Friday, June 26, 2015

Sabbath Music - Relaxing Harp




 We have had so much bad news in our country over the past couple of weeks.  I want to encourage you to "put on the garment of praise to defeat the spirit of heaviness" as the Scripture says.  Listen to this music.  Raise your hands to heaven and thank Adonai for all of the good things in your life.  The sadness will lift. 

This music is another  favorite of mine for  Sabbath worship.  I also have a CD with bird songs that I play at the same time.  I love to sit on my porch just drinking in the beauty of G-d's creation, reading the Scriptures, praying, writing in my journal.  Sometimes I draw or paint.  This is my special time with my Beloved, and I treasure it.  I hope you enjoy listening.




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I'm sharing this post with some of my friends at :

Jennifer Dukes Lee Tell His Story

Hope in Every Season Homemaking Party

Charlotte at Spiritual Sundays
My Fresh Brewed Life with Barbie – Weekend Brew

Thursday  Favorite Things

Friendship Friday 
  Faith Filled Friday at Missional Women
 Fellowship Fridays at Christian Mommy Blogger

Deliver Us, O L-rd From the Evil Man

 
Following the rulings that have come down this month from the Supreme Court, these are my thoughts:

All month long, I've prayed for the hearts and minds of the judges to be turned to G-d's ways.  That prayer was not answered.  He says homosexuality is an abomination - something evil - a deadly sin.  Revelation says people who do this will not enter the kingdom of heaven.  If He said that, then He most certainly does not agree with same-sex marriages.

Since HASHEM did not answer my prayer, I conclude that judgement will come to our country.  We will reap what has been sown.  The wages of sin is death.  You can't sow peas and reap corn.
 
Therefore, my soul is bowed down. I am grieving for the loss of my beloved country.  No longer will churches and synagogue be able to preach the whole word of G-d.  Soon, we will be like Canada, where ministers must send in their sermons three months in advance for "approval".  Preaching against homosexuality will be a hate crime.  Eventually, the Bible will be banned.  It has already been adulterated and some translations have removed the word "homosexuality". 


We must obey G-d rather than men.

We will not be the first believers to be persecuted for our faith.  We must still hold to G-d's HOLY Word. 

 Prepare for judgement
 Prepare for persecution.
 America will reap what has been sown.
 Get out of the apostate churches.
 Find a place where the TRUTH is OBEYED.
 G-d has not changed and He will repay. 

Justice is HIS.

Now that judgement is coming to America, I pray for His strength, courage, and the will to do the right thing. To speak out and take my stand for His Truth, rather than to obey men. 

We are called for such a time as this, my fellow believers. 

We can. We must.

Each night, I meditate on the Psalms before I go to bed.  This is the Psalm I read last night, and it is quite appropriate for today.

 Psalm 140 Deliver me, O L-rd, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;

2 Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.


3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips. Selah.

4 Keep me, O L-rd, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.

5 The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah.

6 I said unto the L-rd, Thou art my G-d: hear the voice of my supplications, O Lord.

7 O G-d the L-rd, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.

8 Grant not, O L-rd, the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. Selah.

9 As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.

10 Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again.

11 Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.

12 I know that the L-rd will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.

13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.


I'm glad that the Sabbath is coming this evening.  I will draw near to Him, and I know He will draw near to me.  My soul will be restored to JOY as I sit at His feet and praise Him.  He does all things well.

BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE L-RD.

Thursday, June 25, 2015

Thankful Thursday - Wild Things and Family


This week, I'm thankful for time with my family.  My youngest daughter and her family met us at the movies to see Jurassic World.  We enjoyed a very nice family time as we celebrated Father's Day. We played around with the display for The Peanuts Movie.  Looking forward to seeing that one in the Fall.


I am so thankful for my dear husband.  He is the best grandfather in the whole world, so the shirt is perfect for him.  And, my son-in-love is the best daddy in the whole wide world. I started praying for my daughters to have good husbands when they were very young.  G-d blessed them beyond my wildest dreams. 

