Posts
As I cleaned my refrigerator this morning (how old WERE those mushrooms anyway ... yuck!), I've been blessed to listen to sermons on sermonaudio.com -- what a treat! They have so many, and they're organized by preacher and topic. They even have old sermons by Spurgeon & others that are read.
It's such a treat!
Got to the gym this morning, and hope to get in some reading later today.
Trinka
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Friday, February 24, 2006
pondering some changes
I'm thinking of proposing that we change the church's office hours to 7:00-3:00. I was sitting there yesterday afternoon, in my late-afternoon trance, and it dawned on me that if I made that change, I'd be giving them more worthwhile time (when I'm awake and actually useful for something), as well as providing me an opportunity in the afternoon to work out and still be involved in others' lives. I hate the feeling that all my free time is being devoted solely to myself! We have staff meeting Tuesday, and I'm going to mull this one over through the weekend, and might bring it up then.
Last night, driving to Bible study out near the lake, I was heading into the most beautiful sunset. It's cloudy here so much during the winter, that I've gone a long time without seeing one ... and this was particularly colorful and fiery. It was such a treat to watch it all the way through!
And this morning, as I sit here at my desk, looking out through my sliding glass door, I hear (I kid you not) a robin singing. Really! We're due for a terribly cold weekend, but if the little fellow is willing to come north and suffer through it for the promise of spring, well, then, I guess spring must be coming. :) I can't see the little guy, but I hope to spy him when I go out to my car.
Got in a walk last night before Bible study ... studying, still not so good. Though I did read some last night before my head hit the pillow.
Last night, driving to Bible study out near the lake, I was heading into the most beautiful sunset. It's cloudy here so much during the winter, that I've gone a long time without seeing one ... and this was particularly colorful and fiery. It was such a treat to watch it all the way through!
And this morning, as I sit here at my desk, looking out through my sliding glass door, I hear (I kid you not) a robin singing. Really! We're due for a terribly cold weekend, but if the little fellow is willing to come north and suffer through it for the promise of spring, well, then, I guess spring must be coming. :) I can't see the little guy, but I hope to spy him when I go out to my car.
Got in a walk last night before Bible study ... studying, still not so good. Though I did read some last night before my head hit the pillow.
Thursday, February 23, 2006
John Wesley's 18 questions
I got this in my e-mail yesterday, and found it encouraging food for thought:
John Wesley's Holy Club used to ask themselves these 18 questions for personal devotion:
Am I conciously or unconciously creating the impression that I am a better person than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?
Am I honest in all acts or words, or do I exaggerate?
Do I confidentially pass on to another what was told to me in confidence? Can I be trusted?
Am I a slave to dress, friends, work, or habits?
Am I self-concious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?
Did the Bible live in me today?
Do I give it time to speak to me each day?
Am I enjoying prayer?
When did I last speak to somebody else with the object of trying to win that person for Christ?
Am I making contacts with other people and using them for the Master's Glory?
Do I pray about the money I spend?
Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?
Do I disobey God in anything?
Do I insist upon doing something for which my conscience is uneasy?
Am I defeated in any part of my life? Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy, or distrustful?
How do I spend my spare time?
Am I proud?
Do I thank God I am not as other people, (like the Pharisee who despised the (sinner) publican)?
**************
Exercise has been happening (even yesterday between work and prayer meeting ... Wednesdays are my most challenging day because the time is so cut-up and awkward). Studying ... not so good, unfortunately.
John Wesley's Holy Club used to ask themselves these 18 questions for personal devotion:
Am I conciously or unconciously creating the impression that I am a better person than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?
Am I honest in all acts or words, or do I exaggerate?
Do I confidentially pass on to another what was told to me in confidence? Can I be trusted?
Am I a slave to dress, friends, work, or habits?
Am I self-concious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?
Did the Bible live in me today?
Do I give it time to speak to me each day?
Am I enjoying prayer?
