poetry

Have you Received The Gift

Have you received The Gift

Wrapped in Gold

This gift so gloriously fashioned
Something priceless inside
This gift wrapped in gold
The place His presence abides

The surrounding of their wings
Extended covering the top
Yes they’re awaiting something special
Likened to a MASTER’S workshop

Lavishly covered in pure gold
The story now has been told
It is the place of covering
The Covenant Ark of His abode

The Ark of His Covenant
The Place of His abiding Presence
Where He writes upon our heart
Inside our heart the law is evidenced

He purposed the law securely
Underneath His seat of mercy
Does this design point to us
Will there be some controversy

His presence is here
The seat where He abides
Covered by wings so large
A safe place where we can hide

The place of eternal protection
Guarded shelter under His wings
A place for perfect atoning
Covered only by His anointing

The gift where love meets me
Covering my every flaw
His Golden Ark of Covenant
A gift of eternal awe

Mercy was placed atop
Covering the law
Because His grace is needed
When we sin and helplessly fall

His gift so intricately wrapped
Covered with purest gold
Yes it holds the greatest Christmas gift
More precious than the gold

Covered by His wings
The place His blood was applied
Because mercy always triumphs law
His Gift salvation securely supplied

© laurette laster

It’s Time

January 1, 2020 something was stirring in my spirit. I sensed The Lord asking what does it mean. Our Western traditions, customs, and holidays are illustrations, mimicking the Fall Feasts and other Appointed Times of the Lord, even though others may not be aware of this.
Christmas is here. It is the Christmas season.
Our lights burn brightest in the darkness. I turn the window candles on each night loving the nostalgic feel of times gone by. I miss the the festive decorations when the season is over but carry the meaning of Christmas in my heart everyday.
Our traditions and Holidays (Holy Days)Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years, represent The Fall Feasts of The Lord our God. Yom Teruah or Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur also known as Day of Atonement and Tabernacles, and Hanukkah or Feast of Dedication are Holy times of God. We’ve been honoring and handing down remnants or portions of these Feasts for generations.
Greg and I were talking January 1, the beginning of 2020, I asked him, if you had to define time what would you say time is, how would you describe time? He sat there for a moment then answered, “I don’t know.” It isn’t easily definable or described in one word.

How applicable.
Time is a noun, a verb, and an adjective.
Time is a season, a decade, a day, a moment, a year, an eon, an event, a measure, a duration, a date, an occasion, time is passing, can be appointed and time can be missed. The list can go on and on.
We know that the stroke of a clock doesn’t really change anything, and neither does the day on a calendar, yet we need the boundary time marks and sets. God established time of light and dark, evening and the morning, making a distinction between day and night at the beginning of creation.
We need the measurement and the distinction time offers.
While we read many opinions or rants about celebrating pagan holidays, I thank God for the reason we celebrate.
I also have a word for Christmas 2020 that has had several confirmations of late. We will celebrate His Presence this year and be utterly amazed. One confirmation is from 2006 from Kim Clement. Now I understand more the stirring in my soul, what time is it? What does is mean?

Looking intently, searching the scriptures the prophets searched for when this event, the advent of Christ would come. The people of God were intensely looking, listening for, longing and believing for The King to make His entrance as spoken through the words of Isaiah and Jeremiah and other prophets, longingly looking for the consolation of Israel.
In remembrance of Him and tHis sacred event we observe tHis set apart time, recognizing and honoring our God. He set, kept, and fulfilled, His promised appointment with mankind, sending His Son, Jesus Christ, our promised Messiah. This promised event changed the destiny and eternity of mankind.
The first Christmas Gift ever given was in the beginning, wrapped in pure gold, Emmanuel, God’s presence with His people. The first article to be built was the Ark of The Covenant. His plan, Emmanuel, God with us, from the beginning with the construction of the Ark.

A gift given to us, then poured out for us at the Cross for the forgiveness of our sins. At His resurrection This Gift would open unto us the offer of complete salvation and meaning, new life, a living hope, redemption, restoration, sanctification, and eternity with Him in the next life giving us power here and now.
What a God, what a glorious event; The Gift that is still being opened.
We have been given a set time, the acceptable day, an appointed time to die and then judgement.
Why would anyone miss the day of salvation?
It is time! Today is the day, now is the acceptable time of God’s favor. If you haven’t already made Jesus Lord of your life, I pray you will stop right now and receive The Gift that Christmas delivered, ask Jesus to be your Savior.
He is The Real Gift and the meaning of Christmas!


