Jesus is the ultimate substitution for every requirement! Here’s what’s ultimate about it – there is no substitution for Him!

Today is Day 48 of the counting of the omer. Two days until Day 50, Shavuot.

Why is Shavuot so precious and valuable and important for me and my family?
I read something recently that got me thinking more about what it was like for the people who lived on the earth while Jesus was here in the flesh. In John 6 He starts talking about how His flesh is food and His blood is drink! And He tells the people to feed on Him in this way in order to live! Simple right? NO! The Bible tells us many walked away at that point. And the disciples who stayed complained about His words and Jesus calls them out on being offended by them! Jesus’ response is what really gets me here. He says if THIS level of fellowship with me in the flesh offends you, what will you be like if you see me leave and go back up into heaven?! Wait. What’s this got to do with leaving us??????

You’re offended if I’m here…you’ll be offended when I leave…well aren’t we all winning?! (NOT!)

But He helps them by using something they already understood – the Word being given on Mt Sinai on Shavuot. They understood this Word (Torah), as Israel, as their lifeline!! He says, “The WORDS I speak are SPIRIT.” Jesus connects it with something they can’t understand yet – the Spirit that would soon be poured out on them as a witness of The Word. This would happen on Shavuot to come! (*exit second wave of “followers no more”.) But Jesus is using this language so they won’t have need to be offended when He leaves them. What do we humans do when we get offended or disappointed? We create substitutions to fill the void. He was letting them know the Word and the Spirit won’t be substitutions! HE will be in them!

This is why the two things given on Shavuot should be so valuable to us.

First, God’s Word given on Mount Sinai on Shavuot.
Second, the Holy Spirit, His presence, poured out on Shavuot.

If Jesus is not here, in the flesh, I absolutely cannot ignore that God has used Shavuot to give us what He knew we would need in order to live where He placed us! His Word and His Spirit.

Don’t overlook this God-appointed time! Don’t say, “well it’s not important because Jesus Himself didn’t ‘do’ anything.” He did do something. He gave us necessary gifts for living. This is part of HIM! He said it in John. He is The Word and His words ARE Spirit! I feel too many times we’ve made this season optional. If you are alive on this earth right now, like me, then these two things mean everything for you! They are what God has given us to navigate here! We cannot live without them, because they are HIM!

Shavuot is all about God coming through on His word and promises.
~Giving understanding and words to live by and for guidance for a mass exodus of people who still didn’t have a homeland…
~Counting grain to watch and see God continue to provide and cause them to be fruitful…
~Giving His Presence and Power to us while He’s “away”…
So let it point us to the day of PROMISE… of the full revelation of the person(Word & Presence) of Yeshua Himself, with us, face-to-face! That is the end goal. That is what we look for. Him. The Word. The Fire & Breath that stirs and enlivens us. The King. Yeshua!

Join us for the trip of a lifetime! October 23-October 30, 2020

Father’s Joy is partnering with Pastors Tony & Shanda Simoncini of Missio Dei, South Jordan THIS FALL for what is certain to be a powerful time connecting with God in His land! The Scriptures will come alive as we journey from place to place in the Galilee, Judea and Samaria and ascend to Jerusalem, the mountain of the LORD, worshipping together. Follow the footsteps of Christ on His journey to the cross, His resurrection, and stand on the Mt of Olives where He will stand again!

For pricing and registration information, please email us at fathersjoymusic1@aol.com

Space is limited!

Dear Friends – We are so grateful for you in our lives! We love what God is doing in the earth! He is transitioning us once again. The Moses’ are on the move and value your prayers for every step of that move. God is speaking to us that this next place will provide a brief rest in order to prepare for things ahead. It’s an in-between season for us. By the 1st of 2019, we will be living back in Mobile, Alabama.

There are a few key things on our itinerary for the 2019 that we would love for you to pray about joining us in, including trips to Honduras, Israel, and more worship gatherings! God has re-positioned us in the body where we no longer feel we are to operate from a pastoral position at a church at this time. Having operated from that for 20+ years, you can imagine how this will feel very different for us. Have you ever experienced a time when things seemed so clear and yet very unknown all at the same time? That’s us! But we know He is preparing us to be sent out more and more. Our hearts burn like never before for open heavens in worship, and for the alignment and unity of the global body of Christ.

So much more to come! Please have patience with us as we make changes to our website so we can enhance our communication with you. All of the upcoming events I mentioned above and much more will be posted there so be looking for that! God is opening doors and we are so excited to see what He is doing. We invite you to press into Him like never before! The earth is the LORD’s and the FULLNESS thereof!

