Shabbat HaGadol 5784 - Nisan 11 - April 19-20-2024

Discovering Shabbat HaGadol

Last week Rabbi David Stone Jr. was too ill to conduct Shabbat Services, but thankfully he is better again. 

Did you know that this is a special Shabbat? 

I just found out about it when I went to see what the recommended readings are for this week's Shabbat study on Rabbi David Stone's Facebook page. 

Here is what Rabbi Stone posted:

This is a special Shabbat called Shabbat HaGadol which means 'The great sabbath' and marks the approaching Passover which starts Monday night. 

Recommended Messianic Shabbat Readings: 

The name of the Torah portion is "Metzora" which means 'infected one'

• Torah- Leviticus 14:1-15:33 

• Haftarah- Malachi 3:4-24 (special reading) 

• New Covenant- Matthew 17:9-13

If you are fortunate enough to be in Beaumont Texas this Shabbat, then you can enjoy the Shabbat Study in person with Rabbi David Stone Jr. If, on the other hand, you are like me, far away in another land, and blessed to be able to get internet, then you can tune in on Facebook and take part in the Facebook live study.

See details in this post by Rabbi David Stone Jr. on Facebook.

Note: This blog has referral links that help our writers eat when you make purchases through them. Please refrain from shopping on Shabbat.

Shabbat HaGodal

Not knowing anything about Shabbat HaGodal, I did a quick online search to see what I might find out about this special Shabbat. Here is what Copilot Ai taught me about this very special Shabbat.

Shabbat Hagadol, the Sabbath before Passover, is marked by several customs rich in symbolism and tradition. Here are some of the customs associated with this special day: 

•  Reading from the Haggadah: It is customary to read a portion of the Haggadah, specifically from "Avadim hayinu" to "al kol avonotainu," which tells the story of the Exodus. This reading is done to prepare for the upcoming Passover Seder³. 
• Special Haftarah: A special Haftarah is reading on this Shabbat from the book of Malachi, which speaks of the "great day" of God⁵. 
• Rabbi's Sermon: Traditionally, the community rabbi delivers a lengthy and expansive sermon in the afternoon. This sermon elaborates on the laws of Passover and their significance, helping the community prepare for the festival³. 
• Connecting Purim and Pesach: Some have the custom of eating foods remaining from the mishloach manot of Purim on Shabbat Hagadol. This is done to symbolically connect Purim and Pesach, the two holidays of redemption⁴. 

 These customs serve to enhance the spiritual preparation for Passover, reflecting on themes of redemption, freedom, and the historical significance of the Exodus. They also provide an opportunity for communal learning and reflection on the laws and practices of the upcoming holiday.

Source: Conversation with Bing, 4/19/2024 (1) Shabbat, April 20, 2024 - Chabad.org. https://www.chabad.org/calendar/view/day.asp?tdate=4/20. (2) Shabbat HaGadol - Shabbat before Pesach (The Great Shabbat) - Hebcal. https://www.hebcal.com/holidays/shabbat-hagadol. (3) Shabbat Hagadol - Torah Musings. https://www.torahmusings.com/2011/04/shabbat-hagadol/. (4) Shabbat Hagadol - Chabad.org. https://www.chabad.org/holidays/passover/pesach_cdo/aid/1692/jewish/Shabbat-Hagadol.htm. (5) Shabbat HaGadol | My Jewish Learning. https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/shabbat-hagadol/. 

It is important to double-check everything that any chatbot shares - This chatbot thinks I live in Texas and host Messianic services there. LOL It will be interesting to see how this lines up with the teachings that Rabbi David will share.

Free Messianic Haggadah Resources

A Haggadah is an order of service that people follow during the Passover meal. A Haggadah can be on a certain theme- usually dealing with release from bondage. This year with the hostages still not released by Hamas, many congregations are focussing on the release of these hostages.

• Messiah in the Passover Haggadah offers a free family-friendly Haggadah.
• On kehila.org there is a Free Messianic Hagaddah posted in several languages 
• Great Big Messianic Haggadah List on the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations website

Torah Explorations - Ideas, Thoughts and Resources -Leviticus 14:1-15:33 

What is Leviticus 14:1-15:33  all about? 

