My love is a fragrant flower. As the dew moistens the grass, so are my lips moistened by his kisses. His arms are to me like ribbons of silk, enveloping my whole being. Lying on his chest is like lying on the sweet smelling earth. His breath is soft and sensual. His eye is as the waters of a crystal lake, clear and smooth. Words of wisdom roll off his tongue; his voice is as a symphony, soft and lyrical. His tender heart harkens to the will of YAHWEH, ever open, ever obedient, priceless. He is a treasure unto me. Oh, that this evening I could lie in his arms and hear him speak the Word. Time grows short, my heart pounds, anticipation floods my soul. Ah, but soon, very soon, my desire will become a tree of life. Blooming to the utmost of my love. Till then I will Praise my

YAHWEH, and sing of his virtues.

by Jolae Barry for her fiancé 1989

No amount of silver or gold can compare with him. His attributes are innumerable

and unlimited. How can this be so? He possesses the most valuable thing in the

world. YAHSHUA Messiah is his Elohim and Savior. His tender heart overflows

with love. He is the most beautiful of men. His voice, his words, his thoughts are

higher than the heavens. He is more valuable than many horses. My love for him

is deeper than the oceans. I thank my Elohim, the creator of the heavens and the

earth and all therein, for my love. May I ever be at his side, quick to agree,

console, encourage. He knows the value of what he has and how to keep it. There

is only one higher than him; the Elohim, YAHWEH almighty! Therefore, in our

lives and home, The King of Kings always comes first, last, and forever. Love,

Jolae.

By Jolae Barry (after we were wed)

YAHWEH KNOWS

Yahweh knows the details and the color of your soul

He knows the misty corners and closets you keep closed

He knows the truth about you like no one ever could

And He knows the sins he nailed to an ancient piece of wood

You may be rejected or judged by human kind

You may be neglected but you are never out of mind

You may be alone as far as anyone can tell

He will take you up and be your Father and your El

By: Gayle Bonato

A GOOD CRY

Have you ever heard anyone say, “I had a good cry?” You may ask, “Whats good about crying?” More than you might think! The Bible contains 68 references to the word “wept” and 35 to “tears.” Psalm 139:14 states “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works.” Our loving Abba Yahweh never does or makes anything without a wise reason!

Crying really can be good for us and it is natural to cry for various reasons. Of course we all know that “self-control” (temperance) is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:23),  so I am not talking here about forced or manipulative crying, but crying that happens in our lives for natural reasons.

How do we really know that crying is natural and good for us? We know from Bible Scriptures and from scientific research, as well.

The Bible tells us about different people crying for different reasons.  John 11:35 – often quoted as “the shortest verse in the Bible” – states simply “Yahshua wept.” Peter cried with bitter regret, upon realizing he had denied his teacher and Messiah, and Yahshua had told him that he would do this; “And Peter called to mind the word that Yahshua said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept”(Mark 14:72). When brothers Jacob and Esau reunited after almost 20 years of separation, weeping was a very natural thing for both of them; “And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept” (Gen 33:4).

Another example of weeping is found in the book of Esther. Queen Esther came before king Ahasuerus, after the hanging of Haman. “And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agate and his device that he had devised against the Jews” (Esther 8:3). These tears were natural after all of the fasting and stress she had just gone through with her people, and so crying came naturally in this situation and not in any way as a manipulative tool. (Incidentally, I personally believe that if she did not feel loved by her husband the king, natural tears like this would have been heldback).

So just what is “the science behind tears”? In Psychology Today (July 27, 2010), Judith Orloff, MD, wrote about “the healing power of tears” and how they purge and help heal the body from stress, fatigue and pain. It may – or may not! – surprise you to know that humans are the only creatures who do this! In fact, our bodies produce three different kinds of tears: Reflex, Continual and Emotional tears.

Reflex tears are produced automatically to clear out dust particles and exhaust from our eyes. They are also the kind you cry when you chop onions! Continual (or “Basal”) tears contain the chemical “Lysozyme” which is anti-bacterial, helping to protect our eyes from infections. This chemical also “drips” down to our sinuses on occasion, via our tear ducts, to keep our nose moist and free from bacteria.

Emotional tears, though, have extra benefits for our overall mental health and well-being: Dr. Wm Frey, sometimes called the “tear expert” at Ramsey Medical Center in Minneapolis, discovered that these tears contain stress hormones and toxins that accumulate during stressful times in our lives, which are released upon crying. Additional studies have shown that crying also stimulates our bodies to produce extra endorphins – often referred to as “the feel good hormone.” Is it any wonder, then, that contained in the Bible are both of the following verses?! “I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears” (Psalms 6:6), and “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.” (Psalms 126:5). Some other interesting facts discovered by Frey indicate that both boys and girls cry about the same amount – up until the age of about 12, and that women cry about four times as often as men. There is no reason to “compare” the two, for our loving Abba Yahweh made us different for very wise reasons, and comparing is not wise! “Comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise” (2 Cor 10:12b).

