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SABBATH - restoring your soul by restoring sabbath WEEK 1


Sabbath?

a time set aside for rest and restoration

Sabbath invites us to STOP. In that ceasing, fresh possibilities abound. We can shut our eyes, if we choose—this is one of Sabbath’s gifts, to relax without guilt. But there is also time enough to open our eyes, to learn again Jesus’ command to watch and pray. Mark Buchanan, The Rest of God


Sabbath is a a day or time period set aside for feasting, resting, worshiping, and play. But it is also a posture of the heart and practice we can choose to partake in.

Let's start with the heart. When we say sabbath is a posture of the heart, we mean it is a heart that is restful in the midst of the ups and downs of life while being attentive to the presence of God and others.

When we say practice, we mean sabbath is siezing opportunities throughout your day to slow down, stop working or focusing on accomplishing. It is both intentionally setting time aside in your day to experience sabbath while paying attention to your surroundings. Here's an example: A sabbath practice may simply include pausing long enough to eat lunch seated a table. While your eating, take time to notice the appearance, aroma, and taste of your lunch. This slower pace provides rest and restoration to a meal as opposed to the often frantic pace we keep when we attempt to squeeze lunch into a few minutes while rushing to the next thing. Then take a few moments to be grateful to God for the amazing texture and taste he created fr our pleasure and nourishment.

When we say day or period of time, we mean an entire day or several hours set aside to stop working and to remember and connect with God the creator of all.

Try This Practice:
Take a step or should I say seat, and begin to practice SABBATH. Here's a suggestion to get you started:

Each day this week, set aside 5 minutes with two things in mind:
1) Cease from that which is necessary
2) Embrace that which gives life

Once this week, set aside 4 hours to observe SABBATH by AVOIDING those things we would individually classify as work and PURSUE those things that give life.

As you enjoy sabbath, you might consider the words found in this verse.


Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17


When did you last spend time either resting, worshipping, feasting, playing, or simply sitting still?

Do you sense your soul is longing for sabbath?

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  1. Anonymous12/5/10 6:04 PM

    I posted a comment and it is not showing up.

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  2. Anonymous12/5/10 6:42 PM

    can you try again?

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  3. Anonymous12/5/10 8:24 PM

    this is a test

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