Thoughts On The Torah Portion (Vayikra) ... by Hannah

(Disclaimer: I had great intentions of getting this posted earlier today but we've been preparing for the United In Worship conference that is being held at our fellowship this weekend. It's after 11pm and we just got home from a wonderful time of worship and teaching. By the way, if you've never danced to Ani Ma'anim live with Jonathan Settel ... you're really missing out!)

Torah: Leviticus 1:1 - 6:7
Haftarah: 45:16 - 46:18
Brit Chadasha: Mark 7:1-30

My time to write is limited and frankly, what I learned from this Torah portion is not extremely complicated! I just want to touch on that, as I don't really have time to get into the Haftarah and Brit Chadasha.

In these first chapters of Leviticus, we read about the variety of different sacrifices that were required. So the question arises ... why the sacrifices? Why did YHWH give such detailed instructions and set up such an intricate sacrificial system?

I believe that it all comes down to His desire to be with His people. In order for that to happen, His people had to be cleansed and sanctified. He is a jealous God and does not share His glory with any other. When we read throughout the Torah (and also in the dedication of Solomon's Temple), it is after everything is perfected according to the order that He has given, that His shekinah glory descends.

So of course, I'm trying to be practical here and figure how this applies to our lives today. We have Yeshua the Messiah who was the ultimate sacrifice and through His blood, we are cleansed and reunited with the Almighty. We do not offer animal sacrifices for forgiveness of sins any longer. But ... what do we need to do in our lives for His glory to fill us and His presence to be a part of us? It is obvious through reading the Torah, YHWH is very particular in the way that we are to love and serve and worship Him ... essentially, He is particular about the way that we live our lives. When we do it His way, we bear His fruit.

Yeshua's words in John 15 comes to mind. Verses 2 and 4 read, "Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit ... Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me."

I think we need to seriously examine the fruit in our lives and if we're not bearing fruit, we need to see what changes need to be made and what areas of our life we need to line up with His word, so that His Spirit can fill us and His glory shines through us. Amen!

"Wait ... let's pray!" ... by Hannah

(Pictures are courtesy of my younger siblings who had fun ice-sculpting - or rather, frost-sculpting!)

It was several weeks ago. My mother and I had to run errands and as we were heading home from our last stop, my car stopped working. This wasn't the first time we had mechanical difficulties with my little five-speed Ford Escort, but it was the first time that I backed out of a parking spot and simply could not get the car to go into first gear. After wrestling with the stick shift for a few minutes, I managed to back into another parking spot (thankfully, I still had reverse!).

A lady in the parking lot saw what was happening and came over to offer us a ride home. I tried to get the car to work a couple more times and called Tommy (who is the family mechanic). We finally decided to leave the car in the parking lot and gratefully accepted the ride home. The lady had lived in this area all her life and it was a pleasure to make her acquaintenance. When Abba and Tommy got home from work and went to check out the car, it was working perfectly. Tommy drove it home without a problem and I think that he and Abba had serious doubts about my being unable to get it into first gear. Tommy informed me, "You just have to pop it into gear, fast!" I explained that I had been trying to pop it for all I was worth it and it wouldn't budge!!

So with the family mechanic having pronounced the car in working condition, we accepted his decision. After all, it's hard to fix a problem when you can't diagnose it! Two days later, Ruthie and I had to run errands in a different town, further away. We weren't completely convinced about the car working properly, so Ima (mother) and us children stopped to pray whether we should take it or our 12mpg van. Everyone felt a peace that the car was fine, so we started off. By the time we reached "town", a heavy thunderstorm was brewing. As I made the first stop to pick up goat feed, I noticed that the gears were sticking. By the time I had left the first stop and proceeded to the second stop (Kroger), I had to literally coast into the parking lot, because I could not get the car into first gear. It was in neutral and the only thing I could do was get into reverse. I parked it and we went inside to do our grocery shopping. (If I recall correctly, I also made a phone call to Tommy to inform him that "this car is not working!"

All this time, I am just picturing us getting stuck in an intersection, unable to get the car into gear, in the midst of almost-rush-hour traffic and thunderstorm! On the other hand, Ruthie is so relaxed and saying, "What's the big deal! If we get stuck, we get stuck. It's an adventure! Why are you worrying and so uptight?!"

After about 45 minutes in the store, we came out with all our groceries and waded through the river that was running across the parking lot :)  I started the car and tried to put it in first gear. Nothing. It wouldn't budge. I turned off the engine and reached for my phone to call home and figure out what to do ... and Ruthie says, "Wait! Don't call anyone yet. Let's pray about it!"

And my response, edged with a little frustration, was, "Ruthie, I've been praying the whole time that it would work and it's not. What else do you want to do?"

"Well, let's just pray about it again!"

