I've got a lot riding on you ....

pi·o·neer 

[noun]

1. a person who is among those who first enter or settle a region, thus opening it for occupation and development by others.  
2. one who is first or among the earliest in any field of inquiry, enterprise, or progress.  
3. one of a group of foot soldiers detailed to make roads, dig intrenchments, etc., in advance of the main body.

                                   
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I've been pondering our journey together and the little encouragements from Yehovah along the way.  It's natural for our attention to be taken with the necessary task of living our lives, but we understand that in the midst of our busyness it's important that our spiritual gaze be upon the eternal.  I don't know about you but occasionally I need a reminder to maintain my focus on the ways of our Father and Messiah.  Yehovah understands our humanity and through His scriptures and Spirit He constantly speaks, guides and encourages.

When we were called out of the church system we never dreamed that in a few years we would take ownership of the property we now call Hebron, in fact we never dreamed we would be returning to torah.  It wasn't long before our beliefs, traditions and doctrines were being challenged and the scriptures came alive by the Ruach haKodesh.  The vital importance of His name, returning to the sabbath and the development of relationships and community became our focus.  

A property where we celebrate the feasts ....

During this time the phrase "I've got a lot riding on you" was given to us as encouragement that the changes we were making and the journey we were on were important to the Father.  Now this could be misconstrued as a false sense of grandeur or self importance, and indeed has been by some.  However, we are entirely aware that we are not alone on this journey and that there are many groups such as ours that Yehovah is encouraging in exactly the same way.  However,  we should not exhibit a false sense of humility amongst ourselves and minimise the importance of what it is we're working towards here at Hebron and the work He is doing in and amongst us as a community.  There are some who are called to be pioneers and in my view, these are the privileged ones.  Throughout history other men and women have gone before us and now it's our turn.

..... and welcome others who desire to celebrate the feasts ....

It was in the midst of this journey that through scriptures and a change of focus we began to desire a property where we could spend time together celebrating the feasts, be a source of sustenance for ourselves, other believers and Israel, as well as being a refuge for when times become difficult.  This was no short order but we waited to see what Yehovah would provide.  That is quite a story in itself and one that I should write one day but essentially we came across this hobby farm of 150 acres, very little infrastructure but one amazing house, albeit unfinished.  8 bedrooms, 3 living rooms and 3 bathrooms, and huge rooms at that.  (We have had up to 30 people sleeping comfortably here.)  We knew this was the property, yet the immensity of the work ahead was rather daunting.  The house needed to be finished externally, fences, sheds, water tanks and landscaping were needed - this was no small task for a small group of people, yet we were excited and couldn't wait to begin. 

.... and honour Yehovah in our coming together.

How amazing and mysterious are the ways of Yehovah, and how merciful He is to take those who have a heart to pursue His truth and mould, shape and refine them with love and righteousness.

Prov 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is he who keeps the law.