The Power of a Good Rest

Blessed are the balanced; they shall outlast everyone. – Rick Warren

Though he was always extremely busy; Jesus was never stressed or ‘out of sorts.’ His secret: balanced living. AMEN!

One of the events of the Olympics is the decathlon. It is composed of ten events that will tax every physical ability of the athlete. The goal is to do well or succeed in every event, not just three or four. The good thing is however, the events are spread out over several days. Life itself at times seems like a decathlon with all the events happening at once. If we try to survive in this mode we will truly get stressed and burn out. We must learn to make the most efficient use of our time and resources to aid us in our daily trek. Sometimes the best resource available is to just get away (Jesus often withdrew to lonely places…). We can never underestimate the power of a good rest, after all, even God took a rest after the creation. It helps with the balancing of life. Maybe we should try it!

Until Monday…

Pastor Botts

“[Jesus said to them] ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’ So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.” – Mark 6:31-32

 

You Matter

The most basic craving of man is not food, sex, recreation, or money. It is knowledge that he matters to someone. – W. Sheldon

Moses did it. So did Elijah. Then Jesus came along and did it too. 40 days alone with the ONE who mattered most. What a great declaration of worth by God. Amen!

Often, if we’re not careful we get caught up doing “life” work for the sake of the necessary things (housing, sustenance, etc.) and forgetting we have a larger more important purpose: GOD. We matter to Him! Regardless of what others may demand of us or even think of us, we matter to Him. He knows all about us and He cares for us; and this should motivate us to seek a closer intimate relationship with Him. And since God is never in a hurry, maybe we should not be either when we draw near to Him.

Until Monday…

Pastor Botts

“The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest. So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place’.” – Mark 6:30-32

The Show Will Go On

One of the symptoms of an approaching nervous breakdown is the belief that one’s work is terribly important. – B. Russell

God’s prophet Elijah thought that he alone was the sole standout for God. God showed him HE had 7,000+ who had not bowed a knee to Baal. Hmm!

We see it all the time in sports, entertainment, politics, etc. Players and actors who feel the “show” can’t go on without them, that they are irreplaceable, no one can do what they do. In truth, the show does go on, maybe not exactly how we think it should, but go on it does; just as it did before we got there. While we should enjoy our work or whatever we do - for it is a form of worship to God - it should not consume us and keep us away from the very God who created us and the families He's placed us in. Here's hoping our work is a means to an end and not the other way around.

Until Monday…

Pastor Botts

"The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to Him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, He said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’ So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.” – Mark 6:30-32

A Little Pitstop

You ever notice the Indianapolis 500 often has a ‘pace’ car on the track! - Anon

When Jesus saw how harried, harassed, and hungered the crowds looked, He made them take a ‘time out’. WOW!

We’ve all seen the pet hamster in the cage running on the circular wheel. Running hours on end going nowhere! For him, it’s just exercise, but how often for us does that seem a way of life? Even in this pandemic riddled year, our personal world can still be so busy we find it a challenge to really, really rest. Overwhelming needs abound – family, financial, physical, mental, spiritual – and seemingly continue to push us. We get so busy ‘doing’ we have little or no time for ‘being’. If anything, 2020 has given us all a new perspective on life. It’s as if God were saying “you’ve been running on empty, why not come to me. The peaceful, tranquil, and purposed life you seek begins with me.” Truthfully speaking, I can’t think of anyone I’ve ever known or read about being harmed by spending too much time with God. If time is truly in His hands and runs at His command, maybe we should adjust our lives to His pace.

I'll be taking a few days off, so until I return…

Pastor Botts

“…..[Jesus said] ‘come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” – Mark 6:31

Balancing Acts

Blessed are the balanced; they shall outlast everyone. – R. Warren

Though he was always extremely busy; Jesus was never stressed or ‘out of sorts.’ His secret: balanced living. AMEN!

One of the events of the Olympics is the decathlon. It is composed of ten events that will tax every physical ability of the athlete. The goal is to do well or succeed in every event, not just three or four. The good thing is however, the events are spread out over several days. Life itself at times seems like a decathlon with all the events happening at once. If we try to survive in this mode we will truly get stressed and burn out. We must learn to make the most efficient use of our time and resources to aid us in our daily trek. Sometimes the best resource available is to just get away (Jesus often withdrew to lonely places…). We can never underestimate the power of a good rest, after all, even God took a rest after the creation. It helps with the balancing of life. Maybe we should try it!

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“[Jesus said to them] ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’ So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.” – Mark 6:31-32

Techno Crush

There is more to life than increasing its speed. – Gandhi

James says a good farmer “patiently waits” for the rain and seasons for his crops. What a novel concept.

Technology! Instant access! We’re now available 24/7, 365 days a year, never out of reach or touch. We’re multi-tasking, multi-relational, multi-dimensional, and dead-tired. Most studies show for every efficiency we gain in technology, we lose time and touch with humanity (we’re on the phone or PC more, hooked up to music earplugs more, etc.) missing intimate conversation and God’s greatness all around us. Though we may be “up to speed” God’s pace is still the same.

Until tomorrow…….

Pastor Botts

“The apostles gathered around Jesus….then because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” – Mark 6:30-31

Enjoyed but not Consumed by

One of the symptoms of an approaching nervous breakdown is the belief that one’s work is terribly important. – B. Russell

God’s prophet Elijah thought that he alone was the sole standout for God. God showed him HE had 7,000+ who had not bowed a knee to Baal. Hmm!

We see it all the time in sports, entertainment, politics, etc. Players and actors who feel the “show” can’t go on without them, that they are irreplaceable, no one can do what they do. In truth, the show does go on,maybe not exactly how we think it should, but go on it does; just as it did before we got there. While we should enjoy our work or whatever we do, for it is a form of worship to God; it should not consume us and keep us away from the very God who created us and the families He's placed us in. Here's hoping our work is a means to an end and not the other way around.

Until tomorow…..

Pastor Botts

“The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to Him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, He said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’ So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.” – Mark 6:30-32

Away with The One we matter to

The most basic craving of man is not food, sex, recreation, or money. It is knowledge that he matters to someone. – W. Sheldon

Moses did it. So did Elijah. Then Jesus came along and did it too. 40 days alone with the ONE who mattered most. What a great declaration of worth by God. Amen!

Often, if we’re not careful we get caught up doing “life” work for the sake of the necessary things (housing, sustenance, etc.) and forgetting we have a larger more important purpose: GOD. We matter to Him! Regardless of what others may demand of us or even think of us, we matter to Him. He knows all about us and He cares for us; and this should motivate us to seek a closer intimate relationship with Him. And since God is never in a hurry, maybe we should not be either when we draw near to Him.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest. So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place’.” – Mark 6:30-32

Stretched Thin

Stretching may be good for exercise, but not so for life. – Anon

Elijah was ready to give up on life because he thought ‘he’ was the only priest of God left doing the work, but God told him otherwise. Hmm!

Life and all its gifts and opportunities given to us by God was never meant to leave us feeling overworked, over-committed, and completely overwhelmed. But in truth many of us are, we are simply stretched thin. God’s gifts of family, careers, and even pleasure were never meant to supplant Him, but to be enjoyed in a way that brings glory to Him, and being stretched thin does not allow us to give our best to Him. God’s plan has always been that we take time to slow down, enjoy His presence, company, and conversation. If we’re short on time today may be a good time to take a serious look at ‘our priorities.’

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“Jesus} said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest…” – Mark 6:31