Good morning everyone,   Our theme for this month: “Take care of yourself”   Our Bible verse for today: “God has made us plain and simple, but we have made ourselves very complicated.” Ecclesiastes 7:29 (Good News Bible, British Version)   Our thought for today: “Less is more”   I love the Brits. Sometimes they can be so matter-of-fact, straight-forward, and blunt. Take their translation of Ecclesiastes 7:29 in the Good News Bible for instance, “God has made us plain and simple, but we have made ourselves very complicated.” I love it! And it is so true! We make our own lives so complicated! And we do so to our own detriment.   This morning, I want to continue our thinking from yesterday by returning to the book of Ecclesiastes. King Solomon had it all in life. He was the king. He was fabulously wealthy. He had absolute authority and control over every person in the kingdom and over every resource. Nothing was denied to him. And so, he tried it all. He worked hard and built a life of amazing achievements, and he also partied like a rock star, denying himself no pleasure.   But there is a world-weary tone that runs throughout all twelve chapters of Ecclesiastes. The book was written towards the end of Solomon’s long life and as he looked back, he realized it had all been so much folly. He ended up regretting much of what he had done and he considered much of his life to have been wasted. And in the end what did he conclude? “Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands for this is everyone’s duty.”   As Pastor Chuck Swindoll once wrote, “We find in Ecclesiastes a worldview tempered by experience and ultimately seen through divinely colored lenses.”   Yes, that’s it right there. Solomon’s purpose in writing the book of Ecclesiastes was to point us to a better, simpler life focused on God and others. From his own experience he learned that not only do we not need a busy, complicated life filled with excessive possessions, endless activities, demands, pressures, and a constant striving for more, more, more, but such a life ultimately ends up empty and sad.   It has often been said that “less is more.” That means that sometimes simpler is better. The more extraneous stuff we strip out of life, the better our quality of life becomes.   God has made us plain and simple, but we have made ourselves very complicated. It’s true, but we can fix that. For better physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health, I encourage you to consider taking some steps today to simplify your life. You will be happier if you do. Less is often more.   God bless, Pastor Jim     (If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

Copyright © 2024 Oak Hill Baptist Church, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Oak Hill Baptist Church 3036 Genesis Road Crossville, TN 38571

Good morning everyone,   Our theme for this month: “Take care of yourself”   Our Bible verse for today: “So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” Ecclesiastes 2:17 (NIV)   Our thought for today: “Are you working yourself to death?”   When we read the book of Ecclesiastes it’s important to read it with the end in mind. Read chapter twelve first, then go back and start in chapter one verse one. Solomon’s objective was to help his readers see that many of the things we become compulsive about in life are relatively meaningless in the end, and in the process, we often neglect the most important things (God, family, health).   But that doesn’t really become clear until the end of the book, and if you don’t know where he is heading with all this, as you come across thoughts like that in 2:17 it can seem dark, pessimistic, and even hopeless. But that’s not the message Solomon was really trying to send. Instead, he was trying to help us set good priorities and to keep things in their proper perspective. With respect to his observation in 2:17 regarding work, the fact is that the rest of the Bible helps us to understand that work is important not meaningless. We should have a job to support ourselves and our families, and we should work hard and do a good job. We just shouldn’t become compulsive about our work.   In Japan the entire culture has an unhealthy work ethic. The Japanese are so fixated on working hard, producing excellent results, and showing absolute loyalty to the company or employer, that they make themselves sick over it. They even kill themselves over it. The term for this malady of overworking is “Karoshi” and it refers to sudden death or suicide caused by overwork or occupational stress. It has been a problem in Japanese society for decades. Each year thousands of people literally drop dead at work, or commit suicide because of work-related stress. Many thousands of others are suffering from multiple health issues related to the stress and strain of overworking.     It’s a problem in our society too. Work is important. We should work, and we should do a good job. But the truth is that if you were to die today your company will be taking steps to replace you tomorrow. So, don’t sacrifice your health on the altar of work. Work hard and do a good job, but also maintain the proper balance. Don’t let your job kill you.   God bless, Pastor Jim   (If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

Copyright © 2024 Oak Hill Baptist Church, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Oak Hill Baptist Church 3036 Genesis Road Crossville, TN 38571

