Really enjoying being with you all for Bible study and visiting on Tuesday nights. So good to be with friends from Australia, England, New Hampshire, Missouri, Florida, Hawaii, Kentucky, Indiana, and many places in Ohio, including Oregonia, the center of the universe. Last night we studied how to handle a national crisis according to 2 Chronicles 20:1-30. Thanks so much for joining me. Feel free to share the link with anyone, anywhere.

 

We have a unique, mandated opportunity right now to celebrate sabbath while we shelter at home. If you’ve never been with me when I teach this over a weekend or at least a whole day, join me for a full face-to-face retreat sometime soon.

 

“To act as if the world cannot get along without our work for one day in seven is a startling display of pride that denies the sufficiency of our generous Maker.”—Dorothy Bass

 

In the meantime, whether this is a review or an introduction, consider integrating these four elements over a 24 hour period:

1.            Ceasing

2.            Resting

3.            Embracing

4.            Feasting

 

Ceasing—literally stop. Stop anything you must, should, or ought to do.

Psalm 46:10

Psalm 127:2

Deuteronomy 16:8

Psalm 27

Luke 10:38-42

• Am I available to everyone 24/7/365?

• Do I suffer (and cause others to suffer from my) CPA—Continuous Partial Attention?

• Who or what receives 100% of me?

• What does it take for me to come to a complete stop, turn the engines off, and let the idling cease?

• Can I power down everything with an on/off switch for 24 hours without twitching?

• Am I afraid of silence? Why?

• How can I integrate ceasing into my life?

• Where can I create “mini-sabbaths”?

• How can I rearrange my life so I have 24 hours each week without anything I ought, should, must, feel obligated, or have to do?

 

Resting-- When was the last time you were completely at rest, engine shut off and cooled down, tanks topped off?

• Am I sleep deprived?

• What drives me?

• Does my leisure time restore me? Or just waste time?

• What relaxes me?

• How can I experience genuine rest…

  • Physically

  • Mentally

  • Emotionally

  • Spiritually

 

Embracing—How do I most effectively and wonderfully engage with the important people in my life?

• Am I genuinely connecting with

• God?

• Self?

• Others?

• Friends?

• Family?

• Life?

• Where do I have true fellowship and community?

• Who are the life-giving friends in my life?

• How can I embrace the people in my life?

• What activities do I enjoy with others?

• What do we enjoy doing together as a family?

• What does it mean to me to truly enjoy time with God?

 

Feasting-- What feeds my soul, what is God-honoring celebration, Joy without darkness?

• Where is the God-honoring pleasure in my life?

• When do I sense God smiling?

• Do I know how to play?

• What special elements can I add to make the Sabbath a feast?

• How can I celebrate the goodness of God?

• How is God calling me to enjoy my day with Him…?

  • Reading a non-ministry, non-leadership, non-improving book

  • Walking, running, biking

  • Spending all day at the park

  • A wonderful meal in (and out, once we are free to go out)

  • Playing games

  • Projects

  • Tinkering and puttering

• Word

• Worship

• Prayer

• Play

• Sports

• Art

• Music

• Dancing

• Good food

• Movies

• A special event (online, for right now)

• Crafts

• Favorite foods

• Fun and laughter

 

Sabbath is a life-giving celebration of out trust in our Creator. May we use the take advantage of this surreal time to use it for something truly wonderful!