"You restore my soul...Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while" (Psalm 23:3; Mark 6:31)

​     I wonder why those words of this Sunday's Scripture readings stood out for me?
Could it be because I'm going on a vacation tomorrow?!  My wife and I are looking forward to spending some time traveling to see three of my siblings, and then a few days at Lake Geneva :)
     The places we're going will not really be "a deserted place".  I'm sure I'll be talking and listening a lot as we share updates with our relatives.  And I haven't been to Lake Geneva yet, but from what I hear, no one is describing it as "a deserted place".  
     Nevertheless, I know that Sandra and I will have plenty of time with just each other, as we take walks together around the lake, and enjoy some good food and drinks,  read some good books, and celebrate 40 years of marriage (almost...8/12/84)
     We all need times of rest and recreation.  Whether it is a vacation, weekend, a day off, or even a good night's sleep....our bodies, minds and souls, need to occasionally rest and be restored.
     The Scriptures teach us this important lesson:  from the creation account that ends with "God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done" (Genesis 2:2), to the Sabbath day that God sets up for us in Exodus 20, to the Lord as our Shepherd, restoring our souls, and leading his disciples to a quiet place for rest, to Jesus' words in Matthew 11:28, "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and i will give you rest."
    Did you catch a common denominator in those readings of Scripture?  God is present and active in all of them.  And so God is the source of our rest and restoration.  
    Be assured:  I won't leave God when I go on this vacation.  (And neither will you when you take any time off).  For our Lord and Savior will be with us always!  With His grace and love and comfort and hope and peace that He will always be giving.
(I just won't be preparing blogs, devotions, book studies, sermons, etc. for a few days :)

God's peace,

Pastor Steve