When did I last speak to somebody else with the object of trying to win that person for Christ?
Am I making contacts with other people and using them for the Master's Glory?
Do I pray about the money I spend?
Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?
Do I disobey God in anything?
Do I insist upon doing something for which my conscience is uneasy?
Am I defeated in any part of my life? Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy, or distrustful?
How do I spend my spare time?
Am I proud?
Do I thank God I am not as other people, (like the Pharisee who despised the (sinner) publican)?
**************
Exercise has been happening (even yesterday between work and prayer meeting ... Wednesdays are my most challenging day because the time is so cut-up and awkward). Studying ... not so good, unfortunately.
Monday, February 20, 2006
it must be good for me if it hurts this much ... right?
That goofy game ... I'm loving it.
However, I got down on the floor to put away some Tupperware yesterday and could barely get up.
Not good. Not good at all. :)
Maybe stretching first would be a good idea. :)
I'm in better shape than I've been in for 20 years (strength & endurance-wise) ... but there are obviously muscles I've missed, which are just now coming to my attention!
Trinka
However, I got down on the floor to put away some Tupperware yesterday and could barely get up.
Not good. Not good at all. :)
Maybe stretching first would be a good idea. :)
I'm in better shape than I've been in for 20 years (strength & endurance-wise) ... but there are obviously muscles I've missed, which are just now coming to my attention!
Trinka
Sunday, February 19, 2006
a lovely day for a drive
Exercise has been happening (except for Wednesday & Friday - when people took precedence).
Reading ... not so good. Hoping to have some time in the Scriptures today.
Thursday, a big ice storm went through, followed by VERY cold temperatures. This means the trees were still glazed with ice. My mom invited me out for the afternoon yesterday (where I was attacked by banana oatmeal chocolate chip cookies ... ugh), and we drove down to see my grandmother.
The sun was shining like it only does on bitterly cold days, and the trees and brush were gleaming with ice-coating. It was a rare treat to spend time enjoying such beauty, while all warm and cozy in a heated car.
Did an incredibly frivolous thing Friday, and bought a Playstation and a game called "Eye Toy". It has a webcam that picks up your image and plops you into a game - where you swat at some things, kick other things, and duck out of the way of still more things. It was the best workout I've had in AGES. I'm horribly bad at it, so there should be enough challenge to keep me coming back for a while!
Trinka (who is VERY sore this morning)
Reading ... not so good. Hoping to have some time in the Scriptures today.
Thursday, a big ice storm went through, followed by VERY cold temperatures. This means the trees were still glazed with ice. My mom invited me out for the afternoon yesterday (where I was attacked by banana oatmeal chocolate chip cookies ... ugh), and we drove down to see my grandmother.
The sun was shining like it only does on bitterly cold days, and the trees and brush were gleaming with ice-coating. It was a rare treat to spend time enjoying such beauty, while all warm and cozy in a heated car.
Did an incredibly frivolous thing Friday, and bought a Playstation and a game called "Eye Toy". It has a webcam that picks up your image and plops you into a game - where you swat at some things, kick other things, and duck out of the way of still more things. It was the best workout I've had in AGES. I'm horribly bad at it, so there should be enough challenge to keep me coming back for a while!
Trinka (who is VERY sore this morning)
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
does the word "accident" mean anything?
Good grief ... media-types ... take a valium and have a nap!
There is no conspiracy. The poor man had a hunting accident. What. Exactly. Do you want in a press conference? What grand revelation is he supposed to make? "It was an accident. I didn't mean to shoot my friend." There. You've got the sum total of the story. Move on!
There are still people who want to blow us all up. Hostile countries are building nuclear weapons. Our tax dollars are still paying to provide laptop computers to sixth graders. There are bigger stories out there. (thank you for listening)
I didnt' go to jail (at least not yet). After 4 phone calls and 3 visits, I finally tracked down the manager, and paid my bill.
