Shabbat Date

Both John and Judi went to a friends' home, sat down with them and enjoyed their sabbath meal. From the very moment they sat down at their table they had a feeling that this was just right. It was the right thing to do. They had a coming home feeling.

The sabbath has provided more family time and a designated time of study and worship. When asked if they have new blessings they did not have before and Judi responds, "Definitely!" To make the sabbath special, a large family meal on Friday evenings starts the sabbath. Their big family can be a big noisy crowd in our dining room, but that is what they love so much.

To encourage others learning about sabbath, Judi says, "God's blessing is on those who honor the sabbath. He gives a deep rest to those who keep it."

Cheryl - Yom Kippur Changed Her Family's Life Forever

Christie can't remember exactly when she kept her first Shabbat but it was over 20 years ago. She does however remember asking her boss to take off on the Sabbath. She was very nervous but committed to walk in the Father's ways. Her boss let her off with no problem at all. She worked there for five years and never worked on the Sabbath even though she was originally hired to be the only person in the office working on Saturday!

Johnnie's first Sabbath was spent with his wife's (Christie) grandparents, and all of them (Johnnie, Christie and her grandparents) ended up studying about the Sabbath day. It was through her grandparents that both Johnnie and Christie came to understand and believe the Sabbath and believed it was for them.

After learning about the Sabbath their eyes were opened to so much and it continued more and more over the years. They are definitely blessed by keeping Sabbath.

The Sabbath has allowed them to rest their mind after a hard week's work. It also allows them to reflect inwardly, and set their heart back inline with the Heavenly Father's will. It has changed their life because it gives them the time to reflect and reset every week, and to start the first day full of energy!

"Yes!", Christie says. "We have more time together as a family and it's an enjoyable rest from our weekly labor. If not for the Sabbath, we'd probably never slow down."

Johnnie indicates, "Absolutely! Learning about Shabbat has opened the door to learning so much about our Heavenly Father, and that's my blessing!"

To make the sabbath special, Christie says, "We like to study as a family, we may watch a video, or go to visit other families who also keep the Sabbath." And Johnnie says, "I love to rest, and read the scriptures. I call those I love. My wife and I will sometimes spend most of the morning talking on the porch."

The encourage others to look at the Sabbath as a blessing and a day of rest from your labors. "Who wouldn't like a day off to reflect and get spiritually rejuvenated?" And enjoy His rest! Just enjoy Him!

"Yahweh has changed my life in ways unimaginable. I've been through a lot in my life and I know I would have never been able to over-come without the love and mercy of Yahweh and the gift of redemption through Yeshua Messiah!", as shared by Christie.

Finally, Johnnie says, "My wife, Christie and I have been blessed in such a way that is special. Before we learned about Shabbat we were both deep into the world. We reached a point of desperation. We were both called together! Everything that we have learned, every good and bad experience we've had together! We decided together that we would keep the Shabbat, and each step forward from that point has seemed to be in perfect harmony. Sabbath was the first step of a journey that has taken us on a hard, sometimes very hard, but beautiful journey. Christie and I have had some very hard trials in this walk, but I really believe through all of it, keeping the Sabbath and resting has gotten us through it. It is sometimes our only day to listen to him without the daily routines and distractions."

For John's first sabbath he watched a video from a ministry named Shofar Mountain and it clicked in his heart all at once. And although John has experienced more persecution and lost friends he now has more peace and more rest!

When asked if he has more blessings than before he kept sabbath, "Yes, I'd like to add that it is easier to walk out my faith not having to twist the Fathers Word to fit my agenda." Both he and his wife make the sabbath special with rest and study then make a nice meal to sit back and enjoy with friends when they have the chance to get together.

Encouraging others to experience the sabbath, John says, "If you want to go on a journey and see the Fathers Word come alive in your life? Then keep the Sabbath, things will start happening and your walk with Him will change."

John says he is just a simple guy with a simple life, and can't say that he has any fancy words to change your mind about the Sabbath. However, when you're ready, tell that Father that you want to be obedient to Him and see what happens…

My desire has always been to please God. Studying scripture, I learned that the Sabbath was His and to please Him I should delight in it by observing it to draw closer to him. Before a trip to Israel, I attended a Messianic Shabbat service which helped me prepare for my visit to Israel. I’ve made a lot of new ... Read More

What does it take to launch a dream? Put the kids in bed and begin a podcast! You will hear what it takes to change a vision into a reality. The journey will take Matthew and Shannon into many new relationships which will help others see that the most important part of Sabbath is relationship. Relationship with God and others.

Enjoy the journey with Matthew and Shannon, pull up a chair and smile when you hear the many amazing stories. You will read and hear how God calls His people to have a date with them! And you will hear how God leads them to share a very special time, His weekly appointed time.