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Daughters of Yah- Victoria 

7/23/2013

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Thank you so much Victoria for your challenging post. I really like Victoria's challenge because it captures our vision for these 'Daughter of Yah' articles. We are all different and called to different missions. Do you see how all these women are different? And can you also see how they are all the same? When we all follow the same person (Yeshua) we will look somewhat alike but even with these similarities we are all diverse individuals. Kelsey writes and lives at home, McKenzie is pursuing a career in special education, Victoria coordinates a magazine for young ladies called Purely Devoted. Don't copy these ladies as they live their specific calling but follow them as they follow Christ.
Shalom to the readers of “Every Day Set-Apart”! I am so privileged to have this opportunity to share with you all- -  thank you, Bethany, for inviting me here! I pray that as you all read on, you would become inspired and encouraged in your own personal walk with YHVH. So, grab your cup of tea (I have mine!) and let’s begin:

A Little About Me: I’m from the beautiful Midwest (love all four seasons!) and I have five siblings, three of which are married. I have eleven nieces and nephews who I love to pieces, and who are always keeping us on our toes! I’m a homeschool graduate, daughter to a preacher, and sister to a cancer patient in remission (Halleluyah!). I’m a guitarist, artist, seamstress, photographer, writer, and creative designer. I love traveling, and was blessed to meet the young ladies behind “Every Day Set-Apart” this spring when my family traveled to Tennessee for “United in Worship 2013.”

Every day is an adventure for me, but this past year the Father has brought my family through many storms. We’ve gone through cancer, chemo, surgeries, and deaths of loved ones, amidst much more.  However, it’s in those times that your faith becomes stronger- you learn to rely on God alone for strength and trust that He will get you through. We serve an ever-faithful God! He has taught me so much through this hard season, and I will always be grateful for that. Remember that He does work all things together for your good (Romans 8:28). Even though you cannot see the beauty through the pain, He will cause life to spring forth from the ashes (Isaiah 61:3)!

A Little About Our Journey: I grew up in a very loving family with parents who were constantly evaluating their walk with the Lord. They were always learning, always growing, always eager to dive deeper. We were constantly “church hopping” as we discovered different truths and shed man-made doctrines- the joke in our family is that we’ve never stayed anywhere more than four years. By the Father’s grace and my parents’ relentless desire for truth, He led us out of the church system and opened our eyes to the Truths in His word when I was about nine years old. We stepped out in faith by beginning to keep the Sabbath on the seventh day- Saturday. As they say, “The rest is history!” We’ve been keeping YHVH's commandments ever since, following in the steps of Yeshua, and my family now leads our own small congregation. We’re so blessed to fellowship with these families that the Father has placed in our path!

A Little About The Vision: Having your family involved in ministry is a big responsibility. As a daughter of a preacher, people watch me to see if I represent my father’s vision and beliefs. If they come to a negative conclusion about me, they will likewise have a negative view of my father. I must set the bar high for myself and strive for a standard above reproach- to truly be set-apart in all that I say and do. It’s not easy, and yes I slip and fall, but by YHVH’s grace He is leading me along a path of holiness. Notice I did not say a “path of perfection”- I am far from perfect. I’m a broken human with a sinful nature and every day I must wake up choosing to overcome it, and let YHVH have His perfect way in me.

In the same way that I choose to represent my earthly father, we all must choose to represent our Heavenly Father. I encourage you all to examine your own lives and hearts- does what you say, do, think, act, and wear bring glory or shame to YHVH? When people see you, will they form a positive or negative conclusion about the Mighty Elohim who we have the honor of serving? In addition to furthering your Heavenly Father’s vision, are you furthering your earthly father’s? As daughters in our father’s house, we play such a vital role- let us not take it for granted!

A Little About The Mission: As YHVH led my family to start our home group, He also began to open my eyes to see a great need. I began to see young ladies in the community who were unenthusiastic about their faith, immodest in actions and attire, and who only seemed to be following Torah because it was what their parents did. The Father placed a burden on my heart to reach out to these young women, and ever since then, ministering to the young women around me has been (and is!) a huge part of my life. Over the years, it has been in different ways and forms, but it has always been something that I try to make a priority in my life. I published a magazine for about 5 years to encourage these girls in the Messianic/Hebraic community, and I also led a discipleship group from materials I had written. I’ve had young ladies over for craft or baking projects, and as we work together the Father always presents opportunities to talk of Him (a side note: I’ve found that when girls are busy with their hands, they’re more likely to open up and share rather than just sitting down over a cup of coffee). This weekend, I’m hosting a 3-day girls discipleship internship- as well as a modest clothing swap at its conclusion for the rest of the girls in my community (prayer would be very much appreciated- may the Father be glorified!). I’m always asking YHVH for direction and to bring the opportunities- and, as I said before, He is faithful!

