Category: Teshuvah Devotional

Welcome to Teshuvah Elul 10

Day Ten

September/Elul

Now the tenth

I’m getting pretty buff

But my knees are spent

 

This digging and pulling

Is pretty hard

He is teaching me how

By the inch not the yard

 

This field was forgotten

Hidden behind trees

I’m glad I have help

This isn’t a breeze

 

Tonight over dinner

He ask something strange

If I had ever considered

The depth of change

 

Time for equipment

Set the plow for deep

My Teshuvah Date

I’ll need extra sleep

 

© laurette laster

Set your plow for deep. What does this mean and why change what is normal? The reason a farmer sets the plow for deep is for better water saturation. Plowing is turning soil over and uprooting any stalks or spent harvest shoots that would drink up the needed moisture. If there hasn’t been crops planted in a field, grass and weeds and thorns, will automatically take over and multiply. This cannot be stopped.

Jeremiah 4:3 GNT The LORD says to the people of Judah and Jerusalem, “Plow up your unplowed fields; do not plant your seeds among thorns.

I love how God uses the practical to help us see the spiritual. The bible teaches us in The Scriptures that plowing our ground is a picture of our heart being prepared and the seeds sown and work required to bring forth a harvest pleasing to God.

Hosea 10:12 NKJV Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the LORD, Till He comes and rains righteousness on you.

Often I see people trying desperately to change their lives but overlooking the work of repentance. I truly do not believe repentance is taught and explained to believers today.  It must be thorough to unpack or plow under the old residue of thorns, weeds or stalks. There should be a time to look and assess our choices and our decisions.

Where there has been any violation in kingdom covenant, repentance is required, and should be more than a trite yeah sorry God, that wasn’t smart.

I am not suggesting groveling I am suggesting this is way to have a more intimate relationship with our Lord. We dig into the word of God and get His revelation of how and why the event took place. Even if we are saved this is still a required work. The farmer has to plow the field after each crop before planting another crop. A farmer cannot think to go plant new seed in an unkempt or unplowed field, it will not work. And it will not bring forth a harvest of any proportion. Why do we justify that everything will work out if we don’t give our heart time to heal or seek Him?

Some crops require more water saturation than other crops. Can this be related to spiritual gifts and callings also? When The Lord is preparing our heart and mind for what He desires it may take more plowing and a deeper revelation of the things of God. When we realize God has set aside a special time and a holy season for us to meet with Him how could we not have a deep desire to show up. This is His moed or meeting time with us. This is how we become more intimate with Him, and it is deep. I don’t want any fallow ground in my field that disallows my harvest.

We are told the children of Israel knew God’s ways, but God made His acts known to Moses.

Psalm 103:7 He revealed His ways to Moses, His deeds to the people of Israel.

 

I want to turn over, plow under, and get rid of anything in my heart that is keeping Him from being known to me. If there is a deeper I want to go.

I choose to Teshuvah, return all of my heart to His care during this time. I’ve set my plow for deep, how about you?

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 and give you Shalom.

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

 

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

I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. (Luke 15:7 NIV)

Welcome to Teshuvah, my favorite time of the year.  Day 7

Elul 7

 

September/Elul
Today is the seventh
He said we’re going to get real
Saying you’ll bring rejoicing to Heaven

He said when I repent
It is music to their ears
Who is He talking about
What do they hear

Back to the field
We dug up a lot of roots
I’m so glad we had shovels
And I wore my boots

Much harder now
Than I imagined at first
Wow this kind of work
Can make a girl thirst

I’ll rest good tonight
After all this hard work
He said we’d meet tomorrow
Reminding me, study the book

A day spent with Him

Is my absolute favorite place

We continue to dig

These roots we trace

 

© laurette laster 2019

 

Many years ago as I was driving the forty seven mile commute home from work; I was taking in the beautiful scenery. It was fall and the colors were stunning. I was blessed to have a scenic drive the ten years I worked in Oklahoma. My job was very stressful and demanding, but the commute to and from were full of peace and quiet.

It was fall and all the trees were simply radiant with magnificent colors. The trees were adorning leaves of robust fall colors, the deep auburn, different shades of red, gold, yellow, and even the browns, painted a heavenly portrait. I was praising God, thanking Him for this wonderful sight we He interrupted my thoughts and spoke to me.

 

In my spirit I heard Him say; “They are dead, Laurette”

 

Wow talk about a back to reality jolt this definitely was it. I said, “Well, yes they are!” But then my mind began to search and ask questions. How can something that is dead and in the dying stages be so beautiful? This actually jarred me back to reality.

 

I had never given any thought to the fact that the leaves were dead as the colors changed, even though they hadn’t totally died. Then I knew. This is why the leaves change during the Fall Feasts and the season of our repentance. This is a perfect complete picture of repentance. God is teaching us how it works by leaving us didactic images that teach. We don’t say yep that’s sin and I’m not doing this anymore, hallelujah I’m free. No when we do the work of repentance it is a process. Often sin has become habitual and is attached to character flaws or unhealed wounds.

 

The Lord continues to minister these truths to me, continuing to teach me how His creation rehearses each of the Feasts, just as He commands us too. He has commanded these Feasts as lasting ordinances. Isn’t this amazing, we meet with Him and rehearse yearly just like creation reminds us too.

