Scripture for when feeling Angry Tempted and Rebellious

Greetings to all my readers - 

I've been busy crocheting, sewing and designing everyday in addition to home duties, I've done tutorials as well.

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Well, another good sistren of mine said she like the Bible quotes I put up... I decided to add two more to keep the flow of JAH going. When you feel angry, tempted, or rebellious against someone or something, think, pause, Iditate on these words:

Word Sound for when I and I are feeling:

 Angry

So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God (James 1:19-20)


“Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Krist forgave you. (Ephesians 4:26, 30-32)


A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. (Proverbs 15:1)


Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones. (Proverbs 16:24)

 
A wise man fears and departs from evil, But a fool rages and is self-confident. A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, And a man of wicked intentions is hated. (Proverbs 14:16-17)

He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, But he who is impulsive exalts folly.
 (Proverbs 14:29)


He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. (Proverbs 16:32)


If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; For so you will heap coals of fire on his head, And the Lord will reward you. (Proverbs 25:21-22)


Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm. (Psalm 37:8)



Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, For anger rests in the bosom of fools. (Ecclesiastes 7:9)



“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. (Matthew 6:14)


But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. (Matthew 5:22-24)

But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Krist forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. (Colossians 3:8, 12-14)


Rebellious

It is not good to eat much honey; So to seek one’s own glory is not glory. (Proverbs 25:27)

Let this mind be in you which was also in Krist Yesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

(Philippians 2:5-8)


So Samuel said: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you...” (1 Samuel 15:22-23)

Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of [JAH Rastafari Sela]; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; (1 Peter 1:13-14)


Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.

 (1 Peter 5:5-6)


If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land; But if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword”; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. (Isaiah 1:19-20)


Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)


And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:13)


Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. (Hebrews 13:17)


This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;

(Ephesians 4:17-18)


For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

(Ephesians 5:8)


Those who fear the Lord do not disobey his commands; those who love him will live as he wants them to live. Those who fear and love the Lord will try to please him and devote themselves to the Law. Those who fear the Lord are always ready to serve him. They humble themselves before him, and say, “We place our destiny in the hands of the Lord, not in human hands, because his mercy is as great as his majesty.” (Sirach 2:15-18)


Pride has its beginning when a person abandons the Lord, his maker. Pride is like a fountain pouring out sin, and whoever persists in it will be full of wickedness. (Sirach 10:12-13)


Tempted


My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. (James 1:2-3)


Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 

(James 1:12-14)


Therefore submit to JAH. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)


You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

(1 John 4:4)


In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honour, and glory at the revelation of Yesus Kristos, and Qedamawi Haile Selassie I
(1 Peter 1:6-7)


Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil...above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
(Ephesians 6:10-11, 16)


If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(1 John 1:9)

The Love of JAH surround the I~

Ila

Queen Vashti: an example of wickedness or modesty?

Blessed Love

For Sabbath I continued to read Edith Dean's "All of the Women of the Bible," a book which I recently came across on Amazon. I found it very helpful in finishing my book as she brought to my attention some important figures which I had never quite paid attention to because so little was mentioned of these women.

Today I read about Queen Vashti because I was considering what her story had meant from Biblical text as well as Jewish.

