Yom Kippur: A Time of Inspiration

**Many of these words speak volumes to me at this time.  This article is taken from Aish.com.  

Written by Dov Moshe Lipman

I have experienced Yom Kippur 39 times in my life. But I have never been as prepared as I am now for my 40^th one.

And I have Steve Jobs to thank for it.

Steve Jobs, co-founder, chairman and CEO of Apple, Inc. as well as chief executive of Pixar Animation, died yesterday at the age of 56 from pancreatic cancer. As a result of his death, many of his speeches and presentations have been spreading like wildfire across the internet, and one has struck the most perfect of chords in me as a preparation for the Day of Atonement which is quickly approaching.

Jobs was the guest speaker at the 2005 commencement exercises for Stanford University and I want to focus on three things which he highlighted in his speech which he delivered after his cancer was diagnosed and also temporarily cured.

"AWFUL TASTING MEDICINE"

I often find myself upset with God on Yom Kippur. Last year I prayed all day and pleaded for all the things I wanted Him to give me and now, looking back, not only did I not receive everything I wanted but things oftentimes turned out worse. Jobs told stories of having to drop out of college and actually being fired from Apple, the company which he himself started. But, in both cases, what looked like something bad and even disastrous for him actually worked out for the best and were "the best things that could have ever happened." As he explains, "it was awful tasting medicine but I guess the patient needed it."

How can I, in my limited understanding of history, destiny, and the universe know what is best for me? How dare I approach God this Yom Kippur with complaints about this past year. Steve Jobs taught me that I must be willing to swallow even the most awful tasting medicine because the Doctor knows best and I, as the patient need it.

"AM I LIVING TODAY AS IF IT IS MY LAST?"

Jobs related that when he was 17 years old he read a humorous quote which made a lasting impression on him. "If you live each day like it will be your last, some day you will most certainly be right." Jobs said that he awoke every day and looked at himself in the mirror and asked himself if he was living the day he would want to live if it was his last. And if he went a few days with the answer being "no," he knew it was time to change course. As Jobs went on to explain, "Your time here is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life."

Yom Kippur is THE day on the Jewish calendar when we confront our mortality. Those who passed away this past year had their fate sealed last Yom Kippur and this Yom Kippur God will seal our fates for the coming year. I always knew this and used the day to plead to God to bless me and my family and friends with life. I approached the prospect of death with fear and turned that fear into imploring God that it should not happen. But, as Jobs said it, "death is likely the single best invention of life." Therefore, instead of it simply hanging over me with fear, I must embrace it and use it to enhance my life.

Thanks to Steve Jobs I am now entering Yom Kippur not as the selfish person pleading with God to grant me life, but trying to internalize and apply in practice the message of the judgment which will be sealed on that day. God forbid, this could actually be it. This could be the last Yom Kippur. While spending the day in synagogue, I am going to ask myself: Am I living the life I want to lead if it is my last? Am I relating to my wife, my children, my parents, my siblings, my extended family, my neighbors and my friends as if today may be my last? Am I using my unique talents and skills to contribute to my country, my nation, and the world to the fullest as if today will be my last chance to do so?

As Jobs expressed it best, "Knowing that I can be dead soon helps me make the most important decisions in life based on what is real and true and not based on fear of failure, fear of embarrassment, pride, or any other external expectations." I am going to spend time on Yom Kippur analyzing my decisions and life through that lens of clarity.

And, amazingly, the laws of Yom Kippur will help me accomplish this. How so?

FOLLOW YOUR GUT, IT KNOWS YOU BEST

"Don't let the voice of other people's opinions drown out your own inner voice." One profound statement made by Steve Jobs, with shattering implications. He goes on to teach us, "You must have the courage to follow your heart and intuition" because "somehow you already know what you want and what you want to become." I now understand that Yom Kippur is all about removing all external distractions and trying to figure out who I really am at my core. No food. No drink. No time for socializing. No physical pleasures. Just me and my spiritual side, the real me. Time for me to figure out what the real ME wants with all distractions removed.

Thank you Mr. Jobs. Your life and words had a meaningful impact on one searching person at just the right time, and I have no doubt there are millions of others just like me who you have touched as well.

May you rest in peace and may all of us have a most meaningful Yom Kippur.  (END ARTICLE)

That was a great article, much of which, I truly believe to be true for us a believers in YHWH.

How do we come before YHWH?  Do we really believe He does know best and do we trust that it is He who leads us in "the way" we are to go even when the smooth road has turned rough?

Also, it is important to remember the words of Solomon: Ecc 11:9  Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. 

YHWH will give us all we need in order to accomplish the desires HE has placed in our hearts to do, we need only remember that in all things we choose to do, we will one day stand before our Maker who will rightly Judge our works.  I pray that I will not be inhibited by voices, by majority, by fear or by complacency but that I will allow YHWH be my strength so that I am able to see life outside my field of human vision where  I am restricted to this worlds limitations.  So that I can realize life for what He has created it for.  I pray that I will see what is real and lasting and separate myself from what won't stand, at least as much as I am allowed to do that in this world.

What an amazing time of reflection Yom Teruah and Yom kippur have been.  This is just the beginning of the journey of the coming year.  May it be filled with devotion, meditation in His word, prayer, and focus and most of all..

May you be inscribed in the book of life and your heart filled with shalom as you set apart your time to YHWH in the coming year!

Rosh HaShanah; A Description and My Prayer

This year Rosh HaShanah will begin the evening of Sept. 28, 2011.  Rosh HaShanah is typically celebrated by the blowing of the shofar and a meal with family and friends. Apples, honey and challah are traditional fare.   Rosh HaShanah means, "head of the year."  We find the scripture pertaining to  the observance of this festival in:

Leviticus 23:23-25   

And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,  “Speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl, saying, ‘In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you have a rest, a remembrance of blowing of trumpets, a set-apart gathering.
 ‘You do no servile work, and you shall bring an offering made by fire (food offering) to יהוה.’ ”

The time between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur is to be used as a time of teshuvah, meaning "returning to one's self" or looking at ourselves for repentance.  During this time, we step back and assess the previous year in order to:
*Come closer to YHWH
*Clarify our life's goals
*A time to truly consider our purpose in life, not just moving with the flow of life around us.
*Take time to look at ourselves critically and honestly, with the intention of improving.   Perhaps, more important than knowing what I will do is knowing what I am doing and how well I do it.

It is during this time of introspection that we can take the opportunity to begin life anew through repentance (we can repent everyday, this is just a time of year where we are reminded that there will come a time when it is too late to repent either because time is no more or because of our own demise).  We can recognize evil and turn away from it and turn to YHWH for understanding of His ways and strive to apply them each day in our lives.

 YHWH's compassion toward repentance

Luk 15:3  And He spoke this parable to them, saying,
Luk 15:4  “What man among you, having a hundred sheep, and having lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?
Luk 15:5  “And having found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
Luk 15:6  “And having come home, he calls together his friends and neighbours, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’
Luk 15:7  “I say to you that in the same way there shall be more joy in the heaven over one sinner repenting, than over ninety-nine righteous ones who need no repentance.

2Pe 3:8  But, beloved ones, let not this one matter be hidden from you: that with יהוה one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 

2Pe 3:9  יהוה is not slow in regard to the promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward us, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 

2Pe 3:10  But the day of יהוה shall come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with intense heat, and the earth and the works that are in it shall be burned up. 

Turning to Good

True repentance involves not only a change of heart but a change of action as well-- turning away from bad and turning toward good or as David says in Ps. 34:14:  Turn away from evil and do good; Seek peace, and pursue it. 

Seeking and pursuing are a daily task, a daily chore, one that requires diligence and focus but must be applied if we are to achieve our goal.  

