Five Reasons I ♥ the Sabbath!

This is our table one Friday evening before we ushered in the Shabbat.

1. God made it for us!

After He created us, what did He do next? He created the Sabbath, by resting Himself. Also in Mark 2, Yeshua literally said that Shabbat was made for man. It is His gift to us, and we should enjoy it!

2. We need it!

Studies have shown, and it's just plain common sense, that human beings need a "day of rest" every week. If you think about it, God could have made our bodies so that we didn't need rest or sleep. He could have made us so that we were able to just go, go, go 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. BUT, He didn't. He created us so that our bodies, our souls, our minds all needed a physical, spiritual and mental break.

3. It's something to look forward to.

All week long people say, "Is it Friday yet?" I kind of laugh to myself because they don't know it, but they are longing for the Sabbath as well. The rabbis say that starting Saturday evening immediately after the Sabbath, we should begin preparing for the next one. I heard a story about a lady who after every Havdalah (conclusion service of the Sabbath) would scurry to the kitchen to begin cleaning her Sabbath candlesticks for the next week. I, myself, remember the first time our family celebrated the Shabbat. I think I was around 8 or 9, but it is such a vivid memory. Immediately after the Sabbath meal on Friday evening, my sister and I begged our parents, "Can we do this again next week?"

4. It's a holiday, only every week!

If you ever get the chance to go to my parents' house for a Shabbat dinner, I highly recommend it. My dad has this theory that the more people they have for Shabbat, the better; the more food for Shabbat, the better. So basically, it is like celebrating Thanksgiving dinner with your family and friends every Friday night. It's not only fun, but a great way to bond as a family. We eat (of course!), sing songs, talk about the Bible, and just enjoy each other. It truly is a beautiful time.

5. It's a rehearsal.

One of the words God uses in the Torah for Shabbat is mikrah, which can be translated as "a rehearsal." What are we rehearsing for? The Seventh "Day", that is, the time when Messiah returns! Remember His words in John 9, "Night is coming, when no one can work." Some rabbis have said that we are entering in to the "Friday afternoon" of God's timeline. It's time for us to work like never before, to be prepared for the "Yom Shekulo Shabbat" (the Day that is ALL Sabbath) that is coming.

Those are just a few reasons I LOVE the Sabbath. If you want to read more about how my family celebrates, go here. How about you? I'd love to hear how others enjoy God's special day!

Romans 14

"Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. "

If you've ever wondered what exactly Shaul (Paul) is talking about in this passage, I just read this very interesting and thought-provoking post on The Emergent Observer. Check it out!

Fall Feast Time!

Well, I finally think Blogger is going to let me publish a post, and just in time for the fall feasts too!

As the fall feasts are less than a week away, there's no time like the present on starting with an introduction. For those of you that were reading during the spring feasts, you've got a head start so feel free to skip the next paragraph.

God's Biblical Calendar

Did you know that God has a calendar, and it's not the one that has January through December on it? God's calendar is (of course) in His Word; specifically, Leviticus 23. As you read this chapter, you will find that there are four feasts in the spring (Passover, Unleavened Bread and First Fruits and Pentecost - Pesach, Matzah, HaBikkurim and Shavu'ot) and three in the fall (Trumpets, Day of Atonement and Tabernacles - Yom Teruah or Rosh HaShanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot). Additionally, Leviticus 23 discusses one more special day, but this one comes every week. Shabbat, or the Sabbath, is a day of rest that God's people are to observe every seventh day.

God's Calendar = Messianic Prophetic Timeline

The Messiah Yeshua is the living Torah. That means that everything (EVERYTHING) that He said and did was in accordance and in fulfillment of the Torah, including the feasts of the LORD. With the spring feasts it is very evident how Yeshua fulfilled them. He died on Passover and arose on Yom HaBikkurim, the Feast of Firstfruits. Fifty days later on Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks (also called Pentecost), the Ruach Kodesh (Holy Spirit) came down and filled the believers. For more on the spring feasts, see here and here.

As for the fall feasts, we know that Messiah Yeshua will be fulfilling them as well. Rosh HaShanah (known Biblically as Yom Teruah, the Day of Trumpets) will be the day that the great shofar is sounded, and Yeshua will be revealed. On Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, will be a day of judgment. Finally, on Sukkot (a seven day festival), God Himself will dwell with His people. We do not know the day (which year) or the hour (what time on that day), but we do know if Yeshua fulfilled all of the spring feasts on the exact day, then it's pretty clear that if He is who He said He was, then all the fall feasts will be fulfilled as well.

