Category: Blog

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

“Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to The LORD your God, for He is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish.

Welcome to Teshuvah

 

Teshuvah

Repent confess

And start anew

With vows of peace

Yes push through

 

Into the ways

And will of God

Until at last

Your feet are shod

 

Readied feet

Prepared in peace

Appointed times

God’s Holy Feasts

For there is a way

Known to man

The end destructive

Not God’s plan

 

Change your mind

Rend your heart

Today is the day

For a brand new start

 

Laurette laster © 2017 September

 

Joel 2:13 NLT

“Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to The LORD your God, for He is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish.

 

 

During the Days of Awe we confess and repent. This is the time the books of heaven are said to be open.

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

Teshuvah, Return, bring forth fruit worthy of repentance.

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

The Days of Awe………

Repentance has many sides and one of them is praise. We consider who God is and this leads us to praise!

Realizing God is calling us to return to Him, we are amazed with wonder. When we realize God Almighty, The Creator of the universe and Creator of everything we see and touch, knows our name, it is a game changer.

The wonder and awe of a God, who so loves us, that He is saying, come up here, come meet with Me. I want to meet with you, I long to fellowship with you. The 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.

Our Father is gracious, forgiving wickedness, sin and rebellion.

Today if you are a recipient of the kindness of God, He is looking for ROI- Return On 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 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 will produce 7 things:

1. Earnestness- ready to clear ourselves of the charges against us.
2. Concern to clear ourselves- 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 to see God- understanding that our sin hinders intimacy with God.
6. Zeal- willing to do whatever it takes.
7. A readiness to see justice done and people led away from the enemies snare. We desire to be 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 understand and know we deserved judgment but instead we received mercy, why, because of His great love for us.

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 you Shalom.

 

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

 

 

Hosea 14:2 NLT

Bring your confessions, and return to the LORD. Say to him, “Forgive all our sins and graciously receive us, so that we may offer You our praises.

Welcome to Teshuvah, Tishri 2 Day 31 of 40 Days of Teshuvah

Thank you Lord

A Sin Searing Revival

 

We need a sin searing revival

To sweep across our land

A revival that will pierce the hearts

Cause brothers and sisters to band

 

“Sin searing revival”

Come forth now and do not stop

Until our enemies be destroyed

From the bottom to the top

 

Out with all this evil unbelief

The fighting and the stench

It’s time to get real church

The enemy of mankind to lynch

 

I’m praying for a sin searing revival

To sweep across our land

Will you join with me

As we unite in prayer and stand

 

Together in prayer we’ll praise

And thank our Father God

That He not only hears our prayer

But listens and He nods

Saying to His counsel

Do you hear My people’s prayer

Answers coming swiftly

Like Fire from The Masters Chair

 

Jesus is our High Priest

He listens as we pray

So we shall not be silent

Offering heaven words to obey

 

Pray and praise and call again

He is signing prayer requests

God is hearkening to our words

Offers freedom to all who are oppressed

 

Heaven moves when we pray

Our words have power and meaning

We cannot sit and wonder

Which direction God is leaning

 

Jesus said pray and believe

Ask without reserve

Because when we pray

We know that He has heard

 

When heaven hears we know we have

The petitions as we await the arrival * 1John 5:14-15

Because heaven is calling out to us

Now church, it is our time to usher in “sin searing revival!”

 

© laurette laster

 

 

A new beginning starts by dying.

In early Morning Prayer, last year I ask God for a sincere revival to hit our hearts and land. As I was praying He interrupted me, and interjected in my spirit; He BOLDLY said, “NO! What you need is a sin searing revival. Yes that is what we need.

And I thought that is exactly what we need. Oh God send us a sin searing revival.

 

When He does this, I realize how changing our confession, and the words, changes every part of what we are asking The Lord for. Then we are indeed praying according to His will. Listening to His heart cuts through the chase. I still pray and desire a sin searing revival.

What does sincere mean? Who decides what is sincere? How do we measure a person’s sincerity? What is the difference between genuine sincerity and an outward appearance of sincerity, with an attempt to deceive?

Sincerity does have a measurement and is seen by others if it is genuine. True sincerity is seen in our actions or should we say by the changing of our actions, brought on by a change of perception in our mind. The word repentance comes from the Greek word metanoia.

