My Favorite Foods

What are your favorite types of foods?

I would have to say my favorite food is chicken and most seafood. I guess I’m called a Pollotarianism.. except for tune and raw fish. Tuna just disgusts me, because that’s all my mother would feed me every day 1/2 tuna sandwich and a 1/2 glass a milk. And sushi just fills like a squishy limp I’m my mouth. I truly miss going fishing with my father and cooking the fish over a open fire.

Although liking these foods can sometimes it can be a pain because the hubby absolutely will not eat chicken or seafood. So I end up most the time basically fixing two meals.

Walk or Run

How often do you walk or run?

One of the most powerful ways to maintain a healthy weight, keep your bones strong and live longer is walking. It’s simple no matter what age.

I used walk with about a mile every day with my dog, but she is 16 years old now and struggles to go that far. And I am having a difficult time as well. I am scheduled for knee replacement surgery next month. In hoping I can get back to walking after I recover.

I’ve seen where people have older dogs in strollers and go walking with them. Maybe I’ll look into that.

Using Worship As A Weapon

Worship is a powerful weapon that can change us. I believe that God goal is to transform up before changing our surroundings.

Worship can change you on a personal level. Worship is the on,y thing we give to God that He didn’t first give to us. So nothing we offer to God is really ours.

God doesn’t share worship. Many love their preferences over God’s presence. Any act of obedience is also an act of worship. Why is obedience so pleasing to God? Because it proves we really love Him. In John 14;15 Jesus said “If you love me, you will obey my commandments.

Anywhere you have true worship, you will encounter a counterfeit. “Fake worship” refers to a lack of a genuine pursuit of God. A counterfeit worshipper is revealed in how they treat people after they worship. God doesn’t want us to worship Him and then become unrighteous in our conduct.

Bad things don’t happen to good people because we are not good people. Jesus was the only ‘good’ person to whom bad things happened because He voluntarily died for us. We should be amazed by God’s benevolence towards us. Seeing life through the lens of the Gospel results in grateful hearts.

We cannot remain upset about our problems when we truly worship because God brings His peace.

Your primary goal isn’t changing how you treat people. Your goal should be to fully surrender to God as your King and worship, like the wise men. (see Matthew 2:11).

If you don’t bend your will in worship, life will break it in crisis. Bending your will is telling God, not my will but Your will be done, including in moments of fear and uncertainty.

Looking Back To Look Forward

Jerusalem begins the High Holidays this evening starting with Rosh Hashanah. Friday Sept 15th at sundown until Sunday Sept. 17th at sundown, 5784 (2024) Many people judge Israel for there ways. I believe that if people understand their ways, that they would see some great wisdom in the ways in which they live.

Rosh Hashanah is Israel’s head of the year. It give an opportunity to reflect backward and set intentions for moving forward. It is a time of self-reflection looking back on thoughts and deeds from the previous year and planing how to improve yourself and your actions seems like a pretty good way of doing things.

This holiday is observed with prayer services, candle lighting, festive foods, and meals, and gathering with loved one’s and communities. Which may sound like a Christmas celebration to us in America. But there are six most common and significant holiday traditions when Rosh Hashanah is celebrated.

Sounding the Shofar

Hearing the sound of the shofar, a ceremonial instrument made out of a ram’s horn, is the most important traditions associated with Rosh Hashanah.

The Shofar is one of the most ancient musical instruments, originally used for many purposes -most importantly bringing people together and announcing news. “Now it’s really tied to the time of the High Holidays. Hearing the sound of shofar is a mitzvah, which is a commandment not just a tradition.

Taslich

Taslich is a ceremony performed at a moving body of water, such as a sea, river, or creek. This ritual is about symbolically casting away sins, and people often throw bread crumbs into the water to symbolize casting off sins and letting the water wash them away.

Teshuvah (Repentance)

Teshuvah, literally translates to “return,” in the High Holidays it’s a overarching theme. It is related to the fact that we have to return to the people we have wronged. Going back to places, people, and thoughts, over everything we have done in the last year. Returning and asking for forgiveness, and making amends.

Apples and Honey

Dipping apples in honey is not only one of the most important traditions associated with Rosh Hashanah, but also the tastiest. All of the food that is related to the Jewish holiday is seasonal which makes them special.

Apples represent the roundness of the year, and honey is used to represent our wishes for sweetness in the coming year. Using these foods to represent two most important themes of this time of the year -the circle of the year and the sweetness that is hoped for in the coming year.

