Yesterday I had a wonderful opportunity to walk the zoo during a thunderstorm. When the initial clouds rolled in and the thunderclap began, most people headed home. Storms scare us. They can drench us. Damage can come from them. But I couldn't pass up the chance to see how animals reacted to them, so off I went to see how God's creatures endured storms. 

It had been hovering close to one-hundred degrees for the day until the rain came. Many animals had taken shelter in what shade they could find due to the sweltering sun. But when the storm came...life and activity arose. The grizzly bear walked joyfully. The ape came out and began to forage the grass. The giraffe looked up as if to say, "thank you."  The animals were more active than I had seen in a long time. They all had open doors to encourage them to leave the storm, but they chose to step into it and feel its blessing.

A certain song about storms was popular shortly after Bill died. It took me years to wrap my head around its words.
          What if your blessings come through raindrops
          What if your healing comes through tears
          What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near?
          What if the trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?
          What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life
          Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy
         And what if trials of this life, the rain, the storms, the hardest nights
        Are your mercies in disguise?

A thousand sleepless nights. Every parent can relate to that one. Tears? I never knew a body could produce so many. Year after year. Storms? Mine overlapped for most of my life. In retrospect, the blessings and miracles I've witnessed as a result of them, words cannot describe. 

Yesterday, I witnessed God's mercy literally rain down on the earth.  Life not only bloomed but withstood.  Storms reveal things that usually are hidden in us. Things we never knew about ourselves come to the forefront. Fear, doubt, anger. But often they also reveal strength, wisdom, courage, and mercy.  We are here to grow. Without the rain of storms, we never would see that growth. The fact is, you are reading this because what was meant to kill you...didn't.  Mercy.  Growth. Revealing who we really are. 

Storms force us to seek God or run from Him. I've done both, and He's OK with that (forever the prodigal, I am.) Therein lies the blessing of storms. They force us to encounter God, even if we don't believe in him.  I've known many an atheist who prayed over their sick child's bed. God doesn't necessarily care about the process as much as He cares about the result, and that result is to see His child return home. He knew my process was going to rip me to shreds for the rest of my earthly days, but He also knew it would bring me closer to Him and that would help me lead other to Him. The domino effect of storms. There's always an aftermath. 

As the saying goes, you're currently in a storm, you've just come out of a storm, or you're about to enter a storm. Storms are a part of life. No one leaves here without scars (just ask Jesus.)  If you're currently in a storm, know there is ALWAYS purpose in pain.  Look for the purpose.  If you've just come out of a storm, give thanks for His mercy and kindness and the revealing of a new you. If you're about to enter a storm which you don't even see coming yet, find solace in the fact that God will cover you with the relief of wisdom, growth and mercy as the rain falls. 

We need to keep our umbrellas and galoshes handy at all times because the clouds can change at any given moment.

"Today you shall not find it in the field. Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day is the Sabbath to the LORD.  In it there shall be none.  On the seventh day, some of the people went out to gather, and they found none.  The LORD said to Moses, "How long do you refuse to keep my commandments and my laws? Behold, because the LORD has given you the Sabbath, therefore he gives you on the sixth day the bread of two days."  Exodus 16:25-29

Sabbath is a command, not a suggestion, yet it seems we have no qualms about breaking it weekly.  Here, you have God telling the people on day six to harvest enough for day seven because there won't be anything to get, yet some people go out anyway on day seven to see what they can find! Ummmmm, what part didn't you understand? 

So much to take away from such a short paragraph, but today I'd like to focus on those who went out to the fields anyway. They had already harvested enough on day six to fill their bellies on day seven, yet they wanted more.  1) They did not believe the words God spoke regarding nothing will be provided. 2) Were they gluttonous and just wanted more?  3) Did they get fear filled when nothing was there to harvest, or did they finally believe God will provide in His timing. 

They chose to break a command and God watched them do it. He watches us do it also. So why don't most practice Sabbath? Too busy? Too stressed? The demands of family? The desire for more shoes?  The list of excuses is truly endless. Trust me, I know them all. I've said them all. 

Notice the final line of today's scripture. "Because the LORD has given you the Sabbath..."  Sabbath is a gift. Sabbath is a choice. God proved then that He provides all needs to sustain His children and trust is what's required on our part. For some odd reason, we believe that the world will stop revolving if we stop "gathering" for one day. This is the opposite of who we were created to be. God stopped. Some Jews stopped. We refuse to stop.  In this hectic, crazy, confusing, often dark world, we've been given the gift of peace and rest and renewal fifty-two times a year. A time to reflect trust and give thanks to the one who provides. You do realize the money for the shopping or extra-curricular activities or cabin or boat or home is provided by God, don't you? Taking a day to show thanks would be nice.

Should you ever want to experience holy while on this earth, implement Sabbath.

Imagine searching high a low and finding the perfect gift for someone you love. A gift that will make their life better, healthier, happier.  You're so excited to give it. You wrap it, put a note on it, excitedly hand it to them, and they set it aside because they have to be somewhere and say will open it later.  This is the scenario with Sabbath. It's a gift most refuse to open, but it's a gift that will change your life for the better. I feel it's also a challenge from God. "Test me, let me prove I will provide. Realize I have greater things for you than what you're experiencing, but you need to stop in order to live it."  Stopping in order to live. Now there's a healthy concept.

