Monday morning I was beat. I was dragging. A friend called and asked the obligatory “how are you?” My answer was tired, sick and sick and tired. All three were true then and now. My allergies have been the worst ever this spring. The children on the bus have already finished school yet the calendar says we have 5 ½ more days (as of Friday morning). None of that helps when you are sick, tired and sick and tired. These last three weeks of going to the hospital every day or nearly every day, checking on medical conditions, pastoring and being chief cook and bottle washer at home while Barbara is caring for my Mom have been exhausting. I do believe my fatigue is a sign of age wearing on me. I believe the other contributor is the non-ordinary nature of the schedule.
Monday I tried my hardest to get back to an ordinary schedule as much as possible. But try as I might it just did not happen. Tuesday morning I woke up still tired, sick and sick and tired again. As I set at the table for a few minutes before my morning bus route I was reading from a new devotional book by James Merritt 52 Weeks with Jesus. The more I read the more my spirit was lifted. There was no new revelation, no idea that shook my soul, no rebuke that brought me to my knees although to my knees would have been up from the floor as I felt. No, the uplift was the reality that was beyond my life at the moment, beyond my feelings at the time, beyond the sphere of my known existence, the reality the God is near and present.
Knowing that prompted me to Matthew 11 from the paraphrase The Message.
28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep Company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30 The Message
I highlighted the key to rest. Jesus words, “Come to me.” After that phrase everything else depends upon him even “unforced rhythms of grace” I love those words. Tired comes from at least in me, forced rhythms. Me trying to do things my way from my strength and ability. Do you have some familiarity with that? Now, don’t lie! Jesus never seemed to be in a hurry or out of control. At Easter this year I saw in the arrest, trial and crucifixion the only one who was calm was…well…Jesus. How does that happen? How does he stay within the unforced rhythms of grace while we kill him? He is counting on his Father. He is confident in his Father. He is conformed to his Father.
That’s where rest comes from. When I die to myself once again and live in the groove/vibe of unforced rhythms of grace. A group of players have moments when the song comes together and they make music. The music just flows and each ebb and eddy are recognized and reveled in within the context of the song. It doesn’t happen every time but folks who play together share that with some regularity. I call that a groove. It is a sweet place to be. It is fleeting but delightful. How about getting your “groove” with Jesus? He invites you to “play” with him, learn from him, watch him and join him in Kingdom life. That is rest!
In HIS Service and Yours
Bro G
Monday I tried my hardest to get back to an ordinary schedule as much as possible. But try as I might it just did not happen. Tuesday morning I woke up still tired, sick and sick and tired again. As I set at the table for a few minutes before my morning bus route I was reading from a new devotional book by James Merritt 52 Weeks with Jesus. The more I read the more my spirit was lifted. There was no new revelation, no idea that shook my soul, no rebuke that brought me to my knees although to my knees would have been up from the floor as I felt. No, the uplift was the reality that was beyond my life at the moment, beyond my feelings at the time, beyond the sphere of my known existence, the reality the God is near and present.
Knowing that prompted me to Matthew 11 from the paraphrase The Message.
28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep Company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30 The Message
I highlighted the key to rest. Jesus words, “Come to me.” After that phrase everything else depends upon him even “unforced rhythms of grace” I love those words. Tired comes from at least in me, forced rhythms. Me trying to do things my way from my strength and ability. Do you have some familiarity with that? Now, don’t lie! Jesus never seemed to be in a hurry or out of control. At Easter this year I saw in the arrest, trial and crucifixion the only one who was calm was…well…Jesus. How does that happen? How does he stay within the unforced rhythms of grace while we kill him? He is counting on his Father. He is confident in his Father. He is conformed to his Father.
That’s where rest comes from. When I die to myself once again and live in the groove/vibe of unforced rhythms of grace. A group of players have moments when the song comes together and they make music. The music just flows and each ebb and eddy are recognized and reveled in within the context of the song. It doesn’t happen every time but folks who play together share that with some regularity. I call that a groove. It is a sweet place to be. It is fleeting but delightful. How about getting your “groove” with Jesus? He invites you to “play” with him, learn from him, watch him and join him in Kingdom life. That is rest!
In HIS Service and Yours
Bro G
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