by Rabbi Shimon Leiberman

The last sefirah is the most important because God uses it to act through His creation.
The tenth and final sefirah is called "malchut" ("kingdom"), and in many ways this is the most important of the sefirot.

In order to understand what malchut is, we must refer back to the original verse that contains the ten sefirot: "To You, God, is greatness, strength, modesty, victory, awe, for all that is in heavens and earth; to You, God, is the kingdom." (1 Chronicles 29:11) We note that the description of malchut is an almost separate sentence and it restarts with the phrase, "to You, God, is..." Why this distinction?

Let us explain this by defining what malchut is.

When we think of a king or a kingdom, we imagine a dictator imposing his will on a helpless populace, draining them of their resources to be used for his own personal aggrandizement. Even if we picture him as a benevolent despot, he is at best an efficient bureaucrat.

But when we speak of God and the concept of kingdom, we refer to a completely different model.

The model we have in mind is of a king who has a picture of good and bad, an ideology of right and wrong, and teaches the society around him those ideas and values. That society is then awakened to what is really right and structures itself and its institutions accordingly. When society has finished this process, it thereby amplifies and proclaims those values that the king had in his heart and mind.

That society is thereby not only expressing the king's norms and values, but showing that these norms and values are really the inner norms and values of the people in the country.

While we do not live with kings and it might be difficult for us to picture this, we can definitely use the illustration of a good teacher. A teacher who allows the students to "do as they wish" is not a teacher at all. The students have not received anything from him.

On the other hand, a teacher who forces his students to do as he says has merely imposed external shackles on them. He has not really affected them in any way, and he is not a teacher. The real teacher is the one who inspires his students, so that they realize that their own real feelings and values are those espoused by their teacher.

This is malchut in the true sense. It is God's actions and attributes - not as expressed by God, but rather as human beings express them. It is as if God's actions have struck a resonant chord in us, and we thereby act in a similar manner.

This requires that we do God's will, and not sin, and that we do so with free will. For if we do not do God's will, then we are not a reflection of the Divine process in the world. But if we do God's will out of fear then we are responding like the students who are forced by their teacher to do the teacher's bidding, and not from an inner sense of connection with God.

KING VS. DICTATOR

The way we respond to God is often expressed by commentators as the contrast of two synonyms:

Malchut meaning monarchial reign, and
Mamlacha meaning dictatorial rule.
Thus we say in our prayers, "...and they accepted (God's) malchut [monarchial reign] willingly." Whereas the verse speaking about the relationship between God and the nations who have not yet accepted Him states, "For onto God is mamlacha [dictatorial rule] and He is ruler over the gentile nations." This means that God really wishes to evoke malchut in the world, but as far as those nations are concerned, He rules over them in a dictatorial way but does not bring about malchut in them.

But, if we are to define the sefirah of malchut correctly, we need to be clear that (unlike the other nine) it is an attribute of God which does not emanate from God directly. Rather it emanates from God's creation -- when that creation reflects and evinces God's glory from within itself.

This is the reason why it is stated separately in the verse -- "To You, God, is greatness, strength, modesty, victory, awe, for all that is in heavens and earth; to You, God, is the kingdom" -- for there is a great gap between the first nine sefirot and the last one. The first nine are a continuous stream of God's actions which strike humanity and affect us. When we then absorb these influences of God, find them in ourselves, change and thereby reflect God's glory - then we evince malchut.

It is in this sense that this is the most important sefirah. In malchut, God does not act merely by Himself, but rather God acts through us.

Malchut is the goal that God had in mind when He created the world. All of the other sefirot are only the means to see malchut emerge.

In relating to the first nine sefirot, we are outside observers - admiring God's handiwork objectively. We may be impressed but somehow it never quite becomes an overwhelming experience. It is only when we hear the voice of God echoing from within us - which is malchut - that we are truly transformed.

Published Sunday, June 03, 2001

Bluesday: Thank you. I found it inspiring and wanted to share it with all.

THE INTERVIEW WITH GOD

I dreamed I had an interview with God.

"So you would like to interview me?" God asked.

"If you have the time" I said.

God smiled. "My time is eternity."

"What questions do you have in mind for me?"

"What surprises you most about humankind?"

God answered...

"That they get bored with childhood,
they rush to grow up, and then
long to be children again."

"That they lose their health to make money...
and then lose their money to restore their health."

"That by thinking anxiously about the future,
they forget the present,
such that they live in neither
the present nor the future."

"That they live as if they will never die,
and die as though they had never lived."

God's hand took mine
and we were silent for a while.

And then I asked...

"As a parent, what are some of life's lessons
you want your children to learn?"

"To learn they cannot make anyone
love them. All they can do
is let themselves be loved."

"To learn that it is not good
to compare themselves to others."

"To learn to forgive
by practicing forgiveness."

"To learn that it only takes a few seconds
to open profound wounds in those they love,
and it can take many years to heal them."

"To learn that a rich person
is not one who has the most,
but is one who needs the least."

"To learn that there are people
who love them dearly,
but simply have not yet learned
how to express or show their feelings."

"To learn that two people can
look at the same thing
and see it differently."

"To learn that it is not enough that they
forgive one another, but they must also forgive themselves."

"Thank you for your time," I said humbly.

"Is there anything else
you would like your children to know?"

God smiled and said,

"Just know that I am here... always."

-author unknown

Thanksgiving Psalm
by John Fischer


Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!
Worship the Lord with gladness.
Come before Him, singing with joy.
Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
He made us, and we are His.
We are His people, the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with Thanksgiving;
Go into His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him and praise His name.
For the Lord is good.
His unfailing love continues forever,
And His faithfulness continues to each generation.

- Psalm 100

It’s really pretty simple.

He is God; we are not. He made us and so we belong to Him. We don’t really experience our own fulfillment until we are in a position to praise Him and offer Him thanks. Any other posture is arrogance and sheer folly, not because He is unkind or lording it over us, but because He is who He is, and we are who we are. We don’t get the point of our existence until we get this.

Whether you are in prison or in a mansion, alone or with family and friends – whether you are poor or rich, at war or at peace – this is true about you and it is true about me. This is not constraint. It is not praise on demand. It is sensible and true, the holy and right thing to do.

We were made for this – for the giving of thanks and the whole-hearted acknowledging of our Creator. We will do this forever. We are never really happy until we are doing this. This is not just one day out of the year to give thanks. It is our way of life every day – our lifeline with sanity, our tie to the real reason we are alive.

So while a country stops and gives thanks over an abundance of food, give thanks, not only because it is Thanksgiving Day, but because it is the right thing to do – the only thing to do.

Bluesday: Congratulations for Mother and son! Praise God for this wondrous miracle!

Bluesday: they have both been in my thoughts and prayers. Lamby is very special indeed.

Bluesday: I hope all is well now with lamby, she is a very special person to me... always been there to listen :)
I would think Dylan will be here by now as she wasn't on last night. My thoughts are with her and the family.

This wonderful Christian organisation has a relief center for the poor and needy in Atlanta and is forming several teams to take New Orleans in for His Kingdom. Please check this website and JOIN in going, in prayer, in giving!!!

Isaiah 58:6-7
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen…to loose the chains of injustice…to set the oppressed free…to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter.”

For more information please visit: www.bloodnfire.com

There are teams going from Minnesota, Dallas, Florida...... and Holland!! Yup My wish is to join, but the Lord is asking me stay here and pray! For more information, contact me by private message!

Be blessed you all in HIS Powerful Presence! amen

I hope the ones in Florida will stay safe from Wilma,it looks bad

I sure hope you get yourselves to shelter.. it could be a big one.. and there won't be any excuses this time.. we just don't wanna worry about anyone..
So please take shelter when they tell ya to!

This hurricane as it stands right now is a catagory 5. It is headed right for our area as did Charle that did so much damage to our area..Just keep us here in Florida once again in your thoughts and prayers..Hopefully if it hits landfall it will weaken. Thanks
BARB

Bluesday: Kyle is doing pretty good with the casts and boots . His walking looks better,but with casts on there is no way he can walk on his toes. Will just wait until the casts come off. He has to be in them 3 more weeks.

Dolittle: awwwwwwwww I am sorry to hear that.. :(

Please say prayers for Bernice..her hubby passed away.

