Why You Should Celebrate Easter and Passover Seder

Shalom Lovely People,

This weekend, my hubby and I celebrate Passover and Resurrection Sunday. We are Christians, but we stand in support of Israel. We are interested in the historical context of Judaism, and we celebrate Jewish holidays and actively learn about Jewish customs. This year, in particular, we wanted to know more about the Passover Seder.

Have you heard of the Seder meal?

Chabad.org provides excellent resources about the Jewish faith and holidays, including the Seder meal. Seder, the Hebrew word meaning order, is celebrated during Passover. Family members of all ages retell the ancient story of when the Israelites were freed from enslavement in Egypt. This story can be found in the Book of Exodus of the Bible and the Shemot in the Jewish Torah. The order of the Passover seder meal is read from the Haggadah, which is the Jewish text of the Israelites being freed from slavery.

We just started learning about the significance of the Seder meal and why it was so critical for Christians to celebrate. The Seder is typically conducted in a family home, but it can also be in a synagogue. This week, my hubby and I watched a Seder service from Eagle Mountain International Church (Kenneth Copeland Ministries ) that incorporated Jewish and Christian meanings. My hubby and I found it to be quite moving but also informative. We decided that we needed to celebrate our freedom with the Passover Seder meal and our traditional Resurrection Day service at church.

We watched several teachings from Rabbi Jason Sobel on the final week of Jesus’ life. Rabbi Jason explains how Jesus’ return to Jerusalem, the Last Supper, and the Cruxification are deeply rooted in Jewish customs. He further said that the Last Supper with Jesus and the twelve apostles was a Passover Seder. This video from Rabbi Jason explains what the Seder meant to the Jewish people and what it means to Christians today.

Rabbi Curt Landry describes the Seder in his blog post, The Nine Blessings of the Passover, “This list of reasons why Passover matters to God is in no way a complete one, yet it repeatedly tells why Passover is vital! Passover is not just for Jews, but for all who call upon the Name of the Lord!” This video show Rabbi Landry’s Seder service on Friday. And another post that I recommend by Rabbi Landry is Celebrating Passover as Believers.

The Passover Seder service video at Eagle Mountain Church is below:

My hubby and I will now celebrate the Passover Seder with Resurrection Sunday during Holy Week. No matter your religion, thanking God for your health, life, and freedom while celebrating Passover would be an excellent idea to incorporate into your family traditions.

Is Your Home The Best Environment It Could Be?

When you live in a home, you want it to be the best environment. Well, this ends up all coming down to you. The atmosphere in your home is only down to the people who live there, so if you have a problem with the way it is right now, you need to make sure that you are actively trying to make changes. In this article, we will be looking at some of the things that create a good environment, so keep reading if you would like to find out more.

Photo by Binyamin Mellish from Pexels

Clean
The first thing you need to do is make sure that your home is clean. We’re sure you don’t want to live in a dirty house, but we know that cleaning can mean a lot of work that you don’t have the energy for. The best thing you can do for yourself here is to keep it clean. Please find the time to do one big clean of the home and then do the little bits needed to keep it in this condition. Instead of waiting until it gets to a point where it must be done, never let it get that wrong in the first place. 

We know that this sounds simple, and it is, but we also know that sometimes even just taking the recycling outside can be a chore after a long day. Just tell yourself it’s better this one-piece now than 50 down the line.

Safe
Another thing that you will need to do is make sure that the home is as safe as possible. Your home should be the place in the world where you feel safest, so you have to do whatever it takes to make this accurate. This might mean installing a security system to ensure that your home feels more secure. Or, it might be more to do with the repairs that need sorting inside the home. For example, you might need to get a drywall repair service out to you soon to sort out any issue you are having. 

Happy
The final thing that we will mention is that for the environment to be as good as it can be, the home should be happy. You can achieve this by ensuring that everyone can speak freely in the house about whatever they feel the need to, by spending time together, and so much more. Do what you can, and we know that the home will be filled with love and laughter, creating a happy environment.

We hope you have found this article helpful and now see some ways to tell if your home is the best environment it could be. It’s important to understand that your home does not have to be these things all the time, well, except for safe. We want you and your family to live in the best possible environment, and ensuring that your home has these things as much as possible is the best way to do this.

Why Is It Beneficial To Be Part Of A Community?

Being alone is something that we all need to do from time to time – it’s a great way of recharging our batteries and allowing our minds time to rest for a moment. However, human beings are social creatures, and we tend to work best when we are part of a community, no matter what that community represents, be it work, a hobby, or family. Here are some reasons why being part of a community like this is so good for you. 

Photo by RODNAE Productions

Gain Knowledge 
One of the most important reasons to be part of a group or community is that you will gain a lot of knowledge. Being with a group of people who understand what you are thinking and how you are going about your daily business because they are similar to you means that there is more chance of finding someone (or more than one person) within that group who will be able to mentor you. They have been where you are and know what it takes to move forward successfully. They will be able to instill you with plenty of knowledge that will help you be more successful in life or business. 

More than that, by being part of a community, you can learn from the group at large, asking many different people for advice about mold damage restoration services or plumbers and so on, or simply learning through osmosis and by paying attention to what is happening around you. This kind of information may not be immediately useful, but you never know when you will need it, and it could certainly help you out in the future. 

It’s Good For Your Health
Being able to show that you are part of a group and feeling connected is good for your health. Being isolated and not knowing anyone similar to you can lead to mental health problems that being in a group can eliminate. This is known as ‘social connectedness’, and studies have shown that it is as beneficial to health as regular exercise is. 

