SALT Challenge - Rest

This week is was Casey's turn to set the challenge for the SALT design team and she choose Rest. You can read Casey's excellent write up over on the SALT blog. Such a timely and encouraging message this week...one I am quite sure the Lord providently provided...at least for me. :-) My inspiration text for this week was Matthew 11:28, "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Jesus tells us that His "yoke is easy and His burden is light." Sometimes, in the midst of great trials it doesn't seem that way. It can actually seem that being a Christian, and striving to live a holy life, is the hardest thing to do in the world...especially when sometimes it's just easier to "go with the flow", doing what everyone around you is doing, or because you could be mocked for your beliefs. In reality, living as a Christian is the most enjoyable experience in life. Only through Christ can one have true and everlasting joy, even in the midst of trials. Which one of us feel that we could have withstood the great trials that Job endured; the loss of all of his material wealth and health, the death of all of his children (this would be enough to push me right over the edge!). Yet when he received word of his calamity, he fell to his face and cried, "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord!" Is this some foolish response from a man who has lost his senses or is it the faithful response of a man who trusts in an all knowing God who is far greater then himself? God answers Job in the end of the book (it's a riveting and humbling response), restores him and then blesses him with more than he had before. Even in death, the Christian can still rejoice knowing that soon he will be in the loving arms of Christ Himself, forever erased of pain and heartache. So even in the midst of great hardship, we can rest in Christ, knowing that He loves and cares for His own and that He will never leave or forsake them. These are such encouraging thoughts, especially as our country and freedoms faces such an uncertain future. If Christ be for us, who can be against us? My pocket card was created with pieces received in a kit I purchased through a link at Ali Edwards site (I tried to find the site...it's a great one but wasn't able to. If I find it, I'll add it to this post). The stamps I used were from Stampin' Up! (circles and big flower) and my Walmart special swirls stamp set. Foam letters are from American Crafts. Thanks so much for stopping and I pray that you have a restful weekend! :-)