She conceives (Tazria)
(This is not according to the reading schedule. - I am on my own... 
)
Leviticus 12:1-13:59
The instruction regarding a woman who conceives and gives birth to a child. The Scriptures say that the woman is unclean for certain days. I didn't know what to think of this. She becomes a mom and is 'unclean'. But the "Walk! Leviticus" commentary says something interesting. It gave me a different point of view.
(The word "tam'ah" means defiled.)
)Leviticus 12:1-13:59
The instruction regarding a woman who conceives and gives birth to a child. The Scriptures say that the woman is unclean for certain days. I didn't know what to think of this. She becomes a mom and is 'unclean'. But the "Walk! Leviticus" commentary says something interesting. It gave me a different point of view.
"Women do not sin by giving birth to children (Gen. 1:28). Nor do their subsequent rites of purification require laying on of hands, confession, an asham, or a different offering for the birth of a boy or a girl. But the loss of blood diminishes a mother's wholeness, rendering her incomplete and thus tam'ah (cf. Lev. 12:4, 5, 7). Only the passage of time restores her wholeness."
(Walk! Leviticus)(The word "tam'ah" means defiled.)
Starting the day with praise
I wake up, thanking God for another day. I shall live by His grace.
I praise the LORD who created the heavens and the earth, who made us in His image, who gave us freedom - we are free to choose to do the right things (even the choice to love people my flesh doesn't really care for because God loved us first - it is different from pretending), giving us the new insight to see things differently through His words (can't see right only with our own eyes), who clothes the naked, who releases the oppressed and the bound, who raises the downtrodden, who provides all our needs, who guides us on our path, who encourages us (yes, our God is an encourager!), and who restores hope and vigor to the weary, mending the broken reed, causing dying wick to flame.
This reminds me of Isaiah 61.
Isaiah 61 (New International Version)
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners, [a]
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.
4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations.
5 Aliens will shepherd your flocks;
foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.
6 And you will be called priests of the LORD,
you will be named ministers of our God.
You will feed on the wealth of nations,
and in their riches you will boast.
7 Instead of their shame
my people will receive a double portion,
and instead of disgrace
they will rejoice in their inheritance;
and so they will inherit a double portion in their land,
and everlasting joy will be theirs.
8 "For I, the LORD, love justice;
I hate robbery and iniquity.
In my faithfulness I will reward them
and make an everlasting covenant with them.
9 Their descendants will be known among the nations
and their offspring among the peoples.
All who see them will acknowledge
that they are a people the LORD has blessed."
10 I delight greatly in the LORD;
my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up
and a garden causes seeds to grow,
so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise
spring up before all nations.
Jesus read this portion of Isaiah at church in Luke chapter 4.
17And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
18The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
20And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
21And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
The New Testament is like a commentary for the Old Testament sometimes. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The NT is connected to the OT. I want my ears to hear what Jesus taught about the OT. I am not knowledgeable enough to explain deeper meanings but I sometimes get the feeling that people look down on the Old Testament and we modern Christians have a certain image of it and settle there. I have the Holy Spirit living in me through faith just like all the other sisters and brothers in the Lord, and I am to follow Jesus (I want to), but I don't want to stumble people because I don't live up to a 'christian standard'. I don't want people to look at me and create a certain image of Christianity. They can't. (even though I do my best..)
Could Judaism be like that? We can't look at Jewish people negatively, and then make conclusion about the OT. The Bible is about our God who worked in the lives of Abraham, Elijah, Peter, Paul, etc... It is not about those people who walked with God. ...just my opinion.
One Bible teacher said that the Jewish people have to pray from the prayer book. This person said it negatively. But when we think about it, we memorize the Psalms and then we have many Christian prayer books we follow. Isn't it the same as the prayer book and we do the same? I think so. The praise at the beginning of the blog today is my praise based on the Jewish prayer book. If I didn't say so, no one can tell it is from the Jewish prayer book.
May it be about God and our Jesus, not about Jew or Gentiles...
"For we are one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians)
I praise the LORD who created the heavens and the earth, who made us in His image, who gave us freedom - we are free to choose to do the right things (even the choice to love people my flesh doesn't really care for because God loved us first - it is different from pretending), giving us the new insight to see things differently through His words (can't see right only with our own eyes), who clothes the naked, who releases the oppressed and the bound, who raises the downtrodden, who provides all our needs, who guides us on our path, who encourages us (yes, our God is an encourager!), and who restores hope and vigor to the weary, mending the broken reed, causing dying wick to flame.