Chapter 14 of Leviticus is about the procedure for spiritual cleansing of people with leprosy and homes with mould, and mildew. It is interesting that the procedure for cleansing. I wonder if this was done to ensure that if anyone was ever healed of leprosy the priests would know how to do the cleansing ceremony. There are only two people in the Hebrew scriptures of people being healed of leprosy: Miriam and Naaman.

This scripture reminds me of when Our Savior healed the lepers.

About This Author

Sister Su is gratefullanguages to God for keeping her alive. She is a Trent/Queen's Concurrent Education graduate with over 20 years of teaching experience. She writes on several blogs, has a YouTube channel and is most easily reached through Twitter @Sister_Su See her link tree for more details:@Sister_Su | Linktree

This post was proofread with the free version of Grammarly

Sign up for Free with Grammarly here

Tazria Messianic Shabbat Studies Nisan 5 5784 - April 12, 2024

She Concieves - Tazria 

Happy Nisan! According to Our Creator's calendar, this is the first Shabbat of the year.

This morning I am praying for the renewed strength of Messianic Rabbi David Stone Jr. who usually leads a very interesting Torah Study on Facebook live from Beaumont, Texas. Unfortunately, he came down with a very nasty stomach bug and will need to stay close to home today. 

On the sixth day (Thursday) Rav David posted the following on his Facebook profile:

The name of the Torah portion is "Tazria" which means 'she conceives'. 

• Torah- Leviticus 12:1-13:59 
• Haftarah- 2 Kings 4:42-5:19 
• New Covenant- Luke 7:18-35
• We begin our study of Isaiah with chapter 1.

Please pray that he will be right as rain soon again and able to lead the Torah studies with his congregation on Shabbat mornings from 10:30 a.m.- to 12:30 p.m. at Christian Fellowship Church 3950 Pointe Pkwy Beaumont Texas 77706. 

Note: This blog has referral links that help our writers eat when you make purchases through them. Please refrain from making purchases on Shabbat.

Shabat Studies -

Exploring Torah- Leviticus 12:1-13:5

Leviticus 12:1-13:59 is the section of Hebrew writings that deals with laws about cleanliness - women after giving birth and people who contract skin diseases. 

So how could this possibly be of interest to us today?

This section of Torah highlights the importance of reading the whole Jewish Bible. Reading the whole Bible can open our eyes to important significant things we might miss if we only read the Greek and Aramaic writings found in the New Testament. This section about the sacrifice required after a woman gives birth to a boy gives us insight into the birth of Our Saviour, who according to Rabbi Johnathan Kahn would have been born on Nisan 1.

In Luke 2:24, we see that the sacrifice offered to redeem Our Saviour was that of a poor family. Our Saviour was born into poverty.

Similarly, when we read about Our Saviour healing lepers in the New Testament,  this section of Torah gives us further insight into what Our Saviour tells the lepers to do after they have been healed.

While exploring this section of Torah I was lead to a very interesting website - Open Siddur. This has colour-coded English Translations of the ancient Hebrew texts to help people create their own personal prayer books.

Messianic Children's Ministry Teaching Resources About Leviticus 12:1-13:59 

Hmm... how would you teach about this section of Leviticus?

• Young Messianic Torah Observant Israelite website offers a story with printable colouring pictures for this section of Torah called Clean - Unclean. They also offer other useful resources . See the Clean/Unclean lesson from YMTOI here.

Exploring Haftarah- 2 Kings 4:42-5:19 

This reading from the prophets (haftarah) in 2 Kings 4:42 starts with an amazing loaves miracle.Wow! I have read the Bible many times, and I cannot believe I have totally missed this amazing multiplication miracle that was done way back in the days of Elisha! 

Knowing that Our Saviour was not the only one to have such miracles of provision of a meagre supply expanding to feed as many as needed and have some left can give us hope for the days of famine that are foretold that will come in these last days. Have you ever experienced a miracle of multiplication of loaves like this? 

I have had two people share with me that they personally have had the opportunity to see food miraculously provided.

The section following the miracle of the loaves has many important teachings in it. This is the record of Naaman the leper and how he is healed.  

Messianic Children's Ministry Teaching Resources About Haftarah- 2 Kings 4:42-5:19 

 There are quite a few resources about the healing of Naman, but I am still strugging for find a resources about Elisha and the Bread miracle. Any suggestions?

Exploring New Covenant Reading- Luke 7:18-35

In Luke 7:18-35, we find John the Baptist's followers asking Our Messiah if He truly is expected Messiah. Our Saviour replies that they should go and tell  John what they have see.

