Are you stressed?

Me, too.

Your Palmer Editor has sensed some stress in the community. We are a busy people, in our worldly lives and in our Palmer mission. And there is so much to do! And who does not want to do it with skill, with all the love and grace we have, with our best, with perfection, even? Not one of us.

But then what happens? The altar was not "just so". A youth reader missed a beat. We disagree with a decision. We churn. We placate whining children and try to avoid conflict of all kinds. We look for relief.

Christ would not want us ruining our stomach linings in his behalf: far from it. We list below a number of scriptures. These tell of times that Jesus went away, alone, to pray or meditate. Our work for the kingdom depends upon our individual spiritual health, the daily maintenance of our spiritual condition. These remind me that my ability to change lives in his name depends upon my right relationship with him. Ministry is about the GOOD NEWS!

Matthew 14:13 Now when Jesus heard this (news of John's death) he withdrew from there in a boat to a lonely place apart.

Matthew 15:23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went into the hills by himself to pray

Mark 1:35 And in the morning, a great while before the day, he rose, and went out to a lonely place, and there he prayed.

Mark 4:35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us go across to the otherside." And leaving the crowd, they took him just as he was, in the boat.

Mark 6:31 And he said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while." For many were comning and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.

Mark 6:46 And after he had taken leave of them, he went into the hills to pray.

Mark 7:24 And he entered the house and would not have anyone know it; yet he could not be hid.

Luke 5:16 But he withdrew to the wilderness and prayed.

Luke 6:12 In these days he went out into the hills to pray; and all the night he continued in prayer to God.

Luke 9:10 On their return the apostles told him what they had done. And he took them and withdrew apart to a city called Bethsaida.

John 12:36 ...When Jesus had said this (saying he would die) he departed and hid himself from them.

Whether you are clergy, staff, lay ministry leader or volunteer, remember to be fed with prayer, with scripture, in worship, by pastoral care with another, in rest. Be fed, so that you may feed others.