PLEASE PRAY FOR MY GRANDSON KYLE
Kyle is our youngest daughters twin..age 3. He stopped breathing at birth. God saw fit that Kyle was to be with us. Drs. brought Kyle back to us. He was a little smaller than Blake..but has caught up pretty much now.
He seems like any other little boy..except when he started walking he started on his tip toes in his bare feet. First it looked like maybe a baby thing or habit. Then it started to get worse and now even with shoes he walks and runs on his toes. Really, he is so fast its hard to catch him sometimes. He always has been more senstive, hyper and still crys alot. My daughter and son in law took him to the Dr. yesterday. The Dr. said it could be muliplesclerosis.. another one he mentioned or maybe just a habit.. They have now put casts on both legs. This will be very hard on Kyle but the casts have to be done. Through this trying time for Kyle, my daughter, her family and our family please keep all of us in your thoughts and prayers. I know that thru God's help Kyle will have the best of care.
Thank You and God Bless you all..
BARB

whatdidyousay: I'm with you on that prayer. It may not be the end of such things there. Lots of seismic activity in that region.

My prayers are with all of those in Pakistan who have lost loved ones and friends. I hope that they are able to find peace in the midst of their troubles.

Nirvana: All our prayers are with him and his family in these difficult times. We are sorry for his loss.

My best and closest friend for a few years now.

His Mother has passed away. The poor man is naturally very upset. He was very close to her. My prayers are with him just now.

1 John 2.6, "Who ever "claims" to live in him, must walk as Jesus walked."

Lord God, creator of the heavens and the universe and every thing upon this Earth, help us Father, to walk as Jesus walked in Love, Compassion, patience and Forgiveness. As You know we are all sinners and weak; help us daily to focus on You and to grow more and more in You. Thank You Jesus.. For You are the Only Perfect One. We praise You and adore You. Help us to keep You first in everything we do. Halleluyah. In Jesus' Name we pray - AMEN

Dear Father Lord, thank You for Your Presence.. thank You for Your Faithfulness and Thank You for Your Holy Spirit ablazing through this gamesite! Father Lord, we bless You indeed. I would like to lift up all the angels who play here and do good to others. People who love their neighbour as they love themselves. People who are reflecting His Love towards eachother. And Lord I wish to lift up that special angel who couldn't wait to serve You in a wonderfully blessed way! Thank You Father! Bless Your Holy Name! I pray all this in Your Son's Precious Name - Name above all Names! Halleluyah - AMEN

Other numbers:
Road close Hotline:1800-469-4828
Military Info line:1888-777-7731
Coast guard rescue: 1800-323-7237
NO Health Department:504-658-2500
Family info:www.firstgov.gov

Large numbe of airlifts today. Gas crisis causing havock with all the refugees. Hotels from LA to Florida booked solid by refugees. Along the way gas stations out of Gas...over six hour lines of stalled cars waiting for fuel. Many stores along the route completely empty of goods. Military airlifts more than 47 flights today. Huge numbers still at convention center in NO. Heat, lack of water,lack of food,lack of diapers,lack of medicine,lack of just about everything causing deaths. The dead lying next to the living inside the dome. People still trapped inside various parts of the city.

Medical volunteers visit: www.hhs.gov, www.nih.gov, www.medicalreservecorps.gov

Shallow draft boats such as the swampers aka. fan boats perhaps the best means of transport in many parts of the city.
For more information: www.redcross.org, www.fema.gov

No matter what part of the US or even foreign aid welcome. But please go through the red cross, salvation army, and other sites I have listed. Official sites. There is a little progress, but the situation is still dire. Every prayer and every hand that helps is needed. Families are shattered, seperated, and starving. It is a tide of displaced humanity that has nowhere to go and everything they own in a single car or a single bag. If you ask what can I do? Visit the red cross sites, call the shelters...For now aid is the most important factor.

---Horse

Pray for all, believers and non believers.

Solo Violin
by John Fischer

In Atlanta, a killer on a rampage was stopped in his tracks by a single mom wielding Day 33 of The Purpose Driven Life. I wonder if any purpose can be found in New Orleans right now. At first glance it looks like chaos and anarchy with loss and despair higher than the high water mark in town.

But there are bound to be a number of believers in that mass of homeless humanity, and by that I don’t mean good, regular churchgoers, I mean people who know Jesus, and because they know Jesus, they have strength of character, fortitude and purpose that nothing in this world can faze.

This is a time when truth is tested, and real character prevails. You either lose it or you stand solid like a well-rooted tree when all around is giving way. People who have a purpose in life beyond their possessions or their place – people who know that a relationship with God is their most valued possession and nothing can take that away – will rise to the occasion. These people will continue to worship God even when their church is under water. They will grow leaps and bounds in their faith because faith becomes tangible in moments like this. They will bond immediately with others who know Christ, and serve those around them because that’s all you can do – that or complain, and they will be too buoyed by the reality of their faith to complain about anything. And they will realize a mission to spread the love of Jesus like never before.

