We are to keep our worship pure.

If we don't, we encourage God's cleansing.

If we do as the pagans (golden calf) yet CALL it the Lord who brought us out of
Eqypt, we encouage this same cleansing (Israel at the gates of the promised land)

We are all smart enough to know where some of our most beloved symbols come from

We all know that all the picture codes that are being revealed corrospond to original and pure celebrations, relating the same wrath with current practices

So, how do you feel about the symbols we are using at our holiday festivals currently?

Look at your house and decide, here, how important is that Christmas tree and the little eastor basket (name of a goddess of fertility?)

If you learned that such rites and festivals were pagan, would you give them up?


Little bitty Leia, picking a great big fight

Jeremiah 10:1-5ish.... is kinda interesting.

Ah, Christmas.....

How many of you have a Christmas tree around that time?
Have you checked out the above scripture? But what if I am not "bowing dodwn" to it...what if I just like the lights and the color and the presents under it and the smiles of my children's faces and the expectation that the tree means to them?

But All Hallows Eve is the next one. How many of you are ging to hand out candy? Does you church "Trunk-or-Treat"? Don't you think that is edging just a tiny bit toward the left of center in keeping worship pure? My wonderful friend says that she "just does it for the kids....they just love the candy."

How many of you fill baskets up with candy at easter or color eggs?

Are we ALL ready to give it all up, or are there some of you who don't think it is necessary?

And not you APPYGROOVE, you know.......

Leia

I make a glutton out of myself at Thanksgiving.....

Thanksgiving is the only one that God would approve of, the way we do things. As far as I know, its roots don't go back that far. But gluttony is a sin and now you will have to decide whether you are saved or not and if you aren't you should find out where you are going....or not.

Now quiet, friend!

Leia

Ahhh Leia,
I love to see your posts. I am still new to writing. I have been reading Shekels site though for a year.

I especially like your recent post of the Holy days. Our family has been celebrating Biblical Holy Days for about 5 years now. Still trying our best to learn of His Ways. We gave up the Ole Tree years ago. No doubt in America, a hard thing to do.

You always sound so honest and caring in your posts.

I pray God keeps up all humbled before him.

Bernie
(Momma of two boys- stay at home- homeschoolers)

jakba said:




jakbk,

You are not from America? The internet is so cool.

Yes, it is difficult here. I am in Alabama and though there has been a strong influence of Germanic people with a very strong sense of faith now, historically it was the first to legalize Christmas in America. I guess they had fought as long and as hard as they could.

Do you meet at a church? Is there a conflict there? They still invite my children to hunt eggs. And at church! Green boughs are layed over the altar of some of the churches here to "kick off the season" just like the festivals. Do you have problems with family in the matter?

I would very much like to hear about the festivals you DO celebrate. Are they useful to us even after the death and resurrection (fullment)? I don't really know, so we don't do anything yet. My kids know why we don't celebrate the pagan things, but they do miss celebrating SOMETHING.

Love,

Leia

Well, perhaps I am niave... but I don't WORSHIP my Christmas tree. I don't even think about the god of fertility when I am laying out eggs. I'm playing with my children.

Jesus died on a tree- if you need to have a reason to have a tree, that is as good as any. Christmas points to "Resurrection Sunday" (I did that just for you Leia). Even as we celebrate His birth, we know His purpose was and is and will be to save man.

God looks at our MOTIVES. I don't think many Christians who have a Christmas tree make it an idol. We do it for fun. Just like we wear red and green. Just like there are fireworks on the 4th of July. It isn't that deep.

To condemn would be a bit legalistic to me- Pharasee??? Making rules just to make us "holy".

However, I do think it is a shame that we don't celebrate the Jewish feasts. No, I'm not Jewish. But as this site so boldly and correctly declares, all the Jewish traditions point to Christ.

I have not allowed my children to take part in halloween for years now. Once I started my walk with the Lord, about 13 years ago, and learned the origin of Halloween I was convicted of having any part of it.

I do agree that the christmas tree and some of the decour we use at christmas is considered pagan. But as someone else mentioned I do not think of my tree as a God to worship. I just like the smell and lights on the tree.

Easter does bother me since for the most part it is more about the easter bunny and the eggs and candy. Most children today don't even know the true meaning of easter.

Let's face it, most of our US holidays have been taken over with other meanings. Christmas is all about Santa, Easter is all about eggs and the easter bunny, holloween I find evil to the core and I find nothing to celebrate on that day. I don't see anything wrong with Thanksgiving, just family getting to gether and enjoying a meal.

jhammer,

Pharasee hurt to the bone.

