"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 11:28-30 God desires to give us rest. But we resist this gift. No matter how badly we may want to rest, it is not an easy gift to receive. We may … [Read more...] about Rooted in God’s Love
Rooted in God’s Love
There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest . . .let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.Hebrews 4:9-11,16 God rested from his work. And God … [Read more...] about Rooted in God’s Love
Rooted in God’s Love
Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. Isaiah 1:18 There are three common but unhelpful ways of dealing with our failures and sins. First, there is denial. We tell ourselves that everybody has problems, so it doesn't really matter. Nothing of any value comes from … [Read more...] about Rooted in God’s Love
Rooted in God’s Love
Suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.Luke 15:8 God rejoices … [Read more...] about Rooted in God’s Love
Rooted in God’s Love
Remain in my love. . . I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.John 15:10-11 It is sometimes difficult to imagine joy at all. When we struggle with failure, or we are faced with our need for change or we are grieving old losses - in those times joy seems unimaginable. But joy can come in the midst of these struggles as we learn what it means to remain … [Read more...] about Rooted in God’s Love
Rooted in God’s Love
Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' Luke 15:4-5 It is easy for us to lose our way. We may … [Read more...] about Rooted in God’s Love
Rooted in God’s Love
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."Jeremiah 29:11 Hope is about the future. It may be oriented to the next hour, or the next day, or the next month or year or decade. But hope is always about anticipation. Those of us who like to control things often find hope difficult … [Read more...] about Rooted in God’s Love