#255 - Resting Keeps out Unbelief!

Hebrews 4:9,11 -  So then, there is still awaiting a full and complete Sabbath-rest reserved for the [true] people of God... (11) Let us therefore be zealous and exert ourselves and strive diligently to enter that rest [of God, to know and experience it for ourselves], that no one may fall or perish by the same kind of unbelief and disobedience [into which those in the wilderness fell].

Proverbs 31:17 - She girds herself with strength [spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God-given task] ....

When was the last time you really had a rejuvenating day? When you really rested? When you really took the time to re-charge your batteries? 

In today's day and age of goals, accomplishing things, moving up the corporate ladder, getting ahead, hustle and bustle, keeping up with the Joneses, keeping up with laundry & cleaning, meeting financial desires for savings, bank accounts, homes or cars... with all of that, when is there really time to rest? 

Taking a full day to just rest and recharge our batteries can almost seem like an impossibility. "How could I give up a FULL day to just rest? I have so much to accomplish!"

In a recent post, we talked about Proverbs 31:17 and discussed in detail the description of the word "gird," since it's not a word we use to often today. Just to recap, the thesaurus gives some further definitions... Gird: fortify, secure, support, are just a few. 

I'm confident that our Proverbs 31 woman took some time to rest. Just yesterday I ran into a revelation from Hebrews that I had never seen before. As you read in Hebrews 4:9, you see it talking about taking a complete Sabbath-rest. In the amplified version of the Bible, it goes on to say be zealous and exert yourself and strive diligently to take that rest! The NEXT part is what really got me!!! Let's look at the end of Hebrews 4:11, that no one may fall or perish by the same kind of unbelief and disobedience [into which those in the wilderness fell].

What does entering that rest do? It is MORE than just recharging your batteries. It is MORE than just taking a break? We often think of weak people are the ones who need a break. Weak people take time off. Weak people stop. Weak people take breaks. 

Friend.... I'm here to tell you just the OPPOSITE! In Hebrews 4:11, it is telling us the IMPORTANCE of taking that day of rest, that Sabbath day to rest, so that we will not FALL. So that we will not be in unbelief and disobedience!! Not only is the Sabbath day of rest there to simply rejuvenate us, BUT it is there to KEEP US OUT OF UNBELIEF! It is there to KEEP US OUT OF DISOBEDIENCE! 

I know for myself, I have noticed when I do not take a day of rest, I'm much more prone to temptation than the weeks when I take a day of rest. It has been much easier for me to fall, or sin when I'm running on fumes. When I've missed a week of having a day of rest. I can tell that my spirit seems weaker. I feel weaker. I've noticed it's harder to stay steady when I'm tired or run down. 

According to Hebrews 4, a day of rest is going to help you to walk in BELIEF! It's going to help you walk in OBEDIENCE! 

Friend, I'm going to encourage you, pull out your calendar, mark out when you can have a day of rest this week! Maybe work it out with your spouse to watch the kids for a few hours (or the whole day!) But, equally, do the same for your spouse! Encourage them to rest, rejuvenate, recharge their batteries! 

Maybe you can't get a full day of rest in. Maybe you have kids and there is no one who can watch them so you can actually feel rested. Well, do what you can, God WILL HONOR IT! Maybe prepare food the day before so you can just plug in the crock-pot, have an empty dishwasher when you start your day of rest. Let the kids watch a movie. Don't clean. Don't do laundry. Don't do any major cooking. Pull out a fun craft, or watch a movie yourself. Read a book. Get in the Word. Worship. Take a nap. :) Just have a day that is a fun filled day of recharging your batteries!! :) 

Friend.... from experience, having a weekly day of rest (DOR) has literally changed my life and my energy levels!!! I highly encourage it! :) 

Be blessed!! 

#254 - REJUVENATE! Take a BREAK! :)

Proverbs 31:17 - She girds herself with strength [spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God-given task] and makes her arms strong and firm.

