The Thorns in the Thicket

The first day of the seventh month is to be “a memorial of blowing” for you (Leviticus 23:24). As we celebrate Yom Teruah, also known as the Feast of Trumpets or Rosh Hashanah, we are to remember several things. One of the main things to remember is that our King Yeshua will be returning with the blast of the shofar (Revelation 19:11-21). It is a wake-up call for us to get our hearts and lives in line with His. We are to remember when He gave the Torah to the children of Israel on the Mount Sinai in the midst of a dark cloud with the voice of a loud shofar (Exodus 19:16)! We also recognize that the shofar is a weapon of warfare as we saw in (Joshua 6:4, Judges 3:27). We are also to remember the binding of Isaac and the Ram caught in the thicket (Genesis 22:1-24). Before Yeshua was betrayed He spoke to the Pharisees and told them that their father Abraham was pleased to see His day (John 8:56). Of course they were horrified and said “you are not even 50 years old, and you have seen Abraham?” Then He said “verily verily I say unto you before Abraham, I Am” (John 8:57)! After Yeshua had been betrayed, “then Pilot took Yeshua and had him scourged. Then the soldiers twisted crown of thorns and placed it on His head (John: 1-2). The crown of thorns was there for all the Jewish people to see pointing back to the amount of revelation and the binding of Isaac. I often wondered why it crown of thorns had to be placed upon His head. However, as we celebrate the feast of trumpets knowing that our King is coming back. And, has been here once before makes these feasts (appointed times/moadins) so much more important for us then we realize. Because, they all point to Him and they are all about Him! So, let us celebrate the feasts with great joy and excitement!

Theresa

Snow

We were blessed with a long warm fall. It wasn't until November 19, 2015 that we had our first snowfall. The temperatures finally dipped low enough that the rain we had received a few days prior turned to snow. As I sat looking out my window at my back deck I watched the snow accumulate. I thought of how I had enjoyed going out there in the summer and sun tanning spending quiet time with the Creator surrounded by trees. Myles had put a fresh bluecoat of paint on the outside of the house this summer. The contrast of the blue reminding me of heaven and the white snow reminding me of clouds both pictures of where the Almighty lives. My thoughts were interrupted as Isaiah 1:18 came to mind. "Come now let us reason together says Yahweh. Though your sins be as scarlet they should be white as snow."! David cried out after his sin with Bathsheba in Psalm 51 "cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow." I can't imagine as I looked at the snow out my window anything cleaner or more pure! It had just fallen snowflake after snowflake each one unique and individual! Yet, combined together they laid out beautiful blanket covering the deck and the table that sat beside the barbecue. As I pondered this I thought of how each one of us are created unique and different. Yet, if we were to truly listen and obey (Shema) to the words of Yeshua and love one another the way He loves us what a difference we could make in the world! Yes indeed our sins have been forgiven by the precious blood of Yeshua our Messiah! However, we don't often read or think about the line previous inverse 18. Verse 17 says "learn to do good; seek justice, reprove the ruthless, defend the orphans, plead for the widows!" Then we can claim the above Scripture. Because He promises in verse 19 that if we consent and obey we should eat the best of the land. Not only are our sins forgiven but he promises to feed us with the very best of the land! What an amazing Yahweh we serve. Let's get out there and start putting into practice verse 17! Let's blanket the world with the love that is so desperately looking for in these last days.

Also, If we but look around He is faithful to show us glimpses of Himself everywhere! Set your mind and your heart on Him when you rise up and when you lie down and when you walk about and when you sit down. You will see His glory and His word come alive to you every moment of every day! So that we who profess to be His people will be known by our love for one another and for Him.

