Friend, the arm that redeems!

Exodus 6:6-7  Therefore say to the children of Israel: 'I am the LORD; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. 7  I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

I’ll be doing a series on the "Arm of God," beginning with this first message — The Arm that Redeems. The Hebrew Z’roah (זְרוֹעַ) means "arm" or "strength," and in ancient Hebrew culture, the arm symbolizes active power in motion — strength applied for a purpose. In the Exodus account, God tells Moses He will redeem Israel "with an outstretched arm" (bizroa netuyah). This was not poetic metaphor; it was God’s declaration of decisive intervention. The Z’roah is the covenant-keeping arm that moves history, enforces promises, and breaks oppression. Every Pesach (Passover), during the seder — the festive meal of remembrance — the roasted lamb shank bone, the Z’roah, rests on the plate as a silent yet powerful witness to God’s mighty deliverance.

Israel was powerless under Pharaoh’s grip. The people could not free themselves, and their cries seemed swallowed by the weight of slavery. But God’s arm was not shortened; He reached into the darkness, crushed Egypt’s false gods, and led His people out. The Exodus was not won by Israel’s might but by God's own decisive action — the Z'roah moving in history.

Prophetically, the Z'roah is twofold: it brings judgment to the oppressor and salvation to the oppressed. Egypt was struck while Israel was shielded. This dual action foreshadowed the cross, where God’s judgment against sin and His mercy toward His people met in one act. The blood of the lamb on the doorposts and the outstretched arm of God are inseparable.

In Messianic fulfillment, Yeshua is the Z’roah revealed in human form. He is the arm by which God’s eternal plan was executed. On the cross, His arms were stretched wide — not in defeat, but in victory. His blood marked the doorway of our souls, and His resurrection became our Exodus from death.

Friend, for us today, redemption is not a distant memory but a present power. The same Z’roah that shattered Egypt’s grip still moves with unstoppable strength to break every chain and silence every enemy. Each Pesach, the shank bone proclaims without a voice: You are here because His arm reached for you; you live because the Lamb was slain for you. This is not mere history — it is the living story of the Arm that redeems, the blood that speaks, and the Shepherd who still carries His people toward the final rest. So stand in faith, lift your head, and walk in freedom — for His Arm still fights for you, and His embrace will never let you go.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Friend, the light, the altar, and the eternal song!

Psalms 118:27-29  The LORD is God, and he has made his light to shine upon us. Bind the festal sacrifice with cords, up to the horns of the altar! 28  You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you. 29  Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!

These closing verses of Psalm 118 begin with an unshakable proclamation: “The LORD is God.” In Hebrew, it’s emphatic -- YHVH, He is El -- the declaration that all authority, holiness, and sovereignty belong to Him alone. Yet this is not just a statement of who He is -- it’s a testimony of what He has done: “He has made His light to shine upon us.” This light is more than the glow of the sun -- it is the revelation of His presence, the warmth of His favor, and the piercing truth that chases away every shadow. His light doesn’t simply illuminate -- it transforms.

The psalmist then calls for a radical act of worship: “Bind the festal sacrifice with cords, up to the horns of the altar!” This is the language of the Temple, of worship that is both celebratory and costly. During Sukkot, this verse was read on Hoshana Rabbah, as worshipers circled the altar, praising God and crying out for salvation. The horns of the altar were the place of atonement and covenant -- the very spot where the blood of the sacrifice was applied. To bind the sacrifice was to fully dedicate it to God, with no option of taking it back.

This is no ordinary offering -- it is a festal sacrifice, brought with joy, not reluctance. In the light of God’s revelation, the only reasonable response is full surrender. It’s as if the psalmist is saying, “I will not just bring my gift to the altar -- I will bind myself to it. My worship will not be convenient -- it will be complete.” This points us directly to Yeshua, the ultimate festal sacrifice, who willingly allowed Himself to be bound and led to the cross, the final altar, so that His light could shine on all who believe.

From this place of total surrender, verses 28 and 29 overflow with thanksgiving: “You are my God, and I will give thanks to You… Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever!” The heart that has encountered God’s light and laid itself on His altar cannot help but worship. These words also carry a Shabbat rhythm -- just as Shabbat closes each week with blessings and praise, so this psalm closes with the eternal refrain of God’s goodness and enduring mercy. Shabbat reminds us that our worship flows from rest, not striving, and that our surrender is not loss, but delight.

Friend, your light has come, the altar is before you, and the cords are ready. Will you be a casual observer of His goodness, or will you bind yourself to His purposes with joy? This is the moment to go beyond convenience into consecration. Lay yourself down -- not as a reluctant offering, but as a willing one. Let the light that has shone on you ignite a life of thanksgiving. Tie your heart to the altar of His will and let your praise rise like incense. The LORD is God -- acknowledge it with your life. He is good -- declare it with your lips. His mercy endures forever -- live in it with every breath.

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

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Friend, the day of the Lord -- a cry, a king, and coming glory!

Psalms 118:24-26  This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 25  Save us, we pray, O LORD! O LORD, we pray, give us success! 26  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We bless you from the house of the LORD. 

Matthew 23:37-39  “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 38  See, your house is left to you desolate. 39  For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” 

Psalm 118:24 is not merely about enjoying a new day -- it is a prophetic declaration of a divinely appointed moment. "This is the day the LORD has made" speaks of a kairos moment in history when heaven and earth converge. It points to the day when Messiah would be revealed, salvation would walk into Jerusalem, and God’s covenant plan would take a dramatic step forward. This is not the casual celebration of a sunrise -- it is the joyful response to God's redemptive unfolding.

Verse 25, “Save us, we pray, O LORD!” -- Hoshiana na! -- is the cry that echoed through the streets of Jerusalem as Yeshua (Jesus) rode in on a donkey. The people cried out for deliverance, quoting this very verse, though many did not realize that salvation had already come to them in the flesh. That same cry is lifted every year on Hoshana Rabbah, the final day of Sukkot, when worshipers encircle the altar pleading for salvation, rain, and revival. It is followed by Simchat Torah, the rejoicing in the Word of God -- a celebration Yeshua embodied as the Word made flesh.

Tragically and prophetically, on October 7, 2023, as Jews around the world danced with the Torah scroll on Simchat Torah, Israel was struck by war. And before the IDF entered Gaza, soldiers were praying Psalm 118:25: “Hoshiana na -- Save us, we pray, O LORD! Grant us success!” The cry of the ancient psalm became a modern wartime prayer. It was not staged -- it was spiritual. The plea of the people of Israel in their hour of need echoed the same cry once shouted before Yeshua in Jerusalem.

But the story is not over. Yeshua’s words in Matthew 23:37–39 reveal a prophecy yet to be fulfilled. After weeping over Jerusalem’s rejection of Him, He declared: “You shall not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’” That’s Psalm 118:26 -- the very next verse. The world has heard Israel cry out verse 25. Now, all creation groans, waiting for her to declare verse 26 -- the key that unlocks His second coming. When Israel cries out in recognition of Yeshua as the One sent by the Father, heaven will respond, and the King will come.

Friend, we are standing between verses -- between the cry of “Save us, O LORD” and the declaration “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!” The first has already been spoken. The second is coming -- and it will shake the heavens. This is not a time for passive faith. This is the day the LORD has made -- not just for rejoicing, but for revelation. The gates are open. The cries are rising. The King is near. Join the cry. Prepare the way. And pray with urgency that Israel will finish the song she began. When she sings verse 26, the sky will split, and Yeshua will come -- not as the rejected cornerstone, but as the crowned King. Maranatha!


Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Friend, the rejected stone became God's unshakeable foundation!

Psalms 118:22-23  The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. 23 This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. 

These verses capture one of the most profound Messianic truths in all of Scripture. What man cast aside, God exalted. What the builders saw as flawed and unfit, God chose as the foundation of His eternal plan. Yeshua (Jesus), the rejected One, is the very cornerstone upon which salvation, identity, and destiny are built. This is more than a theological concept -- it's a divine reversal that reveals the heart of redemption. Rejection by man does not disqualify--it often qualifies you for God's greatest purposes.

