Friend, sent and read everywhere: a spirit-filled life that carries revival!

Acts 1:8  But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

A living epistle is never meant to remain private -- it is meant to be sent. God writes His message on our lives by the Spirit so that it may be carried into every place He sends us. Revival was never designed to be confined to gatherings or buildings; it is meant to travel through people. We are witnesses not only by proclamation, but by presence. Wherever we go, our lives are being read, and the Spirit is making His appeal through us.

Yeshua (Jesus) promised power when the Holy Spirit comes, not so believers could remain hidden, but so they could be unleashed. The Spirit empowers us not only to live transformed lives, but to live visible, Spirit-filled ones. Our obedience carries authority. Our faith carries testimony. Our endurance carries hope. When the Spirit fills a life, that life becomes a moving altar—carrying the fire of God into ordinary spaces where hearts are ready to awaken.

Revival moves at the speed of obedience. God places His people strategically --- into workplaces, homes, cities, and nations -- so that His message can reach those He loves through lives He has set ablaze. A Spirit-filled believer does not need a platform; they carry one. Their presence provokes hunger, their faith stirs conviction, and their love makes room for encounter. Revival is read in everyday faithfulness long before it is celebrated publicly.

The final expression of identity is availability. When we say yes to God’s timing, placement, and assignment, our lives become open letters -- read in moments we never anticipated, by people we never planned to reach. A life fully yielded to the Spirit becomes a vessel through which revival flows.

Friend, go where the Spirit sends you and stand where He positions you. Carry the fire of God into every place you step. Live openly, faithfully, and courageously. Let your life be read without apology. You are written by the Spirit, filled with power, and sent for revival. Walk forward as a living epistle -- seen, read, and known -- until Yeshua is revealed everywhere you go and hearts awaken to the living God.

Shabbat Shalom ... have a great weekend ... and we'll see you first thing on Monday! Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George & Baht Rivka (Southern Florida)

Friend, the signature of Messiah -- love that awakens revival!

John 13:34–35 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35  By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." 

Every letter bears a signature, and the signature of a living epistle is love. Yeshua (Jesus) declared that the world would recognize His disciples not by power, knowledge, precision, or even miracles -- but by love. This was not a poetic suggestion; it was a prophetic declaration. Love is the unmistakable mark of authenticity, and it is the primary way Yeshua reveals Himself through His people.

This love is not sentimental or shallow. It is patient when misunderstood, enduring when wounded, sacrificial when costly, and courageous when it would be easier to withdraw. It loves without applause, forgives without leverage, and stays when walking away would feel justified. This kind of love cannot be manufactured -- it is the life of Yeshua expressed through surrendered hearts.

Love is also the doorway to revival. Before awakening ever fills cities, it must first fill hearts. The world is not waiting for louder voices or sharper arguments -- it is waiting to see love made visible. When the people of God walk in genuine, Christlike love, resistance weakens, hearts soften, and spiritual hunger awakens. Love disarms hostility, restores trust, and creates space for truth to be received. Revival begins when love becomes undeniable.

A life marked by love reflects the very nature of God and makes Yeshua recognizable -- not distant or abstract, but near and tangible. When love governs our actions, the gospel becomes believable. When love leads the way, heaven touches earth quietly but powerfully. This is how the early Church turned the world upside down -- not by force, but by love that could not be ignored.

Friend, let love become the signature written across your life. Love deeply where it costs you. Love boldly where fear once ruled. Love beyond comfort until the heart of Yeshua is unmistakably revealed through you. Let this love ignite revival -- first within you, then through you. May your love disarm resistance, heal wounds, awaken hunger, and open hearts to God. This is how the world will know Him. This is how revival begins. Be known by love.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George & Baht Rivka (Southern Florida)

Friend, read by the world: character that bears witness!

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

A living epistle is not read in quiet moments alone—it is read in daily life. The world encounters Yeshua (Jesus) not first through preaching, but through people. Yeshua said that our light is meant to shine before others so they may see our good works and glorify the Father. Character is the language the world understands.

Consistency gives credibility. When love remains under pressure, when forgiveness flows in offense, when truth is spoken without bitterness, Yeshua is revealed. A living epistle does not require explanation -- it demonstrates reality. The gospel gains weight when it is carried by a life that reflects its power.

The new creation does not curate holiness; they live it. Their faith shows up in ordinary spaces -- homes, workplaces, conversations, and conflicts. What others read in us should sound like good news. A transformed life becomes undeniable evidence that Yeshua is alive.

Friend, let your life preach where your words cannot. Walk in integrity, love without condition, and stand firm in truth. May your consistency silence doubt and your character magnify Yeshua. Shine without striving. Live without compromise. Let your life be read clearly, and let the world encounter God through you.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George & Baht Rivka (Southern Florida)

Friend, written upon the heart!

2 Corinthians 3:3  clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart. 

Ezekiel 36:26-27  I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27  I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. 

Before a life can be read by others, it must first be written upon by God. Paul tells us that we are letters of Yeshua (Jesus), written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. A living epistle begins in the hidden places, where the Spirit forms character long before actions are visible.

The inner life matters because whatever is written on the heart eventually flows into the world. When the Spirit writes truth within us, our responses change. Our desires align. Our reactions soften. Integrity grows where compromise once lived. The new creation is not shaped from the outside in, but from the inside out. God’s handwriting appears first in our thoughts, motives, and affections.

A heart formed by the Spirit becomes a safe place for God’s presence to dwell. It is not hurried, defensive, or divided. It is attentive, teachable, and yielded. This inner work is often unseen, but it is never insignificant. The clearest epistles are written slowly, deeply, and faithfully.

Friend, yield your inner life to the Spirit of the living God. Let Him write truth where lies once lived, peace where fear once ruled, and holiness where compromise once lingered. Do not rush the work of God within you. What He writes in secret will be read openly. Let your heart become His parchment, and your life His message.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George & Baht Rivka (Southern Florida)

Friend, you are His living epistle!

2 Corinthians 3:2–3 You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; 3  clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart. 

The ultimate response to identity in Yeshua (Jesus) is not merely belief -- it is embodiment. Identity reaches its highest expression when the life of Yeshua becomes visible through us. Paul declares that believers are living letters, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, known and read by all. The gospel was never meant to remain only on pages; it was meant to be written on lives.

A life that reveals Yeshua does not rely solely on words. It speaks through character, through consistency, through love that endures and truth that remains steady. The world may debate theology, but it cannot deny a transformed life. When identity is fully embraced and faithfully practiced, Yeshua becomes recognizable in the way we walk, speak, forgive, serve, and love.

This is the culmination of the new creation journey. Identity leads to surrender. Surrender produces transformation. Transformation shapes character. Over time, the Spirit writes His story upon our hearts so clearly that others encounter God not first through sermons, but through our presence. We become living evidence that Yeshua is alive and at work.

To be a living epistle is to live with awareness that every moment matters. Our faith is no longer private -- it is visible. Our obedience is no longer hidden -- it bears witness. We carry the aroma of Messiah into ordinary spaces, and heaven touches earth through lives yielded to Him. This is not perfection; it is faithfulness. Not performance, but presence.

A life that reveals Yeshua brings the journey full circle. We no longer ask only who we are -- we live as who we are. Identity becomes testimony. Faith becomes visible. The new creation steps fully into its calling: to make the unseen God known through a life surrendered to His Spirit.

Friend, yield yourself fully to the work of the Spirit. Let your life be written upon by God until Yeshua is unmistakably revealed through you. May your words carry truth, your actions carry love, and your presence carry His peace. Walk in such a way that heaven is made visible on earth through your obedience. You are a living epistle—seen, read, and known by all. Go now and live what you believe. Let Yeshua be revealed through you.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George & Baht Rivka (Southern Florida)

Friend, a kingdom mindset: living beyond self!

Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 

When identity is rooted in Yeshua (Jesus), our priorities begin to shift. The new creation no longer lives governed by survival, self-preservation, or personal ambition. Identity realigns vision. What once dominated our thoughts -- security, recognition, comfort -- begins to loosen its grip as eternity comes into view. A Kingdom mindset is the natural fruit of knowing who we are and whose we are.

Yeshua’s words in Matthew 6:33 cut through the noise of earthly striving: “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” This is not a call to neglect responsibility, but to reorder affection. The Kingdom is not something we add to our lives -- it becomes the lens through which we see everything else. When eternity takes first place, the temporary finds its proper position.

Living beyond self means we no longer measure life by what we gain, but by what we steward. Time, resources, influence, and opportunity are no longer viewed as personal possessions but Kingdom trusts. Identity frees us from self-centered living and draws us into God-centered purpose. We begin to ask different questions—not “What benefits me?” but “What advances the Kingdom?”

A Kingdom mindset lifts our eyes above immediate circumstances. It trains the heart to value what lasts and to release what fades. Fear loses its authority when eternity governs our thinking. Anxiety diminishes when trust deepens. We discover that when God’s Kingdom becomes our priority, His provision becomes our promise.

This way of living is not driven by pressure, but by clarity. The new creation does not chase meaning -- they live from it. Anchored in eternal truth, they walk with peace in uncertainty and purpose in every season. Their lives quietly testify that there is more than what is seen, and that heaven’s values are worth living for.

Friend, lift your eyes beyond the temporary and fix your heart on what is eternal. Let the Kingdom of God realign your priorities and reorder your desires. Lay down self-centered ambition and take hold of heaven’s purpose. Seek first the Kingdom, and trust God with the rest. Let eternity shape your decisions, guide your steps, and anchor your soul. Rise and live beyond yourself -- your life was made for more, and the Kingdom is calling you forward.

Shabbat shalom ... Have a great weekend and we'll see you bright and early Monday morning!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George & Baht Rivka (Orlando, Florida)

Friend, suffering with purpose: trials that shape us!

James 1:2-4  My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3  knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4  But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

One of the hardest truths of our walk as believers is this: suffering is not a detour from God’s purpose -- it is often the pathway through it. The new creation life does not exempt us from trials, but it does give us the resilience to endure them with hope. Our identity in Yeshua (Jesus) anchors us when circumstances shake us, reminding us that what we face does not define us and that nothing we endure is ever wasted in God’s hands.

James calls us to consider it joy when we encounter various trials, not because pain is pleasant, but because God is purposeful. Trials test our faith, and tested faith produces perseverance. Perseverance, in turn, matures us -- forming character that cannot be shaped any other way. What feels like pressure is often preparation. What feels like resistance is often refinement. God is not absent in the trial; He is actively at work within it.

There is no testimony without a test. Every story of God’s faithfulness is forged in moments where trust was required before understanding arrived. Trials expose what we believe, strip away false supports, and drive us deeper into dependence on God. They reveal whether our identity is rooted in circumstances or anchored in Yeshua. The new creation learns to endure not by denying pain, but by trusting God’s hand in the process.

Suffering with purpose reframes hardship. We no longer ask only to escape the trial; we ask to be formed through it. Hope rises not because the trial is short, but because God is faithful. Our identity in Yeshua gives us the strength to stand, the patience to wait, and the confidence to believe that what God has begun, He will bring to completion.

The believer shaped by trial emerges with depth, compassion, and unshakable faith. What once threatened to break us becomes the very thing God uses to build us. In the Kingdom, suffering is never the final word -- transformation is.

Friend, stand firm in the trial before you. Do not interpret hardship as abandonment or delay as denial. The same God who called you is shaping you, even now. Let endurance rise within you. Let hope anchor your soul. What you are walking through is producing something eternal. The test will give birth to a testimony, and the trial will yield maturity. Do not quit. Do not retreat. Trust the work of God unfolding in you. You are being strengthened, refined, and prepared -- stand, endure, and hope.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George & Baht Rivka (Orlando, Florida)

Friend, you are a carrier of Heaven's message!

2 Corinthians 5:17-20  So that if anyone is in Christ, that one is a new creature; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18  And all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19  whereas God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and putting the word of reconciliation in us. 20  Then we are ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as God exhorting through us, we beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 

As a new creation, we are not only restored -- we are commissioned. Our identity in Yeshua (Jesus) does not stop with what He has done in us; it flows outward into what He desires to do through us. When we are reconciled to God, we are not left standing still -- we are entrusted with His message of reconciliation. Heaven does not simply rescue us from sin and brokenness; it sends us back into the world carrying grace, truth, and hope to others.

Paul declares that God has reconciled us to Himself through Yeshua and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. This is not reserved for a select few; it is the calling of every believer. As ambassadors, we do not speak on our own authority -- we speak on behalf of another. Our lives, our words, and our actions represent the Kingdom to a world that is estranged from God.

An ambassador lives with awareness. They know where they are from, who they represent, and what message they carry. In the same way, the new creation lives rooted in heaven while walking on earth. We do not argue people into reconciliation -- we embody it. We carry peace into conflict, hope into despair, and truth into confusion. Our presence becomes an invitation: “Be reconciled to God.”

