Rest for What?

Are you tired? Some of us feel that if we could just get a good night's sleep that everything would be alright. We cling to Jesus' promise in Matthew 11:28;  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Truth is that one night will not make everything better. We need to establish God honoring "resting" principles to our lives. Let's start by answering some questions. 

Why do you want to rest? Is it just for your own satisfaction and needs? Or is it so we can serve, follow, and obey Christ better? Your motive is very important to the restoration process.

“ I said to myself, “Relax, because the Lord takes care of you.”   Psalm 116:7 (Focus on God)

“A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.”  Prov. 14:30 (God's peace in a vertical relationship)

The Bible is pretty clear that we are to take care of our bodies, and God will help us if we listen.  I love the Message's paraphrase of Matthew 11:28-30. 

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Allow God to give you rest, so you will have the clarity and energy to do His will. Living for Christ is the reason to rest. You dishonor Him when you don't.

For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, says the Lord,.- Jeremiah 30:17 RSV

Allow the Holy Spirit and God's powerful Word to change you through getting rest. 

Read The Daniel Plan by Rick Warren (full of God's Word) and check out the Daniel Plan Website Here 

Change Is Good

When people are starting something they of never done before most ask for directions (this should include men). For the last week I have been encouraging people to read the Daniel Plan by Rick Warren, but today let me remind you of the best book ever written - the Word of God. The Bible is the most amazing book ever written. Here are some "Biblical" facts:

1. The Bible contains 66 books (39 OT and 27 NT) by 40 different authors (most who didn't know each other and lived at different times)

2.  It was written on three continents (Asia, Africa, and Europe) in a span of 1,500 years.

3. It was written in three languages. (Hebrew, Greek, a little Aramaic)

4. The Word hs one theme and message throughout – God is on a rescue mission to bring fallen humanity back into an eternal relationship with Him (through Jesus). God wants a relationship with you! 

The best fact about the Bible is that it changes lives. People may refute information but they cannot refute your testimony. How has it changed you?

God has big plans and great life changes for you if you allow it. Take that deep look inside yourself and ask Jesus to reshape your heart and put you in to a healthy relationship with Him.

For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, says the Lord,.- Jeremiah 30:17 RSV

Allow the Holy Spirit and God's powerful Word to change you. 

Read The Daniel Plan by Rick Warren (full of God's Word) and check out the Daniel Plan Website Here 

In the Light

Clarity is a beautiful word. Light brings things in to focus. Jesus is the Light of the world and we are to walk in it. Hank Williams sang, I saw the light I saw the light, No more darkness no more night. Now I'm so happy no sorrow in sight. Praise the Lord I saw the light.

Have you found His joy and light in your life? I think we settle for partial or dimmed light when it really is God's desire that we walk in the fullness of His glory. He does not want us stumbling around with foggy minds, in depression, with weak and unhealthy bodies. Healthy Living magazine recently ran an article on seven things sunlight can do for you.

Sunlight may help prevent cancer.

Sunlight is beneficial for Alzheimer’s patients.

Sunlight may lower risk for multiple sclerosis.

Sunlight helps heal psoriasis..

Sunlight can ease mild depression.

Sunlight contributes to bone health in older adults.

Sunlight can improve sleep quality.

If that wasn't enough to convince you of the benefits of sunlight look at what the Bible says in 1 John 1:5-7; This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.  If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

This is God's grace in action - freeing us from sin and bringing us out from bondage and darkness. His grace is more than enough to not only forgive you but to restore your mind, heart, and body. People still miss it.  In him (Jesus) was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.- John 1:4 Don't miss God's light and apply it to all aspects to your life. He desires only the best for you.

For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, says the Lord,.- Jeremiah 30:17 RSV

Read The Daniel Plan by Rick Warren and check out the Daniel Plan Website Here 

Take a Honest Look

The Daniel Plan is all about living out your faith in Jesus Christ. To do so we need to consider our views on the world and ourselves. There are two critical views in a believer's life. The first is about your view of creation. The Bible instructs us to look up and around to discover the Creator. There is perhaps no other verse under such constant debate and ridicule as - In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1 answers three important questions about your worldview: When? Who? What?

When? In the beginning – history does not begin with 1:1 it goes back to the eternal councils of God. There we find three attributes of God that spills out in creation and for all time: love, glory, and eternal life.

