Why did God create us with a cycle of rhythm?
1. It teaches us to rest.
2. It teaches us the Gospel.
3. It demonstrates God’s sovereignty.
And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” Genesis 1:14-15
You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day. Deuteronomy 5:15
Questions for Reflection:
Am I personally experiencing the Sabbath rest for which God ...
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Posted in: Spiritual Vitality, Emotional Health
Tags: rhythm, rest, sabbath, why take a sabbath, can pastors sabbath, pastoral burnout, burnout, tired pastor, exhaustion, overworked, ministry, recovery, church planter, church planting, pastoring, pastoral
By JR Vassar
Healthy men pastor healthy churches. One of the keys to spiritual health and spiritual vitality is Sabbath rest.
Four Reasons to Sabbath
1. Sabbath rest will refresh our whole selves. When we Sabbath, we lay aside the demands and pressures of life and enter intentionally into a season of rest where we cease from our work. We cease from what is duty and we allow God to provide delight and new life to our souls.
2. Sabbath rest refreshes our hearts toward God. The Sabbath is a day to the Lord. It is a day tenaciously directed God-ward. In pastoring, it is easy to become a tour guide of places you have never visited, serving up meals you have not savored. God can be objectified – made an object of theological inquiry and discussion instead of a personal Being to be ...
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Killing Ourselves in Jesus’ Name
By Habitual Sabbath-Breaking Pastor Scott Thomas
July 23, 2009
[for a PDF version, click here]
I am driven. As far back as I can remember I wanted to excel, to accomplish, to produce and to be successful. As a teenage kid in my backyard, I shot basketballs strategically, religiously and sacrificially until 11:00 pm most nights. I dreamed of playing college basketball because my only perceived avenue to get to college was a sports scholarship. I played college basketball on that scholarship, and with my degree and sports accolades in hand I set out to succeed as a pastor.
As a driven pastor, working seventy hours a week was common. Days off were notional. I felt justified to work non-stop because the need was ...
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