Rest

The Invitation – It’s ours to Answer

This week I got behind in my normal practice to read and pray with GiveHim15 by Dutch Sheets. Wow, I am catching up tonight and it’s so good I want to share The Invitation with you! I hope you will find it as inciteful and encouraging as I did.

To get things started, here is a paragraph from the article, which by the way you can watch on YouTube as well.

The Invitation

God loves being with us. Consider the following invitation: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hears My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20 KJV). The Almighty, the Creator, the Everlasting God of heaven and earth wants some time with us.

Go to the link above to read the rest!

Also, read this wonderful Psalm and give Him praise — He is a good God!

“God! Arise with awesome power, and every one of your enemies will scatter in fear! Chase them away—all these God-haters. Blow them away as a puff of smoke. Melt them away like wax in the fire. One good look at you and the wicked vanish. But let all the righteous be glad! Yes, let them all rejoice in your presence and be carried away with gladness. Let them laugh and be radiant with joy! Let them sing their celebration-songs for the coming of the cloud rider whose name is Yah! To the fatherless he is a father. To the widow he is a champion friend. The lonely he makes part of a family. The prisoners he leads into prosperity until they sing for joy. This is our Holy God in his Holy Place! But for the rebels there is heartache and despair. O Lord, it was you who marched in front of your people, leading them through the wasteland. Pause in his presence The earth shook beneath your feet; the heavens filled with clouds before the presence of the God of Sinai. The sacred mountain shook at the sight of the face of Israel’s God. You, O God, sent the reviving rain upon your weary inheritance, showers of blessing to refresh it. So there your people settled. And in your kindness you provided the poor with abundance.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭68‬:‭1‬-‭10‬ ‭TPT

Scripture quotations marked TPT are from The Passion Translation®. Copyright © 2017, 2018, 2020 by Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ThePassionTranslation.com.

Today, Tomorrow, Future & Hope

I retired a week ago, and while I have some short-term plans and longer term dreams, I am also seeking the Lord for what His plans are next for me. Well today, I was going through a journal of things I have felt He spoke to me, and this one seemed good to share with you. Whatever place you may be in your life, I hope it will speak to your heart, as it did mine.

Today is a day of trust and rest, listening and learning, of obedience and test, a time to believe. There is a tomorrow coming, and you have a place in me both now and then. For now, don’t get caught up wondering what is next. Get caught up with me, I am where you are, with you – NOW.

I Am the One who gives you a future and hope. I Am everlasting. I was, I am, and I will always be. All that is good and satisfying is connected to knowing me. Shalom, which is true peace, nothing missing, lacking or broken, it’s only possible with, in and through me. It cannot be attained, or maintained apart from me. When you find me, you find that too.

Yes, your tomorrow is coming, and I will reveal my plan. I’ll make it clear, and I’ll equip you to complete it.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 (AMP). For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. Then you will call upon Me, and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear and heed you. Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity] and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

John 14:17 AMP). Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]

If you don’t already know my Jesus, listen, he is knocking on the door of your heart. Invite him in, ask him to reveal himself to you. He is love and he loves you. He wants you to experience the unlimited love and forgiveness that He died to give you, to reconcile you to the Father. He always has and always will.

Wave Walkers

Last weekend I attended a women’s event at Crossfire Church. My dear friend, Pastor Judy Hemmila and her daughter, Tammy Trent spoke.

God knew I needed it, and he met me there. I am being very transparent in writing this, in hopes that someone else will read this and be encouraged.

I had recently received news about my husband’s health, and honestly I was struggling to continue to stand in faith. It will be 5 years in November since he became ill. Through prayer and faith he gained back much of what had been lost, but this news from the doctor made my heart ache. I was shook up thinking of what things were like 5 years ago and not wanting to go through it again.

So, back to the meeting, and what helped me to regain hope.

The message: Wave Walkers

“Peter shouted out, “Lord, if it’s really you, then have me join you on the water!” “Come and join me,” Jesus replied. So Peter stepped out onto the water and began to walk toward Jesus. But when he realized how high the waves were, he became frightened and started to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he cried out. Jesus immediately stretched out his hand and lifted him up and said, “What little faith you have! Why would you let doubt win?” And the very moment they both stepped into the boat, the raging wind ceased.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭14‬:‭28‬-‭32‬ ‭TPT‬‬

“Do not yield to fear, for I am always near. Never turn your gaze from me, for I am your faithful God. I will infuse you with my strength and help you in every situation. I will hold you firmly with my victorious right hand.’ I am Yahweh, your mighty God! I grip your right hand and won’t let you go! I whisper to you: ‘Don’t be afraid; I am here to help you!’”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭41‬:‭10‬, ‭13‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Tammy shared:

God was there…and is now.
Never mistake your numbness for his absence.
Stay anchored. Keep going back to the Word, what he as promised, what he has done.
He is the way out.
His intentions are good.
We need his blueprint and his vision. His Direction – Deut 2:3.; He is doing something new – Isa. 43:18-19; His promises are Yes and Amen – 2 Cor 1:20

Judy shared:

What are you rooted in that will help you weather the storm?
Where are we right now in the waters of life – head above? Or below? He keeps us from drowning.
Stay focused on Jesus! With Him all things are possible.
Don’t let your reasoning block you from experiencing the will of God.
Doubt is a friend to unbelief.
Let’s stop looking at what is pulling us down. And look at what is pulling us us up — the Word. (My add – the Living Word, He is Jesus, who loves me unconditionally, who NEVER leaves or forsakes me.)

I know they said much more, but these are the words that reached in and pulled me up, back into the place where I could once again breathe the air of faith.

Their words of faith, and both Judy’s and Linda’s prayers helped me to regain hope, faith, and trust in who He is always – a faithful God.

If you are struggling today, I speak the name of Jesus over you. Close your eyes and whisper His name. As you do I pray that you will sense His presence, reach out to Him and let Him fill you with the peace that only He can give. Know that He loves you, sees you, and cares deeply for you.

All Scripture quotations are from The Passion Translation®. Copyright © 2017, 2018, 2020 by Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ThePassionTranslation.com.

Trust Him, He Hears, He Saves

Under pressure? Busy? Wondering about all the things going on in our world today?

Stop for a few minutes, be quiet, rest, read His Word. Pray. Oh, how He loves you. Trust Him.

The Lord alone is our radiant hope and we trust in him with all our hearts. His wraparound presence will strengthen us.

As we trust, we rejoice with an uncontained joy flowing from Yahweh!

Let your love and steadfast kindness overshadow us continually, for we trust, and we wait upon you.

Even when bad things happen to the good and godly ones, the Lord will save them and not let them be defeated by what they face.

Psalms 33:20-22 TPT‬

Yet when holy lovers of God cry out to him with all their hearts, the Lord will hear them and come to rescue them from all their troubles.

The Lord is close to all whose hearts are crushed by pain, and he is always ready to restore the repentant one.

Psalm 34:17-19 TPT

The Resting Place of His Love

I was reading Ephesians 3 in The Passion today, and the words in the title of this blog resonated within me. As believers, it’s our privilege, honor, and our responsibility to live by faith. The Bible says more than once that “The just shall live by faith.”

You’ve probably heard that before, me too. But I had not seen so clearly before that living by faith, trusting Him, actually brings us to the place where the resting place of His love becomes the very source and root of our lives. Just as hope is an achor to our souls, our lives become rooted in rest, the resting place of His love.

Once again, I am learning more about rest, His rest, and the deep and wide impact of choosing to remain in rest in Him. And that everything that God asks us to do has a benefit. He is such a good, good Father.

Oh dear ones, how He loves you and me. The enemy of our souls would have us live distracted, anxious lives. Let us instead turn our faces to Heaven, and to Him, and believe and receive these words of Jesus:

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation].
Matthew 11:28 AMP

My Shepherd

God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction. Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I’m not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd’s crook makes me feel secure. You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing. Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I’m back home in the house of God for the rest of my life.
Psalms 23:1‭-‬6 MSG

It’s been a long night and now its early morning. One of my loved ones is in the recovery room after emergency surgery. I am reading the Word and feeling grateful for the peaceful presence of the Holy Spirit and for the faithful love of God. I read this version of Psalm 23 in The Messsage, and I am grateful to be His. I hope it will encourage you today too.

My greatest treasure

I love the Word of God and so by faith I am choosing to live with that in mind. There are so many reasons to do this, here are a few:

The rarest treasures of life are found in his truth. That’s why God’s Word is prized like others prize the finest gold. Sweeter also than honey are his living words— sweet words dripping from the honeycomb!
Psalms 19:10 TPT

For God’s Word is something to sing about! He is true to his promises, his word can be trusted, and everything he does is reliable and right.
Psalms 33:4 TPT

All God accomplishes is flawless, faithful, and fair, and his every word proves trustworthy and true.
Psalms 111:7 TPT

Fill your thoughts with my words until they penetrate deep into your spirit. Then, as you unwrap my words, they will impart true life and radiant health into the very core of your being.
Proverbs 4:21‭-‬22 TPT

It’s easy to be distracted with all that’s going on in the world, but I want to be able to say like King David did in Psalm 119:11 (TPT), “I consider your Word to be my greatest treasure. ”

Let’s pray: Dear Father God, I thank you for the precious treasure of your words. Thank you for using them to reveal who you are, your nature, your character, your faithfulness, your mercy, kindness and unfailing love. Thank you for giving me Jesus The living Word as my Savior (John 1 & 3), your Holy Spirit as my teacher (John 10) and your written Word, which declares your will. I choose to treasure your Words. I ask you to continue to teach me, to open my spiritual eyes to know and understand more of you. I love you Father, I trust you and I choose to rest in your love and care for me. In the name of Jesus, Amen!

Being Still

Being still doesn’t come naturally to me. Most of the time my hands are doing something (like knitting socks) even when I do have time to sit. And I can’t seem to think about “nothing” – ever. It amazes me to think that’s even possible, but my husband says it is. 🙂

Yes, my life is busy. I work full time from home and have been caring for my husband and all of the matters of our household (gratefully with help from family) since November of 2019. But I can’t let “busy” rule my life. It’s not sustainable, it’s not as God designed me to be. As I once heard Mark Hankins say, “we are human beings, not human doings.”

So at times I choose to be still, to pause, to be quiet, rest, and listen. This afternoon I am doing just that. Through my bedroom window. I am enjoying watching the leaves on my maple tree gently sway in the breeze, listening to little birds chirping. I am enjoying the quiet and counting my blessings. I am resting in His care and listening with the intention of being more like Mary than Martha.

I share these scriptures that inspire me in hopes they will minister to you too. Oh how He loves you and me!

Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me.
Matthew 11:28

Surrender your anxiety. Be still and realize that I am God. I am God above all the nations, and I am exalted throughout the whole earth.
Psalms 46:10 TPT

But even if we are faithless, he will still be full of faith, for he never wavers in his faithfulness to us!
2 Timothy 2:13 TPT

The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you; The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you; The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).
Numbers 6:24‭-‬26 AMPC

Draw Near

Draw near, don’t hold back! Oh my child do not fear, I am not the accuser, I am your Father. I love you with a perfect, unfailing, everlasting love. Who you are is very precious to me. I call you into my presence to spend time with you. Not to tell you what you’ve done wrong — but to remind you of what Jesus did to make it right, to make you right in my sight.

I am longing for intimacy, trust, a conversation with you. I want to tell you how I love you, and how pleased I am with the good choices you’ve made, and how I have plans for you. Plans to fill your future with joy. I want to share myself with you, to overwhelm you and fill you with my love. There is nothing about you that surprises me, nothing I won’t forgive. Do not let the lies of the enemy keep you from me.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:11‭-‬13 Berean Study Bible

I was inspired to write this poem several years ago. It fell out of my Bible today and reminded me of the many benefits of my relationship with Jesus. I hope you know Him too and are experiencing the benefits of trusting in Him.

Rest
I am your deliverer and salvation,
You are my covenant child,
I have justified you,
I have made you righteous,
I have made you holy through the blood of my son.

Rest
You are hid in Christ,
My Spirit is in you and with you always,
I am at work within you,
I am causing you both to will and to do my good pleasure. 

Rest
Trust in my love,
I know the plans I have for you, 
I planned them before your birth, 
I see the end result,
I am focused on your future, not your past. 

Rest
I am your Lord, I am King of Kings,
I am working all things together for your good,
I am the author and finisher of your faith. 

Rest
I am faithful to My Word, 
My promises are true, 
You are a branch of The Vine, 
Rivers of living water are in you. 

Rest
I am your life and light, 
The strength and might of my Spirit are being imparted to your inner man, along with My wisdom and My ability. 

Now My beloved child, rest.

Hebrews 4:3a For we who have believed(who have adhered to and relied on God)do enter into that rest.

Learn more about Jesus…pick up a Bible and read the book of John, then see Romans 3:23 and Romans 10:10.

I’m praying that you find rest in Him. Oh how He loves you and me.

I get to…

This is not a place I want to be, but it is where I get to…

Be grateful for medical professionals and their care
Be thankful that different from last time – Ed walked in here without a walker…and different than the time before that, when a,wheel chair was needed.
Be aware and thankful that he was able to answer 99% of the nurses questions
Praise God for every bit of gains made in physical strength and cognitive improvements these last few months
Praise Him that in answer to prayers the meds only do Ed good and no harm
Rest knowing that God is faithful, He is at work in us and for us. He cares for us and takes the cares that we release to Him.
Trust that we will see the victory already won for us by Christ manifested in God’s perfect timing.

For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.
Jeremiah 29:11 AMPC

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
1 Corinthians 15:57 MEV

Give thanks to God, our King over all gods! His tender love for us continues on forever!
Psalm 16:2 TPT