Have you considered, and do you not just LOVE how God is with us, in every detail. He doesn’t ask us to do anything He hasn’t done with us. Like when the children of Israel were in the wilderness, after being brought out of Egypt (bondage) by His mighty Arm and Acts, after the sin of idolatry, God still accompanied them. He indeed was with them. He wanted to kill them, remember? This sin of idolatry, also caused brother to kill brother, showing who was on The LORDS side. So when dealing with repentance it gets real.

 

The season of our repentance and the forty days of Teshuvah corresponds to the time Moses went back to meet with the LORD, on Mount Sinai. The forty days of our repentance is the season of Teshuvah, and is said to be the exact dates of Elul 1 through Tishrei 10, when Moses interceded for the sin of the golden calf, for the children of Israel, with God. Moses told God, if You’re not going with us, don’t send us. Even in His anger He made a way to be with them. He was a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Isn’t this a beautiful picture? When we are not faithful, He is faithful.

 

As we work the work of repentance we cut off all source of nutrients supplying life to the sin in our life. We do this by making a commitment and determining that if God doesn’t like it, neither do we. Our desire must be changed in the roots not in the leaves. We begin to read the bible, and pray. As we pray we are seeking His Holy Spirit to help us become God pleasers, not self pleasing, or people pleasing. Holy Spirit convicts us, (convincing us) what is pleasing to our Lord, and what is not pleasing to our Lord. There are seasons in our lives and just like trees, as we mature we must have deep root seasons in order to bring forth more fruit. The change is in the roots if it is to be lasting.

 

Cutting off the life giving nutrients, removing our self will to sin is beautiful to heaven. Think of this view from His throne.

 

I want God to pleased with my work this year and show Him my dead works being cast off and falling to the ground.

 

Yes God is pleased when by studying His word our desires begin to line up and we become obedient to His word. It is very hard work to face and trace where the roots began in our life. It is hard, often exhausting, emotionally draining work, but oh how glad I am for the opportunity.

Each year He teaches me something new. I’m so excited to see what He reveals to me this year.

 

I continue to love Teshuvah and my time with Him, more and more each year.

Welcome to 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

Welcome to Teshuvah Elul Six

September/Elul
It’s already day six
I’ve so much to do
So much to fix

He leaves me gifts
As I discard
Out with old
The distasteful and marred

What does He love
What was it He asked
That I be willing
Obedient for the task

There is some work
Very difficult He said
Drink plenty of fluids
For the work days ahead

What could He mean
Where are we to meet
He said where my new work clothes
Now that’s kind of neat

It is getting real
And the work much harder
I’m learning so much
I’m becoming a Gardner

The Sower sows the word
He left me this parable
Said study on this
Until it becomes sharable

© laurette laster

 

Beginning with Elul 1 and continuing until Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) are the forty days included in the season of repentance, also known as Teshuvah. It is said to be a time of deep introspection or soul searching, looking within to prepare as needed. Teshuvah, “to turn” means to repent, to turn back, lit. “return”. This implies that when we stray or wander off from God, sin is inevitable.

The word “Elul” is similar to the root of the verb “search,” in Aramaic. This is appropriate because this is the time set aside, to search our hearts. This is a season of repentance. This is a time to prepare our ground, searching for any hindrances against our abundant harvest.

During the month of Elul, there are many special observances leading up to the High Holy Days.

The shofar is blown every morning, from the first day of Elul until Rosh Hashanah (except on the Shabbat). Another title for Rosh Hashanah is Yom Teruah or the Blowing of the Trumpets that we talked about yesterday. Yom meaning day, and Teruah meaning blowing: so this is the day of the blowing.

The daily blasts from the shofar are to wake up our spirit and inspire us to do some soul searching. To examine and prepare ourselves in order to make sure we are clean from offence before God and man. This is done to prepare ourselves for the High Holy Days. This is a time that we may need to ask for forgiveness for a wrong we have committed against another. It is also a time to forgive others freely, not to hold ought in our heart against another. This soul searching is to obtain freedom and pardon.

Jesus, while teaching the parable of the Sower, in Matthew 13, tells His disciples it is given to them to know and understand this parable, but not to those or to the others. Who are those others, and does He tells us? He does, when He openly explains the parable to His disciples.

He says hearing they don’t understand, and seeing they do not perceive, for the hearts of this people have grown dull. So Jesus is using the natural senses to explain that there is something much deeper entailed. 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 would heal them.

Aha we see it. It is their dullness of heart that is keeping them from turning or Teshuvah then reaping a harvest on the seed sown. The seed is the same in each of the four examples describing the condition of the ground. There are four different types of ground described with only one soil  yielding a harvest.

The Lord began to pour out the daily poems of Teshuvah for me a few days before the season began. As I continued writing I saw that He was explaining the love it takes to explore and the commitment required to stay the course with the hard work of preparing our fields and our hearts during this season. Gardening and farming is very hard work, not for the faint of heart, or those who give up easily.

Hardness of heart is deadly to the word of God, just as wayside, stony, or thorny ground is to reaping a harvest, with natural seed.

