The 4 R's

I recently heard a sermon that got me thinking. It was about maximizing your summer and how we need to not play into the culture of tuning out over the summer. 

It was so full of wisdom and truth that I wanted to share. 

The pastor compared our lives to the farm worker. That the summer was not a time to sit back and forget about your crops. It was the season to tend to it, make sure that everything is running smoothly so that when harvest time comes you will reap a bountiful harvest. 

He compared this to our culture and our walk with Christ. In America summer is the time for the pool, vacations, relaxing, having fun and forgetting about focusing and striving after things. It is the season to relax, but perhaps this isn't what God designed summer to be for. The pastor stated that summer is the season God gave us to remember to invest in the future harvest. 

If summer is the time for relaxation and recreation than we need to look at these words again.

relaxation:

1. The state of being free from tension and anxiety: To me number one happens when we rest in the Lord. We ourselves cannot be free from tension and anxiety without it coming through the peace that passes understanding through Christ Jesus. Therefore relaxation requires us to find that sacred place with God to bring us true rest.
2. Recreation or rest, esp. after a period of work: To me this is the obvious one, but in our culture I think that sometimes we aren't really resting we are checking out so to speak. Often in relaxation we choose to disengage. 

recreation:

1. Activity done for enjoyment when one is not working: To me is true, but true enjoyment happens when we are filled with the Joy of the Lord. Often we look to others or things to bring us enjoyment, but often we will be disappointed if we are looking for enjoyment there, but if we are with people and doing things that bring enjoyment with the Joy of Christ filling us in the process that is where the real recreation is. This is life giving!
2. The action or process of creating something again: I really like this statement because the action or process of creating something again, means that it is full of engagement. There is action to renew, engage, and create.This connects to the pastors point that true recreations causes us to engage, rather than disengage.

His whole point was that we must not check out, we must invest in our spiritual life. We have opportunity to cultivate that future harvest that is to come. For if we do not invest we will not reap a good harvest. 

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts,he will be blessed in his doing."

                                                                                                                         -James 1:22-25

These are the 4 R's that he gave to stay active in cultivating your harvest and not neglecting your growth in the seasons, even summer, but to maximize who you are and your investments.  

1. Read the Bible- look intently

2. Review it - Meditate on it

3. Remember the promises - Do not forget His words, memorize (Psalm 119:11)

4. Respond to Him - engage, and take action 

After all of this I started thinking about how the 4 R's apply to all relationships as well. No wonder it is extremely key that we do them with God first. 

For when we are doing those four R's the lies, behaviors and fears cannot win over the joy, peace and harvest to come because we are so engaged with our heavenly Father!!! And when we are in this place we always will love well. 

But I also started thinking about how when we look at people like this its kind of the same thing...

This is how my brain has started seeing it with relationships:

when we get to know who they are it is like Reading them

when we go deeper with them it's like we are reviewing what we have read of them already

when we remember who they are and what they love we can be prepared to love them better

when we respond to them it is the fruit of loving them well and staying engaged in a relationship with them

It all boils down to relationship, first with Christ and then with others. Let's learn to cultivate so we have a bountiful harvest!!! 

Read

Review

Remember 

Respond 

The Presten's & A Complicated Balancing Act

This week I have been distracted with our sweet friends, the Presten family (Zach, Bethany & Selah)! About 5 months ago they moved to London, England. It was incredible to watch them as they trusted Father God to take care of their needs and open doors, all while Bethany was in the last few months of their first pregnancy. They're call to share the Gospel and move forward with the vision God has given them to bring the Kingdom is so inspiring! I encourage you to check them out, see what they are doing to make a difference in our world- it is HUGE! Click HERE!

Bethany & I with baby Selah: Their sweet little girl! 

Bethany is from here, she has family and SO many people that no doubt want to see her, but yet she still has made an effort to get together and include us in things that are going on. I know how it is to go home and feel so conflicted with the little about of time you have and how many people there are to see, people that you truly love. I have been honored by her effort to connect.

I consider Bethany one of my besties, here in GA, despite the move to London, so it is a beautiful thing to have her back in the area, to just simply know she is here. What is even better is to see that she genuinely cares to stay connected!

I personally know how hard finding balance can be. The balance of staying connected and giving family, extended family and friendships that you consider to be family the time they each desire and deserve. It is extremely hard. I am proud of how she is handling it all, and with a brand new baby, 5 hour time difference and jet lag. This friend of mine is a super woman, the key I believe; she is totally filled with the Holy Spirit!

Dinner @ Fancy Q's: Junior & Zach & Selah Presten!

I watch her as I to prepare to go home for the 4th of July, the last time I was home was almost 8 months ago. Every time it is hard, how do you see everyone you love in less than a full week? How do you invest the quality time they each deserve? My family taught me that family doesn't always mean blood. I grew up playing with foster kids as cousins and families that had adopted children. I grew up in a family that had such a gift for hospitality and open doors. I am beyond thankful for this mindset, but it also makes it more complicated at times.

As always I feel I may just be rambling, but in most situations in life, I find it is often about finding the balance and discerning what is best for your spirit and your spouse.  And most importantly finding the places and spaces that honor God in your life, being obedient to what He is calling you to do. Some days I have no idea what this looks like....

So for now I am thankful for the Presten's, what they mean to our family and what they mean to my Father in heaven. Next week, perhaps I will try and prepare for the complexities of not living where a lot of my loved ones live and figuring out the balancing act of investing in each of them.

blessings to you as you find the balance in your own life!

Natasha