During this time, evening and morning prayers are recited by the Jewish people and they recite Ps 27 which speaks of David's heart toward YHWH--he says, "One thing I ask from YHWH...that I may dwell in the house of YHWH all the days of my life."  This can only take place if we strive, seek and pursue YHWH's presence.

Time to Wake Up

The shofar is one of the symbols of Rosh Hashanah because in the scriptures is gave the sound to the people for when it was time to break camp, go to arms, usher in Feast days and the Sabbath.  During Rosh HaShanah it's use is the same, it is sounded as a wake up call to perform teshuvah (repentance) and moral introspection.  A Jewish Philosopher said this about the use of the shofar:

"Awake, o you sleepers, awake from your sleep!  Search your deeds and turn in repentance."

The story of Abe and Isaac in Genesis 22, describes Abe's willingness to sacrifice his only son and  is read on Rosh HaShanah.  The ram, whose horn was caught in the bushes, was sacrificed in place of Isaac.  The ram's horn became an eternal symbol of Abe's and Isaac's trust in YHWH, even in the face of death.  

The Shofar is also sounded as a reminder of YHWH's promise to bring the Messiah who will usher into the world physical and spiritual peace--literal, eternal, once for all, peace.  A promise soon to be completed by our Messiah Yahshuah. 

My Prayer

My prayer and my thoughts are tending toward this matter of self introspection or soul searching but more importantly than the searching of my own soul, the searching for what it means to turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.  This is what I find myself desiring to do.  My hope is to find understanding and cling to it, to make it part of my being, one with me and to remember everyday and in every situation that YHWH is present, here, now.  THIS moment, THIS place, THIS situation is where He can be found of me.  This time and place is where He is waiting for me to come and repent and petition Him.  He is omnipresent, I am not.  I should not do anything but learn from the past, not dwell there...I am unable to affect what is gone by.  I should not spend too much time musing about what will be, it has not come to be yet and I have little of my own power to affect it.  But YHWH is HERE right NOW, He can do everything and I desire that I should be where He is, mediating, musing, speaking, searching His ways so that I may dwell in His house all the days of my life.  This is a lesson I am pursuing and striving to hold so that He may accomplish a good work in me.  May it be so.  Amein

*I found and used here, much of my Rosh HaShanah information in, "Holy Days of Israel" by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein.

It was very informational as I studied this coming Holy Day.

Sabbath Peace

Wow, am I thankful for Shabbat!  We have had a very long, full, BUSY few weeks and I'm tired.  We have had some things come our way which we were not foreseen and appear to be hampering some plans that we were/are hoping for.  At first it seemed like a punch in the stomach and another road block in a very, very long road but if you have read the last couple of posts here you may be seeing what YHWH has been dealing with me on.  I am being reminded that His plans and timing are perfect.  I may not see it.  I may not understand it (and right now I don't see it or understand it).  I may not particularly like it but if He does it, there must be purpose in it.

Shabbat is a welcomed friend every week but this week especially.  No place we have to be.  Nothing to plan.  Just rest, a much needed mental and physical rest.  I think we need time to consider the events of the last couple of weeks.  Time to pray and seek YHWH.  I feel like I need to understand why, why are these things happening?  But even as I write the word "understand" I think to myself that there are so many things I will never understand AND I know that I don't have to understand, I just have to believe that YHWH knows the way and that's what I must choose to give thanks in.  So, I welcome the promise of rest that is coming this Shabbat and I will give thanks for YHWH's many mercies toward me.  I will give thanks for the blessing of my family.  I will give thanks for all the good things He has given me to enjoy in this life He has given me.

Psa 26:7-12  To raise a voice of thanksgiving, And to declare all Your wonders. 

  יהוה, I have loved the abode of Your house, And the place where Your esteem dwells. 

  Do not gather my being together with sinners, Nor my life with bloodthirsty men, 

  In whose hands is a plot, And their right hand is filled with bribes. 

  But as for me, I walk in my integrity; Redeem me and show me favour. 

  My foot shall stand on a level place; In the assemblies I bless יהוה. 

Hear our Sabbath prayer and redeem us YHWH.

Sabbath Peace.

I will praise YHWH

The Story of Paul and Silas as they were thrown into prison.  They chose to worship YHWH in the midst of their circumstances and praise Him and this is what happened for them because they chose to trust Him...

Act 16:19 .... they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,
Act 16:20  And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
Act 16:21  And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
Act 16:22  And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
Act 16:23  And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
Act 16:24  Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
Act 16:25  And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
Act 16:26  And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
Act 16:27  And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
Act 16:28  But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
Act 16:29  Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
Act 16:30  And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
Act 16:31  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Act 16:32  And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
Act 16:33  And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
Act 16:34  And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
Act 16:35  And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.
Act 16:36  And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace.
Act 16:37  But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.
Act 16:38  And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.
Act 16:39  And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.
Act 16:40  And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.

No matter what your prison is, He is still YHWH and His ways are perfect.  He has purpose in all things concerning you and His timing is NEVER late.  He asks us to call on Him and to wait on His perfect timing.

This is where we are today.  We will choose to believe  and not fear.  We will chose to watch and see the Salvation of YHWH.  He is at work.  He has a plan and a time for all things.  We will approach Him and make our requests known to Him and ask that all things done will be according to His plan.  May He show mercy on us as He leads us by the way...He has chosen for us today.  Amein.

When Uncertainty Comes Your Way; dealing with fear of the unknown

Sometimes it appears that the storms of life will overtake you.  Don't look at the water.

This is an excerpt from Hanna's Cupboard and a reminder to myself.  

Note: this devotion was edited by me.

In the investment world, "futures" are speculative commodities such as wheat or soybean harvests. You never know for sure how those things are ultimately going to come in. Selling futures is a risky business because you are guessing now on a future event.

If I said to you, "don't sell futures",  it means don't get ahead of the results and waste time investing emotionally in what may never come to pass. It means don't act NOW like the worst case scenario has already happened. Have you ever done that? I have!

It's easy to do when something negative happens. Suddenly worries are piled on worries and instead of waiting to see how things will really turn out, you open the door to self pity and despair. It's really a big waste of time but we often do it anyhow.

The Bible has its own way of saying the same thing. Matthew 6:34 says; "Each day has enough trouble of its own." Boy is that true! We can stay sufficiently busy handling today's troubles without stockpiling worries for tomorrow. So the next time you start to speculate about what awful things might be in the works, remember: DON'T SELL FUTURES!

**It's me again...This is the message of the day, week and probably the message of the year for me.  Abba is speaking to me to remember NOT to rely on what I see because He is able to do all things.  His timing is perfect and He is never late or lacking.  If I can remember this and walk in it this truth, I won't be overcome by fear and doubt.  If I can remember that He is at work on His plan I won't have to fall to pieces because I can't see the light at the end of this tunnel.  I can trust that He knows my need and hears me and will bring every season to pass in His time.  I love that.  I am choosing to thank Him for His plan and to refuse to walk in fear for what is obviously out of my control...however, on the same note, I will throw in a reminder that Jacob wrestled with the Angel of YHWH and received his request.  We must not ever give up on going to Abba prayerfully and making our petitions known to Him as long as we truly are seeking Him for His will and not our own...THAT IS THE IMPORTANT PART.  It's easy to ask for what I want, not knowing if it's what Abba wants for me.  I have to desire His way more than my own.  

I am thankful for His heart on this matter to me because we have had some situations arise that seem like mountains, no way around and no way over unless YHWH makes the way and if He does, it will be apparently  that it was Him and not us.  I am thankful that He desires for me to understand this but in the midst of these circumstances I will pray and ask for His mercy and His help because we cannot do what only He alone can.  I pray for His perfect will along with peace and I will pray some more when I am done praying and I will give thanks.