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

 
 

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!!

Who Are We?

'His foundation is in the holy mountains.

YHVH loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacov.

Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of YHVH. 

I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia,

this man was born there.

And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the Highest Himself shall establish her.

YHVH shall count, when He writes up the people, that this man was born there.

As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee.'

- Psalm 87

Praise YAH for His loving kindness and faithfulness!!

The one thing that is grieving my heart this Shabbat ... is the one thing my eyes have been blind to for far too long. My eyes have now been opened and my heart is heavy ... for I am now able to see the degree of anti-semitism that has/is infecting the house and people of YHVH. At least this is what they profess to be.

The day that YHVH opened my eyes to His Torah and revealed His heart to me, is the day that life truly began! There have been many changes ... both inside and out ... I am truly a new creation! Praise YAH!!

I am called out ... called to leave behind all the lies and vanities that I have inherited. Called to leave all vain imaginations that have raised themselves up against the true knowledge of who YHVH is. Called to become a daughter of the Most High God ...

With this 'calling' comes a new identity ... a new destiny ... a new future, inheritence and hope!

And a new people that I am now a part of ...ISRAEL.

Unless I am a child of Israel ... I cannot be a partaker of His covenant.

The covenants were made with Israel and remain with Israel, and we wait with anticipation for the final fulfillment of all of YHVH'S promises to Israel!

Israel are who they are because of YHVH - the God of Israel. Their ways ... are His ways.

If His ways are now becoming my ways (by His mercy and grace I have been lovingly grafted in) - the question is... who am I going to start looking like? Is my life going to start being a reflection of His Torah? And if so ... then what people am I going to start resembling? There has only ever been one nation that are set apart in their keeping of the Shabbat and feasts and Torah of YHVH ... Israel.

Only with these changes taking place in my life have my eyes been opened to the undercurrents of anti-semitism and hatred that lie undetected in so many hearts. Many are afraid of being identified with Israel ... the land, the people and even the Jewish Messiah. Maybe we should examine our hearts a little more ... after all is it not a privilege to be identified as one of the people of YHVH ... set apart and in covenant with Him?

As the people of YHVH .. we should be carrying Israel - the people and the land - deep within our hearts, just as He does. Their struggles and wrestlings should drive us to our knees in prayer ... after all ... are they not our people. Is Israel not the home our spirits yearn for?

Just as the Psalm above promises ... YHVH Himself will declare that we belong there with Him ... part of His people ... the Israel of God for all eternity!

Just as Naomi and Ruth had to leave the fields of Moab and return to the land and God of Israel - so too do we along with our Jewish brothers and sisters. Let our prayer this Shabbat be for our people to return to the God of Israel ... YHVH ... and His ways, that all vanities, lies and vain imaginations will be destroyed and that His name will be sanctified in all of Israel!

May YHVH bless you and keep you

May YHVH make His face to shine upon you

May YHVH lift up His countenance upon you

and give you His Shalom,

Blessings

Israel My Beloved

"They will never again defile themselves with their idols, their detestable things, or any of their transgressions, but I will save them from all the places where they have been living and sinning, and I will cleanse them, so that they will be my people, and I will be their God. My servant David will be king over them, and all of them will have one shepherd, they will live by my rulings and keep and observe my regulations. They will live in the land I gave to Ya'akov my servant, where your ancestors lived, they will live there - they, their children, and their granchildren, forever, and David my servant will be their leader forver. I will make a covenant of peace with them, an everlasting covenant. I will give to them, increase their numbers, and set my sanctuary among them forever. My home will be with them, I will be their God, and they will be my people. The nations will know that I am  YHVH, who sets Isra'el apart as holy, when my sanctuary is with them forever." - Yechezk'el (Ezekiel) 37:23-28  CJB.

We long for and look forward to that day ... when ALL of Israel will be saved and her Shalom ... final and complete.

The keeping of the Shabbat is the sign that sets us, the people of YHVH, apart from the rest of the nations. The keeping of the Shabbat is a privilege ... and a beautiful gift from our Father and our King. Many do not see this though ... and shout 'legalism' when confronted with a heart that wants to obey. If taking this one day and setting it apart from all others in order to have our spirit refreshed by His ... to have time to sing His praise and exalt ourselves in Him ... to allow ourselves to be reminded that He is the God in whose hand our breath is and in whom are all our ways ... that without Him there is no life - if all of this treasure can be labeled 'legalism' ... then a legalist I shall be. The thing is legalism does not bring freedom ... and the truth is ...

I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE FREE!!!

Shabbat Shalom to all of Israel!!

Out of Africa - Shabbat Shalom!!

A young Zimbabwean girl my husband photographed on a recent trip.

'...Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the Lord, speak, saying, The Lord hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. For this saith the Lord unto the eunuchs that keep my Sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant, Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name,that shall not be cut off. Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants, every one that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant, Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar, for MINE HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED AN HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL PEOPLE. The Lord God which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I GATHER OTHERS TO HIM, BESIDE THOSE THAT ARE GATHERED UNTO HIM.'  - Isaiah 56: 1-7

"And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation" - Revelation 5:9

I think Africa is a place where the above verse comes alive!! YHVH is moving tremendously in the hearts of the African people. And some of the greatest blessings I have experienced is sharing with and seeing the hearts of these very people. In fact ... YHVH used a very precious African woman as one of the instruments in teaching me about head-covering and modesty :o). The 'called out' of God .... the 'grafted in of Israel'. I surely cannot comprehend what the new Jerusalem will be like in the day when we are all (every nation tribe and tongue - together with and part of Israel) praising Him and revelling in His presence.

We long for His return!!

This Shabbat I praise Him .... for all His goodness and faithfulness ... we are the generation to see the unfolding of prophecy and the truth of His word and character revealed!!

May your Shabbat be filled with the full revelation of His goodness,faithfulness and great love!

May our hearts soar in praise and may our words glorify His great name.

Shabbat Shalom from Africa!!

Lighting The Shabbat Candles

No-where in the Torah are we commanded to light the Shabbat candles.
 The traditional prayer that can be heard in any Jewish home on the Shabbat will probably sound like this:

'Blessed are you, Adonai
our God, King of the Universe
Who sanctifies us
with His commandments
and commanded us to kindle
the lights of Shabbat'.

 The lighting of the Shabbat candles is not a commandment but more of a tradition. We need to realise that not all tradition is bad ... and yes, Yeshua did come against the traditions of man ... the traditions that violated or were/are held in greater regard than YHVH's Torah. Some traditions how-ever can help us to understand something in a deeper way, to help us understand the 'holiness - setting apart' of an activity or commandment we may take upon ourselves to keep. For me ... this is what the lighting of the Shabbat candles does. It is a beautiful time of the week ... and when the candles are lit it fills the room and home with a beautiful reminder of what the next 24 hrs is all about. There is nothing quite as beautiful as the darkened room being lit up by the flame of the candles ... which also serves to remind us that we are meant to be lights in this ever darkening world ... lights that burn with the life of YHVH'S Torah :o)

Maybe we can change the tradition a bit :o) .... and as we light the Shabbat candles we can pray...

'Blessed are You, Adonai
our God, King of the Universe
Who sanctified us
with His commandments
and commanded us to sanctify
the Shabbat day'.

With much Blessing

Friday Night Roast Chicken

This recipe has become one of our favourites ... especially for Shabbat :o)
Chicken, particularly this one, has become one of our favourite Friday night Shabbat dinners. It is really good accompanied with Potatoe salad with a lemon mayonnaise dressing. Both these recipes follow below :o)

Friday Night Roast Chicken

Prep time : 15 mins
Cooking time: approx 85mins
Serves: 6

2-2.5 kg roasting chicken (giblets removed)
1 bunch (about 25g) fresh rosemary
1 lemon, sliced into wedges
3 garlic cloves, peeled
2 onions, peeled and roughly chopped
250ml dry red win
salt
freshly ground black pepper

1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees C / 400 degrees F/Gas mark 6. Pull the skin from the breast of the chicken and slip some rosemary, lemon wedges and garlic cloves under it. Place the rest of these ingredients in the chicken cavity.

2. Arrange the onion in a roasting tin. Pour the wine over the onions. Add enough water so the tin is three-quarters full.

3. Place the chicken breast-side down in the tin. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover the pan with foil.

4. Bake for 80-85 mins. Remove from the oven and leave to rest for 10-15 mins. Carve into portions and transfer to a serving platter.

Keep the bird covered until the last 15 mins of cooking time. Remove the foil and place back into oven for the remaining 15 mins allowing the skin to crisp. Adding the red wine and water to the roasting tin keeps the chicken succulent and prevents the flesh from drying out.

Potatoe Salad with Lemon Mayonnaise

Prep time: 10 mins
Cooking time: 20 mins
Serves: 8

2 teaspoons sea salt
750g baby new potatoes, cleaned and halved
2 large egg yolks
Juice and zest of 1/2 med organic lemon
1 teaspoon dry mustard (any variety)
1 tablespoon castor sugar
Freshly ground black pepper
300ml vegetable oil
Snipped chives to garnish

1. Fill a large saucepan with water. Add 1 tspn salt. Bring to the boil over med heat. Add the potatoes and cook until tender (approx 20 mins). Drain and leave to cool.

2. Place the egg yolks. lemon Juice and zest, mustard and sugar in a blender or food processor. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Blend ro process until the mixture is smooth.

3. With the blender running, slowly add the vegetable oil. Blend or process until the oil is thoroughly blended into the mixture. Adjust the seasoning as desired.

4. Mix together the mayonnaise and cooled potatoes. Transfer to a serving bowl, garnish with chives and serve.



Of course this is served with gorgeous home-made Challah and fresh green salad :o)

Shabbat Shalom to you all!!

Blessings

A Watered Place

'The Best Way Out is Always Through...' - Robert Frost.

Psalm 66 v 9 - 12

'Who hath placed our soul in life, And suffered not our feet to be moved.

For Thou hast tried us, O God, Thou hast refined us as the refining of silver.

Thou hast brought us into a net, Thou hast placed pressure on our loins.

Thou hast caused man to ride at our head. We  have enterd into fire and into water, And Thou bringest us out to a watered place'. - Youngs Literal Translation.

This Shabbat ... wherever you are, or whatever it is that you are going through ... know that you can rejoice in the knowledge that YHVH will bring you out into ' a watere place'.

He has promised - and He is faithful!!

Shabbat Shalom!!

May His peace that passes all knowledge surround you and keep you

May His love encourage and establish you

May His presence be made known to you in a very intimate way on this beautiful day...

His day

His Shabbat!!

Let Me Not ......

Sonnet 116

Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken,
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken
Love's not times fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickles compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved

This is truly one of my favourites :o)

This Sonnet in particular never fails to remind me of just what true love is and should be ..... but somehow it also has the ability to to fill me with courage!

I guess this lies in the fact that Shakespeare has so beautifully expressed the 'bench-mark' or 'test' of what true love is. It goes beyond emotion and once again lands squarely in the realm of choice :o)

Some-how this also causes me to ponder on the Saviours love for us  'Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds, or bends with the remover to remove ...' .

I pray that this Shabbat will find us meditating on this great love that the King of the Universe has for each one of us ... His love that does not alter or is ever in danger of being removed ....instead it is an ever fixed mark!

I pray that we too will learn about choosing to give this 'true love' to others ... to walk in this kind of covenant love is most definately a choice, one that we can make moment by moment (I am still learning).

May the blessing of YHVH rest upon each one of our lives and our homes this Shabbat.

Blessings and Shalom

Let Us Not Forget

B'reisheet 3:13  'And YHVH saith to the woman, 'What is this thou hast done?' and the woman saith, 'The serpent hath caused me to FORGET - and I do eat.' - Youngs Literal Translation

I really like this translation....... 'the serpent caused me to FORGET'.

YHVH wants us to remember.

