Shabbat Inspiration with Diane

  Today started like any other day, my thanking HaShem, asking Sid how he slept last night, checking my messages. That’s when life spun out of control.   The night before I had been texting with my daughter-in-law finalizing plans for an upcoming visit but I had fallen asleep before receiving her response. So I checked for it in the morning. Not only was it not there, but apparently my text message app had been hacked! I checked other recent texts I had received from other senders and all were gone, each back to some timeframe a month or so past, except for the troubling text interchange I’m about to describe.   How could this be possible? Being hacked was bad enough but... Read More →

Below is a Shabbat encouragement that I sent in November 2020, the first year of COVID. In a way we have recently experienced trauma at that level, a worldwide reckoning of epic proportions, providing us another opportunity to react, heal, and grow.   I have tweaked parts of that prior writing in light of the upcoming anticipated mutual release of hostages:   I recently saw an interview of Michael J. Fox, of “Back to the Future” and other fame. He was being interviewed about his upcoming fourth memoir entitled No Time Like the Future. As you may know, he has had Parkinson’s Disease for the past 30 years and a couple years ago had surgery to remove a tumor from his spine. After... Read More →

  This morning I decided I should try to practice some of my dance kickboxing routines that I will be teaching in my class when we go to Florida in January. It’s a fun workout anyway and given the cold temperatures, doing the class provides a great opportunity for a good cardio workout for me indoors. Little did I know HaShem had an even greater agenda. . .   I was practicing in front of a mirror since when I teach I will be facing my class so it’s good practice to teach in reverse. Also, the mirror allows me to analyze my moves to make sure they are good form and clear to follow.   At one point Meghan Trainor’s “Me Too” started to play. Great song. Good bass beat. Fun... Read More →

  This week Sid and I returned home to Maine after an extended time at my sister’s house in Westford, MA.  It is a blessing beyond words to be there!! Yet we had been there since before Rosh Hashanah (!) for a variety of reasons that were challenging, mostly car issues, but the result was a true blessing. We were able to spend so much time with family, less travel to be at Ruach each week, and time to be off of my usual routines. It almost felt like a mini vacation.   That last result was a blessing, and I won’t say also a curse, but it did cause me to fall behind in some ways so that mounting tasks awaited me upon my return home. Those things that you can “put off”, when... Read More →

About six months ago, I shared this story about a couple who are friends with us when we are in Florida:   “In the last couple years we’ve begun to know another Jewish couple who live closeby. We’ve had lovely Shabbat dinners together, enjoyed movies, play regular music jams together, the usual social stuff, never really dealing into the specificities of our Jewish faiths, just having exchanged stories of our similar Jewish backgrounds as the topic has come up. So I was a bit surprised when my friend at a dinner dance started talking to me about Messianic Judaism. And not in a good way. She was sharing the experiences she had had that day with a Messianic couple (who turned out to... Read More →

  Last week we (chicken) noodled Aviva Joiner’s story of their chicken named “Joy” who was lost one day and then amazingly found alive the next morning under a bucket. This simple tale was the inspiration for many thoughts of the hidden joys in our lives and their miraculous revelation when we see God’s Hand in even the seemingly smallest of critters and instances.   As I was browsing the news this week ironically I ran across another chicken oriented tale. The article gave the history of how the KFC slogan “It’s finger lickin’ good” was first created, (sorry, Joy). Harland Sanders, the founder of KFC, originally made his special chicken for travelers locally before becoming... Read More →

  Last Shabbat at Oneg Aviva Joiner shared the following story with those blessed to be at her table:   “Last week, we let all of our chickens out to free range. When we went outside to bring them back to the coop for the night we noticed one was missing, a small white chick named Joy. We searched the yard and surrounding woods with a flashlight, but saw no sign of her. Finally we made our way back inside hoping, but without much expectation, that she would show up in the morning. The next day we hurried outside to check, and there was still no sign of her. We were dejected and sad that our “Joy” was lost. Later that day, we were outside by the chicken coop and... Read More →

Has there been a day, or night, this week that our thoughts have not dwelt on the situation in Israel and Gaza? What will tomorrow bring as the hatred pours outward across the globe into our individual communities? Where can anyone be safe, especially we Jews?   Life has its risks but there is no doubt these are times needing heightened awareness. Yet it’s hard to even think of one’s own safety when the facts are unfolding in real time of the deaths of so many innocents, and the foreseeable deaths and destruction that are imminent.   So much cruelty is afoot, it’s hard to comprehend. So many innocent lives lost, children, babies. It’s impossible to not have the feelings we do... Read More →

