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Post by R' Y'hoshua Moshe on Aug 16, 2004 8:48:06 GMT -8
How good it is to dwell together with brethren in unity! I had a great shabbat fellowshiping with the congregation I attend.  There was a good message at the service. We had great food, fellowship, and worshipped Adonai in both song, and dance. I look forward to next Shabbat! Shalom, Reuel |
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Post by Mark on Feb 21, 2005 4:26:43 GMT -8
I'm curious as to how you include your children in Shabbat? What do you do with the ones who are too little to study  on their own? Does Sabbath become burdensome for them having to fit within our mold of what is restful? Obviously, I'm struggling with this question. Any of your experiences or suggestions would be helpful. Mark |
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Post by R' Y'hoshua Moshe on Feb 21, 2005 14:13:09 GMT -8
I have had much experience in this area. I would also like to hear other’s experiences as well. We have found that during the Shabbat service that it can indeed be difficult for little ones under the age of 2 to make it through the service. But, we have found that a child can be trained to sit quietly and listen to the reading and teaching (or at least not me noisy) for about 2hours (if necessary). I think that it is beneficial to have an area for the much younger children to be in with their mothers or some other trusted individual for the edification of the services. But of course, study and the holy convocation is just a part of the day. I believe the day should also be spent in a restful manner where you are spending time with your children allowing the precepts of YHVH to rub off on them. If Shabbat becomes stressful because you have to police your children all day long in a fellowship building…than leave early and going to some place where you can relax with your family is a good idea. I believe the holy convocation on Shabbat is necessary, but it does not need to take up the whole Sabbath day. I hope this is helpful, Reuel |
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Post by Mark on Feb 22, 2005 4:15:47 GMT -8
My children do really well during the services. I was wondering more about other activities during the day... for instance, my older boys like to ride trail bikes (bicycles); which, for me, is a lot of fun but not necessarily restfull. I have one son who thinks restfullness is best represented sitting and watching Saturday morning cartoons. I enjoy long walks in the woods (as kids buzz past me on trail bikes) or floating down the river in a raft. All of these things are fine at some level or in some degree (cartoons requiring the greatest level of discretion); but can they be considered "a day of rest unto the Lord"? They're certainly a day of rest unto me. Sabbath is certainly special and enjoyable; and we have times when we, together, enjoy the Scriptures as a family. Often, on Friday evening, they will present a skit or sing a song that they have rehearsed through the week.
Is my question clear or have I muddled it with words? What's restful to me is certainly not restful to them. How much of my perception of what the day should be ought I bear upon them during the "quiet" hours that are not pre-orchestrated? To what degree ought children have to find their own pursuit of pleasure on a day that is to be given wholly to God?
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Post by Blake on Feb 22, 2005 4:39:29 GMT -8
For Sabbath I do not take it as merely a rest from your job and yard work but a day that belongs just to God. I think God told us to set aside our work is so we could spend time with Him solely in prayer, praise, and study so I do not turn on the TV or the Computer and study from my paper books and bibles.
