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What if God has already given you the strength you keep asking Him for? Philippians 4:13 is one of the most familiar verses in the Bible: “I can do all things through Messiah who strengthens me.” But have we overlooked two of its most important words? “I can.” There are times when God leads from ahead. There are times when He steadies us from behind. But eventually, like a father teaching a child to ride a bicycle, He wants us to discover what we can do with the strength He has already given us. That surprising picture may help us understand Sukkot—and the entire journey from Elul through the High Holy Days—in a completely new way. Why does the season of intense self-examination end with a command to rejoice? Why does God place the “season of our rejoicing” inside a fragile sukkah? And could God actually delight in watching us learn, grow, wobble, fall, get back up…and finally ride? Maybe you’ve been asking God to hold on when He’s saying, “You’re doing it. You’ve been doing it.” Join us as we discover why Sukkot is a lot like learning to ride a bike. Join Shalom Macon Live! at 11am EST every Saturday (#Shabbat) for uplifting Worship Music and Teachings If you get value from our work, please consider Supporting Shalom Macon: -- Ways to Support Shalom Macon -- Our Website | https://www.shalomacon.org/give Tithe.ly | https://tithe.ly/give?c=329563 PayPal | [email protected] Text "GIVE" to (706) 739-5990 God provides for the work of Shalom Macon through the giving of those who benefit from that work and in turn, give generously to allow it to continue. Whether you are an in-person or virtual member, your support is vital to sharing the message. We thank you for joining us, Shabbat Shalom!

What if you’re working hard to change your life—and still walking in the wrong direction? As Yom Kippur approaches, Shabbat Shuvah asks a deeply personal question: Are you ready to turn around? We want better relationships, more peace, and a closer walk with God. But when everything needs fixing, where do we begin? In this teaching, Rabbi Damian Eisner draws an unexpected connection between an African lion tracker, the prophet Hosea, and Yeshua’s story of the prodigal son. Together, they illuminate teshuvah—repentance and return—and why the next faithful step matters even when you can’t see the whole road. Have you stayed on a path simply because you’ve come too far to admit it’s wrong? Are you waiting for an emotional breakthrough before taking action? What would it mean to stop chasing “happy” and begin walking toward “happier”? You don’t have to fix your entire life before the High Holidays end. But you can recognize the trail you’ve lost, take words with you, and begin the journey home. Watch as you prepare your heart for Yom Kippur. Then tell us in the comments: What helps you recognize when it’s time to change direction? Subscribe to Shalom Macon for Messianic Jewish teachings that connect Scripture with everyday life. Join Shalom Macon Live! at 11am EST every Saturday (#Shabbat) for uplifting Worship Music and Teachings If you get value from our work, please consider Supporting Shalom Macon: -- Ways to Support Shalom Macon -- Our Website | https://www.shalomacon.org/give Tithe.ly | https://tithe.ly/give?c=329563 PayPal | [email protected] Text "GIVE" to (706) 739-5990 God provides for the work of Shalom Macon through the giving of those who benefit from that work and in turn, give generously to allow it to continue. Whether you are an in-person or virtual member, your support is vital to sharing the message. We thank you for joining us, Shabbat Shalom!

What if your ears are witnesses to the life you’re living? And what if the words you pray are meant to change the person speaking them? In this week’s 5 Minute Torah, we explore Ha’azinu—the Song of Moses in Deuteronomy 32—and its surprising connection to prayer, listening, and obedience. Moses calls heaven and earth as witnesses. But what can those two witnesses teach us about our own two ears? Why is this song written in two columns in a Torah scroll? Why does Moses say both “give ear” and “hear”? And how can speaking Scripture aloud help move God’s words from our lips into our hearts? Through Torah, Midrash, the Shema, and the words of James and Paul, we consider how daily prayer can shape a life of repentance and faith. If faith comes through hearing, what are you giving your ears to hear? Struggling to resist temptation or remain consistent in your walk with God? This teaching offers a practical invitation: let the words of Scripture become part of your daily prayer. What passage helps you refocus your heart on God? Share it in the comments, and subscribe to Shalom Macon for more weekly Torah insights. Join Shalom Macon Live! at 11am EST every Saturday (#Shabbat) for uplifting Worship Music and Teachings If you get value from our work, please consider Supporting Shalom Macon: -- Ways to Support Shalom Macon -- Our Website | https://www.shalomacon.org/give Tithe.ly | https://tithe.ly/give?c=329563 PayPal | [email protected] Text "GIVE" to (706) 739-5990 God provides for the work of Shalom Macon through the giving of those who benefit from that work and in turn, give generously to allow it to continue. Whether you are an in-person or virtual member, your support is vital to sharing the message. We thank you for joining us, Shabbat Shalom!

Rosh Hashanah is known as Yom HaDin—the Day of Judgment. But what if God is not the only one who must render a judgment on this day? As the books are opened and every life passes individually before the King, we are confronted with questions no one else can answer for us: Who will rule my life in the coming year? What have I learned from the year behind me? What must I surrender, repair, or finally change? The traditional themes of Rosh Hashanah—Malchuyot, Zikhronot, and Shofarot—declare God’s kingship, call upon Him to remember us for good, and summon us through the sound of the shofar. But these are not merely words to recite or sounds to hear. Each one demands a personal response. The shofar cannot make God King over you. It cannot repair a damaged relationship, offer an apology, or turn painful memories into wisdom. It can only call—and then you must decide whether you will truly hear it. What did 5786 teach you that 5787 should not have to teach you again? What will change before the gates close? This Rosh Hashanah, the judgment is deeply personal—and so is the hope. Join Shalom Macon Live! at 11am EST every Saturday (#Shabbat) for uplifting Worship Music and Teachings If you get value from our work, please consider Supporting Shalom Macon: -- Ways to Support Shalom Macon -- Our Website | https://www.shalomacon.org/give Tithe.ly | https://tithe.ly/give?c=329563 PayPal | [email protected] Text "GIVE" to (706) 739-5990 God provides for the work of Shalom Macon through the giving of those who benefit from that work and in turn, give generously to allow it to continue. Whether you are an in-person or virtual member, your support is vital to sharing the message. We thank you for joining us, Shabbat Shalom!

What if the person you’re becoming is someone you never intended to be? Before Rosh Hashanah, Elul asks us to open the books—and tell the truth. In “There’s Still Time,” Rabbi Damian Eisner brings an unexpected guest into the High Holidays: Ebenezer Scrooge. Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol becomes a powerful invitation to cheshbon hanefesh, the accounting of the soul. What remains unsettled between you and God? What would your family say about you when you’re not in the room? Are you still paying interest on a hurt someone else caused? Through tefilah (prayer), tzedakah (charity), and teshuvah (repentance), we examine our past, face what our lives are producing today, and consider the legacy we’re building. Along the way, we explore Yeshua’s call to repair relationships, the cost of rehearsing resentment, and why releasing an old debt doesn’t require restoring trust. You are what you repeat. But the course can still change. As we prepare for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the invitation is clear: make the phone call. Offer the apology. Take the next faithful step. Which question challenged you most? Share below without naming anyone involved. Subscribe to Shalom Macon for Messianic Jewish teachings that bring faith into everyday life. Join Shalom Macon Live! at 11am EST every Saturday (#Shabbat) for uplifting Worship Music and Teachings If you get value from our work, please consider Supporting Shalom Macon: -- Ways to Support Shalom Macon -- Our Website | https://www.shalomacon.org/give Tithe.ly | https://tithe.ly/give?c=329563 PayPal | [email protected] Text "GIVE" to (706) 739-5990 God provides for the work of Shalom Macon through the giving of those who benefit from that work and in turn, give generously to allow it to continue. Whether you are an in-person or virtual member, your support is vital to sharing the message. We thank you for joining us, Shabbat Shalom!