According to New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology Zondervan

The Greek word metanoia is not a compound word of meta and noia. Meta means “with or among” but noia is not a Greek word. The Greek word for mind is nous. The two compound words comprising metanoia are meta, “after or with,” and noeo, “to perceive with the mind.” Thus metanoia literally means “after perception with the mind.”

We return after we understand or Teshuvah through seeking understanding of God and ask what does it mean?

Realizing God has a plan and a purpose that we do not perceive and interpret correctly, is the time to die to our overrated thinking system, and confess we do not understand.

Jesus describes perception while teaching his disciples in Matthew 13:13-15

“Therefore I speak to them in parables because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled which says: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.” For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing and their eyes they have closed. Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.

 

All new beginnings start with dying. As fall changes come we are again reminded that repentance is a beautiful time. Before casting off the leaves a tree pulls the nutrients from the leaf and stores the nutrients in the heart or root system.

Isn’t that what we should do? Take an accounting of the previous year. Take the good stuff we’ve learned, like nutrients into our soul as lessons learned before letting it go. Every circumstance, even the harshest ones, has something good with it. The worst experience can teach us priceless lessons. Like what we do not want, while the sweetest lessons leave us hungering for more.

Is this what Romans 8:28 means? “Now we know that for those who love God all things are working together for good-for those, I mean, whom with deliberate purpose He has called.”

All things, what are all things? Would they include the good and the bad, the bitter and the sweet, the challenging and the easy, the wanted and the unwanted? I believe the answer is yes.

So as we take words and our confession during The Ten Days of Awe I pray we repent and ask God to send us a sincere and genuine SIN SEARING revival. revive us

Hosea 14:2 NLT Bring your confessions, and return to the LORD. Say to him, “Forgive all our sins and graciously receive us, so that we may offer You our praises.

1. Personally
2. Within families
3. Neighborhoods
4. Cities
5. Counties
6. States
7. And our Nation

Then we will see genuine change. These are perilous times but God has called us to meet with Him during His High Holy Seasons and Mo’edim. He is calling the congregation to appear before Him.

 

Don’t miss your appointment. 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. The Lord cause His countenance to rise upon you and give you Shalom

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

Welcome to Teshuvah Day 30 Tishrei 1, 5780

Today is Tishrei 1, 5780 on the Hebrew Calendar.

 

New Season

 

Plowed and turned, ready anew

My field is ready, new season in view

Those who seek now shall find

The law of love on hearts will bind

 

At your command, meditate and grow

Studying Your word, so I may know

No more side roads or detours

It is only with your word, I confer

 

Receive my orders and assignment

My steps are planned, now in alignment

Not your acts, it is for Your ways I long

Hearts get ready to sing a new song

 

There is a place You  created

How long oh Lord I have waited

To hear you say and call for me

Speak my name and off I’ll be

 

At your instructions, joyously obey

Yes I’ll observe to follow in Your way

laurette laster © 2017

 

 

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.

For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Have I not commanded you?

Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.””

Joshua 1:8-9 NKJV

 

 

Is this Due Season…………….. We know it absolutely is due season. The question is what have we planted? We shall reap (whatever we planted) if we faint not. If you decide you do not want to reap what you have planted you have an appointment with The Father to repent and replant your fields.

Welcome to the New Year, time for agricultural planting.

Blowing the shofar sounds the alarm, wake up the sleeping, and notify them of the time (wake up to the dangers of attack by the enemy. Repent and return to the call of God. Receive His offer to take our position and receive assignments, become vineyard workers), out of their slumber.

We are told to produce fruit worthy of repentance. It is about the Lords timing and His seasons.

kai·ros is aa propitious moment for decision or action!

 

STRONGS NT 2540: καιρός Kairos fitting season, season, opportunity, occasion, time.

2540 kairós – time as opportunity. 2540 /kairós (“opportune time”) is derived from kara (“head”) referring to things “coming to a head” to take full-advantage of. 2540 (kairós) is “the suitable time, the right moment (e.g. Soph., El. 1292), a favorable moment” (DNTT, 3, 833).

limited) period of time: (1 Corinthians 7:29); plural the periods prescribed by God to the nations, and bounded by their rise and fall, Acts 17:26; καιροί καρποφοροι, the seasons of the year in which the fruits grow and ripen, Acts 14:17

 

Luke 3:8 NIV

Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

 

Luke 3:8 New Living Translation

Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.