Throughout history, humanity has consistently misjudged what matters most. The religious leaders of Yeshua's day, the "builders," were entrusted with God's house, yet failed to recognize the cornerstone when He stood before them. But the plans of men never override the purposes of God. The same Yeshua who was crucified outside the city became the foundation stone of a heavenly kingdom that will never be shaken. And this wasn't a last-minute adjustment -- it was "the LORD's doing", and it is still marvelous in our eyes.

The Hebrew word for "stone" is אֶבֶן (evan) -- a compound of אב (av) meaning father and בן (ben) meaning son. Hidden within this one word is the mystery of the Gospel: the Father and the Son, united in purpose and identity. The cross was not an accident; it was the place where the Father gave the Son to become the foundation of our faith, our lives, and the coming Kingdom. The cornerstone is not just about structural strength -- it's about divine relationship.

This truth demands a response. If Yeshua is the cornerstone, then every part of our lives must align with Him. He is not an add-on or a side pillar -- He is the first stone laid, the standard by which all other stones are set. Your identity, your calling, your future -- everything must be built on Him. If you've experienced rejection, know this: your value is not determined by the builders of this world, but by the One who makes all things marvelous in His time.

Friend, It's time to rebuild -- on the Rock. Stop trying to fit into structures God never called you to belong to. You may have been rejected, overlooked, or cast aside -- but that doesn't disqualify you. In fact, it places you in perfect alignment with the One who was rejected before you. Let Yeshua be your cornerstone -- not just in word, but in foundation. Tear down what was built on sand. Lay Him down as the first and final authority in your life. Align your identity to the Father through the Son. What man rejected, God is ready to use. What the enemy tried to discard, God is setting in place. The cornerstone is secure -- now build.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Friend, the gates of righteousness — enter in and give thanks!

Psalms 118:19-21  Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD. 20  This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it. 21  I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. 

These verses are far more than ancient lyrics -- they are a spiritual invitation. The psalmist doesn’t just admire the gate -- he pleads for it to open. “Open to me the gates of righteousness...” This is the cry of a heart that longs for access to God, not by merit, but by mercy. In Hebrew thought, gates represent transition points -- thresholds between the common and the holy, the outside and the inner court, the temporal and the eternal. These are not man-made doors -- they are divine entrances into the presence and promises of the LORD.

Verse 20 declares, “This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it.” But who can enter? Psalm 24 asks, “Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? He who has clean hands and a pure heart.” The truth is, none of us are righteous by our own strength. But here lies the mystery revealed in the Gospel: Yeshua (Jesus) is the Gate. He declared in John 10:9, “I am the gate; whoever enters through Me will be saved.” He is both the way in and the One waiting on the other side.

Prophetically, this passage also points to the moment Yeshua entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey (Matthew 21), greeted by shouts of “Hosanna!” The gates of the city -- and of salvation -- were opening, and many missed it. But the righteous, those who discerned the moment, welcomed the King. This moment foreshadowed the greater entry Yeshua would make through the gates of heaven after His resurrection, carrying the victory of the cross and the promise of our access to the Father.

Verse 21 brings the worshiper full circle: “I thank You that You have answered me and have become my salvation.” In Hebrew, “You have become my Yeshua.” The cry at the gate has been heard. The way has been made. And the only fitting response is worship. Not just thanks for what God has done -- but for who He has become.

Friend, the gate is open. Yeshua didn’t just open it -- He is it. Don’t stand outside when the way has been made. Don’t admire the threshold -- walk through it. Enter boldly. Enter with thanksgiving. Enter clothed in His righteousness, not your own. The time for hesitation is over. The blood has been shed. The veil has been torn. The call has been made. Step through the Gate of the LORD and declare with all your heart: “You have become my salvation!” Let your praise shake the courts of heaven. The door is open—go in!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Friend, you shall not die, but proclaim!

Psalms 118:17-18  I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD. 18  The LORD has disciplined me severely, but he has not given me over to death. 

As we continue our study in Psalm 118, I want to take a deep dive into verses 17-18, where the psalmist makes one of the boldest declarations in all of Scripture: "I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD." This isn't the voice of someone untouched by pain -- it's the cry of someone who has been through the fire and come out declaring God's faithfulness. This statement is not a denial of suffering; it's a defiance of death. It's the resolve of a heart that's been chastened, refined, and pressed, yet remains confident in the God who preserves life -- not just for survival, but for purpose.

The Hebrew word for "declare" is סָפַר (saphar) -- meaning to proclaim, recount, or record in detail. It's the same root used for a scribe or storyteller. This isn't about vague gratitude -- it's about vocal, specific testimony. When God raises you up, He doesn't do it just for your comfort -- He does it so you can bear witness. Your life becomes a scroll on which His faithfulness is written, line by line, miracle by miracle.

This verse carries profound prophetic weight. It prefigures the resurrection of Yeshua (Jesus), who was chastened unto death yet not abandoned to the grave. On the third day, He rose -- not in silence, but declaring the works of the LORD. And because we are in Him, His resurrection becomes the pattern of our own. We, too, are raised -- not just to walk out of tombs, but to walk into testimony. Not just to breathe -- but to proclaim.

Verse 18 reminds us that the Lord may chasten, but He does not abandon. Discipline is a sign of sonship, not disfavor. There are seasons where we are pressed, pruned, and purified -- but they are not the end. In fact, they often precede the greatest declarations. What was meant to break you becomes the stage from which you testify. You are not just a survivor--you are a witness.

So what will you do with the life He has preserved? This is your moment to speak. To recount the works of the Lord in the land of the living. Your scars tell stories, and your survival is sacred. Don't waste your breath on fear. Use it to testify. You are alive for a reason. Rise up and declare it.

Friend, you weren't just rescued -- you were raised. And you weren't just raised -- you were commissioned. The enemy came to bury you, but God brought you through the fire so you could speak with authority. Don't stay silent. Don't shrink back. Open your mouth and tell the world what God has done. Stand on your feet, even if they're trembling. Speak through tears, if you must. But speak. Declare His works boldly. Hell lost when Yeshua rose -- and it loses again every time you refuse to die in your trial and choose instead to live and declare. Let your life be a trumpet. Let your voice shake the grave. You shall not die -- you shall live!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Friend, the eighth day cry -- empowered for the hour!

John 7:37-39  On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38  Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” 39  Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. 

Over the past two devotionals, we heard the song of the redeemed and stood at the wells of salvation. We saw how strength, song, and salvation flow from Yeshua Himself -- how the joy of drawing from His presence is not just a poetic promise but a lifeline for our day. Yet today, we stand at a prophetic threshold. Something has shifted. Something has broken open. We are not only being refreshed -- we are being awakened and called.

On October 7, 2023, the world changed. As Israel danced with the Torah on Simchat Torah, and the remnant celebrated the final outpouring of Sukkot on Hoshana Rabbah, war erupted. The enemy struck not only on a feast day -- but on Shemini Atzeret, the eighth day, a day biblically symbolic of new beginnings, covenant consecration, and resurrection. Eight in Hebrew marks that which goes beyond the natural -- into the realm of the supernatural. On this eighth day, while the people of God rejoiced around the Word, the heavens shook -- and we must discern the hour.

This was not merely a geopolitical war. It was a prophetic turning. On the very day we traditionally cry out, “Hoshiana! Save now!” -- a demonic backlash was unleashed. But as in ancient times, God is not surprised. He is not shaken. And neither can His people be. The same Messiah who cried out in the Temple on Hoshana Rabbah, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink!” (John 7:37), is still standing in our midst, calling us to draw from Him, not just for comfort, but for power.

This is not a time for passive devotion -- it’s a time for Spirit-empowered purpose. The joy we draw from the wells of salvation is not merely for survival, but for assignment. The water that flows from the throne is meant to empower you -- to stand, to speak, to shine. What has broken open in the natural must now break open in the Spirit. You were born for this moment -- not to shrink back, but to rise up as one filled, overflowing, and ablaze with purpose. The eighth day cry is not just “thank You for what was,” but “Lord, empower me for what is now!”


