And we will rest under the shade of the trees...

A trip.
A lesson.
A good time.
An answer.

I was ready to get a break for several reasons on Friday. It had just been a long week.

So when Brett threw out an invite to road trip with him to San Luis Obispo that night, I jumped on it like a Blue Frost (The best flavor. Hands down.) Gatorade in the middle of the Sahara.

And I’m glad I did. No regrets (well, at least not until I get home at 5am today..).

I met a lot of new people and saw a lot of interesting places.
I slept and nearly entirely lived in a car for 48 hours.
I showered and changed at a public beach restroom, with everyone looking at me as if I were homeless (I guess, at the moment, I kind of was..).
I relearned not to judge.
But even more so..

..I started to learn the value and sweet-release of living in present with eternal perspective (if you’re curious what I mean, read the blog I posted before this one).

Being one, as most of my friends could and would testify, to WORRY over what comes next (confusing it with responsibility), it was absolutely WONDERFUL to step towards that. Peace. UNquenchable peace.

I’m not there. There is still MUCH work to be done.
However, this trip has marked the start.

To new beginnings happening in the most random of places (even San Luis Obispo),
PJReb

Do you have all the answers? Feel like you need to have all the answers? All the strength? All the foresight? 

You do. I do.


Read Job 38: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%2038&version=ESV#fen-ESV-13797a

Now read Job 40: 1-5:  http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+40&version=ESV 


Ok, so we don’t. Not on our own.

And that’s just the beauty of it.

We. don’t. need to. 


What’s even the benefit of trying? Jesus asked this in Matthew 6, verse 27. (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206:%2025-33&version=ESV)


Time to surrender to the One with the plan. Time to put our hands on our mouths and rely on the Creator of the universe. The Layer of the foundation of life. The one who created, knows and has seen the highest heights and deepest of depths.

My job is not to be any of the above, but to draw nearer and nearer, day by day, to the One who is. 


Striving to rely
-PJReb 

Ephesians 1:7 ESV

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace

Oh how often we stray. How often we tell the One we love that we’ve had enough. How often (hopefully) we see the error of our ways and turn back, and, even more so, how often, and how good is, God, the Lover of my soul.

He opens His arms. He holds me tightly. He welcomes back me as if it were my first day as a believer.

His mercies are even new, like the morning (Lamentations 3:23). His rescuing light penetrates all of our dark in that loneliest hour. And, let me tell you, I have WORKED so hard and have DEFINITELY earned it!….

…WRONG. 

”We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19

There is NOTHING we can do to earn this. He gives it freely to all who ask. He gives it freely to all who repent. He gives it freely to all who admit a need that IS able to be quenched one way, and one way ONLY…through asking.

Through asking Christ to reside in our lives, to take part in it, to mold it..to redeem it.

“By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness, O God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas.”
Psalm 65:5


I have to do this more than I would ever like to admit. But He is ever faithful to welcome in, and, not just welcome in, but re-establish me (and you) in his royal and holy courts
(Not to say a part of love isn’t discipline, BUT I think I’ll save that for another rant).


I love you, God. We love, You. Thank you for loving us, in spite of ourselves. 

-PJReb

..you just got to keep on truckin’ n remember who you serve.

Glad I serve God. Despite knowing who I am He still saved me, established me in His royal courts and pursues me.

Here’s to pursuing back…despite how “well” (according to me and my oh so limited understanding*) it does or doesn’t go.

Philippians 1:6 and Ephesians 5:1-2 (verses that “randomly” found me tonight)

Hope this blesses you too, somehow.

Goodnight with sincerity. -Peter James

thunderstormsandfireflies:

STEALTH DATING.

(thank you, Kelly)

stealth dating is when you hang out with someone who you think has a mutual interest in you and you have no idea if it is a date or not.

too good of a term to not share.