DIY Shavuot Cupcake Toppers

Here's a simple way to add some Shavuot festivity to your upcoming feast! You can make these at home in just a few minutes. You probably have everything required. Just some tape, wooden skewers or toothpicks, and the printout of these cupcake toppers is all you need. I intentionally made it something that would print out well on a regular home printer using plain paper. Nothing fancy needed at all.

You will need:
Shavuot cupcake printable
Scissors
Double sided tape
Small wooden skewers or toothpicks

What to do:
First you'll need to cut out the hexagons. This shape makes it easy to cut and get nice edges. You will need two per cupcake topper, so print the appropriate number of sheets. One sheet will get you six toppers.

Flip over one hexagon and place a skewer in approximately the middle. Use double sided tape to secure it and then grab another hexagon. Connect the backside of it with the double sided tape. You may want to experiment with different skewer sizes to come up with a height that you prefer. And voila, you have your topper. Repeat as many times as you'd like and you're finished!

Use these to top cupcakes or dessert. Or use as you would toothpicks for snacks or appetizers at your Shavuot celebration.

Looking for a dessert idea to make? Try these milk and honey recipes for Shavuot!

Shavuot Provision: Celebrating Enough

Count seven weeks for yourself. Begin to count seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the grain (First Fruits), and you shall perform the Festival of Weeks to YHWH your Elohim, according to the voluntary offering from your hand, which you give as YHWH your Elohim blesses you. -Deuteronomy 16:9-10

Shauvot. Pentecost. The Feast of Weeks. First Fruits of the Wheat Harvest. The fourth of YHWH's set apart times. Scripture instructs us to count fifty days after First Fruits (this one of the barley harvest) during the Week of Unleavened Bread to arrive at this set apart time. The fifty days is where the name 'Pentecost' comes from with the Greek root of the word being fifty. So if you're familiar with Pentecost in Scripture, just know that it is another name for Shavuot.

What is this holy day?

Shavuot is a party for physical provision. Since it happens in the late Spring, there is joy that winter is over and we made it through the dangerous cold and lack of resources. The wheat was just harvested and there is enough. This was no small thing with wheat taking up a large portion of the Israelite's diet. Since most of us are largely withdrawn from the worries of the harvest we miss what a relief and joy it is to see the provision for us and our families for the next year. Shavuot is about celebrating that YHWH meets our needs. No matter the time and place we can all agree that YHWH's gift of provision is worth celebrating. Give thanks and be glad that your needs are met.

Did you know that this set apart time was kept in the New Testament? Yes, even after the resurrection and ascension of the Messiah, we see the Disciples counting the days diligently to the arrival of Shavuot (Acts 2:1). Indeed, when they received the Holy Spirit they were gathered together celebrating this set apart time of YHWH. And why were they doing this? Don't miss that the Messiah expressly instructed them to wait in Jerusalem to receive the Holy Spirit before heading out of town and country to spread the good news (Acts 1:4-5). With this instruction, Yahusha upheld a commandment of YHWH found in Deuteronomy 16:16 which instructs Israelite men to appear before YHWH at his set apart place on Shavuot.

As a side note, while many of us have heard it was just the twelve disciples in an upper room, Scripture says the a rushing mighty wind filled the house where they were. What house could this be? The Temple of course. In Hebrew this was called the Beit Hamikdash and beit means house in Hebrew. The Disciples were in the house. There is no way this was a family home because we know there were over 3,000 people present! (Acts 2:41) So the Disciples were keeping the commandment found in Deuteronomy even after the Messiah ascended into Heaven.

It's significant that YHWH poured out the Holy Spirit at a time where people were celebrating physical provision. When you rely on wheat for survival, it's worth celebrating and praising YHWH that he provides enough. And what about our needs for spiritual sustenance? By likening the need for physical nourishment we see how desperate our need is for the Holy Spirit in our lives. As the Israelites would have been starved without wheat, what would happen to us without the Holy Spirit? How would your life be if it lacked love, and joy, and peace, and faithfulness? It's a reminder of Moses' words, "Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of YHWH," (Deuteronomy 8:3) which is especially appropriate because the ten commandments were given at Shavuot as well.

