Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Wisdom Wednesdays - Sukkot JOY!

 “You shall keep the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days,
when you have gathered in the produce from your

 threshing floor and your wine press. 
You shall rejoice in your feast,
you and your son and your daughter, 

your male servant and your female servant,
the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, 

and the widow who are within your towns.
For seven days you shall keep the feast to the L-rd your G-d at the place that the L-rd will choose, because the L-rd your G-d will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands,
so that you will be altogether JOYFUL.


“Three times a year all your males shall appear before the L-rd your G-d at the place that He will choose:  at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Booths.
They shall not appear before the L-rd empty-handed.
Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the L-rd your G-d that he has given you.  
Deuteronomy 16:13-17 

The Scriptures speak of making a pilgrimage to the temple in Jerusalem, but since the temple has been destroyed, we can't do that.  In modern times, we attend the synagogue and give a special gift for Him on these three Feasts.

The L-rd outlines his instructions about the Feast of Tabernacles three times, in Leviticus 23, Numbers 29 and Deuteronomy 16. 

It is a time that He wants His people to recognize His provision for them, just as He provided for the children of Israel during the exodus from Egypt.  

He has also commanded his people to REJOICE! G-d wants us to go through this process of remembering, thanking Him, giving to Him, and rejoicing in His goodness to us.

After we built our sukkah, we looked back and remembered His provision at different times in our lives.  I love to hear these stories. It's so easy to rejoice when we remember His faithfulness. 

G-d has blessed us abundantly - and we are REJOICING!



~~~~~~~~~~~~

 I sometimes share my posts  with  friends at:


Charlotte aSpiritual SundaysSpiritual Sundays     Janis with Sunday Stillness       THE SUNDAY COMMUNITY – #GIVE ME GRACE @SEE SPEAK HEAR MAMA Kathy’s Return to Loveliness at A Delightsome Life     GRAND Social       The Beauty in His Grip Link-Up   


MOTIVATION MONDAYS – @EMBRACINGHISWILL      SHARING HIS BEAUTY – @THEBEAUTYINHISGRIP
Titus 2 Tuesday     Share Your Stuff Tuesday    TITUS TUESDAYS @CORNERSTONE CONFESSIONS     

Wordless Wednesdays    Jennifer Dukes Lee Tell His Story  Teaching What Is Good Link-Up      

 A Hope in Every Season Homemaking Link-Up    Judith’s Wholehearted Wednesday     Raising Homemakers Wednesday     A Wise Woman Builds       Wake Up Wednesday     A Little R & R Wednesday     Wednesday's Prayer Girls & Link-Up Party

 Thought Provoking Thursdays at 3D Lessons 4Life     Thursday  Favorite Things Home and Garden Thursday at Delightsome Life


STILL SATURDAYS @SANDRAHESKAKING     PLAYDATES @LAURABOGGESS

 My Fresh Brewed Life with Barbie – Weekend Brew

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

A Poem for Sukkot

One of our sukkahs from the past

I ran across this poem this week, and think it is perfect for Sukkot.  It mentions the wilderness march and G-d's provision during the exodus from Egypt.  It is appropriate because as we observe this feast, we pause to remember and be thankful. 


He was better to me than all my hopes;
He was better than all my fears;
He made a bridge of my broken works,
And a rainbow of my tears.
 
The billows that guarded my sea-girt path,
But carried my L-rd on their crest;
When I dwell on the days of my wilderness march
I can lean on His love for the rest.
 
He emptied my hands of my treasured store,
And His covenant love revealed,
There was not a wound in my aching heart,
But the balm of His breath hath healed.
 
Oh, tender and true was the chastening sore,
In wisdom, that taught and tried,
Till the soul that He sought was trusting in Him,
And nothing on earth beside.
 
He guided by paths that I could not see,
By ways that I have not known;
The crooked was straight, and the rough was plain
As I followed the L-rd alone.
 
I praise Him still for the pleasant palms,
And the water-springs by the way,
For the glowing pillar of flame by night,
And the sheltering cloud by day.
 
Never a watch on the dreariest halt,
But some promise of love endears;
I read from the past, that my future shall be
Far better than all my fears.
 
Like the golden pot, of the wilderness bread,
Laid up with the blossoming rod,
All safe in the ark, with the law of the L-rd,
Is the, covenant care of my G-d.
(author unknown) 

The poem expresses much of my own experience.  The hard things have taught me to trust Him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

 I sometimes share my posts  with  friends at:


Charlotte aSpiritual SundaysSpiritual Sundays     Janis with Sunday Stillness       THE SUNDAY COMMUNITY – #GIVE ME GRACE @SEE SPEAK HEAR MAMA Kathy’s Return to Loveliness at A Delightsome Life     GRAND Social       The Beauty in His Grip Link-Up   


MOTIVATION MONDAYS – @EMBRACINGHISWILL      SHARING HIS BEAUTY – @THEBEAUTYINHISGRIP
Titus 2 Tuesday     Share Your Stuff Tuesday    TITUS TUESDAYS @CORNERSTONE CONFESSIONS     

Wordless Wednesdays    Jennifer Dukes Lee Tell His Story  Teaching What Is Good Link-Up      

 A Hope in Every Season Homemaking Link-Up    Judith’s Wholehearted Wednesday     Raising Homemakers Wednesday     A Wise Woman Builds       Wake Up Wednesday     A Little R & R Wednesday     Wednesday's Prayer Girls & Link-Up Party

 Thought Provoking Thursdays at 3D Lessons 4Life     Thursday  Favorite Things Home and Garden Thursday at Delightsome Life


STILL SATURDAYS @SANDRAHESKAKING     PLAYDATES @LAURABOGGESS

 My Fresh Brewed Life with Barbie – Weekend Brew


Monday, September 28, 2015

Sukkot - Happy Days


Sunday at sundown, we were out in the backyard building our sukkah.  A big thundercloud was approaching, so we had to hurry.  I say "we", but it was the men who built it - including my grandson. He loves to build things.



They worked very hard in the 90-degree heat.  G-d bless them.  While building the sukkah, Rabbi Jem was teaching our grandson about the Feast of Tabernacles, and why we build the sukkah each year.  You can learn more about Sukkot HERE.



 My daughter and I did help decorate.  That was fun!  



Then we had some "sittin in the sukkah" time.  We waved the lulav, too, but I forgot to take pictures of that.  

When it was almost dark, we headed down to the river to watch the super moon rise.  It was very cloudy, so we didn't get to see much of it.





The moon only peeked through the clouds for a few minutes, so we went back home to sit by the fire pit and roast hot dogs and make s'mores.  What a wonderful celebration !  

~~~~~~~~~~~~

 I sometimes share my posts  with  friends at:

Charlotte aSpiritual SundaysSpiritual Sundays     Janis with Sunday Stillness       THE SUNDAY COMMUNITY – #GIVE ME GRACE @SEE SPEAK HEAR MAMA Kathy’s Return to Loveliness at A Delightsome Life     GRAND Social       The Beauty in His Grip Link-Up   

MOTIVATION MONDAYS – @EMBRACINGHISWILL      SHARING HIS BEAUTY – @THEBEAUTYINHISGRIP
Titus 2 Tuesday     Share Your Stuff Tuesday    TITUS TUESDAYS @CORNERSTONE CONFESSIONS     

Wordless Wednesdays    Jennifer Dukes Lee Tell His Story  Teaching What Is Good Link-Up      

 A Hope in Every Season Homemaking Link-Up    Judith’s Wholehearted Wednesday     Raising Homemakers Wednesday     A Wise Woman Builds       Wake Up Wednesday     A Little R & R Wednesday     Wednesday's Prayer Girls & Link-Up Party

 Thought Provoking Thursdays at 3D Lessons 4Life     Thursday  Favorite Things Home and Garden Thursday at Delightsome Life

STILL SATURDAYS @SANDRAHESKAKING     PLAYDATES @LAURABOGGESS
 My Fresh Brewed Life with Barbie – Weekend Brew

Saturday, September 26, 2015

31 Days of Garden Tours


Greetings, Gail-Friends.  During October, I'll be posting a daily series, "31 Days of Garden Tours".  I hope you'll stop by and see the beautiful gardens (and ponds) I've visited this year.  Enjoy!

