Tag Archives: Time

What Is A Sabbath And Why Do I Need One?

The Bible commands us to remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy. The concept of the Sabbath, a day of rest and reflection, is deeply embedded in various religious traditions around the world. In the Abrahamic faiths, particularly Judaism and Christianity, the Sabbath holds immense importance and is an important part of the foundation that everything else is built upon. Today I want to talk about some of the reasons behind God’s establishment of the Sabbath and spend a little time thinking about the sabbath’s enduring relevance, especially in the hustle and bustle of the contemporary society we live in today!

Sabbath Commemorates Creation

One of the primary reasons God instituted the Sabbath is to commemorate the creation of the universe as described in the Book of Genesis. According to the Bible, God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh day. By observing the Sabbath, believers are reminded of God’s creative power and the sanctity of all life. Rest is not a bad thing, it is a necessary thing. All of us should build rest into our lives. Rest allows time for the resetting of our mind, re-energizing of our body and revival of our spirit.

Sabbath Is A Time For Spiritual Renewal and Reflection

The Sabbath provides a designated time for individuals to disconnect from the demands of everyday life and focus on their spiritual well-being. It allows meaningful time for introspection, meditation, and a deeper connection with the Divine. This period of rest rejuvenates the soul and fosters a sense of inner peace. Our lives discover their greater meaning through the discipline of a sabbath.

Sabbath Helps To Build Community & Strengthen Family Bonds

The Sabbath encourages getting together for worship and growing family togetherness. It provides an opportunity for families and communities to gather, share meals, and engage in meaningful conversations and meaningful fellowship. This communal aspect strengthens social bonds and nurtures a sense of belonging, which all of God’s creation needs.

Sabbath Teaches Us To Resist The Tyranny of Work

In a world driven by productivity and materialism, the Sabbath serves as a counterbalance. It reminds individuals that their worth is not solely determined by their work or achievements. Taking a day of rest acknowledges the inherent value of each person and their need for spiritual and emotional nourishment. It is one of the greatest ways to take on and take out the attack of our ego.

Sabbath Promotes Physical And Mental Well-Being

Regular rest is crucial for physical health and mental well-being. The Sabbath encourages individuals to prioritize self-care, allowing them to recharge and face the challenges of the week ahead with renewed vigor. It is very possible to burn yourself out and then you are literally good for nothing.

Sabbath Encourages Us To Practice Gratitude

Observing the Sabbath fosters a sense of gratitude for the blessings in one’s life. It prompts individuals to reflect on the abundance they have received and acknowledge the source of their blessings. This gratitude cultivates a positive outlook and a deeper appreciation for life. The old Gospel hymn says to count your blessings and name them one by one…

Sabbath Sets a Moral and Ethical Standard

The Sabbath emphasizes the importance of ethical behavior and justice. It calls believers to reflect on their actions and consider how they can contribute to a more compassionate and just society. This moral reflection extends beyond the Sabbath, influencing daily conduct. It is amazing how just slowing down and getting quiet will allow the mind to find solutions that were there all along.

The establishment of the Sabbath by God carries profound spiritual, communal, and ethical significance. It serves as a timeless reminder of our connection to the divine, the importance of rest and reflection, and the value of human relationships. In a fast-paced world, the Sabbath stands as a bright light of tranquility and a continual source of spiritual nourishment, offering respite and renewal to all who take the time to observe it by putting it into practice.

Daily Gifts!

When I was a young boy growing up, I remember the older folks saying: “The older you get the quicker time flies!” I remember it used to seem like it took forever for Christmas to get here. Now that I have lived more than a few years, I have discovered that what the older folks were saying is very much true. I’m not sure why it is this way, but it seems that every year, the days go by faster and quicker than the year before.

I am at the age now that I realize what a precious gift a day is. Once it is spent, we cannot get it back and so I try to get the most out of and enjoy every one I get. At some point in my life, I read some where that every day presents us with three very special gifts. Those gifts are: Time, energy and choice.

Every day presents us with the gift of time. We have 24 hours to rest and sleep, to work and earn; and to serve ourselves and others. We all get the same amount of time in a day, but we each get to make our own choices about what we are going to do with that time. We should be careful to use it wisely, since there is a limited supply.

Every day presents us with the gift of energy. As we get older, we don’t have quiet as much of this as we used to. How many times have you seen a bunch of adults sitting around watching the kids run all over the place and heard someone exclaim: “If I had that much energy, I’d bottle it up and sell it!” If we use our energy wisely, it will reward us in incredible ways.

Everyday presents us with the gift of choice. We choose to stay in bed or get up. We choose what we are going to eat, if we are going to eat at all. We make choices about our choices! When we stop and think about it, what an amazing gift, the gift of choice is. Choose to live the most amazing life possible.

These three gifts are gifts that we way to often, tend to take for granted. I challenge you for whatever days you have left, to take time to think about, appreciate and utilize your daily gifts. Manage your time and get the most out of your moments. Use your energy wisely and protect it’s source. Get what you want out of this life, by choosing your activities carefully, so that you are not wasting the precious gift of time. Life is about more than minutes, it is about moments, so get the most out of everyone you’ve been gifted with… 🙏🏻

It’s About Time To Stop Wasting Time!

Have you ever stopped to think about how much time we waste on stuff that really does not matter? I call this stuff that we waste our time on the “nonessentials”. This is the stuff that has no eternal significance and no real ultimate meaning. One of my professors in college called it “puff and fluff”.

Think about it for a moment – how much time do you spend on stuff that really does not matter? How much time do you waste being distracted by things that do absolutly nothing for your soul? We allow way to much stuff to come into our lives and eat away at what really matters from the inside-out.

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.” Ecclesiates 3:1-8

It is past time to begin distancing yourself from the unproductive stuff that wastes your prescious commodity of time. Time is one of those things that we all have a limited supply of. I don’t care how much money you have, you cannot buy anymore time. What you got you got and that’s it!

On one side of tracks of life you have the stuff that does not really matter, the time wasters, life suckers and blessing thieves. On the other side of your life you have the things that do really matter, the blessings, the growth and your purpose. Every moment of everyday you make a decison about which side of the tracks you are going to live on.

Stop letting fear, misunderstanding and negativity keep you from experiencing the strength, growth and positivity you were created for. You were created for this miraculous experience called life, so that you might learn, grow and develop into the amazing creation that you are.

From your Spirit, learn to:

1.) Embrace all that you are and all you were created for.

2.) Enjoy this miraculous experience called life for all it has to offer.

3.) Experience the joy that comes from really living by getting the most out of every moment…