Rest

Lately I have been so tired. Tired in every aspect of the word. I am drained emotionally, physically, and my spirit within me is exhausted. This happens so often, and every time I find something to blame it on. The holidays, school, work, just life in general can make me tired. But when it comes down to it, I need Jesus. The only way I will receive rest is through Him.

In Mark 6:31, Jesus has compassion on His disciples and tells them, "come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." 

Ah, friend, read that verse again. Read it a hundred times and let the compassion and grace that is tangled in the words sweep over you.

Jesus asks four things of His disciples in this verse:

1. "Come with Me..."
    Me and Me alone. I am calling you to simply and surely come. Trust in Me, oh child, follow Me,         and come.

2. "by yourselves..."
    No distractions. No one else. I long for YOU. 

3. "to a quiet place..."
    I want to spend time with you. Just you and Me. I don't want loud and noisy distractions. I want the     solitude and stillness of your heart. Come, I will quiet your soul.

4. "get some rest." 
    You are too busy thinking and doing. Stop believing the lie that you have to perform to win My           love. I long to give you rest, weary one. I am gracious and compassionate, and in My eyes you will     find the rest that you so desperately need. 


If this is you, if you are tired and weary from whatever life is throwing at you, I pray that you will find the rest that you desire in the loving arms of Jesus Christ. Find peace, find joy, find His all-consuming love and just simply rest! He longs for you to come today.

"Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." -Matthew 11:28 


xo 

Sufficient

Weakness. It is something we all face at some point in our life. We all have already. I have definitely been facing it a lot lately, maybe even more than ever before. I am not talking physical weakness; I am talking the weakness where the weight of the world seems to be on your shoulders. Maybe it is because a friend has let you down, maybe you just cannot seem to bear with your family anymore, maybe your job is asking just too much of you, or it could be that you are simply struggling with day-to-day fears. When it comes down to it, weakness is weakness. We all know it well. 

For me, it seemed that everything was piling on top of each other. I was swimming in oceans of fear, unbelief, and pain, and with every muscle I moved while trying to tread its waters, I only became weaker. Just when I thought I had had enough, one more thing would pile on, and I would dive back under the currents. I was losing sleep, and was eating less; it was affecting my schoolwork, my relationship with my family and friends, and most importantly, my relationship with God. “Lord, when will you save me? Am I to drown in my weakness forever?” I would cry.   Over and over I would fall to my knees, inwardly screaming at God, asking why He was not delivering me from all that was out to crush me.

I am sure you all have felt like that at some point. The weight is unbearable sometimes. Like I said, I thought I would never keep my head above the waters. Yet God, in His faithful, loving way, lead me to read these verses just when I needed them the most.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

 -2 Corinthians 12:9-10

At first, I only thought it was a cool verse. It had a nice sound to it, and it temporarily made me feel better. “God gives me grace when I am weak. That is pretty neat.” I thought. But then these verses started reappearing every day. Seemingly everywhere I went, I would read or hear those words. People on the radio would mention it, skimming through my bible I would fall upon it, I would find it written in devotionals, and even my pastor used it in his sermon one Sunday! And as I started seeing this passage more and more, something began to happen inside of my small heart. With each reminder of this truth, its meaning grew deeper and deeper. It resonated first in my mind, then traveling down into my heart and soul, until once again I fell to my knees. But this time I fell not because of weakness. No this time, I crumbled from the weight of my Father's love and grace. Grace so heavy I could not hold it all of it; love so immaculate that I could not contain it.

"My grace is sufficient for you..."

God's grace is so vast, so immovable, that we do not have to ask for anything else. His grace covers everything. Through our hardships, His grace sustains us. It carries us. It never leaves. 

"My power is made perfect in weakness." 

You will have weak days. You will have weak months. You will have times of weakness where all you can do is call out His name. But friend, this verse offers so much hope, so much peace. When we give up our trials and fears to Jesus, He is able to turn weak into strong. He will lift you off of your feeble knees and onto His shoulders, soaring on wings like eagles. (Isaiah 40:29-31)

"That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Weaknesses will come. The world promises them. When they do, you have an option. You can let them weigh you down until you are falling apart. Or you can give them to the One who turns trials into triumph. You can use your weakness and boast of how your God is able to sustain you. And when you do that, the joy of the Lord will strengthen you.

"Then you will look and be radiant, and your heart will throb and swell with joy..." - Isaiah 60:5

 He is waiting ever so lovingly for you to give Him your weakness, my friend.

Let His power rule over you today. 

xo

Hard Hearts, Soft Clouds

The truth is that on some days, joy hides its face. Some days you honestly don't want to even seek it. You just want to sit on your bed and mope and be grumpy and snap at everyone who walks by. It gives you some strange satisfaction, but then deep down inside you hate it. You hate not having joy and you hate that you don't have the guts to find it. It seems to be too hard to find. A waste of time. 

