Sweet Sleep

Proverbs 3:24

When was the last time you had a good night’s rest? Can you recall a moment when you laid in bed, forgot about all your worries, and cast all your cares upon the Lord? In the book of Proverbs, king Solomon taught his sons the importance of finding wisdom, and getting understanding, because doing so would ensure life to the soul, grace to the neck, safe pathways, and a solid foundation from which to grow stronger in the Lord. Life is hard, and times get tough, but when we give our troubles to the Lord, He’ll give us wisdom to navigate through them. So, don’t worry about the things you can’t change, nor the situations beyond your control. Instead, rest in the Lord, wait patiently for Him, and sleep in peace. “When thy liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.”

Take A Break!

Ecclesiastes 3:22, 5:18-20

3:22 Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

5:18 Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.

19 Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.

20 For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.

You have worked hard for your money. You’ve endured the ups and downs of following the orders of unfit bosses and supervisors. You’ve kept your peace, when lazy coworkers talked more than they worked, causing you to pull more weight. You’ve endured, and kept your chin up, while grinding throughout each work day. Now, it’s time for you to take a break. That’s right! Take time to enjoy the fruit of your consistent hard labor. While your superiors may not give you the recognition you deserve for your hard work, give yourself a pat on the back, and use a portion of your earnings for yourself. You definitely deserve it!

Hide And Seek

1 Kings 19

There’s something about Heaven, or more specifically, the realm of the spirit, that I am unable to fathom. Throughout the Scriptures, there are many instances where a spiritual manifestation superceded natural law and order. For example, Jesus turned water into wine from grapes that never existed. How do you explain that in scientific terms? Another example took place when the angel of the Lord helped Peter escape from prison, without using a key to open the cell, nor any gadgets the Beagle Boys used in the Duck Tales cartoons. It’s evident, the spirit realm operates on an entirely different playing field than the natural, and for this reason, men should take heed to developing their understanding of God’s Word, so that they’ll be able to navigate through the earth the way God intended them to.

That brief introduction was intended to continue from where we left off on the previous lesson, as the prophet Elijah was running and hiding from queen Jezebel, who sought to take his life. For an entire day, Elijah had run as far as he could, then retired into a wilderness area, where he rested under a juniper tree. It’s apparent, Elijah was still shaken in faith from the threat of the queen, because he begin to request that God take his life, as he felt he was no better than his fathers before him. This was a very intense moment, because Elijah trusted in God, and His amazing power, but the fear of one woman turned the bold lion, into a cowardly chicken.

So, Elijah fell asleep in the wilderness, undoubtedly neglecting to care for his now weak and famished body, but God had not forgotten His servant, and sent an angel to minister unto him. The angel had prepared a meal for the prophet, then woke him up to eat. It would be super awesome to enjoy a meal prepared by an angel, don’t you agree? What’s even more amazing is, the second meal the angel prepared for Elijah gave him strength that lasted 40 days and nights. Wowzer! One angelic cuisine was packed with enough nutrients and essentials to give a man strength for over a month! I can only imagine what the benefits a full heavenly meal would provide. I tell ya, trying to understand the realm of the spirit gives me headaches sometimes, but I love it!

After his long journey, Elijah went into a cave, and lodged there, until the voice of the Lord was heard. God said, “Elijah, what are you doing in here?” (Ell’s translation). The prophet responded, “I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.” There’s no doubt the words Elijah spoke were truth, but God needed a moment to whip His servant back into spiritual shape. God then commanded Elijah to go and stand upon the mountain, to meet Him there. The mighty and matchless God made a grand entrance on the mountain, the likes of which Hollywood stars, athletes, or even famous wrestlers pale in comparison to. Before the Lord arrived, a great and strong wind passed through, literally tearing down the mountains, and breaking the rocks in pieces. After the winds had passed, an earthquake shook the very foundations of the land. If that wasn’t enough to get Elijah’s blood pumping, a great fire followed after the earthquake, and then the voice of the Lord began to speak. Again, God asked Elijah, “What are you doing here?”, and he delivered the same response. While Elijah ran to hide himself, God sought him out to reveal another plan he was to partake in.

