We all have many burdens. We can get weary under them if we don't take them to our heavenly Father on a regular basis. This Shabbat take time to give your burdens to Him and put his yoke ( commandments and instructions) on instead. Your heavy burdens may not go away but they will become easier to bear when your in harmony with the creator. He will teach you what to do and you will find your burdens become easy to bear and the burden seems light. Like the lady in the picture she looks like a flower taking in the morning dew. A plant will open up its little pores to take in the dew so it can be refreshed. So we need to open up to Yeshua teaching just like the plant does to receive the dew, because He is humble and gentle and knows just what we need to be refreshed. Take the following verse and put it in first person and say it like a prayer. Then begin to visualize your burdens just being lifg

 Matthew 11: 28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find  rest for your souls.30 For my yoke is easy to  bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Some times we are faced with issues we can not at this moment change. So we  need to be a little like Scarlet O'hara in Gone with the wind. She did not worry about what she could not change but worked hard at getting things right that she could.

Asking the King of the universe is a great place to start getting peace. He will answer you when the time is right. Remember He stretches us to be faithful.

Shabbat Shalom.
D'vorah

Don't forget to get ready as Mom's we need to set the 'tone in the home' get your family ready to enter in by setting out some shabbat items such as a nice tablecloth, some candles, wine and maybe even some flowers that are growing in your yard. Set them out early so as your family passes by they will see the Sabbath coming.

Do you ever ask what life’s priorities are? How do we walk out a Torah life style? The book of proverbs helps us here with the seven aspects of the Proverb’s 31 woman, as she is an example of walking out a Torah life. Priorities! Sometimes when we think of all the things we need to do or wish to do. It can be overwhelming. Also to try and think of all the things we should be doing as we serve and bring honor to our Father can be puzzling. However the Proverb Woman shows us her priority model. 

From what we read about her one can identify these seven priorities or aspects. Then each one can be thought about by making a list under each area. Then to get these done we need schedule it in our day or week etc. Here is an example of breaking it down:

David and I were talking about all that we need to do and how much still needs to get done. It can be overwhelming and frustrating to say the least. By using this model were able to lay out what businesses we are working on, then under Torah/ Wisdom to schedule prayer, bible study and other studies, under household to schedule our household maintenance and cleaning etc. I use a three ring binder to keep my housekeeping plan organized and I now plan on changing it to include the above model to create a section for each item.

For some of us it is easy to get sidetracked and that is why we need a map of our day. We may think that it is a burden to have these things to do but in the long run it pays off in that you will have time to do the things you want to do and be able to laugh at the times to come, because all the routine stuff that bears down on us, will be done.

If we take each area and write down what needs to be done or even what we would like to do and then schedule it on a daily list, on a calendar, on your computer or phone to remind you of what you can accomplish. Also to spend a little time each day planning as the Psalms tells us:

Psalms 90:12

So teach [us] to number our days, that we may apply [our] hearts unto wisdom.


Love always,

Shabbat Shalom Eve!

 

Before we go on, I would like to share something with you. Below is a prayer from one of my favorite Shabbat books. I like to pick out something to meditate on during the day, to bring to the Shabbat table for all to enjoy.  

This morning I found this one and I would like to share it with you, it goes like this:

 
Prayer for Women after Lighting the Candles from 'The Miracle of the Seventh Day' by Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz.

May it be your will, O YHVH Elohim and Elohim of my fathers, to show grace to me (and to my husband and to my children and to my father and mother) and to all those close to me, and grant me and all Israel a good and long life.

 

And remember us for goodness and for blessing, and visit us with salvation and mercy, and bless us with great blessing, and bring peace to our homes, and let your Shekhinah rest among us. And allow us to raise wise and understanding children, who love and fear Elohim – offspring of truth, a holy seed, who will be attached to Elohim and enlightened the entire world with Torah and with good deeds, and labor in the service of the Creator.

Heed my petition at this hour, through the merit of Sarah, Rivkah, Rahel, Leah, our mothers. And give light to our candle so that it may not be extinguished forever, and show us the light of your face, and let us be saved. 

Amen.
 

