As many of you know I like reading books. I read a book last year that was called “Keeping the Sabbath Holy, by Marva Dawn and I thought it had a lot of great truths. As Marva says and I agree, keeping the Sabbath is not to be kept in a legalistic way. But if we take the words of Jesus seriously when he said “the Sabbath was made for man” (Mark 2:27 ) and follow through by having a day of rest, we can be renewed spiritually, emotionally, physically and intellectually. I am so mindful of the busyness of people these days. Some people seem stressed, often running here and there, trying to keep up with demands of the world, children and work. The world offers all these things that are constantly in our faces, luring us to do this, try this and go here and there. It’s good to be involved and try new things, but it’s also good to take time out. Like God says, “be still and know that I am God” (Ps 46:10). As God himself rested on the 7th day, and we are made in his image, how much more do we need it!
Marva tells the story of some Jews who were treading across the USA many years ago. They all stopped on the Sabbath to rest. As the year went on and winter started to close in, half the group decided not to rest on the Sabbath thinking they could reach their destination in time. The other half kept resting on each Sabbath - and in the end arrived before those who travelled every day!   I believe if we do take the time to ‘rest’ on a day each week our lives will be more productive, our energy levels will rise, our emotional levels and anxieties will decrease and our spirits refreshed. Marva makes some suggestions:- prepare food the day before, spend some time alone and also with friends/family/church, enjoying each other’s company, worshipping together, laughing, being creative, or walking, anything that’s not work. It’s always a choice…..take up the challenge!!

Julie Davis