Under His Wings

I spent some time this morning with a good friend, her five year old and newborn sons.  She was picking my brain about homeschooling.   Her husband is wanting her to homeschool her son, but she isn't sure.  Could you please comment or post and share your list of pros and cons to homeschooling?  This would help her out.  Thanks.

I did get my house cleaned, even over and above what I needed to as I cleaned my spare bedroom, too before my mom came. We went out for lunch and then spent the afternoon looking at pictures and talking.

The quiz teams did well. The novice team got a second place team trophy and one girl placed fifth individual. In the lower division we had a girl place second individually. Josh placed first in the upper division. Hannah, along with Buck, is coaching this year so she took pictures.

They usually try to do a fun event after a quiz meet to reward the children for their hard work and to unwind from the tension of the day. This time it was bowling since the weather nixed the corn maze. Saturday night we had three extra teenagers spend the night. Buck got called into work unexpectedly that night. Quizzing weekends are great, but they take a lot out of a person.

I know that I really need to update, the fall holidays being over. I'm in the process of trying to give my home a good cleaning as my mother is coming for a visit on Saturday. I will never get as much done as I think that I should. I am a person that pays attention to detail and being a perfectionist I usually put this off. I get frustrated because the rest of my family could care less. So that's what I am busy doing this week. Hopefully, I won't crash and burn.

I received this devotional in my email this morning. I just had to share it with you.

Those who stay united with me, and I with them, are the ones who bear much fruit (John 15:5).

Every year, as we come to the end of the High Holy Days, we come to the intriguing feast called Shemini Atzeret (the Eighth Day Assembly). The Torah says that at the conclusion of the seven-day celebration of Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles) we are to add an extra day (Leviticus 23:39). While this eighth day is designated as an "assembly," it may also be translated as "abiding or waiting."

Rashi, the medieval rabbinic commentator, likens the celebration to a king who held a banquet for his friends. It was so wonderful that when it came time to depart, the king pleaded with his friends not to leave but to abide just one more day in his presence. Such is the purpose of Shemini Atzeret. It is as if, even after all the wonderful fall Holy Days, God himself is pleading with his people to stay in his presence just a little longer.

The Messiah used this concept to teach his disciples of their need to stay connected to him. The only hope of a victorious messianic life is for Yeshua's followers to stay connected to him in a dynamic way. We must abide in his precepts (John 15:7), in his power (John 15:5), and in his presence (John 15:9) if we are to experience all that God intends for us. The Messiah does not want us to leave him. Have we learned the lesson of Shemini Atzeret by abiding in Yeshua in our daily walk?

...abide with Yeshua by putting aside my own ways and letting Ruach HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit) guide me in the ways of the King.

This devotional is taken from the book "The Voice of the Lord". Copyright © 1998 by the Lewis and Harriet Lederer Foundation, Inc. You can subcribe to the E-version and receive it daily by going to studylight.org You will find a link half way down the page under the heading "Daily Devotionals" and "Voice of the Lord". I have found these very encouraging and very helpful in understanding the Hebraic mindset. I hope that you will, too.

For His Name's Sake

This is what I awoke to this morning.  But, then I blinked and now it is gone.

Even though my children are both homeschooled and have been from birth they each have had the opportunity to be involved in the music program at the public school. This past Friday Joshua played his baritone and marched in the homecoming parade. I just had to share pictures.

By the way.....I am just looking out the window and it is snowing here. Not enough to count, but snow just the same.

What did we do to celebrate?

After our sukkah was finished we sang praises to HaShem, we shared any words of testimony, thanksgiving, and praise. The children shared special songs in Hebrew and English, some played instruments and danced. My friend, Lori, told some stories. Her husband, Tom, who is our Bible study teacher, spoke about the covenant meal that is part of every covenant. He believes that even in the Garden of Eden the L-rd came and shared a meal with Adam and Eve before the Fall. So, as is the tradition in our celebration of Sukkot, we shared the fruit of the vine and the challah bread together in family groups. Finally, we shared a meal together. It was truly a wonderful time.

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory" John 1:14

This verse has really spoken to me this year as I have been pondering the season of Sukkot. This Biblical holiday commemorates the days of Israel wandering in the wilderness and living in tents in the wilderness. They were fully dependent upon G-d. His glory dwelt among them in the form of a pillar of fire by day and a pillar of cloud by night. He was their Provider and Protector.

In the same way Yeshua, Jesus, came in an earthy dwelling and the Scripture says that He was G-d's glory among us. We are secure in Him. This is the season of our joy. The festival of Sukkot is a celebration of G-d dwelling among His people in the past and in the future. In contrast to the solemn celebrations of Yom Teruah and Yom Kippur it is a day of singing, dancing and celebration.

My Bible study had our Sukkot celebration this afternoon. Here are a few pictures for you.

HAPPY SUKKOT - Chag Sameach!