Pray for these people, and know they are there. They are all over the place, and their time has come. Like Ashley Smith’s time came alone with a killer in her apartment, the time for a calm, steady faith, and even suitable humor has come.

There’s a story already out about a man in the Superdome who managed to escape the youth hostel where he was staying with his violin, and surrounded by the stench of human waste and the press of crowded suffering, he took his instrument out and began to play the Adagio of Bach’s “Sonata No. 1 in G Minor.”

“These people have nothing,” he said. “I have a violin. And I should play for them. They should have something.”

Pray for the believers who escaped with their faith and now have something to share with those who have nothing. It is their time to stand out like a violin in an overcrowded arena.


John Fischer is the Senior Writer for Purpose Driven Life Daily Devotionals. He resides in Southern California with his wife, Marti and son, Chandler. They also have two adult children, Christopher and Anne. John is a published author and popular speaker.

There are about a half a million people displaced, 150,000 of them from below the poverty line. WHat's left of the city is covered not only in water and sewage, but industrial waste, corpses, etc. This is not Just about New Orleans, but also other areas like Mississippi and other parts of Louisianna that have been hit. another number is www.give.org.
Already there are scam sites on the web, so it is encouraged to make donations to the redcross website provided and other official sites here like the Salvation Army.
Remember its not just those trapped in the city that need help. One half of a million people uprooted. Food, water, etc. are needed desparately. People are fighting over supplies. In the stadium holding more than 30,000 people there was no power,no facilities, no water, and many died within that shelter with nothing done to remove the bodies. People are looting for basic needs and shooting at each other and rescue helicopters. Stealing boats from those who go in to save others and worse. It is a horrible scene where rescue workers are attacked by the very people they are trying to help. It will be years in cleaning up if ever. At least a year before any of these people return home. If they ever do. How do you get rid of the toxins? Please help in any way you can. Even the surrounding states are not equipped to help a half a million people.

Red Cross:1800-HELPNOW
Feed the Children:1800-525-7575
Salvation Army: 1800-SALARMY
websites for info:www.fema.gov, www.redcross.org

Special Needs shelters In LA:
Alexandria:1800-841-5778
Baton Rouge:1800-349-1372
Houma/Thibodeux:1800-228-940
9
LaFayette: 1800-901-3210
Lake Charles:1800-280-2711
Shreveport:1800-841-5776

Monroe:1866-280-7287
Slidell/Hammond:1866-280
-7724

Parrishes in La equipped for shelter:
Allen, Aucylles,Beauregard,Bienville,Bossier,Caddo,Caldw
ell, Catahoula, Clairborne, DeSoto, E. Baton Rouge, E. Carrol, E. Feliiciana, w. Feliciana,
Evangeline, Franklin, Grant, Jackson, LaSalle, Lincoln, Livingston, Madison, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Pointe Coupee, Ouachita, Vernon, St Landry, St Helen, Sabine, Winn, WEbster, Richland, Rapides

mississipi counties able to assist:
Covington, Forest, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson Davis, Jones, Lamar, Marrion, Pearl River, Stone

for telephone numbers and to file claims: http://www.iii.org/, http://www.DISASTERINFORMATION.org/

To place a message on Direct TV channel 100:
katrina@directtv.com
to post messages for loved ones: TEXT 48433

THanks,

----Horse

Thank you Nirvana Bless your heart!

Message
Subject: Do Not Break - it is 4 years strong






This has not been broken since 9/11/01, please keep it going...
This has been kept alive and moving since 9/11. In memory of all those
who perished this morning; the passengers and the pilots on the United Air and
AA flights, the workers in the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and all the
innocent bystanders. Our prayers go out to the friends and families of the
deceased.



IF I KNEW

If I knew it would be the last time
That I'd see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly
and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time
that I see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss
and call you back for one more.

If I knew it would be the last time
I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and word,
so I could play them back day after day.

If I knew it would be the last time,
I could spare an extra minute
to stop and say "I love you,"
instead of assuming you would KNOW I do.

If I knew it would be the last time
I would be there to share your day,
Well I'm sure you'll have so many more,
so I can let just this one slip away.