Got to the gym yesterday and lifted weights, and also did 15 minutes on the eliptical. Yeah me. :)
They've been talking "winter storm warning" all day today - it will be interesting to see what actually happens. Once everyone has gone out and bought excessive quantitites of canned goods, they usually cancel the warnings, and everyone is left to try & stack creamed corn neatly in their pantries!
Trinka
There is no conspiracy. The poor man had a hunting accident. What. Exactly. Do you want in a press conference? What grand revelation is he supposed to make? "It was an accident. I didn't mean to shoot my friend." There. You've got the sum total of the story. Move on!
There are still people who want to blow us all up. Hostile countries are building nuclear weapons. Our tax dollars are still paying to provide laptop computers to sixth graders. There are bigger stories out there. (thank you for listening)
I didnt' go to jail (at least not yet). After 4 phone calls and 3 visits, I finally tracked down the manager, and paid my bill.
Got to the gym yesterday and lifted weights, and also did 15 minutes on the eliptical. Yeah me. :)
They've been talking "winter storm warning" all day today - it will be interesting to see what actually happens. Once everyone has gone out and bought excessive quantitites of canned goods, they usually cancel the warnings, and everyone is left to try & stack creamed corn neatly in their pantries!
Trinka
Sunday, February 12, 2006
I am a criminal
Tonight, I was going through my receipts, checking my budget, paying bills, etc.
Well, I get to the last receipt in the pile - from a gas station I visited Monday the 6th.
Well ... look at THAT. They charged me for the soda, and NO GASOLINE. Yikes!
I am a drive-off.
I didn't MEAN to be a drive-off.
They know me. They always glance out, see where I'm parked, and charge it to my credit card. EXCEPT last Monday. I called the station just now, and they didn't have a record of it, but the manager is supposed to call me tomorrow.
Groan. Some poor clerk was probably in hot water, and for all I know, the state police are looking for me!
Glad I live close enough to work that I can walk, when they pull my license!
Exercise: Got to the gym and a walk Saturday, and a walk again today.
Had a lovely time in the Scriptures today. God is so good to meet with me, when I'm so often lazy in meeting with Him.
Well, I get to the last receipt in the pile - from a gas station I visited Monday the 6th.
Well ... look at THAT. They charged me for the soda, and NO GASOLINE. Yikes!
I am a drive-off.
I didn't MEAN to be a drive-off.
They know me. They always glance out, see where I'm parked, and charge it to my credit card. EXCEPT last Monday. I called the station just now, and they didn't have a record of it, but the manager is supposed to call me tomorrow.
Groan. Some poor clerk was probably in hot water, and for all I know, the state police are looking for me!
Glad I live close enough to work that I can walk, when they pull my license!
Exercise: Got to the gym and a walk Saturday, and a walk again today.
Had a lovely time in the Scriptures today. God is so good to meet with me, when I'm so often lazy in meeting with Him.
Saturday, February 11, 2006
an e-mail forward worth passing along
This came today, and I thought it was a blessing. Nothing earth-shattering ... but how often do I remember to DO what's logical and helpful?
Simple Stress Reduction
1. Pray
2. Go to bed on time.
3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
4. Say “No” to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.
5. Delegate tasks to capable others.
6. Simplify and unclutter your life.
7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)
8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.
10. Take one day at a time.
11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out w hat God would have you do and let go of the anxiety. If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.
12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.
13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.
14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.
16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.
17. Get enough rest.
18. Eat right.
19. Get organized so everything has its place.
20. Listen to something edifying while driving.
21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.
22. Every day, find time to be alone.
23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.
24. Make friends with Godly people.
25. Keep a list of favorite scriptures on hand.
26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good "Thank you Lord."
27. Laugh.
28. Choose to think the best of others.
29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.
30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).
31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).
32. Sit on your ego.
33. Talk less; listen more.
34. Slow down.
35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.
36 . Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before.