These are my animals.  The cat's name is Meekah, but she answers to nothing.  But, this story is not about her.

This story is about my dog, Maggie, pictured above.  On days like today, however, I do like to claim her and she becomes my husband, Buck's, dog.  Maggie is half border collie and half red heeler.  She really is a wonderful dog, most of the time.  She is extremely obedient, she never leaves the parameters of our yard (even without a fence or leash), she "sings" when Buck plays the harmonica, and she lets us know when the cat is misbehaving.

However, Maggie (named after Anna Magedelana Bach) has two major minor flaws. The first is submissive urination which is common in the border collie breed.  She is so submissive that when someone new comes she generally will urinate on the floor when she first meets them.  Instead of ripping the heads off of any intruder who might come to our door she would just pee on their feet.  This can be pretty aggravating.

And now we come to the point of my story.  The second flaw that my, oh excuse me, my husband's dog has is that she is very, nay, extremely neurotic.  Late this spring a neighbor two houses away was cutting down trees and Maggie was shaking for two days while the chain saw was buzzing and the trees were falling.  A couple of summers ago the city was repaving our street and Maggie was shivering under the desk at the sound of the roller machine going down the street.

Last night was the worst of all.  I thought it was the end of the world or something.  Yes, it is usual for the dog to be afraid of storms, but this was rediculous.  Since Buck works nights Maggie usually sleeps at the foot of my bed.  Last night I awoke to her up by my pillow, which she never does.  She was literally on top of me.  It wouldn't be so bad, but she is a 35-40 lb. dog! And she was shaking all over.  I could not for the life of me calm her down.  Outside the lightning was flashing and the thunder was rolling.  But, I didn't think it was anything unusual.  I closed the window and the curtain hoping that would help, but it was all in vain.

I got up to use the restroom.  THE DOG FOLLOWED ME IN THERE!  I couldn't believe it! She NEVER goes in the bathroom because she hates even the mention of that four letter word, " b-a-t-h."  She even crawled between my legs. Can you imagine?!

I crawled back into bed only to have Maggie jump right on top of me.  After several attempts, I finally managed to get her to settle in at the head of the bed, above my husband's pillow where she finally.......dozed.......off.

"The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 'On exactly the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement; it shall be a holy convocation for you, and you shall humble your souls and present an offering by fire to the LORD You shall not do any work on this same day, for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement on your behalf before the LORD your God. If there is any person who will not humble himself on this same day, he shall be cut off from his people. As for any person who does any work on this same day, that person I will destroy from among his people. You shall do no work at all. It is to be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwelling places. It is to be a sabbath of complete rest to you, and you shall humble your souls; on the ninth of the month at evening, from evening until evening you shall keep your sabbath." Leviticus 23:26-32

"For it is on this day that atonement shall be made for you to cleanse you; and you shall be clean from all your sins before the Lord" Leviticus 16:30

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of the year on the Biblical calendar. Though it is a solemn day and a day of introspection and fasting, it is one of my favorite Biblical holidays. This year it falls on the 2nd of October.
During the time when there was a tabernacle and a temple, Yom Kippur was the one day a year that the high priest was allowed and required to enter the holy of holies. First, he must sacrifice a bull for his own sins and the sins of his household. He also did not wear his usual priestly garments. Rather, on Yom Kippur the high priest was required to wear white linen garments. This is the one day he would go into the holy of holies. Another name for Yom Kippur is "Face to Face" because the high priest was face to face with God on this day. When the high priest went behind the veil on Yom Kippur he would see the mercy seat and the L-rd's presence hovering above it. The children of Israel waited outside to see if their sacrifice would be accepted.

There were two goats involved in the sacrifice on the Day of Atonement. One goat was chosen, by lot, to be sacrificed for the sins of the people. The sins of the people defiled the Temple so the L-rd could not dwell among them and that is His desire. The second goat was called the "azazel" or the scapegoat. The high priest would lay both of his hands on the azazel and confess the sins of the children of Israel. In this way he put the sins on the head of the goat and then the goat was led away into the wilderness. The blood of the sacrifices brought cleansing for the priesthood, the sanctuary, and for Israel as a nation.

Yom Kippur is also called, "The Fast". It is a day to "afflict your soul" which if you look in other Jewish literature means to fast. It is a time of getting right with G-d and with others.

The Biblical holidays are rich with symbolism. In the book of Colossians Paul tells us that the festivals are a shadow of what is to come and the substance is in Messiah. The Messiah Yeshua fullfilled each of the spring festivals and we await for His coming during the time of the fall festivals. He is our atonement. He is our High Priest. He is our sin offering. He is the scapegoat. Because of him we are clothed in robes of righteousness and we can come before the throne boldly to find mercy and grace to help in time of need. Truly this is a solem day, but for those in Messiah it is also a day to rejoice.

May you have an easy fast.

For His Name's Sake.