Tag Archives: Jesus

Biblical Feasts, Passover

Lamb of GOD Passover Celebration

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Spring is an exciting time for a Yeshua follower! Passover followed, by the Feast of Unleavened Bread, provides ample opportunity to draw closer to our Messiah, as well as to our families.

I love walking out a faith that requires physical, do-able displays like getting the leaven out of our homes, eating unleavened bread, and getting the table ready.

These physical actions solidify, and mirror, the work in our hearts to get rid of anything that is not of GOD and seek more of our Messiah.

It is all too easy, however, to get caught up in traditions of men rather than biblical instruction. In an attempt to get everything “right”, we often get tripped up by things that are not required by our Heavenly Father.

This truly is the antithesis of the shalom that HE provides when we humbly seek Him and celebrate His Ways with His Holy Spirit as our guide. It is my desire to encourage you to keep things simple and keep the main thing (Yeshua) the main thing.

We must not be believers in intellect only or take on the burden of extra-biblical instruction. For there are times when the Holy Spirit will override our minds. We must speak Spirit. For GOD seeks those who would come to Him with faith like a child. (see Matthew 18:1-5)

The rabbinic seders, of today, were not commanded by YHWH. The actual instructions, for a Passover celebration (followed by the Feast of Unleavened Bread) are very simple. Please read Exodus 12, Leviticus 23, and other Bible passages and do as the Holy Spirit leads you according to the Word of GOD.

“Therefore, purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore, let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” – 1 Corinthians 5:7-8

Below, is a simple, but meaningful, Passover Service that I have written. Feel free to download it and/or print it out. There are a few supplies that you will need to gather ahead of time, and it is encouraged to share in a meal, after this service has been completed.

I pray that you will slow down this Passover season. Simplify your preparations and keep them in accordance with how scripture instructs. May we turn to Yeshua, with our whole hearts, as we make room for Him at our tables.

For more information, on Passover, check out this previous blog post: https://shalomtotalwellness.com/2020/04/09/passover-season-of-miracles/

Have a blessed Passover season!

“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” — 3 John 1:2
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Encouragement

The Wilderness Season

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Thoughts on The Wilderness: No one, or at least very few of us, wakes up with the goal of spending time in the wilderness. We prefer comfort. We like our niceties. Growth sounds good but who wants messy?

Like the Hebrews, of old, it may take a move of GOD to even get us out there. Like Yeshua (Jesus), it may take the Holy Spirit’s leading. And so, on faith, we go…

…and once we’re there, reality sets in. It’s a wild place full of much less than what we once had. Uncertainty sets in. It’s narrow here. It’s constricting. There’s nowhere no run to and nowhere to hide. We can’t go back to the life we once knew. No map has been provided for our journey. We’re not sure how we’ll get out of this.

But we do have a guide. His Name is Yeshua (Jesus). In the wilderness, we learn to receive His love in a new way. All other voices become background noise as His Voice becomes the Only One we hear. His direction becomes clearer than what we see around us.

He’s with us. He’s taking us through the heat. He’s shielding us from the elements. He’s teaching us His ways. We’re learning how to love. We’re learning how to live. He’s sending the manna and the quail. We’re learning when to move and when to rest.

These things don’t always happen as effectively when in the city or in the town or when surrounded by community. But in the wilderness the necessary becomes the real. We have no other option but to cling to our Good Shepherd.

This is where real growth happens. Ashes are exchanged for beauty. We learn how to fight the giants. Preparations are being made for us to take the land.

“The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.

2 It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God.

3 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.

4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.

5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

7 And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.

8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

9 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:

10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” -Isaiah 35:1-10 (KJV)

In this dry and lonely land, we are being strengthened. We are being refined. Champions are being born. Victory is imminent. There’s no room for fear. Our tongues only speak faith.
Look for the flowers while in this wilderness. There may not be entire fields of them. But they can be found. This is where we become FREE.

Shalom to you,

Biblical Feasts, Shavuot/Pentecost

Celebrating Shavuot/Pentecost

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The Ricci House is celebrating Shavuot/Pentecost today! It’s also known as “The Feast of Weeks” because Lev.23:15-16 tells us to count the weeks (or 50 days) after Passover. This celebration commemorates the giving of the Torah (GOD’s holy instructions) at Mt. Sinai. After Yeshua (Jesus) returned to sit at the right Hand of the Father, the Holy Spirit’s baptism of fire was also given on Shavuot.

“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” — John 4:24

A deep well of joy, and purpose, enters your life when you choose to get on GOD’s timetable…when you choose to show up for the appointments that He sets.

This is much more than a history lesson. It’s a tangible way to step into the more that GOD has for us. We get to be a part of HIS-story!

This isn’t mere religious duty. It’s relationship!

A divine exchange occurs when we put GOD’s feast days on our schedule and lean into them. As you choose to get to know the Father’s heart, through His feasts, your heart changes also. What breaks His heart begins to break yours. What sets His heart ablaze makes you come alive! And the things of this world become strangely dim.

Take note of how when the Torah, and the Holy Spirit, were given, GOD’s presence arrives in unforgettable ways. With smoke, lightening, thunders, tongues of fire! This is evidence of Heaven meeting earth.

I need more of Him. He wants to meet with me. So, we plan for this special date together. We give back. We abstain from work. We pray. We read the Word. We praise. And we eat! And GOD shows up with a fresh filling of His Spirit.

Happy Shavuot, Shalom Fam! You know what to do. Don’t cower from the holy mountain of the LORD. He meets us there with exactly what we need.