37. Remember, remember … remember …. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)
Simple Stress Reduction
1. Pray
2. Go to bed on time.
3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
4. Say “No” to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.
5. Delegate tasks to capable others.
6. Simplify and unclutter your life.
7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)
8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.
10. Take one day at a time.
11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out w hat God would have you do and let go of the anxiety. If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.
12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.
13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.
14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.
16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.
17. Get enough rest.
18. Eat right.
19. Get organized so everything has its place.
20. Listen to something edifying while driving.
21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.
22. Every day, find time to be alone.
23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.
24. Make friends with Godly people.
25. Keep a list of favorite scriptures on hand.
26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good "Thank you Lord."
27. Laugh.
28. Choose to think the best of others.
29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.
30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).
31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).
32. Sit on your ego.
33. Talk less; listen more.
34. Slow down.
35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.
36 . Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before.
37. Remember, remember … remember …. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)
Friday, February 10, 2006
Justification
I was reading this morning in Acts 13, where Paul gives a sermon to the Jews in Antioch.
He basically summed up the Jews' history, and the Lord Jesus' coming, death and resurrection in a half-chapter, and near the end is verse 39:
"And by him (Jesus Christ) all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses."
What a wonder is contained in that verse. Paul was teaching a group of VERY learned men, who had fought to keep the Jewish law their entire lives.
Yet, those who were honest with themselves knew they hadn't measured up.
And here comes one of their own, a man with an education and background equivalent or superior to the best of them, and he says, "there's something available to those of us who've failed."
The word "justified" or "justification" is a legal term. It means "to be declared righteous." We teach the concept to children as "justification means 'just as if I'd never sinned.'" But it's so much more than that. If I woke up this morning "just as if I'd never sinned" ... I'd sully that standing before I finish my first cup of coffee!
Rather, this is God declaring me righteous. Not on my own merits (thankfully!) but rather on Christ's. It's such a wonder.
One of the scenes I wish I could peek into history and watch is the faces of those scholarly men, as Paul made this declaration. Some, maybe most, we can tell from the following account, thought they WERE keeping Moses' law, and were righteous before God. But I'm sure there were at least a few, who were acquainted with their own hearts, and knew they fell short. It would have been a glorious thing to watch the understanding dawn on their faces, as they grasped what Paul was saying here!
I'm so thankful that I stand before God justified ... declared rightous ... what a wonder.
Exercise report: none happened. Gee, that was easy to type (and even easier to do!). I went with my Thursday night Bible study to see End of the Spear last night, and when I got home, I collapsed in a chair for a while, and then went to bed.
I enjoyed the movie even more the second time -I found it hard to keep all the people straight the first time, and this time it was easier.
Trinka
He basically summed up the Jews' history, and the Lord Jesus' coming, death and resurrection in a half-chapter, and near the end is verse 39:
"And by him (Jesus Christ) all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses."
What a wonder is contained in that verse. Paul was teaching a group of VERY learned men, who had fought to keep the Jewish law their entire lives.
Yet, those who were honest with themselves knew they hadn't measured up.
And here comes one of their own, a man with an education and background equivalent or superior to the best of them, and he says, "there's something available to those of us who've failed."
The word "justified" or "justification" is a legal term. It means "to be declared righteous." We teach the concept to children as "justification means 'just as if I'd never sinned.'" But it's so much more than that. If I woke up this morning "just as if I'd never sinned" ... I'd sully that standing before I finish my first cup of coffee!
Rather, this is God declaring me righteous. Not on my own merits (thankfully!) but rather on Christ's. It's such a wonder.
One of the scenes I wish I could peek into history and watch is the faces of those scholarly men, as Paul made this declaration. Some, maybe most, we can tell from the following account, thought they WERE keeping Moses' law, and were righteous before God. But I'm sure there were at least a few, who were acquainted with their own hearts, and knew they fell short. It would have been a glorious thing to watch the understanding dawn on their faces, as they grasped what Paul was saying here!
