Category: Rest

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Resting

You all know how much I love to sit in the morning quiet and spend time with the Father. This morning is no different than the others. I am finding such a refreshing for my soul.

We had a wonderful 4th of July weekend. Our daughter’s house was filled with family and friends. We laughed, we talked, we ate and we just enjoyed the love we all share. It was loud, lots of giggles; it was Arizona hot but fun and also tiring. When we got home Sunday afternoon I was tired. Really tired.

We had been gone from home for ten days. We unloaded the car, unpacked the suitcases, threw a pizza in the oven and crashed. I think I took a two hour nap. The last two days have been filled with laundry, going through the mail, making phone calls, paying bills and generally getting caught up. I don’t do well with clutter, not in my house and not in my head.

As I come to my morning quiet time today I am finding the Father here to restore my soul. I’m feeling refreshed, encouraged and energized!

“Adonai is my shepherd; I lack nothing. 2 He has me lie down in grassy pastures, he leads me by quiet water, 3 he restores my inner person. He guides me in right paths for the sake of his own name.” Psalm 23:1-3 CJB Complete Jewish Bible.

I feel so blessed to know that He knows what I need when I need it! He loved spending time with His friends and ministering to the needs of those who followed Him. Jesus also knew the importance of pulling away and spending time with the Father. It was in those times that He was refreshed.

I think that’s why He told Martha that she was “cumbered about with much serving”. Jesus made himself a servant to all so He knew the responsibility of meeting the needs of others. Like Mary (Martha’s sister), Jesus knew when it was time to “Choose the good part” and listen to the Father.

“While Jesus and his followers were traveling, he went into a town, and a woman named Martha let him stay at her house. 39 She had a sister named Mary. Mary was sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to him teach. 40 But her sister Martha was busy doing all the work that had to be done. Martha went in and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are getting worried and upset about too many things. 42 Only one thing is important. Mary has made the right choice, and it will never be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42 ERV

Thank you Father for restoring and refreshing. Thank you for friends and family who fill my life with so much love. Thank you for reminding me to choose the good part!

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A Good Nap Is Valuable

This was a busy weekend. Thursday we drove to the Phoenix area to visit with our daughters and their families. Our last visit up there was Christmas. We had such a good time.

Thursday when we arrived we got some shopping done while they were working. Dave and I had almost forgotten what the Phoenix heat was like. When we came out of one store it was 107*. The truck thermometer said it was 113*. This was just a friendly reminder of why we have chosen not to live in the metro area.

But the heat didn’t deter us from having a good time. We spent a good portion of the day on Friday checking out a campground for Fall camping trip. It was tucked away on a creek and only a few hours drive from Mesa. Yes! Trip planned and on the calendar.

Saturday we had a bar-b-que and pool party with both girls, their husbands and our three youngest grandkids. The giggles, the squeals, the jumping and splashing were as refreshing as the water. Nothing could top the hugs, the kisses, the smiles and the “I love you’s” that everyone exchanged. Such a sweet time!

As you’re reading all of this I can hear you asking “but what’s the point of this morning’s blog?”. Are you ready for it? It’s very profound – our heavenly Father wants us to enjoy life. He wants us to spend time with those we love and He wants us to immerse ourselves in His presence and His love.

“I have seen what is best for people to do on earth: They should eat, drink, and enjoy the work they have during their short time here. God has given them these few days, and that is all they have. 19 If God gives some people wealth, property, and the power to enjoy those things, they should enjoy them. They should accept the things they have and enjoy their work—that is a gift from God.” Ecclesiastes 5:18-19 ERV

The things we have are blessings from the Lord and we should enjoy what He has given us. Our heavenly Father doesn’t want us to spend all of our time striving to make a living. In fact, He tells us to trust Him to help in that and to rest and enjoy our families.

“If it is not the Lord who builds a house, the builders are wasting their time. If it is not the Lord who watches over the city, the guards are wasting their time. 2 It is a waste of time to get up early and stay up late, trying to make a living. The Lord provides for those he loves, even while they are sleeping. 3 Children are a gift from the Lord, a reward from a mother’s womb.” Psalm 127:1-3 ERV

I am so thankful for the weekend the Lord gave us and I am also thankful for the nice long nap I was able to take once we got home yesterday afternoon. Please understand God wants us to see His love and provision in everything; safety, jobs, family, health, recreation, and even naps. The Lord wants us to rest, rest in knowing that He is in control.

Put the words of the Apostle Paul into practice today. “Everything you say and everything you do should be done for Jesus your Lord. And in all you do, give thanks to God the Father through Jesus.” Colossians 3:17 ERV

Give thanks in everything – even in a good nap!

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Feeling Overwhelmed?

About eighteen months ago we repurposed our dining room. Out with the dining table (everyone likes to eat on the patio when they come) and in with the roll-top desk, bookcase, filing cabinet, side table and two wonderful wooden rockers that Dave refinished.

The side table holds a lamp and a charging station. On the bottom shelf we have our books; several translations of the Bible, daily devotionals and our “what I want to read next” stack of books. This is my quiet place; my sit-and-pray, read-n-pray, pray-n-write solace. I have learned that every morning life needs to start here or I, all too quickly, become overwhelmed with life’s daily routine and whatever new crisis that crops up in the world overnight.

Here, before the day really starts, I spend time with my Father. He encourages me, corrects me, strengthens and instructs me. It’s here I pray for family, friends, neighbors, our nation and the world.

Life can be overwhelming, Jesus understands that. He knows we need help and He is here to provide what we need. These are some of Jesus final words to His disciples. He would be arrested in just a matter of hours.

“Jesus answered them, ‘Do you finally believe? In fact, you’re about to make a run for it—saving your own skins and abandoning me. But I’m not abandoned. The Father is with me. I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.’” John 16:31-33 MSG

The disciples were facing an overwhelming time – the death of their leader and their own persecution. Jesus’ words were trust me, be at peace, cheer up, I’m here and I have conquered the world. The same truth is for us as well. Jesus wanted their focus to change from being overwhelmed by their circumstances to overcoming them.

I make lists when I come to my quiet place – a list with prayer needs and I have a daily to-do list. I pray over both of them. I ask the Lord to provide for those I know who need specific things and I ask for direction on which of my to-do’s need my attention that day. It keeps me focused and on track. I hand the Lord those I love dearly and the situations that could overwhelm and I receive His peace, joy and reassurance.

There’s one place in Psalms that I go to when I am feeling overwhelmed and it always brings me peace.

“O God, listen to my cry!  Hear my prayer! 2 From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help
 when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety, 3for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me. 4 Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings!” Psalm 61:1-4 NLT

When life is overwhelming, run to the One who overcame all its adversity. Find safety and peace with the Rock of Ages.

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Relief From Weariness

I sat here for the longest time this morning trying to gather my thoughts. There is only one way to describe what I’m feeling – it’s weariness. Emotionally I’m weary. I’m tired of the anger and hatred. Selfishness and greed are everywhere and it’s exhausting.

Maybe you are weary too.

What do we do in times like these? Where do we find strength and rest?

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30 MSG

Night and day people came to Jesus. Some of them needed miracles, some needed answers, some wanted to trip Him up and defame Him. Others were drawn to His compassion and the genuineness of His teaching. He was rarely alone and when He did go to a solitary place to pray, they would come searching for Him.

And He never turned anyone away…in fact, He gave us the invitation above. “Come to me all who are weary and I will show you how to rest”. So, this morning I came. I came to sit and rest in His presence and with His word. I like what it says in the Message version “Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely”.

Free from anxiety, free from fear, free from anger, hatred, selfishness and greed. We are free to experience peace, joy, love and kindness. We are free to experience forgiveness, grace, mercy and strength.

Weariness comes from focusing on our own efforts and resources. Rest comes when we focus on the Father. I worked with a pastor who would often comment “I don’t want to work for the Lord; I want to work with Him”. That’s exactly what these verses are saying “walk with me, work with me, watch how I do things – it will bring you to a place of rest”. King David said it was like laying down in green pastures.

As I sit here now, I feel the weariness leaving, like water draining from the bath tub, and a calm, refreshing coming to my soul. The Lord loves to trade with us – we bring Him our sin and He trades it for forgiveness. We give Him anxiety and He trades it for peace. He offers us strength when we admit our weakness. He gives us grace for our failures.

