Would Love for You to Join Me...

I know my time with this blog was brief compared to my previous blog home -
and I am thankful for the time here and the past few years of growth that Abba has had for me.

That being said, I have decided to move my blog, once again.

I believe it is time to have a blog home that is a little more well-rounded. I love talking about Torah and about my family - but my life consists of so much more. I want to broaden my horizons and begin anew as YHVH continues to teach me how to live a balanced life during my pilgrimage here.

Thank you to those who followed me here when I moved in the past.
Thank you to those who have joined me since being here.
I would love for you to join me at my new blog and would love to hear from you.

 Blessings and Shalom!
- Christina

 Please come join me here:

Concerning Chanukah

Chanukah is one of those topics that a lot of various and contradictory information can be found.
Even the word itself cannot be resolutely determined in its spelling (Chanukah, Hanukkah, etc...).

I 'happened' upon these videos on Facebook discussing if /where Chanukah is talked about in Scripture.

There are two videos posted below - about 15 minutes each.
I found it interesting to hear some of the points/passages shared in these videos...
and I look forward to researching them even further (as we should with all things).
I believe they are worth watching... and sharing...

Shalom!

Ya'acob's Ladder

A ladder involves effort. Messiah is not an escalator.
We must make the effort to move forward with him - through tehillim/prayer.
Through Tehillim/prayer, we become one with YHVH's thoughts.

This past Shabbat, we enjoyed reading in Bereshith (Genesis), chapter 28.

The hidden, deeper meanings of Scripture 

never cease to amaze us when they are revealed...

nor should they ever. 

"And he came upon a place and stopped over for the night, for the sun had set. 

And he took one of the stones of that place and put it at his head,

and he lay down in that place to sleep." - verse 11

Did you know that the Hebrew word for 'stone' in this passage is "eben"?

Interestingly, 'ben' is the Hebrew word for son.

A stone... This stone Ya'acob laid his head to rest on

was a picture of Mashiach (Messiah)...

and Ya'acob (Jacob) rested in him.

"And he dreamed and saw a ladder set up on the earth,

and its top reached to the heavens, and saw messengers of Elohim

going up and coming down on it." - verse 12

A ladder... rolled out like a vertical scroll (like a Torah scroll)... 

from the earth to the heavens,

connecting man and his Creator.

Yet another picture of Mashiach (Messiah).

"And he was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place!

This is none other than the house of Elohim,

and this is the gate of the heavens!" - verse 17

The gate... This gate, opening, door of the heavens...

Another picture of Mashiach (Messiah).

He is the door of the sheep... the way unto the Father.

"And Ya'acob (Jacob) rose early in the morning,

and took the stone that he had put at his head,

set it up as a standing column, 

and poured oil on top of it." - verse 18

The anointed... The stone, a picture of Mashiach (Messiah),

is anointed with oil... a prophetic picture.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Mashiach (Messiah) in the Torah? 

You betcha!

Ya'acob (Jacob) rested in Mashiach...

had a vision of Mashiach...

and anointed Mashiach. 

May we do likewise.

Shalom!

The ladder - We're either going up or down.

The Power of Words

   
 " In Parasha B'reisheet (Genesis 1:1-6:8), we learn many important lessons, but none more powerful and enduring than the significance and holiness of words and speech. The Torah teaches us that YHVH created the world through ten utterances: through Divine speech. With each holy command, our universe was formed. YHVH implanted this gift of speech within man. Of all earth's creatures, only humans are endowed with the ability to verbally communicate intelligently. We must be ever mindful that, even as Elohim created through "words", on our own level, we too create through words.

    Time and again, the Torah cautions us to be very careful with that which escapes our lips, for, as King Solomon tells us, "Death and life are in the tongue." Before speaking, stop for a moment and consider how your words impact on others. What sort of environment and relationships do you create with your speech? Do you speak to your family and friends with love and respect? Do you think about what you're saying before you say it and the effect that it will have on those with whom you communicate? How careful are you with that which escapes from your lips?

