Preparing for Vacation
<h3><strong>Keep God First</strong></h3>
<p>Summertime! Are you planning, preparing, and packing for the long-awaited vacation? There are reservations to make, maps to buy, and a mountain of things to remember in order to take a week or two off from your normal schedule.</p>
<p>Who will watch the house and feed the animals while you are gone? Will you have someone pick up the mail or hold it at the post office? Will you pay all of the bills ahead of time, or set some aside until you return? And, just as importantly, will God's work in the local church continue in your absence?</p>
<h3><strong>Vacation from a Spiritual Perspective</strong></h3>
<p>Just as your bills continue through the summer while you are on vacation, so do those of your local church. The faithful Christian is one who approaches summertime and vaction time with a spiritual perspective, remembering to: "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."—Colossians 3:2</p>
<p>First, a faithful Christian supports the work of the local church by praying, serving, and giving of his time, talents, and treasure (even during vacation). If you serve in a ministry, have you made sure that you have a replacement during your vacation? And how about your financial giving?</p>
<p>"Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase."—Proverbs 3:9</p>
<p>There is no exemption for vacations in that verse. Did you remember to give your tithe and offering before you left on vacation? You may be gone, but the spiritual needs of people continue in your absence.</p>
<p>Second, a faithful Christian remembers that a vacation is a break from the normal pace of life—not an escape from the things of God.</p>
<p>"Thy faithfulness is unto all generations..."—Psalm 119:90</p>
<p>"I will never forget thy precepts..."—Psalm 119:93</p>
<p>A wise father will continue to guide his family toward the Lord, even on vacation. If you pray for your meals at home, shouldn't you pray for your meals elsewhere?</p>
<p>Children need to see spiritual consistency and adults need it, as well. Be assured that there are unsaved people all around you, and you may be the only Christian witness they will see.</p>
<h3><strong>Be Refreshed in the Lord</strong></h3>
<p>Summertime and vacations can be tremendous morale boosters and times of refreshment for the Christian who remains faithful to the Lord.</p>
<p>"I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope."—Psalm 16:8-9</p>