Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be Pastors

this made me laugh. :)

Don't believe it all...but it is funny. :)

Bible or Bard?

The Bible or The Bard?



Score: 60% (6 out of 10)

found this at biblical christianity.

We have a sure and steady anchor

When God makes a promise, we can be certain he will keep it. This we read in Hebrews 6.

13For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, 14saying, "Surely I will bless you and multiply you." 15And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. 16For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. 17So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. 19We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

Hmmmpf.... have to admit when God said "surely I will bless you and multiply you" I didn't think of it as him swearing by himself. I just thought he was saying he'd do something. Makes me think of how I phrase things. I often say "I will do thus and such". I've never thought of it as me swearing by myself....perhaps I've just never thought deeply enough about it. It would be more appropriate if I said "the Lord willing, thus and such will happen". Hmmm....need to consider that more often.

But God made a promise...and it happened. Abraham had to be patient and wait for it, but it happened none-the-less. :)

I do think it's interesting though..God swears by himself - as there is nothing greater than himself. He can legitimately say "I" will do thus and such. But when we make a promise we need to promise it by something greater than ourselves. NOTHING is greater than God. God is greater than us and so it only makes sense that we swear by him.

And Justin's up now and being busy so I need to keep him quiet until his dad gets up, so hopefull we'll be able to look at this more later today. :)

Looking at the start of Hebrews 6 again

The other day I started reading Hebrews 6. I felt like I really didn't get the passage so today I thought I'd look at some commentaries.

John Darby I found to be helpful.

In the infancy spoken of in verses 1, 2, the obscurity of the revelations of the Messiah, announced at most by promises and prophecies, left worshipers under the yoke of ceremonies and figures, although in possession of some fundamental truths. His exaltation made way for the power of the Holy Ghost here below: and on this the responsibility of souls which had tasted it depended.

The doctrine of the Person and the glory of Jesus forms the subject of revelation in the epistle, and was the means of deliverance for the Jews from the whole system which had been such a heavy burden on their hearts; it should prevent their forsaking the state described in verses 4 and 5, in order to return into the weakness and (Christ having come) the carnal state of verse 1 and 2.

The epistle then does not desire to establish again the true but elementary doctrines which belonged to the times when Christ was not manifested, but to go forward to the full revelation of His glory and position according to the counsels of God revealed in the word.

The Holy Ghost would not go back again to these former things, because new things had been brought in in connection with the heavenly glory of the Messiah, namely, Christianity characterised by the power of the Holy Ghost.

But if any one who had been brought under that power, who had known it, should afterwards abandon it, he could not be renewed again to repentance. The former things of Judaism must be, and were, left behind by that into which he had entered. Christians could not deal with souls by them; and, as for the new things, he had given them up. All God's means had been employed for him and had produced nothing.

Now doesn't that make it all make more sense?
The author of Hebrews is writing to Jewish folk. He's telling them that under Judaism they didn't have it all. They were only given milk. Now that Christ has come, they can have more of God. They aren't stuck to ceremonies and sacrifices. And once you've experienced that "moreness" then if you repudiate it....you can't have it back it again.

Oh and it was Matthew Henry who helped me gain some understanding to that falling away talked about in this passage.

The apostle is not speaking of the falling away of mere professors, never convinced or influenced by the gospel. Such have nothing to fall away from, but an empty name, or hypocritical profession. Neither is he speaking of partial declinings or backslidings. Nor are such sins meant, as Christians fall into through the strength of temptations, or the power of some worldly or fleshly lust. But the falling away here mentioned, is an open and avowed renouncing of Christ, from enmity of heart against him, his cause, and people, by men approving in their minds the deeds of his murderers, and all this after they have received the knowledge of the truth, and tasted some of its comforts. Of these it is said, that it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance. Not because the blood of Christ is not sufficient to obtain pardon for this sin; but this sin, in its very nature, is opposite to repentance and every thing that leads to it.

