Tag: life

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What Is Rest?

redbankwomen

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What do you think of when you hear the word rest? How about an afternoon nap after enjoying a good meal? Catching some zzzz’s while your little one is at a play date?  Taking days off to exhale and be refreshed, or floating in the pool with no schedule to meet? Whatever comes to mind, we all need physical rest to allow our bodies to recoup and be able to get up the next day and do it again!

Jesus extends an invitation to us in Matthew 11:28-30

“Come to me and I will give you rest – all of you who work so hard beneath a heavy yoke. Wear my yoke for it fits perfectly and let me teach you; for I am gentle and humble, and you shall find rest for your souls; for I give you only light burdens.”  TLB

(The Greek work for rest means to repose, be exempt, by implication to refresh, take ease….rest)

As much as we need physical rest we also need spiritual rest. After we become God’s children He wants us to rest in Him. Beth Moore included the following nine things in one of her studies:

“God wants us to rest in knowing:

  • I don’t have to perform for God
  • I’m acceptable to God
  • I’m not in charge of all my loved ones
  • I’ve done everything I know to do in that situation
  • I’m exempt from that class or that project
  • God will fight for me
  • If I obey He will bless
  • Who I am and who I am not
  • Where I am going….this is not my home.”

We can become exhausted and get tied in knots by forgetting any one of these. I’m sure we all have a membership into the “Yeah, I identify with that_______”   We have to remind ourselves daily to whom we belong and rest in that truth and all its promises.  Maybe like me you have at times taken three steps forward and then two steps back. Don’t be discouraged. God is always in our corner rooting for us and waiting to help. You and I just have to listen, obey, surrender, and take that next step!!

 

Blessings

The WM Team 

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Why?

redbankwomen

why image

Why?

Ever ask that question? Why is this happening in my family? Why would a young person take their life? Why is a child’s life ended?  Well, the questions could go on and on with different situations. Why does one human being think they have the right to sell another human being?

There is evil in this world and bad things are going to happen. Maybe like me you have sat down and tried processing, but still at times just can’t wrap your mind around the tragedy. Yet deep down we know God is sovereign and He makes no mistakes! God tells us your ways are not my ways and your thoughts are not my thoughts. Sometimes all we can do is sit quietly. No words because there are none that would make sense at the time. We all know God sees the whole picture not just the present, but at that moment, even if just for a little while, that truth eludes us as the pain is so great we feel we will break.

God is holding us through that pain. And by His grace, if we are His child, we remember He is our refuge, our comforter, and healer. The comfort is immediate while the healing may take a while. We may struggle just to hold on for a time, then the truth that God never leaves us rises to the top. And in the midst of the pain we say thank you for not letting go of me.

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. (Psalm 46:1 NLT)

We have no idea what you may be going through at this time, but we do know that we all belong to and serve a Holy God who does not forget His people. If you do not know Jesus, this article will probably not make any sense to you. Life is hard and I cannot imagine doing it apart from Jesus.

If you have questions about what it means to have a personal relationship with Jesus please contact one of us on the WM Team, your pastor, or someone you respect who you know is walking with Jesus. It truly is the most important decision you will ever make. Being His child doesn’t mean a life with no hardships or hurts, but it does mean you now have God tenderly and with compassion walking with you each step of the way. We must choose Him and surrender and trust all His promises are true.

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9 NLT)

Blessings from the WM Team

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New Life

redbankwomen

new life imageI used to think growing up if I just could escape a situation everything would be good.  If I could be part of the “in crowd” or win that award, I would be happy, and life would be good. How would you fill in the blank? My life would be complete if_______? It took a while, but I finally realized all these things were temporary, and soon I would be back to wanting things to change and my life to be like those fairy tales moms read to their children. Years went by with no knight in shining armor that would instantly change my life.

Isn’t that how it always goes in the fairy tale. Well life is not a fairy tale and knights don’t exist that can rescue you or me from our emptiness, erase mistakes, and make life brand new. Getting married I expected my husband and my new life as his wife to be free from emptiness and feeling incomplete. Well that bubble didn’t last long! Don’t get me wrong – my husband is a wonderful man and though our road together has included speed bumps and sometimes hurdles, I am very thankful for him and my love for him has only deepened.

Fast forward to a point in my life when I began to seek out God. I had been away from church for a long time. Once I started going back and getting into God’s Word I realized I wasn’t sure of knowing Jesus at all. God was so gentle, and I made sure I was His child. As my walk with Him continued, I came to know why my husband or no one else could take away my emptiness. Only God could do that, and it was unfair of me to place that weight onto anyone else. Only He could heal my hurts and my life be made new through Him.

My journey with Jesus has included speed bumps and hurdles too. But they have been used by Him to change, grow. and bring beauty from ashes. Now I know where contentment, satisfaction, and fulfilment are found. In JESUS alone.

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners., to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort those who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion-to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

Isaiah 61: 1-3 NIV

Blessings,

The WM Team

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The Abundant Life

redbankwomen

abundant life picAbundance. What does that word bring to mind?  Is it houses, cars, vacations, or luxury beyond imagination? Being able to purchase whatever, whenever, with no thought to the impact on finances? How about a day spent in a hammock with your little one or playing in a mud puddle, swinging in a porch swing on a spring day or laughing without restraint with friends? Time spent in quietness in our busy, loud world? Now granted these last images are truly gifts and blessings, but are they the abundant life Jesus speaks to us about?

I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows]. John 10:10b Amplified

What about enjoying His presence, joy, peace, comfort, mercy and grace?  Knowing that no matter what He is with you always walking each step with you? He is in your corner. When you feel you can’t go on He is your hope, lover of your soul, and lifter of your head. He carries you through difficult times, laughs with you, sings over you, and counts your tears. Now it just doesn’t get any better. So how do we arrive at this abundant life? It could be said by letting go of our ideas and letting God have His way in our lives. Sounds easy right? But it isn’t. It is daily placing our hands in His and saying, “Here I am, Jesus.”

In a study I took they suggested taking a blank piece of paper addressing it to God, signing it at the bottom, leaving the middle blank, and giving it to God allowing Him to fill in the blanks according to His perfect plan and purpose.

Imagine for a moment you are standing on the bank of a river and this flowing body of water represents Jesus.  Are you still on the bank? A toe tester? Or maybe you have waded in and are enjoying some refreshing, but you still know there something missing. Now imagine diving in, head first, just relying on Jesus to keep you from drowning. Just letting go and flowing through life with Him. All the twists and turns, the ebbs and flow, are in His hands.  Now that’s abundance. So what stage are you?   If you haven’t let go, why not ask God to give you the courage to dive into Him and enjoy the abundant life He came to give us. Truth is, if we don’t, then we are allowing the enemy to rob us. So let’s dive in. Can’t swim? No worries, Jesus is your lifeguard!

Father God, we are all on a journey with you. We ask for courage to just let go and let You have Your way so we will know the “abundant life” You came to give us through your resurrection. That abundance begins the moment we acknowledge You, admit and confess we are sinners, sincerely ask You into our hearts, and surrender ourselves to You turning from our sin and walking with You.  We want to be drenched in You, to experience the downpour of You in our lives. Help us so our lives will bring glory to You. Amen.

Blessings,

The WM Team