Category: Blog

 

Repent, Pray and Do good works.

 

Teshuvah-Repent

T’fillah-Pray-judge oneself

T’zedakah-Good works or charity

 

When true repentance, Teshuvah has come about through the grace of God, it transforms our soul. We are changed from the inside out, made new, redesigned from the inside out. We can no longer act the same, because we no longer are the same.

Our soul is our mind, will and emotions. When the deep inner work of repentance breaks into focus, it is through, The Grace of God. His grace begins an eternal transference. We are translated into His kingdom of light, we become enlightened. When we become enlightened we hunger for truth and peace. Jesus began his ministry with instructions of, repent for the kingdom of heaven is near.

Herald the Way

Light of dawn, light of day

Come into view, herald the way

This is the day The Lord hath made

On Jesus Messiah, the cost was laid

 

Yet I believe, I will rejoice

Enough to lay aside that choice

And hearken only unto Thy will

Be quiet, be calm, be peaceful and still.

 

And know that You alone are God –

Not my will, but Thine, I nod

My heart, your home I did agree

With tender reserve, I dare plea

 

Have thing own way, yea my Lord

King of my heart, You have roared

This is the day and now is the time

Come feast at My table, yes sit and dine

 

On every word that doth proceed

From out of Your mouth You have decreed

It shall not return back unto You void

Angels dispatched, Armies deployed

 

I shall not doubt not fear in heart

You Lord prevail and have from the start

Listening hearts now pierced, begin to sing

Rejoice in the Lord, Keeper of everything.

 

That pertains to you and yea to them

Oh King Shepherd, Our Shiloh, the Yes and Amen

 

written by Laurette Laster © 2017

 

 

After the work and grace of genuine repentance we are no longer able to continue participating in sin. Others may notice the change, especially if you had a particular sin in common.

You will no longer be able to participate in the sin with them. This may cause push back, or as the bible names it, ‘persecution’. The people who continue in the sin may want nothing to do with us or harass you, trying to make our life difficult.

However we have these precious promises from out Father;

If we confess our sins one to another, He is faithful and just and will forgive ‘all’ our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

One part of Teshuvah is confessing or admitting our sins. The need to confess our sins is an act of our will. We make a decision to TURN, (shuv) our thinking around. We are leaving the carnal fleshly, emotional desires and coming into alignment with God’s laws and His word. We leave the carnal desires of life and RETURN to God with our new heart. The heart of flesh we are given when we receive The Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior. It is made known by our actions that what God says it is, is what we want it to be in our life. We now desire that our activities, our conduct, and our actions be pleasing to God. We hunger and thirst for righteousness.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. (Matthew 5:6)

When we are cleansed we desire to give back, we want to let others see the goodness of God. We cannot help but show we have been cleansed and clothed in His Righteousness. It is Dry Cleaning for the Soul. We no longer have the sewage and sludge of sin on us any longer. We are washed, cleansed, and do not have any desire to soil our designer clothes. A robe of righteousness is not exactly play clothes is it? Now we realize that this garment was purchased for us and is a designer original. With this robe on we now watch where we walk, what we put into our mouths and how we talk and especially how we treat others.

The desire to do good works is a deep inner desire not explainable by mere words. It is shown by fruit worthy of repentance.

What is the fruit of repentance? It is Real Fruit, fruit that is alive and grows and reproduces. We are not working as they did before the New Covenant for the law and to keep the law. Now we are working to give to others this great love we have been given. We want them to understand this love we have been given is transferrable, tangible and life altering. Most of all we just know that others need it more than the air they breathe. They need it and we have the desire to lead them to our Savior.

 

Teshuvah is my favorite time of the year. You don’t want to miss this!

Dear Heavenly Father. I come today to say out loud, thank You. Thank You for the gift or Your love and Your unmerited grace in my life. I realize Your grace has always been here. You have kept me safe in times I didn’t even see the danger. Lord I want to give back and show others Your love. Use me Lord to help draw others and to show others Your love and to lead them to You and this perfect love. Lord Jesus may the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing and acceptable to You My Lord, My Rock and My Redeemer.

 

God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you and give you Shalom.

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

 

 

 

You are a Key

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2Corinthians 3:18

God Himself has set times, seasons, and appointments for His purposes. They are Mo’eds and Mo’edim and they are a statute forever according to Leviticus 23. He determines seasons and times, so He may come near to us. That inner drive we experience is Him holding the pattern up to us as a mirror, so that He can make a way of escape for us. This inner drive to be cleansed from our rebellion and wickedness is not any different than if we had raw sewage or sludge smeared on us in the natural. Of course we would be like gag, yuck, gross I need a shower with some powerful disinfectant. When we neglect our spiritual life and justify sin or convince our self it isn’t that bad, we smell and look pretty disgusting to our Father. When we do come in, or come clean by confessing our sin, He begins to wash us and to cleanse us and to purify us from all unrighteousness.

Washing ourselves in the word begins to loosen all the hard flesh debris and thinking out of our minds and opens our heart. When our hearts or our fields are free from weeds of un-forgiveness, selfishness, vain desires, worldly lust etc. We then can realize and have a tender heart toward our Father. Our hearts become fertile and pliable and fit for the Master’s use.

Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as your ancestors did when they rebelled against God. (Hebrews 3:15).

By repenting and acknowledging and confessing our sin we are being changed from the inside out. It is a tangible change that is recognized by others. Repentance unlocks the prison that has our genuine self barred out. When we genuinely repent we are loosed to start a new process and to become the original design God created us to be.

I Have The Key

I have the key
To Jesus heart
It’s at the beginning
A Precious part

The start of my day
Continues until noon
Then onward I go
By evening swoon

A one of a kind
Integral part
It is a precious key
This key to His heart

It Cannot be purchased
Not available for franchise
It is poured and molded
Not  the ignorant only the wise

It is a special key
That you must embrace
Cannot be copied or ignored
Each one kept on display

What is this key
And where do you apply
It is fashioned from purity
Pours out of your eyes

It is tears and sobs
When you see His face
When you come to realize
He took your place

When out of pure desire
You behold Your King
It’s golden and glorious
Awe invoking inspiring

When praises like rivers
Out of your belly flow
Bowing before Him
This is how you know

Willing to be molded
Into a work of art
That is the key
The key to His heart

For we each are a masterpiece
From The Potters design
Created in Christ Jesus
Not a counterfeit but one of a kind

It is a praise in the morning
with prayers and rejoicing
Giving Him entrance
Agreeing while endorsing

The key is our praise
Acknowledging all He has done
So don’t wait any longer
To His Throne we must run

You’re His own workmanship
Created to show His glory
You’re are a special key
to unlock His story

That others may share
In His kingdom inheritance
Don’t wait another day
Use your key open the entrance.

It is a song and a prayer
given new wings
rising from the ashes
until my soul does sing

Praise Him in the morning
And when it seems dark
because praise is the key
The Key to His heart!

Poem written by laurette laster © 2018 September

Repentance is an internal decision which brings external change and eternal rewards. When we repent from the depth of our spiritual heart we are assured we will inherit The blessing of salvation.

1. Acknowledge personal guilt

The Apostle Peter’s stirring sermon on the Feast of Pentecost in Jerusalem struck the conscience of his audience. Thousands of Jewish worshippers were “cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). Having their spiritual eyes opened to their guilt demanded that they find out how to repent and begin changing their lives. Have you ask God what He would have you do?