When Jesus talks about the ground he is referring to our hearts but some didn’t understand. Jesus tells us they closed their eyes. Sometimes I find myself concerned about becoming desensitized with all the conflict and evil around us, but neither do I want to be a bleeding heart, so balance is the key. And now I know another reason I am so in love with this season of repentance or Teshuvah, a time to come away with Him and listen more intently so that I can perceive the heart of My Lord. I never want to close my eyes to the things He is doing. Prophetically understood as a time after a hot dry summer to prepare to bring in the harvest, gather and rejoice, then begin again. The cycles, the seasons, the ways of God, the blessing pronounced to Noah after the flood, as long as the earth remains.

I am so grateful that God, in His infinite wisdom, set aside appointed times to meet with us throughout the year? Calling us away for a time of refreshing.

God knew what was, and He knows what is to come, and has given us Holy appointments. A time to search, a time to prepare and to address every issue, insuring we search or inspect our fields so we are certain they are in good working order.

Each of The Lord’s seven Feasts, are centered around times of harvest and rain. Our Jewish brothers and sisters completely understand the physical patterns and the repetition of the cycle’s and seasons.  The rain comes before the harvest to ripen and nourish the fruit. Then the rains return again to moisten the ground so we can sow our seed for future harvest.

Even if we have had a good crop we still are required to plow the ground to get rid of the stalks and residue. I heard a term this year that I haven’t heard before but it pinged in my spirit. The term used was “set your plows for deep.” I have never heard that saying before.

As I began to think about this phrase and plowing, I saw something. I didn’t see anything new or anything  I didn’t know, but I saw deeper into this action. Plowing is a turning under of the old, or a burial of sorts, and bringing to the surface fresh dirt. Plowing is “turning” the soil. This is to prepare to sow fresh seed into the readied ground, having plowed under the old. What a labor of love, oh what joy?

May we continue to prepare our ground and learn these sharable kingdom truths to help others?

Welcome to Teshuvah my favorite time of the year.

God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon 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 5

“Ani L’Dodi V’Dodi Li”

Elul Five

September/Elul

Now it is day five

He is coming again

To replenish and revive

 

He is in the field

Waiting for us

I’m so excited

Teshuvah don’t rush

 

I am my Beloveds

My Beloved is mine

What a marvelous day

And remarkable time

I’m discovering more

The things He adores

I can’t wait to put off

Get rid of more

 

Reflections and repentance

Is now my soul desire

When I am with Him

It is like my heart is on fire

 

Tell me again Lord

What do You desire

Another meeting

Tomorrow, today we retire

 

Rest for a while

We’ll talk in the morning

Oh my Teshuvah Date

Left me an outfit I’ll be adorning

 

© laurette laster 2019

 

As we view sin and repentance from our Lord’s point of view it becomes even more remarkable. The 29 Days of Elul are the time set apart for preparation to meet The Lord at His second coming or His return. What are we preparing? We prepare our hearts and make certain we are surrendered to The Lord. Why do we need our heart to be right? Those who have not had their hearts circumcised and are not clothed in His righteousness cannot go the wedding supper of The Lamb. Remember the man who was found at the wedding without his wedding garments? He was thrown out in darkness with gnashing of teeth. Matthew 22:11-13.

We desire to be dressed and ready to meet The Lord. How do we prepare? We search within and judge ourselves according to what God requires and confess our sins. Ask for His forgiveness.

John the Baptist came preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. As it is written in the book the words of Isaiah the prophet saying: Prepare the way of The Lord; Make His paths straight. Prepare the way of The Lord? What does this mean? According to Strong’s Concordance this requires action on our part. Preparation is a verb.

Taken from Strong’s Concordance #2675 Definitions: to complete, prepare

Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: katartizó
Phonetic Spelling: (kat-ar-tid’-zo)
Definition: to complete, prepare
Usage: (a) I fit (join) together; met: I compact together, (b) act. and mid: I prepare, perfect, for his (its) full destination or use, bring into its proper condition (whether for the first time, or after a lapse).

(from 2596 /katá, “according to, down,” intensifying artizō, “to adjust,” which is derived from 739 /ártios, “properly adjusted”) – properly, exactly fit (adjust) to be in good working order, i.e. adjusted exactly “down” to fully function.

Preparing ourselves is about introspection, looking within, forgiving others, asking for forgiveness, offering forgiveness, and doing charitable acts. This is fruit worthy of repentance. Teshuvah is a time of preparation. We need to subject our flesh or adjust our thinking and change our mind about sinful actions. I like the above definition, ‘in good working order’. We are bought with a price, so to be in good working order is our reasonable service when we look at this in light of Romans 12:1-3.

The Feasts are Holy Convocations or times of rehearsal to prepare for the coming. We are in the dress rehearsal phase of the Feasts. We are His Church in the dispensation of grace called the Church age. We are to reach the lost, laboring in the fields.

Yom Teruah or The Day of Trumpets is the time our Lord’s second coming. He is going to return for His bride. This is the only Feast that begins at a new moon and doesn’t have a name; it is literally called the blowing. This is also a picture of the scripture which says, of that day or hour no man knows. A new moon is not visible to the naked eye, occurring when the earth, and moon, and the sun, all are in perfect alignment, thus making it impossible to see any light from the moon or even a sliver of the new moon.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away. But as for that day or hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on your guard and stay alert! For you do not know when the appointed time will come. (Mark 13:31-32 BSB)

This is why the blowing of the trumpets is so important. The trumpets signify that the new moon has been witnessed or that it is the time of the new moon. Those who believe in the rapture (I do) believe we will be caught up with Him in the air at the Trumpet blast.

