In days to come Jacob will take root, Israel will bud and blossom and fill all the world with fruit.
Isaiah 27:6
💛
Yes! The grapefruits are Jaffa Sweetie from Israel. At Tu B`Shevat we were able to find them in our local supermarket in a small city in the South of Japan! Baruch HaShem! The prophetic verse is already coming to pass as Israel sends her delicious fruit out into the world. I am so thankful to receive them here. I remember the very first time I saw an Israel fruit in our local supermarket in Japan (HERE!), it was also Tu B`Shevat!! Once we open our hearts to love and pray for Israel, Heaven hears and God sends fruit! The land of Israel becomes closer and closer, and we too get closer to our return.
But you, mountains of
Israel, you will shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit for My
people Israel; for their return is near.
PS adding a verse with `my word` this year, inheritance, and how beautiful to go with the fruit of Tu B`shevat in all its prophetic splendour, and there will be a `sowing of Shalom`! Thank you LORD! We speak it forward on this very Tu B`Shevat today as the sap courses through the trees and they awaken in spring, and your Ruach courses through the spirit of your people to return to our inheritance in You!
For there will be a sowing of shalom: the vine will yield its fruit,
the ground will produce its increase, and the heavens will give their
dew. I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit all these
things.
The Ruach of Adonai Elohim is on me, because Adonai has anointed me to proclaim Good News to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound,to proclaim the year of Adonai’s favor and the day of our God’s vengeance,
to comfort all who mournto console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they might be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of Adonai, that He may be glorified.
Isaiah 61:1~3
Dear Father,
It
was on Shabbat. It was on International Holocaust Remebrance Day. It
was on the Shabbat of reading about the night that You set your people
free and started the Exodus from Egypt. We join our hearts with Israel
and remember the 7 victims of the
terrorist attack that took place on that night outside a synagogue in
Jerusalem on that Friday night, even there was a boy only 14 years old, the all too young Asher was among the victims that night who was heinously killed. We pray for your comfort to all who
mourn and thank You that You are the One who consoles those who mourn in Zion.
We pray for comfort for all the families of the 7 victims, complete healing for any that survived the attacks, and protection from any more attacks and cessation of these acts of terror.
We pray for both
Jew and Arab, Christian and Moslem, for a healing of the hatred and
the pulling out of the root of evil that would cause a young 21 year old
in the prime of life, a life that was given by You dear Father, to use this precious gift of life and carry out such a horrendous act to go out and intentionally kill, to
intentionally destroy, and to have such a hate that was taught through generations even specifically against the Jewish people.
We repent, LORD, that we have seen many years of such hate growing and perhaps could be doing much more. Especially to pray for Israel as your word says, may we take no rest until you make Jerusalem a praise in all the earth. You are the God who is `Zealous for Zion` and to restore your people to the land. Could it be that this is a wake up to the Body of Messiah as well. We ask you open our spiritual eyes towards Jerusalem and help us to know how to pray so we can act ahead of the evil and close doors which have been open to allow such rampant acts of hate. May our forgiveness and reconciliation between one another bring about a greater release of forgiveness and reconcilliation and healing amongst all peoples, and hasten the return of Messiah to put Your feet on Zion once more, speedliy and in our day.
We also ask for a breaking down of and a total getting rid of the teachings and education system where youths are taught by adults
to kill and to hate. We pray for a softening of all hearts to forgive
and to reconcile and to put down the guns and the knives and that soon they will
indeed be changed to plowshares as all will call upon the Name of the LORD.
Father we give you thanks for your Mercy and loving kindness, and for your grace in the name of Your Beloved Son Yeshua.
Amen.
And now continuing in the verse, as this is the week of Shabbat of Song, we proclaim Victory in Yeshua. We also pray for a hastening of turning of mourning into joy and may Israel come into the next Shabbat , we ask you to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. After the days of the Shiva (first 7 days of mourning), may there be singing the song of Salvation, singing the Song of Moses and the Song of the Lamb as this will be the Shabbat of Song. May no plan of the enemy come against the breaking forth in song by all Israel as we are reading this very week in the splitting of the sea. Breakforth oh LORD with Your Deliverance!!!
