Plan Schman... Let's Have Tea!

Ever have those days when it's all planned out

but the day doesn't play out according to what you planned?

We had a day like that.

So... what did we do?

We made the most of it...

and had a tea party!

A variety of tea, conversation,

scones and cream,  and Jane Austen tunes

with two of the most wonderful girls on the planet...

Ahhhh... it was a blessed and lovely day, indeed! 

Have a change of plans??

Have a tea party!

Shalom!

~ Christina

Pesach Happenings

Pesach (Passover) and The Feast of Unleavened Bread

have come to an end this year

and I was able to take some time to look through

some of the moments that we captured.

One of the things we enjoyed this year

was our new board game - Let My People Go.

We chuckled at the rhymes 

as we made our way through the Exodus.

We, also, painted pillowcases to put on our pillows

that we brought with us to the seder (order of the Passover meal) we attended. 

We "experimented" with adding some tradition this year

and using pillows during the seder is a tradition that it used

to celebrate/commemorate not having to eat

the Passover meal in haste, as in the first Passover.

This is something we are still studying

but, this year, we did bring our pillows along

because we joined a traditional seder.

This was our first year to spend Passover with other people.

Who shall ascend into the hill of YHVH? 

or who shall stand in his set-apart place?
He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart...

Psalm 24:3-4

During the evening, the children put on a skit,

taking us through the plagues and the exodus.

It was a blessing to witness.

Putting the blood on the door posts

The death of the first borns

Pharoah was relentless...

We were all tickled to see Daddy do his part...

The evening was a new experience and a blessing in many ways.

The following afternoon/evening, the group we meet with

went through the parts of the Passover meal, as well.

It was a joy to meet for fellowship both times

and to hear, learn, and discuss the various applications.

Though I've only shared photos,

there was much more going on behind the scenes...

And though I may not have had some awesome revelation,

the Ruach (Spirit) was at work in my heart and mind

and it was a deep joy to draw nearer to the Father during this time.

I doubt that I will ever cease to be amazed at Abba's feast days.

They are like nothing I had ever experienced with other "holidays".

I will be eternally grateful that, in His mercy and lovingkindess,

He opened my eyes and changed my heart and mind.

Thank You, Abba.

I love You.

~ Christina

p.s. If you'd like to see the skit that the children did... here it is :)

Happy Passover (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 be very blessed!

Chag Sameach!

~ Christina

Beginnings and Blessings

The barley has been found aviv in Israel.
The new moon has been seen.
Shofars sound!
Thus begins a new year according to YHVH's calendar!
(and on Shabbat, too!)

May the new year be filled with love, joy and shalom!


Blessings!
~ Christina

The Narrow Way

"Enter in through the narrow gate! 

Because the gate is wide – 

and the way is broad – 

that leads to destruction, 

and there are many 

who enter in through it.
Because the gate is narrow 

and the way is {narrow} hard pressed

which leads to life, 

and there are few who find it."

Matthew {Mattiyahu} 7:13-14

 “For I have known him, so that he commands his children 
and his household after him, to guard the way of {YHVH}  יהוה,  

to do righteousness and right-ruling,

so that {YHVH}  יהוה brings to Aḇraham what He has spoken to him.”

Genesis 18:19

“And you shall enlighten them concerning the laws and the Torah,

and show them the way in which they should walk
and the work which they do."

Exodus 18:20

“They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them..."

Exodus 32:8

"Walk in all the way which {YHVH}  יהוה your Elohim  
has commanded you, so that you live and it be well with you.
And you shall prolong your days

in the land which you possess."

Deuteronomy 5:33

"therefore you shall guard the commands of {YHVH}  יהוה your Elohim,

to walk in His ways and to fear Him."

Deuteronomy 8:6

"And now, Yisra’ĕl, what is {YHVH}  יהוה your Elohim asking of you,

but to fear יהוה your Elohim, to walk in all His ways and to love Him,

and to serve יהוה your Elohim with all your heart and with all your being,

to guard the commands of יהוה and His laws which I command you today
for your good?"

Deuteronomy 10:12 -13

"See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse:

the blessing, when you obey the commands of {YHVH}  יהוה

your Elohim which I command you today;

and the curse, if you do not obey the commands of {YHVH}  יהוה your Elohim,

but turn aside from the way which I command you today..."

Deuteronomy 11:26-28

"Walk after {YHVH}  יהוה your Elohim and fear Him,

and guard His commands and obey His voice, and serve Him and cling to Him.

And that prophet or that dreamer of dreams is put to death,

because he has spoken apostasy against יהוה your Elohim –

who brought you out of the land of Mitsrayim and redeemed you
from the house of bondage – to make you stray from  
the way in which {YHVH}  יהוה your Elohim commanded you to walk.

Thus you shall purge the evil from your midst"

Deuteronomy 13:4-5

"For I know that after my death you shall do very corruptly

and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you.

And evil shall come to you in the latter days, because you do what is evil

in the eyes of {YHVH}  יהוה, to provoke Him through the work of your hands."