This reminds me of Isaiah 61.
Isaiah 61 (New International Version)
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners, [a]
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.
4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations.
5 Aliens will shepherd your flocks;
foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.
6 And you will be called priests of the LORD,
you will be named ministers of our God.
You will feed on the wealth of nations,
and in their riches you will boast.
7 Instead of their shame
my people will receive a double portion,
and instead of disgrace
they will rejoice in their inheritance;
and so they will inherit a double portion in their land,
and everlasting joy will be theirs.
8 "For I, the LORD, love justice;
I hate robbery and iniquity.
In my faithfulness I will reward them
and make an everlasting covenant with them.
9 Their descendants will be known among the nations
and their offspring among the peoples.
All who see them will acknowledge
that they are a people the LORD has blessed."
10 I delight greatly in the LORD;
my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up
and a garden causes seeds to grow,
so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise
spring up before all nations.
Jesus read this portion of Isaiah at church in Luke chapter 4.
17And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
18The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
20And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
21And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
The New Testament is like a commentary for the Old Testament sometimes. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The NT is connected to the OT. I want my ears to hear what Jesus taught about the OT. I am not knowledgeable enough to explain deeper meanings but I sometimes get the feeling that people look down on the Old Testament and we modern Christians have a certain image of it and settle there. I have the Holy Spirit living in me through faith just like all the other sisters and brothers in the Lord, and I am to follow Jesus (I want to), but I don't want to stumble people because I don't live up to a 'christian standard'. I don't want people to look at me and create a certain image of Christianity. They can't. (even though I do my best..)
Could Judaism be like that? We can't look at Jewish people negatively, and then make conclusion about the OT. The Bible is about our God who worked in the lives of Abraham, Elijah, Peter, Paul, etc... It is not about those people who walked with God. ...just my opinion.
One Bible teacher said that the Jewish people have to pray from the prayer book. This person said it negatively. But when we think about it, we memorize the Psalms and then we have many Christian prayer books we follow. Isn't it the same as the prayer book and we do the same? I think so. The praise at the beginning of the blog today is my praise based on the Jewish prayer book. If I didn't say so, no one can tell it is from the Jewish prayer book.
May it be about God and our Jesus, not about Jew or Gentiles...
"For we are one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians)
It takes a lot of energy
It takes a lot of energy to do the things you want to do. Someone said that it is like a miracle to actually do the things you have in your mind. God had a plan, and he executed it. It was a miracle.
I read Flylady. I have been trying to remember what she says and do it little by little. (I am still not good at it.) If I don't apply it in my daily life, then nothing gets done.
Sometimes I have an idea but I think about it over and over and wait (for what?) and then I go on with my daily life and I wonder 'what if I had done it.'
Abraham comes to my mind because whenever God told him something, he is up early in the morning the next day and he is doing what God said to do.
Last week I had an idea. I heard a little voice piercing in my heart that I should volunteer to do a certain thing. Perfect love drives out fear! The love came first, I didn't have a chance to think about myself, and I volunteered to do the thing I felt like I was to do. I had goose-bumps as I was saying that I would help. I wanted to try and see if it was God. If it was, I wanted to obey like Abraham. I concentrated on the love and prayed as the time to execute my plan came. No way out. It turned out fine and I am in awe that the LORD let me be a part of someone's life. My heart is full of joy to know that God is with us. But it sure takes a lot of energy.
I read Flylady. I have been trying to remember what she says and do it little by little. (I am still not good at it.) If I don't apply it in my daily life, then nothing gets done.
Sometimes I have an idea but I think about it over and over and wait (for what?) and then I go on with my daily life and I wonder 'what if I had done it.'
Abraham comes to my mind because whenever God told him something, he is up early in the morning the next day and he is doing what God said to do.
Last week I had an idea. I heard a little voice piercing in my heart that I should volunteer to do a certain thing. Perfect love drives out fear! The love came first, I didn't have a chance to think about myself, and I volunteered to do the thing I felt like I was to do. I had goose-bumps as I was saying that I would help. I wanted to try and see if it was God. If it was, I wanted to obey like Abraham. I concentrated on the love and prayed as the time to execute my plan came. No way out. It turned out fine and I am in awe that the LORD let me be a part of someone's life. My heart is full of joy to know that God is with us. But it sure takes a lot of energy.
