Looking for Wisdom and Power?

The last couple of days have been so very nice, weather wise. We’ve hardly turned the heat on and it’s very pleasant this morning. Weird thing is, we’ve been under a winter weather advisory since yesterday. I see no winter weather out my window. I feel no chill yet. But the weather forecaster says the cold is returning, even if temporary. That means we’ll have to turn the heat on again. I’m tired of the roar of the central heat. I’m especially tired of the high electric bills. Last month we used wood heat on the coldest days and still our electric bill was even higher.

We’re thinking it’s time to upgrade our system. You’d think we’d have already done it, but weighing the expense to the savings up till now has made removing the old original system not so money wise. But now with the electric bill soaring every month we think it may be time. It’s a functional thing. Have a huge electric bill every month or pay for a new system. We’ve looked at some units and now Danny will be doing some real research to prepare for the upgrade.

We can’t control the weather. But we can work to make our home as efficient as possible. We can’t keep from preparing for more winter, even though today it feels so wonderful. We’ll have to turn on the thermostat before the day is out and we are prepared.  

God speaks to my heart: Just as you cannot control the weather, you are not in control of the changes in life. You plan, you prepare, you pinch pennies, you watch for signs, but plummeting situations are sure to come into your life. While you can’t control the circumstances of life, you can prepare for the worst of them. Each and every time you face the wintry blasts of life is an opportunity to upgrade your life in Christ. It’s a learning experience for each of my children. While heating and air systems are about function, I AM about relationship. I want you to get closer to Me. I want you to reach out to the Word when things look grim. I AM the one who is calling you back to Me. I will be there for you to guide, direct and oversee. And even though it seems so hard to go through, your bond with Me will grow sweeter and more intimate, surer and more confident.

Oh beloved, now is the time to run to the Lord. Before things get any worse, before your cost rises. Before you think you can’t make it anymore. He is ever ready for your  worst circumstances. They are no big thing to Him for He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. He can get you through the worst, He can give you victory in the midst of the fray. He will show Himself to be all you ever needed as you live in the light of His Word. No matter what you have or who you are in the natural, it won’t help to call on your own resources when it all plummets to fear, worry or pain. Only in calling on the Lord can you find a way through the pressures of life. When the news shouts disaster, whether weather, war or famine – you can call on your Savior and He will show Himself to be all you ever needed to start with.

God loves you.  Because Jesus went to the cross you can count on that love forever. God is for you.  Because Jesus faced the enemy and was victorious on your behalf you can count on His watchful care forever.  Stay very close to Him, read His Word, get to know Him more, for it will be in the knowledge of Him that you will be able to triumph over the changing weather of life as you learn to live in the light of His Word.

2 Corinthians 1:3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.

Job 12:13 But true wisdom and power are found in God; counsel and understanding are His.

Jeremiah 33:3 ‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’

Proverbs 2:6 For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Colossians 2:2-3 that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself,  in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Where Are You Trying to Find Rest?

Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Goldilocks.  She went for a long walk in the forest.  Pretty soon, she came upon a house.  She knocked and, when no one answered, she walked right in. After a while she went upstairs to find somewhere to rest. The Papa Bear’s bed was too hard. The Mama Bear’s bed was too soft. But Baby Bear’s bed was just right and she fell fast asleep. When the bears returned they found that someone had eaten their porridge, sat in their chairs and Baby Bear found Goldilocks sleeping in his bed. She was startled and ran out of the house, never to return again.

Such a nice little story of a little girl finding sustenance, comfort and rest in the woods when she really didn’t know what to do or where to go.  But even after she had found the three things that every human being needs and desires, she was still not at home.  She wasn’t one of the bears. She was different. Ultimate rest, eternal comfort and genuine sustenance couldn’t really come from the temporary place she had found.

Life is a lot like a trip into the forest. We don’t know for sure where we are going, what we will encounter or when we will get out. But all along the way we try to find tangible things to hang onto.  We are ever searching for the things that will make us comfortable – we want to feel cozy, relaxed and find relief.  We also want to know that all our needs will be met – provisions, nourishment and necessities of life are our desire. And along with the other needs we as humans have, we want to find rest – that place where we can let down our guard and take a breather from life’s surprises and disturbances.

