Today I am beginning my Sabbatical with a trip to Tahoe for a week of solitude. To be honest, not being at New Song for the next couple of weeks is freaking me out. I want to be there to keep up our momentum and try to hold everything together. This is exactly why I need to get away for a few days and be reminded that New Song is Jesus church not mine. I have to remember that Jesus said, "I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it" (Matthew 16:18).I am going to Tahoe until Friday without Susan or the kids so that I can practice the spiritual discipline of solitude. Richard Foster, in his book, Celebration of Discipline describes the importance of solitude by saying “…the seeking out of solitary places was a regular practice for Jesus. So it should be for us...One reason we can hardly bear to remain silent is that it makes us feel so helpless. We are so accustomed to relying upon words to manage and control others. If we are silent, who will take control? God will take control, but we will never let him take control until we trust him. Silence is intimately related to trust.”
This week I'll be praying, reading, and having extended times of being still with God (Psalm 46:10). I am going to really seek God's wisdom about what he wants me to learn and the questions he wants me to ask over the next few weeks. My hope is that my passion for Him will be renewed. I am also going to be praying for our church family and that God would do amazing things this fall at New Song as we move forward with some exciting new programs.
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