Just Reviewed: Sabbath Keeping
Sabbath Keeping: Finding Freedom in the Rhythms of Rest by Lynne M. Baab
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Sabbath Keeping is a fresh look at an important antidote to our chronic busyness.
I love it that Lynne Baab does not approach the topic from the vantage-point of “law.” Rather, she comes at it through a seasonal metaphor. Life is full of seasons. Sabbath rest is an organic, season in our week. It is a rhythm of life. Those who participate in this special gift of God–one day out of seven–experience a harvest of peace and joy in the midst of their lives.
She also gives practical helps for those interested in going deeper or launching into a Sabbath. She gives multiple solutions for those who want to move out of the cultural torrent, to the still waters of a deeper spirituality.
Since I have been keeping a Sabbath with my wife for two years now, I find her suggestions and conclusions to be right on target. I highly recommend this book to veterans or those just thinking about the need for a quiet space in their week.
Time to Break Camp
The Lord our God said to us at Horeb, ‘You have stayed long enough at this mountain. Break Camp and advance into the hill country . . . go to all the neighboring peoples . . . ‘
–from Deut. 1:6-7 NIV
I have a feeling that some of us just need to GO today—as in move out and trust God. Go in obedience to Him ONLY.
Have you ever heard the saying, “When the going gets rough, the rough get going.” The idea is that winners face what is difficult by taking action.
The action believers are called to is to GO! Are you willing to GO? Going requires several actions on our part:
* We must choose to obey. Everything begins when I choose to say “yes” to God. I must love Him enough to be willing to go against my tendency toward laziness.
* We must break camp. We must be willing to step out of our comfort zones—intentionally.
* We must move out (by faith). We must DO something that demonstrates our seriousness.
Ask God to give you opportunities this week. Ask someone you know who cares about lost people to pray with you this week about this.Then watch God prove His love for the lost through you.
Could this be confirmation for you? Are you amazed? As though the Lord is speaking directly to you? Just make your decision, trusting that you CAN depend fully upon His love–even if you make a mistake.
What a thrill awaits you as God lets you share His love with others. The Lord bless us all as we watch the great things God will do in our midst as we reach out beyond our current boundaries.
©2012, David C Alves
Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership: A Brief Review
Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership: Seeking God in the Crucible of Ministry by Ruth Haley Barton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book can be extremely helpful for leaders who know that “something is missing” in their leadership or lives. Perhaps you’ve come to that place where everything has lost its luster. You may have been in a really good place, but things have slipped. Or perhaps you’re looking great on the outside, but in your heart of hearts, you KNOW that something’s missing. Something’s not quite right.
Pay attention to that feeling!
The sense of that void or lack is God’s tap on the shoulder to draw near to Him to see what He will say and do. In my case, He did (and continues to do) great things. I am journeying with Him in a new freedom because of His grace to suggest to my spirit that something was missing. I really went through a “dark night of the soul.” On the other side, I see that it was a season of spiritual breakthrough and growth necessary to go on to the next level of sonship or into the next season of life with Abba.
For me, that something is majored on in this book. And really laid out clearly in Ruth Barton’s other book Invitation to Solitude and Silence: Experiencing God’s Transforming Presence.
For your sake, your church’s sake, and to His glory, read her books and take what is good. Those nuggets that the Lord uses as you journey with Him will make all the difference in your leadership and sonship (for more on “sonship” for both men & women, see my book: We’re The “sons Of God”. . .So What?: Believe God About Who You Really Are!).
Related articles
- Ever Been Sifted? (davidcalves.com)
- Shifting Gears (davidcalves.com)
- Sonship (imageinme.wordpress.com)
Loving Deeply From the Heart
Are you in God’s school of love? Perhaps you’ve experienced something similar to what follows in this video account of what happened to me on the way to a meeting. Though it’s an older video, I believe the story of what happened was a divine insight. It has blessed others when I’ve shared it. So I’ve included it here for my readers/viewers.
QUESTION: How is God teaching you to love deeply from the heart?
Related articles
- What’s Unique about Your Heart? (drdeborahserani.blogspot.com)
- Prayer for Monday (yourdailyprayer.wordpress.com)
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