THE LORD--MY REST

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures---(even with a sleeping bag and blanket)

That's REST!!!

The shepherd's presence seems to make all the difference in the behavior of His tired sheep! Turning back fear before it can get a foothold. Sitting in His "Love-Light."

Think revitalizing!

Thou has formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee. -Augustine

ROADSIDE REMINDERS!

God's Way to get my attention is often on a roadside sign that leads right to our house. Side by side signs!

REST is GOD's LOVE!

"REST is GOD's LOVE!" needs to be in my vocabulary.

In a humorous way, the sign to the left could be a reminder to practice "rest" or one continue on to the Mountain View Manor Nursing Home just around the corner.

TRUE REST!

Ever sense you need this reminder within daily eyesight!

More than permission for a Saturday nap !?

All "busy-ness" and no Sabbath rest makes this blogger wiped-out, irritable, discouraged. Take your pick! Even all three!

Look to Him! Accept His gift. Do the math! Even if you're not very got at it....your body can tell you when to slow down your moronic pace

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So....today I took a Saturday nap. The Lord was good to me and gave rest to my soul as well as my body. (Psalm 116:7)

The One who is my rest replenished my strength allowing me to spend time with Him.

True REST from the One who is REST!

R AND R

R & R!

R & R!

R&R!

Ever need a little R & R?

The letters are the same but what they represent can be so-o-o different.

What comes to your mind? 

Most folks think of rest for the first R......followed by recreation, relaxation or recuperation. 

• Doctor RX--Rest and Recoup
• Late night study--Ritalin and Redbull
• Psychology--Reflect and Re-evaluate
• Authors--Revise and Resubmit
• Carpenter Corey--Remove and Replace

Rest, as in stoppage, came to my mind

R and R!

Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Psalm 62:1

R and R!Jeremiah 31:25

“For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.”

1 Corinthians 16:18 For they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such men.

2 Timothy 1:16 May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains.

Exodus 31:17
“‘It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’”
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Ever need a little spiritual R & R?

R + R = Rescue and Redemption

Rest in that truth!

R - WORDS STILL RUMBLING

Monday's Prayer for Revival group's passage was Titus 3:1-8.

The very first word was Remind----that started those "R"s rumbling in my head again. Part of the reminder from Titus was "be ready!" God had my attention first with remind and I was rapt when a few words later, ready appeared. Rapt. (Was my rapt fascination about to "rapture" me.) BTW, Webster has rapture as an "archaic" term.....he must not have ever gone to my church. But I digress.

More R words that readily jumped off the page, into my heart and out through my praying mouth were righteousness, regeneration and renewal. Repentance was in my marginalia. I think my most comforting "r" word was an adverb, (v.6), referring to God's  richly pouring out on us the Holy Spirit...richly (ESV) ie. abundantly, (NKJV) freely, (NIrV) generously (NLT)

After listing readiness ways in the first 7 verses, verse 8 states, "The saying is trustworthy..." Of course it is, it's God's word. Let's all REST in that truth! 

Thanks to Lisa Dufur who shared her "R" appreciation for the original R word entry, RRRRRRRRRR with some useful "u" words. Would love for others to share as well. (underlines are mine)

I read it and I loved it.  Love the U words too. Where do you get these cool ideas to worship and remind us of his Unfailing love for us? It helps Us Understand his Unlimited power which is so Uplifting. 

Version Preferences

When studying God's Word, I have a variety of Bibles handy. (KJV) King James Version used for recall of childhood memory verses. (NASB) New American Standard Bible used most for individual study. (NIV) New International Version for BSF---Bible Study Fellowship lessons. (ESV) English Standard Version to follow along at church. For easy reading, I sometimes choose (CEV) Contemporary English Version, (NCV) New Century Version or the (NLT) New Living Translation, especially for facilitating understanding in difficult passages or long chapters. 

The same truth or primary meaning, just differing in certain wording or connotations---sometimes invokes ideas or feelings specific to situations, which I might be experiencing at the time ---is helpful to me.

A different "legitimate" version can offer a new or fresh perspective especially when I am preparing to teach a passage or topical lesson.

Studying for an upcoming "rest" lesson, words like refuge and retreat seem to jump off the pages from the (MSG) Message. When accompanied by "renewal," an aspect of that rest, all the better.

