He's Got the Whole World In His Hands

Today we talked about loving care for us all. Our first hymn was 190 You Thirsty  Ones where God fill our belly with food and , our thirst is sated with the water of the everlasting and our souls are filled with His spirit. A very nice start to a service of blessing for the gifts he has given us, including his only son.

Our prayer of confession cleared our hearts and souls to receive the blessings of Jesus Christ that we may live in his way and word. A truly joyful hope for the future.

Our musical approach is without a doubt one of my favourites. He's got the  whole world in his hands. I always loved the positive upbeat message and the comfort of knowing that God is always with us as he cares and protects us. To know that God is with us in our toughest times and greatest joys.

He's got the itty bitty baby in His hands

And so it follows that the Baptism we enjoyed today is the first step in feeding,watering and filling his soul and ours. The taking up of an itty bitty baby in his hands. God IS with us.

The scripture readings furthered this idea when they talked about the sabbath.

Mark 2:23-28
23 One sabbath he was going through the grainfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. 24 The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?” 25 And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need of food? 26 He entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and he gave some to his companions.” 27 Then he said to them, “The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath; 28 so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”

The Sabbath was about the compact that God gave the people and the promise to honour Him by showing respect for the Sabath.

Exodus 20: 8-12
8 Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work. 10 But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it. 12 Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

King of glory, King of peace,
I will love Thee;
and that love may never cease,
I will move Thee.
Thou hast granted my request,
Thou hast heard me;
Thou didst note my working breast,
Thou hast spared me.

God is with us always and it is for US to remind that we are also always with God. The Sabbath is our time to set aside to honour what has been given for and to us.

In Jesus Name.

Amen

Noral R.