Recently, a friend of mine, Ken, has shared some life-changing, inspiring reminders with me about being a fighter and about pressing on, staying on focus. I asked him to kindly share some of this with you. I hope it blesses you as these words have given me some bigtime spiritual gusto if you will.
How many LEFT turns does it take to get where you are?
In normal conversation people often ask simple questions of me. Where do you work?, how many rooms are in your house?, what kind of car do you drive?. I suppose these are questions to access how successful we have been in our lives. Most of the time, I answer back with a half hearted joke of sorts, saying, "YES, it has taken me numerous left turns in life to get where I am". I often recall the verses in the Bible which indicate we should follow a narrow path, similiarly when Moses came down from the mountain to deliver the 10 commandments to the Israelites, commandments given to him from G-D. The declaration was to NOT turn right, to NOT turn left.
Deut 5:32 So you shall observe to do just as the Lord your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right or to the left 33 You shall walk in all the way which the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you will possess.
However, in life I am never where I WANT TO BE!!! I want the better job, the bigger house, the fancy car. I WANT to feel successful and prosperous. I WANT TO BE somebody. In pursuit of worldly things in this life, I have often made LEFT turns that take me off of the narrow path. When that happens I need to observe the YIELD signs on the pathway of life. I need to YIELD to the one who made me, G-D. The Bible actually says we should run the race, we should be successful!!!!!
1 Cor 9:24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.
and prior to this is the qualifier of our SUCCESS in this life, it is the gospel, the good news of how Jesus(Yeshua) has already found value in all of us, He found enough value to pave a FREE pass into heaven, by HIS sacrifice of HIS life, HIS YIELDING HIS LIFE in exchange for ours. All we have to do is quit taking left turns, to simply YIELD to HIM, to get back on the narrow path, to get back in the race!!!
1 Cor 9:23 I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.
I find it hard to believe that G-D can know every sparrow, HE can number every hair on our head. BUT then again, I am not supposed to understand everything.
Luke 12:5-7,, 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.
So, my question to people is this: Are you off of the beaten path? Have you taken a LEFT turn in life? Perhaps you are like me and have taken many LEFT turns. If you have, then observe the YIELD sign, YIELD your life to Jesus, get back on the path, get back in the race. I once heard that G-D is not looking for EXTRA-ORDINARY people, HE is looking for ORDINARY people, through which HE can do EXTRA-ORDINARY things.
Pause at the next LEFT turn in your life, YIELD to G-d, and when you reach the end of life, you can say what the Apostle Paul(Shaul) once said:
2 Timothy 4:7
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;
Let's pray:
Father God, help me to walk down your path for my life. Help me be a fighter, finish the race and keep the faith when my future looks uncertain,
I would love for You, my God, to do extra ordinary things in and through me. I am yours. Amen.
SHALOM,
KEN
Letting Go is like a pill you dont want to take but the pill brings peace when it it goes down. Life aint like McDonalds- have it your way- all the time. When I agree to have it God's way, I fair much better.
When I was around 12 years old, I had the issue of constantly losing my voice. The loss was a great one since at the time, Singing was one of the few joys of my heart.
I immersed myself in singing the way some people practice religion. Songwriting became a way for me to communicate with the world and share my pain and my healing. If I couldnt sing the songs I had written, there was a road block. That spiritual road block crushed my little golden heart and soul.
At the time, there were a few possible cuases for my constant loss. One possible reason was my constant talking above normal volume levels for fear I would not be heard.
Another possible reason was my not insisting the volume of the monitor be raised when singing with my band at weddings and events. If I didnt hear myself, I wanted people to LIKE me so much as a person, I just forfeited my right and need to be heard. Didnt wanna come off like a DIva, you know..."make me louder please, still louder, no, a little louder, etc"
I used to have a sort of sarcastic joke poking pun at myself with my friends in order to be able to handle my voice's constant disappearing act. The joke was soemthing liket this,
"Me? I lose my voice so easily....flatulance could make my voice go on me!' Gross I know...but if felt like the only way to describe the undependability of a God given talent which was seemingly being taken from me day after day. I felt frustrated, afraid and doomed sometimes.
Then one day I let go, I gave my voice to God.
At first, I cried out at the altar at a women's retreat. I told the Lord I wasnt gonna let go till he Blessed me. I cried and cried like Hanna in the Bible, so much that people probably thought I was drunk. I wasnt. I was just sick and tired of being sick and tired.
