Redeeming the Time

by Kelly McDonald, Jr.

“Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise; redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16, WEB)

Everyone makes mistakes. Sometimes we neglect to do something we should have done. At other times, we do things we later regret. Sometimes, you may think to yourself: “I spent so much of my life going away from God, how can I be used by Him now?” You may feel like you have wasted time; the good news is that God can redeem the time!

In Acts 15, Paul and Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them on a journey. In verses 38-39, the Bible reads, “Paul did not think it wise to take him [John Mark], because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus…” John Mark abandoned the believers in the middle of an evangelistic campaign. He suddenly stopped serving God. The Bible does not tell us how long John Mark was gone, but we can imagine that it was long enough to make Paul very upset. Paul did not want to travel with him any longer.

Just imagine the shame and frustration cast upon John Mark. The leading Apostle of the Gentiles, Paul, refused to work with him. I am sure all of his friends and family said something to him about this. The embarrassment probably weighed heavily on John Mark’s mind. In Acts 15, we learn that Barnabas decided to give him another chance.

Mark had an incredible turn around. At the end of his life, the Apostle Paul said, “Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry” (2 Timothy 4:11, NKJV). Later in life, he was restored by Paul and became a tremendous help to him. He was also called Peter’s son in the Lord (I Peter 5:13). John Mark had a greater impact at the end of his life than he did in the beginning.

In Ephesians 5:15-16, Paul exhorted us to “redeem the time.” How do we redeem the time? You may have spent many years of your life running away from God. If you turn to God wholeheartedly, He is able to get you back on track in much less time than you spent running away. By simply sharing your testimony with others about what God has done for you, you help redeem the time for yourself and for others as well.

You may have had a calling on your life to serve in a specific area of service to God, whether it is preaching, teaching, singing, writing, praying, or just to be a witness to others. It is never too late to start serving the Lord. Just like John Mark, you can have greater impact at the end of your life than you did at the beginning.

Kelly McDonald Jr. is president of the BSA. You can follow him at http://www.kellymcdonaldjr.com

Sabbath Evening (Erev Shabbat) Family Service

(also Called “Erev Shabbat”, Hebrew for Evening of the Sabbath)

Throughout the week, we are all running to and fro. We are going to ballgames, work, school, and other events. The Erev Shabbat Service is a special service performed by the Jewish people for over 2,000 years. It would have been performed in the time of Jesus. It is a great way to welcome in the Sabbath as a family and make the dividing line between Holy Time of the Sabbath and the common time of the week we are leavening behind.

While it is mostly performed by Sabbath keepers with a Messianic background, it is a great learning tool for all Sabbath keepers. It is a way to speak life and blessing into your family. It is a great way to spend interactive time with your family.

Just click the link below to access this FREE resource!

https://kellymcdonaldjr.com/erev-shabbat-ceremony/

52 Sabbath Activities for Teen Groups

By Don Pate

Here are 52 proven, surefire, guaranteed ─ fun activities to make Sabbath really special for teens! Each activity section gives you step-by-step instructions for making it happen and tells you what preparation and materials you’ll need and the minimum time required for the activity. Whether you’re a youth leader, teacher, or pastor, you’ll find this book a valuable resource for creating Sabbaths that bring teens exciting fellowship with God and Christian friends.

To order this book, just click the link below:

https://biblesabbath.org/shopping/pgm-more_information.php?id=104&=SID

Anxiety Rules

By Ray Wooten

“Anxiety is all around us. It is a malady that plagues almost everyone to one degree or another. It not only affects the poor, it affects all people regardless of their status in the world. A huge part of the world’s resources has been spent in an effort to resolve the problem of anxiety through counseling, drugs, rehabilitation centers, and may other means only to fail miserably. It just intensifies and deepens as we try to treat the problem gently by focusing on the problem. Could it be that we need to reconsider our approach to this debilitating problem and listen to our Savior’s solution to the whole matter of worry and Anxiety? If you believe that we should, then here we go.

The Bible shares Jesus’ dissolution of this entire matter very early in His training class for His disciples. This counseling also applies to you and me, His modern day disciples. Matthew 6:19-33 explains that the entire cause for anxiety is contained in the matter of what each of us individually values and cherishes as our most important treasure. This means both now and eternally. Jesus says in verse 19, “Do not store up riches for yourself here on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and robbers break in and steal.” Moths eat cloth and rust oxidizes metal. Nothing is this physical dimension lasts forever. Material things always picture or symbolize the spiritual or invisible things that are eternal (see Romans 1:20)….”

(This is an excerpt from the May-June 2012 edition of The Sabbath Sentinel)

To read the rest of this article, which starts on page 18, click this link: http://biblesabbath.org/media/TSSMayJune2012.pdf

Sabbath Traditions

by Lettie Lippincott Siddens

I consider being born and raised in a Sabbath observing family a benefit. Although that does not mean I was a perfect child.

Most of my first seven years we lived on a large rented farm ten miles from Milan, Missouri. While living there we attended a Sabbath observing church.

When I was a preteen, my Dad, Edgar Lippincott, started preaching in various churches when not needed in the local Church. Now we lived in Milan and sometimes went to minister in other churches in the area while doing various jobs as opportunity provided for our living.

My favorite friend attended the Methodist Church and I often went with her. The town Ministerial Council surveyed the school children asking if they attended church and where. I checked that I attended the Methodist Church. But my conscious hurt so much I had to quit going with her. I continued to go faithfully with my parents on Sabbath…”

This is an article from one of our 2017 editions of the Sabbath Sentinel.

To read the rest of this article, which begins on page 19, click the link below:
http://biblesabbath.org/media/March_2017.pdf

Free Family Sabbath Resource – Sabbath Kids!

On this website, you will find many resources to help impart life-long lessons from the Word of God into your children on the Sabbath, such as:

– Videos about Bible Stories

– Online Coloring tools

– Bible-based games

And More!

Just click the link below to access this FREE resource!

http://www.sabbathkids.com/