Tag: RestInTheLord

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Hush Now!

I couldn’t sleep on Friday night and I was up at 2 a.m. praying.

Those of you who have been reading my blog for any length of time know that this is something that happens occasionally. I find it is one of the best ways to go back to sleep, praying for those I love.

But this particular time, my prayers were more intense. If I’m honest, I found myself doing some complaining and questioning why I haven’t seen a change in a couple of situations. The Lord let me prattle on for a few more minutes and then very distinctly I heard, “Hush now. Be still”.

Those words weren’t harsh or rude. They were comforting, corrective, calm and reassuring. Like the words of a parent who has picked up a crying child to comfort them, these words touched my heart.

And then the Scripture verses that I have committed to memory over the years came flooding in.

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10 NKJV

“Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.” Psalm 100:3 NKJV

And then, in my heart the Lord took me back to that quiet place, the place I love to camp out.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. 2 He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. 3 He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.” Psalm 23:1-3 NLT

“My soul is quiet and waits for God alone. He is the One Who saves me. 2 He alone is my rock and the One Who saves me. He is my strong place. I will not be shaken.” Psalm 62:1-2 NLV

Now, unless you think I’m going through some great trial – it’s not that at all. There are just some things I have given to the Lord in prayer that I still haven’t seen answers to yet. I’ve gotten a little impatient in the waiting.

“I would have been without hope if I had not believed that I would see the loving-kindness of the Lord in the land of the living. 14 Wait for the Lord. Be strong. Let your heart be strong. Yes, wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27:13-14 NLV

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

I’d like to encourage you. If you hear the Lord hush you – telling you to be still, I want you to remember the rest of that verse. Be still AND know that I AM GOD! Go to a green pasture and rest while God does what only God can do.

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Encourage One Another

Another morning up before the dawn but one thing is for certain dawn will come. God set in motion the rotation of the earth around the sun. The sunrise will start each morning and the sunset will close each day.

Tides will ebb and flow. Fall follows summer and then comes winter and the new life of spring. All are part of the Father’s grand design.

And each morning brings a new opportunity to be encouraged in God’s word.

“We must hold on to the hope we have, never hesitating to tell people about it. We can trust God to do what he promised. 24 We should think about each other to see how we can encourage each other to show love and do good works.” Hebrews 10:23-24 ERV

“ So when God wanted to prove for certain his promise to his people could not be broken, he made a vow. 18 God cannot tell lies! And so his promises and vows are two things that can never be changed. We have run to God for safety. Now his promises should greatly encourage us to take hold of the hope that is right in front of us. 19  This hope is like a firm and steady anchor for our souls…” Hebrews 6:17-19 ERV

Years ago I used to sing a song written by John W Peterson, It Took a Miracle.

“My Father is omnipotent

And that you can’t deny

A God of might and miracles

It’s written in the sky.

It took a miracle to put the stars in place

It took a miracle to hang the world in space

But when He saved my soul cleansed and made me whole

It took a miracle of love and grace.”

The greatest miracle of all is the Father’s amazing love extended to each and everyone of us. His plan for our new birth – restoration full and complete.

I certainly enjoy the proofs that He gives us each day to let us know He’s still here, still reaching out, still loving. His love never fails and we see that in the consistancy of His creation.

“Our Lord, you are King! Majesty and power are your royal robes. You put the world in place, and it will never be moved. 2 You have always ruled, and you are eternal. 3 The ocean is roaring, Lord! The sea is pounding hard. 4 Its mighty waves are majestic, but you are more majestic, and you rule over all. 5 Your decisions are firm, and your temple will always be beautiful and holy.” Psalm 93

God’s promises are certain. Nature is proof of that. He cannot lie. He will not break His word!

His word gives hope and that hope encourages us and holds us steady in life’s storms, just like an anchor. Then we are instructed to encourage others who appear to have no hope.

We can point them to the One who never fails, who never gives up, whose love is everlasting and who is faithful to a thousand generations. Yes, let’s encourage one another with God’s word!

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Fill Your Day With Praise

Dave and I like to watch flashmob videos on YouTube. Last night, right before we went to bed, we watched one of my favorites.

It starts with one man in a tuxedo, standing in the middle of a city square. When a little girl puts some coins in a hat on the ground, he begins to play his stand-up bass. In just a few minutes, he’s joined by more musicians and finally a choir.

