rest.

the Lord has been emphasizing the word "rest" in this season as i choose to dance with Him. as soon as i saw this picture i was reminded of the busyness that is usually going on in my life and then in the center there is me standing on the rock adoring the beauty of Creator God. these past couple of weeks i have been given many responsibilities and tasks seeing as the students arrive in three days. i have my list of what needs to get done. to surrender my time to rest and relax today instead of getting a head start was a difficulty. what i gleaned today from being in the Lord's presence made it all worth it. i listened to a sermon and the pastor said, "in order to find rest we must first allow God to find rest within us." before listening to the message i had read in 2nd Chronicles the beginning process of Moses building the temple. as i read i was in awe of Moses' response in saying, "But who is able to build him a house, since heaven, even highest heaven, cannot contain Him?" this mindset continued until Jesus came and said, "And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him or knows Him. You know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you." john 14:16-17. God wants to live inside of us and be Himself. God cannot be contained yet He can make His dwelling place within us. God wants to live in us undiminished. He calls us home. how beautiful it is that we can turn all activity off for a day and embrace His peace inside of us, His hospitality, and His warmth.

a simple story.
written by my detailed God.

in krakow, poland.
a beautiful, preserved city.
i bought a 2 liter bottle of Fanta.
it is a tradition to buy and try Fanta in every country.
inspired by a friend.
i only consumed half of this delicious orange bubbly beverage.
so i decided to bless one of the YWAM Skien staff.
i gave him the rest of my Fanta.
he is so fond of it.
he gratefully received it.
story continues...
he couldn't finish it.
placed it on the top of a trash can.
a man immediately came and grabbed hold of the bottle.
the man did not look in the best condition as far as his outward appearance.
the staff, a group of them, decided to give him the rest of their food.
and the rest of their zloty. (polish currency)
the staff walked away heading towards security.
the man ran after them.
camera in his hand.
one of the staff had left his camera on a bench.

the man was blessed immensely.
most likely overcome with love, kindness, and generosity from the staff.
i like to call them my family.
a sweet and satisfying drink to a man with little.
the love poured out was poured back.
God is omniscient.
God is kind.
God does and will not forget His children.
God has written our stories.

a story of a 2 liter bottle of Fanta.

A river touches places of which its source knows nothing, and Jesus says if we have received of His fullness, however small the visible measure of our lives, out of us will flow the rivers that will bless to the uttermost parts of the earth. We have nothing to do with the outflow - "This is the work of God that ye believe. . . ." God rarely allows a soul to see how great a blessing he is.

rivers flow out of me because of His goodness and fullness.