Got Burdens?

I go to the post office for work nearly every day. Some days I only carry an envelope or two. Other days I may have several boxes. On some days the box carrying gets interesting. Between 20 pound soil boxes, light plant sample boxes and envelopes, it gets hard to hold them securely. Sometimes, when trying to open the post office door or put the boxes down, everything goes flying. If I’m not careful my frustrations will fly as my calmness flies out the door as well.

When life is a heavy load of stuff I find that I get more and more frustrated as I try to handle it all myself. God speaks to my heart and reminds me to let Him carry the load and then I can relax as all those things settle in proper order. Can you relate?

I have discovered that I might need to let some things go. How many boxes are you holding? What all are you trying to take care of? Are you barely hanging on? Are things flying wildly away around you? Do you wonder where it will all land and if you will be injured in the process? Hold on – God’s stepping in to give you a hand with all the “stuff” of life. You may be trying to make up your mind to make it on your own, but don’t leave God out of the decisions when you need Him the most. 

God wants you to know that you don’t have to keep juggling things. He wants you to know that life in Him is not always easy but you can handle it if you will give it all to Him. He speaks calming words over your life. The extreme struggle you feel is not from the Lord, but He will use it to get you to look to Him. He knows that often it is only when you are unable to do another thing that you will call out to Him, but He’s been helping you all along. He wants you to look only to Him for help, so that your life is hidden completely in Christ. That kind of life will bring you great peace and you will realize your true worth and value to Him. Juggling on gets you frustrated but walking in the light of the Lord will keep the frenzies and flusters away. 

Oh beloved, it’s never too late to release your overburdened life to God. He has shown you through the Easter promise that He is trustworthy, faithful and true. He has shown you through His Salvation that you are in His hands. He has shown you through His Word that everything you need to know about life and godliness is available to you. It doesn’t matter what other people think or do, it is your destiny to hold onto God and let Him relieve you of unnecessary burdens so you can live loved and walk in peace. The world’s message says busyness is godliness. But godliness comes flooding into us when we let God do the choosing. It is in the quietness of time spent with God that you will find the ability to handle your life’s demands and leave the choices to Him.

God loves you and He’s for you- on this you can rely. Live life and love Him and let Him walk through it with you always.

“Lord thank You for being my Help. Only when my life relies on You do I truly walk in victory and shed the burdens of life. Oh how You love me. You keep wooing me back to You. Today I give my burdens to You to order my life for Your glory and my peace. Amen.”

Psalm 94:19 When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul.

Psalm 61:2 From the ends of the earth, I cry to You for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety.

Psalm 124:8 Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Psalm 55:22 Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

Time to DeClutter and Be Set Free

We’ve been doing a lot of cleaning and clearing out of stuff. The most recent cleaning out was in what we refer to as the “toy room”. It’s one of our bedrooms, but it holds the toy box from my childhood brimming full of toys collected over the years. We had been putting other boxes in there during the holidays and it was chock full of things we didn’t need or don’t use daily. So he cleared it out. He left only the things that were essential to us. Everything else was either thrown out or boxed away in a storage room.

It’s easy to be a pack rat. All you have to do is put something in a corner. Then you put something on top of that thing and then before you know it there’s a whole pile of stuff and you don’t even remember what’s on the bottom anymore. Not useful, but piled up just the same. We can become so focused on the useless that we get bogged down in dealing with it all.

What is it your life is cluttered up with? What do you keep walking through, tripping over and finding again and again?  Lots of things tend to bog us down and mess up our lives.  We all recognize them. Unrealistic expectations. Unforgiveness. Bitterness. Sorrow. Past regrets. Future fears. Unbelief. Half truths. Unmet hopes. Broken dreams. Broken hearts. Broken promises.

God’s Word gives us great instructions on cleaning out the clutter in our lives. He will help us keep the stuff we really need and identify the things that must go, so that we can be more productive and we can move about freely going wherever he sends us. With the clutter gone we can enjoy what is important. With the way clear we can see God’s plan and go with it.

