Where have I been?

I got lost for a bit.

Thankfully, God shows us a picture (in Matthew 18:12) of how He will leave the 99 in search of the 1 that's lost to bring that one back.

The minute I saw Him I ran back!!

I discovered something important this week: I already knew the feeling of God's pleasure when I serve Him using my gifts. I live for that. What I didn't know was that I am lost from the feeling of His pleasure when I rest.

Does He want me to rest? You bet!! He says so in His Word. He says, (in Matthew 11:28) "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. He doesn't say, "Come to me and I'll give you more to do because I'm happiest when you're hard at work." There's no record of that in His Word anywhere.

I returned from our vacation spewing (good word, huh?) platitudes (wow, I'm on a roll!) about how God was not evident on our cruise ship or at the various ports of call and I felt homesick for Him. This oozed ridiculous religiousity.

Gratefully, He didn't allow me to continue with this line of thinking. Next thing I knew, He was asking me to confront my thinking and compare it to Him.

In case this feeling is foreign to you, it feels like the worst kind of dread when I encounter it. I pray that He will keep me close to Him and He does. So, when I run out from under His covering, I feel dreadful. That feeling of dread causes me to look immediately to the paths I've been most recently travelling and evaluate them in His Light.

I had coffee with my friend Dzovig. She's a sweet, faithful barracuda. If you don't have a friend like her, get one!! I spewed my platitudes to her; but she wasn't buying it for a minute. She asked something like, "If working with God feels good, why aren't you also feeling good resting with God?"

I walked around feeling dreadful for a bit longer, aware that Dzovig had touched on something, but still not knowing what to do. I walked into work after taking an extra day off and began to cry. The faces of my coworkers and the works that awaited me were tender and wonderful.

One precious coworker waited days and then asked me, "Hey friend, how are you doing?" It wasn't one of those times to say, "Fine, thanks." That's not the answer Kelly is looking for when he asks. I couldn't answer; instead, I just cried. We prayed together, asking the Spirit to reveal His message for me and, faithfully, the Spirit did not disappoint.

It is MY joy to rest WITH God...my job to look for him and stay close to Him wherever and whatever He has me doing. I didn't even realize that I saw rest as something you go away from God and do. How do you "do" rest anyway, right?

WOW! That seems like a simple truth; but it was not how I was living my life. Thanks to the 'Experiencing God' Bible study, I see God as Supreme and always at work. I see my privilege as one of joining Him in His work. What I didn't know is that I got lost thinking that when I needed a break, I needed to go away from Him.

What a putz!! Is that how you spell it? The dictionary didn't like it; but I'll bet you understand exactly what I'm saying.

I share this with you because you are precious to me and maybe this will bless you.

I shared this "place" I was in with my boss. Greg. He shared a section from a book I highly recommend, "Leadership Prayers" by Richard Kriegbaum. This book, with the wisdom embedded in prayers, will transform you! On page 54 there was a prayer calling out the phrase, "I tried to go beyond the strength you gave and I have exhausted myself."

Clearly, if God promises rest in His word, with the command "Come to me" it is wise to rest WITH Him so that He will give all the strength needed for the next (or continuing) journey.

Ah, lesson discovered! Now to pray for real-life application...

I've begun a more in depth search of the Word for truths I missed before. One truth that I love, that I quote often is from Solomon. After being the richest and smartest (watch out Bill Gates) man to have ever lived, Solomon shares his greatest truth. He says, "Above all else, keep a vigilant watch over your heart because that's where life starts." I share this with my children on a daily basis. There are so many unknowing people and situations being used by the Enemy to attack our sweet hearts. We must guard them!

Today, in my quest to read through the entire Bible in a year, I read through 1Peter.

And then (in 1Peter 4:8) Peter says, "Above all..." That got my attention immediately!

Peter's a man I can definitely relate to even more closely than to Solomon. Peter was a simple fisherman called by Jesus. Peter said, "Yes" and then made LOTS of recorded mistakes, all the while continuing in his desire to follow Jesus.

Here's what Peter said as he shared his "above all" truth.

"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen."

I share this with you today after taking this morning to begin a new journey of discovering how it feels to rest WITH God feeling completely refreshed. Join me?