Sunday mornings in the Haner home go something like this.
6am: Someone comes into mommy and daddy's room. This morning, it was Kya. We beg the child, whoever it is, to please be quiet and stay still. The begging never works.
6:15am: Mommy says to daddy, "Are we going to try to make it to the 8am service?" Daddy replies, "I would like to, and we might as well since we're up anyway." This conversation usually occurs without opening our eyes and over the head of the child sandwiched between us.
6:30am-7:45am: Bathe, feed, dress five family members and load everyone into the car. Someone almost always stays in their jammies (sometimes daddy!) We are thankful for our casual church. :)
8:00am-9:30am: Church. This morning it was Pastor Jim preaching and it was super encouraging. His message covered the Beatitudes and the fact that the world's "way to happiness" is never fulfilling, but the ways the Lord calls us to live--loving each other, giving to the poor, kindness and acceptance, peacemaking, etc., will bring "blessedness" ("happiness" in the Greek.)
The kids then ride the church train around the church grounds and we go home, thankful we got up and went to church.
I then spend the rest of the day fighting with myself about "resting." I converse with myself like this, "Oh, maybe I should go to Target." "No, it's Sunday, I should rest." "Oh, maybe I should do some sewing." "No, it's Sunday, I should rest." "Maybe I should get a jump start on Laundry Day." "No, it's Sunday, I should rest."
You get the picture.
Why is it so hard to just rest?
Does anyone else have this problem?
I really like Sundays though. It's my second favorite day of the week.
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3 comments:
Amen sister!! I love Sunday's too, but it is VERY hard to just relax...in my mind I think, "oh, free day, I could get so much done!" Miss you my friend!
We were home all day yesterday. We've been sick all week, as you may have known, and so I was trying to get some things accomplished that hadn't gotten done during the week claiming that I would better be able to serve God if our house was cleaned up, which is definitely a true statement.
Last night at scriptures, we read about a prophet that was on assignment from God so to speak. He was to tell the wicked King and his wicked priests to repent and was to retell them of the ten commandments.
We don't get through many verses each night as a family with three little kids, but, needless to say, I'm sure, we read about keeping the Sabbath holy. "v.16 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
v.17 Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work;
v.18 But the seventh day, the sabbath of the Lord thy God, thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates;
v.19 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is; wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it."
And, I sat there reading my portion grimacing a little thinking about my washing machine, my dishwasher, my children who helped me, etc.
Enough of my transgressions.
You asked why it is so difficult? I always think about when Saul was commanded to destroy the Amalekites. Saul was told by Samuel the prophet, speaking on behalf of the Lord: "v.3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass." Saul didn't do that. He did what he thought better and sacrificed the best of all that to God, a seemingly good thing to do, right? Well, he was reprimanded and told by Samuel: v.16 "Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams."
So, we may have no idea why God asks us to do something, but we can know that to obey is better than even sacrificing.
FYI, that was kinda long, so you are welcome to delete it. :-)
You can read it at my blog instead, if you'd prefer.
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