"It is good to have retreat and sabbatical leave for a while from your ministry". "You need rest a while from ministry. You had been involve in this ministry for many years, and you had not rest". "Personal sabbatical leave or retreat or rest is good to reflect back your own life, or to reflect what you had been through; but the most important is that your get to put back yourself to the track and listen to God". Those are the word that come from few friends for me when i told them that i need a break or rest a while from the ministry i involve in. Many things happen, many i'd been through and many people effected surround me.
When i read the book, "Soul Survivor" the author explain more details on how Paul's ministry and what Paul had been through. At the same time, my daily reading and devotion is from 2 Corinth 11-12 (today). Imagine in 2 Corinth 11:25 Three times I was beaten with a stick, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, and I drifted on the sea for a day and a night. Who could probably want to survive that? Who could probably says..ahh...i won't care though my life put in danger for many times. Not only shipwreck, image that Paul had been beaten by Jews, put to jail, robbers and many more..even a false brothers! (read verse 26). When we think of our life, our answer could be... "i won't go there anymore, I won't care about those people anymore. There is no hospitality, no security provide for me, there is no good infrastructure such as transportation and shipping for apostle, preacher, and prophet like me. I won't go there anymore".
That could probably our answer! Even in Sarawak newspaper, Borneo Post; there is a news about airplane skidded in Kuching scare many people. Some already blame and pointing to who should be responsible. Some start to stop their travelling plan and journey which involve airplane. In the news, some even cry due to the skidded airplane, and four injured (a small injury) out of 100 passengers (according to the news).
But different for Paul. He even will go for another third or fourth times! This is because of his Love for the people and because of his calling by God!
2 Cor 12:9 but he has told me, "My grace is all you need, for my power is perfected in weakness." As i continue my reading this morning to the next chapter, Paul wrote and remind us that when we feel weak, when we feel down, when we rejected, when we encounter danger, when we face problems, when we put out life inline, when we put to jail, when we feel we are not strong enough; God's grace is all what we need. God's grace is sufficient for us. Because in His grace, His power is perfected in all our weakness. That is what i feel! "When we feel we are weak both spiritually or emotionally, though we are down because people reject or don't like us, and even if we fight with others, we can't continue to dwell in the situation". This is word come from my close one for me. Ya..correct! We will forever down and can't go on if we continue to be in the situation.
That is what i did. when i retreat, when i rest, and when i have my sabbatical leave; i will still look for God, rest in Him, listen and wait upon Him. Read His word, prayer everyday and continue to motivate myself through talking with friends, Pastor, books and listening to preaching, worship songs and Christian movie.
So friends and mates, though i feel you are the worst, you are rejected and you are hopeless. Remmember, there is few people already been through that situation. Paul did, I did, and so many more others did. Even, Jesus did feel rejected by His own people in Nazareth, all the way to Calvary, and Jesus been disown by His own disciple.
"Focus to Jesus. Focus to Heaven. We all will soon go to heaven. Why think so much of earthly things that distract our attention from God? Focus and see Jesus." A word from my friend to me and to us all. Jesus surely will take care of our problem. Cos He interested in our problems, He interested in our issues, and He even interested in our weakness.
Again, if we take the sabbatical leave, rest or even personal retreat positively; it will help you. As long as during our retreat and rest find God, meditate on Him and wait upon Him!
**By the way..people in my office still worry of the airplane thing and still talk about it** :-)
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