I woke to a perfect day. Actually it was a perfect day to sleep in. It was a gray cloud-covered day with a faint peaceful rain tapping the windows and roof. It was a day begging to be use to snuggle back under the covers and drift back to dream land. I just love those kinds of days. However this particular day was a workday—a busy workday.
A game of tug of war began between my body and my mind. I could call in to work and use a vacation day and stay in my sleep cocoon but I had 2 meetings that I had to attend and duty was calling. I commanded my sleep-heavy legs to move but they ignored my pleading. I tried to force my body to a sitting position but it fought me the whole way. As I lay there desperate for rest a scripture sang to my spirit, “Rest in the LORD…” (Psalms 37:7)
I took a deep breath and drank in those words. I felt the Lord speak to my heart; he let me know I could rest in Him. That brought life to my weary spirit. Yes I had to eventually drag myself out of bed and begin my day but I can honestly say I felt such peace and rest for the remainder of my day. I imagined my spirit tucked underneath the covers resting in the arms of my Lord.
We all have busy lives and our ‘to do’ lists seem to just grow without stopping. But I challenge you today to take some time and truly rest in Him. Even if you only have five minutes, stop and take a deep breath and breathe in His rest. He is your strength, your peace, and your rest. Find yourself wrapped in His strong arms where worries and stress have no place. Let his sweet presence surround you and bring long desired rest.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
The Details
She knew all the details. Where he was born and the date it happened. She knew his favorite food, color, sport, and book. She had every magazine he was in and was collecting every interview that was written.
She knew he liked Mangos and his shoe size was 11 narrow. Although she had never seen him in person, she knew he had a small scar by his right ear and that he was taller in person than he appeared in pictures. She knew what causes he supported and which ones he fought against.
She knew he owned 2 homes—one in Los Angeles, and one in Florida. He also had a luxury apartment in New York that he shared with his mother. She knew he loved dogs and not cats and owned a parrot that his nephew named Captain Jack.
She knew everything publicly possible about him but, ironically, she did not know him.
Sadly, I have crossed paths with many people who are like my friend—they know all about God but they do not have an intimate relationship with Him. Their bookshelves are filled with “Jesus” books and they have pictures of Him throughout their home. They play only Christian music in their cars and homes, and every card they send, whether Christmas or birthday, has a Scripture or spiritual emphasis.
They pray before they eat and attend church every week. They can quote His Word and know His miracles by heart. They claim He has their hearts and lives in His hands. They dangle a beautiful life in front of the world for all to see—but it is truly empty. They know details, but they don’t know Him.
Philippians 3:10 says, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection…” That’s where we generally want to stop reading. We want to say we know Him, we want the victory and the triumph—but the verse continues. “…and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.” Wow! Those are hard words to read. Being partnered with Christ in sufferings is a much deeper level that we rarely want to explore. We want to throw the birthday party, eat the cake and play the games, but we want to leave when it’s time to clean up. When the real work begins we quickly find an excuse, and a door, and move on.
However, when you experience the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ through salvation it impacts your life like nothing else. It pushes you to a level in Christ where you no longer just know about Him but you identify with Him. You surrender all control—your entire being and life—to Him. You feel the pulse of His blood in your veins. He inhabits your life. Every decision is based on pleasing Him. You crave His Word and thirst for His purity in all you do. You feel His presence as you listen to Him whisper to your spirit in a loud and crowded world. He becomes everything to you. You not only know His words and all his ‘ism’s’ but you know him and live for him. When that happens, you no longer know about Him, but you are on a journey to know Him.
He becomes your every pursuit.
She knew he liked Mangos and his shoe size was 11 narrow. Although she had never seen him in person, she knew he had a small scar by his right ear and that he was taller in person than he appeared in pictures. She knew what causes he supported and which ones he fought against.
She knew he owned 2 homes—one in Los Angeles, and one in Florida. He also had a luxury apartment in New York that he shared with his mother. She knew he loved dogs and not cats and owned a parrot that his nephew named Captain Jack.
She knew everything publicly possible about him but, ironically, she did not know him.
Sadly, I have crossed paths with many people who are like my friend—they know all about God but they do not have an intimate relationship with Him. Their bookshelves are filled with “Jesus” books and they have pictures of Him throughout their home. They play only Christian music in their cars and homes, and every card they send, whether Christmas or birthday, has a Scripture or spiritual emphasis.
They pray before they eat and attend church every week. They can quote His Word and know His miracles by heart. They claim He has their hearts and lives in His hands. They dangle a beautiful life in front of the world for all to see—but it is truly empty. They know details, but they don’t know Him.
Philippians 3:10 says, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection…” That’s where we generally want to stop reading. We want to say we know Him, we want the victory and the triumph—but the verse continues. “…and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.” Wow! Those are hard words to read. Being partnered with Christ in sufferings is a much deeper level that we rarely want to explore. We want to throw the birthday party, eat the cake and play the games, but we want to leave when it’s time to clean up. When the real work begins we quickly find an excuse, and a door, and move on.
However, when you experience the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ through salvation it impacts your life like nothing else. It pushes you to a level in Christ where you no longer just know about Him but you identify with Him. You surrender all control—your entire being and life—to Him. You feel the pulse of His blood in your veins. He inhabits your life. Every decision is based on pleasing Him. You crave His Word and thirst for His purity in all you do. You feel His presence as you listen to Him whisper to your spirit in a loud and crowded world. He becomes everything to you. You not only know His words and all his ‘ism’s’ but you know him and live for him. When that happens, you no longer know about Him, but you are on a journey to know Him.
He becomes your every pursuit.
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