God Will Rewrite Our Story...Plus 5-Steps to Healing Hurt HeARTs Prompt

Each one of us has a story...

Every day we are "writing" that story in the way we live our lives.

Some days we do better writing than on other days...

Unlike an author that writes with pen and ink, or even types, we cannot throw what we have written away...or what someone else has pushed in and written what they willed on our story

Over the course of time, our skills improve.  
We meet people who help us along the way.
People become a part of our story whether we invite them into it or not.
Challenges, joys, griefs, fellowship, laughter, dancing, births and deaths;
mistakes and successes; transformations and inspirations....

All are transcribed on the pages of our lives...


The good parts; the painful parts; the parts we regret eventually...


Everything is there - nothing can be thrown away or erased...


But there is another Author.  The One who has written upon all of history.  

When we submit our "manuscript" to Him, and let His careful eye read;
He doesn't erase.  He doesn't reject.  He doesn't throw away.

2 Corinthians 3:3

He rewrites.  He writes over the places that need help.  He writes over the pain and mistakes and regret and doesn't remove their fact...


By His writing, He redeems our story. 


Nothing is removed - it is reframed and written by the Author's hand to reflect what He knows is true.
And as He writes, a miracle occurs...

We begin to see as He does, and we begin to co-author our stories with His...
Just as in any good story, there is a beginning, a climax, and then the end...
Between the beginning and the end, there must be a conflict...


Healing Art/Healing Journaling Prompt
 
 (Please read through the entire entry before you begin.  This will give you a better experience as you will know what to expect as opposed to 'just winging it'!)

In my last post I shared a spontaneous journaling piece I had done that morning. As I was writing that blog entry, I remembered this technique I had tried several years ago, journaling on top of journaling to make interesting marks on art...I don't believe I ever published anything with it, as I was still practicing - I still like the look of it - and the idea of "abstract journaling" comes to mind...

The "look" is abstract; or modernistic if you prefer - but it isn't random.  In putting new writing on top of the old, we are becoming co-authors with God, rewriting our past with His promises and truth - His words coupled with the act of writing will help cement His promises in our hearts (not to mention that you will end up with something that looks very contemporary to use in your art, or just keep in your journal.)1

Supplies:

Prepared art journaling page or plain journal - even just a sheet of paper of choice
writing tool
a Bible

Step 1:

Prepare to write.  Close your eyes and breathe in and out slowly three times.  Still your mind.  Ask the Lord for His Presence and guidance for this prompt.  Pay attention to what comes up in your mind:  is it an image; words; an emotion felt even in the body?  Jot down 3 - 5 words that will help to remind you of what came up at the top of the paper or journal you have with you.

 Step 2:

Using free writing (quickly writing the stream of thoughts and ideas flowing through your mind without regard to proper grammar or punctuation), write the words that come to you concerning the topic found in Step 1.  You might want to set a timer for around 5 minutes for this portion, so you don't get bogged down in possible negative thoughts or memories.  This is just a suggestion, not a hard, fast rule!  Remember that healing art is supposed to be fun!

Once written, do you need to step away for a few minutes to ground yourself or regroup?  You can drink a cup of tea or coffee, take a short walk, move around for the duration of a favorite song or two.  These activities help to get you "out of your head" and into the present.

Consider if you want to do the next part of this exercise now or wait a while or even wait till tomorrow.  Any decision is perfect for you - and waiting may give you more time to 'hear God' for His promises and purposes and healing words for what you have written.  You may want to take time to search the Scriptures for specific verses that apply to what you have written (trusting that the Holy Spirit will "illuminate" the one's He specifically is leading you towards)

Step 3:

Return to your journal entry and begin to write over the top of your previous writing any words, promises, quotes, verses, etc.  that you believe the Lord is saying to you about the topic.  You can write in any direction!  For my piece, I turned my original journaling upside down and then wrote over the top of it.  I got some nice upstrokes and downstrokes over the course of my page using this method.  Write as much as you like.  If you run out of new words to cover your original writing, just begin to repeat until all of your original entry is covered.  Or, if you have more new words than old, you can stop when the old is covered OR begin a third layer of writing!  Fun!  And the Lord may speak something to your heart about these layers covering your original!



