90 Days in the Word!

Less than a year ago I posted that I was going to do a 90 day Bible reading plan. But I totally bombed, I only made it half way. I have a friend (who has since gone to be with Elohim) who finished it and inspired me to try again. In addition to that I just ordered a new Bible, so I feel like this is a perfect time to attempt to complete the 90 day plan. I've created a new chart that is easier to read, and corrects some typos from the original. You can find a link to the chart within this post, on the printables page, and in the right sidebar.

I'm planning to start March 1st, but you can start whenever. I know it's going to be challenging but I NEED to do this! My goal is to check in every Monday with how it's going, and if you are reading along I'd love to hear about it! If you blog please use the button provided to share about how your experience is going. We don't have to all be on the same day, so feel free to start whenever is good for you. At the end of 90 days I'll make a button for all of those who finished. 

reading the Scriptures this way allows for us to see things as they happened, and reading so much at one time let's us see connections that are easy to miss as time passes between readings. I learned so much just from doing the first half last year and I'm really excited about actually finishing this year.

I know we're all in different seasons of life, so I also want to share some tips for dealing with challenges that may come up.

For time issues, try reading early or late to help with fitting in time to read. I'm planning to do the bulk of my reading after the girls are in bed. Reading to your children is another great option if you have to read in the day time. 

For burn out, take a break! There are no hard and fast rules that say you MUST finish each days reading that day. The last few days are very light to allow room for making up readings. Plus if you go over a few days it's still a huge accomplishment. 

For lack of motivation, take a day or two and seek YHVH, maybe He wants you to read somewhere else.

I know for me personally that if I can find time to watch tv, go on facebook, and search around online, then I have time to read more of the Word. It's about a 30 minute a day commitment (sometimes a little more) but that same amount of time is easily wasted every day. Why not invest some time in the right place?

I hope you'll consider joining me!

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. -Psalm 119:105

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For as Oft as Ye Eat...

via google

About a month ago my family and I sat at our Shabbat table to break bread, and I was angry. I felt like my husband didn't help me prepare, and we were late! I was so upset, that I just sat there trying not to look in his direction. He read the Eshet Chayil (Prov 31:10-31) blessing over me and I was still angry. He blessed the children and I sat there just stewing. I was being so awful. Then I heard my Abba whisper to me "you can't enter my rest angry". I never really even thought about that before, we've always carried on with our normal routine no matter how we are feeling. Never really thinking how that may affect our time resting in YHVH. But as I reflected on it these verses came to mind. 

 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. -1 Corinthians 11: 26-29

Until that point I had NEVER looked at our Shabbat tradition as communion. I never really put that together. But in fact it is just that. It is the breaking of bread in remembrance of Yeshua. 

So before my hubby broke the bread I stopped him and told him that I needed to apologize. He already knew I was mad so that wasn't a shock, but once I explained to him what Abba had revealed to me I think we both realized that we were on the cusp of something really important for our family. 

Right there, in front of our children, I confessed my sins and asked for his and their forgiveness. After that I felt fully free to enter into the sabbath and enjoy the rest provided by YHVH. We now make it a point to be in good spirits and right standing with each other (and Elohim) as we enter into Shabbat. It's so amazing what the Ruach HaKodesh {Holy Spirit} can do when we allow YHVH to work in our lives. 

The things we do shouldn't just be vain traditions. Every thing we do in the name of YHVH should be drawing us closer to Him and producing godliness in us. Learning that lesson has greatly transformed all that I do. 

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. -Phillipians 1:15

To Remember...

I've talked about tzitzit {fringes} a couple of times, once unknowingly, and once very briefly. But I've never fully addressed it as a command. So let's look at the verses where tzitziyot are discussed. 

Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes{tassles} in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe{tassle} of the borders a ribband {cord/thread} of blue:And it shall be unto you for a fringe{tassle}, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the Lord, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring: That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God. -Numbers 15:38:40

These verses apply to the children of Israel*, not just men or just women, but all of Israel. The hebrew word used there is ben, which can mean son or mean children. In context though we see why it was translated children. The tzitzit are supposed to be a reminder of YHVH's commands, and both men and women are supposed obey Elohim.

When I wrote about tzitzit very briefly I just stated that we were going to wear them and that I'd keep you updated. But then I never  said anything again. That's because shortly after we stopped wearing them. It's not always easy to do things that cause you to stand out, or be set-apart. But that's exactly what we're called to be. So once again we're stepping out in  faith and walking obedience to our Abba. 

But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. -1 Peter 1:15-16

*If you would like more information on Israel I suggest watching this video or reading this article


Also if you're interested in tzitzit they're available at  my store Emunah :o)

DIY Shower Soother Discs

A few years back I used to purchase these shower disc things when ever I had a cold. I would drop them on the floor of my shower and the water would melt it, releasing the vapors that opened up my sinuses and gave me much needed relief. I haven't seen those in a long while and when I started using essential oils I figured there had to be a way to make them. Well low and behold there is!!! 

I found a simple recipe via google at Frugal by Choice, Cheap by Necessity. However, I made a slight adjustment. In my discs I only used Eucalyptus oil. Now on to how to make them!

Ok step one empty a box of baking soda into a bowl, next stir in water slowly until you get a paste like consistency, finally add your essential oils and stir. SO SIMPLE! After it's all whipped up, spoon the mixture in to a lined muffin pan and bake for 20 minutes. I added a few drops to each disc after they came out of the oven because I read that for some people the scent wasn't strong enough after baking. 

I added some food coloring to tint them, but I didn't add enough

Pretty

Not so pretty after baking lol

I decided to wrap them in coffee filters for storage
because some of them were really crumbly
and the muffin liners were ripping

...and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine. -Ezekiel 47:12

Appointed Times

image via google

My husband and I have been studying about the Biblical calculation of time. We've found some very interesting things, that have changed our convictions. In the past I had heard that people used the moon to determine when the moedim {appointed times} were. But I didn't fully understand it, and truthfully didn't have the desire to figure it out. But after some reading and studying I see that it's actually very important. Especially now that were are gearing up for the spring feasts. 

Let's start from the beginning. In Leviticus 23 YHVH establishes His set-apart moedim "Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the Lord, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts." -Lev 23:2 

As we read on we learn exactly what these feasts are, and when they are to be kept. We read about: 

• Shabbat {the sabbath}
• Pesach {passover}
• HaMatzot {unleavened bread}
• HaBikkurim {first fruits}
• Counting the OmerShavuot {pentecost}
• Yom Teruah {day of trumpets}
• Yom Kippur {day of atonement}
• Sukkot {tabernacles}

All of these feasts are important and we are commanded to keep them at the time set by YHVH. This is why figuring out when to keep them is so important. In psalm 104:19 we see that "He {YHVH} appointed the moon for seasons." The Hebrew word translated as seasons is moed which is the singular of moedim, meaning appointed time(s). 

So now that we have that figured out the next thing is determining when does a month begin? A month starts at the first sighting of the new {or renewed} moon. Now this isn't the non-existent moon but rather the very first sliver of a crescent moon. At the first sighting of it, in Israel, we know all over the world that it is time for a new month!

Now I know your probably thinking why do I have to do all of that when I have a calendar? Our modern calendars are Gregorian and therefore they are not accurately lined up with scripture. So when we see in scripture that something is to be in the first month on the fifth day, that is not saying January 5th. The Gregorian calendar is based on the sun, and the Biblical calendar is based on the moon.

Back to Leviticus 23. In verse 5 we read "In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the Lord's passover." The word translated month is chodesh which means new moon.  Now we know that every month starts with a new moon. This means that the most efficient way to tell time and to make sure that you are meeting with YHVH is to go by the moon. There are many sites that provide information on moon sightings and on the search for aviv/abib barely, which is part of determining a new year, if you'd like to read more about it in detail. 

