Waiting For My (Sabbath Keeping, Torah Observant, Festival loving) Prince Charming!

I have 4 daughters, and to be honest I have thought about this for them.  I pray my girls all have Torah observant husbands someday, and that they don't grow to be discouraged as they wait on the Lord. I see a frustration among our young, amazing Torah keeping ladies who have grown up in this movement.  Many are in small communities, even home groups, where the selection of a possible spouse is not ideal.  You are waiting and longing to run a home of your own, raise a family and desire a equally yoked spouse to love. But where is he???? Does God really know the desires of your heart? You've quoted that verse to yourself almost daily.  You are thinking..."What more can I do?"  Should I go travel and find that man that got has for me?  Online Torah dating sites?  Hop from community to community, praying he is there!? Go to Israel and get him right from the Holy Land?  My dear, sweet young lady who is waiting for her Torah observant prince charming. Here are 3 steps to help you in your time of waiting, even though they may not be what you want to hear.

1. Serve and Minister to others.  This is such a great time to serve those who need help.  Focus on serving the Lord and others while you wait.  Being a single woman, your time is valuable and precious, use it for the Lord.  Your community needs ladies like you to be active in meal trains, baby/wedding showers, nursery, teaching, singing, kitchen duty or a mother's assistant.  There is always a need. This serves many purposes.  You are serving and ministering, you are taking the focus off yourself, you are not idle and you are building character of which will be needed if God places a husband in your life.
2. Seek the Lord, not a husband.   I love the saying, "A woman's heart should be so lost in God, that a man must seek Him in order to find her."  Ladies, don't settle for anything less than a man after God's own heart.  He must seek the Lord, and then he will find YOU!  You do not need to go on husband hunting trip around the country.  God is quite capable of bringing him to you when He deems you both ready and capable of marriage.  You need to make sure you are ready spiritually, so when the time comes, you will not have regrets or delays. There are temptations all around you. Satan is trying to steal your purity and give you a feeling of incompleteness and unsettled spirit.  That is not of God. Pray, pray, pray. Be on your knees in prayer to make you complete in the Lord.  Remember, the best gift you can give to your future husband, is to be able to tell him that you saved yourself for him.  Your purity of thoughts, actions and body are ready to be given to the one God has planned you.
3. Helpmate skills.   I know my husband could have benefited from me taking a cooking class or two.  If you can't boil an egg or sew a button on a shirt, then use this time of waiting to better yourself.  Compile a list of things you want to learn and start researching the best way to achieve this skill.  Some ideas would be: sewing, cooking(gotta know how to make Challah!), teaching, knitting, making natural products(soap, toothpaste, deodorant, candles, ect), personal finance, farming, gardening, learning Hebrew or, organizational skills.  Look into reading blogs, books, learning from a mentor, a college class, or a class at church.

You may say, " I am doing all those things, now what?" 
Continue to wait.  Don't rush God's timing.  Don't take things into your own hands, if God is not directing you.  If you want God's best, then let Him guide your path.  Surround yourself with like-minded girlfriends.  Encourage each other and keep each other accountable in God's Word.  Be content where you are and with Him.  Yes, God said He will give us the desires of our heart, but make sure your desires are lining up with His.  Is it His desire that you marry right now..or dare I say, at all?  Pray for His desire to fill your heart and to give you peace about it.  He will either grow that desire to marry or He will replace it with what He has called you to do.  Make sure you are open to receiving what He has in store for you. Ladies, you are so precious and I want you to be full of love, joy and peace. Yes, marriage is a wonderful and amazing commitment, but your journey with the Lord is where true love lies.