A Quick Note on the Meaning of Fulfillment

When I say that Yeshua "fulfilled" the feasts, please do not read "ended" or "stopped." Just like on my wedding day, my husband "fulfilled" his role as my husband but did not stop being my husband after that day. I am using the word "fulfill" as in "to make complete" or "to bring to fullness", as I believe it was used in Matthew 5.

Fall Feast Schedule for 2008

Days that are a Biblical "day of rest."

Rosh HaShanah - Begins at sundown on Monday, September 29.
Yom Kippur - Begins at sundown on Wednesday, October 8.
First Day of Sukkot - Begins at sundown on Monday, October 13.
Last Day of Sukkot - Begins at sundown on Monday, October 20.

More To Come...
Check back in the next few days for specific posts on how we celebrate each holiday. I'd LOVE to hear how you celebrate the feasts, or if you are new, if you have any questions. Maybe you'd like to share your favorite holiday recipe or another idea?

Picture available at AllPosters.com

Shabbat Nachamu

This week (tomorrow actually) we observe Shabbat Nachamu ("Sabbath of Comfort"). The name comes from Isaiah 40:1 - 26, beginning with the double entreaty to nachamu:

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,

and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed,

that her sin has been paid for,

that she has received from the LORD's hand

double for all her sins.

Thus, we end the period of mourning and fasting dealing with the destruction of the two Temples (and many other heinous crimes committed against the Jewish people throughout history) and begin the ascent toward the High Holy Days.

This Shabbat, let us remember the people of Israel in our prayers and remind ourselves to "be watchmen on the walls." Shabbat Shalom ~ May your Sabbath be filled with peace!

Shabbat and Fireworks

This year is the first that I can remember a 4th of July coinciding with Shabbat (I'm sure it's happened...I just can't remember!). Of course, that poses a problem for Shabbat-keeping families. What's more important - G-d's holy Sabbath or America's birthday? I read a great post about this at First Fruits of Zion.

Have a happy and safe Fourth of July and Shabbat Shalom!

Parasha Shlach Lecha "Send for Yourself"

This week's portion is Shlach Lecha, Numbers 13:1-15:41, in which we read the story of the spies whom Moses sent out to get a good looksie at the Promised Land. My first question is, "Why would they need to spy it out?" God told them to go, so why not just go?

Honestly, I think it was a test. God gives them to us all the time. We all have had instances in our lives, situations that we have been given promises or hopes of a "personal promised land," and yet when it comes to actually getting there, we hesitate. We want to "search it out first" or "wait on the Lord." Don't get me wrong, it's not good to rush into anything. But it's when we know something is from the Lord, and we turn back or get scared that we fall into "wandering in the wilderness" just like the children of Israel.

Last night I was listening to a song from the new Bible Study resource pack I mentioned on here a few days ago, Feast. On it was a song by Sara Groves, and the lyrics tell perfectly not only what is going on in the portion, but in my own life as well. It's been a trying time, and I have been "Painting Pictures of Egypt" just like the song says. Here are some of the lyrics to this beautiful song:

I’ve been painting pictures of Egypt Leaving out what it lacked

The future seems so hard And I want to go back

But the places that used to fit me Cannot hold the things I've learned

And those roads closed off to me While my back was turned

It's true. We all do it. The future looks scary, and the past is comfortable. We begin to reminisce and think, "If only I were still (fill in the blank - young, skinny, had taken this major in college, etc...)" Last night as I listened to this song, I realized that God was whispering, "Please just trust in MY plan for you. You don't have to worry and wish for the past or your comfort zone. I have had all your days planned for you from before you were even born!"

I feel so loved. I know He does have the Promised Land, a land flowing with milk and honey, in store for each one of us. We simply need to rest and let HIM show us the way!

Shabbat Shalom!

Cartoons appearing in this post are Copyright Gospel Communications International, Inc - http://www.reverendfun.com/

Our Family's Frugal Summer Fun!

My family loves to play Mexican train!

