During the busy summer season, we’re taking some time to look at some ways we can strive to use our summers intentionally, for the glory of God and the good of others.
Here’s what we’ve covered thus far:
- Don’t Waste Your Summer
- Plan Your Seasons
- 4 Ways To Vacation Well
- Snapshot
- Rest Rightly, Rest Well
- Reliving And Living
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What is the most exciting thing you look forward to when your on vacation? For some people their answer will be relaxing and reading a book, for others it's making memories with friends and family. But when it comes to vacations, I don't know about you, but I always feel like I do either one of two things. One, our family planned too much to do and I come back feeling more tired than before the vacation. Or two, I didn't plan anything and I come back feeling lazy and unaccomplished.
Vacationing means a period of suspension of work, study, or other activity, usually used for rest, recreation, or travel. But lets be honest you cannot suspend everything while your on vacation. Life still goes on and things need to get done.
In this post from our blog series, "Don't Waste Your Summer," we will give you 4 ways to vacation well. You may have more to add to this list, but hopefully this list will get you in a good place to enjoy your vacation well.
Your Family Gets A Say
When you hear the word family what do you think of? You are probably thinking of your mom, dad, siblings, etc. And yes your right, these people are your family but what about your church family? If we look at what the bible teaches about family, it would include your brothers and sisters in Christ (The Church).
When deciding a place and time of year to go on vacation, why wouldn't you include your church family in on your decision? Here is what I mean, say there is someone in your Gospel Community who is going to be graduating and would really like you to be there for that moment to celebrate with them. Why wouldn't you want to be there to celebrate with them? I guarantee these memories you make with them will out way an hour on the beach on Mexico.
So before you request your vacation time off and plan your trip. Go to your Gospel Community and ask if there is any big event that someone in your GC wants you to be at. For leaving for vacation, you will feel much better about resting by knowing that you were their for the ones you love and care for from your church family.
Plan, Prep, Stop Working
I like working, well that is an understatement. I love being busy and feeling like I am accomplishing things. The problem I find when I go on vacation is I don't plan and prep well enough before I go on vacation. So I end up using some of my vacation to work.
For my job, I have many day to day tasks and many projects that I am constantly doing. If I don't get these things squared away before my vacation, my vacation will turn into work. I don't know about you, but I like to not think about work related things while I am on vacation with my family. My family deserves my full attention.
My suggestion is start planning and prepping way before you have to leave for your vacation. What I like to do is write everything down that I need to get done a month before my vacation. This includes finding people to cover some day to day tasks I normally do. This also includes getting projects done before I leave so I stop thinking about them cause I know they are done. Once your on vacation, put your cell phone away. Stop checking your email. Don't answer the phone. You are on vacation to rest from the very thing you do on a regular basis, so actually vacation. And you can't vacation well unless you prepare well.
Don't Take A Break From Corporate Worship
Sadly in our culture we think we need to vacation from gathering as the church family for corporate worship. When I say corporate worship, I mean hearing God's word preached, taking the sacraments, and joining in singing with the body of Christ. The reason we do these different types of worship towards God is because they remind us of the reality of who God is and reminds us of His grace towards us in Jesus Christ. The truth of the gospel needs to be continually put before us so we may not drift from the gospel.
When you are planning your vacation, where ever you go, look for healthy gospel centered churches that you can join for a cooperate gathering on a Sunday away from your regular local church. Make it a priority on your vacation to gather amongst God's people. Parents your children will begin to see and learn that being apart of corporate worship is a benefit and an opportunity to be reminded of what God has done and continues to do. Vacation well by not vacationing away from the church.
Here are a few places you can look for good gospel centered churches in the area you plan on vacationing in:
Every Moment Is An Opportunity
Every moment in life is an opportunity to learn or teach something. As a parent, you have opportunities to teach your kids or learn a few things yourself. As a kid or young adult, you have an opportunity to learn from experiences and others. Every moment, whether you're on vacation or not, has an opportunity to be a special moment.
Great memories of past experiences shape our lives over time. And vacations are a prime opportunity to seize these moments to create memories. Memories are events and moments in life that shapes who we are. Don't use your vacation as a time to not do anything.
Parents your main call is to disciple your children. Your not raising children, your raising adults. Embrace the moments that a family vacation provides you and create those lasting memories with them.
Kids and Young Adults, embrace the opportunities that are provided on vacations with your families or friends to seek to grow.
You will vacation well if you intentionally take moments to create lasting memories along your vacation.
To Conclude
Vacationing isn't a time to stop life in its tracks. Life continues to move forward whether we like it or not. From this list you have an opportunity to plan, prepare and pursue lasting memories on a joyous vacation with those you love and at the same time not neglecting the life you left back home. Enjoy your vacation!