"So, God created humankind in His own image; in the image of God, He created him: male and female He created them.” - Genesis 1:27, CJB

We are made so incredibly different, yet we are made in his image.  Why is it then all throughout life, people feel they have to fit into someone else’s mold?  I believe it’s because anything different from their norm is scary.  Children will play with others well until peer pressure happens, and they become afraid of what others will think of them.  Some will fall into it because they want to fit in, leaving their other friends in the dust because now they aren’t good enough.  Soon enough children become adults and find the same behavior where they live, in their workplace, also within their place of worship.  Yes, even in their congregations where we are taught to love one another as he loved us, there are clicks.  They only want to be with their own kind, making others feel not worthy.  These people will judge others on how they look and how they dress.  They will make newcomers feel unwelcome.  Just as when they were younger, they want to fit people into their mold.  

Friends, life isn’t about fitting into someone’s idea of who you should be, or their idea of how you should live.  It’s about who God made you to be, and how he wants you to live. We are ALL made in his image.  He gave us his son Yeshua to die on the cross for OUR sins; and that ALL that believe in him would not perish but have everlasting life.  We are all taught to love one another as he loves us.  We have a book (B.I.B.L.E.) that teaches us “Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth.”  Let us share it with others, so they can do the same.  Let us see one another as he sees us and love one another as he loves us. 

Be a Blessing and Be Blessed!

Monday Morning Inspirational 
By Rebbitzen Kathleen Rantz 
 
30th of Nisan, 5781
12th of April, 2021

“Yeshua said to her, ‘I AM the Resurrection and the Life! Whoever puts his trust in me will live, even if he dies; and everyone living and trusting in me will never die. Do you believe this’?” - John 11:25 CJB

Yes, I do.  Whether you celebrate his resurrection during Passover or Easter; one thing is clear, he is risen.  Although his resurrection is only recognized once a year, he is with us always.  Through the ups and downs, the highs, and lows, he is there.  He shows himself to us every day.  We can put our trust in him because he will never steer us wrong.  He is the resurrection.  We are free because he died for us.  We are alive because he lives.  His is a life that should be celebrated every day.  Let us live a life worthy of him.  

Be a Blessing and Be Blessed!

Monday Morning Inspirational 
By Rebbitzen Kathleen Rantz

April 5th, 2021 | 23rd of Nisan, 5781

“Get rid of the old hametz, so that you can be a new batch of dough, because in reality you are unleavened. For our Pesach lamb, the Messiah, has been sacrificed. So let us celebrate the Seder not with leftover hametz, the hametz of wickedness and evil, but with the matzah of purity and truth.”   1 Corinthians 5:7-8, CJB


​Passover marks the redemption and rebirth of the Jewish people who were freed from slavery and led to the promised land.  It’s a mark of new beginnings, a new year.  

One of the ways we prepare for this holiday is to go through our homes, cleaning them from top to bottom to ensure we get all the hametz/leaven out; the leaven that also represents sin in our lives; the sin that clutters our hearts and minds.  In a way our houses represent who we are.  How we feel about ourselves, is how our houses are kept.  Just as we clean the clutter (sin) out of our homes, we can also clean the clutter (sin) out of ourselves.  We then bring in the matzah of purity and truth into our homes.  Then during Passover, we eat the matzah, and that purity and truth then is inside us.  A lot of people complain about matzah, because it’s dry and they can’t wait till they don’t have to eat it.  

While leaven represents the sin in our lives, for Messianic Jews, Matzah represents redemption and freedom of the Jewish people.  When we take a good look at the matzah we see, “He was pierced for our transgressions ... by His stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5. You can see the piercing’s, the bruises, the stripes.  It reminds us that He has freed us from sin and shame.  Now the matzah doesn’t seem so dry after all.  We no longer focus on the food, we focus on him.  

As we eat our matzah of purity and truth this Passover season, let us not forget the one who died for our sins; the One for whom we serve.  Empty our hearts and lives of sin and fill our hearts and lives with His truth.  Let’s start a new season with Him.  

Be a Blessing and Be Blessed!

Monday Morning Inspirational 
By Rebbitzen Kat

March 22, 2021 | Ninth of Nisan, 5781 

“And let us keep paying attention to one another, in order to spur each other on to love and good deeds, not neglecting our own congregational meetings, as some have made a practice of doing, but, rather, encouraging each other.”  Hebrews 10:24, CJB

Friendships are essential to one’s body, mind, and soul.  Although we are individuals, it wasn’t meant for us to be alone with ourselves.  We need stimulation, we need contact, we need to know we’re loved.  God wants us to love one another the way He loves us.  The best way to love one another is to build up those relationships with the people around us.  Form a friendship with someone who needs a friend, especially with the new believers around you.  Help them to transition into this new way of life they’ve found.  Help them to know God’s love for them.

Be a Blessing and Be Blessed!  

Monday Morning Inspirational 
By Rebbitzen Kat 
March 15, 2021 | 2nd of Nisan, 5781

“Praised be God, Father of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, compassionate Father, God of all encouragement and comfort, who encourages us in all our trials, so that we can encourage others in whatever trials they may be undergoing with the encouragement we ourselves have received from God.” - 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, CJB

For when we are in trouble, we call on him.  When we are in sorrow, we call on him.  When we are mourning, we call on him.  Whatever the situation, he encourages us to get through the trials that confront us.  He helps us to move forward in our daily lives.  His encouragement for us, helps us to encourage others.  Just after Thanksgiving of 2020, my brother died unexpectedly; it was devastating.  Although I wasn’t able to go to the funeral, I was able to be there through Zoom.  Soon after my husband and I got COVID.  The odds could’ve been against us, but God opened doors and we were able to get the treatment’s we needed.  Just a little over a week ago, my oldest brother passed away from Agent Orange.  Anyone going through so much in such a short time would be lost, but I know because I set my eyes on Yeshua, I was able to get through my days and do the things I needed to do.  God gives me rest and he gives me hope.  He can and will do this for you too.

