Happy Purim!!

These were to be days of feasting, celebration and sending presents of food to one another and giving gifts to the poor.   Esther 9:22b

"hidden" Hamantashen

Can you see there, the moon on the day before Purim. The Jewish holidays, or rather God's Feast Days, always coincide with the cycles of the moon, and as Purim is the 14th and 15th day of ADAR, it is always on a full moon.  It is exciting to look up in the sky as we approach the special appointed days of our God and be able to see as we are coming closer to the day of the Feast.  God appointed the times and He speaks through them on His eternal cycle.   I call this picture, Purim moon.  (though I missed seeing the actual full moon yesterday,on the actual Purim,  too busy feasting!)

These days should be remembered and observed in every generation by every family and in every province and in every city.  These days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor their remembrance perish from their descendants.

Book of Esther 10:28

I confess, I missed many Purims in the years when I was separated from God, the great sin that I know now is the greatest sin, to live our lives in separation from God. Perhaps that is why it has become an even greater joy to remember it and observe it in the years since my "return".  All the Jews in Shushan too at that time were living in exile, and many were giving in to the customs of their exiled country, not holding fast to the Torah and slipping away from their faith.  When Esther and Mordechai called for unity in the Jewish people, they were met with unity as all the Jewish people bonded together in fast and prayer, and we know the joyous victory that was achieved for the people of God in that time, after Esther spoke up and called the Fast and arranged the banquets!! 

Esther sent this reply to Mordecai, "Go!  Gather together all the Jews who are in Shushan and fast for me.  Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day.  My maids and I will fast in the same way.  After wards, I will go to the king, even though it is not according to the law.  So if I perish, I perish!   

So Mordecai left and did all that Esther commanded him.   
Esther, 4:15~17

On that day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but contrary to expectations the Jews gained the upper hand over those that hated them.  Jews assembled in their cities through out all the provinces of King Ahaseurus in order to lay hands on those seeking their harm.  No one was able to stand against them, for fear of them had fallen on the peoples.  
 Esther, 9:1a~ 2

Praise God!! Hallelujah!! 

Wishing everyone a joyous Purim!! There is a day to fast on the day before Purim for those who choose to. After that one day fast there is the day of Purim (or two days depending), as recorded in the book of Esther, of celebration and joy!! 

Sadly there was news of terrorist attack in Israel in this week, as well as the spirit of Amalek alive and continuing in their evil plans to destroy the Jewish people with the firing of rockets by Hamas and other terrorist attacks. 

We are told in the Bible to remember to never forget Amalek,  and we read just at this time of year the scriptures about Amalek including the story of King Saul's disobedience to destroy all of Amalek.  May our prayers go up to rid this spirit of evil as embodied by Amalek and his descendants like Haman and those who are seeking to destroy Israel today. And at may many people who have gone far from God return to Him and that there rise up more unity in  God's people, both Jew and Gentile, as we are to be one in Messiah Yeshua. 

Stay tuned for a few more Purim posts and of course, those beloved cookies, though why do they call them Hamantashen??! It just makes you say "Boo!"