FREE

FREE . . . there are several definations on www.merium-webster.com, but here's just a few . . .

1) "having the legal and political rights of a citizen"

2) "not held as a slave or prisoner"

3) "not physically held by something"

As I was sketching this picutre, this thought came to me: "How am I free?"

I paused in my work and considered. Finally, I realized, oh yes! I'm free of sugar addiction! 

Now, this may sound odd to you, dear reader, but let me explain. For 4 years I struggled with always craving somthing sweet. 75% of my day was thinking about food, wether it be something sweet, feeling guilty for the last time I way over-indulged, felt sick, responded to that in a negative way, and then felt guilty all over again. Not to mention despairing and losing all hope of ever changing. It was a vicious cycle, friends, and it consumed my thoughts, my life. I wanted freedom so badly, and I didn't know what that looked like anymore. On top of that, I saw myself as overweight (which I was a little, but  not a ton by any means), and I knew sugar wasn't helping that. I knew if I continued this, my long-term healthy could be at stake. It wasn't that I didn't try to change. Oh I did! I wrote up plans of healthy steps to change, repented, searched my heart. I thought maybe it was all spiritual and there was something blocking my turn-around. I was at the end of rope, quite literally. I was about to accept the fact that perhaps there was no answer and I was unique. I would always be overweight. I would always struggle with sugar addiction. 

Enter Trim Healthy Mama. A friend posted a recipe from the book on facebook. I inquired, did some research and ordered the e-book. I devoured that book in 4 or 5 days. It's not just a recipe book, but truth about our bodies and food that I'd never heard of before. Or maybe I had, but I wasn't listening before...no, much of this was new and made perfect sense. It was about weight loss ulitimately, but about a healthy balanced lifestyle for whole families, not just women. As I read, lie after lie that I had believed ever since I'd gone vegetarian became exposed. I was shocked and overjoyed at once! This was about including all the food groups: dairy (yes, even butter! I hadn't eaten butter in years...or cream...or sour cream), meat, vegetables/fruits, and grains. The key was about what fuels your body is burning at what meal. So it meant knowledge about food. 

I did struggle for awhile as I learned this method of eating. It was so freeing to be eating so many wonderful foods I had denied myself! I still wasn't losing weight, but I pressed on because I began feeling so much better! I hadn't realized I'd been lacking some engergy before. I struggled with sugar a little, but after a couple months, as I decided to fully give myself to the THM style of eating, I noticed I did not crave sugar at all! 

So going back to my thought yesterday, "How am I free?," it dawned on my how it took me a few moments to remember that only four months ago I had been enslaved to sugar. You see, I didn't realize that what my body needed was good fats and more protein, and that these things didn't make me fat as I had believed. In fact, they made my body feel satieted, so I would NOT crave sugar. 

                                                            I AM FREE!

                                                            I AM FREE!

                                                            I AM FREE!

As a citizen of the Kingdom of YHVH, I have a authority (through Yeshua) and the freedom excercise my rights here on earth. That means I have authority to chose whether I will accept truth or not. I have authority whether I will act on what I hear. I have authority to tell my body what to do, even when I don't feel like doing it. I means, I have the political right to be free for "Christ has set us free." I have the right to embrace all his healing and wholeness for my body, soul, and spirit. And believe me there is allot of healing taking place in my way of thinking and habits and physically. 

No longer am I a slave to sugar, a prisoner to guilt and the cylcle of sinful actions (lack of self-control/"too much", bulimia, not accepting myself). No longer am I held captive by thoughts that literraly attacted me almost all day long. In fact, I rarely crave anything anymore! I don't struggle with self-control like I used to! Now, I enjoy food. I look forward to making delicious, nurtirious foods for me and my husband (and someday children). 

I give all the credit to YHVH, who DID answer me. He provided the answer I needed--Trim Healthy Mama. I AM FREE! I am free from guilt and shame, free from addiction, free in my thougts, free to enjoy life, health, and food! I thank YHVH! 

Isn't it amazing how quickly, we as humans can forget the ways GOD has healed us, restored us, delivered, etc? Perhaps, we ought to thank Him more. 

Often times, I have to remind myself to enjoy the journey and that healing does not always signify quick changes. Progress can have it's own pace for everyone or for every situation. And that's ok. 

