Faith & Life Connections

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1 Faith & Life Connections A Daily Devotion & Resource Guide for Your Spiritual Journey From the Sermon-Teaching Ministry of Fairhope UMC Reflections on this week s message: Lifted Up - Week of March 25, 2012 John 12:20-33, Fifth Sunday of Lent For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus sake. For God, who said, Let light shine out of darkness, made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:5-6 Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. John 17:1,5,24 As He prepared His followers for His death, Jesus said that when he was lifted up from the Earth, He would draw all people to Himself. (Ref. Jn. 12:32) The people to whom He spoke would have heard the phrase lifted up and thought of crucifixion. We hear the words lifted up today and think of elevating or exalting something or someone. It is in the latter context that we need to hear Jesus words, for it is in these words that we are told how to carry out the mission of the church. The mission of the church is essentially to make disciples. In order to make disciples we must introduce people to Jesus. In order to introduce people to Jesus we must somehow attract them. Now read the instructions; But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself. (Jn. 12:32) What is Jesus telling us to do? Is He telling us to create and implement programs? Is He telling us to find ways to market the church? Is He telling us to argue about worship styles or to get caught up in theological or doctrinal debates? He is telling us, quite simply, to lift Him up. We might lift Him up through our programs, through our worship, our marketing strategies and with solid theology and doctrine, but all of those things, everything that we do, must be about Jesus, not about us! In John 12: 28, Jesus prays, Father, glorify your name! When we hear the word glory we most often think of images of splendor, praise, majesty, and worship, all of which describe the honor do our Lord. But glory also means to make visible the presence of God. Jesus crucifixion & resurrection reveals God s power & presence, offering salvation & life to all people. Lifting up Jesus is not about getting God s attention. It is about bearing witness to God and as we do that, all people will be drawn to Him! Jesus surrendered his very life to God s greater purposes so God would be glorified and He calls us and His church to do the same. Our lives and our work in ministry should not be to simply praise God. The deeper meaning of glory calls us to reveal God in everything we do! As we labor and minister in the church; what is our motivation? Are we preaching ourselves? Or are we lifting up Jesus? Are we lifting up Jesus so He will be glorified and made visible in our broken and hurting world? We have the best, most positive message that there is. Our message is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Let s be about the business of lifting Him up! Love, Pastor Joe This Week s Challenge: Lift Jesus Up! Listen to this week s sermon teaching by clicking the Online Sermons link at

2 Begin with Prayer: Faith & Life Connections Getting Started: Grab your bible & find a quiet, comfortable spot to begin your daily Bible reading. Light a candle & spend a few minutes relaxing, quieting your mind. Keep a notebook nearby to jot down distractions that interfere with your focus to put them out of your mind to deal with later. You may want to play your favorite hymns or praise music softly in the background. To quiet your mind & prepare to focus on God & His Word try one of the prayer exercises found under Spiritual Growth Resources. Then pray the suggested prayer starter personalizing it to your needs & desire for God s guidance. This Week's Prayer Starter: Lord, I hear your call to lift you up & your promise that as you are lifted up you will draw all people to you. Thank you for the power of your love that draws me & keeps me. Show me how you want to be lifted up & glorified in my life. Grant me wisdom, grant me courage, & grant me boldness to go for you & lift you up in all areas of my life and in your church so that you will be glorified and revealed to others. May your light shine brightly in my heart & reveal the light of the knowledge of God s glory in the face of Christ. Be with me as I carry your Light out in the world so that You will be lifted up, glorifed, & made known to the world. In Jesus name I pray. AMEN. Pray with music: Select a song to learn and sing frequently during Lent. Hymns that connect with this week s sermon message include God of Grace and God of Glory, In My Life, Lord, Be Glorified. Good discipleship hymns for Lent include Take My Life, Be Thou My Vision, Lord I Want to Be a Christian, or Tell Me the Stories of Jesus. After reflecting & praying through this week s readings & sermon teaching, I feel God is nudging me to take these steps: day 1 week of March 25 Read John 12:20-33 Why do you think the Greeks wanted to see Jesus? How would you describe your desire to seek Jesus? What steps are you taking in your life right now to see Jesus? What point is Jesus making as he tells the parable about the grain of wheat? Where is Jesus calling you to die so that you might live? What is Jesus calling his disciples to do in verses 25-26? What do you tend to hold on to rather than following Jesus? What is Jesus asking when he prays, Father, glorify your name. in verse 28? Why do you think the people didn t understand the voice from heaven to be God? Why do you think we sometimes miss hearing God when He speaks? Reread verse 32. What does Jesus say will happen when he is lifted up? What does it mean to lift up Jesus? How are you lifting up Jesus in your life? How do we lift up Jesus in our church? Pray for Jesus to be lifted up. Pray that Jesus will be lifted up & so visible in you that others will want to know Him too!

3 Faith & Life Connections day 2 week of March 25 Read Matthew 26:31-35,69-75 Do you think Peter was sincere when he told Jesus that he would never disown him (v.35)? If Peter is brave enough to follow Jesus to the high priests house, why do you think he denies Christ? Have you ever denied Christ when you could have stood up for him? Why can it be difficult to be bold for Jesus? If we are really honest with ourselves, are we faithfully giving our all to Jesus? Or do we sometimes shrink back, maybe in fear of being misunderstood or concerned that if we push Jesus too much we might be not be heard, or even worse, criticized? Are you lifting up Jesus in all areas of your life? In everything you do? In the church, is it clear that Jesus is at the center of all of our ministries? Why or why not? In what ways are you like Peter? When have you denied Jesus? How do you think Peter felt when he heard the rooster crow? When have you had the rooster crow in your relationship with Jesus? How does the story of Peter both humble and encourage you? What hope do you find in Peter s story? Ask God to reveal to you any area of your life or something that you are holding on to that that represents some kind of denial of Christ s lordship (money, status, pride, peer pressure, fear, etc). Turn to Jesus & ask Him to help you let go. Thank God for his amazing, forgiving love & grace! day 3 week of March 25 Read John 17:1-26 What comes to your mind when you hear the word glory? Why did Jesus pray to be glorified? Why did Jesus pray for us to see his glory? How is God glorified in Jesus death & resurrection? Our Lord is deserving of all praise, honor, & glory. But is simply living to praise God enough? How does the deeper meaning of glory invite us to allow Jesus to use our lives to reveal God & make him known to the world? How does our call to lift up Jesus help us to glorify God? How is Jesus glorified in your heart, life, home, and work? In our country? In His church? Ask God to help you surrender your life to his greater purposes & use you to lift up Jesus so He will be glorified! Remember Jesus promise that when He is lifted up, he will draw everyone to Him!

4 Faith & Life Connections day 4 week of March 25 Read 2 Corinthians 3:17-4:7 What does it mean to be transformed into the likeness of Christ? How does this happen? How has God made his light shine in your heart? In what ways have you experienced Gods glory through Jesus? Are you striving to reflect the Lords glory in your life? Are we preaching ourselves? Or are we lifting up Jesus? In what ways do our lives reveal God s love and grace to others? How do people see God through you? Reread verse 7. Why do we need reminded that God is the source of our power & strength? How does Paul s struggle show God s power and reflect Jesus life? What do you see when you look at yourself a simple clay pot or the glory it contains? What do others see in you the glory of God in a clay pot, a clay pot trying to look like a treasure chest, a tightly closed clay pot or one with a hole in the bottom, a pot with cracks through which God s glory shines? (From The Meeting God Bible, pg. 1524) Ask God to show you how He wants you to reflect His glory. Spend some time in prayer using the attached prayer meditation, Lord, Be Glorified. day 5 week of March 25 Read Mark 12:28-34 & Matthew 28:16-20 Why are the commandments to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, & strength & to love others as ourselves the greatest commandments? What is the Great Commission? What is the mission of the UMC? What is the mission of our church? As we labor and minister in the church; what is our motivation? Are we focused on & motivated by the Great Commandment and the Great Commission? How does focusing on Jesus teachings help us to keep lifting Him up in everything we do? Review the membership vows of the UMC (see attached resource). In what ways do you see these membership vows rooted in the Great Commandment & Great Commission? How does your commitment to Christ and to the church help to keep you focused on lifting up Jesus in everything you do? Take on a new spiritual practice this Lent to help you grow closer to the Lord. Make a plan for some Sabbath time this week! Take an hour or so today & spend some time with your Lord!

5 Dig Deeper: Faith & Life Connections For questions about Lent & some of the church words & experiences associated with this season, we encourage you to explore some of the resources & Lenten devotional books available at the table outside the sanctuary, in our library & educational ministry office (rm. 202 & 203), on our website, or through our Faith & Life Connections sermon-based daily devotions. Please contact Pastor Joe or Kathy Schmucker, Director of Educational Ministries, for more information. Let the mystery of God unfold during the season of Lent. Carve out a space in your life for Him and allow Him to reveal Himself more fully to you this Lent! THE SEASON OF LENT REPENT~RETURN~REFLECT~REMEMBER~REFOCUS~RENEW Get Real With Jesus! Let the mystery of God unfold through spiritual practices: Incorporate the following spiritual disciplines into your daily life during the season of Lent: Read the Bible daily. Memorize Scripture. Pray Participate in worship. Connect with other Christians & join a Small Group, Bible Study, or Sunday School class. Practice extravagant generosity by tithing and giving of your time, talents, & resources. Share what God has given you! Serve in missions and ministry! (Matt 4:4, Ps 119:11, John 4:24, Acts 2:42-47, 1Tim 6:17-19, Matt 23:11, James 1:22) Make time for Jesus and take up one new spiritual practice this Lent! Prayerfully review the above list. Check out the spiritual growth resources page or visit our website, to help you explore each spiritual practice. If you are already doing something in each area, find ways to experience each spiritual practice in a new way! Dig deeper! Do something more! Make Lent important! Psalm 19 1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. 3 They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. 4 Yet their voice [b] goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. 5 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. 6 It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth. 7 The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. 9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the LORD are firm, and all of them are righteous. 10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. 11 By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. 12 But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. 13 Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression. 14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. Prayerfully read this psalm, reflecting on your need for God to renew your heart during this season of Lent.

6 Why Membership? What Does It Mean? Faith & Life Connections Resource You re ready to join, thinking of joining, or you have joined the church as a full-fledged participating member. But what exactly are you joining? And why is it so important to be a member? What does that mean? Isn t it enough just to worship on the weekends and go to a few occasional classes or workshops? Isn t membership just a way for pastors to keep their people from going to other churches so that all their money goes to them? It s important to know why participating in membership is important. The worst thing you could do is become a participating member because that s just what you do. Rather, we want to make sure you re clear about why you should be joining so you can be as clear as possible that this is the best place for you to start, or continue growing in your relationship with Jesus Christ. 1. Four Reasons why we commit to Church Membership a.) Biblical Reason: Christ is committed to the Church.... Christ loved the Church, and he gave his life for it. Ephesians 5:25 b.) Cultural Reason: It is an antidote to our society. We live in an age where very few want to be committed to anything... a job... a marriage... our country. This attitude has even produced a generation of church shoppers and hoppers. Membership swims against the current of America s consumer religion. It is an unselfish decision. Commitment always builds character. c.) A Practical Reason: It defines who can be counted on. Every team must have a roster. Every school must have an enrollment. Every business has a payroll. Every army has an enlistment. Even our country takes a census and requires voter registration. Membership identifies our family. d.) A Personal Reason: It produces spiritual growth. The New Testament places a major emphasis on the need for Christians to be accountable to each other for spiritual growth. You cannot be accountable when you re not committed to any specific church family. Persons seeking to become profession members in the United Methodist Church are asked to make the following vows: As members of Christ's universal church, will you be loyal to Christ through The United Methodist Church, and do all in your power to strengthen its ministries? As members of this congregation, will you faithfully participate in its ministries by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service, and your witness? Fairhope United Methodist Church Membership Covenant Having professed Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, and being in agreement with the church s purpose and structure, I now feel led by the Holy Spirit to unite with the congregation in membership. In doing so, I commit myself to God and to the other members to do the following: 1.) I will be loyal to Christ and the church by PRAYING. for all members and refusing to gossip for church leaders for pastor and staff 2.) I will be loyal to Christ and the church by my PRESENCE. as I attend faithfully at nurturing and equipping opportunities as I live a godly life 3.) I will be loyal to Christ and the church by my GIFTS. as I will share the gift of love with other members as I invite the unchurched and welcome visitors as I will faithfully share my resources and make tithing (10%) my goal 4.) I will be loyal to Christ and the church by my SERVICE. as I discover my gifts, talents, and graces for ministry by developing a servant s heart as I assume my area of ministry 5.) I will be loyal to Christ and the church by my faithful WITNESS....as I learn to share my faith story with confidence...as I prayerfully discern who God may be calling me to influence for Christ....by learning how to grow and mature as a faith-sharing disciple through training opportunities.

7 Faith & Life Connections Resource Lord, Be Glorified In my life, Lord, be glorified, be glorified, In my life, Lord, be glorified, today. In my heart, Lord... (Ezekiel 36: I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you a heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. ) Heavenly Father, In Your Word you teach us that Above all else, we are to guard our hearts, for everything we do flows from there. (Proverbs 4:23) You teach us to keep Your Word in our hearts, and we become lost & fill our hearts with worldly things rather than with you. Forgive us Father. Search us God & know our hearts. See if there is any offensive way in us & lead us in your everlasting way. Soften our hearts of stone. Open our hearts, minds, & eyes to your Word, Your love, & Your ways. Nurture our spiritual hearts, Lord. Cultivate a spirit of hunger for Jesus in the life of our congregation. Lift the veil of darkness from our congregation s spiritual eyes and hearts so we might grow in our understanding of your Word. Set our captive hearts free from sin, fear, addictions, depression, & bitterness. Open our hearts to growth in grace & spiritual maturity. Make us hungry for you, Lord. Pour out your Spirit upon us & create a spiritual craving within each of our hearts. Thank you for your promise to give us a new heart. Take our hearts of stone & fill our hearts with your spirit so that we will be moved to follow your ways. Remembering that As water reflects our faces (like a mirror), so our lives reflect our hearts. (Proverbs 27:19) May our hearts be a reflection of you. In Jesus Name In our land, Lord... (II Chronicles 7:14 - if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.) Almighty God, you have promised that if we will humbly seek You and repent of our sins, that You will heal our land. We confess that we have often turned away from you, draw us into your presence and help us know that You love us and desire fellowship with us. Give us hearts now that desire healing and wholeness for our nation. Oh God, help us to be faithful and devoted to You that You may heal our land... In Jesus Name.. In this town, Lord... (Matthew 5: "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.) Lord, we come, knowing that there is great need in our community, there are people all around us who need, healing and hope. Help us share Your love and shine Your light in this darkness, we pray in Your name.. In our schools, Lord... (Matthew 6:33 - But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.) Father, there are people who believe that you should not be part of our education. We want You in our schools; we need You to fill our teachers and administrators with wisdom and power by Your Spirit. Help us as students to be the kind of people who seek after You as we pursue knowledge... In Jesus Name... In our youth, Lord... (Luke 18:16 - But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.) Lord, You told us that Your Kingdom belongs to children and those who are like them. Our children are a treasure and an awesome resource, yet we so often overlook them, or discount their role in our lives. Forgive us for the times when we have pushed them aside and failed to offer them guidance. Help us minister to our children and youth with hearts that desire to build them up. Help us also recognize their potential to teach us through their innocence and child-like faith. We offer them to You in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ... In our friends, Lord... ( Proverbs 27:10 - Do not forsake your own friend or your father's friend, And do not go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity; Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away.) Pray for your friends.

8 In our homes, Lord... (Deuteronomy 6:4-9 - Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.) O Lord God, too often we neglect You in our homes. We go through our daily routines without inviting You to be the Lord of our families. Forgive us and help us remember how much we need you. Help us to be the fathers, mothers, children, siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles that You want us to be, so that we can be examples and witnesses for our families. In Christ we pray... In my job, Lord (Proverbs 16:3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for me.) Merciful God, thank You for the many ways you provide for our needs. Thank you for jobs and careers. Let those who are employed or successfully retired give thanks and praise. For those who are seeking employment or working toward a career, be with them and guide them in their journey. Remind us, Lord, that all that we have is Yours and make us faithful to commit all that we do to You. In Jesus Name With our hands, Lord... (John 13:14 - "If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet) Lord Jesus, You showed us what it means to be a servant when, with Your own hands, You washed Your disciple s feet. Give us the humble hearts of servants and use our hands and feet in service to Your Kingdom. Remind us that every task You call us to do is important ministry and make us willing to serve with grace and joy. You gave your life for us, may we give our lives in service to You. We pray in Your Name... Through our wealth, Lord... (Mark 12: Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything all she had to live on.") Father, You have blessed us with abundance and yet we squander it and complain of not having enough. We often only give what we are comfortable with and refuse to offer You all that we have and all that we are. Lead us to give as an act of worship and in faith, trusting You to bless our giving. Give us hearts that desire to share. You gave us the best; help us give You our best. In Christ... With our gifts, Lord... (I Corinthians 12:3-5 - Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.) Thank You, Lord, for the gifts You give that we may serve and glorify You. Lead us by Your Spirit to discover the gifts that we have and equip us by that same Spirit to boldly use our gifts in service to Your Kingdom. In the Name of our Lord, Jesus... In Your church, Lord... (John 17: My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.) Lord, when You prayed for us, Your desire was for us to be in unity. We have failed to be united in Spirit because we want to be pleased in our flesh rather than to be pleasing to You. Lead us to surrender to Your will and move forward as the church to share Your love, joy, peace and grace with a world that is lost. Empower us to be Your church, we ask in Jesus Name... Lord, Be Glorified In my life, Lord, be glorified, be glorified, In my life, Lord, be glorified, today.

