Betsy & Independence; Ocean Park-WA
The Sabbath is a blessing and gift from God.
I keep the whole Day low-key.
My husband does not join me … but, at least he is no longer fighting me on the issue.
I practice self-care: my body is the Temple of the Ruach HaKo'desh - it is on me to maintain it, so it functions to the best of it's ability.
I tone it.
I feed it.
Chili Mac in a mug for Supper; with cinnamon cornbread. YUM!
And when sundown arrives … I rest it.
A Day of Rest = Shabbat, is a Commandment … it is not negotiable. That it is a hard and fast commandment is no hardship for me: I want to always stay close to Elohei - to learn what it is He wants to teach me; to do what He has for me to do with this brief Life I am blessed to be living.
I honor Elohim & I love Yeshua, so I engage in the 24 hour rest to please those I love. Those Who love me, unconditionally. Though Elohim has blessed me greatly with an Earth Husband to live my days out with, Yeshua is my eternal Bridegroom: "I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine: he feedeth among the lilies" (Song of Solomon 6:3).
In a personal context, this verse carries a message of complete, mutual, and selfless giving between two lovers (Yeshua is the lover of my soul, and I in turn, love Yeshua more than anyone else; hands down, Yeshua is #1 with my attention & affection), representing both the belonging to each other and the joyous recognition of the gift of the other (Yeshua joys over me with singing; Zephaniah 3:17). In a religious context, it symbolizes the intimate, unbreakable union between Messiah Yeshua and Believers, where each fully belongs to the other in a spiritual relationship of mutual love and possession.
Lilies, in their various forms, carry potent spiritual meanings. Generally, they symbolize purity, renewal, & a reflection of the cycle of life: the promise of new beginnings after a period of change.
So, on Shabbat I practice self-care by celebrating my God, exulting in His divine Spirit, and resting in Yeshua's presence. It is all so very simple, yet surprisingly many Believers overlook it - and some, raised on - or practicing light christianity = a compromise with sin, whereby claims of following Yeshua (Jesus) may be sporadic, highlighting a lack of a truly transformed life or a solid desire to live by Biblical principles; aligning themselves with cultural norms, and personal convenience … fear anything & everything connecting The Faith to Jews, ignore the Shabbat altogether claiming it as irrelevant.
Well, my take on the matter is, that Elohim commanded it - and Yeshua, Himself, observed it … making clear that the observance had primarily to do with rest rather than orthodox rules and regulations that lead away from Elohim's true purpose, and sour people on the observance.
If we follow Yeshua's example in all things, we cannot go wrong: I observe the Shabbat Rest as Yeshua did.
As Messianic Christians, we know we are supposed to learn about His character, who He is, His plan for our lives, His plan for the future. You know what self-care looked like to Jesus? It looked like getting away to spend time with Father Elohim … resting in His presence is true freedom, peace, and joy the world can never give us. He has the answer and it doesn’t look like what the world is pandering to us. The One who created us is the only One who knows what we truly need. It behooves us to put aside a brief 24-hour period in which our bodies, minds, and souls can rest from the world's chaos; a brief span of time at the busy week's wrap-up, where our bodies are refreshed, our minds are calmed, and our souls are soothed.
Joshua Aaron 🎶 The "Shabbat Shalom Song" - Shalom (Lyric Video) שלום: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aBPxMiWr-4)
Only when we are recharged to operate in the fullness of our created purpose can we hope to live out Elohim's message, stated in Leviticus 19:18 to "love your neighbor as yourself" - loving others with respect, kindness, and empathy: these things sound very nice to say … but they are actually very hard to do if you are not practicing self-care mitzvah.
The literal meaning of the Hebrew word mitzvah is commandment, but the generally accepted sense is that of a good deed. The emphasis is on deeds - not on positive thoughts or wishes, but on conscious acts of empathy and kindness.
The phrase "as yourself" implies something deeper than just an outward action - to me, it suggests that loving others with an outward action is first generated by loving oneself, as a first requirement. How can you healthily love a stranger, if you do not first understand a healthy self love?
A healthy self-love is basic self-care: understanding your worth as a child of God, and as a human being designed to represent the triune Godhead - Father, Son, Holy Spirit = the Eternal One, by which you nurture your well-being, and create an environment where you can thrive; an environment sustained by the Shabbat's peaceful and refreshing Rest. Only by taking care of your inner self for a short, yet regenerating 24-hour Rest, will you be capable of filling your own vessel - so you can then pour out love to others with authenticity, generosity, and compassion.
This is the purpose of Shabbat.
This is Yeshua's example of Shabbat observance.
This is why I take the time to make time for Shabbat.
The Sabbath is a blessing and gift from Elohim.
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