Monday, April 30, 2012

31 Days of Praying For Our Children - Day 9


I have not stopped giving thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;  I keep asking the G-d of our L-rd  Yeshua the Messiah, the glorious Father, to give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you will have full knowledge of Him:  I pray that He will give light to the eyes of your hearts, so that you will understand the hope to which he has called you, and what rich glories there in the inheritance He has promised His people.  And how surpassingly great is His power to work in us who trust Him according to the working of His mighty power.  (Ephesians 1:16-19)


That G-d would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Yeshua may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Yeshua which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fulness of G-d. 
(Ephesians 3:16-19) 

Father, help me to remember how important it is be thankful for my beloved ones.  They are a gift, a wonderful gift.  I thank you that each one has professed faith that Yeshua is the Messiah and have been baptized.  I thank you that Your Word has been sown in their hearts.  I thank you that they are self-supporting and family oriented, with strong marriages.  

Father, I pray that I would not forget to pray for them daily.

I pray they will all have a spirit of wisdom and revelation to understand what is theirs as believers in Yeshua and they will have full knowledge of Him.  I pray they will have revelation of the reason You have called them into Your Kingdom.  I pray they will walk in their gifts and callings.

I pray they will have revelation of the many benefits of being in Your family and of obedience to Your mitzvot, and of the great power of Your Spirit living inside them.  I pray they will walk daily in that power, and have revelation of Your love and  the power of being rooted and grounded in that love.


I'm linking up today to Grati-Tuesdays

31 Days of Praying For Our Children - Day 8


Folly is joy to him who is destitute of discernment, But a man of understanding walks uprightly.
Proverbs 15:21
Now, we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit of G-d so that we might understand the things G-d has so freely given us.  These are the things we are talking about when we avoid the manner of speaking that human wisdom would dictate and instead use a manner of speaking taught by the Spirit, by which we explain things of the Spirit to people who have the Spirit.  Now the natural man does not receive the things from the Spirit of G-d - to him they are nonsense!  Moreover, he is unable to grasp them because they are discerned through the Spirit.  But the person who has the Spirit can discern everything, while no one is in a position to evaluate him.  


For who has know the mind of Adonai?  Who will counsel Him?

But we have the mind of Yeshua the Messiah.    
(I Corinthians 2: 12-16)

Father, I pray for Your Spirit to be poured out on my children, so that they may be able to think with Your mind, so that they will have discernment, and understand right from wrong.  The spirit of the world assaults us from every avenue:  the workplace,  family members, television, the internet, advertising, songs on the radio.  All day long we are bombarded with the spirit of the world and it's philosophies.  I pray for my children to discern good from evil.  This comes by Your Spirit and Your Word.  Your Word gives light.  I pray they will hunger for Your Word - Your owner's manual for life on Earth. 

Today what is right is considered wrong.  What is wrong is considered right.  Those who follow You and Your ways are looked at as evil.  I pray for my children to discern this.  I pray that when evil presents itself, Your Word will come to their minds to give them discernment.

I pray for them to discern good and evil in people.  Help them to recognize fools.  I pray that every person who has an evil influence on them would be removed.  I pray that You will lead them to people who love You and follow You.  I pray for close relationships and friends who stays closer than a brother, and that foster and nurture love, caring, and good works.  

I pray for them to recognize false teachers and prophets.  I pray they will run from preachers who say "I know the Bible says that, BUT..."  Lead them to men and women who live by Your precepts and mitzvot.   
Protect them from teachers who tickle the ears (entertain) and lead foolish people to destruction.  Lead them to teachers who rightly divide Your Word of Truth.

I pray for them to discern that sin has consequences.  Yes, Your love and grace atones for our sins, but the consequences remain.  Just as leaven causes bread to rise, sin has effects on our lives and damages everything.    May they never take sin lightly.  May they discern and turn away from sin in every form of thought and action.

Sunday, April 29, 2012

31 Days of Praying for Our Children - Day 7

The fear of the L-rd is the beginning of wisdom.  (Proverb 9:10)

 1My son, if you will receive My words, and hide My commandments with you; 2So that you incline your ear unto wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; 3Yes, if you cry after knowledge, and lift up your voice for understanding; 4If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hid treasures; 5Then you will understand the fear of the L-RD, and find the knowledge of G-d.  (Proverb 2:1-5)

Father, I pray for my children to know a holy fear of You, because You said that is the beginning of wisdom.  To recognize You as Holy, worthy of awe and respect.  The way a child sees her beloved father.  I pray they will  want to please You because of Your tender love, and to be saddened when they have failed to obey You. 

