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Pesach ~ Do This In Remembrance of Me

“These are the appointed feasts of the Lord, the holy convocations, which you shall proclaim at the time appointed for them. In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight, is the Lord’s Passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the Lord; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work. But you shall present a food offering to the Lord for seven days. On the seventh day is a holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work.” ~ Leviticus 23:4-7

Pesach, also called Passover, is the first Biblical Feast of our Creator’s New Year. There is much to understand about this eternal Feast. What We want to focus on for now, is that we often think that when Yeshua (Jesus) tells us to “do this in remembrance of me,” we have been taught that it is referring to what we call “communion,” the eating of bread and drinking of wine. What we miss is that Yeshua is reaffirming Yahweh’s eternal Feasts, and redirecting our understanding of it. He eagerly desires to dine with us! Celebrate Pesach/Passover, Yahweh’s eternal Feast, in remembrance of the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world!

“And he said to them, ‘I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.’ After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, ‘Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.’ And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.'” ~ Luke 22:15-20

Can we “do communion” at any other time of the year? We don’t see a prohibition. What we see all throughout Scripture is that Yahweh’s Feasts are eternal, forever, never ended. And His children will want to celebrate them! Will you celebrate Pesach, and dine with your Creator?

We would like to gift you a Pesach banner, if you want to celebrate His Passover Feast! Click here, and download. We enjoy having children color the individual bunting piece and then cutting out. For longevity, you can laminate them, too.

May you find Abba’s blessings, as you seek after Him and desire to follow The Way.

By admin, ago

Ecclesiastical Views on Torah Observance


Let us begin with love, as our lives should do.

When we love another person, we search out ways to express that love for them. Usually this is not done solely with the way we ourselves feel the most loved; we learn what they themselves feel the most loved by, and then we act out expressions of love in the way they will feel the most loved. We don’t do this to earn anything, or to gain something from them. We just want them to know we love them, by doing what makes them feel adored by us.

“Jesus replied, ‘All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me. I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—He will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.” ~ John 14:10-15

Catholicism (and from it, Protestantism) deviated from The Way, a Jewish sect of men and women that knew the Messiah of the world had come through the tribe of Judah, that He lived for us to see how to live out Yahweh’s Way, He died so that we might be with Yahweh, and out of love for Him we will want to obey all of His commands. Catholicism and Protestantism was very influenced by the Roman regime, with a way of thinking much like the Greeks, or, well…. Romans! This way of thinking is considered “Western” and doesn’t comprehend a lot of Eastern thought.

Yeshua’s disciples were from the Jewish sect called The Way. They thought with middle-Eastern Israeli/Hebrew thought, lived according to Yahweh’s Torah (Instruction) and Prophets, and didn’t encourage disobedience to the Father’s commands. None of the disciples called for abolishing God’s law; they all continued to keep all of God’s law! In Acts 18:21, it states that Paul (a Pharisee until the end), “took leave of them, saying, ‘I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; but I will return again to you, God willing.’ And he sailed from Ephesus.”

Yeshua said, “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved.” (Matthew 5:17-18)

The BibleHub section on Matthew 5:17-18 notes:
“Fulfill means bring to full meaning and lived perfection (Isaiah 42:21). Every ‘iota’ (Hebrew yod) matters, affirming Genesis through Malachi. Yet the Law pointed to an inner righteousness only Christ provides (Jeremiah 31:33).”
Of the word fulfill, BlueletterBible.com says this means to bring to realization, to complete, to abound in.

Yahweh had the deepest heart of love for Abba, our Heavenly Father. Those following Yeshua will be drawn by a heart of love as well, to obey our Heavenly Father. Obedience to Him comes from adoration, love, and trust; not obligation or thinking it “earns salvation,” as many like to make the accusation towards Torah observant peoples.

To be Torah Observant is to *do less* than what we had done in Protestantism! It was intentional to get pork or seafood, before. Now, we just do not eat it. We don’t earn salvation by not eating unclean animals, we already had salvation; having salvation is what compelled us to want to be obedient.
Rather than say “Sunday is our Sabbath” yet still shop, make money, and find no rest or trust His provision through rest, we just… rest. We don’t strive to make money one day a week and we fellowship. We play. We read. We nap! Sabbath is literally the opposite of “works based” anything; it means “rest!” Working or requiring others to work on your behalf, is literally works-based.
In celebrations, we trust that His Feasts have beauty and story and community involved for His people. There is rest, shalom, in trusting He had a grand plan in His eternal feasts.
Let’s get back to “earning” salvation, though.

The term “earning salvation” is typically meant to shut someone down, rather than engaging in discussion and learning about one another. Being obedient from a heart of love is not “works-based salvation,” for that would put our Messiah and all of the disciples and apostles into that category!

“What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, ‘Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well’—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. Now someone may argue, ‘Some people have faith; others have good deeds.’ But I say, ‘How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.’ You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless? Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: ‘Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.’ He was even called the friend of God. So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone. Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road. Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.” ~ James 2:14-26

Yeshua makes this even clearer, when He said,

“Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!‘
Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.” ~ Matthew 7:12-25

The difference between Torah observant followers of The Way and Catholics/Protestants, in what they bear fruit in, is about 3-4 commandments, on average. What is it that Catholics/Protestants choose not to do, that Yahweh still commands His children to do?

