Rest for the Weary (a time for everything…including whoopie pies)

As I’m working with an amazing team of adoption moms…WAY AHEAD of me–so full of experience and wisdom…on a VERY special pre-Summit event, I have been praying WHAT Lord do you have for these moms…WHAT do you want them to hear? I was praying today–and being ONE OF THOSE MOMS in the middle of it (and for me…we are in the midst of hard right now)–God spoke so loud to my heart. REST.

I’m not sure about you–but in the midst of chaos–rest is usually not what I do…YET–in our times of being weary–it is where He calls us. Now, I know you may be scanning through blogs and such…but slow down just to read this–because they are NOT my words, but HIS. Allow HIM to speak to your heart right where you are…I know I need this…and maybe this is for you too…

Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure. All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:25-30)

I’m sure Jesus had made his share of yokes in his days as a carpenter. A good carpenter knew to make the yoke for the oxen–to fit perfectly. And most yokes were made in pairs. A strong, wiser oxen is usually paired with a newer oxen–so one can follow while the other guides…going in the same direction…step-by-step. When we feel the WEIGHT of the load–one of two things is probably happening as the weaker ox…Christ being the Guide. We are either pulling away from the Guide in the yoke OR we are getting ahead of Him (or rather choosing to carry what is not ours to carry). All the while–He is asking you to REST.

Are you listening?

Rest in ME sweet child. Yes, I want you to come to me as a little child and TRUST in me…for I want to reveal myself to you. And I want you to REST while you are here…REST…seeing more of me. In your storm, you wonder if I’m sleeping…my disciples wondered the SAME thing in the storm. And I was resting. I was. It’s true. And I longed for them to come rest with me–even in the storm. I was waiting. I will calm your storm, but I need you to trust Me while you are in it. I didn’t promise this would this would be easy–but I do want to provide for you…and I want to make it easier than you are allowing your load be…I have made the yoke perfectly–so your load will be LIGHT and I can carry the rest. Oh my daughter…I have made this yoke JUST FOR YOU. Will you wear it? Will you let me guide you? Will you follow me…and trust me through the storm? I want you to see my faithfulness…and I want to carry the weight FOR YOU in the storm, in the sun, day in and day out…if you’ll let me.

I want you to learn from me…to trust me…to take time to sit in quiet and listen for me…in my time you I will turn you this way and that–and some times we will stop and rest or stay the steady course. Along the way, I want you to know me…to become wise in my way…and to pave the pathway for your children to follow. I am gentle…I humbly take my side of the yoke and ask you to COME…come to me…and I will give you rest.

Isn’t it sweet to listen…to trust and to REST in HIM…to know He speaks to your heart and encourages you right where you are???

And today–I needed THIS. These past few days have been really hard days. HARD days. Not ready to blog about them–but one day I will. Right now I’m learning through them and trying to rest in the yoke designed just for me. And to keep walking step-by-step with my Guide. I can’t tell you what a WORLD of difference it makes in my life to daily surrender to my Savior…to tell Him I need Him and to come to Him. I was smiling today thinking about yesterday’s post “learn to laugh in the hard times” and today–I did just that…

It was a LONG, hard day…and tonight we raced home from baseball practice for dinner–realizing momma really needs to make a trip to the grocery. Richard and I creatively came up with dinner out of the freezer and with a few left overs…and out of no where–I pulled out my ginormous electric mixer and told the children to get their aprons and stools…it was time to join momma making some whoopie pies. Richard looked across the kitchen at me like I may have lost it–mix and match dinner and momma is gonna whip up whoopie pies???

Yes! And it felt quite good I might add. I had given my hard stuff to the bearer of burdens…so it was time to make whoopie pies and end our hard day on a really fun, beautiful note. The kids were giddy with laughter–and I even let them lick the bowl. We got out the sprinkles and talked about fun ahead…Lent, Nana’s birthday, Saint Patrick’s day…and we got out the green sprinkles. Sure–the unexpected may come, but at the end of the day…there can be dessert and rest…and new found JOY. And JOY beginning to flow from your heart during the hard days…is a gift from God–and the sweetest dessert of all.