But when a gal at my women's meeting grabbed me up from the ground and insisted I dance with joy with the rest of the group, I got the God given message. God had heard my prayers and it was time to let go. I had done all the research I could and now I needed to take joy as my dance partner.
We danced that night - Messianic dance- the hora- whatever we were doing- and I received the gift of freedom that night. Little did I know that as I let go of my dream to sing, the Lord was about to give it back to me.
A few short months later, I met Christian Singer Joy Williams, in the elevator at the Gospel Music Conference in Nashville where I miraculously got to the finalist level, competing in the annual Singers "Spotlight" competition. In 1 minute flat going from 2nd floor to 1st, I told JOY (williams) my problem and she solved it. Sent me to her favorite DR in Nashville who sent me to his favorite Doctor in NY.
Dr. Yahn found a non cancerous cyst. Removed it in surgery, teamed me up with Israeli voice therapist Anat Keidar and a week later, I was singing 8 notes higher. A few years later I went on tour and because the Lord healed me, I was able to sing almost every night for 18 months straight...no problem.
Take the actions, let go of the reults. Get the research done regarding your issue, then lift up your voice to the heavens and say, it's YOURS Lord. I am YOURS LORD. This is what I have learned and am learning each day I live. There is a time to get info and talk to your friends and research and then there is a time to sit down and let Go and let God.
I pray this blesses somebody. I'm taking my "peace pill" now regarding some other things I find myself attached to- some dreams I have been holding onto a little too tightly, some THINGS I want, etc. But it's all the Lord's now. I sit quietly in His presence, happy to be here, grateful for what He has already done. Happy if I get what I want, content if I don't.
(this blog Inspired by The Bible, Philippians chapter 4 & the Alanon Program, Step 3)
I had a TOTAL Epiphany this morning!!!!
Reading into the "signs" in our lives can be helpful sometimes. But we must hold God's ideas from His Word higher than any signs.
Meaning- we could google what God's word (The Bible) says on that topic in His Word first.
Otherwise, if we read the signs without knowing God's truth, we run into the danger of OVERTHINKING, WRONG THINKING & being MISLED by our own inferior ideas.
We risk missing God's Will (His will for us NOT to try and Be God & leaders of our own lives). If we do the former thing, we will find peace.
What questions do you have for the Lord about your life and where you are going? "Google" search his Word. This is my challange for the New Year.
Prayer:
Lord, I am so sorry for allowing my mind to run rampant, obsessing about things without need to do so. Help me to let Go and Let YOU be in charge. How important is this decision or idea I have anyway? If it's that important, I know you will guide me. Help me have patience as I wait for the answer and to keep busy helping those in need as I wait so as not to waste away in my thoughts. I surrender to you everything I am and everything I want to become. You are the best leader this universe has ever known- perect and unfailing in your love, merciful to save, awesome in love.
written by Michelle Gold, 9-11-2012
Based on 1 Peter 1:24 and 25
Scroll down & press play button (tiny blue sideways triangle on left) to hear the song "ALMOST SLIPPED AWAY" while reading, by MIchelle Gold & Michele L. Jaffe
“All people are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of the Lord endures forever.
When people have a revelation of their own mortality, we begin to seek more deeply those things which are eternal…something more lasting and more meaningful.
This morning, the early morning news showed the twin towers going up in smoke. I was there that day. Well not there in the buildings but just 30 blocks away in New York City. I was at my singing lesson and then scurrying thru the streets over to Joe's office to see if he was safe. He was.
But Joe and I felt an enormous hole in our hearts that day as if smoke went up in our hearts. We watched something GLORIOUS & seemingly unmovable and unshakable - the twin towers, go up into flames and smoke. We saw friends and friends of friends leave this life in moments. We felt heavenly tears falling from the sky.
It was the evil of this world, it was one of the greatest tragedies I had ever seen.
Joe and I offered blood at the hospital but were turned away so instead we hit the streets to talk to strangers about the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob, who sent the Messiah to die for us so we could have everlasting life…the God who could bring comfort to their hearts. I felt like I wish I could have done much more but being in such shock, I wasn't sure what else to do at the time. I lost a very close friend and friends of friends.
Like the Titanic or much worse, something glorious, something seemingly unshakable WENT DOWN.
The message of hope and healing today?
1. Let us mourn with those who mourn and pray deeply for the families who lost loved ones. This is what the Lord Himself has asked of us. If you lost someone, please know I and praying deeply for you today and mourn with you.
