445 - What Cha Doing This Sunday?

Oh Lord, have you lead me to some good stuff today. I am so very tired once again. Last week we were only able to work out 2 real classes of aerobics. So after Monday and Tuesday of this week, my legs and bootahtah are so sore I don't want to move. It is amazing how quickly one, ME, can get out of shape, but how long it takes to get your body accustomed to that kind of vigorous workout! Oh I love it, I love the ladies, and I love to sweat!!

Wow, Lord, You just lead me right into what I just studying. I am still on the idle idol worship. This morning we went straight to one of my favorite and most convicting passages. I have never been much of a lake girl. I mean my in laws live on a lake kind of thing, but I really have no desire for boating, skiing, swimming in it -yuck!!! I mean I like those things, but don't long to do it. But a beach - that is whole 'nother story. I know that is one thing i miss more than many others things in Charlotte - the beach. At my old church in Charlotte we saw the same pattern over and over year after year. Once the weather got warm and inviting and especially once summer started people never showed up for church anymore. Now don't get me wrong, they could have been having church on the beach or at least been going to a church at the beach, but most likely not - you know the truth just as well as i did. But the sad thing was that it totally broke their church consistency. It took weeks for many to get into a habit, good habit, of church once fall and winter rolled around. Just getting replugged in and active and boom - spring and summer hit and they were history. It was so hard as teachers because we longed to have them there and be consistent, etc. It was only a good thing for the whole family. If kids were involved, what did that preach to them - warm weather, forget church.... This is when the Lord lead me to Isaiah 58:13-14 and to share it with the whole class - oh yeah, that was fun!! Not!!

13 "If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the LORD's holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,
14 then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob." The mouth of the LORD has spoken.

You want to line up with the favor of God - give Him reason other than His great love and compassion to shower you with blessings - be consistent in church attendance!!! I hear You Lord. I hear you!! It is just like working out, one can quickly get out of shape, but it takes much time and commitment to get back in shape!! Oh I remember the same thing after having a baby! It was so hard to get to church those first few weeks - that seemed eternal!!! I really believe Satan works his strongest on Saturday night and on Sunday morning. I distinctly remember my kids sleeping wonderfully on Friday night, but Saturday rolled around and they were up all night - and i always had really good sleepers! But Satan ain't no dummy - He will do anything, not exempt from using our own precious kids, to keep us out of God Holy Place on Sunday!!! I believe it with all my heart!!

Few things about the verse above - vs. 13 - "If you keep" - that keep means turn from, do not go with it - this is the same word seem in Ek. 14:7 when it talks about turning from idols. "from doing things as you please" - that please means the very things that you enjoy, or delight in, or just plain ol' like. "on my holy day" - means literally "on my consecrated now". "If you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord's holy day honorable" - that call means to call loudly to get one's attention and honorable means heavy or glorious. Vs 14 - "then you will find your joy" - that then means at that time or after that time, as a result of... So what Is He trying to say this morning. Being consistent in church and not just doing idle things on His Holy day only leads to blessings of joy, ability to ride on the heights where idols are worship, but we are worshipping Him as it is only He that has exalted us to that place, and an indescribable inheritance.

Lord, thank you!! Thank you for your Word. Thank you for the joy of studying it. Thank you for surprising me each day with such nuggets! Thank you for loving me enough to meet with me each day. Thank you for giving me a hear that wants to go to church. Help me to be consistent for my kids. Help me to be consistent for my family. Help me to be in line with your favor! Thank you Lord. Thank you for everything! I am excited for church tonight!! I love you!