11.14.2007

Hello!

I pray that this finds you well and that you’re learning a lot from our Lord through whatever your circumstances – good or bad – and that you are continually growing closer to Him. There are a handful of things that He’s been pulling from my own life, and particularly pointing out things that I thought I already went through a few times already.

Recently, I’ve begun to realize more and more how much I allow busyness (and contrastly, procrastination?) to veil over my daily life. While I encourage others to be diligent in prayer and making sure to spend time with God, I’ve found that I have not been taking my own words to heart and my own personal time in the quietness of God has been lacking. This is a dreadful realization. If you’ve been keeping tabs on the Weekly for a while now, this is going to be familiar news to you: you’ve seen where I’ve talked about this before, and probably would have seen it crop up again and again. You would think that I would be able to take hold of the bugger and toss it out, right? Oh - but cyclical sinner that I am, apparently I’m having a terrible time shaking it off even when I see it coming up again. and again. and again. (perhaps there is something you deal with of another sort that follows this particular trend?) BUT-- Praise be to God our Father for being so gracious and patient! How good He is deal with, bring us back, continually love us with discipline and faithfulness. How deep is God’s love for us that He would call and treat us as His children.
And through this busyness of mind, this disordered sense that makes me feel unbalanced and weighed down, there are so many good things that peek through. This Weekly Thing, I wanted to share with you some Scriptures that have cropped up over the past few days. It has encouraged me and a good portion of it has revolved around resting and finding/having peace in the Lord. That’s what I need right now: rest. God’s peace. an assurance that He is in control. that He is using me even when I feel feeble and weighed down. I need refinement and a sharpening. I pray these passages from Scripture, through our faith in Christ, would encourage your hearts as well.

Philippians 4:4-9, 12,13
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, 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. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, 23,24
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.

2 Thessalonians 2:16,17
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.


Praise be to God.
In love and in Him,
Yvonne