the Sabbath

this is a "concept" i've been thinking about for a few months - i may have even blogged about awhile back. i've continued to ponder it, discuss it with Pat, we even studied it in our Shepherd Group (Pat did an awesome job teaching on it!)

anyways, it's not a topic that i've heard taught about very much throughout my many years in the church. probably because it's hard to teach the TRUE spirit behind the "command" and not have it come across legalistic. well, i have discovered in my pondering/studying/thinking that i have truly missed a huge blessing all these years!

“This is what John says in 1 John 5:3 – For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. The measure of your love for God is the measure of the joy you get in focusing on him on the day of rest. For most people the Sabbath command is really a demand to repent. It invites us to enjoy what we don’t enjoy and therefore shows us the evil of hearts, and our need to repent and be changed.”
John Piper

the last couple months we have really tried to honor the Sabbath. not as a rule, or as a requirement, but out of obedience. we have tried to ENJOY each other, our children, and the Lord instead of being so caught up in our lists and "to-do's". we've tried to slow down, relax, and just BE. now, for anyone that knows me AT ALL, you can imagine how hard this has been! i have struggled with feeling lazy. i have struggled with "needing" to get things done. but i have been SO blessed by the time we've taken to ENJOY the day. when our kids ask to play a game, we say, "sure!" instead of, "after i finish ______". i am closer to my Lord, my husband, and my children as a result of this decision. and, to be honest, everything that has had to be done, has gotten done eventually!

not sharing to "guilt" anyone into anything - just sharing one of the biggest highlights of my week...and praying someone will be blessed by it.