Love – Jesus prayed in John 17:24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

Glory – Earlier in same prayer – John 17:5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

Eternal Life – Titus 1:2 the truth that leads to godliness—  in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time Truth is found in John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Who? – God is translated from the Hebrew “Elohim”, and is the plural form of Gods (Trinity) An illustration of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) is water. Water has three forms: liquid, ice (solid), and steam (gas).“Created” is singular showing the three in one nature of the Lord. Look at Genesis 1:26-27: Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image,  in the image of God he created them;  male and female he created them.

What? – Created the heavens and the earth – There is a huge difference between creating something and making something. “Make” uses already created resources. To create is make something out of nothing! God spoke everything in to being. The most exciting part of this is He sees you as incredibly valuable and desires the best for your life. What is your world view of creation? 

The second view that Christ followers must take is a look in the mirror. James 1:22-25 says:  Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.  Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.  But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

Look deeply at your physical, emotional, and spiritual condition. God desires for us to come to Him for direction, wholeness, and forgiveness. What areas need healing and restoration in your life? 

Take those needs to the Lord in prayer right now. Greater is He that is in you. His grace never runs out, and His love endures forever. I pray you will accept God's healing, blessing, direction, grace, and change for your life.  For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, says the Lord,.- Jeremiah 30:17 RSV

Read The Daniel Plan by Rick Warren and check out the Daniel Plan Website Here 

It's All God

One of the great lessons I have learned since I started the Daniel Plan is that it sure is easier to achieve things with God than on my own. You may be thinking, "Well duh", but let's be honest how many times have you failed at something? Was it God's fault? Of course not, in fact God has a 100% success track record. We are the ones that fail not Him. As you begin your new healthy life never loose sight of where our help comes from - the Lord!

Our focus must remain vertical (on God) and not horizontal  (things of the world). By changing your focus you will allow God to work a miracle in your life. You will be able to listen, obey, and apply His Word to all aspects of your life. Let's look at what God's Word has to say to us about doing life His way.

Ephesians 4:22-24 - You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;  to be made new in the attitude of your minds;  and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (NIV) We are called to a new way of living - not for self but for God.

John 8:31-32 - Then Jesus turned to the Jews who had claimed to believe in him. “If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure. Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you.” (MSG) God's way is the only way that leads to the truth.

Romans 12:2 - Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (NIV) Jesus' followers are able to know His ways and discern truth through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Healing and restoration for mind and body are possible for everyone. 3 John 2 - Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. (NIV) 

I pray you will accept God's healing, blessing, direction, and change for your life. Don't forget God's promise: I will give you back your health again and heal your wounds.- Jeremiah 30:17 LB

Read The Daniel Plan by Rick Warren and check out the Daniel Plan Website Here 

This Could Be the Day

Change sometimes comes slowly, but it can happen over night. I found out through the Daniel Plan both can happen. The sudden change happens in your heart. You finally get a grasp on a God promise like: I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. - Philippians 1:6 I accepted this promise believing I am not doomed to a life of depression, weakness, brain-fogs, fatigue, and unhappiness. Do you want to hear some great news? Jesus wants to heal you too.

God loves you the way you are but loves you too much to leave you that way! His desire is for your absolute best, and that includes a healthy mind, body, heart, and soul. Accepting this desire of His can happen right now. Pray, God I believe You can help me have a healthy body, mind, and eternal outlook. Amen.

The actual changing and reshaping of your body and mind can take time. It is available to all Christ followers. Paul instructs us;  So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. - Romans 12:1-2 (The Message)

Commit your body, life, time, thinking, and attention on your relationship and responsibility to Jesus. He is our all in all, so give Him all of you. Change can and will happen starting today.

For I will restore health to you, and I will heal your wounds, says the Lord. - Jeremiah 30:17 AMP

I pray you will accept God's healing, blessing, and change for your life.

Read The Daniel Plan by Rick Warren and check out the Daniel Plan Website Here 

Change Your Life

Today begins 40 days of change for many people throughout the world. People are encouraged to pray, fast, and seek God. We must look up to where our help comes from, but also take a good look at ourselves. I did this a couple of months ago and did not like what I saw. Bad habits, health, and fatigue are what I saw.

Please watch my testimony video to hear the miracle that God is doing in my life through a book called the Daniel Plan.


Pastor Ty's Daniel Plan Experience (part 1) from First Baptist Church Red Bank NJ on Vimeo.

Jeremiah 30:17 is my new promise verse from God - I will give you back your health again and heal your wounds.

Buy and read the book - it will change your life. I will be blogging about it every day and putting out a new teaching video every Wednesday.

I pray you will accept God's healing and blessing.

Check out the Daniel Plan Website Here