Fwd: Sabbath Rest

Dear PBPC Friends,

This has been an incredible couple of weeks - I've heard the word "unprecedented" an unprecedented number of times. Many of us have made major adjustments to the way that we live, work, and relate with our families and neighbors. Some of us have been able to smoothly transition to working from home, while others are suddenly without work. Some of us find ourselves in the position of being home-schoolers in addition to everything else, while others are now very isolated and alone. This may not be so bad for those of us who are introverts, while it might be a nightmare for the extroverts among us.

In all of this, I want to encourage you in this season to develop rhythms in your life that make meaningful space for God. When we are at home all of the time, it is very easy for our work to bleed over into our family time, for the days to look very the same, and for both stress and tedium to invade our hearts. God invites us into a rhythm of life that prioritizes both our intimate connection with Him as well as our own mental, physical, and spiritual health.

So during each of your days, I encourage you to make an appointment with God, maybe 30 minutes or more in which you can pray, read scripture, listen and reflect.I find this is best to do in the morning, as I begin my day.

And I also encourage you to take a Sabbath, one day during your week in which you don't do any work - at least not your regular work. Use this day to rest, to refresh yourself by doing the things you enjoy and spending quality time with your loved ones. And be sure to spend some good time with God on this day, as well.

This rhythm of life is always good, but especially during this time in which each of us needs to experience an extra measure of God's presence and peace.

"For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel:
In returning and rest you shall be saved;
   in quietness and in trust shall be your strength." Isaiah 30:15

Blessings,

Pastor Chris