Happy Minot Monday! Today we are taking a road trip to get a Whirla Whip in Stanley, ND. Never heard of it? Perfect. Let me enlighten you. But first we need to thank BeLOCAL Minot for making Minot Monday possible. BeLOCAL is a guide to living like a local and thriving in your town. Be sure to check them out.
Whirla Whip in Stanley, ND
Today we’re taking a little road trip outside of Minot. Well…in the world of North Dakota, this is more like a quick commute than a road trip. Stanley is about an hour west of Minot, and lots of folks make the trip daily for work–or weekly for shopping. (See other road trip ideas from BeLOCAL here or my recommendation about a road trip to Rapid City here.)
Bet let’s get back on topic: Whirla Whip. Have you heard of it? If you have, you’re already on your living-local-A-game. If you haven’t, you aren’t alone. Let me enlighten you.
A Whirla Whip is an ice cream treat that was once found at soda fountains across the country. As soda fountain culture died out, so did the Whirla Whip. Today the only place you can get a true, genuine Whirla Whip is at Dakota Drug‘s original soda fountain in Stanley, ND.
…ice cream blended with your choice of mix-ins. Unlike fast-food joints with similar concepts that use soft serve, the Whirl-a-whip uses quality ice cream and blends it to a smooth consistency.
Lots of descriptions of what a Whirla Whip is exist. And it’s a little hard to explain. Yes, it’s ice cream with mix-ins. But that just makes it sound like any run of the mill Blizzard or Concrete or Flurrie.
Trust me. This is different.
First, like the quote above states, a Whirla Whip starts with hard ice cream. Believe me, you’ll taste a difference. Then your pick of flavors and mix-ins are whipped into it. The result is something light and creamy. Perfectly consistent (no pockets of vanilla ice cream left at the bottom or a the-cookie-dough-was-all-on-top situations here.)
Second, the flavor choices are a lot different than what you find on a fast-food menu. You can mix in up to three flavors. And any of the hard candies are pulverized into a powder than blended in–so you don’t break your teeth on them, while still enjoying the flavor.
Third, you can choose to start with a vanilla, chocolate or rainbow sherbet base. This isn’t a choice you typically have with other blended ice cream joints.
Flavor List and My “Usual.”
Here are the flavors you can choose to mix in. At the fountain, they also have several combinations on special already made up–in case you get overwhelmed.
Banana
Blueberry
Strawberry
Raspberry
Maraschino Cherry
Pineapple
Whopper
Butterfinger
Peanut Butter
Nutella
Bits o’ Brickle
Coffee
Dill Pickle
Bacon Bits
Oreo
Mint Oreo
Cheesecake
Brownie/Vanilla/Chocolate/Strawberry Cake Batter
French Vanilla
Coconut Cream
Orangesicle
Vanilla Wafers
Hard Candy Flavors
Cinnamon
Cherry
Butterscotch
Peppermint
Butter Rum
Lemon
Werther’s Original
Apple
Sprinkles
Licorice
Root Beer
Watermelon
Grape
Blue Raspberry
PRO TIP:
Here is my usual. It’s so good. If you feel overwhelmed, you should get this one: Vanilla ice cream base, cheese cake, coconut cream, orangesicle.
What To Do After Whirla Whips
Stanley is a small town, but we typically make an afternoon of our trip to the Fountain.
Shop around Dakota Drug. They carry lots of local or Dakota Made products.
Go to the park. We love the playground at Wilson Park. It’s got play equipment for kids of all sizes. If the weather is nice, we walk there to run off our ice cream.
Check out a few ghost towns in the area. Palermo, Tagus and Belden are all close to Stanley. Be sure to read up on visiting Ghost Towns here. You can access a Ghost Town Map here.
Here are a couple other ideas of things to do while you’re there.
Get More Local Love and Minot Living
Get more tips on living in Minot by following along with me on Instagram and Facebook. Each Monday I put out a round up of events going on in town in my Instagram stories. Throughout the week, I show you what life in Minot is like in stories and inspiration for intentional living through the week. And don’t forget to check out BeLOCAL–they offer a truly comprehensive guide for living in Minot.
This post is last of a series on Sabbath rest. Today we’ll cover some final thoughts and action steps for practicing the Sabbath, including a FREE downloadable guide. Here are the previous posts:
Part I–How to take a Sabbath rest. Personal Sabbath testimony, Sabbath symbolism and meaning.
Part II–Key Bible verses and takeaways for understanding the Sabbath
Part III–Commentaries and resources for understanding the Sabbath
Part IV–Practicing the Sabbath in your home–Free guide and worksheet
Practicing the Sabbath isn’t Legalistic
Today we are wrapping up the Reshaping Your Rest series with a FREE downloadable worksheet and a few final thoughts. The worksheet will walk you through assessing how you currently spend your “day of rest,” auditing your Sabbath activities and an action plan for creating a Sabbath that is both holy to the Lord and refreshing to you.
Best of all, our God cares more about our heart posture than our actions.
It’s easy to let our Sabbath rest become something legalistic. To lay out a list of things we are prohibited from doing. That’s missing the point. The Sabbath is a gift from God, Mark 2:27. (More verses on the Sabbath here.) It’s not meant to be drudgery. It’s not meant to enslave us. (Great commentaries and study resources here.)
The Sabbath is a day of rest and freedom. A day to look back and remember what God has done, enjoy the present and the place God has brought us to, and look forward to a future when things will be perfect and we will truly rest in paradise. The Sabbath doesn’t require us to be stagnant or mindless. (More on symbolism of the Sabbath in Part I and Part II.)
Your Sabbath May Look Different Than Mine.
The way you observe the Sabbath should be obtainable in your own house. In order to keep the day holy (literally: set apart), you need to be able to execute it and enjoy it. Having a Sabbath plan will do you little use if it’s an unobtainable ideal. That will eventually stir up guilt and exhaustion as you strive for rest. As you consider Sabbath rest for your own household keep it simple. (Here are some of my takeaways for inspiration.)
Your day of rest may look different than mine. And that’s okay.
Make a Plan for Practicing the Sabbath in Your Home
This is broken down in greater detail in the worksheet, but here are the steps our house took to Reshape Our Rest.
Prayerfully consider the Sabbath. Ask God to open our hearts to the truth of what He desires our rest to look like. Thank God for inviting us into the Sabbath. Repent of disobedience.
Choose a day that will be our Day of Rest.
Discuss what a “regular” work day looks like. Since the Sabbath should be “set apart” our rest day needs to look different than a work day.
Discuss what feels laborious or oppressive, like work to each of us.
Examine how we currently spend time on the Sabbath.
Filter activities through what Scripture says about the Sabbath.
Brainstorm what activities are acceptable and enjoyable for us on the Sabbath. Again, drawing from Scripture.
Create an action plan of what needs to be done before the Sabbath in order for us to enjoy and observe the Sabbath. This takes a little intentionality and forethought.
Our Sabbath Plan
If this still feels overwhelming I’ll give you an example. We decided to be intentional about the Sabbath over the past year. Previously our day of rest had no plan. Things felt unanchored. Sometimes stressful. Sometimes lonely, if we were busy with our own tasks and “unable” to enjoy our family together. Once in a while, resentful if I perceived that I wasn’t getting the rest I so desperately craved after a long week.
Communication has been key to reshaping our rest. Understanding what is burning us out, what brings refreshment to our family, and how we each effectively commune with God guided our plan.
Practicing the Sabbath looks a little different each week, but we prepare, communicate and examine our hearts before we step into our day of rest. Here are things we do or prioritize on our Sabbath:
Church
Pursue fellowship/edifying conservation/community outside the walls of the church.
Time doing something fun as a family.
For me, working on a house projects. It’s a time when I feel close to God and inspired by Him. **However, if projects become something I’m stressed about or burdened by, I do NOT work on them during the Sabbath. Instead I offer my concerns and stress over getting things done as a sacrifice to God. I choose to trust Him that the work will get done–and enjoy my day.
For Derek, working in the yard or taking care of a few things around the house is refreshing. He is joyful as he provides for our family in ways he cannot during the regular work week.
For Derek, intentional one-on-one time with Gideon is important during his Sabbath. For me, it’s important to step away from Gideon for a bit and have a little time to do something quietly alone.
Now It’s Your Turn
You can get the worksheet for intentionally reshaping your Sabbath over in the resource library. It’s totally FREE. It will walk you through the process we’ve used to set apart our Sabbath as a holy day to God.
For more intentional living, Bible geekery and daily motivation to walk in faith, be sure to join the community on Instagram and Facebook. I’d love to get to know you. Or, sign up for my emails (below), and you’ll get new posts straight to your inbox. Thanks for being here, friends.
Reshaping Your Rest:
Part I–How to take a Sabbath rest. Personal Sabbath testimony, Sabbath symbolism and meaning.
Part II–Key Bible verses and takeaways for understanding the Sabbath
Part III–Commentaries and resources for understanding the Sabbath
Part IV–Practicing the Sabbath in your home–Free guide and worksheet
Happy Minot Monday, everyone! Today I’m sharing information on how to take your own sunflower photos.We’ll cover etiquette on what’s appropriate, how to access a field and tips for taking your own photos. Minot Monday is made possible through a partnership with BeLOCAL Minot. BeLOCAL is filled with tips and information on living like a local and loving our town.
It’s that magical time of year: Sunflower Season! This beautiful part of the growing season is just one more thing that makes summer in North Dakota great. In North Dakota sunflowers aren’t just planted as garden decor. Sunflowers are a major crop–which means they grow in professionally kept fields, covering plots nearly as far as the eye can see. “Sunflower Season” is usually throughout the month of August. But bloom times vary year by year.
It’s really a breathtaking sight.
Which also makes sunflower fields a great place for breathtaking photos.
