There is something to be said for tradition. " Traditiooooooon!" Okay, no fiddler on the roof here.
What I mean is, there is something to be said for Jewish tradition. Hebrew culture. More to the point, there is something special about how they lead their lives. The life and daily task of an observing jew is one that is drenched in tradition, steeped in God's word and prayer, observant of the smallest of God's laws. They cannot pass thru a doorway without remembering God and His protection and provision. They wait, expectantly, for the fulfillment of God's word. They say a blessing before every meal, before every reading of the torah. Their relationship with God is beautiful.
Most Americans are taught that Christians and Jews are followers of the same God. That we started in the same place, with the same hopes, as one people. But why are the lives of Christians lead so differently? Rather, why is the relationship between us and our God so different? It is such a struggle for us to keep God in our lives - we have our lives and we are constantly seeking to have more of Him in it. WE have the lives, and He is secondary? The way I see it, a Jews life is in HIM and the rest of their life is the filler. Im starting to think that the Christian life is backwards! It is so hard for us to keep in contact with God, to pursue that relationship, to follow His plan, when it should be so easy! We have the Messiah! We have the very deliverance that God promised to His people, yet we are the ones struggling!
Okay, so its not easy for anyone to keep that in perspective, no matter what religion you put yourself under. ALL THIS, what we call "our lives" is actually Gods! And we are blessed and fortunate to be in it. How I wish that I could make that the point of every day for me. I want more of that - serve Him, love Him, trust Him, and the rest is extra. Not the other way around. Sigh. I want my life to be IN Him, not just about me and how I relate to God. Does that make sense? I would welcome some comments and even some accountability in this. Keep praying.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Preparing for the Passover
I have spent the last week cleaning my house top to bottom. It is the first night of Passover, and it is not exactly done. Im not Jewish, so why do I worry? I dont know. I thought that this would be a good time to do spring cleaning and to observe some of the laws and decrees set forth in the old testament by God. I am seeking to know more about why God established them and also to find the fulfillment of those traditions and customs in the fulfillment of prophecy and redemption thru Yeshua, the Messiah. I know him as my savior, but I want to know him as he was revealed before his advent. Anyway, that is some of why I tried to clean my house for Passover.
I finally finished my kitchen today. I understand now why it takes an orthodox Jewess 3 weeks to clean her home! In under a week, I have done 2 bedrooms, a bathroom, the living and dining room, and after 2 days, the kitchen. We did manage to get all the leavening out of the kitchen, which I consider a success in itself. Maybe next year we will get the other rooms done - the offices and garage. It was a good practice run.
Thru this week, one of the things that I meditated on (while cleaning) is the idea that if the Messiah appears at my door for dinner tonight, on Passover, I want my home to be ready - cleaned, welcoming, fit for a king. I dont want anything to be repulsive or detestable. I did fail in that this year, but it was something to think on. In Jewish tradition, the feast of unleavened bread (Pesach, i.e. Passover) is a time to eradicate our homes, our domains, of all leavening, which represents sin. The yeast or leavening is a symbol of pride and hidden, fermenting sin. Again, I failed to do that in all rooms in my home. I know that any one of us would be understanding if our neighbor failed to clean every room in their house to perfection, but would Yeshua? Does God tolerate sin in our hearts, even the ones we claim we cant see? I was reminded that even the corners I couldnt reach or the backs of shelves that no one would see, God sees. Yeshua would know that filth was there. I know that filth is there, and I have a responsibility to remove it. Traditionally, after the ceremony of "searching out the leaven" , a prayer would be said that asks that all leaven that was overlooked be considered null and void.
I am so grateful that I have that too! That even the sins that I dont see or cant understand or refuse to acknowledge are forgiven, covered by the blood of Messiah. Thank God that the blood of Yeshua covers all sins, if only we admit it and ask for that forgiveness.
Another drive to preparing for Passover was the idea that should we be raptured tonight, my house would be clean. HA ha ha ha! Didnt quite happen that way, and if it had, would I even care that my house is dirty? I doubt it!
Im going to continue to clean my house over the Passover, seeing as I am nearly finished :) Im looking forward to a leaven free diet for the next week. I am so excited that the celebration of the resurrection of Yeshua falls in Passover, as his death and resurrection occurred during Passover.
I pray that you all will see more of the Messiah this week, that you would feel the weight and importance of his sacrifice, the blessing and peace of his gift of salvation, and rejoice and celebrate in the occurrence of his resurrection - each a piece of the merciful, eternal grace of God we have been given.
I finally finished my kitchen today. I understand now why it takes an orthodox Jewess 3 weeks to clean her home! In under a week, I have done 2 bedrooms, a bathroom, the living and dining room, and after 2 days, the kitchen. We did manage to get all the leavening out of the kitchen, which I consider a success in itself. Maybe next year we will get the other rooms done - the offices and garage. It was a good practice run.
