Welcome to Teshuvah Elul 24
Return to me says The Lord and I will return unto you. When we repent we turn our barren un-kept field into a vineyard, by abiding in The Vine. Repentance leads to restoration.
Elul twenty four
What glorious dedication
We’ve accomplished so much
My heart is filled with jubilation
We’ve grown so close
My work clothes are a little tattered
The good and bad were planned
He speaks about kingdom matters
He said the time is near
And our field looks great
I just nod and smile
Now knowing what it takes
With sweat and tears
Hard work begins
Through faith and fears
But now I am one with Him
What glorious dedication
What a joy divine
I will have abundant harvest
Abiding in The Vine
© laurette laster
The entire purpose of repentance is for clearing our heart of anything that chokes out the harvest. God requires we bring forth a harvest and that we be fruitful. After clearing out the problem weeds out of our field (heart) we begin to plant grains, a vineyard, and an orchard.
Years ago my mother purchased a property that had a three acre orchard with it. There was one acre of black berries and another area that had pear trees and a plum tree and more rows of berries.
She and I and a few distant family members began to pick the berries and the fruit and sell them. We hadn’t planted these berry bushes we acquired mature producing bushes and fruit trees. We didn’t sell all of the berries and pears. Some we kept for cobblers and other desserts for her restaurant. The regular customers looked so forward to berry season. They all knew this season meant my grandmother would come make delicious cobblers for dessert. If they so desired we would top the hot cobbler with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, serving it ala mode. This was also grape, and apple, and peach season, so there were assorted pastries and cobblers and pies and other desserts.
As we do the hard work of repentance there is a sweetness that is coming forth if we abide in the Vine. We are called branches and Yeshua says that if we abide in Him will bear fruit. It is not acceptable to be a believer in Yeshua and not bear fruit. He tells us that any branch in Him that does not bear fruit is cut off and burned. Those that bear fruit are pruned so they bear much fruit. Clearing our field is the pruning process that we agree to.
We know and understand that in the parable of the Sower there is an enemy that will come for the seed that has been planted in our heart. This seed is the down payment on our harvest. We are the good soil. We must tend our field daily, morning and evening checking to make certain that an enemy isn’t after our seed or attempting to plant tares among the wheat.
Morning and evening were the times of sacrifice. This is also the times of the lighting of the menorah and the cleaning of the menorah. The menorah was lit every evening and cleaned every morning. I believe the principle God has set forth is that we are to begin our day with Him and we should spend time with Him in the evening.
When we live by faith we are actually fulfilling the scripture that says to pray without ceasing. If we are in the will of God, it will require faith, we need His help, The Helper at all times to live by faith.
He is calling us to the field.
In Matthew 9 Jesus sees and looked on the crowd and made an assessment
“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Once we have our hearts cleansed we should be ready to be fruit growers and harvesters. What are we to do with a portion of the harvest? How about prepare and serve something sweet? We are told to leave the corners and not glean them. We are told every seven years to let the land rest and the foreigners and strangers may eat from the produce in the field.
My favorite part of the homemade cobbler was the crust. The crust that my grandmother lined the pan with soaked in the juice was delicious. I remember us fighting over scraping the bottom of the pan of any crust that was missed when serving after our shift when cleaning up.
That is how I see us as believers. We should be famished workers, hungry and fighting over every last bit of the crust that has been soaked and saturated by the fruit of the vine, not leaving even a morsel.
Don’t miss your appointment, Teshuvah my favorite time of the year with the Sower, He is in the field.
God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord cause His countenance to rise upon you and give Shalom.
Until next time, thank you for listening with me. Laurette
Through All Seasons 