STRONG InCHRIST

Shavuot (lit. “Weeks”) is a Jewish holiday that occurs on the sixth day of the Hebrew month of Sivan (late May or early June). Shavuot commemorates the anniversary of the day God gave the Torah to the entire Israelite nation assembled at Mount Sinai, although the association between the giving of the Torah and Shavuot is not explicit in the Biblical text. The holiday is one of the Shalosh Regalim, the three Biblical pilgrimage festivals. It marks the conclusion of the Counting of the Omer.

The date of Shavuot is directly linked to that of Passover. The Torah mandates the seven-week Counting of the Omer, beginning on the second day of Passover and immediately followed by Shavuot. This counting of days and weeks is understood to express anticipation and desire for the Giving of the Torah. On Passover, the Jewish people were freed from their enslavement to Pharaoh; on Shavuot they were given the Torah and became a nation committed to serving God.

In the Bible, Shavuot is called the Festival of Weeks (Exodus 34:22, Deuteronomy 16:10); Festival of Reaping (Exodus 23:16), and Day of the First Fruits (Numbers 28:26). The Mishnah and Talmud refer to Shavuot as Atzeret (a solemn assembly), as it provides closure for the festival activities during and following the holiday of Passover. Since Shavuot occurs 50 days after Passover, Hellenistic Greeks gave it the name Pentecost (fiftieth day).

Meditation: Shavuot is considered a betrothal between God and Israel. Imagine that! The God and creator of the universe had just delivered Israel from bondage and then condescends to commune with man. Let us celebrate Shavuot by communing with Him and deepening our understanding of our spiritual betrothal.

Peace & Blessings,

-James

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“Therefore they said to Him, ‘What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do?’” -John 6:30

Do you ever wonder if anyone even reads all the signs around us?

You know what I mean, you just pass a sign that says “no passing” and then somebody with too much car and too little sense comes flying around you.

You go to Wal-Mart to pick up a couple things and get in the “express line” where the sign says “20 items or less,” and there is someone with enough groceries to feed a good sized army.

Well, it may surprise you to find this is not a new phenomenon. In Christ’s day, He did many wondrous things and people kept asking Him to do more – without ever paying attention to the fact His purpose was not to perform for them, but to save them.

The verse quoted above is an example of that unbelief. Do you know when they asked that? Right after He fed the 5000 with 5 little cakes of bread and 2 fish!

Sadly, many times we are just as bad. We fail to see and appreciate all the things God has already done in our lives, and we ask Him to prove Himself by doing more. He has already (many times over) shown He is the Almighty and that He loves and cares for us.

We should just “read the signs” and trust Him and be grateful for all He has already done.

Written By: Bob G

Meditation: How can I be completely in tune with the Spirit in order to recognize all the signs & blessings the Lord has placed in my life?

Peace & Blessings.

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” -2 Chronicles 7:14

National Day of Prayer calls on all people of different faiths in the United States to pray for the nation and its leaders. It is held on the first Thursday of May each year. There is a torrent of debate surrounding this day, yet, there is no one and nothing that can stop a believer from bowing the head and bending the knee in prayer and devotion to God, this day and every day!

Peace & Blessings,

-James