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Marilyn Marie McCurdy
grew up a farmer’s daughter, the fifth of six children, in the northern part of Minnesota near the Canadian border. My father was 100% German and most of his relatives lived in the immediate area. My mother was 90% Norwegian, was born in and spent most of her childhood in North Dakota and later on in parts of Minnesota. Her father was a railroad engineer and she would travel on the train with him in the summer. One summer during a stop, her dog ran off through the field and came back with someone's lunch. That someone became my father.
My father and his dad built a large brick home together with some family and friends. It was practically two homes, one inside the other, because there was a double thickness of brick with six inches of air space in between. The temperature was always comfortable in that home even in the midst of the fiercest of winters, or the steamiest of summers. There are some pictures at the end of this page. He inherited the farm and that is the place where I lived until I went to college.
Besides growing sugar beets and various grains, dad raised cows and chickens, and was a beekeeper. He established a partnership with some of his relatives and set up a creamery business in a nearby town to sell milk, cream, butter, and eggs. During the winter months he would remain busy with his job as president of the men’s ministries at the church, and secretary for the National Farmers Union. He had several business trips each month and would travel to DC a few times each year.
After my three brothers moved away, my dad hired some helping hands and my mom hired a maid. I was twelve years old when my youngest brother, who is five years older than me, left for college and then joined the Air Force.
The farm was always astir with activity around the house, the gardens, in the barn yard, and the fields. I was captivated by life on the farm. My fondest memory on the farm is of walking through the forest with my dog, Prince. My worst memory has actually done more to shape me spiritually than any of those good memories. God used it for a purpose and I have seen that He is the author of my life and everything in it.
Most of my exposure to religion was limited to the Lutheran church my family attended. In a small community about three miles away, there were two Lutheran churches, one Missouri Synod and the other Wisconsin Synod, and a Catholic Church. There were only a few times that any discussion came up at school about the differences in these religions. I was always more interested in spiritual things and the Bible, than any topic at school.
I met my future husband while I was away at college. He was actually in the Air Force and stationed nearby. He proposed in May and we made plans to be married the following fall. He didn’t realize how hard it would be for my family to find any time during the harvest season for a wedding. We lived in North Dakota until he was discharged from the Air Force in December, when we moved to his hometown in Colorado. I prepared to meet all his family at a Christmas gathering by reviewing their pictures in an album they had sent him. I memorized each family and all their names. His family consisted of his mom and ten brothers and sisters. I would meet all but one sister who lived in Alabama. My husband was the third youngest, and his older siblings and one younger sister, were all married with children. This was now to be my family too.
I had a day care center in our home after our second child was born. I was very busy, yet my life was very empty. I had become very active in a nearby Lutheran church, teaching, leading Bible study, in women’s ministry, choir, evangelism, altar guild and other activities. Life was not fulfilling me like I thought it would. There was something wrong, something missing.
It was in November of 1975, my life was changed. I was rocking my third child, my ten month old baby boy, back to sleep late one night. There in the still of the night Jesus called me to come and follow Him. With careful thought I gave Him everything I had, material things didn't matter and I entrusted my family into His care. I had nothing that would hold me back from that invitation and so I accepted. But then there was only silence in the still of the night. This was the beginning of an incredible spiritual journey I have been experiencing in walking with the Lord ever since. This had changed my focus on life forever. My life now had a meaning and a purpose.
Unfortunately, my husband did not understand. After two years of struggle and counseling, he gave me an ultimatum; him or God. I stopped him before he got all the words out and told him I knew that he could anticipate my answer. He moved out and put the house up for sale. So the three kids and I were now on our own. He moved out of state and didn’t pay child support. The next few years were difficult financially and with many other struggles in life, but became the framework in which I would grow in faith and trust along another leg of my spiritual journey. God was still there in the midst of everything and teaching me through life’s experiences to trust HIm and to know that He is in control and promises to supply all our needs. .
After several jobs, apartments, through health problems, homelessness, and some other wild experiences, I landed a good job and found a decent place to live. I had remained active in the church during this time. I am grateful to many people there for supporting me financially, spiritually, and encouraging me to move forward. In 1978, Jews for Jesus came to sing and minster to us and told us about Jewish believers. My heart and my soul were stirred during their testimony. It was obvious to me that God had placed a soft spot for Jewish people in my heart. This would be the beginning of a special focus of ministry along my spiritual journey.
I met my current husband and was remarried after three years of struggling on my own. He came with two kids of his own. We have raised five children together through some challenging situations. Through the struggles of life I have found that God is faithful. He cares about everyday issues as well as the big events of life. He offers guidance, protection, wisdom, and daily provision, and His own power and strength to live out our lives. Whatever crossroads we face, God is there to direct us, our part is to listen and heed what He says. The problems and issues of life will bring opportunities for character development; and if you respond the right way, they will turn out to be lessons for your learning and spiritual growth.
In the mid to late 80's, when two of the children were just at their pre-teen years and three were teenagers, (can you imagine?) I started to crave more Bible study time with adults, and desired to learn more about my faith. My interest led me to read about the early church fathers and especially Martin Luther and the Reformation era. Many questions began to form in my mind and for the next few years I continued my research. I attended other women's Christian organizations and enjoyed talking with others about faith and spiritual matters outside of the Lutheran church. My first real exposure to non-Lutheran Christians really was exciting but also stirred up more questions about the doctrinal and theological beliefs of the Lutheran Church versus other denominations. In order for me to be certain of what I believed I had to know what it was opposed to. Once again there were more questions than answers. I don't believe any one congregation, denomination, or organization has the full corner on truth, and I do enjoy reading the reasoning as to why they believe the way they do. God's Word is a deep mine that will never be fully comprehended or understood. But the Word itself is the complete truth and I continue to hold everything I learn up to what the Word of God says.
I remained involved with the Lutheran church, and always had some ministry or special event going on. 'The Apple of His Eye' is a mission society that exists to declare Y'shua as Messiah for Jew and Gentile alike. One year they held a Passover Seder at our church. Again I became aware of how much the message contained in the history of the chosen people of God had stirred my soul. I realized that God had a calling upon me, to focus in this area, Jew and Gentile.
In the mid 90's, my ministry activities at the church came to a natural halt. The Care Shepherd ministry, teaching, the women's ministry, and then the Bible study I led had reached a natural end. One evening during home group Bible study, one by one, all around the room came some good reasons why they would not be coming back. I was going to tell them that night that we wouldn't be able to meet for about a month because my husband was taking me on a ten day cruise, and then I had to do some traveling to corporate headquarters with GE for a special assignment. It became evident this would be our last time together as a group after about eight years.
I left on the cruise with a prayer that God would show me what He wanted me to do when I got back; if I would start another group or what. The last day of our cruise was interesting, as a storm had moved in and we were in rough waters. I was tossed back and forth for hours that day and was glad to get off the ship. We got home about 10:30 that night and I had to be in Colorado Springs, a good one and a half hour drive from home, by 8:00 am. for a class. This was the last of the Precepts classes I needed to become an inductive Bible study leader. I made it on time and was really excited about the day that lay before me. A lady came in and sat next to me. On break we spoke a little and I shared my cruise ship adventure and the breaking up of my small group. I asked a few questions about the discussion we just had in class. I shared with her the ministries I had been doing at the church, and that they had come to a natural close. She kept saying “God has set you up honey." We headed back to class and I kept thinking about her response. What did she mean and how did she know that God set me, and with what? We had one last break before we would be on our own to do some sample study planning. I asked her if she was going to lunch with anyone and she said no, but yes we could do lunch together. We discussed some of the things we had just been taught. It led us into a conversation about a ministry she was in. She told me about the founder of the ministry, and that it was a Bible study held during lunch time at work. When she told me where the study was held, I told her I worked only a couple blocks away. Then I found out that the founder lived less than a mile from my house. Now you have to understand my amazement, because there were many people attending this Precepts class from all over Colorado and other states. These are not presented that often and not often even in Colorado. This lady again said it, "God has set you up honey." We went to lunch and the more we talked the more I heard that phrase. I believe that God had planned all this to be. There is no way this was just all coincidence. So I went through the rest of the classes with a real sense that I would be using this information in the start up of another ministry.
