Tovah-sez

LuLu AND THE LIZARD / DON'T FEAR YOUR GIANTS!

2012-02-11T18:53:00.007-05:00

A few days ago I was outside with our cat LuLu. She loves to get outdoors where all her senses come alive with the sights, sounds and smells all around her. I sat in a lawn chair and lovingly watched over her. Suddenly she seemed to notice something on or near our garden shed. She crouched down low to the ground and ever so slowly inched her way towards the shed. I looked at the shed but noticed nothing. Suddenly she broke into a run and I saw a brown lizard scamper up the corner of the shed as it ran for its life. LuLu jumped at it and it fell to the ground. I saw her pawing at it for awhile and then she came towards me holding the poor thing in her mouth. A few feet from my chair she dropped it and began tormenting it by pawing at it now and then. I yelled at her to either kill it or leave it alone. Wanting to get a better look I got up and went over to where they were. As I looked down I saw what looked like a brown lizard with a pink petal in its mouth. Then I realized it was the pink lining of his wide open mouth...open so wide I thought his jaw came unhinged. This must be the last ditch effort of a lizard in full defense mode....an attempt to show how big and unafraid he was of this giant cat 60 times bigger than he was (just guessing as have no idea of what an accurate lizard to cat ratio might be). He was not discouraged by the enormous odds that were before him and I was impressed by this.

Then I called to my husband to come and see. I expressed concern for the embattled lizard to John who came out and asked why didn't I just pick up the lizard and put him outside the yard. I explained my left knee made it difficult to fully stoop down. Then like some huge Deliverer God he reached down, picked up the lizard and put it atop the fence post. Wondering if it was still alive, he nudged it gently and it sprang off the post to the ground outside the yard.

What about you? How do you deal with the Giants in your life...do you run or stand your ground, making the scariest face you can conjure up, not backing down no matter the odds. As John rescued the brave lizard I believe our God will also rescue us in the day of trouble if we believe.

TREASURES IN THE SAND

2011-10-23T17:02:00.007-04:00

Since I started going to the BOAST School of Supernatural Ministry and reading "When Heaven Invades Earth" I have been inspired to search for what we call "Treasures". People who need to know of God's great love for them and need to receive a healing touch from Him.

I have prayed for total strangers several times, usually at the local supermarket; but my heart's desire has been to go up to Flagler Beach where there is a steady parade of all kinds of folks...young, old, surfers, etc. Yesterday (10/22) I went to lie down for a Shabbat nap. I barely settled in under the covers when I heard the Lord say to me "There is treasure up at the beach". To my shame I did not go and fell asleep instead. This morning I told Abba I was sorry for my disobedience and decided I would go to the beach today.

Around 3 p.m. I left with my Hebrew homework to go to the beach. On the way I prayed to God that treasures would await me there and I would know them when I saw them. I parked the car and as I began to cross the street beheld two couples sitting in beach chairs on the sidewalk that overlooked the beach. I put my things down on the picnic table adjacent to them and struck up a chat with them. I noticed one of the ladies was perusing a news ad about treatments for pain, numbness and tingling. I asked her if she had these symptoms. She said she did..in her hands and feet. Then I asked if I could pray for her. Her name is Wanda. She consented and I drew out my anointing oil bottle. I anointed her hands first and prayed God's healing to come down from heaven and rest upon her now. Her husband enjoined his hands to ours as I prayed. Next I prayed similarly for her feet. Her husband told me he had rheumatoid arthritis in his hands. So I anointed him on his hands and prayed for him to be healed. Then looking to my right I saw Millie who looked a little "out there". They told me she has Alzheimers. I anointed her forehead with oil and prayed that God would restore to her the mind she had as a young child...that all her faculties would be fully restored. I told Millie that she was God's little girl, his princess. When I was done they asked my name and told them "Tovah".

I told them about treasure hunts and asked if they were at the beach yesterday. They said no; that they were going to come up but didn't. Then I realized God rearranged our divine appointment calendar so we could meet today instead. Amazing!!

I told my new friends I had to go and study my Hebrew for awhile for my Skype class later today. I walked down to where there was a large u-shaped sitting area looking over the beach. I spent about 45 min. reviewing my homework. Later Wanda and hubby were leaving and their car was parked near where I was now sitting. As Wanda got into the car she called out to me "Bye Tovah!!" I said bye and God bless you!

Preparing to leave I began to gather up my things and saw a man (maybe in his 30's)come and sit down and cover his eyes with his one hand. I strongly sensed either physical or spiritual pain. I slowly walked towards him, set my book down on the rail and softly said "Hi". He looked up...his eyes were welled up with tears. I asked him if he was OK and did he have a headache. He said no and was not talkative. I said "Well I don't want to crowd you or bother you, but would you just let me touch your elbow and speak some things over you". I don't remember if he answered but proceeded. I said "Abba I don't know this man, but you do and that's what's important...and I pray right now for whatever his needs are whether they be physical or emotional....that You would reach down and touch and heal him in these areas of need." Then I left him....I wish I had asked if he felt any better but I was too nervous. Just felt lead to bless him with the prayers.

Thinking my treasure hunt was over, I started towards my car and passed a picnic table at which a couple was sitting. We greeted each other and they asked what I was up to today. I told them about the treasure hunt and noticed the man had a brace on his right leg. I remarked about it and asked if I could pray for him. He declined and said they "got it covered". He told me they were Jehovah's witnesses. They asked where I went to church and I told them about One New Man Arising and that many of us there were going to the BOAST School of Supernatural Ministry that uses curriculum from Bill Johnson and Bethel Church. He proudly stated they only read the Bible. I said at One New Man we read and study the Bible too and that the SSM material does not contradict the scriptures, but is more about walking in the supernatural as God intended. I told him most churches today are powerless by choice...and that in truth God's power to touch and heal sickness is for the here and now. They believed all will be healed in the millenial reign of the Messiah after the Tribulation (described in Revelation) has ended. WOW! Long time to wait.
I told him we will have to agree to disagree on that point and bid them farewell.

So I had a (mostly) productive afternoon finding Treasures in the Sand and I thank God for those opportunities and pray He will send me even more treasures to discover.

FLEE FROM EVIL!!!

2011-08-16T09:59:00.004-04:00

DREAM OF EARLY MORNING 8/16/11
I was visiting my friend Ann and we were in her yard. She showed me a rather large black snake. Its circumference was about 3.5 - 4 inches. She picked it up and handed it to me and as I held it, it seemed to writhe a little bit. Startled I said it felt like it was moving in the opposit direction of which I was holding it. She said that although it is dead, the nerve endings still respond to external touch (like it has a mind of its own - similar to a chicken who gets its head cut off yet can still run around the yard).

I wanted to see if it still had a rattler. The tail end of it tapered and looked like a dried up partial rattle. Neither of us threw it in the trash, burned it, nor cut it up.

Abba awakened me at 3:40 a.m. this morning. As I got my coffee and went out to the lanai, my thoughts roamed to a faint memory of having had a dream. I asked Him to help me remember the dream and I did. Then I asked the meaning of the dream and this is what He told me.

The snake repesents Satan and sin. He said that by studying it, touching it, talking about it, we were giving it a place in our lives and this should not be.
Touching it and feeling it move told us that in so doing, we re-enliven it, activate it and must not do so. The absence of a working rattle means it will enter our lives without warning. Our adversary frequently uses subtlety and his evil will strike us unawares.

The scriptures tell us of these things in these verses:

Genesis 3:1
[ The Fall ] Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made.

“The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
Genesis 3:12-14

Angels in the Infield

2011-08-01T06:38:00.011-04:00

It was the bottom of the 9th inning and the Daytona Cubs were trailing the Jupiter Hammerjacks 2-0. A lot of the game was about as interesting as watching paint dry on a wall. As we approached the last few innings a Cubs fan sitting nearby would start chanting out encouragements to the team saying "Let's go Cubbies" or "Here we go Cubbies, here we go!". My husband and I thought maybe this distracted the players more than helping them. The closer we got to the end of the game the more he would shout out to the team.

So now, here we were at the bottom of the ninth. To me and many others, the situation seemed hopeless. Many fans left early concluding the Cubs were already defeated and trying to avoid the inevitable traffic crush of cars leaving when the game was over. I would have to say we were part of this unbelieving group and were only staying to see the fireworks show at the end of the game. The Cubs had two men on base and they advanced a base when the catcher flubbed a pitch. The fan became more and more vocal, even standing and swaying. The folks in the grandstand began joining in too ...."Let's go Cubbies!" "Let's go Cubbies!" There were 2 outs and the batter had two strikes against him. The cheering intensified throughout the final pitches and the umpire's calls. Then came a pitch and the batter nailed it, sending a line drive out along 1st base. The Hammerjacks scurried and the base runners came home. Total pandemonium broke out as the Cubs cinched the game 3-2!!

With a dropped jaw I paused to consider what had just happened. I realized the faith and persistance of the loyal Cubs fan paid off. He stormed the gates of some kind of baseball heaven and like the parable of the persistent widow, would not relent until his petition was answered. So while John and I erroneously thought he was not helping the team......in fact he was. It was a lesson in what a persistent faith could accomplish.

Another thought I had was that the Fan Man was like some kind of Angel in the Infield (we were really close to home plate). He kept encouraging his assigned team...cheering them on, letting them know he had faith that they could do that which seemed impossible so that in the end, against all odds, the victory was won!!

Are we listening to our guardian angels as they root for us, egging us on towards our personal victories? Are we storming the gates of heaven with our petitions for ourselves, our families, our nation, etc. with the persistence like that of the widow in the gospel account? Think upon these things when victory seems elusive in your life; listen closely so you will hear your angel chanting "Here we go (your name), here we go!"

REJOICING WITH YESHUA

2011-03-26T14:15:00.002-04:00

February 2009 at Beth El Kavod (House of G-d's Glory)

As music played joyously, I saw in my mind the people of
our faith family dancing and frolicking around Yeshua, in a meadow.

As we danced and skipped, we were laughing. We were so, so happy to be
in His presence. At times He was in the center of a circle as we
danced around Him and He too was laughing, sometimes throwing His
head back.

I sensed Him telling me (us) that we should lose ourselves in joy when
we worshipHim....to become like a child that happily skips through a
field of flowers.

He said, "Don't worry about abandoning your dignity...I AM worth far,
far more than your dignity.

Amen

WORD FROM YESHUA - I AM Your Source

2011-03-26T14:10:00.002-04:00

3/19/2009

Yeshua speaks: You are concerned about the upcoming prayer event in
Ormond Beach - worried about effectively ministering to others.

REMEMBER - It is I, through you, that will minister to them. You
already know you have no power in and of yourself. All that you
have to offer comes from ME and ME alone.

Read my word....pray and fast. Open yourself up to receive what I
would have you to say....then you will become a worthy vessel.

DREAMS FROM 2009-#2 Believe you are Loved

2011-03-26T13:46:00.007-04:00

February 2009 at House of G-d's Glory

As worship music played, I saw a picture of Yeshua and Sarah P. They were
walking together in a meadow. They held hands but only by their fingertips
and Yeshua was always slightly ahead of Sarah as they walked. He'd look back
over His shoulder at her with a quizzical look, wondering why she was hesitant
to walk fully beside Him, side by side.

I sensed the Lord saying to me that she (me, we) did not feel fully worthy to
stand by His side. He then said, "You (all of you) are SO worthy because of
your faith in Me. I suffered and died so you would become worthy and now
you are. Fully clasp My hand and walk right beside Me so I can turn My head
and look at you and talk to you, My beloved."

DREAMS FROM 2009 - #1

2011-03-26T13:13:00.003-04:00

DREAM OF 3/19/09
I saw masses of people crowded together outside, standing shoulder to shoulder. Overhead was an inky blac sky and evil entities were flying about, going to and fro. A single arm was extended upwards. The people were believers in Yeshua. Their heads were bowed as they prayed intensely to hold back those evil beings.

YHWH (Yehovah) is calling His people to intense prayer to hold back or at least to stem the evil tide coming to the earth.

Joel 3: 14-17 Crowds, crowds in the Valley of Decision. For the day of YHWH is near in the Valley of Decision. Sun and moon shall become dark and stars shall withdraw their brightness...and YHWH shall roar from Zion and give forth His voice from Jerusalem...and the heavens and earth shall shake, but YHWH shall be a refuge for His people and a stronghold for the children of Yisrael.

Joel 2: 27-29 And you shall know that I AM in the midst of Yisrael and that I AM YHWH your Elohim and there is no no one else. And my people shall never be put to shame. And after this it shall be that I pour out My Spirit on all flesh. And your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions...And also on the male and female servants, I shall pour out My Spirit in those days.

