Today I read a friends email in which her job requires her to take a "mandatory fun time" from work. You see, she is in the marines and I guess, due to the stress of the job, folks can quickly get so engrossed in work that they forget to have fun. That life can get so stressed that we forget to stop and smell the roses.

As I responded to her email I realized how God has the same things in mind for us all. He talks about the Sabbath and the importance of taking that day off to rest and to worship Him. Because God knows, like the marines that we would continue to just work and work and work and never take any down time. Down time that counts. Sure we might take a nap or watch a movie but do we really have any fun. I mean, when is the last time you really laughed? When was the last time you didn't think about work and your unending list of things to do? When is the last time, you rested with a smile across your face. When is the last time you were family or friends and everyone was getting along. And does this down time only have to occur on Sunday. Should we not work this into our daily schedule?

Hmm, I like the idea of a "mandatory fun time" in my life. So what would your fun time look like? Mine would be fishing anywhere, seeing a really funny movie with at least 8 friends, going on a road trip with friends, spending time with my nieces and nephews, swimming anywhere, talking to anyone about the Lord that wants to hear.

Thank you Lord for reminding me about "fun".

Exodus 16:23
He said to them, “This is what the LORD commanded: ‘Tomorrow is to be a day of rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.’”

While at Church this past Sunday my pastor was speaking on a series called the "Modern Family." One particular phrase he said got me to thinking. Greater on the inside than on the outside..he used Psalm 139:23-24 as the verse of reference.

As I began to ponder this phrase I thought how this could apply to so many areas of our lives. We know everything we do starts with a thought. Sure, we do some things without thinking but even then, we had to have some knowledge to make a choice. Greater on the inside than on the outside ....my pastor is saying is more about how we can dress up, we can adorn ourselves, we can drive a nice car, we can live in a nice house, we can appear to have it all together (all relative) and still be rotten on the inside. We can still be in so much trouble, so much pain, so much sin. Our goal should be inner greatness because HE IS LIVING IN US. Our thoughts, our minds, our hope, our peace, our hearts should all be greater than anything we possess or live in or drive. Greater because of the Holy Spirit.

So how do we get there......Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. ...

Stop and pray today..as David did....search me Lord, test me and all those areas of distrust, of anxiousness of fear of panic....see if there is anything offensive, that's vile, that turns away from the truth, that hurts me and you, that hurts others...lead me Lord, lead me away from the sin, from the fear, from the anger..lead me only to you...reveal it Lord no matter how horrible it is. I want to know. I want to change. I want to more like you on the inside so the outside will match. Amen