A Recipe For The Holydays

Hanukkah is called The Festival of Lights

Our Lord was truly born at the beginning (the first day), of the Feast called Sukkoth (Succoth, pronounced sue-coat), on the 15th day of Tishri, in October.

But as so many Americans celebrate a time when they want to praise and thank God for sending His own Son, Yeshua (Jesus) to earth, we can honor Him better by avoiding the parts of the "seasonal activites" that commemorate any of the pagan aspects of what Americans call "Christmas." Mistletoe, the holly & ivy wreath, the gold & silver decorated "tree," and more, especially the idea that "a lady" (originally called the queen of heaven, in Babylonian religious celebrations) and "her baby" boy, ... but not our Miriam (we call her Mary) with her baby Yeshua (most call Him Jesus), of Bethlehem, of the City of David. (she was a descendant of King David) (her betrothed husband, Yosef {Joseph} also was a descendant of David)

The Festival of Lights, known as Hanukkah (some spell it Chanukkah), is a commemoration of another miracle YHWH God did, long ago, on behalf of Jacob Macabee, and his family, when Antiochus Epiphanes, the wicked Syrian ruler, ... desecrated / defiled The Temple in Jerusalem, in defiance and hatred toward YHWH God, and His chosen people. (this is a very simplified explanation)
The priest lighted The Temple menorah (the 8-branched candle), but there was not enough oil in it to keep it lit for long. So, all who honored YHWH God prayed, for Him to do His Will, ... and the rest of the story is: YHWH God made the oil, in the menorah (the lamp in The Temple), last and continue burning for ...... 8 days!
All who saw it happen knew only YHWH God could have done such a thing!
... so, to honor Him, and what He did, the Jewish people have celebrated Hanukkah ever since!

And ... since Yeshua (Jesus) is known as The Light of the world, The Light for all people, we can celebrate this Festival of Lights, ... in what we Americans call our last month of the year, and ... we'd be honoring YHWH God, with our Jewish brothers and sisters, ... while honoring our Light, Who is The Messiah of God Almighty (the Anointed One of YHWH).

I look forward to learning more about this holyday. The Lord has been opening doors of knowledge to many believers, in America, to see that ... we need not be surprised at how "appalled" most American Jews are, at what we (who call ourselves) Christians (Christ followers; I call myself a true believer, instead.) do, at this time of year, which they seem to sense (even if they also do not know the whole history behind it) that the American form of Christmas ... is merely a rehashing of a Roman Catholic accession to an old, pagan, Babylonian religious celebration, plus some other pagan "symbols" ....

We can do our Father in Heaven an honor, and a service (this is only my personal conviction), by honoring our Light, (the true) Messiah Yeshua.

He truly lights all our days and all our nights! He truly has shined in our hearts, with the glorious Gospel of our eternal deliverance!
He truly is The Light that shines! ... upon all people who will believe, ... and trust in Yeshua the Messiah, as Lord of all, and as Redeemer and Deliverer (He is our Salvation; His Name, Ye'shua 'means' salvation).
All who call upon The Name of The Lord shall be saved (delivered from eternal condemnation).
He is ever merciful ... and so generous to us, in allowing us to be engrafted into the vine He calls His family! Praise His Name (haShem)!

Though you, or someone you know, or visit, during this season of the year, may celebrate the "typical" American "Christmas" way, ... please do not condemn them. But if they ask you, and if you have become convicted, as I have, about finding another way to honor The Lord, ... you may explain to them what you have learned. (lovingly)

... but first, do a search, online, to learn, for yourself, all you can, from reliable, trusted sources (believers you know, and ... any whose sites you go to, and ask God about, and ... learn from, that seem to be sharing 'the truth' about the history and meaning behind symbols used in Christmas), so you will have "a way to show them" *why* you have chosen, this year, to honor YHWH God and His Son, Yeshua (Jesus), as The Light ....

It does not matter to me how you celebrate this time of the year. I will not be offended with you. This is just something I must do, because God has been workin' on me, about this holiday, for a good while. He will not let rest, until I make this change, at least personally. It will be a joy to do more of what He has been teaching me, for some time, ... about celebrating Yeshua's holydays / feasts He participated in, while He was on earth.

