This Blog Has Moved!

I am moving this blog, along with my Little Rv on the Hillside Blog. You can find this blog here: Abi's Thoughts on God

Area Closed: By Whose Authority?

Hmmm...the sign says "Area Closed". Well, by whose authority is it closed? Why can't we go out there? Who makes the rules anyway??? Shouldn't I be able to do what I want? Shouldn't I be able to go out there if I want to?

The picture is of a place called "Natural Bridges" on the California Coast. Notice the plural in the name..."bridges". If you go here, you can see a picture of two natural bridges. Yet, notice the description they give:

This beach, with its famous natural bridge, is an excellent vantage point for viewing shore birds, migrating whales, and seals and otters playing offshore.

Do you see the singular "bridge"? You see, the constant pounding of the waves that helped to shape the bridges...also destroys them. In other words, it is not really all that safe to be out on top. It all depends on how thin that "bridge" of rock is getting. The thinner it gets, the more unstable it becomes and the less safe it is to walk across it!

Check out this picture of it now. There is only one bridge left. There was only one bridge left in the photo at the top of this post.

There are rules to keep us safe. This sign was posted by the authority of the California State Parks. What about life, though, as a whole? Who makes the rules for that? Who has the authority to say what is right and what is wrong...what is safe and what is not?

As a society we make determinations of right and wrong and we make rules for safety reasons. On a simple level, there are laws telling us not to run red lights. On a more serious level, there are laws against murder. Some of those seem to be quite obvious. I mean, everyone knows you should not run red lights and you should not murder people, right?

Well, apparently not. Red lights are run all the time, sometimes with very serious consequences. People are murdered all the time. Clearly, there are some who believe they have a right to do what they want...period! They apparently do not see that there is anything wrong with running red lights or murder.

Does what is right and wrong change over time? When I was a young girl in school you knew that cheating was wrong. Cheaters were looked down upon. There was an article written in 2002 called: Survey: Many Students Say Cheating's OK. Follow the link to see the article.

So, who has the real authority to determine what is right and what is wrong? People keep changing the "rules". So, if the rules keep changing...why follow rules at all? What if my idea of what is right and wrong differs with yours? What rules, or maybe it should be "whose" rules, should we follow?

There is one ultimate authority...the One who made this whole universe. He designed it. He created it. He knows what works best. He has the authority to make the rules. He wants to protect us from the harm we can do to ourselves and to others, so He makes rules for us to follow.

This universe started off perfect and with only one rule really. But the first guy, Adam, well...he blew it for all of us. He brought imperfection to this perfect universe and we have all been paying the price ever since. We see it in sickness and death. We see it in major storms, like hurricanes and tsunamis. We see it in earthquakes. Even worse, we see it in the wickedness of people's hearts.

While there is nothing we can really do about the storms of nature and earthquakes, there is something we can do about man's inhumanity to man. God provided the answer to that...His Son. He sent His Son so that hearts could be changed...so that we could reconnect with our Creator...spirit to spirit.

I am not talking about people who SAY they love God...and then do evil. I am talking about people with a true heart connection with Him. People who truly are connected with their Creator won't intentionally hurt or use others. They will work to make this world a better place...with love and compassion for others. They will listen to, and obey, God's voice as He directs them in how to really make a positive difference in this world. You may not know who they are because they may not "broadcast" their beliefs/connection with their words, but you sure will know them by their actions.

Laws won't do it. Government sure won't do it. Man without God won't do it. One person at a time, one heart at a time, we can make a difference in this world, with God's help.

Whose has authority to make the rules? God does! What happens when we break the rules? Well, look around you! The evidence is there. Let's make sure our hearts are in tune with the Creator and His Son. Let's make sure that we are doing what we can to make a positive difference in the world and in the lives of those around us. Let's encourage one another to be God's people...in the truest sense!

How Solid Is Your Foundation?

When you are building something...it does not matter what it is...if you don't have a solid foundation to build upon, whatever you are building will eventually crumble.