Have you ever noticed that on those occasions when you cry during prayer, you feel so relieved and good afterwards? There is more than one Bible verse that indicates crying while praying. Note this one; “Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;” followed by “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered” (Heb 5:7-8). What a beautiful and perfect example to us!

Whether you are a woman or a man, never be ashamed of natural tears; they’re good for you! Be reassured also, that your Beautiful Creator Yahweh does notice every single tear you cry! “Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book? When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for Elohim is for me.” (Psalms 56:8-9).

During this life here and now on earth for us, Ecclesiastes 3:4 tells us that there is “A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;” And for that time in the future that we long and hope for, Isaiah 25:8 tells us that, “He will swallow up death in victory; and my Sovereign Yahweh will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for Yahweh hath spoken it.”

HalleluYah!

By Melodie Illgen

When I look at all the young fathers and mothers in the Assembly, I can’t help realizing how blessed their children are to have parents in the Faith. Some of these parents have known Yahweh all their lives. Watching these young couples walk in strength of their Faith in everything they do is a joy. Their support of one another through all the problems of life is exemplary as they guide their families toward the Kingdom of Yahweh.

Other mothers and fathers come into the Faith later in life, sometimes as a family and sometimes by themselves. As they work to overcome sin themselves, they also are teaching their children Yahweh’s ways and commandments. Learning Yahweh’s ways brings happiness to families if they allow His will, forgiveness, and mercy to be their everyday guide.

To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die…” Ecc. 3:1-2. How true are these words of the Preacher.

The loss of our fathers this past year still brings tears to both my husband and me, as our thoughts and memories drift to the time when they were here with us. Our fathers were different in so many ways, but similar in their strength. Not just the physical strength when they were younger but also their resolve to never give up. Even in their later years they kept going till they could go no more. Their attitude of never giving up, no matter what, has touched each one in our families.

Don’t ever give up! Stay strong, work hard for Yahweh and for your family and for the brethren around you. There will be trials and everyday problems. Nevertheless, continue as a guide and example for your children, showing them how to persevere. Your children watch you in what you do, say, and act. If you say one thing and do another they’ll do exactly what you do! You will also lose their respect.

When I was a young mother I thought I had all the answers on discipline. Wow, did I have a lot to learn. It was hard for me to watch my husband discipline our little toddler at first and I would come to the rescue. Guess what? It didn’t take long before our child started playing one of us off against the other. We learned quickly to stand united as a couple, even if we didn’t agree with the other’s way of discipline at that time. We would discuss it later behind closed doors, but never in front of the children, I also realized when my husband stepped in the children listened.My husband showed our children amazing love in the way he disciplined.

He was calm, never disciplining in anger. He listened to them and discussed with them what they did wrong. He helped decide restitution, he was fair in punishment, and most of all he reassured them that they were deeply loved and because of that, correction was necessary. It hurt my children’s feeling when they knew their father was disappointed in them, even more than the actual punishment. There were always lots of hugs and smiles afterwards and most of all, respect.

Another strength you might need to find deep within you, due to difficulty with a strong-willed child, is let your “yes” be “yes,” and your “no” be “no” just as the Word says. When your child comes running to you, asking for something, consider your response before you answer. Don’t say “no” and then give in and say “yes.” If you do you have just taught your child that wearing you down will get him what he wants. He will also learn that “no” doesn’t really mean “no.”

It’s okay to say “no,” but let them know why. Maybe they misbehaved that week or maybe what they want to have isn’t good for them, etc. Remember, this goes both ways. Don’t forget to say “yes” sometimes too, especially when you want to reward their good behavior. Be consistent and be strong! Your children will love and respect you for it.

Yahweh’s powerful example is His love for His Son. Let Yahweh’s strength, love, mercy, and correction that He showed us guide you with strength to teach your children the way they must go so they do not depart from Him or you…

by: Margie Mansager

Cows and Compassion (Should we eat meat?)

“Then Yahweh said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our like­ness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground’.” Genesis 1:26

This morning, before grabbing my jacket to head outside, I looked out the window to see my cows patiently waiting for me at the feed tubs. Despite the big bale of hay by the fence and the newly emerged springtime grass, they are always eager to dine on grain. Sometimes they almost seem human in their understanding and acceptance of how things are. Watching them over the years, I have seen them express grief after losing a calf, curiosity as a cat ventures close, sadness when one of the herd leaves, boredom when left alone, fear when I’ve lost my temper and yelled at them, and anger when they’ve been wronged somehow. They babysit each other’s calves and console one another when sick or bereaved. And, even though I’ve had them dehorned, ear-tagged, and vaccinated and then proceeded to steal their milk and send their calves off to the meat processor, they still look at me with a measure of trust. What beautiful, gentle and compassionate creatures they are!

