Thursday, April 16, 2009

Rest for the Weary


Rest for the Weary

April 16, 2009


Even children become tired and need to rest, and young people trip and fall. But the people who trust the LORD will become strong again. They will rise up as an eagle in the sky; they will run and not need rest; they will walk and not become tired.

Isaiah 40: 30-31


I’m not alone when describing that deep, agitated, bone-tired feeling. It’s the beat down, total exhausted emotion. It’s the end of the day; all I can do is edge into my bed, anticipating a restful sleep. We have nothing left in our tanks; even the reserves are empty. Fatigue as become a common factor in our life.

The added pressures and agendas far out weigh our sense of balance. The threat of loosing our job hovers over our shoulder, so we dare not relax at the work place. A loved one has taken ill. We spend our energies, becoming a caregiver, while still tending to our own family and home. Our family needs are continuous, as we manage the daily emotional or physical needs. We spend any extra time fulfilling our sense of duty in our Father’s house. We strive for a better church so we continually give where God leads. We juggle our lives between studies, work, home, and church.

We begin to question everything. We begin to wonder, am I making the best decisions? Where are the answers? I don’t see a light yet, am I getting near? With each passing day, we find ourselves struggling, trying to keep up. We may even dread what a new day brings because the same days have replayed it’s self over and over. Our body aches, as does our mind; even our spirit aches.

Still with everything we go through, everything we endure, we wouldn’t change a thing. For as difficult as it all seems, the journey is not taken without God. The exhaustion is overwhelming, still we continue to exercise our trust in God and put our faith in Him. The endurance we develop, the knowledge we inherit, and the wisdom we embrace is given to us through His grace. God uses these times to teach, as we become His students, His disciples.

Thank you God for my brothers and sisters in Christ, offering support and prayer. Thank you for my family that stands beside me, lending help where it is needed. Thank you for the friends that have become family as each supply me with inspiration. Thank you God, for sustaining me through the hard times. Thank you for helping me to soar, where I never thought I could. Thank you for helping me to reach dreams that I never thought I would accomplish. Thank for giving me the courage to take on another day, fully depending on you. You give me all the help and strength I need. You give me wings.

Thursday, April 9, 2009


Gathering Acorns
Originally written
September 4, 2008

Give us today our daily bread
Matthew 6:11


I began to wonder, just how many acorns must a squirrel gather in order to make it through a winter. How much work will the ambitious creature do, traveling up and down the tree, scurrying about on the ground, scooping up the rations and safely placing it in its den? As the fall weather turns cold, the lively rodent continues the duty. The necessary provisions are met to last through out the cold blistering months.

A certain mobile phone company once promoted ‘the rollover plan.’ A customer starts a month with a certain amount of minutes. What is not used automatically rolls over into the next month banking more time for the customer. Like the squirrel, one might try to store up enough minutes to built up a nice reserve.

As Christians we may find ourselves trying to do the same thing; storing up enough grace to carry us through the next day. When we think about tomorrow our mind grows tired and weary. We want to reach into our Grace Bag and pull out enough to restore our bodies and minds. When we are uncertain about the future or facing a difficult situation we hope our Grace supply is sufficient.

God gives us grace on daily basis. If we had an unlimited supply of Grace we would never need to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread." God wants us to put our trust in Him. He promises to provide our needs on a daily basis. We can trust God to supply His grace to us. God wants us to trust Him TODAY and not worry about tomorrow.