HalleluYAH...is Praise to Our Creator's Name

...When you say, "HalleluYah,"  you are actually saying, "Praise Yah."  You are  praising His name.  In the Bible, HalleluYah  is an exclamation of joy and gratitude and has survived the passage of centuries, transcending the barriers of language and culture. What exactly does it mean? According to the Talmud, HalleluYah is the most sublime expression of God’s praise, combining together in one word both praise (hallel) and God’s Name (the two-letter, YH, Name ‘Ya-H’). 


Strong's definition for, "Hallel"

H1984
הלל
hâlal
haw-lal'
A primitive root; to be clear (originally of sound, but usually of color); to shine; hence to make a show; to boast; and thus to be (clamorously) foolish; to rave; causatively to celebrate; also to stultify: - (make) boast (self), celebrate, commend, (deal, make), fool (-ish, -ly), glory, give [light], be (make, feign self) mad (against), give in marriage, [sing, be worthy of] praise, rage, renowned, shine.


Strong's definition for Yah

H3050
יהּ
yâhh
yaw
Contracted for H3068, and meaning the same; Yah, the sacred name: - Yah, the Lord, most vehement. Cp. names in “-iah,” “-yah.”


Here's some info. I found about the word, "HalleluYah" 
(commonly written as Hallelujah)
Hallelujah, Halleluyah and the Latin form Alleluia are transliterations of the Hebrew word הללויה (Standard Halleluya, Tiberian Halləlûyāh) meaning "PraiseYah" (from the first two letters of the name of God, YHWH, written JHVH in Latin). Hallelujah is found primarily in the book of Psalms. The word is used inJudaism as part of the Hallel prayers, and in Christian prayer. It has been accepted into the English language and has a similar pronunciation in many other languages.
(I have heard that where ever you go, HalleluYah is pronounced just the same way as every where else.  Abba's name preserved throughout the ages.)


The second part, Yah, is a shortened form of YHWH, the name for the Creator.^[3] This name is not pronounced by Jews, as they are not permitted to speak the name of God, and in any case the correct pronunciation is not known. However, it is sometimes rendered by Christians as "Yahweh" or "Jehovah".
Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallelujah

Psa 104:35  Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless you YHWH, O my soul. Praise Yah (HalleluYah).

. Psa 111:1  PraiseYah (HalleluYah). I will praise YHWH with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation. 

Psa 117:1  O praise Yah (HalleluYah), all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. 

Psa 117:2  For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the YHWH endureth for ever. Praise Yah (HalleluYah). 

Rev 19:1  And after this I heard a loud voice of a great crowd in the heaven, saying, “alleluyah! Deliverance and esteem and respect and power to יהוה our Elohim! 


Be blessed and have a wonderful Shabbat:)

To My Cinderella(s) and their Daddy

This is such a sweet song about a Daddy and his little girl and it calls to mind just how fast time goes by.  This song apparently came out in 2008 but I don't remember ever hearing it before.  It just made me think of B and her Daddy because she loves Cinderella and everything "Princess" and Corey just loves everything about his princesses!  He spends so much time showing her he loves her.

This is for our little princesses and their daddy.

Cherish the moments.

I heard this song when I was driving around a parking lot on a Sunday trying to find a parking spot.   I had tears running down my face and I was crying all over...while I was driving around in the parking lot!  I just can't help it.  When it comes to my peeps, I just get all squishy.  They're so awesome:)

In a world that is so driven and self centered, there is still something intended to be special about a little girl and her daddy's love.


Pro 17:6  Children’s children are the crown of old men, And the adornment of children is their fathers.

Love you 4ever, Mom

Elohim...try me and know my THOUGHTS. A Refiner's Story

Psa 139:23-24  Search me, O Ěl, and know my heart; Try me, and know my thoughts; 

  And see if an idolatrous way is in me, And lead me in the way everlasting. 

I am still pondering the effect of thoughts on our lives and our walk with Abba.  I am still praying about the thoughts that creep in from time to time.  Today as I was talking with Abba, this scripture (noted above) was open in my bible and as I was praying I looked on it (I hadn't read the passage  yet) and read it and I considered it.  I began to just be so amazed at how Abba's great mercies are toward us as I thought about what the verse was saying...David is asking Abba to search his heart and to know his thoughts, which Abba certainly does know, and then David asks Abba to try him.  I thought about that a bit...David asks Abba to try him.  If we consider ourselves as silver or gold, then we know we must be tried or refined in order that all impurites (idolatry, wickedness, anything placed above Abba's truths) are purged from us so that we are pure and come forth as pure gold so that we then are  in the way of everlasting life.  

The sages refer to the years of the wilderness wanderings as “the iron crucible”.  A metaphor of the vessel silversmiths use to refine silver. 

 See Malachi 3:3 Elohim will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver and He will purify His people.  

THE WORK OF A REFINER

When learning about how a silversmith does his work he explains that he has to hold the silver where the flame is the hottest in order to burn away all impurities.  The silversmith was asked, “do you have to sit there the whole time with the silver?”  He replied, “Not only do I have to stay with it the entire time but I must keep a careful eye on it, because if the silver is left in the flame a moment too long it will be destroyed.”

The next question asked of him:  “how do you know when the silver is fully refined?”  “That’s easy, he replied.  “When I see my image in it.”

When we learn of this process of refining, we can see the meaning behind the metaphor more clearly.  Abba holds His people in the hottest part of the fire in order to purify them but in the process He does not leave us or allow us to be destroyed.  And the purification will be complete only when God see’s His image in us.

Such an amazing picture of the work He is doing in us, isn’t it?

I am so amazed that Abba considers my path, He knows the way that I go and He cares to hear me when I call on Him and He brings light to my path that He leads me on.  

Who am I that you would consider me...I am yours.

Thank you Abba for the way you have prepared for your people, may you have mercy on us as you try our hearts!  

Amein

Power of Our Thoughts...

Thoughts
My thoughts and how I perceive situations has really been on my heart lately.  I have been praying lately and asking Abba to help me really change the way I think.  I think what I mean by that is that I desire Him to help me have thoughts that are bound in His truth and not lies that the old evil one desires for me to take hold of and be defeated by.  Our thoughts have so much power over the health of our bodies.  I have come to understand that satan (I don't even like to utter that "s" word:} desires to wound us and ultimately destroy us and he often attacks us at our first line of defense which is our thoughts.  While in the midst of pondering my path recently, Abba has revealed more insight to an avenue that has set me off my path at times, that avenue is my very own thoughts!  When I allow wrong thinking into my mind and let it take hold, it steals my rest and my peace and causes me to forget the forgiveness that Abba has told me is mine.  I first began to understand some of these things a couple of years ago after my grandma passed away and before that it was an issue when my oldest son turned 18 and moved away from home, although at that time I really had no idea that there was hope for it or even what "it" was that was taking place in me and causing so much sadness.  It was during these times of difficulty especially that I was focusing on every short coming I ever had.  Thoughts about my own selfishness, foolishness, fears, etc., just plain regret for all the things I wasn't, all the things I didn't do, things I had done and all the things I can't take back, or give back now.

Recently I have been talking to my Abba (who is so amazing and wonderful) about this topic again because it still creeps in to me at times.  He knows my weaknesses and desires to show me His compassion.  You know how at times He just opens things up to you?  Well after my grandma died I was so overtaken with regrets and broken heartedness but in the midst of that I had no where to go but to Him and Abba showed me what His true rest meant and how it applies to us...I began to understand that true rest (for this problem) was being willing to walk in what He says is true and not what I think or feel is true, no matter how HARD I think it, it doesn't make it true!  In an hour of deep remorse and regret, He gave me His amazing forgiveness and showed me that it was actually sin to NOT accept it, believe in it and rest in it and I was NOT to pick up the thoughts and feelings of regret anymore!  That was an amazing revelation!!

Well, I'd like to tell you that now that Abba has taught me this amazing truth I no longer look back in regret, I no longer think negative thoughts, I am healed of wrong thinking!  No.  However, Abba is speaking to my heart.  He desires to restore a right spirit within me for all time, for everyday, for every situation.  He knows that satan comes to steal and Abba has a "way" to defeat satan and Abba desires to write that "way" upon my heart.

