Compromise

Compromise. What is compromise? Merriam-Webster defines compromise as a settlement of differences by arbitration or by consent reached by mutual concessions OR something intermediate between or blending qualities of two different things. Recently, my hubby and I couldn't agree on what color to paint our living room. We finally compromised and we found a color that we were both happy with. It worked out quite well.

But, it seems that sometimes, as Christians, we tend to compromise things that we probably shouldn't. The Word tells us that we should not be like the world. That we shouldn't be friends of this world.

"Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." James 4:4

Sometimes, we tend to compromise in life so as to not cause strife. Which, we certainly shouldn't cause strife. But, is the compromise we're making in line with the Word of God? As Christians, it is our duty to spread God's Word, His Love. Did Jesus compromise when He was here? Certainly not! When the Pharisees came against Him, He always had a "Thus saith the Lord". He never backed down. Never. So, why is it that the Christian world feels the need to make compromises with the world? Too many compromises are made, every day.

I have noticed that I have recently been making compromises that I never would have made last year. And I ask myself why that is? I've come up with several answers. And, for me, it is time to stop these compromises because they are compromising my walk with the Lord. My desire is to one day be with the Lord in Heaven. But, if I'm not walking His straight and narrow path now, here in this world, I'll never be walking it in Heaven. Now is the time to walk on His path. We can't wait until later! Later will be too late!

Psalm 119

My family has been reading the Psalms together lately. Each day someone picks a number 1-150, and that's the Psalm we read. Well, last night it was Daddy's turn to choose the number. And, of course, he picks Psalm 119. The longest chapter in the Bible. It has 176 verses! Needless to say, we are breaking that one up over a few days time.

Since it was the beginning of Sabbath, we read the first 2 parts - ALEPH & BETH. (I say parts because they are broken up quite nicely into sections.) And we'll be reading more throughout the day. This morning we read GIMEL. 

v17 Deal bountifully with thy servants, that I may live, and keep thy word.

Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.

My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.

Thou has rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments.

Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies.

Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.

v 24 Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.

What a beautiful Psalm to pray, especially on God's Holy day! I pray that I keep close to the Lord in all things. I pray this for all of you out in cyber land today also. Draw near to Him dear ones! He will draw near to you!

Have a blessed Sabbath day!

Law & Order

God's Law is an amazing thing. He not only spoke it on Mount Sinai but He wrote it with His own finger! He meant business! Did you know that there are three types of laws in the Bible - Moral, Ceremonial & Civil? And all were given to us from God. Our Father sure likes order! Each law type has it's own purpose. They are unique from each other. I want to share with you part of a study we did in church last night. It was great!

Three Types of Laws

The Old Testament contains three basic types of laws – Moral, Ceremonial, and Civil. All

three were given under God’s direction.

Moral Law

The Moral Law is the basis of God’s universal kingdom. It is the expression of God’s

character. It exists because God exists, and as God is, so it is. The Moral Law combines a perfect

blend of justice and mercy. It may be summed up in one word: Love.

All the requirements of God’s Moral Law hang upon two great principles. The first is

Deuteronomy 6:5 - “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and

with all thy might.” The second is Leviticus 19:18 - “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”

God created men with His law “written in their hearts.”(4) But because they “did not like to

retain God in their knowledge,”(5) the law was, for the most part, forgotten. It was therefore

necessary for God to express His law in such a way that it would ever be remembered. With His own

mouth He spoke the Ten Commandments, and with His own finger, wrote them on two tables of

stone. The first four commandments, written on the first table, express one’s love for God. The last

six commandments, written on the second table, express one’s love for his neighbor.

To carefully guard the sacredness of the Ten Commandments, God gave Moses additional

precepts with minute instructions for everyday life. These “right judgments” and “good statutes”(6)

were simply applications of the principles of the Ten Commandments, and as such are classed as

moral law.

The Moral Law defines righteousness, but has no power to redeem those who transgress it.

A remedial system was therefore necessary whereby God “might be just, and the justifier of him

which believeth.”(7)

Ceremonial Law

Ceremonial laws were those which regulated the services of the sanctuary, the offering of

sacrifices, and the priestly ministration. The Ceremonial Law is clearly distinguished from the Moral

Law.

