Biblically Clean Fall Recipes: Healthy Dishes for Autumn Inspired by Biblical Dietary Laws

Here are Biblically clean recipes for the fall harvest season! I love the abundant produce at this time of year and these recipes take advantage of seasonal ingredients like squash, pumpkin, broccoli, and apples. With everything from pasta to pot pie to apple pie bars to enchiladas cider waffles and harvest salads, you'll find recipes that will work well for meals or snacks for holiday gatherings like the Feast of Trumpets and Tabernacles, and they all work great for cozy meals anytime during the autumn season. Of course all the recipes listed here fit within the Biblical dietary laws and contain no pork, shellfish, or other animals that aren't considered food by Scripture. 

Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal from Making Thyme for Health

Fall Harvest Quinoa Salad from Half Baked Harvest

One Pot Fall Vegetable Orzo with Chickpeas from How Sweet Eats

Acorn Squash Soup  from Love and Lemons

Honeycrisp Apple Kale Salad from How Sweet Eats

Creamy White Bean Chicken Enchilada Soup from Ambitious Kitchen

Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Boats with Chicken Sausage from Half Baked Harvest

Cheddar Broccoli Chicken Pot Pie from Ambitious Kitchen

Cider Braised Pot Roast from How Sweet Eats

Apple Pie Bars from A Couple Cooks

Crunchy Brussels Sprouts Salad with Brown Butter Dressing from How Sweet Eats

Apple Sage Grilled Cheese from Love and Lemons 

Turkey Pumpkin Chili from Salt and Lavender 

Roasted Butternut Squash Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Couscous from Ambitious Kitchen

Cider Pumpkin Waffles from Half Baked Harvest

Pumpkin Turkey Chili from How Sweet Eats

Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal from This Healthy Table

Pumpkin Soup from Love and Lemons

 Butternut Squash Chickpeas from Ambitious Kitchen

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread from A Couple Cooks

Spiced Pumpkin Maple Latte from Half Baked Harvest

Apple Cider Slushie from A Couple Cooks

More on Biblically clean food:
How the Bible Defines Food
What is Biblically Clean Eating?
Biblically Clean Soup Recipes

The Beginner's Guide to Yom Kippur (Day of Cleansing)

This is a guide to learning about and taking part in the Biblical holiday of the Day of Cleansing, also known as Yom Kippur or the Day of Covering, or the Day of Atonement. I believe this holiday that God told his people to celebrate and remember is still relevant today for New Testament believers. As with the other Bible holidays, it has historic and prophetic significance and points to the work of the Messiah, which we will learn about in this post. This guide will help you with the basics of Yom Kippur, it's spiritual significance, and how you can observe this set apart time in your life.

Even those familiar with the Biblical holidays haven't necessarily heard of the Day of Cleansing. Why are we referring to Yom Kippur as that instead of it's common English name, the Day of Atonement? Simply because if we study the Hebrew words and their context we see that atone is not necessarily the best fit for what happens at this significant day of Scripture. Animal blood from sacrifices was never about 'atoning' for the sins of God's people, but the Temple system was used for cleansing and as a covering. According to N.T. Wright, cleansing would be a more appropriate word choice.

Yom Kippur shares the same root word, kapporeth, with mercy seat, which was essentially the lid of the ark of the covenant in the Tabernacle. On the Day of Cleansing, the high priest would sprinkle blood from the sacrifice onto this lid, or mercy seat. Scripture tells us that God would speak from above this lid (Exodus 25:22, Numbers 7:89).

Please note that while the Bible gives instructions for sacrifices the Levitical priests were to make during Yom Kippur that doesn't mean we are to sacrifice animals today. Because the Messiah's priesthood is of the Melchizedek order, the Levitical priesthood is no longer in operation. This means that observing Yom Kippur today as a believer in Messiah will look different than the animal sacrifices that Scripture called for in the Tabernacle. However that doesn't mean Yom Kippur is done away with or not relevant to us - Hebrews 8:5 tells us that the priesthood was a shadow of how things work in heaven. That means we have a lot to learn from this Biblical holiday!

Looking at Yom Kippur from this perspective sheds new light onto what is often seen in Christian and Messianic circles as sort of a redundant holiday. After all, weren't our sins forgiven when the Messiah died on Passover? Why would they then need atoned for later? If we celebrate the Day of Cleansing from this perspective, it's not about repeating what happened on Passover, or needing an additional animal sacrifice to cover sins. Passover is about forgiveness and freedom, and on Yom Kippur we are called to go deeper in our faith. There is connection between these holidays but they are not the same. On Passover the Israelites left Egyptian slavery, and on Yom Kippur their land was returned to them! We are not called to stop at Passover.

