Too Busy Not To Rest

There is much to be said about work. No work means no outcome. Often, however, there can be a great stress on keeping busy. Even holidays are spent busy working hard to forget about work, only to see it popping up again. A balanced healthy life and one that ensures progress is made is as much about stopping and resting – physically and mentally – as being on the go. So when it gets all too much – get away and take a break.

Jesus said, "Come off by yourselves; let's take a break and get a little rest." For there was constant coming and going. They didn't even have time to eat. (Mark 6:31)

Safe Journey
Shalom

Take A Load Off

One of the ways that helps in enjoying life and making the most of it is in taking a load off. Whether that’s through sport, a trip to the hairdressers or even shopping it’s good to have an outlet to release the tension that often builds through the day. When these only provide escapism without release thus neglecting the issues of life, there is an invitation to engage in a relationship that allows us to find restoration and relief. With fresh hope and optimism this can set you up for a good perspective on even the most challenging situations.

If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest. (Matt 11:28)

Safe Journey
Shalom

Where Peaceful Waters Flow

You let me rest in fields of green grass. You lead me to streams of peaceful water, and you refresh my life. (Psalm 23:2, 3a)

There is something about leading people to where peaceful waters flow. Where no one is harassed and pressured. Where time ebbs and flows with the gentle rhythm of the flow of the river to replenish and refresh. Though your life maybe full of activity and action, let your mind and being be centred on the place where peaceful waters flow for you. As you rest there whenever you can, see if you can take a harassed traveller with you too. From there let the waters bring life from you to refresh others.

When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll, whatever my lot thou hast taught me to say it is well, it is well, with my soul. That was one of the inspirations behind today’s daily thought. As well as that the whole concept of the shepherd leading us by still waters and restoring our soul in preparation for the paths of righteousness that may go through the valley of the shadow of death. These kind of images are soothing and therapeutic without just being about having felt needs met. We are talking about being led by the Shepherd and the Shepherd knowing our need for rest and recuperation and abundantly providing them so that we may spend all of our days in God's house.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

For Peace Sake: Rest in Peace

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. (Matthew 5:9)

You can see it in people’s faces. Even their smile is weighted down with the cares of life, so many things to do just to keep up with things. Making peace is as much about getting people to rest as it is about actively engaging in reconnecting. Frantic rushing, stressed our fussing doesn’t improve situations. We don’t have to be dead to be able to rest in peace. Time out for a break, a few moments catching some fresh air, (maybe climbing Mount Snowdon) can do as much good as hours slaving over a hot desk.

This post was sent out on Friday 26th September.

The real scriptural basis for this thought is found in Matthew 11:28-30. It is an amazing invitation that Jesus offers here and a radical one. This invitation is also implicit in what it is to be a peacemaker – inviting stressed out, anxious, fearful, panicky, people to come to rest. We are motivated to work with no sense of rest as we’re driven to go on and on to get the next wage and the next job and the next Christmas shopping and the next children’s clothes for school and the next major life purchase and the next … and the next … with no rest, no final peace, no final consolation in life. By the time retirement comes around there’s a helplessness and hopelessness and fraught wondering what to do with time that was spent going from the next … to the next. Oh but the wonder of discipleship is not go from the next to the next, but to rest and be unburdened from that which moves us on to something that never satisfies, never brings that sense of wholeness that is summed up in the Hebrew concept of Shalom.

When we engage with others on the peacemaking process it is to invite them to rest. Not to ongoing exertions beyond our abilities. Only in Jesus do we find this rest. Truly this is the peace that passes understanding as its not just chilling the mind and the body, it’s completely resting in Christ.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Peace of Mind: Have A Break

Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself. (John 6:15)

Sometimes it just gets too much. You get bogged down with issues and hassles and you could just explode. Sometimes the pressure to be someone you’re not or do something you cannot do is too much. There’s no need for that. For every pressure there is a door open to get some fresh air on the situation – for peace of mind, have a break.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd