Love is Meant to Grow

A few years ago I sat before three small, blank, black, canvases, my mind empty of inspiration.  My friend and I had gathered with supplies at my kitchen table, both prepared to do a little painting.  She had come to my house for inspiration, but I, myself, had no idea of what I wanted to paint.

As we prepared for the process, we shared what was on our hearts, and then we decided to spend a little time in prayer to set before the Father the things that concerned us.  It was something my friend said in prayer that suddenly gave me the idea I needed to get started.  It was a small phrase that brought a picture to my mind.....simple, yet at the same time, deep and profound.

The words that captured my imagination were, "Love is meant to grow."  With these words I saw in my mind three hearts that got progressively bigger, with the word "LOVE" on each, increasing in size.  

 What I understood by this phrase is that God's love is un-ending, and that our relationship with Him is meant to become deeper and greater as we learn to trust and obey Him more fully.  It's a continual process.  The more we trust and obey.....the more trusting and more obedient we become.....as by faith we witness firsthand God's goodness and faithfulness.  

I saw another concept in my mind through this visual image.  I saw the ideal way a human relationship is supposed to grow in love.  Particularly, I recognized the way love should grow between a man and a woman.  As the bride of Messiah is called to keep herself pure for her coming Bridegroom, so too should a couple remain pure and spotless for one another until the day they make a covenant before God through marriage.  Growing love is meant to last a lifetime.

I painted this second series to honor of a young couple who has conducted their relationship in the most godly way I have ever witnessed.....they exemplify the concepts that I saw in this design.  In a few days, they will seal their marriage covenant .....with their first kiss....a symbol of their reverent purity before our holy God. Their relationship is a beautiful testimony of God's goodness.

So, what should a growing love look like in our lives?

And how should our love be demonstrated?

 In Matthew 22:35-40 the teachers of the law asked our Teacher and Savior essentially these same questions.  Rabbi Yeshua answered them by referring to the commandments of Torah.  Quoting from the Word of God, he answered, 

"Love the Lord your God with all your soul and with all your mind, 
this is the first and greatest commandment.  
And the second is like it:  
"Love your neighbor as yourself."

John sums it up by saying, 
"In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands."

May we learn to trust and obey more fully,
and may the LOVE we have for God 
and one another.....

grow

and grow

and grow!!!

Dedicated to Kris and Alethia 

You can check out Alethia's beautiful and inspirational blog at:  

http://alethialov.tumblr.com/tagged/personal

Walkin' the Walk

Walking.....it's what I do every day.  For me it's therapeutic, healing, and refreshing for my mind, body, soul and spirit.  I walk every day, because I feel I need it every day, and here in  Southern California, there's not much in the line of weather to prevent this healthy habit.  Most days my mom is my walking buddy.  We're a team.....so much so that if the neighbors see me without my mom, they'll often comment, "Hey, where's your mom?"

1995 - In their jammies on a summer evening walk.

Walking is a habit that I picked up from my mom and my mom from her mom.  It started for me way back in high school, when I chose to walk to and from school, rather than taking the bus.  Since that time, walking has been my most tried and true form of exercise.  

When I was newly married, I worked out in a gym, but after baby number one, going off to the gym didn't work so well, and plus, I liked getting out with my boys.  I started going for walks with the baby in the stroller, and later it was a stroller and a Big Wheel.  I've walked with two in a single stroller, with my kids on their little bikes, with a dog, with boys on scooters, and at times, I've even strapped on roller blades to keep up while pushing a stroller.  It's been a long time since I've walked a dog or pushed a stroller around the neighborhood, but I have to say it's pretty nice to be able to swing my arms and walk freely. 

2001 - My third little walking buddy.

