Category Archives: Just Chatty Today

Exodus, Just Chatty Today

Sharing Shabbat

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Shabbat!

What would it do for your family?

You will not know till you try it on for size, perhaps several times to give a proper critique.

A full 24 hours. From sunset to sunset. The prescribed day in Scripture is the seventh day of the week. That is from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset. However, I suspect one day a week, any day of the week, will provide abundant benefits to families embracing it.

Considering we are Westerners we have had little experience observing Exodus 20:8 for more than a few decades, at least; and it will take some serious planning, dedication, adjusting, and dare I say some trial and error for us to collectively appreciate the Father’s command: 8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.

Keeping it holy. Holy means set apart. Perhaps we could say not like all the other days, a peculiar day. Peculiar isn’t an ugly word, I rather like it.

I think this particular day could shape up differently, family to family, and perhaps even week to week.  For JT and me, one of the big things to lay aside on Shabbat is Television. No news media in any form, no movies, no TV for a full 24 hours.  Some of the very staunch have suggested no electronics period. We are not there yet, and may not get there at all. However, I count it success to have refrained from scrolling my Facebook feed for more than 24 hours this past Shabbat.  I did post a prayer and a prayer request and I did check notices related thereto; so far, I’m okay with that.  Oh and yes Gospel related music was especially pleasant for a portion of the Sabbath.  I confess I did make our bed but I did no laundry, no floor mopping – I put dishes in the dishwasher and turned them on Saturday night.  Oh, it was fun!  

The day of the beginning of Shabbat was busy with food prep so I would not have to cook anything further once Shabbat had begun. This time not being well acclimated we purchased already prepared potato salad to go alongside the crock pot roast; this freed up time for other prepping matters.  Oh, and we had what I termed Shabbat Dessert; this time it was a bundt cake with fruit spread and whipped cream. Yum! We ate by candlelight!  :) 

All in all, it was one of the best days! We read Scripture, we talked about Scripture, we prayed, we relaxed, we visited a sick friend, we went for a ride, we didn’t rush to do anything and we made it our goal to enjoy each other all as acts of worship and honor for the GOD who loves us and gave Himself to us. I can hardly wait for Shabbat to come again! 

So I am thinking. What would this do for marriages and families with children?!! Yes, the children (and the parents!) would give up TV and Netflix and all that stuff we do with our handheld devices; and instead of talking with their friends (unless they could convince their friends to actually visit in person) they would have Parental Attention for all the waking hours of that 24 hour period! I mean board games, bike riding, reading, listening to wholesome GOD-honoring music, picnics, nature hikes, fishing even, etc., etc. —  any low-key relaxing all together family activity apart from commercialized, we have to pay somebody else stuff. How bad could that be? Think of the family interaction, and creativity this would generate! 

I am certainly not advocating unplugging from the Creator but I submit to you that even families who have no affection for the Bible or the GOD of the Bible would benefit from a weekly 24-hour family unplugged from the world fast.

But for me seeking to actually obey 8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, . . . well like I said, I can hardly wait for next Shabbat. It will be different from the last but HE WILL BE PRESENT and I am thrilled! 

And yes we did attend our customary church service on Sunday – even that was better! 

The LORD our GOD is holy
Kathie

Revisited and edited 6.17.2023

Gospel of Mark, Just Chatty Today

Indignation

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Indignant

According to free dictionary dot-com it means this: angered at something unjust or wrong

The meekest of all men was indignant on a day certain. Do you know why?

Mark 10: 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. source 

The disciples were shooing the children away. Preventing them from speaking to Jesus; preventing them from the pleasure of His company, or hearing Him speak to them and experiencing His holy touch.  

I don’t think Jesus has changed His mind. I think keeping a child from coming to Jesus to experience Him still brings indignation. So what manner of adults should we be? This has been with me a couple of days; thought I’d share.

Friday evening has arrived. Blessed Shabbat to you all. 

Kathie 

Just Chatty Today

Aunt Clara Priceless

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Thinking about my Tribe this morning; praying for my Tribe and realizing I am privileged to have 51 people (and counting) to call my own. Fifty one family related people to varying degrees I have influenced or shall influence. Oh that is sobering because I am not confident that all those influences have been understood as intended or perhaps have not been good at all. Because my date of birth is more than 6 decades ago my Tribe spans four generations; who knows if I thrive long enough I may see this Tribe reach five generations! 

As I pen this I am thinking I should clarify this Tribe I am talking about as perhaps all of us are simultaneously members of more than one Tribe. Oh that is more work than I want to do at this setting – identifying Tribes.

This Tribe. Family that I care about. Family that I pray for. Family that I ask GOD to mess with. Family made family by blood, by marriage, by adoption.  And when you put all that together. Yep there are 51 of us so far! And what will these generations say of me when I no longer grace this planet? I don’t have as long as I have had to make it good! And should that be of concern to me? Yes, if it encourages me and no if it overwhelms me.

Truth! Of these 51 (and counting) it is highly unlikely that of the majority of them I am even on their radars more than once or twice in a year or so. My influence does not reach that far! And you know what? That’s okay. Because prayer does!  

A case in point. My daddy had a brother named Arch; he married a woman named Clara.  In my adolescent years I spent some time with Uncle Arch and Aunt Clara, not a lot; later I learned that daily Aunt Clara prayed for me. Even today that is priceless to me!

So to adopted ones and those who have even a little of my DNA or have even a little of JT’s DNA and those married to someone who has a bit of either our DNA(s): you are my Tribe and very often your name is spoken in prayer. And I’m hoping the day will come that information is Aunt Clara priceless to you. 

Now, I am curious. Have you sat to identify your Tribe? 

Just Me ~ ~ ~

A Quick Hello, Just Chatty Today

It’s Cold Outside!

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smiley-hello

It’s 29 degrees and clear here – feels like 22 so says the weather app.
A storm took out our internet last week and today it was restored; giving thanks here! For warmth and this lovely page and a multitude of other grand and happy things! I hope you are too. 

Abba, on this cold evening with a new week dawning in just a few hours, we ask for places of warmth for souls feeling chilly winds. For First Responders, for Utility Personnel out there serving, we pray for practical helps, warm clothes, and hot coffee.
Thank You for our kind and efficient Tech who came and speedily restored service today; thank You so much that we got to pray with him; thank You for his dear family and as often as You will bring them to mind that we may pray again.  Thank You that tomorrow is Sunday and we have a house of worship close by where we can gather; I pray houses of worship will be warm tomorrow with prayer and good hot air :) Thank You for loving us so deeply and strong; I pray we love You back and each other too. 

Kathie