What you need to know about the Day of Cleansing:

-It is a one-day holiday that typically happens in the early fall (in the northern hemisphere).

-Yom Kippur is in the Bible in passages such as Leviticus 23:27-32, Leviticus 16, and Numbers 29:7-11. It is also talked about in the New Testament in Acts 27:9, Romans 3, and the book of Hebrews 9:3-10.

-It is considered a Sabbath day, which means we are not to work. Like the weekly Sabbath, this is a day of rest.

-The Hebrew name for this holiday is Yom Kippur. It is often referred to as the Day of Atonement, but a better translation would be the Day of Cleansing or Covering.

-It is a day filled with reflection, repentance, and worship of YHWH.

Spiritual significance of the Day of Covering:

-Historically the Day of Cleansing was the only day of the year when the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle.

-The jubilee year was announced by a shofar blowing on Yom Kippur. This meant a forgiveness of debt, restoration of family property, and restoration of financial equity. (Leviticus 25:9-10)

-The Biblical 'judgment day' is expected to happen on Yom Kippur. I think it's likely that this would look like the jubilee year, where the focus isn't on our shortcomings and mistakes but on restoration and release from bondage.

-On Yom Kippur the priest is directed to symbolically lay the sins of Israel onto a goat, which is then sent into the wilderness. This symbolizes a departure of sin from God's people. 

How to observe the Day of Cleansing:

-Take the day off of work, errands, homework, and household chores. Since this holiday is considered a Sabbath, we aren't to do any work on it and treat it as we would the weekly Sabbath. Honor YHWH with your full attention on this day.

-Scripture says this is a day to 'afflict' our souls. The word for afflict (ana - Strongs 6031) means something like occupy or busy yourself or humble yourself. I believe that we are called to use this day to carefully examine our hearts, minds, and lifestyle choices and see if they are in accordance with what the Bible says or not, and repent as necessary! We are called to humble ourselves before the Living God on Yom Kippur. Judaism has taken 'afflict' to mean that, if possible, believers should fast all food and water for the duration of this day. Setting aside food, can be one way to afflict ourselves certainly, but a fast is not explicitly called for in Scripture.

-Spend time in prayer. In addition to confessing our sins, the Day of Cleansing is an appropriate time to ask God to cover people, situations, and circumstances with his mercy and to cleanse us of wrong doing.

-Gather with other believers, if possible. Attend congregation if that's an option or think about inviting friends and family over for Bible study, worship, or fellowship time.

-Worship. While the Day of Covering is a more solemn holiday, there is much to celebrate and give thanks for! Take joy in being truly forgiven! Celebrate the Messiah being the ultimate sacrifice, and thank the Father for using this special time to strengthen your relationship with him.

-Have a special meal. If you are planning to fast, have a meal prepared ahead of time to break the fast with. 

More on the Day of Covering:
The Meaning of Yom Kippur
Prayer and Fasting on Yom Kippur
Day of Covering Scripture Reading List

Easy DIY Sukkah Decorations for Sukkot (Budget Friendly and Eco Friendly)

Here are DIY sukkah decoration ideas that you can make for Sukkot! Whether you have a traditional sukkah, or some other sort of booth or temporary dwelling - or even a camper or campsite - make it festive with creative sukkah dwellings made with natural materials, and other easy-to-source items you may have on hand. This post will have ideas that are eco-friendly and budget friendly, as well as tips for decorating what is usually a small space.

Tips for decorating your sukkah affordably:

-You don't need a lot of things to have a lovely setup. You can decorate with lights, candles, kids artwork, leaf garlands, streamers, balloons, pumpkins...but all of them would be a bit much! Pick one or two things to make a statement...you really don't need more.

-Use what you already have. The Biblical holidays are a great time to get out your special dishes or find the string lights in the garage. You could reuse curtains to make pretty walls in your sukkah, or break out a seldom used tablecloth. Do you own a menorah? Sukkot is a perfect time to get it out.

-Do you like free things? Head outside to gather in decorations free of cost! Gather leaves to make a garland or make a centerpiece out of acorns or pinecones. Clip a few leafy branches and put them in vases. Greenery from your yard can be used for bouquets or for wall hangings. These are very eco-friendly as well as free!