The other day as I was considering how I occasionally still think about things and I was asking Abba to help me, He brought another thought to my mind and it was this:  Why so often when I look back on memories or sometimes photos, etc. do I have such a sense of regret and sadness instead of thoughts of happiness?  I couldn't answer the question.  I don't know.  But, I continued on in my quest to renew my thoughts with Abba's WORD, thinking in scripture, not letting thoughts of negativity take root.  Then today, I sat down at my computer with every intent to put all of my collected Passover materials into more "organized" organization...(that makes me laugh a little) but one thing led to another and I ended up on a blog that I have only been to maybe once before, a blog called "She Looketh Well...".  What she wrote about in her last entry was EXACTLY what Abba had just spoken to me, only she wrote it in a way that was so clear to me!  I had never heard anyone say that they had the same thing happen to them...never!  It was wonderful to read what she had written.  She had two posts that related to this, the first one was:
 Freedom is Sweet and the next one was: Guilt and Shame
It was so amazing to see that everything Abba has been teaching me on this matter was being confirmed in someone else and He even brought more clearly to light so that I could receive it.

The WORD of Abba speaks about bringing all thoughts captive:
 2Co 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Messiah;

And I believe it is for this purpose:

Pro 17:22  A rejoicing heart causes good healing, But a stricken spirit dries the bones. (the Scriptures)

Pro 17:22  A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. (KJV)

Abba created us and He knows quite well that all areas of our lives in which we allow satan to take hold of, he will use it to wound us and ultimately destroy us if possible.  But Abba has given us a "way" that leads not unto death!

What an amazing Father we have.  His mercies are new to me every day.  I am always so amazed that He considers me in my need and weaknesses!

1Ch 17:16-20  And David the king came and sat before YHWH, and said, Who am I, O YHWH God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto? 

  And yet this was a small thing in thine eyes, O God; for thou hast also spoken of thy servant's house for a great while to come, and hast regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree, O YHWH God. 

  What can David speak more to thee for the honour of thy servant? for thou knowest thy servant. 

  O YHWH, for thy servant's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all this greatness, in making known all these great things. 

  O YHWH, there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 

This afternoon at our study, we listened to Brad Scott and he just happened (just happened?  Not really, no such thing as coincidence) to mention that we should NEVER look back in regret because where we have come from is ultimately what has brought us to where we are today...and (this is me speaking now) if that place is closer to Abba then that is His perfect plan in action.  Only Abba has the power to turn darkness into light...satan only "appears" to be light, Abba is the true light!

I pray that I can allow myself, mind and body, to be a sacrifice by allowing Abba to be what He says He is in me.

I want to add one last thought...when men of the scriptures prayed to Abba and when Yahushuah was faced by satan who tried to get Him to stray from Abba's WORD, they either prayed Abba's WORD or spoke it.  Why?  Because the power over death and hell is in Abba's WORD.  His WORD alone spoke life into existence "In The Beginning", His WORD alone reins over death!

Blessings

My Family Planner(s)

I have really had it on my heart lately to get all the information that I rely on reorganized neatly and placed where everyone can find it in the event of emergency (or just in case the lights go out).  I want everything to be handy so if there is any kind of rush or panic, we will all know just where to go to find needed information.  


I keep binders for all of the things I want to access quickly.  I have 7 of them currently (don't laugh).  I keep my binders (mostly) separate from each other because it keeps them light weight and just makes things more specific.  I am a note keeping, list making fool so keeping binders is just a must for someone like me:)


My binders are not really decorative at this point but they are at least practical...I can only hope for decorative sometime in the near future, but at least they're handy (smile).

Here are my 7 binders.  

*2 Binders are my biblical studies.

*1 binder is budget.

*1 binder is natural health and remedies.

*1 binder is pantry stuff and I keep my to do list in that one also because the two can fit together.

*2 binders are for recipes I use frequently (some my fav's).

I keep my binders on a shelf so I like to tag the outside for quick access.

On the inside I personally like these really handy pocket dividers.  They allow me to keep things I want handy in the pockets and it shows me what is in this section easily.

Then, for the pages in between, I like to keep things in page protectors, especially in my cook book binders.  They do just what they say they will do...protect the page, you gotta love it!

Now for what I like to keep in my binders

In my biblical studies binders, I have them sectioned according to the study that I am doing.

Covenants

 (the subject most near and dear to my heart).

Sabbath

Ark of Testimony

Passover/Feasts

The Rod

Yoke

Etc.

The Budget binder

My budget

I keep my bills in the binder in the pockets.

Note as to when things are due

insurance info.

license info.

Etc.

Natural healing binder

*What herbs to use for what illness

*Dosage

*Safety info. (if safe for kids, pregnant, elderly, etc.)