I get asked on a regular basis about how to find fields and what the etiquette is for taking photos in fields. Today we’re going to cover everything you need to know to take your own sunflower photos.
How to Find a Sunflower Field
Most crops aren’t planted in the same field every year to preserve the soil’s integrity. Sunflowers are no different. This means that the perfect field this summer, will likely be filled with a different crop next summer.
The best way to find a sunflower field is to look for one. It a good idea to find a field before you head out to take your own sunflower photos. Here are a few places to check.
North of town off of 83 as if you’re headed toward base.
I find it works best just to drive. As you explore, you’ll start to see bright yellow fields. Some may be along a main road, but chances are, you’ll need to veer off the highway onto back roads to get up close to a field.
Accessing a Sunflower Field
Once you have found a field to your liking you’ll need to get “inside” the field for photos. The important thing to remember here is that these are cash crops (read: someone else’s income). Never ever destroy plants to get a photo op.
Instead look for a pull off along the road. If it’s on the side of the road, you can walk into the field gently. Even better is finding a pull off (for farm implement access) that juts into the field. You can pull off and walk in from there.
Edges of the field (especially the edge where the flowers are “facing”) may be a little more sparse. This offers a good place to walk in and set up your camera. Otherwise, try walking a few rows in to look for a bare spot in the field. It’s nearly impossible to get an easy shot in the most crowded part of the field.
Sunflower Photo Etiquette
When snapping sunflower photos respect is the name of the game. Remember, this is someone’s livelihood. Their career. Your perfect Instagram photo does should take priority over someone’s personal property.
North Dakota farmers and ranchers work hard to make sure our country has the crops, energy and American-raised products we need to stay fed. Their job is hard. I can’t even wrap my mind around the amount of planning, scientific knowledge, math, and painstaking details that go into coaxing crops to grow like magic from the ground.
All that said, here is some common sunflower etiquette:
Remember, these fields belong to someone else, and these crops are their livelihood.
Never ever pick or cut flowers. This is stealing.
Do not cut down or trample flowers for any reason.
Walk gently and watch your step.
Do not drive over crops for any reason.
Respect posted signs. If you see something that indicates you should not enter the field, don’t do it. (ie No Trespassing, Private Property, etc)
Do keep pets on a leash, make sure they don’t harm crops.
Use common sense.
Take Your Own Sunflower Photos With These Tips
Since I used to do photography full time, our family photos are mostly all done by me, a tripod and timer. Here are my recommendations for getting great shots if you decide to take your own sunflower photos.
Go in the evening. The lower the sun to the horizon, the better.
Take a tripod if you’ve got it. (Or a friend, if you don’t.)
Screen shot a couple poses you like. If service is spotty you won’t need to rely on your Pinterest board for inspiration.
If you’re short, or photographing your kids, think about taking a small stool or box to stand on. This will get you closer to the blooms so the background isn’t all stems.
If all of this makes you uncomfortable, hire a pro. Minot has a network of wildly talented photographers!
Stay Connected For More
For more on living like a local–be sure to check out BeLCOAL. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and read the current issue online. I’d love it if you stayed connected with me too! I am seriously passionate about welcoming folks to Minot and helping them love their time here.
Let’s get together on Facebook and Instagram. There, you’ll find a growing community, striving to live with intentionality and enjoy the season they’re in. (Pro Tip: each Monday evening I post a round up of events happening in town on my Instagram stories.) Thanks for being here, let’s be friends.
Today I’m happy to bring you part III of the Reshaping Your Rest series. For once, I’ll be piping down to let others do the talking. I’m sharing a few commentaries and resources that have helped me further understand what setting apart a day of rest really means.
All posts in the series are right here:
Part I–How to take a Sabbath rest. Personal Sabbath testimony, Sabbath symbolism and meaning.
Part II–Key Bible verses and takeaways for understanding the Sabbath
Part III–Commentaries and resources for understanding the Sabbath
Part IV–Practicing the Sabbath in your home–Free guide and worksheet
An Overview of the Sabbath
Do you know the Bible Project? If you don’t, get to know them. I’m a HUGE fan of their work. They produce great, short videos that cover all kinds of Biblical topics. (I’m especially fond of their videos that give a “nutshell” perspective on each book of the Bible. Those are great for anyone, but especially families and young students of the Word.)
Anyway, the Bible Project has a great video on the Sabbath and its origins.
If a few things went too fast, or you’d rather read than watch, see this quick article. It links up all the verse references used in the video.
Is the Sabbath Still Relevant Today?
Is keeping the Sabbath still something relevant to the modern church? This is an excellent question. And while we’re talking about the Bible Project–here is an excellent article that covers a wide range of questions about keeping the Sabbath. (Excerpt below.)
Jesus reminded the people of God’s actual intent for the Sabbath: unity with God, creation, and each other that was first found in Eden on page one of the Bible. Jesus taught that the Sabbath was about mercy and was purposeful. It was supposed to point to him, the one promised through all of Israel’s prophets, the one who would restore the rhythm of creation.
