Messianic Judaica

What I Learned When My Husband had a Heart Attack

2013-06-27T08:51:00.000-07:00

My husband is 47 years young. And he had a heart attack. I almost lost him. But the Lord preserves us and is graceful and merciful. He watches over everything and guides us. I cannot imagine not having Him in my life as I go through trials. As I've said before, it is because of the Lord that we get through the trials, and not dwell in them! Praise the Lord!
So he had his heart attack and this is what I learned:

1. Do not listen to your husband!

I say this because my husband is the kind of man that cares about others before himself. He is always worried about inconveniencing others, so when his pain started on the night of June 3rd and I suspected a heart attack, he denied it. And he kept denying it to me until what could have been the end. I wanted him to go the the ER that night. He said he was just tired and needed to go to sleep. I wanted to go get him Aspirin, but he refused. Then when he woke me up the next morning to tell me it was getting worse, I wanted to leave immediately to the ER. But he told me to call our doctor. After learning the doctor was out for the week, I said "let's just go to the ER." But he said, "No let's just go to immediate care", which is a clinic that is 3 miles away in heavy traffic whereas the ER is literally down the street .4 miles away! Then I thought, maybe it's not as bad as I think it is. I listened to him and took him to immediate care. I had to get the boys ready and load them up. Then on the way, I'm driving like a maniac and as we are almost there I notice that his breathing is getting few and far between. My petitions to the Lord were high and I just wanted to make it. I drop him off at the front of the immediate care, and later, I learn that he walks in and tells the information desk that he's having a heart attack. That would have been good information for him to tell me!!! When I walk in with the boys, the lady yells at me, "You should have taken him to the ER!" Really? Thanks. I felt like a big worthless heel. They took care of him immediately and give him nitro and aspirin and then he tells them he's starting to feel better. But the doctor tells him no, you are having a heart attack. And he says, no, I just ate something bad at river festival. Then about three or four denials later the doctor looks at him and screams, "You are having a heart attack!" They call an ambulance and bring him to the hospital that was right by our house. Why didn't he tell me he was having a heart attack? Because he didn't want to worry me or have me panic. Now let me repeat, if your husband cares more about others than himself, even in the face of death, DO NOT LISTEN TO HIM!

2. Having an emergency back up to care for children is important.

I never thought of this before. We have no family in town. Of course we have a sitter. But I'm speaking of an adult that can prepare food and keep them over night and comfort them when they don't understand why we're not there. It was the first time I had to think about leaving the children with someone else. They had never stayed without us before. I am so grateful for the friends who came to our aid. They are family. Our sons confirmed this as I was standing in the ER waiting room and the chaplain was asking the boys if they had a sister. They both said yes and proudly said "Paloma", which was the name of the daughter of the friend that was rushing to pick up the boys. Obviously I called the right people. Another congregational family came to our aid, as well as our business partners, tag teaming with each other. Knowing that they were being cared for made it easier to concentrate on my husband. All of them were invaluable help and help I would use again in the subsequent ER visits. What a blessing they are!

3. Enlist Prayer Warriors immediately and don't be alone in the waiting room.

I called the Rabbi as I was following the ambulance to the hospital. I had no idea what they were going to do or what was about to happen and that is when I needed prayer. You need prayer warriors in an emergency. And in scripture, you are instructed to have the Elders pray for the sick (James 5:14). Also, praying family members and friends will lift up your loved one immediately. You can literally feel the prayers, especially when the doctor comes out and says "Your husband is fine and we caught him in time, good job bringing him in." To which I thought, "Really? It took forever to get him here. Praise God he made it!" Having someone sit with you in the Coronary Heart Cath waiting room is important. I didn't know that I would be waiting so long while they had him in heart cath surgery. I didn't really know what was happening. They kept me out of the ER room so doctors and nurses could do their job, so all I got was "we're taking him to heart cath and follow us." I think they were just working fast because they needed to get him in right away, and they did a great job. It was just a whirlwind. Then one of the nurses says come give him a kiss because things happen very fast in here. I was worried, but I wasn't afraid, prayers will have that effect. I said goodbye and went to the waiting area. The chaplain was with me and thankfully, the Rabbi was already in the building. I didn't have to wait alone. Then our friend that works there who is also an Elder's wife, came and sat with me too. The Lord brought those loving people around so I wouldn't be alone. And then two more people from the congregation just happened to be there with a sick relative, and yet they still managed to minister to me, praying and bringing me coffee. What a blessing!

4. No matter what, keep your cool.

Family members can be both supportive and a source of stress. So you do need to keep your cool and not fly off the handle if one of them freaks out or gets upset at how you handled the situation. Whether you call them right away to let them know what is happening, or wait until you actually know what is happening, you will not please all the people all the time. It is impossible. Be kind. After all, my husband's family has known him longer than I have. I had to focus on my immediate family and what I needed to do to get through this emergency, focusing on my husband and no one else. Extended family members will understand and eventually come around. And really, they would do the same if it was the other way around.

5. Whatever the doctor says your time at home should be before returning to work, DOUBLE IT! and Rest means REST!

I could not get my husband to rest. I really don't think that word is in his vocabulary. English or Spanish. He doesn't get it. I felt like the most nagging wife ever. He wanted to take out the trash, go outside and water the plants and dust and vacuum and paint the floor boards for heaven's sake! Just take a nap for the love of all that is good and holy!!!!! I finally had to ask him, what if I had the heart attack and he was taking care of me? Would he hover and make sure I was resting, or would he just not care? Seriously...think about it! My Serenity Prayer: Dear Lord, please help me to control the things I can and not slip my husband some sleepytime tea so he has no choice but to lay in bed and REST. Amen.

6. When not complying with #5, subsequent ER visits may occur.

Guillo had his heart attack on the 4th and was dismissed on the 6th. On the 12th, we were back at the ER because he had tingling and numbness in his leg. Which is where they put the cath in to put the stint in his heart. Not good. One sono later, we were out and he felt better. They didn't find anything wrong, he just needed to rest. He was back at work on the 14th because the discharge instructions on the 6th said one week. I knew it was too soon. My mom kept telling us to double it, but he wanted to go back. Then on the 20th, we're back at the ER with headache, excessive tiredness and fever. They did a lot of testing and readmitted him to the hospital for the night. They determined that is was costochondritis, which is inflammation of the cartilage connected to the sternum and rib bones. He just needed to take pain medication and rest. Yes, REST!

7. Beware of the Mothering/Smothering side effect.

Although I firmly stand beside #5 and #6, there is a tip over point. I have to be careful to not treat my husband as a child. I haven't resorted to threats or bribery, but I bet I'm not far! Releasing the reins is hard for any caregiver to do. It will take time. Not everything is your fault and you cannot control everything. At some point, you just have to be a support, not a stumbling block and master the difference. I will need reminders every now and then. My Serenity Prayer #2: Dear Lord, please help me to be a woman of valor, supportive and soft spoken, and not the screaming, ranting, controlling, crazy wife as is my nature 99.9% of my stress-filled day. Amen.

8. Know the Symptoms!

Guillo started complaining about heartburn and then a pain in his chest the night before. He went to sleep and woke the next morning to get ready for work. He said the pain was in both shoulders, down his arms, and throughout his whole chest and it was getting stronger. He couldn't sit up straight. By the time we were a few blocks from immediate care, he was sweating profusely and his breathing was labored. We almost didn't make it. Praise God for his provision! I believe that if he'd know what the symptoms were before they happened, he would not have put up such a fight about getting help right away. For women, the same side effects can happen, along with nausea, vomiting and back pain. See the American Heart Association's website for more information.

9. Keep up on your yearly doctor visits!

You are what you eat and no, it's not all relative! You never know what it is that may be sneaking up on you. It could be a hereditary disease, or it could be that your sedentary lifestyle and bad eating habits are taking their toll on your body. But if you keep up on your yearly check-ups and check your blood work, then you may find out before having a near death experience. After his heart attack, I learned that Guillo had had similar pains in his chest a year and a half ago and never bothered to check it out. He also had not been to the doctor for a regular physical since 2005. Crazy! That's not happening again! Since there is no family history of heart disease, it was clearly his lifestyle. Thankfully, that is something we can control.

10. Be intimate with your loved ones.

Give a hug and a kiss every time you leave each other. Because as our family physician tells us, no one is promised tomorrow. When in the presence of your loved ones, be with them, not by them. Snuggle, talk, listen and enjoy each other. Every moment is a gift from the Lord. Call your extended family often. Know what is going on in their lives and be a part of it. Most of all, be intimate with the Lord. He gave his only Son for you. Know His Son, seek salvation and there will be no need for fear because everlasting life is free!

"For what one earns from sin is death; but eternal life is what one receives as a free gift from God, in union with the Messiah Yeshua, our Lord." - Romans 6:23

Two things Guillo said that will never leave my mind. He said he was never afraid. When you are saved, why would you be? But once he thought about how close he came to dying, he felt bad about leaving me and our two boys. It would be sad to loose their father so young. And that is reason enough to make a change. The second thing he said just blew me away. I noticed as he was laying in Coronary ICU, that he had his wedding ring on. The whole time he went to immediate care, then ER, then surgery and then in CICU, he had his wedding ring on. This is unusual for him, and for me for that matter. I asked him why. He said, in case he died, he wanted to be sure he had his wedding ring on. I love that man. I praise God for bringing him into my life and for keeping him here for his family a while longer. I can't imagine going through something like this without the Lord. And I am thankful that we don't have to!

Purim - A Celebration Commandment

2013-02-16T11:41:00.001-08:00

Purim is in a week and I am busy designing the costumes for our family. I love it. I love the celebration. It is a festival based on the book of Esther and is a festival of remembrance of how God preserves His people. I even love the Hamantashen, not necessarily making them, but eating them is most joyful. Hamantashen are cookies made specifically for Purim and are said to be in the shape of Haman's ears or hat, depending on your preferred tradition. At ours and most synagogues and congregations around the world, there are Purim carnivals and puppet shows, the telling of the Purim story and a huge celebration. Why? We are commanded to in God's Word:

"These days should be remembered and observed in every generation by every family, and in every province and in every city. And these days of Purim should never cease to be celebrated by the Jews, nor should the memory of them die out among their descendants." - Esther 9:28

I love that! We are literally commanded to celebrate, as long as there are descendants of the Jewish people, there should be a Purim celebration. Awesome!
But not only Jewish people can celebrate, Gentiles that are with them can celebrate as well.

" the Jews took it upon themselves to establish the custom that they and their descendants and all who join them should without fail observe these two days every year, in the way prescribed and at the time appointed." - Esther 9:27

Everyone can share in the celebration. Jew and Gentile, celebrating together, celebrating the preservation fo the Jews because salvation is from the Jews, Yeshua our Messiah, and He is worth celebrating!
If you've never celebrated Purim before, read my blog from last year that tells of how to read the story to your children: http://messianicjudaica.blogspot.com/2012/03/purim-party-on.html
I have also included a Hamantashen recipe below, that is my favorite. If you want to see a Purim Celebration up close and personal, visit a congregation near you! If you want to celebrate the provision of the Jewish people, you will be welcome! The congregation in Wichita, Kansas will have a Purim Service on Friday, February 22, 2013 and a Purim Carnival on Saturday, February 23, for families and their children. For more information, visit http://www.LChaimBYeshua.com.
For your enjoyment, a song by the Maccabeats about Purim:

HAMANTASHEN RECIPE

Adapted from The Children's Jewish Holiday Kitchen by Joan Nathan

Makes about 36 cookies:

Ingredients:

DOUGH:

2/3 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
3 Tbsp. milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 1/2-3 cups sifted all-purpose unbleached flour

FILLINGS:
Prepared Apricot Preserves or Strawberry Jam

*Using a wooden spoon, cream the butter with the sugar. Add the egg and continue creaming until smooth. add the milk or water and vanilla. Sift the flour and mix it with the butter mixture until a ball of dough is formed.* (Children can do this, or you may use a food processor.) Divide the dough in 2 cylinders approximately 3 inches in diameter and refrigerate for a few hours or overnight.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Using one cylinder at a time (keep the unused cylinder refrigerated until needed), cut 1/8-inch slices of dough. Roll them out and place 1 teaspoon of filling in the center of each round. Draw the edges up at 3 points to form a triangle and pinch together carefully. Place the triangles on ungreased baking sheets and bake for 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool on rack.

Can you sing or dance?

2013-01-19T11:02:00.000-08:00

It is natural to feel depressed and lonely. Especially as a mother. When you get stuck in the mundane. When your kids have been sick for what seems like forever. When the housework is never finished. When the laundry is a never-ending pile. When your part-time or full-time job is overwhelming. When it's tax time. And really, just anytime. It's easy to get caught up in all the "stuff" that you forget the blessings. At least I have. I have to constantly remind myself how blessed I am. But then it occurs to me, that when you are in a constant state of praise for the Lord, you don't need that constant reminder.

My mother use to tell me that when you feel like the enemy is attacking you, or your feel depressed, then start singing or dancing to the Lord. The enemy hates it and he'll leave. Then the countenance of the Lord will come upon you and all of a sudden you feel His joy and His presence. I know, because it works when I do it every single time. I just have to remember to do it.

That's one of the reasons I have no clue what new artist in mainstream music is hot right now, or what the hit song is currently. I don't listen to the radio. I listen to praise and worship music on my Zune. Because when I can't get a song out of my head, I'd like for it to be one that is worshipful. It's also a great example for my children. I want them to learn how joyful it is to praise the Lord, no matter where you are or what you are doing.

I will attempt to highlight my favorite songs each week. This week it is Paul Wilbur's "Why Should I Be Afraid" from his Desert Rain album. I'll post my favorite song onto my Facebook page each week. So if you want to see what they are and hear them, then please "Like" my page at https://www.facebook.com/MessianicJudaica

Enjoy the song and remember, even if you can't sing or dance, you can praise the Lord!

2013 To Do List

2012-12-31T15:40:00.000-08:00

I am not much for New Year's Resolutions. Not that I haven't ever made one before, but because I never, NEVER, see them through. It's the same for most people, I'm sure. Its like an empty promise to myself. Why go through all the agony and guilt? I'm just not doing it this year. Instead I'm gonna make a "To Do" list, because on all my to do lists, I usually accomplish a few things before changing and altering the list. This way, I figure I have a higher success rate.

Here it goes:

1. Memorize one new Bible verse a week.
2. Organize my Kitchen.
3. Start a stockpile of food/goods.
4. Declutter my house.
5. Paint and redecorate the dining room (a room I spend most of my time in)
6. Complete one writing project.
7. Organize photos and back them up.
8. Fire safety plan for my home.
9. Piano lessons with kids.
10. Join a book a the month club.
11. Try one new dinner recipe every week.
12. Sign up for a race to run. (4 miles or more)
13. Start reading program with the boys.
14. Take an art class.
15. Go paperless in my home office.
16. Redesign business websites.
17. Sew/craft one Biblical banner.
18. Take a Bible study class.
19. Make one family scrapbook.
20. Create crafting/project/sewing area.

Now, I know not all of these can be accomplished in one year. Since I still have to clothe, feed and attend to my children and husband, I'll be happy if I accomplish at least three in 2013. That would be a success in my book. Actually, I think that should be my motto for the new year: Small Success is the Best. I am not trying to lower my expectations, I am just trying to give myself a little grace in knowing that I am a busy mom and wife and anything I accomplish is a success, no matter how small. So goodbye 2012 and hello 2013 and hello to a more relaxed me, by God's grace!

"Strength and dignity are her clothing, And she smiles at the future." Proverbs 31:25

Do you Chrismukkah?

2012-12-18T09:59:00.001-08:00

No, I'm not asking you about your banking preference. I'm referring to the fusing of two holidays: Christmas and Hanukkah.
It is basically when a family celebrates Hanukkah and Christmas. Although Chrismukkah is traditionally referenced by people who celebrate both holidays due to interfaith marriages, this actually becomes more of a reality to the Messianic. Why? Because we actually do believe that Yeshua (Jesus) is our Savior. Therefore, the question becomes: Do you CHRISTmukkah?

After all, the Christmas I am interested in is the one that is centered around Christ. I have never taught my children about Santa, in fact, they know he is not real. And we don't put up a Christmas tree.
This year, since Hanukkah was so much earlier than Christmas, I was in the middle of Hanukkah celebrations as various school and social Christmas activities were taking place. A few people have asked me this year, "Do you celebrate Hanukkah and Christmas?" And I replied, "No, just Hanukkah." Then I felt odd. Like I was turning my back on Christmas. Why? If we tell Jewish people that they can become believers and not turn their back on their Jewish roots, then why, as Messianics should we not partake in a holiday that unites us in celebrating the birth of our Messiah with other believers?
I acknowledge that most Messianics, having done the research, have come to the conclusion that Yeshua's birth most likely occurred during the Fall Feast of Sukkot, known as the Feast of Tabernacles, described in Leviticus 23, Numbers 29 and Deuteronomy 16. My family and I celebrate Messiah's birth during this Feast because the central theme of Sukkot is God dwelling with us. To me and my family, the connection is obvious.
However, I am a mother. My primary goal is to raise my children for the Lord, so that they may know the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and have a personal relationship with their Messiah, Yeshua. And they need to have a firm grasp of their identity as a Messianic believer. I want them to know that Christmas is about celebrating Messiah's birth, not about Santa Claus and not about a Christmas tree. I want them to know that while we may not know exactly when the Savior was born, it is never a bad thing to celebrate His birth.
So this year, I am going to display my Nativity scene during Christmas and since I just had it out during Sukkot, it won't be difficult to get it out again. I'm also going to teach my children the songs that directly speak of the Messiah. How can I go wrong teaching our children songs like God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Silent Night, O Come All Ye Faithful, Angels We Have Heard on High, and the Little Drummer Boy (which always brings me to tears), and many more? I will also read the story of Messiah's birth from the Bible. I'll make it a new family tradition. My boys are at an age now where they have begun to understand the festivals and holidays. They remember our traditions. If they can understand the menorah and the story of the Maccabees and God's redemption during Hanukkah, then Christmas is a perfect time to celebrate and rejoice in the birth of our Savior with our Christian brothers and sisters. We are all on the same team. Let's celebrate together.
So to all you Messianics, Happy Christmukkah!

Address Book

2012-12-09T16:06:00.001-08:00

Nowadays it is more common to have an address app rather than a traditional address book. It's about as uncommon as having a day-timer. (Those of you who know what a day-timer is, you know what I mean.) Although I have phased out my traditional desk calendar and now "write" everything down on my calendar app on my phone, I am still clinging on to my address book. Why?

Every year at this time, I pull it out and go through it, just to make sure I don't forget anyone as I am making my Hanukkah card list. I look through every page and I see all those names I have crossed out. Some have moved out of town and thus, right out of our lives. Some friends we have just grown out of touch. Others have divorced. Others have just moved so much and taken so much space so that letter in the alphabet runs into the next letter (I won't mention any names, but you know who you are). And others have died.

I can't bring myself to throw this address book away. Some of the letters are overrun, as I said, and there are more marked out, than there active entries. But how can I just dismiss the people I knew? I know it makes more sense to get a new one and start over, but I just can't do it. I want to remember these people every time I look through it each year and make my card list. I want to remember our time together, how we laughed, how we spent our time together, and when we cried together. I want to feel the happiness that comes with remembering the friendship or relatives and the sadness that comes mourning their loss. I wouldn't trade one day with each of these people. My life has been enriched by each person that has crossed my path. Yes, some relationships may not have been pleasant all the time, but I still grew personally.

So, I'll keep my address book with all the crossed out people in it and be thankful that I have known so many different people in my life. For my part, I'll try to be a better person to others, so I can leave happy memories in the people I encounter.

Happy Hanukkah everyone! I hope you make many new wonderful memories and relish in the old ones, too. May the light of Yeshua our Messiah shine on you and your family, wherever you are!

At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem ; it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon. The Jews then gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, "How long will You keep us in suspense ? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe ; the works that I do in My Father's name, these testify of Me. "But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish ; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all ; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. "I and the Father are one." - John 10:22-30

It's Never Too Late To Be Thankful

2012-11-21T19:12:00.001-08:00

Pinterest has consumed my crafty world! There are so many neat and cute ideas and projects in the vast bucket of Pinterest, and I just don't have the time to do all of them. This Thanksgiving, I searched out many projects and accomplished a couple with the boys. We made Hand Print Turkeys, always a favorite when it involves painting their hands! And we made the Thankful Turkey napkin rings. Although, I didn't use them as napkin rings, I used them to tape around small cups that I filled with fruit for one of the boy's preschool Thanksgiving party.
However, there was one that I absolutely intended to do no matter what: The Give Thanks Gratitude Board.
It is such a neat idea! Each member of the family records what they are thankful for on a card for each of the 30 days of November. Then next year, you can use the back of the card, or add more cards as needed to each day. I just loved the thought of using this year after year and being able to reread previous years' and relive all those thankful memories, especially those recorded by my children. Of course, I will write the boys' responses down until they are able to write, and I'll write my husband's responses because he doesn't like to write anything and avoids it whenever possible, but it's still a great idea.
However, as usual, time goes faster than I like. November 1st came and went and I still hadn't even purchased the items I lacked to start the project. I have a plethora of crafting items in my attic. It's like a Hobby Lobby/Walmart/JoAnn's/Michael's melting pot. But I was still lacking the board, coin envelopes, coordinating ribbon and Fall scraping paper. I didn't want to make the item out of a wooden board as the directions suggested, because I just didn't want it to be that heavy. I knew I had burlap and I love burlap, so I used a foam display board and hot glued the burlap over it. The only coin envelopes I found were at the office supply stores and they were so expensive! I didn't want to spend $28 for 250 envelopes, when I only needed 30. So I improvised and used small mailing envelopes. I simply sealed and cut them, then painted each one with a sponge to make them brown and no one can tell that they are regular mailing envelopes. Plus I can replace my stash for a mere $1. :)
I spent a total of $8. Now I have a beautiful Give Thanks Gratitude Board. So what if we didn't start using it until November 14? And so what if we missed a day because of sickness? We still have 7 days completed and 9 more days of potential memories to record. I am thankful I did the project this year, otherwise I would have missed out on such precious responses from my boys like; "I'm thankful for God", "I'm thankful for my pillow", "I'm thankful for my new jacket", "I'm thankful for my backpack you promised to get me for Hanukkah" and so many more. I'm thankful I decided it was okay for the project to be late, because it's never too late to be thankful!