*Essential oil info.

How to use them and what to use them for.

*Dosage

*How to make salves with herbs and oils.

*How to make lotions, shampoo.

*Toddies

etc.

Pantry notes/ Things to do

In my pantry notes I keep general but helpful information.

All things Food related)

•What’s in the freezer

•Freshness dates/Codes

•Grocery list

•Clean 16

•Dirty Dozen

•What’s in Season

•Health Food Notes

•Local Producers

And under things to do...I just keep track of things that I might like to do in the future especially regarding food and food production, like what kinds of chickens I'd like to have and I would like to keep garden notes as well...but maybe that's binder #8...Hmmm?

Cook Book Binders

I'd like to say that I just keep my most favorite, tried and true recipes in these...that's how they started out.  But, I have added things that I want to cook in them also.  As I have been (trying) to teach myself how to cook from scratch for a while now, I have added things that I just haven't tried to do yet but want to...sometime or at least will have the info. handy when I need to do it.

Well, there's a little insight to my madness...Oh, I forgot...I also wanted to mention that inside my medicine cabinet door I am also hanging lists of important info that you use more frequently:

*Fever info. and how to treat (or not treat it)

*Quick remedies for common problems

*Dosages for tinctures

Coming soon...

*Burn and wound treatment info.

*Essential oil info.

(I told you I'm a list making fool:)

Blessings

Our Pesach (Passover) 2011 (with recipes)

With great joy, the season of Passover has again come upon us and in it, we remember, give thanks and celebrate the gift of provision our Heavenly Father has made by His plan of Salvation, Yahushuah our Messiah.

Passover is such a blessed time for me.  It is a time when my family comes together to consider the plan that Abba has laid from the beginning of time, to redeem His chosen ones, those who will honor Him and His WORD.  It's a time to be thankful for the ultimate sacrifice of an innocent life which in turn, brings life to me...THAT is true GRACE!  Abba offers me a gift of redemption, before I even knew He existed and I had done (and cannot do)  nothing that is deserving of it!  Amazing!!  I am so thankful that Abba has spoken to the hearts of my children to want to hear what He says and honor it...
3Jn 1:4  I have no greater joy than to hear of my children walking in truth. 

We celebrate this time that Abba has commanded us to remember in all our generations, a day that is set apart, and why wouldn't it be?  It is the day that was determined to give us all what we could not do for ourselves, once, for all...the covering of our sin,  Yay, thank you YHWH!!

Here's a few pictures of our evening:

I love, love, love, the Passover table!  I love how it is beautiful, special and festive and most of all, I love that my family is going to be gathering around it to celebrate together!

This is B's Passover craft lamb...it was our center piece.  Awww. 

We put an extra cup out for Elijah, inviting him to come, but we didn't see him.  We did get to see...

Moshe (Moses) and...

Pharoah.  

We did several Passover crafts and got to have lots of fun teaching B the story and having her tell it back to us, she is such a hoot, how sweet to hear her version!  We ask her to tell us what YHWH did to the water when Pharoah wouldn't let the people go and she tells us, "the water turned to brud (blood) water, oooooo!"  Haha, that's a keeper!  Then when she tells us that Pharaoh says, "NO, I won't let your people go", she holds her little fist up in the air and shakes it because she means business, ha!  

In the above pic, I caught B in front of the mirror saying, "NO, I will not let  your people go!"

I did a terrible job of recording pics this year.  The pic with everyone smiling is blurry:( but I guess I'm happy I got pictures at all, right?

Here are some of us (B and I aren't in this one) at the table where Papa is serving.  There's baby Grace at her very first Passover, she was a good girl the whole time:)

 Here, we are getting ready for our first cup.  (All my boys are drinking sparkling grape juice, even Corey...he doesn't like the fermented kind:)  

THE MENU

On the menu for Passover this year was:

Tenderloin roast

(with horse radish sauce)

Mashed Potatoes

Pasta Veggie Salad  

(Which Megan made, Yummy!!)

Salad

Molten Lava Chocolate Cake

(Kosher for Passover)

Wine

Sparkling grape juice for the kiddos (and Corey)

I have never made a tenderloin roast before and I was very worried because this is a special meal and I wanted it to turn out great...It turned out to be a good choice and was very good:)

The recipes:

Peppered Horseradish Tenderloin

(1) 2-3# Tenderloin Roast

(which I rubbed salt into the night before and place in the refrig. uncovered for about18 hrs. or so)

2 Tbsp prepared horseradish

1 Tbsp Evoo (extra virgin olive oil)

1 tsp Dijon Mustard

1 tsp kosher salt (I used sea salt)

2 tsp fresh ground pepper

Creamy horse radish sauce (recipe to follow)

Preheat oven to 400*.  

