SABBATH IN THE STEWARDSHIP OF OURSELVES

“The stewardship of ourselves in the Sabbath means that we simplify our lives, we slow down, we rejoice in things as they are, we let go, and we let God in. As we are able to do these things, we will find ourselves living our lives with:

     -  Less worry
     -  Less striving
     -  Less judgment
     -  Less guilt
     -  More cooperation
     -  More appreciation of beauty
     -  More comfort with Mystery
     -  More acceptance of self and others
     -  More ability to live in the moment
     -  More forgiveness
     -  More aliveness
     -  More capacity to listen
     -  More kindness
     -  More compassion
     -  More trust
     -  More gratitude
     -  More generosity

“Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side. Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain. Leave to thy God to order and provide; in every change, He faithful will remain. Be still, my soul.”

From his sermon, “Sabbath in the Stewardship of Ourselves,” by Rev. Dr. Don Dempsey, First Presbyterian Church, Lake Forest, Illinois, August 26, 2007.