I'm so thankful that I stand before God justified ... declared rightous ... what a wonder.
Exercise report: none happened. Gee, that was easy to type (and even easier to do!). I went with my Thursday night Bible study to see End of the Spear last night, and when I got home, I collapsed in a chair for a while, and then went to bed.
I enjoyed the movie even more the second time -I found it hard to keep all the people straight the first time, and this time it was easier.
Trinka
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Four Things
Four jobs I’ve had:
Four of my favorite dishes:
- Pet store janitor
- Breakfast trail ride cook
- Vaulting (gymnastics on horseback) instructor
- 2nd shift blueprint filer (yawn!)
- Princess Bride
- Little Women (new version)
- Man from Snowy River
- March of the Penguins
- Mobile home
- Brand new five-bedroom house (house-sitting is great!)
- Camp Cabin without heat or plumbing (in November!)
- Inside my own mind (a wonderful talent during dull classes)
- The Amazing Race (when it's clean)
- Monk
- Sue Thomas FBEye
- Law and Order C.I.
- Rafting in Colorado & Utah
- Church history sites in England, Scotland and Wales
- Israel
- Maritime provinces of Canada
Four of my favorite dishes:
- Pad Se Ieu (or however it's spelled! Tahi noodle stuff)
- Lois Pell's Sunday pot roast
- Carrabbas Pollo Rosa Maria
- Almond boneless chicken
Four places I would rather be right now:
For me ... these always translate into "four people you wish you could spend time with right now" ... too many people have moved away! So, that would mean:
- Dallas (D.L. - moved away in 2000)
- Cyprus (C.C. - moved away in 2002)
- China (C.C. #2 - moved away in the 90's some time)
- Tennessee (C & K and adorable-nieces - moved away in 2003)
Saturday, February 04, 2006
OK ... is this better?
One of my regular blog-visitors said the last template displayed on her computer as dark blue font on the dark brown "calico" background. Where the cream-colored background went ... I have no idea.
Anyhow, since I probably only HAVE a half-dozen readers, it wouldn't do to chase one away. :) How is this one Rachel?
Trinka
Anyhow, since I probably only HAVE a half-dozen readers, it wouldn't do to chase one away. :) How is this one Rachel?
Trinka
Thursday, February 02, 2006
THIS is why I don't get anything done in the evenings ...
I was working on a project, and needed to print out about 40 CD labels.
I was fighting for almost an hour to get them to print.
"STUPID stuff … this printer ALWAYS works well, and now it’s flat-out refusing to do anything."
Complain complain complain
Troubleshoot troubleshoot troubleshoot
FINALLY
Realize the printer isn’t plugged into the computer.
Oh. Ok. I guess there is THAT.
DUMB!!!! (and tired too)
I was fighting for almost an hour to get them to print.
"STUPID stuff … this printer ALWAYS works well, and now it’s flat-out refusing to do anything."
Complain complain complain
Troubleshoot troubleshoot troubleshoot
FINALLY
Realize the printer isn’t plugged into the computer.
Oh. Ok. I guess there is THAT.
DUMB!!!! (and tired too)
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
New template
See! Variety is good!
(Actually, after I chose this one, I realized that two other blogs I'm reading use the same template ... oh well ... while I may not be original, at least I know what I like when I see it). :)
(Actually, after I chose this one, I realized that two other blogs I'm reading use the same template ... oh well ... while I may not be original, at least I know what I like when I see it). :)
new exercise room in the future
The condo association has approved turning a basement store-room into an exercise room. I'm thrilled at the idea of being able to work out in the morning before my day begins. If I run on the treadmill in my condo, I'm sure it sounds like a heard of thundering elephants in the unit below.
