Catch Your Breath!

 Job 33:4 

The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the

Almighty gives me life.

Genesis 2:7 

Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.

2 Timothy 3:16 

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.

John 20:22 

And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

Job 27:3 

As long as my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils.

Job 34:14-15 

If he should set his heart to it and gather to himself his spirit and his breath, all flesh would perish together, and man would return to dust.

Ezekiel 37:9 

Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”

Isaiah 42:5 

Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it:

Psalm 150:6 

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!

The sabbath  table should be set with at least two candles (representing the dual commandments to remember and observe the sabbath), a glass of wine, and at least two loaves of challah. The challah loaves should be whole, and should be covered with a bread cover, towel or napkin. From the Jewish Virtual Library

These Sabbath guidelines are clearly for Jewish Sabbath, yet I find that there is something comforting and beautiful in their tradition and order.  I have been practicing Sabbath with more purpose for almost a year now and I seem to have a whole list of things which I am trying to avoid doing on the Sabbath, but very few requisites. 
I suppose an argument could be made that requirements are one of the things from which we need to rest or Sabbath, but I feel like there are lovely meaningful additions which could be added.

Here is a list of things I am going to try to add into my Sabbath this next week...

Good Music:  I am a musical wimp.  I don't know when this happened, but one day I realized that I never get to have my choice of music as the one that's blaring from any speaker in my world. (The exception being cleaning time when I insist on having the Proclaimers blasting louder than the vacuum!) Everyone seems to feel free to turn my radio station off when they are in my vehicle (isn't there some etiquette guide about that?) and I never seem to be the "FIRST" when it comes to music in the house, and it seems rude (to me and only me evidently)  to change someone else's tunes.  So on Sunday's I will take a stand! (Or maybe invest in,or borrow one of the kid's, good pair of headphones.)

Prayer: I pray, a little, sort of.  Usually if I'm taking a walk or when it's snowing I remember to pray, until I start making a to-do list in my head.  I need to add prayer journaling or an intentional form of prayer into the day instead of just hoping I remember.

Art:  I have been pretty good about this actually.  It help that my daughter is getting married and we have had some "artsy" kinds of things to do.  But like anything else it won't happen unless I plan it into the day (which includes having supplies ready)

That's it for now, maybe I'll keep thinking of things which would make Sabbath better and special but not laborious!

Slow Cooker Zuppa Toscana

· 1 lb. sausage

· 2 large russet baking potatoes , sliced in half, and then in 1/4 inch slices

· 1 large onion , chopped

· 1/4 c. bacon bits (optional)

· 2 garlic cloves , minced

· 2 c. kale or swiss chard , chopped

· 16 oz. can chicken broth

· 1 quart water

1 c. heavy whipping cream

1. Brown the sausage in a skillet over medium-high heat until no longer pink.

2. Place cooked sausage, chicken broth, water, garlic, potatoes and onion in the slow cooker.

3. Cover & Crock on High for 3-4 hours until potatoes are cooked and soft.

4. Optional: Mash the potatoes a bit with a potato masher for texture.

5. Turn the slow cooker off and add the kale.

6. Return the lid and let sit for 5 minutes.

Stir in whipping cream and serve.

What's the Difference Between, Resting, Relaxing and Recharging?

 Sabbath Rest ~ And Relaxation ~And Recharging

Are they different? Are they the same?  Do we need all three?  YES-YES-and-YES.  Resting can be relaxing but it can be more than that and it can lead to recharging, but recharging is also different. 


There, have I cleared things up?  Sabbath is a time to do all three!

REST  
We need to rest when we are tired.  Rest helps us move forward, rest is a necessity needed from an action we have taken which depletes us physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually. Here are some ways to rest:
1. Take a day off! (I like to call that day Sabbath!)  And I mean really take it off!  Don't check e-mails, or phone messages, don't do the thing that is expected when you are working.

2. Sleep!  Perhaps that means taking a nap if necessary but go to bed early and purposefully.
3. Be aware of what your body is telling you.  If you are a runner and something hurts....maybe now you are a jogger, or a walker.  Look for and listen to stress indicators and then act on them. 

