Ready to Grow?

Have you ever looked at something familiar from the wrong perspective and failed to recognize it? Sometimes our spiritual lives become just as blurry. When our attention is fixed only on work, finances, relationships, responsibilities, and the crises directly in front of us, we can lose sight of the bigger picture. Our identity becomes unclear. Our purpose fades. Even our faith can become short-sighted. In this message, we explore the connection between stereograms, macro photography, the firstfruits declaration in Ki Tavo, and the way Yeshua continually directed His disciples toward the coming Kingdom. What happens when the temporary becomes more vivid to us than eternity? What does teshuvah have to do with regaining our spiritual focus? And how can the sound of the shofar help us turn our attention back toward Hashem, His Kingdom, and the return of our King? Elul is a season of preparation—a time to examine where we have placed our focus and make the necessary adjustments. Are you living only for what is directly in front of you, or are you preparing for what is yet to come? Is your faith short-sighted?

What if mercy means more than forgiving someone who hurt you? In Part 2 of our study through the 13 Attributes of Mercy from Tomer Devorah, we explore the final six attributes—and discover that biblical mercy reaches far deeper than simply overlooking an offense. What does it mean to suppress another person’s sin instead of publicizing it? Can we truly forgive someone if we still feel compelled to tell others what they did? What happens when someone who harmed us finally suffers the consequences of their actions? And how should we treat people who have fallen short when they are still descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? Drawing from Micah 7, the teachings of Yeshua, Zacchaeus, Cornelius, the prodigal son, and the cherubim over the mercy seat, this teaching challenges us to see people beyond their worst moments. Perhaps the deepest level of mercy is learning to look at someone again—not as the person they became, but as the innocent child they once were. Can we show mercy to others before we learn to show it to ourselves? Watch Part 2 of “The 13 Attributes of Mercy” and discover how Hashem calls us to forgive, restore, protect dignity, and remember the good.

What if repentance is not merely about confessing what you have done—but becoming more like Hashem? During Elul, we examine our lives, recite additional prayers, sound the shofar, and prepare our hearts for the High Holidays. But it is possible to perform every act of repentance and still miss the heart of teshuvah: returning to the image of the One who created us. After Israel’s sin with the golden calf, Moses pleaded for Hashem to reveal His ways. Instead of responding with abandonment and wrath, Hashem revealed His Thirteen Attributes of Mercy. What do these attributes teach us about enduring offense, releasing anger, repairing damage, recognizing the good in others, and restoring those who genuinely repent? shalomacon.org for much more info Drawing from Exodus 34, Micah 7, Rabbi Moshe Cordovero’s Tomer Devorah, and the teachings of Yeshua, this message explores the first seven attributes and their power to transform our relationships. Whose offense are you still carrying? Have you forgiven someone with your words while keeping their case open in your heart? Are you willing to let a repentant person become someone new? Discover what it means not merely to receive Hashem’s mercy, but to reflect it.