I LOVE August!


I LOVE August!  Don’t you?  Each year I feel a sense of excitement when I turn the calendar page to August.  I’m serious!  Why am I so jazzed when August hits?  I know that autumn is just around the corner.  I truly LOVE autumn.  I so enjoy the fall landscape with the plethora of color, the briskness in the air, and the smell of fireplaces.  Well…I’m remembering years past…in NY!  In Arizona…southern Arizona specifically…we don’t have a bevy of colored leaves adorning the trees.  Actually, we have one street in Phoenix that you can travel going south, in and around December, and marvel at the golden leaves on the trees!  And then you can turn around and travel north on that same street and continue to gaze!  It’s worth it!   I wouldn’t describe our temperatures in the Phoenix metro area in the fall as brisk.  The mercury during the day in September/October continues to hover around the triple digits.  But, who pays attention??!!  I continue to LOVE August and autumn.

Do you know what the word “autumn” means?  It means “a period of maturity verging on…DECLINE”!!  WOW!  How glorious!  God has given us a season that, every year, leads to the next season, winter.  Winter speaks of DEATH!!  And, then there’s spring… a RESURRECTION!  How loving of God to give us constant reminders in life of who we are and Who He is.  God is God and I am NOT!!!  Thank You, Lord, that You continually tell us who we are, where we’re bound, and what You have provided for us – resurrection through redemption – in Jesus!

And, autumn reminds me of Jewish people.  What doesn’t remind me of Jewish people?!  My lunch today reminded me of Jewish people because I used gluten free mayonnaise that I purchased at Sprouts where many Jewish people shop!!!  Every day, countless minutes during the day, I’m reminded of Jewish people!  They’re on my heart!!!  In the autumn, however, Jewish people celebrate Rosh Hashanah (which is the Feast of Trumpets [Lev. 23:23-25]).  Rosh Hashanah is commemorated as the Jewish New Year.  Ten days later on the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur/the Day of Atonement (Lev. 23:26-32; Lev. 16) is observed.  Do you know what is highlighted during these two holidays?  At Rosh Hashanah, Genesis 22 is read in synagogues.  Genesis 22 is the account of the love of a father for his only son (Abraham’s near sacrifice of Isaac), the sacrifice of the ram that died in Isaac’s place, and the promise of a sacrificial lamb in the future!  Yom Kippur focuses on SIN!   What an appropriate time to share with your Jewish friends how God has provided a substitute Who has died in their place (Isa. 53:5-6) through Whom they can be given life everlasting!  God’s provision for us – the perfect Lamb of God, Messiah Jesus!

You should know that apples and honey are enjoyed at Rosh Hashanah.  These foods speak of a sweet year ahead.  Consider gifting your Jewish friend with a plate of apples and honey at Rosh Hashanah and wishing them a sweet life through the Promised Messiah spoken of in the Tanakh/the Hebrew Scriptures Who lavishes us with forgiveness FOREVER!

Speaking of treats, I need to finish my gluten free Chocolate Moose Dragons (yummy cookies) as they’re in the decline mode! 

Rejoicing with you in this lovely season!
Cathy


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