Now just from reading the Bible, one thinks that she was a woman who refused to obey her husband because he was asking a very ridiculous request. King Xerxes I wanted her to parade before his court wearing her crown - only her crown it is said in some sources. The king and his court had been drinking wine heavily for seven nights, and were no doubt feasting their eyes on concubines, musicians and dancers. They must have engaged in a talk about who was the most beautiful woman or wife, when the king announced that his own wife was fairest of all, and he could prove it. Whatever the dirty conversations being held, he somehow needed to have her showcase herself to prove a point. The men were probably rowdy, rude and stink of wine and meat. Queen Vashti, who had been dining with the women in the king's castle for the seven days, might not have wanted to play the role of a trophy wife, or even a harlot. She might not have wanted her beauty to be trivialized or exploited. She wanted to continue being the secret treasure for the King's eyes only - and it is said that in those days queens were generally not seen by the public, so what he had asked was unlike her custom.
Because of her refusal the king sought the advice of the wise men who told him that she was setting a bad example for wives all over the land who would hear about her sin. She had to be removed from her position as Queen, and a new law had to be issued saying that no wife could refuse her husband, every man was the king of his castle.
I felt pity on her, because she seemed to have paid a heavy price for self-preservation. The first thing I thought was that a husband should never (at least publicly!) request of  his wife, something that will conflict with her morals and comfort zone - something that would cost her a part of herself. Don't exploit her, don't make her do something she doesn't do or would never look to do.  Don't make her choose to defy you in order to live with herself.
Yet I thought Queen Vashti made a horrible choice because it was better to save herself and position than to break the law. Her choice then affected women all over the world negatively. I think that she just stood up for herself, and that her husband probably was indeed acting a fool. But at the same time, she should have shown respect of the king and somehow compromised in that disobedience - she could have gone to the banquet room but wearing her clothing. But she could also be admired for her modesty, integrity and refusal to partake in wickedness. There was a right and wrong way to handle the situation, and a woman of wisdom would have known how to get herself through it.

But is that really how the story goes? I found out that Vashti might not be deserving of my mixed feelings at all.

Researching on Wikipedia, I found out that the Midrash text of Judaism declares her to be a wicked Queen, one who worshipped the idols of Babylon. It is said that she is in fact the granddaughter of Nebuchadnezzar and daughter of Belshazzar, the last king of Babylon before the Medes and Persians divided it. They were the ones responsible for the destruction of Jerusalem. Her father was killed because he had a banquet using the holy goblets and other vessels of the Temple. Now Vashti was the only survivor when her father's kingdom was destroyed, and so she the Princess of the city, was taken to Persia to be the wife of the king as was the tradition in those days.
The Midrash say that she was vain, cruel to all Jewish women she came across, as her fathers had been to the Israelites in general - She was known to be vain and cruel yes, and apparently she didn't obey her husband for spite. She purposely wanted to ridicule and control  him. The law passed by the king against wifely rights made sure that no wife could ever think of doing such a thing again. (wow)
The Jews believe she deserved what she got, and revel in the irony of her replacement being a Jewess Hadassah, or Esther. Her demise was as important as Haman's because she was evil to the Israelites.

What a whole new light to paint her in isn't it?
 Was the king just so fed up that he was glad for a chance to rid himself of this Babylonian woman? I mean, that's who she really was - and Xerxes might have really resented that about her. Has history been cruel to her, being written by men? Or was she being truly a princess of Babylon, really just like Jezebel and Athaliah, or Herodias, the wicked idolatrous queens who killed prophets and princes? Or was she simply just a character created to further the Jewish agenda to condemn all things non-Jewish? I will never know.
If only there were more records of the past -so sad that wars and the expansion of empires are the reasons why ancient facts and artefacts are lost forever.

Thoughts are welcome!

Ila

The Meaning and Power of Affirmations

Selamta!

As a follow up to yesterday's post on the meanings of Ises, I offer the meanings of Affirmations or "Iditations on Affirmations." Affirmations are just as important as prayer in that they are the positive thoughts and attitudes that bring about change for the better. Affirmations are what help transform the mind body and soul, accompanying vegan lifestyles, yoga, sacrament, drumming, chanting and all Iritual  traditions RasTafari embrace daily all over the world.

Iditations on Affirmations

Affirmations are living, positive, holy words and/or phrases, which are used to establish a connection between man, woman and JAH. They are used to reveal the I-Self, as they are pure, righteous, Godly Word Sound and Power. Affirmations are expressions of prosperity, encouragement, love, hope, and building blocks of faith; but they can also be statements of rebuke, which help you to annihilate sinful habits and mentalities.

