Last evening began the celebration of Yom Kippur.....I like to think of it as the Day of AtOneMent.  Yes, it is usually written atonement.  But, since Jesus has redeemed us, we can be AT ONE with God!  That's the best reason to celebrate!

Here are some favorite Bible verses to read at this time of year:

"'Come now, and let us reason together,'  Says the LORD, 'Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.'

'If you consent and obey, you will eat the best of the land; But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.'

Truly, the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

-Isaiah 1:18-20

"For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never by the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect those who draw near.  Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would not longer have had consciousness of sins?  But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year.  For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins....but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET.  For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.  And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, 'THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD:   I WILL PUT MY LAWS UPON THEIR HEART, AND UPON THEIR MIND I WILL WRITE THEM.'  He then says, 'AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE,'  Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin."

-Hebrews 10:1-4, 12-18

"But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation...For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; nor was it that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood not his own.  Otherwise, He would have neede to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.  And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgement, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him."

-Hebrews 9:11, 24-28

"'For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.'"

-John 3:16

"THEREFORE having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God."

-Romans 5:1-2