Kelbey Chronicles Volume One is published!

Here is a link to our first devotional. We are eternally grateful for every person who helped to bring this act of obedience to completion.  You are loved and appreciated.  The devotional is a compilation of this blog along with a few additions.  We pray that each person who reads it is encouraged in faith and love. 

Kelbey Chronicles Volume One

Grace and peace

Ronda

Sweetness of the Scroll Recap #2

Here is the second recap for Sweetness of the Scroll.  These are simply thoughts and insights from the weekly Torah portions.  We will continue Sweetness of the Scroll on social podcast media, Spreaker. 

Vayera (And he appeared): Genesis 18:1-22:24

Drop: It is important to have a “tent of meeting” or miskan (tabernacle/sanctuary) to host the Presence of God.

The first verse of this Torah portion (parashat) speaks of the LORD appearing to Abraham in his tent.  In Jewish tradition, Abram is honored for his hospitality demonstrated during this divine encounter.  In the previous chapter of Genesis, you read how Abraham and his whole house had ratified their covenant with Yahweh through circumcision as he was instructed. Abraham may not have even been fully physically healed when “the three men” visited him.  Abraham was in his tent when the LORD appeared. Through scripture we know that the Father has always wanted to have fellowship with man.  First in the garden and now He appears to Abraham and they have fellowship- a “tent of meeting”.  Later, after Israel sinned against the LORD with the golden calf, Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp and he met with God in a tent. (Exodus 33:7).  This became the tabernacle of meeting for Israel. (Exodus 33:7,8).  There the LORD spoke to Moses face to face.

Recently, the movie War Room, emphasized the importance of a consecrated place to meet with God in prayer.  After reading this parashat this truth was established in me in a different way.  Under the new and better covenant we are the tabernacles of the Spirit of God.  We are now the “miskan” and yet I still believe that a place to meet with God is relevant. Most of my time with the Lord is spent in my bedroom, since I don’t have extra space for a war room.  However, since then I have taken a small area of my bedroom (which is a nice size) and set it apart like my own personal tent of meeting. In Jewish tradition, the prayer shawl, or tallit is to serve this same purpose.  We are now the temple of the Living God and as we take time to spend time, consecrated time in a consecrated place I chose to believe that we become His habitation. We will host His Presence in a tangible way. Amen and so be it.

Chayei Sarah (The Life of Sarah): Genesis 23:1-25:18

Drop: We are sent ones, apostles, just like Eliezer sent out by our Lord. Shaliach=sent one (apostle)

My perspective about our gifts from the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit is changing.  Religious circles have taught that these gifts are for the few not the many.  Scripture says it is the traditions of men that make the word of God of no effect.  In this Torah portion is the story of Eliezer, Abraham’s servant finding a wife for Isaac.  Eliezer is sent out as a representative of Abraham’s house, and is given authority to act on Abraham’s behalf.  The Hebrew word used in this account is translated as apostle or sent one. Anyone sent out with authority and a mission is an apostle like the disciples.  Jesus commissioned the disciples and in turn they acted as apostles in their world.  It makes me wonder where would the church be today if believers accepted the original definition of apostle and not the traditional teachings of the past.  Apostles and those being sent out did not stop with the twelve disciples…

The gifts and callings of God are without repentance.  They are not for the elite among us. They are given by the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in accordance with His will, yet they are for whosoever will. That means to the one that believes! 

Toldot (Generations): Genesis 25:19-28:9

Drop: Digging Wells... Finding Living Water for the Generations

In this Torah portion, Isaac has an encounter with the LORD after redigging the wells of his Father Abraham.  There are several accounts in Isaac’s life recounted here that remind us of his father, Abraham.  There was a famine, a relocation, a lie and a king name Abimelech.  I think this speaks to how one generation affects another generation either positively or negatively.  However, after Isaac experiences the conflict over the wells and had to keep digging one well after another, then the LORD appeared.  Just when he could have gotten discouraged, the LORD confirmed His promise.  The Father knows when we need to hear from Him.  So after finding and redigging his father’s well and discovering his own well it was as if Isaac established the generational blessing for those coming after him.  He worshipped the LORD at the place where he received his promise.  He pitched a tent. He dug a well.  When we overcome obstacles in our lives through the power of the promise of God, we secure living water for the generations that come after.  We discover the living water by standing in faith against opposing forcing trusting in the One who promised.   Then we can begin to experience the blessing that comes to the generation who chooses to believe and to obey.  Isaac was blessed because he obeyed when the Lord said don’t go down to Egypt. He sowed and received a hundred fold return. He kept digging despite the opposition and loss, then he received, because he waited for the LORD to work on his behalf. His testimony according to King Abimelech…” We have certainly seen the LORD is with you”. 