Relax 

Relaxing is active.  I know that sounds like an oxymoron but the difference between resting and relaxing is this: When you rest you cease to do the norm which tires you out.  When you relax you do something to ease your body, mind or spirit. Here are some examples for ways to relax:
 1.  Take a walk, swim, float, meditate, do yoga etc. some sort of movement which changes your frame of mind and lets your body unwind. 2. Read, o write or compose.3.  Play! solitaire, or a group game or anything that lets you "be" in a totally different space from the norm.

Recharge
When we recharge we are building something into our repertoire which will encourage us and sustain us for our daily activities.  Here are some examples for ways to recharge.
1.  Take a class, learn something new
2.  Serve!  (My grandma use to say, "Whenever you're sad, whenever you're blue, do something nice for someone sadder than you !)
3.  Engage in a favorite hobby or start a new one. Engage/develop your creativity

22 Things to Say "No" to on Sabbath

Just for one day say no to:

Take a break from spending

Take a break from rushing

1. Consumption
2. Putting things on the calendar
3. News
4. Meetings
5. Shopping
6. Complaining
7. Gossiping
8. Worrying
9. Being indoors
10. The mundane
11. Hurry
12. Computers
13. Knowing all the answers
14. The ordinary
15. Ugliness
16. Being the one to set the pace
17. T.V.
18. The old
19. Work
20. Doubt
21. Laziness
22. Noise

28 Things to say Yes to on the Sabbath

When our lives are busy and we declare one day a week as "Sabbath"... something different... something set apart, sometimes it can be challenging to figure out what that means.  If we're not doing the ordinary, how do we fill our time?

1. Joyful Worship
2. Feasting
3. Teach someone something
4. Paint
5. Learn how to play an instrument
6. Surprise someone who is lonely with a visit
7. Pay "it" forward A link to "pay it forward" ideas
8. Do a Bible study
9. Learn something new
10. Memorize poetry or Scripture
11. Journal
12. Pray
13. Walk, and enjoy the surroundings
14. Float don't swim
15. Nap
16. Read
17. Bask
18. Feast
19. Play
20. Listen attentively
21. Be outside rain or shine
22. Play a board Game
23. Bake
24. Make a puzzle
25. Call a friend
26. Write a Thank you note
27. Do Yoga
28. Be

Am I the Boss Of Everyone's Sabbath?

I had a lovely Mother's Day.  Church, being with all my kids, visiting Grandma, time at home, reading in the sun, putting my feet up, a lovely cook-out, strawberry shortcake, gifts, Perfection!  But I started feeling a bit guilty. If the rest of the family allows me to "lie-about" all day are they actually embracing Sabbath?  Which begs the question...am I the boss of everyone's Sabbath?  My youngest is only 14 so I'm going with a 'yes' for him.  Also as the mom, I do kind of set the tone for the day, but I don't think one can force Sabbath on others, nor would that be effective. Or would it?  Remember the concept of planning ahead?  Remember when there were no open stores on Sundays...and we all survived? Remember when the gas stations weren't open on Sundays, and we filled up on Saturdays?

Whittlesey Landscaping has this statement on the front page of their website: The Whittlesey family made the decision to close on Sundays in the belief that it's important that all of our employees have an opportunity to spend time with family and friends, rest, and worship if they choose to do so. We believe that this choice is an integral part of our desire to staff both of our locations with a spiritually and mentally healthy, happy, and helpful team of employees.  They are if not enforcing, at least enabling their own family and friends to have a bit of Sabbath. At one time a touch of Sabbath was forced on us, and it made it easier to slow down.  Now I feel like I'm fighting every week to maintain peace and rest.   YES "Fighting for peace and rest" IS an oxymoron, but that is the world in which we live.  We must, if not fight for our own chunk of Sabbath, at least practice it.
Abraham Joshua Heschel say this,

"Perfect Rest is an art.  It is the result of an accord of body, mind and imagination." 

So if society isn't going to roll up the streets on Sundays just so we can pause and take a breath, perhaps it is the "mama's job!"