So, you may rightly ask, how can I eat beef? Many question the practice of killing animals for food. In fact, some are so repulsed by the idea of eating meat that they will only eat a vegetarian diet. Was mankind meant to consume only a plant-based diet? Often, Genesis 1: 29-30 is used in support of this viewpoint: “Then Yahweh said, I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground – everything that has the breath of life in it – I give every green plant for food. And it was so.” A further reading of the scriptures, however, clarifies that there is no plant-only diet directive.

“Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to Yahweh. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. Yahweh looked with favor on Abel and his offering…” (Genesis 4:2-4). Why did Abel have flocks if not for food and why did he offer the choicest portions to Yahweh if eating meat was forbidden?

As Noah entered the Ark he was told to take seven of every kind of clean animal but only two of every kind of unclean animal (Genesis 7: 2). Why would there have been a distinction between clean and unclean animals were they not used for food? When the floodwaters receded and Noah, his family, and all the creatures came out of the ark, the first thing Noah did was to build an altar and sacrifice “some of the clean animals and clean birds” to Yahweh (Genesis 8:20).

Just before leaving Egypt, when the first Passover was instituted, Moses and the Israelites were commanded to slaughter a lamb, smear its blood on their doorposts, and roast it over a fire. Later, as they wandered in the desert, the Israelites were given specific instructions for building the Tabernacle, the Ark and the Altar for burnt offerings. Not only did Yahweh instruct them in the timing and purpose of animal sacrifices, but also went on tell the Israelites how to prepare the animals and which parts to eat.

The animal sacrifices performed by Abel, Noah, and Moses all foreshadowed the sacrifice of the Messiah, the Lamb who would take away the sins of the world. It was an act of faith. The sacrificial animals were to be blemish free, or perfect, as was our Savior. The killing of the innocent mirrored His blamelessness. And, just as the meat was necessary for the physical body to live, Yahshua’s sacrifice was necessary for the spiritual body to live.

But, even though mankind was given dominion over the animals and allowed to use them for food, he was not given permission to torment them. Then, as now, farmers had a special relationship with their herds as they fed, watered, nursed and protected them. Yahweh’s directive, “Do not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk,” Exodus 23:19 was a reminder to use compassion in our treatment of His creatures. Cattle, sheep, and goats roamed outside, grazing on green pastures in the fresh air. An animal was consumed only upon special occasions and the slaughter was done quickly and expertly.

How different we find the production of meat and dairy products today! Many animals are raised on bleak feedlots, wandering around in manure with little or no access to grass or even sunlight. The production lines of large slaughterhouses cannot ensure that each animal is killed quickly and humanely. Chickens may live their whole lives caged up in smelly, overcrowded poultry sheds to insure that their meat will be tender or that maximum egg production runs smoothly. Surely, Yahweh cannot be pleased with mankind’s treatment of His creatures.

The stark reality is that if one eats meat, an animal had to die. This truth is hard to swallow and it is preferable to ignore this fact while munching on a juicy cheeseburger. How is it possible to reconcile the sacrifice of an animal for food with our desire to be good caretakers of that which Yahweh has created?

Cut down on your meat consumption. Most of the people in the world did not and do not eat meat every day. Use meat sparingly, as a condiment rather than the main course and eat meatless meals several times each week. A diet based heavily on meat not only kills more animals, but has been shown to cause many diseases in the consumer as well.

Try to purchase beef or poultry from a local farmer who uses grass-fed or free-range practices instead of the grocery store offerings. Research suggests that grass-fed cattle have 80% less E. coli in their gut systems than their feedlot counterparts. If more people would do this, perhaps the huge feedlots and poultry prisons would cease to exist.

Don’t waste your food. Only fill your plate with as much as you will eat. Much time, effort, and expense went toward your meal. Remind your children and yourself that a life was taken, a sacrifice was made, so that they and you might nourish your bodies.

Remember to give thanks to Yahweh for that which He has provided and show your respect and love for Him by not abusing or taking His gifts for granted.

by: Debbie Reed

Frugal Times

“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”

During the Great Depression of the 1930s and the WWII rationing of the 1940s, our grandparents experienced a shortage of food and other basic goods unknown to most of us living today. Frugality was an accepted way of life, not just a passing fad. The generations born after 1946 have experienced a level of material prosperity inconceivable to our ancestors. As the level of wealth rose, so did the pro­pensity to waste. The pendulum is now swinging in the opposite direction and “the times, they are a changin.” Frugality is becoming a necessity once again.

