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Thanks Rob,

Your message yesterday was really good for me. I actually listened and took it to heart and I while I did have “projects” for myself and my family especially my hubby (of course) instead we took Sunday as a true day of rest and you know what… I actually feel rested today! I am careful not to overschedule my children because I know how that affects them, however, we tend to forget for ourselves. I have also known that God wants us to rest. Thank you Pastor Rob for helping us understand how important it is to God and us. Sue

You know I didn’t get a chance to ask you this the other day after church but you kinda touched on it during the sermon. If we are to rest besides sitting on the couch and vegging what are we supposed to do. As a mom even on my “days off” I am usually doing laundry, cleaning the kitchen, wiping down the bathroom, and etc. If we are to “rest”, How? I read my bible everyday. Matt and I pray together everyday. I talk with God through out the day. When I do have a “day off” to sit and rest I feel guilty thinking of all the other things that need to get done. Besides plopping on the couch, how do we rest? I feel a little embarrassed to ask this question but I guess I need rest lessons.

I agree with Dee. I find myself working at home, working out as a sort of rest. Do we just take the day as it comes? Yesterday we did just that and it was nice but today I must get back to the laundry, planning meals, cleaning, etc. (But i did leave my job at my job!) thank you for that sermon. I would never have looked at creation in that way but I am definitely going to separate and create calmer weeks from now on.

This posts theme and the idea of taking some “Regular Rest” is not just a thought, it is a great thought.

It is amazing that our culture (many cultures) has not only drifted further and further from God, it has also created a mentality that makes people feel they must work till they drop and save that time of “Rest” for this thing called Retirement. (that is another post in itself)

Why is it people work so hard?????

Fear of loosing your job if you do not push the limits?
Being so in debt it seems like the only way to stay ahead?
Trying to create self value in your work instead of your life?
Wanting more STUFF so maybe you will be happy?

Technology was supposed to give us more time to enjoy life. The computer in business was going to process things faster so we did not have to work as much. Modern machinery in our factories was going to make it easier for people to do their jobs. What no one expected was that as the “Machines” could run 24×7 and work faster and faster, new standards were set that did not revolve around what man and animal could accomplish, but what a machine could accomplish. We live in a world that does not move at the speed of man yet that of machines that often need NO rest…….

Man has created some amazing things with the resources God gave us. You see there is nothing on this earth that is not made from parts and pieces that are part of God’s creation. Are we using what he gave us in a way that pleases him?????

Other than the cycle of life, the season, day and night, flowing waters, ect….. It does not seem God created or gave us anything that was intended to never need rest. Back in the day when a farmer would work the land with his hands, horses, mules, Ox, etc.. even the animals would tire and need rest. Man eventually had to say ok time for everyone to rest.

The service this weekend reinforced in me that when I do take a break and just relax it is not something that I should feel guilty about, or think about I need to get x,y,z done, resting is something that God wants us to do. He gave us our “Day of Rest”….

In this gadget laden, faced paced, do more, have more world we live in, it is often hard to understand that life can be simple again, we just have to slow down and make those choices.

Putting your life and your trust in God, can play a major role in making that happen in your life.

Ok, Time to Rest…………..!

For Dee…feeling guilty is an enormous trap that people fall into. If you, as a mom, really want to rest, do as much as possible the day before, your “rest day”, and do not worry about the little nuiances that appear throughout the rest day. It is tough. Been there. But the bottom harsh line is that if you drop dead, the laundry will be done by someone else, and the kitchen will get cleaned by someone else, and the bathroom (though probably not the first to get done!) And, I sometimes say, please “restore my soul” on the go, as I am unable to rest at this moment, and God does. Plopping on the couch is not a sin. If it really bothers you that much, go at your “rest day” slowly…try l/2 a day, or a 1/4 of a day, and work up to it. You may at first go insane thinking of all that needs to be done, but mostly that is a mind trap, and it can wait until your day of rest is over. Sandy

Dee, and all the very busy mom’s out there, it’s not easy when/if you have a full time job, and then you go home to your other full time job. Rob challenged us this weekend in his sermon. If you are working so hard, so much, then who is your God really? Is it your job, is it cleaning the house, doing, doing, doing?

There was a time when I could hardly get my husband to take a load off his feet. After working hard all week long, he felt he had to be “doing” things in the evenings or weekends. He felt guilty if he wasn’t checking things off a long list of “to do’s.” It took time for him to “learn” to feel comfortable with the idea of sitting and enjoying a good book, taking a walk or watching a favorite TV show ( now that 24 is a favorite show, he’ll make the time! Ha!)

I guess I have to agree with Sandy. Try it in baby steps. Resting can be doing fun things with your kids. Or, put the kids to bed a little earlier so you can read a bedtime story to them (which they will enjoy and look foward to, you and Matt can take turns every other night) then make the rest of the night yours. On weekends, schedule time to rest if that’s what it takes until you and your family become comfortable with a new routine.

Schedule a date night with your husband once a month. Dont’ discuss the kids. Give each other the attention you both deserve. Remember, a truly rested person is a happier person. It’s ok to spoil ourselves with the gift of “time”. Your family will untimately benefit from it too!

Try not to get into the rut of “doing, doing, doing”. Take the day that God has set aside for “you”. Rediscover things that you used to enjoy but stopped for whatever reason. And finally, don’t let the evil one fool you into “guilt”. Resting isn’t a sin, God knew what he was doing when he set the example of rest.

Sit down with Matt and brainstorm of ways you can support each other’s rest. He can spend time with the kids while you go for a walk or soak in the tub. You do the same for him.

If you need someone to draw ideas from or want to discuss it further, email or call me!
Have a great week!
Janie
704-821-4188
Byheart57@Carolina.rr.com