I am sure the title of my post has some of you holding your breath. Wondering what in the world I am going to say. I thought this title best described my decision to tell friends and family about the change in some of my beliefs. I have always loved the Messiah and believe He died on the cross for my sins, rose on the third day and ascended into Heaven and will one day return again! These core beliefs have not changed and never will. I will be sharing these changes with you over several posts.
In my search for authentic living, the way the Messiah intended His followers to live, I discovered a wealth of information that I had never known before. I want to share what I have learned with you and share my heart. I know it may not be popular, but the Messiah was not popular. My desire is just to share my heart, share my adopted Jewish heritage and then pray that you would seek God (YHWH) with all your heart and keep an open heart to what He might be trying to tell you.
A dear friend gave me a wonderful book called, "Restoration: Returning the Torah of God to the Disciples of Jesus". I am so grateful for her kindness and generosity in giving me that book. I gleaned so much from that book that I will be sharing with you in this post. I also have studied the Scriptures with a new founded fervor and a deep hunger to know who my Messiah really is. YHWH has opened my eyes in so many ways, in ways only He can do and I have been so blessed. I hope what I share with you is as much of a blessing to you as it was to me.
We Gentile Christians have in some ways misunderstood and misapplied the Gospel because we have been ignorant of the Jewish origin and Torah context of the Gospel. The Jewish people have lived in exile since the age of the Apostles. So has the Gospel. But the time is nigh for the exile to come to an end. Moses foresaw a time of restoration. He foresaw a time when the people of Israel would return from exile and turn back to the commandments of God. "And you shall again obey the Lord, and observe all His commandments which I commanded you today" Deut 30:8.
New Testament scholars are returning the Gospel to its Torah context and reconnecting it with its Jewish origins. In the days of the Apostles, Christianity was not yet a separate religion from Judaism. An honest reading of the NT from a biblical-Jewish perspective makes it clear that the first century church never thought of herself as separate and excluded from Judaism. Rather, she considered herself as part of the whole of Israel. She never imagined herself as replacing Judaism. She might have conceived of herself as a reform within Judaism, but not as a separate entity. Jesus was actually a Jewish teacher of Torah (first 5 books of the OT). His Hebrew name - that is, His real name - was Yeshua. He kept the Torah, taught the Torah, and lived by the Torah. He taught His disciples to keep the Torah in imitation of Him. He argued with teachers of other sects of Judaism. He denounced the Sadducees, rebuked the Pharisees and brought correction to errant teachings, but He did not institute a new religion, nor did He cancel the Torah. Instead, He sought to bring restoration to the ancient faith of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. His followers, the Apostles and the believers, also remained within the parameters of normative, first-century Jewish expression. They met daily in the Temple. They congregated in synagogues. They proclaimed the Scriptures of Israel. They kept the Biblical festivals, the Sabbaths, the dietary laws and the whole of Torah as best as they were able. When non-Jews began to enter the faith through the ministry of Paul of Tarsus, they too congregated in synagogues and embraced the standards of biblical Judaism. They understood themselves as "grafted in" to Israel and made citizens of the larger "commonwealth of Israel".
History then began to change things. The Jewish war gave rise to the politics of anti-Semitism. Emperor Vespasian followed up the Jewish War by imposing a heavy, punitive annual tax upon all Jewish households in the empire. He determined Jewish households as those who worshipped after the Jewish manner. With the addition of the Fiscus Judaicus tax, Gentile believers had financial, political and cultural incentives to distance themselves from Judaism. By the time second century began, anti-Jewish sentiment was SO high in the church that most non-Jews no longer wanted to be identified with Jews at all. Theologically, the church leaders decided that the Christian church had replaced the Jews as the true Israel of God. They decided that they were now the true people of God, and that Jews were consigned to damnation and everlasting cursedness from God. By the time Constantine converted to Christianity and declared it the official state religion, most of the Jewish elements were gone. Constantine made the divorce from Judaism final with the Council of Nicea (325 CE). His official policy regarding Torah observance is expressed in his words: "Let us have nothing in common with the detestable Jewish rabble." The Council of Antioch (341 CE) prohibited Christians from celebrating Passover with the Jews, while the Council of Laodicea (363 CE) forbade Christians from observing the biblical Sabbath.
As time went on, and the Dark Ages began, the Christian church turned violent toward the Jewish people. Synagogues and holy books were burned, whole communities were slaughtered. Jewish men and women were tortured - all in the name of Christ. The pages of church history are stained red with the spilled blood of the Jewish people. Then along came the Reformation. What the various Protestant reformers have failed to recognize about the first-century church is that she was Jewish. Yeshua, the disciples, the first believers, the worship system, the Scriptures, the interpretation of the Scriptures, the teaching, the vernacular and even the very concepts of faith and grace, Messiah and god were all patently Jewish. Any attempt at church reformation, ant attempt to return to the original NT church falls short as long as it refuses to acknowledge the essential Jewishness of our faith.
The modern-day Jewish roots movement is born out of an intersection of things. The Holocaust, the formation of the State of Israel and the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls all combined to spark a complete renaissance in the way that early Christianity is studied and understood.
