Shalom Dear Brothers and Sisters

Tabernacles

I realize that when you get this newsletter the Feasts of Tabernacles will be over. However, I hope to share some of what I learned this year in the hopes to encourage you. There is so much involved in this feast I could barely take it all in! Leviticus 23 is an outline of all the feast of the Lord that we are to celebrate. Yet in verse 40 it says, "and ye shall take you on the first day boughs goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and boughs of thick trees, and willows from the brook, and you shall rejoice before Adonai seven days".

This is to be a joyous celebration! Verse 41 goes on to tell us we are to do this to remember that the Israelite children lived in booths when they came out of Egypt. As I sat out back in our Sukkot I thought about the Israelite children how after so many years being slaves of Egypt, had seen these wonderful marvelous miracles of Adonai had done to free them from the bondage of slavery. How all of a sudden after walking through the Red Sea on dry ground they found themselves in the desert not knowing what they were headed!

Miryam had led them in a dance of celebration glorifying Adonai for rescuing them from the armies of Egypt. They so desperately wanted not to be slaves but it was all they knew how to be. They're great deliver that they had cried out for had come. Their eyes look at Moses rather than Adonai. Yes Moses was the instrument that Adonai used to help guide them and teach them His ways. He, Adonai, was the one who delivered them and was caring for them for 40 years in a dry and barren land. He never left them nor abandoned them even though they grumbled and complained, He stayed true to His promises that    He had made to Abraham and Jacob.

I realized that the same wonderful Creator of the very universe had done the very same thing for me! Egypt we know is a type of the world, a picture, and the kingdom of darkness. As I sat outside in our booth thinking about how faithful and patient Adonai have been with me! I thought about all the times I've grumbled and complained instead of just rejoicing and realizing that He is in control of every situation in my life, as long I allow Him to be! I thought of all the things I to have been delivered from when I first surrendered all my heart over to His Lordship of my life. How grateful I was at the beginning and how much I spent time studying His Word and worshiping and praying seeking Him with all my heart from the time I rose up in the morning to the time I went to bed.

Such sweet Fellowship I had had as I longed to spend the time with the lover of my soul basking in His presence for hours and days at a time. I thought back to how slowly distractions came my way so I was unable to spend as much time as I used to. The more I pondered this and more I realize in some ways parts of my heart had turned back to Egypt! How easy it is for us to sit and read the Word of God and say to ourselves, after all of the Lord had done how could the children of Israel want to go back to Egypt! We are just as guilty today at least I speak for myself! I could feel in my spirit the longing of my Beloved calling me back to the sweet rivers of fellowship and my heart melting in His Hands. What an amazing God we serve! Not like the other gods of this world made of wood or stone that cannot speak, rather, we serve the living Almighty Creator who is so great that even the heavens the highest heavens cannot contain Him!

Praise Yahweh that He would show me this on the very first day of Sukkot as I sat outside in my booth. So that I could repent and turn my heart even more back to Him and rejoice and celebrate in His goodness! For those of you who celebrate Sukkot, the feast of Tabernacles how blessed are we. I'm sure each one has had wonderful experiences to share with family and friends this season. For those of you who are reading this and have never celebrated these Feasts of the Lord I encourage you to start. There is a depth and richness in Adonai's appointed times that He calls us to meet with Him than all the other man-made holidays. Try it go through one cycle for one year and your life will never be the same I know the last few years mine has changed greatly! Each year I find myself falling more in love with the one that loves me more!

B'Shem Yeshua Hamashiach

In His Love, Theresa