2. Let us be wholeheartedly drawn to a loving relationship with our Heavenly Father as a child runs into his/her daddy's arms. Recoginzing our own mortality will lead us to reach for God who longs to be the lover of our soul. When buildings fall, when loved ones are lost and gone, when hurts run too deep to put into words, we have a powerful love pouring down from the heavenliness which does not fail us. In addition to love, we have the promise of a far greater life than this when we die- a perfect life where there are no more tears and no more suffering. (John 14:6 and the Book of Revelation, chapter 21)
3. Let us become people of healing ACTION. In Hebrew and in the Jewish tradition, we say "Tikkun Olam"- referring to our unquestionable responsibility to repair the world. A pastor friend of mine reminded me of the story of the little boy in the Bible who had very little to give…his measly lunch!!! But the Lord was able to multiply it and feed the multitudes.
With the little that we have to give; a kind word, a loving tone, an unexpected gift, a heartfelt loving prayer for a friend, a dinner invitation to a lonely soul, a song, dance or artistic work with a healing message, we can bring reparation to the world. Though it sounds idealistic, we must believe that it is not. We must believe that we can be a light for those who stand or sit in darkness.
MY PRAYERS BE WITH THE FAMILIES OF THOSE LOST IN 9-11
My emotions are bursting as I type, not knowing what to say or how to express myself. But I am passionatly aware that the enemy of my soul has tried to trick me more than once into thinking I am not worth it. There have been times that even though my BRAIN says, I am loved and I am crowned with splendor by God, I fear I am not worth one thought, one friendship, one heart. "Give up live ministry performance!" the voice says. "No one cares about your message & your existance," the voice says.
But then I recall the voice of my God, the voice of my mother and the voice of my husband and mentor Joe Franco. All three of these voices have been powerful influences in my life. All three of these have spoken (to me or about me) with greatness of attitude and overwhelming excitment about my future. The Word of God in the Jewish Scriptures (book of Jeremiah) says that God has plans to prosper me and you. There are tons of beautiful scriptures about how I am (and you are also) a crown of splendor in God's mighty hand and how when we believe in Him, we become a royal priesthood, a holy nation...ROYALTY!!!
I try therpay on myself. "SNAP OUT OF THIS," my heart yells at me. "None of us feels we are worth much at all until the Lord comes along and shows us our value is in Him." A more gentle kind of therapy follows. I imagine how I would react if my own daughter told me she doesnt feel worth anything. Oh my goodness and if SHE said she wasnt worth it to ME, I would utterly embrace her. I would look her in the eyes and with every bit of ferver within me, I would tell her that her feelings are not facts. I would tell her she is worth more than the moon and the stars to me.
So what do we do with our twisted minds? How do we tame the thoughts which turn us away from God's will and from loving ourselves? We MUST surround ourselves with praiseworthy friends who lift us up, music which lifts us up and the Word of God. We MUST pray & let God heal us. We can do that now.
LET'S PRAY TOGETHER:
Father forgive me for thinking I am not worth it. You made me and I dont mean to insult your beautiful works. You said in Psalm 145 that I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Help me to love and value myself each day no matter what I do or dont do and no matter what others say or don't say. Lord, love me and teach me how to love myself as you do.
Love, your princess, Michelle Gold
Inspired by this article: http://www.allaboutphilosophy.org/what-am-i-worth-faq.htm
"A certain young man named Eutychus sat in the window, weighed down with deep sleep. As Paul spoke still longer, being weighed down by his sleep, he fell down from the third story, and was taken up dead. 10 Paul went down, and fell upon him, and embracing him said, “Don’t be troubled, for his life is in him.” (The World English Bible Messianic Version)
Lately, I have felt doomy and gloomy allowing negative thoughts to convince me of their worth. The thoughts say, "This cold you have will just never go away," "you will never get ahead financially," you are stuck at your current weight and you might as well just continue not thinking about it, "you try to get close to God but He is going to feel far away for the rest of your life."
If you are reading this and you have these thoughts too, let's stand against the itty bitty hogwash committees in our heads and call the evil one a liar! Yes, the evil entity (whom I believe is called ha satan in Hebrew) who seeks to destroy our very lives. This evil being seeks to strip us of hope for our future and of our faith.