Good morning everyone,   Our theme for this month: “Take care of yourself”   Our Bible verse for today: “Youths may become faint and weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not become weary, they will walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:30-31 (CSB)   Our thought for today: “Place yourself in a position before God …”   In Isaiah 40:30-31 Isaiah paints a verbal picture of how refreshing and rejuvenating it is for our souls when we come and place ourselves in a position before God whereby the Holy Spirit can minister to us. He says that even youths and young men (who are typically full of strength and energy), even they will become weak and will stumble. It happens to all of us – even to the strongest and most able. However, Isaiah was not really talking about physical strength. That was a metaphor for mental, emotional, and spiritual strength.   Anyone of any age who will come before the Lord will find themselves renewed and refreshed. In other words, you will discover that the stress and pressure ebbs away; a sense of peace washes over you; and soon you are feeling mentally, emotionally, and spiritually refreshed. That happens when we stop stressing and striving and trying to deal with everything in our own strength, and we instead fall on our knees and lay it all before the Lord. Then He ministers to our weary soul. This is why, in Philippians 4:13, the Apostle Paul wrote “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”   The best and fastest way to place yourself in a position before the Lord so that He can minister to your weary soul is in individual prayer, Bible reading, and listening to uplifting Christian music. You can do that virtually anywhere at anytime and therefore it is always available to you.   But another important way in which we place ourselves in a position before the Lord is by gathering with our church family every Sunday for Sunday school, worship, and fellowship. In a good church, the atmosphere is spiritually rich. When groups of mature Christians come together, all bringing their own deep and rich relationship with the Lord and adding it to the group dynamic, it is a spiritually charged environment. The combined spiritual factor is often much greater than what we can experience alone. Therefore, this is one of the times when the Lord typically speaks to us the loudest and clearest.   I encourage you to place yourself in a position before God whereby He can minister to your soul. A good way to do that is by gathering with your church family this Sunday. That is one of the best things you can do to take care of yourself mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Research consistently shows that those who are regular church attenders are, on average, happier, better adjusted, and they report being more satisfied with life overall than those who do not attend church on a regular basis.   God bless, Pastor Jim   (If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

Copyright © 2024 Oak Hill Baptist Church, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Oak Hill Baptist Church 3036 Genesis Road Crossville, TN 38571

Good morning everyone,   Our theme for this month: “Take care of yourself”   Our Bible verse for today: “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? Psalm 42:1-2 (NIV)   Our thought for today: “You probably need it and don’t even know it”   Usually when we think about “taking care of ourselves” our thoughts turn to diet, exercise, and getting enough sleep (and those physical aspects of good self-care are vitally important). But as we have been learning, taking proper care of ourselves mentally, emotionally, and spiritually is vitally important too. We are body, soul, and spirit, and it’s all connected.   One of the most important and helpful things we can do to take proper care of ourselves mentally, emotionally, and spiritually is to regularly create circumstances when we are relieved of all the pressure of life and there are no responsibilities or expectations. The object is to simply rest and relax. Taking the pressure off like that is an essential element in good health.   For many years I have worked primarily from my office here at home. I did that so I could both work and take care of my wife Linda at the same time. Being close to her all day made it possible for me to stay aware of her needs and to be there when she needed me. However, not only was I paying attention to her, but she was also paying attention to me. She was always very protective of me and she paid attention to how long I was working, and under how much pressure. She would usually realize I needed a break even before I realized it, and she wouldn’t hesitate to tell me so. I was always a better pastor after stepping away from the work for a while and Linda was often the one who urged me to give it a break. Sometimes those close to us are more aware of our condition than we are.   Likewise, Linda was the one who planned our vacations, and she always chose locations where she knew I would be most likely to turn off the phone, put the laptop away, and truly relax – with no responsibilities and no expectations.   In Psalm 42:1-2 the psalmist paints a picture of a person who is soul-weary and in desperate need of not just a break, but for a time of relief being refreshed by God. Very often, that describes each one of us and many times we don’t even know it (or we do know it but we push it aside and just keep going anyway.)   It’s essential for our mental, emotional, and spiritual health that we periodically unplug and relax – removing ourselves from all responsibilities and expectations, and simply allowing the Holy Spirit to minister to our weary soul. When is the last time you gave yourself that kind of a break? You might need it and not even know it.   God bless, Pastor Jim    (If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

