Kosher and Halal foods Not the Same

This is the second video report that I have watched today regarding this issue.


I find it extremely interesting ... and am wondering what you think? When YHVH first revealed His eating laws to us as a family, this issue of halaal meat was really a concern for me, as we do live in an area where most of the supermarkets and meat markets cater for the muslim population. Being very new to the ways of YHVH and his Torah I had still not learned about the seriousness of eating anything offered up or sacrificed to Idols. I did inquire of various people for their advice and was told that it really was not a concern and I should not worry ... well, I think I am now inclined to disagree with them. I think that this is something that as the people of YHVH we should look into and gain an understanding of so that we can once again allow His Name to be sanctified within us. Are His people not ‘destroyed for a lack of knowledge’?

The thing is there are so very many products that are halaal on the supermarket shelves and it is not an issue only concerning the meat we eat. How does one work around this?

I would really love to hear your thoughts on this subject .. so please don’t be shy!! Leave a comment!



With much Blessing

Shalom

 

Israel is The Dividing Line

It has taken me a couple of weeks to get my faculties together in order to write this post. Yes ... the filing system is quite deep :o) I tend to have to really chew on and work through (which includes much prayer) something first (step number one), then I either have to talk or write about it (step number two). I have decided that today would be a good day to write about it and to finally be able to file this topic and start chewing on the next one! I am pretty sure that this topic will re-surface again ... but hopefully the next time I will be a little stronger and more assured in this area ... Hellelu-YAH!!

About a month ago I was confronted with a lady verbally assaulting me for no other reason than for who she thought me to be. I have often been mistaken for being Jewish (I guess the head-covering and modest dress are the two main reasons why) ... but this time it was with pure hatred :o( This was the first time that I have ever encountered something like this, and at first it really shook me. At first I was confused ... ‘Is she talking to me?’ ... then I wondered ‘Why?’ ... and then the penny finally dropped ... ‘She thinks that I am Jewish!’... then I found myself becoming angry (at this point though, she was already gone) . I learned many valuable lessons that day, one of which is that reading and learning about anti-semitism (the holocaust etc) is one thing, actually physically and spiritually encountering the hatred that spurns these atrocities is quite another! Over the last month I have found myself revisiting all the changes that have taken place in my life over the last two years ... as we all know, Torah has a way of changing you!! I have had to ask myself really tough questions ... let’s face it, having a head knowledge on persecution and actually going through it are once again polar opposites! Before my journey in Torah Observance began, I didn’t look very different from the world that I live in, maybe if I am honest I didn’t behave that much differently either! Now how-ever ... I not only behave very differently, I also look very different. My very existence and all that I do is now determined by the fact that I now belong to another kingdom ... not of this world. After some analysing I have found that my faith (before TO) was very compartmentalised, I had church and such on Sunday and well ... these things didn’t really feature much in the rest of my week. Torah (Praise YAH) has a way of changing all of that ... so to answer one of those tough questions I found myself asking ‘Can I ever turn away from what YAH has called me to ... can I stop looking different and being so very different – walking in His ways - , even if I find myself being afraid?’. The answer by His grace is no, for I now find that my faith is no longer something that I believe ... instead it is who I have become.

Any-one who reads my blog will know that I have a heart and a love for Israel that I believe only YAH could give to us. Does this however mean that I think I am now Jewish ... no. Does this mean that I want to become Jewish ... no, for the very reason that we are from the nations grafted into the Israel of YAH proves His faithfulness!! Did He not promise that He Himself will cause ALL the families of the earth to be blessed through Avraham?

Galatians 3 v 14 ‘That the blessing of Avraham might come to the gentiles through Yeshua the Mashiach, that we might receive the promise of the spirit through faith...’

I believe that Israel is and will prove to be the dividing line in these last days. What the church has moved so far away from is the fact that apart from Israel there is no covenant.

Jer 31 v 33 ‘ But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of ISRAEL, after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts, and will be their God, and they shall be my people.’