The Harvest Has Started

2011-03-05T10:05:00.011-05:00

The harvest has indeed started....many in my worldwide faith family are saying so
as thousands and thousands of people ask Yeshua into their hearts and lives, transformed forever by the power of His love

Frank Sumrall (son of well-known Lester Sumrall) came to our meeting on 3/4 and brought a message. Part of that message told of the great harvest of souls already taking place in the world....Hallelujah!

As I awoke on 3/5 I had a dream....I am in a room and I see a door and go to open it. As I open it and step back a landslide of people come diving headlong into the room. They are all squashed together as one body. All I could see was individual heads diving into the room.

It reminded of that awful video clip of people escaping a fire in Feb. '03 at the Station nightclub in Warwick, RI....people jammed tight in the door entrance, struggling to get out to safety. The faces of complete and total desperation are captured on this video of the fire. Watch it at your own risk as these images are frightening.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_9Kj_3VKg4&feature=player_detailpage#t=120s

In the case of this dream, I see the room as the Kingdom of G-d in which I and others live, and the people are those gushing forth into that same Kingdom to save their eternal souls.
.

Tsuna-ME!!!!

2010-09-20T13:30:00.003-04:00

During September 2010 I had two dreams on different nights but with similar themes..
tsunami-like waves advancing towards me/over me.

In the first dream I am in a storefront on Rt. A1A in Florida lying on the floor below a plate glass window with our cat Cleo (maybe sleeping?). I lift up my upper body and peer out the window and notice waves breaking across the street and water seeping in under the door and walls. I lay back down and snuggle with Cleo under a comforter. Curious I take another look and see a huge wall of water bending itself up and over the building. The view out the window is one of enormous moving waters. I duck under the comforter again and feel the vibration of the wave as it crashes over us. We feel a strange kind of being wet that is difficult to describe. I stop looking out the window. Several more waves crash over the building. I say to Cleo "Cleo we've got to get out of here" and somehow we get out of the building.

In the dream I had on 9/19...I am swimming in the ocean and notice a horrifying increase in wave height. Frightened, I decide to head for shore. Before I turn towards the shore I see a huge wave slowly build into a 20 foot or more wall of water. Terrified I head for shore but as I turn I see huge waves coming towards me FROM THE SHORE!! I am surrounded and trapped by gigantic waves of water from every side yet I did not drown. This is where the dream ends.

As I began recording this dream in a book I heard the Lord say to me "There is no escape from the tsunami that I am bringing into your life"

I have two possible interpretations of this dream.....One is that the Lord will allow some tsunami-like events to happen in my life...unsettling, possibly destructive events...but they will not destroy me.

The other is that the Lord is going to wash over me with enormous blessings and anointing to serve Him and His kingdom.

All I can say is.....Let thy will be done, Oh Lord...let Thy will be done.

Dead 4 days?.......you're dead!

2010-01-28T20:09:00.005-05:00

Got you wondering what this is all about? I thought so. Well here is the story.

As many of you know when Yeshua (Jesus) got word his friend Lazarus was very ill..at death's door, he delayed going to see him for four days. Yeshua and the disciples
finally arrive in Bethany and learn that Lazarus had died. Yeshua then goes to the tomb where Lazarus' remains are and raises him from the dead. Everyone declares it is a miracle. The question begs to be asked, would it have been any less miraculous had Yeshua arrived on the day Lazarus died or on the third day he was dead? Well in the eyes of the people who lived in that time there was a belief that when someone died the nefesh (or soul) could hover over/near the body for up to three days and potentially re-enter and resurrect the body. Once the fourth day came, there was absolutely no hope that the nefesh was still present. Yeshua purposely delayed his arrival to insure his detractors could not dismiss the miracle.

The Gift of "Burning Coals"

2010-01-07T18:32:00.001-05:00

Since seeking out my Jewish roots in 1986, I have learned many things over the years. I discovered that when we read the scriptures with “Eastern eyes”
a new window of understanding opens up to us. How can our “Western eyes” change into “Eastern eyes”? This happens through teaching and understanding that offers the knowledge of the culture and history of the time the scripture was written.

For example, in Romans 12:20 we read “Therefore if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he thirsts, give him a drink, for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head”. What is this scripture telling us? Some have said that by blessing our enemies they will come under conviction that will feel like burning coals on their heads. Sounds like a reasonable interpretation doesn’t it? If, however, we understand this to be a metaphor for “blessing our enemies” the normal reaction would be “How can pouring coals on someone’s head be a blessing?” Well in that day and time, the expression “pouring coals” on someone’s head offered a visual of something everyday people in ancient times faced on some occasion. Sometimes the household fire would go out, especially if the family went away for a while. To remedy this, a family member or household servant was sent to a neighbor with a receptacle on his/her head and requested that the neighbor pour some hot coals into the receptacle to bring back and start a new fire in the family’s hearth. It did not mean that coals would literally be poured directly on the hair and skin of the head, but into a receptacle carried on the head.

Fire was to the ancient world what electricity is to the modern world. It gave light, warmth, cooked food, etc. It was a comfort and greatly needed and appreciated. For someone to give another coals for a new fire, was to give him all the things fire provided as well. Fire was a blessing.

Let us be mindful that is not our job to do things to or for others in order to bring conviction on them. That is a job we leave for the Ruach ha Kodesh (Holy Spirit). Rather, G-d wants us to love, pray for and bless our enemies as if we were giving them the gift of fire. Have you given fire to (bless) someone today, whether friend or enemy?

No Room at the Inn?

2009-12-21T18:26:00.003-05:00

For centuries the scripture verse in Luke 2: 7 has been translated to say there was no room for them at the inn. The greek word used in this scripture is katalyma which means "place to stay" "space". The greek word that describes a commercial inn is "pandocheion" which means "receives all". (Pandocheion was the word used to describe the place the good samaritan brought the wounded traveler he took compassion on.) If the place Mary and Joseph went to was a commercial inn, pandocheion would have been used instead of katalyma. Due to this mistranslation, the image of a cold-hearted innkeeper will forever be etched in our collective minds.

So where DID Mary and Joseph go for Yeshua's glorious birth? More than likely they went to the home of one of Joseph's relatives. Bethlehem was Joseph's ancestral home and many of his family still lived there. They would never turn away a relative. Katalyma can also be used to describe a spare room,usually connected to the main living quarters. This room would accommodate visiting relatives/friends. There was either no katalyma, or it was already in use by another who arrived earlier.

Stables were not free standing structures. Rather they were attached to the house. When you brought the beasts in for the night, you lead them through the door and to the left or right you would turn and there was a space for them with hay and posts to tie them to. There would then a few steps that lead up to the main living area. Mangers/feeding troughs were cut-out circles cut into living room floor. If the animals awoke and were hungry, they would stand up and eat out of the mangers. This is where Yeshua was placed after his birth.

This information was gleaned from a book I have "Jesus through Middle Eastern Eyes" by Kenneth E. Bailey. I recommend getting it and mining all the hidden nuggets that lie therein.

It's Part of Who I am

2009-11-09T17:54:00.006-05:00

Per omnia saecula saecularum
Amen
Dominus vobiscum
Et cum spiritu tuo
Sursum corda
Habemus ad dominum

These are never-to-be-forgotten words which are an integral part of who I am. Spoken as part of the ritual of the mass, they were spoken every Sunday and were a spiritual touchstone for a young girl growing up in New York City….a coming home to the familiar….a comforting place of reassurance that all was well in the heavens and the earth. The mass became a weekly refuge for me. A place where I could forget the hurts of the week and run into the arms of the One I knew truly loved me.

Many in the church were clueless over the Latin mass, but not me. My high school studies in Italian gave me an “in” to deciphering my Latin-English missal. It transported me to the altar…to the priesthood…becoming one of them. I remember receiving the “good news” about Jesus at the tender age of 7 in 1952. My soul overflowed with unspeakable joy knowing I was loved by Him to the point of death. Why would He die for me? I loved Him s-o-o-o-o-o-o-o much. As we prepared for our first Holy Communion, I almost burst in anticipation of that coming day at St Sylvester’s church in Ozone Park, NY. I loved the sight and sounds of buying my pretty, crisp white dress, hooped crinoline and veil. I was ecstatic!!

More imprinted memories bubble up through my mind as I recall the church candles as they flickered softly in a darkened alcove, giving off a rosy glow. Then there were the infamous regimented drills on proper church behavior. The shush-ing and stern glances of Sister Mary Catherine struck fear and terror in our collective little hearts. And let’s not forget the infamous clacker device whose snapping sound commanded us to sit, stand, kneel or genuflect. The number of clacks were a kind of code that told us catechumens what to do….one clack meant sit, etc.

When I finally got alone with G-d in a church service, I was supremely happy. I even loved the lengthy high mass (which my friends thought was weird). The mysterious drama birthed by Latin sung by the priest and chanted by the choir which was ensconced in the upper, out-of-view loft; the clinking of the metal incense burner as the priest swung it back and forth as he encircled the altar…the pungent scent of the incense fumes floating through the air over the faithful. An invisible bridge over the chasm between heaven and earth enabled me to cross over. With eyes closed I was transported to a higher place. I climbed the stairs to the the expansive stone esplanade leading to the outer courts, the hallel prayers of ascent falling from trembling lips. As the worship intensified, I walked through the temple doors and prostrated myself before the true, holy and only living G-d. Couldn’t I stay here….always? Alas, I could not. The mass ended and I was turned out and back into that uncertain place we call “the world”.

Let Your Light So Shine (before men)

2009-11-05T14:54:00.004-05:00

The days are growing dark

Abba has called us to be salt and light. 2 cor. 4:6 For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness,"made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ".

1 John 1: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

We know intellectually we have His light in us.
How do we act on that knowledge through our individual Spirits?

A diamond gets its brilliance from light entering its innermost part and
refracts that light off and through its myriad facets. There is a part of the diamond that is called the pavilion. It is a like the floor of the diamond. When the diamond is cut the pavilion must have an exact depth. If it is too shallow or too deep, it will not maximize the refraction of light through its facets. Our pavilion is the very core of our spiritual beings.

How can we be like a brilliant, sparkling diamond? Do we have
Facets too?

Yes we do. They consist of the knowledge of His manifold blessings:

The joy of being His child,
The joy of knowing we are eternally saved because of what Yeshua has done for us.
The joy of feeding upon His Holy Word and drinking the Living Water He so freely gives us through Yeshua.
The joy of knowing no matter how great or small our sins are, He forgives us when we confess them and those sins are remembered no more.
Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
Isaiah 1:18

The joy of knowing Yeshua is as near as the speaking of His name
The joy of knowing we can come boldly before Him, before His throne of grace.

The joy of knowing the angels themselves marvel at us as we trod our earthly paths..1 Cor. 4: 9 "We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men".
They look on as we endure various trials and testings….but with prayers and perseverance we prevail (2 Cor. 4- ) "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

Romans 8:36
As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

I believe the angels think we are amazing……and I think so too.
I do not say this so that we can puff ourselves up but rather to encourage
us to continue to walk after holiness and purity because He has enabled us to do so.

Scriptures that speak of G-d’s light in us are many….here are some of them:

Isaiah 42: 6 "I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people
and a light for the Gentiles"

Isaiah 60: 3 "Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn."

John 3:21 "But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."a]

John 12: 36 "Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light."

1 Thess. 5: 5 "You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness".

1 John 2:10 "Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble".

Proverbs 13:9 (New International Version)
"The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out".

I encourage all of you now to walk worthily of your calling and shine forth G-d’s light, refracted by the wonderful facets He has crafted into each of us.

Better is One Day in Your Courts (than a 1,000 anywhere else) Psalm 84: 10-12

2009-08-15T10:33:00.008-04:00

What does it mean to spend a day in HIS courts? To me it means spending as much of the day in sweet communion with HIM. To wake up and speak HIS name, thank HIM for the new day, for your health, your home, your family, friends and job...to acknowledge to HIM that every good thing in your life is because HE deemed to bless you with those things....being ever mindful that millions of others are not nearly as blessed as you are.

Lately I have been enjoying the late summer storms of Florida. Sometime after 1 or 2 pm, the clouds thicken and with distant thunder and a smattering of raindrops, we sense their movement across the landscape. The thunder, lightening and rain increase in intensity as they approach our neighborhood. With TV and computer off, we rest in our room with Cleo our cat....quietly watching and listening to G-d's magnificient light and sound show. It's G-d's way of saying, "I'm shutting down your world for awhile....arresting the usual din of your everyday life. Focus on ME, marvel at the power and beauty of this natural phenomenon. It is good for you to quiet your mind and have thoughts only of ME. I am jealous for your time and attention. I hate having to compete with mindless television shows and computer activities. If you don't set them aside willingly, I will force you to....that's how much I love you and desire your company."

