Under the Knife Once Again

 Last week I had yet another spine surgery, this time in my neck. The healing is quite a bit different from my lower back surgery, and I can return to work much quicker. But I still have significant pain. It brings to mind the verse from Job 1:21b, " Adonai gave and Adonai has taken away;

 blessed be the Name of Adonai.”

Spiritual Osteoblasts

I went for a five mile hike today - unintentionally!  We started out looking for a trail, and found a loop trail, which we assumed was short, because the difficulty read "Easiest" on the sign.  However, three hours later, we came out of the woods in the dark, in pain and tired and hungry.  This is an experience we won't soon forget.  As I was walking, I began to think about how nice it is to have a home.  How sweet it is as well when we make our heart a home for our Savior.  I want my heart to be clean so that his home can be cozy and inviting.
On our way back home, while riding in the car, some thoughts came to mind about our walk.  Walking stimulates our bones to make more bone, thereby making them stronger.  Our bone marrow makes our blood.  Our "life is in the blood," according to Leviticus 17:11.  So, one could say that by walking, we enhance our life, because we are making stronger the very organ that produces blood.  In the same way, our "halacha," or walking in the steps of Torah, enhances our life, because it is making us stronger spiritually.  Proverbs 3:8

Don't disregard the law!! It is instruction for life!!

Our DNA has 22 strands.  The Hebrew alphabet has 22 letters.  I don't think this is a coincidence.  Just as our DNA gives instruction for our bodies to grow and develop, so the Scriptures give us instruction for our faith to mature.  The difference is that our bodies' DNA is hardwired to shut us down at a certain point in time.  Our faith, however, can last forever.  Our mortal existence is a shadow of our existence in the heavenly realm.  In Hebraic thought, this concept is referred to as the HaOlam Hazeh, or this world, and HaOlam HaBa, or the world to come.  We should obey the Bible.  Next time you hear someone say, "We are not under the law," just remember that the instructions we have been given keep our faith running smoothly, just like our DNA keeps our bodies running smoothly.  Colossians 2:17

Christmas in July, or Hanukkah in June??

Hanukkah is all about rededication of the temple, after it was dedicated by the Greeks, who sacrificed a pig on the altar.  Pigs were not allowed, because they are not kosher.  Anyway, it definitely didn't belong in the temple, and it was also being sacrificed to a pagan deity.
How many times do we go through the motions of going to church/synagogue, walking the walk, talking the talk of the life of a believer, but in our hearts, we have unkosher pigs that we are sacrificing to idols?  I am preaching to myself here.  I am the "chief of sinners."  Realizing this in totality this weekend has brought me to a place of teshuvah, that is, repentance.  The concept of teshuvah is turning and walking the other way.  I am leaving behind old habits and comfort zones that I have used as crutches, but I am plunging head-long into Messiah's arms, where I am filled to over-flowing with love, peace, and purpose unfathomable. 
So you could say I am rededicating my temple today, on this fine evening in June.  Why not have some Hanukkah in June with me?  Shalom and blessings, chaverim (friends).

Cheaply Made

Usually, my posts are uplifting and positive.  So I will try to make this post come out positive in the end!  Ok, here goes....So many things nowadays are made of cheaper materials than in past generations.  For example, furniture is hard to come by that is well-made and durable like "old-fashioned" solid wood furniture.  The cheap stuff just doesn't last as long, no matter how well you take care of it.  The same thing is true for most anything these days:  cars, clothing, toys/games, houses, shoes, etc.   Could I venture to say that individuals in general are not "well-made" either?  Sure, we have better healthcare and dental care than previous generations, but what about quality character traits, such as loyalty, respect, dependability, responsibility, devotion, honesty & integrity?  Certainly many generations gone by have valued these important characteristics more than we do now.  It is rare to see a younger person with great manners, generosity, and general kindness for strangers, children, the elderly, mothers with children, the less fortunate, and the disabled, to name a few.  NONE of us is perfect, mind you, and much growth is required to develop healthy and positive traits.  I say all this to say that I believe that this is the *root* cause of failing relationships on all levels.  Increases in litigation are a symptom of this problem.  Taking responsibility for one's own actions is more the exception in most cases, than the rule, I am afraid to say.  Too often we "fly off the handle" or judge someone else, forgetting our boundaries with others.  So let this be a CHALLENGE to "see the world through G-d's eyes," and allow His Ruach (Spirit) to flow through us to be His face to others....the rest will fall in place as our relationships are well made.