2. Repentance must go deeper than merely recognizing what is right or wrong. We must admit personal guilt for breaking God’s holy law. Repentance is a godly sorrow that is so deep and profound that it leads to our diligently changing our lives (2 Corinthians 7:9-10). Repentance is an acknowledgement that our entire way of life was apart from God. We must understand that our sins have separated us from God and required the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Our desire to be forgiven and obey God from now on must be motivated from the heart of love. If we don’t know how much He loves us, we cannot give it away.
3. Live by God’s Word

 Repentance leads to conversion—the change of our lives. God’s laws define what we must change. We must take God’s instructions seriously. “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out,” Peter said (Acts 3:19). We do not want to offend others but the desire to live according to God’s laws becomes a life or death issue in our souls and in our hearts. In living this life we would rather offend a person than risk offending the heart of our God.

 

4. Have faith toward Jesus Christ

Paul not only preached “repentance toward God,” but also “faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21). We confess our sins to God, and He forgives us because of what Jesus Christ has done for us and what He continues to do for us. Then and only then will we receive His precious promise and gift of Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit sanctifies us, comforts us during the repentance, teaches us, counsels us, and is our tour guide throughout the remainder of our life on earth. He teaches us what is good and pleasing and acceptable to God. What an AWE some promise. Is this why we call these the Days of Awe?

 

Return, Repent, Shuv, Teshuvah and pay your vows to God

Dear Heavenly Father. During this time and season of our repentance I want to thank You. Thank You for my salvation. Thank You for Your love, Thank You for keeping me safe and Lord thank You for giving me this season and bringing me to this place with You. I want my heart to be purely Yours. What would You have me do? During the Days of Awe is the time to pay my vows to You. Just as a bride and groom recite their vows to each other confessing their love and commitment,  I confess to You that I am purely Yours. Show me and teach me what You would have me do. Lord Jesus how can I show my love to You? I could never repay but I can live my life for You and I give to You my heart.  Send Your precious Holy Spirit to lead and guide me all the days of my life. Amen

 

Do not miss this appointed time of Teshuvah; it is my favorite time of the year.

 

God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you and give you Shalom.

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

True repentance is never late and late repentance is never true.

Teshuvah, Return, realize and do the work of repentance. Pay your vows to the Most High and declare the good things He has done. When we blow the trumpet we are praising from our own lips.

When you enter into battle in your land against an adversary who attacks you, sound short blasts on the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the LORD your God and delivered from your enemies. And on your joyous occasions, your appointed feasts, and the beginning of each month, you are to blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, and they will serve as a reminder for you before your God. I am the LORD your God.” (Numbers 10:9-10).

 

Awake My Heart

From Your heart comes streaming down

 Unending love, beaming all around.

 Loving kindness, like light of dawn

 By Your grace we are drawn.

Sunset Picture © laurette laster, taken 2017 during this season. No matter how dark it seems, there is light on the way. Times of refreshing follow repentance. It’s not too late.

 

 From dusk to dawn and back, You trace,

 Faithful love, amazing grace.

 Breath of God, Ancient of Day’s,

 Here I am, hungering for Your ways.

 

Awake my heart, awake behold,

 “In the beginning,” mysteries unfold.

 Coming forth from Ancient of Day’s;

 Teach me Lord to know Your ways.

 

Poem written by Laurette Laster © 2017

 

 

Psalm 92:2

It is good to proclaim your loving kindness in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening.

During this season of Teshuvah we are being wooed to come back to our first love.

The Days of Awe………Day 4

Repentance has many sides and one of them is praise. We must consider who God is!
When we realize who is beckoning us, who it is that is drawing us to Him, we will be amazed at the wonder. When we realize God Almighty, Creator of the universe and creator of everything we see and touch knows our name, this is a definite game changer.

The wonder and awe of a God, who so loves us, that He would be saying, come up here, come to Me. I want to meet with you, I long to fellowship with you. These seasons, or appointed times are set in eternity. They come around in order that we may acknowledge who God is, and in acknowledging Him, we return to Him.

The 40 Days of Teshuvah are the time when Moses returned back up Mount Sinai. God proclaimed to Moses who He was. He proclaimed that as The Lord, Our Father, He is gracious, forgiving wickedness, sin and rebellion. Aren’t we grateful for this? Rebellion is said to be as the sin of witchcraft, “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king. (1 Samuel 15:23 KJV). Refusal to follow God’s commands can cost us everything.

Today if you are a recipient of the kindness of God, He is looking for ROI- Return on His Investment. It is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance.
Can there be good sorrow? The Bible tells of such sorrow.

2 Corinthians 7:10 describes this sorrow as, a godly sorrow that leads to repentance never to be repented of again, leading to salvation. I would say that is indeed a good sorrow.

NLT version- for the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There is no regret for this kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.

This sorrow and/or repentance produces 7 things:
1. Earnestness- ready to clear ourselves of the charges against us.

2. Concern to clear yourself- disgusted with the wrong we have done.
3. Indignation- afraid of reaping what we’ve shown.
4. Such alarm – because of our choices and actions.
5. A longing and a deep desire to see God- understanding that our sin hinders intimacy with God.
6. Zeal- willing to do whatever it takes.
7. A readiness to punish wrong or see justice done. Get on Gods side.

Then we know we have done everything necessary to make things right.

When we repent at this level we praise God for His mercy. We realize and have understanding and knowing we deserved judgment but instead we received God’s Amazing Grace and mercy because of His great love.
John 3:16 He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believed on Him would not perish but received everlasting life.

Brings this song to mind-

You are good-(He is only good)

Your kindness, leads me to repentance
Your goodness, draws me to Your side

Your mercy calls me to be like You
Your favor is my delight

Every day, I’ll awaken my praise
and pour out a song from my heart

Chorus – You are good, You are good, You are good,

And Your mercy is forever
You are good, You are good, You are good,
and Your mercy is forever

It is the grace of God that leads us to repentance.

Have you praised today?
Return, Repent, Shuv, Teshuvah!

Let us pray.

Dear Heavenly Father. Growing up spiritually is hard work. I admit and confess that during my growing pains I have not praised You as I should. I know that as You stretch me to new lengths it is because You are preparing me to be propelled upwards into greater heights with You. Help me Lord to see every obstacle as an opportunity. I want to recognize and to learn Your ways Father. I do  not want to see them as a reason to complain and grumble. Lord Jesus, You humbled Yourself and went to the Cross for me, and if that was all there was, it would have been enough. I know that You have given me new life, and life more abundant. The abundance offered by You requires a work from me. Not work to receive salvation, but now working to grow and cultivate the new life You have gifted to me. I know that I am called to bear fruit worthy of repentance which is shown by my lifestyle. Oh Lord Jesus, how can I  thank You for investing in me? I bring my heart to You today as an offering. Amen

Out God is a gracious God, slow to anger! He’s a Good, Good Father, and we are loved. The beloved!

Don’t miss this season of Teshuvah it is my favorite time of the year.

God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you and give you Shalom.

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

 

The common theme of the 40 Days of Teshuvah which include the 10 Days of Awe are, Repentance, prayer, offerings, paying your vows, and decreeing. With the heart mankind believes unto righteousness and with mouth confession is made unto salvation. Why are we required to repent? Because we have each gone our own way and must return in humility and servitude. Jesus ministry revolves around repentance. Only in repentance do we see His plan for mankind.

