Finding Rest

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”  Psalm 91:1-2

 

All day long I seek to find,

A peace I know can be mine.

He promises me in His word,

How loves me more than the birds.

They soar in the sky so high,

He cares for them, then why not I?

He offers me peace and rest,

He waits patiently for me to pass the test.

The one where I give up my life,

To let Him carry all of my strife.

He bids me to come and sit,

At His feet, in His midst.

He is where I'll find my rest,

'Neath the shadow of Him who knows me best.

                                        -Allison Morrison

Following His Dream

'Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.'  Psalm 37:4

What are the desires of your heart?  I used to think that money, a big house, a nice car, a steady job, and many other things were the desires of my heart.  I used to think that if I pray and read the bible, then surely He'll bless me with these desires.  Because I really  needed them.  My life just wouldn't be complete without them.  Surely He knows that...He knows everything, after all.

Then I had kids.  And the desires of my heart changed.  I desired sleep, a clean house, money (because kids are expensive, I know He knows that), a bigger house, a bigger car, and the list went on.  I really needed these things as my life would be incomplete without them.

But then I found Jesus and my life has never been the same.  Now I want to give away the house, the car, the money, the kids (just kidding, I'll keep the house)...No, really, my desires have become His desires for me.  My dream has changed into 'what is His dream for me?'  I delight in Him simply because He is my Daddy.  And any blessing He sees fit to give me is above and beyond what I've already been given.

Through much prayer and seeking His direction, I'm beginning to see His dream for me involves writing.  Using the gift of encouragement He has given me to help other women (and men, Phil) is a delight to Him.  A very exciting opportunity for me to learn more about using my gift and following His will for me is attending the She Speaks conference held by Proverbs 31 Ministries this July.  I've stepped out in faith and registered because I know this is His will for me.

Please be in prayer for me as I seek to raise my own funds (learning His will is not cheap sometimes) to attend the conference.  Also pray for me as I continue to follow His dream for my life.  What about you?  Are you following your dreams or His?

Tuesday's Unwrapped: Birthday Tribute

Seven years ago today a miracle was born.  Seven years ago today one mother made the decision of her life.  She gave birth to a 9 pound 3 ounce baby boy and then handed him over to another.  I wonder if she held him, counted his fingers and toes, fed him at her breast?  Or did she just hand him over to a stranger?  Did she keep him a few days and agonize over what she was about to do?  Several thousand miles away, another mother waited anxiously for this child she'd never seen or heard of yet.  But He knew...

Seven years ago today, hope was born.  The life of a small family in South Carolina would forever be changed and made complete by this sweet boy born in a foreign land.  Today I would like to take time out to wish Zachary Carlos Morrison

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! 



Mommy and Daddy love you and are so proud to call you their son.  You bring light to our days and most of all, you are a child of the King.  If we were blessed to be your parents for no more than that, we are grateful we had the chance to lead you to your true forever home in eternity.

Marvelous Monday: Whatever is Pure

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.  Philippians 4:8

I love to read.  When I was little, all I wanted was books.  I'd tell my mom that I could be doing worse things and she'd fall for it every time and buy me another book.  As an adult, I read whenever I can find the time.  I read labels, cereal boxes, signs, you name it and I read it.  I used to read only secular fiction.  I became convicted several years ago that if I was going to read it needed to be something pleasing to Him.  I imagined God watching my life and the disappointment He felt with what I was doing with my time.

So, I moved to reading only Christian fiction.  Next, I was convicted that I if I was going to spend all of this time reading, even if it was Christian books, I should probably be reading some non-fiction books that would teach me more about Him.  That is where my journey into bible study began.  I never really knew how much information was out there to get me in the Scripture.  Excellent and praise worthy reading that would help me in my walk with Him.

I've recently found a book that I want to recommend to you all.  It's called Deeper into the Word by Keri Wyatt Kent.  I love this book.  I am by no means a bible scholar, but I love to hear the Greek or Hebrew meanings of a word that I come across in the Word.  Sometimes that determines what the Scripture is telling us and how to apply it in the here and now.  Keri goes in depth on 100 words from the New Testament covering everything from Afraid to Yoke.  You can use the book in conjunction with your daily bible reading, a bible study you're currently doing, or as a daily devotion.  Love it!  It's a great book to add to your resource collection (or use it to start one).

I'm thankful that I heard the Spirit nudging me all those years ago and that I obeyed His call to read only things that are pure, right, noble, lovely,  and admirable.  I can enjoy my favorite past time without feeling guilty.  I can leave my books out for my kids to see.  I don't have to hide them in the cabinet because the front cover is so shameful.  What a relief that is.  Think about what you read and how it affects your walk with Him.  If it's not excellent or praiseworthy, should you be reading it?

I was sent a copy of this book for review by the Publisher.

I Put My Coffee In the Cabinet...Again!

'Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.'  Psalm 62:5


Rest?  What is that?  I am the mother of three small boys and one big husband!  I don't know what rest is!  Do you?  I get up by 5am on the days I have to work my other 'real' job and do not stop until after the boys are in bed after 8pm.  The time in between is filled with work, shuttling kids, homework, dinner, dishes, soccer, baths, stories, and a little play mixed in there.  I find I live a lot of my life in a sheer state of exhaustion.  Case in point, I couldn't find my coffee at work this morning.  One of my co-workers pointed out to me that I had put it in the cabinet...again!  Nope, not the first time I've done it!

Do you think God wants us to be this hurried and rushed?  Or do you think He wants us to rest?  I think there are two possible answers to these questions.  I don't believe that He wants us to live such busy lives that we are leaving our coffee in cabinets.  We spend all of our energy running after things on this earth instead of focusing on the things that really matter.  Things like bible study, prayer, missions, or raising our kid's to love Him.  I also don't think He wants us to sit around on the couch all day long watching soap operas and eating Girl Scout cookies.

What we should have instead is a balance of work and rest.  Work that glorifies Him.  Sure, we have to work our jobs and raise our kids, but we don't have to add a bunch of extra stuff in there.  We have to leave time for the Word, prayer, and doing things that further the kingdom.  As far as rest goes, we should find that in Him.  He is our Sabbath-rest.  When He came to earth, He fulfilled the law of the Sabbath in every way.  We should observe the day chosen for our Sabbath and rest in it.  Lay our burdens down and let Him have them.

Rest is something we could use more of.  Especially the kind of rest that only He can offer to us.  Make it a point to carve out some time for a little Jesus-rest in your day.  Get in the Word.  Pray.  Serve someone.  And rest!  Don't find yourself putting your coffee in the cabinet...or the ice cream in the fridge!



Wrestling Woman

'For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.'  Ephesians 6:12

Did you know that you are a wrestler?  Yep, you...and me to.  We just finished Breaking Free by Beth Moore and in the last video session she makes this statement:

'I heard someone say at some time that when we have to wrestle our crown from the enemy, then we have the muscle to show for it.'

I love that, don't you?  And what truth there is in that statement!  We are in the fight of our life.  Our fight isn't with flesh and blood, but with the evil one!  He is an adversary in a league of his own.  We can't see him.  We can't grab him by his red tail, horn, or pitchfork and toss him out of our way.  But we must fight him with all we have.  With all that He has to give us.  How?

By putting on our armor, one piece at a time, everyday and battling it out.  God has equipped us to deal with Satan.  We just have to use what He has given us.  We have the training manual of all training manuals at our fingertips.  We have a direct line to the ultimate trainer.  But do we use them?  Most of the time, no.  We try to do it on our own.  I don't know about you, but my way gets me nowhere but down on the mat waiting for the referee to count to three.

The next time Satan gets in my face to pick a fight I will be ready!  I will be training everyday and I will be in shape and ready.  Because he is ready for a fight and I intend to give him one.  But he will not win, because in Christ, I am guaranteed the victory!

Highlights and Gas

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33

Not that kind of gas!  Just had to clarify that right off the bat!  Do you go to the beauty shop (or barber)?  Is yours a place where people gather to 'discuss' the goings on in the community and world around you?  Mine is.  I had my boys in for a long overdue cut and another customer came in.  One of the first things that she said was, "Well, gas has gone up 15 cents overnight."  No comment about the beautiful weather we've been having.  Nope, just an immediate jump into the negative.

Yes, gas prices are up and will continue to go up as long as we are driving vehicles and the oil folks can make money.  But Jesus tells us that this world will continue to disintergrate as we draw closer to the end.  But He also tells us to take heart, not to be afraid, to trust in Him, and continue to be faithful to Him who called us according to His purpose.  What does this have to do with gas prices?  Our response to them.

What if we join in with everybody else and theorize what will happen if gas is $5.00 or if the economy fails again or if the Middle East implodes upon itself?  What does that say about our relationship with our Father?  That we don't trust Him.  That we think He doesn't have everything under His control.  Do you think He's surprised that gas went up?  No, I don't think so.  He knows what is ahead.  We don't.

What we should do instead is be a voice of encouragement to those who are anxious.  We should be reminding (gently) His followers that He is in control and isn't taken by surprise.  We should be an example to those non-believers in our circle.  We should have a peace and calmness that is so evident they just have to ask why we aren't shaken.  And then we have the opportunity to share about our God.  We can show Jesus to those around us without even having to say a word.

Next time you're in the beauty shop or at the water cooler and the talk turns to all the negative stuff going on around us, think about how you should react.  Feed the fear and uncertainty or offer Truth from the Word?  If we want to be an ambassador for Christ, then we have to be His voice to the world.  An encouraging word can go far in giving someone else a glimpse of Him in a uncertain world.