John 13:34-35 NIV
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Gratzie! Gracias! Merci! Todah! Thanks! - the many facets of grace

Was pondering the meaning of the words "grace" and "gratitude" today, and how the meanings of the words are similar, and even overlap.  Grace has always had the connotation of "mercy" to me, but I realize now a whole new level of meaning to this word.  An essence of gratitude surrounds it.  The two words even share the same root, gratus.  To think of the grace of G-d meaning gratitude simply astounds me, as I imagine our blessed Yeshua being thankful for US!!!  Contemplate that for a second....  He is everything to me, and yet He is thankful for ME, little me.  And you too!!  Isn't that delightful?  And the action that flows from His gratitude is the immense blessing of mercy, forgiveness, love, rejoicing, shalom, understanding, wisdom, faith, consolation, and favor, to name a few.  So we can be all of these things to others in our lives, through his power, by giving them grace, ie being grateful for them..........  G-d is awesome, isn't He?

The Sweet Aroma of the Ruach

Two days ago I was walking around the track during lunch, and was thinking about how I had forgotten to put on deoderant that morning, and was starting to smell a little!  About that time, a coworker was coming from the other direction on the track.  When I got about 10 feet from her, I could smell a nice floral fragrance.  I made a mental note as I passed by that I should start wearing my perfumed body spray, and then maybe I could smell like that all the time!  Then it dawned on me, that having the Ruach HaKodesh, or Holy Spirit, within us, is like having a sweet aroma surrounding us.  Not only that, it is like hearing someone's gentle, familiar voice, before you even see them approach.  It's like seeing someone from afar off, with a smile on their face, and a look of recognition.  It's like feeling someone's body heat as you stand next to them.  In a spiritual "sense," we can radiate His presence to those around us.  We can also experience His presence as we fellowship with others. 
If we bathe regularly, and use soap, we will smell and look nice.  Likewise, if we get washed spiritually, we will shine like a new penny, eminating His presence like a sweet aroma.
If His words are sweet to our taste, sweeter than honey to our mouths, then the aroma of His words from the kitchen should make our mouths water....

Tisha B'Av

It's Tisha B'Av once again.  This time the nation of Israel faces pressure and persection from all sides.  Let's let the people of Israel know that they have not lost their best friend, America. 

Visit http://www.sherlockballyministries.com/ to learn how you can support Israel's maintaining it's sovereignty by influencing the national votes of Carribean nations in the UN.

Heavenly Blood is Crystal Clear

My son asked a profound question the other day.  We were riding along the road, and he said, "Mommy, are the raindrops G-d's blood?"  Immediately I said "No, sweetie," as I chuckled to myself.  But the more I thought about it, the more I realized he was on to something.  Yeshua is our fountain of living water.  Moses hit the rock and water gushed forth.  The life is in the blood.  When He was pierced, blood and water flowed.  The water and the blood testify.  It also helps me to understand why Yeshua, at the Last Supper, said to drink his blood.  His heavenly blood is the living water that gives eternal life!!  And his blood in the heavenly realm cleanses us from all sin!
John 19:34
Leviticus 17:11
1 John 5:8

Spiritual Dehydration

What happens when you fast?  You not only get hungry, but your mouth gets dry if you're not drinking water.  If you went several days without water, you would get dehydrated, and eventually could die.  Well, it is the same with our spiritual lives.  We need to drink the "living water."  Be "filled to overflowing" with the Spirit of G-d!!

"...but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst.  Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:14

Yom HaShoah

What I learned about the Holocaust growing up was very minimal information.  Then, our 10th grade World History teacher, bless him, showed our class a video about the events of the Holocaust, with graphic details.  I remember thinking, "That happened in THIS century????"  I had previously thought that it had taken place in the ancient past.  Not that it changed how horrible it was.  It was just that I was baffled that something so horrific could happen in our modern society.  It goes to show that some things never change.  Anti-Semitism is one of them.
Anti-Semitism, just like all forms of hatred, can be overt or subtle.  While the Holocaust is just one example from history of the overt kind, the subtle variety exists all over.  Even saying the "Old" Testament is akin to saying, "Wow, your clothes are outdated!"  This kind of thing may not be apparent to many people.  It certainly wasn't to me for too many years of my life.  But now I want to be educated in sensitivity, so that I can show love to the very people who are our physical link to Messiah himself.  I want to learn what it means to be Jewish, because it is through this exercise that I can more closely connect with my beloved Yeshua (Jesus).
Am Yisrael Chai!!
(Long live the people of Israel!!)