What does rebellion against God really look like? It is easy to recognize rebellion when someone openly rejects Scripture. But what about the more subtle kind—the kind that still quotes the Bible, still claims to follow the Spirit, yet explains away what God has plainly said? In Parashat Nitzavim-Vayelech, Moses warns Israel about a stubborn heart that chooses its own way. He knew that after his death, God’s people would face a crucial question: Would they remain faithful to the Torah, or would they reshape it according to their own preferences? This episode explores the difference between honoring the spirit of God’s Law and spiritualizing it away. Can the Holy Spirit ever lead us to disregard God’s commandments? What role do tradition, faithful interpretation, and the plain meaning of Scripture play in keeping us on the path? We also look at God’s enduring covenant with Israel, the never-ending cycle of Torah learning, and Joshua’s commissioning as Moses’ successor. Join us as we consider why the spirit of the Law does not erase what God has said—it calls us to live it out with greater love, holiness, and devotion. Join Shalom Macon Live! at 11am EST every Saturday (#Shabbat) for uplifting Worship Music and Teachings If you get value from our work, please consider Supporting Shalom Macon: -- Ways to Support Shalom Macon -- Our Website | https://www.shalomacon.org/give Tithe.ly | https://tithe.ly/give?c=329563 PayPal | [email protected] Text "GIVE" to (706) 739-5990 God provides for the work of Shalom Macon through the giving of those who benefit from that work and in turn, give generously to allow it to continue. Whether you are an in-person or virtual member, your support is vital to sharing the message. We thank you for joining us, Shabbat Shalom!

Have you ever looked at something familiar from the wrong perspective and failed to recognize it? Sometimes our spiritual lives become just as blurry. When our attention is fixed only on work, finances, relationships, responsibilities, and the crises directly in front of us, we can lose sight of the bigger picture. Our identity becomes unclear. Our purpose fades. Even our faith can become short-sighted. In this message, we explore the connection between stereograms, macro photography, the firstfruits declaration in Ki Tavo, and the way Yeshua continually directed His disciples toward the coming Kingdom. What happens when the temporary becomes more vivid to us than eternity? What does teshuvah have to do with regaining our spiritual focus? And how can the sound of the shofar help us turn our attention back toward Hashem, His Kingdom, and the return of our King? Elul is a season of preparation—a time to examine where we have placed our focus and make the necessary adjustments. Are you living only for what is directly in front of you, or are you preparing for what is yet to come? Is your faith short-sighted? Subscribe for more biblical teaching from Shalom Macon: the place where disciples of Yeshua learn, connect, and grow. Join Shalom Macon Live! at 11am EST every Saturday (#Shabbat) for uplifting Worship Music and Teachings If you get value from our work, please consider Supporting Shalom Macon: -- Ways to Support Shalom Macon -- Our Website | https://www.shalomacon.org/give Tithe.ly | https://tithe.ly/give?c=329563 PayPal | [email protected] Text "GIVE" to (706) 739-5990 God provides for the work of Shalom Macon through the giving of those who benefit from that work and in turn, give generously to allow it to continue. Whether you are an in-person or virtual member, your support is vital to sharing the message. We thank you for joining us, Shabbat Shalom!

What if the Torah’s order of words reveals the purpose of your entire life? Deuteronomy 28:6 says, “Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.” But why does the Torah describe coming before going? Rabbi Yochanan offers a profound interpretation: our “coming in” is birth, and our “going out” is death. Just as we enter this world without sin, we should strive to leave it without sin. But is that possible? In this week’s Torah portion, Ki Tavo, we explore the limited time we have been given, the transforming power of repentance, and Yeshua’s warning to remain prepared for the day of final accounting. Through the parables of the Ten Virgins and the Talents, Yeshua reminds us that life is not merely something to endure—it is a sacred responsibility. Are you making every moment count? Are you preparing in the hallway before entering the banquet hall? Will your departure be as blessed as your entrance? Join us as we consider how to live faithfully, repent sincerely, and prepare for the world to come. Join Shalom Macon Live! at 11am EST every Saturday (#Shabbat) for uplifting Worship Music and Teachings If you get value from our work, please consider Supporting Shalom Macon: -- Ways to Support Shalom Macon -- Our Website | https://www.shalomacon.org/give Tithe.ly | https://tithe.ly/give?c=329563 PayPal | [email protected] Text "GIVE" to (706) 739-5990 God provides for the work of Shalom Macon through the giving of those who benefit from that work and in turn, give generously to allow it to continue. Whether you are an in-person or virtual member, your support is vital to sharing the message. We thank you for joining us, Shabbat Shalom!