This calling flows directly from identity. We do not serve as ambassadors to earn approval; we serve because we are already accepted. Secure identity produces a bold witness. Reconciled hearts produce reconciling lives. The believer who knows they belong to heaven is free to speak heaven’s message without fear or compromise.

To be an ambassador is to live intentionally, aware that every encounter carries eternal weight. God makes His appeal through us. Our obedience becomes His voice. Our love becomes His reach. When we step into this calling, heaven touches earth through ordinary lives yielded to an extraordinary purpose.

Friend, rise in the authority of your calling. You have been reconciled, and now you are sent. Carry heaven’s message with boldness and humility. Let your life speak reconciliation where division reigns, peace where chaos thrives, and hope where hearts are weary. Do not shrink back or remain silent -- God is making His appeal through you. Walk as an ambassador of the Kingdom, rooted in identity, filled with courage, and empowered by the Spirit. Go forth and release the message of reconciliation, for you carry heaven wherever you stand.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George & Baht Rivka (Orlando, Florida)

Friend, compassion and justice: reflecting the nature of our Messiah!

Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does Jehovah require of you but to do justice and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God? 

The new creation life reshapes how we see people. Understanding our identity in Yeshua (Jesus) does not draw us inward; it turns our gaze outward with heaven’s perspective. When we know who we are, we begin to see others as God sees them -- not as problems to avoid, but as people to love, restore, and defend. Compassion and justice are not optional virtues; they are expressions of the very nature of Yeshua flowing through His people.

Micah declares that the Lord requires us to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. Justice without compassion becomes harsh, and compassion without justice becomes incomplete. In Yeshua, the two are perfectly joined. He touched the untouchable, defended the oppressed, confronted injustice, and extended mercy without compromising truth. To reflect His nature is to allow our hearts to be moved by what moves His.

Compassion begins with sight. It is the ability to see beyond behavior into brokenness, beyond sin into suffering, beyond offense into need. Justice follows compassion by refusing to ignore what destroys human dignity. The new creation does not turn away from pain; they carry the heart of God into it. They stand where others step back, speak where others remain silent, and act where others hesitate.

This posture flows from identity, not obligation. We do not pursue justice to prove righteousness; we walk in it because righteousness has been given to us. We do not show mercy to earn favor; we extend mercy because we have received it. When identity is secure, love becomes courageous, and justice becomes sacrificial. The believer becomes a living witness to the Kingdom where mercy triumphs and truth prevails.

To reflect the nature of Yeshua is to let heaven’s values take root in earthly relationships. It is to live with open eyes, soft hearts, and steady hands. Compassion fuels action, justice anchors it in truth, and humility keeps it aligned with God’s heart. This is the calling of the new creation—to reveal the character of God in a world longing to see Him.

Friend, let your heart be aligned with heaven’s vision. Ask the Lord to open your eyes to see people as He sees them. Let compassion rise where indifference once lived, and let justice take root where silence once ruled. Carry mercy boldly, speak truth with love, and stand firm for what reflects the heart of Yeshua. Do not shrink back from broken places -- enter them with the authority of love. Walk humbly, love deeply, and act courageously. Rise and reflect the nature of Yeshua, for the world is waiting to encounter God through you.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George & Baht Rivka (Orlando, Florida)

Friend, you've been entrusted with spiritual gifts for Kingdom impact!

1 Corinthians 12:4-7  There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5  There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6  And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 

1 Corinthians 12:31  But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way. 

Spiritual gifts are not optional extras in the Christian life -- they are divinely commanded pursuits.  Scripture does not tell us to passively wait for gifts to appear; it commands us to desire them earnestly. This desire does not arise from ambition or comparison, but from identity. When we understand who we are in Yeshua (Jesus), we begin to long for the tools necessary to carry His life into the world.

Paul teaches that there are different kinds of gifts, services, and workings, yet the same Spirit distributes them to each one individually as He wills. This means no believer is overlooked, and no gift is wasted. The Spirit intentionally places gifts within us, aligning them with our calling, purpose, and assignment. To desire spiritual gifts is not to seek status -- it is to seek usefulness in the hands of God.

God commands us to covet the gifts because they are how His power and compassion are released on the earth. Gifts are not for personal elevation; they are for Kingdom impact. They are expressions of God’s identity flowing through surrendered lives. When identity is secure, gifts are exercised freely, humbly, and boldly. When identity is weak, gifts are either suppressed through fear or misused through performance. But when identity is rooted in Yeshua, gifts become instruments of love, healing, wisdom, and truth.

Each spiritual gift is designed to impact the world for Him. They are given individually, but never intended to remain private. The Spirit entrusts gifts to believers so that heaven can touch broken places through ordinary people. Whether through words of wisdom, acts of mercy, prophetic encouragement, healing, or service, the gifts of the Spirit reveal the nearness of God and the reality of His Kingdom.

To desire spiritual gifts is to desire partnership with God’s mission. It is to say, “Lord, use my life to reveal Your heart.” The new creation does not shrink back from this calling -- they lean into it. They ask, they receive, and they steward what has been entrusted to them, knowing that obedience releases impact and faithfulness multiplies fruit.

Friend, stir your heart to desire what God has commanded you to desire. Awaken to the gifts the Spirit has placed within you, not for your glory, but for the salvation of the world. Lay aside fear, false humility, and hesitation, and step fully into your God-given assignment. Let heaven move through you with power, wisdom, and compassion. Your spiritual gifts are given to you so that God can impact the world through you. Rise now, yield boldly, and release what has been entrusted to you -- this is your calling, and this is your hour to serve in the power of the Spirit.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George & Baht Rivka (Orlando, Florida)

Friend, cultivating the fruit of the Spirit!

Galatians 5:22-23  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23  gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

The life of the Spirit is revealed not by what we claim, but by what we produce. In the Kingdom of God, fruit is not the result of human effort -- it is the evidence of divine connection. Galatians 5:22–23 describes the fruit of the Spirit not as a list of tasks to perform, but as the natural outgrowth of a life abiding in God. Fruit does not strain to grow; it appears where life flows freely.

Many believers attempt to produce fruit through discipline alone, but fruit cannot be manufactured -- it must be cultivated. It grows in the soil of intimacy, watered by surrender, and sustained through abiding. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control emerge not because we try harder, but because we stay connected to the Spirit who produces them within us.

When we abide, transformation becomes organic. Reactions soften. Desires shift. Responses mature. What once required effort now flows with grace. The fruit of the Spirit is not proof of moral strength; it is proof of spiritual life. It reveals that the Spirit is at work beneath the surface, shaping the inner person long before the change becomes visible to others.

Cultivating fruit requires attention and care. We tend the soil of our hearts by removing weeds of offense, pride, and fear. We remain attentive to the Spirit’s leading, allowing Him to prune what no longer serves His purposes. Pruning may feel uncomfortable, but it creates space for greater fruitfulness. The Spirit’s work is never to harm us, but to increase the life of Yeshua (Jesus) within us.

The new creation does not rush growth -- they trust the process. Fruit ripens in season, not overnight. As we continue to abide, the evidence becomes undeniable. The fragrance of Messiah begins to surround our lives, and the character of heaven becomes visible on earth through us.

Friend, release the burden of striving and remain in the life of the Spirit. Stop trying to produce what only abiding can grow. Tend the soil of your heart and stay connected to the Vine. Let love rise naturally, let peace settle deeply, and let joy overflow freely. Allow the Spirit to prune, nourish, and shape you until the fruit of heaven is unmistakably evident in your life. Remain in Him, abide faithfully, and trust His work—the fruit will come without striving.

Have a great weekend as you celebrate the New Year in Him! Shabbat Shalom ... we'll see you first thing on Monday!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George & Baht Rivka (Orlando, Florida)

Friend, serving from identity, not striving for it!

John 13:3-5  Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4  rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5  After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 

One of the clearest revelations of true identity is how a person serves. Service born of insecurity strives to be seen, validated, and affirmed. Service born of identity is quiet, confident, and free. The new creation does not serve to prove worth -- they serve because their worth is already settled.

John 13 gives us a holy picture of this truth. Before Yeshua (Jesus) washed the disciples’ feet, Scripture tells us something profound: He knew that the Father had given all things into His hands, that He had come from God and was returning to God. From that place of absolute security, He rose from the table, laid aside His garments, wrapped Himself in a towel, and washed their feet. His humility flowed directly from His identity. Because He knew who He was, He was free to serve without fear of being diminished.

Identity produces service. Insecurity produces performance. When identity is unclear, service becomes exhausting. We strive, compare, compete, and measure ourselves against others. We serve with tension, driven by the need to be noticed or affirmed. But when identity is secure, service becomes joyful. There is no pressure to impress, no fear of being overlooked, no anxiety about position. We serve because love compels us, not because approval demands it.

Yeshua did not lose authority by kneeling -- He revealed it. His service did not strip Him of glory; it displayed it. Kingdom service is not about rank or recognition; it is about love in action. When we serve from identity, we reflect the heart of the Father and the posture of the Son. Our actions become worship, and our obedience becomes an overflow of intimacy.

The new creation life invites us to lay down the towel of performance and take up the towel of love. To serve from identity is to know that nothing you do can make God love you more -- and nothing you fail to do can make Him love you less. From that place of rest, our hands become willing, our hearts become generous, and our service becomes a living testimony of grace.

Friend, lay down striving and rise in identity. Release the need to prove yourself and serve from the security of being loved. Let the towel of humility replace the weight of performance. Serve freely, quietly, and joyfully, knowing who you are and whose you are. As you kneel in love, heaven stands with you. As you pour yourself out, grace will fill you again. Serve from identity, not insecurity -- and let your life reveal the heart of Messiah to the world.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George & Baht Rivka (Orlando, Florida)

Friend, living a life of holiness!

Titus 2:11-14  For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12  teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,  13  looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14  who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. 

Holiness is not the rejection of grace—it is the proper response to it. Grace does not lower God’s standard; it empowers us to live according to it. When Paul exhorts believers to be holy as God is holy, he is not calling us into legalism, but into alignment. The new creation does not pursue holiness to earn God’s favor; we pursue holiness because we have already received it.

Grace awakens devotion. It stirs a desire to live set apart—not in isolation from the world, but in distinction from it. Holiness is not about external appearance alone; it is about an inward posture that shapes every outward action. It is the heart saying yes to God without reservation. It is a life consecrated to His purposes, surrendered in love, and anchored in obedience.

Living a holy life requires intentional choices. The Spirit invites us to examine what we allow to shape our desires, influence our thinking, and govern our behavior. Holiness means refusing what dulls spiritual sensitivity and embracing what deepens intimacy with God. It is the daily turning away from compromise and the daily turning toward truth. What we behold, we become—and holiness fixes our gaze on the Lord.

Holiness is not restrictive; it is freeing. It clears the clutter of the soul and sharpens spiritual discernment. When the heart is pure, the voice of God becomes clearer, and obedience becomes lighter. The believer who walks in holiness carries authority without striving and joy without guilt. A holy life reflects the nature of the One who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Friend, set yourself apart unto the Lord. Let grace awaken a holy devotion within you. Lay down every compromise, every divided affection, and every hidden agreement that resists purity. Consecrate your heart, your thoughts, and your desires to God alone. Choose what pleases Him and refuse what dims His presence. Walk boldly as one who has been called to holiness—not by pressure, but by love. Let your life burn with devotion and shine with purity, for you belong to the Holy One. Rise and walk in holiness—this is your calling, and this is your freedom.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George & Baht Rivka (Orlando, Florida)

Friend, guarding the heart: protecting the new creation life!

Proverbs 4:23  Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.

The new creation life is a precious work of God, and Scripture makes one thing clear: what God births must be guarded. Your identity in Messiah is secure, but the heart that carries it must be protected. Proverbs 4:23 commands us to guard our hearts with all diligence, for from it flow the issues of life. The heart is the wellspring of thought, desire, and direction -- and whatever gains access there will shape how we live.

Bitterness, fear, and offense are subtle intruders. They rarely announce themselves loudly; they seep in quietly through disappointment, unmet expectations, and wounded relationships. Left unchecked, they harden the heart, distort perception, and drain spiritual vitality. The enemy does not always seek to destroy identity outright—often, he seeks to contaminate it, knowing that a guarded heart sustains life while an unguarded heart slowly leaks it.

Guarding the heart is not about withdrawal or emotional numbness; it is about discernment. It is learning to filter what we allow to dwell within us. Forgiveness becomes a shield. Truth becomes a gatekeeper. Peace becomes a boundary. The Spirit alerts us when something threatens to take root that does not belong. A guarded heart remains tender toward God while firm against what opposes His work.

When the heart is protected, identity remains clear. We respond rather than react. We discern rather than assume. We walk in wisdom rather than impulse. The new creation life thrives in a heart that refuses to harbor offense, rejects fear, and uproots bitterness before it spreads. What we allow to stay in the heart eventually shapes the course of our lives.

Guarding the heart is an act of obedience and love. It honors the work Yeshua (Jesus) has done within us and preserves the freedom He secured. The believer who guards their heart walks with clarity, peace, and resilience, able to carry the presence of God without distortion.

