The Holy Habit of Rest

I am probably the worst person on the planet to be writing a blog about rest. In fact, Martha and I together are probably the worst people on the planet to write a blog about rest. Resting is not something that comes naturally to us. And I’m not talking about rest that comes between 10 PM and 6 AM. I’m talking about rest where your eyes are open, but you’re not moving or doing something. Martha and I really struggle in this area. We figure if we’re not doing something, we’re being lazy. But as we’ve gotten older, now into our mid-fifties, we realize that rest is something that we need.

Not just for our bodies or health, but for our minds and souls.

What rest looks like for you may be different from what it looks like for me, but it starts with a whole bunch of intentionality no matter what it looks like! Quality rest doesn’t often occur spontaneously, especially in today’s connected and busy world.

This summer Martha and I have a new plan: resting. We plan on having days where all we do is read a book. We plan on having a weeklong vacation where all we do is just explore. We plan on taking Sundays and making sure that no projects are going on around the house. We plan on taking our work and putting it aside to rest and hear the voice of the Lord on what’s next for iWork4Him.

Now, I’ve read many books about rest over the years, but none of them is better than the Bible. From the very beginning, as soon as God finished creating the entire universe, He took a day of rest. In fact, on their first full day on the planet, Adam and Eve had a day of rest! God put such a high priority on rest that He made Adam and Eve experience it before giving them work.

Is rest a priority in your life or an afterthought?

I want to invite you to join Martha and me this summer in making rest an intentional part of your walk with Jesus. Oh, and on a side note, when you’re well rested, you’ll also hear the voice of the Lord more easily and can respond more quickly when he has an assignment for you! So in a way, rest is a critical part of staying on mission!

- Jim

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!

Love Your Neighbors This Summer

Ah, summer! We spend all year long looking forward to summer. The smell of fresh air, freshly cut grass, and beautiful flowers—no school and summer vacations. Even the word “summer” has a warm, friendly ring to it. Summer is when we all take a big long break. But there is one thing that we never get to take a break from – can you guess what it is? Yep, it’s being a minister of the gospel! 2 Timothy 4:2 says, “Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not….”

So, how do we turn our summers into opportunities for ministry? Read along with me today as we explore some ways to use the dog days of summer as an opportunity to expand the influence of Jesus in your neighborhood!

It goes without saying that our neighborhoods are one of our primary places of ministry. First, we have our homes, then we have our work, and then we have where we live. If you live in cold, snowy, or rainy climates during the wintertime, getting to know your neighbors can be a little more difficult in the winter. Most people sort of “hermit” away in their homes during these inhospitable months. Growing up in Minnesota, we never really knew when summer would come. Some years spring would be perfectly timed in April, and summer would come along in June. Other years, like this year, winter lasted until May, and then one day, it was 80 degrees. But whenever, and however it comes, when it does - the doors open, the jackets come off, and the sunscreen gets lathered! Out comes the barbecue, the lawnmower, and the hedge trimmer; in comes the opportunity to get to know our neighbors and serve them well!

It is a universal truth that people love to be outside when the weather is nice. And when they are outside, that means you have the chance to get to know them.

One of the things I love to do in summer is hosting a potluck or a cookout. When the grill is in the front of the house, it’s super easy to invite my neighbors over for a burger or a Coke (or, in my case, a Mountain Dew). This gives me the chance to bless them with a meal and strike up a conversation. The same goes for if I’m out on a walk and my neighbor is in their front yard. I’ll stop and say hello and ask how their day is going. These small connections can open the door for even greater ministry opportunities in the future!

Another great way to engage with your neighbors is to find ways to serve them. For example, if you see someone working on a project in their yard, lend a hand! Or, if you have elderly neighbors or neighbors with mobility issues, offer to mow their lawn after cutting your own. I know someone who does tree-trimming on the side and will offer it to his neighbors in exchange for dinner. What a great idea! That way, he gets to serve and connect!

The point is that your neighborhood is ripe with opportunities to be Jesus to someone. Remember, as a Jesus Follower, EVERYTHING about you should be changing, and EVERYONE around you should be benefitting from your faith, whether they believe in Jesus or not.

- Jim

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!

Summer Vacation Atheist

SUMMER IS HERE! THREE CHEERS FOR SUMMER! 

Why is it that we love summer so much? Well, we get to go outside all the time. We get to see neighbors that we don't get to see very often. We get to go places and do things and take our kids with us - like summer vacation trips to Disney World and trips to the beach. Summer just seems like a time where everybody lets loose and enjoys life. It's those three months of freedom that we long for all year long. Time to shut off real life and go into vacation mode!

But let me ask you a question: When you go into vacation mode, is your spiritual life still switched on?

If I'm honest, in many of my past summers, I went on vacation and switched off my faith life. All I wanted to do was get out, enjoy, and forget about work and all the stressors of the day. I didn't think about going to church on vacation. I didn't think about sharing my faith on vacation. I certainly didn't think about the gospel on vacation. I was basically a summer vacation Atheist.

But here's the deal, just because it's summertime doesn't mean that God's inspired incidents don't still happen. Just because its summertime doesn't mean that intentional moments of living out our faith shouldn't still be happening. When we bring our kids along with us, it doesn't mean that there aren't still teaching moments. In fact, I'd argue that summer, with our relaxed psychological state, is the PERFECT time to teach our kids that God is still present in times of rest. That is super important!

When God created Adam, what was the next full day for him? Was it a day of work in the garden? No! Adam's first full day on earth was a day of rest. Rest is important, but rest was designed for us to reconnect with God.

So, this summer, as you head out on vacation, or out for a barbecue, or a picnic, keep your life of intentionality on. Watch and see who God places in your path. Look for times that God brings people in front of you who are hurting and hopeless and lost. Let your faith shine even in those vacation moments! And when you are relaxing at home or on a trip, ask God to come and saturate your heart and mind with His peace. If you struggle to balance your work and rest or if you want to make this summer one of unprecedented connection with Christ – I encourage you to pick up a copy of our new book iWork4Him and bring it with you on vacation or share it with a friend. Inside, I wrote about the vital subject of faith and rest – one that is arguably as important as the subject of faith and work.

Jim

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!