Just as Goldilocks found that she wasn’t really at home in the Bears’ cabin, we too find that, even when we think we have found just what we wanted, it isn’t really home for us.  Unlike Goldilocks, who left the cabin and found her way home, we often run to the next stop and try again to find our source for all we need in people, places and things.  We too are strangers, aliens in a world that isn’t meant for us. We have a home and it’s beyond this world. As we learn more about our purpose in life, we find that we fit here less and less.  God wants to meet our needs and will, but fortunately for us His desire is that we find them all first and foremost in Christ. Everything we need is promised, along with somewhere to call our real home in heaven one day. We are most blessed, but at times it’s hard because the things of this world don’t really work for us.

Oh beloved, have you been upset because temporary things aren’t bringing permanent satisfaction? Don’t let it upset you – for God is your source for everything! God will give you people to love, plans to fulfill and life to live. He just doesn’t intend for you to find ultimate comfort, rest and nourishment in anyone or anything over Him.  He wants to have first place because it is there that you will learn to be like Him. He will hide your soul in the cleft of the Rock. He will give you a place of quiet rest in His heart. He will lead you beside still waters as only He can restore your soul.  When things are hard, He will cover you with His protective love.  When you don’t know which way to go, He will guide you. Don’t trust in your senses for they can lead you away from God’s purpose. Christ came to free you from the burden of sin it is true. But He released you also from having to make your own way. In Christ there is such freedom to live loved. In Christ the chains that bind you to continually wander have been removed. You can rest in God’s promises, live in Christ’s redemption and walk in Holy Spirit power always.

God loves you and He’s for you and that’s why you can trust Him to watch over you, guide you and direct you all the days of your life. And when this life is over you will have a place of ultimate rest as you dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalm 62:1  My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. (New International Version)

Philippians 4:19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

I Corinthians 1:30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption.

Psalm 34:10 The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; But they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing.

Isaiah 58:11 And the Lord will continually guide you, And satisfy your desire in scorched places, And give strength to your bones; And you will be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.

God Will Provide You the Best Place

When I was a girl the piano was my place of solace. If I was having a heartache moment I would play the Moonlight Sonata. (or Hey Jude, or Rainy Days and Mondays) Gentle melodies with lots of play across the keys were my preference as they comforted my heart and got my mind off the troubles. Playing through those songs were comforting to my heart.  If I was having a lot of fun with friends or family we always ended up at the piano playing joyful songs while laughing and singing together.  Although I played in church, via the organ, the piano and assisting with praise and worship, it was those times alone at the piano that brought solace to my heart.

To say that the piano has been a huge part of my life is so true. I don’t get to sit and play for my own enjoyment very often anymore. We are busy with work and play and family and friends and ministry. There’s hardly a time to just sit at the bench and let my hands have their way with the keys.  But every once in a while, I still try to steal away to have a moment of alone time with the keyboard. When I let God set the tone and play by ear beautiful music happens. It may not be beautiful to anyone else, but that time with the keyboard in the hands of God makes for sweet melodies in my heart.

We are all looking for a place of solace. We try to find it through various things including hobbies, jobs, marriages, children, church.  Each of these things is wonderful in and of themselves and they provide much satisfaction. But the best of them are no substitute for finding time to be alone with God.  Even a marriage cannot give you the satisfaction that God alone can. A hobby is just busy work unless the Lord’s hands are in it. We cannot find the peace we’re looking for in anything else. Everything on earth is fallible. Everything we find we love can be taken from us or broken.

Yesterday God spoke to my heart. He said “The thing you enjoy so much, that one thing that you alone find reward in – that is how I want your life in Me to be like. My desire is that you will feel so one with Me that other things will not distract you. That single minded fellowship with Me comes from the confidence you have as you seek My face.  It won’t happen in the busy times. This special intimacy comes only from spending time alone with Me. I am your Teacher and I have much to show you of My love, My mercy, My grace and My provision. You may be frazzled, worn out, stressed and overdoing everything yet finding no peace or joy in the doing. Come away with Me and find exactly what you are looking for. I will help you to make sweet music in your heart and your life that will spill over into others’ lives.

Oh beloved, steal away! Find time to be alone with your King.  You are meant to be rested, at peace and able to do all that your life has for you to do. God gives strength to the weary, purpose to the lonely, joy to the suffering and hope to the hopeless. Only time with the King will give you what you are looking for. That love you so desire and that confidence you are looking for are found only in the Lord. Jesus is the way to the Father and the Holy Spirit can make the little time expand into great treasure for you when you spend time with Him.

