Mark 6:30-44

"Then Jesus told the disciples to have the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of fifty or a hundred. Jesus took..."

Isn't it about time your family took a rest break? Rick Brown continues his family unique series and tries to help us understand that we have to stop and let our families rest sometimes along the way.

What do we do when we have way more going on in our lives than we can handle? Phil Ware begins a series of posts on our needing rest with Jesus and focuses on what we do when we have more to do than resources or strength and we don't have a rest time close at hand.

"The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. Then Jesus said, "Let's go off by ourselves to a..."

"So [Jesus and the apostles] left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone. But many people recognized them and saw them leaving, and..."

"[After Jesus blessed the five loaves and two fish and had them distributed, the people] all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples....."

Jesus invites us into a time of rest and quiet with him! Phil Ware shares part 2 in his four part series on learning to rest in Jesus and trust in the Lord's power to bless us and give us grace.

Through the years and all the changes, one thing remains true about the heart of God. Phillip Morrison reminds us in the shadow of Independence Day about the many inconsistencies when principles are first applied, yet he also urges us to be patient and gracious and open to the needs of all people.

Will you turn it off for a few days? Sometimes we have to take a break from all the information overload!

"Late in the afternoon [when Jesus was teaching a huge crowd,] his disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting..."

"But Jesus said [to the apostles], "You feed [the crowd]." "With what?" they asked. "We'd have to work for months to earn enough money to buy food..."

Can you really get more fit by resting? Without rest we cannot restore our bodies and our health, but this is not a new idea, it is God's fitness plan from long ago.

Why do we not take care of ourselves in our service to others? Paul Faulkner reminds us that if we are going to keep being a servant to Christ and others, then we've got to care for ourselves and replenish what we are depleting in our service to others.

Don't you sense this need? Tom Norvell reminds us of our need for rest and to rest in Jesus, in God, and in the Spirit.

How depleted are you? Phil Ware writes on withdrawal and rest with the Savior and our need for his grace and mercy and blessing and power and support and prayer and strength.

"Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place..."

"When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things."

Inspirational illustration of Mark 6:31 -- Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."

Inspirational illustration of Mark 6:34 -- 34When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.© Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Soc

Is there any way to step off the treadmill a minute? Tom Norvell reminds us of Jesus encouraging his disciples, his followers, to get away from the maddening rush of the crowds and go to a quiet place with him and get some rest.

When's the last time you had a great rest? We must guard and protect our sacred space, our time alone with God.

Can you rest and put your hope in God? We all need time for real, genuine, rest.

A hard night leads to a great time of prayer. Tom Norvell talks about a sleepless night that leads to a great time of prayer and some key lessons about prayer.

Is getting away to a quiet place enough to restore our souls? Phil Ware talks about the weariness of ministry and reminds us that it is not enough to simply get away and rest, we must get away and be with Jesus.

How are you going to get it all done? A plan to help us get things done we need to get done in a world of too much to do.

Have you stopped longed enough to hear his voice? We must take time to pause and rest in the gracious presence of God.

I just don't have enough time! God designed us to need a Sabbath rest -- not as Law, but as grace.

What's got you so distracted? Teresa Bell Kindred shares with us her absent-minded follies because she is distracted from all of her hi-tech toys to which she is plugged in and she reminds us to get away and be with God.

Is rest really necessary for holy and whole living? Phil Ware talks about the importance of rest and the Sabbath principle.

Exhausted, bone-weary, and insufficient to meet the task at hand? Ah, you may just be in the place where Jesus can use you most powerfully! Phil Ware looks into Jesus feeding the five thousand and reminds us that he longs to do amazing things through us, too!

Shouldn't you take a little rest at least once per week? We work hard and that is good, but we also need to rest faithfully and easily and enjoy the rest God has called us to keep.

How are you going to handle the holiday stress? Holidays can be stressful and hectic, here are some good ways to stay on track and protect your holidays.

Where do we turn when no one believes in us... including us? Max Lucado reminds us that God doesn't give up on us even when everyone us, including us, does.