They were playing Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy”. Not only is it a beautiful melody but my heart began to sing the lyrics which were written by Henry van Dyke in 1907.

“Joyful, joyful, we adore You
God of glory, Lord of love
Hearts unfold like flow’rs before You
Op’ning to the sun above

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness
Drive the dark of doubt away
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day!

All Your works with joy surround You
Earth and heav’n reflect Your rays
Stars and angels sing around You
Center of unbroken praise

Field and forest, vale and mountain
Flow’ry meadow, flashing sea
Chanting bird and flowing fountain
Praising You eternally!”

What a wonderful way to fall asleep and wake again. Praising the Lord with all my heart!

“Praise the Lord, O my soul. And all that is within me, praise His holy name. 2 Praise the Lord, O my soul. And forget none of His acts of kindness. 3 He forgives all my sins. He heals all my diseases. 4 He saves my life from the grave. He crowns me with loving-kindness and pity. 5 He fills my years with good things and I am made young again like the eagle…19 The Lord has set up His throne in the heavens. And His holy nation rules over all. 20 Praise the Lord, you powerful angels of His who do what He says, obeying His voice as He speaks! 21 Praise the Lord, all you armies of His who work for Him and do what pleases Him. 22 Praise the Lord, all His works in all places under His rule. Praise the Lord, O my soul! Psalm 103 NLV

For a few brief moments in that city square it was if the whole earth was praising the Lord. The orchestra, the choir and those listening were caught up in one special moment of praise, whether they realized it or not.

Praise is our opportunity to recount the many wonderful things the Lord has done for us.

“Your thoughts are of great worth to me, O God. How many there are! 18 If I could number them, there would be more than the sand. When I awake, I am still with You.” Psalm 139:17-18 NLV

We are always a part of God’s thoughts. From the beginning of creation, we were part of His plan.

Our Good Shepherd leads us, guides us, brings us to a place of rest and protection. He is with us always and when life on earth is over, eternal life with Him in heaven will begin!

Let that fill your day with praise!

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Time for a Cuddle

Here I am – back in my quiet place. You know the one – the one in green pastures beside still waters!

“Be still, and know that I am God:” Psalm 46:10 That’s what I am hearing this morning.

Be still! 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 the 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 her 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, their body language before they can talk.) I told her softly that there really wasn’t anything in there and she just needed to cuddle in and sleep. Her body continued leaning so I got up, with her in my arms and walked into the family room, then to the kitchen, through the dining room and back to the living room – all the while being led by the leaning of a child.

Once 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 have we done this the first time?”

With that I heard the Lord minister to me; “How many times do I take you somewhere and you only 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 want to be any place but here and so I good from place to place, room to room and come back to find “Be still and know that I am God!”

This doesn’t mean we take a fatalistic approach and just give up on our dreams and desires. What it does mean is 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!”

Just cuddle into the Father’s arms and find rest!

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A Full Plate

That definitely described my week. All the little things that suddenly needed my attention, pushing the more important issues aside, although, only momentarily, distracted me for a while.

My new personal computer kept dropping its wireless internet connection when I was in the middle of something important, like my morning blog. A vehicle that needed to be taken to the shop for service and then picked up again, an afterwork hair appointment that I forgot about until I had started dinner and needed to rush out to be there on time.

A glitch in my banking technology, a new program that needed an outside source verification. All the little things that added to the “to-do’s” of the work day.

” When someone says they have a ‘full plate,’ they’re often indicating that they’re busy, overwhelmed, or managing multiple priorities simultaneously.”

That was me!

Yesterday, my boss called in the morning and asked if I had any more room on my plate. With a chuck I said, “Yes, for a few more things but the alligators are now swimming around my feet”.

None of these things are/were life-threatening, not serious things that some of my friends are going through. Just time-robbing disturbances. And yes, I realized what I needed to do.

“…we must catch the little foxes that destroy the vineyards.” Song of Solomon 2:15 CEV

We must take all those little annoyances, those thoughts of being overwhelmed and hold them captive.

