Category: Rest

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Silent Night

Yesterday was a busy day – I’m sure it was for you too. We left our sticks and bricks house, loaded up our older camp trailer and headed to Mesa to drop it off and make arrangements for picking up our new toy hauler this morning.

We were blessed with each mile we traveled and spent the night at our oldest daughter’s and son-in-love. Their house is festive – the tree, the decorations, my old nativity and the outdoor inflatables. Yes, there’s Christmas all around and my heart is full.

As I sit here this morning, I have time to reflect. I’m remembering our Christmases in Idaho. We always had lots of snow. Out in our yard were three blue spruce trees and their boughs would be flocked with white, much like a Currier and Ives card. Each year the trees would grow, and we would purchase more strings of lights.

With the additional lights came a need to find additional outlets to handle the electricity. Not quite the Clark Griswold electricity demand but after the first two years it was more than the outlet on the front porch could handle.

Our living room southern exposure was all glass. I would sit on the sofa, in front of the wood burning stove, watch the flames, hear the crackling of the logs, see the lighted trees, sip my coffee and know my world was at peace. My soul embraced the silence!

That’s where my heart went this morning. After the hustle and bustle of the last weeks, I am wrapping myself in the peaceful silence and letting my heart worship the Lord for all His goodness, His love and His sacrifice.

Maybe you woke up this morning with your mind spinning and there doesn’t seem to be much peace. So much to do and so little time – still need to complete a dozen projects, a few more presents to buy, cards need to get in the mail, cookies and candies to make, family dinners, parties with friends, traveling to relatives and then of course, there are all the chores that come from daily life – what to do – what to do?!

Take time this morning, before you hurry off, to have one more cup of coffee, tea, hot chocolate, whatever it is you drink in the morning and tell the Lord all about your list of things to do. Let Him help you prioritize and then before you head out take time to thank Him for coming to earth and know this, He did it just for you.

“People might plan what they want to say, but it is the Lord who gives them the right words. 2 People think that whatever they do is right, but the Lord judges their reason for doing it. 3 Turn to the Lord for help in everything you do, and you will be successful.” Proverbs 16:1-3 ERV

When we trust our plans to the Lord, He takes the stress and replaces it with joy. He came that we might have life to the full and overflowing. Give Him your plans and let Him direct your steps.

Take time to sit with Him and enjoy the “silent night”.

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Heavenly Peace

Last night’s sleep was heavenly! That’s why I am posting later this morning.

We had a wonderful couple of days with family but I have to be honest and say that I’m not as energetic at 68 as I was at 44. Just sayin’…

I loved playing and keeping up with our 6-, 4- and 2-year-old grandchildren. I wouldn’t have changed a minute of it but my body was tired when they left and the Lord blessed me with a wonderful night’s sleep.

“I can lie down and sleep soundly because you, Lord will keep me safe.” Psalm 8:4 CEV

The Lord made our bodies to replenish and refresh themselves with sleep and many times we forget to comply. We push to the point of exhaustion and that can cause physical and emotional problems. It’s ok to say, “I need to take a break, I need a rest”.

“Without the help of the Lord it is useless to build a home or to guard a city. 2 It is useless to get up early and stay up late in order to earn a living. God takes care of his own, even while they sleep.” Psalm 127:1-2 CEV

As we continue into the Christmas season, we need to make sure we take time to rest – time to replenish and refresh.

“A child has been born for us. We have been given a son who will be our ruler. His names will be Wonderful Advisor and Mighty God, Eternal Father and Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 CEV

“So the Lord’s promise came true, just as the prophet had said, 23 “A virgin will have a baby boy, and he will be called Immanuel,” which means “God is with us.” Matthew 1:22-23 CEV

Two of the names that refer to Jesus are “Prince of Peace” and “Immanuel (God with us)”. Take time to rest, slow down. Enjoy God’s presence. Let the peace of God, dwelling in us, bring us to a place where we can sleep in heavenly peace!

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Roll Your Works

Oh my goodness, this morning has been filled with prayer and searching! I woke up with so many things on my mind – things that need to be done once we get home – and the list seems endless.

