Too Busy?

Too Busy?

Ever feel like you are in a whirlwind of activity and you can’t stop spinning?

Being a bi-vocational pastor, my days are often filled to the gills with activity.

My days ususally begin about 5:00 am, and ends between 10:00 and 11:00 pm.

My work schedule is Mon thru Thurs, 7:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Monday evenings I am preparing for the coming Sunday sermon.

Tuesday evenings I finalize the Wednesday night Bible study.

Wednesday evenings I have ½ hour between the time I get off work until I have to leave for Wed. Bible study.

Thursday evenings I am preparing for next Wednesday Bible study.

Fridays I start putting together the sermon for Sunday morning, plus try and get my errands done, and yard work, and deal with any other meetings or church business that has to be done.

Saturdays I finish the Sunday morning sermon.

Sundays are spent up early in prayer, and then it is Sunday School, Church, and home to rest.

Of course that doesn’t include any special meetings, which last week was a budget committee meeting, this week is a church Christmas party, and there are phone calls, church business, my own daily quiet time, and much time spent in prayer for people, places and things.

Add to that time spent with the family, time alone with my beautiful wife and it can begin to feel like the candle is burning at both ends.

Whew! Tires me out just reading it.

Some days I do better than others, and the reason for that is that some days I make sure God and I spend some quality time together.

Sadly, sometimes I put in my quiet time as just something to check off my “to do” list. Those are the days that I get flustered, lose my temper (you haven’t seen it running around anywhere have you?), frustration sets in, and I am exhausted.

Taking time out to rest is important too. Even God rested on the seventh day. Why, because He was tired, exhausted from creating the universe? No. God doesn't get tired. He rested because He CHOSE TO REST. I figure if it's a good choice for God to make, it's a good choice for me and you to make.

I can really relate to these two scriptures these days:

I Kings 19:11-12

The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by."
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.

You see, God is not usually found in our "busyness"....but in our quiet time. He is not in the whirlwind of activity, but in the stillness of the day.

Isaiah 40:31
New King James Version (NKJV)
But those who wait on the LORD
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.

To be strong, we must wait, rest and trust in Him.

I leave you with the lyrics to a song my an early Jesus music pioneer, Chuck Girard.



Slow Down
by Chuck Girard

In the midst of my confusion
In the time of desperate need
When I am thinking not too clearly
A gentle voice does intercede

Slow down, slow down, be still
Be still and wait, on the Spirit of the Lord
Slow down and hear His voice
And know that He is God

In the time of tribulation
When I'm feeling so unsure
When things are pressing in about me
Comes a gentle voice so still, so pure

Slow down, slow down, be still
Be still and wait, on the Spirit of the Lord
Slow down and hear His voice
And know that He is God
And know that He is God

Ok, so now I'm off to take a nap :)
Pastor Dave