  • celebrate weekly Sabbath
  • celebrate Yahweh’s eternal Feasts
  • honor the food laws about animals that have never been called food
  • wear tassels (tzitzit)

The church is built upon the foundation of the Rock – and that means when we accept His salvation, we will WANT to act it out, in deep love for Him who saved us! That includes Torah observance.

More articles about celebrating His Way:

* Pesach ~ Do This In Remembrance of Me
* Shavuot ~ A Day of Covenant

By admin, ago

Shavuot ~ A Day of Covenant

Shavuot is, repeatedly throughout Creator’s holy writings, a time of Covenant and Covenant Renewal. Many people celebrate this as a marriage covenant, though it is more than that imagery, too. Make no mistake, this is not a “Jewish festival,” though it certainly incorporates our Jewish brothers and sisters!
It has always been one of Creator’s eternal Feast days, long before 11 of the 12 Hebrew-Israelite tribes scattered and those who remained spoken of, were called “Jewish.” That means, those who worship Yahweh as Creator, are drawn into His Feasts, too. This is for all of His children!

In the book of Jubilees, which reaffirm the “66 canon” over and again, its noted that this Holy Feast Day is the 15th of the third month, which many people call Sivan. Further, we find that Shavuot was celebrated from Creation, over Yahweh having His eye set on a distinct people (Jubilees 2:19–21). From Noah being drawn into covenant that Yahweh would not again flood the entire earth (Jubilees 6:17), to Abraham being drawn into the covenant of circumcision (Jubilees 15:1), and Jacob being given revelation from our Creator (Jubilees 44; Genesis 46), He continually draws His people into Covenant relationship through Shavuot!

“From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, you are to count seven full weeks. You shall count fifty days until the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then present an offering of new grain to the LORD.” ~ Leviticus 23:15-16

For us as the ministerial family of Serenity’s Haven, this is a time of great celebration leading from The First Fruits of Barley until Shavuot!
We have a daily counting poster and read a short passage of Scripture each day, going over the commandments, fruit of the Spirit, Shavuot events, or what Yahweh really wants from us (our hearts!). Every Sabbath during this 7 week period, we gift the children with something for their spiritual walks. In the 2025 Gregorian year, we gifted them all small components for Bible study tools, such as Bible tabs, highlighters, covers for their Bibles, and journals. This year, we are gifting them a group gift, one book from the Tales of The Exodus book series (perfectly suited, as there are 7 books to this beautiful series). We slowly read through it each night, together, as a bedtime story.

We’d like to share printables with you, for keeping the counting of days from First Fruits of Barley to Shavuot. This pack contains a poster the size of a piece of printer paper, a 4-page poster, two different sized fire-counters, and a 50 card set. If you print the cards back and front, they will match up, and you can write your own selected Scripture passage on the back. Here is a gift for you, the Counting The Days To Shavuot pack!

On Shavuot, we want to live out a day of celebration! This year, we are hosting a Shavuot fair for local community. One of the things we wanted at the fair was a photo booth, but couldn’t find quite a themed set for props. So, we made them. If you think you’ll enjoy these, please enjoy this as a gifted download: Shavuot Photo Props.

“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: ‘Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!'” ~ Acts 2:1-10

May our Abba richly bless you as you celebrate His Feasts with Him!

By admin, ago

What Is An Unincorporated Church?

This article is taken with permission from PMA Power, with mild editing to include one more U.S. code and formatting.

You may find this as a printable brochure, to share with your tax preparer, here. It is titled “Summary of FBO Status.” There is also a chart you are free to download, called “Charity vs Church Comparison Chart.”

There seems to be much confusion surrounding the status of an unincorporated church and an FBO in relation to both government regulation and taxes and the need for recognition as a 508c1a entity. This may help to add some clarity.

We are often asked what kind of organization we are. The simple answer is we are a church. However, some people remain confused about what legal status a church has in America, for example we are occasionally sent requests similar to the below example;

“Please send us a copy of a document confirming your status as a non-profit organization. Examples include 501c3 determination letter.”

Strictly speaking, a church is not a “non-profit organization” (i.e. a charity) as some assume, so it is factually incorrect to place churches and charities in the same category as they are substantially different types of bodies. Churches do often engage in secondary benevolent activities and missions, but this is not the reason churches are excluded from taxation under the laws of the United States. Churches are primarily religious bodies and religious activity, religious association, and religious worship are protected from regulation, including taxation, by federal and state laws in the United States. This seems to confuse many people who are used to working with charitable groups. They often lump churches and charities together.

It may help to think of it in terms of fundamental rights. In the United States organizing for charitable purposes is not a protected right; it is a privilege that can be, and is, regulated by the United States corporation. Organizing for religious purposes is a protected right and the United States is prohibited under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution and related legislation from regulating or interfering with religious exercise. Taxation is considered a form of regulation and is therefore prohibited where religion and churches are concerned.

How is a Church Different than a 501(c)(3) Non-profit Charitable Organization?

A church is an ecclesiastical body with an exclusively religious function. Churches in America have an exceptional and unique tax status. This has been true since the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1791. The First Amendment includes language that protects the free exercise of religion. It mandates:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. ”

Pursuant to the above — Section 508(c)(1)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code as enacted by Congress provides that churches are not required or expected to apply for recognition of Section 501(c)(3) status in order to be recognized as free from federal taxation or to receive tax deductible contributions.

