In just a few days it will be time to begin Counting the Omer, counting up to the day of Shavuot. If you aren’t familiar with this Biblical instruction, check out my post Counting The Omer. You can count along with us at Counting the Omer, https://omer.messianiclight.com, and on our Facebook page.
We also want to tell you about a brand new devotional book, Counting The Omer Devotional With Journal Pages by Jeanora Elgin. Counting up to Shavuot, Pentecost, the day the Holy Spirit was poured out on the believers in the resurrected Yeshua, this devotional draws the reader’s focus to the Fruit of the Spirit.
Counting The Omer
Devotional with Journal Pages
Counting The OmerJeanora Elgin
March, 2022
Counting The Omer is not a theological workbook. This is a practical journal, a place for the reader to make application of each day’s selected Scripture passages. It is available as a softcover book that provides space for brief journaling, or it is also offered as a Kindle book. You can even journal (add notes and highlights) right in the Kindle app, though it is a little different than physically writing in a paperback. The great thing about the Kindle book is that, if the Kindle app is on your phone, you will likely have it with you wherever you are. Another option for journaling while using a Kindle book is to use a separate small notebook.
Each day’s reading begins as it should: with the day count. This is an undated journal, and you could write the date next to the day count if you wanted. The traditional way of counting is to say “Today is Day One of the Omer,” or a little later on in the count, “Today is Day Nine of the Omer, which is One Week and Two Days.” Of course, you can keep with this tradition or not, the Biblical instruction is just to count. Each day is labeled “Day 1,” “Day 2,” etc.
Following the day count, there are a few suggested Scripture passages for each day. You can look them up in your Bible for context if you want, but like many devotionals the author has printed them out for you, except for a couple of longer Psalms that she suggests you read directly from your Bible. Jeanora then offers a few devotional short thoughts before asking some introspective questions. This is where the journaling begins.
The final two pages each day are somewhat like flashcards. On the first page, the front of the flashcard if you will, you get the Day Count, the Scripture References, a Focus statement, and an Action challenge. On the next page, or back of the flashcard, there is a small space to write out in your own words the Scripture Focus, Prayers for Today, Praises, Fruitful Goals, and a Word Study. Actually, there isn’t a lot of space, but in your Kindle or supplemental journaling notebook you’ve got all the space you need.
This format covers the complete 7-week count, 49 days, and then the final day is Shavuot or Pentecost. The author offers some Scripture and a few suggestions on how you might celebrate this Feast.
Easy Conversational Style
Counting The Omer is written in an easy, conversational style. You aren’t sitting in a classroom listening to a lecture. Instead, it’s more like sitting at a table having a cup of tea with a friend.
In the past I’ve participated in Bible studies on the Fruit of the Spirit. Generally, that means going through Galatians 5:22-23 and one-by-one analyzing each of the nine things listed. But this devotional book does not process a list. In fact, that passages is only printed once on the first day. The devotions that follow lead the reader to focus on Godly character the naturally exhibits this fruit. Yes, each one is covered several times, but not in an academic fashion. This is real life.
I don’t think I would change anything about this book. It is as little or as much as you want to make of it. The only drawback might be limited space for journaling, but if you are into journaling you should use a separate notebook anyway. That way, you can pull out this undated devotional next year and use it again as you count the Omer. Journal again, and then compare your thoughts to what you’ve written in your notebook from the previous year. It’s springtime – an invitation to grow!
About The Author
There is a brief bio of the author on the back cover of the book:
Jeanora is a wife and mother to four adult children. She and her husband make their home in the mountains of Montana, enjoying the outdoors. Jeanora spent the past 23 years homeschooling their children. In 2018, the Father put on her heart to write devotionals, and she answered the call with shaky yet obedient hands. Jeanora enjoys spending time digging deeper into the Scriptures and learning all He has to teach her.
This is her sixth devotional book – you can check out the others here. I have not read these, and it looks like some are written specifically for women. If you have previously used any of Jeanora’s devotionals, please leave a comment below and tell us about it. She also has an 8-book series titled Mother’s Apothecary, periodical-type publications with a new title released each month.
Jeanora’s Facebook page is called Daily Renewing My Mind. She tells me that during the count she will be posting the “Scripture Cards” from Counting The Omer each day. In fact, I found them there from last year, before this devotional was published! Be sure to follow both Daily Renewing My Mind and The Messianic Light during the Counting of the Omer.
A Little About Kindle
Making notes in Counting The Omer in the Kindle app is very easy to do. At the point where you want to make the note, just hold your finger down. When the word is selected, drag your finger if you want to include more. On the menu that appears, tap NOTE, bringing up a popup window with a text entry block. Tap in the text entry block and an onscreen keyboard will appear. Type in your notes and tap Save.
A superscript number now appears at the end of your highlighted text. Tap that number and the text block will open, where you can read, edit, or delete your notes. Make sure that you have Whispersync turned on in your Kindle app settings. This will keep all of your notes as well as reading location backed up with Amazon. If you open Counting The Omer on a different device, or if you get a new phone or tablet and install the Kindle app, all of your annotations will be synced across your devices.
You can see all of the notes in your Kindle book by tapping the screen to go to a navigation screen with a top menu. Tap the notepad icon in the menu to see the complete list of notes.
You will notice some other options on the menu when you select a word or phrase. Pick a color dot, and the selection will be highlighted. You can also share what you have selected to Facebook or Twitter, or email the selection through your email app. Or copy the selected text so you can paste it in text messaging or other apps. If you come across a word and you are not sure what it means, hold your finger down on the word and a dictionary will pop up.
Many of Jeanora’s books are included in the Kindle Unlimited program. Kindle Unlimited allows Kindle users to “borrow” up to ten books at a time without any kind of due date for returning them. You can try Kindle Unlimited for one month for free. For more information, check out Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited page. Unfortunately, Counting The Omer is not currently included in Kindle Unlimited.
You shall also count for yourselves from the day after the sabbath, from the day when you brought in the sheaf of the wave offering; there shall be seven complete sabbaths. You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh sabbath…
(Leviticus 23:15-16 NASB)
You shall count seven weeks for yourself; you shall begin to count seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the standing grain. Then you shall celebrate the Feast of Weeks to the LORD your God…
(Deuteronomy 16:9-10 NASB)