Scapegoat
Azazel is the Hebrew word for a scapegoat. Some translations makes me think that it is the name of a place, including my Japanese Bible. Just like Negev, which is translated as a name of the area ( and I think it is the name of the area), but the name means 'south.' In some translations it is translated as 'south'. This was confusing because Negev was where Abraham went from Egypt, which means he went up towards north, but if your Bible says south, then, it doesn't make sense and that causes people to say "See, the Bible doesn't make sense." There are more deep meanings one can study regarding the scapegoat, but I don't have the ability to write and explain it. I dig as much as I can, and I have to come back to it later...
The word "lots" in "casting lots" is pebbles. This changes the picture we have in our own heads as we read the Bible, too. I would think of sticks or something. In Japan, we "draw" instead of "cast."
When you know the original meanings, it helps to understand the Bible more clearly, and different translations won't threaten you and makes you happy that the God of the Bible is still active and alive.
I am happy.
Here is a youtube of very comforting words regarding Happiness. My dear friend told me about this gentleman.
The word "lots" in "casting lots" is pebbles. This changes the picture we have in our own heads as we read the Bible, too. I would think of sticks or something. In Japan, we "draw" instead of "cast."
When you know the original meanings, it helps to understand the Bible more clearly, and different translations won't threaten you and makes you happy that the God of the Bible is still active and alive.
I am happy.Here is a youtube of very comforting words regarding Happiness. My dear friend told me about this gentleman.
Ark (box) and Moses' brother
My friends used to tell me that if we were stuck in one spot and couldn't go on while we were trying to memorize a certain section of the Bible, then God is trying to say something to us. Well, I was not memorizing Leviticus. I was just reading it but couldn't go on and kept reading chapter 16 over and over. Then I remember to pray before dealing with God's precious words. It is God's words. My flesh alone cannot understand God's way. I am thankful God reminded me...again.
It is amazing how quickly I dry out if I don't go back to my first love towards God. "A little later" becomes too familiar and pretty soon I feel like I am okay without my time with the LORD and my in-depth word study. This study session alone with God is my fun time and God tickles my heart. I worry that I may be crazy spending time in my closet (I turned one closed into my room where I cannot close the door when I am in) but my friend's words encouraged me. She seems to think that God is actually guiding me into this place of studying the word of God. It was freeing.
So...
I started with Leviticus chapter 16 and started writing down some meanings of the original words, using the Strong's numbers and dictionary.
Ohh... wow... I didn't know the Hebrew word for the ark was "ארון (arown) ". It sounds like Moses' brother's name "Aaron"!
אהרון (Aharown) - Aaron's name
ארון (arown) - ark, box, chest...Ark of Covenant
The difference between Aaron and ark is the letter "H" just like Abram's and Sarai's names.
Abram + H = Abraham
Sarai + H = Sarah
Aaron is in the line of Levis. His name is an ark plus "H". I wrote about the letter H which I learned from Hebrew For Christians. Letter H in Hebrew indicates the presence of God.
An ark + God's presence = Aaron, the Levi, the priest
Isn't it a perfect name for him!
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It is amazing how quickly I dry out if I don't go back to my first love towards God. "A little later" becomes too familiar and pretty soon I feel like I am okay without my time with the LORD and my in-depth word study. This study session alone with God is my fun time and God tickles my heart. I worry that I may be crazy spending time in my closet (I turned one closed into my room where I cannot close the door when I am in) but my friend's words encouraged me. She seems to think that God is actually guiding me into this place of studying the word of God. It was freeing.
So...
I started with Leviticus chapter 16 and started writing down some meanings of the original words, using the Strong's numbers and dictionary.
Ohh... wow... I didn't know the Hebrew word for the ark was "ארון (arown) ". It sounds like Moses' brother's name "Aaron"!אהרון (Aharown) - Aaron's name
ארון (arown) - ark, box, chest...Ark of Covenant
The difference between Aaron and ark is the letter "H" just like Abram's and Sarai's names.
Abram + H = Abraham
Sarai + H = Sarah
Aaron is in the line of Levis. His name is an ark plus "H". I wrote about the letter H which I learned from Hebrew For Christians. Letter H in Hebrew indicates the presence of God.
An ark + God's presence = Aaron, the Levi, the priest
Isn't it a perfect name for him!
