Don’t Keep Christmas in the Closet

Don’t keep Christmas in the closet
Don’t store it away for months
Keep it out in the open
Let’s decide this now for once

God does nothing in secret
Though at first we may not understand
But if we continue on in faith
We shall see the work of His hands

It is the most wonderful time
The most celebrated season
But we should take an account
Remembering, Christ our Lord is the reason

Do not place The Lord away
Or store Him out of sight
Oh no we must tell of His wondrous works
While it is day and not the night

Yes, He was born as a babe
Humbled Himself as a Servant
But that is not all we know
To those who are observant

Christmas was heralded
From the perfect Angelic chorus
So don’t put Christmas away
Keep our soon coming King before us

I shall not store Christmas away
I encourage you each to search
In Luke, Isaiah, then Mathew
Each describes His miraculous birth

Oh but there is more
In every book we find
That Christmas was forever
And was foremost on God’s mind

Do not put Christmas away
It is the most wonderful time of the year
Keep it magnificently lighted
And displayed from ear to ear

It is The Gift that keeps on giving
We can share in daily amounts
Our Hope is in Jesus at Christmas
Are we ready to give an account

© Laurette Laster 2018 Dec.

Born as a babe; Humbled Himself; becoming obedient to God; Died on the Cross; Buried in a borrowed tomb; Raised from the dead; appeared to over five hundred; taken to heaven; Seated on God’s throne, at God’s right hand; Rules and reigns from heaven through His Holy Spirit; Lives to make intercession…

Christ the Messiah, Born King of the Jews! The gospel, the good news believers are commanded to herald. Have you read the headlines? Have you received your gift? Did you take time to open and examine, explore, glean and find out Who delivered “THE” gift to us? “THE” Eternal Gift from God. Merry CHRISTmas indeed.

His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

“For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father [of Eternity], Prince of Peace. [Isa. 25:1; 40:9-11; Matt. 28:18; Luke 2:11.] Of the increase of His government and of peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from the [latter] time forth, even forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. [Dan. 2:44; I Cor. 15:25-28; Heb. 1:8.]”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭9:6-7‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

“Where is He Who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east at its rising and have come to worship Him. [Num. 24:17; Jer. 23:5; Zech. 9:9.]”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭2:2‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

“Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch (Sprout), and He will reign as King and do wisely and will execute justice and righteousness in the land.”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭23:5‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

Merry Christmas, much more than seasonal, it is required, reasonable and immeasurably more than we can contain.

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

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

And Jesus was in the temple courts…walking in Solomon’s Colonnade.

The Light of the world had come, and stood ministering, in their very midst.
During the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem, (John 10:22-24) the Light was in their very midst. Shining brightly. Illuminating the works of The Everlasting Father, they were on display. Right in front of them…

Celebrating and remembering, the miracle of one Cruse of sanctified oil burning brightly for eight nights, yet oblivious to The Miracle Maker in their midst. Instead they chose to stone Him.

May it never be said of us!

Sanctified Oil

Wonderful Counselor
Of all my days
The good the bad
The cold, the gray

Twenty four hours
Of busy and glad
Mourning and grieving
Boring or sad

Immanuel, Who is
Has already been
The Lord of my tomorrows
Time, and time again

When I win
Fail to measure up
The Lifter of my head
Overflowing cup

Salvation’s miracle for my family
Steadfast, generous, overflowing
The Light of the world
Hanukkah’s miracle oil glowing

© laurette laster November 13, 2021

Without Christ there would be no Christmas.
Salvation, our eternal gift, hand delivered from The Everlasting Father, who is God, to mankind. With the birth of Christ, heaven opened and they witness His miraculous delivery. Heaven came and invaded earth, and the angels announced His arrival, oh yes, oh what a glorious night.

“And so the Living Expression became a man and lived among us! We gazed upon His glory, the glory of the One and Only who came from the Father overflowing with tender mercy and truth!”
‭‭John‬ ‭1:14‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Translated from Greek, this literally means, He pitched His tent among us. John takes us back to the book of Exodus where God tabernacled among His called out ones. God delivers us out and delivers to us Himself. Our Warrior God is Tabernacling and is with us, in our wilderness. He is Christ The Lord, Immanuel. God with(in) us!

