Fires in Israel

As the Jewish holiday of Hanukah has begun this week, a serious national crisis is unfolding in northern Israel. "More than 12,000 northern Israel residents were being evacuated from their homes as a massive fire continued to rage Thursday night," reports Ynet News. The fire, which broke out near the Druze village of Usfiya in the North on Thursday morning, took the lives of 40 prison guards and injured dozens more.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak spoke with the chief of staff and ordered the army to provide all the forces necessary to extinguish the fire that was raging in the Carmel forest and to care for the wounded. Interior Minister Eli Yishai instructed his office to move firefighter forces from all over the country to the North to help gain control of the fire. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his staff traveled Thursday evening to the area of the blaze, in order to be on top of the situation from the field. Speaking earlier in Jerusalem, he said, "we have never known a tragedy of this scope."

PLEASE PRAY:

*For the fires to be contained and put out quickly
*For the Israelis who have been evacuated from their homes to be comforted and to have adequate housing and all the supplies they need
*For no further evacuations to be necessary
*For other countries to provide Israel needed assistance in firefighting
*For believers in Israel to be able to love their neighbors in real and practical ways during this crisis

Thank you!!

Greetings from Israel

Shalom from Israel!

We are visiting the Galilee area, Tel Aviv, and Jerusalem, enjoying the land and conducting business meetings. During this thanksgiving week, we are so grateful, thankful, and blessed by Yahweh for the calling and privilege to run Abba Oil. Thank you to our customers, intercessors, friends and family for supporting the ministry of His Kingdom!

Month of Av

This past Monday, July 12th, was the first day of "Av", the fifth month in the Hebrew Biblical calendar. This date is specifically mentioned in Numbers 33:38 as the day on which Aaron, the High Priest died. This is a month which is looked upon with sobriety by many Jewish people—from the first to the ninth, many enter into a form of fasting by abstaining from eating meat.

The three-week period between the 17th of Tammuz and the 9th of Av (July 20th this year) is when the First Temple was destroyed and has sometimes been referred to as "Bein haMetzarim"—between the straits. Lamentations 1:3 states, "All her persecutors overtake her between the dire straits."

Because of the many calamities that have occurred to the Jewish people throughout history during or surrounding this period of time, several key leaders in the land of Israel and in the global prophetic and prayer movements see this as a critical time for prayers of protection.

A Time of Attacks

The following are among some of the verifiable events that have taken place within the month of Av itself:

• 586 B.C. & 70 C.E.: Both the first and second Temples in Jerusalem were destroyed during this month.

• 1492, 7th of Av: King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella expelled all Jews who refused conversion from Spain.

• 1929, 17th of Av: 67 Jewish adults and children were massacred by Muslim Arabs in Hebron.

• 1994, 10th of Av: Muslim Arabs bombed the Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, killing 86 and wounding more than 300—the deadliest attack in the Diaspora since the Holocaust.

• 2005, 10th of Av: thousands of Jews began to be forcibly expelled from 25 towns and settlements in the Gaza Strip and Northern Samaria, as part of the "Disengagement Plan."

Many "noted seers" have consistently seen this period of time as a season when demonic dark forces have historically sought to take advantage against God's covenant land and people of Israel. This calls for special watchfulness over Israel and Jewish people in the nations, bringing them before the "Father of Lights" according to James 1:17. With this in mind, we are emphasizing special prayer for Israel during the Hebrew month of Av.

Although the name Av is actually a Babylonian name, adopted during Judah's captivity, it happens to bear the same spelling and pronunciation as the Hebrew word for Father. As we pray in our Global Prayer Storm over the land and people at the beginning of this Hebrew month, we can remind God of His word as found in a verse from Jeremiah 3:4: Will you not from this time cry to Me, "My Father, You are the guide of my youth?"

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY:

• That Israel be protected from evil that seeks an occasion to be released against her during these three weeks and throughout this Fifth Month.

• Pray Psalm 118:5: Out of the strait (metzar) I called to Ya (the LORD). Ya answered me in a wide-open place...

*courtesy of James Goll

July Testimonies

I received the hyssop oil as a gift a few months ago and had only used it once to anoint myself when I was sick. I stored it in my drawer and almost forgot about it. My husband and I opened up our home for prayer last night and the Lord told me to grab it out of my drawer. I opened the bottle in the room where we were meeting to pray and somehow spilled it all over my hands, and a good portion of it spilled on to the floor. As soon as this happened, a tangible prescence of God filled the room and we were all deeply touched by the power and prescence of God! It was truly awesome to have this experience! I will be purchasing more ASAP.

~

The Lord truly blessed us as we were part of an annual Mother*Daughter Gala earlier this year. We had been in prayer about what gift would be perfect for each of the guests who attended. When we received our answer, it was to give anointing oil. So, we got the anointing oil fragrances Henna and Pomegranate. It was so special. One mother who had not used anointing oil in a long time received one of the gifts and was so blessed. She just kept saying how beautiful the fragrance was and how she was going to use it for everything.

~

A young little girl heard how her little brother was not feeling well, so she got one of the oils and put it on his forehead to pray for him. It is so beautiful how the oil was sweet and used for so many different reasons. Thank you Abba for your ministry. It truly touches many. Love you much!!

~

TESTIMONIES

I purchased from Abba a Frankincense & Myrrh mixture of Bath Salts and Oil. I love, love, love it! It's absolutely heavenly and so wonderful for my skin! It was the salt/oil scrub. Your products are amazing! I received my shipment in about four days from the order date! If heaven smells anything like this, I'm so glad I'll be there, and to smell Jesus' robes of cassia, aloes, and myrrh! Thank you for your amazing products!
~Sue


I received the Ketubah as a gift from a Sister-in-Christ. I didn't want to use it at first because it was such a precious gift to me. When I ran out of my other anointing oil, I had to open it and begin using it. I always anoint my children, husband, myself, our home, items, and also when I pray and spend time with the Lord. There is a significance in the sensitivity to the Lord's presence. My children have been able to sleep much better during the night (they used to wake up in the middle of the night at times.) There is a sense of peace in the home when I walk into our side of the house. It has been such a blessing, and I give God all the Glory and Praise for all of His blessings!
~Stephanie

Pentecost ~ Shavuot

On the Jewish Calendar, this day is known as Shavuot meaning “Weeks”. Today the Jews celebrate the anniversary when God gave Israel the Torah at Mount Sinai. Since the Feast of Passover until now Jews have been counting for 49 days and or 7 weeks (Counting of the Omar) and today marks the end of the counting of 50 days. The 49 days counted until today are preparation and anticipation of God's word.

On Passover the Jewish people were freed from their enslavement to Pharaoh... and 50 days later on Shavuot they were given the Torah. On Passover Christians celebrated the forgiveness of our sins and the promise of eternal life through Christ's death, burial and resurrection... and now 50 days later on Pentecost, we celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Outside of Israel, Shavuot is celebrated for 2 days on the 6^th and 7^th days of Sivan. Churches around the world will celebrate Pentecost (the Acts chapter two birthing of the catholic Church in Jerusalem) on this coming Sunday, May 23^rd.

This coming Pentecost Sunday is the annual Global Day of Prayer. On this coming Sunday millions of people around the world will gather in stadiums, churches and homes for repentance and prayer. The Global Day of Prayer started 10 years ago on Pentecost Sunday in South Africa and now includes 220 nations. This annual “Feast of First Fruits” prayer offering to the Lord is a foretaste of the feast to come. Through a global and unified prayer movement God is preparing the bride of Christ for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon all flesh.

The Shavuot celebration is the celebration of the wheat harvest and the ripening of the first fruits. This is a time for making a wheat offering to the Lord in the celebration of the Feast of First Fruits. There are Biblical times and cycles for special giving unto the Lord... and we will grow in the Lord through our sacrificial giving. If there are ministries that have been on your heart and you have been thinking about giving them a special offering... now would be the time to do that. The Lord speaks powerfully to us through our prayerful giving.

Meals during this holiday are traditionally based on fruit, vegetables and dairy products.

The book of Ruth (deeply moving story of love and covenant) is read during the Feast of First Fruits. God's Holy Spirit is the only capable Kinsman Redeemer in all the world. Now is the time to re-read and reflect on this amazing book... and to pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon all flesh (Joel 2).

