Sabbath

I have waxed and waned about keeping the Sabbath for years with various ideals and thoughts. Maybe these thoughts will inspire you to consistently cease every 7th day. Ceasing, Resting, Embracing, Feasting - that's what the call is from God since the beginning of creation. If God rested after 6 days of work, maybe I should. Especially since He told us to. Quotes from "Keeping the Sabbath Wholly" by Marva Dawn (I love this book):

"Genesis 2:2 -literally says that God "ceased" on the seventh day of creating."

"Sabbath ceasing....ceasing from the humdrum and meaninglessness that results when life is pursued without God at the center of it all...."

"A great benefit of Sabbath keeping is that we learn to let God take care of us - not becoming passive and lazy, but in the freedom of giving up our feeble attempts to be God in our own lives."

"The first mention of the word "Holy" ("set apart") is toward the Sabbath."

"Most American work 5 days a week and then spend the weekend trying to do everything that needs to be done around the house and yard. Consequently, the Sabbath day is not a day of ceasing from work because the pressure of the work that "needs to be done" at home matches the pressure of the work that earns one's salary."

"To cease working the Sabbath means to quit laboring at anything that is work. Activity that is enjoyable and freeing and not undertaken for the purpose of accomplishment qualifies as acceptable for Sabbath time."

"The freedom of play is a direct result of ceasing work." (Tennis, anyone?)

She also suggests (and this is just the first chapter!) her Sabbath starts Saturday - preparing, cleaning, cooking - getting ready to rest and feast with friends and family the following day. Saturday evening she lights 2 candles: "Obey" and "Remember" - the command of Sabbath. She often is refreshed and ready on Monday to tackle the week because her rest was so complete.

How do you cease and create a rhythm of work and rest?