“Gentle Peace amid the New Day”

In a contented peace, grateful and faithful hearts follow a path which will undoubtedly at times present numerous challenges and tests of faith; the greatest of challenges are found among the testing of faith brought about the unfocused in faith. The faithful endanger their spiritual health amid the great sin of pride; having for too long a strong pride of their faith; often, over confidence is so that the Believer may be above petty challenges of the ego which always welcomes a great downfall. The faithful must be aware at all times to be guarded when in the company of another who gleans their vanity which may be as great as or greater than they preen their faith.

As we remain truly attentive at all times in the manner of inner filled faith, after fallen by vanity and pride, we must utilize the heavenly wisdom with which we were blessed that we may have eyes to see the the naked truths of the ministry of Yehoshua Ha’ Moshiach (The Anointed One), that through others who seemingly have found the graces of heaven to be less interesting as being overconfident in a mistaken and shallow faithfulness as they become stagnant in their spiritual growth. Easy it comes to us in the challenges of our daily lives which forego any desire for spiritual growth as we become influenced by the more casual faithful among us.

 The faithful one who is too comfortable in their confidence may easily become too comfortable in their limited spiritual growth which may lead to falling short before Yehoshua, bringing them barely a step away from blasphemy. These passive faithful remain to an extent, faithful servants to HaShem (G-d), though only when reminded or among the presence of the truly faithful. The passing faithful appear to have no desire, no interest and no sense of the urgency to continue to expand and grow within their spiritual faith. How is it possible to be merely only slightly satisfied to believe in Ha’ Moshiach and claim for ourselves the full armor, love and protection of our Creator built within ourselves as our inner light of divinity yet shines brilliantly?

In the practice of devoted faith, we reach always for the knowledge; wisdom and abundance of the yet ripening higher fruits of our Yehoshua. The low hanging and grounded fruit is ripened and juicy and rich, but only for a short while. The richness of the fruit above us remains available much longer and provides a deeper gratitude in having obtained it through the fullness of Elohim’s richness well beyond bruise or blemish.

The grounded fruit remains for those weak and pacified in their faith and as they hold no desire for the greater fruits, their blessings are clear reflections of their efforts. Common among today’s faithful who are easily pacified and quickly distracted are those who work with a burning desire in faith to understand this is not as Elohim would have it. Much of mankind has become slothful and pacified among the crumbs of glory. The glory and the richness of the precious knowledge and holy wisdom of Elohim (G-d) remains out of reach for those out of touch in spirit and with little desire propelling their faith. Yehoshua’s hand is forever extended that we may reach out for His loving promises to us and yet, in many instances, there are those of a passive faith who merely can’t see the hand of Ha’ Moshiach (The Anointed One) to grasp and cling to in the fullness of great spiritual strength and dedication which is regularly exercised faith.

Our will is the master of the sublime. The manner in which we awaken each morning determines the blessings to be found throughout that day. Know this loving faithful; an attitude of gratitude is the sure lure of blessings and grace. We are offered daily with the blessing of awakening and rising from our slumber…. given an earnest opportunity to attract or repel the multitudes of Elohei Chasdi (The G-d of my kindness) most sweet blessings and graceful mercies. Each morning, we are offered a choice, to grow beyond yesterday in the devoutness of our faith, though which we are offered a choice to engage this grace into action and tangibility; or sadly remain retarded in our spiritual growth and push to the side this heavenly sent and miraculous offered choice.

We are well served in the thoughtfulness to offer a lifting hand before our brethren as we tend to the fruitfulness of their faith, however, we must not do so at the cost of neglecting of own spiritual growth risking the ripening fullness of blessings. The nearly lost aspiration in ambition to growing wiser and richer in a fruitful faith only serves to cause a lean and barren season within the harvest of our soul. We must labor to be fruitful at all times, we must have our sowing the means of the growth in the richness of our spirit for the coming season of rebirth and promises of a richer life in Yehoshua, Ha’ Moshiach (Joshua, The Anointed One). We must have gathered during the seasons of plenty enough stores to sustain our ever-growing spirit during the sleeping and restorative seasons.

Our store of spiritual nutrition must be substantial enough to carry us through to the seasons of rebirth and renewal. If we are to ripen in grace, we must live nearer to Yehoshua, in His presence.... matured and ripened within His blessings by seasons of life which bring the rain and the sunshine of His love and enduring grace nurturing us to grow stronger in Him. We are called to live in an accountable faith and in a completely truthful relationship with Yehoshua. We, after understanding the trueness and reason of our desire, must leave the distant view of His face and again come nearer, as did Yochanan (John), and rest our head upon Yehoshua’s shoulder.

We in joy gather ourselves more intimately before His everlasting presence as we come sure footed to follow His footsteps, we will find ourselves growing exponentially in folding ourselves within His holiness in love, in faith and in hope ensuring His grace, mercy and the full abundance of every precious gift. Within the beginning of the kaleidoscope of color of the dawning day, in its first burst of glorious array of color upon the horizon as it caresses the ocean, is brought to us with a colorful reminder of Ha’ Mosiach's truest glory.

Each dawn’s effervescent start of the spiritual glow which radiates about the head of saints and of the chosen who have risen in stature, as did Saul (Paul), above his contemporaries. We find ourselves almost breathlessly awaiting the fullness of the expanse of color to be splayed across the ebb and flow of the morning shore, Yehoshua brightly shines and reflects among His people the beams of the sun of righteousness which bears the glow of His Holy radiance; an artistic painted splay across the morning sky for all to see.

In the witnessing of the ascending sun rise each morning, we comprehend beyond words that this magnificent display is to honor and glorify Elohim (G-d). To be clear, this is the unequally matched greatness of love filled joy which accompanies our great spiritual growth and comprehension our in our Rock and Redeemer, Ha’ Moshiach Himself! An unmatched peace is in the offering of each new day. Happiness IS our choice. We may embrace the wondrous mysteries of the new day before us in undistracted faith; or we can rise in the grumbling and anxieties of yesterday and choose for ourselves yet another day of anxiety, fret and suffering, more of the same repeats lacking ll gratitude. Grace only comes with the former, certainly and certainly not with the latter.

Rejoice in this new day that you may find your gentle peace,

Pastor Mark