May the Lord speak to your heart as you pray and seek Him during the Feast of First Fruits.

*info from Lee Behnken Ministries

Passover: Doorposts

Exodus 12:7-13

And they shall take some of the blood and pit it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it. Then they shall eat the flesh on that night; roasted in fire, with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. Do not eat it raw, nor boiled at all with water, but roasted in fire--its head with its legs and its entrails. You shall let non of it remain until morning, and what remains of it until morning you shall burn with fire. And thus you shall eat it: with a belt on your waist, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. So you shall eat it in haste. It is the LORD's Passover.

For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

Matthew 26:28

For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Matthew 27:25

And all the people answered and said, "His blood be on us and on our children."

Passover: Blood

Exodus 12:5-6

Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats. Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight.

Matthew 27:45, 50

Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"

And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.

Passover: Binding

PESACH

The Passover Instituted

EXODUS 12:1-6

Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, "This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you.

Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying, 'On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household. And if the household is too small for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next to his house take it according to the number of the persons; according to each man's need you shall make your count for the lamb.

Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats. Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight'."

Matthew 26:47, 50

And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people... Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him.

Testimonies

"Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them." Psalm 119:129

John 8:17 "It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true."

"...when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed." 2Thess. 1:10

"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony..." Rev. 12:11.

Wow! What a release from heaven above. I've been anointing myself many times per day with the Pomegranate oil. I feel like the many curses have been broken from depression, anger toward my father since a child, bitterness and is in the process of healing me with an increased abundance of Joy, Peace, and over-all "Presence of God." I can hardly wait to use this in my Sunday School class! I am also praying for health in your family and deliverance from attacks of the devil, to set you free from any and all curses that satan has afflicted you with...in the Name of Jesus! ...I am considering selling your products as a business because so many people need them in their lives. I believe in anointing with oil now more than ever before as I see the differance in my own life.

~J.C.

My order of your eleven oil samples arrived today and I cannot tell you how delighted I am! These oils smell fabulous! I will definitely be ordering more of the specific ones that I like. Thank you for the prompt service and the obvious quality of your products.

~Karen

Be BLESSED in the name of Yeshua!

Purim

PURIM

Adar 14 ~ February 28, 2010

Historically:

The Persian empire of the 4th century BC extended over 127 lands, and all the Jews were its subjects. When King Ahasuerus had his wife, Queen Vashti, executed for failing to follow his orders, he orchestrated a beauty pageant to find a new queen. A Jewish girl, Hadassah (Esther), found favor in his eyes and became the new queen—though she refused to divulge the identity of her nationality.

Meanwhile, the anti-Semitic Haman was appointed prime minister of the empire. Mordechai, the leader of the Jews (and Hadassah's cousin) defied the king's orders and refused to bow to Haman. Haman was incensed and convinced the king to issue a decree ordering the extermination of all the Jews on the 13th of Adar—a date chosen by a lottery Haman made. Purim means "lots." The name commemorates the lots that Haman cast to choose the day most suitable for the destruction of the Jews.

Mordechai galvanized all the Jews, convincing them to repent, fast and pray to G-d. Meanwhile, Hadassah asked the king and Haman to join her for a feast. At the feast, Hadassah revealed to the king her Jewish identity. Haman was hanged, Mordechai was appointed prime minister in his stead, and a new decree was issued—granting the Jews the right to defend themselves against their enemies.

On the 13th of Adar the Jews mobilized and killed many of their enemies. On the 14th of Adar they rested and celebrated.

Currently:

History always repeats itself. Especially for the Jews. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini this week again threatened to destroy Israel and warned that Iran will unveil a "punch" that will stun the infidels in the West. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has announced that Iran will enrich part of its uranium stockpile to 20%, moving steadily and aggressively to creating weapons-grade uranium capable of producing nuclear bombs. Now is the time for us to get on our faces and seek the Lord's grace and mercy for Israel, Iran and the people of the middle east.

Observances:

~Reading of the Megillah (Book of Esther), which recounts the story of the Purim miracle.

~Giving money gifts to the poor.

~Sending gifts of food to friends.

