Jewish Holiday: Shavuot and more...
Jewish Holiday: ShavuotHere is another Jewish holiday that several of you may not have heard of. Shavuot, which began primarily as an agricultural holiday, has become a holiday celebrating the receiving of the Torah by Moses on Mount Sinai.
 Shavuot is one of the three "pilgrimage festivals" when Jews were required to travel to Jerusalem and bring their offerings (the other two are Passover - which I discussed here and here - and Sukkot, which is a few months away yet). It marked the end of the spring barley harvest and the beginning of the summer wheat harvest. After temple times, it became a celebration of God giving the Israelites the Torah on Mount Sinai.  According to the Torah, it took precisely 49 days, or seven weeks, for the ancient Israelites to travel from Egypt (which is celebrated on Passover) to the foot of Mount Sinai. The Torah commands: "On that same day (the 50th) you are to proclaim a sacred assembly and do no regular work." (Leviticus 23:21) This is the holiday of Shavuot. (Known to most Christians, by the way, as Pentecost)
There are a handful of traditions associated with Shavuot. One is to stay up all night studying the Torah. It's also common to eat dairy foods on this holiday. It is also common, in the synagogue, to read the book of Ruth, as well as the Ten Commandments. As always, click on the links throughout this post for more details - or ask questions in the comments! Had you heard of Shavuot before? What was most interesting to you?
Scripture Stories: Timeless Truths Graphics courtesy of Christians Unite     
Shared SufferingI want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:10-11)
"I know what you're going through. I've been there."There's something comforting about those words. You make a very special connection--a unique bond, if you will--with someone who has truly been through the very same difficulty you have. A bond of common experience and suffering. A fellowship, if you will. I, for instance, have a very soft spot in my heart for the wives of ill/disabled husbands, because I am one. It's not just that I can "give them advice" because of my own experience. And it's not just that they can do the same for me. It's a special kind of comfort and understanding that comes from empathy--being able to be in someone else's proverbial shoes. It's the "fellowship of sharing in his [or her] sufferings." It's being able, in a sense, to make suffering lighter by sharing it. It's knowing that person just a bit better because of your commonality. Knowing what Jesus went through in his earthly life is one thing. I can read the Bible for that. Yet, with the right attitude, experiencing it myself can give me a new, more intimate fellowship with Him: the fellowship of shared experiences. So, perhaps, because I have been rejected by others, chastised by Jews, and misunderstood by my closest relatives, I can empathize with My Savior, and draw a bit closer to him. It's easy to take experiences like these and whine about them, or even to withdraw from the Lord, feeling forsaken. Yet, why not see them as an opportunity to empathize with our Savior, and to develop that fellowship of sharing suffering? 
Heavenly Father, I know that your empathy for me is complete, as you have gone through everything I have. Help me, Lord, to feel some of that same empathy with You, and to draw closer to You in the process. I know I cannot empathize with you completely, as I am but a human, while You are divine. Still, draw me closer to you through the fellowship of our shared suffering, and help me to look at my own suffering in this same light. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen. ** We're discussing this here, and at Living by Grace on Facebook. Won't you join us?
Scripture Stories: Timeless Truths  Beautiful Weeds My experience with dandelions changed greatly when I moved from Los Angeles to the Midwest. How? Check out my post - today at The Barn Door, and learn about Those Little Yellow Flowers: Then And Now.
Scripture Stories: Timeless Truths 
A Sacrificial SacrificeBut the king [David] replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” 2 Samuel 24:24a
As Christians, we want to be a witness to those around us. We want to be generous and giving, because that is what Jesus would do - what Jesus DID do when He was on earth, and what He continues to do in heaven. For what we give to others, we are, in actuality, giving to Him (Matthew 25:40). And admit it (I do!): we don't even mind getting a bit of a benefit ourselves from our generosity. We like to be complimented for our giving. We like to be thanked, to be appreciated. Be used as an example for others to follow.
Of course, I'm not saying it is sinful to receive a benefit from your own giving. Just be sure the benefit isn't the REASON you are serving or giving. Don't give something that "costs you nothing" and expect God to see it as a gift to Him. Heavenly Father, it's easy to give and serve when the cost to us is minimal or nonexistent. But that isn't what You want from us. Help us to serve You, and Your people, sacrificially. It isn't our leftovers - our hand-me-downs we were going to throw away anyhow - that You want. It's our hearts - and the things we appreciate. You gave up Your Son for us - help us to show our appreciation for that through our own sacrificial giving. In Your Son's name I pray. Amen
** We're discussing this here, and at Living by Grace on Facebook. Won't you join us?
Scripture Stories: Timeless Truths  Promises, PromisesYou know when God makes a promise, He is going to keep it - even if it's a promise you wish He wouldn't. But even that is good, if you look at it from the right perspective.
 I'm over at the Internet Cafe today, talking about just that. Hope you'll stop by and be encouraged by God's promises - even if you don't like them. Do you promise?
Scripture Stories: Timeless Truths 
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