Ok ladies... let's get down to it. Today, let's talk about your strength level. Have you felt run down? Tired? Frustrated? Follow me on this... we're going to jump through a few word studies to really dig in and get a deeper understanding... and by the end, I really feel like the Word is going to help you. In the least, I feel like It will give you a place to start, where you can begin to come out of some of the exhaustion you may be feeling right now.

We don't typically use the word "gird" on a regular basis, so I decided to look it up to get some other definitions.... one of the 2 definitions was strengthens. To get a more firm, overall description, I checked out the synonyms as well. Here were a few of my favorites:

• secures, supports, reinforces, encompass, fortify, ready, prepares. 

Some of my favorite synonyms for strengthen included:

• bolster, empower, enhance, increase, intensify, regenerate, rejuvenate, renew, restore, support, sustain, add fuel to the fire, built up

As a mom, working woman, business owner, wife, or a woman seeking to pursue and chase God, I know you most likely have days where you feel run down, exhausted, worn out. Maybe you have those days where you'd just like to rewind time and go back to when it was simple. Maybe a day before kids? Not that you'd trade them in or anything, you obviously love them... but the days before you felt like all you were doing was wiping noses, fixing food, doing dishes, picking up spilled food from under the table, cleaning up toys, changing someones clothes again, and then fixing the next meal! Some days it seems like a never ending cycle?! Or maybe you are in the corporate world, and you are fixing their problems... maybe different than a 3 year olds, but the same thing just different. Returning email, answering questions, answering the phone, fixing problems, changing pricing, refunding money, working late, checking voicemail, talking to your boss, analyzing your numbers, and the list goes on. 

All the more reason this is for you!!!

Let's check out our verse again, you are going to LIKE the outcome!!! A break is in store for you!!! Get excited!!

As we look at the life of the Proverbs 31 woman, I don't know about you, but for me if I just read about who she is & what she does, it could DEFINITELY be overwhelming! Here she is this perfect person, doing everything, making money, traveling afar to get food for her house, waking up early, staying up late.... I mean really, when does this perfect woman sleep?!? And GOD, I'm suppose to be like her?!? I'm exhausted already, how can I do more?? --- Does that sound like the conversation you have with God when you consider this Proverbs 31 woman? Well, lets dive into some good news!! :) 

In the past, I viewed Proverbs 31:17 from a fitness perspective. I always focused on the later part of the verse, "girds herself with strength and makes her arms strong and firm." So, "Great," some of you may be thinking, "Not only am I suppose to do all this other stuff, but I'm ALSO suppose to work out and attempt to get buff arms?! Who has time for that? I'm already not sleeping if I'm attaining to be this woman!" 

Let's plug in a few of the synonyms that we looked up... 

• Proverbs 31:17 - She girds herself in strength...
• She rejuvenates herself in strength... 
• She prepares herself renewed...
• She fortifies herself being built up...
• She adds fuel to the fire for herself being rejuvenated ...

Take a snapshot. Run down. Tired. Worn out. Going every day. There is never a break for mom. Always more to do. Things to be done. Laundry. Food. Dishes. 

How can you add fuel to the fire and be rejuvenated? What are some things that rejuvenate you??? I can think of a list of things for me. Let's start out... you list out yours... but here are a few things that rejuvenate me:

• Going to see a movie by myself (without kids) .... or with my husband.
• Watching a good chick flick on netflix. Maybe in sweats and a sweatshirt, on my laptop, in my bed, eating popcorn. Hummmm..... a few favorites.... The Devil Wears Prada, Julie & Julia, Letters to Juliet
• Taking a bubble bath. 
• Doing a CRAFT project. Maybe something I saw on Pinterest (things that I typically wouldn't do because I would consider them unproductive, frivolous, extras)
• Writing.
• Working on a scrapbook. 
• Sitting in a coffee shop by myself. :) 

Those are just a few for me. Well, our PROVERBS 31 WOMAN, this Perfect picture of a woman, She actually TOOK TIME FOR HERSELF!!!

