Friday, February 25, 2011

Shabbat is Coming

Shabbat comes every week!
And every week, we delight in it!
And every week, we welcome it with singing...
and sometimes dancing, too...



Shabbat is Coming

Circle to the right, Shabbat is coming
Circle to the right, Shabbat is coming
Circle to the right, Shabbat is coming

Shabbat is coming.


Circle to the left, Shabbat is coming
Circle to the left, Shabbat is coming
Circle to the left, Shabbat is coming

Shabbat is coming.


Clap your hands, Shabbat is coming
Clap your hands, Shabbat is coming
Clap your hands, Shabbat is coming

Shabbat is coming


Stomp your feet, Shabbat is coming
Stomp your feet, Shabbat is coming
Stomp your feet, Shabbat is coming

Shabbat is coming


Have a seat, Shabbat is coming
Have a seat, Shabbat is coming
Have a seat, Shabbat is coming

Shabbat is coming


American folk tune - “The Old Brass Wagon”
Lyrics by Judy Caplan Ginsburgh


Can listen here:
Shabbat is Coming


Shabbat Shalom!

"And {Elohim} God blessed the seventh day,
and sanctified it {set it apart}:
because that in it He had rested
from all His work
which {Elohim} God created and made."
Genesis 2:3


Shabbat Link Up

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Snow Much Fun!


On our way home Sunday afternoon,
we took a little time to pull over
on the side of the road
to admire the mountains
and play in the snow...




The hill we hiked up
(well, not ALL the way)


We were all thrilled to see snow, again,
and to play in it,
since we do not get it where we are
in southern California...









And, of course, you can't play in the snow...
without a snowball fight...






"A merry heart doeth good like a medicine..."
Proverbs 17:22





Sweet Surprises


Our eldest turned 18 this past Sunday.
It was a perfect opportunity
to surprise her at college.

After some hours of driving,
we arrived and arranged for her
to pick 'her gift' up at her door.

Curious, she walked to her door,
looking for a box
only to have herself pursued
by running children...
which she did not expect...




Seeing her... the smiles... the joy...
the embracing... the tears...
It melts this mama's heart.


The longing and the aching
of being apart from a loved one,
especially a child (who is, also, a friend),
may sometimes reside
in a small corner of the heart...
but it never goes away.


That we were glad to see her...
would be a great understatement.


We whisked her away,
off to enjoy lunch and a couple of hours with her...





A couple of hours is all we had,
but we were thankful for them...




Watching them grow
isn't easy.

It's difficult to remember that
His ways are not our ways.

It can be fearful to
release arrows.


But...
Fear of the unknown is conquered
by faith in the Unseen.


"... Be not afraid,
only believe.
"
~ Yeshua
Mark 5:36







Thursday, February 17, 2011

Spiritual Snacking




Morning dawns and, with sleep still in my eyes,
I make my way down the stairs.
I walk past the computer,
noticing the photos on the screensaver,
making my way to the kitchen cupboard.

I grab one of my favorite mugs
and take it to the coffee pot on the counter,
which has been storing hot coffee for me.
The sleepy eyes begin to widen
as the steam from the coffee reaches my nose.
I add a little cream, a little sugar, and lift my mug
as I shuffle to the computer chair.


As I begin sipping my hot coffee,
waiting for that moment when I feel more awake,
I start to read various things online...
discussions of spiritual things on Facebook,
composing an email or message to encourage others,
verses here and there from the Bible program on my computer.


The children come down the stairs to greet me
and to grab a quick breakfast,
then head back upstairs to play for a while.

I'm awake now and focusing very intently on
the spiritual discussions, composing emails,
and searching verses on my computer.


The children come down, again...
this time ready for lunch.
Wow! Have I been sitting here that long?


There's much to get done
before the afternoon arrives and passes...
so I head to the kitchen to make lunch,
then work to get some things accomplished,
checking those spiritual conversations and verses,
that I left at the computer, in between tasks.
I continue on in our afternoon activities.

Evening arrives, supper is made,
husband walks through the door.
We enjoy our meal
and share about our day.
Supper is finished,
we clean up our supper mess,
load the dishwasher,
and some time together as a family
before it's time to put the children to bed.

We finish a few tasks here and there
and sit to spend the evening with my husband,
to check the computer for the
spiritual conversations from earlier, as well as new ones,
and a few more searches
for Scripture on the computer program,
before we head to bed for the night.


We turn out the lights,
make our way up the stairs,
and retire for the night...
wake in the morning...
repeat cycle.


Some time passes and I start noticing
how I seem to be struggling more often...
easily angered, not getting much accomplished,
feeling defeated, depressed, robbed of joy...

I don't understand. What's going on?
Why do I feel as though
I'm just not satisfied in my soul?

How did that happen?
I've been feeding myself with His Word...
haven't I?

But I'm hungry.
I'm starving.


His still, small voice speaks to me,
"My child,
I offer a feast to you each day...

but you, dear one,
have only been spiritually snacking...

In the midst of your busyness,
your distractions,

your own interests and pursuits,
you have only been taking nibbles
of spiritual fast food.

You lack nourishment, strength,
and health from your spiritual snacking.
You have missed the meals
I have prepared for you.

Meals of the meat from My Word.

Sit, My child, and eat.
Daily, sit at the table of My Word
and let Me feed you
with the spiritual food
you need for life and health.
Eat."