Step 4:

Add extra embellishments if you like.  I noticed swishes and dots (from dotting my "i's" and "js", and I had space to add embellishments and liked the way it turned out.  (Plus, it gave me some additional practice with my dip pen!)






Step 5:

You might want to do a little reflective journaling about what you learned through the process.  Consider documenting the words, scripture, quotes and promises that you used in your overwriting to keep them as a legible way to remember what God has written over your heart!


Need some ideas for God's promises?

Check these links:

Promises that speak to fear and anxiety 
Promises that speak to worrying 
Promises that speak of God's love for you 
Promises that speak to times you feel overwhelmed 
Promises that speak of God's compassion and mercy 
Promises that speak of His constant presence 
Romans 8 is a tremendous chapter of the blessings we have because we are God's children.
And finally, a list of "I am" through the promises of God verses (also known as our identity in Christ) 
 
Blessings!
Cindy

The Secret to a Blessed Year - 4 Blessings That Are Already Ours {Part 5, Final of the Jubilee Series}

There is a reason so many Christians today live in fear and confusion. It is because they don't understand the joyful sound of Jubilee! They know that Jesus died and rose again, they know His blood has power to save. But they have not yet understood the joyful sound of all that He has provided for us to live in freedom!

Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound..."  

(Psalm 89:15) 

The joyful sound we hear today is the trumpet of God proclaiming our deliverance, through the blood of Jesus Christ.  Now, here are the other blessings of Jubilee: 

1.  "...they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance" (Psalm 89:15).  The Hebrew meaning here suggests, "They shall walk in cheerfulness, secure in God's promises, at ease in His presence." Simply put, we no longer have to walk in darkness or confusion - because we will behold the light of His face!

2.  "In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted"(Psalm 89:16).  We know our own righteousness is as filthy rags.  And so we are to take courage by rejoicing in his righteousness - which is ours by faith alone!

3.  "For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted"(Psalm 89:17).  We know that Christ alone is the source of all our strength.  And we don't have to live under the devil's thumb anymore.  All we have to do is look upon Satan's back, where we'll see the heel print of our Savior.  Jesus has crushed our enemy!

4.  "For the Lord is our defense... " (Psalm 89:18).  We are utterly helpless in our flesh.  And so we trust totally in the victory of Jesus'cross.  He defends us against every enemy?

 Dear saint, we are headed for one last, great Jubilee - 

signaled by the final trumpet blast:  

"...We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.  

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, 

at the last trump: 

for the trumpet shall sound, 

and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, 

and we shall be changed" 

 (1 Corinthians 15:51-52). 

"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God:  and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord". 

(1 Thessaloninans 4:16-17)

When those trumpets sound, the dead shall be raised.  There will be no more prisons, no more bondage, no more sin, no more sickness.  And in that moment, we will have eternal Jubilee.  hallelujah!  

Part 1 can be found here 
Part 2 here
Part 3 can be found here

Bonus - Jesus' Intercession 
 

Wilkerson, David. Times Square Church Pulpit Series. 13 October 1997. 
Used with permission - link to Times Square Church here  

The Secret to a Blessed Year - {bonus} - Knowing What Jesus is Doing RIGHT NOW for our Jubilee!

Christ ascended into glory not only as our Conquering King, but as our High Priest - making intercession for us...

Just as the high priest ascended the stairs to the holy place on the day of atonement, our high priest, Jesus, ascended into the heavenly tabernacle, "...a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands..."  (Hebrews 9:11).  John describes seeing Jesus in His priest robe "...a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle" (Revelation 1:13).

Jesus ascended not merely to enjoy the glory He deserves - but to do a work on our behalf.  The apostle Paul writes:  "...When He ascended upon high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men"(Ephesians 4:8).  He is quoting from Psalm 68:  "Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive:  thou hast received gifts for men...Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation..." (Psalm 68:18-19).  The psalmist is saying, "Our savior has given us every gift and benefit we need to live in freedom!"