But more than that, my list needs organizing. You know – which comes first – I don’t have the time or the energy for wasted steps. Nor do I believe that the Lord wants me to waste my time and energy. Things need to be done in order.

As I sat down with my thoughts and made them my prayers, I felt the enormity of what lays ahead. Have you ever been there? Certain in your heart that your decision is the right one but also being overwhelmed with all the details. Do you have the strength and the wisdom to do things correctly?

The picture that came to mind this morning was one of pushing a large boulder across a field.

I love how the Father intervenes in my thinking and provides me with the answers I need in each situation. As I saw myself trying to move the impossible this is the verse that came to mind:

“The plans of the mind and orderly thinking belong to man, but from the Lord comes the [wise] answer of the tongue. 2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits (the thoughts and intents of the heart). 3 Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.” Proverbs 16:1-3 AMPC

Rolling that big rock seemed impossible at first but then the Lord reminded me that I am not alone in this endeavor. He is the one who put this dream in my heart and I can trust Him with every detail, no matter how many there are.

“Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.” I Peter 5:7 AMPC

I so enjoy reading these verses in the Amplified Version of the Bible. It certainly elaborates the meaning and intent of the verse. Casting the whole of my care – once and for all on Him!

That big boulder of decisions that I was trying to organize and put in proper order I have now rolled over on Him. I can trust Him to direct my steps and He will see that I succeed.

Thank you Father! Burden lifted and now I can go back to sleep!!

May you, too, roll your care over on the Father and rest in His loving arms!

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A Solitary Place

I think the thing I enjoy most about the mountains is the quiet – the solitude!

Each morning and evening I watch the campers come to enjoy the beauty of the morning sun on the lake and the evening glow but it’s the quiet and sense of peace that overwhelm me. I don’t think there is any other place on earth where I have experienced the Scripture, “Be still and know that I am God”, anymore than here.

Throughout the day, the side-by-side’s and pickups are headed to the lake and out to the trails. Campers are laughing, waving as they head out. There is such a sense of joy, even when it’s raining.

But it’s in the peace that the Lord speaks to my heart!

“God, you give true peace to people who depend on you, to those who trust in you.” Isaiah 26:3 ERV

We all need a place to come away and enjoy the quiet presence of the Lord.

“You have shown me the path to life, and you make me glad by being near to me. Sitting at your right side,  I will always be joyful.” Psalm 16:11 CEV

Life gets so hectic that we all need a place to unplug. Jesus knew this.

We tend over spiritualize Jesus life and forget that He faced difficult issues on a daily basis. The religious leaders hated him and were openly plotting his demise. The country he lived in was under the rule of a foreign dictator. The masses came seeking Him but most only wanted to see the next miracle and didn’t really embrace His message. His own disciples questioned his actions on numerous occasions. From early morning until late at night demands were made on His time and His strength.

“After Jesus said goodbye to the people, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. It was late, and he was there alone.” Matthew 14:23 ERV

“The next morning Jesus woke up very early. He left the house while it was still dark and went to a place where he could be alone and pray.” Mark 1:35 ERV

On the night that He was arrested He took His disciples with Him to the garden where He prayed.

“Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane. When they got there, he told them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” Matthew 26:36 CEV

Jesus needed a place to pray, we all need to follow His example.

I remember when our oldest children were two and four my quiet place was our walk-in closet. Honestly, that was where I had no distractions. I would put them down for their afternoon nap and I would go into the closet to pray. It wasn’t nearly as serene or beautiful as the view I now have of the lake but it was quiet and I was alone.

I encourage you to find a place – even a closet – that becomes your quiet place where you can go and sense God’s peace, be filled with His joy and come away refreshed.

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Rest for the Weary

This morning is one of those rare mornings when I would like to go back to bed. I didn’t sleep well, tossed and turned, and this morning as I sit here in my chair I am weary.

Not a good way to start the day.

I’m on my second cup of coffee and with each sip I close my eyes and inhale deeply. Each breath is a prayer for strength and direction. And then I wait, completely at peace, knowing I am in the Father’s presence and He will give me what I need for the day.

