Syncretism - What the Bible Says about Mixing Beliefs

Today we are going to be talking about syncretism. Do you know what this is? Syncretism is defined as: 

-the amalgamation, or the attempted amalgamation, of different religions, cultures, or schools of thought
-the combination of different forms of belief or practice
-incorporating pagan customs into the faith of the Bible

Just reading the definition of the word may be like flipping on a light switch for you. For most of my life it had never really crossed my mind that faith practices or beliefs could be combined, never mind that my own beliefs might be mixed with ideas not found in Scripture. Syncretism is mixing the word of YHWH with anything besides it. This is a big problem for us because while YHWH gives life, nothing else can.

What does Scripture say about mixing beliefs?

"You are not to worship YHWH in the way those nations worship their gods." -Deuteronomy 12:4

"Do not learn the ways of the nations." -Jeremiah 10:2

"When you pray, don't do so like the foreigners." -Matthew 6:7


These passages show that YHWH doesn't want us picking up ideas, customs, traditions, or beliefs from anyone besides himself. No matter how popular or 'nice' the practice may be, if it is not found in Scripture we are told not to take part. Unfortunately most sects of faith claiming to be based on Scripture have mixed in many customs and practices of foreign origin. (Please note that 'foreign' is used to denote things foreign from Scripture, not your nationality or traditions.) Examples of this would be mixing the ancient and ungodly customs of Christmas with the Biblical story of the birth of the Messiah. Or moving Sabbath worship and rest from the seventh day of the week to the first. Or using an image or statue as part of a worship service. Indeed there are a host of ideas not found in Scripture being welcomed into the Christian church today. We are expressly told not to combine YHWH's instructions on how to live with customs from other cultures. This mixing has lead many people away from the truth.

Mixing worship of the Living God with things he said not to do is syncretism and it is wrong. We are not allowed to worship however we please (see for example, the trouble the Israelites got themselves into with the golden calf incident), and that still applies to us today. The Messiah taught this with his words in Matthew telling us not to pray in the customs of other religions. It is important that we take these instructions seriously, and honestly evaluate our habits, beliefs, and practices in the light of Scripture. Are my beliefs consistent with what Scripture says? Do my daily life choices - from how I treat others, to what I eat, to what holidays I celebrate - reflect how Scripture says I should be living? Or does my lifestyle have more in common with the culture around me? Am I intentionally living in a way that honors YHWH's word? These are hard questions, but they are worth asking so that we can make the changes we need to. We are to be completely obedient to following his ways. In John 14:15 the Messiah tells us that if we love him we will keep his commands. Not his commands mixed with the ways of the nations.

The Northern and Southern Kingdoms in the Bible (and why they matter)

Seeing the distinction between the Northern and Southern Kingdoms of Israel in the Bible is essential to understand many of the events in the Old Testament and many things that happen in the New Testament, including statements made by the Messiah! If we don't have correct understanding of these separate entities, much of Scripture isn't going to make sense, and we will misunderstand our own identity.

Let's start off by looking at the Biblical term for YHWH's people: Israel. This term that means "overcoming with YHWH" or "YHWH overcomes" is first given to Jacob in Genesis 32:28. The term is then passed on to his family, including anyone not biologically related who chooses to serve YHWH and to overcome with him. The twelve tribes of Israel come from Jacob's sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naftali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulon, Joseph (which is subsequently given to his own sons - Ephraim and Manasseh), and Benjamin. While in Egypt their families grew into a great nation. The people of Israel were united through the Exodus, the years in the wilderness, the time of Joshua and Judges, and through the reigns of Kings Saul, David, and Solomon.

