Sabbath practices

[shlopa]

I have been reading this board for a few months and wish to say thank you for all the insights I have received from many of you. For many years I have had a feeling that there were a lot of things in mainstream Christianity that fall short of the true message the Bible was meant to convey. My soul is refreshed each time I learn something from what I consider true worshipers of Hashem.

I have done some research and read here as many threads as possible about the Sabbath. I find answers to when it begins, lighting candles, meals, what is not allowed, etc. What do some of you actually do for this 24 hour period each week?

[Sephania]

My opinions and practices were posted here but should not be a guide for anyone as I don't have everyting quite right just yet.

[schwartmrs]

Blessings! What an interesting question! I can't wait to hear the responses.

We are relatively new to "all things Messianic", so there are a whole host of things we haven't added yet. We're just adding one thing at a time.

At this point, we spend the day on Friday cleaning so that the house will be beautiful and restful for Shabbat. I make a nice dinner and challah. We say the blessings and light the candles. We haven't added the readings yet, but we do what we've learned so far, and then have a nice, relaxing dinner.

After dinner, the adults stay gathered around the table, and the children play quietly in the next room...quite often, we play board games or cards. Occasionally, we have a family friend over to share with us, but most often it's a "family thing". Saturday is a very slow day. We all sleep in, we try to go for a walk or to the park, maybe we watch a video...each time is a little different, but always it's a "family thing."

Shade

[shlopa]

Thank you Zayit and Schwartmrs

Interesting answers. I always thought the day should be spent as a family with Hashem the main focus. Do you think creation is a typical topic for a lot of Messianics during this time because Shabbat is a rest from creation, or is this typical of historical Judaism?

[Henaynei]

For various reasons we don't attend a congregation....

Ever Shabbat (eve of the Sabbath) we "have Shabbat" @ home. This starts with the completion of all meal and environmental preparations prior to the lighting of the candles (figuring out how to get a hot meal on the table when you can no longer heat anything, or turn heat off, after the candles are lit requires trial and error :) ). Currently we use the Messianic Shabbat Siddur for our table service where we cant various prayers, DH says Eshes Chayiel (Woman of Valor) and the Barakhot (blessings) for the Shabbat wine and Challah bread. We then eat the meal.

We talk of many things, sometimes scripture, or family, or politics - always painted by the truths of scripture.

We have made a growing commitment to refrain from all things that "create" on Shabbat. The thing I am having the hardest time letting go honestly is the computer.

We actually rest quite a lot on Shabbat, getting up late and napping (unheard of!!) later. We talk of the scripture reading, we play a board game, we read, we actually talk and *listen* to each other ;)

We nosh through out the day on things we have prepared for Shabbat: Salmon salad/spread, hard boiled eggs, cheese, sliced salami and pastrami, cold left overs from dinner. I have not gotten a good crockpot yet but hope to have one by next winter, to make cholent in so we can have hot food during Shabbat.

When the Shabbat ends, 72 min after sunset, we do Havdalah, the candle lighting ceremony to make the finish of the Shabbat.

Then we start our plans a preparations for Next Shabbat - for ti truly takes a full week to prepare for Shabbat ;)

[visionary]

I find that the sabbath to me is more than the preparation during the week for it. Sabbath is time set aside to spend with the Lord. It is a visit to my home....behold He stands at the door and knocks, if any man hears His voice and opens the door, He will come in and sup with him and He with me.

If I find that my mind wonders into the worldly things on the sabbath, and then I bring it back to the Lord. This use to be work... for my mind was still rushing around with the "busy ness" of the world around me, (NEW PERSPECTIVE)then the Lord showed me that this is His time with me, and to be still and know that He is the Lord. The Lord has shown me that in this time the strength of our relationship shows. The stronger the relationship, the easier it is to have a wonderful day with the Lord. Pray without ceasing becomes have an on going conversation about all facets of my life with the Lord. Those things that crowd in to the sabbath, now become those things that the Lord is working on in my life and to count my blessings that He is.

The activities of the day are now brought in prospective as to "what does my guest, my Lord and Savior, who comes weekly to my home think?" Being conscious of His presence, changes my behavior, which in turn changes my thinking on this behavior. It is like taking my conscience level to a "more in tune to the voice of God" level. Being the gracious guest that my Lord is, I have come to love His sense of humor, his gracious forgiveness, and look towards his wonderous works, his beauty that He displays like a canvas of nature, and His Words that change my heart and mind. I love the Lord's redeeming grace and graciousness.

Taking this time and setting it aside to spend time with the Lord, with my family, away from the rush of the world and all its business is a blessing in of itself. The sabbath is a dedicated time to know my Lord. I ponder with friends and family the blessings, the insights, and the lessons I have learned from my Lord.

To those that are just starting out in keeping the sabbath, you may be looking at all the work in preparing for the Sabbath. But like all guests that you know are coming over to your house, you prepare everything ahead of time so that you can spend time with them when they get there. You want to be able to meet and greet them and graciously spend quality time with them without the rush of the world interrupting it. You are blessed with God, the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, who is coming to you humble abode to visit, every week, and who will stay for all those sabbath hours. Soon you will find that you have exciting things you wish to share with Him and your family. You will find reading of His word a joy as you re-create the stories for your children's enjoyment in acting them out, getting them to perform skits, and of course the joy of getting out into nature is always available. Fellowship with fellow believers is good as you rejoice together the love of your Saviour and God, His Father. This is a wonderful opportunity to talk of the deep things of God, and the little things that God has done in your life.

As Jesus went around doing good on the sabbath, I have found joy in visiting the shut-ins, the hospitalized, feeding the homeless, and been there for those that needed a friend. It is an adventure to be with the Lord, it is a delight to have this special time set aside just for Him. By your presence, someone may be blessed with God's presence who also comes with you.

The sabbath was made for us, for God needed no rest. We needed the rest, so that we can re-gain our "godly" perspective that the Lord is wanting us to have. Without even knowing it, there is a renewing, transforming change that happens with keeping of the Sabbath, it is in the blessing, it is the redeeming quality in knowing, it is in the justification, and it is in the santification but most of all it is in the presence of the Lord himself. For by the sabbath we are sealed as His.

[Henaynei]

*very* nice visonary :)

[visionary]

I learned something new, Ezekiel 46:1 "Thus saith the Lord God; The gate of the inner court that looketh toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the sabbath it shall be opened, in the day of the new moon it shall be opened."

Another good reason to keep the sabbath, the Lord's house is open for visitors that day.

Shalom
Visionary

[debi b]

I live in Montana. One thing I just love to do is go into the mountains and read scripture. Get up with the sun and read and think and read......I see Adonai has set a rhythm of life in motion. I also notice he plants a garden different than I do......

[visionary]

Just wanted you to know that this sabbath I went to my first Messianic Judaism synagogue which I found local. I even, after the study, was able to learn some steps on the floor. It was a joy to fellowship with, a wonderful study, and a great experience, and I came home blessed. I brought with me, my daughter, and granddaughter. The granddaughter wants to go again.

Shalom Sabbath
Visionary

[Henaynei]

Just wanted you to know that this sabbath I went to my first Messianic Judaism synagogue which I found local. I even, after the study, was able to learn some steps on the floor. It was a joy to fellowship with, a wonderful study, and a great experience, and I came home blessed. I brought with me, my daughter, and granddaughter. The granddaughter wants to go again.

Shalom Sabbath
Visionary
not bad, not bad at all....

p.s. with both ends working on her, your daughter may end up back there eventually too ;)

[brentsbaby612]

Nice thread! Everyone's posts have given me a lot of ideas! Thank you!

[adriel]

I sleep in, then enjoy breakfast before spending the day in Torah study. When the sun goes down I go out and play (with the brethren that is!)

[Mikhael]

My opinions and practices were posted here but should not be a guide for anyone as I don't have everyting quite right just yet.
Zayit,
Do any of us have everything quite right? I'm sure none of us on this board have it all under our belts.

It reminds me of a story,
A yeshiva Boker goes to his Rabbi and asked him, "Rabbi, there are two Jews and they are both on a ladder representing observance levels. One is near the top of the ladder and another one near the bottom. Which is the greater Jew?". The Rabbi simply replied, "Which direction are each of them headed?"

Even little observance is far greater than one who has had a high observance level and is going backwards and keeping less each week.

Be well,
Mikha'el