My First Sabbath

My first Sabbath is winding down, and although I'm not going to get this posted tonight (Friday), I wanted to get some highlights down a reflect a bit. My day has consisted of waking up without an alarm clock, drinking some coffee and eating weekend party cereal. Weekend party cereal is stocked in our house because when I work every day of the week, it helps me know what days are actually the weekend :) Okay, so maybe it's just an excuse to eat cereal that has too much sugar, but that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

The house is clean, laundry is done. Am I allowed to do that on a Sabbath? How about if I told you that cleaning, and being in a clean house, calms me? I'm hoping that makes a difference, because although I know it's doing "stuff," it's allowing me to relax, too. I made some lunch and Nick stopped by from work to have some great grilled cheese and pasta salad. I walked downtown with Nick after he got home from work and we took a look at the glass tray I made while Keri and Cindi were here. 

I picked up a few fall-scented candles which have made the cooler weather much more bearable. Don't get me wrong- I love fall, really. But Long's Peak had it's first dusting of snow this past week and I'm not looking forward to driving another winter. Would any of you come to my house for physical therapy? Hmmm...

Of course, one of the main purposes of my Sabbath is to reconnect with God. I opened the Bible to Luke 11. Immediately I read Luke 11: 9-10 that says, "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." God, you really want me to specifically ask you? Don't you know know what I need? Sometimes prayer is something I have had to grapple with. I pray. I believe in the power of prayer, I really do, but part of me wonders if God's will be done, then why specifically lift up my desires or needs in prayer? The bible says this (and many, many other things) about prayer:

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. :Romans 12:1:

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. :1 Thessalonians 5:16-1:

As for me, I call to God, and the LORD saves me. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. He rescues me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me. :Psalm 55:16-18: 

I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him. :Psalm 40:1-3:

This week, this Sabbath, prayer has been such a focus for me. I will cling to it as I get through the next few weeks without having a day off. Next on the list of things I want to be more intentional about? Being quiet and listening to God.