Oh beloved, are you bogged down this morning? Are you trying to reshuffle the mess of life? Are you hiding the things in the corner of your mind that you don’t know how to get rid of? Are you still enjoying replaying old records and rehearsing old grudges? You may have believed the lie that you had to hang onto this stuff in case someone tried to hurt you again. You may have built a huge pile of remembrances of things that are threatening to fall on you like a boulder from the top of the mountain. Let it go. Box up the sorrow and shame and throw it out. Pack up your mistakes and give them the boot. Forgive everyone and watch as that stuff just floats to the curb, never to return inside your heart.  Memories? Some of them will probably have to go as well. Good memories can even bog us down if we live in them instead of living in today. But bad memories can totally obstruct our travel into what God’s best is for us.

Whatever does not agree with God’s Word has got to go. It may look good but it will tarnish and become a real nuisance in the long run. Remember, you want to be free to go where He sends you, love those He allows to cross your path and live in the light of His glory and grace. Real freedom doesn’t come with stuff, it comes with the lightening of the load, the cleaning out of the heart and the refreshment of new starts.

God loves you and He’s for you. That’s why you can trust Him to assist you to dispose of those things that are hindering your view of His Truth.  A life free of entanglements is your best way to live as you trust Him and allow Him to make all things new for you.

Hebrews 3:1 And so, dear brothers and sisters who belong to God and are partners with those called to heaven, think carefully about this Jesus whom we declare to be God's messenger and High Priest.

Philippians 4:8  And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

Colossians 3:1-3 If then you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth. For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God. ( Amplified)

It's Time to Release the Moorings!

We’ve had a couple of boats through the years. One was a bass boat and the other one was a ski boat. We spent a lot of time keeping both running. We found out after the bass boat that fishing was just work – not much fun. Eventually we gave up bass fishing altogether and went for another motorcycle.

I was reminded today of the old slapstick comedies, both movies and cartoons where the boats were tied to the dock. Invariably someone would try to make a quick getaway from the shore and inevitably there would be an accident because someone forgot to untie the rope from the dock. Either the cartoon cat driving the boat would be catapulted beyond the horizon or the movie actor would end up sinking in a boat broken in half.

Everyone who buys a boat intends to use it in the water. They have every intention of setting sail. Nobody wants to keep their boat always docked. It’s the drive across the water that is so appealing. Imagine never leaving shore. Imagine sitting in your boat and just thinking about pulling away. Imagine yet pulling away from the shore only to find that you are still connected with the dock! You won’t get far. And you’ll find that either the boat or you or both will have damage.

In my life, as I set out for new horizons I occasionally find that something seems attached to the shore. I want to move on but there are ropes holding me back. Can you relate? The ropes may be job security, age, natural ability, or family. Other ropes may be fear, unforgiveness, worry, bitterness, anger. It could just be the rope of familiarity – the one that says that’s where we’ve always been moored. Familiarity is the death knell of the future. None of us can set sail while holding onto the shore. It could be that someone has told you that you aren’t fit to be loose from the dock, but they aren’t God.

Oh beloved, are you looking at new horizons? Are you dreaming of moving out into the deep with the Lord but wondering if you’ll sink? Are you hearing God speak new things into your life but you just hate to cut the ropes that seem so comforting? What will you do if you let go of familiar things? What will you do if you let go of what is good? Who will go with you across the way? How will you make it in unknown water?

God speaks to my heart: Precious child. You cannot go on with Me if you hold onto the shore. It’s time to let go of everything else but Me. It may seem rather scary but I AM the only one who can keep you from sinking. Even if the water gets choppy, I AM there. Even if no one goes with you I AM with you. My desire for you is that you learn to trust Me completely so that I can speak freedom into your life. The shore is simply a launching pad for deeper things with Me. Hang on, untie the ropes and let’s go beyond where you’ve ever been before. It will all be good because I will be the Captain of your vessel and My plans are absolutely perfect and best for you.

Oh beloved, The Captain of Your Salvation indeed knows best because He loves you and He’s for you and that’s worth letting go to sail on with Him.

Psalm 37:4 Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires.

Romans 12:2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Zechariah 10:12 By My power I will make My people strong, and by My authority they will go wherever they wish. I, the Lord, have spoken!

Malachi 4:2 But for you who fear My name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in His wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.

Isaiah 55:12 For you will go out with joy And be led forth with peace; The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, And all the trees of the field will clap their hands.

What's That You're Holding in Your Hand?

