Feast of Tabernacles- Our trip to Tennessee

As this feast week approached, I found myself digging deeper into the Word to really search out what I believe He wanted to show me.  My eyes were opened to so many new things.  Bless Him for His revelation into the Words that He spoke so long ago. 

The first portion was in Zechariah at the end of chapter 14.   I'll start in verse 16.  "And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.  And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King,  the Lord of hosts, on them there will be no rain.  If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they shall have no rain; they shall receive the plague with which the Lord strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles".  This passage is talking about the end times.  It is saying that in the end, we had better be able to recognize the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles, because if we don't join in at that time, there will be a plague to them and they will have no rain.  So, why do we think that they celebrated this feast in the Old Testament and we will celebrate again one day, but we aren't to celebrate it now?  Hmmm, doesn't make sense to me, so we celebrate it now, as the Word instructs and with this practice, we will for sure recognize it and not miss out. 

Leviticus 23 talks about the feasts of the Lord.  Interesting to me that the Lord would have special days that He wants us to celebrate in.  It should be no surprise that the world has come up with its own days to distract from God's days.  He calls them "My days".  Have we/you regarded HIS days?  He talks plenty about them in the Old Testament, but in the New Testament does He say we should continue to keep these feasts?  One more passage from the Old Testament in Isaiah.  Isaiah 1:14 says, "Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them."   I don't think He is pleased with the counterfeit that we have put into place, calling them His.  We'll see that more in the New Testament.  In 1 Corinthians Paul encourages keeping the feast of Unleavened Bread in chapter 5:8.  The Corinthians were  a group who were converted from paganism.  They had to walk away from their pagan feasts and celebrations and turn to Yahweh's feasts, which is why Paul is going over this particular feast.  Paul also writes in Colossians 2:16, "So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival (this word is translated "holy day" or "feast") or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, the substance is of Christ."  The Colossians were similar to the Corinthians in that they also had to walk away from paganism and false teaching within their church.  Here, Paul is telling them to hold fast to what they know to be true.  Don't let others judge them in the things they are doing that is of God.  How do I know that he is encouraging them in God's ways and not telling them that they can celebrate whatever festivals they want, eat whatever they want, drink whatever they want, have their sabbath whenever they want?   Well, let's back up a bit.  It's best to take Scripture in full context.  Let's go back to verse, oh, let's start at the beginning of chapter 2.  "For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for  you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words.  For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in sprirt, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.  As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.  Beware lest anyone cheat you through philospy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic priniciples of the world, and not according to Christ.  For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are comlete in Him, who is the head of all prinicipality and power.  In Him you were also circumcised with the circumsion made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumsion of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead." 

Let's stop there for a minute.  So, we read that Paul is encouraging them to "walk in Him".  Then he warns them of those that will pull them away from walking with Him.  And then again, reminding them that they have been forgiven of their sins and buried with Him.  Now let's see where he takes it from here. 

Verse 13, "And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us.  And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.  Having disarmed principalies and powers.  He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.  Verse 16, So, let no one judge you in food.............".

Now, some people say that this portion says that the law was nailed to the cross.  Read carefully, because that is not what this is saying.  "having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us.  And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross."  You have sinned, what happens when you break a law of the land?  Well, if you speed, you get a speeding ticket.  Let's use that for the example.  You have broken the law by speeding, He is forgiving you of that sin (as long as you come repentant before Him), He takes that speeding ticket and rips it up, and stomps on it on the ground for you to no longer have to pay.  He has paid it for you!  If we speed and get pulled over, the officer might give us a warning instead of a ticket, but does he ever say, "Okay, you learned your lesson, you no longer have to obey by the law".  No way!  Just like the Law was not nailed to the cross, only our certificate of debt, which in fact is what that "hand writing of requirements" literally means.  Wow, when you dig deep and truly study it, it makes so much sense and flows together, the whole thing!  I love it!  Want more?

Okay, then onto verse 18.  "Let no one cheat you of your reward (There is great reward in obeying Him, who said to observe His feasts and sabbaths.  There is no reward for observing the world's.)  taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.  Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations- "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle," which all concern things which perish with the using-according to the commandments and doctrines of men? (they had their own man-made laws, mishnah, such as how to wash their hands properly, what they could and couldn't do on the sabbath, etc., but none of those things could save them, they were merely man's doctrines, not God's)  These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh."  