 Today, don’t forget to set your table for Shabbat! Set it early so the whole family will see the table and begin to prepare for Shabbat.

Put out a tablecloth and some decorations. Then put your menorah to the south and your bread to the north to symbolize how it was in the Temple. If you don’t have a tablecloth and would like one, you can always use a sheet – it looks just as nice! You can gather wildflowers or uses grasses for your centerpiece. I have shared a picture, as how I set it today for you to see.

 Remember to also start your Challah bread!
You can make it in your bread machine while you are doing other things that you need to do. If you don't have one, you can buy your bread at Publix or you can make it by hand.  Here is a recipe that I use for my machine that I got from online.Search for Bread Machine Challah if you want to find it on line.

Ingredients:

1 Cup of Warm Water
  4 Tablespoons of Oil
  2 Eggs
  1 Teaspoon of Salt
  4 ½ Cups of Flour
  2/3 cups of Sugar
  3 Teaspoons of Yeast

Preperation:

1.    Place all ingredients in order into the basket of the machine. Make a well of the dry in ingredients before putting in the yeast.

2.    Close the bread machine door and set it on the dough setting and walk away for about an hour and a half. (1 hour, 30 minutes or longer depending on the weather. I’ve had to wait 4 hours some days!)

3.    When the dough is ready, divide dough into two loaves. For a traditional look, you can braid each loaf.

4.    Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

5.    Brush the top of the challah with egg yoke.

6.    Bake it at 350 for approx. 30 minutes.

7.    To check if it challah is done, gently knock on the bottom of it and if you hear a hollow sound then the challah is ready.

     

Going back to yesterday’s post, I promised a menu for Rosh
Hashanah!

I am using a dinner/buffet plan  from ‘The Gourmet Jewish Cookbook’ by Judy Zeidler. 

    


Going by Judy’s suggestion, here is planning for ten guests. She feels 8-10 people over for an evening is just about right to enjoy each person.

Sit Down Dinner
Festive Honey Challah
Warm Green Bean Salad 
Roasted Meat with Vegetables 
Fabulous Apple Charlotte 
  

Here is the menu for a Rosh Hashanah Buffet 
Mini Challahs
Marinated Vegetable Platter
Sliced Roast Beef with 2  sauces
              Red Pepper-Basil Sauce 
              Mustard-Basil Sauce
Pomogrante Ice 
Sesame-Honey Thins 
 
    Suggested Beverages 
 
Dinner:
           Pinot Noir Wine or Bordeaux Wine 
    
Buffet:
          Chardonnay Wine or Blush Wine

Most of  these recipe can be found on line. It can be fun to have guest over to celebrate and to have fellowship. Usually Rosh Hashanah is celebrated two days that is to make sure we don't miss the day. So you can use one of the two days to have a special dinner either just with family or invited guests. Get out that silverware and enjoy!


Shabbat Shalom dont forget to fellowship with your community.

 

Community and Family

The Fall Feasts

This post is from our bible study on Tuesday August 20th, 2013. We covered more but I am saving to share over the next few days.

Pro 31:27        She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.


As this scripture tells us we are going to need a little planning ( well maybe a lot) to make a successful feast with days full of love, fun, and spiritual growth. It has been my experience during the time of celebrating the feasts are times of intense spiritual experiences. If we are not at least somewhat prepared your time is going to be spent dealing with issues that arise out of general items such as I forgot this, what are we supposed to do on this day, did I bring my toothbrush? etc. What my goal each year is to learn what I need to do next time to make it run more smooth and this is what I want to encourage you to do. I want to share some ideas with you and if you would like to respond with some of your own that would be great.

BUSINESS


The fourth commandment: ‘Six days you are to  work’.


One of the aspects of the proverb women is that she runs her home as her business or like a business. I would like to explore this with you as it is on my mind today. This is from a bible study we had back in July so if you attend the class you most likley have these notes. But now you can have an eletronic version of the speadsheet.

Your home and family are your business. Your job is your business. Your business is your business.  Can you tell if it is good?   Are you happy and excited about it? Are you running it in the red or black?  Let’s  review some scriptures. (I have used the KJV as to look up the  Hebrew.)