Affirmations can be songs, poems, Biblical verses, inspirational quotes, or your own sentences. Any material that can reflect express, identify and address your needs is an affirmation. Declarations can also be made in honour of worship and enlightenment through studies and discussions. They can summarize wisdom and allow you to retain new and upright words. Affirmations absorb JAH’s Hola Irit and become thanksgiving when this Irit manifests good in our life. Affirmation is therefore an act of Ises, a living testimony of what JAH can and will do in your life.

When saying or writing affirmations, especially in the morning, it is important to declare them at least three times, to establish the mantra in your consciousness throughout the day. It is good to have familiar and select mantras that are easy to remember and call upon in your time of need. When you speak these words, your mind processes what you want to achieve and the kind of energy you wish to navigate by. I use prayer pouches to help remember my affirmations – I carry the written word in the pouch around my neck as long as I need to.

 

To affirm is to call upon JAH and draw positive energy from that state of Iritual consciousness where His and Her presence is felt, seen and heard. Affirmations ask JAH to be there for you and rule your rational soul when you are unable to stand on your own.

To affirm is to speak yourself into a higher state of Consciousness knowing that what you express will abide in your heart and mind, and become a better part of you that you are happy to share with the world and with the Living God JAH Rastafari.

To affirm is to accept and accede, to move on from reluctance or denial and deal with the sting of truth until it no longer has a crippling power you. Sometimes, speaking yourself into a better state involves affirming things daily which are hard to accept, like the loss of a job, relationship or loved one. Speaking words of truth, which are yet hurtful and hard to accept, gradually makes you more comfortable with them and their meaning. Affirming is therefore a way to gain freedom and peace by means of acceptance, as acceptance and even acquiescence are often the challenges that you seek to overcome most of all by giving Ises or beseeching JAH and others to be there for you. The goal and higher state of an Iritual being sought in this case is the level where the pain and loss are bearable, and though you know not “why”, you are now okay to move on and live with the idea that you possibly never will.

To affirm is therefore the will to transform. To move from whatever past has brought you down or imprisoned you with pain. In terms of seeking the Natural Right or livity of righteousness that Rastafari uphold, the Babylonian old robe of sin and ignorance is removed when you commit to finding JAH. Affirmations cloak you with the new robe or diadem of righteousness. It may be a slow process, but like the lotus flower, your holy beauty is worth the process.

To affirm is to be the change. Affirmations require action to be successful. Therefore affirmations are reminders of the changes you wish to excite for your healing and growth. You speak affirmations daily, but it is more important that you be the affirmation. Affirmations are translated to others by your actions – this is how you yourself experience feedback on your transformation. Affirmations require you to practise the words you chant, sing, recite or utter in prayer – in other words, practise your New Self. When you are placed in an old situation, or old temptation, the affirmation reminds you to wear a new robe (the cloak of Dreadlocks) which must not be defiled by old sins or unkindness. You must eat, sleep and breathe your affirmation in order to make the right choice and manifest those words of right at the right time. Actualizing affirmations influences others to be positive and inspiring like you. Affirmations therefore provoke, invoke and reveal the presence of JAH in us all.

To affirm is to believe in the power of positivity and goodwill: “Yes, I can!”; “Yes, JAH is!”; “Yes, it is true”; “Yes, I am ready and all Things are possible in Kristos.” Affirmations are about unwavering, confident truths where you believe that everything you need is within you, is available to you when you consciously go after it, and can be gained from those who love you and love JAH. All things are possible, only your expectations and requirements place limitations on what you receive. You must step back from dominating your world’s course and ascertain what it needs, to receive the unseen blessings that are revolving around you. You must be less judgemental to be more positive, less critical to see and full-joy the goodness of JAH around you.

