Where have I GONE?

Okay, so I haven’t been blogging here QUITE as often…

There is a good reason.

First of all, I wanted this blog to serve as a reservoir of bits and pieces of my spiritual life.  For lack of a better analogy, I will use a “neighborhood”.  In it, there are a lot of little “houses” waiting to be discovered.

For example, I love to sing, right?  I write music from time to time whenever I am inspired.  So…I plan to blog about those things here, maybe record and post a song.

I also am on a bit of a spiritual awakening – a journey into a new and different level in my walk with the Lord.  As I blog here I can look back and see where God has  brought me from and be encouraged about where he is taking me.  Any interviews I’ve conducted in the past with songwriters, artists, business owners, authors…it’s all here – recorded, and tucked away for a time when I will, once again, hopefully, use these as inspirations and encouragement for my own life – and meanwhile, I hope they serve to encourage you too.

I also have my own podcasts recorded- words of encouragement that God led me to write and record for others, which are now serving to help me in my OWN life.  Whoa!  You think I have it all together?  Think again.  I am growing, and S-T-R-E-T-C-H-I-N-G like anyone else.

All of these podcasts and recordings (which this blog comprises mostly of, in addition to a quick stint at an online magazine), are only a FRACTION of my life.  Less than a fraction.  It’s only the DOING part of me…but there’s a whole lot of figuring out underneath all of this that has to be done.  All the while I was podcasting back in ’05-”08, hosting online seminars and chats, etc….guess what?  I still had some major FIGURING OUT to do about my life, my own purpose, and the direction God had in my life.

And He is not done with me yet.  Still revealing, but ever faithful to reveal to me day by day, I am growing into a  restful settling.

But I am not settling into the background to fade away.

I am settling into my Lord…(may He increase that I may decrease).  As this happens, though (and it is a process), He is bringing me new ideas, plans, and purposes to help our family…

…which brings me to the purpose of this post.

So I have been in hiatus for a while, or so it seems.

I am still here.  Trust me.  I am here- thinking and pondering.  But I am also busy.

Not too busy to blog or to update.  But busy working my hands in a few different fields God is preparing for our family.  You know when one season in your life has ended and God opens the doors to new opportunities.  When it’s a new season, you should harvest where He sent you to reap your harvest.  Don’t be trying to stick with the same old field.  The harvest is plentiful (the laborers few)…and sometimes He sends us to a different spot in the fields to work.  And that’s okay.

I have had a difficult time accepting this – that this field I’ve been working in may now be for someone else. He is moving me on to a different part of the field.  I am running smack dab into it, full force, as new ideas, opportunities, and energy for different projects have arisen…

And I can’t do a single thing but accept it with a smile…because I really am HAPPY He did it this way.

My new season began since 2007 – the birth of my newest baby and second child.  Christian Ladies Connect (my online chat/support group for Christian women) took a few different spins since then.  We went from weekly teleseminars and chats to once a quarter…and now…NOTHING.  As much as I have time to blog and produce other media…I cannot churn out one single podcast for Christian Ladies Talk Radio.  Should I take that to mean this season is over?

So I say all that to explain what’s new in my life:

1. As much as I have a heart for God’s women online – I have found fulfillment in befriending and ministering to women in my own community.  It is coming closer to home.  I still LOVE our online relationships, though, and wouldn’t trade them for anything.  I have met some AWESOME people online, and have made friends with quite a few.  You ladies are wonderful!  Thank you for your friendship and your support.  But I have a feeling this season is leading me into…
2. Reaching out to our wonderful children. As I’ve been homeschooling for a few years now, my heart is now plugged into shaping the future of my dear children God has blessed me with.  I am spending more time developing resources for them and helping other families who want to start homeschooling.  I have devotionals, and children’s activity kits to create – all pent up inside of me, waiting to explode!!!  So I gotta get about my Father’s business

God has it all together for us.  When we don’t know the direction of our lives, just be still and know that He is God. That’s all you need to know.

