My mother passed away April 1, 2015 but her birthday was on April 9th. If my mom would still be living on this earth, she would be 99 years in 2024! She got to hold her new 10-day old great granddaughter, Naomi. My daughter, Theresa came because Larry's mom passed away three days after Naomi's birth. That was quite a year of loss for our family, yet a young, little flame received mantles that were transferred to her. Praying for Theresa's, Naomi's and my life to continue God's covenant as life moves forward.
And with the solar eclipse happening, it has been interesting to learn how God speaks simultaneously to those who follow His Word and timing in the Torah portions and to those who do not. I remember looking through the solar eclipse glasses and seeing the sad face : ( and later as the moon continued moving forward, I saw a smiley : ) face. I have been thinking about the darkness and how we perceive it in Western culture verses Middle Eastern culture. I was surprised how lots of people on our street celebrated the darkness as the moon darkened our earth. But I wondered if they knew what or why they were celebrating? In Hebraic culture, originally things were put into God's order on Mt. Sinai through Moses. But nations reversed things in our world. An example is reading the Hebrew language from right to left.
Timing of Weekly Torah Portions
During the week of March 17-23, 2024, the festival of Purim happened. Esther was hidden (in secret, darkness) from the Persian culture of King Ahasuerus until it was the right time for her to rise up and protect her people. The following week was Parashah 25, Leviticus 6-8, Tzav, which means "to give an order." It had to do with an olah (burnt) offering upon the altar "all night long," a consuming fire. A burnt offering consumes all negatives (in darkness) toward another person and its fire brings elevation to both in their relationship. God reveals specific instructions for the priests (Cohen) to follow and fulfill. The priests lived out a high calling of atoning for God's people.
In the third week, March 31 - April 6th, this portion is called Shemini, which means Eighth, Leviticus 9-11. The number eight symbolically means "new beginning." After all the work on the tabernacle was completed, the first day of worship finally arrived! However in the midst of excitement and all the hustle bustle, a tragedy occurred. Nadab and Abihu, each took their censer and offered unauthorized (strange, self-centered) fire before the LORD. So their walk in darkness even though they were given the privilege of the priesthood status, God's shekinah light of truth carried ultimate holiness for life. Both sons lives were taken out of the holy of holies by death (darkness)! God's kadosh (holiness) will not be defiled.
Here is where it gets interesting with the next Torah portion. This week of
April 7-13, is Tazria, which means she conceives, Leviticus 12-13. God has Moses write down the Laws of Niddah for a woman. I don't know all of what this means, even though I have conceived and born four children. Part of this process refers to her being "set apart" and for God to sanctify her. According to God's rules, there is a difference for her during the time of purification in birthing a male (circumcision) and a female (discharge of blood). Circumcision on the eighth day has to do with becoming new, clean and holy before God. And most believers are aware there is "power in the blood" for life and death. Hebrew culture uses God's template to elevate the moral standards and divine order in marriage and reproducing life on earth as it is in heaven.
But the womb is a dark place for conceiving and birthing life. Transformation happens during 40 weeks within the secret place. And after the baby is released into the new earth world, physical systems literally reverse. Even the placenta is expelled because it is no longer needed to nourish the little life inside her. You are a miracle of Life! God counts life at conception and during the union with the male seed and with the female womb working together. Today I discovered two excellent videos, which helps the viewer "witness the creation process" of life through the Master Creator. Please share this blog with someone so that it may make a difference in choosing to birth life verses choosing to abort life.
Lastly I was thinking of the ninth plague before Pharaoh would "Let God's people go!" Yahweh said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.” Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days. They didn’t see one another, and nobody rose from his place for three days; but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings. Exodus 10:21-23 https://www.chabad.org > holidays > Passover
As believers today we get to celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of Yeshua and the second perpetual feast, Passover in Leviticus 23:4-8. God wants us and future generations to remember what He did. An interesting article, which lunar eclipses happened both at birth and death of Yeshua at 1 BC and April 3 AD 33. https://bible.ca > archeology > jesus-christ-died Lunar eclipses address the nation of Israel and solar eclipses address all other nations. As I mentioned earlier, GOD simultaneously can communicate to all of us through astronomy science, the weather, and eclipses.
Passover begins the evening of April 22-23, 2024. We are traveling to Parker, Colorado to participate in the Community Passover dinner celebration and leadership conference through stbm.org. After we return, we would like to invite you and your family to a local Passover Seder Community dinner on May 4, 2024 from Noon-2 pm. It is held at Comfort Inn 3700 Speedway Drive Findlay, Ohio. Children 12 years and under are free and the cost is $40 per plate. Please RSVP by April 29, 2024. It is a beautiful experience, especially for new people. You are more than welcome to stay for the service after the Seder meal. Register @ www.belovedunderhiswings.com
Seder means "Order." God is literally preparing Israel, the remnant of all nations and our world unfolding the Melchizedek Order. God is causing the governmental, supreme court prayer of His Will to be legally on earth as it is in heaven. It is how Jesus taught the disciples to pray the Our Father. Below is a flyer for your convenience.
Thank you for listening! Excited to seeing you and yours!