Presentation Dances

Shalom Y'all,

I have decided to post the different presentation dances that our family members has participated in at LAMB Fellowship ... starting from Chanukah and then all of the other ones that we have done up to Shavuot.  We took some of the videos and others were taken by a friend.

Chanukah:

SONG: Courageous by Casting Crowns ... Men's dance.

SONG: Lord Bless Us by John Waller ... Children's dance.

SONG: Seven Feast Song by Lenny & Varda ... A LOT of dancers!

 

(This video is not that good but I thought that I would post it anyway.)

SONG: Candlelight by the Maccabeats ... Children's dance.

Purim:

(Here is a children's dance with a little "adult" help.)

SONG: Praise You With A Dance by Casting Crowns.

First Fruits:

SONG: Deliverance by Sue Samuel ... Ladies dance.

Shavuot:

This dance was performed by over 30 children ages 13 and under! They did a great job :)

SONG: Psalm 24 by Sons Of Korah ... Children's Dance.

SONG: Wherever You Go by Rachel Washington ... Ladies Dance.

Well, that is all for now!

We're Still Here! ... by Hannah

For any of you who have been following this blog or visiting it regularly, you may have begun to wonder if these Israelites in exile are still on planet earth! We're still here ... just living life and staying very busy! Our days have been filled with a medley of ...

... family activities and traveling ...

     

... visiting with friends and family ...

 

... sunshine and rain ...

  

... puppies, puppies and more puppies ...

    

Last Monday, I had several experiences that spelled I-S-R-A-E-L to me. 

We (most of the family) traveled to KY to pick up a new dog, stopping on the way to meet someone who was buying a puppy. The puppy was a Coton named Espresso and as we were handing him over to his new family in the parking lot of a Mexican restaurant, I asked if they had decided on a name for him. His new mommy replied that they thought they would keep the name as Espresso and asked if there was any special Hebrew meaning to it! That opened a discussion about Israeli coffee, Turkish coffee and "cafe eem hell" - coffee with cardamom!

We continued on our way into Kentucky and stopped at Subway for a sandwich. As I was waiting in line to place my order, the gentleman in front of me turned and said, "So is there a lot of Romanian spoken over in Israel?"

I smiled and replied that there are quite a few Romanians in Israel and he agreed, adding that many went there after the second world war. He moved on to pay for his order, after saying that it's too bad we don't teach Romanian here in the States.

I thought briefly about asking what made him think I was knowledgeable about the various nationalities in the Holy Land, but I was pleased that I managed enough self-composition and concealed the surprise that I felt at his question ... I'm sure he thought that I often received inquiries about the percentage of Romanian that is spoken in modern Israel today!!

Later, as we were picking out our new puppy (who is a darling dog, by the way!), we stood in the bathroom/puppy kennel of an older couple who appeared to be Catholic. There were four females to choose from and as we were trying to make our decision, my eye caught the titles of several books on the shelf, including one called "Standing With Israel" and another by Israel-related volume by John Hagee. Very interesting! Especially for the hills of Kentucky!

We are excitedly preparing for Sukkot ... really looking forward to camping out with others from our fellowship. I have been asked to teach the children a dance for the feast and have chosen the Sons of Korah version of Psalm 95. If you aren't familiar with it, check this out ...

We will plan to video the presentation and share it on here. Speaking of dance videos, I believe my sister was working on post with some different ones that we have participated in recently. I'll have to check with her and see about getting that published here. We've just had so much going on lately that I haven't given a whole lot of thought to this blog - sorry :(

One more thing ... I assume that most of you are familiar with the Shining Stars magazine that I publish quarterly. We also have a website - www.shiningstarsmagazine.com and that is what I want to tell you about ...

I have recently created a survey about modesty, in an effort to get people's thoughts and opinions on the topic. If any of you have not seen it, you are invited to participate! It is geared toward a female audience but we are welcoming men's perspectives as well. For more info, you can click here.

Ok ... I'm signing off for now ... many blessings sent your way!

Thoughts on the Torah portion (B'har) By..... T. Man

Shabbat Shalom! It is I the T. Man coming to you this week with the thoughts on the Torah portion. But first of all, I want to apologize for not doing a post last week. I had actually remembered on Friday while at work that it was my turn, but then on my way home from Nashville where I was working (about an hour and a half away from home), my fuel pump decided to give up the ghost! And for those of you who don't know what that means, it means that it quit working, which in turn shut down my truck and I was stranded to a certain degree!

Thankfully my dad was on his way home from work and was able to come and help me. But long story short, I had to drop the gas tank on my truck (the pump is in the tank) on the side of the road and change out the pump and then reinstall the tank! The process was a bit more difficult due to the 15 - 20 gallons of gas that were in the tank! Anyways I was delayed a couple hours, and by the time I got home, I had completely forgotten about doing the post and I didn't remember about it until we were reading it at LAMB (Lighthouse Assembly of Messianic Believers, which is our fellowship). So now I get to try to redeem myself and bring it to you this week!

