Category: Teshuvah Devotional

Readied feet

Prepared in peace,

Appointed times

God’s Holy Feasts!

The Day of Atonement was God’s greatest decision. This season is said to be a time when God opens the books and looks over our past year and our works. He then makes decisions about our upcoming year and the blessings we will receive or what we may lose. The decisions are said to be based on what He sees as He reviews the books.  You do not want to miss this time of the year. The books are open and God is reviewing our year end review. What is He seeing? You still have time to rend your heart and return. Don’t  miss this precious season or repentance. Repentance is beautiful to God. I’ll explain how I know this tomorrow.

This season of Teshuvah is drawing to a close and I pray we have gain gained and gleaned the needed nutrients from last year’s harvest. We’ve learned good lessons from this past year. We have learned lessons of what to do and also lessons of what not to do. We take all this information and store into our roots but we cannot keep the leaves. Leaves are proof and life and are seasonal.
We learn our lessons and take our spiritual scissors and cut off anything that hinders our survival and continued growth.  I pray we seek The Lord and continue in the good works which he prepared in advance for us to do.

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

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.

 

Yesterday I explained how our Lord showed me we are like trees. In being like trees we must go through seasons in order to mature and bear much fruit, fruit that will last. A new tree is not much more than a twig. The branches and the trunk do not begin to harden in the first year; the branches of new trees, immature trees cannot bear fruit or support the weight of fruit. The branches of new immature trees are not much more than a twig. It takes many seasons of growth to become fruit bearers of good healthy nutritional fruit.

This spoke volumes to me as a Christian. I will always be a Christian or a believer. I will not have to be programmed each year or reevaluate the condition of my salvation. Today and for ongoing seasons my repentance is about learning and growing from season to season in order to become more mature. This is a time of reflection and getting direction. It is a time to plant and a time to cut off what cannot go into my future with me. We don’t have to worry, the leaves always come back. We produce a new crop of leaves (works) each year.

Repentance is God’s fall view of changing colors. He looks down from heaven to see beautifully decorated souls learning letting go. We are showing Him the things we’ve gleaned from the year, and gathered into our souls for our roots to grow stronger, then “cut off” and shed the leaves. We cut off as it is because we learned our lessons from this season and are we are ready for the next.

I pray we know and discern the seasons of The Lord as we continue to know Him more.

The scripture tells us, to him who knows to do what is good and does not do it, it is sin. When we know the right thing to do and do not follow through with the action of doing good, it creates turmoil in our souls. A soul in turmoil is anxious and unstable.

 

Teshuvah is called a time for the soul.

The choices we make affect our soul in a deep way. If our soul feels off course it becomes anxious and troubled. It is an internal condition with external results. If we are unhappy and troubled because of choices we have made, God Almighty has made a way of escape. He beckons us back; He Woo’s and calls to us Return,

Teshuvah, saying to us ‘Return to the course I have set for you.’ Then we will find peace.

 

It is the grace of God the leads us to repentance. He Woo’s and draws, we answer.

 

If you are begging God to do it for you it will not work. We return, we turn away from sin and return to God. He leads, we follow.

 

Revelation 3:19

Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I rebuke and discipline [showing them their faults and instructing them]; so be enthusiastic and repent [change your inner self–your old way of thinking, your sinful behavior–seek God’s will].” (REVELATION 3:19 AMP)

 

If you feel the tug on your heart according to Revelation 3:19 it is because you are dearly loved. Think about that as we continue this Season of Repentance and Teshuvah. A sacred appointed time for introspection and readjustment.

Let us pray

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for showing me my inner faults and what is not pleasing to You. Teach me to recognize what is displeasing to You and I pray to see these faults quickly. I want to be an instant in season and out of season repented one, a quick, prompt to repent believer. I want to walk with You all these days of my life. Lord Jesus Your precious Holy Spirit is at work within me so that I may bear much fruit and fruit that will last. I am willing let go of what is not pleasing to You Lord Jesus. Lord Jesus show me how repentance is beautiful to You. Amen

Call on Him while He is near. You are dearly loved!!

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

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

 

 

Return, repent forgive and do works of charity. Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

 

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,

 

Filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—- to the glory and praise of God. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation–the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ–for this will bring much glory and praise to God, (Philippians 1:11 NLT). Have we considered that our Lord is coming during the Fall? The Fall season or Autumn season is the fruit season. Did Jesus not tell us, if we abide in the Vine we can bear fruit? Did Jesus not clarify ‘Who’ that Vine is?  “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing, (John 15:5 NLT). I know I desire maturity and to bear much fruit, becoming more fruitful for the kingdom of God.