Shavuot is a reminder that there is enough for our needs. Enough in the cupboard. Enough healing for all of us. Enough of the Holy Spirit to go around. Enough joy to overcome sorrow. Enough discernment to make good decisions. There is enough. And there is still more. He provides.

Who is Shavuot for?

Anyone who wants to give thanks for YHWH providing for them. Or anyone who thinks following the example of the Disciples and the instructions of Scripture to serve YHWH in this way. Or anyone looking to have more of the Holy Spirit in their life. While you can ask any day, there is certainly not a time more appropriate than Shavuot!

In Vayikra 23:17 we are instructed to wave two loaves of bread before YHWH. I like the symbolism of the two loaves because it signifies abundance and our needs being provided for. Not one but two. The two houses of Israel are also called to mind, and YHWH expects both the natural born Israelite and those grafted in to celebrate his set apart times. The animals coming two by two to Noah's ark and then multiplying to fill the earth is also symbolized by these two loaves, which YHWH will multiply to provide for us throughout the coming year. Of course the ten commandments were given on two tablets as well.

Shavuot is a time to not only celebrate the word of YHWH being given to us on tablets, but also having it written on our hearts. Once again, YHWH wants to pour out the Holy Spirit to give us a better understanding of his word, ability to walk in the gifts and the fruit of the Spirit, that many would come to him.

Verses to pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit:

I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away. Because if I don't go away the Holy Spirit will not come to you. -John 16:7

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my ways and obey my commandments. -Ezekiel 36:26-27

Where the Spirit of YHWH is there is freedom. -2 Corinthians 3:17

So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts, how much more will the Father keep giving the Holy Spirit from Heaven to those who keep asking him. -Luke 11:13

To each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for profiting, for to one is given a word of wisdom, to another a word of knowledge, to another belief, and to another gifts of healing, and to another operations of powers, and to another prophecy, to another discernment, to another kinds of tongues, to another interpretation of tongues. -1 Corinthians 12:7-10

I will pour out water on the thirsty land and streams will cover the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring and my blessings on your descendants. -Isaiah 44:3

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustworthiness, gentleness, and self control. -Galatians 5:22

I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. And your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions. And also on the male servants and on the female servants I shall pour out my Spirit in those days. -Joel 2:28-29

I baptized you with water, but the Messiah will baptize you in the Holy Spirit. -Mark 1:8

Have a very happy Shavuot!

Related posts:

The Beginner's Guide to Shavuot
Seven Ways to Celebrate Shavuot
Shavuot Dessert Ideas

Eat to Remember - Passover Pictures

I hope everyone had a very special celebration of Passover, First Fruits, and Unleavened Bread! Were you able to attend a Seder or did you host one yourself? Here are a few pictures from my congregation's.

We don't have our own building so for Passover we rent a small building in an area park. It's really just a large empty space with a kitchen and bathrooms. Which is perfect for us.

Other than the tables and chairs, everything is brought in for Seder. We do this potluck style with everyone pitching in. One person brings the plates, another silverware, someone else the glasses. Everyone brings serving spoons, tablecloths, and a menorah. It's a fair amount of work for everyone but it's doable.

If you're hosting a Seder or Passover celebration I would definitely recommend getting everyone involved with various tasks throughout the evening, whether that's candle lighting, refilling cups, or washing dishes afterwards. Doing work side by side with someone is a much more significant experience than having a few people cater to everyone else. More fun too!

Flowers double as decor and favors with each household getting to take some home.

Biggest day of the year for the matzah pinata!

This is my body broken for you.

Here's this year's version of the famous one page Haggadah. Would you anyone be interested in being able to download it?