Chance or Condfidence

"Human pride loathes the suggestion that God orders everything, controls everything, rules over everything." (John MacArthur) Fate or chance defines the theology of the prideful.

I, along with many others, find confidence in God's sovereignty/

R.E.S.T.

8/26/13

REST---it’s the theme for our H2H (Heart to Heart) Women’s Ministry Bible Study this year. It’s so timely for so many. Tired people grow weary in trying, weary of forgiving, wearing of the pain and struggle. Weariness can be overwhelming.

People who need rest and refreshment often turn to pills, alcohol, even the spa to reenergize their sad lives as Max Lucado says in “Facing Your Giants.” But do they? There may be a reprieve from the weariness and the pain may be postponed, BUT is it removed?

Jesus Calling (8/3) reminds us that in such times, one should be quick to pray. Oswald Chambers “My Utmost….” entry (8/20) reminds us that our Lord is the One who establishes rest. 

Crickett, our WM director gave a helpful acronym to remember these truths

Re-order your priorities Lay all your burdens prayerfully before the Lord.

Exercise restraint. Learn to say, “No.”

Slow Down. God can redeem our time for His purposes.

Trust God. ‘Nuf said!!

“Are you tired? Worn out?  Burned out on religion?  Come to Me. Get away with Me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest.” (Lucado, 8/15)

R.E.S.T. might not have a tune but it has it’s own lyrics for the heart---and those words are meditation for today.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  (Matthew 11:28-29, NIV)

MOUNTAIN TIME: ADDENDUM

7/16/13 
Mountain people, who live in cadence with mountain time, experience life in a timely manner---"whenever." "Soonish." Business might open one day and not the next---just check our the sign.
 "ish" is it's own hand on the clock.

Store sign in Cashier, North Carolina---8/14/13

Regardless of "time zone" parameters,  you know you're on mountain time when you......

• sleep when you're tired, 
• wake up rested with fewer hours of sleep, 
• have sounds of a running creek, heard though an open window, to "lull" you to sleep, 
• are as delighted with a rainy day as well as a sunny one, 
• understand that the march of time slows down to a walk or a rocking chair's rhythm and even a turtle crossing the road can catch your attention. 

Mountain Time----somewhere between resting and relaxing with lots of "fixin' to" intervals in its measurements.

ONUS…….

5/24/10….is synonymous with responsibility, burden, obligation and duty. These synonyms/words whir in my head---when I blame myself as I succumb once again to the tyranny of the urgent. I tend to take all responsibilities seriously, even if they aren’t solely mine.

Bearing an onus for the wrong reasons----like seeking recognition or for the approval of others---is self-inflicted misery. There will never be enough rewards or pats on the back to endure that kind of burden. It’s just wearisome. Bearing an onus alone is cumbersome and tiresome as well.

When the onus….is “on us”---just us, it’s a burden indeed. The “good news” is, just that, good news. Scripture tells us that we have a burden bearer. We can come to Him daily with our burdens of concern. We just have to approach Him and allow Him to bear our burdens. Then He gives us rest. What an exchange! As we then take His yoke that is “lined with love,” (Matthew Henry) we find ease and deliverance from, the often fruitless, cares/burdens of the world.

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. (Matthew 11:28)

DAY OF REST

3/27/09 Homecoming--it might be brief but already has been blessed. 

Arrived greeted by “Welcome Home” balloons on mailbox, yellow ribbons around trees and pink roses w/ “Dotsy” ribbon sitting on the kitchen table, lots of hugs, cards, soup, calls and visits----love feels so good. 

Stayed in pjs all day as this became a day of rest---I spent all day easing into my day and decided not to feel guilty about it as I am now about to ease into bed for a long night’s rest…..knowing true rest comes from Him. 

• Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him. (Psalm 37:7) 
• Return to your rest, O my soul, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. (Psalm 116:7) 
• One hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind. (Ecclesiastes 4:6)
•  …..and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it: and you will find rest for your souls (Jeremiah 6:16) 
•  “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matt. 11:27-30) 
• In peace I will both lie down and sleep, For You alone, O LORD, make me to dwell in safety. (Psalm 4:8) 

 Goodnight.