Makes more sense to me anyways. :)
I am glad that God gave us men that would intently study God's word so that they can help others of us understand it better too. :)

It's Remembrance Day

Let us not forget the battles fought for us.

Not only by soldiers defending our physical freedom, but also the battles fought by martyrs for Christ.

Starting Hebrews 6

Wow...isn't this a biteful to start off Hebrews 6. I don't know that I'll get through these two paragraphs this morning, but who knows, perhaps we shall.

1Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3And this we will do if God permits. 4For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. 7For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. 8But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.

9Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. 10For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. 11And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, 12so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Therefores....aren't therefores interesting? With a therefore in the passage you HAVE to know what went on, what as talked about right before. When we left Hebrews 5 the author was talking with us about the importance of maturing in our faith, from moving from only having milk to eating the meat of the word of God.

THEREFORE>>>>let us leave elementary stuff behind. Let us move on to maturity.

and the rest has me lost. Sorry... but it sounds like he's saying we need to move beyond these next things. But what are these things?

• a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God
• of instruction about washings, laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.

Aren't those things part of believing in God?
Why do we have to move forward from them?
Are people getting lost in talking about them? like being little nit-pickers?
I just don't get why he's writing this....unless he's not saying to leave this stuff behind and I'm somehow misreading it.

I can somewhat understand this next section:

4For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. 7For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. 8But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.

Once you been with God...as in part of his family and then you willingly leave it...how can you then really, truly be restored? You had it and then you walked away from the best thing around. I do know that people argue about this a bit. How once saved, always saved and so forth. But scripture does talk about those who have evidenced true faith and then left. Leaving God after you've known him.....how can you then be restored. Seems a bit difficult to me.

BUT it seems the author goes on to assure his audience that they are not like this latter group. He calls them beloved. He assures them that the work they do does mean something, and the love that they show to God by serving his saints does matter. BUT he wants them to have the same earnestness in maturing that they show in service. (at least that's my understanding of what he's saying). If I'm wrong...tell me!

9Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. 10For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. 11And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, 12so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Tomorrow is another day, And I think I may come back to this. right now... I need to keep moving along with my day. Cheers all! If you can spread more light for me on this passage, it would be appreciated. :)

Sunday Sermon

Today is the day of prayer for the persecuted church. The one day out of the year when we as believers (as part of the visible church) have a chance to concentrate our prayers on the needs of our fellow believers suffering for their faith in our Lord God. Today we really get to pray for them.

NOT saying we can't or even shouldn't pray other days. We should, but today as a whole church we can pray. The prayers of the faithful matter much to God.

So Jim's sermon today is called "How Should Christians Respond To Persecution" And his text is Psalm 83. It reads as follows:

A Song. A Psalm of Asaph.

1O God, do not keep silence;
do not hold your peace or be still, O God!
2For behold, your enemies make an uproar;
those who hate you have raised their heads.
3They lay crafty plans against your people;
they consult together against your treasured ones.
4They say, "Come, let us wipe them out as a nation;
let the name of Israel be remembered no more!"
5For they conspire with one accord;
against you they make a covenant—
6the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,
Moab and the Hagrites,
7 Gebal and Ammon and Amalek,
Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;
8 Asshur also has joined them;
they are the strong arm of the children of Lot.
Selah

9Do to them as you did to Midian,
as to Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon,
10who were destroyed at En-dor,
who became dung for the ground.
11Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb,
all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
12who said, "Let us take possession for ourselves
of the pastures of God."

13O my God, make them like whirling dust,
like chaff before the wind.
14As fire consumes the forest,
as the flame sets the mountains ablaze,
15so may you pursue them with your tempest
and terrify them with your hurricane!
16 Fill their faces with shame,
that they may seek your name, O LORD.
17Let them be put to shame and dismayed forever;
let them perish in disgrace,
18that they may know that you alone,
whose name is the LORD,
are the Most High over all the earth.

