MASADA............PART TWO...................

This is a replica of "The Northern Palace," (King Herod's palace.)

This was another type of "Purity Bath," that were found throughout Israel...................

Mosaic Floors were seen throughout.......and sherd-studded walls that could have possibly been part of a room in a church that Monks who sought the solitude of Masada in the fifth century.........................................

When Amy was born she was pre-mature; so she fit perfectly in the doorways!!!lol

The doorways etc were so tiny; I imagine that people were much smaller back then.......

Wanted to share some of my notes that I took in church Sunday:

Daniel 7:21,25;

(21)I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;

(25)And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
WEAR OUT THE SAINTS.............Do you ever feel that you can't take it anymore???? Satan is not only attacking us, He is enticing us.............diminishing us and reducing us.......We are supposed to be more than conquerors.........Satan is never going to come against you the way you think he will............Where you think you are the strongest is where you will be tested...........God's word teaches us that we have to be overcomers........hold out until the end.........no matter what comes our way.............God tells us through His word not to fear the things.........we are going to suffer.........we live in a fallen world..........
           We are living in trying times........there are false prophets all around us......the sad part is  they are teaching us that we can live lose lives by claiming to know Jesus and living in immortality at the same time.......Just like when the Israelites were worshipping Yahweh one minute and the next they were building a golden calf and worhipped it..........Our drive to do these things is 2nd in command to our eating..........It never goes away.........and meanwhile these false prophets are teaching us that we can be FREE......Free to live in sin and know Jesus at the same time................What will Jesus find when he returns in my heart????? In your heart????? A half-hearted Christian????? A luke-warm Christian????? Or a cold- Christian???? Satan is here to wear you and me out.............
     When we are physically worn out and tired; we start to question who we are and whose we are.........we even question if we are saved at times?????? When you have these feelings I want you to remember to say this aloud:  Greater is He that is in me than he who is in the World............either we will overcome these things.........or it will overcome us.........it can't be about what we feel......we have to stand on what we know.....and that my friends is the Word of God...........

TIME......................

Looking at time through a window of trees.....TIME......you can't save it........TIME- you can't invest it..........TIME-is not flexible........it is simply ticking...........ticking away........

Are we giving our time to something other than JESUS???????????

You can spend TIME anyway you want.....BUT........you can only spend it once!!!!!!⁸ But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. (2 Peter 3:8)....... God sees the past, the present and the future as one my friends...........it is not busier lives that we need....it is better use of our time..........................................

Your Life and My Life are slipping away with TIME..............

There are only 86,000 Seconds in a day.......

                                                                    1,440 minutes in a day......and 24  hours in a day.......How do you want to spend your time????? The one thing we all have in common is the amount of hours in the day that God himself has given us...............we are nothing more than products of a fast paced world.......it can't be accumulated like money or stockpiled like raw materials.......we are forced to spend it whether we chose to or not........

Why is it that we are always driving through this life full speed ahead???? What is it that we are trying to accomplish in a 24 hour period? A cleaner house? laundry done? Taxi for our kids? Exercising??? Cooking??? Ask your-self today "what are my idol's?"

  We must also ask and respond to the issue of just why we are here. We are here as ambassadors of Christ called to a world-wide mission of making disciples of all nations starting in Jerusalem (home base) and reaching out to the uttermost part of the earth (Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 1:8). We are here to represent the Savior, to glorify God, and enjoy Him forever.Time is priceless......priceless beauty that only comes around once........what will it be???? full speed ahead????? Our problem with time is how we use it???

If we are giving our time to something other than Jesus then we may miss it.............miss the most important relationship of our lives.........

What if you and I had to purchase our time at the beginning of each day??? Would that make it more valuable to us? Would we then slow down and take it all in???? Let's not forget who we are here for!!!!! When God comes back what will HE find??? Busy people??? Just Busy with their lives??? Too busy to stop and walk with the Father?????? God's timing is so different from our timing.......How would He want us to spend our time????? How will He find us when He does return????

Ecclesiastes 3:

A Time for Everything.............
1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
9 What do workers gain from their toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet[a] no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.


His grace......
Robbie

MASADA.................PART ONE................................................

Masada is one of the chain of fortresses Herod made so ready so he could escape to friendlier lands from those who sought his downfall........According to Flavius Joseph, the first century AD historian, Masada had been "built by our ancient kings." It may have been a "stronghold" where David sought refuge from King Saul....(1 Sam. 22:4).When Herod was done with it, everything about Masada belied its bleak  location on the edge of the Judean wilderness overlooking the Dead Sea.....This same builder of Jerusalem's Temple and the showcase port of Caesarea spared no expense in hewing out Masada's water system.......suspending its three-tired palace impossibly from its northern face, and stocking its storehouses and armory......

Masada is perched on boat-shaped plateau at Sea Level...(look how low the water is...) It is isolated from the surrounding range of mountains....Herod used Masada as a refuge for himself and his family and followers when he fled before the Mattathias Antigonas, who had allied with the Parthians......

