The Resting Place

Wisdom of a Child

“The only thing that never changes about a home are the memories. Memories always last and they follow you anywhere. No matter where you go they will always be in your heart and walking beside you every day. Even if you don’t remember, they are still there.” Sophie F., 10 years old

Recently, my granddaughter, Sophie, shared the above thoughts with me during our devotional time. Deep for a 10-year old, I thought. I asked her where she had heard it and she said someone once told her that. She wasn’t sure, but thought her mommy told her, before she went to Heaven. I cried.

When Sophie shared her thoughts with me, we were talking about memories and change. It wasn’t too long ago that her playroom at my house became more of a bedroom for a big girl. The uncomfortable sofa bed she once slept on when she visited, was exchanged for a nice new bed and more comfortable mattress. Toys she had cherished at an earlier age, were organized and stored in storage containers. The change was very nice, but a bit unsettling for Sophie at first. She was not excited in the least to have a nice bedroom. Her toys were not in the same spot. It was a big change for her.

It seems that Sophie had been doing some pretty deep thinking about how best to adapt to the change brought about in her room. This little girl is wise beyond her years and has such a beautiful heart. She asked me to share her words, and so I am.

I hope Sophie’s wisdom encourages anyone who may be struggling with change in your life at this time. Rest assured that your Heavenly Father will give you His strength. He will help you adapt to the change you are experiencing. Even better, He will help you to flourish above all you could imagine! He’s just so good like that, and desires that you trust Him in every circumstance of your life. I hope you’ll do that today.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we lift our hands in praise to You today! You, alone, are worthy of honor and glory, forevermore! Thank You for remaining the same, yesterday, today, and forever. The fact that you do not change, gives us comfort. Change often comes into our lives when we least expect it. You know that quite often, we are creatures of habit and sometimes resist anything other than our normal routine. We are here to ask You to help us adapt to whatever change is needed in our lives. Today. Right now. Give us the kind of peace that only comes from You. Help us to lean upon the everlasting arms of Jesus, for it is in that place where we find safety and security. I pray this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Safely Home

Happy Heavenly Birthday, Shelly!

Today I gazed upon your face,

My child of God’s amazing grace.

I thought of all I’d like to say,

If we were given just one more day.

One more day to share the love,

That God gave us from Heaven above.

But you’re not here, I fully know,

And where you are, I can’t yet go.

But while I’m here, I’ll think of you,

Of how you have been made anew.

From head to toe, you radiate,

God’s love in you, amazing grace!

No pain you’ll have forevermore;

No worries like you had before.

In Heaven above, you’re safely there,

Eternal life with others you share.

Thank God for such amazing grace,

You’ll live forever; you’ve won the race!

God gave us all a choice to make,

To live for Him, His gift to take.

It’s sad to see the world these days,

So many lost He came to save.

So while we’re here on earth to live,

Our faith alone to them we’ll give;

And pray they hear from God above,

Accept His gift of endless love.

Until that day God calls us home,

We pray the lost will cease to roam.

That they will know His love so free,

And walk with Him eternally.

Written by: Carolyn Canizales, April 21, 2022

In Memory of Shelly Rena Forston, May 25, 1967 – November 13, 2016

Heavy Load

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

A while back, granddaughter Sophie and I were out running errands when we came to a red light. As we sat waiting for the light to change, Sophie noticed a large gravel truck in the next lane. She was curious to know what purpose the small, raised wheels served. I snapped a quick picture before the light turned green, because the thought of a spiritual analogy had suddenly popped into my mind.

Not wanting to get into the science of these tandem/tag axle trucks, I simply explained to Sophie that the smaller wheels were called drop axles and are lowered and used to help distribute the weight more evenly when the truck is carrying a heavier load than usual. After we had talked about it for a few minutes, Sophie clearly understood the reason behind those smaller wheels.

