The mood of a Shabbat Friday evening is an
overlay of femininity, permeated with the aura of an espousing. It is chiefly a
sensual time, where all the senses are engaged: abounding with good food, soft candlelight,
songs that speak to the heart, quiet talk to feed the soul, and pleasure of
both the physical and spiritual love.
Though I had, around age 7 and 8, suspected my
family was Jewish due to the weekend rituals my mother always kept (special
Supper meal, lighting of candles, adding an extra plate to the table ‘for
Elijah’ during Passover, and extra company Friday evenings) – my mother
always denied we were Jewish despite ALL of our birth names being Jewish in origin.
I understood her denial – her mother’s family had been immigrants from Europe
during the anti-Semitism upheavals in the 1940’s; but I was frustrated by her continual denials of what was obvious.
Going with my gut feeling – and having that
gut feeling affirmed by a Jewish man who saw my Name on a check I wrote (he
read it and asked, “Are you Hebrew?”), I started embracing Messianic
Christianity in 1978 (I had been a Christian since 1965) … and Bob,
after his 1981 salvation experience, joined me in finding/fellowshipping in
Messianic Fellowship: first in Portland, OR. for 17 years – then later, in Vancouver, WA;
where we had fellowshipped for 19 years, until Summer of 2017. The last
communal Shabbat Friday Bob and I enjoyed together, was at Rehoboth; I haven’t
been back to Rehoboth since: and I don’t think I will ever go back as a solo
lobo.
I observe Shabbat at
home now.
I do not observe
orthodox Shabbat.
I am a Christian – a Jewish
Christian.
“I Have Decided to Follow Yeshua”: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8jvfdDtoqY)
I observe the 24-hour
Shabbat as Yeshua observed it.
I am not bound to religious
traditions.
I have bound myself to Christianity – which is a personal
relationship with Elohei, and setting the 7th day aside in
recognition of Yeshua’s Day of Rest from all His creation activities (Genesis 2): and the day He
blessed for humanity to rest and allow their being to refuel and reenergize (Exodus 20:1-17; Matthew 12).
“Lecha Dodi” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWmcQpzUMHY)
Psalm 92 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUzIHPqUn9c)
I bless my children and grandchildren …
even though they dishonor me, and openly/publicly mock Yeshua.
My prayer for the adult’s (who are presently
behaving like unruly brats) includes, “Elohim, forgive them: they know not
what they do.” For the girls, I ask Elohei would cut through their foolishness …
and make them like Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, and Leah. For Azariah, I ask Elohei
would place his hand on his life, and make him like Ephraim and Menasheh.
My hope is that someday their understanding
will be illuminated; and they too, like Bob when his understanding kicked
in, in 1981, will be saved and walk in Yeshua’s footsteps.
I welcome the peace of the Sabbath into my
home.
Bob and I loved the message of the ‘Shalom
Aleichem’ (Peace Be Unto You) song: “Angels of peace, may your coming be in
peace; bless me with peace, and bless my prepared table. May your departure be
in peace, from now and forever. Amen.”
I remember that even though Bob now rides the
clouds and is no longer a true husband to me … all of our 44 years together, he
declared his love to me and publicly stated his appreciation for me (even to
his last day on Earth, while in OHSU).
For him, for as long as I was his wife, who
walked Earth beside him, I became the woman in Proverbs 31:10-31; and I basked
in his praise.
I miss Bob.
I miss that woman.
But, now, I bask in Yeshua’s
Husbandly praise.
And I enjoy approval
of a great host of witnesses.
My role is different
now.
I drink a goblet of wine – red wine, on Friday
evening. Red symbolizes the shed blood of Yeshua at Calvary, for my
sanctification. The wine in and of itself – symbolizes joy.
I make Challah … 3-cord braided; to represent
the goodness of the Triune Godhead – Father (Elohim), Son (Yeshua),
& Spirit (Ruach Ha’Kodesh) = 3 in 1/God.
I meditate on Scripture – authentic Scripture
– pre-obama era. I do not have in my home, or in my mind obamanite scriptures
that were printed to preach a different gospel that panders to the perverse and
debauched ... a different gospel that advocates sin and teaches that living a
life in sin is okay.
I meditate on “old-school” Scriptures that
were printed many, many generations ago, closely following the Torah
and Early Church teachings closely guarded and handed down through
time (the Yeshua era before and following His earthly birth/death)
verbatim.
I stumbled across this vid, that speaks to the
days we are currently living: it is a worth a listen.
“Is This the End?” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sp6isecYB3E)
I listen to Shabbat songs that honor the 24-hour period … and honor Yeshua in content.
“Yeshua HaMashiach – Jesus Is Lord”: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-j_1e13qlE)
“Kadosh”: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9995T-G4GdE)
“Yavo Eleinu”: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTdnhzR64u0)
“Ata Tzuri”: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EY4FLQ1dxyE)
This is His Day.
A day He shares with me: to bless me.
As the day fades and evening settles, I light
my candle and look towards the Heavens.
Bob lives there now.
And someday, my bridegroom, Yeshua, will call
for me also: whether I shed my
earthly shell naturally … or He mysteriously gathers me to Him when He
returns (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
Either way, I am
ready.
“He Will Hold Me Fast”: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNi3ejUCYrY)
I long to see Him
face-to-face.
“My Souls Longs for The Lord”: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaVDsuUeE1A)
But until that day I honor my husbands, by
honoring Yeshua with this 24-hour period where I put the world and all its
lunatic craziness aside, and life in/with Him, as the center of my
attention 😊
