Beloved Friends in Christ,

It's not summer yet, but the last few days have sure felt like it. Soon it will be vacation time, and that will bring an opportunity to unwind and relax. We need time to rest from our regular routines. Moreover, our Father in heaven is pleased when we do so; for in taking time to rest, we are both following God's advice and obeying His command.

During old testament times, God so wanted His people to rest regularly that He instituted yearly holidays (holy days). These holy days included the week long celebrations of the Feast of Tabernacles and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. In addition, God gave the Jewish people the Sabbath-a weekly day of rest. While others in many of the surrounding nations worked day in and out, God's people were given time to rest.

Thanks to God, today we also have also been blessed with time off to rest. In fact, on average, we have more leisure time than any other people at any other time in history.

But are we using our leisure time well? Are we using it to rest? This is, after all, God's reason for giving us time off. It is God's hope that all people use their holiday time to rest their bodies and their spirits. Sadly, while we Christians are generally good at taking time to rest our bodies, many of us are not as good at resting our spirits. In fact, many Christians actually spend less time refreshing their spirits during holiday time.

Instead, we fill our holidays with sights to see and things to do. Sometimes we even find ourselves frustrated and more tired at the end of the holidays than at the beginning. We need a vacation from our holidays. We plain and simple need a rest.

This summer, give yourself a rest. Use your holidays (holy days) as they were meant to be used. Use them for bodily and spiritual rest and relaxation. Keep your holidays holy, that is, keep them special. Take your bible along on vacation, and don't forget to read it each day. And remember to take time to worship your Lord with other Christians wherever you are. Then, when you come back, you will not be spiritually drained; you will be refreshed.

May this summer be a happy one for you!

In His service,

Pastor Richard A. Frey