Given the horror in Israel, I couldn’t wait until Thursday evening to share some thoughts and feelings. I hope they are helpful.   I, like many of you, awoke Shabbat morning to the terrifying headlines of war in Israel. It was an unprecedented surprise attack by Hamas and the foreseeable future in that area will bring so much loss in all ways imaginable. I was having trouble personally dealing with the information and came to services not feeling the joy that would normally accompany Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah.   Yet when surrounded by community, and our sanctuary was filled as it was on Rosh Hashanah, I began to feel God’s Presence. We even had amazing dance with men,... Read More →

  Last week I shared our experiences at Ruach Israel of first day Rosh Hashanah services as a springboard to recognizing the uncountable ways God is in our lives. As if to punctuate the point, our Yom Kippur services were a truly larger than life example of that reality, not only in the ways you might think . . .   For once, I was not intricately involved behind the scenes in the planning. Having been so for countless years in the past, I do know that preparation and implementation of our High Holy Days services take hours. There are so many moving parts I won’t even try to list them. For these services, those involved spend extra hours. There are unique items to prepare, such... Read More →

  Hard to believe we can noodle on Spotify song selections for three weeks straight, but . . .   How is it that the recent selections under the search on Spotify for Messianic Jewish music now include Paul Wilbur songs as well as those of Israeli mainstream musical groups and singers? Is there really someone so knowledgeable about theology that he or she has put together that mainstream, presumably Modern Orthodox, Israeli musicians and we Messianic Jews all have the same belief in the coming of the Messiah, the distinction being whether He has come before in the person of Yeshua? Is there a bot that’s doing the selecting or some other artificial intelligence? Whatever or... Read More →

  One of the pitfalls of travel is the difficulty in maintaining my regular jog time, i.e. my special time with God. Our home in Maine is conducive to these times offering multiple picturesque options to immerse in His grandeur. This past week has been exceptionally a blessing with overnight rains making each day comfortably cool to exert oneself outdoors.   This morning’s time with Him brought together some thoughts from last week, made anew by the reminder once again of His Presence in our meditations, thoughts, prayers, and conversations with Him. Last week I shared with you how I had for the first time in years felt inspired to change the music I listen to while jogging. I... Read More →

  Today’s jog brought a new view of a neighborhood that I’ve seen hundreds of times, and yet, never “seen”. At one place on the route to my right is a pristine forest. Its beauty is in its silent majesty, vernal ponds, streaming sunlight through shaded overhanging branches, shalom. To my left, directly across from this oasis of His majesty is a deserted industrial area.   As I approached this area this morning I had just finished listening to the Daily D’var, in particular the portions from Revelation describing the end times and the horror that awaits those who have rejected God. I was also listening to some new Messianic Jewish music.   Until this morning I had been... Read More →

Last week I shared with you our experience in Alaska, so breathtakingly beautiful, and yet also my feeling that something was missing. As I was away from my spiritual routines, so too, I did not feel God’s Presence as I otherwise so often do.   One of my readers reminded me that the magnificent grandeur of the Alaskan landscape, its glaciers incomprehensible in size, the pristine rain forests, amazing wildlife, were indeed visual reminders of God’s Presence. Even their description in my writing made her feel the presence of God. This fact is so true, and for me, His Presence in nature is one of the key ways I typically connect with our Creator. So what was going on . . . ?  ... Read More →

  As most of you who know me know, I love to live life fully. Sid teases me that my motto is “Why live one life when you can live two?” Actually it often feels like many more than that, and it is by choice. I am blessed to be part of so many worthy initiatives and God-centered relationships.   Somehow with such a busy life I still manage to have regular prayer and time with God whether while jogging, observing nature, when reading the siddur or listening to the written Word. Despite my busyness I’ve successfully kept on the Daily D’var schedule which I find incredibly enriching in so many ways. The times of the day I listen to the Bible readings may vary due to my schedule,... Read More →

  As many of you know, Sid and I live in Maine. Our home is situated on a cove at the bottom of Casco Bay so we have a lovely view of water, both the ocean and the river that empties into the ocean at their juncture near our home. Since our area is completely rural, a small fishing village, we do not have underground utilities. So in addition to the beautiful water view we also see power lines, especially noticeable from our second floor windows. There is even one of the original fishing shanties across from us and it looks just like that, a small home in need of repair.   To me, I’ve always loved all of this, its authenticity, realness, closeness to nature. I see the ocean’s... Read More →

  This week I had the opportunity to see the movie “Barbie”. I actually have a special attachment to the Barbie doll since I was just the right age to play with dolls when the original Barbie was introduced in 1959. I still have my original Barbie from that year, complete with many of her early clothes and accessories, and even the first Barbie Dream House made of cardboard, including cardboard furniture and a cardboard framed picture of Ken, Barbie’s boyfriend! When I shared this information with my granddaughter recently she seemed a little disappointed that the lights don’t go on when you open the door, a humorous reminder of how our personal filters shape our days. 😊   The... Read More →

