God Given Rest

As I was hoping for rest I went looking for the verse where Jesus promised rest. I went to search e-sword and the first verse on the list for “give rest” was:

And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.

Exodus 33:14

Also on the list:

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28

Israel was in slavery. We were in sin. God provided deliverance and rest. One meaning of rest is: A place of quiet; permanent habitation.

Another reference to God giving rest is in Isaiah. Israel was in bondage - again, as often I find myself living in bondage - again. Even bondage to sorrow and fear.

And it shall come to pass in the day that the LORD shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve,

Isaiah 14:3

Jesus made it clear this rest from sorrow and fear, freedom from bondage, was for all, not only Israel. It was for me. For you. 

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,  To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”  And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.  And he began to say unto them, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.”

Luke 4:18-21

Sin is hard bondage – poor, brokenhearted, captive, blind, and bruised. We serve it in sorrow and fear.

That is how God found me – how I still feel some days. 

That is where I was when Jesus came to proclaim the day of rest had come.
Another definition of rest: The gospel church or new covenant state in which the people of God enjoy repose, and Christ shall be glorified.

Jesus declared the acceptable year of the Lord – good news, healing, deliverance, sight, and liberty. Rest from the bondage of sin. Rest that brings refreshing. Rest that doesn’t just give me a break from sin. Rest that settles me in a new kingdom.

God was giving Israel rest by delivering them from bondage in Egypt and settling them in a new land of promise. Jesus has delivered me from sorrow and fear, the kingdom of sin and death. He has moved me to his Kingdom to rest in his works.

God has provided this rest for you. Have you received it?

How do you get back to resting when it seems you are in bondage again?

Letting go of all but Jesus.

Resting, From Posting

I had hoped to post about rest each Wednesday. My thoughts this week haven't come together into anything worth posting yet.
To top it off I helped my husband slaughter 6 hogs this weekend, so computer and processing time has been limited.
So I'm giving myself grace, letting go of  having a wonderful post.
Instead I will wish you a wonderful week with some time for rest.

Rest, Reconciliation – Where to Begin

Rest n.
2. a state of reconciliation with God. (Matt 6)

Reconciliation n. 2. 

In Scripture, the means by which sinners are reconciled and brought into a state of favor with God, after natural estrangement or enmity; 

This is where true rest begins. Until we are reconciled to God all the rest in the world will not satisfy the restlessness in our souls. Rest begins when we begin to “do” rest.

Rest v.
2. To cease from labor, work, or performance.

God has done all the work to reconcile us to himself.  Jesus did the work so we can rest from our striving to be right with God, to impress him, to make him love us, notice us, or accept us. He already has. God loved and still loves.

Do you know this rest? Are you fully persuaded of God’s unfailing, unchanging love for you?

I’m not. I mean I believe he loves me. I know in my head. I know in my spirit. I am at rest in my eternal reconciliation. 

Yet somewhere I don’t know because I am not at rest today. How can he accept me today? I was grouchy. I was mean. I joined in my child’s tantrum. I squandered the precious time he has given me. I still strive for people’s attention and approval. I still act like I need to have it all together before he can use me, before he’ll listen. Before I’ll listen.

So I must rest [9. To lean; to recline for support; 10. To stand on, to be supported by; 12. To lean; to trust; to rely;] in his Word. He cannot lie. If he says he loves me he does. If he says I am forgiven I am. If he says we are reconciled through the suffering, death and resurrection of his Son then we are.

I will be changed by my resting far more than by my striving.

I was resting here.

I seem to have forgotten.

I will rest here again. Reconciled.

Where are you resting this week?

Time4Learning Trial

I've been invited to try Time4Learning for a month in exchange for a candid review. Their online program can be used for homeschool, as an after school tutorial and for summer learning. My opinion will be my own, so come back and read about my experience. You can write your own curriculum review, too!

I never thought this would be my style, but with struggles for some of my children and spring fever for us all I think it will be the perfect time to try it out!

In Need of a Makeover

This +

this =

This!

I'm a "piler". I make piles of stuff instead of decisions. I am getting better, but I'll likely never be cured.

I wanted something to contain the pile plus the pile I use on a daily basis. This freezer basket won the nomination.

I took an old comforter cover and tore it into strips. I wrapped during the week while the kids worked on their lessons.

I found some wonderful ideas for fabric flowers on Pintrest. First I tried this one. I didn't like the pointed petals so I used that design for my leaves.

Next I did these flowers. My daughter discovered that bigger stitches allowed to gather the petals closer for a smaller center.

I attached the flowers leaves and twine with Tear Mender, my favorite fabric glue :). 

I'm happy with my basket and the top of this cabinet my now be my longed for control center...

I'm still in desperate need of a makeover myself. While I work on that I will be encouraged by my basket.

What are your favorite ways to stay organized?
What helps you juggle your many roles?

Rest in the Lord

What's the difference between "resting in the LORD" and growing stagnant? How do we "be still" without becoming idle?

