November 14, 2025 • 33 mins
What if the most productive thing you do this week is stop? We sit down with Michael and Selah Hirsch to unpack a countercultural rhythm that rescued their marriage, clarified their purpose, and brought peace to a home with four kids: a weekly Sabbath practice centered at the table.
Their story starts with nonstop work—nonprofit leadership, brand building, parenting—and a moment of awakening in Israel that reframed Sabbath as a gift, not a grind. We talk through the biblical roots from Genesis to the words of Jesus, then get practical: a simple Friday night flow of Scripture, lighting two candles, speaking personal blessings over each other, and sharing communion before an unhurried meal. No perfection required. Phones off if possible, hearts open for sure. They share how this small, repeatable ritual reshaped identity from “I am what I produce” to “I am beloved,” and how rest became wisdom that fuels better work.
We also tackle the hard edges: entrepreneurs who fear lost deals, parents exhausted by chaos, and professionals who can’t disconnect. Michael and Selah offer grounded steps to start small, expect resistance, and build trust without legalism. You’ll hear how working from rest unlocks creativity, deepens sleep, softens conflict, and makes space for God to carry what you can’t. Whether you’re faith-curious or longtime Christian, whether your table holds pizza or a feast, this conversation shows how a few intentional hours can change the other 160.
If this resonates, share it with a friend who needs permission to pause. Subscribe for more conversations that restore clarity and courage, and leave a review to help others find the show. What would your first small step toward real rest look like this week?
Find the book here:
https://www.amazon.com/Pressing-Pause-Finding-Restless-World/dp/B0FD8RSFTC
For more information contact us at
rtrdestiny@gmail.com
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_01 (00:00):
Welcome.
I'm John Martin, your host.
Excited to be here today with myfriends Michael and Sayla
Hirsch.
SPEAKER_00 (00:10):
Yes, we're so excited to be here, John.
Thank you for having us.
SPEAKER_01 (00:12):
John, this is an honor.
Thank you so much for having uson the show.
Oh, I'm so excited.
This is a lot of fun, and y'allare new good friends of mine
now, as we have several mutualfriends, and so thankful for
Brian Chu introducing us.
And I feel like I've known y'alllike 20 years or something, and
(00:34):
it's really only been a shortertime.
But y'all have moved here toMiramar Beach, which is
exciting.
Why don't you just tell us, giveus a little bit of background on
y'all?
SPEAKER_02 (00:43):
Yes, well, thank you, John.
Yeah, and thank you to Briantoo, who uh let who cross our
helped to cross our paths uh tomeet you.
And it does feel like that wehave just been lifelong uh
friends and uh looking forwardto this conversation.
So uh Sal and I and our family,we just moved here a couple of
months ago.
So we are brand new here uh onthe Emerald Coast.
(01:05):
Moved here with our four kids.
Uh youngest is two, oldest is uhtwelve.
And um uh uh since uh we've beenhere, I've had the opportunity
to uh just feel super fortunateuh being able to connect with
such a uh uh incredible just menand women just of God uh that
are really just pursuing uh hisheart.
(01:26):
And so we've just been able tomake such great connections
since we've uh since we've beenhere.
My background is in uh nonprofitleadership, uh, starting various
nonprofits and working withchurches, and then look forward
to doing that uh while I'm herein uh Miramar Beach.
SPEAKER_00 (01:42):
And my background is in brand development, and so I
love working with leaders fromnonprofits to companies, even
personal brands, helping themarticulate their vision and
communicate their value withconfidence.
And so Michael and I have comehere with just a God adventure.
We felt the Lord told us earlierthis year that I'm calling your
feet to be here, I'm calling youto bring your family and plant
it here.
And so, in a nutshell, we'vejust been on a big God-sized
(02:05):
adventure as a family.
And I truly believe Jesus livesat the beach, is what I tell
everyone because you can feelhis presence just staring out
that air at the ocean.
But it's obviously led us umthrough the power of
relationship to connect with youtoday.
SPEAKER_01 (02:19):
Wow.
Well, and and when I found outy'all had this book called
Pressing Pause, I'm gonna showit to everyone here.
It's a just a must-read.
I I I started reading it and Iwas like, wow, I'm so passionate
about this topic.
Uh so I that's why I wanted toget y'all in.
I was like, no, this can't wait.
(02:40):
This is an important topic toeveryone today.
And you know, we have four kidsalso, so it's like, especially
when you have children, but it'sjust really everybody in life is
so tired, yeah, um, weary, justworn out, and they're they're
just trying to keep up withthings, even even retirees.
(03:01):
Yeah, I find.
So uh talk to us a little bitabout the book and why'd you
write it?
What what what what stirred youto write this book?
SPEAKER_00 (03:10):
Well, we definitely are in a Western culture that
never stops, and I think that'swhat you're talking about.
It doesn't matter what season oflife that you're in, from
college students trying to, youknow, work through degrees to
yeah, us was still with you knowpreteens and diapers all at the
same time, uh, to people who areslowing down or pivoting and
transitioning in life.
The the culture we are in thoughtells us like you know, never
(03:32):
stop, or we feel compelled tonever stop.
And it ends up, I think,creating what I started to
realize and of myself, John, isthat like I'm wired and tired
all at the same time.
In fact, I used to, and I stillwrestle with a little bit.
Sometimes like I think almostthat whole, like, you know, I'm
so busy, I've got so much to do,um, is almost a way of like
seeing my success and mysignificance in that, you know,
(03:54):
and I see that more with eyeswide open as the Lord is
continuing to open our hearts toseeing the gift of Sabbath that
He created for us as amanufactured, man-made way of
significance and not God saying,You are my beloved, this is the
way for you to walk.
And so I think that thisconversation today, for anyone
who's listening today, if you'rein a place where you, you know,
(04:16):
I've been told, you know, you'vegot to just kind of hustle
nonstop, or the more you do andonly what you do is your measure
of significance, or you justfeel like the weight of the
world is on your shoulders.
You know, maybe it's not eventhe demand of your schedule, but
it's parenting or dealing with arelationship or finances.
And again, just pressure,pressure, pressure.
(04:36):
We live in a world that just Ithink it's such a pressure
cooker, and we can internalizethat when the Lord has said,
I've given you this gift of atime of Sabbath, a weekly time
to press pause and come to me.
And if you would lay yourburdens at my feet, like I am
here to carry them for you.
And I'll tell, I don't know, Itell you, I don't know, maybe
it's just women I work with orwomen in business or mothers.
(04:57):
I don't know, but I feel likewe're it's like we call our
groceries arms.
Like we gotta hold it alltogether, you know, we've got to
get it all done, we've got tomake it to the next day.
And the Lord is saying, like,lighten your load, come and find
rest in me.
And that is our journey.
Our journey is being a high,ambitious, you know, husband and
wife.
You know, Michael and I are bothwired to go nonstop, but we were
(05:18):
learning that that is who God'smade us to meet, but we were not
meant to run like on emptyforever.
We were meant to walk in arhythm of Sabbath and partner
with the Lord.
And that rest has shaped ourmarriage, it has radically
revolutionized the culture ofour family, and I truly believe
it's changed the paradigm, whichnow we see that we work out of
rest instead of just from aplace of nonstop hustle.
(05:41):
So that's the conversation thatwe're having today.
SPEAKER_02 (05:44):
Yeah, we we call it a series of spiritual
breadcrumbs that God placed uhacross our past.
So this isn't this is thathappened all at once.
Uh but God just used people, heused ministries really to be
able to introduce us uh toSabbath.
And uh we write about this inthe book, but uh but really uh
what sealed the deal for us wasan unexpected trip that I was
(06:07):
invited to take to Israel uh alittle over three years ago.
And so it was through thatexperience, never forget being
at the at the airport uh in TelAviv and beginning to unpack,
you know, what I hadexperienced.
And this was on a Tuesday, and Isaid, Selah, I said, get ready,
because when I get back thiscoming Friday night, we're gonna
(06:29):
have our first Sabbath dinner,our first Shabbat uh as a
family.
SPEAKER_00 (06:33):
I didn't know what that was.
All I know is Michael was comingat me pretty locked and loaded,
was something he was excitedabout.
I remember my words to him wereinstantly like, okay, this felt
like just one more thing to do.
I mean, I sounded exciting, butlike felt like one more thing
after probably a really full andbusy week.
