Who Do You SPEAK Like I Am?

by ladypbwiggins

What does our daily behavior say about who we believe Yeshua (Jesus) is? Many believers would say He is their Savior. Many believers would say they believe He is Jehovah Incarnate. He is the Son of the Living God. They would declare His deity and worthiness to be praised. If we believe any of this to be true why do we so easily violate Jehovah’s commandment.

NOTE: Before you get on some spiritual high horse and begin to assign labels, I am not a Jehovah’s Witness. At least not in regards to the religious group. I simply prefer to use the Hebrew names and designations.

Now back to my point. We say Yeshua is precious to us and He is our Jehovah Elohim and King, so why do we use His name as an expletive. You know what I mean. We yell JESUS CHRIST! as easily as some say OH, Damn! We allow it, us believers. If Buddha or Mohammed was used in such a way there would be cries around the world. Question: Why doesn’t our God get the same respect. Answer: Because we don’t respect Him and we don’t demand He be respected.

Many of us who grew up in church or around church people were told, “Do not use the Lord’s name in vain”. We didn’t know or understand all of the ramifications of doing that but being told not to do it was enough. But what are the ramifications. The Amplified Version of the Bible enlightens us on the meaning of the Hebrew words used in the text. It says don’t use His name frivolously or profanely or in false affirmations or He, the LORD will not hold him guiltless. The Message Bible speaks in our every day language, If you use God’s name irreverantly He won’t put up with it. Where there is guilt there is judgment. When God judges there is some kind of sentence exacted. We jokingly say we will be spanked by God but do we really want to be spanked by God? He has the discretion to punish us as He sees fit. He knows what will get our attention. For us hard headed people, it’s more severe. So why do we do it? Why do we allow it?

I have asked some people what would they do if He answered. They all looked at me with this bewildered look like if who answered. The conversation went something like this.

Me: What would you do if He answered?

Them: If who answered?

Me: You called Jesus didn’t you? What would you do if He answered?

Them: I didn’t think about that. It is just a saying.

Me: No, you called God. What would you do if He answered?

Some people apologized, Others just looked at me like I was crazy. Oh, by the way, some of these people said they were Christians.

If we want respect from the world for ourselves and our God, then we have to respect ourselves and our God, our Jehovah Elohim, our crucified and resurrected Yeshua!

Exodus 20:7 (AMP)
7  You shall not use or repeat the name of the Lord your God in vain [that is, lightly or frivolously, in false affirmations or profanely]; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
Exodus 20:7 (MSG)
7  No using the name of GOD, your God, in curses or silly banter; GOD won’t put up with the irreverant use of his name.

New Levitical Insight

by ladypbwiggins

Not Just a Sacrifice

All those dead animals over and over again. How many times will that list be repeated? It’s the same no matter which offering. That’s what I thought. I was so wrong. There was a greater significance. I believe it is more than a sacrifice for sin. Recently I completed a study on covenant; Covenant from God’s perspective. It is through this lens I have reread Leviticus.

This began with a study of the minor prophets. It became clear that I wasn’t sure specifically which of God’s laws Israel had violated in each prophets case. I decided to take a deep breath and jump into Leviticus. I was determined to struggle through the descriptions of the animals being sacrificed. My mind began to see through the lens of covenant, that God had given the Israelites a method to renew the covenant with Him that they had broken. When Moses presented the Law to them they agreed to do all that God commanded. God knew that however pure their intent, they would fail. Their merciful God gave them a way to repair the relationship and keep covenant with Him.

So when you read Leviticus, see each animal that is laid on the altar before God, not only as a sacrifice. Don’t see it as a fulfillment of a command only. See God’s mercy. See His love for people. See His desire to keep His promises that are based on their obedience or keeping their end of the covenant.

It amplifies even more the sacrifice Yeshua made for me. I am given a way to remain in covenant relationship with God because He knows my frailties and He extends mercy to me. He has loves me and desires to keep His promises that are based on my obedience.

More than a sacrifice!

Did I Miss The Point

by ladypbwiggins

Dr. James Cleveland penned a song many years ago based on an event recorded in the gospels of Mark, Matthew and Luke. I think we are most familiar with Mark’s account because it gives more information. In Mark 4:35-41 we are told of Yeshua asleep on a boat with his disciples when a storm arose. The boat seemed in inevitable danger of being destroyed along with all aboard. Yet Yeshua slept. The disciples freaked out. How can he lie there asleep when we are going to die?

The disciples went to Him and woke Him up saying don’t you care that we are about to die. Implied was a cry for Him to Do something. So He got up and said to the winds and the waves, Peace. Be Still. He then looked at them and said “Why are you fearful. How is it that you have no faith?”

