Little Blessings

This week's prep day was really hard for us. It felt like we'd never get there. It was just one thing after the other and everyone was stressed out. I had a doctor's appointment which totally put a kink in our plans, and then when I got home I had forgotten to stop at the store! 

I so wanted this shabbat to be special. Our last few have been a bit rough and didn't go as we had hoped. We weren't getting the full shalom of Elohim's presence! Thankfully it's not up to us to make shabbat holy, but we do need to fully enter into His rest. 

In spite of all of the struggles I was determined to make sure that we fully opened ourselves up to welcome the Divine. So as my hubby ran out to grab a few things I set the table and lit the candles. I even let each of my girls light their own candles for the first time. Then we sang L'cha Dodi and the girls danced around the kitchen. 

Once my husband came home it was time for kiddush and the blessings. But before he started he gave another attempt at blowing our shofar. In the past he had not been able to get any sounds out of it. It always sounded like he was just blowing air through a tube. He's practiced and practiced but still he wasn't able to get it. So much so that he wasn't even really interested in trying to blow it for real tonight. But with a little prompting he gave it another shot. 

At first it just sounded like air. But then it happened. The most beautiful sound came out of it, he finally did it! We were all so excited and it just felt like the most perfect start to having a wonderful shabbat. After that my hubby proceeded to bless us all and it was exactly what we had hoped for. 

Sometimes in life we just need those little blessings. Those things that happen and let us know that we are not forgotten. That Abba hears our cries, and knows our hearts. When we delight ourselves in the Most High then He is faithful to give us the desires of our heart. {Psalm 37:4}

Press on and faint not my friends. Look for the little blessings and be renewed in His strength! 

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. -2 Corinthians 4:16

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

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. 

Our Shabbat in Pictures

And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made;
and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. -Gen 2:2

Our Shabbat didn't go exactly as we planned, but it was a blessing none the less. We watched some videos from Passion for Truth, spent time reading scripture, and enjoyed each others company. After I lit our Shabbat candles I got the idea to share our day with you. Everyone was too hungry for me to take any pictures of dinner though :o)

The challot I made!

They looked so pretty, before I baked them lol. The funny shaped one was part of a project I'm working on for a friend. 

The funny shaped challah didn't make it pass dinner!

This is what it's all about, spending time with Abba.

Pumpkin cookies! 

Lunch!

The girls "reading"

Time for havdalah:
grape juice, spices, and braided candle.

Hubby doing the havdalah service.

There you have it, our Shabbat. It was very refreshing and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to fellowship with my family. I can't wait until next week! Shavua Tov {good week}from my family to yours!

Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. -Revelations 14:12

Preparation Day

I can't believe it's been over a year since I've written a preparation day post! Wow. I guess that's just a reflection on how we've been living. We've gone back and forth over the Sabbath issue so many times. While we know the truth of the Sabbath it can often be hard to walk it out, especially alone. 

2012 has been a really difficult year for my family. Lot's of changes and upheavals have happened. But through it all Adonai has been nothing but faithful to us. We've purposed to end this year on a much better note and to head into 2013 with a renewed devotion to our Elohim. For me that means lot's of readjusting our diets (so that we are taking care of our temples), getting back into studying Hebrew, and reaffirming commitments that I've made to YHVH. For my family it means walking in the ways of Adonai, no matter how difficult it may be. 

Recently my husband and I watched Identity Crisis again (if you haven't seen this teaching I highly recommend it) and this time around something clicked for him. It was like the things that we've known for awhile took on new meaning for him. So now I've got a man on a mission, on my hands. :o)

How this will look in the coming months is unclear, but I trust that my Abba has a plan for my family. I do however know the first step that we must take is getting back to keeping the Sabbath! Shabbat was always a favorite of mine and I'm so excited to begin keeping it again. We will still be attending our church on Sundays, for the reasons found in this post. Only difference now is that my husband is able to be home for Shabbat and we're able to truly set aside this time for our Elohim. 

Well enough with all the heavy stuff, want to see my menu?!?

