Final Redemption

It is no secret that I enjoy the Biblical holidays, also known as God’s holidays. I celebrate all of them. The Lord Jesus did the same when He was here on earth. 

I grew up not knowing anything about the Biblical holidays. I was unfamiliar with them other than Passover. I knew that Bible story very well - about the Israelites and their exodus from Egypt.  

At some point, I discovered that Jesus died on Passover as the Lamb of God. Though meaningful, I didn’t give it much thought. 

As I got older, I wanted to know more. I knew there were holidays, holy days, mentioned in the Bible that God told His people Israel to keep, but I knew almost nothing about them. After learning about them, I was amazed! All seven of them clearly pointed to Christ and His redemptive plan for His people.

Naturally, I began to wonder... why do most Christians not know about these holidays? 

Most Christians are not taught the Biblical holidays, at home or at church. The things we learn, especially as young children, have a strong impact on us for life. I am thankful I was raised in a Christian home where I was taught the Bible and heard Bible stories. 

Being raised in Baptist churches, I was not taught the Biblical holidays. As I got older, I attended some Anabaptist churches, and I wasn’t taught the Biblical holidays there either. I had to read and study on my own to know more about them.

God told His people Israel to keep these holidays, and the more I thought about it, I realized that is likely why most Christians know little to nothing about them. 

Christians have the entire Bible, Old and New Testament. All of it is God’s Word. 

Perhaps Christians are not reading and studying God’s Word like they should? 

I wanted to know more, so I read and studied about the Biblical holidays. 

Later, I realized something else. The Roman Catholic Church did not like early Christians having anything to do with the Hebrew foundation of their faith. (remember, Christianity began in Jerusalem, not Rome.) 

Slowly, but surely, Christians drifted away from the Hebrew foundation of their faith and began to follow the Catholic church instead. This is a large reason why many Christians today do not make connections to the Hebrew Bible. The Catholic church did that on purpose, sadly. 

This is why most Christians are ignorant and even hesitant to learn about the Biblical holidays. 

These holidays are rich, precious, and beautiful. These are God’s holidays. 

I love Passover because it reminds me of the shed blood of the Lamb, the shed blood of Christ that purchased our salvation. We have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb! Hallelujah! 

This year, I thought about all of the Biblical holidays. Which one is my favorite, I thought? 

It didn’t take me long to figure that out. 

The 5th Biblical holiday, the Feast of Trumpets, is probably my favorite! 

As mentioned above, each one points to Christ. 

Christ died on Passover. 

Christ was buried on Unleavened Bread. 

Christ rose on Firstfruits. 

The Holy Spirit was poured out on Pentecost. 

The Feast of Trumpets points to the return of Christ when He blows the trumpet to take His children home. 

Why is that holiday my favorite? 

Allow me to share. 

If I was a girl, growing up in a family where the Biblical holidays were celebrated, I likely would have been given a plastic toy shofar to blow. 

And I would have probably blown that until I drove my Dad nuts. I can hear my Dad saying: 

“Okay Erin, that’s enough.” 

You get the idea. I love blowing my shofars! I have two of them, and they are not cheap plastic things. They are real shofars made from ram’s horns. One is small and the other is larger. I love blowing my larger one! 

Beyond blowing shofars, there is another reason why I love this Biblical holiday so much. 

We were redeemed on Passover by the blood of the Lamb, something I love to remember every year. Christ’s blood purchased our salvation. 

Those who belong to God have been paid for by the blood of Christ. We are redeemed when we repent of our sin and give our life to God. 

But our physical body has not yet been redeemed. That will not happen until Christ comes to take His people home. We are still waiting for the redemption of our body. 

The apostle Paul wrote about this in Romans 8:

“For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 

And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” 

Romans 8:22-23 

All of creation groans with us for that day. 

When will that day take place? 

The Bible says no man knows the day or the hour, a Hebrew idiom for the Feast of Trumpets. 

We do not know the exact date Christ will come to take His people home, but I believe it points to this Biblical holiday. 

I grew up believing that Christ could come back on any random day. But now that I understand the Biblical holidays, I understand that God has appointed times. I believe Christ will come back some year on the Feast of Trumpets! 

We were redeemed by the blood of Christ on Passover. 

Final redemption will happen on the Feast of Trumpets. 

That is why I love this Biblical holiday so much. 

This year, the Feast of Trumpets is on September 24th. 

Will Christ come back this year?

No one knows for sure. 

One thing I do know is that I will be blowing my shofar in eager anticipation of that glorious day! 

As Christians, we sing songs with lyrics like these: 

“And Lord haste the day when my faith shall be sight, The clouds be rolled back as a scroll, The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend! Even so, it is well with my soul.” 

One of these days, it will literally happen! 

Final redemption. 

It’s coming for those who belong to God. 

That’s a promise. 

Applesauce Pancake Recipe

When I was growing up, we always had a breakfast meal for supper on Saturday evenings. 