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise. After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

As we prepare for the coming of The Lord we want to be found doing the work He left for us to do. We are laboring in the fields for the harvest at the end of the age. This is the season that our King comes to the field. He is coming to check on the workers and the harvest.

The Lord says these are His Feasts, Mo’ed, Kairos or set times of appointment for making decisions. These are appointed times on God’s calendar or in God’s planner, so to speak. We don’t decide the times, He has! He set these times as a lasting ordinance.

 

The Lord spoke to Moses, Speak to the children of Israel and say to them: “These are My appointed feasts, the appointed feast of the LORD, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies. These are mandatory meetings or as we say in the business world, they are nonnegotiable.

 

As we prepare our hearts for our appointment and as we pray and intercede asking The LORD to set an appointment with our loved ones, and repent for our Nation we must prepare ourselves.

 

Before the LORD met with the children of Israel He gave specific instructions. They were to bathe and wash their clothes. The LORD told Moses to have the people consecrate themselves today and tomorrow and let them be ready on the third day.

 

When we are preparing for Teshuvah we should first realize this is an appointment with Jehovah, The Sovereign GOD of all creation.

This is how we consecrate ourselves. Don’t miss your appointment. This is how we Teshuvah.

We prepare our hearts and want to be certain to repent and have our soul cleansed and ready.

 

Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Are you washed in the blood,

In the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb

Are your garments spotless are they white as snow?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Lay aside your garments that are stained with sin

And be washed in the blood of the Lamb.

There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean.

O, be washed in the blood of the Lamb!

Are you washed in the blood,

In the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb?

Are your garments spotless are they white as snow?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

———————–

May we never cease to understand the value of repentance.

 

The foundation of Christianity is repentance (Teshuvah, Shuv, Re-Turn). Strictly speaking, a person cannot repent when he chooses— repentance is a gift of God. The old Puritans used to pray for “the gift of tears.” If you ever cease to understand the value of repentance, you allow yourself to remain in sin. Examine yourself to see if you have forgotten how to be truly repentant.

Wisdom from Oswald Chambers

My Utmost for His Highest

 

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

 

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

 

 

Elul Two

September/Elul two

Now the date
I’ve returned again
Excited I wait

Time with my Beloved
He is speaking to me
I am enamored with Him
And He with me

A time to search
Looking for snags
I must be prepared
Not be a drag

He’s left me a gift
A new outfit He said
I must be dressed and ready
He is always thinking ahead

I’m so excited
I can hardly wait
Truly a special time
Teshuvah Date

 

© laurette laster

 

Second of Elul and the days of our repentance, known as Teshuvah: A time to turn, a time to turn back or return to God and His ways.

When we do the work of repentance we are giving up our selfish childish ways and looking into the things of God. When we spend time in His word we are learning His heart. What pleases God, and what does God instruct us to do toward others?

I’m very concerned about the denial of, or the need for repentance in todays society. It is rarely spoken of or taught.  I see many who are teaching God doesn’t require any work from us. The basic feel good message of “Live like you want its ok, Jesus loves everybody and we are all okay.” I believe in the grace of God. This grace is what wrecked me so that I changed drastically. In this grace I turned into a whole new creation.  I have never dreamed of going back  to the sins or what He saved me from.  While we know that God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son, we find heart test that locate us. If Jesus is ‘all in’ do you think He requires the same from us? I say yes based on the scriptures. I’m going to use two here to make this point.

“Then He said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my followers, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23 NLT)

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. And I will ask The Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever.” (John 14:15-16 BSB)

 

In a covenant we make commitments that are binding agreements, or at least they should be. A covenant requires that both parties be ‘all in’. In Leviticus chapter 23, in Numbers, in Exodus and throughout the bible we learn about the feast of the Lord. In Leviticus chapter 23 God calls us to meet with Him seven times a year. We could say there were eight feasts if we count the Sabbath day. God says every seven days we meet with Him, and seven times a year He has set aside specific time to meet with His people. God Himself calls these Mo’edims or appointments or rehearsals.

 

Recently I was teaching a bible study and shared that we are in the dress rehearsal stage of these feasts. We are to put on the Lord Jesus Christ.  We know the first four feasts have been fulfilled, literally, and now we have the last three feasts that we are still rehearsing. I’m surprised when I hear people say that the remaining feasts will not be fulfilled, literally. Some very educated, (much smarter than me) now believe the remaining three feasts are allegorical and will not be fulfilled literally. How can we be sure of this? When did God decide that? Can you show me how the first four were not allegorical also in light of our renewed or regenerated persons?

I know that Jesus is our  Kohen Gadol or High Priest and that He willingly laid down His life becoming our sacrificial Lamb, and has taken His spotless blood into heaven, placing it on the mercy seat in the Heavenly Temple, and I have atonement with The Father through His blood. I know we have the ability to Tabernacle with our Lord daily but there is sure to be more than our little brains can imagine to the fulfillment God designed in the beginning, when He designed and ordered these special meeting times. A few years ago during this season The Lord showed me that each time we pray or say “In Jesus Name” like the high priest we are in essence sprinkling His blood over the situation we are praying over. This work is being conducted in the Holy of Holies. So while it is done, it is still being done, on earth as it is in heaven. These seasons are very supernatural and I have talked with someone today being ushered into repentance and healing from long ago sins.

