Dear Beloved in Messiah, Joy vs. Happiness Last month, I wrote about suffering. This month, the Lord has directed me to focus on JOY. According to Vocabulary.com: “Happiness is that feeling that comes over you when you know life is good and you can’t help but smile. It’s the opposite of sadness. When people are

Dear Friends in Yeshua, Suffering: Today’s Reality As I prayed, I sensed that the topic for this month’s newsletter was obvious and inescapable: SUFFERING. Our world is suffering. All creation groans (Rom. 8:22). While suffering is part of the universal human condition, as we draw closer to the return of Messiah, suffering is increasing—both in

Dearly Beloved in Yeshua, The Giving of the Holy Spirit As we celebrate Shavuot שבועות (sha-voo-OAT) this year, also known as the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost, the Lord is leading us to examine the fulfillment of this important feast of the Lord with emphasis on the Holy Spirit and prayer. It is traditionally believed,

Dear Mishpocha, Pray in May! Prayer is the need of the hour and is connected with two events this month: The National Day of Prayer (May 5, 2022) and Mother’s Day (May 8, 2022). But prayer should be a part of every day in May! The Bible actually tells us to “pray without ceasing” (I

Shalom in the Lamb, Fear and Fear Not! FEAR did not seem like a likely topic for our yearly Passover Jewish Jewels newsletter, but the Lord seemed to impress the words “Fear Not!” on my heart for this season. As I write, the country of Ukraine is at war, a David/Goliath scenario that must be

Dear Lovers of God, Megilla Esther All About Esther March is usually the month when Purim, the Feast of Esther, is celebrated in the Jewish community. It is not one of the Feasts of the Lord of Leviticus 23, but is nevertheless a feast based on the Bible, specifically the Book of Esther. Purim (Poo-REEM)

Dear Lovers of God, Welcome Back to Love I awoke out of a sound sleep at 4:00 AM on January 1, 2022 saying, “Welcome back to love.” Having meditated on the topic for this month’s newsletter, I knew that I must write on LOVE. But, “Welcome back?” The Lord began to unpack that thought, taking

Beloved Sanctified Ones, Sanctification: Kiddush What would you like to say to Your People as we enter 2022, Abba? I heard: “Sanctification, Consecration, Holiness.” Now is the time. This is the hour. If not now, when? When a traditional Jew hears the word kiddush, kid-DOOSH, he generally thinks of one thing: the blessing over the

Joyous Family Blessings in Messiah, Genealogy of the Messiah “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ (Yeshua HaMashiach), the Son of David, the Son of Abraham: Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram” (Matt.

Dear Mishpochah in Yeshua, Thanks and the Jewish Root As our hearts turn to thanksgiving this month, I personally always return to the Jewish root of giving thanks: the b’rakhot or blessings (brah-KHOAT). B’rakhot are at the very heart of Judaism. There are set blessings which were formulated around the year 350 B.C. which are