From a Place of Rest

Jesus wants to be our all in all  As the beautiful worship chorus says, He wants to be our strength when we are weak (Philippians 4:13). Jesus desires to give us his wisdom generously and without reproach (James 1:5). He longs to give us joy unspeakable (I Peter 1:8). If you'll but ask, the Prince of Peace will fill you with his peace (John 14:27). He who is love wants to abide in each of us in all his love (I John 4:16). Jesus also desires to heal us (Isaiah 53:5) and set us free (John 8:36).  

The list of all our Savior longs to be for us is long. Everything from our Strong Tower to our Light to our Good Shepherd and so much more. Reading through the Bible and writing down all the Father and Son long to be for us is so encouraging. It really builds faith or trust.

Learning to trust allows you to rest. Especially if you were raised in a dysfunctional home where no one was trustworthy, learning to trust again is a journey which takes time. Jesus is so patient. He never rushes us faster than we can go. Step by loving step he brings healing and deliverance and shows how totally faithful he is. 

From a Place of Rest

May all that I do,

All that I say,

Be done,

From a place of rest,

In you my Lord,

Not struggling to perform, 

Nor striving to measure up,

Knowing your love,

Your acceptance of me,

Your approving smile,

Is what matters most,

Exchanging my weakness,

For your strength,

My struggle,

For your peace,

My sadness,

For your joy,

My impatience,

For your patience,

My fleshly reasoning,

For your wisdom,

My selfish desires,

For your righteous ones,

And so many more,

Which you long to do,

Healing and setting me free,

Flowing out to a broken world,

Through me,

Healing and setting people free.

We Are Artists

If you are like me and aren't talented musically or artistically or in some other area or several areas, I've got good news for you. Even if you feel like you have no talents at all, you are a fearfully and wonderfully made creation of God, endowed with gifts to use for his glory. You need to seek him concerning the gifts he has given you and pray for the courage and anointing to use them to bring his life to others. 

Your ministry will match your gifts. You can and will minister in gifts that aren't your main ones as the need arises, but your main ministry will use your main gifts. My main gifts are those teacher and encourager. This makes jail Bible studies and praying for individual needs a perfect ministry for me. I've done jail ministry for almost 22 years now and find the women bless me at least as much as I do them. There is always a tremendous blessing in using your gifts to bless others. 

I've seen a number of people get into jail ministry who soon leave. They most often do not like teaching and also do not have a good singing voice for leading worship. Their gifts lie in other areas.

WE ARE ARTISTS

Even if we can't sing,

Dance, act, write or paint,

Or whatever else artists do,

We are artists,

Fearfully, wonderfully made,

In the Creator's image,

God's masterpiece,

Made for relationship,

With him,

And other believers,

Made to glorify him,

Draw others to him,

With our every word,

Each deed we do,

We're his co-creators,

Not his slaves,

His beloved family,

Sharing our hearts,

Experiencing his love,

Faithfulness,

Enables us to trust,

Dare to be real,

Discover our unique gifts,

Our artistic talents,

Use them to serve him,

By serving others.

A Gentle Breeze

I was pondering the difference  between a gentle breeze and a fierce wind. A gentle breeze is cooling and refreshing. It is constructive. Most often a mighty or fierce wind is a destructive force. Think of tornadoes, hurricanes and thunderstorms with high winds. Satan is the one who comes to steal, kill and destroy. Jesus (Yahshua) comes to give us life and that more abundantly (John 10:10).

Isaiah 40:11 is a beautiful description of  our Good Shepherd's gentleness. It tells us, "He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom,and gently lead those who are with young." Now that's tenderness! Being carried in his bosom is a safe place where healing takes place.

We are also told in Mathew 12:20 that a bruised reed he will not break. Jesus is here to bring wholeness to every area of our lives. Satan longs for just the opposite. He loves it when we are broken and defeated.

What our Father longs for most is ever deepening relationship with his children. As his sons and daughters, he wants us to taste and see how good he truly is (Psalm 34:8). Building a relationship takes time. Trust can't be coerced, but rather it is earned. Healing and deliverance must take place for us to be able to trust. Trust involves honesty and vulnerability. Our loving Father never rushes the trust building process, but gently leads us one step at a time to quiet waters and green pastures (Psalm 23).

Time spent in prayer, praise and Scripture study is the key to an ever deepening relationship. It is through time spent conserving with someone, sharing your heart and attentively listening as they share theirs that you learn to know their voice and distinguish it from other voices whether friendly or hostile (John 10:26). To be able to discern the enemies voice and not follow him builds trust and deepens our relationship with Jesus. I consider my prayer time sacred and usually do it first thing in the morning when I'm most alert and can give my precious Savior my best.



A GENTLE BREEZE

A gentle breeze,

Or a gentle rain,

Slow,

Calm,

Cooling,

Refreshing,

Contrasted with...

A mighty wind,

Or rain,

Rushing,

Boisterous,

Overwhelming,

Fatiguing,

Like him,

God’s spirit is gentle,

Not forceful,

Persuasive,

Not dictatorial,

Earning trust,

Not controlling you,

Respecting free will,

Not demanding compliance,

Building relationship,

Not coercing submission,

Always honest,

Not deceptive,

Affirming,

Not condemning,

Healing wounds,

Not inflicting them,

Setting people free,

Not causing bondage,

Unlike Satan’s harsh spirit,

Which is a destructive wind.