The most memorable scripture I have heard which also comes alive to me now is about FAITH. Faith is being SURE of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Knowing this, our feelings and thoughts have NO POWER over you and over me today. It's healthy to acknowledge them and maybe pat yourself on the back like a child and validate yourself (eg- "I know you feel that way and I understand why you feel so down)
BUT BUT BUT, God reminds us in this story from scripture above, that there is no need to be troubled because "LIFE IS IN HIM!" I lay my hands upon my head and my heart one at a time and I now prolaim life. WIll you join me? I say, "I refuse to be troubled, LIFE IS IN ME!" The God who has the power to GIVE LIFE loves me and you. The Messiah who rose from the grave and defeated death LIVES in us when we believe. His LIFE is in us. He breathes in us. HIs confidence, hope, determination and strength to go forward in faith LIVES in us.
So today, as in my Jewish traditions of old, I thank the almighty One for life- not just physical life but life in my heart and in my mind, I proclaim it and relinquish all thoughts and feelings which bring me to the grave of despair. TO LIFE! I say, "La Chaim!"
I pray you are encouraged today with me by this scripture and inspiration.
Are you celebrating life today? If not, invite Yeshua into your heart and He will fill you with rivers of living water and give you life. He said Come onto me all you who are weary...
Love you!
michelle gold
Recently I read a very heart stirring article by Mitch Glaser, head of Chosen People Ministries, one of the greatest Jewish outreach minitries in the world. The article posed a question about the dwindling support for Israel in our current generation. Here is my response pasted from his blog page. Love to hear your thoughts...
"Thank you Mitch for your sharing about such a vital topic. I can tell you that for many years, though proud to be a little Jewish girl from Brooklyn, I was not even aware of how important it is to support Israel.
I was raised to think of Israel as a state and not as a people, my people. I was even raised to resent that Israel could need or require more support than Jews anywhere else in the world. Besides, my Dad would tell me about all the Jewish people on Kingshwy in Brooklyn and in Russia- they needed my “support” or so he taught me there was nothing different about Israel.
But I know now thatthere is. What changed my heart towards Israel is this. My friend Byron Spradlin said to me, Michelle, if you don’t go (and help the Jewish people) who else will? That day I realized that I was called as a Jewish woman like Esther to bring salvation to my people, for such a time as this.
I came to realize that though there are Jewish people all over the world, that most of my Jewish PEOPLE live in the land of Israel. It then dawned on me that the land is vital because our people are the heartbeat of God. (as stated in Romans 10 when Paull expressed his desire to see my people saved) God longs for us.
I have a deep love and support for Israel like never before. Yes, some might argue that supporting Israel is a political thing and that the topic should stay out of the church. But the Lord has shown me, the contrary. Israel is His people, that’s a spiritual topic. Supportng Israel is part of the great commission. I feel like God is saying to the church today, “If you love my people, you’ll protect their land.”
michelle gold
http://www.michellegold.com
Music dscribed as Celine Dion & Beyonce meet Yeshua Jesus in Jerusalem.
Pasted from the Blog of Dr. Mitch Glaser
Last night I had a dream. It was both terrifying and beautiful all at once. How can these descriptive words end up in the same sentence? By Faith. By faith we can look at circumstances which cry out "DOOM AND GLOOM" and quiet our souls. Like a Mother to a newborn we can say to ourselves, "It's OK, everything WILL be OK." and somehow we know it will.
But the faith of this here Brooklyn Mommy does not hold a candle to to some people I love and have grown in awe of. The faith that my husband Joe has, for example, often has me floored, or as we like to slightly mispronounce it in "Brooklynese," "FLAWD!"
Here's my beautiful terrifying dream. Joey and I and our newborn are driving on a scenic tour through Jamaica or some breathtaking Island- maybe Fiji or somewhere in the Caribbean. From a far, we see the entire Island overtaken by the waves of the greenish sea and the people are screaming and crying for help.
The bus driver stops the bus on the highest mountainous part of the route and says something to the extent of, "Folks, THIS is where our ride ends. There is nothing we can do now." Joey and I and Baby Micah step off the bus, stand on the mountain, and are all in a husband-lead huddle quite terrified. I gaze upon my newborn with tears of grief knowing he'll never see the world I once grew to love and know.
The brightest noonday smile appears on Joey's face looking up to the sky, to God and to creation. With faith & joy greater than any I have ever seen, Joe says, "Guys, we're going to close our eyes now. We're going to wake up and we're going to see the Lord right now (face to face. In my dream, I felt at peace with going HOME to God, to Yeshua to my next life. But I could not take hold of letting go of this newborn babe God has so recently placed in my arms.