Ministry of a Pastor's Wife

When we started this Messianic ministry almost 10 years ago, I had 2 small children, and 2 more that would arrive eventually.  I was at home, drinking coffee all day and changing diapers.  How was I going to contribute to this ministry?   I am not a public speaker, I don't sing and I can't even play the piano! Don't ALL pastor's wives at least sing and play the piano?  I'm just not fit to be one.  Unfortunately, I was stressing myself out over all the ministries I thought I needed to head up or be in charge of since we were a church plant, starting from scratch. Thankfully, my wise and level-headed husband told me no. He was protecting me from myself.  Things will work out. Focus on our home, you have enough on your plate. And boy was he right, once the 4th child arrived, we were starting homeschool, then the sports, music lessons, and field trips.
  This is my ministry.
My children, my husband, my home.  Yeshua as the center, this is my first calling. Little did I know, that my ministry at home, helped my husband minister to others.  Knowing that we were all safe at home, helped him focus on God's calling on his life.  He was so focused that his days would often turn into nights.  There was one night that helped me put everything into perspective.  It was a normal day of children, tantrums and someone peeing on the floor.  It was getting late, and my husband was still not home.  So, I proceeded to make dinner and do the bedtime routine.  After the kids were in bed, I indulged in a chocolate snack to congratulate myself on surviving another day.  It was now almost 11pm.  I started thinking, I should call and ask when he plans on being home.  Probably not in a nice tone. But, I withheld my nagging flesh and told myself that he has a good reason.  So I waited. This is my ministry. 
Little did I know that at that time, a young man was wondering from church to church desperate for Yeshua, only to come to locked doors and darkened windows. Until he came to our church.  The door was "accidently" unlocked.  The doors are always locked after hours.  This young man looked down the hallway and saw a glimmer of light coming from under a door.  Under the door of my husbands office.  He proceeded down the hallway and knocked.  My husband was able to pray with this young man and lead him to Yeshua.
  This is my ministry.
If I had called and bugged him, he may have left and completely missed this God appointed time.  This is what it's all about.  Souls for Yeshua. I've come to realize that this is our ministry.  Together we serve in different ways. Together we support each other.  Together we love this community of believers.

Surviving the Family Feud Because You Follow Torah: 5 Tips to Help You Cope

Yeshua told us His truth and Word would divide families, but it has never been more true when we start following Torah.  Being in the Messianic family for 15 years, almost everyone I have spoken to has had a falling out with family or friends due to us wanting a deeper relationship with Yeshua.  You would expect those who love you to be excited for these new found truths, and you eagerly share them, thinking they must want to know too.  You are sadly mistaken.  Some quietly respect your decision and others may exclude you from family affairs.  Friends start becoming unavailable and eventually disappear all together.  I remember feeling hurt and saddened over the loss.  You are not alone.  You are loved dear sister, we have a beautiful hope and peace through Yeshua.  Let's immerse ourselves in His promises to make it through these difficult times.
These are 5 tips that have helped me in my journey and I pray that they are a balm for your heart.

1. Be in prayer.
 Pray for those who persecute you.  Pray for a softening of their hearts to respect your choices and for them to be open to listening.  Pray for God to give you the words to say that will be effective and not cause strife.  Pray for yourself.   Pray for the Ruach to fill you with peace, love, patience and a joy that flows out of you and touches the lives around you.

2. Include them.
 In defense, we want to pull away and cut them off.  Some relationships that may be damaging to your family, may call for severing. But in most cases, we need to continue to reach out. They are afraid of what they do not know, and will pull away.   This is where we can show them the love of Yeshua, through our actions and not our words.  Invite them to Passover Seder dinners and other functions at your church. Make sure you are having regular dinners , birthdays, 4th of July, and attending soccer games that involves your family.  Talk freely of your last Sabbath sermon you heard last week and share your plans for the upcoming Sukkot Camping you are attending.  You may get some blank stares and nods, but you are slowing informing them so they get more comfortable with your new life changes.

3. Love them.
Friendships may pass along the wayside, but try to end on a loving note.  I have realized certain friendships were meant for a season in my life, for which I will always be thankful.  God, in His faithfulness, has given me friendships 100 fold in my journey to ease the pain of the ones lost.  But, family is here to stay.  Love them through this transition.  It maybe a month or even years.  Call and tell them you love them.  Send them a thoughtful text or card. Give and love freely!

4.Forgive.
I know of instances where harsh words were exchanged, resentment, and slander has occurred and this can cause great divides. Hurt and pain on both sides. Forgive them.  As followers of Yeshua, we do not have a choice.  That is no way to begin our path following Torah, if we have unforgiveness in our heart.

