Posts Tagged ‘ Rest ’

Weekend Words & Sunday Stanzas – 11/23/2014

Do not lose sleep over foolish choices, and get a taste of wisdom from Proverbial Thought!

Whether it is the book of Ecclesiastes or Proverbs chapter 6 or many other passages, the Bible talks a lot about what distracts us and takes up our time. These things cost us rest and sleep.

The poem today was written after a few days not being able to sleep inside a building. I was tired, but I had been kept busy during my days.

When I was able to get back to … not even a bed, but a futon that had recently been acquired from others by a friend I was staying with, I was ready to fall fast asleep. Instead, I wrote this poem for God.

He is always worth a little less sleep.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

losing sleep

people lose sleep for various reasons

whether for work or for recreation

to read a good book or be with a person

but if i am losing sleep for anything

whether for all that mentioned or nothing

as long as i lose sleep seeking my King

if i can lose sleep for things here on earth

i should be able to for Him Who deserves

the very Creator in Whom i find my worth

2014
11/23
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Poetry
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When We Call, He Is Near

Find how close God is through His wisdom as discussed at Proverbial Thought.

This is a special reminder for all of us who are facing trials, confusion, and difficulties.

I will let God’s Word speak for itself:

“I called on your name, O Lord,
    from the depths of the pit;
you heard my plea, ‘Do not close
    your ear to my cry for help!’
You came near when I called on you;
    you said, ‘Do not fear!’

“You have taken up my cause, O Lord;
    you have redeemed my life.”
Lamentations 3:55-58, ESV

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”
. . .
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
John 14:18-21, 27

2014
10/21
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Confusion
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Rest
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Weekend Words & Sunday Stanzas – 06/22/2014

Give your weary mind some refreshing wisdom from Proverbial Thought!

Perhaps you are struggling through something.

Maybe you have lost a loved one.

Maybe you have suffered through addiction.

Maybe you have suffered through prolonged illness.

Maybe you have received the news of disease or illness.

Maybe you deal with bullying.

Maybe you come out of abuse.

Maybe you live with depression, fear, or hatred.

As trite and cliché as it may sound, Jesus is the truest answer and ultimate Healer for all that burdens our weary souls.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30, ESV

Healing may not come immediately. Physical healing may never come in this life. But trust in the life, death, and resurrection of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, and you will find hope and peace. It may not come fully until the next life, but His resurrection proves His promises are true. We may suffer now, but we have the promise of eternal rest and peace.

 

as dawn breaks

on the weary soul

as dawn breaks on the weary soul

awakening the stillness of God

what the weary traveler has sown

will be reaped in the precious blood

as new light pours over this one

and eyes are opened for the first time

those eyes see the image of the Son

and see through the power of that Christ

as dawn illuminates this person

becoming more aware of deep filth

this weary one comes undone

and gives in to the Higher Will

as dawn breaks on the weary soul

and this weary one awakens to love

and realizes it is okay to let go

it is finally known that God is more than enough

2014
06/22
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Despair
Discouragement
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Fear
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Remembering the Sabbath Rest

Do not neglect rest nor refreshment for your mind and soul with some wisdom from Proverbial Thought!

Today I resume classes at Phoenix Seminary.

Honestly, I feel a little intimidated looking at my reading schedule and assignments in each syllabus. It is enough to make anyone want to run for the hills!

Like anyone in ministry, though, I want to do a good job. I want to take on more than I can handle and do it all without complaining or asking for too much help.

That is why I post this today. This is a reminder to me and all of my compatriots in ministry and all those who are like us. Current and past Seminarians know what I am talking about here, so I dedicate this to all of us, in the name of the Lord!

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Exodus 20:8, ESV

19 As soon as it began to grow dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut and gave orders that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath. And I stationed some of my servants at the gates, that no load might be brought in on the Sabbath day. 20 Then the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice. 21 But I warned them and said to them, “Why do you lodge outside the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you.” From that time on they did not come on the Sabbath. 22 Then I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come and guard the gates, to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember this also in my favor, O my God, and spare me according to the greatness of your steadfast love.
Nehemiah 13:19-22, ESV

While I and we are doing good things – preparing our minds for fuller worship of God through better understanding, doing good works for the glory of the Father, serving others out of love and compassion – it becomes very easy to neglect proper rest and worship of God.

There must be time to simply read the Bible – not to study it and tear it apart to find good messages and lessons, but to simply soak up the Word of God.

There must be time to let the mind rest – to not stress about deadlines or making sure spell-check was thorough enough or meeting everyone else’s needs, but to be still and know that He is God.

There must be time to relax muscles and nerves – to not rush from place to place and lug around heavy, important looking books, but to “stop and smell the roses”, if you will, and enjoy the presence of the Lord … and family and friends.

These times must be well guarded and purified, because our Lord deserves nothing less than our best. Our best comes when we take time to rest and simply to be with Him.

May we all find rest in our Lord in this season.

2014
01/21
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Post pending …

 

Hello, all of my dear and avid readers!

I am taking today off from an official post.

There is a super-awesome post coming tomorrow.

YAAY!

So, make like the super-awesome puppy Seymour …

Tired puppy… and take a few minutes to rest!

 

Love,

Daniel M. Klem

 

2013
01/08
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Weary Rest

I am quite tired.

I have not really had a good break in a while. I have been working in classrooms with autistic children for about six months, and it can be mentally and emotionally exhausting. I only have had four weeks off from school in the last two and a half years. My current class is a true test in patience due to human factors, therefore it is more mentally and emotionally taxing than it needs to be. My wife and I volunteer in many areas of our local church and with friends’ ministries. Also, three weeks ago our car kicked the bucket (stopped working), and we have had to deal with that. (We got a vehicle on Thursday night!) One area of my character God is helping me work on is dealing with (my lack of patience with) stupidity in others. Needless to say, I have plenty of opportunities throughout almost every day to work on this!

I am tired.

I know many people understand. I mean, I do not have children of my own, yet! I can only imagine (though I get some experience with the classrooms in which I have worked)!

Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

Many teach that this refers to our eternal rest in God, that we will suffer in this world and receive rest from all of our pains and troubles in the next world.

This is certainly true. However, I offer another teaching that is out there.

I am tired. I get up everyday, go to work or church or launch straight into homework. I often finish my days (nights) working on homework. I get between five and seven hours of sleep on a good night.

What gets me up every morning?

There is my beautiful wife. She makes every day worth it!

The children in the classroom have a tendency to bring a smile to my face, even when I have to change a smelly pull-up diaper and deal with spit, snot, and pee. They help keep me young!

I get to share the love of Christ with children, teens, young adults, and many other people throughout my week. My life has some meaning!

I even get to drive around in a new(er) vehicle (at the moment)!

None of these really gets me up every morning, though.

My wife and I finish our nightly prayers the same way each night: “Lord, give us Your rest tonight that we might be ready for whatever You have for us tomorrow.”

We do not just mean “let us sleep well.” We give God all of our worries, fears, drama, joys, laughs, and dreams.

He gladly takes our burdens.

Okay, physically I might be pushing it a little. Mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, my God relieves me and restores me.

Do you give God all of your life? (We can discuss the full implications later, but for this context I mean worries, fears, drama, joys, laughs, and dreams.) Can you give God the weight on your shoulders?

2012
02/07
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