Shoshana's Garden

Today is the last day of the Gregorian calendar year 2018. Many are making New Year’s Resolutions. Many are wanting to start the year with new beginnings. Yesterday I shared that Jesus prayed for you. My mind was drawn today to the word love. So many verses about love. However, the one my heart settled on is a verse so common even those who don’t believe in the Bible have heard it. John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only and unique Son, so that everyone w

I took a week off to be with family. We needed some time together. During those days we kept reading our Daily Torah Portion. There is always a portion at some point during the week from the New Testament. This time it was the prayer Jesus prayed in John 17. When most people think of the prayer that Jesus prayed they think of the Lord’s Prayer. This one is totally different. You really need to take time to read it. The verse I chose to read and focus on is John 17:9 “I am pra

Today’s verse is from one of the Torah portions last week. Todd and I have talked several times about the Friday night Shabbat blessings that the parents do over their children. Every Friday night there is a blessing for the boys and the girls. Over all the children there is the Aaronic blessing. We have found that blessing our children weekly, and daily as they need it, encourages and builds our children up. There is power in a parent’s blessing. Jacob did this over the 12 b

Today is Shabbat. I found another verse about this important day. Matthew 12:12 How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore, what is permitted on Shabbat is to do good.” (CJB) Jesus was always questioned about how he handled Shabbat. Pharisees questioned him. Challenged him. Said he shouldn’t heal on Shabbat. Didn’t want him “picking wheat.” They wanted to nail him on every little detail. In this verse Jesus made it quite clear that Shabbat is about doing GOOD! Sh

Sometimes it seems that we always turn to the Psalms when we need comfort and healing. I don’t think this is all bad. The words that David penned were often done when he was in a place of running from enemies or in despair. If he can find ways to encourage himself when all seems helpless and lost, I think we should read what he wrote! Today’s verse is from Psalm 13:6 But I trust in your grace, my heart rejoices as you bring me to safety. I will sing to Adonai, because he give

Today I chose to read several verses. It did not make sense to break them apart. Sometimes in the book of Psalms you just have to keep paragraphs together. Here is Psalm 66:16-20 Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for me. I cried out to him with my mouth, his praise was on my tongue. Had I cherished evil thoughts, Adonai would not have listened. But in fact, God did listen; he paid attention to my prayer. Blessed be God, who did not reject

Today my FB Live video did not happen as early as expected. I was busy baking with my girls for the community bake sale we are participating in as a family on Saturday. Then it was dinner time and always lots of dishes! I found that I became a bit agitated as at the day went on. I didn’t have my focus in the right place and because I was not “in the Word” I was wearing down emotionally and spiritually. My guard and shield were not strong. It was time for me to FOCUS on the WO

Today’s verse is from my YouVersion Bible App and showed up as my daily verse about a week ago. It was in the middle of Chanukah when I was sharing verses about light, so I chose to wait. The verse is from I Corinthians 16:13-14 Stay alert, stand firm in the faith, behave like a mentsh, grow strong. Let everything you do be done in love. (CJB) The first part of this verse is strong and powerful. STAY ALERT! STAND FIRM! These are all things that are expected and great reminder

Today’s verse is one that popped up in my FB memory yesterday. It struck me in a different way this year because of many things I have learned. I knew immediately that I wanted to share about it, but I also needed time to ponder on what exactly to address. I pray that the video I did explained what I was thinking. I also pray that this blog will share a bit more. The verse is from I John 2:24-25 Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you. If what you heard from the b

Today’s verse is from Words that Jesus spoke. He was not happy with how the Pharisees were questioning him about what He was doing on Shabbat. He challenged them to remember something David had done, which was forbidden. He wanted them to stop and think about what exactly Shabbat is about. These are the Words he spoke in Mark 2:27: Then he said to them, “Shabbat was made for mankind, not mankind for Shabbat; (CJB) God’s intent for Shabbat is for man to realize that Shabbat is