Copyright © 2024 Oak Hill Baptist Church, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Oak Hill Baptist Church 3036 Genesis Road Crossville, TN 38571

Good morning everyone,   Our theme for this month: “Take care of yourself”   Our Bible verse for today: “He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a remote place and rest for a while.’ For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.” Mark 6:31-32 (CSB)   Our thought for today: “Protect yourself from burnout”   I love the scene in J.R.R. Tolkien’s series “The Lord of the Rings,” where Frodo and his companions are on a long trip through dangerous territory and they are exhausted. Finally, they come upon the kingdom of the elves and a friendly elf king offers them a safe-haven in which they can rest, relax, and renew until they were ready to continue their journey. They enjoyed many long days of rest and many enjoyable evenings of good food and good fellowship. Here’s how Tolkien described the scene:   “The future, for good or ill, was not forgotten, but ceased to have power over the present. Health and hope grew strong in them, and they were content with each day as it came, taking pleasure in every meal, and in every word and song.”   Jesus and His disciples had a similar experience in Mark 6:31-32. In that case, they had been extremely busy with many ministry activities. Still, the people came – all day, every day. Not only was that continuous effort on their parts physically exhausting, but in time it would also become mentally, emotionally, and spiritually draining as well. They needed to rest. They needed time away from all the hustle, bustle, and pressure. So, Jesus called for a time-out. He had them stop all the activity and withdraw to a quiet place so they could relax, renew, and refresh.   When it comes to taking proper care of our ourselves, sometimes we need a time-out. Sometimes we need a break from all the demands and all the pressure. Constant busyness is not only physically exhausting, it is mentally, emotionally, and spiritually draining as well.   We need to give ourselves regular breaks so we can recharge. Sometimes we will be able to get away for an extended period, but even short escapes can be helpful and renewing. Protect yourself from burnout. Give yourself a break. And if you already are burned out, please, take a break now. Remember the lesson of the hobbits, “Health and hope grew strong in them …”   God bless, Pastor Jim   (If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

Copyright © 2024 Oak Hill Baptist Church, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Oak Hill Baptist Church 3036 Genesis Road Crossville, TN 38571

Good morning everyone,   Our theme for this month: “Take care of yourself”   Our Bible verse for today: “Then Jesus left the Jordan, full of the Holy Spirit, and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days …” Luke 4:1-2 (CSB)   Our thought for today: “Renewed, refreshed, and ready”   When it comes to creating the right conditions to facilitate emotional, mental, and spiritual nurture, I cannot overemphasize the importance of quiet time and getting alone with God. This is such a critical factor, and it is so needed, that we will spend several days exploring the subject.   In Luke chapter four Jesus needed a time of preparation for the ministry God had for Him. So, the Spirit of God led Him out into the wilderness for a time alone. It was during that time that He prayed, fasted, dealt with Satan, and was strengthened in His spirit. At the end of that time, we read in verse 14, “Then Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit …” He was renewed, refreshed, and ready.   Many of you are familiar with story of how, just as Billy Graham’s ministry was getting started, he had doubts and concerns and he was feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. So, he withdrew to the wilderness. In his case it was to a Christian camp called “Forrest Home” in the San Bernardino Mountains east of Los Angeles. There, alone with God deep in the woods, Billy found the clarity and the assurance he needed to go forward with the ministry assignment God had for him. Like Jesus coming out of the wilderness, Billy returned renewed, refreshed, and ready.   I was fortunate enough to have had a similar experience, at Forest Home, in the exact spot where Billy Graham met with God decades earlier. As a new pastor I too had questions and concerns, and I too was struggling with my call from God. I was living and ministering in Southern California at the time, not far from Forest Home. So, I went there on a personal retreat and discovered that there is now a beautiful little chapel in the woods located at the exact spot where Billy Graham had his encounter with the Lord all those years earlier. I was able to sit alone, in that chapel, as the Lord and I worked through my issues. And yes, I too returned renewed, refreshed, and ready.   Quiet time alone with God is a critical factor in creating the space and conditions for mental, emotional, and spiritual nurture to occur. So much so, that we will continue our thinking about it tomorrow. For now, I encourage you to spend some time alone with God this morning. Doing so will quiet your mind and soothe your soul.   God bless, Pastor Jim   (If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

