Although Ezekiel saw the glory of God depart from Israel, he also received a promise of hope for those who were forced to leave their country. Even in exile, God’s sanctuary was around them like a tangible cloud of God’s glory and protection. Are you in a place of testing (like Joseph whose character was tested prior to being given a high position). Remember that His sanctuary is a reprieve from the storm. – Teresa #dancewithHim

Ezekiel 11: 16,17 (NLT)

16 “Therefore, tell the exiles, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Although I have scattered you in the countries of the world, I will be a sanctuary to you during your time in exile. 17 I, the Sovereign Lord, will gather you back from the nations where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel once again.”

 What is it that separates us from the “rest” that God gives? It’s as though a fence keeps us apart from this gift. The fence of our pride tempts us into thinking that somehow we are able to work our way into His place of provision. It prevents us from trusting His way….it tells us at least we are better than…or more capable than…or more creative than….. There are all sorts of ways that mankind works out their heirarchy before God AND there is only ONE WAY to enter His rest! #JesusChristasLord #trustHisgoodnews

Hebrews 4: 6-16 (NLT)

“So God’s rest is there for people to enter, but those who first heard this good news failed to enter because they disobeyed God. 7 So God set another time for entering his rest, and that time is today. God announced this through David much later in the words already quoted:

“Today when you hear his voice,

    don’t harden your hearts.”[e]

8 Now if Joshua had succeeded in giving them this rest, God would not have spoken about another day of rest still to come. 9 So there is a special rest[f] still waiting for the people of God. 10 For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. 11 So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall.

12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.

14 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”

  Psalm 104:1-6 ( NLT)

” Let all that I am praise the Lord.

O Lord my God, how great you are!

    You are robed with honor and majesty.

2 You are dressed in a robe of light.

You stretch out the starry curtain of the heavens;

3 you lay out the rafters of your home in the rain clouds.

You make the clouds your chariot;

    you ride upon the wings of the wind.

4 The winds are your messengers;

    flames of fire are your servants.[a]

5 You placed the world on its foundation

    so it would never be moved.

6 You clothed the earth with floods of water,

    water that covered even the mountains.”