Psalm 1
How blessed…
1 How blessed are those who reject the advice of the wicked, don’t stand on the way of sinners or sit where scoffers sit! 2 Their delight is in YHVH’s Torah; on his Torah they meditate day and night. 3 They are like trees planted by streams -they bear their fruit in season, their leaves never wither, everything they do succeeds.
Not so the wicked…
4 Not so the wicked, who are like chaff driven by the wind. 5 For this reason the wicked won’t stand up to the judgment, nor will sinners at the gathering of the righteous. 6 For YHVH watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked is doomed.

Be blessed in your walk:

1. Reject the advice of the wicked. Look to those who walk in the narrow way.
2. Don’t stand in the way of sinners. Walk in Yah’s ways.
3. Don’t sit with the scoffers. Walk in Yah’s ways.
4. Delight yourself in his Torah and meditate on it all day and night!

And, teach these things to your children…

Proverbs 1
7 The fear of יהוה is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. 8 My son, heed the discipline of your father, and do not abandon the teaching of your mother; 9 they will be a garland to grace your head, a medal of honor for your neck.

Shabbat Shalom!

Thank you for joining me for Shabbat Shalom! Praise. If you would like to read others’ thoughts, praises this week, please follow the links below. If you would like to join us for Shabbat Shalom! Praise, we welcome you! We welcome you to participate. You can read about the meme HERE. Please leave a comment with your direct link on this post. Please use the icon, linked back to Walking Therein, in your own Shabbat Shalom! Praise.

I can honestly say that this is truly a place where there is No Greater Joy. Teach your children the truth, Mommas. Hold up the standard in your home, and when you sin, repent and turn from your wicked way. Ask, seek and obey when you are shown the sin in your life, for it is a loving Father who corrects his children and won’t leave you in your sinful state.

Live what you believe. Stand up for what is in Scripture, and when others disagree and revile you, count it all joy. It will help you grow, strengthen your resolve to walk, draw you closer to Messiah, and after all the tears, you will come out a purer, more-refined Believer.

And your children will see you are real. And it will not return to you void.

May you have peace in your home~

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Purify my heart
Let me be as gold and precious silver
Purify my heart
Let me be as gold, pure gold

Refiner’s fire
My heart’s one desire
Is to be holy
Set apart for you Yah
I choose to be holy
Set apart for you my Master
Ready to do your will
Refiner’s Fire/Brian Doerksen /1990 Mercy/Vineyard Publishing

I have heard this – sang this – in church so many, many times. It is truly a great song and a great desire for a Believer. It has great depth and includes important things we should all pursue to understand and gain knowledge of. As a home school mom, I can see a lesson here. Some vocabulary words come to mind. Some thought-provoking discussions for younger and older believers to strengthen their understanding and perception of who they are and who the Father is. A most important question to answer:

How should they then live their lives?

To Think About

These words seem clear, but are they? What is this refiner’s fire? What is his will as we are put through the fire as a refining? Seriously, do we understand this fire? Do we know what this purging and refining is? Do we know what the word holy means? Are we really willing to be set apart for him? Set apart from whom? The world? What about other Believers who are not set apart? Are we willing to be completely set apart from what everyone else looks like, speaks like, behaves like? Or just those habits we consider sinful? What about what the Refiner thinks? What about HIS plans and HIS instructions and teachings?

Malachi 3
1 “Look! I am sending my messenger to clear the way before me; and the Master, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple. Yes, the messenger of the covenant, in whom you take such delight – look! Here he comes,” says ADONAI-Tzva’ot(YHVH of Hosts). 2 But who is able to endure the day when he comes? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire, like the soapmaker’s lye.
3 He will sit, testing and purifying the silver; he will purify the sons of Levi, refining them like gold and silver, so that they can bring offerings to YHVH uprightly. 4 Then the offering of Y’hudah and Yerushalayim will be pleasing to YHVH, as it was in the days of old, as in years gone by. 5 “Then I will approach you for judgment; and I will be quick to witness against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers; against those who take advantage of wage-earners, widows and orphans; against those who rob the foreigner of his rights and don’t fear me,” says YHVH-Tzva’ot.

6 “But because I, YHVH, do not change, you sons of Ya’akov will not be destroyed. 7 Since the days of your forefathers you have turned from my laws and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says YHVH-Tzva’ot.

