A Place of Quiet Rest

This morning started out beautifully with a cup of delicious Kona coffee at our kitchen table as I met with Jesus in the peace and quiet of the morning. Because I don't ever get to sleep in during the week at camp I had every intention of sleeping the morning away! I did at least set my alarm for 10:30 so that I wouldn't sleep all day and would be up in time to get ready and do some things before lunch...but the Lord had other plans in mind for my morning! :)

Rebekah left for a car wash a little before 9:00 and woke me up to tell me she was leaving. I couldn't go back to sleep after that so I laid in bed for a little bit and just enjoyed being still and not having to get up for any reason in particular. As I laid there just thinking about the week and random things that have been stirring in my heart I felt the Lord saying to me, "Why are you wasting this time? You could be spending these moments diving into my Word and talking with me!" So I hopped out of bed, grabbed my Bible, and headed to the kitchen to make a cup of coffee and meet with Jesus.

Last night, Laura and I talked about a book she was reading and one that I had read before so I went to my room to try to find it so I could start reading it too. When I did I found some old journals and started reading through them and got distracted for a little bit. :) Then I stumbled across the devotional book "A Place of Quiet Rest" by Nancy Leigh Demoss. My mom gave this book to both of my sisters and me a few years ago in our stockings at Christmas. I started it, but like most books I start, I never finished it. So I picked it up and brought it back to the kitchen with me and decided I was going to start back at the beginning and actually finish a book for once in my life! I don't know why I am always so surprised, by how God works, but he had Laura and I talk about that book last night, not only because I needed to read that book, but because He knew I needed to stumble across this one as well! I went ahead and started it this morning and it is already rocking my world!!!

The very first chapter talks about how as women we often struggle with business and stress and "not having time" for Jesus during our day. It went into a lot of detail about how we cannot give and give and give of ourselves and not be filled back up with Jesus. We don't have anything to give on our own. All that we give to others comes from the Lord and His love and strength. This past week I went the first four days without a real and focused time with the Lord. By Thursday night I was so eager to go to bed and wake up the next morning to start my day out right! I had been trying to give and give and give of myself, but failing miserably. I was discouraged and worn out and just barely making it all week. And Friday came...the last day of the week, the day I should have been the most exhausted....and I had this abundant energy and joy--because I had started my day out being filled up with the Lord!

"Jesus knew that any power or ability He had to minister to others was due to the fact that He was "one with the Father." He knew it was essential for Him to stay connected to His Father for that was His Source of life, joy, power, peace , and fruifulness. He knew He had to walk in union and commmunion with His Father if He was to know and do His Father's will. He had no other purpose for being on this earth than to do the will of His Father. so He had no higer priority than to abide in intimate, unbroken fellowship with His Father, so that He might fulfill His Father's will."

--Nancy Leigh Demoss

This morning I have a peace and a joy that I know can only come from the Lord. I am excited about this weekend and time with family and friends from home. I'm excited to see how the Lord will allow me to encourage and minister to others. I have peace in knowing that my life is in the hands of my all-knowing, all-sufficient God and that if I am chasing after Him and only Him, He will guide my steps and make my path straight. It is so good to be in the will of the Lord and to know that my life belongs to Him.