Sandy Time

Contributed by:
Natalie Ward
care ministries director

Paul Bunyan was good with an axe and stronger than 20 men. Hearing stories of Lucky Pierre, a champion lumberjack from Bangor, Maine, Paul headed east to challenge him. Although an old man, Lucky accepted Paul's challenge to see who could cut more wood in six hours. After an hour, Lucky stopped working, went into the woods, then returned 15 minutes later. Paul kept chopping. An hour later, Lucky took another 15-minute break. Every hour he went into the woods. After six hours of chopping, Paul was sure he had won. Paul was stronger and had worked an hour longer. But when the wood was counted, Lucky Pierre had won the contest! Puzzled, Paul asked Lucky how he had done it. Lucky just smiled and said that when he went into the woods, he used that time to sharpen his axe.

This week Pastor Ron talked about “Sandy Time” and reminded us that we need to REST to make room for God. Similar to the story regarding the lumberjack we can only go so far and be so effective without taking time to sharpen our axe. God’s intent for us to rest allows us to ….

…make room for God.

…embrace our limits.

…cultivate a deeper trust in God.

…prioritize what really matters.

If we don’t take time to do as God has instructed and REST but rather just continue in our busy lives- the hurry has the potential to…

… threaten our ability to listen and respond with compassion to others.

… threaten our ability to listen to the voice of the Spirit.

… weaken us to the attack of the enemy.

If Jesus regularly retreated to rest, recharge and reconnect with the Father…how much more do we need to take the time to REST as well?

Reflection Questions:

1. When you consider what REST vs. hurry brings to our lives- which category best characterizes you or your life right now?

• Are you making room for God? Are you embracing your limits? Are you cultivating a deeper trust in God? Are you prioritizing what matters?

OR

• Are you finding it difficult to respond to others with compassion? Are you finding it difficult to hear the voice of the Spirit? Are you feeling a greater vulnerability to the attack of the enemy?

1. Are you living a full life or filling your life up? What’s the difference? What changes do you need to make to introduce more REST and decrease some of the busyness? [Sometimes we have to say NO to good things, so we can say YES to the best things].
2. When and how are you taking time to REST? How is God revealing himself and the power of REST in your life?