Having A 'Happy Sabbath'

Gary O'

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Do you?

I don't.

Not all day.
I find myself glancing at the clock in the late afternoon.
Music helps.
Walks are nice.
Study is good...for awhile.
A nap seems a copout, but, boy, does it ever feel good.

Of course I've prayed about this.

Am I a lost cause?

What's the trick?


 

Freth

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There are so many things you can do on the Sabbath.
  • Post on forums like this one.
  • Go to church and worship God. Stay for potluck!
  • Fellowship with other Christians after church.
  • Do good works (spreading the gospel, helping the poor, etc).
  • Study scripture (goes hand in hand with bullet point 1).
  • Get out and leisurely enjoy nature. I make it a point to admire God's handiwork during the Sabbath.
  • Read scripturally sound Christian books.
  • Spend quiet time in prayer and contemplation.
  • Watch/listen to sermons.
I don't think God meant for us to sit around staring at the clock, waiting for the exact second sunset hits. Often you don't notice the end of Sabbath, because you're engaged in wholesome and appropriate activity on God's holy day.
 
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Gary O'

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If you're doing it right, you don't notice the end of Sabbath, because you're engaged in wholesome and appropriate activity on God's holy day.
Good on you.
I'm not 'there'

Pray for me.

I need it
 
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SabbathBlessings

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Good on you.
I'm not 'there'

Pray for me.

I need it
God has given us everything and dedicating one day to Him is not asking much. I understand where you are coming from, I felt that way growing up, but now look forward to the Sabbath. My favorite thing to do on the Sabbath is bible study. I like to take an area of scripture I want to learn more about and focus on that. Most of the time it's through prayerful reading scripture coupled sometimes with sermons on the same topic. I think of it as a treasure hunt and the more you study, the more the scriptures open up. I also like everything on @Freth list as well.
 
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Freth

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God has given us everything and dedicating one day to Him is not asking much. I understand where you are coming from, I felt that way growing up, but now look forward to the Sabbath. My favorite thing to do on the Sabbath is bible study. I like to take an area of scripture I want to learn more about and focus on that. Most of the time it's through prayerful reading scripture coupled sometimes with sermons on the same topic. I think of it as a treasure hunt and the more you study, the more the scriptures open up. I also like everything on @Freth list as well.

This. If you follow along with sermons, you can learn a lot. It's interesting to learn new nuggets or new angles you never thought of before. It expands your knowledge and understanding of scripture.

Growing up, my mother would watch the clock and skirt the Sabbath sometimes, or find excuses for breaking it. It wasn't a regular thing, but it was still a problem. We used to call her out on it. lol Having been born and raised into Sabbath observance, I've known for a long time how to observe, but I have struggled both in my childhood and adult life with how to effectively observe it and not be a clock watcher.

What I learned in my own life is that if I have worldly attachment, it tugs me away from Sabbath observance and I will find ways to cheat, even if I don't want to. i.e. My heart was not in it, I was focused on something else. Gaming. YouTube. Getting together with friends. All of them were causing me to want to do what I wanted to do, and it was a problem. Your heart has to be invested in it, or your heart isn't in it. This was my issue. Once I made changes in my life, and reoriented myself, I found success. I'm not saying this is your issue, just sharing my own experience.
 
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Gary O'

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God has given us everything and dedicating one day to Him is not asking much.
I do know that.
I've read the scriptures.
And I've kept the Sabbath.
Just saying, it hasn't been entirely joyful.

I'm pretty sure He doesn't want me to drudge thru His day, 'keeping' it.
Seems obvious you people have it down.
Comes off as rather pious.
Pretty much sickens me.

Your 'help' ain't helping.
 
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Gary O'

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What I learned in my own life is that if I have worldly attachment, it tugs me away from Sabbath observance and I will find ways to cheat, even if I don't want to. i.e. My heart was not in it, I was focused on something else. Gaming. YouTube. Getting together with friends. All of them were causing me to want to do what I wanted to do, and it was a problem. Your heart has to be invested in it, or your heart isn't in it. This was my issue. Once I made changes in my life, and reoriented myself, I found success. I'm not saying this is your issue, just sharing my own experience.

