When Jesus spoke these words that are recorded in the eleventh chapter of Matthew, I believe He knew that us frail humans would attempt to do life on our own Strength at times, that we would run to Him as our last resort, rather then Him be the first place we run in times of trouble. Just listen to what He says:

• To the one who is weary, He bids come

•To the one who is burdened, He bids come

He doesn’t say when you have it all together, you can come, or once you are perfect, you can come. No, He makes it very clear, “come unto Me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”

We sleep at night to rest our weary bodies, but that’s not the rest He is talking about here. He’s talking about a rest that only He can give, when we give Him everything, our burdens, our cares, and our mistakes. When we give everything to Him, He is then in control of it all and we can rest in Him, because He is now in control of it.

Just listen to what else He says in verses 29 and 30 of Matthew 11.

“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.”

He wants us to take His yoke upon us and learn from Him, and how can we do that? It’s only when we come to Him with our everything that we can learn from Him, because if we don’t come to Him, our focus tends to be more on the problems and burdens we are currently dealing with.

He speaks of Him being gentle and lowly, which describes our Father so well. He is the creator of the Universe, yet He wants to have an intimate relationship with me. He is also the Gentle Shepherd who desires to heal all the broken pieces and wants me to live with complete abandon for Him.

The yoke He speaks of is another loving attribute of the Father. He doesn’t want us to worry about or carry anything. He wants to do that for us. The question is, will I allow Him to do that?

My friend, if you find yourself burdened and overwhelmed, please run to the Father, He is waiting with open arms to carry everything for you.

Thankful for Him,

Vinny

• “Why God?”
• “Why this path?”
• “Why this heartache?”
• “Why this loss?”
• “Why this Struggle?”

I think we have all thought or perhaps even verbalized one or all of these questions on our journey through this life.The beautiful thing is, every single one of us have a story, each one is different, yet we have all experienced similar things in life; heartache, loss, pain and etc.

Let’s be honest, these things all affect us deeply, and the Father wants us to turn to Him at all times, yet when trials come it’s quite easy to feel like we are all alone and no one cares, because that’s what the enemy wants us to believe. We know only the Father speaks truth, so we need to root His word with in our hearts.

And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord , have not forsaken those who seek you. Psalms 9:10

To the one who is questioning “Why” My friend, my heart goes out to you, I know it’s just so difficult to understand why things have to be this way. I pray that you would be comforted by the Father’s Love, that His Grace would sustain you in this time, and that He would give you Strength to Faithfully continue on, even if you don’t understand.

To the one who is facing “Heartache and Loss”, my heart weeps with you. What you have experienced is really hard, the pain is real and even today you may have had to face a new “first” and that pain and reality is harsh. I pray that the Father would sustain you with His Grace and that His loving arms would hold you ever close as He heals the broken pieces of your heart.

To the one who is Struggling, may I encourage you with the words of Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30: “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.”

Some say, “Time Heals” and to an extent that may be true, but the Father is the only One who ultimately heals and restores! May He speak to you today!

Thankful for Grace❤

Vinny

Amongst the crowd of people there was a soul that was sad, her heart so lonely and so empty, pasting a smile upon her face, she ventured into the crowd attempting to blend in and hoping no one would notice the struggle that was so real, the burden that seemed almost too heavy to carry.

Deep down, she truly did want someone to ask how she was doing, this longing to be loved was real, so real it hurt and affected every part of her being. Her heart ached at the sight of families sitting together, she wanted to feel like she belonged to something or someone.

With out even realizing it, she nurtured the orphan wound within her heart, time and again when she compared herself to others, ones who had the “perfect” life, talent, or family. Why couldn’t she have one thing right in her life? And each time the wound grew a lil bigger, it festered just a wee bit more.

One day, something changed, the walls in her heart were broken down as she experienced for the first time, the Pure Love of the Father. A sense of belonging was felt in her Spirit, she knew she was now a daughter of the King and that her Heavenly Daddy would Love her unconditionally❤

My friend, if you can identify with this true story, may I encourage you to find a friend to confide in, someone who will point you to Jesus, so you may experience the Pure Love of the Father, who loves you so very much.

