Simply Amazed

I am simply amazed at how good God is to me. Despite all my inadequacies, character flaws, pride, and failures His grace has the ability to completely transform my heart over and over again. I am overcome with humility that he could use my mess of a life for His glory and His Kingdom. It is my hearts prayer that I may live a life in response to this amazing love. Not a life lived out of obedience and habit but of pure love for my God who has loved me so much than I could ever understand. I am amazed that He has the ability to give me the strength I need when I am so weak, the reminder that I am His child when I am feeling insecure, and the ability to smack me when I am so full of myself. When I am overwhelmed by my sin upon sin it is Him that reminds me that He has covered me with His grace upon grace. What an amazing God!!!

Rest

I am so looking forward to getting some rest next week. My wife and I with our 6 month old son Caleb are headed to the mountains for some R&R at a youth pastors Conference at Hume Lake. It is paradise up there. I can spend some time with the lord and my wife I don't have to shave, I can where flannel all day, and fish my heart out!!

I am reminded that along this spiritual journey with the Lord; rest is a key element in being effective for the kingdom of God. This is why God not only demonstrated the need for rest when he created everything and then rested on the seventh day, but he also made rest a mandate to his chosen nation Israel. Why was it a mandate for his chosen ones to rest. Because we are to represent Him, and our God is a God of order, of balance, of peace and of rest. As Christians we are called to stand apart from the world and this includes the busy, tired, stress consumed mentality that our world considers normal, yet I find myself running even faster than most people I know. What our world needs is rest and peace in the arms of our God, I wonder if we would have as many wars, and turmoil if we just slowed down and found rest in Him.

Matt 11:29-30 "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

I Praise the Lord that His rest is always available to those who seek it!!