~A festive Purim feast. It is also customary for children to dress up in disguising costumes.

*information taken from Chabad.org and November Communications

Healing

Our granddaughter

Madalene Grace Hodges

was diagnosed on Sept 4th with T1DM: Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (an incurable disease). This type of juvenile diabetes requires multiple insulin shots a day in addition to multiple finger pricks for blood sugar testing. She is 3.5 years old.

Our family has many people around the world praying for her--a blessing for which we are so grateful. We are seeking the throne of Our God Most High, Jehovah Rapha, for a total restoration of her health. Here is what we believe and are pursuing in the natural and spiritual worlds:

1. It is not God's will for us to live with disease. His will is clearly stated throughout His word--He wills us to have health and life.

~Jer. 33:6 "Behold, I will bring it health and healing; I will heal them and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth."

~Jer. 30:11 "For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds."

~Is. 57:19 "Says the Lord, 'And I will heal him'."

~2 Kings 20:5 "I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears, surely I will heal you."

~Matt 8:7 "Jesus said to him, 'I will come and heal him'."

2. Yeshua healed everyone who came to Him and asked.

~Luk3 6:19 "Whole multitudes sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all."

~Matt 4:23 "Jesus went about all Galilee, healing all kinds of sicknesses and all kinds of disease."

~Isaiah 53:5 "By His stripes we are healed."

3. The same power of healing is available for us today as it was when Yeshua walked the earth.

~Ex. 15:26 "For I am the Lord who heals you."

~Heb. 13:8 "He is the same yesterday, today, and forever."

~Psalm 119: "Your Word is truth."

~Titus 1:2 "God cannot tell a lie."

~Luke 1:37 "For with God nothing will be impossible."

4. We believe. It is vitally important to believe that God will heal--not just that He can.

~Mark 9:23 "Jesus said to him, 'If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes'."

~Prov. 23:7 "For as a man believes in his heart, so is he."

~James 1:6 "But let him ask in faith with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind."

~Rom. 14:5 "Let each be fully convinced in his own mind."

~Psalm 41:11 "Because my enemy [sickness & disease] does not triumph over me."

5. We speak. It is imperative to speak God's promises and to speak with positive language every day.

~Prov. 18:21 "Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and he who loves it shall eat of its fruit."

~Rom. 4:17 "God, who gives life to the dead, calls those things which do not exist as though they did."

~Joel 3:10 "Let the weak say, 'I am strong'."

~Psalm 103:3 "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities and heals all your diseases."

6. We act. Our outward actions must be the same as our inward belief. There cannot be any doubleminded nature. We walk in anticipatory hope for the day of total restoration.

~Psalm 31:24 "Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord."

~Rom. 15:13 "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing."

~James 5:15 "And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up."

~Rom. 8:37 "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us."

In addition to proclaiming God's word over Madalene, we are careful to refrain from placing invisible shackles on her with our words and attitudes. We do not call her a diabetic, as that is not her identity nor her destiny. With every injection both she and her mom declare: "I am whole, I am healthy, I am healed!" We do believe that the healing work has already been accomplished, and that the Lord has a specific timing for the manifestation to be revealed. Our prayer is that many people would come to the saving knowledge of Yeshua through her testimony! We eagerly anticipate sharing that news with you!

January Testimonies

Happy New Year!

We are so happy and blessed to continually hear good reports concerning Abba anointing oil. God has richly blessed us and many others through His holy oil. May these testimonies bring you joy and encouragement for 2010. Shalom!

Dear Friend, I just had to write and tell you that I used the 1ml of Frankincense and Myrrh and I don't know if I have ever smelled anything more wonderful. I ordered a 2oz bottle tonight because I just could not wait. Thank you so much for such a beautiful and blessed oil !! God bless you.

~Caroline

This was given to me as a blessing. I first received a sample of the Abba Oil frankincense and myrh on New Years Eve. Well, about 3-4 months ago I had a dream and this is what went on in the dream. There was an altar-call for prayer around the pulpit. When I kneeled on my knees around the pulpit, there was a green leaf hanging off of it. The olive oil slid from the leaf and I was saturated. The olive oil saturated me so much, every time I wiped my face it kept coming. Although this was a dream I actually smelled the scent of olive oil in this dream. I do not believe in coincidence, so Abba Oil is just confirmation for me regarding my dream. I have never heard of this website until the sample was giving to me as a gift. Yes, I did order some oils, and will also be ordering a prayer shawl as well. I thank God for Abba Oil.

