Encouragement

Whatever you do today, let it shine! "As soon as you start measuring good deeds, to determine which is greater, which takes priority over the other—you have already entered precarious ground. Your job is to do whatever is sent your way." Chabad "Thought for the Day". And Messiah, Yeshua Rabbeinu said, "...let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." (Mt 5:16)

"And it's trouble ahead if you're satisfied with yourself. Your self will not satisfy you for long... There's trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters them, doing what indulges them. Popularity contests are not truth contests—look how many scoundrel preachers were approved by your ancestors! Your task is to be true, not popular." Lk 6: 25-26, The Message.

"Life itself means to separate and to be reunited, to change form and condition, to die and to be reborn. It is to act and to cease, to wait and rest, and then to begin acting again, but in a different way. And there are always new thresholds to cross... the thresholds of birth, adolescence, maturity, and old age; the threshold of death and that of the afterlife-for those who believe in it." Arnold van Gennep, The Rites of Passage, 189-190.

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace." – Jimi Hedrix, legendary rock singer and guitarist. And Rabbi Shaul of Tarsus said, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." – 1 Corinthians 13: 4-13.

My heart yearns to be in Jerusalem! The City of Gold, the place where one day His Majesty will be seen to dwell – where there will be no more tears, crying, mourning or pain (Rev 21). Sometimes, I feel like I want to escape from where I am, to go and find my own Jerusalem. But remember, wherever you are, whatever you are doing there, make THAT a Jerusalem – the place where His glory can live in and through you. Amen.

"Everything that occurs comes from Him, and He is only good... Struggle hard to see the good, think positively -and then the good will become revealed." – Rabbi M. Schneerson, and G-d says through Yirmeyahu haNevi (29:11-12), "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you."

Q: Why are you here? A: Because you have a purpose! In each phase and journey of your life you should recognise and accept where you are. You may only be passing through on your way to somewhere else, which may be better or seemingly more important – but nevertheless, there is a G-dly purpose in where you are right now If not, consider this: why are you here and not called Home to be with Him now?

Rest, assured. Every detail of our life and being is directed in every moment from Above. And beyond that, every nuance is an essential component in G-d's grand scheme, every moment burns with the pulse of His desire and care. So meditate on this, and then think, "How much more so the details of my daily life." For He knows you, your needs, your weaknesses, your strengths, your past, present and your future. Amen

"A miracle is what occurs when a force from beyond the finite cosmos enters within. That is why to see a miracle, you need an open heart and mind. Open enough to receive the Infinite." - R. Menachem M Schneerson. Bring on the miracles LORD, bring 'em on. Amen

"Yesterday, you were inspired. Today, that is all gone. And so, you are depressed. But this is the way the system works: Everything begins with inspiration. Then the inspiration steps aside -to make room for you to do something with it. For fire to become deeds." – Rebbe Menachem M. Schneerson. I really love this!

From the Lubavitcher Rebbe, "Visit the prisoners and bring them some happiness. Even if, in your eyes, they deserve whatever misery they have. Bring them joy. G-d is always with the oppressed." And from Yeshua, "... when did we see you hungry, thirsty, a stranger, needing clothes. sick, or in prison?' The King will reply, '... whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'" Mt 25:37

By Tzvi Freeman, condensing the teachings of Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson, "Whenever things got worse, Jews would say, "This is a sign! Moshiach is coming!" But in those days, a messianic era would have meant a radical change in the natural order of things. Today, though the human soul sleeps a deep slumber of materialism, the material world itself is prepared." Deep calls to deep.

"There will come a time, very soon, when we will be shown miracles so great, they will make the ten plagues and the splitting of the Red Sea appear as ordinary as nature itself. So great, no mind can begin to fathom them; so powerful, they will transform the very fabric of our world, elevating it in a way that the wonders of the Exodus never did." - Tzvi Freeman

"Along the journey to wisdom, you will pass a muddy river. It may appear a river of wisdom, but don't steer your boat towards it. Oh so many have turned to it and lost their way. In fact, it is a river of exile. It is the river of "I have heard that already." To the wise, wisdom never ceases to sing." Rabbi Menachem Schneerson

Women! (and men) - check this out... Proverbs 31:10 says, "A woman of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies", but did you know the Hebrew for "noble character" is חַיִל 'chayil', which is better translated as "might, strength, power, valiant" - as would be used to describe a warrior in an army. So it's not a passive characteristic at all, but rather a dynamic, honourable one.

You are here to reconnect a broken world to its Creator through Messiah. Your attitude will dictate your success, for if you live as a victim of circumstance, then your world is still something separate from G-d. But if you have the confidence that He is always with you and that you can change your destiny in His power, then your world is tied to the heavens - and since He lacks nothing, neither shall you. Amen.

"Sometimes I lay under the moon, and I thank G-d I'm breathin'. Then I pray don't take me soon, 'cause I am here for a reason. Sometimes in my tears I drown but I never let it get me down. So when negativity surrounds, I know someday it'll all turn around... one day" (Matisyahu, "One Day"). And "They will beat their swords into plowshares, nation will not take up sword against nation, and no longer will they train for war." (Isaiah 2:4)

"The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and G-d. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that G-d wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature." - Anne Frank (12 June 1929 –...March 1945, Bergen Belsen), one of the most renowned and discussed Jewish victims of the Shoah.

‎"Faith is not logical. But it isn't illogical either. Faith is Theo-logical. It does not ignore reality; it just adds G-d into the equation." Mark Batterson, quoted by Chip Furr in his excellent book, "Thin Places." How's the balance in your life equation?

"The life of Avraham aveinu is a model for all of us in every generation. We follow the example of his fiery devotion to Hashem in prayer, kindliness, hospitality, unselfishness, humility, Torah study and self-control." (Rabbi Avigdor Miller, in 'Behold a People', p 29). All of Avraham's tests in life should inspire us to continue to pursue growth, even when times are difficult.