Testimony Listing



A Matter’s End

(#362 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)

“The end of a matter is better than its beginning. The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.” (Ecclesiastes 7:8)

Is it because “it was finally over” that Solomon writes such things. What was he expressing within the exhale of such words as they vibrated over his vocal cords? Would you consider the character of Yahweh in every process loved one? Would you credit the pleasure and the pain, the victories and the defeats, all as the working of His hands?

The process should never culminate with a concession; “I just need to get through this.” A healthier introspection would yield a different inference, “Yahweh has orchestrated this to remove some idol in my life, to decimate a stronghold in my ego.” Pain in the thought world always equals the death of improper attachments to something in the physical realm. And so the conclusion of the matter is the removing of deadly adhesions to unholy things; it is the intent of the supernatural process. And because the intent is supernatural, its conclusion will have supernatural results: “The end of a matter is surely better than its beginning! And patience is always better than pride."

Yahweh is very patient in removing the pride within you that actually keeps you from Him. Imagine a great love that never fails, His only way of loving, and then imagine how that love longs to envelope your entire being. But by being true love, it has no option but to wait (1 Corinthians 13:4)! This unsearchable perfect love, which longs to envelope you, waits patiently while all that rejects it is removed from within you. All fear must be cast out in order to dwell in perfect love (1 John 4:18). All pride gives way to meekness; and all boasting becomes wrapped in humility (1 Corinthians 13:4). Listen closely to the conclusion of the matter. Because you have been given revelation of this pattern, understanding and wisdom about this process, you can then participate in the supernatural; you can praise Him and give thanks even during the process (Psalm 100:4).

“Be pleased when things go well, but when things seem bad, consider this: Yahweh has made the one as well as the other, so man shall never know what lies ahead of him.” (Ecclesiastes 7:14) And even though you do not know what lies ahead, you do not need to wait for the end of a matter to praise Him; the end is ALWAYS better than the beginning!

Personal Note: As always, I never read the devotions until I open them to edit. But what has transpired in my life over the last few weeks is this EXACT process. I have actually thought this very thing, “I just need to get through this.” I have counted the days until that day that I would not be “REQUIRED” to sit at my computer for hours to write and edit. “I just need a few days off,” I would reason. My arm, hand and wrist have been in agony. I’ve had to change my position and change from mouse to the internal track pad and then to an external pad and back again. It has gotten to the point that on any given day I have to go back and forth between the three just to get through the day, just to manage the searing pain in my wrist. “Just a few more weeks, just a few more days,” I would concede.

But then Yahweh spoke to me. He showed me that this was my “self”, the remnants of my ego (pride) that was scratching and clawing to hang on to the last vestige of hope that it would NOT HAVE TO DIE. I felt as if I could not think straight anymore. After hundreds of days in a row, my mind was blank, numb and in pain. I was confused, angry, depressed and unmotivated. After hundreds of days in which I was 100% confident in His supernatural direction for each devotion, every word edited, and all the scriptures I was inspired to add, I was all of a sudden blank! Nonetheless, each morning when I would wake to read today’s devotion, what came from what seemed to be a blank, numb and unmotivated mind yesterday, was completely heavenly and inspired. What He was showing me was, “None of you, Jeff. All of Me! It has always been Me.” And then on the 361st day of the year, just four days till the end, as I sat to edit this devotion, number 362, I opened to read “A Matter’s End”! All I could say was, “O, Yahweh You are faithful and true. You must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30) And the end of a matter is surely better than its beginning.

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False Peace: A Heavenly Perspective

(#009 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)

Your little carnal comforts,

They seem to make you smile.

“Check it out, smell the leather,

I’ll drive it for a while.”

Manicured yard, three-car garage,

Your square feet under air!

“Pop the bottle, twist the cap,

I haven't got a care.”

Your little carnal comforts,

They seem to give you peace.

“Check it out, feel the paint,

I got it on a lease!”

