Rest In The Lord!

Rest: to stop work, peace of mind or spirit, free from anxieties.

There is nothing like being one of His - just a sheep in the pasture where we don't have to worry about providing the way. We don't have to worry about providing the pasture (food), or providing the stream (water), or anything else. When we learn that we are just a sheep in His pasture, we are free to feel rested and secure. That's the way it should be - we don't have to worry about what's going to happen today or what's going to happen tomorrow. All that is in God hands. Now, if we were the boss, we would have to worry. I'm so glad that I can turn it all over to the Lord and just rest as I walk along with Him. We should be enjoying our journey, not trying to control it.

God promised to give us rest - we don't have to buy or borrow it - we just receive it as a gift. Matthew 11:28-30 tells us, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

We can't burn the candle at both ends - either we are going to rest in God or we are going to try to fix things ourselves. The Lord will let us wear ourselves out to the point of total exhaustion on the inside until we finally see the light and give that situation to Him. Once we do that, He will give us rest and He will refresh and comfort us.

When our children are doing things that we know they shouldn't be, we have to give it to the Lord and rest in what He has said in His word. If it's our spouse, our job, or anything else, we must learn to cease from our actions. God said in His word that He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. Isn't that awesome?!

I don't know about you, but if I could fix things on my own - I would start with myself! But I can't fix me or anyone else. I'm not in control and it's not my responsibility. It's imperative that we learn to trust God to fix things and that we learn to rest in Him.

Our responsibility is to sit still, in quietness and in confidence, and believe that He can help, save, and deliver in our most urgent need. Remember - we are not the boss, nor are we in control. Psalms 37:7 says, "Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him." If we don't see our prayers answered today or even tomorrow, that doesn't mean it's never going to happen. Again my friends, I say wait on the Lord and rest in Him!

With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!                   

Don't Let Anyone Steal Your Joy!

Joy: a source of happiness, gladness of heart

In our day-to-day existence, there are just so many things that can steal our joy if we allow them to. The fact is, there will always be situations and circumstances, but it's important that we refuse to allow those situations and circumstances to steal our joy. You see my friends, Satan knows that if he can steal our joy, we will walk around in anger, depression, and even fear. And then before you know it, those things will try to consume our lives to the point that it feels like there's no source of happiness and no gladness of heart... no matter where we are or what we are doing. This is the reason why we must refuse to let anybody steal our joy.

Nehemiah 8:10 tells us: "Then he said unto them, go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength." You see, true joy is not the things of this world - it's not because we get a new house, a new car, or a fat bank account. If it were that simple, the suicide rate wouldn't be so high, and we wouldn't see or hear about so much bad news. We simply cannot allow ourselves to lose our joy - because we don't control ANYTHING! Our job is to put and keep our focus on the one who can give us true joy and peace. The world didn't give us this joy, so why should we let the world take it away??

Of course, every day won't be filled with ice cream and cake. Let's face it, our children, our spouses, our co-workers, our finances, every pain in our bodies, and even some of the people right next to us in the Church will try to get the best of us. But I'm here to tell you that we must count it all joy and turn it over to the one who has all the answers... and is truly the only one who can fix it. When we give it to Him, He will turn our sorrow, our anger, and our distractions into JOY. But first, we need to do our jobs - refuse to let anyone steal our joy!

Let's stay focused on our source of happiness - He wants us to have gladness in our hearts. You don't have to take my word for it - you can read it for yourself! "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore" (Psalms 16:11).

With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!

Stay Connected To The Source!

Source: The beginning, origin, starting point, foundation

Jesus is the source of everything, period. He is the beginning, the end, and everything that goes on in the middle. He is our source of life. The Word says in Genesis 2:7, "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." That alone is enough to let us know that we are not the source - the Lord is.

Jesus is our source of power, strength, energy, love, peace, forgiveness, and joy. Let's use an iron as an example. In order for that iron to get hot, it has to be connected to a power source. We have something in common with that iron. If we want to have power, peace, love, etc. we also need to get connected - and stay connected - to the power source; the source of everything, Jesus Christ.

As John 15:5 tells us, "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." Just as the iron when it gets disconnected from its power source, if we don’t abide on the vine, we have no power.

Have you ever felt like praying about a situation is a waste of time? Let me assure you that it’s by no means a waste - instead, it’s an investment that pays big returns! Let me share a situation with you: 1 Samuel 4:1-2 tells us what happened to the children of Israel when they did not get connected to the source before they went to battle against the Philistines. Israel was smitten before the Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men. The children of Israel were so confident in themselves that they didn’t bother to go to the source first. What a big mistake!

Jesus is the source of everything; He’s the origin, the beginning and the starting point. We must always remember to stay connected to our source of power - that can change us from useless to useful; from death to life; and from defeat to victory!

With all that said, let the Church say amen...and AMEN!                                 

                                                                                                          

Just about Preaching Time!

My aunt shared this with me; now I would like to share it with you:

Now there are some people, at least I am told,

who go to the church through heat or the cold.

They act very lively, you'd think they were fine;

but they drop off to sleep just about preaching time.

When they enter the Church they talk loud and long,

and when service has started they join in the song.

Their singing is lusty, they remember the rhyme;

but they drop off to sleep just about preaching time.

They learn all the gossip, catch up on their talk;

to read the responsive they never would balk.

They hear the announcement and put in a dime;

then they drop off to sleep just about preaching time.

I wonder if Jesus should visit the place,

and stand in their pulpit while they look on His face;

if He should share with them some great truths sublime.

Would they still go to sleep just about preaching time?

Now, friends, He is coming; His Glory we'll see,

and go up to Heaven forever to be.

It may be this service His Glory will shine.

So, please, stay awake all through preaching time.

With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!