Here's a link to the Give Thanks Gratitude Board tutorial I found on Pinterest:
http://jellybeanjunkyard.wordpress.com/2010/10/12/tuesday-tutorial-give-thanks-gratitude-board/

Weekend Getaway

2012-11-12T11:55:00.001-08:00

Every year my husband and I look forward to a conference in the Fall. This year it was from Friday, October 26 through Sunday, October 28, in Grapevine, Texas, in the Dallas area. It is a weekend getaway that we plan and save for every year. But it's not just any weekend getaway...it's a Messianic Conference. What's that? Well, it's an entire weekend of learning more about and praising the Lord. It's bonding with like-minded believers in Yeshua from all over the region. It's a time of coming together and feeling part of a whole. But wait, I'm getting ahead of myself. First let me tell you who runs the conference.

Our boys having fun in the children's class.

The Messianic Jewish Alliance of America is a group that brings together messianic congregations and synagogues from all over the nation. They have an annual national conference in Pennsylvania every year in July and then about 4 regional conferences throughout the year. The conference is full of events like, praise and worship concerts, Torah service, Shabbat service, singles mixers, youth groups, nursery and children's programs, adult classes on specific teachings by Rabbis and Messianic instructors, dance symposiums where you learn Davidic dancing, and so much more.
We always have a great time and we come back so relaxed and renewed.
It is a blessing to be in a room of 200, 300, sometimes 400 people who have like-minded views and call themselves Messianic. Sometimes, being a Messianic can be lonely. Most Messianic congregations and synagogues are relatively small compared to Christian churches who are not only more numerous, but will always have the mega-churches in their mix. I have yet to visit a Messianic mega-synagogue. But I am hopeful!
I am just grateful to be able to attend a conference and feel like I'm part of a bigger mishpacha (family) than I see every week at my home congregation. I am blessed to share talents and discussions and praise time with believers who have the same goal in mind, and that is: To serve Yeshua and reach the unsaved Jewish people.
If you have never been to a Messianic conference before, I encourage you to seek one out! We have been going for 7 years and have always been blessed. The conference we attend are the ones hosted by the MJAA, for more information about those go to their website http://www.MJAA.org.
Following is a short video I recorded during the last concert of the conference. Paul Wilbur was singing. More people came that night than had been for the entire conference, since he is such a famous praise & worship singer. I wanted to capture the feeling of warmth I felt. There were people of all ages, races, and backgrounds worshiping together. No one had to be told to stand to worship. Some people were even kneeling and laying prostrate, some were dancing. Some were blowing shofars. Some were weeping. And it was all so beautiful. Forgive me for my amateur video, I didn't do so well, but it was hard to stay still while praising and recording the video.

You don't have to be Jewish to attend a Messianic conference. You don't even have to be a Messianic to attend a Messianic conference. My prayer is that if you've never been to one before, you make a goal to attend the next one in your area and get fed by people who have a love for the Lord, His people and serve His Son, Yeshua. You will blessed beyond measure!

Last...but not Least: My Marathon Story

2012-10-15T18:33:00.001-07:00

I did it! I finished my marathon! I can slap my 26.2 sticker on my van! Was it worth it? Absolutely! Will I run another marathon? No thank you. Here's my story...

I signed up for the early start at 7 AM because during my training I was averaging 14 minutes per mile. Official start time was 8 AM and the barricades would be torn down at 2 PM. So I figured I needed the hour cushion. Saturday I went to the expo to pick up my packet. I saw all these really fit people picking up their packets and then there was me. I am not fit. But I was happy to be a part of this group. I bought my 26.2 sticker to put on my van because I am going to finish this thing, no matter what! I asked the registration workers what time I should show up and they said, it didn't really matter because it's electronic and the race starts when I cross the start and ends when I cross the finish. I thought...O..K.
I couldn't sleep all night. I was so anxious. I needed to get some sleep, but I was too worried and excited and just hyped up. All those relaxation techniques I'd read about in the marathon training book were not working. So I prayed and finally fell asleep. I'm up at 5:30 AM. We agreed that Guillo would just carry the boys to the van in their pajamas and they would drop me off, then he'd take them back home, dress them, feed them, and come back to cheer me on throughout the race. So we didn't leave the house until 6:45. All the roads were blocked off and I was late to the starting time. I showed up and the runners were already running. So I had to make a mad dash to the starting point and ask if I can still start the race even though they already left. Thankfully they let me. I started at 7:05 AM.
By myself. Which in retrospect was okay. I trained all by myself. So why shouldn't I start that way? Besides, God was with me. I was gonna be fine.
The first 4 miles were easy and went really fast. I was super pumped up. D-day was here. It would all be over soon, or so I thought. At 13.1 miles I was still feeling pretty good. Seeing my husband and the boys was awesome! I was still excited.
Just after mile 16, I almost got lost. I was at an intersection and no one was there to tell me which way to go. I asked some runners who were walking and had just finished the marathon and they couldn't remember, but told me that left was mile 24. Well that's not the right way. So I went forward when the person in front of me had turned left. I had to call Guillo, who I had just passed, and ask him to look at the map and make sure I was going the right way. I was and then he caught up with me at mile 17.
After that, Guillo and the boys were by my side...in the van. Later, Guillo would tell me that he had planned to stick with me in the end. He knew that I had only gone as far as 18 miles in my training, so he wanted to be there for me at the end. Isn't that just the sweetest? He's the best husband in the whole world!
At mile 19, I started to suspect that I was the last one, or at least one of the last few people. All the water stops were closing down. Which was disturbing, because I would not be able to last without some Gatorade. I eventually had to ask Guillo to bring me some.
Mile 20 went right in front of our friend's house. I had seen the map of the course, but I actually didn't look at it too much, as evidence from my almost getting lost, so I didn't even know I'd be running by their house. Guillo drove ahead of me and asked them to come out and cheer me on. That was pretty neat. It was support when I needed it.
And then I saw the workers tearing down the mile markers. I was starting to think negative thoughts. "How humiliating. I can't believe I'm last. Very last? Really?" But then I had to just start thinking, "It doesn't matter. I'm finishing!" And I kept thinking that over and over.
At mile 23, I asked Guillo, "Will it ever end?" And he said "You can do it! You're almost there!"
It was surreal. The sound of the road blocks and mile markers being torn down right after I passed each one was intimidating. But I'm very thankful to the workers for not tearing them down before I reached them. They were great. The officers working the intersections were so supportive. "You can do it ma'am!" You're almost there!"
After mile 24, Guillo couldn't follow me anymore. They had taken the road blocks down and moved me to the sidewalk. A PF worker followed me in a golf cart and kept supporting me. "Look! You can see the Hyatt. You're almost there!" he said.
At this point I was half walking and limping. I probably looked like Igor. But, I was moving forward and I was grateful to not be flat on my face. I pass marker 26. Only .2 miles left! "Over the bridge and you're home!" the golf cart man said. I started to pick my pace up to try to mimic a jog. I see my husband and boys at the finish line. I see two of our friends there, too. I see a woman waving a shirt and medal. I SEE THE END! Then my boys run towards me. They each take my hand and run with me to the finish line. It was SO precious. It was the best feeling and the highlight of the whole marathon! I started to cry. My husband was crying (he told me later). I crossed the finish line holding my sons' hands at 2:36 PM. It took me 7:31:37. They give me my medal with a pin on it that says, "Dead Last Finish is greater than Did Not Finish which trumps Did Not Start." A worker beings me fruit and a whole pizza and cold Gatorade. They immediately start to tear down the finish line. And I am just surprised that I am still standing up. Seriously...can I sit down? My friend opens our van, which Guillo had pulled up right the the finish line, and I finally sit and eat my fruit and thank God it is over and I have finished. I was last. Dead last. But I finished. That was my goal. 806 people registered for the marathon, but only 723 finished. I am not an athlete. I am not an elite runner. I am not even a well trained runner. I am a 38-year-old mother of two preschoolers who loves salty foods and indulges in Oreo cookies and loves to watch movies. And I finished a marathon. I jogged, walked and limped through 26.2 miles. And I am happy. I am grateful. I am blessed to have been able to do it. I can tell my sons that perseverance is worth it. Comparing your achievements to another person's is meaningless. Being grateful for what you have accomplished, no matter how long it took you to do it, is a great feeling and something that no one can take away from you.
So, will I run another marathon? No. But I'm happy I did it. Will I stop running? No! Next year, I'm signing up for the half marathon and Lord willing, I'll be doing a whole lot of 5Ks in between. :)

My boys running with me to the finish line.

"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

My wonderful husband and me at the finish line.

To see the results of the marathon, go to the Prairie Fire Marathon website at http://prairiefiremarathon.com/ Click on marathon results and go to the last page to see my name.

Yom Kippur Unplugged

2012-09-15T11:49:00.001-07:00

It's no secret to those who know me that the Fall Feasts are my absolute favorite!!! I L-O-V-E this time of year! One of the appointed times is Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. While this is a more serious and somber time of reflection and repentance, it is also joyous in knowing the blood of the Lamb has redeemed us and we are cleansed through His sacrifice. The ultimate and final sacrifice. And because of that sacrifice, and our faith in Yeshua, our names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. So after a day of fasting, you break the fast with a joyous celebration and of course FOOD!
We have fasted during this feast every year. About the only time I didn't was one year when I was 6 months pregnant during Yom Kippur and there was no way I could not eat every two hours. Fasting is such a blessing. If you have never experienced the act of fasting, it really trains you to take control of your thoughts. It seems our flesh is easily attracted to the things we shouldn't have, especially when it is food. So during a fast and a holy day such as Yom Kippur, you have to make a conscience effort to keep your mind off food and on the Lord. You reflect on the sins you know you did the last year and repent for those as well as the sins you are unaware of and you acknowledge the sacrifice that was made to cleanse you from those sins. You acknowledge Yeshua. It's a great time of reflection and worship.
Since children are usually exempt from the fasting laws and last year was the first year that my boys could really "understand" Yom Kippur, we added a family tradition. We did not turn on a television during the Yom Kippur fast. So what happened? We actually had to spend time with each other! It was great. I'm not saying we don't do that on occasion, but on Yom Kippur, it was more special because we could use the time to discuss with our children about Yeshua's sacrifice and what sin means.
This year I am going to unplug completely. No television, radio, computer, or cell phone. What did we do before the cell phone? I am even going to exclude all books and magazines unless they are scripture related.
I am excited to see how the world will continue to turn and how our lives will still go on without all these technological gadgets in play. I am planning some intimate story time and discussion for my family and maybe even a craft centering around the Lamb of God and His Book of Life. This Yom Kippur is going to be off the hook!

Leviticus 16:29 "This shall be a permanent statute for you: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall humble your souls and not do any work, whether the native, or the alien who sojourns among you;"

Leviticus 23:27 "On exactly the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement ; it shall be a holy convocation for you, and you shall humble your souls and present an offering by fire to the LORD."

Revelation 21:22-27 "I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. In the daytime (for there will be no night there ) its gates will never be closed ; and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it; and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life."

