Relationship vs Religion

I have come to realize over the years that being born again ( aka: being a Christian ) is to be in a relationship with God.
When Jesus was on earth, He ushered in a relationship. His invitations were always to come to Him and follow Him. He never once said " Come, let me tell you all that My Father told me, then go do it."
Yes, He sends us out to do what He calls us to do, but even in that, we must do it how and when He says, which can only be done by staying connected to Him.
Matthew 11: 28-30 says;
28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
Are you at rest? Rest deep in your soul?
Moment by moment, every day, I am finding Him to be true to His word of being humble and gentle. It shows in Him teaching me and molding me and yes, correcting me. It is called discipleship.
And, as my heart responds in obedience to Him, and allow the molding and correcting to take place in my life, I experience His rest so deeply, nothing can take it away.
And when those things pop up that threatens to take it away, because, well, the devil NEVER gives up, I have the grace and strength and boldness and courage to ignore and say "NO". With that same strength and boldness and courage, that I only get through Christ, I am able to keep focus on God's truth.
Are you tired of how your life is? Are you carrying a burden in your 'work for God?' He said His 'yoke is easy and His burden light right there in Mathew.
Come to Him and experience His rest today and always.

Trying vs. Doing

Psalm 23:1 says, "The Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need"
I have been coming to find out with God's word, and everything He says, I either believe Him or I don't.
If I don't, it will show by how I live. I will have my plans in place. I will make sure I am secure financially. I will work hard to achieve my goals. I am in control of my life and therefore have to work hard and full time and sometimes over time to make sure our life goes how we plan it. I know no rest. And even on vacations it is hard to rest, because I have to still make sure that nothing is affecting my plans. And even if I am successful at gaining much riches, I have to always be on top of protecting it. Worrying about who could or might steal it. And for those of us who are poor, or life is a struggle to make ends meet, we feel forsaken and forgotten and sometimes give up.
Such life is void of peace and rest. It is filled with fear, endless thinking and strategies, controlling actions and thoughts, unable to trust, unable to rest, resentment, unforgivness, and the list goes on.
Many of us have mastered masking it. No one knows. They see a good and successful person that's happy.
If I believe Him, my life will also show it. I must believe all, not some or what I am comfortable believing. I must believe that I do have all I need in Christ who is my Shepherd.
Is He your Shepherd? Then you have all you need.
The following verses in Psalms 23 tells us what all we have in Him. Take some time and read and digest and believe Him. And then, ask Him to show you how to live His way. Stay close to Him.