Closer, Nearer to Jesus

It doesn't matter, really, how great the pressure is, it only matters where the pressure lies. See that it never comes between you and the Lord -- then, the greater the pressure, the more it presses you to His breast.

Hudson Taylor

Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: 

for my soul  t r u s t e t h  in thee: 

yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, 

until these calamities be overpast.

I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.

Psalm 57:1-2

One Reason to Praise Him

Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, 

my lips shall praise thee. 

Thus will I bless thee while I live: 

I will lift up my hands in thy name. 

Psalm 63:3-4

In the photo: Arctic lychnis growing on the seaside of the gray, cold ocean. Doesn't it look like they're lifting their "hands" up to the Lord? =)

Like a Flower's Sweet Smell

Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.

Proverbs 27:9

In the photo: The first Arctic poppies.

Safety in His Strength

They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, 

which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. 

As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, 

so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever. 

Psalm 125:1-2

In the photo: The St. Elisa mountains in Yukon, Canada.

Tender Grass Springing

And he shall be as the light of the morning, 

when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; 

as the tender grass  s p r i n g i n g  out of the earth by clear shining after rain.

2 Samuel 23:4

In the photo: Bright beautiful grass seen on June 1 in my little Arctic village.

Glorious Rest in Him

They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: 

for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. 

And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, 

which shall stand for an ensign of the people; 

to it shall the Gentiles seek: and  h i s  r e s t  s h a l l  b e  g l o r i o u s.

Isaiah 11:9-10

In the photo: The Arctic Ocean in the summer

When We Cease to Do

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

The burden borne by mankind is a heavy and a crushing thing. The word Jesus used means a load carried or toil borne to the point of exhaustion. Rest is simply release from that burden. It is not something we do, it is what comes to us when we cease to do. His own meekness, that is the rest.

A.W. Tozer

In the photo: Last summer's grass in a pond of melted snow

Resting in God's Goodness

Return unto thy rest, O my soul; 

for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee. 

For thou hast delivered my soul from death, 

mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.

Psalm 116:8-9

In the photo: Morning dew on honeysuckle (yes, it smelled heavenly!)