Whereas the Moral Law defines the conduct of the righteous, the Ceremonial Law had to do

with the plan of salvation and God’s work of grace for the repentant, believing sinner. It was through

the Ceremonial Law that the righteousness of God was able to be “witnessed by the law and the

prophets.”(8)

Every ordinance of the Ceremonial Law pointed to Christ and His work of saving man from

sin. Every animal that was slain typified Christ’s death on the cross. Every function the priests

performed symbolized Christ’s ministry in the Heavenly Sanctuary. Every sacred festival

foreshadowed a saving event in the redemption of the world.

God never gave the Ceremonial Law as a covenant of works whereby one could earn God’s

favor through meritorious acts. There was no saving value in the sacrificial activities themselves. But

through those activities the believer could by faith(9) claim the righteousness of Christ to atone for

his sins. Thus the believer was continually to look forward to the “Lamb of God, which taketh away

the sin of the world.”(10)

Civil Law

Every country has civil regulations and the God-given authority for enforcing law and order.

So to Israel as a nation were given laws governing the administration of justice.(11) These laws,

distinguished by their very nature, were of an inherently national type. Israel was subject to these

laws in the same way in which we are subject to the laws of the land in which we live. “Submit

yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake.” “Let every soul be subject unto the higher

powers. For...the powers that be are ordained of God.”(12)

Unlike the Ceremonial Laws, which were wholly symbolic in nature, the Civil Laws were not

abolished by the death of Christ. Rather, they lost their force when Israel ceased to be a nation. The

following chart contrasts the three types of Old Testament law.

TYPE OF LAW     SUBJECTS OF THE LAW   DURATION OF THE LAW

MORAL                    All people                      Till heaven and earth  pass                                           

CEREMONIAL       All believers                 From Adam’s fall until Christ’s death  

 

CIVIL            All Israelites and From the time of Moses         strangers in the land

The Moral Law: The Historic Protestant Position

The most widely accepted position on the Ten Commandments is reflected in the following

quotations from an introductory article in a popular Bible produced for Sears, Roebuck and Co.(13)

“The enduring stone on which it was written is a clear symbol that His law is permanent and

eternal....What Moses received was the Word of God, which had, and still has the force

of law....They have been written out so that they may ever be before us, and we may

become doers, as well as hearers of God’s law. (Rom. 2:12-15)....It is through His love

for us that He has brought these rules together so that we may be better prepared to face

life.”

However, the idea has been promoted that God has withdrawn His great moral standard of

Ten Commandments, so that we are no longer under obligation to obey it. This teaching represents

a radical departure from the historic Protestant position. Never in the history of Christianity have

churchmen spoken so openly against God’s law as they do today.

Considering the admonition in Jude 3 to “earnestly contend for the faith which was once

delivered unto the saints,” let us review what our forefathers taught regarding the unchanging,

eternally-binding nature of the moral law of God. Here are a few quotations from various individuals and groups.

John Calvin:

“We must not imagine that the coming of Christ has freed us from the authority of the law:

for it is the eternal rule of a devout and holy life, and must, therefore, be as

unchangeable, as the justice of God, which it embraced, is constant and uniform.”(14)

“The law has sustained no dimunution of its authority, but ought always to receive from us

the same veneration and obedience.”(15)

Martin Luther:

“But how does it follow from this that on this account the law should be done away? Such

a conclusion I cannot find in my dialectics; besides, I should like to see and hear the

master who could prove it.

“...He was stricken for our sin – is the law thereby discarded?...Can anyone suppose that sin

exists where there is no law? Whoever puts away the law must also put away sin.”(16)

Charles H. Spurgeon:

“He [Christ] took care to revise and reform the laws of men; but the law of God he

established and confirmed....Our King has not come to abrogate the law, but to confirm

and reassert it....The Lord Jesus does not set up a milder law, nor will he allow any one

of his servants to presume to do so. Our King fulfils the ancient law, and his Spirit works

in us to will and to do of God’s good pleasure as set forth in the immutable statutes of

righteousness.”(19)

“The law is one of the most sublime of God’s works. There is not a commandment too many;

there is not one too few.”(20)

John Wesley:

“In the highest rank of the enemies of the gospel of Christ, are they who...teach men to

break...all the commandments at a stroke; who teach,...`There is but one duty, which is

that of believing.’...It is no other than betraying him with a kiss, to...set light by any part

of his law, under pretence of advancing his gospel.”(21)

“The ritual or ceremonial law, delivered by Moses to the children of Israel,...our Lord did

indeed come to destroy....

