Gevurah of Netzach - Discipline of Endurance

I do want to apologize for not posting this last night.  The reason for not posting was that my son, along with his music fraternity, was performing on campus and this momma just had to be there!  I think you know what I'm talking about.  It was a very special performance at that!  My son's girlfriend and her music sorority also performed.  Then the two groups performed together in memorial to a member of the fraternity who was tragically taken away just a little over a week ago in a traffic accident.  What a special night.

I want to take a common thought in Judaism and bring it into this lesson before going any further.  It is the same thought process we have in America, yet we say it backwards from the Jews.  They say, "One step back in order to take two steps forward," and that is my point today.  I want to take one step back for a moment in order that we may take two or more steps forward in our thinking.

I want you to stop and think about the meaning of endurance for a moment.  Endurance is ambition or energy that comes from within and will stop at nothing to achieve its goals.  The trouble with endurance is that we MUST look at it within our lives to ensure each thing we are enduring about is productive and not just for the sake of business.  I am going to throw in a myth buster for you here:  "Idle hands are the devils workshop"  IS NOT found in the Bible.  Are you devastated?  Sorry, that is just another wives' tale.  Let's talk about endurance for a moment.

Think about the things you do that you are most passionate about.  Get real about it.  I am not talking about things such as feeding the hungry or leading people to Christ.  Get outside the Bible for a moment.  We are passionate about many things - or shall we say energetic to the point of non-stop till we have achieved a goal about many things.  Let me give you some examples:  collecting, getting rid of all the dandelions in our yard, tanning, visiting all 50 states, housecleaning, bathing, shoes or clothes, eating, having a house in a certain subdivision, a designated amount of money in the bank, etc.

Make a list of ALL the things you are enduring about.  Now, out beside each of those things, make a check mark by the things that have eternal value or an X by the things that have only earthly value.  I want to pass on to you something that has stuck with me for years.  I heard a woman speak at a women's event about 20 years ago.  She was talking about her own mother and said when she was growing up her mother was obsessed with a clean house.  She related how her mother never had time for the children.  When the children were grown the mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer and while fighting for her life, told the daughter how a spotlessly clean house wasn't so important anymore.  She also related how much the mother regretted spending so much time on the house instead of with her family throughout her lifetime.

I don't want you to misunderstand what I am saying, because we must clean our houses.  There are many, many things we must do on a daily basis.  In fact many of the things I listed above in the examples of things we are passionate about are necessities, but should we be obsessive about them to the point of endurance?  This is where I want you to take a GOOD LONG assessment of your life and the things you do every day.

Now bring into play our Counting of the Omer for the day with Gevurah of Netzach or Discipline of Endurance.  Are you enduring over things that have no eternal value?  Then take those things and place boundaries on them.  Do not keep these as high energy priorities.  Do what is necessary, but don't try to rationalize them as a priority when they aren't.  Can you take them into Paradise with you, will you receive a reward for them, will they change someone else's life or are you willing to give your life for them?  If so keep on keeping on in them.  If not, then place them low on the priority list.

Do you  have NO endurance over the things that DO have eternal value?  Is there nothing you will take into Paradise with you, receive a reward for, change someone else's life with or that you are willing to give your life for?  Maybe you need to reassess your priorities.  Maybe you need to reassess your relationship with the One and Only.  Do you know Him, Yeshua and the Father, God?

This has been a little longer than I had intended it to be, but there are times we need a little explanation.  I have some reassessing to do myself.  Until tomorrow, Shalom!~~~~~~~~~~~~

A New Week in the Counting - Chesed of Netzach or Love of Endurance

We speak all the time of enduring love, but rarely hear of the love of endurance.  Strange how we can take a phrase and switch the words around to a whole new meaning isn't it?  Today is the beginning of a new week in the Counting of the Omer.  It is week four and the week of Netzach or Endurance.

