Take A Breather

Mark 6:31  And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.

When's the last time you were so busy you didn't even have time to grab a bite to eat and sit to eat it?  Time to slow down! Take care of yourself. :)  

The Lord wants His children to work and be productive...and He also thinks it's important to rest.  He set that timetable in place long ago when He made the earth and everything in it.  A time to rest.  I'm sitting here with a smile on my face, joy in my heart, just thinking about this.  Our God ordained a time to just 'be'.   

"on the seventh day...." no wonder it's God's perfect number, right? *thumbs up*

Ah!  YES!!! 

Oftentimes when we read or hear the word DESERT we think of dry, wearisome travel where refreshment is hard to find; however, a desert place can be so much more!

Desert: A quiet place; a place of solitude; a lonely place; an alone place.

Life calls us to organize, give, teach, work.  And this is good.  Life can also get so harried that it's just a blur.  We do all the activities in trying to be productive and then sometimes we "do all the things" just to 'be doing' when it's not really altogether needful.  We busy our minds so much that we can drive God right out of our thoughts...and especially, our day. 

His heart longs for intimate attention.  When He calls we need to pick up the receiver of that heavenly hotline and fellowship a while.  :))  This kind of fellowship can only come to us by "being still". 

Be Still...and KNOW. 

Know that He is God and be assured that He is big enough to meet all that you need.  Make sure today that He knows you need Him and that you praise Him.  :)  It's always nice to unexpectedly receive a call from a friend, isn't it?  We know they're there, we know they care, just as Jesus also knows we care...and just as exciting as it is for us to hear it too, I'm convinced our Lord gets just as excited to hear from us too! 

Cease from the strife of life.  Relax.  Get some alone time, some quiet time, and just 'be'.  It's ok.  And when you've had refreshment in your soul, it somehow filters into your mind and heart and travels throughout your whole being, then you will think more clearly and be rejuvenated. 

One weekend, years ago, I totally planned a for real "stay-cation".  :) Being in a divorced situation, I knew my daughter would not be home on this particular weekend.  So apart from speaking with her on the phone that weekend, I didn't step out of my house for 3 days nor take calls from anyone.  I'll repeat:  I did not step out of my house for 3 days.  Yes, you read it right.  :))  I planned it that way.  At that time in my life I knew I needed some 'set apart time' or I was going to totally unravel.  At the time I felt my life was in shambles.  I was trying to keep the pieces all together and miserably failing. It was not my desire that my daughter was scheduled to not be home with me...it was just..well, the rule, and so I totally took that weekend to set myself apart.  I went on total "desert mode"...a sabbatical, if you will.  And, so as no one would become worried, I even put a silly little voice message on my voicemail to enlighten those who would call me (apart from my little girl, I did answer those calls) what my weekend was going to be all about. After calling the first time, they knew to call a few days later.  To make sure I had the 3 days, I took 2 days vacation from my job.  I made sure there was enough food in the house, a Bible, and of course, the bubble bath was topped off.  It was one of the BEST things I ever did in my life.  It was my own 3-day slumber party and one of the best memories to date.

And, yes, after those 3 days I was very happy to see (and talk) to people again.  LOL 

A quote I recently read says this: "I think there is no command in the whole Bible so difficult to obey and so penetrating in power, as the command to 'Be Still'."

No, you don't have to stay in your house and not talk to anyone for 3 days in order to 'be still', but however you do it...just

Be Still.  Be quiet.  Be mindful of God.  Take some time to rest your spirit, your mind, your body. 

In the rush, hurry, and hustle of life we need to develop, plan, schedule moments to get in our desert place.  Even if it's for 5 minutes, or 30 minutes...or even 3 days.   

Stop, take in a deep breath...and slowly breathe out. 

Refreshing, isn't it?!

Happy Weekend, everyone! *hearts*

My Best Friend's Prayer

To me, one of the most beautiful passages of the scriptures is John 17.  When I read it again today my heart skipped a beat.  Oh, how God truly cares.  He cares for me...for you...for His Bride.   

To have the eternal God pray over His people is, to me, one of the most incredible acts of love He could do, (apart from dying and then rising again to give us eternal life).  It also shows, yet again, in the scriptures the oneness of God.  And although it need no affirmation, it also tells me how disciplined He was.

John 17:4  For I am glorified in thee on the earth:  I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

Jesus was no slacker. He finished His mission.

Which leads me to question #1: Am I doing the work He gave me to do?
This leads to question #2: If I knew how long I had left, how the more passionate would I be about the work He's given me to do?
Question #3: Am I truly glorifying God, quickly tossing whatever praise I receive back to the Father that gave the work...the blessing...the gift, to me?

In my opinion, there sometimes can be too much self-gratification in our midst. We should always give the praise and honor to God.  We can do nothing apart from Him.  Whatever gifts we possess it's because He's been the giver of them. We are nothing.  He is everything. 

John 17:9  I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine

Since scripture is eternal, I can read this today and apply it to my own life right here in the 21st century .  What an awesome thought it is to know that the God of the Universe prays for me and calls me, His.  Reading this chapter brings wonder to my heart and tears to my eyes.  Our God cares!

John 17:11 Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou has given me, that they may be one, as we are.

There it is.  The oneness of God. Ohhh I am soooo thankful!  I'm thankful to know that there is only one that I can petition with any need I may have.  There is no need for me to pray unto any other.  There is one God and He has the most powerful name -- JESUS!  Jesus is His name. 

John 17:26  And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

There is no greater LOVE than this.  Salvation. 

There is no greater Love,
No, there is no greater Love.
There is no greater Love,
No greater Love/
Than that a Man would lay down His life for a friend.