Deuteronomy 31:29

"Only, diligently guard to do the command and the Torah

which Mosheh the servant of {YHVH}  יהוה commanded you,
to love יהוה your Elohim, and to walk in all His ways,
and to guard His commands, and to cling to Him,

and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your being.”

Joshua 22:5

"However, they did not listen to their rulers either,

but went whoring after other mighty ones, and bowed down to them.

They soon turned aside from the way in which their fathers walked,

in obeying the commands of יהוה – they did not do so."

Judges 2:17

"... in order to try Yisra’ĕl by them,

whether they would guard the way of {YHVH}  יהוה,

to walk in them as their fathers guarded them, or not."

Judges 2:22

"The Ěl – His way is perfect; The Word of {YHVH}  יהוה is proven;

He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him."

2 Samuel 22:31

"...and forsook {YHVH}  יהוה Elohim of his fathers,
and did not walk in the way of יהוה."

2 Kings 21:22

"...then hear in the heavens, and forgive the sin of Your servants,
Your people Yisra’ĕl – for You teach them the good way  
in which they should walk"

2 Chronicles 6:27

"Good and straight is {YHVH}  יהוה;
Therefore He teaches sinners in the way.

He guides the meek ones in right-ruling,
And He teaches the meek ones His way.

All the paths of {YHVH}  יהוה are kindness and truth,

To those who guard His covenant and His witnesses."

Psalm 25:8-10

"Let Me instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;

Let Me counsel, My eye be on you."

Psalm 32:8

"Wait on {YHVH}  יהוה and guard His way,
And He shall exalt you to inherit the earth..."

Psalm 37:34

"Blessed are the perfect in the way,  
Who walk in the Torah of {YHVH}  יהוה!"

Psalm 119:1

"I have rejoiced in the way of Your witnesses, As over all riches.

I meditate on Your orders, And regard Your ways.

I delight1 myself in Your laws; I do not forget Your word."

Psalm 119:14-16

"Make me understand the way of Your orders ..."

Psalm 119:27

"Remove from me the way of falsehood, And favour me with Your Torah.

I have chosen the way of truth; Your right-rulings I have held level.

I have clung to Your witnesses; O {YHVH}  יהוה, do not put me to shame!

I run the way of Your commands, For You enlarge my heart.

Teach me, O {YHVH}  יהוה, the way of Your laws,
And I observe it to the end."

Psalm 119:29-33 (verse 35, too)

"So walk in the way of goodness, And guard the paths of righteousness.

For the straight shall dwell in the earth, And the perfect be left in it"

Proverbs 2:20-21

"I have taught you in the way of wisdom, I have led you in straight paths."

Proverbs 4:11

"For the command is a lamp, And the Torah a light,

And reproofs of discipline a way of life"

Proverbs 6:23

"The wisdom of the clever is to understand His way..."

Proverbs 14:8

"Train up a child in the way he should go,

Even when he is old he turns not away from it."

Proverbs 22:6

"The path {way}of the righteous is uprightness; O upright One,

You weigh the course of the righteous.

Also, in the path {way} of Your right-rulings,

O {YHVH}  יהוה, we have waited for You;

the longing of our being is for Your Name and for the remembrance of You."

Isaiah 26:7-8

"Thus said {YHVH}  יהוה, your Redeemer, the Set-apart One of Yisra’ĕl,

“I am יהוה your Elohim, teaching you what is best,
leading you by the way you should go.

If only you had listened to My commands!
Then your peace would have been like a river,

and your righteousness like the waves of the sea."

Isaiah 48:17-18

"Then I said, “These are only the poor. They have been foolish,

for they have not known the way of {YHVH}  יהוה,  
the right-ruling of their Elohim."

Jeremiah 5:4

"Thus said {YHVH}  יהוה, “Stand in the ways and see,
and ask for the old paths, where the good way is,
and walk in it; and find rest for yourselves.

But they said, ‘We do not walk in it.’ "

Jeremiah 6:16

"But this word I did command them, saying, ‘Obey My voice,

and I shall be your Elohim, and you be My people.

And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you,
so that it be well with you."

Jeremiah 7:23

"And I shall give them one heart and one way, to fear Me all the days,

for the good of them and of their children after them."

Jeremiah 32:39

"And many nations shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up

to the mountain of {YHVH}  יהוה, to the House of the Elohim of Yaʽaqoḇ,

and let Him teach us His ways, and let us walk in His paths.

For out of Tsiyon comes forth the Torah,
and the word of יהוה from Yerushalayim"

Micah 4:2

"But you, you have turned from the way,

you have caused many to stumble in the Torah..."

Malachi 2:8

“Teacher, we know that You are true, 
and teach the way of Elohim in truth..."

Matthew 22:16

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter
through the door into the sheepfold,

but climbs up by another way, that one is a thief and a robber.

But he who enters through the door is the shepherd of the sheep...

I am the door. Whoever enters through Me, he shall be saved,

and shall go in and shall go out and find pasture. "

John 10:1, 9

“And where I go you know, and the way you know...

