The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. This is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him. The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name.
Spending time in nature
This Sabbath, try to appreciate how big God is. Take a walk in your favorite park or go for your favorite height hike try to think about how each tree provides home two dozens of animals. As you’re walking see the smallest details that He put together for our enjoyment. Look at the large magnificent mountains, watch as creepy crawly insects move or, listen to the sound the birds make. While you’re walking think about how the Sun gives life to the plants and how it provides vitamins for us. Try not to miss one single small detail as you explore God’s creation. Think about all the reasons we have to praise God, he is the almighty, the beginning, and the end. He knows your name He knows the number of hairs on your head. God cares about the sparrows flying in the air, He provides it with food and shelter and companionship; He cares about us more than the sparrow. If it feels appropriate stop somewhere and praise God. While you’re walking you can sing songs of praise. Make the entire walk or hike about about appreciating the Creator in His s creation. Once Israel was freedom from slavery they sang a song that lifted God up. Now they could enjoy these small moments, now they had time to remember something they had forgotten. God would give them the commandments soon, but twice before mount Sinai He pleaded with them to remember the Sabbath. As their slave masters were buried in the sea, they were given back time, choice, and freedom. The song they sang reflects this more than anything.
Tip
In a single tree there can be 2.3 million different species dwelling together. The scientist also estimated this could be an understatement. It puts a whole new outlook on tree house.
Do Something Creative
For today’s creative activity, create a banner or a shield that represents your family. Across the top put “He is my Father’s God” or something similar and decorate the banner/shield with pictures or symbols that represents past family members. Another theme for the crest, write “The Lord is a Warrior” and decorate the banner/shield with pictures or symbols showing how God has protected you. He loves you and will keep your foot from stumbling. He loves your family and has built up the descendants to be more abundant than the stars.
What you will need:
- The banner (can be a large sheet of paper or a cloth)
- Something to draw on the banner (Markers, crayons, etc.)
- Rod or BBQ stick to hang the banner on (glue the banner to the stick)
- Nice ribbon (tie one end of a ribbon longer than the top of the banner to each end of the stick)
Family worship idea
Prepare the Sabbath room to look like a sanctuary, put up sheets to cover the walls, add small delicate lights and/or candles. Sit on the floor, on pillows, to be closer. If busy hands need something, give them some clay and tell them to sculpt the waves of the Red Sea held up like a dam, or any other moment in Israel’s escape. Read Exodus 15: 1-21 talk about the verses and how Israel felt about their triumphant escape. How much of their freedom did they attribute to God? They sang about their present and what was to come. Though the possibilities to come were going to be numerous, the Israelites had to celebrate their present. They had been waiting for that moment for 400 years. When we too are going home what will our praise song sound like?
Personal thoughts
I don’t know my future, or where I’m going to be when Christ returns for His people. But with His faithful love, He will lead the people He has redeemed; He will guide them to His holy dwelling with His strength, (Exodus 15:13), with great power and an outstretched arm (Deuteronomy 9:29). There is no place on Earth where He can’t find me, not in the uttermost parts of the sea, or in total darkness (Psalms 139:7-12). I take comfort in knowing this. This body is a temple a vessel that can only be filled with the Holy Spirit, I am not my own, but have been bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6: 19-20). The living waters will flow from me (John 7:37-39,Acts 2: 1-4) though I am just a clay vessel, I will not be crushed under pressure, I will not despair or be forsaken (2 Corinthians 4:7-12). One day this whole world will be His, He will take it back (Psalms 78: 54) and give it as an inheritance to the gentle (Matthew 5:5) and the humble (Psalms 37:11). In that moment “God said, ‘I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.'” (2 Corinthians 6:16). My hope is I will no longer be stiff and made of stone, I have faith God will make me new, complete with a fleshy heart.
Hiding His word in your ❤
Therefore prophesy, and tell them, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Behold, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, my people; and I will bring you into Eretz-Israel. You will know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves, my people. I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live. Then I will place you in your own land; and you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it,” says the Lord.’”
Ezekiel 37: 12-14
Sabbath Catalyst 