5.  Be Ready.
Be ready with answers to why you do what you do.  If you are following the above steps: Praying, Including them in your life, showing love and forgiveness...eventually, they will ask.  Be Ready!  Have a simple answer and scripture, just in case they want to open their Bible.   Say everything in love.  We want to provoke them to jealousy, so they desire a deeper relationship with Yeshua.

The DEEP VBS 2018

We were bubbling up with excitement over this under the water theme!  

"They see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the DEEP."

Psalm 107:24

Here is an over view of our week.  (For more of a complete lesson plan, contact me!)

Day 1- The Trenches- Deep Faith-

Day 2-The Reef- Calm in the Storm

Day 3-Goin' Fishin'- Obedience 

Day 4- The Well- Salvation

Each of these lessons was a classroom on rotation as well.  

Example: Day 1

Minute to Win it- Ice Breaker Games- Crab Ball-Kids wear oven mitts and transfer ping pong balls

Welcome

Rules

Worship- We used the music from Submerged VBS. CD is up for purchase on Lifeway or on Youtube.

Lesson:  Today we are headed to the TRENCHES.  A trench is a long narrow, deep cut in the ocean floor.  It's pretty deep.  We are going DEEP today. How our faith has to run deep inside of us to keep us a float or we may end up sinking.  Are you going to be a floater or a sinker?  When you have big waves coming at you in life, will you have the FAITH it takes to float thru it or will you sink in despair.  When we believe, we have FAITH.  But it's up to you what you will believe in. Will you have faith in yourself or man OR will you put your faith in Yeshua/Jesus and His ability?  In your devo time you will discuss the bible story about Peter.  He had faith, but he allowed fear to enter his heart and mind and he started to sink in the water.  So how can you build your faith in Yeshua and stand strong on it so you won't sink!  What is faith?  Having complete trust and confidence in Someone or something.  Even though we may not see that person or thing.  Do you believe you have a heart?  Are you sure? Why? (allow kids to answer)  You can't see your heart, but you know it's there.  How about the air?  You can't see it, but you know it's there.  You see evidence of it.  We were not there when Jesus died on the cross and rose again, but we were told and there were several hundred eye witnesses.  Where can we read about that again???? Oh yes, the bible!

(prepare a giant set of colorful keys, with the words, Faith, Love, Healing, Fear and Joy)

Now keys are used for all sorts of things.  Mostly to unlock things like my car, my house, the office or a safe.  But today, I want to talk about a key that unlocks things we didn't even think about.  Now, when we have the key of FAITH, it unlocks so many other doors in life.  It unlocks the power of God in your life. When we have the key of FAITH in God, it can unlock things like: Love for others, Healing when we doubted, Fears, and Joy!  Make sure you have faith in Yeshua, and you will have the key to walk out your faith in Him.  Do you have the faith to be a floater or will you sink in your disbelief.

Dr Marine Biologist:  Dr. Holly Mackeral

 Object Lesson: Do you have faith?  Need: Slush Powder, water, 2 cups and volunteer(full object lesson found on Youtube.)

Memory Verse:  "That your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Puppet Skit-Petey and Ms. Judy

Rotation Begins: 1 hour duration

Rejoin in Sanctuary at 7:45 for Musical Practice

8pm Dismiss

Pinterest helped me make these awesome coral reefs!

Check in and name tag station

Stage area and puppet stage

The rotation:  The kids visit a different station every night, and my teachers teach the same lesson plan. Much easier on my volunteers!

Example classroom lesson:  The Trench

Teacher Objective:  Teaching the kids that we need to have FAITH, and truly trust Yeshua. With Him all things work out to good, even though things look scary and dark.

Location: Classroom A & B

Duration: 1 hour

Bible Devo time: Jesus and Peter walk on Water -Matthew 14:22-34

Craft: Sand Dollar painting. Need: Sand dollars(Amazon) water colors and supplies

Activity:  Floater or sinker?  Paper clip activity (found online)

Snack: " Walking on Water"

Teddy grahams, blue frosting on graham crackers

Verse Game: Balloon Chaos Verse Game

 "That your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God."