Amos 3 v 2 ‘You only have I known of all the families of the earth ... ‘

The truth is that in order to partake of the covenant of salvation we must become part of the covenant family of YAH (Just to clarify - I am not talking about conversion). There are many who would disagree with me ... but I challenge any-one to prove otherwise from the word of YAH. I believe that we can learn much from the account of Naomi, Orpah and Ruth ... Orpah turned back ... but Ruth remained with Naomi, and both of them returned to the land and God of Israel ... both of them had to leave the pagan fields of Moab.

Ruth 2 v 11 – 12 ‘ ... and thou dost leave thy father, and thy mother, and the land of thy birth, and dost come in unto a people which thou hast not known heretofore, YHVH doth recompense thy work, and thy reward is complete from YHVH God of Israel, under whose wings thou hast come to take refuge,’

So in conclusion ... those who hate Israel (in my opinion) cannot love the Saviour, King and God of Israel. Yes I may not be Jewish by birth ... but I am now part of the common wealth of Israel (through YAH’s grace) my life and ways are all governed by the Torah of YAH. This means that I do look Jewish and my ways appear to be Jewish ... and yes, I will continue to stand alongside and with the people of Israel ... for just like Ruth I will not and cannot turn back ... for my heart you see ... is of Israel!

I pray all of YAH’s richest blessings over each one of you and your homes this Shabbat ... I pray that just like Ruth ... YAH through His grace will cause us to pursue Him with all of our hearts and with all of our strength, that the Shalom of YHVH the God of Israel will rest upon each one of us ... the redeemed of Israel!!

I would like to add a link to becky’s blog I Couldn't Believe It... she has also had a run in with anti-semetism. I think you will find her heart and strength encouraging.



Blessings and Shalom

 
 

A Declaration of the Heart

“And you have placed these my words on your heart, and on your soul, and have bound them for a sign on your hand, and they have been for frontlets between your eyes, and you have taught them to your children, by speaking of them in your sitting in your house, and in your going in the way, and in your lying down, and in your rising up ...” Devarim (Deut) 11 v 18 – 19




Prior to my learning to walk in Torah Observance ... this was just another verse in the ‘Old Testament’ that was beautiful but sadly had no relevance to me or how I lived my life. I am so very glad to say that by the grace of YHVH this has certainly and most definitely changed!

Now when I recite these words it is not only so that I can hear them and remind myself ... but more importantly that YHVH my King will hear this declaration from my heart, that He may know that my heart’s desire is to know and love Him above all else and to honour Him with my life. When I recite these ... His words ... my heart aches with a longing and desire I have never known before. Is this the desire that has defined the hearts and lives of our Jewish brothers and sisters for Millenia? I now understand and believe it to be so :o)

The Shema is not just an idle string of words (although to some they may be – just like they once were to me) but instead it is truly a declaration of the heart.

The Shema is often the very first words that a Jewish son or daughter will hear for the very first time. How often do our children hear these words? Are they being taught that YHVH is the beginning and end of all life, that their sole purpose for being is to love, honour, obey and worship Him?

I want to share this story and this video with you today ...

This is a story about the Ponevitcher Rav, Rabbi Yosef Kahaneman zt”l. Legend tells us that after the Holocaust, Rabbi Kahaneman was looking for Jewish children who were hidden away during the war and had survived. As some of the children were believed to have been tucked away in church orphanages, Rabbi Kahaneman went searching for them in these individual churches. He was granted permission to enter the children’s section, but was told there were no Jewish children to be found there. As he entered he began calling out “Shema Yisroel”. Instinctively many of the children raised their hands to cover their eyes and started calling out “Mama! ... Mama!”

Hallelu-Yah .... What an awesome God we serve!!

Blessings and Shalom!!

 

Meet Joycelyn ... A Beautiful Woman of YHVH

I am so very blessed to be getting to know Joycelyn. Her gentleness of spirit and love and devotion to our heavenly Father has and I believe will continue to encourage me! Her testimony of her journey to becoming Torah Observant and this life lived out is truly inspiring. We'll never know the whole of a person by reading a snippet of their heart ... so I encourage you to get to know Joycelyn over at her blog  Joycelyn's Journey, she is a true and beautiful sister to have as a companion on this incredible journey!  :o)

Joycelyn's Story ;

I grew up in a strong Catholic family. I became a born again Christian in 2002.


