Self Care

But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.

Luke 5:16

 What happens when your forget to recharge your cellphone?  What happens when you let the car run out of gas and don't fill it up?  What happens when you go and go and go and go, from project to project, activity to activity, eating "bad for you" stuff?  Answer....you know.

Yet we do these kind of things more than we want to admit.  We will, quite literally, keep going until we drop and then wonder why we are so exhausted all the time.  We drink more and stronger coffee.  We'll pound down gallons of energy drinks.  Why? Because, well let's face it, we're not the brightest critters.

I am fully convinced that Abba put animals on this earth, (BEFORE He brought us into the picture) to teach us!  For example, when our pup, Woody Bear, gets tired he will simply lay down and take a nap.  Guess what? No alarm is set. When he's rested, he wakes up.  Well....unless there's a snack to be had.

So why do we drive ourselves so hard?  Do we REALLY think we can fulfill Abba's plan for us in record time, thus changing His plan for us?  Let me come clean here: I like helping people usually through listening and offering counsel.  However, I am also very bad about not taking time to rest, relax and recharge. This usually leads to feeling burned out, resentful, irritable (ask my bride), sleepless nights...but I'm trying to help people which is good, right?  At what cost?

Look at the life of Jesus.  He would go away frequently to pray, relax and recharge.  He would spend time appreciating the creation. He encouraged His Disciples to do the same.  So, if Jesus needed to take time away for self-care, who are we to believe we don't need to?

Firm Steps

Have you ever stumbled in your life?  As a Christian, I have stumbled more times than I want to remember.  There are scrapes, bruises, and scars from my stumbling and bumbling along trying to do the right thing.  Being a Christian doesn't mean we won't stumble.  Being a Christian doesn't make us perfect.  Being a Christian means that we have the Father who loves us so much that he picks us up when we stumble and gives us another chance.

Self Care

Then Jesus got up early in the morning when it was still very dark, departed, and went out to a deserted place, and there he spent time in prayer. 

Mark 1:35

 

It creeps in slowly.  At first we are able to manage without slowing down.  And it builds a little at a time.  Before we realize it, the feeling of being overwhelmed crashes on us and we wonder what we can do to find relief.  To be honest, somewhere along the line we have been taught that taking care of your spirit was selfish, so we push forward.

 

The fact of the matter is that spiritual self-care is absolutely VITAL!  Jesus made sure to take time to restore, and insisted His Disciples did as well.  Jesus shows us a way to prevent stress and the feeling of being overwhelmed. He was the sinless Son of God, but He often went away by Himself to get away from large crowds—even from those that needed His help and healing (Mark 1:35). At times He retreated even from His disciples. Other times, He retreated with His disciples: “Because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest’” (Mark 6:31). It was not selfish of Jesus to get away from people and commune with God. It was wise of Him to seek time for His disciples to rest, as well. We can rightly assume it is okay for us to spend some time alone, too, if we are feeling overwhelmed by people and responsibilities. It is interesting to note that Jesus also enjoyed great inner peace because of His trust in God.  

 

Take time to restore your relationship with Abba and rest in Him. 

 

Give Up?

Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.”

Matthew 28:5-7 

 

Have you ever had a dream crumble to the point that you wanted to give up? Have you ever experienced a situation that just crushed your dreams?  I have.  It's not a good feeling.  In fact, it's devastating.  This is what Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph felt as they went to the tomb of Jesus to prepare the body of Jesus for proper burial.  This man whom they followed, listened to, saw miracles performed through Him, had been killed.  They felt as if their dreams had been killed with Him.  

 

When they got to the tomb, they found the stone rolled away and some glowing guy in a blindingly white suit sitting on the stone.  When they got closer, he told them that Jesus was no longer in the tomb and if they needed proof to come look inside for themselves. They looked inside and saw that the guy was absolutely correct.  And they felt their dreams restored.

 

Let me ask you something, was the stone moved so Jesus could get out?  Nope!  The stone was moved in order that the women could look inside!  And their hope was restored!  God proved to them that what Jesus said about rising after the third day was true!  And guess what, God still proves His love for us even now...every day...if we don't give up!

I'll Rest When I'm Dead!

He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside waters of rest.
    He restores my soul.

Psalm 23:2-3

 

Let me very up front about this, I LOVE my job!  I really do.  In fact, I can only think of one job I'd enjoy more....having the opportunity to teach others to do this job!  I truly believe God put me here, to do this thing I get to do, because He knew how much I would love it.

 

That's not to say there are times when my schedule doesn't get a bit hectic. That's not to say there aren't times when some situations are emotionally, physically and spiritually draining to the point of exhaustion.  That's not to say every single day is like sitting in a hot tub eating chocolate ice cream.  There are times when I simply crave having time to get away and be quiet. 

 

Most of my job is listening.  I listen when no one thinks I am paying the least bit of attention.  I listen when people think I can't hear them.  Why?  Because it is in those times that people let their guard down and they speak freely without feeling the need to say, "Sorry Padre."  I listen in order to learn.  I learn in order to be able to help.  I help because that's what God has put me here to do.  Believe it or not, one of the things I hear quite often...how many vacation days a person has built up because they "never take time off."  

 

I have started using my vacation days.  Because I want take time to rest and be restored.  Plus I have personal projects I want to accomplish. But mainly because I need to follow my own counsel: "You have to take care of YOU. If you don't take care of you then you cannot take care of anyone else."  So my goal this year is to start taking care of me so God can use me to take care of others.   

Rest

Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, “Get up and eat!” He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again. Then the angel of the Lord came again and touched him and said, “Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you.”
So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai, the mountain of God.
1 Kings 19:5-8 

Elijah was under a LOT of stress.  Queen Jezebel had promised to take his life, so Elijah became fearful and ran away far into the wilderness.  When he was exhausted, he lay down and slept.  He was worried about Queen Jezebel's threat more than he remembered that God is the one in control.  And guess what?  God took care of Elijah!  He provided food, drink, and safety while he rested.

