Can You Feel It?

This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
    he is my God, and I trust him.

Psalm 91:2 

 

Remember the first day you started that new job you wanted so badly?  You were excited.  You wanted to do the best job ever!  You did everything so you could learn how to do your job more efficiently!  You had a passion; a drive; and boundless energy!  And you couldn't wait to get our of bed every day so you could go do the job you loved so much.

 

You meet some of the more senior staff members who look a LOT older than they truly are; they don't seem to have a drive or passion for the job, it's as if they're just plodding along until retirement; they have a negative outlook on everything and everyone.  And you promise yourself that you will never get that bad.

 

And 10 years in, you suddenly realize that you're moving slower, you are getting irritated more easily, you seem to just go through the motions, and you cannot wait for the end of the day so you can just get away from this place.  And on the way home you get stuck in traffic, then your spouse calls to remind you of the events, plays, practices, performances of your children you need to attend.  And you have to stop for fuel and to grab something to feed everyone, and you have a major presentation to make in the morning.  And the list goes on and on and on.  You can't sleep; you can't relax; you don't understand why you've become the person you swore you'd never become.

 

Think about this: God did more than any of us could ever accomplish in 100 lifetimes, and He did it in just 6 days.  And then He RESTED!

 

Think about this:  Jesus made if a regular practice to get away from everyone to rest, recharge, and pray.

 

We need to take time to unwind, rest, recharge, and recover.  But do we?  I've said this before and I'll say it again, if your "vacation" is crammed with so many activities that you have to come back to work just to recover from it.....you did not have a vacation!

 

No one can do it all!  God did not design us to work all the time!  God did not make our bodies indestructible. God did not tell us to rest on the 7th day as a suggestion.  God knows that we will burn out.  And when we burn out we begin to make mistakes, our mood changes; our relationships are wounded and sometimes destroyed.

 

Take time to rest, relax, recharge, and be restored!

I Hate Being Sick

Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.”

James 4:13-15

I hate being sick.  I have been sick for the last several days and with all the coughing, hacking, and various other internal rebellions, each morning I was more sore than the day before. 

This tells me two things:
     1.  Feeling like I lost a fight with a freight train is painful.
     2.  Being sore tells me there's muscles in my body whether they can be seen or not.

When I first felt the onset, I kept telling God "I don't have time to be sick! I have too much to do!"  Well, apparently God's plans didn't exactly agree with mine, because I felt worse and worse.  And, as if that weren't enough, my sweet bride also caught what I had, so there we've been over the last few days giving the FBI surveillance team a hearty chuckle.  You know what's worse than the blind leading the blind?  The sick trying to take care of the sick!

But the more upset and stressed about "not having time" to be sick, the worse I felt.  Then, true to form, day before yesterday, I told God that I just give up and whatever He's trying to remind me, please just make it clear to me.  And it was as if my mind suddenly cleared and I realized that I had gotten SO involved in what I wanted to get done that I had begun to be blinded to all that is truly important.  Busy-ness is a curse!  I've seen my calendar (and several other peoples' calendars) were SO full that there was no room for anything.  And then we wonder why we are SO exhausted, irritable, and frustrated!

I still hate being sick, but sometimes that's how God gets my attention. 

Just A Little...

We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us.

2 Corinthians 1:8-10 

 

The night had been spent tossing and turning because my mind kept running through my calendar for the the next day to make sure I had not forgotten to enter an appointment (my mind doesn't seem to be able to keep track the way it used to). 

 

Plus, I had forgotten to pick up my prescription for sleep meds.  

 

Plus, so far this year, let's just say I am truly looking forward to 2016 being over.  

 

PLUS I still have classes to facilitate and get the needed materials together and in order.  

 

PLUS family issues to deal with.

 

PLUS I have a list of projects that need to be completed.

 

PLUS.....PLUS......PLUS......the load never seems to get lighter and the stress never seems to let up, does it?

 

It was one of those days where I realized there was not enough coffee in the Universe to give me the strength to complete everything that was staring me in the face from my calendar.

 

To say I felt more then a bit overwhelmed would be an ENORMOUS understatement!!!

 

Then today's passage was this morning's devotional, and I breathed a prayer of gratitude that even history's most energetic, stubborn, and dedicated Apostle felt overwhelmed.

 

As I sat with my coffee pondering today's passage, I couldn't help but hear the James Bond theme song in my mind along with his famous catch-phrase "shaken....not stirred."  Now, I'm no James Bond and am not a fan of martinis, but I realized that I NEEDED to be shaken in order to be stirred into action (see what I did there?).  The fact was, I had gotten complacent and had forgotten that it's okay to say "I'm sorry, I just simply cannot fit another thing into my calendar today."  It's okay to take care of myself.  It's okay to realize that I am not a superhero who can wear tights (wipe THAT image from you mind if you can) and who can swoop in to solve everyone's problems.  It's OKAY!

