The Sabbath

I have found a great resource to start with my devotions. I'm still not very familiar with this website, but it is an extremely convienet website with a reading plan laid out for you whenever you would like to start. It also gives you the option of reading directly through the Bible in the order for the books, or a few chapters from the new testement and a few from the old testement. I'm going with some from old and some from new because I find it a little more easier for me to follow.

This is the link: http://bible.christianity.com/readingplan/

Here is my goal for the week:
1. Nov 9 Genesis 1-2; Matthew 1
2. Nov 10 Genesis 3-5; Matthew 2
3. Nov 11 Genesis 6-8; Matthew 3
4. Nov 12 Genesis 9-11; Matthew 4
5. Nov 13 Genesis 12-14; Matthew 5:1-26
6. Nov 14 Genesis 15-17; Matthew 5:27-48
7. Nov 15 Genesis 18-19; Matthew 6

Thoughts for Today
Today I read Genesis 1-2 and Matthew 1. The verses that touched me the most were the following: By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.This reminded me of God's command through the first Sabbath: Setting aside the last day of the week for rest, not in response to wearyness, but simply cease from working.

The website gave a reference to Isaiah 40:28-31. God rested the seventh day. It is his command, not because he was tired from creating the world, for he never grows tired or weary, but because he understood that we as people will grow tired and weary. But in Isaiah God promises that he will give strength to the weary and increase power of the weak.

I had a test this afternoon and then a discussion class. It's not that I don't have a choice, but going to Sunday discussion classes make my schedule more flexible. However, God wants us to treat every start of the week as a day for resting. Surely, everytime I start the week without resting for a full day after worship service, I feel very weary and very tired. I feel like I'm running on empty. I feel tired and weak. With so many things laid in front of me; classes, work, Daisy, family, I feel like I just can't finish this marathon. But through this verse God promises that he will give strength to me. I just need to put my hope in HIM and I will "soar on wings like eagles. And I will run and not grow weary." I want to forever put my hope in the LORD and trust that he will provide, so that through his strength I will not grow weary.

Prayers
1. Please pray for each other. To finish reading the Bible is not a sprint, but a marathon. It will take time, effort, and determination. However, I have trust that God wants us to learn more about HIM and at the same time grow in our faith and mature in our spiritual lives.

2. Please pray for Daisy and I. We are having rough patches here and there. It just seems so hard to get along. I know that God has his own will in putting Daisy in my life and having her with me right now. Please pray that I may trust God to know that he knows what is best for me and for Daisy as well.


Hope all you girls have a great week! Can't wait to hear about blessing and thoughts through your devotion!

Love,Dawn


Isaiah 40:28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.29.He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.30.Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;31.but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint