Teodora

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace. (Numbers 6:24-26) Shalom is a word that appears all throughout Scripture and expresses one of the deepest desire common to people everywhere. The word shalom means basically , "wholeness", "fullness", "totality", "completeness"; no component part missing, impaired or damaged. It means also that all parts are in harmony, order and unity. It is used in all aspects of human life in different context: - when used in reference to physical condition, it means health in the sense that a body is in a state of wholeness; - material condition

Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook in the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 and might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. (Hebrews 2:14-15). The requirements and the qualifications of the Kinsman Redeemer are: a). He must be a Kinsman. He must be related to the one whom he is going to buy back out of slavery. . He must be Free himself. A slave was unable to purchase another slave. A Kinsman Redeemer must be himself free of the debt and of the bondage which had fallen on the one who was to be redeemed. c). He must be able to pay the Price. d). He must be willing to pay the price. The responsibilities of the Kinsman Redeemer are: -to redeem the property of a close relative who has lost his property to a debtor -to avenge the death of a murdered relative - to pay whatever was necessary to release a relative from prison or slavery and redeem his kinsman

"Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth" (Psalm 119:90). Faithfulness is an essential attribute of God's character. It would be a denial of God's very own nature for Him to be anything other than perfectly faithful. In all ages God ever showed himself a true God and faithful in all his promises. “God is faithful” means God is a being upon whom we can absolutely rely or stay ourselves. His faithfulness reaches to the skies and is established in heaven. All His works are done in faithfulness. He is faithful in all He does. The Greek word used in the New Testament for faithfulness means trustworthy, or to be relied upon. God’s faithfulness is manifested in keeping His promises and covenant. He is fulfilling every word that goes out of His moth regardless what man does. He keeps His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments. He will never betray His faithfulness, nor violate His covenant. God’s faithfulness is manifested in the unfailing defense and deliverance of His servants in times of trials and testing, also in His standing by His people and defending them even if they were unfaithful to Him”If we are faithless, He remains faithful; for He cannot deny Himself.( 2 Timothy 2:13). His faithfulness will not allow us to be tempted beyond our ability to resist and God will always provide an escape. He is faithful to strengthen and protect us from the evil one. God’s faithfulness is also manifested in forgiving His children when they confess their sins and in answering their prayers. All God’s commandments are trustworthy! From the beginning of the world to the end God is ever fulfilling the scripture in his providential government, 'One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts;' (Joel 1:3) God's faithfulness is of great importance to believers. Nothing will support us but the faithfulness of God. Faithfulness as a foundation for human relationships and words related to it like commitment, loyalty, reliability, and integrity are missing in our society today. For us as believers, faithfulness is indispensable. Without it, we will not be pleasing to God. Indeed, the one characteristic which should mark Christians is faithfulness. It should mark us because it marks God. We can be faithful because God is faithful. It is a requirement. God is calling us to faithfulness. He rewards us for being faithful. Faithfulness will bring us under the protective hand of God. The Lord preserves the faithful. God’s peace will guard us if we are faithful to keep an attitude of praise and worship. Faithfulness will bring an increase of authority – the faithful wise servant will be made a ruler over all his Master’s goods. Faithfulness will bring us promotion and will bring us into our ministry and calling. We will be evaluated by our faithfulness or lack of it. Our faithfulness is demonstrated by being true to our words and keeping our promises. We should be dependable, because people should be able to count on us. If we are to be faithful we must use our talents, employing the special gifts and serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. When Mother Teresa of Calcutta was asked: “How do you measure the success of your work?” her reply was: “I don’t remember that the Lord ever spoke of success. He spoke only of faithfulness and love. This is the only success that really counts!”