Remember that on the seventh day, even God rested.  We are not designed to charge ahead without rest.  We need time to recharge.  We need time to be restored.  We need time away.  Therefore, I will be away for the rest of the week.  I will be back on Monday.  

It is my prayer that each of you will also make time to rest, recharge and be restored.  

Restoration Project

My Bride and I used to enjoy the show "American Restoration" because the artists (because that's what they are), would take some old piece of rust and return it to 'like new' condition.  That always amazed me how they could do that and I told her I wanted her to take me to see them to see what they could do with me.  All I got in return was a snort and an eyeroll (perfect day).

But when we feel like we're broken, when we feel as though we are coming apart, when we wonder what could possibly go wrong now, God is there!  Not only is He there, but He will restore us to to 'like new' condition and He will make us into something amazing!  The only thing we have to do is have faith that He can do what He promised.

God has never broken a promise yet, and He won't start with you!

Restoration?

When Job prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes. 

In fact, the Lord gave him twice as much as before!

Job 42:10 

 

I like to see pictures of how a rested and neglected automobile is given new life with a restoration, and many restorations make the car more valuable than it was originally.  

 

Have you ever felt your life needed a restoration?  Perhaps you feel like a rusting hulk of metal and dirt and a quick wash just doesn't do the trick.  Hmmm......consider Job.  God allowed everything to be taken from him, leaving him a rotten shell of his former self.  Job prayed over and over for God to hear his case.  Before you think God isn't fair...He is always fair just, perhaps, not in our sense of fairness.  

 

But after enduring his crumbling life for as long as God planned, God restored to Job his fortunes and even gave him twice as much!  

 

I get to talk to people who feel their lives are just a boatload of failures and missteps.  Every day when I look in the mirror, I see a face that has over 54 years of screwing life up.   Yet God has never left me even though I walked away from Him for many years.  He never forgot me.  AND He will never leave you or forget you.  

 

"So be content with who you are, and don’t put on airs. God’s strong hand is on you; he’ll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you." - 1 Peter 5:6-7

 

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!

What Do You Mean "CHANGE"?

If anyone belongs to Christ, there is a new creation. The old things have gone; everything is made new!

2 Corinthians 5:17

One of the programs my bride and I like to watch is called "Fixer Upper" where a couple (and their "behind the scenes magic elves") take an often old, run-down, sometimes junker of a house, and they restore it to life in a new way.  The transformation is really amazing for most of the homes.  And....as per usual....my mind began to wander....

Think about this, we go through our lives just doing what we do.  We are happy when things go our way and we are not happy when they don't.  Some of us reach the point where we aren't sure why we were even put here.  Some of us just go through the routine of existence because we don't know anything else to do.

Have you even seen a caterpillar turn into a butterfly?  There are lots of stages that have to be endured, but the end result is an amazing transformation.  The same thing happens when we become Christians, a transformation begins and continues for the rest of our lives.  Does becoming a Christian mean we no longer have struggles? Nope, we still do.  Does it mean that all our problems will be immediately resolved? Nope, not always.  Does it mean everyone will love us and be nice to us?  Not by a long shot!  In fact, many will hate you.

So what's the purpose?  Because as a truly transformed Child of God, you begin to see the world from your true perspective.  God began a project for your life before time was time, and that restoration (yep, you're a "Fixer Upper" just like me) takes place you will truly BE a new creation. You will begin to see life in a new way. You will begin to realize that the grudges you've held onto for so long, don't really matter.  You will realize that you truly ARE worth it! You will begin to understand how everything in all the Universe and time was orchestrated just for this moment in YOUR life.

Welcome to the family!

Let It Nourish

Let my teaching fall on you like rain;
    let my speech settle like dew.
Let my words fall like rain on tender grass,
    like gentle showers on young plants.

Deuteronomy 32:2 

 

Ever notice how much we moan, groan and complain when the forecast calls for rain on the weekends?  I used to work with a person who, quite literally, ranted and yelled when the weekend forecast called for rain.  Some people hate rainy days.  I, personally, like rainy days (except having to be on the road with people who have no idea how to drive in the rain).  Rainy days are times of reflection and contemplation for me.  

Think about this now, how many people don't like to think?  One would imagine that number would be fairly small, but quite the contrary is true.  Need proof? Think of all the people who go through the motions of their daily routine without ever once thinking about much of anything.  I confess, I can usually do that until the third cup of coffee kicks in.

What does rain do for us?  Well, it cleanses.  It washes pollen and dust out of the air.  It also cools us. It releases nutrients in the earth that help plants grow.  Rain refreshes!  

Now, what does Scripture do?  Well, it cleanses. It clears out our hearts and minds when we focus on God.  It refreshes the anxious, depressed, and weary spirit.  Scripture REFRESHES!

 

Let God's teaching fall on you like rain!

Let God's love settle on you like dew.

Let God's words fall on you like tender grass, 

like gentle showers on young plants. (Feeding, nourishing and restoring you).

Time Off? WHAT?

Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre. He didn’t want anyone to know which house he was staying in

Mark 7:24 

 

 

Are you a workaholic? Do you think the job will not function unless you are there?  Have you ever neglected to take time off because you wanted to be "that person" who is always present and accounted for?

 

It's time to take a break.  Not just a break from the office, but a break where you can get away, rest, recharge, and heal.  Think you can't?  Think you don't have time?  Figure you will wait until later?  

 

Point to remember: "Later" never seems to arrive.

 

Even Jesus frequently took time off to get away and recharge and pray.  

 

Monday, I will be doing just that.  

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!