When the storm passes right over our home, it is at its peak intensity. The lightening flashes and illuminates our darkened room. I say to John: "Get ready, here it comes". I hold my breath anticipating a wall-shaking thunderclap. HE cracks the sky apart and then smashes it back together with an awe-inspiring sound. You think: HE is here now.....right over our heads, knocking at our front door, rattling our window panes. It is a Holy visitation. I think of Moses on Mt. Sinai and wonder if it might have been like this.

This is how we dwell in HIS courts.....by seeing HIM all around us....in a baby's smile, a budding flower, a storm at sea, the soft gaze of a wise old man, the sound of beautifully played music, in the thunder and lightening, in the invisible beating of a hummingbird's wings. Look for HIM everywhere and you will find HIM. In so doing you will spend the day in His courts.

The Teshuvah Trilogy - I (Ship of Fools)

2009-03-05T14:43:00.001-05:00

Teshuvah - The root word is the Hebrew "shoov" which means to return. It combines both aspects of forgiveness: turning from evil and turning toward good.

I love to reread this dream I wrote into a memory book. It occurred sometime in the 1980's. Because I committed my heart and life to Yeshua in June 1981, and am unsure of the exact date of the dream, I concluded this dream served either as an invitation into or an affirmation of that special spiritual relationship. I titled this dream "Ship of Fools"

I am standing on a pier at the shore of either an ocean, sea, large lake or gulf. It is raining. I look to the distance where a terrible storm is raging. The sky is almost ink black. From the distance a life boat-type vessel appears and draws near to the pier. There are about a dozen or so people wearing yellow rain slickers. I sense they want to talk to me. As the waves roll in, they lift the boat to my level as I stand on the pier....when the wave recedes, the boat drops lower.

I ask them where they are going? One of them points toward the heart of that inky black storm. They invite me to join them. I look out at the horrific storm and then into their perfectly calm faces. Their spunk and lack of fear amazes me and somehow causes my fears to decrease. I agree to go and on the next incoming wave, as the boat rises up toward the pier, I get in and we head out. The rain falls harder and in sheets; the waves pitch the boat high up onto a wave, over the top and down the other side. I am wearing my slicker and we are all standing in the boat, shoulder to shoulder....like one person. Whichever way the waves heave the boat, we lean the other way as a counterbalance. We are focused and fearless. STOP SCENE!

Now I am in a canoe very close to the shore on water as still and clear as glass. There are 2-3 others with me. The sun is low on the horizon (either sunrise or sunset). I lead my companions in a prayer of thanksgiving.

My interpretation: The boat of people are believers in Yahweh (G-d). They invite me to become one of them and face the perils the storm (the world) will assault us with. As one body, united in faith and purpose, we prevail and enter a safe harbor (the kingdom of Yahweh). Years later I stumbled upon a psalm that told a similar story. It is Psalm 107: 23-32

"They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters..these see the works of the Lord and his wonders in the deep. For he commands and raises the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths...their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits end. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people and praise him in the assembly of the elders." .....Amen

The Teshuvah Trilogy - II (returning to the sweetly familiar)

2009-03-05T14:24:00.003-05:00

Teshuvah - The root word is the Hebrew "shoov" which means to return. It combines both aspects of forgiveness: turning from evil and turning toward good.

God continues to call to me in this dream..........

I am walking up to a church door. I see the large oak doors and the black metal thumb plate. I press the thumb plate down and push the door open. To my left I see a door open with a beautiful rosy pink light emanating from it. I enter and see a room full of votive candles. Their rosy lights gently flicker across the stone walls. In front of each row of candles there is a row that displays greeting cards with warm comforting thoughts printed inside them. I feel very calm and relaxed in this room as I pick up different cards and read them.

Time passes and suddenly I am out in the city walking about with my husband John. I realize I am in the neighborhood of the church and tell John I want to go to the church to get a birthday card for someone. He asks where the church is. I say I don't know but I'm sure it is nearby. He says well if you can't find it, let's go and he tries to drag me away. I resist and he leaves without me. My eyes eagerly scan the skyline for a hint of the building. Suddenly a gust of wind lifts a tree bough upwards and through the parted boughs I see the steeple of the church. I exclaim excitedly.."There it is!!" and run towards it.

Once again I see the large oak doors and the thumbplate. I enter and immediately turn left to go to the votive candle room with all the cards. I am so happy to be there as I re-experience the serenity and contentment as I did before.

Here God is showing me how knowing Him and fellowshipping with Him can make life a joy. John represents the distractions of the world that would lead me away from God. Though I was discouraged for a bit, I persevered and again found the house of worship. Upon returning to it, I was like a dying woman finding an oasis of water and never again departing from it.

The Teshuvah Trilogy - III (swing low sweet motorcycle...coming for to carry me home)

2009-03-05T14:01:00.003-05:00

Teshuvah - The root word is the Hebrew "shoov" which means to return. It combines both aspects of forgiveness: turning from evil and turning toward good.

Many were the times the Lord tried to get my attention through dreams. Such was the case with the following dream which I had in the late 1970's.

I was riding on the back of a flat bed truck, near the edge of the bed. We were riding a road that ascended and descended some hills and frequently went around long curves. As we were rounding one curve I heard in the distance the sound of a motorcycle revving its engine and drawing closer to us. Then the bike emerged and on it were the main rider....a slender woman with carrot red hair and wearing aviator sunglasses. She had no helmet and her hair blew freely in the wind. She had a kind of no nonsense attitude about her....all business and did not smile or show much of any expression. Behind her was a male passenger. He too wore sunglasses and a purple metallic helmet. He cocked his head to the side of her neck and smiled an impish smile at me. My mind was thinking..."What do you want with me?" The answer was "We've come to save you from yourself". I sensed they wanted me to come with them. While mulling this over, I heard in the distance another sound of an approaching motorcycle. The newly arrived bikers looked almost identical to the first pair. They too wanted me to go with them. The first pair cautioned me not to go with them as they meant to harm me. Of course the second pair said the same thing. I sat for several more minutes studying the four of them. The first pair seemed fine with this, calmly biking along behind the truck. After awhile the second pair seemed to come a bit undone...shifting around on their seats....maybe a bit worried I wouldn't pick them.....I didn't. I joined the first pair and drove off with them. No evil befell me.

I believe the first pair were God's angels convincing me to return to His path while the other pair were counterfeits whose mission was to lead me astray.

I'm Just Not That Into Drowning................

2009-03-02T00:03:00.008-05:00

The following is a dream I had in the late 1970's.....
I am standing on the shore of the ocean and looking out at its wondrous beauty. Something catches my eye. It is some red object bobbing up and down in the waves. It looks like a present, wrapped in red paper with a red bow on it. I decide to go into the water and go after it. I am swimming towards it for quite awhile and realize it is further out in the water than I first thought. I begin to tire and flirt with the idea of going back but realizing how close I am, continue. The waves are rolling in frequently and it is hard to make those last few strokes.

Finally I reach it. I am surprised the paper doesn't feel wet, like it is wax-coated or something. As soon as I get both arms around it, it becomes extremely heavy and begins to drag me under the water. I continue to hold it and try to work my way up to the surface again. The weight of the box tires me and I let go. Once I let go, it happily bobs up to the surface again. I decide to try again, but the same thing happens. After all this effort I realize all attempts to bring the gift box to the shore are futile and make my way back.

What this dream means to me is that there are many things we may encounter on our life path that look very desirable. Things like fame, fortune, beauty, love, power, prestige, etc. entice us to pursue them with all our energy. However we soon realize that which seemed so desirable may actually be destructive to us, dragging us under, drowning us. Some people may yet persist in their quest to "get that box" at all costs and later suffer pain and misery realizing too late it just wasn't worth it.

What about you? Is there a beautiful red gift box you've been pursuing? Is the pursuit of it tiring you, sapping your strength, distracting you from other goals or people that are more important? If, like me, you're just not that into drowning, let it go.

Suffer the Little Children......

2009-02-12T18:00:00.006-05:00

The following is a dream I had in the early morning Feb. 12, 2009

I am inside a two-story house in the lower apartment. I walk down a dark hallway to the back room. Inside is the baby Yeshua (Jesus). He is in an infant seat swaddled in a soft fleecy multicolored blanket of red, tan and green. Part of the blanket covers the top of His head making Him look like a little boxer.

There are some men in the room. They are absorbed in a discussion about how the wise men came or should come to the house. There was something about not crossing a certain longitude or meridian as it would conflict with something. They were all wrapped in this discussion, leaning over star and global maps.

I go to the front room where there are several 5-7 year old children. They want to see baby Yeshua. I lead them down the dark hallway to the back room and as I open the door, the men see the children and object to their coming in and disrupting their discussion. The children gleefully rush in and begin to sing and dance around the room. Some of them rush up to see the baby and speak to Him, saying Hi and wiggling His feet, toes and fingers. Yeshua gives up great belly laughs and other happy sounds as he smiles and gleefully kicks his feet and waves his hands in the air. He is delighted to have the children there and is totally captivated by them.

This dream has a couple of meanings for me:

1) Yeshua wants us to stop overly intellectualizing our knowledge of Him and come to Him with the simple totally trusting faith of a little child - happy just to be in His presence.

2) I feel this is a confirmation for me personally, to work with and teach people to learn dance worship and dance before the Lord with childlike enthusiasm, forgetting about ourselves (how we look, what others think, etc.).

This is what I believe the Lord is asking me to do.

So Do I

2009-01-11T12:03:00.007-05:00

December 20,2008

Abba speaks: I see you there resting on your bed with your adoring cat, Franky, lying next to you as you write what I am saying.

You are thinking about how he came in and out of the den several times this evening as if he was trying to lure you into your bedroom where he can have you all to himself. I too wish to call you to a place where I can have sweet conversations with you.

He waits at the door for your arrival home....so do I. He follows you from room to room, looking up at you with eyes of love.....so do I. You speak tender affections to him and he is content. I am content when you pray to Me...when you dance before me and when you sing songs of praise and worship to me. Franky, your cat, loves you so intensely.....so do I.

Be still and know that I am G-d and my love for you has no end.

Deep Calls to Deep

2008-11-12T22:33:00.004-05:00

The ocean is a vast, beautiful, fearsome, sometimes violent and always awesome thing. I am always enthralled by underwater images captured on film or video. The cornucopia of creatures and plant life is dizzying to behold. I have also seen films of storms of sea and shook in my shoes at the thought of being on a ship in the midst of such a storm. I love the ocean for its vast depth and primordial timelessness.

Many is the time I have associated my feelings about the ocean to those I have about Father G-d.....conflicting feelings of love for Him...his calming love, soothing, caressing, and nurturing care complicated by feelings of apprehension over His mysteriousness, unpredictableness, moodiness...His brooding angry outbursts, His tempestuousness.

While at House of G-d's Glory in October '08 one evening for worship services, Robert went up to the front and took the mike to pray. In that prayer he spoke of the Father's deep love for us. It was then I saw in my mind a moving picture of myself immersed in a beautiful, crystal blue ocean. As I descended I sensed the presence of the Lord there, descending with me. I was comforted and reassured by His presence. He spoke to me in my mind and said:

"As you plumb the ocean's depths, know this is how deeply I love you. When you start thinking we cannot descend any further, you discover the unending depth of my ocean. My love for you, my child is also without end. As we descend deeper and deeper, each fathom will remind you of my incomprehensible, boundless, limitless and unconditional love I have for you forever and ever".

May these words comfort you today. They were given to me to share with you because they are for you also.

Misplaced Zeal

2008-11-12T21:59:00.006-05:00

What are you zealous for? Many people can be very zealous about so many different things....political candidates, sports teams, etc. This past election I worked very "zealously" for a candidate. One time me and another lady stood on a busy corner for two hours, during rush hour holding our candidate's sign, jumping up and down, smiling, waving. I was so enthusiatic for the cause of my candidate.

Earlier that week in thinking about my next volunteering stint I sensed the Lord saying to me "When was the last time you had this much zeal for me, my word, my Son Yeshua, the saving message of the gospel?" I thought back and remembered another time of intense zeal.

I remembered 1997. It was the time of the Toronto Blessing when the Holy Spirit was generously poured out on those who visited the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship (TACF). I went to a conference there in late March of that year. It was there that I experienced a major outpouring of the Holy Spirit. At each assembly we were totally immersed in the Living Waters of the Holy Spirit, experiencing unspeakable joy. I had visions and dreams which came true there or later. I wanted so much to tell everyone about Yeshua and began doing things like writing brief notes to waitresses and grocery check out workers. A typical note went something like this: "Dear Sally, thank you for your excellent service in this restaurant. If you haven't yet asked Yeshua (Jesus) into your heart, I pray you will do that very soon. May G-d bless and keep you always...In His Shalom, Tovah". I invited total strangers to worship services, helped an elderly widow go shopping and took her to doctor's appointments. My only wish was to do even more for the sake of G-d's Kingdom. As the years passed by a lot of that zeal withered, to my disgrace.