Vayetze (He went out): Genesis 28:10- 32:2

Drop: Dream Sleep…sleep and dream

In this Torah portion is Jacob’s dream of the ladder to heaven.  Jacob falls asleep and dreams.  Here is dream sleep again! Genesis 28:12 reads, “Then he dreamed, and behold a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven…”  This scripture is referenced often when teaching on prophetic or spiritual encounters.  Remember that Jesus has made a way for us through his own blood on the cross and we have access to the heavenly places.  Now that may seem a little far fetched for some, but I would consider that this is Jacob who is under the old covenant and actually has a few character flaws and he receives a covenant promise through his dream.  The prophet Joel speaks about the outpouring of the Spirit and how dreams and visions will increase.  Don't you want to exercise your faith for more dreams and visions? I do!  If you haven’t been paying attention to your dreams, maybe you should start.  If you haven’t been resting well, rebuke the enemy and press into deep sleep and rest. Let's agree with the Word and believe the Spirit wants to give more dreams and visions to God’s people.  Sweet dreams!

© Ronda Wagner and Kelbey Chronicles, 2013-2018. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Ronda Wagner and Kelbey Chronicles with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Sweetness of the Scroll

https://www.spreaker.com/user/wordofencouragementministry/sweetness-introduction

Sweetness of the Scroll

Sweetness of the Scroll

In my last blog I shared about the “word” I heard…”let me hear your voice” which references a scripture in Song of Solomon.  I shared a few thoughts I believe Holy Spirit revealed.  Since then, I have continued to contemplate what I heard from the Spirit of God.  I believe that Father God speaks to us…daily…moment by moment if we are attentive.  The phrase became not only an instruction, but also an invitation.  However, even after the blog post I still needed discernment.  What act of obedience was the Lord requiring of me? 

I think that sometimes we act in presumption when it comes to our spiritual walk.  We can get comfortable and down right religious with our spiritual disciplines and that just isn’t good.  Some time ago, the Father, let me know, quite distinctly, that I was not to walk in presumption concerning his Word and His Voice.  We can hear something familiar and automatically believe we know what our response should be. In this season, I don't want to be presumptive concerning what I am hearing from the Lord.  Jesus said “Ask, seek and knock”.  We should probably ask some questions once we hear an instruction from the Lord.   To hear in Hebrew actually means to listen and obey! That means action should follow what is heard. I said all that to say, I couldn’t just assume that I knew what my act of obedience was concerning “ let me hear your voice”.  Well, I think I may have something…sweetness of the scroll.  Let me explain…

I am on this faith adventure into the Hebraic roots of our Christian faith.  Each week I read the weekly portion of scripture assigned and listen to Hebraic roots teachers to learn and grow in my knowledge of scripture, specifically the Torah.  More often than not, Father speaks to me through the Torah reading.  I am learning so much and just plain enjoy it. Call me a geek …I am okay with that!  Sometimes I think…wow LORD that was such a nugget; a sweet nugget of truth from your Word.  Now I plan to share those nuggets with others through the spoken word.  I will begin sharing a sweet drop of honey about the weekly Torah reading over social radio podcast, specifically Spreaker.  I am not a Hebrew Scholar, so please don’t expect in depth teaching on the Torah.  I have only spent a little over a year listening to a weekly Torah teachings, but I believe that Holy Spirit does share things with me that can encourage other believers in their faith.  Therefore, in this blog I am going to give a brief recap of the insights from the first few weeks to catch us up….then I will move forward on Spreaker.

The Sweetness 

Psalm 119:103

How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Ezekiel 3:3

And He said unto me, “Son of man, feed your belly and fill your stomach with this scroll that I give you.”  So I ate, and it was in my mouth like honey in sweetness.

Psalm 19: 9,10

The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.  More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

We can see that scripture presents a comparison between the word of God and the sweetness of honey.  Think about it.  The promise of God to Israel was the inheritance of a land flowing with milk and honey.  The metaphor of the sweetness of honey and the importance to godly instruction from scripture is a tradition confirmed by Jewish rabbis and rooted in Hebrew.  Here is an excerpt from a website:

Ezekiel’s Scroll-http://www.jerusalemperspective.com/2634/

Whatever the etymology of khanach, the custom of using honey deserves special mention in any study of Jewish education. Rabbinic tradition informs us that it was the Jewish practice to use honey in a special ceremony on the first day of school. The young child was shown a slate which had written on it the letters of the alphabet, two verses of Scripture (Lev. 1:1, Deut. 33:4), and one other sentence: “The Torah will be my calling.” The teacher next read these words to the child, and the child repeated them back. Then his slate was coated with honey, which he promptly licked off, being reminded of Ezekiel, who said after eating the scroll, “I ate it; and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth” (Ezek. 3:3). After this ceremony, the child was given sweet cakes to eat with Bible verses from the Torah written on them.^[6]

What is the reason the rabbis tie study and honey together? The answer appears to be due, at least in part, to the linguistic connection they made between the use of khech (palate, gums) and khanach (to educate) in certain biblical texts. The rabbis found khech in passages comparing the sweetness of honey to the sweetness of the wisdom and words of God which one spiritually ingests.

So here are a few drops from the scroll…these are simple insights I have pondered each week while reading through the Torah portions.

Bereshit (In the beginning): Genesis 1:1-6:8  

Drop: The Holy Spirit was hovering over darkness over the face of the waters. Gen. 1:1-2

In the first Torah reading (parashat) Holy Spirit reminded me that he is not intimidated by the darkness!  We can get ourselves all worked up over the challenges in our lives.  To what end?  Worry and stress?  If we believe our bibles, there is a shaking…and there is darkness…gross darkness already manifesting. So we had better stay in faith.  The Holy Spirit was hovering in the beginning and He is continuing to move in the midst of God’s people. Holy Spirit is not alarmed about the darkness in the world. Needless to say, I needed to be reminded because of a few situations in my own life.  Holy Spirit is present with us in the chaos in our lives. We must live in that truth.

Noach (Noah): Genesis 6:9-11:32

Drop: The fountains of the deep were broken and heaven’s windows were opened. Gen. 7:11

Most believers are “familiar” with the story of Noah.  The second parashat in Torah covers this biblical account.  What really stood out to me that week was the verse Genesis 7:11...”all the fountains of the great deep were broken up and the windows of heaven were opened.”  I don’t think I had ever paid attention to that passage.  There is a scientist who has studied this and can scientifically explain how the flood actually occurred!  So it was powerful floods of water that flowed from fountains stored by God in the earth and above the earth in heaven!  That was a lot of water!  Jesus said out of our belly will flow rivers of living waters!  Think about the powerful flow of water in a river. There is a force of power resident in our spirits. Don’t you think Jesus knows “a little”  something about the source of the living waters and the rivers of God! Let’s get in the flow and stay there! Let’s get under an open window of heaven and pitch a tent!

Lekh Lekha (Go forth yourself ): Genesis 12:1-17:27

Drop: Go go within yourself and deep sleep. Gen. 12:1 and Gen. 15:12

The title of this parashat in Hebrew is translated go forth yourself or more accurately go within yourself.  The phrase is the first few words of the Torah reading.  Traditionally, the parashat names are the first few Hebrew words of the Torah section.  (FYI Ezra the priest and scribe developed the Torah reading schedule).  In this reading, we read about when the Lord came to Abram in a vision and “cut covenant” with him.  It is a powerful portion of scripture.  What popped out at me was Genesis 15:12. Father put Abram in a deep sleep.  This is the second time that God put a man in deep sleep. The first time was with Adam in Genesis 2:21.  In Strong’s concordance it is H8639 meaning deep sleep or trance.  At this point, I am not really making any connection other than deep sleep. So I go and look up the rest of the references for the Hebrew word.  A very interesting reference is Job 33:15, 16…”In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, while slumbering on their beds, then he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction” SAY WHAT!!!  I am sure there is a lot more to this than what I am getting right now, but for me…I need to make sure I am getting “real” sleep….go in…going within…in my times of rest.  I have suffered from insomnia and happen to be a very light sleeper, but I still tend to have dreams. THE POINT: we should not allow the enemy to rob us of our sleep and rest. We may be missing out on important instructions from the Lord!

This is already longer than I anticipated so I am going to cut the recap here.  Hopefully, something shared encouraged and ignited your faith.  Sweetness of the scroll is going to be a source of encouragement based on the Torah portion for that week.  It will be whatever Holy Spirit wants shared…I will be exercising my faith to hear and hope that you will join in faith and listen too…

More to come… I will finish the remaining Torah portion recaps….next time

I will post the first podcast…Sweetness of the Scroll...after I record it…help me Lord!

Grace and peace…

- recaps still to come-

Vayera (And he appeared):  Genesis 18:1-22:24 Tent of meeting.

