melissa-on-a-mission

Shabbat and Rest

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 02:49:18 GMT

Shabbat and Rest

The Holy Spirit first called me to rest when I was twenty-four years old. He showed me His shabbat (sabbath), and I began learning about what the Lord calls rest each Saturday. The simple step of saying yes to this changed my life.

I am now thirty-seven and God is still teaching me about His rest. He is continually showing me what rest means to Him, how He invites us to it, and how He commands it. When we decide to be His people (Jew or Gentile) it is a marker to the outside world that we are His people and He is our God.

When the Hebrew people made their covenant with God at Mount Horev, they agreed to God’s terms and conditions to keep His shabbat, just as He did after He formed all of creation. Sometimes they did this well, other times they didn’t. They are a picture of us today, as we wrestle with the demands of this world and the call of our Father to establish His reverse kingdom here on earth. One of the foundational elements of that kingdom is keeping the sabbath. God makes His position on this clear. He commands us to pause and rest in the ten commandments, and the sabbath is mentioned in scripture over one hundred and seventy-two times.

God’s commandments are His love letter to us (Psalm 119) and Yeshua is the embodiment of that love. He showed us how to live out every single instruction and commandment God gives us, perfectly. I remember feeling really excited when I realized that Yeshua kept shabbat every week. I want to be like Him, so I decided to do the same.

Yeshua was the definition of countercultural. He demonstrated a kingdom lifestyle here on earth. When you keep a sabbath you will do the same. Sabbath offends many. The mere suggestion of keeping a sabbath will cause people to want to oppose you. Often I have been asked “Why are you doing this?”, “What’s the point?”, “What a burden, that’s so inconvenient.”, “How do you get anything done without using your Saturday?”. Those are all valid questions and I understand them in such a fast-paced world where many feel taxed and maxed. I hope some of the insights below will address how the Lord gave me the answers to each of these questions over time.

Here are the things I’ve learned about rest and the sabbath from the Lord:

It heals your body and your mind . Just like our body requires sleep every day and is refreshed and renewed in the morning, so too is our spirit refreshed through keeping the sabbath. Just as we are designed to sleep every night, our soul is designed to receive rest one day a week on shabbat.

God honours the time you set aside , by bending time and space to help you achieve more on your work days. He has shown me how He is supernaturally sovereign over time, and can work miracles in the realm of time in my life.

He blesses your finances. As you refrain from spending money on the sabbath, He pours out His provision in your life. This happens financially as well as in all other areas: relationally, spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically. He loves to lavish His gifts and good things upon us.

He meets on us shabbat. He has met me by His Spirit, through the beauty of His creation, through joy shared with friends and family, in naps, meals, and through His Word.

His grace came over my ‘to do’ list. At first I thought it would be impossible to dedicate a whole day to resting when I had so much to do. Over time I saw I accomplished more with ease, in less time, as I started to keep shabbat.

Plans and obligations can be adjusted to keep shabbat. This won’t always be easy but every time I have done this God has honoured it. When I have laid a ‘sacrifice’ before the Lord in order to keep shabbat, whether that be an opportunity, commitment, plan, trip, or obligation, He has blessed me, provided alternatives, and made me see that He has no restrictions. When the world has said ‘impossible’, He has answered my prayer for help with “All things are possible through Me". The best example I can give is when I was completing my masters degree. Our course work was completed in a two month intensive over three summers. That meant all week was dedicated to classes, with the evenings and weekends being dedicated to completing assignments and writing papers. The workload was heavy and intense. Still, God called me to keep shabbat. I remember sharing with my cohort that I would be taking Saturdays to rest and many laughed, some said it was crazy, others said it was impossible. God blessed this step of faith and enabled me to complete all of my assignments, receive top grades, and finish each semester rested, healthy, and without burnout.

Shabbat is a double portion. Every week my mind, soul, body, and house are filled with more peace after I have kept shabbat. When I wake up Sunday morning to begin the week I feel like I have had two days of rest, instead of just one. God is so kind and so good, He gives us His abundance when we keep this time with Him.

