Beloved,
I am busy putting together a lesson on Hanukkah. I was looking through some pieces I wrote over the years and came across this. I want to encourage you to stay strong and examine all things by YHVH's glorious word.
My heart is full. It hurts. It aches. It longs. It breaks. I used to try to imagine how my grandmother felt as the world of her past and the changes of her present collided. She was born in 1913. She saw the advent of automobiles replacing horses, the development of electronic media, photographs that developed before your eyes (polaroids), and praised the virtues of detergents for their superiority over soap. She lived through a time that constantly assaulted the senses and required rapid fire change or insanity. You could not rest for long or you would get left behind. She was a progressive, my grandmother. I envy her that.
I do not weather change well. I think I must be what is called an old soul. I had a serious childhood and am a serious adult. My heart is full because my spirit sees. The busyness, noise and chaos that accompanied the technological explosion of the last one hundred years became a distraction, an excuse to ignore or dismiss God. As a result, righteousness waned and wickedness increased, but it is nothing compared to the spiritual upheaval that we of this time and this world are now entering. Time is exchanged for money. Souls are sold/betrayed for fame, sex, a few measly dollars. Self is gratified, pampered and worshipped . Do unto others to get what you want is the rule. We live a lie and love it so (Jeremiah 30:30,31).
It is not fashionable, cool, hip, sweet - whatever the term is today - to consider others before yourself, but I want to challenge you. Return to the old ways, the proven ways, the Instruction of YHVH your God. Put Him to the test and see if He will not pour out on you overflowing blessing when you follow His ways (Malachi 3:7-10). Do not give up. No one is here by accident. Changing the world begins with changing one individual at a time. We cannot change others, but we can change ourselves. We can smile instead of frown. We can encourage instead of criticize. We can give instead of take. We can build up instead of tearing down. We can treat others as we would like to be treated.
There has always been a remnant, a small cadre that refuses to enter into the fashion of the day, be it political, social, or spiritual. Remember, the people who know their God and follow His ways shall be strong and do mighty works! (Daniel 11:32) Scripture bears witness, history bears witness, and YOU shall bear witness!!!
Chazak, chazak, v’nit chazek!! (Be strong, be strong, and be strengthened!!)
By His power and for HIs glory, Sherri