Pistachio Ice Cream

1Corinthians 12:11-20  But one and the same Spirit works all these, distributing to each one individually as He intends.  For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is the Messiah. For indeed by one Spirit we were all immersed into one body, whether Yehuḏim or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink into one Spirit. For indeed the body is not one member but many. If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” does it therefore not belong to the body? And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” does it therefore not belong to the body? If all the body was an eye, where would be the hearing? If all hearing, where would be the smelling? But now Elohim has set the members, each one of them, in the body, even as He pleased. And if they all had been one member, where would the body be? And now, there are indeed many members, but one body.


In 2007, the morning of my husbands birthday, I was preparing breakfast for my two youngest children. I was trying hard to keep them quiet. I really wanted them to sleep late and not disturb their father. However, they are both early risers, were very little and very noisy and my hope was that getting them busy eating breakfast would occupy them so that they would remain quite in hopes my husband could get some well deserved rest on his birthday. My husband has frequently worked odd shifts and has always worked very hard. I so wanted to give him an opportunity to rest! I was rushing to accomplish my goal of keeping the house quiet. I reached up to get a bowl out of the cupboard. One of the glass bowls, next to others began to topple. It had a crack in it that I did not realize was there. Soon it was falling and out of instinct I reached up to catch it before it hit the tile floor. The bowl broke on my hand, mostly severing my left pinkie finger. Instead of sleeping late, my husband was soon racing me to the emergency room so that the artery in my finger could be repaired and I would not bleed to death. Dramatic huh? I didn't even begin to think that my day would turn out that way. My plan to make my husbands birthday a special and relaxing one did not work out very well. I had a devastating injury to my finger and hand. Besides being in extreme pain, I was really frustrated that life had thrown me one big curve ball. During this time in my life Father would show me how much He truly was my Provider and all I needed.

I would face a difficult rehabilitation period. At the time my business required me to work with my hands, so obviously my income was gone until I recovered. My injury was fairly severe and the doctor was unable to repair the tendon or nerves completely although thankfully he was able to reattach the finger. Today, I have little to no feeling in my finger and cannot straighten it, but it is attached and for that I am grateful. I did go back to work in 8 weeks, even though my physician attempted to discourage me. I was extremely determined to continue to work. With grateful smiles, I let his negative rambling go in one ear and out the other. He was a good surgeon, but a very poor cheerleader and I was resolute to not let his warnings take root in my mind or in my heart. On top of all that, we were weeks away from adopting our two youngest children, whom we had fostered for almost two years. A loss in income would not look good to the committee considering our petition to adopt the kids. My world, in just a few hours, looked very different than it had before. All this from one little member becoming detached from my body. Amazing.

During my rehabilitation I found out what it was like to do everyday tasks without any involvement from my left hand as I was in a cast up to my elbow. Zipping zippers was the worst and would take me anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour in the beginning. Changing the diapers of a wiggly toddler was an incredible challenge. Washing dishes took hours. Washing my hair was very slow and difficult and required, embarrassingly, assistance. Driving carpool, though possible, was a challenge. At the time, although I had some very special individuals willing to help me, I needed to learn how to function and I tried to limit their involvement as much as possible in hopes of accomplishing my goals independently. It was very, very hard. Especially for someone as independent as myself.

I recall this story, not to gross you out or gain any kind of sympathy, but to make a point of how devastating it is to a body to lose a member. I have been part of three church catastrophes and have seen all sorts of devastation and loss within the body of Messiah. I have seen the "little ones" run out of the back of the fellowship devastated that their leader has fallen morally. I have seen brother against brother, sister against sister and new fellowships spring up built entirely on offense. I have been part of the "house church" movement where all that is discussed is how upset they are with the corporate church. The Word of God is rarely even brought up. Sure, we learn to function without everyone present, but I ask, is it really supposed to be that way? Is this what Messiah is coming back for? His body strewn all over the place and in pieces? The hand not working with the ear and the foot ticked off at the eye? The knee fully opposed to the elbow? The mouth shouting out insults to the shoulder. I happen to know from personal experience what it is like to loose an actual member of my physical body and many times I think how wonderful it would have been to just let that dish drop and shatter rather than catch it and lose my finger. Some things are just not worth catching. And I suppose ....some are. Though, dare I say, far less less than one would imagine.

My dear family. The time is approaching that so much of what we consider important is going to pale in comparison to what really is. We need each other. Is it OK to agree to disagree? Is it OK to love your brother when you don't see eye to eye? It better be. If we are truly seeking to follow the Torah do we not have enough, individually, to focus on ourselves? In doing so, focusing on our own growth, our own walk with Messiah, we set a wonderful example to others and with the involvement of the Ruach Ha'Kodesh, the Holy Spirit, they will be motivated to examine their own hearts if they truly want to please Elohim.