Save us O Lord and we shall be saved! Heal us and we shall be healed. The LORD is our Strength and our Song. He has also become our Yeshua!
Blessings and Love,
Shayndel
Instead of your shame, double portion. instead of disgrace they will sing for joy. Therefore in their land they will inherit a double portion; they will have everlasting joy.
Isaiah 61:7
💛
Mount of Olives, in memory of Asher. I just read that the precious son was buried on the Mt. of Olives. Even as we are coming up on Tu B`Shevat, may we plant trees in the beloved memory of the victims and as a prayer for the prophetic return of the Jewish people , may we be more active in the restoration of Zion, to build and to plant!!
I didn`t yet color this drawing! So it is a gift like this if you would like to print it out on a postcard (a non glossy one that will take colors!) , and color it in the colors of spring and rejoicing!!
After Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them along the road to the land of the Philistines, although that was nearby, for God said, "The people might change their minds if they see war and return to Egypt." so God led the people around by the way of the wilderness to the Sea of Reeds, and Bnei-Yisrael wnet up out of the land of Egypt armed. --Exodus 13:7, begins Parashat Beshalach
When I read these opening scriptures in the past weeks Parsha, after Pharoah had let the people go, and God was there with the Children of Israel (Bnei-Yisrael), and describing the route He was going to take them, I thought, I know this voice. I know Him. I realized that the very same hand of God who parted the Sea of Reeds for the Children of Israel is the very same hand of God who gave me the plum blossom that opened on my Shabbat table last Shabbat!! (see posts just below!)
Reading those lines, it was a first time that I had that feeling, it was not an `intellectual` knowing that this God who is the author of the Bible, and who did all the Miracles there is the same God who I pray to and have gotten to know in my life. It was more of an `experiential`, body and soul knowing that that this really is Him.
Let the word of Messiah dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another with all wisdom in psalms and spiritual songs, singing with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Yeshua, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
--Colossians 3:16~17
Dear Father, Thank you for this special week of Tu
B`shevat, and for Your Word. Even though this is not a biblical
holiday, LORD I feel you have been speaking to me through your Fruits! The pomegranates! The Israeli grapefruit, that was in our local supermarket once again just before Tu B`Shevat!
And
through the gardener who was pruning the trees and gave me the blossom.
Your Word is living and alive, and everything in it speaks to us of
your great Salvation. Yeshua is
our Salvation! It is only through Your great Salvation that we can
come to be free and know You, and to be in personal relationship with
You, the Creator of everything, the Maker of Heaven and Earth. It was
Your hand that gave me that branch, and the branch blossomed in my
hand!! It was You who brought the worship song to the food floor of the department store where I was buying
the ingredients for Shabbat!! It is You who gave us your Son so that we
can have Eternal Life, and who sets us free so that we can Worship You!!
Dear Father, I pray blessings and a fruit-full season of blossoming and
rejoicing to each one who reads this, may you touch her heart, and may
she know the resurrection power of Yeshua and your great Salvation in
Christ Jesus!! Thank you Father, I pray, all Glory to You, in the name of
Yeshua.
Love
♡
Shayndel
Blossom & Rejoice
The wilderness and dry land will be glad. The desert will rejoice and blossom like a lily. It will blossom profusely, will rejoice with joy and singing, will be given the glory of Lebanon, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon. They will see the glory of ADONAI, the splendor of our God. ---Isaiah 35:1~2
When I walked down the street to get to the event with my suitcase, it struck me that I have everything I need packed in the suitcase! Then I also saw that this dance was an offering.
Mayim Mayim comes from the Scripture in Isaiah 12:3 which says, Joyfully shall you draw water from the wells of Salvation.
Interestingly, In Japan, many people know the dance to Mayim Mayim.
This dance is taught in elementary schools as a folk dance, so people of
all ages still know the basics and that is probably why everyone caught
on so quickly!! But no one know that it comes from Israel, or that
When we dance to this dance it represents drawing from the wells of Salvation.
