Happiest Day of the Week

If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord. Isaiah 58:13, 14.
God’s love has set a limit to the demands of toil. Over the Sabbath He places His merciful hand. In His own day He preserves for the family opportunity for communion with Him, with nature, and with one another.
The Sabbath and the family were alike instituted in Eden, and in God’s purpose they are indissolubly linked together. On this day more than on any other, it is possible for us to live the life of Eden. It was God’s plan for the members of the family to be associated in work and study, in worship and recreation.
God’s holy rest day was made for man, and acts of mercy are in perfect harmony with its intent.
To relieve the afflicted, to comfort the sorrowing, is a labor of love that does honor to God’s holy day.
Since the Sabbath is the memorial of creative power, it is the day above all others when we should acquaint ourselves with God through His works.
During a portion of the day, all should have an opportunity to be out of doors. How can children receive a more correct knowledge of God … than in spending a portion of their time out of doors, not in play, but in company with their parents? Let their young minds be associated with God in the beautiful scenery of nature…. As they view the beautiful things which He has created for the happiness of man, they will be led to regard Him as a tender, loving Father…. As the character of God puts on the aspect of love, benevolence, beauty, and attraction, they are drawn to love Him.
The Sabbath—oh!—make it the sweetest, the most blessed day of the whole week.
The Faith I Live By p. 36
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Prayer Requests
—– Please say a prayer or two for our friend Felicia in _____ CA, she isn’t far from the Thomas Fire and if the wind shifts her way, it just has orchard land to cross to their place. I know you are praying for all the people down there, so am I. Felicia just told me there is no containment, but I’m sure you have heard that on the news. Mary [Let us pray for all those affected by the fires and pray that they will soon go out.]
—– I need prayer for my nephew Peter. He is now in the hospital and in bad situation. Please include him in your prayers. Jisselle
—–Need prayers for my stepson today as he is having surgery. Treva
—–Please pray for safe travel for my friends, Lucian and Rosy, as they are on vacation. Rose
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Dear Friends,
Some years ago when a certain long distance phone company was in business, occasionally I would see the company’s name and would relive the most humiliating job interview I had ever experienced. I had applied for a job there when we first moved here over twenty years ago. Since I had had years of experience in telemarketing, I was confident that I would get the job. In fact, from the time that I was 16, whenever I needed a job fast, I would apply for a telemarketing job. I didn’t really like doing that type of work, but it was a way to make the money I needed until I could find something better. The more experience I had, the easier it became to get hired at one of these places. Selling over the telephone is not easy work, so there is a very high turnover. I always joked that a telemarketer has to thrive on rejection. Not many people do. Therefore, companies that use telemarketers are always looking for workers.
The day of my interview with that particular company, I was full of confidence that I would be hired. The company had good benefits and was an easy service to sell. They also offered contests among the workers with great prizes. I really wanted that job. In my mind’s eye, I could see myself winning many of those contests. Visions of Ron and I lounging on some tropical beach filled my head. The last telemarketing job I had had, I had been very successful at selling financial packages that cost from $495 to $895 to professional people all over the country, including actors, people in NASA, and in the government. Before we moved away from that particular area, only one person had been with that telemarketing company longer than I. Surely this would impress my interviewer.
As I was sitting in the waiting room full of confidence and plans, a young woman called my name. She was the picture of success and unfriendliness. When she took me to a small room where the interview would be held, I noticed a doctor’s scale. What was THAT doing there? A weight chart hung upon the wall. She was called out of the room for a moment. My eyes were riveted on that chart. It was one of the strictest charts I had ever seen. Since I’m the short, overweight, “dumpy” housewife type, it made me a little nervous.
My interrogator returned and began firing questions at me as rapidly as a machine gun. These questions were not about telephone sales, not about my qualifications, but about interactive issues of which I was only vaguely aware. She talked so fast that I did not have time to think of an answer. I completely failed that part of the job interview. Then she looked me up and down and pointed to the weight chart on the wall. She told me that she felt that only those people who were within the weight limits of that chart would be successful in selling their long-distance service. I was totally humiliated.
One day, as I was reliving this experience, while working at a much better job than a telemarketer, it suddenly dawned on me what a blessing it was that I did not get that job. I suddenly realized that what had seemed like a great disappointment to me at the time was really a great blessing. God had His hand in keeping me from working at a place that would have been high stress and that I would not have liked but would have done anyway just to earn money. God had a far better job awaiting me. It was not too long after this experience, that I was hired in the district court. I really loved the work, the people that I worked with were great, the pay was good, and the benefits were much better than I had ever had before. I was at that job until I retired at age 68.
Paul tells us that “all things work together for good to them that love God.” Rom 8:28 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Cor 10:13 Sometimes we have to cling to those promises with all of our strength when temptations, disappointments and sorrows come rushing upon us. We don’t always understand why our life suddenly makes a dramatic turn for the worse, but if we could see the end from the beginning, we would not want to be led any other way.
Our Great Creator assures us of His love and care, yet that assurance does not keep trials and troubles away. No. Instead, He promises to be with us in trouble. “Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour.” Isa 43:1-3 “Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation.” Ps 91:14-16