Taking a New Path

Ein Avdat path through the desert

Dear Reader:

Previously, I entered essays written for my Substack audience in this "blog" space. Since my last post, I discovered how to link my Substack articles in the green icon at the bottom of each page. It looks like this:

By clicking this icon, you can now go straight to my newest Substack articles. Hence, I have decided to use this space differently.

I would like to use this space to be more personable. My Substacks offer academic approaches to the historical context of the New Testament. Here, I will treat our time as one speaking among friends, sharing different ideas—some not always agreeable, but in oneness of mind and heart for truth.

Of late, I have been in a season of solitude. It feels like loneliness. I'm trying to use this time to hear from God, reaffirm his vision for my life, to which I will dedicate this entry. Perhaps you will find it helpful as you grow in your own calling.

If you're like me, God gives you a directive, like solitude, and then you search for a class that will teach the "how to's!" I find that tendency amusing, but not unfruitful. God knows how each of us operates. So, I found a self-directed, at-your-own-pace online course. I also attended an online 3-day Zoom class on "God's Vision for You Life." Wow, coincidence?

This is what I gleaned:

Kathy Berry's vision is to equip the Body of Messiah, while standing with Israel, bringing God-inspired truth that helps believers rediscover the biblical text in its original meaning.

What are my driving Scriptures:

Now the whole group of those who believed was one in heart and mind (Acts 4:32a TLV).

I will give them one heart and one way, so they may fear Me forever (Jer. 32:39a TLV).

Each verse says the same thing. God's people should operate from one mind (Yeshua's), and heart. This guiding principle stands behind One Again Learning Tools. OALT thus functions as a vehicle to do that which God has envisioned for my life; "one again" is the mission. At the end of the first century, the early church was united in mind and heart, sharing all they had with one another. My vision/hope is to see the Body of Messiah as one in mind and heart "again."

You may have noticed boldface words in my vision statement. These terms target my God-given personality, useful to know how I approach a task. Equip, truth, and help say that my focus is on the "details of the processes" when given a task. They say that I am "program-oriented." Knowing this about myself, it comes as no surprise when God says, "solitude," I go looking for a course on the subject!

I am sharing this with you, dear reader, because you may be in the same place of searching for your vision statement and how you might facilitate the plans God has for your life in service to him and for the sake of the Body of Messiah. I found a great resource—another feature of this time together—that taught me along this season of solitude; The Divine Design of Mankind by Gerrit Nel (2020) at hebrewpeople.com.

I hope this new blog direction will inspire and provide resources as you move into all that God has for your life. Please communicate through my contact page or through the chat icon. I look forward to hearing from you.

Blessings—

Kathy