I have been attending non- denominational, Bible based churches with my family since.

I have read scripture, studied, and sought out lessons from those with greater knowledge than me.

In the Spring of 2010 I began feeling the call to be more Torah Observant. I was not sure about this call and continued to pray and seek guidance on this calling... Sometimes it takes more than a whisper with me, I tend to need a 2X4 across the head from Ruach HaKodesh!  As I felt this calling continue, I continued to read, research and seek guidance. YHWH provides! He sent a Messianic Rabbi to the Christian church I attend to speak on Messiah in the Passover and also about the feasts in scripture (Deuteronomy 16). Only Yah could have provided this, no way could I ever have planned such an event!

In September of 2010, the call became so strong, I finally had to obey. I have been so blessed since! I have been wearing skirts and head-coverings since September, and have continued to pursue truth in the Word of G_d.  YHWH has provided so many friends on Facebook to help me in my walk and I continue to share with more and more friends along the way! He has also given me scripture when at times I question this path.

 We focused more on Hanukkah this year and less on Christmas. We also have begun celebrating Shabbat as a family. Yah has sent people my way to share resources with me in my own community and to grow on in His Narrow Path.

It is not an easy journey. Many of my family and friends have difficulty understanding my path. They are deceived that the laws of the Torah are obsolete, however, it is clear in Matthew 5:17
 “Don’t think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete”.
 Yeshua fulfilled the law, not obliterated it. Yeshua and the apostles followed Torah in their practices. They read scripture, which was Torah and the Haftorah in their time. There were no Apostolic Scriptures at that time yet. Since I began walking the narrow path, following the call YHWH has given me.  I have been attacked more by the enemy, and have certainly had my share of struggles, however, I also am so blessed to receive so many clear confirmations I am on the path YAH wants for me.  I read scripture, speak with others, and hear in prayer things that make it clear I am where YHWH wants me to be.  I also have been so blessed by the obvious leading of Yah to so many wonderful people on the internet and locally since following the narrow path.  I never could have imagined so many people who would come into my life and fellowship with me.  I am immensely blessed!

I will continue to follow Torah as YHWH calls me. Do not mistake what I am saying.

We are saved strictly by Grace through Faith in Yeshua HaMashiach.

He died and rose again to defeat sin and death. If we just give our lives to Him- we are His!

However, because we are saved by His amazing love and grace, I want to obey him and follow his commands!

Blessings and Love in Messiah HaMashiach!

Joycelyn

PS: I want to add a huge thanks to the Dixon Family Ministries who have been so wonderful in sharing with me and leading me to other resources for my walk http://dixonhomestead.com/
 
 
 
Thank you so much for sharing with us Joycelyn!!
May YHVH continue to keep and guide you with His Shalom as you place your feet where He leads ....
 
Blessings!
 
 

His Hallowed Name Revealed Again

Ok - so I finished this amazing book!

This book is a must read for any-one interested in the beautiful Name of YHVH! Mr Johnsons joy in YHVH and his love for YHVH is absolutely contagious :o)

The question this book poses and does a good job of answering is ... 'What is the name of our Heavenly Father that is to be hallowed?'. Mr Johnson puts forth an engaging and challenging work filled with an enormous amount of textual evidence ( that one can research into for oneself ), this evidence includes a short journey into the Hebrew language and rules of grammar.

I have been challenged and enormously blessed to have read this book ... my intimacy with my King has grown and I feel as though I 'see' my very best friend in a re-newed light :o)

I would encourage all to read this book ... be prepared to be challenged to lay down what you think you already know and to start on a fresh and amazing journey!!

I definately give this book 5 stars.

Blessings and Shalom

Those Inoculations!

I really needed to be reminded of this today  ... How about you?

What Do You Think...?

I found this video very interesting.
I guess along with the debate of whether or not we should even say the Name  is the other of  the correct pronunciation of the Name YHVH.
I am currently reading the book 'His Hallowed Name Revealed Again' by Keith E. Johnson. I plan on doing a book review when I am done - YHVH willing  :o)
I am still learning (as we all are!) .... and have not come to a conclusion on the correct pronunciation as yet ...
What I do know is that YHVH does want us to know His name and to call on His name.
I would love to know what you  my readers think and would appreciate any insight you may have   :o)

Until then ....