Merry Christmas-Laurette

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, thanks for listening with me. Laurette

poetry

The Gift of Christmas

The Gift of Christmas 


Why get so busy and hurried
Purchasing gifts for under the tree
This is Christmas’ Holy arrival
Emmanuel, God with us for eternity


A Gift so Holy awe inspiring
A Gift more valuable than gold
Money can’t buy and man can’t make
A Gift human hands can’t mold


The Gift for hearts and minds made new
This is why Christmas came
It is life and power to our spirit
This Christmas Gift changed everything


Stop for a moment take a deep breath
Ponder and think about why
Silently pray and listen
As we hear the Christmas lullaby


Behold the angel said
I bring good news that will be great joy
He has come, Emmanuel God with us
Better than any trinket or toy


Today hearts can be made new
Today broken dreams revived
All because God chose
To come and die and make us alive


Oh Yes the Gift of eternity
The Gift so amazing and Divine
Stop for a moment this Christmas
Hear how Christmas came alive


© laurette laster 2019


“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.”

And the child grew and became strong; He was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on Him.”
‭‭(Luke‬ ‭2:6-7, 14, 40‬ ‭NIV)

What a wonderful time to focus on The Gift, The Love, The Delivery, delivered for us, to bring deliverance for us. The Gift from heaven that caused the heavenly host to proclaim in the highest heaven, “Glory to God in the highest”‬‬

At just the right time Emmanuel, Christ The Lord, as a babe born in Bethlehem, named Yeshuah by God, came into the earth, born of a virgin named Mary. Could there be a better time than now to worship God for His precious Gift freely given to all who will receive? Yes Christmas is about The Perfect Gift; The Gift from God to man. Religion is man reaching for God; at Christmas God reached down and gave of Himself, touching the world giving The Greatest Gift; Himself; Emmanuel God with us; Oh what a glorious night.

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




poetry

A Christmas Heart

A Christmas Heart


Can you feel it in your heart        
Christmas time- a special part
Consolation has come for Israel
That Prophets of old did foretell


Do you feel Him in your heart
Emmanuel, Salvation's start
Gabriel's news to Mary he gave
Birth of Messiah, born to save


God has come in flesh to dwell 
Heavens glory did show and tell
About Messiah and His entrance
A virgin shall give birth, to His preeminence


Hearts will break when they believe
Giving thanks on bended knee
The time had come for God's own plan
Eternity set in the heart of man


No more to sing Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel 
The Lord was born at Migdol Eder
He has come to save us from our sin
Of His kingdom there shall be no end


© laurette laster 2018


Isaiah 9:6 NIV
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.


Luke 1-31-33 NKJV
And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.

Who do you think could believe such a thing? Well here’s hoping to Heaven you do.

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

poetry

Christmas Altar Call

Do you remember when you knew?

Christmas ‘Altar Call’

Joy to the world
The Lord has come
Holy salvation
God’s kingdom

Hark the herald angels sing
When bells of Christmas past did ring
Do you hear, can you feel
Christmas joy, tangible, surreal

As a Babe in Bethlehem did come
God incarnate Gifted Son
Came to save and seek the lost
What great gain, What great cost

While you think of what to gift
I have a question, perhaps like this;
Do you know, have you seen
Heavens herald, when angels sing
At Migdal Edar, temple Shepherds saw
Heavens first ‘Altar call.’

Oh Come and see what God has done
One and only perfect Son
Joy to the world sent to all
Christmas season’s ‘Altar call’
Bring your hearts on bended knee,
God In Heaven has called to thee

This perfect GIFT, not available in any mall
Don’t mistake Christmas-it’s heaven’s Altar call.’
Life eternal, joy Divine
Where it’s CHRIST mas all the time

© laurette laster 2017

Luke 2:11-14
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and in earth peace to those on whom His favor rest.”

When the time has come for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took Jesus to the Temple to present Him to The Lord.
Simeon was given special insight from the Spirit that he would recognize the Messiah.

Simeon’s revelation by The Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen The Lord’s Messiah
Luke 2:30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation.

I first saw this picture Christmas Eve 2013, it was the cover page of The Upper Room pamphlet. With great excitement I said to Greg, “oh look it is Simeon with Jesus.” Later after leaving the candlelight service, Greg ask how I ‘immediately’ knew that was Simeon when seeing the picture, asking had I seen this photo before? I said I’m not sure, I just knew.

I’ve not met Simeon or ever seen a picture to my knowledge, how did I know? I felt the power of the a painter’s captioning because the same Spirit that lives in us still gives insight.

I was ecstatic Christmas 2014 after (finally) receiving this painting, from my husband Greg for Christmas. A few wrong deliveries, to Greg’s chagrin as he sat proudly with me. (His perfect plan for Christmas Eve delivery destroyed as I sat awaiting in great expectation my gift, him receiving the email notice; your package has been delivered. His face flushed when finally finding out it had mistakenly been dropped off at a distribution center, now closed until after Christmas) the painting finally made its way home to me.
It is one of the first things I see each day as I awaken.