Those of you who know me, know that Tyler and I both take ONE day a week where it is our Day of Rest. On that day, we rejuvenate! For Tyler, his "rejuvenating" looks like a documentary.... (arghhhh, just the word documentary practically puts me to sleep!). To me, rejuvenating, means unwinding my brain and sewing something for Trinity or making a headband for me, doing a craft project for my home, watching a movie, getting out by myself! 

We also know that God Himself, worked 6 days and rested ONE! Tyler and I have worked it into our schedule that we work 6 days and rest 1. We REJUVENATE 1 day out of the week! Now... some weeks it isn't perfect, it may be a 1/2 day. Or maybe it doesn't work out for Tyler to have the kids, so I still have to be "mom" and feed people. But even on those "unperfect" Day of Rests (DOR's), I still do fun, restful thing. Maybe I veg-out and watch a movie while the kids nap. Maybe they play outside while I read on a blanket. Even on the "unperfect" DOR's.... we still make it work. Instead of fixing dinner (aka: mom working), we may go to Cici's where kids eat free! I don't have to cook, so I get a break... and it's a break of the normal routine! 

MOM's - YOU being rejuvenated is IMPORTANT for YOU! Your health! Your husband! Your kids! Your spiritual walk! Your dreams being accomplished! I've tried it both ways! I've tried it working 7 days a week, never taking a break or breather, 365! And I've tried it rested. Getting 1 day/week where I mentally take off, and 6 days of working. I can tell you, from experience, when I am rested from that 1 day, I accomplish MOUNDS more on the other 6 days! On my DOR, I can plan, evaluate my goals, talk to God, dream about where I'm going. 

So.... 

PERMISSION GRANTED... obviously check for yourself .... but, mom's (and dad's...and non-parents)... take a DAY OFF! :) Biblical, from what I read, I say YES, ABSOLUTELY. If you're spouse can't give you a complete day off... that's ok, take it anyways. If they are not going to participate, let them know YOUR plan. "Honey, today, I'm taking a DOR. Pizza for dinner tonight. I'm not cleaning, cooking, or doing anything that looks like work. I'm going to REST. And tomorrow, I'll hit the ground RUNNING! Being rejuvenated and ready to TACKLE our dreams and goals (and laundry!)!" 

Rejuvenate. 

xoxo!

(OK.... kids are awake now! My apologies for not going through to spell-check! Thanks for your grace if there are grammatical errors!)

 

 

#169 - How to get REFRESHED!

Computer errors caused part of this blog to get deleted. I believe that even after filling in some gaps, it will bless you! I pray I didn't forget anything. The enemy did NOT want you to get this one!!! The Holy Spirit told me that His people DO need this Word!
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Good morning! Well, I must say it is a beautiful morning out! I am officially on my back porch.... had a cup of hot chocolate, now on to some English tea and the birds are just chirping away! It is absolutely peaceful! I can only imagine what it would be like to live on a property with lots of land, not ever hearing ANY cars or neighbors, just nature! Wow! A small piece of heaven, I'm sure! I look forward to OUR piece of land like that!!

We are going to stray off the path a little bit as I want to share some insight with you into a very popular Psalm that I'm sure many of you could quote! Let's get started.

Psalm 23:1-4 - THE LORD is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack. ² He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters. ³He refreshes and restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness [uprightness and right standing with Him--not for my earning it, but] for His name's sake. ⁴Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me.

Sunday at church, my Pastor talked about Psalm 23 and the power of resting. As he was sharing scripture and going through some things, it was just like the Holy Spirit was revealing me so much even in what was not said. I was having some pretty exciting revelations in regards to Psalm 23 & resting. What is in store for those who rest.  Let's jump into things a bit.

In the Hebrew, verse 2, "leads" can be also translated as to "give rest, bring to a place of rest, refresh, cause to rest." However, in verse 3, the Hebrew word for "lead" is talking strictly about "to lead, bring or guide." It is not referring to "resting."