I really appreciate those words.

It's a struggle for me.
Maybe it'll always be a struggle.

I'll be devoting more of that day to study.

We usually watch about three sermons, like Doug Batchelor, some others on that day.
 
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SabbathBlessings

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I do know that.
I've read the scriptures.
And I've kept the Sabbath.
Just saying, it hasn't been entirely joyful.

I'm pretty sure He doesn't want me to drudge thru His day, 'keeping' it.
Seems obvious you people have it down.
Comes off as rather pious.
Pretty much sickens me.

Your 'help' ain't helping.
What I wrote wasn't necessarily directed at you and obviously you know that by your posts of joyfully wanting to keep the Sabbath. I apologize if it was misunderstood. Keep praying, God is good.

God bless
 
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Gary O'

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Your heart has to be invested in it, or your heart isn't in it. This was my issue. Once I made changes in my life, and reoriented myself, I found success. I'm not saying this is your issue, just sharing my own experience.
Oh, it's my issue, to a large degree.

We used to live in the mountains in an off grid cabin we built.
Spent five of the last six years there.

zqXb3Cz.jpg


Keeping a Sabbath was a pure joy.....and a welcomed rest.
God's handiwork was everywhere.


our back yard in winter.jpg


Bringing in and closing the Sabbath was a looked for event
fire on the mountain.jpg 100.jpg



Even put words to some pics;
7p56bKS.jpg



I may very well need to move back there.
 
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BobRyan

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Do you?

I don't.

Not all day.
I find myself glancing at the clock in the late afternoon.
Music helps.
Walks are nice.
Study is good...for awhile.
A nap seems a copout, but, boy, does it ever feel good.

Of course I've prayed about this.

Am I a lost cause?

What's the trick?

The Sabbath is a day of rest and worship - but it is also a great day for sharing with others. On CF there is a "Christian Advice forum" and a "Prayer wall" forum that has a lot of opportunity for sharing. Also - if you make "sharing" one of your prayer projects - (see Colossians 4:1-6) that is a great boost.

I love to watch this "live" channel (it is actually about 1.5 hours long in each vid and is recorded since it is in Australia so we see it much later in the day)


"The Jordan River is a major water source that flows through the Jordan Rift Valley into the Dead Sea."

With no outlet - that which was fresh and life-giving becomes dead at the end.

Here is an example in the "Request for Christian Advice" section of CF

Got a load of Biblical questions, need a few answers?

And here is a "forum for new christians" on CF that has some examples where help might be very welcomed.

For New Christians

You can't jump into "every thread" as some of them may not be useful - but a few will always pop up that have open doors for anyone that can help.

And of course there are those ZOOM Bible study groups that pop up from time to time.
 
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Gary K

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Do you?

I don't.

Not all day.
I find myself glancing at the clock in the late afternoon.
Music helps.
Walks are nice.
Study is good...for awhile.
A nap seems a copout, but, boy, does it ever feel good.

Of course I've prayed about this.

Am I a lost cause?

What's the trick?

No. You are not a lost cause. You're experiencing what many, if not most, people experience until they learn about what "the will" means. I'd recommend you study Steps to Christ prayerfully especially the chapters on the will. The will does not mean gritting your teeth and putting all your effort into "keeping" the Sabbath. That can only lead to complete and utter frustration and unhappiness because none of us can keep the Sabbath on our own. None of us are capable of expelling sin from our lives. Only God can do that.

Why did God give us the Sabbath? What is it's purpose?

Exodus 31:12 ¶And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
13 Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you.
14 Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
15 Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.*n4
16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.
17 It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.

Why keep the Sabbath? Because it is a sign between God and the Sabbath keeper that the Sabbath keeper acknowledges that sanctification comes only from God. It means an end to trying to make ourselves holy: self-righteousness. What then is sanctification? It is God giving us both the desire and the ability to be holy. For it is God who worketh within you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.

That's why understanding our own will is so important as what it is is simply our power to choose to follow God. We can do that. We cannot change our hearts. That we must trust God to do.