I'm thankful, too for this surprise in my backyard this week.  I was sitting on the patio when what did I see?  A young raccoon strolling by and then jumping into our empty pond.  I grabbed my camera and started shooting.  I was amazed to see not one, but three raccoons hiding in the elephant ears. I didn't get a good shot of all three, because of the angle.  Aren't they cute?  


When they headed for the back fence, I stepped outside the patio and got a shot of them escaping the yard. When I enlarged the photos, I decided there was one adult and two young ones.  That's the adult in the front. Too bad I couldn't get a shot of all three.


We've had lots of baby birds leaving the nest this week - mockingbirds, doves, cardinals, and lots of blackbirds.  All of the parents were vigilant in protecting their babies, to the point that it's dangerous to go in the backyard.  I'm surprised they didn't attack those raccoons. 


Speaking of birds, one of our neighbors has a rooster whose crowing sounds like a Tarzan yell.  I am serious.  It just cracks me up every time I hear him.  I'm surprised no one has reported them to the county.  I had to get rid of my rooster because of his crowing.  Ah, the semi-country life...

Thankful Thursday is my day to focus on and be thankful for all of the good things in my life.  

What are you thankful for this week?

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I'm sharing this post with some of my friends at :

Jennifer Dukes Lee Tell His Story

Hope in Every Season Homemaking Party

Charlotte at Spiritual Sundays
My Fresh Brewed Life with Barbie – Weekend Brew

Thursday  Favorite Things

Friendship Friday 
  Faith Filled Friday at Missional Women
 Fellowship Fridays at Christian Mommy Blogger

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Wisdom Wednesdays - The Power of a Mother


Elisabeth Elliot in 2014 - photo from Bing.com



 Last week, I talked about my desire to be like Elisabeth Elliot, and this week will talk about her influence on me as a mother.  You can read last week's post HERE.


My role models for motherhood were my paternal grandmother and my father's sister, Aunt Inez.  I tried to emulate them, as well as the advice in the books I read.  I'm not disrespecting my mother in saying these things.  She had many problems, both physical and mental, and was incapable of teaching some things.  While I know she did the best she could, I did not want to mother as she did. Because of this, I am eternally grateful for the books authored by G-dly women.

 Elisabeth Elliot's books were very inspiring to me, and I love this quote from her book, The Shaping of a Christian Family: 

“There is no nobler career than that of motherhood at its best. 
There are no possibilities greater, and in no other sphere does failure bring more serious penalties. 
With what diligence then should she prepare herself for such a task?
 If the mechanic who is to work with “things” must study at technical school, 
if the doctor into whose skilled hands will be entrusted human lives, must go through medical school 
. . . how much more should the mother who is fashioning the souls 
of the men and women of tomorrow, 
learn at the highest of all schools and from the Master-Sculptor Himself, God.  
To attempt this task, unprepared and untrained is tragic 
and its results affect generations to come. 
On the other hand there is no higher height to which humanity can attain 
 than that occupied by a converted, heaven-inspired, praying mot her.”

I'd wanted to have children since I was five years old.  When I married, at seventeen, I had to wait three years to become pregnant, and sadly miscarried that little one after only two months.  After four years, and with great joy, I give birth to my first daughter.

I loved being a mother, and wanted more children right away, but  my husband at that time did not .  I prayed so hard for him to change his mind.  I even got on my knees and begged him.  He would not give in, but G-d had other plans.  I had to wait six long years to bear my second daughter.  After that, their father told me he didn't want any more children and had a vasectomy.  I was heartbroken.  All of my life I'd longed to have five children, and my dreams were squashed.  Our marriage was not a good one, and we were divorced after eighteen years.


photo from Bing.com
Though I could not have more children, I set my goal to be the best mother I could.  I studied the Bible, and read every Christian book on the subject that I could get my hands on. Our church had a big library, and I'm sure I read every book on marriage and motherhood in that collection.  I attended classes and listened to speakers to learn everything I could about rearing children. 


It wasn't always easy to rear them to obey G-d, and I certainly was not a perfect mother.  Neither are they perfect people, but I'm pleased and happy to tell you that they are wonderful women and I am very proud of them.  When we get together, they love to say I was the meanest mother in the world because I wouldn't let them watch MTV.  This was back in the 80's when it first came out. 