In life, we’ve all carried some pretty heavy loads. I sure have, and maybe more than I want to talk about. While the weight of our loads may vary, try as we may, we can’t avoid them. Because we are from different backgrounds and circumstances, our loads generally aren’t the same. Some carry loads of illness, grief, guilt, sin, broken relationships, or a combination thereof. Still, others carry longtime loads of unforgiveness from hurts experienced during their lifetime. With chronic heaviness and inner pain such as this, we will find ourselves depleted of physical, emotional, and spiritual strength. We struggle to get through each day because a cloud of heaviness seems to follow us everywhere we go.

In our human frailties, we often try carrying these burdens on our own. But you know, it is not the least bit necessary to rob ourselves of needed strength when the answer lies elsewhere. That’s why Jesus came–to carry any and all of our burdens, problems, anxieties, and fears. He came to relieve us of our heavy load of grief, guilt, and despair. He came to help us forgive others who have wronged us. His is the constant strength we need to manage our heavy loads. And friends, He is so willing to do that for us.

What a relief it is when we take our heaviness to the Cross, lay our cares at the feet of Jesus, then get up and walk in victory!  This is the only way to go. Having peace in the midst of our burdens–one that is almost unexplainable, is an amazing thing to experience.

Today, why not turn your eyes upon Jesus, look into His wonderful face and let your burdens and worries, your fears and anxieties, rest on His shoulders. Let Him take your heavy load. Let Him bring the kind of hope to your heart that assures you will always have Someone who is trustworthy and able to carry all of your cares. Let Him give you the ability to walk in victory. He waits for you, right here. Right now.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, You, alone are worthy to be praised. We praise you for this day that You have given us. How sweet it is to know that Yours is the supernatural strength we need to get through this life. You offer it to each of us through Your Son Jesus Christ, and we are so very grateful. Today, we don’t have words enough to tell You how much we depend on Your strength. But You know our hearts. How thankful I am that You have carried so many of my heavy loads. You have given me new strength and rest and life. Help me to live in such a way that I will honor You with every thought that I have, every word that I say, and everything that I do. Bless all who read these thoughts from my heart—thoughts meant to encourage and lift their hearts just a little closer to You. May it be so. I pray this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Listen to Him

“Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son whom I love. Listen to him!” Mark 9:7

We live in a culture marinated in words! The Internet and other forms of modern media and technology are filled with a staggering amount of information.

When granddaughter, Sophie was a bit younger, we learned a lot about animals, dinosaurs, unicorns, mermaids, etc. through various search engines. Now, at the age of 10 years, we’re going to more educational sites such as Google Earth, The Alamo, and Google Classroom. I remain astounded that I can see my home from space!!

Yes, there is a gigantic amount of information at our fingertips via modern technology. Yet, how do we know what to pay attention to?

How do we know fact from fiction, real from fake, who is truthful and who isn’t? After all, not everything online is real!

Our answer is in the Scripture above. God said of Jesus, “This is my Son, listen to Him.” Isn’t it wonderful that we have access to Him 24/7 if we would only stop and take the time to connect. When we sit quietly without interruption, slow our minds, read and reflect on a portion of God’s Word, we can sense His presence as He fills our hearts with His peace. Not just any ‘ole peace, but the kind that satisfies every need we have. That is the power of the Word of God!

Today, I am thankful for God’s Word at my fingertips; for the One who never changes; and the One who will always be my comfort and guide. Never will we have cause to doubt the accuracy of His Word. Only He is perfect in all of His ways!

HOPE

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,” Ephesians 1:18

Today, so many people are hurting. But there is HOPE. Each of us can share God’s love with someone today. Even a smile will make a difference.

I’ve been wanting to write more poetry. Recently, on a night when I couldn’t sleep, this happened. As I’ve said before, I’m not an educated writer of anything. But, God has given me the desire to share my faith and encourage others—in my own way. Knowing that, I press on. I only speak from my heart. So bear that in mind and please listen to the message with your own heart.

Let’s keep HOPE alive!

HOPE

There is a hope the world doesn’t know,
A way to move forward, the best way to go.

They’re missing the mark, the true meaning of life,
If only they’d stop, and let go of their strife.

If they could just see the One who is there,
Waiting and watching, His Good News to share.

The God of the ages, just a whisper away,
Wants to stay by their side, day after day.