Halakhah--way of life, our walk

So this last couple weeks I've been musing on this word "Halakhah," the Hebrew word for one's walk or way of life. Everyone DOES have a way of life. A life-style. The way you do life.  If you do not, then you do not exist. My primary question is "What kind of walk is pleasing to YHVH, and what does He give me any clues, any instruction in His Word?" Well, the only answer was to begin searching Scripture. I did a word study on two different Hebrew words that refer to one's walk, path, way of life, or journey. I looked up dozens and dozens of Scripture verses over the course of several days. I looked for patterns and catagorized. I wrote down some of my favorites, that I knew would be quite beneficial to muse upon, pray, or memorize. I especially took note of the Scriptures that were similar or saying the same thing. 

These are the ways we are to walk:  (re-affirmed in several sripture verses, not just one)

~blameless (without fault)

~straightnessY

~perfect (tamyim: complete, whole, entire, sound)

~shalom (wholeness, completeness)

~righteousness (a legal term or political/kingdom/courtroom term meaning to "be right" or "correct"

  "just" or "lawful")

~on guard (watchful, considering our ways)

~properly

~worthy (of the calling by which we've been called -Messiah)

~good works/deeds/actions ("good" in Hebrew beens "beneficial, pleasing, and agreeable)

~in love

~not according to the tradition of men

~holiness/ set-apartness ("Kadosh" means to be set-apart or uncommon)

~with wisdom (note: YHVH says He is wisdom in Proverbs)

~in the fear of YHVH (obedience, reverance, awe, fear)

~in His Name ("name" in Hebrew denotes the character of someone)

~physically and emotionally healed and whole (Yeshua healed all those who were sick. He spent much

  of his time on earth healing people)

~not in the disobedient, stubborn ways of our forefathers (ei learn from there mistakes; do not repeat 

  them!)

~faith (faith/belief/trust without works is dead . . . "we walk by faith and not by sight.")

~in the light

~in Messiah as a new creation with newness of life

~in the Spirit (not the flesh)

~according to the example of Yeshua's walk

side note: YHVH says He walks among us as believers! Cool, huh?

YHVH says He will teach us in the way we are to go:

"Teach me Your way, O YHVH;

 Let me walk in Your truth;

 Unite my heart to fear Your Name."

Psalm 86:11

"You show me the path of life;

 In Your presence is joy to satisfaction;

 At Your right hand are pleasures forever."

Psalm 16:11

YHVH has a highway for us; a main road:

"And there shall be a highway, and a way, and it shall be called 'The Highway of Holiness.'

The unclean do not pass over it, but it is for those who walk in the way, and no fools wander on it."

Isaiah 35:8

"Your way, O Elohim, is in Set-apartness; 

 Who is a great El like Elohim?"

Psalm 77:13

"The way of the lazy one is a like a hedge of thorns,

 But the way of the straight is a highway."

Proverbs 15:19

If you are interested in more Scriptures that give us more clues to the way we are to walk in, dig in!

Isaiah 30:21

Isaiah 48:17

Joshua 1:8

Deuteronomy 11:22,28

Deuteronomy 6

Psalm 32:8

Psalm 139:24 (a prayer)

Psalm 143:8 (a prayer)

Psalm 128:1

Proverbs 3:5-8

Proverbs 3:32

Proverbs 4:25-27

Here is my conclusion of the matter:

We are to walk in the ways of YHVH, found in His Torah/Word. He promises to teach us. One way He teaches is through patterns. YHVH is a God of covenants. Covenants are all about keeping your word and being faithful. If you look at that long list of "ways we are to walk" you may see a pattern. That pattern is consistancy. We are to walk with commitment in the straight way, walking righteosusly and without reproach. YHVH desires that our halkhah be complete and whole in every area of our lives. The center of our walk should be love, found in Messiah. 

I like to think of this image in my mind: We are walking on the path of life, our eyes straight ahead on our Father/His Word, yet His Spirit is in our midst. And He walks by our side holding our hand, leading us the straight, narrow, level, right path. This kind of walk IS holy, uncommon, and set-apart. This kind of walk is pleasing to YHVH. This is walking in obedience, in the fear of YHVH. 

As a result, He promises to teach us the way that is most beneficial, to prosper our halkhah and be in our midst. 

He warns us about walking in the stubborn, disobeident ways of our forefathers. To learn from their example. He warns us that "the ways of man seem right in his own eyes," and that can be deceiving. He cautions us to be on our guard and consider our ways. 

He reminds us that He will give us the fruit of our hands, the reward of our work. Either good or bad, dependant on what we've sown. We reap what we sow. 

If I could sum this up in one sentence I would say:

The way of life pleasing to YHVH is that of consistancy.

Hope you've been blessed, challenged, and encouraged by this!

