Burdened with the Stuff of Life?

Something Joyce Meyer said reminded me of the movie “A Christmas Story”. The younger brother said very little, if anything, but his actions spoke volumes.  My favorite scene of him was the falling into the snow. He was unable to get up because mother had loaded him down with layers of clothes. He couldn’t move! He couldn’t even use his arms to push himself up.  Bless his heart, for his mother cared so much for him that she wanted every inch of him to stay warm in those cold blustery northern winters.

Joyce simply quoted “cast all your cares on the Lord…”  Suddenly I’m transported to the boy with all the layers. And his inability to move because he was burdened so with stuff.

Imagine the delight of this boy as he returns home and begins to unclothe all that stuff. Layer after layer is removed and surely mother is there taking each piece in her hands and helping him get shuck of it all. As each layer is taken off, he feels lighter and lighter.  Finally, he’s cast off all his load and he can breathe and move freely!

Are you burdened with the stuff of life today? Have you tried to cover and heap on yourself things to make it all better and yet it’s becoming more of a burden than a help?  Are you wearing revenge, animosity, unforgiveness, punishment, worry, fear, anxiety? Have you found that you are unable to move freely in the gifts and callings God has on your life? Maybe you thought that religious works would make you free, but it’s now got you bound and gagged.  It could be that others have overloaded you down – telling you that you are unworthy, unlovely or more. Lies are a heavy burden to carry, but we do when we believe them.

Oh beloved, cast all your cares on the Lord this morning! He will lovingly take each one and never give them back. He will help you discard that which He never meant you to wear. He will not only take your burdens, He will offer you His yoke instead, for He is always gentle and humble at heart concerning you. He loves you and He calls you beloved as He whispers His blessings into your life. Let go of those things that keep you bound and be free in Christ! It’s the only way to live free!

Isaiah 28:12 God has told his people, "Here is a place of rest; let the weary rest here. This is a place of quiet rest." But they would not listen.

Matthew 11:28 Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

I Peter 5:7 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. Amplified

John 8:36 So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.

God Wants to Make All Things New!

One of my new favorite home remodel shows is Rehab Addict, where host takes a house that was ready for the wrecking ball and restores it to its former glory.  She sees in an old delapidated shell what could be.  Hundreds of people drive by old abandoned homes and wonder about them. She buys them and doesn’t remodel them – she restores them!  Her desire is to see a home as it was, before time and the elements did such a number on them. 

Maybe you’re feeling the effects of neglect. You just don’t fit in anymore, if ever. You’re tired and worn out from the trials, the concerns, the worries, the fears and more. You made mistake after mistake and now you’re in a hovel and a heap.  You’d like to start all over again, but how is it possible? You’ve gone too far and you feel like the disrepair shows to everyone around you. You may have been knocked down physically, spiritually or emotionally. All you want to do is walk away and give up. But in your heart of hearts, you keep thinking that maybe, just maybe there’s hope – that somehow life could be new again. You’ve tried changing things – from jobs to cars to makeup, but still you feel done in and hopeless. Someone may have hung a demolition sign on you – declaring you insufficient and unredeemable.

Oh beloved, hold on! God says you are so prized and so loved that He will give you more than a fresh coat of paint.  He wants to do more for you than just make things better. He wants to make all things new! He loves you so much that He left heaven just to rescue you from satan’s demolition crew. He cares about you so much that He knew you before you were even formed in your mother’s womb. He’s always on your side, even when it feels like no one is for you. He’s always working things out for your good, even when you feel downhearted.  He’s always going to watch over you and protect you all the days of your life. Neither the beating of the sun nor the drenching of floods will destroy you for God Himself is your foundation! He is the architect and the builder of your entire life! You can be assured that any discussion of your worthlessness is simply the enemy speaking lies. You are worth it, you are loved and there is something yet for you to do, so rejoice and let God continue to remake your life all the way to heaven!

Psalm 89:14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne. Unfailing love and truth walk before You as attendants.

Proverbs 10:25 When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation.

Exodus 15:13 With Your unfailing love You lead the people You have redeemed. In Your might, You guide them to Your sacred home.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Psalm 40:5 O LORD my God, you have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them.

Troubles Raging? You Will Be Victorious Through God

There’s been a stomach bug raging through the family.  It’s been a real kicker.  It started before Christmas with one daughter. As it went to the next daughter’s family, her kids all got it, one after another.  One day right in the middle of the worst of it, 2 year old Caleb exclaimed, “I don’t like this!” This virus picked people off at random, even hitting in-laws who had happened by to visit.  No ordinary 24 hour bug, this one has been quite lengthy for some.  Between the cold weather, gray skies and this – we’re all ready for spring. We’d just as soon skip the rest of winter!

If we could see viruses with our eyes, we’d avoid them for sure.  We would not purposely enter into the virus’s territory. In the midst of the illness, we find ourselves asking if it will ever end. Being in the throes of these viral events keeps us focused on the sickness and any thought of it being over and a healthier day is hard to believe.

In life’s throes, we often have extreme times of worry, fatigue, fear, sorrow, exclusion or more. In the middle of our troubles, trials and situations often all we can see is what we’re feeling.  We may not have intentionally walked into any of it. It just happens. We look to place the blame so we can avoid it in the future, but life happens. Not everything we go through is sweetness and light. The only way to live a life that might bring us little sorrow is to become a hermit who doesn’t work, doesn’t play, doesn’t travel, doesn’t go outside of our own homes. And, that’s not living.  Besides, trouble doesn’t see the fencepost, the door locks or the boundaries.

You may be in the midst of an extreme battle this day. You’ve tried everything. You may be worn out, done in, played out. Once you knew you would get through this, but now you’re not sure.  You’ve prayed, you’ve sought, you’ve medicated yourself and you’re still in the onslaught. What may have started out as a little problem has turned into a big situation and you’re in the middle of it.  Without a cure, without some respite, you are not sure you’ll make it. 

Oh beloved, don’t give in! You may be on your last leg, but there is one who is able to pick you up right where you are! The Lord is with you! You have not been fighting this battle alone. You may have no strength, but the Lord is the Host of Heaven’s Armies. You may not have seen God with you, but His Word is True and He tells you that He is with you! He tells you that He has His angels encamping around you! He also tells you you have a great cloud of witnesses! This battle is not yours, beloved, this battle belongs to the Lord! Lay your burdens, your hurts, your trials, your battle on the altar of His loving care and let Him finish off the trouble on your behalf. He is able to walk you through the valley, He is able to get you through the sea, and He will not let this flood overtake you! You may feel worn out, but you are an overcomer! You may feel the answer won’t come, but you are not living by sight but by faith. And when this trial is over, you will see yourself as the Lord sees you! You are loved! You are taken care of! You are invincible! You are victorious! Your King is in residence in your heart today and He says the battle belongs to Him!

1 Chronicles 5:20  They cried out to God during the battle, and He answered their prayer because they trusted in Him…

Psalm 18:39  You have armed me with strength for the battle; You have subdued my enemies under my feet.

Psalm 55:18  He ransoms me and keeps me safe from the battle waged against me, though many still oppose me.

2 Chronicles 20:15 He said, "Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid! Don't be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God's.

Ephesians 6:13  Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.

Psalm 46:7  The LORD of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress.

Isaiah 8:13  Make the LORD of Heaven’s Armies holy in your life. He is the one you should fear. He is the one who should make you tremble.

Psalm 34:7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them.

Psalm 24:8  Who is the King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty; the LORD, invincible in battle.

Joshua 1:9  This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.

Worn Out Getting Ready for the Day? Rest in Him!

Wow, just a few more days till Christmas!  If you’re like me, there are still quite a few things to do to get ready for the day.  I keep thinking I need to add an arrangement to a table, an ornament to the tree, a package underneath or another string of lights outside.  Most of us, if truth be told, have lots more Christmas ideas than days left to accomplish them!  I find that right about now, I begin to lose ground between my ideas and plans and daylight hours. I also find that I am getting tired.  It’s a hustle bustle world out there and if we’re not careful, we can get too busy to remember what Christmas is really about.    

Mary and Joseph spent the night in the stable because there was no room in the inn. Because it was one of those hustle bustle times around Jerusalem, the big tax season, there were a lot of people in town. Everyone was busy, some were worrying about paying their taxes, others were worried about seeing the right people and having the right connections. Joseph was worried about Mary and Mary was thinking about her unborn child.

