sabbath

Lent Day 33: I give up Imposed Timelines

March 21, 2021 — Leave a comment

If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord’s holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Isaiah 58:13-14

I give up the timelines I impose on myself. I give up this sense of urgency that is founded on scarcity and fear. I give up on doing so much for fear that if I stop, I’ll lose my place. I give up running at the speed of panic, living at the speed of panic. I give up your schedule for me. I give up your imposed deadlines on me. I give into timelessness. I give into the right timing. I give into trusting in God’s perfect timing. I give into the extra breath I need to take right now. I give into the rest I am called to live in.

CBG: #16

April 5, 2020 — 1 Comment

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.

2 Corinthians 3:17 – 4:2

Our weekly rhythm of sabbath — to see all we have done and learned and to remember all we have engaged with, because who you are today is not the same as who you were last week. If we are honest, if we can be even a little bit open to the work of God, if we had ventured even a foot into vulnerability and faith, who we are today is closer to we were created to be. The process of sanctification seems unkind until you stop to see what it’s trying to teach you. You are a champ. You are a warrior. You’re in the work. Please give yourself a hug, a kiss, a tap for being brave, creative and generous.

  1. What moment(s) did you feel God’s presence, close and kind?
  2. What moment(s) did you actively push God away?
  3. What emotion has been your friend this week?
  4. Where was joy?
  5. Where was heartbreak?
  6. What is one thing you can bring to next week to step more into your power?

Love to hear your thoughts! xo

CBG COVID Challenge: #6

March 26, 2020 — Leave a comment

I appeal to you therefore, brothers by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 12:1-2

For most of us (I’m hoping), we are staying put and doing what’s necessary to flatten the curve, not overwhelm our healthcare system and protect the most vulnerable (and ourselves) by doing less. It was an abrupt stop to the natural American rhythms of doing too much, staying busy and being everywhere at once. It was difficult. It was a sharp nose dive into a different pace and culture. We were forced into a kind of sabbath, maybe at first physically then if lucky, emotionally, mentally. Questions of life priorities, of what matters most, of what we truly need as human beings emerged. Maybe stillness popped in. Maybe a new normal or, an openness to a new way is starting to set in.

Then BAM. The challenges arrived. Post this. Inspire us! Make a video. Tag 5 friends. Post a picture. Tag 8 friends. Virtual FOMO anyone? Why didn’t I get that challenge invite? Everyone’s doing it. The need to make “quality content” seeps in. I spent 2 hours yesterday afternoon trying to tape a 1.5 minute monologue. Silly, silly, F.

The intentions of these challenges are probably well-meaning. However as more of these pop up and fill our minds and schedules, are they sneaky ways for the old way of life to wreck our new normal? Are we trying to fit in the former ways of doing too much and competition into this potentially new way of simplicity and enough-ness? Are we adapting to a new way or allowing old ways to dictate how to experience the now? How do we stay motivated without participating in another form of frenzy? What renewals and revelations did you initially experience that are fighting the conformity of the world?

Prayer: God remind me what a YOLO spirit-led life feels and looks like. Show me what I can let go and not participate in. Show me what discomforts I can grow in. Renew me. Refresh me.

Creative: Do something you loved when you were a kid.

Brave: Draw a boundary with something, somewhere or someone.

Generous: Who needs your patience today?