12/15/2025
"Faith is daring to do something
regardless of the consequences."
Today is the second night of lighting the Hanukkah candles. I did not mention the first evening that began at sunset Sunday night, because with all the tragedy, there just are no words. Hanukkah better known as Festival of Lights is supposed to be a celebration of the miracle of the oil when the second temple was re-dedicated to the Lord. Jesus called the festival the Festival of Dedication, and He attended the celebration with His disciples. I believe I have spoken on the entire message behind the celebration. It is not a commanded feast of the Lord, as the other feasts that are observed by the Jewish people. Here is a brief description of the history of Hanukkuh from Sergeant Major Chaim Malespin of the IDF and CEO of the Aliyah Return Center in Jerusalem:
"You see, about a hundred years earlier, the Seleucid Empire had conquered Judea (Israel) and heavily persecuted the people. They burned Torah scrolls and forbade the Jewish people from worshiping God. They even went so far as to set up an idol of Zeus in the Temple—God’s Temple!
One of the priestly families, called the Maccabees, led a revolt against this evil regime. Despite the odds being against them, they managed to regain freedom and autonomy from the Seleucid Empire.
One of the most important tasks after this victory was to cleanse and rededicate the Temple to God. They removed all the idols and purified it from all impurities.
One of the special elements of the Temple was the seven-branched lampstand. This lampstand required special oil, and in their search, they found only enough pure, kosher oil to keep it burning for one day. It would take eight days to press and prepare new oil. However, by a miracle, the oil burned for eight days! This was a miracle of light.
And there, during this festival, the greatest miracle of Light entered the Temple—Yeshua Himself.
Some recognized the Light, while others did not. There in the Temple, He was confronted by those who did not believe that God could come as a man.Yeshua told them plainly that He and the Father are one. They could not see it. They saw Yeshua as merely a man. Yeshua had to escape from them and went to the Jordan River, where John had once baptized many people. There, several Jewish locals gathered and their eyes were open. They believed that Yeshua was who He said He was! You can read the full account of this story in John 10:22–42.
I pray that this holiday season of light, we would have ears to hear the Shepherd, and eyes to see."
I have been observing this celebration by lighting the candles for two years now, as I learn more about the traditions of the Jewish nation through my association with the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem. It also increases my hunger to know more and more about the history of the Jewish people. I have been amazed at how much I actually have learned at the feet of Jesus over my many years of walking with Him and reading and studying the scriptures myself. Sadly I have not always had the blessing of having a pastor who taught the whole counsel of the Word, so I went to the Source. I wish more people would follow that path, then perhaps our world would not be such a dark place, and the younger kids would not be so confused. I always took the word literally as it is written, so I never had a problem with the Jewish nation being God's chosen people. I am grateful that He loved me, and because I loved Him, I became part of the One New Man. Understanding more as I read and re-read the scriptures has been the joy of my life.
Yesterday we were saddened by the news from Sydney, Australia, as we received a first-hand witness from a member of our prayer group, who lives in Australia. I am referring to the Bondi Beach shooting of the Jewish gathering celebrating Hanukkah who were shot down by a father and son, killing 12 people and wounding up to 60, many who are in critical condition. The victims included a young school girl and a holocaust survivor. One brave gentleman ran over and grabbed the gun from one of the shooters. He was there with his two children, eating lunch, and when he heard the shots he went to see what was happening. Many are calling him a hero, and I honor the selfless act he performed, putting his own life in jeopardy. What an example to follow, and the hero just happened to be a Muslim man. As to why these two men did this crime is still unknown. But it happened just as many other things in our nation and world are happening now on a daily basis.
In California a family had 40 bullets shot into their home when they saw the Hanukkah lights. I'm surprised no one has noticed mine. There's nothing wrong with celebrating life. Why does there have to be so much hatred! I think that is one reason why I have felt so teary-eyed today.
Today I saw a headline about the actor Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, being murdered in their own home. Later, the headlines said that their son, Nick, had stabbed them. He had been in rehab for mental illness, and apparently things happened to him, and his parents did not listen, but why oh why would he resort to murder?! My own son struggles with mental health issues from trauma he suffered. The psychiatrists of this world only give more and more medication, and the counselors do not deal with the root of the problem. I have seen this over and over again in the case management clients I assisted when I was working. The difference is that I worked with the client and the doctors to ensure they had the proper care and balance of medication/treatment. This is not routinely done. There are so many job vacancies in Virginia alone for case managers or care coordinators. No one wants to work, because if the job is done correctly, it requires dedication and a listening ear and caring heart. Most who work now are overworked, but it is so rewarding when someone's life turns around, and they become free of the monkey on their backs - dependence on psych medications. I am praying for the day when my son will be free. Jesus sets us free! If only, if only someone would believe that truth. The enemy is good at twisting truth into lies and making people think they can never be well. But not my family! So devil beware!!
Yesterday I spoke about faith and the meaning based on the scriptures in Hebrews, chapter 1. I discussed the Hebrew hall of faith fame leaders in the Bible, and I shared a bit of their stories. Today I am looking at James that continues where Hebrews leaves off. James teaches that "faith without works is dead" (James 2:17). We know that we are not saved by works as Ephesians 2:8-9 clearly declares: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." Only through accepting the sacrifice of Jesus Christ's shed blood on Calvary, can a man be redeemed from the curse of death. But James tells us that when we are born again by the Spirit of God our old lives begin to change, as we are transformed into the new man in Christ. His ways transform our old man into a brand new creation who delights in doing and follow the word of the Lord. Doing good works is the proof of our surrender and dedication to Jesus. James says in verse 17 that "So you see, it isn't enough just to have faith. You must also do good to prove that you have it. Faith that doesn't show itself by good works is no faith at all - it is dead and useless."
As believers and followers in Christ we have an obligation to stand up and speak out against the evil of this world. We are told to be the hands and feet of Jesus, sharing the Gospel of the message of Christ, loving our neighbors, bringing light into the darkness. This evil must be stopped, and the church, the real remnant of God's people, co-heirs with Christ in this world as sojourners until He returns, must awaken, rise up, and make a change. I have said this so many times before, but we must do better!
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