Shortly after the death of King Solomon, there was a dispute between the people their new king, Rehoboam. The people wanted him to lift the heavy burden of forced labor and taxation from the rule of Solomon but he he refused and the majority of Israel's tribes decided to stop honoring Rehoboam as their leader. The tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and at least part of Levi stuck with Rehoboam in the Southern Kingdom, while the majority of the tribes united as the Northern Kingdom. As the name of Israel was legally passed to Ephraim in Genesis 48:12-20, Ephraim and the other tribes in the North were collectively still known as Israel. Meanwhile the Southern Kingdom was known as Judah.

Why does this distinction matter? 

-The restoration of Israel is one of the main themes of Scripture. Scholars say that you're going to misunderstand 7/8 of the Bible if you don't make this distinction. If you don't differentiate the Northern and Southern Kingdoms, good luck trying to understand Kings as anything beyond legendary stories. You'll miss much of the Messiah's work, and many prophecies won't make sense at all. The terms are different because they mean different things. Lumping Israel and Judah together after 1 Kings 12 is going to cause confusion.

-Many have erroneously taught that only Jewish people (those descending from the tribe of Judah) are the chosen people of YHWH. Scripture does not teach this. What Scripture does teach is that Yahusha came for the lost tribes of Israel (Matthew 15:24). The Messiah came for all the tribes. Whether the tribe of Judah or Issachar or Ephraim or Gad, all are important to YHWH. When we realize that his people include all the tribes, we see the family growing by millions and millions. Most people with ancestry in ancient Israel are not Jews and do not come from Jews. Of course Scripture teaches that anyone covered by the blood of the Messiah is part of the people of Israel, regardless of if they have any blood connection to any of the twelve tribes.

-Believe that you are a gentile, and you will likely end up living like a gentile. There are many who sincerely desire to be part of YHWH's people, but live in ways that are totally against what he instructs...largely because they don't realize they are part of Israel! Again, this has nothing to do with your bloodline. It is your choice to join YHWH's people or not. Understanding that you are part of this is a wake up call that YHWH wants you to live differently than the rest of the world.

Have you ever considered that your ancestors could have seen the Dead Sea parted or lived in the Promised Land? That is such an amazing thought! It's very possible that your family could come from the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Lots of books and research suggest the migration of the Northern Kingdom tribes all over the world, so no matter what your nationality or ethnicity is, you could physically be from the house of Israel. While knowing for sure you are from a tribe of Israel may be lost to us, it is certainly not lost from YHWH. If we don't make the distinction between the North and South Kingdoms it's easy to miss Scripture's promise that YHWH will restore the lost tribes.

Related posts:
The Two Houses: Israel and Judah in Scripture
Understanding the Other 88% of the Bible
Not All Bible Characters were Jewish

Why I Don't Argue Semantics

Today I'm sharing why you don't see much in the way of semantics arguments here or on any Land of Honey social media. What I mean by that is I am definitely going to talk about Scripture's instructions and that we should all be following them, but I am not going to get bent out of shape about how you are following them (so long as you are actually keeping the commandments). So you can bet I am going to encourage you to keep the seventh day Sabbath, but I'm not going to tell you that it has to be evening to evening or sunlight to sunlight or midnight to midnight. I recognize that there are areas of Scripture that we don't fully understand yet and that there is room for self expression in some of the commands. 

Plus, is it just me or do we have enough division in the faith community already? There is a time and a place for correction and teaching particulars but it's nauseating to see so many Hebrew ministries (and individuals) waste much time attacking or arguing with others who have very similar beliefs to them. It's sad to see people isolating themselves from other believers because 2% of their theology doesn't match up. So many Hebrew small groups fall apart after a short time over tiny differences. How is this edifying to anyone in or out of the community?

When I see things getting nasty in Scripture debates it makes me think of the cooking competitions my brother and I would watch together in high school. Several popular shows would include very specific challenges for the contestants. Instructions were not just, "make us something delicious to eat." It would be more like, "Cook spaghetti with one hand tied behind your back," or "Create a vegetarian spaghetti and use potato chips in it." And episode after episode, the contestants could be so unkind to each other. Comments like, I look at what the others are doing and I'm not impressed or When spaghetti was invented they didn't intend for it to go in the oven, so only someone ignorant would try that. As contestants, it really wasn't their job to decide who could cook or not, their job was to do their best.

On a side note - we were always baffled when someone would blatantly disregard the rules to make something else entirely. It never went well for them. The dish they created might have been spectacular but the judge didn't care because the rules weren't followed. It wasn't what was asked of them.

Unfortunately the faith community can often look like contestants on a cooking show arguing about who made the best spaghetti. And you know what? That's really not their job. Their opinion does not matter, the judge will decide if it's good or not. Their job is just to make spaghetti.

There are a lot of ways to make spaghetti.

You could spend hours making marinara from homegrown tomatoes. Or you could open a jar of sauce.

Toss in some peppers. Or spinach.

Use whole wheat or gluten free pasta instead of regular.

Garnish with fresh basil. Or use cheese. Maybe both!

You could serve the sauce on top the pasta. Or mix it all together.

And whatever combination of choices are made, all of these dishes would still be considered spaghetti. As with spaghetti variations there are a different ways to uphold YHWH's instructions. I'm definitely not saying you can make any old dish you want and present it to the judge and expect him to be pleased. No, you can't make ravioli because you like it better and call it spaghetti. Nor does macaroni and cheese count. If you want to win the spaghetti contest, you are going to have to make some sort of spaghetti. How you do that though is going to depend on what ingredients are available to you, your cooking ability, and your taste preferences.

YHWH has rules for a reason and wants us to do our best following them. But within those instructions there is room for self expression. I doubt YHWH expected Shabbat in the wilderness thousands of years ago to look exactly like Shabbat in Yahusha's time or in 1700s France or today in your part of the world. Obviously, yes the theme of resting carries through and ties all of these times and places together. Shabbat for Yahusha often looked like healing people, but sometimes it was spent walking with the disciples. Maybe for you it looks like watching a live stream service online or snuggling with your kids and reading Bible stories to them. YHWH gave simple and straightforward commands so that we could uphold them no matter the culture we live in or the season of our lives.

So that's why I don't get to hung up on calendar debates or if you said the traditional blessings at the traditional time. I have my preferences, but I don't know everything. Neither does any other ministry or person. We can only do our best and be willing to change as we learn more. And show kindness and patience to people who see things differently than us.

"Observe the waters and know when they flow together, they sweep along stones, trees, earth, and other things. But if they are divided into many streams, the earth swallows them up and they vanish away. So shall you also be if you are divided."
-Testament of Zebulun 9:1-3

How To Stop Working on Shabbat

 
So you've realized that the Sabbath is on the seventh day and that honoring it is a good idea. But...you work on Shabbat. How can you change that? It is challenging to do holy things in a culture that does otherwise. It can take time to find a way to set apart the Sabbath day. It can be hard, but not too hard. It is possible to have a work schedule that allows you to rest on the Sabbath. Here are some ideas to get there.

-Pray about it.
This is step one! If you believe that YHWH desires you to honor his Shabbat by having a day off of work, pray for guidance about the route you should take to get there. He will provide a way for you to honor his commandment.

-And then do something.
I am reminded of the story in Nehemiah 4 when those working to rebuild the wall prayed for protection and organized a watch for safety. If money is tight do you pray for YHWH to meet your needs? Of course. But do you just sit back on the couch hoping for an unexpected check to show up or do you go to work, put in overtime, delay a shopping trip, search the couch cushions for change, etc. to scrape up enough money for your bills? Faith goes with action!

-Be a great employee.
If you want your employer to accommodate your desire to rest on the Sabbath, it helps to be great at what you do. Honing your professional skill set, working hard, following directions and protocol, having a positive attitude, going the extra mile, being friendly and considerate to coworkers and clients, intentionally working towards getting better at what you do, showing up on time - these are things that companies value. If you show up at work with a poor attitude, slack off from your duties, complain and gossip why would anyone go out of their way to have you work for them? Being hard working and reliable means that your place of business will be more likely to go out of their way to keep you around.

