Happy Sabbath,
I had a challenging week but was encouraged by the Lord. If Jesus can get through all the attacks, hate, and evil and overcome the world, I can with His help.
On Sunday, we had an event at our church occurring at the same time as the Adventurers meeting. I received a text asking if I was attending the meeting and I responded in the affirmative. Then I was asked to teach the Adventurers Little Lambs as the teacher was out sick. I decided to do it and we had a fun time, but I don't feel that I am called to teaching.
Afterwards, I heard music being played in the sanctuary and saw that the pastor was playing the electric guitar. I decided to join him with the piano and it really was a nice time. Aside from playing during the Adventurer induction ceremony, for the previous Sabbath's pre-worship Sabbath school, I have not played in public for over 5 years. They have a grand piano and it just produces such a premium sound. One day, I would love to have one in my house...in my living room.
During the week, I was hit with satan's attacks through family members, co workers, racist strangers on the street to even one of my clients. It was really interesting. The enemy will throw any and everything at you to see which arrow sticks best. I made it with the Lord's help to church today and was able to hear the sermon.
The speaker talked about challenges he faced and encouraged us to trust in God and keep the same face on that we have in church on while out in the world. He remained consistent. He didn't give up. The title of the sermon spoken by a 25 year old guy was Don't Give Up. We must be ready in and at any moment to speak and live in the truth. My dad tried challenging me with the Bible. My mother tried to challenge me too, but she doesn't have God's word in her arsenal. I gave answers to my dad and he didn't know what to do. The verses were right there and he tried to skip over them. Then he was silent for a while and decided to give his attention to other matters outside.
My sister is at her college graduation this hour. I am not attending and it has upset my parents. I had my mind made up well before I read the story in the quarterly at the end of this week. It said a guy was friends with an Adventist in some eastern european country over there. They graduated highschool and just finished some college entrance exams when they saw an advertisement talking about an air show happening on Sabbath. The guy decided to join his friend at church the same day that the event was occurring and if he had not, he would have been caught in the crowd of hundreds that were injured/killed when one plane exploded over the crowd that afternoon. I don't believe my sister believes in God. The graduation event is not focusing worship, praise, or lifting up God. To many, they have completed years of coursework due to only their efforts. They don't acknowledge the Creator in their studies or day to day life. Even if they do for school, I still look at a college graduation as a secular event.
If my graduation were scheduled for a Sabbath, I would not have attended. My smaller graduate school graduation was on a thursday and the larger on Friday. I didnt attend the Friday one and my parents tried to pressure me with that one too. My parents tried to say I went to my cousin's graduation party on Sabbath back on 2015, but they forgot that the party was held on Sunday. If it were Sabbath, I never would have attended. So it is important to be consistent, if you believe with all your heart about any given thing.
When Sabbath ends, I plan to join the family at Red Lobster for dinner. I'm a strict vegetarian and Red Lobster is not very accomodating so I have packed some items to make a plain salad a wholesome meal. There are pressures to give up this health journey I am on. Our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit. Last time, years ago, Red Lobster was my favorite place for shrimp scampi, cheddar bay biscuits, and any form of shrimp linguine. I even remember the very first time I tasted shrimp, but scavengers of the earth and sea were not meant to be consumed by people. Shrimp may be tasty, but they are the cockroaches of the sea. Seriously. So anyways, I will go and celebrate my sister's success after Sabbath.
I thank the Lord that she was able to complete this program. She has been floating along without motivation for much of anything so perhaps this will lead to new and great experiences for her that will not only bring her great satisfaction and passion about life, but also closer to Jesus.
I thank the Lord for the message this Sabbath and the encouragement from the book of Isaiah He gave me.
I also thank Him for extra confirmation about the previous situation. Although I already spoke about it, I did see an albino child (read last week's post) during the back to school night my son's school was hosting. God is alive and He hears us if we search for Him with all our hearts and let go of our sinful ways. All we have to do is be determined to try to be faithful to Him every day. God does answer prayer.
Talk to Jesus today!
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