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Posts Tagged ‘rest’

Rest and Relaxation

Posted in christian living, Community, tagged ocean, relaxation, rest, vacation on September 26, 2017| 6 Comments »

This week I am taking a break. My wife and I are enjoying some rest and relaxation enjoying the beach.

There is something about the beach that we enjoy. I am sure if you live around the beach your vacation would be heading west and enjoying the mountains. Yet for us, coming from the mid-west we always enjoy taking a break and going to the east coast.

This time we are enjoying having a beach house to ourselves at Emerald Isle, NC. To us this is so soothing and relaxing sitting on the deck looking at the ocean. The sound of the waves are so comforting to us.

Ocean2017

Getting up in the morning and having coffee then a nice walk on the beach is so enjoyable.

Sitting outside watching the ocean sends us into a calm and relaxed state. We find ourselves thinking about the future, wondering what lies on the other side of the ocean, reminiscing about the past and looking forward to future plans of retirement and enjoying life with no routine and no schedule to follow.

I know not everyone enjoys the beach but for me and my wife this is so relaxing and comforting. We enjoy sitting together looking out over the ocean and just taking a break from life.

So for this week there is no new article, no new thoughts on christian life and getting along with others. It is just a time of rest and relaxation.

I think if it were possible we would stay right here. Yet we know like anything else, once it becomes your normal routine it loses the excitement. So for now we will enjoy the week we have away from normal life and enjoy it.

I will be back in a week or so with another article, but for now I am heading back out to the peace and relaxation of the ocean waves and the company of my lovely wife.

Until next time, be kind to one another.

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What’s Your Motivation?

Posted in christian living, tagged grace, love, motivation, obligation, rest, salvation, works on November 19, 2014| 2 Comments »

As Christians, we all want to live a life pleasing to God. We go about that in many different ways. We try to follow the golden rule, obey the ten commandments, read the bible more, pray more, attend church more and a various number of other things.

Of course we know that we cannot earn our salvation through works, so we need to think about what our motivation is for the things we do.

Many people emphasize good works and doing things for God because they feel they need to be doing something for God. Some feel we owe God for the gift of salvation, while others are trying to earn their salvation by their works.

There is nothing wrong with good works, as long as we are doing them out of love and by God’s strength and guidance.

Good works will be a natural way of life when we focus on Christ and allow him to do the works through us by his Spirit.

The problem is many people do good works out of a feeling of guilt, or necessity, or trying to pay God back for His gift of salvation. They think their good works will earn them salvation.

First, we need to realize that good works will not earn us more of God’s love, and not doing good works will not take away from God’s love. God loves us no matter what we do. Obviously, we want to do things that please God, but His love for us does not change no matter what. He has given us the gift of salvation because of His love for us.

Next, we cannot do good works in our own strength. It is by His love, strength and guidance that good works happen naturally. When motivated by love for God, and allowing Him to love through us, the good works done will be what is needed at the moment for the person receiving the benefit.

So we see in this that the motivation for good works is important. Are we doing these things because we feel obligated and should be doing something for God? Or are we resting in what He has done and allowing Him to love through us.

Stop trying to be so busy for God; rest in His love; wait for his moving and strength. Then allow Him to touch those you come in contact with throughout the day.