​  “On the seventh day God had finished His work of creation, so He rested from all His work. 

  And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when He rested from all His work of creation.” – Genesis 2:2‭-‬3 NLT (http://bible.com/116/gen.2.2-3.NLT)

Just to be clear, the Sunday through Saturday calendar is something man came up with. God simply said to take the seventh day and rest. There are so many people who want to argue that Saturday is the seventh day and there should only be worship on that day. Others argue for Sunday, and I’m sure there are some who would argue for another day of the week. I personally don’t think it matters, as long as we take a day and dedicate it to rest and worship. If you put your mind to it, and look at the church leaders (regardless of the day of worship), you’ll see that our day of rest and worship is actually a pretty intense day of work for them. They have another day of the week set aside for their rest.

God wants our focus on Him, not on some rule that says you have to go to church on this day, and you have to dress a certain way, women have to cover their heads and men uncover theirs; and etcetera Infinitum. Let me repeat the first part of this paragraph: God wants our focus on HIM on our chosen day of worship. I like attending services on Sunday mornings simply because I was raised that way and it is the best for me. When dressing for public congregational services, I put more thought into it than I do for everyday use – not to impress anyone or to show off, but out of respect for my God, because HE matters. I like Sundays because they give me a chance to relax. Look back on the previous week, look forward to the coming week, and just enjoy being in the presence of communal worship and praise. It lifts me up and helps prepare my spirit for the new week. If you aren’t attending and participating in corporate worship, you are missing out on many, many blessings! 

  “Since you have been raised to new LIFE with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of Honor at God’s right hand. 

  Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.” – Colossians 3:1‭-‬2 NLT (http://bible.com/116/col.3.1-2.NLT)

“Think about the things of heaven….” If you have not been raised to new Life with Christ, you are missing out on so much peace and so many blessings. Most of my adult life was spent avoiding Christ in any way I could, having so much fun I could  (sort of) forget how miserable I was. It was all about me. I gotta tell you, it’s hell when you know Jesus and you decide to turn your back like I did. The enemy grabs control and the only way to take it away from Him is to give it to God. He defeated Satan as Lucifer in his bid to take over God’s throne, Christ defeated Satan again with His sacrifice on the cross and through His subsequent resurrection. The Holy Spirit defeats Satan and his followers every day when the followers of Christ ask for help. There’s another defeat coming, too, where Jesus will bind the beast (a.k.a. Satan) and throw him, bound, into the lake of fire with all of his followers. Got that? ALL of Satan’s followers. I do NOT want to go there, but I DO want to see it. I think.

  “Then I saw the beast and the kings of the world and their armies gathered together to fight against the one sitting on the horse and his army. 

  And the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who did mighty miracles on behalf of the beast—miracles that deceived all who had accepted the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue. 

  Both the beast and his false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. Their entire army was killed by the sharp sword that came from the mouth of the one riding the white horse. And the vultures all gorged themselves on the dead bodies.” – Revelation 19:19‭-‬21 NLT (http://bible.com/116/rev.19.19-21.NLT)

There is one thing I am certain of. On that day, I don’t want to see any of my friends and family in the company of the beast. I pray that everyone will be on Jesus’ side of the judgment. Each person has to make their own decisions, no matter how badly I want to intercede for them. Just being “good” won’t get you to His side. It has to be done by accepting Him as your personal Savior. It’s really not that difficult!

Daniel W. Whittle wrote this hymn that was published in 1883. (2 Timothy 1:12; Jude 1:24) It’s one of my favorites. Do you know God’s wondrous Grace?

1. “I know not why God’s wondrous grace
   To me He hath made known,
   Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love
   Redeemed me for His own.
   • Refrain:
     But “I know Whom I have believed,
     And am persuaded that He is able
     To keep that which I’ve committed
     Unto Him against that day.”
2. I know not how this saving faith
   To me He did impart,
   Nor how believing in His Word
   Wrought peace within my heart.
3. I know not how the Spirit moves,
   Convincing men of sin,
   Revealing Jesus through the Word,
   Creating faith in Him.
4. I know not what of good or ill
   May be reserved for me,
   Of weary ways or golden days,
   Before His face I see.
5. I know not when my Lord may come,
   At night or noonday fair,
   Nor if I walk the vale with Him,
   Or meet Him in the air.”
6.