Sources:

• Facebook Post Rabbi David Stone Jr.
• Open Siddur Project - Parshat Tazria -Color Coded English Translation
• Youtube Rabbi Kahn Explains When Our Saviour Would Have Been Born

About This Author

Sister Su is grateful to God for keeping her alive. She is a Trent/Queen's Concurrent Education graduate with over 20 years of teaching experience. She writes on several blogs, has a YouTube channel and is most easily reached through Twitter @Sister_Su See her link tree for more details:@Sister_Su | Linktree

This post was proofread with the free version of Grammarly

Sign up for Free with Grammarly here

Free Giant Slayer Cards: How will You Use Them?

Dr. David Jeremiah Offers Free Giant Slayer Prayer Cards - Will You Share Them?

When you receive prayer cards what do you do with them? Have you found an interesting way to share them and plant seeds of hope?

The other day, I was led to insert a free prayer card I had received from a ministry in an Avon book to mark the spot a freebie was in the book. I also inserted a page from my free Daily Bread magazine in another spot.

Later that day,  I handed my Avon book to a despondant woman in a waiting room suggesting that she too might like to do Avon as a way to supplement her income.

I waited with baited breath to see what she would do when she encountered the b encouraging messages I had inserted., 

Well...she opened the book, took one look at the Daily Bread page - removed it and handed it to me as if it were a dirty piece of garbage- disdainfully saying "Here, I think you left this in here."

 

I tried to hand it back, saying "Oh, I put things in to mark where the freebies are." 

But she was adamant to not look at that page of encouragement.

Then - she turned back to the book, and when she came to the prayer card?

Wow! She had a totally different reaction!

Since the prayer card was printed on stock resembling blotting paper, she took it from the book, smelled it quizzically turned it over in her hand and reinserted it in the book!

I am praying that the prayer card will make a lasting impact on her life.

Wgen I got home, I went searching for which ministry had very kindly sent me those free prayer cards last year, so I could let them know how these prayer cards might be used to reach people who could be very difficult to reach the with the Good News!

Mysteriously, I could not find where I had blogged those free prayer cards that I had received..

However, I did discover these free spiritual warfare giant slayer cards being offered by Dr. David Jeremiah's ministry. 

When you receive prayer cards what do you do with them? Have you found an interesting way to share them and plant seeds of hope?

I would love to hear your ideas for reaching people who believe those who evangelize about Our Saviour are evil.

About This Freebie - Giant Slayer Cards

Cow Sabbath-Shabbat Parah Thoughts Adar II 20 5784 -March 30, 2024

Shabbat Parah? Holy Saturday? Shabbat Shalom!

Today, many followers of Our Saviour are honouring His death by observing Holy Saturday a day of watching and waiting after His sacrificial death. While it is wonderful people took the time to honour the final Passover meal Our Saviour had with His disciples, His sacrificial death and tomorrow they will celebrate His resurrection. However, it grieves me that they may miss out on blessings by celebrating these important historical events on the wrong dates! Why?  

You see, Passover this year, according to the people who have been celebrating it since it started, will be on April 22 in 2024.

Why I No Longer Celebrate Passover at This Time

Sharing Faith Through Avon?

Can You Open Eyes Through Beauty Products?

Recently I felt led to join AVON. I had been praying to find a subtle way to share faith with people who would not step inside a church and who would run the other way if you were to approach them with a gospel tract. 

I love how Avon has been used for almost two centuries to give women hope who might be stuck in dreadful situations. Did you know that when Avon first started there were few options open to women who needed to leave abusive situations? An enterprising woman saw the potential in door-to-door beauty product sales as a subtle way to help women leave horribly abusive marriages without having to go into prostitution.

I have also been praying to find ways to help women get back on their feet who have been on the streets. In other countries, a woman might be able to get a KIVA, loan - but not here. How can a woman in Canada get out of poverty if she has nothing and has to start over from scratch?

Well AVON just might be a solution to these prayers.

AVON is free to join and they give you a free online store.  You are welcome to do AVON your way- part-time, full-time, offline or online. No credit card is needed - you can pay with PayPal if you wish. In addition to this, you aren't striking out into uncharted business waters alone- an AVON business mentor is as close as your phone. 

