Daily Bread Post-card(s)!

 On Shavuot we are commanded to offer two loaves of bread to the L-RD, to ADONAI, the Almighty Creator of the Universe.  And to bring them from wherever we are!

Today`s Daily Bread Post-card* is a double portion!
In honor of the feast of Shavuot.

This week, I will share two postcards!!

With two loaves of bread in each!!  The scripture is the same in both, Leviticus 23:17.
I send them to you.

They are both about bringing the offering of two loaves of bread, and waving them as a `wave  offering` to ADONAI.  One is a drawing I made at Shavuot last year (below) and one is a drawing I made this year (above).

This is the drawing I made last year :





This year,  I went out early in the morning once more to wave the loaves up to the G-d of Heaven! When I lowered my hands to bring the loaves back down, there was a flash of light on the `sole` of the two loaves in my hands!!! When I saw this flash of light, I thought of the lightning at Mt. Sinai at the giving of the Torah.  I felt that I received something from the L-RD, and everything became peaceful.  My heart had a moment of existing in His great Shalom!!!

Later on, I tried to draw something about the experience.  I looked at my drawing from last year.  Although there was something the `same` about my experience this year, I knew something was different. 

The Feast Day of Shavuot is an appointment to meet the G-d of Heaven.  During the 40 days since Pesach we anticipate this meeting and what it will be, as we work on the cleaning of our hearts and making ourselves ready for that meeting.  This time I felt He really was there to receive it!  In the drawing (top of this post)  I wanted to express that `meeting`, as we lift up the loaves.

For each person, Shavout brings a unique moment for each of us to re-live that experience of the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai every year, to offer our `firstfruits`, and to re-new our commitment to Him!  I hope the drawings can communicate even the least of that in the two postcards this week.

Shavuot is also the day that we read about in the book of Acts when the Disciples of Yeshua were gathered in the upper room in Jerusalem.  It was on the Feast Day of Shavuot that the Holy Spirit was poured down on the disciples and they received the Spirit of the L-rd!  Did you know the holiday known as `Pentecost` was not a `new` holiday, but rather it was on Shavuot,  First Fruits, exactly 50 days (Pentecost means the fiftieth day, in Greek) after Pesach, that the Holy Spirit was poured out!!!

One of the meanings of the two loaves is that they represent Jew and Gentile, together as one in Messiah Yeshua!  

Hope you had/having a blessed holiday!  Chag Sameach!

Love,

Shayndel


*Each week for the past ...weeks I have been posting a  Daily Bread Post-card.  Bread in this feature refers to Challah, which this blog is themed on.  In a larger sense, it refers to the word of G-d, which is our daily bread!  Because man (and woman) cannot live by bread alone but by every word that comes out of the mouth of G-d (Deuteronomy 8:3, Matthew 4:4).  And to take that further, Bread also refers to Messiah Yeshua because He himself is the Bread of Life. 

＊

He afflicted you and let you hunger, then He fed you manna--which neither you nor your fathers had known--in order to make you understand that man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of ADONAI.  ---Deuteronomy 8:3  TLV

The Loaves are Alive

The two Shavuot loaves really seemed alive during the Feast days.
They were waved, offered, eaten.  We had an after dinner reading of the Ten Commandments, and some related verses in Exodus and Deuteronomy.  After that we noticed even how the loaves resemble the  shapes of the tablets of the Ten Commandments!

Chag Sameach!


＊

　　 For a nice article on First Fruits Challah, and the quality of how the challah is `alive` when we make it for this special day and for all Shabbatot, step over to this link, HERE!

Weeks!!

 From wherever you live,
bring two loaves of bread as a wave offering of firstfruits to the Lord.

---Leviticus 23:17

Happy Shavuot!
Did you know the name of this holiday, or Feast Day on the Kingdom Calendar, means `Weeks` in Hebrew.  Weeks!

We counted seven weeks from the second day of Passover to arrive at Shavuot.

Seven Shabbatot!

We did the math a few posts down!

It feels like on Shavuot time turns upside down and inside out as the King and Creator of this whole great and wonderful Creation comes so close to us.  After we counted up in anticipation to meet Him on His appointed day, He comes `down` to meet us just as He promised, and to let us know something very wonderful.  That we do `count`.  i.e., we count.   We count on Him.  We count to Him.  He created each of us, me and you and she and he and all of us, He created us all perfectly and wonderfully made（＊）.  He takes delight in knowing us, and all of Creation seems to be alive in a new way as He walks among us!!!

From wherever you live, bring two loaves

A day in His Courts is like a thousand elsewhere!!

Chag Sameach!
Happy Shavuot!!

 ＊

I praise You,

for I am awesomely, wonderfully made!

Wonderful are Your works--

  and my soul knows that very well.   

---Psalm 139:14

Shabbat Rose, Song of Songs, Shabbat Shalom!

 I had a rose in the flower arrangement this Shabbat.  Probably because of that, I kept noticing the word `rose` as I was reading the Song of Songs to welcome the Shabbat.

 II

Israel to God:

1.  I am but a rose of Sharon, even an ever-fresh rose of the valleys.

God to Israel:

2.  Like the rose maintaining its beauty among the thorns, so is My faithful beloved among the nations.

Israel reminisces:

3.  (a) Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my lover among the sons.  (b) In His shade I delighted and there I sat, and the fruit of His Torah was sweet to my palate.

4.  He brought me to the chamber of Torah delights and clustered my encampments about Him in Love.

5.  I say to Him, "Sustain me in exile with dainty cakes, spread fragrant apples about me to comfort my dispersion---for bereft of Your presence, I am sick with love."

6.  With memories of His loving support in the Desert, of His left hand under my head of His right hand enveloping me.

The verses above are from the ArtScroll Siddur  translation of the Song of Songs, verses 2:1~6, with the exception of verse 3(a) which is from TLV

When I read them this time, first I noticed the roses because of the roses,  and then connected to the  timing we are in of of entering the book of Numbers and approaching the Holiday of Shavuot.   The references to Torah, and to the time young Israel was in the Desert, clustered about in "encampments",   is just what we are reading this Shabbat in the book of Numbers!
 

As we prepare ourselves as His bride in anticipation, may we cluster about Him in love...

Shabbat Shalom~!

Today is the 46th day of counting the Omer. 

This Shabbat we begin the Book of Numbers, Bamidbar (see list of weekly readings at right sidebar).
Just 4 more days to Shavuot,  counting!!

As the Song of Songs is a love story between God and His people, may each day of our lives be a love song declaring our Love to our Creator, and expressing all the depths of our hearts to Him in every thing we do.  May He know how our heartstrings yearn for His presence in our lives.  May we together, from every nation and every tribe, seek His Salvation, hear His call and return to Him!

Love and Shalom,

Shayndel

Shabbat Shalom!

Let there be Light!

Daily Bread Postcard!

The sky became covered completely with clouds.  I was out and still had a way to go before getting home, and it looked sure to rain.  I didn`t have an umbrella.

People on the street were opening up umbrellas or making a dash to get where they were going.  I noticed many people  had on earphones and were `tuned` out,  or rather tuned in to something on their headphones.

Noticing this, I decided to `tune in` to the L-RD G-d Almighty, and looked up to the heavens.
I began to say the words that you see wrtitten in the drawing above, the lines and prayer from Psalm 36.

Then a wonderful thing that happened,  the whole dome of the sky was activated, and the clouds reached around the sides of the whole dome.  They were shaped like two great arms of the Almighty!! I also saw another cloud overhead that almost looked like the shape of an eye.  I felt that the G-d of Heaven was seeing and hearing me.   His presence seemed so close as to be wrapping all around me in a loving embrace.

As He controls the skies and the heavens, He kept the skies at bay and  faithfully protected me all the way home.

May we seek Him. Praise Him.  And find refuge in the `canopy` (umbrella!) of His Love!

How precious is your kindness O God
The sons of man take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.
May they be sated from the abundance of Your house;
and may You give them to drink from the stream of Your delights.
For with You is the source of life--by Your light we shall see light.
Extend your kindness to those who know You, and Your charity to the upright of heart.

--Psalms 36:8~11

＊

On Thursdays I am trying out a new blog feature, which is to post a `Daily Bread` Postcard, and from there print 7 of them (one for each day) to give out to people I meet in the week.  And to you if you`d like!*.         This is the fifth week!