Pomegranates

Pomegranates are another fruit in season at the time of Rosh Hashanah, and this theme turns up in food and symbolic decor. Pomegranates are said to have 613 seeds in them, the same number as mitzvot which are good deeds in the Bible.

Rosh Hashanah Greetings

Offering traditional holiday greetings is a customary and friendly way to greet Jewish people during Rosh Hashanah. “I’shana tovah” translates to “to a good year in English. Similar to happy new year,

I love the idea of looking back over the year at our mistakes and planning for a better year. And going back to the people we have done wrong and ask for forgiveness. Even if they don’t forgive you, it is righteous in God’s eyes.

Don’t Let Your Emotions Drive You

For as long as I can remember, I have been an extremely emotional person. I feel everything deeply. In the past, it was very difficult for me to handle situations rationally because I let my emotions cloud the truth and prevent me from being objective.

Through the years I have come to learn that separation of the two is one of the most important thinks one can master.

I believe when someone lacks the ability to separate emotion and objectivity, they start to embody the idea that another person’s feelings are their fault and visa-verse. I’ve struggled with this a lot in my life. You have to be able to see the facts instead of the feelings.

I think emotions should always be embraced and allowed to flow through us, other wise we just keep stuffing them down deeper and deeper into our soul. Which causes physical and mental disease. I used to to places high value on my feelings, and had the mindset that everything felt was the truth. The results of that mindset forced me to realize that holding my emotions higher than objectively also caused an immense amount of harm.

Facts over feelings is important in general, and I think it’s even more important when it comes to being hurt by others. Personally, that when my emotions are at their highest. However, when my feelings are hurt, it doesn’t automatically mean there is someone to blame.

Sometimes I just react, which I’m sure most people do. We project our feelings onto other’s because we feel hurt and we think someone should be accountable for that hurt, even the other didn’t intentionally cause it.

It took me a really long time to accept that i am accountable for my own feelings. People are accountable for harm and harmful each day. We can let ourselves get hurt 24/7 if we let our emotions drive us. It’s completely up to us. It’s up to us to understand our own emotions and have a level of trust in those who love us,

I will always value my emotions, and I think my sensitivity is a gift. I think it allows me to love harder and connect to people more deeply, which is something that brings me joy. I just don’t let it drive anymore.

Am I A Leader

Do you see yourself as a leader?

I see myself as a gentle leader. Which is strength under control. I am very even tempered one who uses self-control to address difficult issues at the right time. I am self-controlled and calm in all situations, and I’m not easily provoked. In speak the truth in love and respect.

I definitely have a heart of compassion, kindness and humility. I am quiet, but not weak. I know when to speak and when to listen, when to take action and when to wait. I tend to lead with empathy and kindness and understanding while still maintaining authority and achieving results.

Patience is a quality of the heart. The more patient you are, the better person you become.

My Favorite Word

What’s your favorite word?

Considering every possible word I could choose, without a doubt, peace is my favorite word. For me, peace is not only an efficient, pleasant sounding word, it is the end game, the very purpose of our lives. Peace is the condition and experience we seek most in every situation, circumstance, and relationship in our lives.

As we go about the activity of making choices in our lives, we are not really choosing the thing itself. Rather, we are choosing it because of what we believe it will bring us. Ultimately what we believe it will bring us peace. It is the condition and experience of peace we most deeply desire, not the “form’ of the thing that symbolically represents our gateway to peace.

Living Intentionally For God

Living intentionally means purposely pursuing the life that God, has called us to live. Being intentional takes focused action and living God inspired intentions. God is intentional and called us to be the same. Just as He intentionally created the world and humankind. He would ask us to be intentional in our relationship with Him.

God Is Intentional

The God we serve is profoundly intentional in all His ways and dealings. All his intentional actions flow out of His vision, passion, and purpose.

In order to live intentionally with God, it requires us to be in constant communication with ourselves, and to be emotionally intelligent. Our self awareness, self management, social awareness, and relationship management should all work for the glory of the Lord.

Genesis 1:1-31 tells us God’s intentions from the beginning. The first day of light, the second day of firmament, The third day of dry ground, the fourth day of the sun, moon, and stars, the fifth day the fish and birds, and the sixth day creatures of the land. After all of this creation, God concluded, with the observation that the intention of His work was good and created meaning and value with forethought.

“God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And the evening in the morning, where the sixth today.“ – Genesis 1:31

You are not an accident, but God’s intention.

We must realize that every detail of our lives is not an accident. Nothing in life just happens, but it’s a learning experience for us, even though we may not understand it at the time. One thing that is easy for us to understand is God’s love for us.

