Last summer our youth group leaders took a month off by rotation hoping to help them find rest and renew their passion to minister on a regular basis. A Children’s ministry husband and wife volunteer team who had been teaching for 15 years decided two years ago to take the summer off. It was without regret that they decided it gave them the oomph and rest needed to return for another 3 quarters of ministry. Are we missing something by requiring our teams to keep at full steam ahead while the rest of the world is slowing down?

I was sitting in church the other day when the Lord seemed to tap me on the shoulder and tell me He wanted to tell me something. I got my journal and pen right away. What He said was profound and I am working on applying it to various areas of my life. He said, “Like the waters at an ocean beach, the tide comes in and the tide goes out. When the water is high at the beach, it’s tough to keep your balance and hold onto all that is in your arms. When the water is at your ankles while standing on the beach, what you have in your arms seem so manageable; that you add more to what you already have. You THINK you have it under control until the water comes back to your waist and the waves keep beating against what you.” He continued to speak, “Instead of adding more when the tide is out, it is a time to rest and recoup and reorganize because the tide IS coming in again.”