Welcome to Teshuvah 21

Welcome to Teshuvah 21

Elul twenty one

The sixth month of the year

A time of returning

The field we’ve cleared

When we first began

I was over whelmed

He said work with Me

And I wouldn’t have to pretend

 

What did He mean

How did I pretend

Oh by neglecting the field

Not knowing how to begin

 

When I felt His tug

I knew I had to answer

Of sweet season of Teshuvah

We are in God’s day planner

 

A holy time

A Mo’edim

Turn back to Him

Until harvest is seen

 

© laurette laster

 

God has set specific times that are Holy in His sight, these are appointed times to meet with His people. God Himself calls the Feasts, Holy Convocations, or Holy Appointments. We understand this doesn’t devalue or make other days less important to God, or that if we do not repent by Wednesday all hope is gone. What the Feast is, are rehearsals or appointed times of God. Why does God require His people to set aside and honor these Feasts? He requires these meetings for stability and consistency. We are to keep His law before our eyes and His word in our mouth. Joshua 1:8-9 tells us if we do not let the book of the law depart from our mouth we can make our way successful. Joshua had taken over as leader of the children of Israel after Moses death.

God knows if left to our plans we will veer off the path of righteousness. Working in the corporate world I received yearly evaluations. I would receive or lose promotions or pay raises based on the review. This wasn’t a popularity contest; if they like you, you received a raise and a promotion and if they didn’t you were ousted. The review was based on company standards and achieved by what was called SMART goals. The standards were set and you were made aware of them from the moment you wire hired. You were also taught how to operate within the guidelines to reach these standards. To stay on top of these standards required focus and planning. I needed daily, weekly, bi weekly and monthly plans. I also had to check these numbers daily. I didn’t wait until the end of the month to find out there was a problem that couldn’t be remedied. I needed to know there was a problem as soon as possible so I could adjust. This was a team effort but I was the leader so it ultimately fell on my shoulders. If I didn’t teach, then hold accountable, follow up, and check on my assistants, and staff, all go awry and be a shipwreck without remedy.

SMART goals are results that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely. Labor, food cost, turnover, guest complaints, profit and loss, repairs and maintenance, safety, health inspections, permit renewals, licenses, and AOA’s are some of the areas I was responsible for. This is how we could measure ourselves, daily and weekly and monthly.

The most difficult for me at the beginning was that in light of the numbers I had to evaluate myself, come up with my own action plan and then sit down with the DO and compare the evaluations. It wasn’t like I could say see I’m doing great and all is well so you can give me my raise now. The numbers told the story good or bad. So if the results were below company standards I had to have an action plan of how I planned to rectify the issue or issues. This was by far one of the best teaching tools given to me as a manager. This caused me to look at the issues and honestly face where I had led well, and where I was failing miserably. This was also a very humbling review. I couldn’t bluff or pretend. If I were struggling and hadn’t ask for help that looked worse to my boss, if I were struggling I needed to say help. It was always better if I ask before they saw the numbers on their end. This is also how I showed my desire to succeed and make the company look good.

Why in our Christian walk or personal walk do we think we can attend church and put on a happy face and think to fool God. God is Omnipotent, Omniscience, Omniscient, Immutable, and Never changing. His kingdom is eternal yet if we liken it to company standards we understand we are given authority and God hold us accountable.

The standards or kingdom laws cannot be lowered to make us feel better. God is love so we can be loved by God and still fail miserably. His love should propel us onward to preserve and show the world The God of Israel is good and a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

If we know we are not measuring up to His standards He will send us The Helper if we admit we need help and confess we cannot do it on our own. When we surrender our life to Christ, He will give us the wisdom to achieve what He is asking of us. Failure to ask for His help and to confess our sins is pride. The bible tells us God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

God isn’t looking for perfection, yet requires obedience, which is measured by our willing heart. God wants an honest relationship with us. This is how we evaluate ourselves as we approach the season leading into the High Holy Days. He has our evaluation filled out in Jesus. He didn’t call us to watch us fail. He didn’t choose us hoping we quit or try to hide our poor results. He has called us and His desire is to equip us for every good work, if we will confess our sins and ask for His help.

Teshuvah the season of our repentance or the season to return, it is time to do our self evaluation in comparison to the Torah or His word. When we return to His word we realize if we have strayed from the path of righteousness and need to make changes. It isn’t too late to turn or return to His kingdom laws which are His company standards.

Isaiah 55:5-7 (BSB) For the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, has bestowed glory on you.” Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. Let the wicked man forsake his own way and the unrighteous man his own thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.…Amen

God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up His countenance on you and give you Shalom.

Until next time, thank you for listening with me. Laurette