Teshuvah is an appointed season of time. It is a set apart time of preparation and work of introspection in our souls. Our soul is our mind will and emotions. It is our place of volition, the place where decisions and choices are made.

 

Winds of Change

 Letting go is not simple or easy to do,

Just watch the leaves as winds blow through.

Looks like chaos as first rearranged

Then I am reminded; oh here comes change!

 

God’s sweet reminder to me, seek and you shall find

It isn’t so difficult it’s all in the mind.

How I imagine and fear it could be,

Remembering, His plans are only good toward me.

 

What can I learn from watching His creation?

About these changes and the duration;

His ways are fashioned and mimic trees,

What is the lesson to learn from these?

 

It is the end of this season change is in the air.

Something’s I can tell something’s I can share.

We are the branches-He is the Vine;

Seasons must change, He is redeeming the time.

 

The winds of change are bringing home,

The lesson learned, now let go and move on.

Not at all frightening if I can grasp

God is Creator, I’m designed for the task.

 

The inner drive compelling and calling me,

A longing for much more than eyes can see.

It’s a longing and groaning from deep within,

Oh the winds of change must be blowing again.

 

It is time for promises to come forth and bloom,

So it is necessary to let go, create needed room.

Open my mind and nourish it with Your word;

Eye has not seen, and ear has not heard…..

 

All You have planned for those whose mind can conceive,

Just let go of the old and the new receive.

Teach me Lord as I sense it is in view,

Deep in my spirit I know this is You.

 

Help me to not fear or become apprehensive

This change is from You, deep and extensive.

For money can’t buy and not humanly possible,

Revealed by Your Spirit, throughout Your gospel.

 

Such precious promises if I can believe,

Being rooted and grounded like a tree.

Winds of change blow through I’m going to stand

And humble myself under God’s mighty hand.

 

Poem written by Laurette Laster © 2017

all of my poetry is copyrighted with Library of Congress Copyright Office, rights reserved.

 

 

1 Corinthians 2:9 NIV

Eye has not seen, nor eye heard, nor has entered the heart of man, nor human mind conceived—the things God has prepared for those who love Him—

These things God has revealed to us by His Spirit.

At the beginning of the 40 Days of Teshuvah in 2017, I prayed and ask The Lord if indeed this season still applies today. I believed I knew the answer but wanted His seal of approval on the teaching. For years I have felt and sensed this appointed time. I speak to so many people today who describe the wooing of God. They tell me things like; I just knew I had to be here. Or they say I just knew I needed to come. I knew I was supposed to apologize to that person. I have been praying for so and so and I have forgiven them. Or I went to so and so and I apologized for my part in the mess. All of these are the wooing and the plan of God during the 40 days of Teshuvah.  So I get to tell them, “The Lord drawing you and yes you are being led.” I have had so many supernatural experience of people pouring out their story to me during this season. Is this an appointment that cannot be denied? I know the answer.

Even when I didn’t understand it, I sensed it. Our spirit knows the things of God and definitely discerns these seasons and appointed times.

For it is God who is working both to will and to do in us for His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13).

Some believe the Feasts or Mo’edim are “Old Testament” or under the law, therefore no longer valid or necessary, both are incorrect. These Feast or Mo’eds are commanded by God and were set prior to the law being given to Moses. These are not Jewish Festivals they are God’s Festivals or appointed times. God said they are to be a statute forever. Leviticus 23

We do well to remember we are grafted in. Now if some branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others to share in the nourishment of the olive root, do not boast over those branches. If you do, remember this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.…Roman 11:17-18). We do not support the root, the root supports us. Jesus is Jewish. Our Messiah is Jewish; there is no getting around this fact. As a matter of fact we should not want to change this.

I assure you this is a sacred and appointed season assigned and designed from God. As I prayed and ask The Lord concerning the season of repentance and the relevance of Teshuvah, this is what I was shown about this season. It blessed me and I pray it blesses you and gives more understanding.

He began by showing me an apple tree. No pun intended it’s just what I saw. I heard in my spirit: The Lord said, just as this tree remains an apple tree forever, each season it loses its leaves. The leaves are for a season not forever. I got it and I could see and understand fully so that I could share it simply.

