-
An Excellent Wife
When we think about being an excellent wife, we picture the image we feature here. It is, however, not about performance. It goes much deeper.
-
Making your voice heard on high
The next three appointed times on YHVH’s calendar is approaching, Yom T’ruah, Yom Kippurim, and Sukkot. It is always a good thing to “take stock” of our spiritual condition before we observe these days. Especially Yom Kippurim, a day of humbling ourselves before YHVH. It is part of Jewish tradition to do introspection for forty days before Yom kippurim, the month of Elul and the Ten days of Awe (the first ten days of Tishri.) The word “elul” means search, so this is very appropriate as we search our hearts during this time. People examine themselves and forgive and ask forgiveness of those they have wronged. Though we should be doing this all the time, I find it a good tradition. It’s like a spiritual house cleaning before the fall feasts. I am currently reading through the book of Isaiah, and Isaiah 58, struck a cord with me and it fits in very well with this context of searching our hearts. It showed me that only keeping YHVH’s commandments is not enough. If we only keep YHVH’s commandments, we are participating in false worship. This may seem like a harsh statement, but allow me to explain.
-
The End of the Age
There is much speculation regarding the coming of the Messiah Y’shua. Many interpretations and predictions are made. How do we know what is true? What will be the sign of Y’shua’s coming? Y’shua’s disciples were also anxious to know this. The first thing Y’shua said when asked this question was to warn them to see to it that no one deceives them. This warning is for us too. There are so many theories and prophets out there. Some of these theories have been repeated so many times that is has been accepted as truth. It may seem true, but do not be deceived, test everything against YHVH’s word. That is the purpose of this article to see how Y’shua answered this question to His disciples and align it with the rest of scripture in order to give us a clearer perspective on this.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Forgive yourself
Do you love yourself? Do you even like yourself? If you answered no, why not? If you were to think long and hard, you may find this feeling towards yourself rooted in unforgiveness. Many of us, myself included, struggle to forgive ourselves. We may have done things in the past, we regret and may even live with the consequences of those past sins. This may cause guilt, lack of self-esteem and even self-hatred. Did you know that this self-hatred gives your body permission to destroy itself?