“But you ask, ‘In respect to what are we supposed to return?’ 8 Can a person rob Yah? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In tenths and voluntary contributions. 9 A curse is on you, on your whole nation, because you rob me. 10 Bring the whole tenth into the storehouse, so that there will be food in my house, and put me to the test,” says YHVH-Tzva’ot. “See if I won’t open for you the floodgates of heaven and pour out for you a blessing far beyond your needs. 11 For your sakes I will forbid the devourer to destroy the yield from your soil; and your vine will not lose its fruit before harvest-time,” says YHVH-Tzva’ot. 12 “All nations will call you happy, for you will be a land of delights,” says YHVH-Tzva’ot. 13 “You have spoken strongly against me,” says YHVH. “Yet you say, ‘How have we spoken against you?’ 14 By saying, ‘There is no point in serving God. What good is it to obey his orders or to walk about as mourners before YHVH-Tzva’ot? 15 We consider the arrogant happy; also evildoers prosper; they put Elohim to the test; nevertheless, they escape.’” 16 Then those who feared YHVH spoke together; and YHVH listened and heard. A record book was written in his presence for those who feared YHVH and had respect for his Name. 17 “They will be mine,” says YHVH-Tzva’ot, “on the day when I compose my own special treasure. I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him. 18 Then once again you will see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between the person who serves Yah and one that doesn’t serve him.

To Discern and Act On

What is his will? What are his words? What are we to do? Don’t skip over the important stuff and make this about ‘tithing’. This is about returning to Yah. This is about my ways versus his ways. This is about my making my own Laws and his Torah instruction.

Let us not be clanging cymbals and whitewashed sepulchers. Let us not walk in our own ways, but align our choices with scripture. Let us refine each other as iron sharpens iron. I have a good friend who is set apart. Her very words cause me to think about my life and how I live, what I say, what I think. She is very open and honest about her own sins and failures. She does not exalt herself or her family, but you will find them joyful and proclaiming the Father and his love and victories. I want to be like her. I want to be like the Father.

Let us not cling to what we want, who we want to be. Let’s not “let it all hang out” and be cool, but let’s BE SET APART from those worldly examples. Showing people who he is does not require us to be like them. Quite the opposite, showing people who the One True God of Israel is requires us to be like him and his Son, our Messiah, so that they will know he is set apart for them. For, even if you might find him hanging at the local bar ministering to people, you would not find him swinging to the latest hit, just going out for drinks. You would find him about his Father’s business. And so must we be: Set apart and about the Father’s business.

So, sing that song again. Think about the words. Do you really want to be purified? Do you really want to be as gold? Do you really want to be set apart? It was too much for the rich young ruler. Yehoshua said, “No one is good except one (YHVH). If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” But he did keep the commandments, but he couldn’t give up all. He walked away from the Messiah, grieved at hearing this, for he could not give up what was necessary. (Luke 18, Matt. 19)

Shalom!

Thank you for joining me for Shabbat Shalom! Praise. If you would like to read others’ thoughts, praises this week, please follow the links below. If you would like to join us for Shabbat Shalom! Praise, we welcome you! We welcome you to participate. You can read about the meme HERE. Sign the Linky with your direct link on this post. Please use the icon, linked back to Walking Therein, in your own Shabbat Shalom! Praise.

Scriptures are taken from The Complete Jewish Bible, though I have restored Yah’s sacred name within the text.

We plan – or not.
We want the best for our children.
We buy curriculum – or not.
We have hopes in mind, even if we don’t write them out as goals.
We live day-to-day, teaching our children facts and figures, letting them learn life, perhaps showing them in a textbook.

But, what are our goals? How do we plan to get there? Do we really want them to become what we hope they become?

Chris Davis is a home school father whose home school philosophy changed my view of home schooling our children. It very much aligns itself with Robin Sampson’s methods and philosophy also.

What does Yahweh-God have for our children?
Who has HE created them to be?
Have we prayed about it?

We have the opportunity to see each of our children as individuals, with different loves, hates and learning styles. We can see who they are created to be, if we look closely enough and rely on the Spirit of Yah-God to show us. Do we have blind spots? Of course we do. Do we have expectations that overshadow what HE has for them? I would say certainly. But, we can know HIS plans for them, if we ask.

This is a key to allowing our children – facilitating Yah’s plans – to become just who HE has created them to be. They each have a purpose in this world. It is our job as Mom to seek that purpose and show them HIS path, teaching them HIS ways, so they may fulfill the greatest plans there are for them.

We teach the Scriptures here as many of my home school mom friends do. They are of utmost importance. I look at the fruit in our children: in their hearts; in their words; in their actions. I ask questions of them. I seek HIM in their lives.

What path are they on?
What are their strengths?
Where is it leading them?
What is their interest?
What has the Father put into them?

When we embrace what Yahweh has for our children and let down our expectations as well as the world’s – and others, we experience a freedom and a wholeness in teaching them that which we cannot know otherwise.
HE is their Creator, and HE has their purpose in mind. If we seek HIM and that purpose and plan, we will teach them just what they need to know for what HE has for them.

Is that your ultimate goal? It is mine.

be blessed as you train your children up in HIS ways!

