Pursuing Truth in the Messiah

     Scholars believe that the book of Devarim (Deuteronomy) is covenant document – it follows the pattern of Middle Eastern written treaties and covenants.   In the Complete Jewish Study Bible, there is a commentary on page 235, called The Nature of Covenant, that I would like to read to you.     That’s when the words of the V’Ahavta really jumped out at me.  You are to…what?  You are to LOVE ADONAI your God.     This was not just a business relationship.   If you perform these 613 things, then I will perform my side of the agreement.        This was not just a religious agreement.   If you sing these songs and pray these prayers and offer these sacrifices, then I will be your God and bless you.      This was a love relationship.   We are supposed to LOVE God.      That’s a pretty radical idea, if you think about it.   How can you l...

<iframe title="vimeo-player" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/436755325" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Here is my husband's sermon from July 4, 2020! You should be able to watch it if you click on the link below. Check out “Garrett Snider 7/4/20 Discipleship Series Part 3” from Beit Zayit Messianic on Vimeo. The video is available for your viewing pleasure at  https://vimeo.com/436755325  If you like this video, make sure you share it, too!

Unjust Expectations      If you read this week’s Torah Portion, you are familiar with the story of the rebellion against Moshe and Aharon, and you read about G-d’s demonstration in their defense and G-d’s outline of the expectations for the Levites and the priesthood.      What I want to talk about today is not just how the children of Israel responded to Moshe but how we respond to leaders in our own lives, spiritual and otherwise.      We all tend to have expectations of leaders.   We believe they have authority to make things better for us, and so we, of course, expect them to do it.   And sometimes our expectations don’t play out like we hoped.      I remember, before I was a midwife, when I was working as an assistant to a local midwife.   We had one little mommy in labor who labored much more effectively when the senior midwife wasn’t in the room.   When it was only me in ...

<iframe title="vimeo-player" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/428995372" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> My husband's sermon on Discipleship from 6/13/2020. You should be able to see it if you click on the link below! Check out “Garrett Snider 6/13/20” from Beit Zayit Messianic on Vimeo. The video is available for your viewing pleasure at  https://vimeo.com/428995372  If you like this video, make sure you share it, too!

     Thursday night this week started the festival of Shavu’ot.   It was originally a 1-day feast, which would have been celebrated from Thursday night to Friday night this week, but, later, an extra day was added (today) to encompass those of us who are far from Jerusalem.   You can read more about this feast in Leviticus 23:15-21 and Deuteronomy 16:9-12 .      Since we are celebrating Shavu’ot, I want to talk about a very special Shavu’ot in history.   We will find this story in Acts 2. Acts 2:1   The festival of Shavu‘ot arrived, and the believers all gathered together in one place.     So this was a day much like today.   In this same festival.   With believers gathered together. Acts2:2  Suddenly there came a sound from the sky like the roar of a violent wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.      Have you ever heard a strong wind like that?...

My husband's sermon on discipleship from 5/23/20 can be found on youtube.  You can copy and paste this link into your browser to find it! https://youtu.be/d9eqWktSpo0 

On the eighth day, Moshe called Aharon, his sons and the leaders of Isra’el, and said to Aharon,” Take a male calf for a sin offering… …and a ram for a burnt offering… …both without defect, and offer them before ADONAI. Then tell the people of Isra’el, ‘Take a male goat for a sin offering… …and a calf and a lamb, both a year old and without defect, for a burnt offering…     …and an ox and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before ADONAI;     …also a grain offering mixed with olive oil…   – because today ADONAI is going to appear before you.   There were a few things in this parshah that seemed specific to those who represent G-d in the sight of others .   One was the way these sacrifices were done, and the other was the catastrophe that followed Nadav and Avihu’s unauthorized fire. You and I may not be priests like Aharon, but each of us has a way that we represent G-d in the sight of others.   Maybe we...