so sorry about the delay, but here's the first video for "sabbath." hope you enjoy it and that you will jump in on the conversations with your own thoughts and experiences with the book so far. we are LOVING it...
make sure and leave your comments so we know if there's anything you want us to spend time on in the next post. we appreciate you all so much and most of you should have gotten your free books...if not, in the next few days :)
so let's jump in!!!!
Untitled from angie smith on Vimeo.
Here are Wayne Muller's Practice recommendations from Rest:
* Set aside some time to light a candle and say a prayer for yourself or someone you love. (pg 22)
* Choose at least one heavily used appliance or device - the television, phone, computer - and let them rest for a Sabbath period. Surrender to the quality time where that device will not disturb and notice how you respond in its absence. (pg 27)
* Prepare a Sabbath meal (pg 33)
* Choose one common act during your day to serve as a Sabbath pause. (pg 39)
* Bless strangers quietly, secretly ("guerrilla compassion") (pg 47)
* Choose a period of time or an activity - such as a walk or hike, alone or with someone you love - when you refrain from speech. (pg 55)
* Make a Sabbath box. (pg 60)
Love,
Ang and Jess
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Thank you so much for choosing such a wonderful book! I always ignored my craving for complete silence. With a 3 and 2 year old and an 8 month old, I just thought it was something that was just NOT going to happen. I now understand the reason why I crave it so much is because it's an essential part of my existence.What a beautiful gift!!!!
ReplyDeleteI think it really clicked for me when he was talking about the 10 commandments..we can never see them as rules but rather guidelines to an abundant life and so the Sabbath should be just as important as not lying or stealing.
Whenever I get the urge to keep going and going I do what Jesus did...he just walked away and listen to the rhythm:0)Sit and Rest. Awesome
First of all, I would just like to say thank you for taking time to lead us in this discussion. Thank you for the effort and the planning that has gone into choosing this book, finding time to read and study it, finding time to make this video...it was all an effort by the both of you and your families. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI am encouraged by this book. I am inspired by the principles I have read in this book. I am challenged by the thought of having a consistent Sabbath rest.
Yesterday, I was putting events into my calendar at work and suddenly realized that from this weekend to the first weekend of the year I have something scheduled. Panic set in! I literally started hyperventilating! Because of what I have been reading, I was able to quiet my heart and contemplate on the principles that I have read, underlined and been meditating on these past few weeks. My heart literally slowed down and my breathing became normal as I prayed and asked the Holy Spirit to help me put into practice this habit of finding the Sabbath each day.
What resonated with me the very most in what I have read so far was on page 32..."If we forget to rest we will work too hard and forget our more tender mercies, forget those we love, forget our children and our natural wonder. God says: please don't . It is a waste of a tremendous gift I have given you. If you knew the value of your life you would not wast a single breath." Isaiah 58:13-14
Praying for you both as you prepare for the next section.
grace and peace to you and yours
~a
I have already been blessed by this book. As I started reading I underlined so much good content and things I want to remember. I don't believe I have ever read a book with such urgency. Sabbath is absolutely something we all are looking for, and to be able to read and seek God to find that Sabbath is priceless. I think this is an excellent book choice, and comes at such an important season in all our lives.
ReplyDeleteNice video. Interesting discussion on the book. This sounds like a really good book for a book club. I'm currently reading an interesting memoir called Voices of the Heart by Linda Lambert Pestana. It's a powerful, compelling, and inspiring story of the author's life...filed with hope. I'm loving it.
ReplyDeleteThank you for leading this book club! I am so enjoying this book. It is a balm. Isn't it amazing how we are surrounded by RHYTHM everywhere but we fight it and ignore it?
ReplyDeleteLoving the book!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Thank you, Thank you!
Wow. I am in such need of this book. I have had this overwhelming desire to slow down my life and enjoy the now instead of treading forward to what will be. Reading Sabbath is so good for my soul. It gives me steps to take to seek Sabbath daily. I find myself walking past strangers and praying blessings over them. My pastor recently shared on this very topic, again God's timing is always perfect. Scripture he shared that I love is "Careful planning puts you ahead in the long run; hurry and scurry puts you further behind." Prov21:5
ReplyDeleteAnother verse that causes me to pause is "Teach us to number our days and recognize how few they are; help us to spend them as we should." Ps 90:12
Thanks ladies, for your obedience and honesty in sharing with us all.
Thank you for listening to God's direction in choosing this book. It is definitely what I need for this time in my life. God has been speaking to me about a number of things in my life and is weaving the things I have read in the "Rest" portion of the book in with His words for me. How convicting the book has been. I definitely needed the reminder that rest is key so I can be the wife, mother, friend, daughter, sister God has called me to be. I will find myself getting so frustrated with circumstances, and if I would just spend time in Rest listening to the Lord, I would respond in love more often than responding in frustration. I have also realized that there are things I have not dealt with because I do not take the time to rest. Sometimes things are hard to face and deal with so the busyness of life is a good excuse to just gloss over and move on without addressing the root issues and feelings. I am realizing it is so important to deal with these things so I can be who God has called me to be.