Blessings,

Theresa Mitchell

Divine Protection

     Myles has been working on music as long as I have known him. The Father has given him a gift as he opens his spirit to the Holy Spirit many times the music will just flow out of him. As his wife we have worked together often finishing off songs as the Ruach Ha Kadosh would lead us. They are always precious times of worship and praise to our King Yeshua and His presence always fills our place as we work in conjunction with the Almighty creating beautiful music lifting our spirits and praising Him. Over the years these songs have stayed with us and stayed on the back burner. People have always encouraged him to do a CD and to share the gift that has been given him. Finally, the time has come to do just that. Myles did much of the recording and mixing and prep work here at home. For me it seemed like it would never come to pass, however, everything is in His timing. 

     Over the years we connected with Kelly Ferrari Mills. Who is now a very precious sister and close friend. In October of 2011 Kelly and her husband John came to Winnipeg. One, to help edit my book I was writing at the time and secondly, to record Myles for her CD she was presently working on. This brought us to another wonderful Divine appointed opportunity. Studios in Winnipeg are extremely expensive! However, the studio where Kelly was doing her CD was extremely reasonable to say the least! I knew that if Myles was ever to get this CD done it would be through this studio. We prayed over the last year and thought possibly he would just send files and Kelly could take them in. I knew deep in my spirit Myles needed to be there to sit with the studio engineer and go through the songs with him. Finally, he agreed! We waited for Abba's timing and for the finances to come in. 

     On October 6, 2013 at noon we headed off on our journey and drove 20 hours down to Denver Colorado. We found favor everywhere we went. Myles had a wonderful time in the studio Tuesday till Friday. He got to know Steve well and we had a wonderful visit, albeit short, with John and Kelly Mills. Kelly recorded a few background vocals for the CD which we are grateful for. Now that Myles knows Steve well and Steve knows how Myles works they are able to send files back and forth. 

     After Myles finished Friday at 6 PM in the studio in Denver he returned to the hotel. We decided not to travel on the Shabbat. We had made arrangements with our fellowship so that they could come and meet in our home while we were in Denver. We spent the Shabbat resting, watching teachings, praying, praising, and enjoying each other and the presence of the Lord. Although I did get a little lonely and had to phone and talk to our fellowship as I missed them all so much! All in all it was a very different Shabbat but a good one. 

     Sunday morning we headed out early 9:30 AM Denver time. We knew we wanted to get out of the city early enough because there was a Denver Broncos game that day! As soon as we got on the road we could see people already heading towards the stadium and people with signs wanting tickets and others wanting to sell tickets. We found our way out and up onto the highway leaving the beautiful mountains behind. We had many people praying for us and when you are about the Fathers business you can be sure there will be opposition! Yet, at the same time His hand is always covering us as we would soon learn! 

     Our first little test was to find I 76 out of Denver. We thought we had missed it so we went back only to find out that it was a little further up the road then we had expected. Once we were on I 76 all we had to do was follow that out of Denver until I 80 E. We were watching but also enjoying the beautiful scenery and mountains. We came upon the intersection and it appeared we were to stay straight unfortunately the instructions were not very clear and we found ourselves heading north! So we had to go and turnaround and get back on the interstate and head east which we found our way easily all praise to the Almighty! 

     Once we were on I 80 E. it was smooth sailing or so we thought. I 80 E. goes through Nebraska. We would drive right straight all the way across the entire state before coming to I 29 N. which would eventually bring us home. It had been a wonderful week but at the same time it was good to be going home. We were driving the speed limit 75 mi./h, and we were about 20 miles south of Lincoln Nebraska when we came upon a semi. We had passed many along the way. Myles put on his signal light and we pulled out to pass. On the left side of our vehicle was a tall cement barricade which separated the East and West interstate. On the right side was the semi. We got halfway past the semi-and all of a sudden in front of us strewn across the highway in our lane was a huge blown tire! Myles let out a yell I quickly prayed I felt Myles hit the tire with the left side of the vehicle and then I felt the right side of our vehicle literally lift off the ground very gently and come back down! I had seen the huge tire on the road right in front on my side and I honestly believe that the Father must have sent His Angels to lift us over that tire! Myles was able to control the vehicle as we slowed down and pulled over onto the side of the road. 