Of course, the most obvious first thing we think of are the buildings we live and work in...the places where we spend the most time. We want to know that we are safe in those places.

When my husband and I moved here, we were looking at houses to buy. I had dreams of an old farmhouse or an old "Victorian" era house. Well, we saw some very interesting houses. Many of them had real character and promise, even though they needed a bit of working on. Several times we got a bit excited.

Then Dave would check the foundations and our hearts would sink. How sad to see these houses that had such promise with crumbling foundations. We knew that it would not make any difference what we did with them...how nice we made them look. Eventually, they would just fall.

Some of the houses we looked at already showed signs of weak foundations. We saw fireplaces leaning in and away from the outer walls. We saw floors that were bowed or slanted. We were amazed at what all we saw. I am not simply talking about houses that are out of square, as many of the older houses are. I am talking about houses that are in bad shape due to bad foundations and houses that were headed in that direction due to bad foundations.

We felt sad and wondered how many people in the area were actually living in houses that were literally falling apart around them. We also wondered how many people even knew about it.

Repairing a foundation can be costly. Even more so is trying to replace one. In some instances, the damage to the house may already be so extensive that a bulldozer is really the only option. Bulldoze it and start over with something totally new.

As concerned as we are about the foundations of the places where our physical bodies dwell, there is another foundation that is even more important. The foundations of where our spirits dwell. This life is not all there is. There is a life beyond this one. What do we know about it? How can we know about it? Our spirits are eternal. What happens after physical death? What are we building our spiritual lives upon?

If it is that critical that we get our physical foundations strong and true, how much more critical it is that we get our spiritual foundations strong and true! There are people who do not realize that the houses they are living in are going to someday collapse around them due to a poor foundation. There are also many people who are in for a nasty surprise spiritually because they are not paying attention to the foundation for their spiritual life!

Some may think they are not "spiritual" people. However, we all are, whether we realize it or not. We are all designed by our Creator to worship Him. If we don't worship Him, we will end up worshiping something else, but we WILL worship for we are designed to worship! We may worship money, or career, or notoriety, or people, or love, or ____(fill in the blank). We WILL worship something or someone!

So, what are you building your spiritual foundation upon? Is it built upon the solid foundation of the Creator and His true word as found in the bible? Is it being built upon His Son Yeshua/Jesus, who is also known as the "Word"?

Just as there are many people who sincerely (yet erroneously) believe that the foundation of their home is fine, there are also many people who sincerely (yet erroneously) believe that their spiritual foundation is fine. Both kinds of people are in for a horrible suprise in the end...IF they don't check their foundation and do what is needed to fix it...or even replace it.

For some, all that is required is some repair work. Some of us have strayed from living as Yahweh God has called us and designed us to live. We just need to get back into having a stronger understanding of who He is and who we are. We need to strengthen our heart connection with Him. We need to repent (go in the opposite direction) in the areas where we have strayed from Him and His truth.

Some of us need a LOT of changing! We need to replace the foundation altogether because it is so weak and so wrong. Our spiritual lives are a mess because the foundation is so bad. We need major overhauls. We need to get really serious with our Creator and make sure that we are not fooling ourselves as to where we really stand with Him.

The sad thing is, we may be totally blind to the real condition of our spiritual lives. Paul wrote in 2Corinthians 13:5 Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you--unless indeed you fail the test?

Yeshua/Jesus said in Mat 7:22-23 Many will tell me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy in your name, in your name cast out demons, and in your name do many mighty works?' Then I will tell them, 'I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.'

Those are sobering words! We can think we have it right...and yet don't! That whole chapter in Matthew is a very interesting one. It gives a story Yeshua told about how important the right foundation is. I encourage everyone to read it.

I also encourage everyone to really think about your spiritual life. You do have one. What is it founded on? Is it founded upon some philosophy of man? Or upon some "religious" book? Or is it founded upon the words of the One who created you? Yeshua is the only One who said that He was going to die (and how) and that He was going to raise from the dead...and then did it!

