The Lord is my ShepherdAcrylic on heart pine board[/caption]
I am so glad you stopped by! Today I am thankful for rest. I woke this morning to a cold, gloomy, rainy day. It was so nice. For those of you who follow my blog regularly know that I love sunshine and hot weather, however, every now and then I love a cold and rainy day. It was the perfect excuse to stay home and snuggle up with a blanket, a cup of coffee, and a great book. I did not snuggle into a blanket with a book today, but I did stay home all day and catch up on laundry in between cups of coffee and projects in my studio. It was lazy and yummy. I loved every minute! I think as women sometimes we feel guilty when we don't complete a "to do" list of 40 things every day. We rarely give ourselves the freedom to sit and enjoy a cup of coffee or a rainy afternoon. This morning I sat in my chair with a cup of coffee with the porch door open and just listened to the rain. It was incredible! When was the last time you just sat and listened to the rain? When was the last time you turned off your phone, really disconnected from the world, and rested? Rest is a good thing. Rest is different for every person. How do you rest?
Rest for me is when I take time off from my every day routine. I love a change of scenery. I love a break from the rat race. It doesn't mean that I have to take a vacation or even leave home. Sometimes rest for me is just taking a couple of hours to paint or create. Sometimes it means running a long distance all by myself. Occasionally it's catching up on laundry or housework so I can enjoy just sitting and being still. I love in Psalm 23 when it says "The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want. He leads me beside the still waters. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He restores my soul." That is real rest! God is my Shepherd. He takes care of me completely. He leads me. He leads me to still water. There is nothing more peaceful or restful than water. He makes me lie down. I love that. He restores my soul. That is so fine. Can you just feel that? He restores your soul. I love that! I live for that! No one, no friend, no spouse, no food, no exercise, no nothing can promise that! Only God can restore your soul. Ahhhhh! Real rest. Real peace! Real joy! Today I am thankful for rest. Seek Him first. Find rest in Him. Allow the Shepherd to restore your soul! Rest is good. He is good! love love love Ruthie
Leave me a comment how you find rest and automatically be entered for my giveaway on Nov.30.
I find rest in setting some realistic expectations for my day, meeting them, and then just giving myself permission to get in bed, put the dogs around me (they don't sleep there at night...but they are allowed to nap with me) and then turn on the Hallmark Channel. Sometimes I doze...and sometimes I just watch the stories that are generally "G" rated and all end well. Something about that just keeps my mind free to actually rest without composing endless to-do lists or feeling bad that I wasted some of the few precious hours that I have to myself each week. Other times, I might get a book, sit outside when the weather is pretty, and just pray for whoever comes to mind. Looking at God's creation and feeling the warmth of the sun on my face makes me happy...and in those minutes that I'm investing in doing nothing in particular...I'm resting my spirit. You are right, Ruthie, rest is wonderful! I plan to do a lot of it in December! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for this today. As I lay down to sleep, I pray the Lord will restore my soul as I rest and sleep to be refreshed in the morning. But real rest for me is always when I sit down with my bible and learn from Him. It is real rest when I am reminded that He is in control. Another fun way I find rest is through a Sunday afternoon nap and waking up to a good old movie to just lay there and continue the rest. Thanks Ruthie for writing and inspiring.
ReplyDeleteKaren you are such a good communicator! I love that you said you "invest in doing nothing!" I love that! It is one of the best investments you can do for yourself as well as your family! Love it! Thank you for sharing and reading my blog!!! R
ReplyDeleteLucy! So fun! Yes! I too find rest in HIs word! Restoration. And in a nap and good movie! Thank you for sharing and for reading my blog!!! R
ReplyDeleteI love to listen to beautiful music, maybe look at some artwork, sit in a warm window with sunshine on my back or sit outside on a cool day where the sun feels toasty or CLOSE MY EYES cuddled up with a nice soft pillow and a snuggly blanket! Boy, I could use some of that right now!
ReplyDeleteRest... my old body relishes at the thought. I popped into Candle Cabin recently to see all your angels in the front window... and walked out with a list of 100 things Nettie wants for her birthday! Miss y'all.
ReplyDeleteRobbie! Rest is a good Thing! Especially with young children at home. Thank you for reading my blog and for going by Candle Cabin! They have precious things!
ReplyDeleteJenny! You are the cutest thing! You know I need to blog on music one day! It's amazing what music can do for the soul! Thanks for reading my blog! Love love love R
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