This site is to get a truth, not point out wrongdoing. How can we know what is right and wrong unless our eyes are opened? How can we open our eyes if we refuse to look around us? Did you think I was being confrontational? No. Please. It is a question. I have questions and I search the scriptures for answers and had hoped that it would be possible to ask my new friends.

I do think that there are some rules to follow. We love the Lord and He loves us and He tell us to love one another. But if I do things that have always made God angery and teach my children to do the same, I think I would be amiss. It is getting to what pleases God regarding my conduct, while knowing it is from love that comes from the heart. I love Him and I want to please Him in my daily walk, therefore I feel obligated to learn what pleases Him and what He is displeased with. For that, I go to the Bible. But I have found some distrubing things and now I come to forum with questions. The are not condemnations. It is pssible that such a statement must first be made in such an areana. If that is the case and it was undone, I am very sorry.

The dangers of judgement that will be faced in Revelation in very real to me. And though all those chosen will rejoice with the Father eternally without payment by works, we will each be given in accordance to the lives we live. A gift from my Father must be very very good and pleasing Him now and doing His will is such that He wants to reward us for it later. I would like to clean all the closets of my life that is possible.

To do that, I look first at my life. Just what is in it? And search each thing. Would that be something He disliked. And I try very hard not to use my own judgement. I use scripture and how people act in scriptures and the response that came from it.

I would like to "Come out of her (Babylon) my people." I thought, He's talking to HIS people, yet they are in Babylon. What does that mean. The more I studied, the more I found it was the festivals. We have mixed the clean with the filthy and perverted pure worship.

I am trying to do His will, not human will, what is right rather than what is pleasant. I HOPE what is pleasnat is right. I look through human eyes and search the scriptures. I just thought I would get a little feed back. If it is going to cause another fuss, I can do my studying another way. He is getting me to do things that are way outside my confort zone today, and I am too tired to fight.

Leia

I didn't mean to imply that YOU were acting like a Pharasee. I'm sorry. I promise that wasn't my intention. I was just stating that too many laws and rules and wondering if we are offending God by having fun is legalistic and Pharasee like.
I do not think you are a Pharasee. I'm sorry.
In fact, I quite enjoy what you have to say and feel your posts are uplifting and edifing.
I guess that is one of the true drawbacks of writing... one loses the original tone and inflection of the author. If you could have heard me say my posts, you would've gotten the meaning.

jhammer,

You're so funny! Hey! that's what LOL means. The funny face that laughs!

I said the EXACT same thing you just did not too long ago. Intonation: I guess that why we need the smilie faces! (so that is a 'wub".....)

Anyway, I am just trying to do what is right. To clean the inside of my house like I try to do the outside. Wash the inside body like the outside....whatever.

You need to know that I am a miserable set of contradictions. I LOVE Christmas!! I enjoy the lights (I tell myself that, hey, He is the Father of Lights...) and lots of things. Then someone came to my world and brought books that outlined where it all came from and my husband and I prayed about it and he said, if it is something that God hates, we don't need it. And that was that.

So, really, what do you think? If it stems from pagan and we don't consider it pagan, you think God doesn't care?

Leia

This thread has been brought to you by:



When you care enough to send the very best!!!


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Yeah, we know its only July.... but Halloween is only 110 days away, Thanksgiving is only 130 days away, and Christmas is just around the corner!!!!

Baaaaaawhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!! Cute one Appy!

You know that is copyright infringement....there will be some severe legalities and repurcussions you will have to answer to!

When I moved from Venezuela my first words in English were, "Attention Walmart shoppers!" I was on my very fiirst early Christmas shoplifitng trip!

Whosoever and Appy AND Marta,

You are not helping.... I am really trying to figure this out.

Should we or should we not look at the way we live in relation to what God likes and dislikes though history (he is throwing tornadoes with old God's names on them, so I am thinking the old truths are still relevant to him). At least that I what I am thinking.

Thanks Lord, it is starting to rain. We really need that.

If so, there are some common things connected to old gods in regular holidays that I need to get rid of. And the whole bough over the alter and green laurals and fertility holly and ....oh just tell me what you think, PLEASE?

Leia

Well, I just watched Luther a couple of nights ago. I think that our conscience should be our guide.

If one has decorations or participates with activities with guilt, than by all means, stop. I think that would have been Paul's advice.

