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Christmas Rest – Now and Forever

Holidays· Playtime & Rest

11 Dec

Sometimes, fellow former procrastinators, we collapse Christmas night, weary and worn, happy the children were happy.  Or, happy we made it through the family dinner or final performances of holiday productions, or happy friends’ parties are over.  We’re bushed and relieved we made it through another Christmas.

We don’t have to wait until it’s all over to experience relief and rest.

Luke 2: 8 has my attention.  “Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.”

Jesus was in the same territory as the shepherds.  He is where we are too.  The shepherds were in the field.  I think of farmers and military also in the field.  Both out doing their jobs where they have to be done because of the nature of their work.  That’s also true of us.  Then, the shepherds were keeping watch over the sheep.  Our shepherd is keeping watch over us.

The sheep did not have to sleep with one eye open.  They didn’t set sheep sentries to keep watch.  The shepherds took care of that job.  The sheep could relax and rest.

This is a busy season for many of us.  Yet we sometimes forget why we’re running around in preparation.  We forget The King of Peace is the object of our celebration.  If we do remember, we delay a peaceful pause to hurry off and do something else.

We can rest because our Shepherd is watching over us. We rest IN Him.  “This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.”  John 3:22.  He has placed us in Him.  Therefore our Father is well pleased with us.  We can rest peacefully.

What moments give your soul rest in this season?  Listening to carols?  Looking at the Christmas tree recalling the occasions you acquired each ornament?  Reading to the children?  Sitting with a cup of coffee before the household is awake?  Unexpected quiet?  My recuperating ankle forces me to stop and sit sometimes.  I’ve decided to be grateful for that.  Forcing myself to rest is good.

When we put off resting we create tension and edginess for ourselves and others.  We set ourselves up for irritability and exhaustion.  We cause our work to be less productive.  Do what needs doing when it needs doing – rest.

Rest acknowledges how God designed us.  It’s part of cooperating with God rather than resisting Him.

We can rest from striving to be good enough so we can be saved for eternity.  We can rest from striving for His love and acceptance here on earth.  We can rest from having to have the perfect tree, meal, cookies, Christmas letter, pageant, and gifts.

Rest brings new perspective.  It brings refreshment of body, mind, and spirit. Rest rejuvenates – restores youth– so we can have childlike enjoyment of the season.

The King of Peace provides rest for eternity and rest for our life in the field.

How can you rest in Him this week?

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BETH STERNE
Welcome! It's great to have you here. I'm a follower of Christ and a learner of new ways. By His grace, I am gaining victory over procrastination. This is where I share struggles I face and lessons I'm learning. Join me and other sisters as we put off procrastination and put on peace.

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“I never saw myself as a procrastinator until her talk – I just thought of myself as productively busy! She helped me to gain new focus on what my priorities really are.”

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“I never saw myself as a procrastinator until her talk – I just thought of myself as productively busy! She helped me to gain new focus on what my priorities really are.”
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"Beth’s procrastination talk led me to understand procrastination as a heart issue in need of God’s restoration not just a change of my ways. Beth’s personal experiences helped me discover practical ways to attack my own procrastination. As a result I have become a more loving wife, mother and friend who is able to use the gifts God has given me more fully. I highly endorse this talk and would love to hear it again and again."

Julia F.

Beth Sterne - Put Off Procrastination
2018-08-16T14:42:31-04:00

Julia F.

"Beth’s procrastination talk led me to understand procrastination as a heart issue in need of God’s restoration not just a change of my ways. Beth’s personal experiences helped me discover practical ways to attack my own procrastination. As a result I have become a more loving wife, mother and friend who is able to use the gifts God has given me more fully. I highly endorse this talk and would love to hear it again and again."
https://putoffprocrastination.com/testimonials/julia-f/
“Beth’s presentation on procrastination was truly eye-opening. I knew I had a problem with procrastination, but never thought twice about how it impacted my relationships and showed God that I wasn’t onboard with His plan. I began to see each instance took away from being fruitful; I was living for myself! After this revelation, I have been working on procrastinating less. I can see places opening up in my life for more peaceful moments, more time with and for friends and family, and more time for God’s plan to unfold. It’s amazing to know there’s more to life for me than a life full of “should haves” as a result of procrastination.”

Carole S.

Beth Sterne - Put Off Procrastination
2018-08-16T14:42:59-04:00

Carole S.

“Beth’s presentation on procrastination was truly eye-opening. I knew I had a problem with procrastination, but never thought twice about how it impacted my relationships and showed God that I wasn’t onboard with His plan. I began to see each instance took away from being fruitful; I was living for myself! After this revelation, I have been working on procrastinating less. I can see places opening up in my life for more peaceful moments, more time with and for friends and family, and more time for God’s plan to unfold. It’s amazing to know there’s more to life for me than a life full of “should haves” as a result of procrastination.”
https://putoffprocrastination.com/testimonials/carole-s/
“After Beth came and shared about procrastination, many realized that it is possible through the Lord's power to stop putting off what God has called us to do. One mother finally started a blog and another posted a ladies; tea for her church months in advance so that ...she would not put off having it. Although I thought I was not someone who procrastinates, I realized I had some relationships that I needed to work on. Procrastination, I learned, is not just about getting things turned in on time, it's about listening to God and doing what He says to do when He tells you to and obeying God's Word.”

Rebecca F.

Beth Sterne - Put Off Procrastination
2018-08-16T14:43:28-04:00

Rebecca F.

“After Beth came and shared about procrastination, many realized that it is possible through the Lord's power to stop putting off what God has called us to do. One mother finally started a blog and another posted a ladies; tea for her church months in advance so that ...she would not put off having it. Although I thought I was not someone who procrastinates, I realized I had some relationships that I needed to work on. Procrastination, I learned, is not just about getting things turned in on time, it's about listening to God and doing what He says to do when He tells you to and obeying God's Word.”
https://putoffprocrastination.com/testimonials/rebecca-f/
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Beth Sterne - Put Off Procrastination
Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise! It has
no commander, no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.
Proverbs 6:6-8
... you have put off the old man with
his deeds, and have put on the new
man who is renewed in knowledge
according to the image of Him who
created him.
Colossians 3:9-10

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