Enter My rest

 ... the promise of eternal rest stills stands ... we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said. (Hebrews 4:1,3)


I recently had the opportunity to share some of my thoughts regarding spiritual retreats to a congregation at a local church. I'd like to share those thoughts with you as well.

• God likes spiritual retreats
• God always attends spiritual retreats
• He is delighted with those who show up too
• Something special always happens
• It really pleases Him to give something special to those who commit a block of time devoted to seeking Him

• God does most of the work on a spiritual retreat. The staff or team of people you see "working" are more like a serving tray bringing you God's something special.

• All retreats have some similar components. There are teaching moments, and worship, singing, reflection, and some active fun with application. But not all retreats are the same.
• And not everyone has that pivotal, life-changing experience on a spiritual retreat.
• But what if - what if - God has exactly that in mind for you ... and you don't go? Will you take that chance of missing some much-needed blessing from Him?

• I've been on several retreats. Something breath-taking always happens.
• Don't miss out on God's special gift for you. Find out about a spiritual retreat in your area. Several are called pilgrimages, or Emmaus or Cursillo. I encourage you to take a break, a much needed time away to be with God. The good, loving, understanding, comforting, generous one and only One. You won't regret it.

(information on an upcoming spring retreat can be found at mppilgrimage.org)

Remember the good news of Jesus

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

I read something “new” this morning. In Deuteronomy 9, it talks about the promised land being given to God’s people – not because of their righteousness, but because the people who currently had possession of it were so wicked, it was being taken away from them. I’ve always thought of the promised land as a wonderful gift from God. Here it says He is taking it away from the wicked and giving it to His stiff-necked people.

Thousands of years later, we are still stiff-necked in our focus – more about ourselves and our comfort and our entitlements than on the desires of God’s heart. Admit it. We are sinners. I don’t want to admit it though. I’d much rather just say, “Oops. Sorry.” And forget my sin as soon as possible. Of course, when someone else sins, I think they should sit in the time-out chair and think about what they’ve done. Then dole out an appropriate amount of punishment so they learn their lesson. Why is it I want to be judged by my good intentions, but for others, I want them judged by their actions?

We are all sinners saved by His grace (Ephesians 2:5, 8). Not by our actions, or attitude, or good intentions either.

By His great, great mercy, God gave His people, (though they were stiff-necked with hearts always going astray), the good land, the promised land. The same is true for us. Our promised land, our promised eternal heaven is also given to a stiff-necked people. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Yes, even us Christians with good intentions.

What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7:24)

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

… and has clothed us with the perfection needed, required, desired.

Don’t beat yourself up … for salvation is yours for the taking (Romans 10:9). Rejoice! For the Savior is real. Victory over sin has come in Jesus. Get up off your time-out chair. Lift up your hands – I say it again, Rejoice! (Philippians 4:4) For the Lord has done all that is required. Sin, death and the devil have met their match. And it is finished (John 19:30).

We are securely His and nothing can snatch us out of His hand (John 10:28).

 

Praise God for His indescribable gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15)

 

 

Jesus stopped by

He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support. (Psalm 18:17-18)

My husband was going out of town for a couple days. My problem with that is when I am left alone, and I get overly anxious about something, I tend to "pig out". The day before he left, I started fantasizing about a half gallon of some yummy ice cream I could dive into when he was gone. And maybe some cheese puff things. Maybe some chocolate covered ... anything. The more I thought about this out of control bad habit of mine, the more overly anxious I got - you see the catch 22 predicament I often find myself in. Throughout the afternoon and evening I grew more and more upset with myself about this sinful habit and lack of self-control. The temptation grew and grew in my mind to the point that I had convinced myself I would indeed cave in the next day after he left. It was sure to happen. It was.

But for some reason, when I went to bed that night, among other racing thoughts, came this "chant": "I'm not going to do it. I'm not going to do it." ("Thank You, Jesus.")

In the morning, I woke up feeling like I could beat this demon back. I made plans with what to do with my day while my husband was going to be gone (thank goodness, I have a job to go to in the afternoon). I was feeling good. I was feeling confident. I started with my plans. Things were going well.

Then around 10:00am, he left. And I was all alone. Gulp. The temptation came upon me full force. As I folded up a load of laundry, I was sure I was going to run to the store around the corner. I started making excuses. "I am weak. I'll never stick to a diet. I'll restart on a different day, that's all. Let's enjoy this wonderful (yet sinful) treat."

I tried to stick to the plan I made for the day. Truly I did. But suddenly things weren't going so smoothly. Everything was more effort and work than I planned. And overpowering it all was this niggling thought: "Ice cream. Lots of it."

I remembered going on an internet site that mostly offers recipes and craft projects. But sometimes you can find a funny or interesting "poster" to read as well. So I went there, and typed in "can't do it anymore". I did! And I found so much support and affirming messages. Messages of hope and empowerment. Once again, I felt stronger. Got distracted and started sending some of those messages to those I know who could use a lift. Time passed. The temptation passed. ("Thank You, Jesus.")

HE is in our midst. Do you see Him? Notice Him? Know that He and His power is within you, around you, for you, all about you. It's the help I needed that day. I needed strength and He showed up. I needed strength again; it came again. I bet I can count on Him another time or two. What do you think?

Stop the merry-go-round! I want to get off!

 ... He began to be distressed and troubled. (Matthew 26:37)

Does life ever take you on a roller coaster ride? You know the one - where there are escalating "oh, no's!" followed by downward, spiraling unspeakable screams. Now I am sure in those circumstances you will be seeking God! ... but finding God amidst that kind of attention-grabbing turmoil is another thing altogether.

