As many of you know from our recent blogs, this has been a season of trials for both Sherry and myself. During such times for all of us, we find ourselves seeking rest for our souls to be replenished and restored. This week as I faced yet another loss and the privilege of singing for the funeral of my sweet cousin Midge in Maine, I found myself seeking and finding rest and peace once more in Jesus. He alone is the One who can supply my need. As I quieted my spirit yesterday the Lord had me search for the song, Jesus, I am resting, resting that I had recorded years ago. My need was to pause and gaze upon the beauty, the wonder, and the power of Jesus and to rest there. Joy comes when we let the truth of who Jesus is capture our hearts. Then we are left standing in awe and bowing in worship. When we choose to pause and ponder the vast sea of God's greatness, His beauty fills our weary souls and we emerge amazed at His power to transform the brokenness in our lives.





       My prayer as you listen today is that the Lord will use this music to draw you into His water of life. May His truth set you free and reveal the Father's character and loving heart for you. May you draw near to Him and experience the comfort and rest that only His presence can bring no matter what you are facing today. And as we marvel at the wonder and mystery of who He is, may we respond in worship of the One alone who is worthy of all the honor, glory and praise.

Jesus, I am resting, resting
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.



Ever lift Thy face upon me,
As I work and wait for Thee;
Resting 'neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus,
Earth's dark shadows flee.
Brightness of my Father's glory,
Sunshine of my Father's face,
Keep me ever trusting, resting;
Fill me with Thy grace.




Jesus, I am resting, resting
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.

by David B. Hampton, Jean Sophia Pigott

To have a friend, not just any friend, but an intimate friend, is a priceless gift from the Lord!  They are very few and I believe only created and designed by God.  He gives us just the person, the friendship, we need to help us survive this earthly world.  Intimate friends are the ones who step up even when it is difficult.  They are there to lift you AND to give you a quick but gentle kick in the pants!  They are your most treasured and cherished of friends.  During this month of love, be sure to show appreciation to your BFF, your Bestie, your treasured friend!  They may not be around forever...

This has been one of the toughest weeks in my life.  I have done what I thought was the impossible, and in my diligence, God provided the strength.  He always does!  Life is filled with hard decisions, difficult relationships, and unforeseen events.  That’s what makes life…life.  And at the end of life, all that is really remembered seems to be how well or badly you seemed to manage your own life, your circle of friends, and your contributions.  No one can remember your vulnerable moments, deepest yearnings, or your most tender and sincere love unless it is shared by a friend.    

February is the month in which we celebrate love and friendship!  Around 1988, a new friendship was being formed, which later developed and grew to be my once closest friend.  Little did I know, the day she waltzed into the music store and education center where I worked, that my life had now been changed forever.  God was beginning to enhance my life with many inspirational times shared with her in a Bible study group, conversations over lunch or lattes, and many hours on the phone every morning at 7 am as we both headed to work.  She took me to my first symphony!  During our visits we listened intently when the other spoke, we laughed immensely over our quirkiness and how we were so much alike, we prayed for one another, shared meals, and encouraged one another as we shared our dreams of the future.  She was the friend that knew me better than I know myself.  Our friendship was very close, much like the friendship shared by David and Jonathan in the Bible.

Three weeks ago, Kathy posted about the gift of friendship and the difficult loss of our friend and her mentor.  Little did I know that she and I would experience the same heartbreak, in less than a month apart, and that God would be directing me to write almost the same thing.  Kathy encouraged us to tell our friends how much they mean to us.  I had that awesome privilege (once again) to express my love to my close friend, and mentor, before she took her last breath Monday, a week ago.  A few years ago, my close friend listened to my idea of a Fingerprint Party in which I would honor the people who had impacted me and left their fingerprints on the canvas of my life.  I wrote a special song for the occasion and my friend was the first to hear it as we sat together in my music studio and I sang and played the piano.  We wept together.  The words were written with her and a few other closest friends in mind.    

As I look now at the group picture, three leave only memories behind.  Treasured memories and examples of a life of love, faith, hope and excellence are all that is left.  They lived life well and I have learned much from them.  Lessons that I will not secretly embrace but share with those whom God allows our paths to cross, birthing new friendships and cultivating them. 

There is nothing quite like a special bond between true friends; and words can never be adequately expressed, hugs cannot be tight enough, and the moments together are always too short.  It is only when eyes pierce deeply through the surface and into the soul that the heart of a friend understands unspeakable love. 

This week I am reminded of many examples of true friendship in God’s Word:  Elijah and Elisha (2 Kings 2:2), Ruth and Naomi (Ruth 1: 16,17), Daniel and his 3 buddies: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel) Jesus, Mary Martha and Lazarus (Luke), Elizabeth and Mary, mother of Jesus (Luke), David and Jonathan (1 Samuel 18), Job and his friends (Job 2), and so many others.  There are over 100 scripture verses pertaining to friendship.  I believe God takes friendship seriously.  
                           John 15:13  "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." 

                          John 15:14-16  "You are My friends if you do what I command you. "No longer do I call you slaves, for            the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you."You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.…"

                           1 John 3:16  "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters."

I’d like to share some insight from Charles Swindoll’s book David - A Man of Passion and Destiny from chapter 20.

David was a man of many friends.  During the stage of his life when Absalom’s conspiracy blossomed, David's heart was broken and he felt like he didn’t have a friend in the world.  In 2 Samuel 15:14 he indicates the only thing left to do was to flee.  It was then that God sent many friends to David to encourage his heart:  Ittai the Gittite, Zadok, Abiathar, Hushai, Shobi, Machir, Brazillai, and Joab.  It was the ministry of these friends that lifted David and encouraged him when he seemed to bottom out.  I encourage you to do a little study on these characters to discover the life and ministry they had in David's life.  David was blessed with many who loved him, but I’m not sure that anyone loved him quite like Jonathan.  That was a close friendship!  My prayer for you is that you share in a special intimate friendship.  It is love in the richest form, sweet, and indescribable. Our friends help lift us and are there no matter what time of the day or night they are called upon.  True friendship is sacrificial! 

                         “Friendship is where we find the hands of God ministering, encouraging, giving, and supporting.” 

According to Swindoll, friendship boils down to four things (quoted below):    

• Friends are not optional: they’re essential. There is no substitute for a friend – someone to care, to listen, to feel, to comfort, and, yes, occasionally, to reprove.  True friends do that best.  
• Friends are not automatic; they must be cultivated.  The Bible says, “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly” (Prov. 18:24)  Samuel Johnson wrote:  “One should keep his friendship in a constant repair.”  As with trees, friendship needs cultivation. 
• Friends are not neutral; they impact our lives.  If your friends lead good lives, they encourage you to become a better person,  If your friends lead disreputable lives, they lead you down the same path – or worse.  Scripture says, “Be not deceived:  Bad company corrupts good morals” (1 Corin. 15:33).  Choose your friends carefully and wisely.    
• Friendships come in varying degrees, some of whom play more significant roles in our life than others.  We have many acquaintances, som casual friends, several close friends, and few intimate friends.  Causal friends have common interest and more contact.  Close friends are those with whom we share similar life goals and discuss the hard questions; socialize, vacation with, or do projects together.  Intimate friends are those few people with whom we have regular contact and a deep commitment.  We are not only open and vulnerable with them, but a trust and mutual understanding has been established between them.        
  

All of these levels of friendship are important, but one who shares an intimate friendship is one who shares in the most important friendship of all.  It is one of transparency, honesty, offers support and encouragement, and yes, even hard truths and confrontation.  It is our friends that act as the face of God, the hands of God, the arms of God, and help us hear the voice of God.  David was blessed with many friends; likewise, God has blessed me well with numerous friends on many levels.  Friendship can be manifested in our family and in a spouse, each friend is special on different levels, but there is nothing quite like the friendship between two individuals that God has ordained to become true intimate friends.  They are often few!  I wonder, are you an intimate friend to someone or just a casual one?  Are you willing to open up to be used by God or perhaps on the other end, to be filled and blessed by God through the priceless gift of friendship?

Remember, a friendship must be cultivated and an intimate friendship is sacrificial.  Are you willing to sacrifice your time, interject wisdom when you aren’t sure how they will respond, fill a physical or emotional need, spend moments together being silly and laughing or just be a listening ear without speaking your mind?    How do you cultivate your friendships?  How does God display His friendship to you through others?  We are to be a friend to others as Jesus is our friend.  Have you thought about what that looks like?  Would you be willing to continue serving as a friend even though you may never get anything in return?  Jesus is that kind of friend...the kind that has laid down His life for you! (John 3:16)

As I rushed to the hospital Monday, Kathy met me to be my side.  She even left me a voice message just before I got there to let me know she was there to offer me a hug and a shoulder.  Her evening plans took second place as she sacrificially took time to be with me.  She has checked on me and loved on me…as a true friend does.  I'm sure I will find myself crying on her shoulder as time drifts and I long for the sweet friendship of days past.  This week, Jesus has shown up in the face and voice of many.  I have gained strength from the ministering hands of the faithful and those that I love and consider my special friends.  There is no dearer friend than Jesus and I’m grateful that His spirit is alive in those whom I call friend.   

