Rest and Replenishment...
Wednesday, June 4, 2008 at 9:02AM 
Greetings, Friends!
And to those visiting, I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way. It feels like ages since I've connected with you although it's only been a short time. Two weeks ago I was in North Carolina attending a writers conference, and last week, I was in recovery mode after our hugely successful benefit dinner for the International Justice Mission.
You may notice this post looking different these days. Well TypePad has kindly imposed some "improvements" to this site that have left me pulling out my hair and wanting to jump and and down and scream. How's that for a peaceful picture? This morning I had my blog all ready to post and if can say this, I loved what I wrote about rest and replenishment. I pushed the "Save" button and my post completely disappeared. I worked all morning on that little ditty and then it was gone. I just returned from an appointment and sat down to re-write this blog and for the last hour, I've battled with the elements and barely won. So here I am with blue font, no ability to post links, and feeling completely beside myself with frustration.
What a perfect time to stop, take a deep breath, and remember again what I wrote about this morning.
Before I get into my topic, I need to award May's winner of the $10.00 Caribou gift card. And the winner is...Lynda Bishop! Lynda, congratulations! Please email me at: info@susielarson.com to claim your prize.
Like coffee? Post some on this blog in June and you may be a winner!
Now on to my topic...
If you've heard me speak before, you've no doubt heard me say this: With all my heart, I believe one of the enemy's ploys in our day is to get us so over-committed, so depleted, that we completely lose our sense of wonder, awe, and peace. He wants us running in so many directions, or simply running too fast in one direction, that we forget that life is more than our task list.
I'm reading a wonderful book on the Sabbath by Wayne Muller. And though I don't agree with everything he writes, I'm learning again how to rest, not just on Sundays, but - to a certain degree - every day. There's something to be said about unstrapping the harness or setting down the load of cares, and resting for a moment.
We need Sabbath moments every single day.
Right now, I have all of my boys at home. And though two of them are preparing for their next phase of life, I have them with me now. I'm struck by how quickly their childhood came and went. My sons are now men. And so, for this short time, I relish their nearness. When we sit down together for dinner, I light a candle and sit down to enjoy my family. We take longer to eat; we linger at the table and laugh about trivial things. Dinners with my family have been Sabbath moments for me.
Another sacred time for me is the morning. Even on the brisk mornings my husband and I head out to the deck swing. Wrapped in a blanket and hugging our morning we coffee, we pray for our boys, our country, and for the safety of our friends at International Justice Mission. Mornings replenish me.
Since I am a doer, I must constantly watch over my schedule and make sure I'm not squandering my time on things God has not called me to do. I think a lot of us struggle doing a lot of good things at the expense of the highest and best thing.
So why do we go on overdrive and neglect our soul and body's need for rest? I submit that we do this for one of two reasons. 1 - We have a bloated view of self (we think we are the only ones who can save the world, or do our job, or whatever). 2 - We have a shriveled view of God (we lose sight of the fact that He holds it all; He provides it all; and He commands us to rest).
Read this excerpt from Muller's book on the Sabbath:
"Sabbath requires surrender. If we only stop when we are finished with all our work, we will never stop - because our work is never completely done. With every accomplishment there arises a new responsibility. Every swept floor invites another sweeping, every child bathed invites another bathing. When all life moves in such cycles, what is ever finished? The sun goes round, the moon goes round, the tides and seasons go round, people are born and die, and when are we finished? If we refuse rest until we are finished, we will never rest until we die. Sabbath dissolves the artificial urgency of our days, because it liberates us from the need to be finished."
I love that.
Sabbath moments are the exhale to our inhale. They are the ebb of the flowing tide. They are the down beat in the rhythm of life. Just as it's impossible to be healthy by only eating on the weekends, it's impossible to enjoy a peaceful, rhythmic life without responding to your body's and soul's regular need for a little down time.
Sit in your car in the parking lot, put your head back, and soak in the words to a profound song. Pull into a park, and sit on a bench. Watch the trees sway in the breeze and ask God for that kind of flexibility. Get up early, or stay up late, and take a few moments to ponder the idea that you are someone God loves.
Refuse the staleness of a hurried life.
Work hard, yes. Do what yo do with excellence. But don't think for a moment that your tasks are more important than the condition of your soul.
In his book, "Celtic Devotions", Dr. Calvin Miller penned this profound little prayer, "Lord, Help me to remember that I can make more bricks in six days than I can in seven."
I love that too. :)
Be fully present with your family around the table tonight. Take hold of those promised Sabbath moments God offers you each day. And when you feel that inner nudge to spend a little more time with Him, consider yourself honored to do so.
Have a blessed week~
Reader Comments (22)
I'm in a season where I feel like I never rest. It just doesn't happen. It won't "just happen" of course.
We home schooled for the first time this year (four of the five kids are school-age) and we aren't done yet for the year.
I long for rest from that--but sometimes I settle for little escapes.
Time hiding in the kitchen on the internet is a very poor substitute for rest.
Your site a good example of the kind of sites I visit, so it's not like I'm day-trading. ;-)
A forty day fast? Good for you! I would love to hear more about what God is teaching you during this time.
Thanks for your words of encouragement. I really appreciate you.
Blessings to you~
Thank you for your post! I'm honestly surprised anybody noticed I was MIA for two weeks! Thank you for your encouragement.May you find rest in Him today~
Love this post too...I have daily rests. I think I am addicted to them. Once in awhile on the weekends I miss a day and feel depleted, can't wait to sit again with Jesus!
Thanks for pushing through and posting in blue:)
We were pondering that this morning. Because He only felt the need to do what God was showing him to do, instead of like us, everything that we thought needed doing.
Anyway, all of that to say this, we left our discussion pondering why, when we do manage to be still and quiet, we still have a sense of unrest within. Like our subconscious brain is still going, going, going out of habit. And if, after practice being still, if that would stop?
Anyway, thank you so much for the post - despite the patience working frustration!! Have a great week!
GO IJM!!
Love in Christ, Loree
We were pondering that this morning. Because He only felt the need to do what God was showing him to do, instead of like us, everything that we thought needed doing.
Anyway, all of that to say this, we left our discussion pondering why, when we do manage to be still and quiet, we still have a sense of unrest within. Like our subconscious brain is still going, going, going out of habit. And if, after practice being still, if that would stop?
Anyway, thank you so much for the post - despite the patience working frustration!! Have a great week!
GO IJM!!
Love in Christ, Loree
Blessings, my friend.
Suzie
It was such a delight to meet you at the IJM Banquet. I love your passion for justice and for the heart of God.
May God provide you with many Sabbath moments this week!
Peace to you~
You are wise beyond your years. Thanks for that wonderful testimony.
This is a subject that bears re-visiting, over and over again. We get moving too fast; we forget our need; we misjudge our frailty; and we overlook the command to rest. May God help us not only obey, but also enjoy His invitation to come away and rest a while.
Enjoy your gift card and may you enjoy many Sabbath moments along the way! I appreciate your regular posts and continual encouragement.Be blessed, my friend~
Hmmm, it sounds like someone might have earned herself some coffee. :)
Blessings~
I loved your post! It absolutely made me smile.
How important it is to remind one another to slow down, smell the flowers, and enjoy the moment.
If there are momentary regrets before walking through the gates of heaven, I'll bet many of us will look over our shoulder, remember how we rushed to and fro, and will wish we would have trusted God enough to rest.
Thanks so much for interviewing me!
I appreciate you!
Blessings~
This was so powerful. You've challenged me...
I'll look forward to coming back♥
Enjoy your time with your sons, time does go before you know it...
How wonderful to meet you!
Guess what? I visited your site and as soon as I arrived there, that lovely song, "The more I seek You" started playing (love that song). Within a few seconds, my son Luke (who is a worship leader) sat down with his guitar and started playing and singing along. It was a perfectly sweet moment.I hope you'll visit again.Peace to you~
I probably wouldn't agree with everything the author said either, but I know that I need rest... And it did not ruin the beginning of the week to take a day off from the relentless demands of having a home to keep clean. (A home that is on the market, I might add.)
I even took a nap on Sunday! And last evening, too!!
You're prayers are being answered with a resounding, "Yes!" and I don't know what I will do with myself with all of this luxurious rest!