Short Cut  Can  Be the 
Long Cut

(When we are "wiped out" by
aggravations that are minor compared to 
major
 challenges, they  
still need to be handled God's way...
or it can greatly affect our witness )  


 

DO YOU NEED REFRESHMENT?
...I sure did!

Rarely do I get physically tired
for an extended period of time...but this week I got exceptionally TIRED...
because I took the short cut
not the long cut!

MY WEEK INCLUDED:


 
 
Lots of WB ministry including daily personal witnessing in the Atlanta area...very normal

Writing the WB national weekly newsletter for release on Wednesday at 6am...very normal for the past 8 years...430+ unique witness encouragements

Recent weekend travel to Alabama to see our daughter Trinda and our grandchildren...very normal but varies

Local travel to see our daughter Trisha and her family in Atlanta...very normal but varies

Travel to see and tour 2 different college campuses with Mary Brennan our Alabama High School Senior (AL)...visited 2 different schools over the weekend including Saturday and Monday tours...a privilege and thoroughly enjoyable, but not normal





 A MAJOR TRAVEL MISTAKE ON MY PART...
and it totally drained me to the point of being extra 
TIRED for a few days...not normal!

LEARN FROM MY MISTAKE...
a minor challenge in my life

After going to 2 different college campuses in South Alabama and North Alabama...
Last Monday when we finished with the North Alabama tour 
we left from the Florence, AL area and plugged into our GPS our home address in the Atlanta area...it was approximately 240 miles and we traveled mostly in the dark on unfamiliar roads

For approximately 200 miles of the trip it was 2 lane highway with only with a yellow line in the middle separating us from the oncoming traffic...lots of trucks too...at one stretch for more than 50 miles we were  behind an 18 wheeler that maxed out at 45 mph

Most of the 200 miles the speed limit was 45-55 and by the time we got home after the 4+ hours of driving....due to the TENSION in the drive...I was drained and wiped out.. .and as a result unusually TIRED...and then next day immediately I returned to my normal meetings and lots of local travel  Tuesday through  Friday

... Friday I was involved with 2 different ministries in mid Atlanta and near Athens GA...leaving the house at  5:40 am and returning at  5:30 pm...having driven over 200 miles...running late to our couples small group dinner and Bible study

Saturday I attended our church men's fellowship breakfast, played golf and rushed home to get ready for a very special group of friends we were hosting for dinner and fellowship




MY ADVICE...
to me and you, 
going back to the "wipe out" drive...
(again,  
a minor challenge and aggravation in life)

I have never driven those roads before in 
Alabama to Georgia 
but next time when traveling unfamiliar roads at night anywhere 
(or any time), even if it's longer, 
I will make sure to use divided highways...
versus the shorter distance -2 lane roads




THE GOOD NEWS...REMEDY


THE SHORTCUT CAN BE THE LONG CUT...
and very draining...
but the 
GOOD NEWS 
the remedy can be very 
SIMPLE and REWARDING!!

There are many possible spiritual applications to this topic of 
THE SHORT CUT CAN BE THE LONG CUT...


...but for me it boils down to a need for a 
"DAY OF REST" because it was very much needed...
God knew we needed REST!




EXODUS 20:8-11
 

"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.


THE BENEFITS of a DAY of REST...

-a time to give the body rest, clear your head and get refreshed
-reset and access priorities 
-catch up with people via text, email and or phone
-the RESULT...draw closer to Jesus


THE "WITNESS" BENEFIT...of having a day of "REST"


A Chinese Young Woman

...I have more witness vigor...I am looking for His open doors to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the immediate days ahead
...as I write this, a few hours ago I had the privilege of sharing my faith with a young lady in her late 20s from China...she is now proudly wearing a wristband...she doesn't have faith in Christ yet...but what a privilege to share my testimony guided by the words ....I AM A SINNER, JESUS CHRIST IS MY SAVIOR,  John 3:16 (the words on the wristband..She thought my name was John!)
I had the joy of planting the seeds of the Gospel of 
Jesus Christ..because I recognized that God had opened a door for me...and by His grace I walked into her life with the GOOD NEWS

DO YOU NEED REFRESHMENT? 
Your circumstances may be very different than mine...however in your unique challenges of life be sure to get Godly "REST"...

Do it God's way...
your witness of your faith in Jesus Christ 
will be enhanced greatly...

Ted
EXODUS  20:8-11"...He rested on the 7th day.."



 
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