All wrung out

Louis has two teeth that have been bothering him. I finally was able to get him to the dentist today after one of the teeth broke. The dentist spent three plus hours on two root canals & hopes to save one of the teeth. The other will have to be pulled. This is about how he looks and feels this evening. We have had more dental work done in our fifties than all our other years put together. Is this typical of midage? We floss and brush regularly and stay away from sodas most of the time... yet, here we are - always in debt to our favorite dentist.

YOM HA ATZMA'UT - Happy Birthday, ISRAEL!

How many of you remembered that May 3rd was the Israeli Independence Day? That's according to the Jewish calendar - Iyar 5, 1948. Iyar 5 fell on the Gregorian date of May 14, 1948 when the United Nations voted to support the declaration of Israel as an independent nation where Jewish people could again live on their own. Many folks see Israel's independence as a modern miracle. If you know the Scriptures, this miracle should come as no surprise. God did just as He promised! (Genesis 12:1-3...13:14-17) Isaiah 66:8 "Who has ever heard of such a thing? Who has ever seen such things? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labor than she gives birth to her children." This verse also speaks of a coming day when the remnant of Israel will all be saved in one day & spared from the anti-Christ by the coming of the King of Kings & Lord of Lords!

Did you also know that the above flag of Israel is a talit (prayer shawl) with the star of David sewn on to it? The assistant to David Ben Gurion was given only a few hours in Geneva back in 1948 to come up with a national flag. He walked all over Geneva, praying and looking at flags of other countries. During the last hour, he was struck with the thought that a talit looked much like a flag. He added the star of David with a marker, I believe. It became the accepted flag.

Three Things Thursday - Favorite Pets

Ari, Genny & Tana - our wonderful goldens!

When my heart is breaking because of my past choices or the choices of my daughter, God has given me three faithful golden retrievers to show me His love. The middle retriever, Genny, is on permanent loan to a friend in her 80's, who is legally blind and needs a companion. Except for the hair that they continually shed, I can think of no flaws in these dear pets.

Special Olympics

We are boarding two extra horses, whose owners pay enough to cover the hay for all of our animals. This has been a true blessing. The owner of "Diego", a whitish half Paso-Fino and half Arabian mare, is somewhat disabled after a car accident years ago. Steve has severe seizures & even has a dog trained to help him realize when one of the seizures is about to begin. Because of his disability, Steve is able to participate in Special Olympics events. He asked if we could transport Diego to the Missoula Equestrian Park for one of those events this past Friday. (Diego is the horse standing just in back of the water trough in the photo.) I had never driven our Yukon pulling the horsetrailer, but was willing to try. So I asked the Lord to help me drive carefully & was treated with safety and a wonderfully up-beat day. The weather was absolutely glorious in the high 60 degrees with clear blue skies. Steve was one of 50 or 60 very special people there, whom God gifted with extra-difficult physical or mental needs. Oh, but most of them were so open with their friendliness and their delight in being helped to ride loaned horses through gates, over bridges, etc. in the trail portion of the events. The whole atmosphere was gilded with helpfulness and caring. The volunteers included teens, retired ranchers and cowboys, YMCA workers & a couple of ambulance attendants. I see & feel that same type of caring whenever Louis & I go up the hill to a resthome called "Kathy's Place". We go on Sundays after church and spend an hour or so singing old hymns with around eight of the dear folks who call it home. Margaret, in her mid-90's, is the most mentally alert and best singer. Ruth will hum with us if we spend a little extra time encouraging her to do it. Others show their appreciation by swinging their feet to the beat or just wanting to be helped to the main living area where our singing takes place. We find that taking time for others in these ways always enriches our lives. I did flatten one of our flower barrels by our gate while attempting to drive back into our driveway with the horsetrailer. Guess my mothers' day gift is a given this year. We have three large geraniums that we nursed through the winter for our gateway barrels. One is now without a container.

And now there are 10...the fox returned.

The two pullets, who flew the coop the most, were both white spangled spitzers - a new breed for us. They had floppy cute feathers on the top of their heads. Yes, I said "had". Louis could not get them back into the chicken yard night before last, although he certainly tried. We hadn't seen the fox since last fall, so he decided to take the risk overnight. When we checked in the morning, we found a small pile of white feathers in front of the chicken yard & another pile in the southeast corner of the yard. Just outside our pasture, in our adjoining neighbor's pasture was a much larger pile of white feathers where the meal must have been eaten. This is the end result of "flying the coop" when there is danger always lurking. This is why I am constantly praying when Esther is not at home.

Flying the Coop

This is the color of a couple of our chickens - the Rhode Island Reds. After the fox got all but two of our previous chickens, Louis reinforced the electric fencing around the chicken yard. Then in March we traded egg cartons for five pullet laying hens and a couple weeks later bought five more from a neighbor. We now own a couple of hens of 5 or 6 different varieties. Our dozen hens are without a rooster, which is fine with me. One less obstacle when we need to gather the eggs.

About a week ago, we noticed some interesting behavior in the chicken yard. Several of the younger hens were tired of being confined & found a way to escape the electric fenced chicken yard. They would back up to the far east of the yard, facing the fence between their yard & the area in which we have our six sheep penned. Then using most of the chicken yard as a runway, they would run two/thirds of the way to the fence and then start flapping their wings to fly over the fencing. After only one or two tries, several pullets succeeded in flying out of their chicken yard. We pray this will not expose them to the cunning fox of yore. Our original two survivors are too heavy to copy the younger hens' behavior. They seem content to take a dirt bath instead.

The young adult that lives off & on in our home, shares some of these chicken traits. When we tighten or strengthen the boundaries meant for her safety, she finds ways to fly out of the home area. Actually, it's usually driving out in her snazzy, red Pontiac Grand Am. Thankfully, tonight she is out, but attending her first Young Life meeting with Sherry & family & Taylor - a neighbor friend. Flying from one safe area to another is entirely acceptable.

God's Spring Cleaning & Hug

Friday's weather tempted us into a huge burning project. We had a lot of dead tree limbs, the pruned suckers from our fruit trees and piles of dead pine needles which needed to be cleaned up. Louis and I spent several hours burning them in our fire pit in our pasture. The horses and sheep stayed totally away from the fire, thankfully. Each Spring when farmers are cleaning their pastures via fire or I see the volunteer fire department assisting in weed-burning, I think about how God calls Himself a "Consuming Fire". He will clean us up if we ask Him. Like the spring fires I have watched, only the dead things get burned up. The green shoots of live plants seem to escape the fire unscathed. God leaves the growing parts in our lives too, if they fit into His best plan for us. He just removes all the deadwood & rotting things that clog up our lives and testimonies.

As we stood watching the fire, Louis and I both commented about needing a mini-tiller to help with the weeding in our flower garden and regular garden this year. These were passing comments and thoughts in a long stream of conversation between us. Yet, within two hours, our friend, Becky (Owner of Pug, a Schnauser we sometimes dogsit.), called while we were still in the field. "Cary, I have been thinking about giving away my Honda mini-tiller which I don't use anymore. You and Louis keep coming to my mind. Could you use one this Spring?" Becky is not a believer. However, God used her to give us such a wonderful HUG! He so loves to do this at the most unique times. Yesterday after Beth Tephila, we drove by her home and picked up the almost new tiller. It's the perfect size for our needs!!

Sherry's newest birthday creation!

Esther loved this Habiscus lemon cake, but was way too embarrassed by the situation to say so. Sherry has a definite artistic talent in several venues! Thanks for your love in action, Sherry! 

I'm an embarrassed new adult. Hurry, Sherry, before any other customers come into Subway! 