What if mercy means more than forgiving someone who hurt you? In Part 2 of our study through the 13 Attributes of Mercy from Tomer Devorah, we explore the final six attributes—and discover that biblical mercy reaches far deeper than simply overlooking an offense. What does it mean to suppress another person’s sin instead of publicizing it? Can we truly forgive someone if we still feel compelled to tell others what they did? What happens when someone who harmed us finally suffers the consequences of their actions? And how should we treat people who have fallen short when they are still descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? Drawing from Micah 7, the teachings of Yeshua, Zacchaeus, Cornelius, the prodigal son, and the cherubim over the mercy seat, this teaching challenges us to see people beyond their worst moments. Perhaps the deepest level of mercy is learning to look at someone again—not as the person they became, but as the innocent child they once were. Can we show mercy to others before we learn to show it to ourselves? Watch Part 2 of “The 13 Attributes of Mercy” and discover how Hashem calls us to forgive, restore, protect dignity, and remember the good. Join Shalom Macon Live! at 11am EST every Saturday (#Shabbat) for uplifting Worship Music and Teachings If you get value from our work, please consider Supporting Shalom Macon: -- Ways to Support Shalom Macon -- Our Website | https://www.shalomacon.org/give Tithe.ly | https://tithe.ly/give?c=329563 PayPal | [email protected] Text "GIVE" to (706) 739-5990 God provides for the work of Shalom Macon through the giving of those who benefit from that work and in turn, give generously to allow it to continue. Whether you are an in-person or virtual member, your support is vital to sharing the message. We thank you for joining us, Shabbat Shalom!

What if repentance is not merely about confessing what you have done—but becoming more like Hashem? During Elul, we examine our lives, recite additional prayers, sound the shofar, and prepare our hearts for the High Holidays. But it is possible to perform every act of repentance and still miss the heart of teshuvah: returning to the image of the One who created us. After Israel’s sin with the golden calf, Moses pleaded for Hashem to reveal His ways. Instead of responding with abandonment and wrath, Hashem revealed His Thirteen Attributes of Mercy. What do these attributes teach us about enduring offense, releasing anger, repairing damage, recognizing the good in others, and restoring those who genuinely repent? Drawing from Exodus 34, Micah 7, Rabbi Moshe Cordovero’s Tomer Devorah, and the teachings of Yeshua, this message explores the first seven attributes and their power to transform our relationships. Whose offense are you still carrying? Have you forgiven someone with your words while keeping their case open in your heart? Are you willing to let a repentant person become someone new? Discover what it means not merely to receive Hashem’s mercy, but to reflect it. Join Shalom Macon Live! at 11am EST every Saturday (#Shabbat) for uplifting Worship Music and Teachings If you get value from our work, please consider Supporting Shalom Macon: -- Ways to Support Shalom Macon -- Our Website | https://www.shalomacon.org/give Tithe.ly | https://tithe.ly/give?c=329563 PayPal | [email protected] Text "GIVE" to (706) 739-5990 God provides for the work of Shalom Macon through the giving of those who benefit from that work and in turn, give generously to allow it to continue. Whether you are an in-person or virtual member, your support is vital to sharing the message. We thank you for joining us, Shabbat Shalom!

What is the “least” commandment—and does it still matter? In Matthew 5, Yeshua makes an astonishing declaration: He did not come to abolish the Torah. He then warns that whoever relaxes even the least of the commandments—and teaches others to do the same—will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But which commandment did he have in mind? Jewish tradition points to a surprisingly simple instruction in Deuteronomy 22: If you take eggs or young from a bird’s nest, you must first send away the mother. It requires little effort, yet it reveals something profound about compassion, obedience, and the character of God. What makes this commandment even more remarkable is that it promises the same reward as honoring your father and mother—long life and well-being. Could it be that the commandments we consider insignificant matter far more than we realize? If Yeshua explicitly warned his disciples not to disregard even the lightest commandment, how did so many of his followers come to believe that the Torah itself had been abolished? Join us as we explore the “least” commandment, the enduring relevance of Torah, and what Yeshua actually taught about obedience. What do you believe Matthew 5:17–20 means? Share your thoughts below, and subscribe for more weekly Torah teachings from a Messianic Jewish perspective. Join Shalom Macon Live! at 11am EST every Saturday (#Shabbat) for uplifting Worship Music and Teachings If you get value from our work, please consider Supporting Shalom Macon: -- Ways to Support Shalom Macon -- Our Website | https://www.shalomacon.org/give Tithe.ly | https://tithe.ly/give?c=329563 PayPal | [email protected] Text "GIVE" to (706) 739-5990 God provides for the work of Shalom Macon through the giving of those who benefit from that work and in turn, give generously to allow it to continue. Whether you are an in-person or virtual member, your support is vital to sharing the message. We thank you for joining us, Shabbat Shalom!

What happens when God’s promise takes so long that we begin rewriting the promise? For generations, the followers of Yeshua have prayed for the coming Messianic Kingdom. Yet after nearly two thousand years of waiting, many believers have traded the biblical hope of Messiah reigning from Jerusalem for something safer, less tangible, and entirely metaphorical. But was the promise misunderstood—or have we simply grown tired of waiting? The same danger confronts us personally. When progress seems invisible and the payoff never arrives, hope can slowly become disappointment, doubt, and finally resignation. Have you abandoned something Hashem actually promised? Have you mistaken a delay for a denial? Or could you be overlooking the progress already unfolding around you? Yeshua taught His disciples to remain awake, prepared, and actively working while they waited for His return. Hillel sharpened that responsibility with one unforgettable question: “If not now, when?” In this message, discover how deferred hope reshaped Christian expectations, why the literal restoration of Israel still matters, and what zerizut—brisk and cheerful readiness—teaches us about preparing for the Kingdom today. The waiting game is not passive. The question is not merely, “When will God act?” It is also, “When will we?” Join Shalom Macon Live! at 11am EST every Saturday (#Shabbat) for uplifting Worship Music and Teachings If you get value from our work, please consider Supporting Shalom Macon: -- Ways to Support Shalom Macon -- Our Website | https://www.shalomacon.org/give Tithe.ly | https://tithe.ly/give?c=329563 PayPal | [email protected] Text "GIVE" to (706) 739-5990 God provides for the work of Shalom Macon through the giving of those who benefit from that work and in turn, give generously to allow it to continue. Whether you are an in-person or virtual member, your support is vital to sharing the message. We thank you for joining us, Shabbat Shalom!

What if the biggest spiritual decisions in your life don't begin with the big moments—but with the smallest ones? Most people don't wake up intending to walk away from God. Instead, they drift one decision at a time. In this week's Torah portion, Re'eh, Moses places before Israel a blessing and a curse, life and death, obedience and disobedience. But what if those choices aren't isolated events? What if every decision creates momentum? Drawing from Deuteronomy 11:26–28, the wisdom of Ben Azzai in Pirkei Avot, and even the opening words of the Didache, we'll explore how one act of obedience can lead to another—and how one compromise can quietly set us on an entirely different path. Like a snowball rolling downhill, our spiritual lives build momentum in one direction or the other. Are you building habits that make obedience easier... or compromise more natural? Could one small act of faithfulness today change the course of your walk with God tomorrow? Join us as we uncover the biblical principle behind the "Snowball Effect" and discover why the smallest choices often have the greatest spiritual consequences. Join Shalom Macon Live! at 11am EST every Saturday (#Shabbat) for uplifting Worship Music and Teachings If you get value from our work, please consider Supporting Shalom Macon: -- Ways to Support Shalom Macon -- Our Website | https://www.shalomacon.org/give Tithe.ly | https://tithe.ly/give?c=329563 PayPal | [email protected] Text "GIVE" to (706) 739-5990 God provides for the work of Shalom Macon through the giving of those who benefit from that work and in turn, give generously to allow it to continue. Whether you are an in-person or virtual member, your support is vital to sharing the message. We thank you for joining us, Shabbat Shalom!

