So as HE does....So do *I*....Now that's Faith..Selah

Pastor Tim, just who is it you are massaging? =)

Apologies to you Joe, and Margie, if my use of the term "Sabbath" came across divisively. To me the important point was that we set aside a day for the Lord, by faith. Thanks for your encouragement KC Joe! 

Around here you'd better, Cheryl Otherwise, we pounce mercilessly! lol

Great blog Mike and a good reminder.

Thank goodness for spell check lol. Half the time when I write something, I'll go back and notice I didn't read carefully enough so there are still errors. Thanks again for sharing bro. 

Matt 5:48
48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
NKJV

Matthew 5:43-48

Jesus concluded this section by saying, Be perfect therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. His message demonstrated God's righteous standard, for God Himself truly is the "standard" of righteousness. If these individuals are to be righteous, they must be as God is, "perfect," that is, mature (
teleioi
) or holy. Murder, lust, hate, deception, and retaliation obviously do not characterize God. He did not lower His standard to accommodate humans; instead He set forth His absolute holiness as the standard. Though this standard can never be perfectly met by man himself, a person who by faith trusts in God enjoys His righteousness being reproduced in his life.
(from Bible Knowledge Commentary/Old Testament Copyright © 1983, 2000 Cook Communications Ministries; Bible Knowledge Commentary/New Testament Copyright © 1983, 2000 Cook Communications Ministries. All rights reserved.)

Why didn't I read this blog an hour ago? You know Mr. Mike...this is what I am struggling with...walking by faith and not by sight...or feelings...I just wrote a blog in my blog in the comments about this...faith the size of a mustard seed...that's not very big...and really Jesus only put a measurement on it for the disciple's sake...how can it be that I can't even muster that much faith sometimes...*sigh*

Ms Suga, sometimes we all lack faith. (I'm always tempted to say that I/we need more faith, when it isn't how much faith we have that's important but in whom we put our faith.) So Jesus' claim that it only takes faith the size of a tiny mustard seed is completely valid, if that faith is put in the Lord.

Why do we lack faith sometimes.....or perhaps often? I guess our eyes come off our Savior and instead become fixed on our surroundings, our circumstances. I can't really say I'm beyond that any more than you. All I know is to keep doing the things I personally know to do. Good habits go a long way towards builiding faith, rather than destroying it. 

I am sure you'll come out on top Ms Suga. I know you well enough to know you are an overcomer, and a great one at that! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

More thoughts toward your blog Mike.  Hope you enjoy where this takes you.
~T.
Rom 12:3-4

3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
NKJV

Romans 12:3

[According as God hath dealt] As God has measured to each one, or apportioned to each one. In this place the faith which Christians have, is traced to God as its giver. This act, that God has given it, will be itself one of the most effectual promoters of humility and right feeling. People commonly regard the objects on which they pride themselves as things of their own creation, or as depending on themselves. But let an object be regarded as the gift of God, and it ceases to excite pride, and the feeling is at once changed into gratitude. He, therefore, who regards God as the source of all blessings, and he only, will be an humble man.

[The measure of faith] The word "faith" here is evidently put for religion, or Christianity. Faith is a main thing in religion. It constitutes its first demand, and the Christian religion, therefore, is characterized by its faith, or its confidence, in God; see Mark 16:17; compare Heb 11; Rom 4:1. We are not, therefore, to be elated in our view of ourselves; we are not to judge of our own characters by wealth, or talent, or learning, but by our attachment to God, and by the influence of faith on our minds. The meaning is, judge yourselves, or estimate yourselves, by your piety. The propriety of this rule is apparent:

(1) Because no other standard is a correct one, or one of value. Our talent, learning, rank, or wealth, is a very improper rule by which to estimate ourselves. All may be wholly unconnected with moral worth; and the worst as well as the best people may possess them.

(2) God will judge us in the day of judgment by our attachment to Christ and his cause (Matt 25); and that is the true standard by which to estimate ourselves here.

(3) Nothing else will secure and promote humility but this. All other things may produce or promote pride, but this will effectually secure humility. The fact that God has given all that we have; the fact that the poor and obscure may have as true an elevation of character as ourselves; the consciousness of our own imperfections and short-comings in the Christian faith; and the certainty that we are soon to be arraigned to try this great question, whether we have evidence that we are the friends of God; will all tend to promote humbleness of mind and to bring down our usual inordinate self-estimation. If all Christians judged themselves in this way, it would remove at once no small part of the pride of station and of life from the world, and would produce deep attachment for those who are blessed with the faith of the gospel, though they may be unadorned by any of the wealth or trappings which now promote pride and distinctions among men.
(from Barnes' Notes, Electronic Database Copyright © 1997, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

James 1:27
27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
NKJV

James 1:21-27

Verses 22-25 speak of the private life of believers as they look into the Word; vv. 26-27 describe their public life, their practice of the Word. The Gk. word for "religious" (v. 26) means "the outward practice of religion." The Bible nowhere calls the Christian faith "a religion"; it is a miracle, a new birth, a divine life. "If any man imagines himself to be religious," says James, "then let him prove it by the life he lives." What are the characteristics of pure religion? They are: (1) self-control - a bridled tongue (see 3:2); (2) love for others; and (3) a clean life. The word "visit" (v. 27) means "care for"; it suggests sacrificial care for those who are in need. True religion is not a matter of forms and ceremonies; it is a matter of a controlled tongue, sacrificial service, and a clean heart.

James uses the word "perfect" several times in this chapter. In vv. 1-2 we have God's perfect work; in vv. 13-20, God's perfect gift; and in (vv. 21-27, God's perfect law. God's perfect work is His purpose to mature us; His perfect gift is His goodness to us in times of testing; and His perfect law is the Word that strengthens and sustains us.
(from Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the New Testament. Copyright © 1992 by Chariot Victor Publishing, an imprint of Cook Communication Ministries. All rights reserved.)

2 Peter 1:5-11

Fruitful Growth in the Faith

5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
NKJV

Mike,

Read this tonight and thought you could appreciate it. ~T.

"His fruit was sweet to my taste."  Spurgeon's Morning & Evening
— Song of Solomon 2:3

Faith, in the Scripture, is spoken of under the emblem of all the senses. It is sight: "Look unto me and be ye saved." It is hearing: "Hear, and your soul shall live." Faith is smelling: "All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia"; "thy name is as ointment poured forth." Faith is spiritual touch. By this faith the woman came behind and touched the hem of Christ's garment, and by this we handle the things of the good word of life. Faith is equally the spirit's taste. "How sweet are Thy words to my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my lips." "Except a man eat my flesh," saith Christ, "and drink my blood, there is no life in him."

This "taste" is faith in one of its highest operations. One of the first performances of faith is hearing. We hear the voice of God, not with the outward ear alone, but with the inward ear; we hear it as God's Word, and we believe it to be so; that is the "hearing" of faith. Then our mind looketh upon the truth as it is presented to us; that is to say, we understand it, we perceive its meaning; that is the "seeing" of faith. Next we discover its preciousness; we begin to admire it, and find how fragrant it is; that is faith in its "smell." Then we appropriate the mercies which are prepared for us in Christ; that is faith in its "touch." Hence follow the enjoyments, peace, delight, communion; which are faith in its "taste." Any one of these acts of faith is saving. To hear Christ's voice as the sure voice of God in the soul will save us; but that which gives true enjoyment is the aspect of faith wherein Christ, by holy taste, is received into us, and made, by inward and spiritual apprehension of His sweetness and preciousness, to be the food of our souls. It is then we sit "under His shadow with great delight," and find His fruit sweet to our taste.