PS I already gave out the first of  the 7 of this postcard to a little girl  today.  She was walking with her mom, home from kindergarten.  This postcard is for her.  May she know the Lord and all His kindness.  May He bless Her and bring her to Him.

 

 ♡

Third Challah Cover and Post in Progress

The name Yeshua

My Third Challah cover in Progress!
One for each book!  The first , I embroidered the Hebrew names of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca for the book of Genesis, In the Beginning.
The second for the book of Exodus, which translates from the Hebrew word Shemot, as the book of `Names`, I embroidered the Hebrew names of the Twelve Sons of Jacob, the Twelve Tribes of Israel.
And this is the third challah cover for the book we just finished,  the Book of Leviticus, the middle book of the Torah. 

I am embroidering the name of Yeshua. 

It is in progress, as is this post, but in the meantime I just wanted to to proclaim the joy in sewing His name.

YESHUA!

He is our Savior and He is the LORD. 

G-d Bless you and have a beautiful day!

Love,

Shayndel

Shabbat Blessings and Hydrangea Blue

  Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who sanctified us with His Mitzvot and was pleased with us and gave us His holy Sabbath.  In love and in favor, a memorial of the work of creation.  Blessed are You Lord Who sanctifies the Sabbath.  Amen. 

---From the Friday Night Kiddush, Blessings for the Shabbat

 Everything this Shabbat was colored in Ajisai Blue! 

 In Japanese, Ajisai is the name for hydrangeas.   I had an inspiration this Shabbat to make the table decorated with touches of blue, the color of June hydrangeas.

It was a fun surprise to see that in our congregation today our worship leader, she too was  wearing Ajisai-blue, a hydrangea-blue flower patterned shirt!

What color was today`s Shabbat for you?!

Shavu`a Tov!  Have a blessed week!

 ♡

Shayndel

  

シャバット・シャロム！`Remember` and `Keep` ---Shabbat Shalom!

Challah and `Ajisai` (Hydrangea)

Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.

---Exodus 20:8

Keep the Sabbath day to sanctify it.

---Deuteronomy 5:12

Shabbat Shalom!

♡
 

安息日をおぼえて、これを聖なる日とせよ。

ー出エジプト２０；８ 

安息日を守って、これを聖なる日とせよ。

ー申命記５：１２ 


シャバット・シャロム！ 

Daily Bread Postcard!

How precious is your kindness, O God!

---Psalm 36:8

I love this line from the Psalms, and it is also the beginning of a morning prayer that I read from the Jewish prayer book.  That is the book that is open in the middle of the drawing.  The books were spread out on the tatami floor of my room, and seeing all the words and the light coming in inspired me to make this drawing.  When I posted it, and see it under the blog header with the Matzah, I noticed the color and lines of the  `tatami` in the drawing looks like the `matzah` in the photo! Any chance you noticed that too?!

Blessings and Shalom!

♡

Shayndel


On Thursdays I am trying out a new blog feature, which is to post a `Daily Bread` Postcard, and from there print 7 of them (one for each day) to give out to people I meet in the week.  And to you if you`d like!*.         This is the fourth week!

  Yes, "7"!!

Sabbath Delight Multiplication! A quiz, and an Apple Kugel

Then ADONAI said to Moses on Mount Sinai,

"Speak to Bnei-Yisrael and tell them:

When you come into the land which I give you, then the land is to keep a Shabbat to ADONAI.

For six years you may sow your field and for six years you may prune your vineyard and gather in its fruits.  But in the seventh year there is to be a Shabbat rest for the land---a Shabbat to ADONAI.

---Leviticus 25:1~2, first lines of Parshat Behar

 It`s  the season between spring green and summer grasses,  and we are in the book of Leviticus.  The 36th day of the counting of the Omer.

I wanted to share a kugel with you in this post.  As I was posting it, with the photos from Shabbat, I started thinking about Shabbat and the Shabbatot (plural of Shabbat) that we are learning about in the recent weeks Parashiot.  And before I knew it, it became a long post!  So I divided it in 3 parts,

1.  the Shabbat Multiplication    2.  A Quiz!  and 3. the Apple Kugel 

I hope you will enjoy it in its entirety, or one by one,  and please try the recipe and the Kugel in part 3!

