Teshuvah 24 - Rosh Hashanah preparation - Curtis Loftin

Teshuvah 24

Shalom Mishpocha,

This evening (Thursday) at sundown is the beginning of Elul 24 and day 24 of Teshuvah.  Yom Teruah/Rosh Hashanah is in 6 days.

Carolyn and I experienced our first Yom Teruah (Feast of Trumpets) service in 1991.  We had gone to a weekend seminar in Colombia, SC, sponsored by Morning Star Drama & Dance Ministries and its founder, Helen Cregger.  The purpose of the weekend conference was to teach us about the three fall festivals - which we knew very little about at that time.  We had been asked to bring white clothing to wear Saturday night, the night we would be celebrating Yom Teruah.  I must tell you that it was an impressive sight when we walked into the conference room and there were hundreds of people all dressed in white.  They gave all the ladies white veils and all the men white kippahs as they entered the doors.  Singers, musicians, and the congregation sang, dancers danced, actors acted out their parts of the story that told of the catching away of the bride of Messiah on Yom Teruah.  At one point they brought long pieces of silk fabric over the congregation, representing the chuppa or wedding canopy.  What a wonderful experience it was.  One of the Hebrew words for "Feast" is "Mikra" which means "Rehearsal".  What a wonderful way to learn more about the Hebrew roots of your faith, and God's time-line that is so clearly pointed out in the Festivals of the Lord.

Understanding the Biblical Festivals has been a wonderful journey.  One of my favorite parts of Yom Teruah is understanding the Marriage-Relationship we have with the LORD. 

Hosea 2:19:20

I will betroth you to me forever, I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion.  I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the LORD.

Hosea 2 says that we've been betrothed to Him - and the various aspects of the ancient Jewish wedding parallel our own marriage relationship with Messiah Yeshua.  The Betrothal - The Bride Price - The Wedding Contract - The Bride's Consent - The Wedding Garments - The First Cup of Wine - The Wedding Gifts - all tell the story of our current marriage relationship with Him.  The Catching Away - The Marriage Chuppa (Canopy/Chamber) - The Second Cup of Wine - and The Wedding Feast all point to the future aspect of our marriage relationship with Yeshua.

Beit Yeshua shared "The Ancient Jewish Wedding Parallels Drama" as part of our Sukkot Celebration in 2012.  Check out the photos at:http://curtis.loftinnc.com/Yom_Teruah.htm

1 Corinthians 15

51Listen, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die, but we will all be changed, 52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

Abba, Thank You for Your love for us.  Thank You for continuing to work in our hearts and lives.  As we approach Yom Teruah, make us more sensitive to Your Voice & Your Ruach (Spirit), make our ears a-tuned to the sound of the shofar.  Prepare our hearts to stand before you with clean and white wedding garments.  Take our eyes off of ourselves, our troubles, cares and worries, and turn them toward You.  Draw us ever closer to Your presence as you continue to work in our lives.  B’Shem Yeshua.

Ahava V'Brachot,

Curtis

Worship Opportunity for Today:

YouTube Video: Casting Crowns "Who Am I?"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pt7OZyBj5Ik

YouTube Video: Casting Crowns "East to the West"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_J34QyY0Pk&feature=related

Beit Yeshua Links:
Yom Teruah - The Feast of Trumpets - http://curtis.loftinnc.com/Yom_Teruah.htm

Biblical Festivals - http://curtis.loftinnc.com/festival_overview.htm

________________________________________________________________________

Psalm 122:6

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; may those who love you prosper.

For daily e-mails: Curtis Loftin contact: curtisloftin@gmail.com

"The Promise" - Released on Amazon.com

My first book The Promise has now been released on Amazon Kindle in e-book version. Just $0.99!

You can purchase now: Amazon.com - paperback or Kindle

You do not need a Kindle device to purchase, download and read. You can get the software online at Amazon, free, for smartphones, PCs and laptops.

PRODUCT DETAILS File Size: 381 KB Print Length: 203 pages Publisher: Martin Lighthouse Publishing  (September 6, 2013) Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc. Language: English ASIN: B00F1JL4XW Text-to-Speech: Enabled  X-Ray: Not Enabled  Lending: Not Enabled

To Purchase Kindle Edition 
Now for $0.99 - Click Here:

The Promise - 
Paperback & Kindle Edition on Amazon

Note: You don't have to have a Kindle, smartphone or tablet to download the e-book edition. I downloaded the free app below onto both my PC laptop and desktop computers. 