It's comforting to know that Jesus knew first hand about distress and troubles. He knew about the mocking, spitting, hitting, hurting, torture and eventual dying that was in His very near future. What does He do when overwhelmed? He goes to a quiet place where He can connect with the Father.

There are numerous passages in the bible where Jesus calls us to go to a quiet, solitary place - and with good reason. It's hard to see, hear, sense God when all you can focus on is the screaming, downhill plunge before you.

"Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest. (Mark 6:31)

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed. (Mark 1:35)

That's why we read often about what Jesus has to offer in the way of quiet places:


He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters ... (Psalm 23:2)

The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places, surely I have a delightful inheritance. (Psalm 16:6)

This is why we have window seats with cushy pillows, a pile of magazines and an amazing view; why we have sidewalk cafes, and park benches, and beach chairs in the sand. It's why prayer time may come more easily very early in the morning or later at the end of a day. Fewer distractions.

So if life is giving you a real ride, I suggest you follow Jesus' example and go to a quiet place. Be still and know that He is God. If you need God, go where you can most readily find Him. Where you can hear that still, small voice.

Decisions, decisions

"But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. (Joshua 24:15).

We tried out a new restaurant the other night. I think the waitress had to come back three times before I made up my mind. After all the considerations and waffling between a healthy choice and something over the top decadent, the time came when I had to make my choice and stick with it. The ol' fork in the road scenario ...

I read a couple different bible passages this morning that reminded me of this night out. One is describing a world becoming more and more ungodly:

People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God - having a form of godliness but denying its power. (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

The other passage is filled with the hope and wonderfulness only our God can bring. I'll paraphrase and hit the highlights of Isaiah 61:2-4 :

... comfort ... a crown of beauty ... oil of gladness ... garment of praise ... rebuild - restore - renew ...

Made me think for a moment of how people talk about the good ol' days. Maybe in their memory the differences between the godly and ungodly weren't as apparent or as abundantly clear as they seem to be today. One look at the evening news or some of the latest TV programming will show you that - just how different the two "worlds" have become.

It's time to choose this day whom you will serve. It's time to fully get on board with your choice - healthy or decadent - with your whole heart, soul, mind and strength. Time for a clean break and a walking each day in step with the Holy Spirit and embracing the hope and the promises of our God. Living in His presence. Open your eyes. See Him.

All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the Lord has blessed." (Isaiah 61:9)

Thank God for God!

"I AM the Lord; that is My name! I will not yield my glory to another or My praise ..." (Isaiah 42:8)


When I want healing, or help, or something fixed, I know the first thing I should do is turn to the Lord. So I open by bible (and try to open my mind) to see what God will say about the situation I am concerned about. I thumb through, looking for resolution. I gravitate toward passages that say, "immediately He ..." and "with a word He ..." - because I want the same. That Immediate response. And I believe my request is for a good thing - so why not immediately, right?

I'm not exactly ordering God around. I'm just pleading; expressing my desire. I can see a good return for my good request. Makes perfect sense to me. But a voice inside me says,

When it brings Me glory to act immediately, be assured, I will act immediately. When it brings Me glory to take whatever length of time is needed in order to bring Me glory, I will take whatever length of time.

Do you think of your daily living in those terms? To bring Him glory? Do the choices you make fall under that kind of scrutiny? (I am going to do thus and so because it will cause someone to say, "Praise the Lord!" or "Thank You, Jesus!"). Glory to God. I'll admit, I may do that in reflection but not always as a forethought. But that's exactly what we are called to do. That is God's calling on all our lives - and the "lives" of all creation. Bring glory to God.

Glory: lift up high, exalt, honor, great honor and respect, awe and admiration - above all

You, God, are an awesome God! I trust that You know more. I trust You care more. Capable of far more. Fully present. Fully able. And completely wise in all things. We can truly rest and be at peace in His infiniteness. He's got it all. All that is ever needed.

I read another passage just this morning that talked about the wicked being like the tossing sea waves, never at rest, stirring up mud, muck and mire. I don't want to live like that. I want to exhibit a life that shows I have peace in Christ. Thank God. Praise God. Whatever the situation. And in all things, acknowledge:

 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. - 2 Corinthians 4:15

"O Lord, You are worthy to receive the glory and the honor and the power, for You have created all things. They were created and called into being by Your act of will." (Revelations 4:11)


I do not have to be overly concerned. I can count on God. Praise the Lord!

Come and rest - anytime

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

I see it's been a week since my last post. Well, I've had a head cold, complete with sinus headache and a lot of nose blowing. So I guess I just haven't felt like writing anything. I've been waiting (and waiting) to feel better, so I could write something more uplifting, inspiring, NICE. You can understand, right? We all get that way sometimes. Whether it's an illness, or the winter blues, or something else ... just don't feel like it.

I think we are sometimes like that with Jesus too. Whenever we get down, what's the first thing people say? Think more happy, positive thoughts. Count your blessings. Be thankful. Grateful. But you know what? Sometimes I ... just don't feel like it.

So I'm coming to you this morning, even though I don't feel like it. Because there's a lesson to be learned here. Jesus says, "Come to Me ..." - even if you are weary and heavy-laden. "Come to Me." You don't have to be "ON", happy-go-lucky" thankful every time you go to Jesus. Come - just as you are. Don't wait until you feel like reading His Word. With a word, He has been known to calm a storm and heal wounds. And don't wait until you feel full of happy, thankful thoughts before you pray. His shoulders are big enough to hug and hold you no matter what your condition. Snuggle in nice and close (like my kitties).

Trust in Him and in His call to you: Come.