Wings of a Dove

Looking through the blinds of the kitchen window a dove rests on the bird feeder. He was turned from me so the picture of his back side is of his wings at rest. When sadness comes or fear, remember the wings of the dove. Here the dove is at rest; be at rest and feel his peace.

Exo 33:21  And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: 
Exo 33:22  And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: 

Exo 33:23  And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen. 

Psa 55:5  Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. 
Psa 55:6  And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. 

Psa 68:13  Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold. 

John 1:32  And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. 

John 1:33  And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. 

John 1:34  And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. 

If Jesus is your Lord and master he has provided you with the Holy Spirit and power. The dove is a symbol of his Spirit. He is gentle to those who trust in him. The power of God has overcome this world and the devil. We cannot do this alone. Jesus has given us his peace.

 John 14:27  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 

A time for rest

The tree is planted near the water waiting for new life in the spring. We too must be planted near the water of the word. There is a time for rest and a time for growth. The water keeps the tree alive as the water of God's word keeps us alive in the Spirit. It is a time of rest for the winter tree. We also need our times of rest, rooted in God's word.

Friday night the clothes dryer motor went out.  After a great deal of searching for a replacement, I can say that a new dryer will be delivered on Monday. The old dryer performed well for ten years with no problems. Some of us push ourselves to do things of ministry and sometimes we are like that dryer or tree, exhausted, no leaves needing rest before our heart's motor says ... no more.  Life requires purpose and also times of rest. A friend likes to remind me that Saturday is the Sabbath day of rest and yet we need rest every day. Most Christians say Sunday is our day for meeting together and yet even Sunday is a day of ministry work. We need our rest. I need rest. We must have our times of rest. We rest in Jesus and he makes us alive again.

Mat 11:28  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 

Mat 11:29  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 

Mat 11:30  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. 

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Rest and get going

Gal 6:9  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

I think a lot of God's people are weary but we are to find rest for our bodies and stay in the spirit for it is the spirit of God that overcomes the spirits of the world. Putting on the armour of God is putting on the weapons of the spirit.

Eph 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

We wrestle with spirits. Wrestling takes energy and stamina. I remember the story of Jacob wrestling with the angel all night until he received a blessing. We may wrestle with satan's angel all night, but there is one sure way to overcome. Speak out loud the name of JESUS.

I heard a talk about organized crime and how they seek power in order to enrich themselves. What higher power than in government? The highest powers on earth can not overcome the power of God. We are overcomers in Christ Jesus. So we are not to be weary, we are to keep going and to do good.

Gal 6:10  As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Stay in the Spirit, get rest and get up again and do good. Seek to make as many disciples as possible for Jesus, this is our purpose.

Quiet Time

Stepping outside a gentle breeze caressed my face and the afterglow of the sunset danced across the clouds, making them floating pastel puffs on a grey sky. The clouds were moving patches, carried on the gentle wind. God is good. Time for prayer and just being in his presence. So tired from the days schedule, it is a time to relax to hear soft and gentle music. Hymns as gentle as the still small voice of the LORD.  It is my time of rest. The LORD is here, it is my quiet time and he is my rest.

Isa 32:18  And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places; 

Our place of refuge

  

Josh 20:1  The LORD also spake unto Joshua, saying,
Josh 20:2  Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses:
Josh 20:3  That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.
Josh 20:4  And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city unto them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.
Josh 20:5  And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime.
Josh 20:6  And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days: then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled.

I think of the women's refuge places when I read this. Often a woman will put up with physical and emotional abuse and have no place to turn. A Christian refuge place is a good place for them to go to be safe and to seek godly counsel. The devil has his places to go to that are just places for abortion and others flee to the arms of strangers and end up as sex slaves. It is a nasty world of lusts out there and we must be wise. God's world and his ways are beautiful and we are to go to Him for help. He loves us.

Runaway, the lure of the city

God is our refuge and hiding place and Jesus is our place of rest and peace.

2 Sam 22:1  And David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:
2 Sam 22:2  And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;
2 Sam 22:3  The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.
2 Sam 22:4  I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
2 Sam 22:5  When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid;
2 Sam 22:6  The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me;
2 Sam 22:7  In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears.

For those who are in bondage, God through Jesus has promised you a way out, to be free.

1 Cor 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Prov 14:25  A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.
Prov 14:26  In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.
Prov 14:27  The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

God is our hiding place and Jesus is our salvation and peace. Come to Jesus and enter into his rest for your soul and a place for the healing of your body.