Thru this week, one of the things that I meditated on (while cleaning) is the idea that if the Messiah appears at my door for dinner tonight, on Passover, I want my home to be ready - cleaned, welcoming, fit for a king. I dont want anything to be repulsive or detestable. I did fail in that this year, but it was something to think on. In Jewish tradition, the feast of unleavened bread (Pesach, i.e. Passover) is a time to eradicate our homes, our domains, of all leavening, which represents sin. The yeast or leavening is a symbol of pride and hidden, fermenting sin. Again, I failed to do that in all rooms in my home. I know that any one of us would be understanding if our neighbor failed to clean every room in their house to perfection, but would Yeshua? Does God tolerate sin in our hearts, even the ones we claim we cant see? I was reminded that even the corners I couldnt reach or the backs of shelves that no one would see, God sees. Yeshua would know that filth was there. I know that filth is there, and I have a responsibility to remove it. Traditionally, after the ceremony of "searching out the leaven" , a prayer would be said that asks that all leaven that was overlooked be considered null and void.
I am so grateful that I have that too! That even the sins that I dont see or cant understand or refuse to acknowledge are forgiven, covered by the blood of Messiah. Thank God that the blood of Yeshua covers all sins, if only we admit it and ask for that forgiveness.
Another drive to preparing for Passover was the idea that should we be raptured tonight, my house would be clean. HA ha ha ha! Didnt quite happen that way, and if it had, would I even care that my house is dirty? I doubt it!
Im going to continue to clean my house over the Passover, seeing as I am nearly finished :) Im looking forward to a leaven free diet for the next week. I am so excited that the celebration of the resurrection of Yeshua falls in Passover, as his death and resurrection occurred during Passover.
I pray that you all will see more of the Messiah this week, that you would feel the weight and importance of his sacrifice, the blessing and peace of his gift of salvation, and rejoice and celebrate in the occurrence of his resurrection - each a piece of the merciful, eternal grace of God we have been given.
Will the sickness never end?!
Ahhh... I finally find a moment of relative peace to catch everyone up! For the last nearly two months, we have been sick! Okay well, thats not all we have been doing. Ill give you a quick synopses:
Brody turned 3 in February, but we didnt do much. We stayed home and opened gifts, and had carrot cake cupcakes, per his request.
In March, following the stomach bug, we had a nasty cough that lingered for weeks!
Eddie turned 7, but we were still sick, so again, not much happened.
I went to Anchorage with one of my sisters, for a girls night out and a day of shopping to celebrate my 29th birthday! :)
We cancelled the BIG birthday party we had planned with our family, for all of our kids who have birthdays in February and March, because everyone was sick! And we havent rescheduled...because we are still sick!
I signed up to coach indoor soccer for Eddie's team - and so far that is going really well...except for that game we played in practice that got one of my kids beaned in the head. I should have had better judgement :(
Eddie came down with the chicken pox! Not a terrible case of it though. And Cal had a mild stomach bug.
Okay.
That catches up the last 2 months.
One last piece of information.... Im pregnant! Yay! We finally announced that we are expecting baby number 4, due in late October, on April 2nd. We waited for what seemed like a very long time to tell everyone. We feel really blessed to be able to do this again. Keep us in your prayers!
Im glad I got this chance to catch up, it may be a while before I can get on here again... Tonight, after soccer, Brody and Eddie seem to both be dealing with another stomach bug :( I blame the cat! We have never been so sick, this often, ever. I know it is purely coincidental, but we have only had the cat for about 3 months, so its awfully suspicious!
Take care. We hope to see you eventually!
Brody turned 3 in February, but we didnt do much. We stayed home and opened gifts, and had carrot cake cupcakes, per his request.
In March, following the stomach bug, we had a nasty cough that lingered for weeks!
Eddie turned 7, but we were still sick, so again, not much happened.
I went to Anchorage with one of my sisters, for a girls night out and a day of shopping to celebrate my 29th birthday! :)
We cancelled the BIG birthday party we had planned with our family, for all of our kids who have birthdays in February and March, because everyone was sick! And we havent rescheduled...because we are still sick!
I signed up to coach indoor soccer for Eddie's team - and so far that is going really well...except for that game we played in practice that got one of my kids beaned in the head. I should have had better judgement :(
Eddie came down with the chicken pox! Not a terrible case of it though. And Cal had a mild stomach bug.
Okay.
That catches up the last 2 months.
One last piece of information.... Im pregnant! Yay! We finally announced that we are expecting baby number 4, due in late October, on April 2nd. We waited for what seemed like a very long time to tell everyone. We feel really blessed to be able to do this again. Keep us in your prayers!
Im glad I got this chance to catch up, it may be a while before I can get on here again... Tonight, after soccer, Brody and Eddie seem to both be dealing with another stomach bug :( I blame the cat! We have never been so sick, this often, ever. I know it is purely coincidental, but we have only had the cat for about 3 months, so its awfully suspicious!
Take care. We hope to see you eventually!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)