Friend, take watch over your heart. Close every door to bitterness, fear, and offense, and open wide the gates to truth and peace. Refuse to let yesterday’s wounds contaminate today’s grace. Let forgiveness cleanse, let wisdom stand guard, and let the Spirit be your watchman. Protect the life God has placed within you, for what you guard will grow, and what you tolerate will rule. Stand firm, keep your heart pure, and walk forward in the strength of a new creation life -- clear, guarded, and free.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George & Baht Rivka (Orlando, Florida)

Friend, walking in spiritual authority!

Luke 10:19  Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 

Spiritual authority is not rooted in personality, position, or human strength—it flows directly from identity. When we know who we are in Yeshua (Jesus), we begin to understand what has been entrusted to us. Authority is not something we seize; it is something we receive. And once received, it must be exercised with courage, faith, and obedience.

Yeshua declares in Luke 10:19, “Behold, I give you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means harm you.” This authority is not symbolic -- it is real. It is grounded in the victory of the cross and released through union with Yeshua.  The enemy resists authority, not because it is weak, but because it is effective.

Walking in authority requires courage. Many believers possess authority but never walk in it because fear silences what faith must speak. Authority must be exercised. It must be spoken. It must be applied. The enemy advances where believers hesitate, but retreats where believers stand firm. Courage is the bridge between authority received and authority released.

Spiritual authority is not arrogance -- it is alignment. It flows from submission to God, not dominance over others. It is exercised in humility, anchored in obedience, and empowered by the Spirit. When we stand in our identity, heaven backs our obedience. The authority of Yeshua rests on those who walk in agreement with His will.

The new creation does not live defensively. They do not shrink back in fear or negotiate with darkness. They stand clothed in truth, rooted in identity, and confident in the power of the Spirit. Authority is not reserved for the extraordinary -- it is the inheritance of every believer who abides in Yeshua and walks in obedience.

Friend, rise and take your stand in the authority given to you in Yeshua. Shake off fear and silence every lie that tells you to retreat. You have been entrusted with heaven’s authority -- walk in it with courage and faith. Speak when the enemy whispers. Stand when the world shakes. Move forward knowing that the power of darkness has no claim where the authority of Yeshua is exercised. Lift your head, steady your heart, and step boldly into the territory God has given you. You are not powerless—you are authorized. Walk forward now, clothed in identity, backed by heaven, and fearless in love.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George & Baht Rivka (Orlando, Florida)

Friend, walking free from condemnation!

Romans 8:1-2 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

Condemnation is one of the enemy’s most effective tools against the people of God. It does not always shout; often it whispers. It speaks in the language of shame, regret, and accusation, quietly trying to pull the believer back into an identity that Yeshua (Jesus) has already buried. But the new creation life begins where condemnation ends. Freedom is not a future promise—it is a present reality for those who are in Yeshua.

Paul’s declaration in Romans 8:1–2 is not conditional or tentative. It is absolute: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Messiah Yeshua, for the law of the Spirit of life in Messiah has set you free.” Condemnation does not coexist with the cross. It has no legal authority where the blood has spoken. Shame may attempt to revisit the past, but it no longer holds jurisdiction over the redeemed.

New creation people learn to recognize the voice of condemnation and refuse it. Conviction draws us toward God; condemnation drives us away from Him. Conviction leads to repentance and restoration; condemnation leads to hiding and despair. The Spirit exposes in order to heal, while the enemy accuses in order to imprison. When we mistake condemnation for conviction, we surrender ground that was never meant to be lost.

Walking free from condemnation requires agreement with heaven. It means believing what God says over what we feel, and standing on truth when emotions rise up in protest. The mind may remember failure, but the Spirit declares freedom. The conscience may tremble, but the Word stands firm. Identity in Messiah silences the accuser and restores boldness to approach God without fear or shame.

Freedom from condemnation does not lead to careless living—it leads to confident obedience. When shame is broken, intimacy deepens. When accusation is silenced, joy returns. When the soul is no longer burdened by guilt, righteousness becomes a delight rather than a duty. The new creation does not walk bowed under yesterday’s failures; they walk upright in the victory of today’s grace.

Friend, cast off the voice of condemnation and stand in the truth of who you are in Messiah. Break agreement with shame, regret, and every accusing thought that rises against you. The cross has spoken, and its verdict is freedom. Lift your head and walk boldly into the presence of God without fear. You are not condemned—you are redeemed. You are not defined by your past—you are anchored in His righteousness. Let the Spirit of life breathe liberty into your soul and restore joy to your steps. Refuse the voice of shame, embrace the truth of grace, and walk forward as a new creation—free, forgiven, and fully alive.

Shabbat Shalom, until Monday! Enjoy the holiday season!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George & Baht Rivka (Mississippi)

Friend, the Father's delight: living from love, not for it!

Matthew 3:16-17  And Jesus, when He had been baptized, went up immediately out of the water. And lo, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting upon Him. And lo, a voice from Heaven, saying, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Before Yeshua (Jesus) healed the sick, cast out demons, preached a sermon, or endured the cross, the Father spoke words that settled His identity forever: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” These words were not spoken after achievement, but before assignment. They reveal a Kingdom order that reshapes the entire life as a believer — love precedes labor, delight precedes obedience, and identity precedes calling.

To live as a new creation is to learn how to rest in the Father’s delight. Many believers know they are saved, yet still live as though they must earn God’s approval. We strive, perform, and exhaust ourselves trying to prove what has already been declared. But the Father does not love us because of what we do; He loves us because of who we are in Yeshua. When identity is secure, striving loses its grip. When delight is received, obedience flows naturally.

The Father’s delight is not fragile. It does not fluctuate with success or failure. It is anchored in covenant, sealed in blood, and spoken over us because we are in His Son. The enemy works tirelessly to convince believers that love must be chased and approval must be earned, but heaven declares something entirely different. We do not work for love -- we work from love. We do not obey to be accepted -- we obey because we are accepted.

Living from the Father’s delight transforms us internally. Fear loses its authority. Comparison loses its power. The need for validation fades as the soul finds rest in being known and loved. From this place of security, obedience becomes joyful rather than burdensome. Faith becomes bold rather than fragile. Service becomes overflow rather than exhaustion. Resting in His delight is not passivity -- it is the most powerful position a believer can stand in.

This is the posture of the Son, and it is the inheritance of every child of God. When we live from love, we reflect the heart of the Father to the world. We become steady, grounded, and unshaken. Our lives bear witness not to striving, but to intimacy -- not to pressure, but to peace. This is the freedom of the new creation.

