Preperation Day

[Dr. Shane]

A few things to make sure you have before sundown Friday.

• Gas in the car
• clean socks and underwear
• Sabbath meals prepared
• Enough toilet paper to last until Sunday

[fifiqueen]

... and if you don't what will happen?

How about some mind preparation?

[Gregory Matthews]

If you run out of some of the above articles, you will wish that you had not.

[LynnDel]

Excellent focus, Fifi!

LynnDel

[Gail]

Now let me guess...

You know all this from experience, Shane?

[Dr. Shane]

That is my experience. I thought others may have some of their own to share

[Kountzer]

They main thing is food preparation. As for mind prepartion, that should take place during all of the other six days.

They keep toilet paper at most churches.

DB

[Amelia]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />

Enough toilet paper to last until Sunday

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This is the reason you ALWAYS keep a box of tissue on the toilet tank. <img src="/ubbtreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

[Toni]

That is one thing I have never been able to get a handle on...preparing Sabbath meals the day before. I've been celebrating the Sabbath for 11 years now, and still can't seem to manage that one (we usually eat pretty light on Sabbath anyway..sandwiches, etc, until it gets light early and then we have to manage dinner too)! I was actually getting pretty good at getting things ready on Friday, and then my kids' homeschool group voted to meet on Fridays starting just a couple weeks ago. Put a wrench in my plans! I've been able to do most things on Thursday, though we have some pretty busy Thrursdays now too.

I don't mind living with a cluttered house on Sabbath...but the temptation to go around picking stuff up, throwing stuff in the washing machine, etc...it's hard for me to resist! That's why I like having all the cleaning done before then.

[cricket]

Just how much time does anyone here devote to God on the Sabbath? Anyone give Him the full 24 hours? How about a full 12?

Just curious.

Would it make any difference to God if I'm spending my time picking up socks or if I'm walking through nature while thinking about picking up socks?

For me, I have a much easier time concentrating on God while I'm mowing the lawn than I do at any other time of the week. Would anyone (ANYONE) here dare tell me that I'm wrong to mow my lawn on the Sabbath?

Again, just curious.

[Toni]

I wouldn't say that at all! There are some activities I find make me feel especially close to God, that others might not feel the same way. For me, cleaning makes me a little...angry, resentful (working on that though!) so I avoid it on Sabbath.

Cooking-especially baking (without distraction!) actually gives me time to think and reflect..so I imagine that's why I have got along fine for so long without making meals ahead of time .

[Morning Glory]

Hi,

Mowing your lawn on Sabbath.......well, I think that the "brethren" might frown on that one!!

Your comment reminded me of my dad. In his declining years (he had parkinson's disease), mowing the lawn was the one activity that he could still do. He rather lost track of time, also, and one Sabbath my mother was shocked to hear the hum of the lawn mower. Sure enough, there was my dad blissfully mowing the lawn!! She immediately went out and said loudly enough for him to hear, "Sabota!!" Or however it is spelled in Russian. He was SO embarrassed (and would probably not appreciate me sharing this) as mowing lawn was not in his philosophy as to how the Sabbath should be kept. But, I always thought that it was a wonderful story.

If YOU feel that you are "keeping" the Sabbath by mowing after studying what the Bible has to say about keeping the Sabbath, who am I to contradict that? (I personally would tend to think that it would be an activity that could be done on one of the other 6 days, however.) It helps me to do things/work that make me feel close to Jesus during my work week!! Makes it feel less like drudgery.

Of course, your first question is one that I would tend to not answer "out loud" as that is a point of stuggle with me. I always WANT to spend more time with God on Sabbath, but end up taking a nap instead. And, feeling guilty about it later. I would be most interested in YOUR comments on this and suggestions of what you do.

[Gregory Matthews]

Re: "Would anyone (ANYONE) here dare tell me that I'm wrong to mow my lawn on the Sabbath?"

Probably there are a number of people hwere who would dare to tell you such.

I do not think such an attitude is Biblical.