Romans 10:9 CEV
So you will be saved, if you honestly say, “Jesus is Lord,” and if you believe with all your heart that God raised him from death.

Ephesians 1:7-8 AMP
In Him we have redemption [that is, our deliverance and salvation] through His blood, [which paid the penalty for our sin and resulted in] the forgiveness and complete pardon of our sin, in accordance with the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and understanding [with practical insight].

Repentance Poem of Salvation

Ask and you shall receive the gift of grace.
From the Grace series.

© all rights of poetry and writings reserved and copyrighted by laurette laster

I need to repent
But how do I say?
Oh those awful
Dreadful ways.

The things I’ve done
I’m sorry for sure,
But now to tell Jesus,
The One so pure.

What will He do,
How will He respond?
When I confess
where I come from.

Oh Jesus You knew,
because You had to share.
When I made my bed in hell-
You were also there.

Oh How I grieve
For what I’ve done
Forgive me Lord,
Please don’t shun.

I can make it up
I’ll make this right.
You won’t regret
when you see me fight.

What’s that you say?
It is Only by grace
Not by might is it found
Only when I Seek Your Face.

I don’t know how,
I sure don’t deserve this.
You knew I’d feel that way,
I’ve been so remiss.

Poured out from Your heart
Of compassion for me,
Gift to the sinner
Who longs to be free.

Yes I am a sinner
Show me how to repent
What must I do?
These old ways to relent?

Oh Lord please forgive me
For I didn’t know,
The depth of depravity
My sin could go.

Dear Lord Jesus
I am returning  to You
I want to start over,
and be made new

I call on Your Name,
I am a sinner I confess,
I hand over to You,
My life is a mess.

I receive From You,
Peace and love
According to Your word,
I’m born from above.

I give you my heart,
this one made of stone
I receive my new heart,
That You now own.

Salvations been waiting
For me to receive
Thank You Lord Jesus,
I return and  believe.

I’ve confessed With my mouth
Help me believe In my heart
thank You, thank You,
Thank You Jesus, for a brand new start.

Poem written by laurette laster  © 2018 February

2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up; thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles. Then shalt thou layup gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks. Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defense, and thou shalt have plenty of silver. For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God. Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows. Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.”  (Job 22:23-28 KJV)

The above list of specific tasks is common during to the Days of Awe. Yom Teruah is a time of repentance followed by a season of prayer, offerings and paying of vows also accompany this time of repentance and finally decisions are sealed on the Day of Atonement. This is our redemption and Salvation by the precious blood of our Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus went behind the veil with His blood to atone for our sins. Our sins are not only atoned, we have remission of sin by Jesus sinless perfect blood given for us.

All of the points we see in scripture fits perfectly with the tasks Job is told perform. Notice that all of these points, repentance, and prayer, giving offerings and making decrees are a common theme and are common to the Days of Awe.

This season is a time to prepare ourselves that we may be found worthy during the Day of Judgment. It is also customary to warn others of the need to prepare themselves during this time and season of repentance. This has been the purpose for my writing these devotionals every day. It is I believe more relevant today that ever before to warn others of the truth.

It is becoming more common to serve a watered down, feel good, storytelling gospel and leave out the desire and the need for souls to be saved. Have we reached the time the apostle Paul spoke of to Timothy?

“A time will come when people will not listen to accurate teachings. Instead, they will follow their own desires and surround themselves with teachers who tell them what they want to hear.” (2 Timothy 4:3 GWT)

I proclaim that the Season of Teshuvah is valid. This is not something God used to do and has no need of now. Should we not realize and consider that our Eternal Father is not a launch and leave God. What He starts He finishes. I find more and more that these seasons are indeed as important if not more important than at the beginning. When a tree goes through seasons it is becoming mature. In becoming mature it is becoming more fruitful. In becoming more fruitful it feeds many. During a fruit trees first three years it normally does not bear fruit. If the tree does bear fruit it is recommended to not harvest the fruit but to pull it off shortly after in blooms. This is so that it will produce more mature fruit in upcoming seasons.

So I say, seasons come and seasons go but with The Lord we continue on to know.

It is necessary to repent before forgiveness can be received. How can we expect to be forgiven and our offerings accepted if we do not realize and return to God and His way?

We know that forgiveness is waiting on an account for sinners because scripture tells us, Jesus died while we were yet sinners. Do you need to activate your account? The Lord has added this to our account long before we knew we were heirs.

It is activated only by faith and by the grace of God. Then we must meet Him and as an act of our will we TURN away from sin and then repentance follows. Remove iniquity for from you house.

These are God’s mo’eds, His mo’edim’s, His holy convocations, His festivals. When The Lord God instructed Moses how and when the feasts were to be observed it was before He gave the law on Mount Sinai. These Feasts or Festivals are rehearsals. These are special appointments with our Heavenly Father.

“The time has come, Jesus said. The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news.” (Matthew 4:17)

We are sealed until the day of redemption of all things, when we return to God, through Jesus atoning work.

We are fast approaching and looking unto the Day of Atonement. At-One-Ment- Atonement. It is good news, it is very good news, it is The Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Don’t miss this season of 40 Days of Teshuvah and The Days of Awe. It doesn’t get any better than this on earth.  Teshuvah is my favorite time of the year.

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

 

Wake Up, Wake Up!

Do you not see?

It is within your grasp 

TO REINSTATE ME!

Poem below in entirety- see definition of grasp below also.

Is the attack on the church? Or is the attack on the Cross and the only name given in heaven by which men may be saved, – even Jesus?

We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Without Him we are destitute.

(Yesterday I was out running errands when I saw this. I had to pull over and take a picture. I did not have my camera so the best I could do was use my phone camera. Is this a prophetic picture and a warning for us at this time? I was immediately  sickened by this site. A vulture hovering over the Cross on this church. Didn’t our Lord speak to us concerning the blowing of the trumpet and vultures in the same teaching? Yes He did in  Matthew 24 entire chapter. Vultures do not kill, they only come to feed on and eat what is dead. Jesus is speaking of signs to watch for this chapter and the feast of Trumpets is pictured. Is this a warning for us, The Church, the ecclesia, the called out ones to be warned that satan is attempting to destroy the truth of Cross? Their is no remission of sins without the shedding of blood, and we are washed clean and given robes of white because we are washed by the blood of Jesus. We are the redeemed. I am so concerned when I hear teachings that sin isn’t going to be judged. Please speak the truth and snatch others from the fire.) I say not on my watch.

 

Nothing can come from the ground without first developing roots. What is planted must die and then develop roots that  grow down before it can spring up. Repentance is dying to self and self righteousness and then returning to God and His ways.

Repent then and turn to God, so that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord and that he may send the Messiah who has been appointed for you-Jesus.

JER USA LEM. I testify and I prophesy that our great nation, The United States of America is in the heart of God’s eternal plan. I know that our Heavenly Father, God, is The God of our Border’s and I know that God’s Spirit dwells in the United States of America. I know and I am certain of this.

Some facts you can look up and know the answers to that will help you understand and see the plans that were made before we came into being a Nation. When did Spain expel the Jews? When did Christopher Columbus discover the America’s? What was the driving force behind Christopher Columbus’s continuing voyages? The answer to these questions may help you discover our roots as a Nation.