Copyright © 2024 Oak Hill Baptist Church, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Oak Hill Baptist Church 3036 Genesis Road Crossville, TN 38571

Good morning everyone,   Our theme for this month: “Take care of yourself”   Our Bible verse for today: “Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10 (NIV)   Our thought for today: “There’s a reason they call it “quiet” time.”   We live in a noisy world. Very noisy. In fact, there is seldom a time when we are not being exposed to some kind of manmade noise (okay, it could be woman-made noise too but you get my point). We are surrounded by noise. Even when you think you are sitting quietly, if you listen closely, you will probably detect the sound of humming lightbulbs, or the air conditioning kicking on, or the sounds of traffic in the distance.   But usually, the noise is more obvious. And louder. In many homes the television is on for hours every day. Or we have music playing. Or people are talking. Or all the above. In short, there’s too much noise, too many people, and too many activities, and all of it combines to steal our peace.   One of the most important elements when it comes to creating the atmosphere for mental, emotional, and spiritual nurture is to have true quiet time. It’s a time when not only are you quiet, but you also take steps to quiet the surrounding environment too. You turn off the television and the music; you put the smart phone in a draw in another room; you get away from people and other distractions. A few years ago, there was a popular Christian movie called “The War Room.” The main character was an elderly lady who created a prayer room in her home. It was a small space devoid of all outside noise and distractions where she could go to sit quietly before the Lord and just pray. Previous generations of Christians referred to such a space as “a prayer closet.” (I know someone who does use an actual closet in their home for that purpose).   Personally, my favorite quiet place is out in the woods on a hiking trail. I hike a lot, and usually by myself. I do so because I enjoy the time alone with the Lord in the deep woods and usually, I can get so far out into the woods that the only sounds are those of nature.   In Psalm 46:10 God is calling us to settle down and to settle in for some quiet time with Him. In the previous verses in that Psalm the writer described a chaotic world with all sorts of noise, distractions, and serious concerns. It was within that context that the Lord said in verse 10, “Be still, and know that I am God.”   There’s a good reason we call it “quiet time”. It’s because it’s supposed to be quiet. I encourage you to get alone with the Lord today in a quiet environment and simply enjoy some relaxing, nurturing time with Him. It will be good for your soul.   God bless, Pastor Jim   (If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

Copyright © 2024 Oak Hill Baptist Church, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Oak Hill Baptist Church 3036 Genesis Road Crossville, TN 38571

Good morning everyone,   Our theme for this month: “Take care of yourself”   Our Bible verse for today: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)   Our thought for today: “Create the right conditions”   In our study of taking good care of ourselves we are now shifting our focus to mental, emotional, and spiritual health. We have an idea of some of the things we can do to take good care of ourselves physically, but how about mentally, emotionally, and spiritually? What does it mean and what does it take to nurture your soul and spirit and how do we do it?   To nurture something is to care of it and to create the conditions that promote growth and development. The word also suggests a sense of tender love as the thing is watched over and nudged along in the right direction. Parents nurture their children as they care of them. They create the right conditions to promote good growth and development, and they nudge them along in the right direction – all with a sense of tender love sustained over years and years. Gardeners do the same with their flowers, and that’s how we are to nurture ourselves mentally, emotionally, and spiritually – with tender love and care.   Doing so begins with first creating and maintaining the right conditions for such nurture to take place. There are certain conditions which help to promote good mental, emotional, and spiritual health, and there can also be conditions that work against it. We must be intentional about promoting the right conditions and avoiding the bad ones. We also must be intentional about avoiding, or at least limiting and controlling, the things that drain us. Instead, we should embrace those things which give life and fill us.   In Galatians 5:22-23 the Apostle Paul paints a verbal picture of what our goal is. The fruit of the Spirit describes the character traits and attributes the Holy Spirit is in the process of developing in us. Think of those attributes as flowers growing in the garden of your heart. The better the soil and the more nurture it is given, the bigger, brighter, and healthier those flowers will be. But for that to happen, the right conditions must exist. The Holy Spirit will do the work and produce the growth, but it is up to us to create the right conditions for that to happen. In the days to come we will think more about how to create the right conditions for nurture and growth to take place. For today, I encourage you to take some time sitting quietly and thinking about where you are mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. How healthy are you in those areas? How healthy would you like to be?   God bless, Pastor Jim   (If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