What I have learned about rest recently:

Over the past week the Holy Spirit has been teaching me that His rest is also one of the weapons He gives us to push back darkness. God showed me that when people choose to abide in darkness, outside of Him and His design, they can’t access or obtain peace and rest. If you are God’s, He wants those two gifts to be markers of His presence and promise in your life. Peace and rest are intertwined. I don’t know about you, but I notice when someone is peaceful and at rest. Those qualities are incredibly attractive and countercultural. When I encounter people like this, I want to be around them and to know more about who they are and what they believe. To be at rest in our spirits and lives, we first have to practice resting in our week. The sabbath invites us to do that. Keeping the sabbath teaches up how to wield the weapon of rest. It defies the enemy by saying ‘I can rest in peace because I trust in my God.’. Shabbat is the template that teaches our being to move through the remainder of the week at rest. It imprints a posture of rest into our hearts that we can carry forward into the other tasks and commitments we have.

What scripture says about the sabbath:

Now I will leave you with some scriptures that share God’s heart for shabbat. I like to read the Complete Jewish Bible translation, but I encourage you to look these verses up in your own Bible to see what the Holy Spirit is saying to you there.

“On the seventh day God was finished with His work which He had made, so He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made. God blessed the seventh day and separated it as holy; because on that day God rested from all His work which He had created, so that it itself could produce.” - Genesis 2:2-3

“Remember the day, Shabbat, to set it apart for God.”- Exodus 20:8

“‘Work is to be done on six days; but the seventh day is a Shabbat of complete rest, a holy convocation; you are not to do any kind of work; it is a Shabbat for Adonai, even in your homes.’” - Leviticus 23:3

“[…]and keep My shabbats holy; and they will be a sign between Me and you, so that you will know that I am Adonai your God.”- Ezekiel 20:20

“If you hold back your foot on Shabbat
from pursuing your own interests on My holy day;
if you call Shabbat a delight,
Adonai’s holy day, worth honoring;
then honor it by not doing your usual things
or pursuing your interests or speaking about them.

If you do, you will find delight in Adonai —
I will make you ride on the heights of the land
and feed you with the heritage of your ancestor Ya‘akov,
for the mouth of Adonai has spoken.” - Isaiah 13-14

In His Rest and Shalom,

Jennalise

On Your Way to Serve

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 11:39:07 GMT

On Your Way to Serve

Here we go! Now that all the preparations, packing, re-packing, out-of-office email notifications have been turned on, you can relax . . . kind of. This is such an exciting time! Everything you have been saving for and waiting for is now in motion. I have heard it said before that God moves slow, fast. It has likely seemed like this trip was far off for quite some time and now it is happening before your eyes. This is a huge moment, take a minute and embrace all that is finally coming to pass.

I encourage you to take note of those around you at this moment, yourself included. What are the main things occupying your mind? What are your biggest distractions back home? Today, what do you consider a problem? Take a quick internal assessment of this. This is not to cause you stress on your departure, but I assure you, this will all look very different on your return flight. Pull out your journal and write down a few things in this moment. Whatever you have planned to entertain you, the playlist, podcast, movie, book, they can all wait. This is a moment you will want to remember.

A few questions to ask yourself as you travel to serve:

What are you hoping and praying for?

What are you expecting as you embark on this journey?

What are you asking God to reveal to you as you serve on this trip?

What are your main reasons for going?

What is God speaking to you right now?

Why Should I Keep a Journal?

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 15:52:15 GMT

Keeping a journal is a great way to not only document your trip but to gather your thoughts as you experience new situations. It’s a great way to recall the events of your trip as well as what God spoke to you during that mission; this will come in very useful later on!

Often on mission trips, we rarely find time to be alone. This is a great way to gather your feelings and speak with Him about what is taking place each day. I recommend taking even 10-15 minutes to be still and find some quiet (even in a shared space). This is a great way to share scriptures and talk to God about what you saw and felt each day.