God loves you and He’s for you and that’s there will always be sweet blessings in your alone time with Him.

Isaiah 55:6 Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near.

Psalm 63:6-8 When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches, for You have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.  My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.

Psalm 27:8 You have said, Seek My face [inquire for and require My presence as your vital need]. My heart says to You, Your face (Your presence), Lord, will I seek, inquire for, and require [of necessity and on the authority of Your Word]. Amplified

Acts 2:28 ‘You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of gladness with Your presence.

1 Chronicles 16:11 Look to the LORD and His strength; seek His face always.

Looking for Comfort? Go No Further than the Lord

Yesterday evening we delivered our granddaughter and her friend to a huge youth event. After helping serve supper to about 800 of those youth, we went to our motel room in town to settle in for the night. I actually fell asleep pretty quickly.  As I had drifted off to sleep it was quiet and the temperature was just right.  

I woke up about an hour later to a loud noise from outside, along with the realization it had grown quite warm in the room. It was a rude awakening from my restful state. Our chance to get away for a few days of leisure turned into a noisy interruption. 

Thankfully the thermostat was quickly adjusted. And thankfully also we found the noise outside our door to be a charter bus, which was warming up to pull away from the motel. Soon it was quiet again.

I picked up my phone for a moment to check the “news” on facebook. We have quite a few friends who are going through some rough stuff in their life. As I look at their posts, some of them are full of information about their quiet life’s interruption of pain, agony, disease, distress, loss and more.

Maybe your life has been interrupted too. You were enjoying everything just as it was. Good health, good marriage, good job, bright future and endless happiness. For most of us things slip up suddenly and we find ourselves face to face with the very thing that we never wanted to see. The temperature has been turned up and we’re flush with worry for the future. The noise pounding in our ears feels like it will never stop.  We become stressed, distressed and can’t seem to feel blessed anymore.  I know many of you have the noise and heat of life’s turmoil drowning out any other sounds.

Where can you go? What can you do? Escape is no alternative, for the bus is right outside your door and it is threatening to run you completely over. The thermostat of tribulation is stuck on high and you’re wringing wet with agony. Stress is all you feel. And you want to escape it all.  You just want it over so you can get back to your normal, everyday, beloved life.

It’s rough out there. And it’s rough where you are right now. Only God knows the final outcome. Only God knows the future, beyond your present troubles. Only God knows when the noise will quiet and the heat will subside. But He has made us promises for those times when nothing is going right. When the hurts and anguish and pressure and pain are almost unbearable, He has made sure and magnificent promises to get you through.

As the hymn writer penned, “There is a place of quiet rest. Near to the heart of God.” This is our shelter in the storm, our hideaway in the heat, our peace in the midst of it all. We’re promised that God will be with us through it, in it and beyond it. We’re not given the exact time the heat will subside or the noise will become quiet, but we are promised He will be with us, to comfort us, to bless us and to remain faithfully by our side all the days of our life.

Oh beloved, although you cannot run from your present circumstances, you can run to the Lord, who is with you! He has given you all His precious promises contained in His book of love. They are there to encourage you, to equip you, give you rest and get you through it all. Open up the Word of God and seek after your Word for the moment. Memorize it. Write it out. Tape it to your mirrors, post it on your dashboard. Stick it on your refrigerator. Believe it. Rest in it. Open up your heart and let Him soothe it with His balm of comfort. Let Him hold you in His everlasting arms. Let Him show you that He is able to do what only He can do. Even though your situation seems so unreal, His Word is real. Together you will make it. Together you will survive the onslaught. Together you will walk in peace knowing that, because He loves you and He’s for you, there will be quiet right now and peace forever as you rest in the light of His Word.

Psalm 119:50 This is my comfort in my affliction, That Your word has revived me.

Isiaiah 40:11 Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs And carry them in His heart…

2 Corinthians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort.

Matthew 11:29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Psalm 34:17-18 The Lord hears His people when they call to Him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

Psalm 9:9-10 The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.  Those who know Your name trust in You, for You, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for You.

Psalm 27:5 For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock.

When the Storms of Life Are Raging

 

 

Tuesday's Blog - 

The weather changed over the week-end. It was sultry and hot and dry. Suddenly it became damp, chilly and cool. I was at a women’s retreat and we saw the clouds rolling in. They were black and low and stormy. Lots of quick adjustments were made. No longer sure they could grill the burgers and for a moment they weren’t sure what to do. But plan B came forth. Although the pool at the park was heated, the swimmers no longer wanted to dive in. One of the ladies wanted to take a walk but others declined to join in, concerned that the rain would catch them unprotected. I even ran to my cabin and brought my car to the meeting room just in case.