1 Cor. 2:5

Help! It's Sukkot and I'm In Charge of the Kids!! 5 Tips to Get You Started

Sukkot is one of my favorite times of the year.  Our community does a family camp and it's a great time of fellowship.  Nothing brings a community together like no make-up, sweatshirts everyday and lack of showers.  But when we get together, we are swimming in children.  There are about 50 children that we adults have to keep an eye on throughout the day.  Mostly, they are playing games, boating or hiking.  But it is nice to have a time for all to come together in the afternoon to do a craft  and devotional with the kids. So, if your community has either one day or several days together during Sukkot, these tips will help keep you organized.

1. Color-Code the kids. This will help keep the kids together as color groups and minimize the group sizes(10 kids per group). I like to mix ages, so if there are older kids in the group, they can assist the younger. Use either colored name tag lanyards or colored rubber bracelets. Have them return them in a coordinating colored basket at the end of your time.

2. Rotate to different stations in one day(5+ hr, 5 stations) or 1 hour and 15 min. per day for 5 days. Each station lasting an hour. Give each station a fun Sukkot name. Ex. Snack time= Manna Station.

3.Have a schedule:     Sing Songs
                                   Devotional Talk and memory verse
                                   Craft 
                                   Snack and activity
                                   Game.
If you do each thing for 15 minutes and then rotate to the next station, you will have done about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Add more stations if you'd like!

4. Ideas, Ideas and more Ideas!!  There really is a wealth of knowledge out there to help you plan.  Making a sukkot out of a refrigerator box.  We did this when my kids were little. Make edible sukkah's.  Graham cracker walls and pretzel rooftop..yummy!!  For your devotional, talk about the Israelites traveling through the dessert and having to pack up their temporary dwellings and move. Have the kids pick up their selves, tables, chairs and "travel" .  Be creative and just be organized. The kids will have a ton of fun.

5. Get volunteers.  Don't do this all yourself.  Look for like minded people who want to invest in the children and genuinely want to help them grow in Yeshua. You will need 5 adults, one per station.  Depending on the number of kids, 2 adults per group and some teens are great!

Happy Sukkot!!

ABC's of Shabbat

When I first started keeping Shabbat, I didn't have the best attitude.  If I had a list like this to help me transition out of a self-centered Saturday to a holy, Christ -centered Shabbat, it wouldn't have taken me so long to appreciate how beautiful and set-apart this day can truly become.  May your Shabbats be richly blessed!

Acts of Love-Above all days, lets speak and have actions of love
Bike ride- A leisurely ride and praying as you go.
Create and decorate a Bible/Prayer journal
Design a Bible Study just for you
Erev Shabbat Meal-light some candles and pray and eat together as a family.  My daughter likes to set the table extra special for Shabbat meal.
Feed the Duck or birds.  This is relaxing thing to do if you have littles.  Letting them appreciate God's creation.
Gather with believers.  We are commanded to fellowship with like minded believers.  This can be a lonely path, and we need to sharpen each other weekly.
Hospitality-Open your home to others to share a simple meal and encourage fellowship
Inspect your Heart- It is important to have a weekly check up to remove any bitterness, anger or unresolved issues to truly have a healing Shabbat.
Jigsaw puzzle- If you can truly relax(I can't) doing a 10,000 piece puzzles, it's a nice activity during those long peaceful summer Shabbats.
Knit a gift- One Shabbat I was home with my sick toddler and was able to knit a baby hat for my niece.
Listen to Worship or a favorite sermon or teaching.  This creates such a wonderful atmosphere to welcome in Shabbat.
Make a card --Snail mail is dying art.  Especially something hand made.  Add a verse and encouragement. If you are feeling creative, this will truly bless someone.  If you just write a card, it will equally bless the receiver.
Nature Walk- I love doing this with my family.  Peaceful family walk. Surrounded by God's beautiful handiwork.
Organize a prayer group- This a great way to welcome in Shabbat for Erev Shabbat or for the end of Shabbat as a Havdalah.
Pray-If a group setting is not your thing, then get in that prayer closet
Quiz your family on Bible Trivia- We like doing this on Friday Nights in the winter when Shabbat begins at 4pm.
Read the Word- This needs to be one of the first things we do
Sing Praises-This is a wonderful runner up
Talk with your spouse, kids, --I like to take this time to have one on one devotions with each of my girls and take the time to see how they are doing.
Unplug-In this day and age, this is an important thing to do.  We are so tied to our electronics, we need to cut the cord on Shabbat and focus on Him.
Visit the sick, homebound, new mother.  This a wonderful time to visit someone who is unable to attend services or needs to see Yeshua in you by giving your time to care.
Write in your prayer/Bible journal- This past 6 months I have incorporated a Bible Journal where I write the verses that minister to me during my devotions and I love it.  Decorating it is fun too!
Xamine your attitude- Shabbat is made for us. If you want to truly be blessed by it, your attitude may need to be adjusted.
Yeshua is the center of the day.  We keep Shabbat because we love Him. May all we do, point to Him on Shabbat and bring honor and glory to Him.
Zzzzzzzzzz.....Rest, nap...we worked 6 days and now it's time to rest. 

