Tag Archive: encouragement

Rest, Rejoice, Refuel

 

 

Rest rejoice and refuel

Sometimes we can lose the view on our journey and we need to remember the importance of learning to rest, to rejoice, and to refuel our souls. It is easy to forget the simple significance of this and soon find the evidence of its lack felt deep.

Taking the time to rest, rejoice and refuel in my day has not always been my habit. Yet, I have found, through those hard life lessons, this pattern has powerful results. More importantly, it keeps my heart close to the Father, the sole source of wisdom and peace which leads me to live out faith before those I love.

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Cling to Jesus and Remain

vine

In all my life and in all I have learned, all the good, the trials, the storms, the lovely and the hard, I know one thing for certain and above all else…I must cling to Jesus.

I have to cling to Jesus.

To cling is to have a strong emotional attachment or dependence. To remain or linger as if resisting complete dissipation or dispersal.

Depend  on Him. Linger in His presence.

If I don’t…If I let go even for an instant, I will dissipate. I’ll become less.
Purposeless, faithless, graceless, loveless, godless.

I have to cling.

Cling until my knuckles are white and my muscles are tense and Jesus becomes a part of my hold, my grasp, my fist.

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Today…I Will Smile. Yes, Today I Will…

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Today…I will smile, even if it doesn’t come naturally. I’ll look past the trouble and annoyances and find reason to smile.

A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face; a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day. Proverbs 15:13 MSG

Today…I will pay attention to those around me. Family, friends, someone I happen to see once…I’ll notice and see them. And I’ll share kindness.

Today…I will find the positives in my life…the good in the midst of the trials. And I’ll give thanks.

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

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Clinging to Scripture

Psalm 23.3 -2 -3

“What Scripture verse are you clinging to?”

Years ago, a friend asked me this. At the time, I was dealing with some issues, and in a rare moment of vulnerability, I shared with her what I was struggling with.

“What verse is getting you through this?” she asked.

Although I’d never thought of it this way before, I knew immediately which verse I’d been clinging to for dear life.

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 NLT

In it I’d found the comfort and strength I desperately needed.

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New Beginnings…All Year Long

New Beginnings
A new year makes me think of new beginnings. The move to a new calendar feels like a fresh start—a blank page with all sorts of possibilities. It’s easy to think now is when everything can change.

Then as January progresses into February, the newness wears of. The New Year’s resolutions are long forgotten and life feels the same as it was.

Or have we just stopped looking for the newness in our everyday?

New beginnings don’t depend on the change of the calendar year. God gives us a new start every day.

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions (mercies) never fail.

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Stay low…

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV)

I’ve been thinking a lot about being new, about the biblical notion of having a transformed mind. My life is different lately; hectic even, and though our circumstances are changed; I am moreso.

In only 6 short weeks, my career and my professional learning curve went from long-stalled to back in full motion. My new job is a smaller role than I’ve had previously, but coming back from nothing professionally for seven years, I am truly grateful to have been provided the opportunity to work in my field, learn, and contribute again.

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When One More Thing Might Push You Over the Edge

Come with me

I wasn’t here at 5 Minutes for Faith last month. It’s been a trying year and I found myself worn out, weary, and very tired. I kept trying to push forward, but that only adds to the exhaustion. So, I did something I don’t usually do…I asked for help. I e-mailed our editor here and she graciously gave me the month off.

As we’re in one of the busiest times of the year—between Thanksgiving and Christmas—I wonder if you might be in the same place…tired, weary, worn out, and still trying to push forward. If you are, I understand.

It often feels as though the load rests solely on our shoulders, and in truth, sometimes it does.

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Dare to Believe You are God’s Masterpiece

Do you like me? Am I valuable? Am I beautiful?

Psalm 139:13-14

Have you struggled with any of these  questions? The desire to know that we’re loved, valuable, secure, and accepted is  part of being human. These are the questions that our hearts ask when we are depending on ourselves to feel beautiful and whole.

What’s underneath this need to know that we have what it takes? Have you tried to build an identity on what you can accomplish or what you look like? The longing to prove we are adequate, valuable,and loved lurks beneath the surface of all our trying. You may think you’re the only one who feels this way, but we all feel this way at times.

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