Churches Are Automatically Tax-Exempt

According to IRS Code § 508(c)(1)(A):

“Special rules with respect to section 501(c)(3) organizations. (a) New organizations must notify secretary that they are applying for recognition of section 501(c)(3) status. (c) Exceptions. (1) Mandatory exceptions. Subsections (a) and (b) shall not apply to— (A) churches, their integrated auxiliaries, and conventions or associations of churches. “

This is referred to as the “mandatory exception” rule. Thus, we see from the IRS’ own publications, and the tax code, that it is unnecessary and unexpected for any church to apply for 501(c)(3) tax exemption.

In the IRS’ own words a church is “exempt automatically” from federal tax laws.

Churches Are “Automatically Tax-Deductible

And what about tax-deductibility? Doesn’t a church still need to become a 501(c)(3) so that contributions to the church can be taken as a tax deduction? The answer, as we will see is No.

According to IRS Publication 526 “Charitable Contributions”:

“Organizations That Qualify To Receive Deductible Contributions “You can deduct your contributions only if you make them to a qualified organization. To become a qualified organization, most organizations other than churches and governments, as described below, must apply to the IRS. ““Examples. The following list gives some examples of qualified organizations.• Churches, a convention or association of churches, temples, synagogues, mosques, and other religious organizations.”…

IRS Publication 526 states again in ‘Table 1’ that contributions made to churches are deductible:

“Examples of Charitable Contributions… Use the following lists for a quick check of contributions you can or cannot deduct. Deductible as Charitable Contributions: Money or property you give to:• Churches, synagogues, temples, mosques, and other religious organizations.”…

In the IRS’ own words a church is automatically tax-deductible.

Churches Have a Mandatory Exception from Filing.

Churches are not expected to seek 501(c)(3) status. In the words of Steve Nestor, IRS Sr. Revenue Officer (ret.):

”I am not the only IRS employee who’s wondered why churches go to the government and seek permission to be exempted from a tax they didn’t owe to begin with, and to seek a tax deductible status that they’ve always had anyway”;
“Churches are in an amazingly unique position”.

U.S. Code 6033(a)(3)(a) states clearly under Mandatory Exceptions that,

“churches, their integrated auxiliaries, and conventions or associations of churches” have mandatory exceptions to filing.

The IRS again states:

“a church, its integrated auxiliaries, or a convention of churches is not required to file Form 1023 [“Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3)”] to be exempt from federal income tax or to receive tax deductible contributions ” — (Tax Exempt Status for Your Organization, IRS Publication 557).

According to the Federal Tax Code under the heading “Charitable, etc., contributions and gifts”:

“Any charitable contribution to—(i) a church or a convention or association of churches, …shall be allowed to the extent that the aggregate of such contributions does not exceed 50 percent of the taxpayer’s contribution base for the taxable year. “– United States Code, Title 26, § 170(b)(1)(A)(i).

[Notice the word “shall” is used to indicate that the deduction is mandatory, and not discretionary.]

The reason why churches enjoy this exceptional tax status is stated in IRS Publication 1828,

“Congress has enacted special tax laws applicable to churches, religious organizations, and ministers in recognition of their unique status in American society and of their rights guaranteed by the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. Churches and religious organizations are generally exempt from income tax and receive other favorable treatment under the tax law. ”

By admin, ago

All Things Restored

The ministerial project of All Things Restored supports local neighbors who are homeless or have recently gotten themselves out of homelessness, as often as possible, after an intensive membership interview.

While we find background checks to be helpful, we also know and understand that many many people can hide unethical and immoral behavior from their general community for long, extended periods of time, sometimes never having a record created on them at all. The care, respect, and safety for all of our members is paramount for our ministerial staff. We want to personally “vet” each incoming staff member to ensure that they are a good fit for the private members we serve. If there are any concerns, we want our members to freely come to us to express any alarms they might have.

The donations given to All Things Restored cover a variety of things, including, but not limited to: covering the living expenses of the ministerial staff, purchasing new or used needed tools, supplies to gift individualized service to other local private members who cannot currently afford to hire other local handymen or contractors, etcetera. A big aspect of our ministry is helping those who cannot afford to get help, to have it through generous community donations.

To become a private member of this project, or to gift a one-time tax deductible donation, please call Justin at (785)473-8916 or through email, allthingsrestored@serenityshaven.com . Printed membership agreement can be sent upon request!

By admin, ago

Ecclesiastical Views on Allopathic Drugs

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” ~ 1 Corinthians 6:19–20

Strong’s exhaustive concordance of the Bible, which lists every word in the Bible, lists the word “sorcery” as word #5332 and tells us that it is translated from the original Greek word “pharmakon.” It gives the definition as: a drug i.e. a spell-giving potion, a druggist, a poisoner.

Even in Webster’s 2nd Collegiate Dictionary, published in 1980, under the word “pharmaceutical.” The definition reads: “pharmaceutical” the practice of witchcraft or the use of poison.

  • “Outside are dogs and druggists [pharmakos] and fornicators and murderers and idolaters and any who love and make a lie.” ~ Revelation 22:15
  • “Manifest are the deeds of the flesh, such things are fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness, idolatry, use of drugs [pharmakeia], hostilities, contention, rivalry, wrath, intrigues, dissensions, sects, envyings, drunkenness, revelries, and things like these; which I have announced to you beforehand, just as I have said before, that they who practice such things shall not inherit Yahweh’s kingdom.” ~ Galatians 5:19-21

Further, “If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.” ~ 1 Corinthians 3:17

The very first place the word “medicine” is used in the Bible is in Proverbs 17:22 and it says, “A merry heart doeth good, like a medicine.” If medicine and drugs are the same thing, this would, at first glance, seem to reveal a contradiction in the Bible. This question is answered in the very next text listed in the concordance under medicine: Ezekial 47:12, “Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.”

The Bible is telling us that medicine is good and it tells us where to obtain it: from the leaves or what we commonly call “herbs.”

  • “Yet its swamps and marshes will not be healed; they will be left for salt. All kinds of trees providing food will grow along both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. Each month they will bear fresh fruit because the water comes from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be used for food and their leaves for medicine.” ~ Ezekiel 47:11-12
  • “It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations.” ~ Revelation 22:2
  • “Isaiah had said to Hezekiah’s servants, ‘Make an ointment from figs and spread it over the boil, and Hezekiah will recover.’” ~ Isaiah 38:21
By admin, ago

Home Learning Freely

The Mission ~ Written by Jacque Starr

We have met a lot of home school families where a single Mom is the sole provider and is doing her best to home school her children on a tight budget (meaning many of us cannot imagine how tight). In an effort to help out these Home school Moms, I am making a list of places online where they can find FREE Home school Resources. This will obviously benefit any home school mom, but I see a great need for single moms to have the freedom to home school, regardless of their financial burdens, and I am taking steps to aid them as much as the LORD allows us to.

We have felt this burden for single parent home school moms for the past year, and I feel it is a part of the Body of Christ’s place to make a way and to care for these moms and their children so that they are not forced to put their children into the public’s government school system, where they will be led in humanism, socialism, and all works of evil.

Below is a list of many sites you will find FREE home schooling resources. The best resources we know of are the ones that God freely gives to us, His WORD and our lives as Believers.

The Best Free Resources: The WORD of God and Living Learning Moments

I hope you are blessed with all that you need to teach your children about God and His ways. Honestly, if you want to keep their hearts and allow God to heal them… the best and free resource we have is the Bible.

Here is a beginner list of subjects you can use the Bible for in teaching: You can do reading and writing assignments from it; They will learn history; Culture-Studies; Poetry: the KJV is written almost in prose; You can use it as a copy book; studying it will build character; Critical Thinking, How to defend their faith; Memorizing Scripture not only hones the mind, but renews the Spirit and the mind each time it is brought to our remembrance. How to manage their lives and emotions; How to manage their homes and become kind and considerate citizens; As we seek to follow the LORD as we walk with them and talk with them, as in Deuteronomy 6, teaching them ALL that He has commanded us, He will surely lead us and show us what He has for our children.

We don’t buy a bunch of curriculum either. We prefer to use textbooks and workbooks as complimentary resources for the real learning tools: Living Learning Moments . LLMs are any moments that happen throughout life that teach you a lesson. Because God created us to be thinking creatures, made in His image, this is all of life. Anything that can be used as a life lesson or an example by which to learn is worthy of learning.

We use any free means we can to home school. One wonderful resource that we have is our small farm. Learning to become a responsible, hard-working adult who enjoys taking pride in a job well-done and an attitude befitting a Believer is important for children to learn at an early age. Having our goats, chickens, dogs and cats has enabled us to use the LLMs as character-building times and also as other learning times as well.

Nature Study: A wonderful way to pull children into God’s world is to take a bit of time each day and get out and see His Creation. You can find information on the internet of plants, trees, etc. that are indigenous to your area. Adding sketching and or classifying to their observation is a great way to do nature science and art.
I have found that allowing my children guided freedom to explore their own educational interests has shown me and them what God has for their lives.

Please, above all things, do not forsake the Power of Prayer. Only God can meet our deepest spiritual needs. Only God knows what our true physical and financial needs are. Please commit to pray for these families as they endeavor to walk in the way, teaching their children in the LORD.

Sites with Free Learning Materials (updated by ministerial staff as time permits)

  • Ambleside Online “Ambleside Online is a curriculum guide and booklist designed to follow Charlotte Mason’s method of homeschooling. Each year/grade has a list of books to lay out what resources will need to be collected or purchased, and an optional weekly schedule based on a 36-week school year to break the resources into smaller increments to help with pacing the books throughout the year. There is no fee to use the curriculum or website. Parents may use as much or as little of the booklists and schedules as they like. Some families follow it exactly as laid out, most tweak it a little here and there to use books they already have, or because they prefer another resource over the one listed. And some use just the Picture Study, Composer Study, and other similar components.“
  • An Old-Fashioned Education is a site that offers links to free curriculum resources as well as a curriculum that Maggie set up herself. Her Old Fashioned Education Curriculum was created using free texts which are available on the Internet. Most of the books were published before 1923, so they are now in the public domain. Most of the original copyrights have expired, and these books may be used by anyone, any way they like. Most of those whose copyrights are still held allow you to download, print or copy their books free for personal use. Most of what is listed on her site is free to you. There are a few exceptions that you can find listed on her site.
  • Easy Peasy Homeschool Curriculum – complete, free, Christian program
  • Little House Kindergarten – pay what you can, complete curriculum
  • My Audio School – free audio books
  • Catechism for Young Children
  • A Charlotte Mason Bible Study Lesson – many links to free resources in this well-written article
  • Charlotte Mason Simple Languages – Spanish Bible Cards with audio links
  • Growing in Grace – beautiful, free home learning planner to print
  • Trello – free online/app planning tool that can be utilized for home learning! Here is a sample of how it can be set up, please read the instructions if you choose to utilize the cards!
  • Wonder & Wildness – cultivating habits is one of the first free help in smoother days in any home! Read through this introduction article and there are links galore – including to the author’s collection of games and resources to cultivate a variety of habits in our own lives and our children’s lives.
  • Handwriting Worksheet Wizard
  • Queensland Italic Handwriting Program – there is a lot of free resources at this link
  • Mathemathics Enhancement Program – this is a complete K-12 maths program (through the UK, so measurements are in metric, not an insurmountable issue) that is completely free. It includes teacher guides, student workbooks, printable manipulatives, and more.
  • Mike’s Math Page – a lot of great, free prompts to think mathematically with our children
  • Play, Discover, Learn – free 12 week study using Gattengo’s first maths book and Cuisenaire rods
  • Natural Math – a wealth of resources, including free math story books, games, and courses
  • Using Map Drills for Geography
  • Mapwork Discussion Group – this is a facebook group that offers a wealth of free resources in their files section
  • A Year With My Camera – a free online photography course
  • Sing Solfa – free singing training program
  • Under The Home – free art history books
  • A Humble Place – free picture study resources
  • Homeschool Giveaways – regular freebies
By admin, ago