This is prayer to God. A cry that God remember his people. That God won't remain silent in the face of all that his people are going through. A cry that God will act against the people who are enemies of his children. WHY? So that "they may know that you alone ... are the Most High over all the earth." So not just for the benefit of God's children...but so that GOD might be truly seen by those who oppose him.

I have to admit, I hope Justin is quiet for church today. I would like to be able to actually hear the sermon today.

prayer that makes sense to a little boy

We searched and searched and searched some more.
Figured he was lost in the leaves outside.
Sent Justin to bed without him....
a very sad boy.

Where Justin's night prayer was....

Dear God.
Help mommy and daddy to find Tagu.
I like him.
I want him.
in Jesus' name amen.

Then after a certain nefarious beast was found hiding with crackers in a MacDonald's bag and delivered to very sad, very sleepy child....

Dear God. (said with a very big smile)
Thank you for helping mommy find Tagu.
In Jesus Name Amen.

have to admit..that made my mommy's heart smile. :)

How does one Mature?

11About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

With these words we end Hebrews 5. The author is Hebrews makes it clear that not all things in Scripture are easy to understand or to explain. AND it doesn't help if the people being taught are "dull of hearing". If you are being dull you are not trying to understand....either that or you are incapable of understanding. I don't think though that the author means the latter as he states "by this time you ought to be teachers". That implies that they should understand but they don't.

They need someone to once again teach them the basic principles of God's truth. To start them off new, like babies, having milk. Once they are fed that milk and nourished by it, then they should move on to having meat. Children are unskilled in righteousness, they need to learn what it means. And if one doesn't understand righteousness they need milk so they can learn it. ONCE they gain that understanding, then feed them meat. The mature in Christ can handle the meat of the word....they have the skills of discernment needed. And Discernment is learnt through having to practice the art of distinguishing good from evil.

Hmm.... so THAT is how a person matures in the faith. Learning that fine art of discernment.

Have to admit...I never really thought of that before. I figured that people matured just generally as they learned more about God and how to live for him. Like it was just a generalized process. But these verses imply that it's more than that. That yes...one starts off just generally learning, but maturity comes through the practice of what one is learning. Of practically learning what is good and what is evil.

Cool. Makes it all the more important to teach my buggy then, the fine of art of discernment as he matures. help him to see what is good and what is evil and having him learn to live that out.

The Things You Learn

First a child needs to decide what shapes we can use: rabbits, cats, fish, butterflies, dog bone shapes and trees NOTHING ELSE!!!! (results in screaming IF and only IF the boy child is actively helping you)...see I snuck in a star! :)
Then one builds cookies
Then one lets cookies bake and cool:
Then watches rabbitry and child enjoyment....


And then one discovers the folly of making "boy" that the boy child didn't approve of....

We had fun. It did prove to be an interesting and learning experience for all concerned. :)

Jesus is the source

1For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. 3Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. 4And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.

5So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him,

"You are my Son,
today I have begotten you";

6as he says also in another place,

"You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek."

7In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 10being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

This is the start to Hebrews 5. Remember that Jesus is our Great high priest.

In this passage we learn that high priests are chosen from among men. They are appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God. They offer gifts and sacrifices for the sins that men make. The high priest can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward because he himself is also beset with weakness. The high priest must also offer sacrifices for his own sin.

Being a high priest is an honour, but not an honour one can choose for himself. It is a position one is called to by God.

Jesus was appointed by God.

It is God who said the following:

"You are my Son,
today I have begotten you";

6as he says also in another place,

"You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek."

Jesus didn't make it up himself. God's choice.
So when Jesus walked on earth he offered up prayers and supplications to God. It was God who was able to save him from death. God heard him reverently.

Jesus....God's own son, learned obedience through his suffering.
Jesus...was a perfect being. He became the source of our salvation. If we obey him, he is our salvation.