If you are going through mourning, heartbreak, job loss, illness, etc., I want to encourage you that it does get better.  You may not be able to see it in the moment, but when you turn to him; when you set your eyes on Yeshua, God’s encouragement will guide you through.  I pray this blesses you today.  

Be a Blessing and Be Blessed!

Monday Morning Inspirational 
By Rebbitzen Kathleen Rantz 
March 8th, 2021 | 24th of Adar. 5781

​“There were so many people coming and going that they couldn’t even take time to eat, so he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a place where we can be alone, and you can get some rest’.”
Mark 6:31, CJB

God tells us we need to rest from work, but he also tells us rest from ministry.  Many of us have ministries we do throughout the week.  There may be time when we’re feeling ill, or don’t have enough energy, but we forge ahead cause it’s what we do.  Sometimes we may feel like we’re letting God down if we can’t fulfill our task.  Rest assured we’re not.  He knows our hearts and our desires to do his will.  He will let us know that’s it okay to take a grace period so he can heal us or rejuvenate us.  He knows it’s better for his kingdom if he has 100% of us, we should know that too.  If you’re not feeling up to par today, know that it’s okay to rest and rejuvenate.  

Be a Blessing and Be Blessed!

Monday Morning Inspirational
By Rebbitzen Kathleen Rantz
 
March 1, 2021 | 17th of Adar, 5781

“As God’s fellow-workers we also urge you not to receive his grace and then do nothing with it. For he says, “At the acceptable time I heard you; in the day of salvation, I helped you.” -  2 Corinthians 6:1-2, CJB
 
I’ve noticed for a while now how Covid-19 has changed how we as believers view being in community.  Many congregations would have fellowship after services.  People would get together and talk about the (drash) sermon or talk about their week and Yeshua in it.  It’s even been reported that when congregations closed down due to COVID-19, many of them went to online services.  Some would watch live, some would wait until later, because they saw the opportunity to spend the day elsewhere.  I have even heard from several leaders that when congregations reopened, some came back, but some stayed with their new routines.  Some of the ones that have come back, can’t seem to get out quick enough, so they can get on with their day, as if being there is an imposition; “I can’t give you all my time, I need to go have fun.”  
 
Adonai gives us all the time we need.  He loves us unconditionally.  He gave us his Son that we may have everlasting life.  He’s given us grace and we’ve laid it by the wayside.  Shabbat is a day of resting in him; it’s a day devoted to him.  

​Let’s go back to making Shabbat about him and not about us.  
 
Be a Blessing and Be Blessed!
 
Monday Morning Inspirational 
By Rebbitzen Kathleen Rantz
February 15, 2021 | 3rd of Adar, 5781

​“Children, what you should do in union with the Lord is obey your parents, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” — this is the first commandment that embodies a promise — “so that it may go well with you, and you may live long in the Land.”- Ephesians 6:1-3, Complete Jewish Bible
 
We are living in a time where the rights of the parents raising their children is being taken away.  So much so, that we are no longer allowed to know what they are being taught in school.  Our children are being told that they don’t need to listen to their parents.  Unfortunately, many parents don’t see it happening.  Children start to be disrespectful and parents don’t understand why.  I believe it’s because they are not being taught what it really means to have a relationship with God.  They may learn about him in their congregation, but not have any follow up at home.  The Bible isn’t a book of stories to read during Saturday or Sunday service, it’s instruction on how to conduct ourselves on a daily basis.  It teaches us accountably and also consequences when we sin.  In a time when parents have more time at home with their children, take the opportunity to spend more time in the word with them.  Help them to build a relationship with God and to understand what that means.  Teach them about Yeshua, who he is and what he did for them.  Show them how to respect and love one another.  If we obey the lord in raising our children in the way they should go, then our children can obey the Lord in honoring us.  
 
Be a Blessing and Be Blessed!
 
Monday Morning Inspirational 
By Rebbitzen Kathleen Rantz
February 8th, 2021| 26th of Sh’vat, 5781

“When you violate the covenant of Adonai your God, which he ordered you to obey, and go and serve other gods and worship them, then the anger of Adonai will blaze up against you; and you will perish quickly from the good land which he has given you!”- Joshua 23:16, CJB
 
Many people ask why God isn’t there for them in certain times.  They go through turmoil and ask, “God, where are you?”  I have to ask, where is your heart with God?  There are a lot of things going on in the world today that the body of Messiah gets caught up in.  There are many that are pro ..., and there are many that are anti ... Where are you in the midst in relationship to God and his Word.  Yeshua died for our sins.  If we fall short in some areas in our lives, we know we’re covered.  But to have a belief in something that is against God is quite another story.  He’s very clear on how we are to live our lives.  Our hearts can hurt for others in their sin, but we shouldn’t condone them in their sin. When we do that, we turn our backs on God.  If we continue to turn our backs on God, it’s only a matter of time before he turns us over to our sins.  He cannot be manipulated into our way of thinking.  His word is true.  Things around us may change, but he does not.  The road of righteousness leads to him.  With him is where we should always want to be.  Do not follow the crowd into oblivion, lead the crowd to him.  
 
Be a Blessing and Be Blessed!
 
Monday Morning Inspirational 
By Rebbitzen Kathleen Rantz

February 1. 2021 | 19th of Sh’vat, 5781