This year for Father's Day, instead doing the usual restaurant thing, we decided to make our own version of a nice luncheon for our dear Dad. The meal was so colorful (and tasty too!) that I wanted to share it with you!

Here's the presents sitting on the table beside the flowers from Shabbat dinner. Every Friday night, it's traditional that either the husband or a guest bring fresh flowers to a home for the special Sabbath meal. Our lovely guests brought these on Friday evening...

And now for the meal! WARNING: These pictures may cause your mouth to water! Here are the beef and chicken skewers before they were grilled. My sister and I had so much fun assembling them. We put the meat, cherry tomatoes, green pepper, red pepper, red onion, and pineapple chunks. Grilled pineapple is the best! After assembling them, we let them marinate in teriyaki sauce and minced garlic for about 30 minutes before grilling.

Here's the skewers on the grill....
And here's the yummy finished product:
Here's the table. We also had Mom's special yellow rice with mixed veggies and my hubby's famous fried plaintains! I love when they're hot and fresh, with a little kosher salt sprinkled on top...yummmmm!
And for dessert....WOW!

Beth made erupting chocolate souffles with chocolate soup, served with vanilla ice cream dusted with dark chocolate shavings! Beth is the gourmet of the family! Maybe I'll get her to share her recipe with us on Tavita's Purse...

I hope you enjoyed these yummy pictures! Between Publix sales and coupons, this meal cost us much less than what eating out would have cost us, and we had so much fun cooking together. It really was a blessed day!

Head on over to Biblical Womanhood for more great Frugal Friday ideas!

Shabbat Shalom!

Frugal Friday: When I'm Not Frugal

If you watched the above video, you've probably figured out that the one thing I'm not frugal about is Shabbat, or the weekly Sabbath. All week long I plan and strive to save pennies on everything from toilet paper to bananas. However, when it comes to items I am purchasing for the Sabbath, I try to buy only the best. Why?

In Exodus 20, God says to "make the Sabbath holy." That can mean many things to different people, but one thing that I'm convinced of is that He wants us to make it special. This is something that my father taught me when I was growing up. I remember him saying, "Every penny you spend in preparation for the Sabbath increases your joy when Shabbat comes." So for Frugal Friday, I'm going to tell you what my family does for the Shabbat meal on Friday evening...however UNfrugal it may be!

1. Woman of the Home Lights the Candles

We buy "special" candles that are only used for Shabbat, and have special candlesticks for this purpose. I light the candles and then I say the traditional blessing, followed by another extemporaneous prayer of thanksgiving to God for providing and sustaining us throughout the week. Also we bless God for sending Yeshua the Messiah, the Light of the World!

2. We sing a song, and then my husband reads (or sings) Proverbs 31 to me.

I have to say that I used to feel embarrassed at this part; I mean, how can I live up to the Proverbs 31 woman? But now, I just bask in it because I feel my husband is speaking words of prophecy over my life, that I am in the process of becoming that "woman of valor." This is also traditionally when the father lays a blessing on the children, but we don't have any to do that for yet...but someday, God willing!

3. We bless God for the wine (or grape juice).

For this, we use special grape juice or sometimes even buy wine, which is a treat in our house! We bless God for Yeshua the Messiah, the True Vine.

4. We bless God for the bread.

In the blessing we are thanking God for His provision of our "daily bread," and also for giving us Yeshua the Messiah, the Bread of Life! Again, we use special challah bread that is not usually a frugal bread to buy or bake. However, this is a tradition that we simply won't do without! It's just not Shabbat in our house without that wonderful challah aroma in the air! By the way, my mother is an amazing challah-baker!

5. We eat! (Surprise, surprise)

This is the really unfrugal part, but it's the most joyful meal of the entire week. Throughout the week we think of ways to make our meal even more special. Usually my husband and I don't eat much meat throughout the week, except for ground chicken and occasionally kosher hot dogs, so on Shabbat we go all out! My husband is an amazing cook, thank God, and he usually makes matzah ball soup and some awesome beef, chicken, or fish. It's my job to do the veggies and the dessert. By the way, the women in my family say the food doesn't have calories on Shabbat, haha!

6. We thank God again.

Did you know in the Bible it's actually a commandment to pray AFTER you eat? I didn't know that until recently, but in Deuteronomy 8:10 God says, "When you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you." (NASB)

7. We relax, sing songs, and enjoy each other's presence.

Shabbat is wonderful no matter if you are alone (with God) or with thousands. However, it's best celebrated with family, as portrayed in the above video. There's something awesome that happens when you have a wife praying over her family, a husband praising his wife in front of the children, and then the father pronouncing his blessing over his sons and daughters. I remember when I was 9 years old and my family celebrated our first Shabbat dinner. Right after dinner my sister and I said, "Daddy, can we please do this again next week?"

"If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the LORD's holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob." The mouth of the LORD has spoken." Isaiah 58:13-14 (NIV)

To learn more about celebrating a Shabbat dinner in your home, see this site and this site.

Although we all have different traditions, there's probably at least one thing that each one of us is not frugal about? What about you? What is your "unfrugal" thing?

And for some (actually) frugal ideas, check out Biblical Womanhood.

Shabbat Shalom!

As this week's Torah portion is Emor ("speak") and we read one of my favorite chapters in the whole Bible (Leviticus 23), I couldn't pass up the chance to do a post about Shabbat, the Sabbath.
FAQ's About Shabbat:

When is Shabbat?
Shabbat begins every Friday evening at sundown and ends after the sunset on Saturday.


Why from sundown to sundown?
That's the order God created the days in. "And the evening and the morning was the first day..."
Also, we always go from "darkness" to "light"; never the opposite.

Who is the Sabbath for?
Read Leviticus 23. God says that they are HIS Shabbats, and He is giving them a sign to His people. If you are one of God's people, then you are invited to join in the rest of the Lord!

You talk a lot about Shabbat dinner. How is that any different from a regular dinner?
Honestly, everything is different at Shabbat dinner! We prepare our best and favorite foods, we say prayers of thanksgiving, we read Scripture, we light special candles, we drink special wine or juice, we eat special bread, and we sing special songs as a family. In a way, it's like having Thanksgiving every week! If you have never experienced a Shabbat dinner, I encourage you to find a way to do so.

What do you do on Saturday?
People celebrate Shabbat different ways. My family usually goes to our fellowship in the morning and eat lunch there; then we come home and take a nice long nap or read the Bible together. We avoid work and focus on resting in the Lord. It truly is an island in time!

Well, that's about all I have time for now, but please feel free to ask any other questions! These are simply the ones I get most often.

Shabbat Shalom! (Have a peaceful Sabbath!)

Thanks to Allposters.com for the picture!

Frugal Friday: Making Challah

As we are preparing for the week of Passover (begins on April 19), we must start using up all leavened products and products containing flour. A good way to do this is to bake some challah, which is the most delightful bread in the world!

Every Friday night after the candles are lit and the wine has been blessed, we enjoy it's delectable texture and taste. There are so many different ways of making it and so many various recipes, some savory and some sweet, but I've never had a bite of challah that I didn't like!

Here's my favorite challah recipe (courtesy of Rebbetzin Carole Edwards):

SEPHARDIC CHALLAH BREAD*
Makes 3 loaves (6 braided)

Into a large (aluminum) bowl add:
4 tbs sugar, granulated white/raw, Domino 8 pkg
yeast, Fleishman Rapid, 7grm/1/4 oz1 ½ c
water, warm/ 120-130 degrees
Mix w/fork and set aside this YEAST bowl until needed.

Into a medium (aluminum) bowl add:
1 c grape seed oil, Tuscan Sun (purple tin from health food store)
1 c honey, clover
½ c of coconut mixture (17 oz can of Conchita grated coconut and a 15 oz
can of Goya cream of coconut_ store in refrigerated jar)
21/2 tbs packed pumpkin pie mix (kosher), Libby
2 tbs vanilla extract, McCormic
1 tsp Coconut extract, McCormick
Mix w/whisk and set aside this WET bowl until needed.

Into a small (aluminum) bowl add:
1 c sugar, granulated
1/8 tsp powdered cinnamon, McCormick
1 ½ tbs table salt, Morton
Mix w/whisk and set aside this DRY bowl until needed.

Using electric /kitchen aid mixer, beat in a bowl:
8 jumbo eggs, free-range if possible
Beat for 5-8 min. until stiff, white, and frothy, and set aside this EGG
bowl until needed.