And I remember I spouted off tohim.
I'm like, that's fine, just keepit simple.
(06:55):
So you can read about the storyin the book because he
definitely did not keep itsimple in the beginning, which
is part of the, I think, the joythat we've had to learn of
adapting, you know, a Sabbathlifestyle to our family and to
our lifestyle, which we trulybelieve is different for
everybody.
But um, this conversation is foreveryone, everyone listening
today, again, regardless ofseason of life, whether you've
(07:15):
been to Israel or not, whetheryou, you know, practice, you
know, in a certain way or not,the whole point is that it's a
gift that we never knew that weneeded.
SPEAKER_01 (07:24):
Yeah, and a lot, I think a lot of people feel like
that the Sabbath day of rest issomething we're doing for God.
Like we're doing it for Him, butno, it's a gift for us, right?
Right.
Uh that we need that that reset.
Uh and and a lot of I thinkChristians believe the Sabbath
that they kind of think ofthat's just a Jewish thing,
(07:46):
really, because unfortunatelyfor Christians, uh we've kind of
done away with the the Sabbath.
You know, because in thiscountry it used to be that
people took off Sunday and therewas no um businesses open on
Sunday, people didn't work onSunday, and that's been throwing
going out the wayside for youknow many decades now.
(08:09):
So talk talk to a little bit tothe the Christian viewer that is
like, well, that's in theSabbath uh just a Jewish thing.
SPEAKER_00 (08:19):
That's a free question.
SPEAKER_02 (08:20):
Talk about that.
Yeah, absolutely.
And so over the last few years,uh, you know, it's almost as if,
you know, Salem mentionedSabbath being a gift.
And so the way that I like todescribe it, I feel like for, I
won't give away my age, but for40 plus years that I've had this
unopened package, gift wrappedthat I've been carrying with me.
(08:41):
And then I mentioned, uh, youknow, there were the there were
these divine moments that thatthat God orchestrated over a
series of years, and then it wasin Israel where my eyes were
opened.
And and we like to call it thisgift.
And so for 40 plus years, it'slike I had this gift that I had
not yet opened.
And then when I began to justand I began to see just God's
(09:03):
word in a whole different way.
Uh so for example, you know, Ilove to look at the New
Testament in Jesus, you know,and he calls himself like, I
mean, he's the Lord, he says,I'm the Lord of the Sabbath.
You know, in Matthew, he said, Idid not come to abolish the law,
but I came to fulfill it.
And in regard to this, in regardto Sabbath itself, I'd like to
(09:25):
look back at a time in the Biblethat predates Judaism, which is
in Genesis 1 and 2, uh, God'screation account.
And so, while the Bible doesn'tsay Sabbath, but it was God who
set a pattern for us of rest.
And so that's what we began totake a closer, closer look at.
Uh you know, God, our creator,who sets a pattern for us.
(09:48):
And and this rhythm wasimportant to, if it was
important to God and us beingmade in his image, hopefully
it's gonna be important to us.
Uh, and so that's where, youknow, I at least we started.
SPEAKER_00 (10:00):
Yeah.
I remember after walking withthe Lord all these years, my
eyes were so surprised to seethat it was in the fourth
commandment.
I remember when we talked aboutit and we were unpacking this a
little further, it's like I'vekind of forgot that that was in
there.
SPEAKER_01 (10:12):
This is in the Ten Commandments.
SPEAKER_00 (10:13):
And in my mind, it just lived, you know, well,
first of all, I wasn't even onmy radar because when you drink,
you know, just coffee and runall day between Zoom meetings
and kids and life, you know,you're not necessarily thinking
of rest.
And that's why I think the Lordwas like, I'm gonna open your
eyes to see that I had it inthere, you know, truly, you
know, at the beginning.
And and I and I kind of took amoment, even in my Christianity,
(10:35):
to go, oh wow, like we kind ofwent from like thou shalt not
murder to like honor yourparents.
Like I completely didn't see itthere.
And I think that that was just agood way for us to go.
You know what?
This isn't just for um a certainculture, this isn't just for
another place in time, but thiswas designed by the Lord to
truly renew us, to reset us.
(10:55):
I love that word that you said,and I don't know about you, but
I think I used to look at um atrest as weakness, you know what
I mean?
At least if anyone's wired likeI am, you know, full, full
drive.
It's like, you know, youshouldn't need to rest, or you
know, and I feel like the Lordhas begun to tell us this, and
we put this in the book that wewe are learning for us that rest
is not weakness, but it iswisdom.
(11:16):
And our God, you know, we hesays to pray for a gift of
wisdom.
You know, the Bible says to callout for wisdom, you know, and
and that is something that wewe're we're just opening our
eyes to see, you know, Lord,you've put this there.
This is what we needed, youknow.
This isn't a weakness place,this is a partnership with you,
you know, in your weakness, I ammade strong.
And I truly believe that themore we've been able to see that
it was, it's in the it's in theTen Commandments, it's right
(11:39):
there.
And the Lord's like, I knew youwould need this because you
would operate by your ownstrength.
But when you operate and walkwith me, is where you begin to
see the abundance of the gifts Ihave for you.
And I'll tell you, if someone isis is feeling right now, maybe
if there's a measuring stick wecould have, you know, if you
could buy this measuring stickfrom you know Home Depot and it
would say, here is depletion andhere is abundance, you know what
(12:00):
I mean?
I think we would all say, like,where do I fall on this?
And if and then maybe it changesday to day sometimes too, you
know, based on everything goingon.
But I feel like the Lord islike, I have called you to lead
an abundant life with me.
And therefore, I am not askingyou to operate by something that
is not relevant to who you arenow.
And so I think again, you canask yourself, am I in a place of
(12:21):
depletion and exhaustion, out ofa place of, you know, scarcity,
you know, am I operating in aplace of peace and of joy and of
abundant living?
And that right there is aconversation I love to have with
people because then it doesn't,you know, it doesn't mean that
it's just for one person or foranother, but it's truly the gift
from God.
SPEAKER_01 (12:37):
Yeah.
I thought a lot about uh becauseI'm passionate, I've seen the
you know the blessing by takingthe Sabbath day.
Uh, but I find that um we in thethe West, a lot of entrepreneurs
and business owners andexecutives, we we we want to
compromise with God on that.
(12:58):
Um and it comes down to a trustissue because most people don't
believe, hey, like I can trulytake a day off if I'm like a
business owner, you know, I'vegot to do all this.
And like, for instance, as a areal estate, I've been in real
estate, and and like you'll takethat day off, and but then
(13:20):
you'll have someone call andsay, hey, I want to see property
that day, and then in my mindI'll start compromise.
Well, I'll take off half of theday tomorrow, and then you start
doing it in a quarters, youknow, and then I'll you're
you're negotiating minutes andstuff of yeah, you know, and it
it really comes down to trust, Ifeel like you've just got to
trust that hey, if I'm takingthis day off and a multi-million
(13:44):
dollar buyer comes and I missthat buyer because I'm taking
that day of rest, that God'sgonna bless me with another
buyer.
Right.
And that's and most and that's abig most people have a challenge
with that.
They're like, no, you don't dothat.
You work and you take off aquarter day the next day, and so
that that's the world that we'rein in business in this country
(14:07):
is we're compromising with Godall the time and saying, I I
can't do that because I've gotthis job that doesn't allow me
to take the Sabbath.
Um, any comments on that?
SPEAKER_00 (14:17):
I think that what you're talking about probably
needs to be another whole bookthough, because I I understand
what you're saying actually veryintimately, because I was raised
by small business owners whowere in the real estate
industry, and I understand thosethose calls can come all the
time, and how responsive youneed to be.
And how many people arelistening today who are in jobs,
you know, that are in highdemand?
I I know I'm a small businessowner and I don't have any set
(14:40):
schedule.
You know, no one else is comingto do the work, you know, so to
say.
And there are nurses and doctorswho are on call.
And and I think the biggestthing I would say is to start
where you are.
I think that to your point,John, you make a really bigger
point of conviction, which isnot to compromise and negotiate
with God.
But I think sometimes, you know,there's two points to it.
I think first of all, Michaeland I are really on a mission to
(15:02):
help people start, you know, andso we tell everyone, you know,
start with where you are.
For us, it was starting with ourFriday night, you know, and
beginning to build to a placewhere we were able to grow in
our trust and surrender.
Sometimes I feel like wesometimes we force ourselves
into trust and surrender, butthen like that's where our
humanity needs to walk in aplace of surrender to the Lord.
And that is then I think a moremature journey of Sabbath is
(15:24):
getting to that point whereyou're realizing, you know what,
just as I'm called to tithe,just as I'm called to love my
neighbor, you know, just as I'mcalled to be a light in the
darkness, I'm called to trustGod in this way.
And so I think if I could speakpractically, it's okay to the to
many of the people who arelistening today is if you are
not practicing Sabbath, startwith where you are.
Find, you know, find in yourheart the place that God is
(15:44):
calling you to meet with Him andblock it off and expect every
phone call to come, expect everymeltdown from a child to come.
We tell everyone there's a wholechapter in the book, the
resistance is so real.
Start there and allow that tobuild your faith in God.
And I was actually on a walkyesterday, I don't know if I
told you this or not, and Ididn't take my phone with me,
which is amazing, and I was justpraying through a few things and
(16:06):
I asked the Lord, Lord, increaseby faith.
You know, and it's and I can'tjust force it, you know, I can't
just force it.
I'm gonna believe God foreverything today.
But like, let me take a minuteand let me rewind where I'm
seeing your faithfulness in ourlives.
The tiny little things that noone else would know and really
doesn't even so much matter, butit matters to me.
And as I took a moment, I waswalking with our two dogs, and
(16:27):
they're intense, they'redragging me down the road.
You know, people are probablylike, what's that woman doing?
I'm sitting here justcalculating, you know, back and
going, you did this and you didthis, and now I'm gonna
surrender this piece to you anda surrender this piece to you.
So I think that surrender piece,it comes when we become even
more fully aware of his goodnessto us.
Um, but that's a huge that's areal human piece, especially for
the entrepreneurs here today.
SPEAKER_01 (16:49):
Well, how how do you recommend people get started in
a sense of because a lot of ourlisteners are believers in
Jesus, Christians that you knowgo to church on Sunday uh
typically?
Um so do you recommend, is theredoes it have to be a particular
day or because I I know Sabbathin the the Jewish world is
Saturday, you know.
So how do y'all recommend issomeone that's looking to start
(17:13):
and we could tell them read thebook?
SPEAKER_00 (17:15):
But no, no, let's let's tell them, let's give them
a little clip of it.
SPEAKER_02 (17:19):
No, it's good.
So uh I want to share a versethat's a big verse for us, and
we call it the we call it theassessment uh in Matthew 11 in
the message version.
And we'd encourage anyone that'slistening or watching this
episode to take this assessment.
And in Matthew 11, uh Jesussays, he says, Are you tired?
Are you worn out?
(17:40):
Are you burned out on religionor life?
So a few years ago, I would haveraised my hands to all three of
those questions.
Maybe, maybe just internally, Idon't know, outwardly I would
have admitted to that.
SPEAKER_01 (17:52):
Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (17:53):
Uh you know, where pride can just get in, you know,
get in the way.
But ask yourself those fewquestions.
And then he goes on to say, cometo me, get away with me, and
you'll recover your life, andthen I'll show you how to take a
real rest.
So I think anyone that'slistening or watching, if they
answered yes to any of thosethree questions, um, we would
(18:15):
really encourage them to justconsider starting.
And don't do what we did, butkeep it simple.
SPEAKER_00 (18:23):
There's definitely so many ways to keep it simple.
SPEAKER_02 (18:25):
We would encourage a f we would encourage a Friday
night at the same time, we wouldencourage an evening that works
best for you.
Um The one challenge that Iwould have is to turn it off.
Yeah.
Uh and what I mean by turning itoff is your technology.
Uh to and just to give that achance, I just recently uh read
before this conversation a sweeta C-suite report that said seven
(18:49):
out of ten professionals admitthat they are unable to
disconnect.
SPEAKER_00 (18:55):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (18:55):
I actually think that number's low, to be honest
with you.
So I thought they were doingother things.
Nine out of ten.
But but they went on to say, andat the same time, even when they
take a break or a vacation thatthey're not able to disconnect,
even while they are um away.
And so that's a that's a big onefor me.
I think this, I think thedisconnecting from tech may be
(19:16):
comes a little easier to me thanit does for you on occasion.
But but I think that's animportant step, and basically
what we're saying, and and Ithink this is important in the
in the book, and then we hopethat um our readers or listeners
of the book will catch thespirit of this, is that we would
we would champion that ourSabbath and Shabbats, it's not
(19:38):
about Michael and Selah time.
It's not what we're saying, butwe're saying, God, this is now
you.
You know, in the very beginning,you know, when you said you
rested, he called that time notgood, but he said the day, the
seventh day, he called it holy.
And so begin to wrap your mindaround that prayerfully, that's
really powerful to just postureyour heart of, okay, I'm gonna
(19:59):
pick a day that works for me.
And even if it's for a half anhour, an hour, an evening, I'm
gonna disconnect and I'm goingto, John, you touched on this
earlier.
If we have trust issues, we'rejust gonna say, okay, God,
Proverbs 3, I'm gonna trust youand acknowledge you in all my
ways.
I'm just gonna give you thistime at the table, and you have
your way and get an opportunityto be able to experience his
(20:21):
shalom uh and his peace is so isso powerful.
SPEAKER_00 (20:24):
So that's where I would that and and what does
that look like?
Let's make it practical for aminute.
You know, for a family like us,we love having our Friday nights
for Shabbat, and that's ourSabbath, is primarily our Friday
nights.
It does adjust or move aroundbased on maybe travel or or some
you know other scenario, but toyour point, it is now built into
the fabric of our family.
And so it's something you haveto start.
And to Michael's point, I'drather you start small than
(20:46):
start too big and too fast andburn out or lose sight of the
real why.
And I truly believe you have toexperience the table.
You have to come to it.
And so for us, it's Fridaynight, you know, right around
dinner time is when we powerdown.
Again, Michael's really good atpowering down.
I'm a more like checking all theemails, citing all the things,
you know.
But nonetheless, there is thereis an activation, I believe, in
(21:08):
the spiritual realm that happenswhen we put our our physical at
a place where we say, you areyou are now put at bay.
The chaos of the world can wait,the demands can wait.
I'm drawing to the table becausewe know Jesus is at the table.
And so we come to the table as afamily and we begin a practice
time, which takes us about 15minutes or so.
(21:29):
It's not formulaic, it's notrigid.
I call it, it's like the landinggear of like all the humanity
and the entrance into the timewith Jesus is what that does for
us.
And we we outline it all in thebook.
It's simple steps to start.
Do you mind if I run throughthem really quickly?
Oh, yeah.
Yeah.
So Michael, well, you know,Michael takes a moment and he
(21:50):
does it devotional with ourfamily.
He's just takes the time toshare, like whether it's just a
word the Lord put on his heartor something he read or
something maybe we werediscussing or a challenge we've
been walking through as afamily, just a way to kind of
say, let's take a moment, let'sopen the word of God, you know,
and again, a few minutes beginsto transition our physical.
It's like there, there's thingshappening simultaneously as he's
(22:10):
sharing that.
Our focus is beginning to turn,you know, to the word, to the
Lord.
And then uh we light the candlesat the table and we light two
candles and typically play aworship song.
And that's a moment I know Ifeel like I take this giant
breath.
It's probably the one and onlybiggest breath I take all week,
to be honest.
And there's something about thecandlelight, we call it the
(22:30):
light of Christ, and it justchanges the atmosphere of the
room, and we just light ourcandles on the table.
And then comes, I think what isprobably everyone's favorite
moment, which is the blessing.
And it's where Michael, as thehead of our household, walks
around the table and he blesseseach of us.
And we call him uh developing ablessing radar.
And so throughout the week now,you just kind of consciously and
(22:52):
subconsciously are looking formoments to call out, you know,
the goodness in us.
And, you know, hey, anchor, Isaw you react this way, you
know, to this disappointment,and and I saw you overcome this
challenge.
Or Naya, I noticed the other daywhen you shared, you know, this
this word of encouragement tosomeone, you know, who like and
it's whatever, and and I see theway, and he does it for me too,
(23:12):
and how we kind of make eyecontact.
And a lot of times, not aboutyou, but when you're running
around and you're can feel likeyour ship's passing, you know,
in the day and in the week withyour spouse or with your kids
and you're more managing life,like that's a deep sense of
connection.