After reading about my Messiah and His religion.. I realized that I needed to go back to my Jewish roots. I was adopted into His family and I was ignoring His commands to me, His Torah. I now consider myself a TOFY - A Torah Observant Follower of Yeshua. In my next post I would like to share with you what the Torah is and how it applies to us today. I had never really studied the Old Testament, simply because it was "old" - old news, old laws.. nothing in there applied to me I was taught.. oh well except for the Ten Commandments. But anyway, the more I studied the more I realized that not only was the OT for me, but it was relevant for everyone. When Yeshua was on the earth and He taught from the Scriptures and He taught us to obey His laws and His commands, He was teaching us from the OT. The NT did not begin to get compiled until 90AD and some of the letters from the Apostles did not get added until two hundred years after their death. This made me look at things in a new way, a new light.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
The Three Principles
I promised I would be writing another post regarding the three principles that I gleaned from the book I am currently reading about health according to the Scriptures. Here is the promised post.
In Genesis 7, the Bible first makes the distinction between "clean" and "unclean" animals. To prepare for the great flood, YHWH told Noah, "Take with you seven kind of every clean animal, a male and its mate, and two of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate." (vs 2)
The flesh of clean animals such as beef and fish that have scales and fins, is ideal for the health of humans - just as we would expect from the hand of a loving Creator. For one thing, meats contain proteins, iron, zinc, and vitamins B6 and B12. For another, clean animal flesh contains 3-omega fatty acids. These fatty acids are essential for life, and offer strong protection from vascular diseases. The design of these animals' digestive tracts is important also. For example, a cow's stomach contains four rumination pouches in which various kinds of bacteria compete for nutrients, crowding out viruses and parasites. They also destroy many toxins before they reach the flesh of the cow.
Principle 1 - Eat only substances that YHWH created for food!
Principle 2- As much as possible, eat foods as they were created - before they are
changed or converted into something humans think might be better.
Principle 3- Avoid food addictions! Don't let any food or drink become your god!
Principle #1
YHWH has specifically commanded that His people not eat certain things, such as the blood of an animal or the fat of an animal. After the flood, YHWH told Noah that the blood of even "clean" animals was forbidden. "You must not eat meat that has its life blood still in it (Gen 9:4; Lev 3:17; 7:26-27; 19:26; Deut 12:16-24; 1 Sam 14:32-34). Why did YHWH forbid eating blood? Scientists have long known that blood carries infections and toxins that circulate in an animals body. If people eat the animal blood, they are needlessly exposed to these infections and toxins. When YHWH commanded His people to abstain from blood, it was not just an arbitrary law; in effect YHWH was sparing His people from the plagues and lowered life expectantcy that came from eating contaminated blood.
"Do not eat any of the fat of cattle, sheep or goats." Lev 7:23
From medical research we now understand that fat is a tissue in which the body stores energy. Unfortunately, animal fat is also a storage place for toxins and parasites. These toxins are found in the fat of all the animals that we eat. Not all fats are bad. Isaiah 25:6 says, "In this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things". The best translation for the word "fat" here is liquid oils, including olive oil. In the Bible, olive oil and olive trees are important and a symbol of blessing (Deut 7:13; Judges 9:8-13).
Principle #2
Proverbs 14:12 says, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death."
In our consumptive and pleasure seeking culture, we often concoct additives, chemicals and processed foods that take us away from our Creator's excellent design for nutrition. Take the example of how we have tampered with one of our most basic foods - bread! Deut 32:12-14 lists various substances YHWH has given His people for food. One of thse items is "kidneys of wheat" (KJV), which are really the germ layers in a kernel of grain, shaped like a kidney. This germ layer is so rich with nutrients that, like many rich substances, it spoils quickly in ordinary circumstances. The baking industry has removed more than 20 vitamins and minerals from wheat in its attempt to increase the storage life of bread and prevent spoilage. The operation was a success, but it wasn't healthy. Because the germ layer in the wheat grain has been removed, bacteria and molds that would spoil the bread can't live on it - and neither can we!
Principle #3
The third principle is derived from the first commandment, "You shall have no other gods before me". (Ex 20:3)
YHWH has given us good food to eat. Anything good, however, can be made bad by misuse or by allowing it to consume our attention - a place YHWH reserves for Himself. We can overdo and become addicted to foods YHWH gave for our use. In Deut 32:13-14, YHWH discusses several foods that He has provided for us. Then in verse 15 He charges, "Jeshurun grew fat and kicked; filled with food, he became heavy and sleek. He abandoned the G-d who made him and rejected the Rock his Savior". "Jeshurun" means "the upright one", and refers to YHWH's people. YHWH's own people had forsaken Him, substituting for Him and overabundance of food that made them sluggish from gluttony. They were "hooked on food". Both acute and chronic conditions can result from any kind of overconsumption. The primary message of both the Old Testament and the New Testaments is salvation; and salvation comes through the blood sacrifice of the Messiah, not through eating habits.
