Erika Mathews's Blog, page 8
July 23, 2020
Truth from Taerna Book Updates!
March 19, 2020
The Resting Life Book Is Released!
IT’S HERE! Today, the message that God first placed on our hearts ten and a half years ago is available as a book. Reaching this moment has been more work than we’d ever have imagined, and yet on every step of the journey, God has taught us so much more about Himself.
A resting life is truly the life He designed for us…and as you read this book, we pray you may receive the depths of resting life that He has for you. Our prayer is that the entire world would know and embrace the fullness of His glorious rest!
Erika will be doing a live video on Instagram at 3 PM CST in which we’ll announce the giveaway winner and answer questions about the book, the writing process, rest, or any other random question you’d like to ask. Join us there!
Welcome to the shelves, Resting Life: Jesus’ Rest for the Busy or Burdened Believer!
You can pick up the paperback and ebook on Amazon here.
JOIN THE FUN
Click here to read the first chapter for free!
Buy the paperback or ebook here. And if you do (or if you preordered), let me know what you think! Leave a review! Post your thoughts on social media and tag me!
Watch the Rest Study highlight on Erika’s Instagram profile for a chapter study of the book.
Check out the short Hebrew and Greek word studies on different words that mean “rest” on her blog or Instagram.
Catch up on the Resting Life challenge.
Join the Live Q&A at 3 PM CST today on Erika’s Instagram!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Can your busy, stressful reality can truly transform into the abundant, restful reality of the kingdom of God? The Bible says yes—but how can Biblical rest can seamlessly fuse with your modern life? Bible teacher Erika Mathews addresses this question. Discover the unification of rest with practical daily life, relationships with others, spiritual warfare, ministry, witnessing, prayer, meditation, fruitfulness, and personal abiding. Through understanding and embracing God’s rest, you too will be uplifted, challenged, encouraged, and freed to live life as He intended—within Him.
Find it on Amazon!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Erika Mathews is an author and editor who lives in the farm country of Minnesota with her husband and children. She’s a homeschool graduate with a Bachelor’s in Communications, a Master’s in Biblical Ministries, and a passion for sharing Jesus Christ and His truth. When she’s not working with books, she enjoys reading, outdoor activities, piano and violin, organizing, and using the Oxford comma. You can connect with Erika at restinglife.com.
Website: restinglife.com
Blog: writtenrest.wordpress.com
Instagram: instagram.com/ErikaMathewsAuthor
Facebook: facebook.com/ErikaMathewsAuthor
Amazon: amazon.com/-/e/B06XK4TFQL
Goodreads: goodreads.com/resterwen
Pinterest: pinterest.com/resterwen
En ~ Resting Within (The Intimate Preposition of Rest!)
Our final Rest Word is a special one to celebrate release day: en. It’s another preposition of rest that means “resting in” and conveys the idea of intimacy.
This tiny word conveys the very heart of God’s purpose for us. It’s the heart of His kingdom. It’s the reason Christ came to earth.
That we may rest within Him intimately for eternity – now as well as forever.
That we may be one with Him and with each other, just as Father is EN Jesus and Jesus EN Father – that we may be one EN them both, that the world may believe.
That we might experience His kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy resting EN the Holy Spirit.
That we might abide EN Him and He EN us and bring forth much fruit.
For EN Him is life.
Epi ~ Resting Upon (A Preposition of Rest)
The power of Christ “rests upon” me in a powerful way as I embrace my own weakness.
Epi is a preposition of rest: “resting on or upon.” We see this word used consistently in Scripture in the phrase “upon earth” or “on earth.” God has placed us on this earth and we are to rest upon it where He put us.
However, we are not to rest IN earth or the things of earth. We rest IN heaven. As we will see tomorrow, that is reserved for Christ alone – and another preposition of rest.
#releaseday countdown: 1! In @erikamathewsauthor’s stories today: your rest remains. This is the LAST DAY to Preorder Resting Life! Preorder here.
