Joy - June 11, 2014

Scripture: Psalm 84-86

5 What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord,
who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. 

6 When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs. The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings.
7 They will continue to grow stronger, and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem.
11 For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory.
The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.
12 O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, what joy for those who trust in you. - Psalm 84
16 Look down and have mercy on me. Give your strength to your servant;
save me, the son of your servant.
17 Send me a sign of your favor. Then those who hate me will be put to shame,
for you, O Lord, help and comfort me. - Psalm 86

Message:

What joy for those who belong to GOD, those that trust and depend on GOD.

Observation:

Great are the blessings, joy and privilege for those that trust GOD. There is great favor and blessing that await those that trust in the LORD.

Application:

We have to put our trust in GOD, we shouldn't trust in man or anything else. We ought to put our trust in GOD. 

Endurance with Joy - April 15, 2014

Scripture: Romans 5-6
1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.
3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
- Romans 5

Message:
Enduring through Trials without sinning but by trusting in GOD.

Observation/Promise:
We are all tried and tested in our life. Especially when we believe and follow the Lord Jesus who went through the worst things any human being could ever go through when He was on earth. But our trials and troubles are there to mold us and shape our character. One they are to help us develop endurance. It's human nature for people not to endure because they don't like to endure, it's not a pleasant feeling, it's a feeling of being pressed. But when we learn the secret of endurance, something changes within us and it changes our character. Not our personality, taste or likes, but something deep within us such as our character is being shaped into what is good. When our character is being developed, it pushes us to rely on GOD even more and strengthen our faith and hope in HIS salvation. It makes a person that trusts GOD all the more and that kind of person is someone that is humble and wise just like Joseph, Moses and Abraham.

Application/Command:

Learn to endure the trials in your life not just with sorrowful prayers lifted up to Heaven every time you are going through a difficult situation. Learn to endure with a smile, with rejoicing, and laughter because then you know that these trials are for a specific purpose allowed by GOD to make us into the best that we can be. Learning to endure in trials with joy is a proof of one's deep trust and hope in GOD. No sane person on earth will laugh when their house got burned down, or when an accident wrecked their car. But a person of deep trust in GOD will be able to thank HIM even after the difficulties in life because deep inside he/she knows that GOD has a greater purpose that will result in greater and wonderful things.

Blessed - April 2, 2014

Scripture: Psalms 1-2

1 How blessed are those who reject the advice of the wicked,
don’t stand on the way of sinners or sit where scoffers sit!
2 Their delight is in Adonai’s Torah;
on his Torah they meditate day and night.
3 They are like trees planted by streams —they bear their fruit in season,
their leaves never wither, everything they do succeeds.
6 For Adonai watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked is doomed.- Psalm 1
6 “I myself have installed my king on Tziyon, my holy mountain.”
7 “I will proclaim the decree: Adonai said to me,
‘You are my son; today I became your father.
8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance;
the whole wide world will be your possession.
9 You will break them with an iron rod, shatter them like a clay pot.’” - Psalm 2


Message:
Blessed are those who Belong to the Lord!

Observation/Promise:
Everyone living on the earth came from GOD, because He created us all, but not all us belong to the GOD of Israel. There's many GOD's that people chose to worship, but there's only one true GOD and He is the GOD of Abraham Isaac and Jacob. You will know you belong to the true and living GOD because you are blessed beyond measure and His favor follows you around giving you all that you need and more. You are fruitful even when others doubt you, GOD will give you authority to overcome every struggle, and victory in every battle, you are always victorious and you carry the joy of GOD wherever you go.

Application/Command:
If you want to have more of GOD, if you want to deepen a divine connection with Him, seek Him through His word. Read and meditate on the Bible, take hold of every promise GOD gives to you and delight upon the laws and decrees of GOD. Think about what HE wants to do in your life, ask this of Him. Be righteous, not by being right all the time, but through your faith and trust in Yeshua GOD's Son. Having faith in Yeshua is what makes you righteous. Depending on the LORD will give you victory in all things, prosperity and success with everything you do. Trusting in GOD will make you invincible, no matter what happens in your life, you will have undeniable joy and peace that surpasses all understanding. If you do not belong to GOD, then you belong to the dark side. There's no other sides, there's only GOD and the devil. Chose GOD, you won't regret it! Chose to be Blessed.

Salt - March 31 ,2014

Scripture: Leviticus 1-3
13 Season all your grain offerings with salt to remind you of God’s eternal covenant. Never forget to add salt to your grain offerings. - Leviticus 2
17 “You must never eat any fat or blood. This is a permanent law for you, and it must be observed from generation to generation, wherever you live.”
- Leviticus 3

Message:
Your life is an offering to GOD.

Observation/Promise:
Why is salt so important in the Bible? Salt is found in scriptures both in the Old and New Testament, emphasizing it's essential value in food and in offering. Salt represents the taste of food, without salt, we would not enjoy our food. But Salt also preserves the a certain deteriorating thing. It is used to make soaps, plastic, paper, glass and even more than we thought. In His word, when we offer up offerings to GOD, we need to use salt to remind us of GOD's eternal covenant. When we offer or sacrifice, or give up something to GOD, we need to offer it with gladness and not with sadness because what earthly pleasures we give up now is will be repaid back 100 times more when GOD fulfills His promise to us. Our Salt of Gladness will remind us that we are giving up temporary things for the best rewards GOD will soon give us in our lifetime and for eternal rewards in Heaven. For the priests and people of GOD, they are required to give up eating fat or blood and for some people whose local food delicacies include such like this may be hard to do. But when the LORD tells you, do what you have to do.

Application/Command:
Offer your first waking time with GOD everyday and do it with the salt of gladness.
Offer your money or tithe to GOD and give cheerfully.
Give your best skill or talent to GOD and resound in joy!
When you have to sacrifice eating, fast with glad expectation that the LORD is about to do something great and big.
When you have to give up eating certain food, rejoice for you know that GOD is protecting your health and only wants the best for you.

Shipwreck - March 29, 2014

Scripture: Acts 27-28
11 It was three months after the shipwreck that we set sail on another ship that had wintered at the island—an Alexandrian ship with the twin gods as its figurehead. 12 Our first stop was Syracuse, where we stayed three days.13 From there we sailed across to Rhegium. A day later a south wind began blowing, so the following day we sailed up the coast to Puteoli.14 There we found some believers, who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome.
15 The brothers and sisters in Rome had heard we were coming, and they came to meet us at the Forum on the Appian Way. Others joined us at The Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and thanked God.
16 When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to have his own private lodging, though he was guarded by a soldier. - Acts 28

Message:
GOD is faithful even when we go through a Shipwreck

Observation/Promise:
There are times that GOD allows us to go through a time of shipwreck. But is always and only to serve His great and good purpose. Nothing that He allows in this world to His children will be a waste because He is a good GOD most especially to those that belong to Him. Paul went through a shipwreck but he already knew that it was going to happen for GOD had warned him and prepared his heart and mind. He not only was level headed among all those that were with him in the ship, he was the only one who made the most our of his experience after being in a shipwreck where they landed in an island with people they don't even know. He always made every opportunity to share the gospel to others and be a witness to the Lord and Savior Yeshua Ha Mashiach. The journey we go though in life is all planned by GOD. HE knows and sees everything.

Application/Command:
GOD supplies our every need in the journey HE has planned for our lives. GOD will never leave us in need because He is a faithful Father who cares for us. Most especially when we go through hard and difficult times, GOD is still behind everything working out the best for us. We only have to look to Him, cling to Him, hold on to Him especially in times of hardship. GOD knew that Paul needed the encouragement of believers after a time of shipwreck and GOD provided that when Paul arrived in Rome where he was sent to be in trial. If we are true to our faith, and Yeshua is really our GOD, we will find rest even in the times of war and storm. Only the true seekers in GOD will find joy and meaning even during a shipwreck.

The delight of GOD - March 26, 2014

Scripture: Psalms 149-150

2 O Israel, rejoice in your Maker. O people of Jerusalem, exult in your King.
3 Praise his name with dancing, accompanied by tambourine and harp.
4 For the Lord delights in his people; he crowns the humble with victory.
5 Let the faithful rejoice that he honors them. 

Let them sing for joy as they lie on their beds.
6 Let the praises of God be in their mouths, and a sharp sword in their hands—
7 to execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples,
8 to bind their kings with shackles and their leaders with iron chains,
9 to execute the judgment written against them. 

This is the glorious privilege of his faithful ones.3 2 

Message: 
The LORD delights in His People

Observation/Promise:
We delight in many things, we delight in simple things like food and in clothes, cars, and vacations. We delight in our children, our families, our achievement, our plans. But the Lord GOD of the Universe creator of all things, delights in His people. His children, the humble, those that need Him, hearts that seek Him, even broken hearts, He cares with fragility because it is precious to Him. He delights in our love, in our joys, in everything we do for GOD, HE delights in them.

Application/Command: 
Since we know that GOD delights in us, may we always seek GOD with our hearts and when we serve GOD, may we always serve Him with all our strength. Let us not take for granted the love of GOD for us, let us always honor Him with our actions, and thoughts. The delight of GOD is us and no matter what situation we are in life, whether in hardship or in joy, trying or success, GOD is looking after us and HE is actively participating in our lives, whether we know it or not. For He delights in our victory for He is the giver of victory. So Praise the LORD you who belong to the LORD, for He is faithful and He has given you all you need in life to prosper and succeed. He has given you Himself, take Him!!!

HE is who HE is - March 19, 2014

Scripture: Psalms 146-148
3 
3 3 Don’t put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there.
4 When they breathe their last, they return to the earth, and all their plans die with them.
5 But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God.
6 He made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He keeps every promise forever.
7 He gives justice to the oppressed and food to the hungry. The Lord frees the prisoners.
8 The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are weighed down.
The Lord loves the godly.
9 The Lord protects the foreigners among us. He cares for the orphans and widows,
but he frustrates the plans of the wicked. - Psalm 146
3 He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.
4 He counts the stars and calls them all by name.
5 How great is our Lord! His power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension!
6 The Lord supports the humble, but he brings the wicked down into the dust.
10 He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse or in human might.
11 No, the Lord’s delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love. - Psalm 147

Message:

Our GOD is great! He is worthy of all Praise! For the many reasons there are, it is because HE is, who HE is!

Observation/Promise:
There is hope and sure assurance when we trust in GOD alone. People may have all the power in the world, but they are limited to the time GOD gave them on earth. He alone has all the power, therefore we should trust and hope only on Him alone. There is much joy for those that hope in GOD, for GOD is perfect, HE will never fail. Even when circumstances are pulling you down, He remains the same and HE is trustworthy of all our hopes and desires. He will fulfill every promise He gave you and even more provides for the needy and poor and those that you don't even care about He cares for them all. He is delighted not on the proud but on the humble, those that fear Him are close to His heart. He will do great things, the miracle that you need can only be found in Him. Your strength in waiting can only be found by Him alone. 

Command/Application:
Trust in GOD, put your hope in the LORD who alone is reliable for everything we have to hope for. HE is worthy of our trust, HE is the unfailing Being. When you have a need, ask this of Him instead of gaining it through human ways. Pray and keep on asking whatever that you need. Hold on to the promise of His word. His word, cling to them. There is no greater assurance in life than the word of GOD and His love for us, for there is no one like HIM. HE is who HE is, forever faithful forever the same. Focus on HIM, do not let circumstances move you, let HiM alone move you, let Him alone have your heart. 

Applying SOAP to Psalm 84

SOAP - Scripture, Observation/Promise, Application, Prayer

Scripture: Psalm 84

O: 1 How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
A: 2 I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord.
      With my whole being, body and soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God.
O: 3 Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow builds her nest and raises her                young at a place near your altar, O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, my King and my God!
O: 4 What joy for those who can live in your house, always singing your praises. O: 5 What joy for those whose strength comes from theLord, 

     who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

    6 When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing         springs.The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings.
    7 They will continue to grow stronger, 

    and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem.P: 8 O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, hear my prayer. Listen, O God of Jacob. 

P: 9 O God, look with favor upon the king, our shield! 

    Show favor to the one you have anointed.

O:10 A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else!
A: I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God
    than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.
O:11 For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory.
    The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.
O:12 O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, what joy for those who trust in you.

Center of Life

1 As the deer longs for streams of water,
so I long for you, O God.
2 I thirst for God, the living God.
When can I go and stand before him?

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—my Savior and 6 my God!
Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember you—

7 I hear the tumult of the raging seas
as your waves and surging tides sweep over me.
8 But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me,
and through each night I sing his songs,
praying to God who gives me life.

- Psalms 42

The hunger and thirst for GOD is very compelling to human soul. If you have known who GOD is, tasted and experienced His goodness and kindness. Then to be in a day without Him will drive you to sadness, discouragement and hopelessness. There are days of sadness, in the morning when you wake up, there's just nothing to look forward to. The only cure for this sadness is to remember who GOD is, to reflect on His greatness and how great He was in the ancient days and in your life. Meditate on what He has done both long ago and in the present and you will realize that the beauty of GOD needs to be adored by every human soul.

The LORD's love is unfailing, His mercies are new every morning. But we do not remember that each day, because we wake up in a clean slate. We have to do our part, we have to spend time in His word, in His presence, soaking in His love. It is the worship of His very being and the adoration of His character that fills every human heart with hope and love. When we focus on GOD, it gives us new meaning and great hope that this life that we have is not all there is to it. HE is GOD and HE can make anything possible giving us a glimpse of excitement that our GOD has a grand plan, and we are part of it, HE is working out all things for our good. As long as we remain in Him, lingering in His presence, we will overflow with joy, love, faith and hope. Let GOD be the center of your life.

Satisfy Your Soul

21 “Submit to God, and you will have peace;
then things will go well for you.
22 Listen to his instructions,
and store them in your heart.
23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored—
so clean up your life.
24 If you give up your lust for money
and throw your precious gold into the river,
25 the Almighty himself will be your treasure.
He will be your precious silver!

- Job 22

GOD Almighty is Sovereign over all things. He is not sovereign over one thing and that is the human heart and will. He doesn't force you to believe or love Him but He is inviting you to believe in who He is and love Him. When we believe in GOD we know He exists and His powers are real. But submitting to GOD will require more than just belief. Submission comes out of love. We couldn't submit to someone we don't love or trust. We usually submit to our higher authorities but submitting to someone unseen can be a challenge. Submitting to GOD we have to know His word and put them in our hearts each day. We have to spend time being with Him because it requires quietness to reach Him.

GOD is everywhere, anytime we want to call to Him, He is right there with us. But it requires faith to believe that He is there when we call to Him. Sometimes it is easy to take for granted someone who can be easily sought after. But to find GOD will require a heart that's truly needing and wanting Him for Himself and not only for the blessing that He gives. GOD knows the intentions and motives of our hearts. When we truly seek GOD and put Him first instead of the material things that the world offers as security, HE will be a precious treasure, no jewelry or precious stone could ever compare. You will have joy and everlasting peace, none that money or riches could ever give to satisfy your soul.

On That Day

In that day you will sing:
“I will praise you, O Lord!
You were angry with me, but not any more.
Now you comfort me.
2 See, God has come to save me.
I will trust in him and not be afraid.
The Lord God is my strength and my song;
he has given me victory.”

With joy you will drink deeply
from the fountain of salvation!
- Isaiah 12:1-3

Our days on earth are filled with trials, troubles, sorrow and tribulation. But for those who belong to the LORD, there is always hope because GOD is always faithful to those that trust in His love. No matter how dark there will always be light in every difficult situation because HIS word has promised a day for singing songs of praise for salvation. In that wonderful day, we shall praise GOD and understand that His discipline was for our benefit. We shall sing His worship because He has comforted our weary souls.

GOD Almighty, never grows tired and weary, He will never give up on us and when we are ready to surrender everything to Him, He will come to save us the moment we cry out to Him. His ears our open to our pleas day and night, He is watching and waiting for us to reach out to Him. GOD is the only strength that we can draw upon. His unfailing love fills our hearts with songs of worship. He alone enables us to be victorious because HE is in control of everything. On that day, our hearts will ring with joy, we will be satisfied from the waters of salvation,Yeshua, the Son of GOD our salvation.

Rejoicing in the Darkness

24 So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks. 25 Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. 26 Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! 27 The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. 28 But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!”
29 The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
- Acts 16

You may be experiencing a difficult thing right now even when you know you are doing what is right. Don't be alarmed, this is the usual thing for every follower of GOD. There's much trouble that meet those that love GOD because there's an enemy that opposes GOD and those that walk with Him. But it is amazing no matter how persecuted and how much suffering Paul and Silas gone through for the sake of the gospel, they still had the joy, the strength and the energy to pray and sing hyms to GOD. And they were doing that inside the darkness of a prison cell! Now we all know, that what they did was not a normal reaction of any human being that's persecuted. These men were no longer in their sane human minds, they were under the influence of the Holy Spirit, the One that is causing them to face all kinds of troubles with faith, joy and singing. 

When we are living under the influence and power of the Holy Spirit, just as Pual & Silas, we become superhumans. We do not cower in fear, we are not troubled when we are suffering. Instead we do the exact opposite, we praise GOD, we pray, we rejoice because we understand the Sovereign control of GOD in our lives and in everything that goes on in this world. HE has already written in the Bible all that has happened and will happen in the future. The world now is in chaos, turmoil, famine, and all the things that trouble the human heart. But if you are a follower of JESUS, then you understand that the greater the trouble this world comes to, the nearer of HIS return, and instead of fearing, you will rejoice for you know with all your heart that the greatest day this world is waiting for is the day of the return of YESHUA the true Messiah of Israel, known to the gentiles as JESUS Savior of the whole world. And when others sees our attitude for how this world is coming to be, they will want what we have seeking salvation for their souls through JESUS.