But, if one can do the things with a free conscience, I believe that God thinks it is okay.

Thoughts??

At your rebuke, I will get serious again....

Stop and think about our lives and our civilization....

Our very days of the week and months of the year are named after pagan gods. Do you think God is well pleased with that? I should think not. Our so called Christian festive days are steeped in paganism. We are absolutely steeped in paganism... We are so steeped we have come to believe it is ok...the accepted norm..we are ignorant of the ruses of Satan in so doing...he has us calling many things after pagan gods and goddesses and he has us believing denominationalism and in believing once saved always saved (a dogma which produces easy believerism) God's biggest word is "if" and Satans is "but."

http://www.galacticapublishing.com/archive..._pagan_days.php

http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/Psycho.../xmas/celeb.htm

>>>Little bitty Leia, picking a great big fight<<<

Not a fight but a truth seeker and well done thou good and faithful servant...you are standing on holy ground...

I AGREE 100%
I HAD AN AUNT THAT SAID IF SHE ATE BACON OR DRINK COFFEE IT WAS A SIN.
SHE SAID THE REASON WHY, SHE LOVED BACON AND COFFEE SO MUCH IT HAD BECOME ALMOST LIKE AN IDOL TO HER. SO SHE PROMISE GOD SHE WOULD NEVER TOUCH THE STUFF AGAIN. SO SHE DIDNT. SHE LOVED THE SMELLED OF COFFEE PERKING AND BACON FRYING. SHE SAID SHE COULD NOT EAT IT OR SHE WOULD SIN.
SO TO HER IT WAS A SIN BUT TO ME I CAN EAT BACON AND DRINK COFFEE ALL DAY AND NOT SIN.
IF YOU DO THE THINGS WITH A FREE CONSCIENCE.
KIM

To All,

Thanks. Who - that is the most awesome link, particularly the second one. I do not capitalise names of days or months. Have not for as long as I can remember. A small token....but the only one I know.

Problem is, Kim, I already know some of that stuff and some more. I know why they decorated the tree. I know who we started painting symbols on eggs for and I remember the bloody festival that was so important for the Roman gods they would ask only the one the intended to marry to go with them. The one where the main attraction was the horrible ways they could devise to put Christians to death and so red became the color of the "heart of Baal" (Ventines invitation of love). I can't think of any other reason to do that on that particular day....I can't think of any other reason to bring a tree in. They are pretty but.....and put lights on it and decorations (used to be gifts to the god Baal whom the tree represented). The light in the window was a candle to tell woodland spirits they could seek refuge in the cold winter at the family hearth if they would protect the home. Why else candles in the windows?

I just don't know. I think perhaps I am ignoring my own spirit on this. Perhaps this is my own coffee and bacon. I could get very angry at the one who enlightened me, I was blissful in ignorance, but we are commanded to learn and grow.....AHHHHHHHHHH!

Leia

AHHHHHHHHH! again....

I just got my answer....it may not be yours but

Oh, God is soooooooo good!

We have a site, just started I think. October Feast Days. Miche and Whosoever!

I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you!

Old festival the Spirit said no. The ones we have now, the Spirit said no. But these, the ones for bringing in the new times....Yes....yes....yes!

How funny to learn holidays when you are already grown....funny feeling.

Thank you all so very much. It is good with my soul.

Leia

THAT'S WHY WE ARE HERE. WE ARE GROWING IN CHRIST. WE ARE TRIED OF MILK AND NEED SOME MEAT.
IF YOU FILL STRONG ABOUT IT BY ALL MEANS DONT.

FOR ME, I LOVE CHRISTMAS TIME. I LOVE CAROLING AND YES WE STILL DO IT. HOT CHOCLATE. WE MAKE OUR OWN CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS. FAMILY COMING IN. THE GRAND KID GET GIFTS FOR CHRIST. WE HAVE A BIRTHDAY CAKE AND SING HAPPY BIRTHDAY. ONE OF THE BEST PARTS IS ALWAYS WHEN THE FAMILY JOIN HANDS AND THANK GOD FOR OUR FAMILY THAT HE GAVE TO US. THE OTHER ONE IS WHEN WE ALL SIT AROUND IN THE FLOOR AND READ THE BIRTH OF CHRIST. IF I FELT IT WAS WRONG, LIKE THE COFFEE AND THE BACON THAN I COULD NOT DO IT AGAIN FOR ME IT WOULD BE A SIN.
KIM
I DO UNDERSTAND WERRE YOU ARE COMING FROM.