Had the privilege of leading worship at our home church this past weekend! Someone had a stationary cam so you can watch/listen here!

://www.facebook.com/cfanministries/videos/1397925890246162/

Hello from Paradise, Rainier National Park!

Well…..I know it’s been a while.  If I told you what we’ve been doing it would exhaust you. It exhausts me just thinking about the past 6 months!  God is good – He is faithful – He is merciful – He is all knowing – He is light to our path – He is the One true God – He is the way maker – He is the beginning and the end – He is the lover of our souls – He is love – He is Light – He is our King – He is THE I AM THAT I AM!

Let me see if I can give you a little snippet of what’s been happening with the Moses’…….In September we resigned from our place at El Shaddai Ministries. Following that, Mark took a cabinet job in Mobile, AL. We moved from our rental house and were invited by dear friends to occupy there daylight basement.  During the time of October 17th- January 21st, Mark traveled back and forth from Mobile to Seattle to be with the family.  The kids continued to go to their school and life was very different with us being apart from each other.  Some of the most trying days in our whole 19 years of marriage.

While Mark was in Mobile working, he received a call from Pastor Bill Wolfson from Church For All Nations, who asked a very pointed question, ” Mark, do believe God is through with the Moses’ in Washington?”.  He could have asked any other question but he didn’t.  We had to respond, “no.”  Mark and Pastor Bill began the dialogue of what it would look like for us to come on staff and help oversee the ministries at Church for All Nations.  We accepted the call and began our journey with Pastors Bill and Marj and the leadership and congregation there.

Many in our area are preparing for a natural cataclysmic disaster in the Northwest – we are believing for a supernatural outpouring of the Holy Spirit over the North West – an awakening to repentance and the furthering of God’s Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven!  We are believing for many to come to Christ and follow to Him with everything they’ve got!

We’ve found the Lord to be faithful in all things – He has kept us and surrounded us with favor with God and man.  We are excited to see God move in this region.

We are continuing to seek Him, we are moving forward with future endeavors.  In Honduras we plan to assist in building a place that will house missions teams and will help strengthen ministries that are already flourishing in the area.  Our church that God used many of us to plant there just had it’s 10-year anniversary!  Here in Washington, we will be helping launch a new service in the near future.  We also have some opportunities to travel to Lebanon, and the list goes on.  We are ready, and excited – We are just open to the Lord and what He has for us to step into in 2017 with Fathersjoy.

Our mission is the same …..to be a witness of God’s love presence and power in and to the world through music, missions and mentoring.

Let me leave you with this Jeremiah 17:5-8

My paraphrase…….” don’t trust in the arm of the flesh you will be cursed – you will not be able to recognize good when it comes – you’ll be a shrub in a desert that inhabits the dry place…but be like this- one who trusts in God – you will be like a tree planted by living waters that brings forth fruit that remains and even in the dry season your leaf will not wither!

Jeremiah delivered two basic messages that came from God –

1 – You’ve not trusted in Yahweh
2-  Even worse you’ve trusted in yourself

We continue to trust In Him – thanks for your continued prayers and support. God’s blessings be upon you!

Mark, Bridget, Abigail, Samuel, Josie, and Amos

Josie sends her love, while eating the celery that is supposed to be going on the snow…puppy?

We rencenlty joined some friends to worship and pray for the city of Mobile – thanks for your continued prayers and support as we trust Him for what’s next!   You can check out the live stream link on my facebook page !

Our Abba is so good and faithful! Even in the midst of change and transition, He invites us to come closer to Himself to meet our needs and take care of everything that concerns us. We love Him.

Yes, I did say change…transition has begun and something new is on the horizon for the Moses’! We have recently resigned our position at El Shaddai Ministries in Tacoma, Washington and are prayerfully waiting on the Lord for His will in this next chapter of our lives. For the time being, full support will come through Father’s Joy Ministries. LOTS of things we don’t know yet (small details in God’s big hands), but what we do know is who we are – people who desire to be carriers of His presence and will continue to invite Him to invade the earth through our lives!

We so appreciate and value your prayers for our family.  We love doing this adventure with you! We will keep you updated as to where we will be, permanently and even in travel. Please stay in contact with us. We love you!

Mark, Bridget, Abigail, Samuel, Josie & Amos

P.S. Songs are written and we are looking forward to everything working out so we are able to record and get them out to you soon!