Combine horse radish, evoo, and dijon mustard in a bowl.  Mix the salt and pepper then rub it all over the tenderloin then coat the top of the meat with horse radish mixture (I left that sit on the meat for about an hr before cooking).

I then cooked my meat uncovered for just about an hour (until internal temp was 155*, which may be too well done for some but we don't want the bloody meat), pulled it out, tented it with foil for about 10 min. in which time the internal temp. will rise another 5* to make it 160+*.

The meat came out well flavored and very tender.  

Creamy Horse Radish Sauce

 1 1/4c Sour Cream

1/3 c Prepared Horseradish

1 tsp Sea salt or Kosher salt

1 tsp Fresh ground pepper

Mix all ingredients in bowl.  Chill until ready to serve.  Serve with Peppered Horseradish Tenderloin.

**May be made in advance and kept in frig. for up to 3 days.

Molten Lava Cake

6 sq. Bakers semi sweet chocolate

10 Tbsp butter

1 1/2c powdered sugar

1/2 c flour

3 whole eggs

3 egg yokes

Heat oven to 425*

Butter and flour 5- 6 remakins and place on a cookie sheet.

whisk your eggs well and set aside.

Put powdered sugar and flour into a mixing bowl and mix well.

Melt butter and chocolate together and whisk till mixed well then add to sugar and flour mix and add eggs and beat until well blended.

Pour into prepared remakins (just about half way) and place in preheated oven for 14-15 min., until outside is firm around the edges but will be gooey (lava like) in the center.

You can serve in the remakin or loosen edges and serve on plates while still warm.

Top with powdered sugar or home made whipped topping if you'd like...but it's just as yummy all by itself!

Family, thank you all for being here with me to remember this blessed and set apart day of our redemption.

Craig, thank you for teaching the Seder and serving.

Abba, thank you for all provision that you have made so that we might be brought back to you.  You have provided all that we need and nothing apart from your plan is necessary!!

Blessed are you, King of the universe who commands us to remember the Passover throughout all of our generations so that we might know your way of your salvation...the Salvation of Yah...

Yahushuah HaMassiah

Forever, Amein

Isa 53:5-7  But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our crookednesses. The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. 

  We all, like sheep, went astray, each one of us has turned to his own way. And יהוה (YHWH) has laid on Him the crookedness of us all. 

  He was oppressed and He was afflicted, but He did not open His mouth. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, but He did not open His mouth. 

Rev 1:17-18 .... And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: 

  I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. 

Praises to Yah!

Haha, look what I just found...I'm "barrowing" these pictures from your blog Megan:)  You got some nice family pics!!

Corey's Angels.

Megan and Corey, awwww!

Daddy and baby Grace:)

Our pretty girls.

This family pic is courtesy of Megan's timed camera, nice job!  Oh, and btw, it IS hard to get Corey to smile for pics!

Pesach (Passover)

THE PROPHECY OF YAHUSHUAH
Isa 53:5-7  But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our crookednesses. The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. 

 We all, like sheep, went astray, each one of us has turned to his own way. And יהוה (YHWH) has laid on Him the crookedness of us all. 
  He was oppressed and He was afflicted, but He did not open His mouth. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, but He did not open His mouth. 

Isa 53:12  Therefore I give Him a portion among the great, and He divides the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His being unto death, and He was counted with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. 

YHWH'S INSTRUCTIONS TO ISRAEL CONCERNING THE PASSOVER LAMB

Exo 12:46  “It is eaten in one house, you are not to take any of the flesh outside the house, nor are you to break any bone of it. 

THE FULFILLMENT OF HIS FIRST COMING

Yahushuah on the cross:

Joh 19:30-37  So when יהושע (Yahushuah) took the sour wine He said, “It has been accomplished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. 

  Therefore, since it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the stake on the Sabbath – for that Sabbath was a high one (the Passover) – the Yehuḏim asked Pilate to have their legs broken, and that they be taken away. 