Just as in the time of the Maccabees and the battle that ensued over reclaiming the temple, today a very real battle is warring all around us. Guard your temple, stand your watch, man your post. Prepare your fresh oil, sanctified and double pressed. This holy oil doesn’t emit smoke, but glory. Refuse to be deceived. God is with us!

Merry Christmas

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

Hanukkah’s Light shines bright the Love of God long ago planned.

A Miracle Happened Here

Do you feel what I feel…

The mysteries of God
Miracles continue to unfold
Truths from Ancient of Days
Never ever tiresome, nor grow old

I feel it in my spirit! Do you feel what I feel…

Hanukkah’s miracle of love
Like oil flowing through my veins
Cleansing of the temple sought
The fight, the loss for gain

Yes I feel it in my bones
Warring across the land
Love’s Lampstand on the move
Salvation by His mighty Right Hand

Dating back before the Maccabees there was a game that included dreidels; a four sided spinning game piece. This game was later used as a decoy, when Torah had to be taken underground. Each dreidel has four letters on each side, the acronym for “Nes Gadol Hayah Sham,” which means “a great miracle happened there,” referring to the miracle of the oil lasting eight days in Israel.

The greatest miracle from Christ our Savior is rebirth, rededication, redemption, and restoration, from The Servant Candle flows the love of Christ to light the world.

Part of the priestly duties involved tending the lampstand, filling with fresh oil. A menorah, the Hebrew word for lamp, has seven branches. The nine branch menorah celebrated the miracle of the lamp burning eight days.

The Bible mentions the Feast of Dedication in the Gospel of John. “Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade” (John 10:22–23). This is the scene in which Jesus claims oneness with the Father, which unbelieving Jews intended to apprehend and stone Him (verses 24–39).

“When I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, I saw seven golden lampstands. And walking among the lampstands, I saw someone like a son of man, wearing a full-length robe with a golden sash over His chest.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1:12-13‬ ‭TPT‬‬

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

Eager and Expectatant.

While we wait, God is at work. While He teaches us W.A.R. ™️ we wait on…

Hanukkah’s Hope

Hope Heralds
Awakening the dawn
Do you hear what I hear
Wait on

Knocking at the door
Miracles await
Do you hear what I hear
Open up, oh ye gates

Anchored to Hope
Mysteries so ancient
Awaken to The Light
Wait on, expectantly patient

©laurettelaster 2022

The light has come and the darkness has not overcome it.

The word was made flesh and dwelt among us

“They were together—face-to-face, in the very beginning. For the perfect Light of Truth was coming into the world and shine upon everyone.”
‭‭John‬ ‭1:2, 9‬ ‭TPT‬‬

The plan and purposes of God are from everlasting to everlasting found only in His Light. Awaken to God’s amazing mysteries…

The timing of Christ’s birth may remain a mystery, but the miracle of Christmas is so amazing. Not magic, Truly Miraculous.

Hanukkah, the celebration of rededication. Reclaiming the Temple, lighting the menorah with what oil they had. The miracle of one days supply, multiplying, day after day for eight days. The sanctified cruse of oil, lighting the menorah for eight days, from one days supply.

Isn’t it interesting that Christmas is celebrated with Lights? The similarities are not without divine purpose and the theme of both celebrations; chase away the darkness. The supernatural Light (gift) delivered from heaven to men, has been and will always be worth waiting on.

Wait on…

Miracles in the making from the Ancient of Days. Do you hear what I hear?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
but they that wait on God shall renew their strength; they shall put forth new feathers like eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not hunger.

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 sense Miracles in the Making

Do you hear what I hear…

Miracles long forgotten
Sadly, hearts misbegotten
Magic and feelings embraced
Entertainment willfully replaced

I sense miracles in the making!

