Shabbat Inspiration with Diane

  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 →

  This week I had a new experience. I can’t say it was on my bucket list. As a matter of fact, it was an activity that was w-a-a-a-y-y-y outside of my comfort zone. Perhaps that is the point.   A month or so ago my favorite radio show Chagigah Radio on Sunday morning was doing a fundraiser. I was so moved by the DJ Hal Slifer’s plea for support that Sid and I donated an amount that allowed us to a “Meet and Greet” with him. This included taking a tour of the station, lunch with Hal, and to be a guest DJ on the program to introduce two songs of our choosing. At the time, in theory, it seemed like it would be fun and a good opportunity to be engaged in my Jewish community.... Read More →

  We often hear claims that God is not real. The positions range from those who may consider He was at some point during the days of our early ancestors but surely not today, to those who do not entertain the possibility at all. Some may feel He is around but doesn’t make Himself known except randomly without design. Others doubt a supernatural possibility of His existence, or if so, not one with good intentions or complete authority given the state of our world.   The variety of views of the existence of God and His abilities is endless. Yet to those of us who know He is real and are in deep relationship with Him, events such as the following are mind blowing.   Last... Read More →

  Tuesday morning I woke up and said to Sid, “I don’t have an encouragement for this week.” We had just arrived at midnight on Saturday night to our home in Maine after being gone from here since mid December since we left for Florida from my sister Wendy’s house in Massachusetts in January.  We actually spend as much if not more time at her house as we do our own! Our recent weeks there had been crammed with work including an exhausting three day trip to NYC to handle client meetings.   For the last couple days since our landing at our own home we were in the throes of finding places for the amazing amount of stuff we had shlepped to Florida, even spices! The days here have... Read More →

  I was blessed to be at the Ruach Israel Shabbaton last weekend, the climax being a very special Mother’s Day breakfast on Sunday when the men in our community treated us literally as queens for the day. I have been at many retreats over my life, and yet, this one was so special. All who attended were bathed in His Love through the interactions of the 80 plus attendees (excluding children I believe) and His Ruach which we felt especially at the services. A heartfelt thanks to Shayna Goldman and Vicky Nichol for their dedicated service to our community to create this opportunity to be together in such a special way.   On the gorgeous hike to a scenic overlook for Torah study... Read More →

  What a day it was!!! Our last day in Florida jam packed with plans. We had been spending the past several days getting ready to leave after being here for almost four months. It’s not just about getting everything out of the house. It’s also trying to figure out what to wear on the long drive home to accommodate the different weather along the way as we stop to visit family and friends, as well as leaving our home ready to be rented in our absence. Lots of work. Lots of pressure.   So we had managed to meet our goal – to be ready to leave after I finished a last dance performance for the residents of a local nursing home. All was on schedule. Yet when Sid picked me up at 4... Read More →

  I had another Shabbat encouragement ready to go when I learned of the terribly sad news of Quintina Martinez’s passing. No matter what age, or circumstance, or even place in one’s faith walk, losing a daughter, as was the case for our dear Gloria, is a heart breaking loss. We are only human.   Below is a Shabbat encouragement that I sent almost three years ago when my adult daughter went missing, presumably taking a Greyhound bus to LA and wanting to start a new life there. In my mind, however, especially since it was the first year of Covid, I have played out all the possible scenarios, including that she may no longer be alive. Loss is loss, especially when it seems... Read More →

  It is our last week in Florida before we work our way back home in just a few days visiting family and friends along the way. I have so enjoyed my jogs on the beach with our Abba, feeling Yeshua’s presence so palpably, hearing from Him, sharing my prayers and thoughts. So of course I should not be that surprised that we finish with a big “Wow”.   On Sunday while jogging I was listening to the Daily Dvar passage from Romans 14 about not judging our brothers’ and sisters’ faith and practices. Each is to be loved without looking down on the other’s walk with God. Rather than imposing our ways on others and creating stumbling blocks, we are reminded that what each of us does for... Read More →

  What a glorious day – 80 degrees, sunny, light breeze. I can share this comfortably now since most of you also are experiencing the beauty of spring. My sister recently visited and while she was here we rediscovered the joy of crocheting together, a craft our grandmother taught us as children.   This morning as I was reaching over my music speaker for my ever-growing-whatever-this-may-turn-out-to-be fuzzy crocheted creation, the song “Turn, Turn, Turn” by the Byrds, just “happened” to be playing. So here I sit in my sundress gazing at the water, drinking hot coffee, about to dive back into my crocheting, a bit of a combo of extremes.   As many of you know,... Read More →

  What a glorious Passover/Easter season this has been, one beautifully showing me the intertwining of our Jewish and Christian cultures, a time of healing and bridge building.   On Sunday morning as I was listening to Chagigah radio, one of the rabbi guests shared his reflections of Passover as the foretaste of the upcoming lushness of spring, as so beautifully represented by the sensuality of the words of the Song of Songs customarily read during these days. Dave Nichol’s reading from these passages last Shabbat was just that, beautiful, bringing us to a spiritually uplifting intimacy reflecting our Abba’s magnificent love of us.   As the Chagigah radio show continued,... Read More →