We need to monitor our finances to be a good business person. If we treat our household finances like a business we would track them daily and review them monthly, quarterly and yearly. At the end of this blog I have made a homemade  excel speadsheet you can use or use as a guide for your own. The reports that businesses use to keep track of how money comes in and how it goes out is with what is called a Profit and Loss sheet ( P&L) and a balance sheet. I have made these two types of speadsheets for the household they are simple to use and can give us good information as to help keep us in the positive.


 Proverbs
31:18 tells us 'She perceiveth that her merchandise [is] good: her candle goeth not out by night.'


The verb perceiveth is ta’am in Hebrew and it has the meaning : to taste, perceive, eat. The letters are: tet, ayin and final mem.
The meanings are: Tet- Basket ; Ayin- Eyes ; Mem- Water.  Basket or cup , eyes, water hebrew letter to percieve  ( D’vorah’s aspect: this could have the meaning like percieving if your cup is half empty or half full) 
 
A Blue letter bible Commentary: “she tastes and sees," expresses the meaning of the verb taam here used. Her prudence and economy leave her  a large surplus profit, which she contemplates with satisfaction. There is no  suspicion of arrogance or conceit, The pleasure that is derived from duty done and successfully conducted business is legitimate and healthy, a providential  reward of good works. Septuagint, "She tastes that it is good to work." This comfort and success spur her on to further and more continued exertion.
Her candle  (lamp) goeth not out by night.  The last part of that verse can also have the
meaning of checking the bookkeeping sitting up late at night when it is quiet, as in running a household or business is that you want to know if your efforts are paying off, literally.  

 I also want to consider this verse as well as it is talking about business.

 Proverbs 31:16 "She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard." 

 Here are some other scriptures about work.
 
John 1:8   Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
 
Thess 3:11 and 12   11 For we hear that there are  some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Master Yeshua our Messiah, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. 

Thess 4:9-12 9  But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of Elohim to love one another. 10 And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that
ye increase more and more;11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and [that] ye may have lack of nothing. 
 
Colossians  3:23,24   23 And whatsoever ye do, do [it]  heartily, as to the Master Yeshua, and not unto men; 24  Knowing that of the master ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance for ye serve the Master Messiah.  
 
Proverbs   18:9  He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster. 
 
Proverbs 22:29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand  before mere [men]. 

Proverbs  24:27 Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house. 

So  back to our verse today about business:
Proverbs 31:18 tells us 'She perceiveth that her merchandise [is] good: her candle goeth not out by night.'

 It surprised me when I discovered that it was OK  for a woman to have and run a business. Now I know that sounds silly but as a  young person I thought the right thing was for that a woman’s place was just working in the home.  So it helped to enlighten me. Also in the verse :

 Proverbs 31.24  She maketh fine linen, and selleth[it]; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. 
 
How amazed I was when I realized she was out in the market place selling her goods and making an income from it. If I had known that sooner I may have had a change of career.

 'She perceiveth that her merchandise [is]  good:Your home finances need to be cared about. Yah has blessed us with this
income and we need to handle it with care. And we can and we can do a really good job. Some people it comes naturally but others have to have help to understand the process or system.

 Whether you have your business from your home or  you have work outside the home or maybe you have income that you want to keep track of.Or, It could be you have not started your own business yet but would like to. Explore the possibilities.
So what does the Word of Yah tell us about work and the money we make from our profits? Are we to go to the mall and shop? Our  sister the Proverb Women ( PW) has an answer in Proverbs 31:16 "She  considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a  vineyard."

The commandment in Leviticus 19:9 and 10: "And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest. And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather [every] grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I [am] the Elohim."

 So why separate these out why not just say field or your plants. Let’s see if we can find out  why.


Field and Vineyard:

 Sadeh- Field or land such as soil.   The Hebrew letters are sin, dalet and hey, and the meaning are fire or teeth, door,
breath or behold.  

kerem - Vineyard or a field with plants of nobler quality such as an orchard or olive garden. The Hebrew letters are Kaf resh final mem and the meanings are palm like the palm of a hand, head or new beginning, water. 

Now how I see this, is that your field is your regular income or your job. The vineyard is residual income or investment.

