Sunday Dinner

Sabbath Scripture
“My food,” said Jesus “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work”. John 4:34

Sabbath Reflection
As a child Sunday dinner was the biggest dinner of the week, it was more special than supper because extended family usually gathered at one of grandmother’s houses. Family traveled in from the city, brothers sisters, in-laws talked about the past weeks’ events and cousins played childhood games and bonded. The meal was not really important to us as long as there was enough when we were called to the dinner table. Our food on Sundays was the joy of being with family and unknown to us at the time, creating memories to share with our own kids one day. Our food was the comradeship of family, and love poured out by “big mama” and ”Papa”.

One day Jesus and the disciples had been traveling from Judea to Galilee, the disciples went into the village to get food; Jesus continued on until He reached a well where He sat down alone to rest as He was weary and tired. In spite of His tiredness Jesus saw a work needing to be completed as a thirsty and hungry spirit approached the well. Here He feed the spirit of a woman from Samaria. The Samaritan woman had been in need of some real nourishment for years. Her food had consisted of bad decisions, wrong choices, poor judgment, loneliness, hiding, and avoidance. Her life didn’t consist of Sunday dinners and when Jesus offered her a life time of fulfillment (Sunday dinners) she could only focus on the short term results, (supper) no longer having to put herself out there for ridicule and judgment. Because she couldn’t imagine her life as Sunday Dinner it took her a while to recognize the authentic food Jesus was offering. How long does it take us to recognize the true and lasting food Jesus offers? How often do we lower His Sunday dinner to supper? How often do we fail to recognize His poured out love as food for our very souls?

When the disciples arrived they were concerned about Jesus eating, knowing He must be hungry they tried to persuade him to eat and Jesus responded “My food,” said Jesus “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work”. Jesus teaches us to move beyond the cares of this world; the physical food (supper) for which we rely to a deeper place, to everlasting food (Sunday Dinner). Food which will quench all hunger, only what we do for the Father will last. Jesus was saying my nourishment comes from a different place; I am filled by my connection with the Father. It fills me to please the Father when I please Him my hunger is satiate. In fact I just ate, I just brought a woman lost, living in darkness to a woman found and running in the light. This is my food to save the lost, to take away condemnation, to show you the God of truth. Our food should be on the things God
has instructed us to do, completing the assignments He has given and following His words for living. When we incorporate Jesus’ attitude and beliefs into our lives our vision changes and we see beyond earthly needs and goals we reach into the spiritual, for God desires those who worship in spirit. Reaching into the spiritual I pray in the spirit seeking God’s truth. I spent time in God’s word gleaming His lessons and directions, than I find I am no longer satisfied by earthly food, it only fills for a little while; it is only when I am living God’s will, fulfilling His plans for my life am I truly filled. The world will continue to try and persuade me to eat its food (supper) and my response prayerfully will be my food is to do the will of my heavenly Father and complete His purpose and plans for my life (Sunday Dinner).

Deeper Personal Reflection
Am I still feasting on supper or have I move to Sunday Dinner
In the spiritual what is your food?

Deeper Personal Study
John 4

Sabbath Prayer
Father God may I always choose food which brings You glory. May I always choose food which will minister to others, planting seeds of love, showing others Your truth. Fill me with thy Holy Spirit and lead me in the way everlasting. In Jesus Name Amen

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Let us Praise our God

Sabbath Scripture
You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds of righteousness, O God our Savior. You are the hope of everyone on earth even those who sail on distance seas. Psalm 65:5 (NLT,

Sabbath Reflection
David sings what mighty praise belongs to the God of Zion. Why do we owe God such praise?

Is it because
He answers our prayers
Forgives our sins
Brings us near to Him, allowing us to live in His holy courts
Gives us hope

Or is it because
He formed the mountains by His own power
Is armed with mighty strength
Quiets the raging seas
Silence the shouting of the nations
Inspire shouts of joy
Takes care of the earth by watering it making it rich and fertile
Sending rain which provides bountiful crops

Or is it because
He makes lush pastures from the wilderness,
Carpets the valleys with grain, clothing the meadows with flocks of sheep

Or is it because
With God even the hard pathways overflow with abundance
Yes, O God what mighty praise belongs to you in Zion,
We owe You praise O God because You are God, Creator, Salvation, Magnificent, Sovereign, Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, Because You are the Almighty, Righteous God full of Truth and Grace
God all praise belongs to You because You are THE GREAT I AM, GOD.

Deeper Personal Reflection
Psalm 65
Genesis 1
Revelation 22














Sabbath Praise
Praise the Lord in His sanctuary
Sing to the Lord a new song
Praise the Lord from the heavens
Let all that we are praise the Lord
Let us exalt our God, praising our God and King
Let us praise His name forever
Praise the name of the Lord, all who serves Him
Praise the Lord, for He is good
Praise the greatness of the Lord, our Lord is greater than any God
Praise the Lord who is our Rock
Praise our God who is faithful, whose love is unfailing
Praise the Lord whose promises are backed by the honor of His great name
Praise the Lord, our God who is merciful and just
O praise the Lord with your whole heart let not your spirit rest until it lifts the Lord, our great God in praise
Enter His holy temple, bow down in worship and lift His Holy, Righteous Name because He is the God of all the earth, dwelling in the hearts of all who believes.

