It's that time again {+ a FREE coloring page}

I am so excited that the fall feasts are almost here again! This is one of my favorite times of the year, followed VERY closely by the spring feasts. In preparation for the feasts I'm sure that most of you are taking the time to reflect and search out your hearts. I know for our family we are tying to really get focused so that when the feasts come we can enter in fully. I love how the different feasts {found in Leviticus 23} are like appointments with the Most High! He tells us when to show up and we get to enter in to His presence in a way completely different from other times. Of course all the food and fellowship is great too :o) One of the things we are doing in out home is getting the children involved in the whole concept of Teshuvah {repentance} and why that is important. We talk about what Yeshua {Jesus} has done for us and our need to "go and sin no more". Forgiveness is not a license to sin, as I'm sue you already know, so it's important to us to for our children to get that.  Of course with our children being so young we have to find creative ways to discuss this and get it to stick. One things that my children LOVE to do is color. So I created this teshuvah coloring page to illustrate exactly what it means to teshuvah. Since we're using it in our home I thought some of you might enjoy it as well. Blessings to you and you home!FREE coloring page

Elul

image via Holy Sparks

I am SO excited! Elul is upon us. Elul is the 6th month on the Hebrew calendar. Which to some that may seem like no big deal but if you know about Hashem's appointed times then you will notice that it's 1 month away from the fall feasts.

On the 1st of Tishrei (the 7th month) is Yom Teruah, more commonly known as Rosh Hashanah. Then on the 10th of Tishrei is Yom Kippur, the day of atonement. Then it all wraps up with Sukkot on the 15th. These three fall feasts are a time for deep connection with Hashem. They are a time for teshuva {repentance} and getting on the right track. 

The month prior to this, Elul, is used for introspection and drawing closer to Hashem. There is a teaching isn Judaism that says during Elul "the King is in the field". Meaning that Hashem is even more accessible to us during this time. The reason for this is that we are approaching HIS appointed times for renewal and atonement. 

There so much more to say about this and much work to be done to prepare for Yom Teruah/Rosh Hashanah. I'm planning on taking part in an online study group on Teshuva and Rosh Hashanah, as well doing some personal Torah study and reflection. A great portion of scripture to read during this time would be the book of Nehemia. Chapters 6-8 are really appropriate for this time as they deal with the months of Elul and Tishrei, and show the preparations that took place to prepare the Israelites for  the High Holy Days. 

Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field. -Ecc 5:9

Are you doing any soul searching for Elul? What are some of the ways you will prepare for the High Holy Days?

Must See

I saw this video on Shabbat and it is a MUST SEE! I could say so much, but it really speaks for itself. It's the message that was given at  the inaugural prayer breakfast for President Obama. I was so shocked by things that were stated in this message. I think its an important message for everyone to hear. I just pray it doesn't fall on deaf ears. 

Creating Traditions

The time leading up to Yom Teruah {or Rosh Hashanah} is a time of reflection. We want to make sure that our children are sensing the importance of this time and that we are constantly pointing them back to our Heavenly Father. So this year we've decided to take on the Jewish tradition of Tashlich {or casting off}.

This is done by casting small pieces of bread, representing our sins,  into a body of water. We also incorporated a teaching about sin and repentance. My husband read verses about sin and how we all sin, then verses about not covering up our sins. 

Our girls are so young there's no telling if it will have made any impact, but as they grow up we'd like to continue to do this and really take some time to pray with them about different sins they may be struggling with. 

Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.  He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old. -Micah 7:18-20

A Call To Righteousness {part 2}

As we saw in part 1, Elul is the month that we prepare ourselves. While of course we can get closer to God at anytime there is always room for improvement and we can all stand to get closer to our Abba. So why not do it now?

In the first 7 chapters of Nehemiah the people began rebuilding a wall to protect themselves from the heathens around them. Let's now examine the next 6 chapters to see how they got right with God after the wall was complete. 

First, the people learned God's commands. Nehemiah 8:1-8 talks about how Ezra read the book of the law {Leviticus} and how the levites {in v. 7} "caused the people to understand the law". We can apply that to our own lives by taking the time time to read God's law. People are often quick to say that they are not under the law because of salvation is Yeshua {Jesus} and while yes we are free from the punishment of not keeping the law, that doesn't mean the law is not still pleasing to YHVH. 

