Unplug

“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes... including you.” (Anne Lamott)

Because there is a difference between resting and sleeping does not mean that one is less important than the other. Resting is when you are calm and relaxed with or without your eyes open. When you are resting, you do not receive any of the benefits of sleep.  Sleep tunes out your environment and the perception of your surroundings.

During sleep, your brain goes through stages to tune out your environment and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep begins, which does not happen during resting. You are relaxed when you sleep, and resting can lead to sleep (or a nap), but you can rest throughout the day without going to sleep.

Here are a few signs that your body needs rest: exhaustion, dehydration, inability to make decisions, everything annoys you, and sore muscles. These are just a few signs that you should probably sit down, or lie down, somewhere comfortable and quiet for a few minutes. Too much rest can lead to dozing off and having a nap. A nap is closer to sleep than rest is, but a nap does not give you the same benefits as sleep. Your brain needs to recharge and it does that during actual sleep. There are benefits to napping (although actual sleeping is more beneficial).

When you need rest, your body will let you know. Some of the best ways to rest are simple and straight forward. When in a quiet area, simply close your eyes and breathe. Breathe in, and breathe out. Listen to small sounds around you. Enjoy the small things in life. After a few minutes of this, you will be relaxed. Do not fall asleep here, that is not the goal. The goal here is to rest and gather your thoughts for a quick energy boost.

For most, feeling tired might lead you to think you need more sleep. While sleep is critical to feeling whole, rest can be more than your nightly hours of slumber. With complete and regular rest, you will restore your health, enhance your performance, and achieve an amazing sense of well-being. Below are guidelines to adding more rest into your life.

 Avoid Caffeine-If you're feeling overly anxious, stressed or jittery, caffeine can put further physical and mental stress on your body. If you're feeling worn down or tired, look to the strategies above to rest your body. Or, get an energy boost the healthy way by drinking a nutrition-packed smoothie or some extra water. You might be surprised that this alone may improve your mental alertness and energy levels.

Plan a Vacation-If you can't remember your last vacation, it's time to plan one. Whether it's a local staycation or a cross-country trip, vacations of any length help us take a pause from our daily lives and stresses. It opens our eyes, senses and perspectives to a new place and it allows us to appreciate what we have to come home to.

Take a Nap-In many cultures, "biphasic sleep” — which includes two separate periods of sleep every 24 hours, with one in the afternoon and one at night — is the norm. While napping might not be realistic for you every day, there's a body of scientific evidence suggesting you might want to sneak a daytime rest when you can. Napping may boost memory, enhance productivity and concentration, increase alertness, improve mood, stimulate creativity and problem-solving, decrease risk of heart disease, strengthen the immune system, and decrease stress. Listening to your body's signals is important for you.

Take a Silent Gratitude Minute-Living in the moment is easier said than done. It helps calm your body and mind, allowing it to take a brief break from the daily stressors all around you. Think about the moment, connect with your present feelings, see what's around you in nature and ground yourself by thinking about what you are grateful for today. This practice can zap physical and emotional stress, putting your body and mind at ease.

Take a Time Out-Removing yourself from a stressful situation or anxious environment might be all you need to take a mental (and physical break). Think of it as your own little “time out” to connect with your thoughts, emotions, and body. Even a short, calming pause or prayer can help you rejuvenate in body, mind and spirit. It is important for busy people to turn off technology if they want quality rest.

Practices such as meditation, spending time in nature, yoga, tai chi or other gentle movement practices can help create downtime. Whether you love reading, or hikes, it is necessary to create space for deep rest - a state of being that nourishes your mind-body-soul. Rest is how we balance our lives and renew ourselves. Sleep and rest are not only interconnected but central to achieving a full life. How would our world change if we allowed for more time to slow down and rest?