"Everything Works Together for the Good"

The other day I was in the van, and was looking for my cell phone charger.  As I sat in the driver's seat, I searched everywhere within arm's reach several times over, with no luck.  I went through the drive thru at one of my fav restaurants, and as I was putting the change in my wallet, it slipped out of my hand, and fell in between the space between my door and the driver's seat.  In the process, the contents spilled out in a pile.  Great....  So I pulled over in the parking lot, got out, and picked up all of the stuff, and stuffed it back in my wallet.  Just then, I noticed a cord and lighter plug sticking out from behind the seat.  Oh, it must be my charger!!  What a neat way to end up a little accident here-by finding my charger.  I thought, "Thank You, L-rd.  And what a nice drash this could be about You letting us have trouble so that we can find nuggets of wisdom in life." 
But alas, it turned out to be the small dustbuster vac that I keep behind the seat.  Oh well, since I was already stopped and out of my seat, I decided to go around to the side door, climb in, and do a search and seizure for my car charger!!  As I was digging through junk, I found several items that I had been looking for!   Then, finally, under partially-tipped storage containers, laden with snacks, maps (I'm anti-GPS at the moment lol), beauty supplies, and writing utensils, laid my phone charger, pretty as you please!  Now I was in business.  But I was bummed about my earlier idea for a drash, b/c my adventure didn't really turn out the way I thought it would.  But then I realized that I was learning patience (and not to mention organization).  While the end result was that I DID find my charger, I also found some other things I had been missing, tangible and intangible.  Thank You, L-rd, for all things. 

"...in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Messiah Yeshua (Jesus)."
1 Thessalonians 5:18. 

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."
Romans 8:28.

"Everything Works Together for the Good" song

Parable of the Lost Coin  - She's looking for a coin belonging in her marriage garment.  I have heard a teaching that Christianity is searching for its lost coin - the Sabbath, as one of the ten commandments, in preparation for the bridegroom's coming.  Cool, huh?

Simcha (Joy)

A song of love to my Simcha (Joy)-which is the L-rd, the maker of heaven and earth!

What is it that truly makes me happy? Who can shine some sunlight on my face? Where can I go to get away from it all? When will I be in that special place?

Why is it so hard to read the paper? And see the headlines covering the page? How can I know true joy in the midst of it all? Will You help me out of this cage?

Simcha, Your joy fills my heart and floods my life... Oh Simcha...You're my joy, my all, you save me from this strife.
Simcha, Oh Simcha, You know I need You more and more each day.

Where can I go to catch a rainbow? And save it for another rainy day? How can I live to see tomorrow? There's so much toil, and very little play.

Who can bring a sparkle to my memory? Why can't I sit and dream of You all day? Is it just a tale, a song, a story? Or do you really love to hear me say....

Simcha, Your joy fills my heart and floods my life... Oh Simcha...You're my joy, my all, you save me from this strife.
Simcha, Oh Simcha, You know I need You more and more each day.

Simcha, Your joy fills my heart and floods my life... Oh Simcha...You're my joy, my all, you save me from this strife.
Simcha, Oh Simcha, You know I need You more and more each day.

Oh rescue me, take me to where you are, and breathe on me, wrap me up in Your heart....

Instrumental.......

Will you stay with me for now and always? Can I cry some tears before You here? Will You dry them from my face and hold me close? With You, dear L-rd, what do I have to fear?
　
Simcha, Your joy fills my heart and floods my life... Oh Simcha...You're my joy, my all, you save me from this strife.
Simcha, Oh Simcha, You know I need You more and more each day.

Simcha, Your joy fills my heart and floods my life... Oh Simcha...You're my joy, my all, you save me from this strife.
Simcha, Oh Simcha, You know I need You more and more each day.

Oh Simcha..........................
　
　

Little By Little

Little by little an hour, little by little a day, little by little you reach your goal, or let it slip away.

Long Live the People of Israel!!

Happy Purim!! Gnosh some hamantashen!! I'm going to make mine this weekend, when I'll have more time. Read the book of Esther, it's a wonderful drama about how GOD saved the Jewish people from destruction. He has promised that as long as creation remains, Israel as a people will be here. Am Yisrael Chai!!

Jeremiah 31:35-36
New International Version (NIV)

... 35 This is what the LORD says,

he who appoints the sun
to shine by day,
who decrees the moon and stars
to shine by night,
who stirs up the sea
so that its waves roar—
the LORD Almighty is his name:
36 “Only if these decrees vanish from my sight,”
declares the LORD,
“will Israel ever cease
being a nation before me.”

Sneeze a Smile on Me - No Hand Sanitizer Needed =D

I watched a video this weekend in a class I'm taking.  The video was about how the happiness of one person is contagious, much like a cold or other virus.  One person's happiness can affect countless numbers of people in the interconnected web of relationships, acquaintances, and friends.  The video was from a purely scientific point of view, but I can see how the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) uses us to bless the lives of others, and uses them to bless our lives.  His Spirit permeates and moves through our interpersonal relationships when we allow Him to be part of our lives.  He can use anyone and anything to touch us.  I am thankful for the myriad of people that have blessed me in some way.  May I be able to share the happiness I've received with someone who needs it, every day of my life.

Use Your Noodle!!