In Beppu, water bubbles up in springs from the ground. In our hearts, may the joy of our Salvation spring forth as we dance with delight. Giving thanks to our maker, the Creator of Heaven of Earth.
When I got to the venue, I opened my suitcase, and from there the event began!!
The name of the event was "Israel Dance Wa", it was one of many programs in a month long arts event, Beppu Art Month.
So much to pack in one post, but first, I want to say Thank yous!! Thank you to all for your help and prayers and to all who joined! and next, to share a praise report in the form of a list of {
What to pack for An Israeli Dance `WA`!},
Wa, depending how it is written in Japanese means `Circle` and it also means "Harmony" 「和」
1. Pack a suitcase with everything you need for an Israel Dance Circle!
(subtitle: let's all dance to Mayim Mayim together)
2. Include: music CD`s with the Israeli dances for Mayim Mayim, Hava Nagila, Hora, and more!
Costumes--in this case a specially designed t-shirt for the event!
Hospitality items---tablecloths for tables, plates and cups, a pot of hot coffee if its cold, and Israeli candy. Dreidels to give as a thank you for those who join
3. A backdrop or any props for making it festive
4. Set up your backdrop
5. Grab a microphone and invite people to join!! Give thanks first to the God of Israel for the beautiful weather and for the chance to gather!
Best to do this in an open space where there are many passersby so that you can begin to make a circle and have it grow!!
6. Warming up.
When you have enough people gathered, its time to Stretch!
4. Next turn on the music and let the songs fill the atmosphere
5. Teach the basic steps
6. Together, Rejoice!
7.
Please join in ! (MAYIM MAYIM , here and a few more clips below!)
And, to recap in a poem of praise,
The Beppu Art Month
event went Well!!
There`s even a little
story to tell.
All the talk of water
and of springs
makes us want to
rejoice and sing
So it is fitting that the event
is to dance Mayim Mayim
Did you know that in Japan,
everyone knows this dance!
I was thankful for this
wonderful chance
to share that it comes
from Is-ra-el
And that the words come from
Water (Mayim),
Isaiah,
and the Salvation well
I posted the Hebrew that says Be-sa-son (meaning Joy)
on the trunk of a palm tree!
Gather and see!
A bear with a fountain on his yellow shirt,
and a girl who is wearing a Mt. Fuji skirt
formed the backdrop for the outside event
There was a great roof, so no need for a tent.
Children and shoppers, moms, dads and friends
joined in for the dances
they learned the steps quick and we all held hands.
In Japanese Yoroko-bi「 喜び」means joy,
so I end this post with a thank you to
each girl and boy,
along with a little Hannukah toy!!
Blessings and Shalom!!
I packed all the dance in a suitcase With thanks for the chance to rejoice in that place Arms lifted high towards a clear and blue sky Hands held together!
Praise ADONAI!
Joyfully shall you draw water from the wells of Salvation. --Isaiah 12:3
あなたがたは喜べながら救いの水を汲む ーイザヤ書１２：３
Ushavem
Mayim bessason mimainei haYeshua. ---words in transliterated Hebrew from Isaiah 12:3 which
are the lyrics for the folk dance and song, Mayim Mayim
This event was a part of Beppu Art Month. The location was at Beppu Tokiwa, outside in the large entrance space plaza, so that passersby could join in. The event was called `Israel Dance `Wa``
Wa in Japanese has several meaning, depending on what Japanese character is used.
I wanted to express a double meaning of WA , Harmony,
with Wa, Circle。。。and post note, p.s. I just noticed another play, as WA is the first two letters of...WATER!! *yes! Water, Water Mayim means {Water} in Hebrew
Photo credit: thank you Taeko-san! To whom I just handed the camera and asked her to take a few photos at the last minute, and she took the videos too! Please see related post from an earlier guest interview with Teresa, from Rejoice in the Dance. Thank you Teresa for teaching the dance steps, and sharing her inspiring vision. See postHERE.