This hymn tune came to my mind yesterday as I was struggling to attend a party, run errands, and simply exist!  I hope that you will find comfort in these words written by Will L. Thompson - Jesus is All the World to Me
I've given you the sheet music incase you can read music.  It is public domain!  Notice the scripture verses.  Take a moment to read through all four verses.

My close friend, Sherlene T. Carruth.  As the book closed her final chapter of life, I will always remember her as one who faithfully prayed for me, believed I could accomplish my dreams, mentored me, laughed with me, cried with me, and questioned me until I found understanding.  Her greatest desire was to know Christ fully and she looked forward to His coming.  Kathy and I shared the friendship of this lady of grace and beauty.  Our lives have been impacted by her love for the Lord and how she beautifully displayed and bestowed His love on those with whom she came in contact.  She was a friend of God.  What kind of memories and friendship will others have remembered of you? 

Friends Forever,
Sherry

     

        I spent some time this morning perusing the archives of my blogs over the last year. If truth be told, I was looking for something I could pull to post because I felt that I simply did not have the strength to write. But the Lord wouldn’t let me pull out an old faith lesson this week. We had to walk together and relearn some lessons. 

       Have you ever been there? 

      The demands and circumstances of life over the last few weeks had brought me up empty. You know you’re there when you cry for several hours just because..... 




Perhaps you’ve been there too. Here’s the thing though for me. I teach and write on restoration of the heart and soul. We lead retreats on it for goodness sake!! 

                              I know the answers. I’ve lived it before, learned the lessons over and over....

       And so this morning I knew I had to rest. My sweet husband Ken knew it too. He was so worried yesterday morning when he heard me crying. He came running to ask what was wrong, knowing we are walking through suffering with several dear friends and family and thinking perhaps I had heard more bad news.

                                            I had no answers really, just so sad, so tired… 

       These answers do not really help our husbands who want to fix it for us. But he graciously let me be alone and work it out with the Father, then slipped out early this morning for a men’s breakfast, hospital and nursing home visitation and told me to sleep in. I did.

                                     Rest.... It’s amazing what sleep will do for your body and spirit.

        Then I turned on one of my favorite ministering CD’s, In the Shadow of Your Wings by Fernando Ortega, and took a long hot bath. I shut the door and left the phone in the other room.... Very important! I filled the room with some of my favorite scents of almond and lavender and just soaked in the ministering of music and prayed. The biblical truth in the songs soothed my weary soul and focused my heart on Jesus. 

     I didn’t rush the time, 
                 but let it soak in and restore my spirit. 

       The demands of the day have not gone away. There are still friends in the hospital to visit, loved ones in pain, mom to care for, and work to be done....for Sunday is coming, but He is faithful. He always meets us at our point of need. I recently texted a friend going through a deep trial, "the Lord always gives us enough for each day of the journey. He really is faithful and strong where we are weak." It is true.

        We must make wise choices though. I had let the caring for others and demands at work take over to the point that I neglected the need to take care of myself. We must guard that temptation or we may find ourselves trying to pull resources out of the well of our own strength that has run dry.

       Perhaps your spirit needs some soothing music today. I encourage you to take a moment and listen to the song below Grace and Peace by Fernando Ortega. It's the song I played this morning to focus my heart on the Rest of Jesus and is based on 2 Thessalonians 1:2. 

       
       Just quiet your heart, close your eyes and let the blessing of the grace and peace of Jesus pour over you. 


The power of music can be used by the Lord to minister healing to our dry spirits and bring an oasis to a weary souls.

       Jesus knew when he had to pull away from the demands of His ministry to rest and spend time with the Father in prayer. We live in a world of noise and most of us have lives that are surrounded by many people and demands. Our world, in this respect, is not unlike the world where Jesus lived and walked among us. When we read the gospels, we never sense a frantic pace is controlling his ministry. I am challenged as I study his life, that we never see Jesus complaining that He has too many people to heal, too many lives to change, too many hearts to transform, too many Pharisees to rebuke, or to much to do to pull away for rest and solitude. Jesus walked this earth entrusted with the mission of saving the souls of men, and yet he recognized his physical and spiritual need to pull away from the crowds and spend time alone with his heavenly Father. 

What makes us think that we don’t need to do the same?