What I didn’t know but have learned is that the tree realizes it cannot afford to keep the leaves during the cold or dry seasons of the year and survive. Therefore it cuts the leaves off from receiving nourishment. A tree that loses all its leaves at the same time is known as a deciduous tree. The apple trees along with many other varieties of trees are what are known as deciduous trees. Live oaks and other evergreen trees lose their leaves but have new leaves to take the place of dead leaves immediately or soon after. These evergreens always have leaves but they grow new leaves each season as well. This speaks to me concerning Christians and new believers. The mature Christian may appear evergreen; however we are still growing and replenishing. Our root seasons and pruning don’t seem as severe the more mature we become.

A deciduous tree sheds its leaves as a strategy for survival. Shedding the leaves is to conserve water and energy during the root season. The tree actively cuts off the life flow to the leaves. This process is called abscission. It is the same Latin root word we get our word scissors from. The word abscission means “to cut.” At the start of the process of abscission the tree actually absorbs necessary nutrients from the leaves and stores these nutrients for later use in their roots. This is why leaves change colors. Interesting huh? I love to find out facts like this that help explain our walk as believers. Jesus said if we could understand the parable of “The Sower”, we could understand all things pertaining to the kingdom.

Repentance is being smart enough to know what cannot go with us into the next season of our lives. The Lord showed me that even though the apple tree continues the cycle of ‘loosing’ it’s leaves, (remember it cuts them off), throughout its life cycle it never has to be reprogrammed. The tree continues to know it is an apple tree and will remain an apple tree. That is never a question.

 

I pray we know and discern the seasons of The Lord as we continue to know Him.

Let us pray.

Dear Heavenly Father, I want to be a branch supported by the root. A branch that bears much fruit. I know that in order to bear much fruit I will have to have deeper roots. I know that I need to be rooted and grounded in Your love to produce the fruit of The Spirit. I know that the only way to grow in maturity and to bear good fruit requires root seasons. Lord Jesus as I prepare for my upcoming root season, show me how casting off dead works and  letting go of the lust of the world is beautiful to You. I want to bear fruit and much fruit for the kingdom of our Father. I long for my life to bring glory to our Father. Spirit of the living God help me grow deep roots. Amen

Hosea 10:12

Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and brake up you unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD until He comes and showers His righteousness on you.

 

Don’t miss the season of Repentance, Teshuvah; it is my favorite time of the year.

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

 

 

Return, Repent, Shuv and turn again.

We are in the Days of Awe leading up to the Day of Atonement. We know our High Priest, Jesus Christ, took His blood behind the veil, applying His blood to the mercy seat once and for all. Jesus has offered a perfect sacrifice and atoning work that requires no further offerings. No longer necessary is the blood of bulls and goats year after year any longer. However we on the other hand will continue to miss the mark, and on some days it seems we miss it often. I know I do on a daily basis. Thank You Lord Jesus, for giving us seasons of refreshing. Thank you for repentance and for this time, the precious season and appointed time of Teshuvah. This is the time to prepare and rehearse for Your return.

The Ways of God

Your words are wonderful and full of glory
Written and heard  throughout Your story
A book given and written by inspiration
To tell of you works to the generations

The children of Israel knew Your acts
But to Moses Your ways became facts
Following Your voice He did lead
For forty years Your friend indeed

Face to face You were in tent of meeting
Your glory would come down, cover sheeting
His eyes and mind from people and distraction
Keeping his focus on hearing commands for action.

Teach us Your “Ways” how we should go
So that into image and likeness we may grow.
Teach us to be Face to Face friends
With You, mighty Father from beginning to end

Revelation interpretation edification

Calling out to me for my sanctification
Found in right place, time for aligning
During this time this season of assigning

 Poem written by Laurette Laster © 2017

Hosea 14:1, 2, 9

Return, Israel, to the LORD your God. Your sins have been your downfall! Take words with you and return to the LORD. Say to him: “Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips. Who is wise? Let them realize these things. Who is discerning? Let them understand. The ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.

 

 

Take words with you and return.

Confession is a huge part of our returning or Teshuvah. Paying our vow is having made vows. Yes we are to bring gifts and offerings but also to pay our vows. Have you ever made a vow to our Father only to realize you haven’t been living up to what you vowed? I’m sure we all have at one time or another. In the parable of the Prodigal son, scriptures tells us, when the prodigal son came to his senses.

So the prodigal had to realize his condition and the depravity of his choices. In verse 18 of Luke 15 he says I will set out and go back or return, which is to Teshuvah to my Father, and I will say to him. The prodigal has seen clearly where he came from, and knew to where he longed to return. When the prodigal left he had demanded his inheritance saying, “Give Me” speaking of his inheritance. The prodigal had a sense of entitlement with no wisdom. However during his time in the pig pen and then on his return, his words and his continence had changed. He had been humbled and was returning with new words. He returned with his words of repentance and saying I am not worthy to be called a son, “Make Me a servant.”

Just like trees, we grow and change each year as Christians, or we should. If we are being led by the Spirit we will go through seasons that test us, drain us, threaten our very existence and seasons that nourish and nurture us. The process is what allows us to mature. We should have seasons of maturity and seasons of root work. The maturing actually takes place during the root season and is seen in action during fruit season. The work that springs forth is the new life created and is only the evidence of the hard, cold, dark and very long root season there is a deep work that should take place in our hearts each year as we stop and do an end of year inventory.

In Celebrate Recovery, inventories are necessary and required. There is one huge inventory that is necessary in order to unpack old baggage and start over. Taking an honest and fearless moral inventory is how we unpack the baggage from past hurts, hang ups and habits. I truly believe this is what the prodigal son had done. He was inventorying his condition and comparing it to what his father had for him. We always know when we are living beneath the call and will of God. We may not understand that we know, but still we know.

In CR we are given tools to use for our growth. One of the tools in this tool box so to say, is three different types of inventories. They are, daily inventory, ongoing inventory, and periodical inventories.

We as Christians should be doing these inventories. Where was I, this time last year, two years ago, ten years ago? Where do I want to be, this time next year? Have I missed opportunities God had for me? Did I become complacent or lazy? Have I been distracted by unimportant things?

Seasonal repentance isn’t always the deep, grueling, soul ripping, sorrowful work as was first required. The work that initially ushered us into Salvation and dying to self in order that we may live unto God is a onetime work. This is the work the Apostle Paul spoke of in 2 Corinthians 7:10-11 when he said, “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.  For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what readiness to see justice done.” Godly sorrow, also translated “godly grief,” is an acute sense of deep sadness experienced as a result of the sins we have committed. (ESV)

If we are sincere and give Holy Spirit place in our lives we will be changed from the inside out. However it is necessary for continued seasons of growth to mature and to grow.

This season of Teshuvah and returning is a spiritual season that is set in God’s day-timer.

A season of return is real. It is The LORDS feast or festivals, Mo’ed. Mo’edim- His set times and seasons. This is His timing for appointments and yearly checkups so to speak. He tells us not to appear empty handed.

Take words with you when you return, the fruit of our lips, the fruit of repentance.

 

This morning this song was on my heart.

Here I am, I’ve come to find you

Here I am, to seek Your grace

To bring to you an offering, I have to ask myself one thing

How can I can anything but praise, I praise.

 

Here I am, I’ve come to thank you

Here I am a life You’ve changed

Because You gave your life for me, You crucified Your Son for me

How can I do anything but praise?

 

I pray that during this season of repentance, we Return and Teshuvah back to our first love. I pray we find Him, Praise Him and truly enjoy these times of refreshing. I pray we have a deeper intimacy than ever before with our Savior. I pray you know Him privately, and personally as well as publically.  He is The King of kings and The LORD of lords.

Let us pray

Dear Heavenly Father. I want to know You more intimately and personally. I want to grow in truth and in grace. I know that in order to grow I must be seasoned and I must continue to dye to myself in order to live unto You. Show me Lord what is distracting me, teach my how to become rooted and grounded in the things of the Spirit. I do not want the smell of the world on me while I play dressup in the church. I want to be the church, and look like the church and smell like the church. I want to be all in, completely submerged, over my head in love with You Lord Jesus. Thank You for setting seasons and for dress rehearsals. I pray I am found dressed and ready for Your return every day not just sometimes. Amen

I have grown this season and fallen more in Love with our Father, The Lord Jesus and Holy Spirit, The God Head of our salvation. I pray you have also.

 

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

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

 

 

Repent, Pray and Do good works.

 

Teshuvah-Repent

T’fillah-Pray-judge oneself

T’zedakah-Good works or charity

 

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

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

Herald the Way

Light of dawn, light of day

Come into view, herald the way

This is the day The Lord hath made

On Jesus Messiah, the cost was laid

 

Yet I believe, I will rejoice

Enough to lay aside that choice

And hearken only unto Thy will

Be quiet, be calm, be peaceful and still.

