Sabbath Day
Remember the Sabbath Day and Keep it Holy (Exodus 20:8)
This month, our church is teaching on The Chemistry of Prayer. One of the key focus has been prayer is not a monologue but a dialog. With the emphasis on how we are supposed to take time while praying to listen to what God is saying to us. In keeping with this lesson after praying, I was siting listening to hear what God would say to me.
The scripture above is what came into my spirit. While meditating on the scripture I begin to wonder, “How am I keeping the Sabbath Day Holy?” This scripture is one of the commandments God instructed Moses to give to the people when he brought them out of Egypt. I thought about how I spend my Sundays and although I go to church and I serve. . .what steps do I take to keep the whole day holy? I read further into the scriptures and I found a greater understanding of the command.
[Earnestly] remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy (withdrawn from common employment and dedicated to God). Six days you shall labor and do all your work, But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, your daughter, your manservant, your maidservant, your domestic animals, or the sojourner within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it [set it apart for His purposes]. Exodus 20:8-11
The Sabbath day was made Holy by God and He set it apart for us to focus on our Lord and rest from our daily routine. After studying the above scripture it was clear to me that I was not keeping the whole day Holy. Attending church is a step in the right direction but after that I would go right back to my regular routine. To keep the whole day Holy, I needed to make some adjustments. Cooking and cleaning would have to be done on another day!
If we truly want to serve God we have to obey His commands. Just because the commandment was given a long time ago and our lifestyle has changed, God’s word has not changed. We must Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it Holy!
Going back to the reason why I was praying to God in the first place. . . I was asking for more time!!!! I wanted more time to read his word, to study and to listen to an encouraging message. Isn’t it funny the answer was right there in the scripture. He had already given me the resources for my request, I had just gotten off course. Praise God for the Sabbath Day! Praise God for the dialog!
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMoEcr3koSqRbqVma5EGWgA/videos
My recently published book Life’s Journey is now available at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08VYJKJ9K/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_6Z95ANB487AMDF3VTDP9
Soaking
You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13, ESV
Soaking: extremely wet; wet through. to permeate so as to wet, soften, or fill thoroughly · 2 : to place in a surrounding element (such as liquid) to wet or permeate …
I loved the definition of soaking. This month(August) I felt the Holy Spirit tell me to just sit with Him and soak in His presence. I have not spent much time writing which is kind of strange for me, but I hear God so clearly. I have taken to just waiting, listening and reading whatever He brings my way.
I often think of my garden and how much water it needs in the morning since the temperatures in Sacramento have been so high. I use the water meter to test the soil to see if it needs to be watered. Every morning it seems to need a complete soaking, at times it looks like the water is all through the soil, but when you test it, the bottom roots are damp or almost dry. The plants will never make it through a hot summer day with that kind of moisture.
It makes me wonder how we make it through our days without a complete soaking in the word of God! When I was in the garden watering the plants, I asked God am I that dry? Do I need this deep of a soaking? Then I hear the words, “meditate on the word of God day and night.” The answer to my question is a big YES!
This month I took the time to soak. I worked on a new site for my devotionals, but most of my time was spent sitting, studying, and listening to what the Holy Spirit wanted to reveal to me. It is so important to feed ourselves especially because we give out so much throughout each day. We can’t function as a powerful ambassador of Christ when we are not completely nourished. I want to encourage you to take some time to soak!
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMoEcr3koSqRbqVma5EGWgA/videos
My recently published book Life’s Journey is now available at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08VYJKJ9K/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_6Z95ANB487AMDF3VTDP9
Every Action Counts
My husband and I were headed to meet some of his friends to see a movie. We parked our car and proceeded to walk to the theater. While walking I noticed this gentleman looking at us from a distance, but I chose not to pay attention to him. As we approached him, he said to my husband, “Wow you all are a couple that is holding hands and having a conversation! There is still some hope for this world after all! My husband smiled and said to the gentleman, “Yep, God bless you!” He smiled and continued on his way.
Every action counts, everything we do matters. My husband and I usually hold hands when we are out. It is just what we have always done. We are all on this journey in life and every detail of our life has been ordained and written out. We must always be aware that we are disciples for Christ. We are His ambassadors and a simple act of walking with our spouse has an impact on those around us.
God has called us to serve Him on this earth. My husband and I had no idea that while we were walking to see a movie, someone else was going to be blessed. We sometimes forget that we have the light of Jesus in us; especially in our daily activities. We must remember that we are on assignment. We are the special forces sent by God to demonstrate His love in the earth. Everyday someone is looking for the light. Scripture says the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few. There are many people ready to receive Christ but many of His laborers are focused on other things so the work force is limited. Let us not forget that as soon as we open our eyes every single action counts in ministering to souls. Let’s make sure we are prayed up and ready to serve!
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMoEcr3koSqRbqVma5EGWgA/videos
My recently published book Life’s Journey is now available at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08VYJKJ9K/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_6Z95ANB487AMDF3VTDP9
Discipline Comes
But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams” (1 Samuel 15:22, NIV).
How much do we obey God? Is it all of the time or do we deliberately disobey some of His commands? I’m reminded of what a dear friend always says to me: “A little obedience is disobedience.” If we are only obeying God when it seems good to us then we are truly not obeying Him. I remember when I was a youth, one of my chores was to clean the bathroom and I went to the bathroom and only cleaned the tub. Punishment came to me from my parents because I did not clean the whole bathroom. It is the same way with God. We cannot only obey part of what He tells us to do and expect it to please Him.
On this journey, as believers we are not going to get everything right. We are going to make mistakes and the Word says that God’s grace and mercy are new every morning. This means He gives grace for those things that were done unintentionally and His mercy is shown when we “act up” in the heat of the moment. He convicts our heart and we ask for forgiveness. Praise God for His steadfast love that will cover all of our wrongs when we have a heart of sorrow and humility when we come to Him.
God does not delight in our disobedience. Many people believe that because we don’t see God in the “natural” and punishment does not come right away, we will not suffer the consequence of our behavior, but that is far from the truth. God is a God of righteousness and justice and He will discipline those He loves and bring eternal justice to those who continue to disobey Him.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCC Ministriestv:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMoEcr3koSqRbqVma5EGWgA/videos
My recently published book Life’s Journey is now available at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08VYJKJ9K/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_6Z95ANB487AMDF3VTDP9