”Nothing makes you feel better than when you get into a hotel bed, and the sheets feel so good. Why shouldn’t you wake up like that every day? Spend money on your mattress and bedding because these things make a difference on your sleep and, ultimately, your happiness.”(Bobby Berk)[i]

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[i] Sources used:

·        “Is There A Difference Between Sleep And Rest?” By Todd Hauptman

·        “Rest Vs Relaxation” by Daphne Bryan

·        “Rest vs. Sleep: Know the Difference for Whole Health” by AdventHealth

·        “The Difference between Resting and Sleeping” by Jimmy

·        “The Difference between Sleep and Rest (and Why We Need Both)” by Laura of Heavenly Homemakers

 

Whispers

“God sometimes whispers so we will draw closer to Him.” (Anonymous)

You changed my world
When You came to me.
You drove a passion,
In my soul down deep,
Lord, to follow You in everything.

 

CHORUS

I don't want to go somewhere
if I know that You're not there,
'Cause I know that me without You is a lie.
And I don't want to walk that road,
Be a million miles from home,
Cause my heart needs to be where You are.
So I don't want to go.

So come whatever,
I'll stick with You.
(Right by Your side)
I'll walk You'll lead me,
Call me crazy or a fool,
For forever I promise You...

CHORUS

Without Your touch,
Without Your love
Filling me like an ocean.
For Your grace is enough,
Enough for me.

CHORUS

Without Your touch,
Without Your love
Filling me like an ocean.
Your grace is enough,
I don't want to go.[i]

  

Sit down with God and ask "How can I grow more in love with You in my life?" Be intentional about setting spiritual goals to prioritize your relationship with your heavenly Father, The result will also include growing in your associations with family and friends as you’ll. This insures spiritual fruit developing in your life instead of becoming a sponge that continues to soak it all in, but gives little out.

No one gets it right with God every day, but do your best. With any relationship, the more time spent with a person, the more like them you will become. You need to be more like Jesus. Are you growing in your faith, and talking and walking with God? Are you not maturing in your faith, and was becoming distant from God? Maybe you’re stuck in a spiritual pothole right now. Try some of the steps below, and notice a positive change in your spiritual walk:

Be intentional- You spend time on the things you care about most. Time is a currency. You can’t make more time in a day, you spend time. You schedule time for our priorities. Do you have a plan, first thing in the morning, to meet with God before anyone else? It's one way of prioritizing Him above anything and anyone. It's also a way of making sure you're at your best, emotionally, by the time you start interacting with others. If you've owned a Bible for years but have never read the entire book, this is a great time to start.

Try it in a different translation than you usually read. Ask yourself where you want to be in your relationship with the Lord, and then set tangible goals for getting there through study. Maybe you could listen to an audio Bible or the radio while. God will meet you where you are and since the Holy Spirit dwells within you, you can spend time with God in a variety of places. There’s no better feeling that being close to God.

Don’t beat yourself up-God still loves you even if you didn’t talk to Him today or read the Bible. He’s a loving Father who simply wants time with you because He has a plan and purpose for our lives. For you to fulfill God’s plans for you, spending time in His Word and learning how to hear Him are crucial.

Limit distractions-Life is full of so many distractions and unfortunately there are many things that can hinder our walk with God. The heroes of the Bible weren’t strong on their own power, but the Bible says that they walked with God. They had temptations and weaknesses of their own, but their desire to do God’s will had a greater hold on them. Sometimes in order to walk with God, you need to walk away from the things that are driving you away from Him.

If anything in your life has taken precedence to spending time with God, consider putting it on the back-burner for a while. When social media or entertainment or future plans take precedence, it can be nearly impossible to find room for God. Consider limiting the amount of time you spend on these activities and use that time to grow closer to God.

 

Participate in a weekly small-group Bible study-You can spiritually grow at a faster rate in community because you are able to share your experiences with one another and hold each other accountable. Find a small group study in your local church or be the catalyst to start one among friends or neighbors or even co-workers.