 I pray for You to teach them that holy fear You speak of here.  I pray they will incline their ears to wisdom and apply their hearts to understanding.    I pray they will cry after knowledge and lift up their voices for understanding.  I pray they will seek wisdom as silver, and search for wisdom like they would a hidden treasure, because it truly is.

A great deal of Your Word has been sown in their hearts through the years, Father.  I am confident that Your Word will not return void, but will accomplish what You sent it to do.*  Thank You for that promise.  I pray and believe You will bring those Holy Words to their minds.  Thank You for the blessed hope I know with You as my Father.

*Isaiah 55:11

Saturday, April 28, 2012

31 Days of Praying For Our Children - Day 6

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all your getting get understanding.
Proverbs 4:6-8

Father, I pray for my beloved children to get Your wisdom.  Not the wisdom of a denomination.  Not the wisdom of a church or a preacher/teacher.  Not the wisdom of the world.   I pray for them to know Your wisdom.  

I pray they will seek Your face and Your wisdom and Your understanding.  I know that knowing and understanding Your Word, Your Ways and Your Will will guide them in every area of their lives.  Your Ways are not our ways.  Your Wisdom is life.  Your wisdom gives favor.  

Oh, how blessed we are Father to have Your Word so readily available for our use.  Thank You for preserving Your Word over thousands of years.  Each Friday night as we parade Your Torah, following it with our eyes and kissing it with our prayer books, I am reminded how precious it is.  My heart floods with joy for Your Word is like honey to my lips.  Your Holy Word has preserved my life.  I pray for my beloved children to see it that way, too.  May it become their greatest desire to get Wisdom.

L'Chaim!  Yes, Father Your Wisdom is Life! 

Friday, April 27, 2012

31 Days of Praying For Our Children - Day 5



Father, I was baptized as a young child and always went to church.  One day, I found a gospel tract that brought true conviction when I read Yeshua's words found in  Matthew 7:

 13Enter in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in there:
 14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it.
 15Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
 16You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
 17Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit.
 18A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
 19Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
 20Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them.
 21Not every one that says to me, L-rd, L-rd, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven.
 22Many will say to me in that day, L-rd, L-rd, have we not prophesied in Your name? and in Your name have cast out devils? and in Your name done many wonderful works?
 23And then will I profess to them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.


That Word pierced my heart, and I knew I would be one of those who would hear You say, "Depart from me.  I never knew You."    I suddenly realized Your holiness, Your sovereignty.  True repentance led me to surrender.   I bowed the knee to You, a Holy G-d, and my life changed forever. Thank you for that day.  Thank You for opening my eyes to the Your Truth.

I pray for my daughters, their husbands and my grandson to have the teshuva (repentance) that leads to salvation and obedience to You.  I pray for them to know You, the Holy One of Israel, Yeshua Hamashiach.  


I'm linking up to Faith Filled Fridays
and Spiritual Sundays

Thursday, April 26, 2012

31 Days of Praying For Our Children - Day 4

And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He hears us:
And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.(I John 5:14-15)

Thank You, Father, for this wonderful promise.  As I pray for my children, I am confident that the desires of my heart for them come from Your own heart.  They are Your will because they are based on Your Holy Word.  Therefore, I know You will answer these petitions with a yes.

Thank You for the wise woman who taught me the glory of these verses.  I will never forget her face, lit with so much joy as she quoted these verses to me, and encouraged me to memorize them and pray confidently for my children.  Her faith in You inspired me to follow her example as a mother.  

Thank you, Father, for the confidence of answered prayer for my daughters.  What a comfort it is to my soul.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

31 Days of Praying For Our Children - Day 3

If I regard iniquity in my heart,  the L-rd will not hear me.  (Psalm 66:18)

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24)

Father, I pray to be aware of any disappointment, resentment, or unforgiveness in my heart toward my children, their spouses, or anyone else in my life today.  I know sin blocks the connection between You and me.  Make me aware of any unrest in my heart regarding anyone.

Help me remember that fear is a lack of faith in You, and to continually cast all my cares on You.  I want my heart to pure before You, so that You will hear me, and so that I can hear Your voice.