Another great use for journals is to write down dreams you have had. I hear so many people tell me about dreams they have but are quick to forget them if they don’t take a few minutes to write them down or draw the out. When we are in a space where we are seeking Him these dreams can come more frequently. I have found when I write them out I gain a better understanding of what they mean as well as scriptures that line up with the message shared in the dream.

Years down the road you may be reminded of a memory from one of your mission trips. Journals are a great way to look back and what God was speaking to you as well as a testament to His goodness. These memories can provide confirmation to all that He has brought you through and where He spoke so clearly, especially in seasons where hearing from Him seems difficult.

I know it can seem like a daunting task, especially if you are not used to journalling but I recommend staying diligent in this during your trips. You will not regret those few moments spent each day with Him.

What is Eshet Chayil?

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 21:14:58 GMT

What is Eshet Chayil?

Have you heard of the Proverbs 31 woman? This is often referred to by us women as we try and walk in all that God has called us to. There’s so much wisdom in this Proverb, it wasn’t until a few years ago that I learned about the Hebrew meaning of Eshet Chayil and it’s tie to this scripture.

While looking for a new Bible a few years ago, a close friend recommended the Complete Jewish Study Bible. I wanted a new version and specifically to understand the Hebrew meaning of God’s Word. It was in this Bible that I came across a study section in Proverbs 31. If you look up the meaning of Eshet Chayil on the internet you will find things like “a woman of valor” (hebrew4christians.com). Here in this translation it is listed as “a capable woman” (Complete Jewish Study Bible). Both of these translations are important and have great meaning when we look at Proverbs 31:10-31.

This study note discusses how these verses are often read (or sung) at Shabbat often by a man honoring his wife. It also refers to the Proverbs 31 woman as “a virtuous woman” as these women through their actions glorify God. The traits of this woman are listed as creative, resourceful, cares for the well-being of others, and serves in love. She also is noted as not just having physical beauty but beauty in her soul as she serves with intention and seizing each moment as God calls her to it.

And my favorite translation of Eshet Chayil is also noted here “the woman who strives to live a full life of service to God” (CJSB).

I wanted to share all of this with you because this section is dedicated as a space for Eshet Chayil. These are women that I know walking in alignment with their God-given assignment to be of service to Him and to others.

“Clothed with strength and dignity, she can laugh at the days to come. When she opens her mouth, she speaks wisely; on her tongue is loving instruction. She watches how things go in her house, not eating the bread of idleness.”

(Proverbs 31:25-27 CJSB)

I have had the blessing of seeing how they walk in alignment with His Word and the gift they have been as they have shared and poured out wisdom and guidance in my life and others.

This is place I wanted to share their voices with you as they feel called to.

“Charm can lie, beauty can vanish, but a woman who fears ADONAI should be praised; Give her a share in what she produces; let her works speak her praises at the city gates”

(Proverbs 31:30-31 CBSJ)

Enjoy!

Is This Your Mission to Serve?

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 21:14:57 GMT

Is this your mission to serve?

When presented with an opportunity to go on a a mission trip there are a few important questions to ask yourself before saying yes! As excited as you may be here are few things I recommend taking time to consider before you commit.

Why do you want to sign up?

Is this a mission you feel called to be on?

Do I want to go just because my fiend is going?

Am I resultant to go because I don't know anyone else going?

Am I signing up to escape something else?

Is this the right time for me (and my family)?

Do I have the financial resources for this right now?

Have I prayed about this opportunity?

I want to encourage you to take your time with these questions and think about the right path for you right now. It’s ok if your friend invites you on a mission trip he or she has signed up for. This may be an incredible opportunity to go and to have someone you know join you in this adventure. My advice is to check in with your heart and see if it aligns with what God is speaking to you in this season. When we step out of our anointing, we become vulnerable to attack but also remember that God will protect you wherever He sends you!

Mission Trip Photography Dos and Don’ts

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 21:14:55 GMT

Mission Trip Photography Dos and Don’ts

Photos are a great way to capture your trip and have lasting memories of your time serving. It’s also really fun to share with friends and family and show them where you were and people or places that were very impactful to you. A friendly reminder on this, don’t live through your camera or phone lens during every part of your trip.

