Parsha Ki Tisa

gold-dustParsha Ki Tisa כִּי תִשָּׂא “When you lift up”

Torah portion: Shemot/Exodus 30:11-34:35
Haphtarah (concluding portion): 1 Kings 18:1-39
Brit Chadasha (New Testament): 2 Corinthians 3:1-18

Did you know: Ki Tisa is the 9th parsha [portion] of sefer [scroll of/book of] Shemot?

Art: In Exodus/Shemot 31:1-5, we read about Oholiab and Bezalel. They were filled with the Ruach Elohim (Spirit of God) and were able to make lots of neat things! This week, the sky’s the limit for art projects but in my family, we are going to focus on wood burning. We picked up a wood burning tool at JoAnn Fabrics for $12.99 (and it was even cheaper after our 40% off coupon). At a local dollar store they sell plain, unfinished wall plaques so each of my children will receive one. Next, they will lightly sketch out a scripture verse in English (or Hebrew) on the plaque and use the wood burning tool to carefully burn the phrase into the wood. We’ll finish ours off with some dark wood stain before displaying them over doorways throughout the house.

Quick Science: What is bronze? It is a copper alloy. An alloy is a metal made up of a combination of metals. Bronze is copper with up to 1/3 tin mixed in. Why was the basin made of bronze? (Exodus/Shemot 30:17-21) And why were the priests commanded to wash their hands and feet in it? You may be surprised to know that bronze has naturally antibacterial and antibiotic properties! The priests were working with blood, disease, and dead animals quite a bit. How awesome is יְהֹוָה to, in all His merciful wisdom, command us in such a thoughtful and loving way? Read more here

Health Minute: After the golden calf incident, יְהֹוָה commanded the people to grind it and drink it. This seems to almost represent the very first “prescription” given. Colloidal gold (a colloid is a suspension of fine particles in a fluid substance) is prescribed today to treat symptoms such as pain, anxiety, impatience, and depression. Research the uses of gold dust, colloidal gold, and similar preparations. Give a presentation based on your findings. Make sure you reference at least two reliable sources as well as making reference to the scriptures. (Exodus/Shemot 32:19-20) Read more here.

Fun Craft: Since Moses’ face was shining this week (Exodus/Shemot 29:30-33), we have decided to make sparkly candles. They will remind us of the shine and sparkle of יְהֹוָה’s word and of Moses’ face. We will surely be using them as our Shabbat candles this week. Here’s the tutorial.

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LIFE in Him

“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make profit”;
Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” James 4:13

What is your life worth? Is your life so awesome, so important, that you would rather have your life more than God? Some people do. I mean, life isn’t bad! And loving your life isn’t bad either. But putting anything before God is definitely not okay.

Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity.
John 12:25

I mean for real, what in this world that you hold on to is more valuable than the King of Kings? My answer is NOTHING. What’s your answer?

So we are going to talk about life.
What is your day to day life like?
For me, I get up every day at about 9:00am. (Except for Shabbats and Sundays) I come down stairs, have breakfast, and sometimes I have to clean a little, and then I have school until 2-2:30pm. Then I will either, use my iPod, play guitar, write, or do whatever.
I also try to have a time in my day that I go in my room and spend some time listening to worship music and I pray, or listen to a teaching or read the Word.
That is the best thing I do in my day! Yes, school is important, but I absolutely LOVE spending time with my King!
Spending time with Him will strengthen you, mold you, sharpen you, and make you an all in all better person!
He is an important part of our day to day schedule.
So what is the one thing that we all stress about the most? Whether you are a teenager, a young adult, or a adult?
The answer is, MONEY.
Money is the number one cause of stress. Well, mostly stressful if you’re in debt, or just don’t have a lot of income, or you’re not getting any income. I know money stresses me out! Also driving stresses me out! I just recently got my license and it’s hard because I still don’t like driving alone, and of course when I got it the weather is bad! I have never driven in the winter with an adult, so how can I safely drive on my own? I know I don’t feel safe enough yet for myself, or others.
So life as a teenager transitioning into adulthood is hard, and causes anxiety, worry, and doubt about your ability to make it in society. I know that’s the case for me, I don’t know about you?
So how do we overcome this fear?
To be honest, I’m still working through it! But I will share with you some steps I have taken to make me feel more at peace about this.
#1. Pray, pray, PRAY!
This is what gets me through my day! I am constantly just talking to Him, asking Him for peace, demanding the worry to leave in the Name of Yeshua, and thanking Him for His plans for my life! Excepting that I have to grow up, I have to overcome my fear, I have to TRUST HIM!

#2. Write down your plans!

“ Then the Lord answered me and said:
Write the vision and make it plain on tablets,
That he may run who reads it.” Habakkuk 2:3

He wants us to make it plain! Plan out your life in steps! Maybe make a 5 year plan, or maybe your plan for the week or this year! Just get organized! Pray about what you would like to do and where you would like to see yourself in a few years or in 20 years. The Lord will guide your steps and make you successful! Just trust in His Will for your life.

#3. Accept who you are! Your identity is not in the world. Your identity is in Him! You have to know who you are! Be confident in yourself. I know this is hard for me. I’m not a very out-going, or confident person! In fact I’m a bit insecure. But I can’t let that state of mind rule my life! I have to find who I am in Him, just like in step one! Pray! Get to know the Father! Recognize what Yeshua did for you on the cross. He paid it all, and all to Him you owe. So give Him your time, your life! Your everything belongs to Him!

So by following these steps you are stepping closer and closer to living a spirit filled, truth leading life! A life with less worry, a life with complete and absolute trust in God!

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