His promise - perfect for Tabernacles

What does the Shofar teach us? Plus a video of a shofar call!

I have been posting a little on my facebook page about the Feast of Tabernacles. Here I am recreating a post I did for today - I am just captured by the depth and layers of symbolism in the Jewish Feasts of the Lord and how they apply to our Christian walk!  Read on to find out more about the shofar...

(image found on Google)

AWAKE. RETURN. SEEK.

AWAKE:
The blast called "teru'ah," nine staccato blasts, is the "alarm" sound meant to wake us up!

This idea was stated in the New Testament writing: "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Messiah will shine on you" (Eph. 5:13-14). This theme of "awakening from sleep" is used elsewhere in the Scriptures (e.g., John 11:11, Rom. 13:11, 1 Thess. 5:6, Dan. 12:1-2, Psalm 78:65, etc.).

RETURN:
Because the shofar is curved in appearance, we are reminded that this is the preferred posture of God's people. We are not to arrogantly rely on our own wisdom or to think we can correct our spirit to align with our Father. Instead, we are to take the humble stance of the shofar; that is, to be curved or bowed in submission to what God would tell us.

SEEK:
Rosh HaShanah is a time to take an honest look into our spirits to make sure we are aligned with our Father's plan for us. The curve of the shofar tells us that the only way to find God's best is to bend our will to his will.

The sound of the shofar calls us to return to the LORD and seek His face. And since finding God is our greatest joy, King David rightly wrote:

Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! 
(Psalms 89:15 [16] NKJV)

To Bless...

Look for someone to bless today -
a co-worker
a child
your spouse
your parents

It can be just a word of love or encouragement...be Jesus' hands, feet, voice, and heart!

7 points about the "perfection" of imperfection...

I love the feel of weathered wood, aged patina on metal, summer grasses drying in the fall - spent flower heads that have released their petals and seeds - 

All speaks of being well loved, worn out because of use, a favorite, a comfort, soft and beautiful...

That is the "perfect" of the imperfect -

The marks of being loved well

of being spent in service to one person who appreciated the presence of the thing loved...

This is why perfectionism is a trap - how can one be loved if perfect is the goal?

When Jesus calls us to be perfect 

He is calling us to let Him abide in our heart;

to let go of fear;

to not adhere to some system of rules;

but

to let love rule

to let love make us weathered, used, aged and spent

in being His hands and feet...

 because

He has already done everything that is needed to BE perfect - 

we cannot possibly add anything to what He has already done...

we must allow our imperfect selves to love and be loved by 

other imperfect ones...

This is the "perfection" of "imperfect"!

Peace! Be Still! What Does God's Peace Look Like? It might not be what you think....

 Peace!  Be Still!  It was the command the Jesus gave to the elements when His disciples became afraid of the gale surrounding them...

He asked them what they were afraid of...
He asked if they still had no faith...

Is your faith in Him?

Or in your "faith" (thoughts, beliefs) about Him?

If your faith is in your "faith", you can only grow to the point that your own thoughts and beliefs can take you.

But if your faith is in HIM - He can take you beyond your wildest imaginations!

I am here to say, that after this experience, their faith in Him grew!

They became convinced:
  - of His love for them,
  - of His heart of compassion for all of mankind,
  - of His desire to do His Father's will
  - of their ultimate good always being His motivation for action 

  - of a purpose and calling from Him
  - of guaranteed uncertainty
  - of a life full of opportunities as they pursued all these things...


        ...of His steady, loving presence no matter where this adventure took them all...

And that is where the true peace of God begins...

...Faith in His loving presence that is working all things out for our good...

Cultivate Quiet...

Every kind of creative work demands solitude, and being alone, constructively alone, is a prerequisite for every phase of the creative process.” 

~ Barbara Powell

God calls you...unique

13For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

14I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

15My frame was not hidden from you

when I was made in the secret place,

when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

16Your eyes saw my unformed body;

all the days ordained for me were written in your book

before one of them came to be.

Hope...

Hope is the fuel of faith...you can inspire others if you offer hope...
what are you offering today?