“Don’t you know? Haven’t you heard? The Lord is the eternal God, Creator of the earth. He never gets weary or tired; his wisdom cannot be measured. 29 The Lord gives strength to those who are weary. 30 Even young people get tired, then stumble and fall. 31 But those who trust the Lord will find new strength. They will be strong like eagles soaring upward on wings; they will walk and run without getting tired.” Isaiah 40:28-31 CEV

I don’t know what this day will have in store but He does and I can be confident in His strength. He will give me exactly what I need for the day ahead. The key point in these verses for me is this, “those who trust the Lord will find new strength”.

The thing I have learned in my sixty-eight years is the Lord is trust worthy. If He promises to give me strength, He will.

I just finished reading the story of Paul’s ship wreck on his way to Rome, again. They were in a terrible storm on the open sea for fourteen days. The Bible says they couldn’t see the sun – now, that’s a horrific storm. The crew and passengers were scared, they feared all was lost but the Lord gave Paul a message concerning their survival.

It could be that you feel you have been going through a fourteen day or a fourteen year storm. God has not and will not abandon you. He has a good plan for your life. Follow the advice that Paul gave.

“23 I belong to God, and I worship him. Last night he sent an angel 24 to tell me, “Paul, don’t be afraid! You will stand trial before the Emperor. And because of you, God will save the lives of everyone on the ship.” 25 Cheer up! I am sure that God will do exactly what he promised…33 Just before daylight Paul begged the people to eat something. He told them, “For fourteen days you have been so worried that you haven’t eaten a thing. 34 I beg you to eat something. Your lives depend on it. Do this and not one of you will be hurt.”

35 After Paul had said this, he took a piece of bread and gave thanks to God. Then in front of everyone, he broke the bread and ate some. 36 They all felt encouraged, and each of them ate something. 37 There were 276 people on the ship” Acts 27:23-27 CEV

Cheer up – have something to eat! God’s in control!

Renewed strength comes from trusting – trust Him to provide strength for our daily walk, then He gives us the energy to run with the day’s details and He also provides us with the strength, Isaiah says, to soar high above earth’s obstacles like an eagle.

“Lord, I came to you weary and I thank you that through Your word I have been strengthened and am at a place of rest. Today I will walk, run, and soar with You.”

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A Harmonious Outcome

For years I lived by my daily planner. The person who invited the “Day-Timer” was my hero.  Everything needed to be written down, each appointment recorded. That’s how I kept life organized and on track.

It wasn’t just the business, school and medical appointments. No, I put in trips to the grocery store, which day I would do laundry, time in my yard and for a while I even had the week’s menu in my planner.

I knew how each day should play out and it made me feel accomplished.

Gradually I found myself releasing control. Less and less do I reach for my planner with pencil in hand and it isn’t because we are retired and have less to do. I am learning to enjoy the moments, every day unexpected encounters with life.

“Trust the Lord and live right! The land will be yours, and you will be safe. 4 Do what the Lord wants, and he will give you your heart’s desire. 5 Let the Lord lead you and trust him to help. 6 Then it will be as clear as the noonday sun that you were right.7 Be patient and trust the Lord. Don’t let it bother you when all goes well for those who do sinful things.
8 Don’t be angry or furious. Anger can lead to sin.” Psalm 37: 3-8 CEV

Waiting patiently was not something either Dave or I were good at. We were the ones to do the planning and if something needed to be done you could count on us to jump in with both feet and take care of the details.

How you heard the expression “burning daylight”? That was us – we didn’t tolerate what we considered wasted time.  But our way has changed.

We are learning to relax, rest and enjoy all that God has for us. We are seeing the Lord remove stress and frustration from our lives and we are loving it. There’s a line from one of our favorite westerns that says, “Slow down, you’ll get a more harmonious outcome”.

When we slow down, we are more likely to experience the Lord’s little blessings. If we’re in a hurry, we often miss them completely. Yesterday morning after posting the blog Dave and I drove past three doe standing at the edge of the road. He slowed way down so I could get a picture. We almost stopped completely. They were in no hurry; they were content to stand there and eat the meadow grass.

It occurred to me that the animals in nature are really in no hurry at all. They just wait on what the Lord has provided. They eat quietly and lie down to rest in the shady spots. The only time you really see them “rushing” is when they feel they are in danger.