In Exodus 34:18 we learn when Passover is supposed to happen. " The feast of unleavened bread shalt thou keep. Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, as I commanded thee, in the time of the month Abib: for in the month Abib thou camest out from Egypt." The significance of this isn't so much a month being called aviv/abib but rather the condition of the barely. Aviv/abib is simply when the barely is ripe, but not fully matured. So this in conjunction with the new moon is how the first of the year is determined. 

Having to do research, versus just looking at a calendar, takes some getting used to but it's awesome to know that you are in line with the Creator! Today is the first day of the potentially last month of the year. If the aviv barley is spotted then we know that next month Passover will be 14 days after the new moon! I'm very excited because this will be the first year we have other families to fellowship with. I believe this year will be a great year for my family!  

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. -Psalm 1:1-3

Aftermath

I thought some of you that don't live in the Northeast would want to see some pictures from the storm. We got 38 inches! These pictures are from the street I live on and the cross street, which is a main road. My street hasn't been plowed yet.

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. -Isaiah 1:18

Blessings in the Storm

image via google

My family has been battling something wicked these last few days. On late Wednesday night/early Thursday morning our girls both woke up with bad coughs. I gave the oldest a honey and raw garlic mix and the youngest my previously mentioned cough remedy. Followed by some warm tea for both. Well, our oldest didn't do so well and began to throw up.

After changing sheets, and giving instructions on aiming for the garbage we placed next to her bed, everyone went to sleep. The next  day the girls were feeling AWFUL they just laid in bed and drifting between sleep and being awake. I'm pretty sure its the quietest our house has ever been. After getting some advice from a friend, I began rubbing the soles of their feet with eucalyptus oil. Then I got a message saying that a few people from our church had the flu! With how quickly it came on and the severity of it I'm 90% sure it was the flu for the girls too. Thursday night the youngest got even worse and started throwing up. So I decided to try to get out early in the morning before the blizzard started to get some elderberry syrup.

I woke up late, and snow was already falling but I really felt strongly that the girls needed something to help them out. So I rushed out to whole foods, despite the snow. I found what I needed and was heading back home, when our truck broke down less than 3 miles from home! I tried not to panic, and called my parents to see if they could call someone in the area to help me out. As I sat in the car I was determined not to cry. I began singing every praise song I could remember and dancing to try and stay warm. Cars zipped by, snow kept falling, and I kept watching my rear-view mirror. I was a little afraid but I just kept reminding myself that  YHVH is in control.

When I couldn't sing songs by memory any more I turned on the cd player and played Faithful God on repeat! Finally, about 30 or more minutes later, a friend of my dad came to get me. He tried to jump the car, and when that didn't work he called a tow truck. I said a quick prayer because I could not afford to pay for a tow truck. Turns out he had Triple A and because I lived less than 3 miles away the tow was free! Once I got home I thawed out a little then started giving the girls the elderberry tincture I purchased. The oldest was starting to feel better, but the younger one was still looking like a  she was out of it. They both had fevers and I just wanted them to be better. I gave them the tincture 4 times on Friday and my husband prayed over them. We had both been praying and seeking wisdom on how to handle this, but it was looking so bad he decided to hold them and pray for healing.

Late Friday night/early Saturday evening the oldest woke me up to tell me she felt better! I didn't want to put to much stock in that but we woke up Saturday morning to, 38 inches of snow, and two bubbly playful girls! Just like that YHVH had healed them. I have never seen the flu last for just two days! He showed us exactly what we needed to get to help heal them. So many prayers were answered in these last few days that all I can do is praise HIM! I'm so thankful that my girls are better and that the car situation wasn't worse. Oh and even better once the snow is all clear one of my dad's friends is going to come look at it for us. I'm not even worried about it though because I know my faithful Elohim will take care of us. 