Since I have been seeking to understand my Hebrew Roots all sorts of wonderful things have happened. My family has come into order as has my marriage. I also feel a confidence to correctly discern many things. Things that are not of Him do not intimidate me anymore because I better understand what is of Him and what is not. I am not perfect, and I continually work towards growth in Messiah, but none the less, I have the sincere illumination of the Word to evaluate all sorts of men's doctrine and teaching and that is more than sufficient to make a decent judgement. I don't need to follow any crowd or a trend. I follow my Savior and that is enough. I don't feel the need for everyone to agree with me and I don't get offended when they don't. This to me is a valuable characteristic of true freedom. I am so grateful to be here and I know that He is not done with me, thankfully.

Focus needs to be given on what we as a Body, the Body of Messiah, can accomplish. Time grows short my family. This is more crucial than ever before.

Some people like Vanilla Ice Cream. Some people like Chocolate. Some people like Pistachio. I personally love Pistachio. Really anything with nuts! I don't eat a lot of ice cream because I am kind of a health nut (long story), but if I was going to eat any ice cream in the world, it would be Pistachio! We all have giftings and personal tastes and as long as those giftings and personal tastes do not oppose His Word they should be allowed to flourish within the body. If I am a foot I may not grip something as a hand does, but does that make the hand wrong or flawed? No, it is just a hand and it has it's unique, important role. Appreciate it's role in the Body of Messiah! It is just silly to criticize a hand for being a hand as it is to chastise a foot for being a foot!

Don't run away or stay home when the body doesn't behave as it should. Stick around and be an example so that it may line up with the Word of Elohim. The body will imitate what self differentiates and is bold in it's execution of the Word if it is truly the Body of Messiah. Don't grow discouraged family when folks don't think your way is the best. Flexibility on non doctrinal issues is a hallmark of maturity and wisdom. Conversely, take a stand on issues that are eternal, life giving and essential. In other words, deal with what really matters but let the old worthless bowl hit the floor and shatter lest it take a member with it!

I hope my simple stories help you in some way. I hope they encourage you and strengthen you for the coming days. They won't be easy. Let's stick together, okay?! Thank you Mishpocha, for being my Mishpocha, my family. I am so grateful for you!!

More than a Conqueror.

Out of Order

1 Corinthians 3:18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.

I was really thinking about the last year in a half and how much has changed in my life and in the life of my family members. We are beginning to understand things we never did before and I think what we understand the very most is that we have a lot to learn and have barely scratched the surface! I am humbled and grateful to be on this journey. It is really exciting! Seeking Him, His ways, His presence and His Moedim is a pleasure and an incredible honor. Scripture has come alive to us. We have been made more alive in Him and this chaotic dying world is growing more and more insignificant. We haven't arrived and we are not perfect, but looking back, just one year ago, I can see His hand on my family and myself and my heart swells with joy and thankfulness. Life is certainly not without challenges, trials and at times difficulty but all in all I feel very blessed and grateful.

One of the biggest changes we have experienced is that more "order" has come into our home. Order, the order of YHVH, is important if you are going to have peace and blessing in life. I never realized how much until I started to "reap" the blessings of seeking to keep His order. I am not talking about cleanliness or organization. Cleanliness and organization are wonderful things and certainly virtues and things to be sought after, but that is not what I am referring to. What I am speaking about is spiritual order. I am referring to my Father's Word, His commandments and His appointed times and the peace and blessings that come as a result of seeking to keep them with your whole heart.

Psalm 20:7 Some [trust] in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

Opinions are a dime a dozen and for most of my "christian" walk that is what I spent all my proverbial dimes on. For years I listened to every popular teacher and or preacher you can imagine and read innumerable christian best sellers and christian "self help" books. All promised a better way to reach God, improve your marriage, parent your children, get healthy, invest your time and money and be happy. All were the well meaning opinions and beliefs of others and not necessarily always rooted in the Word of Elohim. I attended countless Bible studies and many retreats. I think I pretty much looked under every rock I could find for the next "big thing" with substantial promises attached to it and came up fairly empty at every turn. I placed great expectation on a lot of people and things to give me all the right answers, and they, rightly so, came crashing down around me. The answers were not found in them. They were never there to begin with. They are only found in His Word, because He is His Word.

Proverbs 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death.

Matthew 7:12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Romans 3:31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.

Matthew 5: 17-20 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil 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. 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. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Have heaven and earth passed away or disappeared? Am I missing something?

John 14:21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."

Commands, what commands could He be speaking of?

John 14:23 Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

Obey?


John 15:10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.

The Father's commands? Did Jesus obey the Torah? Why would He do that if He sought to "get rid" of it?

1 John 2:3 We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.

Is obedience equated to knowing Him?

1 John 5:3 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,

Is love for Him really obeying His commandments?

2 John 1:6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

Beginning of what?


One of the biggest fallacies, amoung others, that I allowed myself to be indoctrinated with was that I didn't need to be obedient, I just needed to believe and be expectant .  The Law was dead, nailed to the cross, done away with, gone. Forget about the instructions, especially the ones at the front of the Book, those were not for me.......well, maybe some of the ten commandments, but not all of them. Faith was reduced to a mental assent and a mere concept as opposed to the action it was intended to be. That "philosophy" never lined up with the Word of God especially when fully examined and that really perplexed me. I challenge you to fully examine what you have learned in light of the Word, the entire Word, if you never have. Not seeing the truth, or not wanting to see the truth, does not make the truth any less true. Others telling you that the truth is a lie, still does not make the truth any less true. Truth is true, period.

James 2:14-26 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

So, slowly but surely, all our false pillars we had errected and leaned on came crashing down. I am so glad! What an incredible blessing in disguise that was! It was only then that we began to really seek Him, His Word, His Wisdom and His Understanding. We began to put away all that His Word would not legitimize and substantiate and seek to live by and understand the instructions that were already present, proven and given long ago. We stopped taking scripture out of context to justify a doctrine and started to let scripture stand on it's own, because it absolutely does! We began the process of looking at difficult scripture, that at times seemed contradictory to other scripture, in it's original language, applying cultural understandings and the Hebrew idioms that were well known at that time in history when the specific scripture was written. When we did that, guess what, it wasn't hard to understand anymore! We have begun the process of applying the Father's order in how we approach Him, love Him and love each other and others in our daily lives. That Order is called the Torah. The Torah is YHVH's instructions for life, not death. The word Torah has been mistakeningly called Law. Law is not an appropriate translation of the word Torah. Torah means "instructions". The Torah, the Word of Elohim is the Way, the Truth and the Life! Yahshua is the Torah, come in the flesh of a man! The Torah, The Word of YHVH was given to Moses at Mt. Sinai.  We are not to follow the commands of men such as the doctrine of the Talmud or the Mishna, (man's doctrine, called the Oral Torah) or the doctrine of  the newest christian book, trend, teacher or speaker (more man made doctrine) either! (See Matthew 15:9, Mark 7:7, Isaiah 29:13 and Colossians 2:22, no really, READ IT!!!) Sometimes there is good information, but we have to ask ourselves if it lines up with His Word and examine it very carefully and if it doesn't completely line up with the Word of YHVH we must dismiss it. It only takes a little leaven to corrupt the whole.

John 1:1-14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

So I know what you are thinking, because I thought it too. Are you saying we are under law? Are you saying we are saved by works? So are you going to stone me if I develop a rebellious attitute? What you need to understand is that there are three possibilities when you see the word "law" in the New Testament. There is the Torah which is mistakenly referred to as "law". There is the "Law of Sin and Death" which is the penalty of disobeying the Torah. Lastly, there is the Oral Torah, which is the Rabbinical writings. If you say that we are not under the law and you mean that we are not under the law of sin and death, then you are correct if you have received Yahshua as Lord and Savior and walk by the spirit and not in the flesh. We have all trangressed the law and are deseving of death, the penalty of breaking the Torah. However, Yahshua paid the penalty for you, in the event that you have recieved Him, call Him Lord and Savior and repented or turned from your sin. If you say that we are not under the law and you mean that we are not under the Oral Torah and doctrines and traditions of men then you are also correct. But, if you say that we are not to obey YHVH's instructions, His Torah, then you are incorrect. Now, many of the 613 commands in the Torah cannot apply to us today. We do not have a sacrificial system (i.e.Yahshua was our Passover Lamb), a theocracy, a temple or Cohen priests. Not every one is male or female. Please also keep in mind that Yahshua raised the bar and added 1050 additional commands in the New Testament, expounding on what was already said. Those do apply. Are we saved by keeping any of them? NO!! The only thing that saves us is belief in Him and that has never changed.

Genesis 15:6 Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

Romans 4:3 What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."

Saying that you believe, however, and not seeking to obedient to His Word is emptiness. It is very much like learning to ride a bike by watching it on Youtube and never actually getting on a bike or really even owning one. The practical "walking out" of the action is essential to actually learning how to do it! Scripture that asserted differently, that we still bear responsibility to keep His Torah, His Instructions, are conveniently overlooked in an attempt to support a theology lacking a sufficient foundation in christian culture. A house without a good foundation is an unstable structure. Order is necessary. If a cell had no cell wall, you haven't a cell. Everything falls apart without order. To say "anything goes" is to invite complete chaos. Our crumbling society is evidence of such a flawed belief system. I am seeking to learn how to keep His order. I am finding a great deal of joy and freedom in that pursuit, quite contrary to what I have always been taught.


Don't take my word for it, take His. Check out 100% of what I have written, if it doesn't line up with His Word, all of His Word, disregard it.

Many blessings to you!