Kind of reminds me of Psalm 23. The Lord is my shepherd, He leads me by still waters and in green pastures, He restores my soul.

If the sheep can learn to relax and the doe can be still, shouldn’t we follow their example as we wait and trust in the Lord?

“You, Lord, are my shepherd.  I will never be in need. 2  You let me rest in fields of green grass. You lead me to streams of peaceful water,” Psalm 23:1-2 CEV

Enjoy this day.  Let the Lord minister to your heart!

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Busy, Busy, Busy

Good Morning!

I hope that you are looking forward to your day.  I’ve noticed the last couple months as things return to normal that I am hearing from friends and acquaintances that life is getting more hectic.

There are more things to occupy their time and schedules. Family get togethers, ball practice, weddings, showers, business trips, projects that had been put aside – life is certainly getting busier.

If we’re not careful we will find ourselves rapidly picking up speed on the old way of doing things and leave behind the slower lifestyle that was forced upon us but was good for us.

I have heard of studies that indicate mechanical equipment lasts longer with fewer repairs when it is allowed to be at rest at least one day a week. Employees are more productive when they have down time; one of the most positive comments during this nationwide work-from-home effort was that production and creativity increased.

Doctors attest to the fact that bodies are healthier when we have less stress and more rest. Even farmers know that taking their fields out of production every seven years is good for the soil and will cause the following year’s yield to increase.

I do believe that God knew what He was doing when He issued the commandment to rest on the Sabbath day.

“Remember that the Sabbath Day belongs to me. 9 You have six days when you can do your work, 10 but the seventh day of each week belongs to me, your God. No one is to work on that day—not you, your children, your slaves, your animals, or the foreigners who live in your towns. 11 In six days I made the sky, the earth, the oceans, and everything in them, but on the seventh day I rested. That’s why I made the Sabbath a special day that belongs to me.” Exodus 20:8-11 CEV

“You will plant seeds in your land for six years, and gather the grain. 11 But in the seventh year you will let the land rest without planting. So your people who are in need may eat. Whatever they leave, the animals may eat. You are to do the same with your grape-fields and olive trees. 12 You will work six days and rest on the seventh day. So your bull and your donkey may rest. And the son of your female servant, and the stranger, may get their strength again.” Exodus 23:10-12 NLV

In Exodus 20, God gives what we call the Ten Commandments to Moses. He then gave them to Israelites. These were to be the laws that directed everyday living. Isn’t it interesting to see that resting was just as important to the Lord as not killing, lying, or stealing?

I think we should all take another look at our appointment books and schedules. Block off time to rest. Let your body, mind and spirit have time to recover.

For those of us who are always on the go this will be hard to initially implement but remember it’s God’s commandment for our well-being.

Enjoy the day!

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Tired & Unsettled

I didn’t sleep well last night. In fact, I barely slept at all. I laid in bed trying to get back to sleep and when that didn’t work I got up. Up about an hour earlier than I normally do and that’s early.

Sitting here in my chair, I’ve been praying about what I should share and no great revelation came. Instead, I found myself saying “Lord, I’m tired and don’t know what to write” and then I realized that was the very thing I needed to put on paper.

I have let my heart get weighed down with some circumstances that are going on right now. I thought I’ve been handling it but I guess I’ve only been pushing it aside. Out of sight, out of mind. This morning I realize that I haven’t really trusted God with it.

“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 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.” Matthew 11:28-29 NLT

I’ve been trying to figure everything out in my own mind. Asking the question “what do I need to do” and it’s made me weary and unable to rest. That’s not the Lord’s plan for me and it isn’t His plan for you either.

His plan is for us to come to Him with our burdens and weariness. When we do He promises to give us rest. Rest…that’s how I know that I hadn’t given this to Him, there has been no rest.

I’m really glad you all were here today. I needed to lay all of this out on the table and then draw strength for the Source of all Strength.

“God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to him.” I Peter 5:7 CEV

In Him, I have found rest for my soul!

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Hurried & Harried

I don’t like being rushed or the feeling of being pressed in. It’s just not in my nature to enjoy the hustle and bustle. I like to take life slow.