Wow, how many things in our lives/churches are self-imposed religion?  Doctrines that really aren't true to God's Word but only things that we have conjured up to be good ways.  We once celebrated feasts and "holy days", but they weren't HIS.  They were man's replacement for what God desired of His people.  But we looked religious celebrating them.  So sad!  I am thankful that we are out of that tradition of man and into the ways of the Lord!  What more do we need to see that are Your ways, Father?  Teach us and show us!!!!

Okay, so we had a blast celebrating HIS appointed time of the Feast of Tabernacles.  What a blessing to have extra Sabbath days of rest and to rejoice in His goodness.  But most of all, we took the time to really reflect on our family and what areas need major improvement.  It was a week of chastening, not just for the children but for us too.  Father, help us do better, help us abide by Your Word to guide us in the areas that we struggle in.  Enjoy the photos of our trip!         

Date Night to Wellfield Botanical Garden

 Double date night with the Boomershines to Wellfield Bonatical Gardens!

Celia and I have birthdays together, and every year we try to do something, just us couples, no kids allowed.  : )  One year we went to an old fashioned, homemade drinks activity at a park in Goshen.  That was the year that kicked us off in doing something every year to celebrate our birthdays.  This year we decided to dress up and take pictures at the gardens in Elkhart, then we went to The Vine on Main Street in Elkhart for supper.  Delicious!  So, enjoy these pictures of the fun we had together at the park.  

 

 There was a lot of smelling going on.

 The natives are getting hungry....calling in the reservation.

 I was serious when I said "natives".  : )

Such big kids. 

This park is truly lovely.  It looks like they will be expanding it even more in the years to come.  We can't wait to see how it looks in a couple years.....well, even next year.  We visited earlier in the summer, and they had added a lot more flowers, seating areas, etc to the park since then.  It's a gem for sure and FREE!  Check it out if you are in the Elkhart area and want a nice, short, quiet walk or a place to just sit and spend time with God. 

Anniversary for my parents.

 My parents did something special for their anniversary this year.  Actually, my dad did all the arranging and my mom planned the weekend getaway.  And my part came in with the cooking and decorating. 

Dad had planned to do something special for mom at a park not far from our house, on their way for their weekend away.  Jonathon and I got up bright and early to prepare food and load up the van with decorations and special touches.  I've included some pictures here, but if you want to see the full details and lots more pictures, see the post over at CLB CeLeBrations.

A Prepared Heart

Revelation 21:1
"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea."

In thinking about this portion of Scripture, it led me to some other passages that refer to heaven and earth and the end times.  Come along with me as I search the Scriptures for how God ties it all together. 

Let's start in Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament.  You'll find it interesting how the last book of the Old Testament correlates with the last book of the New Testament, Revelation.  Malachi 4 says:
"For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze,:  says the Lord of hosts, "so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.  But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall.  You will tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day which I am preparing," says the Lord of hosts.  "Remember the law of Moses My servant, even the statutes and ordinances which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel.  Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord.  He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with curse."
 
Interesting to me that He instructs us to "remember the law of Moses His servant, even the statutes and ordinances".  And He doesn't just say this in the Old Testament.  He mentions it again in John 5: 46 & 47, "For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me.  But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?"  Jesus takes it a step further here though and says that if we can't believe what Moses said is true, then how will we believe what Jesus Himself said is true?  Moses spoke nothing different than what Jesus spoke.  Sad how so many people throw out what Moses said to be of nothing we need to listen to and remember.  Jesus said we should!  But He also said that it isn't the Scripture itself that will save us.  The Pharisees thought that just knowing the Scriptures would save them, but if they weren't willing to see Jesus in the Scripture and come to Him, then they wouldn't have life everlasting (John 5:39 & 40).

Matt. 5: 17-19 also speaks of us not forgetting the Law. "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.  For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.  Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."
Let's start with the word "fulfill".  Some people say that it means to do away with.  It's true meaning in this passage is "to fully preach".  I believe Jesus did this while He was here on earth.  It doesn't mean that He came so that we could do away with it and don't have to obey the Law anymore.  That doesn't make any sense with what the rest of Scripture, both Old and New Testaments say, especially since He says He didn't come to abolish (or destroy) the Law.  I don't know how people so misinterpret this portion.  And we've already read that heaven and earth are only going to be passed away when the end times are here, and we are in His kingdom.  This passage then finishes up with saying who will be called least and greatest in the kingdom.  I pray that if you are one who considers the Law to be of no affect since Jesus came to die for our sins, please reconsider. What do you think this portion is saying if it's not what I just summarized here? 

