KINDLE THE SABBATH LIGHTS
As earthly time moves o
n
to the second month of the Gregorian calendar year,
we remember how the Creator instructed the Israelites to reckon time:
For the day ,
it is the visual setting and rising of the sun,
from sundown to sundown.
For the week ,
there is no visual reminder except for the Sabbath keeper
to keep track of days one to six,
so that all may know that on the seventh,
we welcome the Queen of Days:
We enter the dimension in time
of the TRUE LORD of the Sabbath,
YHWH,
a ‘timely’ memorial to the Creator and His Creation,
Who ceased from His creative work,
not because He was tired or needed rest,
but because He had completed His Creation to perfection,
which He declared not only ‘good’ but ‘very good’!
It is a Sabbath as well
for the first man and woman
–representative humanity–
a day to cease
from earthly strivings and concerns,
from labor and toil to provide rest for body and mind;
and to remember and welcome
the Lord and His Sabbath
into one’s heart and home,
in the company of family and loved ones,
in fellowship with like-minded believers
and worshippers of —
YHWH,
Creator,
Lord of the Sabbath.
As for reckoning time according to the month,
it is the first sighting of a sliver of the silvery moon,
visible to primal humanity,
who had not yet learned how to deal with the passing of time on earth.
[http://time.com/5126611/super-blue-blood-moon-pictures-2018/]
And as though it were not enough to take pleasure in viewing the
weekly,
monthly,
yearly
spectacles in the visible heavens
that all living creatures could take pleasure viewing on ordinary nights,
our Creator surprises us
with more naturally occurring phenomena
such as the ‘Super Blue Blood Moon Eclipse’
which was visible on earth at this time in year 2018,
a rare celestial phenomenon
that had not occurred since 1982,
that was viewed, ‘free for all’,
by young and old, rich or poor!
Interested or not, it was there
for the ‘sighted’ who have eyes to see
and hopefully, with spiritual vision as well,
FOR —
what is the use of being endowed
with eyes and brain,
if neither vision nor intellect
recognize the existence of
a Designer-
Creator-
First Cause-
GOD,
Who has spoken to humanity
from Sinai,
and Who continues to speak
through His Creation—
YHWH is His Name!
Indeed,
what a great God is our Creator,
Who existed before the beginning of earthly time,
Who spoke the world into existence
in Genesis/Bereshith,
YHWH is His Name—
Who cared about His crown of creation,
Humanity,
Who taught us how to live our precious lives
as measured and treasured moments
on planet earth,
according to predictable cycles of nature,
in seasons for agricultural guidance,
as early as the culmination of creation week.
As we begin a new month,
may we remember to praise
the Creator of that moon and all the heavenly bodies,
Image from endtimepilgrim.org
the Designer of the luminaries in the heavens,
the Giver of Light to our darkened world,
the Source of light that illuminates the pathway toward Him.
His other ‘light’ on earth is the Torah –
the Way to Life
in the custody of His Chosen People,
His ‘light to the Gentiles.’
May the time come
that all humanity
will embrace His Torah
as their Guideline for living
on this planet earth,
so that all will call upon the Name YHWH,
as the prophets of Israel prophesied
for the end of the age.
Indeed may that time come soon,
according to His perfect timing!
Blessed be our Creator God,
True Light of our life,
YHWH,
Blessed be His Holy Name!
Psalm 8
O YHWH, our Lord,
how majestic is Your Name in all the earth!
You have set Your glory in the heavens.
Through the praise of children and infants
You have established a stronghold
against Your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.
When I consider Your heavens,
the work of Your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which You have set in place,
what is mankind that You are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?
You have made them a little lower than the angels
and crowned them with glory and honor.
You made them rulers over the works of Your hands;
You put everything under their feet:
all flocks and herds,
and the animals of the wild,
the birds in the sky,
and the fish in the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.
O YHWH, our Lord,
how majestic is Your name in all the earth!