Visitors begin their trudge up the ramp the Romans built to conquer Masada 2,000 years ago............................I gaze in fascination at the ramp built by the Roman Soldiers determined to reach their captives.......Scattered around Masada's base are reminders of the enemy encampments.......Amy and I paused at the top of Masada and thought about how it would  feel if, day after day, if my enemy worked  in plain sight.....tirelessly and contemptuously in an effort to kill me or make me a slave???? How could I sleep night after night knowing that my enemy was prowling around like a roaring lion waiting to devour me????? So interesting because Israel still has to sleep night after night worrying about this very same thing!!!! There are so many enemies who want to wipe them off the face of the Earth!!!!.........They are not just protecting themselves,......their existence is at stake!

The Holy Spirit declares the same to Israel as it does to you and me......Put on the full armor of God, so that when the enemy comes our way; that we are able to stand our ground......even after we have done everything we can........STAND...... 

The table-mountain fortress of Masada rises,  from the Dead Sea Valley Floor...........

I was in awe of the views that we could take in standing on Masada.......To see the lazy stretch of the Dead Sea disappearing southward into the rising haze and the waves of mountains that surround it....Masada, so lofty and proud with its squared skyline........Standing atop of Masada sweat beads begin to form on my forehead as the Sun beats down upon our faces.....It is winter now in Israel as the temperature climb to 85 degrees.....

O Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you?  What does the Lord your God require of  me?  Only to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul........

Oh Father how I pray for Israel......that: "they would have ears to hear, let them hear what the spirit saith....."(Matthew 11:15).

The Nation of Israel - The War of Gog and Magog (HD)

After recent events again, just the other day another earthquake this time in New Zealand; things are happening faster and faster.......I beg you at this point to take the time and ask God to check your heart.......Ask yourself "If God was to come back in the next 7 seconds are you ready?" Please don't wait!!!! Time is short......Jesus is Coming.......
(please take the time to listen to this video for 7 minutes of your time......it will explain some of what is coming and already happening.....turn our music off first and give it your full attention...)  Please spend some time in prayer today, do not let another minute pass without knowing where you STAND with God......
It is time to STAND UP........
God Bless.....

Standing out, and feeling what the world should all feel..

This is a song to go with what I am posting about.. I have discovered it from youth and from there I fell in love with it.

Hi, I'm one of the Yaweh Sister's daughter's Gracie. I am in eighth grade, and my mom has been sick with the flu and isn't able to blog...so I am blogging for her. Latley I am always in a rush and always busy with doing everything else besides having time with God. I've noticed a very big change in the world that is kind of overwhelming. People just go on and on with their lives not even worrying that God could come back in a matter of seconds and they would be left here because they didn't do what they were supposed to do. I am feeling in my heart that we should come together as the Lord's children and seek his word. Every person is unique and we all have a chance to stand out and be different. I came home from youth group last night and really thought about what my leader talked about. People are so consumed in the world....worrying about what other people say and think about you. I know I feel that way sometimes... that I'm not pretty enough or skinny enough, or just what other people want me to be. I've taken these pictures of things that stand out from what the backround of the picture looks like. Notice the backround is boring, and the one standing out is the Christian. God is going to look at what's standing out not the ones in the backround. Maybe you know a person who is a very commited Christian, always doing what they were called to do... and you ask yourself why can't that be me? Why can't I be that person to shine and stand out to others and God? Well you can, everybody can. That's what God wants. He wants you to prove yourself through your actions and words. Show that you can be different. As the lord's children we are called to a new, holy standard. Instead of anger, jealousy, greed, hatred, and other sinful things.. we should practice compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Having God's grace instead of having another person's opinnion means a lot more... For he is the one we should all look up to. God uses the weak to lead the strong...I ask that through this week you take the time to do something that you think would make God smile, and would change the outcome it might've had if you hadn't done that something. Stand out.

In 1 John 2; 15-17 it says...Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the father is not in him. For everything of what he has and does-comes not from the Father but from the world. The world has its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

This is a picture of me.. I usually take my mom's camera and I love to take pictures then think of a way to use them in her blog.

How Great Is Our God

May your weekend be full of His Grace............Enjoy

God is my keeper

God is sovereign, and God is good. Knowing this, many believers struggle to understand why painful things happen in life. They wonder, Why wouldn't the Lord stop me from experiencing such heartache?
The question deepens when we read a Bible passage like Psalm 121: 7-8  " The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever." Many people interpret this to mean that God will keep them from difficulty. But what the words say is that He promises to keep their soul.
     The Lord allows pain. Sometimes he even orchestrates it. God understands the hurt, but he also looks into the deeper meaning of the situation. Trials often strengthen our faith, make us more like Jesus, and gives us compassion for others. At times, God may even use difficulties to keep us from living mundane lives or wasting opportunities. With his help, we profit immensely more from walking through the pain than from avoiding it. Instead, he enables us to endure the hardship by giving us wisdom and strength. And when we get to the other side, we can often see-with great gratitude how his gentle and gracious hand guided us through the whole situation.
     We have tremendous hope, knowing that God will keep us through the most difficult times. Read Psalm 124, and ask the Lord to remind you of its truths when painful situations arise in your life.
In His Service:
Amy

"WELL DONE MY GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVENT"

Matthew 25:21 His lord said to him, "Well done,good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord".
Matthew 25:40 And the king will answer and say to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to Me."
Matthew 25:45 Then he will answer them, saying, "Assuredly , I say to you, inasmuch as you did NOT do it to the least of these, you did NOT do it to me."


