ARE YOU IN PAIN AND WONDERING WHY? PERHAPS THIS ARTICLE WILL HELP….

I see so many on Facebook and elsewhere asking God why bad things are happening to them – especially when it comes to health issues. Has He forsaken them? Is He angry with them? They’ve prayed until they’re blue in the face, and He just doesn’t seem to hear.

Many are being told by well-meaning friends that they are suffering because, perhaps they’re not “holy” enough; or not “praying hard enough.”

That’s ridiculous! People like that don’t know Scripture!

YES, we bring a lot of troubles upon ourselves via our lifestyles and life’s choices – and He often lets us suffer the consequences. But the bottom line is that we are in a fallen world where bad stuff happens to the good and bad alike.

YHWH heals when He wants and whom He wants to heal. He doesn't "heal on command" or allow us to suffer without good reason. No matter how hard and painful our lives are, we shouldn't expect Him to do everything we want or need, because He is not our “fairy godfather,” granting every wish. (I know some churches teach that, but that is NOT what the Bible says!)

I mean, why does He allow innocent, sinless babies to be born deformed, or with cancer or some other horrible disease? It's not that He wants it; it's that we are in a FALLEN WORLD and bad things happen here - and the ONLY thing we are guaranteed is eternal life if we are obedient and wholehearted toward Him.

YES, we can and SHOULD pray and ask for healing (and all other needs), but when it doesn't happen, it's not because He doesn't love us or is failing us in some way; it's for reasons known only to Him.

Remember the Hell he allowed Job to go through? His wife gave up and said, "Curse God and die!" (Job 2:9). In the end, because Job refused to turn his back on YHWH, he was amply rewarded.

And remember how YHWH killed Aaron's sons on the spot for offering "strange fire"? Notice that neither Aaron, Moshe, nor anyone else said ONE WORD about it! That's because they didn't dare question YHWH about HIS decision! (See Leviticus 10.) (YHWH is ELOHIM, and when He does something, we mere humans have no right to argue about it, because whatever He does is perfect and in His Will.)

And let's not forget our Messiah Yeshua, who, was well acquainted with illness and other human conditions:

Isaiah 53: 2 ...He was not well-formed or especially handsome;

we saw him, but his appearance did not attract us.

3 People despised and avoided him,

a man of pains, well acquainted with illness.

Like someone from whom people turn their faces,

he was despised; we did not value him.

4 In fact, it was our diseases he bore,

our pains from which he suffered;

yet we regarded him as punished,

stricken and afflicted by God.

5 But he was wounded because of our crimes,

crushed because of our sins;

the disciplining that makes us whole fell on him,

and by his bruises* we are healed. (CJB)

This world is merely a classroom for those who will enter eternity. Ever since Adam and Eve sinned, YHWH has never again promised us that proverbial "rose garden" - but what He HAS promised is eternal life through belief in Him and His Divine Messiah whom He sent with a special mission.

HOW WE REACT TO LIFE'S TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS REVEALS how we really feel about the echad of YHWH/Yeshua....

Often, we've brought things upon ourselves, and will end up suffering the consequences. Often, bad things "just happen" and our bodies pay the price. But at least we have the assurance that our souls don't need to pay that same price....

So, don't let anyone tell you that it's your "unbelief" or that you "didn't pray hard enough" or any of that religious psycho-babble designed to make one feel guilty. YHWH knows our hearts, and He IS with us; and He KNOWS our pain and suffering. Whether He chooses to heal us or not is no one's call but His. Let go of the "name it and claim it" nonsense. YHWH is in charge; we are not!

Our job is to simply love and obey Him, and to cling to Him, no matter what. In the meantime, we are to be a light for Him – so allow Him to use YOU as a light! The way we deal with our pain and anguish, and fears and sorrows, and every other human emotion we can possily imagine, might just be the ONLY light for those who don't know Him. Let others SEE Him through YOU!

For my more, in-depth article, please click on my link, Lord, thank You for the Storm.

Let’s take another look at that “clean” vs. “unclean” foods thing again….

YES, GOD DECLARED THAT “EVERY MOVING THING” WOULD BE FOOD FOR YOU … BUT... He was referring to "clean" animals only. Let's look at what the Bible, when read in context, reveals:

Genesis 9:3 [Speaking to Noach] "Every moving thing that lives will be food for you; just as I gave you green plants before, so now I give you everything."