WOW YOUR PRAYER WAS ANSWER. I AM HAPPY FOR YOU.
KIM

Hey there Leia, It is Bernie (Jakbk) I am from America. Unless that was just a joke from you.

We started celebrating the Biblical feasts and festivals because like you I spent much time praying for wisdom and truth. ON how to follow God the way he wants me to follow him. And I got my answer. It comes with great responsibility. It is most definitely the narrow road to follow God with love. He gave us love with his son. Who is our Savior. For Jew and Gentile alike. Jesus (Yeshua) was a Jew. And he followed his Fathers commandments. I really think it is a lot simpler than what anyone makes of it. We are so willing to follow anything that is easy.

But even Jesus himself said in all the Gospels, To love God is to follow his commandments. Where would those be you may ask yourself? In the Torah. The old testament. Not so old though I think. Even God Himself said to celebrate Jew and prosylite (not sure spelled right) meaning Gentile, His feasts and festivals.
There really is no room for error. I think Leia you already have your answer. Following through is a whole other story. We are not saved by how many festivals we celebrate or how correctly we do them. Or by what goes into our mouth. I follow Gods commandments out of love. And if there is question about any Holiday such as Christmas, Halloween and the like, and maybe even one pagan thing included, then I am not going there.

I am not here to judge I am just letting you know a little of why we do what we do. It has taken many years to come to this place.
I am not hear to convince anyone of my opinion. Please take it for what it is worth to you.
I am a Gentile believer in the God of Israel. Who has sent his son to save me.
I will never no for sure if I am even 100% correct. But if I say I love God, then I should follow what he tells me. He must have set it up that way to care for me.

I seek to convey the Lord's message in truth.
Love and Peace to all.
Bernie (jakbk)

Leia, I am sorry I did not answer all of your questions.

I also want to add that Jesus is the right arm of God and the Word come in flesh. Well another question, what is the Word of God before the new covenant even came along. There was the law of God given to moses. Prophets, etc. All quoted from the mouth of Jesus. He himself said he came to bring nothing new. Not to abolish the law but to fulfill the law. Constantine changed that many years later by combining pagan and biblical holy days for his benefit.

We had of course troubles with family for our changes. Not too bad. The children love the Holy feasts. They are all about God and prophecy and all include Jesus, because He has always been. Especially seen in the Passover (Pesach feast) He was our Passover lamb. Not a bone was broken. Our savior. Each feast can be matched to messianic prophecy. We do not attend Christian and non denominational churches any longer. Not our of hate or meanness. But because they celebrate things pagan. Again, that did not happen over night. It was a personal decision. I pray God will Bless us for our trying. Jesus said to sell everything and follow him. He follows his Father and his eternal commandments. God never changes. He is the Alpha and Omega. If the celebration and commandments are eternal, then what will we be doing in Heaven or for a 1000 year reign. I dont think Jesus would celebrate Christmas, Easter or Halloween. Do you? Good question anyway. WWJD comes to my mind all the time. Jesus even spoke with Moses and Abraham I think it was on the mountain and then interrupted by the apostles. Jesus said he came for Jew first then Gentile. That does not make us second either.

Anyway. The High Holy Days approach. A good website to check out is Aish.com
They have a wonderful Holiday section. Always beware though, Jewish sites do not see Jesus as Messiah. But there are Jews who are messianic believers. There will be more. Pray for your Jewish brethren.

Bernie

G-d condemned the ancient Israelis for bringing sunrise services into the temple and calling it worship of G-d. G-d condemend the decorated trees in ancient Israel. G-d condemend Saul when he offered the sacrifice on the alter instead of waiting for Samuel (Saul had good motives too)

G-d is NOT pleased with motives, He is pleased by obedience to Him (as given in scripture)

G-d has repeatedly stated that He HATES a mixture - mixing in paganism with His worship. He has stated that He is a Jealous G-d and will NOT accept worship that incorporates paganism. He punished the ancient Israelis every time they mixed paganism with temple worship.

NOWHERE does scripture state G-d is pleased with motives that goes against His word.

Read your bible straight through from Genesis through Revelation. You will see what G-d has to say about motives, obedience, and proper worship.

Sound Doctrine,

I agree with your words. With grace and dignity we teach, dear friend. With compassion and instruction and always able to prove our words with scripture.

Do you know what worries me in my walk? The one thing in the bible that tears my heart out. Not the "woes", not the stonings....it is the part where many will call out and say "Lord! Lord! Did we not prophecy in you name....." and yet the Lord will say "I never knew you." That terrifies me. It seems to me a lack of willingness to be guided.