Do you hear what I hear
Heavenly chorus drawing near
The magic only an illusion
Satanic distraction and confusion

Heavenly expectation
Miracle of rededication
Do you hear what I hear
The promises God, so clear

I sense miracles…

Hanukkah of Hope

“Command the people of Israel to bring you pure oil from beaten olives for the lamp, that a light may be kept burning regularly.

The Light Has Come!

©laurette laster 2022

God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and 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

Understanding God designed His creation to speak, we hear by seeing, understand by witnessing…

Pour out, cause us to hear, teach me to tune my heart that I may know You.

“Each day gushes out its message to the next, night by night whispering its knowledge to all— without a sound, without a word, without a voice being heard,
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭19:2 TPT‬‬

Sound travels and we hear the echo, day after day, night after night.

Come away with Me

Autumn season signage
So beautifully designed
And perfectly orchestrated
All from God’s marvelous mind

How I love this season
My favorite time, Fall
I remember the drawing
My Saviors tender call

Come away with Me
For some time to rest and talk
Is this why it is the best
Of nature’s spiritual walk

Come away with Me He calls
One day we’ll understand
These Seasonal changes
Designed by His hand

© laurette laster

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

Teshuvah Teshrei 3, 5783
Return, Repent, Shuv, Turn

Day 33 of the 40 days of Teshuvah
It is said that during the Days of Awe, the time between Yom Teru’ah and Yom Kippur, that the gates of heaven are open.

Teshuvah Poem

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, Gods, Holy feasts.
For there is a way known unto 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

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.

Judaism believes it is the time when prayers are heard and answered. This is a long held tradition in Judaism, it’s origins seem to go all the way back to Mt. Sinai:

The Encyclopedia Judaica states that the tradition:
“…..Connects the forty days of (Teshuvah) with Moses staying on Mt. Sinai forty days, Exodus 34:28, which was calculated to have commenced on the First of Elul and ended on the 10th of Tishrei (The day of Atonement).” Volume 6 page 690.
James 5:16 states that the effectual prayers of righteous persons has much power.

This is a time of prayer and fasting for ten days. A time to repent, and possibly turn back judgements, due to sin and missing the mark. A solemn time to seek God and ask Him to forgive our sins and turn back judgement.
It is believed that during this ten day period the gates of heaven are opened to hear the pentinent prayers of sinners and potentially reverse any negative judgements made on Yom Teru’ah.

What Happens When The Floodgates of Heaven Open?
This is where the dead hears the voice of the Son of God and live- John 5:25.

It is where we are changed and foregiven and made whole. Where we are anointed by the words of Jesus Christ, and He commands a blessing on us and we are commissioned to live the life we were created to live. Mark 2:10-12

It’s a place or ‘Turn around’ for ‘NEW’ breakthroughs, where God makes all things new. Revelation 21:5

What must we do to open these Gates of Heaven?

According to scripture, we turn our hearts toward the word of God and obey the word of God.
For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward Him.
How do we get a blameless heart? We plow our ground which is our heart. We repent, we turn away from sin and toward the word of God. We obey quickly. We take our opinion out of the equation and surrender to the will of God.

Chruch it is time to Take our powerful effectual prayers into heaven. The gates are open and He is waiting to hear from us.
Repent, Obey and Pray.
It is planting time. We pray and sow the word of God and He brings increase.
Our families, our nation and our church needs to lift mighty, powerful prayers to heaven.
The gates are open, let’s enter in with thanksgiving and praise.

Teshuvah Blessings,
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

Fall Colors in View

Something old
Something blue
Something passing
Fall colors in view

Beautiful as they arrive
Stately as they leave
Slowly changing
Continue to cleave

Not knowing how
Listen as gently they teach
It’s all in the plan
Our Master speaks

Change is coming
Yes it is good
Isn’t it glorious
When at last understood

© laurette laster October 31 2020

Repentance in the heart of man is the most rewarding and glorious work this side of heaven.Repentance is the key to the Door, which is Jesus. Repentance, the invitation only event hosted by God Himself. As the leaves begin to change colors I’m reminded it is almost root season. What I once dreaded, now I embrace, and long for. His drawing requires pure abandonment of our will and complete trust.