Friend, do not waste the moment. The shaking is not random. The eighth day is not just symbolic -- it is prophetically strategic. You are not meant to walk in yesterday’s strength. Come again to the well. Drink again of the Spirit. Let the joy of salvation become the fire of boldness. Let the ancient cry of Hoshiana become your anthem -- not just for rescue, but for release. You are being empowered for this hour. Now it’s time to rise, filled with living water, and become the vessel through which God births His purposes on the earth. Drink deep this weekend -- your assignment awaits.

Shabbat Shalom -- we'll see you first thing on Monday! Have a blessed weeking going to the wells of Yeshua!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Friend, drawing from the wells of salvation!

Psalms 118:14-16  The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. 15  Glad songs of salvation are in the tents of the righteous: “The right hand of the LORD does valiantly, 16  the right hand of the LORD exalts, the right hand of the LORD does valiantly!” 

Isaiah 12:2-3  “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” 3  With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. 

Yesterday, we heard the anthem of the redeemed rise like a trumpet blast: “The LORD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation.” We explored how this was more than personal -- it was prophetic, Messianic, and generational. We saw Yeshua not only as our Deliverer but as the very embodiment of God’s strength, the melody of our praise, and the fulfillment of every promise. We stood in awe as tents of rejoicing rose in the midst of warfare, and households became sanctuaries of celebration. But today, we go deeper -- we step to the well.

Isaiah 12 picks up where Psalm 118 leaves off, repeating that same triumphant cry: “the LORD, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.” But then it adds something profoundly spiritual: “Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” These wells are not shallow. They were dug in eternity past and opened at the cross. And the joy we draw with is not emotional hype -- it is the deep gladness of a soul that knows the Source. The same Yeshua who brings salvation now invites you to draw daily from His endless supply.

During Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles, the priests would pour water from the Pool of Siloam upon the altar with joy and dancing. Psalm 118:14 was sung aloud as crowds celebrated God's provision. And on the final day of that feast -- Hoshana Rabbah -- Yeshua Himself stood in the Temple and declared, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink!” (John 7:37). It was more than a dramatic moment -- it was a fulfillment. He is the salvation Isaiah had prophesied, and Psalm 118 had celebrated.

So now, the call is clear. You’re not just meant to survive in the wilderness -- you’re meant to draw joyfully. You’re not called to wander parched -- you’re called to drink deeply. The same strength that stood firm yesterday, the same song that rose from battle, is now calling you to a well that never runs dry. This is a lifestyle of praise and drawing. Rejoicing isn’t a response to circumstances -- it’s a result of connection. And when you drink from Yeshua, living waters will flow not just into you but from you (John 7:38).

Now that the prophetic anthem has taken root—“The Lord is my strength and my song”—it’s time to go deeper. It’s time to come to the well. Don’t settle for yesterday’s echo—encounter the living source today. Let joy awaken as you draw from the depths of His salvation. Stir the waters of your spirit. Lift your voice and proclaim with courage: “Behold, God is my salvation!”

Friend, if you're weary -- draw. If you're parched -- draw. If you’re down and out --draw. Yeshua is not only the melody of your past victory -- He is the fountain of your present power. Drink until rivers surge from within. Praise until walls tremble. Rejoice until the heavens break open over your home. Your Redeemer lives—and the ancient wells are open. Come thirsty... and leave overflowing.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Florida | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Friend, learn the prophetic anthem of deliverance!

Psalms 118:14-16  The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. 15  Glad songs of salvation are in the tents of the righteous: “The right hand of the LORD does valiantly, 16  the right hand of the LORD exalts, the right hand of the LORD does valiantly!” 

There’s a reason this verse resounds like a national anthem of the redeemed. It’s not just a personal declaration—it’s a generational cry that echoes back to Moses at the Red Sea (Exodus 15:2) and forward to the final deliverance of Israel. The Hebrew word for salvation—Yeshua—makes this verse unmistakably Messianic. It isn’t a vague deliverance. It is the revelation of Yeshua (Jesus), the Deliverer, who embodies strength, becomes our song, and stands as the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan.

The passage points to His strength as the power to stand firm in the midst of battle. His song speaks of victory that comes after the struggle. His salvation is the rescue only a true Savior can bring. But their tents resound with joy because salvation has visited them. This isn’t distant theology—it’s immediate reality. When Yeshua enters your life, your entire household becomes a dwelling place of rejoicing. What the enemy meant for destruction, God transforms into a testimony of praise.

This verse is filled with prophetic revelation.  The rejoicing in the tents is not just about Israel's past victories but a foretaste of a future kingdom when the Messiah returns and tabernacles among His people once again. The Hebrew “ohel” (tent) also evokes the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot)—the appointed time when the nations will worship the King in Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:16). Could it be that God is preparing your tent now to become a place of prophetic rejoicing before the nations?

If your strength is gone, if your song has faded, and if salvation feels distant, lift your eyes! Your strength is not your own. Your song is not of this world. And your salvation is not in a system, a government, or even your own resolve. Your Yeshua has come. He stands mighty in your midst, and He is doing valiantly on your behalf.

Friend, let your tent shake with praise! Declare Yeshua as your strength, your melody, your rescue. Speak it aloud until the atmosphere shifts. The enemy cannot occupy the space where praise rises. Lift your voice. Let your home become a tent of rejoicing. Let your spirit catch fire again with the song of the redeemed. For the LORD has done valiantly—and He has become your salvation.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Florida | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Friend, He has done it!

Psalms 22:1 My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning? 

The cry that shattered the stillness of Golgotha—“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Psalm 22:1; Matthew 27:46)—was not a random cry of despair, but the deliberate voice of Yeshua pointing to Scripture. As He hung on the tree, bearing the sin of the world, He invoked the ancient words of David—not only identifying Himself as the righteous sufferer, but signaling that Psalm 22 was unfolding before their very eyes. In that moment, heaven and earth bore witness to a divine mystery: the Holy One, seemingly abandoned, was fulfilling a prophecy written a millennium earlier. Yeshua did not merely suffer—He fulfilled every word, every shadow, every stroke of divine prophecy.

The prophetic parallels are nothing short of astonishing. “But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised by the people” (Psalm 22:6). “All those who see Me ridicule Me; they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, ‘He trusted in the LORD, let Him rescue Him’” (Psalm 22:7–8). These taunts were hurled at Yeshua by mockers as He hung on the cross (Matthew 27:39–43). “They pierced My hands and My feet… they divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots” (Psalm 22:16-18). What David penned in anguish became literal history at the crucifixion. The Roman soldiers cast lots for Yeshua’s garments; His hands and feet were nailed to wood. Whether David knew it or not, he was painting a divine portrait of the crucified King.

But Psalm 22 does not end in torment. A holy reversal begins in verse 22: “I will declare Your name to My brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will praise You.” The writer of Hebrews affirms this as a prophecy of Yeshua, “who is not ashamed to call [us] brothers” (Hebrews 2:11-12). The suffering Servant rose in victory! He praises God in the congregation, shares His triumph with His people, and destroys the power of death. “All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the LORD… for the kingdom is the LORD’s, and He rules over the nations” (Psalm 22:.27–28). The cross gave way to the crown; the Lamb became the reigning King!

And when Yeshua said, “It is finished” (John 19:30), He echoed Psalm 22:31: “They will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born, that He has done this.” In Hebrew, it can be rendered: “He has accomplished it.” The prophecy ends not in defeat, but with the shout of finality. Yeshua didn’t die a victim—He died a Victor. Every line of Psalm 22 came to life, and every drop of blood was part of a divine transaction. The Messiah was pierced, but He was also raised, and He will reign forever.

Friend, let this truth grip your soul: what God begins in suffering, He finishes in glory. The cross was not the end of Yeshua’s story—and it is not the end of yours. You may feel forsaken, but you are not forgotten. He was pierced, so you could be healed. And since He was vindicated, you too shall be raised in victory. The grave has no claim. The mockers have no power. The darkness has no dominion. So rise up in faith and declare with boldness to the next generation: He has done it!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Florida | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Friend, the hope beyond the grave!

