~MY STORY- WALKING WITH YESHUA~

These are previous posts, all put in order, hopefully to make it easier to read.

Post#1.~WHERE TO BEGIN?~

I guess I should explain a little about what started me on this amazing journey. I'll give you some brief background, so not bore you to much with to many details. As a young girl I was raised in a Christian home, going to Church regularly. Saved when I was 5, I walked very easily in faith and obedience to my parents and savior, even though my home life was anything but peaceful. When my parents decided to divorce it became unbearably painful, I prayed and prayed that God would put my parent and family back together again. Looking back now I had seen so many miracles and prayers answered so early on, I just couldn't figure out why God wouldn't answer this prayer.

Many years later I came to realize sometimes HE answers with a yes and sometimes with a no, but HE always has the right answer. Anyway, I remember that God's NO~was a huge disappointment to me, and after that it seemed so easy to slip into unbelief and rebellion. Before you knew it I was in a pit of despair that seemed never ending. I started down a road of depression, hopelessness, suicidal thoughts and worse. Of course there were the brief moments of rededicating my life, but it never lasted very long and I was back to contemplating death again.

At 28 I finally said this is it, as I walked down the isle at church the song "I have decided to follow Jesus~no turning back, no turning back" was playing in the background and this time I meant it! Of course everything wasn't perfect like I thought it should be, but this time I finally realized how desperately I needed a savior. After being baptized I was finally free of the suicidal thoughts that had haunted me for years. I started growing in my walk slowly but surely, of course there were some major trials along the way that helped. For instance my husband and I had been married 3 years when we separated, we got back together only to separate again four years later this time I thought it was for good. I prayed everyday for months that God would restore my marriage, and this time HE answered with a yes ,Halleluyah!!!

This was the beginning of a whole different sort of walk for me, but there always seemed to be something that just didn't quite make sense to me, kinda like a missing puzzle piece. I remember thinking to myself, is my pastor telling me everything? As I read Scriptures, like this one that said "Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Well, the scripture would make sense, but there was such a blend of worldly things in the church that I remember being very sad and confused at the state of compromise.

One day while listening to a Christian pastor on a Radio program tell a brand-new believer that had asked the question~"is it o.k. ,now that I am a believer, to go get a tattoo? I've really been praying about it and I'm just not sure". Well, the Pastor response was "Oh tattoos are just a trend, just like long hair was in the 60's and 70's. I thought to myself, are you kidding me???? I guess it all started making sense to me then, no wonder so many believers are conforming to the world, our Pastors are making excuses for us. The Sermons are turning into feel good messages with less and less Scripture, instead they are entertaining and funny. When did going to church become like going to a rock concert? When did we stop reading our Bibles for ourselves and start believing the Pastor over the WORD OF GOD?

What is with all the different denominations, when we all say we serve the same God? When did a tattoo become good, acceptable and the perfect will of GOD for a believer? See we are not to judge the world or unbelievers, because they don't know what God says is sin. We are able to correct one another in LOVE. Is it that we don't have a clear understanding anymore of what is right and what is wrong? We have HIS Law written on our hearts, we have the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit to help us to know right from wrong.

Please don't misunderstand me, I don't want all this to come across as self righteous, my desire is to encourage people to seek out the truth in the word for themselves! I've made a decision to seek HIM with all of my heart, because I want to know what is pleasing to my HIM, I also want to walk in obedience to HIS word like I did so easily as a child!
YHVH BLESS YOU!
Shalom,
Moira
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Post#2.~THE DENOMINATION QUESTION~


~I remember a few years back that I started having allot of questions about things that I had never really thought about before, for instance ~ Why are there so many denominations? If we all read the same Bible , how could we possibly interpret it so many different ways? We all say we believe in the same God and Savior, but the Scripture says that HE desires we be ONE like HE and THE FATHER are ONE(John 17).

So what has happened? Because we are definitely not all one! We all call ourselves Christians, but the Protestants, Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist(to name just a few)would say that the Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses and the 7Th day Adventist are cults! O.K. and to that then these groups might reply that if you are not a member of their church then you are not saved, but your on the right track!

What a mess! As I looked around this is what I saw, a great big mess of confusion. My heart started to ache because what I saw was a fractured body? Of course when you look to the origins of all the denominations you find doctrines, and at the end of each doctrine you will find mans different interpretation of The Scriptures, plus some additions~even some subtractions.

I believe the enemy has had a field day keeping us divided and confused! Honestly, all he really has to do is get one group to believe they are the one's that are right and that everybody else is wrong(Oh,PRIDE??? remember-confusion and pride are the enemies specialty). So if our time is spent dividing ourselves into groups, instead of being in unity, then is it possible that we are making it easy for him to keep the confusion going?

Well then I asked myself, what about the non-denominational churches? Are they the answer? Or have they become a denomination too? I attended them for years, all the while of course thinking that I was right! But when the non-denominations start schools of theology and seminaries, then decide what they will and wont teach, Oh, and believe that their way is right and everyone else is wrong, then haven't they made themselves a denomination? Maybe??

Some how I just don't think this is what YHVH had in mind for us, HE gave us HIS Holy Spirit to help us understand. ~ John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. ~ John 6:45 For it is written in the prophets,' All will be taught of Eloah(Hebrew singular form of Elohim).' Whoever hears from the Father and learns from him will come to Me. ~ 1Jo 2:27 And you also, if the anointing that you received from Him abide with you, you will not need a man to teach you. But as the anointing is from Eloah, it teaches you concerning everything and it is true, and there is no falshood in it. And as he has taught you, abide in Him.

~So denominations? Again these are just questions I had...It sure would be nice if we could all get back on the same page, would you agree? The really great thing is YHVH is in the process of restoring all things ~ Mat 17:11 And Yeshua(Jesus) answered and said unto them, Eliyahu(Elijah) truly shall first come, and restore all things. In these scriptures and may more we find our confidence in HIS plan, you see HE desires that we seek HIM(to really know HIM), and He promises us that IF we will, we will find HIM! We have His Holy Spirit(Ruach Ha Kodesh)to helps us, and to teaches us? And if we are ever confused by something Scripture says, we should be able to pray with the expectation that HE will help us! Isn't that exciting!