The antiquity of the writings in the bible have been proven over and over. Yeshua fulfills so many prophecies in that book. To those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, the evidence is there about who Yeshua/Jesus really is.

In addition, we have His own words. He should know better than anyone who He really is. It is written in John 14:6 Yeshua said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me."

Did you get that? He is the ONLY way to the heavenly Abba/Father...the ONLY way. He leaves no doubt about there not being any other way besides Him. None!

It is also important to note what is said in this passage:
Mat 16:15-17 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
And Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

He is clearly identified here as being the Son of the living God. He is not merely a good teacher or prophet. A good teacher or true prophet will only speak the truth. Yeshua is either who He said He is...the Son of the living God and only way to the Father...or He is a liar or a lunatic or deceived. There are no other options.

Abba, please open people's eyes and hearts to see the truth and to receive You and Your Son. Help them to build a spiritual foundation that is strong and true. Help us all to stay strong in You and to always make sure that we are in the faith. Amen and amen!

In Our "Daddy's" Arms!

I know many people who struggle with the idea of God being our "Father"...and with good reason! Their own fathers did not treat them like a loving and protective father should. They suffered abuses of various kinds from the man called "father". Many lived in fear of him. His arms were not loving ones, so the image of "father" is not a pleasant one.

It can be very hard to overcome the images associated with that word. Some get around it by calling God by His other names. Some will call Him "Daddy", or "Papa". Some, like me, tend to call Him "Abba". That is the Hebrew equivalent for "Daddy". Typically, it is a very endearing term for a Hebrew child to use.

When Yeshua/Jesus (who was Hebrew) told us to pray to our heavenly Father in Matthew 6, He would have used the word He had for "Father/Daddy", which was "Abba". I know several besides myself who like to use "Abba" when referring to our heavenly Father.

Whatever we call Him, we need to get past the realities of the failings of the earthly men who bore the title "father" for us...however undeservedly. We need to see that our heavenly Abba is nothing like they were/are. He is perfect. He loves us perfectly. His discipline is in love as He wants what is best for us to help us to grow and mature in Him.

I like what one friend from long ago told me. When asked if he struggled with the idea of God being a "Father" since his own earthly father was so bad, he said he did not! In fact, he said that he appreciates his heavenly Father all the more because he had such a bad earthly father to contrast Him with. He looks upon God as being the Father he never had in this life.

What a way to look at it! Instead of letting his earthly father sour his viewpoint of his heavenly "Dad", he allowed the evil of his earthly father to give him a greater appreciation for his heavenly "Dad". I wish that everyone could do that. We all need a heavenly "Dad"...even those of us whose earthly ones were "good" Dads.

Abba, please help those who struggle with seeing You as a loving Daddy be able to see You for who You really are. Help them to be able to emotionally and spiritually snuggle in Your arms and sit upon Your lap, just as the child of a good earthly Daddy can. I know that my heart connection with You is such a blessing to me. I wish that all could experience that...and more! Please break down the barriers that come between people and You so that they can truly know Your incredible love for them. Amen and amen!

The Sunsets of Our Lives!

We are all approaching the sunsets of our lives. For some, it will come when we are very young. For most, when we are very old. We may get there full of vim and vigor. Or, we may get there bowed down by ill health.

However we get there...and whenever we get there...we WILL get there!

What is on the other side of that sunset? Do you know? Are you sure? Are you willing to risk your eternal life on it?

There is only One who really knows what is on the other side...the One who made both this side and that. He tells us in His Word what awaits us on the other side.

There are only two options really. Which option is yours? Do you know where you are headed? Are you sure?

Yahweh God says in His word that there will be many who think they are headed one way on the other side of sunset, only to discover they are actually going the other way.

The only way to know for sure which direction you are headed in is to read what the Creator has said about it in His written Word...the Bible. We must pay attention to what His Son, Yeshua/Jesus...the living Word...said about it. All else is simply the ideas of mere humans.

I know that there are many who say that there are many ways to God...but that is not what Yahweh God said. His Son Yeshua said "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me."