I'm joining the 31 Day Blog Event 

Day 1- The Secret Garden Tour
Day 2 - part 2 of the Secret Garden Tour
Day 3 - part 3 of the Secret Garden Tour
Day 4 - part 4 of the Secret Garden Tour
Day 5 - part 5 of the Secret Garden Tour
Day 6 - part 6 of the Secret Garden Tour
Day 7 - part 7 of the Secret Garden Tour 
Day 8 - part 1 of Kim Raney's Garden, Merritt Island, Florida
Day 9 - part 2 of Kim Raney's Garden, Merritt Island, Florida 
Day 10 - Hunt Family Garden, Merritt Island, Florida
Day 11 - part 1 of Becky Naylor's Garden, Rockledge, Florida
Day 12 - part 2 of Becky Naylor's Garden
Day 13 - part 3 of Becky Naylor's Garden
Day 14 - 2015 Ace Hardware Garden and Pond Tour - Nam and Charlie Jones Garden, Palm Bay, Florida
Day 15 - Ace Tour - part 1 of Dolly Wolf's Garden, Melbourne, FL
Day 16 - Ace Tour - part 2 of Dolly Wolf's Garden
Day 17 - Ace Tour - part 3 of Dolly Wolf's Garden
Day 18 - Ace Tour - Bencivenga Garden, Sattelite Beach, Florida
Day 19 - Ace Tour - Hendrix Garden, Merritt Island, Florida
Day 20 - Ace Tour - Fallon Garden, Merritt Island, Florida
Day 21 - Ace Tour - Part 1 of Powell Xeriscape Garden, Merritt Island, Florida
Day 22 - Ace Tour - Part 2 of Powell Xeriscape Garden
Day 23 - Ace Tour - The Enchanted Forest, Titusville, Florida
Day 24 - A Bird Lover's Garden, Jacksonville, Florida
Day 25 - Pritchard House Garden, Titusville, Florida
Day 26 - Part 1 of the Lord's Garden, Titusville, Florida
Day 27 - Part 2 of the Lord's Garden
Day 28 - Part 1 of FIT's Botanical Gardens, Melbourne, Florida
Day 29 - Part 2 of FIT's Botanical Gardens
Day 30 -  The Golden Cottage
Day 31 - The Garden of Gethsemane in Jerusalem, Israel



~~~~~~~~~~~
I sometimes share my posts  with these friends:


Charlotte at Spiritual Sundays    Janis with Sunday Stillness       THE SUNDAY COMMUNITY – #GIVE ME GRACE @SEE SPEAK HEAR MAMA Kathy’s Return to Loveliness at A Delightsome Life     GRAND Social       The Beauty in His Grip Link-Up  
STILL SATURDAYS @SANDRAHESKAKING     PLAYDATES @LAURABOGGESS

 My Fresh Brewed Life with Barbie – Weekend Brew



Modest Mom Monday Link-up         Growing Homemakers Link-Up        The Gathering Spot Link-Up MOTIVATION MONDAYS – @EMBRACINGHISWILL      
 
Titus 2 Tuesday     Share Your Stuff Tuesday    TITUS TUESDAYS @CORNERSTONE CONFESSIONS     

Wordless Wednesdays    Jennifer Dukes Lee Tell His Story  Teaching What Is Good Link-Up       A Hope in Every Season Homemaking Link-Up    Judith’s Wholehearted Wednesday     Raising Homemakers Wednesday     A Wise Woman Builds       Wake Up Wednesday     A Little R & R Wednesday     Wednesday's Prayer Girls & Link-Up Party

 Thought Provoking Thursdays at 3D Lessons 4Life     Thursday  Favorite Things Home and Garden Thursday at Delightsome Life



Friday, September 25, 2015

Sabbath Music - Sukkot Song & Dancing


Greetings, Gail-Friends.  Our final Fall feast is upon us, so I'm preparing for Shabbat and also for Sukkot.  Tonight, we will combine our Shabbat service with teaching about the Feast of Tabernacles.  We'll be teaching how to build a sukkah in your backyard, or even your patio if you live in an apartment.  If you've never observed this feast, you can learn more HERE.

Sukkot begins at sundown on Sunday evening, which is also the evening that a full red moon (also called a blood moon) will be seen.  I'm not sure what time it will be seen here in Florida, but I look forward to seeing it through the roof of our sukkah. 

Here is a wonderful song and dance for Sukkot by Steve McConnell.  I hope you have a blessed Sabbath and a joyful Sukkot celebration this week.  We will have nine days to celebrate in our sukkahs -- nine days of  JOY!




~~~~~~~

 I sometimes share my posts  with  friends at :



Charlotte at Spiritual Sundays
Janis with Sunday Stillness

THE SUNDAY COMMUNITY – #GIVE ME GRACE @SEE SPEAK HEAR MAMA



MOTIVATION MONDAYS – @EMBRACINGHISWILL

SHARING HIS BEAUTY – @THEBEAUTYINHISGRIP

Share Your Stuff Tuesday 

TITUS TUESDAYS @CORNERSTONE CONFESSIONS 

Wordless Wednesdays   

 Jennifer Dukes Lee Tell His Story
Thursday  Favorite Things

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

STILL SATURDAYS @SANDRAHESKAKING
PLAYDATES @LAURABOGGESS

 My Fresh Brewed Life with Barbie – Weekend Brew

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Thankful Thursday - Yom Kippur Blessings


On Tuesday of this week, we observed Yom Kippur with a service at our synagogue.  This day is always one of reverence, as we complete the ten days of awe.  During the service we reflect on our sins.  I'm always amazed that there are some that have snuck back in.  For me, it's complaining.  I asked forgiveness once again, and thanked Him for the blood of Yeshua that pays atonement for my sin.

We also reflect on any vows we have made that we did not fulfill.  We remember that Yeshua said it is best to let your yes be yes, and your no be no.  We ask to be released from any vows we made rashly and without proper sincerity and forethought.  