Teshuvah is a season to wake up, to repent and to strengthen what remains. Have you considered that the gospel of Jesus Christ is preached to the whole earth from The United States of America? Can you picture a fountain gushing up and out from the United States of America and watering the whole earth? Streams of living water shall flow out of your belly. Close your eyes and picture a massive gusher of water flowing up out of the earth and watering every nation. Picture streams of living water gushing from the United States of America, like a fountain pouring over and watering the entire earth.

Our Jewish brothers and sisters are and have remained the time keepers; I thank God that ‘The Law’ was  entrusted to them. Had our Jewish brothers and sisters not obeyed God and His commands that were given to Moses on Mount Sinai, where would we be? We would be lost and wouldn’t have any idea where we are prophetically in God’s day timer. Because God entrusted HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE with keeping HIS LAWS, we in the United States of America now are entrusted to preach THE GOSPEL of JESUS CHRIST to the entire world. The church does not replace The Jewish Nation. It never has and it never will. The two shall become one new mankind. The Jew and the Gentile. How much plainer does it get?

During Teshuvah we are reminded to pray, repent, and intercede for our great Nation, The United States of America. Today there is division in our land, more than has ever been in my lifetime.

When Moses went back up to meet with God on Mount Sinai it was to intercede for the Nation of Israel. We see that the plan of God, that was began by bringing His people out, has had an eternal purpose from the beginning. We know that after Pentecost salvation came to the Gentiles. What was considered unclean now grafted in. We see and are allowed a front row seat into our Father’s eternal plan. Let us make mankind in our image and likeness. Unity, purpose, and promise. Do we not see into this plan more clearly when we fast forward to the book of Revelation? We have our Lord Jesus speaking to the churches. Our Lord is saying and warning His churches, wake up, repent, and strengthen what remains. Jesus is telling us, the redeemed, those dressed in white, will walk with Him and their names will be in the book of life. Jesus saying, “I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life.” (Revelation 3:5). Do you remember Moses telling God, if You are going to blot their name out take my name out also.

It was your name too. If you are a born again, Jesus Christ believer your name was there too. It is your family too. It is your nation too.

I thought about today September 11, 2001 at the beginning of Teshuvah. I saw that 9/11 would be during the Ten Days of Awe. The Ten Days of Awe are when the books are said to be opened for God to see the fruit of our labors.

WAKE UP! Oh Church I am sounding the alarm. We must wake up, be awake and vigilant, for our enemy is roaming around to see who he can devour. The sound of the shofar blast is not to wake the world up, it is sounded to wake The Church up. The real church. What is the real church? It is the church that still preaches the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ and why our Lord was crucified and willing laid down His life. It is for the remission of sins.

SPEAK UP! When they saw the courage of Peter and John, they were astonished that they were ordinary men. They took note and knew these men had been with Jesus.

“For their is no other name under heaven by which mankind can be saved. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 Sin is not ok with God. God will judge sin. Our Heavenly Father has made a way of escape so that when judgment day comes and it will come, His people will not be anywhere near sin.

GET UP! Are we awake? I believe we are waking up. I am awake. I feel a call to wake up others. We must be wide awake and standing our watch. Are you standing your watch?

Revelation 3

To the church at Sardis, I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. Remember therefore what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. (Revelation 3:2-5).

Today we need more than ever to hold the standard of God and not be a wishy washy, weak and wimpy group of “believers”, only then afraid to say we do not know what we believe. We are either gathering with Jesus or read the scripture. We cannot worry about offending people. It is The Cross of Jesus Christ that will offend them. Jesus said if they hate Me they will hate you. I don’t think it gets any clearer. For us to attempt to serve a watered down gospel is being a lukewarm church. We know what Jesus said to tell the church in Laodicea. You are neither hot nor cold; I wish you were either one or the other! So because you are lukewarm I am going to spew you out of My mouth. (Revelation 3:16-17

 

 

Wake Up, Wake Up!

Do you not see?

It is within your grasp

TO REINSTATE ME!

 

Be specific when you ask,

Be direct in your speech,

Be vigilant and forthright

Bold when you teach!

 

Know My ways and My truths,

Never present Me miserly;

Freely I gave to you all I had,

My Best poured out entirely.

 

I sent My only Son,

To teach you about My ways.

In order that your understanding,

could grow in the coming days.

 

Stop begging Me for power,

To save your nation and land,

I’ve given you what you need,

SPEAK UP-show Me your plan.

 

SPEAK UP SPEAK UP!

Do you not see?

It is within your grasp

SPEAK UP, TO REINSTATE ME!

 

What will you do to engage

Your neighborhood and city?

With all I have poured out,

Failure to utilize My power, would be a pity!

 

You are not helpless or alone

Not forgotten or in despair

If I weren’t for you America…..

Isn’t it obvious I have you in My care?

 

You would’ve been destroyed

If not for My Hand of protection

You would’ve lost more than towers,

Had I not covered you in My affection.

 

GET UP, GET UP!

Do you not see?

It is within your grasp

GET UP TO REINSTATE ME!

 

I gave My best

I have given My all

GET UP, GET UP!

That is My call!

 

It’s urgent, it is time

Today is the day

Church ask Me for wisdom

I will not delay!

 

Poem written under inspiration of Holy Spirit by laurette laster.

2018 May ©  # 1-684962241

Grasp. verb\ˈgraspintransitive verb

: to make the motion of seizing : clutchgrasping for support

transitive verb

1: to take or seize eagerly grasp the opportunity for advancement

2: to clasp or embrace especially with the fingers or arms grasped the pen and began writing

****3: to lay hold of with the mind :comprehend failed to grasp the danger of the situation

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3:10, 12, 20‬ -21 ESV‬‬

so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,”

“to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you and give you Shalom.

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

‭‭

Teshuvah is the season of our repentance. This is the time to return to a very real and completely genuine relationship with our first love, Jesus Christ and His body. Jesus told the church in Ephesus to repent. Jesus began His earthly ministry with repent, and continued the message after His resurrection, speaking then to His churches. Repent, wake up Church, we must be about our Father’s business.

 This is a picture of our Rosh Hashanah celebration in 2016. The fruit in the cornucopia is real. Today I am baking the Challah bread because I couldn’t find any to purchase locally. There is said to be a blessing on the home that bakes the Challah. Today at bible study we will celebrate this holiday just as our Jewish brothers and sisters celebrate. We are grafted in. Thank You Jesus because of You we are heirs to the promise.

Days of Awe

Be open my heart to

God’s perfect law

During this season

Ten Day’s of Awe

Written and stamped

before my face

I’m returning To you

back I trace
In meditation I consider

all You have done

From beginning to end

rising of the sun

A time of dancing

and a time to shout

The Lord renown

is calling out
Blow the shofar

it is My decree

And I’ll remember

you’re calling for Me

Come now, come quickly

the way is open

invitation spoken

of loves pure devotion

This time is sacred

and set is the course

Repent and return,

finished regret and remorse

For only pure hearts

My people do know

Is to them the climb

I can bestow
My face and new heights

will come into view

When onward then upward

you push on and continue.

Laurette Laster © 2017

Numbers 10:9 NLT
““When you arrive in your own land and go to war against your enemies who attack you, sound the alarm with the trumpets.
Then the Lord your God will remember you and rescue you from your enemies.”