Friend, come out of striving and step into rest. Lay down the weight of performance and receive the truth spoken over you from heaven. You are beloved. You are pleasing to the Father -- not because of your effort, but because you are in His Son. Let His delight quiet your fears, silence your insecurities, and anchor your soul. Stop chasing what has already been given. Stand in the love that cannot be earned or lost. Live from His delight, and let obedience rise as the natural overflow of a heart at rest. This is your place. Remain here -- and be free.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George & Baht Rivka (Melbourne, Florida)

Friend, practicing the presence: abiding as a lifestyle!

John 15:4-5  Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 5  I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 

The life of the new creation is not sustained by effort, discipline, or religious activity—it is sustained by abiding. Identity in Messiah does not drive us into striving; it draws us into intimacy. When we know who we are, we are no longer desperate to perform. We are free to remain. And it is in remaining -- dwelling, abiding, staying -- that transformation quietly but powerfully takes place.

Yeshua's (Jesus') words in John 15:4–5 are not a suggestion; they are a spiritual law. “Abide in Me, and I in you.” Fruit does not come from striving branches but from connected ones. Life flows not from effort, but from union. Identity nurtures intimacy, and intimacy fuels obedience. When we abide, obedience becomes a response of love rather than a requirement of pressure. What once felt difficult becomes natural, because it flows from relationship, not resistance.

Practicing the presence of God is learning to live aware of Him in every moment. It is not confined to prayer rooms or worship gatherings; it is carried into ordinary life. It is learning to listen before reacting, to acknowledge Him in every decision, to invite His presence into every thought and conversation. Abiding turns the ordinary into holy ground. The believer who abides does not visit God—they dwell with Him.

As intimacy deepens, obedience follows. Not forced obedience, but willing obedience. Not fearful compliance, but joyful alignment. When the heart is anchored in His presence, sin loses its appeal, distractions lose their power, and the voice of the Spirit becomes unmistakably clear. The branch does not struggle to bear fruit; it simply stays connected to the vine. In the same way, the believer who abides finds that holiness grows organically, and faithfulness becomes the overflow of love.

Abiding as a lifestyle reshapes everything. It changes how we respond to pressure, how we walk through suffering, and how we carry responsibility. It teaches us to draw strength from the nearness of God rather than from our own reserves. The more we abide, the more we become aware that apart from Him we can do nothing—but in Him, everything He intends flows freely through us.

Friend, slow your soul and settle into His presence. Release the need to strive and choose to remain. Abide until His nearness becomes your atmosphere and His voice becomes your anchor. Let intimacy silence distraction, and let connection replace effort. Stay in the Vine until life flows freely through you and fruit becomes inevitable. This is your invitation—dwell, remain, abide. Practice His presence until obedience becomes joy and your life becomes living proof of union with Yeshua. Do not rush ahead—stay close, and let His life carry you.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George & Baht Rivka (Jacksonsville, Florida)

Friend, renewing the mind: thinking heaven's thoughts!

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, 5  pulling down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought into the obedience of Christ; 

The life of the new creation is lived from the inside out, and the primary battleground is the mind. Salvation transforms the spirit in a moment, but transformation of the mind is a daily work of the Spirit. The new creation cannot be sustained with old thought patterns. If identity is to be lived out fully, the mind must be renewed to agree with heaven rather than echo the world.

Paul declares in 2 Corinthians 10:4–5 that the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to demolish strongholds, to cast down imaginations, and to take every thought captive to the obedience of Yeshua (Jesus). This tells us something vital: not every thought we have belongs to us, and not every thought deserves permission to remain. Thoughts shape beliefs, beliefs shape actions, and actions shape lives. Left unchallenged, the mind becomes a stronghold; surrendered to the Spirit, it becomes a sanctuary.

Renewing the mind is not positive thinking—it is truth thinking. It is learning to recognize which thoughts are formed by fear, pride, offense, shame, or past wounds, and refusing them access to our inner life. It is replacing lies with truth, reactions with revelation, and assumptions with obedience. The Spirit does not merely comfort the mind; He reorders it. He trains us to think according to the Word, to respond according to truth, and to see according to heaven’s perspective.

When the mind is renewed, captivity breaks. Old narratives lose their authority. The voices of accusation, insecurity, and compromise grow quieter as the voice of the Spirit grows stronger. We stop living from old agreements and begin living from our new identity. The renewed mind becomes the gateway through which peace flows, discernment sharpens, and obedience becomes joyful rather than burdensome.

To think heaven’s thoughts is to align our inner world with God’s reality. It is to let the Word of God govern our emotions, guide our decisions, and shape our expectations. This is not a one-time act but a lifelong discipline—a holy resistance against anything that exalts itself above the knowledge of God. The renewed mind becomes the lens through which the new creation sees, interprets, and engages the world.

Friend, take authority over your mind. Tear down every stronghold built on lies, fear, and old agreements. Refuse every thought that exalts itself above the truth of who God says you are. Bring your mind into submission to Messiah and let the Spirit rewire your thinking with heaven’s truth. Let peace replace chaos, truth silence deception, and obedience overtake impulse. This is your hour to think differently, live differently, and walk boldly as a new creation. Align your thoughts with heaven, and watch your life follow. Renew your mind—and step fully into freedom.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George & Baht Rivka (Mississippi)

Friend, the remnant and the flame!

Revelation 12:11  And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. 

Chanukah reveals a pattern written into the heart of God: He preserves His purposes through a remnant. When the Temple was defiled and the nation fractured, deliverance did not come through the many, the powerful, or the celebrated, but through a small company of faithful men who refused to bow.

While each year the legend of the miracle of the oil is remembered, the deeper testimony of Chanukah is the unwavering obedience of the Maccabees themselves. Outnumbered and outmatched, they stood against overwhelming odds, and what should have been extinguished endured—not because circumstances shifted, but because God was with those who would not surrender their allegiance.

Scripture consistently reveals this way of God. When Elijah believed he stood alone, the Lord declared that seven thousand had not bowed the knee to Baal—hidden, faithful, unrecognized by the world, yet fully known by heaven. In the same way, the Maccabean remnant was unimpressive by worldly standards, yet immovable in devotion. God has never required large numbers to fulfill eternal purposes—only consecrated hearts.

Yeshua (Jesus) carried this truth forward when He warned that the end of the age would be marked by endurance. He spoke of delay, pressure, and love growing cold, declaring that only those who endure to the end will stand. In the parable of the virgins, the Bridegroom tarried, and only those who had prepared endured the night. The difference was not visibility or zeal, but perseverance—faith guarded over time.