What does it mean to endure?  It really just means to keep on going, no matter the cost.  Now with that in mind, what thing or things are so important to you that you will exhibit endurance for them?  Given the fact that we have just witnessed such a great tragedy connected with the Boston Marathon, endurance is something we can actually have quite a visual aspect of.  For this lesson and the rest of this week's Counting, I want to use a marathon analogy to help you better understand the lessons.

I want you to visualize the thing or things you are enduring about.  Perhaps it is getting a task done at work or home, saving money, political or social issues, family or living a life that pleases God.  Now, think about how you go about those things.  How do you accomplish your goals for these things.  Do you exhibit love in the process or do you just barrel on letting nothing get in your way?  Do you set about on your course out of love or hate?   Are you demanding of your way or does love rule your actions and words?

I want to give you this picture; there is a man by the name of Dick Hoyt.  He has a son with Cerebral Palsy.  Dick is 72 years old and his son is 51.  Dick began running in marathons and Triathlons several years ago, pushing his son in a specially engineered running chair.  He runs with his son so the son can experience the joy of being able to compete in things only people with fully functioning arms and legs can do.  As of this week they have competed in over 1100 events, this year being their 31st Boston Marathon.  There is even a bronze statue at the start of the Boston Marathon which has been placed there in honor of the two men, in their likeness.  Wow!  Love in Endurance.  A father's love enduring for his son.  26 grueling miles pushing a "wheelchair" full of his son for the sake of the son.  How many of us would even walk 6 miles without pushing anything?


How much do you endure and when you do, does it contain love?

Shalom!

Malchut of Tiferet - Maturity of Beauty

Before I finish up this week of the Counting of the Omer, let me say one thing.  Just because I write about these things does not mean I have achieved them.  I had someone to ask me today how I accomplished them and I responded, "I haven't, they take a lifetime!"  Its true.  God gives me the in-depth vision to some of the posts I write, but for the most part the writings come from the teachings of the Jews and what they have taught for centuries.  I have given them a little insight from a Christian perspective with the Holy Spirit's guidance, but it does not mean that I have yet achieved the very things of which I write.  I lay down at night convicted of things I need to work on and change as much as anyone else.  There, I just wanted you to know that fact so you would not think I was some super spiritual woman, for I am not.

Now, today's Counting is Malchut of Tiferet or Mature Beauty.  Mature Beauty is when you reach a point of being able to stand strong in who you are no matter what others say about you.  It is being confident in who you are in HASHEM and have an unshakable faith in that fact.  When others make a negative comment about you it just rolls off.  This comes from spending time with HASHEM on a daily basis, but mainly a moment by moment basis.  If He is your constant companion, you have confidence.

I have a copy of the most wonderful children's book that gives a perfect example of this.  It is called, You Are Special by Max Lucado  If you don't own a copy, please purchase one.  It is a great addition to your library.

And just so you know that I am not there yet, just this morning I was in a not so good mood. My husband was joking with me about putting on my makeup and I immediately within myself wanted to cry.  I know he was only kidding, but I went into a pity party and got angry with him.  I even did something a little bit mean to him with my blush brush!  OH!!!!  I had to apologize and also to ask forgiveness from God.  I still have a lot of work to do.  How about you?  Aren't you glad God is patient with us, girls?

Until tomorrow when we start a new subject, Shalom!~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yesod of Tiferet - Commitment to Beauty

Being beautiful takes a lot of work, doesn't it girls?  We spend thousands of dollars to get and stay beautiful!  I am joking, a little, but in reality we really do spend a lot of money on our looks alone.  And one thing is certain, if we start it, we must stay committed to keeping it that way or.......its gone!  If you ever start coloring your hair it must be done every 3 weeks or so.....for the rest of your life!!!!!!  Long lasting commitment or you pay the consequences of looking, uh shall we say, like a skunk until all the color has grown out (could take months, oh my!).