Read last year's blog on the Fall Feasts Fever.

And then I was running!

2012-08-17T21:52:00.001-07:00

One evening, as my family and I were driving around running errands, my husband stopped at a convenience store for gas. My husband and the man putting in gas on the other side of the pump began a conversation and from inside the vehicle, I assumed my husband knew him from somewhere. When my husband got back in the van, I asked him who the man was and he said, "I don't know." (Now those of you who know my husband know that people just talk to him for no reason, that's just one of his gifts.) Then he told me that the man was traveling to Seattle, and made some comment about not knowing how long it would take to get there. My husband then told him, "Just keep moving forward! That's what it's all about!"
Now where had I heard that before? Hmmm...
I am training for a marathon. I am not, nor have I ever considered myself a runner. The last time I ran was in high school. I wanted to run hurdles, but because I was one of the only ones who could run a mile, I was the long-distance runner. I hated it. I always came in last. It was not good for a teenage girl's self esteem. In fact, when the home track meet came closer, I quit the track team so that I could avoid the embarrassment of the entire school seeing me trudge in dead last in the race.
So why run a marathon? I was inspired! Why not work at accomplishing something that seemed impossible? After all, can't I do all things through Him who strengthens me? One of the things that I want to be is a positive role model for my children. And I want my boys to see, that with hard work and perseverance, you can accomplish anything. I want them to see the importance of staying fit and being healthy. And this seemed perfect. I don't have to go to a set class, I make my own hours, I don't have to rely on someone to push me, I can work on my own endurance mentally and physically. It has been great. I don't have a fast pace. But hey, I'm out there. I have gone farther than I thought I ever would. The longest distance I've ran all at once to date is 12.12 miles. Throughout the training so far, I have ran a total of over 100 miles. If someone would have told me that I would have accomplished that a year ago, I would have laughed hysterically as I was sitting on my couch and eating my whole bag of chips and guacamole with my 32 oz. of Diet Pepsi!
But look how far I've come already by the grace of the Lord! And you know what? I'm having fun. I'm moving forward. When things get hard, I just take one step at a time.
And now I more fully understand my faith race.

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 1 Corinthians 9:24-25

I thought this was about staying strong in your faith, keeping on the path and not straying away from the Lord. After all this training, I see that it means so much more. Paul goes on to say this:

Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim ; I box in such a way, as not beating the air ; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9:26-27

I've got to constantly be in training spiritually. Learning more about my faith, renewing myself in the Word daily, practicing my walk with the Lord, and fine tuning my stride so that I can be a better witness. I've gotta walk the walk. It's not good to be complacent in my faith. I should never think, "Everything is fine just the way it is." It's like that old adage, "If you don't use it, you loose it." I have to exercise my spiritual muscle. I've gotta live my life like I trained for it. I have a better understanding of what Paul was trying to convey. I get it now. All thanks to running.
So now, when I stumble during my runs, or in my spiritual life, I just think, "Just keep moving forward." I want to live my life in constant training, moving one foot in front of the other to gain endurance. Even if I have to crawl across the finish line, I'm not dropping out of this race! If I'm last, I'm going to raise my hands and praise the Lord that I finished, and He is the prize!

"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12:1-3

Watching Every Second!

2012-06-16T10:49:00.000-07:00

We had our first ER visit. The boys and I were at the grocery store. I was getting cilantro into a bag, and then...crash. I turn to find both my children on the cement floor. Judah had the grocery cart on top of him. And he has kicking his legs and screaming. I lifted the cart and cradled him while several people came over to me talking and talking....
I was just in a haze. You know how in movies people are in shock and they show all the people's voices muted and their mouths are moving, but the person doesn't hear them? That was me. All I could hear was Judah screaming. I looked into his eyes and his eyes were so red! I wanted to throw up. I grabbed Guillito's hand, who wasn't hurt, just scared, and left immediately. I loaded the boys into the van and drove to the nearest ER. The whole time talking to him and trying to keep him from falling asleep and also feeling so guilty for not watching them. But really, I was just picking out cilantro. It was an accident. But I couldn't shake the guilt. I should be watching them every second so that these things don't happen!
It never ceases to amaze me how much I learn about the Lord while parenting my children. I realize that I cannot watch my children every second. It's humanly impossible. But God does watch me every second, and He watches my children every second of every day. It is by His grace and protection that Judah didn't end up with a scull fracture or worse. Judah had a very large hematoma on the back of his head. And it was very sore and very painful for a few days. Now, five days later, he has a normal-sized bump on his head and that's all. He never had vomiting, or dizziness, or any other symptoms. I am so grateful to the Lord!
How amazing to know that the Lord is watching us every second. It's easy to forget. And while things happen that may hurt us, or cause us to stumble, He is always there to help us up and cradle us in His arms, to comfort us, and care for us.
As a mother, it's comforting to know the Lord succeeds when I fail. As a child of the Lord, it's comforting to know the Lord watches over me every second and is there for me whenever I need Him. I cannot imagine not having the Lord as my protector and shield. Just as I'm sure, a child can't imagine not having a parent or guardian to nurture and care for them. We would be lost. And whether you are Jew or Gentile, if you are a child of the God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob, if you believe His Son, Yeshua, died for you, then you have that protection. Not just from the occasional bump on the head, but from the afflictions on your soul! Praise Adonai!

"I lift up my eyes to the hills-- where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip-- he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you-- the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm-- he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore." - Psalm 121

This is one of my favorite songs from Paul Wilbur. It came to mind as I was writing this and I believe it fits perfectly. I hope you like it too!

Order in the House

2012-06-01T11:43:00.001-07:00

I'll give you three guesses as to what I'm planning to accomplish this summer. When I got pregnant with my second son, I was discussing the fact that the boys would be 17 months apart with another woman who had two of her children that close. She told me, "I refer to the year after my second was born as the 'black hole'." I didn't know then, just how right she was!
I have always been a very orderly and organized person. I could multi-task and get things done in record time. But as soon as I became a mother, that slowed down. Then becoming a mother of more than one child so close together made my accomplishments in anything come to a complete halt. I was under the illusion that I could continue doing everything I normally did while taking care of two toddlers, and I was SO wrong! After much stressing, freaking out, kvetching and just plain fit throwing...all by me, of course, I changed my foolish thinking. I have pared back my to-do-lists and tried to focus more on the home and my family. I feel much better and I am not so stressed and much less hurried, frustrated and frazzled. But now that I have slowed myself down, I look around at my house and think...'Who lives here?'
I have become a pack rat! And a disorderly one at that! I didn't realize that in my haze of busy motherhood, I would move things from one place to another, stacking and stacking and stuffing, until those places were full of everything under the sun. Sadly, with no rhyme or reason. I'm not saying my house in untidy, or dirty. It's picked up and clean most of the time. I'm talking about disorganization. Do I know where my marriage license is? Are all my irreplaceable pictures in one place? Where is the house insurance policy? Can I keep all the yarn in one place so that I stop buying the same color yarn every time I start a new crocheting project? Why are the shorts packed in the winter bins? How many glue guns do I need? And it goes on and on!
I was speaking to a dear friend of mine and I said, I don't understand why I can't keep order in my home. I use to be the manager of a collection agency and a supervisor of a hospital business office early in my adulthood, and yet I can't seem to run my own household. She responded,"Not enough people on the payroll." So true. It's not my fault..or is it?
Then I went to service on the Shabbat before Mother's Day and the Rabbi read from Proverbs 31, of which Eshet Chayil, the Jewish Shabbat hymn, is based. What stood out at me was the verse 27.

"She looks well to the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness." Proverbs 31:27

Well, I just sat there. I thought, I can't say that about myself. I'd rather watch a movie and do my nails while the kids are taking their nap than to go through my pack rat piles and restore order to my house. So, just as it is when the Lord's Word strikes a chord in your being and will not stop, I had to make a change. It was time for me to look well to the ways of my household. It needs to run like a well-lubed machine. I'm not necessarily going to press that old adage 'a place for everything and everything in it's place' because quite frankly, with 4 and 3 year-olds in the house that's laughable. But I can strive to have the kind of order that gives me peace when I sit down and watch that movie and do my nails, knowing that I don't have clutter looming in the dark places of my house.
First, I am rejecting the need to buy every new gadget and nick knack just because it promises to be useful or fun and it's cheap. Do we really need it to survive? Most of the time, no. And I would be better to save those $1 or $20 buys here and there in the bank and spend it on family outings, creating memories that are irreplaceable and that will last a lifetime. I am rejecting the American mentality of more is better. I'm reworking my mentality to accept a minimalist kind of thinking. And focusing more on what the Lord has already provided us, a family. But most of all , I don't want my children to think it's okay to have lots of stuff. Especially when so many people in the world do without.
Secondly, I need to have systems in place that help me prevent clutter, rather than contributing to it. I need systems that handle incoming mail, and school handouts, stocking and maintaining pantry items, clothing needs for the ever-growing boys, planning and preparing healthy meals for the whole family, etc.
Finally and most importantly, I have to balance my orderly household goal so that I am including my family in the process while still making sure we have quality family time. Some days I get so wrapped up in my to-do-lists, my quality family time evaporates. It's not fair to anyone. After all , they're only this age once.
Since I've made this commitment, I am pleased to say I have reorganized the laundry area, my cleaning supplies, my home office, and reconstructed a closet to handle more items more efficiently. It's a slow process, but I've already realized progress and it makes me happy.
I am confident that this is something I can accomplish. Why? Because the Lord speaks in His word about a Woman of Valor, and it is something we can all strive to achieve. With the Lord, it is possible!

"Strength and dignity are her clothing, And she smiles at the future." Proverbs 31:25

And I want to be able to "smile at the future." What a beautiful sentiment. Next time someone says "Keep on smiling", I'll remember the Lord and His word.

Dayenu - My Testimony

2012-04-13T14:52:00.001-07:00

I was asked to give my testimony, so since I had to write it all down, I decided to add it to my blog. Those who know me, know my story and have heard it many times. I will never stop telling my story. We all have testimonies of what God has done for us. Please always share your stories for the glory of God.

"Every day I will bless You, And I will praise Your name forever and ever. Great is the LORD, and highly to be praised, And His greatness is unsearchable . One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of Your majesty And on Your wonderful works, I will meditate. Men shall speak of the power of Your awesome acts, And I will tell of Your greatness. They shall eagerly utter the memory of Your abundant goodness And will shout joyfully of Your righteousness. The LORD is gracious and merciful ; Slow to anger and great in lovingkindness. The LORD is good to all, And His mercies are over all His works. All Your works shall give thanks to You, O LORD, And Your godly ones shall bless You. They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom And talk of Your power ; To make known to the sons of men Your mighty acts And the glory of the majesty of Your kingdom." Psalm 45:2-12

We are in the middle of celebrating the Passover season. The first night of Passover begins with a Seder, or dinner. During the Seder you read a Haggadah, meaning “The Telling”, about the story found in Exodus, God’s salvation and deliverance of the Hebrews from bondage. One of the traditions is to sing a song called “Dayenu” – which in Hebrew means “It would have been enough” or “It would have been sufficient.” I’m telling you all this, because this is the background for my testimony.