God wants to meet your deepest needs. He wants you to see, know, taste, and experience Him in ways that shake you to your core. He longs for you far more than you long for him. He stands ready to reveal himself, enfold you in love, speak to you with power, and touch you with grace. He has waited for you—for this moment. Are you ready?
                               Tricia Rhodes

       I also realized this week that I had been neglecting some of the things the Lord has gifted me with that bring me pleasure and passion in life. I was in charge of coordinating an art event this week at the church for some wonderful artists whom I had asked to create works for our next preaching series on transformation of the heart. I had brought some of my pottery vases for flowers on the table at the reception. When people expressed their appreciation of the beauty in them I realized it had been over a year since I had made any pottery! It made me sad. This has been an expression of creativity and beauty for me for several years now. My work with pottery has taught me many spiritual lessons as I carve and mold out the pieces and pour glazes that bring forth rich beauty of colors. The pottery must surrender to the firing process, much like the refining fire in my own life, in order to emerge with the beauty intended by the Master Potter as the glazes bring forth glorious colors. 

       I’ve neglected what I enjoy, making excuses like I just have too much work to do, too many needs to meet. Certainly there are seasons in our lives when we must sacrifice doing some of the things we enjoy to meet necessary commitments and demands.

  But we really all have the same hours in every day don’t we. 

 If the Lord has put the desire in our hearts, He will show us how to find the time to explore our gifting, our calling. Sometimes it is that very thing we love to do that He will use to draw us into a deeper place of peace and rest with Him. I need to return to it. Perhaps the loss of it was part of my tears yesterday.

       Creativity is one of the things that brings us energy and joy. For we are created in the image of the Creator. It is part of who we are designed to be.

       Is there something that brings you pleasure and blessing that you have neglected in the circumstances or busyness of your life?

God is an artist and He is beautiful. He has woven his image into the fabric of our lives, which explains our drive to create things which are beyond us and which we don’t always understand. Perhaps more important, he has issued a call to us that carries with it the possibility of obedience or disobedience: the call to respond to his beauty with creative worship. God calls us to create a space in time for ourselves and others to meet with God, to gaze upon his beauty and to worship him.   
                                                                                                         Michael Card, Scribbling in the Sand

Creativity expresses itself in such an incredible variety of ways in our lives. 
             
                             What is your favorite expression of creativity?

Gardening, cooking, wood carving, painting, sewing, pottery, music, drama, dance, 
                                                     flower arranging, writing, creating places of beauty in your home…

Perhaps you need to seek a way to return to it as well and let the Lord restore your spirit in the practice of it, 
                                            the love of it, the joy of it, the beauty of it.

His image is woven into the fabric of everything we are. His thumbprint on our lives affects us in ways we will never even begin to understand. His divine beauty, which is part of our essence as well, demands a response. We see a majestic sunset, and a line of poetry comes to mind, or an image to paint, or perhaps we merely give a sigh that can sound like a song.      Michael Card, Scribbling in the Sand

Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths;
 guide me in your truth and teach me 
for you are God my Savior, 
and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25:4-5

Jesus is in the restoration business. He restores us by giving us Himself. When you are lonely, Jesus can give you His sweet fellowship, when you’ve lost your way and are full of despair, Jesus can restore your vision. 
He can and does take hearts that have stopped feeling what God feels 
and imbue them with his passion, purpose, and concern. 
He knows the direction that you need to take. Put your hope in God. 
He will restore your soul.

       


                  If you are feeling weary today,
      even overcome with the demands of your life,
       take some time for yourself to rest and pray.


 Soak in His truth. 
          Let music minister to your spirit. 
                                     Let wonderful scents 
                                              and aromas fill your home.


 Purpose to engage in something beautiful
                                   that brings your heart pleasure. 

Listen to His voice.
           Seek His face.
                    Listen to the cries of your heart 
                          and let Him lead you to a place of rest. 

So now I will close this series begun last fall entitled Juggling Life's Demands with Grace. It took several turns along the way and the Lord has taught me much more than you I'm sure, but it has been a privilege to journey in faith together. 
Let's look one last time at the 6 faith lessons we've explored. 

1. Spend time with Jesus in His Word and prayer every day. 10/27/13
2. Surrender to the Holy Spirit in prayer each day. 11/10/13
3. Cultivate a Heart of Gratitude and Praise. 11/27/13
4. Seek the Life of a Worshiper.1/12/14
5. Cherish the Gift of Friendship. 1/26/14
6. Time for Rest and Restoration. 2/9/14

        May the Lord bless and encourage you as you earnestly seek His face and cling to the truth of His Word.
        May your soul thirst for Jesus and cling to the power of His Name. 
        May His hand uphold you and may He put His song in your heart. 
        For it is Jesus alone who leads us through life's demands with grace. 