 Pick a theme verse for the year-Say it aloud every day. I guarantee if you do this, by the end of the year - and probably a lot sooner - you will have memorized one more verse of Scripture. Choose from verse like Psalm 90:12, Psalm 119:32, Psalm 119:133, Galatians 5:16, Philippians 1:27, Philippians 4:6-7, or find your own.

 

Reach out-It can be easy to become overwhelmed by life, but instead of holding everything in, reach out for help. If you don’t feel God in your life as you used to, don’t be afraid to come to Him. God knows our deepest thoughts and the desires of our hearts. No matter how long it’s been since you’ve truly felt God’s presence; please know that calling out to Him is the solution. God won’t push you away. He loves you, and pursues you. He wants you to grow in your relationship with Him. Admitting that you need God’s help isn’t a sign of weakness; instead, it’s expressing a desire to know God better.

Record your blessings (and answered prayers)-Keep a "blessing book" in which you record every blessing that comes your way by adding a prayer of thanks or praise. In addition, write out your prayer requests and record the answers as they come. By writing out these types of things, you will not only be more keenly aware of how God is working in and around your life, but you will become a person who is able to give thanks in all situations.

“God holds each of us by a string. When we sin, we cut the string. But God ties it up again making a knot. Each time our wrongdoing cuts the string God ties another knot drawing us up closer to Him.” (Meister Eckhart)[ii]

 

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[i] The song, "I Don't Want To Go" by Avalon

 

[ii] Sources used:

·        “3 Ways to Grow Closer to God When You Feel Far Away” by CJ and Joy

·        “5 Ways to Grow Closer to God in the New Year” by Cindi McMenamin

·       “5 Ways to Keep God in Your Everyday” by Christina Wilkins

 

Redemption

“God’s purpose in redeeming men from sin is not to give them freedom to do as they please but freedom to do as He pleases.” (John MacArthur)

No single word resonates with millions of people quite like the word “freedom.” A television commercial announces that buying a certain automobile or flying with a certain airline will make you "free." People celebrate their country's independence with songs of "freedom" on their lips and ringing in their ears. Politicians, businesspeople, advertisers, salesmen, military leaders, and recruiters all know how to use "freedom" to attract attention. Few words are so common while carrying so much weight.

Two different ideas of freedom get confused in many people's minds. The biblical idea of freedom is different from, but easily confused with, the cultural value of the same name. It can be confusing to the average Christian who wants to know what "real freedom" is. Is it having choices? Is it lack of coercion and constraint? Is it being able to do whatever you want? In what sense does Christ set us free, and how is that different from what Madison Avenue and Hollywood promise? Is real Christian freedom only found in giving up everything secular culture says is freedom?

So how is Christian freedom defined? Simply, it is not having the right to do what you want, but the ability to do what you ought to do. Jesus’ death on the cross set you free from the penalty and power of sin. Without Him, you are a slave to your sin, and unable to do what is right. Below are key ideas from the Bible about true freedom in your life, and how to find it:

People have been searching for freedom for thousands of years-The quest for freedom is a theme found throughout the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Just three chapters into the story of God’s creation, humanity gave up its freedom by choosing to rebel against God. From that time forward, the perfect freedom God created in the Garden of Eden was gone, and the long-term effects were both physical and spiritual. The Old Testament of the Bible records how God’s people (the Israelites) lost their physical freedom time and again as various empires overtook them (most notably the Egyptians, as recorded in the book of Exodus).

The loss of physical freedom was often tied to spiritual disobedience like worshiping false gods. Time and again, the one true God forgave His people and rescued them. When God freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, He was foreshadowing the arrival of Jesus Christ, who came to free humanity from sin (the spiritual slavery that leads to death). Today, many people are living in spiritual slavery without realizing it. They chase false gods of money, success, personal comfort, and romantic love only to realize they still have an emptiness that can’t be filled by any of those things.

