Rest

"Then because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, He said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."
Mark 6:31 (Jesus speaking with His disciples)

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

What burdens you? What causes you turmoil in your life? Stress at work? Ambition to be successful? Family issues? Health problems? Sometimes just the busyness of daily life can be cumbersome. Bills, kids, deadlines, and on and on. They can all cause us torment, upset, and strain.

There are countless self-help books, magazine articles, and seminars regarding how to handle personal stress. We are told to identify the sources of the stress. Track your stress in a stress journal. Learn to say no. Take control of your environment. Try yoga. It is stressful just thinking about managing your stress.

Jesus tells us that we can find rest in Him. We can take all that clutter, all our overload, all of our strain, and let Him carry it for us. God assures us that there is a place of rest for His people. He wants to give us rest. That resting place is found in Jesus. When you are tired and your soul is exhausted, Jesus offers a place of refuge, a true place of rest.

Rest will not be found when the kids are grown, or you find a different job, or when you get married. These events will not bring the peace that your soul is craving. Rest will only be found when you have a deep relationship with Jesus. Rest will come when you know Him well enough that you can comfortably, with confidence, let go of the issues that are causing you to be burdened, and put them all in the hands of Jesus.

I know this is easier said than done. I have had my share of stress over the 30 plus years I have been a Christian. I have experienced divorce, single motherhood, remarriage, and financial strains. I have raised two boys and if you have raised boys, you know what a pressure cooker of stress that can be! I have struggled with depression, gone through menopause, and blanced the demands of work, family, and life in general. All that being said, I have weathered best when I have listened to Jesus gently calling me as He did His disciples,
"Come with me to a quiet place and I will give you rest."

Try Him. He promises to be there for you. He will comfort you and calm you. He will guide you and direct you. You will not be disappointed with Jesus. You will find strength when you rest in the Lord. Rest! Does that not sound wonderful? Give it all to Jesus, put your head back, close your eyes, and rest!

At His Word

"... He who promised is reliable and faithful to His word." Hebrews 10:23


How many times do we take someone at their word, only to be greatly disappointed later? You believed exactly what they said. It may have seemed hard to believe, but you bought it. You were verbally promised a job. Your husband promised he would not do that again. Someone at Church said they would not share your confidential conversation. We all have taken someone at their word and probably more than once. Call it what you want: an affirmation, an assurance, a promise. We were given one and we swallowed it. Hook, line, and sinker!

And then, the let down. You took someone at their word only to realize that they took you for a ride. You have been misled, cheated, burned. Their word was meaningless and you are stuck with an empty promise.

God tells us in His Word that His promises are reliable. His word is His oath. It is His guarantee, His commitment. God cannot lie. God keeps His word. We can count on it.

We cannot always count on others. Sometimes their initial intentions are good, but then they fall, they disappoint. We are guilty of giving our word to someone as well and then not being true to what we have said. Our words can be shallow and weak. But, we have a God who will never fail us. We can take Him at His word. And that is a promise we can count on!

The 4th of July

Thank you Lord for the freedoms that we enjoy here in the USA. What a privilege it is to be able to express ourselves in speech and print. And may we never take the religious freedoms we have for granted. What a joy it is to have the ability to worship You openly.
HAPPY 4th of July!!!!

The Beginning...

This is my first attempt at blogging, so be patient with me, friends. I guess everything we do has to have a beginning at one time. So, here goes.

So, why did I choose Totally Captivated as my title? Actually two reasons. The meaning of the word captivated is: to be filled with wonder & delight; charmed, enthralled. And, this is how I find my heart when I think of Jesus. He is captivating. And I have grown to realize that as He fills my heart with love, I then long to delight others with His love.

The second reason is that the book "Captivating" by John and Stasi Eldredge is my favorite book. Next to the Bible, this book was a life changer for me. I suggest you treat yourself to a wonderful adventure, and read this book.

It is my hope that as I continue to share my thoughts & my heart with you, that you too will find Jesus as a captivating friend. If you already know Him this way, then we should have a great time loving Him together. If you have yet to meet Him this way, then I hope that my words will draw you to a deeper walk with Jesus.