There’s something quite special and magical about the first child in a family. They have everyone to themselves and you have all the time to devote to noticing all the precious things about them. If you are a family of three or more, check out the baby books. Seriously, first baby has every little detail listed, written about and adored. Second baby has most everything written in the book. Even though they are adored as much as the first baby, there’s just less time to devote to the baby books. By the time baby number 3 arrives, well, let’s just say – good intentions but very little time to write all the details – although again each one in succession is loved and valued for their individual wonderfulness.


Our oldest daughter was a typical first born. She was independent, strong willed and intelligent to a fault! She could spell and count and do all kinds of cute things. She could ride her tricycle and even tried to ride it to my aunt’s house down the highway about 3 miles! (yes that’s when gray hair first appeared on my head)

As with oldest children, we bought things a little early. She got frustrated when at less than 2 years old we bought her a tricycle. Of course she insisted she could do it herself! We got her a swing set when she was just two with a ladder that was just a little high for a tyke her size. But she did love her swing set. She would sit on the bottom of the slide or push on the swing on her tummy.

One day she was out sitting on the swing set and suddenly she came running in the house, crying her eyes out! She told me she had caught a butterfly. Only it was a bumble bee! Of course as little hands do, she had squeezed it tightly and it stung her. It had lightly landed on her hand while she was swinging but she had not wanted it to fly away. So she grabbed it.

There are things that I want to hold onto. I would bet there are things you are trying to hold onto as well. There are many things that can cause us problems if we hold on too tightly: hurts, anger, worry, fear, people, loved ones, money, possessions, friendships, habits, safety, etc. No matter what it is we try to hold onto, if we hold too tightly we’re going to get stung. We must hold loosely in our hands everything that comes to us for it is all in God’s Sovereign plan that they pass through our lives.

Oh beloved, run to the Lord this morning and let Him see what’s in your hands. He may let you keep it close to your heart. He may ask you to turn it loose and let it go. Whichever He does you can be sure He can be trusted for He always has your best in mind. He will never ask you to relinquish anything unless He has something better in mind. Relax and rest in His decisions for He loves you whole-heartedly and He’s for you absolutely and that’s all that really matters.

Ephesians 4:31-32 Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath (passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarreling (brawling, clamor, contention) and slander (evil-speaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will, or baseness of any kind). And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you. Amplified

Philippians 3:8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:21 but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good.

Romans 12:9 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.

2 Timothy 1:13 Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus.

To Sail on with the Lord You Must let Go of the Shore

Stella is getting sturdier on her feet. While she’s not walking alone all across the floor yet, she will let go of one piece of furniture and take a couple of steps to the next one. It takes her a moment. She will hold on with one hand and spy her next spot. Then after careful consideration, you can see her little mind working, she lets go and goes for the next one.  It’s cute and we all applaud and whoop! Sometimes she doesn’t quite make it and down she goes.  When she first started, she cried every time she went down. Now she just plops and readjusts.  Sometimes her brothers get right in her way just as she steps and down again she goes.

We often want to set out into uncharted waters. We’re certain in our hearts that something is over there. But by our calculations it’s a pretty wide chasm. We wonder about the dangers ahead. We wonder about the things that could get in our way.  We think we hear the Lord beckoning us to let go of the shore, but it’s a daunting process.  Can we trust ourselves? What if we get loose and go down?

Oh beloved, it’s time to set sail. It’s time to reach beyond your present circumstances. It’s time to move out of your fears, your mistakes, your troubles and move on into the future. If you belong to the Lord, your life is no longer your own.  He says to you, let Me take you beyond yourself. Let Me relieve your fears and show you how to live free of the ropes that hold you so tightly to your present shore. It’s beautiful ahead and I am choosing to use you to follow Me. Unless you’re willing to let go of your present comfort, you will never truly set sail with Me.

Yes, the waters may be deeper, there may be obstacles ahead, but with the Lord’s applause as you go, what else is needed? He loves you and together you and He will do marvelous things with your life! He’s on your side so every worry is taken care of, and every fear is calmed. Set sail today for this is the day you have!

 John 10:4 After He has gathered His own flock, He walks ahead of them, and they follow Him because they know His voice.

Hebrews 10:23  Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise.

Psalm 121:3 He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber.