Sesame Street is brought to you by the letter "S" and the number "7"...

Name: Nate

Scripture: Leviticus 25, Acts 6

OAP: Stephen, Sabbatical year, Seven men, Seven years, Seven times Seven, Sabbath, etc.  I'm not one for numerology or...well...letterology??? Especially since this was in Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek well before it was ever in english and there was all this alliteration (although Sabbath in hebrew is pronounced Shabbat)

Every 7 years, give the land a break, take a break.  Every 50 years (which actually turns out to be about once a generation) give those in debt a break.  God seems to have this rest thing planned out pretty good.  

I've been at my company for 6 years.  Here in the US, we get a sabbatical every 7 years. Coincidence? October 22, 2008.  That's when I'm eligible for 8 weeks of glorious paid sabbatical, and my company is one of the very few that still does this.  The biggest question that people ask is "what will you do on your sabbatical?"  They fill them with trips to exotic places, roadtrips with the family, remodeling the house, etc.  Is that really taking a break?  

I can't say i'm not prey to the same type of thinking.  My wife & I have already commiserated many an evening planning the "what ifs".  But the point is to rest.  Not only that, but put in perspective that the world keeps going despite your efforts.  You are truly dependent on the creator, not your own efforts.  

"Stop your busyness," God commands, "Remember I am the Lord and I sustain you.  I made you free, I love you. Rest."

I was reading a bunch of our blogs.  We tend to dwell on what we're not doing when we read scripture.  We pray "God, thanks for revealing that to me.  Help me to be better."

Are we missing out on the celebration and rest?  I think so.  We need to celebrate.  We need to acknowledge where God has brought us, as well as where he wants to take us.  If we don't rest in this, we will easily become defeated.  If we don't encourage one another, but instead become critical it can have the same result.  

Jesus, thank you for making rest and celebration a priority.  After all, your first recorded miracle was to make wine to keep the party going.  I pray that we as Silicon Valley dwelling, rat racing, follower of You will remember and take initiative to rest.  You want to transform us and remind us of what we truly rely on...You...Thank you for being Jehovah Jirah, the God of provision.