Casting Cares

The first step in recovery is to recognize that you have a hurt, habit or hang-up. I just realized I have a hang-up. I work a lot. I had to laugh when I looked up the meaning of the word vacation and saw the first definition.

va·ca·tion

 [ vay káysh'n ]   

1. Break from work: a period of time devoted to rest, travel, or recreation

The key word in this definition is "devoted."
A person can get so "devoted" to their responsibilities at work that they cannot take a break from work. Prime example. We were traveling to Virginia. On Friday as we were traveling to Virginia, I received an email on my phone about an event on our community calendar, so I began to work. I made a choice to either do it myself or take a break from work. I choose to have my stand-in at work take care of it,  but I kept working. Then she finally let me have it on the other end of the phone. She told me to let go because I was on vacation.  I recognize that I am a person who takes my responsibilities seriously.  I want to make sure I carry my weight and complete my part of the work load. I don't like leaving my work for someone else to do. Therefore, it's very easy for me to get uptight about my responsibilities and make sure I do them right. I didn't mean any harm.
I also recognized that I am not hurting anyone but myself. My body was relaxing, but my mind was still at work.
God tells us to "cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you" and he tells us "do not cast away our confidence which has great reward."
He is telling me to let go and let Him. I don't do enough casting of my cares onto Him. It might be because I think I can get it done better than He can. My timing is better than His timing. I want it done NOW.
However, I have come to realize that I am not God and I am not in control. I am in control of my thinking. So, I am casting my work cares over to the control of God and placing my confidence in Him and the others He has put into place to help me. I am going on "vacation" not just physically but mentally.
I am choosing at this moment to keep my focus on my family and friends. I am going to let go of my anal retentive behavior, cast my cares away, and take this time to be devoted to rest, travel, and recreation.
I know my husband will appreciate it because I will get some complete rest.

God, I thank you for watching over us.
Thank you for knowing what we need when we need it.
Thank you for knowing who we need in our life to help us with all of the task while we are away.
 Thank you for allowing us to recognize when we need to rest and help us keep our
confidence in you, so that we may receive your great reward.


~Be encouraged He cares about your worries and can take care of them too.




 

He Crowns Us With Love

This morning I awoke to some sad, yet peaceful news. A friend of this community is at rest from all the busyness and hurt of this world. Can you imagine being in a position of complete rest and peace with no more sorrow and no more pain?
I praise God for what He has done in my friend's life. I praise Him for her teachings and encouraging words. During a time in my life when I didn't understand or know why God said what He said to me, I followed Him. I went through what my friend revealed to me as "faith by fire." God wants to know if you are going to trust the people in front of you or the God who created you."  We were sitting in her home, face to face and in  the presence of the LORD. Her voice was soft and tender like that of a mother speaking to her small child. Isn't that like God though?  He speaks truth with such a tender and soft voice?
I praise Him for the work He has completed with my friend, Pat Kinney.


 Praise the Lord, my soul;

all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins
    and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
    and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
    so that your youth is renewedlike the eagle’s.

The Lord works righteousness
    and justice for all the oppressed.

He made known his ways to Moses,
    his deeds to the people of Israel:
The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
    slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse,
    nor will he harbor his anger forever;
he does not treat us as our sins deserve
    or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
    so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion on his children,
    so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
for he knows how we are formed,
    he remembers that we are dust.
As for mortals, their days are like grass,
    they flourish like a flower of the field;
the wind blows over it and it is gone,
    and its place remembers it no more.
But from everlasting to everlasting
    the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,
    and his righteousness with their children’s children—
with those who keep his covenant
    and remember to obey his precepts.

The Lord has established his throne in heaven,
    and his kingdom rules over all.

Praise the Lord, you his angels,
    you mighty ones who do his bidding,
    who obey his word.
Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts,
    you his servants who do his will.
Praise the Lord, all his works
    everywhere in his dominion.

Praise the Lord, my soul.

After reading this passage this morning, the song from Matt Redman came to my thoughts and I began to sing it to the LORD. 

With this season of my life and all the transformations I am going through, this song truly speaks to my heart. 

Psalms 103

You can hear this song on 91.3 Hope FM online or on your radio dial. 

I encourage you to praise in your misery and in your joy.

~Be encouraged today and sing like never before!