The writer of Hebrews reminds us that Jesus' work in heaven is all for us:  "For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: (Hebrews 9:24).  "...He ever liveth to make intercession for them [us]" (Hebrews 7:25).  Jesus Christ does all this for us!

Yet, what exactly does it mean, that 

"He lives to make intercession for us"?

 1. Jesus intercession is Him stepping into Satan's accusations against us and declares the victory of His cross.  He doesn't have to convince the Father not to believe Satan's words...and then Jesus turns to Satan and says "Didn't you hear the trumpet sound, devil?  You know you have claim over this child of Mine.  Keep you hands off my property!"  

2.  Christ's intercession for us means He makes sure we obtain and enjoy all the benefits provided by Jubilee.  Just as the Levites enforced the law that provided every man with his just blessings, Jesus today enforces the privileges of Jubilee for us.  He makes sure we know we are legally free!

Satan may try to circumvent the victory of the cross by telling us, "you're under my hold, and you know it.  You'll be bound by lust all your life!  You'll never get victory over your habits."

 

But the moment that happens, Jesus intervenes.  he sends His sheriff - the Holy Spirit - to enforce His decree of Jubilee, saying, "The trumpets have sounded, devil.  It's Jubilee time!  Release your claim on this free child.  You have no further rights to him!"

We may still struggle with sin - but we have been legally declared free from all bondage.  And we are to claim our freedom and our full inheritance, no matter how condemned we may feel.  

3.  Jesus intercedes in our own hearts, reconciling us with the Father.  He continually answers our doubts and fears, reminding us:  a) we are forgiven, b) we must remember God's goodness and mercy toward us, and c) we can trust in God's faithfulness to provide us with all the power and strength we need.

Because of Christ's intercession, we now can say, "I may have my battles with the flesh - but I know in my heart what Jesus did for me.  Sin can no longer hold me.  I've heard the joyful sound!"  



Part 1 can be found here 
Part 2 here
Part 3 can be found here

Wilkerson, David. Times Square Church Pulpit Series. 13 October 1997. 
Used with permission - link to Times Square Church here 

The Secret to a Blessed Year - {part 3 of 3} - Declare YOUR Jubilee Prayer + Journal Prompt

Jesus IS the Believer's Jubilee

The prophet Isaiah declares the Messiah's role as the bringer of Jubilee:

   "...He hath sent me...to proclaim liberty to the captives,

and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord..."

Isaiah 61:1-2

 

Your declaration!

 These are the words that Jesus used to announce the beginning of His public ministry: 

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. 

He has sent me to proclaim - 

freedom for the prisoners and 

recovery of sight for the blind, 

to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

Luke 4:18-19

As Christians, we recognize this passage as a proclamation of Christ's victory over death and sin, yet Isaiah is using the language of Jubilee here!  

David Wilkersen, the founder of Times Square Church in New York City, also says that the entry in Isaiah also refers to Christ's ascension into glory!  Using this and other passages, Pastor Wilkersen paints a splendid image in words - 

 a.  The heavenly Father prepared for Jesus a glorious entrance into heaven.  Indeed, as Christ made His ascension, He was escorted by a host of angels and multitudes of chariots:  The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels:  the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.  Thous hast ascended on high...Psalm 68:17-18

b.  Our finite minds can't begin to conceive of this glorious event.  As Christ approached the eternal city of God, riding on His white horse, He was escorted by this huge procession.  And as He entered the gates, the trumpets of God began to sound:  God is gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet...Psalm 47:5.

This was the joyful sound - the trumpets blaring, announcing the believer's year of Jubilee!  And the sound proclaimed to all humankind, "I have made provision for you - to walk you out of prison, be restored to your family and have everything you need for a fulfilled life.  You are free to live without fear of any enemy.  Enter now into my joy! 

 c.  Paul writes of Christ's ascension: Having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it...Colossians 2:15.  Staggering behind our Lord's triumphant procession was the prince of darkness himself, bound in chains!  And behind the defeated devil - underneath the wheels of the heavenly hosts - were all the powers of darkness, bound and vanquished.  They were being put to an open shame before all those who had died in faith before the cross.