For most of my life I was very content to ask my Pastor to interpret scripture for me(after all shouldn't he have the answers?) Then came a day when I started checking in Scripture to verify the things he would say. And you know what I realized? Certain answers he would give me were doctrine (he learn in seminary? or other times they were what his denomination told him to tell me) Well, then there came a point that I started checking on everything Pastors would teach, and you should too!

Please don't get me wrong, I am not saying all pastors are bad, not at all, what I am saying is don't follow blindly, be aware of what the Word says and always check for yourself. I would say that in the days in which we live it is vital, how else will we be able to spot the wolf in sheep's clothing if we don't know what the WORD says to be looking out for!~Mat 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. ~Act 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
~Act 20:30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.~~~(Did you know-to spot a counterfeit bill, I was told that you should study the real McCoy! The fakes will always be changing,and getting better at fooling, but the real thing remains the same, so it makes it easy to spot the fakes) The same is true with wolves today, they are ever changing ~ BUT YHVH NEVER CHANGES, HE IS THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND FOREVER! Please, check and prove ALL things in HIS WORD, your life depends on it! HalleluYAH!!!!!

SHALOM,
Moira
I wanted to add some P.S. Scriptures:(it is always best to read everything in context so please read all of Eph.4)
Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the set-apart-ones, for the work of the service, for the edification of the body of the Messiah:

Eph 4:13 until all of us become one and the same unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of Eloah and one complete man, according to the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Messiah:

Eph 4:14 And we should not be infants, who are shaken and turned about by every wind of the deceitful teachings of the sons of men, who by their craftiness are plotting to deceive.

Eph 4:15 But we should be steadfast in our love, that(in)everything we may grow up in the Messiah, who is the head:
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Post#3.~LOOKING BACK~


This will be a continuation from two previous posts(Where to begin? & The Denomination Question)~These are some of the thoughts, feelings, and changes that have taken place in my walk with my Savior~

QUESTIONS??? Why so many?? I remember thinking to myself where are all they all coming from?.....
Well, in looking back, I see now that YHVH was drawing me closer to HIM. I remember while reading these words one day in ~Deut 6:4 “Hear, O Yisraʼĕl: YHVH your Elohim, YHVH is one!
5 “And you shall love YHVH your Elohim with all your heart, and with all your being, and with all your might.
6 “And these Words which I am commanding you today shall be in your heart,

WOW~ ALL OF MY HEART, BEING AND MIGHT????? I questioned myself, have I really given ALL to HIM? What does that even mean? Even though I had read these words many times before this time they seemed to change everything for me! I realized I needed to completely surrender my will, and replace it with HIS! I was determined to find out what more there is to this walk???? Is it possible to live like the Scriptures say to live? Is there a church out there today similar to the one you read about in Acts, that walked in power and LOVE?

WELL, THE NEXT THING I REMEMBER~ I found myself looking in the Yellow pages under Churches to see what is out there ~and I ran across a Messianic Congregation, I had only heard the word Messianic one other time in my life. I thought? I think a Jewish person who believes in Jesus is called a messianic beliver? Interesting, Jesus was Jewish, His disciples were Jewish. I wonder if a gentile can go to a Messianic Congregation?

In the next few minutes I was dialing the number, a sweet voice answered and said hello Beth Simcha~ Well I didn't quite know what to ask, so I said ~What is it that you do there? and when do you meet? She explained, well we meet every Friday evening at 7:00 and Saturdays at 10:00(Wow! that was different!)She said we sing and dance(Wow! dance? really!) and read the Bible(Wow!Great!) Well, to say the least I was intrigued!

I started thinking to myself ~O.K. should I go check it out, but when? It just so happened that I called on a Saturday morning. I looked at the clock, and then at myself, I was still in my pajamas~ I thought, I can't go today! Plus to be honest I was a little unsure, intrigued, but unsure! So I was determined I would go next week, and that was that! Now I just had to tell my husband what I was going to do! Oh, boy???? He's going to think I'm nuts!

Well, I walked up to my husband with a smile on my face and said~ I just called a Messianic church~ I asked would you like to go with me next week? It took him a few seconds then, he said ~you called a MASONIC WHAT? I said no, no, honey a M-E-S-S-I-A-N-I-C ! He sighed Oh? with relief, then said he would think about it.

So the next week came and went, I totally chickened out! The following week came, I asked my husband will you p-l-e-a-s-e go with me to check this out? He said he was too tired! SO, I gathered up enough courage, and took my kids with me for moral support, and off we went on a Friday evening to church???? I really had no idea what I was in for, I was excited and a little nervous! All the way there I thought what are you doing???? I really didn't have any idea, that this was the beginning of something WONDERFUL!
SHALOM,
Moira
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Post#4.~A MESSIANIC CONGREGATION~

~This is a continuation of previous posts, to read them in order click on ~MY STORY~ at the top of the page~ Hopefully this will make things easier!


My kids and I pulled into the driveway of the Messianic Congregation on a Friday evening, parked the car and sat there a few minutes, so I could rethink what I was doing???? I wanted to go inside, B-U-T I was also wondering, what the heck am I doing here??? Am I really that dissatisfied with church?(the answer was-YES!)What is it exactly I think I will find here??(maybe some answers???) O.K. enough with second guessing myself! I'm just going to sit in the back row and observe!

With my kids beside me I said, let's go in! We stepped in quietly, went to the last row on the left and sat down. I was hoping no one saw us, but unfortunately, EVERYONE looked our way and smiled(well, so much for being invisible but, smiles are good start). While we a settling into our seats a lady stepped up to a table in the front that had two candles on it, everyone rose to their feet. She started speaking in another language(I didn't know at the time that it was Hebrew) then she said a prayer in English(pretty! and different!). Then the musicians started playing some wonderfully cheery music (CHEERY,JOYFUL! interesting!) As I continued my observation from the back row, I noticed some people got up out of their seats, walked towards the front(I thought~what are they doing now?) they joined hands in the corner and started to dance(WOW! DANCE? REALLY!)It was very beautifully choreographed(not wild, disruptive or freestyle!) My daughter Autumn, who was eight at the time, immediately asked if she could go dance too? I wondered to myself for a minute, then said O.K. I guess. She picked up the dances right away and everyone was so excited she had joined in! As I looked at my son Justice(4 years old at the time) next to me clapping just as fast as his little hands could! I couldn't help but smile, I even started to clap(I never clap???) I remember thinking to myself, I have never seen or felt so much joy in praise before!(this really was different and really great!)