Thank you Father. I brought You my heaviness. You were true to Your word and You gave me Your rest!

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Lord, It’s Morning!

Listen…No stop right now and listen for 10 seconds.

If you’re anything like me your morning starts with the sound of the coffee pot, the hum of the computer fan and a myriad of other noises all competing for your attention. I am blessed to live in rural Arizona where there are no sounds of traffic, sirens, planes or other such noises, just the birds and the coyotes. When we lived in Montana I would hear the momma cows calling to their calves and the horses nickering as they waited for morning feed. But it hasn’t always been that way.

I know what it’s like to wake to the alarm clock. Have kids that need to get up, be fed and taken to school on my way to the office in the busy traffic. Radios playing, tv spilling the morning news, emails to read, FB to check in on – so much noise. It can be deafening.

When you stopped to listen did you hear the voice of God?

I wake up each morning and say “I love you Father, I love you Jesus, I love you Holy Spirit” and then I can hear that inner voice say “We love you too”. WOW!!

“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

We spend so much time looking for the big, the spectacular, the miraculous and we miss the simple, still, small voice of God trying to lead us and give us insight. How many times have we said, “I knew I shouldn’t have done that” or “It just dawned on me” or “I was just thinking about that very thing” and we don’t realize that God is trying to get through to us?

When David, the anointed king, was running from Saul in desert he continually inquired of the Lord. Should I go or stay? Should I attack or refrain? The Bible tells us that David was a man “after God’s own heart”. He wanted to be led by God in all he did. He knew that his well-being was entirely in God’s hands.

“I will call to God for help, and the Lord will save me. 17 I speak to God morning, noon, and night. I tell him what upsets me, and he listens to me! 18 I have fought in many battles, but he has always rescued me and brought me back safely.” Psalm 55:16-18 ERV

The most important thing we’ll hear each morning, if we listen, will be the still, small voice of the Lord. Sssssh – just listen!

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Following Good Advice

I don’t know about you but sometimes I have difficulty following good advice, even my own advice. In my book, The Best Gifts of Christmas, I wrote about marking our calendars and taking a day of rest. This does so much to lower our stress levels and keep us focused on what’s truly important during the Christmas season.

I wrote R-E-S-T on December 19th, yesterday. I had fully intended to do just that. The only thing I had scheduled was a long lunch with a dear friend. My intention was to do nothing. I got my coffee, my Bible and went to my rocking chair to start a quiet morning. That’s when it happened, I opened my email and there were “things” demanding my attention.

No, not today. But I felt I had too…

Anyone else like me? I’m a fixer and I can’t just leave things lay if they call for a response and action. I hate to admit it, I got sucked in and my resting lasted all of an hour. What’s worse, once I had fixed the problem that faced me I decided my resting was already gone and so I decided I could get a batch of cookies made before I went to my lunch. I was deviating further from my promise to myself, and yes, even to the Lord, to rest. I went to the kitchen and discovered I was missing one crucial ingredient. No cookies would be made until I went to the store.

Refocus.

I had time to reset my day’s priority. I stopped, showered, poured another cup of coffee and rested. I visited with Dave for a bit and then I was out the door to my luncheon date. It was so nice; time to catch up with a friend. Work could wait; I was resting.

As I’m writing this I’m laughing at myself. How quickly I get absorbed into thinking that I have to get things done. Who else will do them? That’s a lot of pressure, carrying the world on your shoulders. The success of the Christmas traditions depends on me and my getting things done. That’s not God!

Following God’s word is like following a recipe. If we want a good result we have to follow the measurements and the instructions.

“Come to Me, all of you who work and have heavy loads. I will give you rest. 29 Follow My teachings and learn from Me. I am gentle and do not have pride. You will have rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29 NLV

This morning I hear the Lord calling me again to rest. He doesn’t want us burned out, used up and at wit’s end. He wants us to be refreshed, restored and renewed. I plan to be obedient to God’s calling and listen to my own advice. It’s a recipe for success.

Today I will rest. I hope you will too.

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Rest!

Do you remember being little and having your Mom tell you to take a nap? It was torture. The thought of having to lay down, close your eyes and rest. Fast forward sixty plus years; please, please, please will someone make me go to my room and rest!!