I will be back from time to time – mostly posting updates about teaching my children, and maybe a song, or an encouraging Word the Lord has laid on my heart.  If time permits, I’ll even add more to this blog than I anticipate.  Again, it’s all in God’s perfect timing and direction for me.

Until then…

More Gardening…

Lately our family has come to enjoy gardening.

Okay, I admit…i don’t know a single thing about it — except that you plant seeds in good soil, water it, and the plants should grow.  I also figure you have to keep the weeds out as they grow.

My Dad’s been a big help to us in that department.

See what we’ve been up to in our home school – enriching our children’s learning experience with hands-on gardening.

It’s hard work but fun!

Gardening for homeschool

Honestly, I have never been a gardener, nor have I had some innate desire to work with dirt for any length of time…

It just suddenly dawned on me a few years ago, though, that my parents (who garden all their veggies each year) are not only saving loads of money but are eating healthy.  I am amazed at how God could create a plant- which creates seeds- which create more plants- which produce fruit and vegetables for our nourishment.

How awesome is that!

So…I have imagined myself to be a potential gardener, and with the help of my father’s expertise, and my children’s excitement, I am trying my hands at this gardening thing.

Hello summer science!

View some pictures and see what we did in our garden:take a look at my homeschooling science post.

Another birthday, another year…

I had a birthday this week.  I realized that looking at 33 is much like looking at 23, but with more wisdom.  I imagine that hitting 43 and 53 will be higher benchmarks in the wisdom department.  I wouldn’t hope for anything less.

My prayer: “Lord, may I glorify you in all that I do this year.  May each birthday that rolls around every year remind me to celebrate Your wisdom, as You graciously give me a piece of it.  Lord, I long for You, Your ways, and Your Truth.  Direct my path.  Help me to make wiser choices this year than I did the last, and help me to always seek You out in every corner of my life.  Sweep clean every cobweb hanging around from yesteryear that doesn’t bring glory to You, and may I seek YOUR face, YOUR will, YOUR ways, and YOUR wisdom in my 33rd year of life.  In the name of Jesus, Yeshua, my Messiah.  Amen.”

Our Family Passover Seder 2010

Lately our family has enjoyed the celebration of Passover together.

If you want to read more about how we adapted this into our homeschool and family life this past week, please take a trip  over to my homeschool blog and read all about our Passover.

Is it commanded for new convenant Believers to keep feasts and festivals?

In our family, we have been learning this year to embrace all that God has for us.  This has recently included the study of the Hebrew/Jewish heritage of our Christian faith.

As this has become of utmost importance to us recently, we have found it a joy to begin discovering the joys of celebrating the feasts and festivals that were originally instituted in the Torah/Pentateuch.

However, the questions remains for some, how can we look back to the feasts of yesteryear and still remain new testament Christians?

The more I study the feasts, the times and dates by which Jews lived, and how God originally mapped out His own calendar with His own instituted feasts and dates to be remembered, I see how far our western culture has come in getting away from that.

Though controversial, I feel that we as a western civilization have replaced many of which was biblical in favor of that which is secular – ranging from the santa clause, the easter bunny, and any other commercialized events which are to me a mixture of pagan and Christian celebrations.

I have always felt this way, but never followed through on anything that would actually CHANGE the way we did things in our own home.  For us, December 25 is still a day we have been exchanging gifts and gathering with family and we always have a wonderful easter celebration with church, family, and friends…

But this year something different has happened in my heart.  I have been stirred toward the remembrance of God’s ways.  Adonai, our Lord, has established a calendar, seasons, dates, times, and He has made it clear in His word (at least in my view), that it is His times, feasts and festivals that are of utmost importance.

So along with our spiritual observance of Christmas and Easter (and not the commercialized versions with santa and the easter bunny/eggs, etc., and rejecting all notions of Halloween), I would like to begin bringing those Messianic elements of our faith into our family which we have neglected out of sheer lack of knowledge.

The more I read about our Messiah, the more I realize that yes, He really was Jewish, and, yes…our Christ followed the feasts…AND …(drum roll please)…all of the feasts pointed to HIM being the Messiah…the more I want to draw closer to my Lord through observing His ways.