Social connectedness also helps to make us more resilient against stress. If we’re feeling more connected to other people and we know that there are those there for us who will help us when we are feeling down and who will encourage us when we’re thinking negative thoughts, we are less likely to feel the symptoms of stress and depression. 

Inspiration 
Have you ever felt a little lost in life and just did not know which direction to go in? If so, you’re not alone – everyone can feel somewhat confused about their options or feel stuck for ideas at times. When you are part of a group or community, you can easily gain inspiration from others, and this can be essential when it comes to moving you forward. Of course, taking someone else’s ideas is not a good thing to do, but taking elements of what people are doing and making them your own is how people have progressed for centuries, and it can help you to get out of the rut you are stuck in. 

Remember, if you have been doing well in life or business, it’s vital to remain in touch with friends and family or join a group where you can regularly meet with other people. There are many instances where people have been successful and then become isolated and not been able to grow anymore, either personally or in their business lives. 

Feeling Overwhelmed By Chronic Illness? Here Are Some Things That Might Help

Living with chronic illness is overwhelming. Your illness can at times affect every aspect of your life, making it feel like a full-time job, on top of everything else you have to deal with.

You will have a difficult time coping with the uncertainty about your future and the unpredictability of day-to-day living, even after you have accepted your diagnosis. It does not take much to send someone suffering from a chronic disease “over the edge as it can overwhelm you socially, mentally, emotionally, and physically — taking a serious toll on your health and wellbeing. Even if you are able to manage your condition on most days, there are occasions when you may swing from being overwhelmed yet able to function to being absolutely destroyed by it.

Photo by Mehrpouya H on Unsplash

Make a list of your worries and prioritize them.
When you are feeling overwhelmed, everything might seem like a crisis – to the point where you feel like you can not deal with anything at all. However, not all projects require the same level of urgency. Compile a list of your issues and arrange them in descending order of significance. Decide to deal with only one issue at a time and to do as many tasks as you have the energy to complete.

Keep a record of your emotions.
Some people prefer to express their emotions in a more linear manner, for as by writing in a journal or diary. Keep a notebook in your purse or open the notes app on your phone and jot down a few bullet points if you feel overwhelmed to refer back to later.

Research
Having a sense of being overwhelmed can sometimes be caused by a lack of understanding about what is going on with you and your body. Educating yourself about your condition and treatments – perhaps you could read more about potential things that could help –  can help you feel more in control and relaxed. However, put a limit because it is possible to become dragged into infinite rabbit holes of study and suffer from information overload as a result of this.

Make a connection
The experience of living with a chronic disease may be isolating and exhausting if you attempt to deal on your own. Gather with a friend for coffee, take your youngster out for an evening stroll, contact your folks, or send a brief text to a loved one to let them know you are thinking about them.

Attend a meeting with a support group.
No matter whether you meet online or in person, being in the company of individuals who have the same condition as you or who are going through a comparable experience may be tremendously beneficial. Knowing that others have been in your shoes and witnessing how they dealt with their difficulties might help you deal with your own challenging sentiments.

On A Mission To Lose Some Weight? These Tips Might Help

The past couple of years has caused many of us to pause and take stock of our health and way of life. We may have decided to give up smoking, reduce our alcohol use, or drop a few pounds. It is well recognized that being overweight can harm your ability to recover from illness. For this reason alone, many individuals are considering shedding some weight and joining the ever-growing weight loss community. Here, we look at some tips to help you.

Photo by Siora Photography on Unsplash

Eat breakfast
Many people who have successfully lost weight and maintained weight have made it a habit to have breakfast every day. Many people feel that skipping breakfast is a smart way to lose weight, but they wind up eating even more due to their mistakes over the rest of the day.

According to many studies, breakfast eaters have lower BMIs than those who skip breakfast daily, and they also do better in school and at work than their counterparts. Having a bowl of whole-grain cereal with fruit and low-fat dairy for breakfast is a simple and nutritious way to start the day. You might also consider meal replacement bars as a convenient option for those on the go.

Watch what you are drinking.
We sometimes overlook the importance of including beverages in our daily calorie consumption, but they may quickly push us over the edge if we are not careful. Sweetened drinks are abundant in calories, yet they do not provide the same level of hunger satisfaction that solid meals do. To relieve your thirst, choose from various beverages, including water, sparkling water with lemon, skim or low-fat milk, or small amounts of 100 percent fruit juice.

Keep an eye on the number of calories you eat when drinking alcoholic beverages since they may quickly add up. If you drink a glass or two of wine or a cocktail every day, restricting your alcohol use to the weekends can save you significant calories.

Replace high-fat meals with lower-fat alternatives
When feasible, substitute low-fat or lighter versions of salad dressings, mayonnaise, dairy products, and other goods for full-fat or heavy versions. If you utilize low-fat and lighter things, you may reduce your calorie intake, and if the product is mixed in with other ingredients, no one will notice the difference.

Take into consideration your surroundings
Another simple strategy to help you lose weight is to take control of your surroundings. This includes anything from stocking your kitchen with lots of healthy alternatives to picking the right restaurants. To avoid temptation, you should stay away from unlimited-serving buffets. Eat a nutritious snack before heading to a party so as not to be hungry when you arrive, and fill your plate sparingly when you are at the buffet. Continue to wait for at least 15 minutes before returning for additional food, and drink a large glass of water between each eating round.

Increase your intake of fruits and vegetables.
By consuming a large amount of low-calorie, high-volume fruits and vegetables, you may reduce your intake of high-fat, high-calorie foods. Place the veggies on top of the meat and to the side of the meal, away from the center of the plate. Alternatively, a salad or a small bowl of vegetable soup might be served as an appetizer before lunch or supper. This will help fill you up a little more and prevent you from eating as many calorie-dense foods as you would otherwise.