Psalms 16:8-10  I have set the LORD always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.  9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope.  10 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. 

Acts 2:22-32  "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know— 23  Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; 24  whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. 25  For David says concerning Him: 'I FORESAW THE LORD ALWAYS BEFORE MY FACE, FOR HE IS AT MY RIGHT HAND, THAT I MAY NOT BE SHAKEN.  26 THEREFORE MY HEART REJOICED, AND MY TONGUE WAS GLAD; MOREOVER MY FLESH ALSO WILL REST IN HOPE.  27 FOR YOU WILL NOT LEAVE MY SOUL IN HADES, NOR WILL YOU ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO SEE CORRUPTION. 28 YOU HAVE MADE KNOWN TO ME THE WAYS OF LIFE; YOU WILL MAKE ME FULL OF JOY IN YOUR PRESENCE.'  29 "Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.  30 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, 31  he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption.  32  This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. 33  Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. 

King David wrote these words generations before the empty tomb shook the foundations of death. At first glance, Psalm 16 reads like a personal prayer of trust -- a yearning for security and closeness with God. But beneath the surface, the Spirit was revealing something deeper, something eternal: a promise not just for David, but for all of us.

David dared to hope for more than just a long life; he looked beyond the grave and glimpsed the eternal. He trusted that God would not leave him in Sheol -- the realm of the dead -- and would not let His “Holy One” see corruption. Yet David did die. His tomb, Peter boldly proclaimed at Pentecost, was still present and known to all. So, how could David sing such a song of confidence?

David was a prophet. He saw the resurrection -- not merely of himself, but of the One who would come from his lineage. The phrase, "You will not let Your Holy One see corruption," was not about David, but a Messianic Psalm about Yeshua (Jesus), who broke the power of death by rising on the third day. And because Yeshua rose, so shall David -- and so shall we.

What David saw in part, we now see in full. His hope has become our anchor: resurrection is not a wishful dream, it is a guaranteed reality through the Risen One. Yeshua is the firstfruits of the resurrection, the forerunner of a new creation where death holds no power. Because He lives, we will live also. This is not just a future promise -- it is a present power. Death no longer has the final word.

Friend, let this awaken your soul and ignite your spirit: long before Calvary, God whispered the promise of resurrection through a shepherd king -- but in Yeshua, that whisper became a thunderous cry that shattered the silence of the tomb. The grave is broken, death defeated, and the pit stripped of its power. This is not mere theology -- it is the cornerstone of our faith. As Paul declared, if Messiah had not been raised, our faith would be in vain --but He has been raised! (1 Cor. 15:12-17) And because the apostles grasped this truth, they were transformed from fearful men into bold witnesses who faced death without flinching. Let that same resurrection power burn in you today. Proclaim the truth with fire -- for the tomb is empty, death has lost its sting, and Yeshua is alive — Amen!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Florida | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Friend, the zeal of the Lord!

Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. 

Hebrews 4:9-10  There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.  10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.

The majestic Messianic prophecy of Isaiah 9 culminates in a powerful declaration: “The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” Not might. Not maybe. Not if we work hard enough. It will be done -- because God Himself is passionate to see it through. The Hebrew word for “zeal” here is קִנְאָה (kin’ah), which also means jealousy or burning passion. This is not passive interest -- it’s the fiery determination of the LORD of Hosts to establish His Kingdom. The same fiery zeal that struck Egypt with plagues—shattering the power of false gods, that parted the Red Sea and made a way where there was none, that birthed a nation from the womb of slavery, and that drove the Son of God to the cross at Calvary -- is the very zeal that will fulfill every promise declared in Isaiah 9.

This kingdom of justice, righteousness, and peace is not the result of human effort or religious striving. It is divinely initiated, sustained, and completed. That’s why the passage ends not with a command to act, but with an invitation to rest -- an echo of Shabbat, the seventh-day rest established at creation and later given as a covenant sign to Israel. And yet, that weekly rest was always pointing to something greater: a future, eternal rest in the Messiah, our Sar Shalom (Prince of Peace).

The Book of Hebrews tells us there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God (Hebrews 4:9-10). This isn’t merely about a day off -- it’s a prophetic promise that in Yeshua (Jesus), we cease from striving, just as God did from His works. In Messiah, the striving to earn your salvation is finished. The striving to prove, to fix, to control is silenced by the finished work of the cross. Yeshua didn’t just observe Shabbat -- He embodies it. He is our rest. Our stillness. Our restoration. He is the Lord of Shabbat!

Every Shabbat you observe becomes more than a tradition -- it becomes a prophetic rehearsal of what is to come: a world restored, a people redeemed, a King enthroned, and a kingdom at peace. In a world of exhaustion, He offers rest. In a world filled with confusion, He offers divine wisdom. In the midst of chaos, He reigns as our Sar Shalom.

Friend, so lay down your burdens, beloved. The Kingdom will not rise by your striving -- but by the zeal of the Lord of hosts. Rest in Him. Worship Him. Trust in Him. Let Shabbat be more than a ritual -- let it be your weekly return to the heart of heaven. For your King has come, and His zeal is accomplishing what no man can. He is your Shabbat. He is your Peace. He is your eternal Rest. And in Him, every storm will cease and every striving soul will find peace. Maranatha -- our Prince of Peace is coming on the clouds of heaven!

Shabbat Shalom, have a great weekend, and we'll see you on Monday!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Florida | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Friend, His name shall be called ...

Isaiah 9:7a – Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David…

Hebrews 12:27-28  Now this, "YET ONCE MORE," indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28  Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. 

In a world weary from political upheaval, moral confusion, and fleeting peace, Isaiah offers us a vision of something profoundly different—an ever-increasing kingdom ruled by a King whose justice is not compromised, whose peace is not fleeting, and whose throne is eternally secure. The phrase "of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end" speaks not just of duration, but of expansion—a kingdom that doesn’t plateau, doesn’t weaken, and doesn’t shrink back in the face of darkness. Instead, it advances, multiplies, and transforms.

The reference to the throne of David anchors this kingdom in covenant promise. In 2 Samuel 7, God swore that David's lineage would produce a ruler whose reign would be everlasting. This wasn’t fulfilled in Solomon or any earthly king. It pointed forward to Messiah, the Son of David, who would reign not only over Israel, but over all creation. His authority is both royal and redemptive—restoring the fractured order of the world, not through force, but through righteousness.

The word shalom—often translated “peace”—goes far beyond the absence of war. Its Hebrew root (שׁ־ל־ם) implies wholeness, completeness, and restoration. Under Messiah's reign, broken things are made whole, relationships are healed, and creation itself is brought into harmony. His kingdom doesn’t just address surface problems; it restores the human heart, society, and even time itself. Every injustice that history could not fix, every wound left unattended, every cry for truth—finds its answer in His unending rule.

When the kingdoms of this world shake—and they are shaking—this verse becomes an anchor for our souls. Presidents, empires, and movements come and go, but you belong to a kingdom that cannot be shaken (Hebrews 12:28). You are not at the mercy of headlines or elections. The government of your life rests on the shoulders of the King whose dominion grows even in dark days. And the peace He brings is not escapism—it is victory rooted in eternity.

Friend, so lift your eyes above the crumbling thrones of this world and fix them on the King whose name is Faithful and True. His justice will not fail. His peace will not fade. His government will not end. The increase is already happening—in hearts awakened, in nations stirred, in broken places healed by His Word. Let every fear flee. Let every doubt yield. Let every broken place be restored under the weight of His glory. For the government is His, the peace is His, and the throne is His forever—and most importantly, you are His.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Florida | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Friend, His name shall be called ...

Isaiah 9:6c – “And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

In the Hebraic understanding, a name isn’t just a label—it reveals essence, identity, and destiny. Isaiah doesn’t say these are merely descriptions of the Messiah; he says His Name shall be called -- meaning this is who He is. When we declare these names, we are not offering poetic praise -- we are calling upon real attributes of the living King. In just one verse, the prophet unveils the depth of Messiah’s personhood, showing us that this child is no ordinary child. He is the fulfillment of heaven’s promise and the revelation of God’s nature.

