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September 15, 2023
Rosh Hashana 5784 – 2024
Part 2.
Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you’ve got, be resolute, and love without stopping. (1 Corinthians 16:13-14 Message)
Beloved child of the highest God, we are amidst the Jewish new year 5784 – 2024 and it means war, it means to be alert, pay attention, be strong, stand firm, (1 Corinthians 16:13-14) be awake, and watchful in Strong’s Concordance. Make sure your foundation has no cracks in it. I will share more with you as we come closer to celebrating the Day of Atonement – the holiest day this year. Hide the Word of God in your heart. The Word will encourage you and increase your faith mind, body, and spirit. (Romans 10:17)
Rosh Hashanah is a two-day celebration in Israel. It’s one of four-holiday celebrations honored throughout all generations. (Leviticus 23) The shofar or a ram’s horn is blown to launch the two-day celebration. “Give the following instructions to the people, ‘On the first day of the seventh month, you shall observe a day of solemn sabbatical rest, a Memorial Day announced by the blowing of trumpets/shofar, a holy convocation. You shall not do any laborious work [on that day], but you shall present an offering to the Lord.’” (Leviticus 23:24-25) The purpose of blowing the shofar is always to awaken the heart and remind you to repent of your sins. It’s an unusual rousing sound, much like a siren for the soul, waking you up to a higher purpose.
Today is a day to inspire renewed hope and a sense of rebirth, a new beginning if you will the same as New Year’s Day in our country. There will be candlelight prayer services. Families will gather to celebrate with festive meals eating apples dipped in honey, challah bread, fish, and pomegranate, then the head of the family will pray, ‘Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.’ Then he releases the blessing over his family. The husband and wife together will speak the blessings over each child and prophecy their future. Can you imagine growing up and every Friday night around the table (Shabbat) and your dad pronouncing a blessing over you? How would that have impacted your life? I declare the blessing of the Lord over you and your family today as a minister of the Gospel. “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26) Be blessed! Shalom!
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