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Reminiscing on Sukkot
We just returned from celebrating the feast of Sukkot in Jerusalem. As usual it was glorious to be in the place YHVH chose to put His Name for this appointed time. Every encounter we had, whether planned or not, positive or negative, was meaningful and contributed to making our time in Jerusalem special. Let us share some of this wonderful experience with your via our annual picture report.
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YHVH’s provision in the Sabbatical year
YHVH is in control of everything, He controls the weather, He gives rain in its season and He makes the plants grow. We believe YHVH has led us to keep the Sabbatical year of 2016 and we are doing it out of love for Him. This here is a report to show you what He is doing.
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The wave sheaf and the sabbatical year
Nobody can deny that YHVH is in control of everything. We read of YHVH’s greatness throughout scripture. In Job 37:1-39:30, and in many other passages, YHVH’s greatness is described. How He has made and controls nature, the weather, and every living creature. He causes the lightning to strike, the rain to fall; He causes the wind to blow. YHVH is in control! If we believe this, which we and most people do, we cannot deny that YHVH was in control of what happened this year with the barley. YHVH made the rain fall, He caused the barley and other grains to germinate, it is also He who caused it to grow and develop the way it did. I believe YHVH did this for several reasons.
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When must the barley be aviv?
This year there has been a lot of discussion regarding the start of the new year. Most of these discussions were centered around the topic of when the barley needs to be aviv. Should it be before the new year starts or only when the Wave Sheaf offering is brought? In our article in 2012 we took the position that the barley must be aviv before the new year is announced. Due to all these discussions we went back and took a deeper look at this topic. Let us see if our understanding of the Scriptures needs to be adapted.
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The mind will justify what the heart desires.
The mind will justify what the heart desires. This is not only true when it comes to the keeping of YHVH’s commandments. The fears in our hearts can ruin us. Our mind is able to bend reality to justify not only our desires, but also these fears. Our hearts are deceitful and evil comes forth from it. Our challenge is to overcome this through repentance and seek YHVH’s kingdom and counsel in everything we do.
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The Potter and the clay
Every day we get up and face life with all its challenges. Life can be difficult and often is. We all suffer in some way and some, like Job, suffer in many ways at the same time. It seems to me, from personal experience, but also from speaking to other people, that life’s challenges have increased. Have you noticed it too? Not only are we facing increasing natural disasters, threats to our freedom, personal issues, but spiritually things have heated up as well. We live under immense pressure and it is increasing. Why is this? Could it be that YHVH is trying to show us or teach us something?