And that, like, whatever, 20, 30seconds of you blessing each of
us, like it's a deep well ofdeposit.
And then the last step of ourpractice is where we take
(23:34):
communion and we we have thebread and the juice.
Some families do the bread andthe wine, you know, and we just
take a moment and weacknowledge, you know, the
sacrifice of Christ over us andhow the blood, you know, and the
forgiveness of his of hissacrifice covers us as humans.
And and and then we enter intodinner from there and we call it
dinner and linger, where we justlose ourselves then.
And I feel like at that point, Ihave slowly let go of so much of
(23:58):
the, you know, gotta do this andshould I do this and how about
this?
And I just feel like suddenlyI'm in a place of present with
my family and in the presence ofGod.
And that begins then an eveningwhere we are just able to talk
and connect and laugh and lingerin any which way, shape, or
form, maybe that evening holdsfor us.
And I'll tell you, I sleepdeeper that night than I think I
(24:20):
do any other night of the week.
I go to bed, you know, just morein a state of gratitude.
You know how like gratitude?
You can be going through thehardest things in life.
We have walked through definitehardship seasons.
But I'll tell you, when you'reable to hold like gratitude and
find peace and see that it's inthe presence of God, like that
right there is I think more thananything money can buy.
(24:42):
And so that right there is thedeepest point of container of
Sabbath that has really impactedus.
And then you can, yes, take itfurther into a place, you know,
of up to you know the 24-hourmark.
But I encourage you that that ispossible any season of life,
whether it's pizza, you know,Domino's pizza at the table or
you make a nice fancy meal, um,whether you're by yourself or
(25:02):
with your spouse or with friendsor your family, Sabbath is a
gift for you.
SPEAKER_02 (25:07):
And while sounding tranquil and serene, not easy on
Fridays to get to the table.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (25:14):
And so what y'all are saying is just just start
like you know, and like you'redoing this meal, but then and
and then you could also continueit through Saturday is your
Sabbath day.
But y'all you kind of startedwith the meal and the for your
family now.
SPEAKER_00 (25:34):
Let me definitely tell you.
In fact, our last Friday nightwas anything but peaceful.
Our two-year-old, I don't knowwhat he, you know, what
lollipoppy found, you know, inthe corner of a diaper bag, but
I mean he was bouncing off thewalls.
I think I burned half of dinner.
Like, you know, I think, youknow, just there was the
doorbell rang.
I mean, it was just like, okay,we're fighting to hold peace at
(25:54):
the table.
And so that's what's beautiful.
Every every Sabbath looks alittle different.
I think what we need is a littledifferent, but Jesus is always
present in there.
SPEAKER_02 (26:02):
And I think there's a testimony of the fruit of the
spirit in our in our lives andthe work that he's done.
That is true.
Because I don't think we couldhave handled last Friday three
years ago.
SPEAKER_00 (26:10):
Yeah, you stayed more tall than I anticipated you
would have ever said.
SPEAKER_02 (26:14):
The veins were not sticking out of my forehead.
SPEAKER_01 (26:16):
Uh I definitely know I need this for my family
because we have a hectic, hecticfamily with four kids as well.
And I I I relate with everythingy'all are saying, so I I'm I'm
looking forward to doing thismyself, you know.
Uh so folks, once again, we'rewe're vi visiting with Michael
and Selah about this book,Pressing Pause.
(26:39):
It's such a blessing thatthey've written.
And one of the things that I Ijust I love so much, but that
that y'all wrote in here thatjust really got my attention uh
is is where um you were talkingabout your you know kind of an
intense season in your work withthe nonprofit, and someone, a
(27:01):
friend had asked if you couldjust take a few hours off with
them, and you just listed allyour responsibilities,
commitments, and he simplyasked, Do you believe you're
more necessary to God's workthan God Himself?
And I was like, wow, that to me,was that I I'm not sure which
(27:22):
one of y'all that was, but well,probably both of us.
But that to me is just such aprofound statement in this book
that I feel like a lot of peoplebelieve is that they're more
necessary to God's work thanHimself.
That they can't they can't evenspare an hour, a little bit of
(27:43):
time.
And uh wow, I just really what ablessing.
Thank y'all so much.
Is there anything else thaty'all want to add before we go?
That you know, from the book orjust anything we we want to
share?
SPEAKER_02 (27:58):
Yeah, you know, I if I could share a last word, it
would it would it would be toencourage uh those that are
listening and watching to beexpectant.
Yes.
Um I like to I like to talkabout or ask the question, you
know, when you think about the wthe work and and we're doing
great work.
We're all doing great work,we're working hard, we're
(28:19):
putting in lots of hours.
But I think the question is, areyou you know resting from work
or are you working from rest?
You know, are you resting fromwork or working from rest?
And and so, you know, I think ifyou find yourself that you are,
you know, working from rest, um,you know, I I think come
expectant with what Sabbath, youknow, has to offer.
(28:41):
That you have the opportunity tobe able to come out of this
time, that you and trust to God,you learn how to take a real
rest.
And one of the rhythms that wetalk about is this we call it
activating purpose.
It's it's and to be expectantthat when you when you come out
of a few hours or when you comeout of a full a full day, come
(29:04):
expectant within with with Godto infuse innovation,
creativity, and wisdom andideas, extra grace uh if you
happen to be married in yourmarriage, if you happen to have
kids and and parenting uh yourkids, just come expectant.
Um and it goes back to trusting,you know, trusting God to have
(29:25):
your way.
But remember, in the beginning,I'm not the creator of the
heavens and the earth.
SPEAKER_00 (29:29):
Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (29:30):
He is.
Uh, you know, and God, and God,and and we've been talking a lot
about rest, but while God set apattern for us of rest, he also
loves work.
Yeah, you know, and so reallythat's a something a a last word
that I like to share.
SPEAKER_00 (29:44):
Yeah, and I think for myself, I'll say uh
ironically, I think a lot of ourmessage is reaching a lot of
people who are high achievers.
And I and sometimes they'relike, I'll do it when I can do
it just right.
You know what I mean?
Or feel or like I've got tolearn how to do it and then I'll
implement it.
I think we learn that a lot oftimes in strategy.
And you know, systems andthings.
Well, as hard as it may be foryou, or as maybe as freeing as
(30:05):
it is for you, I tell peoplejust start where you are and let
it be messy and don't feel likeyou even have to have read the
whole book to start.
Like literally turn off yourphone for whatever it is, an
hour start there.
An evening would be the bestthing, you know, and and just
and and come to that place whereyou can be present and you don't
have to worry about feelinglike, did I do it right?
(30:25):
Did I check all the right boxes?
You know, I think that's what'sso ironic sometimes is even in a
place of rest, we feel like wehave to do it just right, you
know, or and and I don't knowwhy I feel that way sometimes,
but I have been surprised insome of our conversations with
people that there's just a maybea freeing moment to say, you
know what, the Lord has calledus to come in who we are and in
(30:46):
that very moment.
And so, you know, should thatcause, you know, maybe emotion
in you, you know, should youfeel like, you know, maybe
there's a place to release thatbefore the Lord?
If there's just a place to comewith gratitude, if the and no,
no, whether it's brokenness orbeauty, the table is there for
you.
And don't feel like you've gotto figure it all out to do it.
But I truly believe this is ataste and see that the Lord is
(31:08):
good.
You know, not a figure it outthat the Lord is good, not do
all the right things and thenthe Lord will be good, but a
taste and see.
And so again, whether you'rewalking with the Lord, whether
you're new with the Lord,whether you've been, you know,
in a place of just, you know,hungering for more, you know,
more of him, whatever it is, Itruly believe that he will meet
you in your Sabbath moment andin him you will find that he is
(31:31):
good.
SPEAKER_01 (31:32):
This has been so good, folks.
We've been visited with Michaeland Sayla Hirsch, this book,
Pressing Pause.
It will bless you.
It's it's blessing me because Ireally need this in my life.
I've been so blessed by thisconversation.
I know it's gonna help a lot ofpeople.
And before we go, we always liketo remind everyone of our three
(31:56):
pillars of road to redemption isfirst to get into the word of
God, to read the Bible.
Start just reading the Bibleevery day.
Get up in the morning, turn offyour phone, press pause from
your phone, and read the Bible,and we promise He will speak to
you.