And Jesus entered the gates carrying in his hand a scepter of righteousness - His "rod of iron" with which He rules all nations.  Then, after His triumphant entrance, He took His rightful place on the throne, in full possession of all power, authority and dominion.

What a glorious picture!

Satan is not in control.  

Communism is not in control.

Atheism is not in control.

Terrorism is not in control.

Neither Democrats nor Republicans are in control.

The enemies of Christ exist only by His permission.

And right now they only continue to fill up their cups of iniquity.  

Jesus is in control of all things - and one day, when He is ready, He will

"...dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel..." (Psalm 2:9)

 

Beloved, our understanding of Christ's victory over Satan and the dominion of sin cannot be a vague, confused theology.  We must know and understand the joyful sound!  Satan is totally defeated; he cannot hold us prisoner.  And Christ has freed us by His blood from every bondage.  Now He sits on His throne with all power and authority - offering us peace, joy and freedom!

Journal Prompt:

Write the Jubilee declaration in your journal, on an index card to tape in a strategic location...encourage a friend with it! 

Pray:

Thank You, Jesus, that You have brought me the Good News 

and I have received that Good News!

 Because of You, my broken heart is healing;

I rejoice that I have been set free from bondage;

 and my mind is no longer oppressed;

I thank you that where I was once blind

that now I have spiritual sight.

I declare that the Lord's favor rests on me.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Part 1 can be found here 
Part 2 here

Wilkerson, David. Times Square Church Pulpit Series. 13 October 1997. 
Used with permission - link to Times Square Church here

The Secret to a Blessed Year - {part 2 of 3}

"Then have the trumpet sounded everywhere on the tenth day of the seventh month; 

on the Day of Atonement sound the trumpet throughout your land...

~  Leviticus 25:9 

Continuing from yesterday, after a "sabbath of sabbaths", the fiftieth year would be a year of Jubilee.  When the precise time arrived, there would be a sounding of trumpets (the word "jubilee" means "toe clamoring of trumpets.") 

What was this precise time?  At the very hour as the high priest entered the holy place to sprinkle the sacrificial blood - trumpets began to blare all across the land.  The trumpets were heard in every city, hamlet, village, mountain and valley.  Every Israelite knew the meaning of the sound...

What was the meaning of the trumpet sound?

Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants.  

~  Leviticus 25:10

 

The sound of the trumpets announced:

blessings

freedom

liberty

deliverance

 The sound of the trumpets canceled all debts and restored all goods to the original owners.  It freed every servant from every form of captivity and bondage!  It was a new start in life for all people!

Under Jewish law, no man owned any land.  Even though he may have inherited his property, and it remained in his family as long as the family survived, God owned everything.  Every Israelite was to recognize that God possessed the hills, the valleys, the cattle, the wealth of this world - and that His people were only the lifetime leaseholders.  They were to hold onto their possessions lightly.

Yet, if a person fell into debt - whether through mismanagement, disobedience, sloth or some kind of disaster - there was no provision for bankruptcy.  Let's say a farmer owed someone a large sum of money.  He might have to sell his own children and servants to pay off the debt.  Them, if the farmer fell further behind, he would have to hand over his land, forfeiting all profits from the harvest.  And in an extreme case, the farmer might even have to sell himself to another farmer, just to provide a living.

But when the Jubilee came - in the fiftieth year, after a sabbath of sabbaths - every debt was wiped out!  All leases and possessions reverted back to the original leaseholder.  And that meant the farmer would get his land and his family back!

You can imagine the rejoicing that took place in Israel and Judah when the trumpets sounded!  Families were reunited.  Homes were restored.  It was a time of liberty, freedom, deliverance!  

No planting or harvesting was done during the year of Jubilee.  Instead, it was a time of rejoicing and rest - praising God for His grace, provision and freedom!

The liberty proclaimed at Jubilee was not just an idea founded on faith alone.  It was the law of the land.  

All the debtor had to do to have the law enforced was to stand on it.  One of the duties of the Levites was to enforce God's code; they assured justice was given.  If a debt holder or slave master tried to hold on to the property or persons that had been sold to them, the debtor merely had to declare there was no more legal right over such property or person.  The trumpets of Jubilee had announced the time of release had come!

They could declare:

Nothing in my past can be held against me!

I've been unshackled, delivered!

No one can rob me of my deliverance!

Yet the person in bondage had to act in order to take possession of his freedom or his lost porperty.  He could dance and shout in the synagogue all he wanted, crying: "I'm free!  Everything has been restored!" But until he stepped out and claimed his rights, he couldn't enjoy any of it.

Do you see the significance and relationship to our life in Christ?

Most Christians have not claimed the Jubilee Jesus Christ has given them!  Many think that merely showing up at church or singing praise songs is that "joyful sound" of Jubilee.  But it is much, much more! 

God calls us to appropriate the freedom, peace and glory He has provided for us through the forgiveness of sins.  We are to step out and claim it!

What promises is God prompting you to appropriate 

today, this week, and this year?

Part 1 can be found here 
Part 3 can be found here

Wilkerson, David. Times Square Church Pulpit Series. 13 October 1997. 
Used with permission - link to Times Square Church here 

 

The Secret to a Blessed Year - {part 1 of 3} + a journal prompt

"Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: 

they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance..."

~ Psalm 89:15

One of my favorite preaches, who has passed on to heaven, interpreted this little verse with the following:

"There is a certain, joyful sound that is of such powerful significance, it is the very foundation of victorious living.  And if you know and understand this sound, you will be changed from glory to glory.

All who know the meaning of the joyful sound become self-assured, fearless.  They walk through life with an ever-increasing sense of security.  They are able to overcome depression, even when being sifted by Satan.  Their hearts area steadfast and at rest - because the Holy Spirit has revealed to them the meaning behind the joyful sound!"1

There is a powerful revelation based on the year of Jubilee!

A little background:

The history of the year long festival of "Jubilee" is found in Leviticus 25.  It begins with the year of rest for the land itself that came every 7th year - similar to the day of rest for mankind which came every 7 days.  

It takes a LOT of faith to obey this...no agricultural work was to be done, no intake of crops for food, no grain harvest for livestock, agricultural laborers would have no work!  Think of what must have been going through the Israelites' hearts and minds!  I am sure it would be similar to what we would think if God asked us to do the same in today's world!  Yet the Lord did not leave them with no plan...He promised that He would "command My blessing upon you in the sixth year, and it shall bring forth fruit for three years" (Leviticus 25:20-25).

What is God trying to teach us?

God is setting a principle for His set apart nation - that their provision is always from Him, when they are working as unto Him, AND when they are not working... 

Here is a short list of scriptural examples:

1.  Israel in the wilderness for 40 years - there were no supermarkets and they didn't plant crops!  God rained down manna from heaven and birds fell by the bushel full so that they could have meat.  He caused water to flow from rocks.  And He kept their shoes and clothing from wearing out for the entire 40 years!

2.  Water was turned to wine.

3.  Money was found in a fish's mouth in order to pay required taxes.

4.  5 thousand people were fed with 5 small loaves of bread and two fish.

5.  Psalm 107 lists many such provisions...  

Journal prompt:

{You might consider pausing and making your own list, looking back through your life and seeing, with 20/20 hindsight, how He has quietly provided for you, even in the times that looked darkest...}

Answer this question:  How did He provide an abundance of ____(what you needed)       that you continue to "draw from" today?

BUT THIS WASN'T ALL! 

After a cycle of 7 times of this 7 year rest, a sabbath of sabbaths (49 years), there came a very special rest in the 50th year.  There would be the normal 7th year rest, and immediately following, another year of "rest" and much more!  49 years represented an entire generation in Old Testament times - during these 49 years 3 generations would have learned the faithfulness of the Lord, through the sharing of stories and through direct experience.  Yet, only the oldest would have possibly seen 1 Jubilee year!

The anticipation had to be incredible...


Part 2 here
Part 3 here

1.   Wilkerson, David. Times Square Church Pulpit Series. 13 October 1997. 
Used with permission - link to Times Square Church here 

                      

Ten Days of Turning Back - the Days of Awe

The "Days of Awe" are also known as the "Ten Days of Repentance".  These are the days between Rosh Hashanah (the Feast of Trumpets) and Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement).  They are set aside as a time for self examination, to right wrongs against others and to turn back to God in areas that we have gone in our own ways.