See the law has never been what gave salvation. Salvation has ALWAYS BEEN by grace through faith. Those saints that made it to Heaven from before Jesus came, got there because of their trust, and faith, in God {see Hebrews 11}. It was not through the perfect keeping of the law. They couldn't even keep the law perfectly, that's why they had to do sacrifices. So the law was never for salvation but always to create a holy people. God has always said "Be ye holy, for I am holy" {1 Peter 1:16} that has always been His desire. To have a people that are holy, or set apart, for Himself. So that still applies to us, He still wants us to be holy! Would you commit to read through the Scriptures and ask the LORD to show you what He desires from you? I'm not suggesting that you make a list of rules and begin trying to keep them all in your own flesh. YOU CAN'T! But what you can do is seek out His will on this matter for your life. 

Secondly, the people began keeping His feats. You can't come before our Holy God, looking for His presence, and not be moved to do something. You just can't. He is holy and we are not, therefore we will want to change after having a real encounter with Him. So after they understood the law, they began keeping His set apart Holy Days {8:9-18}. They started with what they could. 

Thirdly, the people confessed their sins {9:1-4}. This step is one that will need to be repeated over and over again. Once you know God's laws you should be convicted of your sin. See the law should not puff us up and make us think "oh yea I got this". It should bring you to your knees, with a humble heart! All those laws that you haven't kept, all the sins that you have committed, Jesus took that on. He took on the sins of the ENTIRE WORLD to be separated for the very first time EVER from YHVH. He did that FOR YOU! If that doesn't move you to repentance, then I don't know what to tell you. 

Fourthly, the people committed to be set-apart followers of YHVH {10:28-39}. Making such a  commitment doesn't mean you'll be perfect. It just means you are asking for the Ruach HaKodesh {Holy Spirit} to guide you and help you to honor God in all things. 

Fifthly, the people cleansed themselves from the world {13:1-9}. Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude. {v.3} As followers of God we are called to be separate from the world. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.-2 Corinthians 6:17 

That means that we are not to look and act like the world, but rather act like children of El Elyon {the Most High God}. We shouldn't be so wrapped up in the things of this world that we neglect the things of God!

Lastly, the people committed not to inner-marry {13:23-30}. If you've ever heard the term "unequally yolked" you know exactly what I'm talking about; children of God marrying unbelievers. If you've ever been a believer, while your spouse was an unbeliever, then you know the pain of being unequally yolked. Our Abba in His infinite wisdom commanded us not to intermarry so that we can avoid the many hardship that come with it.  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? - 2 Corinthians6:14

These six steps are an excellent starting place to seeking the Lord on the issue of personal righteousness. Especially now that we are getting very close to the fall chagim {holidays}. Don't wait, seek the Lord and see what He has in store for you. 

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. -Matthew 5:6

A Call To Righteousness {part 1}

Lately in my quiet time with the Lord I've been seeing how we are called to have personal righteousness. I know that if you're saved you know about imputed righteousness. Because that's what happens when we accept Jesus as our Savior. His righteousness get's imputed on to us. But that's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about our own personal pursuit of righteousness. 

The Lord has really been pressing this topic into my heart. It seems everyday He makes a verse about righteousness shine as I'm spending time with Him in His Word. For me this is increasingly significant as this is the hebrew month of Elul. This month is an important one as it is the month where much time is spent gearing up for the High Holidays of Yom Teruah (commonly called Rosh Hashanna) and Yom Kippur. {See lev 23:24-32 for more details}

The month of Elul is a time where we are reminded of what is important and we begin making teshuvah (turning back to God; repentance). Which leads us towards seeking to live a life that is pleasing to our Heavenly Father. We can see a picture of this in the book of Nehemiah. Let me give a very quick overview of the first few chapters in the book of Nehemiah:

Hanani came to Nehemiah with some other men of Judah, and Nehemiah asked them about the Jews that had escaped captivity. Their report was not good. So Nehemiah wept and prayed to God for the children of Israel, confessing his sins and their sins. Then, skipping ahead some, Nehemiah received a blessing from the king to go unto Judah and rebuild the wall of the city. Everyone pitched in and rebuilt the wall of the city. Then in chapter 6 verse 15 it says: So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days.

As you see the wall was completed near the end of Elul. So while they didn't start during Elul they did spend most of the month preparing. After the wall was finished God put it on Nehemiah's heart to get everyone gathered by their families. Once everyone was gathered Ezra the priest came and read the book of the law to everyone on the first day of the seventh month {Neh 8:2}, which is Yom Teruah! That was the beginning of Judah turning back to the ways of the Lord after their captivity. 

What an awesome picture of how we can turn back to YHVH after our captivity in sin! The rest of Nehemiah covers just how the people turned their hearts back to God and how they got their hearts right with the Father. There is so much to be learned about personal righteousness in this short book of only 13 chapters! I'm late with writing about Elul since it's almost over but it's not too late for teshuva. 

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. -2 Chronicles 7:14