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December 4, 2010

What Is Hanukkah To Christian Believers?

What is Hanukkah? This is a Jewish holiday with a very important message for Christian believers. Hanukkah, known as the Festival of Lights, or the Feast of Dedication has an amazing link to Christianity as do most of the feasts spoken of in the Bible.

Look into this wonderful story, and discover for yourself its relevance to every Christian believer. See if you can recognize the connection between the supernatural grace released to push back the darkness embodied in this holiday and God’s dedication to us through giving His only begotten Son to bring His light back into the world!

To completely answer what is Hanukkah, I’ll provide some enlightening Hanukkah facts: Before 165 BC, the Jewish people who lived in Judea were under the rule of the Greek kings. King Antiochus Epiphanes took control of the Temple in Jerusalem, and forced them to give up all worship of God. He made them bow down to the Greek false gods.

Records clearly show that he defiled the temple by sacrificing a pig on the altar, and spilling its blood on the holy Scripture scrolls. As a result of this persecution, a group of ONLY four Jewish brothers, led by Judah Maccabee,

assembled an army of warriors to fight against this evil control and blasphemy. After fighting for three tough years against all odds, a miraculous victory was achieved, and the Temple was rededicated to the Lord.

As part of this rededication, a flame representing God’s divine presence was to be lit for 8 days. However, most of the oil for this flame was defiled by the Greeks, and it would take a week for enough new oil to be purified. Though there was only enough oil for one day, the eternal flame burned miraculously for the eight days required during this ceremony, until more sacred oil was ready.

Hanukkah also means dedication, and has been commemorated for centuries by lighting a special nine-branched candelabra, called the menorah. One candle referred to as the “servant”, is used to light the others.

Jesus Christ is our perfect example of servant-hood as described in the following scripture. Phil 2:8-9 states: “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself by living a life of utter obedience, to the point of death, and the death he died was that of a common criminal. That is why God has lifted him to the heights, and has given him the name above all names.”

Hanukkah is a picture of God’s precious Son, the Light of the World, and through the gift of His Spirit in us, we can be a Light as well!

So, what is Hanukkah to Christian believers?  It is a time to remember our God’s faithfulness and abounding grace. It is a time to remember the need for us to persevere during persecution or trials UNTIL the victory comes. It is a time to remember that the same presence that filled the temple keeping the flame lit, lives in us helping us to shine like our Savior, Jesus Christ.

As Paul says in Colossians 2:16-17, these feasts are a shadow of things to come! As Believers, we will learn more about Him as we celebrate the festivals that were important to Him!

I trust that you now have an answer to what is Hanukkah to encourage you to experience this holiday. We invite you and your family to learn more about His Biblical feasts  and watch the doors of God’s blessings open up for you to enjoy.

October 26, 2010

Origin of Halloween – Are You Aware of How This Holiday Started?

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Are you aware of the true origin of Halloween? There was a time when I was totally uniformed about the connection this holiday has with occult practices. I assumed it was just a fun holiday and eagerly participated in a Haunted House as a fundraiser for my church until learning about the origins of Halloween.

Halloween began well before Christ’s birth as a three day celebration of the dead by the druids in ancient region s of England and Ireland. It is recorded in history as the eve of samhain, which marked the end of the Celtic calendar year.

During this festival, divination and soothsaying were practiced. Druids dressed as witches, goblins, and fairies were  reported to go throughout the countryside harassing people for contributions of food. This is the basis for our current trick-or-treat rituals. Satanic worship and witchcraft, including black cats, were all associated with this time which sounds much like our current Halloween traditions.

The current Halloween practice of dressing children in masks and costumes and sending them out into the neighborhoods for “food” closely mimics those harassing behaviors by the early druids. Even the jack-o-lantern got its beginning from turnips carved as death masks carried by the druids during this time.

These traditions have become a part of American family culture as simple and playful fun. The true origin of this fun paints a much different picture. The question remains: is this a practice that our children should be engaging in when it was born out of these “dark” beginnings?

Is it just simple fun or is there more going on behind the scenes?

Next time you are tempted to spend hundreds of dollars on ghastly decorations and cavity-inducing delights, think about the origin of Halloween.

September 27, 2010

Your Family Guide To Biblical Holidays – Why Christians Need To Pay Attention

A family guide to Biblical holidays is a great way to improve your relationship with the Lord. While each person’s relationship with Christ is a deeply personal experience, it can never thrive in isolation from other believers. Family life and church connections are essential to growing in love, forgiveness, and faith.

 

As your family experiences the awesome blessings that come by celebrating the Biblical holidays, you can then share this with your church body.
 