A (Not So) Little Challenge: It’s easy to “copy” others and think that in order to be a Godly daughter of Yah, we must be just like “so-and-so”. However, I pray that as you read these “Daughters of Yah” articles, you would be encouraged that we’re all unique. What binds us together is that we are all young women who are earnestly seeking after YHVH with all our hearts, and we’re willing to do whatever He has asked us to. Our hearts are the same, our missions are different. Don’t feel like you have to conform to be like any one of the young ladies here. You are you- beautiful and with a special mission from the Father that only you can accomplish. Ask Him to reveal it to you, to show you where your place is in furthering His Kingdom! I would like to challenge you young ladies to relentlessly pursue YHVH with all that you are, holding nothing back. Pursue Him until He becomes your greatest passion, your deepest love, your most precious treasure. Once you’ve come to this place, you will find that He will open doors and reveal to you great and unsearchable things that you mind has not been able to comprehend before (Jeremiah 33:3). As you remain firmly fixed in the center of His will, He will provide ways to serve and bless those around you if your eyes are focused on Him and willing to do all that He asks.

May the Father bless you as we all journey on this path to become set-apart Daughters of Yah!

Victoria
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Count Your Blessings

6/14/2013

2 Comments

 
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Sometimes things happen in life- maybe a death, or hard day,  and we forget to be thankful and count our blessings.

There are so many blessings that if you started to count them it would take a long time to end!  

It's amazing how much we really take for granted, such as flushing toilets, bags to carry things in, or that we are able to read and write!

If we couldn't read you wouldn't be reading this right now and I wouldn't be able to write this. Here's a great blessing, have you ever thought about your great, great, great, great grand parents?
Well just think if they didn't get married... you wouldn't be here (not to mention your parents and grandparents...).

Have you ever thought about what it would be like to not have any arms? If you have broken your arm before, you don't
know how much you use your arm and how helpful it is to you until you can't use it.

Just think how wonderful it is to have siblings (if you do) some people are the only child in the house.
I am glad to have brothers and sisters to talk and play with all the time.

Remember YHWH is in control and there are blessings when we obey Him.

Blessings, Blessings, Blessings and more BLESSINGS! Everywhere I turn my head there's a blessing YHWH has
given me!

Things I am blessed with:
-To know Yahweh
-To have His word
-My family
-My friends
-Food and Shelter
-Faith, hope and Love

Not for any instant is this all my blessings. Blessings can also come in an unseen way, maybe you're' running late for going to a party of some sort, but you were late for a reason. Your driving to the party and you see a car accident that you could have been in if you weren't late. Then your thankful that somebody had to use the restroom, or forgot there phone or wallet and made you late.

So if your feeling down today then just remember, count your blessings!
                                        
                                                               Blessings to all,
                                                                           Lydia
  

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A Hope Chest Filled With Love

2/19/2013

1 Comment

 
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A hope chest is something filled with love. Where your whole family can put
something in. Your brothers can put in an invention, your sisters
something they sewed, your mom and dad could  add billion special  things.
If I get married when I grow up then I hope to use the things in my hope chest.
If not they will be very special memories and still be useful.

Some traditional items found in a hope chest between 1600-1900 A.D might be:

A sewing basket

needles, needlecase or cushion, thread, yarn, kitting needles, crochet hooks,
crochet or knitting patterns, quilt and quilting patterns, clothing patterns, woven
fabrics, scissors, buttons, snaps or other fastenings, pins, needlework hoops,
a sewing bird, emery bag, bod kin, bees wax, measuring tape or yard-stik, etc.

Weaving supplies

 Cards for cleaning and fluffing wool, drop spindle or spining wheel, table loom or barn loom, pattern drafts for the loom, dried flowers for dying yarn or woven fabrics and other weaving items and supplies.

Seeds

Herb, vegetable and flower seeds, plant cuttings, bulbs and seedling trees.

The List Goes On.......................