 

What a perfect explanation of Teshuvah

 

—————————————

 

According to Chabad.com

The High Holidays are a time of personal introspection and soul-searching. We are enjoined to make up a mental balance sheet listing all of our spiritual shortcomings and accomplishments during the past year.

We take time to contemplate our choices: where did we make the right ones, and where, unfortunately, the wrong ones? How can we do better in the year ahead? In this accounting, we need to take personal responsibility; at some point, we need to do this alone.

 

————————————-

 

Don’t miss the season, the Kairos and appointed time of Teshuvah , my favorite time of the year.

 

 

This is the day of coronation for the king.

 

Make the decision to crown Jesus, Lord and King of your life today. You alone must decide.

 

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 you Shalom!

 

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

 

Welcome to Teshuvah Elul 29

Elul twenty nine

The last day is here

Oh the divine goodness

Harvest is so near

 

When we began the season

He taught us with rhyme

Teaching us to become fruitful

Abiding in “The Vine”

 

This Vineyard is on loan

But requires constant tending

But I’ve enjoyed every moment

The Fruit shall be never ending

My tattered work clothes are perfect

The gloves, boots, and shovel

Because He knew what I needed

For the lessons we would uncover

 

Elul twenty nine

What a remarkable season

We shall go rejoicing

And repentance is the reason

 

Jesus said repent

For the kingdom of heaven is nigh

Likened it to a Vineyard

And now we know why!

 

This time established precedence

Working the vineyard continues forever

Yom Teruah the Blowing

When we abide with Him forever

 

© laurette laster

 

 

Wow, what a splendid month of Elul. A few days before the month of Elul began the Lord poured out the first 12-14 poems (I don’t exactly remember the number) that I posted, I was completely amazed. I’ve never had anything like this happen before. For about an hour and half I just sat and typed these words into my phone, day by day and truth by truth, they just flowed.

He began to tell a story as I penned or typed the words. He told a story about working the fields or vineyards, preparing them to plant. He told the story of a younger me, how overwhelmed I was at the beginning seeing the overgrown field representing the damage caused by my old unrepentant heart. I hadn’t known about the things of God and had a field of weeds of scrub brush. He continued to tell about meeting me daily as we visited and did the hard work of repentance and Teshuvah. How I love this season and a never ending newness He brings.  He used stones, weeds, and scrub brush to represent the hardness of my very damaged hurting heart. He showed me and taught me about hearts of un-forgiveness, resentments, jealousy, envy, blame, or half heartedness teaching these will not allow a heart in that condition to be fruitful.

 

As I began to write I saw that the work clothes required were provided by Him, that He was with me every step of the way. The work was a joint venture with Him teaching me why the hard places had to be plowed under, repented of. Each year He teaches me new and deeper truths about Teshuvah.

Tonight at Sundown, my husband Greg and I, were teaching on Yom Teruah, The Bridegroom and the Bride and the catching away.

Yom Teruah, the Hidden Day, The Day of The Great Shout, The Blowing of The Shofar,

No man knows the day or the hour when the Bridegroom will return.

Matthew 24:36 WNT “But as to that day and the exact time no one knows–not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.

1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

 

Welcome Tishrei 1, 5780 in the Hebrew calendar. The Days of Awe are here and Elul 5779 is in the books and the year of 5779 has come to an end. 5780 is going to be a year of uncovering foundational truths and taking back what the enemy has stolen. Keep your work clothes handy, it isn’t a time to be lax, we must be about the Father’s vineyard. The precious fruit on the vine is for Him.

Prepare to be in your vineyard and tend it day and night. L’Shana Tova as we abide in the Vine.

 

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 you Shalom.

 

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

 

I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who continues in me and in whom I continue bears abundant fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

 

Welcome to Teshuvah Elul 28

Elul twenty eight

Today and one more

So much accomplished

The sacred time with Him how I adore

 

What a time in His Torah

With my Savior and King

His lessons and teachings

Have been heart cleansing

 

The field will be sprouting

There is new Life all around

It shall be a glorious harvest

The precious fruit abounds

When looking unto Jesus

Faiths Author and Finisher

Has made known this season

He is my vineyard replenisher

 

It become blatantly apparent

Why I was unable to be fruitful

Because without abiding in the Vine

All work is completely futile

 

© laurette laster 2019

 

While turning my thoughts to the Fall Feasts and many traditions in the USA, I realize more and more why God hates mixture. In the book of Revelation He says I’d rather you be hot or cold because lukewarm is a mixture or a hint of both. Have you known people you’re not really sure who they are? Jesus tells us to let our yes be yes and our no mean no.

The State Fair of Texas just kicked off this week. I’ve noticed for several years that many traditions we have seem to mimic our Jewish Ancestors and the deep Jewish roots. And if I am correct, they are certainly defiled.

I don’t believe it has been done with malice but I do believe it is Satan’s strategy to take us slightly off course. Our ignorance has kept us veering further and further off course until someone discovers God’s truth and begins to live by His truth.

The word ignorance is to ignore. See how a simple truth has gotten way off from what God ordained and called.

The booths at carnivals sure look like the Feast of Tabernacles or Feast of Booths, but the meaning now carnal, relating to or given to worldly desires and we call them carnivals. Go figure.

Could this be a coincidence? Is this a coincidence? The word carnival was first used in the 1600’s. I certainly am not against the fun of Fairs and carnivals, do we glimpse where this originated? At State Fairs there are jelly making contest, fruit dish baking contest, and other crafts. All of these following the fruit harvest. Classic movies show how the fairs were community events, bringing family’s outdoors, together. These were fun festive times, to show off their cooking skills and other talents.

I truly believe today’s celebrations has its beginnings in God’s original Feast and mo’eds.

When doing the work of repentance we denounce the fleshly carnal desires, turn back to God, and His ways. God is the originator of good times and festive events. Any time we bring our sensual desires into the equation we will get off and miss the mark. Sin is called missing the mark, we see how being slightly off at the beginning can cause complete shipwreck in a few generations. I love when I begin to see that God’s original design is everywhere. Satan corrupts through slight deviations, hoping we don’t notice. His tactic hasn’t changed since the garden. When we ignore God’s laws and commands it takes us into complete ignorance followed by judgment.

I’ve recently learned that compasses have two North’s. Did you know that? I did not know this, or if I have ever learned this I’ve forgotten. There is North, and there is true North on compasses.

So there is almost going God’s way and there is His Way that is Absolute Truth. The Truth we know is Jesus Christ. He did not abolish the law He fulfilled the law in love. He made a way that we can repent and escape judgment. He laid down His life, any who repent have redemption and the remission of sin. And that is the gospel and the good news.

As the month of Elul draws to a close we look toward The Ten Days of Awe, a time of introspection. Earlier this month I thought about our Jewish brothers and sisters coming back after captivity. In the book of Nehemiah, as Ezra read from the Torah, the people wept, hearing the words from the Torah cut to their heart. Can you remember a time like this? I sure can.

I remember when I realized how far off I was and how generational ignorance had taken a toll on our family. It only takes one to Teshuvah and return and begin to pray for your loved ones.

So 40 Days of Teshuvah, the days of the Hebrew month of Elul added to The Days of Awe, leading up to The Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur. Think about this. To be certain they didn’t get too far off they added extra time to the season of our repentance, additional time spent with our Lord. How can we go wrong becoming radical? I know I would rather ere on the side of doing more than hoping I can slide by. But the truth is, love makes you long to stay. When we are in love we look forward to talking to our loved one. We look forward to sharing special events and happenings from our day. Isn’t it nice to get a call or a text, saying I love you. That is the heart of Teshuvah. I pray you have grown to love the Lord more this season than ever before. We are called to bear fruit and this is seasonal and continuous.

I pray we do not ignore the love of our Savior and how God has prepared a way that leads to our bearing much fruit by abiding in The Vine. Jesus said, apart for Me you can do nothing. The definition of the word futile means to be of no kingdom use, God forbid. God is all about His kingdom and we are commanded to be fruitful.

The sweetness God requires is that His people bear much fruit by abiding in The Vine.