~Chaka

Christmas hymns

In the Christmas hymn "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing", there is this verse:

Hail the Son of Righteousness!

Light and life to all he brings,

Ris'n with healings in His wings.

The Hebrew word for “wings” is very interesting. It is the word kanaph. What is interesting is that we find this word in another place where it means “corners.” Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel: Tell them to make tassels on the corners [kanaph] of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue thread in the tassels of the corners [kanaph]" (Numbers 15:37-38). This is the garment that came to be known as the tallit, a prayer shawl. It was a rectangle of cloth with tassels at each corner (kanaph). Each tassel contained a ribbon of blue (a color symbolic of heaven). It was a symbol of the covenant, a reminder of the commandments of God. In Hebrew, it is called a tzitzit and refers to a fringe, a tassel, a lock (such as a lock of hair)—a wing-like projection.

Malachi 4:2 says, "For you who fear My name, the Sun of Righteousness will arise with healing in His wings (kanaph)". Amazingly, more than 400 years after this was written the prophecy was fulfilled. Matthew 9:20-21: "And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem on His garment. For she said to herself, 'If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well'." She touched Yeshua's garment tassels, the kanaph or wings, where healing radiated out to her.

Look at the names of Yeshua in another Christmas hymn, "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel":

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory over the grave.

O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.

O come, O come, great Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times once gave the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.

O come, Thou Root of Jesse’s tree,
An ensign of Thy people be;
Before Thee rulers silent fall;
All peoples on Thy mercy call.

O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.

Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel has come to thee, O Israel.

Festival of Lights

Chanukah

December 11-18, 2009

On eve of Kislev 25, the eight day Festival of Light begins, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil.

History:

More than twenty-one centuries ago, the Holy Land was ruled by the Seleucids (Syrian-Greeks), who sought to forcefully Hellenize the people of Israel. Against all odds, a small band of faithful Jews defeated one of the mightiest armies on earth, drove the Greeks from the land, reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and rededicated it to the service of God.

When they sought to light the Temple's menorah, they found only a single cruse of olive oil that had escaped contamination by the Greeks; miraculously, the one-day supply burned for eight days, until new oil could be prepared under conditions of ritual purity.*

Theme:
Chanukah’s theme is "miracles". During Chanukah Jesus spoke of His miracles: "If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him" (John 10:37-38). Jesus wanted the people of his day to see His miracles and believe in Him as a result. His miracles point to his divine and messianic identity. In this way Yeshua personifies the message of Chanukah: God actively involved in the affairs of his people. Chanukah reminds us that God is a God of miracles, not just of concept and religious ideals. He has broken through into human history and continues to do so today.**

Messianic Significance:
Jesus preached three sermons in which he declared Himself the “light of the world,” and all three could have been during Chanukah. Then Jesus said unto them, "Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them" (John 12:35-36).**

Food for thought:

Was Jesus Conceived on Hanukkah?
Many believe that our Messiah, the “light of the world,” was conceived on the festival of lights—Chanukah. The Bible does not specifically say the date of Jesus’ birth. It was not during the winter months because the sheep were in the pasture (Luke 2:8). A study of the time of the conception of John the Baptist reveals he was conceived about Sivan 30, the eleventh week (Luke 1:8-13, 24). Adding forty weeks, for a normal pregnancy reveals that John the Baptist was born on or about Passover (Nisan 14). Six months after John’s conception, Mary conceived Jesus (Luke 1:26-33); therefore Jesus would have been conceived six months after Sivan 30 in the month of Kislev—Chanukah. Was the “light of the world,” conceived on the festival of lights? Starting at Chanukah, which begins on Kislev 25 and continues for eight days, and counting through the nine months of Mary’s pregnancy, one arrives at the approximate time of the birth of Jesus at the Festival of Tabernacles.**

*Chabad.org

**biblicalholidays.com

Sukkot

FEAST

of

TABERNACLES

Feast of Booths ~ SUKKOT ~ Feast of Ingathering

With the final blowing of the Shofar, the Jewish high holy days draw to a close and the focus of the Jewish community shifts from the solemnness of Yom Kippur to the jubilant celebration of the festival of Sukkot. Sukkot begins on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei, which is 5 days after Yom Kippur. Sukkot is the last of the three pilgrimage festivals (Shalosh R'galim).