9 Faith & Life Connections Resource Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. Luke 9:23 In your hands you hold a cross, a finished, smooth, & polished piece of wood. We often see ourselves as finished and polished. And then, Jesus comes into our hearts and lives asking us to surrender ourselves to him and allow Him to shape and mold us to become the person God created us to be. Read Romans 3:23 We all sin & fall short of who and what God created us to be. SIN STAINS OUR LIVES. Sometimes the stains seem impossible to remove. But there is one for whom nothing is impossible (Matthew 19:26). As we surrender ourselves to Christ, Jesus strips back the finish, the protective layers of our hearts that we try to hide. He refines and purifies us (Malachi 3:3). He softens our hearts, removes the stain of sin, cleanses us, and makes us into a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). Hold the cross in your hands. Ask Jesus to reveal to you the areas of your heart and life in need of His refining love & grace (Psalm 139: 23-24). Ask Him to hold you in His healing arms and help you let go of yourself so you can surrender completely to him. Tell Him of your desire to follow Him! Take the piece of sandpaper & begin to sand the cross. Pray Psalm 51. As you sand, ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins. Ask Him to remove the stain of sin from your heart and life. The change you see happening to the wooden cross as you sand is symbolic of the change that Jesus is making in your heart and life as you seek to grow as His disciple. Keep this cross near you throughout the season of Lent. As you continue to sand the cross, notice how it is changed, the stain is removed and the hard corners are now softened and smooth. Jesus promises to do the same for you. Will you let Him? Read John 3:16. God sent Jesus to save you. Thank Jesus for his love, grace, & mercy. Be Jesus disciple! Take up your cross daily, and follow Jesus on this incredible journey of renewal, growth, & discovery!

10 Faith & Life Connections Resource Family Connections: Sabbath: Making Time for God Scripture References: Genesis 2:2-3, Matthew 14:22-23, Luke 6:12, Mark 6:46, 1 Kings 19:1-21, Psalm 46:10 Sabbath: You might remember it as one of the 10 commandments, or something that we re supposed to do each week. But practicing Sabbath is often easier said than done. Practicing Sabbath is difficult because we either feel we re just too busy or because we just don t understand what Sabbath really is. Sabbath is intentionally spending time with God. It is an intentional break from our daily lives and the world around us to spend time with God. The commandment says, Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. Sabbath is not about mindless recreation or vacation. Sabbath is about experiencing re-creation and renewal. Sabbath is about resting in the arms of our loving Savior. Sabbath is a time for remembering who you are and whose you are, a time to be reminded that you are God s child. Sabbath may be a time spent in silence or it may be a time to explore your faith with other people. It may be spent in prayer or reading Scripture. When was the last time that you spent intentional time in Sabbath? Read the Scripture references. What did God do after creating the world? What does Jesus do after a busy day? Are you following His example? Why or why not? Where did Elijah hear God? Practicing Sabbath can be hard. Students have homework & tests to study for, jobs & careers can be demanding, and parents struggle to find time to spend with children, let alone time to connect with God. Is it possible that the difficulty in finding time for Sabbath makes it all that more important? Does Satan worry about you if you are so busy with everything else in your life except time for God? What keeps you from practicing Sabbath? Consider the following self-examination questions: How many hours a week do you spend working? How many do you spend in silence? Are your times of Sabbath more about recreation and vacation or re-creation and listening for God? Challenge: Spend 2 minutes every day sitting in silence. Gradually increase the amount of time each day or week. Practice listening for the still, small voice of God. Fast from anything that creates extra noise for you and makes it hard for you to connect with God. Find a special place where you can go to escape, a space where you can connect with God. This may be in your church, at a park or garden, a local coffee house. You might even want to consider creating your own prayer closet. Experiment with different ways to connect with God & discover what works best for you. Make this a family effort & encourage everyone to create space in their day for God. Seek first His kingdom & His righteousness Matthew 6:33