WOWnuggets (Words of Wisdom Nuggets) for our faithful readers.  These insightful truths are meant to inform you – not to discourage you - to spiritually mature you – not to judge you. 

Whether you read a nugget a day or read them all at one time…just make sure you read them.  Not only do we want you to read them, but mediate on them to bring insight to your situation.  Feel free to share these with your family, friends and even your frenemies! Blessings!

1.      Church Burnout  

Everyone gets tired once in awhile!  Burnout can happen to even the nicest of nice -- to the dedicated, loyal, idealist church member who wants to make a difference. That’s the problem! This all-out commitment drives some Christians to take on too much, too soon, too often. They overlook their heavy non-church responsibilities at home and on the job.  Nugget: Avoid burnout before it happens.  Here are some tips borrowed from an expert to help you:  

1. • Rest, relax, recreate, renew. It’s God’s way of sustaining us for the long haul.
   • Pray for your ministry responsibilities. Let God perform the work, using His infinite strength and perfect wisdom.
   • Give something up before taking on a new commitment or responsibility. Don’t keep "adding floors" onto your already towering skyscraper of activities.
   • Learn to say no and to set up reasonable boundaries around your involvement. Specify the help you’ll need and the constraints on your time.
   • Set priorities and consult with your family. Church work occupies an essential role in our lives but must never take priority over family. Look for ways to team up with your spouse in ministry activities. Be willing to occasionally say no to low priority church activities when they conflict with quality family time.
   • Get away from it all on a regular basis through hobbies, recreation, short-ministry "sabbaticals," and sometimes just being a couch potato.
   • Listen to your body's stress warning signals, such as headaches, backaches, dizziness, insomnia, and unexplainable fatigue.
   • Cut out the hurry and worry. Stress is the natural byproduct of trying to stuff 10 pounds of potatoes into a 5 pound bag. Do only what you reasonably can in the time available and with the resources available.
   • Keep those to whom you relate informed of your changing commitments and priorities. Stay away from guilt trips.
   • Emphasize grace over works. We don’t earn God’s blessings by the amount of church work we do. He wants us to lead healthy, balanced lives where ministry service is a joy and source of deep personal fulfillment. In the absence of such joy, ministry turns into burden and burnout.

Jesus knew of the burden of burnout. His words in Matthew 11:20, 30 are extremely comforting: "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

2.       Just Say No!

Why is it that some people have to be in every ministry of the church?  They stretch themselves until you literally can’t recognize them.  They began to grumble and complain; in desperate need of an attitude adjustment.  Nugget:  We don’t earn God’s blessings by the amount of church work we do. God wants us to lead healthy and balanced lives where ministry is a joy and source of deep personal fulfillment. If you don’t have that joy, serving becomes a burden and burnout is inevitable. Learn how to say “no.” Be a good steward over a few things before accepting many.  

3.       Study to Show Thyself Approved

4.        Listen

Have you ever heard the expression “When your mouth is open, your ears are closed."  Well, it could be true.  Most of us are distracted, preoccupied or forgetful about 75% of the time we should be listening.  Nugget:  You could be guilty of talking when you should be listening? "LISTEN and SILENT have the same letters."  Try speaking less and listening more. The results are worth the effort!