 

I believe God has prompted me and ushered me into these Holy Mo’eds with Him and is indeed well pleased we are learning about them. He has challenged me and spoke audibly to me about the seasonal changes that line up with the feast. I know He has shown me how Christians are like trees, fruit trees and we should mature and produce more fruit, and more delicious fruit, from season to season. Did He not tell Noah in Genesis 8:22

“While the earth remains,

Seedtime and harvest,

Cold and Heat

Winter and Summer,

and day and night

shall not cease.”

 

This is a set time, an appointment, an appointed time with Him, a Mo’edim, to come away and meet with our King. In the Hebrew month of Elul it is said that the king is in the field. Teshuvah is the time when we have full access to our Lord, a face to face meeting with our King. He is concerned about our souls and the condition of His people. He is offering freedom from oppression, giving special gifts, offering a time to repent and make amends. Don’t miss this special season while our King is close.

Isaiah 55;6 Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near.

 

When thinking about Teshuvah/Returning, it is about repentance of one’s sins. Sin is to miss the mark. What mark do we miss? Putting it simply, we miss hitting the mark of love to love and obey The Fathers command.

When we allow self, our carnal nature lead, self will always strive to have its own way. When we are led by The Spirit we can see and allow or choose by our own volition to allow Gods way to be the way. Then we have peace with God and man.

What is the difference between conviction that leads to repentance and condemnation that leads to destruction? Conviction is about activity while condemnation is about annihilating our character and self. Conviction is meant to cut us to our heart, bringing about change. The change in direction or behavior is caused by changing our beliefs.

 

Condemnation is a tactic of the enemy to make us believe there is no hope. Condemnation strips us of believing there is any hope for us.

Holy Spirit convicts us to bring about change, so another way to explain this would be to say Holy Spirit is convincing us to do what pleases our Lord.

 

Yes conviction is uncomfortable and that is exactly His purpose. I have heard it put this way, “The Lord comforts the afflicted, and The Lord afflicts the comfortable.” When we can repent, and turn back to His ways, the weight of the conviction is taken away.

However when condemnation is at work we cannot do enough to feel better or ease the pain. No matter how much we do it is never enough. These are dead works.

What is repentance? It is where Holy Spirit, as our guide, counselor, comforter and teacher and does show us where we aren’t living out the new life we have in Christ. He shows us so we can repent and come back, Teshuvah (return) to His heart.

Acts 2:36-38 Therefore let all of Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah. When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent (return, Teshuvah, turn around) and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

 

During this season of preparing our hearts, called Teshuvah, I pray the blessing of conviction, merciful breaking, is at work in every believer. As He gently Woo’s us back. To the place we were intended to be from the beginning. Repentance is precious in the eyes of The Lord.

 

Holy Spirit, lead us into merciful breaking.

Amen

 

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

 

 

Day One

It doesn’t seem new
On September/Elul  one
Have I missed my appointment
Now I’m left undone

What was I supposed to say
Where am I to go
Oh now I remember
Read my bible and pray, take it slow

Spend time in His Presence
Patiently wait
It is going to be amazing
My Teshuvah Date

September/Elul 1 2019 © laurette laster

Teshuvah, the season of our repentance, and introspection of our soul.

Teshuvah meaning is to turn away from the things of the world and spend time with The Lord. Then in turning we return to the heart of God and what He desires we accomplish for Him.

Have you been carrying a burden? Is there something nagging and lingering that you can’t seem to make go away? Well guess what, you are being wooed into His presence to do kingdom work for your soul.

Come with me as we journey and explore repentance and seeking the heart of our King.

Often I get so excited when something new is being ushered in. I must remind myself it is a process, and God is working in me to work through me. Teshuvah this year began with huge opportunities or obstacles, or can we get real and say thorns, the cares of the world vying for my peace of mind.

Today I find this exciting, because I have come to realize when the enemy is trying to distract me it is because he knows there is kingdom advancement on the horizon and he hopes I don’t see it. When we can see this as a challenge and not defeat we make different choices by changing our minds.

For believers Teshuvah is likened to an anniversary get away. A time of vow renewal, a time shut out the world and all the business and distractions. This is a special a face to face with our Lord, an intimate time away with our first love.

With work, and family, and ministry, we can get busy about the things and miss the main thing. What is the main thing? The main thing can get choked out, understanding what it is The Lord desires for us to accomplish. Often when Greg and I assume we know what the other is thinking, we don’t ask the right questions and are left assuming. We all know what that means right? If we do not set aside time for our Lord how can we say we know what He desires. When we know His desire for the lost is, that He is longing they be saved, how can we turn a blind eye to sin or worse yet participate in their destruction? We cannot and for me it led me into a deep repentance and a cry of, here I am Lord Send me.

When we enter Teshuvah we are praying and repenting not only for our self and the wrongs we’ve committed, or the places we’ve missed it, but also for our families. Our prayers can cleanse bloodlines and break soul ties, we are praying for the healing of our Nation, the lost souls who have been taken captive to do Satans will, to be freed from his bondage and grip.

