Weekly Sermon

Sermon Recap for January 22, 2012
The Rhythm of Life Series: Finding Balance in Worship, Work, Rest and Play:

Part 3: Re - creative Experience - Rest

There are many reasons why a person may feel out of control or out of balance - health issues, a new baby born into the family, trauma and happy occasions can shake our equilibrium.
When things are feeling out of control in our lives and we lose our sense of harmony, one of the hardest, but most important things that we need to do is to set aside time and space. Time to, "be still and know that I am God." Psalms 46:10
God knows our need for time apart, to rest.
God knows of our requirement so much so that God set it as a commandment - one of the ten.
Exodus 20:8-11: "Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do your work. But the 7th is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work . . . For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth . . . but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it."
Sabbath rest is not just a day where we collapse in exhaustion so we can recuperate and be ready to go back to the salt mines on Monday. True rest is not just Saturday or Sunday - it should happen every day.
We all have work that is our to do and we may be exactly where we are supposed to be, doing what we are supposed to do, but the problem is keeping balance between worship, work, rest and play. We must all learn to live within our own emotional limits - which will be different for each one of us. We run into problems when we give out more than we take in - like an overdrawn bank account.
What does your life style say? Do you need time for re-creation? What must change in order for you to enjoy sabbath rest?
Sabbath can include stillness or silence. We can choose to abstain from normal activities and routines, especially work - for half hour, for a half day, for a full day. Sabbath can include a meal with family or friends. Going for a long walk. Reading a good book. Watching Saturday football. Eating dark chocolate.
Sabbath rest is a time to celebrate life in God.
In our day to day lives, keeping balance in our work, worship, rest and play will keep us vibrant. Taken together, day by day, this rhythm of rest can re-create us. It renews us and causes us to, as the prophet Isaiah said, "to mount up with wings as eagles, to run and not be weary, to walk and not faint."