The power of RESTING in obedience?
As I sat in church listening to the Pastor, in my head I started thinking about what an oasis these green pastures would be to actual sheep. The Pastor made reference to how the sheep could just graze endlessly all day long. The grass was green, plush, yummy... perfect. When they got full, they could lay down, take a nap, go down to the still waters and drink. EVERYTHING that a sheep would need was provided for and laid out! ALL of their needs were met, there at the green pastures! Here's where my mind started to go off.... WHAT would "green pastures" look like for me, the believer? Green grass is great for a sheep, but I'm not going to eat green grass. What would "green pastures" be for me? Check this out! If to a sheep it meant TOTAL FULFILLMENT, ABUNDANCE, NEEDS COMPLETELY MET, that is what it would mean to me too! Total Fulfillment? Yes! My needs being met in every area. Finances? Abundance. Food to feed my family? Abundance. Clothing? Abundance. Health? Abundance - wholeness. When I and YOU allow ourselves to go to these green pastures, we set ourselves up for restoration. Verse 3 says that in this place, HE, our Father, refreshes and restores our life!

Are you running ragged? Are you tired? Are you feeling burnt out? When was the last time you visited the GREEN PASTURE? It is a place where RESTORATION comes! It is a place where YOU & I will get REFRESHED!

Why Rest?
Very simple. Re-read the beginning of verse 4, "Yes, though I walk through the valley..." We are ALL going to have valley's in our life at some point! Since we live IN the World and Satan is currently it's prince, bad things are bound to happen. Now, don't get me wrong, I am probably one of the greatest "Optimists" that you will ever meet. I believe that I have been set up to be BLESSED because I am following the will of God for my life, and if you are walking in obedience, I believe the same for you. God's desire is to bless His children.

Let's jump back... "I walk through the valley..." - THERE is the KEY for you & I! For the born-again believer! THERE is the key! To walk THROUGH the valley's of life! Not to STAY there! Not to STAY in the valley! Not to LAY DOWN in the valley. Not to make our HOME in the valley! We are to walk THROUGH the valley's that we come to. Man this is good! Are you getting this!?!?

And HERE is the KICKER! What makes someone ABLE to walk THROUGH the valley instead of STAYING in the valley? Because they have RESTED. They are REFRESHED. They are RESTORED. We are not meant to STAY in the valley! We are meant to go THROUGH the valley. We are not meant to lay down in the valley, to put up camp in the valley. We aren't meant to wallow in the valley, we are meant to go THROUGH the valley. As believers living in the WORLD, we cannot always prevent bad things from coming at us... even Paul reminds us of this in the New Testament, BUT to a degree, we can prevent how long we stay in that place. By RESTING, observing a Sabbath, we can get girded up with strength so that the "valley season" can be quicker, so that we are able to withstand the enemy, we are able to walk through the valley to the other side VICTORIOUS! The enemy wants you to STAY in the valley. How can we glorify God if we remain in a bad place, if we remain in disaster, turmoil. We glorify God when we are on the OTHER SIDE of the valley VICTORIOUS. Pre-requisite? Proper rest in the green pastures and beside the still waters.


The disadvantage to being FORCED to rest? 
I heard a pastor once talk about how he never took a day of rest. He never really rested. Being in the ministry, he traveled and shared the gospel all the time, but did not himself rest. After awhile it took a toll on his body and he was FORCED to rest. He was laid up in bed with back problems for some time and was MADE to rest. I've heard him recount the situation and say that he believes he could have avoided it if only he would have taken a priority to rest. So... by choice or by force, your body needs to rest. I choose to do it on my terms, healthy and having an enjoyable time versus being laid up in bed, or worse, being in a hospital somewhere.

Not a ONE-TIME Event
Just like our bodies repair themselves each night when we sleep. I feel like each week, a Sabbath Day of Rest does the same thing. Tyler and I choose to schedule a Day of Rest EACH WEEK. We notice if we miss a week, we feel bogged down and tired. Don't get me wrong, it takes planning, especially when you factor in children, jobs, etc. We just started somewhere. If you can't do a "whole" day right now, start with a few hours or a half day. Start with scheduling some time to rest. By no means do I want to force my opinion or view of the Word on you... but if the shoe fits for you, maybe you should wear it too. Maybe you might just benefit from resting.

