April 24, 2008
We went on a family picnic yesterday. I came home a little early. We decided to take the kids out for some exquisite cuisine (McDonald’s), and went to the park to eat dinner. It was a beautiful day and the best hour of my week. The kids laughed and played, I did a few underdogs for the kids on the swings (or is it under-ducks?). Our one year old son fell down the curly slide backwards banging against the walls the entire way, but overall it was a refreshing time. Becky and I talked afterwards, that it was just nice to be together, to laugh, and enjoy the kids.
Do you need some refreshment? Some time to get away and be renewed? It’s discipline, but I’ve been striving to spend time praying and reading the Bible before I do anything else in the morning, before I check email, before I roll up my sleeves and get to work. I also am trying to read a Psalm just before I dose off to sleep at night. Our family has been memorizing Scripture together (I can’t believe that the kids can memorize better than me!). What I’m learning is that discipline brings refreshment. We tend to think the opposite, that if I do what I want, when I want, I’ll get what I want and be happy. But what I find is that we can easily get burned out and discouraged. God honors discipline and discipline helps us with boundaries and boundaries help us say “no” and saying “no” helps us to be more refreshed because we free up more time to be with the ultimate Refresher, Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “…Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls (Matthew 11:29).
So I’ve been thinking, how can I implement better discipline in my life? I don’t know about you, but I need more times of refreshment throughout the week. I want to be a better husband, father, pastor, friend, etc. And more focused discipline helps me to experience that. Give it a shot, see what happens, then email me and let me know how it works!