There are so many really good people who will not understand being left behind until it is too late. I am not saying those who have holidays in their lives will or will not. I refuse to judge another's servant as if they were my own. We belong to Him and He is the only one who can judge. But if it is possible to think we are doing the right thing and still miss Him, I am driven to find any area of my life that does not conform to His will.

I pray for guidance in what needs cleaned. Not my will but His. Openminded. Whether I think it is right or not. Surely the same Spirit that Jesus sent down to us back at Penticost still lead us today. God never changes.

There are dear friends at my own church who have witches hanging in their yard at this moment. They will put Santa in their yard and the reindeer which come from the eight legged horse. It is only a lack of knowledge that fails to reveal the error. That is what allows them to do it. And there is a real desire to stay ignorant so they will not have to feel the need to give it up. But aren't we all ordered to learn and grow?

I don't like it either. Christmas was very different in my house when I was a child. What fun we had! Now, it is sober minded and thankful and real. Wouldn't it be great fun to just let loose? But that is not what He told us to do, is it?

Leia

Instead of celebrating the pagan holy days, have you considered celebrating the Jewish feast days that were ordained by G-d?

Have you considered joining or even attending a Messianic Congregation that holds to the teachings of the early church? (yes, I know some are based too much on rabbinical judaism - most are very good and obedient to the word though) You may find in a Messianic Congregation you will not have to compromise and look the other way when it comes to what you don't believe --- it's been like a breath of fresh air to me! (no, I am not Jewish - I am a Messianic gentile Believer)

Yes, it is hard. Most of my family still attends the baptist church that I grew up in and they celebrate christmass, ishtar, and keep the sunday pagancatholic sabbath. I quit going to mainstream churches a long time ago and it wasn't until sometime later I discovered Messianic Congregations - a mixture of Jewish and gentile believers which hold to the worship style of the early church (including service on Shabbat instead of the pagan sunday worship started by the catholic church)

Unlike what most "mainstream" churches claim, obeying and walking in Torah (NOT rabbinical judaism) was taught by Yeshua and in the early church. It was the talmudic / rabbinical judaism taught by the pharisees that Yeshua condemned because it was a works based religion based on man made traditions instead of an obedience to G-d. Yeshua (Jesus if you prefer) said He did not come to end the Torah but to fulfill it - as our final sin sacrifice atoning for our sins. Scripture says the Torah will be written on our hearts in the new covenant. Obeying Torah is obeying G-d and walking in faith because of love and obedience. It was the talmudi / rabbinical judaism that was condemned for being legalistic and a false faith - NOT G-d's laws. Yeshua fulfilled the sacrificial system by dying on the cross - He still expects obedience to G-d.

No, the law does not save us - and never has. It is walking in obedience because of faith and love for Yeshua. Yeshua said if we loved Him, we would keep His commands. This is what accepting Him as L-rd of our lives entails (along with accepting Him as Savior) L-rd means we follow Him and obey Him --- as sheep follow and listen to the Shepherd.

If you look at what the orthodox and ultra-orthodox Jews believe, you would see it is a very far cry from the Torah that G-d gave us. The difference is the legalistic system that Yeshua was angry about and the Apostle Paul spoke against. If you want examples, ask and I will give you some examples so you can clearly see what I am talking about.

Sound Doctrine,

Yes, I have considered it. But I am a girl, dear heart, and under my husband's control. We do as we have to do without polluting ourselves. Let's let that one go.

Leia

The Lord loves a God (good) party. That's why the Jew's have so many festivals.
When we get to the other side the man made parties will drop away and we can really start celebrating! Poor JW's. My kid's knew many in school that never got any fun...

This is my recent conclusion i just came to on christmas.
Don't get me wrong i like how much attention Jesus gets or got at Christmas time but after his death we never read about the apostle or anybody celebrating the birth of Jesus right? Furthermore isn't communion suppose to represent the comming of Jesus until his return therefore everytime we partake in communion aren't we saying yeah Jesus was born, whenever, and died for us.
Next Christmas I'll probabley still celebrate it but it a internesting thought.

Nice!....

For me, I will continue to celebrate Christmas & Easter

I have no concern for whatever pagan days of whoever used to be also on the same day I am celebrating the Lord.

When Jesus spoke to the Aramaen women, she said her people prayed in the mountains and the Jews prayed in the temple. Jesus said it is no concern because God sees what is in our hearts.