Our bodies need rest. They aren’t made to continually operate at full speed. Rest is an overlooked necessity to our good health. Overstimulation brings stress factors; anxiety, short temper, fatigue, forgetfulness, rudeness, worry, overeating, heart problems, poor digestion and so much more.

God gave us a gift – He gave us the seventh day. He set the example from the very beginning. After all He created He rested and enjoyed the fruit of His labor.

“By the seventh day God had finished his work, and so he rested. 3 God blessed the seventh day and made it special because on that day he rested from his work.” Genesis 2:2-3 CEV

It wasn’t until hundreds of years later that the Lord gave Moses the Ten Commandments and made resting on the seventh day an established sign of obedience.

“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

God gave us a day of rest for our well being but also as a reminder to give Him pre-eminence in our lives. All of the commandments that God has given are for our best – don’t lie, murder, steal, commit adultery, etc and so is keeping the Sabbath or a day of rest. All the other nations worked every day, there was no rest. Resting was a sign to them that the Israelites were a people who had a promise of provision from the Lord. They didn’t need to work themselves to death; they were trusting God.

“I reminded them that I was the Lord their God and that they should obey my laws and teachings. 20 I told them to respect my Sabbath to show that they were my people and that I was the Lord their God.” Ezekiel 20:19-20 CEV

Let’s not miss out on this wonderful gift of rest that God has provided for us. Let’s place of our trust in Him that He will help us get enough done in the six days to rest on the seventh. After all, we should be following His example.

“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

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Three Dog Morning

For the last several days we have been at our daughter’s, dog sitting. They went to Japan to visit our grandson and his wife. What a wonderful opportunity for them and we were glad to help.

When I got up this morning, I started the coffee and you guessed it, I let the dogs out. The past few mornings the dogs have come in and scattered to their various places. Not today! If I were to take a picture, you would find me in the large chair with one pup laying across my legs while the other two are sleeping on the floor on either side of my chair.

It’s a three dog morning. The pups are content to be close – no fear, just gentle sleep. This was the object lesson before me while I was reading my Bible.

“The faithful love of the Lord never ends!  His mercies never cease. 23 Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. 24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance;  therefore, I will hope in him!” 25 The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him.” Lamentations 3:22-25 NLT

The Lord is good. The Lord is faithful. The Lord’s love never ends. The Lord’s mercies are fresh every morning.

Those are verses of comfort and peace. God’s word is soothing and it makes my heart rest just like these pups that surround me. This morning is free from anxiousness or fear. There is rest and peace in the air.

My prayers turned to those who woke this morning in turmoil and anxiety. I prayed that they would know rest and safety. Remember a week or so back when I wrote about the kindness of God? Since then I have been very mindful of finding the words kind, kindness and safety in my daily Bible reading. It’s there on almost every page!

One of my favorite Scriptures, a must read at least 4 or 5 times a month, is Psalm 91. When I was learning to trust, really trust, the Lord I read it daily. On difficult days I would read it several times throughout the day. Here are just a few verses from that chapter.

“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. 3 For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. 4 He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection…7 Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you…9 If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, 10 no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home…14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. 15 When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. 16 I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.” Psalm 91 NLT

A place of rest – a place of safety; staying close to the Father brings me to that place!

As the pups sleep on, my heart is quiet and I am content knowing that my Father watches over me and gives me new mercy for the day ahead.

It’s a three dog morning!

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Find Rest

A few days ago I addressed the issue of contentment. This isn’t something that we receive a one-time teaching on. No, daily there are things, that creep in subtly or hit us like a Mac truck, that try to steal or successfully steal our contentment. It’s then we need to be reminded that God is in control and we can trust Him.

So this morning I feel admonished to bring you another teaching on contentment. The Lord has always used personal experiences to teach me His word and today’s lesson is no different. I know of nothing that depicts contentment and trust more than a sleeping baby. They are the epitome of trust and contentment.

“Be still, and know that I am God:” Psalm 46:10

I remember when our youngest daughter, Kaci, was just around a year old. She awaken in the middle of the night and I got up with her and took her to the living room to rock her. She shared a bedroom with her sister and I didn’t want to wake her too.