In times when we are afraid to step out on faith, following a possible failure, God is always waiting to give us new strength to take on new tasks ahead. The work of the Christian is perpetual, and never ends, so rather than hide and cower over past failures, we should be mindful to take breaks, regain our strength, then step back onto the battlefield. God will always equip us with what we need to face every challenge ahead of us, despite how often we belittle ourselves.

God Brings Balance

Leviticus 25:8-17

The Year of Jubile, was an exciting season, ordained by God, so that all Hebrews could receive a fresh start in their way of living. During this hallowed year, people were required to live off their increase, so that the land could rest, and lie untended, for a season. Not only was the land given room to breath, but the people were also commanded to rest from work. God knew the importance of balance and fairness, so He made certain that during this year, business was to get a fresh start as well. This was a time when all mortgages were canceled, servants released back to there families, all debts forgiven, and all lands were reverted to the original owners. Jubile was set aside to be holy, and a time where liberty was proclaimed throughout the lands, and unto all the people there. God also stressed, that when conducting business, men were to be fair, and not oppress one another, during this time.

How I wish America feared God in such a way, that His standards ruled the government. Some say this country was founded on godly principles, but its obvious men have long pushed those standards aside, in place of their own ideals. Rather than proclaim liberty, fairness, and respect for our fellow man, this country is divided by parties, social classes, and the color of a man’s skin. Could you imagine how incredible it would be, if a year was set aside, where the government canceled everyone’s debt, including mortgage, credit card bills, student loans, and more? Although that’s only a fairytale, it would allow an opportunity for all things to return to balance.

Well, I guess I’ll snap out of my daydream, and focus back on reality. While we try to maintain balance in this world of unjust leaders, be certain to treat your fellow brothers and sisters with godly love, and respect. Always be honest, and keep God first in all your dealings. “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” (Galatians 5:13)

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

Good Times!

🎶 Good Times.
Any time you meet a payment.
Good Times.
Any time you need a friend.
Good Times.
Any time you’re out from under.
Not getting hassled, not getting hustled.
Keepin’ your head above water,
Making a wave when you can.
Temporary lay offs.
Good Times.
Easy credit rip offs.
Good Times.
Scratchin’ and survivin’.
Good Times.
Hangin’ in and jivin’
Good Times.
Ain’t we lucky we got ’em
Good Times. 🎶

Life can come at you hard sometimes, but you should never allow your temporary struggles to hinder your eternal purpose. Take more time focusing on the good things in life, rather than the bad.

Walk in love,

Ell

Take a Break

Ecclesiastes 5:18-20

Suffering is inevitable on the earth, and hard times lay on the path of all men. The wicked perish, and the good die young. We work to make a living, and strive to be consistent in our effort to maintain a balanced lifestyle. The God of Heaven and earth understands that life presents challenges that weigh on the strength of His people, so He doesn’t mind when we take time to enjoy the fruit of our labor.

Men and women work hard for companies who care more about their business, than the total health of those who keep their business producing, so every now and then, it’s alright to schedule moments to bask in the good of your labor. Many people take vacations to escape the routine of their everyday lives, while others find pleasure in staying close to home, to appreciate times of peace, rest, and relaxation.

It’s important for the believer to not only maintain a healthy spiritual balance, but to also keep their natural living in good standing as well. While there’s nothing wrong with taking time to enjoy the blessings of God from your consistent hard work, how you enjoy that time is what matters. God allows us times of peace and rest, but we should never become lax, and forget holy standards during our relaxation. The body of Christ is still obligated to maintain a righteous standard, even during times of rest. Some feel that drinking, smoking, and enjoying other worldly methods are necessary habits of down time, but we are to eat and drink things that are proper, and kept within the bounds of God’s law, and what’s best for our health.

As we enjoy God’s blessings, we are to be temperate, and stay within holy limitations. This way, our lives will remain pleasant to God, and we’ll continue to enjoy a wonderful experience in His divine glory.