What if the biggest obstacle to your spiritual growth isn't the people around you... but you? "It’s all about me" sounds like the anthem of narcissism. But what if those words reveal a deeper biblical truth? Drawing from the surprising wisdom of Ben Zoma, Hillel, Proverbs, the teachings of Yeshua, and the season of teshuvah, this message challenges one of the most common assumptions we make about life: that happiness comes from pursuing our own desires. Why do we sabotage the very lives we're trying to improve? What does it actually mean to love your neighbor as yourself? Is self-love accepting everything about ourselves—or becoming the person God created us to be? This teaching explores the difference between self-centeredness and godly responsibility, showing how true discipleship begins with taking ownership of our own spiritual lives. No one else can repent for you. No one else can pursue your calling. No one else can become the person Hashem created you to be. As the month of Elul approaches, this message offers a timely invitation to examine your heart, embrace genuine humility, and rediscover your purpose in God's Kingdom. Could the future of the Messianic Kingdom depend more on your daily choices than you ever imagined? Watch now, then share your thoughts in the comments. We'd love to hear how this message challenged or encouraged you. Join Shalom Macon Live! at 11am EST every Saturday (#Shabbat) for uplifting Worship Music and Teachings If you get value from our work, please consider Supporting Shalom Macon: -- Ways to Support Shalom Macon -- Our Website | https://www.shalomacon.org/give Tithe.ly | https://tithe.ly/give?c=329563 PayPal | [email protected] Text "GIVE" to (706) 739-5990 God provides for the work of Shalom Macon through the giving of those who benefit from that work and in turn, give generously to allow it to continue. Whether you are an in-person or virtual member, your support is vital to sharing the message. We thank you for joining us, Shabbat Shalom!

Have you ever noticed how quickly gratitude fades once your needs have been met? Why would God have to command us to be thankful? Shouldn't gratitude come naturally? In this week's 5 Minute Torah, we explore one of the most overlooked commandments in Scripture: the mitzvah of gratitude. Drawing from Deuteronomy 8 and Yeshua's healing of the ten lepers in Luke 17, we'll discover why only one man returned to give thanks—and why that story reveals something profound about the human heart. The Hebrew concept of hakarat hatov—"recognizing the good"—teaches us that gratitude is far more than saying "thank you." It is intentionally recognizing the blessings God has already placed in our lives before they disappear into the background of everyday routine. Could it be that thankfulness isn't merely a feeling, but a spiritual discipline that guards us from forgetting the One who provides everything we have? Join us as we discover how the biblical practice of Birkat HaMazon (Grace After Meals) can reshape our hearts, deepen our relationship with God, and transform the way we see every blessing in this week's 5 Minute Torah. If this teaching encourages you, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs the reminder to recognize the good. Join Shalom Macon Live! at 11am EST every Saturday (#Shabbat) for uplifting Worship Music and Teachings If you get value from our work, please consider Supporting Shalom Macon: -- Ways to Support Shalom Macon -- Our Website | https://www.shalomacon.org/give Tithe.ly | https://tithe.ly/give?c=329563 PayPal | [email protected] Text "GIVE" to (706) 739-5990 God provides for the work of Shalom Macon through the giving of those who benefit from that work and in turn, give generously to allow it to continue. Whether you are an in-person or virtual member, your support is vital to sharing the message. We thank you for joining us, Shabbat Shalom!