June is the sixth month of the year in our modern day Gregorian calendar. In old English, this month was often referred to as simply “Mid-summer month” or “sere-month” meaning “dry and withered.” The name of the sixth month of the year comes from the Latin lunius, “Sacred to Juno” named after the Roman goddess who was the wife of Jupiter equivalent to the Greek goddess Hera. In Roman myth, Juno is known as the goddess of marriage and childbirth. June has 30 days and appears favorite months for students and teachers – schools are out and the days are long. June is the number 6, symbolizing the day God created man and men are appointed to work for 6 days and rest on the 7th day. Of interest there were 6 cities of refuge given to the Levites for those who incidentally killed or cause great harm to others (Num 35:6). According to the earlier Romans Calendar, June was actually the 4th month and had only 29 days. In 46 BC, Julius Caesar gave June 30 days instead of 29 when he reformed the Roman Calendar.
Birthstones for June are pearl, alexandrite and moonstone while the birth flower is rose and honeysuckle. Alexandrite represents health and longevity. Moonstone represents change, new beginning and shifting of tides of emotion which help to alleviate stress especially due to sudden changes in life. Pearls symbolize purity of heart and faith as well as growth and transformation through difficult circumstances. Birth flowers are rose and honeysuckle. Rose can stand for romantic love, secrecy, desire, gratitude, impossible hopes, joy sacrifice, etc. While honeysuckle represents bond of devotion, love, fidelity and generosity. The sixth month is the month of divine visitation and celebration (Luke 1: 26, 36). God is sending an angel to visit someone the world had written off and to a city of non-achievement, where nothing good has ever happened. It is a month of uncommon surprises.
Holiday/Awareness month celebration: International Men’s month, National Seafood month, National Candy Month, National Dairy Month, National Ice-Tea Month, Celibacy Awareness Month, Effective communication Month, National Accordion Awareness month, National Hunger Awareness Month, National Rose Month, National Safety Month, National Fresh fruit and Vegetable month and Turkey Lover’s month.
Some Unique Events of June: 5th– World Environment Day; 8th– Best Friends Day; 10th – Iced Tea Day; 12th – Fresh Veggies Day; 17th – World Juggler’s Day; 18th – Father’s Day; 21th –Go Skate Day; 23th – National Columnists Day; 26th– Forgiveness Day and 28th – Paul Bunyan Day.
Monthly Discipleship Digest reflects on the topic: Abraham, the father of great faith and obedience to the will of God; in celebration of Father’s Day. Abraham was the founding father of the Jewish nation of Israel. His name in Hebrew means “Father of multitudes or Father of many nations.” In the New Testament believers, “He’s the father of us all” (Rom 4:16); originally called Abram meaning “Exalted father.” His father was a man –Terah, a direct descendant of Noah through his son, Shem. Abram was born and grew up in the city of Ur of the Chaldeans (present day Iraq). He was a herdsman, rancher and semi-nomadic shepherd, raising livestock and farming the land. He traveled with his father and other relations 500 miles to Haran (now Southeast Turkey). There, his father died and God told Abram to leave that land and He showed Abraham where He wanted him to go and become a founder of new nation. Abraham obeyed God unquestioningly. At 75 years he took his barren wife Sarai, his nephew Lot and other companion followed God to the land of Canaan, living at various localities such as: Shechem, Hebron, Bethel and the Negev desert with sojourns to Egypt and Gevar.
God changed his name from Abram to Abraham and his wife’s name from Sarai to Sarah to recognize their new faith. He lied twice about his wife’s identity and got rebuked by the kings and urged to leave those countries. Abraham parted ways with Lot peacefully and in another instance led a band of armed men to rescue his nephew, Lot and the cities held captivity; showed hospitality to strange men that turn out to be heavenly beings. He Interceded for Sodom and Gomorrah; was entertained by the King of Salem and in turn paid tithes to the Melchizedek. He not only has a son, Ishmael by his wife’s maidservant, Hagar who became the father of the Arab nations. At 100 years by Sarah, a legitimate son, Isaac by God’s supernatural intervention who is to be the heir of the promise. Abraham was willing to obey God’s command to sacrifice Isaac, a test of his faith but God provided a substitutionary sacrifice. At Sarah’s death, he purchased a cave of Machpelah near Hebron; together with the adjoining land as a family burying place, where he buried Sarah. His next concern was to ensure his son, Isaac marries from his own people in Mesopotamia not a Canaanite. He got his chief servant to fetch a wife Rebekah to Isaac. He grew wealthy and re-married after Sarah’s death to Keturah who born 6 sons to Abraham. Abraham died at the age of 175 years and buried next to Sarah in the cave of Machpelah.
Pastor/Evangelist Ogbonnaya, Godswill, Director of affairs, Weefree (we are free in Christ) Ministries, cell: 832-881-3929.