The remnant is defined not by size, but by loyalty. Their light is sustained not by hype or momentum, but by obedience in obscurity. Revelation declares that they overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, loving not their lives even unto death. This is faithfulness when deliverance is delayed and the night stretches long.

Friend, Chanukah speaks directly to this hour. The flame does not need to be loud—it must be alive. You were never called to be many, only faithful. The victory of Chanukah was won not by strength or strategy, but by consecration. A handful stood firm, and heaven answered. The same God who strengthened the Maccabees still sustains His people today. Stand your ground. Keep your allegiance pure. Hold your faith unshaken. The King is returning, and He is coming for those who remain faithful when the odds are against them.

Shabbat shalom, until Monday! Have a great weekend in the Lord!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George & Baht Rivka (Mississippi)

Friend, the war for worship: when light confronts idols!

Daniel 11:32  He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action. 

Revelation 13:6-8  And it opened its mouth in blasphemy toward God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, and those dwelling in Heaven. 7  And it was given to it to war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given to it over every tribe and tongue and nation. 8  And all dwelling on the earth will worship it, those whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain, from the foundation of the world. 

Chanukah reveals a truth that echoes across every generation: the greatest battles are never merely between light and darkness, but between true worship and counterfeit allegiance. Darkness is not the root -- it is the fruit. At the core of every spiritual conflict is a contest over who or what will be worshiped.

The spirit behind Antiochus Epiphanes was not simply political tyranny or cultural domination—it was enforced worship. His goal was not just to control territory, but to seize the holy place, replace the altar, and enthrone false gods where the presence of the Holy One belonged. By outlawing Torah, desecrating the Temple, and compelling obedience to Greek idol worship, Antiochus revealed the ancient strategy of darkness: remove covenant, redefine truth, and demand allegiance.

This same spirit reappeared in Roman emperor worship, where loyalty to Caesar was framed as civic duty and refusal was labeled treason. And Scripture makes clear that it will rise again in the last days, when systems of power will not merely oppose God -- but demand worship in His place. Revelation declares that all the earth will be pressed to bow, not by persuasion alone, but by survival itself.

Idolatry rarely announces itself as rebellion. More often, it disguises itself as culture, convenience, progress, and compliance. It speaks the language of peace and unity while quietly shifting allegiance away from God. Worship, in the biblical sense, is not primarily music or ritual—it is loyalty. It is obedience. It is who sits on the throne of the heart when obedience becomes costly.

This is why God allows pressure. Testing does not create devotion -- it reveals it. When faith is challenged, when obedience costs comfort or reputation, the true object of worship is exposed. Daniel declares that "the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action." History turns on this dividing line. Those who know God do not merely endure -- they resist, they refuse, and they remain faithful.

Chanukah stands as a prophetic witness that light confronts idols not by negotiation, but by consecration. The Maccabees did not debate the idols -- they tore them down. They did not blend worship -- they restored it. Their stand reminds us that worship cannot be shared, diluted, or postponed without consequence.

Friend, on the last days, worship will not be optional -- it will be demanded. Allegiance will be tested, and neutrality will disappear. Chanukah prepares a people who already know whom they serve, whose loyalty has been settled before the pressure comes. When false gods rise, and the world calls for compliance, may your answer be unmovable: the altar belongs to the Lord alone. Let your life declare it. Let your obedience prove it. And let the light you carry expose every idol that dares to stand in the holy place.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George & Baht Rivka (Mississippi)

Friend, dedication and identity: you are the Temple!

1 Cor. 6:19-20  Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit in you, whom you have of God? And you are not your own, 20  for you are bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. 

The rededication of the Temple in the days of the Maccabees was more than the restoration of a building -- it was a prophetic declaration that God had not abandoned His people. Though the holy place had been defiled, heaven had not withdrawn. The cleansing of the Temple announced that the Presence of the Holy One still desired to dwell among a consecrated people. What was polluted was removed. What was holy was restored. Light returned where darkness had ruled.

In Yeshua (Jesus), this truth reaches its fullness. The apostle Paul declares that you are now the Temple of the Holy Spirit, bought with a price and inhabited by God Himself. The dwelling place of heaven is no longer confined to stone and gold -- it now resides within surrendered hearts. Chanukah, therefore, moves from history into identity. The question is no longer merely about a building in Jerusalem, but about the condition of the sanctuary within you.

Chanukah becomes personal -- and unavoidable. What altars have been allowed to stand in the holy place of your life? What compromises have quietly taken root where only the Presence of God belongs? Dedication is not a moment of emotion; it is a posture of obedience. It is the daily, intentional choice to tear down what defiles and to align every part of life with the authority of heaven. Cleansing always precedes filling.

Friend, before God fills the Temple, He cleanses it. Before light shines outward, surrender must happen inward. Chanukah calls us to rededicate the holy place within—to remove what does not belong, to guard what is sacred, and to allow the Light of Messiah to dwell fully and without rival.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George & Baht Rivka (Mississippi)

Friend, oil, light, and the hidden miracle!

Matthew 25:6-13  And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom comes! Go out to meet him. 7  Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8  And the foolish said to the wise, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps have gone out. 9  But the wise answered, saying, No, lest there be not enough for us and you. But rather go to those who sell, and buy for yourselves. 10  And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came. And they who were ready went in with him to the marriage, and the door was shut. 11  Afterwards the other virgins came also, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12  But he answered and said, Truly I say to you, I do not know you. 13  Therefore watch, for you do not know either the day or the hour in which the Son of Man comes. 

The best-known miracle of Chanukah, preserved in Jewish tradition rather than recorded in the Hebrew Scriptures, tells of a single, undefiled cruse of oil—enough for only one day—yet it burned for eight. Whether remembered as history or received as sacred legend, its message is relevant for us.  In the aftermath of desecration, when compromise had polluted nearly everything in the Temple, the issue was never abundance but holiness. Heaven did not count how much oil remained; it honored what had not been defiled. What endured was not the quantity of oil, but the purity of what was left.

Throughout Scripture, oil represents anointing, consecration, and the life of the Spirit of God. The menorah was never merely just a functional source of light—it was a living testimony that the presence of God still dwelt among His people. When the Temple was defiled, the true crisis was not darkness alone, but the threat of an extinguished presence.

