The Lord's Day

"What creation teaches us about the use of time. What is a year? A year is the measurement of the amount of time that it takes the earth to orbit the sun; alright?—simple enough. What is a month? A month is a unit of time corresponding approximately to one cycle of the moon’s phases. What is a day? A day is a unit of time corresponding to one cycle of the earth’s rotation on its axis.

What’s a week? A week is the only unit of time that does not correspond to the cycle of any heavenly body—no moon, no sun, no stars. A week is an ecclesiastical measurement of time that only makes sense in light of the creation account in Genesis. It’s the only reason we have the concept of a week—Genesis 2:1-3. So, the Lord’s Day and the pace of life—“Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days, you shall labor and do all your work; but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord, your God. On it, you shall not do any work—you, your sons, your daughters, your male servant, your female servant, your livestock, or the sojourner within your gates. For in six days, the Lord made the heavens and earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore, because of what God did in creation, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”

So, what does this teach us? What does this concept teach us? This is not about how you observe the Sabbath; okay? We can have discussions about that, but that’s not the point right now because, regardless of where you are theologically on that, this still matters. It teaches us the balance of work and life. It teaches us the balance of work and life. That’s written in the creation and written in the Scripture. It teaches us the priority of worship. One day in seven; one day in seven; one day in seven. It always comes, and it’s always His. We’re always reminded that it is the center point of our lives.

In fact, in the New Testament—it’s a very interesting point here. In the New Testament, you don’t find days of the week. In the Greek New Testament, you won’t find the names of the days of the week; okay? It is: first day of the week, second day of the week, third day of the week. So, what happens is—the Lord’s Day becomes the center of all time. Everything else is measured by its distance from the Lord’s Day—the priority of worship—this teaches us the sovereignty of God."
Pastor Voddie Baucham

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

Genesis 2:1-3

This Is Our God

Meekness and majesty

Manhood and Deity

In perfect harmony

The Man who is God

Lord of eternity

Dwells in humanity

Kneels in humility

And washes our feet

O what a mystery

Meekness and majesty

Bow down and worship

For this is your God

Father's pure radiance

Perfect in innocence

Yet learns obedience

To death on a cross

Suffering to give us life

Conquering through sacrifice

And as they crucify

Prays "Father forgive"

O what a mystery

Meekness and majesty

Bow down and worship

For this is your God

Wisdom unsearchable

God the invisible

Love indestructible

In frailty appears

Lord of infinity

Stooping so tenderly 

Lifts our humanity

To the heights of His throne

O what a mystery

Meekness and majesty

Bow down and worship

For this is your God

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And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.  As they went out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. They compelled this man to carry his cross.  And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it.  And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots.  Then they sat down and kept watch over him there.  And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews."   Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left.  And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, "You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross."  So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, "He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.  He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, 'I am the Son of God.'"  And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.  Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"  And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, "This man is calling Elijah." And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink.  But the others said, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him." And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.  And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.  The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.  When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!" 

Mat 27:29-54

I Am A Worm

I heard this before and was reminded of it today I  found it so fascinating, I had to share.  May you be blessed by it.  

"That word worm in the Hebrew is the word tola'ath.  It's a word that's used 43 times in the Bible and it's usually translated "scarlet."  One time it's translated "crimson."  For example, "Though your sins be as scarlet," tola'ath, "they shall be as white as snow."

But eight times that same word tola'ath is translated "worm"-"scarlet" and "worm."  What's the connection?  Well, this worm in Psalm 22-"I am a worm and no man"-many scholars believe refer to what is known as a scarlet worm that is common in the Middle East.  It's similar to the cochineal that you find in Latin America.  You may have read about these when these insects are crushed the blood that comes out makes a crimson dye.  It's brilliant color that's used in making red garments and red fabrics.

Well, this scarlet worm, the tola'ath is found in Palestine, in Syria.  It secretes a scarlet fluid that was used in ancient times to make a beautiful scarlet dye.  It was used in things like the curtains in the tabernacle in the Old Testament that were scarlet colored.  These scarlet worms were used to make that scarlet dye.

In the life cycle of this scarlet worm we see what I think is a beautiful picture of the Lord Jesus.  When the scarlet worm was ready to give birth she would find the trunk of a tree, and she would attach her body securely, permanently to that tree trunk.  Then she would lay her eggs, and the eggs would remain under her body until they hatched.  The mother's body would provide protection for the babies until they were ready to get out and function on their own, and then the mother worm, the scarlet worm would die.

As it died, its body affixed to that tree would burst, and the scarlet fluid inside would flow out and stain her body and her babies and the tree.  I believe we have in that a graphic illustration from the world of nature that points to Christ who said, "I am a worm," tola'ath, "and no man."