    There are more commandments in the Torah in regard to speech than to any other mitzvah: seventeen negative and fourteen positive mitzvos. It is through speech that we signaled our committment to our Covenant at Sinai when we proclaimed, "Na'aseh V'nishma - We shall do it and we shall study it." It is through speech - prayer - that we speak to Elohim on a daily basis, bringing a positive spiritual influence into the mundane. Yet speech can have terribly negative effects as well: It was through speech that Hitler committed the most unspeakable evil ever to be perpetrated upon mankind. He himself never lifted a weapon; he used his lethal tongue to incite the world to hatred and slaughter. Indeed, "Death and live are in the tongue."

    Think before you speak and ask yourself, "Will my words generate light or darkness, love or hatred, blessing or curse?" The choice is your to make. Use your Divine gift of speech carefully and wisely, in the service of the Almighty. "

- Torah for Your Table - Rabbi Yisroel and Osher Anshel Jungreis

Sukkot - Feast of Tabernacles - 2013

We've just finished celebrating Sukkot this year!

It was a blessed time! What a joy YHVH's Appointed Times are!

L to R: Building the sukkah; Blowing the shofar and saying the blessings; finished sukkah!

8th Day celebration with our group! Marching up to Zion, reading the Psalms of Accent and rejoicing!

Sukkot fun! :)

Next year in Jerusalem!

Yom Teruah



Blow the ram's horn at the time of the New Moon {Rosh Chodesh},
at the full moon, on our festival day - Psalm/Tehillim 81:3

 

This past week, we were blessed to celebrate the first of YHVH's fall feast days,

Yom Teruah - known commonly as The Feast of Trumpets.

And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
Speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl, saying, 

‘In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you have a rest, 

a remembrance of blowing of trumpets, a set-apart gathering.

Leviticus 23:23-24

I will dance for You, YHVH \0/

Blessed are You, YHVH Eloheinu, King of the universe,
Who has set us apart by Your commandments and calls us to hear
the voice of the Shofar.

Father and son blowing the shofars at the sighting of the new moon

What's a celebration without cake?? :-)

Blessed are You, YHVH Eloheinu, King of the universe,

Who has kept us in life, sustained us,

and enabled us to reach this season. 

May we hear the sound of His calling!

Shalom and blessings!

- Christina

Shema, Yisrael, YHVH, Eloheinu, YHVH Echad. 
Baruch shem k'vod malchuot l'olam va'ed. 

Hear, O Yisreal, YHVH our Elohim, YHVH is One. 
Blessed be His esteemed Name  
Whose Kingdom is forever and ever. Amein.

Seasons Change

Life is full of seasons.

Some remain longer than others.

Some seem to go by as quickly as the wind.

But... seasons change...

And there is much to glean,

much to learn, and much to do

in each season... 

We have entered the season of extended family living,

among other various seasons that continue to change

in other corners of our lives...

This summer, we not only welcomed our adult daughter back home...

All of our ducks in a row :)

But, also, welcomed my parents to live with us...

riding around their new neighborhood :)

We have a full house! 

Easy? 

No.

Blessed? 

Absolutely!

Celebrating 16 years!

Baruch HaShem YHVH!

He is good... all the time.

Shalom!

~ Christina

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven

                                                                                                     - Ecclesiastes 3:1 

Know Yourself

"... the mistakes we make in life, the sins that we commit, are not born in a vacuum. They stem from deep roots, so if we are to confess and make a real change in our lives, it's not just verbal platitudes that are required, but genuine soul-searching. ... if we really want to elevate ourselves, if we really want to be transformed and  become better, more spiritual individuals, we have to go through this process honestly, without rationalizations, as painful as it may be. We must focus not only on the sin just committed,  but must ask ourselves, What led me astray? How is it that I have become so lost? Once we come to grips with that concept and discover the answer, it will become easier for us to uproot the negativity from our hearts and to embark upon a new course. That's what teshuvah (repentance) is all about. To be sure, this is not a simple path. Most of us are quick to see the faults in others but are slow to recognize them in ourselves. How often does it happen that when we read a book or hear a message, we say, "That's just for my sister, brother, friend, etc..." and it never occurs to us that the message was meant for us. So, know yourself."