-Talk to your boss about changing your availability. 
Your supervisor is not going to change your schedule unless you talk to them about it. It might not be the most comfortable conversation, but if honoring Shabbat is important to you then it's necessary. You don't need to give a ton of details if you don't want to. You could start the conversation with something like, "I've decided to start observing the Biblical Sabbath day which is Saturday and I'd like to talk with you about options for me to have that day off." If being direct is difficult, consider putting it in writing.

-What if your supervisor questions your sincerity?
Many people have been questioned by their employer about their beliefs, and it usually goes along the lines of, I thought you were always religious, why would this be an issue now? or It sounds like you just don't want to work Saturdays. Employers are allowed to ask some questions on your faith, and how and when you present your request will have some affect on how it is received. If the company has just announced it will no longer pay time and a half on Saturdays and that's when you say you can't work then for religious reasons...well, you can see how that would look suspicious. Otherwise, just honestly tell them that your beliefs have changed. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (they enforce the non discrimination laws) has pointed out that religious beliefs and practices do change over time, so what you've done in the past should not determine your present beliefs.

Make it a point to show the sincerity of your beliefs at other times as well. Would coworkers be surprised that you're a believer based on your workplace behavior? Is your boss able to drive by your home and see you mowing the grass on your 'day of rest'? There are countless ways you can show that your faith is important to you, which is an excellent testimony to others, and should go a long way with your workplace accommodating your desire to honor Shabbat.

-Sign up for other shifts.
When I first started observing the Sabbath day I worked for a radio station where I made promotional appearances on the weekend and in the evenings. Because our schedule of events was always different we signed up for what we could cover each week. So I stopped signing up for Saturday events but I made up for it by working more at other times. Sunday I was there. Friday morning, Wednesday night? Yep, any time that was not the Sabbath I would do. Had I just crossed Saturday events off the calendar I wouldn't have fulfilled the requirements of my job; working above and beyond the minimum for the rest of the week made it possible to get that day off though. And by making myself available so much the rest of the week I stayed on my boss' good side which didn't hurt either.

Similarly, a friend was able to get out of working at a grocery store from Friday night - Saturday night (notoriously busy times for retailers), by agreeing to work the hard-to-fill overnight shift Saturday night/Sunday morning. He had never worked thirds before, and didn't really fancy the idea of it it but it was worth it to him to have the Sabbath off.

-Find someone to switch shifts with.
Ask around to see if someone would be willing to trade shifts with you. Someone else might actually prefer the hours you are trying to give up, but you probably won't know unless you ask. You can sweeten the pot by offering to work on Christmas, Easter, etc. - covering those can help you to get off for the Biblical holidays. Be sure to clear any shift trades with your boss if necessary.

-The legal stuff.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act is a federal law that prohibits employers from discriminating based on religion (as well as sex, race, color, and national origin), so it is a crime for your workplace to discriminate against you because you are a Sabbath keeper. This means that federal law requires companies to reasonably accommodate the religious practices of their employees except if doing so would create an "undue hardship" on the employer. "Undue hardship" gets defined as something beyond minimal cost or burden to the employer. Basically, how difficult would it be for your employer to change your schedule? Typically an example is that if you not working on the Sabbath would cause your employer to force someone else to come in or cause them to pay someone overtime to work for you that would be undue hardship, whereas switching shifts with a willing coworker would not. Title VII also says that your employer cannot retaliate against you for exercising your rights to religious accommodation. Obviously the water gets a little murky with the terms reasonable accommodation or undue hardship, but if you feel like you are being discriminated against consider consulting with a lawyer. There are free legal chatlines where you can ask questions, so you can get a better idea of the specifics in your situation. 