I will suggest that the Biblical method is to teach basic principles (In this case, what the Sabbath is all about.) and then allow the individual to, under the leading of the Holy Spirit, seek to apply those principles to life.

When one doest that, one typically does not begin from perfection, but, one grows in their Christian experience.

[Pockey]

I was not aware that we shouldn't cook on the Sabbath. Is this pretty much a universal belief among SDAs and if so, is it because it is considered work?

[Halfstep Denise]

Many pastors I've had have compared the Sabbath to dating a very special person. I like the comparison very much.

If mowing the lawn is what you think God would like you to do on a date with Him, then go for it!

Oh, by the way, if your neigbors are SDA you might want to check with them if the sound of your mowing would disturb their date with God! Mowers can be awfully noisy!

Halfstep Denise

[cricket]

As Gregory speculated, I speculated. As Gregory and MG expounded, I speculated. As Toni expounded, I thoroughly delighted!

Mowing the lawn (an activity that can be done on any day of the week) is a peaceful time for me. The noise helps to drown out all other distractions, the outdoor environment is a blessing, and my thoughts can center on Him. No one distracts me at all. It is a solitude with Him that I get at no other time. It is not work for me--neither is it drudgery. Rather, it is pleasure.

Interestingly, it has been through many years of Christian experience (granted, not as long as many of the posters here) that I have come to feel at peace with mowing the lawn on Sabbath. My basic understanding when I first learned of the Sabbath was to do no work, enjoy no play (that's what they were teaching in the Cradle Roll department), do no cooking, do no cleaning--for all of these were sins. Over time and through careful study and prayer, I am now convicted that keeping the Sabbath means to spend time with Him and to not focus on whether or not the activity is "work" or "play". My experience is that the Lord and I have a great time mowing the lawn together!

Toni, I appreciate your comment about cooking on the Sabbath. For me, it is a dreadful experience. I have no desire to spend time in the kitchen during Sabbath hours. Even so, what a blessing you must have cooking with Him in the kitchen!!

[cricket]

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Oh, by the way, if your neigbors are SDA you might want to check with them if the sound of your mowing would disturb their date with God! Mowers can be awfully noisy!

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It is with greatest humility that I read these words. Of course it is disturbing to others. I'd never thought of that.

I may have to walk on my date with the Lord by wearing a headset and simply pacing back and forth on my lawn.

[Parade Orange]

u cant cook on the Sabbath?

tell me more.

[Dr. Shane]

Instead of focusing on "don'ts", I like to focus on "dos" Now I have discovered almost without fail, when I am tempted to break the Sabbath it is because I haven't used the preperation day as I should have.

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I was not aware that we shouldn't cook on the Sabbath. Is this pretty much a universal belief among SDAs and if so, is it because it is considered work?

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If you are one that believes in taking the Bible or Old Testement literally, the verse you are looking for is Exodus 16:23. Two different hebrew words are used "aphah" which means cook or bake and "bashal" which means to boil, roast or seethe. The King James reads like this, [:"blue"] "This is that which the Lord hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the Lord: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning. [/]

For me in my walk with the Lord, If I follow Exodus 16:22, 23 and don't have too many temptations when it comes to Exodus 20:8-11.

For me, I have discovered if I do what I am suppose to, I don't have to worry so much about not doing what I am not suppose to.

[Pockey]

^ I think that's great. For me it is interesting to hear. I want to get to that point where I hold the Sabbath with that much reverence.

[LifeHiscost]

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Cricket said:

I may have to walk on my date with the Lord by wearing a headset and simply pacing back and forth on my lawn.

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[:"red"] "If you turn away your foot from [traveling unduly on] the Sabbath, from doing your own pleasure on My holy day, and call the Sabbath a [spiritual] delight, the holy day of the Lord honorable, and honor Him and it, not going your own way or seeking or finding your own pleasure or speaking with your own [idle] words...Then will you delight yourself in the Lord, and I will make you to ride on the high places of the earth, and I will feed you with the heritage [promised for you] of Jacob your father; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it." [/]

Isaiah 58:13,14 AMP their brackets LHC

Seems the only thing hard to understand about this is when a person finds their pleasure in doing that which the Lord asks of them for that day.