The very next week I met the founder and became a part of the ministry; Lunch Time Bible Study, Inc. It was such a blessing for me, and the support of the group was wonderful. At one of the leader’s meetings, a lady needed a ride home. I asked where she lived, and it was about four blocks from my house and only 3/4 of a block out of my way. Another message from God! She was an inspiration to me and really helped me prepare to take the step of leading a group in my workplace. I met with my manager at work and was allowed to use the conference room once a week for this new Bible study. In corporate America there can be discrimination against anything Christian taking place in the workplace. This organization, LTBS,INC, is prepared to address any issues that may arise. I invited some of my co-workers and held a Bible study during lunch hour. A year or so later I moved it into a small café in the basement of the high rise building we were in. I had several people come and sit near by every week but they never did join us for the discussion. The Word of God still traveled to their table and to others who might be sitting nearby. I kept them in prayer and was sensitive to their decision not to join us.
Then a co-worker of my husband, that he hardly knew, invited us to attend a
Messianic congregation. I was hesitant and so we did not go with them. The founder became a friend and invited me to attend a Messianic congregation. I didn't say no, just not yet. Then another co-worker of my husband, that he hardly knew, invited us to attend a Messianic congregation but my husband was unsure and so we did not go with them. By divine providence, a few months later, I found an ad for a Messianic congregation in one of those little neighborhood papers that come out once a week. I cut out the ad and put it in the file drawer. One day, I was looking for something in the desk and found the ad again. I read it intently this time and put it back in the drawer, but I began to ponder what this congregation was all about. God was beginning to prepare me for a special leg of my journey.
One Saturday as I began in prayer God began to speak. Saturday's were the best time for me to spend any length of time in prayer and study. I had been studying some interesting parts of Jewish history and the amazing way God was with His chosen people. Israel was special to God and He called them His own. Then during a time of Bible study, it hit me. I could actually go worship with the Jews, God's chosen people. I could hardly contain my excitement. I decided that I would plan to go and just check out what a Messianic congregation was all about. So I reached that Saturday morning and spent much time in prayer before I went. I met some people in the parking lot and asked a couple of questions. The service began. It was strange, but there was just something, something that remained with me. For the next few days each time I brought it up in prayer I knew I had to return. I attended about once a month for awhile. Then I attended my first celebration, Rosh Hashanah. The holy day fell on my birthday that year. My soul was touched in a special way and I began to attend more regularly. I became aware that God was drawing me and was speaking to my soul.
There was a part of His plan for my life that was unfolding there and I was now aware of it, and I certainly didn’t want to miss what God had for me. When I got to know some of the people in the congregation, the background from which they came, their journey to that place, it was evident that God had led them there. There were people who didn't know why they were there, but they just had to come. God was opening my heart and my eyes to His work. I knew, as I sat there in deepest prayer before every service, that I too had to be there. Then God showed me another part of my calling, He was slowly and gently speaking to me through His Word and the messages in the sermons I heard there. A part of my mission in life would be accomplished there.
I still attended the Lutheran Church with my husband during this time. We have been members there and active for many years, and it was not time to leave, but God has given me a passion for both Jews and Gentiles. And so as I attended both congregations and began to share with others about it, God spoke to my heart and soul which I knew I had to pay attention to. My journey continues and my heart is filled with compassion and open to all of God's people.
Having gained a greater understanding of the Jewish faith, life, and traditions, I have gained much greater appreciation for what God has done for us. My faith has been strengthened through the study of Scripture and how God fulfilled all the spring feasts and festivals. We see the foretelling of the Messiah in them. There is a rich heritage that the Jews have brought through their history that will give an insight on God's Words to us, and clarify what we read in the New Covenant (New Testament). We don't really understand the message unless we are able to understand the history of Israel, and of looking at Scripture through the past through God's chosen people. I took advantage of the opportunity to learn a little Hebrew under a holocaust survivor. The Hebrew language is very descriptive, each letter means something; it has a word picture associated with it, a meaning of a word is the sum of the meaning of each of its letters. Then there is also the numerical value assigned to each letter. The Word of God is much richer with meaning and His Words have power. It is as powerful as a two edged sword, the most powerful weapon. God's Word is the deed. And God said Let there be light, there was light. The Hebrew words for 'let there be' begins with the Hebrew letter V, called a vav. That letter in a word picture is that of a nail and it means to connect, or nailed together as one entity. The 'and' is a connector, His Word with the action. When God spoke it was connected with the action of what He was calling into existence. When Jesus was nailed to the cross, He was connecting us with the Father. I encourage you to find a book on Hebrew Word Pictures and read it, you will be amazed at what God has spoken to us. There was a moment in my life when I knew God spoke in ways I didn't understand. It may be that He was telling me there is more to understand in the words that He spoke. One letter means more than I had ever imagined. When we read Scripture thinking in terms of our current culture, and trying to make application to our life today,we miss the true meaning of the message our Lord intended. Through parables and various teachings, which had a rich meaning in light of the culture of His time, we have a better grasp of the message He was trying to convey. Too often Scripture is taken out of context. A few verses taken out of context is improper use of God's Word.
