Rest

Trust Me and refuse to worry, for I am your Strength and Song.
You are feeling wobbly this morning, looking at difficult times looming ahead, measuring them against your own strength. However, they are not today's tasks - or even tomorrow's. So leave them in the future and come home to the present, where you will find Me waiting for you. Since I am your Strength, I can empower you to handle each task as it comes. Because I am your Song, I can give you joy as you work alongside Me.

Keep bringing your mind back to the present moment. Among all my creatures, only humans can anticipate future events. This ability is a blessing but it becomes a curse whenever it is misused. If you use your magnificent mind to worry about tomorrow, you cloak yourself in dark unbelief. However, when the hope of heaven fills your thoughts, the Light of My Presence envelops you. Though heaven is future, it is also present. As you walk in the Light with Me, you have on foot on earth and one foot in Heaven.

[Exodus 15:2, 2 Corinthians 10:5, Hebrews 10:23]

Only Love

An attempt at poetry. I wrote this when I was sixteen.

Always running, always searching
Searching for love from the empty hearted
Why do I continue
Continue running from my Only Love?

I’m longing for one love to hold me tight
I’m longing for one love to comfort me in the night
Why do I continue
Continue running from my Only Love?

My heart is too often open for taking
My heart is so tired of always breaking
So why do I continue
Continue running from my Only Love?

You alone will never fail me.
You alone can fill my need.
You alone will always love me
You alone can my True Love be

There You are…
You’re standing with arms open wide
You’re right there - right by my side
So why do I continue
Continue running from my Only Love?

Why do I continue when I know
That You are the only one
Who will never let me go?
That’s why you sent your Son
To me Your love to show.

So I’m running back to You
Begging for help to see me through
‘Till that glory day when You call from above
And I can be forever with my Only Love.

The Father and The Child

This is a poem someone very dear sent to me during a struggle in my life. It will always be special to me.

The Father and The Child
by Cynthia Heald

The Father spoke:
Are you ready, My child?
Yes but I have nothing to bring except myself.
You are all I need.
Surely I must bring something; I do not feel prepared to travel.
Do Not concern yourself with preparations. Your journey has already begun.
But I am fearful.
There is no need to fear; I will always be with you.
Will You give me what I need?
I will provide for you.
What will You provide?
All that is essential for your journey.
And what is essential?
I will show you along the way. For now, you have what is necessary: the desire to draw close to My heart.

The Child spoke:
Father; the journey is harder than I thought it would be. I am weary.
When My Son traveld here, He became weary also.
Why is it so?
Because My kingdom is not yet established.
Am I nearing the destination?
You have come far, but there are still many roads to travel.
Will those roads be any easier?
The closer you come to My heart, the more intensely you will experience My love and understand My ways. You will become more concerned about what is eternal and less concerned about the difficulty of the journey.
Sorrow still walks with me.
She travels with you by My design. She is a carefully chosen tool in My hand to accomplish My will for you.
Sorrow has become more of a friend. I no longer fear her presence. But Joy never leaves me! She has settled deep within me. Will she always accompany me?
She will never leave you as long as you keep your hand in Mine and let Me lead you to My heart.
Then she will be with me forever--for I have no other desire than to know Your heart.

The Father spoke:
And what do you know of My heart?
I know that Your heart is the only worthy destination.
How have you learned this truth?
By walking daily with You.
How are your companions, Joy and Sorrow?
Now that I have a better understanding of Your heart, I realize that Sorrow keeps me dependent upon You and Joy enables me to stay on the journey.
You have learned well, My child. So you wish to continue the journey?
Oh, Father; I only pray that I remain faithful and obedient. I want no other journey--I seek no other Joy.
You will find Joy in loving and serving others.
It is hard for me to love and serve. How can I do it with Joy?
By taking My yoke and learning of Me.
As long as I am yoked to You, Father; I know I can do anything.
Hold My hand tightly, My child. For this part of the journey, you must receive My rest and learn to live for all that is eternal.
Why must I hold Your hand tightly?
Because I am ready to place you as a laborer in My harverst, and I do not want you to be so busy in your service that you loosen your grip or let go.
And how do I labor in Your havest?
By bringing Me glory.

The Child spoke:
I'm nearning the end of my jorney, aren't I Father?
Yes, My child, but there are still a few more roads to travel.
It has been a good journey. Thank You for holding my hand.
Have you lacked for anything?
No, nothing. I must confess I was skeptical that all I needed to take on the journey was a willing heart. I didn't realize then when You have my heart, You are all I ever need or want.
What have you learned from your travels?
I've learned that being a woman who pleases You has nothing to do with my family, my friends, or my circumstances, but everything to do with how much I love You and how deeply I abide in You.
How would you describe your journey?
As a journey that frees me to become all You created me to be--as a journey of great inner Joy.
What have you learned about Joy?
Joy has always been deep in my heart, but she is quiet. I've learned that I must be still to hear her; otherwise, I listen to louder voices that silence hers.
How has Joy served you?
She has faithfully been with me in all of my journey--my trials, my suffering, my obedience, and my serving. I understand now that she always accompanies Sorrow--but her most precious gift to me is her tears as I experience Your presence.
How has Sorrow helped you?
Father, I know I said in the beginning that I didn't want Sorrow to go with me but she has taught me much. Without her, I would never have wept over my sin. Whenver I was deeply hurt or grieving, she took me straight to Your heart. Without her, I would not have known how others felt. I would not have known how to love or serve them. And as You said, it has been Sorrow that taught me the meaning of true Joy.
And what is true Joy?
True Joy is knowing and experiencing Your heart.
In the past, I know I would have had a list, Father. But now, I want only one thing--and that is to bring You glory.