I shared this insight with the brethren at House of G-d's Glory and as I began talking about TACF in 1997 it was like a wormhole opened, taking me back to that time and place as I re-experienced being slightly tipsy from the Holy Spirit falling afresh upon me. With that I asked myself and others, when was the last time we were "on fire" for the Kingdom of G-d, for his Holy Word. When did we last weep for the lost as they head into a Christless eternity and what that would mean to them. I asked them to think about praying each morning (as I would) for a renewed sense of love and zeal for the Lord and our fellow man and that He would set our hearts on fire once again. Amen

The Messianic Miracles

2008-08-19T13:23:00.008-04:00

The Messianic Miracles...what were they and why were they significant? Before Yeshua appeared on earth the rabbis taught there were three miracles that only the Messiah could perform. They were cleansing a leper, casting out a mute spirit, and healing someone who was born blind. They also taught that if one man was able to perform any of these three miracles thereby making messianic claims, he had to be investigated by the spiritual leaders in a specific manner, which took place in two stages.

The first stage was observation. A delegation of the spiritual leadership was to go and observe what was taking place and report back to their superiors. Based on their report, it was decided if what was happening was significant enough to fast track things to stage two. Stage two was interrogation. Another delegation would be sent to confront the messianic candidate with various questions. Again, whatever happened was taken back to their superiors to decide if the messianic claims should be accepted or rejected.

We can see this investigative process taking place whenever Yeshua performed these three messianic miracles as recorded in the gospels. When Yeshua cleansed a leprous man, He told the man to go and show himself to the priests (Matt 8:4,Mark 1: 44, Luke 5: 16) Why did Yeshua tell him this? Because He knew when the priests learned of the healing, it would be like an alarm going off, alerting them that the Messiah could be in their midst. Yeshua was sending them an invitation to come and "check Him out". After this man did what he was told, the priests and Pharisees began to follow Yeshua around, questioning and testing Him. Many of us with Western eyes might possibly view this as a kind of harassment. I believe, however, that initially they were fulfilling a duty to the people to insure they were not being misled by a false Messiah. False messiahs had come and gone, all of which underwent intense scrutiny by the spiritual leaders.

OK so one miracle down, two to go. Next a man was brought to Yeshua who was possessed by a mute spirit. To cast out such a spirit was miraculous because the usual method was to engage the demon in a dialogue and trick it into revealing its name. Once the name was known, that name was used in ordering the demon out of the afflicted person. However, a mute spirit was incapable of revealing its name. It was taught that only the Messiah Himself would be powerful enough to cast it out without knowing the spirit's name. When Yeshua cast out this mute spirit (Mark 9:25) the people were amazed. They had just witnessed a Messianic miracle. Many turned to each other asking "Could this be the Son of David?" (Matt 12: 22-23), a Messianic title. This probably put the spiritual leadership on Red Alert because now 2 of 3 miracled were performed by Yeshua.

Now for the third miracle....healing someone who was born blind. Yeshua made some mud and rubbed it on a blind man's eyes and told him to wash the mud off in the Pool of Siloam. The man did so and was miraculously healed. Imagine how overwhelmed with joy he was and how awestruck the people who witnessed this were.

Now the spiritual leaders in Jerusalem were in a quandry. Yeshua performed the three messianic miracles in the presence of many witnesses. Did the leaders now embrace him as the Messiah in the light of the overwhelming evidence. No, rather they sought to discredit certain miracles saying things like 1) He cast out the spirit by the power of Beelzebub (Matt 12: 22-24). 2) They charged the blind man was not blind, or was not blind since birth. The Pharisees summoned the man and his parents to further question them. When they did not like their answers, they questioned them again and again (Read all of John 9).

I have often mused over why the Pharisees rejected Yeshua regarding the messianic miracles. In my mind, I think it was because they resented His rebukes. He called them on the carpet about their pride, lack of love, compassion, mercy, etc. They knew what Yeshua said was true, yet their wilfullness and pride kept them from humbling themselves and confessing their sins before God. Most of us might think, "I would never be like that". But when was the last time we prayed "Search me G-d and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way" (Psalm 139:23-24). In this way we ask Him to show us our individual shortcomings...the things we blind ourselves to, or excuse ourselves from with our reasonable explanations. How do we react when we feel a "check" in our spirit?

Abba loves us and wants us to obey Him out of love for Him. Let us, each day, listen to His voice...happily accepting His love and blessings, and humbly accepting His instructions saying "Yes, Abba, Thy will be done".

May G-d bless and keep you all...in His love, His blessings and in the very center of His will.

One New Man

2008-05-30T21:49:00.004-04:00

May 30 2008....This is a dream I had a few weeks ago.

I am outside watching several children. I have told them not to go into a pond of water but they do so anyway. I calm down when I see everything seems to be OK with them in the pond.

On the side of the pond I see a pier that extends out over the land and on it are some men singing enthusiastically. Some men are wearing tallits. This tells me they are Jewish men and the others are Gentiles. They are joyously singing to the Lord with beaming faces, arms extended and lifted up. When they look at each other their faces beam with a great brotherly affection. I am so excited by this I run over to meet them. When I get there one of the men extends his hand and tells me his name. I shake his hand and say "Hi...my name is ...." I can't remember the name but it is one I never called myself. It seemed to be something like Aliya or Anila. I also tell the man in my dream I am also known as Tovah.

Many in the body of Messiah speak of the One New Man....where Jewish and Gentile believers come together as one united by their faith in Yeshua ha Mashiach. Very encouraging!!

Living Waters

2008-04-04T20:48:00.003-04:00

During the week of 3/31 I had a dream......we were looking at houses to buy, discussing the pros and cons of each. There were three side-by-side homes. We each felt drawn to the middle house and spoke about the "wonderful water" in the house...how cold, pure and delicious it was and how we loved to drink it. I wanted it so very much.

Later this week I was at a Bible study group. We had a moment of prayer and as
we prayed the Lord reminded me of this dream and I had a revelation that it was the "Living Water" of the Messiah that John and I were thirsting after. This "Living Water" refreshes the soul, nourishes body and bone, bathes every physical cell with the joy and presence of the Almighty.

I lifted a prayer that together, John and I would now and always thirst for "The Living Water" only Yeshua (Jesus) can provide, and never tire of drinking it.

Amen.

Tovah Lives !!!!

2007-08-08T00:03:00.000-04:00

Hi there everyone!

Wow.....it's been a really long time since I've posted. To catch y'all up...we're still here in Vegas but not for long. In early 2008 plan to move to Northeast Florida. Vegas is too crowded, has crazy drivers, crazy people, etc. We miss the ocean plus have lots of family in Florida (Orlando, Deland, Lake Worth, West Palm, Miami, Davie, Ft Myers and Lady Lake).

Since my last post I've had four jobs....1st at a helicopter training academy (got laid off), then a collection agency (hated the work), next a company that installed tile floors/counters in new home construction (fun people but work too repetitive, quit after hours reduced due to a slowdown), and now at a shipping company I will call FedUps. I started as a shipping agent but now work as a tech support agent. I plan to quit when we move.

We travelled to the Grand Canyon in the summer 2006, then another trip to Italy in October 2006 (see photo of me atop the Isle of Capri) with some American cousins to meet my husband's 91-yr old uncle for the first time in Benevento; We also went to Sorrento, Capri, Mt. Vesuvius and Pompeii. We loved it!! We'd love to live there a few months each year after I stop working. We could then take train trips to other countries in Europe. Our future travel plans may include Egypt, Athens and the Greek Isles, Israel, etc.

Last month (July) we had a family reunion in Miami and Key Largo with our daughter and hubby, nephew and his wife, my sister and her husband and niece and her boyfriend. We had a great time boating, snorkeling, eating and drinking....life is good and I thank G-d for it.

Right now I'm dealing with the weariness of the day to day until we get out of here and turn the next chapter in our lives. I know it will come eventually, G-d willing so will keep on keeping on.

All of you stay well and I'll be b-a-a-k-k

In the Shadow of "The Strip"

2006-03-13T20:38:00.001-05:00

In the valley called Las Vegas stands a man lost and alone
Seeking fun and happiness, and far away from home
“What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” has become a famous quip
As souls are bought and sold here, in the shadow of The Strip

“Give us pleasure and fun” Babylon’s visitors cry
“Fill the emptiness our lives back home don’t fill
My spouse thinks it’s business….but what’s a little white lie?
The search for satisfaction seems all uphill
All we want from life’s pleasure cup is just a little sip,
Just like everyone else here, in the shadow of The Strip”

On Bellagio’s sidewalk two street preachers were cuffed
“Don’t gamble with your soul” their signs declared
As a camcorder rolled, the cops were not swayed
And the men of G-d were carted away
The porn pushers kept working, the cops gave them no lip
And that’s how it went down, in the shadow of The Strip
(true story)

Driving home on Tropicana, gridlock brings all to a stop
Looking all around me, a prayer comes to my mind
“Tho’ I crawl through this valley of neon and light,
as small as I feel, I know me He will find
For His eye is on this sparrow, I won't fall nor will I trip
He will lift me ever higher, even higher than The Strip“.

Jesus’ tears for lost souls could fill Bellagio’s fountains
As these prodigals look for the wrong kind of love
But His love is so great, great enough to move mountains
If they’d only come to Him, in meekness, as a dove

Admit you’re a sinner and you need to repent
Don’t let foolish pride get in the way
The peace you will feel is from heaven sent
As your life starts anew and His Words you obey

Now go out and tell others, proclaim the Good News
On the radar of the world you may be a mere “blip”
But in G-d’s eyes you’re no blip, in fact you are HUGE
Standing larger than life, overshadowing The Strip

WANTED!!!! YESHUA OF NAZARETH

2006-03-13T20:02:00.000-05:00

A REWARD OF 50 SHEKELS OF SILVER WILL BE PAID TO WHOMEVER CAN PRODUCE THE (PRESUMABLY “RESURRECTED“) BODY THEREBY DESTROYING THIS DANGEROUS MYTH WHICH EVEN NOW IS SPREADING LIKE WILD FIRE

RAP SHEET

NAME: Yeshua (Jesus) DATE OF BIRTH: 0000 A.D.

BIRTHPLACE: Manger Square, Bethlehem OCCUPATION: Carpenter, Rabbi

ALIASES: Messiah, Prince of Peace, Rose of Sharon, The Way, Lion of Judah

ALLEGED CRIMES: Healing on the Sabbath, criticizing the religious establishment, feeding multitudes of people without a food service permit, performing miracles (changing water into wine, exorcising demons, walking on water) thereby creating a public disturbance, overturning tables of money changers, consorting with murderers, thieves, beggars, whores and tax collectors, repeatedly referring to himself as the “Son of God” and blessing and forgiving others’ sins.

PLACES SEEN: The Jerusalem Temple, Mount of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, The Upper Room, Sea of Galilee (with/without a boat), Judean wilderness, Jordan River

MODE OF TRAVEL: Walking, donkey

COMPANIONS: (the late) John the Immerser, 12 disciples, Mary Magdalene, 5,000 hungry people, Bartimaeus (healed of blindness).

WARNING!! If approached by Yeshua be extremely careful as you may be overwhelmed by his totally unconditional love, mercy and forgiveness. His feelings for you are very disarming and considered very dangerous by those intent on rejecting Yeshua and his sin-atoning sacrifice.

BEWARE: If you do embrace Yeshua as your Messiah-Redeemer, remember his very own words “I will never leave you nor forsake you”.

According to his disciples, Yeshua ascended to His Father G-d and until his return, now lives in the hearts and minds of those who believe in him (go figure……). For other details on Yeshua, read John’s gospel which should be inscribed and distributed by the time you read this.

Commissioner: Moishe ben-Haded Year: 30 A.D.
Chief of Police: Elijah Ha-Aman

TOVAH RAPS!

2005-12-06T23:39:00.003-05:00

The following rap is meant to convey my frustration
at how un-Jewish Jesus is thought of within Christianity and how the church has for centuries downplayed and all but ignored His Jewishness and anything associated with the Torah and Judaism in general.

Here is Jesus(Yahshua) , the goy-boy

Yo Yo Yahshua! Who are you?

What has the church done to you?

Your name's been changed, like your day of rest......your feasts are ignored

tossed onto history's ash heap

Listen up Christians - we're your sisters and your bruth-as

stop dissin' Judaism, cuz it hurts your Jewish muth-a

When He lived on earth, Yahshua was Jewish to the core...but no more.