"Ruthie, I've already prayed ... oh whatever! If you want to pray, go right ahead!"

So she prayed that the car would start working and then I prayed, albeit a little disgruntled and not exactly in faith or expectation that the prayer would be answered. When we finished, I turned on the car and moved the stick shift to first gear as smooth as butter. I couldn't believe it. I went through all the gears and they all worked perfectly! Still hardly believing it, I called Ima and said, "Ummm ... we came out of the store and the car was not working. Then we prayed and the car started working. Do you think it's safe to drive home?!"

The car worked perfectly on the drive home and has been running well ever since. We're still not sure what the problem was, although Tommy did discover that it needed some transmission fluid. In thinking back over the whole situation, I had to wonder why my prayers that would work weren't answered in the timing that I wanted, but when Ruthie and I prayed together - there was immediate change. Maybe it was just a lesson to me to not lose heart and to be willing to keep asking. The parable in Luke 18 comes to mind ... the first verse says, "And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;"

So there is my testimony! Prayer does work and even when it doesn't happen in the timing or the way that you want it to, I encourage all of you to "pray again" and if possible, get someone to join you in it. Our Father in heaven is waiting for us to call on Him and when we do that, believing that He hears us and will answer, amazing things happen. In fact, I can assure that amazing things happen even if we aren't fully believing. It happened for me.

Let me leave you with this ... "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" Matthew 7:7-11

Thoughts On The Torah Portion (Vayakhel) ... by Sarah

Shabbat Shalom!  This is Sarah.  I am sorry that no one posted about the Torah portion last week.  It was my turn and so it was my fault :)  Thankfully H and T forgave me and gave me another chance ... I'm just joking.  Truthfully, we had a very busy preparation-day last week and we had guests over and by 11pm or so ... I was not really wanting to write anything.

My portion this week is called Vayakhel/Pekudei | ויקהל/פקודי | "He gathered/Countings " and it is taken from: Exodus 35:1 - 40:38.  The Haftarah and Brit Chadasha are Ezekiel 36:16-38 and Mark 6:14-29/John 6:1-71.

I am going to focus on basically two, well, actually three things from the Torah portion.

First, from Exodus 35:10 to about the end of chapter 38, it is talking about the articles being made for the Tabernacle and the different things that had to be made and how to make them.  Anyway, I got to thinking, if we are believers then we are Temples/Tabernacles for YHWH to dwell in.  People think that you except Yeshua and then go on with life, which is true ... but there are also other things that have to be done. We have to fill our Temples/Tabernacles with something ... with articles, that is the Fruits of the Spirit, which are:

• Love
• Joy 
• Peace
• Longsuffering
• Gentleness
• Goodness
• Faith
• Meekness
• Temperance

We have to fill our Temples/Tabernacles with these articles.  Accepting Yeshua into your heart is wonderful, amazing and exciting, but we do not want to have a empty house for Him to live in ... that would be like having guests over and not having any furniture or food to share with them.

Second, Exodus 39:1-31 is talking about the priestly garments.  YHWH gave instructions on how the garments were to be made for the priest.  He has also given us garments/armor that we are to wear. Ephesians 6:13-18 says:


Therefore take up the whole armor of YHWH, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.

Third, Exodus 40:34-38 is talking about the cloud of YHWH settling over the tabernacle. As I think about the Bride of Messiah, I KNOW that we need to work on our garments/armor and the "articles" in our midst.  We have a lot to do to become the Bride of Messiah, let's not waste our time of betrothal in foolishness, but let us prepare to be the best bride. After that ... we will see Yeshua coming in the clouds (Mark 13:26) to gather us up.

May we all work on fulfilling our part of the Body of Messiah.  Love and Shabbat Shalom, ~Sarah

Thoughts on the Torah Portion (Tetzave) ... by ...

... the one and only T man. It is I, Thomas W, who has the pleasure of bringing this week's Torah portion: Tetzeva which means You Shall Command. This is found in Exodus 27:20 - 30:10, 1 Samuel 15:1-34 and the Brit Chadasha; Mark 4:35 - 5:43. There are the references ... I hope that you will go read it for yourself if you haven't already.

Once again I find myself here on the computer wondering what to write about :) And in all honesty I had completely forgotten that I had the Torah Portion this week until a sweet older sis said "Hey don't forget, you have the Torah this week!" So then the scramble began and here I am! To tell the truth, I have not even gone over the Haftarah or the Brit Chadasha for this week, but I have done the Torah so that's what I'm gonna focus on.

As I started to read the portion, I wondered what I could get out a portion that just talked about how the priests were supposed to have their garments and how some of the sacrifices were suppose to be done. Now please don't get me wrong, I believe that all of that is very important but I was thinking that it did not really apply to us at this point in time. On one hand it does not, yet on the other hand it does. If that makes any sense?

