Tell Me Your Story

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TKAN-nAsu8

My Story ~ Big Daddy Weave

 

 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ~ Matthew 11:28 NKJV

 

After talking with other women, I’ve realized that we’re all struggling to find our “drive” again: to keep our houses in order, exercise, meal plan, get together, and/or study our Bibles. The enemy was cunning and convinced us all it was a “just me” scenario. We each blamed different things, but after learning the truth, it’s obviously a spiritual attack. Fortunately, we have the “recipe” to win: fight this spirit with an opposite spirit.

 

About 6 years ago, I struggled to remain in the sanctuary of our church. Though nothing had changed, everything seemed to scream at me to leave. When I took my struggle to my pastor, he told me to begin worshipping Jesus before I even began my walk toward the sanctuary. He said the only way to fight this kind of attack was with an opposite spirit. After two Sundays of doing it, I never had that issue again.

 

How do we approach this attack? If unrest is the issue, then rest is the answer. Not sleeping but resting in the arms of Jesus. We get back to that place by falling in love, again.

 

Tell me your story. When and how did you fall in love with Jesus? Which verses drew you to His heart? Even if you fell away, what drew to Him, again? Was it a worship song that reminded you of His love and faithfulness? Whatever it was, go back to it. Spend time just enjoying those songs, verses, and time with your Savior, again.

 

You fight hell fire with Holy fire, unrest with rest, dryness with refreshing springs, and anger with love. This is a fight, one that Jesus has equipped you to win. If you don’t know where to start, then tell me your story. When did you fall in love with Jesus?

©Heather Potts 2022

Her Song

https://youtu.be/ftlhvUibkHM

Cast My Cares ~ Kids Praise 5: Psalty’s Camping Adventure

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” ~ Matthew 11:28 NIV

One day, around the time Savannah no longer took naps, I was having a hard time putting Elizabeth down for her nap. Then the idea came to sing her to sleep. And what better to lull her to sleep than with Elvis Presley’s, "Can't Help Falling in Love." It didn't work. But that became the song we sang to Elizabeth every night and naptime. Sometime later, Savannah heard me singing it to Elizabeth and requested her own song. "Cast My Cares" was what came to mind. 

When my brother and I were little, long before Veggie Tales, Kids Praise, with Psalty the Singing Songbook, were the popular kids’ Christian movies. One of which was a camping adventure, in which two kids got lost. Instead of panicking, the younger said to the older that she learned in Sunday School to cast all her cares on the Lord, because He cares for us. And then she sang the song.

This song has been very instrumental in helping us guide Savannah through many trials, from bad dreams, to missing loved ones, to struggles with wearing pants. But this isn't just a cute kid's song. It's an anthem for all of us: I cast all my cares upon You. I lay all of my burdens down at Your feet. And anytime I don't know what to do, I will cast all my cares upon You.

When we’re going through trials, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. But when we go to God, casting all our cares upon Him, it’s amazing how He brings our hearts to peace, even before our circumstances change. Whatever concern, hurt, or hardship you are facing right now, you don’t have to carry it another minute. Instead, cast it all on the Lord, because He cares for you. 

©Heather Potts 2019

https://youtu.be/pXhKWWCCdk8

Can't Help Falling in Love ~ Elvis Presley 

Trust pt 2

Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie! ~ Psalm 40:4 ESV

REST is the result of a decision to believe God ~ Alex Anderson, Pastor and author. The emphasis isn’t believing in God, but believing Him, taking Him at His Word, and trusting it.

Numerous sermons have been given on being Mary (sitting at Jesus’ feet), and not Martha (working at His feet). We all long to be Mary, free to sit and rest in the blessing of His teaching, but too often we find ourselves working, instead. I will confess, as of late, I haven’t been doing such a good job of resting, or trusting. Instead, I’ve been struggling, striving, and stressing. When God told me to go back to work, the first thing I did was to pull out our budget and figure out how much I needed to earn. If I don’t have to pay for childcare, I only need X amount. But if I do, then I need to make Y amount. Understanding the budget is great, but it shifted the focus from God—how He was going to provide—and put all the emphasis on me—how was I going to do it.

Trust: to have confidence in another; to be secure, to fear nothing for yourself. Rest: to give permission for one to cease from labor in order to recover and collect her strength; to refresh. Jesus calls to us in our Martha-mentality and says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls,” (Matthew 11:28-29 NIV). Rest. Trust. Sitting. Freedom. Is it really that easy? YES! We can be Mary, even in Martha seasons. We can choose to shift the emphasis and focus from ourselves and put it back on Jesus, allowing Him to teach us.

Father, forgive me for working, for thinking I had to do it all, when You called me to trust and rest in You. Holy Spirit, remind me to rest, because it’s when I’m attentive to Jesus’ words and teachings that I’ll know what He wants me to do and how He wants me to do it. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

©Heather Potts 2017