https://bible.com/events/7167361

Title: Perspective MattersJohn 14:27 (NIV)
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
At the start of this Holy Week there is good news that our visible eyes cannot see:
EASTER ISN’T CANCELED

The promise of Easter, that offers new life, also offers new perspective and peace that the world cannot take away
2 Corinthians 4:16-18

• We WON’T fix our eyes on
  • The flood of fear in the media and our world
  • Political banter that causes division
  • The hard hit financial portfolios
  • A rising death toll clicker

• We WILL fix our eyes on 
  • The peace he offers
  • The promise that He is working out things for our good
  • The prize of resurrection life
  • The people in need of hope that is found only in Him

The truth this Holy Week and throughout the entirety of this pandemic + beyond in our lives is this:

“Your heart will follow where your eyes are fixed”Where are your eyes fixed?

Let’s pray for perspective

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (MSG)

16-18 So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.

Some practical ways to “fix your eyes”:

-Read God’s word, start a new bible reading plan on the YouVersion Bible App

-Set a time to pray regularly

-Stay connected to others, even if its virtually

-Turn on some worship music and turn the television off

-Tune into the Holy Week Daily devotional reflections this week + Midweek every Wednesday night.

Additional Texts: Romans 8:28, Genesis 50:20, Colossians 3:1-4

http://bible.com/events/7154608

Youversion  – March 29
Drifting, Part 4: The Hurried Life

Luke 10:38-42

o The problem was not related to the difference in Mary and Martha’s temperaments
o This encounter gives us a clear picture into the heart that Jesus desires
o Jesus was concerned about focus….and clearly Martha was distracted (verse 40)
o Jesus was concerned about attitude…and clearly Martha was worried/anxious (verse 41)

If Jesus was suggesting that only one thing was needed, then it begs the question: what is the one thing?
o “Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. “And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew‬ ‭22:37-40‬ ‭NIV‬‬
o Jesus is ultimately describing a life of worship- “love the Lord with ALL”
o What we do WITH Christ is far more important than what we do FOR Christ
o Mary was adamant about being WITH Christ, giving Him her undivided love

Perhaps the single greatest obstacle you face in pursing the life God has for you is busyness.
o If loving the Lord with ALL is the most important thing, then the greatest obstacle is a life that beckons us to do MORE
o Many of us end up like Martha…busy but not blessed
o “You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry. Hurry is the great enemy of spiritual life in our day.” Dallas Willardo Busyness and sin have the same effect: they cut off your connection to God, to others, and to your soul.  
o “Money has created a culture of too many options. And the more options we have the busier we get and the busier we are the more anxious we become.” John Mark Comer  

The bottom line:
Worship won’t grow in a garden of hurry.
Signs of ‘hurry sickness’….
1. Irritability….annoyed too easily
2. Hypersensitivity….a small comment throws you into major emotional events
3. Restlessness…you don’t even know how to rest, even when you have a chance
4. Workaholism….you don’t know when to stop, and you can’t stop
5. Emotional numbness…you have no empathy
6. Out of order priorities….you get sucked into the urgent but maybe not the important
7. Lack of care for your body…you don’t take time to value your own health
8. Escapist behaviors…overeating…binging on entertainment…using them to escape from reality
9. Slippage from spiritual disciplines…you begin to drift from God’s best
10. Isolation…you feel disconnected from God and others

Two practical ways to counteract a life of busyness:
1. The Discipline of Silence & Solitude
o This discipline involves taking intentional time in the quiet to be alone with God. is the practice of our “waiting for God”
o Jesus modeled this throughout his ministry (Luke 4:1-2, Matthew 14:1-13, Luke 6:12-13)
o This is NOT isolation, but instead learning to be still, learning to listen to God, and learning that prayer is about connecting with his presence.
2. Sabbath
o Sabbath is a day blessed by God for rest and worship
o In Genesis 2, God saw all that he had made, it was good, and he rested.  
o Many people, when they think of Sabbath, point to the 10 commandments, but Sabbath actually predates the law
o Sabbath was intended to be a day set aside for worship, for rest, not another day for busyness, not another day to accomplish things

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:28-30‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Additional resources:

Great resource on developing the spiritual discipline of Silence & Solitude
https://practicingtheway.org/practices/silence-solitude

Great resource on developing a rhythm of Sabbath
http://bridgetown.church/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Sabbath.pdf