Also, recently on this site a woman posted her young daughter's dream, in which she is raptured - while hunting for Easter eggs. If you can participate in Easter AND get raptured, seems like a clean act to me!

On Christian holidays especially, and every other day as well, I celebrate the Lord, God Almighty, El-Shaddai! Hallelujah!

Halloween, however, is "Trick or Treat", give us candy or we will soap your windows, etcetera. The children dress as frightful creatures, demons, ghosts, devils, etcetera. (Cute things too, like lions and angels... but the demonic images are a primary theme.) Halloween is out! I turn my lights out.

However, I also give credit to the people who believe it is wrong and so do not participate. I think it is a great show of faith and putting God first. They believe it is wrong and so give it up.

After all, generally, and not just for holidays, if you believe it is wrong (even though God said it is OK), and do it, then it is sin.

But, we have the New Covenant. We are able to know via the Holy Spirit within us what is right action.

Just thinking about that makes me cry. I hope everyone gets that. God is in us.

Peace & Love, Robert

That would have been my daughters dream...I am pretty sure I mentioned it was funny that she dreamt that since we don't do egg hunts....

Easter
The holiday called Easter (9) has come to be known as the Christian day of observance of the resurrection of Jesus. It is considered to be the "most important holy day of the Christian Religion." The day Easter is observed is difficult to calculate. At one time I thought it was the first Sunday after Passover. I found this not to be true. Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after March 21 (10). It cannot come before March 22 or after April 25. In 1997 its arrival would be on April 27 if it followed Passover. Consequently, Easter precedes Passover by almost four weeks this year arriving on March 30th.

The name "Easter" only appears once by error in the Bible, Acts12:4 (KJV only). This is a mistranslation of the Greek word Pascha which is derived from the Hebrew Pesach. Elsewhere and in all other translations the word is rendered into English, Passover.

Easter was originally a spring festival of sexuality and fertility (11) known as Astorith or Ishtarti. The festival was called Ishtar and in modern days is known as Easter. There were also other near eastern cultures who worshipped the same goddess. The pronunciation of her name varies from culture to culture. Observance of Astorith’s festival was marked with rabbits because of their rapid and vast reproductive characteristics. Eggs (12) are also important because it is from the fertilized egg that offspring is produced.

Just as in it's ancient counterpart, Easter eggs have patterns painted in the shell using bright colors. The time of observance was early in the morning as the sun rose "from the dead" (13).

On Shrove Tuesday (14), children in Denmark and Norway trim birch branches with gay paper streamers. They "beat" adult members of the family with these "Lenten birches" until they receive "payments of hot cross buns."

Children in Finland perform this ritual on "Holy Saturday" and receive Easter eggs.

On Shrove Tuesday (14), children in Denmark and Norway trim birch branches with gay paper streamers. They "beat" adult members of the family with these "Lenten birches" until they receive "payments of hot cross buns."

If I had ever tried that with my parents, I'd have received only "hot cross parents." And maybe a return beating as well!

Robert

it is a great fight...

Signet,

I agree with what you are hinting... that many "traditional" (man's traditions) symbols are pagan symbolism integrated into the Roman Catholic Church and which failed to be filtered out when Luther and other protestants broke away.

Priscilla Sutphin posted a word on her site www.upstreamca.org in which she notes from the Lord: "Remember you are grafted into the vine of the Jews, and not the other way around."

I sat with that and am now seeking to integrate the Jewish traditions into my living. My wife is all for it. We had a Shabbat evening last week with friends over. It was festive and our prayer time was anointed. We each received a message of encouragement.

I highly recommend it. I will sit with each holiday and ask the Lord how I should integrate it into my life.

In fact... my gift is dreaming. Several years ago I received a long series of dreams about forgiveness and a word to fast. Then, I understood I should ask a young woman who came to my shop what the dreams meant... that she would understand.

When I asked this Ms. Cooperman, she explained, "Oh, this is the idea behind Rosh Hoshannah. You should ask forgiveness from everyone you have offended during the year." She explained each of the dreams. So, even non-Jews like me are called to observe these "Jewish" holy days. We are grafted into THAT vine, so we should drink that sap and observe those rules.

I also obey the ten commandments... another teaching about the OVERLOOKED gospel of the Kingdom of God.

It works like this: If you obey the laws of the Kingdom, you are a Kingdom citizen. Who is a Kingdom citizen receives the resources of the Kingdom to back his life, ministry, work, etcetera.... like Job, like Elijah, like Jesus.

This is contrary to the "Easy Gospel" in which people just do whatever their loins compel them because, they say, "We are free". I call it the fast track to Hell. Good luck with that....

Peace and Safety for the Remnant...

Robert (www.guidetojesus.com)

Leia, you are a blessing and bold, hold fast to the truth for many will be set free...

Robert,

how amazing...that was a word for me...God was speaking through you...
did you realize that? it is a direction and confirmation...

i had a dream last night...not the first but one of many in different
pictures...i am a dreamer,also...i understand what you are saying...

i was given a santa clause mug. i haven't thrown it away, yet.
i saw it in the dream last nightand i heard, "NO SANTA CLAUS".
it is exactly what is discussed here, how traditions have
crept in...and we weep for Tammuz...

i followed the feast and festivals at one time...i have moved around
so much it has been difficult to connect...i have fallen away from that
which my heart and spirit loves so much...

the home church which i love, teaches on the prophetic and ties in
Hebraics, however they dont observe the Jewishness of the faith...
i am not speaking condemnation...we are lead and convicted according
to the Lord...however, i need to make teshuvah...repentence.

i just realized reading you response ...you certainly read between the lines...
and touched that empty place in me...please pray that God would lead
me to a congregation or prayer group that will be my family.

i just broke the cup...turned it over and it says China...i have been
working in an area that has a 30 feet buddha...and accidently drove into
the place looking for a street to turn around in...and saw it, last month.
prior to this...i had dreams that told me something offensive was there...
there is such an oppression...and the sounds of doors slamming shut,
(others have complained about hearing it) along with a high pitch whine
that makes it difficult to concentrate...

So, now i have seen the thing and it will fall, be removed...(there is more to this)

He showed me the idols will fall, and the idols in our hearts must fall...
and we will stand before a holy God without our trappings, naked in the garden...
O, people of God...



i am so blessed by your testimony...
signet

Signet,

WOW!

It is a mutual exchange... and I want to add quickly - This is how I see our Lord acting: in both directions. One person sends a message to a friend or stranger, and that person reciprocates.

Your email caused an amazing reaction in my spirit. My body just lit up, and especially on the right side of my face, which I have learned tells me, "this message is based on truth and will happen."

I want to tell you the dream I had last night:

As a dreamer, I believe it is important for us to share also the way in which we prayed-

I was restless last night, wanting to pray. I was distracted several times, then found the floor and my head in my hands. And, I felt a special kind of prayer: the words were mostly coming from outside my person and I began to pray for some things I have never thought to ask our Lord.

"Please show me Lord, how will I stand in the trials? How will my faith persevere?" And I began to ask things like this... which I can barely recall now, as I was quite in the spirit for the prayer.


So, I dreamed a detailed dream about a woman who went to college and worked hard and payed for all her education herself. This was in an Asian country, near a series of piers. [Wow! tingles again writing this...] I see here three people talking. One of them is a young man who decides to do the same. Then I see this young man's history.

(Note: details like this usually are not important to the message, but important to the one who will receive the message eventually, details about that person.)

The young man swims and dives in the ocean. I see him in the water and a voice explains he does research about how sound travels underwater. I see him treading water like a polo player, in-place, but with only the top of his head above water. He is listening to sounds, determining origins, I think.

Then he dives down.. down... down... without equipment.

As he descends, I become him. So, I now share his thoughts and vision, as if I am him. I forget I was ever anyone else.

I swim toward the piers by the coast. I swim and find a valuable, yet small circular item on the sea floor. (not typical beach sand here) I collect it and continue. I see a cluster of shells, like very large clams, but with curvy edges, each side mostly doving the other side. They are all cracked open slightly. I bang on the ocean floor and hear the thumping, muted by water. This causes the shells to open (which I knew) and I force the largest one open further. Inside, there are two more shells, smaller and straight edged. These open voluntarily and I see near them "treasures" inside the large shell. There are no pearls, but "pearlized" shells and stones. They are shiny like pearls, but the shells have their original colors and are amazing. I choose a few for myself and put them into a bag on my belt (left side.) I do not take all.... curious.

I turn back and retrace my course. I note a white corral mountain reaching up to the piers. It is a dead patch of corral, without plants. I don't see fish here either. At the top, I see a miniature statuette. I swim up until I recognize a Buddha statue. I tear it from it's foundation. It was attached, and so a bit of the corral tears off with it. I break it up a bit and throw it down.

