Psalm 9:2
I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.
Did you take the time to praise the Lord and find peace in
your Sabbath rest?
May today you be blessed.
Enjoy your Sabbath!
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Day 32: Set Apart
Writing about the Sabbath is very difficult for me. I have so much to say on it and yet many more questions than answers about it at the same time, that it's hard to focus on one aspect of it all.
For a long time now, Carl and I have been asking God to give us wisdom on understanding how the Lord wants us to observe the Sabbath. We've also wondered what it would take for our entire family to have a restful Sunday, including Carl, being that He's a pastor.
I've already told you all about Saturday being preparation day and its very helpful, except for those Saturdays that are busy enough in themselves. In our family, that would include most Saturdays.
So what is the purpose of preparing for the Sabbath?
Preparing for the Sabbath insures that we'll have a restful day because we're ready for the day. For example, spending time with our family and friends, having a nice meal that's been prepared in advance with minimal effort and being intentional in celebrating the Sabbath in a way that sets it apart from all the other days.
Its amazing how when we seek to find answers to God's truths, He answers.
When I was at the Homeschooling convention I came across the wonderful vendor Doorposts, that has been selling scripture based teachings for parenting for twenty years. They have written a book on celebrating the sabbath and also have a blog in which they recently did a five day series on preparing for the Sabbath.
As I read it over I realized that preparing for the Sabbath is not just a Saturday event. Doorposts, breaks it up into tasks to be done throughout the week and it makes perfect sense.
Exodus 20:8 says,
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
Holy means set apart.
We're suppose to set apart the Sabbath as a special day.
Think about all the other special days we celebrate. Weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, holidays. All special occasions in which we plan and prepare for in advance. Not only one day but in the days or month leading up to it. How much more important to lead up to our Sabbath by preparing for it throughout the week.
Our Sabbath should be a day in which we're daily in preparation for this special day. By anticipating the Sabbath, our mood would set our hearts in the right place for worshiping the Lord instead of a rushed morning leading to attitudes that are less desiring of praise.
Preparing for the Sabbath doesn't just mean crossing tasks to be done off a list. It includes preparing our hearts and "setting it apart" for the Lord.
Just as a bride in anticipation of her wedding day, prepares herself to meet her future husband in more than presentable fashion, so too, should we be preparing to meet with our Maker on the Sabbath.
We are called by God to holiness. To be set apart for Him.
1 Peter 1:15-16 says,
But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
So bring your best before the Lord...an offering that is pure and holy and pleasing in the sight of God and receive the rest He's calling you to.
Prepare and set yourself apart.
How will you start preparing daily for the Sabbath?
Friday, June 10, 2011
Day 31: Following In Your Footsteps
Luke 9:23
Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
Last night when we went for our evening time, it was a perfect night. We got out of the car and for a few minutes just enjoyed the evening breeze as we stared up into eternity. The fields and the dirt road were recently plowed, so the grounds consisted of a combination of packed down dirt as well as loose mounds of dirt (which the kids loved!).
The kids took a few minutes to enjoy the dirt. Carlos stepped in and out of the dirt mounds leaving deep footprints. Gabriela followed him, stepping right into the imprints he had left behind.
She was, literally, following in his footsteps.
Of course, we took the next few minutes to use this teachable moment to explain to Carlos the spiritual implications of what had just happened. His younger siblings were watching him and follow his leading. He needed to be aware to follow the right path and lead them in the right direction. So in other words "do the right thing"...uhhmm, no pressure!
So this is where today's blog stems from. A great spiritual principle that applies to everyone, not only older siblings.
Did you ever feel like you were being followed?
Well, you are.
We see it mostly with our kids. They copy our good and our bad habits. I don't think there's anything worse that noticing our bad habits being mirrored by our children.
Who else follows us?
Family, friends, and those who are curious about our faith.
Everyday we're faced with choices to make that not only affect us, but also those who are following or watching our footsteps. Our decisions should be based on the example that Christ left for us because when we come to Christ we're called to leave it all at the foot of the cross. Preferences, popular opinion, or whatever else affects our actions.
Sometimes when we're out and about on a rainy day, it only takes one of my kids to step in a puddle for the rest of them follow. One untimely decision made by one of the kids, leads the rest of them to play "follow the leader" and they all end up dirty!
So where are our footprints leading others?
It all depends on who's footprints we're following daily ourselves.
1 Peter 2:21 says,
To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
WHO we follow determines if we are
leading others into muddy puddles and rough terrains or onto the straight path that leads to life.
So, as we go about our Christian walk remember to make daily decisions that lead us and others closer to Christ with our actions modeling the attitude of Paul as he said to the church in Corinth...
1 Corinthians 11:1
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
Where do your footprints lead to?
Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
Last night when we went for our evening time, it was a perfect night. We got out of the car and for a few minutes just enjoyed the evening breeze as we stared up into eternity. The fields and the dirt road were recently plowed, so the grounds consisted of a combination of packed down dirt as well as loose mounds of dirt (which the kids loved!).
The kids took a few minutes to enjoy the dirt. Carlos stepped in and out of the dirt mounds leaving deep footprints. Gabriela followed him, stepping right into the imprints he had left behind.
She was, literally, following in his footsteps.
Of course, we took the next few minutes to use this teachable moment to explain to Carlos the spiritual implications of what had just happened. His younger siblings were watching him and follow his leading. He needed to be aware to follow the right path and lead them in the right direction. So in other words "do the right thing"...uhhmm, no pressure!
So this is where today's blog stems from. A great spiritual principle that applies to everyone, not only older siblings.
Did you ever feel like you were being followed?
Well, you are.
We see it mostly with our kids. They copy our good and our bad habits. I don't think there's anything worse that noticing our bad habits being mirrored by our children.
Who else follows us?
Family, friends, and those who are curious about our faith.
Everyday we're faced with choices to make that not only affect us, but also those who are following or watching our footsteps. Our decisions should be based on the example that Christ left for us because when we come to Christ we're called to leave it all at the foot of the cross. Preferences, popular opinion, or whatever else affects our actions.
Sometimes when we're out and about on a rainy day, it only takes one of my kids to step in a puddle for the rest of them follow. One untimely decision made by one of the kids, leads the rest of them to play "follow the leader" and they all end up dirty!
So where are our footprints leading others?
It all depends on who's footprints we're following daily ourselves.
1 Peter 2:21 says,
To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
WHO we follow determines if we are
leading others into muddy puddles and rough terrains or onto the straight path that leads to life.
So, as we go about our Christian walk remember to make daily decisions that lead us and others closer to Christ with our actions modeling the attitude of Paul as he said to the church in Corinth...
1 Corinthians 11:1
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
Where do your footprints lead to?
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