the brew*crew adventure

This Friday, our family will be celebrating Hanukkah for the eighth year together. Yes, we believe that our Messiah is very much to be found in this Hebraic Festival of Light, which He Himself observed. It has become such a preciously intimate time for our family, anticipated and appreciated more each year I think. We're thus celebrating Jesus very differently during this season, through Hanukkah (when He was most likely actually conceived by the Holy Spirit~ could this be why Mary's reply to the angel Gabriel was a portion from a traditional Hanukkah prayer?), the Festival of Light, rather than through Christmas as we used to, and as most other Christians traditionally do during this time (which we respect, the Lord has just led us differently).

We've actually taken to celebrating His birth during the Biblical Feast of Sukkot, which is when He was most probably actually born. Also, prophetically, Sukkot anticipates the coming kingdom of our Lord and Messiah Jesus wherein all the nations, all people, shall come up to Jerusalem to worship the LORD during the festival (see Zechariah 14:16). So... we're a bit of an oddity. Who knew? LOL

Those of you who know us well already know that Hanukkah is a special time for us. And for those of you who may not, or want to know more about it, just follow the links (highlighted words above) to learn more. You may also go here, here or here (click the highlighted words). It's been a wonderful journey of discovery the Lord has brought us on thusfar, and we are excited to be entering into this special Season of Miracles once again.

I've included a list of Hanukkah books that we're reading in my sidebar. We'll also be referring to our Biblical Holidays book, as we do every year.

Our daughter, 7 yo T, who has grown up celebrating Hanukkah, wrote this about it last August on her own blog;

Hanukkah is a holiday that's very fun. Hanukkah is fun because it is a day that you know that God is truly your King, if you believe in Him. God saves you after you ask for forgiveness for your sins.

Hanukkah is eight days long. Hanukkah is when you should celebrate that God comes to rescue you, like He rescued the Jews from Antiochus and his armies.

Aaaah... yes, He has indeed come to rescue us, and how we shall celebrate!

So, we're all looking forward to celebrating with good foods, kindling the lights of the hanukkiahs each night, crafts, baking cookies, gift-giving, games and sharing our celebration with friends. I also look forward to the moments of still, quiet reflections that I have come to cherish... There's a song on Marty Goetz's Festivals of Lights cd that I so appreciate, which expresses our sentiments during this special holiday. We like to listen to it each night (and try to sing along with the Hanukkah blessings which are also sang on this cd) while reading, drawing or just watching the candles burn... and think about the lyrics.

CHANUKAH

Make my life Your temple

L-rd at this season start

To pull down every idol I have raised up in my heart

(Chorus)

On this Chanukah

On this Feast of Dedication

I dedicate myself to You

Take my defiled altar

Come and cleanse and come repair

So every time I falter I can run to meet you there

(Chorus)

(Bridge)

And with every candle on the menorah

That illuminates the night

Comes a prayer You'd kindle

In me, Yeshua

A desire for Your fire, for Your light

Make of my mortal body

A house worthy of Your name

Rid me of what's ungodly and every hidden thing of shame

(Chorus)

(Bridge)

And with every candle on the menorah

That illuminates the night

Comes a prayer You'd kindle

In me, Messiah

A desire for Your fire, for Your light

Take my supply of oil

Not enough to burn long I fear

But, oh, how I pray I may one day say,

"A great miracle happened here!"

Also, a dear friend of mine shares her own special testimony of sharing Hanukkah with others here, in her Christmas Conundrum, and how the problem resolved itself here.

A great site for kids: Hanukkah for Torah Tots

More about Hanukkah @ Wikipedia

And here's a peek into our celebrations last year: Hanukkah, Night 5 and our Hanukkah 2005 flickr file.

Happy Holidays to you and yours~

Blessings in Messiah,
our "Ner Tamid" (Hebrew for "eternal flame")

~ Beth & family (aka. the brew*crew)

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