Do you remember when you received the gift of your Salvation?

Simeon’s moment by Ron DiCianni. I added the captioning to a photo of my painting for this post

Merry Christmas-

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

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

poetry

Hello December

I bring you good news
that will cause great joy for all the people.
Today a Savior has been born to you;
He is the Messiah, The Lord.
““Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭2: 10-11, 14
Who could believe such a thing? Not only could they believe, they had waited earnestly, looking intently.

Hello December…
I love December, I love celebrating the birth of Christ our King! Our Savior! Our Redeemer! The One who fulfilled the Law, The One the Prophets prophesied about, looking intently searching the scriptures to learn when the things showed them might come to be, when The Messiah would arrive (1 Peter 1:10-11). Immanuel, God with us, mentioned in every book of the Bible. Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of a Peace (Isaiah 9:6). The babe born of a virgin, delivered to be our sacrifice, slain as the spotless lamb of God to take away the sin of the world (John 1:29), crucified as a sinner yet never sinned, rose from the dead, found worthy to break the seals and to open the scroll (Rev 5), soon returning King, The Redeemer of mankind; that is for all that would call on His Name!
The Light has come!
Who could believe such a thing? Well, here’s hoping to Heaven you do!

Was Jesus Christ The Messiah born in December? No, there are many proofs He was not born in December. Is the Christmas celebration wrong? I do not think so. There are many memorials and moed mentioned in the Bible.
Do I HATE the commercialism of the events celebration, oh yes. But I can’t let what the world does hinder the reverence and worship in my heart and I really pray you do not either.

Christmas is about setting aside a mass, a ‘celebration’ of God’s duly devoted, prophesied, heralded and fulfilled word coming to pass, Immanuel God with us.

In the beginning was The WORD, and The WORD was with God and The WORD was God. The WORD became flesh and dwelt among us ( Gospel of John 1)
Christmas is about Christ, and we who celebrate, celebrate Christmas everyday.
Christmas delivered the gift that keeps on giving.
Have you received “The Gift of Christmas?”
“Here’s hoping to heaven you do.”

“A glorious night yes I’ll say
When shepherds heard the news
Today in the city of David
Good News, God’s gift was delivered for you.”
(Excerpt from Out For Delivery poem © laurette laster)

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

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

Hello September-Welcome Teshuvah

Hello September-Welcome Teshuvah

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 twelfth 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

In a world of crazy our instruction is ‘be still’. In a time of chaos we know that He who holds the world hears our prayers. In the absurdity and uncertainty of worldly words those of us in Christ have The Spirit of Truth as our guide.
September has deep meaning to some, to others it may be overlooked, but mark my words, He who holds Israel holds the world and especially the United States of America.

Heavenly Father, we dedicate this month to prayer. Shepherd and guide our souls. Lead us to seek for and find You. Teach us how to rededicate our lives to the purity of holiness as You walk us into the truth of repentance, ushering in the restoration promised in Your word.

Amen

poetry

If My People- Teshuvah 2020

Oh Sweet Teshuvah, the holy appointed season of repentance is here. Oh,  did I mention this is my favorite time of the year, or at least one of my favorite. This year I sense a deeper draw, not personal but corporate. I feel the call to sound an alarm for those who say we are Christians. It is time to Wake Up, Stand Up and most of all Speak Up.  

Don’t miss this time of the year. You have an appointment with The Lord of the harvest.

This year I have a deep ache for our Nation and the condition of the heart and heartbeat of America.
God is not finished with The United States. The gospel of Jesus Christ is preached and must continue to be preached to all the earth from the United States of America. We however must turn back to the standard of holiness set by God and to the God of the Bible in our pulpits. No more watered down lukewarm gospel to tickle the ears of the complacent.

God is allowing this insanity to wake us up
The alarm has been sounding for several years, and many hit the snooze button many times. Now is not the time to be found slumbering.

Wake Up Church!

Are you awake yet?

Is your family awake?

Are your fiends awake?

Are you praying?

Webster’s Dictionary
Reprieve: to give relief or deliverance to or for a time.