Holding the baby higher and higher towards the sky with my arms outstretched, the waves began to cover my waste, my shoulders, my face, until I could no longer save the baby boy. The reassuring thought came to me that Bella was home with family who would care for her. We all closed our eyes and went home, under the sea, over the rainbow and into the arms of a most Holy, loving God whose ways and thoughts we do not always understand. But we trust. We trust THAT life, the next life is better than this one- way better- with no crying, no tears, no injury, abuse, aids, violence and condemnation.
Waking up this morning, I told my husband that I think his faith is AMAZING. Of course, he humbly and jokingly berated himself, saying he'd probably be just as terrified. But I knew he was just trying to be humble and sweet and silly. Because I know Joe and I know he survived losing his first wife. And I know he has survived a great deal more with great faith ) even in hard times.
Yes, he's had his share of pity parties he's admitted to (like all of us). But they beauty of his walk with the Lord is that even those pity fits lead to regret and repentance and a closer walk with God. (Romans 3:23 tells us that we all fall short of the glory of God.
That's why I ask the Lord today for faith that is amazing. Faith that is supernatural which does not come from within me but from the skies. (the heavenlies) I pray disaster not strike me before I have faith that is amazing. Will you pray that kind of radical prayer with me? Say it now with me if you dare, "Let not disaster strike me, before I have faith that is amazing and a passion in my relationship with you Lord."
Amen.
This blog was inspired by my loving husband, Joe Franco and his mother, Millie, who always stood out to me as a woman with faith that is amazing.
Love,
Mish
Ok. I don't know about you! But I have ALWAYS wondered, "Does the Lord care whether I wear Red shoes or Green? I have attended LOTS of great Bible studies with balanced teachers who taught on the topic of God's guidance and attention to detail. Let's face it! I know HE, the Creator, the Holy one has designed our planet, universe, world with unfathomable and awe inspiring detail.
I know the scripture says we belong to Him and are His sheep and that He can count every hair on our little heads. But what about the TINY seemingly unimportant details. Not to use the word "care" wrongly. I know God cares for us in every way. But does he wish to be part of the tiny decisions?
On one hand, I wanna answer you this way. "Come on folks! GET REAL! I seek God about my daily activities, decisions and attitudes. But when I hit my closet (as I am lucky enough to have a walk in closet now that I live in Nashville), I can't bare to ask God which shoes I should wear. I think it rather laughable. I'd worry about falling under the category of someone who is "so spiritually minded, they are no earthly good." In other words, someone who would spend an hour in the closet praying for God to show them which shoes to wear only to ignore the family God gave them to love and minister to.
On the other hand, my husband Joe made me second-guess myself tonight when I asked him this very question. Maybe God DOES care about which shoes we wear!! The REAL decision I was trying to make tonight was whether I should attend a Mother's (MOPS) group tomorrow or to stay home and rest. So the phrase I have been saying for years in my head pops out of my mouth and I said to Joe, "Joey, do you think God really cares about whether I wear the Red shoes or the Green?"
To which Joey replied, " SOMETIMES even details like which color shoes you wear could concern God." For example, what if you wear the Red shoes and they attract someone to you to come & talk. And because of that conversation, you get the opportunity to bless them with prayer or you get the opportunity to share your faith in Yeshua with them?"
DID I JUST SAY YESHUA while talking about SHOES? OK- I can hear the puns you are now creating in your head with me! But let's be serious for a moment.
Can we agree that sometimes, God does have a preference about the tiny seemingly unimportant details of our lives?
LET'S PRAY NOW
Yeshua, I am no scholar so please forgive me if I've misunderstood your direction in my life. I ask you to make things plain to me with regard to the direction I am going. Like Moses said, I want to say now, "if you're presence does not go with me, I don't want to go at all." Help me to seek you for every decision of my life that might make a true and noticeable impact on others.
I love you and want my life to make a difference. I want to be a blessing. Let me feel your peace as I make decisions that are good. And convict my soul when a decision is not the best one for me. I am completely filled with joy that I have a beautiful & loving God who loves and leads me like a little precious lamb. Thank you Lord for hearing this prayer for discernment. Amen.
******************************************************************************************
SCRIPTURES I THOUGHT OF WHEN WRITING THIS:
Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. (Luke 12:7)
I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you,
who directs you in the way you should go. (Isaiah 48:17)
The LORD wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent
and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters.
