#142of365 #FaithBites #FaithJourney<\/p>\n
The Pendulum<\/p>\n
A clock is something we are all familiar with. The hands, the numbers, the ticking, it makes us think of things we have to do, things we did, future opportunities and past experiences. Related to clocks, is the idea of a pendulum. We use this metaphor all the times in our lives. From government being small to big. From gas prices being low to high. From our favorite shows having great episodes to poor episodes. This is something we relate to. Life flows back and forth.<\/p>\n
This morning, I had the pleasure of meeting with one of our pastors. We talked about the work\/life balance or more specifically – work and rest balance. Some days are harder than others. The problem though, is we try to do more and more work with less and less rest. When the pendulum swings to work, we try to put a block in it. We only want the fruit. We don’t want to take the time to prune and rest. We don’t let the pendulum swing back to rest. Then we work, work, work, work. The only time we rest is when that stop breaks, and we crash. This can be from sickness, exhaustion or more. The problem with this approach, is we’ve done so much that many of our core responsibilities\u00a0start to drop. We do these extra work things at the expense of our loved ones, our relationships, and our health. As they say in the airline industry: “Put on your mask, before helping others”. If you die, you can’t help others.<\/p>\n
If you don’t rejuvenate your spirit and are dead inside, you can’t help others.<\/p>\n
“I will repay you for the years the locusts\u00a0have eaten\u2014<\/span> “After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.” – Job 42:10<\/a><\/p>\n “Come, let us return\u00a0to the\u00a0Lord<\/span>.<\/span><\/span> These are but three verses that show that we need to rest. The bible talks about the Sabbath and why we need rest. The verses also mention that we will be working hard for the lord but he will repay us in wonders, fortunes, healing, and rest. We need to rest and this goes beyond just physical rest.<\/p>\n My pastor said something interesting. We eat food and are full. We read his word and worship and are spiritually full. When we do too much, something has to go. This could be bible study, small group study, personal worship time. When that happens, you are giving more of yourself without filling the tank. Ths creates a situation where we are exhausted physically and spiritually, then we are trying to help more and more. This results in us doing more hurt than help.<\/p>\n We need rest. We need to say No at times. The balance is the hard part.<\/p>\n Are you willing to see rest as a necessity? Are you willing to pull the stop out of the pendulum and allow it to go to rest? Are you willing to see that the Lord wants us to rest so we can have the energy to serve?<\/p>\n I am willing and ready with the help of God<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>the great locust and the young locust,<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>the other locusts and the locust swarm[a<\/a>]<\/sup>\u2014<\/span><\/span>
\nmy great army\u00a0that I sent among you.<\/span>
\nYou will have plenty to eat, until you are full,<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and you will praise\u00a0the name of the\u00a0Lord<\/span>\u00a0your God,<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>who has worked wonders\u00a0for you;<\/span><\/span>
\nnever again will my people be shamed.” – Joel 2:25-26<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
\nHe has torn us to pieces<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>but he will heal us;<\/span><\/span>
\nhe has injured us<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>but he will bind up our wounds.” – Hosea 6:1<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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