LET EVERYTHING THAT HAS BREATH PRAISE THE LORD, who inhabits the praise of His people.

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Trusting in the Lord

Sabbath Prayer
Let me Hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in You I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to You I lift my soul. Psalm 143:8

Sabbath Reflection
When I walk in the way of the unrighteous, I lift my soul to You O Righteous God.
Jesus becomes my righteousness and I am restored to Your holy presence. I am restored because of Your great love, which is unfailing and steadfast. It is with me always and it's seeks after me with open arms. I am restored because I place my trust in You, I pray to hear and know Your love early in the morning; I pray for your counsel to take me from the wrong path, where I am lost in darkness. I cry out to You O Lord, don't leave me here too long. Your kindness is poured out on me, You give me reassurance there are treasures of light in darkness. You tell me to be courageous and seek Your goodness. When I lift my soul to You I find my trust is well place, for You offer me peace and joy in the midst of my troubles. Now I cry out in praise, my lips are filled with adoration and I bow before Your holy temple in worship. I praise your holy name for your unfailing love and your faithfulness; I have learned all your promises are backed by all the honor of Thy great name. I called and You answered giving strength to my soul. (Psalm 138:2-3 paraphrased) You whisper to my heart 'I will not forsake the work of my hands, I the Lord will fulfill My purpose for your life, for my love for you endures forever. (Psalm 138:8, paraphrased)

The Lord, our God is with us in our troubles. When we call upon His great Name with a sincere heart He hears and He answers. The Lord desires to lead us, He desires to give us good counsel. We can find direction and comfort in His word. There is power in His word and in His name for He has exalted them above all things. Psalm 138:2b (ESV). Turn to God in your troubles, He will be there in the morning with loving kindness. You do not have to go through alone, Jesus is waiting with outstretch arms, He will take your hand and give you joy evermore.

Personal Deeper Meditation
"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you." Psalm 32:8
Psalm 143
Psalm 138

Sabbath Prayer

Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised. I lift my soul to You O Lord in gratefulness. You are good and loving and kind. Your mercies are new every morning and Your love is ever flowing. You O Lord have set my path and You O lord will guide me to everlasting life. Thank You Father for being with me in all my troubles and for lifting my soul to You in love and adoration. You are my God, my Lord, my Savior, my Deliverer. In Your great Name Jesus I pray. Amen


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Sanctuary

Sabbath Scripture
I will put my Sanctuary among them forever. Ezekiel 37:26

Sabbath Reflection
God desires to be our God. His whole plan of salvation was to be our God. Everything God does is directed toward our seeing Him as the one and only true God who desires a relationship with His creation. From Genesis to Revelation God reveals Himself to us, inviting us to His Kingdom. He open the door by giving His only begotten Son, holding to His promise He made a new covenant with His creation, an everlasting covenant and He made His Sanctuary with us. God dwells with every believing heart. He is our heart, dwelling within to guide us, strengthen and keep us. When trouble comes, when hurt reveals itself God is ever so close to extinguish the trouble and ease the pains of an aching spirit.

God told Ezekiel “My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God and they will be my people. Then the nations will know that I the Lord make Israel holy, when my Sanctuary is among them forever.” Ezekiel 37:27-28 The Lord God dwells with us to make us holy, He commands us to be holy as He is holy and He is so good He empowers us through His Holy Spirit to be holy. There is no need for a child of God to be troubled to the point of desperation in fear, worry, hopelessness for we have a God who has laid out the way and the answer for all we are confronted. Jehovah God has already worked everything out. When we trust in the God who has made His sanctuary among us we can rejoice in troubles because we understand trouble don’t last always and joy will surely come with the morning. We are aware God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called
according to His purpose for them. Romans 8:28 Living holy means we do not dwell in our troubles, sorrows, hurts, anger, issues, but we seek the face of God who will deliver us and to Him we give glory. Living holy means we do not shame our God by doubting and worrying tossing about like the ocean waves, but we lift up our hearts and spirits and wait for the Lord of Host to rescue us. Living holy means I show up at the temple with a praise in my heart, worship in my spirit and I give my all to God dwelling in His holy Presence because I live His truths, I live in faith showing forth the reason for my hope and my salvation. We serve a caring, compassionate all knowing God who has done everything to make us His people and He waits with open arms for us to answer the call; “I'll make a covenant of peace with them that will hold everything together, an everlasting covenant. I'll make them secure and place my holy place of worship at the center of their lives forever.” (The Message) In the sanctuary of the Lord I am safe, my heart is filled with peace, knowing the Sovereign God is my hiding place, the place where I dwell.

Deeper Personal Reflection
How does your life reflect God as a dwelling presence in you?
Does you life evidence God dwells in your heart in times of trouble?

Deeper Personal Study
Ezekiel 37:15-28

Prayer of the Heart
Precious Father in me You have put Your Holy Sanctuary, dwell with me Father all my days and Lord God I pray by Thy Spirit I will be a sanctuary, holy and true for You. I need Your Holy Presence Lord, for You are my Keeper and at Your Right Hand are pleasures evermore. May I dwell daily in the everlasting temple. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen


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