Simcha Tribune!

שִׂמְחָה =Simcha = Joy    

Rejoice in the Lord always--again I will say, rejoice! 

Philippians 4:4

Welcome to the first issue of the Simcha Tribune! (the July issue, but posting a little late, in August!!)   Simcha means `Joy` in Hebrew.   I was inspired by the above scripture, and a conversation in a fellowship recently,  to put together a paper that publishes simple articles about the simple joys we can experience each day in our lives. 

LORD, help  us focus on the things that are lovely and true and move forward in joy and may we bring more joy into the world!!

This first issue includes two short stories from my days!! en-joy!

1.  The first sound of summer

I have lived in Japan many years and have gotten to know the sound of cicadas is a sign of the arrival of summer!  There is a time in summer where we notice the sound of cicadas is all around us.  And yet, I don`t usually notice the very first one, but this summer was different!  I heard the first cicada! 
Read on!

This year it has been a particularly rainy rainy season.  There were devastating rains in our areas, with rivers overflowing.  It was supposed to rain much heavier but that day it was very calm and stopped.  I was feeling thanks and joy in the LORD for His protection and keeping us safe, and for answering prayer as only He can stop the storm.*

I was sitting with my husband at the park where we were having coffee that calm morning.  I heard a sound coming out of the quiet--it was the song of a cicada.  It was unusual as it was still the rainy season.  It was almost as if it came out of my heart, but it was from outside.  As if it came out of a deep silence from the calm morning after the stormy rains.  My husband hadn`t heard the sound yet and I mentioned it and then he heard it too.  We were both experiencing this very first sound of summer together! It was very special and it almost felt like it was God`s reassurance, in the middle of this time of unease and storms.  As we listened to that one cicada singing some distance from us, before we knew it the sound of cicadas came closer and started to surround us! And around us and around us.  Before we knew it we were surrounded by the sound of the cicadas!! It was the first time in all the years in Japan that I ever heard the very first sound of the cicada with my husband, or with anyone! That brought me much joy.  

I remembered the scripture that says God surrounds us with songs of deliverance!  Because it was right after the storm and in the period of time with the world being in `shutdown`, having that sound of faithfulness of God's voice was such a joy and I`ll never forget it!

You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance.  Selah.   Psalm 32:7

2.  The  Second Story is from the Pool

I love swimming and was very happy the pool was open.  There are certain precautions we have to take.  When swimming of course we don`t wear a mask, but the staff around the pool did have to wear a mask.  Just a side note, you may have noticed where you are too, that because of the situation we are all in together with the shutdowns, people seem a little extra...friendly!  Friendlier than usual!  At the end of my laps, the pool person leaned down and commented something to me about my laps, something the pool staff doesn`t ordinarily do.  I noticed his mask, it had a bold flower pattern on it and I said I like his mask.  He said thank you, and that it was made from his daughter`s yukatta! (note: yukatta is a lightweight  kimono-style robe that is worn in the summer months, often in colorful and fun patterns).  He said she had recently gotten married, and this mask was homemade from one of her yukattas that she used to wear!  I thought that was such a sweet thing.  I said, "Oh, did your wife make it?"  And he said, "no, I made it!"  That gave me joy to see!  A man who was so proudly showing his love for his daughter with this mask!

It makes me think of how human relationships are expressed in these small but joyous ways and we see the good in a situation.

I encourage everyone to pay attention to the moments of joy in our lives, and be blessed!

Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy --- thing about such things.   Philippians 4:8

Thank you for choosing Simcha Tribune, an AHAVA publication!

אַהֲבָה AHAVA  = Love

 שִׂמְחָה =Simcha = Joy    

שִׂמְחוּ בַאֲדׂנֵינוּ בְּכָל־עֵת וְעוֹד הַפַּעַם אׂמֵר אֲנִי שְׂמָחוּ*the above scripture from Phil 4*4 in its Hebrew translation!! Can you notice the word for rejoice?  Yes!! It comes from `Simcha`, a word that would have been very familiar to Yeshua`s Hebrew speaking disciples!!  Just adding that from my study,  as I have been looking at the Hebrew New Testament and love finding those connections!! Blessings and Shalom!  Love, Shayndel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

related upload*  Praise After the Storm

Ninth of Av and Breakthrough after the Fast

Thus said the LORD:
Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom;
Let not the strong man glory in his strength;
Let not the rich man glory in his riches.

But only in this should one glory:
In his earnest devotion to Me.
For I the LORD act with kindness,
Justice, and equity in the world;
For in these I delight
            --- declares the LORD.          Jeremiah 9:22~23

 

Today is (was, here as its night Japan) an important day of mourning and fasting, remembrance and repentance, for the Jewish people, and marks the end of a three week mourning period.   These are some reflections from what I am learning about this day.  

The name of this day in Hebrew is Tisha B`Av, which means the 9th day of the month of Av.
Do you recognize this meaning of the name of this  month ?  

 אב  =  `Father`!

Av (אב) is the fifth month counting from the first month of Nisan on the Hebrew Calendar, and yes, `Av` means Father.  The month of the `Father`!! (of course all months are, but this has the word Father as its name!).  The full name is Menachem Av.  Menachem is `Consoler` reminding us that God the Father comforts us in times of tragedy and all times. 

This day, the 9th of Av,  commemorates the destruction of the Holy Temple --both first and second---in Jerusalem, as well as many other tragic events that happened on this same day throughout the history of the Jewish people.  It is said to be the saddest day of the Jewish calendar.  

It is customary to read the book of Lamentations on Tisha B`Av,  in which  the prophet Jeremiah saw the destruction of the Temple would be on the 9th of Av, and prophesized the events.  It is a time of mourning today,  a collectinve and individual time to mourn and remember.  As it is a fast day, it is also a time to reflect, to repent, draw nearer and return to God.

But in the sadness there is also the transformative joy to come on the day in which the sadness will be no more, it  is said by the Jewish sages that Tisha B`Av will become a `Yom Tov` or holiday and celebration day when the Temple is built again and at the revelation of Messiah to the Jewish people (or, as those who are believers in Yeshua would say, the second coming), this day will be celebrated fully as a great Yom Tov, a day of great joy at the Redemption of all Israel!!  

The Jewish sages say that there is blessing for those who weep for Jerusalem, as this tuning in to God`s heart for His beloved city and the city where He puts His name.  We know Yeshua wept over Jerusalem.  When I visited Israel last spring we stood on the Mt. of Olives where He will again set his feet upon His return.  May we too look toward Jerusalem and unite our hearts with God as one, all of the body of Messiah, with the Jewish people, and today may we see all baseless hatred in all forms, and all anti-Semitism be eradicated.   May we see more and more of baseless love!! (Love which knows know bounds!!)  I think how it must grieve the Holy Spirit when God is separated from His people (of course even in the separation there is deep connecting and coming closer, a little hard to explain but trying to write this out as there is so much depth and love in the longing), and when we His children are separated from one another. 

 Yeshua tells us He will not return until we say,
Baruch Haba Bashem ADONAI.
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD.

At the end of the day,  my soul yearns for Jerusalem.

As long as within our hearts
The Jewish soul sings,
As long as forward to the East
To Zion, looks the eye –
Our hope is not yet lost,
It is two thousand years old,
To be a free people in our land
The land of Zion and Jerusalem.  --Lyrics from Israel`s National Anthem, Hatikvah

After today the coming days on the Hebrew calendar are days of Comfort beginning with this Shabbat for 7 Shabbatot, and the days leading up to the Fall Feasts!! This Shabbat is the Shabbat Nachamu, the Shabbat of Comfort, from the reading in the Book of Isaiah from Chapter 40:1~.

Comfort, oh comfort My people, 
Says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
And declare to her
That her term of service is over, 
That her iniquity is expiated; 
For she has received at the hand of the LORD
Double for all her sins.

Isaiah 40:1~2

 I could even feel a breakthrough at the end of today when I sat and read some of the evening prayers, and as God brings on the night with His Word, I saw the moon outside very bright, a telling of the day we are in, and almost the way it filled with light in its `half` state, moving into fullness, reminding us that after the mourning there is gladness!!!  May we experience in the coming days an expression of that joy and breakthrough!!

Much Love, ♡

Shayndel

(Jerusalem pictures in this post I took on my trip to Israel in 2019,   L`dor v`dor trip-)

Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem--

may those who love you be at peace!

May there be shalom within your walls--quietness within your palaces."

Psalm 122:6~7

For those who would like to know more about this day and how it is important for everyone in the body of Messiah, and for one worship-full perspective on this day,   I recommend that you might watch this video from Messianic Worship Leader Paul Wilbur`s Worship Wednesday this week, HERE.

There are also many videos at TORAH ANYTIME which are amazing and give so many teachings on the days we are in on the Jewish Calendar as well as if you are interested in learning from the weekly Torah Readings and Jewish understanding.  The teachings on Tisha B`Av will probably just be up for another day or so, as its always updated.

PS I didn`t know that There is also a day in the month of Av this Tuesday considered on the Jewish calendar to be a day of  Love,  The 15th of Av!!  With some joyous significance.   I just came across it but don`t know much about it.... If you care to know more, let me know what you find out....it is called Tu b`Av!!!

Because of the LORD`s great love we are not consumed,

for His compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.  
I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;  therefore I will wait for Him."

The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks Him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

 Lamentations 3:22~26

POST NOTE July 17, 2021, 9th of AV 5781, from the Author, I am reading this post on Tisha B`AV one year later, and I realize from reading this post, when I wrote it I must not yet have known the verse in Zecharaiah 8:19 where the Bible states that this fast day as well as the fasts of the fourth, seventh and tenth, will become cheerful moedim and days of gladness!! I will leave the post without editing it but Please see Zecharaiah 8:19, to see that it is stated in the scripture about the fasts being turned into feast days of celebration, may it be so even starting now, and may we see Messiah`s return speedily and in our day!

Breakfast with Yeshua

"Come, have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask Him, "Who are You?"--knowing it was the Lord.  John 21:12 (TLV)

(photo:  Sea of Tiberias (Galilee), taken last May around this time!  story of post to follow!! Just holding the place for Him!)

♡

adding on this journal entry:
Breakfast at the Galilee Encounter
John 21 "Come, have breakfast".

On the last day at the Galilee I decided to have breakfast down by the water.  All the other days of the tour I always loved being with the tour and had breakfast with everyone in the dining room, but this day I saw out the glass doors to and felt called to bring my tray and sit out overlooking the Sea of Galilee.
I encountered "a man" when carrying my tray to go out of the hotel breakfast room.  He took my tray and he escorted me out of the doors and I showed him the spot and he brought me down along with the placemat and accoutrements (fork, silverware, etc).  He set everything up for me and I thanked Him. I told Him his heart was like God.
and spontaneously said that I love Him and all the people of Israel.

He said, "We love you."

I think he was Yeshua, or as Andrea said when I told her the story, God the Father!


Adding on again for my notes and reflection to remember:
When I posted this it struck me that this occurred during the count of the Omer, and I was able to figure out the calendar day, from looking at my journal of the trip, and looking at my Omer counting notes, and indeed it was just a few days before Mem B'Omer, thus it was within the 40 days of when Yeshua appeared to His disciples!!  It excited me to think that even more this really could have been a visit from Yeshua there on the Galilee for that moment , a manifestation of the LORD in the form of the man from the hotel who seemed to just have appeared and escorted me to the sea!!!  Also just to note the way He said "We" I felt like it was Yeshua, and he was referring to Himself, the Father , and the Holy Spirit!! At the same time the simple meaning that "We" referred to the people of Israel also gave me much joy in my heart!  Thank you Yeshua for that wonderful exquisite breakfast with You!!

💙💙💙sapphire hearts with glistening sea

Shabbat and the Beloved-- an unexpected sequel to the Raisin Cakes!

This was an unexpected sequel!! I hadn't expected the raisin cakes to continue into the next Shabbat, but that is the beauty of studying Torah with the Holy Spirit guiding.   From my raisin cakes adventure, He led me to the scripture in Song of Songs,

Sustain me with raisin cakes for I am weak with love.

Song of Songs 2:5

It is a Jewish tradition to read the Song of Songs before the Shabbat or on the eve of Shabbat, and there are many beautiful "wedding" associations with the Shabbat and that special and appointed time with our King and Beloved.  Actually I love this tradition of reading it on Friday evening of Shabbat.  When I got to that line this time,  it was exciting to have the "actual" real life connection to the raisin cakes on the Shabbat table! So from there the exploration continued and if you are ready for part 2, please enjoy the newest "Challah-cast" below!! And thank you so much for watching and commenting on Part 1! I am so blessed by your watching, and love hearing what spoke to you.  I hope they might be an encouragement for those who watch, and in turn I am so encouraged by what you share and when it "expands" into a discussion!!.

Meanwhile, amazing already a whole week has gone by since this part 2!!
If you are reading on the parsha cycle, this week we are already nearing the end of the book of Leviticus, in parsha Emor.

And now,  will there be a raisin cakes part 3?! Or will we be making challah again soon?!
Stay tuned!!

And counting!!  Today is 30 days of the Omer.

Blessings and Shabbat Shalom!!  Love ♡ Shayndel


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