I have included a VERY brief summary of the Fall Feasts in order to set these "Days of Awe" in their context, hoping it will help guide you as you listen to the Lord for how you might apply the principles to your own spiritual life.

The Feast of Trumpets is recognized for its sin offerings and the awakening blasts of the shofars.  It is a time for rest and sacrifice.  The blowing of the shofar (trumpet) is a central feature and calls the worshippers to turn to God. This Feast is also known as "the Day of Remembrance" (Leviticus 23:24).  The blast of the shofar is to jolt us from our slumber and to remember who we really are by remembering that the LORD is our King! 

What the "Days of Awe" can mean for believers

 

Though the next ten days, the "Days of Awe" are not identified in the Old Testament as special days, the activities of introspection and repentance would certainly be appropriate as the people looked towards the second great feast of the season, the Day of Atonement (also known as the Day of Judgement.)  This is the one day out of every year that the High Priest entered into the Holy of Holies and offered the sin sacrifice before the mercy seat and represents the atoning work of the cross that Jesus has accomplished for us.   Every part of each Feast is embedded with layers of meaning - and even the number of days between each one can have significance...for instance, ten happens to be the number that represents testing, responsibility, government and restoration.  The five days between the Day of Atonement and The Feast of Tabernacles is associated with the idea of grace, atonement and life.

The progression of the fall feasts also tells a story. Rosh Hashanah, on the 1st of Tishri, focuses on sin and repentance, and is followed by the Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur on the 10th of Tishri, and then Sukkot or the Feast of Booths on the 15th of the month, which focuses on God's providential care of his people.  

We must acknowledge our sin, repent and 

receive God's atonement for sin before we can 

experience God's providential care over our lives.

It is said that there are three types of "turning" associated with the Fall Feasts: 1) a turning inward for self examination; 2) a turning toward God in repentance; and 3) a turning towards others in charity.

Why would I entertain the idea of using these days as a springboard to "Turn Back to the Lord"?

The answer is quite simple...because every day we have many opportunities to turn around (repent) and return to Him! Notice that the definition of "repentance" is to have a change of mind, yet the command is not completed until the returning to the Lord happens... (Mark 6:12, Acts 3:19).


Now, with this seasonal focus to using these days to "turn back to God", we can use each day to explore ways to experience His rest and turn away from seeking this rest and His approval in our own strength.

Let's begin today by finding that special spot in your home that will be your "sanctuary" with the Lord.

What should this space be?  Where should it be?  

Begin by simply, slowly and intentionally, walking through your home. 

Ask the Lord to show you where He would like to meet with you. 

Is there any place that is drawing you?  

Do you need to rearrange it; 
                   add some things to it?

It may be a place you are already using. 

Or it may be a space you would never thought of before.

When you have found your spot, mark it in some specific way.  Make it attractive and appealing.  This doesn't need to take any money.  Move things that you like or even cherish into the spot.  Make a little "still life" arrangement.  

Ask yourself what you might need, physically speaking, in order to set time aside to "rest in Him".  (A timer?)  A fine teacup that you reserve for special occasions?  A soft throw to signal you mind "this is a restful space".

When you have this space set up and set aside...celebrate a job well done!  

If you would like to sign-up to receive these updates in your inbox for the next ten days, 

please sign up at this link:

 

 

   

Bibliography

Rosh Hashana 0902
Fall Holidays, Days of Awe
Rosh Hashanah

Get Ready For The Coming of "The Days of Awe" - 2015

The Fall Feasts of the Lord are almost upon us! The ten days between Rosh Hashanah (September 13th) and Yom Kippur are also known as "the Days of Awe". We will be exploring more about what we can do to make these ' Days of Awe'  meaningful in our western spiritual lives, but for today I want to highlight how special these particular Fall Feasts are. It is likely you will never see these exact feasts again, in this way, in your lifetime! These are exciting days! These are days with spiritual realities embedded in them, and it will fuel your spiritual life to come to an understanding of these climatic events!