God’s answer to our loss of freedom has always been Jesus-When Jesus began His short period of ministry on the Earth, He announced He was the One that God’s people had been waiting for since the fall of humanity. He did this by reading a particular passage from the book of Isaiah; a passage His listeners knew was referring to the Messiah.

The words had been written hundreds of years earlier and spoke of a new freedom that was coming in the future. When Jesus stood up to read, He was saying the future had arrived. Liberty would come through Him. Here is the account from Luke 4:16-21 (MSG).

He came to Nazareth where he had been reared. As he always did on the Sabbath, he went to the meeting place. When he stood up to read, he was handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Unrolling the scroll, he found the place where it was written,

God’s Spirit is on me. He’s chosen me to preach the message of good news to the poor. Sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and
 recovery of sight to the blind to set the burdened and battered free,
 to announce, “This is God’s year to act!”

He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the assistant, and sat down. Every eye in the place was on him, intent. Then he started in, “You’ve just heard Scripture make history. It came true just now in this place.”

Jesus came to free you from death, sin, and anything that enslaves you-The core message of the Christian faith (the gospel) is that Jesus Christ rescues us from the slavery of sin and offers true freedom in this life and beyond. This is what Jesus said:

“For God loved the world in this way: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, CSB)

The good news (the best news ever) is that faith in Jesus frees us from the death we deserve for sinning against God. It frees us from the punishment that would be inflicted upon us at the end of our lives for the evil things we’ve thought and done. While Christ followers still battle with sin, they are no longer slaves to it.

Through the power of Christ, His people can be set free from the bondage of greed, vanity, pride, pornography, addiction, abusive behavior, gluttony, selfishness, and any other sin under the sun. Here’s what Jesus said about the freedom He offers:

“Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you continue in my word, you really are my disciples.  You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32, CSB) 

Jesus responded, “Truly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. A slave does not remain in the household forever, but a son does remain forever. So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free. (John 8:34-36, CSB)

God gives us freedom to choose our own path-God created human beings not robots. We don’t have to accept the freedom He offers us through Jesus Christ. He gives each person the free will to accept or reject His salvation. The Bible warns that Hell is a real place where real people end up when they knowingly reject the truth. Likewise, those who choose Christ are not forced to obey Him at every turn. God makes it clear that the best life is one that’s devoted to honoring Him. As the Apostle Paul explained to some of the first Christians:

“I am allowed to do anything,” you say. My answer to this is that not all things are good. Even if it is true that “I am allowed to do anything,” I will not let anything control me like a slave. “(1 Corinthians 6:12, ERV)

“My brothers and sisters, God chose you to be free. But don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do what pleases your sinful selves. Instead, serve each other with love. “(Galatians 5:13, ERV)

“Sin creates the illusion of freedom. In the end it fools us into seeking freedom from God rather than finding freedom in God.” (Erwin McManus)[i]

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[i] Sources used:

·        “4 Things the Bible Says About Freedom” By BGEA   

·        “Freedom in Christ” By Focus on the Family

·        “The Bonds of Freedom” by Roger Olson

 

Inspired by the sermon “Freedom: Threads” (installment four) Sunday March 22, 2020, Jon Fulton (All CenterPoint churches are closed for the next couple of months due to the Coronavirus. This sermon was presented online from CenterPoint Westerville Church)

 

The Length

The length of our life has been decided. You alone know how long that is. You have set the limits for us and nothing can change them. (Job 14:5, ERV)

When you will die is not a matter of chance; the Bible makes it clear that our lives are in God’s hands. God does determine when everybody dies, and He did decide that in eternity. Does this mean you shouldn’t seek medical care when you are sick, or that it doesn’t matter if you do dangerous things because God will deliver you anyway? No, that is a wrong attitude to take. Only if God wills, do I live another minute. You do know that one day you will die. The real question is this are you prepared for that day? You can be by giving your life to Christ, and trusting Him to forgive and save you from your sins. Have you made that personal commitment to Him?