Blessings and Shalom!

＊

 1.  The Shabbat Multiplication

In these seven weeks of counting the Omer, we are preparing our hearts in great expectation for Shavout.  In the recent Torah portions ( this week is a double portion and already the end of the book of Leviticus, see "link to weekly readings" on the right sidebar!), we learn about an ever expanding of G-d`s whole plan of Shabbatot.  Not only is there the seventh day weekly Shabbat, but then there are seven weeks, as in the counting of the Omer.  And next, seven years, in the Shemittah, or  Shabbat Year.

Keep on multiplying, with 7`s, as there are also seven times of seven years leading to the Yovel, or year of Jubilee in the 50th year .

 Count

 7 (days)  Shabbat
7 (weeks) 7 X 7 = 49 Counting the Omer, leading to 50th day Shavuot
7 (years)  Shabbat Year  (Shemittah or Sabbatical Year)
7 X 7 (years) =49 years , leading to the 50th year of Jubilee

Repeat

The delight we have in the Shabbat also multiplies as we enter into it and learn a little more each week of what is in G-d`s heart and in His plan.  It is like a spiral as you come closer to heaven in each observance of His appointed days.  It is humbling too, because we see how great is His plan for us on earth. And how huge is His Love.

We learn how included in His plan is rest for the Land, and the understanding that none of it is ours.  All of creation is His.  We have the privilege of being in it and having these laws for rest in the seventh day and in the seven years and in the 7X7 years where everything is returned to its original state and debts are released.  It is a beautiful expression of the whole equation of how to live in equality with each other and in knowing that there is One who is Greater than us exponentially. Whose equations when we live by them add up to living in peace and harmony and genuine relationship with each other and with our very Creator!

Reading the Torah from Genesis to Leviticus over these months, we see the observance of Shabbat and Shabbatot are continually emphasized.  It is impossible to even consider that this is something that doesn`t apply to us in our own lives.   Yet I confess I never considered it and never had any notion of observing the Sabbath until a little over a year ago. 

Oh, Father, it is so, isn`t it, You open the pages to our eyes once we see You and before that we really do not see any of this.  I feel I am writing words that too are invisible, as only with eyes open to see will someone come to You and your Shabbatot.  But why did you open mine?  Oh Father, please open the eyes of someone reading this who hasn`t yet known your Salvation and your Shabbat and the delight it is to see time expanding into the way You designed it.  Hashem Yeshua, in the name of Yeshua, may You be glorified.  May we return to You and your amazing plan for Rest in the Shabbat, Rest for the land, and for our souls to live in freedom and delight in knowing You and doing Your will...

 There is also another part of the equation for the Children of Israel who chose not to walk in His statutes and observe His Mitzvot.  Instead of blessing being multiplied, it is plagues that are multiplied....and I just noticed again there is the number 7.  The plagues are multiplied by seven (Leviticus 26:21).  You can see in the last part of the book of Leviticus, where there is Faithfulness on one side of the equation and Faithlessness on the other.    I encourage you to see the way it all adds up for yourself in Parsha Bechukotai which ends the book of Leviticus. 

Chazak! Chazak! V`nitchazek!*

〜〜〜

These verses from the book of Isaiah speak how delight in Shabbat
equals delight in ADONAI。。。 

"If you turn back your foot from Shabbat,

from doing your pleasure on My holy day,

and call Shabbat a delight,

the holy day of ADONAI honorable,

If you honor it, not going your own ways,

not seeking your own pleasure,

nor speaking your usual speech,

then You will delight yourself in ADONAI,

and I will let you ride over

the heights of the earth,

I will feed you with the heritage

of your father Jacob."

For the mouth of ADONAI has spoken.

---Isaiah 58:13~14

＊

2.    Now the  quiz!

In 7 clues..., what could it be?

1.  First, it is something I spent my whole life NOT doing (until one year ago!)

2.  Second, it is something that any person native born or otherwise from any nation and any tribe who believes in living a righteous life under the plan of our Creator,  we are commanded to do.