-Look for other jobs.
What if your employer is not accommodating or the nature of your job demands work on the Sabbath? Rather than throwing your hands up in the air, grab the classified section. See what's out there. Ask around. Send in your resume. Start exploring your options and you may be surprised at what comes up.

-If you're self-employed.
Obviously being self employed gives you the freedom to set your own schedule but facing a drop in business can be daunting. Be encouraged by many stories from self-employed hairstylists, photographers, etc. who have stopped working on Saturdays and have actually seen an increase in business. This might require some changes, like focusing more on family portraits and less on weddings for photographers, for example. But it is most certainly an option for entrepreneurs! As with being a great employee, being excellent at what you do and providing great customer service means customers and clients will work with your schedule.

-What about emergency workers?
In our society there are many jobs that require someone to be there 24/7. I get that. I'm glad that healthcare and help from the police is always available. Caregivers for the elderly or disabled are needed every day of the week. There is also the occasional need for things like snow clearing services, radio and news workers (during natural disasters or storm warnings, for example), and people on call to fix power and phone lines. Does that mean people in these fields have a free pass from observing the Sabbath? 

If you're in a field like this, definitely pray about what YHWH wants you to do. While emergencies come up, I don't think this means YHWH wants someone regularly missing out on his set apart day. There is a big difference between a doctor getting called in for life-saving emergency surgery or to help a woman in labor, versus scheduling a routine appointment on Shabbat. I would add that right now there are plenty of people who don't honor the Sabbath day, so it's not like people aren't available to cover your hours. I believe that as we see a shift towards more and more people honoring Shabbat there will be less of a need for many of these services. For example, if sporting events aren't on the Sabbath and factories and job sites are closed, there will be fewer injuries and hence less need for medical services.

As the priests rotated duties in the Temple, I think rotation and taking turns is absolutely essential for jobs like this. For jobs that require round the clock services or someone on call, see about rotating and taking turns so that everyone is able to honor at least some Shabbats.

-If you're interviewing for a job.
Be up front about what schedule would work for you. Don't tell a company that your availability is completely open and then expect them to accommodate you later. We have found that clarifying that you don't mind working overtime or inconvenient shifts, just not the Sabbath for religious reasons, is a good way to clarify your expectations to a would be employer.

-Get creative.
Is a job that pays less offering weekends off? Maybe downsizing your home or vehicles would make a pay decrease a feasible option. Could you start a side hustle to make up for income lost from Saturday overtime? Could one spouse pick up another job so they can afford for the other to have the Sabbath off? Is going into business for yourself a possibility?

What's been your biggest challenge in stopping work on the Sabbath day? For those of you who have been able to do so, what helped you to free up the day? What advice would you give to someone that wants to stop working on Shabbat?

Non-Overwhelming Ways to Share Truth

2 Timothy 2:24-26
"And the servant of YHWH must not quarrel; but be gentle to all men, able to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose him; so YHWH somehow will give them teshuvah to their acknowledging of the truth; and that they may come to their senses and leave the snare of s.a.tan, who has taken them captive to do his will."

One thing this verse is saying, "Servants of YHWH must be able to meekly instruct those that oppose them, so that YHWH will somehow give them the desire to repent when they acknowledge the truth."

Teaching and instructing those who disagree. How does that sit with you?

I am okay with not quarreling. Gentleness and patience too. I am all for getting people out of the snare of the enemy and to teshuvah. Even teaching is doable. But teaching those that are against truth? That's not exactly the most comfortable thing ever. It's hard when people don't share our views. But this is what Scripture says.

Don't panic. Let's look at what this passage is not saying. Just before this, in verse 23 it says, "Avoid foolish and unlearned questions, because they breed arguments." And earlier verse 14 expressly states, "Do not engage in word battles." So apparently YHWH distinguishes between arguing and instructing. Therefore, this is not a call to endless debates and hostile disagreements. What a relief! We are to instruct, not argue. 