  Therefore the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who was impaled with Him, 

  but when they came to יהושע (Yahushauh) and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 

  But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and instantly blood and water came out. 

  And he who has seen has witnessed, and his witness is true. And he knows that he is speaking the truth, in order that you might believe. 

 For this took place in order for the Scripture to be filled: “Not one of His bones shall be broken.” 

  And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.” 

1Pe 1:18-21  knowing that you were redeemed from your futile way of life inherited from your fathers, not with what is corruptible, silver or gold, 

  but with the precious blood of Messiah, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, 

  foreknown, indeed, before the foundation of the world, but manifested in these last times for your sakes, 

  who through Him believe in Elohim who raised Him from the dead and gave Him esteem, so that your belief and expectation are in Elohim. 

Joh 1:29  ... Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world

Yahushuah HaMassiach:

Rev 1:18  I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. 

Thank you Abba for the gift of your Salvation, Yahushuah, which has made atonement for our sins, if we will believe and turn away from sin  and turn back  to you.  You say that if we will hear and do, you too will keep your promise to hear us and to heal us.  Thank you for making provision for the Salvation of your people from the beginning of the world...

Mat 25:34  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand (His elect), Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 

Heb 4:3  ... And yet His works have come into being from the foundation of the world. 

Rev 13:8  ... the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. 

You are faithful to all generations to keep your promises and offer the gift of your Yahushuah to all who will come.   

Hallelu Yah!

Yahushuah literally means, "Salvation of YHWH".  

Sin = things which are contrary to YHWH's WORD or transgression of Torah: 

1Jn 3:4  Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the Torah: for sin is the transgression of the Torah.  

To repent is to return or turn back to  YHWH.

A FEW RANDOM PICS OF LIFE...AROUND OUR HOUSE

I caught B in front of the bathroom mirror with her Pharoh mask telling Moses that she wasn't going to let the people go!  Haha, how cute:)

Time to get the garden going now.  The boys have been helping me clear out the raised beds and plant our early seeds like lettuce, carrots, radish and beets.  Our cucumber, tomato, pepper, onion, brocoli and tomatillo seeds  that we have started indoors are doing well:)  I hope we get warm enough weather so we can put them out soon.

We also got the flower bed cleaned out but I need to get some seed (for continuous color) going in there too because I have some gaps, especially in the later season when I have a lack of color.

Here's our littlest gardener.  She's diggin' and pattin'...both very needful to get a garden going:)  Thank you for your help B!!

Footwear.  Yep, I like it.  Look at these cutie little girlie shoes and socks.  It just doesn't get cuter than that.  

Gracie gets to check out the walker...and B thought it was fun too:)  When we weren't looking, B climbed onto the walker and sat down and started playing too (Caleb caught her).

The sepia pics are my favorite.

Gracie doo... she's two (months)!

Passover Cups: The Power of Redemption and Judgment

The Power of Redemption and Judgment in Messiah/Torah

The Passover cup is one of the central symbols of this holiday known as the Feast of Redemption. Yet the original Passover story makes no mention whatsoever of a cup. In fact, the only biblical mention of a cup in connection with Passover is in the New Testament. When Yahushuah spoke of this Passover Feast with His disciples He raised a cup at least twice during His last meal with His desciples to make important statements about Himself (Luke 22:17,20).

What is the significance of the cup Yahushuah uses during His Passover observance?

Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures the cup is often used as a symbol of God's judgment. For example, the cup of fury, the cup of judgment, the cup of trembling and the cup of horror and desolation appear throughout the Old Testament. Yet we also find the Psalmist crying out, "I will take up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord" (Psalm 116:13). So the symbol of the cup carries with it pictures of both wrath and redemption, of judgment and blessing.

None of these references mentions the Passover. Yet, the themes of judgment and salvation are woven together beautifully in the Passover story. God poured out His judgment on the Egyptians, but spared the Israelites who obeyed Him by placing the blood of a lamb on the doorposts of their homes. Each year families retell these events through the Seder, the ceremonial meal that commemorates Passover. We do know that by the time Yahushuah observed the Passover, drinking a cup during the meal was an official part of the observance. In fact, an ancient rabbinic source, the Mishnah, instructs those celebrating to drink from the cup four times during the Passover seder (Pesahim 10:1). That tradition remains to this day. -Jews for Jesus exerpt

I began to study "the cups" and the symbolism behind them...and in reading scripture, this is what I found...