Nevertheless, a large portion of Scripture focuses on these commandments, ordinances and statutes that show us how to live on this carefully designed earth. Many of these passages pertain to subjects such as economics, law, government, interpersonal relationships, nutrition and health. The sacrifice of Yeshua for our sins does not cancel the wisdom in these other teachings.
In closing, I would like to share just a bit about the damaging health effects of eating unclean meats. Yeshua, as one who was "born under the law" (Gal 4:4) did not eat pork! One time he used pigs as a dumping ground for demons, evicting the demons and destroying the swine! (Matt 8:28-32) One reason for YHWH's rule of forbidding pork is that the digestive system of the pig is completely different from that of a cow. Pigs are gluttonous, never knowing when to stop eating. Their stomach acids become diluted because of the volume of food, allowing all kinds of vermin to pass through this protective barrier. Parasites, bacteria, viruses and toxins can pass into the pig's flesh because of overeating. These toxins and infectious agents can be passed on to humans when they eat the pigs flesh.
Were there any benefits to avoiding pork? In the "Biblical Archeological Review", Jan Cahill examined the toilets of a Jewish household in Jerusalem, finding no parasites or infectious agents, but only pollen from the many fruits, vegetables and herbs they had eaten. A similar study about Egyptians revealed eggs from Schistosoma, Trichinella, wire worm and tapeworms, all found in pork. All of these organisms cause significant chronic diseases.
Because the Isrealites lived near the Mediterranean and around other bodies of water, YHWH instructed them regarding many forms of sea life.
"These you may eat, of all that are in the waters. Everything in the waters that has fins and scales, whether in the seas or in the rivers, you may eat. But anything in the seas or the rivers that has not fins and scales, of the swarming creatures in the waters and of the living creatures that are in the waters, is detestable to you. You shall regard them as detestable; you shall not eat any of their flesh, and you shall detest their carcasses. Everything in the waters that has not fins and scales is detestable to you" (Lev 11:9-12).
It has long been recognized that the meat of shellfish - shrimp, crabs, lobsters, etc - is especially dangerous. Many illnesses, including instant paralysis, devastate some people every day as a result of eating shellfish. Shellfish can be placed in a body of water that is contaminated with Cholera bacteria, and they will purify the water! Shrimp, crabs, oysters, scallops and mussels are particularly efficient at this. They filter large volumes of water every day!. Sewage laden with chemicals, toxins and harmful bacteria, parasites and viruses become concentrated in those shellfish.
I could go on and on about the disgusting facts about pork and shellfish and even about some of the other "unclean" meats such as horse and rabbit (which are popular foods in some countries). The bottom line to me is that regardless of whether or not I know the reason why YHWH declared certain meats "clean" and "unclean", my responsibility is obedience. YHWH has set up these commands for our protection and for the health of our generation and that of future generations. I will be the first to tell you that I LOVED shellfish! And I did like bacon to! However, if I can't give up something that I "love" because my Creator told me, then I have an addiction. I should not love any food more than my Messiah! I will continue to read this book and I highly recommend it to anyone if you can still get your hands on a copy, but if not, then pick up the most important book.. The Bible! It will clearly tell you what you can and cannot eat. And like I said in a previous post, it will even give you clean hygenic guidelines that it we followed, I believe we would see a decrease in some of these diseases that we fight every day. YHWH wanted to protect His people from disease and plagues, but it is our ignorance and our lack of obedience that have brought so many of these things upon us! This study has taken my to me knees and reminded me that as a follower of the Messiah.. I need to to align ALL of my life (diet included) with His Word.
In Genesis 7, the Bible first makes the distinction between "clean" and "unclean" animals. To prepare for the great flood, YHWH told Noah, "Take with you seven kind of every clean animal, a male and its mate, and two of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate." (vs 2)
The flesh of clean animals such as beef and fish that have scales and fins, is ideal for the health of humans - just as we would expect from the hand of a loving Creator. For one thing, meats contain proteins, iron, zinc, and vitamins B6 and B12. For another, clean animal flesh contains 3-omega fatty acids. These fatty acids are essential for life, and offer strong protection from vascular diseases. The design of these animals' digestive tracts is important also. For example, a cow's stomach contains four rumination pouches in which various kinds of bacteria compete for nutrients, crowding out viruses and parasites. They also destroy many toxins before they reach the flesh of the cow.
Principle 1 - Eat only substances that YHWH created for food!
Principle 2- As much as possible, eat foods as they were created - before they are
changed or converted into something humans think might be better.
Principle 3- Avoid food addictions! Don't let any food or drink become your god!
Principle #1
YHWH has specifically commanded that His people not eat certain things, such as the blood of an animal or the fat of an animal. After the flood, YHWH told Noah that the blood of even "clean" animals was forbidden. "You must not eat meat that has its life blood still in it (Gen 9:4; Lev 3:17; 7:26-27; 19:26; Deut 12:16-24; 1 Sam 14:32-34). Why did YHWH forbid eating blood? Scientists have long known that blood carries infections and toxins that circulate in an animals body. If people eat the animal blood, they are needlessly exposed to these infections and toxins. When YHWH commanded His people to abstain from blood, it was not just an arbitrary law; in effect YHWH was sparing His people from the plagues and lowered life expectantcy that came from eating contaminated blood.
"Do not eat any of the fat of cattle, sheep or goats." Lev 7:23
From medical research we now understand that fat is a tissue in which the body stores energy. Unfortunately, animal fat is also a storage place for toxins and parasites. These toxins are found in the fat of all the animals that we eat. Not all fats are bad. Isaiah 25:6 says, "In this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things". The best translation for the word "fat" here is liquid oils, including olive oil. In the Bible, olive oil and olive trees are important and a symbol of blessing (Deut 7:13; Judges 9:8-13).
Principle #2
Proverbs 14:12 says, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death."
In our consumptive and pleasure seeking culture, we often concoct additives, chemicals and processed foods that take us away from our Creator's excellent design for nutrition. Take the example of how we have tampered with one of our most basic foods - bread! Deut 32:12-14 lists various substances YHWH has given His people for food. One of thse items is "kidneys of wheat" (KJV), which are really the germ layers in a kernel of grain, shaped like a kidney. This germ layer is so rich with nutrients that, like many rich substances, it spoils quickly in ordinary circumstances. The baking industry has removed more than 20 vitamins and minerals from wheat in its attempt to increase the storage life of bread and prevent spoilage. The operation was a success, but it wasn't healthy. Because the germ layer in the wheat grain has been removed, bacteria and molds that would spoil the bread can't live on it - and neither can we!
Principle #3
The third principle is derived from the first commandment, "You shall have no other gods before me". (Ex 20:3)
YHWH has given us good food to eat. Anything good, however, can be made bad by misuse or by allowing it to consume our attention - a place YHWH reserves for Himself. We can overdo and become addicted to foods YHWH gave for our use. In Deut 32:13-14, YHWH discusses several foods that He has provided for us. Then in verse 15 He charges, "Jeshurun grew fat and kicked; filled with food, he became heavy and sleek. He abandoned the G-d who made him and rejected the Rock his Savior". "Jeshurun" means "the upright one", and refers to YHWH's people. YHWH's own people had forsaken Him, substituting for Him and overabundance of food that made them sluggish from gluttony. They were "hooked on food". Both acute and chronic conditions can result from any kind of overconsumption. The primary message of both the Old Testament and the New Testaments is salvation; and salvation comes through the blood sacrifice of the Messiah, not through eating habits.
Nevertheless, a large portion of Scripture focuses on these commandments, ordinances and statutes that show us how to live on this carefully designed earth. Many of these passages pertain to subjects such as economics, law, government, interpersonal relationships, nutrition and health. The sacrifice of Yeshua for our sins does not cancel the wisdom in these other teachings.
In closing, I would like to share just a bit about the damaging health effects of eating unclean meats. Yeshua, as one who was "born under the law" (Gal 4:4) did not eat pork! One time he used pigs as a dumping ground for demons, evicting the demons and destroying the swine! (Matt 8:28-32) One reason for YHWH's rule of forbidding pork is that the digestive system of the pig is completely different from that of a cow. Pigs are gluttonous, never knowing when to stop eating. Their stomach acids become diluted because of the volume of food, allowing all kinds of vermin to pass through this protective barrier. Parasites, bacteria, viruses and toxins can pass into the pig's flesh because of overeating. These toxins and infectious agents can be passed on to humans when they eat the pigs flesh.
Were there any benefits to avoiding pork? In the "Biblical Archeological Review", Jan Cahill examined the toilets of a Jewish household in Jerusalem, finding no parasites or infectious agents, but only pollen from the many fruits, vegetables and herbs they had eaten. A similar study about Egyptians revealed eggs from Schistosoma, Trichinella, wire worm and tapeworms, all found in pork. All of these organisms cause significant chronic diseases.
Because the Isrealites lived near the Mediterranean and around other bodies of water, YHWH instructed them regarding many forms of sea life.
"These you may eat, of all that are in the waters. Everything in the waters that has fins and scales, whether in the seas or in the rivers, you may eat. But anything in the seas or the rivers that has not fins and scales, of the swarming creatures in the waters and of the living creatures that are in the waters, is detestable to you. You shall regard them as detestable; you shall not eat any of their flesh, and you shall detest their carcasses. Everything in the waters that has not fins and scales is detestable to you" (Lev 11:9-12).
It has long been recognized that the meat of shellfish - shrimp, crabs, lobsters, etc - is especially dangerous. Many illnesses, including instant paralysis, devastate some people every day as a result of eating shellfish. Shellfish can be placed in a body of water that is contaminated with Cholera bacteria, and they will purify the water! Shrimp, crabs, oysters, scallops and mussels are particularly efficient at this. They filter large volumes of water every day!. Sewage laden with chemicals, toxins and harmful bacteria, parasites and viruses become concentrated in those shellfish.