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. -Psalm28:7

Learning to Heal Naturally

It's been quiet around the blog this week because a lot of life has been happening. As I mentioned in this weeks Torah Momma Journal we've had decisions and changes to make. The bulk of the changes we're making have to do with health. As believers I think its important to take care of our bodies. I'm sure how that is approached will be different for every one, but here are some of the things we're doing. 

-Switching to a natural toothpaste. With all the chemicals in toothpaste this was probably our easiest switch. Currently we're using a store bought natural toothpaste, but going forward I'll be making it. 

-Eating more real foods. I've always cooked, but now I'm purposing to make more things from scratch. 

-Eating more raw food. My husband definitely pioneered this one, which I was a little surprised about. Our current plan is to drink more green smoothies. I'm hoping to get more creative in this area as we continue on. Although I did make a delicious Israeli style salad the other day that everyone loved.  

-Using herbs and oils instead of traditional medicine. I was around 11 when I first heard about how awesome YHVH is when it comes to healing. My family and I were at a powwow (we're part Native American) and someone was explaining how the cure for poison ivy grows right next to it! I was totally blown away. So since then I've been pretty naturally minded but haven't fully educated myself. This stops NOW!

-Buying organic. We most likely will not be buying everything organic but the things that are known to be the worst offenders we will definitely buy organic. 

-Significantly reducing our use of sugar and working on eliminating white sugar. Someone gave us a bottle of agave and now I'm hooked. I thought it would add a funny taste but it doesn't, and you don't need a lot. I like to use it to sweeten tea for my girls, and myself. It's taking a little convincing to get my hubby on board with this one. 

-Switching from plastic containers to glass. There are so many chemicals in plastic that get released into our foods, so in order to prevent that we're switching to glass storage containers. 

These 7 things are our first steps to living a healthier lifestyle. There is still so much to be done but you have to start where you can. Some of the books I will be reading to educate myself are:

The ABC Herbal: A Simplified Guide to Natural Health Care for Children {EXCELLENT book lots of information, definitely one I will refer to again and again}

Naturally Knocked Up {tons of info about healthy living in general}

Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year {not done reading}

Back to Eden {still haven't read yet}

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. -1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Torah Momma Journal 2-6-13

What did I…

Offer thanks for? Having an awesome Shabbat, finding fellowship, and knowing that YHVH is working on us. We're seeing Adonai move in our life in incredible ways.  

Accomplish? I finally got serious about my health. We've been talking, and talking, about it but finally we've made some necessary changes to our diet, and life. 

Struggle with? Decisions. Decisions. Decisions. We are kind of at a crossroads on various things and we have some pretty big decisions to make in the very near future. 

Teach my children? We have a whino problem at our house. So we've really been working on not whining and being thankful. Everything else is kind of on hold while we go back to basics. 

Study and learn? I have been learning about herbs and nutrition. As I mentioned above, we are making some changes and part of that is using the things Elohim has blessed us with to take care of ourselves. 

Laugh about? Children provide so many things to laugh about it's hard to pin down just one thing. Just take my word for  it, we laughed about the kids a lot! lol 

Pray about? All the decisions we have to make! :o)

What is this week’s Torah portion and what did I learn from it?

Mishpatim Exodus 21:1-24:18

Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil... -Exodus 23:2a

This verse practically leaped off the page at me! How guilty are we all of doing certain things because everyone else does, or worse because our church (or denomination) tells us to? But YHVH is CLEAR, we are not to do that. We are to do the right thing even if we're doing it alone. So much truth for life in just a few words... 

Picture

This handy chart has helped us to make better decisions when we shop.
We can't get everything organic but knowing the worst offenders
helps us make wise choices. Hope it's a blessing to you as well :o)

Don't forget to stop by Torah Family Living to see the other TMJs!

Must See

I saw this video on Shabbat and it is a MUST SEE! I could say so much, but it really speaks for itself. It's the message that was given at  the inaugural prayer breakfast for President Obama. I was so shocked by things that were stated in this message. I think its an important message for everyone to hear. I just pray it doesn't fall on deaf ears.