Why the Mustard Seed?

by with 2 Comments Video Blog
I try my best not to question the Word, but often I come across imagery that just doesn’t translate into something meaningful to me. That is, until I take a deeper look.

One example of this is when Yeshua compares our faith and the Kingdom of YeHoVaH to a mustard seed. I get it — it’s small and grows into something big. Yet, I am quite sure there are smaller seeds and bigger plants or trees that could have painted this picture just as effectively, if not better.

But, what if that wasn’t the only message that Yeshua was trying to get across? 

Let’s start with the metaphor where the parable of the mustard seed is first used. In the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, Yeshua likens the Kingdom of YeHoVaH to the mustard plant.

“And He said, “To what shall we compare the reign of Elohim? Or with what parable shall we present it? Like a mustard seed, which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth, and when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all plants, and forms large branches, so that the birds of the heaven are able to nest under its shade.”
– Mark 4:30-32 (ISR)

What exactly did Yeshua imply by “greater”? I have a feeling that it does not suffice to say size alone.

Mustard is an herb. While it is quite large compared to other herbs, what is so special about it is how densely it grows. Wild mustard spreads quickly, densely covering the surrounding area. Due to this trait of the plant, it greatly suppresses weeds from growing.

This was HUGE to me! So often the Scriptures refer to the harvest of the wheat and tares. This imagery reveals to us that the Kingdom of the Almighty has the power to suppress the growth of the tares! It is the Kingdom above all kingdoms. Praise Yah!

The mustard seed is also likened to faith.

“And Yeshua said to them, Because of your unbelief, for truly, I say to you, if you have belief as a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it shall move. And no matter shall be impossible for you.”
– Matthew 17:20 (ISR)

When we look at the characteristics of the mustard plant, there are a few details that can be pondered on:

  • Germination takes place in the cool season.
  • It flourishes in fertile soil, and grows rapidly.
  • Within 4-5 weeks, the plant covers the ground.

The teacher in me loves homework, so I will leave it to you to dig deeper into these and see what connections YeHoVaH reveals to you.  

My final point is the most impactful of all.

I felt a yearning to research the Hebrew word for mustard, which is חרדל. Each Hebrew letter has a picture associated with it, stemming from the ancient Paleo-Hebrew alephbet. Here is the breakdown:

  • Chet (ח) – Fence/Inner Room
  • Reysh (ר) – Head/Person
  • Dalet (ד) – Pathway/Door
  • Lamed (ל) – Authority/Shepherd Staff

So, when looking at the Hebrew word pictures for the word mustard, we see that the innermost part of a person is the pathway or door to the Shepherd. 

The Hebrew word for mustard literally gives a definition for faith. How awesome is that!

I try my best not to question the Word, but often I come across imagery that just doesn’t translate into something meaningful to me. That is, until I take a deeper look.

Problem of the Heart

by with No Comment Faith and FamilyTedd's LettersVideo Blog

In recent days we have seen horrific crimes committed against our fellow man. People gunned down with little to no reason. Shooters with no more purpose than to kill their prey in the most ruthless ways. This is not what God had intended for us. Not in the slightest.

We can hate on our leaders, but this starts in our own home when we say, “This far, no further.”

This is not a gun problem. This is not a political problem. This is a problem of the heart.

You see, Yeshua (Jesus) said this is one of the most important things we can do…

And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
– Mark 12:28-31

Where have we gone wrong with this world? We need to go back to the word of the Almighty, the Bible.

I’m not asking you take my word for it. Just stop for one moment, pull your Bible out and see what God has in store for you. He doesn’t want you to hate your brother or sister and you know we are all brother and sisters. He wants you to love them, to understand them, and to protect them as your own.

And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
– Mark 12:28-31
​

Remember politics can only do so much. We can hate on our leaders, but this starts in our own home when we say, “This far, no further.” We have to take responsibilities for our future — now before it’s too late.

To the people of El Paso and Dayton, our hearts and prayers go out to each and every one of you.

Let’s all pray that this is the last time we have to come together and speak of such a horrible thing. Remember — God loves you. Today, love each other as he loves us.

What Does Hallelujah Mean?

by with No Comment Hebrew InsightsVideo Blog

Hallelu is simply the imperative form of the verb halel and Yah is the first part of the name of the Creator.