This season will forever remind me of how the Lord gave me personal deliverance from my own bondage that was affecting my faith. Infertility. Some of you may share the same kind of story. My husband and I have been married for almost 16 years now. After 3 years of marriage we started trying for children. For 7 years, we tried. We did fertility treatments, and called on all our friends and church family to pray. 7 long years. It was agonizing. I began to think, “Why? What did I do wrong? Why was I being punished?”

My faith was wavering. I was depressed and losing myself in my circumstance. Then just before Passover about 5 years ago, I went to lunch with a dear friend of mine and had a complete breakdown. I just poured out my sorrow all over the place in the middle of Chipotle. I explained to my friend that I was feeling so guilty and ashamed. The Passover season was going to start and we’re going to sing Dayenu and I don’t even feel worthy to sing it. Why don’t I feel like God’s deliverance is enough for me? Why do I want more? Isn’t it enough that he sent his son for my eternal salvation? And I am angry because He won’t give me a child? What is my problem? That friend is a prayer warrior, and I have no doubt that the Lord heard hers and everyone else’s prayers that had been lifted up for 7 years because after that something changed in me. I decided that if this is the way it is suppose to be, then I wanted my prayers and the prayers of people who prayed for me to be that I would be content with God alone. That He would be sufficient for me. Passover was coming, and I should embrace the “It is enough” mentality. God is enough for me. If I never become a mother…God is enough. If I can never bear my husband’s child…God is enough. If I can never have the joy of nursing my own child…God is enough. I celebrated that Passover without my yoke of infertility. In fact I was pregnant and didn’t even know it. I found out about a month later, and the next January I had my first son. I have two boys now, because as you know, when you pray, sometimes the flood gates of heaven open up and the Lord just keeps on giving! Just after the Seder this last Friday, my husband and I were lamenting about how the boys kept us on our toes the whole Seder and they were so loud and running all over the place, you know, basically being normal 4 and 2 year olds, during a 3 hour Seder. And one of the Elders in our congregation commented, “But you know, that’s what we all prayed for. We prayed for those children. That’s what I think about every time I hear them. We prayed for those children. And now they’re here.” When I look at my boys, I remember that the Lord answers prayer. Maybe not right away, but He does.

I heard a teaching once and I never forgot it. It was at a Messianic conference and the Rabbi said, Sometimes as we go through our trials it’s easy to say, “Oh why is this happening? Why am I going through this?” But people, the point is you’re going THROUGH it. God doesn’t leave you there to wallow in it! No! He brings you through it, to the other side, where you are better and tougher than you were before.” That’s’ how I feel about what I went through. I truly believe that my faith was enriched and I grew closer to the Lord because of my infertility problem. Who knows if I would have the walk I have with the Lord now, if I had never gone through that.

This time of year is so precious to me. During Passover the Lord reminds me that no matter what I am going through, He will be enough for me. Whatever He gives me or doesn’t give me, it will be sufficient. He is sufficient.

This is a lesson I have to remember to apply to other areas of my life. I didn’t end up with the career I thought I would have, but God is sufficient. I don’t have the body I’d like to have, but God is sufficient. I may not be as financially stable as I’d like to be, but God is sufficient. And He always will be. God gave His Son, to die for all of us. He is sufficient.

"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have abundance for every good deed" 2 Corinthians 9:8

I'm thankful for the opportunity to share my testimony. I hope that as the Passover season ends, we all take the lesson of Dayenu with us throughout the year!

Counting Up

2012-04-03T19:53:00.001-07:00

The Passover season is upon us and with it the hustle and bustle of cleaning homes and getting prepared for the days of Unleavened Bread. I usually am so focused on this that I miss what comes next. The counting of the Omer. The Omer is the span of days in between the 1st day of Passover and Shavuot which total 7 weeks. Shavuot is the Feast of Weeks, also known as Pentecost (because it occurs on day 50).

“You shall count seven weeks for yourself; you shall begin to count seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the standing grain. Then you shall celebrate the Feast of Weeks to the Lord your God with a tribute of a freewill offering of your hand, which you shall give just as the Lord your God blesses you." Deuteronomy 16:9-10

I'd rather not look at the counting of the 49 days of the Omer as a countdown, but rather a counting up, or a counting forward to the great time of out-pouring of the Holy Spirit. It is a joyous occasion and something to look forward to!

I have seen instances where congregations choose these 49 days as a time to have targeted prayer. I have always thought that this was a great idea. So I wrote my own list and this is the targeted prayer I will pray each day during the Omer. Feel free to print this out and join me in prayer!

49 Days of Targeted Prayer During the Omer:
1. I pray for the Peace of Jerusalem.
2. I pray for the unborn, that they may not see abortion.
3. I pray for the orphans, that they know a father with Adonai.
4. I pray for those without husbands, that the Lord will be their covering.
5. I pray for the people with cancer, that they receive healing and are blessed with Shalom.
6. I pray for the family unit, that it returns to a focus on the Lord of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
7. I pray for the abused and beaten, that they find relief and hope in Adonai.
8. I pray for our youth, because they will be our leaders.
9. I pray for those who need jobs.
10. I pray for the poor.
11. I pray for the opportunity to witness and for the Holy Spirit to use me.
12. I pray for the unsaved souls, that they may see Yeshua and be filled with the Holy Spirit!
13. I pray for the future of my children.
14. I pray for the school systems who are molding the next generation.
15. I pray for people with financial stress.
16. I pray for people with spiritual stress.
17. I pray for people who are missionaries.
18. I pray for missionaries whose lives are at risk at this moment.
19. I pray for the eyes of Jewish people to open to their Messiah.
20. I pray for the leaders of our congregations, churches and synagogues.
21. I pray for the leaders of our cities and towns.
22. I pray for the leaders of our states and nations.
23. I pray for Barack Obama, the President of the United States specifically.
24. I pray for Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister specifically.
25. I pray for my husband, the leader of our household.
26. I pray for people who own and run their own businesses.
27. I pray for charitable organizations such as the Red Cross, and the United Way.
28. I pray for the financial stability of our nation.
29. I pray for the preservation of the freedom to worship the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob.
30. I pray for the wisdom to prepare for end times.
31. I pray for the wisdom to bring my children up in the way they should go, so they do not depart from the Lord.
32. I pray for the adversary to be bound and cast out of our congregations, churches and synagogues.
33. I pray for a repentant heart to fall on all peoples, so they may seek the Lord's forgiveness and grace.
34. I pray for the people of God to learn to live healthier lifestyles so they can be better equipped to do the Lord's work.
35. I pray for the protection on God's people when they are witnessing to the nations.
36. I pray for the Christian churches to gain a better knowledge of the Feast Days of the Lord and how it applies to their life.
37. I pray for the United States armed forces serving in active duty or who are deployed away from home and their families.
38. I pray for the Israeli armed forces and their families.
39. I pray for the farmers and their crops.
40. I pray for a mild summer without harsh temperatures.
41. I pray for the work of my hands and that of my husband's to be pleasing to the Lord.
42. I pray for relationships to be mended in families and friends in the body of Messiah.
43. I pray that I do not get in the way of Your plans You have for me, Lord, please help me to live out Your will.
44. I pray for runaways.
45. I pray for gang members, drug dealers, prostitutes and other people like them, that they turn from their ways and seek out the Lord's ways.
46. I pray for the moral standard of society to rise up to the Lord's standard.
47. I pray for forgiveness of my sins, for trampling on the blood of Yeshua each time I sin.
48. I pray for whatever need or person enters my mind at this moment.
49. I pray for righteousness to rain down on us.

"You heavens above, rain down righteousness; let the clouds shower it down. Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up, let righteousness grow with it; I, the LORD, have created it." Isaiah 45:8

Passover is about the Lamb of God, that takes away the sins of the world. Shavuot is when He sends back the Holy Spirit to help us until His return. Don't miss the point...He showers us with His Spirit until His return!! Baruch Hashem! Blessed is (His) Name!

"All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:25-27

Do Over

2012-03-19T09:54:00.001-07:00

Have you ever been on a diet? Have you ever struggled with losing weight? This has been the story of my life since finishing college. Why? Well, that's a very loaded question. Why. I could blame married life, I could blame having children, I could blame a lot of things, but that would just be placing blame, rather than taking ownership.
Two years ago, my husband and I jumped on the Biggest Loser band wagon and began their 30-Day Jump Start. It was amazing! The pounds just melted off. And we didn't even do the exercise program that came with it. We just did the strict diet and lost the weight. We looked and felt better. I lost over 35 pounds. I went from a size 20 to size 14. I was so happy. I gave all my fat clothes away and was able to go shopping for skinny clothes. It was a dream come true!
But then we went on vacation and several splurges later, I was right back to eating fattening foods and overindulging. I am ashamed to say that I have almost gained every pound back. I am already toying with size 18! What a disaster! What happened?
At the time I was so distressed, I was invited to join a book study at Central Christian Church. The book is called Made to Crave by Lysa TerKeurst. The study was about how to crave God, not food. I don't think it was a coincidence that this happened to be offered at the same time I was distressing over my weight regain. God's timing is perfect! It was a great study!
It is distressing to me to realize how I have used food to "fix" or "fill" things in my life instead of God. It is very hard for me to tell everyone that, but it's true. So, here I am. I'm going to "do over" my quest to get healthy. This time exercise will be coupled with my eating plan and I will stay committed because I understand that my crutch doesn't have to be food, because I have the Lord. Amen! I'm not saying I won't falter, but I know that I can have ultimate success when God is on my side. Praise the Lord!

So armed with my new inspiration from the class and working through my food issues, I created a eating plan for 40 days. (That's the calendar in the picture.) It was a lot of work but I am so happy it's done. It is like a weight has been lifted. Being a stay at home mom, you may think it is easy to eat healthy, but actually, if I don't have a healthy eating plan mapped out, that's when I will run through the drive-thru in between errands, school and doctor visits. So, I took what I learned from Biggest Loser and tweaked it to match our tastes. Then I took a popular menu board idea I found on a blog called RobbyGurl's Creations (http://robbygurlscreations.blogspot.com) and made it my own. Instead of using the menu board for only planning dinner, I made a menu board that plans my day menus as well as dinner. And with 40 days planned out, I can cycle the days and not have a lot of repetition throughout the year. My husband and I are so excited and we began the healthy eating on March 1st. Last week we didn't even look at the calendar, because we had company. But that's okay. We're back to it now and with the planning, comes relief and peace for the day's food choices.
The next thing I am going to do is make an exercise plan. I'm setting a goal to be able to run a marathon. It's going to be a great journey. I know I'll have the Lord with me and He can be my strength, when I feel like I can't continue. Now you may think, "What does eating healthy have to do with living a life for the Lord?" I think it is very important to take care of the bodies the Lord has given us. There are a lot of scriptures where the Lord talks about how important food and discipline is, but one in particular stands out to me.

"They willfully put God to the test by demanding the food they craved." Psalm 78:18
Now we all know the story. The Israelites are saved in the Exodus and as they settle in the wilderness with the Lord to protect them and provide for them, He is giving them Manna to eat, food from heaven! Yet they are unsatisfied. I had seen the obvious life lesson, but I had never before seen this applicable to my issues with food until I read Made to Crave. Lysa does a great job in presenting how God's Word can help us in this every day struggle and how it is completely applicable. God's Word came alive for me with this stumbling block, and I am confident that this time, taking Yeshua with me each step of the way, I will make a permanent change.
If you are looking for a chance to "do over" your quest for a healthy lifestyle I suggest the following:

Central Christian Church will have another class of the Made to Crave Book study in June. Watch for it at www.ccc.org
If you don't live in the area, get the book at the author's website www.MadetoCrave.org or on Amazon.
The Biggest Loser 30-Day Jump Start is an excellent way to lose weight and learn how to eat and what to plan. You can find the book at Amazon.

To those women who were in the book study with me, thank you so much for your stories and commitment. Each one of you are an inspiration and a joy to know! I pray God showers His Shalom on you all!

Purim: Party On!

2012-03-05T08:23:00.001-08:00

Purim is such a fun festival, and I am so glad I have children to share in the crafts, baking, costume making, game playing, storytelling and just plain fun! Purim is the biblical feast that celebrates the Lord's salvation of the Jewish people from annihilation using Queen Esther. It is also known as the Feast of Lots, since Haman casted lots to determine what date he would destroy the Jewish people. The story is recited in synagogues and Messianic congregations from the Book of Esther. It is a great story. And of course, it has many traditions! Hamantachen are the traditional cookie that is made to mimic the hat, or some say the ears, of the villain, Haman. Children and adults dress in biblical costume with special focus on dressing like the good guys, Queen Esther and King Ahasuerus and Mordechai. While the story, or Megillah, as the scroll of the Book of Esther is called, is being read, the audience yells "Yay!" for the heros Esther and Mordechai and "Boo!" for the nemesis, Haman. Traditional noisemakers for the event are used, called graggers. There are expensive and elaborate graggers, or inexpensive mass-produced graggers you can buy, but I think the best ones are those made by the children themselves.
So the boys and I ventured to make our own graggers! Below are the instructions. If you have never celebrated Purim, I encourage you to make this easy craft with your children. Even small toddlers can accomplish this craft. Then, have them dress in costume (any sheet can make a biblical costume and couple that with a self-made crown and you have Queen Esther and King Ahasuerus already!) and read the Purim story out loud to them. Don't be afraid to read the whole story from your own bible, rather than a children's bible. The fun is getting to boo and yell during the story, so wait patiently after each main character's name to give them a chance to join in the fun. Have a blessed Purim filled with lots of Simcha (Joy)! Party on!

These graggers turned out so great and are really loud! The boys can't wait to take them to the Purim Spiel on Friday!

Paper Plate Gragger Instructions

Items Needed:

paper plate (sturdy dinner plate with lip on edge is best)
buttons, beads or dry beans
water colors
sponge craft brush
2-3 pipe cleaners
gift wrap ribbon assortment
single hole punch

1. Let the children paint their own original designs on the bottom of the plate.

2. After the plate is dry, fold it in half, and punch holes around the edges. Be sure to hold the sponge craft brush in place on one end and make sure the first two hole punches are close enough that the beads won't fall through but far apart enough to fit the handle of the brush through. Then punch the rest of the holes about 1/2 inch apart.

3. Let the children choose which buttons or beads they want to use and set them aside. It doesn't take much to make the noises. My children picked out about 3 times more than we needed, but that's okay. They didn't notice that I didn't use them all.

4. Cut 8 inch strips of the ribbons. You'll need enough for half of the amount of holes that you made around the edge of the plate.

5. Cut 4 feet of one ribbon color. I let each of the boys choose their favorite color. This also helps in identifying their own gragger later! Use this longer ribbon to tie and wrap around the sponge craft brush. I folded it in half first, then tied it to the brush, then looped it around and through the first two punches I designated for it earlier.

6. Carefully place the beads and buttons in the paper plate. Then tie the remaining 8 inch strips of ribbon on every other hole punched from the handle. If the children are too small to tie, let them choose which color comes next.

7. Let the children use the pipe cleaners to weave through all the holes along the edge. Any way they choose as long as they get it nice and tight so no beads fall out. Weave ends in. This is perfect for toddlers and preschoolers to practice those motor skills!

Come Here

2012-02-19T13:15:00.000-08:00

Come here. Ven aqui. Bohu he'na. Whether you say it in English, Spanish, or Hebrew, it's still a simple phrase. They are two little words and yet, they are most ignored and quite possibly the most difficult to obey. I cannot tell you how many times I myself have said "come here" to my children without a response, with an opposite response, and with a hopeless response. Most parents know what I mean. It's at these times that I remember the stand-up comedy of Bill Cosby and his recounting of how his beautiful wife became an ugly monster of a woman with a contorted face, repeating everything she said over and over again with increasing speed and volume to no avail, all on the account of motherhood. Yes, that's exactly how I feel sometimes. And yet, it was at this very moment that I learned something from the Lord. Here I am trying to get my children to heed my "come here" plea and getting so frustrated in the process. Don't they realize that I'm trying to help them out? Come here and put your coat on. Come here and eat your food. Come here and take a nap. Come here and take a bath. Come here and play with this instead of messing with that. Come here and pick up your toys. Come here and stay by my side so you don't get lost! Ahhh!
Yes. It was like a ton of bricks. How many times is the Lord frustrated over me, His child, when He is calling me to "come here" and I do not heed His plea? Come here and put on My armor before you start your day. ("Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil." Ephesians 6:11) Come here and feast on the Bread of Life. ("Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst." John 6:35) Come here and rest in Me so that you may be renewed. ("My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him." Psalm 62:1) Come here and pray. ("pray without ceasing." 1 Thessalonians 5:17) Come here and hide My Word in your heart. ("These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. Deuteronomy 6:6) Come here and witness to My people. ("...Tend My sheep." John 21:17) Come here and be by My side so you do not get lost! ("Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming." 1 John 2:28)
Come here. It's a simple enough command, and yet, so hard to obey. I will have to pay closer attention to my Father's voice and heed His requests for my benefit. After all, He is only trying to help me out.

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand." John10:27-28

All I have to do is listen. Now everytime I am trying to encourage my children to listen to me, I will be encouraged to listen to my Lord, my Father, my Savior. What a blessed reminder!

Check Your Expiration Date

2012-01-06T22:23:00.000-08:00

I don't know if this ever happens to anyone else, but I seem to do it all the time. I was making myself a turkey sandwich today for lunch because first, I like sandwiches, and second they are easy, and third, they're cheap! But then I realize that the turkey is expired. Expires: December 24,2011. I'm always doing that..buying something that is either already expired, or is going to expire in the next few days, making it impossible to eat it all before it goes bad. I know that some things can last longer than the expiration date, but nine times out of ten, it goes bad before we can use it. Can anyone really go through a jar of mayonnaise in two days? How wasteful! And it's my fault because I didn't check the expiration date. Why? I'm usually shopping with my two boys and those of you who shop with preschoolers and toddlers know that it is a mad dash to get what you need until the first melt down happens! Other times I may be shopping alone or with only one child, and even then I am in a hurry to shop before I have to pick up the children, or am still chasing after the one child I took. In any case, taking the time to read the labels is not a luxury I can entertain.
This issue of expiration dates got me thinking about how important they really are. You have to check the expiration dates before you purchase an item, because apparently the grocery stores cannot keep up with this task. Also, You have to be on top of the expiration dates for items you already have so that you can make note of when you need to replace something. You have to prepare so that you can have things available when you need them. Expiration dates are very important, especially when you want to get fed or are trying to feed your family.
So it becomes obvious to me to be aware of my own expiration date. We all have them. We will all eventually expire and pass from this life into the next. How important it is to prepare! While we do not know when it will happen, our time will be up.

"All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return." Ecclesiastes 3:20

"For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no further reward, and even the memory of them is forgotten." Ecclesiastes 9:5

So, what do I need to do to prepare? I believe I need to make sure that I have the Word of the Lord in my heart before that day happens, so when it comes, I am secure in knowing where I will be. I need to make sure that I am doing my job with my children, so that they know that when we die, we go to heaven if we believe in God's son whom He sent to save us, Yeshua, our Messiah.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

If the expiration date of hummus and yogurt are so important, how much more important are our own expiration dates? To me, it's definitely food for thought!

"You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." Luke 20:12

Turn off the Auto Pilot

2011-12-21T14:42:00.000-08:00

I didn't realize how busy I was, until I noticed I was through the last few weeks getting things done without really thinking about them or enjoying them. Then I knew I was on auto pilot. Hanukkah is so busy because, if you know me, you know that I can't buy cookies, I have to bake them, and I can't not have Hanukkah decorations up, and I can't go through a festival without at least doing one project or craft...etc. etc. And with two little boys, all of this takes about 4 times as long to do!
I wouldn't change that for the world, but I do need to turn off the auto pilot. I went to a MOPS meeting recently (a great organization, by the way) and one of the things that impressed me was a quote the speaker repeated, "Don't let the 'getting things done' take away the 'joy in doing them.' That was so simple and yet very profound! It spoke right to me. I realized that as a fairly new mom and mother of two small children, I run on auto pilot a lot. And then I myself miss what's going on around me. Things go so fast when you have a lot to do that you blink and its all over. I've even found myself thinking,"Thank God that's over!" for an event that was suppose to be fun. What's my problem? I need to "stop and smell the roses," I need to "work to live and not live to work," I need to "have my cake and eat it to," and I need to (insert your own cliche here.)
Well, this message hits home for many people, especially parents. Between carting children back and forth to school, doctor's appointments, play dates, nursery or day care, church or synagogue, grocery shopping, clothes shopping, gift shopping, holiday parties, birthdays and the like, it's a crazy time of year. Actually, at my house, it's always crazy. So take the time to stop and enjoy each other. A good friend of ours told us once that it's not about the quantity of time you spend with your family, it's about quality time.
For Hanukkah we will do our family traditions and I will try to actually enjoy them rather than rush through them. We like to fry tostones. They are a Puerto Rican dish of fried plantains. They are so yummy and we make a point to make them on one of the nights, since the tradition is to fry things on Hanukkah to celebrate the oil that lasted eight days. Of course one day we'll make latkes. Then I make homemade Sufganiyot (jelly donuts), and Loukoumades (fried honey puffs). With little hands to help and a new deep fryer, these should go faster and be less messy...maybe.
Last year, our craft was to make a homemade Hanukkiah. If you don't have a menorah for Hanukkah, I encourage you to make one, especially if you have kids. We'll continue this tradition of making a homemade Hanukkiah every year. I think it'll be a great memory.
I'm even considering adding a family play to act out the story of the Maccabees. Judah wouldn't even have to change his name! Won't that be a fun family tradition? You can have a script for older children or a read along play for younger children so they can just act it out. One of the synagogues we use to attend had a Hanukkah play and it was great fun!
Whether you do projects, or cook special foods, play the driedel game, or just light the candles and say the blessings, focus on spending quality time with your family and acknowledging the provision of the Lord. That is what Hanukkah is all about.

The following two Hanukkiah crafts are perfect for toddlers or young children who cannot light a flame. They can make one of these homemade Hanukkiahs and still participate in lighting a Hanukkah menorah!