That is the pure beauty of the picture God creates in His own calendar.  When we follow His seasons and embrace the ways of God, we can see how that even as New Covenant Believers, it all ties together and fits in beautifully.

So then, I still do have to ask myself…what are those limits for those of us who are new convenant believers/ Christians/followers of Christ?  What makes us distinct from our Jewish Messianic believers who have accepted Yeshua as their Messiah?  If we are one in Christ, why do we balk at the Torah followers and those brothers and sisters who we consider to be “still under the law” although they may have accepted Christ?  Denominations are just as divisive within the Christian community itself.

Somehow, I don’t picture division among Christ’s Believers when we are sitting with Him at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb in Heaven (mentioned in Revelations).  If I recall, the passage of scripture has us all sitting at one big table  TOGETHER with Him, partaking of a huge feast with our Savior.  I believe He has the grace to determine whose hearts followed after Him, whether they participated in feast days or not, followed Torah or not, followed Paul’s teachings or not…(out of ignorance, that is).  He knows what limited knowledge we may have obtained, but He also knows how true our hearts are toward Him…and that is all that matters to Him.  Even someone on their death bed who calls on the name of the Lord can be saved and enter the Kingdom of heaven at the last minute (though I must say, absolutely no one should be counting on this method  as a back up plan to live ungodly).  But the fact remains, if you’re in at the beginning of the race, or at the end of the race, you’re in.

Our Savior accepts and receives all those who accept and receive Him- Jews, Christians, Gentiles.

So back to my question– are we still new testament Believers when we adapt ourselves to feasts and festivals from the Old Covenant?

Here is something I read from the Prescious Holidays website:

I can’t tell you how many Christians balk at the mention of Torah. Cries of “legalism!” ring out at the suggestion of, say, not eating the shrimp cocktail. Some of the same people who fight for the proud display of the Ten Commandments staunchly resist the fourth.Christians follow Torah. They just don’t know it. They wash their hands before they eat. They keep mildew out of their homes. They don’t think murder is okay under the New Covenant. The division always comes down to dietary restrictions, Sabbaths, and Feast Days–the very things the New Testament addresses as areas of freedom. If you don’t like those laws, you call them legalistic. If you like them, you call yourself Torah-keeping. Both sides feel compelled to force the other to bend to their way. But Torah encompasses so much more than eating and resting and waving a lulav.

Torah requires blood sacrifice. Frequent travel to Jerusalem. Confession to a priest. Temple. But–the argument goes–Yeshua (Jesus) is our High Priest who took the place of our sin offering. Yes, but what about other sacrifices, besides atonement? Even setting aside Temple laws (which God did not), you still don’t keep Torah. Torah requires a menstruating woman to live away from others for seven days per month. Not mixing cotton with polyester. Not growing tomatoes next to green beans. Growing out the corners of your beard. Marrying your brother’s wife, if he dies. Communal living. I certainly hope none of the so-called Torah-keeping ever even consider stoning to death their rebellious child.

Torah can not, and never did, impart righteousness. (Genesis 15:6; Romans 4:5) If you’re seeking a right relationship with God–whether eternally or temporally, on the basis of keeping the law–you’re in big trouble. You are fallen from grace, alienated from Messiah. (Galatians 5:4).

If you think Torah became obsolete under the New Covenant, however, you’re also in trouble. Jesus said not to even think that He came to abolish the Law. And if you teach others to break its commands, you will be least in the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 5:17-19).

So, what part does Torah play in the lives of New Testament believers? The Law shows the heart of God. In Torah, we see who He is: Resisting the proud and giving grace to the humble. Providing for the poor. Defending the powerless. Gently, personally, lovingly leading.

Torah requires forgiving debts. Not harvesting our entire crop, but encouraging others to freely take the increase of our labor. Revering mother and father. Kindness to strangers. Commitment to family. Worshiping God. Rejoicing. Not talking bad about people. By studying Torah, even in our imperfect ways, we get to know the Almighty a little bit more.