We all hear that Jesus loves us, but do we live like we believe it? Have we truly experienced it? Or are we still living as orphans, nurturing that wound within our Heart and Spirit?

Thankful for Grace,

Vinny

While they were traveling, He entered a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. Luke 10:38

So go with me for a little bit if you will, what if you knew Jesus was coming to your house, He was going to come in and perhaps have a meal with you, so all day or maybe all week you scurried around cleaning and prepping everything for that day when Jesus arrived at your house.

Everything was put in order, not a speck of dust in sight,the floor so shiny clean that you could have ate off it, and the food was prepared with the utmost care. It was seldom you had guests so you really outdid yourself on this one.

Then the moment came, Jesus entered their village and then came into their House, entering through the front door, greeted by you and your sister. Now you and your sister get along great most of the time, I mean y’all live in the same house so you should see eye to eye on most things, but every once in awhile there are things that she does that irk you a little.

So Jesus comes in and immediately you both scurry around to make sure the Honored Guest is made comfortable, of course the food is cooking but you need to make sure every thing is just perfect. And while you are scurrying around trying to perfect Everything, your sister sits at Jesus feet, worshiping Him and learning from Him.

She had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the Lord’s feet and was listening to what He said. Luke 10:39

Finally, you have to say something because Jesus doesn’t like lazy people, like there’s even scripture to back that one up. But when you say something about her not helping you, Jesus lovingly says that sister Mary has chosen and is doing the right thing. Whoa, (Mic Drop🎤moment), here you thought you were doing the right thing and Jesus tells you, that your sister has/is doing the right thing.

The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42

My dear friends please hear my heart in this, but how often are we the “Martha” in the situations we face in our day to day lives? Too busy with a mile long to-do list, too staunch with a “non flexible” schedule, or too caught up in just “things” that may be good, but not necessary in building the Kingdom of Heaven?

To-do lists, schedules and those “things” have their time and place…

But what about the hurting Brother or Sister sitting next to you in the pew on Sunday morning, is your Sunday lunch or afternoon nap so important that you don’t have time to listen, let them know you care, perhaps praying with them or speaking life into them?

What about the young mother that looks weary, would you take time to speak life and blessing to her, letting her know you care. Remember she is teaching the next generation and it’s no easy task.

Or how about the young soul that recently gave their heart to the Lord? They have so many questions because now everything is so very different, would you take the time to bless them and let them know you are praying for them?

In a Martha world, May I challenge you to be a Mary, taking the time for the ones around you. Whether it be in the grocery store, your place of worship on Sunday mornings, your work place, or just in your day to day life. Are you willing to take the time to sit, listen and then speak as God directs you?

May we be true instruments of Grace and Love to each Soul around us ❤

The Hurt is deep, the pain is real and the pilgrim with his head bowed low, struggles to stay upright, the path upon which he trods is rugged and ever so narrow. As he attempts to put one foot in front of the other, He hears something, it sounds like someone is calling him, he stops, he listens and then the most gentle of voices beckons him:

“Come my child, just come and bring me everything; the pain, the hurt you are carrying, is a burden and I long to bear it for you.”

●Cast your burden on the Lord , and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved● ~ Psalms 55:22

The pilgrim lifts his weary head and looks upward, straight into the face of the Father, who lovingly reaches out His hand and invites the weary pilgrim to come and with just a couple steps He is safe in the arms of the Father, who lavishes much Love upon the weary pilgrim’s spirit and body. Then once again the Father speaks:

“Child, I long to heal the hurt that you feel, I know you see ashes, but there is beauty that I am desiring to show you, but my child, will you trust me? In my Holy word I have said, what I start I will also bring to full completion. Will you Trust me with it all?”

The pilgrim begins to weep, He knows that He has tried to carry on in the journey on His own Strength, he’s tried to ease the hurt with carnal things, He looks to the Father now and nods, as the burden is passed over and suddenly the mountain looks very small, because now The Father is in control and His strength will sustain the Pilgrim in His continued Journey.