Traction: the action of drawing or pulling something over a surface; the support or interest that is needed for something to make progress or succeed.

Living in a state that gets snow, I know how important traction is when driving or even walking. Physical harm can come if traction is limited or non-existent.  I used to have to drive around with four-hundred pounds of cat litter in my car trunk just to stay safely on the road. But many time, even that didn't keep me from going sideways.

I needed more traction, or maybe a different type of traction to stay on the road. I needed support to make progress. I still do, but in a different arena. My mind. 

Many books have been written about the mind being a battlefield, because it's true. Our thoughts can push us off the road before we even know it. The world, especially social media, can veer us so much that we wind up in a ditch. Which is why we need to read, understand and implement God's words. They give us traction to move forward in a slippery world. They are solid and never changing. They provide insight and direction. They comfort us, encourage us, awaken us and bring peace. 

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you shall go. I will counsel you with my eye on you." Psalm 32:8

How's your mental driving? Could you use some traction? Is the world getting to you? There may be days when it seems as if evil is winning, but remember, in Psalm 2 God tells us He scoffs at evil. He looks at those who do evil with mockery because He knows the winner of our souls has already been determined. Perhaps we need to remember that also. In the end, we win. 

You're in control of your mental driving. Buckle up, hit the gas, and make sure you have the right traction.

Many are familiar with Psalm 23.  One of my favorite books breaks it down piece by piece. It's a wonderful reminder of how we should live and how God wants us to live. 
     "The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul."
     Restoring my soul. Man, that sounds amazing. 
     Notice the word "He".  We are not capable.  This world (more this country than others) has programmed us to look at stopping for more than an hour as a bad thing, when in reality Sabbath was a command.  God stopped but we think we can't or shouldn't.  That is the way of the enemy. There's a common phrase that I believe is really just an excuse, "living their best life." We've equated soccer games, household fixes, box checking accomplishments in the busy category, even sitting down in the evening drinking wine with "living." Busy has been turned into a badge of honor and importance and our coping mechanisms are askew because of it. We are raising the next generation in a level of over commitment to "do" and under commitment to "be." Be still and know, as God would say. Yes, there are things to get done, fun to be had, child enrichment to achieve, but it only works in the context of balance. There are studies done that prove children today get anxiety when/if they have silence for just a few moments!  Stress rises under peace! Not only is that messed up, but that one is on us. Children learn more from how we live than what we say.
     When raising my daughter, the first week of every month was "no TV week."  When we'd enter week two of the month, she'd usually ask for it to continue!  Family time without electronics. Now there's a revolutionary thought!
     Illness, stress, even family problems may cease if we just stopped and found peace for twenty-four hours a week. One day out of seven. Think of it as tithing time, but for your benefit. This electronic age keeps us wired, yet He's built into our being the need for rest. Being wired keeps us stressed. Genius battle strategy really.  Years ago, we'd have to go out of our way to connect electronically, then the enemy created devices that rest in our pocket 24/7. There is no shut off.
     Studies have been done recently on a scientific process that is opening our eyes and it is called "grounding." It involves therapeutic techniques that involve doing activities that "ground" or electronically reconnect you to the earth. The science revolves around the physics of electrical charges from the earth to our bodies and the positive effects they have. It's an under-researched area but the most recent data shows it can reduce inflammation, heart disease, muscle damage, chronic pain and alter our mood. The electrical conductivity functions as an immune system defense, similar to antioxidants. 
     Grounding can be done by walking barefoot outside, lying on the ground, or even submersing in water. Hmmmmm, maybe that's why so many of us like the beach or forest?  I find grounding science fascinating because we came from dirt. The soil and water of this planet formed humankind, and stopping to ground ourselves is a definitive, scientific way to reconnect to who and how God made us. Will we ever get that stopping to be a part of this earth, to enjoy the gifts that surround us, is what fills our souls and calms our breaths? 
     I have to admit, at times I've prayed for more hours in the day. This prayer was to accomplish more of what I deemed necessary. Thank you, God, for limiting the length of a day! 
     Stop for a moment and think about staying in peace for a day. Sit in this thought. Stopping the hurry and tossing the "to-do" list. What feeling does that bring up?  Anxiety? Or did you just smile? Maybe a deep sigh?
     Here's the thing. Sabbath means you're living in trust. You trust what needs done will get done, maybe not in your timing but in God's.  What needs provided will be provided, whether food or money. Either we trust God with all we have, especially our greatest asset, time, or we don't. 
     We were not created to live like we do. It's obvious. Read any headlines, look at the health statistics, the brokenness, the anger. It's time for a reboot.
​     Read those first sentences of Psalm 23 again. Let Him lead you. Stop. Just stop. Literally, stop. It's a command and it's a gift. But most importantly, it's for our physical and mental well-being. Teach your children how to live healthy, beyond food choices. Teach yourself that you are more important than a list of things to do and places to go. It's time to implement Sabbath.  And if your kids ask why you're lying on a blanket in the middle of the yard? Ask them to join you and find funny shapes in the clouds.