His extreme makeover took care of that. Yahshua, your people can't relate to you.....to them you don't look like a Jew

A river of blonde now flows from your head

eyes of brown, now limpid blue in their stead.

The old you is dead!

They wrapped the Jewish you in a tallit and buried you deep.....

unaware that you'd later awaken from your sleep- ing stupor

and throw them for a loop-er

You are the Torah and the Torah is you! Can this be true?

What joy! You're no longer a goy-boy!

What happiness! What bliss! Your Jewish feet we'll kiss!

Your love for the Gentiles will always be there

but the Jews who come to faith will bring forth a tear......

Your tears shed in joy for the least of your brethren

with you forever.....and ever......in heaven

Livin' it up at the Las Vegas DMV

2005-11-14T13:08:00.001-05:00

It's the Monday after a 3-day holiday weekend (Veteran's Day), 11/14. We arrive at the Las Vegas DMV at 7:30 a.m. The parking lot is crowded and a long line has already formed outside the front doors. Although the official day starts at 8 a.m., at 7:45 the doors open like a gaping mouth and we happily allow ourselves to be eaten up by the building.

We get into a snake-like line to show a clerk what we need to have done and get a number. The line reminds me of being at a theme park. Maybe someday they will have some TV screens suspended from the ceiling showing driver safety films to give those in line something to watch. About 8-10 clerks line this counter. We finally get to someone who can give us a number and cheerfully present all the paperwork we thought we would need. He tells us to get Nevada plates we first need an inspector to inspect/approve our vehicle and to drive our car through a gate on the premises. He said when we get the approval paper to just come right back to him at the counter. Having done that, we find out that for our licenses we require more ID. Because we had to go back home and get proofs of identity for our licenses, when we get back we are assigned number A251...and that's just the "A" group.

We find seats in a very large seating area. A long counter is before us with 26 clerks seated in front of DMV terminals. There are electronic screens announcing whose "number has come up". A human sounding female voice announces what number is next to be served. She speaks in a slow, calm, well-modulated tone that reminded me of the voice on the space ship in the movie "Alien" calmly instructing the crew that the ship will selfdestruct in five minutes. The whole scene was reminiscent of a twilight zone episode....like all these people had crossed over into some holding cell to be processed before going to their "final destination". For a moment I thought I saw Rod Serling, complete with skinny black tie, milling about through the glaze-eyed throngs.

After an hour they are up to A130. This is because there are other letter and number combinations like C294, K1369, etc. Tick tock, tick tock. After two hours, our number finally comes up and we get our Nevada plates and John's license. I brought a copy of my social security card which was unacceptable so would need to return another day. The cost for plates and one license totalled $161. John gets his photo taken and in just a few magical minutes he is presented with a spanking-new Nevada license.

We are free to go and I abandon my fears that the DMV is like a kind of "Hotel California" where "you can check out anytime, but you can never leave".

Wedding Day/Moving Day - HELP!!

2005-10-23T22:20:00.000-04:00

Excitement is mounting as we roll into our last week living in Central NY. On Oct. 31st we will be in our car with Cleo the cat, heading towards Las Vegas.

Before we leave, however, there is a large matter to attend to..OUR DAUGHTER'S WEDDING on Oct. 29th. So far I am pretty calm about all this activity, but am praying we don't hit any snags in packing the freight container that arrives this Thursday, having the container picked up on Friday and getting to the wedding rehearsal and rehearsal dinner on Friday. We need to pick up our son Jesse at the Hotel to bring him to the rehearsal as well, so there is one more detail to add to this already overflowing cauldron of to-do's.

I think it would have been better to move out to Vegas over the summer and just flown in for the wedding and then flown back, but that's all 20/20 hindsight now.
The next 3 days will be spent packing the remaining 10% of our earthly possessions, whittling things down to what we will pack for the wedding and the long trip west.

Last Satuday we had a farewell party which gave us a chance to say so long to old friends while enjoying the refreshments we prepared. We actually got a few surprise parting gifts. We also sent emails to many people with our new address and cell phone #. Some responded with well wishes and promises to call if/when they plan a trip to Vegas. We may see more visitors there than we've ever seen in upstate NY.

I'll need to finish this post soon as the PC will be shut down and boxed up on Wednesday. John is wondering how I will ever survive....I am wondering too.

I'll be back soon.....please miss me and comment soon. L'hitra'ot...Tovah

Stop Needing Us/Please Need Us!

2005-09-30T22:50:00.000-04:00

"Hi Mommy" I hear through the phone receiver. Recognizing our soon-to-be-married daughter's voice I reply "Hi Serena....I was just thinking about calling you; will Cody be up by 10 tomorrow morning as that's when we should be arriving?" Tomorrow, Oct. 1 is the wedding shower up in Rochester.

She replies "Yeah, he'll be up....but listen, are you guys staying over tomorrow night?" Taken aback by this request as there is a lack of beds at her apartment and she rarely asks us to stay, I tell her we weren't planning to, then ask "What's up?" "Well" she replies, "being tomorrow is the shower and all, we want to continue the celebrating later and need you to watch Cody".

Aha! Now it all makes sense. She and Mike want to go out at night with their friends and party. As usual it's all about her, although she kind of offered to sleep on the living room furniture so we could have her and Mike's bed.

Sometimes I wonder why so many parents like us are such suckers for our kids. Serena is the worst of our three. Jesse and Sara call us just to talk and Sara always remembers birthdays and our anniversary. Over the years since Serena's been on her own we've heard from her when she needed a sitter so she could make OT money or was required to work, needed us to co-sign a loan, when she had a car repair she couldn't afford, etc. Never or rarely a "Hi Mom and Dad.....how are you?" Before she met Mike it was kind of tough for her being a single mom and all, so we didn't mind helping, though we live two hours away. When they hooked up and life got easier (especially with finances) weeks would go by without a peep from her.

In all fairness, we did get invited up for a family Thanksgiving at Mike's mom's place last year and a few years ago came to a Sunday brunch at Serena's, but these invites seem so far and few between. What can I say. Parents love their kids and most of us experience this kind of paradox of pushing them out of the nest but wanting to have them back now and then. Go figure.

Miracles Happen.....

2005-09-27T10:48:00.000-04:00

The dryness was almost palpable....irregular devotions, a lack of spirit-filled prayers, missing worship services, etc; my spirit cries out, "G-d where are you?" It's a rhetorical qustion as I know He is right here with me. If anything it should be Him asking "Tovah, where are YOU?"

Lately each day seems exactly like the one before it. Every morning the ritual replays itself....waking up, having a few cups of coffee, dressing and going to our storage cell to bring boxes back to our apartment in preparation for our move to Las Vegas. When done we lounge around and productivity plummets for the rest of the day. I finally broke the monotony yesterday by attending a meeting where panelists discussed the life and work of Bob Moog, inventor of the Moog synthesizer. That was fun at the time but now I am back in my rut.

This morning I went outside with my coffee and Bible and read some of the Gospel of John. I saw a bumble bee come by to light upon the few fragile mimosa blossoms of our potted mimosa bush/tree we grew from baby cuttings. The bee buzzed around and only landed on blossoms. I guess he found them by color or scent. I studied how large the bee's body was and how small its wings were. That they could fly at all seemed an impossibility. I read somewhere that the bumble bee has these mitochondria (power cells) that empower those little wings, enabling them to lift and move its oversized body. It is one of G-d's little creative miracles.

One might ask why aren't bumble bees just created with wings properly sized for their bodies? Well I suppose that could have been, but then we would have one less thing to marvel at, wouldn't we? The greater message to all of us is that though certain situations in our individual lives seem impossible and we can't see how things will ever change, with G-d (like in the example of the bumble bee) all things are possible.

Hell hath no fury......

2005-08-28T22:54:00.000-04:00

That old adage "Hell hath no fury like the wrath of a woman" can more than aptly describe that which we call Mother Nature when she wreaks havoc this time of year.
To get what I mean go to http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/TROP/DATA/RT/rgb-loop.html
(having trouble creating link so just copied web address here.)

I found this on someone else's blog and as I clicked on other links at NOAA.gov I realized how visions on our monitors can make something as deadly as a major hurricane into these abstract, almost pretty images. You can bring up other images in infrared, colors, etc. It was almost like playing (Hmmmmm, let's see what shortwave and vapor images look like).

Before the days of naming hurricanes, the ability to see them spawn and then track them and give coastal areas days of advance warning, just did not exist. The wind kicked up, grew in velocity and intensity and slammed into the land before anyone knew what hit him/her, leaving in its wake unspeakable destruction and death.

It is fascinating to experience looking at this phenomenon from a safe distance...just like when we look at other horrific sights on the nightly news from a safe distance. While I appreciate the ability to do this, at the same time I fear how "the tube" continues to desensitize us. After all......it's only something on TV, right?

Phantom in my bedroom (..or was I just dreaming?)

2005-08-16T18:42:00.000-04:00

4:30 a.m. and I slowly awaken to see what looks like a solarized, black/grey image of a man standing over my bedside looking at me. It looks like he is wearing glasses and I sense him moving closer to me..bending slightly towards me. When he seems to be too close for comfort I become alarmed and yell out my husband's name. "What is it?" he sleepily asks after my cry rouses him. Half awake myself I can barely talk through fear-constricted vocal chords. This image which first appeared so solid, began to slowly dissipate into our darkened bedroom. I told John I thought I saw my father (deceased since Dec.1971). I prayed a quick silent prayer
to G-d for protection from any evil entity and soon calmed down. The flashing of light from our bedroom television tells me John is up for good and unable to go back to sleep.

I drift off and dream a dream about dad. We are celebrating a happy event regarding
me....maybe a graduation or a promotion. I appear to look as I did in my mid-20's. Dad looks slim, trim and handsome as a movie star. He holds me by the shoulders and declares "This is really something to celebrate!....let's have some champagne." His enthusiasm is infectious and I am so happy to be with him. It is not like a dream I had a year or two ago in which he showed little interest about being in my company. I guess this morning's dream was some karma payback to me for the older dream.
I once told my sister about some past dream of dad and she said "You know when you dream about someone who died, it is like them asking you to pray for him/her". My faith in the bible does not teach that we can pray people out of a bad place and into a better place, so not too sure about that.

Later in the day I mused about the profound effect dads have on their daughters.
We long for them to dote on us, praise us, make us feel like princesses. My dad's been gone a long time. He died in his bed of a coronary at 55 years old. No time to say goodbyes....especially being he was in NYC and I was upstate 250 miles away. No chance to one day present his grandbabies to him to coo at or toss up in the air, drawing deep belly laughs from them. I miss mom and dad something terrible and hope we all meet up in a higher place one day.

I don't mind having dreams about dad whether they make me feel good or not.....but those phantom visitors I could do without.

Crickets in my underwear!.....

2005-07-23T23:20:00.002-04:00

Aha.....I knew that title would capture your attention. But there is some truth in it. To keep my bras from falling apart too soon from the washer/dryer, I air dry them by hanging them by the straps on the handles of the fold up doors that enclose the washer and dryer in our apartment.

After they were dried I took them off the handles and threw them on my bed. Later as I was dressing after a shower I saw a cricket sitting in a bra cup. I didn't have the heart to kill it, so got dressed (in different undies, of course) and took off for the day. Upon our return the cricket was gone....hope he doesn't chirp all night, keeping us up.

This reminds me of some Chinese superstition about a cricket in the house bringing good fortune. I only believe in the blessings of G-d, not dumb luck but couldn't help but think of this Chinese belief.

It sounds like something you might read in a fortune cookie...."May the crickets of happiness dwell richly in your undies".

P.S. In the cartoon, the newspaper reads "Crickets Invade Western U.S." and the husband is asking his wife "How do you know they're Mormon crickets?" (The crickets are wearing white shirts and black ties and carrying cricket-sized Bibles.)

Ship of Fools

2005-07-20T21:32:00.000-04:00

I love to reread this dream I wrote into a memory book. It occurred sometime in the 1980's. Because I committed my heart and life to Yeshua in June 1981, and am unsure of the exact date of the dream, I concluded this dream served either as an invitation into or an affirmation of that special spiritual relationship. I titled this dream "Ship of Fools"

I am standing on a pier at the shore of either an ocean, sea, large lake or gulf. It is raining. I look to the distance where a terrible storm is raging. The sky is almost ink black. From the distance a life boat-type vessel appears and draws near to the pier. There are about a dozen or so people wearing yellow rain slickers. I sense they want to talk to me. As the waves roll in, they lift the boat to my level as I stand on the pier....when the wave recedes, the boat drops lower.