Don’t miss this sweet season, the Season of Teshuvah, The Season of our Repentance, my favorite time of the year.

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 you Shalom.

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

 

 

 

 

Welcome to Teshuvah Elul 27

The Lord is longsuffering slow to anger, abounding in love, gracious, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.

Elul twenty seven

Only a few days left

How is your field

This isn’t the time to rest

 

No time to waste

I’m praying for you

We had that meeting

And yes it is true

 

He has an appointment

With you in mind

So get ready get ready

Now is your time

 

I glanced at His planner

You’ll be happy I did

I read your name

In His book inscribed in red

He said once inscribed

We cannot be blotted out

He has chosen us

What a time to shout

 

Call out to Me, He said

For loved ones far away

Prayers of salvation

Today is the day

 

© laurette laster

 

1 Peter 2:25 International Standard Version

You were “like sheep that kept going astray,” but now you have “returned” to the shepherd and overseer of your souls.

 

New American Standard Bible

For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls

Before we returned we continually were going astray, as The Apostle Peter depicts. The apostle Peter describes how we ‘continually’ were going astray.

There is a call to return, or an appointment, when we realize this invitation is from God Almighty and He is asking for commitment at a level that frightens us. He requires we seek Him with our whole heart, full commitment.

When repentance of this depth occurs we never stray again. It is the goodness of God that draws us to repent. Endurance we realize is then granted us, when we return and submit to the will of God with our whole heart. Without complete surrender and commitment, The Lord does not give us this gift of endurance. If He did we would think we were doing it in our strength, and become puffed up and prideful. Pride and reverence cannot coexist, that is mixing seed. Our heart must be all His.

Think of the apostle Peter, who three times denied the Lord before this graceful breaking occurred in his life. This is the place where he is teaching from in 1^st and 2^nd Peter. Peter tells us to add to our faith so that we will not stumble.  He stumbled and realizes what was lacking before Pentecost. We have work to do after grace is received.

‘Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises (seeds to plant in our field), so that through them you may become partakers (laborers in the field) of the divine nature, now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires(plowed up your carnal field and surrendered to The Lord). For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;…’

The Lord Woo’s us and shows Himself by creating encounters we cannot explain away. Encounters that we know are not coincidence. We become aware and realize God is tugging at our heart. Then we begin to know and understand. We have a new awareness of His Holy Presence and His Spirit. Becoming conscious of God and His desires is how we begin to have the deep yearning and desire to do Teshuvah.

Then we understand the deep truth of how patient endurance is required to do the will of God.

 

God beckons us to return to Him.

 

Joel 2:12-15

Even now declares the Lord return to me with all your whole heart with fasting and weeping and mourning

And rend your heart and not your garments.” Now return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving kindness And relenting of evil.

Who knows whether He will not turn and relent And leave a blessing behind Him, Even a grain offering and a drink offering For the LORD your God?

Blow a trumpet in Zion, Consecrate a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly,…

The Lord is longsuffering slow to anger, abounding in love, gracious, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.

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

 

God bless you and keep you and make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord cause His countenance to rise upon you and give you Shalom.

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

 

 

Welcome to Teshuvah Elul 26

Return to Me says The Lord and I will return to you. May we return will pure passion.

 

 

Elul twenty six

This month fast coming to an end

Oh be still my heart

We are staying close to Him

 

Becoming one with Him

I’m more in love than I ever imagined

I am my Beloveds My Beloved is mine

My renewed heart is gladdened

 

This love we share

He said is never ending

I’ll be His faith farming girl

In His vineyard my time spending

Watching over our harvest

And warding off attacks

He is my King Shepherd

I shall not lack

 

The harvest is ripe

He said the laborers are few

We’re meeting tomorrow

He ask me to invite you

 

© laurette laster

Don’t miss your appointment

 

When we are around someone who is in love with The Lord we can sense the feeling our self. Then seeing that it is true love we long to share in an intimacy all our own. There is only one thing that hinders this flow of love, sin and/or rebellion. As believers any un-confessed sin is a barrier to the love God is longing to cover us in. The love He  has for us is a never ending current or flow. God doesn’t create the barrier, our choosing a lifestyle of sin or willful disobedience takes His place our lives and in our hearts, and crowds God out.