Passover menu:

Smoked lamb
Roasted root vegetable medley of sweet potatoes, potatoes, and beets

Rice and lentil pilaf

Einkorn matzah

Local greens with roasted chickpeas, green olives, and shallots

Hummus two ways: garlic and jalapeno cilantro

Avocado hard boiled eggs

Grain free tabbouli

Fresh vegetables

Roasted red pepper sauce

Tahini sauce

Apple cider vinaigrette

Baked charoset

"Eat to remember this all your life." -Deuteronomy 16:3

Go to Passover dessert: two kinds of cheesecake without crust, chocolate ganache, berries, and a raspberry meringue.

Happy Passover!

Beautiful Things for Passover

I wanted to share a few items to make your Passover even more beautiful this year. Decorate your home, add a special touch to your Seder table, or use as gifts. Whether you buy things for the feast days or make them yourself hopefully you have a few special things to help set apart these special times.

Seder Plate or Dishes from Turtle Lane Pottery - $57
Talk about a family heirloom piece!

Chag Sameach Matches from Tchotch Shop - $5
Use these to light up your menorah for the feasts.

Hello Sabbath Decal from Torah Sisters -$4.95
This would be a great gift for a friend!

He is Risen Shirt from Juliet Rose Boutique - $21.99
Wouldn't this to be great to wear on First Fruits? Heart eyes.

Menorah Challah Plate from Turtle Lane Pottery - $49
This could definitely work as a matzah plate, don't you think?

Dayenu Flags from Tchotch Shop - $10.50
If you're not familiar, Dayenu is a beautiful Passover song. The word translates as, "it would have been enough," and the song extols the many things YHWH has done for us. 

Celebrate Passover Wooden Sign from HeartnSaw - $12.99
Love the idea of decor you can use year after year.

Isaiah 51:5 Pouch from Kevin Ohlin - $15
A great depiction of the significance of the Passover season.

Lotzah Matzah Spatula from Modern Tribe - $6
Mine actually just broke and I am so bummed about it. A fun design for sure.

Go Feast Card Game from Rebekah Co - $25.95
Like a regular set of cards but the suits are menorah, torah, trumpets, and crowns.

Matzah Leggings from Shalom Squad -$36/$28
Um, these are amazing! They come in adult and kid sizes. :)


Check out Spring feast gift ideas for kids here!

Preparing Spiritually and Emotionally for Passover

With Passover, Unleavened Bread, and First Fruits coming up I think we should take a moment to talk about preparing spiritually for these set apart times.

Since Matzah Week calls for a cleaning out of the leaven in our homes it's easy to get focused on that, and end up neglecting emotional and spiritual care in the busyness. But the point of cleaning our homes serves as a picture of what we should be doing internally. Cleaning out the fridge or cupboard let's us find what has gone bad or gotten stale, so that we can remove it before it attracts bugs or spreads it's rottenness to anything else. To make room for something fresh and wonderful. Same thing with evaluating where we are emotionally and with our faith. Get rid of the bad stuff and make room for something better.

How can we do this? Take a few minutes to honestly assess where you are right now, where you came from, and where you would like to be. The Passover season brings us back to the Israelites leaving a place of less (Egypt) and journeying to the Promised Land. Where is YHWH inviting you to if you leave behind what you've settled for? What steps can you take to get there? This time is a celebration of freedom with slaves being set free and that the sacrifice of the Messiah makes this possible for us.

I also recommend reading the story of Exodus and the accounts of the Last Supper to see what jumps out at you. I have no doubt that YHWH has much to speak to you through these parts of Scripture. How does what he is saying fit with your own journey or what steps is he asking you to take to follow him more?

The following are a few simple questions for you to help evaluate yourself. The goal is just to be honest and say what your past year (or so, you can pick how long) was like, and what you're hoping for the upcoming year. You can also do this with your spouse or your family. Pray about the state of your spiritual and emotional health, and then come up with a few doable steps you can take for more positive change in your life. 

Questions to Evaluate Spiritual and Emotional Health:

How was this past year for you? What changes did you go through?

In what ways have you grown recently?

