I sent an email to our staff last week. Got some words of apprecation - so I thought I'd share it with all of you. I gave them two quick words of challenge as we head into the holiday weekend.
1. What are you going to do with a day off? Next week we have Monday off as a holiday. I think we have to be as intentional about our rest as we are about our work. So what are your plans for a) family, b) God, c) personal refreshment d) blessing others in your neighborhood or sphere of influence, during your quick day of reprieve. I know it sounds weird, but I was actually challenged in prayer last night about being intentional with Monday. So I'm actually praying about what God wants me to do with that day - I'm sure it will have something to do with a, b, c, or d.
2. What are you doing with your Economic Stimulus check? I'm not going to pretend that the best thing for all of us to do is give it to the church (although, we could sure use it!). But there is a "best thing" for you to do with yours. My challenge is to make it a matter of prayer as to what that "best thing" is. The question is, "what should we do with windfalls?" Unfortunately there is no generic answer. But I bet if you asked God, "What should I do with this particular windfall?" That He would be faithful to give you some direction.
Hope you have an amazing holiday weekend and a day of reprieve next week.
2 comments:
I think you should have a de-lurking day where you ask all the people to appear/comment on your blog who have been hanging around. They usually do that on an official thing.
anyway thoughts... so far this weekend has been great for brian and i together, except he threw out his back again sat. night. but we have had some quality time, some amazing worship frid night/sunday morn... and my grandma came to church today!! and we are having family time tomorrow so that's all been great.
the economic stimulus debate is interesting - brian's basically used his to supplement his new amp purchase by buying accessories (new pedals, guitar equip) etc so he can hone and improve his musical skills, etc. He never would have been able to do that without this. For me its been amazing because I was finally able to get a small, used lawnmower ($75 - found one, looked far and wide and got the perfect deal - one sitting out on the street for sale on 32nd!), and to get a shed for the backyard so I could finally clean up. It's been nice to be able to finally fill in some of the essentials that we've been waiting for YEARS on (shed/mower). A DVD or two for me (one reward :)), and then some will go to My Father's House of Erie, where I'm on the board... and the rest is going on student loan in the ever-present battle to get rid of them.
This question was probably retorical, but there you go.
I couldn't agree with Derek more that it is important to be intentional in our free time (vacation time) as well as our regular time. I would add an additional piece, however. Monday was memorial day which (without trying to get too preachy) should have some time devoted to remembering. Specifically, we need to remember our soldiers in harms way, past and present. It's easy for some of us to forget that we are currently AT WAR. While we spend quality time eating hamburgers in the sunshine with our loved ones (certainly a great thing), there are brave warriors sweating in the desert trusting that they'll get to see their loved ones again.
I found an Army magazine where I work which included an insert with pictures and names of the 800+ men and women who have died this year in military service. I took the opportunity to show it to my two boys (ages 3&4) as we talked about remembering. My youngest said "It's ok to be sad, right Daddy?". Yes Joshua, it is ok to be sad on memorial day.
On the outside chance that a soldier (past or present)or one of their family members reads this comment, THANK-YOU for your sacrifice. We do remember you.
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