 God is God. He governs the world, and that includes the time of your death. God is always better than blind fate, random chance, or demonic triumphs. What else would you want than for God to be in charge of your crucial life choices? Would you want it any other way? It is hard to imagine that God would choose you for salvation before creation and leave something as relatively insignificant as when you die to chance while taking care of the big thing before the foundation of the world.

All things are moving according to God’s plan for you, and since He knows the future, He does not have to wait to see how history unfolds before he completes his plan. You are immortal until God’s purpose for you is complete. What could be more thrilling, empowering, or release more courage and risk in the cause of Christ than this? There is no secret action or thought that escapes His notice. He knows what you have done, are doing, and what you're going to do in the future. God knows every second of our lives from the moment you were conceived to the split second your soul leave our body.

As far as our limited minds are concerned, you do have an impact on when, where, and how you die. You could choose to jump off a bridge in front of a train, thereby "choosing" the day and time you die. Obviously, a person who commits suicide would have lived longer had he not done this. In the same way, if you decide to make dumb choices like put yourself in dangerous situations, or overdose on illicit drugs you may speed up the date of your our own death.

 

The person who dies of lung cancer or a heart attack maybe wouldn’t have died in the same way or at the same time if he had made different choices. Our own decisions have an undeniable impact on the manner, timing, and place of our death. Our choices don't change the fact that God still knows what we're going to choose.

Because of the fact that God knows everything, you are to live each day for Him. It might be a good idea to listen to Him. Make wise decisions about how you live your life, and how you take care of yourself. God may know what we're going to choose, but it's still up to you to make those choices. Don't worry about the time and day of your death. It's not for you to know. Are you not sure what's the best choices to make in your life? Trust that God is in control, and He wants to help you if you’ll only ask Him.

“My life, my every moment, my destiny—it’s all in your hands. So I know you can deliver me from those who persecute me relentlessly.” (Psalm 31:15, TPT)[i]

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[i] Sources used:

·        Answers: Does God know when every person is going to die, or is it all left up to chance? If He does know, does that mean it can't be changed, even with the best medical help? I've always been curious about this.” by Billy Graham Association

·        “Do We Have An Appointed Time Of Death? Does God Know When We Will Die?” by  Michael L. Williams

·        “Does God know the exact day and time when I'll die?” by Catiana Nak Kheiyn

·        “Does God Know the Exact Day I Will Die?” by John Piper

 

Spotlight

“People who shine from within don’t need the spotlight.” (Kasey Cromer)

We’ve all met that person who seems to light up a room. People are drawn to them like moths to a flame. Maybe it’s the way they carry themself, their laughter, or their eyes that seem totally focused and engaged in the moment. I’ve always noticed that this person has an expressive smile that is their secret that maybe they’ll let me in on. I have always wanted to know their secret. I’m moving closer to achieving the inner glow I want.

Being true to you involves simplifying your life and owning the values that shape it. It also involves cutting away what is you’ve outgrown. Most of the time, this process requires you to step outside of your normal habits (or your place in society). It can be challenging, uncomfortable, and rewarding work. How can we know what’s right  for us when we’re step away from what others have told us is the correct way to go?

 When it comes to achieving an inner glow, feel strong, at peace, and in the moment. Are you there yet? Inner glow is the true feeling that comes to you about yourself when you are alone. Here are tips for achieving a daily inner glow:

Be Aware of Your Breathing-The quickest way to muffle your inner glow and sense of peace is to succumb to stress. One natural, easy way to reduce anxiety and remind yourself to be present is to simply become aware of your breathing. One quick exercise to help get you there is called the Four-Part Breath, also known as Square Breath.