Gleaning the Harvest Standards of Ministry

We have had many inquiries from supporters asking how we can assure them that the families they are giving to are real, really in need, and really who and what they say they are, etc. While there are no guarantees that families will not misrepresent themselves to us, we do our best to present families which are truly in need to the Donors, because we truly value your giving, and we take the responsibility of presenting the families to you very seriously.

This letter is to give you as a Donor and the families who are looking for referral and support an understanding of the guidelines and standards we hold at Gleaning the Harvest. We want you to know what we believe and hold to in our support of our families.

These standards and guidelines have been thought-out and are not meant in to condemn anyone’s choices, lifestyles or beliefs in any way, nor are they to keep anyone from benefiting from Gleaning the Harvest. As with all charitable associations, which we are in our representation of families to the community, we must have guidelines and be able to know that these guidelines are being adhered to. This is a very hard thing to do online, not knowing a family in real life, so we have found we need to set specific standards and parameters for referral and acceptance to GTH.

To clarify, here are the qualifications for representation we have had at Gleaning the Harvest since its inception.

*The family must home school all of their school-age children, not sending any to a government or private school institution.
*The family must believe that Jesus is the Son of God and Messiah, and endeavor to train their children up in God’s Word.
*The mother must be at home or seeking to be at home to care for her family.
[Mothers who seek employment outside their homes are not discriminated against; we just are choosing to aid those home school mothers who choose to be home and have no other income from an outside job.]
*The family must, in their lives, strive to live in a manner reflecting  Scriptural  guidelines.


Here are the Scriptural applications we look to for our guidelines that will prove this out: Titus 2 gives us standards on how “to behave the way people leading a holy life should.” so that “God’s message will not be brought into disgrace.”

Titus 2:3-5
Likewise, tell the older women to behave the way people leading a holy life should. They shouldn’t be slanderers or slaves to excessive drinking. They should teach what is good, thus training the younger women to love their husbands and children,
to be self-controlled and pure, to take good care of their homes and submit to their husbands. In this way, God’s message will not be brought into disgrace.“

So, by this Scripture alone, at Gleaning the Harvest, for widows and single mothers, we are asking that GTH families strive to live these standards of holiness.

**Watch your speech
**No drunkenness – this includes other worldly habits also, such as smoking, partying, drugs, pornography, and such.
**Teach what is good (by God’s standards)
**Love your children
**Be self-controlled and pure–minded
**Take good care of your home, including yourself, your finances, and your children.

In order to clarify the standards we have about women working, we have added this portion  to this page: Our standards do not state, nor is it our belief that women should not work at all, for if that were the case, a wife and home keeper would not take on its true meaning. We are to be business-minded and entrepreneurial as women.
We do not believe it is wrong, nor do we withhold sponsorship from moms who work their own businesses, including cleaning houses or businesses, work at home, etc. Many a godly woman has maintained her home, keeping it and training her children in her home as she works on her own business in her home, married or not.
We are a big supporter of our families. We expect that these women will be single for many years, and are grateful to Yehovah God that he has given them talents and desires to work with their hands to be productive and also to teach their own children to do the same. It should be so also in a marriage, where a wife, such as the Prov. 31 woman also, was a great blessing to her husband and his household.

We consider the GTH families to be an extended part of our family relationships and circle of fellowship. We do not require personal relationship with the family, but do need to be welcome to be a part in the lives of the families, so we can “know” them and properly represent them to the Donors online.

We have to know you either in person, through personal emails, or through a blog or website or social networking site.

References, which are also required, will have to be able to be verified in the same manner, in a manner acceptable to us. If we feel that we cannot recommend you because we do not know you well enough, we will not be able to represent you on the site.

~Though not required, speaking directly to your Pastor, verified by a website and a phone number online is one of the best references you can give.

There will be no exceptions to this.

Accepting families into Gleaning the Harvest will also be on a trial basis. We will not set the trial time, because we do not know how long it will take to get to know each individual family. That will depend on the relationship between the family and GTH and the family’s online presence.

By knowing each family in a more personal way online, we will be able to better apply the GTH Standards of Ministry and guidelines to each family.

If anything becomes apparent or we see a change in your life that applies to these standards of our representing you on GTH, we will contact you. If it is something you choose to ignore, and, we understand if you choose to, because we are not your Biblical authority, we will strongly consider discontinuing your representation to the public on GTH.