     Search me, O El, and know my heart; Try me, and know my thoughts;
And see if an idolatrous way is in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.
                                                                                   - Tehillim/Psalm 139:23-24




source: Torah for Your Table, Rabbi Yisroel Jungreis

Essential Tools for Learning Torah

 

 Parashas Bamidbar (Portion Numbers 1:1-4:20) is always read (according to tradition) prior to the great festival of Shavuot, which commemorates (traditionally) the day that YHVH gave us the Torah. And that in itself is instructive. Midbar can be defined as wilderness or desert; the word bamidbar means "in the Wilderness", teaching us that if we wish the Torah to impact on us and elevate us, we have to make ourselves like a desert. Even as a desert is barren, so too must we divest ourselves of all preconceived notions and allow the Torah to re-shape us. Even as in a desert there are no diversions, so we cannot allow anyone or anything to distract us from our Torah study. Even as in the Wilderness of Sinai everything was free, so we must make Torah study available to one and all.

The backdrop for the giving of the Torah is equally significant. The Torah was given at Mount Sinai, a lowly mountain, and while logic would dictate that it would have been more impressive had God proclaimed His words on a tall, majestic mountain, He nevertheless chose Sinai for His revelation, teaching us that a prerequisite for Torah study is humility. At Sinai, the people saw flames and clouds dripping water; flames symbolize fiery passion, while clouds dripping water are symbolic of clarity. The verses teach us that if we wish Torah to enter our hearts, we must study it and transmit it with fiery passion; we must tackle our studies with discipline and stay with them until we have full clarity. All this is a reminder that Torah study cannot be undertaken casually. It is our very life and the length of our days, and must be accorded the seriousness and respect it deserves.

 - Torah for Your Table, Rabbi Yisroel Jungreis

Shavuot... Feast of Weeks

         {photo credit: here}

With Shavuot/Pentecost upon us, I wanted to share a few Scripture verses
and some links I've come across over the past few years.

This is our third year (I think. lol) of observing/celebrating Shavuot/Pentecost
and I am still learning SO much! It has been, and continues to be, such a joy!

I am continually amazed by YHVH's feast days!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Shavuot means 'weeks' in Hebrew.
It is The Feast of Weeks.
7 weeks (49 completed days),
counted from the day after the weekly Sabbath Day
after beginning The Feast of Unleavened Bread.

In Scripture it is a feast of harvest.
It is, also, the celebration of the giving of the written Torah,
by YHVH at Mount Sinai.

It is, also, the time known as Pentecost.
Pentecost means "fiftieth" in Greek.

It is when the promise of the giving of the Set-Apart Spirit was fulfilled.

-----------------------------------
Some of the Scriptures referring to Shavuot...

"and the Festival of the Harvest, the first-fruits of your labours
which you have sown in the field; and the Festival of the Ingathering
at the outgoing of the year, when you have gathered in the fruit of your labours from the field"
Exodus 23:16


"And perform the Festival of Weeks for yourself, 
of the first-fruits of wheat harvest, and the Festival of Ingathering at the turn of the year"
Exodus 34:22


"And from the morrow after the Sabbath, 
from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering,
you shall count for yourselves: seven completed Sabbaths.
Until the morrow after the seventh Sabbath you count fifty days, 
then you shall bring a new grain offering to YHVH."
Leviticus 23:15-17 {and to verse 21}


"And on the day of the first-fruits, when you bring a new grain offering to YHVH
at your Festival of Weeks, you have a set-apart gathering, you do no servile work."
Numbers 28:26


"And you shall perform the Festival of Weeks to YHVH your Elohim,
according to the voluntary offering from your hand,
which you give as YHVH your Elohim blesses you.
And you shall rejoice before YHVH your Elohim, you and your son and your daughter,
and your male servant and your female servant, and the Levite who is within your gates,
and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are in your midst,
at the place where YHVH your Elohim chooses to make His Name dwell."
Deuteronomy 16:10-11


