8-7-2019

Good Morning All,

      Matthew 6:33; “But first, be concerned about his kingdom and what has his approval. Then all these things will be provided for you.”

     In the mid 1970’s, a musician by the name of Harry Chapin had his one number one hit song entitled “Cat’s in the Cradle”.  It is a song about a father who is too busy providing for his family to spend time with his son.  The son tells him that it is ok and that he is going to grow up and be just like him.  In the last verse, the father calls his now adult son to visit and the adult son is too busy and the father realizes that his son is just like him.  It is rather poignant and is a song I encourage new fathers (and mothers) to listen to it were intently.

    It is very easy to become too busy.  We strive to do it all and to have it all.  Time; and the management thereof, becomes a most stressing event in our life.  Our schedules are full to overflowing and we look to squeeze more in.  We don’t slow down and because of that and yet we want to have everything.  There comes a time when there is no more time.  God put 24 hours in a day and no matter how important you think you are; you cannot put 25 into one.  But we try and in the end; we begin to crack.  The inevitable stress becomes more than we can handle. 

    The release of this stress takes many forms.  It can and will take a tremendous physical toll.  People have ulcers, high blood pressure, heart disease, over eat, under eat, use drugs and alcohol to compensate for the stress.  Sometimes it takes the form of breaking the relationships which are essential to our own well-being.  Like in the song, the father sacrificed his relationship with his son because he didn’t have the time. 

    The truth is we have the time; we just don’t have the priority right.  All of this stress leads away from that golden promise of Jesus; the promise of rest and the promise of peace.  The type of peace only found in Christ.  Take time to breathe and to enjoy the good life which God gives us.  If we stop and look at what God gives us, it is ample and with it we will have time.  Time for our families, time for our rest and above all time to spend with our Lord Jesus is available if we live in peace.  We need to let the way of the world go and live in God’s peace.  We all complain about the rat race and how it literally turns many of us into rats, doing whatever we can to get ahead and for what? A whole bunch of busted; busted bodies and poor health, busted relationships, and above all completely busted lives. 

    The devil and the world want you to race and race.  God wants to give you peace.  We get a choice.  We can receive God’s gift; it is right there on a platter for us.  Take the rest and peace he gives you; you won’t regret it.

Dearest Father, only you can give us peace.  Grant us the faith to grab hold of the peace that you give us.  You move mightily to redeem us and to bless us.  Let us see these are gifts from you.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret