May 2022

Four Ways to Reclaim God’s Feast, Shavuot, and the Reason We Should

celebrations, Community / By teri / May 31, 2022 February 24, 2022 / Jesus, Law Fulfilled, Messiah, Pentecost, Ruth, Shavuot

Mark June 5th on your calendar!

Yesterday we celebrated Memorial Day in America. Yet, a day of even greater importance—eternal significance—is just five days away. Can you guess what it is?

Pentecost! This celebration originated as the Jewish feast Shavuot, also known as the Feast of First Fruits. Its eternal fulfillment occurred when the Holy Spirit descended on the church—the first fruits of God’s Kingdom.

Only Shavuot is celebrated with fluffy, leavened bread. Leaven represents sin in Scripture; both leaven and pride puff things up. The two leavened loaves of bread waved before the Lord at Shavuot foreshadowed two sinful peoples—Jews and Gentiles—coming together in the Kingdom of God.

The Jews celebrate the giving of God’s Law to Moses on Shavuot, as many sects of Christianity celebrate the giving of God’s Spirit—the writing of the Law on our hearts (Ezekiel 36:24-27).

The Law calls Shavuot the feast of weeks, celebrated seven Sabbaths after the last Sabbath of Passover (forty-nine days plus one). Another tradition that the Jews adopted during this feast was the reading of the book of Ruth.

The book of Ruth records Ruth’s faithfulness to her Hebrew mother-in-law, Naomi, and their return from Moab to Bethlehem, the House of Bread. Ruth is a Moabite—a Gentile. The Jews read this book because the story takes place during the harvest of First Fruits. But the veil over Jewish eyes has blinded them to the greater message of the book.

This tiny story ebbs and flows with massive Messianic undercurrents. The book of Ruth establishes the linage of King David (the Messianic line). The story hints at two other Gentile women in David’s family, Tamar (mother of Perez whom she bore to Judah) and Rahab (Boaz’s mother who hid the Israelite spies in Jericho and joined the nation of God’s chosen people). Matthew names all three of these women in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:1-6). The central theme of Ruth is redemption which is also the primary mission of Yeshua Ah Messiah—Jesus the Christ.

While many liturgical Christian churches still celebrate Pentecost (the fiftieth day after the feast of unleavened bread following Passover), this day feels forgotten in evangelical circles. “In many evangelical churches in the United States, the secular holiday, Mother’s Day, maybe more celebrated than the ancient and biblical feast of Pentecost.” (from Wikipedia’s article on Pentecost). What might we be missing out on? His annual feasts for Israel foreshadow His redemptive work through time.

At the first Pentecost, a Jewish band of disciples gathered in the upper room. They embraced Jesus as their Messiah; yet, they failed to see the symbolism of the wave offering of bread. Eventually, Peter went to Cornelius’s house and witnessed the Holy Spirit come upon these Gentile believers. God revealed the mystery of the two leaven loaves.

How might we, as Gentile believers, grafted into the people of God, remember the fulfillment of this solemn feast? As lovely as some of the liturgical traditions are, I feel these fail to embrace God’s heart for the redemption of Israel. The Apostle Paul expresses his heart for Israel in his letter to the predominantly Gentile church in Rome.

“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.” Romans 10:1

Jewish people need the Gospel. A great way to celebrate Pentecost is to pray for Israel. Ask God to rescue the Jewish people from trusting in their righteousness and receive, by faith, the redemption of Messiah (Romans 10:2-4). Pray they hear the Gospel as they read the book of Ruth.
Read the book of Ruth. It only takes about twenty minutes, and it’s a riveting story (My granddaughter loves it when I read Ruth to her!). Ask God to open your eyes to the beauty of His redemptive work.
Be grateful we were grafted into God’s Kingdom. God, in a sense, baked us together with the Jews—like the loaves of Shavuot—two sinful peoples joined for His glory (Romans 11:23-24). Pentecost should be a day of thanksgiving for the harvest of the First Fruits. That’s us, His church!
Taste and see the Lord is good. A delicious way to celebrate would be baking two loaves of bread. If you want to get fancy, you could branch the loaves together with a dove-shaped piece of dough as a symbol of the Holy Spirit. As you enjoy this treat, explain the importance of this day to your children and grandchildren and any guests you may invite to celebrate with you.

Sisters, let’s reclaim the wonder of God’s festival and celebrate Pentecost, a memorial day far better than one that just passed.

Shalom!

Felici*Tea

2 Comments / Teatime Qualities / By teri / May 17, 2022 February 28, 2022 / bliss, extreme happiness, felicity, journaling

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Welcom to Tea Time!

Tea Time is a quarterly (February, May, August, and November) reflection on various qualties.

fe*lic*i*Tea /fəˈlisədē/ n. 1. intense happiness, bliss 2. an eloquent expression for one’s thoughts. 3. a tea party with friends (including favorite authors who articulate your thoughts).

Happy faces welcome us with the warmth of sunshine, like a formal tea party. Tables set with fine linens, flowered porcelain cups neatly seated on saucers, and crystal platters ladened with scrumptious treats and savory finger sandwiches, the bright aroma of Lady Grey, these evoke a pleasant mood. Tea parties make me smile.

I smile at well-turned phrases that give voice to my feelings, emotions that extend beyond my ability to articulate. And there, as I sip an afternoon cuppa and read, the author reads my heart and lightens my countenance with bliss.

