Sunday a.m. - backyard takes on sabbath

Jesus.  Sunday mornings. This is the day the Lord has made....aren't they all? Yet God chose that I should set apart this Day. His Day.

So, here I sit. Back porch...cool breeze and birds chirping. Coffee on hand and fresh from encountering the Lord His Word. He meets me, you know? He will meet you, too. He will not leave me..I am not alone. Today, I am to acknowledge the Lord...to set aside and be present to the Spirit of the Living God, alive in me and available to all.

My son, Wyatt, sits with me...asking about the birds...about our quiet times..about going to church. He recognizes this is the day we set aside to be Sabbath...the day we goto a place and gather to celebrate who God is in our lives..to worship with friends and others, at church.

Here was today:

Matthew 12:9-21 ESV

He went on from there and entered their synagogue. And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"—so that they might accuse him. He said to them, "Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath." Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other. But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him. Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all and ordered them not to make him known. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:

"Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,

my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.

I will put my Spirit upon him,

and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.

He will not quarrel or cry aloud,

nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;

a bruised reed he will not break,

and a smoldering wick he will not quench,

until he brings justice to victory;

and in his name the Gentiles will hope."

I sat here thinking about Jesus healing me. About my withered hand (s).  About my old life. About those I know. About the man who talked about his life, his tattoos and lifestyle...and spoke up about going to church..to encounter God. His friend told him the church would burn if he walked in the doors. He was too far from any God-opportunity, according to the friend. They paused, and dismissed this potential whole-life trajectory moment as dismal, and went on. 

Jesus says to us, too..we would go and rescue our sheep. We, too, would extend our hands of care and love. We, too, would ridicule others for laying out., for speeding on their way church, smoking in the car, cussing as they leave the house, skipping, not believing, not having desire to connect with God.

Fill in the blank.

Jesus offers something so different. Refreshing. Hopeful. Needed.

Healing. Wholeness. Respect. Care. Love. Connection to God.

Jesus healed the man with the withered hand..for all there to see....and then he was swamped..by the naysayers....and those looking to be made well...and then there are great affirmations of this Sunday a.m. The Lord withdraws and we see He had done these things...

Because He is the Son. Chosen. Beloved of God. Spirit-given God-man. Humble.  That He brings justice...to victory.   Victory...the Gentiles  you and me...we will place our hope in Him.

I place my hope in the Lord. I am thankful for what He offers me. Maybe you can see this same hope offered to you..no matter the day or circumstance or emotions..but He offers us more than we can fathom.

There is so much more!

Happy Sunday. From my back porch and a little mobile blogging on the Sabbath....

Blessings,

-ao