I ask them where they are going? One of them points toward the heart of that inky black storm. They invite me to join them. I look out at the horrific storm and then into their perfectly calm faces. Their spunk and lack of fear amazes me and somehow causes my fears to decrease. I agree to go and on the next incoming wave, as the boat rises up toward the pier, I get in and we head out. The rain falls harder and in sheets; the waves pitch the boat high up onto a wave, over the top and down the other side. I am wearing my slicker and we are all standing in the boat, shoulder to shoulder....like one person. Whichever way the waves heave the boat, we lean the other way as a counterbalance. We are focused and fearless. STOP SCENE!

Now I am in a canoe very close to the shore on water as still and clear as glass. There are 2-3 others with me. The sun is low on the horizon (either sunrise or sunset). I lead my companions in a prayer of thanksgiving.

My interpretation: The boat of people are believers in Yahweh (G-d). They invite me to become one of them and face the perils the storm (the world) will assault us with. As one body, united in faith and purpose, we prevail and enter a safe harbor (the kingdom of Yahweh). Years later I stumbled upon a psalm that told a similar story. It is Psalm 107: 23-32

"They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters..these see the works of the Lord and his wonders in the deep. For he commands and raises the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths...their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits end. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people and praise him in the assembly of the elders." .....Amen

Feelin' No Pain

2005-07-08T23:01:00.000-04:00

"I'll have a Manhattan, straight up and very cold, please" I tell our waitress at the downtown Holiday Inn. We are celebrating my last day of work at the university and I'm having mixed feelings about it.

Rewind to two weeks ago when my boss advised me that the College of Arts and Sciences has been doing budget reviews looking for areas that could be cut from funding, and my position is one of them. "I'm so sorry" she laments. I pat her hand to comfort her in carrying out this difficult task. "These things happen" I say, hoping to lift her spirits. So where is the emotional conflict?

Rewind to two months ago in a counseling session (through Employee Assistance Program, EAP) over feelings that I am not performing up to the expectations of Liza and Ken, the two people I work with most closely. Almost every email from Liza is critical of something I did, forgot to do, should have done, should have known how to do, etc., etc. My self-esteem was being bludgeoned. I hadn't heard "good job" in months. I tell the counselor that I'm afraid of losing my job and how awful that would make me feel. The counselor digs around my psyche and unearths that I am depressed and probably have been most of my life. I was alarmed at how many symptoms I checked off a stress checklist e.g. paranoia, feeling sad, lack of joy, unable to sleep, suicide. Having such symptoms all the time indicate depression, the most alarming being my thoughts of suicide (going back to when I was 11). She urges me to see my doctor, which I do and start taking Lexapro (antidepressant). Amazingly I sense a diminishing of these symptoms. I was so used to feeling emotional extremes that the lessening of these feelings seemed a bit weird and took a little getting used to.

After revisiting my counselor with the news of my job, I opine that I find it difficult to escape the idea that the "budget cut" is a ruse and they want me to go, and are trying to be kind about it. I have heard nothing about cuts in the college so am suspicious. Although I was given a letter signed by our Dept. Head, I figured, yeah they'd go to that much trouble to convince me of what they were telling me. Shall I double my Lexapro dose?

People in the department that I shared this news with seemed surprised and said they heard nothing about it. Last week the people I work most closely with had a little ice cream social for me to say goodbye. More smoke and mirrors....I conclude. We had the social then as many this week were on vacation. It was a quiet and lonely week, except Liza was there. I tied up any loose ends at my desk and packed my personal possessions. It saddened me that because my job "being cut" was not widely known, I had no visitors come to say goodbye and wish me well. When Professor J. saw me packing my stuff he looked puzzled so told him the story to which he replied, "I knew nothing about it...I wonder why we weren't told". I say that it seems no email was sent out about it and it made me feel like a big zero...like as if I never worked here at all. A bit later, Prof.J's wife Jean visits him and shortly pops out to tell me the same about not knowing. She stays for awhile, bless her, and we continue chatting.

It's 4:30 p.m. and I head out to meet John and head downtown for dinner for the "all you can eat" fish fry. Back to the Manhattan...it tastes like fire water. When our waitress Jill checks back on how we are doing, I tell her about the drink and that I forgot to specify a certain brand of whiskey...."Could I have a new one and will it cost extra?" She says no problem and I give her my preferred brands. She returns with a freshly chilled glass and the shaker and pours it right at our table. It's perfect. I enjoy the drink and the food but like my Pre-Trip Crazies post, I again feel a surface calm but that something is terribly wrong under that serene surface.

I once told a different counselor that I wished sometimes I wouldn't feel pain so strongly. She replied, "Yes, but then you wouldn't feel the other side of extreme joy and happiness either". So it's either extreme emotions or no emotions? Well I still have emotions....just not in the extreme. After today I think deep down I'd like to have a good cry, but I've cried enough in my life, so with a little help from G-d and Lexapro I'll just move on while......feelin' no pain. But wait....as I close this post, I'm sensing a few tears welling up in my eyes.

A Prophet in Her Own Mind........

2005-06-30T02:42:00.003-04:00

I'm back in time...May 2001 to be exact; I'm remembering when me and friend Barbara D. met on the plaza in front of Cornell University's student union. We were both on a Christian mailing list and learned about an outreach that day, over the lunch hour.

It was a warm, sunny, beautiful day. Barbara and I find each other and we stand on the edge of the plaza to listen to the speakers. Many of the speakers were Asian students. One by one they approached the podium and microphone and gave testimonies of what the Lord has done for them since each came to faith.

"I think I'm going to go up to say something" I tell my companion. I was sensing a cynical mood in the crowds of students walking about, lounging on the lawns, etc. After the speaker leaves, I approach the podium and speak into the microphone. It went something like this:

"Good afternoon...my name is Tovah and I work here at the university. I am a Messianic Jew who believes in Yeshua (also known as Jesus). Yeshua is his REAL name in Hebrew. Thank you for listening to all the other speakers. I know many of you here will be graduating and moving out into the "real" world. You've worked long and hard and deserve your respective degrees. I wish you every good thing life has to offer, truly I do.

You may, however, find along life's path that some things which originally fulfilled you, seem less fulfilling at some point. You may feel that neither money, fame, marriage, career, etc has completed you. You'll sense an inner restlessness but don't know what it is or where it comes from. It is from your need to have G-d in your life. He created us so that we might fellowship with Him, involve Him in our everyday lives. One of the early church fathers (St. Augustine, I think) once said, "Our hearts are eternally restless O Lord, until they rest in you". There is a vacuum that G-d put within each one of us and when we finally realize our need for Him, we will invite Him into our lives to fill that vacuum.

Many of you may have found this event as something to partake of for the moment and don't think you will remember any of it later. I tell you now, when that restlessness hits you, causing you to ask "What's missing?", these words which I am speaking here today will come to your remembrance.

Thank you for listening and may G-d bless and keep you, now and always....Amen

Poolside Evangelism...(Wicca vs. Holy Spirit)

2005-06-28T01:36:00.000-04:00

What do you get when you put a teenaged Wiccan and a middle-aged Messianic Jew in a swimming pool? An interesting conversation.

After enduring 90-degree weather today, I get home to have dinner with my husband, wait awhile to digest, then head off to a community pool of which I am a member. I sign in, plop my stuff on a lawn chair and plunge myself into 9 feet of sheer turquoise bliss. It's really nice here. This is my fourth year as a member. I love reacquainting myself with the regulars I see every summer, taking note of the new babies and how much the kids from last summer have grown. It feels like one big family here.

I putter around in the pool and take a rest by hanging my arms onto the inner ledge in the deep end. Sitting on the top ledge, legs dangling in the water is teenager Sheila H. We greet each other and when she notices my Star of David asks, "Are you Jewish?" As I see her pendant that looks like a pentagram I answer "Yes", then ask "Are you a devil worshipper?" WOW! Did I just blurt that out? Actually I was thinking of asking her that when I first saw the pendant but decided not to reason too much about the effect of such a question (lest I talk myself out of it). I'm kind of sick of playing it safe all the time. How far would the gospel have gone if the apostles chose to stay in their individual "comfort zones?"

Sheila explains it is a Wiccan pendant, pointing out how the metalwork within forms a W, that it is a symbol for good and is an inverted pentagram (Phew!...I feel so much better now that she cleared that up). Short term memory loss causes me to forget how she introduced the word "magic" into the conversation. There is a pregnant pause in our chat and her two Wiccan friends are trying to re-engage her into a conversation they were having earlier. Eager to keep our dialogue going and latching onto the magic theme, I pipe up "You know, I have had some experiences which some might consider magical, like being prayed over for healing and receiving healing instantaneously (3 separate occasions). One minute there is pain....next minute, pain GONE!" Sheila is quiet as I continue and share with her about "speaking in tongues". Puzzled she asks, "Speaking in what?" "Speaking in tongues" I respond. She requests an explanation. I tell her "When a person is engaged in intense prayer and communion with G-d, he/she speaks in an unknown language" that most people don't understand. Sensing I've shared enough for today, I swim away leaving those thoughts with her.

Later I ponder possible fallout with Sheila's mom Wendy....imagining a possible confrontation....blabbing to the other pool members.....my being dragged before some sort of pool community tribunal.....being banished from the pool, etc.
S-C-R-E-E-E-E-E-E-C-H! WHOA! Time to put the brakes on. My imagination is running amuck and out of control. It's not difficult to feel this way, as this small city in central NY State is very liberal. Many people here raise political correctness and tolerance to the level of a religion. In my opinion it's paradoxical that with a community college, a 4-year college, and a major university you'd think there would be lots of lively exchanges of thought and opinion in a true marketplace of ideas, without taking an opposing opinion personally. That's how it used to be....but no more. The majority who are in lockstep with each other just like to hear each others' voices and dissenting voices/opinions will suffer their wrath....but back to evangelism

I gotta say, it felt good to be bold; playing it safe all the time gets old. Many people say the trouble with today's ambassadors for Messiah is that no one wants to kill them anymore. I've been praying to G-d for more boldness and that I would recognize opportunities to share my faith with others. I can't wait for further conversations with Sheila over the summer (and her Wiccan friends too).

Keep me in your prayers, and thank you...........Tovah

The Inner Conversation - #1

2005-06-22T13:30:00.001-04:00

Three years ago Pat Pritchard, a prophetess, came to our area. Women especially gravitated to her for her words of comfort and advice. About 20 of us had a house meeting (Fall '02) and she exhorted us to keep journals of what we sense G-d is telling us. I took this advice and made entries here and there over the ensuing years.

The Inner Conversation/Dialog each of us can have is nothing new. I am now at a chapter in Kempis' "Imitation of Christ" which does the very same thing. Its title is "Of the Inward Conversation of Christ with the Faithful Soul"

I'd like to share a few of my journal entries with you:

10/14/02 The Lord spoke and said, "I want you to die to self even more than you have so far. Run through the meadows of my love for you which will make daily living light and a joy. I will grant you favor in the eyes of all those in your life as you yield more and more of yourself, letting My light shine in and through you and out towards others.

I am pleased you desire this also, but want you to desire even more of it. Do not become self-satisfied....that will soon become a stagnant pool. You love Me, but not as you did in the early '80's when you walked so closely to me. We ran together, like children, in a field of daisies....remember?

Keep on hating evil in all its forms and flee from it. Do not stop to peek at or listen to it....shut it out completely.

10/15/02 Yeshua (Jesus) speaks: "We will run through the fields together once more, laughing. Your heart will again burn with love for Me, your Messiah Redeemer"

I speak: "Help me Yeshua to break through the words in my head that say I love You. Cause those words to come forth from my heart burning with that love.

Yeshua speaks: "Let the process begin with your drawing near to Me each morning. DO NOT begin your day without ME. I am more important than exercize, medication or coffee. Come sit at my feet and be still before ME and I will give to you all you need for that day.

Love your husband in special ways today. Draw close to him. Rub his feet, kiss his cheek, wait on his needs, smile, put on makeup; deck yourself as one going before a King. Do things to make him feel royal. Love him just as he is, as I love all people just as they are....therefore, do ye likewise."

Pedestrian Survival Skills in Rome (or When in Rome, Do as the Romans Do)

2005-06-21T02:47:00.000-04:00

How do you cross a street in Rome?.....assertively and decisively. This is what I learned from watching and copying experienced Roman pedestrians, while visiting Rome.

Roman drivers (cars/scooters) appear as though they would mow you down just as soon as look at you. They zip around the streets and each other in what appears to be a rather haphazard manner. You find yourself cringing as you watch them and can almost hear the sounds of collisions and breaking glass.

Unlike California, where all you have to do is be on the edge of a crosswalk looking down the road to bring drivers to a screeching halt....Italians will not interpret that in the same way. If you behave in this way you might as well wear an "I'm a tourist" sign around your neck.

