"Rest From Controversy"

"My children,

I know you have tried to do what you thought would help Me.
I know you poured out your hearts and your gifts,
and I have received your love!
I am He who receives your heart
and I am He who does not reject you.

My children,

You have been rejected by your spiritual parents
because they have been rejected, too.
Your spiritual forefathers founded their house with rejection.
Rather than repenting of their errors,
they chose to save their own pride
and rejected Me and the simplicity of the gospel.

They created their own story, their own controversy,
and a list of 'truths' which they taught
as if they were My requirements.
Because they feared admitting their error,
they created a heritage of rejecting those
who did not conform to what they taught.

They rejected My messengers
and made a 'Christ' in their own image,
and they rejected their own children
who did not conform to their man-made image.
Each generation has attempted to embrace this 'controversy',
but has also struggled to become who I created them to be.

You have labored to please Me as you were taught,
and you have labored to please your spiritual parents.
Even thought the requirements they taught
you were tedious and burdensome,
you wanted to embrace what you were given
because you loved your spiritual family and you loved Me.

But I am not like the image they taught you;
I am not the author of their 'controversy'.
I do not need you to prove anything—
not to Me, nor to the world, nor to the universe.
I did not create you to live in this confusion.

Come, My children, come rest in the Cross.
I am well-pleased in you,
Come rest in My story
instead of in their controversy.
Come rest in the Son alone."

"Listen, O daughter, consider and give ear;
forget your people and your father’s house.
The King is enthralled by your beauty;
honor Him, for He is your Lord."

(Psalm 45:10-11)

*****

Art: "Controversy"

"I Set You Free"

"I am the One who rescues you from your prostitution!
I am the One who sets you free!
You cannot set yourselves free by working harder!

"You have no power to leave your bondage,
and you have no other 'way'
but to let Me do the work for you.

"Come, let Me do the work for you.
Rest in Me and trust in My hand.
I will free you from your captivity."

*****

Art: "Renewed"

"The Son's Writing"

"The names of My children are in the book of life,
not because they understand how to obtain My approval,
but because My Son is the One in whom I am well pleased.

"My children, put your confidence in My Son!
Rest in His righteousness.
Rest in His righteous acts and in His works on your behalf.
Let Me credit His deeds as your deeds,
for only His righteous works can cover your nakedness.
There is no other sure covering than the blood of My Son.

"Do not look to your own deeds to keep your name in the book of life,
for as your deeds could not write your name in the book of life,
neither can your deeds keep your name written there.

"My Son has engraved your name on His hands;
do not leave His hands by trusting your deeds.
Do not look to the book of deeds, but to the book of life—
My Son is your life!"

*****

Art: "Yeshua My Shabbat"

"Holiness"

"I am your peace—your place of rest
from temptation, confusion, struggle, and sin.

"Be still and know that I have redeemed you!
I have accomplished your sanctification on the Cross.

"Rest in what I have done for you, not in yourself.
When you need relief from the waves, look to Me."

"You are in Christ Jesus,
who has become for us wisdom from God—
that is, our righteousness,
holiness and redemption."
(1 Corinthians 1:30)

"The Whole Counsel of God"

"I am the wonder of heaven!
I am the glory of the Father!
I am the character and the heart of God!

"There is no other light
than Him who is the Light of the world.
I am the complete counsel of God.
I am the very Word of God.

"I am the gospel.
I am the good news.
I am He who has finished all the work
necessary for your salvation.

"Do not let anyone deceive you!
Do not be led astray by another gospel!"

*****

Art: "The Kingdom of Heaven"

"Steadfast Love"

"I am the One who calls you to come to Me
with your needs, your griefs, your hopes and your cares.
I know that you worry I will not hear you
if you don't pray 'correctly' or long enough
or with enough feeling in your heart.
My child, I know you want to stay focused on Me
and bring your needs to Me without being distracted.

"I want you to know that I always hear you, My child!
I hear you even before you call!
I know you want to give Me your everything,
but the more you try, the more you see how weak you are.

"Do not be ashamed, My child,
for I gave My everything because I knew you couldn't!
I am not upset or disappointed that you have been unable
to attain perfection in prayer as you think I want you to.
Instead, I am overjoyed and delighted in you, My child,
and I rejoice in any attempt you make to pray.

"I just want to be with you, My child.
When you come to Me in prayer,
I want you to rest in My love for you
and to know that I have already heard you
and am already caring for your needs.
I am strong in your weakness!"

*****

Art: "But He Is Strong"

"My Love For You"

"My precious child,
do you know how overjoyed I am about you?
Do you know what it means to Me
having you as My child?

"I rejoice!
I sing songs of joy about you!
I am overcome as with wine!
And when you look at Me with your love,
I can't bear it and turn My eyes away!

"I love you not because you
are being more righteous than others,
but rather because you are precious to Me.
In fact, you are indeed just a child,
and you have no more knowledge or righteousness
than any others who claim to be My only children.
I love you even though you have very little knowledge of Me.

