Sabbath Rest Bass Fishing

Pastor Curtis Mulder and I spent our Sabbath day this week bass fishing on Jordan Lake. We only fished about four hours and as you can tell from the picture, it was pure fun.

How are you doing with weekly rest? Where is the RPM gauge on the dash board of your life? Today, mine is pegged in the red as it has been one of those days.

Which is why I am sitting here reflecting on the great day I had yesterday. That is the power of rest? Like a bowl of chili or hot soup, it kind of "sticks to your ribs." :-) That is why God told us:

"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy." (Exodus 20:8)

When do you enjoy a Sabbath day of rest? For some of you, that day is Sunday. Sunday is anything but rest for me so I have to find it elsewhere. What is most important is that we find that one day each and every week to fully disengage from work life and fully engage rest and whatever refuels your energy tank.

So, here is the question - "Has Sabbath rest become a weekly rhythm of your life?" If not, I highly recommend it. The truth is I have not always been good at Sabbath rest, but I am getting better. :-) I used to take Mondays off but because of a weekly and a "Holy Hangover," Mondays were anything but restful and refreshing. Other words come to mind when I try to take Mondays off - words like spent, pain, and exhaustion.

As a result, our pastoral team recently changed our day off from Mondays to Wednesdays. It has been a beautiful thing. I now work on Mondays, get a great start on the the week, and then completely disconnect for Sabbath rest on Wednesdays. As such, I have never been more keenly aware of God's wisdom in commanding us to take one day a week to simply rest.

So, I encourage you to "Go for it!" Trust me, it will be hard at first, but in time, the rhythm of work six days, rest one - work six days, rest one will become a brilliant blessing straight from the heart of of a loving God!

I look forward to work tomorrow and this weekend but I also look forward to sabbath rest next Wednesday. If the weather permits, you will find me on Jordan lake catching more bass in the name of the One who said, "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men/women." (Matthew 4:19)