The clouds rolled on in and the wind kicked up and it turned cool, but the storm failed to materialize. We all spent a lot of time preparing for what we were sure would happen. But it didn’t. We could have grilled, swam, walked and more.

We are creatures of comfort, habit and fear. Creatures of comfort in that we want things to be just right, all the time. I sure do. You do too don’t you? Creatures of habit in that we like to do things the way we have always done them. Change? Not easy is it? Creatures of fear. This is a hard one. We admit to being afraid at times but a creature of fear? Yes. The storm clouds loom and some of us are instantly in the cellar. We don’t want to watch the signs, we don’t want to wait and see, we just want to run.

God speaks to my heart: Oh beloved. You are my creation. You’re no mere creature. You’re not the sum of your habits, your comforts or your fears. I AM the redeemer of all that. I AM the Lord of the weather in the skies and the clouds of doubt that are looming on your horizon. I AM the God Who will give you a fresh outlook on it all if you will trust Me. Put your focus on the storm clouds that “threaten” your comfort zone and you’ll be paralyzed. Put your focus on the changes and you’ll be unable to move forward with new habits to pursue. Put your focus on the fear and your faith cannot grow. But put your focus on Me and on My Word and I will change everything. Your sight will become clearer and you will be able to look beyond the storm clouds to the future with peace, love and joy.

God loves you and He’s for you, so that when you put your focus on Him all things are possible as you walk into His future with faith!

Luke 9:57 As they were walking along, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.”

Mark 4:39 -40 When Jesus woke up, He rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then He asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You!

Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.

Running From God or With Him?

Do you remember playing chase when you were a child? I sure do. In fact it seems like we ran pretty much all day. Run downstairs. Run outside. Run to the neighbor’s house. Run to run, just for the fun of running.  My grandchildren run around my living room which is open floor space, almost like a huge indoor playground. Sometimes I try to catch them to get a quick hug but they’re busy running around having fun and they breathlessly breeze by in such a hurry.

The other day one of them got in trouble. Their mother was going after them so they kept running. She shouted out, “It’s just gonna be worse if you keep running!”  She was getting frustrated and he was fearful she would catch him!

As adults, we still run don’t we? We run to the store, we run to work, we run to church, we run to the laundry, we run to the bakery, we run to exercise. Run, run, run. Our lives can be like a marathon and we can get oh so tired, but we keep on running.  We run to get away from things: trouble at home and we run to work. Trouble at work and we run home. Running becomes less enjoyable as we get older because we enter what’s known as the “rat race”. We run away, run after and run for. 

Some folks are running from God.  They’ve decided it’s better to run than be caught. They think that God is after them and He is. But He’s not after them to punish. He’s after them to love.  

Maybe you’ve been running from God. You’ve heard His still small voice beckoning you to come to Him but you think you like your marathon life just the way it is. You keep running to ease the pain, stop the anxiety and thwart the reality. But God keeps pursuing you. He speaks through a preacher, the sunset, the movie, the song. You can’t get away from Him. Everywhere you look, wherever you go, whatever you are doing, God pursues. You run harder, but God is relentless in His pursuit of your heart.

It’s true – it will just get worse if you don’t stop. Oh God won’t get you. He won’t take you down. He won’t punish you. But the life of a believer is full of joy, peace, contentment, REST. And God wants you to live this way. God has no desire for you to work harder, run faster or do more. He just wants to catch you and hold you and speak His love words over your life. No one who’s ever stopped running and let God catch them has been disappointed. You won’t either.

Oh beloved, God knows everything you have to accomplish this day. He’s in pursuit of you because He loves you. He wants to have a little time with you each day to speak His blessings into your life.  Yes, He wants to change things. But nothing given to the Lord is ever missed. Because He changes your desires, your hopes, your dreams. He exchanges the marathon life of stuff for a walk in the garden with Him.  Others have told you to run. Others have said you can’t get ahead if you don’t keep running. Some of your most treasured acquaintances have run away, run on ahead or run off and left you. But God will go with you the rest of your days. 