We are coming into kingdom alignment and praying/inviting God’s will to come, over this earth His earth, His people and ushering in and asking that His desires come to pass.

Recently I heard that prayer is the greatest form of leadership on earth. By praying we are ushering in the will and ways of our God and partnering with Him in our lives and in our families and in our Nation.

I am so excited to share with you what The Lord has shared with me. It is a journey and an adventure. The Lord continues each year to expound on this season and the deep heritage of our Jewish roots.

Some may think it isn’t necessary. I say, ok stay in the wading pool, I however have been called to go to the deep.

Years ago someone ask me, why do you have to be so deep? I thought that was a strange question and I wondered, how could they be so shallow? In Psalm 42:7 we are told

deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; All Your waves and billows have gone over me.

When The Lord calls us, and we go “all in”, it will cause division between us and others and show we have changed. As our Lord teaches us what pleases Him we lose ourselves and our faulty, shallow, self centered way of thinking, thank goodness for that! We study to know and train ourselves, bringing our wills into alignment with His ways. We no longer want our way, our desires change and we pray and usher in His word and ways.

I hear so many people say at this time of year, I’ve really been thinking about this subject, or saying I don’t know why this has been on my mind, but……….. I know why. It is because this is the time of the year the King is in the field. Are you ready to meet with Him?

Come with me as we go meet Him. I am my Beloveds and my beloved is mine.

 

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

 

Hello September-Welcome Teshuvah

Elul 1 began at sundown Saturday August 31

When September comes
Will I be changed
What is the difference
Between months and names

When September arrives
Will I just know
Is it in the morning
Or at evenings glow

What do I wish
For September to bring
It’s the first of Elul
This month will be so amazing

Journey with me
In heartfelt lamenting
Into reflections
And pure repentance

Clearing the way
Cutting out brush
We have forty days
No need to rush

Sit and reflect
With The Father’s heart
In sweet Teshuvah Time
What will He impart

“I am my Beloveds
My Beloved is mine”
Forty days of our repentance
Blessed Teshuvah Time

Copyright © laurette laster 9/2019

And now here we are again, my favorite time of the year. Teshuvah is a sacred time, a time to come away with The Lord and clear the books from this past year.

A time to seek His heart and learn the deeper truths from time spent with Him.

Join me in forty days of Teshuvah or turning/ turning back or returning to the heart of God. We think nothing of taking a shower every day, or at least I hope you do J so why wouldn’t we think our souls and minds need some deep cleaning.

In this busy, work a day, hectic, dangerous, world we live in we can get caught up in the cares of the world before we know it. These worries will keep the word of God from producing a harvest in our due season.

In the parable of The Sower, Jesus calls this receiving the word among thorns. Explaining that the word was sown but they were concerned with the cares of the world and the word was choked out by the thorns.

We are in the world but not of this world. We do not think like the world, nor do we put our hopes in the things of this world. Believers are referred to as the just, and the just shall live by faith.

Jesus tells us that we are not to run after these things like the gentiles do. He DOES NOT say we cannot have them. We wait, pray, seek, and knock, then The Lord provides the opportunities. When we wait for His timing He is all in. He is our partner.

1John 3:2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. The word used here is the Greek word tsalach and means to push forward. This word is used in various senses. (It is used literal, figurative, transitive, and intransitive)

I recently finished the rough draft of my first book, and have learned so much about transitive and intransitive verbs. My time spent with The Lord during the forty days of Teshuvah last year, I felt The Lord impress on my heart to write a book and include many of the poems He has given me. I believe repentance, real repentance is where the rubber meets the road for a “mature” Christian. I was very excited but I must confess this has been a labor of love. I’ve labored and I’ve loved.

My plan was to have the book ready to print by August of this year. I however just finished my rough draft and am now writing my manuscript. We may find it very interesting that a transitive verb has to have a direct object or objects to work with, expressing a doable activity.  Many of the instructions given to us throughout the pages of scriptures are speaking to us, we are the object of our Lord’s affection, expressing doable activities that please Him. Like if you………..I will, says The Lord.

So back to the meaning of prosper, to advance, to push forward, to be profitable.

When The Lord is in it with us, we cannot help but go forward, we will advance; push forward if we study to know His ways.

Hosea 6:3 Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of The Lord, His going forth is established as the morning. He will come to us like the rain, like the latter and former rain to the earth. Read Isaiah 55:10-11.

His word is likened to rain that “maketh” it bud. So if we understand seedtime, and harvest, and seasons, we could be in for some hard work and some very exciting times.

Will you take a forty day journey with me during Teshuvah, the Time of our Repentance; Teshuvah is my favorite time of the year.

God is worried about our souls. When we get our soul, our mind, will, and emotions, fixed on the things of God we are moving and advancing and being prosperous in everything pertaining to life and godliness.

Teshuvah is a Hebrew word containing the Hebrew root word shuv. Shub, often pronounced shuv, which literally means to turn. Repentance is to turn back or Te(shuv)ah – return to The Lord and His ways.

This is Hebrew month of Elul. The acronym is from Song of Songs 6:3 This is information from the Talmud: the authorative body of Jewish tradition and expounds broadly on the Hebrew Bible.

“Elul” can be understood to be an acronym for the phrase “Ani L ‘dodi V’dodi Li”- “I am my beloveds and my beloved is mine”.

The forty days of Teshuvah include, study of the Torah, or teachings, which is the bible. Prayer and acts of kindness, repentance leading to redemption; I’m sure each of us know we cannot spend time with our Lord and not be changed and then offered His forgiveness for the redemption of our souls.

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

 

Take your seat at Father’s Chair.

 

Yes I did see your name

And I know for sure it’s there

Come it is time for the reading

Find your seat at Father’s chair.

 

Well the day is here. This is truly ‘The Day of The Lord’ the holiest day of the year. Our names are not blotted out of the book of life.

 

Found in His love ready to become

Rooted and securely grounded

Only good toward us

All His grace hath abounded

 

We should not be about worry

Nor succumb to dread and fear

For our Heavenly Father

Is calling to each one, come near

 

It is story time do hear

At  Father’s bended knee

The book in His lap is opened

Come have a seat and join me

 

What you may not know

Is I saw your name it’s there

It is written in His story

The one He loves to share

 

So gather round dear children

The story is about to begin

Listen as Father tells

The story authored and read by Him

 

 

It is the story He has written

And etched into the hearts

For others to discover

Exactly, yes you have a part

 

What a fabulous story

Read over and over again

It is the redemption story

About a special pattern and plan

 

Those who came in reverence

With heads bowed down and listened

As He read aloud the names

Written in His palm each one glistened

 

Yes I did see your name

And I know for certain it is there

Come it is time for the reading

Find your seat at Father’s chair.

poem written by laurette laster  ©  2018 September

 

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, Ephesians 2:6

 

 

What have learned this year during our 40 Days of Teshuvah?

1. That the two stone tablets are our hardened unrepentant hearts and our un-renewed minds.
2. That we must receive a new heart from God and then renew our minds according to the words of life.
3. That the books are closed and the decision is made forever. We who are born again realize that the decision for us is a lasting ordinance for sure. God’s Holy Convocation is eternal and unchangeable. The day and the hour no man knows.

I have been meditating recently about the Feast and Mo’edim of God our Father being rehearsals for upcoming events. The scripture tell us these Mo’ed are types and shadows and have a unique pattern. One that must be followed precisely. The LORD God told Moses to be sure and build the Tabernacle according to ‘the pattern’ which God had shown him. We as believers understand this now because we are privileged to see from the beginning. We are given front row seats to the eternal plan from the beginning. We see into what their obedience has done for us. Are we not the most blessed generation to be living? We are able to gather at Father’s knee and hear the story over and over. I have a question. Have we shared with others that their name is part of the story.

If any of you has ever sewn you know how fragile the patterns and pattern pieces are. They must be laid exact and precise on the material for a quality work. There is an exact way that the material or cloth must be cut. It is very important to have the cloth lay on a stable sturdy surface while cutting.  Do you cut on the bias? Do you cut along the fold? Does the cloth have a grain? If the cloth does have a grain they will have to match. All these questions and factors speak to me now concerning what Moses saw.  How can you keep the pattern pieces from slipping? They are pinned down over and over, as often as needed to make the garment according to the pattern.

I can see in my mind right now a Simplicity Pattern. There was a picture of the garment on the outside of the package. However if someone were given this pattern who didn’t know how to sew or what the pattern was it would be meaningless to them. Had Moses seen the finished product? Did Moses watch our Lord Jesus in heaven in the Heavenly Tabernacle?

They had to act by faith; we now receive by faith what their actions have allowed us to see as they each played their part to usher in the eternal plan of salvation by Jesus Christ.

The Day of Atonement is here. God has made His decision. The Books are now closed and what is the decision that God has made?

That salvation has come to all who believe in The Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew tells us on that occasion Jesus took with Him Peter, James and John up to a high mountain by themselves. “He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him . . . “Moses and Elijah appeared with Him talking about His coming death. Matthew then writes, “A bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, ‘This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!” (17:2-3, 5). Here was the Shekhina glory in the face of Jesus! The veil of His flesh could contain Him no longer. The glory of His deity burst forth.  The decisions were made. We talked about Moses face shining yesterday. Had Moses seen into the future? God’s glory had been revealed to Moses as God hid him in the cleft of the rock. And we know the Rock is Christ.

Had Moses been waiting for The Day and The Hour that was now witnessed by Peter, James, and John? Had he been here before? Is that why his face had been radiant and had to be veiled? I believe Moses very well may have seen this day from the beginning.

But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. (Hebrews 10: 12-14)

Our prayers have been heard. May our repentance be at a new level from this time forth. May the upcoming root season allow us to cast off all dead works.  May we remember the perfect work of Christ our Savior when He said, It Is Finished! He is the High Priest of our confession. His work is The perfect atoning work.

Let us pray.

Dear Heavenly Father. Thank You for the perfect blood of Jesus Christ that has been applied on my behalf in Your heavenly sanctuary. Thank You Lord Jesus, for humbling Yourself and going to the Cross. You laid down Your life that I now have life eternal. Thank You for Your blood that has been taken behind the veil into the Holy of Holies once and for all, into the presence of God. Jesus You did open the way for us that we may come into the presence of God Almighty. You are our High Priest and Your blood has atoned for my sins and for my dead works. My conscience is cleansed by Your sinless perfect blood that I may serve The Living God.