This autumn harvest festival is known by a variety of names. Like Passover and Pentecost, it has both historical and agricultural meaning.

• To give thanks for the fruit harvest and the bounty of nature in the year that had passed. At the end of the year when you gather in your labors out of the field (Ex. 23:16); after you have gathered in from your threshing-floor and from your winepress (Deut. 16:13). Agriculturally, Sukkot is a harvest festival and is sometimes referred to as Chag Ha-Asif , the Festival of Ingathering.

• Historically, Sukkot commemorates the forty-year period during which the children of Israel were wandering in the desert, living in temporary shelters. Leviticus 23:43, That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

And the Word will shall become flesh and shall be tabernacled among you. John 1:14

• God is our shelter
• Yeshua Messiah is the tabernacle or dwelling place of God
• He is our high priest

Celebrate this holiday with joy and share in the ancient ways of Yeshua by making a spiritual pilgrimage in your heart. Allow Him to dwell with you!

(photo of Rodger at Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, Sept 2009)

YOM KIPPUR

Tishrei 5770

September 27-28, 2009

Yom Kippur (Yom ha Kippurim) commemorates the day that God forgave the Jewish people for the sin of the golden calf. Forty days after hearing God say at Mount Sinai: "You shall not have the gods of others in My presence; you shall not make for yourself a graven image," the Jews committed the cardinal sin of idolatry. Moses spent nearly three months on top of the mountain pleading with God for forgiveness, and on the tenth of Tishrei it was finally granted: "I have pardoned, as you have requested."

From that moment on, this date, henceforth known as the Day of Atonement, is annually observed as a commemoration of our special relationship with God, a relationship that is strong enough to survive any rocky bumps it might encounter. This is a day when we connect with the very essence of our being, which remains faithful to God regardless of our outward behavior. And while it is the most solemn day of the year, we are also joyful, confident that God will forgive our sins and seal our verdict for a year of life, health, and happiness.

For believers in Yeshua, both Jewish and non-Jewish, the observance of Yom Kippur can hold special significance. The repentance started at Rosh HaShanah comes to a culmination with atonement ten days later. As with the traditional Jewish community, those ten days (Yomim Nora'im) take on spiritual significance as we meditate on the meaning of the high holy days.

In the Yerushalmi (Jerusalem Talmud), there is a beautiful passage that explains how Jewish traditions of Yom Kippur reflect the assurance of forgiveness rather than despondency or fear of unforgiveness:

"It is customary that if a man knows he has to appear in court for trial, he wears black clothes and lets his beard grow, as he does not know what the verdict will be. However, the children of Israel do not act thus. On their day of judgment they don white clothes, trim their beards, eat, drink, and rejoice, for they have confidence that the Holy One, blessed be he, will perform miracles for them."

L’Shana Tovah Tiktevu
May you be inscribed for a sweet and fruitful New Year in Messiah Yeshua!

take in part from: chabad.org godwithus.org; wordpress.com

Rosh HaShanah

Rosh Hashanah (Head of the New Year),

aka Yom Teruah (the Day of the Shofar Blast),

begins a 10-day period known as Yamim Noraim (the Days of Awe)

that ends with Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement).

Yom Teruah wakes you up, announcing that Yom Kippur is coming, and then the ten days in between become a time of self-reflection, repentance, and getting right with your fellow man.

L'Shana Tova Tikatevu: "May you be inscribed in the Book of Life for a good year" is a traditional Jewish greeting for the holiday, and has special significance when you read it in the context of Revelations 20, just one of several scriptures where the Book of Life is mentioned in the Word: "Next I saw a great white throne and the One sitting on it. Earth and heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, both great and small, standing in front of the throne. Books were opened; and another book was opened, the Book of Life; and the dead were judged from what was written in those books, according to what they had done." Or consider from Revelations 21, who can enter the heavenly city? "...The only ones who may enter are those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life."