Question: What are the Biblical holidays?
Answer: The best place to find the the answer is in Leviticus 23. You will see that this includes the 3 annual feasts and the Sabbath celebrations. The 3 feasts are Passover, Pentecost, and the feast of Tabernacles. In addition, the firstfruits celebrations are a monthly observance to remember the Lord’s goodness at the start of every month. This is mentioned in Numbers 10:10. You will also find out about the year of jubilee and the 7th year sabbath in Lev. 25.
Question: How can a family guide to Biblical holidays enrich my family’s spiritual growth?
Answer: God gave these feasts to Israel so that they could be positioned to receive the fullness of His blessings. As Christians, we have the same Father as Israel had. When our families observe these holidays, we are aligning ourselves with God’s will and separating ourselves from ungodly celebrations.
Question: What makes these Biblical feast days so special?
Answer: Each of these holidays contain powerful lessons for us that increase our understanding and passion for God and His Son. Consequently, our families are better able to think, talk, and act with an attitude of Godly love as Jesus did.
If you are looking for an exciting and powerful way to bless your home, a family guide to Biblical holidays is the key. We invite you and your family to learn more about His Biblical feasts  and watch the doors of God’s blessings open up for you to enjoy.

Will Biblical Parenting Help Me Gain Victory Over Today’s Struggles?

Filed under: Biblical Parenting Tips — Tags: , , — admin @ 7:38 pm

3 Minutes Will Change Your Family Forever!

Biblical parenting can certainly supply the tools your family desires to gain victory over the battles confronting you every day. We’ll show you the best ways to get started.

Before we begin, allow me to ask you a question. What is the initial thought or picture that comes to your mind when you hear the word “parent”?

If you said “discipline” or got an image of disciplining, you need to adjust your focus.

It may be time for an attitude revolution, and Biblical parenting is the answer you are seeking.

There are several new and old fads available ranging from authoritarian parenting to permissive parenting.

All you need to do is take a quick look at how children act at the mall to realize the majority of parents are struggling BIG TIME.

The answer is to return to the fundamentals – Bible parenting.

The Bible has plenty to say about parenting.

While there may only be a handful verses that directly address parenting, many passages present useful insight to direct parents.

But who will you turn to as your authority on parenting wisdom?

Is it going to be Dr. Phil, Dr. Spock, Oprah, or your Heavenly Father?

A effective place to begin is finding a several Scriptures on parenting.

One such verse is located in Eph.Ch. 6:4 and says, “Dads, don’t exasperate your children; instead, raise them up in the guidance and instruction of God.”

Now this might appear fairly simple. Do you have any idea how many ways there are for loving parents to provoke their children? There are plenty, and as parents, we have to be careful to avoid them.

The 2nd aspect of this passage demands that you be informed about the Lord’s directions.

Let’s take the 10 Commandments for instance. Could you identify them right now?

Our Supreme Court outlawed them from public schools because they could persuade our sons and daughters to tell the truth, not steal others’ belongings, and also be faithful to your spouse.

I am not kidding.This occurred in 1980.

The idea here is that parents should have an useful plan to follow and stick to, in order to be successful.

There is a great deal in the Bible that is worthwhile for parents.  Hey guys, we don’t need to re-invent the wheel.

Pick a couple of areas in which you hope to see your family progress in and spend some time finding some passages that fit. Apply them consistently and your family will certainly experience the transformations you are expecting.

There are no short cuts to becoming a wise parent, but Biblical parenting is the most helpful means to help you successfully cope with today’s home struggles.

Put some enjoyment and celebration back into your home. Come with our family and start celebrating with the Biblical feasts now.

Welcome to Our FREE Biblical Feasts Mini-Course

Filed under: Uncategorized — admin @ 7:37 pm

Hi – This is Mike and Charleen from Family Life Winners!

Please go to the email address you entered on our form and you will be asked to confirm your FREE subscription in order to receive :

1) Our bonus recipe for a delicious Jewish cheesecake, and

2) Start learning about God’s feasting times starting tomorrow.

We look forward to being your guides for the next several days.

Mike and Charleen Ecuyer

Family Life Winners

August 22, 2010

This Jewish Cookbook Is A Life-Changing Guide For Your Family

My Jewish Cookbook

This Jewish cookbook open the powerful doors of God’s blessings to your family. We are aMy Jewish Cookbook Christian family and have been celebrating the Biblical feasts for years now.

We have seen such an awesome display of God’s goodness in our lives and we want to share that with you.

Our Jewish cook book is actually a family guide to Biblical holidays. It is full of Jewish cookbook recipes for you to enjoy and share with your family.

We have put together a short video to introduce this unique and colorful digital Jewish cookbook below.