A breakfast meal on Saturday evenings was something my mom grew up with, so my mom incorporated that into our home as well. This is something my mom still does in our home today. 

Our Saturday evening breakfast meal ranges from things like: pancakes, waffles, French toast, scrambled eggs, oatmeal, bagels, toast, and cereal. Sometimes, we will have a breakfast casserole of some kind. Quite often though, we have pancakes. 

I have wonderful memories as a child in Michigan, going to Grandma’s home for supper on Saturday evening. Grandma’s pancakes were so good! 

I have my Grandma’s classic pancake recipe saved, a recipe that uses all purpose flour. There is nothing quite like fluffy, white pancakes with butter and maple syrup on top.

I also have a recipe for whole wheat pancakes. That recipe was one that our family used to make quite often years ago with freshly ground wheat. Sometimes, we would add blueberries. Those were very hearty, delicious, and nutritious pancakes. 

Last year, I came across a pancake recipe on Pinterest. Applesauce Pancakes. 

I am not on Pinterest very much, but when I saw this recipe, I had to try making them. 

When I think of the month of September, I think of blackberries (in season here) and apples. 

Where I live, September is the perfect month of the year to me. I think of bright yellow, sunny days, deep blue sky, lush green trees, and large, juicy, red apples. You know, the perfect story book picture, or a picture a child might draw or color. Our September weather is often perfect! 

Apples also make me think of applesauce. I love applesauce. We frequently enjoy applesauce cups with our homemade pancakes on Saturday night. 

A recipe for “Applesauce Pancakes” naturally caught my eye. After I made the recipe, I knew it was a keeper. I thought they were amazing! 

To be honest, I think this recipe is even better than my Grandma’s classic pancake recipe. 

These pancakes are some of the best I’ve ever had. To me, this pancake recipe is “restaurant style” - delicious and very filling. 

This recipe serves 2-3 people, so for a family, you would want to double this recipe. (maybe more) 

Applesauce Pancakes 

1 cup all purpose flour
2 Tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 salt
1 large egg
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-3 Tablespoons water, as needed

Directions: 

In a bowl, mix the dry ingredients together: flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Whisk to remove any clumps. 

Add egg, applesauce, and vanilla to the dry ingredients. Stir until just combined. 

If your batter looks too thick to pour (depends on brand of applesauce), add 1-3 tablespoons of water and stir.

Let the batter sit for 5 minutes. During this time, heat a nonstick skillet or griddle on medium-low heat and grease lightly with butter or cooking spray.

Measure about ⅓ cup of batter onto your hot skillet for each pancake. Once you see bubbles across the pancake and the edges look dry, flip the pancake over. (this takes about 2 minutes depending on the heat of your skillet)

Cook the second side until lightly browned and cooked through in the middle. Repeat with remaining batter. 

Enjoy!

Trees

I absolutely love trees. To me, trees are one of the most beautiful things that God created. 

I love sitting under trees, and I love walking under trees, especially on warm, summer days. 

This time of year, trees are so lush, so green, and so beautiful! I savor the beauty of the trees in the late summer months of August and September. 

We have some beautiful nature areas not far from our home. One of them I frequent often. This nature area is full of many beautiful trees with a river flowing by. 

Sweet summertime. My favorite nature area. 

This nature area is my happy place. For me, spending time in nature, God’s beautiful creation, is sort of like hitting a “reset” button. It is always so refreshing.

This summer, I have thought a lot about trees. I thought about how much I enjoy their beauty and their refreshing shade in the summer time. 

I thought about how much we depend on trees for life and for living. 

There are so many different kinds of fruit that grow on trees. Trees provide some food for us. 

Trees also give us wood, something strong, durable, and reliable to build and make so many different things. Many homes and other buildings are made with wood here in the United States. 

Trees give us a home to live in, a place to work in, and other buildings that are necessary for life. 

In essence, trees provide both food and shelter for mankind. 

A lot of furniture is made from wood. Many musical instruments are also made from wood. One of my favorite woods comes from the walnut tree. My largest harp is made from walnut wood. 

Trees are such a wonderful gift from God! 

God, in His great wisdom, knew that we would need trees to help us live. Trees were created by God on the same day that plants were created, the third day of creation. 

The third day of creation is the only day when God said it was “very good” twice. I am beginning to understand why God said that twice on that day. Plants and trees are such a gift to mankind.

We have a tree in the front of our home that is close to one of my bedroom windows. I love that tree so much. That tree recently got a “haircut” (a major tree trim), but I still enjoy it tremendously. 

In His Word, God likens people to trees in Psalm 1 - a Psalm that I love. 

That Psalm begins by saying: 

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” 

Psalm 1:1-2 

In Hebrew, God’s law (instruction) is called the Torah. 

That Psalm continues with Godly people being like a tree, specifically, a tree planted by water: 

“And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

Psalm 1:3 

Summer 2025 

When I took this picture of this tree by the river this summer, I immediately thought of Psalm 1: 

“And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water…”  

Psalm 1:3 

Trees need water to grow, to live, and to thrive. 

