Busy life?

Does this look like your calendar?

I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil. Job 3:26

Do you ever feel like you are always running, running, running, and your brain, let alone your body, never has any time to rest? A lot of people live that way, but we need to stop running ourselves down. We need to put some margins in our lives.

Margins will:

1. Give you peace of mind, which we could all use!
2. Reduce stress, which is better for your health.
3. Strengthen relationships, which we need in today’s culture.
4. Give you more time with God – something everyone can benefit from.

But how do we put margins in our lives? The pastor gave us some pointers last Sunday:

1. Accept human limitations. We read in Job 14:5 that we read that God has set limitations on us as humans. You have mental, emotional, and physical limitations. You don’t have the ability to be in two places at once, we are only so strong, we can only carry the emotional burdens of so many people, and we can only cram a certain amount of information into our human brains. You need to accept these limits and live life within them instead of pushing yourself to the breaking point.
2. Expect problems. Jesus flat out tells us in John 16:33 that we will have trouble in this world. Murphy’s Laws all center on the fact that something can always go wrong. Yes, even if you have a perfectly color coordinated calendar that schedule’s your family’s weekly events down to the minute, something can always go wrong.  You need to leave margins for foreseeable and unforeseeable problems.
3. Put space in your schedule. Life is a marathon, not a sprint. You need to find your pace and stick to it. Don’t be in a rush to get everything done, but instead put space in your schedule for rest, relaxation, reading God’s Word, prayer, and family. These things are more valuable that everything else filling up your busy calendar.
4. Prune activities periodically. We are all guilty of having too much on our plates. You need to be selective about the activities you allow into your schedule. We read in 1 Corinthians 6:12 that “Everything is permissible for me … but not everything is beneficial.” Pick the things that are beneficial by looking at your priorities in life: 1. God, 2. Family, and 3. Your calling, which is your job/ministry.
5. Do less and trust God more. God can do more in twenty minutes than we can do in twenty years, so rely on Him to get things done.

We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure … but this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.II Corinthians 1:8-9

“Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20

Be sure to make time to put margins in your life this week. But maybe you already have margins in your life, but you aren’t sure where your life is going. Come on Sunday to hear the pastor speak from Philippians on God’s call on your life.

Be Still and Know

Wow, how wonderful it was to have an opportunity in a corporate worship setting to be still and know that He is God. God has the ability to be so simplistic at times, and yet in His simplicity, there is a matured calmness, and sense of wholeness, that can only be found in the King of the Universe.

During the Lord’s Supper ordinance last Sunday, October 4, the FBR congregation simply took God at His word, “be still and know that I am God,” by actually being quiet. No music, no speaking, just quietness, and in that stillness we found the Spirit of the Living God.

How great it is to serve a God whose commandments are purposed for good. How great it is to serve a God that when we follow his commandments, pours out more blessing on us than we can hold.

Blessings, Honor, and Majesty be to the King of the Universe.

– written by a church member

If you missed the special moments in church last week, don’t miss the special moments this week. Time is a valuable thing in everyone’s life, so come experience a great God through worship and hear through God’s Word how to give yourself enough time. See you Sunday.

Stress-free living

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30

Do you find yourself overloaded with the stresses of life? Wouldn’t it be great if someone else bore your stresses and your burdens? Jesus will.

Last Sunday, our pastor showed us three principles to stress management found in the Bible:

1. Come to Jesus. Jesus said in Matthew 11:28 that he will give us rest. Jesus is the greatest source of stress relief. Check
out Isaiah 40:29-31:

He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

2. Take Jesus’ yoke. A yoke is a wooden crosspiece that is fastened to two animals and attached to the burden they pull.
Jesus wants to help pull your burden. Under Jesus’ yoke you will find:

• Support – Psalm 118:13

• Direction – Psalm 23:1-3

• Pace – Psalm 1:1-3

• Comfort – 1 Corinthians 12:4-5

3. Learn from Jesus. Stress can bring out the worst in us, but if Jesus is our mentor, we will be gentle and humble in
trying times. What can we learn from Jesus?

• Gentleness instead of aggression

• Humility instead of arrogance

Jesus was totally dependent on God during his time on earth, and we should be too. Take time each morning to yoke up with Jesus – His burden is light!

Filled Up

Last Sunday, we filled up whether we were completely empty or just needed
to be topped off. The amount of excited members accompanied by guests was
encouraging. The guests ranged from young children to senior adults. Many people brought friends, but some found this to be the perfect opportunity to  invite a parent or child who they had wanted to invite for some time. No matter which service they attended, these guests experienced a worship service with powerful music, a personal testimony, and straightforward message of how Jesus could fill up their tank.

We learned from John 20:19-29 that Jesus:

1. meets us where we are
2. gives us encouragement
3. shows us His love
4. offers us forgiveness
5. fills us with His presence
6. gives us a new reason to live
7. helps us believe

At the end of the sermon, Tony Gasaway, now Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal, gave his testimony that proved even a strong police officer needs to be filled up. No one is too weak or too strong for the love of God.

This Sunday, the pastor will share a message about lightening your load. If you feel tired and overwhelmed, give your burden to Jesus. He wants to lighten your load.

Check Gauges

Picture David. David, a father of three, is raising his kids by himself. He fixes them breakfast, gets them dressed, packs their lunches, drives them to school, picks them up, takes them to volleyball, feeds them dinner, helps them with their homework, and puts them to bed. This is his daily routine. In between meals and carpools, David also has a full-time job, a house to take care of, bills to pay, parents to worry about, and car repairs to keep up with, but manages to get it all done with a smile. On the outside, David really seems to have it all together, but inside he’s exhausted and feels so alone.

Picture Lindsay. Lindsay, a high school sophomore, is the popular girl. She takes all advanced classes and participates in the theater club, art club, and the school’s cheer squad. Lindsay is an incredibly dedicated musician, playing the oboe in her school’s elite ensemble as well as taking private lessons and playing in the local youth symphony. Outside of school, Lindsay has a very active social life with more friends than she can count. When Lindsay is with her friends, she’s the life of the party, but when she’s alone, she feels like dying.

Picture your neighbor. Picture your best friend. Picture your parent. Picture your child. Picture yourself.

Check your gauges. Are you running on empty? It’s time to let God fill you up.

We start the new series “Running on Empty” on September 20. Come learn how to fill up your tank, and invite your friends to do the same.