As the scarlet worm died whild being attached to a tree, the Son of God was attached to a tree and laid down His life to give us eternal life and to make us children of God.  As the scarlet fluid flowed out from the dying worm and covered her young, so the blood that flowed out from the veins of Christ covers us.  It makes atonement for our sins and clothes us in His righteousness.  As one commentary says, "The glorious garments of our salvation have been procured as a result of Christ's death and suffering.  He became the tola'ath, the worm, crushed in death so we might be robed in glory."

Nancy Leigh DeMoss
http://www.reviveourhearts.com/radio/revive-our-hearts/i-am-worm/

Patience, Kindness, & Goodness

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, 

faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 

Gal. 5:22-23 

Patience is like a seed hidden beneath the surface. It silently waits in the dark earth, hidden from view, doing nothing (it seems!), while it secretly, quietly, and slowly incubates life. This sweet fruit makes it possible for kindness and goodness to develop.

Kindness grows from seed of patience in the dark depths where it develops a root system. Kindness pushes its head up through the soil, wanting to break forth and do something until, at last, it cracks through the soul, visible to all.

Goodness blossoms forth, along with its works of love blessing all who see it...which is what this luscious fruit of the Spirit is all about!

A Young Woman's Walk with God,
Growing More Like Jesus
Elizabeth George

Blessed Redeemer

REMEMBER TO TURN OFF THE PLAYER BELOW

The LORD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him. Exo 15:2 

"For this I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations, and sing praises to your name. 2Sa 22:50 

For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. Job 19:25

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. Psa 19:14

I will thank you forever, because you have done it. I will wait for your name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly. Psa 52:9 

whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. Rom 3:25

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2Co 5:21 

 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. Eph 1:7-10 

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. Col 2:13-15  

And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 

Heb 10:11  And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. Heb 10:10-14  

God's Mercy

REMEMBER TO TURN OFF THE PLAYER BELOW

Psa 6:2  Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing; heal me, O LORD, for my bones are troubled. 

Psa 30:2  O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. 

Psa 116:1  I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. 

Psa 147:3  He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. 

Isa 57:18  I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners, 

I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. 1Ti 1:12-17

What Does The Sovereignty Of God Mean?

Five Finger Attributes of God

Yes, I know there are more than 5 attributes of God, but I read this and thought it was a good way to help our children remember some of them. Have your little ones hold up a hand. As they hold up each finger of their hand, you want them to be able to remind themselves that God is...

*Always there. "For he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5).

*Always answers. "When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles" (Psalm 34:17).

*Always understands. "For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust" (Psalm 103:14).

*Always forgives. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).

*Always loves. "I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you" (Jeremiah 31:3).

My Contentment and God's Sovereignty

We bought our home about 2 1/2 years ago.  The home itself is actually going on 11 years old.  It is in need of a few repairs that we are trying to make as the Lord allows provisions for.  One issue is the carpet.  To be perfectly honest, it hasn't reached the "needs" list yet but it is on it's way.  So for now, it remains on the "want" list.  It is dark green (which shows every piece of fuzz you could imagine), it's kind of worn, faded and is starting to come apart at the seems.  The other day my sweet Gracie had gone outside early in the morning while the dew was still on the ground.  In 9 year old fashion, she came right back inside without cleaning her shoes. She's a busy girl; who has time for that?  LOL!  We're working on it.  Anyway, she left a wet, grassy trail from the front door to the kitchen and back out the door.  As I was cleaning the floor, I was thinking about how much I dislike the carpet.  Then I thought, if my friend Renae was here, she'd remind me that at least I didn't have to walk on a cold, hard floor.  She would have been right; she always right.  Then I thought, what if all I had was a cold, hard floor.  Would I still be content?  Then my mind went to the book of Job.  What if God took away all of my flooring and I was left with dirt. Would I still be content?  Then it struck me.  I need to be content with God, not just His blessings.  Not that we shouldn't be content with what He has blessed us with, but what He really desires if for us to be content with Him.  Then I thought, if I really believe God is sovereign, then I should be content.  Right?  If He cares about the birds in the fields (Mt. 6:26) and knows the number of hairs on my head (Luk 12:7), then He also cares about my ugly, green carpet.  He not only cares, but He was sovereign in my having the ugly, green carpet.  He had a purpose for it.  Psalm 121:4 tells us Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. We must remember He is always at work, in every detail of our lives, working all things together for our good and for His purposes. So, do we believe God is sovereign?    If so, words such as chance, luck, fate, fluke, happenstance, and coincidence should not be a part of our vocabulary.  Elizabeth George says, "These terms litter the language of those who fail to accurately acknowledge the power and sovereign control of God over every detail of life."

Heb 2:8  putting everything in subjection under his feet." Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him.


1Ti 6:15  ...he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords


Php 4:11  Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 


1Ti 6:8  But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 


Heb 13:5  Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have...