Wonderful (פֶּלֶא / Peleh): This is the word used by the Angel of the LORD when He appeared to Samson’s parents in Judges 13. When Manoah asked His name, He replied, “Why do you ask My name, seeing it is wonderful (פֶּלִאי / pele’i)?” -- a title linked to divinity and mystery. This wasn’t just any angel—it was a pre-incarnate appearance of Messiah. “Peleh” is used elsewhere in Scripture to describe the miraculous acts of God. Messiah isn’t just amazing—He is a supernatural wonder, beyond comprehension, worthy of awe and reverence.

Counselor (יוֹעֵץ / Yo’etz): In a world flooded with opinions and confusion, Yeshua (Jesus) is the eternal voice of wisdom. This is not human strategy, but divine counsel that flows from perfect understanding. He doesn't merely advise—He leads with truth that pierces through every lie and brings clarity to chaos. Isaiah later says in 11:2 that “the Spirit of counsel and might” will rest upon Him. When you don’t know what to do, He is wisdom made manifest. (Colossians 2:2-3)

Mighty God (אֵל גִּבּוֹר / El Gibbor): This title leaves no room for ambiguity. “El Gibbor” appears again in Isaiah 10:21—used exclusively of YHWH Himself. It literally means “God the Warrior.” This child born to us is not a godly man, but God made flesh. He is the conquering King, the defender of Israel, and the One before whom every knee will bow. His name here directly affirms the deity of Messiah, silencing those who try to reduce Him to mere prophet or teacher.

Everlasting Father (אֲבִי עַד / Avi-Ad) is a title that does not blur the distinction between Messiah and God the Father within the Triune nature of God, but rather reveals Messiah’s eternal essence and fatherly role. In Hebrew thought, to be called the "father" of something means to be its source or originator. Thus, Avi-Ad identifies the Messiah as the Father of Eternity—the one from whom time itself proceeds. He is not merely one who lives forever; He is the source, author, and sustainer of eternity itself. His nature is unbound by time, and His care knows no expiration. As Avi-Ad, He nurtures, sustains, and never abandons. He is the One who was, who is, and who is to come—the eternal foundation behind all existence.

This title powerfully affirms Messiah’s deity. No mere human could ever be called the "Father of Eternity"—that is a designation belonging to God alone. Isaiah is proclaiming that the Child who is born is none other than the One through whom all things came into being. This truth is echoed across Scripture: Micah 5:2 declares that His goings forth are “from everlasting”; John 1:1–3 tells us, “In the beginning was the Word... all things were made through Him”; and Colossians 1:17 reveals, “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” Messiah is not a created being—He is the preexistent King, the One who steps into time yet exists beyond it, the eternal source of life who holds all things together by the power of His Word.

Prince of Peace (שַׂר שָׁלוֹם / Sar Shalom): “Shalom” is more than peace in the absence of war—it means wholeness, harmony, restoration, and right order. And Yeshua is not just a messenger of peace; He is the ruler who brings it. He is the One who speaks, and storms cease. He reconciles man to God, breaks down dividing walls, and makes the broken whole. His peace is active, reigning, and redemptive.

So when life feels fragmented—when your heart is restless, your path uncertain, or your world shaking—run to His Name. Call upon each title, not as a distant truth, but as a personal promise. He is your Wonder, your Counsel, your God, your Father, your Peace. Let these names become part of your prayer life. Invite Him to be all these things to you—personally, powerfully, daily.

Friend, every one of His names shatters the limits of what you thought possible. In Him, the mystery of heaven meets the mess of earth. So lift up His Name in faith, not as ritual but as revelation. Declare it over your mind, your household, and your future. He is Wonderful when you’re overwhelmed. Counselor when you’re confused. Mighty God when you feel weak. Everlasting Father when you feel alone. Prince of Peace when the war won’t stop. His Name is not just what He’s called -- it’s what He does. Call on Him. Trust in Him. For He is the One whose Name that is above all names! (Philippians 2:9-11)

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Florida | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Friend, the government on His shoulders!

Isaiah 9:6b – “And the government shall be upon His shoulder…”

Exodus 28:12  And you shall put the two stones on the shoulders of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. So Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD on his two shoulders as a memorial. 

In a world wearied by the failures of men, Isaiah 9:6 offers a startling promise of hope and strength: “The government shall be upon His shoulder.” This is not the language of politics as we know it -- it’s the language of divine dominion. The Hebrew word for “government” here is misrah (מִשְׂרָה), a word so unique it appears only in these two verses—Isaiah 9:6 and 9:7. Unlike more common Hebrew words for government -- mamlachah or memshalah, misrah speaks of a rare and elevated rule—divinely ordained, gentle in character, and eternal in scope. This is a government not imposed, but carried. Not tyrannical, but righteous and restorative.

The phrase “upon His shoulder” evokes the ancient image of Israel’s high priest, who bore the names of the twelve tribes on his shoulders as he ministered before the Lord (Exodus 28:12). This is no coincidence. The Messiah comes not only as a King but as a Priest—one who bears His people with intercession and mercy. Isaiah gives us a glimpse of the King-Priest, a role foreshadowed by Melchizedek, the mysterious figure in Genesis 14 who was both King of Salem and Priest of God Most High. Psalm 110 confirms this lineage: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” Yeshua’s rule is not political maneuvering—it is a holy reign, rooted in righteousness and mercy.

As Priest, He carries our names into the Holy Place. As King, He establishes justice and peace. Unlike earthly rulers who rise by force and fall by scandal, His authority is unshakable. His shoulders bore the weight of the cross before they bore the scepter of the Kingdom. And now, risen and exalted, He bears the rule of the cosmos with nail-scarred hands. His misrah government is personal, global, and eternal. His leadership does not control—it restores. His throne is not built on manipulation—it is upheld by the zeal of the LORD of hosts (Isaiah 9:7).

So what does this mean for you today? It means the burdens you're carrying—your anxieties, your unknowns, your attempts to control outcomes—were never meant to rest on your shoulders. There are meant to be upon His. The One who upholds all things by the word of His power (Hebrews 1:3) invites you to surrender control, not out of fear, but in faith. His shoulder is strong enough to carry your world, yet tender enough to carry your heart.

Friend, so arise, and fix your eyes on the One whose shoulders carry both the weight of heaven’s authority and the burden of earth’s redemption. The crown belongs to Him. The cross was endured by Him. And now, the government rests securely upon Him. Surrender to His reign, and find your rest beneath His righteous rule. Cast every anxious care upon His capable shoulders—the very shoulders that bore the crushing beam of the cross and now bear the keys of the kingdom.  Maranatha — our King is coming! And until He does, let His shoulders carry you.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Florida | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Friend, a child is born, a Son is given!

Isaiah 9:6a - "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given..."

The prophet Isaiah begins with language so familiar that it's often read too quickly. Yet within this brief phrase lies a depth of mystery and majesty that anchors the entire gospel. "For unto us a Child is born" speaks of an earthly event--Messiah's humanity. He was born as all men are born, taking on flesh, entering a specific culture, time, and lineage. The Hebrew word for "born" (yalad) reinforces His full identification with us. This is the miracle of the incarnation: God wrapped in the vulnerability of a newborn child.

But Isaiah doesn't stop there. He continues, "unto us a Son is given." This second phrase doesn't repeat the first--it deepens it. The Child is born, but the Son is given, not created. The eternal Son of God--the second person of the Godhead--was not born in Bethlehem in the way His humanity was. He was given a gift from heaven. The Hebrew word natan (נָתַן) is used throughout Scripture to denote intentional, covenantal giving — often in the context of offerings and sacrifices. This is the divine generosity that would later be unveiled entirely at the cross.

The dual nature of Messiah--fully God, fully man--is not abstract theology; it's the foundation of your salvation. Only a perfect man could die in the place of mankind, and only God could bear the infinite weight of humanity's sin. Yeshua (Jesus) didn't come to Earth as a religious symbol. He came as the ultimate expression of God's love--clothed in flesh, destined to bleed, and determined to redeem. He is heaven's answer to earth's need.

