How to Honor and Glorify God During Your Summer Vacation Craig Cummings It’s that time of year when the weather starts to heat up and the school year starts to wind down. Anticipation of summer vacation is in the air and families from all over will soon be hearing these words: “Are we there yet?” Family summer vacations are one of the great pastimes in America and a lifetime of memories have been created on many summer vacations. For most, vacations are a time to unplug from work and the long school year. As such, we are always seeking to plan that perfect vacation getaway. Planning varies from family to family. Some look for the best deal and the best bang for the buck. Other families are more concerned with the amenities and itinerary of things to do while untethered to the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Whatever your family’s approach may be to planning your summer vacations, may I suggest three ways you can be sure your family’s summer vacation is God honoring and brings glory to Him even in your time of leisure.

Plan for time with God while on vacation. Going on summer vacation does not mean going on vacation from God! Although you may not be in your normal routine, it is important that God is a part of whatever plans you and your family have while away. Make it a point to include planning time with God as part of your vacation planning process. While planning for places to stay and eat, also plan for places to worship. Research solid churches that may be in the area and be sure to make it a priority to attend if possible. Don’t forget your morning devotions. In fact, this can be a real opportunity for meaningful family devotion time. Vacations offer those rare moments when everyone is together and not in their own silos. Use it to grow closer to the Lord together as a family.

Don’t blend in, stand out! I’m not sure the saying, “When in Rome do as the Romans do” applies to Christians; maybe. But it depends on what the Romans are doing! Going on vacation is not an opportunity to go “incognito” and forget you are a child of God. Ephesians 4:1 says “…walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.” We are one with Christ and as such we are His representatives wherever we are in whatever circumstances we find ourselves (1 Cor 6:17). Don’t try to fit in, but rather let the light of Christ shine so that those who may be in darkness will see; this will bring glory to God (Matt.5:16).

Be Generous. If you are fortunate to go on a summer vacation, that is a blessing. There are many families who never get to go on summer vacations. Treat your vacation time as a blessing and don’t complain about the things you wish were better or that you don’t have while on vacation. Be generous to those who serve you at your hotel, at the restaurant, and at the car rental. Many of these workers who are serving you may be in the group of people that have never been fortunate enough to take a vacation themselves. And remember, all things are lawful but not all things are helpful. Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Be a Sensible Steward This Summer Mark Ruggles

Ahhh…summer. The word invokes thoughts of swimming pools, backyard barbeques, and vacations. For most of

us, summer brings up fond memories of family trips and leisure time. However, the reality of creating a summer

full of memories can often be costly to the budget. Summer is a unique time of year, complete with its own set

of financial challenges. Children are out of school, often both parents are working, and in most cases, both work

outside of the home. What should parents do with children in these situations? And even when one parent can

be home, if your kids are like mine, they expect to be entertained all day long; this too usually costs money.

These factors add up to financial stress for parents. All the while, these trials bring another aspect of financial

decision-making to the forefront—spiritual stewardship.

When it comes to our finances, are we making spiritually-wise decisions? Are we remembering God’s kingdom

agenda as we make plans for a summer getaway? How much money should we spend on a vacation? Should we

even take a vacation? These are all questions that should be answered before summer is upon us. We need

some biblical wisdom when it comes to summer leisure and our stewardship.

The Bible clearly shows that both work and rest were given by God (Gen.2:2; Ex.20:9-10; 23:12; 2 Thess.3:10-12).

The Sabbath day was patterned after God’s own rest from His labor in Creation (Gen.2:3). We see the same

pattern repeated in the ministry of Christ as He would often go away to secluded places to pray (Matt.14:13;

Mark 1:35; 6:31-32; Luke 4:42). Short periods of rest from our labor are good and needed for refreshment of

both body and spirit. However, before taking any respite, we should make sure that we are making wise plans.

Here are a few questions we should ask ourselves to ensure our summer plans are God-honoring:

1. Have I prayed in humility asking God for wisdom regarding my vacation plans (James 1:5)? Start here.

2. Have I met my obligation to the Lord in the form of tithes and offerings (Mal.3:10)? Remember that God

requires the first fruits of our labor (Ex.23:16; Deut.18:4). He is not honored by any offerings that come

from the leftovers after our vacation. How and when we give God an offering communicates how much

we love Him.

3. Once I have met my obligation to the Lord, do I have sufficient funds for a vacation without going into

enslaving debt (Prov.22:26; Rom13:8)? This should be the measure of how much we spend on a trip. Just

like we hope for good weather on our break, vacations are more enjoyable without the clouds of debt

hanging over them.

4. If a vacation is within reach, have I done my due diligence to find the best prices for what will be needed

during the trip (Prov.21:5)? Vacations don’t have to be cheap, but you should also avoid the temptation

to splurge on everything just because you’re on vacation. If you always give in to that type of thinking,

you’ll soon find the cost of your vacation getting out of control. Set a budget before your trip and stick

to it. Remember that only God has unlimited resources; you don’t. You still have to pay the bills when

you get back home.

Summer vacations are meant to be a time of rest and refreshment when we can connect together as a family

and enjoy God’s creation. With a little discipline, planning, and wisdom, we can also ensure that we honor God

as stewards on our vacations.

Summertime and the Living is Easy Linda Strickland

“Summertime and the Living is Easy.” Have you heard that song before? For some, the summertime is

not easy; sometimes it is downright hard. Why is this so?

Well, for one thing there are summer barbecue and pool party invitations, along with celebrations of

summer holidays. In all of these gatherings and celebrations, you find yourself sticking out as “the single

one” (at least in your own mind). If you’re single, divorced, widowed, young, or old, there are going to

be times when you attend these fellowships and gatherings and you’re going to feel uncomfortable and

possibly sad or lonely.

With God’s help they can be wonderful times of fellowship and it gives you the opportunity to share

how this gift of singleness has allowed you to serve the Lord unhindered. We are in good company with

Paul as he reminds us that singleness can be a gift that provides us with freedom to serve and please

God without distraction (1 Cor.7:35).

Summer can be a good season if you use godly wisdom with that time. Some of us can go on mission

trips, volunteer at various charities, or invite a married couple or other singles to your home for dinner.

Consider offering an evening of babysitting for a couple so they can go out or being a big brother or

sister to a youth. Being single gives us many and varied opportunity to be givers of our time, especially in

the summer.

Some of the best times, no matter the season, are spending time getting to know our Lord better. James

4:8a says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” Therefore, summer is not the time to chill

on the spiritual disciplines, but to practice holiness consistently. Take time to read your Bible and

spiritually enriching books and devote time for extended prayer. The point is: don’t take the summer off

from God.

Singleness can sometimes be hard to understand and God knows that. He knows everything about us

(Ps.139) so don’t allow loneliness to consume or isolate you from the family of believers. Reach out to

others, encourage someone, and, in turn, be encouraged. (Prov.27:17; 1 Thess.5:11).

Summer Parenting: Seize the Opportunity Jody Hart

I felt like Spring Break was a sneak peak as to what life is going to be like come summer break. Cats and

dogs. Fighting, breaking up fighting, frustration, irritability…sin and sin in response to sin. Yuck! I will call

it a good summer if my kids make it through without killing each other and I don’t end up insane.

I’m sure at least some of you can relate to this sentiment, right? But, we should not, should not, should

NOT just hope to SURVIVE summer and literally just be tossed around by this season. No, no…we should

hope to THRIVE personally and together in our families. How do we even do this? Before we can even

begin to think about practical ideas, we need to get, keep, and remind ourselves—and each other—of

the proper perspectives.

Proper perspective #1: Summer is not a burden, it is an opportunity.

When dealing with children, or really any difficult situation, people will often say, “this, too, shall pass.”

It is meant to encourage us with the truth that these struggles won’t last forever. Though that is true,

there’s also a sobering reality to that statement. “This, too, shall pass.” These opportunities that we

have to influence our children will be gone. Lord willing, our kids will grow up, and live independent lives

from us. Leaving us and cleaving to their spouses. The opportunity we have now will someday pass. We

much seize this training time, because soon it will be gone.

Proper perspective #2: Your children are not your enemies, nor are you theirs.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the

world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

(Eph.6:12)

It is so easy to get are focus fixed on the circumstances before our eyes (meltdowns, whining,

complaining, fighting) and forget the reality that there is a cosmic war going on that we cannot see. Our

children are not our enemies! We are in a spiritual battle and must fight for our souls and theirs with the

proper weapons. And in those moments, we need to ask God to help us to stop and verbalize to

ourselves and our kids the war that is taking place, and how the Gospel can meet us right there.

Proper perspective #3: Your life before them is the greatest resource.

“These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently

to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when

you lie down and when you rise up.” (Deut.6:6-7)

There are so many great resources available for biblically training children. Find them, use them, enjoy

them. But, remember this: no resource is greater to your child than your Christian life fleshed out before

them in the everyday, mundane things. How you live before them is shaping how they view God, the

Bible, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, service, and on and on.

This all may sound very weighty and frankly scary. We have a BIG responsibility and influence here. But,

take courage! Our children don’t need to see perfection from us. No! They need to see weakness. They

need to see weak, sinful people clinging to Grace. Yes, capital G. You see, as we flesh out life in the

trenches―fumbling and failing―our kids will see that. But, they will also see when we get back up, or

rather are sustained and lifted up by Grace: Jesus Christ.

So, Mamas and Papas, seize the opportunities you have. Remember who the enemy is and fight with

spiritual weapons. Show your kids how broken sinners live the Christian life and point them to the only

One who satisfies.