It is not about religion. It is not about "Christianity" or what some people mistakenly think "Christianity" is. It is about what Yeshua said about Himself and about His Abba/Father.

Before you head into the sunset...a sunset that could really come at any moment...I hope that you have checked it out for yourself.

I have put my trust in Yeshua. If I am wrong, I lose nothing. But if I am right, then anyone who rejects Yeshua will lose everything. According to Yeshua, refusing to accept is the same as rejection. It is a conscious choice we all must make.

I am not talking about the YeshuaJesus that some people "think" He is...I am talking about the true Yeshua of the Bible. I hope you check Him out without delay.

What Kind of House Have You Built?

What kind of spiritual house have we built? Is it solid? Is it strong? Is it built upon the foundation of what Yeshua/Jesus has done for us? Or is it weak, built upon human's ideas of what we want "god" to be like?

Does it look pretty and delightful on the outside, yet inside is hollow and empty? Does it taste sweet, yet rot our "teeth" and destroy our health?

There are many things in this life with which to fill ourselves spiritually. Yet, like this gingerbread house that looks so good and tastes so yummy, they will never really satisfy us. Oh, they might "fill" us for a while. We might enjoy them for a while. But they will always leave us unfulfilled...hungry again for something more substantial.

I hope that you have built your spiritual house upon the foundation of Yeshua/Jesus...the solid rock. I hope it's walls are sturdy with the truths of Yahweh God's word...the bible. I hope it is filled with the light and presence of the Holy Spirit. It is Yahweh, and He alone, who can help you build a solid spiritual house. One that protects you and is not hollow and empty.

I hope you seek Him now.

Jesus Is My Oasis!

Oasis: A place of refreshing in the middle of a desert area.

Life can bring many desert times. Deserts of the spirit. Deserts of the emotions. Deserts of finances. Deserts of ill health. All kinds of deserts.

Where do we go for refreshing in those desert times? What "oasis" do we run to?

There are all kinds of things the world can offer to us. However, those things may end up just causing us to feel more isolated, more wounded, more lost in the desert of life that we find ourselves wandering through.

There is really only one "oasis" that gives us true refreshing. It is the "oasis" of Yahweh God. His Spirit...His Ruach...can refresh as nothing else can. Only He knows exactly what we truly need. Only He can truly meet that need.

I hope that you have sought Him out. He is waiting for you to call out to Him...to acknowledge Your need for Him and to accept His Son, Yeshua. He wants to give You His Spirit to help you.

What's Behind the Door?

Children are so much fun to watch. They have what seems to be an unquenchable curiousity. When they see a door, you know what they are thinking. "What's behind the door?" There is always a wondering about hidden things.

So, what happens when we become adults? Do we hang onto that wonder and curiousity about things we do not know? Or do we lose it? Do we set it aside for the more "practical" things of life? Or, perhaps, do we simply assume that, because we are adults and know more, that we already know what is behind the door. Or we can make a pretty good guess...we think. Or maybe...we just don't think it is important anymore.

There is one door that none of us will be able to avoid...death. Do we know for sure what lies on the other side? Or are we just guessing? Are we pushing aside our curiousity? Or are we looking to find out?

Sometimes children are afraid of what might be on the other side of the door. Many people are afraid of what is on the other side of death's door. It is natural to be afraid of the unknown. But what is on the other side of death does not have to remain an unknown.

While we cannot know the specific details of what lies there, we can know for certain there are two places we can end up. We can choose to listen to the One who made what is on both sides of the door. He tells us what is there. He also tells us of His incredible love for us. He tells us through His prophets. He tells us through His Son...Yeshua/Jesus. He tells us through His written word...the Bible. He tells us through His creation. He tells us in so many ways...because He really WANTS us to know!

There are two places to go after death. He only wants us to go to the one where He will be with us for all eternity. It is our choice.

Hidden Light

We could not see the reddish color when I took this picture. It only showed up on the image from the camera. We needed special "eyes"...the eyes of the camera...to see it. It reminds me of a flame...a hidden flame.

