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“Observe My Sabbath, it’s a sign between you and Me.” Exodus 31:12

Thank you Dr Toews and Pastor Terry Bock for opening my eyes to yet another reason to enjoy the Sabbath! Shabat still stands! It’s still about “stopping.” It’s still about “remembering” that He made us and that He saved us. Today’s text reminds me that God is also the One who “makes me holy.” That’s what it says! The word is sometimes translated “sanctified,” which could mean, “set apart for a holy purpose.”

Sabbath still is not something I HAVE to do, but rather something I GET to celebrate. God gave me 24 hours specifically so I can “shabat” and remember the whole gospel- it’s all about Jesus. HE made me; HE saved me; and HE made me holy. HE set the day apart and HE set me apart and HE made both the day and me holy! I am perfect in His eyes because when He sees me He sees Jesus’ righteousness covering me. And I am “set apart” for His purpose.

It’s a gospel of grace and not of works! I cannot make myself; I cannot save myself; AND I cannot work my way into holiness! It’s all a gift from God. Sabbath is another statement of righteousness by HIS faithfulness. He IS faithful and will continue to make me, remake me as needed, save me, and set me apart and make me holy, not by my works but by His work of dying on the cross and rising from the tomb. And every week He gives me the reminder that I need a “shabat,” to “stop” so I can refocus and get back on track if the week has taken its toll on me and I have forgotten or gotten my priorities mixed up.

It’s an amzing gift that I am so thankful for.

Have a great day as that gift comes again tonight,

Pastor Rich

Quote for the day: “I never understood why going to church made you a hypocrite, because nobody goes to church because they’re perfect. If you’ve got it all together then you don’t need to go. You can go jogging or golfing with all the other perfect people on Sunday morning. Every time you go to church, you are confessing again to yourself, to your family, to the people you pass on the way there, that you don’t have it all together, and that you need their support. You need their direction; you need some accountability; you need some help.” Rich Mullins

PS Family Worship – Concert by “Committed.” Best known as champions of season two of NBC’s acapella competition show The Sing-Off, Committed will be performing for Union College’s Family Worship on Friday, October 25, at 7:30 p.m.

PPS Afterglo- Right after Family Worship, hosted by Norma and her HHP friends AND College View Academy Campus Ministries. It’s a bonfire, singing and s’mores being the academy gym by their ball field. We’re inviting all our volleyball and soccer guests to join us, so come-one-cone-all to a cool (literally!) event. For the college students, Buell and Kathy are also home!!