To affirm is to cast down negativity, the evil and lustful spirits in and around you, by placing JAH’s good words into your Iditation rather than Babylon’s. Babylon works on the five senses, creating things that appeal to your carnal satisfaction. In order to become better and more removed from things which kill the I-Self, your senses must be free from such traps. Affirmations can therefore be statements of denial aimed at stripping ego, evil and carnal indiscretions from your psyche. Denial must be supported by spending less time with company that may encourage you to backslide into old habits.

To affirm is to be free from inhibitions, opinions and expectations especially around others. Sometimes, though you are practising your positivity and goodwill, others may not be. They may not be on a spiritual path like yourself, or are immune to your state because of their own consuming state of mind or circumstance. They may judge you, expect from you, or try to inhibit you. Affirmations therefore teach us patience, freedom, and great acceptance for everyone’s right to choose. By continuing to focus on your own right to choose and do the right thing no matter what, you will soon find those who are like you. Affirmations have the power to change you first before your environment changes, in many instances, so it is up to you to endure the road to successful transformation.

To affirm is to remember and glorify the pillars of your faith. They remind you of your goals, your identity as Rastafari. As your faith grows your affirmations become more powerful and abundantly manifested. They trace your footsteps as you walk with JAH Rastafari.

 Holy King Selah! Holy Menen I JAH RasTafari!
Sis Ila

Keeping the Sabbath Holy

Guidelines for Hola Senbet Selam (holy Sabbath peace)

The first post I made on Senbet was about what the Sabbath day is as a covenant and feast. Here are the Scriptures that deal what the rules are for Sabbath. I am not going into detail on actual practices, but more dealing with the general basic guidelines of the 6pm to 6 pm rest in JAH from the ancient Hebrew and Jewish traditions.

Rastafari in seeing ourselves as the distant yet genuine descendants of Isra’el, have been specially birthed by JAH through prophecy and history to become His cherished, peculiar treasure throughout the earth. As Jubilees interprets, we have been summoned by the Word of JAH to abide eternally in the same realms as HIM through the Sabbath seventh day rest from works.

“And I have chosen the seed of Jacob from amongst all that I have seen, and have written him down as My first-born son, and have sanctified him unto Myself for ever and ever; and I will teach them the Sabbath day, that they may keep Sabbath thereon from all work.” (Book of Jubilees 2:20).


As written in Exodus 20, the Sabbath Commandment is the only Law which begins with the word remember. What must we remember? To keep the Sabbath Holy. That is, to be mindful of our very own acts and words when we enter into the day of rest in the Lord. It is therefore necessary to not only read the Scriptures and overstand the importance of Sabbath, but to be mindful of how ones must prepare to keep Senbet a holy day of rest on earth as it is in Zion.

Therefore, Rastafari practises are twofold, based not only on the Hebrew Scripture commandments, but also on the concept of principled separation from that which defiles our Temples in Babylon/the world - that is, products, projects, languages, services, pleasures. Sabbath is a great partner to the Nazirite vow, which when considering its tenets, aims to separate the body from defilement with dead flesh, intoxication, and vanity. Such principled separation allows one to purge sin and bad habits, to be more I-Conscious and in tune with the heavenly and earthly JAH/Zion.

In order to conduct Sabbath in the correct Order, our driving force must be commitment to the purpose of such a day in the fullness that is expected of Ras Tafari’s exceptional children.

