 There is a beautiful serenity that comes with freely giving your heart to CHRIST.
Living in a world where discontent grows like weeds in a lush garden, it takes faith and a hand-in-hand relationship with OUR MAKER to rest instead in peace. CHRIST provided HIMSELF the martyr so that we could have peace and joy and yes, contentment in ALL circumstances. That means no matter what’s going on around you, within you, behind you or in front of you; it’s going to be alright”! Yet, I here I am often wearing discontent like it is the new fashion of the day. Truth be told, I can make a good thing bad by overthinking or just the mere habit of looking at the downside, or complaining. Yes, complaining and negative thinking can be a habit! Monty Python, a comedic group sang a funny little diddy with a whole lotta truth in it. Here are some of the lyrics: “Some things in life are bad, They can really make you mad, Other things just make you swear and curse, When you're chewing life's gristle, Don't grumble, Give a whistle And this'll help things turn out for the best. And... Always look on the bright side of life.” I want to be so hyper focused on the LORD, that no longer will I have room in the corners of my mind to be discontented or anxious about anything! I want to stop looking inward and start looking upward to the rock that keeps it steady and real! I want to focus my stare at the LORD, so that nothing that is happening in the world or even directly around me shall move me towards old habits of lowly thinking this trying to steal my peace and joy! And by the grace of CHRIST, that is a want I can ask for all day and believe it and receive it... A simple mutter of a few words, “keep my eyes on YOU LORD so that I can see the bright side of life here and beyond”! AMEN (Philippians 4:11) #ThankYOUJESUS ❤️
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 GOD doesn’t exhaust us.
We exhaust ourselves. Ok, I exhaust myself. In Exodus 33, GOD is a bit frustrated with the Jews. HE refers to them as stiff-necked. And Moses, who is anointed to lead them is tired. I feel Moses here. HE tries. And tries. Goes to bat for his peeps and they whine and complain... and I can almost hear a “we should have never listened to you”. I imagine poor Moses feels between a burning bush and a.... okay not a good joke! Haven’t we all felt that way? GOD calls us to something difficult. Perhaps, a missionary- counselor, minister or children’s leader.. or a mom or dad or just life! It can be exhaustive at best. Sometimes fighting an uphill battle. Besides remembering that the LORD goes with us in these endeavors; rest is a must and the LORD always provides rest. Now, me- I don’t always listen. I do this and do that until not only am I exhausted....but my health gets affected - my mood is grouchy, my memory goes in all directions. Obviously, GOD who told Moses in verse 14 of Chapter 33 in Exodus “And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest” is clearly telling us something! Well, screaming it to me! GOD rested after creating the world. All throughout the Bible - rest is spoken about. JESUS went off by himself to get rest. JESUS slept soundly in the boat even in the midst of a storm. Yet, I’ll stress to the point of insomnia! GOD is there for us through the storms and the chaos, to give us rest! And fear, anxiety and stress - can be abolished if we - here it comes, REST IN THE LORD! Today, I shall take a step towards resting more! Who’s with me? #ThankYOUJESUS ❤️  I am easily distracted. My eyes and ears focus on just about everything around me. This can be a curse but it can be a blessing.
Focus on the LORD, I am told! Riddle me this: if I have trouble with concentration- how on earth do I focus wholly on the LORD! The joke of "oh look a butterfly" is not a joke for me. It is a reality! So, what is the blessing you say? It is this. Because I tend to hone in on everything around me, I also tend to catch things others may not. This is a good thing. It has helped me many times. The curse although obvious - has me often left in the dust, reeling from the mistakes I have made by juggling too many balls at once. How on earth do I overcome? Well, Proverb 4:25-27 says: "Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil." We all know the story about Peter stepping out of the boat, walking towards JESUS on top of the water! As soon as he looked about and realized "whoa" and his gaze fell from JESUS; plop he went under the water! I made many mistakes. Had I kept my gaze on CHRIST; and not rush to get everything done- perhaps these tasks would have had a different outcome. I may be able to handle many tasks at once. I can be a wonderful juggler. However, as soon as I take my eyes off of the LORD and the tiniest overwhelm enters, I drop! The balls come tumbling down. Hitting me in the head one by one! I can do all things, through CHRIST, the perfecter of my faith! However, my eyes must be upon HIM! FATHER, help! I want to keep YOU in front of me always! I want YOU to be my first and largest distraction. HELP me LORD to keep my focus on YOU first and order each and every one of my steps! Quiet the noise, oh GOD that seems to surround me; literal and the thoughts and the lies that flow around me- protect me FATHER- and forgive me LORD- I want to do better for YOU! In the most beautiful serene name of my SAVIOR, CHRIST- amen ❤️ #ThankYOUJESUS·  Every now and then I hit a morning where my mind is blank, and there are no words coming forth to type.
This was one of those mornings. Part of this is no sleep and the other is that I’m still feeling awful. This flu is no joke! “Not being able” bugs me the most. It literally gets under my skin. And....yet, I see a great blessing in all of this. Me, who don’t want no one doing nothing for me, (cause I’m gone to do it myself); is forced to lean on others. Most notably, my husband! And I see him running around picking up medicine and stuff and doing this and that; no complaints! So, I need to “chill out”, and rest. And even though today may be another day of resting; it’s all good! Ain’t gonna worry about tomorrow and what needs to be done! Instead, I will focus on the many blessings GOD surrounds me with (including an incredibly wonderful husband) on a day that is devoted to love! #ThankYOUJESUS ❤️ |