(Steve Martin)

  

Anybody can read Kindle books—even without a Kindle device—with the FREE Kindle app for smartphones and tablets.

The printed version is also available 

on Amazon for $7.59 (181 pages).

Back cover text:

Throughout our lives, God keeps His hand on our shoulders and nudges us on to more than what we could ever realize. I am excited to share how He did it this with me, and am confident mine will be a story you’ll be able to relate to.

As I unveil my story, think back to those times when you knew there was some­thing more but you just couldn’t put your finger on it. You knew deep down that life wasn’t what the TV sitcoms portrayed it to be. In our souls there is the hope, the cry for more, that someday questions will be answered and promises fulfilled if we just kept plugging away at what we know to do.

In The Promise I share my 40 year journey with you, and show you that dreams do come true. Though Peter Pan isn’t real, the Lord, the One Who created us, certainly is, and He has a plan in place for each one of us. When you are done reading this story, my prayer is that you too will know more of that good plan and His purpose for you.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Steve Martin served with seven Christian ministries from 1987-2012, all having a national and international outreach focus. During that time he made ten ministry trips Israel, as well as ministering in China, India, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United Kingdom.

On his overseas journeys he enjoyed sharing written journal entries with family and friends back home through Internet media. His light-hearted stories gave an up close and personal touch for those reading along.

In 2010 Steve and his wife of over 36 years, Laurie, began “Love For His People, Inc.,” a 501(c)3 non-profit humanitarian aid ministry. This work touches the natural and spiritual lives of those around them, and internationally, with needed encour­agement and strength.

His regular “Ahava Love Letter,” posted both on the Love For His People Blog and Facebook, feature his encouraging letters of spiritual enrichment, plus selected photos and commentary. In addition to The Promise, Steve has also written Leadership Through Love and Ahava Love Letters, the first edition having 52 of his letters.

“Have your delight in the Lord,

and He will give you

the desires of your heart. 

Trust also in Him,

and He will do it.” 

Psalm 37:3,4

DEDICATION

To all those who have a desire and a dream that is yet to be fulfilled, but continue to hang onto the promise the Lord has given you – I dedicate this book.

In agreement with the Bible verse that I have printed on a note card standing upright on my home computer desk, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:0, NIV), I declare that He will do it.

As surely as the Lord God of Israel lives,He will bring it to pass!!!

We’ve Only Just Begun…

                                              

Back in the ‘70’s, when music was still decent, and you could really understand the words, a brother and a sister, the Carpenters, came out with a popular song,  We’ve Only Just Begun.  For those of us around at that time, songs like this gave us some hope, as we made our way through grade school or high school.  Deep in our souls, whether we realized it back then or not, something, or Someone, was calling after us, and songs on the radio helped draw us on.

Not sure which way to go at times, we knew something was still possible, even as our parents sought after the “Almighty Dollar”, and the Sunday service was at least a place the family, which still looked like one, went to on Sundays.  Friday night football games, followed by the sock-hop (finally realized that we had to wear socks, not our shoes, because of the gym wooden floor), gave us potential stability, after coming out of the ‘60’s and before the ‘80’s hit.

Through it all, Someone kept His hand on our shoulders, and nudged us on to more than what we would ever realize, before now.  And then…boom! The answer comes in an unexpected way.

As I unveil this story, think back to those times that you knew there was something more, but you just couldn’t put your hand on it.  You knew, deep down, that life wasn’t just what Walter Cronkite said it was every night on the CBS news, or that the faith and love shown by John Boy to Grandpa, Jim Bob, and the other twenty Waltons wasn’t just for their family.  Deep down in our souls, the hope, the cry for more, would someday be answered and fulfilled, if we just kept plugging away at what we did know.

I want you to share my journey with me, as I look back over the last forty years, and you see that dreams do come true, and that though Peter Pan isn’t real, the Lord, the One Who created us, is, and He has a plan in place for each one of us.  And when you are done reading this story, you too will know that…we’ve only just begun.

  

Book Chapters

Going To Africa

Father Thomas Purtell

Columbus High School

“I am a Christian”

Laura Jean

The Dream

Hasselbring-Clark

Bonnie, Derek & Mahesh

Heritage USA

The Barn

Worship The Lord God of Israel

The Beginning of the End

Jerusalem & The Western Wall

This Season Completed

The Incredible Journey

New Beginnings

Steve Martin & The Raiders

“Carry My Bags” – The Great Wall

A Season of the Soul

I Thought It Was Over

Roll Call of Honor

Editor's Note:

It was very exciting to know that my book came out during Rosh Hashanah, the new year of 5774, on Sept.4-6. This is a new beginning in the Lord's purposes and fulfillment of promises given to Laurie and I.  I hope you read my book!  Steve Martin

Steve & Laurie 2013

You can purchase The Promise now: Amazon.com

"Israel Is Forever" Concert at Sea of Galilee

Shalva Band Inspires the Crowd At God TV’s “Israel Is Forever” Concert

Posted by: Doni Kandel August 27, 2013 , 3:10 pm

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And God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them. (Genesis 1:27)

Two teen members of the Shalva band joined musician Kim Clement on stage during an “Israel Is Forever” concert in Tiberius. Shalva provides services free of charge currently to more than 500 children with special needs from infants to young adults seven days a week. (Photo: Shalva)

As nearly 1,000 Christian Zionists gathered at the base of the Sea of Galilee for the kickoff of an eight-day tour of the holy land, the children of the Jerusalem-based organization, Shalva, which provides services free of charge currently to more than 500 children with special needs from infants to young adults seven days a week, stole the show.

Kim Clement, a musician based in California, who orchestrated the concert was joined onstage by members of a musical band from Shalva. The two teenage singers and musician from the Shalva bandsang a version of Leonard Cohen’s “Breathe your life into me; put your song inside me; cover me with your love,” Dina, who is blind, sung in Hebrew. “Everything within me longs to feel your heartbeat. I’m forever yours.”

Clement has visited Shalva several times in the last year and has championed its cause, becoming a significant supporter of the Israeli nonprofit. The Shalva center “houses special needs children – the most amazing thing that I’ve ever seen,” Clement said. “It changed my heart. We adopted four special needs children. It’s the heart of God.”

The concert, at which the people gathered to declare “Israel Is Forever”, was put on as a kickoff event for an eight-day tour of the Holy Land put together by the Christian satellite channel, God TV. “I welcome you to the homeland of your faith,” Tourism Minister Uzi Landau told the crowd.

Founded by Rory and Wendy Alec who are also leading the tour, God TV is broadcast from Jerusalem and is available worldwide on a multi-satellite platform in 200 nations and 240 million homes. Other notable ministers on the tour include Lou Engle, Faytene Grasseschi, Patricia King, Angus Buchan, Matt Sorger and the band Planet Shakers from Australia.

Meaningful Questions about Curses and Deliverance from Evil Spirits

Meaningful Questions about 

Curses and Deliverance 

from Evil Spirits

Jim Croft

Questions from Vince

Jim,

I really enjoyed your book, Invisible Enemies: How to recognize and defeat demons. I have been working to get cleaned out. I have also been reading your articles and I am seeking to apply them to myself where needed.

I have some thoughts and questions. As you know, I come from a Vineyard background. This does not make me special, but I embraced the Vineyard’s history of openness to the things of God.

Anyway, I understand the need for forgiveness, repentance and renunciation of the curses listed in the Old Testament and any sowing and reaping effects.Jim, I notice that in the New Testament, there is no indication that the disciples or Jesus required anyone to ask for forgiveness before ministry of healing or deliverance.

Likewise, neither Christ nor the disciples asked anyone to renounce curses before healing. It appears the same pattern exists when they drove out evil spirits. Of course, I am seeking to apply these principals in your articles and book to my life. But I wonder what your thoughts are on these issues?

My Response

Vince – I’m very pleased about your observation of the absence of specific mention of repentance and renouncements in relation to demonic and curse issues in the New Testament and the Early Church. Miracles were performed without explanatory trimmings of that genre. Were you to exhaust yourself by reading all
of my articles, you would find that I’ve pointed out the truths that you have mentioned.

However, I have thoughts about the evolvement of the practices in question.Though the practices are not specifically addressed in “how to instruction” in the New Testament, they can be arrived upon by reasoning about the implications of the entirety of the Bible’s record.

There are many modern evangelistic techniques that we hold dear that are not explicit in the New Testament. Among them are found altar calls for salvation and leading people in prayers where they ask Jesus to come into their hearts to replace self in Lordship on the throne of their hearts. Nonetheless, millions have been born-again through those methods.It is much the same with the evolvement of how we function in the gifts of
words of knowledge, wisdom and discerning of spirits. We have come up with acceptable guesses about function and the Lord grants results.

Repenting of and renouncing sins resultant of curses and any accompanying demons had similar evolution that came from innuendo in both Testaments. We know of a certainty that Jesus, like John the Baptist, preached repentance and that the Lord’s disciples baptized the repentant. Therefore, it is safe to assume that inclination of repentance permeated the atmosphere of Jesus’ presence.

The existence of a particular habitual sin and demonic infestation within a person are evidence that either the Adamic curse or a self-induced curse is in effect. There is a vernacular way to define renouncement. It is verbal or physical indication that a person wants riddance of the curse of a sin and/or a demon.

People made physical indication that they wanted liberation from the aforementioned when they presented themselves to Jesus for healing from affliction.With all of that said I rarely bring up demonic and curse issues during first prayer encounters with people’s sicknesses and negative life situations. I simply pray with faith’s expectation and routinely see positive results.

Countless secular people and many nominal Christians are not familiar with the idea of evil spirit and curse affliction. If introduced prematurely, those concepts can derail attempts for effective ministry. With that in mind, I hesitate to venture more than subtle reference to evil spirits and innuendo about curses when ministering to them. 

The phrasing could go something like this: “I command the aspect of John’s personality that compels him to be excessively confrontational to leave his psyche. (Speaking about demons) If John’s parental guardians exhibited habitual contentious interaction with others, I break ancestral influence in his life. (Pertains to curses)”

It is my conviction that the generic repentance and forgiveness of initial salvation dissolves many curses and puts most demonic entities to flight. I do not bring the possibility of demons and curses to bear, unless a Christian incessantly has the same issues after prayers of faith. In that event, I surmise it is legitimate to do so under an extension of the “confess your faults” clause of James 5:16.

In conclusion, the concept of renouncing curses has become ingrained in the collective psyche of a sector of the Church. Due to this, it is better to address the matter on common ground than to try to stop the momentum of what so many reliable voices assert.

We can offer thanks to the Lord for allowing us innovation in our efforts to see captives of life’s bondages liberate.

jcm888@comcast.net

Note: Following artwork added by blog editor.  :)

Steve Martin

Rosh Hashanah Desserts - Lightened-Up Jewish Apple Cake (Pareve)

Rosh Hashanah Desserts

On the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, Jews eat foods that symbolize good things they hope for in the coming year. Desserts are particularly popular on this holiday as Jews hope for a sweet year.

Pomegranate Granita (Pareve)
A recipe for pomegranate granita made with homemade vanilla simple syrup and pomegranate juice.

Lightened-Up Jewish Apple Cake (Pareve)
Jewish Apple cake gets a healthy makeover in this low fat, reduced sugar recipe made with white whole wheat flour.


Lightened-Up Jewish Apple Cake (Pareve)

By Miri Rotkovitz, About.com Guide

Jewish Food Recipes
Jewish Recipes
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Cake Glaze Icing Recipes
Apple Cake Recipe

© Miri Rotkovitz


Sugar Free Cake RecipesChewOnIt.com/Sugar-Free-RecipesTastes Just Like The Original! Get Sugar Free Cake Recipes Now.

Rosh Hashanah Greetingswww.shanatova.orgSend & Receive a Shana Tova eCard from Israel & friends. Send Now!

Southern Style Bakerywww.kaiskookies.comCupcakes, Cookies, Cake Pops & More We deliver. Open until 2:00 AM!

See More About
apple cake
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I adore my grandmother's Jewish Apple Cake recipe, but I always wondered what it would taste like if I gave the recipe a healthy makeover. This version has less sugar and half the fat of the original. All-purpose refined flour is replaced with white whole wheat flour, which is softer and finer than regular whole wheat flour, but just as full of fiber and nutrients.

In fact, "lightened-up" may be a bit of a misnomer -- like the original, this is a sturdy cake with a dense crumb. It's also still delicious, and since it's so wholesome, it's even easier to justify eating leftover apple cake for breakfast.

