Rhema

A text without context is pretext.  This is a good rule of thumb when studying the Eternal Word of Truth.

Recently I’ve been parsing the two different words for ‘WORD’ that we find in the Greek New Covenant.  They are rhema and logos.  There are seventy occurrences of the word ‘rhema’ in the New Covenant.  I’ll not follow all the rabbit trails (there are so many lines of thought) but there is something so very interesting found in Luke 1:37, 38.

Most translations read something like...

‘For nothing will be impossible with God.’

The context is the angel Gabriel informing Miriam of her soon to be Christ Child, as well as how it all will unfold.

Now, what is so incredible about this verse is that when you go back to the Greek, you will see that the word ‘rhema’ is actually used here, but not really clear from the English translation(s).  You’ve heard it said ‘lost in translation’...well, this is one great example.

You’ll find that ‘rhema’ can indeed be translated as ‘thing’.  However, the common definition means ‘a thing which has been spoken’.   In other words, a topic or saying which someone has ‘breathed out’ through vocalizing it. 

The Greek looks like this...

ὅτι οὐκ ἀδυνατήσει παρὰ τοῦ θεοῦ πᾶν ῥῆμα.

    A literal translation would look like this...

‘for - not - will be impossible - with - the - God - every - spoken word’

   
So, we should think about this verse (considering its context) like:  “For nothing spoken by God shall be impossible” OR “For no Word from God will ever fail” OR “Because with God every saying will not be impossible”.  Wow, that’s some fresh, novel thinking for your Friday!

Now, let’s quickly READ the next verse as it should be thought of and read aloud (because rhema is used here again).  Miriam says to Gabriel, “May it become to me according to your rhema”. 

IF ‘thing’ were the best translation for ‘rhema’ in verse 37, then it could be used again in verse 38 here, and well, ‘let it be to me according to your thing’ just doesn’t make sense, no? :)

Isn’t God’s WORD (Logos/rhema) both remarkable and mysterious?  Isn’t His Living Logos (which can be thought of as His ‘written Text’ [Torah/Instruction]) mind altering and yet so comforting at the same time?  Yes, it is.  To know that ADONAI’s WORD to and for us, indeed, canNot fail, behold It is Eternal  And I am so thankful for It...

"Set them apart for holiness by means of the Truth - Your Word (Logos) is Truth." ~Yeshua [John 17:17]

I Ain't Frontin' Friday

Okay, Ladies....this is I AIN'T FRONTIN' FRIDAY!!!  Probably the first ever.  I know you must've been all waiting by your computers to see my cray cray first thing this morning...so here goes.

Due to circumstances beyond my control (nap), THIS is what my kitchen looked like most of Thursday. 

Now mind you, trying to get four kids out of the front door before 7:45 in the morning is a tour de force in and of itself.  So, I've greatly enjoyed strolling back (with a cup of coffee in hand) from walking child #4 to school, followed closely by getting on my computer, acknowledging the mess that's left from the morning rush...THEN I just sit.  Breathe.  I then contemplate going for a nice walk. 

Let me clarify, I didn't nap all day...but, somehow, my motivation set in around 2:49 p.m. and then it was time to go pick up my 'Walker'.  Yes, WD fans, that's what they call the kiddos whose mode of transportation is their feet.  I giggle a little every time I hear the term...

So, back to the dog....

I go through the trouble to put on her harness as she's the most reluctant going-for-a-walk dog that I've ever known.  

However that didn't last long because Bella was lazy...either that, or she was like 'Um, remember Lady, my coat is black and it's....errrr already 95 degrees here in Texas?'   Either that, or she was simply refusing to walk past the big dog on the corner.  Who knows?  Either way, Bella won.

 

So, I did what any Mom would do whose dog messed up their morning workout routine.  I came back and ate some banana nut bread and milk.  No picture, because I ate it all.

In my attempt to live a little...and to live well, THIS was my lunch.  Yes, after the banana nut bread.  I said 'was'.  Yep.  'Twas chili cheese fries.  And it wasn't mere chili cheese fries...it was LAST NIGHT's chili cheese fries (who eats leftover chili cheese fries anyhow?) that I threw a bunch of spinach and EVOO over the top of in an effort to make it 'healthy'.  I can hear Tim Hawkins' prayer now...'LORD, please turn this cheese puff into a carrot stick on the way down' spoof.  I ain't gonna lie...it was good stuff.

And this, my friends, is my failed attempt to beautify Prosper.  I mean, really.  I definitely need help with that one as well....

I thought about posting a picture of something very scary...what I look like first thing in the morning...but, that's just taking it a little too far, y'all.

So, there you have it.  I'm sure there were paaaa-lenty of better Kodak moments I could've captured, but I was probably running around barking orders, wiping up dog pee, stepping in dog poop, yelling from downstairs at the kids upstairs who refuse to get to breakfast on time, explaining to a child why baths are still necessary tonight even though she had one last night, or I was off to the store to purchase less than lovely Walmart produce. 

Y'all better share your I AIN'T FRONTIN' pics with me as well!  'Cause I know I'm not the only UnSuper MOM around these here parts...

Shalom & Love,
Carmen

Super Mom?

A sweet Mom brought up in Bible study yesterday something we are ALL familiar with. It's the suffocating American facade that is seemingly perpetually set before us of 'Super Mom'. The Truth is there are no Super Moms.

So we can all RELAX. Ahhhhhhh. The Pressure is OFF y'all!

We all know we like to present ourselves a certain way in public...and ain't no better place to do that than Facebook. BUT, while there's nothing wrong in having it 'somewhat' together - or even mostly together - let's just keep it real. For the sake of all of us, please.


Now, I'm cool with the fact that some of us Moms are, in all truth, just more efficient at our jobs.  And yet some of us, like me, are still learning what true efficiency looks and feels like!  I think the LORD put us Untogetherlies to balance the Earth.  :)  I do observe those Moms who beautifully work more efficiently - it benefits me and mine.  Still, Super Mom is an illusion.  Don't forget that.

So, in all our earthly pursuits of excellence, may we ask ourselves 'Am I bringing glory to ADONAI in the way I present myself? Am I bringing glory to His Name in the way I care for my family?' Because that's our purpose, ya know...

'to be conformed to the IMAGE OF CHRIST (Romans 8:29) by the SPIRIT OF CHRIST bringing glory to God through authentic FRUITFUL DISCIPLESHIP (John 15:8)'

Sooooo, in honor of this, I hereby declare Fridays I AIN'T FRONTIN' FRIDAY.

Ya know, along with all the 'Hey, look at what I've done spectacularly well' pictures we post, let's take some time to add a few REALITY pics...for the sake of balance.

Please understand, I'm not promoting complacency or glorifying stinky dwellings.  I'm just saying as we PURSUE EXCELLENCE TOGETHER...let's remember that it's....well, TOGETHER.  




Hmmmm, the question is which area of my untogether shall I capture????



I'll go first...but you'll have to wait 'til tomorrow....cause y'all...it ain't Friday!

Living Epistles

The world is a busy one.  Color-coded calendars, barking dogs, bickering children, ringing phones and racing thoughts are just a part of this life.  But is that alone what we’re supposed to attain to each day?  Is a marked thru list of achievements the goal?  No.  We may accomplish a thousand tasks in one day, but accomplishments alone won’t bring us to ‘our goal’. 

Our goal - that which brings shalom (peace) to our minds and chockmah (wisdom) for our day - is to be CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF OUR REDEEMER YESHUA.  

26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, ~ Romans 8

 Yeshua came to offer a NEW HEART.  But many of us are settling for just a NEW IDEA.  Paul lends great insight into the matter...and it’s not anything new.   Paul tells the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 3:3) “You make it clear that you are a letter from the Messiah placed in our care, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on stone tablets but on human hearts.” 

Ah, that’s the difference maker isn’t it?  The NEW HEART Yeshua offers happens INWARDLY.  That INWARD WORKING manifests itself in TRANSFORMATION BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD.  What does that look like?  Well, it’s humility expressing itself in the active, authentic love and acceptance of others (and thus, your God).  It benefits others.

The NEW IDEA, however, is merely an external piece of advice.  That lowly external working manifests itself as a compilation of information gratifying the flesh (knowledge puffs up).  It benefits only you.  That looks like pride parading itself as haughty, self-service with a passivity and apathy for others (and thus, your God). 

The NEW HEART is conformed to the Image of Yeshua and that holy Image will be expressing itself in an active love and acceptance for those in your sphere of influence.  The NEW IDEA is conformed to the image of well, Cain - a self-absorbed, jealous man of low character who killed his own brother because his ‘offering’ of a wicked gift was not accepted by his Loving Father ADONAI (who graciously intervened by appealing to Cain’s conscience in an effort to help him ‘choose well, choose the better way’...but he did not [Gen. 4:7]). 

I suppose we have to first take a look at what we’re offering then, right?  I suppose if we take Paul’s advice, we need to acknowledge that we truly are ‘Living Epistles known and read by everyone’.   The Greek is 'epistole Christos' or 'Anointed Epistle/Letter'.

Once when my children were small, they each sat at the table with markers and crayons scattered in the center.  They masterfully tended their creations that were to be specially made for Mom.   They completed their ‘offerings’ at just about the same time and in an effort to get their offering to me first, they rushed towards me and began to trample one another using harsh words and hitting and yelling.  All of a sudden, my pride for what they were making for me turned into a deep sadness....and I could not accept their ‘offerings’ with a joyful heart.  They each looked at me with great confusion as I tried to, best I could, explain to them that I couldn’t receive their gifts until they were once again united in the beautiful harmony I saw they had at the kitchen table just a few moments earlier.  I helped them to understand that my heart was hurting when they fought and were in such discord.  Somehow, their little minds understood and with their limited understanding, they made up as best they knew how.  With a pure, joyful conscience, I was then able to receive their gifts with great gladness!  And they were happy as well.

And ADONAI helped me to understand that day the Truth of Genesis 4, the Ten Words (Commandments), and the Living, Anointed Epistle HE had created - predestined - us to be...conformed to the Image of His Holy Son Yeshua.  That kind of offering is wholly acceptable...

Welcome to Mereas of Grace!

Welcome to Mereas of Grace, the sister site of Women Of the Word!  

I am so pleased you decided to drop by.  With this new blog, I hope to reach women of all ages who enjoy studying God’s Life-Changing Word.  

The Hebrew script for chokmah (wisdom) is חָכְמָה...meaning 'Skill for living'. 

This blog exists to encourage Mereas of every generation to grow in the grace and knowledge of the ADONAI, skillfully living for the glory of His Name! 

Mishlei 9:10 (Proverbs)~ "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the All-holy is understanding." 

Shalom aleichem, Mereas, as you continue on your journey to the worshipful and reverential fear of ADONAI!