“But the moral law contained in the ten commandments, and enforced by the prophets, he

did not take away. It was not the design of his coming to revoke any part of this. This is

a law which never can be broken, which ‘stands fast as the faithful witness in

heaven.’...Every part of this law must remain in force upon all mankind, and in all ages;

as not depending either on time or place, or any other circumstance liable to change.”(22)

Footnotes:

4. Romans 2:15.

5. Romans 1:28.

6. Nehemiah 9:13.

7. Romans 3:26.

8. Romans 3:21.

9. It was “by faith” that Abel “offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he

obtained witness that he was righteous” (Hebrews 11:4). And it was “through faith” that Moses “kept

the passover, and the sprinkling of blood” (Hebrews 11:28).

10. John 1:29.

11. Specific instructions were given regarding the inflicting of penalties for the violation of the Moral

Law (See Leviticus 24:16-20). These Civil Laws reflected mercy as well as justice (See Numbers

35:11-15).

12. 1 Peter 2:13; Romans 13:1.

13. The National Bible Press, Philadelphia, 1958.

14. John Calvin, Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists, trans. by William Pringle (Grand

Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1949), Vol. 1, p 277, comment on Matt. 5:17.

15. John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, bk. 2, chap. 7, sec. 15, trans. by John Allen (7

th

American ed., rev.; Philadelphia: Presbyterian Board of Christian Education, 1936), Vol. 1, p 392.

16. Martin Luther, “Wider die Antinomer” (Against the Antinomians) in Sammtliche Schriften, ed. by

Joh[ann] Georg Walch, Vol. 20 (St. Louis: Concordia, 1890), cols. 1613-1614.

17. Samuel Mather, The Gospel of the Old Testament (London: R. B. Seeley and W. Burnside, 1834),

Vol. 1, p 210.

18. D. L. Moody, Weighed and Wanting, Addresses on the Ten Commandments, (Chicago: Fleming

H. Revell Company, 1898), p 10-17.

19. Charles H. Spurgeon, The Gospel of the Kingdom, comment on Matt. 5:17-20 (New York: The

Baker & Taylor Co., 1893), p 47-48.

20. C. H. Spurgeon, Sermons, 2d series (New York: Sheldon, Blakeman & Co., 1857), sermon 18, p

280.

21. John Wesley, Works, Sermon 25 (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan [reprint of 1872 ed.]), Vol. 5,

p 317.

22. John Wesley, Sermon 25, “Upon Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount,” Sermons on Several

Occasions, Vol. 1 (New York: B. Waugh and T. Mason, 1836), p 221-222.

What Sabbath Means to Me

If you know me, you probably know that I keep Sabbath, from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset, as God has commanded from the beginning. (“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.” Genesis 2:1-3) What does this mean? Well, I think the 4th commandment sums that up petty clearly.

“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day [is] the sabbath of the LORD thy God: [in it] thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that [is] within thy gates: For [in] six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them [is], and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.” Exodus 20:8-11

On Sabbath I don't work, outside or inside my home. This is the day that God made for us to rest ("And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:" Mark 2:27) and give special attention to Him. Every day we should focus our attention on the God who created us, but on His Sabbath day, we should especially honor and praise Him. On this day, I turn my focus away from my everyday stuff and focus on Him. I study His Word, enjoy His creation, sing praises to Him. I rest from my worldly duties. He has given this day to us. And, when we honor and obey Him, He honors His promises to us.

"If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, [from] doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking [thine own] words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken [it]." Isaiah 58:13, 14

I am so thankful that He gave us His blessed Sabbath day. Every Sabbath He refreshes me, He gives me the strength I need to go through each and every day.

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One of my favorite books in the Bible is Hebrews. And I've been reading in that book lately. Here is one of my favorite parts.

“For he spake in a certain place of the seventh [day] on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. And in this [place] again, If they shall enter into my rest. Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.” Hebrews 4:4-9

A Conversation with the Lord

I just wanted to share this conversation with the Lord. God is amazing and is worthy of ALL our praise! He gave us the 10 Commandments and if we are faithful He promises us eternal life. This conversation is in regards to His Holy day, the Sabbath. There is so much I want to say about Sabbath but this is what I'll leave for now.  =)


Q. Tell me, Lord, Do you have a special day of rest for Your followers? 
A. "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day." Rev. 1:10 

Q. But which day is the Lord's Day? Which day are You Lord of? 
A. "The Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day." Matt. 12:8 

Q. There are seven days in the week. Which day is the Sabbath day? 
A. "The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God." (Fourth Commandment) Ex. 20:8 

Q. Which day, according to our reckoning, is the seventh day, Saturday or Sunday? 
A. "And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James,...very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun...And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man...And he saith unto them, be not affrighted; Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified; he is risen." Mark 16:1-6. (Note: everybody knows that Sunday was the resurrection day. The Sabbath was past when it dawned. Thus it is evident that the Sabbath is Saturday, the day before Sunday.) 

Q. But, Lord, didn't you abolish the law which contains the Sabbath commandment? 
A. "Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill." Matt. 5:17 

Q. Well, at least, didn't you change one of the commandments so that today your followers may keep another day than the seventh day? 
A. "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." Matt. 5:18 

Q. But, Lord, isn't Saturday a Jewish day? Isn't the seventh day the Sabbath of the Jews? 
A. "The Sabbath was made for man." Mark 2:27 (The Sabbath was made and given to man 1500 years before the existence of a Jew. See Gen. 2:1-3) 
Q. Someone told me that after Your crucifixion, Lord, your followers no longer kept the seventh-day Sabbath according to the commandment. Is this true? 
A. "And that day was the Preparation day and the Sabbath drew on. And the women also, which came with Him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the Sepulchre, and how His body was laid. And they returned and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment." Luke 23:54-56 

Q. But didn't the apostle Paul always meet with the early Christians on Sunday in honor of the resurrection? What was his manner in regard to a day of worship? 
A. "And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three Sabbath days reasoned with them out of the Scriptures." Acts 17:2 
Q. Did he meet with the Gentile converts on the Sabbath, too? Perhaps he met with the Jews on the Sabbath and the Greeks on Sunday. What about that? 
A. "And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks." Acts 18:4 

Q. What did Paul teach in regard to Sabbath keeping? 
A. "There therefore remaineth a keeping of the Sabbath (margin) to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works as God did from His." Heb. 4:9,10 

Q. But, which day did Paul mean when he spoke of resting as God did? 
A. "For He spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, 'And God did rest the seventh day from all His works'" Heb. 4:4 

Q. Is this, then, your instruction in regard to Sabbath keeping? 
A. "For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God." Acts 20:27 (In the New Testament there are no less than 59 references to the Sabbath. The book of Acts records 84 Sabbaths on which the Apostle Paul and his associates held religious services. Yet there is not one word in the entire Bible authorizing Sunday keeping.) 

Q. Then why is it so many people keep Sunday instead of Saturday? If the Bible teaches Sabbath keeping, how and by whom was Sunday keeping introduced into Christianity? 
A. "And he (the 'little horn' power) shall speak great words against the Most High,...and think to change times and laws." Dan. 7:25 

Q. The Roman Catholic Church is the little horn of Daniel 7; Do you mean that it should think to change the law of God? 
A. "Ask now the priests concerning the law." Haggai 2:11 

Q. Very well, I will ask Stephen Keenan, a Catholic Priest: Does your church think it has the power to change the law of God? 
A. "Had she not such power, she could not have done that in which all modern religionists agree with her; she could not have substituted the observance of Sunday, the first day of the week, for the observance of Saturday, the seventh day of the week, a change for which there is no Scriptural authority." Doctrinal Catechism, page 174 

Q. When was this change made? 
A. "We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church in the Council of Laodicea (364 A.D.) transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday." The Converts' Catechism, Peter Geirmann, page 50. (This catechism received the pope's blessing on Jan. 25, 1910.) 

Q. Do you feel this is your MARK of authority?
"Of course the Catholic Church claims that the change (Saturday Sabbath to Sunday) was her act... And the act is a MARK of her ecclesiastical authority in religious things." H.F. Thomas, Chancellor of Cardinal Gibbons

Q. Is this Rome’s way of counterfeiting your mark? Do you have a mark too?
Ezekiel 20:12 & 20, "Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them. And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God." (Note: the word “sign” is the same as the word “mark.” In fact you can use the words, sign, seal, mark, or stamp interchangeably in almost every instance. In fact, it’s confirmed in Romans 4:11 where it says, "...he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith ")  