This changes how we approach Him. He didn't arrive with royal demand but with divine mercy. He didn't come to take from us -- but to give Himself for us. In a world where value is so often based on performance, this truth lifts the burden: your worth is not found in your striving, but in His giving. You don't work your way to Yeshua; He came to you.

So understand this--not with cold intellect, but with trembling wonder: a Son was given for you. Not loaned, not bargained, not reluctantly offered--but freely, fully, and forever given. Heaven's most precious treasure was not withheld. The One through whom all things were made stepped out of eternity and into a womb--for you. The radiance of God's glory wrapped Himself in the frailty of flesh--for you. The eternal Son, co-equal with the Father, laid aside His majesty and embraced mortality--for you.

He was given not merely to inspire you, but to redeem you. Given not to judge, but to justify. Given not to add to your burdens, but to break them. The weight of your sin, your shame, your story--He took it all upon Himself. This is not abstract theology; this is a divine intervention. Heaven bent low and placed its finest jewel into a broken world--for you.

Friend, so fall to your knees in awe, and let this reality pierce through every layer of doubt and weariness: You were worth the giving of the Son. Not because of who you are, but because of who He is. And He is love in its purest form, gift in its highest expression, and grace in its fullest measure. Be still--and receive the wonder of His love and let it fully transform your life!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Florida | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Friend, resting in Righteousness, speaking with fire!

2 Cor. 5:20-21 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 

What gives an ambassador boldness, confidence, and urgency? It's not simply the message — it’s the position from which they speak.

Paul tells us we are ambassadors for Christ, sent with Heaven’s authority, carrying a message that pulses with eternal weight: “Be reconciled to God!” But this cry doesn’t rise from striving or performance—it flows from rest. Why? Because we stand not in our own strength, but in the righteousness of God in Him.

Verse 21 is the foundation: “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us...” Let that sink in. Yeshua (Jesus), perfect in holiness, absorbed the totality of our sin. Why? So we could become what we could never earn: the righteousness of God. Not just forgiven—made right. Not just cleansed—commissioned. And from that place of right-standing, we speak—not with shame or hesitation, but with Holy Spirit fire.

We are not pleading with the world as broken beggars—we are pleading as those who know the power of reconciliation, because we’ve experienced it. Our message is urgent because we know the cost. Our passion is real because the transformation is real. And our rest fuels our effectiveness—because we’re not trying to prove anything. We’re simply living out what He already accomplished.

This is the paradox of divine ambassadorship: you speak with fire because you rest in grace. You carry a burden for the lost, yet walk in the ease of being fully accepted. You are bold, because your identity is unshakable. You are passionate, because the cross is personal.

Friend, when you speak for Him, you don't speak to prove--you speak because the work is already finished. You don't strive to be heard--you stand, because you've been sent. You speak not from insecurity, but from identity--not because you're flawless, but because grace has marked you. So proclaim His truth with fire, but let that fire burn from a place of rest. Let your voice carry Heaven, anchored in His righteousness. You are His ambassador--not because you've arrived, but because you've been redeemed. The world doesn't need your performance; it needs your anointed presence. Speak as one who knows the King--because you do. And Heaven will back every word that flows from a surrendered life.

Shabbat Shalom! Have a blessed weekend! See you bright and early Monday morning!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Florida | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Friend, the integrity of an ambassador!

Titus 2:7–8 in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you. 

1 Peter 2:12  having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. 

When the Lord called us to be His ambassadors, He didn’t merely give us a message --- He gave us a lifestyle to embody it. An ambassador is not just a messenger, but a living representation of the Kingdom they serve. That means our behavior, words, and example all matter deeply.

Paul tells Titus to “show yourself to be a pattern of good works.” Not just a voice of truth, but a living pattern, a mold others can look to. This pattern is shaped by integrity, reverence, and incorruptibility—traits that are increasingly rare in a world of compromise. Our doctrine must not only be sound; it must be anchored in character. This is how an ambassador earns trust -- not by title, but by testimony.

Peter echoes the same heart. Even when the world speaks evil against you, they're watching. And when your conduct is consistently honorable—even under pressure—your actions speak louder than any accusation. You silence critics not with argument, but with observable righteousness. And ultimately, it leads to something greater: they may glorify God.

We don’t defend the Kingdom by force -- we reveal it by how we live. In a cynical culture, our lifestyle becomes radical. In a world obsessed with spin, our sound speech and integrity become prophetic.

You were not chosen to merely echo Kingdom words -- you were commissioned to embody Kingdom reality. In a world drowning in deception, compromise, and shallow influence, God is raising up ambassadors whose lives thunder louder than their lips. When your conduct reflects Heaven, when your integrity holds under fire, and when your speech remains seasoned with grace—you preach a Gospel that cannot be silenced.

This is not the hour for half-hearted witness. The world doesn’t need more noise; it needs living proof. When they see you walk in purity, honor, and unwavering truth -- they see a glimpse of the King you represent. That is the integrity of an ambassador: one whose life makes it impossible to ignore the glory of God.

Friend, so stand tall. Live clean. Speak wisely. Let your life expose the counterfeit by being unmistakably real. Because when the day of visitation comes—and it will—may those who once scoffed say, “I saw the Lord in them... and now I believe.”

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Florida | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Friend, grace-seasoned truth!

Colossians 4:5-6  Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.  6  Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

As ambassadors of Christ, we don't just represent His Kingdom--we reflect His heart. Paul's words in Colossians 4:5-6 are not just good advice; they're a commissioning. We are called to walk wisely among those who do not yet know Christ, recognizing that every interaction is a divine opportunity.

To "walk in wisdom" means we approach others with discernment and humility, especially those outside the household of faith. Cultural intelligence is not just about knowing customs — it's about understanding people. It's about listening more than speaking, learning before correcting, and seeing through the lens of compassion instead of criticism.

Paul emphasizes timing and tone: making the most of every opportunity and letting our words be gracious, full of life, not judgment. "Seasoned with salt" doesn't mean bland; it means flavorful and preserving. Salt adds value. It heals. It provokes thirst. In the same way, our words should point to something deeper--something eternal.

In a world quick to cancel, offend, and divide, the ambassador of Christ is one who builds bridges. We don't compromise truth, but we carry it in a vessel of grace. This is how hearts are softened. This is how lives are changed.

Friend, so today, as you enter conversations, scroll through timelines, or cross paths with those who think, live, or believe differently--don't just speak--represent. You are not merely commenting--you are carrying the authority of Heaven. Ask the Holy Spirit for divine insight before you open your mouth. Let your words be more than opinions--let them be weapons of light, truth wrapped in grace, bearing the fragrance of Christ in a world suffocating on bitterness and division. Be the voice that turns hearts, not just heads. Speak as one sent.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Florida | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Friend, be a voice that reflects heaven!

James 1:19-20  So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20  for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 

In the age of social media, where hot takes go viral, outrage spreads in seconds, and comment sections become battlegrounds, James offers a divine pattern that stands in stark contrast to the digital frenzy. His instruction is timeless but urgently needed today: be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. These three commands — revolutionary yet straightforward — cut through the noise of our reaction-driven culture and call us to a Spirit-led posture in a screen-lit world.

In a world where replies are faster than reflection, being quick to hear means more than scrolling—it’s the posture of a disciple: humble, teachable, and tuned to the Spirit. There’s power in pausing to listen before we speak. When we seek to understand, not just react, we reflect God’s heart. True listening leads to grace, not assumptions, compassion, rather than conflict. In a world quick to comment, let’s be quick to care. Listening isn’t weakness—it’s Christlike wisdom.

In the digital age, words are no longer just spoken—they’re posted, tweeted, commented, and shared in seconds. But if we truly understood what it means to be slow to speak, our timelines would look very different. Words have weight, even online. A careless comment can ignite division, damage reputations, or deepen wounds. But words chosen with wisdom—seasoned with grace and truth—can heal, guide, and point people to Yeshua (Jesus).