For true beauty to be the kind of beauty God wants and seeks from us takes the same kind of commitment.  As with discipline a partner is of the utmost importance, but you are just as important to the partner as well.  In fact, you are important to the beauty of others.  I want you to think about something; do others feel beautiful in your presence or do they feel ordinary, plain or downright ugly?

There are times when all it takes for someone to feel beautiful is for another to tell them how beautiful they are.  Never forget that you are God with skin on to those around you.  They can not see Him, but you they can see and He lives in you.  Even the most beautiful people in the world will feel ugly if they are told they are ugly by those around them.  I have known women who were beautiful to most people, but were continually berated by their husbands until they felt worthless and ugly.  Their self-esteem was almost nil.  I have also known women who were barely average looking, but whose husbands thought they were the most beautiful women on earth and told them so on a daily basis and those women had faces that shone like the sun!  What a difference a few words made.

So now, its the dreaded Monday.  Are you going to take advantage of it and find someone who is down, allowing God to open your eyes to see their beauty?  Will you also ask God for wisdom as you help that person see how beautiful they are?  You may be the only person who has ever seen them in that light in their entire life.  Never let your eyes rest from looking for someone who needs to see themselves as beautiful.  The reward you receive in return is WELL WORTH IT!

Shalom!

Hod of Tiferet - Humility of Beauty

Shalom!  I hope you have enjoyed this wonderful Saturday.  It has been a beautiful yet cool day here and I had to work, but tomorrow is a day of rest!  I do hope that you are going to the House of the Lord to worship, praise and learn as much about Him as you can.

As I returned home from work today, my husband and I took a walk around the outside of the house to look at the flowers and plants that were either blooming or beginning to bud.  Tulips abloom and trees beginning to leave - the beauty of HASHEM'S world!!!!  What about your beauty?  Have you begun to realize the beauty in you and what that entails?  Have you come to terms with the fact that you ARE beautiful?  Do you understand what beauty is?  If so, we need to deal with something now, before it goes too far - humility.

All of us must understand where we are in the grand scheme, but having an understanding of our beauty can be a dangerous thing unless we also have a grasp on humility.  When we believe we are beautiful we can easily begin to become haughty or prideful.  Remembering the source of your beauty is essential.  Never neglect to give HASHEM the glory for your beauty with each compliment in regard to it.

On the opposite end of the spectrum is refusing to see our beauty and downplaying that beauty when others recognize it within or without us.  When someone compliments our beauty, we should always accept that compliment.  As we accept it we do it, not as a compliment to us, but as a compliment to the One who made the beauty in us.  As we accept that compliment we should say, "Thank you for noticing my God within me".

How do you react to compliments about your beauty?  Do you downplay them, gloat or accept them with humility?  Hod of Tiferet - Humility of Beauty!  Knowing where your true beauty is from.

Shalom!  

Netzach of Tiferet - Enduring Beauty

We have come to the midpoint for this week.  It is Netzach of Tiferet or Enduring Beauty.  How we look at beauty in this world and seek to make it last, yet know that physical beauty is something which will fade with time.  Try as we might, wrinkles will come, age spots show up and hair will turn grey or fall out.  We may have them tightened, cover or color them, but eventually we either run out of money or the strength to keep up with the process.

Yesterday I talked about Beauty of Beauty; wholeness of beauty and being beautiful from the inside out.    Today I want to talk to you about what makes beauty enduring beauty.  If you take the beauty I talked about last night and bring it one step farther along you will have enduring beauty.  There are many great examples in the Torah: Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, Leah, etc.  Beauty that is enduring begins with Torah and ends with Torah.  Torah must be the fabric of your being.  It must be the air you breathe, the food you eat, the words you say, the thoughts you think, the actions of your body and the clothing you wear.

When you live a life totally given over to Torah, you live a life totally given over to God.  As you do this, everything you do will be an offering to Him which will in turn leave a lasting legacy to the generations after you.  Enduring - lasting forever, both on earth and in the world to come!  A lasting legacy.