But what does it mean to instruct someone with meekness? While many of us tend to think of meekness as something akin to being a pushover, the meaning in this context is that of gentleness. I don't know about you but it's easier for me to learn when the instructor is kind and patient with me. It's difficult to learn algebra when the teacher is overly critical or won't slow down to help a student understand something they're missing. Learning a new job skill is much easier when the trainer is kind, and doesn't call you an idiot for not getting it right the first time. So in this context meekness has a lot to do with fruits of the Spirit like gentleness, patience, humility, and kindness.

Okay...but I'm not a teacher! Actually, if your desire and intention is to be a servant of YHWH, you should be teaching others his Word. Why? Because this is the means that YHWH uses to bring people to teshuvah--to repentance and turning to him! I love the word play here with 'instructing' YHWH repeatedly describes the Torah as the instructions. We are to teach others YHWH's instructions in the Torah on how to live so they can turn and repent. Does this mean you have to have a degree in teaching or start a Bible study? While those could be used to instruct, that's by no means a prerequisite for following the instruction to teach others. There are many different ways to do that.

How can we instruct others?

1. Be obedient to the Word. Honoring Shabbat, celebrating the festivals of YHWH, eating as he instructs, and so forth. When others see you doing something different from the cultural norm it is an opportunity to learn that YHWH has better ways. Most people will see your actions before they hear your words.

2. And tell others why you're doing it. Telling your friends you can't go shopping on Saturday because you want to honor the Sabbath is okay to do! Sharing with your coworkers that you are taking time off to celebrate Sukkot is great! Letting others know why you live the way that you do is an invitation for them to follow suit.

3. Plant small seeds and ask questions. We all need to break the nasty habit of giving verbal acquiescence to beliefs and philosophies that are against the truth, just because it's uncomfortable to disagree with someone. However, it doesn't do anyone any favors when we don't give them an opportunity to understand Scripture better. "Yahusha also said..." "Where does it say that in the Bible?" "How does that fit with this verse that seems to say something different?" These are all gentle phrases that plant a seed of learning more truth.

4. Learn to say, "Because that's what the Word says." There are a million and one arguments against Creationism, keeping Torah, not eating pork, or marriage as defined by Scripture. It's not about having a comeback, perfect theological understanding, or amazing explanation of the 'why' behind YHWH's instructions. It's just about living as he says we should. I don't understand everything about Scripture. I just follow it because he said to.

5. Have these words on your gates. Mezzuzahs on your doorpost, a menorah on the mantle, and bookshelves with resources for studying and understanding Scripture show your guests that you take your faith seriously. And guess what? These teach truth even when your words don't. The delivery man can see an outdoor mezzuzah when he drops off a package, your children can be reminded of Scripture when it's framed or written on a chalkboard even when you aren't home.

6. Clothe yourself in Yahusha. I am convinced that when YHWH instructed us to have his words on our hands it wasn't only for our reminder and benefit. I get asked about my Shema bracelet all the time, from cashiers, friends, and new acquaintances. Others can learn about the Netsarim faith by how we dress and present ourselves.

7. Share truth online. Post better translations of Scripture verses on social media or share a picture of a feast day celebration. While we shouldn't get into debating there are a lot of forums that ask religious questions and there aren't many answers that line up with the Hebrew or Netsarim faith. Most of Western culture spends at least some time online each day. I hope they get to see things other than sensationalized news, gossip, and funny videos. 

8. Put a Google Yahusha sticker on your car. This was a recent thing for me. Now people who pass me on the freeway or see my car parked (who I would probably never get a chance to meet or talk to) are invited to find out the real name of the Messiah.

9. Bring it up! We don't find it unusual when someone mentions the bad day they had, work frustrations, a new recipe they tried, the garage sale they're hosting this week, what they thought of the political debate, and so on in conversation. So why do we hesitate to mention the new Scripture study we are taking part in, or how much we are looking forward to Shabbat? I certainly would like to live in a world where YHWH's ways are part of everyday discussion. That starts with me.