Being slow to speak doesn't mean staying silent — it means surrendering our words to the Holy Spirit. It's the choice to pause, pray, and check our hearts before we speak or post. We're not called to prove points or win arguments, but to speak truth with grace. Proverbs 25:11 says, "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver." That's more than poetic--it's prophetic. God calls us to speak only after we've listened, sought His wisdom, and aligned our hearts with His.

In a world of instant opinions and viral outrage, Spirit-led silence is not weakness—it’s wisdom. And when we finally do speak, our words carry the weight of heaven.

Anger is not always sinful, but unrestrained, reactive anger is destructive. James will go on to say in the next verse that "the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God" (James 1:20). That means our outbursts, our need to defend ourselves, our bitterness—none of it builds God’s Kingdom. But patience, reflection, and forgiveness do. To be slow to anger is to trust that God is our defender, that justice belongs to Him, and that grace is more powerful than retaliation.

Ultimately, this passage is not just about behavior modification—it’s about spiritual transformation. James isn’t calling for politeness; he’s calling for holiness. This is what it means to walk in the Spirit—to reflect the character of Christ, who listened to the Father, spoke with purpose, and bore with our sins in patient love.

Friend, so in a world overflowing with anger and offense, let us rise higher. When we learn to hear from God, speak with Spirit-led wisdom, and refuse to be easily offended, we reveal the character of Yeshua within us. This is maturity—not reacting in the flesh, but responding in love. It’s not weakness; it’s strength under the rule of the Spirit. Let’s reject the culture of outrage and pursue our high calling in Him with humility, grace, and power. Let every word, every response, every post reflect the One we follow -- for our voice should reflect heaven!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Florida | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Friend, be His ambassador!

2 Cor 5:18-21 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19  that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20  Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21  For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

“All this is from God...” These words usher us into the breathtaking reality that salvation is not born of human effort, wisdom, or willpower -- it is entirely the work of God. From beginning to end, it is His plan, His initiative, His unrelenting grace. Through Yeshua (Jesus), God stepped into our brokenness and reconciled us to Himself, repairing the relationship that sin had shattered. Reconciliation is not merely a theological concept -- it is the restoration of intimacy with the Father. We did not ascend to Him in holiness; He descended to us in mercy. The Creator did not wait for us to find our way back. No, He came down through Yeshua, arms stretched wide in love, calling us home.

“…and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.” These words shift the focus from what God has done for us to what He now desires to do through us. Reconciliation is not the end of the story—it is the beginning of a new calling. Those whom the love of God has  restored are now commissioned to carry that same love to others. We are not passive recipients of grace; we are active participants in God's redemptive mission. The healing we’ve received becomes the message we proclaim. Every believer, regardless of title or platform, is entrusted with this ministry—to be a bridge, a voice of hope, a vessel of truth and mercy to a world aching for peace. Reconciled people become reconcilers -- it is both our identity and our sacred responsibility.

“…God was reconciling the world to Himself in Messiah, not counting their trespasses against them…” What staggering mercy this is—that the holy and righteous God, who has every right to judge, instead chooses to forgive. Through Yeshua, our debt has not just been reduced—it has been completely erased. The weight of guilt, the record of wrongs, the shame of our past—wiped clean by the blood of the Lamb. This is not a theory; it’s a liberating reality. And now, we carry this message like fire in our bones: your sins are no longer counted against you. This is the heartbeat of the gospel—a glorious invitation to come home to a God who has already made the way.

"... We are ambassadors for Messiah."  You are not just a believer—you are an ambassador. An official representative of the King of Kings. God makes His appeal through us. When we speak the message of reconciliation, it is as if Messiah Himself is calling out through our voice: "Be reconciled to God!" Let this truth humble and embolden you. You are not alone in your witness—God speaks through your life.

"He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us..." This is the heart of the gospel. Yeshua, utterly without sin, took on the entire weight and curse of our sin, not a fraction, but all of it. In exchange, we are given not merely forgiveness, but the righteousness of God Himself. This is not something we strive to earn—it is a new identity, received by faith. In Messiah, we are declared righteous.

Friend, so now, as one whose blood Yeshua has reconciled, rise and take up your calling. The world is desperate for peace, for truth, for the hope that only comes through the Messiah. You are His voice, His hands, His ambassador. Don’t remain silent—plead with the lost, shine with His righteousness, and carry the message of reconciliation everywhere you go. Be bold. Be faithful. Be His Ambassador of Reconciliation!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Editor's Note: We are calling all FEARLESS, DEVOTED men and women of God to come pray, worship, and SERVE in the Land while also enjoying a life-changing experiential tour! We are leading an incredible 10-day, 10-night journey from October 19–30. As always, we’re keeping the group to just one bus to ensure a more personal and intimate experience — so space is limited! Read More...

Editor's Note: Feel free to share any of our content from Worthy, including Devotions, News articles, and more, on your social platforms. You have full permission to copy and repost anything we produce.

Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out!

Friend, the budding fig tree, the unshakeable Word, and the coming Shabbat!

Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

In Matthew 21, Yeshua (Jesus) approached a fig tree full of leaves but found no fruit. He cursed it, and it withered. This dramatic act was not about the tree—it was about Israel. The fig tree had the appearance of life, but it lacked the substance of transformation. It was a warning to a nation full of religion but void of repentance. The tree became a symbol of spiritual barrenness, of form without fruit.

But a few chapters later, in Matthew 24:32, the fig tree appears again -- not cursed, but budding with new life. This time, it signals hope and restoration. The same fig tree that once symbolized judgment now speaks of redemption. Its tender branches and fresh leaves are a prophetic picture of Israel’s return to life, just as Ezekiel foretold: “But you, O mountains of Israel, shall shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit to My people Israel, for they are about to come” (Ezekiel 36:8).

This restoration is not only national--it is deeply spiritual. Romans 11:25-27 reveals the mystery that a partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in, but "all Israel will be saved." The budding fig tree points to that promise. And it doesn't stand alone--Yeshua said, "When you see all these things," including deception, war, apostasy, and Israel's rebirth, "know that it is near, even at the doors." We are witnessing prophetic convergence, with the fig tree at the center. Yet in the midst of it all, He gives us an anchor: His Word will not pass away. In Hebrew, davar means both "word" and "thing" -- because when God speaks, things happen. Creation responds. History bends. That’s why the fig tree parable ends not with fear, but with certainty. Though everything else may shake, His Word stands forever (Isaiah 40:8).

Here lies the mystery within the parable: the fig tree that blossoms is more than a sign of new life—it not only points to restoration and revival -- but toward God's appointed rest. Shabbat (שַׁבָּת) is not merely a pause from labor; it is a prophetic window into the Messianic Age—the seventh day in God’s redemptive week—when He will dwell with His people and make all things new. “There remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God” (Hebrews 4:9), and the fig tree is quietly declaring that final rest is near.

Friend, so as the fig tree buds, awaken your heart--this is not the time to sleep. As the signs converge, don't be shaken--be sharpened. This is not a moment for fear, but for preparation and confident rest. The same God who declared the end from the beginning has appointed you to live in this hour. The fig tree is a prophetic promise: the harvest is ready, restoration has begun, and God's final rest is near. So rise up, stay sharp, and step boldly into your calling!

Shabbat Shalom ... I hope you have a great weekend resting in Him, we'll see you first thing Monday morning!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Editor's Note: We are calling all FEARLESS, DEVOTED men and women of God to come pray, worship, and SERVE in the Land while also enjoying a life-changing experiential tour! We are leading an incredible 10-day, 10-night journey from October 19–30. As always, we’re keeping the group to just one bus to ensure a more personal and intimate experience — so space is limited! Read More...

Editor's Note: Feel free to share any of our content from Worthy, including Devotions, News articles, and more, on your social platforms. You have full permission to copy and repost anything we produce.

Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out!

Friend, living like the King is at the door!

Matthew 24:33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors!

The parable of the fig tree is not just a message to observers -- it’s a summons to the faithful. The fig tree puts out its leaves first, then comes the fruit. Spiritually, that’s a call to live in readiness even before the final harvest arrives. Yeshua (Jesus) tells His disciples, "Be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect" (Matthew 24:44).