However before I start, I want to mention a slight change up! Normally when doing a post, I'll have the three different sections listed, the Torah, the Haftorah and the Brit Hadasha. However at LAMB we read the "normal" Torah portion, and then something from one of the historical books and then something in the Brit Hadasha. So instead of giving the reference to the "normal" Haftorah portion, we've decided to go along with what we're doing at LAMB.

Also on a side note, I want to put in a plug for LAMB fellowship! If any of you that read this find yourself wanting a place to fellowship and can make it to middle TN, please come join us. LAMB fellowship is an absolutely wonderful fellowship with a wonderful group of people. I am so thankful to be apart of LAMB again after the many years that we had been away. To find out more info, check out www.lambfellowship.com And now to my thoughts on the Torah!

This week's Torah portion in called B'har, which means On The Mount. And it can be found in Leviticus 25:1-26:2, The Writings/History - Ruth 1:1-2:23, and the Brit Hadasha - Luke 4:14-5:26.

After reading it over, I have decided to comment on the the portion in Ruth instead of the Torah like I normally do, so I encourage you to go read it for yourself!

I think that this story in Ruth is one of my favorites, because it goes to show that no matter what your background is, you can join yourself to Israel if you are willing to live according to how YHVH wants you to live! One of the things that stood out to me was the example of Yeshua that we can see throughout this passage.

First we see Ruth leaving her old life behind and embracing her new life with such zeal. Then we see her working/serving her mother in-law and we see Boaz who, in my opinion, is a representation of Yeshua ... not only does he allow Ruth to work/serve in his fields, but he also tells her not to leave or else she might be molested and he supplies her with grain so that she can provide for Naomi and herself. Now think of Yeshua - does He not protect us, His children, from the evils of the world? And does He not supply our every need? Even in discrete ways sometimes just as Boaz did with Ruth!

And then the best part of all, THE WEDDING!!!! In the end we see Boaz marrying Ruth whom he has been watching over and providing for her. Although Scripture doesn't say it I would have to believe that the time of their wedding was in the time frame of the fall Feast, judging by the harvest! In the end of days are we, the bridegroom of Yeshua, not also going to have a WEDDING???!!!! To the best of my understanding, it is going to take place around the time of the fall Feast! It is almost mind boggling to see and understand all of the similarities between the story of Boaz and Ruth, and the story of Yeshua and us, His bride!

Anyway, that is what stood out to me in this portion. I hope that each and every one of you will read this whole portion for yourself and glean (no pun intended) the many details that I didn't mention. Also feel free to share your thoughts with me, if I am mistaken in anything I say, I want to be corrected. Just because I comment on a certain Torah portion, it doesn't mean that I'm perfect ... as I'm sure many of y'all know! It simply means that I'm gonna try to do my best to give you my thoughts on this particular Torah portion.

Once again Shabbat Shalom and I hope you have a blessed week.
Shalom, T. Man

Thoughts on the Torah (Acharei Mot and K'doshim) ... by Hannah

It was my turn to write last week ... but it was so busy that I didn't really get a chance to study and write. Sorry about that! I don't think this week was any less busy, but there was one thing that jumped out at me in this portion and I just wanted to share it. I think that it can revolutionize the way that we live our lives.


"Then YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'I am YHWH your God. According to the doings of the land of Egypt, where you dwelt, you shall not do; and according to the doings of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you, you shall not do; nor shall you walk in their ordinances. You shall observe My judgments and keep My ordinances, to walk in them: I am YHWH your God. You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am YHWH." Leviticus 18:1-5

"And you shall be holy to Me, for I YHWH am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine." Leviticus 20:26

I think the question that each of us needs to ask is ... "why am I doing what I am doing?" This can apply in numerous situations, from something "important" like a major life-changing decision, to something "small" like a choice of clothing or entertainment. Are we taking our cues from those around us, or from the judgments and ordinances that YHWH has given us?

I am reminded of Jeremiah 10:2, which says, "Thus saith YHWH, Learn not the way of the heathen ..." Are we being influenced by the traditions and standards of the heathen culture that surrounds us, or are we patterning our lives on His instructions and commandments?

I know this is a short post, but I want to challenge each of you to ask yourself that question. In the end, it is His standards that are going to matter and that is what we are going to be judged by. Most (if not all) of us have access to His Word and we can learn how He wants us to live our lives, even though that may look so different from the rest of the world sometimes! I pray that He gives us each the strength and boldness to walk in His commandments that we may live ... 

"I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love YHWH your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which YHWH swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them." Deuteronomy 30:19-20

Thoughts on the Torah Portion ... by Sarah

Shalom Y'all,

This is Sarah.  I hope that you all had good Passover and week of Unleavened Bread.  Our week was wonderful and we were truly blessed.  OK, now lets get on with this week's portion.

