February Fasting

By Eric Miller

For the month of February I decided that I would fast from different things so that I could grow and be stretched in my relationship with the Lord.

Now, please understand, no one challenged me to do this ... there was no hidden agenda ... I simply wanted to see if I could do it and see how the spiritual discipline of fasting affected my spiritual walk. So after spending a few days at the end of January praying about the things I would give up, I put together a schedule that looked like this.

February 1-7 - Fast from Facebook

February 8-14 - Fast from Sugar/sweets

February 15-21 - Fast from Caffeine

February 22-28 - Fast from TV/movies

Just to give a little bit of insight, I purposely scheduled them from the things I thought would be easiest to give up to the hardest as each week passed. For me being a youth pastor, I thought Facebook could be fairly difficult as it's a huge means of communication for me, but it actually was rather easy to give up. I realized how much time I waste on there, even when I'm just getting on to do something that should only take 5 minutes. That time easily turns into 25 or 45 minutes. I also realized in that first week how much I really needed to spend that time with the Lord and so it was an easy switch to make in some senses.

The second week, giving up sweets was trickier than I had first expected. I realized that meant changing some of my habits. I also become more aware of the things that I eat and drink throughout the week. It was also a good week in the sense of prayer as I found myself talking to the Lord more and more each day and asking Him to help me see things differently.

The third and fourth weeks I was dreading. For those that know me best, you know that I LOVE my weekly and sometimes daily visits to Starbucks and in my free time I enjoy catching up on many TV shows. So giving up caffeine was a bit nerve racking, especially after hearing some of the horror stories of people who had tried to give it up. So I was expecting the worst; headaches, grumpy moods, severe drowsiness among other things. And yet, it was probably the best week of the month. I wasn't craving coffee or soda like I had expected. I felt that I truly had to depend on the joy of the Lord rather than perks of caffeine to get me through my days. More importantly, I realized that I wasn't nearly as addicted to caffeine as I had wondered.

The fourth week was probably the most challenging as half way through the week, I got sick. And one of my favorite things to do when I'm sick is lay on the couch and watch movies. So I was torn. Could I justify breaking my fast because I was sick? I decided no. I figured that I wanted to stretch myself and this was a great way to really rest in the Lord and spend even more time focusing on Him. So that's what I did for this past weekend ... I slept, prayed and read more than I think I ever have in one weekend before. And in a very unexpected and unusual way, I grew in ways I was not expecting and I can honestly say that I'm closer to God in some ways because of it.

So what are you willing to give up in order to grow in your relationship with the Lord in new ways??

What is Sabbath for a Mom?

By Lisa Catania

As a busy mom, I wonder how to really have Sabbath. With all of the cooking, cleaning, child chasing, carpooling, sports cheering, bill paying, on and on…..can I really stop? I honestly have a hard time sitting still through a tv show without putting dinner in the oven, helping kids with homework and folding clothes at the same time. I struggle with sitting still. My “to do” list is a mile long. Honestly, I have been very challenged by our sermon series on “Rest”. However, I know the God who loves me and created me says, “rest”.

²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

When I read this passage in Matthew 11:28-30, I hear God’s voice gently speaking to me to take time to really rest. I am now spending my Sunday afternoons hiding my “to do” list from myself. I will find it tomorrow. I am now really focusing on relaxing with the kids, taking walks by the creek outside, reading by the fire, chatting with friends, and getting nothing done on my “to do” list. I have even decided that Sunday dinner is leftovers or a crock pot, so I am not burdened cooking. In fact, I finding that by resting, I am giving God my “to do” list and finding peace with Him. By Mondays, I am truly feeling refreshed and ready for my week. Hmmm….this rest called Sabbath has been a blessing for my soul and my family!

Sabbath Rest

By Pastor R

I hope you are finding that the Sabbath is meant to be delightful. I heard about the beach balls bouncing and the cameras flashing last Sunday. You are allowed to have fun on the Sabbath. If you don’t believe me, come this Saturday February 26^th to our western rodeo from 2 to 6 p.m. and you will see what I mean. It is good for the soul to laugh. It is good for the soul to form community and friendships.

While you were learning about play last weekend, I was down in southwest Florida with my daughter Betsy visiting my mother, her grandmother, Ruth. It had been a long time since Betsy and I had taken a trip together and it had been since her wedding nineteen months ago that we had seen Ruth.

Ruth was very active in our church in the early days. She would travel up from the Washington D.C. area with us and often stay in our home. She knew most of the founding mothers and fathers of the church and she loved to worship with us. On Sunday morning, she asked me if I would like to go to church with her, I said yes. She said “Let’s go to Charles Stanley’s church.”

This last Sunday Charles Stanley asked his son Andy to preach. So we sat there listening to the choir, the soloist and the sermon. It was a powerful one hour presentation. As we talked about what we had just heard, I had an epiphany.

I knew my mom was raised in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. She still makes great biscuits and chipped beef gravy. I knew my mom attended a Cranberry Baptist Church when she was living there and loved her Sunday School teacher. I knew my Mom went once a year to the revival held at the church. But I did not know much at all about her faith growing up.

Since my dad was in the navy, they had been stationed at bases all over the world. We grew up going once in a while to the base chapel. I never heard my parents speak of their faith. But the one thing my Mom did was to watch Billy Graham whenever there was a televised crusade. She would always invite me to watch Billy preach and to listen to the choir and soloist sing.

So here is my epiphany. Charles Stanley and Billy Graham are two preachers who take my Mom back to the roots of her faith. She said, when the program was over, “you know Jesus is my best friend, I can talk to him anytime.” I was deeply blessed to hear my mother’s confession of her faith at an hour when there are plenty of things not good with her health. I delighted in my mother on my Sabbath, persevering in the midst of adversity, holding onto her faith when the end may not be far away.

Betsy, Grandma Ruth and I would have several adventures including having coffee downtown, venturing out to the community pool, seeing the sun set over the Gulf of Mexico and making chipped beef gravy and biscuits. My favorite moment, however, was hearing from her lips her hope.

Resting Isn't Easy!

By Matt Johnson

Since the sermon series on rest started, I've had a difficult time trying to figure out how to "rest." I find that I don't rest easy - just ask my wife, Betsy. I always want to be doing something. I can't rest when there is something that needs to be done. My mind and body become tense and I can't relax. My philosophy has been that I can rest when I'm done with everything that I need to do.

Resting is hard for me, but I know that it is so important to my relationship with our Heavenly Father. In my normal routine I've always been able to find time to read my Bible most everyday. However I don't always have great prayer times and it never seems to be enough to allow God to speak to me. As a result I feel like I understand God, but my heart isn't always in the right place. I'm not able to fully rest in God.

This past week I was on a bike ride with my father in-law. As I was struggling to go up one of the many hills on our bike path I had a revelation. I think I find my rest doing activities like biking, running, or hiking. While I'm physically staining myself, my soul feels at rest. I've been able to feel and hear God speaking to me and my mind is so much more clear during these times. Also I've realized that once I'm done exercising, my body rests so much better!

So my question for you is, where do you find rest?