[Nicodema]

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Shane said:

Instead of focusing on "don'ts", I like to focus on "dos" Now I have discovered almost without fail, when I am tempted to break the Sabbath it is because I haven't used the preperation day as I should have.

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It would sure be nice if we could all have "preparation day" off from work so that we could actually have time to prepare everything in advance for Sabbath. But that's not the real world most of us live in. A lot of us work 9-5 jobs and are fortunate if we can even depart the workplace in time to begin sundown worship in the CAR during December and early January ... say nothing of actually arriving home before Sabbath starts. I figure as long as I'm not logging employment hours past sunset I'm on the right track.

I make sure I have gas, clean underwear/clothes, and lately I've been trying to see that the dishwasher is run Friday morning to avoid the inevitable "need" to start it up Friday night. After all, it's the closest thing to a "maid servant" I will ever see!

But I personally have no problem showering Sabbath morning, or preparing food Friday night. My boyfriend usually cooks supper for me anyway. He said the other night he prefers to do it so I can enter Sabbath "staying in the Spirit". It's amazing how supportive this "non-believing" man is of my faith these days ... he even said "happy Sabbath" to me this past Friday evening after sunset !!!! I'm praying the Holy Spirit is AT WORK!!! He must be ... I'd swear this guy is a way better Christian (in the practical sense) than I'll ever be.

Anyway I generally have something simple (if anything) for breakfast on Sabbath (toast and fruit or somesuch), and eat lunch out at church, so I don't have to prepare food generally -- but of course someone had to in the case of potluck ...

[Clio]

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Cricket said:

Just how much time does anyone here devote to God on the Sabbath? Anyone give Him the full 24 hours? How about a full 12?

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I give Him the full 24, even when my dh (who didn't grow up with the Sabbath even on his radar) grouses a little. We spend Sabbath engaged in study, discussion, and family activities. Things that will strengthen the family and focus on Abba.

[Halfstep Denise]

It's amazing what excuses we come up with to do what are normally look at as "chores" on Sabbath and then put them under the heading of Sabbath keeping.

God told the Israelites to pick up the Manna on Friday, because it wouldn't be there on Sabbath! They could have told God "if you send the Manna on Sabbath we will pray every time we pick up a piece of manna!" I wonder how God would have reacted to that idea?

When my family lived in Hawaii, we had some friends come from California to live. The Sabbath after they arrived we had a colporteur get-together at our house. After eating, my sister and I started doing the dishes. Our friends daughter said "we don't do the dishes on Sabbath". We made the judgement call that leaving a huge amount of dirty dishes (even rinsed) might attract those nice Hawaiian bugs! It wasn't something we wanted in the house! Should we have left the dishes and let the Lord deal with the bugs?

Since I've been an Adventist all my life, what to do or not do on Sabbath has always been a issue for me until I heard a pastor compare the Sabbath hours as a date with God. It really changed my outlook.

My husband who is Catholic has called me on some of my Sabbath activity choices! Yikes! He knows more about us than I thought! Keeps me on my wheels! (I don't walk!)

Happy upcoming Sabbath!

Halfstep Denise

[cricket]

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It's amazing what excuses we come up with to do what are normally look at as "chores" on Sabbath and then put them under the heading of Sabbath keeping.

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You really don't understand how I feel about mowing the lawn then. What you call a chore is not necessarily what I call a chore.

The threshhold is different for everyone. For some, it might be considered a chore to get dressed in the morning. And so, they dress in their Sabbath clothes on Friday (before sundown) and sleep in an upright position.

Do you do that? If not, then your threshhold is different.

Mowing the lawn is my delight. I delight when my husband does active, physical things with me. Why should my date with the Lord prohibit the things He and I enjoy?