From the “elel” that is shouted in traditional Ethiopian festivals, to the sound of early instruments, to the “halleluyah” that is shouted in Pentecostal churches today- whether we know it or not, they are all related to the concept of praise in ancient Israel.

The word halel, where halleluYah comes from, is usually translated as “praise” or “to give glory.”

Hallelu is simply the imperative form of the verb halel and Yah is the first part of the name of the Creator. Therefore, the meaning of this ancient word would be “praise Yah” or “give glory to Yah.”

The problem that arises is that the concept of praising or giving glory is not something concrete in English. To delve into the meaning of this word, and the concept of praise, in Biblical Hebrew we must go back to its first usages in the Scriptures.

“when His lamp shone (hilo, הִלֹּו) on my head, when I walked in the dark by His light.”
– Job 29: 3 ISR

In this example we have the shortened root of halel and we see that it has the meaning of illuminating or shining- the same action as the glowing of a candle.

The following is a very interesting Biblical example since it has brought about much confusion in different translations:

Have we learned something wrong again? Not quite.

The reality is, thematically speaking, that the “beginning of the harvest,” those fruits of the barley harvest offered during the week of Chag haMatzot (Feast of Unleavened Bread), from when we began to count the fifty days until Shavuot may also be called bikurim.

So, if we want to define the terms correctly and accurately, it is important to understand that the Day of First Fruits is NOT called ‘Yom haBikurim’ in the Torah. On the contrary, the day that is called ‘Yom haBikurim’ is Shavuot, as we saw above.

Finally, I will share the meaning of this word. Bikurim is the plural of the word bikur, which is literally “first,” related to organic elements such as animals, fruits and plants.

It is related to the root bakr which means “firstborn.” In Egypt, for example, the tenth plague was called makat haBechorot, “plague of the firstborn.”

As expressed biblically, the first “fruit of the womb” of a woman is linguistically related to the first fruits of the earth.

“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer (heilel, הֵילֵל), son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!”
– Isaiah 14:12 KJV

In this verse of Isaiah, the word heilel, which is related to halel also gives us that image of “shining” or “giving light.” In this case, it is the light that a star gives, the brightest star seen in the sky just before sunrise.

The context of this chapter tells us that we are talking about the king of Babylon and his pride. The word heilel was translated into the Vulgate of Jerome as Lucifer in Latin. “Lucifer” is simply something that gives light, such as a star, but being one of the words with which hasatan is denominated (“the angel of light”), this verse is often taken out of context.

In fact, many translations in English and other languages ​​preserved here the Latin word Lucifer (capitalized, as if it were a name) instead of the most adequate translation of the word: the shining one.

In the Jewish tradition, halel is also the name given to Psalms 113 through 118, which were sung in the Temple at the time that the lambs were sacrificed at Passover and, most likely, the hymns that Yeshua and his disciples would have sung at the end of the “Last Supper” (Matthew 26:30, Mark 14:26).

In conclusion, we see how the word halel is connected with the action of shining, such as a light, either from the fire of a candle or a star. Lights (fires) and stars were used in ancient times as reference points, that is, as objects of orientation that could be followed to reach a specific destination safely.

Beyond the basic and loosely accurate translation of “praise” or “glory”, the next time you say or think of the word halelu-Yah, keep in mind these ancient meanings and connections, which give a deeper meaning to everything that we should attribute to Yah.

Stick to the Plan

by with No Comment Faith and FamilyVideo Blog
After moving to Fort Mill, South Carolina from Missouri, I sat in our apartment one day and wondered, Why am I here? Do I understand God’s plan for me and what I am to do? Did I hear right from God?

From my experience, questions like these tend to follow a huge life change, like switching career paths or moving across the country. As I pondered these questions, I replayed the different adventures the Father has sent me on during my life.

I remembered the crossroads that I faced—the places where I wasn’t really sure which way to go—and the times I questioned God.

Maybe you’re in that place right now. You felt you heard from the Father that you are walking in obedience, and then all of a sudden things just don’t feel or seem right.

