A Place of Respite

 By: Joanne Viola

 

“Want to come over for Chinese food tonight?”

The question was asked Saturday morning after a most challenging week.

The table was set with paper dishes and disposable cups. The boxes of the selected Chinese food were set out on the table with serving spoons as we all sat down to eat.

After dinner, we played Uno and laughed ourselves silly as the canister spit out its cards on the intended player.

For a few hours, we forgot about the world outside our four walls. We breathed less tensely. Our worries temporarily slipped to the back of our minds.

As we parted for the night, we hugged and wished one another a good week; safety until we could gather again.

The places in which we gather, and invite others into, need to be safe places. Places that offer rest, refreshment for the mind and soul. They need to be places where the worries of the day can be set aside for even a short time.

Our places need to be a place of respite – where others can find temporary relief, even for a short time.

It isn’t about what out homes look like, or the presentation of food on our tables. It’s about extending the invitation into our space, and offering comfort and relief from the pressures weighing on our souls.

This is what Jesus offers to us as we come to Him:

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, 
and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]
Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, 
for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, 
and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) 
for your souls.” 
(Matthew 11:28-29, AMPC)

The words are so familiar, and are oft quoted. But they fell differently the next morning. Jesus bids us to come to Him, for relief and refreshment to our souls. He is our safe place, the table to which we can come to find rest from the cares which seek to weigh us down.

Jesus offered more than hospitality to those around Him. He offered a safe place to share their cares. He offered food for their bodies and that which nourished their souls. He spoke words of hope and encouragement.

May we be more like Jesus.
May our lives and homes be a place of respite,
offering relief, refreshment and rest.

 

Reflection:
How can you, and your home, become a safe place for your family and friends?

 

Photo by Ambitious Studio* | Rick Barrett on Unsplash

 

 

Hope in Uncertainty: These are Birth Pains, not Death Throes

  By: Lauren Thomas 

Have you felt disappointed with the news lately? How could you not? When we are inundated with stories of death and destruction, of murder and malevolence, how could we not feel disheartened, discouraged, downtrodden?

 

But there is hope. And we find it in Scripture.

 

¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. ¹⁹ For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. ²⁰ For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope ²¹ that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. ²² For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. ²³ And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. ²⁴ For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Romans 8:18-25 ESV

 

No matter what we see or hear in the news. Scripture reminds us that these tragedies are not the agonies of death throes, they are groanings of birth pains.

 

This doesn’t take away the heartache. People are mourning every day because of the effects of evil in this world. Tragedy and loss are terrible and hurt profoundly. But we must not lose hope. We must remind ourselves of this glorious truth:

 

These are birth pains, not death throes!

 

This is not the end. This is the unfolding of a glorious new beginning of which the children of God wait with eager expectation. For all things will be made new!

 

⁵ And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

Revelation 21:5 ESV

 

We have grounds for great hope. Because we have the answer. We have redemption. We have a hope and a future. We have glory that is coming.  

 

Behold, he is coming soon. Come, Lord Jesus come.

 

Reflection:

Take some time to pour out your heart to God in prayer or journaling. What is troubling you? What fears can you cast on our caring Father? Then spend some time reflecting on any Scripture that the Holy Spirit is using to encourage you. How does the truth of Scripture change your perspective.

Guarding Our Time

By: Jenifer Metzger

Seek the Lord and His strength;

seek His face always.

1 Chronicles 16:11 CSB

When my kids were little and we were constantly running around between sports, music lessons, and church activities, to say life was busy was a vast understatement. At any given time we'd have three kids playing a sport, a kid or two in music lessons, and as staff pastors at our church we were consumed with preparations and ministry. On top of all that, my husband works a very physical -and mental- job and I was homeschooling and taking care of the house. Life was going ninety miles an hour.

However, we always made sure to have one night a week at home with nothing to do. We'd have dinner together at the table -not a rushed event to get to the next thing. We'd sit down and watch TV together or play a game. And we'd get to bed on time, sometimes even early. What night it was might change depending on the season, but we guarded that night closely.

Now that my kids are grown and we are empty nesters, we still guard our time closely. My husband and I make sure we always have at least one night a week that is just for us. We have dinner together at home, relax together, and get to bed on time or early. When it comes to our time, we are open handed to God, but close handed to the world. We do this for our marriage, our family, our mental health, and our rest.

Recently my husband and I woke up on a Saturday morning and got ready for our day, of course him finishing before me. Once I was ready, he said, "Let's go to the fair." So we promptly left for the fair. After spending a couple hours there, then visiting his brother and running an errand, we came home, had some lunch and took a nap. Then our afternoon was spent prepping things for church the next day and picking up the house. Around early evening it dawned on me that I never had my quiet time that morning. I just got up and went full speed ahead. All good things. All wonderful time spent. But none of it spent with God.