Sometimes I feel like I'm as unstructured as a noodle.  I have difficulty in the area of promptness, routine, predictability.  I am fairly organized, but I am also very spontaneous, with a creative spark (my Mom called it a "wild imagination").  I have trouble fitting into boxes, and I ooze all over the lines.  I have no trouble "thinking outside the box," but have trouble staying in the box!! 
Today as I was driving along early in the morning, and was very tired, I had the thought, "I am just NOT a morning person."  I know people who wake up and start the day bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, ready to go.  Then, in the early evening hours, those same people have trouble keeping their eyes open.  I feel like the opposite:  even when I am awake in the morning, I am still sluggush and slow-thinking.  If I have to sit for awhile in the morning, I fall asleep!  So I have to walk around to keep myself awake.  By late morning, I am fully awake.  Late afternoon is my peak awakeness time, my best productivity.  At any rate, as I was driving along, I decided to get something to eat at a fast-food restaurant.  The restaurant had not started cooking the items I wanted, it was too early in the day.  I was dismayed!  How dare they not get up even earlier than I did this morning, go to work, and cook me my favorite food, so that when I just happened to arrive today, it would be ready for me!  Then I realized how paradoxical that was for me to even think that.  If it was too early for me, could it simply be too early for them?  Then I realized how much like a noodle I am, unstructured and floppy.  Suddenly, I realized that I should be thinking positive thoughts about myself, instead of negative ones.  Alas, a noodle "uncooked" has plenty of structure!!  I just have to find a way to not let myself get too overcooked!  Because a noodle cooked al dente has just the right amount of firmness.  Not to crunchy, not too soggy.  Perhaps that object lesson could help me in "real life."  If I am more mindful of the pot on the stove, and not let myself get distracted, I will notice when the noodles are done, and not let them get too squooshy.  In life, if I put effort and concentration on the tasks at hand, and not get distracted by things that don't matter in the long run, perhaps I will be more successful in "coloring inside the lines."  May the L-rd above empower me by His Spirit to be held together and structured. 

 

1 Corinthians 15:58 (NASB)

⁵⁸ Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

Colossians 1:17 (ESV)

And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Be Mine ♥

The L-rd is my Light and my Salvation. Whom shall I fear? The L-rd is the Strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?
The L-rd stays near to me, even when I don't feel near to Him. He shows me that He loves me, in so many ways. I'm thankful for His presence, which is here at all times. He never leaves me, nor forsakes me. He gives me strength, wisdom, joy, and the words to say at just the right time. He lifts me up. He is ever-faithful!! The more I talk about Him, the more excited I get, because I know His love for me is never-ending! And it is perfect!! His love never fails. He never gives up on me. He is always by my side.

Wanna know why I think the L-rd has so many different names in the Bible? Because He is personal. To everyone, He is their personal friend. So all the prophets and Bible heroes had their pet names for G-d, like "The L-rd is my healer," "The L-rd is my banner," "The L-rd is my salvation" (Yeshua), "The L-rd is my G-d." So G-d is so intimate and personal in His relationship to us, that we can call Him by a sweet name that we want to for Him. I'm not going to tell you my name for Him, because that is a secret! Just between me and Him, ya know? LOL Come up with your own name for

G-d, for He is YOURS.

 

We Are Indebted to Everyone

Ever think about how much has been done for us, and how much we owe other people?  Even if we gave everything we had away, and gave the rest of our lives up helping other people, I'm convinced we would never be able to pay back the kindness, measure for measure, that has been shown to us over the course of our lives.
From the stranger who smiles at us as we pass by, to the person holding the door for us, to the driver letting us in a lane when traffic is bumper-to-bumper.  Our parents, feeding & clothing us, reading books to us, taking us to school and home again.  That special teacher, who saw potential in us.  The person who cleaned up our mess, or who suffered in silence for something we inadvertantly did.  The person who greeted us when we got on the bus.  The people whose blood, sweat, and tears helped build our towns, churches, libraries, hospitals, and roadways.  The person who told the worker in the restaurant that the paper towels were out in the bathroom, so that we would have something to dry our hands on.  The friend who gave us a ride when our car was being worked on.  The neighbor who put our trash cans back next to the house when the trash had been picked up (Thank you, Mr. Bill!!).  The songwriter whose song touched our hearts over, & over, & over......  And the GOD who made all this possible, who is working in and through it all.
Matthew 25:40 -

Gratitude

Today I saw several people that I had not seen in years.  Most of them had heard about my back surgery, and asked how I was doing.  They said I looked like I was doing well.  And I am!!  Wow, it's hard to even remember what it was like for me before my surgery.  I feel so far removed from that now. 
A friend and I were discussing how it's easy to take things for granted, until we lose them.  I told her I could identify, because before my back problem got so bad, I would complain about doing certain things.  Then, when I was no longer able to do them because of my debility, suddenly I longed to do those same things.  I guess what it boils down to is, being thankful in every circumstance.  1 Thessalonians 3:18 - "In everything give thanks."