Views on a Lazy Sunday, a.k.a., taking a “Real Rest”

A relaxing Sunday…not much better…

Yesterday, God was speaking to me about rest.  I was needing it.  Sadly, like most of us, I didn’t have the option of actually canceling my day…so I just kept repeating one of the verses He had placed in front of my face yesterday morning,

Luke 1:37  “Nothing is impossible with God.”

I attended to some of my to-do list, and made my way to the show, repeating under my breath more than a few times…Nothing is impossible with God….as well as,

“My grace is enough; it’s all you need.  My strength comes into its own in your weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

Boy, I needed it!  I was “super-stupid-tired”, as we call it in my  house.  So tired, in fact, that when my hubby offered to meet me in town for dinner, and I had a gut feeling that this might not be a great idea, I went anyway (I didn’t want to disappoint him)…

How many of you know that we need to listen to those gut instincts more than we do?  ah well…

Honestly, it wasn’t so bad, and I made healthy choices, but again, I was so super-stupid-tired that I likely ate more than I needed…and became even more tired!!!

Returning home, we opted for Netflix and an episode of “All Creatures Great and Small” (love that wholesome show!!!) before heading for an early bedtime and some reading…

-Sidebar- what am I reading right now?  Well, I am one of those who usually has 3 or 4 books going on at a time, NOT because I lack focus, for whichever one I am reading at that moment gets my full focus!!!  Nope, I just know myself now, and I choose books according to the need for Devotion, Inspiration, Education, or Relaxation…

So, off the top of my head, tucked and layered within my bedside nightstand/shelf are:  my Bible, Tales from a Yoga Studio (fiction), ReShaping It All by Candace Cameron Bure, Invitation to Christian Yoga by Nancy Roth, Light on Yoga by B.K.S. Iyengar, The Ultimate Guide to the Daniel Fast by Kristen Feola (why I haven’t moved it to my cookbook shelf, I don’t know…finished the Fast a few weeks ago, but as I keep using it for recipes, I keep returning it to where I found it…and since it was my devotional for 3 weeks, there ya go!), Jesus Calling, my prayer journal, assorted greeting cards from my sweet hubby, and assorted Natural Health and Yoga Journal mags that I can never seem to get to reading (hmm, wonder why…).

ANYWAY.

Lights out by 9pm, woke up around 4am and tossed-n-turned until 5:30.  Got up, fed the cats, made some oat bran/applesauce/almonds and a hot drink-y and did Devotions.  Back to bed from 6:30 to 9am.  Wow!  Slept in!  (helps to put on the sleep mask).

The view from my pillow, a.k.a., kitties holding me down...

Why do I say all of this?  To prep you for what’s coming next:

We didn’t go to church.

GASP!!!

Before you judge, here’s the deal.  We are both exhausted.  We live 30 miles from our church, and gas prices are extremely high.

"DUE TO FUEL PRICES-WE ARE UNABLE TO PURCHASE GASOLINE" Sadly, what is happening in 'Mayberrys' all over...I hear ya, brother.

And we are both exhausted. (oh wait, I said that.)

Don’t worry, I know Hebrews 10: 24-25;

24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

I also know that I am free from Pharisaic thoughts and rules…and I have the mind of Christ, with wisdom and discernment!  So, it seems that yesterday’s message certainly got us through yesterday so that we could eventually come home and take a real rest…which is what I believe TODAY’S message was:

Matthew 11: 28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

I knew it in my heart of hearts…(and we don’t skip all the time, ok?!? (-= …)

Sooo, it has been a FABULOUS day of rest, and I just wanted to share what that looked like for us to you!

It’s not time for me to do the big laundry load yet, but every Sunday (or Saturday night) I have to watch a few necessaries so that I can continue in my  job…plus, in class last week, we did some outside yoga, so…

While things were washing, I caught up on some darning work I needed to do…(Fiona wanted to “help”…check out my classy attire…)

Fiona "helping"...

While darning, I caught up on my DVR’d episodes of XtremeLife.  It is a great half hour show about Extreme Stunts/Sports Athletes who share their faith on the road and through their sport!  I used to date a Flatland Biker, so I still have some latent Skater Chic tendencies…including how I dress and speak on occasion…no wonder people sometimes think I am younger than I am!  Check out these websites:  www.xtremelife.tv and www.realencounter.org
There are certainly others, but I have a personal connection to the Real Encounter guys, and I love the XtremeLife tv show!

Of course, our furry babies were enjoying a day of rest, too…

Fernanda, always the life of the party...

Figaro, aka Figgy, in his lazy bed...

We also seem to attract orphans.  We don’t feed them for the longest time, but…

(wish our neighbors would get their cat spayed…on a side note, we are trying to socialize these a bit so we can take them to petco…)

When I needed a snack, I made a green smoothie of spinach, strawberries, rice protein powder, and the juice from some soaked dates, plus a few superfood powders for fun…and I have to tell those who are new to green smoothies, sometimes it is REALLY most fun if you put them in a fun cup!!!

I hung my un-dryables on the line outside before taking a walk.  You can tell a lot about someone from their clothesline…who is this crazy person—yoga mat, yoga pants and top, fishnet hose and colorful bloomers?  A showgirl/yogini, that’s who!

Excited that our garden is showing signs of life…

And on my walk, I enjoyed gorgeous natural sights!  I just love walking outside.  How easy it is to praise God when His beautiful creations are all around, praising Him and Glorifying Him, too?!?

Hubby picked a couple of daisies for me when he was mowing the other day, but they’ve wilted by now, so here is this!

As I was walking, the MOST WONDERFUL SMELL….Honeysuckle!  I love Honeysuckle!

And back home to do a half an hour of yoga, wash up, and have a little techno-fun!

Getting hungry now, so need to go fix a meal…Had YUMMY flatbread pizza from The Ultimate Guide to the Daniel Fast (see the link on the side), and I still have some leftovers…

OR, I might grill some fish in our NuWaveOven Pro–It is awesome!  Go get one from Bed, Bath, and Beyond; it comes with all the tv extras minus the shipping costs!  Great energy saver and healthy cooker!  Lots of things you can do with it!  Thinking about using another recipe from The UG to the DanFast…one with Kale, tomato, and onions…Since we have no kale, but have a plethora of Collard Greens, I am thinkin’ of subbin’…

We’ll just see!  I thank You, Lord, for healthy choices all the way around!  I praise you for this beautiful rest day, and I give You credit for it all!

I pray you all find your real rest in Him today, as well.  Be blessed and renewed, dear friends.

Lovingly,

little Robyn

“Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest.”   – Jesus