Won’t you spend a moment with Him this morning, quietly, restfully, safe in His arms? He is running after you with love, He beckons you to rest in His love and He calls you to read of His love. Because He loves you and He’s for you the stop is worth the doing because He will make your life more enjoyable so that you can run without getting weary for the rest of your days.

Psalm 139:7 I can never escape from Your Spirit! I can never get away from Your presence!

Micah 6:8 No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what He requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

Psalm 127:2 It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to His loved ones.

Psalm 23:2 He lets me rest in green meadows; He leads me beside peaceful streams.

Isaiah 40:31 Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.

Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

All Hope is Not Gone!

Saturday mornings when our kids were little were full of preparation for fun. We rarely ever had a bad Saturday. We were either all outside working and playing in the yard or headed to see family or taking a leisure ride to the lake or to hike. Sometimes it would be rainy or bad weather and we’d have to stay inside but even then we played and watched old movies and cartoons. Saturdays were pretty much just great leisure days.

For the followers of Christ, this particular Saturday in History was not so much fun.  The believers who had followed Jesus into Jerusalem just the week before were now disconsolate.  The ones who had spoken of undying devotion were nowhere to be found. Everyone who had believed was faced with the Lord’s absence. Those who had been healed, delivered and set free were wondering if they would have to return to life as it was before. I’m sure they were thinking that if Jesus, the Perfect One, could be arrested, tortured and killed - it might happen to them as well.

He told them it would happen and He told them not to fear. He told them He would come again to get them and that He would send them a Comforter to help until He returned. But He was gone now. As far as they could see with their eyes, it was indeed finished. Their hope was gone.

Oh beloved, God knows your situation. He understands that you may be having a bad day or a bad month or a bad year. He had a very bad day one Friday, as He was made to take the place of the guilty prisoner. He was mocked for His belief, He was denied His rights, He was pronounced guilty even as He was forgiving the world.

Run to the Lord this morning and let Him give you an awesome Saturday! No matter what you are facing, it’s all been taken care of through the Blood of the Lamb! Whatever you are going through, you don’t have to go alone. Rejected? Fearful? Mourning? He’s with you! Discouraged? Downhearted? Lonely? He’s there for you! He promises that if you put your trust in Him, He will make good out of bad, triumph out of failure and joy out of sorrow.

Let Him give you all His love for His Name is Love and your name is Beloved! Let Him care for you for He is your Comforter always, even unto the ends of the age!

Isaiah 53:5 But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins.  He was beaten so we could be whole.  He was whipped so we could be healed.

Matthew 28:20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

John 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever—

Isaiah 61:3 To all who mourn in Israel, He will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair.  In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for His own glory.

Looking for Easy Street?

My dad always had a comfortable chair. Before recliners it was an overstuffed swivel rocker.  Easy chairs they were called back then. Eventually he had a recliner.  Nobody sat in daddy’s chair. LOL.  His comfort was most important to him.

We all want easy chairs don’t we? Somewhere we can call our own to kick back and relax. We want to feel great and have no worries. Living the life, having it all, resting on easy street…

For most folks, life is just a little left of Easy Street, and not quite like living in an Easy Chair. Problems abound, and they’re coming more and more often. We’re giving up the good life of our ancestors for the “me” life of our present lifestyles. We try to get more and more comfortable with ourselves and yet find that we aren’t any happier as we get more, do more and be more.

If you are one of those whose life is left of Easy Street, then you know what I’m talking about. Less cash than bills. Less love than needed.  Less things than wanted. Less courage, less joy, less victory. You look at what others have and do and you wonder how they ever got so ahead of you.

I know you want things to be easy but things don’t always go as planned. Even when you do the right thing and attempt to do your level best to live for Jesus, things can go oh so wrong. Maybe it’s time to quit looking for a comfy spot to get away, and begin seeking for a strong spot to stand.

Oh beloved, run to the Comfort of God’s Word! Rest in the Promises of Christ! Relax in the Joy of the Lord! God says to you this morning, “I have this”. The life you want so badly, if you will just take a moment to look to Me and take your eyes off others, I will show you deep and beautiful things I have for you, just you.  Even when you can’t see what others are going through, believe Me, they have their own load to bear and they too are looking for an easy chair, an easier life and easier road. In fact, it is only in finding rest in Me Alone, that you find what you are really looking for.

Follow God always beloved. Get His Word deep down into your heart and let its roots take hold. For you will find that while things aren’t always easy, life in Christ is good – oh so good! Because the Lord Himself loves you and the King of the Universe is for you and that makes for comfort and joy in spite of it all.