Every afternoon I prepare to match the weather, whether it's warm, cold or in-between.  In the winter I may even be seen wearing gloves and a scarf or a hat to keep warm.  (Whenever I do I think how some, in cold and snowy places, would think I'm pretty funny.....but it feels good to this California girl!)  I love looking at the sky, admiring the sunsets, noticing the flowers and greeting the neighbors.  Of course talking and walking go well together, so my mom and I share about life as we walk.  When I'm alone on my walks, I like to spend time "talking" with my Heavenly Father. 

Sometimes on our walks, my mom and I stop to chat a bit with the neighbors.  Of course stopping breaks the momentum, but we try to balance the benefit of walking with the value of making time for people.  Over the years, we have formed a good many relationships in the neighborhood because of the fact that we walk so regularly.  It's been funny when people, who we rarely see, comment that they see us walking all the time.  They may sometimes see us even when we can't see them.  

Walking.....we do it every day.....literally but symbolically too.  In the way we live, we walk out our beliefs, our values, and our faith.  Sometimes we feel alone, sometimes we walk in fellowship.  Sometimes we are faithful to obey our Heavenly Father, other times not so much.  Just as walking for exercise is a discipline, faith-walking requires habitual sacrifice and endurance.  One step at a time, one obedient decision after another.....this is the exercise that builds our faith.   

May we learn to walk as little children, truly trusting in our Father's love for us.  

Help us LORD to be ever faithful.....to trust and obey!

 

The tried-and-true message of this old tune takes me on a trip down memory lane.  In my mind's eye I see seasoned saints who walked the walk of faith and who in doing so modeled for me what trust and obedience look like. I see my grandparents, parents, extended family and church family, and my Christian school teachers.....a community of faith.  

For such a plethora of people who have led and guided me, I thank the LORD.  

May I too be a faithful witness.....for His kingdom and for His glory!

Heaven's Time

The heavens declare the glory of God,

the dome of the sky speaks the work of His hands.

Every day it utters speech,

every night it reveals knowledge. 

Psalm 19:1,2

In recent years, I've become somewhat of a moon-watcher.  I've begun taking notice of the cycles of the moon, the waxing and the waning, and the new moons and the full moons, all the while acknowledging that God uses His creation to teach us spiritual truths.  So, when the news of a tetrad of blood moons occurring on God's holy days reached my ears, I was most fascinated, because I'd already been learning in my observations and studies that the moon speaks volumes.....as God's heavenly timepiece! 

Out for my moon watch.

I've come to realize that the moon carries far more significance than what I have previously understood.  I now comprehend that God made the sun and the moon as signs.....for marking time.....so that we can commemorate His special dates.  Leviticus 23 teaches us that Sabbath, which was established from creation to be celebrated on the seventh day of each week, is one of God's special appointed days, and additionally there are seven other divine appointments that are meant to be times of joy and reflection, intimacy and revelation, prophecy and fulfillment of things to come.

The cycles of the moon are heavenly indicators..... calling out the times of the appointed festivals of the LORD.  Although many claim that these days are "Jewish holidays," the Scripture designates them as belonging to the LORD.  The LORD's divine appointments, marked by the lunar calendar, are cyclical times of looking backward and forward, in observance of what the LORD has done and of what He yet will do.  These experiential "dates with God" were created to prepare our hearts and to sanctify our lives in preparation for the coming of our Heavenly Bridegroom.  The divine appointments were instructed by God to be  "a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live."  Doesn't this testify as to how very important these dates are to Him?

God's timepiece for marking sacred times, dates and years.

Our Jewish Messiah and his disciples observed the Father's divine appointments, and so did the early believers in Jesus (Yeshua).  They were members of synagogs and observed the feasts of the LORD right along with the rest of the Jews.  The early "church" (actually a sect of Judaism) included many Gentile believers who knew that they had been grafted in to the commonwealth of Israel.  So here's the big question for us today:  Why are the "Jewish" dates and festivals so foreign to the Christian church and why doesn't the church observe the Biblical holidays?

