Rest for Our Souls

“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." ~ Matthew 11:28-29

Has your soul found rest?

It's one thing for our bodies to rest. It's quite another thing to find rest for our souls.

How do we find this rest?

Well, this passage of scripture tells us we can only find it in Jesus by exchanging our burdens for His yoke. He says by making this exchange, we can walk lighter and freer in our souls.

This is the type of freedom that God brings. Rest, peaceful, contentment, security. If we're not experiencing this today, perhaps we need to revisit this scripture. Perhaps we're taking on more than God wants us to bear.

God bless,

J.W.

Ball is Life

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to share a message I originally wrote for my wife's blog "Through The Eyes." You can check it the rest of her posts here. I promise you won't be disappointed.

To check out my message for today, see below.

God bless,
J.W.


Yesterday, Jeremiah was in the middle of our living room attempting to dribble his soccer ball to no avail. The ball wouldn't bounce for 2 reasons: 1) he wasn't in the right environment (outside on concrete) and 2) he wasn't using the right kind of ball (a basketball) that would allow him to bounce it. Noticing his struggles,  I said "Buds, why don't you get your BASKETBALL and try to dribble that instead?"

Undeterred, thinking he had all the answers, Jeremiah looked at me but kept trying to dribble the soccer ball. My response: "Or continue to do what you're doing and struggle."

How many times has this happened with our life? God notices that we are struggling because we're either in the wrong environment or we're using our life for the wrong purpose. So He gives us direction that will help us live our lives more effectively. But because of our pride and stubbornness, we continue to struggle because we're determined to do things our way.

Here's the deal: purpose is defined as the reason for the creation or existence of a thing. When people create products, they also create manuals and instructions that indicate the product's function. Only the creator of the product can tell you how the product is supposed to function.

Same with us. We all have purpose - the reason we were created (Jeremiah 29:11). But the only person that can tell us how to function correctly is our creator. The only way we can know we're in the right environment or using our life for the right purpose is to listen to the instructions of our creator.

If you feel like you've been struggling to bounce the ball of life, maybe it's because you're trying to do things your own way and aren't listening to the One who knows how your life is supposed to function.

If that's you, I challenge you to stop what you're doing and listen to your Father (Proverbs 3:5-6). You just might find that your struggle/burden becomes lighter (Matthew 11:30).

God bless,
J.W.

Release

Release It!
By Rev. Janis Barnes

"In that day their burden will be lifted from your shoulders their yoke from your neck the yoke will be broken" ~ Isaiah 10:27a

What yoke are you carrying around your neck today? It is financial, work, family? Or is it you?

Whatever the yoke is, God does not want you to carry it. In Matthew 11:29-30, Jesus said "take my yoke upon you and learn of me. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

So, release it today! Trust the Lord! He will make a way! I'm a witness!

Let's focus on the Lord, keep our eyes on Jesus, not on our problems our situations.

Hallelujah,
Janis Barnes


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrrHJYxDyyA

Who's Carrying Your Luggage?

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." ~ Matthew 11:28-30

The prideful, carnally minded declare "I can do all things on my own."

The humble, spiritually minded declare "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phillippians 4:13).

Christ asks us to give our burdens and cares over to Him so that He might carry them for us.

So who's carrying your stress today?

God bless,
J.W.

Burdens

If you’re being weighed down by a problem or situation, give it over to God.

He knows what you’re going through and has the power to take your burden away.

God bless,
J.W.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” ~ Matthew 11:28-30