Believers in Yahushua, the Son of Elohim, are awakening to the meaning behind Yahushua’s words, “If you love Me, you shall guard My commands.” (John 14:15)
We read and study the Scriptures to understand Yahushua’s commands, as they apply today. We seek to reject the traditions of man and approach the Scriptures with fresh eyes, looking for insights into how to live righteous lives.
We rely on Yah’s Word and the Set-apart Spirit to guide us in this journey.
John 14:15 “If you love Me, you shall guard My commands.”
John 14:16-17 “And I shall ask the Father, and He shall give you another Helper, to stay with you forever – the Spirit of the Truth, whom the world is unable to receive, because it does not see Him or know Him. But you know Him, for He stays with you and shall be in you.”
Sukkot is a holiday celebrated by many who follow the teachings of the Bible. Believers in Yahushua are rejecting man-made and pagan-based rituals and trading them for holidays that YHWH, the Father, spoke into the fabric of Creation through His Word. Sukkot is one of our Creator’s “Appointed Times.”
Yah’s Appointed Times are meaningful. They do not stretch to make a connection with the Written Word; they come from the Written Word and testify to it. They testify to Yahushua, who is the Word and perfect fulfillment of Yah’s holidays in both His First and Second Coming. When celebrated through faith in Him, believers grow in their relationship with Him and reject the ways of the world.
For those of us who have embraced Yah’s Appointed Times, many would agree that Sukkot is the best of the best of these times. Commemorating the Exodus from Egypt, Yah’s people today often sleep in tents, fulfilling the command to “dwell in booths for seven days.” (Leviticus 23:42) In this context, a booth or a sukkah (singular for the Hebrew word sukkot) is a temporary dwelling place like a tent. Basically, this is a “camping” holiday with lots of time to enjoy the great outdoors!
Further, Yah’s people are commanded to “rejoice before YHWH for seven days.” (Leviticus 23:40) This holiday aligns with harvest time and is a celebration of all the goodness that YHWH provides through the fruit of the earth. It is a time to give thanks because YHWH is good!
So, Sukkot is a time for celebrating, rejoicing, and giving thanks outside while connecting with YHWH’s Creation.
Sukkot Activities
When our family prepares for Sukkot, we plan activities that harmonize with these purposes. This year, my husband planned an edifying Karaoke night. We chose songs of praise, songs to make us laugh, and songs that expressed our walks in this world.
Our son planned outdoor games. We played with a homemade Skee-Ball ramp, made paper airplanes to see whose would travel the farthest, and tossed tennis balls toward a target. We had fun competing and playing with one another.
Every Sukkot, I plan something artsy-crafty for one of the activities. Several weeks before Sukkot this year, I saw a Substack note written by Jason Trice. His Substack publication is the Grati-Dude Diaries. He suggested a family “Gratitude Scavenger Hunt.” He explained how it worked:
1. Grab a piece of paper, pencils, crayons, markers, etc.
2. Walk around your house, yard, or neighborhood.
3. Hunt for gratitude using a list of prompts.
4. When you find something, draw it in a little square.
5. Have fun.
I loved Jason’s idea and knew my family would too! I created a worksheet with 9 squares. Each square corresponded with a thankfulness prompt. I used a few of Jason’s prompts and others that were specific to Sukkot and our family.
Here’s a list of my thankfulness prompts:
1. Something in the heavens
2. Something at your feet
3. Something hidden
4. Something you use every day
5. Something that makes you laugh
6. Something that reminds you of home
7. Something you can hold
8. Something that reminds you of Sukkot
9. Something that makes you glad you’re a sojourner
Our Thank-a-Doodles
For something in the heavens, our family drew pictures of the sun, moon, and stars.
We study the heavenly lights to understand the signs and Yah’s calendar. (Genesis 1:14) For more on this, check out our son’s publication, Written in the Heavens.
Our oldest daughter doodled a rainbow—a sign of YHWH’s covenant.
For more insights on this sign in the heavens, check her post on Extra Biblical Librarian.
Our son (and my AJ Doodles’ partner) drew the logo on his Crocs for something at his feet.
Another son drew a picture of a seed underground for something hidden.
For something we used everyday we all picked something that another person picked. We doodled our Bibles, watches, water, and our phones.
Our son drew his dad and brothers for something that makes him laugh. My husband and our boys are the source of much laughter in our home. The doodles are true to their resemblance.
For something that reminds you of home, my daughter doodled a plaque of the 10 Commandments that we hang by our front door, a reminder to guard YHWH’s commandments.
Two of our children drew pictures of another plaque that is hung close by the 10 Commandments. It is a plaque of Psalm 121:8 that reads “YHWH guards your going out and your coming in now and forever.” A good reminder to us sojourners as we walk a foreign land.
Four of us doodled our mugs for something you can hold.
Palm branches, a family Sukkot banner, and campfires were drawn for something that reminds us of Sukkot.
One of our family’s favorite doodle’s for something that makes you glad you’re a sojourner was our oldest son’s doodle of the great crowd of witnesses who have gone before us in seeking a heavenly fatherland. We are still seeking that land.
Hebrews 11:13 In belief all these died, not having received the promises, but seeing them from a distance, welcomed and embraced them, and confessed that they were aliens and strangers on the earth.
Hebrews 11:14 For those who speak this way make it clear that they seek a fatherland.
Hebrews 11:15 And yet, if they had indeed kept remembering that place from which they had come out, they would have had the chance to return.
Hebrews 11:16 But now they long for a better place, that is, a heavenly. Therefore, Elohim is not ashamed to be called their Elohim, for He has prepared a city for them.
And this is what Sukkot is about—it’s the longing for the passing of things that are temporary and the yearning for Yahushua’s return to dwell with us—Emmanuel.
For Yahushua said, “I shall not leave you orphans—I am coming to you.” (John 14:18)
Our Most Popular Thank-a-Doodle
In closing, I would like to share the most popular doodle of our Thank-a-Doodle Sukkot Scavenger Hunt!
Our kitten Kacey was doodled by 3 of us for something at our feet.
And by 3 of us for something that makes us laugh.
And one of us for something we can hold.
I hope you enjoyed seeing our thank-a-doodles.
Below are several family pictures for our paid Subscribers.
Blessings to all!
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