Trees planted by a river usually thrive very well because there is a fresh water source right there. 

Those who delight to walk with God and in His ways are like healthy, thriving trees planted by a river. Like trees, God says they will prosper and bring forth fruit in their season. 

I like to remember that trees go through seasons. In the winter, most trees look dead and barren. But in the summer, they flourish, especially near water. 

Recently, my mind went to another tree in the Bible. This tree is mentioned in Exodus 15:25. 

 

God had delivered His people, Israel, out of the land of Egypt and had taken them through the Red Sea on dry ground. (talk about a mighty miracle!) 

After Israel crossed the Red Sea, the Bible says that they went three days journey into the wilderness, and they found no water. 

Finally, they got to a place where there was water, but sadly, the water was bitter, too bitter to drink. That place was called Marah; Marah means bitter. 

Moses cried unto the Lord about what to do. The Bible says it this way: 

“And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet…”

Exodus 15:25 

Why did I think about the tree that God showed Moses to throw into the bitter waters of Marah? 

Allow me to share a little here. 

This summer, I was invited over to the home of a dear sister in Christ. This woman is about 10 years older than I am, and she is married with children. 

How do I know this woman? 

I worked for many years in a small, local grocery store. That is where I met this woman about 15 years ago. I met many dear, local people simply by working in a local grocery store for many years. 

This dear sister invited me over to her home several times this summer, and I have been richly blessed each time I have visited with her. 

One warm, summer day in July, we visited on her back deck, overlooking her beautiful garden with puffy white clouds in the sky. It was delightful.  

We shared hearts and heartaches we have faced in life. This precious sister has gone through so much; my heart really goes out to her. 

I also shared some things with her that I have faced in my life, such as heart break and loss. I shared some things with her that I don’t share with many people. I may have shed a few tears. 

After sharing my heart, my friend kindly shared something with me: 

“I can see Satan is trying to make you bitter.” 

I paused and acknowledged what she was saying. 

I do not see myself as being bitter in any way at all. But sometimes, we do not see ourselves as we really are. 

In sincerity, I asked her: 

“I hope I’m not bitter?” 

My friend continued:

“No, you are not bitter.” 

“Satan would love to make you bitter, but you are not.” 

We held hands and prayed for each other outside on her back deck. It was so special and a cherished memory now. 

After our lovely conversation that afternoon, I began to wonder what a bitter person is like. 

Ever since I gave my life to God at the age of 11, my walk with God has been the most cherished, guarded thing in my life. I don’t want anything to come between me and the Lord.

I decided to look up synonyms for bitter as well as the opposite of bitter. 

The opposite of bitter? 

Sweet. 

Some of the synonyms for bitter gave me such a clear picture. 

Synonyms for bitter? 

Resentful. Harsh. Angry. Unforgiving. Spiteful. Nasty. Sour. 

You get the picture. Those things can happen to anyone who has been hurt but does not forgive. 

The list of synonymous words for bitter was very clear and enough to frighten me. Those are very ugly things in a person. By God’s grace, I do not want to ever be that way.

Synonyms for sweet? 

Kind. Happy. Positive. Forgiving. Cheerful. Pleasant. Friendly. 

I could almost smell the aroma of the lovely, synonymous words for sweet. 

By God’s grace, that is the person I want to be.

Earlier this summer, someone encouraged me with something so simple yet so profound. 

“Stay sweet.” 

Those words have stayed with me all summer. 

Bitter and sweet. 

Bitterness can creep into people lives when they are deeply hurt. 

Naturally, my mind went to the story of the bitter waters of Marah in the Bible. 

God’s remedy to make that bitter water sweet? 

A tree. 

God told Moses to throw a tree into that bitter water and it would become sweet. 

I believe that story in the Bible points to something much greater. I believe that story points to another tree in the Bible - the tree that God’s Son died on. 

Most people know that Jesus (Yeshua in Hebrew) died on a cross for our sin, our disobedience. 

The cross that Christ died on was a tree of some kind. That wood was likely very rough and crude, not soft and sanded down. 

Jesus died on a tree for the sins of the world.

Like the bitter waters of Marah, that tree can turn a bitter person into a sweet person through the power of God and the shed blood of Christ. Hallelujah! 

Though completely unplanned, at the age of 11, I gave my life to God while standing underneath a very tall, eucalyptus tree in California. 

At the time, I didn’t think much about it. It was just a tall tree near our backyard. Later, it meant a lot more to me when I thought about it. 

Jesus died on a tree. 

Though we may never know what kind of tree Christ died on, there is one thing I do know. 

What Christ accomplished when He died on that tree and shed His blood was enough to make bitter people into sweet people when they truly repent and give their life to Him. Hallelujah! 

Today, I enjoyed a picnic lunch at my favorite nature area. I sat at a picnic bench while enjoying the beauty and shade of a very large tree. 

Trees truly are one of God’s greatest gifts to mankind. 

I am especially grateful for the tree, the cross, that God’s Son gave His life on and shed His blood on.