I have a hope chest, (well it's just a plastic tub but I use it as a hope chest).
I keep things in it that I can use for my house and family when I grow up, or things
that remind me of special memories. Like: Gifts from loved ones, my old journals, a burp cloth Bethany made for me, books, old stuffed animals, a baby outfit, old Bibles from when I was really young, pot holders, cards and letters and ceramic dolls my grandma made.

Things suggested for putting in a hope chest: Quilts, silverware, dish sets, table cloths, baby outfits,
candles, aprons, books, favorite cooking recipes, scrap books, old cards and letters, old pictures, wash cloths,
things to decorate your house, toys, baby blankets, pictures you drew, clothes you've made, special accessories,
letters you receive or you write to yourself, and filled journals.

I started my hope chest when I saw Bethany's, I thought it was so awesome and loved the idea.
Every once in a while Bethany and I get out our "hope chests" and look at them together.
A hope chest is designed to be filled with love, it's not the things you put in it or how expensive they are, it's the
time, effort, love and kindness.

“For wisdom is better than rubies, And all delights are not comparable to her.”
Proverbs 8:11 
 

Every wise woman buildeth her house; But the foolish plucketh it down with her own hands.
Proverbs 14:1


Some of the things I used in this post came from the book "The Hope Chest" by Rebekah Wilson.


                                                                                         With much love and care,
                                                                                                          Lydia
                                                                                (here's a song I like, maybe you'll enjoy it too!)

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Fruits of The Spirit Part 2

1/27/2013

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Peace: "And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace;
thou shalt be buried in a good old age."
Genesis 15:15

"I lie down in peace altogether, and sleep; For You alone, O LORD,
make me well in safety." Psalm 4:8

Here is Webster's definition of Peace:

1. In a general sense, a state of quiet or tranquility;
freedom from disturbance or agitation; applicable to society, to individuals, or
to the temper of the mind.

2. Heavenly rest; the happiness of heaven.

3.To be at peace, to be reconciled; to live in harmony.

I though it would be good to have some suggestions on how you can have peace:

1. Have worshipful music playing throughout your house
2. Pray
3. Get along with your siblings
4. Smile even when you're unhappy (it makes me happy)
5. Read God's word (and obey it)
6. Help those who are in need
7. Think of others first

This is one of my favorite songs, it helps me to have peace.
Patience:
"And that in the good ground, these are such as in an honest and good
heart, having heard the word, hold it fast, and bring forth fruit with
patience
." Luke 8:15

"Patience is better than power, and controlling one’s
temper, than capturing a city."
Proverbs 16:32

Here is Webster's definition of Patience:

1. A calm temper which bears evils without murmuring or
discontent.

2. The act or quality of waiting long for justice or expected
good without discontent.

3. Perseverance; constancy in labor or exertion.

4. The quality of bearing offenses and injuries without anger
or revenge.

Sometimes it's hard to be patient, it's hard to find patient people in this un-patient world.
Patience is a gift you're not born with, you have to earn it.
Patience can be waiting for the bathroom when your the sixth in line.
Patience can be waiting for an exciting event to arrive.
Patience can be waiting for someone to help you with your school.
Patience can be waiting for morning to come.

Some idea's to help you be patient;

1. Pray
2. Read God's word (and obey it)
3. Tape bible verses everywhere that remind you to be patient
4. Distract yourself when someone's annoying you
5. If your waiting for something, keep yourself busy with other things


                                                         Be patient and have peace,
                                                                                      Lydia
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Sew Hebrew

9/3/2012

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Announcing the opening of our online store- Sew Hebrew!
Feel free to check it out. As of this post we have two bags and a set of Burp Cloths listed in the shop.

Our goal is for everything we sell to have a Herbaic idea woven into it.

Be sure to check back occasionally to see if there's anything new.

Here is a link to the site: http://sewhebrew.weebly.com/

                                                                                                                                 Shalom!
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Stay-at-Home Daughter

8/22/2012

4 Comments

 

Stay-at-Home Daughter?

Disclaimer! I do not condemn or judge anyone who chooses to go to college or pursue a career. 
I understand that everyone has their own opinions and is in different circumstances. I am sorry
if this article comes across as rude or condemning- I assure you that is not my intention. 



Stay-at-home daughterhood
 

What it isn’t 

There are as many misconceptions and misunderstandings
about stay-at-home Daughterhood as there are about homeschooling and
stay-at-home moms. Here I will list a few of the possible misunderstandings
about Stay-at-home daughters (Also called Daughters at home).