I could go on and on about the disgusting facts about pork and shellfish and even about some of the other "unclean" meats such as horse and rabbit (which are popular foods in some countries). The bottom line to me is that regardless of whether or not I know the reason why YHWH declared certain meats "clean" and "unclean", my responsibility is obedience. YHWH has set up these commands for our protection and for the health of our generation and that of future generations. I will be the first to tell you that I LOVED shellfish! And I did like bacon to! However, if I can't give up something that I "love" because my Creator told me, then I have an addiction. I should not love any food more than my Messiah! I will continue to read this book and I highly recommend it to anyone if you can still get your hands on a copy, but if not, then pick up the most important book.. The Bible! It will clearly tell you what you can and cannot eat. And like I said in a previous post, it will even give you clean hygenic guidelines that it we followed, I believe we would see a decrease in some of these diseases that we fight every day. YHWH wanted to protect His people from disease and plagues, but it is our ignorance and our lack of obedience that have brought so many of these things upon us! This study has taken my to me knees and reminded me that as a follower of the Messiah.. I need to to align ALL of my life (diet included) with His Word.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
The Best Health Book Ever
"All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work." 2 Tim 3:16-17 (ESV)
The more I have read the Scriptures, the more I have realized that the Bible is my personal road map to so many things. I knew I could read the Bible to obtain encouragement, guidance on handling a situation, or to further my spiritual growth. What I had failed to realize is that the Bible also gives me instruction on hygiene and even what to eat! I have always been fascinated with health since I was a little girl and I read tons of health books. But in all those years of reading and researching health, I never thought about picking up my Bible - the greatest source of wisdom in all areas! Over these past few months as I have been pouring over the Scriptures, I have come to realize that YHWH gave us specific guidelines as to what we can and cannot eat as His people. Although He doesn't have to have a reason for what He does, I can assure you that there are very good health reasons why you should not consume the foods that YHWH declared unclean.
"If you listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your YHWH and do what it is right in His eyes, if you pay attention to His commands and keep all His decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you." Exodus 15:26 (KJV)
The laws YHWH gave His people were both a method YHWH used to teach His people obedience and a way to spare them from many easily preventable illnesses and problems.
The hospitals in Vienna, Austria, had a problem. New mothers were dying at a rate of one in six! At the time - in the mid 1800's - physicians who had just examined the recent dead were entering the wards and examining the expectant mothers without washing their hands. This tragedy could have been avoided if the physicians of the day had known and followed the principle YHWH had laid down thousands of years earlier, as recorded in Numbers 19:11, "Whoever touches the dead body of anyone will be unclean for seven days." YHWH offered no explanation of this law. Had the physicians in Vienna simply obeyed it, however, hundreds of lives could have been spared.
"My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge." Hos 4:6
YHWH outlines very clean laws concerning what is healthy and not healthy to eat. I want to share some of them with you in the next post. My eyes have been so opened in the past few weeks about all of this and I was so eager to share it! I encourage you to look at these Biblical laws for the purpose of glorifying YHWH through acknowledging His desire and design for our health. YHWH's laws work. The laws of science are consistent with the laws of Scripture. They are irrefutable. There are wise and unwise choices in the area of health just as there are in other areas of our lives.
I am reading a wonderful book called, "What the Bible says about Healthy Living". Much of my information in this post and the next one is obtained from this book. I have been told its no longer in print, but I am not sure. I have had this book for years (was originally my moms) and I have read it when I was younger, but this time around I am amazed at how much I am learning since being more into the Word of God prior to reading this book. There are three principles outlined in this book and I will share those with you as well as the "clean" and "unclean" meats in the next post. And I will also share with you the Creator of the universe and of each of us, knew what He was he doing when He made commands regarding food.
The more I have read the Scriptures, the more I have realized that the Bible is my personal road map to so many things. I knew I could read the Bible to obtain encouragement, guidance on handling a situation, or to further my spiritual growth. What I had failed to realize is that the Bible also gives me instruction on hygiene and even what to eat! I have always been fascinated with health since I was a little girl and I read tons of health books. But in all those years of reading and researching health, I never thought about picking up my Bible - the greatest source of wisdom in all areas! Over these past few months as I have been pouring over the Scriptures, I have come to realize that YHWH gave us specific guidelines as to what we can and cannot eat as His people. Although He doesn't have to have a reason for what He does, I can assure you that there are very good health reasons why you should not consume the foods that YHWH declared unclean.
"If you listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your YHWH and do what it is right in His eyes, if you pay attention to His commands and keep all His decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you." Exodus 15:26 (KJV)
The laws YHWH gave His people were both a method YHWH used to teach His people obedience and a way to spare them from many easily preventable illnesses and problems.
The hospitals in Vienna, Austria, had a problem. New mothers were dying at a rate of one in six! At the time - in the mid 1800's - physicians who had just examined the recent dead were entering the wards and examining the expectant mothers without washing their hands. This tragedy could have been avoided if the physicians of the day had known and followed the principle YHWH had laid down thousands of years earlier, as recorded in Numbers 19:11, "Whoever touches the dead body of anyone will be unclean for seven days." YHWH offered no explanation of this law. Had the physicians in Vienna simply obeyed it, however, hundreds of lives could have been spared.