I got to thinking how closely I protect time with my husband and family and my rest, but am I protecting my time with God in the same way? I sure didn't that day. 

Our time is important, it is valuable. However, God is the Author of time. When we neglect to spend time with the very One who created it, are we spending it wisely? We need to be careful to protect our time with God. Intentionally scheduling time to spend in the Word and prayer each day and guarding that time.

Discussion:
1. Are you intentional with protecting your time?
2. What about your time with God? Are you purposely protecting that space?

Names of God Series: "Trusting in El Shaddai"

 By: Rebekah Hargraves

Photo Courtesy of: Miriam G

"When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him, saying, 'I am God Almighty. Live in my presence and be blameless.'" ~Genesis 17:1

Who here hears this name of God, El Shaddai, and instantly is taken back to Amy Grant's song by the same name? 

El-Shaddai, El-Shaddai [means "God Almighty, God Almighty"]

El-Elyon na Adonai [means "God in the highest, Oh, Lord"]

Age to age, You're still the same

By the power of the name

El-Shaddai, El-Shaddai

Erkamka na Adonai [means "We will love You, Oh, Lord"]

We will praise and lift You high

El-Shaddai

Through Your love

And through the ram

You saved the son

Of Abraham

Through the power

Of Your hand

Turned the sea

Into dry land

To the outcast

On her knees

You were the God

Who really sees

And by Your might

You set Your children free

This song which so many of us are likely familiar with gets it right - the name "El Shaddai" does literally mean "God Almighty", which shows us that God is all-sufficient, enough for our needs, in total sovereign control, and to be trusted and relied upon. Which makes sense - this is the very name He reveals to Abraham in today's verse -  the very Abraham who was called to leave all security and familiarity behind, to trust in God's plan for his heir, and to sacrifice that beloved heir. In order to have the kind of faith Abraham is known for having, in order to walk out that faith in action, he had to have known His God to be El Shaddai. What a tender gift it was, then, for the Lord to reveal Himself to Abraham in this way! 

As the famous song points out, He is the One Who remains always the same, has power in both His name and His hand, provides the needed sacrifice for our sins, saves and rescues His people, is able to perform miracles such as the crossing of the Red Sea on dry ground, sees the outcast whom no one else cares about, and sets His children free. 

This, dear friend, is your God. This is your El Shaddai. And these are the implications of this name and its meaning in your life!

Reflection Questions:

1) What truth from today's devotional most encouraged you or brought you hope and peace?

2) What did you learn today that enables you to trust the Lord more?

3) In what areas of your life do you need to be reminded that God is your El-Shaddai?

 

Simple & Great Tasks

 By: Joanne Viola

 

“After these things he left Athens and went to Corinth. 
And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, 
having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, 
because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. 
He came to them, and because he was of the same trade, 
he stayed with them and they were working, for by trade they were tent-makers.” 
(Acts 18:1-3, NASB) 

Paul leaves Athens to head to Corinth. A simple trip it would seem.

There he meets Aquila and Priscilla. They were tent-makers by profession. We don’t know if they were also believers, but what we do know is that Paul stayed and worked with them in their business. Paul reasoned and taught them in the Scriptures.

When persecution arises, Paul leaves for Ephesus, taking the couple with him.

They must have learned well because when an Jew named Apollos came to Ephesus, the couple realized he had some knowledge in the Scriptures. But his understanding was limited. They took him under their tutelage and helped him to understand the ways of God more accurately.

Tent making was a simple job during the day in which they lived. Yet it was a big task in the eyes of God. He used it in a more far reaching way than they could have imagined.

Each day we are investing in the lives of those around us. We may not see how or the effect, but we are impacting those around us daily.

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 
And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 
There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. 
But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”
(1 Corinthians 12:4-7, NASB)

The simplest of tasks may be greater than how they appear to the eye:

• when we are working shoulder to shoulder in our places of employment,
• as we change diapers, clean up a mess, or pat the back of a toddler as they nod off to sleep,
• in the supermarket or at the bank,
• as we may serve in church,
• or even as we sit quietly at home praying for friends and family.

May we trust and not doubt for God has equipped each of us, with exactly the gifts needed, to encourage and bless those He has placed in our lives.

“We are each given different gifts and talents by our Master. The thing that matters most is how we use what we have been given, not how much we make or do compared to someone else. What matters is that we spend ourselves.” (Francis Chan)

 

Reflection: 
How do you perceive the tasks you do each day? How can you change your attitude or approach to these tasks to best use your time and gifts?

 

Image by Dorothe from Pixabay