“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not suppressed it.”
- John 1:5, CJB This Chanukah season has come on the heels of Thanksgiving; highly appropriate, considering the Chanukah story. Chanukah is Hebrew for dedication. We remember the Maccabees, namely Judah Maccabee, for what they had to do so that they and all of Judaism could live as God intended. While they fought their enemies, that one night of oil burned for 8 nights. This is exactly the time it took to defeat their foes. Centuries later, as Jews and the Gentiles who stand with them, celebrate the miracle of lights. We recite the Chanukah story, eat foods fried in oil to remind us of the oil that lasted 8 nights, and give thanks for all God’s done in our lives and continues to do for his chosen people. Darkness may seem to loom large, but Yeshua’s light looms even larger. In this season of Chanukah, let’s let His light shine through us and carry it to others so that it may shine through them. Let Jews and Gentiles alike come together as one new man. For all of us who stand together with God, will see a victory. Happy Chanukah! Be a Blessing and Be Blessed! Morning Inspirational By Rebbitzen Kathleen Rantz 25th of Kislev | November 29th, 2021
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“Give thanks to Adonai; for He is good, for His grace endures forever. Let those redeemed by Adonai say it, those He redeemed by the power of the foe.” Psalm 107:1-2, CJB
Thanksgiving is upon us, yet some ask, “With all the tragedy going on around us, what is there to be thankful for?” His word says that bad things will happen, but we know His grace, mercy and love are within those who believe. We know in the midst of tragedy that there is a light that shines. We know His mercy endures forever. The enemy will continually try to steal our joy, but in everything that the enemy tries to take away, let us remember that it is in Adonai that we find strength to carry on. Let us be the ones to teach these things to those who are struggling. Let Yeshua’s light shine through us, and show others there is still so much to be thankful for. Be a Blessing and Be Blessed! Happy Thanksgiving! Morning Inspirational By Rebbitzen Kathleen Rantz November 24, 2021 | 20th of Kislev, 5782 “If you entrust all you do to Adonai, your plans will achieve success.” Proverbs 16:3, CJB I overheard a woman tell another woman that she did the best she could. I wanted to interject, but felt I wasn’t supposed to. Many of us have had lives where we could only do the best with what we’ve had. Doing the best with what you had, means you didn’t have a lot; this too is my story. In the midst of a hard life, you become a stronger, better person, and through this, you teach your children to do the same. As I and many others heard this past weekend, God never promised to make us comfortable, but he did promise to bless those that bless him. All we have to do is follow him and he will pull us through the other side; I am a living testimony of that. We are not infallible, we make mistakes, but if we pray to him, talk to him, and build a relationship with him, he will meet us on the other side. Follow him and he will pull you through. Be a Blessing and Be Blessed! Morning Inspirational By Rebbitzen Kathleen Rantz November 2nd, 2021 | 27th of Cheshvan, 5782 “This is the confidence we have in his presence: if we ask anything that accords with his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us — whatever we ask — then we know that we have what we have asked from him.”- 1 John 5:14-15, CJB We change the way we react toward God when we pray His will into all things. I know I’ve talked about prayer before, but sometimes we need to be reminded that how we pray matters. We fall into this trap of getting angry with God cause He didn’t answer our prayers the way we wanted Him to. It’s not our will be done it’s, “His will be done”; not only His will, but also His timing. God knows our hearts, He knows what we want, but He also has a plan and knows what He wants from us. Sometimes we have to go through the storm to get to where He wants us to be, and in going through that storm, we thank Him and praise Him and pray His will in all of it. He will bring us through when we pray His will be done, and we will see His answer more clearly and understand Him better when we pray this way. He is a good God! Be a Blessing and Be Blessed! Morning Inspirational By Rebbitzen Kathleen Rantz 21st of Cheshvan, 5782 | October 27, 2021 “Before they call, I will answer; while they are still speaking, I will hear.”
~ Isaiah 65:24, CJB Would you know a God-thing if you were to experience it? Have you ever asked God for help, and he answered in that moment? You’re looking all over for something you misplaced, or you can’t remember something you were going to say. I’ve experienced these things, and Yeshua has either answered directly, or through somebody else; and every time I’m amazed of his works. The other day during our Shabbat service I was going over announcements with a congregant, and I couldn’t remember a specific announcement that needed to be made. Just as I said aloud, “Okay, The Lord will have to remind me,” another congregant came up and asked about the very thing I needed to remember. I then told her that it was a God-thing and reminded her that Yeshua used her to help me remember! “God-things” like this happen to us every day, but do we acknowledge him in it? Are we so busy trying to find him in the big things, that we don’t see him in these little things? These little things are just as significant as the big things. So as you go about your busy day, pay attention to those little things, … those little details. Before you even think or speak, he will reveal himself to you. Be a Blessing and Be Blessed! Morning Inspirational By Rebbitzen Kathleen Rantz 14th of Cheshvan, 5782 | October 20, 2022 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” - John 16:33, NIV
What is your purpose for today? Is it to be a blessing, or to be harmful? Believe it or not, there are those in the body who do cause harm. The troubles of this world have flowed into the congregations, causing strife among the body. Personal opinions have become more important than God’s Word. There was a time we could agree to disagree, but now people are vilified for disagreeing. His word says there will be those that conform to this world. It’s sad to see this happen, but do not lose heart. Do not let yourselves be troubled; feel his peace. Do not be afraid to speak HIS TRUTH. Continue to pray for and be a blessing to those who choose to cause harm. May those who have lost their way, come back home. Be a Blessing and Be Blessed! Morning Inspirational By Rebbitzen Kathleen Rantz October 6, 2021 | 30th of Tishrei, 5782 “… sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to each other; sing to the Lord and make music in your heart to him; always give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah.” - Ephesians 5:19-20, CJB In the beginning…. The High Holy Days are over, and Adonai has freed us from our sins and has made us clean; we are now a new canvas. Just as he created the heavens and the earth, so are we a new creation. Every year we get a chance to be better than the year before. So, let us be kind to one another, let us give hope to one another, and let us have joy in our hearts. Praise him every morning and every evening for the good he has given us. Sing, Sing, Sing! Be a Blessing and Be Blessed! Morning Inspirational By Rebbitzen Kathleen Rantz September 28, 2021 | 22nd of Tishrei, 5782 “[If you do,] keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceiving talk; turn from evil, and do good; seek peace, go after it!” - Psalm 34:14-15, CJB We are now in the midst of the 10 Days of Awe, also known as the 10 Days of Repentance. These are the days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur where we reflect on ourselves and the last year, and go to others we have wronged, or may have wronged during the past year, and ask forgiveness. We are also to keep from speaking Lashon Hara (ill will) against one another. Unfortunately, it seems people don’t pay attention to the teachings that are given on this. We spend an hour or so in a Rosh Hashana service, repenting of our sins, asking God for forgiveness, and cleaning us. Yet, no sooner is the service over, I see more people being rude and disrespectful toward others than forgiving. They just go on with life thinking that anything they do or say to or about others is fine. One of the blessings given during this time of year is “may your name be inscribed in the book of life”. Unfortunately, I think some hear, “your name is inscribed in the book of life”. I came across a teaching where a Rabbi Yohanan, who lived in the third century, taught, “Three books are opened in heaven on Rosh Hashanah, one for the completely wicked, one for the completely righteous and one for those in between. The completely righteous are immediately inscribed in the book of life. The completely wicked are immediately inscribed in the book of death. The fate of those in between is suspended until Yom Kippur. If they do well, they are inscribed in the book of life. If not, in the book of death” (Rosh Hashanah 16b). Where do you fall in this? I can say for myself that I am in between. Although we practice repentance during the 10 Days day of Awe, we should strive to be the best we can be every day, in thought, word, and deed, as we don’t know when Adonai will call us home. Rabbi Eliezer in Shabbat 153a says, “repent one day before your death”. “Just one thing have I asked of Adonai; only this will I seek: to live in the house of Adonai all the days of my life, to see the beauty of Adonai and visit in his temple.” - Psalm 27:4 CJB I pray that we all will continue to seek to live in the House of Adonai. Be a Blessing and Be Blessed! Morning Inspirational By Rebbitzen Kathleen Rantz September 8th, 2021 5th of Tishrei, 5782 “If we acknowledge our sins, then, since he is trustworthy and just, he will forgive them and purify us from all wrongdoing.” - 1 John 1:9, CJB Next Monday night marks Rosh Hashanah, the beginning of the New Year. Ten days after that is Yom Kippur. The period between the two is called the “Ten Days of Awe,” As we finish up the “Seven Weeks of Consolation,” reconciling our hearts and minds, we will enter into the time to repent and forgive; a time to resolve conflicts with others. If we’ve hurt or offended anyone over the past year, known or unknown, we go to them and ask forgiveness. We also forgive others who have wronged us. They may not know that they’ve wronged you, and so won’t come to repent, but we forgive them anyway. Through this, we are purified and made new. So as we’ve made our resolve with our hearts and minds, and with God, let us prepare to resolve ourselves with others. This is how we love our neighbors as ourselves. Be a Blessing and Be Blessed! Morning Inspirational By Rebbitzen Kathleen Rantz August 31, 2021 23rd of Elul, 5781 “If we claim not to have sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we acknowledge our sins, then, since he is trustworthy and just, he will forgive them and purify us from all wrongdoing.” - 1 John 1:8-9, CJB We have had a rough 2 years. Just when it’s safe to go back outside and enjoy ourselves, and each other, we get swept up in the whirlwind of COVID-19 and masks; not to mention all the other stuff going on in the world. People are walking around in fear, hurting one another, some losing loved ones. Our emotions are out of control. It’s hard when our minds are thinking one thing, but our hearts are feeling something else. If you are someone who follows Judaism, you know we are in the midst of the 10 weeks of consolation. This is the time from the 9th of Av to Rosh Hashanah, where we examine our hearts and minds, and reconcile them. We do this by comforting one another through hurt and loss. We become compassionate to the feelings of others. We say a prayer every morning, thanking God for a brand-new day, and knowing our importance. This week is week 6, where “God shines his face on us and makes all things new.” We wander in the desert and walk in fear, but now he is bringing us out of that darkness; we are reborn. And now that although there is danger all around, we know that no weapon formed against us will prosper, and that Yeshua is always with us. Our hearts and minds are no longer in a battle. In these next few weeks, we can rejoice in our renewal. God has purified our hearts, thoughts, our minds, and our lips. In this we can go to others and reconcile our differences with them. Let us make right anything that may be wrong. Be a Blessing and Be Blessed! Morning Inspirational By Rebbitzen Kathleen Rantz August 24th, 2021 | 16th of Ellul, 5781 |
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