Dont Tire Out

Fatigue: Remember the old saying, ‘You can’t burn the candle at both ends’? Today we’ve gone from candle power to atomic power, and few of us pay heed to that old saying anymore. We want bigger homes, fancier cars and more exotic holidays, etc. So we start earlier, work harder, and finish later. Then we stagger home and fall asleep in front of the television, worn out and feeling guilty about spending so little time with our family. We forget that God designed us to need one work-free day a week for rest and spiritual renewal (Exodus 20:8-11). As a result, fatigue saps our creative energy, distorts our outlook, diminishes our joy, erodes our confidence and drains us spiritually. Elijah is a great example of this. Single-handedly he defeated the prophets of Baal (1Kings 18). In answer to his prayer God sent fire from heaven that consumed the altar and turned Israel back to God. It was a spectacular victory, yet on the heels of it he got so down that he actually asked God to take his life. Now that’s reaching an all-time low! So what did God do? Like any good doctor, He diagnosed the man’s problem and prescribed three things: proper diet, adequate rest, and a good assistant - Elisha. Many of us, who love what we do for a living, can have a tendency to get out of balance. We have no boundaries so we risk burning out. We ‘grow weary while doing good.’ What’s the answer? ‘He restores my soul’ (Psalms 23:3 NKJV). The word ‘restores’ has two parts: ‘rest’ and ‘store.’ Relax physically, and replenish spiritually. That’s what to do when you feel down!

Love

A Pharisee had some regard for Jesus. He invited Jesus for dinner in his home. They sat together and exchanged ideas, as equals. Then someone else came into the dinner party. She lowered herself to His feet and offered the sacrifice of:
*Her tears - a broken spirit
*Her hair - her glory and beauty
*Her lips - love & appreciation
*Her perfume - most prized possession.

She gave Him all of herself. She came before as nothing because He was everything to her. She had more than mere regard for Jesus. She truly loved Him.
This goes to us all, HOW TRULY DO WE LOVE HIM?

In Discipleship Journal, Paul Thigpen writes: 'I remember coming home one afternoon to discover that the kitchen i had worked so hard to clean only a few hours before, was now a terrible wreck. My young daughter had obviously been busy 'cooking' and the ingredients were scattered, along with dirty bowls and utensils, across the counters and floor. I was not happy with the situation. Then, as i looked a little more closely at the mess, i spied a tiny note on the table, clumsily written and smeared with chocolatey fingerprints. The message was short 'I'm making something for you, dad' and it was signed, 'your angel'. In the midst of that disarray, and despite my irritation, joy suddenly sprang up in my heart, sweet and pure. My attention had been redirected from the problem to the little girl i loved. ...I delighted in her. With her simple goodness in focus, i could take pleasure in seeing her hand at work in the situation that seemed otherwise disastrous.' Commendation or condemnation, which will you receive? God doesn't say, 'if you can't do it right, don't do it at all.' No, He's pleased when you try, make mistakes, learn from them and grow. So Keep Trying!