BUY NOW

GET MY FREE MINI-COURSE

June 22, 2010

Unit Studies For Homeschoolers Centered Around The Biblical Feasts

Filed under: Spiritual Keys — Tags: , — admin @ 9:33 pm
Unit studies for homeschoolers that focus on Biblical feasts are excellent studies for your children. One of the awesome things about these particular study adventures is you can do it as the actual feasts are occuring throughout the year. All ages will be able to participate and gain insight and wisdom regarding these God ordained appointed times of celebration. You can turn these school days into feast days through creative homeschooling unit studies.
How To Arrange Your Schedule

Unit studies for homeschoolers, in general, are a flexible way to enhance your homeschooling experience for a variety of grade levels at the same time.
Take just 3 weeks out of your homeschool schedule and experience a lifetime of blessings! Celebrate and learn about the Feast of Passover in the spring, the Feast of Pentecost in the summer, and the Feast of Tabernacles in the fall.
Lesson Plan Ideas

Bible Lessons: Teach your children how the truths from these annual feasts can be applied to the Christian walk.
Social Studies/History lessons: Study how the feasts fit into a world history context.
World Geography: Get your children more familiar with Middle Eastern maps.
Home Economics: Develop some simple kitchen cooking projects as a family using delicious Jewish recipes.
Arts/Crafts: Create simple fun projects to encourage your children’s creative talents.
Science: Experience the effect of shaking up cream.
Our Judeo/Christian Heritage
As Christians, there is so very much we can learn from our heritage as grafted in sons and daughters of Abraham. Ephesians 2:13 tells us we are no longer Gentiles by the blood of Jesus and have been brought near near to the nation of Israel. And to make it even more plain, Galatians 3:29 serves as a new will with us being the offspring of Abraham. Hebrew traditions are so rich in culture and life, teaching us much about our Savior and His ways.
Spiritual Growth Through Worship
Each celebration is based on a special time of worship and honor given to the most deserving Father of all. In Leviticus 23, the Lord spoke to Moses declaring the feasts of the Lord as times set apart to worship and remember His goodness. This will enable our hearts to get established on the things that are important to God, which in turn transforms us spiritually.
Do you need more help on putting unit studies for homeschoolers to good use in your home? You can get more FREE details on the Biblical feasts and improving your homeschooling experience.

June 10, 2010

My Jewish Cookbook For Christians?

My Jewish cookbook will help your family get ready for the Lord’s special feasting times. You and your family are officially invited.
Did you know there has been an open invitation for the past 3500 years?
It is obvious that our culture has been trying to drain the life out of our marriages, our children, and our families. Don’t let that happen to you.
Your family can experience the abundant life that Jesus came to provide. You will have to be pro-active, though. The first thing you can do is ask this: “What can we do to walk in the abundance God has provided for us?”
The answer is our Jewish cookbook. Well, that’s only part of the answer. Let me explain.
Actually, His Biblical feasts are a big part of the answer! If you’re tired of everyone thinking Christians don’t know how to have fun, you can do something about it.
Don’t fall into the trap of thinking the only fun is in worldly celebrations such as New Year’s Day or Halloween. Christianity should have a million times more to offer in how to celebrate than the world.
Contrary to what you may have heard or been taught, God really knows how to have fun, even after having to put up with all our mess. There are meaningful holidays for us to celebrate, but let’s start doing it the Lord’s way.
Just look at Leviticus 23 and Exodus 23 to get an idea of what is available. Our family began to learn more and more about His appointed times of feasting and we were determined to have fun doing it.
As we began to celebrate these times, we noticed a new joy was rising up in us. This is very much needed in these times of great change. We also saw our family being knit together like never before!
Now getting started was a bit of a challenge at first. It seemed very strange to be celebrating these feasts, when no one around us had even heard of them.
We started collecting Jewish recipies and then decided to put together a Jewish cookbook.
You may think it is strange to celebrate Hebrew feasts as a Christian, but remember: we are grafted in and have become the seed or offspring of Abraham through Christ. Galatians 3:29.
Jewish dishes with strange names like “blintzes and tzimmes” may not be what you are used to. We had so much fun, though and discovered many awesome dishes as we checked out some Jewish cookbooks.
So our family started off by celebrating the Passover every year, which is the source of the practice of having Communion. We made it a fun time, full of music and delicious foods. Our kids looked forward to these fun times.
God’s desire is for us to taste and see His goodness, especially during His times to party. That’s why we created an easy Jewish cook book to help you get started.
Please don’t miss out on these great times of blessing and excitement for your family. We are excited about providing you with this opportunity to put our Jewish cookbook to good use and TASTE AND SEE THE LORD’S GOODNESS.
To get some additional FREE details on how you can start celebrating the Biblical feasts, just follow the link.