My husband, Greg, is a master electrician and an electrical contractor. A couple of days ago, during a teaching we discussed coming in contact with a downed power line carrying live voltage. When seeing a power line we are to assume that it is hot or transmitting power. All warnings tell us a distance of no less than 35’ is the safety standard. Another safety warning is that if a person is in direct contact with the power, do not touch them or that same power (electrocution in the natural) will run through you and you could be the next victim. Think about this in the spiritual. Our God is a consuming fire. He is live Power. I want to be a carrier of His love and His power, so that if someone comes into contact with me, they get hooked by His Power too.

As we draw close to the High Holy Days we are praying for our loved ones and for lost souls. We are asking that they come into contact with a Living Savior and His Power and that someone to be a carrier of this Power in their lives. When they come into contact with His Power,  this will be a power so fierce that they will never be able to get unhooked.  Seeing them touch His power and then become alive to Him.

 

Rosh Hashanah is the civil New Year on The Hebrew calendar. This is also known as head of the year. Yom Teruah, the blowing of Trumpets, is on the first day of the seventh month. This is said to be the first day of creation when God breathed into Adam the breath of life.

Yom Teruah (The Blowing) is mentioned in several books, but listed in the Feasts found in the book of Leviticus, chapter 23. This is the beginning of The Ten Days of Awe.

Jewish custom and beliefs are that the books of heaven are opened and examined, like the time of evaluation or self evaluation talked about a few days ago. God determines our reward for the coming year based on last year’s crop, whether we were successful or suffered crop failure. It is believed during the Ten Days of Awe we are allowed to do charity and change the results of last year before He closes the books and seals our destiny for the coming year, these are days to repent and return to God. We understand as believers in Christ we are forgiven, but this does not necessarily eliminate reaping what has been sown. We must repent immediately when we realize we have missed the mark. God cannot be mocked. Actually when we look into this parable and God’s wisdom it is a picture of us planting our fields. This gives me a revelation of how it works. Whatever I have planted is what I will produce. The seed produces after its own kind, right?

Oh how grateful we are that Our God is longsuffering, merciful, and compassionate, with us? We also should be with others. I am not suggesting ignoring sin or pretending it doesn’t exist. As we pray and intercede for the lost, the prodigals and the wayward, remember their name is written in the Lamb’s book of life and they need to show up for roll call. Repenting and Returning is what The Father is looking for. Knowing our name is written should spur us on to be sure that they also know their name is written.

I encourage us all to ask someone this week; is your name written in The Lambs book of life?

¹Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. ² Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. ³ If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. ⁴ Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, ⁵ for each one should carry their own load. ⁶ Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor. ⁷ Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. ⁸ Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. ⁹ Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. ¹⁰ Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Galatians 6:1-10 NIV)

 

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.

 

So let’s explore this a little more deeply. Why is it necessary to return? What did we turn away from? What did we leave?

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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 hunger and 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, my favorite time of the year.

 

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 you Shalom.

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

 

You shall not sow your vineyard with divers seeds: lest the fruit of your seed which you have sown, and the fruit of your vineyard, be defiled.

 

Welcome Teshuvah to Elul 25

Elul twenty five

Oh my what a picture

It is my Beloveds vineyard

We planted with scripture

The harvest will produce

Because we first cleared the land

But He instructed me

To be sure and put a demand

 

There is an enemy lurking

Who wants to snatch away

The word that has been planted

Water with prayer and obey

 

If God be for me

Who can be against

With my Beloveds wisdom

That enemy doesn’t have a chance

 

© laurette laster

 

God is very clear about mixture. He DOES NOT allow it. If we try to mix the spiritual with the carnal, we defile both. I believe this is a problem with the modern day church beliefs. Winking at sin is no longer acceptable or letting others think that God accepts sin is ludicrous. Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent:

The apostle Paul asks a question then leaves the warning of leaven defiling or corrupting the truth. He is essence is saying a half truth is equal to a whole lie.

Obedience to His word is what God desires. He is not looking for perfection from us, which apart from Jesus isn’t possible. Hebrews 12:2 tells us Jesus is the author or pioneer, and perfecter of our faith. When we plant His word in our heart our part is to guard our heart (field) and watch out for the wicked one who wants to pluck the seed out, or desires to sow tares (counterfeits) among the wheat. We water the seed with prayer which is faith in God’s word.

