Sabbath Rest

 

A few days away this week for rest. 

Pastors have a hard time catching Sabbath rest. 

It has to be planned and carved out.

Some time for catching fish in the golden hour.

Celebrating John's birthday and our first meal out

 since the start of the COVID shut down in March 2020.

Much to be thankful for in the start of the next birth year.

A beautiful evening sunset.

Shades of green-

reflected on the water.

A deep breath of rest-recharging,

that we may work from rest.

Blue Ridge Respite

 On the way back from a conference today

 and we went off the beaten path

 and the direct way home.

We could have rushed down the highway

 to the beat of whiz past miles-

 but we slowed a bit.

 We started out on the Blue Ridge Parkway

 out of Roanoke, VA.

We stopped at overlooks and got out.

A short Sabbath respite at the end

 of a packed couple of weeks.

Time to just breathe.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
Psalm 23:1-2

Hear the rushing water.

 Notice ripples dissolve and gather again.

He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
    for his name's sake.

       Psalm 23: 2b-3

Mark the many shades of green.

 Watch a butterfly taking a bit of rest-too.

It might be Wednesday- 

but it was much needed Sabbath rest.

Oh- give thanks.

When Your Soul Needs Respite

 It sneaks up on me. 

The desperate gasping of my soul

 for breath and nourishment.

I often plow right along. 

There is the "to-do" list. 

Places to go. Tasks with a deadline.

Yet, it is exactly in this busiest of seasons 

that I need to STOP 
and just take those few minutes 

to breathe slowly and deeply.

Time to admire the veining 

in the coleus that will soon wilt with frost.

Time to trace the glorious pink 

mandevilla that has climbed the pole on the deck.

To see the contrast behind of blue sky and clouds.

This is tilling soul time.

In Joyce Rupp's book 

May I Have This Dance?  she shares that 

"the human spirit is much like a spring garden. 

If growth is to happen, it too must be made ready.

 The human spirit must be opened up

 if God's goodness is to grow there. 

Open minds and hearts are ready to receive 

the abundant life God constantly offers."

So I take time to open up.....till....

Time to work up the soil with His Word in hand.

Time to offer up those in my heart in prayer.

Time to seek God's will in my life.

Time to look for where He is currently working.

In his book- A Praying Life- 

Connecting with God in a Distracting World,  

Paul E. Miller reminds us-

"It's okay to have a busy life.

It's crazy to have a busy soul."

Take a soul breath.

Enduring Word Bible- You Shall Rest

Enduring Word Bible-#25

You Shall Rest

Exodus 23:12

My worshipping community 

has been reviewing the topic of 

Working the Sacred in the Ordinary.

The reading for this week was about

Sabbath.

"Six days you shall do your work, 

but on the seventh day you shall rest..."

so that all those around you can rest too.

Oh, I struggle with this.

 I find that when I do take "time off",

I so enjoy a day to play and move 

throughout the hours without an agenda.

It is recreational as well as soul restorative.

It may not be on Sunday-

as that is often a "work day"

 in this season of life.

But, I hunt and chase those hours 

to spend reading and praying 

in the margins of my Bible.
Or reading.

Or catching up with the practices 

that mark and highlight the journey

 and shine the light on God's faithfulness.

So good... because He is good.

Supplies:

Colored pencil

Fine-point Sharpie pen

Washi tape

Chalk pastels
Matte Clear Acrylic sealer- (Plaid)
to seal the chalk