I’m ready for a good book by a warm fireplace

I am so grateful for all my blog readers.  I love your comments and the attention you pay to your spiritual life.  I feel blessed to serve our ministry and teach the word of God.  But today, I would like to be curled up by a fire, reading the new John Grisham novel.  I would like to be taking a long walk on a beach in the Bahamas.  I could picture myself shopping a huge sale at my favorite department store or eating with friends in a great restaurant.  I really do love Jesus – but I am ready to be still for a little while.  I wonder if Paul ever just shut it all down and went to the agora, to buy a new pair of sandals?

I have spoken seven times this week and I have one more to go.  I have hauled cases of my new children’s Christmas book to stores around the Dallas area.  I have driven out of town and then driven back.  I have read e-mails and typed e-mails and while I love my friends, I need some solitude.  One of my favorite pictures of doing ministry comes from the story of Jesus walking through a crowd and realizing that someone had touched his robe.  The woman had been suffering from bleeding for a long time when she reached out in faith, and touched the corner of Jesus’ robe.  Jesus said, “I know that power has gone out from me” (Luke 8:46).  For those of you that teach, serve and spend your time giving Jesus to others, here is an important “pre-holiday” reminder.  Take time to rest and refuel your soul.  I plan on watching three Hallmark movies and reading that Grisham novel this weekend!

God created us to need rest, and right when I am feeling the need for it – the time has arrived!  So I will keep this post short and head to the bookstore.  How are you feeling today?  May I make a few suggestions?

1.  If you have already decided who to vote for, mute your television set and don’t allow all those commercials to drain your soul!
2.  If you need to teach Sunday School this weekend, get your lesson done now, and then find a great way to spend your freed up time.
3.  If there is someone you were going to call – call them now, or call them Monday.  Turn off your cell phone and take a walk.  You deserve some silence!

God created us with the need for a Sabbath rest and then set the example by taking that time himself.  I’m glad I was able to speak and teach.  It is a privilege to share God’s word and apply it to life.  I’m grateful my books are on the store shelves and I hope they will bless some families this Christmas.   And I’m grateful I can look forward to some rest from work.  I hope you can too!  St. Irenaeus and I think the same on this subject.  He said, “Recreation is not the highest kind of enjoyment, but in its time and place it is quite as proper as prayer.”  Don’t you love that?  See you next week!

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