For many years, my day often ended by watching Johnny Carson do his monologue. Just before Mr. Carson came on stage, the show’s host would receive the now famous introduction – HERRRRES JOHNNY! To all of you I say, “HERRRES SUMMER!” What a wonderful word: summer. It brings back great memories for me of camping with my family, cook-outs, and vacations in Minnesota or Wisconsin. Summer meant time to make new memories with family and friends and so much more.
Even though we are just coming out of a long struggle with issues from Covid, most of us still run our lives at an exhaustive pace. Our spirits are worn out and our patience frazzled. We get up tired and come home exhausted. Our “quality time” with family and friends turns into a chore instead of a time of joy. Even in the church, you sometimes have the feeling that you’ve been sentenced to some sort of Christian rat race! I can tell you that this isn’t what the Prince of Peace had in mind for His people.
Read His words from Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you who are weary and I will give you rest.”
God gives that to all who believe in Him. Rest from the burden of sin; rest from the constant attacks from Satan; and rest from the guilt that comes from all that we think we should have done for our Lord but didn’t.
God’s rest is simple; it is sure; it is free to all that come to him in need of this rest.
As to our everyday lives, God knew that we would need a time to rest there too. So He made summer! Take a time to “rest”:
- Take a vacation
- Go on a picnic
- Enjoy working in your yard / garden
- Look at the stars
- Roast a marshmallow
- Make a memory for your child or grandchild.
However, over the summer don’t rest so much that you forget to worship the One that created the season and gives you peace and rest for your spirits. Our services this summer are held at 5:00pm on Saturday (bring a lawn chair and a friend) – weather permitting these are outside. And Sunday morning, contemporary worship, at 9:30am. May you enjoy the summer; rest in His peace; grow in His love; and enjoy the wonders of His creation. God’s richest blessings to you and all those you love.
In Him,
Pastor Ron