Catch Your Breath

Excerpt from Perry Noble post: Seven Ways to Catch Your Breath

...

#1 – You’ve GOT To Rest…and Make No Apologies For Doing So!

First of all…the LONGEST command (the one God spent the most time explaining) in the ten commandments is the one having to do with rest. God said take a Sabbath…to not do so is a sin!

(AND…you REALLY need to read this post by Clayton as to WHY rest is SO important…SERIOUSLY!!!) (Especially if you are a senior pastor!)

#2 – Find A Hobby!

I am still in the process of doing this…and I know it is necessary. You’ve got to find something you love to do at least a couple of times per week that relaxes your mind. (Watching television is NOT a hobby!) So…hit the golf course, ride a motorcycle or a jeep, play tennis…SOMETHING…but you’ve GOT to find a way to focus on something fun from time to time.

#3 – Get A Journal!

One of the things I do now ANYTIME I am traveling is carry my journal with me…that way when I have a great idea I can write it down (along with all of the thoughts that come with it) and after doing so KNOW that the thought has been captured…then I can proceed to enjoy time with my family because I not trying to remember the idea.

(Let me be clear…I don’t try to DEVELOP the idea…I just write it down…the time for development of it will come later.)

#4 – Have A Date Night With Your Spouse WITHOUT The Telephone!

Let me be clear…no calls, no text messages, no twitters…ANYTHING! Just you and her…in a restaurant (that doesn’t have a value menu) talking about whats going on in your life.

Let me take this a step further…spend time with your family WITHOUT having to have the computer on! The online world will survive without you!

#5 – Take A Season Of Rest Every Year.

Every single year I take at least three weeks in a row off from speaking. (I haven’t always done this…but since I have it has been awesome!) Trust me…it will recharge you like never before. (When you take just one week off you never really shut it down or disconnect…at LEAST try two!)

#6 – Focus on God’s Sovereingty And Not Your Ability.

He loves the church more than you! He said that HE would build the church…which means you don’t have to. AND…if you think you are SO essential to your church that it could not survive without you for a few weeks…then you either suck as a leader OR are struggling with pride!

#7 – Have Someone You Can Spill Your Guts Out To…Other Than Your Spouse!

You need someone you can be honest with…very honest, DANGEROUSLY honest…you can scream, cry, throw things…you get the picture. AND…it should not be your wife. Find a dude…someone in the ministry who you trust…and be real with them. One of the problems that I see that church leaders have is that many of us live as if our crap doesn’t stink…that we don’t have any problems…that our lives are perfect…and that just ISN’T the case!

...