Today’s Encouragement is Hebrews 4:9-10 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, [10] for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.
There remains a Sabbath rest –
The Sabbath rest existed for God’s people since creation. Since God rested on the seventh day, so also, He has given us the blessing of a Sabbath rest. My friends, this is not forcing us to ‘not work’… to abide by a set of rules of dos and don’ts. Rather, this is a gift from God to His children, who need to STOP occasionally, regularly (every seven days) and just … rest! It’s a foreign concept to the culture of this day, incessant busy-ness consumes us, and wears us down and out!
While it is important enough that God made it one of the Ten Commandments, it is also our loving Father saying to us, “My child, breathe for a moment, slow down, close your eyes a minute and rest in Me… Consider Me, Honor Me on this day, I’ll take care of you, I always have, always will… because you are precious to me. I want you to be at peace, refresh, rested, not worn out and worn down. “
In Isaiah 30:15 God said, “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust in your strength…”.
My friends – consider taking a rest – a sabbath – regularly. It can be 5 minutes a day, or whatever time you can find – a whole day a week is pretty hard for some of us…! If you are too busy to rest… then you’re just too busy. And rest in Him, He is the only true rest!
Father we thank you for giving us wise counsel, setting up wisdom for us, sound advice to avoid certain things, and encouragement do these other things. You truly are good to us, infinitely better to us than we deserve. Help us to listen to you, to learn from You, and Lord, help us to rest in You.
I will rest in You
Jack Velasquez
Today’s Encouragement 
body{font-size:10pt;font-family:arial,sans-serif;background-color:#ffffff;color:black;}p{margin:0px;}body{font-size:10pt;font-family:arial,sans-serif;background-color:#ffffff;color:black;}p{margin:0px;}body{font-size:10pt;font-family:arial,sans-serif;background-color:#ffffff;color:black;}p{margin:0px;}Brother Rick,I am so thankful to you for each today’s encouragement. They are the way to start the day and offer important spiritual reflection ongoingly.Jerry is having his 4th back surgery (for a different problematic area) May 4th. Please pray for his relief from the constant nerve pain and that I will have the strength to care for him.Micah is exhibiting amazing growth. His counselor is one of the helpful, competent, and insightful ones. Thank God! Micah called me yesterday and actually wanted to know how I was feeling rather than just talking about himself and his needs. AND he actually listened to me as my somewhat tearful heart unfolded, not in judgment but in honesty and authenticity. Jerry is flying back from Louisville this afternoon. He went to see Dr. Raymond Bailey who is dying soon. Raymond was a surrogate father to Jerry whose father drowned in a boating accident when he was 11. Raymond was also responsible for encouraging Jer’s acting desire and saw that he got a scholarship to Hardin Simmons. Jer’s father had no life insurance and after his death, everything was repossessed and the family lived in poverty for many years. Jer was the oldest of the three children and was forced to assume responsibilities for his siblings and his mother as a boy. Raymond went on and taught theology at Southern Seminary, and later became senior pastor at Seventh and James Baptist in Waco (across from Baylor). While he was in Abilene at Hardin Simmons, he worked part time with your dad at University Baptist Church.Pray you and your family are enjoying green, healthy growing times.God bless you!Judy
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Thanks so much Judy! I remember the name Raymond James but not much more. What a beautiful legacy to give so much to Jerry… and how beautiful that Jerry would remember and visit him! And thank God for answered prayers for Micah! Wonderful news on a beautiful day! God is Good!!
On Mon, Apr 19, 2021 at 1:23 PM Today’s Encouragement wrote:
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