Jesus was a high priest in the order of Melchizadek. We'll learn more about him another day. :)

But think about this for a moment.
Jesus was perfect. That means he didn't sin. Think back to the first couple of verses in this section where we learn what a high priest does. He makes sacrifices for the sins of others as well as for the sins he himself commits. Jesus didn't have to do that. He was perfect. He only had to make a sacrifice on behalf of everyone else.

So when he died, and then was raised to life again. It was enough.

All we have to do is believe in him and obey him. Then we have eternal salvation in him.

The Fruits of My Labour

First Justin enjoying waffles :)



Then me finished with my canning. 19 jars of pears. Given to me by a lady in play group who had WAY too many pears for her own use.

Christian Carnival is Back

Posting in reverse order received because it was just easiest that way. :) I'm into easy right now as I've a sore knee and just wanting to get done what needs to be done while keeping a toddler happy. :)

Ancient Hebrew Poetry presents Upcoming Reviews on the ESV and NLT study bibles.

I plan to review both Study Bibles in some detail in the not-too-distant future, but a short and not too sweet version is already on the tip of my tongue.

Heart, Mind, Soul and Strength has us reading Is Doubt the Opposite of Faith?

Over the last year or so I have seen a number of pieces around the Christian blogosphere singing the praises of doubt and raising the question, "Is doubt really the opposite of faith?" I am at times amazed at how we humans so often put our cleverness to work at the job of kidding ourselves.

Should Christians Vote is the topic presented by The Bible Archive. I couldn't actually get this page to load up on my computer though it tried mightily several times to do so. So I have no "blurb" to peak your interest today. If it loads up later in the day for me today I will add a blurb. :) Sorry about that Bible Archive!

Be confident is presented by Fish and Cans.

Jesus...our great high priest. That's what verse 14 means you know. Jesus is our high priest...and not only that...he is the GREAT high priest. That's like saying he's the high priest of all high priests. But we'll read about that more later in Hebrews...chapter 5 or seven or something. But that's getting beyond this passage.

A True Believer's Blog gives us this entry called Touching Jesus.

In a crowd of people, Jesus noticed that one specific person touched Him, and asked about it. It wasn’t really a matter of touching Him in the simple sense of coming into contact with Him. Jesus was calling attention to the fact that someone had touched Him and meant it. Someone had needed healing that only Jesus could give, reached out for Him, and really touched Him.

Parableman brings us Biological Humanity, Personhood, Moral Status.

There are a number of arguments on both sides of the abortion discussion that involve conceptual slips across important distinctions, and I think it's worth clarifying the assumptions that enable this process.

Rodney Olsen presents Every 7 seconds.

a child is dying from hunger related causes.

An almost equal tragedy is that we’ve become so desensitised to the suffering of others that we often let statistics like that float past us without a second thought.

The Moral Collapse of America sends this post to us: Christmas was not originally a Christian holiday.

Did you know that a pagan winter festival was traditionally the most popular festival of the year in many cultures long before Jesus ever came to this earth?

Did you know that December 25th was celebrated as the "birthday" of pagan gods such as Mithras and Sol long before it became Christianized?

Did you know that Jesus WAS NOT born on December 25th?

Dokeo Kago grapho soi kratistos theophilus submits You are a priest forever.

In Psalm 110:4, David is designated as a priest for ever. It would not surprise me that someone wrote this verse some time after Jeremiah announced the end of the Davidic dynasty. However it is not necessary to determine when this verse was written. It is more important to ascertain why this verse was overlooked by the gospel writers.

Repentant ramblings..... is sent to us by parables of a prodigal world.

I harmed myself, my community and my purpose immensely in that running away.

Yeah, yeah...we find the personal message within the big picture. Within God's love and salvific justice for the whole world, there is room for every man, woman and child.

Faith-based investing is written by Free Money Finance.

In the book of Mark, this question is posed: "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?" (8:36 nasb). Through the effort to find solutions to address the issues that go along with this question, faith-based investing was born. This movement seeks to align a person's faith, moral beliefs, and ultimately God's Word with the investment community.

Perfectly Versatile Campsite

Jim sent this me, Perfectly Versatile Campsite.

Thought I'd keep it handy.

This is just wrong...just so very very wrong!

Kill it kill it kill it dead!

What is, you are wondering, just what is this woman talking about?!?!?!?

THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!

So very glad these spiders didn't live close to me when I was a child.... can just imagine my brothers chasing me with them.

I HATE SPIDERS!
Well okay....I hate spiders in the house, OR on my person. I can admire webs, spiders hanging off plants etc...but this spider...THERE IS JUST NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just not gonna happen.

Be confident

Continuing in Hebrews 4 today I finish the chapter.

14Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Jesus...our great high priest. That's what verse 14 means you know. Jesus is our high priest...and not only that...he is the GREAT high priest. That's like saying he's the high priest of all high priests. But we'll read about that more later in Hebrews...chapter 5 or seven or something. But that's getting beyond this passage.

What we are being encouraged to do here is to HOLD FAST our confession. Hold it fast. That's an active state of being. That's being involved and remembering and living out our faith. That's not saying we have faith and then putting it up on a shelf. Holding fast implies action.

See Verse 15 where we are told that Christ (our great high priest) is not one that doesn't understand that we have weaknesses, but rather a high priest who understands what it means to be tempted. EVEN THOUGH he didn't sin, he understands that we struggle with sin.

Knowing this, we can be confident as we draw near to him, to the throne of grace. We can confidently expect mercy and grace in our time of need.

I consider that verse you know....and I look back over my day...how I bunged up my knee again and how it just hurts...yet today has been a GOOD day. I played with my boy. I talked well with my hubby. I pet my dog. I took care of my bunnies...just grumbling a bit because it was wet and rainy and slippery out there and with a bum knee it was a challenge...but I did so well. I even got my pears canned. AND I have to say....it's all because of Christ. I could have chosen to whine and complain and grumble all day...but it's like no...I will choose better. I will choose to rely on God to help me hobble through the day. :) I even was able to spend time with him.

Rather cool all that. :) God is indeed gracious. We can indeed approach the throne of grace and know that we will receive mercy and grace sufficient for our needs.

Jesus, our GREAT high priest knows us all full well...let us then be confident coming to him.

My day has been slowed down

slowing down the day....

Okay... so last night I even more appreciated the fact that this is done. Made doing this job painful, but easier. :)

While caring for such critters though I tripped. Landed on my bad knee, bashing it against a concrete block holding up on outside rabbit hutch. It got rather swollen. It doesn't like to bend. Painful is a bit of an understatement.

BUT I managed to get some sleep. :)
AND I had a boy who didn't wake me up last night to go pee. :)

So today has slowed down a bit. No cleaning up the yard, doing pears up, doing laundry and so on and forth.

BUT I have a happy boy and a willing hubby to help. Jim even brought down the laundry. :)

I'm still hoping to get laundry done and to do the pears.... it will just take....longer. :)

Request

for regular readers of my blog...

You know that this is where I do the bulk of my devotions.

You may have noticed they've become a bit more sporadic.

Life somehow between toddler, tiredness, and so forth has made it more difficult for me to have my devotions on a daily basis.

I sorely feel the lack. I need that daily grounding in the Lord. I really do.

Please pray that I find more of an equilibrium here.... I need my time with God too.

thank you.

Don't delay, come quickly.

Okay...that's just weird...I know Jim sent me the order of worship for this Sunday. I was just about to read the passage and study it, but it's gone missing. rather frustrating that!

Ah well...I guess I"ll read from Hebrews this morning....

Today we start Hebrews 4, we find these words:

1Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. 2For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. 3For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,

"As I swore in my wrath,'They shall not enter my rest,'"

although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: "And God rested on the seventh day from all his works." 5And again in this passage he said,

"They shall not enter my rest."

6Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, 7again he appoints a certain day, "Today," saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted,

"Today, if you hear his voice,do not harden your hearts."

8For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. 9So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.

11Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 12For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Last time we met we learned about the importance of listening to Christ. He who is more important than Moses or the angels, has words that we must heed.

The author of Hebrews goes on to tell us that Christ, that God calls us to enter into his rest. The we must strive for this. That while the promise is still before us, that while there is yet time, we must strive for this. If we don't believe in God we won't enter that rest. That's a promise from God! Perhaps not the kind of promise that we want to remember God making, but none-the-less.....if you FAIL to believe in God, you won't get to enter his rest. Please folk...if you don't know God, if you don't believe IN him (not just about him or his general existence, but IN him as the sole source of your salvation) then you won't be able to rest in him at all. Come while there is still time! Don't wait around, Christ could return tomorrow and then sorrowfully, it will be too late! Come now!

Do not let these words be said of you....

"As I swore in my wrath,'They shall not enter my rest,'"

"They shall not enter my rest."
"Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts."

God's voice. God's word.
"12For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account."

See the power in it?
It is active, living, sharper than a two-edged sword.
It can pierce the division between soul and spirit, of joints and marrow.
It discerns the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Nothing can hide from it.
All are naked and exposed before him.
It is to GOD that we give account.

You know...if I didn't firmly believe in God this could be frightening. TO know that I stand so exposed before God. To know that he knows me probably even better than I know myself. And yet he still loves me (sent his son to die for me!), and yet he still calls me to show forth HIS glory. Me in all my sin and shame and "ick". he knows me...and he still says...Child of mine....you are capable of showing my glory to the world around you. Go do so! Kinda cool eh? rather mind-boggling at times.

Don't delay folks. Really truly get to know God. Let him search you. Let him know you. Turn to him, strive to promote his glory, don't delay...you really, really don't want to miss out on his eternal rest...you just don't want to go there.

COME QUICKLY!

And God rested

okay, this is a bit of a pain...my "copy" feature has gone missing. How do I clip and paste now? Okay...that is just weird...I thought okay..I'll do my devotions using scribefire and opened up that window and voila! my Copy feature suddenly worked again. Weird.........

Anyways, Jim got the order of worship done early this week so I figured I'd look at Sunday's passage today. :) Genesis 2:1-3.

1Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. 3So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.

God has just finished making the world. it was all finished. It was the seventh day and God rested. This day he made holy because he had finished all this work and had rested on that day.

Hmmm... I read that and said to myself....so? What can I learn from this today? I already know this so what is new? Or am I just to be reminded of this? And how on earth is Jim going to preach for 20-25 minutes on this? I know...I'm probably being too honest here........

Hmmm.....
God finished his work.
God then rested.
Because he rested, that day was declared holy.

This is what these verses tell us.

Okay, The sabbath used to be Saturday, Sunday is the new sabbath. Changed I think because of Christ. oh my....did a search on that and found all sorts of reasoning for the change. The biggest being the Jews worship on the Saturday (old sabbath) and Christians wanted to show their difference from them and therefore worshiped on Sunday. Here are some of the sources I found. Religious Tolerance, Got questions, and Rev. Ken Collins.

In a nutshell I really have to ask, does it really matter? Work for 6 days, rest for one. Whether you start or end the week it doesn't really change anything. One has still worked for 6 and rested for one.

But as I thought about this I realized something... God's work was DONE! He was done...he rested. Clear and simple.

And it got me thinking.... as I prepare for worship and rest on Sunday... is my work done? Am I able to set aside my "I need to get to this that and the other thing" so that my focus can be where it needs to be? My focus needs to be on worshiping God and resting (because we are called to be like him) and not on "other stuff".

Each week God allots me so much time to get things done... I'd best use that time wisely hmm? :)