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The Day of Judgment



I was a little girl in the mid ’50’s and enjoyed watching Romper Room on TV every morning. Miss Nancy would end the program by looking into her magic mirror and speak the names of children she saw having a good day. With a name like “Mary” you would think she would see me every day, but I remember telling my mother that Miss Nancy doesn’t call my name and I worried that she didn’t see me. My mother told me that she did see me but that the program went off the air before she could speak my name. Still I was bothered that she didn't call out my name.

At Sunset on September 18th, we will celebrate the Jewish feast of Rosh Hashanah. This year it falls on Shabbot (Friday evening). This feast ushers in a brand new year on the Jewish calendar. Everything of the past year is cancelled and the New Year starts fresh. Rosh Hashanah is characterized by the blowing of the Shofar, a trumpet made from a ram's horn, intended to awaken the listener from his or her "slumber" and alert them to the coming judgment . Many Christian teachers along with a Jewish Rabbi suggest that Messiah can possibly come on the feast day of Rosh Hashanah.

It was explained to me that God opens His Book of Life on this day and sees the names of His children, both the passionate and the lukewarm. He is a good God and longs to release a bumper crop of blessings. We are warned to step up our preparations to receive these blessings from Him and not to hinder Him from pouring out His ample supply. How do we do that? Both Jews and Christians know this is the time to stop our gossiping! This is the time to take every negative thought captive and speak life into our day. This is the time to forgive. It is the time to make sure every tithe is current and offerings abound! This is the time to make sure acts of kindness sprinkle our days.

When God opens up His Book of Life, I want Him to find my name in it and I want Him to see that I love Him with all my heart. I want to know Him more and serve Him! May His blessings fall on all of us in great measure. He is a good God and He wants to bless us big!

Comments

  1. Debbie PetrasAugust 25, 2009 at 4:25 PM

    Mary, I'm so glad we can both be assured that our names are written in the Book of Life because of Jesus.

    I had to laugh because I too grew up when Romper Room and Miss Nancy was on TV. BTW, Captain Kangaroo lived next door to the church where I went to Sunday School as a child in Babylon, NY. The kids used to throw rocks in his yard to see if he would come out and shoo us away. LOL.

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  2. rcubesAugust 25, 2009 at 6:24 PM

    Thank you for sharing what that festive celebration means...Wow! To have your name in His book? Can't fathom...His forgiveness is the greatest blessing He gave and I'm glad that I had received that...Love and blessings to you sister Mary. It's good to hear from you :)

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  3. DeniseAugust 25, 2009 at 7:14 PM

    Amen my sweet friend.

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  4. Sandi@ Rose Chintz CottageAugust 25, 2009 at 7:38 PM

    Hi Mary,
    Thank you for sharing what the Jewish festival means. I think as Christians, it would be a very good idea if we too celebrated the holiday! I have often thought that if God's chosen people, the Jews, celebrate then we as His 'chosen' should also. Their festivals are all very important and meaningful. I am so glad to know that my name is also written in His Book of Life. Thanks for sharing and enjoy the rest of your week.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  5. AndreaAugust 26, 2009 at 5:57 AM

    What a beautiful post. I have missed your smiling face. I am praying for you and your family. Blessings, andrea

    PS: you have an award at arise 2 write

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  6. christy roseAugust 26, 2009 at 7:30 AM

    I want to know Him more and more! He is such a good God who loves us more than we can possibly imagine. Thanks for this post Mary!

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  7. KelliGirlAugust 26, 2009 at 7:57 AM

    I saw Rosh Hoshanah on the calendar yesterday, but didn't give it much more thought. Thanks for giving some insight into this holiday... and the relevance to our lives as Christians.

    The gift of eternal life offered through Jesus astounds me. I know it is ONLY through Jesus' amazing grace that my name could be in the book of life!

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  8. LorenAugust 26, 2009 at 8:20 AM

    Mary,

    When we began house church a few years ago we began on the day of Rosh Hashanah with a blow of the Shofar as well and continued in that tradition. Longing for the return and grateful for the gift of a new year!

    I am so thankful for the gift of grace and because of HIS son our names are in the Book of LIfe! Praise HIM and may we be found passionate and alert...ready with our lamps burning!

    I love you Mary and so happy to hear from you. Covet your prayers and please know I am covering you and yours just the same!

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  9. LisaShawAugust 26, 2009 at 5:48 PM

    I was a Romper Room girl!

    Beautiful sharing Sis. I'm thankful for God's grace and mercy upon our lives and that I'm a sinner "saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ" and as such I'm deeply humbled that my name is in the Book of Life. All glory goes to JESUS in my life.

    I love you.

    ReplyDelete

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