The kitchen is a good place to start learning the art of frugality. So much of what we throw in the garbage, down the disposal or out in the trash bin can be put to other beneficial uses. Coffee grounds make a great fertilizer sprinkled on the garden. Strawberries, in particular, crave the java jolt. Egg shells also add beneficial nutrients to the soil, but be sure to crush them first since they don’t break down quickly and your garden may end up looking like a hatchery. Egg shell halves can be filled with peat or potting soil for start­ing tomato plants from seeds. Place the “peat pots” into an empty egg carton and set in a sunny window until planting time. Once in the garden, the decomposing eggshell will add calcium to the growing tomatoes.

Whenever I cook a whole chicken, the skins go to the dogs, the liv­er, gizzard and heart go to the cats, and the bones go into the stock pot for homemade chicken broth to be used in soups and stews. Beef bones may be done the same way for beef broth. Freeze raw vegetable scraps – celery ends, potato and carrot peelings, onion skins, cabbage stems, shriveled garlic cloves, you name it – and when you have a gallon bag full, cover with water and boil for vegetable stock.

Water in which potatoes have been cooked is also a great soup starter, or, if you prefer, cool it and use as a power drink for your houseplants. Those little dabs of leftover vegetables from dinner can be thrown into a gallon freezer bag to be used later in vegetable soup. If you just haven’t the time for simmer­ing or freezing, throw the vegetable scraps on the garden compost pile and the meat scraps to the birds. The extra fat and protein will keep our feathered friends happy and healthy.

After a shopping trip, instead of throwing out all of those plastic bags, take them to a local charity. Our Clothes Cupboard is always in need of bags for their used clothing sales. Line small trash cans, like those in a bathroom, with plastic bags and they will seldom need scrubbing. If you have a fireplace or wood stove, plastic coated juice cartons, nestled between the logs, make great fire starters. Use newspapers for cleaning mirrors, glass tops and windows – you’ll have no streaks or lint to mar the finish.

There are so many more ways in which we can live more simply and frugally. We must conserve and wisely use that which our Father has given us if we are to be His stewards.

by: Debbie Reed

The land produced vegetation:  plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds.  And Elohim saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:12

Long, long ago, when children were still allowed, no, made, to walk home from school, my friends and I saw what looked like a round, green brain lying on the sidewalk.  It was very hard, about the size of a softball and smelled like a lime.  Since computers, cell phones, and iPods hadn’t been invented yet, we did what most children would have done at that time – we kicked it down the sidewalk until we tired of the game and left it to rot on someone’s front yard.  Had I known then that it was a hedgeapple, comes from the Osage Orange tree, and is a natural insecticide…I probably still would have used it for a soccer ball.

Named after a regional Indian tribe, the wood of the Osage Orange tree is hard, heavy, tough, and durable.  A small to medium sized tree, displaying some very formidable thorns, it tolerates poor soils, extreme heat, and strong winds.  It’s no wonder, then, that pioneers in the midwest region of our country planted the trees in rows, or hedges, as a natural fence in which to keep their livestock – hence, the name of the tree’s fruit, “hedgeapple.”   Today we have barbed wire, but wood from the Osage Orange is still used in making strong, sturdy fence posts that are known to outlast the barbed wire attached to them.   Archery bows and furniture are but a few of the many other products made from this prized wood.

It is the fruit of this tree, however, that I search out and gather each year in late September or early October.   With the onset of autumn, spiders, crickets, waterbugs, and a whole host of creepy crawly critters decide to winter over in my house.  They come en masse down the chimney, up the water pipes, under the doors, and through the window screens.  I have found that these “round, green brains,” or hedgeapples, are a natural and effective household insecticide.  I place one in each room and two or three in the basement, out of the reach of children, setting them in coffee filter-lined cereal bowls – they do ooze sticky stuff which is a known skin irritant.   A day or so later finds me vacuuming, sweeping, and wiping up dead bugs everywhere.  The hedgeapples rot away in about a month or two (another reason to use coffee filters), but, by then, we’ve had our first frost and bugs are no longer a problem.   

Of course, there are skeptics who call all of this “folklore,” if they’re being polite, and “baloney,” if they’re not.  I remember one such person, a coach who came from suburbia to work at our rural school.  It had been an especially abundant year, hedgeapple-wise, and I lugged two egg-crates full of them to school to give away.  Teachers, principals, secretaries and janitors all eagerly snapped up as many as they could carry.  Mr. Coach scoffed at our quaint, if not ridiculous, notions, but I convinced him to take a couple home.  A few days later, he called me aside and, with an incredulous whisper, told me that the closet in which he put both hedgeapples was now full of dead bugs!  HeHe.

by: Debbie Reed