Tip: Choose firm, crisp apple varieties that stand up well to baking. I like to use a mix of sweet-tart apples such as Pink Lady or Lady Alice, Galas, and Fujis.

Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour, 55 minutes
Yield: Serves 10 to 12

Ingredients:

For the Apples:
4 large or 6 small firm apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
3 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon
For the Cake Batter:
3 cups white whole wheat flour (or a mix of all-purpose and white whole wheat flour)
1 2/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup of mild-flavored oil, such as expeller-pressed canola, grapeseed, or walnut oil
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup orange juice
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

Preparation:1. Preheat the oven to 350° F. (If you are using a dark or nonstick pan, preheat the oven to 325° F to prevent burning.) Grease a tube pan with a removable bottom.

2. Place the apple slices, cinnamon and sugar in a large bowl, and toss together gently, until the apples are evenly coated with the cinnamon and sugar. Set aside.

3. In another large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the oil, eggs, orange juice, and vanilla, and stir with a sturdy wooden spoon just until you have a smooth, thick batter.

4. Pour about 1/3 of the batter into the prepared tube pan. If necessary, use a spatula to spread the batter so it covers the bottom of the pan. Layer about 1/3 of the apple slices over the batter. (If possible, try to avoid touching the sides of the pan with the apples to prevent sticking.) Continue layering the apples and batter so you have 3 layers of each, ending with the apples. For an especially pretty cake, arrange the final layer of apple slices in slightly overlapping concentric circles on top of the batter (the apple slices will spread out as the cake bakes). If there is any cinnamon sugar "syrup" remaining in the apple bowl, drizzle a little over the cake.

5. Place a cookie sheet or piece of foil on the bottom rack of the oven to catch any drips. Place the cake on the center rack of the preheated oven and bake for 1 hour and 20 minutes to 1 1/2 hours, or until a tester comes out clean and the top of the cake is golden.

6. Place the cake on a wire rack and allow to cool in the pan. When it has cooled completely, run a knife or offset spatula around the edge. Carefully remove the outside of the cake pan. Gently run a knife or offset spatula between the cake and the pan bottom to loosen. Invert the cake over a plate and ease it off the pan bottom (the cake will be upside down on the plate). Place a cake plate face down on the bottom side of the cake, and holding both plates, flip the cake, so it is right-side (apple-side) up. Enjoy!

For more: About.com Kosher Food website

Rosh Hashanah - Apples and Honey in Diana's Recipe Book

Apples and Honey

in Diana's Recipe Book

Average Rating:    (total ratings: 2) [Read reviews] [Post a review]

Comments: Apples and Honey for the Jewish New Year  During Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year), it is traditional to eat apples dipped in honey, to symbolize our hopes for a "sweet" new year. The apple is dipped in honey, the blessing for eating tree fruits is recited, the apple is tasted, and then the apples and honey prayer is recited:  Barukh atah Adonai, Elohaynu, melekh ha-olam  Blessed are you, Lord, our God, king of the universe  borei priy ha-eitz. (Amen)  who creates the fruit of the tree. (Amen)  Take a bite from the apple dipped in honey, then continue with the following:  Y'hee ratzon mee-l'fanekha, Adonai Elohaynu v'elohey avoteynu  May it be Your will, Lord our God and God of our ancestors  sh'tichadeish aleinu shanah tovah um'tuqah.  that you renew for us a good and sweet year. (Amen)

Ingredients:  Red, Green or Yellow apples (or combination of apples) washed, cored and sliced into wedges (apples do not have to be peeled)  Kosher honey, for dipping

Instructions: Place the apple wedges on a festive plate with a bowl of honey. Place a serving spoon (or honey spoon) with the honey.  Dip apple wedges in the honey or spoon the honey over the apple wedges with a honey spoon or serving spoon.  If serving challah bread, tear off pieces of challah and dip challah pieces in the honey also.  Photograph taken by Diana Baker Woodall© 2004

Source: DianasDesserts.com

Date: September 2, 2004

Reviews

Reviewer: Susie
Rating:  
Review:
I can't believe that this age-old dish has not been reviewed! It's delicious and will definitely get you psyched up for a sweet year.

 

Reviewer: Elizabeth
Rating:  
Review:
Elegant simplicity. I vary it with several kinds of autumn apples and different sorts of honey on one, big platter. People love it!

Dianas Desserts Website