In Hebraic thought, readiness is active, not passive. The Hebrew word for “wait” (קוָה – kaw-vah) carries the meaning of hopeful tension, like a watchman on the wall. It’s not merely waiting -- it’s preparing, expecting, anticipating with purposeful action. As the fig tree moves from dormant to fruitful, we too are called to shift into alignment with the coming Kingdom.

Botanically, a fig tree must be pruned and cultivated to yield good fruit. Without care, it can overgrow and produce inedible figs. This mirrors the parable Yeshua told in Luke 13:6–9, where a fig tree had no fruit for three years. The vinedresser asked for one more year to dig and fertilize. Yeshua is the vinedresser, calling for repentance and fruit-bearing readiness in His people.

The wise virgins in Matthew 25 kept oil in their lamps as they waited for the bridegroom. This oil is a picture of the Holy Spirit and ongoing intimacy with God. Readiness is not about storing canned goods—it’s about keeping your heart in a state of holiness, filled with the Spirit, and aligned with God's Word.

Friend, let the fig tree awaken your spirit. These signs are not meant to debate -- they were given to give us a call to action. Stop watching the clock and start preparing your heart. Live as if the King could step through the door at any moment. Be clothed in righteousness. Keep your lamp full. Stay on watch. The hour is late, and the King is not far--He is at the door.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Editor's Note: We are calling all FEARLESS, DEVOTED men and women of God to come pray, worship, and SERVE in the Land while also enjoying a life-changing experiential tour! We are leading an incredible 10-day, 10-night journey from October 19–30. As always, we’re keeping the group to just one bus to ensure a more personal and intimate experience — so space is limited! Read More...

Editor's Note: Feel free to share any of our content from Worthy, including Devotions, News articles, and more, on your social platforms. You have full permission to copy and repost anything we produce.

Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out!

Friend, two comings, one tree: the mystery of the double harvest!

Song of Solomon 2:13 The fig tree puts forth her green figs, And the vines with the tender grapes Give a good smell. Rise up, my love, my fair one, And come away!

Among all fruit-bearing trees, the fig tree is uniquely prophetic--because it is one of the few that produces two harvests in a single growing season. First comes the early crop in spring, known in Scripture as the "first ripe fig" (Isaiah 28:4), and then a second, more abundant harvest in late summer or early fall. This uncommon pattern is a living picture of prophecy woven into the fabric of creation.

Of all the trees in creation, only a few bear fruit twice in a single year--and God chose one of them, the fig tree, to reflect the prophetic rhythm of redemption. Through it, He reveals a double harvest: first in Messiah's coming for the remnant of Israel, and again in the final ingathering when "all Israel will be saved." The fig tree--deeply tied to the Jewish people--stands as a living sign of both restoration and the coming harvest of the world.

This twofold harvest speaks deeply to the first and soon to be second coming of the Messiah. The early crop points to Yeshua's first coming: His death and resurrection, the firstfruits of salvation (1 Corinthians 15:20). The later harvest mirrors His return in glory — to judge the nations, restore Israel, and bring in the final ingathering. But neither harvest happens in isolation. For the fig tree to produce both crops, multiple environmental factors must converge--sunlight, temperature, soil, and timing must align. Just as the fig tree responds to a perfect set of conditions, the signs of our day are falling into place with striking unity.

Israel has returned to her land. The gospel is reaching the nations. Lawlessness is increasing. The Church is being purified. Apostasy abounds. These aren't random events — they are a prophetic convergence, signaling that the appointed time is drawing near. Just as the fig tree sends out all its leaves together in one season, the simultaneous unfolding of these signs declares with certainty: the season is now. Yeshua said, "When you see all these things"--every branch budding at once--"know that it is near, even at the doors" (Matthew 24:33).

Even the Biblical calendar echoes this divine rhythm. The early harvest aligns with the Lord’s feasts (moedim) of Passover and Firstfruits, fulfilled in Messiah’s first coming through His death and resurrection. The later harvest corresponds to Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles--also called the Feast of Ingathering--a prophetic picture of God dwelling with His people and gathering the nations at the end of the age. The word moedim—translated as “feasts”—literally means appointed times, signaling that what we are witnessing is not random or seasonal, but divinely timed. The prophetic calendar is not winding down—it is ripening toward its final fulfillment.

This is not just the close of an age--it is the unfolding of a final and glorious harvest. Scripture reveals the Son of Man with a sickle in His hand, reaping the earth at the appointed time (Revelation 14:14-20). Soon, as promised, "all Israel will be saved" (Romans 11:26).

Friend, as the signs converge, rise with purpose. Stay fixed on your assignment: step into the harvest, proclaim the gospel, awaken the sleeping, and keep your heart burning with joyful expectation. The fig tree is not just a warning—it’s a summons from heaven. It declares with urgency and certainty: the harvest is ripe, and the King is on His way. So go—gather, labor, watch, and rejoice. For soon, the Lord of the harvest will appear, and He will gather His own.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Editor's Note: We are calling all FEARLESS, DEVOTED men and women of God to come pray, worship, and SERVE in the Land while also enjoying a life-changing experiential tour! We are leading an incredible 10-day, 10-night journey from October 19–30. As always, we’re keeping the group to just one bus to ensure a more personal and intimate experience — so space is limited! Read More...

Editor's Note: Feel free to share any of our content from Worthy, including Devotions, News articles, and more, on your social platforms. You have full permission to copy and repost anything we produce.

Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out!

Friend, discern the season!

Matthew 24:32-33 Now learn the parable of the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors.

Yeshua (Jesus) used the fig tree—a familiar symbol in Israel’s botanical and prophetic world—as a teaching tool to awaken spiritual discernment. The fig tree, known for losing all its leaves in winter and budding again in spring, became a natural signpost to mark the changing seasons. In the same way, Jesus gave His disciples prophetic markers to discern a coming shift: wars, famines, false messiahs, persecution, lawlessness, and the global preaching of the gospel (Matthew 24:4–14).

But notice Yeshua's exact words: “When you see all these things, know that it is near.” The fig tree doesn’t represent just one sign—it represents the convergence. It is not a single event that signals the nearness of His coming, but the culmination of many signs happening together, like leaves sprouting in unison on the same tree.

In Hebraic thought, when multiple prophetic signs align, it indicates that the “appointed time” (moed, מוֹעֵד) is drawing near. The fig tree here becomes a picture of prophetic convergence—when multiple branches of God’s plan begin to bud at once. Just as spring doesn’t arrive with only one leaf, so the end of the age doesn’t come with only one sign; it is the collection of “all these things” that confirms the season. Botanically, fig trees must respond to environmental conditions in unison—temperature, light, and soil moisture trigger a synchronized leafing and fruiting. Likewise, global events—geopolitical tension, moral collapse, spiritual deception, and the restoration of Israel—are spiritual signals to the Church. When we see these things together, Yeshua says, “Know that it is near.”

So the fig tree is more than a metaphor—it’s a prophetic mirror. When its branches are tender and the signs are many, summer is at hand. Lift your eyes. Don’t dismiss the convergence of signs as coincidence—Yeshua said when you see all these things, the door of redemption is about to open.

Friend, so rise up—shake off distraction and complacency. The fig tree is speaking, and the signs are converging with precision. This is your hour to watch, to warn, and to walk in holiness. Refuse to be dull in a prophetic moment. Let faith replace fear, clarity replace confusion, and urgency replace apathy -- for you were born for such a time as this.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Editor's Note: We are calling all FEARLESS, DEVOTED men and women of God to come pray, worship, and SERVE in the Land while also enjoying a life-changing experiential tour! We are leading an incredible 10-day, 10-night journey from October 19–30. As always, we’re keeping the group to just one bus to ensure a more personal and intimate experience — so space is limited! Read More...

Editor's Note: Feel free to share any of our content from Worthy, including Devotions, News articles, and more, on your social platforms. You have full permission to copy and repost anything we produce.

Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out!