I have stepped out in faith many times in my life, even when it made no sense at all to anyone else. If you find yourself facing a decision that will drastically change your life, and you feel the Father is calling you to that decision, know that His plan is for your good. Jeremiah 29:11 says…

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Each time in my life that I have gone against the wisdom of man and followed God in faith, He has prospered me. But I’ve also faced hardship during times of being obedient. At times, I can honestly say that I thought calamity was what He was giving me.

However, the calamity was only temporary. It brought about a stronger faith, a stronger dependency on Him. And as soon as the hardship passed, I had prospered.

I think it would be safe to say that most of us have prayed at some point, Father, make me more like You. Give me Your heart. Change me. So when you step out in obedience, do not be disappointed if He answers the very thing you have been asking for.

There will always be an adversary that will try to rob what God is doing in your life. And the plan to prosper you may look a little different than you thought. But stick to the plan and enjoy the journey!

Should You Do A Cleanse?

by with No Comment Biblical HealthVideo Blog
Many people consider a cleanse the fastest and easiest way to fit into their favorite clothes after months or even years of dietary missteps. That’s fine, but make sure you do it right.

When people ask me if I think that they should do a colon cleanse or some other type of cleanse, I always tell them the same thing: I would not do it IF I was not willing to improve my diet and lifestyle after the cleanse was complete.

It defeats the purpose.

Without an improvement in your diet and lifestyle at the end of the process, all you’re going to do is strip away the bad, which is a good thing, but then go right back to pouring in more junk. You’re no further ahead than when you started.

Not to mention, you’re going to have to go through those same detox symptoms all over again the next time you decide to “cleanse”.

In fact, some health professionals say that a cleanse without an intentional improvement in diet and lifestyle on the other side puts one even further behind.

Once you strip away the junk, your body is in pristine condition, meaning that it can now absorb nutrients (and junk) better than ever.

If, after your cleanse, you go right back to pouring bad food into a freshly cleaned body, it’s going to be absorbed into your bloodstream even more efficiently than before, dragging you down even further (and faster).

It’s a lot like the principles the Messiah taught about following him: don’t bother if you’re not willing to change your ways.

Have you ever noticed His actions on this manner? He NEVER apologized for demanding repentance (i.e. changing one’s ways). Think about any and every story in the Bible where He was teaching and preaching — not ONCE did He chase after someone who wasn’t willing to live by His example.

If someone wasn’t willing to do what was necessary (like the rich young ruler – Luke 18:18-25), He essentially said, “That’s OK. Knock yourself out… see ya!” Why?

Because half-way NEVER cuts it — in terms of faith or good health.

If you’re a new creation, you’re a new creation, period. Not a new creation with a new supply of old habits that you have to purge all over again. That’s not the idea of accepting Messiah and walking in His ways. And it’s not the idea of a physical cleanse, either.

I’LL HAVE MORE TO SHARE NEXT TIME… but in the meantime, you can read about this and a lot more my latest book, “Escape Root: The Secret Passage to Lifelong Wellness” available at ARoodAwakening.tv/Escape

Get Scott's book here

Tearing Down The Legacy Of Hate

by with No Comment Faith and FamilyTedd's LettersVideo Blog

In my 58 years on this planet, I have noticed a trend if you will, of people being more and more influenced by hate.

I hate this neighbor, I hate this politician, I hate this person, I hate hate HATE!!!” It seems like the world is just growing a legacy of hate. And if you’re not careful, you will be trapped by the influence of hate in your life.

You see, hate is just another way Satan gets into your life and makes an absolute mess of your attitude, your emotions, and most importantly, the way you look at the world and the people around you.

If you live in the world of hate, Satan has you right where he wants you: In the pit of despair and hopelessness.

Jesus or Yeshua says in John 13:34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”  

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”
– Philippians 4:8

You see, the Almighty’s plan was to make this world a peaceful, loving place where people would treat one another with kindness and trust in a way that only God’s love can overcome life’s obstacles.

Are you surrounding yourself with negative people? Then break the bonds of hate and find people that treat you with respect, with love and happiness. Find relationships that see the good in people and your surroundings.

Remember when you live in hate — Satan wins.

Be an overcomer.

Today, right now, tell Satan to get under your feet and see the good in everything you can. Be the person Yeshua wanted you to be and change the world, one attitude at a time. You can be the change that YeHoVaH is looking for, one life at a time. God Bless.

Is Breakfast Cereal Healthy?

by with No Comment Biblical HealthVideo Blog
Breakfast cereals, especially ones marketed to children, often claim that the cereal contains “A good source of calcium and vitamin D.” At face value, the claim is essentially true.

Calcium and vitamin D will indeed help children grow up strong IF, that is, these nutrients are derived from plant-based, whole food sources, which contain all of the naturally-occurring co-factors present in their natural state.

Of course, in the case of refined, boxed breakfast cereal, this is not the case.

The amount of sugar and refined grains in breakfast cereal completely nullify the amount of calcium and vitamin D that may be added to it, not to mention that the calcium and vitamin D had to be artificially inserted into the cereal to make the claim.

These nutrients are “isolated” nutrients, meaning they have been extracted from their natural state and separated from countless, complementary, naturally-occurring nutrients that help it carry out its expected benefits in the human body.

Not to mention, the refined sugar in the cereal — regardless of how many “vitamins and minerals” are added:

  • suppresses the immune system
  • upsets the mineral relationships in the body
  • causes blood proteins to function less effectively
  • produces a significant rise in triglycerides
  • can contribute to juvenile delinquency and obesity
  • contributes to premature aging
  • aggravates arthritis, and
  • is associated with the development of Parkinson’s disease.

Speaking of disease, we spend all kinds of time and money on disease research and therapeutic solutions, but cutting disease out or poisoning it or, more accurately, its symptoms, into submission is not the answer.

We need to focus on examining the fuel that made the body break down in the first place and using better fuel to reverse the damage.

As we have already established, that “breakdown” called disease, no matter what form it takes, is simply malfunctioning cells.

NEXT TIME… we’ll get into the secret to keeping your cells functioning at their maximum potential.

But you can read it ALL right now in my latest book, “Escape Root: The Secret Passage to Lifelong Wellness” available at ARoodAwakening.tv/Escape

Get Scott's book here

The Breath of Life

by with No Comment Video Blog
I love how descriptive the Word of Yehovah is. We are often given metaphorical imagery to help us understand spiritual concepts.

These comparisons not only give us a tangible idea of what Scripture describes but, I imagine, that each metaphor also carries secret keys to understanding the physical world.

We are often called “the body of Messiah” in the Scriptures:

“For as we have many members in one body, but all members do not have the same function, so we, the many, are one body in Messiah, and members each one of one another.”
– Romans 12:4-5

We also know that we are created in the image of Elohim. Imagine, then, all the ways that our bodies reveal the glory of our Creator!

Recent studies have shown that the average human body is composed of approximately 37 trillion cells- not including the at least equal amount of foreign cell bodies that live in us, too.

97% of all cells in the body fall into one of six categories: red blood cells, glial cells, endothelial cells, dermal fibroblasts, platelets, and bone marrow.

Over 70% of ALL cells in our bodies are red blood cells. This means that most of our actual body is responsible for carrying oxygen to other cells. The other really important thing that red blood cells do is remove carbon dioxide from our cell tissues.

Glial cells, once thought to simply be neuron-insulators, are now being investigated more deeply as some scientists believe they could be responsible for our creative thoughts. They make up 90% of our brain. Another important function of glial cells is, again, to transport oxygen and nutrients to neurons.

Endothelial cells create a one-cell thick lining in all of our blood vessels. They ensure a smooth ride for our oxygen-carrying RBCs.

Dermal Fibroblasts are found in our skin, and aid in healing when we are wounded!

Platelets, another vital component to healing in our bodies, specifically work to seal any breaks in the endothelial lining of our blood vessels.

Lastly, we have bone marrow cells that are responsible for the cultivating of our blood cells.

This means that 97% of the human body is directly involved with the transport of oxygen to our cells.

“And YeHoVaH Elohim formed the man out of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils breath of lives. And the man became a living being.”
– Genesis 2:7

We that make up the body of Messiah all have this breath of life! What an interesting parallel the Father has given us in the design of our own bodies.

Just as our cells minister to one another, we are to do the same.

We are each filled with the Ruach haKodesh, the Holy Spirit, and we manifest different gifts that we are to use in support the body of Messiah as a whole.

