Black Shirt:

White Shirt:

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

“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.

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

]]> http://stronginchrist.com/national-day-of-prayer/feed 0 http://stronginchrist.com/testimony http://stronginchrist.com/testimony#comments Fri, 30 Apr 2010 15:37:45 +0000 admin http://stronginchrist.com/?p=848

“For to me, to live is Christ, to die is gain.”

Philippians 1:21 NIV

Hello, my name is Jimmy Peters, I live in Iowa. I am a reborn recently baptized Christian. My life until now has been a life pleasing to me. I would give my whole testimony but it would take awhile to type. I just found this site on facebook thanks to my little brother Jacob! But this verse when I read it seemed to shout at me! To live is Christ- A Christians main purpose! To spread the gospel, and make disciples of all nations UNDER GOD! Our soul purpose is to be ministers and teachers of the Gospel, to give people hope in Christ. To let people know the amazing gift of salvation is only a conversation away. They don’t realize where they are going. To die is gain- I don’t know about anyone else, but I can’t wait for the day Christ comes and takes us into his presence. To know that when we leave this place we will no longer have to deal with the pains of this life, but will be forever free of it all!

But its like Paul says:

“I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.” Philippians 1:23

All of us as Christians long to be with Jesus Christ, but it is better that we stay and finish the work God put us here to do. Now I am by no means an expert on biblical teaching, but I do long for the knowledge that only God can give, and hope and pray that God leads me in the direction of ministry and teaching.

Thank You and GOD Bless,

Jimmy Peters

Oh by the way, LOVE the site, very inspirational!

Peace & Blessings.

]]> http://stronginchrist.com/testimony/feed 0 http://stronginchrist.com/roots-of-our-faith-pesach-sheini http://stronginchrist.com/roots-of-our-faith-pesach-sheini#comments Wed, 28 Apr 2010 16:13:56 +0000 admin http://stronginchrist.com/?p=830

Today is Pesach Sheini, the Second Passover.

Underlying theme: It is never too late, it is always possible to put things right with God!

“…he shall keep the passover unto the LORD. The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.” Num. 9:10-11

The theme of Pesach Sheini (literally, “the second Passover”, which takes place on the fifteenth of Iyar, exactly one month after Passover) is that it is never too late. It is always possible to put things right. Even if one was spiritually impure or spiritually distant from his proper destination, G-d still gives him an opportunity to change the past and correct the wrongs.


Sources: Chabad.org Copyright 2001 Chabad of California

Sources: Jewish Holidays © 2001-2010 Chabad-Lubavitch Media Center


Peace & Blessings,

-James

I find myself feeling so lonely. I pray that the Lord may help me with the desires of my heart, a husband & healthy children.
I don’t want to go through this life alone.

Requested by: Sister Mbali.

Submit your devotional, testimony or prayer request by clicking link:
admin@stronginchrist.com

]]> http://stronginchrist.com/prayer-request-4/feed 1 http://stronginchrist.com/a-selfish-prayer-2 http://stronginchrist.com/a-selfish-prayer-2#comments Mon, 26 Apr 2010 15:19:19 +0000 admin http://stronginchrist.com/?p=804 Submit your devotional, testimony or prayer request.
Just click the email link below:
admin@stronginchrist.com

Back in 2001, my 15 year-old cousin was diagnosed with a cancer so rare, he was only the sixth child in the world to have it. My life leading up to that point was not one of enlightenment; it’s not that I wasn’t a Christian, I just didn’t spend most time praying. But when I received the word about my cousin, I began to trust in God and ask him to heal Chris.

Over the next few months, he got better, then worse, then better again, and worse once more. I kept praying, but after a ten-month battle that included losing a lung, going through countless doses of Chemo and radiation, and being confined to a wheelchair, he passed away nine days short of turning 16.

“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” -Mat.6:10

Then I realized that I had been praying for myself all that time. Subconsciously, I was praying that I wouldn’t lose another person in my life, having lost a dear friend in ‘98, both of my grandmothers in two consecutive weeks, and never having met either of my grandfathers. I should’ve been praying for God to heal my cousin, so long as it was His will. Clearly it wasn’t. Had I known that at the time, I wouldn’t have set myself up for such a disappointment.”

WRITTEN BY: JOE S. -FL.

Thank you Joe for sharing such a personal experience. Your devotional raises a critical question that all Christians should deeply contemplate, namely, do I know the will of God?

“This God—his way is perfect;
the word of the LORD proves true;
he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.”

-Psalms 18:30

Meditation: How can I be certain to know the will of God and therefore pray within His will? Am I ready to truly accept His will, even if it is painful, don’t understand it or the outcome?

Peace & Blessings.

Please join SINC in raising an anonymous sister’s prayer request to the Lord:

“Thank you so much for the gift of prayer. My request is for the Lord to please heal the emotional & physical pain I am suffering. Teach me to forgive those who have hurt me. Pray for the Lord to help me accept the cross I bear and stay close to HIM.” -Anonymous Sister

“Again I say to you, that if two of you are worthy on earth, anything that they would ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For wherever two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them” Matthew 18:19-20 Peshitta Translation

Submit your devotional, testimony or prayer request. Click link below :
admin@stronginchrist.com

Peace & Blessings,

-James

In this same spirit, we celebrate Earth Day today.
Want to help celebrate and make the earth a happier place? Check out some of these tips.

Also, one of our sponsors, April M. Designs, is giving away Natural Feminine Products in celebration of Earth Day.

Sisters, check it out!

If you are new to natural products, you can visit her informative web site:

“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” -Genesis 1:31

“But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.” -Job 12:7-10

You visit the earth and water it; you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide their grain, for so you have prepared it.You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth. You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with abundance. The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy, the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain,they shout and sing together for joy.” -Psalm 65:9-13

“For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God” -Romans 8:19-21

Peace & Blessings,

-James