Psalms 24:4-5 NLT
“Who may climb the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place?”
“Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies. They will receive the Lord’s blessing and have a right relationship with God their savior.”

I’d like to share a few facts about Yom Teruah, Rosh Hashanah, and The festival of the Blowing of the Shofar, and the upcoming Feast of Ingathering or Sukkot which is the feast of Tabernacles.

Did you know that the Horn of Plenty or Cornucopia that is a traditional scene of the Thanksgiving holiday and harvest time in the United States of America is actually from the Feast of Trumpets? Well it is. When the puritans came over to the new world, the Americas, they had suffered terribly the first winter. Many, almost half that had arrived, starved or froze to death. They didn’t come prepared for the harsh elements they were to endure. They arrived at the beginning of winter without time to build suitable shelter and had to live on the ship to survive. They did not have ample food or rations. They didn’t have the knowledge of planting so therefore lacked the necessary skills of survival needed. But they did not lack the desire to serve God and Him only.

While the meaning of Thanksgiving has changed over its history, the reason of being thankful for something or to someone has not changed. The United States of America is said to be another Israel. The puritans felt like they were making a journey out of bondage and coming into the promised land.

The cornucopia is a picture of the trumpet, the ram’s horn, or the shofar. This is also a picture of the sacrifice God provided as Abraham was about to sacrifice Isaac. “And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.” (Genesis 22:13 KJV).

The Feast of Tabernacles is the Feast of Ingathering and what we model our traditional Thanksgiving Celebration after. We call this season Harvest Time. The Puritans actually modeled this at the first season of their bountiful harvest. We know that the Native Indians helped to teach them how to farm and plant crops for future grain and food. Thisis what insured their survival. There are many stories and debates concerning the first Thanksgiving in the Americas but we do know that they were thanking God for a bountiful harvest.

Jesus is our sacrifice. He is the lamb that God provided for us. Abraham shows that he feared God and wouldn’t withhold his son thus opening the door for salvation. “And if you belong to Christ, then you are indeed true descendants of Abraham, and are heirs in fulfillment of the promise. (Galatians 3:29).

When you realize all that God has in store for you, you will repent and return to Him with your whole heart. God has made a way for us to be His fulfillment. We are to be the fruit in His Horn, the horn of salvation that adorns His alter.

Today is the day of the blowing of the Shofar, Yom Teruah. This is our alarm. The alarm that is calling God’s people to wake up, rise up and show up. Return today and you will reap a bountiful harvest of blessings. You then will be more thankful and grateful than you could ever imagine.

To the angel of the church at Ephesus Jesus gave the command to repent saying, But I have this against you: You have abandoned your first love. Therefore, keep in mind how far you have fallen. Repent and perform the deeds you did at first. But if you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place…(Revelation 2:4-5).

We do not want to be found abandoning our first love. Jesus is calling all of His people into a deeper more meaningful relationship. A time of intimacy with our Lord what could be more satisfying. He is the lover and restorer of our souls.

Let us pray.

Dear Heavenly Father, if there is any sin hindering my relationship with Your son and my Lord Jesus Christ I repent right now. Show me Father; teach me to recognize distractions by the enemy that are vying for my time. I want my heart to be good ground where Your word grows into a bountiful harvest. Lord Jesus if I am putting anything before You, show me. I want to return to You, my first love and my true love. Jesus are the restorer of my soul. I give all I am to You. Amen

God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you and give you Shalom.

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

Blow the Trumpet in Zion sound the alarm on my holy mountain. Blow the Trumpet in Zion, Zion, Sound the Alarm.

A Special Season to prepare (turn) Shuv, clean out old crops out of our Hearts in order to hear what The Spirit is saying. Are your fields plowed under? Have you gotten rid of all the dead works? Have you willingly laid down what is not pleasing to God? This work is necessary so that you can become a fruit bearer. Or one who bears fruit.

This is the time of the year for the fruit harvest. When we do the work of repentance, season after season, we become mature. If we allow the word of God to work in our lives, it will cut out what is not of God. The word of God is alive and able to divide between thought and intent. Without allowing the word to come alive in our hearts we will be unable to produce the fruit of righteousness in our lives. If The Lord is the Lord of The Harvest, and we know He is, He will examine the fruit that He will allow to go to His consumer. Oh, man can feed and sale counterfeit fruit but it will not have the blessing of The Lord with it.

Have you produced fruit this past season? Have you gathered in the fruit of the field to present to the Master at the market? It is said during the Ten Days of Awe; The Lord opens the books and reviews our year. Before going into a new year it is not unusual for businesses to do a yearend review. This review of the work or performance of the company is to show and measure profit and loss. Why would we think it strange that God may want a yearend review and account of the fruit we are bringing to market? This is a picture of showing The Lord we have grown and cultivated the seed He has given us. Everything The Lord gives is for reproduction and transference. If we have done well The Lord will increase our yield and grant us more land or ground.

Can you picture a market owner? A man who owns a market looking over the fruit before he purchases it? The owner of the market is going to purchase wholesale so he can sell it retail. So the market owner would certainly examine the fruit before purchasing it. He would want to check the fruit, to see if it is a high quality, mature fruit. The market owner will only purchase fruit that is free from pest and disease. The market owner is only interested in fruit that is nourishing and healthy and appealing for his customers. The market owner only wants to sell fruit that will catch the eye of the consumer and get them to tell others who then will want to partake of the fruit.

Today at Sundown begins the feast of Trumpets or Rosh Hashanah. It is the Feast of Trumpets, or Rosh Hashanah Eve. Adjust your dials; you do not want to miss His Voice this season. Shuv-Turn, turn up the volume and turn on to the word of God, and tune your heart in.

When God calls us, it is required that we do something. When performing a hearing test on a person they are given a verbal command during a hearing test, and then they must follow/obey the command given, in order to show they heard the command. Obedience is more a measure of the heart than of following the command. There are those that do obey because of law and there are those who obey because they love the One giving the call. I obey because I love Him. I have a sincere desire to show The Lord my love and devotion for what He has done for me, by being a doer of His word.

God is longing to confirm His covenant with us. We must make the necessary adjustments and tune our ears to heaven. Every good and perfect gift comes down from heaven from the Father of Light.

For God is light, and in Him is no darkness.

.

For the eyes Of The Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, looking to show Himself strong in behalf of those whose heart is perfect (TURNED) toward Him.

Teshuvah a special time to Shuv, to turn our hearts toward The Lord and to hear the calling of our Lord.

To Shuv is to turn. Repentance is more than a change of mind. It is a change so deep within us that we literally turn our lives toward God and begin to walk in the direction God desires. It is an intimate encounter with The Living, Loving God. An encounter that makes us say; what would you have me do, Lord?

We talked yesterday about knowing and acknowledging that God is sovereign and that He is the choreographer of His design. He is the Author, Designer, and Financer of His Stage. With this being said I pray this season of Teshuvah that is leading into The Ten Days of Awe, you can visualize dancing with the The Lord. By being in step with our Lord and allowing Him to lead this walk becomes a beautiful dance. This dance is a beautiful waltz and covenant dance that will last into eternity.

To truly repent to the core of your being, is a life altering, heart rending change. Are you ready?

Have you had a real encounter with Jehovah?

Let us pray.