And the next is to get into aChrist-centered church and just
(32:20):
go.
You're you're never gonna findthe perfect church, but go and
and the church people are gonnawelcome you.
They wanna want you to helpbless you and come together in
community, and the Bible callsus to do that, to assemble
together.
And last is to get into a smallgroup.
Get into a group that you canmake yourself accountable and do
(32:44):
life with.
And these these folks are gonnacome behind you and help you
through what you're goingthrough.
So it's been a greatconversation.
Wow, this has really blessed me,and I know it's gonna bless a
lot of our viewers.
SPEAKER_02 (32:58):
Oh, John, appreciate it.
We love the show, so thank youso much.
It's been an honor for Sale andI to get to know you and uh to
be able to have thisconversation today.
SPEAKER_01 (33:06):
Yes, I know.
Thank you all for taking yourtime to
Welcome.
I'm John Martin, your host.
Excited to be here today with myfriends Michael and Sayla
Hirsch.
SPEAKER_00 (00:10):
Yes, we're so excited to be here, John.
Thank you for having us.
SPEAKER_01 (00:12):
John, this is an honor.
Thank you so much for having uson the show.
Oh, I'm so excited.
This is a lot of fun, and y'allare new good friends of mine
now, as we have several mutualfriends, and so thankful for
Brian Chu introducing us.
And I feel like I've known y'alllike 20 years or something, and
(00:34):
it's really only been a shortertime.
But y'all have moved here toMiramar Beach, which is
exciting.
Why don't you just tell us, giveus a little bit of background on
y'all?
SPEAKER_02 (00:43):
Yes, well, thank you, John.
Yeah, and thank you to Briantoo, who uh let who cross our
helped to cross our paths uh tomeet you.
And it does feel like that wehave just been lifelong uh
friends and uh looking forwardto this conversation.
So uh Sal and I and our family,we just moved here a couple of
months ago.
So we are brand new here uh onthe Emerald Coast.
(01:05):
Moved here with our four kids.
Uh youngest is two, oldest is uhtwelve.
And um uh uh since uh we've beenhere, I've had the opportunity
to uh just feel super fortunateuh being able to connect with
such a uh uh incredible just menand women just of God uh that
are really just pursuing uh hisheart.
(01:26):
And so we've just been able tomake such great connections
since we've uh since we've beenhere.
My background is in uh nonprofitleadership, uh, starting various
nonprofits and working withchurches, and then look forward
to doing that uh while I'm herein uh Miramar Beach.
SPEAKER_00 (01:42):
And my background is in brand development, and so I
love working with leaders fromnonprofits to companies, even
personal brands, helping themarticulate their vision and
communicate their value withconfidence.
And so Michael and I have comehere with just a God adventure.
We felt the Lord told us earlierthis year that I'm calling your
feet to be here, I'm calling youto bring your family and plant
it here.
And so, in a nutshell, we'vejust been on a big God-sized
(02:05):
adventure as a family.
And I truly believe Jesus livesat the beach, is what I tell
everyone because you can feelhis presence just staring out
that air at the ocean.
But it's obviously led us umthrough the power of
relationship to connect with youtoday.
SPEAKER_01 (02:19):
Wow.
Well, and and when I found outy'all had this book called
Pressing Pause, I'm gonna showit to everyone here.
It's a just a must-read.
I I I started reading it and Iwas like, wow, I'm so passionate
about this topic.
Uh so I that's why I wanted toget y'all in.
I was like, no, this can't wait.
(02:40):
This is an important topic toeveryone today.
And you know, we have four kidsalso, so it's like, especially
when you have children, but it'sjust really everybody in life is
so tired, yeah, um, weary, justworn out, and they're they're
just trying to keep up withthings, even even retirees.
(03:01):
Yeah, I find.
So uh talk to us a little bitabout the book and why'd you
write it?
What what what what stirred youto write this book?
SPEAKER_00 (03:10):
Well, we definitely are in a Western culture that
never stops, and I think that'swhat you're talking about.
It doesn't matter what season oflife that you're in, from
college students trying to, youknow, work through degrees to
yeah, us was still with you knowpreteens and diapers all at the
same time, uh, to people who areslowing down or pivoting and
transitioning in life.
The the culture we are in thoughtells us like you know, never
(03:32):
stop, or we feel compelled tonever stop.
And it ends up, I think,creating what I started to
realize and of myself, John, isthat like I'm wired and tired
all at the same time.
In fact, I used to, and I stillwrestle with a little bit.
Sometimes like I think almostthat whole, like, you know, I'm
so busy, I've got so much to do,um, is almost a way of like
seeing my success and mysignificance in that, you know,
(03:54):
and I see that more with eyeswide open as the Lord is
continuing to open our hearts toseeing the gift of Sabbath that
He created for us as amanufactured, man-made way of
significance and not God saying,You are my beloved, this is the
way for you to walk.
And so I think that thisconversation today, for anyone
who's listening today, if you'rein a place where you, you know,
(04:16):
I've been told, you know, you'vegot to just kind of hustle
nonstop, or the more you do andonly what you do is your measure
of significance, or you justfeel like the weight of the
world is on your shoulders.
You know, maybe it's not eventhe demand of your schedule, but
it's parenting or dealing with arelationship or finances.
And again, just pressure,pressure, pressure.
(04:36):
We live in a world that just Ithink it's such a pressure
cooker, and we can internalizethat when the Lord has said,
I've given you this gift of atime of Sabbath, a weekly time
to press pause and come to me.
And if you would lay yourburdens at my feet, like I am
here to carry them for you.
And I'll tell, I don't know, Itell you, I don't know, maybe
it's just women I work with orwomen in business or mothers.
(04:57):
I don't know, but I feel likewe're it's like we call our
groceries arms.
Like we gotta hold it alltogether, you know, we've got to
get it all done, we've got tomake it to the next day.
And the Lord is saying, like,lighten your load, come and find
rest in me.
And that is our journey.
Our journey is being a high,ambitious, you know, husband and
wife.
You know, Michael and I are bothwired to go nonstop, but we were
(05:18):
learning that that is who God'smade us to meet, but we were not
meant to run like on emptyforever.
We were meant to walk in arhythm of Sabbath and partner
with the Lord.
And that rest has shaped ourmarriage, it has radically
revolutionized the culture ofour family, and I truly believe
it's changed the paradigm, whichnow we see that we work out of
rest instead of just from aplace of nonstop hustle.
(05:41):
So that's the conversation thatwe're having today.
SPEAKER_02 (05:44):
Yeah, we we call it a series of spiritual
breadcrumbs that God placed uhacross our past.
So this isn't this is thathappened all at once.
Uh but God just used people, heused ministries really to be
able to introduce us uh toSabbath.
And uh we write about this inthe book, but uh but really uh
what sealed the deal for us wasan unexpected trip that I was
(06:07):
invited to take to Israel uh alittle over three years ago.
And so it was through thatexperience, never forget being
at the at the airport uh in TelAviv and beginning to unpack,
you know, what I hadexperienced.
And this was on a Tuesday, and Isaid, Selah, I said, get ready,
because when I get back thiscoming Friday night, we're gonna
(06:29):
have our first Sabbath dinner,our first Shabbat uh as a
family.
SPEAKER_00 (06:33):
I didn't know what that was.
All I know is Michael was comingat me pretty locked and loaded,
was something he was excitedabout.
I remember my words to him wereinstantly like, okay, this felt
like just one more thing to do.
I mean, I sounded exciting, butlike felt like one more thing
after probably a really full andbusy week.
And I remember I spouted off tohim.
I'm like, that's fine, just keepit simple.
(06:55):
So you can read about the storyin the book because he
definitely did not keep itsimple in the beginning, which
is part of the, I think, the joythat we've had to learn of
adapting, you know, a Sabbathlifestyle to our family and to
our lifestyle, which we trulybelieve is different for
everybody.
But um, this conversation is foreveryone, everyone listening
today, again, regardless ofseason of life, whether you've
(07:15):
been to Israel or not, whetheryou, you know, practice, you
know, in a certain way or not,the whole point is that it's a
gift that we never knew that weneeded.
SPEAKER_01 (07:24):
Yeah, and a lot, I think a lot of people feel like
that the Sabbath day of rest issomething we're doing for God.
Like we're doing it for Him, butno, it's a gift for us, right?
Right.
