rest

  • Rest is a Verb

    Let perseverance
finish its work
so that you may be mature and complete,
not lacking anything.
James 1:4  NIV

    TOO BUSY TO REST

    See Hear LoveThis Friday I was a guest on the women’s TV Show, See, Hear, Love with Melinda Estabrooks and a few of my incredible, world-shaking girlfriends {I’ll let you know when the episode airs}.  At one point in the show, we talked about our hectic schedules and the issues we have with letting ourselves get too busy. As a firstborn, Type A personality, raised in a racing family of over-achievers who owned multiple businesses; rest doesn’t come easily or naturally for this girl and my friends are much the same.

    In the last year, God called one of my closest girlfriends to a time of radical rest.  Now, the idea of God asking you to not work would seem a blessing… but to my hard-working, others-focussed friend, the task has been daunting and difficult.  Attempts at heading back into the workforce before God’s release, have resulted in closed doors and her submission to wait for God’s perfect timing.  I believe her answering God’s call to drastic obedience will pave the way for the incredible things God has for her future.

    As I was thinking about all this, Todd’s aunt forwarded me an encouraging post about rest. When reading, this phrase popped into my head and hasn’t let go. Maybe it’s because I was a huge DC Talk fan back in the day {Only those who were young Christian in the 90’s will get this connection—check out this fun #musicpics post}, but I had this repetitive thought in my head… Rest is a Verb.

    REST IS A VERB

    Combining the truth of this week’s verse with a line from the blog post I read, led me to a new understanding I want to share with you!  The line in the article that inspired me was essentially saying,

    Rest in God’s Kingdom is not inactivity, but total dependence on God.1

    When I read the definition of the original Greek word Hypomoné used in this verse, translated in our Bibles to read as: perseverance, endurance, steadfastness, or patience, it got me to researching a little more. I googled the definition of rest and it all came into clear vision.  Rest is defined as “relax, refresh, or recover strength”.2

    Sometimes, we need to endure in rest, in order to become strong, getting ready for the next God has for us.  We’re like athletes who need to take a break, so they can recover strength in their muscles; or dough you need to let rest, so it can rise.  Rest isn’t inactivity, it’s activity out of sight.  Rest is a Verb!

    I hope this new understanding helps you to be patient in rest, allowing God the opportunity to build you up, make you strong, mature you and prepare your heart for the exciting adventure He has in store!

    Prayer

    Father… Thank you for being loving enough to keep working on me.  I will work hard to stop wiggling my way out of your crucible and rest in you.  I’m asking You to produce in me the character and strength needed to fulfill your call on my life. In Jesus Name…Amen

    [tweetthis]Rest is a Verb![/tweetthis]

    gbtk

    #musicpics dcTalk-Luv is a verb post here

    Soul H2O BookIf you liked the refreshing in this #SoulH2O devotion, you’ll love my latest Soul H2O Devotional book: 40 Thirst Quenching Devotions for Women.

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    Drawing From The Well-Blue

    1. James 1:4
    2. Luke 21:19
    3. Colossians 4:12
    4. Psalm 37:7

    EndNotes:

    1. https://www.google.ca/search?q=definition+of+rest&rlz=1C5CHFA_enCA775CA776&oq=def&aqs=chrome.4.35i39j69i61j69i60j0j35i39j69i65.4437j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 Website Accessed:  2018-05-02 Definition of Rest
    2. https://fathersheartministry.net/the-father-says-today-may-3rd-2018/ Website Accessed: 2018-05-03

    BLOGGER PRAYERS-GREYYOU CAN OFTEN FIND ME LINKING UP WITH:
    MONDAY     Monday Meditations – Laura J. Davis, Soul Survival – Donna Reidland,
    TUESDAY     Cheerleaders of Faith #RARaLinkup – Kelly Balarie,
    WEDNESDAY Coffee For Your Heart – Holley Gerth, Word Nerd Wednesdays — Liz Giertz
    THURSDAY Heart Encouragement Thursday – Crystal Storms, Chasing Community – Barbara Bradford Ottinger
    FRIDAY Dance With Jesus Linkup – Susan B. Mead, Grace and Truth Linkup – Arabah Joy, Counting My Blessings – Deb Wolf, Fresh Market Friday – Crystal Twaddell ELLEN’S PICKS– Ellen Graf-Martin 

     

     

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  • 6. Restful – In The Beginning Series

    “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.”
    Genesis 2:2

    This weekend I had the awesome privilege to speak at a retreat for Single Moms. It was a phenomenal time getting to know some of these inspiring women and to hear their stories. I don’t know if there’s a harder-working or more loving group on the planet?   Sadly, many are the only parent involved in their children’s lives. With this reality brings a great deal of responsibility and work. The moms were so thankful for this restful retreat where they were treated with delicious catered meals, programs for their kids and a tranquil spa experience.

    In The Beginning, God set the weekly schedule for the world to include a day where everyone rested from his or her work. It’s difficult in this fast-paced culture of the 21st century to imagine a time when you feel your work is “finished”.   This mindset that your work is completed at the end of a week is very foreign to the reality a single mom experiences. Many express how it feels like there is so much to do that they can never keep up. I get how they feel. My “to-do” list seems unending and I bet yours seems impossible to finish too. So, I have to ask, is God’s pattern for a restful life unrealistic in our day and age? Did God’s agenda end when shopping was allowed on Sundays? It sure seems like it in the natural, but the truth is God’s plans don’t change according to our choices or habits. In The Beginning God scheduled in rest and that is still His plan for creation.

    Choose to make your life more restful, allowing time each week for a break to give your mind and body a rest.

    Prayer

    Father….I thank You that Your plan includes rest. Help me to fight against my cultural mindsets that cause me to feel my work is never finished. Help me to be a better representation of your image in how I take time for restful breaks. I ask for you to rewire my brain to align with your original intent and let it bring about great fruitfulness in my life. In Jesus Name…Amen

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  • Obedient Faith…Brings Rest

    “…since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful…”
                                            Hebrews 4:1  NIV
    Why is it so funny when others wipe-out?  I love the TV show where everyone is on a competition to finish the race without wiping out but, it’s inevitable!  You can see the fall coming before they do!

    The Israelites are always an example to us.  We can either learn by our mistakes or theirs!  Disobedience and lack of faith in God took their rest away.  Obedience and faith are the keys that will open the door to your rest.  No more striving to do enough, have enough or be good enough.  A simple obedience in faith is what it takes to enter into rest.
    When I hear the word obedience, I immediately think of a set of rules.  It seems to me in this passage from Hebrews 3 & 4 that God is not describing rules.  He’s talking about living in obedience to who He’s designed you to be, and following where he’s destined you to go.  To live that out—you need faith.  Faith to believe in who God says you are and faith to believe that He will accomplish it through you!
    When we are being obedient to God’s calling on our lives that’s when we’re most at rest.   No more striving to do enough, have enough or be good enough.  A simple obedient faith that believes in what He says over every circumstance we face…that my friend brings rest!
    Prayer: 
    Father…Help me to see the difference between striving and, being at rest to follow You in obedient faith.  Help me to believe in Your Word above all my thoughts, experiences and circumstances.  I declare my obedient faith to Your call.  May I live in the rest you promise!   In Jesus name, Amen

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