Chayei Sarah (The Life of Sarah): Genesis 23:1-25:18 Eliezer: Sent One

Toldot (Generations): Genesis 25:19-28:9 Digging Wells


© Ronda Wagner and Kelbey Chronicles, 2013-2018. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Ronda Wagner and Kelbey Chronicles with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Let Me Hear Your Voice

I have been meditating on this phrase from Song of Solomon 2:14 for about a week now.  It came to me after finding a poem I had written some time ago entitled "My Voice".  I just happened to be "spring" cleaning in October and found the poem on a piece of orange paper in a huge stack of other papers that needed sorting.  I pulled it out and sat it on my desk.  After about a day or so, I heard "let me hear your voice".  I recognized the phrase from scripture so I went to go look it up.

Song of Solomon 2:14

"O my dove, in the clefts of the rock,
in the secret places of the cliff,
Let me see your face,
Let me hear your voice;
For your voice is sweet,
And your face is lovely."

Hmmm.  I am not known as a person that is usually at a loss for words so I really have been struggling to discern exactly what the Father is asking in his request...let me hear your voice.

A few days before I found my poem, I read a very encouraging post on Facebook that released a prophetic word about creative gates being opened.  It spoke to me deeply so I reposted it.  ( I won't post an active link here because I don't actually know the person who wrote the post...if you want to read it chk my page.)  I sensed such an anointing on the prophetic word released through that post.  It was like a clarion call.

I am still processing a lot of the prophetic word in that post, but I know that this scripture in Song of Solomon is also part of the message Father is wanting me (and other creatives) to hear.  Here are two sentences from that post...

Watch how you flow in my Spirit when you begin to be in the right place of freedom and expression! For it is there, that I will anoint you and my glory will be seen upon you!".....Arise Shine! Jo Ellen 

PROCESSING.

There is a right place for freedom. There is a right place for creative expression. There is a place for receiving anointing. There is a place for receiving glory.  I think the scripture in Song of Songs gives me a few clues.

The clefts of the rock...in Exodus 33:22 this is where Moses received the glory and experienced the goodness of God tangibly revealed.  Afterwards, Moses face shown with the glory.

The secret places of the cliff...according to Psalm 91 are found in the shelter of the Almighty, El Shaddai.  We usually translate El Shaddai as the God Who Is More Than Enough, however, the more accurate translation is the Breasty-One.  El Shaddai is the revelation of God as a nurturer satisfying us like a nursing mother.

So now this scripture looks like not just an instruction but also an invitation. Let me include the Amplified Bible version of the scripture...it is really something to ponder.

So I went with him, and when we were climbing the rocky steps up the hillside, my beloved shepherd said to me, O my dove, [while you are here] in the seclusion of the clefts in the solid rock, in the sheltered and secret places of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.

WOW. Selah. The phrase "let me hear your voice" is actually not simply an instruction but first its an invitation.

As I mentioned earlier, the prophetic word in that post was like a clarion call.  What is a clarion?  The Dictionary App defines it as an ancient trumpet with a curved shape or a sound of this instrument.

A clarion. An invitation. An instruction. PROCESSING.

There is a spiritual gate that has opened in the Kingdom of God for a new higher level of creative expression that will reveal the glory of God in greater dimensions.  It is a welcome invitation for whosoever will.  It is an invitation to the cleft of the rock and the secret places.  It is a place of deep intimacy that will impart revelation that will need to be expressed and released in the Kingdom.  Expressions will be released in various forms but each with a unique spiritual frequency that is directly connected to the Kingdom of God.

The Father wants to hear my unique creative expression and your unique creative expression. He wants to hear a new expression and sound from His children.  He wants it to be deep, rich, intimate and sweet.  As we come to him, El Shaddai, to be satisfied by him alone...the impartation we receive will be that which he created us to express as his child.  Like Father..like son (daughter).

Let me hear your voice. Selah.

© Ronda Wagner and Kelbey Chronicles, 2013-2018. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Ronda Wagner and Kelbey Chronicles with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

COMING SOON

Our first book, Kelbey Chronicles, Volume One will be available soon.  We have been working on this project for a few months.  After much encouragement, we decided to take our blog along with some additions, deletions, and corrections and compile a book.  Our prayer is that the book will encourage every reader to open their heart and listen for God's "still small voice".  Soon we will share the testimony that caused the book to come about in the first place.  There is always a story.  Until then, grace and peace.

Authority and Obedience

It has been a month or so since I have posted anything. The lack of posting hasn't been because the Father has not been speaking!  God is always speaking.  I think you hear that from me often enough.  I was working on something and just happened to look up a scripture in 2 Corinthians that is very familiar to most believers. However, this time when I read it something else stood out to me.

