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!" 

Sabbath Unplugged-8 Reasons To Unplug For Sabbath

8.  We can connect more meaningfully person to person with family and friends. Texting is efficient, Facebook is fun, e-mail is necessary, a phone call is more personal, but how about face to face conversation?  Actively listening. Observing body language, hugging, touching and being connected!
7.  We get more done.  I mean the "other stuff" not e-mail and computer work but other stuff!  You name it. (No really, I want you to name 10 things you could get done without  a computer on, T.V. radio, phone etc interrupting you!)
6.  It helps us focus, or gives a new focus.  What if you looked at a project, a book, a loved one, with all of your senses focusing on what you were doing.  How would that change things?
5.  It opens space for the unknown "Other" to grow.  How do you know what thoughts, ideas, creativity, relationships could flow into your life, if it's full of  someone else's stories, music, problems, nagging etc.
4.  It Forces us to be Creative.  Are you a little panicked at the thought of no phone, i-pod, TV, computer?  Good, let that panic begin to move you into a space of creativity!
3.  Silence IS Golden.  Spending time with our thoughts let's us know what we're still thinking! Can you do it?
2.  No Google forces you to exercise your memory.  If every answer is at our fingertips, our brain never has to use those memory synapsis which is a major way to keep it healthy!
1.  It let's "The Main Thing" be the main thing.  Let God be your God for the day.  Let Rest be Rest for the day.  Let one thing unfold into the next just for one day instead of multiple things happening at once.

A Sabbath Poem by Gerard Manley Hopkins

Pied Beauty
-By Gerard Manley Hopkins

Glory be to God for dappled things—
For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow;
For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim;
Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches’ wings;
Landscape plotted and pieced—fold, fallow, and plough;
And áll trádes, their gear and tackle and trim.
All things counter, original, spare, strange;
Whatever is fickle, freckled (who knows how?)
With swift, slow; sweet, sour; adazzle, dim;
He fathers-forth whose beauty is past change:
Praise him.

This poem is a part of a series that comes from the book “Earth Prayers,” a collection of daily earth honoring poems and prayers.

I Flunked Sabbath

I flunked Sabbath this week.  Oh sure there are a million good excuses, but the bottom line is, I cooked (poorly I might add), I totally redid my bedroom, I swapped my winter wardrobe out for my summer wardrobe (and am now freezing to death by the by!) and I watched television to relax.

I did absolutely nothing edifying, nothing restful, nothing healthy...SIGH

I don't even understand why there is an "F" in the grading system frankly.  Why do we have A-B-C-D and then F!  Would an "E" not have been bad enough hanging there just below a "D"?  Must our world insist that when we fail at something it is so heinous that we have to go two letters beneath the last below average grade? Is it because Fail and Flunk both start with F so someone assumed that if you aren't bright enough to at least achieve a D- they better make it an "F" for Fail so the dimwitted realize they Flunked and their Future is Futile!?!

Oh sure some people say, we'll give you an "E" for effort, but those are usually grandmas and really nice people, who aren't in charge of grading you at all!  There's no "E" for effort.  THERE"S NO "E" FOR EFFORT!  (Read this like Tom Hanks in "League of  Their Own" please!..."there's no crying in baseball!")

This weekend we heard the story of Jesus forgiving Peter.  Peter who had just betrayed him 3 times.  In Luke it says after the third betrayal, Jesus turned and looked right at him.  Ouch...Oh Peter your heart must have broken and you must have felt like such a failure.  Then the Gospel of John gives us this resurrection story where Jesus pulls Peter aside to speak with him.  Can you imagine the shame and trepidation he must have been feeling?  But Jesus gives him 3 chances to answer yes, to the question, "Do you love me?"  One for each of the betrayals.

Jesus came  to turn all of our big fat "Fs" around.  No longer are we burdened with wearing the yoke of "FAILURE, but the joy of FORGIVENESS"  I still flunked Sabbath, but it is a gift that I can reclaim this week, and besides, Jesus has made it so "failure" is just a bump in the road, not a place I have to live!

Sabbath Gift

What happens if you don't rest as part of a workout program? 

1. Decreased performance. 2. Disinterest in exercise. 3. Mood changes. 4. Delayed recovery time.5. Elevated resting heart rate. 6. Fatigue. 7. Insomnia 8. Diminished appetite.  9. Fat gain. 10. Weakened immune system. 

What happens if you don't take a break from computer use?  

1.  Eye Strain or clinical dry eye can develop. 2. Neck and shoulder fatigue and injuries can occur. 3.  Weight gain is more likely. 4. The chance of depression triples.  5. Anxiety with life situations is increased. 6. Friendships and relationships suffer. 7. Back and hip pain increases. 8. Ulcers and digestive issues increase. 9. Insomnia. Weakened Immune system

What happens if you drive too long without taking a break?  

1.  Eye strain. 2. Accident and injury potential. 3. Shoulder neck and back injury. 4.  Mental fatigue and confusion

Are you seeing a pattern here? 

 I remember when I was little and was suppose to take a nap.  I HATED naps.  As an extravert my FOMO (fear of missing out) was already alive and well.  I can remember my grandma saying, "Oh I wish I could take a nap, you don't know how lucky you are!"  Well "lucky" is in the eye of the beholder sometimes.  I didn't feel lucky I felt like I wanted to be up!

As God assured Jeramiah, My plans for you are to prosper not to do harm,  grown ups give chikdren the gift of napping, because their little bodies need to recover, and as any parent can tell you, to make life easier for everyone involved. 

Our bodies cry out for rest

Our minds cry out for rest

Our spirits cry out for rest

The Lord of Sabbath has given us the answer.  Never forget Sabbath is a gift for our benefit!  Why wouldn't we do it?

I rise in anticipation of greeting you God, and I walk with your presence in mind, but the day races relentlessly towards me, and the time gets harder to find. The relationship I seek and long for, seems to traitorously slip away, while duties, obligations and labor, begin to fill up my day.

So noontime I think, will be time to pause, to commune with the Savior I love, and then lunch comes, and it goes, and I still haven't paused to worship the Almighty above. As evening approaches and the sun sets in the sky, and the quiet of night settles in, I think the end of the day will open the way to let my prayer time begin.

Then my head hits the pillow in exhaustion once more, I feel drained yet fitfully sleep, both body and soul deficient somehow because of the meeting I failed to keep.

You have given us a gift of Sabbath Rest, a gift I repeatedly choose to ignore. Yet when I seek your face, and dwell in you my life is so much more. You offer us time and grace and love, a respite from life's demanding drive.  So let me absorb the refreshment of Sabbath, so I may truly thrive.

Communing With the Creator

I want to surround my Sabbath with reminders of why I am keeping the Sabbath!  Music, exercise, art and peace.

“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.” St. Francis of Assisi, author of this saying, was a master at proclaiming the gospel in creative ways. The creator of the living nativity, St. Francis made the good news of the birth of Jesus accessible to the people of his time through the use of worship visuals.

Andy Otto says, "Art has long been a way the Church has tapped into the divine.  art can unlock the secret depths of the heart. Though a painting stimulates the visual sense, there’s something about a painting that somehow touches the more interior parts of us too. "

Bob Gilroy has a wonderful site called, Prayer Windows.  There are steps on how to 

begin to pray with art.  
By adding something creative into Sabbath it seems like we commune with God THE Creator just a little bit.

In the Garden                                                                                            A view from above