 

Psalm 119:50 This is my comfort in my affliction, That Your word has revived me.

Psalm 62:1 My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him.

Psalm 146:5 But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God.

Psalm 34:5 Those who look to Him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.

Micah 7:7 As for me, I look to the Lord for help. I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me.

You Can Find Sweet Rest

I’ve been having a little trouble sleeping lately. Not a big deal, but I can’t seem to sleep through the night without waking up, sometimes for an hour or so.  I’m not upset or overly thinking about anything, just wide awake.  I am ready to sleep all night again!  With a music app on my phone I have been known to turn it to praise and worship, put it under my pillow and listen.  Doesn’t take long for me to be back asleep.  Soft, soothing music is good for my spirit and helps me slip back into dream land.

Rest is imperative for the human body. Without comfortable solid sleep, the day ahead can get weary. We may find ourselves grumpy or even find our joints and back sore. Wrestling with the bed to get settled in just right is tiring.  Being too hot or too cold will also cause discomfort and wakefulness. There are a lot of outside elements that make or break good sleep.  Rest makes for clearer thinking, better outlooks and more stamina to make it through the day.  I remember my mother telling me, when my kiddos were babes and sometimes didn’t sleep good, “If a mother can get a good night’s sleep, she can handle pretty much anything during the day.”  So, so true.

Believers need rest too. Faith rest is absolutely important for the spirit of a believer. If you fret and worry and carry the burdens of the previous day, you’ll find yourself oh so tired.  If you go to bed with baggage, either yours or what others put on you, and you don’t lay it aside  you will stay fatigued.  With spiritual fatigue comes physical fatigue. Weariness of heart makes for a weary mind which makes for a weary body.  Unless a child of God learns how to rest, they’ll be perpetually tired. They won’t be able to handle the day’s events – upsets, sorrows, discouragement, and more. It will just snowball and you’ll find yourself wakeful, fretful and tired.

Oh beloved, are you need to rest?  Are you handle all your problems alone? Run to the Lord, who wants to take your burdens, who wants to give you the rest you so need, who wants to bless you with comfort and peace! Seek His Word and see – He promises to give rest to you.  He promises to take your burdens and carry them. He promises give you every answer to every problem, so that you don’t have to wrestle with them! Beloved, you do not have to carry everyone’s problems either. Just carry them to the Lord in prayer and rest in the promise of His answer as well!

God loves you and He’s always with you, working things out for you and those you love, so you can rest! Resting in His promises is your birthright and His delight. And that’s all that really matters.

 

Psalm 91:1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

Isaiah 30:15a This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength.…”

Matthew 11:29 Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Psalm 4:8 In peace I will lie down and sleep, for You alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.

Psalm 62:5 Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him. (NIV)

Exodus 33:14 And He said, “My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.”

You Can Have it All This Christmas!

Each year I work hard to make sure at least one present under the tree is something that the recipient really wants. I want them to be excited when they open the package. I want them to ooh and ahh and show delight in the contents.  While it may be something they “need”, still I want it to be fun.  While it may be something they asked for, still I want them to be surprised. My desire is to bless them. One of my grandsons asked me to open the presents now – why wait? Indeed, the expectancy of the looks on one anothers’ faces at the tree makes me all the more eager to participate in the gift exchange. Sometimes I wrap the presents and think that later I’ll get around to putting labels on them. This is a big mistake because I might forget, and have in the past, what was in the package and who it was for. So I’ve found myself opening the occasional package to remember.  Other times we adults have gotten tickled as little ones open packages and spend their time playing with the box, totally ignoring the gift that was inside!  

I know that Christmas isn’t always everything it’s cracked up to be. There are the issues of living life in a fallen world. There may be sorrowful things in your life. Adult children living away from God’s will, family members in failing health, jobs that no longer bring meaning, bills that keep piling up, spouses that grow cold and indifferent. Hurts and agonies and frustrations run rampant, it seems maybe even more so during this season. Christmas may not hold all the wonder it used to, but isn’t there something redeemable in this season turned so commercial? Isn’t there somewhere in the recesses of our hearts that we humans can find solace and hope and wonder again?

Maybe it’s time to put down the wrapping paper and the ribbons. Lay aside the long to-do list. Put aside the pile of bills for just a moment and ponder again the wonder of all that we can find in the Christ Child. All our hopes and dreams begin and end in Him and if we let Him, He will make not only Christmas, but every day a blessing in Him.   

