Captivated By His Words

lightstock_112702_medium_user_1941042

I love this photo. At first glance, I imagine a beautiful day in the park. Familiar sounds of activity are all around. People jogging, dogs barking and children are playing games nearby. I spot a bench, take a seat and exhale slowly as I enjoy the sound of the wind dancing playfully through the trees. Life is in the air and I take note of the wonderful day that God has made.

I open my bible and begin reading. His voice lifts from the pages and draws me in close. Suddenly, the sounds in the park begin to fade and it’s as if we’re there all alone.

It’s there that he tells me how much he loves me. He opens his heart and speaks of the plans he has for me…plans for good, not evil. He encourages me to be strong and courageous, and promises to never abandon or reject me. My heart soaks in every word as it quenches my thirsty my soul.

As I pause, delighting in his voice, he speaks again…Blessed is she who believes that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished.

Captivated by his words, I sit a while longer enjoying his presence and the wonderful day he has made.

The stuff of life can interfere with our desire to spend time alone with the lover of our soul.  I pray that today you will be blessed and encouraged as you hear his voice from the pages of his word.

Grace & Peace

 

Need a Break?

by R.Giles

“If you don’t come apart and rest, you will come apart.”

Vance Havner

Life can be so overwhelming at times and we can be tempted to take on way too much responsibility. It’s so hard to say no to our friends, our family, even our church, but there comes a time when the stress of life catches up with us and before we know it, things start to unravel.

Experts feel that women are particularly susceptible to stress.  Women are the caretakers of others. Many women juggle the responsibilities of home and a full-time career.  It’s said that women spend less time nurturing their own emotional and physical needs and feel guilty about it when they do.

So what’s the answer? How can you manage the stresses of daily life?

The example was set for us in Mark 6:31.  The Lord and his disciples took time off to get away and rest from a busy day of ministry.  There were so many people coming and going that they didn’t even have time to eat.

It’s important to set aside time to refresh, refuel, & relax from the day-to-day busyness of life.  God doesn’t want us to break under pressure and so He asks us to come away with Him for a while to rest.  He is calling to you, “Come to me, so I can give you rest.” He has promised to take care of your needs.

You may not be in a position to take a week or two off to travel to some exotic destination, but you can take a walk in the park or go for a long drive in the country.  How about curling up with a good book and a glass of lemonade?  I know this can be difficult, and it may require a little help from some of your friends especially if you’re a single mom.

Finding a quiet place to rest is essential to our spiritual well-being and growth in the Lord.  After all that giving out to everyone else, why not take some time to be refreshed in God’s presence? Let the Word of God wash over you and build you up to encourage and strengthen you.

Jesus said, “Come with me to a quiet place and get some rest.”

 Grace & Peace

 Photo by R. Giles