Will you leave a legacy of beauty or ashes?  It is up to you and how it turns out can be blamed on no one, but you.  So?  Which one is it?  Until tomorrow, Shalom!

Tiferet of Tiferet - Beauty of Beauty

My parents who were my examples of Beauty of Beauty

We have arrived at day three of week three of the Counting of the Omer.  I hope that today finds you safe and free of any storm damage from last night and today's storms that have passed through the country.  Today is all about Tiferet of Tiferet or Beauty of Beauty.  As I finished the post for yesterday I began thinking about this one and could not imagine how I would approach it.  I told my husband I had no clue how to write about beauty of beauty and I would have to really think hard on this one.  We changed the subject and I made a comment about someone we both knew and how I had begun to realize how vulgar their mouth was.  He replied, "I didn't know that about them."  I said that I didn't know it either until recently, then we both went to bed.

I awoke an hour and a half later writing this post in my head as I awoke.  I know that the Lord God was giving me the words as I slept.  HASHEM is so good!!!!!  HE is AMAZING!!!!  How I love Him!!!  Beauty of Beauty is all about wholeness.  It reminds me of a quote I heard when growing up; "Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes clear through."  You see beauty can either be within or without, but beauty of beauty is complete beauty!  It is wholeness, from within and without.

Please don't get the wrong impression of beauty from my definition.  Outward beauty is not the way the world defines beauty.  It is not a size 0 waist, long flowing blonde tresses of hair, flawless skin and a 42" bust.  Beauty is a trait that captivates and draws people to the source of the beauty.  I am willing to bet that you have known people like this in your lifetime.  They aren't necessarily beauty pageant material.  They aren't ugly, just maybe average, but something about them is so wonderful you are drawn to them.  I am not talking about charisma, I am talking about true beauty.  The kind of pure, genuine, wholesome, truth and love from deep inside.  This is beauty of beauty.

Tiferet, itself is a "harmony" of Chesed (Loving kindness) and Gevurah (Discipline).  Therefore, true Beauty is a blend of Love and Discipline.  The true Love and Discipline that can only come from HASHEM.  Now, have that true Love and Discipline filling you on the inside and clothing you on the outside.......

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with feelings of compassion and with kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with one another; if anyone has a complaint against someone else, forgive him.  Indeed, just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must forgive.  

Above all these, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together perfectly;  and let the shalom which comes from the Messiah be your heart's decision-maker, for this is why you were called to be part of a single Body.  

And be thankful - let the Word of the Messiah, in all its richness, live in you, as you teach and counsel each other in all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude to God in your hearts.  That is, everything you do or say, do in the name of the Lord Yeshua, giving thanks through Him to God the Father."    Colossians 3:12-17  JNT

Do you see it?  The Beauty of Beauty produces the Fruit of the Spirit!  And there is an added bonus!  When you begin to produce the Beauty of Beauty from yourself you will be shining a beacon into the world that will draw others to the source of your beauty.......Yeshua, who will then draw all men to the Father!!!!!!  Harmony!!!!   Tiferet!!!!!  As you see the true beauty in yourself, you will begin to see the beauty in others and they will begin to see the beauty within themselves which will in turn result in them seeing the beauty in others and so on.   And before long you know what can happen?  Well, Yeshua told us what can happen......

"Therefore, go and make people from all the nations into talmidim (disciples), immersing them into the reality of the Father, the Son and the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit), and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you."  Matthew 28:19  JNT

These are two of my nieces who are a
new generation of beauty of beauty.  So
proud of them.

Paul even says of the fruit of the Spirit, "against such there is no law", so what have we got to lose?   Why aren't we seeking true beauty?


Mirror, mirror on the wall
who's the fairest of them all?
It is the one who's words and actions
reflect their Sovereign Master.
Beauty of Beauty within and without
a trait so rare, that is without a doubt.
Will you be the one, dear friend of mine
to take the challenge or be left behind?


Got your beauty cream ready?  Until tomorrow, SHALOM!~~~~~~~~~~~~