From the earliest beginnings, the followers of Yeshua the Messiah were faced with many adversities.  Under Roman rule, antisemitism, persecution, martyrdom, imprisonment, torture, harsh laws against Judaism, against Torah and "Jewish holy days", divisions within Judaism leading to expulsion from the synagogs, all led to believers being pushed out to start new congregations.  Believing Gentiles, new to the faith and the Torah instructions, made up many of the new congregations as the gospel message was spread to the nations.  With the passage of time, and distance from the land, language, and culture of Israel, the divisions between Judaism and the new sect called "Christianity" became greater, and misunderstandings have grown over time. 

The great rift in "time-keeping" that we live by today became cemented when the Roman emperor, Constantine, created laws "Christianizing" pagan days of worship.  Along with a tactical purpose of uniting his expansive kingdom under the religion of the Roman Catholic Church, he wanted nothing to do with anything even remotely Jewish.  Ever since, the church has followed in the wake of this divisive decision.  Although it's hard to imagine that the church could find itself so far removed from its roots, we must remember that there is an enemy who is at war with God, the Jewish people and the church, an enemy who seeks to change God's times and laws.  As history has proved, our enemy is a devilish master at diversion and deception.

As I look into the heavens, and see a tetrad of blood moons, and solar eclipses scheduled to occur on God's divine calendar in 2014 - 2015, I see God speaking.....boldly yet silently.....magnificently yet gently.....in an unspoken, universal language.  It's as if God is highlighting in the heavens for all nations to see the glory and divinity of His appointed days. From my vantage point, the evidence is pretty undeniable, the Father still waits, patiently and graciously for his children to meet with Him on His terms.....to experience the beauty and the depths of His divine appointments.  

We as individuals and as a church, have gone our own way.  We have followed the traditions of man for many generations.  Change is not easy.....but we can turn around.  One Reformation was not enough.  We can't turn back the hands of time, but we can return.....to the roots of our faith, to the roots of Christianity, to the Father's calendar.....to meet with the LORD for His divine appointments.

 

"The Significance of the Blood Moons"   

Sunday, May 26, 2013:  Pastor Mark Biltz

 







The series of photos of the moon "turning to blood" are the photos I took on Passover 2014.  The blood moon overhead fascinated me, as I remembered that first Passover night.....when the blood of the innocent lambs on the doorposts protected the firstborns when the Angel of Death PASSed OVER their homes.  Today, we put our trust in the blood of Yeshua, our Passover Lamb, as it is applied to the doorposts of our hearts.











Special thanks to Brendan Algra for your great photo of the partial moon - with craters included (it was the inspiration for me to buy a camera just like his) and to Alethia Lovato for making my pictures move!  I found the u-tube video, "The Significance of the Blood Moons" by Pastor Mark Biltz, very helpful in understanding God's way of marking time.

A Taste of Heaven

Ten eager women gathered around the table.  A giant bag of flour served as the centerpiece, along with bags of sugar and yeast, various sets of measuring cups and spoons, and large mixing bowls.   With sleeves pushed up, we had come to learn about the ancient tradition of bread-making.....but this was not just any bread were about to make.....this was a challah bread-baking lesson!  Many spiritual lessons are woven into the tradition of baking challah bread.

Separating the dough.

After the kneading process came a small, but greatly significant step.....the act of separating a small portion of dough from the lump.  Separating the dough is called "hafrashat challah" in Hebrew, and herein lies the source from which challah bread gets its name.  A small portion of dough is to be set aside, 'wasted' and burned up unto the LORD according to his commanded instructions.  This reminder portion signifies our desire to give what we have to the LORD.  Like a tithe given in obedience and trust, this offering is dedicated to the LORD in acknowledgement that all we have is a gift from him.

The reminder portion.

The Jewish tradition of baking challah bread dates back 3,500 years when the LORD spoke to Moses saying, "Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, 'When you come into the land to which I bring you, and when you eat of the bread of the land, you shall present a contribution to the LORD.....Some of the first of your dough you shall give to the LORD as a contribution throughout your generations.'"  Numbers 15:18,19,21

We divided the lump into six portions.