When followers of Jesus observe the Sabbath, we live as if this restoration has already taken place. We take a break from the broken rhythms of hustle and hardship to set aside a time of submission to his rule and enjoyment of his presence and to extend these things to the world around us. When we observe the Sabbath well, we become little resting places of God’s presence.
…As followers of Jesus, we aren’t required to follow the laws given to Israel by God exactly. These were given at a specific time to a specific people group for a specific purpose. Yet the wisdom of those laws is enduring, and the law of the Sabbath is pure gold. It is not a commandment we are bound to; it’s a promise we’re invited to.
Sometimes looking into the meanings of specific words used in the Bible can help glean a deeper understanding of what the text is meant to communicate. The Old Testament was originally written in Hebrew, the New Testament in Greek. Here are a few Hebrew and Greek words I found helpful for understanding the Sabbath as I studied.
How to read interlinear references:
If you’ve never Bible geeked out over an interlinear reference, this could be your first time. At the top is the word we are studying. Next is a section of definitions and uses. At the bottom is concordance results. This is a list of every verse in the Bible that uses the word we are looking at.
**Always remember to read in context and apply the definition as meant by the author. The Word is powerful. We should read to find truth–not arguments that support our own opinions and ideas.**
Shabath: First seen in Genesis 2. This is the word used to describe how God rested on the seventh day.
Nuwach: To rest or settle down. This word has the connotation of comfort, being placed in order, knowing your place and being able to rest securely. (Missy Takano also covers nuwach in her article.)
Shabbath: The word used for the proclaimed and prescribed Sabbath.
Sabbaton: The Greek word used for the proclaimed and prescribed Sabbath in the New Testament.
Katapausis: A calming of the winds, a resting place. This word is used primarily in Hebrews 4–describing the rest of God.
Be diligent to enter that rest: The rest is there, but God does not force it upon us. We must enter that rest. Clearly, the rest is entered by faith; but it takes diligent faith. This shows us that faith is not passive; it takes diligence to trust in, rely on, and cling to Jesus and His work for us.
This directs us to contrive family affairs, so that they may hinder us as little as possible in the work of the sabbath. Works of necessity are to be done on that day; but it is desirable to have as little as may be to do, that we may apply ourselves the more closely to prepare for the life that is to come.
Get Ready to Reshape Your Rest by Keeping the Sabbath
Next week we’ll wrap up our Sabbath series. I’ve got a quick study guide and worksheet for you that will help you reshape your own rest–and more fully align it with the rest God wants to give us.
Until then, I’d love to get to know you! Join me on Instagram or Facebook to connect with me and a growing community committed to striving to live intentionally, viewing the world through a Christ-centered lens. I post *almost* daily encouragement and devotionals–and you can get a behind the scenes look at what I do when I’m not writing in my stories. You can also connect by subscribing to my emails. You’ll be notified every time a new post comes out and have access to the resource library!
As always, thanks for being here. If this series is teaching you or touching your heart, I’d love to hear from you–and I’d love if you shared with friends to help grow this sweet, encouraging corner of the Internet.
Part I–How to take a Sabbath rest. Personal Sabbath testimony, Sabbath symbolism and meaning.
Part II–Key Bible verses and takeaways for understanding the Sabbath
Part III–Commentaries and resources for understanding the Sabbath
Part IV–Practicing the Sabbath in your home–Free guide and worksheet
Welcome back to the Reshaping Your Rest series. Today we will dive into 10 key Bible verses for understanding the Sabbath.
Here are all the posts in this series:
Part I–How to take a Sabbath rest. Personal Sabbath testimony, Sabbath symbolism and meaning.
Part II–Key Bible verses and takeaways for understanding the Sabbath
Part III–Commentaries and resources for understanding the Sabbath
Part IV–Practicing the Sabbath in your home–Free guide and worksheet
The Right Mindset About The Sabbath
The thought I keep coming back to is that God tells us it is a sacrifice to deny ourselves the work we think needs to get done. We created in God’s image. God Himself is a creator and worker. It’s natural for us to work, to have goals, to want to achieve.
The trouble is that those things can become idols. Something we value higher than God’s command to “honor the Sabbath.” Something we think is more important than slowing down, putting aside and obeying.
At first, the idea of a day of rest viewed as a “sacrifice” seems counterintuitive. But it doesn’t take too much thought to connect the two. Especially in our material, secular-success driven culture.
Key Bible Verses for Understanding the Sabbath.
Here are 10 verses/passages that have helped me understand Sabbath rest, as seen from a Biblical perspective.
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. Ex 31:17
Key takeaways: God rested. We are to emulate God in all we do. God was refreshed after He rested. How much more will we be refreshed after true rest? Also, just because “He rested…” doesn’t mean God stopped working, caring, or being relational. Likewise, our Sabbath rest should be a rest from work–but not a complete halt to life, relationships or doing Kingdom work.
You shall work six days, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during plowing time and harvest you shall rest. Ex 34:21
Key takeaways: Being in a “busy” season or needing to get things done is not an excuse for neglecting the Sabbath.