His Word full of love may be there on a table,
But has never been read even though they are able.

What will it take, oh tell me dear friend,
To convince them to see His love has no end?

The beginning, the present, He’s always been there
To give them His heart, to show that He cares.

He’s been there each time they have struggled and wept,
If only they knew, every promise He’s kept.

They’ve traded His peace for a home filled with worry,
Running around in too big of a hurry.

They’ve held on to things, much like stubble and hay,
Only to see “things” soon fade away.

They’ve missed the true joy deep down inside,
That comes when we know Him, a joy we can’t hide.

Many years on this earth I’ve been blessed here to be,
And I’m happy to say, that I know He loves me.

How thankful I am that He never shall part,
And He’ll always reside down deep in my heart.

He gave me a Hope for others to see,
It was planted within when Jesus saved me.

That Hope has sustained me through sunshine and rain,
Has given me joy, amidst sorrow and pain.

And I want that for them—to believe on His name,
So I pray every day, that their lives they will change.


“My hope is built on nothing less,
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.”

Carolyn Canizales 4-4-22

Tell The Mountain

“For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be removed, and be cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he said shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he said.” Mark 11:23

“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

At this very moment, there are many people who are hurting physically, emotionally, and spiritually. At first glance, most of us would never see the hurts of others. But, if we dig a little deeper and invest some time into another, there is no doubt that we will find that person bearing the weight of some stressful circumstance–either theirs personally, or that of a family member, friend, or acquaintance. In this life, no one is exempt from experiencing tough times.

Many are hurting today due to loss of a loved one, a lack of employment, thereby creating financial stresses. Still, others are burdened with relationship or health issues. Some lack direction for their lives. For those who do not have financial worries, it would seem that life should be better than ever before. However, so many continue to look for the happiness found in things. But deep inside, the things of the world simply cannot fill the void.

In a “happening now” situation, I am personally praying for a young woman whom I have never met. The fact that I have never met this woman is not unusual, for I often pray for others, both near and far. But in this particular situation, my heart is extremely heavy because of the circumstances that surround this young woman. There is a spiritual void in her life, because she has never been exposed to the Truth. Based on the darkness of her circumstance, there is no doubt that she is living a life where hopelessness reigns. I am praying that God’s mercy will overflow in this situation. May He bring hope in the midst of such darkness.

Fervent prayers are also going out for the person who will be ministering to this young woman, and who is likely the only Christian she knows. I am praying that the gentle Shepherd will hold this dear one safe in His arms and that God’s protection will be the covering that allows the Holy Spirit to be free to work through His special servant. I am praying for a willingness on the part of the hurting individual to be receptive to hear about the hope that Jesus Christ offers her. Knowing that with God all things are possible and that He works in ways we don’t understand, I am believing, praying, and trusting that God will be glorified in this situation.

What challenge(s) are you facing today? Perhaps, you have a mountain that you feel you cannot climb. Maybe your circumstances are not as dire as the person that I have referenced above, but still, you are facing a mountain–grief; health; job situation; relationship issues; or a myriad of other things that are weighing you down. Always remember that God’s Word is full of promises that He will take you through every circumstance you now face or ever will face. He will give you peace as you walk through tough times. There is a light at the end of your tunnel and His name is Jesus! He will see you through.

PRAYER: Father, God, You have heard my heart. You know my prayers for this woman–one of Your own creations who desperately needs Your love. Please give her mercy and grace through this mountain that she faces. Dear God, give your supernatural strength to the one who goes forward in faith to minister to her. Give her peace–no fear, no anxiety, and the assurance that she speaks as the representative of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I pray for all hurting individuals no matter where they may be. Give them the desire to know You and to learn of You through the many promises that are found in Your Word. Give them the hope that comes from knowing Jesus as their personal Savior. I pray this in His mighty name–the name above all names. Amen.

Optimism

“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” Sir Winston Churchill

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13

Optimism is a choice we make—a learned skill. Sometimes it’s not easy. However, for believers, optimism and hope are more than just simple learned skills. Optimism is believing that there is a better day coming and that God has a good plan for where we are on any given day. Hope is putting faith to work when giving up would be easier.