March 18, 2020
Sabbatismos ~ Your Rest Remains
THIS is the message of the Christian life. A life in Christ is a life of rest – and because God rests, we too rest. Even from the beginning, God ordained the seventh day as one of rest and then later commanded His people to keep that day.
Today, there remains a rest to the people of God. If we are God’s people, receiving His rest isn’t optional.
What does that mean for you and me?
It means receiving Him into each situation in your life – each present moment. As you do, He WILL reveal Himself and be your rest. He will be enough for that moment. And He will keep you within Himself.
The rest remains. Are you receiving it?
#releaseday countdown: 3! In @erikamathewsauthor’s stories today: sharing rest with others. Preorder today to get the book automatically delivered to you on release day! Link in bio.
March 17, 2020
Anapausis ~ Find Rest for Your Soul
So often we strive to do our best and to accomplish the tasks before us in our own strength. Yet Christ says, “I will give you rest. Ye shall find rest to your souls. Rest in me and wait patiently for me.”
He has won the victory. Today, take His yoke – receive whatever He gives you – and look to Him in trust, listening for His voice – and then receive the rest He grants your soul.
How does receiving His rest impact YOUR normal life today?
#releaseday countdown: 4! In @erikamathewsauthor’s stories today: how to remain in rest. Don’t forget to get your preorders in for the book! Preorder here.
March 16, 2020
Shalom ~ Quiet Resting Places
Safe. Well. Happy. Friendly. Welfare. Health. Prosperity. Peace. Rest.
All of these are positive terms – terms we’d wish to describe our lives. And all of these terms are present in the meaning of the powerful Hebrew word shalom.
And all of this can be your true present reality – in spite of whatever might be going on in the physical realm.
Why? Because Jesus is the Prince of Shalom. He IS our Shalom. And as we abide in Him and He in us, we indeed dwell in a peaceable habitation, a sure dwelling, and a quiet resting place. Whatever life holds, our kingdom abiding place is sure.
And THAT is the security of rest.
#releaseday countdown: 5! In @erikamathewsauthor’s stories today: how to enter into rest
March 15, 2020
March 13, 2020
Shabbath ~ God Rests
Scripture speaks: God rests. God is a resting God. Without this foundation, rest is meaningless. God created us in His image (Genesis 1:27) and His desire is to conform us to the image of His Son (Romans 12:2, II Corinthians 3:18). Therefore, because true rest is a fundamental attribute of the Creator, it possesses key significance in and to His creation. Mankind did not invent rest; God bestowed it upon the world through being Himself at rest.
Notice that this passage never specifies when God ended His rest—and the remainder of Scripture also never makes any such specification. In fact, it says the opposite: God is still resting.
~ Resting Life, p. 11-12
We as human beings know God as a resting God . . . He stopped work. He ceased. He rests. He shabaths.
#releaseday countdown: 8! In @erikamathewsauthor’s stories today: rest and joy
March 12, 2020
Nachath ~ A Handful With Rest
When we worry, it is often because we are attempting to organize and order our own lives with “both the hands full.” We are living from our own self rather than allowing Christ’s life to live through us. While we may possibly succeed in getting “both hands full,” travail and vexation will not only prevent us from resting, but they will also prevent us from enjoying what our hands grasp.
Instead, a handful with quietness is better. Quietness is restfulness—a peace of our spirits as we fully trust the LORD. Quietness is the Hebrew word nachath, which indicates a “descent” or rest. Thus, the concept of humility is strongly implied—as well as the “descent” of the Spirit upon our lives.
What we often do not remember in considering the “handful” God gives us is that He is fullness, and when we rest in Him and allow Him to fill our hand, we will have all that we need! As we rest in Him, receiving His life into our being, He will not leave our hand half-empty. He will bless us in more ways than we can dream of and give us restfulness. God loves us and we can trust Him—what more do we need?
#releaseday countdown: 9! In @erikamathewsauthor’s stories today: rest for you and I today