Psalm 8
—set to music by Tom Fettke and lyricist Linda Lee Johnson;
Listen to or sing along with this rendition by the UC (University of the Cordilleras) Chorale] as you read the lyrics:
When I gaze into the night skies and see the work of Your fingers;
The moon and stars suspended in space.
Oh what is man, of what is man that You are mindful of him?
You have given man a crown of glory and honor,
And have made him a little lower than the angels.
You have put him in charge of all creation:
the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, the fish of the sea.
O what is man, O what is man that You are mindful of him?
O Lord, our God the majesty and glory of Your Name
Transcends the earth and fills the heavens.
O Lord, our God; little children praise You perfectly,
And so would we, and so would we . . . .
Hallelu YAH, Hallelu YAH!
The majesty and glory of Your name;
Hallelu YAH, halleluYAH,
The majesty and glory of Your name;
HalleluYAH, halleluYAH, halleluYAH, halleluYAH,
HalleluYAH halleluYAH, hallelu . . . . .
hallelu YAH.
BLESSINGS
Image from ourmotherjerusalem.wordpress.com
Blessed are You,
YHWH our God,
Who created the fruit of the vine,
symbolic of the joy we feel in knowing You,
and in blessing Your Name,
and the joy we derive
in celebrating Your Sabbath,
the joy of fellowship
with like-minded friends,
the joy from family,
the joy in savoring food
to nourish our body,
the joy in living each day —
for the time You have allotted
to each one of us in our lifetime.
For the joy of living each precious day
for You,
Who gives meaning to our very existence,
O YHWH,
our Lord and our God,
We thank You!
To Life,
l’chaim,
mabuhay!
Image from caughtbetweenspaces.wordpress.com
Blessed are You, O YHWH our God,
Who has blessed generation after generation
in our family:
[name them]
grandparents we had the privilege of knowing,
loving parents who participated in the miracle of giving life,
siblings with whom we shared our growing up years,
spouses with whom we united in marriage,
children who are blessings to our lives,
extended members of our family:
in-laws, grandchildren,
and household staff who attend to our needs,
May You continue to bless all of them,
including those who are not here with us.
It is our desire that all of them
will come to know You,
love You,
and worship You,
just as we have been privileged
to experience You
in our lifetime.
And a special prayer,
O Lord YHWH,
for the multitudes in Southeast Asia
who are threatened by yet another killer-virus
that have already taken thousands of lives in the
country of China where it originated —
we pray that this plague will be contained
by medical intervention and individual self-protective measures,
in all the areas where the disease has already spread —
we pray for protection for our families, friends, colleagues,
and for ourselves;
for we know, Lord YHWH,
that when we have done everything on our part
within our ability and capability,
still, we leave the rest to You,
and commit ourselves and our loved ones,
into Your Hands,
O LORD of LIFE!
Amen.
SABBATH MEAL
image from judaicafinearts.com
Image from www.haruth.com
HAVDALAH
Today, may there be peace within:
peace of mind,
peace in heart,
peace in hearth and home,
peace in our city,
peace in our country,
and most importantly —
peace in the Land of Israel,
for all the mixed inhabitants who live there today.
May a true “sabbath”
—a ceasing of hostility–
be observed among Israelis and non-Israelis,
and all mixed ethnic, cultural and religious groupings
who are based in the Land of Promise,
find true peace in their lives,
from now and for all time.
May the love of our ever gracious GOD,
LORD and KING,
fill our hearts so fully
that it manifests in our daily life,
finding expressions
in word as well as in deed,
in sharing of ourselves and of our resources
with those in need.
May we make a difference
in the lives of others,
that they might see
the Source of our joy
in simply knowing—
the God of Israel,
the God of all nations,
Creator,
Lord and Master of the universe,
Lord of the Sabbath.
Chosen God of Sinaites,
YHWH is His Name!
The Name above all names,
YHWH is LORD,
YHWH is GOD,
YHWH is ONE.
Amen.
Image from margaretfeinberg.com
Shabbat Shalom to Sinaites all over the world,
and to our Christian
and Messianic friends
to all who celebrate the True Sabbath,
on the Seventh day of the week!