10. Give advice based in truth. When someone comes to you for advice or your opinion make it clear that your words are based in Scripture. This goes for everything from what to do about conflict with a coworker to what to have for dinner. Our friends and family need to see the Word of YHWH as a place for practical advice and instructions on how to live.

11. Create content or support someone who does. You have probably noticed that resources for the Hebrew faith are very limited. What are you doing about that? Are you financially supporting ministries you attend and learn from? Have you considered supporting a translation of Scripture that uses the name of YHWH? What about putting your skill set to work writing or editing books, volunteering to help at your congregation, creating Torah school curriculum for children, or making lovely Scripture designs to post on Pinterest? These are all a means that others learn from.

12. Pray! We all need to pray for opportunities to instruct others and for the skill and creativity to do so well. We should also pray that YHWH would use us to cause others to turn to him.

So this list shows us that instructing others in YHWH's ways doesn't mean you have to teach a class or debate someone on the merits of obeying Scripture. And remember, we are told to share with those who not only disagree with us, but who oppose the truth. A lot of them are going to keep opposing YHWH's truth after we offer instruction. As much as we would like our teaching to be light bulb moments we must also recognize there are times when we will be met with scoffing and rude remarks and that's okay. That doesn't mean you are doing anything wrong. It's not about being an eloquent speaker or seeing amazing results. Moshe's words to Pharaoh were met with ridicule and scorn and he never did get Pharaoh to teshuvah, but YHWH's goal was still accomplished. 

We have to remember that far too many are dying without Yahusha and that real compassion is sharing truth with them, no matter how we may be mocked and hated for it.

This isn't about your teaching ability. It is about your willingness and YHWH working through you. Even when it's hard and your words or actions are ridiculed, YHWH is giving others the desire to teshuvah.

Pretty and Delicate Hebrew Gift Ideas

It's the shopping time of the year isn't it? I'm starting to see those 'for everyone on your list' ideas for gifts floating around the internet and even in print. While they sometimes have neat things I mostly find myself annoyed with the abundance of generic presents we purchase that serve little or no purpose and are often from companies with questionable standards on ethics. Let's do better this year. I love the idea of buying things that nurture and grow faith! The items on this list are from small businesses, independent artists, and fair trade artisans and are perfect for a special lady in your life.

Beeswax Menorah Candles on Uncommon Goods - $9.99

-Made in the USA and beeswax helps to purify the air in your home.

Hope Anchors the Soul Mug by LucySuiSF on Etsy - $12

-Handmade with the verse from Hebrews 6:19.

Fruit of the Spirit iPhone Skin by The Worship Project on Society 6 - $15

-A beautiful reminder to carry with you.

Aleph Bet Dishtowel by Barbara Shaw - $19

-A lovely and practical thing.

Hosea Rain Tote Bag by Marion Kristina on Society 6 - $22

-I wouldn't mind carrying this to the farmers market.

Elle Est Forte Tee from She Is Clothing - $24.95

-Available in many colors and designs, this French saying is inspired by Proverbs 31:25.

Ahava Gold Foil Print from Modern Bayit - $25

-A beautiful rendition of the Hebrew word for love.

Many Waters Cannot Quench Love Bangle by LilySharon on Etsy - $25

-Taken from the end of Song of Songs.

Hebrew Letter Cookie Cutters on Modern Tribe - $30

-You know, to help learn Hebrew.

YHWH Torah Tee from Litographs - $34

-The design is made of the letters of the Torah!

Fair Trade Silver Forest Candleholder from Ten Thousand Villages - $49

-Not a true menorah but a beautiful seven candle option.

Forget Not My Law Sign by House of Belonging on Etsy - $150

-A great reminder to place in your home.

Let me know your favorite gift idea below!