Just as I took very seriously my role as a mother, I also took seriously my role as a prayer warrior. I began praying for them to surrender to Yeshua very early on, and both were baptized as believers while very young.  I also prayed for them to have good husbands, even though I had no idea what that meant.  My father was an alcoholic, and certainly was not a model husband.

Because of G-d's grace, I am happy to report that both of my daughters have wonderful husbands.  They are all that I hoped for and more.  Even more surprising, my Heavenly Father gave me a wonderful husband, too. Rabbi Jem and I were married nine years ago, and I'm blessed to find true love in my old age.  Our story is a beautiful one, and we're writing a book about it.

Now that my daughters are adults, my role as a mother has most certainly changed.  My role as a prayer warrior for them, however, has not.  I still take that role very seriously, and continue to pray for them regularly and specifically.  My wisdom has grown through my study and application of the Torah and Messianic Judaism, so my prayers have expanded in their scope.  You can read some of  my prayers in my blog series 31 Days of Praying for Our Children.

Do you have a testimony of the power of a mother ?

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I'm sharing this post with some of my friends at :

Jennifer Dukes Lee Tell His Story

Hope in Every Season Homemaking Party

Charlotte at Spiritual Sundays
My Fresh Brewed Life with Barbie – Weekend Brew

Thursday  Favorite Things

Friendship Friday 
  Faith Filled Friday at Missional Women
 Fellowship Fridays at Christian Mommy Blogger

Friday, June 19, 2015

Sabbath Music - A Song I Love


That sweet and blessed day is almost here. Time with the Beloved.  Time to draw aside and rest, worship, and renew ourselves after a long week.  Aren't you glad that He loves us so much that He made a special day for that?  

Here is the song we sing each week, following our Erev Shabbat service.  I remember the first time I heard and sang this song at a friend's home celebration.  It's a happy memory.

Each week we sing this song, clap, and smile at each other around the circle.  Such a sweet time with our synagogue family.  At the end, we say, "Let's Eat!"  




Thursday, June 18, 2015

Thankful Thursday - My Country and More


Did you celebrate Flag Day?  We always do.  My patriotic husband takes a long time to put little flags all over our front yard.  I am proud and thankful to be an American.  I love this country and am flying my flag with gusto.  Do you get angry, as I do, when someone burns or stomps on our flag? I think it's shameful to enjoy the benefits and blessings of this great country and then slap it in the face.

Thankful also, that hubby and I found a new and very nice restaurant near where we live.  They are proud of our flag, too.














Thankful that our neighborhood Lowe's has fallen in love with flamingos, like I have. Look! A whole flock has come in.




Thankful for my new Veggetti.  It makes spaghetti out of zucchini and yellow squash.  I love it, but am having trouble finding exactly how long to cook it before it turns to mush.  Doesn't this look like a zucchini pencil?



Thankful for a recent trip to the Florida Folk Festival in White Springs, Florida.  This has been on my bucket list for thirty years.  We had a great time listening to music, story-tellers, dancing, and enjoying a beautiful, cool day at Stephen Foster Memorial.  I even joined in a sing-along with the shaped note singers. It was so much fun, and the song I joined in on was The Golden Harp! How appropriate, since my name is Golden and I'm learning to play the harp, which has also been on my bucket list for a long time. 




Most of all, I'm thankful for our weekly play day with my precious grandson.  We took him to the library and signed him up for the reading club.  He's only five, but can read on a third grade level, thanks to his home-schooling parents. He loves puppets.



Thankful Thursday is my day to focus on and be grateful for all the good things in my life.

What are you thankful for this week?

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I'm sharing this post with some of my friends at :
Jennifer Dukes Lee Tell His Story
Lyli at Thought Provoking Thursdays at 3D Lessons 4Life
Hope in Every Season Homemaking Party
Laura on Faith Filled Friday at Missional Women
Fellowship Fridays at Christian Mommy Blogger
Charlotte at Spiritual Sundays
My Fresh Brewed Life with Barbie – Weekend Brew

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Wisdom Wednesdays - Faith in Hard Times




The display in the photo above was posted several months ago, following the death of twenty-one Coptic Christians in Libya.  Weren't we all horrified that such a thing could happen in our day and time?  Since then, many more have been killed by these Muslims.  They are threatening to do the same in America. 

