A Time For Rest

It has been a couple of weeks since I last wrote. My husband and I took a very needed vacation. I knew God would show me something during that time to share with you. So here it is.
While on vacation my husband and I both feel it is very important to continue to study the Word of God and spend time with Him. As time went on I found it so difficult to get into a study pattern. I found myself staring out at the beauty God created and thinking how He had so much creativity. From the flowers to the birds to the butterflies to the mountains and valleys. It was breathtaking.
I knew going into this vacation that my body, physically, would suffer. Riding in the car for 10+ hours for 2 straight days would take its toll on my damaged spinal cord, legs and back. But we were going south to warm, fresh air, and to our son and daughter in-law's home. Nothing will keep me from that.
Now I am sure some of you are thinking where was my faith that I would not experience those difficulties. Trust me, I always believe God will do a miracle in me and trust He has His best for me. But I also walk in reality, knowing this is my "fleshly" body in the condition it is now. And God will get me through. It is a miracle in itself that I can travel that far. I will take that.
With that said, back to vacation. For me vacation means a restful rejuvenation with God. A renewing of my spirit with the Holy Spirit ministering to me. So every morning I sat with my tea, my Bible, my journal, prepared to fill the pages with my notes. I would read Scripture, I prayed, and pen in hand I sat. And I sat. And I sat. Nothing on the pages. I said to my husband, what is going on here. He said soak up the rest and peace the Lord is giving you. Oh my goodness, a revelation. Yes, the Lord will fill us up, He will give us peace, He will rejuvenate our spirits. So I sat, and glared out at God's beauty, mind you, still with pen in hand just in case He gave me something to write. I looked out at His creation. I looked out at God's beauty. I gazed at the flowers I don't usually see here at home. I enjoyed the birds I don't usually see or hear at home. The more I soaked up that peacefulness, the fuller I felt.
Yes I was on vacation, but not on vacation from God. I was still in His presence. I was still being filled. Jesus was giving my body the rest it needed to endure the rest of our trip. I truly felt rejuvenated.
We went to Easter Service at our son's church. That was incredible and a story for another time.
But my husband and I both came away knowing our son and daughter in-law are being well ministered to. Another blessing from God while we were on vacation.
Vacation! What does it mean to you? I encourage you, whatever it means, do not leave God out. He will give you more than you can fathom. He will give you a vacation to remember forever.
We all need rest and rejuvenation at times. Take it, soak it up, be filled by the Holy Spirit. Then come home with your running shoes on to run and share what God has done.
Matthew 11:28-
Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
11:29- All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves.
Jesus' very own words, "Come to Me".
My husband and I both came home feeling rested, rejuvenated, and filled in our spirits. My physical body is tired and beat up. But my spirit is filled and full of freshness from God. I will take that and run with it.

From the Inside Out

I was thinking about Easter drawing close and asking God what he wanted me to share. Of course my mind went to the usual topics about Jesus' death and His resurrection. But I really felt there was something else He wanted me to share.
I will start with the Scripture I had for today:
 Psalm 40:1-2
1. I waited patiently for the Lord,
and He turned to me and heard my cry for help.
2.  He brought me up from a desolate[a] pit,
out of the muddy clay,
and set my feet on a rock,
making my steps secure.
When I focused on these verses I began praying for my life to reflect what God has done for me. Most of that occurs on the "inside". God desires our hearts to change and for our lives to reflect what He has done within us.
The above verses say how David waited patiently for God to come rescue him. To come and change him, forgive him, and make his life secure in Him.
I think most of us feel that way. We want God to come and rescue us out of the mess we created, we want His forgiveness, and we want our lives to reflect that.
That all starts on the inside. We all battle different things in our hearts and minds. We may be able to hide them from others but we cannot hide them from God. The sooner we come to that realization, the sooner we can walk in victory.
When we have been rescued, brought out of that muddy pit, cleaned up, and finally standing on solid ground, then we can have our victory. And I believe our faces will show it. How often do we hear the phrase "your face is glowing", or "you look radiant". That is God shining through us. That is the fruit of His Spirit alive in us and shining through.
When we finally set aside our pride, and let God do a work in us, it is then that He shines through us and on us for others to see His glory.
That is what "from the inside out" truly means.
How does this fit for Easter? Without Jesus dying on that cross and shedding His blood for our sins, going to battle and fighting the devil, and defeating the devil, and then rising on the third day, in victory, for us, we would not have the victories we have, we would not have the freedom from the bondage of sin, and we would not be glowing on the outside.
This is truly being changed from the "inside out".
As you celebrate this Easter Season, or some say Resurrection Day, remember to be thankful for what God has done in your life. And also when you see someone who has been changed, bless them and tell them they are truly glowing.
Happy Easter faithful readers.

The Power of the Cross

These 2 simple words, "the cross", have more meaning than most of the words we know.
Let's visit this. What does "the cross" mean to me? I guarantee you one thing, it probably means some the same things it means to you but with some different characteristics added.
When I think of the cross, the first thing that comes to mind is our Lord Jesus hanging on that cross.
The picture that comes into my mind takes my breath away. Why did Jesus have to endure that horrific pain and death for us? Well He didn't HAVE to. But He WANTED to. That's right, when Jesus knew He had to save His creation, His children, us, He knew this was the only way.
Jesus hung on that cross, and died, all for LOVE. He loves us so much that He wanted to give us a way to be with Him forever. For eternity.
Jesus walked that long road to the cross, carrying that heavy cross on His shoulders. All of this after being beaten severely, being mocked that whole time, hardly able to stand. He reached that final place where He would be nailed to that cross with huge spikes. And the weight just kept getting heavier with the burdens of our sins on Him. Why did He continue? He could have said no at any time. But Jesus knew we would need Him forever. He knew we needed a way for redemption. Jesus knew we would face sin every day of our lives, therefore needing Him and His strength to fight for the right thing. And at times we do fail, so again we need Jesus to redeem us. The only way this was possible for us to have was Jesus to die on that cross, then in 3 days rise from that grave alive. In those 3 days Jesus went to the pit of hell, snatched the keys to heaven from the devil's hands and took all power and authority from him forever. Jesus rose from that grave victorious, for love's sake, for our sake. He rose in victory for us, that we have a way to be redeemed and forgiven, and that we can walk with Jesus every day of our lives because of His Holy Spirit.
When I think of the cross, that is what I think about. My Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ going to battle for me so that I can have victory.
Jesus knows I am not perfect. I am far from perfect. But as long as I seek His face, strive to hear His voice in my heart, and do my best to live to honor Him, I know He is pleased and He will guide me every step of the way.
God didn't create us to be robots. He gave us a heart, a brain, ears, eyes, and our own will. He gave us a choice. That is one reason why the cross is so important. Because we all have our own will, we will fail. We will fall away from a relationship with Jesus unless we ask Him for forgiveness, and allow Him into our hearts. It is sin that separates us from Him. We are weak without Jesus in our lives.
As we approach Easter, I pray for you all, that you think about the cross. I pray you get your own vision in your mind about what the cross means to you. The most important thing is the cross was a vehicle God used, to enable us to have that close and loving relationship with Jesus. That close and personal relationship with Jesus.
Jesus is our strength, our Redeemer, our confidence, our counselor, our healer, and so much more.
Faithful readers, I pray you feel that love from Jesus today.
Take a moment and listen to this song.