The changing colors of fall! The excitement of the new Shabbat cycle (see posts below)! From the creation, already into the second Shabbat and the reading from Noah.
I had an inspiration this Shabbat to try making a satsumaimo challah! Satsumaimo is a kind of potato grown in Japan. It has a purple skin that is both majestic and rustic.
Can you see how the satusmaimo powder in the dough makes a beautiful purple and a royal color. It was very thrilling to mix it into the white flour! Delight in the colors of fall. Give praise to our Maker! This weeks Torah study continues in the book of Genesis, the Parsha is "Noah (rest)".
These are the genealogies of Noah. Noah was a righteous man. He was blameless among his generation. Noah continually walked with God. ---Genesis 6:9
Noah was the only righteous man who walked on the earth, blameless in the sight of the LORD. Look what happened to the rest of the people who inhabited the earth, who were not walking with God. They were wiped out by the flood. God promised that He will not destroy the world again through a flood, and He put His rainbow in the sky as a sign of the covenant between Him and the land.
But that doesn't mean we are to strive any less diligently to live a life of righteousness.
Today too, how much do we even think about "righteousness"? How do we know what it even means? The voice of righteousness has even been removed from our culture and we see division and people turning to so many things, but how many people in their daily lives today turn to the Torah and "walk continually with God" as in God's eyes Noah did.
To be honest, I confess that until I was brought to Salvation in Yeshua and became a believer just a little over two years ago, I never even considered what it meant to be righteous. Once I met Him through Yeshua and repented my sins---no one can come to the Father except through the Son, I saw with open eyes for the first time how He is Holy, He is Righteousness.
We still struggle with sin even after receiving Yeshua, but as we work out our salvation daily there is a desire to be righteous because He is Righteous. We desire to be Holy, as He is Holy.
May we live in His Torah! And Delight in the colors and the life and expressions of His creation all around us as we continue reading from the book of Genesis this week!
Delight in the Shabbat! This week's Torah Portion: Noach Noah(rest)Genesis 6:9 to 11:32
Haftorah: Isaiah 54:1-55:5
Brit Chadashah: Matthew 24:36-46
Taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him. --Psalm 34:9
Shabbat Shalom!!
シャバット・シャローム （安息日おめでとう）
Leaving off this post with beautiful purple sapphire and a passage from this weeks Haftarah portion (which contains sapphires!).
May you be blessed as we remember God's everlasting kindness, and compassion
in the words of ADONAI our Redeemer, from Isaiah 54: 7 to 13, to Jerusalem His beloved, may we receive them as words to all who return to Him, may our children be taught by ADONAI, and in His great SHALOM!
"For ADONAI has called you back like a wife deserted and grieved in spirit, like a wife of one's youth that is rejected," says your God.
For a brief moment I deserted you, but I will regather you with great compassion. In a surge of anger I hid My face from you a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you," says ADONAI your Redeemer. "For this is like the waters of Noah to Me: for as I swore that the waters of Noah should no more cover the earth, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you, nor will I rebuke you. Though the mountains depart and the hills be shaken, My love will not depart from you, nor will My covenant of peace be shaken, says ADONAI who has compassion on you. Afflicted one, storm-tossed, unconsoled, behold, I set your stones in antimony, lay your foundations with sapphires, make your pinnacles of rubies, your gates of crystal, and all your walls of precious stones. All your children will be taught by ADONAI. Your children will have great shalom.
Shabbat greetings! I hope you had a beautiful time in God`s rest today. May you be filled with awestruck wonder at the mention of His name! And be restored throughout the week in His great SHALOM💗
Behold, God is my salvation! I will trust and not be afraid. For the Lord ADONAI is my strength and my song. He also has become my salvation. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. In that day you will say: "Give thanks to ADONAI. Proclaim His Name! Declare His works to the peoples, so they remember His exalted Name. Sing to ADONAI, for He has done gloriously. Let this be known in all the earth. Cry out and shout, inhabitant of Zion! For great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel."