Death

A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume.
And the day you die is better than the day you are born.
Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties.
After all, everyone dies—
so the living should take this to heart.

Sorrow is better than laughter,
for sadness has a refining influence on us.
A wise person thinks a lot about death,
while a fool thinks only about having a good time.

- Ecclesiastes 7:1-4

We all try to have a good reputation but no matter what, it's not what others think of us that truly matters, but it's the way we think about ourselves and how GOD thinks of us.  At the end of this life we are not accountable to anyone else but GOD. We will give account of everything we done in our lives day in and day out. And no matter what we do, it's not about the results of our work but about why we are doing what we are doing. GOD searches the motives of our hearts. We are most likely to achieve success when we do things out of pure and right motives. But with all our hard work, King Solomon says it is better to think be at funerals than to enjoy at parties because it is wise to think about our death. When we realize how short our time here on earth is, and how alll people will go to the grave one day, we will think about our loved ones more and make better decisions. So that one day when we die, we will not regret spending most of our time just making money and doing useless things, things that only affect the temporary but no effect on the eternal.

It is even better to be sad than to be happy because sorrow refines our hearts. Happiness can last for only a short time while joy is a permanent value that is independent of the circumstance going on around them. We have joy when we know and truly understand that GOD loves us and we love HIM. Joy is beyond emotions, it is deeper and more than just temporary. Even joy surpasses death. When we think about death, we understand that our time is short. The body passes and the Spirit remain. We will review our lives, what have we done in our lives that has an eternal effect? Have we invested our time on Spiritual things? What have we done that have affected other people spirtually? What are we doing to please GOD? Death is scary for most people, they don't want to even think about it, but denying it doesn't mean it's not real. It's a fact that we will have to face one day. If you don't know GOD, it's natural to be afraid of death. But if you know The One who promised eternal life, then you will not be afraid of death, you will even have joy on your dying die day, excited to meet your Maker. Do you have this kind of joy? You can decide right now to have this kind of joy today. Let us be wise with what we do with our short time.

Fear of GOD

How joyful are those who fear the Lord—
all who follow his ways!
You will enjoy the fruit of your labor.
How joyful and prosperous you will be!
Your wife will be like a fruitful grapevine,
flourishing within your home.
Your children will be like vigorous young olive trees
as they sit around your table.
That is the Lord’s blessing
for those who fear him.

- Psalm 128:1-4

This world can occupy our minds of many things: worries about bills, money, debts or goals we set to achieve our dreams, plans for business, people who have affected us, the list is endless. But there's only one thought that gives relief to the human soul. Thoughts centered around GOD keep us focused on living the right way. What does GOD think of my plans? Does this please GOD? Will GOD bless my endeavour? Thoughts that revolve around GOD are the only thoughts that keep us in the right track. Fearing GOD means always involving HIM in every moment of our lives. It's not being afraid of being punished by GOD, it is being aware of HIS omni presence, knowing that regardless of how we think of HIM, HE is there watching every little thing we do, think and say, rewarding or punishing us for what we deserve.

King David says that those who fear GOD have the greatest joys, those who seek to follow HIM are more than happy. Happiness is a thing that is temporary because happiness is dependent on our circumstance. Like if we have something we have been wishing for, we are happy. If we get what we want we are happy, when we are being promoted at work, when we buy something we love, this gives us happiness. But joy is something that is more stable and permanent because it is not dependent on circumstance or things. Joy is being happy even in suffering. Yes, joy seems like a crazy thing but it is the thing that is what you would rather have than any short lived happiness. Fearing GOD also enables you to live a life of satisfaction and success. Why? Because GOD blesses those who fear him by not just making them successful or prosperous but HE enables them to enjoy their hard work. There are lots of rich people in this world, yes they have all the money but they can't enjoy their wealth because they are sick, they have family troubles or they are just unsatisfied no matter how much money they have. Therefore satisfaction is a gift only GOD can give. There are only things money can buy. But everyone knows money cannot buy happiness or satisfaction. Only GOD can truly give satisfaction to our hearts delight. God fearing men not only receive riches, wealth and the health to enjoy their hard earned money. God also provides these faithful men with wives that flourish in their homes, wives that are happy are flourishing, ever beautiful as they get older. God gives them children that are as vigorous as tress, obedient and loving children that are not rebellious but children that love to spend time with their fathers that's why they are in the dinner table eating with them. With all these promises that GOD gives to a Man, who wouldn't want to live a life that fears and loves GOD? Fearing GOD is not to be afraid, it is to have the highest respect in the world for a Most High Being who has the power to take or give.