 The field is a business you have that brings in a harvest and each year you must replant and harvest in order to receive payment.  Just like a job you may now have or a business you run. I consider that to be the field. The vineyard is something you invest in that brings annual yields that you do not have re-plant each year, it just needs tending - like an  investment. So from the profist of the field we consider to plant our vineyard. In other words from our income we invest in residual income. Maybe we can go to the mall then?

 We all have a business we can do.

It should be something you are passionate about. Running a business from home or  running your home like a business is a good place to start. Start right where you are. We will create a profit and loss sheet and a balance sheet to reflect  where we are and where we want to be. I have made an example of one for you to  look at today. But first let’s look again at our Proverb
woman.

 Proverbs 31:18 tells us 'She perceiveth that her merchandise [is] good: her candle goeth not out by night.': her candle goeth not out by night.'

Now this has several meanings but one I want to consider is that she is reviewing her books to see if her effort is paying off. This woman can manage her books so we should also learn to run our finances like a bookkeeper. Start right where you are and get started on some finance software such as Quicken or use a simple sheet like I am going to show you. This will help you and your family. Finances can be our friend. It is fun when you can see all

 One important benefit from having your own business is that it will also free you from the ties to the world that may not
hold your values. But running your household budget like a business will help you to be more profitable. Whatever your passion and desire Yah has put in your heart you can have the skills to perceive that your business is good (well  managed).

D'vorah.

See the files below for help with tracking finances.

I want to encourage us to take time today to pray ( to intercede on someones behalf) as I encourage myself as well. Most of us our days start off very quickly with many things to do.

But we need to practice praying for ourselves, our family, our congregational leaders, our friends, our busineses etc.

This scripture means a lot to me :
 Luke 11: 1 Once Yeshua was  in a certain place praying. As he finished, one of his disciples came to him and  said, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” NLT

Then he gives us his prayer and then he tells us in verse  9 of chapter 11 of Luke.

9  “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will  receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the  door will be opened.NLT 

I believe one thing here he is telling us, is that we need to practice prayer just like any other art or discipline. We need to know how to call on our Father when we need him. Prayer time is that time when you can escape from this world and enter his. It is a time of refreshing from this world that we can spend in his loving and merciful presence. So lets keep learning how to ask and knock by developing a relationship with our heavenly Father by prayer.

Prayer is one of the seven branches of that tree that its roots run deep, that as followers of Elohim we need daily in our life.

Shabbat Shalom
 D'vorah
Also David has written a song to this scripture that is really great!  

Set your table early and find a special reading for tonights dinner from one of your favorite siddurs. Make some Hallah bread and find some flowers for the table. By doing this it helps to prepare your family and you to enter in for Shabbat. If you work do it the night before ( Thursday night) so when you get home on Friday it is ready. Shabbat Shalom...
This week I have been caught in the battle of clutter again.  We have moved the boys into what was my sewing, craft and office area and when I moved my stuff out I became overwhelmed and I just stayed that way for a few weeks not knowing what to do with all of it. Yesterday we finally got the boys moved in completely and their rooms and they look very nice. So I decided to tackle the clutter by putting it in grocery sacks like I was shopping and brought all this stuff and brought it home. So now I can take one sack ( or more) at a time and go through it thrououghly and rid my self of this monster. This time I must really dispose of most of  the items by giving or throwing away. I am committed now.

When we allow the clutter to get ahead of us we begin to have negative feelings and we really dont want that in our lives. I know it is not fun to deal with it but when we do, we find freedom to do the things we really want to do. A lot of this clutter was from YEARS gone by and now it is time to let it go. As we are preparing for the fall feasts lets let go of some negativity whether it is cluttler or just some negative thoughts. This is the month of Elul and it is time to reevaluate our lives. What we have done and what we need to do. It is my time for setting goals for next year and evaluate what I accomplished or did not. If I did not accomplish some of my goals I ask why not; maybe it wasnt a good goal at all and I need to look at it differantly. Anyway take some time for this task it is important for you, as time goes by so quickly and if we are not focused we will not accomplish the things Yah has for us to do.
D'vorah