"My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge." Hos 4:6
YHWH outlines very clean laws concerning what is healthy and not healthy to eat. I want to share some of them with you in the next post. My eyes have been so opened in the past few weeks about all of this and I was so eager to share it! I encourage you to look at these Biblical laws for the purpose of glorifying YHWH through acknowledging His desire and design for our health. YHWH's laws work. The laws of science are consistent with the laws of Scripture. They are irrefutable. There are wise and unwise choices in the area of health just as there are in other areas of our lives.
I am reading a wonderful book called, "What the Bible says about Healthy Living". Much of my information in this post and the next one is obtained from this book. I have been told its no longer in print, but I am not sure. I have had this book for years (was originally my moms) and I have read it when I was younger, but this time around I am amazed at how much I am learning since being more into the Word of God prior to reading this book. There are three principles outlined in this book and I will share those with you as well as the "clean" and "unclean" meats in the next post. And I will also share with you the Creator of the universe and of each of us, knew what He was he doing when He made commands regarding food.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Thirty Years
So today I turned the big 3-0! I can't believe I have entered my 30's. I am so blessed to have an amazing husband who has stood by me so lovingly and faithfully for almost nine years. I have two amazing sons whom I love with all my heart. I am blessed with with most loving Abba I could ever ask for as well. YHWH has been so good to me and I am so very grateful. He has seen me through the valleys and the mountain tops. I have praised Him in ALL circumstances and I will seek to continue to walk in His ways.
This past year has brought about so much growth that I can't even begin to explain it all! I will not ever "arrive", but thankfully I am nowhere near where I use to be. I am a new creation! Old things have passed away!
This birthday has been the best I think so far! I have so many wonderful sister of YHWH that I have met on facebook who have been true friends and have encouraged me in my walk with the Lord these past few months. I have never felt more loved, more closer to my Heavenly Father and more blessed than I do today!
YHWH, I thank you for the work you have done in my life. I continue to be your open vessel. May I truly be the hands and feet of your Son. May I be a light in this dark world. May I be different.. may I stand out for You!
This past year has brought about so much growth that I can't even begin to explain it all! I will not ever "arrive", but thankfully I am nowhere near where I use to be. I am a new creation! Old things have passed away!
This birthday has been the best I think so far! I have so many wonderful sister of YHWH that I have met on facebook who have been true friends and have encouraged me in my walk with the Lord these past few months. I have never felt more loved, more closer to my Heavenly Father and more blessed than I do today!
YHWH, I thank you for the work you have done in my life. I continue to be your open vessel. May I truly be the hands and feet of your Son. May I be a light in this dark world. May I be different.. may I stand out for You!
Friday, January 14, 2011
Turning the Other Cheek
So, we read the Bible right? We desire to honor Yahweh in all we do, right? We know that the Messiah lives in us and we are to be His hands and feet on earth, right? This popular line is everywhere "WWJD" - what would Jesus do? Well, I prefer to think of it as this, "WDJD" - What DID Jesus (Y'shua) do? Well for goodness sakes my dear friends take out your Bibles and read them!
"You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have you cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles." Matt 5:38-41 (ESV)
"You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy, But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you....for if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?" Matt 5:43-45, 46-47 (ESV)
"Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you, falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Matt 5:11-12 (ESV)
"Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them." Rom 12:14 (ESV)
"Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. To the contrary; if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Rom 12:17-21 (ESV)
This is what our Messiah did! This is what He clearly told us to do! Why do we not do this? Because it is hard, because it goes against the flesh, human nature. But I tell you, I have become a changed person in these past few months. I have such a desire and hunger to follow my Messiah that I want these verses to become a reality in my life. Sure I have heard them before and sure I have told others they should do this good stuff, but I was guilty of saying but not doing. I was guilty of being a hearer of the Word and not a Doer! Father forgive me!
In these past few months I have had many a situation occur in which I was mistreated, talked poorly about and falsely accused. Instead of turning the other cheek, I reacted! I made sure I said my two cents and let those people know how they hurt me. While I felt good momentarily better for defending myself and making sure they heard me "say my peace", later on I knew this was NOT would Jesus would have done. I knew better in my heart. Eventually I realized that I needed to pray for these people. After all, that's what my Messiah said to do. So I began my prayer for them half choking bitterly on my words, "Dear Lord, be with _____ , Amen." I barely could say their names and certainly didn't want to pray for too much good to happen to them cause they had wronged me! They didn't deserve to have things go well. Then my Messiah gently whispered in my ear, "I said to BLESS them! Not just "pray" for them, you need to pray blessings over them". What? Are you kidding me? Please you have to be joking with me? You can't expect me to pray for them to be blessed, can you? I knew the answer, it was a firm and resounding, YES! I took a deep breath and began to pray.. oh how I fought my flesh.. but finally I uttered words that changed my life, "My dear heavenly Father, Bless ____, their finances, their family, their marriage, bless their life! Amen." WOW!!!! I couldn't believe I uttered those words! One of the most freeing moments in my life! To love the unlovable, to pray and bless those who had hurt me! I stand here amazed to say that Yahweh was NOT finished with me yet. Sure I had prayed for them, sure I had now blessed them but now He was ready for me to give them my cloak also, to go that second mile. In the still of the night He spoke very clearly what I must do -- what gift I must give them. Give them a gift? Yes, and I didn't resist this time. I was to show them my Messiah, I was to be authentic, I was to practice what I had preached! I obeyed Him with a cheerful attitude. The feelings are indescribable! I am free! Thank you Yahweh for doing a work in me that only YOU could do! I am forever changed and forever grateful!