Torah: Exodus 33:12 - 34:26
Haftarah: Ezekiel 37:1-14
Brit Chadasha: Acts 10:1-48

In Exodus Chapter 33:12-23, it is talking about Moses praying for YHWH's presence. As I was reading though it I was thinking, "This is a prayer we all should pray".

 

"... Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people ..."  Exodus 33:13

And then, what did YHWH say? 

 

"... And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest ..."

May it be so with us as well.  May we walk and talk with Him and listen to Him and grow in Him.  May He be our life and our strength and may we never ever walk away from Him.

In chapter 34, verses 1 though 9, it is talking about YHWH re-writing the 10 commandments of the tablets. Anyway, that has always been interesting to me how He wrote them with His finger.  I watched a movie one time of Him writing the 10 commandments and even though that may not have been the exact way it happened ... it was really neat to think about.  I wonder what Moses thought when it was happening?!?

The last part of chapter 34 (verses 18 though 26) are talking about the feast that we just went through.

Now, the Haftarah is the portion about the dry bones.  My father has said that he is thinking about writing a song on that portion and calling it "Shake, Rattle and Roll" :)  Seriously, I think one of the most important verses for me and my family (and hopefully for you) is in verse 11 where it says that these are the bones for the whole house of Israel  ... not for the Jewsih people only, but for those of us who have been brought in to the Commonwelath of Israel, as it says in Ephesians 2:11-13.  We no longer refer to ourselves as "gentiles" because the Scriptures say we were "once gentiles" ... meaning that in the past we were gentiles, but now we are no longer gentiles.  Now, through the blood of the Messiah, we are part of the "Whole House of Israel".  Halleluyah!

 

The passage in Acts, gives us an example of this when we see Cornelius, a gentile, being filled with the Spirit.  In light of all these Scriptures, I have to see him ... and us ... as being one is is "from the gentiles", but he, and we are gentiles no longer.

 

I hope you all seek to find things for yourself in these portions and let YHWH show you His wonders.

Shabbat Shalom, ~Sarah

Chag Pesach Sameach!

With busy weekend ahead of us, I don't know that Sarah will have time to share about the Torah portion tomorrow, so I just wanted to wish all of you a wonderful and very blessed feast of Passover, Firstfruits and Unleavened Bread! And I wanted to share this little video that made its rounds last year (just in case you haven't seen it) ...

Thoughts on the Torah Portion (Tzav)...By Tommy

Shabbat Shalom!

It is I, the T. Man that brings this week's post to you! And it is with a glad heart that I do it.

The name of this weeks portion is: Tzav, which means: Command. And can be found in Leviticus 6:1 - 8:36, Malachi 3:4-18, Mark 7:31 - 8:38.

First of all I need to admit that I have had very little time to even look over this Torah portion and to come up with something to write and for that I apologize. Yet on the other hand it might help you to go and read it for your self if you haven't already!

Normally when I do a post, I concentrate on just the actual Torah portion itself and don't really get into the Haftarah/Prophets or the Brit Chadasha (New Testament). However after reading through the Leviticus portion, nothing really caught my attention that I thought was a big enough thing to write about. I'm not saying that it's not worth reading, I'm just saying that that portion did not do a whole lot for me, although I hope that you will get something out of it and if you do, I'd love for you to share it with me! So I moved on into Malachi and as I'm reading, a thought struck me and I realized that this passage is a past, present and future passage!

From verse 6 to verse 15, it talks about about people that disobey YHVH, whether that be in actions or words ... and then justify it as if it was not an issue. In this passage however it deals specifically on tithe, and robbing YHVH of it and this is where the thought came in: "Why is there such an emphasis on tithe and giving to YHVH"? I mean its not like He needs our money! So why the emphasis?

I personally think that it is a way for YHVH to mold and shape us into His image and to break our pride. And to help us learn to trust Him to supply our needs. I know that it is sometimes very tempting when funds are tight, to think "hmmm, I tithed last week and I really need the money this week so I'm sure it will be fine for me to keep it".

NO it's NOT, you are then stealing from YHVH and according to this passage, things are not going to go well for you. I hope and pray that this is making sense. I had no idea that this is what I'd be sharing with you and I feel as though I might not be making a whole lot of sense, so if I'm not, forget what I've said and just read the portion for yourself.

I hope that each and every one of you are not the ones described in verses 6 through 15, however I pray that we are like those in verses 16 through 18, "Then those who feared YHVH spoke with one another. YHVH paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared YHVH and esteemed his name. “They shall be mine, says YHVH of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves Elohim and one who does not serve him."

Once again I encourage you to go and read it for yourself, since I feel that I have not been able to bring it to you like I should. I will try and do better next time. Until then though, have a wonderful Shabbat and a blessed week.

Shabbat Shalom. T. Man