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The righteousness that God wishes to cover you with…

“And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭32:17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”‭‭ Romans‬ ‭5:1-5‬ ‭ESV

Psalms‬ ‭124:8‬ ‭ESV

For the first time in a few weeks I got some down time and solitude while well.**

This time of solitude afforded me the opportunity to take long walks along the shore and up a river valley from the shore. Here are a few of images from those walks.

“O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭8, ESV

This walking and image capturing is an important part of my discipline of sabbath. We all need things that take us out of work and regular activities. What are your diversions to facilitate rest and renewal?

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** (For most is April I was dealing with a virus that really limited me to 2 things: work and rest. The rest was taken at every opportunity so as to have the strength to do the work that could be done. A visit to my buddy Josh’s Doctor a week ago got me some meds that turned the tide. Today, after a near a month of being under the weather, I’m at full strength! Thanks be to God!)

Psalms‬ ‭119:144‬ ‭ESV‬‬

I just Heard on the radio playing at a café where I am waiting on a copy that it is national workers day here in South Africa. It is known some places as may day. But as I grew up I remember the May 1 parades in the news from Moscow. Have times changed?

Here is a shot of Port Elizabeth which is where I am hanging out for a couple days waiting for a flight back north to Europe.

Work is good. We should work hard. But we were not designed to work like machines. We are designed to rest from our work. And to sleep. Sleep is the daily reminder that we are not God and that we must trust HIM for the increase after having done our part. Sabbath is a commandment, not a suggestion.

So go sit and be still…

On Friday a historic meeting took place in Havana, Cuba. Vatican TV covered it HERE … Advance to 8 minutes to see signing and their remarks.

A discussion of its significance was attempted HERE.

Having just finished reading numerous volumes comparing Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Protestant (Evangelical and Reformed) theologies, we need not expect much more than what has just happened. There are significant differences between them and those differences will likely not be bridged this side of Heaven. Cooperation is possible, friendship is happening, but unity in faith and practice is unlikely.