When I was offered a buyout from my job at GE after twenty years, I knew that God was guiding me in a new direction, but I was sad nevertheless. After working for a temp agency for a few months, I was offered a part job, two days a week, at one of the best spinal chord rehabilitation hospitals in the world. I see that this extra time at home has been to give me opportunity to focus on spiritual growth and discipleship. There have been opportunities that have come at opportune times. Some of the opportunities are so timely that I could clearly see God at work in directing me.
I would never have thought of building a web site. A friend of mine had built one and I noticed that it was a free service. I decided to try my hand at putting something together as a site for myself, just to organize the research I was doing as a sort of file cabinet of information. Then at the church I was asked to be a part of a team for building a Spiritual Growth web site to add to the church's home page. God had set this up too, honey. I realize it when God is poking me and telling me that He has something for me to do. I love seeing His hand in my life, in everyday circumstances, and in various opportunities. The excitement motivated me and I began to research and compile information for the site. This research was a great help to me as I listed other web site resources and articles that I would use for my own site. This web site was born several months after that and has become a means by which I can express the joy ,the passion the importance of what God has put on my heart; Jew and Gentile are one in the body of Messiah, one in Christ Jesus, our Lord. We are all equal at the foot of the cross. He became one of us to show us the way home. His great love has made us whole, complete in Him. What a blessing to have a God who loves us and has shown us how much by dying for us. His word is life to us. He does not want anyone to perish, and I don't either. I can't imagine what it will be like for those who are not allowed into His presence on that judgement day. My heart fears for them, and I want to reach them with the good news. My efforts seem so futile and people are not always willing to listen.
Although I can't see you and speak with you in person, each of you are in my heart and my prayers are with you as you journey through this life. I may never know who you are, but if you have found this site, "God has set you up honey." Take every opportunity to learn about God's Word and His ways. God designed us with a need to know Him and to rely on Him. Until we fill that empty gap we will remain restless and unfulfilled in life.
God desires you to know the specific plans He has for your life.
It is a God set up, honey.
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My father and his dad built a large brick home together with some family and friends. It was practically two homes, one inside the other, because there was a double thickness of brick with six inches of air space in between. The temperature was always comfortable in that home even in the midst of the fiercest of winters, or the steamiest of summers. There are some pictures at the end of this page. He inherited the farm and that is the place where I lived until I went to college.
Besides growing sugar beets and various grains, dad raised cows and chickens, and was a beekeeper. He established a partnership with some of his relatives and set up a creamery business in a nearby town to sell milk, cream, butter, and eggs. During the winter months he would remain busy with his job as president of the men’s ministries at the church, and secretary for the National Farmers Union. He had several business trips each month and would travel to DC a few times each year.
After my three brothers moved away, my dad hired some helping hands and my mom hired a maid. I was twelve years old when my youngest brother, who is five years older than me, left for college and then joined the Air Force.
The farm was always astir with activity around the house, the gardens, in the barn yard, and the fields. I was captivated by life on the farm. My fondest memory on the farm is of walking through the forest with my dog, Prince. My worst memory has actually done more to shape me spiritually than any of those good memories. God used it for a purpose and I have seen that He is the author of my life and everything in it.
Most of my exposure to religion was limited to the Lutheran church my family attended. In a small community about three miles away, there were two Lutheran churches, one Missouri Synod and the other Wisconsin Synod, and a Catholic Church. There were only a few times that any discussion came up at school about the differences in these religions. I was always more interested in spiritual things and the Bible, than any topic at school.
I met my future husband while I was away at college. He was actually in the Air Force and stationed nearby. He proposed in May and we made plans to be married the following fall. He didn’t realize how hard it would be for my family to find any time during the harvest season for a wedding. We lived in North Dakota until he was discharged from the Air Force in December, when we moved to his hometown in Colorado. I prepared to meet all his family at a Christmas gathering by reviewing their pictures in an album they had sent him. I memorized each family and all their names. His family consisted of his mom and ten brothers and sisters. I would meet all but one sister who lived in Alabama. My husband was the third youngest, and his older siblings and one younger sister, were all married with children. This was now to be my family too.
