Rest!!

I have been in a major transition period. God said, pack your house and go to Bethlehem....and so that is what I had to do. My house is packed and in storage and I am waiting on everything else to come together for the next three months in Bethlehem. Last week on 2/14/23 God did an amazing thing at Pure Vitality Ministries in Douglasville, GA. I saw a lake in the room as we were praying over the worship service that night. We worship every Tuesday night, pray, and prepare the room beforehand. While I have seen the lake there before, this time Jesus was dancing on it, and not just walking on it. He looked so happy and full of joy. I sensed that He wanted to dance with us. Suddenly a fountain that I perceived came from deep in the ground sprang up in the center of the lake. The water began to run to the other part of the room and back. getting deeper as it went back and forth. During our worship that night, everyone danced. It was amazing to watch. I think there was only one person present that didn't dance. One participant said that she felt like Mr. Bean like she couldn't help but dance. After worship, most everyone left but three of us were left. We lingered seemingly unable to leave. Becky said that she felt something and asked if we felt it too. I said that I felt like I needed to ask God what He wanted to say. His presence was so strong that we sat right in the doorways where we had stopped and God began to speak. He confirmed that the spring was revival and we were unable to leave that night and since then someone is always here.We have worship in the tent daily. Our lives have forever changed in more ways than just the use of our time, but our time is not our own. In all of this God keeps saying "Rest".

Rest is hard to do when you are so busy, but as much as He is telling us to find time to rest our bodies, He is talking as much about finding a place of rest in Him.

I found myself going through a line of thought that would lead to me defending myself..mind you it was only in thought, but He said to me, "Stop defending yourself, even in your mind".

"Rest- don't entertain thoughts of negativity". We know this but it is easy to get sucked into those old patterns if we are not vigilant and capturing every thought.

He also says that I do too many things at one time. I was programmed to multitask very well in previous careers. I had pride about how well I could do it. It was necessary to get all of the tasks accomplished, but He did not design us to do so much at once and it takes us out of a mind of rest and peace. God said that He has rewired me...I am interested to see what all unfolds.

This is the key: We rest in our value to God and God alone, not to man.

Philippians 4:8: "Finally brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things.

Knowing our identity in Christ is key. Our value, purpose, and identity are in Him. We are who HE says we are, not who the world says we are. Believing what God says about us enables us to move from being the world's version of who we are to being our true self in God operating from God's kingdom.

We find true rest when we do not have a need to worry, strive, or defend ourselves to others. When we know who we are in Christ and can finally see the level of authority He has given us, our mindset shifts. We go from a place of jealousy, fear, searching, and trying to measure up to a place of rest.

One who has been placed in a position of great authority in society does not feel the need to prove it. There is no need to demand it, the authority is a FACT of who they are by the ones who gave them the position. They can "REST" in that position and all that comes with it.

perspective change...

God's love penetrates fear, worry, competition, and jealousy--He loves YOU to the deepest level--no one takes any of the love He has for YOU away. There is plenty to share.

There is no fear of being left out, set aside for something better, or forgotten. YOU are not invisible to God. He sees every detail and He loves YOU. He knows who He created YOU to be. YOU can rest in His view of who you are and let HIm move you in that direction.

Rest is in body, mind, and spirit. We must rest our bodies, we must rest our minds, and we must rest our spirit. All that we are is in HIM. There is no striving in HIm. He refreshes and renews us in every way. But we must trust and believe who He is and who He says that we are in Him.

I pray that you will find rest in Jesus!

In His love, Charissa