Do:

Be present! Take time to enjoy the moment rather than worrying you won’t capture it. Think of a sunset, it’s so beautiful to witness but when we try and take a photo it doesn’t do it the same justice as watching in live.

Designate a photographer or two before you leave. Assign someone serving to take photos for your group for the duration of the trip. It’s a great way to share photos from the trip with one another and see a situation from another perspective later on. Remember to take photos of the photographers too!

Take photos where you are staying and with the people who are helping with your accommodations. I have found this gets overlooked as well as the staff helping you during your stay. It’s also a great way to show others as you explain where you were and how different it was.

Don’t:

Take a photo just so you have something to post on your social media. Be in the moment and let all of that wait until another time.

Treat locals as if they are a tourist attraction! This is their daily life. Please be respectful of people. Refrain as best you can or if you feel so inclined, ask kindly (if it is safe to do so) and perhaps a photo op will even become an opportunity to pray with them.

Pull your phone/camera out while you are in large crowds. It’s important to remain vigilant in these situations and know where your team is at all times. This can also be a protection from theft.

The best advice I can offer from my experiences is do your best not to live your trip through your lens. Take a photo and put the camera away and witness all that is unfolding around you. It’s incredible!

Give Him What You Can’t Let Go Of.

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 21:14:53 GMT

Give Him What You Can’t Let Go Of

Do you have those things that you want to let go of but no matter how hard you try they seem to come up again? There have been a few times where I try and try to release something, but it seems to come back even just a little later. I wonder if this one has to do with our own pride at times.

Maybe it’s what happened to you personally but maybe not. I have also dealt with this when it was something that wasn’t mine to carry.

The times I feel I struggle with this are when things happen to those we love, and we are spectators to it. I have recently had a situation where I saw how someone took from someone that I love all that he was willing to give and more. I have had to give this one to Him so many times and even had to repent for speaking rashly, even when I didn’t mean it.

This person I love, leads by example of the Word. Even when he was clearly frustrated, angry, upset, and emotionally exhausted, he said, “It’s ok. He (as he pointed up) knows and He will deal with it”. Even in my frustration and anger with this situation God reminded me of the scripture (author’s paraphrase) where Jesus tells us, if someone takes your shirt give him your coat also in Matthew 5:40. If you keep reading just a few more verses, He tells us why this is. In Matthew 5:44-45 it says,

“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”.

Jesus calls us to love one another, I don’t think this is a conditional love. We are to love those He loves. I once heard a pastor say he looks at every person like they are a son or daughter or God, and he can’t stay angry. This is the best advice I have heard for situations like this. Who are we to judge and why would we care to stay angry, waste our time and energy for something that was always His to deal with?

The verse continues in Matthew 5:46-48:

“For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?

You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

We aren’t even close to being perfect in our own strength, but we are when we come to Jesus and He covers it all. So, whatever has happened to you or someone you care about, let it go at His feet. His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23) and they are for us as well as those who wronged us.

If I can encourage you, give it over to Him again, once and for all. That is not yours to carry and when you release it fully, it’s easier to ask Him to heal you fully.

Sometimes it helps to have a prayer to follow or as a starting point.

“Jesus, you have seen what has happened. I don’t agree with what has taken place, but I know I don’t have all the answers. Lord your ways are higher than my ways, your thoughts are higher than my thoughts. Please forgive me of my anger, frustration, and anything I have done or said that was not pleasing to you about this situation or any other. I give you all of these emotions, all of the wounds, trauma, loss, heartache, and fear. I ask you Jesus, to heal the wounds in my soul. Wash me, cleanse me, fill me afresh with your Love and your Presence Lord. Fill me what you need me to carry. I thank you for taking this all off of me as I lay it at your feet Lord. I receive all you have for me. Thank you for your mercy and grace. I speak a blessing to the one who hurt me/them. And I pray they will know you and the Love of our Father in Heaven. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen”

I pray you find renewed peace as you seek Him in this.