Sprinkle a 36x36” plexi-glass board with flour.
Pre-heat oven for 385 degrees.
Into a large (aluminum) bowl wiped with Pam-spray or grape seed oil,
add:
7 c sifted flour, King Arthur’s unbleached Bread Flour_ 5 lb bag = 13 cups½
of the DRY bowl mixture.
½ bag Coconut flakes, Baker’s 17 oz bag

Mix with clean hands, add:
6 c sifted flour, King Arthur’s unbleached Bread Flour OR Whole wheat
flour
½ remainder of the DRY bowl mixture
½ bag remainder of the bag of Baker’s coconut flakes

Mix with clean hands, and to this FLOUR bowl add:
DRY bowl
WET bowl
EGG bowl
YEAST bowl (that had an additional 1 ½ cups of warm/? degrees water added
to it)

Mix with clean hands, add:
Flour, and add remaing warm water as needed to mix all ingredients
sprinkled from a 1 ½ cup container, for desired consistency.
(lump should be about the size of a volley ball).

Then:Place lump on floured surface and knead:50x
Cut, roll in flour, knead3-5x
Slam onto the surface to get out air bubbles
And then:Place lump back into the FLOUR bowl.
Cover with tea towel moistened with warm water.
Place bowl on top of warm stove for 27 minutes to rise.
Again:
Place lump on floured surface and knead:50x
Cut, roll in flour, knead3-5x
Slam onto the surface to get out air bubbles
And then:Place lump back into the FLOUR bowl.
Cover with tea towel moistened with warm water.
Place bowl on top of warm stove for 27 minutes to rise.

CHALLAH BREAD
Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
Prepare Egg Wash for top of loaves:1 egg½ tsp water1/16 tsp vanillaWhisk
and set aside until needed.
Punch down the lump of dough for the last time.

Say blessing: "Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who has
sanctified us with salvation and His commandments, and given us the blessing of the tradition to separate challah":
BA-RUCH A-TAH A-DO-NAI ELO-HAI-NU ME-LECH HA-O-LAM A-SHER KID-SHA-NU
B'YESHUA B’MITZ-VO-TAV NATAN LANU
..separate Challah small ball of dough and say the remaining baruch……
…...L’HAF-RISH CHAL-LAH.
Remove a one ounce piece/size of a nickel (to be burned separately in a
piece of foil).
This is a mitzva given especially to women. (Awesome time to pray for your
family).
Say: This is challah. HARAI ZEH CHALLAH.

Squeeze off 6 lumps (the size of your fist) from the lump of dough
Roll them into balls and keep floured so they will not become sticky
Roll/form each of 6 balls into 12” strands/cords (to be used for the
braiding).
Lay strands out like this: l l l l l l
Braid the six strands following the video directions.
Place two loaves diagonally on one lined cookie sheet.
Brush each loaf with egg-wash.
Then sprinkle with:
Poppy Seeds McCormick
Sesame Seeds McCormick
Bake for 30 minutes at 385 degrees, (don’t open the door to check).

*I know this one includes a lot of extra steps and a lot of extra ingredients, but it is so yummy! If this looks a little daunting to you (or you don't have all the ingredients on hand), try a traditional recipe as found here, here and here. Check out rest of Frugal Friday at Biblical Womanhood.

Have any questions about challah-making or good ideas? What do you put in yours? Let me know! My favorite part is the kneading where I feel so wrapped up in prayer for my family. Try it...it's great!

The Treasure

My dad gave me a CD recently that contains the following song. It's beautiful and I want to share it with you! It has a great message...

"The Treasure"

by Eli Nathan

Come with me my little child
The grandmother softly said
I have a present that I have been saving for a little girl just like you

She opened a worn battered suitcase that witnessed all the tears she had cried
She held up so gently with hands old and shaking
A gift she'd received as a bride

Please light these candlesticks before every Shabbos
No matter how hard it may be
The flame that you light will ignite generations with the message of eternity

Behind curtains drawn ever so tightly
Lest escape a ray of light
The young woman prays, by candles burning, in the cold hostile night

Generations in attics and forests, in caves and in camps of death
Mother to daughter one soul to another
Kept the flame burning, the message alive

Please light these candlesticks before every Shabbos
No matter how hard it may be
The flame that you light will ignite generations with the message of eternity

Hey Mom, whose candlesticks are these?

Oh wow, they look so antique
Jennifer I don't know, perhaps they were Grandma's
The ones she would light every week

Just an old Jewish custom, gone with ghettos and winds
I would say it's o.k., why not just put them away?

Lai lai lai, lai lai lai, lai lai la lai lai lai lai

Jennifer took those old candlesticks and brought them to small lonely room
The candlesticks caught those last rays of light on this Friday afternoon
Placing a candle in each candlestick and a match that lept into a flame
Now two little fires lit up the night and she heard someone calling her name

Jennifer my dear child, it's Grandma so near, yes, it's my voice that you hear
The treasure is yours, so priceless and true
You're the next generation; it's all up to you.

Yes I will light these candlesticks before every Shabbos
No matter how hard it will be
The flame that I light will ignite generations with the message of eternity.

*Shabbos (Yiddish) means "Sabbath." Biblically, it is the seventh day of the week, starting Friday just before sundown to Saturday just after sundown. In Hebrew it is "Shabbat." Interestingly enough, as we're talking about the importance of names today and the importance of Shabbat, I received this in my e-mail inbox today:

"The answer becomes abundantly clear once we realize that the word "Shabbat" is one of the Names of God. Even Haman (boo!) recognized the significance and sanctity of this word, and thus out of his sheer repugnance for the Jewish people and their faith, he refused to even utter the word "Shabbat." He instead invoked an acronym to convey his venomous hatred of the Jews, to avoid saying a term associated with holiness." - Rabbi Eli J. Mansour

*Thanks to Aish.com for the picture!

Shabbat Shalom!

"And he assembled"...Vayak'hel

Exodus 35:1-38:20

This week's portion starts out with the reiteration of the commandment to make the Sabbath holy, to set it apart. Now we know that God's Word is not written haphazardly; on the contrary, every word, and even the placement of that word, carries great significance. In other words, there is a bigger picture here than as first meets the eye.
Why did God feel the need to yet again stress the importance of the Sabbath to His people? I believe the answer lies in the rest of the portion. This was an exciting time for the people of God. They were preparing to build the tabernacle - the place where the Shekinah, the presence of God, would come down and dwell among them. I can imagine what a flurry of activity, what a spark of expectation was buzzing throughout the camp! Men were helping to bring gold, silver and bronze, along with skins and hides and olive oil; the women were consumed with spinning colorful yarns, in blue, purple and scarlet, along with fine linen to beautify the sanctuary. Not only did they do all of this, but the Scripture says that they performed all these activities with their "whole hearts" (35:21) and "willingly" (35:29). This was not the forced labor of Egypt, but a freewill offering of praise to their Redeemer.
But in the midst of all the excitement and worshipful activity, there is a tug at their hearts. It's almost time for the Sabbath! They might have ignored it and continued working - after all, weren't they doing something good? They wanted to see this tabernacle completed, in all its glory - with the Shekinah abiding with them.
Our gracious Father knew this would happen. That's why He lovingly reminded them about His special "date" with them before they began the work. He was saying, "No matter how important this work you are doing unto me seems, nothing is as important as meeting with me - not even the building of My tabernacle!"
Wow. How much does this apply to us today? We often become so involved with "religious" activities - prayer meetings, Bible studies, discipleship groups, mentorships, conferences, conventions, youth groups, breakfasts, luncheons, dinners, worship practices (the list goes on and on) - that we forget to STOP and just enjoy the work that He has already completed. I am hugely guilty of this. I enjoy all of those activities; they are fun and I feel good as I am "building up" the Kingdom. But in those times that I find myself becoming too busy with the "things of God" rather than with God Himself, I need something to remind me to STOP. He gave us that reminder - the Sabbath!
What was the purpose of the tabernacle? Again, as stated in my commentary on last week’s portion, it was a physical reminder to us about something spiritual. God knows that we are spirits, but we live in these physical bodies with which, at times, we become preoccupied. However, the tabernacle was to remind God’s people that He, unlike the “gods” of the nations, desired to come down and dwell in their midst. It is also a picture of what was (and is!) to come – Messiah Yeshua. Consider these verses as we study this context:

John 1:14 “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling (“tabernacled”) among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Philippians 2:6-7 “…Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.”
Colossians 2:9 “For in Messiah all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form…”
Colossians 2:17 “These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Messiah.”