-Showcase seasonal things like pumpkins and apples in your sukkah. What's in season tends to be affordable, and you can eat the goods (as long as they weren't painted on) later on so that nothing goes to waste. You could even make an outing to a u-pick flower farm or apple orchard part of the festivities around Tabernacles.

-Have kids make artwork or paperchains or write out Bible verses to hang in the sukkah. This gets them involved in an important Biblical holiday, and if kids are in charge of the decoration no one expects perfection.

-Remember that the point of this holiday is not in decorations but in honoring the Creator and celebrating with others. There's absolutely nothing wrong with having a simple setup if that frees up your energy to focus on other things.

Budget friendly sukkah decorations you can make from natural materials:

Fall Leaf Streamer from The House that Lars Built

5 Minute Pumpkin Table Runner from Julie Blanner

Painted Pumpkin DIY from A Beautiful Mess

DIY Sukkah Leaf Garland

Tips for Beautiful Fall Flower Arrangements from Inspired by Charm
*Fresh flowers aren't always very affordable, especially if you're buying arrangements from a florist or purchasing them at grocery store where they have been flown in from another continent. Using what's available in your area - whether picking out of your garden, picking wildflowers, or getting them from a local farm is a sure way to cut the cost down and have fresh flowers in a sustainable way.

Wax Dipped Pinecones from Hello Glow
*You don't have to dip pinecones in wax unless you want to! Just gather pinecones and as long as they are not crawling with bugs they are good to be used for decoration in your sukkah.

DIY Pumpkin Candleholders for Sukkot from Land of Honey

Colorful and creative budget friendly DIY decorations for Sukkot:

Gratefulness Leaf Garland from A Beautiful Mess

Cyanotype Sun Prints from The House that Lars Built

Lemon Slice Pinata from Studio DIY

DIY Paper Daisy Backdrop from The House that Lars Built

No Weave Rainbow Wall Hanging from Studio DIY

Fall Floral Garland DIY from A Beautiful Mess

DIY Balloon Centerpiece from Sugar & Cloth

Autumn Leaf Wall Decor from A Beautiful Mess

More sukkah inspiration for the Feast of Tabernacles:

Kids Crafts for Sukkot and the Fall Feasts
Tour My Sukkah!
Sukkah Ideas and Inspiration

Easy DIY Happy Sukkot Fall Leaf Garland (Sukkah Decoration Idea)

Here's a very simple, eco-friendly DIY project you can make to decorate for Sukkot this year! Making a fall leaf garland is a quick craft project for the Feast of Tabernacles that can be used to decorate your home, office, church, sukkah, or other temporary dwelling.

What I love about this fall leaf garland for Sukkot:

-Super simple to make!
-It's very inexpensive since you can easily gather leaves from your yard or a local park, and you can use any kind of string or twine you happen to have.
-Kids can be involved with writing letters or decorating leaves.
-It doesn't last forever. Most of us have more than enough things to store throughout the year. I'm happy for something festive that I can let go of.
-Eco friendly. This is one craft project that doesn't use plastic or things shipped from the other side of the world. When you're finished with it, release your leaves outside or toss them in the compost bin.

What you'll need:

-leaves
-string
-tape 
-marker

How to make a fall leaf garland for Sukkot:

All you need to do for this is to write letters on individual leaves, spelling out your message. Mine says Happy Sukkot! I used orange marker on yellow leaves from my backyard trees, but you can use any color of marker (black provides more contrast and can be easier to read), and of course whatever particular shades and shapes of leaves suit your fancy. 

Then tape the leaves onto the string. Be sure to give yourself extra room on the ends of the string (I used yarn) so that you can attach them to something in your sukkah, or otherwise hang up, if necessary.

And that's it! The leaves will curl up and dry after a day or two, so this garland doesn't last forever. But it's easy enough that you could remake it throughout Sukkot if you wanted and you could change up the colors and the message itself.

Another option to make your banner last longer is to dip the leaves in beeswax once you have put the letters on and proceed as directed.

Phrases to make:

Happy Sukkot

Happy Tabernacles

Sukkah Time

He's coming to dwell with us

Chag sameach

Happy 8th day

This is a low waste banner! When you're done with your garland it's easy to compost or can be burned.

More ideas for the Feast of Tabernacles:
DIY Happy Sukkot Pumpkin Candleholders
Biblically Clean Campfire Recipes for Tabernacles
Inspiration for Your Sukkah