Ephesians 4:30-32 We are sealed by the very heart of God.

 1 Thessalonians 5:19 Do not quench the Spirit.

We are told not to break His heart, Holy Spirit, is our comforter, our teacher and our guide. He is the Spirit of God and when we ignore or dismiss His influence we lose and evil  gains a foothold in our life. Carla

Ephesians 4:30-32

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. (NKJV)

The Holy Spirit of God should never be pushed away, ignored, or rejected. If we would remember that the One who lives in us is God’s own Spirit, we would be much more selective about what we think, read, watch, say, and do. Note that Paul acknowledges that evil thoughts and actions are temptations even for those who are sealed by the Holy Spirit. The NKJV Study Bible

Paul seems to be indicating that poor treatment of others can constrain the work of the Spirit—essentially denying or resisting God’s indwelling presence (Isaiah 63:10).

The day of redemption refers to the Day of the Lord, when Christ will return.

The Greek word used here, charizomai, implies not only forgiving, but doing so with a gracious attitude. Paul uses this same word elsewhere to describe God’s forgiveness (Colossians 2:13). Faithlife Study Bible

Colossians 3:12–13

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 

Colossians 3:8

But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 

Isaiah 63:10

But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit;

So He turned Himself against them as an enemy,

And He fought against them.

Matthew 6:14–15

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Hedges writes that his father (while a pastor and chaplain at Colgate University) started a gay and lesbian support group under his own name because the group was unable to go public, for fear of repercussion. He talked about his father's "ministry," and how it was predicated on knowing what it meant to be "an outsider… he knew the awful cost of being different, the intolerance and hatred it bred, the way it leads us to deny the humanity of others, perhaps because of our own hidden differences, our fear that we too will be thrust aside by the crowd."
This story resonated with me. And I realize why presence is so powerful and inviting. Because every one of us knows what it is like to be on the "outside."
“When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.” Thank you, Henri Nouwen.
I confess that when I’m down, I'm susceptible to an internal grilling, “Does my life even make a difference?” And I have found that this question messes with me only when I assume that something is missing from my life (you know, FOMO, fear of missing out). Or that I need to prove something to someone. It doesn't help that we live in a culture that assumes "enough is never enough." (Only ensuring that we will respond to the question with an even more frenzied lifestyle.)

In those moments, I’ll turn on the coffee pot, and remember Clarissa Pinkola Estes' wisdom that "Ours is not the task of fixing the entire world all at once, but of stretching out to mend the part of the world that is within our reach. Any small, calm thing that one soul can do to help another soul, to assist some portion of this poor suffering world, will help immensely."
We offer coffee, and we make space...
We make space to see.
We make space to be seen.
We make space to give wholeheartedly.
We make space to welcome.
We make space to offer comfort or reprieve or hope.
We make space to be sanctuary in a world of disquiet, disruption and cruelty. Sabbath Moments

Matthew 6:31-3 Trust God!

 Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 

Worry becomes fear and fear becomes stress and stress unchecked can destroy our lives. Worry allows  our gratitude for our salvation and our trust  in God to become second to the cares of this world. His only requirement is that we seek justice for all, that we forgive others as we have been forgiven and to remain humble, knowing that He is God and we are mere humans. (Micah 6:8) His plan for our lives is good.  God cares for us, trust Him to be the cornerstone of your life, and rest in the peace that only He can give. Carla

Matthew 6:31-34

 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (NKJV)

The Jewish people, because of God’s revelation to them, were supposed to think differently than the Gentiles. The NKJV Study Bible

Jesus presents two further reasons to avoid worrying about food and clothing. Such concerns are the prerogative of the Gentiles (verse 7), and God in His omniscience already knows the needs of His people. Members of the kingdom should not be concerned with these things since their heavenly Father is already aware of them.

When people make God’s kingdom their primary object of their desire, they find the ability to trust Him to meet their needs. 

Jesus is not telling people to postpone their worrying for a day; He is instructing them to stop worrying altogether and to rely on God’s gracious provision (Philippians  4:6).

Each day has enough trouble of its own. There is no sense in adding additional worry. Trusting in the Father’s provision serves as an antidote to anxiety. Faithlife Study Bible

Matthew 6:7–8

And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.“Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 

1 Titus 4:8

For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. 

1 Peter 5:7

casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Matthew 6:25

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?

“Come to me,” Jesus says in Matthew, “all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves.”

“For my yoke is easy,” he promises, “and my burden light.”

Today, let us hear, and embrace, the invitation. Sabbath Moments

Isaiah 37:33-35 Our prayers matter and God protects us!

 Isaiah 31:5

Like birds flying about,

So will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem.

Defending, He will also deliver it;

Passing over, He will preserve it.”

Only God can protect us from the evil that seeks to destroy us. In His hands we may not understand all that is happening but we can rest assured that He is there and that His will is always accomplished when we turn it over to Him. Carla

Isaiah 37:33-35

33 “Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the king of Assyria:

‘He shall not come into this city,

Nor shoot an arrow there,

Nor come before it with shield,

Nor build a siege mound against it.

34 By the way that he came,

By the same shall he return;

And he shall not come into this city,’

Says the Lord.

35 ‘For I will defend this city, to save it

For My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.’ ” (NKJV)

Hezekiah’s prayer has resulted in Jerusalem’s salvation as the remnant of Judah. But Judah will not be saved because they are Yahweh’s chosen people, or because Jerusalem is His dwelling. Yahweh will save Jerusalem for His own reputation and His covenant with David. 

Faithlife Study Bible

God gives His final sentence against the Assyrian tyrant.

God defends and protects. For similar expressions of the Lord’s protection of Jerusalem, see 27:3; 31:5. The Lord would save and protect the city for His own honor, for He had established the city for the worship of His holy name. For My servant David’s sake. God maintained His promises to David. The NKJV Study Bible

Isaiah 38:6

I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city.” ’ 

Isiaiah 43:25

“I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake;

And I will not remember your sins.

Isaiah 48:9

“For My name’s sake I will defer My anger,

And for My praise I will restrain it from you,

So that I do not cut you off.

Isaiah 48:11

For My own sake, for My own sake, I will do it;

For how should My name be profaned?

And I will not give My glory to another.

This week we take encouragement and motivation from “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse,” by Charlie Mackesy.

The boy sits on a branch and asks the mole: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” The answer: “Kind.”

The boy asks the mole, “What do you think success is?” The reply: “To love.” Sabbath Moments

Dear God, in this moment I hold your acceptance.

You love me completely, just as I am.

You see my great potential within,

and you nurture my tender heart of compassion.

In this moment, I let your acceptance be my own.

I accept others as the children of God.

I hold high their inner greatness,

always seeking to serve the highest and best within all people.

And so it is.

Vicky Thompson 

Galatians 3:5-9 Salvation comes to us by faith not by the law!

 Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness! (NKJV)

God will not be mocked by those who use His name to promote hatred and violence. Those who believe in Him will have the fruit of Holy Spirit evident in their lives. Jesus came to offer God’s peace to the world that He created. His love covered a multitude of the sins of mankind and in faith we are saved. Jesus came to show us the way to live and His truth will set us free from the traditions of man. Carla

Galatians 3:5-9

5 Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 7 Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. 

10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”

13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. (NKJV)

Paul’s question sets up a contrast between law and faith. Paul presents the model of true saving faith—Abraham. In doing so, Paul demonstrates that God has always justified people by faith, not works. Paul then clarifies the role of the law in God’s plan: It was intended to serve as a guardian until the time of Christ.

Believed in God refers to trusting that God will fulfill His promises (Genesis 15:6). God had promised Abraham an heir and countless descendants (Genesis 15:4–5). Sons of Abraham refers to those who express faith like Abraham—not Abraham’s biological sons. Abraham represents the model of faith for all believers, both Jews and non-Jewish people (Gentiles).

Scripture In this context refers to what is now called the Old Testament.

Paul was fluent in Greek. His quotations of Scripture typically draw from the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament (Genesis—Malachi) called the Septuagint. This translation of the Bible was used by many Jews who lived in regions outside of Israel and did not speak or read Hebrew. Paul’s use of the Septuagint indicates that he quoted Scripture in a language the Galatians would have understood.

God would justify the Gentiles by faith.  Paul argues here that his gospel message—the justification of Gentiles through faith apart from the law—was always part of God’s plan. Elsewhere, Paul refers to this as a mystery (Romans 16:25; Ephesians  1:9; 3:9). 

Inclusion in the people of God would occur by faith in Christ, the promised seed of Abraham (Galatians  3:7–8).

In you all the nations will be blessed. This quotation comes from Genesis 12:3. In the context of Galatians, this blessing is the Spirit and the gift of justification by faith. In the Septuagint, the Greek word ethnē (translated “nations”) also means “Gentiles.” The Gentiles, therefore, were included in the promises that God made to Abraham long ago.

Those who have faith are blessed together with Abraham Paul emphasizes that faith, not ethnicity, is the determining factor—which means that Gentile believers like the Galatians can share in Abraham’s blessing.Faithlife Study Bible

Genesis 12:3

I will bless those who bless you,

And I will curse him who curses you;

And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Genesis 15:6

And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.

Romans 4:3

For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 

Romans 4:16

Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all 

We carry…
…the weight of the world’s unease,
…the anxiety of the day,
…resentment from past grievances,
…woundedness from an unfair life,
…unresolve regarding an "unpaid" debt,
…fear of conflict,
…the badge of being a victim,
…a preoccupation with busyness,
…an itch for perfection,
…clinging to self-righteousness (and judgement),
Things that weigh more, the longer you carry them.

“Come to me,” Jesus says in Matthew, “all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves.”
“For my yoke is easy,” he promises, “and my burden light.”

Today, let us hear the permission to pause.

Today, let us hear the permission to not be at the mercy of. We have the permission to choose.
I am so grateful for the word, permission. That with our choice, we are not “at the mercy” of the cycle. Of what we carry.
When we are at the mercy of what we carry—anger, resentment, hatred, shame—we make choices that are harmful (detrimental) to our wellbeing.
A troubled young boy asked a man whether there was any compelling reason for him not to pull the legs off a spider. The man said that there was.
“Well, spiders don't feel any pain,” the boy retorted.
“It’s not the spider I’m worried about,” the man said.
Here’s the deal: When I make choices that disconnect me from my heart, and insulate me from the present moment, it hurts me.
The bottom line? These choices put a bushel on the light that lives inside. And that light cannot shine, and that ends up hurting those around me.
But then, like the little boy with the spider, how would I know?

Letting go at its core, is self-care. The gift of befriending. Yes, the gift of being embraced by Grace.
Grace calls something—invites something beautiful—from each one of us, and grace never leaves until the invitation is heard and embraced. It may shake up our life, there's no doubt about it. Why? Because Grace heals not by taking shame away, but by removing the one thing our shame makes us fear the most: rejection. Sabbath Moments