Come, Sit, Stay: Finding Rest for Your Soul

by Ellen Vaughn

Overview

Jesus is inviting you, “Come to Me.”

In a world where anxiety and chaos reign, it’s easy to forget the simplicity, the fun, the excitement of being in a close relationship with Jesus. Whether you are emotionally drained, spiritually hungry, or just looking for some fresh inspiration, it’s time to Come, Sit, Stay . . . and rest in His presence.

“Ellen Vaughn’s book is a refreshing invitation to consider Christ’s tender words to the weary and a balm for our disquieted souls.”

DR. RAVI ZACHARIAS
Author and speaker

“This is an invigorating book, not about religion, but about a relationship with the surprising God who invites us to come to Him and be uniquely refreshed. It is a fun read that goes deep.”

ERIC METAXAS
New York Times best-selling author of Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy

“I’ve always loved Jesus’ invitation to come to Him and find rest for our souls. This refreshing book is a great tool to understand more deeply the radical rest that only Jesus can give, and the shimmering, eternal perspective that can actually bring deep peace, right in the midst of our busy days.”

JONI EARECKSON TADA
Founder of Joni and Friends and best-selling author

“Ellen Vaughn is brilliant, insightful, funny, Christ-loving, and has a dog named after C. S. Lewis. But to top it off, she is also a terrific writer.”

RANDY ALCORN
Best-selling author and founder of Eternal Perspective Ministries

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781936034642
Publisher:	Worthy
Publication date:	07/03/2012
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 8.10(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

ELLEN VAUGHN collaborated with Mary Beth Chapman, wife of Steven Curtis Chapman, on her New York Times bestseller Choosing to SEE, and coauthored various award-winning books with Chuck Colson. She also collaborated on the New York Times bestseller It’s All about Him, the story of Denise Jackson, wife of country music superstar Alan Jackson. Vaughn’s solo books include Time Peace, Radical Gratitude, and The Strand. She lives in a Washington, DC, suburb with her husband, Lee, their three teenagers, and two dogs.

Table of Contents

Foreword xiii

Come: {to grace}

1 Frisky Love 3

2 Royal Invitation, Legal Summons, Radical Rescue 11

3 Who is the Master? 21

4 Jesus Calling: Expectations vs. Reality 27

5 Come, Ye Weary 35

6 The Impossible Load 41

7 Come Out of Your Bush! 47

8 The Burden of Shame 53

9 The Burden of the Shoulds: Get Rid of Your Brontosaurus! 59

10 Nakedness and Covering Up 71

11 The Shame Breaker 79

12 The Burden Breaker: Jesus Beats Sin, Shame, and the Shoulds 87

13 How Your Squishy Little Brain Can Help You 95

Sit: {pay attention!}

14 It's Epidemic: Spiritual ADD 109

15 Be Still 117

16 Sitting in the Hurricane 127

17 "Learn from Me" 133

18 Sit Down and Count the Cost 141

19 Sit Down and Gain Your Right Mind 151

20 Sit with Friends 157

Stay: {obey}

21 Keeping Pace 165

22 Stay for Love 171

23 Unleashed! 181

24 Jesus, Stay with Us! 187

rest: {trust and blessing}

25 The Rest of the Story 195

26 Free at Last 205

27 Fun Rest 211

28 The Burden of Suffering and God's Radical Rest 219

29 Respite: The Rest We Give Each Other 227

30 How to Get a Good Night's Sleep 239

31 Ultimate Rest: Coming Home 247

Notes 261

Acknowledgments 267

Editorial Reviews

Vaughn, co-author of bestselling memoirs (Choosing to See; It's All About Him), steps out on her own with a series of reflections that don't add up to a clear whole. Vaughn writes very conversationally about how busy life is today, and that resting in Jesus – sitting in prayer or the study of scripture -- will simplify life. To make her case, Vaughn draws from popular culture (movies such as Jaws), Scripture (a lot), a variety of books (mostly classical Christian), and dog training. The result is a bit of a mish-mash, written in a breezy, girlfriendly tone ("so here's the deal"; "what the heck is the yoke?") that tries so hard to be accessible her style becomes Joel Osteen-like theology lite, but with more scripture references. This is a good idea – and an even better cover, featuring a handsome dog, a symbol that might have worked better if it had been used more exclusively. But the material is only enough for a sermon, not a book. (July 13)

Publishers Weekly