I am a work in progress I can assure you. I did not share this in any way to boast about me, but rather to boast about my Messiah and how free He can make you when you follow His ways!
"You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have you cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles." Matt 5:38-41 (ESV)
"You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy, But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you....for if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?" Matt 5:43-45, 46-47 (ESV)
"Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you, falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Matt 5:11-12 (ESV)
"Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them." Rom 12:14 (ESV)
"Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. To the contrary; if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Rom 12:17-21 (ESV)
This is what our Messiah did! This is what He clearly told us to do! Why do we not do this? Because it is hard, because it goes against the flesh, human nature. But I tell you, I have become a changed person in these past few months. I have such a desire and hunger to follow my Messiah that I want these verses to become a reality in my life. Sure I have heard them before and sure I have told others they should do this good stuff, but I was guilty of saying but not doing. I was guilty of being a hearer of the Word and not a Doer! Father forgive me!
In these past few months I have had many a situation occur in which I was mistreated, talked poorly about and falsely accused. Instead of turning the other cheek, I reacted! I made sure I said my two cents and let those people know how they hurt me. While I felt good momentarily better for defending myself and making sure they heard me "say my peace", later on I knew this was NOT would Jesus would have done. I knew better in my heart. Eventually I realized that I needed to pray for these people. After all, that's what my Messiah said to do. So I began my prayer for them half choking bitterly on my words, "Dear Lord, be with _____ , Amen." I barely could say their names and certainly didn't want to pray for too much good to happen to them cause they had wronged me! They didn't deserve to have things go well. Then my Messiah gently whispered in my ear, "I said to BLESS them! Not just "pray" for them, you need to pray blessings over them". What? Are you kidding me? Please you have to be joking with me? You can't expect me to pray for them to be blessed, can you? I knew the answer, it was a firm and resounding, YES! I took a deep breath and began to pray.. oh how I fought my flesh.. but finally I uttered words that changed my life, "My dear heavenly Father, Bless ____, their finances, their family, their marriage, bless their life! Amen." WOW!!!! I couldn't believe I uttered those words! One of the most freeing moments in my life! To love the unlovable, to pray and bless those who had hurt me! I stand here amazed to say that Yahweh was NOT finished with me yet. Sure I had prayed for them, sure I had now blessed them but now He was ready for me to give them my cloak also, to go that second mile. In the still of the night He spoke very clearly what I must do -- what gift I must give them. Give them a gift? Yes, and I didn't resist this time. I was to show them my Messiah, I was to be authentic, I was to practice what I had preached! I obeyed Him with a cheerful attitude. The feelings are indescribable! I am free! Thank you Yahweh for doing a work in me that only YOU could do! I am forever changed and forever grateful!
I am a work in progress I can assure you. I did not share this in any way to boast about me, but rather to boast about my Messiah and how free He can make you when you follow His ways!
Friday, January 7, 2011
Notes from my Transparenting Class - 1/5
My husband and I are attending a six week class called "Transparenting" and I thought I would share some of my notes with you if I have any that I feel are beneficial.
The first class posed this question, "What is your child's greatest spiritual threat?" He then proceeded to mention all the common things that parents think is their child's greatest spiritual threat. One was media. While media is awful and a recent survey claims that in 2008 - 70% of the TV programs had sexual content on them, this is not the greatest threat. There were other answers like Satan, friends and public educations. And while all of these might be contributors, he does not believe they pose the greatest threat. The greatest spiritual threat to your children is YOU! On the flip side, you are also your child's greatest spiritual asset!
Deuteronomy 32:46-47a says, "Take to heart all the words by which I am warning you today, that you may command them to your children, and that they may be careful to do all the words of this law. For it is no empty word for you, but your very life..." (ESV)
Following Yeshua needs to be your life! You are the foundational teachers of your children's spirituality. Church staff is ONLY supplemental! And remember you can't teach a truth that you aren't living! Be careful NOT to compare your devotion to another's spiritually -- compare it to the Bible!
The goal is not external behavior but the heart! And remember, your convictions are more caught than taught!
The first class posed this question, "What is your child's greatest spiritual threat?" He then proceeded to mention all the common things that parents think is their child's greatest spiritual threat. One was media. While media is awful and a recent survey claims that in 2008 - 70% of the TV programs had sexual content on them, this is not the greatest threat. There were other answers like Satan, friends and public educations. And while all of these might be contributors, he does not believe they pose the greatest threat. The greatest spiritual threat to your children is YOU! On the flip side, you are also your child's greatest spiritual asset!