Time to dig deeply into the plans and purposes of God and nourish these truths at the root. Not a time to do more or be more, but a time to allow His revelations to settle deep in my soul and feed my spirit.

I love the Autumn, so many practical truths learned, simply watching nature. God’s creation is didactic!
Like Hansel and Gretel, follow the signs that lead us safely along this journey.

“Do the riches of His extraordinary kindness make you take Him for granted and despise Him? Haven’t you experienced how kind and understanding He has been to you? Don’t mistake His tolerance for acceptance. Do you realize that all the wealth of His extravagant kindness is meant to melt your heart and lead you into repentance?”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭2:4‬ ‭TPT‬‬

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

40 Days of Teshuvah

L’Shanah Tovah Tikatevu, meaning “may you be inscribed [in the Book of Life] for a good year,”

As we near Rosh Hashanah, also known as Yom Teru’ah, or simply Teru’ah; the blowing of the trumpets, we understand by now…
Or we should understand that we will reap what has been sown.

Elul 25

Elul twenty five
Oh my what a picture
It is my Beloved’s field
We planted with scripture

This harvest will produce
Because we prepared the land
Careful instructions He left
Remain obedient, stay faithful to the plan

There is an enemy lurking
satan wants to snatch away
The word that has been planted
Water with prayer, always obey

If God be for me
Who can be against
With my Beloveds wisdom
That enemy doesn’t stand a chance

© laurette laster September 25 2019
Edited September 2 2021

Moses told God if He was going to blot out the remaining, now repentive, willing to be obedient ones, those that took up a sword, destroyed the disobedient, to blot his name out also.

What a picture.

Wake up, shub, turn, come back, return, Teshuvah

Luke 10:20, Jesus alluded to the Book of Life when he told the 70 disciples to rejoice because “your names are written in heaven.” Whenever a believer accepts Christ’s sacrificial atonement for sin, there is nothing more, Jesus fulfills the Feast of Trumpets

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

Teshuvah a special time. A season to turn [shub] our hearts [back] to The Lord.

Jesus said, “Let him that hath ears to hear, hear what The Spirit is saying. A time to listen.

To Shuv is to turn. Repentance is a change of mind and yet so much more than a change of mind. Repentance is a change so deep, surrendering to a life altering force that literally turns our lives in the direction God desires. It is an intimate encounter with the Life Giver, our Living Loving Soter. An encouner that makes us say; what would you have me do Lord?

Elul nineteen

Nineteenth of Elul during Teshuvah
I’ve learned to love this season
We’ve done it together, side by side
He said we will see it unto completion

Learning how to sow
Something new I have learned
He said in plowing and planting
Become ‘doers’ is the term

The strongest kind of seed
He said “is truth sown in my heart”
Then it becomes rooted
Down in my innermost part

How I love His wisdom
Bags of seeds pallets high
He told me think and imagine
As tall as the sky

I wonder what He means
He makes it sound so grand
And then the work begins
Back to earth to cultivate the land

Every where I set my foot
Step, believe, begin sowing
This work has eternal value
Persistence is the going

© laurette laster Sept 19, 2019

Teshuvah is A life altering, heart rending change.

\ ˈrend  \

verb rent \ ˈrent \ also rended \ ˈren-dəd \ ; rending

Definition 

• transitive ​verb
• 1: to remove from place by violence : WREST
• 2: to split or tear apart or in pieces by violence
• 3: to tear (the hair or clothing) as a sign of anger, grief, or despair
• 4a: to lacerate mentally or emotionallyb: to pierce with sound

Hebrews 4:12 TPT. we have the living Word of God, which is full of energy…

John 1:1-2 TPT In the very beginning the Living Expression was already there. And the Living Expression was with God, yet fully God. They were together — “face-to-face, in the very beginning

Teshuvah; invitation only experience, extended to those He chooses. He is beckoning, calling, wooing, and waiting. This encounter and invitation is an RSVP. You must respond. Are you ready?
Have you had a real encounter with Jehovah Jireh?

Teshuvah, my favorite time of the year!

Don’t miss this special and sacred time of the year. The King is in the feild. An encounter awaits.

God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and 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