"And He humbled thee,
and suffered thee to hunger,

and fed thee with manna,
which thou knewest not,

neither did thy fathers know;
that He might make thee know
that man doth not live by bread only,
but by every word that proceedeth out
of the mouth of {YHVH} the LORD
doth man live."

Deuteronomy 8:3



"... I have esteemed the words of His mouth
more than my necessary food."
Job 23:12

Monday, February 14, 2011

The Storms... of Life

repost... to encourage my heart



"And, behold, there arose
a great tempest in the sea,
insomuch that the ship
was covered with the waves:
but He was asleep.
And his disciples came to Him,
and awoke him, saying,
{Master} Lord, save us: we perish.
And He saith unto them,
Why are ye fearful,
O ye of little faith?
Then He arose, and
rebuked the winds and the sea;
and there was a great calm.
But the men marvelled, saying,
What manner of man is this,
hat even the winds and the sea obey Him!"
(Matthew 8:24-27)

Sometimes, in this ship of Life,
storms come...
opposing winds are blowing strong...
fear of tipping, of being blown off course,
of being torn apart...
may begin to take over...
water may be rushing in...
fear of sinking, of drowning...
feeling of defeat...
of crushing disappointment...
of despair...
begin to circle around and overtake.


Yet, HE speaks...
"Why are ye fearful,
O ye of little faith?"


HE speaks further...
You know Who I am.
You trust me with your soul...
Can you not trust me in this storm?


Yes, Master, I do know...
But, shamefully,
the fear and the feelings
remain.


The wind stops...
The waves cease...
The water no longer floods in...
HE spoke it.
HIS hand was in it.


I marvel...
regrettably, I marvel in surprise...


Despite my weak faith,
HE shows me...
proves to me, mercifully,
when HE does not have to...
reassures me in a way I can see...
because of my little faith.


Humbled... repentant...
HIS forgiveness I seek...
and HE freely gives...
and HE warms my heart
as if I can feel HIM
embrace me...
patiently and lovingly
telling me to believe.
Just believe.


Even when it seems like
HE is sleeping on the ship
in the middle of the storm...
HE is still on the ship.
HE does not leave me alone.


The storms come and go...
HE remains... the same.
And even better...
HE controls the storms that come...
and HE has a purpose...
a loving purpose...
and it's for my own good...
for HE is Good.


Thank you, YHVH...
for Your goodness,
beyond my understanding...
for Your faithfulness
when I am faithless...

for lovingly, mercifully, graciously
teaching me, growing me,
and leading me along...

that though I am unworthy,
I am precious in Your sight.
I thank
and praise You.





{photo courtesy of allposters.com}

Friday, February 11, 2011

Haven at Home Happenings... 2-11-11


I rejoice at Thy word,
as one that findeth great spoil {treasure}.
Psalm 119:165


YHVH's Word becomes increasingly precious to me...
so does studying it with my children...




{and old photo.. but a precious one}


This week we learned more about the tabernacle
and how YHVH commanded it to be built.
We discussed the symbolism of the tabernacle
and how it was a shadow of our Messiah, Yeshua.
A beautiful picture, indeed!




tabernacle and priestly garment coloring pages



Scripture copywork


And there I will meet with thee,
and I will commune with thee
from above the mercy seat...
Exodus 25:22



Comparing Scripture and illustrating tabernacle furnishings





How sweet are Thy words unto my taste!
yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Psalm 119:103



Snuggling is a great comfort when one doesn't feel well.
One of the great blessing for mama is the snuggling.


He shall feed his flock like a shepherd:
he shall gather the lambs with his arm,
and carry them in his bosom,
and shall gently lead those that are with young.
Isaiah 40:11



One of the many tabernacle worksheets we enjoyed...


Diagram of the tabernacle, furnishings, and the tribes


We enjoyed this video about the tabernacle:
Tabernacle: part 1
Tabernacle: part 2


And let them make me a sanctuary;
that I may dwell among them.
Exodus 25:8


What a continually humbling thought
that the Creator of all loves us
and desires to dwell with us!



Lego tabernacle


Thinking of big sis this week, missing her...
we gathered together to make cards ...






...The LORD {YHVH} watch between me and thee,
when we are absent one from another.
Genesis 31:49



Shalom!




Saturday, February 5, 2011

Haven at Home Happenings


I know I said it last week,
but another week has breezed past us.
You would think that after so many years
of experiencing time,
I would comprehend it a little better.
But I do not.
Each week, it flies by.
Time...
Life...
It is a vapor.

"... For what is your life?
It is even a vapour,
that appeareth for a little time,
and then vanisheth away."
James 4:14


This week we focused on catching up
in our Torah portions.

We enjoyed spending much time reading the Scriptures,
discussing them, and illustrating them.

There was so much to be learned!
His Word is like that, though...
No matter how many times you've read it,
there's always something more to learn.



Copywork













Illustrations depicting how we are to
care for and be kind to the widows and fatherless...


"Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child."
Exodus 22:22


Coloring pages illustrating
some of YHVH's other commands
that we discussed this week...




After watching a music clip singing the Shema,
and seeing the stringed instruments being played,
Beth was compelled to dust off her violin...



What a blessing it was to hear her
playing Suzuki's Twinkle Variation
throughout the house!


This week on Shabbat
was, also, the new moon...
the beginning of a new month
according to YHVH's calendar!

It was a beautiful sight to see!



Blessed are You, O YHVH,
Who maketh all things new!

Shalom!




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