“I even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake and remembers your sins no more” – Isaiah 43:25 "You were to them God-Who-Forgives (El-Nahsah), though you took vengeance on their deeds.” (Psalm 99:8) The people of Israel had experienced the miracle of the Passover, the miracle at the Red Sea; they had seen God providing manna and water in the dessert yet they were quick to forget all that God had done for them – they were stiff-necked, impatient, rebellious and in their hearts turned back to Egypt. This produced the terrible sin of idolatry and forfeited their right to all God’s blessings. Moses refused God’s offer to make of him great nation, he knew that Israel belonged to the Lord and begged God not to destroy them, appealing to God’s grace and mercy, God’s glory and faithfulness. Moses’ plea was based on the character of God, particularly His faithfulness to keep His promises. Had God not forgiven Israel and destroyed them, there would have been no Savior, because the Savior must come from this nation. Moses’ fervent intercession had averted the penal wrath of God, but because of the lack of repentance and confession, the governmental consequences or their sin had not yet been removed: “the Lord plagued the people, because they made the calf, which Aaron made” If it were not for the mercy of God, they would have been consumed. “..it is of the Lord’s mercies and loving-kindness that we are not consumed, because His tender compassions fail not; they are new every morning, great and abundant is Your stability and faithfulness..”(Lam.3:21-23) The Israelites spent 11 months at Mount Sinai because their sin had to be dealt with and the worship of the One true God had to be reinstated. The amazing thing about God’s forgiveness is that it is totally undeserved and due only to His kindness, choice made from all of eternity, to declare the unrighteous righteous – He forgives on His terms, not ours. "He has not dealt with us after our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities.."(Psalm 103:10) “being justified freely by His grace….to demonstrate His righteousness…that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”(Romans 3:24-26) "For you, Lord are good and ready to forgive and abundant in mercy to ALL who call upon you" (Psalm 86:5)

I will betroth you to Me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you shall know the Lord.Hosea 2:19,20 God refers to himself as Israel's husband: "For your Maker is your husband." God, our creator, desires close personal relationship with his people. He wants us to know that he loves us and desires that we love him in return. Love is both a deep emotion and an extraordinary act. When we love someone, we are not cold or indifferent towards them but want to be near them, we want to see them face to face, we want touch them and be touched by them. While our relationship with God is a spiritual thing, God desires a deep intimate relationship with his people. He wants to be involved with us in our daily affairs. He wants us to share with him our deepest secrets. God also wants to communicate with us. One of the unique aspects of the spousal relationship is that it is the closest relationship we can have that is a matter of choice. When God revealed himself as Father, He is reminding us that he brought us into being and continually cares for us, but when he says he is our Husband he is saying that he has chosen to love us. In fact God is so motivated in his love for us that he was willing to go to great extremes to be in loving relationship with us: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). "Jealousy" is a way to describe the hurt and deeply felt pain of betrayal and loss because of the unfaithfulness in a relationship. When God is described as jealous, it is because his children are worshiping idols and committing spiritual adultery. God alone is worthy of all our worship and devotion: "I am the LORD, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, Nor My praise to graven images" (Isaiah 42:8).

"No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known" (Jn. 1:18). The teaching of the Fatherhood of God takes a decided turn with Jesus, for

"Have we not all one Father? Has not One God created us?.." (Malachi 2:10) JHWH is called Father, because He is the Creator, Law-giver and Protector. He is the origin of what is subject to Him, a supreme, powerful authority - a Patriarch and Protector. He is Father because He takes active intrests in the human affairs in the way that a father would take interest in his children, acting in best of their interests. According to Otfried Hofius the two basic aspects of God as a Father are: a) authority- that demands submission to the leadership of the Head, obeying the rules and also paying the due respect and honor. responsibility - as a Father God helps, cares, protects and provides for those who belong to His family. How should this affect our behaviour? As God's children we should submit to His leadership, obey His Word and trust the wisdom of His guidance, discipline and decisions. We should also honor and esteem Him above all else, because He is our Father, Who made and formed us, He is the Potter, we are the clay - we are all the work of His hand. "Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?" (Hebrews 12:9)

"For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns - broken cisterns that can hold no water." Jer. 2:13 Water is essential to life. In the Old Testament God is the Fountain of living waters - refreshing, everflowing, never ceasing. The cisterns of this world can never fill the emptiness or thirst in our lives, can never bring peace, contentment, joy, satisfaction - they leave us barren, dry, lifeless, without hope. In the New Testament - Jesus is the giver of living water, that will be in us a well of water springing up into everlasting life. He promised the Samaritan woman that whoever drinks of the water He gives will never thirst! (John 4:14) Jesus proclaimed on the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles: "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink, he who beleives in Me as the scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.." Jesus - the Fountain of Living water was opened and revealed to a lost and dying world! Living water holds abundant life and is offered to whosoever will! The living water within us empowers us for ministry - to refresh and irrigate others around us! Our future?! With Jesus and in Jesus - glorious! Jesus - the Shepherd and the Lamb will lead us unto living fountains of water and wipe away all tears from our eyes! "And He said to me: It is done! I AM the Slpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts." (Rev.21:6) "And the Spirit and the bride say: " Come!"...And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely!" (Rev.22:17)

He will feed his flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep. Isaiah 40:11 Being missionaries, my hausband and I lead a very challenging life as we face daily adversity, animosity and seemingly impossible situations. We left the comfort and the complacency of the USA and obeyed the call to come and serve the nation of Bulgaria. A great door of opportunity is opened before us to minister to the children of this nation. We left the States with no support, simply obeying the call of the Shepherd - We can truly say that He has been our Source, our Protection, our Provider, our Guide, our Comfort and our Security. He is our Shepherd on a daily basis and we totally depend on Him for everything. We have a first-hand experience of the Good Shepherd and could write volumes of how He has been faithful to us to supply our needs. We have learned to worship Him and keep our eyes focused on our King and Shepherd in adverse circumstances, we can declare along with David, that He prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies....Our Great Shepherd provides rest, security and restores our soul. He leads us in paths of righteousness for His name's sake - His motive is to display the honor of His Great name. His presence is our comfort! He is our Portion forever! We have the heavenly promise: "He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." Revelation 7:15-17 Save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance; Be their shepherd also, and carry them forever. (Psalms 28:9)

Why do we sometimes resist calling on God to be our Helper? Why do we try to do it ourself first? What is required of us if God is to be a Helper and Shepherd to us? "Happy is the man, who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord." (Ps.146:5) God helps those who seek His help. Sometimes we resist calling on God for help, because of arrogant pride - we want to prove to ourselves and the others, that we "can do it", or we lack faith and trust in God. The Bible teaches us to trust in the Lord with our whole heart and not to lean on our own undestanding, to commit our ways to the Lord, to rest in Him, to delight in Him. Then we will find out that the Arm of God is better than the arm of the flesh. God's help is timely - "He is very present help in time of trouble" - Ps.46:1 His help is wise - He knows how to give what is good for us - James 1:17 His help is effective and all-sufficient - He carries all our burdens and supplies all our needs. Because He has been Our HELPER, we are confident in Him for the present and the future. He is not only our Helper, but also our Comforter "You, Lord, have helped me and comforted me"(Ps.86:17) "Thus says Jahweh: Cursed is the man who trusts in man, and makes flesh his arm, and whose heart departs from Jahweh" (Jer.17:5)

"By FAITH Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaak, and he who had received the promise offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said "In Isaak your seed shall be called", concluding that God was able to raise him up even from the dead.." Abraham did not depend on his feelings - the terrible pain and his heart brokenness, but he wholly trusted his Covenant Partner - Jahweh and His promise and provision. Since Abraham had already experienced the resurrection power of God in his own body, he knew that "nothing is too hard for God" - be it resurrection from the dead, or provision of a Lamb. The I AM sees the need and provides in His perfect timing. As missionaries my husband and I have many a times received last-minute provision. We walk by faith daily and experience God's hand of favor upon us. We have learned to completey trust in Yahweh as Our Source, Our Provider, Our Shield and Our great reward! He has never failed us! It is such an honor and priviledge to serve this Great and Mighty God! This leads to the last part of the question: In what circumstances can we expect God to supply our needs? Any conditions? As we seek to further and expand His Kingdom here on earth and His righteousness being restored, we can have the assurance that all we need for this cause will be provided. When God blesses us with prosperity it should not be spent selfishly, but used for the pupose of furthering and promoting God's Kingdom here on earth.