This ties in with the sad news that Elizabeth Elliot passed away this week. Her husband, and fellow missionary, was a also martyr for His faith. 

Elisabeth's book, Through Gates of Splendor, tells the story of  ministry with her husband, Jim Elliot, to natives in Equador.  Jim was killed by the natives to whom they ministered.  Elisabeth's faith never failed.  She clung to the hand of Adonai through that difficult time, and continued to grow in her faith and ministry.  The movie, The End of the Spear, tells the story of Jim's death, and later the conversion of those same natives through Elisabeth's ministry. 

 http://reneeannsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/elisabeth-and-kids.jpg

Her writing greatly impacted my life when I was in my thirties, and I learned a great deal from her about faith. I still aspire to have her kind of constant, unfailing trust.  This quote touched me:


God shields us from most of the things we fear,
but when He chooses not to shield us,
He unfailingly allots grace in the measure needed.
It is for us to choose to receive or refuse it.
Our joy or our misery will depend on that choice.
Elisabeth Elliot

G-d never promised a life without problems, but He did promise to be with us in the hard times.  I learned from Elisabeth Elliot's story and other believers such as Catherine Marshall, Dale Evans, and George Mueller and looked at them as my faith mentors.  Their stories helped me when I went through my own dark, hard times.

This verse encourages me when I walk through a dark valley:

We are hard-pressed on every side,
yet not crushed;
we are perplexed,
 but not in despair;
persecuted,
but not forsaken;
struck down,
but not destroyed.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9


We live in a day when believers in Yeshua are being persecuted and even killed for their faith.  We, too, may have to suffer.  I pray for my faith to stay firm through whatever comes in my life.  I know His grace will carry me through if I continue to cling to His hand. 

G-d's presence, comfort and guidance in my life while I've faced hardship have been a constant.  Every trial has taught me more about His love and grace.  Through hardship, I've learned to lean into His strength, and have been taught knowledge about Him that no one can ever take away from me.  I can say, with all sincerity, "He is my beloved.  Entreat me not to leave Him.  He is lovely.  He is beautiful."

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I'm sharing this post with some of my friends at :
Jennifer Dukes Lee Tell His Story
Lyli at Thought Provoking Thursdays at 3D Lessons 4Life
Hope in Every Season Homemaking Party
Laura on Faith Filled Friday at Missional Women
Fellowship Fridays at Christian Mommy Blogger
Charlotte at Spiritual Sundays
My Fresh Brewed Life with Barbie – Weekend Brew

Friday, June 12, 2015

Sabbath Music - Choose Life




Oh, how blessed we are to have this special day of rest.  I enjoy the Sabbath so much.  Our Heavenly Father said, "Draw near to Me, and I will draw near to you."  What a wonderful promise.  I look forward to spending the day with Him, and music is a big part of our time together. 

Each week, I plan the music for our Shabbat service and I love the music of Lenny and Varda.  Before Rabbi Jem and I married and began our ministry, I attended a congregation where they were the music leaders.  I always enjoyed their music.  Here are a few of their songs to enjoy on your Sabbath.  I especially love the song, "I Choose Life", and the dance videos.  I try not to ever miss a chance to dance, and the Sabbath is the BEST!

Enjoy your Sabbaath, and don't miss a chance to dance to this lovely worship music. L'Chaim !






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I'm sharing this post with some of my friends at :
Jennifer Dukes Lee Tell His Story
Lyli at Thought Provoking Thursdays at 3D Lessons 4Life
Hope in Every Season Homemaking Party
Laura on Faith Filled Friday at Missional Women
Fellowship Fridays at Christian Mommy Blogger
Charlotte at Spiritual Sundays
My Fresh Brewed Life with Barbie – Weekend Brew