  Let's examine the meaning behind the first 3 cups of Passover as they have come to be known.

1.  Cup of Kiddush.  (Sanctification)

2.  Cup of Plagues

3.  Cup of Redemption or Blessing

The first cup is the cup of sanctification.  

In this cup we see the symbol of Abba offering His chosen ones, or those who He has “Highly Regarded” the opportunity to be set apart or sanctified.  This is offered to men in the form of His covenant/Word.

Sanctification \Sanc`ti*fi*ca"tion\, n. [L. sanctificatio: cf. F. sanctification.]

1. The act of sanctifying or making holy; the state of being sanctified or made holy; esp. (Theol.), the act of God's grace by which the affections of men are purified, or alienated from sin and the world, and exalted to a supreme love to God; also, the state of being thus purified or sanctified. [1913 Webster]
God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. --2 Thess. ii. 13. [1913 Webster]
2. The act of consecrating, or of setting apart for a sacred purpose; consecration. --Bp. Burnet. [1913 Webster]


How is one sanctified or set apart?

Joh 17:17  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

We are sanctified by our faith to hear and do what Abba has instructed us to do.

Deu 6:3  Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey.

If we are sanctified, the cup that then naturally follows is the cup of redemption or blessings.  If one is to “hear and do”, the natural thing that occurs is that the blessings are on us.

Cup of Blessing

Deu 28:1  And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of theYHWH thy Elohim, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the YHWH thy Elohim will set thee on high above all nations of the earth

Deu 28:2  And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the YHWH thy Elohim.

Psa 16:5  YHWH is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest

my lot.

Psa 23:5  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Psa 116:13  I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the YHWH.

Mat 10:42  And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

Mat 26:27  And he took the cup , and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;

Mat 26:28  For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

The cup pictured here is one of overflowing blessing and provision even in the presence of our enemies.

Distinctions Between cups

Do not confuse all “cups” to be the same.  One cup (blessing) is offered to those who hear and do Abba’s instructions and the other cup (curses) is for those who will not hear or do His instructions.

1Co 10:21  Ye cannot drink the cup of the YHWH, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.

If one  has refused the cup of "santification" (remember, we are sanctified by YHWH's word or His covenant and the blood of His Messiah), then what follows is the cup of Plagues or curses/wrath.

 Cup of Judgment

The cup of judgment is only for those who refuse YHWH's plan for sanctification and redemption.

Psa 11:6  Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.

Psa 75:8  For in the hand of theYHWH there is a cup and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them.

Isa 51:17  Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the YHWH the cup of his fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out.

Isa 51:22  Thus saith thy Lord the YHWH, and thy God that pleadeth the cause of his people, Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again:

Jer 25:15  For thus saith the YHWH God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it.

Jer 25:17  Then took I the cup at the YHWH's hand, and made all the nations to drink, unto whom the YHWH had sent me:

(**Jer. 25 is all about the nations drinking from the cup of judgment.  ALL must drink from it)

 Jer 51:7  Babylon hath been a golden cup in the YHWH's hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad.

Lam 4:21  Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, that dwellest in the land of Uz; the cup also shall pass through unto thee: thou shalt be drunken, and shalt make thyself naked.

Zec 12:2  Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.

 Rev 14:10  The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

Rev 16:19  And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

Rev 17:4  And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:

Rev 18:6  Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.

Rev 18:7  How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

Rev 18:8  Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

Messiah Yahushauh drank our cup of judgment for us

Mat 20:22  But Yahushuah answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. 

Mat 26:39  And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

Mat 26:42  He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

Joh 18:11  Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?

According to Torah, what was the cup that Yahushuah was about to drink symbolic of?

The symbolism of “the cup” that Yahushuah drank before the Passover with His desciples was that He was about to take the punishment for the spiritual adultery that men had committed against their Husband (GOD).  He would drink from the cup of judgment and because WE are guilty, He would die to take the penalty of our sins upon Himself so that Israel (those who will come back into covenant with Him) can be returned to a marital relationship with God because in the law of God, men cannot take back a wife who has been found guilty of adultery…since we don’t have that penalty of adultery “ON US” we can be reconcilled back to God as His bride.

Praise Yah for His Salvation!!

Yahushuah, our Passover Lamb.

Blessings, Traci

See numbers 5:12-31 for the story of the cup of bitter waters which is what is being shown to us by Messiah's death on Passover.