THE BLOWING OF THE SHOFAR
On Yom Teruah, the sounding of the shofar is a high point of the Rosh Hashanah services. It is very difficult to blow a shofar. The Tokeiah (shofar blower) may spend many hours practicing for his task in the preceding month of Elul.

The sound from the shofar is a series of defined blasts, sounding an alarm and creating a stirring repentant sound of lament. The sound is meant to be a rousing call to repentance on the part of each individual. It is meant to awaken everyone to remind them of the Creator and to inspire them to forsake their evils ways and return to God.

The detailed sounds have been established by centuries of tradition. There are four different sounds associated with the Yom Teruah service:

TEKIAH - A single blast beginning in musical mid-range and finishing as a high note. A pure unbroken sound calling each person to search their heart. The tekiah called the people to attention and gather them unto Moses. It is the calling note to get ahold of your attention. It is seen as the general summons to listen to God, to receive from Him the orders for the day. The prophet Amos asked, "Can a shofar be sounded in the city without the people trembling?" (Amos 3:6)

SHEVARIM - One tekiah broken into three shorter staccato blasts, producing a sighing, groaning sound. The noun shevarim is derived from the root shavar, meaning "to break". It occurs in the Bible, mainly in the singular, in the sense of "breaking, fracture, crushing, crashing." Jeremiah uses this Hebrew word in 50:22: "A sound of battle is in the land, and a great crashing." Do you hear the battle for our souls? ADONAI is near to those with broken hearts; he saves those whose spirit is crushed. (Psalm 34:18)

TERUAH - There are two main variants of the Teruah sound today. One tradition uses nine separate short notes in rapid sequence and the other is a single long call with nine vibrating tones, each producing a wailing lament much like you can hear today from women mourners in the Middle East. Teruah, partly from the Hebrew root ru'a, meaning "to shake, quake, vibrate", has taken on a double meaning: not only the "wind vibration" of the shofar blast defining the holiday "Yom Teruah", but also a human "quaking" before the bar of divine justice. A combination of the Shevarim groans and Teruah wails express the sorrow that comes upon a person when they realize the depths of their sin and their need to repent.

TEKIAH GEDOLAH - A very long Tekiah. This dramatic call requires a lot of practice on the part of the Tokeiah. This prolonged, unbroken sound is the final appeal for sincere repentance and atonement, for the Day of Judgment is at hand. What a Tekiah Gedolah will sound from that angel in Revelations 11 who's proclaiming: "The kingdoms of the world have become the Kingdom of our Lord and His Messiah, and He will rule forever and ever!" Amen.

AVINU MALKEINU
(During the high holidays, Avinu Malkeinu is recited several times. The number of petitions in the full version can range up to 44 requests, but varies with custom. This unique and moving prayer can be found in most Jewish Siddurs. Our version below has expanded upon the some of the original by including the revelation of Yeshua haMashiach and a desire to see the salvation of Israel.)

Our Father, Our King, we have sinned before You. Forgive us our sins through the atonement of Your Son.

Our Father, Our King, we have no God but you. There is no God like you in the Heavens. There is no one else we can look to for help.

Our Father, Our King, deal with us kindly for the sake of Your Name. Look mercifully upon Israel. Deliver her from distress and bring Israel to faith through Your Son.

Our Father, Our King, sound the Shofar for the deliverance and gather Israel from the four corners of the earth.

Our Father, Our King, bring peace between Jew and Gentile and among all peoples through the Prince of Peace, Yeshua haMashiach.

Our Father, Our King, let your Spirit be poured out in the last days that a great harvest of souls might be gathered and that all Israel shall be saved.

Our Father, Our King, may this revival lead to the sounding of the Shofar when we shall be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.

Our Father, Our King, let your judgment fall on the unrepentant and deliver us from their schemes in Yeshua’s name.

Our Father, Our King, fully defeat the plans of the adversary for our destruction and arise and establish your plan for our salvation.

"For the law of the Spirit of life in Messiah Yeshua has made me free from the law of sin and death that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit." (Romans 8)