Dare you attempt to find peace in another, peace in objects? I know what you dream about. I know what brings you "peace." I have asked you to deny yourself (Luke 9:23). Yet, you continue to indulge. How long do you think your objects of desire can compete with My infectious touch? Yes, My love is infectious, but so is My heavenly chastening.

I see how concerned you are about your bank account. I see you check the numbers often. I too do accounting. My Son paid a hefty price with His shed blood, and He has debtors. Do not misunderstand loved one, it is not your redemption that I Am talking about here; that cost Him everything and you nothing. It is the life you live because of it, your discipleship, which I speak of today (Luke 14:25-33). Consider this; do your desires manifest from fear and trembling, in other words reverence and righteous awe (Philippians 2:12; Psalm 2:11), or is that which is carnal still causing your dis–ease, your tendency to search outside of Me for your pleasure and comfort? Did you forget that I Am the One who gives and takes away (Job 1:21)?

May I ask you how much My Son’s death is worth to you? He is here at My right hand, seated high above all things, and He is watching (Ephesians 1:20; Hebrews 8:1). He says, “I see everything that gives your heart more pleasure than what you derive from our Father’s presence. I see all things that please you more than the life I gave for you. I see all of your objects of worship. And I weep for you.”

There are many things for you to enjoy loved one. But I demand the proper order of your worship. Your false peace will be revealed to you with or without your consent. Do you have the courage to join this heavenly dance before being forced (Philippians 2:10)? The work I have started in you will be completed. I gave you My word (Philippians 1:6). Listen and obey My Son’s words as recorded by My servant Matthew (Mattityahu in Hebrew - the gift of Yahweh). But, seek first the Kingdom of the Mighty One and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33) This is the only way. It will not change. Walk in it!

Serve Yahweh with fear, and rejoice with trembling. (Psalm 2:11)

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Understand Redemption!

(#144 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)

But every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb; and if you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. And all the firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem. (Exodus 13:13)

And in this physical fulfillment, which is a shadow of the heavenly, the metaphysical meaning cries out to us. The donkey is an ignorant and stubborn beast. The lamb is a fearful and docile creature. The redemption, which is necessary, includes protection against a future fall. The players: ignorant, stubborn, fearful, docile, and of course the neck, which represents fall or decline.

I too am ignorant, stubborn, fearful, docile, and in a mental decline, unless redeemed. And with my needed redemption, I also desire the ability to never fall (decline) again. Are these not states of your conscious emotions before its redemption by the Spirit? Isn’t it sad that this remains the state of consciousness for so many, even after they have claimed to be “saved?” And because of each one's own choice to “fall” from Yahweh, everything must be redeemed over and over again, right?

To the contrary, Yahweh’s redemption means that you actually have the option to never fall (declining thoughts) again. The broken neck actually ends the “decline.” This should be a permanent brokenness in which you are forever broken by a Spiritual redeeming.

Every thought (firstborn) must now be spiritually transformed. Yes, that means your ignorance, stubbornness, fearfulness, docility, and mental decline are forever eradicated. Each thought is now sanctified unto Yahweh as a sign, the first fruit of a redeemed mind if you will. Human “love?” Unacceptable! Yahweh's love “never fails” (1 Corinthians 13), and is the only acceptable standard of love. Human “goodness?” Impossible! There is none whom are good without His Spirit (Psalm 14:1-3, Romans 3:10). Human “worthiness?” Yahweh says, “filthy rags!” (Isaiah 64:6) Worthiness through His Son is the only absolute. Listen to the Spirit loved one. Sacrifice every thought unto truth, as revealed by Him alone (Romans 12:1-2). If you do, very soon you shall find a completely redeemed mind within you, a saved mind! This is a mind with no consciousness of sin (Hebrews 9:14).

