Waiting Patiently for the LORD in 2018

This year has been very difficult for me and I could have never predicted it one year ago today. I was doing a ministry I loved and felt like it was making a difference in people's lives. I was a Hospice Chaplain/Bereavement Coordinator. Each day I companioned the dying and walked with their loved ones. Yes, it was a stressful job but I believed I was called to it. Being called to a ministry is the key to overcoming the challenges and stress associated with working with terminally ill patients.

At the same time, I knew something was not right with me physically. For the past two years, I felt very fatigued. I rationalized that I was getting older and maybe that was the reason. As 2017 progressed I was experiencing dizziness, unbalance, and lack of concentration. After a short rest, I would feel better. My doctor said that everything seemed fine after a general checkup. Blood work didn't show any major issues.

I realized that I was not able to give my best to my work and told my manager that maybe I should retire earlier than I had originally planned. At the end of May, I officially retired. This was not the way I had planned the year. A man's heart plans his way but the Lord directs his steps. Proverbs 16:9.

In August I had my six-month checkup with my doctor and she detected a heart murmur while listening to my heart. She remarked that she had never heard this previously. She referred me to a cardiologist and within two weeks I began a series of tests. The last test was an MRI of my heart in October. The MRI and electrocardiogram revealed a serious heart condition, Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy. It is hereditary and causes sudden cardiac arrest. My mother and both of her parents had died from sudden heart attacks. I was told that it was not curable but treatable with medications.

As I previously said, "I could have never predicted it one year ago today." This diagnosis rocked my world and changed my everyday pace. At least I now knew why I felt fatigued all the time. A muscle on one side of my heart was restricting the blood flow out of my heart to the rest of my body; thus the dizziness and lack of concentration.

A follow-up electrocardiogram has shown an improvement in the blood flow. The second half of 2017 was not a part of my plans! I am beginning to learn how to allow the Lord to direct my steps.

Here is a Scripture text I want to put into practice as I begin the new year ahead. I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a new place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him. Psalm 40:1-3

I waited patiently for the LORD. It's not easy to patiently wait for the LORD. My theme for 2018 is "Waiting Patiently for the LORD." The Message translation of Romans 5:3 is so appropriate as we enter a new year: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us. In 2018 we all will need passionate patience! It is certain that our world will continue to experience troubles on every hand. How we respond to trouble can develop patience in us.

I do not have any idea what 2018 will have in store for me. I will not attempt to predict my way but learn how to wait patiently.

6th Night of Hanukkah

There is a Talmudic statement that there are six seasons in the year. This ritual for the sixth night of Chanukah honors the six seasons and reimagines Chanukah as a rededication of the earth. While it is common to think of there being four seasons, according to Gen. 9:22 the seasons' number six. When Noah emerges from the ark, the Creator makes a covenant with Noah and all of creation by means of a rainbow, saying: "As long as the days of the earth endure, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night, shall not cease." We also see the number six in the six visible colors of the rainbow. Six is the balance and beauty of the physical world.

Special appreciation to Tel Shemesh which is a web resource.

5th Night of Hanukkah

The Hanukkah candelabra is known as a hanukkiyah, not a menorah. The menorah is the seven-wicked candelabra that stood in the Jerusalem Temple. It became a symbol of Judaism and is carved into one of the gates of Rome as a symbol of the Roman conquest of Judea in 70 C.E. The hanukkiyah, in contrast, has nine wicks. One wick, typically in the center, is set apart from the others and known as the shamash, or “head” candle. It is used to light the other eight candles. BY RABBI EVAN MOFFIC

4th Night of Hanukkah

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Shabbat Shalom

Shabbat candles are lit before dark. They are lit inside our home. By contrast, Chanukah's candles send a light into the darkness of the night, and near a window facing out into the street.

Shabbat candles bring light within, but the Chanukah lights go further, also transforming the darkness outside.

The Chanukah Lights remind us in a most obvious way that illumination begins at home, within oneself and one’s family, by increasing and intensifying the light of God’s Word in the everyday experience, even as the Chanukah Lights are kindled in growing numbers from day to day. But though it begins at home, it does not stop there. Such is the nature of light that when one kindles a light for one’s own benefit, it benefits also all who are in the vicinity. Indeed, the Chanukah Lights are expressly meant to illuminate the “outside,” symbolically alluding to the duty to bring light also to those who, for one reason or another, still walk in darkness.

Yeshua said, “I am the light of the world.”

Then he said, Matthew 5:14-16

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

These words are so appropriate for the lighting of the 4^th Hanukkah candle on this Shabbat evening.

Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the Chanukah light.

Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe, who performed miracles for our forefathers in those days, at this time.

* Special appreciation to www.chabad.org for Hanukkah resources and music by Itzhak Perlman.

3rd Night of Hanukkah

The Healing Light of Chanukah by Ariel Neshama Lee

Rabbi Malka Drucker (2002) states that the miracle of Chanukah is not just about a little bit of oil lasting eight days. It is about the inner healing light within each of us. Chanukah is a time when we can celebrate this inner healing light as we move toward wellness. Chanukah is also about the miracle of survival against all odds, about hope, courage, and belief in one's ability to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. This is a powerful symbol that can be used for healing and wellness. This imagery can be used to help people believe that they can overcome obstacles to wellness and healing.