     We are all put here on earth for a purpose, a reason for living. To build up the kingdom of heaven.  That seems like a lot to take in,  but do we actually think that God is going to trust us with big and powerful works, if we can not even do the "little things"?. I believe we are tested every day, to see where are faith lies. Are we going to trust him today? Are we going to pass this test of life? We are tested and tempted every day. Similar to what Jesus was tempted in the Wilderness. Sometimes I pray, " God please reveal to me, CLEARLY and very SIMPLE ( cause I'm not very bright, Lord) what your plan is for me. I feel it is BIG lord and I'm ready to jump in with two feet. As always, I hear the Lord say to me, BE STILL.   Which makes me sad, but also gets me out of " giving til it hurts"- with either tithes or service. So does Being Still mean to sit on my butt in front of the TV?, oh course not!!!! it means getting out there- in life- and do what I do. Right now it is being a ICU nurse and raising three WILD boys, which I love so much.
With raising children, you must lead them, guide them, teach them right from wrong. We are going to be judged one day, and I would be devastated if my actions caused my kids not to hear the Word of God and guide them into the right path. Right now, while I am being still, I can show them a Godly example. To let them see Jesus lives in my heart. To teach them right from wrong. Read the bible to them and with them. My parents have been great Godly examples for my children, and I am relieved that they are in their life. Their gifts are not material ones, but are filled with time and teachings about Jesus. That gift is priceless.
At work, while I'm being still, I can go out of my way to be friendly. To be on time to work. To pull up a chair and talk with a patient, not just the sweet and funny ones, but the grouchy, and miserable ones. To pray with someone. Robbie recently prayed the salvation prayer with one of her patients per request and I can not even imagine how pleased God was that day. I pray for God to touch each one reading this blog, that it will inspire you to, while being still, do the little things that please God. What we do for others we ultimately do for him. Jesus is coming soon. Please if you are not saved- get saved. All you have to do is believe that Jesus died on the cross for you- to save  your sins.  And that he arose from the grave in three days. And that he is seating at the right hand of his father waiting on him to say "IT IS TIME BRING MY CHILDREN HOME".
Confess your sins. That's it. The rest will come through reading the bible and praying. So start with the little things, God will open doors that will surprise you. Trust him. Obey him. Look for him to return soon.
In His Service,
Amy

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY..................................

On this valentines day; I can't help but think "God create in me a new heart!"

What is the moral and spiritual condtion of my heart? It will affect those around me...........I may fail in my own life and that is ok as long as I never falter in my desire for an ongoing relationship with Jesus............I want a faithful attitude toward God......I want a new heart created by the great physician.....a repentant heart.......forgive me Lord.......restore me....help me to resist the sin that is lurking at my back door.........

And God says to me; "My Grace is sufficient for you.............................for my power is made perfect in weakness.......

As I got up this morning and went into the kitchen this is what I found.......He always thinks of our girls..........Our youngest (Ellie,) rushes right in to open her card up from the man she admires most.....she says;( "mom did you read my card? It sounds just like me!")

Taking the time to smell the sweet things in life and remembering to be self-less.........just like God who was so self-less to send his own son.......to take upon himself the sins of the world......

I am blessed beyond words.........................

As we shared our coffee this morning after the girls had gone to school.....I thought of how many transitions and changes that have come in this lifetime.....for everyone.......We pass from one season to the next.....and ultimately, like it or not, life will eventually shift to death.................Life is a constant state of change....the girls are getting older......Our oldest will graduate from high-school in two years......We have another starting high school in the fall.....and our youngest will start middle school.......changes like it or not keep coming.......

So how do I handle these changes? Do I fall apart when faced with a new path or choice? Do I stay faithful and close to God through prayer and the study of His word?

No-one knows how much time we have on this earth......but while I am here am I laying down self? Am I showing mercy to my eniemies? What about to the ones I love the most? My family?

He has always strengthen me to the core of who I am........Love is not all about the passion......it is the heartbeat of selflessness..............Love involves the laying down of self, laying down the need to always being right.....laying down the pride.......and laying down the arrogance.........

Looking at my cup half full today........instead of half empty...........trying to honor God by being the wife he asks me to be.....asking God for the gift of humiliation today......which brings a softness of heart.......a gift that will cause me to pause and listen...........listen to God.....

wanting so badly to be forever changed;

his grace,

Robbie