Thank You for Your patience with me as Your child, and for Your tender love and care.  Thank You for the blood of Yeshua that atones for my sins.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

31 Days of Praying For Our Children - Day 2

“Hear, O Israel: The L-rd our G-d, the L-rd is one . You shall love the L-rd your G-d with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.  You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)

Father, I pray for this to be the guiding force in my children's lives, as it is your Greatest Commandment.  May it also be mine as I interact with my children.  Even though they are adults, help me to teach them diligently when I have the opportunity, both in my words and actions.  I pray that they will obey this Commandment in rearing their own children.   I pray that future generations of my family will always hold to Your ways and Your Word.

Monday, April 23, 2012

Praying For Our Children


Today, I'll be starting a 31-day series:  Praying for Our Children

I've found it very comforting to pray the scriptures over my children.  It is also very powerful, because G-d answers prayer and G-d's Word will not return void, but will accomplish what it is sent to do.  Both of my daughters are adults and married, so these prayers will be targeted to their situations and seasons of life. 

I hope you will join me in this 31 day commitment.  Feel free to post specific prayer requests in the comments section below if you'd like. I promise to pray for your needs.

"For these children, I prayed, Father and you have heard my prayers and granted my petition." 
(I Samuel 1:27)   

Like Hannah, I thank you, Father for opening my womb and giving these children to me.  They are a wonderful gift.  I treasure them, and am humbled that You allowed them to bless my life.  I praise you and glorify You for your unspeakable gift, that Your face shone upon me, and granted me children.  May I be ever conscious that they came by Your hand.



I lift these prayers to You in the Name of Yeshua Ha-Mashiach.
I'll be linking up to Spiritual Sundays 
and  Faith Filled Fridays

Friday, April 20, 2012

Holocaust Memorial Day (Yom HaShoah)

Let us never forget.


Holocaust Memorial day.

video

Israel and others around the world remember the Holocaust - Yom Hashoah

"A strong man came to power in Germany whose ideas were that Germany has to create a national community, which would include only the Aryan race, which he considered superior, and all the people who did not belong to the Aryan race could be eliminated. With planning and propaganda, he was able to convince most of the German people to go along with him, insensitive to what happened to the Jews who had basically been their former neighbors. And he managed to build concentration camps and killing centers and finally gas chambers to annihilate six million Jews and at the same time also millions of others, murdered in a systematic, government-sponsored way"
-Margit Meissner, Holocaust Survivor-

Monday, April 16, 2012

Passover Seder Joy

Since my last post, I've been very busy in preparations for the seder at our synagogue.  Now that the seder has been held and Passover week is over, things have settled down enough for me to write.  As promised, today, I will explain some things about the Jewish Passover (Pesach in Hebrew) seder, specifically the elements placed on the seder plate.

The Hebrew word "seder" means "order".  Each person in attendance has a haggadah (booklet) which has the readings and scriptures for the seder.  Our haggadah is for a Messianic service and therefore includes readings from both the Old and New Testaments of the Holy Scriptures.  Hopefully, you will one day have the privilege of attending a Passover seder, so I've decided not to spoil your fun by explaining every detail.  Suffice it to say that it involves music, dancing, singing, and of course, eating and drinking!  

The main focus of the seder is the seder plate, which has a variety of items which are symbolic and beautiful in their interpretation.  The photograph above shows a seder plate.  I will explain each element below:

The parsley (karpas in Hebrew), represents the hyssop which was used to apply the blood of the Passover lamb to the doorposts and lentils of each of the Israelites' homes.  The karpas is dipped in salt water and eaten.  The salt water represents the tears shed that night in Egypt, and also the Red Sea through which the Hebrews escaped. 

Matzah has been explained in my last post here.

The horseradish (maror in Hebrew, for bitter herbs) are eaten on a piece of matzah.  This represents the sorrow, persecution and suffering of the people under Pharoah.  Just as the bitter herbs bring tears to our eyes, so did the suffering of our people bring tears to their eyes.  This also represents the sorrow of our lives before we accept Yeshua.

Next the bitter herbs are eaten along with charoset, which a Hebrew word also.  Charoset is a sweet mixture of chopped apples, nuts, and honey.  The charoset represents mortar used to make clay bricks by our people while slaves in Egypt.   Eating the bitter with the sweet represents the bitterness of Yeshua's death, and the sweetness of his sacrifice to set us free.    

The lamb shank bone represents the Passover lamb (Pesach sey), which is the symbol of our L-rd and Savior Yeshua.  The lamb had to be spotlessly perfect.  Yeshua was also sinless and  perfect in obedience to the Torah and the Father; therefore he could be the Passover lamb for the whole world.


