“Rest for Your Soul:

As I write this morning, I am sitting on the balcony of the second floor of the Chatuge Lodge in Hiawassee, Georgia.  The sun is coming up over the Chatuge Lake which is the border between North Carolina and Georgia.  It is a beautiful sight.  In the distance I see several docks, and I have been listening as boats have been leaving the nearby marina all morning.

            It took us more than six hours to drive up here yesterday.  It will be a similar drive on Saturday when we return home.  Have I mentioned that I don’t enjoy driving nearly as much as I once did?  No, the drive yesterday was tiresome, and I’m certain it will be the same at the end of the week.

            And yet, the view alone is worth it. Later today we will visit an orchard, we plan to do some hiking, I am certain that I will play at least one round of mountain golf, and I might even have the opportunity to throw a line in the water to see if there are any hungry bass lurking around.  We’re don’t have a specific agenda.  It is our intention to rest and relax.

            I’ve known a few folks in my lifetime who would never take a vacation.  “You have to work,” was the mantra. And don’t get me wrong. I know that work is necessary. God intends for us to work. But God also gave us a marvelous example when He rested on the seventh day.

            Please know this. God was not tired. He did not need to rest. But He did so to remind us that we would need to rest. You need rest for your body. You need rest for your soul. That is another reason that worship is so important. When we worship we find rest for our souls.

            I hope that you will take advantage of the opportunity to worship this coming Sunday. Find a church and join with them as they sing, pray, read the Scripture and meet with God and each other.  You will be glad that you did.