Dear Heavenly Father. As the season of Rosh Hashanah is upon us I want a new year of walking closer with You. I want to be in step with You. I accept Your invitation to the dance floor, the dance of a new life hidden in Christ. Jesus I am yours. My desire is to grow up and mature and become a fruit bearer for the kingdom of God. I want others to see the fruit I have by abiding in The Vine, and then desire a relationship with You.

Teshuvah is my favorite time of the year.

God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you and give you Shalom.

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

The season of our repentance, Teshuvah.

 

Grace that does not change you, is counterfeit. If you have received a feeling that makes you comfortable with sin and in sin, it is not The GRACE of God. Grace that is of God is life changing and alters everything about you. It is the grace that gives you a born again spirit and you are granted inheritance as sons and daughters of God. The GRACE I am speaking of is the very grace that ushers you into change, repentance, and falling in love with The Redeemer of your soul.

Oh Sweet Season of Teshuvah

 

Oh sweet Teshuvah

Season to break up and  plow

Sweet season of Teshuvah

God’s appointed time of repentance is now

 

Sweet season of repentance

Time to look around

Time to dig in

Break up my fallow ground

 

Repentance is a commandment

Not a curt suggestion

Sin cannot be embraced

Accepted left unquestioned

 

Jesus is not ok

With even a hint of sexual immorality

The kingdom of God

Requires holiness in totality

 

Return and Teshuvah

With your whole heart

Repentance prepares the ground

For the planting a new crop

 

Oh when harvest is in veiw

And the fields indeed are white

Looks like repentance

Is holiness to the sight

 

The fields are white unto harvest

What did our Lord see

Righteousness as a picture of purity

Was it repentant souls He did mean

 

So repent and Pray for revival

Weep and intercede

For we shall come rejoicing

Bringing in the sheaves!

 

Baskets filled with fruit

Precious fruit of The Vine

Now I think we are getting it

Repentance is the beginning of time.

Poem written by laurette laster © 2018 September

 

God has appointed times and He has set seasons. Set them as, He has decided when the fullness of something has been reached. His appointed times and seasons are lasting ordinances according to Leviticus 23. The seasons that lead into our breaking up the fallow ground of our hearts has been leading us to this very season. There are times of favor and set seasons and a time for us to repent. If seasons were not important to God and to understanding the kingdom of heaven why are they needed? Were they not created to teach us about kingdom principals, and the stages of maturity? If this were not true, God would not have made seasons a lasting ordinance. We know because of the Cross, of Jesus Christ, the gates of salvation are open to all who call upon His name, Today. We can make a change anytime, right? Slow down, maybe we shouldn’t be so quick with this argument. Now is the season of God’s favor, the grace of God has appeared to all men we read in the book of Titus, it is  grace that grants us the ability to repent. However this grace that is spoken of in the book of Titus is the grace that teaches us and instructs us. What is the instruction that comes with this grace? This grace is to renounce ungodly lifestyles and to live sensible upright godly lives in this present age. Grace is never to overlook or embrace sin. I pray you realize this. God knows the condition of our heart. I pray you also are sharing this truth with others.

I am so concerned with sloppy agape and greasy grace messages that are pouring forth. Jesus died for sinners; God loves sinners so much that He made a way of escape by sending His only begotten Son to die for sinners. You and me. God is not alright with His children being deceived and living perverse lifestyles. Yes, I know all about The Good News. I am a grateful changed recipient of The Good News, and a born again believer because of The Good News. Yes, I know my Savior Jesus Christ. I know Him!! But I also know the cost of His life given for sinners, that they would come to repentance and desire to come out of sin. Jesus death, burial, and resurrection, had nothing to do with defending sin or sinful lifestyles. It certainly wasn’t necessary for sin to be embraced. We are born into sin, that is why we must be born again.

We can be sure God is going to judge sin. God does not want to judge people, He will judge sin. Grace is poured out so that you will be not be bound or ensnared with whatever sin has you, when judgment day comes. We should not be deceived, whatever a man soweth that also shall he reap. Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return. The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.… Don’t be misled–you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Galatians 6:7-8 (NLT, KJV, BSB) Eternal life is from The Spirit. Eternal life is real.

Early on in my Teshuvah writings I quoted A.W. Tozer saying that the old church used to pray for the gift of tears. To pray for the gift of tears is to have sin break our hearts. To see someone lost and totally deceived should give us the desire to snatch them out of hell’s fire. The affects of sin and the willingness to embrace sin breaks my heart. But this behavior also breaks our Father’s heart, especially if the believers are not actively trying to snatch the deceived out of the fire.

Twice the past week I have heard stories of Jesus being ok with perversion and one person actually said, they thought Jesus was rejoicing in heaven because a foreign country legalized perversion.

I can promise anyone who is readying this right now, Jesus is not rejoicing at any perversion. The truth is we cannot make a law to stop sin, and we cannot repair the human soul that is being ravaged by sin, by simply creating and passing laws that state sinful lifestyles are acceptable.

I was so upset by this that as I prayed I did receive the gift of tears. Dear God how have we allowed this to happen. Why did I have the gift of tears? Because if this is true and the persons saying these things truly believe it, they have been turned over. If there heart does not convict them of sin, the bible says they are illegitimate. “God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline and conviction of sin in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:7-11 ESV)

I am crying out and interceding and praying for the salvation of  lost souls. I repent for our forefathers who didn’t see the depth of degradation that was headed our way when they didn’t defend our walls.

God is LOVE. The God kind of Love (Agape), is higher than human emotions and feelings, His love is purer than fleshly desire. This agape  love of God is protective and profound. God is the designer and the choreographer of this performance. So in saying that we must accept that God is Sovereign, God does not change. Culture may change; laws may change due to walking away from God and His ways, but God Does Not Change. The purest form of love is discipline. We have marching orders and God has made His ways clear. In order to have a real and honest relationship with our Father we must know his word.

When I was young and ignorant my mother didn’t let me run amuck because I thought it felt good. No, and thank heavens she didn’t. I am so grateful that she had standards. Yes I broke the standards, but I sure did not do it while she was watching and I never mocked her, especially  to her face. We do not need anyone to help us sin our way to hell. Our flesh is leading us there. We are well able in our flesh to make sinful decisions. I made enough mistakes and sinned all by myself.

I am interceding for the revival of the human soul. There are twenty eight stanzas to Ecclesiastes chapter 3, and I believe prophetically we are in the second half of verse three. A time to down and a time to build up. We must break down the lies of personal choice-” if it feels good do it.” Theses lies have led others to become desensitized to sin.

As a church and as His body and the Bride of Christ, we should turn and return do Teshuvah and to weep before our King and ask to repair the walls. The walls are in ruin and I am heartbroken over the condition of some of our young people. I cry out for the walls around our souls and the souls of our young people to be built up. We must intercede for the ones who haven’t heard the real grace message.

 

There is a time for everything under Heaven. A season for every purpose. This is the season of Repentance, returning and doing deep introspection of our souls. The plowing needed is to uproot lies and prepare our fields for the planting of The Lord. Break up the fallow ground of our heart in order to have a closer more intimate relationship with our Father. I pray nothing hinders our relationship with God, in Christ Jesus. I pray God is pouring out over us, the anointing that breaks yokes off of people’s lives. I want to see people set free to become who God says they are.