Q. Do Protestant ministers agree with this? 
A. Congregationalist: "It is quite clear that however rigidly or devotedly we may spend Sunday, we are not keeping the Sabbath." Dr. R.W. Dale, The Ten Commandments, page 106. 
Methodist: "Sabbath in the Hebrew language signifies rest and is the seventh day of the week,...and it must be confessed that there is no law in the New Testament concerning the first day." Buck's Theological Dictionary. 
Baptist: "There was and is a commandment to keep holy the Sabbath day, but that Sabbath day was not Sunday. It will be said, however, and with some show of triumph, that the Sabbath was transferred from the seventh to the first day of the week...Where can the record of such a transfer be found? Not in the New Testament - absolutely not...Of course, I quite well know that Sunday did not come into use in early Christian history...But what a pity that it comes branded with the mark of paganism, and christened with the name of the sun god, when adopted and sanctioned by the Papal apostasy, and bequeathed as a sacred legacy to Protestantism." - Dr. E.T Hiscox, author of the Baptist Manual. 
Click here for more comments of other denominations. (Will open in new window. It's a large page so give it time to load)
Q. Since all the protestant religions agree the Sabbath was never changed, why do they do as Rome does?
"...all the world wondered after the beast. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." Revelation 13:3,8

Q. What difference does it make which day I keep? A day is a day isn't it? 
A. "Know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? Romans 6:16 

Q. Then what shall I do, obey the Sabbath of God's commandment or keep the Sunday of man? 
A. "We ought to obey God rather than men." Acts 5:29 

Q. Well, Lord, what do You think of Sunday keeping? 
A. "Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition...But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." Matthew 15:6,9 

Q. But surely the millions of people who keep Sunday can't be wrong, can they? 
A. "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Matt. 7:13,14 (Only a few obeyed God in the days of Noah, in the days of Lot, in the days of Christ. The majority were lost.) 

Q. But Dr. So-and-so is a very wise man: Why doesn't he and all the great preachers keep the Sabbath? 
A. "For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called; but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty." 1 Cor. 1:26,27. (Note: The great religious teachers in Christ's day rejected the truth also. His followers were of the common people.) 

Q. But I have accepted Jesus; I know He is my Saviour; I know He has accepted me and I have been keeping Sunday. Surely I would not be lost if I did not keep the Sabbath now, would I? 
A. "A time of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent." Acts 17:30 

Q. I know you, Lord. You wouldn't condemn me for breaking the Sabbath, would you? 
A. "He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." 1 John 2:4 

Q. But isn't it sufficient that I love the Lord and live by the law of love? 
A. "If ye love Me, keep My commandments." John 14:15 

Q. Does that mean all ten of them? 
A. "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." James 2:10 

Q. Well, I think that if we try to follow Jesus, that is all that is necessary. Isn't that right, Jesus? 
A. "He that saith he abideth in Him, ought himself also so to walk even as He walked." 1 John 2:6 

Q. How did you walk, Lord, what was your custom? 
A. "And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and, as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up for to read." Luke 4:16 

Q. But, Lord, that was over 1900 years ago. Wouldn't you keep some other day than Saturday if you should come to earth today? 
A. "I am the Lord, I change not." Mal. 3:6 "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and for ever." Heb. 13:8 

Q. Does my salvation depend upon my obedience to this Sabbath injunction? 
A. "And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him." Heb. 5:9 

Q. Do you think it would be absolutely necessary to keep the commandments to receive eternal life? 
A. "If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." Matt. 19:17 

Q. But I still can't see why You insist on the seventh day, Lord. Isn't Sunday as good as Saturday? 
A. "God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it." Gen. 2:3 "He hath blessed and I cannot reverse it." Num. 23:20. "For Thou blessest, O Lord, and it shall be blessed for ever." 1 Chron. 17:27 

Q. Well, it seems to me that if I keep one day in seven, regardless of which one, that ought to be good enough. 
A. "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death." Prov. 16:25 "Spiritual things...are spiritually discerned." 1 Cor. 2:13,14 

Q. But, Lord! Lord! Can't I do something else? Won't my profession get me to heaven? 
A. "Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven." Matt. 7:21 

Q. But I pray. 
A. "He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination." Prov. 28:9 

Q. But, Lord, look at the people who work miracles in Your name. Some heal the sick, others talk in tongues and do many wonderful things; yet they do not keep the Sabbath. What about them? 
A. "Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? And in Thy name have cast out devils? And in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: Depart from Me." Matt. 7:22,23 