This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month you must deny yourselvesand not do any work—whether native-born or a foreigner residing among you— because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the Lord, you will be clean from all your sins. It is a day of sabbath rest, and you must deny yourselves; it is a lasting ordinance. Leviticus 16:29-31
Key takeaways: Laying work aside is to sacrifice and deny ourselves. God has already done (and will do) the important work of atonement. (Note: in context this verse pertains to an annual celebration of atonement–not just a traditional weekly Sabbath.)
…but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns, so that your male and female servants may rest, as you do. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day. Deut 5:14-15
Key takeaways: Sabbath rest means refraining from traditional work and reflecting where we’ve come with God’s aid. We should also respect others’ right to observe Sabbath rest.
Also I gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between us, so they would know that I the Lord made them holy. Yet the people of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They did not follow my decrees but rejected my laws—by which the person who obeys them will live—and they utterly desecrated my Sabbaths. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and destroy them in the wilderness. Ezk 20:12-13
Key takeaways: The Sabbath is a gift and sign from God for us. Observing the Sabbath illustrates our trust in God. God is passionate about the Sabbath. He is hurt when it is not observed and honored.
How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath. Matt 12:12
Key takeaways: Observing Sabbath rest is not an excuse to not do good, be kind, do Godly work, or be helpful to others. (See Matthew 12:9-14 for more context.)
Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” Mark 2:27
Key takeaways: The Sabbath is a gift for us. Something God made for us.
It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it.Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment. On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. Luke 23:54-24:1
Key takeaways: This is a great passage for understanding proper reverence for the Sabbath. It takes intentionality and self-discipline to observe the Sabbath. If the work of these women can be put on hold to honor the Sabbath, our work can also wait.
On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us. Acts 16:13-15
Key takeaways: Fellowship, teaching, fulfilling the great commission, being outdoors, prayer and building relationships are all welcome on the Sabbath.
Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. Acts 18:4
Key takeaways: Do not use the Sabbath as an excuse to lay around idly or to fill your mind with idle thoughts. New Testament examples of activity on the Sabbath include using spiritual gifts, fellowship, building relationship, teaching, sharing our witness and reflecting with others.
Start Reshaping Your Rest With These Verses and Passages
These Bible verses for understanding the Sabbath are a great place to start reshaping your own rest. Read them, pray over them. Dig deeper by seeing what else Scripture has to say about the Sabbath. (To get you started I ran a quick search for every reference to “Sabbath” on BlueLetterBible.org.)
As you study, remember to think critically about what Scripture is saying. What does the text say? Who does it affect? What actions are taking place? What are the consequences or God’s opinion on those actions? Specifically, what does each verse teach you about who God is and what His character is like?
And, don’t forget to read verses in context to get an accurate understanding of the true meaning of the text.
Coming Up in the Reshaping Your Rest Series
We’ve looked at some background and key Bible verses for understanding the Sabbath. Next week, I’ll be sharing resources, commentaries, and a little Hebrew that will help you understand the rest God wants to give us even more deeply. Then, we’ll finish up with a worksheet that will help you intentionally reshape how you accept this gift from God.
In the meantime, I’d love to get to know you better, by connecting with you on Instagram and Facebook. There, you’ll find a community striving to live intentionally, while viewing life through a Christ’s Kingdom lens. You’ll also get daily inspiration and motivation for living intentionally with a Kingdom mindset (and fun anecdotes and mishaps from my home.) If this series is hitting your heart, I’d love if you shared. If you’d like to get all the latest posts straight to your inbox, just sign up below!
Part I–How to take a Sabbath rest. Personal Sabbath testimony, Sabbath symbolism and meaning.
Part II–Key Bible verses and takeaways for understanding the Sabbath
Part III–Commentaries and resources for understanding the Sabbath
Part IV–Practicing the Sabbath in your home–Free guide and worksheet
This is the first installment of a series on the Sabbath. Here are all the posts in the series:
Part I–How to take a Sabbath rest. Personal Sabbath testimony, Sabbath symbolism and meaning.
Part II–Key Bible verses and takeaways for understanding the Sabbath
Part III–Commentaries and resources for understanding the Sabbath
Part IV–Practicing the Sabbath in your home–Free guide and worksheet
I just got back from vacation. It was nice, relaxing. All the things you want a little time away to be. But there was something deeper going on in me. I’ve been thinking about rest. Real rest. Something we can all relate to (and many of us struggle with.)
Weeks ago, toward the beginning of the 90 Day Bible Reading Challenge, I started turning over the idea of Sabbath rest. Every time I read anything about the Sabbath my heart skipped a beat, the verse became ingrained in my mind. I thought about it through the day. I brought it up with my husband in the evening. This felt like a call to deepen my understanding and change my patterns.
Vacation forced me to set aside work. And allowed me to set aside lots of things that feel like work. This seemed like the ideal time to share what I’ve been learning at start fresh, when it comes to true Sabbath rest.