For us, we can scarcely imagine giving birth, delivering our baby, in a barn! The germs, the animals, the hay, the unsanitary conditions! We would be fretting to say the least. We’d be demanding something better. Yet Mary wasn’t fretting or worrying about the situation.  Why? How could she stand it?

Because Mary had already spent time with God, she knew He could be trusted. She knew that even if things looked dreary, dim and dark, that He would be there for her.  Not only had an Angel of the Lord, spoken with her, she had listened! The Word said, “she pondered all these things”. 

Oh beloved! This morning as you wipe the sleep from your eyes and your recount all the things yet to be done, won’t you stop a moment and listen? Listen closely, for amid the sounds of so much rushing and doing and planning there is Someone trying to speak songs of love and truth to your heart! He is the way and as you put your trust in Him, you will find favor! The Lord Himself says to you this morning, Rest in My promises, for each one of them are for your good and My glory! Rest in My care for I AM the one who brought you this far and will care for you all the way to heaven. You cannot trust circumstances, but you can trust Me. You cannot trust yourself, but you can believe that I AM all you need for this holiday, for the holy occasion. As you celebrate so busily, don’t forget to celebrate Me! For I AM the fount of living water, the Redeemer of your heart, the Restorer of your soul and the One Who loves you beyond your wildest hopes and dreams! And if I love you, I will surely be for you always.

Luke 1:30 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God!

Matthew 1:23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”

Psalm 27:8  My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “LORD, I am coming.”

Psalm 31:16  Let your favor shine on your servant. In your unfailing love, rescue me.

Psalm 139:17-18 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered!  I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, You are still with me!

Isaiah 25:1 O LORD, I will honor and praise your name, for you are my God. You do such wonderful things! You planned them long ago, and now you have accomplished them.

The Lord of Heaven's Armies is With You!

An odd thing to note about this year’s Veteran’s Day was the absence of the usual run of War movies on many of the stations. Generally we are able to watch such epic stories of heroism and valor as All’s Quiet on the Western Front, A Bridge Too Far, The Guns of Navarone, Midway, and Sands of Iwo Jima, to name a few. Quietly absent from most channels, these movies and others serve as a reminder of who we are, where we’ve come from, what we’ve survived, how we achieved victory and how to tell the enemy from the good guys.

The old movies about wars America fought show a clear line of demarcation between good and evil. They portrayed many hours spent at the strategic table, calculating the arena and making plans to achieve victory. The enemy too plotted to gain the upper hand. It was a real struggle between the two forces.

A long time ago, a war began in the heavenlies. There had been complete peace up until the first strategic missile was launched at the couple who lived in Eden. That one launch and fatality provided the ammunition to continue the conflict. This war had specific names on the manifest: who was slated to be killed, stolen from and destroyed.  Make no mistake; the enemy on the other side has incredible schemes.  His maneuvers, tactics and desires still exist to this day.

Although we know the end of the war is soon to be played out and we know that the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords will come on the scene and wipe out all who oppose Him, until that dying day our adversary will continue his assault. We just have to be armed and ready for any sign of enemy encroachment on our land, for God has promised the believer that everywhere he or she steps is territory given to them by God Himself.  The only way we can make it is to familiarize ourselves with God’s plans for us in the Word of God, so that having done all we can stand. Unlike the enemy’s plans, God’s plans are awesome in power and available to us always!

Oh beloved! Are you tired of the struggle? Are you huddled in a corner with your arms over your head, hoping that the last round of mortar fired will cease? Do you feel shell shocked, worn out, completely ready to give up and give in? Run back to God’s Word and see! You are more than a conqueror, you will be completely victorious, you are walking in the light of His Word and you are able to stand against the enemy of your soul.  The enemy is not the winner, you are. Through Christ’s power and love we can walk in triumph. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies loves you! The Lord of Heaven and Earth is on your side! He will fight for you and He will see you through to complete Victory because of His great love! Shout to the Lord this morning and thank Him for His unspeakable gift!

Psalm 130:6  I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.

Romans 8:37-39 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Psalm 68:35  You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to His people. Praise be to God!

Psalm 66:3 Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! Your enemies cringe before your mighty power.

Isaiah 40:10  See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and He rules with a mighty arm. See, His reward is with Him, and His recompense accompanies Him.

Ephesians 6:13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.