Here is a magnificent promise to us from The Desire of Ages. It is the secret to a successful Christian life. Notice what is said, and what is not said. Not a single word is said about striving to keep the law, but yet the promise given is that we will live a life of continual obedience.
But to pray in Christ’s name means much. It means that we are to accept His character, manifest His spirit, and work His works. The Saviour’s promise is given on condition. “If ye love Me,” He says, “keep My commandments.” He saves men, not in sin, but from sin; and those who love Him will show their love by obedience.

All true obedience comes from the heart. It was heart work with Christ. And if we consent, He will so identify Himself with our thoughts and aims, so blend our hearts and minds into conformity to His will, that when obeying Him we shall be but carrying out our own impulses. The will, refined and sanctified, will find its highest delight in doing His service. When we know God as it is our privilege to know Him, our life will be a life of continual obedience. Through an appreciation of the character of Christ, through communion with God, sin will become hateful to us.

As Christ lived the law in humanity, so we may do if we will take hold of the Strong for strength. But we are not to place the responsibility of our duty upon others, and wait for them to tell us what to do. We cannot depend for counsel upon humanity. The Lord will teach us our duty just as willingly as He will teach somebody else. If we come to Him in faith, He will speak His mysteries to us personally. Our hearts will often burn within us as One draws nigh to commune with us as He did with Enoch. Those who decide to do nothing in any line that will displease God, will know, after presenting their case before Him, just what course to pursue. And they will receive not only wisdom, but strength. Power for obedience, for service, will be imparted to them, as Christ has promised. Whatever was given to Christ—the “all things” to supply the need of fallen men—was given to Him as the head and representative of humanity. And “whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.” 1 John 3:22.

The above quote comes from the chapter Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled

The "striving" part is in working on getting to know God and learning to trust Him. It's spending as much possible time as we can with God. And it involves telling God, as our friend, what our spiritual problems are and asking Him to heal all our spiritual problems while trusting Him to do exactly that.

A couple of my favorite promises of God are: Ezekiel 36:22-27, and Jeremiah 31:31-34. I have relied upon these promises through thick and thin and God has always pulled me through. His promises never fail. We just need to keep trusting God to do what He has promised to do for us and getting to know the word.

John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

What is life eternal? Knowing God. That's according to God, i.e. Jesus. I know He is trustworthy. Take Him at His word. Get to know Him for that is eternal life.
 
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Gary O'

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I'd recommend you study Steps to Christ prayerfully especially the chapters on the will.
Funny.....I've been reading, rereading....and rereading that little book for the last few months.
It's packed with wonderful things.
There's relief in those pages.
And solid direction.

Thank you, brother K
 
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Gary O'

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Take Him at His word. Get to know Him for that is eternal life.


"All true obedience comes from the heart. It was heart work with Christ. And if we consent, He will so identify Himself with our thoughts and aims, so blend our hearts and minds into conformity to His will, that when obeying Him we shall be but carrying out our own impulses. The will, refined and sanctified, will find its highest delight in doing His service. When we know God as it is our privilege to know Him, our life will be a life of continual obedience. Through an appreciation of the character of Christ, through communion with God, sin will become hateful to us."

THIS.....is what I'm beginning to experience.
And there's a pure joy in that.
Yessir
 
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Gary K

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Funny.....I've been reading, rereading....and rereading that little book for the last few months.
It's packed with wonderful things.
There's relief in those pages.
And solid direction.

Thank you, brother K
You're welcome. I try to help all those who are honestly struggling all I can as I've been there and done that. I know how bad it feels so I point to those things that have done a lot for me.
 
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"All true obedience comes from the heart. It was heart work with Christ. And if we consent, He will so identify Himself with our thoughts and aims, so blend our hearts and minds into conformity to His will, that when obeying Him we shall be but carrying out our own impulses. The will, refined and sanctified, will find its highest delight in doing His service. When we know God as it is our privilege to know Him, our life will be a life of continual obedience. Through an appreciation of the character of Christ, through communion with God, sin will become hateful to us."

THIS.....is what I'm beginning to experience.
And there's a pure joy in that.
Yessir
That entire chapter is jammed full of precious promises. It's by far my favorite chapter in Desire of Ages as to me it seems to focus almost exclusively on righteousness by faith, my favorite subject.
 
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