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Christianity gave me a good foundation in salvation and in spiritual things. For that I am thankful. I have learned alot from and will not give up completely on the good I’ve learned from my Christian upbringing. Messianic faith and practicing the Jewish foundations has given me a deeper understand of belief which has strengthened my faith. Messianic belief has given me a foundation in observance and obeying The Word. The Messianic Movement has taught me that what we do in the natural through observing festivals and keeping mitzvah or commandments are examples (or a way) of experiencing what has and will happen in the spiritual. My faith has grown as I find historic and culturally founded understanding of the chapters in the Bible.

For example that Sukkot (Festival of Booths, were you build a Succah –temporary dwelling- and live in it for a week) has always and will continue to be a festival for the nations and has great meaning in the millennial kingdom. I believe this is revelatory in that G-D wants to dwell with every person, tribe, and nation. I have found great joy in Chanukah in that we get to light candles for eight days recite blessings and just enjoy that Yeshua is the light of the world. I have learned that no wives tale or lullabye has helped our toddler sleep like singing the Shema. I have learned that cleanliness is next to godliness is not a scripture but it is a necessary part of living out the Word.

Do we need a clean home in preparation to entertain strangers at a minutes notice, do we need to be organized as to maximize our day, and do we need to eat foods that are good and healthy to us. To all of these questions one would most likely answer yes.

These traditions teach us to be content with life and enable us to focus on God and his Word. We aren’t sick from poor eating, we have a clean place to be germ free, organized and prepared for ministering to others these are all good and natural things that people would want.

We sometimes believe God is so complex that we miss the simple things like God cares enough to get us organized and prepared for each day so that we are always ready and healthy enough to serve others. I have felt spiritual freedom during each festival and have seen complete strangers come together share a meal like old friends. I have seen miracles and seen people who tormented us for months that after Passover stop the tormenting.

Most importantly I have seen my husband have freedom to lead us spiritually. He is the rabbi and priest of our home and on some Sabbaths that we can’t make it to fellowship with other believers; he leads us through a Torah service. Where else can you find liturgy on how to conduct a complete service.

There is a pattern that the Jewish people use with set prayers and a cycle of bible portion readings, set songs, and psalms. How beautiful to have a service all laid out for us and no guesswork. I don’t need bedside Baptist, or internet/TV teaching. My husband leads us in a complete service from home. (For example: How To Lead A Messianic Family Shabbat (Shabbat Siddur))

I used to look forward to what I was going to get doing the Christian holidays. Now I look forward to practicing, preparing, and experiencing what Yeshua and his disciples experienced in biblical times. Now I am not an outsider trying to figure out the bible in modern times but how I can experience the rich abiding history of the bible in modern times.