But I'm starting to realize that joy is hidden in the little things. The things that we so easily skip over and don't even think to look at. 

Today, despite my unnecessary grumpiness, I'm trying to find joy behind these white, puffy clouds. And if this is you too; if you're searching, or tired of searching, or refusing to search, then hear this:
don't give up. Keep looking, Love. 

xo

Remind Me

Remind me, O Lord

when my path is lonely

Remind me, O God

when my heart is heavy

Remind me that You love is true

Remind me that my worst day has hope

because in my worst day

I still have You

When others turn against me

and I feel I'm all alone

remind me that in my deepest night 

You are there

Remind me, O God

that I am Yours. 

Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. -Psalm 73:25-26

Tear Me Apart

Give Me your weakness 

The past you can't hide

Lend Me the strings

That hold up your pride

You fear that 

By letting go

People will see

People will know

Oh child, let them gaze

At your raw imperfection

Let them witness 

My Healing affection

For when you allow

Me to tear you apart

It is then that I

Give you a fresh start

Seek the Promises

Fear and worry drive us.

We can't go a day without it. Sure, we "bring" our fears and worries to God, but then what does that really do? Give us peace until we worry about the next thing?

Over and over and over again God gives us His promises. He promises blessings to those who fear Him, victory to the oppressed, comfort for the lonely. He is here, promising promising, "Child, just come to ME." and yet we leave Him for things we think will keep us safe.

Stop. Listen to the promises! Quit worrying for one second and study what he is telling us!

"Come to ME and I will give you rest."
{Matthew 11:28}

"Trust in ME and you will be kept in perfect peace!"
{Isaiah 26:3}

"I will FIGHT for you, you need only to be STILL."
{Exodus 14:14}

"I will SATISFY your desires with good things!"
{Psalm 103:5}


"Because you LOVE Me, I will RESCUE you!"
{Psalm 91:14}

"I will be YOUR hiding place, I will deliver you!"
{Psalm 32:7}

"I will turn your WAILING into DANCING."
{Psalm 30:11}

Stop.
Today.
Look at His promises.

xo

Winter Promises

"As the rain and snow 

come down from heaven,

and do not return to it

without watering the earth

and making it bud and flourish,

so that it yields seed for the sower and 

bread for the eater,

so is my word that goes from my mouth:

It will not return to me empty,

but will accomplish what I desire

and achieve the purpose for which I

sent it."

{Isaiah 55:10-11}

It was snowing big fluffy flakes this morning when I awoke. I have always loved snow, but for some reason it made me especially joyful this morning. Then I thought of this passage of scripture. Oh what comfort!! What peace it brings to my feeble little heart to know that ALL the things that leave the Lords mouth will not return to him without victoriously achieving its purpose! We serve such a thoughtful, intentional God!

I am so very thankful for his promises that rain down on us beautifully like the snow.

xo 

Find Joy

Yesterday kinda sucked.


It was just one of those days where everything seemed to pile up. If you were around me, I sincerely apologize for my crabby attitude.

Anyway, I feel like lately God has been trying (emphasis on trying) to teach me to be joyful. I recently started a Book of Joy, daily writing down a short entry about one thing that brought me joy that day.

Yesterday it was especially hard to find something happy. But I found it anyway. It's so important to remember that just because you're having a bad day doesn't necessarily mean you have a bad life. Bad days come, but God still provides little escapes. This Book of Joy has been such a blessing in helping me remember to thank my Father for the joys he gives me.

I encourage you to record the things that make you happy.
Talk about them.
Focus on your joys instead of your complaints.

{Psalm 47:1}

Jesus Wins

F E A R

It drives my inner being

Permeating my soul

It's aroma captivating

Pulling me closer

Voices screaming "Let it in"

The door opens

The fear drawing nearer

Setting foot inside

Then a Hand intercedes

"Be gone" It speaks

With the authority of thunder

And the intimacy of a whisper

It tells me


"Jesus wins."

He said: "Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you; 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's...'" -2 Chronicles 20:15

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. -John 16:33

Trusting the Plan

This was a huge source of encouragement this morning.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 

Romans 8:28 

Before you were born, God set out specific plans for your life. He knew that you would have passions and desires. He thoughtfully placed each one of them on your heart for a reason. Some things He knew just wouldn't work out. But that's okay, because the other plans He had in mind you wouldn't even be able to imagine. Plans that if revealed all at once would blow our tiny little minds. Plans that would frighten us, because we weren't prepared yet.

And that's just it. 