Some seders include a boiled egg.  We do not because of its association with mystical religious rites of the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Babylonians.  The egg is one of the symbols of  the fertility goddess Ishtar (aka Easter).  Father G-d told us not to participate in occult practice or worship any other gods before Him.  It must make him sad that people honor Ishtar (Easter) instead of Him on Passover.

There is more, so much more, involved in the Passover seder.  To tell it all would be to write a haggadah!  So, my desire here is just to whet your appetite for more.   You would be so blessed to attend a Messianic Passover seder, and I hope you will next year! 

In Exodus 12 and Leviticus 23, G-d commanded that Passover be observed forever.  Yeshua obeyed that commandment.  You may read about it in Luke 22, Matthew 26, and John 13.   He observed the seder just prior to going to the cross.  Knowing this, you will see what is called the last supper in a whole new light.  The entire seder is a picture of our salvation from sin through Yeshua.   His death, burial and resurrection are portrayed clearly and beautifully  in the Passover seder.  My prayer and hope is that you will be blessed to attend a Messianic seder, and that you, too, will honor G-d by observing the commandment to keep Passover.

Shalom to you and yours.

I'm sharing over at Spiritual Sundays
and Faith Filled Fridays






 


Sunday, April 8, 2012

Lotsa Matzah!

Matzah (unleavened bread)
During Passover, we eat lots of Matzah!  Matzah is unleavened bread, much like a soda cracker and pretty tasteless by itself, really.  Why?  Well, let me tell you: 

In the 12th Chapter of Shemot (Exodus),  Hashem commands us to eat unleavened bread during Passover:


 14And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the L-RD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.
 15Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.
 16And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you.
 17And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever.
 18In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even.
 19Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eats that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.
 20Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.

So, during Pesach, we eat lots of matzah!  Every time, we pick it up, we see a picture of Yeshua our Messiah.  He is the Bread of Life.  That bread represents His body.   Leaven represents sin. The absence of leaven in the bread represents His sinless life.  The brown markings are like stripes, picturing the stripes he took from the beatings.  The holes in the matzah are a picture of the piercings of his body on the cross. What a beautiful, tactile symbol of G-d's sacrifice for us. 

For seven days we are reminded of the Messiah, His marvelous grace, and His blood shed our sins.

In my next post, I will explain the Passover seder.  You'll see so much more of our Messiah in its' elements.

Chag Sameach!  ( Happy Holiday)

I'm linking up to Faith filled Fridays









Passover's Beginning

The story of Passover begins in Egypt. During their 430 year sojourn in Egypt, the Israelites had become slaves.  G-d prepared Moses to lead His people out of bondage into a new life in The Promised Land.  Pharoah refused over and over through each of the nine plagues to let the people go. **

1. Blood - The waters of Egypt turned to blood. All the fish died and water became unusable.
2. Frogs - Huge frogs swarmed the land of Egypt.
3. Gnats or Lice - Masses of gnats or lice invaded Egyptian homes and plagued the Egyptian people.
4. Wild Animals - Wild animals roved the land, and killed people and livestock
5. Pestilence -The livestock of the Egyptians were struck with disease.
6. Boils - The Egyptian people were covered with  painful boils.
7. Hail - Severe weather with heavy hailstones beat down the crops of the Egyptians.
8. Locusts - Locusts swarmed the fields and ate any remaining food.
9. Darkness - Darkness covers the land of Egypt for three days.



 The tenth and final plague finally changed Pharoah's hard heart.

Moses declared that on the fateful night, an angel of death would visit each house to take the first-born child.  The Israelites would be protected on one condition.  Each family must sacrifice a lamb and place its' blood on the top and sides of the door.  G-d promised that if the angel saw the blood, it would pass over that house and spare the first born child.  Those who believed the promise did as they were told.

That night, the angel passed every house in Egypt and took the first born ones to their death.  Imagine the mourning and crying heard in the homes without the blood.  Pharoah joined the crying and moaning for his son was among the dead.  Humbled by G-d's might, he changed his mind and pronounced freedom to the Israelites.

The Passover lamb is a picture of our Messiah Yeshua (Jesus).  His blood, when applied to our lives, saves us from eternal death.  We, like the Israelites are set free from sin's bondage and begin our journey to the promised land and G-d's Kingdom.

This week, as we meditate on Yeshua's saving blood, we are reminded of G-d's mercy.  A loving G-d has provided a way to escape death, but we must obey His instructions.

Dear Friend, have you applied the blood of The Lamb?  Have you believed in Yeshua to save you from death?

**Exodus 12