If they were good enough times of Joy-ing in The Lord YHWH, His Father in Heaven, then they are good enough for me, to celebrate, ... adding to the "Jewish holidays" ... a believer's viewpoint, including any fulfillment from Yeshua's Life, on earth, or His teachings, that God has made me aware of.

I look forward to learning more.
Thanks to a dear mom friend, who also homeschools, I now have Robin Sampson's book, entitled _A Family Guide to the Biblical Holidays_. You can find out more about it, by visiting: http://homeschool-books.com/xcart/home.php
She has blessed our entire family with this book, and I hope to learn much from reading and using it!
God be praised!
Blessed be The Name of The Lord YHWH!
Praise Yeshua! He is Lord!

... until later, stay in The Word. Keep your focus on Yeshua! He is your Life! (you who are believers)
... and to you believers, ... keep looking down! Remember, that means we are seated with Yeshua, the Messiah, in heavenly places, ... and 'in Him,' we abide, ... at the Right Hand of The Father Almighty. wow! An amazing truth! But God is Truth! And He cannot lie. So, we must believe and accept that we are seated high above all principality and power, and all things that oppose God and His Son, Yeshua, even what Yeshua called "the world system." And He has overcome that world system. So, we, in Him, can, also. If we believe, and trust, and ... obey His commands.

As I study the Commands of Christ (Messiah Yeshua), using the website (to enroll, and begin receiving daily emails, teaching me, and using other links, to do further studies, on each command Yeshua gave), I gain more Wisdom, and spiritual Understanding, while learning more about Him, my best Friend, my closest Brother, and ... my King Eternal, ... my Gentle Shepherd, Who leads me, as one of His sheep. You can find out more about learning these commands Yeshua wants us to know, and respond to, at:
http://iblp.org/iblp/discipleship/dailysuccess/commands/

God be with you, as you journey through life, learning all you can, before you meet Him Face to face .......!
Shalom!

*Frosty Date Balls,* a Christmas recipe ...

Each week in December of 2008, The Homeschool Lounge will have a giveaway. This week, we get to share a favorite family Christmas recipe!

*Christmas on The Lounge*

At The Homeschool Lounge, I shared the recipe below here:
It is tasty, and simple to make, ladies!

If you have not yet joined The Homeschool Lounge, please do. You will find encouragement, prayer support and some answers to questions you may have!
http://www.thehomeschoollounge.com/

Have a most blessed day, today, walkin' with The Lord, our Good Shepherd, you all!
Kathy
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We all like these cookies, that one recipe book (Better Homes and Gardens' *Cookies and Candies,* 1966) calls

*Frosty Date Balls* (the ingredients are mentioned within the recipe)

Cream 1/2 cup soft butter and
1/3 cup sifted confectioners' sugar.

Stir in 1 TBsp. water and 1 teaspoon vanilla.

Add 1-1/4 cups sifted flour (we use about half freshly-milled, whole wheat flour plus half unbleached wheat flour) and
a dash of salt (we use Celtic Sea Salt).

Mix well. Stir in 2/3 cup chopped, pitted dates, and 1/2 cup chopped walnuts.

Roll in 1-inch balls.
Place 2-1/2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake in a slow oven (300 degrees F.) about 20 minutes, or until cookies are set, but not brown.

While warm, roll in confectioners' sugar.

Makes about 2-1/2 dozen cookies.

At our house, we cannot seem to keep these for long. Some dip the warm cookies in their hot, British-style tea! yum!

The Lord bless you all, ladies, as you seek to bless your families with special foods for this season of celebration of our dear Saviour's birth!

(personally, I believe He was born in October, when the shepherds would have been able to be out "in the fields" by night, watching their sheep. From some strong convictions that I'm unable to turn away from, I am personally abandoning some American Christmas "traditions," after learning more about where they came from, what they mean. But will not leave out our nativity scene my husband made, and ... we will celebrate The Light of the world, Who came to bring us Hope, Joy, Peace, Reconciliation with our Father in Heaven, and the Atonement He made for us, the Forgiveness He brought to us, through His Life, suffering, death and resurrection, and we celebrate our new Life, in Yeshua, our Messiah, the promised One of YHWH! He *is* with us -- Emmanuel!)
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