Before the Shabbat hour
arrived tonight, I went for a short hike along the lower end of the Pacific Way
Trail this morning – then, I cleaned the bird house and feeder Bob built for
me: they needed to be sanitized. The bird house will be stored away until
Spring; but the feeder will feed birds year’round, so it went back up on the cast-iron-stake
Bob pounded into place our first year here (Bob only lived in this house
with me, for 18 months). It comforts my heart to see visual examples of
his love for me; now that he walks the golden streets of Heaven, with Yeshua
😊
Shabbat is a Jewish holiday
that happens every week – I have Hebrew DNA in me, so I honor Shabbat. I
do not practice orthodox Judaism, as I believe orthodoxy has seriously
strayed from the purity of the original Shabbat.
I recognize, and
honor, Shabbat according to Scripture:
though Yeshua, speaking the New Covenant guidelines, does not command the
Sabbath to be kept … He is the Son of God and understood the importance of the
Sabbath – and being born into the line of a prominent Jewish family that could
trace it’s roots back to the beginning of the practice of the Sabbath, I have
no doubt whatsoever that He acknowledged and practiced keeping Shabbat 😉
But as I mentioned above … I
do not hold to the religious rigidity of orthodox practice of the
Sabbath.
I do, however,
as a Messianic Christian Believer … set Friday evening and all day Saturday to
nightfall aside to rest my body, relax my mind, and enjoy friends – all to-do
Lists, hard labor, and daily worries and shelved until Monday: I do not
acknowledge them during my ‘Island of Rest’ period of time.
I find it peacefully
exciting to know that all around this world – in every community, every Jewish
and Messianic Believing home in those communities –people in their special way,
are practicing the peace of Shabbat 😊
Other than personally
entering into the Shabbat, there is no one specific way to celebrate this
weekend Holiday. In other words, there is no {incorrect} way. One is allowed
the freedom to eat a special meal … or not; one can eat their meal and drink
their wine with a partner or with friends … or not; one can think about the
past week, and consider the week ahead … or not.
The only requirement is
focus on Elohei, and just breathe easy.
Of course, feeling gratitude
towards Elohei and for those around you is good, too – and enhances the Shabbat
experience 😊