Hanukkiah Craft #1:

Items needed:
Foam
Felt - to cover foam
9 fillable driedels
hot glue
9 battery operated tea light candles

Cut foam to size about 25 inches long x 2 1/2 inches wide x 2 1/2 inches tall. I used insulation foam which is only about 3/4" thick, so I had to glue three 25" x 2 1/2" pieces together to achieve the final height measurement. I also cut a small 3 " x 2 1/2" piece, and glued it at the top in the middle where the Shammash candle will sit. After all the pieces are glued together, I cut 1/2" holes into the top of the foam where the fillable dreidels will rest. Make sure to space them appropriately so that all 9 fillable dreidels will fit across. My holes were 1" from the ends, with 1 1/2" in between each. The Shammash hole was of course in the middle of the small raised block on top. Cut pieces of felt to coverall the foam areas, leaving holes in the felt where the holes in the foam are. Glue on the felt. Glue on any decoration such as ribbon, or beads. Glue base of fillable dreidels in their holes. Put in a battery operated tea light inside each fillable driedel.

Hanukkiah Craft #2:

Items needed:
Empty Cereal box
8 toilet paper rolls
1 paper towel roll
Felt - to cover rolls
9 craft foam blocks 3/4" x 1 1/4"
9 battery operated tea lights
Craft paint
Tacky glue

roll is meant to be the Shammash candle. Cut the paper towel roll to measure 6" tall. Cut the felt for the paper towel roll to 6" wide and 7 1/2 " tall. Glue felt to paper towel roll. I cut the cereal in half lengthwise in the middle. Then I folded the middle part in, with the inside of the box facing out to create a base for the Hanukkiah. Paint the two pieces with craft paint. After it's dry, glue one end on each base piece. The open ends should slide into each other about 2 inches. 5 candles should fit on top of the outside portion and 4 candles on the inside portion. Glue the foam blocks where the candles fit over them. This just stabilizes the candles a bit. Decorate with stickers or glitter glue.

Halloween

2011-10-23T11:24:00.000-07:00

"What are your children going to dress up as for Halloween?" - Someone inevitably asks almost every day.
"Oh, we don't celebrate Halloween," I respond.
Awkward silence.
Why this has to be such an uncomfortable topic for people, I don't know. I am not a weirdo just because I don't celebrate Halloween. I just CHOOSE not to celebrate it now.
My husband and I use to have huge Halloween costume parties. Every year, we would make a big deal about it. We would give prizes for the best costumes. I would sew and sew and sew to make sure we had homemade costumes. I would cook, and buy alcohol and oh, was it a great chance to have a party! So what changed my mind? My faith.
I wasn't trying to impress fellow believers and I wasn't trying to feel better than those people who still celebrate Halloween. As I started to really learn the Word and work towards being closer to the Lord, I discovered that I wanted to please Him. The more I worked on my spiritual journey, the more I wanted to do what was good in His eyes.
As I started to celebrate the biblical feast days of the Lord, I began to reevaluate the holidays I was already celebrating as a Christian. When I looked at Halloween, it just didn't line up with my faith. I say I believe in God and His son, but then I celebrate a day that is rooted in pagan worship? I started to feel uneasy and convicted.
What is pagan? The American Heritage Dictionary defines a pagan as 1. A person who is not a Christian, Muslim, or Jew; heathen 2. one who has no religion 3. Formerly, any non-Christian.
Halloween has it's roots as a pagan holiday. It originates from a festival celebrated by the Celtics, who would observe the end of summer with sacrifices to Samhain (pronounced pronounced sow-in), "the lord of death and evil spirits". There are many websites, books and information out there to provide the background about Halloween and how it began. Below, I have sited a few websites if you want to read a more concise explanation.
So, since Halloween is a pagan holiday and is something that is rooted in and customary for non-Christians, then what was I doing celebrating it? How did that effect my witness to others as a believer? Obviously I needed to rethink my Halloween involvement. So I went to the Word of God to find what it says about celebrating pagan holidays.

"When you enter the land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD; and because of these detestable things the LORD your God will drive them out before you." Deuteronomy 18:9-12

Well, Halloween obviously focuses on witches, divination, magic, and the dead. You see that in the decorations alone. Is it okay to pretend that these things are okay even for one day, one hour, one minute?

"When the LORD your God cuts off before you the nations which you are going in to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land, beware that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, 'How do these nations serve their gods, that I also may do likewise?' You shall not behave thus toward the LORD your God, for every abominable act which the LORD hates they have done for their gods; for they even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods." Deuteronomy 12:29-31

Carving pumpkins and wearing costumes on this night was part of a ritual for a Celtic god. It was adopted into an American pastime, yes, but it is rooted in pagan worship. If the latest American pastime was drinking blood from goats, would we succumb to that?

"What do I mean then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? {No,} but {I say} that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? We are not stronger than He, are we?" 1 Corinthians 10:19-22

To me, this verse says: You cannot be a follower of the Lord, a believer, and still celebrate a pagan holiday. No, you will not find the words "Thou shall not celebrate Halloween" in the bible. But you will also not find the words "Thou shall not commit tax evasion" or "Thou shall not smoke crack" or "Thou shall not put laxative in your brother's milk", but I think we can all agree that these things are against the basic commandments set out in scripture.

"...What commandment is the foremost of all?" Jesus answered, "The foremost is, 'HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD; AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.' "The second is this, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' There is no other commandment greater than these." Mark 12:28-31

There is only one God and His Feasts are what we should follow, not that of another god. Are you showing your love for God and your neighbor as you celebrate Halloween? If you have been wondering how this "holiday" has or will effect your spiritual walk, please do the research into the background and reconsider opening this door to your family and teaching your children about a holiday that is not centered around the Lord, but actually ignores His sovereignty.
I am very grateful to the Lord that we stopped celebrating Halloween 10 years ago. My children have never celebrated it and it is not something we will teach them. I really believe that it will be easier to explain to them why we don't celebrate it, rather than why we do if we still had it as part of our family traditions. That is really what it comes down to: Family. Play dress up with your children to build their imagination, give them a lolly pop or their favorite candy every now and then, make apples with caramel on them for dessert; but it doesn't have to be connected to a pagan holiday. As I discovered, there are always better, even biblical reasons, to have a party!

For concise explanations about Halloween, it's practices, traditions and the rituals that started it all, please go to the following links. I found them to be very helpful in knowing the truth.

http://logosresourcepages.org/Holidays/halloween.htm

http://www.history.com/topics/halloween
http://www.jeremiahproject.com/culture/halloween.html

Good Deeds

2011-10-06T22:04:00.000-07:00

I ran out of gas. It was so frustrating! I had just dropped off my eldest at preschool, but I still had my 2 year old with me. So here I was, 10 blocks from home, and I had ran out of gas. Since I happened to be talking to my husband at the time, and he is a "car guy", he headed to my rescue. As I sat in the vehicle, I was watching vehicles race up behind us, not even paying attention to my hazard lights. I know I was on the side of the road, blocking one lane, but drivers are suppose to be aware, right? Wrong! They were making me so nervous! I decided to get my son out of the car and he and I would wait outside of the vehicle on the sidewalk. This way if they hit the vehicle, we weren't in it. To my surprise, people stopped to try to help. One couple stopped and pulled in behind the van. The man asked me if I needed a ride and offered to push the van out of the way so it wouldn't get hit. I told him he really didn't need to go through the trouble since my husband was on the way and thanked them for stopping. Soon, another couple drove by, then doubled back, and then asked if someone was on the way. My husband arrived a minute after and filled the tank with a little gas and I was on my way to the gas station. Not before I thanked my husband for coming to the rescue when I was so negligent as to not watch the gas gauge. Unbelievable.
As the night progressed I started to wonder, why was I so surprised that people would stop to help? Is it because I wouldn't stop? Do I do good deeds? I began to evaluate myself. I can call someone when they are ill. Maybe even take some food over to them if they are sick or have just had a baby. But these instances are usually people in my congregation and it is normal for us as a body to help each other out. But do I do good deeds for complete strangers? Would I help out someone I don't know? Would I fix things that are not my doing?
The next day I was driving along, and some bagged trash had blown into the street. It was a typical windy Kansas day and a pretty busy street. Then I noticed a woman had pulled off on a side-street, waiting for traffic to break, she ran out into the street and grabbed the trash bag (which was pretty large) and moved it back to the side of the road. Then she got into her car and drove away. Now, that was a good deed. It wasn't her trash that blew into the street, but she took it upon herself to move it so others wouldn't have to dodge it and she may have even prevented an accident. That's nice.
I think that good deeds are different than just being polite. Getting up for an older person to sit down, holding a door open for a woman or your elder, letting a woman and her children go before you in the check-out line are all great things, but that is just being polite. It is still something that needs to happen more and we need to continue to teach it to our children. But a good deed, is something that takes a little more time and effort and you don't get anything in return. Imagine that. A selfless act. It is biblical to do a good deed.

"One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD, And He will repay him for his good deed." Proverbs 19:17

I realized that I am so caught up in my own little world that I often don't pay attention to the opportunities right there in front of my face.
Several years ago, my husband and I visited a church in Alabama. They had this program they were promoting to their congregants called CSI:Huntsville. It was so inventive that it stayed with me. They had business cards with CSI:Huntsville printed on them and on the back they said, "You have just been served by a member of ________ church." I don't remember what the CSI stood for, maybe "Charitable Services Initiative" or something to that effect. The idea was for the congregants to use these cards and leave them behind when they would do a good deed. Some of the examples were: paying for the next person behind you at the drive-through, or leaving money with a cashier at the grocery store for a needy family that was shopping and about to check out, or offering food to a homeless person. It's a really good idea isn't it? They were doing something to encourage people to do good deeds to complete strangers. They kept it anonymous, but still let them know that it was a person from a Christian church.
I know the world we live in isn't the same as it use to be and certain people have to be careful to not put themselves into dangerous situations. Single women, children or youth and women with children who are alone should not approach people alone. Basic safety and awareness for you and your family should always be first. But there are effective ways to do good deeds without putting yourself in danger. Plan to work good deeds with groups of people, or just be in a public place where there isn't a chance of you being taken advantage of or harmed. I am going to try to keep my eyes open for safe opportunities to be a witness. Because when we do a good deed for a stranger, it is a witness to that person about the love of Yeshua and how they are just as important to Him.
Leading up to and during the days of awe, Jewish people are being nice to everyone they know, even people they don't know, to ensure that they are written in the Book of Life. As people of the Lord, who believe in His son Yeshua, we are already written in the Book of Life and don't need to fret about not making it to the kingdom. But this doesn't usurp our responsibility as believers to spread the love of Messiah. The Word says it best:

"Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it." Hebrews 13:2

FFF - Fall Feasts Fever

2011-09-23T14:59:00.000-07:00

For football fans, fall means FFF - Friday Football Fever. I have come down with a fever, but it is of a different sort. For me, fall ushers in a fever for the Lord's Feasts. The Fall Feasts, also known as High Holy Days, are something I love and are my most favorite biblical feasts of all.
It's like I am preparing to have the ultimate dinner party. When I plan a get-together, first there has to be an invitation. I have to decide who I am inviting and when I will have my party. Second, I clean house like mad (I do have two small children after all). I may even bring out the good dishes, and decorate a little more, like adding little touches here and there; put out the guest towels, add some candles, buy groceries, prepare a meal, make dessert and get the good coffee. And finally, I get to spend time with my guests. At the end of the dinner party, after the last guest has left, I reflect on the evening and hope that everyone had a great time because I did. The excitement for the party started when I was preparing the invitations. It's the anticipation of the party that gives me a kind of "fever" for the event and I just can't wait until the party day arrives.