All through the Torah Avinu Melchenu (our Father, our King) exhorts us to remember. We are to remember His commandments and His ways. We are to remember who we are, the journey we are on and the work that is to be done. We are to remember that He has given us His heart (Torah) and we are to remember to constantly, daily make the choice to give Him ours.

We are also commanded to remember His Shabbat.

To keep this day 'Holy' - set apart unto Him. Shabbat is a beautiful time of rest..... the one day of the seven day cycle that we have the Creator of the universes permission to take time out. To recharge our batteries. To reflect on the days that have been and perhaps the days that are ahead. To spend time in the presence of the King of Kings. This is the one day that has promise and blessing attached to it ... if we will hear and obey .....

Chava (Eve) 'forgot' and blessing was taken from her.

Let us choose not to 'forget', instead let us strive to always remember...

This Shabbat may you and I refresh and renew ourselves in YHVH
May His blessing rest upon each one of us
and may we know and understand the blessing of His Shalom!

Shabbat Shalom

Shabbat Shalom

I lift up my eyes to the hills;
e-sa einai el he-ha-rim
Where will my help come from?
mei-a-yin ya-vo ez-ri
My help comes from Adonai
ez-ri mei-im HaShem
Maker of heaven and earth!
o-sei sha-ma-im va-aretz

What's Cooking in your Kitchen?!

Rachel and I found this really lovely book while out and about this week. It was on sale in one of our local bookstores.....and of course I couldn't resist!!
It has some really lovely new recipes (well, new to me!), and it has some lovely suggestions for the menu over the Feast Days.
For this Shabbat we will be trying the 'Friday night rosemary and lemon roast chicken' and the 'chocolate marble cake'. Rachel has been in charge of all the preparations in the kitchen up to now, as I have not had a chance to get to the two baskets of ironing that just seem to be growing ever higher this week so far. Well....ironing done.....and now I can turn my attention to joining her in the kitchen and hopefully getting things done smoothly and in good time.
I send Shabbat blessings to all my Torah observant sisters and your families.......
May the Shabbat lights bring into your home the beauty of truth and the radiance of YHVH's love
May YHVH bless you with Shabbat Joy
May YHVH bless you with Shabbat Holiness
May YHVH bless you with Shabbat Peace

Blessings

We went into Gaza and God went into Gaza with us

Deut: 31:6  'Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, He it is that doth go with thee, He will not fail thee, nor forasake thee'

This Shabbat let us remember that our God is a God of covenant. His promises and covenant stands sure forever. Praise Yah that He is faithful to all of Israel, including those of us who have been graciously grafted in!!!

Still here!!

Things have been really busy around here the last week and a bit........ as soon as things calm down a bit and reach some sort of 'normal' (I don't think that exists!!! - not around here at least) I will be back with a post or two :o) It's been good keeping up with all your doings though....
Shabbat is upon us again!! How wonderful!! Today is one of those days when there seems like too much to do and not enough hands :o) but by Yeshua's grace we will (as always) get done :o) I am trying a new recipe this week........'dense date cake with peanut butter frosting" mmmmmm...the picture really looks good. I will share it with you if it turns out OK :o)
I wish all my sisters out there a beautiful and peaceful Shabbat, may His love surround you and your families on this.....His day :o)

Shabbat Shalom

That Blessed time of the week again!

Preparing for Shabbat is truly something I REALLY look forward to :o) The whole day is filled with the expectancy of the rest to come...... . I love the smells that waft from our kitchen and fill our home on this day of preparation...mmmmm.....Rachel's challa, and usually a dish that I would not normally prepare any other time of the week. I love the way all of this sets the day apart from all the others in the week and makes this time special and something to look forward to. I love that time just before sunset when the candles are lit, and  quietness seems to descend, and the security of being in YHWH's presence is tangible.
Some preparation days do not go too smoothly, at the end of which  I feel as though I am falling over my feet entering into our rest :o), but then we have days like today....where everything just flows beautifully. When our work in the kitchen seems to be so well choreographed and orchestrated and we have time........time to sit down and enjoy a cup of tea, and to write a post on my blog!! Time.....I hear the sound of the sewing maching in the background with Rachel busy with another project. Oh how I love days like this!!!
On this day where time seems to be strolling along I thought  I would share one of our Shabbat regulars with all of my readers. It is one of our favourites, and a truly 'South African' dish :o).....and just to make it a little more 'fun' and interesting I thought I would challenge my beautiful sisters to making this dish.......you can let me know how it turns out and the first reader to let me know will be receiving a wonderful box of real South African 'Rooibos tea'. This is a caffeine free tea highly beneficial to ones health, and a tea that we absolutely love. It is best enjoyed with some honey and no milk. Now for the recipe....