We do not view ourselves in any manner as an authority over or in anyone’s life, while we do consider the call to be responsible for making sure the other families represented to others on our site meet the guidelines that we set. We are presenting each family to the public, with this assurance to our Partners – that families are living the standards and guidelines we set. This is a great responsibility, and we will make sure our representation to them is true. People who give to others want to make sure they are giving to the Lord and His People, and most do not wish to support worldly things in their giving.

If any circumstances in your life changes, please be up-front and let us know about it. These are not the only reasons we wish to know about changes, but it is necessary to know them.
Things that could change might include:
*changing residences (that will likely affect the amount per month needed.)
*if you decide to put any of your children into a school outside of your home;
*the status of a romantic relationship (1Timothy 5:11-13);
*if you are looking for or get a job outside your home;
*if you decide to start a business in your home;

Even if a family would choose to not let us know, if any circumstances change in any of the families we represent, we are responsible for noticing that and removing any families who no longer meet the original guidelines and standards originally agreed to.

Family members, in their real life and online interactions, whether on blogs, social networks, or in comments to others, should diligently try to reflect these guidelines. That is not to say we are not all human, nor can any of us be perfect in our lives, but, we are called by God to Be Holy and Be perfect in Him, as we live for Him.  Certainly, when one decides that they are in control and God is not, and turns to the ways of the world, in speech and/or actions, these things become evident to the reader, and if this happens, determination will be made by personal contact if removal from GTH representation is necessary.

If at any time, any family member becomes hostile, negative or non-communicative toward any member representing Gleaning the Harvest, we will immediately remove the family from GTH representation. That is an obvious expectation, since you would not expect someone to give to you if you would treat them in this manner.

If you are interested in seeing our understanding of God’s Word for our families, in respect to widows, please read Widows in the Word. We base our standards, guidelines and approval of families on these verses.

Please understand that this is not a set of rules of who you must be, but, rather, a Biblical look at who we are all to be striving to be as holy women of God. No one is perfect, and though God commands us to be perfect and be holy, he also imparts the grace when we fail daily.
It is not our job to look too closely. If we have to look too closely, well, we are looking too closely. Godliness – striving to be who God desires – is immediately noticeable in a person. Losing that first love is also immediately noticeable, and that is more what we are concerned about. We are not here to judge or to moderate, but to uphold the Word and live it in love and grace, allowing God to lead us and shape us.
Scripture references: Matthew 5:43-48, Leviticus 11:44-45

If anyone looking for referral or presentation on Gleaning the Harvest feels that they cannot abide by the standards and qualifications set forth in this letter, please do not request submittal for consideration to Gleaning the Harvest.

Please note that this letter and its standards and guidelines are subject to change, be added to, etc. at any time at the discretion of the trustees of Serenity’s Haven in agreement with the ministers of Gleaning the Harvest.

By admin, ago

Gleaning the Harvest Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ

Q: How can I support Gleaning the Harvest?

A: The best way to support Gleaning the Harvest is to partner with us and get the word out and to send some of your gleanings to the families we promote. Putting a GTH banner or icon on your site will give GTH good exposure. If your think GTH is a worthy cause, blog about it! Tell your friends! Join us on social media and promote the site. Putting a “Supporting” icon on your blog or a ChipIn widget is an instant announcement that you are supporting a Gleaning the Harvest Mom. You will find banners and icons to put on your own website or blog on our Word of Mouth Resources page. Giving just a couple dollars a month truly means a lot to these families. If you can, give liberally!

Q: What do I have to do to give money to a family?

A: We have set up a link directly to each individual Paypal account or Liberty Dollar donation button for each family. Please note that you may give any amount, from a couple of dollars to thousands. Every little bit helps these Moms.

Q: Can you tell me how donated funds are administered and overseen? Where does my donation to a family go?

A: Gleaning the Harvest is solely a facilitator in presenting widowed and fatherless families in need to the public. The funds are given directly to the families through their Paypal accounts or their Liberty Dollar donate buttons, at Gleaning the Harvest. Gleaning the Harvest does not touch the monies at all and only have a record of them through donation tracking bars. We do not have passwords, so we have no access to the funds. The only fee is taken out through Paypal or Liberty Dollar, and it is slight. This ensures that all the monies go to the families and not anyone in conjunction with Gleaning the Harvest. Basically, we are a fund-raising site, presenting the families to the world via our site. Any fees that may be taken out at any time will never be taken out by Gleaning the Harvest. There will be no monies exchanged between Gleaning the Harvest, its owners, affiliates or partners from any donors and/or recipient families for being featured on the Gleaning the Harvest website. Neither the families presented on Gleaning the Harvest, nor those who donate, nor linked websites have paid any money or given any donations either as material items or otherwise to be featured on the Gleaning the Harvest site.

Q: Are recipients verified to be a member in good standing in local churches with some form of elder oversight?

A: When we verify the families, we speak to their Pastor or someone that we know well to be sure that they are real families in real need. We do not require that they are in a local church, but we do know whether they are in a local church or not. We require that they are growing in the LORD and spend daily time in their Bible, teaching it to their children.

Q: Just WHO does Gleaning the Harvest support?

A: We are still working it out as to whom it is our responsibility to support Biblically, as far as widows and orphans goes. We want to present those who are honoring God in their lives, not walking in blatant sin, and faithfully serving him with their whole heart in their homes first, then their churches and communities. We will soon be publishing our guidelines.
In a nutshell, we support widowed, divorced and single home school moms who are at home with their family, keeping their homes and not out in the workforce. You can read what the Word has to say about widows and orphans in our post: Widows in Scripture.