{Yeshua}  יהושע said to him,
“I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life.

No one comes to the Father except through Me."

John 14:4,6

"This one had been instructed in the way of the Master.

And being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching
the matters about the Master...

they took him aside and explained to him 
the way of Elohim more exactly."

Acts18:25,26

"And having gone into the congregation
he spoke boldly for three months,

reasoning and persuading concerning the reign of Elohim.

But when some were hardened and did not believe,
speaking evil of the Way..."

Acts 19:8-9

“And this I confess to you, that according to  
the Way which they call a sect,

so I worship the Elohim of my fathers,  
believing all that has been written

in the Torah and in the Prophets"

Acts 24:14

"There is no one who is understanding,
there is none who is seeking Elohim.

They all have turned aside {from the way},
they have together become worthless.

There is none who does good, no, not one."

Romans 3:11-12

"...and the way of peace they have not known."

Romans 3:17

"For it would have been better for them
not to have known the way of righteousness,

than having known it, to turn from
the set-apart command(s) delivered unto them."

2 Peter 2:21

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

 The way... 

the narrow {hard pressed} way... 

that few find but leads to life...

Torah - Messiah

The Written Torah - The Living Torah

"Enter in through the narrow gate! 

Because the gate is wide – 
and the way is broad – 
that leads to destruction, 

and there are many who enter in through it.
Because the gate is narrow 
and the way is hard pressed 
which leads to life, 

and there are few who find it."

Matthew 7:13-14 

A Whale of a Trip

Last week we were blessed 

with the opportunity to go whale watching.

It was an amazing experience.

Pulling out of the harbor

There was so much to see.

As I stood, holding on to the railing,

with the Pacific breeze blowing across my face...

I just stood in awe.

YHVH is awesome.

We just can't comprehend how much so...

All we can do sometimes is just stand there 

and try to breathe it all in.

"Be still, and know that I am Elohim..."
Psalm 46:10

He covers you with His feathers, And under His wings you take refuge;
His truth is a shield and armour. ~ Psalm 91:4

Let me dwell in Your Tent forever,
Let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. Selah.
Psalm 61:4

Let the heavens and earth praise Him,
The seas and all that moves in them. ~ Psalm 69:34

Let the rivers clap their hands,
Let the mountains sing together for joy before {YHVH} יהוה
Psalm 98:8

For since the creation of the world His invisible qualities have been clearly seen,
being understood from what has been made,
both His everlasting power and Mightiness...
Romans 1:20

By the Word of {YHVH} יהוה the heavens were made, And all their host
by the Spirit of His mouth, Gathering the waters of the sea
together as a heap; Laying up the deep in storehouses.
Let all the earth fear {YHVH} יהוה;
Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
Psalm 33:6-8

When He set the clouds above, When He made the fountains of the deep strong,
When He gave to the sea its limit,
So that the waters would not transgress His command,
When He decreed the foundations of the earth...
Proverbs 8:28-29

O {YHVH} יהוה, how many have been Your works!
You have made all of them in wisdom.
The earth is filled with Your possessions.
There is the sea, great and wide, In which are innumerable swarms,
Living creatures, small with great. ~ Psalm 104:24-25

Yeah... it was pretty amazing...

All day long I bless You,
And praise Your Name forever and ever.
Great is {YHVH} יהוה, and greatly to be praised;
And His greatness is unsearchable.
Generation after generation praise Your works,
And they declare Your mighty acts.
Psalm 145:2-4

We could have stayed all day admiring the handiwork of YHVH.

"Let all that have breath praise Yah. Praise Yah!"
Psalm 150:6

Shalom!

~ Christina

We Do Not Hide Them From Our Children

My people, give ear to my Torah, Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
I open my mouth in a parable; I utter riddles of old,
Which we have heard and known, For our fathers have related them to us.
We do not hide them {His Torah and works} from their children,
Relating to the generation to come the praises of {YHVH}  יהוה,
And His strength and His wonders which He has done.
For He raised a witness in Yaʽaqoḇ, And set a Torah in Yisra’ĕl,
Which He commanded our fathers, To teach them to their children;
That it might be known to a generation to come, To children who would be born,
To rise up and relate them {His works, His Torah} to their children,
And place their trust in Elohim, And not forget the works of Ěl,
But watch {keep; guard; observe} over His commands,
And not be like their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation,
A generation which did not prepare {set right} its heart,
Whose spirit was not steadfast to Ěl.
Psalm {Tehillim} 78:1-8


As I sat this morning with our children, reading from the Torah,
I thought of the above passage... about the command we have to teach our children
{found in various places throughout Scripture}...
and my heart filled with a renewed joy... and humility.
What a responsibility we have to teach them His instructions... His Torah...
and tell them of all His mighty works...
but, oh... what a blessing it is, as well...
to not hide His Torah from our children...
to raise up a generation that loves Him and keeps His ways...
returning to the old path, where the good way is {Jeremiah 6:16}.

Abba, help us to train them up in the way they should go.

May we give ear... listen...
and may we rise up... obey.

Shema!


~ Christina