June 5, 2010

Celebrate Jesus and Watch Your Family Be Transformed

Filed under: Spiritual Keys — Tags: , — admin @ 12:37 am

3 Minutes Will Change Your Family Forever!

To celebrate Jesus every day and see that celebration influence my family and everyone I encounter is my constant hope. You and your family can put the same life-giving influence to work in your lives. I trust these questions and answers will propel you down that path.

Q. Does celebrating Jesus bring success in THIS life?

A. Being a Christian doesn’t mean that you and your family have to be doormats. Jesus didn’t let the world run Him over. He laid down His life freely as act of love and obedience. He was the most successful person to walk the face of the earth. Your family can enjoy the same success He did right now, by learning how to celebrate His life of love.

Q. How can I celebrate Jesus’ life?

A. The most obvious answer is to imitate Him with excitement. That’s easier said than done. It all starts with laying down your life and declaring Jesus to be your Lord, which means master. The saying part is still important because it keeps the door of hope open to becoming more like Him. Through constantly praising Christ, reading and confessing Scripture, and walking in the fruit of the Holy Spirit, we move closer to being able to imitate Jesus.

Q. Is it really possible for me to be like Jesus was?

A. Jesus was and is much more than someone to admire. His life revealed to us how to gain victory in every circumstance of life. You and your family can love like He did, forgive like He did, and walk in victory like He did. Now, that’s a lot to get excited about. Jesus even pronounced that we could do greater works than He did. Let’s not sell ourselves short.

Q. Does Jesus want us to celebrate the Jewish festivals?

A. Let’s not make this too complicated. Part of celebrating Jesus is imitating His life and Scripture tells us He did participate in the Feasts. The Last Supper was actually the Feast of Passover. Jesus also participated in the Feast of Tabernacles as described in John 7. These appointed times of feasting were established by God for the Jewish people to observe. The feasts gave them continual opportunities to honor and remember God’s place in their lives. I firmly believe this is true for Christians also.

Q. What spiritual meaning does the Passover Lamb hold for us?

A. In the New Testament, Jesus is called “our Passover.” God sent His Son, the Passover Lamb, so that we all could have access to being transformed from death to life. Everything that is separated from God is moving to destruction. Just watch the news to see evidence of this. He gave the Israelites the Passover feast to mark their change from slaves to being a free people. This was only the starting point of the process of their transformation. And it is through Jesus alone that we are able to celebrate OUR movement from death to life.

During the past 10 years, our family has discovered lots of cool ideas about how to celebrate Jesus. One thing we definitely need is more chances to bring times of celebration into our homes. Come right now to get some more ideas for your family to celebrate the  Biblical feasts.

May 19, 2010

Keep The Sabbath Or Ignore It

Filed under: G2G Devotional — Tags: , , — admin @ 4:08 pm

What happens if someone decides to keep the Sabbath?

The simple answer is that it will release blessings into your life, especially your business endeavors. It’s a rather simple concept.

It wasn’ that long ago, maybe 35 years, when businesses started to ignore observing the Sabbath. Or should I say business owners.

God is not against us having wealth. He is against wealth having us in its grips. He knows the result of this situation – ultimate ruin.

God instructed us to keep the Sabbath as a way to imitate Him, follow in His footsteps. Is that such a horrible thing?

Here’s a no-brainer folks – REST. We were created with a need for rest. When we ignore that need, when we ignore God, we will suffer the consequences. Your health, your family, and your pocket book may suffer. That is not God’s will for us.

What we do with our times of relaxation says a lot about us. It reflects what our priorities are, what we value. So, what’s really important to you?

The seventh day Sabbath is not complicated. The Jewish people were instructed to observe the Sabbath on a Saturday, every 7 days. Almost all Christians recognize Sunday’s as the Sabbath. Is it more than just going to a church service to you, though? We hope not. We encourage you to rediscover the power that can be released into your life as you keep the Sabbath.

Pleas forgive if we don’t stop here. There is also something called the Sabbath year. You guessed it. God introduced the coolest vacation idea in resting every 7 th year from your labors. We bet this one just blows you away.

What does all this have to do with?  It has to do with effective time management. People and companies spend lots of money on courses to teach them how to manage their time.

Our message here doesn’t cost you a dime, but just a little time.  Christians have no excuse when it comes to time to time management. We’re not saying we never complain about not having enough time.

We ‘re just saying that the Christian time management concepts above, will set you on a new path to success if you begin to put them into practice.

To get started, pick just one new way you can keep the Sabbath and ask the Lord to bless your efforts to honor Him. And expect His blessings to come!

Mike and Charleen

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