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July 21, 2022
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Greetings from your friends at Pastoral Care
Inc.
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Pastors absolutely need periodic rest and relaxation.
Children love their
summer escape from school. Teachers are also enjoying a well-deserved break. Families are off on vacation trips and weekend getaways.
Everybody needs
occasional rest. Even God rested on the seventh day.
Pastors
need rest, too.
Periodic rest is
vital for mental health. Rest increases our concentration and memory, reduces our stress, and improves our mood. It also contributes to a healthier immune system and to better
metabolism.
Why is rest so
important for pastors?
The work of a pastor
is so often full (cluttered?) with things we “have to” do, that it becomes easy to lose sight of the things we are called to do.
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Consider Jesus
Jesus was bombarded
with demands on His time: People seeking healings, people asking questions, people challenging His authority, people eager to follow Him. Jesus cared greatly about people; He was a true servant of
others. But Jesus always kept focused on His No. 1 priority: to do what God was calling Him to do.
“My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” (John 4:34)
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To keep His
priorities straight and to maintain sound physical and mental health, Jesus set boundaries around His time. Consider the time Jesus took a nap during a storm.
“When evening
came, [Jesus] said to His disciples, ‘Let us go over to the other side.’
Leaving
the crowd behind, they took Him along, just as He was, in the boat. ...
A furious
squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion.
The disciples
woke Him and said to Him, ‘Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?’
Jesus
got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to His disciples, ‘Why are you so afraid? Do you still have
no faith?’
(Mark
4:35-40)
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Learning From His
Example
What can we learn from Jesus’ example?
1. Jesus worked very hard. Jesus had spent the entire day healing, casting out demons, preaching, training. At the end of the day, He was so
exhausted that He was able to sleep -- in a boat -- at sea -- during a storm.
2. Jesus left the crowds behind. For a pastor, there is always more work to be done. There are always more people in need. Jesus saw the crowd. Jesus knew more people needed to
be healed, more demons needed to be cast out, and more lessons needed to be taught.
But at the end of the day, Jesus had to stop and get some rest. “Leaving the crowds behind,” they climbed into the boat.
3. Jesus delegated. Jesus was always the smartest, most capable person in the room. It would have been easy for Jesus to insist on being in control of every situation. But in
that boat that evening, He trusted His disciples to take charge. They could handle the voyage without His micromanagement. Jesus left it in their hands and laid down to take a nap.
4. Jesus rested. That’s right, Jesus took a nap. Jesus could have used that time in the boat to teach His disciples. To think about His next sermon. To pray. To meditate on
God’s Word. Instead, Jesus took a nap.
Pastor, do you feel guilty when you take some time to rest and relax? Jesus didn’t. Jesus knew the importance of rest. He understood that we have more energy and are more effective when we are
rested. We can only give from what we have.
Important Ways for Pastors to Rest
Here are some important ways for pastors to add rest and relaxation into our busy lives.
1. Take tme alone with God each day. When He was tired of people, when his ministry was heavy, before he made big decisions -- Jesus took time alone with God.
We must stay connected to God through prayer and Scripture. We must add into our lives what is important for the well-being of our soul. There is no right or wrong way to spend time
alone with God, but it should not be rushed. It should be intentional, purposeful, and meaningful.
2. Take time connecting with others. We must be intentional about quality time with our spouse, our children, our close friends or it will never happen. It is so easy for
pastors to allow our work for the Lord to keep us from meaningfully connecting with those we love. Is that really what God wants us to do?
3. Tale time taking care of yourself. You may find it hard to grant yourself permission to take care of you, because your church, your family, and your
community need so much from you. But what they need most is for you to be who God created you to be. God does not want you
to be overstressed, worn out, or over-busy.
Pastor, remember what Jesus promised.
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am
gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matt 11:28-29)
Pastor, how can you help others find what you have not yet found for yourself? Pastors need to rest, too! That’s what Jesus wants for you.
~ ~ ~ ~
Pastoral Care Inc. loves to help pastors and their families get away for much-needed rest. We have many caregiver partners ready to serve pastors with discounts and
special accommodations.
If you would like us to help you have a getaway, give us a call. Call or email Pastoral Care Inc., 918-758-4147, jfuller@pastoralcareinc.org.
Pastor, thank you for all you do in the Kingdom of God. You are not alone! We are much better together! We at Pastoral Care Inc. love you and are here for you.
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Our June Pastors Retreat at Branson,
Missouri
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Want the Pastoral Care Mobile App? Here's
How!
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Want the Pastoral Care Inc. mobile app? Get the latest Pastoral Care news and announcements, videos, upcoming events, donate to
our ministry, or contact us. Here's how:
1. The Pastoral Care mobile app is provided by "Church by Ministry One." Scan the QR code above or click on this link: Pastoral Care Mobile App .
2. When the "Church at Ministry One" page opens, click on "Open Website." (If you see ads for other sites, just ignore them).
3. Click on the
Apple App Store button or Google Play button. Install the app and open it up.
4. An icon will be
placed on your device: a purple button with a white cross in the middle with the word "Church" below. When you click on that icon, it will take you directly to the Pastoral Care Mobile
App.
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Pastoral Care Inc.
supporting and strengthening pastors
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| Executive Director |
| Jim Fuller |
| jfuller@pastoralcareinc.org |
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| Communications Director |
| Terry Hull |
| terry.hull@pastoralcareinc.com |
Our mission: Pastoral Care
Inc. supports and strengthens Christian ministers nationwide from all denominations through counseling, immediate caregiving assistance and education, as well as researching the underlying
stressors associated with ministry.
Call us. Email us. Pastor, if you need someone to talk to, Pastoral Care Inc. is always just
a phone call or email away. That’s why we are here!
Pastor, you are
very important in the Kingdom of God -- and you are important to us!
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The PCI App
Get it for your Android smartphone or
iPhone
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* Full list of Pastoral Care services for pastors and churches
* Request form for pastors to seek immediate help
* More info about Pastoral Care Inc.
* Videos for pastors, churches and denominations
For more info on how to get the Pastoral Care mobile app, see the detailed instructions above.
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Help Us Help
Pastors
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Every month Pastoral Care provides encouragement, assistance, vacation get-a-ways, and many other forms of help to pastors across the country. It is our continuing prayer to
expand our outreach to pastors and their families.
The need is so great! Will you become our partner in encouraging pastors? Will you send a financial gift to make our present and future ministry to ministers
possible?
Please say “Yes” by responding in one of these ways:
* Use our Online Donation
Form.
* Send your gift to: Pastoral Care Inc., 13455 Celia Berryhill Road, Okmulgee, OK74447.
Thank you for partnering with us in
ministering to our nation’s pastors, their families and the congregations they serve!
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