People write, produce and distribute music everyday.  And everyday that music goes out over airwaves and satellite signals and, by choice or not, instantly thousands or maybe even millions of people are listening and uniting in the deepest parts of themselves (aware or not) via – a song.

A song speaks for your heart.  Because even if there are no words, the melody allows you to express your inner design and makeup.  Think about it…if you could listen to anything, what would it be RIGHT NOW?  And if you told us what that was (in a chat room of sorts) and someone else chimed in and said they were hearing the exact same thing at that exact  moment – what would you have? You would have a sudden tie and sense of connection with that other person.  Who knows, maybe you were thinking of the euphoric melody of the ice cream truck! Lots of people rally around that song!  AND YET the song of the ice cream truck isn’t what you’re after. You want the ice cream.

Songs are an inner psychological/spiritual/emotional/chemical commonality that allow people to unite from and onto the inside. (Not a scientific definition by any means. Thank God!)  That makes them, in their simplest form, a “medium”-meaning, they are not the goal or end result even.  Songs are the pot, the stirring utensil, the chopping knife, the fire, the preparing of the meal, maybe just the kitchen. They are NOT THE MEAL. They are not even the ingredients.

I believe God’s Word lays out several purposes for The Song – among them are battle, celebration, revelation, declaration, and encouragement.  But in the times we are in, I would like to amplify among the others the vital purpose of unifying for God’s kingdom. The song I sing doesn’t have to be mine.  As God’s people, let’s rally beneath the banner song of an unwavering love that’s not of anything we want for outside of desire for HIM.  What I’m attempting to get at is the song itself is not the goal, but rather what it does. I may not be a citizen of whatever country you live in.  But if I stood alongside and sang your national anthem with you, you would sense that I was joining myself with you. I may not even know all of the words. I may not even like the words! But I’m still saying something so much deeper and stronger.  I’m saying I’m with you and for you.  I’m making your anthem my anthem at that moment.

King David (very prolific songwriter in God’s Word!)-A.K.A. a man after God’s own heart. Have you ever thought about that God-given title? As a musician/singer, I wonder if David ever said, “God, I’m after YOUR heart. What are YOU singing today?” In Psalm 51, a song of his darkest moment perhaps, he cries out, “Create a pure heart for me, O God… Let my tongue sing joyously of Your righteousness. Open my lips that my mouth may declare Your praise. For You do not desire a sacrifice, else I would give it…the sacrifices God desires are a broken spirit; a heart broken and humbled, O God, You will not despise.”  Broken – like a ship broken to pieces by the wind. This is a state of life or death and yet he asks that his tongue would sing joyously and declare praise? Yes I know he was asking for a new heart. That’s because he knew a sacrifice wasn’t sufficient anyway – only his life and very breath! He was asking for “God’s Heartsong” back.  And if God and Who HE is is your song, then HE is your center.  Then HE is your heart.  And that’s what David was after, so says God.

If you’re guessing right now that there’s a new song from us coming, you’re correct.  Well, not right away, but soon.  But my desire is not for the song in and of itself necessarily.  My hope and prayer is for the potential of how it can unite and build up God’s people to long for and look for HIM. To focus not on what we or the rest of the world is doing, but on the LORD and what He is doing. Look at how David’s focus shifts in verse 20. “Do good in Your favor unto Zion; build the walls of Jerusalem.” That the city of God and His house be built up, all the while his own “house” seemed to be falling apart!  In other words, “God this is what you desire so this is what I want to sing about.” Thank the LORD David didn’t have some quota or expectations that caused him to create scenarios or perfect settings to write from.  His humanity and total dependance on God gave him plenty of opportunity.

Though it’s not a song I wrote, today the song that took me to HIM was King of My Heart by Sarah McMillan. And I was more than grateful for it…joining with those worshipping…He MUST REMAIN the King of our hearts! Bo Yeshua!

https://youtu.be/EpqSbKYxd9Y

Much, much love~

B

Hey everybody! It has been WAY too long since we have given an update on the Moses’! The responsibilities here are hefty but good, and things are about to get kicked up a notch still. Plenty has been happening, but for now I’ll focus more on the music end and insert other tidbits of all God is doing in more blogs to come.