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. ~ Philippians 1:6

My friend, you and I are the pilgrim. We have Hurts and Pain that is so very real, many things we don’t understand. Will we just listen to the Father’s Loving call and run to Him? The pain can be healed by the Loving Father’s touch, and out of the Ashes Beauty will Rise.

Where there is Pain, there is also a Healer that can heal, the most broken parts of our Spirit. Will you Trust Him?

Because of Him,

❤ Vinny

A lil girl stands at the window, and by her actions it is easy to tell she is eagerly awaiting, watching and waiting for someone to appear, and suddenly she dashes down the steps and out the door, she doesn’t stop until she is in the arms of the one whom she watched and waited for, Her daddy. With her eyes fixed upon the familiar face, she begins to tell of her day and all the adventures she embarked upon that day.

Have you seen the above story unfold? Friends, let me tell you it is a beautiful thing to see, and it brings tears to my eyes every time I see it. The moment that Lil girl sees her Daddy, Nothing will stop her until she is in her Hero’s arms, safe and secure.

Do you know? Do you believe that the Heavenly Father does the exact same for you? He awaits daily in eager anticipation with arms open wide, just patiently waiting, but the choice is yours, will you run to Him with complete abandon? Will you run and not stop until you are safely in His arms, where you know you will be safe and secure?

▪See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are▪ ~ 1 John 3:1

Do you hear him beckoning you? Asking you to come to Him, to be in communion with Him, He so desires an intimate relationship with you.

▪My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me▪ ~John 10:27

My friend, just as the little girl did, I encourage to run to The Heavenly Father with complete abandon and allow Him to hold you in His loving arms and share with you the plans He has for you.

And even though your earthly daddy may not have nurtured and cared for your heart like He should have, The Father will, I promise He absolutely will care for you and your heart in the most loving way, He will heal the wounds, the pain, and brokenness. Will you allow Him to? Will you Trust Him?

You are written on the Palm of His hand, and He will always be with you.

Thankful to be a daughter of the King!

❤ Vinny

 ■He leads me beside Still Waters, He restores my soul■         Psalm 23:2-3 

  Life is busy, painful and messy, but we have a Good Shepherd who specializes in restoring and Healing the pain that is deep within our Hearts. Will you allow Him to take you to the Water, the crisp cool water that refreshes the Mind, Body and Spirit? 

  In that water, there is Healing, healing from pain, pain that was so deep that you never thought you would ever tell anyone. My friend, those wounds that are so raw can be healed in The Name of Jesus. The Father is the gentle Shepherd, He sees your pain,He longs to heal you. He sees your loneliness and He desires to have a relationship with you.  Will you allow Him to draw you closer to Him on this journey of Healin? 

  “But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”             John 4:14 

   The beautiful thing is that The Father never leaves you, instead He is always with you.  That journey of Healing, you won’t have to travel it alone, He will walk right beside you, and when the tears fall heavily and your feet grow weary, He will carry you.  He is a Good, Good Father, do you Trust Him with your deepest secrets? 

  Wherever you find yourself at this very moment, have You allowed God to lead you, lead you to that place of Still Water? Will you allow Him to restore the hurt, the pain, and those things that are in your heart? 

 My friend, I encourage you to allow God to heal you, I can’t promise the Journey will be easy, but I can promise that it will be a life changing experience and as the Potter that shapes the clay, molding it into a beautiful Masterpiece.   So the Father desires to paint a picture, more beautiful then you can possible imagine, on the canvas of your life. 

 Rest in Him, and allow Him to have His way.   

❤.. Vinny 

          ■Be Still and Know I am God■         When the psalmist penned these words, I wonder if perhaps he was experiencing extreme trials that were threatening to shake his faith? When trials come our way, or things don’t work the way we think they should, we often want to question God, when in reality we should be trusting God. 

  To be still: Hush, to quieten 

  So to Be Still, is to quieten ourselves before The Father, which means all our worries, questions, plans and fears need to be laid down. Those are the very things that distract us, taking our eyes of the Father and turning the focus to us.   See, when you quiet yourself you are turning over all the problems to the greatest problem solver there is.  

 Being still, helps move our focus to The Father, and what He wants in our lives, instead of what we think we ‘want’ or need.  After all, who knows us better, then the very One who created us, He knows the very thoughts and intents of our hearts, before we even think or say them.  