 

And know that You alone are God –

Not my will, but Thine, I nod

My heart, your home I did agree

With tender reserve, I dare plea

 

Have thing own way, yea my Lord

King of my heart, You have roared

This is the day and now is the time

Come feast at My table, yes sit and dine

 

On every word that doth proceed

From out of Your mouth You have decreed

It shall not return back unto You void

Angels dispatched, Armies deployed

 

I shall not doubt not fear in heart

You Lord prevail and have from the start

Listening hearts now pierced, begin to sing

Rejoice in the Lord, Keeper of everything.

 

That pertains to you and yea to them

Oh King Shepherd, Our Shiloh, the Yes and Amen

 

written by Laurette Laster © 2017

 

 

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

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

However we have these precious promises from out Father;

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

 

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

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

 

 

 

You are a Key

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

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

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

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

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

I Have The Key

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Poem written by laurette laster © 2018 September

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

1. Acknowledge personal guilt

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

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

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

 

4. Have faith toward Jesus Christ

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

 

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

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

 

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

Awake My Heart

From Your heart comes streaming down

 Unending love, beaming all around.

 Loving kindness, like light of dawn

 By Your grace we are drawn.

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

 

 From dusk to dawn and back, You trace,

 Faithful love, amazing grace.

 Breath of God, Ancient of Day’s,

 Here I am, hungering for Your ways.

 

Awake my heart, awake behold,

 “In the beginning,” mysteries unfold.

 Coming forth from Ancient of Day’s;

 Teach me Lord to know Your ways.

 

Poem written by Laurette Laster © 2017

 

 

Psalm 92:2

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

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

The Days of Awe………Day 4

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Brings this song to mind-

You are good-(He is only good)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Let us pray.

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

Repentance Poem of Salvation

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Poem written by laurette laster  © 2018 February

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Wake Up, Wake Up!

Do you not see?

It is within your grasp 

TO REINSTATE ME!

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Revelation 3

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

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

 

 

Wake Up, Wake Up!

Do you not see?

It is within your grasp

TO REINSTATE ME!

 

Be specific when you ask,

Be direct in your speech,

Be vigilant and forthright

Bold when you teach!

 

Know My ways and My truths,

Never present Me miserly;

Freely I gave to you all I had,

My Best poured out entirely.

 

I sent My only Son,

To teach you about My ways.

In order that your understanding,

could grow in the coming days.

 

Stop begging Me for power,

To save your nation and land,

I’ve given you what you need,

SPEAK UP-show Me your plan.

 

SPEAK UP SPEAK UP!

Do you not see?

It is within your grasp

SPEAK UP, TO REINSTATE ME!

 

What will you do to engage

Your neighborhood and city?

With all I have poured out,

Failure to utilize My power, would be a pity!

 

You are not helpless or alone

Not forgotten or in despair

If I weren’t for you America…..

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

 

You would’ve been destroyed

If not for My Hand of protection

You would’ve lost more than towers,

Had I not covered you in My affection.

 

GET UP, GET UP!

Do you not see?

It is within your grasp

GET UP TO REINSTATE ME!

 

I gave My best

I have given My all

GET UP, GET UP!

That is My call!

 

It’s urgent, it is time

Today is the day

Church ask Me for wisdom

I will not delay!

 

Poem written under inspiration of Holy Spirit by laurette laster.

2018 May ©  # 1-684962241

Grasp. verb\ˈgraspintransitive verb

: to make the motion of seizing : clutchgrasping for support

transitive verb

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

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

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

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3:10, 12, 20‬ -21 ESV‬‬

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

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

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

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

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

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

‭‭

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

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

Days of Awe

Be open my heart to

God’s perfect law

During this season

Ten Day’s of Awe

Written and stamped

before my face

I’m returning To you

back I trace
In meditation I consider

all You have done

From beginning to end

rising of the sun

A time of dancing

and a time to shout

The Lord renown

is calling out
Blow the shofar

it is My decree

And I’ll remember

you’re calling for Me

Come now, come quickly

the way is open

invitation spoken

of loves pure devotion

This time is sacred

and set is the course

Repent and return,

finished regret and remorse

For only pure hearts

My people do know

Is to them the climb

I can bestow
My face and new heights

will come into view

When onward then upward

you push on and continue.

Laurette Laster © 2017

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Let us pray.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have you had a real encounter with Jehovah?

Let us pray.

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

Teshuvah is my favorite time of the year.

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

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