High Holy Days 5775

The High Holidays are upon us. Can you feel it?

I personally am really excited for a new year. A fresh start. I'm excited about taking on a few more mitzvot and tending to the mitzvot I already observe with extra attention. Some of my goals for 5775 are:

1.)  Better organize my days by using a checklist
2.)  Find a weekly learning program for learning Torah and Hebrew
3.)  Read my Bible and daven daily
4.)  Work on my "domestic arts" by creating a cleaning schedule and meal planning
5.)  Eat regularly (I tend to skip meals) and work out
6.)  Learn zemirot!
7.)  Reach out more to the community around me
8.)  Work on the mitzvot I already observe and slowly take on more as I learn with my rabbi or mentor
9.)  Read books more often
10.) Work on my photography for at least an hour a week

I feel like addressing these things will help me to be who Hashem created me to be and will help me to feel better all around.

So what about you? Do you have a plan for 5775?

L'shanah tovah tikatevu!

Happy *BIBLICAL* New Year!

The new year is upon us and you know what that means??? Pesach {Passover} is right around the corner! 

And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt saying,This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. -Exodus 12:1-2

In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the Lord's passover. -Leviticus 23:5

With Pesach comes some SERIOUS spring cleaning in order to get the chametz {leaven} out of our homes, and hearts. 

Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you. And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever. In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even.Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread. -Exodus 12:15-20

There are SO many products that have leaven in them. So as you'r preparing for Pesach remember to read ALL labels. When in doubt I just make sure to get products that are labeled kosher for passover, which saves me a little bit of hassle. I'm also planning to make my own matzah! We will most likely be buying some but I'm going to make some as well. Our meals will probably get pretty creative since we eat a lot of bread around here. 

The big clean will be starting soon and we'll be very careful about what we bring into the house. 

What are some of your tips for cleaning and staying leaven free? 

A New Civil Year

For my family, 2012 was kind of rough. Of course we saw God move in amazing ways, and we have much to be thankful for. But I think I'd still classify 2012 as a valley, in our life. 

My husband and I have decided to step out in faith that 2013 will be a much better year for us. We've prayed and now we're trusting Elohim{God} to bring it to pass. We've taken Hebrews 11:1 as our family verse and plan to have the girls memorize it and refer to it as we see Adonai{the Lord} working in our lives.

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." -Hebrews 11:1

Well, yesterday morning {new year's eve} I was reading Psalm 119 and I noticed a recurring theme. The Psalmist delighted in Elohim's law, or Torah, and because of that he was able to withstand all the troubles around him. This really spoke to me, because like anyone else I am not without troubles. But the cure for our troubles can be found in the Word! When we meditate on it, allowing it to direct our actions and our thoughts, we can find solace. 

As I came to an end of my reading a few verses really spoke to me. So I decided to take them on as my own life verses! Now as I move forward in this new year I plan to focus on my Elohim and His Word. 

I pray that you also will have a blessed year as you walk with Elohim. 

My Verses:

It is time for thee, Lord, to work: for they have made void thy law. Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold. Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way. Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them. -Psalm 119:126-129

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Instead of making a New Year's resolution 

Consider committing to a biblical solution 

Your promises are easily broken 

Empty words, though earnestly spoken 

But God's Word transforms the soul 

By His Holy Spirit making you whole 

As you spend time alone with Him 

He will change you from within 

- Mary Fairchild 

I pray that you will seek YHVH's will during this new year, and follow the path He has for you. Wishing you all a very happy and blessed new year!