Restored by His grace and resting in His love,
Kathy

You'll be blessed if you take a moment to listen below to Oh God, You are My God.

This week, here in south Louisiana, we had an incredible freeze!  Baton Rouge and the surrounding areas were shut down!  Our state is not well equipped to handle such a rare phenomena.  Louisiana is a wet land state...and when water is frozen, ice abounds; leaving roads and our many, many bridges dangerous!  One such night the temperature was in the single digit!  Much of the northern area got nice snow to play in, but not in the city of BR.  Only sleet and ice.  The white capped roof tops were beautiful and long slender icicles delicately graced the eaves.  The early morning brought a sky of grey clouds and wintery fog that danced boldly, yet elegantly, through the barren trees.  I watched in amazement as this silent picture rolled into view.  The beauty I experienced was not from the view of my window.  No, because like a crazy woman, I bundled up and with coffee in hand, and sat on my porch.  Silence!  Nothing moved except the steam coming from atop my coffee mug and my breath as I exhaled!  There is nothing quite like the sounds of silence as snow and ice lie gently on the ground and in the trees.  Birds and squirrels both still asleep or frozen to death.  Not a sound!  The interstate behind my house was closed.  No sounds of cars and it was too early for people to roll out of their nice warm and comfy bed.  Not me!  Too much to explore, too much to think about, too much to experience while others slumber in the early hours.  That's the only time I truly love to be alone; in the wee hours, and preferably outside.  Just me and God!

During my second cup of coffee, cold nose and frozen toes, I decided to take a little walk around my yard.  My steps were loud as I strolled upon the stiff and crunchy ground. As I passed the first bird house, I took a little peek inside, surely no bird was here in this cold stone shape of a bird house.  I was wrong, a little bird was nestled inside...shivering.  My heart sank.  I wanted to rescue him and take him inside but that was not the wise thing to do!  Don't worry about him I told myself.  God takes care of him...  Consider the birds of the air...

As I explored my yard in the silence of the morning, I began to consider many things...it was then I realized that God was trying to get my attention.  Consider! Consider!  consider! consider!  spoke as an echo ringing through my mind.

Consider . . .keeping the faith and enjoying the journey!  

Consider . . . Luke 12:24

24 “Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds!"

Consider . . .  
27 “Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;"

Consider . . .
34 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Consider…the definition from the dictionary.

• think carefully about (something), typically before making a decision

• think about and be drawn toward

• regard (someone or something) as having a specified quality

• believe; think

• take (something) into account when making an assessment or judgment

• look attentively at

Consider…the meaning from Greek as indicated in Strong’s Concordance.

2657.   κατανοέω katanoeō; from 2596 and 3539; to take note of, perceive:—consider(4), contemplated(1), detected(1), look(1), look more closely(1), looked(1), looks(1), notice(2), observe(1), observing(1).[1]
[1] Robert L. Thomas, New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries : Updated Edition (Anaheim: Foundation Publications, Inc., 1998).

When we consider consider, it calls for a PAUSE.  
                                            It causes us to THINK/PONDER.  
                                                                It causes us to ASK questions.  
                                                                                    It causes EXAMINATION. 
                                                                                                  It causes us to ANTICIPATE an outcome. 
                                                                                                                It causes a call to ACTION and brings us to 
                                                                                                                                                           a point of DECISION. 
We realize that something specific is being dealt with in the mind and/or heart.  
A simple little word bearing all of these responses.  Yet, it is not to cause worry!  Jesus calls us to consider and yet be anxious for nothing.  (Phil 4:6)  Considering should bring us into the throne room, seeking counsel of God.  He gives wisdom liberally to all men.  (James 1:5)   We should also seek Godly counsel from others.  Proverbs (15:22)  There is safety in the counsel of many... and Proverbs 11:14 (click to see more info on this scripture).  
These next few weeks, I intend to explore and dive deeper into these 4 passages of scripture as I contemplate and pray about what God is showing me in this little word.  So, my next blog might just be a continuation of this thought process.
This week, let me encourage you to consider everything you think, do, see, say, feel, read, and experience!  Open your eyes and ears to hear God speak as you ponder.  When the week is through, then you will be able to say (like NPR), 
                                                                   All Things Considered ...and God gave wisdom!
Considering the Wonders of God,
Sherry

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