“You will keep the man in perfect peace whose mind is kept on You, because he trusts in You. 4 Trust in the Lord forever. For the Lord God is a Rock that lasts forever.” Isaiah 26:3-4 NLV

“Wait for the Lord. Be strong. Let your heart be strong. Yes, wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27:14 NLV

When the Lord repeats something He isn’t wasting words – it’s for emphasis. Strong emphasis!

Don’t get caught up in the busy-ness and stress. Step away. Capture the anxious thoughts and keep your mind set on the Lord.

In the middle of it all, I stepped outside, took a breath of fresh air, and said a prayer. I’m happy to report that when I left work my plate was empty and the alligators were gone.

Have a great weekend! Trust in the Lord!!

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A Burning Candle

Good Morning. It’s Monday. Are you ready to start a new week?

We’ve all heard the expression “burning the candle at both ends”. This is not a healthy situation. Working all day, rushing home to complete unfinished projects, grabbing a bite to eat, out the door for another activity in your appointment book. This is not how God intended for us to live.

I want to speak to you this morning on rest, re-charging, re-energizing. We all get busy and tend to burn the candle at both ends but what do we do to rest?

Do we veg out and watch TV or maybe relax with a yoga class or have a glass of wine? Maybe we think that resting is going to bed earlier and getting more sleep – whatever you think will bring rest, does it really?

Let me add to you what God’s word has to say.

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 KJV “

Waiting on the Lord – waiting on God will renew our strength. It will give us rest. Jesus was a prime example of this. He would minister all day and night and then he would send the disciples away and He would go to a place to pray – He would wait on the Father. After leaving these places of waiting, Jesus would go about ministering to folks, rested and renewed.

“Jesus healed many of those who had different kinds of sicknesses. He also forced many demons out of people. But he would not allow the demons to speak, because they knew who he was.

35 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. 36 Later, Simon and his friends went to look for Jesus. 37 They found him and said, “Everyone is looking for you!”

38 Jesus answered, “We should go to another place. We can go to other towns around here, and I can tell God’s message to those people too. That is why I came.” Mark 1:34-38 ERV

Resting is not something to be ashamed of. Afterall, God rested on the seventh day. If there was anyone who didn’t require rest, it was God. He rested to be an example to us. He knew we would have a tendency to overdo.

“Rest in the Lord and be willing to wait for Him. Do not trouble yourself when all goes well with the one who carries out his sinful plans. 8 Stop being angry. Turn away from fighting. Do not trouble yourself. It leads only to wrong-doing.” Psalm 37:7-8 NLV

We are instructed to be light to the world. We’re no earthly good if we burn out!

If you are feeling tired today – worn out, exhausted, take time to WAIT on the Lord. He will renew your strength!!

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More Than A Dream

We are back at home. We arrived on Wednesday morning. According to American Airlines flight tracker, traveled 11, 285 miles but that doesn’t even begin to cover it.

There were 4 additional local Greek airline flights, 8 bus trips, 9 taxi rides, 4 ferry rides and 100+ miles walked. It was, in a word, amazing!

We ate foods we had never eaten before, had bucket list items fulfilled, talked with countless people from at least 10 to 12 different countries and experienced a month of adventures that we had been dreaming of.

And there wasn’t one day or one experience that we didn’t stop and thank the Lord for providing – it was time of basking in His love. It was also a time of recognizing that every day of life should be just as adventurous as we look to the Lord and His leading.

This morning, I’ve been thinking about Jacob. You know the guy – Abraham’s shifty grandson. He had duped his father with his mother’s help, stolen his brother’s birthright and been sent off to his uncle’s to find a wife.

Not your typical “dream filled” vacation.

On the way, Jacob’s caravan stops for the night and devoid of the comforts of home, he uses a stone as a pillow. Until this time, Jacob had been self-absorbed. He had no time for a relationship with God – oh yes, he knew the stories of the Lord making promises to his grandfather and his father but he hadn’t experienced anything personally. 

“Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran. 11 He came to a certain place and stayed the night there, because the sun had gone down. He took one of the stones there and put it under his head for a pillow. 12 And he had a dream. He saw steps going up from the earth to heaven. He saw the angels of God going up and down these steps. 13 And he saw the Lord standing above them. He said, ‘I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham, and the God of Isaac. I will give to you and your children after you the land where you are lying…15 See, I am with you. I will care for you everywhere you go. And I will bring you again to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done all the things I promised you.’ 16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, ‘For sure the Lord is in this place and I did not know it.’”  Genesis 28:10-16 NLV

How many times have we experienced that same mindset? “For sure the Lord is in this place and I did not know it.”