In what ways have you seen YHWH move or be faithful this past year?

Some of your favorite moments from the past year were:

What changes have you made in the past year for spiritual, physical, and emotional health?

Are there changes that YHWH is asking you to make now?

Is there an area you would like to be quicker to turn to prayer in?

The time you most often pray is:

Your favorite time to read Scripture is:

You feel closest to YHWH when:

How do you handle and cope with stress, anxiety, anger, sadness, etc.?

What are three things you do for self care?

What aspect of self care do you need to get better at?

Three things you do for joy are:

Verses you turn to for comfort include:

What are your goals and hopes for the upcoming year? Spiritual or otherwise.

I'm also including this link so you can download and print these questions, so you can contemplate them somewhere other than a device. Asking myself questions like these help me to to have a better sense of the path I have walked on and where I am headed. This is a special part of the Passover season, to remember our own personal exodus and to praise YHWH for the work he has done in our lives. I hope you find this a helpful way to prepare!

Related posts:
Six Things You Can Do Now to Get Ready for the Spring Feasts
The Beginner's Guide to Passover
Five Reasons Why Believers Should Keep Passover

DIY Menorah Ring Dish

I have a fun and easy DIY project for you today! It seems as though we are overdue for a good DIY, the last one here was the Ten Commandments Gummies and before that it was matzah jewelry for the Feast of Unleavened Bread. 

As you've probably noticed, box stores and mass retailers are not exactly packed with things that represent the Hebrew faith. You won't find many menorahs or Happy Passover banners or Torah portion chalkboards readily available for purchase, so making an item for a feast or just faith encouragement is often the best option. (Though I am super happy to report a growing number of small businesses are making Hebrew minded items!) It's nice to have a few items in your home or workplace to remind you of your faith even when you aren't sitting down to study Scripture or getting ready for a formal Shabbat service. This ring dish does just that, while being lovely and functional.

Making this is a pretty straightforward process.

You will need:
air dry clay
rolling pin
knife or cookie cutter
bowl
menorah (this is what I used)
spray paint

Roll the clay out to about 1/8 inch thickness. You want this to be pretty even but it doesn't have to be perfect. Then cut out a circle, using either a large cookie cutter or set a bowl (or other round object) on your clay and use a sharp knife to cut along that.

Once you have your circle you'll need your menorah. If you follow me on Instagram, you'll recognize my small metal menorah from various photos. That's what I used for this ring dish but there are other options you could use too. Simcha Central's menorah cupcake toppers would also work, as would a stamp like this, or a fondant cutter. You could also press lightly with a menorah cookie cutter to imprint the design but don't go all the way through.

Position your menorah how you would like it and then lightly press to leave an impression in the clay. I used the rolling pin to apply even pressure and it worked well. There can be some trial and error to this, so if you aren't happy with how it's looking just start again. :)

If you're happy with that it's time to shape into a bowl (if you're not just re-roll the clay and start over). I used the same bowl I cut my circle from earlier to shape my dish. Just center it on the bottom and gently contour the edges around the sides. How you have it now will be the final shape of your dish, so don't stop until you are pleased. Keep your clay dish on the bowl as it dries. Check the package directions of your clay for how long this should take. I let mine dry overnight.

Once your dish feels completely dry to the touch, gently remove it from the bowl and you'll have something like this. So fun, right?!

I spray painted mine in a metallic gold but you could obviously use any color of spray paint. Or you could paint just the menorah and the rim. Or leave as is if you like. My air dry clay was white but there are some colored options as well. You could even try for a marbled effect with a couple of colors. It's totally up to you!

This has been my ring dish for a few months now and I love the pretty reminder of YHWH's presence and Kingdom. It's also very functional to always know where my wedding ring is if I am not wearing it. It's held up very well; I was concerned the paint may scratch off but so far it has not. These dishes also work to hold keys or spare change. They could be used as place card holders for Passover or another feast...how fun would that be?

PS - If you decide to try making a menorah dish, use your leftover clay for matzah jewelry! :)