How to Simply Celebrate Rosh Hashanah as a Believer in Christ...

I am forever enthralled with the depth of meaning in the Hebrew language and in the Feasts of the Lord - especially how the appointed Feasts point to the Lord Jesus!

As Christians, we are not under the Law, of course. But the principles God reveals through the Law are important to understand and incorporate into our lives today.

I am (re)posting a highly edited older entry about the shofar blow during Rosh Hashaha - the Feast of Trumpets! There are so many ways to view the blowing of the Shofar - I want these words to reflect the desire for relationship that our Jesus has, and that relationship rests on the truth that He has provided all that is necessary for life and godliness - the foundation of salvation through Him...

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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)

The Feast of Trumpets features 4 different blasts of the ram's horn trumpets; each actual blast and the spiritual meaning of the blast is described below.1

1. TEKIAH - Pronounced tuh-KEE-ah, the tekiah blast is one long note that acts as a kind of summons. Others have suggested that it is the sound of a king’s coronation. On Rosh Hashanah, we are traditionally called to reaffirm God’s sovereignty. A pure unbroken sound that calls man to search his heart, forsake his wrong ways, and seek forgiveness through repentance. The tekiah called the people to attention and to gather unto Moses. It is the calling note, calling your attention and holding you. It would be in general the summons to listen to God, to receive from Him the orders for the day.

2. SHEVARIM - Pronounced shih-vah-REEM, this word literally means “breaks” or “fractures.” The shevarim blast is three medium-length notes that have been compared to the sound of weeping. A wave-like sound of alarm calling upon man to stand by the banner of God. Teruah in Hebrew means not only a certain unique sound. It also connotes "to break", denoting breaking something and/or causing damage. It is the note for bustling, speedy activity, the signal for breaking up, for striking tents and breaking up camp.

3. TERUAH- Pronounced tih-ROO-ahh, the t’ruah blast is a series of very short, staccato sounds that have been compared to an urgent alarm, calling us to rouse from our spiritual slumber.  A broken, staccato, trembling sound. It typifies the sorrow that comes to man when he realizes his misconduct and desires to change his ways. It must be at least 8 notes, most make 9 blasts so as not to accidentally do too few.

4. TEKIAH GEDOLAH - The prolonged, longer version of the first Tekiah, unbroken sound typifying a final appeal to sincere repentance and atonement.

These four sounds form a set, called a Tekiyot of shofar blasts. In the sounding of the Shofar the Tekiah is 1 blast, the Shevarim is 3 wavering continuous blasts, and the Teruah is 9 staccato blasts, finishing with the longer final Tekiah.

See if you can pick out the different blasts in this video:

The meaning of the Shofar blowing is:

1. The Tekiah is sounded first to call man's heart to give attention and hear the following 'sound' of the Shofar message. 

2. It is then followed by the Shevarim which would then give His order to break off and away from every attachment that estranges us from God, and from our own purposes and present mode of life which is displeasing to God, and leave behind every worthless activity. The broken sound reminds us that we have a job of "breaking" to do as well - the breaking of our evil inclination.

3. The Teruah 'speaks' for the heart of man initiating the call to repentance and godly sorrow of heart.

4. The tekiah which then follows, calls one to a new standpoint, a new attitude, of faithfully following God's way of life. It is to rally us to come to a new place in Yahweh God.

The repetition of these sounds is for the purposed of penetrating deep into the recesses of man's being to bring a complete change of heart and complete reconciliation with our heavenly Father.

Here is a longer video of Shofar blowing that shows the variety and beauty that can be achieved using these 4 blasts:

My "quick notes" take away for the meaning of the Shofar blasts is as follows:

1. 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.).

2. 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.

3. SEEK:
Rosh HaShanah is a time to take an honest look into our hearts and 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. This blast of the shofar is "the joyful sound" spoken of in the Psalms ... 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)

1. based on information from https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/the-shofar-blasts/ and https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Hebrew_Roots/Holy_Days/Trumpets/The_Blowing_of_the_Shofar#The_Sounds_of_the_Shofar

My Top 5 Healthy Living Blogs - Revised and Updated in 2019

Hello Everyone!

This blogpost is updated for July 2019:

One of the drawbacks of online work is the inability to actually have you come to me in person, but with technology’s innovations, we can work "face to face" in a manner of speaking at least!  Another benefit of technology is the ability to work at one’s own pace, or even work during the middle of the night instead of the normal 9 to 5 office hours!

So, if you were going to come see me on a professional basis, there is a little paper work you need to fill out first.  One of the most important questions in my intake form is this:

“When was the last time you saw a doctor?”

More than the answer, this question serves as a “trigger” to get a client thinking about the possible organic roots of the problems they are having.  I am serious about getting a medical evaluation though, and will work with a client to get them a check up if one is due.  Many problems have organic roots, and relationships between the mind and the body aren't always understood.  Sometimes medical doctors don't understand these relationships either, so I also seek to provide valid information to educate my clients.  What am I talking about?  Habits of our daily lives may be contributing to organic issues, which in turn affect our minds and emotions.

You see, we live in an industrialized nation.  We know that air pollution and water pollution are issues that we need to be concerned about.  But we may not be as well educated about the toxins or chemicals that we come in contact with or absorb due to our laundry soap, our cleaning products, our cosmetics, our soaps, our fabrics, our furniture, our convenience foods, our processed foods, or even food that is marketed as healthy.  Chemicals added to our water supply to make it safer for consumption can cause their own problems in our bodies.

I was glad when the Lord began to open my eyes to the need to eat clean and be aware of physical toxins that are common in the environment (not just toxic people and relationships!), yet it is overwhelming for me to keep up with it all!  What I have found are several bloggers and business people whose passion is to educate others about how to live and eat “clean”.  Today I am sharing my favorites, the ones that I subscribe to so I can have access to good research, handy tips, and great recipes for living "clean", whole foods and natural remedies!

I am NOT getting any revenue from sharing these businesses - these are simply the ones I love and choose to follow.

First:

Kitchen Stewardship by Katie Kimball

She helps us cook real food from scratch, stay on a budget, and teaches kids how to cook 

- plus she does a facebook live weekly that touches on important issues for all things health!

Second:

My Humble Kitchen by Diana Baumann

If you sign up for her email list, she will send you her free

“25 Day Grace Filled Journey to Real Food”.  

Her recipes are fantastic and her approach is truly grace-laden.  She shares her somewhat recent struggles after being exposed to mold in the home they were renting, and how that struggle has refined her health journey.  You will love reading her encouraging words.

Third:

Don't Waste the Crumbs by Tiffany

Tiffany is a master at budgets, cooking real food, and showing you how it is done.  

Fourth:

The Nourishing Home by Kelly Smith

Kelly has to eat gluten-free and writes an encouraging blog as well as offers weekly menu plans and linked recipes for her subscribers.  I love this tool of hers!

Fifth:

Keeper of the Home founded by Stephanie Langford and

written by a wonderful group of contributors. 

They cover healthy living in all of its facets, including home making, cooking (healthy whole food of course), natural remedies and natural products, essential oils, child rearing, and on and on…If you only had time to read one blog, this is the one I would recommend.

There you have it, my top 5 healthy living blogs.  I hope these recommendations help you on your journey towards health and peace!

Hope - the Contrast Between Worldly Hope and Biblical Hope - article reprint

Below I am sharing an article I just this morning had time to read, and I wanted to keep it handy for both myself and for my friends here whom  I thought would be encouraged by it too, especially since my tagline is "Ancient Wisdom/Peaceful Pathways". 

Note the first line of the article:

Hope is an essential ingredient to possessing joy, peace, and faith.

Be encouraged as you read today!

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"What to Do When You've Lost Hope"Curt Landry, Grove, OK

Hope is an essential ingredient to possessing joy, peace, and faith. Every Believer needs to fully understand what Biblical hope is and how to protect it. Before we begin to look at what hope is, how to renew it, and how to keep it, let's look at what it isn't.