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This article was inspired by my friend and fellow home school mom, Christin. You will find her blog at Journey of Discovery, where she brings up thoughts and questions about her own journey in Motherhood & Homeschooling.

We are so blessed! In so many things, we are so blessed!! We have learned so much this year about blessings. Samuel Ira got his first blessing last night by his Daddy on Shabbat. Can you believe he is a week old today already? I cannot.

I am so blessed with a husband who loves Yahweh and is seeking to serve and to follow him and his Narrow Path. This year has brought so many changes into our lives. Some have been outright blessings and some have been difficult circumstances – blessings in disguise – but we have been so blessed all the same. No doubt this year will continue to bring changes and blessings into our lives right up until the new year just a few short weeks away.

I am blessed by Yahweh to have children who are growing up to know him and to love and serve him- some who have grown up and are continuing to serve and seek him. Blessed be Yahweh for all he is allowing us to show and teach our children. Blessed is HE for keeping us all these years in himself and keeping us when we didn’t know better and teaching us what we should know. I look back at so many pitfalls, and I see his mighty hand of keeping and provision, and it is amazing to me. I am amazed he would hear my prayers, but for some reason, he does hear, and not only does he hear, but he answers in very tangible ways.

Blessed is HE.

Psalm 119
9 (Bet) How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. 10 I seek you with all my heart; don’t let me stray from your mitzvot. 11 I treasure your word in my heart, so that I won’t sin against you. 12 Blessed are you, ADONAI! Teach me your laws. 13 I proclaim with my mouth all the rulings you have spoken. 14 I rejoice in the way of your instruction more than in any kind of wealth. 15 I will meditate on your precepts and keep my eyes on your ways. 16 I will find my delight in your regulations. I will not forget your word.

Blessings are something that I have been meaning to write about on Studying the Scriptures, because I see a different way of blessing in the world than I did before we became Torah-observant. We blessed our food before, now we bless Yahweh for the food. We feel our children are blessings and we have always prayed for them, but now, their Daddy takes time to bless them each week on Shabbat. We see blessings differently now. We see a greatness in the blessings that we have never seen before. We see the 7th day Sabbath as a true blessing, a time set apart by GOD-Yahweh, FOR Yahweh. It is no longer our day to worship; it is his day we worship and set apart for him alone.

These things have changed our lives.

I used to think we were set apart and so different than so many Believers we attended church with. and we definitely were. BUT now, we are even more different. No, I did not say better, and I do not mean better. We are on our own journey to the Narrow Path, and you and they, are on theirs. We are more set apart now than we were before. We were different before than others; now we are more different.

Our lives have been changed by the Scriptures yet again.

Blessed is HE. Blessed is HE. Blessed is HE. Blessed are you, Yahweh.

Oh, how blessed are WE that we are learning these things! We are learning to bless Yahweh. King David, over and over, wrote Blessed is HE or Blessed are YOU (Yahweh). Here are some things you will hear in our home weekly:

Blessed are you, Yahweh, Our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.
Blessed are you, Yahweh, Our God, King of the universe, who brings forth fruit from the vine.
Blessed are you, Yahweh, Our God, King of the universe, who commands us to celebrate Shabbat.
Blessed are you, Yahweh, Our God, King of the universe, who commands to give Tzedekah (offering to the widows and fatherless).

And, may I add a few more?

Blessed are you, Yahweh, Our God, King of the universe, who gives us good friends and family.
Blessed are you, Yahweh, Our God, King of the universe, who knows the plans you have for us that we can trust in you.
Blessed are you, Yahweh, Our God, King of the universe, who brings forth the Fruit of the womb.
Blessed are you, Yahweh, Our God, King of the universe, who gives us your Scripture as a lamp to walk by and a light to see your Way.
Blessed are you, Yahweh, Our God, King of the universe, who sustains and keeps us in our hearts and daily lives in all things that we may live and walk in you alone and not fear.

Today -and may I every day- I am thankfully blessing the Creator, the one from whom all good things come, the Father, The One True God, Yahweh. Blessed is HE.

Psalm 68
32 Sing to God, kingdoms of the earth! Sing praises to Adonai, (Selah) 33 to him who rides on the most ancient heavens. Listen, as he utters his voice, a mighty voice! 34 Acknowledge that strength belongs to God, with his majesty over Isra’el and his strength in the skies. 35 How awe-inspiring you are, God, from your holy places, the God of Isra’el, who gives strength and power to the people. Blessed be God!

blessings,

All Scriptures taken from The Complete Jewish Bible by David Stern.
Thank you for joining me for Saturday Psalm & Praise. If you would like to read others’ thoughts, Psalms and Praises this week, please follow the links below.
If you would like to join us for Saturday Psalm & Praise, we welcome you! To participate, leave a comment with your direct link on this post and use the icon, linked back to Walking Therein, in your own Saturday Psalm and Praise.

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