Q: Can I give anonymously to the families?

A: When you give through Paypal or through Liberty Dollar, you will be sending your information to the recipient. Because of all of the possible negative things that can happen on the internet, and because the families we support are single moms, we do not advocate giving anonymously. It is our belief that the Church, the Body of Christ is responsible to support the widows and the fatherless. Because we are supposed to be supporting these women, it should not be an uncomfortable thing for either party. It is one way God has provided for them, and it is through Him and from Him these donations will be given, by our hands.
We do fully understanding both sides of the situation though, and do not mean to judge anyone who may feel uncomfortable either giving or receiving, we just hope you understand this is just one way that love is expressed to the families.

Q: Is there any other way to give to a family?

A: As of right now, we are working on getting wish lists up for each family of household items and special needs they may have. If you have anything you would like to give to a family, please send an email to us stating what you would like to give and to whom, and we will email the family. We will leave it up to them if they would like to email you about it or give out their personal addresses. If you would like to be more specific in your giving, you are welcome to send gift certificates for online stores to the families. We can also arrange to send the families gift cards. They are easy to share and the family can get just what they need.
You may send these emails to gleaningtheharvest@serenityshaven.com . We will let you know that we have sent the email on to the family when we do so.

Q: I have my own company and would like to support these families with tangible products I have in my store. How do I go about doing that?

A: If you are a company interested in donating home products, home school, or family resources and products to any families on Gleaning the Harvest, please contact please contact Jacque with your information, so that we can refer you to families directly. We would love to have some companies donate products or gift certificates to the families!

If you would like to offer discounts, free shipping or free product to families or to others, to purchase for the families, we would be happy to work with you to do that. When we contact the families with your email about sending anything to a physical address, we will leave it up to them if they would like to email you about it or give out their personal addresses. Any items given to families is done directly from partners to the families.

Q: Is this a tax-deductible donation?

A: Because Gleaning the Harvest does not keep records or have access to giving and receiving of donors and referral families, there is no record of taxed or tax-deductible donations. The ministerial project of Gleaning the Harvest does not keep track of, nor do we email, any tax-deductible information to anyone.

Q: How do I refer a family to Gleaning the Harvest?

A: If you would like to refer a fatherless or widowed family, there is information we request from you about the referral mother and family. You will find this information on the Referring Families page. You will find specific information to send in to gleaningtheharvest@serenityshaven.com .

If you have any questions we have not answered on our site, please contact us by email at

By admin, ago

Widows in Scripture

Written by Jacque Starr

The study of widows in the Scriptures is a very deep topic, one that we are still learning about. It seems like it would be so simple, yet there are so many different aspects and requirements and commands from God about it. We are learning and searching and studying what God said in many verses and then the few references Paul also made, and James.
The command to care for widows in Deuteronomy is one verse we chose to base Gleaning the Harvest on, and it is very implicit on leaving some of what you earn or have behind for the widows, orphans and strangers. It was interesting to me that, in verses 18 and 22, the Father made sure to tell us that he commanded these things as a reminder that Israel was set free from the bondage of Egypt, as he also commanded Passover and the Sabbath and several other commands.
Deuteronomy 24:14-22

“You are not to exploit a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether one of your brothers or a foreigner living in your land in your town. 15 You are to pay him his wages the day he earns them, before sunset; for he is poor and looks forward to being paid. Otherwise he will cry out against you to YHVH, and it will be your sin. 16 “Fathers are not to be executed for the children, nor are children to be executed for the fathers; every person will be executed for his own sin. 17 “You are not to deprive the foreigner or the orphan of the justice which is his due, and you are not to take a widow’s clothing as collateral for a loan. 18 Rather, remember that you were a slave in Egypt; and YHVH your God redeemed you from there. That is why I am ordering you to do this. 19 “When harvesting the grain in your field, if you forgot a sheaf of grain there, you are not to go back and get it; it will remain there for the foreigner, the orphan and the widow, so that YHVH your God will bless you in all the work you do. 20 When you beat your olive tree, you are not to go back over the branches again; the olives that are left will be for the foreigner, the orphan and the widow. 21 When you gather the grapes from your vineyard, you are not to return and pick grapes a second time; what is left will be for the foreigner, the orphan and the widow. 22 Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt. That is why I am ordering you to do this.

1 Timothy has quite a bit to say about widows and the different classifications and circumstances in which to help them out or not. It is quite an eye-opening passage, and will be affecting our ministering here at Gleaning the Harvest. I have broken the passage up to the different points Paul made to Timothy about the different circumstances and biblical commands when caring for widows.
1 Timothy 5:3-4, 5-7, 9-10, 11-15, 16:

3 Show respect to widows who are really in need. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, first let them learn to do their religious duty to their own family and thus repay some of the debt they owe their forebears, for this is what is acceptable in the sight of God.
5 Now the widow who is really in need, the one who has been left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in petitions and prayers night and day.
6 But the one who is self-indulgent is already dead, even though she lives. 7 And instruct them about this, so that they will not be open to blame. 8 Moreover, anyone who does not provide for his own people, especially for his family, has disowned the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
9 Let a widow be enrolled on the list of widows only if she is more than sixty years old, was faithful to her husband, 10 and is known for her good deeds – as one who has reared her children well, showed hospitality, washed the feet of God’s people, helped those in trouble, and engaged in all kinds of good work.
11 But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when they begin to feel natural passions that alienate them from the Messiah, they want to get married. 12 This brings them under condemnation for having set aside the trust they had at first. 13 Besides that, they learn to be idle, going around from house to house; and not only idle, but gossips and busybodies, saying things they shouldn’t. 14 Therefore, I would rather the young widows get married, have children and take charge of their homes, so as to give the opposition no occasion for slandering us. 15 For already some have turned astray to follow the Adversary.
16 If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, she should provide relief for them – the congregation shouldn’t be burdened, so that it may help the widows who are really in need.