I had a day care center in our home after our second child was born. I was very busy, yet my life was very empty. I had become very active in a nearby Lutheran church, teaching, leading Bible study, in women’s ministry, choir, evangelism, altar guild and other activities. Life was not fulfilling me like I thought it would. There was something wrong, something missing.
It was in November of 1975, my life was changed. I was rocking my third child, my ten month old baby boy, back to sleep late one night. There in the still of the night Jesus called me to come and follow Him. With careful thought I gave Him everything I had, material things didn't matter and I entrusted my family into His care. I had nothing that would hold me back from that invitation and so I accepted. But then there was only silence in the still of the night. This was the beginning of an incredible spiritual journey I have been experiencing in walking with the Lord ever since. This had changed my focus on life forever. My life now had a meaning and a purpose.
Unfortunately, my husband did not understand. After two years of struggle and counseling, he gave me an ultimatum; him or God. I stopped him before he got all the words out and told him I knew that he could anticipate my answer. He moved out and put the house up for sale. So the three kids and I were now on our own. He moved out of state and didn’t pay child support. The next few years were difficult financially and with many other struggles in life, but became the framework in which I would grow in faith and trust along another leg of my spiritual journey. God was still there in the midst of everything and teaching me through life’s experiences to trust HIm and to know that He is in control and promises to supply all our needs. .
After several jobs, apartments, through health problems, homelessness, and some other wild experiences, I landed a good job and found a decent place to live. I had remained active in the church during this time. I am grateful to many people there for supporting me financially, spiritually, and encouraging me to move forward. In 1978, Jews for Jesus came to sing and minster to us and told us about Jewish believers. My heart and my soul were stirred during their testimony. It was obvious to me that God had placed a soft spot for Jewish people in my heart. This would be the beginning of a special focus of ministry along my spiritual journey.
I met my current husband and was remarried after three years of struggling on my own. He came with two kids of his own. We have raised five children together through some challenging situations. Through the struggles of life I have found that God is faithful. He cares about everyday issues as well as the big events of life. He offers guidance, protection, wisdom, and daily provision, and His own power and strength to live out our lives. Whatever crossroads we face, God is there to direct us, our part is to listen and heed what He says. The problems and issues of life will bring opportunities for character development; and if you respond the right way, they will turn out to be lessons for your learning and spiritual growth.
In the mid to late 80's, when two of the children were just at their pre-teen years and three were teenagers, (can you imagine?) I started to crave more Bible study time with adults, and desired to learn more about my faith. My interest led me to read about the early church fathers and especially Martin Luther and the Reformation era. Many questions began to form in my mind and for the next few years I continued my research. I attended other women's Christian organizations and enjoyed talking with others about faith and spiritual matters outside of the Lutheran church. My first real exposure to non-Lutheran Christians really was exciting but also stirred up more questions about the doctrinal and theological beliefs of the Lutheran Church versus other denominations. In order for me to be certain of what I believed I had to know what it was opposed to. Once again there were more questions than answers. I don't believe any one congregation, denomination, or organization has the full corner on truth, and I do enjoy reading the reasoning as to why they believe the way they do. God's Word is a deep mine that will never be fully comprehended or understood. But the Word itself is the complete truth and I continue to hold everything I learn up to what the Word of God says.
I remained involved with the Lutheran church, and always had some ministry or special event going on. 'The Apple of His Eye' is a mission society that exists to declare Y'shua as Messiah for Jew and Gentile alike. One year they held a Passover Seder at our church. Again I became aware of how much the message contained in the history of the chosen people of God had stirred my soul. I realized that God had a calling upon me, to focus in this area, Jew and Gentile.
In the mid 90's, my ministry activities at the church came to a natural halt. The Care Shepherd ministry, teaching, the women's ministry, and then the Bible study I led had reached a natural end. One evening during home group Bible study, one by one, all around the room came some good reasons why they would not be coming back. I was going to tell them that night that we wouldn't be able to meet for about a month because my husband was taking me on a ten day cruise, and then I had to do some traveling to corporate headquarters with GE for a special assignment. It became evident this would be our last time together as a group after about eight years.
