The signs of fall are all around us as we put the finishing touches on this November/December issue of Kaleidoscope. Brilliant shades of red, orange, amber, and gold compete for our attention on magazine covers and in email newsletters. And against backdrops of cornstalks, haystacks, and falling leaves, the vibrant photos and graphics that fill our screens on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest remind us this is the season of Thanksgiving.
As a child, I loved this time of year. The shorter days and cooler nights lit a fire of expectancy within me—a knowledge that although summer was ending, we were about to enter a season of delightful celebrations.
As an adult, the expectancy this season brings hasn’t waned. If anything, it has grown—particularly as my faith in Jesus has matured into the faith of Yeshua—a transformational difference that has intensified my passion to share the Hebraic roots of the Christian faith.
There are numerous fall traditions and celebrations to mark this harvest time of year between the end of the growing season and the start of the winter months. In Judaism, Sukkot marks the wandering of the Israelites and the great time of the harvest celebrated by traditional family feasts.
It was around this time last year when my memoir, Just a Little Girl released, followed closely by the launch of several exciting outreach ministries from our new Bethany Center in McKinney, Texas—including Kaleidoscope, this bi-monthly email newsletter with its goal to “Illuminate the Many Facets of God’s Word.”
With that goal in mind, I hope you’ll enjoy our Light of the World video and find illuminating nuggets of wisdom in this month’s Precious Gem article; A Light to the Nations. We also hope that our Hebrew Word of the Month, as well as our Featured Ministries will shine a light of new understanding on traditional topics such as Chanukah and the beloved Menorah.
We’re also highlighting a traditional food favorite during the season of Chanukah, so don’t miss our recipe for potato latkes, or the opportunity to make this a tasty tradition in your family celebrations.
As technology shrinks the world, we’ve become more aware of the ways that diverse cultures celebrate the autumn harvest season—ways and times that might differ greatly from our own.
However, none of us mark time like God does. God gave us a rhythm as written in the Bible—a symphony of seasons, celebrations and feasts. And in contrast to that, He also gave us a song of darkness and light that changed the world—a true Light to the Nations and Light of the World.
Until we meet again in January of 2018, my prayer for you, dear readers, is that you remember the Words of Yeshua and purpose to give God glory in all that you do.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16
Blessings and shalom,
Victoria
