Rest

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