A Lighter Burden

If there's one thing that breaks my heart, it's seeing people, even Christians, struggling through life, trying to accomplish it all on their own. In their own power, in their own might, which if it's anything like my own power and might, I'd make to the coffee pot and have no will to continue on with my day.

My devotions in Numbers this morning brought me to an ocean of encouragement: Moses was saying to God...

 " I am not able to bear all these people alone, because the burden is too heavy for me." (Numbers 11:14)

Now, Moses was about in the same place as a president or king. He was leading a nation of hundreds of thousands of people. And those hundreds of thousands of people were not a bunch of saints either. Every time Moses turned around they were complaining about something. They even wished at times to be back in bondage in Egypt. And that's where we find Moses... crying out to the Lord because these people were complaining that they didn't have some of the luxuries they enjoyed in Egypt, under bondage. God had performed wondrous miracles to first free them, and then provide for them in the wilderness. They were complaining again... and Moses was feeling in over his head.

Moses had 3 options:

1. Deal with it in his own power
2. Give it all up
3. Surrender it to God, and rest in His strength

He took option three, and God heard his cry and later in the Numbers 11, He dispersed some of the responsibilities to 70 other guys. Oh, sweet rest for Moses' wearied soul.

Jesus promises us in Matthew 11:18-30:  " Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”


If you are feeling like Moses today, and your "burden is too heavy," give it to God and let Him empower you and overwhelm you in His rest. God will respond to a surrendered heart. 

 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 

So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:25-34

A little peek into our living room in the home that God has so abundantly provided for us! Proof of His goodness towards us...

~Grace~

I Can't Keep Silent...

Ephesians 5:22-24, 33 -- Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything... and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

" 1. Obedience is doing what you know the other person wants you to do.
2. Submissions is your heart giving over to the other person's will.
3. Reverence is more that just doing what a man expects or demands. It is an act of the woman's will to treat him with a high degree of regard and awe.

Obedience, submission, and reverence are all acts of the will and are not based on feelings. Showing deference [respectful submission or yielding to the judgment, opinion, will, etc., of another] toward one's husband is an act of reverence toward the God who placed you in that role. "
- Created to Be His Help Meet, Debi Pearl

God hasn't assigned us an easy task. I'm always joking with Tyler, "why did God give women two seemingly impossible tasks, childbirth and the command to respect our husbands?!" As women, our sinful nature has made it so difficult to do what is commanded throughout the Bible.

Many women have been duped by our feministic society... you see it every day in the media, and even worse in marriages. Women have be led to believe that the more independent they are from their husband and home, the more happy they will be. Men are portrayed as "controlling" and stupid creatures... and therefore many have vacated their God given roles as leader, and given the role to the less than stable woman.

About that last statement: "less than stable woman" ... which of you women can honestly say that you aren't a proverbial basket case at least once a week? Women are ruled by emotion, feelings, and cravings. And yes, that bad hair, can amount to the ruination of the entire day. Our minds are like a giant mess of spaghetti; even the simplest problem can cause havoc in our minds and actions.

God has given Men the role of leader for a reason. They aren't ruled by how "fat they feel."

Women also try to give the excuses " That verse says men are called to love their wives, and he sure doesn't love me!" SINCE WHEN do we obey God's Word, only if others are doing what is right? If you believe God's Word to be the 100% authority in your life, then you WILL respect your husband, despite his actions. It is God's command ( need I repeat command) and thus, HIS WILL for your life to respect and reverence your husband. The Bible doesn't say, women submit to your husband, but only if he is showing perfect love to you.

Our standard as wives is the Word of God. Consider it your mission, your first calling to respect, obey, and submit to your husband, and consider that calling a privilege. God has given your husband only one woman. You are that woman, and you have an opportunity, every minute of every day to bless your husband. No one else has that place in his life.

If you are a bride-to-be, have been a bride for 40 years, or you are somewhere in between, consider reading this book. Every time I open it, the Biblical perspective convicts and encourages me to be a better wife.

The problem with homemade rice krispy treats is:

 They are just way, too darn, easy to make 

 They are delicious hot and gooey before you put them in the pan

 But they're even better stale, a few days later

They are so airy you can eat a whole mound of them .... not like I just did or anything ;)
 This isn't another confessions post

And even after eating that entire mound, you are sad they are gone and still want more.

... 'cause life's too short not to...

Part II : Of Grace & Mercy

Mercy - A complete pardon of an offense 

(not getting what we do deserve)

Grace- A free and unmerited favor or gift 

(getting what we don't deserve)

These are my two favorite words in the Bible. They describe God's love so fully to me. 

First, He forgives us from what we deserve as sinners. We deserve God's wrath & judgement here on earth, and ultimately death and eternal separation from him. But God is full of mercy, and sent his Son to take our place of wrath. We aren't going to get what we deserve. 

Then like a cherry on your sundae, or whipped cream on your mocha, God has grace for us. He sends us blessings in life, He lavishes His love on us. He comforts, heals, protects, and provides. And what have we done to deserve all these things? Nothing, absolutely nothing. In fact, without Jesus' blood and mercy, all we have to offer our Lord are filthy rags.

You can tell me you have had a rough life. That God doesn't love you. That it's not been anything like mine. But do any of us really deserve a dream life? I know I don't. I mess things up constantly. 

God is a gracious, merciful God. 

Hebrews 4:11

 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 

 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, 

that we may obtain 

mercy and find grace 

to help in time of need.

Read Part I: Of the Faithless and the Faithful One here.