I left on the cruise with a prayer that God would show me what He wanted me to do when I got back; if I would start another group or what. The last day of our cruise was interesting, as a storm had moved in and we were in rough waters. I was tossed back and forth for hours that day and was glad to get off the ship. We got home about 10:30 that night and I had to be in Colorado Springs, a good one and a half hour drive from home, by 8:00 am. for a class. This was the last of the Precepts classes I needed to become an inductive Bible study leader. I made it on time and was really excited about the day that lay before me. A lady came in and sat next to me. On break we spoke a little and I shared my cruise ship adventure and the breaking up of my small group. I asked a few questions about the discussion we just had in class. I shared with her the ministries I had been doing at the church, and that they had come to a natural close. She kept saying “God has set you up honey." We headed back to class and I kept thinking about her response. What did she mean and how did she know that God set me, and with what? We had one last break before we would be on our own to do some sample study planning. I asked her if she was going to lunch with anyone and she said no, but yes we could do lunch together. We discussed some of the things we had just been taught. It led us into a conversation about a ministry she was in. She told me about the founder of the ministry, and that it was a Bible study held during lunch time at work. When she told me where the study was held, I told her I worked only a couple blocks away. Then I found out that the founder lived less than a mile from my house. Now you have to understand my amazement, because there were many people attending this Precepts class from all over Colorado and other states. These are not presented that often and not often even in Colorado. This lady again said it, "God has set you up honey." We went to lunch and the more we talked the more I heard that phrase. I believe that God had planned all this to be. There is no way this was just all coincidence. So I went through the rest of the classes with a real sense that I would be using this information in the start up of another ministry.
The very next week I met the founder and became a part of the ministry; Lunch Time Bible Study, Inc. It was such a blessing for me, and the support of the group was wonderful. At one of the leader’s meetings, a lady needed a ride home. I asked where she lived, and it was about four blocks from my house and only 3/4 of a block out of my way. Another message from God! She was an inspiration to me and really helped me prepare to take the step of leading a group in my workplace. I met with my manager at work and was allowed to use the conference room once a week for this new Bible study. In corporate America there can be discrimination against anything Christian taking place in the workplace. This organization, LTBS,INC, is prepared to address any issues that may arise. I invited some of my co-workers and held a Bible study during lunch hour. A year or so later I moved it into a small café in the basement of the high rise building we were in. I had several people come and sit near by every week but they never did join us for the discussion. The Word of God still traveled to their table and to others who might be sitting nearby. I kept them in prayer and was sensitive to their decision not to join us.
Then a co-worker of my husband, that he hardly knew, invited us to attend a
Messianic congregation. I was hesitant and so we did not go with them. The founder became a friend and invited me to attend a Messianic congregation. I didn't say no, just not yet. Then another co-worker of my husband, that he hardly knew, invited us to attend a Messianic congregation but my husband was unsure and so we did not go with them. By divine providence, a few months later, I found an ad for a Messianic congregation in one of those little neighborhood papers that come out once a week. I cut out the ad and put it in the file drawer. One day, I was looking for something in the desk and found the ad again. I read it intently this time and put it back in the drawer, but I began to ponder what this congregation was all about. God was beginning to prepare me for a special leg of my journey.
One Saturday as I began in prayer God began to speak. Saturday's were the best time for me to spend any length of time in prayer and study. I had been studying some interesting parts of Jewish history and the amazing way God was with His chosen people. Israel was special to God and He called them His own. Then during a time of Bible study, it hit me. I could actually go worship with the Jews, God's chosen people. I could hardly contain my excitement. I decided that I would plan to go and just check out what a Messianic congregation was all about. So I reached that Saturday morning and spent much time in prayer before I went. I met some people in the parking lot and asked a couple of questions. The service began. It was strange, but there was just something, something that remained with me. For the next few days each time I brought it up in prayer I knew I had to return. I attended about once a month for awhile. Then I attended my first celebration, Rosh Hashanah. The holy day fell on my birthday that year. My soul was touched in a special way and I began to attend more regularly. I became aware that God was drawing me and was speaking to my soul.
There was a part of His plan for my life that was unfolding there and I was now aware of it, and I certainly didn’t want to miss what God had for me. When I got to know some of the people in the congregation, the background from which they came, their journey to that place, it was evident that God had led them there. There were people who didn't know why they were there, but they just had to come. God was opening my heart and my eyes to His work. I knew, as I sat there in deepest prayer before every service, that I too had to be there. Then God showed me another part of my calling, He was slowly and gently speaking to me through His Word and the messages in the sermons I heard there. A part of my mission in life would be accomplished there.