Dinner: Moroccan Chraimi Fish with roasted potatoes and corn 

Breakfast: Homemade Bagels, Cinnamon Rolls 

Lunch: Tuna Salad 

Plus: Challah, Pumpkin Challah, and Pumpkin cookies (if I get to them)

I am going to be busy, busy, busy but I'm super thankful my hubby has agreed to tackle most of the cleaning, so that I'm able to get everything done. 

May you have a blessed Erev Shabbat (Sabbath eve/preparation day), as you prepare to usher in the shalom of YHVH this Shabbat. 

Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you.- Exodus 31:13

Shabbat Shalom!

Preparation Day!

Today has been a busy preparation day as usual. But not too much cleaning! Just a lot of baking. I'm making challah, baked fish for dinner tonight, cinnamon buns for breakfast, and vegan Jamaican beef patties for lunch tomorrow. My kitchen is HOT. But I'm excited. I love the smells of Erev Shabbat. It makes my house smell like a home to me. I can't wait for my hubby to get home and find out that I made him some patties. He loves vegan beef patties and I have never made them before so I know he'll be very happy. Our anniversary is on Sunday so I'm hoping to make this whole weekend special despite the hurricane heading our way! If you think of us please just keep us in your prayers that we won't get blown away in the storm.

I pray that you all have a a wonderful Sabbath.

Shabbat Shalom,

Shabbat Reflections

Our Sabbath Table on 8/19/11

These last few weeks we kind of got lazy and our Shabbat hasn't been what it should be. Not meaning that we didn't have Challah :o) but that we weren't truly focused on YHVH. We just kind of went through the motions and were trying to catch our breaths. Its hard to dive into things head first, and with out the proper foundation its easy to loose steam. We know why we keep the Sabbath, and follow YHVH's commands, but with out people around you to sharpen you it's like you feel alone and confused. It's like running a marathon with out pacing yourself, you end up with out enough energy to finish. But I want to finish the race! So we regrouped and now we're back at it!  This Shabbat I was able to discuss scripture with some friends, listen to some teachings, read, and spend time with my children. But more importantly I was able to connect with my Abba!

It was a MUCH MUCH MUCH needed break from a pretty dramaful week. My hubby was in car accident (he's fine Praise God!) but our car is wrecked. Our insurance is totally dragging their feet so we are car-less. But I won't get into it too much. If you think of us just please pray that we'll get this all sorted out soon and find a new vehicle that we can afford so hubs can get to work.

Although this Shabbat is over I pray that we can carry its Shalom with us into the week.

Picture I found on google :o)

Shavua Tov!

Shabbat Shalom

Challah!

I meant to share a picture of the first loaf I made weeks ago, but I didn't get around to it. So here is the egg-free Challah that I made this past Shabbat. This one was my best yet! Very soft and light :o) 

We had a wonderful Shabbat, things didn't go as planned but it was a blessing, as always. It was also our first Shabbat using a messianic Siddur. I went to Hebrew4Christians.com and copied down the prayers and blessings. Hubby liked having it because it really helped us to have structure and order. It was really a sweet time for our family. 

Here is the recipe I used:

Whole Wheat Challah

1 tsp. sugar

2 1/4 tsp. yeast (or one package)

1/2 cup warm water

3/4 cup soy milk, milk, or water

1 1/2 cups white flour

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1 1/2 Tbsp. honey (or sugar)

1 tsp. salt

1 Tbsp. olive oil

Mix together warm water, yeast and sugar - let sit ten minutes until frothy. Mix together with soy milk, honey, salt and olive oil. Then add flour until dough is just a little sticky but manageable. Spray bowl with Pam and let rise for about 1.5 hours. Punch down, braid into challah shape, let rise about another 1/2 hour to an hour. Bake at 400 degrees for about 25 minutes.

I let mine rise for a lot longer than the recipe called for, mainly because I was busy :o) but I found that it came out better that way. SO I recommend letting it rise for 3 hours before punching it down. Then after you braid it, let it rise for 2-3 hours.