Uh that we need that that reset.
Uh and and a lot of I thinkChristians believe the Sabbath
that they kind of think ofthat's just a Jewish thing,
(07:46):
really, because unfortunatelyfor Christians, uh we've kind of
done away with the the Sabbath.
You know, because in thiscountry it used to be that
people took off Sunday and therewas no um businesses open on
Sunday, people didn't work onSunday, and that's been throwing
going out the wayside for youknow many decades now.
(08:09):
So talk talk to a little bit tothe the Christian viewer that is
like, well, that's in theSabbath uh just a Jewish thing.
SPEAKER_00 (08:19):
That's a free question.
SPEAKER_02 (08:20):
Talk about that.
Yeah, absolutely.
And so over the last few years,uh, you know, it's almost as if,
you know, Salem mentionedSabbath being a gift.
And so the way that I like todescribe it, I feel like for, I
won't give away my age, but for40 plus years that I've had this
unopened package, gift wrappedthat I've been carrying with me.
(08:41):
And then I mentioned, uh, youknow, there were the there were
these divine moments that thatthat God orchestrated over a
series of years, and then it wasin Israel where my eyes were
opened.
And and we like to call it thisgift.
And so for 40 plus years, it'slike I had this gift that I had
not yet opened.
And then when I began to justand I began to see just God's
(09:03):
word in a whole different way.
Uh so for example, you know, Ilove to look at the New
Testament in Jesus, you know,and he calls himself like, I
mean, he's the Lord, he says,I'm the Lord of the Sabbath.
You know, in Matthew, he said, Idid not come to abolish the law,
but I came to fulfill it.
And in regard to this, in regardto Sabbath itself, I'd like to
(09:25):
look back at a time in the Biblethat predates Judaism, which is
in Genesis 1 and 2, uh, God'screation account.
And so, while the Bible doesn'tsay Sabbath, but it was God who
set a pattern for us of rest.
And so that's what we began totake a closer, closer look at.
Uh you know, God, our creator,who sets a pattern for us.
(09:48):
And and this rhythm wasimportant to, if it was
important to God and us beingmade in his image, hopefully
it's gonna be important to us.
Uh, and so that's where, youknow, I at least we started.
SPEAKER_00 (10:00):
Yeah.
I remember after walking withthe Lord all these years, my
eyes were so surprised to seethat it was in the fourth
commandment.
I remember when we talked aboutit and we were unpacking this a
little further, it's like I'vekind of forgot that that was in
there.
SPEAKER_01 (10:12):
This is in the Ten Commandments.
SPEAKER_00 (10:13):
And in my mind, it just lived, you know, well,
first of all, I wasn't even onmy radar because when you drink,
you know, just coffee and runall day between Zoom meetings
and kids and life, you know,you're not necessarily thinking
of rest.
And that's why I think the Lordwas like, I'm gonna open your
eyes to see that I had it inthere, you know, truly, you
know, at the beginning.
And and I and I kind of took amoment, even in my Christianity,
(10:35):
to go, oh wow, like we kind ofwent from like thou shalt not
murder to like honor yourparents.
Like I completely didn't see itthere.
And I think that that was just agood way for us to go.
You know what?
This isn't just for um a certainculture, this isn't just for
another place in time, but thiswas designed by the Lord to
truly renew us, to reset us.
(10:55):
I love that word that you said,and I don't know about you, but
I think I used to look at um atrest as weakness, you know what
I mean?
At least if anyone's wired likeI am, you know, full, full
drive.
It's like, you know, youshouldn't need to rest, or you
know, and I feel like the Lordhas begun to tell us this, and
we put this in the book that wewe are learning for us that rest
is not weakness, but it iswisdom.
(11:16):
And our God, you know, we hesays to pray for a gift of
wisdom.
You know, the Bible says to callout for wisdom, you know, and
and that is something that wewe're we're just opening our
eyes to see, you know, Lord,you've put this there.
This is what we needed, youknow.
This isn't a weakness place,this is a partnership with you,
you know, in your weakness, I ammade strong.
And I truly believe that themore we've been able to see that
it was, it's in the it's in theTen Commandments, it's right
(11:39):
there.
And the Lord's like, I knew youwould need this because you
would operate by your ownstrength.
But when you operate and walkwith me, is where you begin to
see the abundance of the gifts Ihave for you.
And I'll tell you, if someone isis is feeling right now, maybe
if there's a measuring stick wecould have, you know, if you
could buy this measuring stickfrom you know Home Depot and it
would say, here is depletion andhere is abundance, you know what
(12:00):
I mean?
I think we would all say, like,where do I fall on this?
And if and then maybe it changesday to day sometimes too, you
know, based on everything goingon.
But I feel like the Lord islike, I have called you to lead
an abundant life with me.
And therefore, I am not askingyou to operate by something that
is not relevant to who you arenow.
And so I think again, you canask yourself, am I in a place of
(12:21):
depletion and exhaustion, out ofa place of, you know, scarcity,
you know, am I operating in aplace of peace and of joy and of
abundant living?
And that right there is aconversation I love to have with
people because then it doesn't,you know, it doesn't mean that
it's just for one person or foranother, but it's truly the gift
from God.
SPEAKER_01 (12:37):
Yeah.
I thought a lot about uh becauseI'm passionate, I've seen the
you know the blessing by takingthe Sabbath day.
Uh, but I find that um we in thethe West, a lot of entrepreneurs
and business owners andexecutives, we we we want to
compromise with God on that.
(12:58):
Um and it comes down to a trustissue because most people don't
believe, hey, like I can trulytake a day off if I'm like a
business owner, you know, I'vegot to do all this.
And like, for instance, as a areal estate, I've been in real
estate, and and like you'll takethat day off, and but then
(13:20):
you'll have someone call andsay, hey, I want to see property
that day, and then in my mindI'll start compromise.
Well, I'll take off half of theday tomorrow, and then you start
doing it in a quarters, youknow, and then I'll you're
you're negotiating minutes andstuff of yeah, you know, and it
it really comes down to trust, Ifeel like you've just got to
trust that hey, if I'm takingthis day off and a multi-million
(13:44):
dollar buyer comes and I missthat buyer because I'm taking
that day of rest, that God'sgonna bless me with another
buyer.
Right.
And that's and most and that's abig most people have a challenge
with that.
They're like, no, you don't dothat.
You work and you take off aquarter day the next day, and so
that that's the world that we'rein in business in this country
(14:07):
is we're compromising with Godall the time and saying, I I
can't do that because I've gotthis job that doesn't allow me
to take the Sabbath.
Um, any comments on that?
SPEAKER_00 (14:17):
I think that what you're talking about probably
needs to be another whole bookthough, because I I understand
what you're saying actually veryintimately, because I was raised
by small business owners whowere in the real estate
industry, and I understand thosethose calls can come all the
time, and how responsive youneed to be.
And how many people arelistening today who are in jobs,
you know, that are in highdemand?
I I know I'm a small businessowner and I don't have any set
(14:40):
schedule.
You know, no one else is comingto do the work, you know, so to
say.
And there are nurses and doctorswho are on call.
And and I think the biggestthing I would say is to start
where you are.
I think that to your point,John, you make a really bigger
point of conviction, which isnot to compromise and negotiate
with God.
But I think sometimes, you know,there's two points to it.
I think first of all, Michaeland I are really on a mission to
(15:02):
help people start, you know, andso we tell everyone, you know,
start with where you are.
For us, it was starting with ourFriday night, you know, and
beginning to build to a placewhere we were able to grow in
our trust and surrender.
Sometimes I feel like wesometimes we force ourselves
into trust and surrender, butthen like that's where our
humanity needs to walk in aplace of surrender to the Lord.
And that is then I think a moremature journey of Sabbath is
(15:24):
getting to that point whereyou're realizing, you know what,
just as I'm called to tithe,just as I'm called to love my
neighbor, you know, just as I'mcalled to be a light in the
darkness, I'm called to trustGod in this way.
And so I think if I could speakpractically, it's okay to the to
many of the people who arelistening today is if you are
not practicing Sabbath, startwith where you are.
Find, you know, find in yourheart the place that God is
(15:44):
calling you to meet with Him andblock it off and expect every
phone call to come, expect everymeltdown from a child to come.
We tell everyone there's a wholechapter in the book, the
resistance is so real.
Start there and allow that tobuild your faith in God.
