Ramblings

I can hardly contain my excitement  about Passover and Unleavened Bread coming. I stayed up till 2 am Saturday morning so I could catch the post about the new moon being spotted in Israel.   I have learned so much about the God that I serve through keeping His feast days.  It truly blesses my heart and as far as I'm concerned christmas and easter just don't hold a candle to YHVH's appointed times.  It's a year long journey of getting to know Him a little bit better than last year.  It's a constant reminder that we are to serve only Him, and not other gods.

We are finally having some spring like weather, and although my allergies don't agree, I'm ready for spring and summer.  I love sunshine.

I'm anxious to get my garden planned for this year.  It won't be big like I'm used to, but I think it will still be good.  It will be very simple with just snap peas, cuccumber, tomatoes, spinach, maybe some eggplant, and of course, herbs.  I'd love to hear about your favorite herbs, not just for cooking, but for my medicine chest as well.

Well, If you are celebrating Pesach{Passover} and unleavened bread I pray your plans go well.  I will try to share my plans, and I hope that you will share yours.  Where ever you are I pray YHVH gives you His Shalom!

What I believe. Such as it is.

1.  I believe we should still be keeping the Sabbath.  It is the 4th commandment.  It seems we are ok with obeying the other nine but the fourth is ignored.  I do not believe the Messiah changed it from the 7th day to the 1st day.  The Messiah kept the Sabbath; the apostles kept the Sabbath.  That's enough for me.  I could list every single verse here but go search for yourself.  You will not find the command to worship Him on Sun-day.

2.  I believe the whole bible is still for us today.  The commands of YHVH are important for us to keep just as they were for ancient Israel.

Matthew 5:16-19 

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy , but to fulfil . 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass , one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled . 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

The Messiah also said "If you love me keep My commandments."  I know you must have a pocket full of verses that Paul wrote that says otherwise, but we can't validate the words of Yeshua through Paul, It must be the other way around.  We must validate Paul's words through Yeshua the Messiah.  Furthermore, If you don't know the front of the book really well,  you are going to misunderstand the end of the book.

3.  I serve the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  His name is YHVH{pronounced Yahway}.  I will not go so far as to say that someone who uses God or Lord is sinning; YHVH knows we are dust and I believe He knows who we are talking to.  However, consider, Psalm 68:4: Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name YAH, and rejoice before him.  Also Psalm 91:14: Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. His name is YHVH.  Once you learn that YHVH is who you are talking to and about, the Creator of the universe, Elohim, YHVH, why would you want to call Him by a common title that false gods are known by?  I love and call upon the name of YHVH.

4.  I believe in the two houses of Israel.  Ephraim and Judah.  I believe from the very beginning YHVH's plan has always been about Israel.  Ezekiel 37 is a very good chapter to read.  In Jeremiah 31, the new or renewed covenant is with the house of Israel and the house of Judah.  That's it.  It's not about Jews and non-Jews.  You're either in the house, or you're not. period.

This is a summary of what I believe. Such as it is. You will notice that I did not list every single scripture to prove to you why I believe the way I do.  You may have scripture already coming to mind that you think proves me wrong.  The TRUTH is YOU will have to read the bible and decide for yourself.  However, I encourage you not to just take what you have been told for years as the truth.  Take everything you have been taught, everything you have believed, everything that has been preached to you, and just for a little while set it aside and read the Bible just like it was the first time.  You may be surprised at what you find.  Maybe not.  But remember in the end, the Truth will set you free.

So in keeping with what I believe now, I no longer celebrate christmas, easter, valentines day st. patricks day, or any other pagan holiday.  I choose to celebrate YHVH's feasts of Passover, Unleavened bread, First Fruits, Shavuot{penticost…remember that word?} Trumpets, Atonement, and Sukkot.  These are His Feasts, His calendar, and they are for us today.  If you have questions,  feel free to ask.

Shalom!