 

The Apostle Paul was stressed and overwhelmed to the point he thought he would die!  That is pretty overwhelmed!  Jesus even was so stressed over His upcoming trial, torture and execution that He had sweat droplets running down His face like blood.  So feeling overwhelmed is okay...we are in good company.

 

I realize this is a bit of a long read today, and I thank you for reading this far, but let me give you a few PRACTICAL ways of helping alleviate some stress:

     *    Take care of yourself.  Yes, I just punched myself in the face on that one.  If you don't take care of you, then how can you take care of others.

     *     Realize that you have only 24 hours in each day, and some of that time needs to be spent resting and sleeping.

     *     Learn to limit what you need and want to do each day.

     *     When you feel overwhelmed, don't be afraid to ask for help.  Even if it's just to unload some of the stress by talking it out.  Sometimes a different perspective can alleviate stress.

 

It's okay to be human....you are in good company! 

Second Chances Are......

God, you pulled me out of the grave,
    gave me another chance at life
    when I was down-and-out.

~Psalm 30:3 

 

There are some instances where a second chance just isn't an option....once you're past your teen years, you don't get a second chance at reliving them (try though some might).  You don't get a second chance to make a first impression.  

 

We are fortunate if we work for someone who is willing to give second chances.  We are very fortunate if we are married to someone who is willing to give us second chances.  You see, when a second chance (a TRUE second chance) is given, you are expected to understand that improvement is needed.  It is also good to know that the first mistake (which led to the second chance) will not be held against us.

 

God is not only the God of second chances, but He is in the business of pulling us up when we are down and REMINDING us that every breath is a second chance!  You didn't speak to the person you should have, yet God brings that person across your path again.  And even again.  And maybe even AGAIN.  

 

I can honestly tell you, and openly admit, God has pulled me back from the brink more than once, and has given me second chances I didn't ask for or deserve.  He does it with every breath he gives me.  He doesn't have to......probably shouldn't have......but I am grateful for every single one.  How about you?  Need a second chance?  God is in that business.   

Captain Busyness

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”

  But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:38-42

Multi-tasking has become our mantra.  We work late, get home late, eat late, work some more until the wee hours of the morning, jump into bed expecting sleep to be waiting on us, then we remember that project we are supposed to have finished tomorrow, so we're up again, and on and on and on.  

Then we wonder why we're tired.  So we start pounding down the coffee, energy drinks, and push ourselves ever harder to do more of everything.....EXCEPT relax.  It's as if we have lost the ability to actually relax!

In today's passage, Martha is trying to be THE perfect hostess by greeting Jesus at the door and then off to the kitchen to prepare the meal, back out to set the table, back into the kitchen to peel potatos and carrots, shell the beans, make the bread, baste the meat, back to put napkins and silverware on the table......Martha was BUSY!

Mary, on the other hand, wanted to learn from Jesus.  She took the time for the IMPORTANT instead of all the busyness.  Martha decided it was time to call Mary out right in front of Jesus, so she comes blustering into the room, INTERRUPTS Jesus, and demands that Jesus make Mary leave the important to help her with the busyness.  Look at Jesus' response: "My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details!"  

Jesus chides Martha for focusing on the busyness of life.  Notice also that Mary isn't sitting on her backside being lazy, rather she is sitting at the feet of Jesus and she is LEARNING from Him.  Tired of being tired?  Let go of the busyness and learn to rest and relax.  Spend time with your loved ones.  Busyness is learned and has become ingrained in us.  Isn't it about time to learn how to rest, relax and recharge? 

But I'm NOT A Workaholic!

Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich.
    Be wise enough to know when to quit.

~Proverbs 23:4

I love my job! There's just no other way I can say it. God has finally shown me a niche where I not only fit, but love fitting into it.  I get to talk with people, offer counsel or perhaps a perspective.  I get to share with them from my lifetime of doing life wrong.  I get to build friendships.  I get to help others who might be struggling.  And I get to drink a LOT of coffee!

In my previous jobs, I could not wait to get home and leave work behind for a few brief hours before having to go "back to the salt mines."  Because I saw my job as just a means to get a paycheck, advancement was neither available nor encouraged.  In short, most every job I have ever held has been a job I dreamed of doing something else. Yet my job now is not a job because it is a joy!  I cannot even dream of doing anything else!

With having a joy instead of a job does have a downside (I heard you gasp).  When you love what you do, the risk of wanting to do it ALL the time is very real!  

One of the things I get to do is teach the New Hires about Law Enforcement Stress Awareness.  And one of the items we discuss is the fact that, while many Deputies work extra duty to make ends meet or for some extra money, no one can work ALL the time without burning out.  And I am having to learn to example the whole "don't-work-all-the-time" point.  You see, even when I am officially off-the-clock, I am still working, thinking about work, learning ways to do more and do it better, reading books about work, talking about work.  In short, I get paid to work X number of hours, but I have this habit of working well beyond the X and pushing more toward the Z.  

I have heard many times before that "the bosses notice when you put in extra hours."  I am slowly realizing that if I am doing my job to the best of my ability, then I will also set aside time to rest and recharge.  Let me give you the practical example that smacked me between the eyes: Your cellphone (and most people have them) works as it is supposed to when the battery is fully charged.  What happens when the battery drains?  You either have to recharge it or it will cease to function.  And we are no different!  We NEED to take time away to rest and recharge or we will cease to function effectively.

Think about it this way: God took a day off from creating this Earth and commanded us to take a day off as well.  Who are we to tell God we're too busy to rest?

Focus on the Simple!

So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

~Matthew 6:34 

 

This week, we have spent time focusing on the Simplicity that Christ taught.  Imagine a world where we would be able to live a simple life.  It IS possible, believe it or not.  Life is pretty simple: We take in nourishment, expel waste, the rest is added extras.

I went to the Doctor for my annual physical last year and was told I needed to lose weight.  Then he started rattling of the whole counting carb, proteins, calories, timing, and a lot of other stuff that mad my head spin.  Finally, I asked for a SIMPLE plan that even I could follow.  His response?  "If you like eating it, stop!"  Can't get much simpler than that.  Pretty much I CAN eat anything I dislike (like termites, tree bark, old rubber tires, etc.).  

The more I thought about it, the more I realized that I was focusing on meals that had not taken place yet and it was stressing me to the point I was getting crabby.  I was getting crabby about something that had yet to happen.  So......deep breath.....embrace the WOOSAH!  Focus on today!  

You see, Jesus taught us well when He taught us to live simply!  We are given life one moment at a time!  Why rush it?  We can only take one breath at a time! Why waste it?

Make your life one worth remembering instead of being one of stress and hurry!

Rescue Me!

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”

But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:38-42

     We are a busy bunch, aren't we?  I am guilty of filling my calendar with appointments and activities to the point that I become exhausted, drained, and irritated.  I also feel guilty when I can't be everywhere every time to help everyone.  But God...

     You see, nowhere in Scripture does God tell us to work ourselves into exhaustion!  Not even when doing "good work."  Paul tells us that we should not grow weary of doing good, and I had always taken that to mean I should always be busy doing SOMETHING good.  But when I get tired (my bride can attest to this) I get.....how can I put this......testy.  But God has shown me in the past the busy-ness will do more damage than good.  Each of us MUST take time for ourselves!

     In today's passage, Martha is bustling around getting the house and meal ready.  All these are good things!  She is busy doing good works.  But notice that she gets irritated that Mary is taking time to sit at the feet of Jesus to learn and relax.  Jesus reminds Martha that being busy drowns out the voice of the Savior and takes our focus OFF of what is important!  

     One of the things I learned in the Army was a very simple lesson: "If you want to help rescue others, start with yourself!"  Take care of you so you can take care of others!  Let's face it, Jesus took time away from His ministry to recover. God is all powerful and can do everything AND even God took a day to rest, so who are we to say we can do better.

     Therefore, while I am still more than willing to help and minister, I will be taking time to recover and rest too (away from the phone and away from the appointment calendar).  How about you?

Flock Of Seagulls!

He lets me rest in green meadows;
    he leads me beside peaceful streams.

~Psalm 23:2 

 

For all who have entered into God’s rest 

have rested from their labors, just as God 

did after creating the world.

~Hebrews 4:10

 

Labor Day is upon us, and for many it is truly a day of Labor.  For many more it is a day with a dizzying schedule of activities.  And, true, for some it is a day for various forms of over-indulgence (and debauchery?).  But for the wise, the truly wise, it is an opportunity to be Biblical and relax.  

 

I am one of those people who is guilty of scheduling more than I should and when not working, I am thinking of work or planning some meeting or class.  Rest doesn't come easy to us because we have been programmed over the years that "rest" is an EVIL word and a habit for the unambitious and lazy.  So.....according to today's verses, God's intention was to make us unambitious and lazy so WE have to show Him who is boss by driving on until we die?

 

I am learning to relax.  I am learning to WANT to rest.  I am learning that constant stress will destroy more than just your sanity and attitude, it can destroy your relationships, your health, and can even do worse.  Of late, I have felt the pull of the need to get away for a few hours and spend time with my bride doing something I always find relaxing...spending time with my gullfriends (and there are usually many).  That's right...I said I have many gullfriends!  And they seem to like it when I go feed them.  

 

 

 

They flock to me and are very gentle when they take the bread from my hands, from my shoulders and even from the top of my head (and I do wear a cap, just in case they think my bald head is a bombing target). But convincing my bride to come has been QUITE the challenge these last several years.

 

Even so, I urge each of you to make time to relax.  Relaxing doesn't always mean sitting still and doing nothing.  There are relaxing activities such as going for a stroll, riding a bicycle (for those who still have their balance), gardening, reading, going out to eat, laying back and watching the stars, looking for shells and shark's teeth on the beach, the potential of activities is endless.  Find something that you find peaceful and spend time relaxing away from the noise and stress of the work place.

 

If you haven't noticed...there's been a theme these last few days!