We should have hearts that are aflame with love for our Lord...Yeshua/Jesus. Our hearts are hidden, though. They cannot be seen by the physical eye. Nor can what is in our hearts be seen...other than through our actions.

I wonder...do we have within our hearts a hidden flame of love for our Lord? Who would see it, if we do? Does it come out in ways that others can see it? Or is it so hidden that only God can see it?

Another question that comes to mind is this...if it is that hidden, how real is it? The light in this picture is not visible. How, or why, it showed up on this picture I have no idea. But I hope that the light of love that I have for Yahweh God shows up for all to see. I hope that it is not something that only He can see.

It says in God's Word to let our lights so shine before men so that they may see our good works, and glorify our Father who is in heaven. Is that how I live my life? Does my light shine? Or is it hidden?

Who's Piloting Your Craft?

Boy...I sure can be like a little child in the cockpit...fascinated by all the dials and gauges and yet having absolutely no clue as to what they are all about! If I were to try and fly a plane...oh boy! IF we even got off the ground, we probably would not stay in the air...or make it back down safely!

Nope! If I have to fly somewhere, I will let someone ELSE do the piloting, thank you! Someone who is trained. Someone who knows how to fly and where we are going. I don't want someone who does not know about the aircraft or how to get to our destination to try and fly me there. That includes me! I want to know that I am in capable hands.

Most of us would not even consider getting into an airplane flown by someone who is obviously untrained, inexperienced and lacking in knowledge. I don't know of anyone who would attempt to fly himself or herself without training and experience. Clearly, the best choice is to stick with a reputable airline that uses trained personnel. That is the obvious choice, right? People are not typically going to put their physical lives in that kind of danger!

Yet, we are also on a journey of far greater importance! A journey called "life". We are all headed to a destination...a destination we will arrive at after we die. The question is...are we placing our spiritual lives into the hands of Someone who knows about the destination choices? Someone who knows how to get us there safely?

We can rely upon the so called "wisdom" of humans...or...we can turn to the One who made us and let Him guide us there. I don't know about you...but I am not going to entrust my spiritual wellbeing to anyone other than the One whom I know is capable of getting me through life and safely to my final destination any more than I would entrust my physical wellbeing to someone who is not capable of flying the plane!

There is only One who is that capable...the One who made all the universe...including little old me. Yahweh God, His Son Yeshua/Jesus and His Spirit. They are getting me through this life. They will bring me safely to my final destination. What is my destination? Well, the one Yahweh created me for! The one He created for me!

Who Loves You?

We were at an air show and saw two planes making a giant heart in the sky. What a wonderful thing...to see such a sign of love proclaimed in the heavens! This sign was done by two human pilots. It is easy to see...very clear...very obvious.

I wonder how many times we miss the other signs of love in the heavens...the ones written by Yahweh God's divine hands. He created a whole universe for us to live in and enjoy. He made our beautiful planet so precisely, according to what our human bodies needed to live. Why? He does not need us. He is Yahweh God. We are mere humans. He had no reason other than He wanted a heart/love connection with us.

Then...we blew it. The first man and woman wanted more and disobeyed Yahweh God. How sad. It was a perfect beautiful world and they were not satisfied with that. Their disobedience brought consequences that we see in the world today. Evil came in and the heart connection between us and Him was broken. The heart connection we have with each other is broken.

Yet, Yahweh loves us sooooo much that He made a way for us to be reconnected with Him. He gave us Yeshua. There is a price for wrong doing...and the price was too great for us to ever be able to pay. So, our loving Yahweh sent His Son to pay that price for us. What an incredible gift!

Go figure! Humans blow it. Humans disobey. Humans break that heart connection with their Creator. Humans earn a penalty for their actions. Yet, Yeshua pays it all for us. Why? Out of love. There is no other reason! Simply love. That same love will some day bring about a new heaven and a new earth where the evil and brokenness will be no more!


You can read all about it in the bible. Check out the 1st few chapters of Genesis, the 3rd and 14th chapters of John and the 21st chapter of Revelation.

How Much Dirt Do You Have?

Dirt...it can get in the way of everything, leaving an awful mess. It tracks into the house. It blows through the windows. It's leaves a coating everywhere it lands. Kitchen counters become unfit for food preparation. Dishes are not clean enough to eat off of. Dirt, dirt, everywhere!

How much spiritual "dirt" covers our souls? Are we fit to be used by Yahweh God? Are we fit to serve spiritual food to help meet the needs of others? Are we vessels of service that, like those dirty dishes, need to be washed clean?

When Yeshua/Jesus physically walked this earth, people typically washed their feet when they entered a house. This was because the dirt on the roads would get all over their feet. Their roads were not paved like most of ours are today. Washing the feet refreshed them, made them feel good and kept the house cleaner.

I have always appreciated how Yeshua/Jesus washed His disciples feet at the Pesach/Passover meal the night before He was taken. It was typically the role of a servant to wash feet. Yet, He took it upon Himself. Why? Why Yeshua?

Peter balked at the idea of his Lord washing his feet like a mere servant. He protested! What did Yeshua say? He said that it was necessary...that if He did not wash Peter's feet...then Peter would have no part with Him. Wow! Those are strong words. Again...why?

Peter was a jump right in with two feet kind of guy. So, naturally, his response was to ask Yeshua to wash his hands and head, too! Yeshua's response? Well, He said that someone who has bathed only needs to have his feet washed. He is already clean in other respects. Then He mentions that not everyone there is clean. One is not! Hmmm...again, why?

I believe all the whys are because this is a symbol of something far greater than simple feet washing. There is more going on here than simply removing dirt. What is He really saying in this action? Well, here are my thoughts on it.

Yeshua had to do it because it was a parallel of spiritual uncleanness. Only He can wash us clean of all the wrong things we do...all the wrong thoughts and attitudes we harbor...the wrong words out of our mouth...the wrong actions we take. When we come to Him and ask His forgiveness, He washes us clean. Not everyone in the room had really done that...hence, there was one not clean.

We live in the world. Our souls come in contact with the world just as our feet come in contact with the ground. In the same way that our feet get covered up with dirt and dust, our souls get covered up with the "dirt" of the things we continue to do that are wrong...things that follow the world's ways rather than Yahweh God's ways.

What is the solution? We need a soul washing. While we can wash our own feet; we cannot wash our own souls. We need the help of the only One who can. We need to bring those dirty souls to Yeshua so that He can wash them. Those of us who have already come to Him for forgiveness are already clean as a whole. It is only our souls (feet) that need continual washing.

What a wonderful picture we have here of how we can always come to Yeshua to be refreshed and made completely clean again. No matter how many times we stumble and fall into the dirt of this world, if we truly want to change and come to Him, He will clean us up again.

That is good news! Oh, wait! That is what the word for "gospel" literally means...good news!

Read all about it in John 13!

Where Do You Hide?

Children love to play hide and seek. They love to find those "special" places to hide out in. We also have our hiding places. You know what I mean...those places we run to when life gets to be too much. What is yours? Is it the bottle? Is it food? Is it sex? Is it drugs? Is it controlling others? What do you hide in, or behind, when you don't want to face life?

Yahweh God's Word tells us Who we should hide in. Instead of having confidence in those things we tend to run to, we need to have confidence in what Yahweh God says we should have confidence in...Him.

Psa 18:2 AMP
The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Deliverer; my God, my keen and firm Strength in Whom I will trust and take refuge, my Shield, and the Horn of my salvation, my High Tower.

Psa 9:9 HNV
The LORD will also be a high tower for the oppressed; a high tower in times of trouble.

Psa 94:22 AMP
But the Lord has become my High Tower and Defense, and my God the Rock of my refuge.

We can count upon Him to be there for us to run to for refuge. He IS my High Tower and Defense!

Abba/Father, please help me to remember that it is to YOU that I should run when life feels overwhelming. Please help me to not substitute anything, or anyone, in this world for You and Your love and shelter. Amen!