It is here that Chanukah reaches forward into the words of Yeshua (Jesus) Himself. In Matthew 25, He spoke of ten virgins awaiting the Bridegroom—five wise and five foolish. All carried lamps. All had light at one time. Yet only those who carried oil in reserve were able to endure the delay. The foolish were not excluded for lacking lamps, but for neglecting oil. In the last days, Yeshua warned, lawlessness would increase, and the love of many would grow cold. The flame does not vanish in a moment—it fades slowly when oil is neglected.

God did not multiply what was diluted—He honored what was undefiled. This is the hidden miracle of Chanukah: faithfulness sustains light longer than reason says it should. What the world calls insufficient, heaven calls enough—if it remains pure and consecrated.

Zechariah’s vision declares, “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit.” Chanukah reminds us that revival does not begin with crowds, resources, or momentum—it begins with devotion. It begins with those who refuse to let their oil run dry in an age marked by delay, distraction, and compromise.

Friend, Chanukah, then, stands as a holy summons for us to examine our lamps and ensure they are filled with oil. It calls us to shine with a love the world can see, even under pressure, remaining unblemished by the world and untouched by compromise. Undeterred, resolute, and strong, we are to stand as living menorahs in dark days—bearing a light so steady and pure that all may know our lamp is not flickering, but burning brightly before God and before men.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George & Baht Rivka (Mississippi)

Friend, a light in dark times: why Chanukah matters!

Matthew 24:15 “Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand).”

As people around the world gathered last night to light the first candle of Chanukah, I want to explain that this feast is far more than a historical remembrance—it is a prophetic key. For this reason, I am stepping aside briefly from the current series to focus on Chanukah and why it must be studied, discerned, and understood for its end-time significance.

Yeshua (Jesus) did not casually reference the abomination of desolation in Matthew 24. When He warned of what would unfold in the last days, He deliberately anchored His words in history and added a sobering instruction: “whoever reads, let him understand.” He was not speaking in riddles -- He was pointing back to the desecration of the Temple under Antiochus Epiphanes, the very crisis that gave birth to Chanukah. In essence, Yeshua was declaring that the pattern for the end is revealed in the events that preceded the Feast of Dedication. If we want to understand what is coming, we must understand what has already been.

Chanukah does not arise from ease or celebration, but from violent collision. In the second century BC, the Jewish people faced an existential threat that went far beyond armies or politics. This was a direct spiritual assault aimed at the heart of covenant faith. Antiochus IV Epiphanes sought to erase Jewish identity by enforcing Greek idol worship, outlawing Torah, desecrating the Temple, and enthroning pagan gods where the Presence of the Holy One had dwelt. This was not a cultural exchange—it was enforced apostasy.

Altars to Zeus were raised in the holy place. Swine were sacrificed on God’s altar. Circumcision was criminalized. Torah obedience was punishable by death. The objective was unmistakable: to replace the worship of the living God with the worship of human reason, beauty, power, and false gods. The war was not merely over land—it was over worship. It was a battle to determine who would be exalted and who would define truth.

The name Chanukah (חֲנֻכָּה) means dedication. It speaks of the cleansing and rededication of the House of God, but even more powerfully, of a people who refused to bow their knees to idols. They chose covenant over convenience, obedience over survival, faithfulness over fear. Chanukah proclaims a timeless truth: identity is not preserved through compromise, but through consecration.

Every generation is summoned to its moment of decision. The spirits that drove Antiochus never disappear—they change their garments. Idols no longer demand incense; they demand agreement. They speak the language of culture, progress, intellect, and self-preservation, yet they still require the same offering: surrender. Chanukah rises like a prophetic alarm in the night, refusing to negotiate with darkness. It does not whisper—it issues a verdict.

Friend, will you bow to what is celebrated by the world, or will you stand consumed by the fire of God? For when pressure intensifies, and compromise feels safest, heaven searches the earth for men and women who will not bend, who will not blend, who will not betray their consecration. These are the ones who carry the light—not because the darkness is weak, but because the God who dwells within them is unyielding.  Chanukah is a reminder that those who know their God shall stand firm, refuse compromise, and take decisive action -- lighting the darkness with uncompromising faith and holy obedience.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George & Baht Rivka (Mississippi)

Friend, putting on Messiah: dressing in the new creation!

Colossians 3:12-17  Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender feelings of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering, 13  forbearing one another and forgiving yourselves, if anyone has a complaint against any. As Christ forgave you, so also you do.  14  And above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness.  15  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which you also are called in one body, and be thankful. 16  Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17  And everything, whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him. 

Once identity has been embraced, and once the old nature has been put off, Scripture calls us into the next movement of transformation: putting on Yeshua (Jesus) Himself. Identity is not merely something we believe -- it is something we wear. It becomes visible, tangible, and unmistakable as we clothe ourselves in the character of the One who redeemed us.

Paul urges us in Colossians 3:12–17 to “put on” compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, and above all, love -- which binds every other virtue together in perfect unity. These qualities are not accessories we add to our lives; they are the very garments of the new creation. They reveal who we belong to. They reveal who we are becoming. They reveal Yeshua living His life through us.

Just as clothing distinguishes identity in the natural, spiritual clothing distinguishes identity in the Kingdom. When we put on Yeshua, our responses change. Our reflexes soften. Our priorities shift. Our language becomes seasoned with grace. Our hearts become moved by compassion. We begin to embody the very nature we have received. The world does not see our theology -- they see our garments. They discern Yeshua not by our declarations, but by our demonstration.

Putting on Yeshua is not passive -- it is intentional. It means choosing gentleness when we feel justified in harshness, choosing patience when we’re tempted to rush, choosing humility when pride knocks loudly at the door. It is the daily decision to let the peace of Messiah rule in our hearts and the Word of Yeshua to dwell richly within us. It is dressing ourselves with the life of the Spirit so fully that the old garments cannot cling to us anymore.

To put on Yeshua is to allow His character to shape our conduct. It is to walk through this world not as those uncertain of who we are, but as those whose identity shines through every action. It is to carry the fragrance of His presence, the tone of His mercy, the strength of His gentleness. It is to become, day by day, a visible expression of the invisible God.

Friend, it is time to clothe yourself with Yeshua. Cast aside every garment that belongs to the old life and wrap yourself in the virtues of the new. Put on compassion until your heart beats with His. Put on humility until pride finds no resting place. Put on love until it becomes the language of your very being. Let the peace of Yeshua rule you, let the Word of Yeshua fill you, and let the life of Yeshua shine through you. Rise and dress yourself in the radiance of the new creation, for the world is waiting to see Him in you. Do not delay -- put on Yeshua, and walk in the beauty of the One whose image you bear.

Shabbat Shalom ... have a great weekend and we'll see you the first thing on Monday morning!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George & Baht Rivka (Mississippi)