2 Chronicles 7:14

If My people
Do you know who you are
You have an assignment
Your country has drifted so far

Yes! Call on My Name
The Great I Am
The God of your Nation
Seek My plan

Repent and Turn
Pray and Seek
Humble yourselves
Allow Me to speak

Turn away from complacency
Being unaware and misinformed
The promise on My altar stands
For your Nation to be reformed

Complaining and acceptance
While allowing the apostasy
Has opened the way
For socialism and Agnostacy

Pick up your promise
Fall to your knees
Cry out to Me
Dare to believe

Repent and cry out
Praying only to Me
I will hear and heal
Set your land free

The land that loves Me
Free to spread the gospel
If you return and seek for Me
Only then is this possible

Turn back, turn around
Call out and believe
I Am is listening
In His hand our reprieve

© laurette laster
Day 2 Teshuvah 2020

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord;
and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance” (Psalms 33:12).

“Behold, I come at once, and my reward is with me, and I shall give to every person according to his work” (Revelation 22:12 Aramaic Plain English).

In 2016 The Lord spoke to me, “I am not judging America I will have to judge My church for the condition of the United States of America.” Talk about a sobering thought and a wake up call. As believers we have been given authority, dominion, and a voice for change. We are called to occupy until He comes. We are ambassadors for Christ and ministers of reconciliation. We must understand the time we are in and the fight we are called to fight. For far too long, Christians, have thought it was the will of the Lord for us to be docile and sweet. I challenge this thinking. Jesus said since the days of John the Baptist the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence and the violent take it by force. This don’t judge and be nice attitude while sounding sweet is completely anti God and has allowed the enemy to seduce and entice our young people, ushering in a spirit of hatred and division. I urge you to pray and intercede for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and for the United States of America to fulfill her purpose.

We must take our place and let our voices be heard, first in heaven and then at the polls. Pray and Vote.

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

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

Blog, poetry

Hand Over The Key to Love

 

Depths of purpose and layers of meaning saturate everything You do

(From the grace series)

It is so enjoyable to come before You with uncontainable praises spilling from our hearts! How we love to sing our praises over and over to You, to the matchless God, high and exalted over all! Psalm 92:1 TPT

Hand Over The Key to Love

 

Have you ever longed to hold

The key to another’s heart

To see them light up and glow within

Like light overtakes the dark

 

img_2345

Have you longed to love

Be loved back with a vengeance

To know this kind of love

Oh feelings available and endless

 

What if you never had to fear

Afraid that love would leave

But you could fully trust

At last you had received

cd02bcf4-c7c0-4b07-9618-1a304cff21a3

 

Oh to think of a love so pure

To imagine a love so strong

To truly know and understand

It is yours and to you belonged

 

That you were more than enough

To be loved through and through

Well I have come to share

That is exactly how God loves you

 

He sent His only Son

To come deliver the news

That God had made a way

For you beaten scourged and bruised

 

Why would He do this what was He thinking

He longs for you to understand

That you’ve held the key to His Heart

On your love He makes a demand

 

For God so loved the world

He gave His only begotten Son

That whosoever would not perish

Believe then rest secure in His eternal Love

 

A Father who comes to fight like this

Wow can you even imagine

Why would He do it what was His plan

You hold the key to His heart,

Can you just fathom

 

A love so strong that won’t let go

A love that will search you out

I know you’ve been feeling His draw

Reach in your pocket and pull it out

 

That key you’ve been holding

Fits the lock to open your heart

You closed it off long ago

And now is the time to start

 

Open and unclench your fist

You’re safe, hand that key to Jesus

That anger you held against God

It belongs to satan the lying deceiver

 

Jesus came to make a way

You’re safe in His love and Care

Jesus has come to rescue you

Follow Him! Unending love waits there

 

© laurette laster 2018

Melodies of praise fill the air as every musical instrument, joined with every heart, overflows with worship. No wonder I’m so glad; I can’t keep it in! Lord I’m shouting with glee over all You have done, for all You’ve done for me! What mighty miracles and Your power at work, just to name a few. Depths of purpose and layers of meaning saturate everything You do. Psalm 92:3-5 TPT

As God’s chosen instrument, He created as His masterpiece, a people to make sounds with our larynx and mouth, He created us to speak. So we are vocalist.  We therefore have instruments of percussion. We are His sumphoneo (pronounced soom-fo-neh-o) His symphony.  Our whole bodies are a praise. We bow our heads, we bend our knees, prostrate with faces to the ground, we fold or lift holy hands, we set our feet to dancing, we sing, we cry out, and when we do this in unity or harmoniously we become his sumpheneo, His symphony. May we not only lift our praises but become His praise. In the scriptures above we see what love really is. It comes from an internal deposit by Holy Spirit on the inside. This love is from the inside out. Love is much more than an emotion, it is an explosion of His goodness poured into us, then we in turn pour into others.

In this the week of love, I encourage you to learn of Jesus and grow  in love with Him. He is our pure Love and Valentine. His heart poured out His never ending love proving this.

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, thanks for listening with me. Laurette