Okay so now for "the method". The easiest way to learn is to cozy up to a gaggle of experienced Romans and when they cross the street, you go with them. I noticed that if there is a reasonable space between clusters of moving vehicles, you should STEP INTO THE CROSSWALK AND WALK ASSERTIVELY AND DECISIVELY. To your delighted surprise you will see the traffic tsunami slow down to give you time to finish crossing. I realize the term "reasonable space" is rather relative. One man's "reasonable space" is another's "do you think I'm suicidal?" All in all, trust me when I repeat that crossing streets with the natives is your best teacher. But pay attention to how they do it because you may later face a situation of crossing TOTALLY ON YOUR OWN!

Buona Fortuna!

Roman Holiday!

2005-06-20T14:20:00.000-04:00

Rome...the Eternal City! It is old and new at the same time and fast
paced. Having gone and returned I'd like to share some of our
experiences with y'all.

To start with, the 8 hour flight from JFK to Rome was pretty much
sleepless. We arrived at Fiumicino airport in Rome, got our luggage,
met up with Club ABC Tours and we were off to our hotel. On the way
we were invited by the tour guide to take the optional tour to
Imperial Rome, which we jumped at. After lunch at the hotel we
departed at 3 pm on the bus for the sights. The roads were busy with
little cars (Smart cars), scooters and bicycles. It was like a kind
of organized chaos. Everyone seemed to know what the other was doing,
but you had to wonder HOW? It was cool to see Roman businessmen in
suits and ties riding their scooters around the city. There were
statues and fountains at every turn and you found yourself snapping
pictures of everything. We had a 512 mb memory card in the digital
camera, so totally indulged our every shutterbug's whim.

The Forum was totally awesome. Transported back in time I envisioned
white-robed senators milling around on the walkways below us. Heading
towards the Colosseum we first passed by the home of Julius Caesar.
John is a big Caesar fan and his skin was red from pinching himself
because he couldn't believe he was really here. We arrived at a spot
where we could see the Colosseum across the street....big
disappointment that we couldn't go in as our tour guide kept us on
"his" schedule. We all took pix with the Colosseum behind us while
'Nando our guide shared some "factoids" about the Colosseum...one of
which was that Christians were never fed to the lions here..rather
they were used as slaves to build structures...huh? We went on to St.
Peter in Chains church which housed a glass box showcase containing
the very chains used to take St. Peter away to his death. If offered
a choice, would have preferred exploring the inside of the Colosseum.

Returning to the Grand Hotel Beverly Hills (near Villa Borghese) we
had dinner at a nearby place (Gaudi's). Here I practiced using my
Italian skills with the wait staff. For the rest of the trip I tried
to speak Italian whenever possible, much to Sara's embarrassment. I
think she didn't like that I frequently initiated conversations with
taxi drivers, waitresses, etc. I had been practicing my Italian
language skills for almost 18 months and was anxious to speak the
language, not waiting for others to speak to me first. Too bad
Sara......I was having fun and planned on continuing to do so.

It was hot in Italy.....even the Italians said the weather was
"abnormale". It was probably in the mid to high 80's and sunny every
day. Other things we saw/did in Rome were the Vatican, Vatican
museum, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, Trevi Fountain (of
course we each threw a coin in), Spanish Steps and the Piazza Navona.

Waiting in line to get into the Vatican I realized my Whisper
receiver device was not working. It's a small receiver you put around
your neck with an earphone so you can hear the tour guide. I ran
after the "Whisper" man and told him about it. While he fished a
working receiver out of his sack he noticed my Star of David and
asked if I was Jewish. I said yes...and he said he was Jewish too,
then added Shabbat Shalom (it was a Friday and at sunset the sabbath
would begin). I wished him the same and we parted. Deja vu occured
while buying souvenirs from two lady vendors in the Piazza Navona.
One of them saw my star pendant which triggered similar exchanges.

We took taxis everywhere to avoid the pickpockets on the bus. The
gypsies were at all the tourist sites. Most of them were women
carrying their babies in cloth type slings to elicit your sympathies.
They approach you and put their fingers to their lips to kiss them,
then extend their hands towards the tourists. Their faces bear an
almost frozen expression of supplication. I couldn't help but think
of a family of gypsies at home, going over the day's take with these
pained looks permanently etched on their faces, even though there
were no tourists around. I think that they are so adept at this, that it
takes over and becomes their "normal" facial expression. If someone said to me "The honest, hard-working gypsies must be upset over the negative stereotypes of them as a people" .....I would respond, "You mean they're BOTH upset over this?" I'm sorry if I sound unsympathetic but we were told many of them are pickpockets and would take the eyes out of your head if you let let them.

Friday evening, May 27th, Sara took us to eat at a gourmet
restaurant..La Pergola at the Hilton Cavalieri. This is her thank you
to us for taking her to Italy. We took a taxi across the Tiber and up
a winding hill. We were seated on the outside terrace with a view of
all of Rome at our feet....simply spectacular! Sara ordered a
sampling of gourmet foods with matching wines. One I remember was a
fried zucchini flower topped with a quail egg and caviar in the
center of the flower. One of the desserts was a collection of petit
fours housed in a small tower of silver drawers. Opening the drawers
one by one we discovered the pretty and tasty treasures within.

Taking a taxi home, the driver must have thought we were rich
Americans. The ride back seemed longer and cost more. He asked
questions like "Do you drive a Mercedes Benz?", etc.....hmmmmm maybe
he took a few lessons from the gypsies.
# posted by Tovah @ 11:20 AM 0 comments
Friday, June 03, 2005

Just a Dream.....

2005-06-04T02:13:00.000-04:00

Finally.....a moment of quiet solitude. I relished being totally enveloped in the cool, dimly lit Synagogue in Florence. It was a brief respite from the unrelenting Italian sun in late May 2005. This Jewish house of worship is a beautiful Moorish structure started in 1874 and finished in 1882. I read that the first stone set was one brought from Jerusalem.

Our dream of visiting Italy finally coming true, John and I were on a tour with our recently graduated daughter Sara. We took in the major tourist sites because we wanted to see these great works of art and architecture so that on later trips we would just relax and live La Dolce Vita. The pace of Rome was frenetic, Florence less so and Venice the most relaxed.

Because I lacked a Jewish upbringing, I unwittingly entered through the lower level doors(men's section) of the synagogue and took in all the beautiful things before me. I looked at the rows of dark wooden seats (women went to the balcony). A brass nametag was screwed onto the top bar of one of the seats. The name was that of an Italian Jew who perhaps was one of the first congregants. I drank in the mosaics and frescoes, the beautifully fashioned wrought iron balcony, the cupola, bema, etc. Donning my new straw hat I took a moment and closed my eyes, turned the palms of my hands upward and recited the Sh'ma in Hebrew.

This was the first site we visited where there were no lines, no waiting. I reflected upon the difficulties we experienced in navigating through the throngs of tourists at the Vatican Museum, Sistene Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Earlier that day we visited the Accademia to behold the wondrous statue of David and waited in line for about an hour just to get in. We moved on to the Duomo and St John's Baptistry and took digital pictures of their stunningly beautiful and detailed facades. Admission to the interior was free, but the line was very long, so we moved on.

I looked at all the beauty within that synagogue...the beauty of its artistry and its longheld traditions.....traditions that held my people together throughout the centuries, no matter where the fates had tossed them. In spite of all the physical beauty within these walls, the greatest beauty of all was missing....the beauty of our Messiah whom my people rejected. I prayed to G-d that the eyes of my brethren would be opened to clearly see that Yahshua IS the Messiah of ALL. I prayed for an end to the belief that He is the Gentile Messiah and to realize it was the work of others, who had no love for His Hebraic roots, that made Him to appear so. I reflected on how legions of tourists flocked to the Christian sites, but precious few seemed interested in visiting the houses of worship of the faith (Judaism) which gave birth to their own faith. A mantle of heaviness rested upon me.

I lifted up another prayer that Christians everywhere would have a desire to learn more about the Hebraic roots of their faith; that a day would come when the synagogue of Florence would have hordes of Christians outside their doors wanting to come in and behold the wonders of a Jewish house of worship and think to themselves, "This is like how Jesus worshipped on the Sabbath" and rejoice in that knowledge.

Right now such thoughts seem like just a dream.....but the scriptures tell us with faith all things are possible.......Amen

Angel in a Tow-Away Zone

2005-05-23T19:09:00.001-04:00

Now don't heave a sigh and say "Again?....." I can't help it. When good things come my way, seemingly out of the blue, I must shout it from the rooftops.

After spending some time attending to packing for a trip to Italy this Wed., I had to go downtown for a doctor appointment. After the appointment, my mind rifles through my mental checklist and I am off to a store that is on the way home. I'm happily tooling along when I hear the dreaded fwumpf fwumpf noise that a flat tire makes while you drive.

I pull over to a metered space and my brain begins sorting options: 1. Try to get in touch with John at work 2. Leave car there and get bus directly to my job, arrive early and earn a parking ticket 3. Drive car to a meter-less area 4. Call the towtruck and have them change my tire for a hefty fee (the towtruck driver wears a mask and packs a Glock). I opt for #3 but after starting out, begin to worry about riding on the rim before I even get to this area. I pull into a reserved parking lot behind the Mental Health Services building. After parking, I see it is a tow-away zone. Duh! it would have been better to get a ticket than get towed away. But, as usual, my seeming error was part of a Master plan.

I go inside to advise someone of my predicament and beseech them to not have me towed away. A nice lady said she would advise someone upstairs, but to please try to get the tire changed ASAP.....and here I had the insane idea they might let me stay there all day. I lamented to her that although I knew the process to change a tire, had not ever done so (as far as I could remember), and it was high time I just started taking care of things myself.

With a newly found resolve coursing through my being I get the tire, jack and lug nut wrench out of the trunk. I put the jack somewhere under the frame and jacked it up slightly; then I tried in vain to remove the hubcap. Suddenly a tall slender man with grey hair and a young face appears and offers to help. I think he said something about how someone inside asked him to see if he could help me (they probably knew I'd be there for hours). As my resolve caves, I hand him the tools. He corrects my ill-placed jack, shows me how to put the tire iron between the rim and the hubcap (not behind the rim as I was doing; would have been there all day), and how stepping on a lug nut wrench (after affixed to the lug nut) will save my back from injury and knuckles from being scraped. He continues to instruct me as he performs and completes the task. It was like a video of NPR's "Car Talk".

Now a virtual font of tire-changing knowledge, I thank him profusely and we go our separate ways. Twenty minutes earlier I imagined all sorts of endings to this tale, but not the one I ended up with. As I puttered off to my final errand, I thanked G-d for always being Yahweh Yireh, the G-d who Sees (our needs and meets them).

Coincidence you say? I think not.....rather it was a Divine Appointment.

Amazing Grace

2005-05-18T02:40:00.000-04:00

Today I was reminded just how "Amazing" the grace of G-d is. Spending a busy weekend in Las Vegas took a toll on my devotional life. Although I found a Gideon Bible in our room and read some of it, it was nowhere like my morning time alone with the Lord. During this time I read the Bible, pray and quiet my thoughts so that I might hear His voice.

Today I went to the gym for a morning workout. Before leaving I drank some coffee and did some things on my PC. What I didn't do before going or after I returned was to spend that much needed quality time with the Lord. These "spiritual appointments" are solely for my benefit, not His. I know He loves me and wants to hear from me, but there is nothing He "needs" from me. I am the one who always walks away the richer for having communed with Him for an hour.

Nonetheless, He is my Father and I am His child. A father always looks out for the welfare of his children. If an earthly father does this, how much more so does our Heavenly Father. Sometimes we don't see the movement of His hand until the work He does is completed.

When it was time for me to leave for work, I dashed out with my purse and waterbottle but forgot my lunch and my CAR AND HOUSE KEYS. I usually check that I have everything I need before pulling the door closed. It was only after I heard the "click" of the lock engaging did I realize my error. In denial, I search purse and pockets in vain.

I spot my Christian neighbor who just came outdoors with her son. I share my tale of woe with her and we go inside so I can call my landlord at work. He isn't in. She advises me there is a bus that will come by at 12:28. My work day starts at 12:30 so that would make me 30 minutes late. I lament not only having left my keys but also my lunch. In Christ-like fashion she offers me two bananas to help me get through the day. While we were talking, her 4 year old drank from and emptied my water bottle. I've been dehydrated since giving blood last Thursday (followed by three days in a desert climate), so always carry water for when my mouth dries out. She graciously refills my bottle. I thank her and head up to our landlord's apartment (over ours) to see if their daughter is home from college. No one was home. It's now noon. I decide to take a slow walk up the street and around the corner to get to the bus stop.

As I approach the street I see a truck pass and go down to the neighbors who live across the street from us. I keep walking and turn to see who they might be as don't remember Fred and Joanna having a truck. Now all this time I can't remember if I even raised up a short and simple "Lord help me". But my Father saw my dilemma and already had it all figured out.