Today, let’s choose to be optimistic and hopeful! Let us focus on the One who is carrying us through every battle and every situation in our lives. And just when we feel the urge to give up, let us know with full assurance that God is always there to help us experience optimism and hope in every trial that we face.

Prayer: Dear Father, You alone are worthy to be praised! You are the perfect Heavenly Father!  Thank you for giving us the ability to be optimistic, even when we don’t feel like it. We confess that it is sometimes hard to look on the bright side of life, especially when we see such hurt and sadness in the world today. Help us to love those who may be unlovable, knowing that in Jesus there is always hope for mankind. You love all of us the same and You do not desire than anyone should perish. Use us to be the light of Jesus in a dark and dying world, so that we might reach others for Your Kingdom. I pray this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, and soon-coming King! Amen.

Hide and Seek

“But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden and I was afraid, because I was naked; so I hid.”  And he said, “Who told you that you were naked?  Have you eaten from the tree that I told you not to eat from?”   Genesis 3:9-11

Most of us have played the game of “hide and seek” with our children and/or grandchildren when they were young.  Much of the time, we already knew where they were hiding before we called out to them and began our search.  We only pretended that we didn’t know the whereabouts of their “secret” location. Finally, with giggles and delightful squealing, we exposed their hiding place and the game was over. 

In the Scripture referenced above, God came looking for Adam, even though He already knew where he was.  Adam and Eve were hiding out of shame because they had disobeyed God’s specific command not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  Unlike the game of “hide and seek” mentioned above, God was not playing games with Adam and Eve. 

So it is with all of God’s creation.  We sometimes play “hide and seek” with the LORD, not realizing that the game is futile.  Because, you see, God knows where we are at all times.  He knows our hearts and our innermost thoughts.  We cannot hide from Him.  

God wants to change the attitudes and actions of our hearts, but we must first come before Him in humility and honesty, exposing our true self. That is not always easy because sometimes we don’t like to admit that we are in need of His help.

Each day, we have a choice to make. We can continue playing the useless game of “hide and seek” with God, or we can look to Him through faith in Jesus Christ for our strength and guidance. We can choose a hope-filled life with eternal benefits by being honest with God and coming to Him just as we are. Making this decision each day gives us the peace and assurance that we are always in His loving care.

Today, let’s make the choice to seek God for direction, comfort, and peace. May we choose to follow Jesus at all cost and cease the useless game of “hide and seek” with Him. He definitely wants to be found, and once you find Him, you will never be the same.

Prayer:  Father, bless each person reading these words.  Help us to put away our game of “hide and seek” with You. May we live in obedience to Your Word and keep nothing hidden from You. Grant that others will see transparency in our daily lives. Help us to always be a living testimony of Your faithfulness and love. In Jesus name, I pray.  Amen

A Priceless Gift

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my Word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:9-11

On May 11, 1960, a man and his wife walked into my 5th grade classroom in a small East Texas town and presented each student with a Gideon New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs, much like the ones that are distributed by Gideons and Auxiliary members today. What I remember most about that day, was how kind the man and his wife were to the students. I remember their smiles and the love that was shown toward us as clearly as if it happened a few short days ago. John, Chapter 13, verse 35 says the following: “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” I now know that it was Christ’s love this man and his wife were exhibiting so well.

The picture shown above is the same Testament I received that day. It’s pretty worn out, but I’m so happy that I still have it. In the back of the Testament, I entered handwritten scripture references for the Plan of Salvation as our visitors took time to share these key verses with the students. Today, Testaments and Bibles distributed by Gideon and Auxiliary members have this information already printed on the back cover for the recipients.

Never in my wildest dreams would I have envisioned that many years later, the Lord would lead my husband and me into this worldwide association. I wouldn’t know that in spite of not being able go into school classrooms to share God’s Word, there would be many opportunities, in various other ways, to do my part in making a difference for the Kingdom of God.

Needless to say, the work of the Gideons and their wives holds a special place in my heart. I am thankful to be associated with so many wonderful people who love the Lord, others, and each other.