In studying about heaven and earth and mostly the new heaven and new earth, I came across 2 Peter 3:10-18, which says, "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.  Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!  But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.  Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.  You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprinicpled men and fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen."  

What another amazing portion that starts out talking about heaven and earth passing away and the warning of staying true to what the Scriptures say(rememeber these were the Old Testament- the Torah, as this is all they had at that time, they didn't have the New Testament).  A warning that some distort the Scriptures and it brings them to their own destruction.  He encourages to stay steadfast and grow in grace and knowledge.  Now some think that grace came as a replacement of the Law.  Not so.  The definition of grace is: A divine influence upon the heart, with a reflection in the life.  The divine influence is the Spirit of God.  He speaks to our heart all that the Scriptures (remembering that it's the Old Testament) contain.  The reflection in our life should be an act of obedience to what He has commanded us to do, both in the Old Testament and New since none of it contradicts itself.  That is true grace.  It doesn't give us a license to do what we want, picking and choosing only what is convenient for us to obey.  Yeah, the 10 commandments are givens of what we need to obey, but if those are relevant for us, then why aren't the rest of His statutes and commands?  It's not a buffet to choose what satisfies our souls from one day to the next.  This will lead to destruction. 

Now let's go back to Revelation.  All who believe in God know that this book is some day going to come to pass.  But let's not ignore the very end of it.  Revelation 22:18-21 says:
" I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book; if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book;  and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.  He who testifies to these things say, "Yes, I am coming quickly,"  Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus.  The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.  Amen."

Now I know that John wrote this and is talking about Revelation as the prophecy of this book.  But when he mentions that nothing should be added or taken away from this book, he is taking that straight out of Deuteronomy 12:32 when God Himself, speaking of what He commanded us to do, says that we should not add to it or take away from it.  I was guilty of taking away from it for so long, thinking that the Law was done away with.  This is taking away from His Scriptures and what God said.  Be careful!  Now the ending of Revelation is just perfect (aren't the Scriptures as a whole though?).  "The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.  Amen".  It is only with His grace that we can walk according to His Word, not adding to it or taking away from it, so that we too can have a part in the tree of life.          

I just love the revelation that He has been bringing to my mind the last couple weeks.  The fall feasts are approaching, and I know that He is preparing my heart to rejoice and celebrate during the Feast of Tabernacles which is the next one coming in October.  My heart is full and overflowing with His Word that comes to my mind daily.  I have so much more to read and learn, but as long as I keep pressing on, growing in grace (a divine influence upon my heart, with a reflection in my life), then I'll be getting one step closer every day.   Blessings as your hearts are being prepared for the fall feasts.  What an honor to serve Him and praise Him during His feasts.  I am so thankful we honor His times and not the worlds!  We live for Him, not ourselves!  

Bible, Cereal and Rainbow

We always get our children their own Bible to follow along at church when they are of reading age.  Josiah has picked up reading so well and has been asking for a Bible, so we thought it was time to buy him one.  Oh the look of pure joy when he opened it up and saw what it was.  

 The blessing upon him if he just obeys what it says

 And then there is Benaiah.  He loves Raisin Bran.  And even more than that, he loves the raisins in Raisin Bran.  So what do I find him doing one day while I was busy in the kitchen?  Yep, dumping the cereal out of the bag and picking the raisins out of it.  If he weren't so cute, I'm sure I would have lost my mind by now.  : )

 And then there is Diella.  She got this crazy idea to dress her brother up in her sisters matching skirt.  Oh the giggles that this brought about.  Okay, it is pretty funny and I did join in on the laughter. 

And then there is Alegra. She loves the beauty of a colorful sky.  I just happened to look out the window to this lovely lit up sky, and we all went a running out the front door.  While we were taking pictures and admiring it's beauty, we heard some deer snorting at us.  Four mommas and one lone baby bouncing through the beans hoping the adults don't leave him/her behind were right behind us in the field.  There is just something about a peaceful and gorgeous display right before bed and being graced with nature close by.  Yahweh created such wonderful things for us to enjoy and our little family sure was enjoying some of them tonight.  Within an hour the colors changed to vibrant pinks and purples.  And what a lovely little homestead we have here.  We are blessed and are thankful every day for what we have been given!