You get the picture, right? Those thoughts, questions and pressures are endless and oftentimes overwhelming. BUT, God’s desire is to lead us into moments of peace and restoration. Into places that calm our soul and help us to once again see clearly in life.  So, the questions that need to be asked would be:  What restores your soul? And, When was the last time you did that?

It may be a hobby like fly fishing or golf, taking a road trip on a bike through the mountains or getting to your favorite salon to spend the gift card you were given. Whatever it is, I want to challenge you to make time for it…again…as soon as possible. Because we need you to be healthy! Your family needs the best version of yourself that you can give! Your peers need you, too. Let God lead you into your unique steps of restoration this week so that peace finds prominence in your life again.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]Man, this life can dump a heap of mental torment on you! Anxious thoughts of what may or may not happen in the future, and what you may or may not be able to do to change the outcome. We are bombarded with questions like…Do you have that report ready? How will the bills get paid? Can we afford little Susie’s braces? Will you ever get married? Do I make enough? Are they really my friends? Is my life significant????

You get the picture, right? Those thoughts, questions and pressures are endless and oftentimes overwhelming. BUT, God’s desire is to lead us into moments of peace and restoration. Into places that calm our soul and help us to once again see clearly in life.  So, the questions that need to be asked would be:  What restores your soul? And, When was the last time you did that?

It may be a hobby like fly fishing or golf, taking a road trip on a bike through the mountains or getting to your favorite salon to spend the gift card you were given. Whatever it is, I want to challenge you to make time for it…again…as soon as possible. Because we need you to be healthy! Your family needs the best version of yourself that you can give! Your peers need you, too. Let God lead you into your unique steps of restoration this week so that peace finds prominence in your life again.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]“Sheep can get their head caught in briers and die trying to get untangled. There are horrid little flies that like to torment sheep by laying eggs in their nostrils which turn into worms and drive the sheep to beat their head against a rock, sometimes to death. Their ears and eyes are also susceptible to tormenting insects. So the shepherd anoints their whole head with oil. Then there is peace. That oil forms a barrier of protection against the evil that tries to destroy the sheep.”

Man, this life can dump a heap of mental torment on you! Anxious thoughts of what may or may not happen in the future, and what you may or may not be able to do to change the outcome. We are bombarded with questions like…Do you have that report ready? How will the bills get paid? Can we afford little Susie’s braces? Will you ever get married? Do I make enough? Are they really my friends? Is my life significant????

You get the picture, right? Those thoughts, questions and pressures are endless and oftentimes overwhelming. BUT, God’s desire is to lead us into moments of peace and restoration. Into places that calm our soul and help us to once again see clearly in life.  So, the questions that need to be asked would be:  What restores your soul? And, When was the last time you did that?

It may be a hobby like fly fishing or golf, taking a road trip on a bike through the mountains or getting to your favorite salon to spend the gift card you were given. Whatever it is, I want to challenge you to make time for it…again…as soon as possible. Because we need you to be healthy! Your family needs the best version of yourself that you can give! Your peers need you, too. Let God lead you into your unique steps of restoration this week so that peace finds prominence in your life again.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]In one of the most well known psalms of King David, he begins these thoughts on God’s relationship to ourselves as one of a shepherd to sheep. It goes on with this illustration to say that God “anoints my head with oil” a few verses later which sounds very strange unless you understand more about sheep. I found this description one day in study…still do not know the author, but wanted to share it here…

“Sheep can get their head caught in briers and die trying to get untangled. There are horrid little flies that like to torment sheep by laying eggs in their nostrils which turn into worms and drive the sheep to beat their head against a rock, sometimes to death. Their ears and eyes are also susceptible to tormenting insects. So the shepherd anoints their whole head with oil. Then there is peace. That oil forms a barrier of protection against the evil that tries to destroy the sheep.”

Man, this life can dump a heap of mental torment on you! Anxious thoughts of what may or may not happen in the future, and what you may or may not be able to do to change the outcome. We are bombarded with questions like…Do you have that report ready? How will the bills get paid? Can we afford little Susie’s braces? Will you ever get married? Do I make enough? Are they really my friends? Is my life significant????

You get the picture, right? Those thoughts, questions and pressures are endless and oftentimes overwhelming. BUT, God’s desire is to lead us into moments of peace and restoration. Into places that calm our soul and help us to once again see clearly in life.  So, the questions that need to be asked would be:  What restores your soul? And, When was the last time you did that?

It may be a hobby like fly fishing or golf, taking a road trip on a bike through the mountains or getting to your favorite salon to spend the gift card you were given. Whatever it is, I want to challenge you to make time for it…again…as soon as possible. Because we need you to be healthy! Your family needs the best version of yourself that you can give! Your peers need you, too. Let God lead you into your unique steps of restoration this week so that peace finds prominence in your life again.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]This past month I had the pleasure of spending four days at a pastor’s retreat on John’s Island outside of Charleston, South Carolina. I can’t say enough about the leadership and staff at the Retreat at Church Creek, but they definitely went above and beyond to make our experience there exceptional!  From stocked bass ponds, pool table, fire pits and golf carts to tool around the sixty plus acres, we were never at want for something to do. I had the first time thrill of catching sharks in the salt water of the Wadmalaw River with some amazing men whom now have become dear friends. While there, I had an abundance of delicious food, life-giving conversations and chose to  immerse myself in lounging in hammocks and reading books, both of which brought restorative peace to my soul.

In one of the most well known psalms of King David, he begins these thoughts on God’s relationship to ourselves as one of a shepherd to sheep. It goes on with this illustration to say that God “anoints my head with oil” a few verses later which sounds very strange unless you understand more about sheep. I found this description one day in study…still do not know the author, but wanted to share it here…

“Sheep can get their head caught in briers and die trying to get untangled. There are horrid little flies that like to torment sheep by laying eggs in their nostrils which turn into worms and drive the sheep to beat their head against a rock, sometimes to death. Their ears and eyes are also susceptible to tormenting insects. So the shepherd anoints their whole head with oil. Then there is peace. That oil forms a barrier of protection against the evil that tries to destroy the sheep.”

Man, this life can dump a heap of mental torment on you! Anxious thoughts of what may or may not happen in the future, and what you may or may not be able to do to change the outcome. We are bombarded with questions like…Do you have that report ready? How will the bills get paid? Can we afford little Susie’s braces? Will you ever get married? Do I make enough? Are they really my friends? Is my life significant????

You get the picture, right? Those thoughts, questions and pressures are endless and oftentimes overwhelming. BUT, God’s desire is to lead us into moments of peace and restoration. Into places that calm our soul and help us to once again see clearly in life.  So, the questions that need to be asked would be:  What restores your soul? And, When was the last time you did that?

It may be a hobby like fly fishing or golf, taking a road trip on a bike through the mountains or getting to your favorite salon to spend the gift card you were given. Whatever it is, I want to challenge you to make time for it…again…as soon as possible. Because we need you to be healthy! Your family needs the best version of yourself that you can give! Your peers need you, too. Let God lead you into your unique steps of restoration this week so that peace finds prominence in your life again.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]Psalm 23:1-3 “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”

This past month I had the pleasure of spending four days at a pastor’s retreat on John’s Island outside of Charleston, South Carolina. I can’t say enough about the leadership and staff at the Retreat at Church Creek, but they definitely went above and beyond to make our experience there exceptional!  From stocked bass ponds, pool table, fire pits and golf carts to tool around the sixty plus acres, we were never at want for something to do. I had the first time thrill of catching sharks in the salt water of the Wadmalaw River with some amazing men whom now have become dear friends. While there, I had an abundance of delicious food, life-giving conversations and chose to  immerse myself in lounging in hammocks and reading books, both of which brought restorative peace to my soul.

In one of the most well known psalms of King David, he begins these thoughts on God’s relationship to ourselves as one of a shepherd to sheep. It goes on with this illustration to say that God “anoints my head with oil” a few verses later which sounds very strange unless you understand more about sheep. I found this description one day in study…still do not know the author, but wanted to share it here…

“Sheep can get their head caught in briers and die trying to get untangled. There are horrid little flies that like to torment sheep by laying eggs in their nostrils which turn into worms and drive the sheep to beat their head against a rock, sometimes to death. Their ears and eyes are also susceptible to tormenting insects. So the shepherd anoints their whole head with oil. Then there is peace. That oil forms a barrier of protection against the evil that tries to destroy the sheep.”

Man, this life can dump a heap of mental torment on you! Anxious thoughts of what may or may not happen in the future, and what you may or may not be able to do to change the outcome. We are bombarded with questions like…Do you have that report ready? How will the bills get paid? Can we afford little Susie’s braces? Will you ever get married? Do I make enough? Are they really my friends? Is my life significant????

You get the picture, right? Those thoughts, questions and pressures are endless and oftentimes overwhelming. BUT, God’s desire is to lead us into moments of peace and restoration. Into places that calm our soul and help us to once again see clearly in life.  So, the questions that need to be asked would be:  What restores your soul? And, When was the last time you did that?

It may be a hobby like fly fishing or golf, taking a road trip on a bike through the mountains or getting to your favorite salon to spend the gift card you were given. Whatever it is, I want to challenge you to make time for it…again…as soon as possible. Because we need you to be healthy! Your family needs the best version of yourself that you can give! Your peers need you, too. Let God lead you into your unique steps of restoration this week so that peace finds prominence in your life again.

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