"My children in Adventism,
I love you dearly not because you are Adventists,
but rather in spite of being Adventists!
My love for you is secured by
knowledge greater than what you know,
and by obedience you will never be able to render.
My love for you is secured by My obedience
and by My knowledge—by My righteousness.
Your righteousness, your obedience and your doctrines
do not make Me love you any more than I love any of My children;
instead they cause you to misunderstand Me and My love.

"My child, forget your pride
and your spiritual house—
for I am enthralled with you!
Honor your Savior alone!"

*****

Art: "Daddy, My Daddy"

"The Heart of God"

"Do you know who I am?
Do you know My character and My heart?
Do you know what My Father desires of you?

"Look to the Cross!
Once for all I have shown you that I love you
and that I have forgiven you!
I have fulfilled all the requirements you could not;
all that is required of you is to rest in what I have done for you!

"As I am securely in the heart of the Father,
so you are securely in My heart!
See My heart in the Cross and rest in My love!"

*****

Art: "From His Heart"

"Not Adding Up To the Son"

"My children, you don't know that I love you whether you are right or wrong!
You are trying to convince yourselves and prove to others that I am with you,
adding up the numbers of your church members around the world,
the size of your education system and enterprises,
and the 'richness' of your church's 'heritage' and history.

"Don't you know that you do not need all of these things?
I have given you all that you will ever need on the Cross in My Son!
You cannot clothe yourselves by measuring your accomplishments!
No amount of measurement will 'prove' that I am with you
except for the Cross of My Son, Jesus Christ.

"Come into the light, My children in Adventism! Do not be afraid!
Yes, many of your 'calculations' will be exposed by the light of the gospel,
revealing the nakedness your forefathers tried to cover with new doctrines.
But if you let go of your 'proofs' at the foot of the Cross,
you will find yourselves clothed by My righteousness instead.
If you come out of the darkness, I will wrap you in the warmth of My light:
the light of the knowledge of salvation in My Son alone."

*****

Art: "Trusting In Being Right"

"Eden In Me"

Then they asked him,
“What must we do to do the works God requires?”
Jesus answered,
“The work of God is this:
to believe in the One He has sent.”

- John 6:28-29

"I am calling you to the greatest work of all—
My work, which has already been finished for you!
I am calling you to rest from your works
and join Me in My Sabbath—today—
the rest that I purchased for you on the Cross.
I am calling you to the work of Eden,
to a place of rest you have not known in your house.

"In Me, as in Eden, you are a new creation,
for I have taken the curse:
You took the fruit from the Tree,
but I was hung on a tree in your place,
becoming a a curse for you so that you might be free.

"You cannot understand the works I have prepared for you
until you cease from attempting to enter My rest by keeping the Law.
Just as you cannot imagine the 'work' of Eden before sin and the curse of toil,
neither can you envision the works I have prepared for you
until you rest from the Law.

"Come! Rest in Me!
Etner My rest by faith alone!
Come into Eden in Me!"

*****

Art: "Wonderful Pastime"

"My Joy"

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus,
the author and perfecter of our faith,
who for the sake of the joy set before Him
endured the cross, disregarding its shame,
and has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of God."

- Hebrews 12:2

"All for you, Child, I surrendered;
on the Cross I took your shame.
On My nail-scarred hands forever,
lovingly I wrote your name.

"All for you, Child, I surrendered;
all for you I freely gave.
I will ever love and hold you;
in you I will always live."

*****

Art: "Saint"

"Walking In Sabbath-Rest"

"I am the good Shepherd! I lead My children without fear,
not with frowns, but with My love and peace.
My sheep rest in Me because I give them salvation—
no one can snatch them out of My hand!
I bring My children a sure hope that does not disappoint,
for in Me they have already crossed from death to life
and will not come into judgment.
My children have laid down their works, their burdens,
and walk with Me daily in Sabbath-rest
as My children went through the fields in the year of Jubilee.

"You cannot follow Me until you first rest in Me.
If you try to mimic My works and My ways,
you will find yourselves lost in the wilderness, worn out with weariness.
If you do not rest from your works in Me,
the 'yoke' that you pick up will not be My yoke,
for My yoke begins and ends in My rest.

"Come, rest in Me! Lay down your works!
My yoke is not what you think it is!
Learn all over again, from the beginning.
Rest in Me, and I will lead you in paths of peace,
in un-interrupted Sabbath-rest for your soul."

*****

Art: "Shepherd"

"In Faith, See!"

"I know how much you struggle,
how much you are trying to be like Me,
and how little progress you see in yourself.

"I know how far you feel from Me,
how guilty you feel because of it,
and how much you blame yourself.

"I know how much you long to have rest and to hear My voice,
but the only voice you hear reprimands you for not being better
and for not having a 'Christlike'-enough character.

"That is not My voice! I am He who saves you!
I know you can't see Me, but I want you to trust Me:
I never asked you to measure yourself against Me.

"Look up! Your expectations are not My expectations!
I am not who your church has told you I am,
and I do not expect what they told you I expect.

"Look in faith to Me, and I will set you free.
In your eyes you can only see darkness,
but listen to My Word and look through My eyes instead!"

"You have stolen My heart with one glance of your eyes...
How delightful is your love...!
How much more pleasing is your love than wine!"

- Song of Songs 4:9-10

*****

Art: "Peace in Difficulty"

"In My Eyes"

“Don’t ever allow disappointment in your behavior to separate you from Me. I created you for fellowship, not behavior. Just come to Me as you are. Don’t worry about your standing with Me. My Son took care of all those issues. Now we can just fellowship and enjoy one another.

“You are no longer under condemnation—you are justified. You are a new creation in My eyes. I only see what My Word says about you... and you are what My Word says. Speak My Word and it will be released to work and bring forth fruit. Stay close to Me.”

- received by Lynn Golden

*****

Read Lynn Golden's testimony at GentlyBroken.com
Art link: "Eternal Gaze"

"Called to Rest"

"I have never called you to become an eagle—
instead I have simply called you to
wait on Me,
trust in Me,
and rest on Me.

"You have read that those who wait on Me
will rise up with wings like eagles,
run and not grow weary,
walk and not be faint.

"But you have not felt renewed,
and you have not felt strong.
You have tried to 'fly'
and tried to stay positive,
quoting My words while you felt 'grounded'.
You believed,
you tried,
but you just couldn't 'soar'...

"Because I never called you to soar!
I only called you to rest in Me.

"I am the One who will carry you.
I am the One who renews.
I am the One who is strong,
and I am strong in your weakness."

*****

Art: "I AM"

"Good Enough For Me!"

"It is finished!
Look, I have already done everything necessary to save you!
I have wiped out all of your transgressions!
I have given you My righteousness!
Do not be afraid of not being good enough to go to heaven,
I AM your perfection!"

*****

Art: "Lifter of Sorrows"

"Turn to Me!"

"I am the only way!
I am your only safety from darkness!
Only in the Cross can you see clearly,
only in the Cross can you see light from darkness!
Only in the Cross will you be able to see clearly
through the days of darkness that are coming!
I have not given you a list of things to know
so that you could find your way through the darkness;
I have given you Myself!
I AM the way! I AM the path! I AM the guide!
Do not be afraid: I am not looking for reasons to condemn you!
I am not going over a list of your sins!
Turn to Me, turn to Me instead of to the law!"

*****

Art: "Moral Blindness"

"Beyond You"

"I am the fire that you do not know,
beyond your reasoning and understanding.
I am the Spirit—I am He who births spirit in you,
and I am the One who testifies to whom you belong.

"You are created to be filled with My light,
but you cannot understand Me until you rest.
As long as you embrace your works to earn My approval,
you will not know the power of who I am.
Until you rest in Jesus you will not understand
the freedom of My sanctification
and the joy of My presence.

"Rest in Jesus!
Rest in the work He fully accomplished for you
instead of in the works you try to offer Him.
Rest from striving to clean up your mess,
for that is My job—not yours!
Lay down and know that He has taken your burdens.
Rest in His perfection and resurrection
instead of in your own transformation.
Believe He is your Sabbath-rest,
and I will bring you peace that cannot be extinguished."

*****

Art link:
"He Will Baptize You With the Holy Spirit and Fire"

"Covered Completely"

"Why are you afraid, My child?
Do you believe that I will abandon you as the world nears its end?
Do you believe that I will expect you to be perfect
and stand on your own without Me?
Who has told you these lies about Me?

"I will never leave you nor forsake you.
I am with you to the end of the age.
My righteousness covers you,
and My grace holds you safe.
I said that no one can snatch you out of My hand
because I am greater than all,
not because your perfection keeps you in My hand!

"Do not be afraid:
I am your shield!"

"More Than His Righteousness"

"I am shaking your gods! I am shaking your gods! No other 'gods' will survive in the days to come, and none of those who worship at their altars will remain unshaken. I am the only Rock, and I am the only Unshakeable One.

"Many of you have built altars according to your own patterns and unto your own gods—even though you often call your gods by My name. In My grace and My love for you, I will allow all of these to be shaken violently so that you may rest in Me alone. Put your trust in Me instead of in the works and altars you have built in My name!

"Rest in My love for you even when your works are shaken apart in front of you. I will not shake anything that will be too much for you to lose, unless you choose to cling to it more than you cling to Me. If you allow My shaking to remove what is shakeable, you will find My hands at the end, and you will realize that what you had clung to before only kept you further from My touch and resting in My love.

"I am your only righteousness—do not put your trust in your works or what you have built in My name."