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.