Walk in love,

Ell

Observing the Sabbath

Exodus 16:22-30

Why is resting the body and mind important to our overall health? Well, I’m glad you asked. Our society moves at such a fast pace, that many rarely find time to chill, and allow their bodies time to recuperate. We are all privileged to one body, and one mind, and they support us, no matter what we subject them to. However, if we don’t properly monitor the use of our mind and body, we can find ourselves suffering both physically and mentally. Without sufficient sleep, our bodies will suffer a variety of physical and psychological effects, including impaired memory and judgment, poor concentration, lowered stress threshold, reduced sociability and optimism, changes in vital signs and tissue repair, and possible weight gain. Even before doctors and scientists developed the technology to reveal such effects, God knew that rest was important, and commanded His people to observe the Sabbath regularly. While they may not have understood the full reasoning for such an observance, God knew the limits of the human body, and made certain they set aside time for rest. Below, I’ll list a few benefits associated with proper rest, and mental relaxation:

• Restores/refreshes us when tired
• Repairs the body – The activities of the body slow down when we sleep, therefore body building cells carry on their recuperative work. When we sleep, nature builds up and repairs the waste of our organism. Sleep invigorates the tired body, and prepares it for the next day.
• Gives more energy
• Gives better sleep
• Enhances immunity
• Helps increase concentration
• Gives better problem-solving abilities
• Gives greater efficiency
• Ensures smoother emotions — less anger, crying, anxiety, frustration
• Results in less headaches and pain
• Gives the heart a rest by slowing the heart rate
• Reduces blood pressure
• Slows the rate of breathing, which reduces the need for oxygen
• Increases blood flow to the muscles
• Decreases muscle tension

Not only did God want His children to dedicate time to spend in His presence, and with their families, but He was fully aware of the dangers of overworking, and neglecting the body of rest. While we’re not obligated to observe the sabbath as the children of Israel did in time past, resting our bodies is necessary to maintain a balance in our physical, mental, and spiritual health. Don’t allow the pressures of work, or sacrificing sleep to get bills paid to cause you to become sick or mentally ill. Do the best you can with what God gives you, and trust that He’ll make up the difference. Rest well everyone!

Walk in love,

Ell

The seventh day, Hallowed and blessed

Genesis 2:1-3

In six literal days, God made everything that exists today! The heavens, the earth, and all the masses of persons and things in them were created in less than a full week. These acts alone keep me in humble submission, and in awe of the unimaginable power our God holds. All things were finished, and set in motion to do as they were created to do. So after God finished His work, rested on the seventh day, blessed and sanctified it, there was no need for Him to create anything else.

I don’t intend to acknowledge the theory of evolution in all my lessons on creation, but everything created is ascribed to the personal acts, words, and deeds of a living God, which totally demolishes any possibility of things evolving. The main problem with most evolutionists is that they choose to deny the possibility of an intelligent designer being the center of all things. God made all things good, and very good, and what He made still does what they were intended to do. Dogs still bark, cats meow, trees grow and give life to the environment, fish swim, birds fly, and alligators still chase golfers on the greens.

Like any artist who appreciates their finished work, I’m certain God took a moment on day seven to admire all He had brought into existence. As He looked through the different types of interesting clouds (Cumulonimbus, Cumulus, Nimbostratus, Cirrus, Cirrocumulus), He could see the swift and busy birds gliding across the morning skies. As He continued to look down, He would come across a herd of uniquely striped zebra running together briskly across desert plains. The jungles of the rainforest are home to countless plant and animal life that God designed to produce according to His plans. God created and made a wonderful world, and His designs are intriguing and flawless. Every animal on land and in the sea, were made specifically with all it needed to survive in its habitation.

If you take the time to study any insect, plant, tree, animal, or even the atom, you’ll discover how mind-blowing God is in all His wisdom. Whichever day you choose as your day of rest, consider God’s beautiful creation, and thank Him continually for making you His most prized work.

Seek peace,

Ell