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A Time to Rest

Unforced Rhythms of Grace

Every night when I get in bed, and almost always after Josh. I get in and instead of snuggling in and letting go I instantly start listing the things I forgot to do, or the I ought to have done, or I should haves … Josh recently pointed this out and now I pay attention to my nightly unwind,  what my brain and heart are speaking, and if I will choose follow it down the I should road or if I will take them captive and redirect them to gratefulness. This led me to then pay attention to the rest of my life and am I choosing to let it happen to me or will I choose to live it?

Jesus said to his disciples many times, come away alone with me. This next passage is beautiful paraphrased invitation extended to us from Jesus. 

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced /rhythms/ /of/ /grace/. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28 MSG

So the Lord, continues to call me into His rhythm. I mean everything is cancelled and yet I feel like I have been running harder. Do you? I thought so, collectively our minds have been racing, anxiety has been on overdrive, and fear has pushed us down paths of busyness as a survival mechanism to deal with the unknown. So, I come out of agreement with fear and instead I am paying attention to the still small voice that keeps whispering “come away with me and you’ll recover your life.”

In his book , The Way of the Heart, Henry Nouwen states, “ Our calendars are filled with appointments, our days and weeks filled with engagements, and our years filled with plans and projects. There is seldom a period in which we do not know what to do, and we move through life in such a distracted way that we do not even take the time and rest to wonder if any of the things we think, say, or do are worth thinking, saying, or doing. We simply go along with the many “musts” and “oughts” that have been handed to us, and we live with them as if they were the authentic translations of the Gospel of our Lord.”

Wow, what an accurate description of my life for so many years but I declare it will not remain this way. Now I choose to take up agreement with the truth that the Lord has prepared the way of rest for me. I must come to him and get away with Him so I can learn it.

Starting August 17th the If:Dayton team will begin two weeks of rest and refreshment. I will be a time set aside to meet with the Lord and to live the life He has given us.  Will you join us? Will you take some time to get away with your Lord as well? Don’t overlook his invitation it will save your life.

Follow his way to rest, 

Daisy

P.S. stay tuned for the announcement of how we will do If:Relive this year. Keep your eye out for the newsletter, if you don’t receive them yet leave your email in the comments and we will get it to you.

[ifdayton]

Weekends are for reflection right?✨ ‘And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. ' Acts 2:42 Join us as we reflect on God’s goodness over these last 7 years! We are honored to have sat around the table with many of you! We would love to hear from you! comment your favorite time around the table. share with us a prayer or verse about rest. can't wait to hear from you! #iftable #ifdayton #ifdaytonequippedintruth #ifdaytonwomenintheword #daytonwomenintheword #gather #thetable #simpleliving #slowliving (at Dayton, Ohio) https://www.instagram.com/p/CfzD2l4OG3J/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=