“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” – Proverbs 17:22
Sometimes you just have to laugh. Like just the other night as I was rolling around on the floor with our 1 year old lab puppy my glasses found themselves on the floor and just as I went to pick them up I heard a crunching sound. What I found in all my years of glassendom was a pile of frame and lenses the like of which I had never seen. What appeared before me was what used to be a perfectly fine pair of glasses. My exact next thought became the realization that pile represented my primary and backup pair, yes, my only pair of glasses. Instead of getting angry or stressed out about how I was going to go about rectifying the situation, all I could do was laugh. I mean there was no amount of tape or super glue that was going to fix this one! As I started laughing a passage of Scripture then came to my mind, “For we walk by faith and not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7). For the next few days I would literally get to live this one out! I’m thankful our God is a God of laughter and joy because it truly is medicine for my soul.
“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” Psalm 19:1 (ESV)
Though I try to stay up with current events, sometimes I’m a little behind the times. Recently, I became aware of a study done by a Marine biologist called Blue Mind. In this book, the author, Wallace J. Nichols, looks at all the positive aspects of being “in, near, on, or under water.” I’ve personally felt this way as there is just something calming and soothing about being near the water. Looking out over the ocean I’m often struck by the majesty and power of God who created our world. The ocean wind and the sound of the crashing waves seem to drown out the noise of life and quiet the seemingly endless distractions of modern life. The waves crash and crash moving in and out with the tide erasing the footprints of the past creating a new clean slate with each pass.
From time to time I find it necessary to retreat to coast to refocus my heart, mind, and soul. My hope is that you can find the time or place wherever it might be for you, to reconnect with God when the pressure of life seems to overwhelm or distract you from your true purpose in life.
“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near.” Matthew 24:32 (ESV)
In this passage Jesus pointed out to his disciples how one might tell the coming of summer by watching the transition of the fig tree. When the leaves appear, you know summer is near. Even if you do not know the time or the day its arrival should not come as a surprise.
Summer is a season of transitions. The coolness of Spring is melted away in the summer’s heat. The gentleness of a spring rain gives way to summer’s thunderstorm. As we say in the South, thank the Lord for air conditioning and sweet tea. The summer is a welcome season of transition for students. After a challenging academic year summer break is a welcome respite. Even if you aren’t a student or have students in your household, you might at least notice fewer of those yellow school buses and carpool traffic on the morning commute.
While for some summer is welcomed with rejoicing and others are eagerly awaiting the cooler dry air of the fall, the lesson becomes what are we doing in the season we are given?
What transitions are awaiting you this year? For what transitions are you preparing?
I came across this little gem by way of recommendation from Tim Challies’ blog. While written with the Christian ministry context in mind, the principles could apply to almost any area of leadership. Through this book Sauls breaks down the vulnerabilities of ambition, isolation, criticism, envy, insecurity, anticlimax, opposition, and suffering. Spend enough time in a position of leadership and you are going to face several, if not all of these issues at some point. Fortunately, the author addresses from his personal experience how he has walked through each area and gives some helpful instruction on how to recognize and overcome them. This is the book that I wish they had handed out in seminary, or at the very least about 10 years in.
*disclaimer: this is not a paid review, but if you click through the amazon affiliate link and purchase this book you will help support this site.
Each month the good people at FaithLife give away a free ebook. For the month of June 2019 it is Sanctuary of the Soul by Richard J. Foster. I was introduced to Richard Foster while a freshman Bible major at Taylor University in the Fall of 1996 through reading his seminal work, Celebration of Discipline. While there are many books on prayer, the theology of prayer, Foster gives you a roadmap toward contemplative prayer and like handing you the keys to the car, it’s up to you to drive.
“A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.” Proverbs 10:4 (ESV)
It’s Monday morning. As the old commercial said, “It’s time to make the doughnuts!” For most in our culture, Monday marks the beginning of the work week. While it is easy to want to hit the snooze button one more time or to call out sick (for a “mental health day”), sometimes the hardest thing is the best thing. While rest is good and proper (see yesterday’s post), you can get too much of a good thing. The Bible contains a section on wisdom called Proverbs. One particular proverb warns against having a “slack hand.” Having a slack hand was about as good as having a slack bow, if left neglected and uncared for, it would be useless in battle. So neglecting work, (i.e., laziness) according to this proverb leads to poverty. I read an articletoday that for the second month in a row in the United States there are more available jobs than there are job seekers available. Right now, if you want to work you stand a pretty high chance of getting a job.
The “slack hand” is contrasted with the “hand of the diligent.” This is the person who is not afraid to work, who is ready and willing to work. The diligent brings pride to his or her work and workplace. The diligent seeks the to do the best job with the best attitude. The diligent seeks to repeat this day after day, week after week. The proverb commends that the hand of the diligent leads to wealth. Even if inherited or even if you happened to win the lottery wealth does not happen or remain by default. In fact, many people who come into a lot of money in a short amount of time find ways to spend it and deplete it just as fast! The only people making money off of get-rich-quick scams are the scammers, and they are working hard at it.
As someone who in this season is in a position to hire people, 90% of getting and keeping a job is showing up. So it’s Monday morning. It’s time to make the doughnuts. It’s time to get to work! If you are currently unemployed your job is to get a job! What do you need to do to make that happen?
Questions to Ponder:
How diligent am I in my job? Am I giving my best effort and attitude?
How am I encouraging my family or coworkers in their job (or studies)?
What can I do to make my workplace a better place?
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 (ESV)
I am so thankful that the one who designed the world created something call rest. He created the cycle of days and seasons as a natural pattern for work and rest. He created our bodies to follow this natural cycle as well. As I’m writing this on a Sunday afternoon I have just enjoyed a morning of worship with my family. I heard one person describe the weekly worship gathering as the closest taste of heaven that we get on earth. To go from an energizing morning of worship to a completely stress-free and relaxing Sunday afternoon is such a recharging experience.
Spiritually, when Jesus spoke these words recounted in the New Testament, the people he was speaking to were living in a religious system that was based completely upon their performance. They lived by a seemingly endless list of rules and demands that no one could hope to ever live up to. In the midst of this Jesus says to come to Him and He will give true rest. Rest from seeking to earn favor and acceptance based upon our performance. Freedom to receive God’s love and forgiveness.
Questions To Ponder:
How well are you resting in God’s unconditional love?
How often are you making space in your life for rest on a daily, weekly, monthly basis?
What is the biggest obstacle to finding rest in your life right now?