Copyright © 2024 Oak Hill Baptist Church, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Oak Hill Baptist Church 3036 Genesis Road Crossville, TN 38571

Good morning everyone,   Our theme for this month: “Take care of yourself”   Our Bible verse for today: “May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.” Philippians 1:2 (NLT)   Our thought for today: “We all need a shot of spiritual joy”   Recently at Oak Hill Baptist Church we have begun a Wednesday evening Bible study of the book of Philippians. Philippians is known as “The Epistle (letter) of Joy.” It is filled with positive observations and lots of encouragement. It is by far the most upbeat and joy-inspiring of all the Apostle Paul’s letters in the Bible.   Philippians was written by the Apostle Paul to a church that he deeply loved. The Philippian Christians were special to Paul. Acts chapter 16 records how the Holy Spirit had led Paul to cross the Mediterranean Sea and to arrive in Philippi just in time to meet Lydia and some others on the banks of the river. Paul led Lydia to faith in Jesus, making her the first convert ever in all of Europe, and then others soon followed. This led to the founding of the very first Christian church in Europe.   Over the following decades, Paul stayed in touch with that church. He visited them on at least two additional occasions, and they in turn prayed for Paul, corresponded with him, supported him financially, and hosted Paul’s friends and ministry partners. The church in Philippi was healthy and robust, and they were special to Paul. Now, as Paul is an old man, incarcerated in Rome and certainly near the end of his life, he wrote this powerful letter of joy and encouragement to his dearly loved church family. For many reasons, Philippi was a tough place to be a Christian and Paul wanted to lift them up and encourage them. His wonderful little letter must certainly have accomplished that.   The world we live in today can be tough too. Beyond that, we all have our own difficult issues to contend with in our individual lives as well. Life can be hard and we can all use a shot in the arm of spirit-inspired joy. If you are close to Cumberland County, TN, I encourage you to consider joining us on Wednesday evenings at 6:00 as we dive deep into this letter of joy.   Another lesson we learn from this is that a good and healthy church is a blessing from God. The church in Philippi certainly was that for Paul, and that holds true for any good and healthy church, it is a blessing and an encouragement to those who attend.   I’m writing this on a Saturday morning. Tomorrow is Sunday. I encourage you to be present at the gathering of your church tomorrow. And if you don’t have one, then please join us, in-person or online. We can all use a good shot in the arm of spiritual joy.   God bless, Pastor Jim   (If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

Copyright © 2024 Oak Hill Baptist Church, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Oak Hill Baptist Church 3036 Genesis Road Crossville, TN 38571

Good morning everyone,   Our theme for this month: “Take care of yourself”   Our Bible verse for today: “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. And may your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23 (CSB)   Our thought for today: “We need a holistic approach to staying healthy”   This morning, I have chosen to bring our attention back to the verse of Scripture we referred to in the beginning of our study about taking good care of ourselves, 1 Thessalonians 5:23. I do so because it so clearly highlights the truth that we must have a holistic approach to taking care of ourselves.   I hesitated to use that term “holistic” because in our day it is closely associated with things from the New Age movement, and therefore Christians tend to shun anything labeled as “holistic.” This is similar to how the Gay and Lesbian community has highjacked the rainbow symbol. It’s unfortunate because just as the rainbow is a symbol of something beautiful from God, the concept of “holism” is critical to our understanding of how to take full and proper care of our whole person.   To say that something is holistic is simply to say that the parts of the whole are interconnected and can only be fully understood in reference to the whole. We find holistic understanding being used when medical professionals consider the whole person, rather than just the presenting symptoms of an illness. They realize that what they’re seeing in terms of physical symptoms could very well have emotional and/or spiritual causes. The Greek philosopher Aristotle once observed that “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” That is certainly true with respect to the human person.   You are a whole person – body, soul, and spirit. You are physical, mental/emotional, and spiritual, and you must take proper care of all three of your parts. Since we have already spent some time thinking about the physical person, in the days to come we will turn our attention to mental/emotional, and spiritual health.   To be at our best we must have a holistic approach to health. We must take good care of our whole self.     God bless, Pastor Jim   (If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

Copyright © 2024 Oak Hill Baptist Church, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Oak Hill Baptist Church 3036 Genesis Road Crossville, TN 38571