Make Sabbath Sticky

As we are wrapping up our teaching on Sabbath, I am challenged with how to make this spiritual practice “sticky” in my life. It is easier to practice when Sabbath is top of mind, but how will we balance Sabbath as we also look to incorporate generosity.

To that end I read an interesting article 7 Sabbath Tips from 15 Years of Practice. I encourage you to go read the article, and consider applying some of these very practical tips to your Sabbath practice.  The hook the author Austin Gohn used in the article is moving and I would like to offer it to all of you here.

In a recent interview with former senator Ben Sasse, who is dying of Stage-4 pancreatic cancer in his fifties, he was asked, “Is there advice that you would give to someone who is the Ben Sasse father of three at age 40 or age 35, when the kids are young and everything’s stressful and chaotic? In light of where you are now?”

“No. 1, honor the Sabbath and keep it holy. Man, I wish I’d treated the Lord’s Day differently over the course of my life. I’ve always known it, believed in it and thought: Maybe next week we’ll get better. We’ve been at Sunday worship every morning forever, but man, am I tempted by 12:45 or 1:30 in the afternoon to get back to work or, to an addictive level, work about the N.F.L. Boy, I would treat Sabbaths differently — and especially digital intrusions into the Sabbath.”

So, brothers and sisters, we are challenged to consider our own mortality and seize each Sabbath day with delight!  Let us not forget this practice as we endeavor on in our abiding practices. Let us worship God in Sabbath practice, not out of obligation or duty, but out of reverance for God.  Trusting that He will bring the blessing for our faithfulness.

Steve Poole
Pastor of Youth & Young Adults

What did you think of this article? Did you laugh? Cry? Learn something new? Let Steve know below.

Deep Waters

It is said that water covers about 71% of the Earth’s surface, and only 3% of it is fresh, with much of that locked in ice. Isn’t that interesting? There is no doubt that water is vital and essential for our overall well-being. Doctors often remind us that drinking enough water keeps us hydrated.

In Genesis 1:6, it says, “And God said, ‘Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.’” Then in verse 7, “So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it.”

I don’t know about you, but I cannot swim. Ironically, though, I really enjoy being in the water–just not deep water. My fear is that the waves and tides might sweep me away. I always get nervous about going too deep because I don’t know what lies ahead. This tension between the fear and love for water is something I have lived with my entire life.

But what if I told you that God sometimes calls us into deeper waters–not so we can drown, but so we can rise above the waves and tides? As I have matured in my faith, I see God calling me into even deeper waters. Isaiah 43:2 reminds us, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.” This assurance from God is both calming and, at times, a little frightening.

Maybe you’re like me and feel God calling you into deeper waters. For me, it has meant walking by faith and not by sight remembering that the same God who made the waters will see me through to the other side. I have had to lay my fears of deep waters at His feet and embark on the journey.

Being in deep water has brought a sense of awe and even excitement. I am reminded that no matter how high the waves and tides rise, God is with me.

Frankline “Franky” Tshombe
Children’s Church Leader

Did you enjoy this article? Did you laugh, cry, or learn something new?  Let Frankline know.