ReplyDeleteI have underlined so many things I am going to need to continually go back to as reminders. I really like how the author gives the "practice" items after each section. This will help with the application. My goal is to try to practice one each week. I think this is more realistic than doing something daily :)
It is so refreshing and encouraging to understand that Jesus took time for rest. If it was okay for Him to rest, it is certainly okay for me!
I just received my book, and am looking forward to reading and going through with you. I wanted to look up the pictograph you mentioned from page 3 of the book so I did a google search. I found this blog post that I found going along with this on the same book, dated 6/13/01. :) http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200106/20010613_heartkiller.html
ReplyDeleteThank- you for the time you took to discuss and share this book. There are so many valid points that are so neccessary for all our lives. One of my favorite parts in this section was on page 43 when he talks about Jesus sermon on the mount. He said, "NOt they will one day be blessed but blessed are they right now".... "There is a blessing for you here, now, in this very moment." On that same page he talks about Jesus teaching of "Do not worry". THat is such an important reminder God is in control of all things and has a great big plan for each of us and in that plan he was so wise and wonderful to provide us with REST.
ReplyDeleteI am so excited about this book...I got it today and finished Rest and I was so encouraged and my eyes were opened! I kind of thought that maybe the book wouldn't necessarily apply to me, because I honestly dont feel like I'm that busy all the time. I am a stay at home mom to my son who is 6 months old and I do not work outside of the home. The thing is, I actually felt guilty and sad that I wasnt as busy and my life wasnt as hectic as the rest of the women in this club. Right when I started the book, I was amazed that the first thing that he said was that it makes us feel more self worth to know that we are busy! Wow - this was a real slap in the face to how I was feeling! I love the suggestions that he has, and cant wait to light a candle and rest. I realized that although I stay at home, I am busy in the things that I do here, and I need to take time for sabbath.
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate what you guys are doing and I appreciate that I was given a book because of our financial situation. I feel so completely blessed to be going through this book with you all!
-Hope
I too just got my book this afternoon. I couldn't wait to get it, especially after the video ya'll posted. I devoured the Rest section. Highlighter and pen in hand. All I could do was nod my head and say, Okay God, I hear you.
ReplyDeleteIn so many areas, He's been teaching me the value of resting in Him. That waiting in Him also means resting as well.
Thank you SO much for this book Ladies. I am blessed already, and haven't completed the book!
I look forward to more.
Resting in Arizona,
Peggy
I got my book yesterday and read Rest and Rhythm (I'm a little ahead, LOL!). My first thought as I was reading was, "don't discount the book just because of Amazon reviews.", my other thoughts were that it makes sense. We get so busy doing what we do in life that we don't even stop to think about resting and taking time for ourselves, especially taking time for ourselves and God. That's part of what daily devotions are for, to stop and rest and have time with God.
ReplyDeleteThis book is really making a deep impression on me - so many times I find myself reading along and then saying "Yes!" out loud, almost startled at how clearly it is speaking to me. So many thoughts that are so simple and yet so difficult for us in our busy times to put into practice but what a better world we would have if we could...Looking forward to continuing this journey
ReplyDeleteEileen
I am not quite completed the section on Rest, but I thoroughly enjoyed your video on the section. I, too, have been highlighting and taking notes. I can't wait to start putting into practice some of the suggestions. We have friends who take from Friday at supper to Saturday at supper as their Sabbath day. It has been through them and other friends that I have been encouraged to seek and learn and grow in the area of Sabbath.
ReplyDeleteAlready I have started taking from Saturday afternoon to Sunday afternoon as a Sabbath time. I am remembering to take moments throughout the day too.
As a homeschooling mom of 6 (all 9 and under), there is very little quiet in my day, in my week, in my life. I am searching so desprately for this Sabbath time.
I love the part about the 10 commandments (as many others have said). It really is the MAIN one that we FORGET and it is the ONLY one that says REMEMBER!!!!!
How amazing is our God. Thanks so much for sharing with us.
Thanks for the video ladies! I met you both at Relevant and was the one blabbing at your dinner table about how thankful I am that you stuck with this book!
ReplyDeletePOWERFUL has been the words :: truthful, refreshing, restorative, food for thought on so many levels. The absolute best book I've read on the Sabbath.
This section I appreciated deeply (we underlined some of the same parts :), especially the point about this Sabbath commandment beginning with the word 'Remember'. I'm taking that word and placing it in strategic areas of my home so my soul does not forget!
blessings & grace to you both....
I am trying to catch up with you guys. I have started reading the book and I've almost finished REST. I even took my book out on my back porch in the beautiful sun on my 9.5 acres and enjoyed a restful lunch reading. I am a full time working mom, so rest doesn't come often. Thanks for the book suggestion.
ReplyDelete