Taking A Nap – Finding Rest

Psalm 121:1-2

I lift up my eyes to the hills — where does my help come from?  My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

The Major League Baseball season is in full swing. We just passed the All-Star game. What team are you rooting for to win it all? I’m rooting for the Houston Astros and the LA Dodgers to meet in the World Series and for the Astros to win it all.

I wish it was the Orioles playing for the World Series – but they are aiming to qualify for the number 1 draft choice in next year’s amateur draft for the second straight year. I am an O’s fan and always will be – even during hard years. I suffered through 14 straight losing seasons several seasons ago. We’re tired – already – of this losing skid and want changes. We hope the changes that are coming will help us win again. But this is not real life! It is a game! (As I type this devotional they have a perfect game against them thru 8 innings – not good.)

Where do you go when you are tired and exhausted in real life? When you need rest – where do you turn? I had a busy week last week with VBS and needing help in the office. Besides working over 70 plus hours – I’ve walked several miles each day. I’ve only gotten about 5-6 hours of sleep each night (one night only 3) and according to my new watch – that sleep hasn’t always been sound. I could use a nap! Taking a nap seemed like a punishment as a child. As an adult it is something I look forward to taking! Who agrees with me? 😇💤

Being Perfect In Christ

Matthew 5:48

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Be perfect! I have a friend who has bowled several 300 games in ten pins. That would be 12 strikes in a row. That is perfect – for one game.

Be perfect! I was playing in a golf tournament with a late friend and he hit a ball on a par three that took two hops and went right into the hole. That was an ace – a hole-in-one – perfect for one hole.

Be perfect! I know a number of musicians – from when I was in band through the young people at our church – who received perfect scores at various events. They were perfect for that one performance – hitting every note and doing so with style!

Be perfect! People spend a lot of time trying to be perfect in something. Maybe you have spent hours trying to get your hair just right or to put together the perfect outfit combination. Have any of my colleagues spent hours on a sermon – trying to find the perfect illustration. I wonder how many of us have tried to be perfect at something in our lives?