“SPRING-BREAK”

“SPRING-BREAK”

Monday, April 18th, 2022

SCRIPTURE:

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. – Isaiah 35:1

Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge Him. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth. – Hosea 6:3

11 See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. 12 Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. 13 The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me.” – Song of Songs 2:11-13

THOUGHTS TO PONDER:

This week my wife and daughter are on spring break from school. Thankfully the school where my wife teaches and where my daughter attends have spring break the week AFTER Easter. In some communities where we’ve lived, spring break was the week BEFORE Easter. When spring break falls as the same week as Holy Week, it makes it quite the challenge to have some family together or to go anywhere, as I am typically leading multiple services that week and have a handful of church related activities. To say the least, we have to be intentional as a family about planning way ahead of time depending on whether or not spring break and Holy Week line up during the same week or not. And Lord knows, that after a busy Lenten season, and an even busier Holy Week, we love it when the kids spring break falls the week AFTER Easter. It’s great to have a break right after Easter before the spring season of ministry programming begins.

FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:

When I think of Spring Break, I typically think of going to the beach with the family for a week when the kids are out of school. However, when I think of the word “SPRING” I think of flowers, blooms, the beauty of the season, and new growth. And when I think of the word “BREAK”, I can’t help but to think of catching my breath, stepping back or away from my responsibilities, and rest and renewal. So when we put these two words together, “Spring-Break”, might we be encouraged to think of stepping away from our day-to-day responsibilities for rest and renewal, and doing so with the intention of new growth, growing closer in our relationship with Christ and with our family.

How about you? Whether you have children, are an empty nester, or don’t have children at all, how might you be intentional about planning to have a break for yourself following a busy Easter, Holy Week, and Lenten season? Will it be this week or next? or even sometime over the summer? And when you do engage in such a break whether by yourself or with your family, how might you invite Christ to be a part of such a break?

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, thank you for blessed gift of Your Son Jesus, for the forgiveness of my sins, and the truth that You conquered sin and death by rising from the dead on that Easter Sunday long ago. Thank You for the privilege of serving You in Your Church during the season of Lent, and Holy Week, and now Easter. Lord, I confess that often times I get tired planning and preparing and participating in such wonderful worship services together for such a special and blessed time and season. This week, O Lord, show me ways in which I might rest in You more fully. Whether it be a break this spring, or later this summer, reveal to me the appropriate times I might be able to break away from my day-to-day responsibilities to simply rest in Your Divine love for me. And every day, help me to make You more of a priority in my own personal life as You have called me to serve others in a myriad of ways. I humbly offer this prayer in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. – Amen

RESOURCE & APPLICATION:

If you plan on breaking away somewhere this spring, consider the following:

• Pack your bible, and a journal, and allow yourself time to read through your journal reflecting on God’s work in and through you and your ministry.

• Find a Christian bookstore and allow yourself the time to peruse the resources.

• Visit another church during the week, walking into a quiet sanctuary for prayer and contemplation.

• Better yet, consider visiting another local Church on a Sunday morning. It’s wonderful to see the different places Christians worship, to hear sermons from clergy colleagues in other ministerial settings.