So far AVON seems to tick most of the boxes for helping women get started over from scratch. 

But what about sharing my faith? How does this work?

Well, the other day it was put in my heart to put pages from my free Daily Bread magazine into an AVON brochure to mark where the freebies were. I also popped one of the free prayer cards I had received from a ministry into the brochure. 

The next day, chatting with a woman who had gone through some very tough times I suggested she might like to try doing AVON and handed her the brochure. She flipped through- saw the page from the Daily Bread; took it out and... handed it to me saying"I think you accidentally left this in here." I explained that I had put things in the book to mark where the freebies were. When she came to the prayer card printed on blotter paper, she took it out, sniffed it, squinted at it, had a bit of a puzzled look and inserted it back in the book.

Prayer cards in AVON books just might be a way to get encouraging words from THE BOOK into the hands of people. As you might say - put a foot in the door.

This morning, I was wondering if there might be some other strategies I could use to bring the hope of Our Messiah to others. So I asked Copilot AI "What are some ways that I can share the love of our Creator and open the eyes of people to the sacrifice of His son using Avon?

Here is the reply I got:

Certainly! Sharing the love of our Creator and highlighting the sacrifice of His Son is a beautiful endeavor. While Avon is primarily associated with beauty and skincare products, you can creatively incorporate these themes into your interactions. Here are some thoughtful ways to achieve this:

1.  Personal Testimony and Conversation: - Share your personal faith journey and how it has impacted your life. Be open and authentic about your relationship with God and the significance of Jesus' sacrifice. - Engage in meaningful conversations with others. Ask questions about their beliefs and listen actively. Use these moments to gently share your own experiences and insights.
2. Avon Products as Gifts- Consider giving Avon products as gifts with a spiritual touch. Attach a heartfelt note that connects the product's purpose (e.g., skincare, fragrance) to God's love and sacrifice. - For instance, when gifting lotion, you could write: "Just as this lotion nourishes your skin, may God's love deeply nourish your soul." 
3. Host a Beauty and Faith Event - Organize an Avon event that combines beauty tips, skincare routines, and discussions about faith. Invite friends, family, or neighbors. - During the event, share short devotionals or Bible verses related to love, sacrifice, and redemption. 
4. Online Content Creation - Utilize social media platforms to create content that weaves together beauty, self-care, and spirituality. - Share makeup tutorials with a message of inner beauty or use Avon products as visual metaphors for God's love (e.g., "Just as mascara enhances our lashes, God's love enhances our lives"). 
5. Avon Fundraisers for Charitable Causes - Host an Avon fundraiser where a portion of the proceeds goes to a charity or cause related to love, compassion, or sacrifice. - Explain the purpose behind the fundraiser and how it aligns with your faith. 
6. Prayer and Blessing Rituals- Create simple rituals around Avon products. For example: - Before applying skincare, take a moment to pray for healing and restoration. - Bless your fragrance as a reminder of God's presence and grace. 

Remember that authenticity and genuine care for others are essential. Let your actions and words reflect the love and sacrifice you want to share. May your efforts inspire others to seek deeper connections with their Creator and appreciate the profound sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross

Source: Conversation with Bing, 4/7/2024 

• (1) 5 Ways In The Bible Love is Expressed Through Sacrifice. https://scripturalthinking.com/sacrificial-love/. 
• (2) God’s love is in the gift of his Son as our sacrifice.. https://www.tdmccoy.com/blog/assurance-of-gods-love. 
• (3) Christ Created and Sustains the World (Hebrews… | Theology of Work. https://www.theologyofwork.org/new-testament/hebrews/christ-created-sustains-the-world-hebrews-11-28.

Hmmm... I will have to pray about those ideas. How might you share your faith and bring hope to people?

Want to join me in this adventure? Sign up here to become a member and work directly with me, or shop online through this link - you will get 10% off your first order.

Note: This blog has referral links that help our writers eat when you make purchases through them. Would you like to write on Turtle Dove Thoughts? Guest Bloggers are welcome. 

About This Author

Sister Su is grateful to God for keeping her alive. She is a Trent/Queen's Concurrent Education graduate with over 20 years of teaching experience. She writes on several blogs, has a YouTube channel and is most easily reached through Twitter @Sister_Su See her link tree for more details:@Sister_Su | Linktree

This post was proofread with the free version of Grammarly

Sign up for Free with Grammarly here