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Nutrition

 

(#332 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)

 

Thinking burns calories! Thoughts require energy, both conscious and subconscious; they are living and active. Is it any wonder that ulcers (disease) are most often created from mind stress rather than physical exertion? It would then be prudent and coherent to create a nutrition chart for the mind in order to maximize your potential in the physical. And considering the wholistic nature of the Scriptures (1 Thessalonians 5:23), you should know this about physical nutrition, so you can relate it wholistically to mental nutrition. It is not just about food, but the sum total of all things that contribute to growth, repair, and preservation of a healthy body. Let us, therefore, consider wholistic nutrition for your mind:

 

1. Psalms = Carbohydrates

2. Deuteronomy = Protein

3. Obeying the Torah (5 books of Moses); Spiritual blessings = Good Fat

4. Disobeying the Torah; Spiritual curses = Bad Fat

5. Prophets = Fiber

6. Proverbs = Water

7. Prayer and Meditation = Calories

8. Praying in the Spirit = Phytonutrients, Vitamin and Minerals

9. Spiritual Warfare (the Epistles) = Renewing the mind; Detoxification

10. Taking Dominion (embracing your identity before Yahweh) = Exercise

11. The Good News = Rest

12. Revelation = Dreams and Sleep

13. History Books = Firm foundation, Deep Roots, Stability

 

Prepare your mind to hear. We will go beyond the standard comfort zones today. Having often discussed the reality that life manifests within (the thought world) before it is expressed without (the physical world), let us move on to perfection (perfect thinking). These invaluable pearls allow us to further express the true roots of disease.

 

Your physical health is directly related to your knowledge of the words of Yahweh loved one. Listen closely and listen well as your diagnosis could be supernaturally transformed today. If your body is the manifestation of the totality of your thoughts, then you can use the Scriptures as your nutrition guide to renew your mind and therefore your body. You would do well to perform an analysis of your predominant mental status (congregating thoughts) in order to determine the cause of the physical state of your body (the reason for your diagnosis). Then you can decide to “choose life” (Deuteronomy 30:19), instead of death.

 

And this is where we go beyond comfort zones. Your physical body is the outward expression of your thought life! Listen again and let this seed plant itself in good soil (Mark 4:20). An unhealthy perspective of scripture, and therefore Yahweh Himself, leads to an unhealthy physical life. Let’s relate this to some common diagnoses and see what transpires: Physical to Mental

 

High blood pressure: Disobedience, fear, unbelief

 

Obesity: Discontent, gluttony

 

Diabetes: Lack of self-control/self-discipline

 

Digestive Problems: Stress, confusion, anxiety

 

Arthritis: Anger, rage, foul language

 

Use of Steroids: Insecurity, vanity, pride

 

Cancer: Breaking food laws, bitterness, unforgiveness

 

Lethargy: Sloth, indifference, apathy; rebellion

 

Lean and fit: Application of Biblical truth

 

The Abundant Life: Wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and obedience

 

And there are so many more loved one, but this was intended to be an eye opener (spiritual perception stimulus). What you allow to feed your mind can be directly equated to what you stare at in a mirror. If sickness is what you see, then confess and begin the healing and wholeness process, back to a fit life. A renewed mind and, therefore, a renewed body awaits you.

 

Yahshua answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:31-32)

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What Our Father Would Say

 

(#030 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)

 

Without faith it is impossible to please [Me]. (Hebrews 11:6)

 

Your only true concern in life should be whether or not you are pleasing to Me. And to do so you must live by faith. However, you consistently demonstrate a lack of faith by letting other concerns dominate your priorities. You do this in few key areas.

 

The first would be your concern for maintaining your rigid schedule, in other words, YOUR plan for your life. You fix your schedule in advance as if I am not interested in guiding the details of your day. In this, you leave no room for Me to lead you to My highest and best. Are you more beholden to your schedule than the prompting of My Spirit? Are you willing to be flexible, open to shifting what you thought were the day’s priorities? Will you interrupt your plans, both short and long term, at a moment’s notice from Me, even if it’s inconvenient, even if it’s hard?

