Come To Me 
Are you weary?
Burdened beyond words?
Rest is found in Him.
In Him alone.
Freely, generously without question.
I can learn from Him.
He is my Teacher; I am the student;
ever learning,
ever failing,
then ever learning some more.
He is gentle,
humble in heart.
Sweet, blessed, essential
Rest is found in Him.
He can satisfy my longing soul
and fill an empty heart.
thoughts taken from Matthew 11:28-29
*****
We sang a song in church a few weeks ago and my mind still rehearses the words. For some reason, this week I cling desperately to the words and meaning behind them. I must not allow the storms to shade the light of day.
Muskegon, Michigan pier - photo by Steve Lasher
“Though the angry surges roll on my tempest-driven soul, I am peaceful, for I know …
I’ve an anchor safe and sure, that can evermore endure. But in Christ I can be bold …” – (My Anchor Holds – lyrics by William C. Martin)
The winds do wildly blow on my bark so small and frail. It’s as though I feel there’s no relief in sight and I may crumble at any moment.
But that’s when my God speaks peace to me, “Be still, my child — you are worried about things that I can handle. Your job is to rest in me and let me be your strong anchor in the midst of the storms.”
Rest. Abide. Trust.
Wrestling with a decision? — 2 steps to help make that decision:
In the gospel of Mark, Jesus and his disciples had just finished feeding the 5,000. You would think the people would be satisfied and would leave them alone for a time, but such was not the case. “Because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he [Jesus] said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’ So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place” (Mark 6:31, 32).
2. Get up and go! “Arise, let us go from here” There’s a time to contemplate, and a time to do. Don’t linger or daydream anymore. Daydreaming time is over once I know what it is I am to be doing or saying. “But the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commended me. ‘Come now; let us leave’” (John 14:31).
“Allow God to be the source of all my dreams, joys, and delights, and be careful to go and obey what He has said.” — Oswald Chambers
Do you have a quiet place where you can be alone with your thoughts and with God? It’s tough to come aside where no distractions bombard your brain. I get that, but you must make a concentrated, deliberate effort to seek out and dwell in this place until your mind is emptied of all but God-thoughts. Then, and only then, can God speak to you uninterrupted. His peace, which passes all understanding, will then guide you to the next step (Philippians 4:7).
***
“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.” (Isaiah 30:15)
It is the returning to God, repenting and turning away from my former ways, that I receive forgiveness. Rest is then my reward. Confidence and quietness becomes my strength to face the trials and joys of the day.
God longs to show me his gracious and compassionate nature—to share in all the blessings. I have no idea what today may bring, but he does. He will show me the way when I wait and place ultimate trust in him.
Prayer: Dear God, I return to you. I trust you to calm my soul trusting in your strength to carry out necessary tasks today. Thank you for showing me compassion and grace I do not deserve.
Ask: Are you confused about which task to do next? Feeling overwhelmed and full of unrest? Have you tried leaning on God for wisdom and stability?
***
Morning Has Broken, sung by Cat Stevens, lyrics by Eleanor Farjeon
“Morning has broken, like the first morning/Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird/
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning/Praise for the springing fresh from the word
Sweet the rain’s new fall, sunlit from heaven/Life the first dewfall, on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden/Sprung in completeness where his feet pass
Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning/Born of the one light, Eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise every morning/God’s recreation of the new day”
One of the huge joys in owning a deck:
Enjoying breakfast with a cup of coffee sitting on my deck!
When I place that simple act of sitting and waiting as my focus and prime directive, I feel as though I’m on vacation–even if for only a brief time. Remember the old TV commercial, “Calgon, take me away!” That’s what I sense as I sit for a time on my deck—the air feels clean and fresh, birds proclaim a new day awakening. I can almost ignore the distant freeway morning traffic din when I focus on the Creator of this universe.
I soak in the beauty surrounding me BEFORE the priorities and duties of the day cry out for my attention. Until I can no longer ignore their urgent pleas for attention—pleas which remind me of yesterday’s insistent toddler who tugged at my hand, eager for my undivided attention–my way! And my direction NOW!
But for now, I bask in the morning sun which reminds me of Your warmth and desire for relationship.
http://www.allspirit.co.uk/morning.html
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