September 12, 2007
· Filed under Biblical Holidays
We aren’t having school today so we can get the house in order and baking done for Rosh Hashana which begins at sundown. This is our second year of celebrating Rosh Hashana but it will be the first one we are celebrating at home together. Last year my grandmother passed away a few days before the holiday so we spent the time in Ohio for her funeral. I suppose the best place to start would be to give a description of the holiday:
The Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashana) is the Jewish New Year, and begins the High Holy Days in the Jewish month of Tishri(corresponding to September or October). It is a celebration of the spiritual birthday of the world or creation, and is celebrated with the blowing of trumpets (Lev 23:23-25). The Feast of Trumpets is a powerful prophetic look at the final days and Messiah’s return. Jewish eschatology teaches that on the Day of Atonement after six thousand years are complete, the Day of the Lord will comes. On that day the shofar will sound and the righteous will be resurrected (Rev. 2:7-11) .
Excerpted from A Family Guide to the Biblical Holidays by Robin Sampson
We have planned a festive meal consisting of honey-glazed chicken, couscous, round challah with honey butter, carrots, and honey cakes. In addition to our dinner the we will blow the shofar (ram’s horn), read selected passages from the Bible with the theme being “rememberence”, make the create-a-world craft from A Family Guide To Biblical Holidays, and study the prophetic foreshadowing of the holiday. As the holiday comes to a close we plan to observe the custom of Tashlikh. Tashlikh is the symbolic casting of one’s sins into a river, lake, or other body of water. As a family we reflect upon the sins that are present in our life, then we label stones with the sins, and finally we “cast the sins away” into a nearby river. I then explain that when we are saved and confess our sins to Jesus he takes our sins away like the river takes the stones away. Celebrating the Biblical Feasts has been such faith affirming experience for our family. It is wonderul to see how these holidays are the picture of what our Messiah, Yeshua(Jesus), has already done for us and what he will do in the future. Even if you don’t choose to celebrate them I urge all believer’s to do a study on them. Robin Sampson’s Biblical Holidays site is a wonderful place to start.
Have a blessed holiday!!
Blessings,
September 12, 2007
· Filed under Blogger Friend School
A.Look at your dream place from last week and using your creative juices and things in and around your home create a special place to blog. Most good writers have a place that is a comfort to them and makes their writing time enjoyable and productive. Share some quick ideas.
Since my dream spot was the Garden of Gethsemane it wasn’t easy to recreate in my home but I gave it my best shot. When my grandmother passed away last year she left me a painting done by my Grandfather that depicts Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. I moved that picture right next to my desk in our dining room/schoolroom. To bring the garden feeling inside I placed a few vases of flowers on the shelf behind my desk. Then I placed a few floral scented candles on top of the bookshelf beside my desk. I found this poem about Gethsemane online, printed it on some pretty floral paper, framed it, and hung it above my desk. It won’t be the same as being in the actual garden but it does give me a more serene place to blog.
B. When you have created that special place share a picture of where you blog. Remember to be creative.
I snapped a picture of my redecorated space but I won’t be able to share it until I get the film developed. Our digital camera met its untimely demise when our son thought it would like to go for a swim in a glass of juice. I hope I described it well enough above that you can picture what I did. Hopefully, I’ll remember to get the pictures developed when I go into town Friday and I’ll post them then.
C. Share a verse that is upon your heart this week.
O Israel, return to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity; take words with you, and return to the LORD. Say to Him,
“Take away all iniquity; receive us graciously, for we will offer the sacrifices of our lips.”
Hosea 14:1-2
Psalm 55:17 Evening, morning, and at noon I will pray and cry aloud and He shall hear my voice.
These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus and the brethren. Acts 1:14
But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. Acts 6:4
I am meditating on these verses as I seek to discipline myself to pray at the appointed times of prayer.
You can click the graphic at the top of this post to view more assignments and/or to sign up for blogger friend school.
Have a wonderful day!
Blessings,