#134 -PROVISION BABY!

Rapid fire! It's coming at ya! Get ready for this, it is good. And.... good morning... blah blah... hope you are doing good! I'm jacked!!!


Again, we are veering off path of our reading schedule, but the Lord is allowing me to share some revelations while they are fresh and just JUMPING out of my head and to my fingers!! For those of you out there who have a dream, THIS is going to set you FREE!!!!! This partnered with FREE FROM DOUBT is a FREEDOM combination! PRAISE GOD! Are you ready?? 


We're going to visit Exodus 16:12-30.... stick with me on this, it may seem long, but go with me! I'm going to include the highlights here:

Exodus 16:12-30 - I have heard the murmurings of the Israelites; speak to them, saying, At twilight you shall eat meat, and between the two evenings you shall be filled with bread; and you shall know that I am the Lord your God.
    ¹³In the evening quails came up and covered the camp; and in the morning the dew lay round about the camp.
    ¹⁴And when the dew had gone, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a fine, round and flakelike thing, as fine as hoarfrost on the ground.
    ¹⁵When the Israelites saw it, they said one to another, Manna [What is it?]. For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, This is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat.^{(A)
    16}This is what the Lord has commanded: Let every man gather of it as much as he will need, an omer for each person, according to the number of your persons; take it, every man for those in his tent.
    ¹⁷The [people] did so, and gathered, some more, some less.
    ¹⁸When they measured it with an omer, he who gathered much had nothing over, and he who gathered little had no lack; each gathered according to his need.
    ¹⁹Moses said, Let none of it be left until morning.
    ²⁰But they did not listen to Moses; some of them left of it until morning, and it bred worms, became foul, and stank; and Moses was angry with them.
    ²¹They gathered it every morning, each as much as he needed, for when the sun became hot it melted.
    ²²And on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for each person; and all the leaders of the congregation came and told Moses.
    ²³He said to them, The Lord has said, Tomorrow is a solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord; bake and boil what you will bake and boil today; and all that remains over put aside for you to keep until morning.
    ²⁴They laid it aside till morning, as Moses told them; and it did not become foul, neither was it wormy.
    ²⁵Moses said, Eat that today, for today is a Sabbath to the Lord. Today you shall find none in the field.
    ²⁶Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there shall be none.
    ²⁷On the seventh day some of the people went out to gather, but they found none.
    ²⁸The Lord said to Moses, How long do you [people] refuse to keep My commandments and My laws?
    ²⁹See, the Lord has given you the Sabbath; therefore He gives you on the sixth day the bread for two days; let every man remain in his place; let no man leave his place on the seventh day.
    ³⁰So the people rested on the seventh day.

OK... PROVISION. I don't know what provision that YOU need for your life, but praise God I received a revelation on this for ME! Whatever God has called you to do, He has also PROVIDED the PROVISION for you to accomplish it! Now, don't get me wrong, the Children of Israel on the exit from Egypt should NOT have taken 40 years to get to the Promise Land! Why did it take them 40 years to get there? Because they had a BAD ATTITUDE! They murmured, they complained, their hearts weren't right! What should've been a TEN DAY journey took them 40 years! Isn't that ridiculous?!?! That's why Tyler doesn't especially like this analogy, but it works for me. God provided what they needed EVERY day. They walked out of their house, and GOD provided food for them! All they had to do was bend over and pick it up! 


