My Deeper Life

When I think about the goodness of YHWH and His call upon my life, I can’t help but thinking of the amazing individuals that He has sent me to lead and to provide an example to.  In fact it is impossible for me to think of me without thinking of you.  You are the reason that I study and the reason that I pray and I have long settled in my spirit the fact that I choose very little in my life.  I have chosen Him and you have chosen me to help you learn more of Him - my Savior - our Savior - my friend - our friend - my Lord - our Lord - the one and only Yahshua ha Moschiach.

It is humbling to think that we have been born into His family.  We are members of the family of Yud, Heh, Vav, Heh - YHWH Himself.  I am also amazed at the level of responsibility that has been given to us - yes - entrusted to us - and really how lightly we take this responsibility on most days.  I can understand it, but I know that it is not proper thinking to take lightly the commission that YHWH has given me - I won’t even pass this along to you - for if you aren’t yet hearing the voice - then the things that I say will not make any sense to you - and I have grown accustomed to the glassy stares of the uninspired and the inconsistent.

When I think of Pierre LaGuerre, I am pleased, blessed, impressed and inspired to learn more.  We spoke of his three the other night and we began to discuss a strategy to inspire them more convincingly toward their callings and their destinies.  Orville Lewinson, Matt Deutsch and now Sean Swope are rising to their authority and to their responsibility and to the humility that must precede both promotions and it is awesome to observe — and for me, I must sanctify myself more deeply into my study to be sure that what I give Pierre to give them is loving, unselfish and true.  And it is that thought that has me in a constant state of introspection and inventorying.

What does Pierre need?  Do I have it to give?  What will Pierre need as his children grow and as his heart begins to ache to know and do even more?  Will I have it to give?  What does Rachael need?  What is it about her three - Neubela, Yadira, Sonya — and the others in that line — Jennifer Nieman - Satoya - And then back to the branch with Orville — Taharqa now has Drea - and Drea has Aya - and Taharqa has begun a deep friendship with Sean — and Suhaib — and Rashad — and I am forgetting one or two in there - but the reason I tell you all of this - is to help you to begin to see your walk in Yahweh as influential, generational, geographical, national - to the pulling down of evil strongholds through the lives of individuals that you will undoubtably touch if you stay connected to the Vine.

I ache to see that you fall short in No Gift — that you live your life blameless.  That your mind sees without the lenses of condemnation, guilt, blame or shame.  You don’t have these pulled toward yourself and you don’t project these shackles onto others.  You are the head and you are above.  You are blessed and you are chosen.

In my time this morning - on my Shabbat - I pray for my wife.  She will be ministering healing tomorrow.  She will lay hands on the sick and those that come will recover.  My faith is high as it always is.  Later today, Michael Lewis who is in the branch that Jacki Kinney has chosen to lead will release his album at Gospel Uptown in Harlem.  Taharqa Patterson will open for him in a short set.  It will be my honor to join them there, should my bride not need me here — and then there is yard work.  (I like yard work - I spend time with YHWH - in all of my time there picking up sticks and knocking down weeds.)  I give thanks.

“Pastor Dan — Man this has just been a rambling.  What are you trying to say to me this morning?”

Here is what I am saying.  ”Reader - should you commit to become trained in the ways of YHWH - commit to submit to training.  Commit to loving people and to putting the needs of others on your mind, but remember to focus on your family - and your family is defined as those that do the will of the Father.”

1.  Study to show yourself approved.  Study under instruction and accountability.  Don’t leave your study to random library browsings or internet searches.  Begin reading in rhythm with us and begin to put the Word of God before any commentary about he word of God.  Read 1 Corinthians 1 and contemplate the verse that says that we are to say the same thing.  We are to agree.  We are to follow instructions — I Corinthians 4 says that you have 10,000 teachers but very few fathers.  Teachers teach, but in the end they are not overly concerned about who gets a passing grade.  Fathers love, teach and stay until you pass and they engage through to see that their progeny do excellent A grade work.

2.  Pray without Ceasing.  Prayer is something that Yahshua did every day.  If the Son of Yah would take Himself away to pray, then this is essential for you.  But prayer is not something you were born knowing how to do.  Get instruction in prayer.  Prayer is not mechanical - it is relational.  It is not reciting words - it is dialogue and prayer covers others.  Pray in your known language.  Pray in your heavenly language.  Listen while you pray.  Write while you pray.  When prayer becomes the dominant activity of your day, then you will know that you have chosen Him.

3.  Give properly.  Tithe and give offerings.  If you are part of this Deeper Life program then your tithe needs to come to Faith Exchange.  Your offerings should be directed as you learn to hear the voice.  Your giving will generally show me where your heart is and that tells me alot.  If you say that you are studying here, but you are not giving here, then I will ask your mentor to pay less and less attention to you.  You are not a productive or committed part of this branch in The Vine.  Tithing is simple — it is 10% of your increase and it belongs to Yahweh.  Offerings don’t even occur until you have given to Yah what is His- so offerings are anything that you give over the 10%.

4.  15 Acts of Kindness per month.  These are not random acts.  These acts of Kindness are deliberate and they must be planned.  They can be words of encouragement or they can be material gifts.  They can also be acts that look to pave a way or open a door for someone.  Speaking well of another or defending someone’s reputation can be an act of kindness.  Still, the greatest acts of kindness occur when we lead each other back to the word and instruct in the proper prioritization of our lives - Seeking first the Kingdom of Yah in all His righteousness –

- I sent $400 to a family in need just yesterday.

- I searched the papers for apartments for individuals who need better places to live.

- I laid the groundwork for a charter school in our facility in Tribeca.

- I encouraged my staff –

- I cleaned out the storage rooms to prepare for more construction ..

- I gave my wife $100 cash - just because - I bought her a cake, a gift, a card and flowers.

- I supported Mike Faulkner in his bid for Congress.

- I publicly taught the Word of YHWH three times this week.

- I spent time in prayer and study preparing for each of those three times.

- I cut costs at the ministry and at my home.

- We authorized the procurement of new equipment.

- We added new people to this program and we discussed their progress…

- I took my wife, Kim and Danielle to the Plaza Hotel to celebrate Annie’s 52nd birthday at High Tea.

- I worked with Dr. Eric Braverman concerning his vision for Pathmedical.

- I am arranging internships at Pathmedical - at Faith Exchange - and with Michel Faulkner for Congress.

- I introduced help to Michel Faulkner for staffing.

- I introduced a Yale Senior for a job interview…

- I took my wife, daughter, and Courtney Copeland to Mexico for a week.

- I created appointments for folks around the nation and into Mexico through the network.

Those are just a few of the things that I personally did this month for others - and yes there was some benefit in there for me - I love to give gifts and be kind.  I truly am blessed when someone else gets blessed.

It is time now…

5.  To meet new people and invite them into The Life.  Evangelism - yes - but not just to get them to pray the prayer from the book of Romans.  Evangelizing friendships.  Bringing people into your family.

6.  Train others to do the same.  Get three and love them.  Get them reading, praying, giving, doing acts of kindness and then getting their three to do those things.

7.  Attending church…  Faith comes only when you hear the word spoken lovingly and faithfully.  Everyone needs to hear more live preaching and less every other kind of spoken word.  If you are in this program - you should hear me minister 5 times a month.

8.  Writing — write about your time in the word, your time with YHWH and your time with your three and your 12.

9.  Think ahead.

10.  Now be creative and be a blessing.

In my Father’s house there are many mansions.  I go before you to prepare a place for you.  Where I go, you don’t know, but you will know and you will follow - and those that you show - will follow you.  I say only what I have heard my Father say - and do only what I have seen Him do.  Now… Go into all the world and preach the good news.  Signs will follow those of you who believe.

Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard nor the thought even entered into the heart of man all that Yahweh has prepared for those that love Him.  To love Him is to search until you find Him.  You are to knock until the door is open to you and ask and ask and ask and ask — until you get an answer that manifests blessings to all those around you.

You are like a tree planted… You will provide sustenance, shade and life.  You have begun to truly contemplate the Deeper Life.

I believe that I see, but I know that I see in part - only.  Still, I do my best to assess those that I have been sent to and those that have been sent to me - to help, to train, to learn from and to work with.  As I write I think of those that have travelled the Deeper Life journey through iterations present and past.  P, J and R sit at the top of the tree and have been faithful to the protocol and the regimen, helping others to understand holding the format that Jesus put into place.  (When I write Jesus - you hear Yahshua.)  I think of others who have enjoyed the regimen and the relationship that will always follow the followers.

