When you hear something about the Sabbath, what do you think of? Do you see it as something from the Old Testament that has no value for us today? Does it seem to be an ancient, out-of-date practice? Or do you see it as something we should be doing today? Do you think that it has value today?

We live in a culture that thrives on busy-ness. We have made it to be almost a "badge of honour" to be able to tell people we are busy. But is this good? Is this the way we should live? Or is there another way?

            Psalm 46:10 says, "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." (NIV). When I read this verse the other day I was challenged again about how often I tell people that I am busy. I have fallen into the trap of our culture, where busy-ness is seen as a good thing. But, when I read this verse I was challenged as to whether God thinks it is a good thing . . . and I am inclined to say He does not think it is always a good thing.

Jesus speaks a parable about the 10 virgins and their lamps in Matt 25:1-13. I never really understood the whole pretence and purpose of the parable… But just the other day I heard this song by Misty Edwards from the International House of Prayer and the parable hit me in the gut.

It basically questioned whether I’m one of the virgins who ran out of oil because I was taking more time shining up the lantern than I was finding oil and keeping the lantern filled. In other words, am I more preoccupied with how I present myself, with how I look, with how I come across to others than I am with my relationship with Christ and my knowledge of Him?

Do I spend more time gratifying my sinful nature than I do working on building my spiritual armour? Do I know enough scripture to guard my heart and mind against spiritual attacks or life’s challenges? I would like to think that I do, but I probably know more about the affairs of pop culture and the lyrics to the top 40 songs instead.....

Does praying seem overwhelming to you? Do you regularly pray? Or is it just something you do when you are in trouble? Have you ever looked at Scripture and realized how many examples of prayers there are in it? There are many examples of prayer in Scripture that we can learn from.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 says to "pray continually." What does it mean? What does it look like to pray continually? Is it even truly possible? Or is it just something nice to say that has no practical out-working in our lives?

"Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." Proverbs 4:23. What does it mean to guard your heart? How do you guard your heart?

Is the God you think of a God that is big and can really do anything? Is it a God who can handle every situation in life no matter how hard or confusing? Or have you put God in a box? Have you decided that there are only certain areas of life that He can handle and that you have to handle the rest on your own? How big is your God?

Do you make resolutions? Do you keep them? Do you bother? Or do you just not even think about it because you know you will not keep them anyway? What about spiritual goals? Have you ever made any of them? Have you ever taken time to think about what you would like to see God in your life in the next year?

Have you ever wondered what the first Christmas was like for the angels in heaven? Have you ever tried to picture what they would have been thinking about as they heard about and then saw Jesus come to earth as a human? This is the first year that I thought about that. It must have been something that was a little bit strange to them. I mean, the God of the Universe does not just choose to become part of their creation to save them everyday.

Have you gone through a storm in your life? A time when things seemed hard? And God seemed distant or silent? Are you in the middle of one now? Storms in life are inevitable, but there is hope and encouragement to be found in the middle of them. God is still there even if we do not know it or feel it.