I still attended the Lutheran Church with my husband during this time. We have been members there and active for many years, and it was not time to leave, but God has given me a passion for both Jews and Gentiles. And so as I attended both congregations and began to share with others about it, God spoke to my heart and soul which I knew I had to pay attention to. My journey continues and my heart is filled with compassion and open to all of God's people.
Having gained a greater understanding of the Jewish faith, life, and traditions, I have gained much greater appreciation for what God has done for us. My faith has been strengthened through the study of Scripture and how God fulfilled all the spring feasts and festivals. We see the foretelling of the Messiah in them. There is a rich heritage that the Jews have brought through their history that will give an insight on God's Words to us, and clarify what we read in the New Covenant (New Testament). We don't really understand the message unless we are able to understand the history of Israel, and of looking at Scripture through the past through God's chosen people. I took advantage of the opportunity to learn a little Hebrew under a holocaust survivor. The Hebrew language is very descriptive, each letter means something; it has a word picture associated with it, a meaning of a word is the sum of the meaning of each of its letters. Then there is also the numerical value assigned to each letter. The Word of God is much richer with meaning and His Words have power. It is as powerful as a two edged sword, the most powerful weapon. God's Word is the deed. And God said Let there be light, there was light. The Hebrew words for 'let there be' begins with the Hebrew letter V, called a vav. That letter in a word picture is that of a nail and it means to connect, or nailed together as one entity. The 'and' is a connector, His Word with the action. When God spoke it was connected with the action of what He was calling into existence. When Jesus was nailed to the cross, He was connecting us with the Father. I encourage you to find a book on Hebrew Word Pictures and read it, you will be amazed at what God has spoken to us. There was a moment in my life when I knew God spoke in ways I didn't understand. It may be that He was telling me there is more to understand in the words that He spoke. One letter means more than I had ever imagined. When we read Scripture thinking in terms of our current culture, and trying to make application to our life today,we miss the true meaning of the message our Lord intended. Through parables and various teachings, which had a rich meaning in light of the culture of His time, we have a better grasp of the message He was trying to convey. Too often Scripture is taken out of context. A few verses taken out of context is improper use of God's Word.
When I was offered a buyout from my job at GE after twenty years, I knew that God was guiding me in a new direction, but I was sad nevertheless. After working for a temp agency for a few months, I was offered a part job, two days a week, at one of the best spinal chord rehabilitation hospitals in the world. I see that this extra time at home has been to give me opportunity to focus on spiritual growth and discipleship. There have been opportunities that have come at opportune times. Some of the opportunities are so timely that I could clearly see God at work in directing me.
I would never have thought of building a web site. A friend of mine had built one and I noticed that it was a free service. I decided to try my hand at putting something together as a site for myself, just to organize the research I was doing as a sort of file cabinet of information. Then at the church I was asked to be a part of a team for building a Spiritual Growth web site to add to the church's home page. God had set this up too, honey. I realize it when God is poking me and telling me that He has something for me to do. I love seeing His hand in my life, in everyday circumstances, and in various opportunities. The excitement motivated me and I began to research and compile information for the site. This research was a great help to me as I listed other web site resources and articles that I would use for my own site. This web site was born several months after that and has become a means by which I can express the joy ,the passion the importance of what God has put on my heart; Jew and Gentile are one in the body of Messiah, one in Christ Jesus, our Lord. We are all equal at the foot of the cross. He became one of us to show us the way home. His great love has made us whole, complete in Him. What a blessing to have a God who loves us and has shown us how much by dying for us. His word is life to us. He does not want anyone to perish, and I don't either. I can't imagine what it will be like for those who are not allowed into His presence on that judgement day. My heart fears for them, and I want to reach them with the good news. My efforts seem so futile and people are not always willing to listen.
Although I can't see you and speak with you in person, each of you are in my heart and my prayers are with you as you journey through this life. I may never know who you are, but if you have found this site, "God has set you up honey." Take every opportunity to learn about God's Word and His ways. God designed us with a need to know Him and to rely on Him. Until we fill that empty gap we will remain restless and unfulfilled in life.
God desires you to know the specific plans He has for your life.
It is a God set up, honey.
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Construction of the house, in the early 1900's.