The Bible tells us that God’s intention for creation was not only to reveal His character, but also to provide the need for all that He has made, human and non-human.

In Genesis 1:28 God further explained this as He refers to our being created for abundance and goodness. “God blessed them; and God said to them, “ be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

God directs us through His emotional intelligence to be fruitful, multiply, and rule all with His intention for us to have a abundant life.

So how do we discover gods intention for us?

It’s important to learn how to live in Kempner Ole, and not leave out the source that enables us to do so.

Colossians 1:16 says, “For by Him all things were created, in heaven, and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions, or rulers or authorities all things were created through Him and for Him.”

Living intentionally kept our discovering the answers to our purpose and direction in the Scriptures, God’s living Word, and seeking His divine intention for us.

How do we do this:

  • Honor Your Beliefs

Living with intention means being in constant communication with yourself. We must be authentic to who we’ve been created to be, and work towards developing ourselves in a Jesus, like way. Being emotionally intelligent in Christ helps us with this, as it answers the question who I am and what way does my relationship with Christ shape my understanding of myself?

“I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith, and the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.“ – Galatians 2:20

It is because of the reality of the new life we have taken on that allows us to experience an honor our beliefs in the intention that God has for us. Start by shining a light on your cell to reflect on who you are now.

  • Praying Intentionally

When we ask God to help or ask him to bring things into our life, believe with all your heart that He will take care of things. Praying intentionally requires you to first be patient. Ask God to speak to you and direct your prayers in the way He would have you pray. God listens, we ask, but we must have patience to wait for His reply. It is important to also ask for His help. This involves not only praying in unison, but with faith. Christ connections is an emotionally intelligent behavior that Jesus Himself set as an intention for us.

“A new command I have given you; Love one another as I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.“ – John 13:34-35

We all should be enlisting our prayer warriors and settling intentions. The move away from the I/Me mentality to the awareness of other meets all our needs and shows that we are disciples of Christ. The Lord is faithful and through Godly Intentions, all things are possible that are His will. As you make Christ connections, you develop a deeper awareness that Christ is demonstrating to others, that you are a true disciple of God.

  • Living Your Purpose

By identifying God’s purpose, you allow it to shape your approach to life. You then see changes in your attitude, and make your decisions based on the discernment of the Holy Spirit. Emotional intelligence in Christ is the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit within you to discern and manage emotions as Jesus did. The Holy Spirit enables you to sit godly intentions, and will guide you in your purpose, driven life. Change is all about the God in you.

Learn to incorporate intentions in your daily life and verbalize the intention that God has for you. Believe that in Christ, you are intentional. Jesus is our guiding light for the intentions He sets. Being emotionally intelligent in Christ, helps you demonstrate the intentions God has for you. Then sit back and marble at the love, peace, and joy God gives you.

The Four Cups Of Wine At The Jewish Passover Table

Passover in Exodus 12 is a picture of Christ’s future redemptive work. Some amazing imagery if found throughout the four cups at the supper table of the Jewish people. They reveal the complete plan of redemption for believers from the time of salvation to the time of their bodily resurrection, the final redemption.

Four cups are used at the supper table celebrating Jewish Passover Supper and contain a mixing of wine and water. This mix is a prophetic image of Christ, the Lamb of God who died around the same time as the Passover feast. When Christ was pierced with the Roman lance, blood and water came forth from His wound, sealing our redemption (John 19:34). According to Jewish Rabbis, the four cups at Passover correspond to the four promises of God in Exodus 6:6-7.

  • I will bring you out
  • I will rid (deliver) you out of their bondage
  • I will redeem you will a stretched our arm
  • I will take you to me for a people

These four promises are the same spiritual redemption promises found in the New Testament given by Christ to every person who accept His sacrificial death and resurrection (Galatians 1:4, Romans 8:15, 2 Corinthians 1:10: Titus 2:14, John 14:3).

The Names Of The Four Cups

1. Cup of sanctification

2. Cup of affliction

3. Cup of redemption

4. Cup of consummation

The Cup Of Sanctification

The first cup drank from. This cup foreshadows Christ’s taking the cup for the first time at the Last Supper and saying “Take this, and divide it among yourself: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. This is my blood of the New Testament (New Covenant), which is shed for many. Jesus went on the prayed: “And for their sake (thr disciples) I sanctify myself that they also might be sanctified through the truth.” The cup of sanctification is the first cup that Christ drank with His disciples.

The Cup Of Affliction

Jesus referred to this cup when He prophesied of His sufferings, which were hours later. During the supper, Jesus took His finger and dipped it into this cup and placed a small portion of wine on the table (perhaps representing the blood He sweated in the Garden of Gethsemane). In the Garden Jesus prayer, O’ my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass by me” (Matthew 26:39).

Perry Stone believes the blood Jesus sweat was caused by the pressure of the sins of mankind bearing down on Him (see 2 Corinthians 5;21).

The Cup Of Redemption

This is the cup Jesus drank from after the Last Supper concluded when He announced, “This is the New Testament of my blood, which is shed for you.” ((Luke 22:20)

The Cup Of Consummation

This fourth cup sets upside down at the supper table and relates to the past as well as the future. It is called the cup of Hallel, or praise. Recited over this cup: “Pour out your wrath,” representing the Egyptians experiencing God’s wrath through the ten plagues and His wrath to be poured out in Revelation 16:1. Note: For Christians the fourth cup has a different meaning – consummation to be used at the marriage supper of the Lamb towards the conclusion of the seven-year tribulation (Revelation 19:7-8). Christ and the bride will consummate the marriage when both drink from the final cup of consummation (Matthew 26:28). “But I say to you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.

There is also a fifth cup called “Cup of Elijah” symbolizing an expression of redemption for all mankind upon the return of the Messiah. It sits on the Jewish table filled but never drank from. A child is often sent to the door during the supper to see if the prophet Elijah is in the street announcing the coming of the Messiah.

Taken from: Perry Stone Hebraic Prophetic Study Bible KJV.

The Power Of God

No matter what we’re going through, we have to remember that God’s power is greater than anything we’re experiencing. What ever we face in life from financial problems to health challenges to adversity of any kind -God’s power is more than enough to change our situation. Which causes us to be victorious.

God is always willing to work on our behalf. But all too often instead of looking to Him when we face a crisis, we try to come up with our own solutions. If we need extra money, we look for ways to work a second job or working overtime, or selling one of our possessions, Doing these things may not be wise. The first thing I think of when I begin to struggle is “have I tithed enough.” Which may seem crazy to some, but God blesses people who give. Malachi 3:10 says, “Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”

Our wisdom is limited, but God’s wisdom is unlimited. I believe we should do everything we can. But sometimes everything we do isn’t enough.

Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 2:5 that “ (our) faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God,” The Holy Spirit can do more for us in 2-seconds than we can do in 2 days. It’s not about what we can do, it’s about what God can do. It’s His power and ability not ours that works out our problems.

Faith is the key for God’s power to operate in our lives. It important to know where to put your faith. In other words, our faith has to be in something. And in 1 Corinthians 2:5 we see it should be in God’s power, not in the wisdom of men.

When God speaks things change. He says with His mouth what He believes in His heart and it comes into manifestation. We see this in Genesis 1, when He said let there be light.

Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” Every time we open our mouths, we are speaking either death and destruction or life and blessing into a situation.

The Word of God contains the power of God. That power is activated when we speak God’s Word into our situations. When we hide God’s Word in our hearts and speak forth that word, we can change our situation.

God power can be compared to electricity. We can have electricity in our homes but nothing happens until we turn on the switch. The power has been there all the time, but nothing happens until it is activated.

You can activate God’s power by speaking His Word and having faith in His laws for the things we need changed. God’s power is a powerful force. No sickness, disease, poverty, or demon in hell can stand up against it.

Evening

What are you doing this evening?

My life is pretty simple. I get my dinner dishes done. By then my dog is getting antsy and stomping for her nightly walk, which usually is a run for her, as fast as her little long legs will carry her.

After that my hubby and sit down and talk for a few minutes. I try to get a few chores around the house down, whether it be mopping the kitchen floor or cleaning the bathroom.

Then I pick up the book to reading right now its “Sepher Yetzirah.” I’m trying to wrap my head around the Jewish beliefs a little more. Just because I feel it will be important at some time in my life.

By about 9:00 I read the Bible and meditate. Pick out my clothes for the day ahead, and get the coffee machine ready for in the morning, which usually comes about 1 or 2 AM.

Yep, a pretty simple evening. Nothing to exciting here.

Red Flags

What personality trait in people raises a red flag with you?

When I meet someone for the first time and the speak in a way the emphasizes all the bad things about themselves, other people or situations.

Negativity is contagious and can spread quickly. I want to be in a positive environment. Life is short, it’s not worth it to me around someone who has a bad attitude towards everything. Negative people uauytry to blame others for mistakes, or situations they find themselves in.

I have tried to talk to some negative people, trying to encourage them to be more positive. I usually end up be stressed out and tired.