I must have copied this from a blog or a post somewhere. My apologies to the original poser of these questions. I’m sure I thought I would get to it right away and remember where I had found it. That didn’t happen and I have no documentation for where I got it. If it was you let me know.

It caught my eye because my One Word for 2012 is rest. 

Rest in the Lord. Be still and know that I am God. They all fit together. 

Just how? What does it look like?

In our culture I think rest means couch potato. It means lazy. We rest. We do nothing. Rest equals relaxation. Maybe that’s why we fear resting will lead to stagnation. Yet God commands us to rest in him. What did he mean?

Psalms 37:7  Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

The word translated “rest” in Psalms 37:7 comes from two words. One word meaning, to be astonished. Another word that means, to stop. This word for rest means to be so astonished you be quiet. I love this!

Look later in the verse. “Fret not thyself” What do people do when they worry? They talk about it! Be quiet! Remember who God is. If we allow ourselves to focus on God we will indeed be astonished.  He is capable, faithful, loving, sovereign. He can and will handle it. Be still in your tongue and your thoughts.

Isaiah 30:15  For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.

The word for rest in this verse means to be set on. Returning our focus to him, being set upon his promises is rest. The word for saved means to be safe but it also includes the idea of being free. Where is the strength to rest? in quietness and confidence. Sounds like Psalms 37:7. The word for quietness means: rest, settle, be still.

Jeremiah 6:16  Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

The word for rest in Jeremiah 6:16 means a resting place.  Abide, remain, and stay are all words in the meaning of the word stand in this verse. The resting place, the place to stand is in God’s ways.

None of these verses are reffering to physical rest, doing nothing. They all refer to where your thoughts are resting. If they rest in the Lord you will be safe and have confidence in him. Israel would not. The verses following in Isaiah and Jeremiah tell us Israel SAID they would not. 

Maybe another reason to be quiet before we are sure we are resting in the Lord? 

Rather than wait paitiently as instructed they talked and made their own plans. Since they went against the plans of God, they failed and brought judgement rather than rest.

How often do we decide to fix something instead of resting in the Lord? Do we get any rest from the results of our efforts?

One more verse:

Zephaniah 3:17  The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

He – the Almighty God  - will rest in his love for you. 

The meaning for the word used for rest includes: to engrave, be silent, be still. He is not trying to love us. He has decided - engraved it (in his hand actually) and it will not change. This overwhelms me. He is decided, set, abiding in his love for ME. for You. If we rest in his love we are imitating our Father just as Jesus did. Resting is being like God, thus pleasing to him.

This verse also shows rest is not motionless. He is resting in his love with joyous singing. Rest does not result in stagnation. Rather purposeful movement. There are things to be done. The first of which is rest. 

Have you discovered rest?

How do you rest?

Do you have questions about rest?

I'd love to hear from you. Please comment.

Jake & Jesus is One!

Jake and Jesus are best friends. They do everything together. Jake talks to Jesus everyday. Learn how you too can become a lifelong friend of our Savior!

Published by Tate Publishing

Author bio:

Kelly Hagen lives in Kentucky with her family. She enjoys being a stay at home mom, and filling her children’s hearts with God’s Word.

You can find Kelly on :

Website:

www.jakenjesus.weebly.com

www.kellyhagen.weebly.com

www.authorkellyhagen.weebly.com

Facebook:

Kelly’s Jake & Jesus

Twitter:

Kelly_Hagen

Kelly shares some thoughts on friendship:

Friends are a special thing to have in your life. It's something Jesus wants us to have. They can encourage us, lift our spirits when we are down. Share in our happiness. But we must remember that we are human. Even the "best" friend you have can hurt your feelings, and let you down. But the good news is...Jesus will never hurt us, or let us down. He loves us and forgives us. He doesn't hold bitterness or anger towards us. We sometimes do-even not knowing it. So it's important to remember not replace your friendship with Jesus with someone else. Put Him first and all else will be taken care of. Try your best everyday to "live" out that friendship for your children, spouse and other friends to see, so that they too may find the one true "best friend" in the world....Jesus!

Reviews for Jake & Jesus:

Jake & Jesus, by Kelly Hagen, is a small children's book with adorable illustrations and a huge message. Jake convinced me of his love for his best friend, Jesus. With Him, he could talk and play, sing and pray--anytime. Best of all, Jake gave Jesus the gift of his heart.

My only regret was that the book ended too quickly.

Linda Robinson, Author of When Love Abounds 

Jake & Jesus is a heartwarming story of a young boy's love for Jesus. Through reading this book, young children will learn about Jesus, and how they too can have a personal relationship with Him. This book is a wonderful tool for parents to use to help lead their child/children to Christ. It's also full of colorful illustrations. 

Author Terri Burnell 

Kelly's book, Jake & Jesus is such an adorable children's book. It really speaks on a child's level to let them know that Jesus can and will always be their best friend.

Lisa Davis Budzinski author of At the End of the Day