in our church, we must invite in the holy presence of God! And quit spending time building oxcarts and polishing the hubcaps.

Exodus 25: 8 and 9 says, "And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it."

Ark of the Covenant is in the most important piece of the furniture – it is in the holy of Holies.

In Old Testament, there are well over 185 references, and so it is not a small matter.   We need to pay attention to it.

In this episode, we are talking about how [a baby girl]  changed the trajectory of her father - Henry Walker (from the gang life) to Min. Walker.

Throughout the whole interview,  Min. Walker poured his emotions as he shared his life's journey.   

Hope this is a blessing to you and your spiritual walk. 

We all want to go into the presence of the Lord…

Moses spent time with the Lord - for 40 days in Mt. Sinai… where God gave instructions on how to build the Ark of the Covenant, Mercy Seat and the tabernacle.

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Exodus 25: 17 - 22

And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel.

Hope you enjoy this message, as much as we enjoyed meditating on it...

Jesus talked about Beatitudes – those are the characteristics…being poor in spirit,  meekness, mourning, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, mercy….

Whereas when He talk about salt and light – he is talking about the function.   How we need to function or influence in this world.

The beatitudes and similitudes go together…

Matthew 5: 14 - 16 says, 

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.  No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Jesus says, "You are the Salt of the Earth"... 

"You are":  It is an affirmation – Jesus is not saying “you need to become” the salt or “you need to act like” the light - But instead, we are..    

It is not about what I do – but who we are;  my core personality!

In Jacob's life - there were 2 turning points, he is coming around the final curve... to meet his brother Esau!

Genesis 32:24 says, "Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day."

I have always thought Jacob was wresting with God - never paid attention, to the fact that the Angel of the Lord was wrestling with him as well, till the breaking of the day.

Hope you enjoy this Podcast...

We need to “Ask” ourselves - where do i need a breakthrough – and what am i struggling with?    He is the God of breakthrough!

Joel 2: 12 – 13 says, “Even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.

Mary:  “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”  There is a reason why God chooses people on this earth – He doesn’t do anything in random.