"And when the Day of the Festival of Weeks had come,
they were all with one mind in one place.
And suddenly there came a sound from the heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind,
and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
And there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, 
and settled on each one of them. 
And they were all filled with the Set-apart Spirit 
and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them to speak."
Acts 2:1-4


---------------------------------

A few links expounding on Shavuot:
{as with anything, read with discernment and prove all things according to Scripture}

Shavuot - Pentecost - Feast of Weeks {PDF file}
(article from Hoshana Rabbah site)

Shavuot - "Feast of Weeks" {PDF file}
(a little more 'simplified' article at Restoring the Way)

What is Shavuot?
(online article at Judaism site, Chabad.com)



Activities and Coloring:

Shavuot coloring pages
{at Aish.com}

Crafts and Coloring pages
{at Challah Crumbs.com}

Shavuot Recipes and Crafts
{at HebrewPodcasts.com}

Shavuot Lapbook/Lapfolder

My Shavuot Pinterest Board (updated sporadically)



And what's a celebration without music?!

Songs:

Rejoicing in the giving of the Torah...

Love the Torah

I Love Torah

Oh, How I Love Your Torah

The Ten Commandments


Rejoicing in the Set-Apart Spirit,
Who writes Torah in our hearts...

Calling for a Flood

Joel 2

Empty Me

Bo, Ruach Elohim {Come, Spirit of Elohim}




Chag Sameach Shavuot!
{Joyous Festival of Shavuot!}

Chag Sameach Pesach!

"Guard the month of Aḇiḇ,

and perform the Passover to יהוה   {YHVH} your Elohim,

for in the month of Aḇiḇ יהוה  {YHVH} your Elohim

brought you out of Mitsrayim by night."

Deuteronomy 16:1

"And the blood shall be a sign for you

on the houses where you are.

And when I see the blood, I shall pass over you,

and let the plague not come on you

to destroy you when I smite the land of Mitsrayim.

And this day shall become to you a remembrance.

And you shall observe it as a festival to יהוה

throughout your generations –

observe it as a festival, an everlasting law."

Exodus 12:13-14

"... and looking at {Yeshua} יהושע walking,

he said, “See the Lamb of Elohim!"

John 1:36

"saying with a loud voice,

“Worthy is the Lamb having been slain

to receive power and riches and wisdom,

and strength and respect and esteem and blessing!”

And every creature which is in the heaven

and on the earth and under the earth

and such as are in the sea,

and all that are in them, I heard saying,

“To Him sitting on the throne, and to the Lamb,

be the blessing and the respect

and the esteem and the might, forever and ever!"

Revelation 5:12-13

"Therefore cleanse out the old leaven,

so that you are a new lump, as you are unleavened.

For also Messiah our Passover was offered for us.

So then let us observe the festival,

not with old leaven,

nor with the leaven of evil and wickedness,

but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth."

1 Corinthians 5:7 

May your Passover/Pesach season be very blessed!

Chag Sameach!

~ Christina

Resources for Passover

Passover - Pesach - is soon approaching
and we are very excited!


"this day shall become to you a remembrance. 

And you shall observe it as a festival 

to {YHVH}  יהוה throughout your generations – 

observe it as a festival, an everlasting law."
Exodus 12:14 


Here are some of the resources
I have come across that can be useful
as we prepare for teaching and observing
this set-apart day to YHVH.



Coloring fun:

Passover coloring pages

Passover coloring pages (in pdf)

More Passover coloring pages (in pdf)

More Pesach/Passover coloring pages



Activities and crafts:

Passover Activities for Children - matzah cover, placemats, etc...