 Controlling/abusive parents 
Just like homeschoolers, DAH (Daughters at home) may be viewed as victims
of abusive or controlling parents. While this may be true in some instances but
 in my case I have chosen to be a DAH because that is what makes the most sense to me. 

I have no plan 
I can imagine that upon hearing I am willingly staying at home after high school graduation,
some readers may assume I have no plan to further my education. Or possibly think I am going to
twaddle away the days dreaming of my prince charming. Again, this would be another false assumption to make. 

Filling my days with productive activities does take a little more creativity than if I took classes arranged
by someone else but it also makes me more flexible. Being more flexible gives me a great
advantage in helping my family. 


What it is 

Busy as a bee (or a Proverbs 31 woman in training)

I have recently graduated and already I see multiple areas that need a great deal of improving.
Cooking, quilting, sewing, gardening, and cleaning (and more)! But I love being at home where
my talents and skills are put to the best use.

What better place to practice love, joy, peace than in a busy, family atmosphere?
Living with 5 siblings is the perfect place to practice patience and kindness.
Goodness and faithfulness are exercised in any household task. Gentleness and
self-control take place when you cut your brothers hair :) .
All the fruits of the spirit are best developed in the home.

 Higher education 
Higher education is higher education whether you pursue it at a college campus, online or training at home.
Shouldn’t I go through some sort of college course just in case? You may ask; Well, I could.
But why spend the money and time learning things that don’t apply to my field of interest (Daughterhood and Motherhood)?
Yes, I could learn a few skills that would be useful to me but so could a career pursuant lady from training at home. 
 
What if I don’t get married? Then I don’t get married. It’s not my goal anyway.
My main goal is to please my Lord and Savior and if I can best do it by staying home then stay home I will! 

Real life tells us most women do get married. Why prepare to live my life single when most women get married?
Wouldn’t it make more sense to prepare to be married and trust Yahweh to work it out which ever direction He leads?

A few other potential objections to being a Daughter-at-home

Pursue your DREAMS! 
To help me get my point across I am going to make up a character. Let’s call her Nan.

Nan is a 30 something woman who has recently come out of the bondage of home life.
She has broken free from her role as wife and mother for the nobler title of  ‘Career woman’.
 Nan is going to dialogue with me about what society thinks of DAH (Daughters-at-home).

Nan: Why waste your time at home when you can be pursuing your dreams!
Times are changing and you are no longer a slave to the home and family. 


Me: If I should really pursue my dreams as you say, Nan, then I believe that I already am! My
dreams are nothing but following God’s will for my life. And His will for my life right now is
to be a Daughter-at-home. Being a DAH prepares me for what I hope to be some day. A stay-at-home mommy :)
 

Nan: When I first got married I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom so that I could be home with my children.
 But trust me… after 3 years of crying babies and poopy diapers I had enough. Thankfully,
 I had the sense to go to college before I married and getting a job wasn’t too difficult.
 Go to school and get your degree so that when you get married and have kids you won’t have to
go to school later on to get your job.


 Me: Thank you for you suggestions Nan but the book of Titus says that a woman is to be busy at home.
 I know that it wouldn’t always be easy taking care of crying babies and changing poopy diapers
 but that’s not a reason for me to give up and leave my children. Sometimes life is hard and that goes for career women too. 
 

Nan: Don’t you see how selfish you are being- society needs more women in the workplace! 
  
Me: Actually Nan, I know you’re just trying to help, but we really need more daughters-at-home.
We have the time and skills to visit the elderly, the time and ability to mentor younger girls and
encouraging them in their walk with Yahweh. Society needs the single woman to focus on the things of God
and not on the things of the world! What society needs is daughters with a willingness to serve busy mothers and
their own families. 

This is why talking to people about my choice can be somewhat of a sticky situation.
 It’s very hard not to come across as rude or judgmental. For the most part people have been very nice
about my decision (at least on the outside!) but I have heard and read about girls who have made the same
 choice and have faced hearty criticism and snarky replies. 

Here are some examples of usual responses I get:

Man: So, when do you graduate?
Me: I have already graduated.
Man: Oh, where are you going to college?
Me: Actually… I have made the unpopular choice of staying home. 
Man: Oh, really?
Me: Yes, and I am training at home to be what I really want to be
Man: What is that? (eyebrows raised)
Me: A stay-at- home wife and mother 
Man: That is WONDERFUL! My wife was a stay-at-home mom and it was awesome! I think that’s just awesome! 

I have had quite a few responses like that from married men asking me where I am going
to college ( Men like; the father of a kid I babysat for a while, my friend’s dad, my mom’s chiropractor, the doctor who
pulled my wisdom teeth out…etc.) 

Women usually have a slightly different
response…

Here is the usual beginning of the conversation followed by a few responses I have gotten.

Woman: Where are you going to college?
Me: Actually, I am staying at home to prepare to be a stay-at-home mom 

Woman 1: Oh (in a cold voice)
Me: Yep, that’s what I’m doing heheh (nervous laugh because I know she’s a career woman)
Woman 1: well, we all have our own thing…Got to follow our own hearts…

Woman 2: Oh…
Me: I’ve always wanted to be a wife and mother…
Woman 2: Well you should at least take some classes on psychology. I did that and it really helped me raise my kids.
Me: Really?
Woman 2: Yep, my mom told me I should and it really helped

Woman 3: WHAT! You aren’t engaged are you?
Me: No. God will bring the right one at the right time 
Woman 3: phew! You don’t want to get married that young, honey.  
Another woman in the room: I was gonna say- don’t rush into anything

Many women offer me a suggestion or two while the men are usually very enthusiastic and commend me for my choice.

When I first chose to be a stay-at-home daughter I didn’t know how people were going to react!
I knew that when my older sister made the choice she had to face lectures and scorn from some people.
I was pleasantly surprised by the reactions of most people. But I also have not had to voice my choice to an out spoken feminist. 

Being a stay-at-home daughter is my choice and I must make the choice based on my undertanding
of Scripture and God's will for my life.
 
So what do you think? What lifestyle do you believe the bible supports for women? 

Serious question to think about: What defines your dreams and goals? God’s word or The World?

Blessings,

Bethany

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Eager Hands

7/15/2012

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Proverbs 31:13 “She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.”

It was about 6:30 in the morning and I was pretty far into my quiet time when I came across this verse. It was mainly the second part of the verse that had caught my attention. Of course we know that the Proverbs 31 woman works but she sets about her work with eager hands.

The word eager here comes from the Hebrew word; Chafets (Strongs H2656) it can also mean; purpose, desire, willingly, and pleasant.

She works with purpose and desire!

Another example of Chafets is in Psalm 1:2. The blessed man of Psalm 1 delights in the law of Yahweh.

He is eager and desires the law of Yahweh.

Our hands should be as eager for our daily work as they are for the works of His commandments.

So many times I have failed to handle my daily tasks. So many days I have set about my work with
unenthusiastic, half-hearted hands. My hands have to be corrected in their ways once again because 
Proverbs 31:13 brings to mind a handful of other verses.... 

 
Ecclesiastes 9:10
“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with
all your might…”

Colossians 3:23 “Slaves
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your
heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters” 
 
Deuteronomy 6:5
“And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine
heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”

1 Corinthians 10:31 “So
whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 
 
When we love God and want to please Him our work should reflect just that. Also having an eternal perspective 
makes the everyday tasks more enjoyable. Knowing we are to do everything as unto the LORD 
should keep us
from doing things with a selfish or indolent attitude.

Digging a little deeper on the work aspect brings a few more verses to view. All of these verses are from the book of Proverbs. Can you think of any more?  

Proverbs 12:11 “Those who work their land will have abundant food,
but those who chase fantasies have no sense”

Proverbs 12:14 “From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things,
and the work of their hands brings them reward.”

Proverbs 20:11 “Even a child is known by his actions by whether his conduct is pure and right.”

Proverbs 20:13 “Do not love sleep or you will grow poor;
stay awake and you will have food to spare.”

Proverbs 21:25-26 "The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him,
because his hands refuse to work. All day long he craves for more,
but the righteous give without sparing.”

And finally the reward of our Proverbs 31 woman's well done work?

Proverbs 31:31 “Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”

Until next time,

Bethany


 H2656
חפץ
chêphets khay'-fets

From H2654; pleasure; hence (abstractly) desire; concretely
a valuable thing; hence (by extension) a matter (as something in mind):
- acceptable, delight (-some), desire, things desired, matter, pleasant
(-ure), purpose, willingly.

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