Deuteronomy 16:11:

You are to rejoice in the presence of YHVH your God – you, your sons and daughters, your male and female slaves, the L’vi’im living in your towns, and the foreigners, orphans and widows living among you – in the place where YHVH your God will choose to have his name live.

This one in 2 Samuel was interesting to me, because there are still situations where this applies to women/mothers. I believe that they, too, are forced to live like widows with their husbands still alive, though in a lot of cases their husband is not providing for them as King David did his wives.

2 Samuel 20:3 :

When David arrived at his palace in Yerushalayim, the king took the ten women who were his concubines, whom he had left to care for the palace, and put them under guard. He provided for their needs but never slept with them again. They were kept in confinement until the day of their death, living like widows with their husband still alive.

Psalm 146:

1 HalleluYah! Praise YHVH, my soul! 2 I will praise YHVH as long as I live. I will sing praise to my God all my life. 3 Don’t put your trust in princes or in mortals, who cannot help. 4 When they breathe their last, they return to dust; on that very day all their plans are gone.
5 Happy is he whose help is Ya’akov’s God, whose hope is in YHVH his Elohim. 6 He made heaven and earth, the sea and everything in them; he keeps faith forever. 7 He secures justice for the oppressed, he gives food to the hungry. YHVH sets prisoners free, 8 YHVH opens the eyes of the blind, YHVH lifts up those who are bent over. YHVH loves the righteous. 9 YHVH watches over strangers, he sustains the fatherless and widows; but the way of the wicked he twists. 10 YHVH will reign forever, your God, Tziyon, through all generations. Halleluyah!

Though our Father loves the widows and orphans amongst his people and desires us to care for them, he still expects them to live for him. In Isaiah, he is passing judgment on Israel, including the widows and orphans in those he will have no compassion on, “for everyone is ungodly and does evil, every mouth speaks foolishly.” There is a lot to learn about the compassion and righteous anger of the Father, who desires and deserves the love and pure behaviour of His People.

Isaiah 8-17 :

YHVH sent a word to Ya’akov, and it has fallen on Isra’el. 9 All the people know it, Efrayim and the inhabitants of Shomron. But they say in pride, in the arrogance of their hearts, 10 “The bricks have fallen, but we will rebuild with cut stone; the sycamore-fig trees have been chopped down, but we will replace them with cedars.” 11 So YHVH has raised up Retzin’s foes against him and spurred on his enemies – 12 Aram from the east, P’lishtim from the west; and they devour Isra’el with an open mouth. Even after all this, his anger remains, his upraised hand still threatens. 13 Yet the people do not turn to the one striking them, they don’t seek YHVH-Tzva’ot. 14 Therefore YHVH will cut off Isra’el’s head and tail, [tall] palm frond and [lowly] reed in a single day. 15 The old and the honored are the head, while prophets teaching lies are the tail. 16 For those leading this people lead them astray, and those led by them are destroyed. 17 Therefore YHVH takes no joy in their young men and has no compassion on their orphans and widows; for everyone is ungodly and does evil, every mouth speaks foolishly. Even after all this, his anger remains, his upraised hand still threatens.
In the Scriptures, the Father, YHVH, also tells the people to go and to leave the orphans and widows, and He will care for them and sustain them.

Jeremiah 49:11 :

“Leave your orphans; I will keep them alive; let your widows trust in me.”

Zechariah 7:10 :

Don’t oppress widows, orphans, foreigners or poor people. Don’t plot evil against each other.

In 1 Corinthians 7 and 1 Timothy 5, Paul speaks to widows about marriage, presenting two different opinions for their understanding.

1 Corinthians 7:8-9 :

8 Now to the single people and the widows I say that it is fine if they remain unmarried like me; 9 but if they can’t exercise self-control, they should get married; because it is better to get married than to keep burning with sexual desire.

(see full passage above) 1 Timothy 5:14

Therefore, I would rather the young widows get married, have children and take charge of their homes, so as to give the opposition no occasion for slandering us.
Interestingly enough, James also instructs us about caring for widows and orphans, lining it up with keeping ourselves from being contaminated by the world.

James 1:27

The religious observance that God the Father considers pure and faultless is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being contaminated by the world.

God obviously is very concerned about his people and knows it is best for us and for the widows that His own People support them in Him. Whether it is to turn our hearts to his compassion or to open our pocketbooks up to what his heart’s desires or to keep the widows in fellowship with the Body, even if they have no husband and supporter, or just because this is his provision, these are his ways and commands, and he cared enough about us all to spell it out many times in Scriptures.
I know there is so much to learn about, and I am thankful He is leading us in His paths! Mostly, these verses show us that our Father loves us so very much and WILL care for His People. He promised to, if we will be His People and love and follow Him.
Be blessed!

By admin, ago