Ten Plague Masks - a craft idea (or can use paper plates)

Ten Plagues Placard craft: Part 1 and Part 2

Four Questions Book craft - If you desire to use "the 4 questions"

Ten Plagues illustration - Could attempt to draw/paint to depict the plagues

Cardboard Tube Moses - craft idea 

Matzah Holder - make your own 

Passover Bag of Plagues -  fun idea

Matzah Cover Tutorial - make your own matzah cover


Music:

Dayenu - traditional, fun Passover song (sang by our eldest and myself)

Passover Song - Yeshua, our Passover Lamb and remembrance of Him

The Pesach Song (We're Leaving) - Beautiful song about leaving Egypt (physically/spiritually)



Videos:

Passover Story - Beautiful recap of how The Almighty delivered His people (6 minutes)

Messiah in Passover - short video showing what Yeshua fulfilled in the Passover (4 minutes)

The Messiah - Prophecy Fulfilled - Movie showing how Yeshua fulfilled the Passover and how a Jewish man shares it with his family during their Passover observation. Longer but very good. (50 minutes)

Know Your Enemy (Part 12- The Plagues) -  See how the plagues that YHVH brought upon Egypt targeted specific "gods" that they worshiped, showing His authority as the One True Elohim.
Video is less than 8 minutes. Watch and connect some dots that maybe didn't connect before.Very interesting.

Let My People Go! Passover/Pesach Skit -  A skit we did with friends one year on Pesach :)


In the past, we have not used a haggadah (traditional "telling") for Passover,
but have only had the three items mentioned in Scripture while reading the Scripture pertaining to them.

But if one desires to add some of the traditions and have a haggadah to print and use,
I have found this one to be a pretty good one.

You Shall Tell Your Children - Messianic Passover Haggadah (pdf format)



One last resource to share is the Let My People Go board game.
We have found this to be a delightful game to play as a family!
And the rhymes are very cute and catchy.
The game is a little difficult to find (about $15) but worth the buy if you can find it!


May your Pesach be blessed! As well as your preparation!

Shalom!
~ Christina



p.s. This will be an ongoing list, of sorts. Check back for additions/changes. :)

Bondage? No.

  The Torah of YHVH is perfect, 

bringing back the being;
The witness of YHVH is trustworthy, 

making wise the simple;
The orders of YHVH are straight, 

rejoicing the heart;
The command of YHVH is clear, 

enlightening the eyes;
The fear of YHVH is clean, 

standing forever;
The right-rulings of YHVH are true, 

they are righteous altogether,
More desirable than gold, 

than much fine gold;
And sweeter than honey and the honeycomb.
Also, Your servant is warned by them,
In guarding them there is great reward. 

 - Tehillim/Psalm 19:7-11

Shabbat Shalom!

Ahh... It really is a day that we look forward to every week.

A day to cease from doing work... to rest... 

to spend time with each other... with our spiritual family...

and with the Creator and Lover of our souls.

There is no bondage here. 

There is freedom. There is rest.

There is blessing. There is life.

Thank You, Abba, for Your set-apart day of rest.

Shabbat Shalom, Israel {His set-apart people}!
May your day of rest be very blessed!

- Christina

Homemade beef stew and challah this week! Mmm!

Worn

Have you ever felt like you were so tired? So worn?
So heavy hearted? So weak? Like the struggle will never end?
Like sometimes it takes all of your strength just to breathe?
I have.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


♪ I'm tired. I'm worn. My heart is heavy
From the work it takes to keep on breathing

I've made mistakes. I've let my hope fail
My soul feels crushed By the weight of this world
And I know that you can give me rest
So I cry out with all that I have left

Let me see redemption win. Let me know the struggle ends
That you can mend a heart that's frail and torn

I want to know a song can rise From the ashes of a broken life
And all that's dead inside can be reborn... Cause I'm worn

I know I need To lift my eyes up
But I'm too week. Life just won't let up
And I know that You can give me rest
So I cry out with all that I have left

Let me see redemption win. Let me know the struggle ends
That you can mend a heart that's frail and torn

I want to know a song can rise From the ashes of a broken life
And all that's dead inside can be reborn... Cause I'm worn

And my prayers are wearing thin
I'm worn even before the day begins
I'm worn I've lost my will to fight
I'm worn so heaven come and flood my eyes

Let me see redemption win. Let me know the struggle ends
That you can mend a heart that's frail and torn

