"Do Not Sin Anymore..."

(1) After this, a Jewish festival took place, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. (2) By the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem there is a pool, called Bethesda in Hebrew, which has five colonnades. (3) Within these lay a multitude of the sick —- blind, lame, and paralyzed —- waiting for the moving of the water, (4) because an angel would go down into the pool from time to time and stir up the water. Then the first one who got in after the water was stirred up recovered from whatever ailment he had. (5) One man was there who had been sick for 38 years. (6) When Jesus saw him lying there and knew he had already been there a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to get well?" (7) "Sir," the sick man answered, "I don't have a man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I'm coming, someone goes down ahead of me." (8) "Get up," Jesus told him, "pick up your bedroll and walk!" (9) Instantly the man got well, picked up his bedroll, and started to walk. Now that day was the Sabbath, (10) so the Jews said to the man who had been healed, "This is the Sabbath! It's illegal for you to pick up your bedroll." (11) He replied, "The man who made me well told me, 'Pick up your bedroll and walk.'" (12) "Who is this man who told you, 'Pick up your bedroll and walk?'" they asked. (13) But the man who was cured did not know who it was, because Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there. (14) After this, Jesus found him in the temple complex and said to him, "See, you are well. Do not sin any more, so that something worse doesn't happen to you." (15) The man went and reported to the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.
-- John 5:1-15 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Holiness Unto The LORD!
Grateful

Why Rest Awhile?

In a poem by Mrs. Chas. Cowman, these words hint at one wonderful reason why workers in the Lord's harvest, should take time for sabbath rest?

To cease awhile from all the joy of service,
To find a deeper joy with Him to share.

And Jesus said to them, "Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves. -- Mark 6:31-32 (NKJV)

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

Creative Loafing

As this season of summer is underway, don't spend all of your time racing and sweating. Take some time for resting and Sabbathing. I define Sabbathing in two words -- creative loafing.

Lord Jesus, in Your name, I have asked for and received the Promised Gift of the Father, Your Holy Spirit. Now, by Your Spirit, please cause me to know a simultaneous and healthy balance between adoration, occupation, recreation, and restoration. Move false guilt far from my life and let me seek seasons of creative loafing that I may know You and make You known to others. Let Your holy presence, not my human performance, attract others to You. Recreate within my heart, mind, soul, and strength the rhythm of a right relationship with You -- not just for me, but for Your glory and for the good of others. Amen.

ALL JOY!
Grateful