He makes the clouds his chariot (An excerpt from Pslam 104)
Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. (Psalm 100:3)
"If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?" (Exodus 33:15-16, NIV).
ANOTHER GREAT ARTICLE TO CONSIDER READING
(It's about seeking God's presence)
Hope the argument I had with myself today inspires you to seek God in the tiny decisions especially where your decision will make a strong impact on others.
All my love,
Michelle
"I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night." For complete scripture, click here.
Blessings! Michelle Gold here.
Today I got an email from a friend or fan of mine in Germany who I look up to a great deal. I was so impressed by the words of wisdom and encouragement he shared regarding making a difference and sharing a message as a friend or even as an artist . musician with a message of hope. Just HAD to share it with you.
I feel what he said is applicable to our lives as we sing for the Lord and draw His people to Him during a song or even after a concert. ENJOY this brief word...
"Two people thanked me yesterday after praying the salvation prayer...And I thought, we are really like postmen: delivering a special registered mail, that requires a signature of acceptance and receipt!
We have not paid their sins, gone all the way, most often we have only interceded some spare minutes etc etc our works are light and futile, useless slaves. But HE, He has taken the unmeasurable burden of all generations...I find no words powerful enough to describe...
He has in His great love given us this glorious task to convey that good news and hand out and explain that glorious mail letter. Some will take it and open it and some will grow into joyous servants of the King."
12-step / Overcomer's Perspective
All this postman talk is another reminder of how valuable you and I are to our God, the Lord. Also a reminder of how the work is done THROUGH HIM, His love and power, and by His RUACH HA KODESH (His Holy Spirit) and not through our own strength alone. All we have to do is show up and LOVE God and love His people and open our mouths to share. We can also pray for love when we don't have it. We have been posted by God.
Messianic Perspective
Jerusalem, my Jewish people need postmen like you and me to knock on the doors of their walls, their hearts! Many teach that my Jewish people are hopeless because we have turned away. Not tue. God is married to his chosen people.& has not rejected us who do not yet believe in Yeshua (Romans 11:1) We have NOT stumbled so as to fall "beyond recovery" or beyond believing, as some might teach.
In fact, Sharing your message of Messiah to my people will make you rich in spirit. Some even teach that my Jewish people have an auto. pass to heaven without Messiah. Not true. Messiah gave his life as atonement for us ALL. So why not share the good news with your Jewish friends in love and with confidence? Just be a postman! **
Let's Pray
Yeshua, Lord, I want to be a postman for you delivering your most wonderful message of hope. Give me urgency and excitement. Help me to not be silent and to not close my eyes no matter how I feel. Make me your messenger and peace ambassador. Amen.
Short note to you who wants to be a postman today to your Jewish friend: Please note that contrary to popular opinion, a Jewish person CAN still be Jewish and believe in Yeshua (Jesus in Hebrew) . Yeshua Himself was Jewish and all the first believers were too! It's great to know that we like to call Jesus, "Messiah" or "Yeshua" because years ago, in the Holocaust, some killed in the name of Jesus.
Thankfully, we are very certain that those people were not real believers because real believers would never kill! But because of this great tragedy, some of my people prefer the Hebrew name for Jesus (Yeshua), and prefer "Messiah" instead of "Christ." Same meaning, but more truthful to use the Hebrew names I think.
Hope you are inspired. So please Mr/Mrs. Postman...LOL
Hey! I LOVE " blogging with you." Because I can be real and I can be myself. No reason I have to act like I have it all together, right? I am human. Though I have become a very confident woman and blessed by the Lord, I also have struggles like everyone else. Surprise! LOL! I know you are shocked right? You thought I had it all together now. (I do a bad job at sarcastic joking, dont I?) Thank you for listening to my *"mish-e-gas." LOL get it? I am so glad you are in my life.
I want to announce to you, my beloved friends and fans that during this Spring Season, more times than once, twice, etc, I ACTUALLY THOUGHT OF GIVING UP SINGING LIVE FOREVER! Planning to never minister live/ do another concert every again was something I was highly considering. I said it out loud numerous times and this seemed to be a REAL and heartfelt option. What should I say from here? I suffered with this decision as I prayed and asked my God, Does my voice really matter? Didn't I say or sing enough already? Is it over? My passion for singing left me.
But the more I pray today, the more I think of all the people I know and the people I don't know who are suffering. I remember now that God uses music and that music can be a very powerful tool to bring a message of hope, of healing and of salvation in ways that the spoken word is limited. I recall now "the meeting" I had with the Lord when I was just 8 years old and had thought about ending my life. A voice I heard in my head said, Michelle Gold, you cannot die. I have have a purpose for your life to sing and bring a message of hope to the world. I knew the thoughts were too mature to have come from my own heart. these words MUST have been from our God who loves us and has a plan for our lives.
Today, I ask God to renew the joy of my salvation. I ask Him to restore the joy of sharing the message which I have so passionately shared for over 11 years (just counting my years singing Spiritual music alone) in the U.S., El Salvador, Denmark and all over Europe and Israel.
So what happened? Being in Nashville, where everyone wants to be a star and everyone sings like Celine Dion and Ce Ce Winans, I got jaded. Beginning to unappreciate my gifts, I began to cast them aside. How am I valuable in this world?, I would ask myself. There are 90,000 other singers who sing about God's greatness so why me?
Today I know that I am valuable in God's Eyes. We must look at our lives, our selves, our gifts our beings THROUGH HEAVEN'S EYES! (Check out my favorite song from Prince of Egypt called Heaven's Eyes for the full message) I once had a vision of a candy store FILLED with chocolate bars! ooh! My favorite! It was revealed to me in a dream how all of those chocolates were so important. If we only had one, we would be sick of it soon. The variety of taste and richness fulfills us. So our gifts and talents also are important NO MATTER HOW MANY OTHERS EXIST! This vision I remember now and I realize how my existence matters.
12-Step Perspective or "spin": Just for today, I shall know that I am valuable to my God or higher power. God does not make junk. We are His handywork. I will look at myself thru the eyes of a LOVING Father. I will speak to my spirit the way I speak to my little baby girl- with love, gentleness and great faith in her abilities.
Messianic Spin: the prophet Isaiah said to God's people like you and me: (Chapter 62)
You will be a crown of splendor in the LORD's hand,
a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
No longer will they call you Deserted,
or name your land Desolate.
But you will be called Hephzibah (my delight is in her)
and your land Beulah (married or beautiful)
for the LORD will take delight in you...
PRAYER OF RESPONSE:
Oh my Adonai, my mighty God and loving Father, please imprint these words onto my heart- that I am loved by you, that I am your royal diadem and that you delight in me. Remove the ugly words in my head that I say toward myself and help me to see myself and my gifts through heaven's eyes. May I NEVER throw away the gifts you have given me. That would be aweful and it would hurt your heart as much as seeing those I love throw their gifts and lives away. Fill me with your sense of purpose and restore the joy of my salvation. Amen.
Mi-she-gas: n. (pronounced mish-eh-GOSS). Also spelled mishegoss or mishegaas. Once again, Jewish people can’t agree on how to spell anything, such as Hannukah or Chanukah. Mishegas is a Yiddish word that literally means insanity or madness, but is more often used in a playful description of a wacky, kooky state of being. For example, "Mishegas of Motherhood" is intended to describe how children drive their parents crazy.
Last night, on American Idol, one of the top contestants, Big Mike, who has a voice like Luther Vandross got booted off. (temporally, that is) With his great talent & his winning personality, you just knew he was bound to win. But there he was, in the bottom 3, the one how received the least amount of votes.
Did America forget to vote? It left us all feeling lost. Was all of his talent and personality worthless? I don’t think so!!!! We all knew he was born to win. He has class; he has heart and smooth vocals that can tame a lion. LOL!
Bottom line, the judges then gave him a free pass, which overruled all of America's votes or lack of. AND BIG MIKE WAS SAVED!!!!! You’ll see him on the show next week and he's bound to be a winner or at least make great music for us all.
A guy with a powerful voice- a new Dad, a man with a beautiful wife who cries for joy on TV when he wins and probably cries with love for him when he loses.
But what about you? Are you like Big Mike? Have you been overlooked by the world? Have you been unfairly forgotten? Has all the work you've been doing gone totally un-noticed? Do you feel scared about your future and family's security in this crazy economy? Do you feel lost?
Well, I was once like you. Then, Yeshua, the Jewish Messiah, came along and just like Big Mike, I GOT SAVED! Saved out of being sick and tired of my life, saved out of sorrow, saved from fear of my future (anxiety). And I was saved out of my biggest fear of all- the fear that God was far away.
