Brothers and Sisters

In a few days I turn 65. I was lonely and prayed for the right guy to spend my life with. God in his goodness gave me all I ask for and more. It's time for another blog spot.

If you aren't up to speed on what's going on in the Muslim part of the Middle East, it's horrible. In Egypt, churches are being burned, believers are being tortured and killed. Genocide of  Christians in Egypt, which has the largest Christian population and dates back to the time of the gospel writer Mark, who was the first evangelist to Egypt, Iraq which has the second largest number of believers (very close in number to Egypt), North Sudan and more places is taking place even as I write. Whatever these people's denomination and style of worship, they are our brothers and sisters, an essential part of the Savior's one body. We need to support these brothers and sisters in any way we can. First of all with our prayers, then alerting other believers and soliciting their prayers for this tragedy, and thirdly whatever else God lays on your heart. We dare not harden our hearts. For more details on this tragic genocide of horrific proportions, go to the Blaze, with Glenn Beck.

BROTHERS AND SISTERS

Our brothers and sisters,

The Christians in Egypt,

Iraq,

Sudan,

Wherever they are found,

Persecuted for their faith,

Tortured,

Killed,

Their churches burned,

Our family members,

Whatever their denomination,

Style of worship,

Unique parts of one body,

One faith,

One baptism,

One Lord and Savior,

Each part is essential,

When one part hurts,

The whole body feels pain,

Cries out for healing,

Hardening our hearts,

Ignoring their plight,

Brings continued destruction,

To all believers.

Protecting God's Heart

For several years now, I have been slowly learning Hebrew. I've mastered the alphabet which is fascinating, but little else. In the Hebrew, every letter started out as a picture (pictogram).  For example, the first letter Aleph was a picture of an ox or bull. While each letter is a number, it also has a meaning. The first letter of the alphabet is aleph which is number one and means first, strong.

The combined meaning of the individual letters give you the meaning of the word. For example, God or El contains the letters aleph which means first, strong and lamed (the twelfth letter) which means leader. Unlike other languages, Hebrew is written from right to left. Also, in the ancient or paleo Hebrew, there were no vowel markings, only consonants.

In a most fascinating book,with a chapter on each letter of the Hebrew Alphabet, the author under aleph talked about the concept of protecting God's heart. As we grow in intimate relationship with God, we progress to the level of wanting to protect God's heart. While we never stop needing and seeking his hand or face, we also desire to guard his heart. Sin has caused his totally loving heart unimaginable grief. To the point of having to send his only Son, the person dearest to his heart, to die for our sin. Oh the width, and length and depth and height of El's unfathomable love for us  which surpasses knowledge (Ephesians 3:14:21).

PROTECTING GOD'S HEART

As God's children,

Learning to trust,

Know our provider,

Our all in all,

We seek his hand.

Having fallen in love,

We desire relationship,

Long to serve God,

Cause him to smile,

We seek his face.

As intimacy deepens,

Often without words,

We feel God's heart,

His hurts and joys,

And long to protect it.