The Challenge is nearly over. And I’ve been surprised how often Sabbath rest comes up, and how serious God takes it.
I want to be more intentional about observing the Sabbath. As a family, we’ve started to intentionally act on what the Bible tells us about how to take a Sabbath Rest–but I still have a ways to go. Luckily, God sees the heart. He knows I’m earnestly trying to do better, to enter into the rest He wants me to have.
A New Understanding of Sabbath Rest
Until recently I have never attempted to fully understand the Sabbath. However, I’ve spent a lot of my extra time cross referencing and burrowing into what the Bible says about Sabbath rest. I’ve read verses, revisited chapters, looked at commentaries, and prayed.
I’ve learned a lot. This is a practice introduced at the beginning of the Bible and continues through the New Testament. When Israel falls short or turns her back on God–and God becomes angry–He almost always cites neglect of the Sabbath as one of their infractions.
Interesting right?
Obviously, this is close to His heart. Yet, I think it’s one of the most overlooked commandments in our culture today. We are taught not to have other gods, murder, worship idols, steal, commit adultery, covet, or bear false witness. We know we are supposed to honor our parents and never use the Lord’s name in vain. But when it comes to the Sabbath, we can be surprisingly blasé.
Honoring the Sabbath almost seems like a forgotten commandment.
As I’ve studied, I’ve fallen in love with God’s design for Sabbath rest. It’s beautifully simple, yet so profound it sets our God apart from all others. A sacred day of rest was unique to Israel, a gift from her God. Other Ancient Near Eastern religions and gods did no such thing.
The Sabbath is beautifully symbolic. It symbolizes God’s good-will and care for mankind. By observing it, we show our trust in His care. By setting aside work, we demonstrate an understanding that we are not saved by works–God grace is enough and Christ accomplished the work on the cross.
I could chat for days about how beautiful the Sabbath is. But I’ll let you do some critical thinking of your own.
Some of My Sabbath Takeaways
The idea of “self care” is so hot right now. It seems like everywhere I look I see suggestions and social media posts with ideas for self care. Don’t get me wrong. Self care is fun–and important. But don’t confuse it with the Sabbath. Sabbath rest is deeper and sweeter. Sabbath rest looks outward–turning our eyes toward God, others in need, and expanding the kingdom. In no way is taking Sabbath rest a selfish pursuit. I’m excited to share more with you next week.
First, here are my own bullet points summarizing my new understanding of the Sabbath.
The Sabbath is important and dear to God’s heart, therefore it should be important and dear to our hearts as well.
A day of rest refreshed God. How much more will it refresh me?
The Sabbath is a type of sacrifice. We are to intentionally choose to refrain from work and choose rest. This shows devotion to God and trust that He will provide time and means for our work to be completed–despite sacrificing time away from work to Him.
The Sabbath is metaphorical. Refraining from work and choosing rest is an outward symbol that our works do not earn us favor with God. Christ did the only work that really mattered, and He finished it on the cross.
Sabbath rest is not an excuse to be lazy and binge watch TV. It is not an excuse to be unkind or avoid helping others. The Sabbath is a time to turn our minds to God-honoring thoughts and our hands to God-honoring activities. This means, if I’d be uncomfortable committing an act to the Lord, or partaking in an activity with Jesus in the room–it shouldn’t be done on the Sabbath.
Fellowship, teaching, reflection, enjoying nature, enjoying God’s provision, sharing your experiences with God with others, cultivating relationships…(the list goes on) are all welcome during a day of Sabbath rest.
Observing Sabbath (and gleaning the benefits God wants us to have from it) takes intentionality and practice. Create a plan for how you will observe the Sabbath and get your family on board.
Start Reshaping Your Sabbath Today
Next week we’ll be exploring verses that explain the Sabbath, but I encourage you to start reshaping your take on the Sabbath today. Don’t get overwhelmed. Start with reflection. Here are a couple ideas.
Are you exhausted? Does the word “refreshed” make your soul leap? Do you feel weary?
How do you currently observe the Sabbath? Is it just about church, or is there something deeper happening?
Pray that God would open your eyes and heart to what He wants the Sabbath to look like in your life and home. Ask God to give you a teachable heart and a discerning mind as you reexamine rest. Start a conversation in your home about Sabbath rest.
Coming Up: More on How to Take a Sabbath Rest
Next week I’ll be sharing 10 verses/passages that have reshaped the way I view Sabbath rest. Here are all the posts in the series:
Part I–How to take a Sabbath rest. Personal Sabbath testimony, Sabbath symbolism and meaning.
Part II–Key Bible verses and takeaways for understanding the Sabbath
Part III–Commentaries and resources for understanding the Sabbath
Part IV–Practicing the Sabbath in your home–Free guide and worksheet
In the meantime, I hope you’ll start thinking about how you can take a Sabbath rest. I’d love to have you share this if it touched your heart today–and I’d love to get to know you personally by connecting on Instagram and Facebook. There you’ll find daily encouragement and a community of others striving to live life with intentionality, viewing the world through a Christ-centered lens.