     The semi had seen what was happening and he to pulled over up ahead of us. Myles got out and checked our tires and our undercarriage and miraculously there was no damage to our vehicle at all! I know for a fact had we not been in the Father's will and under His Feathered wings it would have been disastrous! If not for all the prayers that had been prayed over us before we left and while we were on the road and the time that we were away who knows what the outcome may have been! When we got to a rest stop later on I sat and looked up at the dark sky thanking Adonai for His goodness and His protection upon us. Who knows how many other times He protected us we will never know. But we certainly know of that one time and we give Him all the glory! When someone asks you to pray for their safety as they travel especially if they're in ministry and in covenant cover them! I now have a whole new appreciation of just how important prayer is! He hears us when we call on Him and he wants us to trust Him but not to take advantage He loves to hear us praying for one another and we can be sure that He will answer! We are living proof! 

     The CD will probably be released early November. Until then pray for one another as we are all about our Heavenly Fathers business! I have many more things to share concerning our road trip but for now this is the start. Be blessed and be a blessing in Yeshua's precious name.

– Theresa Mitchell

Familiar Memories

Recently someone I once fellowshiped with at the same church had a massive aneurysm and stroke. I remember her and her husband very fondly. Eventually we moved on from that church to another one and over time we lost touch with one another. However, through social media my husband and her husband and other friends stayed in touch. So when the news came for urgent prayer we of course complied. Sadly on Saturday morning she passed away at a very young age.

It reminded me of my own experience and I wondered, why did I pull through 28 years ago? There was so much more medically available to her in this day and age than there was when I had my massive brain stem stroke. For her and her husband it was much quicker. I'm sure the sudden shock of being thrown into a medical crisis similar to what Myles and I went through was unfamiliar and terrifying. For anyone who has never experienced anything like this, being thrown into the intensive care unit, put on life support systems, and experiencing things totally foreign to you can be overwhelming. You don't get much time alone with your loved one especially in the beginning of the crisis. The doctors and nurses are working desperately to stabilize you. Most of the time I was in and out of consciousness. They were taking me for tests and putting me in large machines that I now understand were CAT scans. Everything was foreign to us back then. As I'm sure it was for this couple and their families. The one thing we had in common was our faith in God and the Messiah. While she had many years to live and walk out her faith physically I on the other hand had survived only to live out my faith as a quadriplegic.

It has been 28 years since that night. The memories of walking and what it feels like have long faded. However, the joy of being able to live and love alongside my husband, watch my children grow, help raise them, and now to see my grandchildren far outweighs the physical loss that I have experienced. The strength I have received from my Redeemer has carried me and continues to every day of my life. While I've written a book "A Flicker of Hope" telling my journey the fact is as Paul says in Philippians 1:21 "for me to live is Messiah , and to die is gain"! I try my best each day to follow in the footsteps of my Great Shepherd Yeshua/(Jesus). Without His Holy Spirit I would be unable to live the life I've been given. I am blessed beyond belief and I give thanks every day that I am alive! I pray every day that if my King can somehow use me that I may be available! My hope is truly in Him!

Cherish those around you this day and more importantly give thanks to the one who gave you life and gives it more abundantly! The God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob/Israel and the Messiah Yeshua our soon coming King!

Theresa Mitchell

www.aflickerofhope.com

Get to know Me ...

     I watched a video on Youtube recently about a man who had died suddenly and then spent several minutes in Hell and lived to talk about it. The story was very familiar of course (there are hundreds of similar videos like it on there, some are believable some are not), but one thing he said stuck with me and probably always will. When he woke up in the hospital he asked God what he had to do to make sure he never ended up back in that horrible place. The answer he received was simple, almost too simple it seemed to me ... "Get to know Me".

