The Blowing of the Shofars - Saturday!


On September 19th Jews all around the world will celebrate their new year and our God's new year.  They and we will blow the shofars (kindu horns) to celebrate the coming of the New Year. This is a very special time of year for this most ancient of people groups.  They call this weekend “Rosh Hashanah”.  The “head” of the civil year, the year 5770, at happens at the beginning of the month, Tishrei.  The Jews celebrate be eating apples dipped in honey and wishing each “Shana tova”  They also will feast together and drink lots and lots of wine.


What will you be doing?  What are going to do to celebrate one of the most significant times of the year?  Well, we at Livin Lattes Intl. Fellowship, are going to make the most of our new year celebration this Saturday at sundown.  We are going to bless the Lord of heaven and earth by eating, drinking, singing, dancing, and blessing each other and our God for His bounty that He has showered so abundantly on us at the land the Lord has led to dwell on for the last 4 years.


Our place sits on 21 acres of beautiful land that is lined by creeks on two sides and a pond on the other side.  In the former days, our land was used as a simple farm with beef cattle grazing on verdant rolling hills, drinking water from the fresh water creeks that line the pastures.  


Today our home and the place where it rests, our heart's desire for this property is to have our  “place” preserved as a “retreat” center for people who need asylum in times of difficulty.  We have had our time of difficulty here, so we feel that we can offer out of our real experience spiritual comfort to those who also find themselves in similar and seemingly impossible situations. 


By God's faithful care we have survived another year here.  We have been so blessed to have stayed another year in Pilot Mtn, NC.  We have been able by God's grace to “hang in there”, with no job, no cafe, and no sustainable income.  Miraculously we have been preserved in our waiting process.  A great reason to celebrate.  


But there is so much more to discuss and consider.  Our nation hangs perilously over a great divide.  Certain death and destruction have been set before us.  We are in the land but we are not safe.  When trouble comes to any nation, most are taken by surprise.  Many will be shocked by the events that are being ushered in by this very significant holiday.


The head of the year means the beginning of a new season in God.  God has prepared and made ready many things.  Some of them are supernaturally good things that will lift up the down trodden, and yet others will be sad and very destructive toward the waywardness of our nation.  


In our strong discipline we, the people of God, will experience intense inflictions of His Power against our collective backsides to motivate us to change and turn toward God. For those of us who currently call upon the Lord in our country, we  must be strong in Him.  


For reasons beyond my understanding, these powerful nation-changing works of God have been sovereignly delayed.  The best reason I can set before for this sovereign “delay”, is the beautiful reality that Our God delights to show mercy!  I love that about our God.  His mercy extended to us, is not to be taken lightly.  We are still to accept our guilt and our shame for what His people have done and what their hearts have conceived that has brought His wrath upon us.  


We are still under His holy wrath and we must repent of our “dead works” we have performed in half-hearted our unbelief.  We must bring forth meat for repentance.


In Rom. 2:4 we have a very helpful scripture to guide us through this tough season, “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?”


As individuals living under the eye of God, we have the sole responsibility to do what we are required to do by our Creator and Redeemer.  When we discover God's will for us and do it, we have averted the wrath that is sure to come on all who stay stubborn in their sinful unbelief.  


Those who have not heard or understood, they must deal their lack of seeking to know God's will for them.  They must turn in this season so that they to can inherit eternal bliss.  The Lord is measuring our response to His warning.  Read carefully the next four verses in Romans 2:


“But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.  Who will render to each one according to his deeds.  eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth but obey unrighteousness --- indignation and wrath!”


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Jonathan, you sure make some hard statements!  How can we celebrate God's goodness in a time of wrath?  How can we feast when trouble looms over the horizon?  Because we are seeking God by doing good and we now can see, by eye of faith, the glory that awaits us.


When we blow the shofar (trumpet call), we are calling God's power down.  To magnify His power by supporting His grace actively at work in our lives.  To establish us in His truth and in His Love.  To show our enemies that we serve the same God who shook the earth in the ancient days of war when evil sought to push back God's truth at work in His People.  The heavenly help that enables His armies to prevail.  To know that Our God fights for us!


So come and celebrate the goodness of the Lord this Saturday.  Help us usher in the next big move of God.  We must see God move we will remain in our frustrated state of mind.  I don't know about you, but I want to work for God.  I want to help people find their way to heaven's glory.  I want to see the church of Jesus Christ arise.  I want to see the “real” and “raw” worship that moves His heart.


We want to see with God's people the heavens opened.  For Our King to show us a piece of His glory and holiness.  To push us to lay our faces in humble adoration.  There is no safer place in this world then face down before the glory of God.  


We look forward to seeing all of you who want to see God move in power this year.  We will have fun and we will enjoy the music and we will rejoice in the reality that we “know” the God of our fun.  


We look forward to seeing all of you at 6pm on Saturday evening.  We will usher usher in the “Head of the Year” together as we look heavenward with great faith, expecting God to grant us our heart's desire this year.


Blessings,


Jonathan