Rest is a requirement, not an option

"On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much—two omers for each person—and the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses. He said to them, “This is what the Lord commanded: ‘Tomorrow is to be a day of Sabbath rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.’” Exodus 16:22-23

I encourage you to read Exodus 16, it’s a great chapter but here is just a little nugget the Lord showed me. God chose to provide a fresh supply of manna on the ground every morning for His children as they wandered the wilderness. They were told to collect exactly what they needed for that day and on the sixth day, to collect enough for the seventh day as well, which was to be a Sabbath rest.

I WIll Go

"And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15

In a recent sermon, our Pastor challenged us to be people who say "I will GO" in response to our Lord's command. Today, I share with you a devotional about St. Patrick, the man for whom the celebration is named, and a man who took seriously the command to GO. I have culled information from various sources, including Facebook and Wikipedia.

Together in Prayer

"When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord", they said, "you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them." Acts 4:24

It is a powerful thing when believers raise their voices together in prayer. It is part of our unity, part of who we are as the Body of Christ, part of our purpose.

Our Own People

"On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them." Acts 4:23

I find it interesting that the Disciples went to "their own people" upon their release from the chief priests and elders. We can glean a little lesson from this simple choice. We too should turn to fellow believers, other Christians and "our own people" when we have been challenged by the powers of this world. We would do well and better to talk to each other from our perspective about what happens to us.

Because All The People

"After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. For the man who was miraculously healed was over 40 years old."

Ever seen a miracle? Ever known someone who was miraculously healed? It is indeed an amazing experience. Truly life changing and challenging too. Especially when a bunch of people experience the same person's miracle.

I have seen God move in miraculous ways that many people experienced simultaneously. No denying it. I have witnessed lives transformed and physical healing too. It is hard to argue with a crowd.

We as believers must share the power of God that we have known with one other. There is power in the group experience and in the individual transformation. If we would confirm each other's experiences, it would bolster our faith.

Cannot Help Speaking

"For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." Acts 4:20

This is how it ought to be. Whatever is most important to you is what you speak of most. What is that? Is it a special someone? Or your child? Or your job? Or your team or interest? Or is it the weather, or politics or the latest social gossip or the latest news?

Trust in the Lord

This comes to us today from Council Member John Adams

Fists white-knuckled on the steering wheel and his stomach in knots, shouted out loud: “I can’t believe this is happening, Lord!!! I can’t be late for this flight - you have to help me make this flight!!!”

Cannot Help Speaking

"For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." Acts 4:20

This is how it ought to be. Whatever is most important to you is what you speak of most. What is that? Is it a special someone? Or your child? Or your job? Or your team or interest? Or is it the weather, or politics or the latest social gossip or the latest news?

What is Right in God's Sight

"But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God." Acts 4:19

Seems like a simple enough choice, right? Yet every day we choose man's ways over God's ways. We choose man's wisdom over God's. Man's traditions over God's principles.

The Name of Jesus

"Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus" Acts 4:18

"They" are the Sanhedrin, religious rulers of the day. "Them" refers to the Disciples, the followers of Jesus. We are headed for conflict. Whenever we must do what we must do and we are told not to, then we will be conflicted.

Whoever Believes

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

This verse encompasses the entire Gospel message, and brings it to life for us. God’s love is not like ours, static or self-centered; it reaches out and draws others in. Here God sets the standard of true love, the basis for all love relationships – when you love someone dearly, you are willing to give freely to the point of self-sacrifice. And that feeling is so deeply embedded in our brains because that’s exactly what Jesus did for us.

Sometimes God Says "No"

Following the 22nd “Be Our Valentine” Seniors Luncheon on February 32, 2016, I received the sweetest thank you from one of the Senior Guests, Francine Spatafora, and I wanted to share it with you. It simply said “Thank You.” Francine had handcrafted it, decorating it with three cut outs of gorgeous flower arrangements, and I loved it because it was obvious that it was heartfelt. Since the focus of this event for 22 years has always been about “love”, I thought this summed it up best.

Stop This Thing

"What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. Everybody living in Jerusalem knows that they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name." Acts 4:16-17

Wow, as soon as they call the gospel "this thing", you know how this is going. Christianity today has also been so badly inpugned, so mocked, so minimized and so relegated to just another religion, that it is seen by many as just "this thing".

Seeing But Not Believing

"But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together." Acts 4:14-15

When we don't want to believe it or receive it we won't. Even clear evidence, unless heart-changing will not compel us to change our minds. Facts can get twisted, stories get spun, and we seldom reconsider anything. The truth or evidence may shut us up momentarily but it doesn't necessarily change our minds, or certainly not our hearts.

Just Like You and Me

"When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realize they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus." Acts 4:13

I quote from Chapter 9 of Thom Rainer's book, "I Will" ...

Only One Saving Name

"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12

This verse is so full of powerful truth. Peter's profundity here is remarkable. Let it be clear beyond discussing, according to His Word, the following...

Rejoicing In Our Salvation

"“Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:20

Council Member Colleen Jilio-Ryan is sharing today's Daily Devotional.

As we reflect upon our lives, we can probably see more times than not we have been blessed by God. Throughout the Psalms, there are praises to God for what he has done for the author.

The Capstone

"He is 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone." Acts 4:11

This term has been written about a lot in Scripture. Most often interpreted as "cornerstone". Literally from the Hebrew used in the Psalms 118:22 quote here it means "head of the corner".

Boom

"If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel. It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed."

Boom. This is so pointedly truthful. In two sentences Peter makes it totally clear that he sees through the pretense and phoniness, the ridiculousness and the trumped up charges and then exposes what is really going on, just by stating the facts, succinctly, "matter of factly" and with no nonsense. He got to the point, without belaboring it. What Peter said was irrefutable.

Filled With The Holy Spirit

"Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people!" Acts 4:8

When filled with the Holy Spirit we speak with authority, confidence and "biblicity". What we say should not contradict His Word, nor misrepresent His character. Of course this is dicey, because we are still human. But, as a rule we should always be conscientious of what we say, being careful to be true, respectful and appropriate. We can call something what it is without being rude