REST

I did a Five Minute Friday a couple of weeks back.  It was fun...then I forgot, then I got busy, then I was a day late.  I feel I need a little bit of creative inspiration, so although a day late, here goes the word for yesterday REST

Uno...dos...tres

So I love REST.  Satan used to keep me up at night, wear me down and I got no rest.  During that time I used my sleepless nights to read my Bible.  I don't think he liked that.  Now he likes to keep me asleep and I think he feels that is a much more effective way to stop me from doing God's work. 

This past week a group from my husband's former school Wesleyan have been here in the Dominican for their Spring Break and they are on a mission trip.  They are building a house for a widow and her four children and they have been serving and loving the people of the DR.  

I have been cooking almost all their lunches and dinners this week and I need some rest.  Looking back if I had been resting I would have missed too many good things.  Because I was busy and not resting I got to see the excitement in a group that did a impromptu street evangelism walk through a poor area in the DR.  

As they returned back they shared how awesome it was when someone accepted Christ.  Their plan was to just walk around and pray, but God guided them to a man who was ready and waiting for the opportunity (on the right with the white hair).  

Their excitement, and even some tears were because they didn't rest when there was nothing to do on the construction site, but they took advantage of their time here in the DR and went out to love on some people.  If I had been resting this week I would have missed a bunch of students become friends over many games of dominoes.

 We wouldn't have taken almost 1,000 pictures (with help from Jessie) of them serving, building, loving.  

I would have missed nightly time talking about random things God like His Grace and reading chapters of Max Lucado's book Grace with Jessie Huff.  I wouldn't have been able to pray over food as I was preparing it.  I wouldn't have been able to work along side the leaders on the trip talking about life.  I wouldn't have been able to stay up too late visiting with Jessie and Drew Widner (former player of my husband).  I wouldn't have seen or experienced any of that because I would have been resting.  Rest is good, but being busy serving God is also beneficial.  I am thankful for a restful night last night and this morning, but anxious to squeeze in a little time before the group leaves tomorrow.  Then it is Sunday and that is the best day for rest.  

I am excited to rest, but love to be busy.  I know I can always rest in God's loving arms with my head resting on His shoulder.  For He will give me rest.

Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

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

Maybe I should take that nap now, because I just set my timer and wrote for 15 minutes instead of 5....oops!!

In His Grip,

Jodi