What about the future? Will God again come and dwell in a physical sense with His people? Now consider these prophetic verses concerning the Messianic era:

Zechariah 8
3 This is what the Lord says: "I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the Lord Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain." 4 This is what the Lord Almighty says: "Once again men and women of ripe old age will sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with cane in hand because of his age. 5 The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there." 6 This is what the Lord Almighty says: "It may seem marvelous to the remnant of this people at that time, but will it seem marvelous to me?" declares the Lord Almighty. 7 This is what the Lord Almighty says: "I will save my people from the countries of the east and the west. 8 I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem; they will be my people, and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God."
Revelation 21
2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.”

This portion speaks volumes to me, and I'm glad for yet another reminder of how much our Heavenly Abba just longs for us to dwell in His Presence. Yes, building up His Kingdom is pleasing to Him, but we must do so only after we've STOPPED, both physically and spiritually. Shabbat Shalom (Have a peaceful, restful Sabbath)!

Musings on this week's portion

Exodus 30:11 - 34:35

One of my first thoughts when I began reading this portion (something that also relates to the web address of this blog) was that Israel was being prepared, as a bride for her husband. When God used the language "I will take her to myself" as He led them out of Egypt, He was using language that would have been known to be from a marriage contract (ketubah) of that day.

Can you imagine showing up at your wedding without taking a shower?
One of the first things that He tells Moses is that when the priests would go before Him in the Tent of Meeting, they would need to wash their hands and feet. This reminds me of something my mother taught me, that is actually a part of Jewish tradition as well. My mother taught me that before reading the Bible you should wash your hands. I remember her quoting the verse from Psalm 24 that says, "Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart..." Another thing that reminds me of this is how my parents always made me "dress up" to go to congregation. Sometimes when all my friends would be wearing jeans, I would feel silly wearing a dress. But, again, it was a physical act of something that was meant for my heart.
Now I know some of you may be thinking, "Wow, how legalistic!" But here's the thing - First of all, I am not saying that the act of washing your hands before you meet with the Lord is going to save you or make you any more precious in His eyes. But (and look at the end of the Psalm 24 verse), it really is the heart behind it. We as humans are spiritual beings. However, we live in a physical world. When I do something physically, it also strikes a chord with me on the inside. In other words, as I wash my hands before I have my quiet time in the morning or I wear special clothes to congregation, it reminds me about the awesomeness and the holiness of the One that I am going to be with. No, I don't always remember to do it, but when I do it, it is a helpful reminder. The fear (as in honor, respect) of the Lord is something that I can continually strive for.

Our Spiritual Wedding Ring
In the next chapter of this portion, the Lord gives Israel her wedding ring, the Sabbath. He says, "This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so that you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy." How is the Sabbath a reminder of the Groom's holiness? First of all, it reminds us that He is the Creator, and that all creation is subject to Him. Secondly, to me, it's kind of like "date night" with my husband. Yeah, we live with each other and see each other every day. However, date night (or day) is special. It's a reminder of who we are and what we mean to each other. If I need that with my earthly husband, how much more do I need that with my unseen Heavenly Groom! Now some of you may be thinking, "Well, that's all well and good for Israel, but what about me?" Remember into whom you are GRAFTED in (Romans 11:13 -21). It's in the Ten Commandments, and it includes those who are not born of Israel, but who are joined with Israel (Exodus 20:10).

Application for Today
Today is the day of preparation for the Shabbat (in more ways than one!). We are preparing for the weekly Shabbat (it's Friday!), but we are also preparing for the Yom Shekulo Shabbat, the eternal Shabbat, in which Messiah will rule and reign (Revelation 21). I encourage you today to begin to add a little more of Shabbat into your life. Do something different in preparation for time with your Heavenly Groom. Put on a special dress or cook (or order) something different. Get some fresh flowers or put on a fresh tablecloth. Light some candles or listen to peaceful music. This is a physical reminder of who you are to Him (the Sabbath was made for man). You are His bride. You are special. He loves you with an everlasting love!

Messiah is coming soon, and we are preparing for the marriage feast. Let's all have our wedding clothes on when He comes! Even so, come Lord Yeshua!

"Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was giver her to wear. (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)"
Revelation 19:7-8