First night:

For the blessing of well-being and transformation that flows from this season, we light this candle for the health and wellness of our bodies.

Second night:

For the blessing of well-being and transformation that flows from this season, we light this candle for the health and wellness of our minds.

Third night:

For the blessing of well-being and transformation that flows from this season, we light this candle for the health and wellness of our souls.

Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the Chanukah light.

Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe, who performed miracles for our forefathers in those days, at this time.  

One of the traditions of celebrating Hanukkah is to sing songs after the candles have been lit.

Maoz Tzur

Ma'oz tzur yeshu'ati,

lecha na'eh leshabe'ach,

tikon beit tefilati,

vesham todah nezabe'ach.

Le'et tachin matbe'ach

mitzar hamenabe'ach.

Az egmor

beshir mizmor

chanukat hamizbe'ach

My refuge, my rock of salvation!

It is a pleasure to sing Your praises.

Let our house of prayer be restored.

And there we will offer You our thanks.

When You will have prepared the slaughter of the barking foe,

Then we will celebrate with song and psalm the dedication of the altar.

2nd Night of Hanukkah

This night I dedicate to increase, to the second step of every path. This is the move towards abundance, to building in increments, an ordered process. The treasures of the house tell of holiness that should only increase, ever rise. Thus it was decreed that we light an additional candle to mark each night. 

For holiness, like light and all luminescent goodness should always advance, like an ascending staircase, ever more inclined, increased, enhanced. Just as each good act gives forth another, one spark springs forth to a second wick, while a string of candles awaits.

Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the Chanukah light.

Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe, who performed miracles for our forefathers in those days, at this time.

I stand at the stairway, ready to rise, to explore. Having found my foundation, I move with upward momentum, the second night, the second step, the strength to start.

First Night of Hanukkah

Special appreciation to www.chabad.org for the resources provided.

Chanukah is the Jewish eight-day, wintertime “festival of lights,” celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting and special prayers. The Hebrew word Chanukah means “dedication,” and is thus named because it celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple.

In the second century BCE, the Holy Land was ruled by the Syrian-Greeks, who tried to force the people of Israel to accept Greek culture and beliefs instead of mitzvah observance and belief in G‑d. Against all odds, a small band of faithful Jews, led by Judah the Maccabee, defeated one of the mightiest armies on earth, drove the Greeks from the land, reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and rededicated it to the service of G‑d.

When they sought to light the Temple's Menorah, they found only a single cruse of olive oil that had escaped contamination by the Greeks. Miraculously, they lit the menorah and the one-day supply of oil lasted for eight days until new oil could be prepared under conditions of ritual purity. To commemorate and publicize these miracles, the sages instituted the festival of Chanukah.

At the heart of the festival is the nightly menorah lighting. The menorah holds nine flames, one of which is the shamash (“attendant” or “servant”), which is used to kindle the other eight lights. The first night which is tonight, we light just one flame. On the second night, an additional flame is lit. By the eighth night of Chanukah, all eight lights are kindled. The shamash, the "attendant or servant" candle that is used to kindle the other lights, sits a bit higher than the other candles, on the ninth branch of the menorah. Though the shamash's primary function has been served once the candles have been lit, we don't extinguish the shamash. Instead, we set it in its place adjacent to the other lights, ready to "serve" in case a candle blows out. Before we light the first candle these special blessings are recited:

Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the Chanukah light.

Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe, who performed miracles for our forefathers in those days, at this time.

On the first night of Chanukah, Tuesday, December 12^th we add the following blessing:

Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us and enabled us to reach this occasion.

We light the first candle of Hanukkah and we remember the miracles of God in our lives.

Remembering Hanukkah and Israel

Hanukkah starts on the Hebrew calendar date of 25 Kislev and lasts for eight days. The coinciding secular dates for this year are December 12-20. 

The first candle of the menorah is lit at nightfall this Tuesday. Hanukkah is the Jewish eight-day, wintertime “festival of lights,” celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting, special prayers, and fried foods. 

The Hebrew word Chanukah means “dedication,” and is thus named because it celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple.

Each day during Hanukkah I will post a spiritual insight into this Jewish festival. I am doing this to show my solidarity with the nation of Israel and to encourage Christians everywhere to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. 

Who Can Mend a Broken Heart?

Once again, a spiritual message is found in a secular song by the Bee Gees. It speaks of a broken man searching for answers to his brokenness. The theme of the song How Can You Mend a Broken Heart could well be from the Bible and especially the Job genre. He asks many questions such as, How can you stop the rain from falling down? How can you stop the sun from shining? What makes the world go round? The main questions are asked out of his brokenness, How can you mend a broken heart? How can you mend this broken man? How can a loser ever win?

We then hear this broken man reach out to God and say, “Please help me mend my broken heart and let me live again.” He is asking for help, wholeness, and life. He desires to live again.

God will answer this prayer for anyone who comes to Him and asks. God can mend our brokenness (heart), make us whole, and give us new life. Jesus offers all of this to whosoever. Everyone experiences brokenness at various levels. We all need to experience new life. This life is found in Jesus Christ. I sure hope that the man in this song found it in Christ.