Blessings and Shalom in the name of YHVH!!

Greasy Grace

These scripture quotations seem quite long, but please read them in order to find the thread that binds them together :o)

Jeremiah 7:4-15 'Do not trust in lying words, saing, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord are these. For if you thoroughly amend your ways and your doings, if you completely do judgment between a man and his neighbour, if you do not oppress the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, nor walk after other gods to your hurt, then I will cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, forever and ever. Behold, you trust in lying words that cannot do any good. Will you steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods whom you do not know, and then come and stand before Me in this house which is called by My name, and say, we are delivered to do all these abominations? Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, I also have seen says the Lord. But go now to My place which was in Shiloh, where I set My name at the first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of My people and speaking, but you did not hear, and I called you, but you did not answer, therefore I will do to this house, which is called by My name, in which you trust, and to the place which I gave to you and to your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh. And I will cast you out of My sight, as I have cast out all your brothers, the whole seed of Ephraim.'

2 Cor 6:16 ' And what agreement does a temple of God have with idols? For you are the temple of the living God as God has said," I will dwell in them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people".'

1 Cor 3:16-18  'Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any-one defiles the temple of God, God shall destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which you are. Let no one deceive himself.'

What exactly is grace?

This is a question I have really had to ask myself. More-so over the last two years (since my journey in Torah began) than at any other time in my life. Grace ... as I understood it .. was a fairly easy concept to grasp. Yeshua died for me, He took all my sin upon Himself and I now stood before YHVH guilt-free! Not only guilt-free but free from the law (Torah) too! I was certainly in a much more privileged position than any Israelite in the Old Testament, further- more the Jews today as I was taught to see it, were still in bondage ... in bondage to an archaic system that at the end of the day could save no-one. A system that was legalistic and really just another form of enslavement. I on the other hand (along with every other christian) was a recipient of YHVH's grace ... and there was nothing more that I needed to do ... after all ... Yeshua did it all for me ... didn't He?? The law (Torah) along with the sacrificial system was now over and a different dispensation had begun (sound familiar to any-one).  :o)  ... mmmmm...

Praise Yah, I now find myself on the other side of this fence .. now truly a recipient of His grace! Needless to say ... my view is a little (well .. alot ) different and my heart has had a much needed overhaul. Things look alot different standing on this side and the grass is definately greener!  :o)

Is it grace that I find to be suddenly different ... or my eyes that have been resurrected and the scales graciously removed from? All of both I think. Looking back  ... I can now see all the hurt and destruction that erroneous teaching can and does cause, that YHVH's people are truly destroyed for a lack of knowledge. 

True Grace I have/am discovering is NOT giving licence to my flesh for sin, no matter how great or small with the safety net that 'I don't need to worry, Yeshua has done it all for me ... He will forgive me ... I am after all only human ... no longer under the law (Torah) but grace'.

Instead I am learning that true grace is having my eyes opened to the wonder and truth of His Torah. True grace is being given a new heart of flesh upon which His commandments and ways are engraved.

True grace is being given a heart that wants to Shema ... hear and obey.

True grace is knowing that He will catch me when I fall.

To those still on the other side of the fence this seems like legalism ... going back under the law ... or even worse .. 'Do I think I am now Jewish'? said in such a way as to imply that there couldn't possibly be a worse fate than this.  

Law (Torah) and grace have always gone hand in hand, the one cannot be withouth the other. The problem comes in when we do in fact try to seperate them. All of Torah without grace ... impossible. All of grace without Torah ... no purpose.

Greasy grace is a cheap counterfeit for the beauty of true grace...

I guess the question we should be asking ourselves then is ... 'Do I  want to settle for less than the very best that YHVH has for me ... to know and understand HIS grace?'.

Where the sun has already set .. I pray your Shabbat was filled with His Shalom!

Where the sun still shines .. may His grace shine ever brighter on each one of you!

Shabbat Shalom and Blessings!!