I know now that Yeshua, the Jewish Messiah, gave his life for me and for you as an atonement for our wrongs, our sin our shame. He is never far away but lives in our hearts when we invite Him in. Believing in Him, the Jewish Savior of the world and of MY HEART, I have never been more happy. And as for my Judaism, I have never been more Jewish in my life than I am now by believing in the Jewish Messiah. I just prayed a simple humble prayer sincerely to allow him to lead my life.
Do you want to be saved? I want you to be saved. God is proposing to you. Will you say yes?
PRAY WITH ME:
Avinu Malchenu, my Father and King. I admit to you that I am lost without your love. I need to be saved. Come into my heart and be my leader and my friend. Be my Messiah. Replace my fear of the future with hope for tomorrow, replace my sorrow with joy and dancing. Thank you for writing my name in your book of life, heaven, forever. There is no greater joy than YOU.
Amen.
You have turned my sorrow into joyful dancing.No longer am I sad and wearing sackcloth. I thank you from my heart, and I will never stop singing your praises, My LORD and my God. (Psalm 30:11-12)
It’s 4:40pm at the Gold-Franco house. Not everyday is like today. Sometimes the grueling schedule of having a baby girl can be tiring. Sometimes she just cries and wants to be held and I have to put down anything else that seems important temporarily.
But today, I ask God to help me & suddenly, this JOY COMES OVER ME and I feel like a child again. Bella tickles my toes and reaches towards my face to kiss me saying, "MMMMMMMMMMWA!" Sweet. Her hugs and kisses "melt me" and I realize there is nothing on my mind that God can't handle for me. We STOP everything, run to the playroom, blast the music, sing, dance, and MAKE MUSIC TOGETHER!!!
Shaking the shakers in the air, Bella joins in by clicking her sticks. A few seconds later I hand her the my two blocks showing her the awesome rhythm they make. Then, the harmonica makes its sounds and before you know it, Bella and I are marching around the room singing and playing. I say to myself, “I cant believe I am marching around the room with a sinus infection and a headache the size of Brooklyn!" I am having a ball and my neighbors think I am crazy but I think I got it made.
Supernatural strength comes over me. This is the joy of the Lord which gives me strength!
12-STEP / OVER-COMER’S PERSCPECTIVE:
I am learning to ASK GOD FOR STRENGTH. I need His SUPERNATURAL Power.
I remove "Stinkin Thinkin" by filling my mind with hopeful words from the Lord rather than what I say or think. When I read the proverbs and psalms or scriptures everyday, the words I read refresh me like a fountain pouring over me. The Word of God is medicine to my soul. I sit in bed with my coffee and my Bible. Without it, I tire, I have compassion fatigue and nothing within me sparkles with joy.
JEWISH AND MESSIANIC SPIN:
I’m reminded of what I love most about my Jewish culture. When you are Jewish, it’s unheard of to have a celebration without a song and a dance. Davidic dancing, or dancing in a circle is something we do for fun and rejoicing.
We sing and dance at weddings and at Shabbat Service on Saturdays. It is tasteful dancing, praising the creator of the universe and giving thanks. (To check out FREE or affordable Israeli dance classes in your area, check out http://www.israelidance.com)
Another words, Though there are many bills to pay and miracles that I am awaiting, I forget all my worries and cares and remember what it means to come to the Lord like a child. There's a time for everything. And sometimes, it's the time to sing and dance! Let’s learn to sing and dance and thank God even when things are not perfect.
LET'S PRAY:
Lord, I ask you for strength. Give me a heart of gratitude. Help me to sing and dance like a child. Let me experience your joy!!! I need your help, Hashem. I love you. Amen.
ABOUT MUSIC TOGETHER:
Music Together is an internationally recognized early childhood music program for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarteners, and the adults who love them. I’ll be teaching a class this April in Nashville at the Green Hills Mall in TN. (Thursday afternoons)
The class comes with 2 cds (one for the car, one for the house) jammed with phenomenal LIVE music for children with exotic tempos & interesting melodies from all over the world, major and minor, and even some songs we all grew up with. It’s fascinating music to share!
TO JOIN MY MUSIC TOGETHER CLASS THIS APRIL (UNDER DIRECTOR, KYM JOHNSON) OR GET MORE INFO, check out MUSiC CITY MUSIC TOGETHER.
New classes begin before April. Registration OPEN NOW! see you there!
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