As I looked down the street I fixed my gaze on that truck in Fred's driveway and as if by magic, saw the backup lights go on. A glimmer of hope budded within me. The street is a dead end, so anyone backing out of his driveway is heading to the top of the street. The truck swings around to head in my direction. I am still not sure who is in the truck and wait until they get closer. It's FRED AND JOANNA! I jokingly stick out my thumb and they stop, pick me up and drive me to my building.

Not only am I not late, but I show up 25 minutes early and can leisurely eat my banana lunch. Free food and a ride to work....without my even asking Him for either one. How good He is.....Thank you Abba (aramaic for daddy) for your faithfulness to me. I barely spoke a word to you all morning, yet when I found myself in a difficult situation, you delivered me from my troubles. None of us deserve your love, but you love us nonetheless. Your grace is truly "Amazing".

Pre-trip Crazies!

2005-05-12T02:54:00.000-04:00

Taking a trip always evokes love-hate feelings in me. I love to get away, especially to an exciting destination, but the concerns over getting all the important things packed and making up endless to-do lists gets to me. On Friday 5/13 we fly to Las Vegas to attend our daughter Sara's graduation at UNLV and go apartment hunting. Yes, we are planning to move there and trade our snow shovels for year-round outdoor furniture.

Since being on an antidepressant since mid-March, symptoms of general anxiety disorder, sleeplessness, etc. are all but gone. I've got all these things about the trip on my mind and although I don't FEEL anxious, somehow I know I am. It's a bit like being a mirror-surfaced lake with the Loch Ness Monster slithering around under the surface. It's like I want to shout, "Hey! just because I don't look anxious doesn't mean I'm not.....there's anxiety in there somewhere, it's just not rearing its ugly head. When it comes to trips, I am anxiety personified, dammit!"

But really, all joking aside, it should be a great time. My sister, brother-in-law, nephew and his wife, my son and his fiance and older daughter and her fiance, and grandson Dakota are all coming to Vegas for Sara's big day and some fun in the sun. We are having a pre-graduation party Friday night at Sara's house (she bought it when she was 23 - smart cookie that one is). Family members are arriving and leaving at different times, but everyone will be in town for the party.

Well it's late and need to sleep. Tomorrow is final prep date for the trip (insert Primal Scream here). Will tell y'all how it went when I get back.

Chain me to a Treadmill - Part II

2005-05-10T14:06:00.000-04:00

It's 4 p.m. Friday, May 6th and we're on our way to Rochester for a weekend of celebrations. After the huge lunch I had, I feel myself slipping into a food coma. John drives while I doze in and out of consciousness. It's a 2-hour drive. We arrive at Serena's and await her fiance. Mike finally arrives and after a round of phone calls, we head out to dinner at Benucci's to rendezvous with their friends, Rick and Susan. While waiting for a table we sip wine at the bar. I follow Serena's cue and order the "toasthead" (I think) chardonnay. I like it better than the Kendall Jackson I had for lunch.

Finally we get to a table. I go light and order a small Benucci salad and a bowl of chicken orzo soup. The soup was a nice chicken broth with bits of chicken, translucent onions and pine nuts. Everyone else got a regular entree, but I didn't care. Susan, Serena and I talk about pregnancy issues (Susan is pregnant). Susan is dealing with constipation issues due to vitamins with iron. In my infinite wisdom I strongly advocate lots of roughage. I share with her how cooked lentils eaten at least 3 times a week will really set her free. She is grateful for this information.

More talk about labour, mucous plugs, etc. The men at the table recoil in horror. John tells me he thinks the people behind us can hear what we are saying and they
are probably losing their appetites. Dinner ends and we head back to the house.

Next morning, John and I arise early (very easy when sleeping on an air mattress on the floor). We head out to Rochester's Public Market on Union Street to get the greatly desired Polish kielbasa, italian sausage and breakfast sausage. John loves this stuff. We spend $35 on the aromatic meats. I pick up a little potted flower to give to Serena for Mother's Day. I look around for the evangelists I saw on my last visit here, but no sign of them. Maybe they showed up later that day. We go home and have cinnamon raisin french toast. OK...not a bad breakfast.

It's Cody's birthday and we shower him with the play toys we bought for him. He likes everything we got for him.

Around lunch time we get Chinese take out. I get a lunch special of Chicken with cashews. It is a good-sized portion. Do I restrain myself from eating the WHOLE THING? No, of course not.

After Mike and Cody come back from getting haircuts, we head down to some stores in Henrietta. Serena wants to buy Cody some new duds to wear to Vegas the following weekend. We are all heading there for our daughter Sara's graduation.

After shopping, Serena suggests an early dinner at Dinosaur barbecue as there is a WWE (wrestling) event right across from the restaurant at the Blue Cross/Blue Shield arena. We agree and head up to Dinosaur. After a 30 min. wait and a few drinks (I had that Killian's Red after all....oh the shame of it) we get seated. I order 1/2 a barbecued chicken, cajun corn and tomato/cucumber salad. It was great! We head back to Serena and Mike's and dive into Cody's chocolate birthday cake.

Sunday, May 8th and it's Mother's Day. We have brunch reservations at Brio, a fairly new Italian restaurant in the Pittsford Plaza. We are joined by Mike's mom Jackie and brother Jake. I fill my plate with salad, chicken (again!) with a veggie salsa, asparagus, eggplant rollups, bread with brie cheese and preserves, mini cheesecake square. We all had a few rounds of free mimosas.

I realize except for breakfast we didn't have one home cooked meal all weekend. I muse over all the food I consumed and wonder what our bathroom scale will tell me when we finally get back to our apartment.

This morning I weighed in 3 lbs. heaver than I was on Friday morning, so off to the gym I went and put in a good workout. I named this post "Chain me to a Treadmill". Truth is I never use treadmills. I used this word as a metaphor to mean an exercise machine. I usually use a recumbent bike for calorie burning and cardio exercise. But would anyone really choose the title "Chain me to a Recumbent Bike"?
N-a-a-a-a-h-h-h-h

Chain me to a Treadmill - Part I

2005-05-06T18:55:00.000-04:00

I can't believe how much food I'll be eating this weekend!

Already started today with an Office Professionals luncheon with co-workers and the departmant chairperson at a lakeside restaurant this afternoon. We all enjoyed appetizers of spinach-artichoke dip and sizzling potatoe chips with a bleu cheese sauce drizzled on them. I ordered a Chardonnay to drink. My entree was grilled salmon with a Stoli-cranberry sauce (it was wonderful) served with rice and steamed veggies. I could have gotten a sandwich but with someone else paying for it...not a chance. Later computer techie Jeremy and I shared a totally sinful wedge of chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream and a bit of whipped cream, washed down with some coffee.

Remember now.....it's only Friday.

At 4 p.m. I will leave work as my husband awaits me in our "packed-for-the-weekend" car and off we go to Rochester to visit our daughter, her fiance and our grandson Dakota. Tomorrow is Cody's birthday and for lunch we will all go to Dinosaur Barbecue on/near Exchange Street. I will probably have their barbecued prime rib sandwich with gingered green beans. Maybe I can salvage the situation by drinking an iced tea instead of Killian's Red....we'll see.

Last but not least, will be the killer Mother's Day Brunch on Sunday at a place called Brio. Will report on that adventure after it happens. Yikes!....it's already 3:55....gotta go....later

No Respect!

2005-05-04T01:40:00.001-04:00

If you read the description of this blog, you saw that I described myself as a Messianic Jew.
Whenever I tell someone this, in my mind I see quizzical facial expressions, or a large ? blinking on and off on the forehead of the befuddled person. Ninety percent of the time, that's what happens.

To elucidate, a Messianic Jew is a Jew who follows a Messiah who has already come. You could
say that all Jews that believe in the Messiah (whether he has come or not) are Messianic Jews, but most Jews do not identify themselves in this way because there is a spectrum of beliefs as to: 1) Is there a Messiah? 2) Is the Messiah a physical person? 3) Is it a Messianic era that we are waiting for rather than a man? Messianic Jews today believe that Yeshua (aka Jesus) is the Messiah as prophesied in the Hebrew scriptures.

In my opinion, Messianic Judaism is like the Rodney Dangerfield of all religions....We don't get no respect! Because we do not exclusively call ourselves Jews nor Christians creates an unsettling effect on those two groups and many others. People like to put labels on you so they know what pigeonhole to put you in. It makes them feel safe and comfortable. To proclaim yourself as a Messianic Jew is akin to trying to put a square peg in a round hole.

We've heard all the usual arguments....."If you believe in Jesus, then aren't you a Christian?" We reply, "No, because we identify with the very first believers who were Jews". We observe the biblical Sabbath and the moedim (appointed times, feasts).....Christians do not. We take our cues from the Jewish believers of 2000 years ago who remained true to their Jewish roots and also accepted Yeshua as the promised Messiah. We are not deterred from this faith position by the opinions and lack of acceptance of others. Therefore, we say to our detractors "Get Over It - We're Here to Stay".

In some future post I will vent my thoughts and feelings on the anti-Torah sentiments that run deep and rampant in the Christian church.

I have a dream...........I dream of a future day when the mistrust and negative feelings towards us will be relegated to a museum exhibit. I can see it all now.....behind the exhibit's glass will stand figures of Messianic Jews, huddled together in the center holding up their Bibles so as to form a collective shield. A group of Jews at one far side and Christians on the other are frowning at them and throwing an array of objects on/towards them. Those looking at the exhibit will say.....remember when it used to be like that for the Messianic Jews....thank G-d it's no longer that way.

May that day come soon..............Amen

Voices in the Wilderness

2005-04-26T21:59:00.002-04:00

I am always amazed at the different ways G-d speaks to us. He speaks and what He says can totally floor me.

On Saturday, 4/16 I was in Rochester with my husband visiting our daughter, her fiance and our grandson. After breakfast we went to the Public Market to buy some fresh food. It is a large outdoor market with tent-like roofs to shield the shoppers from the sun.

As we milled our way over to one end of the market I saw a short, young man calling out to people about G-d and handing out tracts. His voice sounded a bit weak. In my human flesh I wondered why someone who spoke more forcefully wasn’t doing the Lord’s work. I figured he was a shy guy or maybe this was his first time doing this. Upon coming closer I saw that his left cheek looked like the bottom of a gumsole shoe (sort of bumpy/nubbly). He had stitches along a cut on the other cheek, and then I wondered that perhaps his meek manner was because he was conflicted between wanting to get out the gospel, yet not draw too much attention to himself. I took a tract and later placed it on a vendor’s table for someone to find.

We visited more vendor stalls, then doubled back to go and get some fresh bread.
Once again we drew near to the humble evangelist. My back was hurting and I told the others I was going to sit on a bench and wait for them. I made myself comfortable and watched the passing parade of shoppers. To my left was a fiddle player with his open case serving as a collection plate. He played well and I threw some quarters into the case. Then I honed in on the meek young man, beseeching the passers-by to “come to Jesus”…..”turn away from your sins” …..”be washed in His blood and make your garments white”. There was a sweet entreating tone in his voice. I sat and sat. I sat there, closed my eyes and listened to the man on my left, working to get his earthly needs met and I listened to the man on my right, making supplication to the people regarding their spiritual needs….needs they neither knew about or ignored. It was a spiritually poignant moment......... a moment where heaven and earth had come together on that picnic bench.

I realized my fleshly expectations of an evangelist were seriously skewed and misplaced. I thought of how afflicted he looked and remembered that’s how Yeshua looked after being pummeled by the Roman soldiers. The scriptures tell us how people recoiled at the sight of Him. I thought of how this young man shared in Yeshua’s gentleness and meekness and how he too implored people to repent and come to G-d. As Yeshua cared for the eternal destiny of His people, so did this young man care for the shoppers in the market. I later shared this story with my friend, Zehna ….I told her it was like this young man was totally infused with the spirit of Yeshua… and as I said this, I felt the Holy Spirit come upon me.

As he labored in this harvest field of souls, I prayed for him and asked G-d to bless him and encourage him. I felt impressed by the Lord to go and tell him of my prayers. I got up and approached him. I looked into his large, soft green eyes and told him I had been praying for him, that I wanted to encourage him and that his reward in heaven was great. His face lit up and he thanked me and asked if I was born again. I said yes and shared a bit of my spiritual biography with him. Then I heard my long-lost family beckoning and bid him a fond farewell. I continued praying for him throughout the day.

His was a voice in a wilderness of mostly indifferent people; people who had no time nor cared to engage in a dialogue about things affecting their eternal destiny. I pray more and more voices will join with his, and as in the early days of the faith, our collective voices will “turn the world upside down”.