As I read through it, the thing that I kept noticing was how meticulous YHVH is in the way He wants His Priest to be before they can serve Him. Everything had to be a certain way or else the presence of YHVH would not descend upon the Tabernacle. And that's what got me thinking, if YHVH is so meticulous about how things/people need to be before they can serve Him, should not we ourselves be meticulous about what He wants? In other words, if we say that we serve YHVH, should we not make sure that we are serving Him the way He wants us to, instead of the way we want to?

For instance, what if Moses had said "You know what? I thing Aaron's garments would look and sound better if we made it with two bells and the two pomegranates and so on instead of doing one and then another and then another"? Not only would the presence of YHVH not descended, Moses would most likely have gotten himself killed because he had changed the word of YHVH.

So in closing, I put a challenge out to myself and you. (Yes I know that's backwards, I'm suppose to put you first, but I know that I need this challenge just as much as anyone if not more so). So here it is, I challenge us to examine our lives each day and ask the Father "Am I living my life according to the plan that YOU have laid out in your word for me? Am I serving YOU the way I should be?" He will show you/me if we are truly willing to hear His voice. I pray that we are.

Once again I hope that you will read this portion for yourself, even the Haftarah and the Brit Chadasha which unfortunately I was not able to cover, although I plan to go and read them soon :)

I would love to hear from y'all, if I've said something that you do not think is correct, please don't hesitate to let me know. And if you agree with me that's even better! Either way if you feel led, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts.

Keep pressing forward and serving Him that is more then worthy of our service.

Shabbat Shalom.

The T. man over and out 3...2...1...

Thoughts On The Torah Portion (Terumah) ... by Hannah

I had decided what I was going to write about earlier this week, but somehow I never got to it yesterday ... sorry this is late!

The Torah this week is Exodus 25:1-27:19, the Haftarah is 1 Kings 5:12-6:13 and Brit Chadasha is Matthew 5:33-37, Hebrew 9:1-10.

When I started reading the Torah earlier this week, I realized that we're getting into that section that can be difficult reading. It's sometimes hard to not let your mind wander when you're reading details about the Tabernacle and sacrificial system - things that we have a hard time understanding and that really do not seem to relate to us.

So as I was reading about how the Tabernacle was supposed to be built and all the details and instructions, this one thought kept running in my head ... YHWH cares about the smallest details ... He cares about the outward appearance ... and He gave specific instructions about how we are to serve and worship Him. 

If He was so specific in His instructions about how He wanted His people to serve and worship Him, don't you think He cares about the other aspects of the way that we live our lives? If He gave such detailed information about how He wanted the outward appearance of the Tabernacle and the priests to be, don't you think that He cares about our appearance?

1 Peter 2:5 says "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Yeshua Messiah." And in verses 9-10, "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy."

He is talking to us. It seems like many people take the position that anything goes ... it's only the heart that matters ... anyone can serve God anyway they want to ... God doesn't care about rules anymore ... etc etc. Through reading these passages like the Torah portion this week, we see that YHWH does not have a "anything goes" mindset. Think about what happened when Nadab and Abihu offered strange fire (Leviticus 10) or when Uzza reached out to catch the ark of the covenant as it was about to fall (1 Chronicles 13). Instant death for disobedience.

YHWH is a merciful God but He is also a jealous God (Exodus 34:14, Deuteronomy 4:24, to mention a few). He does care about how we serve and worship Him. We need to not take cues from everything and everyone around us (culture, society, friends, family, even fellow believers) ... but to turn to His Word for the standard of righteous living. He is the only One we're going to answer to on Judgement Day ... let's make sure that we are living our lives the way that He wants us to.

Volunteering With PJTN - Pictures At The Opryland Hotel ... by Hannah

This past Sunday (February 19th), we had the privilege of volunteering at the Prayer and Action event hosted by Proclaiming Justice To The Nations at the National Religious Broadcasters Convention. We have been able to do this each year since 2008, but normally it has only been a few of us. This year we planned to take the whole family, but Mama was not feeling well so all the rest of us went.

We went early so that Tommy and Sam could help with unloading and setting up equipment ... and Abba took us girls to Bass Pro Shop for a little while :)  We came back and walked around Opryland for a bit (that place is HUGE!) and we got something to eat. We also took lots of pictures!

Lydia, in front of one of the many fountains.

Pretending to throw Lydia in!

It is really beautiful there.

Left to right: me, Abigail, Lydia, Sarah, Ruthie

Someone offered to take the picture so that Abba could join us.

Ruthie and Abba

Abigail and Abba

The river in the Opryland

Left to right: Ruthie, Abigail, Lydia, Sarah, me ... another one of the many fountains!