And I was actually on a walkyesterday, I don't know if I
told you this or not, and Ididn't take my phone with me,
which is amazing, and I was justpraying through a few things and
(16:06):
I asked the Lord, Lord, increaseby faith.
You know, and it's and I can'tjust force it, you know, I can't
just force it.
I'm gonna believe God foreverything today.
But like, let me take a minuteand let me rewind where I'm
seeing your faithfulness in ourlives.
The tiny little things that noone else would know and really
doesn't even so much matter, butit matters to me.
And as I took a moment, I waswalking with our two dogs, and
(16:27):
they're intense, they'redragging me down the road.
You know, people are probablylike, what's that woman doing?
I'm sitting here justcalculating, you know, back and
going, you did this and you didthis, and now I'm gonna
surrender this piece to you anda surrender this piece to you.
So I think that surrender piece,it comes when we become even
more fully aware of his goodnessto us.
Um, but that's a huge that's areal human piece, especially for
the entrepreneurs here today.
SPEAKER_01 (16:49):
Well, how how do you recommend people get started in
a sense of because a lot of ourlisteners are believers in
Jesus, Christians that you knowgo to church on Sunday uh
typically?
Um so do you recommend, is theredoes it have to be a particular
day or because I I know Sabbathin the the Jewish world is
Saturday, you know.
So how do y'all recommend issomeone that's looking to start
(17:13):
and we could tell them read thebook?
SPEAKER_00 (17:15):
But no, no, let's let's tell them, let's give them
a little clip of it.
SPEAKER_02 (17:19):
No, it's good.
So uh I want to share a versethat's a big verse for us, and
we call it the we call it theassessment uh in Matthew 11 in
the message version.
And we'd encourage anyone that'slistening or watching this
episode to take this assessment.
And in Matthew 11, uh Jesussays, he says, Are you tired?
Are you worn out?
(17:40):
Are you burned out on religionor life?
So a few years ago, I would haveraised my hands to all three of
those questions.
Maybe, maybe just internally, Idon't know, outwardly I would
have admitted to that.
SPEAKER_01 (17:52):
Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (17:53):
Uh you know, where pride can just get in, you know,
get in the way.
But ask yourself those fewquestions.
And then he goes on to say, cometo me, get away with me, and
you'll recover your life, andthen I'll show you how to take a
real rest.
So I think anyone that'slistening or watching, if they
answered yes to any of thosethree questions, um, we would
(18:15):
really encourage them to justconsider starting.
And don't do what we did, butkeep it simple.
SPEAKER_00 (18:23):
There's definitely so many ways to keep it simple.
SPEAKER_02 (18:25):
We would encourage a f we would encourage a Friday
night at the same time, we wouldencourage an evening that works
best for you.
Um The one challenge that Iwould have is to turn it off.
Yeah.
Uh and what I mean by turning itoff is your technology.
Uh to and just to give that achance, I just recently uh read
before this conversation a sweeta C-suite report that said seven
(18:49):
out of ten professionals admitthat they are unable to
disconnect.
SPEAKER_00 (18:55):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (18:55):
I actually think that number's low, to be honest
with you.
So I thought they were doingother things.
Nine out of ten.
But but they went on to say, andat the same time, even when they
take a break or a vacation thatthey're not able to disconnect,
even while they are um away.
And so that's a that's a big onefor me.
I think this, I think thedisconnecting from tech may be
(19:16):
comes a little easier to me thanit does for you on occasion.
But but I think that's animportant step, and basically
what we're saying, and and Ithink this is important in the
in the book, and then we hopethat um our readers or listeners
of the book will catch thespirit of this, is that we would
we would champion that ourSabbath and Shabbats, it's not
(19:38):
about Michael and Selah time.
It's not what we're saying, butwe're saying, God, this is now
you.
You know, in the very beginning,you know, when you said you
rested, he called that time notgood, but he said the day, the
seventh day, he called it holy.
And so begin to wrap your mindaround that prayerfully, that's
really powerful to just postureyour heart of, okay, I'm gonna
(19:59):
pick a day that works for me.
And even if it's for a half anhour, an hour, an evening, I'm
gonna disconnect and I'm goingto, John, you touched on this
earlier.
If we have trust issues, we'rejust gonna say, okay, God,
Proverbs 3, I'm gonna trust youand acknowledge you in all my
ways.
I'm just gonna give you thistime at the table, and you have
your way and get an opportunityto be able to experience his
(20:21):
shalom uh and his peace is so isso powerful.
SPEAKER_00 (20:24):
So that's where I would that and and what does
that look like?
Let's make it practical for aminute.
You know, for a family like us,we love having our Friday nights
for Shabbat, and that's ourSabbath, is primarily our Friday
nights.
It does adjust or move aroundbased on maybe travel or or some
you know other scenario, but toyour point, it is now built into
the fabric of our family.
And so it's something you haveto start.
And to Michael's point, I'drather you start small than
(20:46):
start too big and too fast andburn out or lose sight of the
real why.
And I truly believe you have toexperience the table.
You have to come to it.
And so for us, it's Fridaynight, you know, right around
dinner time is when we powerdown.
Again, Michael's really good atpowering down.
I'm a more like checking all theemails, citing all the things,
you know.
But nonetheless, there is thereis an activation, I believe, in
(21:08):
the spiritual realm that happenswhen we put our our physical at
a place where we say, you areyou are now put at bay.
The chaos of the world can wait,the demands can wait.
I'm drawing to the table becausewe know Jesus is at the table.
And so we come to the table as afamily and we begin a practice
time, which takes us about 15minutes or so.
(21:29):
It's not formulaic, it's notrigid.
I call it, it's like the landinggear of like all the humanity
and the entrance into the timewith Jesus is what that does for
us.
And we we outline it all in thebook.
It's simple steps to start.
Do you mind if I run throughthem really quickly?
Oh, yeah.
Yeah.
So Michael, well, you know,Michael takes a moment and he
(21:50):
does it devotional with ourfamily.
He's just takes the time toshare, like whether it's just a
word the Lord put on his heartor something he read or
something maybe we werediscussing or a challenge we've
been walking through as afamily, just a way to kind of
say, let's take a moment, let'sopen the word of God, you know,
and again, a few minutes beginsto transition our physical.
It's like there, there's thingshappening simultaneously as he's
(22:10):
sharing that.
Our focus is beginning to turn,you know, to the word, to the
Lord.
And then uh we light the candlesat the table and we light two
candles and typically play aworship song.
And that's a moment I know Ifeel like I take this giant
breath.
It's probably the one and onlybiggest breath I take all week,
to be honest.
And there's something about thecandlelight, we call it the
(22:30):
light of Christ, and it justchanges the atmosphere of the
room, and we just light ourcandles on the table.
And then comes, I think what isprobably everyone's favorite
moment, which is the blessing.
And it's where Michael, as thehead of our household, walks
around the table and he blesseseach of us.
And we call him uh developing ablessing radar.
And so throughout the week now,you just kind of consciously and
(22:52):
subconsciously are looking formoments to call out, you know,
the goodness in us.
And, you know, hey, anchor, Isaw you react this way, you
know, to this disappointment,and and I saw you overcome this
challenge.
Or Naya, I noticed the other daywhen you shared, you know, this
this word of encouragement tosomeone, you know, who like and
it's whatever, and and I see theway, and he does it for me too,
(23:12):
and how we kind of make eyecontact.
And a lot of times, not aboutyou, but when you're running
around and you're can feel likeyour ship's passing, you know,
in the day and in the week withyour spouse or with your kids
and you're more managing life,like that's a deep sense of
connection.
And that, like, whatever, 20, 30seconds of you blessing each of
us, like it's a deep well ofdeposit.
And then the last step of ourpractice is where we take
(23:34):
communion and we we have thebread and the juice.
Some families do the bread andthe wine, you know, and we just
take a moment and weacknowledge, you know, the
sacrifice of Christ over us andhow the blood, you know, and the
forgiveness of his of hissacrifice covers us as humans.
And and and then we enter intodinner from there and we call it
dinner and linger, where we justlose ourselves then.
And I feel like at that point, Ihave slowly let go of so much of
(23:58):
the, you know, gotta do this andshould I do this and how about
this?
And I just feel like suddenlyI'm in a place of present with
my family and in the presence ofGod.
