³⁰The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. ³¹He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. ³²And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. Mark 6:30-32

Sometimes you need a break.  Sometimes you need to get away from everything and just find rest.  Fortunately God understands this – so much that Jesus took breaks from ministry, He took breaks from healing, preaching and teaching.  Jesus went to quiet places to be alone.

This is important.  On a regular basis, we all need to take a break – not when we are burnt out, but during the routine.  We need to take a moment of peace, of break so that we can be ready for the next phase of our mission.

During this week, take those breaks, take time to pause and be rejuvenated so that you can serve God better.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.” John 15:9-11

It is pretty simple.  No matter what you think about Jesus, no matter how you may define Jesus, you need to stop and listen to Jesus’ words.  If you keep my commands, you will abide in my love… 

Are we truly keeping His commands?  Are we abiding in His love?

As you journey through this week, ask yourself this question.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

¹“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. ²In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? ³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. ⁴And you know the way to the place where I am going.” ⁵Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” ⁶Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” John 14:1-7

Do you want to know God?  Study Jesus.  Read the gospels.  Listen to the words of the Son of Man and put them into action. 

As a preacher, my role is to lift up the body of Christ, to know Jesus and to help all follow Him.  Yet today’s society keeps reinventing Jesus in our own image, often to support our beliefs (including political).  This has happened before and will again. 

So go back to the source.  Read the gospels.  Put Jesus at the center of all scripture.  Do not just ask “What would Jesus do?” rather find out and live like Him.

Peace,

Pastor Bill