After wandering around for awhile, we went to help with setting up. It was about 5pm and the event was supposed to start at 8:30pm. Abba was responsible for escorting Bishop Choby to and from the event.

Here are Sam and Lydia with them.

The meeting went well, lasting from 8:30pm to just after 10pm. The keynote speakers were Itamar Marcus from Palestinian Media Watch and Joseph Farah from World Net Daily.

One of the highlights of the event is getting to see Rabbi Gerald Meister. We met him back in 2004 or 2005 and got to see him while we were in Israel. Rabbi Meister used to work in the Foreign Relations department for the Israeli government.

Left to right: Abba, Sam, Abigail, Tommy, Ruthie, me, Sarah, Lydia ... with Rabbi Meister in the middle.

After cleaning things up, we were interviewed by a reporter from JooTube who was very intrigued by our family and lifestyle. He filmed us and asked a huge variety of questions ... I'll let you know if he posts it. I'm concerned about how it will turn out - we probably looked like we were about to fall asleep (it was about 11pm)!

Rabbi Meister had been using an electric wheelchair/scooter and when he left, Abba brought it back to put it away. After everything was cleaned up and everyone was leaving (about 12am), we started walking to take the scooter back where it belonged. The meeting was held about as far away from where the scooter belonged as you could get it, so it was quite a walk.

Sam and Lydia got to ride the scooter back ... and had the time of their lives!

Abigail, posing in one of the fancy mirrors.

Artwork in the ceiling.

It was a long night :)

Waiting for Tommy to bring the van to the entrance ... Ruthie, me, Sarah.

Guess what happens at 12:30am when Sam and Lydia are riding an electric scooter through Opryland?!

Thought on the Torah Portion... by Sarah

Shabbat Shalom!  This is Sarah and I have the Mishpatim | משפטים | "Judgments " Torah portion!  I was about to say how it seems like it was just last week that I wrote and how time flies, when I glanced over the last post and I realized Tommy had said the same thing!

Once again, I have a wonderful, beautiful portion that shows YHWH's love and care for His people, the children of Israel.  My portion is:
Torah: Exodus 21:1 through 24:18
Prophets: 2 Kings 11:17 through 12:17
Gospel: Luke 7:1 through 8:3

I will not be able to cover all of those portions in this post so I hope that each of you will go through and read them for yourself.  But I will get started with some of the things that stood out to me. 

This Torah portion is talking about the different laws and or commandments of the land. 

• The law concerning slaves,
• violence,
• property,
• restitution,
• social and religious laws,
• justice for all,
• sabbatical year and Sabbath,
• the annual festivals,
• the conquest of Canaan promised
• the blood of the covenant
• and then Moses on the mountain with YHWH.

First... in chapter 21:1-11 of Exodus it is talking about a servant and the things concerning that.  It was saying that if a man bought a Hebrew slave, how he must serve him 6 years and then he has a choice whether to go free or not.  It reminded me of our relationship with Yeshua.  We were bought with a price.  We have the choice whether to serve him or not.  If we choose to give Him our life and serve Him, then He has pierced our heart with His life and we now are his servants forever.  If we choose not to serve Him than He will have still paid a price for us and we would go out with all of our sin with us.

Second...  Exodus 23:9 says, "Also thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt." 
I think that most of us can relate to this.  I have noticed over the years how if a new person comes to someone's congregation, the youth may be greeted, but it does not seem to be often that the new person is "welcomed" by the youth of the congregation and spent time with.  Please do not hear that I am trying to put ANYONE down for I have been in both places my self... the stranger and the youth of the congregation.  It is somewhat hard to welcome someone you do not know and to make them enjoy their time, BUT... have you thought about what it is like when you are a stranger at some place?  If you do not know anyone, it can be pretty lonely. 
So, what should we do about it?  When I see a new girl[s] at our congregation I have started to go up to them and introduce myself to them and converse with them.  Believe me, they will not feel lonely and you will feel a lot better.

Third... Exodus 23:25 says, "And ye shall serve YHWH your God, and He shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee."
This kind of stood out to me when I read it.  Most of us have probably not seen starvation and no water (all though there are some people who do), but most of us have faced sickness.  Do you think that maybe we are not serving YHWH with our whole heart?  Maybe we had some fear?  I do not know, I just thought that it was an interesting thought.

Fourth... Exodus 23:13 "And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth."
This verse reminded me of the verse from Deuteronomy 4:24, "For YHWH your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God."  I also thought that is was neat how this portion in the Torah lined up with the prophets portion (2 Kings 11:17 though 12:17) because it is talking about Jehoiada making a covenant with YHWH and them going into Baal's house and breaking it down ... breaking down the altars and the images and they even slew Baal's priest Mattan.

I hope you have a great Shabbat.  Blessings, ~Sarah