It seems as though our church family has been going through such difficult times with many struggles and trials of different levels. We have lost loved ones. Others are battling heath issues. Some have lost jobs or will be losing jobs. Walking by faith does not mean we don't get weary. Sometimes life gets so tiring that all we have the energy to do is fall in complete exhaustion. Let me remind you (and me) of a great Psalm:
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.
HE restores our souls. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are not left alone. He gives us the strength for today and the hope for tomorrow. We do not have to face one day alone.
We have also been blessed with a great fellowship of ladies. I am thankful for the relationships within our class and the encouragement that goes on outside the walls of our classroom. Thank you for the cards that flooded my home to encourage me. How fun to open the mailbox and find a card addressed to me with handwritten notes of kind words.
We have also been blessed with a great fellowship of ladies. I am thankful for the relationships within our class and the encouragement that goes on outside the walls of our classroom. Thank you for the cards that flooded my home to encourage me. How fun to open the mailbox and find a card addressed to me with handwritten notes of kind words.
We want to do a blessing for someone in our class. If you would like to help with this blessing, you may contact the office for information and speak with Marilyn. We are going to help with gas cards and some restaurant cards as we have done in the past. You can also be prepared to give in class tomorrow evening.
I have had to be reminded over and over that God's mercy is NEW every morning. Oh, how I need newness, don't you?!
We may "feel" like life is consuming us, but remember the promises of God and BELIEVE:
Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 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.
Matthew 11:28
Gail, thanks for the post. Walking out this Christian life of faith, definitely does not mean that life will be easy. In fact, most of the time it is quite the opposite because it is through these exhausting times that God does the most glorious things in us. It does not change the fact that humanely, it is HARD!!! I am so thankful that God has it under control and that I can just fall into His arms. That is a great place to be! That is the safest place to be. It just requires us to let go and allow God to take control.
ReplyDeleteSince, I most likely will not be at class tomorrow, I wanted to share a thought that came to mind while reading the chapter. Actually, this same thought/verses have come up another time in this book. I don't think that I shared it then, though. It is simply one question and 3 passages of scripture.....
Who are you striving to please?
-Colossians 3:22-25
-Galatians 1:10
-Ephesians 6:6-8