Eating apples with honey on Rosh Hashanah 2010

For me, the Fall Feasts are exactly like that. Rosh Hashanah is the first of the Fall Feasts. It is the one that ushers in the new year of the civic calendar. It is a time of rejoicing and blowing of trumpets or Yom Teruah.

"Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, `In the seventh month on the first of the month you shall have a rest, a reminder by blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation." -Leviticus 23:24

It's also an invitation. The sound of the trumpets was often an announcement of preparedness. (Ex. 19:9, Jos. 6:5, Jud. 7:18) When you hear the shofar being sounded, its an invitation to rejoice to the Lord. What a pleasure and what an honor to have been invited!
Then nine days later, is Yom Kippur. You deny yourself and repent for your sins. This doesn't take away from Yeshua's sacrifice. Actually it makes you more aware of how precious that sacrifice is. You have to humble yourself before the Lord and ask for forgiveness.

"On exactly the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement; it shall be a holy convocation for you, and you shall humble your souls and present an offering by fire to the LORD. You shall not do any work on this same day, for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement on your behalf before the LORD your God." Leviticus 23:27-28

For me it's like I'm asking forgiveness for my sins and my continuing to sin, thus making my Messiah spill His blood over and over for me. It's sobering. This is the "cleaning house" part. You have to get yourself ready, because the Lord is going to come over.

Medina's Sukkah 2007

Then comes Sukkot, my favorite feast. Evidence points to this time as being when Yeshua was born. When he came to dwell with us and was called "Emmanuel." Sukkot is all about making a temporary dwelling place outside of your home and dwelling there with the Lord.

"Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, `On the fifteenth of this seventh month is the Feast of Booths for seven days to the LORD." Leviticus 23:34
"`You shall thus celebrate it as a feast to the LORD for seven days in the year. It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations; you shall celebrate it in the seventh month. `You shall live in booths for seven days; all the native-born in Israel shall live in booths, so that your generations may know that I had the sons of Israel live in booths when I brought them out from the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.' " Leviticus 23:41-43

Sukkot 2010

The point is, you focus on the Lord and spend time with Him. He is your guest of honor, the one you have been preparing for all these days since you received the invitation. I believe it to be the most enjoyable feast because it is a picture of the wedding banquet between our Messiah and His bride (believers). You don't spend those days watching television, or playing video games or surfing the net. You are outside in your Sukkah. You are spending time with your family, praising the Lord and talking about Him, learning about Him, just acknowledging that your home is not on this Earth, it is with Him. Baruch HaShem! Blessed is His Name!
There are a few family traditions that my husband and I started even before we had children. Now that we do have children, well all the Lord's Festivals have become even more enjoyable. For Rosh Hashanah, we like to eat dessert first, since one of the themes is to usher in a sweet new year. So the order of the meal is backwards and fun! I also make a brisket with fruit and wine that has a deliciously sweet taste. I have included the recipe below. I usually try to make some sort of shofar craft with the children out of paper mache. It's super easy and fun for the children. If they already have their own shofars, making a shofar bag with their name on it is also fun.
On Yom Kippur, the tradition is to right any wrongs in your personal relationships. You try to make amends and ask forgiveness not only from God, but from your friends and family as well. For children, a good practice would be for them to write a list, at least three things that they feel badly about and then they can go to the person and ask forgiveness. It's a good picture about grace and forgiveness that they can learn during Yom Kippur. Then they can understand that only by asking forgiveness can they receive grace from the Lord. (Ez. 18:32, Mr. 1:15)
During Sukkot, we build a Sukkah and invite people over to eat under it every year. Like I said, its the ultimate dinner party because you also have an honored guest; the Lord. So I do tend to go all out, preparing meals inviting guests and just enjoying those precious few days when our focus is on the Lord. We traditionally try to cook Gazpacho, a Puerto Rican dish, every year on at least one of the nights. It is a cod fish and avocado salad that goes great with Puerto Rican rice & beans. (My husband is Puerto Rican and he started that tradition.) On one of the nights while in the Sukkah we have everyone write a poem about Sukkot. It can be about that particular evening or the festival in general. It is so fun to hear all the poems and lyrics that people come up with. I have kept them over the years and it has been a very enjoyable tradition!
I encourage you to take some time to research these feasts for yourselves. Start this year, even if it is your first time, or if all you can do is learn about them, I am sure you will be blessed. Start your own family traditions for each festival so that they become special to you and your children. In a world where there are numerous "holidays" that are celebrated that are not biblically based and may even stem from pagan practices, it is important to instill the Biblical Feasts of the Lord where they belong; in our family traditions and in our hearts.
Yes, I definitely catch a fever this time of year. And you know what? I hope the fever spreads to everyone I know!

Rosh Hashanah Brisket:
8-10 lbs. brisket
1 pkg. dates
6 large oranges
1 c. Manischewitz grape wine
1 pkg. dried plums
1 pkg. dried apricots
Trim off excess fat from brisket. Slice brisket into 1 inch slices all along longest length of brisket, keeping its original shape. Place in roasting pan. Sprinkle dates, plums and apricots over brisket. Squeeze juice from oranges over brisket. Scoop out any pulp from oranges and sprinkle over brisket. Pour wine over brisket. Cover and cook at 350 degrees for 3 hours. Serve with your favorite rice. This recipe is great to usher in a sweet new year!

Torah Tots

2011-08-30T10:40:00.000-07:00

One Saturday, it occurred to me that my children are not receiving the Torah. Since they are 2 and 3, they are in the nursery during the Shabbat service, if they are not asleep. Then on Saturdays, I may go to Torah study, but again, they are with a sitter. I realized that I was shirking my duty as a mother. Yes, we read bible story books, but it is not the same as setting aside time to learn Torah and making it special and set apart, which is what Shabbat is all about. Who says children can't be exposed to Torah at that age? Can't a toddler learn something from Moses striking the rock and not getting to go into the promised land? When you read this story with a toddler in mind, life lessons like "use your words" and "no hitting" come to mind. The Word of God itself speaks of the importance of teaching children:

“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. “These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. “You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up." - Deuteronomy 6:4-7
What does it mean to teach them diligently? In English, the definitions I found were; 1. constant in effort to accomplish something; 2. done or pursued with persevering attention; painstaking. Those definitions in and of themselves speak a lot as to how I am to teach my children the Word of the Lord. In Hebrew, the root word is shanan (שָׁנַן) which mean to whet, or sharpen. Well, this adds another aspect. When teaching them they should be made eager to learn His word and should be sharpened like a tool for the Lord. Wow. I do need to get busy.

So I have made a point to begin giving lessons of Torah to my children in a preschool format. To me, this is the best thing I can do right now. I have been to many Torah studies over the years. I definitely still need to keep my own personal studies up when it comes to learning the word of God. But I believe with all my heart that this is the season for me to teach my children. And why shouldn't it begin now? Anyone who has taught before knows that you end up learning a lot and retaining more when you have to prepare a lesson for children.

Guillito & Judah painting mezuzahs

The first week we began with Moses and the wanderings in the desert. They now know 1) who Moses is and 2) that he was in the desert for 40 years. Not bad. The next week, we learned a shortened English version of the Shema, we made a mezuzah for their rooms, and learned a song about mezuzahs. The next week we learned about the importance of following God's commandments and the rewards and blessings that follow. Also about consequences when we do not obey. This was focused on listening to your parents also with an emphasis on sharing (Something toddlers need to be reminded of a lot.)

Our homemade mezuzahs

I am getting more and more excited about this precious time I have with my children. And I feel good that I am not leaving it up to someone else to teach my children Torah. I am in charge of them learning about Torah. And hopefully this is something that they will always remember; our special Saturday morning Torah Preschool when we colored together and learn the Word of the Lord. I don't believe any child should be excluded from this beautiful tradition of hearing the Torah. I fail to find the verse where it states you must be of a certain age before learning Torah. After all, Yeshua Himself said, "Let the little children come to me."

Painting the word "SHARE"

Other verses to consider:

"Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD." - Psalm 34:11

"We will not conceal them from their children, But tell to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, And His strength and His wondrous works that He has done. For He established a testimony in Jacob And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers That they should teach them to their children, That the generation to come might know, {even} the children {yet} to be born, {That} they may arise and tell {them} to their children, That they should put their confidence in God And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments." - Psalm 78:4-7

"and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me always, for their own good and for {the good of} their children after them." - Jeremiah 32:39

"Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." - Ephesians 6:4

How Does Your Garden Grow?

2011-07-22T12:04:00.000-07:00

My Garden in June

I have never had a green thumb. In fact, my husband has bought me a cactus before as a present, because he knew that I wouldn't water it. That's because he has witnessed me kill many plants before, may they rest in peace. Despite that miserable fact, this year I started to grow a garden. What was the inspiration? My husband brought home a poinsettia plant during the holidays. He knows I like how they look and maybe he thought, the plant is seasonal anyway and destined not to last. But I actually repotted it and kept it alive! Yes, it is still growing beautifully. I can't wait for the leaves to turn red again.
I come from a farming family, although you wouldn't have guessed it. Both sets of grandparents lived and worked on farms. They both had their own gardens, too. I remember my grandfather bringing in things from the garden so my grandmother could make them for lunch or dinner. My mother definitely has a green thumb. She can grow anything and has a solarium in her house full of beautiful plants.
This is the first time I have ever grown a garden and I am having so much fun! I figure if I can grow something, then I can always keep things around that are fresh and edible. I have begun my efforts with tomatoes, jalapenos, bell peppers, mint and basil. My cilantro died. But for my first year, I think it's going okay. When I saw my first budding tomato and jalapeno, a had an unbelievable sense of satisfaction! Now, I have several jalapenos, and bell peppers ripening, I have 3 tomatoes, but with the 100+ degree weather, I fear I may never taste my first tomato. We'll just have to wait and see.
I've also added several plants indoors. Did my thumb turn green? Is it in my genes? No, I believe the Lord gave all of us this ability.

"He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, And vegetation for the labor of man, So that he may bring forth food from the earth..." Psalm 104:14

My first jalapeno

This wasn't just my project. My husband helped design and build the above ground garden container. I wanted an above ground garden container mainly because I know my limits. I don't like bending over or kneeling and I don't like digging into the ground. I love it so much, I may just build another garden spot in another area of the yard next year. My sons love the garden too. We go out each day and water. They both have their own watering cans and outdoor watering shoes and they "help" mommy water. I actually think they get more water on themselves then on the plants. Then, if my husband is home, he joins in the fun. But mainly its a good excuse for all of us to be outside. So he gets the opportunity to play with the boys and swing them on the swing set and sing songs. It's a great time outdoors! I am very thankful for my garden. I have reaped benefits, even before reaping the produce. How does my garden grow? Not with silver bells and cockleshells, but with fun and love and family.

My first tomato

"Then God said, "Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, {and} fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit after their kind with seed in them"; and it was so. 12 The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit with seed in them, after their kind; and God saw that it was good." Genesis 1:11-12