We formed six strands.

Next, we divided the remainder of our dough into six equal parts.  Each of these parts we rolled out into long coils.  We were taught that these six strands symbolized, among other things, the six days of creation, from which man was separated and set apart.....like the challah.  As we wove the individual strands together into one, with the guidance of our leader, we were able to achieve beautifully braided loaves which are representative of the unity that exists within creation and within the body of believers.

Beginning a six-stranded braid.

Braiding lessons.

I was thrilled with my beautiful braid!

With the aroma of fresh bread filling the air, the table was set for a meal together.  We were about to experience a taste of Shabbat (Sabbath) dinner, which begins at sundown  on Friday evening.  Ideally as Shabbat begins, work has halted, the table is set, the food is ready, and candles are lit to welcome the most sacred day of the week.  The keeping of this day is a perpetual covenant.  It's a weekly reminder that God ceased from the work of creation on the seventh day.  It's a time to assemble together for worship and rejoicing, and it's a time to prepare our hearts for the coming kingdom of heaven when all our striving will cease.

The two loaves, which traditionally grace the table at a Shabbat dinner, bring to mind the LORD's heavenly provision of a double-portion of manna for the Israelites on the day before the Sabbath.  This double-portion of bread from heaven granted God's people a day of rest on the seventh day.  The twelve strands are also representative of God's chosen people - the twelve tribes of Israel.  In connection with this, the twelve strands recall the twelve loaves that were replaced on the Table of Showbread in the tabernacle and in the Temple each Sabbath.

Delicious challah - infused with tradition and symbolism.

Prophetically, challah bread points to the Messiah who came as Bread from Heaven.  Born in Bethlehem (literally - House of Bread), he is our Bread of Life, our true and lasting sustenance.  Like the little piece of dough that is wasted, burned up, and given to the LORD, the Savior gave his life as an offering.  He took our punishment for sin and tasted death so that we could taste Life.

Like challah, believers are called to be separate and dedicated unto the LORD.  Like Yeshua (Jesus), we are called to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God .  When challah is served, each person pulls apart a portion for himself.  This is a reminder that we as believers are bonded together in love.  We are the body of Messiah. 

Jesus answered, “I am the bread which is life! Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever trusts in me will never be thirsty.      John 6:35

Yeshua the Messiah - He is our taste of heaven!

 

*Challah bread recipes vary and can be braided into many different shapes and forms to celebrate special days and feast times.

My Little Gift from Heaven

It was yesterday afternoon when a little gift from heaven appeared on my back porch.  At first I didn't even recognize what it was.  I had come home from running errands when I looked beyond the sliding-glass door and noticed something on the ground.....but what was it?  Was is a curled, dry leaf?  A piece of trash?  Or was it a brown bird?  I took a closer look.....and saw that it was a bird.....it was a hummingbird!  I gathered my camera and went outside to inspect.

It was so still.  Its crop was all puffed up.  Was it alive?  It didn't think it looked so good.  I figured it must have taken a hard knock from flying into the sliding-glass door.  I felt foolishly afraid to touch the little creature.  Was it on the verge of death?  Or would it peck me with its beak and try to ward me off?    As I bent down to pick up the tiny bird, I found that it was as sweet as it could be.....and as light as a feather.....and that it sported a beautiful 'coat of many colors'. 

Can you see the little tongue?

The hummingbird rested quietly in my hand.  What to do now?  I wrapped my hand around the little bird and brought it to the kitchen sink.  Perhaps a drink would be nice.  A  sliver of white tongue protruded from the long beak as the little bird sipped the water from the faucet.  Still, at this point I wasn't sure if the delicate little creature would live or die.  I pushed aside the thought that at any moment it might go limp in my hand.



I brought the little bird back outside.  Maybe now it would be ready to get on its way.  But no.....it was content to sit and let me stroke its little head and hold it.  I admired its delicate beauty, its softness and iridescence, and the strength in its wirey little feet that were able to grasp so securely onto my finger.  What a mini masterpiece!

I think he likes it!

Soaking up the sun!

I wondered what to do next.  Since it was a bit cool and breezy outside, I decided to heat up a rice bag as a heating pad for my little friend to let him get warm and cozy.  As he sat quietly, I was careful to monitor a little action from the wings.....sure didn't want the little guy to go flying around my house!

Nice and cozy!

The Best Birthday Cake in the Whole Wide World

When I was a teen, my mom found a new recipe.  It was called Angel Food Cake Delight.  Consisting of angel food cake, three layers of moussey chocolate filling, frosted with whipped cream and sprinkled with crushed Heath bars, this decadent dessert became my birthday favorite, which my mom would make for me year after year.  To this day, the tradition continues, and the confection has become the most requested birthday cake in my own home.  In recent years I have affectionately dubbed it, "The Best Birthday Cake in the Whole Wide World."

This year, I offered to make my own cake to follow the birthday dinner that we would enjoy at my parents' home.  I had decided that I'd take some pictures of the process and pass on the recipe, since I can't personally make enough for all my friends.  So I hope you will consider this my gift to you.  Seems that all the family and friends to whom I've ever served this have completely enjoyed it.....so I hope you will too.

The Best Birthday Cake in the Whole Wide World

aka Angel Food Cake Delight 

Mixing an angel food cake. 

1.  Start with angel food cake.  

I use a Betty Crocker mix, because it's an easy one-step method.  Of course, you could buy one ready-made (but I don't think they're quite as good) or you could make one from scratch if you're feeling really ambitious. 

It needs to cool upside down.

Ready for the oven in a tube pan.

Why do I cool my cake upside down on a bottle?  I just asked myself that question and realized.....because it's tradition!   My mom always did it that way (but I don't think it's actually necessary!)  :-)

2.  Cut cake into four layers.

I just leave the cake on the inner form while I cut the layers.  First cut it in half all the way around, and then cut each half in half.  (Note:  my mom always rubs off the toasty brown top layer, but this time I decided to just leave it.  I don't think it really matters unless the top gets too dark.)

Loosen from pan.

Cut into 4 layers.  The top becomes the bottom. 

  

3.  Filling:  

          *Melt chocolate chips.  I do this in the microwave because it's so easy.  (Takes 2 minutes in my old microwave, yours may heat faster.)  When the chocolate chips look shiny, stir them up.  Better to under-cook than over-cook. Set aside. 

           *Combine powdered sugar, butter, salt and vanilla;  beat together 5-7 minutes.  It will get very creamy and fluffy.  (For this lengthy part of the process, I am grateful for my old hand-me-down mixer.....from garage sale, to grandma, to my mom, to me!)

           *Then add the eggs, one at a time.  It will start to look curdled, like something is wrong, but it's not.  This is normal.  Lastly, add in the melted chocolate chips and blend. 
(Note:  The eggs will not get cooked, but its never presented a problem.) 

Creamy and smooth.

Combining the filling ingredients.

Looks like it's curdled.....but have no fear.....it's OK.

Frosting the layers:

Flip over one layer at a time onto cake plate.  Divide the filling evenly and spread between the layers of cake.  (Finally......lick the bowl and spatula clean.  Mmmm.....my favorite part of this cake!)

Ready to flip the last layer onto the top.

A little messy?  Who cares!

Whipped cream and crushed Heath - Oh my!

Topping:

Spread with whipped cream.  (Here again, you could make your own whipped cream, but by this point in the process, I am always happy to take the easy route.) 

Finally "sprinkle" on crushed Health bars.  The truth is, that on the sides of the cake, it gets a little messy.  I actually kind of toss and pat the Heath onto the sides.  (For a less messy and easier alternative:  Fold the crushed Heath bars into the whipped cream, reserving some to sprinkle on top, and then spread.)

The most important ingredients:

What really makes this cake "The Best Birthday Cake in the Whole Wide World?"  It's knowing that it's homemade with love, memories and tradition.  This year my mom surprised me with "Birthday Girl" candles, and also made me feel 50 years young with the butterfly plates.....too cute.....I love you, Mom!

I'm ready!

My mom and I.

The Best Birthday Cake in the Whole Wide World

•   1 angel food cake
•  1 cup chocolate chips
•  1 cup powdered sugar
•  3/4 cup butter
•  1/8 teaspoon salt
•  1/8 teaspoon salt
•  2 teaspoons vanilla
•   3 eggs
•  8 oz. carton Cool Whip
•  about 6 oz. crushed Health Bars 

Bake cake.  Cool and cut into 4 layers.

Filling:  Melt chocolate chips;  set aside.  Combine powdered sugar, butter, salt and vanilla;  beat together 5-7 minutes.  Then add chocolate chips.  Divide evenly and spread between layers of cake.

Topping:  Spread whipped cream on top and outside of cake, then top with crushed Heath bars.  (Or fold crushed Heath bars into whipped cream and then spread.)  

Chill before serving.

Sweet and Sour

Yesterday was her birthday.  I read it on Facebook.  She had posted that we were birthday buddies.  I hadn't remembered.  We are not friends who see each other much, or talk much, or get together to do stuff.  But she is my friend.....a lovely, gregarious, godly, Christian woman.....and such an encourager.  And so came the desire to encourage her on her birthday.....on our birthday.

My friend Karen

What could I do for her?  I went out to the yard, picked all the alstroemeria I could find that was either blooming or about to bloom, and came in to make a simple arrangement in a recycled jar.  To finish it off, I found a lovely, sheer, yellow ribbon that reminded me of my friend.  It brought to mind her sunny disposition and the warmth that I would always feel coming from her eyes and her smile whenever she would greet me.  Her love is like a nice warm hug.

The yellow ribbon prompted me to add a bit more to my simple display.  I found the soft foliage of dwarf heavenly bamboo which added bits of yellow, salmon and green.  I added to that, red Pentas with their starry clusters and also the round fuzzy blossoms of Sea Pink.  To set it off, I added a stem of two bright yellow Day Lilies.  These blooms would last only a day, but they packed a pretty punch.

My bouquet was ready to deliver.....and it was beautiful, sunny and full of joy.....like my friend.   And then, as I looked out to my backyard, the lemon tree caught my attention.  More bright yellow cheeriness.  What if I brought my friend some lemons?  Would that be silly on her birthday?  I reasoned that most everyone likes lemons, so I went out to pick a few.

"When life give you lemons, make lemonade," ran through my head as I walked out to my tree.  Seemed like an odd message for a birthday girl, or so I thought.  I asked God if he might take my silly gift of lemons and somehow use it to reach my friend's heart.  With simple thoughts, I asked the LORD to use the promptings of my heart in ways beyond which I could orchestrate.

Birthday Buddies!

At the end of the school day, I went with gifts in hand to surprise my friend in her classroom.  Through her eyes,  her smile, and her arms, I received the sunny warm hug that I have come to expect.  But I received so much more.  My friend then shared that my gift meant so very much.....much more than I could imagine.  She shared with me that her birthday had started on a sour note.

Because her heart was breaking, she didn't want to go to work.  She had wanted to get alone with God and cry.  But faithfully she went.....with the LORD by her side.  Through inner dialogue, she conversed with the Lover of her soul, the One who gives us worth, the One who walks through the valleys by our side.  And He was there.  With her.  He met her.  In big and small ways He comforted her, because he can, because our Savior experienced the sweet and sour of life too.....for us.

My friend and I spent the good part of an hour sharing our hearts, telling our stories and praising the LORD for the things he had done....for us.  We reminded one another that in the sweet and the sour experiences of life, our God is always making something good.....in us, and through us, and for us!

Thank you Abba Father for blessings
that come to us in packages both sweet and sour!