This is a great tool to re-center yourself again, and helps combat physical and emotional stress. This technique can be practiced anywhere: Close your eyes and visualize the four sides of a box. Breathe in for a count of four, hold your breath for a count of four, exhale for a count of four and then hold your breath at the bottom for a count of four. While you practice this breathing exercise, visualize tracing a box with your mind’s eye as you breathe. This will help keep you focused. Set a timer for two minutes, or completing three rounds total to minimize your stress and calm yourself.

Embrace Positive Affirmation-One of the hardest parts about being on the journey to living your best life is figuring out what it is that you want to achieve throughout your lifetime. We hear a lot about how a positive attitude can go a long way, but how does one begin to practice this? Write yourself a sticky note at the end of each day that says something like “You’ve got this!” and tape it to your computer. Prefer to talk things out?

Schedule time on your calendar — whether it be early morning or midday — to go somewhere quiet and remind yourself that yes, you can work through even the most difficult of tasks. Record your words for those days when you need an extra push. It can be difficult to visualize your goals, but once you do, positive affirmations can bring you closer to achieving them. We’re all too familiar with the feelings of fear and doubt. Through positive affirmations, fear is driven away because you are replacing that fear with the acknowledgment of your worth.

Fill the Energy Cup-Self-love is the most important thing you can do to maintain your inner glow. Think of your available energy as a cup full of water. You are always in an act of giving or receiving energy. Each day, we are involved in activities that require us to give our energy away, and drain the cup of water. The act of self-love gives us the time to refill our energy bank by pouring water back into the cup. Involve yourself in actions that will bring about these emotions on a daily basis.

Although there are many ways to show yourself self-love, it’s important to remember that loving yourself simply means refreshing your energy, which is needed to accomplish all that you do in a given day. Put on your favorite music, grab your latest favorite read, or tune in to that podcast you haven’t had time to finish, and lay on the couch in a pool of your softest blankets (or soak in a fragrant bath). The important thing is that you relax your mind and indulge in thoughts that make you genuinely happy. Close your eyes and think of the last time you gut-laughed or felt completely at ease. Summon that feeling and go from there.

Give Your Body a Reset Day-Just as you need to take a day off of exercise, you need to give your body the fuel and recovery time that it needs to push forward emotionally. You can do this by cutting out the processed foods you eat, logging off of social media for a day to focus on self-reflection, spending time in nature to just observe the beauty and magic all around you, increasing your intake of water, and enclosing yourself in water via a bath or shower. These are all ways that you can reset your body, and take on life in a more balanced way.

Practice Gratitude-A gratitude practice is the act of acknowledging the things in life that you are grateful for, either just by noting them silently, saying them out loud, or journaling about them. Think about three things you’re grateful for today. This will train your brain to be on the lookout for new things to be thankful for. Then think of three things you hope to be grateful for in the future. Say them to yourself in the present tense as if they had already come true.

Experiencing more gratitude is easy to do and doesn’t take a lot of time if you do it on a regular basis. It will improve your outlook and make your days more enjoyable as you start to think positive thoughts. It’s natural to focus on what’s going wrong in life. But where attention goes, energy flows. The more you express gratitude for what’s positive in your life. The more positivity you’ll feel and radiate lifting others around you as well.

Try Yoga-on-the-Go-If you have a moment, make like a butterfly. The reclined butterfly is a great yoga posture to revive your mind and body, ease stress, and decrease anxiety. Start or end the day with this posture to help ease into your day or to get yourself ready for bed. Lie on your back and place the soles of your feet together. Let your knees fall out wide in a butterfly position. If this pose puts strain on the outside of your hips, you can place pillows underneath your knees to ease the pressure. Place one hand on your belly and one hand on your chest and practice a breathing exercise.

 “As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.” (Marianne Williamson)[i]

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[i] Sources used:

·       “6 Daily Tips for Finding Your Inner Glow “BY Aly Walansky

·         “The Secret to Lighting up a Room: Find Your Inner Glow” By Megan Gallagher

·        “What is inner glow? Definition of it?” by Yahoo Answers