presently...actively...continually...

Come to Me...and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

Several years ago I completed the Beth Moore Bible study, Believing God, which included a Greek word study of the word pistis, translated assurance, belief, believe, faith, and fidelity in the New Testament. We learned the Greek verb tense of the word believe was a present active participle verb, and that when we see a Greek present active participle verb, we can think of the word continually preceding the verb...

presently...actively...continually believing

I was reminded of this present active participle verb tense when I heard the lyrics of this beautiful old hymn, Jesus, I am resting, resting...

presently...actively...continually resting
in Jesus' finished work on the Cross

presently...actively...continually finding 

out the greatness of Thy Loving Heart

presently...actively...continually trusting 

Thee, Lord Jesus

Keep me ever trusting, resting,
Fill me with Thy grace.

May your hearts be encouraged by Tricia Brock singing, Jesus, I am resting…

Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,

I behold Thee as Thou art,

And Thy love, so pure, so changeless,

Satisfies my heart;

Satisfies its deepest longings,

Meets, supplies its every need,

Compasseth me round with blessings:

Thine is love indeed!

Was this encouraging to you? Please feel free to leave a comment in the box below, I'd love to hear from you!

Linking up with Holley Gerth's Coffee for Your Heart as an encourager.

Many Memorial Days

Memorial Day 2010 my Mom, Frances Mae Carson Willis, went home to be with Jesus...

Memorial Day 2009 my cousin, Patti Ann Brower Hatcher, went home to be with Jesus...

Memorial Day 1989 my Daddy, Eston Franklin Willis, went home to be with Jesus...

Memorial Day 1952 I was knit together in my birthmother's womb by El Shaddai, my all-sufficient Heavenly Father...

I re-wallpaper my mind with the Truth of God's Word...all my days were ordained for me before one of them came to be...He knows the plans, the hope, and the future He has for me, the best is yet to be...God is Who He Says He is...God can do what He says He can do--nothing is impossible for Him...I am who God says I am--in Christ, I am blessed with every spiritual blessing, accepted in the Beloved Son of God, adopted as a child of the King, chosen before the foundation of the world, redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, forgiven by His Grace and Mercy, and loved with an everlasting love and underneath are the everlasting arms, a love that will not let me go...I can do all things through Christ Who gives me strength--His grace is sufficient...His Word is alive and active in me...I am believing God...

...praying continually for a circumcised heart which seeks to know Him and believe Him more, turning away from unbelief, doubt, worry, fear and insecurity...

...seeking to Glorify God, turning away from pride, which is self-absorption...

...seeking to find my satisfaction in Him, turning away from idolatry, which is putting anything ahead of or instead of God...

...seeking to experience His Peace through prayer, turning away from prayerlessness...

...to enjoy His Presence through my relationship with Him moment-by-moment, turning away legalism...

...praying that the Spirit of Christ Who dwells in the innermost part of me will take authority over my soul--the seat of my emotions, and my body--my fleshly desires and appetites...

...praying, Lord Jesus, Bless us indeed...

...do something so big in our lives that it is obviously from You...

...increase our influence and opportunities to make a difference for You...

...give us a continual sense of Your Presence and direction as we make decisions...

...protect us spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically, and relationally...

...keep us from falling into satan's evil traps...

...praying Heavenly Father, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardship as a pathway to peace; taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to Your will; so that I may be reasonably happy in this life, and supremely happy with You forever in the next...

...praying the prayer that never fails...Thy will be done...

(c) 2010 beth willis miller

slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches...

"Crown of Thorns" plant

These things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day!--Habakkuk 2:3 TLB

The name of the plant in this photo is "Crown of Thorns"...when I was 10 years old riding my bike on a sidewalk in front of Dee Kall's house on a Sunday afternoon, I lost my balance and fell into the "Crown of Thorns" she had planted beside her sidewalk. My left hand was covered with thorns, blood streaming from every puncture wound. I remember my Daddy carrying me into Dr. Watters' office on that Sunday afternoon, where he met us, and carefully pulled out every thorn, applying a salve to heal every wound.

That was the same year I came to the Cross of Jesus Christ, and to this day I experience morning after morning His Blood dripping over the Crown of Thorns on His brow, onto my heart, covering my sin, as I wear His Robe of righteousness. I made my public profession of faith in Jesus Christ at age 10, and was baptized by Pastor Rudy Fagan at First Baptist Church in Sebring. Eight years later, as a college student, I would work as a receptionist for two years in Dr. Jones' office, part of Dr. Watters' professional association. At the end of those two years, Dee Kall's daughter, Debbie, would take my place as the receptionist when I got married and moved to Tampa to get my BA at USF...so many connections woven together.

God is sovereign, He sees the past, the present, and the future all-at-once, He is the panpharmacon, the salve that soothes every wound. Lord Jesus, help me to live this day in the light of eternity...believing You...

These things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day!--Habakkuk 2:3 TLB

How about you? When you look back over your life, can you see evidence of how God has been there all along?