“And behold the commandment regarding the Sabbaths -I have written (them) down for thee- and all the judgements of its laws.
Six days shalt thou labour, but on the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it ye shall do no manner of work, ye and your sons, and your men- servants and your maid-servants, and all your cattle and the sojourner also who is with you.
And the man that does any work on it shall die: whoever desecrates that day, whoever lies with (his) wife, or whoever says he will do something on it, that he will set out on a journey thereon in regard to any buying or selling: and whoever draws water thereon which he had not prepared for himself on the sixth day, and whoever takes up any burden to carry it out of his tent or out of his house shall die.
Ye shall do no work whatever on the Sabbath day save what ye have prepared for yourselves on the sixth day, so as to eat, and drink, and rest, and keep Sabbath from all work on that day, and to bless the Lord your God, who has given you a day of festival and a holy day: and a day of the holy kingdom for all Israel is this day among their days for ever.
For great is the honour which the Lord has given to Israel that they should eat and drink and be satisfied on this festival day, and rest thereon from all labour which belongs to the labour of the children of men save burning frankincense and bringing oblations and sacrifices before the Lord for days and for Sabbaths.
This work alone shall be done on the Sabbath-days in the sanctuary of the Lord your God; that they may atone for Israel with sacrifice continually from day to day for a memorial well-pleasing before the Lord, and that He may receive them always from day to day according as thou hast been commanded.
And every man who does any work thereon, or goes a journey, or tills (his) farm, whether in his house or any other place, and whoever lights a fire, or rides on any beast, or travels by ship on the sea, and whoever strikes or kills anything, or slaughters a beast or a bird, or whoever catches an animal or a bird or a fish, or whoever fasts or makes war on the Sabbaths:
The man who does any of these things on the Sabbath shall die, so that the children of Israel shall observe the Sabbaths according to the commandments regarding the Sabbaths of the land, as it is written in the tablets…”(Jubilees 50:6-13)

“Declare and say to the children of Israel the law of this day both that they should keep Sabbath thereon, and that they should not forsake it in the error of their hearts; (and) that it is not lawful to do any work thereon which is unseemly, to do thereon their own pleasure, and that they should not prepare thereon anything to be eaten or drunk, and (that it is not lawful) to draw water, or bring in or take out thereon through their gates any burden, which they had not prepared for themselves on the sixth day in their dwellings.
And they shall not bring in nor take out from house to house on that day; for that day is more holy and blessed than any jubilee day of the jubilees; on this we kept Sabbath in the heavens before it was made known to any flesh to keep Sabbath thereon on the earth” (Jubilees 2:29-30).

“You shall keep My Sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary: I am the lord.” (Leviticus 19:30)

“Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and keep My Sabbaths: I am the LORD your God.” (Leviticus 19:3)

The main statutes of Sabbath therefore include:


1. No buying or selling, no work

“Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work on it; it is the Sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings.” (Leviticus 23:3)

"Six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work" (Exodus 20)

“Thus says the Lord: “Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the Sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem; nor carry a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath day, nor do any work, but hallow the Sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers.” (Jeremiah 17:21-22).

2. No gathering food, making food. Be prepared from Friday morning/afternoon

“Then he said to them, ‘This is what the Lord has said: ‘Tomorrow is a Sabbath rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord. Bake what you will bake today, and boil what you will boil; and lay up for yourselves all that remains, to be kept until morning.’”

(Exodus 16:23)

3. No kindling of fire for any reason

“You shall kindle no fire throughout your dwellings on the Sabbath day.” (Exodus 35:3)

No lighting of flame after Sabbath starts. Candles that have a long burning power can be used.

4. No travelling, be where you need to go before Sabbath.

“See! For the Lord has given you the Sabbath; therefore He gives you on the sixth day bread for two days. Let every man remain in his place; let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.” 

(Exodus 16:29)

“And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.” (Matthew 24:20-21).

5. No pleasures or daily routines

“If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, From doing your pleasure on My holy day, And call the Sabbath a delight, The holy day of the Lord honourable,
And shall honour Him, not doing your own ways, Nor finding your own pleasure,Nor speaking your own words,”
(Isaiah 58:13)

No pleasures includes all recreational activities, as well as sexual relations on the marriage bed. Sabbath is a day of no work which means no creation, and includes procreation. Sabbath is a holy feast so it is a day when ones are to observe ritual purity.

It is interesting to note that The State of Israel in Palestine shuts down totally on Sabbath, not even electricity runs.


Blessed Love, give thanks for the reasoning and the works in the Name of the King JAH Rastafari and Queen JAH Rastafari!

Ila