Sabbath

"Sabbath" is something God was really pressing in my life all last year. With the business of our culture, life season of "mother of 3 school age children" and pace of city living everything around me is pushing me to go at the speed of 100 mph. How does one find the audacity to try to walk at a slower pace when they are in the middle of a river with a current of rushing waters? How does one silence the noise of 1,000 random voices in order to hear the 1 quiet voice that matters?

Reading the Old Testament with Elly and Lucy during school has been an amazing experience. To journey through the stories and principles with young minds has brought such a fresh perspective. To look at the book of Numbers and think, "There is no way this is going to be interesting for them or keep their attention", only to experience the exact opposite as they realize the wisdom of God in contrast to the finite minds and disorder of natural man.

As we read through the Laws God gave to Moses for the Nation of Israel in Leviticus I saw the continual importance of Sabbath in EVERYTHING. Sabbath is a time for rest, a time of restoration, enjoyment, thankfulness and a time for man to slow down enough to realize and embrace our dependance, need and reverence of God. God never calls us to things He does not embody or embrace. God takes time to Sabbath, God makes the law of the LAND needing a Sabbath and He teaches man's need for Sabbath.

I could explain how we have personally put Sabbath into our lives, but I don't want to make it into a "to do list" or 1-2-3 step. Sabbath is not just the physical schedule. It is about our heart and mind. It is about looking at our life, thinking about what we are seeking to accomplish with our long list and hold it up to the teachings of Jesus and what He said is LIFE abundant.

Last week I made the difficult choice to get up at the horrific time of 5:30am every morning for 4 days to pray, read scripture and LISTEN. Only to learn what it means to Abide in Him (John15). No agenda, no asking God to fix things I think He needs to fix or ramble about what I think is important. Just make space to sit before God, be still and know he is God. I don't have this all figured out, but the fruit of pressing into, praying about and taking steps to experience these things has only caused me to want more of it. I just want to encourage you to make space when there seems to be no space. Find quiet when you think you won't be able to find it. And use that space and quiet time to talk to and listen to God and hear what He has to say.