I want to know a song can rise From the ashes of a broken life
And all that's dead inside can be reborn
Yes all that's dead inside will be reborn
Though I'm worn
Yeah I'm worn

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

We are blessed in those dark times.
We have an Abba that is near to the broken-hearted
and saves those whose spirit is crushed {Tehillim/Psalm 34:18}.
He is the lifter of our heads {Tehillim/Psalm 3:3}.
He hears us when we cry out to Him. He lifts us out of the pit.
He puts a new song in our mouth {Tehillim 40:1-3}.
He gives beauty for ashes, oil of joy for mourning,
and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness {Yeshayahu/Isaiah 61:3}.


Thank You, Abba.
Baruch HaShem YHVH!


- Christina

Which Being Will You Be?

Perhaps we've only known one side of this verse...
perhaps we've experienced both...

It is a good passage to ponder...

The being of the lazy one craves, but has not; 
While the being of the hard workers are enriched. 
Proverbs 13:4


With Yah's help, change can happen.


 Shalom!
- Christina

The Great I Am

I wanna be close, close to Your side
So Heaven is real and death is a lie
I wanna hear voices of angels above
Singing as one

HalleluYah, Holy, Holy
God Almighty, the Great I Am
Who is worthy, none beside Thee
God Almighty, the Great I Am

I wanna be near, near to Your heart
Loving the world, hating the dark
I wanna see dry bones living again!!
Singing as one

HalleluYah, Holy, Holy
God Almighty, the Great I Am
Who is worthy, none beside Thee
God Almighty, the Great I Am
The Great I Am

The mountains shake before Him
The demons run and flee
At the mention of the name, King of Majesty
There is no power in hell or any who can stand
Before the power and the presence of the Great I Am
The Great I Am! the Great I Am!

HalleluYah, Holy, Holy
God Almighty, the Great I Am
Who is worthy, none beside Thee
God Almighty, the Great I Am!
The Great I Am!

The Great I Am!
The Great I Am!
The Great I Am!

Burning Bushes Seen

"And Mosheh was shepherding the flock of Yithro his father-in-law,
the priest of Midyan. And he led the flock to the back of the wilderness, 
and came to Horeb, the mountain of Elohim.
And the Messenger of YHVH appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of the bush.
And he looked and saw the bush burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed.
And Mosheh said, "Let me turn aside now, and see this great sight,
why the bush does not burn."
- Shemot/Exodus 3:1-2

Mosheh {Moses} was going about his daily duties of tending to the flocks
when he noticed something...
a burning bush.

He could have rationalized it away, he could have claimed he was too busy to investigate,
and he could have continued about with his day.
He didn't, though.
Instead, he stopped what he was doing and decided to turn aside to find out more.


It wasn't until he made that choice that YHVH called to him.
 "And YHVH saw that he turned aside to see, 
and Elohim called to him from the midst of the bush and said, "Mosheh! Mosheh!"
 (verse 4)

Do we notice the burning bushes throughout our day?

There are many ways that YHVH seeks us to turn aside from our daily routine to listen to Him.
Sometimes we can become so busy that we miss Him and what He wants to say to us.

I don't want to get so caught up in daily life that I miss the opportunities He sets before me...
so busy that my intentions never come to fruition... never turn to action.


Abba, help us not to be too busy for You. Help us to be aware.
Help us to turn aside from the rhythm of 'dailyness' to listen and learn of You...
to study, to pray, to do good, to serve... or just to be still.
Sometimes those burning bushes are not obvious, sometimes they are subtle,
as You often speak in a still, small voice.
Help us, Abba, to pay attention and not miss those moments,
missing the blessings that You have for us through them.
Help us to look for the burning bushes along the pathway of our daily lives.


 "... and Elohim called to him from the midst of the bush 
and said, "Mosheh! Mosheh!
And he said, "Here I am."
(v.4)

May we say the same...

Here am I, Father...
ready to listen, ready to respond, ready to obey

Hineni
{Here I am}

 
- Christina