Prepare Your Heart for National Convention 2018

National Convention is almost here. How does that make you feel? Excited? Overwhelmed? Are you ready? No? Take a moment. Breathe. In. Out. In. Out. Rest. National Convention is almost here, and you need to breathe. You need to rest.

But you can’t rest. You’ve been striving and striving. You’ve been searching. You’ve been seeking. You seek but you cannot find. You long for something. Belonging? Safety? Healing? Comfort? Rest?

When will you rest? When will you be comforted? When will you find healing, safety, and belonging? If it’s true that Jesus Changes Everything, then Jesus is the answer to the question. He’s the answer to your seeking. Listen to his words.

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

That doesn’t make any sense. Let’s be honest: That doesn’t make any sense. Why is it that Jesus says that the work he gives you is restful, easy, and light? That’s not your experience. Why? What needs to change for you to find rest in Jesus?

Welcome to the heartbeat of National Convention 2018.

About 600 years before Jesus was born,  the prophet Ezekiel was with God’s people, exiled in Babylon. Some were hopeful; some doubted. Some were faithless, and some were faithful. Maybe you can relate. Some of you are coming into National Convention refreshed, others — in desperate need of refreshment. You’re in desperate need of hope. It’s at this very moment that God speaks.

“Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land… I will feed them with good pasture… I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord God. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy.” Ezekiel 34:11-16

Can you feel it? National Convention is almost here, and HOPE is rising. Jesus comes. He breaks into our world and into our everyday. He reveals the fulfillment of Ezekiel’s prophecy. It’s Jesus!

“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.” John 10:14-16

Can you believe it? Do you dare to believe it? Jesus wants to meet you this week. He wants to rescue you and forgive you and heal you and hold you and fill you. Are you ready?

I don’t know what life is like for you right now. If it’s anything like mine, it’s pretty hectic. It’s busy, almost a little overwhelming. In the whirlwind of your daily activities, please take a moment. Stop. Breathe. Rest. Consider what’s about to happen. Be praying.

You’ve been wandering. You’ve been striving. You’ve been seeking. It’s time to be FOUND.

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