Deuteronomy 32:46-47a says, "Take to heart all the words by which I am warning you today, that you may command them to your children, and that they may be careful to do all the words of this law. For it is no empty word for you, but your very life..." (ESV)
Following Yeshua needs to be your life! You are the foundational teachers of your children's spirituality. Church staff is ONLY supplemental! And remember you can't teach a truth that you aren't living! Be careful NOT to compare your devotion to another's spiritually -- compare it to the Bible!
The goal is not external behavior but the heart! And remember, your convictions are more caught than taught!
Modesty For the Christian Woman
"That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children. To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of ELOHIYM be not blasphemed." Titus 2:4-5 (KJV)
"And so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled." Titus 2:4-5 (ESV)
The more I study the Scriptures the more the Holy Spirit has impressed things on me in conviction and also impressed on me to share them with others. Only the Holy Spirit can convict a person on something and I am not writing this to be the Holy Spirit in your life at all. I am just writing what He has placed on my heart.
The American Heritage Dictionary defines Modesty as this, "a reserve or propriety in speech, dress or behavior. As you can see modesty is not just about what you wear, but its about what you are. Modesty is the voluntary personal responsibility to behave and dress in such a manner as to not purposely draw attention to oneself, to not think proudly of oneself and its decision to protect from purposeful or "unintended" enticement in inappropriate ways and places. This is crucial for the a follower of the Messiah; first and foremost because we're representatives of Yeshua and secondly, if we are married, we're a reflection of our husband.
It is critical to pay attention to the message and the signal our clothing is sending and to make sure, very sure, that the message is in line with the Scriptures.
Modesty is an attitude of humility that seeks to please YHWH rather than man or self. It is characterized by restraint and self-control, and dignity in dress, speech and actions. Modesty is a product of pure thinking and is not determined by what you wear only. Although it is not true that modesty equals clothing, it is true that what we wear and how we wear it can be modest or immodest.
YHWH didn't give us a list of dress rules, He gave us principles from His word. Following a list is far easier than the difficult process of learning to apply principles. It is often a lazy substitute for the careful study and application of YHWH's Word. We should strive to be like the Bereans who were commended for their excited diligence in searching scripture to verify the truth that they were being shown.
Someone once said, "Preach the gospel everywhere you go, when necessary, use words." The picture we paint with our appearance is worth at least a thousand words!
I write this post because this is something that YHWH has been working on in my life. My mother always had strict modesty rules, but I rebelled from the rules when I left home. Now that I am a grown woman and am in the Word more often, I really am convicted about how my dress has been a bad testimony for YHWH to others around me. I believe we must dress as He would want us to and also in submission to our own husbands. For example, I know many friends who wear skirts and dresses only and while this is certainly fine, my husband prefers me to wear a mix of skirts and pants. I honor my husband by wearing a variety, but I honor YHWH by choosing modest pants and modest skirts and shirts.
Just some food for thought! Blessings!
"And so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled." Titus 2:4-5 (ESV)
The more I study the Scriptures the more the Holy Spirit has impressed things on me in conviction and also impressed on me to share them with others. Only the Holy Spirit can convict a person on something and I am not writing this to be the Holy Spirit in your life at all. I am just writing what He has placed on my heart.
The American Heritage Dictionary defines Modesty as this, "a reserve or propriety in speech, dress or behavior. As you can see modesty is not just about what you wear, but its about what you are. Modesty is the voluntary personal responsibility to behave and dress in such a manner as to not purposely draw attention to oneself, to not think proudly of oneself and its decision to protect from purposeful or "unintended" enticement in inappropriate ways and places. This is crucial for the a follower of the Messiah; first and foremost because we're representatives of Yeshua and secondly, if we are married, we're a reflection of our husband.
It is critical to pay attention to the message and the signal our clothing is sending and to make sure, very sure, that the message is in line with the Scriptures.
Modesty is an attitude of humility that seeks to please YHWH rather than man or self. It is characterized by restraint and self-control, and dignity in dress, speech and actions. Modesty is a product of pure thinking and is not determined by what you wear only. Although it is not true that modesty equals clothing, it is true that what we wear and how we wear it can be modest or immodest.
YHWH didn't give us a list of dress rules, He gave us principles from His word. Following a list is far easier than the difficult process of learning to apply principles. It is often a lazy substitute for the careful study and application of YHWH's Word. We should strive to be like the Bereans who were commended for their excited diligence in searching scripture to verify the truth that they were being shown.
Someone once said, "Preach the gospel everywhere you go, when necessary, use words." The picture we paint with our appearance is worth at least a thousand words!
I write this post because this is something that YHWH has been working on in my life. My mother always had strict modesty rules, but I rebelled from the rules when I left home. Now that I am a grown woman and am in the Word more often, I really am convicted about how my dress has been a bad testimony for YHWH to others around me. I believe we must dress as He would want us to and also in submission to our own husbands. For example, I know many friends who wear skirts and dresses only and while this is certainly fine, my husband prefers me to wear a mix of skirts and pants. I honor my husband by wearing a variety, but I honor YHWH by choosing modest pants and modest skirts and shirts.
Just some food for thought! Blessings!
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