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy."  Exodus 20:8

Is Yeshua Enough??

This Messianic movement has grown leaps and bounds over the years.  It has rabbit trailed this way and that way.  I am afraid Satan is using the internet to distract us away from the Word and the Spirit of Torah.
Am I Jewish enough?  Am I Christian enough? Headcovering? Fringes?
Isn't Yeshua Enough?
Tzitzi ? Phylacteries? Long Hair? Long dresses? Beards?
Isn't Yeshua Enough?

That is the question I want to shout from the mountain tops!  Is Yeshua Enough for you or do you feel the need to scour the internet for more ways to please Him?  Instead, we should be scouring the Word for more ways to please Him.  You will find that the internet and God's Word do not always line up.  So why not just stick to what we KNOW is true..the Bible.
It reminds me of the Haggadah during Passover...DAYENU!  It would have been enough!  If the Israelites has been taken out of Egypt...It would have been enough.   Is what Yeshua did for you, enough? Or are you adding on baggage that we were not supposed to bear.

Yeshua, you love me more than anything....Dayenu
Yeshua, you promise to never leave my side...Dayenu
Yeshua, you can give a peace and joy that can't be taken....Dayenu
Yeshua, you died on the cross for my sins...Dayenu
Yeshua, you rose again...Dayenu
Yeshua, you are coming back for me...DAYENU!

Just give me Yeshua!

I Want A Marshmallow!

Eating Biblically clean can be a challenge to be sure, even as an adult. Certainly more so if you have children.  The kind neighbor who wants to give your children a gelatin filled fruit snack.  Grandma wants to have the kids over for smore's around the campfire. When my kids see the masses of kids running towards those rice krispie snacks the soccer mom bought for all the kids after their game, they get a totally bummed look in their eyes.   Don't get me started on birthday parties with their gummy bears and pepperoni pizza!  It's a fine line of being assertive but not rude.  I want my kids to learn to graciously decline these treats without offending or appearing haughty. I want them to navigate these waters of unclean foods on their own, so they are confident in these Godly choices that are meant to guide and protect us.  Here are some ideas that I have learned to graciously decline the pork-product treat, and to kindly offer a substitution or alternative.


1.  Manners.  Saying, "No, Thank You", goes a long way.  Smile and move on. No need to go to chapter and verse go, unless they ask.  State your responses, firmly, but kindly. I want it to be my kids that speak up, not me.  I want them to want to please the Lord and follow His commandments.  That in turn pleases me the most.

2.Make it yourself.  Make your own dish to pass. Make your own marshmallows.  Bring Turkey pepperoni. Bring Beef hot dogs.  Bring non-gelatin fruit snacks. There are so many other alternatives. Keep it simple.  I am sure there will be a veggie tray, so load up those carrots and celery and enjoy your family.

3. Be Clear!  With allergies running rampant these days, most events will ask if your child has allergies.  I state that we don't eat pork, and I give example of gelatin and pork by products.  That way, we rank with the peanut allegry kid and nobody bats an eye.

As you dodge that pork chop at the next function, always remember to come to all events in the love of Yeshua.  We want to provoke people to jealousy, not provoke them.  We want them to see our genuine relationship with the Lord, our devotion to God's word and the love of Yeshua's sacrifice for them, for us.  Remember, why we do what we do.  Out of love for our Messiah.