Today, I am so thankful to still have that worn out New Testament, with Psalms and Proverbs. How special that someone cared enough to share God’s Word with me—a little country girl, who a year later, gave her heart to Jesus Christ for all eternity.

Friends, we should never underestimate the power of God’s Word when the Holy Spirit is leading us to share our faith with others. One Bible and one visit to a classroom continues to make a difference in a little girls heart many years later. I am living proof and will gladly testify to the truth found in Isaiah 55:11— that His Word will not return void.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for The Gideons International–an association of Christian business and professional men, and their wives, located in 197 countries around the world with one singular purpose of winning men, women, boys and girls to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Thank you for using a Gideon and Auxiliary member to make a difference in my life many years ago. Help me to listen for the still small voice of the Holy Spirit as I strive to live for You in complete obedience. Thank you for the many opportunities of sharing Your Word. Go with me as I tell others what a difference Jesus Christ has made in my life. Help me to radiate His love and hope to those I encounter through divine appointments. Transform me by Your love so that I might pass it on to others in Your name. To You be all glory, honor and praise. In Jesus name, I pray this prayer. Amen.

Thanks, Mom

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.” Jeremiah 31:3

Happy Mother’s Day to you moms out there! You sometimes have a tiring and thankless job, but rest assured you are making a difference in the lives of your children!

Recently, I tackled the dreaded task of cleaning my closet. Not exciting, but necessary! I have built-in shelves in the closet, which serve as an overflow to many of my books.

As I was cleaning, I got sidetracked, sat down in the floor, and began looking through the books. I spotted the one pictured above which my daughter, Shelly, had given me on Mother’s Day, 2010. She wrote the most beautiful message inside, telling me how much she loved me. She stated that I was the most wonderful mother and grandmother in the world. I sure did welcome her loving words. Seeing and reading them from her own handwriting brought me sadness mixed with joy. So I took a break, had a good cry, and read a few of the inspirational messages from the book. I know that the above verse of Scripture, found in the front of the book is very true.

After spending a few minutes re-acquainting myself with this special book, I decided to place it for a photo near the angels on my desk. Granddaughter Sophie, now 10-years old, often rearranges the special angels. Over the years, she and her mom, Shelly, have gifted me with the angels on special occasions. I usually leave them where Sophie places each one until she decides to change them around again, because doing that has meaning to her. She is remembering her mommy. The pretty angel in the middle has my birthstone and was a special gift from Shelly a few years ago. Sophie, without prompting from me, recognizes how special it is to me.

As Shelly’s mother, I loved and comforted her as long as she was alive. That’s what our Heavenly Father does for us and I am so thankful for the comfort that He has given me and will continue to give throughout my lifetime. That thought alone brings joy, yes, even through tears. He will always care for His children because He can do no less. Why? He loves us so much more than we will ever know. We belong to Him now and forever. He will always stand beside us, carry us when we can’t walk, and never leave us!

I am most blessed to have been Shelly’s mother and to have been loved by her as I was. Words will never express my deep love for her from birth until death. Even though Shelly is not here with me on yet, another Mother’s Day, she continues to live on, deep inside my heart. BUT, it doesn’t end there! That is the good news!! I will see her again someday. Until then, I’m so glad I found this book. No doubt it was God’s timing!

Today could be a sad day for you. I pray that it isn’t, but if you’re a mom and are grieving the loss of a child, please know that God loves you with an everlasting love.

If you’ve lost a beloved family member or friend, rest assured that Jesus is there to wipe the tears from your eyes and your heart.

If you’ve been knocked down by life’s circumstances, please be assured that your Heavenly Father knows every hurt you feel. He is waiting to comfort you and will lead you through your grief or other hurt one step at a time. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Trust Him with your tears. Trust Him with your past, your present, and your future. He will not let you down. Ever!

Moms, young and old, I pray that you are appreciated, not only today, but every day. Motherhood is not for the faint of heart. May you have a great day and find rest not only for your body, but for your soul. You definitely deserve it!

Find Encouragment In

Categories

<>