Come for Rest ...

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)

This was the passage that God laid on my heart last week.  The week of the earthquake ... and all of the aftershocks (which we are still experiencing). The week of the uprising in Libya ... no, not in our backyard, but definitely in God's Word.  The week of the hurricane ... we were on the western side of Irene, but still got very heavy rain, winds, falling trees, and unsteady nerves.

And Jesus' invitation.

When the earthquake hit, Lucy & I were home alone.  Granddad was at work and the 'Joes were having lunch with a church friend.  Lucy & I were in our family room, and then the room started to shake.  At first I thought something was wrong with the garage door, but then I could see the walls continue to shake.  So, Lucy was scooped up from the couch, and we went to the lower level.  She thought it was kind of fun ... until the reality set in for this almost 3 year old ... and she would remember her earthquake experience for days beyond.  Lucy's Mommy & Daddy got home soon afterward, and this little girl was so happy to see them!  I finally was able to get through to Granddad ... phone lines out, cell towers out ... but somehow we were able to text each other & all of our family was safe!

And Jesus' words calmed my racing heart ...  

Come and I will give you rest.

During the moments after the earthquake, we heard of the uprising in Libya.  Unrest ... unsteadiness ... uncertainty.  And throughout all ...

 Jesus beckons ... 

Come and I will give you rest.

 

So then the earthquake aftershocks began ... most in the middle of the night ... kind of eerie ... but then as before, Jesus' invitation ... 

Come and I will give you rest.

  

And throughout the week ... Irene loomed on our horizon.  Weather models not quite sure of "where" she would land, but knowing the East Coast would get slammed.  So, we began our hurricane preparations ... flashlights, batteries, water ... unsure how much rain and winds we would get, unsure whether we would keep power ... unsure just what this wall of water & wind would bring.  Saturday was a very long day riding this storm.  But, praise God we kept our power & phone lines! We stayed in contact with G-G & Grandpa (about an hour away from us) and with our family out of state via texts & Facebook. 

As the weather went downhill into the evening, we all remembered Hurricane Isabel in 2003: unreal rain & winds, loss of power for 10 days (we have well water, so no power means no water), and right in line with the eye of the storm.  Oh yeah, and no little "3 year old" in the house (which by the way, Lucy was a trooper in this storm!  She did great & didn't complain when she had to stay in practically one room for most of the day.  What a girl!)  

Thankfully with Irene, we were on the western edge.  Although we were hit with extreme rains & winds, we were fortunate ... everyone stayed safe and no major damage to our house.  "Stuff" and material things can be replaced ... 

life cannot.

But, still ... in the midst of the hurricane ... Jesus' words came back to me: 

Come unto Me and I will give you rest. 

I'm so thankful that throughout all of the storms in our lives, Jesus is always waiting.  Jesus is always holding His nail-scarred hands open.  Jesus is our Rest.

Please keep those affected by the earthquake, the uprising, and the hurricane in your prayers.  
So much tragedy all around us.  
So many people hurting from the loss of loved ones. 
So much devastation.

But, even in the midst ... 
Jesus still awaits.

  
 

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

You'd never know that we were in the midst of a hurricane.