How amazing! Baruch Hashem YeHoVaH!

I leave you with this…

As these cells bring life-breath to the functioning tissues of our bodies, they also rid the body of waste.

“And, according to the Torah, almost all is cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”
– Hebrews 9:22

Our blood moves throughout the body, cleansing it. Individual cells are the vessels for cleansing. They are carried by the blood and they are filled with the breath-of-life!

I encourage you to dwell on this thought. We know of the power of the Blood. It courses through our (endothelial-lined) veins.

Each of us has the privilege of being vessels of the Holy Spirit.

Let us continue to work together as one body of many members, until the day He is crowned as King of Kings.

Choosing Faith or Fear

by with No Comment Faith and FamilyTedd's LettersVideo Blog

My father-in-law taught me something a long time ago.  He said, “Tedd, you can either live in faith or fear, but you can’t live in both. It’s your choice.”

Webster’s Dictionary defines fear as “an unpleasant, often strong emotion, caused by anticipation or awareness of danger or doom.”

Now, I’m just like any other man who can have doubts or fears – fears about health, fears about finances, fears about personal relationships, even fears about my relationship with The Father.

On the other hand, the Bible defines faith in Hebrews 11 as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

The Bible really doesn’t define fear, but simply tells us, “Fear Not!”…

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.”
– John 4:18

 

“And the Lord appeared to Isaac the same night and said, ‘I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you’.”
– Genesis 24:26

Finally, in 1 Chronicles 28:20, David says to his son Solomon, “’Be strong and of good courage; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God – my God – will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you’.”

Again, my father-in-law Ron taught me that fear and faith are both spiritual elements – elements that can’t take up the same space.  

If you live in fear, then faith just simply is not present; but if you live in faith, fear cannot exist either.

YeHoVaH wants you to live in faith, to live in hope, love, happiness and peace, not in fear.  That is nothing more than Satan bringing doubt and hopelessness into your life.

In fact, the Bible says “fear not” 365 times in one form or another. If you think about it, that’s a “Fear Not” for every day of the year!

So now you have a choice: to live as The Almighty would have you live – in faith and hope – or as Satan would have it, in fear and despair.

Don’t allow negativity to dwell in your life. Anger, fear, doubt. It’s all of the Devil.

Choose YeHoVaH.

Choose life.

Choose faith.

Your Storm Will Pass

by with No Comment Faith and FamilyVideo Blog
I love to be outside in YeHoVaH’s beautiful creation. Not too long ago, I spent some time in the woods.

I was a good distance from the truck, but I didn’t realize it until the sky started to darken and I heard thunder. A storm was coming. But it was too late. I knew there was no way I’d make it back to my vehicle.”

I hunkered down in a place I felt was the safest and waited for the storm to pass. I prayed, “YeHoVaH, please watch over me and protect me.” The lightning cracked and the wind blew.

I thought a couple of times that it may be a tornado.

After a while the storm began to pass, each crack of thunder quieter than the last one. The rain had stopped, but water still dripped heavily from off of the leaves. I was soaking wet and started to feel a little cold. The sound of dripping slowed and the sound of the birds soon took front stage.

It was amazing how fast the storm came and went, even though it seemed to last forever when I was stuck in it.

When I got back to my truck, Luke 6:48-50 came to mind. Remember when Yeshua was walking on the water and was about to pass by the disciples in the boat? They thought they had seen a ghost. He told them, “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”

And when He climbed in the boat, the storm subsided.

As I thought about that scripture, it dawned on me that He was about to pass them by. In other words, if they had not called out to Him, I believe He would have kept going. Also, He was far enough away from the boat that they did not recognize Him.

What a great example of storms in the believer’s life. In the midst of the storm (trials and tribulations), we cry out to YeHoVaH. When it takes a while for the storm to pass, the complaint some believers have is, “YeHoVaH is not hearing me.” I’ve been there myself. But let’s remember the scripture. When they called out, He answered with words of encouragement.

In other words, He said, “You’re going to be okay.” Hang in there.

Keep your eyes on Him during life’s storms, and know that whatever storms we have in our lives will pass. So the next time you cry out, know that He hears you. Keep your eyes on Him and, at His appointed time, He will enter your boat and calm your storm.