Each plan, each little detail in our personal novel requires just the right amount of strength and preparation. God knows that we're too weak to accomplish everything He has laid out for us all at once. That's why he gives us small bits here and there. He supplies the means to do the things He has laid out for us in this moment.

So don't get discouraged when it seems like nothing is going the way you expected.

There is a perfect plan that your Creator designed specifically for you to fulfill.

Trust Him, O child of God, for He cares for you.

"For I know the plans I have for you" says the Lord, "plans to prosper you, and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future." 

Jeremiah 29:11 

Hidden Treasures

My heart and my mind have been heavy lately.

I just got back from church camp a few days ago. During the week, I really started thinking about college, and my future in general. I only have 2 years left of high school, and then boom, its here. Since then, my mind has been swimming with questions about which college I should go to, what I should study, and whether or not I should even go to college at all. Then worry settled in, along with questions of doubt and fear.

What if I don't graduate?

What if I'm not good enough for college?

I'm not smart enough. 

I won't find friends.

I'll chicken out. 

The thoughts were clouding my brain. I knew I had to get rid of them. So God led me to pick up my Bible and head to the woods.

I walked for a little while, finally finding a place to open my Bible. I turned to Isaiah 45.

I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name. 

I closed my Bible and after a little while, headed back to my house. Along the way, I walked through a small clearing that was full of green grass. Yet in the middle, was a single red leaf. It stuck out, so I picked it up. As I was holding on to it, the Lord spoke to my heart.

This leaf didn't stew and worry about when it would be released. It didn't question Me about when it would travel to a new destination. It patiently waited for me to release it from its home. My Daughter, don't worry about when I will release you. I have you where I want you to be, and I will hold you. When I am done preparing you, I will release you to travel to a new destination, but now is not the time. Do not fear.  Just as I said in My Word, "I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summoned you by name." 


My Savior handed me a treasure.
A small, perfectly designed leaf to let me know that He is in control of where I will go.

He is Lord.

Yesterday, Today, Forever

God never ceases to reveal new things to us. I find that rather amazing. It's as if we, small little Christians, read a section in the Bible and instantly come to the conclusion that we know everything there is to know about our Creator. I can just hear God giving a great big "hah!".

For quite a while now, He's been showing me small bits of His unfathomable power. A new angle at which to gaze into His glory. This is what He has been revealing:

He is the same God that visited Adam and Eve in the garden. 

He is the same God that comforted David in all his ups and downs.

He is the same God that kept Noah and his family, along with the animals all safe.

He is the same God who told Hosea to return to his wife over and over. 

He is the same God who turned the evil, Christian slaying Saul into the man that spread the Word to thousands.

He is the exact same God that rose Jesus on the 3rd day. FROM THE DEAD (that still blows my mind). 

And that same God is working in me.

 It takes my breath away. Why do I worry? Why do I fear? Why do I sit and ponder upon the things of the world when the power of Christ is in me?! ME the girl who lies. ME the girl who in anger lashes out. ME the girl who compares herself to other people, failing to trust the power of God's work inside of her very being! 

I will never understand.
But thank you, Father. Thank you for being the same God.

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." -Hebrews 13:8

Close My Eyes

Like a rider covers his horse's eyes

Leading it through the flames

You cover mine and hold my hand

You say,

"Walk this way

don't look

just follow Me."

When I am past the flames

You uncover my eyes

and reveal Your splendor

I hear you say:

"Don't look back

I've already brought you

through the past

only look at what I'm giving you

in this moment.

Look at the sky

drink it's peacefulness.

Hear the wind

embrace its coolness.

Now, daughter,

look at Me

and rest

In My presence."

I wrote that this morning. I've been having one of those weeks where everything seems to frighten me. I look around and I feel like my world is caving in. Of course it's not, but you know how emotions can cloud over and take captive of your mind.

I'm sure we've all seen those movies where a barn, or stable catches on fire. The animals inside are going crazy and all the stable hands are rushing to get things out. The fire is growing bigger by the second and the air is tense. The stable hand comes to the horse and holds his hands over it's eyes, then proceeds to lead it out. You now notice that the horse is somewhat calm. Why? Because it can't see what is going on around it, and therefore doesn't panic. The horse doesn't freak out because he can't see where it's going. It just follows it's leader's pull of the rope. 

Then I realized, that sometimes, I need my Leader to close my eyes. I need him to grab my hand and throw his arms over my face to keep me from seeing. I'm not saying that God will blind us from what goes on in the world. But there comes a time when we need to shut off our vision, and just let our Father lead the way. Don't be afraid to be the horse. Instead of searching for your own way out of the fire, ask God to cover you and then put all of your trust in Him. And after he has led you through the fire, do not look back. Only look forward into His eyes, into His freeing love, into His beautiful splendor, and rest in His presence.

"I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths." 

           Proverbs 4:11