All my life the emphasis in hearing teaching and preaching on this text has been on Peace. Be Still. But I think we missed the most important lesson. Yeshua was in the boat. They had seen miracles performed by him. They had seen people healed, demons cast out but they still did not understand who He was. However, they knew if He were awake He could do something. The lesson I believe we missed is, He was in the boat. He did not have to be physically awake. The winds and waves knew their master and the mere fact that He was in the boat protected the passengers in the boat. If the boat capsized, He was there to save them. So the storm did not matter.

Protected because Yeshua was in the boat. Is He in my boat? Is He in your boat? If He is, do I have the faith to believe nothing is going to happen to me that He doesn’t allow and that He hasn’t prepared me for? Do I have the faith to be at PEACE in the storm? Can I BE STILL even if the storm doesn’t?

Began Yogurt Experience

by ladypbwiggins

When I gave up dairy I discovered how much I liked yogurt and cheese. Good tasting non-dairy cheese is hard to find. Non-dairy yogurt was almost impossible. Only certain stores carried it and they were not close to me. I discovered recipes from other vegans. Some were good and others not so much. Of course the good tasting were not time friendly. A few weeks ago I found a vegan cheese recipe that was simple so I decided to try it. I had already bought 1 young coconut but the recipe called for 6. I thought this is a trial and trying to get the meat from one was hard much less 6. I understood why most of the recipes used coconut cream or milk. I used the meat from the one I had and added a cup of dry coconut flakes and a cup of water. It never got it as silky smooth as I wanted I pureed this mix in my Vitamix. I wanted it raw but in my efforts to get it silky smooth the Vitamix heated it up. I did not add sweetener. I added some pure vanilla extract. I put the mix in a glass container and added the probiotic tablet. It was warmer than I thought. I was afraid I killed the bacteria in the tablet. Fortunately enough survived to ferment the coconut blend.

It worked. I have yogurt in my life once again. It tasted good but I would like some without the coconut flavor. What else can I use besides nuts to make yogurt? Seeds maybe? Anyone have a suggestion?

Coconut yogurt

NO REGRETS!

by ladypbwiggins

Always Some Regret

One day during my early 20s I stood in the middle of my livingroom and announced to myself that when I am old, I didn’t want to regret look back on my life and have regrets. My thoughts reminded me of Robert Frost’s poem, The Road Not Taken. That day I stood at my metaphorical fork in the road. Do I take that path or the other one. I look back on my life now and realize there will always be some regret. I do have “what if” thoughts. If I had gone down the other path, would I have been successful and satisfied in that other career. Very possibly because my hobbies bring me such joy. The down side is I most likely would not have met my husband. I would not have been a step-mother. That brought with it joy and pain. I would not have given birth to these two amazing children. I probably would not have lived the life I have led with all of its ups and downs. The life that has brought me so much joy. I would have regretted missing this. Ah, but how would I know?

I may not be able to have that long dream career but I can enjoy many aspects as my hobbies. One of them I am getting to share with my youngest grand-daughter. I have no regrets.

I realize in my new middle aged wisdom that regret is inevitable. Regardless of what you decide there will be some regret. It is a waste of time and energy wondering what was down that other path. All of the experiences on this path are profitable to make you a better, stronger, happier person. I know some of you have a very rough life and can’t imagine anything profitable coming from it. But it can. First, learn from the situation. Change what you can that is beneficial to you. You have been made strong from it. You may not realize it but you have. Second for the the things you can’t change do the best you can to work them for your benefit. The situation may not change but you will.

Accepting that no decision will create a perfect life brings a healthier state of mind. Shake off the what ifs and focus on what’s in front of you.

Enjoy the road taken.

“Better” Micro-Living

by ladypbwiggins

To begin my “Better” I completed several chores from my To Do list. You know those  nuisance things that keep getting placed on the low priority list. I also began organizing my projects. I am determined to enjoy my life inspite of the environment I live in. There are hobbies I enjoy that have been put on hold. They are released in my “Better.” My macro-environment has become toxic. So I will make the micro- as healthy as possible. First I asked myself what would my environment look like if there was no Covid 19 or weekly  unnecessary deaths or increased anger and hatred? What would it be like if it wasn’t a presidential election year? Is it possible to create this space and yet remain aware of the happenings. Knowing what’s going on is very stressful.  But we have to know to make wise decisions.

I have been given the ability to disassociate emotionally after I have been hurt by someone I trusted. I call it a gift because I can remain in a decent relationship with them without the concern of being hurt again. I don’t hold grudges and I don’t remain angry.   I have to figure out how to mentally disassociate and still remain aware.

Jehovah God’s got this. I believe by faith I am his child. If I believe those two things my shield of faith can be enlarged to protect me from the darts of all this madness.

Yep. That’s the ticket. Now to begin the process. Yes it is a process. Just can’t flip a switch. My goal is to be in the know without the stress. I’m entering my “Better.”

Trying To Lift Without Leverage

by ladypbwiggins

A few minutes ago I was trying to help lift my husband from a very soft sofa. For those who know us know that is no easy feat. He is 6’7″ at 240lbs and I am 5’4″ and we want talk about the other 😂. We have a system and he wasn’t using it. He removed my leverage. Once we got back on the same page I was able to help him stand.