The "Joyful Sound" was the sound of the ram horns blowing the start of the year of Jubilee:  release of the captives, cancellation of debts, inheritances restored!

 (You can download a high resolution file of the above image for personal use at this link.  
Just right click the image and select "save to computer".)

The world over, but especially the Jewish people, both Messianic and those who have not yet embraced the Lord Jesus, are preparing for Rosh Hashanah (September 13th)—the beginning of  the year 5776. (In Jewish thought this is the number of years since creation.)

According to Hebrew numerology, 7 signifies perfection or completion in both the spiritual and natural realms. God created all things in 7 days. There are 7 days each week and the Sabbath is on the 7th day. Likewise, the number 6 is associated with mankind and human weakness. It is “the number of man” as man was created on the 6th day.(1)

The number "5" is the number of grace - God's goodness at Christ's expense.

5776 will be a year for our weaknesses to be exposed, but also for God’s perfection to shine brightly through. This is a year to surrender our weakness for His perfection of grace—that is true Jubilee!(1)

Why is this year so special and yet so foreboding?

Let’s look at the signs and the numbers through the filter of the Holy Spirit:

 

1.  5776 is very significant because it is a Jubilee year and the 70th Jubilee year since Joshua and Caleb crossed the Jordan River!

2.  A Jubilee year comes after 7 sabbatical cycles of 7 years… that is 7 sets of 6 years, plus a Shmita year… 49 years, and then a Jubilee release!

3.  The four Blood Moons that have received so much press coincide with the Shmita year 5775, and our Jubilee year 5776.*

4.  This year, the last blood moon is coinciding with the end of the Shmita year and the beginning of the Jubilee year—truly amazing!

5. At this special time of Jubilee, every 50 years, ram’s horns are blown on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) to announce the beginning of Jubilee. This is important because during the days of Joshua, the land of Canaan was dispersed among the families and tribes, and the land permanently belonged to that tribe or family.

The land was a permanent inheritance that was given to the family.

You can lease it, or temporarily sell it, but ultimately the land is returned to your family during the Jubilee year. The land reverts to its original owner.

6.  When the ram’s horn was blown on the Day of Atonement, debts were released, land was returned, and men and women were freed from slavery!

Has your inheritance been lost or stolen? 

This is the year to spiritually move forward and claim that return!

We are no longer slaves to situations and circumstances—

this is our year of freedom!  

(1) All information in italics is adapted from My Olive Tree 

* If you would like to read more about the significance of 4 blood moons that each coincide with a major Jewish Feast Day, I recommend this article (links to scientific and Christian commentaries on the events are listed at the end of the article)

Aimee Herd:

Watching God's Heavens—
What is He Saying through Blood Moon Tetrads and Solar Eclipses?

You need only to be still...

"The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still..."
~ Exodus 14:14

One of my "go to" worship songs speaks of "Being Still"...

and what does one do, when standing in the stillness? 

 You praise Him, you remind yourself of His wonderful deeds and power. You declare along with the young men of Israel who were slaves in a foreign land: 

"...If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, 
the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, 
and he will deliver us from Your Majesty's hand. 
But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, 
that we will not serve your gods 
or worship the image of gold you have set up." 

{Daniel 3:17-18}

Answer these questions as a prayer or praise:

What has He done for me in the past?

What has He done for others that can fuel hope and confidence in myself? 

What promises has He given in His word? {Both to me specifically and to His people as a whole.}

What can I be thankful for right now?

What is my favorite characteristic of Him?

 How can I make these things (in this list I am making) a declaration of my faith in Him?

 

‪

Exhale - Remember His Presence

Exhale

Don't hold your breath

Breathe in

Then out

Pause

Remember His Presence

Have a "selah" moment

Relax

Breathe

 

 Exhale

©Cindy Fort, 2015

While composing this photo for a class I am in, I breathed slowly, with intention instead allowing my body to be on automatic- and the title came to me.  It is a reminder to breathe, pause, remember His presence - in short, have a "selah" moment...something that we can forget when rushing in our daily lives and anxiety starts to build - like holding our breath instead of breathing deeply... 

So remember to exhale...