God Gives Us Provision Before We Need It.

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 21:14:52 GMT

God Gives Us Provision Before We Need It

I was reading through Genesis 1 this morning and the Lord gave me this revelation in His word about His great provision. As He was forming the earth and all that was in it, He provided what we need before we needed it. On the third day, God created living plants.

“God said, “Let the earth put forth grass, seed-producing plants, and fruit trees, each yielding its own kind of seed-bearing fruit, on the earth”; and that is how it was." Genesis 1:11 (CJSB)

It was two days later He created the living creatures on the fifth day. He created the birds and the seas creatures. Then on the sixth day He created lives stock, crawling animals, and wild beasts. This was the day He created the rest of the animals on the earth, including mankind.

“Then God said, “Here! Throughout the whole earth I am giving you as food every seed-bearing plant and every tree with seed-bearing fruit. And to every wild animal, bird in the air and creature crawling on the earth, in which there is a living soul. I am giving as food every kind of green plant.”; and that is how it was." Genesis 1:29-30 (CJSB)

God provided the animals of the earth after He has already created the supply they needed to live. He was preparing what they needed before the very need existed.

Another thing to note that I saw in this was that God created a job for mankind before He created mankind.

“Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in the likeness of ourselves; and let them rule over the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the animals, and over all the earth, and over every crawling creature that crawls on the earth.” Genesis 1:26 (CJSB)

Further to this, I am reminded of this passage from Ephesians:

“For we are of God’s making, created in union with the Messiah Yeshua for a life of good actions already prepared by God for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 (CJSB)

So, whatever need you are seeking God in today, I want to encourage you to go back to His Word and the promises that are already in it. Whatever provision you need has already been supplied. God often teaches us to walk in faith before these things appear in the physical (read Hebrews 11).

If you are waiting on a need, as Him what work He is calling you to do in this season that will glorify His Name!

I pray this leaves you with the encouragement you need to seek Him in all you do, and rest assured your Heavenly Father has already provided every single need before you even ask.

Ask. Seek. Find.

Unburdened

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 21:14:50 GMT

Un burdened

When God moves you through seasons of releasing what wasn’t yours to carry.

John 15 talks about abiding in Him that we would bear much fruit. It also talks about pruning so that we would be more fruitful. The Lord gave me this revelation early this morning about this when He told me “Unburdened”

Often when something is “taken away”, for example a job. We see this as a moment of shame or maybe even punishment for not performing better. About 10 months ago I was laid off from a job that I used to really enjoy. It’s so funny how in time we see things from His perspective. Now, this job allowed me to live in the US with the work permit that came with it, the income (it was the most I have ever been paid, to date), it was a great position and one that took me a while to find. Writing this to you know I’m smiling because everything I thought was taken wrongfully, was for a far better purpose than I could have known in that moment. All the provision I was receiving at the time from that job has been completely provided for by Him!

The last year of that job I was hitting wall after wall with leadership, reorganization, wrongfully blamed/accused, belittled by others, you name it, and I didn’t even realize how bad it was until after I left. I actually felt relief when I was released from that burden. Situations in the company hand changed and God didn’t want me there anymore. He told me they didn’t deserve me, and I prayed for those that treated me poorly (even when it was hard).

Sometimes when we’re in the thick of things we don’t realize when the assignment has lifted. I say all this this to encourage you if you have been through something like this or a relationship, a friendship, or something else you were called to let go of and I wanted you to know the gift of being unburdened! Isaiah talks about how His ways are higher than ours. And they truly are. I really encourage you to seek Him in any type loss and ask what He was unburdening you from. I feel this is important to understand before stepping into the next assignment. What we see as a “loss” is very well for our gain and His Glory!

I pray today you find peace in all that He has unburdened you from and that He give you the wisdom and discernment to equip you in this next season! I pray you will bear much fruit for Him and that His blessing would be upon you as you walk in obedience to all He is calling you to this season!