Q. Yes, I know the Sabbath is right; but my business would suffer if I closed on Sabbath. I might lose my job. I wouldn't get ahead in the world! 
A. "For what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Mark 8:36 

Q. Well, for myself I wouldn't care; but what about my family? Wouldn't it be better for me to work on the Sabbath than to let my family starve? 
A. "Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things; but seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matt. 6:32,33. I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." Ps. 27:25 

Q. My friends will laugh at me and ridicule me. 
A. "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you,...and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for My sake; rejoice, and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven." Matt. 5:11,12. "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you." John 15:18 

Q. But suppose my own family does not agree with me. Should I go against their wishes, which would mean in some cases a division in the home? 
A. "He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me: And he that loveth son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me: And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after Me is not worthy of Me." Matt. 10: 37,38. "So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple." Luke 14:33 

Q. I am afraid I won't be able to withstand all these trials. I am too weak. 
A. "My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness....When I am weak, then am I strong." 2 Cor. 12:9,10. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Phil. 4:13 

Q. Then, Lord, what is the reward for being faithful to You and the commandments? 
A. "There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come, life everlasting." Luke 18: 29,30. "Blessed are they that do His commandments that they may have a right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." Rev. 22:14 


Q. Lord, I'm looking forward to a home in the earth made new, will we keep the Sabbath there too? 
A. "For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before Me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain; and it shall come to pass that from one new moon to another and from one Sabbath to another shall all flesh come to worship before Me, saith the Lord." Isa. 66: 22,23 

Q. Then, Lord, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. With Your help, I will keep the Sabbath. 
A. "Well done, good and faithful servant." Matthew 25:21 

Author - Erling Calkins (Additions were added by Nicholas of Presents of God ministry)

Head Covering Update

For over 2 weeks now, I have been wearing a head covering while out and about. I made these headband head coverings. At first, I only had one.

I thought it needed a wash because it kind of smelled funny. (I have no idea why!) So, I put it in the washer. I showered, then realized I needed to switch the laundry to the dryer. Well, 20 minutes later, it was time to go run errands. I got the gang together and we started to head out the door. Before I opened the door, I realized I didn't have my head covering on. It was in the dryer. And, I had put it in there not long before. Thankfully, it was made of a very light cotton. It was already dry, while all the other clothes were still wet. I can't really explain how I felt when I realized I wasn't wearing my head covering. But, I knew I couldn't go anywhere without it.

I can already see that my wearing this cloth on my head is very important to me. I feel especially close to the Lord. It sounds strange to say that but it's true. When I first started this 'experiment', I didn't think it would effect me like it has. It truly is amazing how the Lord works through you. Even just by a simple piece of cloth upon your head.

Oh, and since then, I have made another one. No picture yet. But, I plan to make a few more. Some longer ones too.

Jumping In

So, I thought this would be easy, this blog thing. I would just talk about something that has been on my mind, something the Lord has been showing me. And, He has been showing me so much lately. I guess, I don't know where to start. Since it's my first posting, I don't know what to share. It should be deep and to the point. It should be informative of my intentions for this blog. But, since I talked about my intentions in the "All About Me" section, I think I'll just jump right in. You'll get to know me along the way. It's better that way, isn't it?

Last week, actually 2 weeks ago, 1 Corinthians 11 was brought up. You know, where Paul talks about women having their heads covered during prayer. At first I felt it was speaking about more of a spiritual covering than an actual covering of the head. Then, after more study and understanding of the times, I realized it was MUCH more than that. The history behind why Paul told the new Christian ladies to keep their head covered was very important. They lived in Pagan Rome. All the Pagan women would uncover their heads, usually bald heads, and would worship their goddess Aphrodite. Paul didn't want the new Christian women to be associated with these Pagan women. If they uncovered their heads during prayer, it would look like they were just like all the other Pagans. And, of course, Christians should be easily distinguished from the Pagans.

I have decided to give head covering a 30-day 'test'. I actually started last Thursday. So far, I am finding it very helpful. I feel as if God's Hand is on my head as I go about my day. It's a constant reminder to me, that I belong to Him. And, I do belong to Him. He is my loving Father. He cares for me and provides my every need. Not my every want, but my every need.

I don't think this is for every one. It's something I am doing to help me on my walk with the Lord. As I said, it's a 'test'. I will be keeping you all updated on my head covering journey. Join along if you'd like! And, if you do, let me know how it's going!