For Jacob it was just a routine day. A night on the road but he came face-to-face with God’s presence.

It’s easy to see God’s provision when it’s something like a “dream vacation” but it’s also easy to overlook the miraculous when we are in our daily routine.

“For You have been my help. And I sing for joy in the shadow of Your wings. 8 My soul holds on to You. Your right hand holds me up.” Psalm 63:7-8 NLV

My prayer for you and for me is this, “Father, open my eyes to see that ‘you, Lord, are in this place’. Let me recognize the miracle of my daily walk with you. May Your presence be as real while I’m doing the laundry as it is while I’m living out a dream come true. Your presence, each day is what I long for”. Amen.

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It’s Ok to Say “Help”

Yesterday was the busiest day for receiving campers, the first day of a holiday weekend!

We thought we were prepared for the influx but it exceeded our imagination. Over 80 camping families arrived in the afternoon. All needed to be greeted, checked in and reminded of a few rules of the campground.

13+ campers an hour for six hours. Works out to one every 4 minutes. Whoa!

Dave and I couldn’t have done it on our own. We are so thankful for the team that we are a part of. The other host couples jumped in to help with the work. Some cleaned bathrooms while others collected license plate numbers and helped keep the line of campers and trailers flowing smoothly.

Praise God! What a blessing.

“I call to God, I cry to God to help me. From his palace he hears my call; my cry brings me right into his presence— a private audience!” Psalm 18:6 MSG

I was blessed with a good night’s sleep but my body was weary when I woke. Have you ever been there? I prayed and said “Father, help me. Help me to be ready for this day. Strengthen me so that I will be a testimony of your love”.

“The Spirit God gave us does not make us afraid. His Spirit is a source of power and love and self-control.” II Timothy 1:7 ERV

The Father blesses us with strength for our minds, our emotions and our bodies. He has never intended for us to go through this life without His strength. He gives it freely. He wants us to depend on Him.

Jesus said “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened down. I will give you rest.”

Remember, it’s ok to ask for help. When we ask, He provides!

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Nap Time

As I was searching for an image to use on this morning’s blog, I came across a picture of a napping child and the caption read “When is a child too old for a nap?”. My answer, never!

Yesterday day was busy. Not the crazy, hectic, week-before-Christmas busy but busy. Getting everything ready to travel safely and then setting up again once we were back to our permanent site.

Dave does the hard work; my jobs are little and detailed. After we were settled, I made lunch and we sat down to relax. About an hour and a half later, I woke up. Dave smiled and asked, “did you have a good nap”? Oh yes, wonderful.

If we listen, our bodies will tell us what we need and when we need it. We get thirsty and so we get a drink. We get hungry and we eat. (The trick to weight loss is to eat only when we are hungry). We rest when we are tired.

“O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.” Psalm 63:1 NLT

Our bodies have these internal signals that are God-given and we need to listen to them so we don’t damage our health. If we push past these warnings it can be detrimental. Oh yes, I know this project MUST get done – the kids NEED to be at this activity. Just a couple more hours and I can rest. But if we keep that pace harm ourselves with physical and mental burnout.

“Come to me all of you who are tired from the heavy burden you have been forced to carry. I will give you rest. 29 Accept my teaching. Learn from me. I am gentle and humble in spirit. And you will be able to get some rest.” Matthew 11:28-29 ERV

I was reminded of a time when Jesus took a nap. He was in a boat, in a storm, with his disciples and he laid down and went to sleep. He wasn’t up fretting or helping them row. He was resting. We need to learn from Jesus.

“Jesus was inside the boat, sleeping with his head on a pillow. The followers went and woke him. They said, “Teacher, don’t you care about us? We are going to drown!” 39 Jesus stood up and gave a command to the wind and the water. He said, “Quiet! Be still!” Mark 4:38-39 ERV

Sounds like good advice when we are in life’s storms. We can fret and worry and it will change nothing. But when we come to Jesus with those problems, He will speak to our storms and give us rest.

Trusting Him gives us a spiritual nap!

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