In parting, let me share with you one of my favorite verses for this season.

"Look carefully, then, how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise, making the best use of the time because the days are wicked. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the LORD is." Ephesians 5:15-17

*SIGH* and the BLOOD MOON

*Sigh*
It feels SOOO relieving to at last be finished with the first draft of my current novel in the workings, "EDEN in the beginning." I don't know about you other writers out there, but for me the most challenging part is the very first draft. Now on to the next three or four drafts! :)



On to a completely different subject. The blood moons. So my husband set our alarm and we hopped out of bed at 2:50 AM to see it. Of course we had to go outside because we couldn't see it from our apartment. There it was . . .
I know talk of the blood moon last night and the upcoming three are all over the media. People speculate and form their opinions. Judment on America? Or something significant will happen in Israel? A warning? Well, for me, I just wonder, "What's really going on YHVH?" What I do know for sure is we need to pay attention. He set in the sky signs for the times and seasons we are in. Make no mistake. Each of the four blood moons appears on two significant biblical feast days for a REASON. Passover and Sukkot. The first Messiah fulfilled. The second He will in the future, whether that be sooner or later. There is no question the blood moons are a clear SIGN to the whole world. Hey, He know how to get universal attention at one time when He wants to! He's trying to get our attention, so what is my response. A heart of t'shuvah (repentance) and listen.

I am curious though . . . what do you think about the blood moons?

LIFT UP YOUR HEAD

Today I want to encourage you. I want to remind you . . .


Yesterday is gone, so stop living there. Live right now, each step a dance of grace and trust. Tomorrow has not yet come; stop worrying about it. Trust YHVH instead. 

You are precious to Abba, and there was nothing found of all that He created that could compare to your value, except for the life of His own Son. You are PRECIOUS. You are VALUED. You are LOVED. 

Your Father looks on you with a sparkle in His eyes simply because He love you. You have found "chen," you have found favor and grace in His sight. Because He loves you. His desire is to see you succeed at whatever you put your hand to do. It brings Him great delight to see you full of joy, to see you happy. It brings Him even greater joy when you fix your attention on Him. Nothing brings Him greater satisfaction than knowing you and you knowing Him.

You are created for greatness. You are born for purpose. You a priest and a king beneath the High Priest and King of all Kings. He has bestowed on you authority to advance HIS kingdom. It's ok. He knows you can't do it without His help. That's the way He likes it and wants it and that's the way it is! 

Never doubt your significance. Never doubt your worth. Expectation are the eyes of the Kingdom. Humility is the ears of the Kingdom. Wisdom is the Teacher. You and I are the hands and feet. We must have eyes to see and ears to hear and a heart to understand. We need to see from His perspective and sit as His feet with an open heart and listen to what He says through His Spirit and HIs Word.

Lift up your head! YHVH is good all the time! He is trustworthy. He approves of you. You bring Him great pleasure. And as you fix your eyes on Him and walk in obedience, advancing His Kingdom remember this: He wants to fellowship with you, partner with you 24-7. He wants you to ENJOY life and have FUN. He wants you to discover wisdom's secrets. This is His gift to mankind.

To my brothers and sisters, be encouraged today and lift up your heads!

-Hadassah

Shalom, shalom to you, my dear readers!

Last weekend, March 15th and 16th we celebrated celebrated Purim, the Feast of Esther. My husband taught 8th grade Sunday school class and brought up some really neat points from this true story.

Megillat Esther, the Scroll of Esther unfolds during the reign of King Xerxes, who conquered Greece. We all know the story---how Queen Vashti refuses to obey the Kings order, she is then stripped of her status as queen, and the search for a new one begins. Every maiden in the kingdom is eligible. Hadassah, also known as Esther, becomes one such candidate. The Bible says she wins favor in the eyes of the King. He chooses her as his new queen.
By the end of the story, we see that Esther was chosen for "such a time as this" to save her people from annihilation.

There are three key truths I'd like to point out:

1)  "hidden face"
      the word "hidden" has the same root word in Hebrew as "Esther." Actually, Megillat Esther, the Scroll of Esther can also be translated as the "Scroll of Hiddenness." You see, Esther's name is Babylonian from the fertility goddess "Ishtar." But Esther is also a Hebrew name meaning "hidden." This is significant because we see that GOD is working in Esther's life behind the scenes. Though His Name is not "seen" in this book, He is definitely in every "scene!" The Rabbi's have a term "the hidden face" and "the revealed face," referring to YHVH either working through circumstances and people and events (behind the scenes) or working right out in the open (such as a dream or miracle.)
How is YHVH working in your life right now?