No one, but Jesus, can keep the Law perfectly. That is its weakness. (Romans 8:3) Those of us who received Jesus as Savior and live by faith are no longer under its authority (Galatians 3:24-25). But Christians who truly emulate Jesus obey the Law, because Jesus did. Followers of Jesus display characteristics of radical humility, selflessness, love, kindness and generosity. Just like the Almighty.

Without these tell-tale signs, you can be sure it’s just legalism.

Here is my opinion–and know that I am still learning.  I am still growing in Christ.  But to the extent of my knowledge this is what I know for me and my family today:  we are free.

What are we free to do, or free from?

When as Christ followers we say that the law has been nailed to the cross and we say that we are free from the law, does that mean we must not follow the ten commandments anymore?  Surely we are not stone to death rebellious children or make temple sacrifices.

No…but we are free.  Free to understand who Christ is in relation to the law.

We are free to understand that Jesus came to fulfill the law, not do away with it.

We are free to understand that Jesus/Yeshua became our Passover Lamb, and that our sins were nailed to the cross with Him, and there is no more need for the temple sacrifices any longer.  He has become our Ultimate Sacrifice.

We are free to understand that in the embodiment of Christ lies the ten commandments and the resurrection (both the law and grace).

We are free to understand that all feasts and festivals and laws instituted by God to the Hebrew peoples all have spiritual significance and remain significant even today.

So, then, we are free to place ourselves, as Believers, under the ordinances created by God to the Hebrews, which point to Christ, so long as we understand the purpose for which we are operating in the feasts, festivals, and commandments.

So long as we understand that our salvation is in our Messiah, Christ Jesus (and not in the keeping of ordinances), we may keep feasts.    So long as we are not placing a yoke of bondage on others and so long as we observe feasts with a pure heart in service to God, and not to be seen of men, then we may keep feasts.  Even Paul discusses this (Acts 15).

So is it commanded of us today to keep feasts?  At this point in my journey as a new covenant believer, still learning to embrace our Jewish heritage…no.  I do  not feel it is imperative at all.  I believe as Paul says that just as one may be free to keep feasts, one may also be free NOT to.

“There is now therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ JESUS”.

So is condemnation a result of not keeping feasts or the ten commandments?

No…condemnation only comes to those who are not in Christ Jesus.

If you are in Christ Jesus/Yeshua the Messiah, and your heart is found in Him…then there is no condemnation to you…because as you learn His ways, you will develop a heart to live for and serve Him with time.  It does not happen over night, nor does it happen with adapting a few jewish or messianic rituals for your family.

Following Torah alone will not save you.  But grace and law work together through the embodiment of our Messiah.  WE must first accept Him and be found in Him.

Then if you do the first part of being found in Christ (loving Him, living for Him, giving all that you have in exchange for a life with the Messiah), then you should begin studying the Word of God and deciding what God is leading you and your family to do about feasts and festivals.

A Purim Feast

Our family has been studying our Hebrew heritage lately –from a Messianic viewpoint.  I am enjoying this very much and have really gotten plugged in to Robin Sampson’s homeschool materials and her blog.  I also purchased her book on A Family’s Guide to Celebrating Biblical Feasts.

I wrote an entire blog post about how our family did just that this weekend.  We learned about Esther and Mordecai and Haman and how God’s people were saved from being destroyed…everything that the celebration of Purim is about.

Read about our journey as we joyfully discover learning more about biblical holidays.  Click here to read all  about our Purim Feast.

Ten Ways To Make Your House A Home

Here is a great article on making a home cozy:

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Our home is such an important part of our family’s life. Whether we work outside the home or are able to be at home, there are some basic things we can do to insure that our home is a place of refuge and security for our husband and children.

Here are ten tips to help accomplish this goal:

1. Keep it clean and tidy. That doesn’t mean we have to be immaculate housekeepers. If we do a daily tidy-up and a weekly housecleaning, our home life will be much more restful. Clutter is stressful. And keep the dishes caught up!