Milk Tart

Ingredients:

Pie Crust:

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup castor sugar
1 egg
2 cups cake flour sifted
pinch of salt

Soften butter, add castor sugar and 1 egg, pinch of salt and 2 cups sifted flour and mix well into a pastry. Butter a pie dish and divide mixture in two (as this makes two pies). Press pastry into pie dishes bottom and sides. Place in an oven for approx. 10 minutes (until sides are slightly golden brown) and remove. Place to one side.

Filling:

4 cups of full cream milk
1 tbsn butter
1 cup castor sugar
2 eggs
3 tbsn corn starch
3 tbsn cake flour
1 tspn vanilla essence

In a bowl place the castor sugar and add 2 eggs and 1 tspn vanilla essence, mix well, then add the three tbsn cake flour, mix well, lastly add the 3 tbsn corn starch and mix well.....put one side.
In a saucepan melt the butter and then add the 4 cups of milk and slowly bring to just before boiling point. Remove from heat and slowly add the flour, corn starch mixture stirring continuously. Place back onto a low heat and continue stirring, the mixture will thicken. When it is the texture of a nice thick custard, you can remove and pour into pie crusts. Allow to cool, and lastly add a sprinkling of cinnamon.

I really hope that you will enjoy this pie as much as we do! Maybe you have a recipe of your favourite pie that you would like to share with me? (Lina......I have my eye on your cherry pie recipe!!)

I pray that this Shabbat will be wonderful for all of us, that we will come to understand that much more of this deep rest that YHWH has given to us by His grace, and that much more of His love!!

Benefits of Rooibos Tea


Shabbat Shalom!!

Shabbat Joy!!

This of all days should be one filled with joy!!
It is one of the most beautiful signs that we are set apart and in covenant with our heavenly Father......a day of rest.....where we do not need to worry about gathering, doing etc, all the things that keep us occupied for the other six days of the week! What an honour and a pleasure for us, the children of the King of Kings to have this one day in which we can glory in Him, rest and recharge our batteries. It was about a year and a half ago that Yeshua started laying on my heart the desire to keep His Shabbat, at this point in time I had no idea what the day entailed except that it was a distinclty 'Jewish' thing to be doing :o) One of my girlfriends tried to make me see that it is now 'spiritual' and every-day is Shabbat for the believers in Yeshua, and keeping the day is only for the Jewish people and if I tried to keep the day it would be legalism and going back under the law :o( ...This desire however would not leave, and I thank Yeshua that He kept on prodding!! This has been such a wonderful journey, lonely at times but more rewarding than any-thing I could ever have imagined. A couple of years ago we were visiting with some friends and I remember saying that I 'know' God loves me with my head, but I have no heart knowledge of this fact......little did I know that He had the most beautiful plan up ahead in which He would reveal His very heart (the Torah) to my own, and now......I can honestly say that I 'know' with my heart that He loves me....I 'see' Him for the very first time.
So today on this.....His day......I want to acknowledge Him and sing a song of praise to Him.....thanking Him for His love, His truth.......His Torah and most of all for Him alone to whom belongs all Glory!!! Won't you join me.....

 I shall compose pleasant psalms and weave hymns, because for You shall my soul pine.
My soul desired the shelter of Your hand, to know every mystery of Your secret.
As I speak of Your glory, my heart yearns for Your love.
Therefore I shall speak of Your glories, and Your Name I shall honor with loving songs.

Song of Glory   - Siddur