I swim only a little further and see a second statuette of the same scale (about palm size). This is a different idol than Buddha, but is clothed like a Buddhist. I also tear this one off, break it and toss it down. Both of these statues were quite detailed and obviously hand produced, not casts.

I continue my swim and see a third thing: a miniature river. It seems like a river of water pouring out of a small structure ( I don't have details of this structure... but it is like a kingdom). Looking close, I see the river is comprised of detailed buildings, like 30 and 40 story city buildings. I am so amazed by the detail, I take out my camera.

Zooming in, I see even greater detail. I look in and see a tiny television. It is even working! I see a talking head on the screen. I notice another television in the sea of buildings, people and stuff flowing down the sea floor here (the slope near the beach.)

I decide to take it and grab it with two fingers. As soon as I so this, I hear two people talking off to my right, near where I had been before. I don't see them. One is a small, timid voice, saying things like, "Yes, I know." and "Oh, that is what I meant. I'm sorry. Yes, yes, yes." The other voice is admonishing the little voice. I can hear the conversation, but I only remember from this part:

"Does my accent sound Russian to you? I am not even from around here at all!" The voice is really heavy and deep, with a gravelly undertone. The little one says something and I realize they are now heading my way. I watch them talking. The heavy voice belongs to a strange, tall creature. He is proportioned like Dick Cheney and has all white skin (nude) with ugly purplish marks. The marks are even on his neck and head, like one every 12 square inches or so. The little man wears a suit and is jumping up, kind of, while following near the blotchy one's left arm. Turning his head, the white man sees me. He smiles a disturbing smile with one corner sneered upward. There is a look of plot in his eyes.

Suddenly, I find myself in the next section of piers. I am standing and there is water and not water... can't explain it. ... The white blotchy one is here and he is showing me his plans. He waves his arm and a scene of something like a city or collection of subdivisions appears. He is saying, "Look at all the things I will do. I will do all these things." He says, "People say I am like xxxxx (something I forgot) but I am like yyyyyyy (something else I forgot.)" But, I am thinking about him the exact opposite of what he is saying, so I think to myself, "Whoa. People say the devil can read our thoughts, but he can't! He has no idea what I'm thinking."

He continues on talking about his big plans, all the things he will do as I watch. Then, I am opposite him with his little scene between us on the ocean floor. He backs up to a wall, holds his arms up and becomes like a raised artwork on the wall of a tree (but without leaves or long branches). As he transforms into the mural, color runs into him from the ground. And I hear him say, "And I will make everyone worship ME!" He starts laughing.

I am looking and feeling how small I am. I think, "Wow. I am going to die right now if he asks me to worship him. I will not do it."

But he doesn't ask and comes back to me. He grabs my arm (doesn't hurt) and says close to my face (right side), "Tell them all the things I will do. And now you must go. But, I am not going to just let you walk out of here. You have to crawl! And you can't use your hands or feet, either. You got to use your knees and elbows." I am thinking... Whatever... I am just getting out of here as fast as I can go.

He waves his hand again and some nasty worms with teeth appear. they cover the ground and are 10 to 12 inches long, about one inch diameter at the middle. The ends taper to a point and these things are snapping up and down by whipping their bodies. I don't care.

I crawl through them and not one bites me. The devil, though, follows me and continues to trash talk into my ear (he is the white blotchy man again). When I get to the pier leading into the next section, he stops and, looking at the pier, says, "Oh. You went so quickly. I didn't know you could go so fast." He really looks surprised.

I swim up and climb out some strange pipe onto the street level. There is a policeman there, who seems like Japanese, wearing a police uniform with a British conotation. I call to him, but he has just received a call about a murder.

He runs to the scene. I follow him, staggering and filthy (did I crawl through the sewer???) I am wearing a diving suit. At the murder scene, there are two caucasian women and a man taking evidence. I want to talk with the younger woman, (a reporter?) I want to tell her everything I saw.

END


But the ironic thing is, I saw how weak the devil and how deluded he is. THAT is what i want to report. And, we all already know he has big plans and will make the weak people worship him.

My prayer was answered, I saw that I will not worship the devil, will flee from him, and will escape unharmed.

Only thing new is the subdivision, city thing... light brown houses, like unfinished wood. Strange.

Well at least we know how the merchants of this world are made rich by her delicacies....

All these feasts come from Rome (Babylon the great?)

If they are not of God they are of this world (Rome).

So I give to Ceasar what belongs to Ceasar and to God what belongs to God.