Oh beloved, run to your Savior! He’s calling you so gently, so lovingly, so earnestly! It’s imperative that you rest in the love of Immanuel, for He is God with us! In this world you may find starkness and sorrow and little or no fulfillment, but in Him…. In Him  you will find all your hearts’ desires realized. In Him you will find all the comfort you could ever ask for. In Him you have rest for your weary heart, peace for your worried soul and joy for your sorrowing mind.  In Jesus, God will meet our every need, through Jesus we will be given every provision, and from Jesus we will receive every blessing God can give.

He says to you this morning, I AM your source of Light in a dark world. I AM your source of blessing in a world full of curses, I AM your provision in a world that is meeting less and less of your needs. From Me, in Me, all that you need is found. Rest in Me, rejoice in Me, for I AM all you will ever need and more.

While you may not find all you need under your tree, in your home, at your office or in your relationships, IN CHRIST you have it all! Now isn’t that worth celebrating and giving God the glory! Thank Him this morning as you rehearse all that you are in Him for He loves you extravagantly and He’s for you eternally! Wow, Immanuel, God with us – what a Savior, what a King, what a Love!

Colossians 2:9-10 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

Isaiah 9:6 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on His shoulders. And He will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Colossians 2:7 Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

2 Corinthians 4:6 For it is God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Psalm 130:7  O Israel, hope in the LORD; for with the LORD there is unfailing love. His redemption overflows.

Lamentations 3:24  I say to myself, “The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!”

In His Presence is Peace!

Fall is one of my favorite times of year. I love the reds, browns and golds of the season. I can observe the beautiful leaves as I drive onto our street, with the large oak trees lining the lawns, including ours. Each day I’ve noticed how the colors get more and more vivid. From the green hues of summer to pale yellows of early fall to the brightest autumn colors. Oak and sweet gum leaves are aflame with color.  The view is always so nice.

As I drove into our street yesterday afternoon I was surprised to notice a big change in the view. Ankle deep leaves now line the street while most of the trees are pretty bare. The season has changed again and it’s beginning to look like winter. The stark reality was colder and less welcoming. I remembered that my home was filled with light and warmth and color. I couldn’t wait to get inside and gaze at our lovely Christmas tree and rest.

Life can change in an instant, just like the seasons. One day you’re enjoying the beautiful view and all is well. The next day things can change. The outlook can go from pleasant and enjoyable to stark and cold in the blink of an eye. Outside there are troubles, dangers, temptations, and more. Hurts and anguish can totally replace the warmth of former days. Our reliance on the world around us becomes very apparent when it all goes south. That’s when we long for the warm fire of our home and the familiar smells and sights that bring us great comfort.

God spoke to my heart. The Christian life has seasons as well. When life goes into winter mode and we find nothing pleasant in the view and our hearts are cold from the troubles, we seek for solace somewhere. As soon as we go into the house of God, into His presence, we are relieved. Things outside of His presence may not change quickly or ever, but God’s presence is the only thing we really need to fulfill the longing of our hearts. His warmth is ever present, His truth is full of the colors of His personality and essence and we find that in basking in Him we are not only revived, we are strengthened for the next day.

Oh beloved, run to the Lord! Rest in His promises! Seek out His loving presence. He’s calling you to come in out of the weather and sit with Him. Relax in all that He is. He is greater than your troubled world, He is full of warmth. All you need, absolutely everything, is met in Him. It may be winter in your life, but in His presence it’s lovely!  Gaze into His Wonderful Face and rest in Him. His love will warm you all the days of your life and His comfort and care will cause you to forget your surroundings as you concentrate totally on Him.  He takes your ordinary problem filled days and makes them Holy as He consecrates your life to Himself! Thank Him today for He is your refuge and source of blessings always.

Psalm 43:3-5 Send out your light and your truth; let them guide me.  Let them lead me to your holy mountain, to the place where you live.  There I will go to the altar of God. To God—the source of all my joy. I will praise you with my harp, O God, my God!   Why am I discouraged?  Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God!  I will praise Him again— my Savior and my God!

2 Corinthians 1:3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.

Psalm 31:20 You hide them in the shelter of your presence, safe from those who conspire against them. You shelter them in your presence, far from accusing tongues.

Psalm 91:1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.