Acts 3:19
New International Version
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NKJV
“To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die;
A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted;
A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up;
A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away;
A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak;
A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace.”

Do you know what time it is? It is time for the church to build up!!

Let us pray

Dear Heavenly Father, I come before You today to say thank You for Your grace. It is Your perfect loving grace that leads a person to repent. Lord at this time, a time to tear down and a time to build up, I pray Your perfect grace pour into the lives of Your people. May each of them see and recognize the open windows of heaven over their lives. May they see, and in seeing, stop and return to You with their whole heart. Oh God I cry out for the revival of souls. Lord Jesus, I pray that minds, wills and emotions be brought into right alignment with Your will. I pray that blinded spiritual eyes be opened, and for ears to hear what Your Spirit is saying during this hour to the church. Help us Lord to take The Good News to those You are speaking to. I pray they repent and be changed. Amen

Don’t miss this season of Teshuvah; The Lord is calling us to bring our whole heart and to come away with Him. There is a promise for us and our household included when we repent and return.
Teshuvah is my favorite time of the year.

God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you and give you Shalom!

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

 

Today I keep hearing the phrase can you dig it. Can you take the sharp word of God and dig up your fallow ground?

Oh sweet season and time to plow, Teshuvah is my favorite season and it is now. Excerpt from tomorrows poem 🙂

• see below

God will supply everything

That you need

He’ll give you a harvest if

You’ll plant the seed

The seed may be large, or

The seed may be small,

What is sown in the spring

May be reaped in the fall

Whatever you sow is

What you shall reap

Each seed has a life and a law

It must keep

So target with care the seeds

That you sow

Your life will be known by

The crops that you grow

disclaimer* I did not write this poem, the author is unknown to me, If you know the author of this poem please share with me. Greg saw this on a plaque last year and shared it with me. I thought it was fitting for todays writing so I added it.

“Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers righteousness on you.” (Hosea 10:12) Read Hosea chapter 10.

If you will return, O Israel, return to Me. Break up your unplowed ground and do not sow among thorns. Circumcise yourselves to the Lord; circumcise your hearts, you men of Judah and people of Jerusalem….” (Jeremiah 4:1, 3)

The above scriptures have a common phrase, “Break up your fallow or unplowed ground.” Just what does it mean for me and you to do that? If we read and apply these scriptures we understand that we are to the work of breaking up the fallow ground.

Strong’s Concordance nir or nir. 5215a, 5215b. nir or nir. 5216. Tillable, untilled, or fallow
ground. Transliteration: nir or nir Short Definition: ground. …

Till you the untilled ground (figurative of unaccustomed moral action); construct only רָבאֹֿכֶל נִיר רָאשִׁים

The phrase “unplowed ground” (NIV) or “fallow ground” (KJV, NRSV) is the Hebrew noun nîr, “the tillable, and the untilled, or fallow ground.” It is land that could be productive, but for whatever reason is neglected, untended or unplowed. This is a description of a field that is not tilled, plowed, and prepared for planting. In these scriptures we are privileged to have a front row seat and to hear the prophets and we witness their speaking the Word of the Lord. The prophets are not merely suggesting, or sort of instructing, no they are commanding the people to break up that land — spiritually! The people are commanded to get to work and to plow the plow able land that they have.

Each prophet observes two things about fallow ground: Fallow ground, unplowed, unprepared soil is unusable for any serious crop. God speaks to us that we must “break up” our fallow ground so that it is usable.

Fallow Ground definition in Strong’s Concordance is ground that is unusable due to neglect, and ground that is unused!

Fallow ground is unused ground. You may have many areas of your life surrendered to God and under cultivation for a crop of righteousness and the fruit of the Spirit. But perhaps we should look a little deeper and check to see if there is a parcel of ground, or a part of our life — that we haven’t surrendered to The Lord. Are there some areas that you never got around to cultivating, to planting, and therefore never had to worry about harvesting? It’s there but it’s unusable due to neglect. Perhaps you’ve put off plowing this particular piece of land (area) because it’s too difficult or too painful. Perhaps you can’t imagine that The Lord is calling you to be a fruit bearer and grower, and can’t imagine the fruit and grain that can grow there so you’ve never bothered. Where there is no vision the people cast off restraint, the people perish, A nation without God’s guidance is a nation without order. (Proverbs 29:18) (NIV, GNT, KJV)

Do you believe you are disqualified because of past sin? Maybe you do not realize the Lord wants your heart. The Lord does not want to hold your sins against you. He made a way through The Cross of Christ that we can repent and be born again. You have to allow the plow of His word and truth to enter your heart and turn under (reprove) that old stuff.

The word of God is alive and sharp and will break up the fallow ground of your heart. See Hebrews 4:12, the word divides, digs deep. Can you visualize the disc’s of a large plow digging into and cutting deep into the ground? Yes the plow of truth may be painful at first but oh when harvest time comes, and we bear the fruit of righteousness…… when righteousness rains down, how sweet it is. When you decide to work till the ground, your heart then becomes good ground, usable ground, and fruitful ground for the kingdom of God. Ground that by following His commandments He can shower righteousness down on.

This is exactly what this season of Teshuvah and the season of our repentance are for. It is an appointed time for us to work our ground. It is a time and a season to repent and agree with the word of God and no longer have areas of your lives untended or uncultivated. The parable of the Sower we talked about yesterday, Jesus instructs us what unusable ground looks like. You cannot be shallow or allow the cares of the world to choke out the words of Jesus and His ways and expect to handle the responsibility of the harvest.

But God is the great Vinedresser. If you’ll break up the additional fallow ground in your life, he will extend and enlarge your fruitfulness. I do not want to have any fallow ground in my heart. How about you?

Elul is fast drawing to an end and the Hebrew month of Tishri is right around the corner. This is the beginning of the “Days of Awe.” Tishri is the beginning of a new year in Jewish agricultural terms. I am going to allow The Sower to sow good seed and I am going to watch so that the wicked one does not deceive me.

“The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies lacks sense.” (Proverbs 12:11)

Let us pray

Dear Heavenly Father. I have neglected my field and my ground. I have reserved an area and kept it hidden away. I thought it would go unnoticed, I now realize You want all of my heart. It is with my whole heart I am to return to You. I have areas that are not plowed up and turned under. Lord I need Your grace and Your help to break up my fallow ground. I know Your are calling me to address and plow all of field. Your desire is made know at the level ground of the Cross. You and I are only joined at the Cross of Jesus Christ. The Cross is the place where all of my sins can be forgiven. I know the Cross of Jesus Christ is level ground, there is no sin too small nor is the a sin too large. I know that my sin (s) is not what is disqualifying me, it is my refusal to identify my actions as sin and then  bring them before You. It doesn’t matter what the world allows and says is alright I have Your truth written in my mind and I know this is sin. It  is what disqualifies me from receiving the kingdom of God in my heart. Today I repent and bring before You_______________. I do not want to drag this around another season in my life. Oh Lord Jesus shower me, shower down righteousness on me. I long to be fruitful ground.  Amen

God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you and give you Shalom.

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

By faith I go

By faith I can

Yes I will

I’ll follow Your plan

The Hebrew month of Elul is quickly coming to a close. The season of our Repentance should be producing a field ready to sow. What do you want next years harvest to produce? Plowing, planting and waiting on harvest is very hard work. If you are being stretched, The Lord may be preparing you. He may actually be strengthening you. Harvest is not a season for the faint hearted. Jesus said , “The Sower sowed the word.” In Hebrew that literally is “God decreed a thing.” I want my field and my heart to be good ground and produce a harvest, some thirty, some sixty some one hundred fold. What size harvest are we preparing for?