 

The second would be your consideration for others. And by this I’m not referring to “Christian charity.” I’m speaking about your concerns regarding My plan for those you care about. In other words, your fear that I will disappoint them or not provide for them, as if your worries can supersede My providence. It masquerades as genuine concern, but is really anxiety fostered by a lack of faith that My plan is for their best. Do you trust Me to provide for you? Are My ways higher than your ways? Is My plan better than yours for your life? If I won’t fail you, will I fail them? Can you then trust Me for others? Won’t I protect and provide for those you commit into My hands, even if you cannot?

 

Once you value instruction over comfort, you will be better able to see all circumstances through spiritual eyes. With this type of vision, you can then experience instruction and still remain comfortable (resting all in My hands), regardless of the challenges you face, or see others facing. Self-preservation and striving to protect others always rejects suffering. Yet, suffering is an instrument of grace, allowing My Spirit to minister in painful situations. It is all to bring to fruition My Sovereign plan for you and those you care about.

 

So, let go of your frozen schedule and trust Me; and while you are at it, take down your mask. Once you faithfully hand over your life to Me, it will become much easier to trust that I have your and your loved ones best interests in mind.

 

“Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.” (Hebrews 5:8)

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Endless Repentance?

 

(#131 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)

 

I know that a man's life is not his own; it is not for a man to direct his steps. Correct me, Yahweh, but only with justice, not in Your anger, lest You reduce me to nothing. (Jeremiah 10:23-24)

 

How far must I go with you? Was Jeremiah written before you were born? I believe it was 2600 years before. Did not your brother Jeremiah reveal a secret to you? Listen again; “It is not for man to direct his steps.” Did he make that up? Is this the wisdom of man? No! This was a revelation given to him by My Spirit. I tell you the truth, you are not to direct your own steps. It is Mine to lead; it is yours to obey.

 

Why then the endless and repeated repentance? Let Me ask you: did I send My Son to be crucified by and for you? And, is it My desire that I guide and you follow? If you answered yes to both questions, then I have a final question. Have I not covered and protected your entire existence, from your daily activities to your complete redemption (transformed mind)?

 

Listen to Me My child. I do desire repentance; it proves to Me that you see your error. Repentance is a healthy indicator that you are following. What I don't want is continual repentance over an issue you are truly sorry for. When you ask Me to forgive you, think of your Savior, My Son. It is done! Forgiven! As long as you are sincere, it is forgotten. Why then do you hang on to guilt afterwards? Stop it! Move on! Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. (Isaiah 43:18) I am doing a new thing.

 

Press on My child, press on. I forgave you, and “forgave” is past tense. I have accepted My Son's sacrifice. Do not belittle such a glorious offer by not believing you are forgiven. Press on to the upward call My child. Press on.

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I'm a Jew

 

(#024 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)

 

I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke THEM to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness! (Romans 11:11-12)

 

Your testament that causes you to become most zealous,

Your goal of which it testifies is to make Jews so jealous.

You tell me you have the scriptural truth;

And yet, you rename our Messiah "Hey Zeus!"

If that’s not enough, let’s look at your Sabbath,

Pick a day, any day; is that what you have for us?

Have you not studied your feasts and celebrations?

They’re filled with traditions from demons and pagans.

Some of us sense what’s missing; it’s sad;

That you sell your savior like a marketable fad.

I am a Jew; and I wait for the Hebrew Messiah;

How can I trust that to Him you will guide us?

Perhaps you'll consider and listen to me;

I have things to offer, a rich history.

Does your own book teach you were sent the man Saul;

Who was transformed by Jesus who He then renamed Paul?

If the Jewish Messiah was sent to your people,

Did He teach in the synagogues, or churches with steeples?

I’m a Jew and my temple and my sacrifices ceased;

So I’ve watched some of you, and I covet your peace.

I could believe based on just what I've seen,

The one you call Messiah is true savior and King.

Perhaps I'll look past you and back to His days;

To make Him my savior and keep Jewish ways.

I’m “them” from your testament and I’m looking at you,

To provoke me to jealousy, but to do so…be true!

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