The Rake

UMCL has been making strides into the next several years as a church for the city. We have so much work to do and so much congregation building to do. LET’S GET BUSY!!! - but it’s summer.

Summer has typically been this church’s time of rest. Every summer UMCL stops, sits down and says, “We’ll pick it up this fall.” Other than VBS we have not too much going on.

I know some pastors fight the summer shut down, but nobody embraces that time of rest more than I. Rest is so important.

At a time when my body and soul say rest, but my mind shouts, “GO!” We’ll rest when we’re dead,” these words in Hebrews hit me like stepping on a garden rake…
“So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. So let us do our best to enter that rest.” (Hebrews 4:9-11 NLT)

Do you get that voice in your head driving you to keep working, keep going and keep striving for growth? Unfortunately, the more I drive harder the more I grow (around the waist). Stress mounts, fatigue sets in and bad habits appear when a person or people push past the point of rest. All work and no play makes UMCL a dull bride (I made it up).

A summer’s rest gives the people, staff and leaders of UMCL, a well-needed and earned rest. We will do our best to keep moving forward. but remember, “For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. So let us do our best to enter that rest.” Phew, it does feel good to take a breather for a minute.