When I got to the living room I sat down on the couch and began to rock back and forth, thinking the rocking motion would lull Kaci back to sleep. She really wanted none of that. She began to lean her body in the direction of the family room and kitchen. (You know that kind of lean, the one little kids have when they want you to take them somewhere. They communicate with body language before they can talk.) I told her softly that there wasn’t anything in there and she just needed to cuddle in and sleep. She continued crying and leaning so I got up, with her in my arms, and walked into the family room, then the kitchen, through the dining room and back to the living room – all the while being led by the leaning of a child.

Once we were back in the living room we sat down on the couch, again. As I began the rocking motion that I had tried to comfort her with just minutes before, she settled in and went to sleep. I looked at her, smiled and thought, “This is where we started, why couldn’t we have done this the first time?”

With that, I heard the Lord minister to me; “How many times do I take you somewhere and you insist on leaning/leading to another place? I patiently give in to your will and then we go full circle and end up back where I had you at the start. I take you back and there you find peace.”

Wow! Lord what a graphic lesson. There have been times when I thought I knew best – I thought I wanted to be any place but here and so I would go from place to place, room to room and come back to find “Be still and know that I am God!”

Here was the place God wanted me to rest. Here was the place He wanted me to be content.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart;  do not depend (lean) on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3:5-6 NLV

This doesn’t mean we take a laissez-faire approach and give up on our dreams and desires. It does mean that we can trust God with our dreams and let Him bring them to pass.

Thanking God today for His mercy – for allowing me to come back to the place of peace where I can “Be Still and Know that He is God!”

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Memory Lane

A few weeks ago while my mother was here visiting we found ourselves talking about the “old times”. This is something we do quite often when we are together.

We talked about her childhood, my childhood and that of my children. I find it hard to imagine what it must be like to have ninety-six years of lifetime to remember. She does so well; sometimes its hard for her to remember yesterday or last week but her memories of times past are sharp.

Several years ago Dave and I made a trip to Arizona from Montana through Colorado and New Mexico. As a girl, I lived in northern New Mexico for about a year. My dad was doing road construction and this was the next leg of the journey.

Anyway…I shared my memories with Dave on that trip and then Mom and I reminisced about those same things when she was here. It was a special time for me; my first snow, picking pinyons on the mountain side, the neighbors peach orchard, good friends who lived close to the creek, Christmas Eve mass at the Catholic mission and visiting the hogans on the Indian Reservation every week and to bring kids into town to the Good News club.

It was a magical time.

When our children were very little, Kim wasn’t quite two and Koy was only weeks old, we moved from Phoenix to Las Cruces, New Mexico. That was a special time for Dave and I.

It was there that God revealed Himself to us as the Great Healer when He healed our son. It was there, too, that we first learned about the victorious Christian life that God wants us to live. We began hearing teaching from God’s word on the authority of the believer and that we weren’t subject to a life of “just struggle through and when we get to heaven it will be worth it all”. Oh yes, it will be worth it but God has called us to be more than conquerors and overcomers in Christ Jesus and our eyes were open to that then. That was forty-two years ago.

It’s good to take a walk down memory lane. In fact, God told the Israelites that they should recall the deliverance from Egypt to their children so they wouldn’t fall into the trap of serving false gods. The Passover was and is a time of remembrance of God’s deliverance.

It’s important to remember!

Sometimes we get so caught up in the hear and now that we forget about God’s faithfulness in the past. Some of today’s problems seem monumental, insurmountable but in remembering the past, we see God’s faithfulness and how He moved to deliver us from the giants of days gone by.

Take time today to recall the miracles God has done in your life – tell someone your testimony. Remember when you gained new insight in God’s word and it brought you out of bondage to fear, to religious tradition, to addictive behaviours, etc. Let your journey be an encouragement to your children and to those you love and maybe even to a stranger.

“Remember these commands I give you. Keep them in your hearts. Write them down and tie them on your hands and wear them on your foreheads as a way to remember my laws. 19 Teach these laws to your children. Talk about these things when you sit in your houses, when you walk along the road, when you lie down, and when you get up. 20 Write these commands on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates. 21 Then both you and your children will live a long time in the land that the LORD promised to give to your ancestors. You will live there as long as the skies are above the earth.” Deuteronomy 11:18-21

Let your walk down Memory Lane encourage you – God was faithful then and He is still the same today.

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