Throughout the past year, we’ve been writing more songs and introducing them into our worship times at El Shaddai but now we are pulling them all together and nearly ready to put them up on the website here. Once up, you’ll be able to purchase songs individually or just log in to listen whenever you’d like. (Plug here- reminder that you can watch/listen via livestream or even in the archives to worship services at www.elshaddaiministries.us on Saturdays at 10 A.M. pacific time. Watch Mark’s teaching from February 20th in archives!) Last Shabbat, March 12th, we introduced a new song called The Door. We are working on having it up here on the site by the end of this week. So let me tell you a little bit about it…

The Door~  Sukkot 2015 I was in Jerusalem (woohoo!) and more specifically at “the wall” for prayer and the singing of the priestly blessing. I’ve been there quite a few times before.  But this time there were so many people (an ingathering from all over the world for the feast days) and on the women’s side, where I was of course, pushing your way through the crowd is the norm! I realized this could have been very similar of a setting for the woman with the issue of blood-a tight crowd much like this. I felt the Lord speak to me, “Press in, Bridget. You can stand back and watch others draw near or do it yourself.” For those of you who know me well as a worshipper, I’m not exactly a stand-back-and-watch kind of girl! But I was completely unaware God was setting the stage to deal with my own issue.

As soon as I felt this invitation it seemed as if the crowd became tighter and the struggle to move became more difficult. Now I had a bigger problem – I had an invitation from Jesus but “these Jews” weren’t letting me get there! I quickly became extremely offended at them all! I have never taken on this offense! It was frustrating. I felt rejected and not acceptable because I didn’t have a prayer book, speak Hebrew and I certainly wasn’t Jewish. It’s important I insert here that these women were not acting any different than usual; they weren’t scouring at me or showing any disdain but I believed they were in that moment.  I began crying and my mind began racing, “Lord, what do I do now? The very people I came to connect with don’t want me! You have to help me not feel this way!” Amazing how our minds can cause us to project things onto other people and to accuse them of things they’re not even doing. But God was about to brand something on my heart that I pray I never forget!

The Lord spoke again, “These things (a prayer book, being dressed a certain way, speaking Hebrew, or being Jewish) don’t make you acceptable, Bridget. I invited you and I accept you. And only because I already accept you, any of these ‘things’ you choose to do are acceptable in my sight.” Whew! Immediately the offense was gone and love rushed in and flooded my whole being! Of course, it was love for Jesus, but equally it was a genuine love for the people. I was so glad this was the new posture of my heart as I would then begin making my way closer to the wall. Amazingly, I didn’t feel the need to push through anything anymore. Space would just open up in front of me and I would get closer and closer to my destination.

I stood 5 feet away from it for a very long time. Ha! I knew I was about to be awed by God. I came to the wall and drew my hand up but stopped and didn’t touch it. It was a very cool C.S. Lewis/Narnia moment. Under my breath I muttered, “Lord how I wish this was a door and not a wall.” Reaching my hand out and touching the wall I heard, ” I’m not a wall, Bridget. I AM the Door!” – and a song was birthed in my heart.

I looked all around me, certain that everyone just heard what I heard!!  I was so ready to see Him…all of us to see Him, together. There is NO END to Him and something new is certainly on the horizon! For now, we see in Spirit. But then, we will see face to face. He is the Door to heaven and all that it is.  And yet at the same time He is the door to our own heart and all that it holds and can potentially be if we are willing to open it and let Him wash it.

(Photo: My awesome view as I looked up from a cave in Israel we were standing in listening to Mark Biltz teach.)

God, in this hour of Your perfect timing, don’t let my heart be offended. I offer what I have, my voice, for You to use to make us (Jew and Gentile) ONE (echod) and to glorify You now, at Your return and forever! Heal us and we will be healed…save us and we will be saved!

Two days later I sat on a plane headed home and penned the lyrics and melody to The Door. Check back soon to listen!

**About the Jewish women surrounding me at the wall…now when I look back and remember the experience I remember it completely different – women trying to help me, offering me prayer books, smiling at me happy I was there praying with them, offering me their seats, seeing tears in my eyes and crying with me sharing the moment with no words,  younger girls preferring me as their elder and letting me in, etc… Because this is who they truly are – Beautiful women inside and out. And I can hardly wait until I get to be with them again!

I peeked over the wall to the men’s side:)                                On Daddy’s shoulders for prayer.

Listen to The Door

 

Our new song is out! You can purchase our new single, “Shalom”, here on our site or visit www.elshaddaiministries.us and grab it there. Listen and let God’s peace envelop you. Shalom Shalom!

We are having another Night of Worship!! June 29th at 7 pm pacific time. Watch it live at http://elshaddaiministries.us/livestream.php and go to the live streaming link!

Every week watch us live at El Shaddai, Saturdays at 10 am pacific time!