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Post by R' Y'hoshua Moshe on Feb 22, 2005 16:21:26 GMT -8
I would say that the day is of course charactezed by resting. But, it is also characterized by meeting with holy assembly and fellowship. I believe if you are keeping the commandments given in regarding the Shabbat there is nothing wrong with enjoying the work of G-d’s hands, just as he did. But, it should be focused on Him. Shalom, Reuel |
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Post by Rick on Mar 30, 2005 20:15:26 GMT -8
I don't know if this thread is inactive but I thought I'd share our observance. On Friday Before sunset, usually my wife lights the candles and says the blessing. I usually prepare the evening meal earlier, so it is ready and kept warm. I say a blessing for my children and my wife. Say a blessing over the bread, Bless the wine and pass the cup and serve the meal,(additional servings they're on their own  ). after the meal we say grace, I like to read Luke23:54-56 We will read a passage or two, discuss the past week, work, school, or whatever. Sat. I'll read the passage, and one from the Gospels. I spend most of the day reading/studying. The whole family pretty much just "hangs out" all day, the girls like to play a game or something. I don't know if this is how it's "supposed to be done", but it feels good and works for us. It's very casual we just take our time, enjoy each others company, "catch up" with each other and spend time we just never seem to have the rest of the week. I find myself looking forward to Shabbat by Wed.! (I added a little more detail here; theloveofgod.proboards3.com/index.cgi?board=observant&action=display&n=1&thread=513&page=1 |
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Post by R' Y'hoshua Moshe on Mar 30, 2005 21:23:37 GMT -8
I hope people continue to keep it alive.  Sounds perfect to me my brother. The majority of the world cannot understand the joy that you and your family experience every week. Perhaps we can share that joy with at least a few. Continued blessings upon you and your family, B'shem Yeshua, Reuel |
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Kathy
New Member
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Post by Kathy on Apr 4, 2005 18:39:45 GMT -8
I was raised to keep the shabbat , but it was anything but fun ! It ment no cartoons we had to quiet up do all old people stuff . Now I let my 9 yr old play and have fun traditions , I think it is in the joy thats important ,sometimes she even wants to thank G_d for things or pray for something , I think it is in raising them that G_d is always there and for us , not in grinding rules into them , feed it to them sweet ,I never want my child to turn away , cause G_d was boring and irelevant , I want him real , we do the reading and praying daily , any thoughts ?? Comments ?
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Post by R' Y'hoshua Moshe on Apr 4, 2005 23:09:00 GMT -8
"If you turn away your foot from the Shabbat, from doing your pleasure on my holy day; and call the Shabbat a delight, and the holy of YHVH honorable; and shall honor it, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words.."
- Yeshayahu (Isa.) 58:13
Shabbat is to be a delight, it is to be sweet, and your children should view it as such. I do believe there are ways this can be done without having it distinguished by the delight of the world (not that you are doing this).
As do I. I believe this is right. This I believe is the will of our Heavenly Father.
I agree....
"Fathers, don't provoke your children, so that they won't be discouraged."
- Col 3:21
I agree that it is our challenge to teach the commandments of Elohim in a dynamic way in which they will absorbe them. But, we are nonetheless to teach them all the commandments....
"..and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up."
- Devarim (Deu.) 6:7
You are blessed to have parents whom taught you the commandments of G'd. Sometimes in this teaching there is discipline that can be perceived as "anything but fun". If we cannot recieve this from our parents, how will we recieve it from our Heavenly Father?....
"Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects. Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty."
- Iyov (Job) 5:17
"For whom YHVH loves, He disciplines, and whips every son whom He receives." (Prov. 3:11, 12)
If you endure discipline, G'd is dealing with you as with sons; for who is the son whom a father does not discipline?
But if you are without discipline, of which all have become sharers, then you are bastards, and not sons.
Furthermore, indeed we have had fathers of our flesh as correctors, and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits, and we shall live?"
- Ivrim (Heb.)12:6-9
Therefore, although it is not the end goal that our children are experiencing fun while learning the commandments of G'd, it is our responsibility to teach them in such a way that they will retain the commandments later into life....
"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."
- Mishlei (Pro.) 22:6
I do not allow my children to do whatever pleases them on Shabbat (nor I am sure do you)...and, it is their favorite day!
It sounds like you are on the right track,
Shalom aleychem achoit
(Peace be upon you sister),
Reuel
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Post by R' Y'hoshua Moshe on Apr 14, 2005 19:11:49 GMT -8
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Post by Rick on Apr 24, 2005 17:21:17 GMT -8
Thank you for the Link, I really like this, I think we will follow this next Shabbot. Thanks again, Rick
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There was a good message at the service. We had great food, fellowship, and worshipped Adonai in both song, and dance.
on their own? Does Sabbath become burdensome for them having to fit within our mold of what is restful? Obviously, I'm struggling with this question. Any of your experiences or suggestions would be helpful.
). after the meal we say grace, I like to read Luke23:54-56 