Celebrations

I climbed into bed a couple of hours ago nursing a sick headache after a full day. I awoke hearing Louis's deep breathing that comes when he's soundly sleeping. My heart is celebrating and overflowing with gratitude...even beyond laying quietly and communing with God.
Thanks for taking away that headache. THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR LOVE FOR ME AND ESTHER TODAY THROUGH YOUR SERVANT & MY SPECIAL FRIEND (SHERRY)! You brought Esther into the adult world in such a fun and memorable way. She'll always fondly remember her 18th birthday! She didn't know how to respond when I woke her with a kiss, whispered "Happy 18th Birthday!' & handed her a piece of warm Noodle Kugel and a glass of milk. (The eight days of Passover/Unleavened Bread challenge me a bit in creating "birthday cakes".) Sherry's greeting with a roll, an hour or so later, must have been special too.
Thanks for giving Sherry the desire and talent to create the habiscus-decorated, lemon cake just to Esther's tastes. Thanks for having Sherry include me in the mini-celebration. Once again, Es didn't know how to respond when we surprised her with it at Subway. She was thrilled we didn't forget her "big day"...She was embarrassed that Sherry asked her to wear the birthday crown and had the co-worker and customer join in on the "Happy Birthday" song as she blew out the 18 fancy candles..She wasn't hungry, but didn't want to offend us when we were honoring her. You removed her mourning of previous years that "her day" was shared with the anniversary of Columbine & Hitler's birthday - replacing it with a quiet joy!
Thanks for having her other friends remember her with small gifts and the arranged party at the cabin. Keep her safe there.
Thanks for having Sherry listen to Your prompting about checking out the Massage Therapy School so Esther has the choice to attend the Spring introduction and make a more informed decision about her future. Remind her how important it is to her when the time comes to leave her friends & attend.
You even used Sherry's artistry with the camera and computer to give us these photos to recall the day & to change my blog profile.
Yes, You also gave us the greatest weather yet in 2006! Clear blue skies, 70 degrees, a few Spring flowers ! Oh, there's more, but I just wanted to express my gratitude for your "chesed/faithful love" and for Sherry's friendship! I so enjoyed our time together today! I've added this day to my most treasured ones. It can remind me on those dreary, gray days of the abiding joy You bring to those who are Yours.

Problems seem larger, the closer you are to them.
My daughter's gray cat, Rachel, shadows me. She misses Esther, who is home very little these days, and has made me Esther's substitute. When she gets especially frustrated she has developed the habit of reaching around and pulling out some of her hair with her teeth. She almost denudes the back half of her body this way. At first, we took her to the Vet, thinking she might be in pain. The Vet. gave her a thorough check-up, took lab. tests & later reported she was in good health. I would rather clean up cat hair than cat urine, so I am thankful the habit isn't a worse one. Now I am praying for wisdom. While I'm praying, the Lord just reminds me that I am often like Rachel. When I get frustrated and try to resolve my frustration on my own, I am only hurting myself - and sometimes others. I need to realize that He is still in control. Therefore, I need to take each frustration to Him and leave it with Him. I also need to ask what I am supposed to be learning through the situation.

Chag Sameach! (Happy Passover!)

At 10 p.m.- about 24 hours before the start of Pesach- Esther began violent vomiting. Like clockwork, every 2-3 hours until 5 a.m., she began another episode of hugging and filling the trashcan. Of course, desperate calls for "Mommie" preceded each episode. Somewhere around 3 a.m. I gave up and spent the rest of the night in Esther's room with her. We had a Pesach guest from Great Falls, trying to sleep in the next bedroom. Thankfully it takes 2 to 3 days to incubate a flu virus before symptoms appear. The next day included cooking from scratch 4 large kettles of chicken-matzoh ball soup, table set-up for 65 seder attendees, cooking broccoli and assembling the appetizer plates, organizing the hand-washing and desert areas, music and overheads, etc. I was so grateful for the help of several women the day before, including Jeanne, when we prepared the charoset (chopped apples/nuts & honey, cinnamon & wine mixture) and the potatoe knishes. Then God sent great support before and after the seder service and meal, as well. The 5766 seder lasted four hours, but will be remembered as a success. PTL! The next day as we slipped into the seven day Feast of Unleavened Bread, Louis & I finished the clean-up, sorting and packing away of Pesach items along with a tinge of nausea. Yesterday, we awoke with full-blown symtoms. Nausea and bouts of diarrhea led to a low-key day, so I was once again so thankful that Sherry was accompanying Esther to her next portion of the GED exam. (Thanks, Sherry, for following through with this when you also were exhausted.) Chag Sameach!

Pruning

The sunshine and 60 degree temperatures beckoned to me yesterday. So I spent time in the yard that's greened-up from our two weeks of rain. The sucker branches that Louis & I pruned from our trees the day before the rain started in earnest, were still surrounding each tree trunk in pick-up-sticks fashion. We hope for bigger and better fruit late summer and fall as a result of the pruning done in early spring. The sun warmed my back as I gathered each armload of deadwood to carry to our burn pile. It felt so good to be outside again and recovering from my bout with an upper respiratory infection that came with the spring rain. My thoughts were on the pruning that God has been doing in my life. I was praying that His pruning would lead to my personal growth and fruit for His Kingdom, when suddenly one of the sticks I was bending over jabbed up one nostril! I nearly blacked out from the unexpected pain and held my nose...sure I had started a nosebleed. The reality of my day to day life is often like that unanticipated sharp poke from the stick. Sometimes I walk away bleeding, sometimes I'm just brought up with a start. Yes, I haven't yet slipped into olam haba - that world to come just beyond the vanishing point at my horizons. I'm still living in a fallen world. I need to submit to each experience my Master sends with "for this I have Yeshua/Jesus!"

Life Changes

In Hebrew class we have been translating our way through Psalms 90 - A prayer of Moses.

Adonai, you have been our dwelling place in every generation.
Before the mountains were born, before you had formed (literally "whirled")
the earth & the inhabited world,
from eternity past to eternity future you are God. (verses 1-2)

You bring frail mortals to the point of being crushed, then say, "People, repent!"
For from your viewpoint a thousand years are merely like yesterday or a night watch.
When you sweep them away, they become like sleep (or a dream);
by morning they are like growing grass, growing & flowering in the morning,
but by evening cut down and dried up... (verses 3-6)

The span of our life is seventy years, or if we are strong, eighty... (verse 10a)

So teach us to number our days, so that we will become wise. (verse 12)

After attending the Hebrew class today, I drove to my parents' home. Both Mom and Dad are 80 this year and viruses tend to linger with them now. They were both breathing shallowly so they could talk without hacking. Their flu virus has shown more respiratory components than the stomach flu like Tano Chidwick had recently. They appeared pale and more frail even than normal. I leave each visit with them now, thinking how I should treasure each moment spent with them. I wonder how many more years they will be able to manage a home by themselves. They are still involved with their church, the hospice and hospital patients they visit and our extended family. PTL! Mom filled me in on all the changes occurring in our family. My sister and husband are selling the "old homestead" and will be building a home soon. Their oldest son will be doing the same. Their youngest son is getting married in June. My brother's oldest son is getting married in the Fall... & so forth. I sensed I was observing & hearing Psalm 90 all over again in a fleshed out format. The chapters of our lives fly by so quickly. The comfort is that Adonai is our habitation or dwelling place - even as He will be throughout eternity!

A.D. Chronicles

For over 20 years I have enjoyed reading books written by Bodie & Brock Thoene. My favorites were their Zion Covenant, Zion Chronicles & Zion Legacy series until they started the A.D. Chronicles. "First Light", "Second Touch", "Third Watch" & "Fourth Dawn" are set in the time of Yeshua of Nazareth's public ministry and have numerous Messianic facts woven throughout their story lines, which I love. They are well reseached and well written. So... I highly recommend them to any of you who may have not already found them. I reread them the last couple of weeks as a wonderful stress reliever, as they refocus me on the eternal perspective.

Purim & Spring are around the corner

Hamentaschen baking has consumed a couple of days this week. My kitchen is lightly dusted with flour, but smells of orange peel and cookie dough! We will be eating those delicious three cornered cookies tomorrow at Beth Tephila & through the week since Purim arrives Monday evening. (I posted the recipie for the cookies a year ago.) We also read out-loud the story of Queen Esther in dramatized fashion each Purim. Haman's name is covered with the noise from our noise-makers and Mordecai's name is praised. Esther gets oohs/ahs/ or wolf whistles. Our Esther, Sweetheart Queen, has been a 17- going on 18 year-old- handful recently. Yet, with my friend Sherry's help, the prayers of many & the Lord's allowing rare glimpses into her heart, I have hope that this time too will pass. We will all benefit in increased maturity as a result. The LORD will deliver us from the enemy. He is so able!
Spring is almost here. Our recent snowfall has melted. We are expecting lambs any day and are beginning the preparations for Passover, April 12th. Yes, it takes much of a month for us to host a large Passover Seder each year. We always find it's worth the effort. This is one holiday we are commanded to keep. We enjoy keeping it along with Beth Tephila and many others.