Once more, the child stretched out her hand. The father knowing the great love His child had for Him, took her hand and they continued on their journey.

His Way is Wisdom

“My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom, and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” – Proverbs 2:1-6

Recently, I’ve been facing lots of decision. One in particular that has been constantly on my mind is: what college will I transfer to next year? I’ve been fasting and praying about all these questions that I've been asking God about and it comes down to: “How will I know? How will it be crystal clear to me that this is Your will?” He keeps answering, “Get wisdom.” So, I then posed the question, “How do we ‘get wisdom’”? and “What is wisdom anyway”?

What is wisdom anyway?
Wisdom has been defined as “understanding the fear of the Lord and finding the knowledge of God, knowing God and doing as He commands, and living a disciplined and prudent life in the fear of the Lord.” (Kevin DeYoung, Just Do Something)
The Proverbs 2 verse above tells us not only to pursue wisdom but also how to pursue it – “look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure.” We are to search for it with earnest longing because it should be as precious to us as silver and gold.
Why is wisdom so precious? Well, think about the alternative! The opposite of wisdom is folly; therefore, in getting wisdom, we are avoiding foolishness.

How do we “get wisdom”?
There seems to be a three step process laid out for us in these verses.
1. Accept my words
2. Turn your ear towards wisdom
3. Call out for insight

1. Accepting God’s Words – how do we do that? Well, we first have to know what ‘His Words’ are! Spending time in His Word will help us with this step. Read, read, read. One of the key ways that God speaks to us is through His Word. But when you read, remember, you are searching for treasure, “as for silver and gold” the Proverb says! Keep your eyes and heart open!

2. Turn your ear towards wisdom. One particular way that God speaks to us is through the wise counsel of other believers. One way that God can give me insight, personally, is through the wise counsel of my parents. Proverbs 19:20 tells us: “Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.” I cannot tell you how often God has spoken to me, cautioned me, prepared me, and blessed me through the counsel of my parents. They’re usually right, too.

3. Call out for insight – this is prayer. We fast and pray. This is how we speak to God. Even Jesus lived a life of constant prayer to God. Ask what you will (Matt 7:7). He wants us to come to Him. He waits anxiously to hear our voices crying out to Him in prayer.

So seek wisdom. Walk in it. Study the Bible, listen to the wise counsel of other believers, and continually live in prayer. This should be our way of life.

“The way of wisdom is a way of life. And that makes you freer than you realize.” – Kevin DeYoung

Never Satisfied?

Millions of people today spend a lifetime searching for love, acceptance and success without really understanding the need that compels them.
It must be understood that this hunger for self-worth is God-given and can only be truly and completely satisfied by Himself.
Our value is not dependent on our ability to earn the fickle acceptance of people, but rather, it's true source is the love and acceptance of our Heavenly Father.
He created us. He Alone knows how to fulfill all of our needs. (Phil 4:19)

In Scripture, we find God supplying all that is essential for us to discover our worth and our true significance.

First and foremost, He tells us how important we are to Him:

You are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you.

-Is. 43:4.

While people will come and go based on their feelings, on situations, and as a result of their human nature, He will never leave or abandon us:

I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. I will not, I will not, I will not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let you down or relax My hold on you! Assuredly not!

-Hebrews 13:5

Again, it must be understood that our hunger for love, acceptance, and self-worth is given to us by God and can only be truly satisfied by Himself.
When His love and acceptance are our primary focus and we continually dwell on these truths, the yearnings for the approval of man will fade, and our joy will be more complete as we bask in His unfailing love for us.

By Your Side

by Tenth Avenue North

Why are you striving these days
Why are you trying to earn grace
Why are you crying
Let me lift up your face
Just don't turn away

Why are you looking for love
Why are you still searching as if I'm not enough
To where will you go child
Tell me where will you run
To where will you run

And I'll be by your side
Wherever you fall
In the dead of night
Whenever you call
And please don't fight
These hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you

Look at these hands and my side
They swallowed the grave on that night
When I drank the world's sin
So I could carry you in
And give you life
I want to give you life

I'll be by your side
Wherever you fall
In the dead of night
Whenever you call
And please don't fight
These hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you

Cause I, I love you
I want you to know
That I, I love you
I'll never let you go

My hands are holding you

All I Really Want

Psalm 142

I cry out to the Lord;
I plead for the Lord’s mercy.
I pour out my complaints before Him
and tell Him all my troubles.

When I am overwhelmed,
You alone know the way I should turn.
I look for someone to come and help me,
but no one gives me a passing thought!

Then I pray to you, O Lord.
I say, “You are my place of refuge.
You are ALL I REALLY WANT IN LIFE.

Hear my cry,
for I am very low.
Rescue me from my persecutors,
for they are too strong for me.

Bring me out of prison
so I can thank You.
The godly will crowd around me,
for You are GOOD to me.”