Come to Me and Rest

Sometimes you just want to raise that white flag. You have tried to have a heart of love and peace, but the situation you’re facing never seems to change.

Matthew 11:28 NIV

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

We all reach a point of exhaustion. We are weary from trekking on and on, up the steep mountain passes. The view never clears up, the clouds continue to loom overhead.

So take time to rest. Talk to the One who created your heart and knows you better than anyone. Maybe you think the Lord doesn’t want to be bothered with what you’re going through; but I’m positive that He does. It is not insignificant or unimportant, namely because you are His child, and He cares for you.

When you take time to rest and pray, the clouds may still be there. But know deep in your heart that the mountain peak is still there, and that it is breathtakingly beautiful. And that is your future! We have full assurance through salvation that we will join Christ in heaven someday! Nothing could be more beautiful than that.

What about now, you ask? You don’t want life to be miserable. And it won’t always be this way. What I do know is that God will give you strength. He will give you glimpses of His glory through creation. He will encourage you through the words of a friend. He will answer the prayers of those who are petitioning Him on your behalf.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV

“Rejoice always,  pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

No one likes to be told to just be thankful for what you do have. Even more challenging is to thank the Lord for the trial He has allowed into your life.

But I hope you will try thanking Him. Not really for the bad thing happening, just that He is going to create good through it. Thank Him for loving you, for never leaving you. You are going through the refining fire, and it can burn sometimes. Just remember when you choose to follow Christ through it, you truly shine!

I am praying for everyone that reads this. I wish you didn’t have the pain and suffering. I desire to encourage you through this blog, and would even give you a hug and pray with you if I could! If you need extra prayer, leave me a message or comment.

Love in Christ,

Ariel

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness

The American Dream

“We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

Thomas Jefferson

That is the American dream, is it not? To have a meaningful life, to be free from oppression, and work hard to achieve happiness (whatever someone’s definition of that may be) can seem impossible. People may work their whole lives, believing that one day, they will have it all. The family, the house, the dream car. I would like to say that those things are good, but there is so much more to this life… something that will not fade.

Treasures

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

How do we store up treasures in heaven? By obeying Christ. He calls us to love God above all, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. This means we are willing to serve them, share the hope that we have, and love them with words and actions.

The Lost

There are so many lost people out there. Maybe you are one of them. You may be living to please yourself, or pursuing wealth, or unwilling to face the sins you’ve committed. We’ve all sinned, and that separates us from God. Whether you admit it or not, we all need God. He is the great creator. He made the earth we live in, and you and I. He loves us more than we can imagine. What He asks is that we put our faith in Him, and believe that His son Jesus Christ was crucified for our sins, and rose from the dead… so that we may have eternal life with Him in heaven.

Purpose

As a servant of Christ, I live to honor Him. I share my eternal hope with the people I meet, build friendships with, and work with. One day all the money I worked for will be gone, or may go to someone else. The business I want to start may not be successful. But since my treasure is in heaven, everything will turn out wonderfully in the end! For at the end of my life here, I know the best is yet to come.

Thank you for reading this post! I am praying for everyone that reads this, that God may reveal Himself to you in a new way, that you will know the grace and peace He gives, and that your life will be changed for the better. Let me know if I can pray for you, point you to scripture, or listen to your story!

In Christ,

Ariel

Thomas Jefferson Quote http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/t/thomasjeff157212.html

Matthew 6:19-21 http://biblehub.com/niv/matthew/6.htm