 Then Know That I am God, when you quiet yourself, suddenly your perspective can change, because God is the One whom you have your focus on, because you quieted yourself and all that other ‘stuff’ had to go.  Even though you may feel like the storm is still beating down upon you, you can now have peace, peace beyond your understanding, because all those things are now in God’s hands and You don’t have to try to figure things out anymore.  Just rest in the Father and let Him lead you.  

  So wherever you find yourself at this moment, may it bring comfort and encouragement to your spirit that The Father is waiting, patiently waiting for you to quiet yourself so you can experience that intimate relationship with Him.  

 He is the One who created you and He has so much planned for you, so many things He wants to reveal to you. Will you quiet yourself and Listen? Will you get rid of all the worry, doubt and fear and turn to the One who can make the mountains move? 

 Rest in His Love, be encouraged by His Grace and continue to serve Him.  

Thankful for Him,

Vinny 

•|| His Grace is Sufficient||• Each one of us faced something different today, yet the Father saw each of us as one of His children and He loves us all abundantly. Perhaps for you it was a difficult day because of a trial that you are currently walking through, for another it may have been a trying day with your children, yet for another it may have been a day that was just tough in every way possible.

My friend, don’t be discouraged by the fact that today was just “plain hard”, but be encouraged by the fact that it was God’s Grace that brought you to this moment right now. I know not all the moments in your day may have looked glamorous, but my friend, God still wants you, He still cares about you and He has things He wants to show you.

The question is, “will you turn to Him?” Will you allow Him to show you how to walk forth, not in defeat, but in Victory? The enemy wants you to get all discouraged, because things didn’t go as they ‘should have’, Don’t heed to His lies, it only leads to destruction.

Instead turn your eyes upon Jesus, and listen to His voice, He will lead you to green pastures, He restores and heals what is broken. He is the good Shepherd and His sheep know His Voice. Will you listen? Will you cultivate that relationship with Him?

As you lay the cares and ‘stuff’ of today at the cross, I pray that you will receive a fresh anointing from Heaven. May the Love of the Father just be poured out upon you,may you receive His Love nd be encouraged greatly by the fact that you don’t have to fight this battle alone, but that God’s Grace is Sufficient and in our weakness His strength is made Perfect.

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

Rest in Him.

▪Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long▪ ~Psalms 25:4‭-‬5

The Journey of Life is NOT easy, there are days when the sun shines, but there are also days when the path seems extremely narrow and the mountain in front of you seems to loom so huge and you wonder how you will have the strength to climb.

My friend, the answer is Jesus, He will help you, He will give you the strength to climb that Mountain step by step and He will carry you through the dark times. It’s okay to not completely understand the path God has you on, but it’s important that you Trust Him to Lead you along.

The feeling when you arrive on the top of that Mountain is quite exhilarating, in fact it feels so good that sometimes we tend to lose that sole dependence on God in those times. Rejoice in those moments, Praise God for the Victory and keep your eyes on Him.

Friends, the valley is where growth happens, it’s a place where the flesh has to let go, the heart must learn to Trust and Rely on God for Strength, for Courage, and where your spirit must learn to yield to the Father’s will. It’s a place of tears, of heart aches, and pain; however, in the midst of the Valley there is Peace, Peace in knowing that you are not alone, that God is with you and He will not let go. Praise Him in the Valley, He’s painting a picture with your journey.

So my friend, whether you are in the Valley or on the mountain top, may I encourage you to Rejoice.

Rejoice because God is good, He’s a Good, Good Father and He loves you beyond measure. Praise Him, because the plan He has for you is, one of Him working all things for the good of those who Love Him. Rejoice, because He is a good Shepherd and as one of His sheep you can hear His voice when He speaks. Rejoice, because He will never leave you or forsake you, instead He will carry you.

•Praise the Lord ! Praise, O servants of the Lord , praise the name of the Lord ! Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised! The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens• ~Psalms 113:1‭-‬4

Friends, the journey isn’t easy, but the Reward at the end of Our lives will be for Eternity.❤

Thankful for Him,

Vinny