8 O taste and see that the Lord [our God] is good! Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who trusts and takes refuge in Him.--Psalm 34:8, AMPC

I was feeling a little weird, because Dad had transitioned to Heaven about 5 years ago, and my husband and I were going to take my disabled 80-year-old mom to visit his grave the next day.

God had delivered me of many wrong roots and negative emotions the past several years, and I knew Dad was at rest, and rejoicing, healed and whole.

I kind of dreaded taking Mom there, although she'd learned to chill in the last couple years, after having experienced so many physical challenges, and near-death experiences. Medicine aside, she had learned to lean more on God and her helpers, two solid loving ladies whom she paid to help her.

The LORD tells us to cry to Him and He will hear us, and deliver us from all our fears. How great is our god! 

I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.--Psalm 34:4, ESV

So, I pushed away the feelings of guilt that tried to come. Instead of writing and prepping for online tutoring work, and organizing the office, I decided to take a day of rest; to  (a) take a walk; then (b) color my hair; and then (c) bake a cake. 

True, I was craving a bit of sugar, and I knew part of that was the restlessness or negative emotions; a bit of dread about how Mom might react. I was pushing away thoughts about her upcoming operation, and the remenbrance of her saying that she knew she would be going home this year. 

She had also told me that she had started having dreams about Dad every night.

I knew it would not be long before she transitioned to Heaven as well. Many things would change, and that was, overall, very good. 

It was a new season, and my anticipation of great things the LORD had planned for my husband and me was growing. 

So, I knew that I needed to just do the self-care thing, and let Daddy God love on me. 

As I baked the cake, I listened to good Bible-based preaching, and was just so thankful for the good life the LORD had given me. I told the cake to cook just right, and, although it took longer than I'd planned and I had to rush to get lunch on the table for my husband, that was OK.

I declared over the cake--which cooked just right, by the way--that it would be very enjoyable to Mom and her two helpers. I knew they all would appreciate the thoughtfulness. 

Remembering that Mom, who'd had a flourishing cake decorating business before her hands became quite twisted with rhematoid arthrities, had baked and otherwise made many delicious goodies through the years to give to family and friends, and even personnel in the doctors' offices and more, made my heart get warm all over again.

I was very thankful that my parents had taught me to be thankful, and to express that. 

As I frosted my cake, I kept thanking the LORD. He is good, and all good--and such a sweet, sweet Father! 

I remembered when I had been told that the company was closing and my job as a supervisor--at the best supervisory job I'd had till then--was going away in a couple months. Instead of getting down and sad and bitter, the LORD strengthened me to trust Him and rest. I baked and frosted a cake, and took it to work. I told the HR manager--who stared at me in shock when I told her about the cake--that I was celebrating promotion from the LORD! 

Perhaps today you need to find some moments that you can just rest in His arms, and do something for yourself. Release all your worries to Him, for He cares for you!

Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and  cares about you watchfully.--I Peter 5:7, AMPC

Jesus tells us to set our minds on things above; to keep them on Him, the Prince of Peace.  In Revelation 22:12, He reminds us He is coming soon--and bringing our rewards! Hallelujah! 

Behold, I am coming soon, and I shall bring My wages and rewards with Me, to repay and render to each one just what his own actions and his own work merit.--Rev. 22:12, AMPC

Glory to God, we believe! So let's get about "baking cakes"--doing the good works of God, and leading others to Christ and closer to Him! Amen! 

Through books, courses, presentations, service, prayer, worship, and more, Tonja and her husband live to exalt God. Her series for girls, P.O.W.E.R. GIRL ADVENTURES, is now out (books I-V), along with LEGACY; YOUR HOLY HEALTH: VISIONS OF THE KING, and more. See the "River Rain Creative" YT channel.