When the music was over everyone went up to the front of the room(Uh Oh! now what do I do?)I decided to just stay in my seat(maybe they wont notice me???). It didn't work! A sweet lady approached me and asked if we would like to join them up front? I asked what are you going to do? She said we say a blessing drink some juice and break some bread together but, it is not communion(really? It sounded like communion to me)she reassured me it was not, O.K. the kids and I went up to the front. On a table next to the candle were two loaves of bread and little juice cups. We were all handed a cup of juice, then they explained that this was the cup of joy, everyone lifted their cups and sang a blessing in Hebrew, then said it in English, it was beautiful! Then they passed around one of the beautiful loaves of bread, everyone took a little piece, lifted it up and sang a blessing, and ate it. They explained this was a reminder of God's provision. The two loaves represented the double portion that the Israelites would gather on the sixth day in preparation, because the seventh day their would be no manna to gather(WOW, neat!). Well, after that we all sat down and opened our Scriptures to special a special section in the Old and New Testaments ~someone came up to the front sang a blessing then read the portion of Scripture aloud(thank goodness in English).

Afterwards, many people came up to talk with us, I remember feeling very welcome! WOW! All the way home I just couldn't stop smiling! What a great experience! That was much different but, in a really wonderful way! I wondered was this more like how they did things in Yeshuas(Jesus)time? All the way home the kids EXCITEDLY kept asking CAN WE PLEASE GO BACK TO THE SINGING AND DANCING CHURCH NEXT WEEK MOM~PLEASE????? I thought how wonderful that my kids were able to come up with such a perfect name for this place! Later I found out that the name of the congregation was BETH SIMCHA and that translates to HOUSE OF JOY! WOW!
SHALOM,
Moira

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Post#5 ~WHAT NOW????~

This post is a continuation from "A MESSIANIC CONGREGATION". To read them all in order you can click above on MY STORY.

So what comes next for us? That night, returning home the Messianic congregation, I tried to explain to my husband what the kids and I had experienced. He could see how excited I was but, he responded great dear(without any enthusiasm). I kept going on and on(I do that)about how different it was, and because he is so wonderful, he let me. But when I was done talking, he thought o.k. that's over and done with, let's get back to normal. So when the following Friday evening came and the kids and I went again, then again & again, finally he decided he better check this out, to see what was going on.

All the while I had been seeking answers to some of the questions I had, my husband had been going through his own spiritual questioning. Both he and I had been hearing some pretty interesting stuff on the christian talk radio. Things that didn't line up with Scripture! It's really amazing how both our ears perked up, as if the Holy Spirit was speaking the same thing to both us through the radio, in different cars at different times of day!

Anyway, with that being said, Chris had allot of questions for the Messianic Pastors too! And boy did we ask them allot of questions!!! Looking back, the really beautiful thing was they took the time and OPENED SCRIPTURE to ANSWER our questions~and the answers had been there the whole time!

Well, Chris wasn't completely convinced that we should make any drastic changes. So we did allot of praying, and continued going to church on Sunday and congregation on Friday evenings. Until it became more and more obvious to us that the church was paling in comparison. We jointly made a decision to stop going to church, we both agreed it had been a long time since any true teaching had taken place there. It was mostly the same watered down message every week, with no conviction.Leaving church seemed like the simple and necessary thing to do but, let me tell you, it was definitely not simple, even though it was very necessary for us!
Have a Blessed day!
Shalom,
Moira

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post#6~REMEMBER THE SABBATH DAY~

(NOTE: This post is a continuation from the post "WHAT NOW???" you can read also ~MY STORY~ posts in order by clicking above)

So, my husband and I made the decision to stop going to church on Sunday's(for many reasons) ~ This was a big change for us! But there was such a hunger and thirsting for more understanding of Scriptural truths, and Hebrew origins. One of those truths was the Sabbath! My whole life I had gone to church on Sunday, never even wondering why? I would look at the 10 Commandments and wonder, why is it we keep all, but the fourth one?

Of course people would say, well, we as Christians, observe the Sabbath on Sundays now! I never questioned this until I was 35 years old! Now, all of a sudden I wanted to know why it was changed, and by whom?

O.K. So you probably know by now we will look at Scripture always first to see what it says(then we can take a look at some history)

First of all there are 137 references to Sabbath in Scripture, I can't possibly put them all in this post, so I will put down a few, an let you investigate it further yourself(I hope you do!)

(NOTE: WHEN READING BELOW, WHEN YOU SEE יהוהTHESE ARE THE ACTUAL HEBREW LETTERS YOOD-HEY-VAV-HEY- The Creators Name)

*Gen 2:3 And Elohim blessed the seventh day and set it apart, because on it He rested from all His work which Elohim in creating had made. (THE 7TH DAY IS BLESSED AND SET APART, BY YHVH)

*Exo 16:23 And he said to them, “This is what יהוה has said, ‘Tomorrow is a rest, a Sabbath set-apart to יהוה. That which you bake, bake; and that which you cook, cook. And lay up for yourselves all that is left over, to keep it until morning.ʼ ”(THIS VERSE SHOWS US THAT WE SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR SABBATH so does *Mar 15:42 And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,)

*Exo 20:8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to set it apart.(REMEMBER WHAT? THE 7TH DAY, NOT JUST ANY OLD DAY)

*Exo 20:10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath1 of יהוה your Elohim. You do not do any work – you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates.(WOW! NOTICE-EVERYONE IS TO REST-EVEN THE STRANGER WITHIN YOUR GATES)

*Exo 31:13 “And you, speak to the children of Yisraʼĕl, saying, ‘My Sabbaths you are to guard, by all means, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, to know that I, יהוה, am setting you apart. (WE ARE TO GUARD IT, IT IS A SIGN BETWEEN THE CREATOR AND ISRAEL, HE SETS US APART!!)