I declare over myself, and my family, and those that You are drawing through me, that we shall serve You with our whole heart and mind.

In Jesus Name it is done, Amen.

How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the New Testament that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. (Hebrews 9:14-15)

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

 

 

 

As our season of Teshuvah is drawing to an end I am excited, and relieved, and somewhat melancholy. I love this get away time with our Lord for some serious one on one. I truly have enjoyed the challenge that Teshuvah brings each year. I can honestly say I have labored this year with my writings. However today a time of laboring is not a bad thing for me. I now see it as a birthing or a bringing forth time. If we labor it is to birth something or bring something to pass. Teshuvah is a time for me to do soul introspection. I am a deep thinker so maybe this is why I love the idea and this season.

Searching for More Of You-

 

As I draw near, my heart begins to ponder

How can I have more of You, oh Lord, I wonder

How I can I grow to know You more

Like the ocean knows the shore

 

Sure as sand that does not harden

Or like flowers multiply in a garden

To watch our relationship grow and flourish

Your word like water, my soul it doth nourish

 

 

By Your Spirit seasoned with grace

As I draw nearer to seek Your face

How I long for more of Your presence

It is for You oh Lord in all Your excellence

 

I will seek and I will knock

Dig deep, secured upon “The Rock”

I will ask and I will find

With all of my heart and all of my mind

 

Poem written by Laurette Laster © 2017

I remember the first time I cried out, “Oh God how did I get here?” I had wanted to do well and to be good but that sure wasn’t enough to make it happen. Wanting to good without having a renewed mind and heart led me to and through a lot of guilt and shame. I was one who could cope with whatever life threw at me. The only problem was I wall allowing things in my life that God was not a part of. I love this season of introspection or fruit inspecting to be sure that there is no reside from my past trying to crepe in. I only desire to grow in the grace and favor of our Lord Jesus Christ. I do not want to become lethargic or complacent in my walk or calling. Teshuvah is a time to grow and become more mature and know our Lord in a more intimate deeper level. In the scriptures when describing covenant relations it is said, “and he knew her”, outside of God’s covenant often it is said, “and he lay with her.” I want to know Him more and so this time of renewing our vows is special to me. I ask this year for new revelation and illumination concerning Teshuvah. Our Lord showed me just like trees must go thorough seasons if they are healthy and alive and productive, so we as His people should expect seasons of maturing. I feel His nearness as I type these words. Why must we be fruitful? We are to become fruitful to produce and grow and nourish His kingdom.

The fruit we are to produce is to nourish His kingdom and to feed those who are new and growing in the ways of our Lord. We must go through some pruning and hard winter seasons before becoming mature enough to support and feed the babes in Christ. Only mature trees produce fruit that is sweet and edible.

I think about Moses coming down the first time with the commandments of The Lord

God instructed to Moses to go down because the people he had brought out of Egypt had corrupted themselves. Upon seeing the camp and the people Moses was immediately called to become a judge, and jury and an intercessor for the survivors who were willing to follow God’s commands. Moses had to address the actions of the people and appoint people to carry out the verdict.

When we are saved we become ministers. The scripture explains that we are called with a holy calling. Then we are told we are given the ministry of reconciliation.

When we have had an encounter with the Living Holy God it changes everything about us. We become a new creation. Repentance from this place is deeper and more meaningful than anything we have ever experienced.

We not only repent for ourselves but are grieved to the heart for the result and the consequences sin has had on our people and on our Nation.

Moses returned to the people after his second encounter with God on Mount Sinai. He came back down and shared with the children of Israel the commandments of God. Only this time the commandments were written on the stones Moses had carved out and taken with him to meet God. In doing so Moses asks God to show him His glory. When Moses came down the second time his face did glow. Moses had seen the glory of God. Is this perhaps what Moses saw? For he is The Brilliance of his glory, The Image of his Being, and upholds all things by the power of his word; and he in his Essential Being has accomplished the purification of our sins, and he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. (Hebrews 1:3)

We must do the work of presenting our hearts and minds to God when we return. We do not want the judgment we deserve, we beg for the mercy and the grace of God and the atoning work of Jesus Christ our High Priest. And God is all powerful and all merciful, gracious, kind and loving to thousands. He is everything He says He is and so much more.

This is the time of new beginnings and a renewal of covenant. Teshuvah is a time of renewing our vows with our Lord, our first and true love.

It is now a new year and the books are about to be sealed. God is making decisions for upcoming seasons. This is a season and a beginning for us to be more fruitful and take more ground. The season of repentance has drawn to an end. I pray we continue the work of repentance as a life style. But for now we must go to work and plant. My desire is to have more fruit and bear much fruit this year.

We prepare for the Festival of Tabernacles or The Feast of Ingathering.

After having gathered in the fruit of this season it is time for the Festival of Ingathering.

We must now build our Sukkot and prepare for the Feast of Tabernacles.

We have been found worthy by “The Blood” to Tabernacle with our Lord.

During Sukkot many of our Jewish brothers and sisters eat their meals in the Sukkah, remembering how God led us through the wildness but now we have come into the Promised Land. We are given a promised land flowing with milk and honey.

The jubilee year can only be announced on Yom Kippur. Think about it.

Luke 4:16-21

Jesus took and unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord. Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. He said to them, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Teshuvah will always be 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