3.  Third, it is something that when we do it we learn soooooo much about our Creator.

4.  Fourth, it is something that is a delight.

5.  Fifth, it is something that makes time into something that we never knew before, a divine and sacred time.

6.  Sixth, it is the opening to all the rest of the Calendar of the King and by being on it and in it we are not only pleasing the King and Creator, but it is what He considers a sign of being His children.

7.  Seventh, it is the Seventh day of the week!

Did you guess?
Yes, it is the Sabbath, or in Hebrew, Shabbat!!!

＊

3. The Recipe

As promised, the Apple Kugel RECIPE is HERE!!
Thank you to a new blog friend DUTA, for her Post on finding Apple Kugel in a supermarket in Israel (here!).  Her post inspired me to make an Apple Kugel for  Shabbat dessert, as there is no supermarket in Japan that I know of where you can find an Apple Kugel!!

There was  a slice left in the photo above for my daughter`s Shabbat breakfast, and you can see how the whole kugel came out in this photo!
I used Made in Japn dried grapes in place of raisins, and made a half of the recipe.
Please enjoy a piece of the pie (kugel!) after all the math in the post!!


Shalom be upon Israel!   ---Psalm 128:6


Shabbat Shalom! Shavu`a Tov!!

*Be strong! Be strong! And may we be strengthened.
This phrase is said after finishing each book of the Torah.
What does it mean and why do we say it?
This post on a blog I came across answers those very questions.

Daily Bread Post-card!

For this week`s post-card, I started with the drawing in the post below, and  added color.  The scripture is from John 4, after Yeshua meets the Samaritan woman at the well and tells her that He is the Living Water.  She runs back to tell the people about Him, and many people believe after her testimony of meeting the Messiah himself.  

Imagine, meeting the Messiah himself.  And yet we really do once we hear His voice and ask to receive Salvation.  When I see this scripture, it amazes me to think that we can really know so intimately the Savior of the world, and drink from the water that He gives. How could it be?
And yet it is!  

In the drawing, I represented myself as a child, meeting Yeshua at the well.  I feel like a child in  heart when in His presence.

`This really is the Savior of the world!`

 The truth sets us free and we want to run like the woman did and share the good news with others.   I hope that if it is news to you, you will be open to hear it, and come to the well, drink from His Living Water!

I wish us all well in deepening

our walk with the Lord in this week!

Ho, everyone who thirsts,
come to the water,

--Isaiah 55:1(a)  TLV


Blessings and Shalom!


*Yeshua  means `Salvation`
  

On Thursdays I am trying out a new blog feature, which is to post a `Daily Bread` Postcard, and from there print 7 of them (one for each day) to give out to people I meet in the week.  And to you if you`d like!*.         This is the third week!

At the Well

When everything is quiet and still,
I listen for the sound of Yeshua`s voice.
At the well I think of Jacob`s Well and
the Samaritan woman who Yeshua asks for water.

I just heard on this last Shabbat that during the days of counting the omer, 
the King is in the fields.

I imagine Him here, making His rounds,
stopping by this well.

Will He be well-pleased with me today?
May He find the ones who are astray!

PS Exactly while writing this a man came by,
a fisherman!
Good catch  :)
Shalom!

Bless you and have a nice day!

♡

Shayndel

At the well I think of Jacob`s Well and
the Samaritan woman who Yeshua asks for water.

I pray and imagine what would it be like if Yeshua came up to me right now!

Drawing at (from!) the well

Good catch!

Dear Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel)

Today the wind of G-d kissed me on the cheek and said,
Remember, I am the one who
brought you back with a mighty hand,
I who gather the exiled from the four corners of the earth.
I am with you to the ends of the earth
and I will bring you home.

Shabbat flowers, Shabbat Shalom!

On my way home with the flowers for Shabbat, I pass through the Castle.
Shabbat flowers are...flowers for the King!
In those moments before sundown our hearts beat fast,  `doki doki`--- a Japanese adjective for the sound of a heart beating fast in anticipation!

With eager anticipation to enter into and welcome the Shabbat....

Love and Blessings,

Shabbat Shalom!!

Who is this King of Glory?
Adonai Tzva`ot--He is the King of glory!
Selah.

---Psalm 24:10 TLV