2) human responsibility
Esther was in the position she was for a reason, but it she still had to DO something. She couldn't sit passively by and do nothing. She had to trust Yah, pray and fast, and then dun, dun, dun....go to the king, her husband, even if though she might be killed for going against protocol!!! What if she'd done nothing? Yes, YHVH would've found someone else who was willing to be used, but she would have perished (Esther 4:14). Remember that belief without actions is dead. Destiny is in the story of every person, but we must rise to meet it.

3) favor/ grace
When the word "favor" is used in Esther, it is actually the Hebrew word for "grace." There are in fact five meanings for grace. I would like to "grace" you with the revelation of these definitions . . .
The root word is "chen" (pretend like you're clearing your throat when you say the "ch"). It means 1) "to sparkle" or "gleam," like a precious metal or gem. Or a sparkle in the eyes invoked by strong emotion. Like when you see a sparkle in your husband's eye :) Your Heavenly Father looks upon you with a sparkle in His eyes expressing His love and compassion for you.  2) It means "favor," also connected to the meaning to sparkle and gleam. 3) It means "to give a gift." I don't know about you, but this reminds me of the blessings of our Father and especially the gift of His Son. 4) It means "free gift," to do something for free, without charge or payment. It's doing something out of love and compassion; not obligation. Hmmm, what was the ultimate free gift? Yeshua Messiah's sacrifice and gift of salvation! Hip hip horray! Halelujah! 6) Last, it means "mercy, compassion." It is closely related to "chen," but actually has a root meaning "womb." Isn't that where mercy and compassion starts? Deep inside. Our Father's womb churns with waters of compassion and gives birth to mercy towards us.



So....with these things in mind, I encourage to engage a little more. Ask the Holy Spirit what more He would have to learn about grace, his hidden face/ revealed face, and responsibility.

Makala Nordick (Hadassah)

An author's penny-thoughts of day to day

Hello, dear readers,
Today is a fresh spring day! As the sun warmed the earth today, it brought fresh life into the city as well. First thing upon getting home from work and after my gallop outside, I threw open the windows in the house. Fresh, cool March air and sounds of the city danced in. I'm a prairie girl, but for some reason the whizz of cars on the street were welcome sounds to my ears. Perhaps twittering little birdies had something to do with that. =) At one point I heard many shuffling boots, chattering and giggles directly below the living room window. Rushing over, I witnessed a group of several young children and their teachers having a jolly time walking in the fresh air after having been cooped up all winter. Seeing them made me smile.

I thank YHVH our LORD for change, for seasons. True, some seem longer and harder to get through than others (such as winter). But without winter, there could be no expectation for spring. I praise YHVH for the metaphoric "winter" seasons of my life, because I know that's what prepares the ground of my heart to receive the spring rains and seeds for growth. I know that He is with me in the midst of my "winters." As I surrender to His lead, I come out stronger than I was before. I enter spring closer in my walk with Him than previously. I belive maturity and real growth comes out of the times of testing and hard times, the "winters" in life.

"Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy..." Jude 1:24

Blameless--not because of what you or I have done, but because of what He's done.

Hey, isn't that what spring and Passover/Easter reminds us of--starting fresh?

LIFE UPDATE

Wow! Has it really been so long since I've made my appearance to my followers? Do forgive me; I've been very slackish of late. Oh dear, I do believe I just invented a new word. =)
As so much has happened in the blank space of this blog, I shall fill you in on that which has been lacking. Here are the BIG events of my life since I last wrote in a nutshell:

I GOT MARRIED! 

EEK!

No really, I did. Jacob Nordick is the most amazing man in the world. The more I know about him--his strengths and weakness; his interests, faults, dreams, everything--the more I love him and want to understand him. We've been married, lets see . . . ten months now (I know still newly wed). Each day I truly love my man more. He tells me what I need to hear, yet always listens when I need an ear. Hey, that rhymed! He's so forgiving and accepting of who I am. Actually, he's my greatest encourager, best friend, and wise counselor. He's got a crazy amazing imagination and often gives me great ideas for writing. I ask him for help if I get stuck, and within minutes I come away with at least a handful of fresh ideas and possibilities. 

So, I think you get the picture. YHVH is SOO great and gave me a precious gift to love, live life with, and impact the world. And yes, I am hopelessly in love, and plan to keep that nurtured for the rest of my days!

Farewell for now, my friends! My next novel in the works "Eden: In the Beginning" is steadily underway. Until, next time . . . farewell!