Do you ever smile at strangers? I do. I love watching their faces light up in response. Sweet sisters, remember, a smile is an instant, painless facelift that everyone can afford. No one wants a pessimist to bring them down. We hunger for the optimist who’ll lighten our load and brighten our day with a positive perspective. Smiling at people is like responding with kind, encouraging words when someone speaks carelessly.

I’ve spent a lot of time on both sides of a cash register. Sometimes cashiers and customers alike go through tough days. We all wake up to the wrong ringtone once in a while. A pleasant word and well-spoken empathy provide a balm to wounded souls. Smile begets smile as grace begets grace; grins beget giggles when felicity dances into a room.

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“A merry heart does good, like medicine,” Proverb 17:22

The happiest people discover felicity even in difficult places. Good news sparks felicity. When the assault on Ukraine started, news of my friend’s children and grandchildren escaping the country made my heart sing. Felicity hides in the darkness and springs upon us in the strangest circumstances. Many are the happy places of those prone to felicity.

Where do you find intense happiness? Many women find it after the hard work of labor as they hold a precious new soul; birthdays are felicitous events. I love celebrating anyone’s birthday, especially mine (it’s this month!). My closest friend will attest to the truth of this statement. They have kindly indulged me on a few occasions, traveling hundreds of miles to join me in celebrating both my 50^th and 60^th birthdays. Their presence gifted me with more joy than any material present ever could.

Sensational sounds, sights, tastes, and smells conjure felicity at times. Warm sunshine on our arms, the aroma of fresh bread, a favorite song on the radio, chocolate melting in our mouths (unless you’re like my niece, Jessica. She hates chocolate).

Nobody feels happy all the time, and intense happiness is rare. Yet, the luster of those experiences sustains us through dreary, dismal times. The light we leave going into the tunnel promises to wait for us on the other side.

Think about your most felicitous moments. Chances are these resulted from things true and lovely. The things Scripture encourages in our meditations.

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Philippians 4:8

Happiness comes and goes. However, reflecting on our felicitous moments cultivates the fruit of joy. Let’s take a moment and praise God for our favorite things and all our happy places.

Three questions to ask when you’re drowning in responsibilities

Faith, Knowing God, prayer, Trials / By teri / May 3, 2022 March 17, 2022 / busy, overwhelmed, stressed, too busy, work well done

Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!

Two days ago, we flipped a page on the calendar. The ancients celebrated May first, or May Day, as the first day of summer. Today, May Day, signals the start of graduation and wedding season. School will soon be out. We plan vacations and other ways to keep children occupied. Yard work is in full swing. The spring we longed for now slips through our grasp. Soon, the summer heat will beat down, and there is so much left to do. It’s a busy time of year. Sometimes too busy.

When a springtime celebration sinks into overwhelming responsibilities how do we get everything done? Like a sea captain whose boat is taking on water, it’s time to issue a distress call, “Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!”

“In my distress I called upon the Lord, And cried out to my God; He heard my voice,” Psalm 18:6a

As a young woman, the fatigue of pregnancy took me by surprise. I’d sleep ten hours and still feel the need for a two-hour nap. Suddenly my regular commitments swamped me. I couldn’t keep up with everything. “Help, Lord,” I cried, and He did.

He counseled me from Titus 2:4-5 “that they (older women) admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.” God’s priorities for young women became a filter for my activities. If I was not taking care of these things, nothing else I did was His will for me. God showed me what He wanted me to be doing in that phase of my life. But seasons change so it’s important to keep asking.

Question #1: What does God want me to do?

Now well beyond my childbearing years, I’ve walked through many busy seasons. I’ve discovered sometimes God does put more on our plates than we can handle. He’s waiting for us to ask for His help. The Apostle Paul shares a brilliant insight in the book of Ephesians. “For we are His (God’s) workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).

God planned our perfect to-do lists, and He’s glad to direct our steps. Are we taking the time to ask Him each day what work He wants us to do? As the director of women’s ministries in my church, I often recruit women for various tasks. Whenever I approach someone about a ministry opportunity, I ask them to pray before committing. I may think they’re a perfect fit for a job, but I’m not the Holy Spirit. I want God to direct His daughters to do His will, not mine. If you’re sinking under too many to-dos, ask God what He wants to cross off your list. If His answer is nothing, then the next question becomes vital.

Question #2: How does He want me to do it all?

When poor Martha felt overwhelmed, Jesus taught her the secret of simplicity. “And Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her’” (Luke 10:41-42). First, do not, I repeat, do not worry. Anxiety robs us of the peace and rest God intends for us. We need to learn the gentle rhythms of grace. God wants us to depend on His grace and embrace His peace (2 Corinthians 12:9, Philippians 4:7-8).

Next, we need the power of Mary’s one thing—time spent with Jesus. Nothing simplifies my workload more than bringing my to-do list before God each day. As more tasks come to mind and distract me from the Word, I jot them down. When my time with Jesus comes to a close, I lift my list in prayer and ask, “What do You want me to do today, Lord?” Sometimes He adds things. Sometimes He crosses them off. When I start my day with His input, things go much smoother. I know this sounds like I’m repeating question one, but we discover the how in this repetition. How does He want me to work? With Him, in His power, under His leadership. His lordship simplifies life.

Question 3: Who gets the credit for the completed work?

Accomplishment feels great. I love crossing things off my list and changing the “To-Do” to “Ta-da!” When we serve well and accolades come our way, it’s easy to forget Who accomplished what. Jesus reminds us in no uncertain terms, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Failing to give God credit for how He chooses to use us robs Him of glory. It’s a violation of the eighth commandment, “You shall not steal.” Let’s give God credit when He turns our impossible tasks into beautiful realities.