Sounds like "everything" means EVERYTHING, right? Not so! See Genesis 7:2 – where YHWH tells Noach what kinds of animals to take into the Ark:

"Of every CLEAN animal you are to take seven couples, and of the animals THAT ARE NOT CLEAN, one couple".

So, Noach already KNEW which animals were clean and which were unclean! Thus, when Genesis 9:3 says "Every moving thing that lives will be food for you", it can ONLY refer to "clean" things.

Do take note of the fact that the first we hear of what humans can eat, is found in Genesis 1:29 which says, "every seed-bearing plant" and every tree with "seed-bearing fruit".

Therefore, we already have a sense that YHWH intended only certain things for us to eat, for, while telling us we can eat seed-bearing fruits and plants, it simultaneously implies that we cannot eat plants that do NOT bear seeds! This is a most important understanding.

Take note also that during the creation, YHWH gave every wild animal, bird in the air, and creature crawling on the earth "as food every kind of green plant"! So it seems that YHWH intended EVERY animal, bird and creature to eat GREEN plants!

This leads us to passages such as Mark 7:19 which many insist gives them carte blanche to eat whatever they wish. But when you really think about it, wouldn't that be accusing ELOHIM of "changing" what He originally considered to be "food"?

You see, most Greek Bible versions in Mark 7:18-20 have added the sentence, "Thus Jesus declared all foods clean" (or some form thereof). Example:

Mark 7: 18 "Are you so dull?" he asked. "Don't you see that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him 'unclean'? 19 For it doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body." (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods "clean.") (NIV)

Unfortunately, Yeshua never uttered those words! This sentence was added by “Greek mindsets” to support the idea that today we are allowed to eat anything we want!

But when we go back to the Torah (first five Books of the Bible), we see exactly what God said about “food”….

Leviticus 11:1 Adonai said to Moshe and Aharon, 2 “Tell the people of Isra’el, ‘These are the living creatures which you may eat among all the land animals: 3 any that has a separate hoof which is completely divided and chews the cud — these animals you may eat. 4-6 But you are not to eat those that only chew the cud or only have a separate hoof. For example, the camel, the coney and the hare are unclean for you, because they chew the cud but don’t have a separate hoof; 7 while the pig is unclean for you, because, although it has a separate and completely divided hoof, it doesn’t chew the cud. 8 You are not to eat meat from these or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you. (CJB)

Be sure to note that YHWH explained which of the birds and fish are considered "clean and unclean", and WHY....Take a really close look at these verses and ask yourself: "What is it about these animals which differentiates them?"

Do you see it? Clean edible animals only eat grasses! They are distinguished by a completely split hoof and chewing the cud! All others eat meat (or junk - the pig for example)! Same goes for carnivorous birds and sea life designed to clean the ocean or river floors. We aren't supposed to eat them, because they eat "unclean" things.

YHWH was clear from the beginning about what we could and couldn't eat. Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 provide a list of animals that are not to be eaten as food; and included in this list of "unclean" foods are some of man's favorites: pork, shrimp, lobster, crab, catfish, squid, rabbit, squirrel, etc. - things that were meant to be the "garbage disposals" of the world!

Isn't this exciting to know? EVERYTHING we need to know is IN the Bible! Halleluyah! The proof is in the context. We even see "unclean" things mentioned in Revelation:

Revelation 18: 1. After these things, I saw another Messenger come down from heaven; and he had great authority and the earth was illuminated by his glory. 2. And he cried with a strong voice, saying: Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great: and has become a cavern of demons, and the home of every unclean spirit, and the home of every unclean and hateful bird and the home of every unclean and hateful beast of prey. (AENT)

Did you know: Our reactions to the various life struggles, reveal how we really feel about God?

We've all had life lessons that ultimately revealed YHWH is always with us, even when we couldn't "feel" Him - and we wondered at the time where the heck He was, because things weren't going "our way" or changing fast enough to suit us.

It usually isn't until we are able to look back on a given situation, to see with crystal clarity that He WAS there all along, and He DID teach, protect and avenge us, ALLOWING "bad things" to happen so that we could have a chance to learn from them.

The main thing believers are to learn from "bad times" is that (1) we cannot truly recognize how blessed we are unless we've endured some struggles; (2) we got closer to God BECAUSE of those struggles; and (3) we can do NOTHING without Him. (John 15:4-5; 5:19; see more listed at the end of this article.)

Most importantly, our reactions to the various life struggles reveal how we really feel about God! (Do we immediately give in to our "fight or flight" defense mechanisms, or is our first impulse to go into a prayer mode, asking HIM what to do, and to lead and guide us - being WILLING to accept the courage to travel any and all "bumpy roads" ahead that will ultimately take us to the place where we NEED to be?)

When our first reaction is to "go to God" instead of trying to handle things "our way" - THAT is when we are allowed to take another step up onto the next rung of the invisible ladder that leads us ever closer to Him on our journey through life on earth.

Those who turn from, or try to fight Him, basically stay stuck in their miserable (yet perceived "safe") ruts, never realizing there's "another way." That "other way" ("letting go" and FINALLY turning their life over to God) often feels too scary. That's why myriads never learn or grow, and they will fight their way through life, blaming everyone but themselves for their troubles.

So, the lesson we need to learn is, we're all kind of like Job - going through struggles that keep reminding us that bad things CAN happen to good people; AND that the way we react to those bad times reveals how we really feel about God!

ELOHIM constantly has our best interests at heart. He WANTS us to learn and grow (which includes trials and tribulations!) ... because this earthly life is a classroom with RULES, designed to prepare HIS PEOPLE for Eternity!

If you're among those who constantly chooses to remain imprisoned in a particular rut, get into Scripture, read it from cover to cover, and learn WHO God is, who His Messiah is, and what is expected of His people.

Never forget that you're NOT alone, because He IS with you always - even when you can't "feel" Him sometimes...

Deuteronomy 31:8 But Adonai — it is he who will go ahead of you. He will be with you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you, so don’t be afraid or downhearted.” (CJB)

Philippians 4: 12 I know what it is to be in want, and I know what it is to have more than enough — in everything and in every way I have learned the secret of being full and being hungry, of having abundance and being in need. 13 I can do all things through him who gives me power. (CJB)

Matthew 4:4 But he answered, “The Tanakh says, ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of Adonai’” (CJB)

Matthew 6:33 But seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Don’t worry about tomorrow — tomorrow will worry about itself! Today has enough tsuris already! (CJB)

Challenging the Freedom From Religion Foundation, featuring the "unabashed atheist," Ron Reagan, son of the late President Reagan..

Since “they” want to get into OUR faces, let’s return the favor, shall we?

The Freedom From Religion Foundation which aired a commercial throughout January 2022 on “60 Minutes” featured the "unabashed atheist," Ron Reagan, son of the late President Reagan..

One of my many responses to atheists on my website can be found on this blog I wrote in direct response to the Freedom From Religion Foundation.

Also, approximately 10 years ago, when I was still making short teaching videos, I made this 12-minute video challenging the deceitful methods used the atheists at the Freedom from Religion Foundation. Because we sold the domain name a few years ago, I no longer have my own YouTube channel; however, my videos can still be viewed on my website.

If you’re interested, please click on this Reality Check TV link  and then, at the bottom of the screen, scroll over to video teaching Number 18, called “Challenging the Freedom from Religion Foundation.”

Pass it on!

Prejudice and discrimination hurts everyone!

PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION HURTS EVERYONE! I know that, firsthand – but I had a certain SOMEONE on my side that my “enemies” didn’t....

When I was “young and dumb” I married a guy who was young and dumb and kept getting busted down in rank. Long story short, I married him, anyway, and thought that, because I was a “Specialist E-5” I would automatically qualify for free, on-post housing.

Wrong! Back in 1971 I was in what was still being called the “Women’s Army Corps” – and women couldn’t get on-post housing. Consequently, we ended up living in a nasty little trailer park on the outskirts of Las Cruces, New Mexico, some 20 miles from White Sands Missile Range where we were both stationed.

That was my first brush with “discrimination.” I was truly devastated and left feeling “less than” because I was a woman.

Fast-forward to 1998, a couple years after God had opened my spiritual eyes, and caused me to sell all my possessions (including my house) and move to Colorado Springs, where I eventually had the good fortune to end up as the associate editor of the Colorado Springs Business Journal. I felt “on top of the world!”

When the editor announced her desire to retire, I naturally “tossed my hat in the ring” to become her replacement. After all, I was amply qualified, having been an Army school-trained journalist/newspaper editor/Public Affairs Office middle manager with 22 years of experience under my belt; as well as having worked at the Webster County Citizen newspaper as feature writer and ad designer after my retirement from the Army …

Well, long story short, instead of making me the editor’s replacement, the two owners/partners of the Colorado Springs Business Journal hired a 21-year-old, brand new college grad with NO experience. Needless to say, I was flabbergasted! I was in my mid-forties and eminently more qualified than this young person! WHY did they hire her? I could only think of two reasons: (1) she was half my age; and (2) since she was a total novice, they were able to hire her for substantially less money than me….

Regardless, I swallowed my pride and allowed them to make this young woman named Amy (with a mouth like a sailor and an ego bigger than the state of Colorado!) my new boss. That lasted all of two weeks, and – not surprisingly - one day, I found myself marching into the owners’ office (after a knock-down-drag-out with the new editor-creature who didn’t know a headline from a byline) to let them know they would have to find someone else for her to mistreat and abuse.

My heels clanked dejectedly on the pavement as I trudged tearfully out of the building, never to return. Me and my old companion, Insecurity, felt rejected, berated, embarrassed and plain ol’ depressed over the whole situation. I had done everything right in my life to be “qualified” for something – and yet, here I was, unemployed, feeling so low I could have walked under a snake’s belly with a top-hat on, and wondering what to do next.

That following Sunday, I went to church as usual, and apologized to Abba for having been whiney for the last week, and assured Him that I DID completely trust Him to guide me in the right direction.

Well, lo and behold, the following week I found myself working in a Classified Documents office in the employ of a contractor for Air Force Space Command – thanks to a man I had met at church who caused me to be hired there. It was in that office at Space Command where YHWH introduced me to a Messianic Jew who introduced me to Torah; and it was there where He ultimately caused me to meet my soul-mate, Bill … both of which I would NOT have found, had I been granted the editorship of the Business journal (Can I hear a “HALLELUYAH!”???)

Anyway, a few months later, one of my former co-workers at the Business Journal called with two pieces of delicious news that restored confidence and self-esteem.

(1) It seems there had been a reason I hadn’t been hired as editor … the two owners were planning to sell the Business Journal, and were trying to “cut corners.” Amy came at a MUCH lower price than I would have!

(2) Amy had been canned after less than six months, because she and her big mouth had single-handedly managed to lose many of the advertisers and their accounts…

All that was GREAT news for me! My faithfulness to YHWH/Yeshua had been rewarded, while “the enemy” had been thwarted! Amy got her just desserts – as did the two owners, who – at the time – had to go through the hiring process all over again for a new editor, as they still had a few months to go before the new owner was taking over the newspaper.

Anyway, I wrote all the above to illustrate the following:

Psalm 43:1 Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people, from the deceitful and unjust man deliver me! (ESV)

Isaiah 40:31 But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (ESV)

Lamentations 3:25 ADONAI is good to those waiting for him, to those who are seeking him out. 26 It is good to wait patiently for the saving help of ADONAI.. (CJB)

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in ADONAI with all your heart; do not rely on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him; then he will level your paths. (CJB)

Job 5:8-16 “As for me, I would seek God, and to God would I commit my cause, who does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number: he gives rain on the earth and sends waters on the fields; he sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety. He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success. (ESV)

Proverbs 17:15 He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to ADONAI. (CJB)

James 5: 7. But, my Brothers, be patient until the coming of Master YHWH; like the farmer who waits for the precious fruits of his ground and is patient as to them until he receives the early and the latter rain. 8. So also be you patient and build up your hearts, for the coming of our Master (Y’shua) draws near.

9. Have no quarrel one against another, my Brothers, or else you be judged: for behold, the judgment stands before the door. 10. For patience in your great sufferings, my Brothers, take hold of the example of the prophets who spoke in the name of Master YHWH. 11. For behold, we ascribe blessedness to them who have persevered. You have heard of the patience of Job; and you have seen the result which Master YHWH created for him: for Master YHWH is merciful and compassionate. (AENT)