     When it comes right down to it that's all that really matters though isn't it. Do you know God? Do you really know what He is like?  Do you have a relationship with Him? Do you know what He expects from you? Are you part of His family called the Remnant, the Bride or the House of Israel in His Word? 

     Scripture says in John 17:3 "This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Yeshua the Messiah whom You have sent." God says we need to get to know Him and His Son to truly live. However, because we are created as not only physical but spiritual beings we need to get to know him spiritually, not just with a form of intellectual ascent or understanding. Colossians 1:9 talks about "being filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding" There is obviously something different going on here than just trying to comprehend God with our brain or through some dry religious traditions. Scripture shows us this work is done by God's Spirit (Holy Spirit/Ruach HaKodesh) in cooperation with the individual. "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you" (John 14:26). He will help us as He says in this verse to get to know Him, teaching us all things about Himself. 

     This is all good but the question remains, how does one know that they know Him? What fruit should one who knows God expect to see in their lives? To answer these let's look at the Hebrew word for "to know", yada. The show Seinfeld of course popularized the use of that word yada, yada, yada, but in reality when used in the Tanakh (the Hebrew OT scriptures), it means several things, all of which can apply to this knowing of God. 

     First of all yada means an intimate, sharing love, like in marriage,  "Adam knew [yada] his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain…" (Genesis 4:1, 17, 25). This meaning here doesn't only apply to a sexual love or relationship but it is a dedicating of ourselves to a person so we can engage them with our love and affection. One can see in this how appropriate it is that true believers are called His Bride. In this context it's also easy to understand why throughout the scriptures God desires and tells us that this is the kind of relationship He wants with us. The trust He asks from us is similar to the trust that should be found in the marriage covenant.

    Secondly, look at the Hebrew wisdom scriptures, "The righteous know [yada] the needs of their animals, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel" (Proverbs 12:10). In this case, a good person knows the needs of their animals and takes care of them; an evil person neglects the needs of their animals and shows no mercy. In other words, yada is understanding the needs of those around us and taking care of them. If we truly know God it will effect how we act in our relationships with others and how we treat people. John 14:15 says “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." Those who truly know and love God do as He commands and demonstrates and love to do so. 

     Finally in Jeremiah 22:16 we have a wonderful illustration from the Lord's own prophet, "Isn’t that what it means to know [yada] me?” says the Lord" (Jeremiah 22:15-16). In this chapter, Jeremiah rebukes the king of Judah. This king had been selfishly, neglecting the poor and needy, and exploited others to build his kingdom. The LORD tells this corrupt king what it truly means to know [yada] God. 1. Doing justice, 2. Showing mercy to the poor and needy, 3. show good and righteous character. In other words, a person who knows God is faithfully living out their covenant relationship with Him in every area of their life.

   In closing I can't help but think of something else the man in the video said about his experience, he said it was like he never existed, with no future hope of anything changing. He described total nothingness around him, no one else to communicate with where he was. Ultimately I think the story I heard years ago in Sunday School actually fits here. It's about a God who wanted someone who He could be in relationship with. Not just angels but beings created in His image. Children He could love and be loved by. The teacher answered our questions about that the best they could as I often wondered, was God lonely and that's why he created us? Well he hasn't chosen to tell us that or much of His motivation for doing so. Scripture does tell us He loved us and placed us in a perfect world in relationship with Him, where He breathed the breath of life into us. It tells us we rebelled against that perfect setting and that that rebellion caused the separation that brought about death and the possibility of ending up in that place of nothingness and darkness, the only place where a God who was everywhere could not be. The good news (Gospel) is that He still wanted us to exist and be in the same kind of relationship with Him. He sent His Son to die and accomplish that. He knows us and still loves us. Do we want to know Him like He asked that man?