*Exo 31:16 ‘And the children of Yisraʼĕl shall guard the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a everlasting covenant. (AS GRAFTED INTO ISRAEL, THIS MEANS US! JUST HOW LONG IS EVERLASTING??)

*Exo 35:2 “Work is done for six days, but on the seventh day it shall be set-apart to you, a Sabbath of rest to יהוה. Anyone doing work on it is put to death.

*Isa 56:6 “Also the sons of the foreigner who join themselves to יהוה, to serve Him, and to love the Name of יהוה, to be His servants, all who guard the Sabbath, and not profane it, and hold fast to My covenant(THE FOREIGNER TOO!)

*Isa 56:2 “Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who lays hold on it, guarding the Sabbath lest he profane it, and guarding his hand from doing any evil.(HE SAY'S WE ARE BLESSED IF WE GUARD THE SABBATH)

*Act 13:42 And when the Yehuḏim went out of the congregation, the gentiles begged to have these words spoken to them the next Sabbath.(OH,GENTILES~ NEXT SABBATH)

*Act 13:44 And on the next Sabbath almost all the city came together to hear the Word of Elohim.

*Act 15:21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.(TORAH BEING READ)

~ So based on just a few of those 137 SCRIPTURES, I would have to say that, the 7TH DAY is the SABBATH FOREVER!

THE CLINCHER FOR ME WAS THAT IN~ Isaiah 66, It is clear we will be keeping the Sabbath in the future too!(I DO NOT THINK THE FOLLOWING VERSES ARE TALKING ABOUT SUNDAY BEING THE SABBATH DAY, DO YOU?)
*Isa 66:22 “For as the new heavens and the new earth that I make stand before Me,” declares יהוה, “so your seed and your name shall stand.
*Isa 66:23 “And it shall be that from New Moon to New Moon, and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before Me,” declares יהוה.


NOW, let's take a look at who thought it would be a good idea to change what YHVH has put in place.
HERE IS THE SHORT VERSION:

"Chamber's Encyclopedia," 1882 ed., Vol. VIII, p. 401, art: "Sabbath," declares: "By none of the Fathers before the FOURTH CENTURY is it [the first day] identified with the Sabbath; nor is the duty of observing it grounded by them either on the FOURTH COMMANDMENT or on the precept or example of Christ or His apostles. UNQUESTIONABLY THE FIRST LAW, either ecclesiastical or civil, by which the Sabbatical observance of that day [Sunday] is known to have been ordained, is THE EDICT OF CONSTANTINE, 321 A.D., of which the following is a translation: 'Let all judges, inhabitants of the cities, and artificers, REST ON THE VENERABLE DAY OF THE SUN. But in the country, husbandmen may freely and lawfully apply to the business of agriculture; since it often happens that the sowing of corn and the planting of vines cannot be so advantageously performed on any other day.'"

Here is what the "Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge," Vol. IV, pp. 2259-60, art. "Sunday" says: "SUNDAY (dies solis, of the Roman calendar, 'day of the sun', because dedicated to the sun), THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, was ADOPTED by the early Christians as a day of worship ... IT WAS CALLED THE 'LORD'S DAY' ... NO REGULATIONS FOR ITS OBSERVANCE ARE LAID DOWN IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, NOR INDEED, IS ITS OBSERVANCE EVEN ENJOINED. In the second century its observance was universal ... The LORD'S DAY (Sunday) was not a continuation of the Jewish (or God's) SABBATH, WHICH WAS ALSO AT FIRST OBSERVED, but A SUBSTITUTE for it."


"The earliest recognition of the OBSERVANCE OF SUNDAY AS A LEGAL DUTY," admits the "Encyclopaedia Britannica," 11th ed., Vol. 26, p. 95, art. "Sunday," "IS A CONSTITUTION of Constantine in 321 A.D., enacting that all courts of justice, inhabitants of towns and workshops were to be AT REST ON SUNDAY (venerabili die solis), with an exception in favour of those engaged in agricultural labour."

O.K.-So when I looked at all of this information, and more, I was convinced that, for way too many years, I had just been FOLLOWING BLINDLY! So instead, I decided to follow Scripture and let it be my guide! Of course, with the HELP of the RUACH HA KODESH(HOLY SPIRIT)
~Phl 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING.(BELIEVE ME, NOW I DO!)
I hope you found this as interesting as I did!
Shalom,
Moira

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post#7~ONEG,WHAT'S THAT?~

(this post is a continuation from #6'REMEMBER THE SABBATH DAY')

So by this point I knew that the Ruach Ha Kodesh(Holy Spirit) was at work in my heart, I believe HE was opening my eyes to HIS way of doing things! I have never really considered my self a selfish person, but I realized that for far too long I wanted to have my cake and eat it too, in this world. I wanted to be SAVED! and I wanted to make my own rules! Like the old song~"I DID IT, MY WAY".

Well, I was beginning to see what a blessing I had been missing out on, for instance Sabbath vs. Sunday~ to be honest, I really didn't think there would be that much of a difference, boy was I wrong!

You see all the years of going to church on Sundays I felt I wanted to stay and fellowship, hang out and talk about Scripture or the Sermon, but most of the time what happened was, that everybody was in a big hurry to get to the restaurant to beat the rush or they had parties, shopping, games etc..... to get to and had no time to visit afterwards!

My experience with Sabbath was quite the opposite! After the service there was something called an ONEG. Well, I had no idea what this Hebrew word was, but everyone encouraged our family to come to Oneg afterwards. So out of curiosity, we went, come to find out the word means~ 'Joy or Delight of Sabbath)'~. It is a time to FELLOWSHIP and have a MEAL together, WOW! This is what I had wanted for so many years, and here it was, I was shocked, and thrilled at the same time! I felt like I had just been given a HUGE GIFT from YHVH!

So~ from then on our Sabbaths looked something like this: We would arrive at the Messianic Congregation at about 10 a.m. and would leave between 3-4 p.m. We would sit and visit over a potluck meal, talking about Scripture, maybe have a Hebrew lesson or dance class, participate in clean up and go home. It was a full day, and as wonderful as it could be!

So can you see how out of my simple obedience to the Sabbath, I have been blessed beyond my wildest imagination! YHVH, didn't stop there at Wowing me! The more I seek HIM and HIS way's, HE reveals to me more and more of HIS True Character! Helping me to walk in a way that is glorifying to HIM! HalleluYAH!!!!!!
Shalom,
Moira
(to be continued)


~A LITTLE MORE ON~
'ONEG(taken from http://www.wildbranch.org/WOTW/46oneg.htm )

The 'oneg is what generally follows the Shabbat blessings each week. The 'oneg Shabbat, means joy or delight in the Sabbath. Shabbat comes in each week with delight and ends with the more subdued havdalah. Each congregation brings in the joy of Shabbat differently. Many have elaborate parties and much merry making, while others simply sit down to a special meal. This expression of joy and delight celebrates each week the wonders of YHVH's creation. This word comes from the word 'anag, which means pleasure or to surround with delightful conditions. Here are are few examples of the use of this word in scripture.

Mizmor 37:4
"DELIGHT thyself also in YHVH, and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart."

Yesha'yahu 55:1-2
"Ho, every one that thirsts, come to the waters, and he that hath no money; come, buy and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do ye spend money for that which is not bread? And your labor for that which satisfies not? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat that which is good, and let your soul DELIGHT itself in fatness."

Yesh'yahu 58:13-14
"If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day, and call the sabbath a DELIGHT, the holy of YHVH, honorable, and shalt honor Him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words; Then shalt thou DELIGHT thyself in YHVH; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Ya'akov, thy father; for the mouth of YHVH hath spoken it."

Shalom Alecheim!

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#8~PREPARATION~


This is a sort of continuation from "ONEG, WHAT'S THAT?" (To read this series in order click on ~MY STORY~ above)

Preparation? This is something I never gave much thought to before seeking my Hebrew roots. Since we have started keeping Sabbath, it has become part of my lifestyle. Because you can't very well have a day of rest unless you have prepared ahead of time.

In Hebrew thought, the Sabbath preparation 'mood' is much like preparing for the arrival of a SPECIAL BELOVED GUEST: The house is cleaned, the family bathes and dresses up, the best dishes and tableware are set, and a festive meal is prepared.

~SCRIPTURE SAYS WE SHOULD PREPARE FOR SABBATH~

*Exo 16:5 “And it shall be on the sixth day that they shall prepare what they bring in, and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.”(PREPARE TWICE AS MUCH))

*Exd 16:23 And he said unto them, This [is that] which YHVH hath said, To morrow [is] the rest of the holy sabbath unto the YHVH: bake [that] which ye will bake [to day], and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.(BAKE TODAY, FOR TOMORROW)

*Exd 16:25 And Moses said, Eat that to day; for to day [is] a sabbath unto YHVH: to day ye shall not find it in the field. 26 Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, [which is] the sabbath, in it there shall be none.(NOTHING THERE IN THE SABBATH, SO IF YOU WERE NOT PREPARED, YOU DIDN'T EAT)

*Exd 16:29 See, for that YHVH hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.(BREAD OF TWO DAYS)

So maybe this is where people might start screaming LEGALISM! BUT interestingly enough, I have found that YHVH's word is so practical, it is full of hands on mini life lessons to learn, if we choose to see it that way!

Now, I see preparation day as a weekly spiritual check up, it's not just about this one day a week, but about eternity, AM I PREPARED? Am I anticipating Y'shua's return? Or am I in danger of being one of the woman in this parable Y'shua spoke of?

Mat 25:1 ¶ Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five [were] foolish.
3 They that [were] foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, [Not so]; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Is it possible that we could fall asleep in our waiting, and be unprepared for HIS return? It would appear so, all of these women started out with a portion of oil, some were better prepared than others. Is it also possible that not everyone who has received the gift of salvation will respond to this closer walk. Believers who continue to live a worldly, or carnal, lifestyle will not be ready to meet the Bridegroom, then taking a chance of being told "I never knew you".
Mat 7:23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'(LAWLESSNESS)

~THIS CHAPTER IN 2 PETER REMINDS BELIEVERS, HOW WE SHOULD BE LIVING OUT OUR WALK WITH Y'SHUA~ HASTENING HIS COMING, LIVING WITH A SET APART BEHAVIOUR, IN PEAcE, SPOTLESS AND BLAMELESS LIVES.(I included the whole chapter for context)

2Pe 3:1 This is now, beloved ones, the second letter I write to you, in which I stir up your sincere mind, to remember
2 the words previously spoken by the set-apart prophets, and of the command of the Master and Saviour, spoken by your emissaries,
3 knowing this first: that mockers shall come in the last days with mocking, walking according to their own lusts,(OWN LUSTS)
4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all continues as from the beginning of creation.”
5 For they choose to have this hidden from them: that the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by the Word of Elohim,(CHOSE)
6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water.
7 And the present heavens and the earth are treasured up by the same Word, being kept for fire, to a day of judgment and destruction of wicked men.
8 But, beloved ones, let not this one matter be hidden from you: that with יהוה(YHVH) one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 (YHVH)יהוה is not slow in regard to the promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward us, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.(NOT SLOW)
10 But the day of (YHVH)יהוה shall come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with intense heat, and the earth and the works that are in it shall be burned up.
11 Seeing all these are to be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be in set-apart behaviour and reverence, (SET APART BEHAVIOUR)
12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of Elohim, through which the heavens shall be destroyed, being set on fire, and the elements melt with intense heat!(HASTENING HIS COMING)
13 But according to His promise we wait for a renewed heavens and a renewed earth in which righteousness dwells.(A RENEWED EARTH)
14 So then, beloved ones, looking forward to this, do your utmost to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless,(PEACE,SPOTLESS, AND BLAMELESS)
15 and reckon the patience of our Master as deliverance, as also our beloved brother Shaʼul wrote to you, according to the wisdom given to him,
16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them concerning these matters, in which some are hard to understand, which those who are untaught and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do also the other Scriptures.(TWIST TO THEIR OWN DESTRUCTION)
17 You, then, beloved ones, being forewarned, watch, lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the delusion of the lawless,(DELUSIONS OF THE LAWLESS~COULD THIS BE YHVH'S LAW?)
18 but grow in the favour and knowledge of our Master and Saviour (Y'SHUA)יהושע Messiah. To Him be the esteem both now and to a day that abides. Amĕin.

~HERE IS OUR HOPE~
Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.(MADE HERSELF READY!)
8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

To finish, I want to encourage you to pray, seek YHVH's word, persevere and trust! Oh, and be prepared!

Shalom,


__________________________________________
#9~SEEK AND YOU WILL FIND~

Shalom!(this post is a continuation of my story, click above to read them in order, OR to the side for the most recent)
YHVH'S(God's) word is full of promises!! HalleluYAH !!! In this post I want to share some Scripture and a couple of short stories with you.

Did you know that there have been BELIEVERS keeping the Sabbath, and the Feast for hundreds of years and longer, that are not Jewish, or Messianic? I didn't know! Did you also know that these same people do not celebrate Christmas, and Easter? Who are these people? Here's the story~ Some really good friends of mine came out of this particular denomination(World Wide) because, even though they were taught allot more truth than most other denominations, to them there was still something missing. They SOUGHT YHVH(The LORD) with all their hearts, and FOUND their Hebrew roots, the culture and language. They did not covert to Judaism, or become Messianic either,they simply started to learn how Hebrew the Scriptures really are! I can't even begin to tell you what a dramatic impact this has been in their lives, it has made Scripture come alive for their family like never before! Of course they still keep Sabbath and the Feasts, like they always had, only now with better understanding and Zeal!

You may be asking why am I telling you all this? Well, because I find this all very interesting! I never learned ANYTHING about The Feasts of YHVH(God), in 30 something years of going to church???? In fact, I didn't even know there was such things until 6 years ago! Are you starting to see how all of these doctrines have caused serious confusion? Our man made doctrines would like us to believe, "that we cannot read and interpret YHVH'S word for ourselves, that we need a others to do it for us "but that is not true! Scripture says~

1Jo 2:27 As for you, the anointing which you received from him remains in you, and you don't need for anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is no lie, and even as it taught you, you will remain in him.(WHEN WE COME TO KNOW OUR SAVIOR WE HAVE THE INDWELLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND HE IS OUR TEACHER)
28 Now, little children, remain in him, that when he appears, we may have boldness, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
29 If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of him.(WHERE DO WE FIND OUT WHAT RIGHTOUSNESS IS? TORAH=HEBREW WORD FOR INSTRUCTIONS FOR LIVING)

See with our Greek mindset, we hear the word LAW and we think it is a bad word, it must be done away with, when in fact that is the farthestthing from the truth!

2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not listen to the sound doctrine, but, having itching ears, will heap up for themselves teachers after their own lusts;
4 and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside to fables.(THIS IS SAD)

2Cr 11:3 But I am afraid that somehow, as the serpent deceived Havah(Eve's Hebrew name) in his craftiness, so your minds might be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Messiah.(DO YOU KNOW WHAT MESSIAH AND THE DISCIPLES USED TO TEACH OTHERS? TORAH=hEBREW WORD FOR INSTRUCTIONS FOR LIVING)
4 For if he who comes preaches another Yeshua, whom we did not preach, or if you receive a different spirit, which you did not receive, or a different Good News, which you did not accept, you put up with that well enough.

IS THIS THE STATE OF THINGS NOW? I THINK SO!

So why do you think I never knew about The Feasts, and Sabbath? Well for one, because of my own laziness but, I also thought it was good enough to-relying solely on my Pastors at Church to give me all the information I needed to know! And I trusted that they would! But I was never satisfied with their answers so, then by SEEKING the answers to some of these questions I had, for myself, I FOUND out that most pastors teach the doctrine of their denomination, they have to. Some will say things like the LAW has already been fulfilled by Jesus(Yeshua), therefor done away with(or those things were only for the Jew's). Well, they only got the story half right! Yeshua did FULFILL the Spring Feasts~ He was the unleavened(sinless)sacrificial lamb, and the First Fruits, AND There is still so much more to come!!!!

(Here are a couple of verses tha show that they are not "ALL" fulfulled YET. How do I know? Because heaven and Earth haven't passed away YET! As always ~(MY COMMENTS WILL BE IN BOLD PARENTHESISE)

Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
(JOTS AND TITTLES ARE HEBREW LETTERS, THEY ARE WHAT THE ORIGINAL SCROLLS WERE WRITTEN IN= THE SCRIPTURES, and HEAVEN AND EARTH ARE STILL IN PLACE, FOR NOW!)

Mat 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach [them], the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.(COMMANDMENTS~DONE AWAY WITH? NO! FULFILLED COMPLETELY? NOT YET!,DID YOU KNOW IT IS A COMMAND TO KEEP HIS FEASTS?)

If The Feasts were taught in churches, maybe then we could clearly see that Yeshua(Jesus) has fulfilled the Spring Feasts, and has yet to fulfill the Fall Feasts when He YESHUA Returns in Glory~ "ON A FEAST DAY"~(Yom Teruah, Day Of Trumpets) At the sounding of the last(seventh) Trump! Isn't that exciting!!!!!

(HERE ARE A COUPLE OF VERSES THAT SHOW US THESE TRUTHS)
1Cr 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.(DO YOU SEE THE WORDS LAST TRUMP HERE? I DO!!!)

1Th 4:16 Because of our Adon(Lord), with a command and with the voice of the chief angel and with the trumpet of Eloah(El), will descend from heaven and the dead who are in Messiah will rise up first, (did you see? TRUMPET!!)

Rev 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of Eloah(El) should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.(THIS SEVENTH ANGEL IS SOUNDING, THE LAST TRUMP)

There is also further Scripture to show that we will be doing these Feast in the Millennium, even in the new heaven and earth:
(SUGGESTION~ IT WOULD BE GOOD TO READ ALL OF ISAIAH 66)
Isa 66:22 ¶ For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith YHVH(the LORD), so shall your seed and your name remain.

Isa 66:23 And it shall come to pass, [that] from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith YHVH(the LORD).(DID YOU KNOW THAT THE SABBATH IS A FEAST?)

(FOR THE SAKE OF CONTEXT READ Zech. 14)
Zec 14:16 ¶ And it shall come to pass, [that] every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, YHVH Tzava'ot(the LORD of hosts), and to keep the feast of tabernacles.(KEEP THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES)

Zec 14:17 And it shall be, [that] whoso will not come up of [all] the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, YHVH Tzava'ot(the LORD of hosts), even upon them shall be no rain.( IF YOU DON'T COME YOU WILL HAVE~NO RAIN)

Zec 14:18 And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that [have] no [rain]; there shall be the plague, wherewith YHVH(the LORD) will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.(AGAIN NO RAIN AND PLAGUES)

I had been SEEKING something MORE, something REAL, something that filled in all the gaps, and answered all my questions. So, when I was shown YHVH Feasts for the first time, at a Messianic Congregation, and they were explained to me, it was as if everything just started to fall into place! It was as if someone dropped YHVH plans in my lap! ~But then with those answers, came different questions~ like: why didn't I know any of this? Did my pastors know this? Why do do we follow man made hiliday's instead of YHVH HOLY DAY'S?

How very interesting Scripture is, if we take the time to study(SEEK)! It has always been there just waiting for us to FIND! But the world and all of it's doctrines, oh, and the enemy, would like to keep us preoccupied, confused or lazy, even putting things off till tomorrow.

Look at what it says here in Mathew:
Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of Eloah(God), and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.(WHAT THINGS? TRUTH, WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING ECT....)

Mat 7:7 ¶ Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:(KEY WORD-SEEK! DON'T THINK THAT YOU WILL FIND MUCH WITH OUT SEEKING!)

Mat 7:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.(THESE WORDS ARE A PROMISE FROM OUR LOVING HEAVENLY FATHER!)

*Another short story~ A friend of mine has a blog called "Our Whole Hearted Family" and a friend of hers SOUGHT out to prove her wrong about the Feats, Sabbath and other things, but what she and her husband FOUND was truth and revelation from Our Heavenly Father instead! Cool!!! I met this wonderful lady and her family recently, they are now zealous for the truth, and walking according to Scripture! There is a link to their blog on the left column it is called "The Good Way" Please check it out! They are just another example of SEEKERS who FOUND!

Well, anyway it is not for me to convince you of anything, or change your mind, just to share with you some of my own thoughts, feelings and experiences! I pray that you study these things out for yourself. The Ruach Ha Kodesh(Holy Spirit)will complete the work He has started in us, He promises too!


Have a BLESSED day!
Shalu Shalom Yerushalayim(Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem)


#10 Let The Refining Begin!

Shalom, I know it's been a while since I have written anything in addition to "My Story", there is still so much to write about to get caught up to what YHVH is doing in my life today. Anyway~I am just going to start right where I left off ~ I hope that works out! To read earlier posts CLICK HERE.

Our family had been attending Beth Simcha(House of Joy) for about two or three years, all the while being discipled. We learned what it means to truly be grafted into Israel, and what our true identity is in Messiah. We experienced JOY and PEACE like never before in our walk, and the friends we made in the congregation became like family to us. I think we would have been very happy to stay at Beth Simcha forever.

For the first time in our married lives we felt we were being blessed financially. This was after my husband started turning down work on Saturdays, in order to keep the seventh day Sabbath Holy(set apart) as Scripture commands. He was soon given a long overdue raise that meant he actually was working less hours and making more money. YHVH was good to bless us for our simple heartfelt obedience to HIS word! What this meant to our family was that we were able to be YHVH's hands and feet for the first time after years of being on the receiving end of HIS abundant mercy.

My husband and I had always talked about wanting to move away from California(where we were both born and raised). With ALLOT of equity in our home, of course"we thought" now would be a great time! So we took a trip to visit his parents in Cottage Grove Oregon. On the way there we fell in love with a town 2 hours south of Cottage Grove, in Grants pass. We started looking at purchasing a garden nursery and home, and by the time we left we put an offer on a home with a contingency that our home must sell first.

We rushed home, put our house on the market and were confident it will sell quickly! The market was really good and our home was worth more than twice what we purchased it for. When it didn't sell right away we didn't catch on that maybe we had made our own plans an not asked YHVH if it was what HE wanted for us. Months went by, with no sale, and it was time to either re-sign another listing agreement or take the house off the market. We were just about to resign with another realtor, when some friends of ours said they felt very strongly that the Lord wanted us to sit and wait, not list, not move, just wait. So even though it seemed strange we did, we waited! AND WAITED! It seemed like forever and ever. We were definitely not expecting what happened next~

While waiting~my Husband hurt his back really bad, on the job, and needed months of healing. During that time we started dipping into our savings to pay our bills. When he was finally able bodied and ready to go back to work, there was NO more WORK in his field in California any longer. The recession had started, and it was going fast and furious! We were losing equity daily at this point.

We had no choice but to completely go through our savings trying to keep up with everything. We did finally get behind in all of our bills, including our mortgage, and no one was willing to wait to be paid! Meanwhile my husband had been taking odd jobs just to try to keep our utilities turned on, when he sliced his hand open(barely missing a main artery in his wrist)! YET~AGAIN he was unable to work, what is going on????  At this point we were starting to question this "wait" word we received. Is all of this now the Father saying it's now time to move??? Well, it looked as though if we didn't do something, we were going to be forced to move.

Again seeking HIS will be done, we decided to put a fleece before YHVH, ~still not knowing~ do we stay or do we go?????? One way or the other the reality was we were going to lose our house. The fleece had three very specific parts, and of course an end date. We continued to pray, actually asking our entire congregation to be praying with us. The two weeks were finally up, and NONE of the three very specific things pertaining to the fleece happened, so to us it was very clear we had our answer. We are to list our house and move to Oregon, so we did just that! At this point the equity that we had in the house was GONE, we had no choice but to list our house as a SHORT SALE(but at least it wasn't a foreclosure).

Interestingly enough, over the last few months my husband kept receiving letters saying he did not qualify for disability. One day, after listing our house for short sale, we received yet another letter stating this ALONG with FIVE CHECKS form their office. WHAT???? Is this a mistake??? How can they tell us we are ineligible and follow that up with five checks?? We were baffled, BUT the amount just happened to be the amount we were going to need to make a move to Oregon. Only we weren't going to be buying a home, we would be moving to Cottage grove and in with my in laws.

So what was all of this about? I NOW believe it was all for our good! You see, looking back it is still unclear what might have happened, had we not listened to our friends telling us to wait. Was the word from really from YHVH? I guess we'll never know, and it doesn't really matter, all that matters is the end result!

The world may say we lost everything, years of work, savings, good credit all down the tubes! But we feel we gained something that money can't buy! A new perspective! We realized that had we made a bunch of money on the sale of our house, "WE" would have moved where "WE" wanted to(Grants Pass), purchased a Nursery and "THOUGHT" to live out our days in Oregon, in happiness. But that wasn't YHVH's plan! AND we did after all pray HIS will be done!!!!

 

 
 Next time my story will pick up in Oregon! We sure do learn allot there! 

Shalom,
It's been awhile AGAIN! There are sooooo many things that keep me away from the computer these days,  so now that I have a free moment to myself, let me try to pick up where I left off~

After so many lessons learned in California, I think my husband and I looked at Oregon as if it was going to be a breeze, possibly a season of rest, it did start out that way!

The very first thing we wanted to do is look for a Messianic Congregation, where we could spend our Sabbath an make new relationships. We found a small congregation with a handful of families. We immidately started enjoying all of the activities~weekly dance lessons, Hebrew lessons, Bat Mitzvah class and helping with the details of a Purim carnival, Passover Seder's etc.... I would say the first few months were very blessed!

Things started to pop up, here and there, that I had never heard of or experienced before. LIKE WHAT? Well one was the phrase~ SHOMER SHABBAT(or Shomer Shabbos), huh? I had never heard this term before and I had absolutely NO idea what it meant.

So to break it down Scripture says:
Exd 31:16 'Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations [as] a perpetual covenant.

Lets look at these highlighted words:

The Hebrew word used here is:

Shall keep~ STRONGS# H8104 שמר shamar

The Definition is:

1) to keep, guard, observe, give heed

a) (Qal)

1) to keep, have charge of

2) to keep, guard, keep watch and ward, protect, save life

a) watch, watchman (participle)

3) to watch for, wait for

4) to watch, observe

5) to keep, retain, treasure up (in memory)

6) to keep (within bounds), restrain

7) to observe, celebrate, keep (sabbath or covenant or commands), perform (vow)

8) to keep, preserve, protect

9) to keep, reserve

b) (Niphal)

1) to be on one's guard, take heed, take care, beware

2) to keep oneself, refrain, abstain

3) to be kept, be guarded

c) (Piel) to keep, pay heed

d) (Hithpael) to keep oneself from

Now this is a beautiful definition, right! I especially like guard and watchman :)

Observe~STRONG'S# h6213 עשה `asah 

1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make

a) (Qal)

1) to do, work, make, produce

a) to do

b) to work

c) to deal (with)

d) to act, act with effect, effect

2) to make

a) to make

b) to produce

c) to prepare

d) to make (an offering)

e) to attend to, put in order

f) to observe, celebrate

g) to acquire (property)

h) to appoint, ordain, institute

i) to bring about

j) to use

k) to spend, pass

b) (Niphal)

1) to be done

2) to be made

3) to be produced

4) to be offered

5) to be observed

6) to be used

c) (Pual) to be made

2) (Piel) to press, squeeze

NOTE: In the following verse in Deuteronomy this word "asah" is used as "KEEP"~

Deuteronomy 5:15 And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and [that] YHVH(the LORD) thy El(God) brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore YHVH(the LORD) thy El(God) commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.

All in all not to terribly hard to understand, right!

So why did I bring this up? Well because, at this time there were becoming some dividing lines made over these SHOMER SHABBAT rules.
~To buy a candy bar out of a vending machine or not? 
To let the kids run or not? To have a craft for the kids on Sabbath or not?  
To set up chairs for service or not? 
Can we go fishing or not? 
Can we play video games, watch a movie, talk on the phone or not? 
looking back I would say that this was the very small start, of the very big division to come.
 
I did not know at the time that there were some very STRICT RULES written in a book called the Talmud/Mishnah about how to KEEP the sabbath.  What is the Talmud/Mishnah, this is what I was wondering?

Many will say it is the commentary to Torah, some will say it is the ORAL TORAH, I just call it what it is~ an addition to Torah!(to read what the Rabbi's rules are CLICK HERE Scroll down to Shamor: To Observe and read the list) OR CLICK HERE for a different source 

Now, I should clarify, that I do agree with some of the things on the Rabbi's list, as long as they are based on Scripture~  
LIKE: no kindling a fire (Exodus 35:3) or are no brainers 
Like: don't tear down a building( I think would fall under the categories of work, don't you?)

BUT some tf the others on their list~
Like: no tying and untying(does this mean you have to wear slip on shoes on Shabbat?), or writing two letters or erasing two letters(Shabbat is when I do some of my best note taking!) , HUH??????????? Who makes this stuff up????

 Anyway, my point is this, we need to know what Scripture says, study and pray about it out ourselves, and not rely on what others do or say. Why? Because I started to realize that everyone has an opinion, and the only one that I am interested in, Is THE FATHERS!

More to come ..........


Shalom,