2. Nutritious food and family dinners. Fast food on the go is ok once in awhile, but not as a regular habit. Our children and husbands benefit from simple, nourishing meals and snacks. And having a regular, sit-down family dinner together has been shown to have many benefits.

3. Predictable routines. Our families thrive when things are on schedule. It gives a sense of stability. There should be regular times for eating, sleeping, chores, and homework. It also helps to build responsibility in children when they know they have to fulfill their responsibilities before they play.

4. Cozy and tastefully decorated. This does not in any way mean you house has to be magazine-beautiful. If our homes are inviting, cozy, comfortable, and decorated in a way that we and our families enjoy, that is sufficient. My living room doilies are from the 1940s and 1950s. Some were handmade. But they are pretty and I like them, so that is what I use.

5. Hospitality. Our kids, whether they are small or young adults, need to know that their friends are welcome. When my boys were grade-school age, they would have several friends come for sleep-overs. Many times, I would wake up in the morning and step over sleeping bags filled with boys on the floor. I would usually set the table with bowls and boxes of cereal for all of them to eat when they got up. I put myself out some, but it was worth it to make their friends feel welcome, and to get to know my sons’ friends.

6. Demonstrate love. Our children and husbands benefit greatly when we show our love for them in various ways. My husband might not have wonderfully romantic lines to say to me, but on snowy, icy mornings, he cleans off my car and scrapes the windshield before he leaves for work. So when I leave an hour later, I don’t have to do all of this. Love is a verb.

7. Mutual respect. Treat your husband and children with as much respect as you would guests. Good manners are contagious. Don’t discuss them in a negative way to other people, either. Be each other’s allies.

8. Words and tone of voice. This seems like a small thing, but it can make a huge difference. Have you ever been somewhere and overheard a mother insulting or degrading her children? Or a wife speaking to her husband with contempt? Or have you been in a store, and a woman yelled at her child so loudly and harshly that you jumped yourself?

We all have those days when we feel like acting like that. But if we think before we speak, following the Bible’s advice, our family relationships will be a lot more peaceful. Plus, we are setting a positive example for our children when it comes to dealing with others. Also, our voices sound much more feminine when they are soft and kind, not loud and harsh.

9. Positive attitudes toward family members. Smile often, use encouraging words, show your confidence in them. Listen when they talk, build them up, boost their confidence. When they have failed, assure them that they have succeeded in gaining wisdom and experience. Let them know you think highly of them.

10. Lastly, keep your sense of humor. Be able to laugh at yourself. Laughter can help everyone de-stress. Enjoy everyday moments with your family. They are your greatest treasure, your gift from God.
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Jessica Gerald has been an elementary school teacher for over thirty years, and is the publisher of the website http://www.oldfashionedhomemaking.com.

The Spiritual Significance of Investing Time Into Home Lives and Mealtimes

Have you ever wondered how women of the 21st century can truly be godly in character? When it comes to family life, how does the modern Christian woman initiate the beauty of Christ so that her family is driven to godliness?



 

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How We Organized Our Homeschool

Homeschooling is a work in progress for our family (as I assume it is for any home educating family).

I am learning what works for us, and what doesn’t.  We began this journey at around the time my now seven year old was about two.  So for five years I have tried my hands at different methods to see what worked for us, and what doesn’t.

The Lord is showing me through my journey of home education, how to meet the needs of these beautiful children He has placed into my life.  He is showing me about godly motherhood, and womanhood…how to really listen to His prompting me to say something, or not to speak at all.  I am learning about my own pitfalls and how my impatience leads to disaster for the entire family.

So He is working on my patience, bringing out that Fruit of the Spirit within me that so often would go unnoticed.  I cannot shove it under any longer.  I have to deal with it.

He is also showing me about priorities and time management.  As I manage my children’s lessons and their schedules I learn new things about what works for us and what will not be in our best interest for now.

So…here over at my homeschool blog I’ve written another pretty lengthy post about how we have gotten organized with our school this year.

HOpe you enjoy!

Click here to read my post on our homeschool organizing for 2010.

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