Joy and Strength (Christian life and music)

It's true.  God loves you. He is waiting for you to return to Him. His arms are wide open to receive you. Gone astray?  He is still there with open arms. Faith feeble?  He is still there with open arms, waiting to hug and hold you. Think you messed up too much?  He is still there with a heart full of love for you, open arms. What a comfort!  What a privilege!  What undeserved favor God shows us! Does He have every right to dismiss us?  Do pour out His wrath?  Yes! And yet! His arms are wide open for all who come to Him, aware of their need of a Savior. Please run, don't walk, to Him today.  Find rest and peace for your soul.  Find comfort and peace. Let Him love you. He longs to be with you always.  He understands.  He forgives. He loves you!

 

We all like to feel that we are in control over our lives.  What an illusion!  If we have learned anything at all from this pandemic is that we have very little control over the outer circumstances of our lives. Now self-control, that is the control we can control! How to let go of the stress and worries that beset us? Rest.  Trust.  Faith.  Submission. Confidence in Christ. When we rest in Christ, we have peace.  We are free to let go of our fears, worries, doubts, and lack of control because we trust Him  more than anything or anyone else - including ourselves! Why should we trust Christ?  Because He is in charge!  And not only that, He is thoroughly good.  That is a hard concept to grasp when all we see as human examples are flawed ones.  Even the best human example is still human! To realize His power and authority and that He is also pure goodness is a very comforting truth, and that Reality supersedes all other "realities." He...

I read the first part of Psalm 62 this morning and was reminded of something.  My soul's rest comes from the Lord.  Oh I may need to get more sleep, which refreshes my body.  It feels good when my body feels rested. But my soul - my mind, will, and emotions - finds rest in God alone.  The Psalmist was spot on!  Unlike the other ways I try to find rest, only the Lord can provide the rest I really need.  Rest that brings me comfort and peace.  Rest that is untouchable by outer circumstances and stresses.  This is the rest I truly crave! Sometimes, I go to YouTube or other social media to find rest.  Really?! What am I hoping to find anyway?  A new recipe, a new song, show, or interview on YouTube, or even a sermon there, or a new idea on Pinterest - do any of these provide rest for my soul?  Not really.  So though I think I am relaxing when I look at these things, what I'm really looking for is escape or distraction.   ...