Happy Minot Monday! Thanks to BeLOCAL Minot for making Minot Monday possible. Today we’re talking about flying from North Dakota during the Coronavirus era. Travel from Minot can be tricky, even more so when navigating a world in pandemic. Luckily BeLOCAL Minot and I are committed to helping you thrive while living in Minot. Check out BeLOCAL for more tips and information on living like a local.
Locals and transplants alike understand how refreshing it is to get away from Minot for a bit. Whether that means a weekend in “the cities” (Minneapolis/St Paul), a trip to the lake, or spending all winter in Arizona–even Minot’s biggest cheerleaders like to leave city limits sometimes.
Last week our family traveled away from Minot to visit family. This was our first significant travel since the COVID-19 era began. (I did take a short road trip to Rapid City, but that was solo and in the safety of my own car.)
This time we flew, which was completely different. I thought I might be helpful to share our experience and tips that I have. (For more on traveling from Minot see this post.)
We Flew From Bismarck
Our flight left from Bismarck. So I can’t attest to how conditions are in Minot. However, the airports are very similar–so I think the experience in Minot will be very similar. (Flying out of Minot is so convenient because it’s so close to everything, but sometimes you can get a great deal if you fly from Bismarck instead.) More on traveling from Minot here.
Masks in the Airport
Masks were highly recommended, but no one was forcing passengers to wear them in the airport or at the gate. All employees had masks on. Because there were so few passengers there was lots of space to be far from others. So while in the gate area (past security) about half of waiting passengers took their masks off.
According to general mask etiquette, kids two years old and up are supposed to wear masks. We did our best to keep a mask on Gideon, but that was a losing battle. Everyone we encountered showed grace when it came to keeping a mask on a toddler.
Security Screening
TSA Screening Area in Bismarck
The number of travelers was down significantly in Bismarck. While there usually isn’t much of a wait in the TSA screening line, the wait for this flight was nonexistent.
Here are things we observed going through security:
Shoes still need to come off.
Some things were still required to take out of carry on bags and place in bins (electronics, batteries, shoes, etc.)
Bins were not cleaned between uses.
Floor markers indicated where to stand to maintain distance between travelers/parties.
The standard 3oz liquid rule is flexible for hand sanitizer.
Other Things About the Airport & Boarding
Inside Bismarck Airport
After going through security we found that there was plenty of space to spread out and be well distanced from other travelers.
In the Bismarck Airport, there are living room style TVs. The last time we flew from there (in December) the TVs were on and remotes were on tables, so passengers could change channels. Now the TVs are off and the remotes are no longer available.
There are plenty of hand sanitizer stations available.
Food and beverage services are limited on most flights. Passengers were reminded to buy a coffee before boarding, as none would be available on board.
Boarding takes place from the back of the plane to front. Anyone who needs assistance or extra time is welcome to board at any time.
Passengers are welcome to have their boarding pass on their phone to limit contact on paper boarding passes. If you choose to (or need to) have a paper pass you can scan it yourself (gate attendants will help if you need it.)
While waiting in line to board passengers are asked to maintain social distance and wear masks. All passengers are expected to wear masks while boarding and through the duration of the flight.
During the Flight
Here are things we observed or are nice to know about flights during the coronavirus pandemic. We flew with Delta. Check your flight provider for their details and procedures.
One of our (three) flights was a bit delayed due to cleaning and sanitation. I’m not sure what all this entails, but it happens between each flight.
Upon boarding every passenger is given an antibacterial wipe to wipe their space/tray/armrests/etc.
Because flights have limited passenger capacity there is more room in overhead compartments. Things that we have needed to gate check in the past (like a roll-on carry on) were welcome. There was plenty of space.
Seats were strategically left open to offer greater distance.
Flight attendants handed out pre-made Ziploc bags with a single use hand sanitizer, a package of crackers, a package of cookies and a bottled water. No custom snack orders were taken.
Passengers were expected to wear masks at all times, except when eating or drinking. (Grace was given for children.)
Layovers
A mezzanine space during our layover in Minneapolis. No one else came up, except a single pilot for an hour. We were here for four hours.
We had two layovers during our travel day. Both airports (Minneapolis and Detroit) had their own COVID procedures in place. This included:
Hand sanitizer stations
Chairs blocked off in waiting areas to encourage social distancing
Kiosks are closed
Play spaces are closed
Select restaurants are closed
Some tram services are closed
Some lounges are closed
If you are looking for a specific restaurant I highly advise asking at an info desk to make sure it’s open. Volunteers have a list of which eateries are open each day.
It was easy to find a place with a lot of space during our longest layover. With fewer travelers and limited seating, airports are much less crowded than they used to be. If you have a long layover be sure to check mezzanine levels. These are often overlooked and very quiet.
Other Travel Tips
I packed snacks, but we got plenty of snacks on our flights.
In some ways I over prepared. Here are a few more tips for traveling during the COVID pandemic.