This month we will read Judges and Isaiah once again - Philemon, John, Peter and Revelation - wow what a month - and I will add to that reading a chapter of Proverbs on days that I can get to it.  One thing I know for sure is that as I read, I will hear his voice and as I listen I will do my best to obey - asking for strength every step of the way.

Dams, Madrassas and power plants in Pakistan - Lord (when I say Lord - you hear Yah) let us pray.  Cars, energy technology and television in China - Let hear our prayer.  Jobs, investment, water solutions, homes and security in Mexico - Lord hear our prayer.  Infrastructure, energy, jobs and a plan for Haiti - Lord hear our prayer.  Relationships, jobs, opportunities and influence in Zimbabwe - Lord hear our prayer.  Hydro Plants and Housing for the Crow Nation - Lord hear our prayer.  May the Body of Christ begin to flow - “as one.”  Lord hear our prayer.

Tonight from Yale University - I prepare.  Tomorrow from Washington DC - I will be preparing to participate in the Presidential Prayer Breakfast.  I am praying for Michel Faulkner as he stretches his faith to defeat Charlie Rangle in his run for Congress.

Faith without works is dead.  Those who deny the power of God are making a big mistake.  Press in.  Press on toward the mark of the high calling in God through Christ Jesus.  Study to show yourself worthy - a workman fit for the master’s use.

Pierre - Matthew - Orville - Taharqa - Drea - Bryan Amos - Sarah Amos - who else is part of this branch?

Rachael - Neubela - Yadira - Sonya - Nicole Footman - Jennifer Nieman - who else is part of this branch?

Jacki - Gloria B., Kim P. Jones - Michael Lewis, Ken Handwerker, Pedro?

Ashley?  Laura Ling?  Angel?  Who else?  It is time to get serious about paying the anointing forward.  Make sure there is life in your love.

Faith is the substance of things hoped for AND the evidence of things unseen. It is impossible to please Yah without faith and faith comes …. one way and that is by hearing and hearing by the word of YHWH -

As I meditate Faith - I think of what I have been taught and then I look to the Hebrew roots - for faith is not just saying and getting - faith is a lifestyle - when you think of faith - your inner image that qualifies you to handle this wonderful tool is - faithfulness - (Great is His faithfulness toward you. He is the same, yesterday and forever. He is new every morning. He will never leave you, nor forsake you and He is your secret place.)

Faith is asking yes, but in the teaching - ask, seek and knock, the original thought is to ask and keep on asking, seek and keep on seeking and knock and keep on knocking, just as faith comes by hearing and hearing and hearing and hearing. There is a lifestyle - a consistent commitment - a long term choice that is required before the power of faith will be made available to you.

Yah is not mocked - what you sow - you shall reap. Be not weary in well doing for you will reap in due time, in due season, if you faint not. If you don’t quit on yourself and on your choices you will reap appropriately and proportionately according to what you have sown.

Faithfulness then in Hebrew is alef, mem, nun, heh — emunah. I don’t have the Hebrew font here on facebook so I have to write them out, and I cannot get my system to write left to right so I am going to have to depend on your ability to conceptualize and use some abstract thinking to flow with me. You can do all things through Moschiach which strengthens you.

Alef is the number one and it alludes to and suggests a few things. It has hidden in it the Name above all names as the numerical value is hidden in that the symbol for alef includes a slanted vav held up by a yud underneath and a yud suspended over it. These two yuds combined with the vav have a numerical value of 26 and this is the value of the yud, heh, vav, heh - Yahweh.

The Alef also is made up of three letters that clues us into the process that is faith itself. Begin with Him, the name and all that He is. (A) Learn and continue to learn from heaven (the torah and the rest of the scripture) and begin to apply what you learn. (L) Then speak it out and teach it to others once you are sure that what you have learned works. (F)

Mem is the number 40 and this is the time of testing, purging, pruning and preparation. Faith is not faithful and hasn’t reached the level of faithfulness until it has been tempted and tested. The Mem refers to Messiah, Water (Mayim) and more that implies consistency and the giving of life. Life is not really of merit or a better way to say it ‘to be counted on’ until it has stood up against evil or stood up for good.

There is so much to be understood as we meditate the word and love on the word’s living attributes.

Now once you have passed these tests - and pass them you must to reach the NUN - which is the number 50 and that is the jubilee. One hundred fold return, sweatless victory - resting and more.

Now exhale and meditate the breath the HEH of emunah.

As I write this I pray that you will lose yourself in the meditation of the word. Know that the word was made flesh and dwelt among us. Until the word is made flesh it is not doing what it was designed to do. What?

You must read the word. Learn it. Speak it. Do it. Then measure the results. If you are not removing burdens and destroying yokes - go back to the drawing board and get it right. The word works. Once you see that faith is available. Choose to be faithful - filled with faith - and then work towards developing and living in faithfulness - then you will inherit the fulness that is promised.

I will pray some more for you. I solicit your comments and your questions. I cannot exhaust this topic. I ask only that you will meditate with me. Our discipleship program is reading 5 books of the bible together. Exodus, Leviticus, Luke, Ephesians and Galatians.

If you will read with us, you will hear more and understand more as you join us and others who write and meditate these things. Having recent common thoughts allows us to get into a rhythm.

Yahshua is Yah incarnate. Incarnate - that is a good word.

Dan Stratton - the word of the Lord just came to me when I looked at you a moment ago and said, “You have stood and in some times and some cases it’s been tough. And you felt like you failed, you felt like aww just slipped and I shot my mouth off when I should have kept it shut and I kept it shut when I should have said something and I just feel like I just missed it in so many ways, but Dan you didn’t know what was arrayed against you. You couldn’t see in the spirit the forces that Satan had gathered up in order to bring you down.
And he couldn’t get it done and he never will be able to get it done

And your heavenly father is announcing to you this morning, Well done good and faithful servant. Don’t back down, don’t back out and don’t quit. It is time to hit and hit hard and you are the man that can do the job. Glory… Praise the Lord.

Sabbath was made for man. Man was not made for Sabbath. Yahshua reminds us of the gift of rest. Today will be a day of introspection as I prepare to participate in a spiritual healing that surpasses physical healing. I believe that this nation is undergoing a healing that has a profound timing. And I can feel this national healing as it goes hand in hand with a deep inner healing that I have needed for some time now.

I rest today in a deep knowing that His Word fo us is true. And I declare this healing over all that Yahweh has given me. I pray it over my family, my church Faith Exchange, over The ProVision Network, over every partner and friend in every ministry and business and I declare healing and favor in every area of influence that we have been given. This rest is a gift to us and I declare it over you. Rest assured. Rest cheerfully. Rest healthy - spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, socially and financially. Rest knowing that you are loved and that you are beautiful and that He is not ambivalent towards you. He is able to make all grace abound towards you. You will always, in all situations and at all times have the sufficiency that you will need to give to every good work.

In this rest, I release a seeded - seed. This seed has been fertilized with Divine impregnation. This seed is loaded with every provision that you will need to manifest your purposed assignment. Rest confidently. Meditate the confidence that is coming to you this day. Assuredly, He holds creation together by the Word of His command. He has made all things so wondrously and by His will you stand. So, meditate His name. Your life, he will reframe, so that you will clearly see the path - your path is in His name.

Yud - the point of creation - the hand of Yah is always near. The pen of the creator will craft your deliverance from fear.

Heh - his breath - his exhalation - upon which he places words. The stuff of all creation - He breathes - His ruach - his breath - his spirit - our courage. His breath is in you now.

Vav - The number of man. The hook and the and. Ever marching forward connected to eternity - to heaven - by His will and by your choice. Choose rest. Choose Yah. Choose Him.

Heh - your breath, which is His breath first.

Yahweh breathes and you breathe. There is a rhythm to the Sabbath, just as there is a rhythm in every musical phrase. Your breathing in the melody balances the message in the beauty of the sounds. Breathe deeply. Sing sweetly. Sing boldly the words that you are given as you are healed again today.

In the dark of my hotel room, my beautiful wife does sleep.
I write to you of His love delivered to your spirit deep.
I sing within my inner man and throw open wide the door
To your new and healthy life that each day you will know more.

He breathes - I breathe - You breathe - We breathe

Ahava —–
Dan Stratton