Rest.

(June 23, 2020)

I am amazed at the restorative power of rest.  Just a few hours of sleep can reset my entire mental construct.  Just stepping away from a task for a few minutes can bring me a whole new perspective to the challenge before me.  Just a few days away from the regular routine, can renew, refresh and restore.

 

Author Stephen Covey, in his two books, “First Things First,” and “Seven Habits…” talks about “sharpening the saw”.  He tells a story about two lumberjacks, one, a young, strong, somewhat arrogant stripling, the other, an older, more subdued gentleman.  The younger challenged the older to a contest to see who could cut down more trees that next day.  Morning broke, and after a hearty breakfast of flapjacks, sausage and strong coffee, they set to work.  The younger plunged in with gusto, but every time he turned to check on the progress of his elder, it appeared he was simply standing around, gazing up at the tree tops.  However, as the sun began to sink below those same tree tops, the pile of logs in the elder’s work space, was remarkably larger than the pile near where the younger had spent his time sweating, grunting and laboring.  That night, while sitting around the campfire relaxing after supper, the younger asked, “How do did you do it?”  The elder responded, “While you thought I was simply standing around gazing at the treetops, I was actually sharpening my saw.”

 

In Psalm 23, after we read that the Lord is our Shepherd, and as such, we have everything we need, the psalmist goes on to tell us, (v2) “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.”  In other words, He “makes us rest.”  On purpose.  And then in verse 3, “He restoreth my soul…”  

 

In other words, before He can lead me in paths of righteousness, and before I can “walk through the valley…”  I need to spend time lying down in the green pastures.  I need to take a drink from the still waters, and in those times, my soul is restored.  Daily.  Maybe even more than once a day.

 

Let me share a poem I wrote during a very busy time in my life a number of years ago:

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Heart Whisper

 

In the hustle, bustle and busyness of daily life, Stop.

 

A moment, your thoughts to ponder.

 

In the structure, routine and schedule…

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Briefly, allow your mind to wander.

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Pause.  Peer into the Pool of Reflection.

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Consider carefully, your course of direction.

 

In the stillness, of the silence,

 

Hear the whisper,

 

Of your heart.

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We all need those times, whether it is just a few moments, or maybe it is just a few days, to sharpen the saw… to restore our souls… to hear the whisper, that still, small voice…to reset our priorities…to refresh our perspective… to rekindle our passion…to renew our relationships… to reconnect… with Our Shepherd.

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Pastor V

The Waiting Room

(June 15, 2020)

Today, I am in the waiting room.  Here in the hospital.  Waiting for a family member to have a medical procedure.  I will be here for several hours.

 

Waiting can be hard.  Waiting can be frustrating. Waiting can be exhausting.  Or, waiting can be restorative.  Waiting can be peaceful.  Waiting can be restful.  Waiting can even be productive.

 

What do you do when you are forced to wait? Drum your fingers on the counter?  Tap your foot nervously?  Look at your watch or your phone incessantly?  Or do you take advantage of the time, close your eyes for a power nap?  Or, maybe do some journaling?  Or, pull out the book you’ve been meaning to read?

 

Life is full of “wait times”.  Sometimes we are waiting for God to open a door.  We may be waiting for Him to provide a need.  Maybe, it is a prayer that we are waiting for an answer for.  Maybe we are waiting for that “next phase of life”.  Waiting for our children to get old enough to send them to school.  Or, waiting for them to graduate.  Waiting for our spouse to get that next break in their career.  Waiting for a debt to be paid off.

 

How do you wait?  Are you one that is always saying, “I can’t wait until _______ (you fill in the blank).  Or, do you fill those wait times with positive and productive things?  Have you ever looked back and said, “I’m glad I waited?”

 

I love that passage in Isaiah 40:31. “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint”.  Another favorite is,  “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” (Psalm 27:14).  In both of these passages, the word that is translated “wait” means to bind or gather together with expectancy, to look for or wait on.  I wonder what would happen if, during our “wait times”, we turned our focus and attention to Him, and with faith and expectancy, looked to Him?  Maybe, if we could quiet our souls, we could hear His voice.  Maybe we could feel Him begin to restore our souls.  Maybe, we could feel His hand in ours, and feel the tug in our hearts, as He pulls us to Himself.

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Wait for it.

 

Pastor V

Save Your Family!

(June 8, 2020)

This week, my wife and I are enjoying a week with our grandchildren.  What fun we are having!  We’ve played army with plastic soldiers and two rubber bands, Ping-Pong, air hockey and a host of other games, but we also went to church together, prayed together, and sang together.  We’re also reading the Bible together and praying together at home as well.  Last weekend we celebrated our grandson’s milestone birthday (a whole decade old!) with our daughters, mother-in-law and a host of their friends.

 

Theses types of events get my mind to reminiscing about raising our own children and the memories we made together.  The trips we took. The places we visited.  The people we met.  Together.  But also, I remember the milestone events: Each of my children praying at the altar, repenting of their sins.  I was there when each of them received the Holy Ghost and when they were baptized.  I remember trips to district youth events, conferences and camp meetings where God’s power was so mighty, and I watched as God began to mold them and shape them into His Own children. We were there.  Together.

 

I am reminded of the scripture (1 Peter 3:20-21) where Peter mentions how eight souls were saved by water, by obeying Noah, and entering into the ark.  These eight souls were Noah, his wife, his three sons, and their wives.  That’s it.  He preached over a 100 years, and all he saved was his own family.  But HE SAVED HIS FAMILY!!!  I have been in the church for years, and what troubles me most, is when I see “successful saints” in the church… but their families are no longer serving God.  I have observed families who are very faithful to church, they never miss a service, but their home life is a sham, and to watch them interact with each other, one would never guess that they are Christians.  This is the reality.  Sometimes we are most unkind to those we love the most.  Brothers and Sisters, these things ought not so to be! (James 3:10)

 

By today’s standards, Noah failed as a preacher.  But, in my eyes, he was a supreme success!   He won the hearts of those in his own family!  I think there is a lesson in his story for all of us.  Bring your family to church.  Pray with them, sing with them, worship with them.  But also, when you’re not in church, play with them, laugh with them, love them, make memories together with them.  Work together.  Go fishing together.  Go hunting together.  Go shopping together.  Be human. Be real.  Be humble.  Forgive each other.  Love each other.  

 

One more word from the Scripture:  “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.” (Eph 4:32).  I’m thinking this includes those in our own family.

 

Before I end this blog, I do need to acknowledge those who have done all the right things, and yet their children have chosen to walk away from their faith.  This is a heartbreak to these parents.  We do need to pray for these families.  There is no guarantee that if you do all the right things, your family will be saved.  There is the element of personal choice.  However, I do believe that we must do all we can to let Christ’s love reign in our homes, and leave the rest to Him.

 

Pastor V