Shabbat shalom,

Here is a word of scripture for today:

Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault. For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables. Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand: There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable. And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
(Mar 7:1-23)


Often this same scripture is used by believers to justify that Yahshua made all meat clean - going against the food laws written in the old covenant. However, take in context I find it quite interesting that just before Yahshua says it is not what comes into a man that defiles him, but what comes out; he makes a point saying that the people have neglected the laws written by Moshe in favor of man made traditions. I wonder... is eating unclean meat another "tradition" that we have made so we don't have to follow the laws of Yahweh? Just something to consider...

Man made traditions often come about by distorting scripture, and taking it out of context.

Blessings,

Rachael

As a child, in my house, April meant Spring cleaning, and no one cleaned more thoroughly than my mom. She had my brother and I take furniture out of each room, so she could get to the nooks and crannies of every corner in the house, and then she'd have me use my baseball bat to beat the dust and sand from the rugs she meticulously stretched over the clotheslines. Spring cleaning was a ritualistic event, and there was one thing I could count on after a week of cleaning every room in the house, and that was that the house was as clean as it could possibly be. We'd repeat this event in the Fall, and right before Christmas.

Well, it is Spring, and this month's Trail Mix is a thorough prayer of cleansing that ALL of us need to do from time-to-time, or, in my case, time-to-time often means several times a day or week, especially when I am given over to the flesh within me. Anyway's, I couldn't think of a better prayer in the entire Bible to clean us from head to toe and from everything in-between, then Psalm 51. The remorseful Psalm of King David when he finally realized his sin with Bathsheba was totally not what God would have ordered for him.

I can only challenge each of you to prayerfully read this Psalm, and where its words are applicable, to ask the Holy Spirit to apply the cleansing to your heart and soul in order to present you before God, completely repentant and remorseful for the things in your live that have been committed by way of commission or commission, or both, so that you can stand before God righteous and ready to be used in a way the glorifies the Father with all aspects of your life.

Let's pray: "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your steadfast love; according to the multitude of Your tender mercy and loving-kindness blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly [and repeatedly] from my iniquity and guilt and cleanse me and make me wholly pure from my sin! For I am conscious of my transgressions and I acknowledge them; my sin is ever before me.

Against You, You only, have I sinned and done that which is evil in Your sight, so that You are justified in Your sentence and faultless in Your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in [a state of] iniquity; my mother was sinful who conceived me [and I too am sinful]. Behold, You desire truth in the inner being; make me therefore to know wisdom in my inmost heart.

Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall [in reality] be whiter than snow.

Make me to hear joy and gladness and be satisfied; let the bones which You have broken rejoice.
Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my guilt and iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right, persevering, and steadfast spirit within me.
Cast me not away from Your presence and take not Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit.
Then will I teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted and return to You.
Deliver me from blood guiltiness and death, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness (Your rightness and Your justice).
Open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise.
For You delight not in sacrifice, or else would I give it; You find no pleasure in burnt offering. My sacrifice [the sacrifice acceptable] to God is a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart [broken down with sorrow for sin and humbly and thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise. Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

Then will You delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, justice, and right, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering; then bullocks will be offered upon Your altar."

Remember, the Path is Narrow, and Jesus told us it would have its difficulties. In 1 John 1:5-10, This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."

Spring cleaning is necessary for all of us who travel across the Narrow Path; so allow the light of the Holy Ghost to enlighten you as He searches those nooks and crannies of your heart, spirit, language, thoughts and walk [life]. If it is true that confession is good for the soul, this month's Trail Mix should put some "pep back into your step!" as it reconnects you to the Father.

Shalom,

Pastor Paul

Shalom,

Here is a word of scripture for today:

Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the YaHWeH revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of Elohim, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the YaHWeH hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the YaHWeH to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the YaHWeH shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
(Isa 53:1-12)


I pray you find the blessing in this portion of the word!

In his service,

Rachael
http://graftedintotruth.weebly.com/

Shalom,
Here is the WORD of this day:
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
(Mat 7:7-27)
Blessings,
Rachael

Shalom,
I did have a very blessed week! Thank you. :-) I hope you and your family have a blessed weekend celebration of the resurrection.

Yahshua is Risen!

Mat 18:22 Yahshua saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Mat 18:23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
Mat 18:24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
Mat 18:25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
Mat 18:26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
Mat 18:27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
Mat 18:28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
Mat 18:29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
Mat 18:30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
Mat 18:31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
Mat 18:32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
Mat 18:33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
Mat 18:34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
Mat 18:35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

Blessings,

Rachael

Thank you for the friendship.

Shalom,

I pray you and yours have a blessed week remembering our savior, and his sacrifice for you.


"Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." (1 Corinthians 5:7-8)

Blessings,

Rachael

Shabbat Shalom,


Teach me, O Yahweh, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight. Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way. Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear. Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good. Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.
(Psa 119:33-40)

http://graftedintotruth.weebly.com/

Have a restful and blessed Sabbath!

Rachael

Shalom,

My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word. I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes. Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works. My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word. Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously. I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me. I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O YHWH, put me not to shame. I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.
(Psa 119:25-32)

Blessings,

Rachael

As one of the longer tenured organizations here on Shoutlife, welcome to Shoutlife. Just a reminder, we are always looking for men or women looking to become ordained Ministers. We are the only Universal Life Church to offer real faith based ordination. Becoming a minister will add credibility to your overall ministry. Secondly we are always looking for hosts and/or entertainers for our Universal Life Church Radio Network. Currently we feature such music industry icons as Jesse Hughes from Eagles of Death Metal and Chris Tomlin as hosts on the ULC Radio Network. Find out more today: http://www.ulcnetwork.com

Shalom,

Do good to Your servant, Let me live and I guard Your word. Open my eyes, that I might see Wonders from Your Torah. I am a sojourner in the earth; Do not hide Your commands from me. My being is crushed with longing For Your right-rulings at all times. You rebuked the proud, cursed ones, Who are straying from Your commands. Remove from me reproach and scorn, For I have observed Your witnesses. Though princes sat, speaking against me, Your servant meditates on Your laws. Your witnesses also are my delight, My counselors.
(Psa 119:17-24)


Blessings,
Rachael

Shalom Lisa,

You're welcome! I'm happy to share His words out of scripture.

Blessings,
Rachael

Shalom Lisa,
You are welcome!
How would a young man cleanse his path. To guard it according to Your word? I have sought You with all my heart; Let me not stray from Your commands! I have treasured up Your word in my heart, That I might not sin against You. Blessed are You, O YHWH Teach me Your laws. With my lips I have recounted All the right-rulings of Your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Your witnesses, As over all riches. I meditate on Your orders, And regard Your ways. I delight myself in Your laws; I do not forget Your word.
(Psa 119:9-16)

Blessings,

Rachael

You're welcome! Hope you have a blessed evening!

Psa 119:1 ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.
Psa 119:2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
Psa 119:3 They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.
Psa 119:4 Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.
Psa 119:5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!
Psa 119:6 Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.
Psa 119:7 I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.
Psa 119:8 I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.

In Abba Yahweh's lawful grace,
Rachael

Shalom,

Deu 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
Deu 6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Deu 6:6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
Deu 6:7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
Deu 6:8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
Deu 6:9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

Blessings,

Rachael

This months trail mix for your journey on the Narrow Path is titled "The Pain behind my Smile...is still comforted by His hand in mine" was prayerfully and meticulously prepared His help, for you....Enjoy!

The smile on my face doesn't mean my life is perfect! It does mean that I do appreciate what I have and what Jehovah Jireh has blessed me with! (author unknown) Selah~Shalom!

I can testify that this is a fact. My life has been QUITE far from perfect; however, through His eyes and love, I appreciate the good as well as the bad moments in my life; the valleys as well as the mountaintop experiences; the joyful expressions of "Hallelujah's" intermixed with "God, where are you, I'm hurting, and only you can relieve the pain?"

It goes without saying that the path I walk has had its difficulties and moments of complete and utter despair, but also there have been those times where I was led to drink from the springs and rivers so timely placed to refresh, revive and lift me up!

There have been moments of complete respite in your arms; and because of this peace and comfort, I can most assuredly say, "I would have it no other way."

This is exactly where I want to be, in both the good and bad times, because I know that it is my Savior and Shepherd who holds me by my hands through it all!

I have no doubt, whatsoever, that Romans 8:28 (We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose - RSV) is meant for each of us as we traverse the Narrow, yet difficult Path through life that leads to heaven...Shalom!

Now, always be hopeful....and go, and sin no more!

Pastor Paul

Hi Lisa,

It got down to 5 degrees here a few weeks back, that with the windchill, but it was cold. It's warming up now.... Have a great week... Blue Skies my friend... :)