Aside | Formats | Daily Encouragement

“Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’” (Mark 6:31, NIV)

Most of us have been where the disciples were in today’s reading. Some of us will be there today: In the place where the demands of others are too many, and the available time is too short; and our personal resources are too meager, to even begin to satisfy the need.

Most of us would choose to press-on — doing more and more with less and less until we get to the point where the upward curve of frustration meets the downward curve of exhaustion. It is never God’s will for us to be in such a state.

When we approach that state, Jesus invites us to go away with Him to a quiet place and get some rest. Will we go; or will we decline His invitation because we know our situation better than He?

Will we go; or will we stay at the wheel because we derive personal satisfaction from being “in control” and we see no benefit to spending time away with Jesus — resting?

We have a standing invitation from Jesus to come away with Him to rest, not in “permanent retirement from the requirement”; but that we might be refreshed spiritually and physically before the next round. – Luther

Tagged busyness, rest, retreat, the book of Mark

February 24

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Uncategorized Aside

“Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.” (Psalm 100:2, KJV)

It is a sad day, indeed, when we — for reasons I cannot begin to fathom — stop singing.

We sing as children, and love it. In fact, who among us doesn’t remember the songs we learned and used to sing as children?

We hear birds sing, and love it. In fact, their melodies are particularly welcome in the early Spring, when we yearn for any sign of warmer weather.

Most of us are fans of other people’s singing; but God has given each one of us a voice, and He delights in hearing our voices in song. You needn’t sing like Adele. You needn’t sound like Sinatra.

What to sing? Sing of His faithfulness. Sing of His love. Sing of His greatness, His mercy, and His care of us.

Just sing. It is music to our heavenly Father. – Luther