Tag Archives: Biblical Feasts

Biblical Feasts, Shavuot/Pentecost

Celebrating Shavuot/Pentecost

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The Ricci House is celebrating Shavuot/Pentecost today! It’s also known as “The Feast of Weeks” because Lev.23:15-16 tells us to count the weeks (or 50 days) after Passover. This celebration commemorates the giving of the Torah (GOD’s holy instructions) at Mt. Sinai. After Yeshua (Jesus) returned to sit at the right Hand of the Father, the Holy Spirit’s baptism of fire was also given on Shavuot.

“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” — John 4:24

A deep well of joy, and purpose, enters your life when you choose to get on GOD’s timetable…when you choose to show up for the appointments that He sets.

This is much more than a history lesson. It’s a tangible way to step into the more that GOD has for us. We get to be a part of HIS-story!

This isn’t mere religious duty. It’s relationship!

A divine exchange occurs when we put GOD’s feast days on our schedule and lean into them. As you choose to get to know the Father’s heart, through His feasts, your heart changes also. What breaks His heart begins to break yours. What sets His heart ablaze makes you come alive! And the things of this world become strangely dim.

Take note of how when the Torah, and the Holy Spirit, were given, GOD’s presence arrives in unforgettable ways. With smoke, lightening, thunders, tongues of fire! This is evidence of Heaven meeting earth.

I need more of Him. He wants to meet with me. So, we plan for this special date together. We give back. We abstain from work. We pray. We read the Word. We praise. And we eat! And GOD shows up with a fresh filling of His Spirit.

Happy Shavuot, Shalom Fam! You know what to do. Don’t cower from the holy mountain of the LORD. He meets us there with exactly what we need.

Here are some Bible verses about Shavuot/Pentecost:
Exodus 19; Leviticus 23:15-22;
Acts 2:1-21; Acts 20:16;
1 Corinthians 16:8

Shalom to you,

Biblical Feasts, Passover

passover: season of miracles

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Whether you celebrated Passover last week, this week, or will next month with “Second Passover”, the truth remains – THIS IS The PASSOVER SEASON! And what a wonderful season it is!

As I am writing this, the U.S. (and most of the world population) is currently in “quarantine” for COVID 19. What an amazing time to observe Passover…when we are being forced by political officials to remain in our homes..as we pray that all that has come with the “virus” truly passes over us.

May we remember what the Hebrews endured and how YHWH instructed them to stay in their homes, eat lamb, eat unleavened bread, and be ready to leave Egypt once instructed to do so. As the angel of death moved through their communities, he would pass over each house that had the blood of a lamb over its doorposts.

May we remember all the miracles YHWH performed for the Hebrews as well as for His own Name’s sake and glory.

So too, Jesus/Yeshua, gave His life to be our Passover lamb. It is His blood, on the doorposts of our hearts, that saves us. Truly, salvation through Messiah must be the most incredible miracle of them all!

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” — John 10:27-28

Unfortunately, many think of Passover as a feast for the Jews only. However, knowing that this celebration is actually a feast of YHWH GOD and is to be kept, as a feast, throughout all of our generations is a total game changer (Exodus 12:14).

Just like we are told to rid our homes of leaven (Exodus 12:20), Paul tells us to rid ourselves of the spiritual leaven (sin, traditions rather than biblical instructions, strongholds, unbelief, etc) in our lives in the following verse:

“Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened.” — 1 Corinthians 5:7a

Paul goes on to confirm that Messiah IS our Passover and that we are to “keep the feast” in the following verses:

“For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” –1 Corinthians 7b-8

I pray that you will consider observing Passover this year. Don’t get tripped up by what day to celebrate – just do it. As of now, we are still in the season. Lean into this special season by meditating on how Jesus/Yeshua is your Passover Lamb.

Ask GOD if there is anything in your life that needs to be purged and begin taking steps to get rid of those things. Make room in your life for more of GOD’s presence.

May GOD’ s peace overwhelm you. May His love comfort you. And may the protection, and salvation, that comes to you through Yeshua the Messiah become real to you. May His holy miracles become common place in your life as you seek His face more and more. You are so very loved now…and always.

Shalom and Blessed Passover to you!



“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” 3 John 1:2

Biblical Feasts, COVID19, Peace, Sabbath

Sabbath rest: take it easy

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Whether freely chosen, or not, (thanks to “COVID19 and the imposed governmental self-quarantines) most of us have the divine opportunity to observe the Sabbath this weekend. Remember the 10 Commandments? Yeah, “Honor the Sabbath” is #4 but somehow it always gets skipped over (see Exodus 20:8).

I won’t be getting into that old argument of “grace vs. law”, or anything related to that, because frankly, it’s irrelevant. My personal walk with God is very holistic and I refuse to chop biblical truths up into doctrinal arguments. The truth is, obedience is God’s love language (see John 14:15). I’ll let you work the details out with God or perhaps attempt to expand more in a later post.

For now – the point is that honoring the Sabbath is a blessing! It is not a hassle or burden. It was established, by God, during the 7 days when He created the heavens and the earth …for rest.

“Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.” – Genesis 2:1-3

Did God need to rest? No, I don’t think so. So why did He do it then? Well, perhaps as an example to us. Like the 6 days of work God did to create, we now have days of work and should also have at least 1 day of rest. There should be an ebb and flow to life but when we go, go, GO all the time – life becomes unbalanced.

Choosing to rest in God isn’t just about not doing any labor. It’s about placing your cares in Him and leaving them with Him. We can trust Him in all things and Sabbath is an excellent way to practice walking in His peace. It’s an excellent way to put your faith in action – in a tangible way.

How should one correctly observe the Sabbath? I don’t personally get into a bunch of do’s and don’ts.

But here are a few ideas to get you started:

– Spend time with your loved ones.

– Spend time with the Lord (praying, reading the Word, praising Him thru song, dance, etc)

– Take it easy.

– If you’re feeling really it, turn off your phone, computer, etc. for 24 hours) – I DARE YOU!

Honoring the Sabbath is like sending a love letter to God that says, “I love you and I trust you in ALL things.”

That’s it for now, guys! I pray that each one that purposefully dives into honoring the Sabbath, this weekend (and beyond), will receive an incredible blessing! May the love of God be upon you and your household. May the Sabbath peace, of Yeshua, fill your minds. May His Love fill your heart. And may His joy overflow within you.

Shabbat Shalom! – Dr. Karen Michelle “Shelly” Ricci #ShalomDoc