It wasn’t always that way. At one point I went to college not far from Disneyland. My first real job was in downtown Phoenix, going the wrong way at rush hour and then living north of downtown San Diego having to commute there too. Yes, hustle and bustle is highly overrated.

However, we all need to go where God has called us. The secret is to hurry without becoming harried. Harried – that’s a great old word which means “feeling strained as a result of having demands persistently made on one; beset by problems; harassed”.

There was a time I took great pride in being able to multi-task but now the use of that term is as offensive to me as swearing. There is such peace in being able to focus on one thing and to do it well.

As I study the life of Jesus I find that He was able to do both – he could be surrounded by crowds and still focus on one thing. He was going through the streets of Jericho one day and the crowd was great around but He wasn’t distracted. He was focused on one thing, meeting the needs of people.

“There was a rich man named Zaccheus. He was a leader of those who gathered taxes. 3 Zaccheus wanted to see Jesus but he could not because so many people were there and he was a short man. 4 He ran ahead and got up into a sycamore tree to see Him. Jesus was going by that way.

5 When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw Zaccheus. He said, “Zaccheus, come down at once. I must stay in your house today.” 6 At once he came down and was glad to have Jesus come to his house.” Luke 19:2-6 NLV

And then, there was a woman who was both hurried and harried. Let’s see what Jesus said to her.

“As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. 40 But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”

41 But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! 42 There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42 NLT

Perhaps you are looking at your “To Do List” and feeling overwhelmed. You might be having all the family in for Easter. There’s a meal to plan, the kitchen to organize, fun and games for the family, the weather, etc. The list goes on..who will help, who will be late, who will be upset?

“Our God says, “Calm down, and learn that I am God!” Psalm 46:10a CEV

Don’t be harried! Focus on Jesus, enjoy His presence while you make the potato salad and cook the ham. Set the table with Him in mind. Let your heart be at peace.

Celebrate His resurrection and the love He brings to us all!

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Trust & Wait

I woke up several times in the night and these words filled my mind every time I did, “Trust in the Lord and wait patiently on Him”. Over and over again the words came. When I woke and knew it was time to get up I laid there for a few minutes longer, pulling together my thoughts and everything left except “Trust and Wait”.

“Depend on the Lord. Trust in him, and he will help you. 6 He will make it as clear as day that you are right. Everyone will see that you are being fair. 7 Trust in the Lord and wait quietly for his help.” Psalm 37:5-7 ERV

Both the trusting and the waiting can be hard and they are only developed through experience. The word depend also means to commit. One version of the verse reads “Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.” (NLT)

Everything.

We are to involve the Lord in everything we do. He will prove Himself faithful. Some people are of the mindset that they won’t bother God with the small things; those they can handle themselves. It’s only the “big” things that they feel they should bother the Lord with.

Things that are big to us barely make a blip on heaven’s radar. What could we possibly bring to the Father that He considers big? When we fail to bring Him the things we consider small issues we will find that we lack the experience to trust Him with life’s larger challenges.

David, as a young shepherd, saw the Lord’s faithfulness while taking care of his father’s sheep. He depended on the Lord to help him keep the sheep safe and so when the lion and the bear came to attack his flock he knew God was with him to defeat them. When the time came to face Goliath David was ready. He had already experienced God’s faithfulness in smaller things.

“Sir, I have killed lions and bears that way, and I can kill this worthless Philistine. He shouldn’t have made fun of the army of the living God!” I Samuel 17:36 CEV

Answerrs to small prayers give us courage to face down the giants.

“But I trust the Lord God to save me, and I will wait for him to answer my prayer.” Micah 7:7 CEV

Waiting on the Lord for answered prayer isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of great strength. It takes strength to pray and ask God for the next meal to feed your family and not worry. It takes strength to wait on the Lord to bring you to the next job when the company you worked for closed. It takes strength not to crumble when the doctor gives you a bad report.

That strength comes from trusting, depending on, being committed to dependence on our heavenly Father and His word.

“Even very young men get tired and become weak and strong young men trip and fall. 31 But they who wait upon the Lord will get new strength. They will rise up with wings like eagles. They will run and not get tired. They will walk and not become weak.” Isaiah 40:30-31 NLV

Trust and Wait! It’s there we find strength.

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