What did they gather? According to their need! Up to an omer of food, but they gathered according to their need! Maybe the tiny skinny mom, or child, did not eat an omer of food, so they did not gather up that much, but they did not lack. They gathered WHAT they needed! So, let's take for example ME.... my husband and I are in a PEOPLE & PRODUCT business. We work with the best people across the US, and we work with 1500 companies & the best PRODUCTS that are available on the market. So... how does this story apply to me? Man, what freedom! This is how it applies, GOD has provided the PEOPLE that are suppose to be in business with us. And like the MANNA God provided for the Israelites, they WALKED OUT THEIR FRONT DOOR and there it lay, on the ground! They did not have to TOIL to pick it up! They just bent over and picked it up! Their need was met! Food for their body. Their need was met. (Now, if they wouldn't have been complaining, they would've had a whole lot more than manna and quail to eat because they would have entered into the land flowing with milk & honey in 10 days! BUT, because they had to complain and murmur, quail & manna was what was on the menu for 40 years!) Nonetheless, they ate. They did not TOIL to collect their food. The manna came to them, the quail came to them. For me, ALL I have to do is LEAVE MY HOUSE to collect MY MANNA! HOW MUCH??? HOW MUCH DO I COLLECT? I collect as much as I need! How big is my dream? BIG! How many lives to I want to affect? 100's of thousands of millions of people in my lifetime for the Gospel of Jesus! SO, my PROVISION is there and is exactly what I need! 


Now.... HOW LONG does it have to take me to collect my provision and get this train where it needs to go? Let me tell you, NOT 40 YEARS! With a GOOD ATTITUDE & the RIGHT EXPECTANCY, my 40 year journey can dwindle down to 10 DAYS! 10 DAYS! It doesn't have to take long! It IS a journey nonetheless, but it doesn't have to take forever! People don't have to die off in the wilderness on my trip, like the children of Israel. 


They gathered for 6 days, on the 6th day, they gathered enough for the 7th day and guess what??? The children of Israel have a DAY OF REST! Every week they had a DAY OF REST! HELLO! They collected enough for 7 days in 6 days and they RESTED! Whatever your goal, whatever your dream, you don't have to go so hard that you get burnt out! That day of rest, whatever your 7th day is, that day will renew and refresh you. On my day of rest, if I wake up and there are dishes in the sink, guess what happens to them? They STAY in the sink until the next day! I don't clean, I don't fold clothes, I don't usually cook anything extravagant. Hello pizza! Or hello "let's go out to eat!" It's a day where EVERY part of my being gets to get refreshed! Guess what that does for my 6 days? It makes my 6 days MORE PRODUCTIVE than if I worked for 7! 


SO. Provision. Do you need people? Go out and collect the people without toil. Like the Israelites just bent over to pick up their manna, you can just as easily go out and pick up your provision. Go out, GOD has put the people right there, you just need to collect. Do you sell products? Go out and sell your product. Pick up the phone, sell your product. God has put the people out there who WILL buy it! Do you need ideas? Open your mind and allow God to pour in the ideas you need. Collect your INVENTIONS! Whatever you need, God has ALREADY provided for you, and his GOAL for you is for you NOT TO TOIL along the way! 


10 DAYS BABY! 10 DAYS! Has it always looked like it would take FOREVER for you to reach your destination? NO MORE! You get a GOOD ATTITUDE! Get an attitude that EXPECTS to walk out and COLLECT your provision. You open your mouth, and collect your provision. You say HI to someone and you just collect! You get a GOOD ATTITUDE, get an attitude of EXPECTANCY, GO OUT (you can't stay in your house to collect your provision, God put it OUT in the marketplace, it's not going to rain in through your roof), GO OUT & COLLECT IT! The combination of your ATTITUDE of EXPECTANCY & the revelation that IT IS ALREADY DONE, GOD has already provided everything you need, that will get you to YOUR PROMISE LAND! All you have to do is WALK out your 10 day journey! Not your 40 YEAR journey, your 10 day journey!


The GROUND is WHITE! THE HARVEST is READY! There is enough MANNA for ALL OF US!!! Go collect YOUR PORTION of what God has set out for you! IT'S THERE!


Dude... I know. This was good stuff! Life changing revelations in these words! Now, go out with confidence! Change your life. Change your families future. Show the World what God can do, that you & everyone, "... shall know that I am the Lord your God!" Ex. 16:12b

I'M JACKED!!!!!!!!

Make sure you read FREE FROM DOUBT!!!