2 Corinthians 10:4-6
"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled."

This portion of scripture is often quoted in reference to spiritual warfare.  However, when quoted...( I have quoted this scripture in this blog) it usually is only quoted to verse 5.  At verse 5 after the word Christ there is a comma, not a period.  The next verse, six, is what stood out to me..."being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled".  I am going to admit upfront, even while I am typing this I know for sure that the Holy Spirit has not fully revealed to me what he was trying to show me that particular day.  But I have been meditating on it, so I will share what I have so far.

If you recount the Apostle Paul's history with this church, you know He had some really strong words for them in his first letter.  I am not going to go through all of 1 Corinthians but just note that some issues included sexual immorality, idols, offerings, operation of spiritual gifts and love.   Weighty issues. So that explains a lot of what the tenth chapter is speaking to if you read the quoted verses in context.  Many of us, myself included, are guilty of taking scripture out of context which then hinders our understanding of it.  If you read the entire chapter, the Apostle is addressing issues that have come about in the church regarding his spiritual authority.  From my reading of the text, I see the Apostle addresses words or comments from believers about his authority.  Now think about how we use these scriptures....speaking about "pulling down strongholds and casting down imaginations".  Usually, we (notice I am saying we) are referencing demonic forces! In context, however, the Apostle is speaking about believers speaking against his spiritual authority.  Read the chapter.  It seems like the people in the church were a little upset about what he had written previously in his epistle to them and when they finally saw him in person...well let's just say...people starting talking!

Verse 10, "For his letters", they say "are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak and his speech contemptible." SAY WHAT!!! I can't even imagine the opposition that the Apostle Paul dealt with after his conversion.  He is called as an apostle after having  1) persecuted the church 2) stood by at the execution of Stephen and  3) not even walked with Jesus while he was on earth.  
I think the recent tv mini-series A.D. did a pretty good job of depicting the difficulty that Paul, formerly Saul, had gaining the respect of the other Apostles, especially Peter.  Let's just say this brother had a hard row to hoe!  Talk about breaking up ground!  Talk about blazing a trail!  This is the real deal.  Jesus told Saul he would suffer many things for his name's sake.

BACK TO THE CHAPTER:  Basically the Apostle is defending his spiritual authority and letting this church know that he understands that his weapons are not fleshly or carnal.  He is telling them that he will not engage in fleshy battles over stuff that is not even determined by people but rather determined by God.  The people wanted to question his authority and even were going as far as making comparisons.  Sadly, this is something done often in churches.  We are not supposed to compare "our" gifts or "our" callings. From scripture, we know the gifts and callings are from Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit and from God.  They aren't OURS to make comparisons. The Father calls and chooses. ( Romans 11:29, Romans 12: 4, 5) Jesus gives the gifts of ministry.  ( Ephesians 4:11-16 ) The Holy Spirit gives the gifts of the Spirit that are manifested as He wills.  ( 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, 11).  Unfortunately, most of us probably would not have "qualified" Saul for ministry!  Can we all thank our Father, that HE is God and we are not! Let's leave those things up to the Omniscient One.

VERSE SIX:  So what is the Apostle really saying in regards to spiritual warfare?  I can't say I understand it all but I believe that in verse six he is addressing disobedience and obedience.  He is letting them know that he knows how his spiritual authority works and that he will address disobedience in order to edify and ensure that obedience is the standard.   Strongholds, arguments and pride, no matter their origin (demonic or carnal), are made subject to the obedience of Christ. Our obedience in Christ is what determines the exercise of authority.  Not outward appearance. Not opinions of men. Not even our opinion of ourselves. The Apostle was clear in making this distinction.  He recognized his sphere of authority and that this authority is by appointment of God (verse 13), not men.

It is carnal to judge by outward appearances. It is fleshly to form opinions about others concerning "their" spiritual authority and calling.  The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are in charge of that stuff.  We need to be concerned with our own obedience.  Our obedience is what is important. I think that God wants us to stop comparing ourselves, His gifts and His callings and get more focused on obedience.  We should simply judge ourselves, making sure our own thoughts are not strongholds, our own imaginations aren't exalted above Christ, and bring our own thoughts to His obedience. So that we know we have FULFILLED OUR OWN OBEDIENCE  and have no need to be judged for disobedience.


I heard a minister say...God's love language is OBEDIENCE.

That is what I am "talking" about...OBEDIENCE.



© Ronda Wagner and Kelbey Chronicles, 2013-2018. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Ronda Wagner and Kelbey Chronicles with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.