Come to Me

This has become one of my favourite songs lately. I cannot get enough of it. Can't you just picture Father singing this to you? Oh, it blesses and strengthens my body, soul and spirit so much.

I have been thinking a good deal about the invitation "Come to Me". Jesus has been speaking it to our family over and over in the past few months.

"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." Matthew 11:28 MSG

God also says: "When the time's ripe, I answer you. When victory's due, I help you. I form you and use you to reconnect the people with me, To put the land in order, to resettle families on the ruined properties. I tell prisoners, 'Come on out. You're free!' and those huddled in fear, 'It's all right. It's safe now.' There'll be foodstands along all the roads, picnics on all the hills— Nobody hungry, nobody thirsty, shade from the sun, shelter from the wind, For the Compassionate One guides them, takes them to the best springs. I'll make all my mountains into roads, turn them into a superhighway. Look: These coming from far countries, and those, out of the north, These streaming in from the west, and those from all the way down the Nile!" Isaiah 49:8-12

"Hey there! All who are thirsty, come to the water! Are you penniless? Come anyway—buy and eat! Come, buy your drinks, buy wine and milk. Buy without money—everything's free! Why do you spend your money on junk food, your hard-earned cash on cotton candy? Listen to me, listen well: Eat only the best, fill yourself with only the finest. Pay attention, come close now, listen carefully to my life-giving, life-nourishing words. I'm making a lasting covenant commitment with you, the same that I made with David: sure, solid, enduring love. I set him up as a witness to the nations, made him a prince and leader of the nations, And now I'm doing it to you: You'll summon nations you've never heard of, and nations who've never heard of you will come running to you Because of me, your God, because The Holy of Israel has honored you." Isaiah 55:1-5

Walking along the beach of Lake Galilee, Jesus saw two brothers: Simon (later called Peter) and Andrew. They were fishing, throwing their nets into the lake. It was their regular work. Jesus said to them, "Come with me. I'll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I'll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass." They didn't ask questions, but simply dropped their nets and followed. Matthew 4:18-20

Then Jesus went again to walk alongside the lake. Again a crowd came to him, and he taught them. Strolling along, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, at his work collecting taxes. Jesus said, "Come along with me." He came. Mark 2:13-14

One day when large groups of people were walking along with him, Jesus turned and told them, "Anyone who comes to me but refuses to let go of father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, sisters—yes, even one's own self!—can't be my disciple. Anyone who won't shoulder his own cross and follow behind me can't be my disciple. Luke 14:25-27

On the final and climactic day of the Feast, Jesus took his stand. He cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Rivers of living water will brim and spill out of the depths of anyone who believes in me this way, just as the Scripture says." (He said this in regard to the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were about to receive. The Spirit had not yet been given because Jesus had not yet been glorified.) John 7:37-39

When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Mark 10:14

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. John 6:37

There is so much in me that wants to figure things out for myself. I am naturally a planner, although, thankfully, much of that has been stripped away in the past few years as He has been teaching me to rest and trust. The last year, in particular, wiped clean much of my so called "need" to plan. Moving and not knowing where we would sleep that first night (or any of the nights thereafter) put a real stranglehold on my natural bent to have everything spelled out in advance.

"Rest" is not a welcomed word in our society. Everyone is busy, busy, busy, striving, striving, striving and has a plan and a schedule and wants me to, as well. Plans and schedules are not wrong, but I am learning more and more to forgo the plans for the rest. Rest does not neglect. It aligns me with Him. I have to be in His Presence in order to carry on. I have to rest in His arms and soak Him in in order to know Him and to know what comes next.

I look at circumstances and surroundings and He whispers, "Come to ME."

I wonder how I will do all He has given me to do and He beckons, "Come to ME."

I read a text from a friend or family member asking for help or prayer and He reminds, "Come to ME."

I am full of emotions, raw and unfiltered, and He smiles warmly and says, "Come to ME."

I am tired and weary and He waves me over, "Come to ME."

I just desire to be with Him and with open arms, He welcomes, "Come to ME."