Galatians 5:7-9 (NKJV) You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump.

After repentance we have a purity and newness that we desire to walk in. We cannot cover ourselves, the robe we wear is a gift that is given after repentance or retuning back to the Father; it is a robe of righteousness supplied to cover our new regenerated heart. When the prodigal son took “words” and returned to the Father’s house there was a celebration and ceremonial clothes brought to him;

Luke 15:21-23 The son declared, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let us feast and celebrate.…

Covered with the best robe

Ring a sign of covenant

Sandals protection for the tough places along his walk

Meat the word for mature believers

Celebration the joy of His salvation

What a beautiful picture of our Fathers love when we Teshuvah. We see that after we are covered we are in covenant, our walk is protected, we are given to eat from His table, and the joy of His salvation becomes our reward.

A vineyard is a fruitful field that is protected by walls. The walls we see in Jesus parable is the truth of the gospel or the Torah. Walls are boundaries. Boundaries are for protection. As we work our way toward The Days of Awe we are taking time to inspect our fields being certain we haven’t allowed any half truths to remain.

We do not mix our seed.

Don’t miss your appointment, Teshuvah my favorite time of the year.

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

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

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome to Teshuvah Elul 23

Elul twenty three

Counting the days

Until Yom Teruah

What does the blast say

 

Wake up oh sleeper

Don’t be found sleeping

Prepare your field and plant

Or you’ll not be reaping

We are in the fields

When the trump blows

Summoning the workers

With a shout, it is time to go

 

The seed will produce

After its own kind

The preparation and planting

Has a purpose in time

 

© laurette laster

 

What do we turn or shuv away from? Pride, independence, ego and arrogance, of thinking we somehow have been good enough to obtain this on our own.  The scripture tells us God gives grace to the humble but He vehemently resists the proud.

What do we Teshuvah or return to? Knowing and understanding that in ourselves we do not have the ability to be godly. We realize and admit, that it is in Him and through Him we live and move and have our being. Paul goes on to say as some of your poets have said, we are His offspring. Acts 17:28

Remember, the bible says we are His workmanship or masterpiece. The Greek word for masterpiece or workmanship is Poiéma where we get the work poem from.

The Greek word for “WORKMANSHIP” is POIEMA which gives us our English words POEM and POETRY. Poiema means “something made” and in context is something made by God Himself.

The seasons of our LORD are His Mo’edim – Holy convocations. The LORD is drawing us to Him.

Isaiah 55:6 Call upon The Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near.

As I meditate this scripture there are nuggets of deep truth that we do well to know and understand. This verse expressly speaks of appointments and appointed times or seasons. I cannot find something if I am not looking. I will not look if I haven’t seen or heard that it is there. I cannot speak to someone who is out of my range of communication.

It is the same in seed time and harvest. I do not plant out of season and I do not harvest if I didn’t plant. We must be able to rightly divide then decide to go after, to return (Teshuvah) to the heart of The Lord with our whole hearts.

The word integrity comes from the root work integer. The definition of integer is any whole number; not a fraction or a decimal. It isn’t a fraction or a part or a percentage. It is a whole number. The LORD wants our whole heart not a part of percentage. Our soul may be fractured or infractions, but we know He is the healer and restorer of our souls. To enable The LORD to heal our soul we must come and return and give Him our heart.

Think about the game of hide and go seek. This is Teshuvah. He isn’t hiding from us, He is signaling to us. The Lord is wooing us into interaction of seeking Him. Each prompting leads us into truth and away from harm.

He allows us to go away to hunger and thirst and then call out to Him. Jesus said in the beatitudes; blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteous for they shall be filled.

“Shall” this seems to be a theme with our Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Hosea 6:1, 3

Come let us return (Teshuvah) unto The LORD: for He has torn us and he will heal us; He has smitten us and He will bind us

Then shall we know if we follow on to know The LORD, His going forth is prepared as the morning. He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and the former rain unto the earth.

 

Don’t miss your appointment, Teshuvah my favorite time of the year.

God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon and be gracious to you. The Lord cause His countenance to rise upon you and give you Shalom.

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