Restoration happens here
A guest post by Karen Castleberry . . .
Bible Verse
Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them and reveal to them abundance of prosperity and security. — Jeremiah 33:6 (ESV)
Reflection
During a sudden winter snowstorm, my pansies got buried under the snow. Delicate flowers frozen, it looked like they would not survive. This is how I feel during life’s sudden snowstorms, when I get buried under burdens, freezing my ability to move.
A guest post by Janet Eriksson . . .
A prayer inspired by the woman at the well.
Lord Jesus, I love how You show me the importance of rest. You knew when to stop and just “be.”
When I read Your story, I can feel the midday heat, the roughness of the road on Your feet, the fatigue of the journey. You knew when it was time to rest and renew. You modeled that for me.
A guest post by Karen Castleberry . . .
Dear God, Jehovah Rapha, my healer,
Teach me what winter rest is, so I can renew my body, soul, and spirit in You, Lord. Show Yourself to me in the stillness of Your creation in the winter landscape, from the lacy branches of a majestic tree against a colorful sunrise to the hushed silence of a snowy road.
A guest post by Karen Castleberry . . .
“So God blessed the seventh day and made it Holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.” — Genesis 2:3 (ESV)
Morning dawned on the 7th day, and God rested. He ceased from His labor, celebrating all that He had created. On man’s first full day on earth, God called us to rest, celebrate, and recharge. One of the Hebrew words for “rest” is shabbat, שַׁבָּת. On the Sabbath, we strengthen ourselves in God by ceasing from our ordinary tasks. We meet with Him and celebrate our relationship with YHWH Shalom, the God of Peace.
A guest post by Janet Eriksson . . .
Winter is a good time to recalibrate and refocus. Time to wash off all the busyness I picked up during the fall season and holiday time. Looking out at the sparkling clear days of winter, I can remember those life-giving practices I might have forgotten. Time to break out my winter starter kit.
A guest post by Janet Eriksson . . .
Winter seems hard, Lord.
It’s dark, it’s cold. Often harsh.
Everything feels a lot harder to do. Harder to take.
Small hurdles that don’t seem like much in the summertime feel burdensome in the colder time of year.
But I want to praise You in all things. You created the seasons and winter’s majestic beauty.
A guest post by Janet Eriksson . . .
Bible Verse
“‘Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.’” — John 15:4 (NKJV)
Reflection
Winter is a time when we make plans for the rest of the year. Our slate seems as clean as freshly fallen snow. The crisp, cool air is refreshing and makes us feel that we can do things right this year.
A guest post by Janet Eriksson . . .
Lord, thank You for the beauty of the autumn season. As I look at all the colors in the landscape, I am reminded what an amazing artist You are. Your beauty is beyond anything I can comprehend. But when I see the gorgeous hues of fall, I know You are so creative and You care deeply about Your creation.
A guest post by Janet Eriksson . . .
I was feeling out of sorts. Exhausted, but worse. No sense of life. No desire to do anything. Just felt dead inside, like my life had come to a halt.
When thinking about something I might want to engage in, I kept saying things like, “I don’t know” and “I don’t care.” As someone who had always loved writing and teaching, I heard myself saying, “I have nothing more to say. There’s nothing I can or want to write or teach anyone. I’m done.”
I thought my recent vacation would help — and it did alleviate my exhaustion. But it didn’t change my lethargy, my lack of desire to do anything more with my life. When I returned home from my wonderful vacation time, I felt refreshed for sure. But inside, my pulse was still silent.
A guest post by Janet Eriksson . . .
Friday night, I typed a medical transcription about heart health. I even looked at pictures of a heart to help me get the words right. If you don’t know the path I’ve been tiptoeing down, this might not seem like a big deal. Trust me, it is. A week ago, I could not have done any of that. This was a huge breakthrough beyond anything I could have expected. It came from the healing work God did in my own heart five days earlier.