  Recently, my sister redecorated and no longer needed some furniture. Sid and I have a room at her house so I claimed one of the discarded chairs to try in our space. At first it looked really out of place. Put by the door as you walk in, it overwhelmed the room. It was way too big. After moving a few pieces here and there, however, we placed it in the corner that actually is a focal point of the room. From there it was almost like it was another piece of furniture. It no longer looked huge, but rather, fit in beautifully, for it is a beautiful piece. It actually brings the whole room together and is the most amazing furniture there.   Not only did it become the most... Read More →

  Sid and I truly enjoyed life as Jewish gypsies in the Pugabego n/k/a Mitzvah Mobile for the month of July, culminating in the UMJC conference in Columbus, Ohio, my old stomping ground. Beth Messiah was my home during my first years as a new believer in Yeshua, now over 20 years ago. It was such a blessing to be back after decades to such an incredibly uplifting experience hosted so beautifully by this very special congregation.   It’s always wonderful to see acquaintances we have come to know as most of us go annually to this conference. There were also special highlights this year, such as David Stern’s widow Martha’s pictorial presentation on David’s life in memory of his... Read More →

  This year’s Camp Or L’Dor, our 15th year (!), did not disappoint. Rabbi Nathan and Raina’s incredible work before camp even started, not to mention once there, Mary’s medical support, Cheryl’s amazing Challah and child care, Ken’s driving the trailer, Sid’s multi shleps during camp for supplies and airport runs, Jon’s overall help with whatever was needed, and all those who worked behind the scenes made camp great! It offered the spectrum of amazing highs and the usual camp drama that especially Rabbi Nathan and I are called to handle. First, the highs.   Where do I start? On my first prayer walk this year before the campers arrived, the word “transformation” was “heard”. It... Read More →

It has been an exceptionally busy week, not just volunteering at camp, but also, attending a work meeting in NYC while the campers were on their overnite camping trip for three days. As a result I did not have time to write a Shabbat encouragement. Instead, below is one I wrote several years ago, its message still timely:     Quiet is good. There are times, actually many times, that I thoroughly enjoy silence. Or perhaps the rhythmic tap of light rain on the roof can add to the feeling. Add a puppy or two and a fire in the fireplace. . . No doubt most if not all of my creative times come in these moments. Even when I’ve been previously inspired by Messianic Jewish music while... Read More →

How can it be that this is the 15th session of Camp Or L’Dor? The concept of a Messianic Jewish teen camp with a challenging outdoor adventure component was just a dream to Sid until Rabbi Nathan came to Ruach those many years ago. The two of them joined forces, with a couple wives in tow, and here we are starting another year this session again in the Poconos Mountains.   I’m writing this as I wait to greet this year’s campers as they are being dropped of by their parents. I don’t know what the next 12 days will bring, but I do know that Hashem’s Hand will be in it. I know this not just because of His making it clear to me earlier today, but for the knowledge of how He has... Read More →

  This past week Sid and I were blessed to have our 4 year old granddaughter from Denver stay with us while my son and daughter-in-law vacationed at Bar Harbor and visited spots along the Maine coastline. It’s purely magical to see the world through the eyes of a child, although this one has the maturity of at least a ten year old! She handled disappointments better than many adults I know, let alone her insights and vocabulary! Okay, enough bobbe bragging. . .   One day we had thought about taking her to see the new Little Mermaid movie. She had already seen the first one with her parents. The new one is not animated, but rather, is live action, so could be a bit more... Read More →

  The TV show “Jeopardy” is known for having contestants who are exceptionally smart. The show’s questions range from less hard to harder in different categories, the choice of question chosen by the players. Recently on that show there was a surprising missed answer.   The clue was “Matthew 6:9 says, “Our Father, which art in Heaven, [THIS] be Thy name.” (Complete the blank). None of the contestants knew the answer. None. Not one of those with high intellect who typically answers questions that the viewers cannot answer could fill in this blank.   How is this possible???? As the many comments online reflected, even a four-year-old knows that answer!!!   There was a... Read More →

Recently we marveled together at this blessed life we have been given, bathing our thoughts in gratitude, feeling His Love of us. Some additional inspirations later sprang from that for us to noodle further together.   Here is a paragraph from that week’s Shabbat encouragement about gratitude:   “The list [to be grateful for] is truly endless – waking up each morning, being alive each day, being able to get out of bed, or if not, being in bed in a comfortable home, having enough food, having a phone to connect with others, perhaps having a car if so blessed, and on and on and on. What about the truly amazing list – being able to read or listen to the Daily D’var, our daily... Read More →