El Shaddai

One of the principles I taught my 4th grade Sunday School class over a year ago has been returning to me as I'm jogging my 31/2 miles on the treadmill or just working in the kitchen.
I can be at peace in the midst of any storm because my God is Sovereign! We defined the word sovereign by the words within it...God reigns over this world. He always has the deciding vote and can turn around any situation to suit His purposes and will. I am believing Him for that very basic fact as it applies to my family. In the meantime, in my devotions I have started to once again study the Hebrew names of God. A couple days ago I did a word study of EL SHADDAI - God Almighty. The first time this word/name is used is in Genesis 17:1. "When Avram was 99 years old, Adonai appeared to Avram & said to him, ' I am EL SHADDAI. Walk in my presence & be pure-hearted.' Adonai had not spoken like this to Avram for 13 years, since Hagar bore him Ishmael (Avram's son of the flesh.) Now Ishmael, being 13 years old, was considered a grown up & responsible male. God was rejecting this 13 year old as the heir of the covenant between Him and Avram; He would institute circumcision as the sign of that covenant and tell Avram that his son of the Spirit would be born of Sarai; He also renamed Avram (exalted father) to Avraham (father of many) and Sarai (mockery) to Sarah (princess). First though, ADONAI revealed a part of His nature: EL SHADDAI - the One who reigns in power. He is so powerful, He can create life where there is death. That is, EL SHADDAI would create Isaac (laughter) from a 100 year old man and 90 year old woman. In Hebrew, Isaac is made with three consonants. The first is a tzadee with a numerical value of 90. The last is a kof with a numerical value of 100. Between these two letters is a chet which is often used in Jewish necklaces and pins, etc. to symbolize life since it begins chaim the word which means life. So EL SHADDAI would take a 90 year old and a 100 year old and between them create life. That life would become heir of the covenant and father Israel/Jacob.
God took the initiative by appearing to Avram, speaking to him, commanding him and promising things to him. Because of who EL SHADDAI was, Avram/Avraham was to do 2 things. 1. Walk in God's presence. (Although God is omnipresent and Avram was always walking in God's presence, I understand this as a synonymous way of saying "Fear the LORD" or walk consciously in my presence, knowing I hear every word you say & see every action & judge every thought & attitude & motive.) 2. Be pure-hearted. The Hebrew word for pure-hearted is tamiym and has the meaning of pure, complete, entire, whole, integrity, sincere, without blemish or spot.
As I meditated on these things and asked God to apply them to my life. I am reminded that at a time when the fleshly works I have born have matured, I am aware that they do not satisfy or complete me. In fact, they are extremely frustrating and destroying my dreams and peace. The Almighty, Sovereign God reminds me not only who He is, but that I am unable to do for myself what He asks. He alone can circumcise my heart, enable me to fear Him and be whole-heartedly His. I expect Him to take over from here and create life out of the ashes of my poor attempts to please Him in my way.

Transformers vs. Immutability

Back in the 1970's and 80's, Louis and I spent almost all our vacation time from the Army Nurse Corps enjoying Montana's gorgeous Autumns. Louis would hunt deer and I would visit with my sister and parents. My sister had two sons who for several years loved those sleek miniature cars and trucks that with a click or slide of a part or two became monsters of the mechanical or human types. This past month has been such a ride! One moment I am sitting back in my circumstances, enjoying the life God has allowed. My hand is lightly touching the cool, apparent solidness of my environment and my mind is supposing that I had something to do with creating all this pleasantness. The next moment, something or Someone behind the scenes tweaks one or two small parts of my safety zones and my circumstances have morphed into terrifying ones where I am clinging to a raging beast by my sweaty fingers & praying like mad. My illusion of any control or influence is broken and I am much more sanely aware of my total dependence on my God. Since I am not yet comfortable in discussing the details of all the transforming, I am just relating my underlying feelings. I am also praising the Lord for His immutability! When all else around me changes frighteningly, I can count on His character to remain unchanging. "The Name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous run into it and they are safe." ...whenever they experience those 9/11 moments, days or longer!

Hanukkah Carols

Hanukkah has been over for a week, but before we leave this holiday, I want to share a couple of the carols we sing:

THE SHAMMAS
Eight little candles in a row. See how the candles shine and glow!
Above the rest there stands the Shammas, servant to the others.
One for each night the candles' lit...'til through the days there are all eight.
None would be lit without the Shammas. Darkness alone would then pervade.

Chorus: The Shammas came to serve the small.
The greatest is the Shammas of all.
He came to earth so He might serve
and died for us though not deserved.

Thanks to our God who sent the Shammas, who lights our lives and gives us worth.
So like the other little candles, we might shine forth His light on the earth.


WHY PRAISE THE MACABEES?

Moses, our teacher, gave to us a code.
He said, if we obey it and love the Lord our God,
Then in a land we'd prosper, with peace on every border,
And be filled with the plenty from the land we'd sown.