His Plan

Because I know

You beckon me

I will come away

Return to see

 

Fear on the inside

Muffles a scream

What if I can’t

Is this just a dream?

 

Then I remember

Straighten to steady myself

It is in You alone scripture says

My soul finds rest

 

If I don’t follow

How will I grow

I’ll push in and continue

And study to show

 

Lord order my steps

Delightful way

I’ll let go and trust

Yes, simply believe today

 

By faith I go

By faith I can

Yes I will

I’ll follow Your plan

 

 

Poem written by laurette laster © 2017

Psalm 62:5 (NLT)

Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in Him.

Psalm 37:23 (NLT)

The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.

 

Poem by Laurette Laster © 2017

A few years ago Greg and I went to Circle N Diary, for some fresh milk. On our way we noticed several plowed fields. I turned to Greg and said; “Remember how The Lord showed us, referring to the plowed field,  this is a perfect picture of the season of repentance? This plowing of the fields shows us how to do the work for preparing our hearts during Teshuvah.” The season of Teshuvah is leading into Yom Teruah or Day of Shouting, also known as Rosh Hashanah, and then to Yom Kippur. We reminisced about a few years ago at this same time when Greg was working in Celina TX. By visiting and returning to rural areas, we are reminded of process and the importance of process.

 

In our quick fix, microwave societies many people may not understand the concept of ‘process’. Seedtime and harvest are the measurable process in the kingdom of God. Today we may be led to think more along the lines of keep the seed-just give me my drive through harvest. Without the process of seed and time there is no Harvest. God doesn’t skip important steps nor does He allow us to. If we were allowed to skip over this process we would not be able to relate to The Sower. If we skip the ‘seedtime’ step it will eliminate and nullify the entire process.

 

Plowing is very hard work. Often in Christianity and as Christians we get so excited about reaping a harvest that we forget the hard work and the nourishment and rest required to bring in the harvest. I have a few fond memories from years ago that I believe will describe the hard work of  harvest time.

From the time I was five until I turned twenty two, my mother owned and operated her own restaurant. Our family worked at the restaurant on and off throughout our lives. In late summer one year when I was about seven, my brother, got a job hauling hay. This was before the invention of round balers and the large road bale trailers. This was during the time when workers literally bent over and picked the bale up off the ground, and tossed the bales onto the trailer. The bales typically weighed between fifty to one hundred pounds. This was a job that got you fit and strong for sure. There would be workers on the trailer responsible for stacking the hay. When the trailer was stacked high and wide all the workers accompanied the full trailer to the barn. Then the process was repeated in the opposite order. The bales would tossed off the trailer where other workers would then begin to stack the bales in the barn. From the beginning with cutting, to drying, to baling and then the  hauling and stacking  the hay in the barn were all crucial stages of the hay harvest. Once they were baled getting them out of the field and into the barn needed to happen quickly. You sure didn’t want it to rain on your baled hay. The workers were paid by the bale, so the quicker the job was done the sooner they had cash in their pockets. Farmers wanted workers who he could count on to work quickly.

When hay hauling season started, my brother and another worker would come to the restaurant for breakfast each morning before going to the hay field. I remember as a little girl watching them eat. My grandmother was the cook this particular summer at my moms restaurant, so see would “make sure those boys were fed good.” When my brother and the other hay haulers began for the day,  they didn’t eat again until the work day was over. So eat they did, for sure. My brother’s breakfast consisted of about eight slices of bacon, six fried eggs, a large mound of  hash browns and six to eight pieces of buttered and jellied toast. I ask him one time. how can you eat all that? He replied, “Hauling hay is hard work and we will not eat again until late tonight.” I know he was telling me the truth because I actually helped in the hay field one summer while in high school. Harvest in hard work.

Repentance is cleansing our souls and preparing our hearts for a large harvest that is pleasing to God. We are breaking up fallow ground in order to plow and thus uproot any dead or useless roots. When we see a plowed field we know it is time to sow the field. We can trust the knowledge of the farmer, because he is investing his time and is financially responsible for the field. We can trust that agriculturally it is time to replant the field. Timing is everything. We know a prudent farmer knows when it is time to sow seeds for a new harvest.

Even if we produced and reaped a good crop last year, we still must prepare and ready our field (heart) for this seasons planting.

Rosh Hashanah is known as head of the year in the agricultural season. This day it is said is the day the books in heaven are opened and examined. God takes out the books to read and makes decisions concerning our destiny for the upcoming year. Our reward for the coming year based on last year’s crop, success or failures. It is believed during the Ten Days of Awe we can do charity and change the results of last year before He closes the books and seals our destiny for the upcoming twelve months. We understand that in Christ we are forgiven but that does not eliminate reaping what has been sown. Bad seed, bad harvest. I pray we plow under any crop failures and useless foliage that is taking up space in our field and receive new seeds and plant for new and exciting harvests.

I pray this past year has yielded a great fruit harvest. As we prepare for Rosh Hashanah and the Feast of Ingathering we need fruit. What will be in gathering if there hasn’t been a bountiful harvest? Many of our holiday traditions in the United States of America come from the Fall Feast of God. We will be looking at these soon.

 

So let’s explore this a little more deeply. Teshuvah m’ahavah, turning from love of – what?

——————–

Rabbi Toba Spitzer

What did we turn away from?  In the traditional commentaries, the answer is: love of God. In this understanding, sins are those things which estrange us from the sacred, which create a sense of alienation from that which is Ultimate and good. We become estranged from our own Godly nature, and from our divine Source. We experience a kind of hunger in our souls, a profound sense of spiritual alienation and distance from the divine. Teshuvah from love is motivated by that hunger and that thirst, a yearning for intimacy with God. As the great medieval philosopher and rabbi, Maimonides, wrote in his Mishneh Torah:

“Teshuvah is great because it brings a person close to the Shekhina, to God’s Presence in the world…Teshuvah brings close those who are far off.” (Hilchot Teshuvah 7:6)

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Don’t miss the season of Teshuvah.

Teshuvah is truly my favorite time of the year.

Once a field has been plowed and planted with new seed, this freshly planted field hungers and thirsts to be watered. So it is with us!

Let us pray

Dear Heavenly Father, I now understand this unquenchable thirst and this hunger is from You and is Your doing. I realize this is You drawing me to You. This yearning to uproot the things of the world and get them away from me and to plant truth is from You. It is Your pure love for me allowing me to sense and know a change is near. As I have been uprooting dead works and preparing my heart during this season of Teshuvah, I realize it is time to think about future crops. Show me Lord what You have for me. I want to plant what You desire, show me what pleases You, Lord Jesus. I want a hunger and thirst that only You can satisfy. I turn away from ‘diet drinks and sugary sweet drinks, empty calories’ so I will crave only living water. I realize the things of the world only leave me empty and wanting more. Jesus I want living water so that I never thirst again. A water that is available through relationship only. No more religion Jesus, I want a real and lasting relationship with You.  I desire a genuine relationship that will cause others to hunger and thirst for You. Show me Your glory. Amen.

 

God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you and give you Shalom.

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