Another part of the service is the Torah procession.  As the Torah is paraded around the room, we keep our eyes on it, not turning our backs on it.  We kiss our matzurs and touch the Torah, because G-d's Word is like honey to our lips.  We are reminded that we are representing the Torah wherever we go, in whatever we say and do, which is humbling.


I'm thankful for Yom Kippur, because it is a needed reminder as we close the old year, and begin the new.  We spend the day in quiet reflection about the past, present and future of our lives.  It is a necessary discipline, because remembering is important.   G-d requires obedience and deserves our very best.  Our desire is to live holy lives for His glory.

Before I became a Messianic Jew, I was like everyone else around me in the church...treating sin lightly and taking His blood for granted. A deep, repetituve study of Torah changed that mindset.  His sacrifice meant more to me when I learned how much blood was required to pay for all the sins of the people.  Yom Kippur reminds me.  It humbles me, and makes me more and more thankful with each passing year.

This is one of the songs we sang at the service  Be blessed as you remember His mercy for your sins.



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?
*****************
 I sometimes share my posts  with  friends at :






Charlotte at Spiritual Sundays
Janis with Sunday Stillness

THE SUNDAY COMMUNITY – #GIVE ME GRACE @SEE SPEAK HEAR MAMA





 Jennifer Dukes Lee Tell His Story
Thursday  Favorite Things

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

STILL SATURDAYS @SANDRAHESKAKING
PLAYDATES @LAURABOGGESS

 My Fresh Brewed Life with Barbie – Weekend Brew

Friday, September 18, 2015

Sabbath Music - And Dancing



“Remember the day, Shabbat, to set it apart for G-d. 
(Exodus 20:8)

After a busy week, I'm looking forward to slowing down this evening, resting and being refreshed.  The Sabbath is always sweet, like the apples and honey we've eaten during Rosh Hashanah this week. 

Here is a beautiful song for the Sabbath, with a beautiful dance, too. Enjoy, and may your Sabbath rest be sweet.




************
 I sometimes share my posts  with  friends at :






Charlotte at Spiritual Sundays
Janis with Sunday Stillness

THE SUNDAY COMMUNITY – #GIVE ME GRACE @SEE SPEAK HEAR MAMA





 Jennifer Dukes Lee Tell His Story
Thursday  Favorite Things

Friendship Friday 
  Faith Filled Friday at Missional Women   
STILL SATURDAYS @SANDRAHESKAKING

PLAYDATES @LAURABOGGESS

 My Fresh Brewed Life with Barbie – Weekend Brew

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Thankful Thursday - New Year Blessings


Wow! What a busy week.  Especially this past Sunday.  We enjoyed grandparents day with our grandson, had a wedding at the synagogue at 5:00, and then our Rosh Hashanah service at 6:30.  What a JOY-filled day.


 The happy couple, rabbi and moi.  We've had two weddings within the last month and we always love this part:


Breaking the glass  -  MAZEL TOV !
Our dear friend, Barbara, made a wonderful round challah for Rosh Hashanah.  It was filled with apples and sweet spices.  So good!  Isn't it beautiful?





Here's a close up view.  She always makes a little, round piece of bread that is just for the rabbi.  On Shabbat, it always has a raisin in it.  I am so thankful for her bread-baking skills, but also because she is a dear friend, and like a sister to me.


I'm thankful for books and libraries.  I've loved books and reading ever since I was a little girl.  Rabbi Jem and I enjoy taking our grandson to the local library every week.  He attends the Independent Readers Group, even though he's only five years old.  Our librarian, Ms Twila, has activities to go along with the books read each week. 
 
This week, the books were about foxes.  The children made fox masks, and he really got into being "Fox Boy" when we decided to watch Bat Man and Robin (1966) later that afternoon.  I made him a Fox Boy cape, and he ran around the house until he was pooped. 

Boys!  They are so much fun.  I always get a good night's sleep after he's been here for the day.



I'm thankful to live where I can walk out in my front yard and watch rockets take off.  This is an Atlas V and it had a strange smoke trail.  At first I thought it had blown up, but it was a phenomena caused by the hot air meeting the cool morning air, along with the rising sun's effect on the plume.  It was a beautiful sight to see.  In this area, we are all thankful to see launches again.  The closing of the shuttle program had a devastating effect on our local economy. 

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?
*****************
 I sometimes share my posts  with  friends at :





Charlotte at Spiritual Sundays
Janis with Sunday Stillness

THE SUNDAY COMMUNITY – #GIVE ME GRACE @SEE SPEAK HEAR MAMA





 Jennifer Dukes Lee Tell His Story
Thursday  Favorite Things

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

STILL SATURDAYS @SANDRAHESKAKING
PLAYDATES @LAURABOGGESS

 My Fresh Brewed Life with Barbie – Weekend Brew


 '