CHORUS: Why do we praise the Macabees when we forget to
praise the God who sent them? Not to praise our
God has meant our fall. His law demands that we
should love Him and obey Him above anything.
Religion does not honor Him at all.

We've failed to keep our God's command
and failed to keep His law.
Instead of peace and plenty, war, dispersion came along.
And men, like Antiochus, have come, through time, against us
and filled our lives with agony and made us sore.

In mercy, God has come to us so all of us can see...
How great His love is towards us when His Son died on a tree.
It ought to make us love Him...Should we reject His favor,
A new Antiochus we shall ever see.

Hanukkah or Christmas or both?

The first week of December, Louis and I spent in Palm Springs, California, attending a Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations Leaders' Retreat. We missed the first large snowstorm of 8 to 10 inches at home by leaving for Spokane a day early. We drove into the storm as we entered Spokane instead, but at least had dry pavement over the mountain passes. Palm Springs was a wonderful break!! We've been trying to catch up ever since then, however. Here it is, December 30th and I'm still sending out holiday greetings via the snail mail. We are celebrating Hanukkah ... lighting six candles tonight at sunset. We minimized our gift-giving this year, and have spread out our gift-opening from family over the days of Hanukkah. It's been a very different holiday season this year. We've spent time with Sandy, my former boss, the owner of Nightingale Nursing. Her husband died a couple of days before out Palm Springs trip. We've visited Ruth, another good friend, who is rapidly going downhill physically and mentally. First she was in Community Hospital and now she is at The Village Nursing Home. This week we attended two other funerals. What a time for really going HOME!

While in Palm Springs, we stayed at the home of Rabbi Alon Barak. Here are some of his thoughts, slightly edited by me, on Hanukkah.
Hanukkah or Christmas?
OK, which one do we observe? Do we as Messianic Jews compromise and do both? What is the right thing to do or is there even a right thing to do? It can be pointed out that HaShem (G-d) never demanded either Hanukkah or Christmas be observed on His List of Holy Days. Let's see what the scriptures have to say.
First, there is no mention of the early believers observing the birth of Yeshua with a holiday called Christmas or anything else. The birth of human beings was not a day of celebration in the Bible. In fact, it was a part of pagan practices.
Secondly, there is no mention of Hanukkah in the Tenach (Old Testament). How could there be? It took place during the inter-testamental period - that time between Malachi and Matthew/the period of Yeshua.
When we want our activities to be based solidly on the scripture and what pleases our Heavenly Abba, but have no definitive proof text, what do we do? We look to Yeshua! Jesus observed the holiday of Hanukkah & not his own birthday. This seems strange to us. Let's first look in John 10:22. "Then came Hanukkah in Yerushalayim. It was winter, & Yeshua was walking around inside the Temple area, in Shlomo's Colonnade." Yeshua traveled from the Galilee to Yerushalayim to observe Hanukkah, the Feast of Dedication. The tie of Hanukkah to Yeshua is easily recognizable. If Antiochus was successful in destroying Jewish identity, no one could fulfill the unique prophecies that were required of the Jewish Messiah. Antiochus was defeated, the Jewish community annually celebrated and Yeshua was there. John, who stated that he could not record everything Yeshua did, made certain that this event was added to his gospel. It was IMPORTANT. He knew that the entire Jewish population had been spared a holocaust, just as it had been in ESTHER.
Yeshua said that HE was the light of the world. So what's the center of the celebration of Hanukkah? You got it, the Menorah light. The Menorah is one symbol that G-d has repeatedly used throughout the Tenach (O. T.) and in Revelation. If there is only one symbol that Yeshua will use during His millennial reign, it is hard to find a better choice than the "light-menorah". For 3500 years, G-d has used it. It is much older than the famous "Star of David". Hanukkah celebrates light.
Hanukkah paints a picture of G-d's dramatic deliverance of his people from evil tyrants. (A shadow perhaps of Herod's slaughter of the Bethlehem babies.) We look forward to the return of Yeshua as a conquering King. The impact of Hanukkah fits this perfectly.
Is there a more appropriate time to celebrate Yeshua's birth? Of course, the actual time of His birth. Messianic Jews believe it was either during the Feast of Tabernacles in the Fall or at Shavuot (Pentecost) in May. Both dates were commanded by G-d to be observed.

Well, that is sprinkling of Messianic Jewish thought on this holiday time. What do you think?