And that begins then an eveningwhere we are just able to talk
and connect and laugh and lingerin any which way, shape, or
form, maybe that evening holdsfor us.
And I'll tell you, I sleepdeeper that night than I think I
(24:20):
do any other night of the week.
I go to bed, you know, just morein a state of gratitude.
You know how like gratitude?
You can be going through thehardest things in life.
We have walked through definitehardship seasons.
But I'll tell you, when you'reable to hold like gratitude and
find peace and see that it's inthe presence of God, like that
right there is I think more thananything money can buy.
(24:42):
And so that right there is thedeepest point of container of
Sabbath that has really impactedus.
And then you can, yes, take itfurther into a place, you know,
of up to you know the 24-hourmark.
But I encourage you that that ispossible any season of life,
whether it's pizza, you know,Domino's pizza at the table or
you make a nice fancy meal, um,whether you're by yourself or
(25:02):
with your spouse or with friendsor your family, Sabbath is a
gift for you.
SPEAKER_02 (25:07):
And while sounding tranquil and serene, not easy on
Fridays to get to the table.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (25:14):
And so what y'all are saying is just just start
like you know, and like you'redoing this meal, but then and
and then you could also continueit through Saturday is your
Sabbath day.
But y'all you kind of startedwith the meal and the for your
family now.
SPEAKER_00 (25:34):
Let me definitely tell you.
In fact, our last Friday nightwas anything but peaceful.
Our two-year-old, I don't knowwhat he, you know, what
lollipoppy found, you know, inthe corner of a diaper bag, but
I mean he was bouncing off thewalls.
I think I burned half of dinner.
Like, you know, I think, youknow, just there was the
doorbell rang.
I mean, it was just like, okay,we're fighting to hold peace at
(25:54):
the table.
And so that's what's beautiful.
Every every Sabbath looks alittle different.
I think what we need is a littledifferent, but Jesus is always
present in there.
SPEAKER_02 (26:02):
And I think there's a testimony of the fruit of the
spirit in our in our lives andthe work that he's done.
That is true.
Because I don't think we couldhave handled last Friday three
years ago.
SPEAKER_00 (26:10):
Yeah, you stayed more tall than I anticipated you
would have ever said.
SPEAKER_02 (26:14):
The veins were not sticking out of my forehead.
SPEAKER_01 (26:16):
Uh I definitely know I need this for my family
because we have a hectic, hecticfamily with four kids as well.
And I I I relate with everythingy'all are saying, so I I'm I'm
looking forward to doing thismyself, you know.
Uh so folks, once again, we'rewe're vi visiting with Michael
and Selah about this book,Pressing Pause.
(26:39):
It's such a blessing thatthey've written.
And one of the things that I Ijust I love so much, but that
that y'all wrote in here thatjust really got my attention uh
is is where um you were talkingabout your you know kind of an
intense season in your work withthe nonprofit, and someone, a
(27:01):
friend had asked if you couldjust take a few hours off with
them, and you just listed allyour responsibilities,
commitments, and he simplyasked, Do you believe you're
more necessary to God's workthan God Himself?
And I was like, wow, that to me,was that I I'm not sure which
(27:22):
one of y'all that was, but well,probably both of us.
But that to me is just such aprofound statement in this book
that I feel like a lot of peoplebelieve is that they're more
necessary to God's work thanHimself.
That they can't they can't evenspare an hour, a little bit of
(27:43):
time.
And uh wow, I just really what ablessing.
Thank y'all so much.
Is there anything else thaty'all want to add before we go?
That you know, from the book orjust anything we we want to
share?
SPEAKER_02 (27:58):
Yeah, you know, I if I could share a last word, it
would it would it would be toencourage uh those that are
listening and watching to beexpectant.
Yes.
Um I like to I like to talkabout or ask the question, you
know, when you think about the wthe work and and we're doing
great work.
We're all doing great work,we're working hard, we're
(28:19):
putting in lots of hours.
But I think the question is, areyou you know resting from work
or are you working from rest?
You know, are you resting fromwork or working from rest?
And and so, you know, I think ifyou find yourself that you are,
you know, working from rest, um,you know, I I think come
expectant with what Sabbath, youknow, has to offer.
(28:41):
That you have the opportunity tobe able to come out of this
time, that you and trust to God,you learn how to take a real
rest.
And one of the rhythms that wetalk about is this we call it
activating purpose.
It's it's and to be expectantthat when you when you come out
of a few hours or when you comeout of a full a full day, come
(29:04):
expectant within with with Godto infuse innovation,
creativity, and wisdom andideas, extra grace uh if you
happen to be married in yourmarriage, if you happen to have
kids and and parenting uh yourkids, just come expectant.
Um and it goes back to trusting,you know, trusting God to have
(29:25):
your way.
But remember, in the beginning,I'm not the creator of the
heavens and the earth.
SPEAKER_00 (29:29):
Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (29:30):
He is.
Uh, you know, and God, and God,and and we've been talking a lot
about rest, but while God set apattern for us of rest, he also
loves work.
Yeah, you know, and so reallythat's a something a a last word
that I like to share.
SPEAKER_00 (29:44):
Yeah, and I think for myself, I'll say uh
ironically, I think a lot of ourmessage is reaching a lot of
people who are high achievers.
And I and sometimes they'relike, I'll do it when I can do
it just right.
You know what I mean?
Or feel or like I've got tolearn how to do it and then I'll
implement it.
I think we learn that a lot oftimes in strategy.
And you know, systems andthings.
Well, as hard as it may be foryou, or as maybe as freeing as
(30:05):
it is for you, I tell peoplejust start where you are and let
it be messy and don't feel likeyou even have to have read the
whole book to start.
Like literally turn off yourphone for whatever it is, an
hour start there.
An evening would be the bestthing, you know, and and just
and and come to that place whereyou can be present and you don't
have to worry about feelinglike, did I do it right?
(30:25):
Did I check all the right boxes?
You know, I think that's what'sso ironic sometimes is even in a
place of rest, we feel like wehave to do it just right, you
know, or and and I don't knowwhy I feel that way sometimes,
but I have been surprised insome of our conversations with
people that there's just a maybea freeing moment to say, you
know what, the Lord has calledus to come in who we are and in
(30:46):
that very moment.
And so, you know, should thatcause, you know, maybe emotion
in you, you know, should youfeel like, you know, maybe
there's a place to release thatbefore the Lord?
If there's just a place to comewith gratitude, if the and no,
no, whether it's brokenness orbeauty, the table is there for
you.
And don't feel like you've gotto figure it all out to do it.
But I truly believe this is ataste and see that the Lord is
(31:08):
good.
You know, not a figure it outthat the Lord is good, not do
all the right things and thenthe Lord will be good, but a
taste and see.
And so again, whether you'rewalking with the Lord, whether
you're new with the Lord,whether you've been, you know,
in a place of just, you know,hungering for more, you know,
more of him, whatever it is, Itruly believe that he will meet
you in your Sabbath moment andin him you will find that he is
(31:31):
good.
SPEAKER_01 (31:32):
This has been so good, folks.
We've been visited with Michaeland Sayla Hirsch, this book,
Pressing Pause.
It will bless you.
It's it's blessing me because Ireally need this in my life.
I've been so blessed by thisconversation.
I know it's gonna help a lot ofpeople.
And before we go, we always liketo remind everyone of our three
(31:56):
pillars of road to redemption isfirst to get into the word of
God, to read the Bible.
Start just reading the Bibleevery day.
Get up in the morning, turn offyour phone, press pause from
your phone, and read the Bible,and we promise He will speak to
you.
And the next is to get into aChrist-centered church and just
(32:20):
go.
You're you're never gonna findthe perfect church, but go and
and the church people are gonnawelcome you.
They wanna want you to helpbless you and come together in
community, and the Bible callsus to do that, to assemble
together.
And last is to get into a smallgroup.
Get into a group that you canmake yourself accountable and do
(32:44):
life with.
And these these folks are gonnacome behind you and help you
through what you're goingthrough.
So it's been a greatconversation.
Wow, this has really blessed me,and I know it's gonna bless a
lot of our viewers.
SPEAKER_02 (32:58):
Oh, John, appreciate it.
We love the show, so thank youso much.
It's been an honor for Sale andI to get to know you and uh to
be able to have thisconversation today.
SPEAKER_01 (33:06):
Yes, I know.
Thank you all for taking yourtime to
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