James Duff July 2nd 2017 ~ Rest

We are away on holidays for the next few weeks.  In the past our holiday schedule has looked more like work than rest!  When we go back to Victoria to visit family we have to be careful not to just make it a complete social overload. This month’s bookstore is concentrating on the theme of rest.  I recommend you take the time to check out some of the books Barb and I have chosen.  As it is now the school holidays it is important for families with school-aged children to take advantage of the time and rest.  Healthy rest looks different for each person and family.  A minister I once worked with loved reading theology in his time of rest, others like riding bikes and some like closing the blinds and watching a movie.  The Murthas, who are co-leaders of the The Common, call Saturday ‘rest day’.  Initially they called it ‘family day’ but soon their children and, to an extent themselves, quickly started filling the day up with activities and found themselves more tired on a Saturday night than a Friday.  By changing the name from ‘family day’ to ‘rest day’ the family found how to rest healthily.  They sleep in, eat pancakes, sometimes venture outside but it is not uncommon for them to leave the blinds down all day and potter in their ugg boots!The last few weeks in Kids Church and Junior Youth we have also been focusing on the healthy rhythms of life.  We have been learning about what it means to rest in God and then work from that place of rest.  I also briefly taught about rest and how it is crucial for a healthy life at The Common on Tuesday night this week.  This ‘God rhythm’ is usually the very opposite of how western culture operates, which seems to stress heaps of work or just being busy as a badge of honor and then we fall exhausted into rest.  Over the school holidays, The Common is resting from any formal gatherings. My final thought is that when we rest we need to rest in Jesus.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.   For my yoke is easy and my burden is light (Matthew 11:29, 30).  What does that look like?  Well, as I mentioned above, it looks different for each person.  I like to listen to worship music and then read my Bible a little later in the day; Jane prefers to read the Bible first thing and then pray.  As a minister, I know it is vital for me to not rest from God on holidays.These holidays, take the time to rest even if your job dictates that you continue to work.  Take the time to slow down and rest up in the best way for you.See you in a few weeks.God blessJames