Stephanie Shott

These days, it seems as though my life is a whirlwhind of constant activity. Caring for my ill and aging parents, organizing the Ignite Pastors' Conference, making travel plans for the team, preparing to speak at the conference, being a wife and mother, trying to find time to spend with the new grandgirl, taking care of my home...oh, and let's not forget the 9 to 5 job.

With everything going on, my mind is stuck in overdrive and my body is stuck in neutral. As my daddy used to say, "My get up and go done got up and went." My plate runneth over.

Many of you can relate. I'm not the only one running on overload. I'm not alone on the road of the "walking weary." In fact, just the other day I was faced with a straw situation and felt as though one more adverse circumstance was going to be the one that would brake this camel's back and I found myself crying out to God..."I'm so tired, Lord...I'm so weary!"

It wasn't long before I was gently reminded to "come unto Him" because I was definitely heavy laden. I definitely needed rest.

But what does that verse actually mean? Notice the commands in the Message version, "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

Some of us are very tired and completely worn out...we need rest. But finding rest requires that we "come unto the Lord...get away with Him...walk with Him, work with Him, watch Him and learn from Him."

When life has us frazzled and our busy lives overshadow our relationship with the Living God, maybe we need to take a Jesus Retreat and curl up under the shadow of the Almighty. There, we will find rest for our souls and protection from the battle that rages on around us. There, we can open our mouths wide and be filled. Under the shadow of His wings, we can find warmth, comfort and healing. Our strength can be renewed, our hearts can be refreshed and we will understand what it means to "come unto Him."

This weekend, I'm going to take a Jesus Retreat. It may only be for a few hours, but I desperately need to "come unto Him...to place my yoke upon Him...to curl up under the shadow of the Almighty." There, I will find rest. You will too.

You may be in a place in your life where you know you need to be still and know that He is God. You may just need a Jesus Retreat of your own. If you decide to take a Jesus Retreat, please come back and post a comment sharing how the Lord worked in your life. I'd love to hear from you.

I was recently talking with my 22 year old son about twittering and I began to wonder if Paul would have had a Twitter account and if so, whom would he be following and who would be following him.  

Someone recently asked me how and why I began writing. It wasn't something I had ever thought about before. When I was a child I loved to write. It often replaced my fumbling efforts at making sense of my own thoughts. Words always seemed to sound better after the ink dried. Those who know me may be surpised to learn that I wasn't always a talker. :-)

My teenage years kept me way too busy to even think about writing and so I had to master the illusive art of communication. Or at least attempt to do so. I have never really been a reader either. It was too hard for me to sit still long enough to finish a book. I wasn't someone who loved to read...not until I received Christ. That was when everything changed.

Reading became essential. I began to study God's Word. I then began speaking and teaching, which proved to be something I must do because it is who I am. As Eric Liddell once said, "when I run I feel His pleasure." When I speak and teach, I feel His pleasure!

Writing, however, reemerged somewhere between God’s call on my life to teach His Word and His call for us to become missionaries. In my attempt to find clarity in an obscure place in my life, the words found their way onto the pages of my first book. It wasn't planned. I actually thought it was another Bible study or speaking topic. Possibly a workbook for those I would teach. But God opened doors I never thought possible and my first book was accepted by the first publisher I sent it to and is coming out next year. To God be the glory!

Unlike most writers, I'm not really a reader, I'm a studier. Writing has somehow inched its way to the surface of my life and has become something I must do. I'm not sure that it has become who I am, like speaking and teaching are, but I'm finding that I must write.

I have no idea where this new adventure in writing will lead, I only know that knowing Jesus and making Him known are the desires of my heart and I am willing to walk down any path my Savior places me on.

Delight Yourself in the Lord