70 Days and going strong! March 12-20

Hello my friend-
Today we witnessed the affects of a ferocious earthquake and tsumani that transpired in Japan.  One of my first thoughts was the loss of life and where are they tonight - eternally??  My second thought was directed toward the second coming of Christ.  We do not know the hour or moment of His return, but we will know the season.  We are in the season and time is running out.
Last week the top news story was the fiasco in Wisconsin.  Oh my, some of those people they were dragging out of the congressional building are teaching our children.  We as a nation and a world have drifted so far away from submission and respect for authority as we model rebellion to the children.
The Word of God must be our plumb line.  Wavering here and there away from what God says will never be His will for our lives.  Our choices will bring either rewards or consequences.  Wow, this has been happening since Genesis and will continue until Jesus returns.  Our study is now in Numbers in the Old Testament and Mark in the New Testament after 70 days.  We have read 265 pages and many of those pages are full of rebellion and disobedience to the Lord and His commands.  But one thing that was discussed last Tuesday night in our study was this - God is serious about sin!  And we need to become serious about not committing sin.  In the Old Testament if someone brought the wrong sacrifice, they died.  God was serious about obedience in the Old Testament and He is serious about it now.
In our recent readings, there is a strong repetitiveness about the Sabbath.  God created everything in 6 days and rested on the 7th.  He expects the same from us.  We work 6 days and rest on the 7th.  We are to honor Him on the 7th day.  In ministry we hear from many that "I work so hard cleaning and laundry and shopping on Saturday that Sunday is my only day to sleep in" or" God knows how tired I am.  I am sure He will understand when I don't go to church on Sunday."  Well, no He won't.  It is a command to honor the Sabbath, even in the New Testament and nothing should ever come before Him.  The Sabbath is the LORD's day.   God wants His people to come together corporately to worship Him and to minister to one another and to hear the message He has anointed His messenger - the Pastor to deliver.  Just as tithing is on the first-fruit of our wealth, so is Sunday the first-fruit of our week.  We need Him.  We need His Word to strengthen us, encourage us, grow us and love us and we need each other; other believers.  He is so good and his mercies are new every day.  His promises are yes and amen!  Don't let the devil of lethargy, laziness or excuses rob you of what God intended for you to have whether it is in this study and being faithful but also being in His house Sunday mornings.  "People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life, but those who ignore correction will go astray." Prov. 10:17  (Feb. 26)
We never know what tomorrow will bring.  Many left for work on Friday morning in Japan and never returned home that evening!  Be aggressive and determined to stay connected to your Creator!
I love the King, and the King loves Me.   This is for you too!
Love and blessings to you.
Marta

Mar 12
Nbrs. 16: 41-50
Nbrs. 17:1-13
Nbrs. 18:1-32
Mark 16: 1-20
Ps. 35:1-23
Prov. 11:7

Mar. 13
Nbrs. 19: 1-22
Nbrs. 20:1-29
Luke 1:1-25
Ps. 56:1-13
Prov. 11:8

Mar 14
Nbrs. 21:1-35
Nbrs. 22:1-20
Luke 1:26-56
Ps. 57:1-11
Prov. 11:9-11

Mar. 15
Nbrs. 22:21-41
Nbrs. 23:1-30
Luke 1:57-80
Ps. 58:1-11
Prov. 11:12-13

Mar. 16
Nbrs. 24:1-25
Nbrs. 25:1-18
Luke 2:1-35
Ps. 59:1-17
Prov. 11:14

Mar. 17
Nbrs. 26:1-50
Luke 2:36-52
Ps. 60:1-12
Prov. 11:15

Mar. 18
Nbrs. 26:52-65
Nbrs. 27:1-23
Nbrs. 28:1-15
Luke 3:1-22
Ps. 61:1-8
Prov. 11:16-17

Mar. 19
Nbrs. 28: 16-31
Nbrs. 29:1-40
Luke 3:23-38
Ps. 62:1-12
Prov. 11:18-19

Mar. 20
Nbrs. 30:1-16
Nbrs. 31:1-54
Luke 4:1-30
Ps. 63:1-11
Prov. 11:20-21

Enjoy the journey!