In midst of everything which threatens our life, we need to be "kept" i.e. preserved, safeguarded. God is our Helper and Keeper, the Maker of heaven and earth watches over our life. No matter where our path in life leads, if we walk in His will, He will preserve us. He watches over us every minute and has promised: "I will not fail you, nor forsake you!" The One Who keeps me is the One Who has kept Israel - He neither slumbers, nor sleeps. We are promised provision and divine security. To say that God stands at one's right side indicates that a person enjoys the blessings of God's favor. The Lord preserves us from all evil. Those who are born again are "kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation". (1 Peter 1:5) We can rest assured and declare the words of the Psalmist: "I will both lie down in peace and sleep, for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety" (Psalm 4:8) "Now unto Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, both now and forever."( Jude 24-25)

"Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee" Rock typifies something about the nature of God. He is as solid as rock, the foundation of everything, He alone is immutable, unbreakable. He is the source of our strength and stability and in times of danger He is our refuge "cleft in the rock". God as Rock can also sustain and preserve us in times of drought, He can become a source of living water. (Numb.20:8) In the New Testament Jesus is the foundtion, the living stone, the chief corner stone, He is the rock of offense to those who reject Him, but a spiritual rock to those who obey Him. The land of Palestine has always been the crossroad and battleground of different religious and cultural interests - Jewish, Christian, Muslim. The terrain is diverse, some of it is rugged, desert area, mountainous and rocky used as shelter and refuge, but also inspired the worship of stones. The city Petra known in Bible times as Sela (the Rock) is located south-east of the Dead Sea and is one of the most inaccessible place of the face of the earh. Even today in its dilapidated state, this city is an unforgettable monument of the "creatilve abilities" of the ancient Edomites and later the Nabateans, who worshiped god Dushara, whose emblem was a black stone. Another evidence is the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, built upon an ancient sacred stone, as a spectacular edifice to proclaim the supremacy of Islam. The site chosen was the very same rock where previously had stood the Jupiter temple of the Romans and before the two temples of the Jews. BUT "Their rock is not our Rock...Where are their gods, the rock in which they sought refuge....let them rise and help you..": (Deuteronomy 32:31,37,38) "For I proclaim the name of the LORD, ascribe greatness to our God, He is the Rock,His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice, a God of truth and without injustice, Righteous and upright is He!" (Deuteronomy 32:4)

Q2. (Psalm 3:3) In what ways is God a shield? In what ways is he our glory? In what ways is he "the lifter up of my head"? What does this teach us about God? About ourselves? As a shieldGod is the source of our protection and security, He is our treasure "exceeding great reward", giver of gifts and our benefactor.God is a shiled to those that walk in integrity (Ps.18:30).God's truth is our shield and defence: God surrounds the righteous with favor as with a shield(Ps.5:12). In the New Testament Jesus is the shield of our faith, He is the Truth that shields us. God is our glory when His presence in us manifests and reveals His nature and character to those around us. Our glory is to fully express and display God's likeness, because we are made in His image. As the Lifter of my head God is the source of all my strength, encouragement and joy during times of distress and trials. The abiding presence of God in all aspects of our life is the perfect environment for our fruitfulness and purpose here on earth.

He, who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, abides in the protection of El Elyon- Our Most High God. El-Shaddai - Almighty God wants us close enough to Him in such an abiding, protective relationship, that we rest in His shaddow, trust in Him and have the confidence that He is our Keeper. God's tender loving care towards us is conveyed through the metaphor of "bird's wings", while His faithfulness is described as a military armor of protection "shiled and buckler". God's promise of protection, rescue and relief is based on our love towards Him and knowing His name. Only then will we have the assurance that when we call upon Him, He will answer us, deliver us and satisfy us. Psalm 91 encourages us to live in the presence of the Most High where there is shelter, safety, delilverence and victory. "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom, or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts, boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in this I delight, declares the Lord." (Jer.9:23-24)