I began thinking about this principal’s application in other areas of my life, our lives. No matter how hard we try we can not be lifted nor can we lift anyone else without proper leverage. There are different leverages:money, knowledge, physical strength, strategy and the Word and Spirit of God.

For those of us who are believers of the teachings of Yeshua, I believe we have the ultimate, the maximum leverage. The power promised to us is our leverage. This power is based and saturated in love but it should be handled with care. It is as explosive as nitroglycerin.

Let’s learn to use this powerful leverage with knowledge and wisdom, compassion, empathy and love. Not just for fellow believers but for those who don’t believe His teachings; for those who hate us; for those who live by different lifestyles or rules. This leverage does not give us the right or responsibility to condemn those that may have a different belief system. Yeshua said to share His teachings and love and He would draw all to Himself.

With this leverage we can lift many and ourselves to higher heights.

The Deal Who Really Wins?

by ladypbwiggins

Determine who are the powerbrokers. Determine what issue or person is important to them. That’s the hot button. Exploit it. Push the button.

When the powerbrokers are focused on getting or maintaining power over that button they are totally blind to everything else. That one button is the all to end all. Deals are made over the importance of controlling this button. If you ignore my other actions I promise you control of that button.

What are you willing to lose to control this one button? Will you give up the whole instrument panel for that one button. Much like Esau gave up his birthright for one bowl of soup, we may be giving up our humanity, our principles, our identity for an issue that can be handled in other ways if we choose to. But our greed, that’s another issue.

Think about it.

A “Better”

by ladypbwiggins

I will be so glad when 2020 is over. I am so done with 2020. I can’t wait until 2021 gets here. To some these are cries of despair but I hear cries of hope, cries of possibilities. Hope that a “better” is coming. This has been a hard year in so many ways. I believe we all want a “better.”

But what will make January 1, 2021 different from December 31, 2020? What will make it “better”? We hold the answer. What do we, you, me need to do to get our “better” in our individual and collective lives? If we don’t analyze our situations and develop a plan, 2021 will look just like 2020. Now I hear you saying I can’t do anything about Covid and Congress. I believe we can. Congress is easier. Vote and for those who win hold them to their promises, hold them accountable. Demand that they work for us, all of us and not just those with money. We hold the power. I think we forgot that. As for Covid, we may not have the vaccine but we can make wise common sense decisions to reduce the spread and take care of ourselves and each other. Let’s stop thinking only about ourselves. Let’s let go of the venomous anger; the consuming hatred motivated by fear, feelings of inferiority and disrespect. Let’s treat people the way we want to be treated. I heard a country singer today express what many have discovered. The America he thought he lived in is a myth. His sentiments that followed said he realized he had to change his thinking and do something to help make the myth a reality for everyone. Hope, his hope for better.

We all have dreams, hopes for our lives. We can make actionable plans for those. Focus on that for a portion of your better.

I hope for a “better” 2021 also but I am beginning my 2021 now. This is my new revelation. My hope for my “better” begins today.

Limited Vision

by ladypbwiggins


The valley view from the mountaintop is far different from the view while you’re still in the valley. From the mountaintop, you can see the forest and streams, birds, green valleys, deserts, all in a sweeping survey of the land. You see all the possibilities that the valley offers. From the valley you only see what is before you. From the valley you also see the height of the mountains and the freedom it seems to offer from the problems of the valley.  How you long for the mountaintop. Is that assumption real?

What is God’s view of the valley from His position? He is surely on the mountaintop. I believe He sees possibilities not problems. I believe He sees the fertility provided by the waters and springs that run down from the mountain; These streams gathering minerals, and being cleaned of impurities as they rush across the rocks.  When the waters finally reach the valley, they are fresh and pure for the use of the valley inhabitants. The nutrients brought from the mountain fertilize every parcel of land it flows through that is below it and comes to rest in the ponds, rivers, lakes and streams and rivers on the the valley floor. Is the valley a place of restoration and healing or a place of pain and destruction?

While in the valley, I have access to fertile, productive possibilities as well as the problems of the desert. When I say desert I mean dry, unfertile places. While suffering the pain, I have access to healing and restoration. The One that sits on high sends down everything that I need to lead a peaceful, enriched, safe life in His living waters. If only I could keep His view of the valley and not mine. In His Natural all things are supplied for me. I just can’t see them. My view is limited. I only see what is before me and what my limited experience dictates. I can’t see all the possibilities that He sees. 

How then do I see as He sees? I let Him see and then tell me.  That requires a keener ear and unlimited, unbounded trust in Him, i.e. A much tighter relationship than I have now.  If I am able to move me out of the way then I can see with mountaintop vision while standing in the valley.  I can know the paths that lead to green pastures and calm, restoring waters as I walk through the deserts.

Excerpt from my book that’s in progress.