Worldly Hope Is Wishful Thinking

People throw around the word hope about as often as they do the word love. In the world today, we hear hope referred to as situations or circumstances that may or may not come to pass. It's as though many see it as pure chance. They say things such as, "I hope you have a great day," or "I hope you enjoy your trip." It suggests wishful thinking rather than something certain.

Biblical Hope is an Assurance

The Word of God tells us something almost opposite of the world's view. It tells us that hope is promised, sure, and always present. God tells us it's an assurance.
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence (or assurance) of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1 emphasis added)

Assurance is a positive declaration intended to give confidence. It's a promise of what will come. Your faith is the manifestation of the hope you have and what will take place in your future. 

Think about that... the promises of God: abundant life, joy, peace, and hope are PROMISES THAT WILL TAKE PLACE. God's statements are not, "Good luck, My child, I hope you find peace and joy."
He tells you it's a guarantee—how amazing! Therefore, He tells you to have confidence. As you keep faith alive, what you are hoping for has to happen. You don't have to try in your strength to make things happen for yourself. When you maintain the faith, which comes by love, hope is manifested in your life by the power of God.
Now remember, this is not an earthly hope. It's not a hope for nice things and lavish living—it's a certainty of God's decree over your life, your identity in Christ, and a fulfillment of His will.
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord." (Jeremiah 17:7)

When Does Hope Come?

Hope comes when you don't quit. The problem with quitting is that it steals your hope. Quitting and giving up your hope only hands it over to the enemy. Endure with patience so that the manifestation of hope becomes a testimony of faith.

Unfortunately, so many Believers hand over their hope before it has had time to be made strong in the Lord. The Lord wants to do a good work in you, so that you become a testimony of His love. He also knows other storms lie ahead; therefore, after you have passed over one mountain and your hope has grown, you will be able to recall His faithfulness to withstand the next.

Your testimony of enduring faith not only encourages those around you but also strengthens you. God wants to build a spiritual repertoire in you so that you can easily arm yourself with His armor and be well prepared for your destiny.

Encouraging Words

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." (James 1:2-3)

"...rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer..." (Romans 12:12)

"But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does." (James 1:25)

How Do I Keep Hope Alive?

You keep hope alive by nurturing and protecting it. Hope is like a small seed that grows by the living water and the light of the Word. As it begins to grow inside, it begins to break through, just as a plant breaks through the crust of the earth. This is the time it is most vulnerable. It is delicate and requires attention and protection until it can stand firm in the elements. Be patient as it matures and grows strong.

"So Jesus said to them, 'Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.'" (Matthew 17:20)

Make a commitment to take the seed of hope within your heart and raise it up in the protection of God's Word. Water it daily with devotion. Wrap it in prayer and ask the Holy Spirit to place ministering angels around you to guard and protect it. Ask the Lord for the impartation of wisdom and daily revelation of how to maintain the hope you've been given.

"Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you." (Deuteronomy 31:6)

Hope in The Resurrection

When you are born-again and the Holy Spirit dwells in you, you have been given hope of the resurrection. The Holy Spirit gives you the assurance and testifies on your behalf of the righteousness you have been given through covenant restoration.

"...I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked." (Acts 24:14-15 NIV)

Let this truth soak in to your inner-man. You who are saved have been given hope! You must declare it with your mouth, believe it in your heart, and release it! God's Word does not come back void.

"May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you." (Psalm 33:22 NIV)

Let's Pray:

"Father God, in the name of Jesus, I release the joy of my salvation. I decree and declare Your Word is true and every promise that You have spoken over me will prosper in what it was sent to do. I release the hope that You have given to me for a time such as this, to bear fruit that will last. I release the hope that I am an heir to the throne. I decree that every word You have spoken is final, and that every storm I face can be conquered by Your Word. I live victoriously when I trust in You!"

"Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you"(Zechariah 9:12 NIV).

Rabbi Curt Landry
Founder, Curt Landry Ministries
Email: info@curtlandry.com
Website: www.curtlandry.com

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