But in the basement, it shouldn't be a problem for anyone. They still need to run electricity down there, so it won't happen right away, but at least the process has begun! My dad has access to some enormous mirrors that will keep it from looking TOO much like a closet, and we'll paint it, and maybe put up a ceiling fan. I'm most pleased with this development. :)
I'm also doing the newsletter for the condo association, and I worked on that last night. It's the first newsletter I've done where I had the opportunity to gather the matrial myself. Usually I'm just formatting someone else's stuff ... it's been great fun looking around and trying to find things that might interest the neighbors.
I got to the gym and lifted weighs last night. It's still packed with the New-Years'-resolution crowd. I wonder if it's a sin to look forward to the time they'll start slipping? They're young and skinny, so it won't do them any real HARM. :)
I was reading last night in Deuteronomy 5. (I'm still using the Reese Chronological Bible, by the way, and liking it - it arranges all the events and writing in chronological order, and has estimated dates at the top ... makes it very easy to keep your history straight.)
I was thinking about where God instituted the sabbath:
12 ‘Observe the sabbath day to keep it holy, as the LORD your God commanded you.
13 ‘Six days you shall labor and do all your work,
14 but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter or your male servant or your female servant or your ox or your donkey or any of your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you, so that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you.
15 ‘You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out of there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the LORD your God commanded you to observe the sabbath day.
It's interesting to me that the reason He gave for their sabbath was that they were delivered from Egypt. They needed to rest in order to remember that GOD was the one keeping them safe and secure, not themselves.
The Lord Jesus is described as OUR "sabbath rest" - we don't have a physical day anymore. We have a person. And when we look to Him, we remember that we, too, were delivered from captivity. I was every bit as much a prisoner, with no hope of release, as those Jews were as they labored on Pharoah's work projects. I was serving a cruel master also.
And my deliverance was something I could never have accomplished. It was all done for me, and offered up to me as a gift. All I had to do was step forward and accept it, as they had to take that first step out into the dessert so many centuries ago.
Thankful to be free!
Trinka
But in the basement, it shouldn't be a problem for anyone. They still need to run electricity down there, so it won't happen right away, but at least the process has begun! My dad has access to some enormous mirrors that will keep it from looking TOO much like a closet, and we'll paint it, and maybe put up a ceiling fan. I'm most pleased with this development. :)
I'm also doing the newsletter for the condo association, and I worked on that last night. It's the first newsletter I've done where I had the opportunity to gather the matrial myself. Usually I'm just formatting someone else's stuff ... it's been great fun looking around and trying to find things that might interest the neighbors.
I got to the gym and lifted weighs last night. It's still packed with the New-Years'-resolution crowd. I wonder if it's a sin to look forward to the time they'll start slipping? They're young and skinny, so it won't do them any real HARM. :)
I was reading last night in Deuteronomy 5. (I'm still using the Reese Chronological Bible, by the way, and liking it - it arranges all the events and writing in chronological order, and has estimated dates at the top ... makes it very easy to keep your history straight.)
I was thinking about where God instituted the sabbath:
12 ‘Observe the sabbath day to keep it holy, as the LORD your God commanded you.
13 ‘Six days you shall labor and do all your work,
14 but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter or your male servant or your female servant or your ox or your donkey or any of your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you, so that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you.
15 ‘You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out of there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the LORD your God commanded you to observe the sabbath day.
It's interesting to me that the reason He gave for their sabbath was that they were delivered from Egypt. They needed to rest in order to remember that GOD was the one keeping them safe and secure, not themselves.
The Lord Jesus is described as OUR "sabbath rest" - we don't have a physical day anymore. We have a person. And when we look to Him, we remember that we, too, were delivered from captivity. I was every bit as much a prisoner, with no hope of release, as those Jews were as they labored on Pharoah's work projects. I was serving a cruel master also.
And my deliverance was something I could never have accomplished. It was all done for me, and offered up to me as a gift. All I had to do was step forward and accept it, as they had to take that first step out into the dessert so many centuries ago.
Thankful to be free!
Trinka
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