This is not the blog post I thought I was going to write tonight. My intention was to share my packing list, but then I wrote the following to my World Race team. This month we are reading Psalm and Proverbs together and commenting on what that day’s reading meant to us. This was my comment for today. Don’t worry, I’ll give you my packing list in a few days.
Last night in church the Rabbi’s wife said a couple of things that really spoke to me and to this season. She first shared a word she had been given that this season is an ending that is bigger than the date on the calendar (for Jews and Messianics this week was the last holiday and the ending of our annual cycle of Torah reading, see below). She was told God is closing doors to the past in people, congregations, and His body to open new doors. This spoke volumes to me personally as over the last year I have finally gotten healing in some areas of my life and am walking in a new freedom. She then said she feels this is a time of equipping. As God opens these new doors He wants to equip us and prepare us to face what’s next. She said be ready and open to His voice because this season of equipping will end, and we will have to go forward with what we learn. The combination was further confirmation of what God told me about these few months before the Race. I will continue to pray for direction and training to be equipped for what’s next. Please join me in agreement that God will equip us and train us in this season for whatever He has in our future. 2015 is going to be a big year!
This week was Simchat Torah, Celebrating the Torah. Jews and Messianics read the Torah annually by reading a portion each week. Yesterday we read the last two chapters of Deuteronomy, thus completing our annual cycle. Simchat Torah is a day of great celebration; the Torah scrolls are re-rolled to the beginning and there is music and dancing as the Word of God is celebrated. In my home congregation we do not have a Torah scroll, but it is a day we take off from work, gather together, and feast potluck style. As I am now living far from my home church, I went to a new congregation last night and for the first time got to see a Torah scroll re-rolled. It was neat and now we start a new cycle in Genesis. It is awesome to have a day to celebrate God’s word.
Today was the first portion and if you would like join in reading the weekly portions www.torahportions.org is a good resource.
(When I use the term Messianic I am including Messianic or Believing Jews, Torah observant Christians, Hebrew Roots believers, One New Body Congregations, etc. There are many titles. Those Believers and congregations that believe Jesus is Messiah and that salvation is by grace through faith and that also walk in Torah, follow the commandments of God given in the books of Moses.)
