Driving Notes

Today we finished our series on reclaiming core values, inspired by the book #Struggles by Craig Groeschel.  Read more about the book here.

Today REST is our focus.  How do we replenish rest in our lives?  Craig shares an excellent quote attributed to St. Augustine: “Because God has made us for Himself, our hearts are restless until they rest in Him.”  Why do we struggle finding rest?  Maybe because we haven’t learned to rest in Him. Putting God first and trusting in Him are two big steps to help us rest.

Technology can rob us of our rest, especially our phones. Checking them constantly, especially first thing in the morning, having to be the first to know things and share things…it might mean we need to take a phone fast.  Yep, like a food fast.

Learning to be still and embrace Matthew 11:28-29 (below) is critical; even if it’s just 5 minutes a day.  I think 5 minutes to be silent and 5 more minutes to be silent and focused on God is really valuable. It helps us clear our minds and hear the ‘still, small voice’ of God.

Honestly, if we can’t take 5 minutes a day to unplug and listen to God, what kind of message are we sending to Him?

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Our Word of the Day is edify, which is a verb meaning to instruct and improve especially in moral and religious knowledge. Synonyms are to uplift and enlighten.

Thanks for listening!

-Joe

Today we continue our values series, inspired by the book #Struggles by Pastor Craig Groeschel of LifeChurch.tv. Read more about the book here.

Today we’re focused on worship, which is the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration, usually towards a deity.  Our struggle is that worship can sometimes turn away from God and to other things.  The temptations?  Vehicles, relationships, positions, television shows, social media, homes, bank accounts…they can all distract us.

Craig reminds us in the book that nothing is worth more that having a growing passion for our loving God. There’s plenty of scripture that talks about this – I mean, it’s in the Ten Commandments! (Exodus 20:3-5).

Mark 8:34-37 also reminds us that letting our souls be consumed with anything but God isn’t worth it: ³⁴ Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said:“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ³⁵ For whoever wants to save their life^[a] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.³⁶ What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? ³⁷ Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?

We will never be satisfied when we let our souls be consumed with anything but God. So it may be time to tear down some of the idols that are trying to build kingdoms in our heart. Maybe it’s time to take an inventory of our social media use, when research says that 80% of our posting is about us and our lives.

God has something better for us.

Thanks for listening!

-Joe