Hey everyone!
Today is the beloved Shabbat, November 11, 2023, and today I want to talk about making shalom in our families and homes.
I've been learning to truly foster shalom in our families and homes, sometimes it might seem you are not "devoted" enough. If your devotions to God are not in the same measure as your expression of love to your family, there is a problem.
So sometimes, on Shabbat, spending good time together and loving your family might just be what HaShem wants you to do, more than driving home some biblical concept.
When you spend good time with family, that opens door to talk about God and His ways and how we can follow Him, but I propose that loving your neighbor as yourself - the second greatest commandment according to Rabbi Yeshua - is one of the greatest ways we can complete the first greatest commandment - to love God. In other words, when we love those around us, including our families, we are actually doing Adonai a favor, because He created our family members and He is pleased when we love others made in His image.
So these coming shabbats I am instituting "Shalom Time" in our home -- time on shabbat and throughout the week too, when we can just soak in the sweet Spirit of Abba HaShem, spend quality time together, maybe go on little trips like we are planning to go to apple orchard today, and then I will be taking out something special from the Torah portion of the week and creating a devotion with questions to ask my family, with a Hebrew word of the week and little games to play as well.
I hope you all are blessed this fall going into Winter 2023-2024. Remember, put the first things first - love those most important to you, and carve out time for them. Also, remember: Shabbat means to cease, to stop from our regular workload and delight in our Creator and in those around us.
Be blessed in Messiah Yeshua!
Shalom,
-Greg
Today is the beloved Shabbat, November 11, 2023, and today I want to talk about making shalom in our families and homes.
I've been learning to truly foster shalom in our families and homes, sometimes it might seem you are not "devoted" enough. If your devotions to God are not in the same measure as your expression of love to your family, there is a problem.
So sometimes, on Shabbat, spending good time together and loving your family might just be what HaShem wants you to do, more than driving home some biblical concept.
When you spend good time with family, that opens door to talk about God and His ways and how we can follow Him, but I propose that loving your neighbor as yourself - the second greatest commandment according to Rabbi Yeshua - is one of the greatest ways we can complete the first greatest commandment - to love God. In other words, when we love those around us, including our families, we are actually doing Adonai a favor, because He created our family members and He is pleased when we love others made in His image.
So these coming shabbats I am instituting "Shalom Time" in our home -- time on shabbat and throughout the week too, when we can just soak in the sweet Spirit of Abba HaShem, spend quality time together, maybe go on little trips like we are planning to go to apple orchard today, and then I will be taking out something special from the Torah portion of the week and creating a devotion with questions to ask my family, with a Hebrew word of the week and little games to play as well.
I hope you all are blessed this fall going into Winter 2023-2024. Remember, put the first things first - love those most important to you, and carve out time for them. Also, remember: Shabbat means to cease, to stop from our regular workload and delight in our Creator and in those around us.
Be blessed in Messiah Yeshua!
Shalom,
-Greg
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