Myles

    

May the Words of My Mouth

     During my personal private time this week one morning I was praying and pondering and asking Yeshua of all the times in history He chose to come when He did? It seems to me it was one of the cruelest times in the history of man. All throughout history man has done horribly cruel actions towards one another. During the Roman occupation as I pondered the type of death and the punishment that Yeshua endured on my behalf my heart was absolutely pierced. Why at that time? Why so cruel a way to die? Why so public? The answers came quickly as to why so public. The sign was there for all to see Jew and non-Jew. He was indeed King of the Jews and He will return as King of the Jews! Still I wondered why the stripes? Why the beating? "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed" Isaiah 53:5.

     Every answer was there. Then came one more answer or question whichever way you want to look at it. As I sat quietly that still small voice speaking gently but firmly how often do we do more damage emotionally and spiritually to ourselves and others by the words that we speak! As we look over history at all the cruelty humanity has done to each other we don't think about how much we hurt each other and do serious damage by the words that we speak! We judge, we become Jobs comforters, we think we have the answer to what the Almighty may be doing in other people's lives and we speak without thinking. I myself have been so guilty of this so many times. But for the grace of Elohim who has graciously shown me and I am learning to put a guard on my mouth as David prayed. "Set a guard over my mouth, YHVH keep watch over my lips. Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil to take part in wicked ways" Psalm 141:3-4. How many times every morning I pray this prayer and then I have to watch as the enemy comes quickly trying to draw me into gossip, backbiting, or judging others without knowing their motivations. There is only one judge and He will judge righteously. May YHVH give us the strength "to search our own hearts first to see if there be any wicked way in me" Psalm 139:23. As we do let us speak life and love to one another, let us be slow to speak and spend more time listening to each other and then just praying for one another. Remembering to operate in love, slow to anger and being quick to forgive just as our wonderful Heavenly Father is, as He declared in Numbers 14:18, Psalm 86:15, Psalm 145:8!

Be blessed and let us be a blessing! 

In Yeshua's Mighty Name, Amen 

Theresa Mitchell

White Linen

It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. – Rev. 19:8

Our guests arrived on Wednesday, June 13, 2012. We were doing a conference with Mike Clayton and Kelly Ferrari Mills. They brought another couple along with them Rosemary and Vernon Norton. Rosemary works with linen and makes beautiful throws, skirts, and bedding just to name a few. After our meal Rosemary gave me a beautiful white linen throw. I was extremely grateful and I knew it would come in very handy at the Convention Centre. I do not have great circulation due to my quadriplegia so I tend to get cold when I'm in an air-conditioned place. I usually take a thin blanket or a sweater and something for my legs for when I do get cold. However, this new beautiful white linen throw was a true gift! The next day, Thursday, we headed off to the Convention Centre and as the conference got underway, shortly after praise and worship, sure enough I began feeling quite cold. I put on the beautiful white linen throw. By evening I was absolutely freezing. Rosemary then handed me a natural coloured throw which really helped warm me up! She then told me to keep both! I had picked out beautiful outfits to wear for the conference for each day. As it turned out I had to cover them up with my two throws, no one could see my nice outfits. What I came to understand was that when I would wrap myself in them I would warm up so that eventually I could uncover myself. Then when I started feeling chilled again I would cover myself up. I learned a lot about linen, it keeps you cool in the heat and warms you up in the cold. However, on Friday afternoon Rosemary and Kelly gave a beautiful presentation on just what the flax has to go through before it becomes a beautiful piece of cloth. I was listening intently and then I heard that beautiful still small voice as I looked down at my two throws. I was first given a white linen throw because that is how my Heavenly Father now sees me! Even though many times I don't see myself that way I thought to myself, to which I quickly heard of course, it's not what you still see in the natural but what I have cleansed with My Own Blood, and it is cleansed indeed! Tears started streaming down my face as I sat there listening and I clearly heard Him saying to me it was my intent for you to have the white linen throw first! What an amazing Creator we serve! We always look at things in the natural when we need to be more in tune with His Spirit!

Theresa