Pack hand sanitizer, but don’t go overboard. There are stations everywhere, and single use packets are available on flights.
Even though flight attendants give out antibacterial wipes, I found it helpful to have some of my own. (Like these) This came in handy for wiping toys or doing better cleaning on board.
Pack snacks if you’d like to avoid eating a meal in the airport. The snacks on board were more substantial in the past, but food in airports is limited.
Bring a water bottle. Drinking fountains are closed, but bottle fillers are open.
Bring your mask and wear it. Do your part to stay distanced from others, don’t travel if you’re sick.
Hopefully this helps if you are going to be traveling outside of our relatively safe bubble in Minot and North Dakota. If you are looking for more insight on life in Minot be sure to join our intentionally positive-thinking community on Instagram and Facebook. And remember to follow on Instagram and check in on my Stories every Monday evening to see a round up of events happening in Minot each week.
I wish I was good with plants. But that’s just not the case.
I come from long lines of folks who are plant savvy. My parents have a massive garden that feeds the family all year. Their yard, patio and deck are adorned with flowers and containers all summer. My sister’s got it. All my grandparents were had it too.
I try. But half the time my vegetables turn out undersized and my succulents shrivel up on the shelf.
At Acorn House we’ve been blessed (or cursed) with a unique challenge–a blank slate for landscaping. No bushes, no beds, no plants of any kind (except a massive amount of weeds.)
I’ve spent the summer working on landscaping and building perennial beds around the property. We bought some plants. Others were split from larger plants and shared with me. Others have been transplanted from friends’ homes.
God Is Teaching Me To Wait Expectantly
While I’ve tackled this project, I’ve tuned my ear to God and what He has to teach me in the process.
All season, He has been using plants to weave anecdotes and examples of His Truth into my heart.
A theme God has been stirring in my heart throughout the summer is expectantly waiting. Expectantly investing in this season, for a bigger payout in future years.
Every plant that has gone in around the house is small. Young azaleas and hostas in front. Seedling hollyhocks, lilacs and fir trees at the perimeter. Transplanted or split daisies, day lilies, lily of the valley, and herbs in the back.
It’s a lot of plants. My thought is, with all of this…something is bound to make it.
Jokes aside, we’ve got vision for these plants. Right now they are immature, not much to look at. However, I water them and attempt to care for them this season because I’m looking forward to growth in the years to come. I busy myself adding more perennials to the beds because when I close my eyes, I imagine a home surrounded by mature, lush landscape.
Here’s one thing God has been reminding me while I work in the yard: All plants start with a seed. No matter how big their potential, they all start with a seed, that becomes a fragile new plant, and eventually turns into something bigger and more beautiful every season.
Am I Waiting Expectantly in All Aspects of My Life?
Even with all this work and waiting, I’m content and full of expectation for the years to come. Not impatient that seedlings and transplants aren’t living up to their full potential in the first season.
God seems to bring this to mind every time I’m in the yard. So I’ve started to ponder: DoI extend the same grace and expectation in other areas of my life and faith walk?
So often when I work up the courage to speak up in truth, share the Gospel, or plant a seed of Truth, I either want to see immediate results or I give up and don’t expect anything to happen.
Anyone else? Anyone?
It all goes back to waiting expectantly. I’m no gardener. All I can do is plant, care and expectantly wait for growth, maturity, beauty and change in the seasons to come. With my yard, I am waiting expectantly. I fully anticipate bigger plants next year. More flowers. Something more substantial.
When I plant seeds of Truth by sharing my experiences or even the Gospel, I’m guilty of impatience, and worse, not waiting with expectation. I assume the blame. The seed was a dud, I didn’t have the answers or the words or the right moment to share. Instead of expecting something to happen in seasons to come, I’ve already decided there’s nothing to expect.
Ouch.
This summer, as I’ve worked with my plants, God has reminded me (convicted my heart) to wait with expectation. Stop giving up hope when results aren’t quick. Stop being impatient for growth. Wait expectantly for things to grow in their own time, in their own season. Confess and repent for losing hope for seeds planted, not trusting God to do His work.
Wait expectantly. God is ultimately the One who will spur something to grow and mature. (1 Corinthians 3:6-9)
Wait expectantly. To stop expecting a result means we’ve stopped believing a result will come, or is even possible. God assures us nothing is impossible for Him. The Bible is full of examples of how seeds planted grow and mature in due season. (Hebrews 11:1-3; Matthew 19:26)
Let’s intentionally wait more expectantly. It’s not our responsibility to make seeds of truth grow. We can only have faith that God is working. Let’s intentionally live with greater expectation and anticipation of what God is doing and will do.
Whatever you are waiting on. Whatever seeds you think may not have taken or will never mature–take heart. Allow expectation to ease the heartache that waiting can bring. Continue to invest and plant now, with expectation for the seasons yet to come.
For more intentionally living, while seeing life through a Christ-centered lens join me on Instagram and Facebook. I offer encouragement and resources all week long to keep you inspired in your daily life, excited about God’s Word and motivated to walk in faith.
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