Here are some Bible verses about Shavuot/Pentecost:
Exodus 19; Leviticus 23:15-22;
Acts 2:1-21; Acts 20:16;
1 Corinthians 16:8

Shalom to you,

NEWSFLASH, Uncategorized

SHALOM TOTAL WELLNESS BOOK IS OUT NOW!

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Hooray! My first solo book is finally out, friends!

My goal, with Shalom Total Wellness: Biblical Principles for Health & Healing, was to make it accessible enough for someone completely new to natural health, but fresh enough for someone who has been into natural health for years.

As per the usual, I approach everything through the lens of biblical truth. You might be surprised to hear that the Bible has a lot to say on the topic of health and healing!

I also did something that I don’t do very often. I shared some of my personal journey with health struggles. Yes, I got vulnerable.

I’d be honored for you to consider reading Shalom Total Wellness: Biblical Principles for Health & Healing. It was listed as the #1 New Release in the Naturopathy category, and made the Best Seller list, on amazon! Currently, it is steadily remaining in the top 7 New Releases, for both kindle and paperback versions (in the Naturopathy category) on amazon. Thank you for being part of the journey!

Here’s where to find it:

Paperback version: https://www.amazon.com/Shalom-Total-Wellness-Biblical-Principles/dp/B0B28FPVCN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1938MQE6DZUIU&keywords=shalom+total+wellness&qid=1654104518&sprefix=%2Caps%2C71&sr=8-1

Kindle version: https://www.amazon.com/Shalom-Total-Wellness-Biblical-Principles-ebook/dp/B0B26KJ4ZK/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1654104518&sr=8-1

NOOK Book (eBook): https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shalomtotal-wellness-dr-sheli-ricci/1141514657?ean=2940166341563

SCRIBD (eBook): https://www.scribd.com/book/575493614/ShalomTotal-Wellness-Biblical-Principles-for-Health-Healing

If you happen to pick up a copy, and feel led to leave a review, that would be wonderful. I’d love to hear how this book is being received!

Shalom to you,

Encouragement

WHERE IS GOD IN TIMES OF SUFFERING ?

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I take the topic of health personally, very personally. Because, you see, I have been on the other end of an all-out onslaught to stop, maim, and kill me for my entire life. One of the main weapons used against me was physical illness, disease, and false approaches to “health”.

My friends are my family and when they’re sick, I can feel it. When my husband and daughter are sick, I feel it. It’s no wonder I decided to become a doctor of natural medicine. I had to. I couldn’t find the right doctor for me so I became one.

I view things differently – it’s life and death and the fight goes beyond people.

It’s principalities. It’s spiritual. It’s personal.

Maybe you can imagine my irritation upon realizing that my family is now fighting what has been termed “C-V” (for the second time). Yeah, not happy. We take all the right supplements and vitamins. We eat biblically clean. We nebulize and diffuse all the things. We’ve already been thru a round of this junk, last year, so I thought we were beyond it.

It just goes to show you how aggressive this illness is. How pointed it is. How it can target anyone.

It’s principalities. It’s spiritual. It’s personal.

So we keep taking the right supplements and vitamins. We’re still nebulizing and diffusing all the things. I have plans. I have back up plans – all for “just in case”. Some of it is a waiting game. It’s all being bathed in prayer.

And as the world is full of bad news, loved ones clinging to life…and some losing theirs, wars, rumors of wars, increased hatred among people, etc. – the literal war for our lives increases. Everyone is being affected, deeply, by one thing or another. One has to wonder where GOD is in all of it.

So, I asked. Yeah, I asked Yeshua (Jesus) this morning where He was in all of it. I know what the Bible says and I believe it. But I still needed to hear from Him.

And I found Him……sitting down on the beach of a lake. He was skipping rocks into the water. It wasn’t for sport or fun. He was waiting. And He seemed irritated. I sat down beside Him. We sat in silence, together, as I watched Him skipping the rocks over and into the water.

He’s really good at it. Each rock stayed above the water for a long time before being pulled down by their weight. A feat that I tried, as a child, but never quite succeeded at – not consistently anyways.

The sky was ablaze with pinks, and purples, as the sun set low in the distance. He had been here a long time. Waiting. Irritated. His brow furrowed. His hand clinched as He hurled each rock into the lake.“

This had to happen,“ He said, his gaze remained on the water. And He just kept skipping those rocks in. I dare not ask why this had to happen but I knew that He was referring to what we were all going thru, on a personal scale as well as world-wide. It wasn’t just about me or my family.

Of course, He knew that I was wondering “why”, even though I didn’t ask. He answered me: “It’s principalities.”

Then He forcefully skipped a rock into the lake.

“It’s spiritual.” Another rock went in.

“It’s personal.” Another rock hurled in.

He stopped skipping rocks at that point. In this solemn understanding, we sat. For the very battle I had fought all of my life – with all the feelings attached – were His feelings in this moment.

And He had to keep waiting for now. We all do. And it’s hard. It’s irritating.

I thought of how He whittled that tree branch into a whip, that one time. While He whittled, He waited. And that’s where we are right now – in that moment of tension, that moment of wait, of irritation.

He turned to me. Our eyes met. “Thank you for sitting with me.”He was grateful for MY company. Mine?

He offered no promises of things turning out okay. That all seems a bit trite now anyways, don’t you think.

But He said this:“I’m with you, always.”

“Oh hey (yes, Yeshua said “hey”) it’s your birthday today. I’m sorry, but you gift is going to be late this year.” Then He turned His gaze back to the lake and began skipping rocks again.

“Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.

“For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void,

But it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.“ For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; and it shall be to the Lord for a name,

For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.” — Isaiah 55:6-13

If you are currently enduring a time of suffering, please know that you are NOT alone. GOD IS with you. He is guiding you, and loving you, thru it all.

Shalom to you,