For surely there's always tomorrow
to make up for an oversight,
and we always get a second chance
to make everything just right.

There will always be another day
to say "I love you,"
And certainly there's another chance
to say our "Anything I can do?"

But just in case I might be wrong,
and today is all! I get,
I'd lik! e to say how much I love you
and I hope we ne ver forget.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
young or old alike,
And today may be the last chance
you get to hold your loved one tight.

So if you're waiting for tomorrow,
why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes,
you'll surely regret the day,

That you didn't take that extra time
for a smile, a hug, or a kiss
and you were too busy to grant someone,
what turned out to be their one last wish.

So hold your loved ones close today,
and whisper in their ear,
Tell them how much you love them
and that you'll always hold them dear

Take time to say "I'm sorry,"
"Please forgive me," "Thank you," or "It's okay."
And if tomorrow never comes,
you'll have no regrets about today.




PLEASE DON'T BREAK IT!!!!!!

*************************************************

********************

Everyone please, please pray for those in southern US who are being affected by hurricane katrina!!

AMEN Halleluyah!!! Isn't God GREAT!!!

good story mr wof!

runningwolf: great story:D is that actually true?

The pastor's church was called Almighty God Tabernacle. On a Saturday night sevral weeks ago,the pastor was working late, and decided to call his wife before he left for the house.It was about 10:00 PM , but his wife didn't answer the phone.
The pastor let it ring many times. He thought it was odd that she did not answer, but decided to wrap up a few more things and try again in a few minutes. When he tried agin she answered right away.away. He asked her why she hadn't answered before, and she said that it hadn't rung in their house. They brushed it off as a fluke and went on their merry ways.
The following Minday, the pastor received a call atthe church office, which was the phone that he'd call on Saturday night. The man that he spoke with wanted to know why he'd called on Saturday night. The pastor could not figure out what the guy was talking about.Ihen the guy said,"It rang and rang,but i didn't answer." The pastor remembered the mishap and apologized for disturbing him, that he'd intended to call his wife.
The man said, " Thats Ok.Let me tell you my story You see i was planning to commit suicide on Saturday night, but before i did, I prayed, 'God if you're out there, and you don't want me to do this, give me a sign now'
At that point the phone started to ring. i looked at the caller id and it said Almighty God'. I was afraid to answer

Horseman: My thoughts and prayers go out to the Blackhall family during this sad time!

please say a prayer for Rory Blackhall's family. The 11 year old boy was missing in Britain and his body seems to have been found.

BananaD and AD..thanks for the prayers. Know she does appreciate them. AD, I don't really know the family but feel her pain. She is an internet friend that I met on gamedriven..very nice lady. BananaD, he did have other health problems and has suffered a lot the last few months.
Thanks again!

Dolittle: That is sad.
It never ceases to amaze me that people still die nowadays from illnesses such as pneumonia. Unless of course it is a knock on effect from another disease.
My prayers to wvsable and family during this challenging time.

Dolittle: Wow. That's sad. Do you know the family?

Please say some prayers for wvsable. Her son lost his battle with pneumonia today August 19 at 2 p.m. and is now with the Lord.

due to the events that transpired this past weekend..

to the two young ladies who partied Saturday night and then ended up in a roll over on the far west end of town.. My heart and prayers go out to your families and friends for their loss of such young beautiful girls.. they were in 10th and 11th grade..

To the parents of D**** who thought no one liked him.. So saddened by his feelings he threw himself onto the tracks in front of a train..

To the family and friends of a well known receptionist at the clinic here in town.. She passed after her illness and battle with cancer..

and to the family of the gentleman who was out riding his horse in the mountains.. When his horse ended up spooked ending in a fatal accident with the rider..

My thoughts and prayers go out to all for this trying and sad weekend..

ArtfulDodger: So what was it Allergies, Hay Fever, Asthma?

ArtfulDodger: Dang it boy!! You ever going to feel up to par again?? Hmmm..

I'm sick.


Ain't modern medicine wonderful!@@! :)

Radiant Aunt:
Hey, if yer in Jersey again hit the beach and stop by the boardwalk at Wildwood:)Do some shoppin at Stone Harbor:) Visit Cape May...get some sun:) Get some hoagies:) Eat a lot of blue crabs by the bushel.
In other words, get some r&r if ya can slip it in:D