Setting an entire day aside involves preparation and work.
The work, however, takes on a whole new joy
as the heart is directed toward YHVH,
anticipating the welcoming of His set-apart day...
Sometimes, too, things do not go exactly as planned,
but, as with many things in life, these times can be
wonderful opportunities for us to grow,
laying aside our will and our way,
conforming to Him and what He has for us to learn.
It isn't always easy, but there is always peace and joy
when we submit to His way.
My day of preparation was like that. :)
I had ideas and plans, yet, there were many 'curve balls'.
How easy it can be to get wrapped up in the "doing"
and get, what is commonly known as, the "Martha" mind set.
But as we keep our hearts right before Him,
taking joy in serving,
thanking and praising Him in the process,
how much easier it is to turn from our own plans
and rejoice in His!
I learn so much each Shabbat
but I learn so much, too, each day of preparation.
What a blessing it is! What a joy it is!
How thankful I am that He teaches me,
grows me, molds and shapes me.
After a trip to a store or two on our day of prep,
enjoying an outing with my lil' girls
and rejoicing that Daddy and son had their own outing,
we returned home to continue preparations.
With the alterations of our day,
our preparations continued all of the afternoon.
But we made the best of it, working together,
and singing together (loudly, too, which can be such fun!).
Our Shabbat supper was not, by any means,
what would be called a 'traditional' Shabbat meal,
but that was okay. ;o)
And we rejoiced in the opportunity
to share it with others.
What a blessing hospitality can be!
Variety of sourdough pizzas and lemon bread to boot! :)
Let's count our blessings.
In 'good' times and in trying times...
May we choose and resolve to praise and give thanks
to the One from Whom all blessings flow.
Shabbat Shalom!
May YHVH bless
as we seek, honor, and obey Him.
"Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil... Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to YHVH, to serve Him, and to love the name of YHVH, to be Hs servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of My covenant"Isaiah 56:2,6Here are the words to one of the songs
we so joyously sang all afternoon during our preparations:
We Delightby Steve McConnellAvinu Makeynu, our Father, our KingLord, we delight in Your Shabbat!We enter Your rest and Your praises we sing!Lord, we delight in Your Shabbat!We delight, we delight, we delight in Your Shabbat!We delight, we delight, we delight in Your Shabbat!In six days You painted the face of the earthLord, we delight in Your Shabbat!And carved out a day when You'd rest from Your workLord, we delight in Your Shabbat!We delight, we delight, we delight in Your Shabbat!We delight, we delight, we delight in Your Shabbat!You brought forth a nation from AbrahamLord, we delight in Your Shabbat!And spared his son Isaac, providing the ramLord, we delight in Your Shabbat!We delight, we delight, we delight in Your Shabbat!We delight, we delight, we delight in Your Shabbat!The prophets foretold that Messiah would comeLord, we delight in Your Shabbat!Sh'ma Yisrael, the Lord God is one!Lord, we delight in Your Shabbat!We delight, we delight, we delight in Your Shabbat!We delight, we delight, we delight in Your Shabbat!And just as Your rested when Your work was doneLord, we delight in Your Shabbat!We enter Your rest by the work of Your SonLord, we delight in Your Shabbat!We delight, we delight, we delight in Your Shabbat!We delight, we delight, we delight in Your Shabbat!The lilies You dress and the sparrows You feedLord, we delight in Your Shabbat!You, Elohim, provide every need!Lord, we delight in Your Shabbat!We delight, we delight, we delight in Your Shabbat!We delight, we delight, we delight in Your Shabbat!Your people will enter Your rest when we cry,Lord, we delight in Your Shabbat!"Baruch ha ba b'Shem Adonai!"Lord, we delight in Your Shabbat!We delight, we delight, we delight in Your Shabbat!We delight, we delight, we delight in Your Shabbat!May you delight in His set apart day.
Shabbat Linky
