Finding Rest This Summer

Yay for summer!  Our students have made it through another school year filled with activities and work, and now it is time to rest and enjoy a few months off.  Parents have survived another year filled with drop-offs and pick-ups, practices and games, rehearsals and concerts, meetings and appointments…you get the idea.  Summer is a time to rest and reset, to slow down and spend time with our families and friends.  God values rest.  He modeled the importance of rest after He created the world.  Jesus modeled rest by taking time to pray alone, away from the crowds that so eagerly awaited Him.  The message of this month’s blog is simple: take time to rest, but don’t forget the One who is our true source of rest.  Matthew 11:28 tells us: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”   We find rest through simple and wholehearted commitment to Him.  No amount of busyness or activity can make us right with God or make Him love us more.  We can rest knowing we are secure by putting our faith in Jesus. As we enjoy our families and friends this summer, praise God for this blessing.As we enjoy the warm weather and longer days, praise God for His creation.As we enjoy rest, praise God as the source of our true rest.  Spend time this summer reconnecting with God.  Pray.  Read His word.  Serve others so they may see His love.  Spend time outside in His beautiful creation.  Keep it simple and find rest.  “Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.  Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.  He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.  He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.  He fills my life with good things.” Psalm 103