Heavy Load

Have you heavy had to carry a heavy load, or felt like life was a chore ? I can remember being a tired, young mother, I didn't yet drive and I recall vividly what a mission it was just doing the groceries each week. The first worry was always that I would go over the budget and have to put something back (shame), plus trying to keep a toddler happy all the way round the store, so he wouldn't have a tantrum. Then there was the walk home, pushing the pram, praying the baby would stay asleep, grocery bags piled high on top of it, plus holding the hand of a tired toddler. I remember feeling like those wearisome days would go on forever !!! but they don't.

Sometimes we can become like this spiritually too. We weigh ourselves down with the woes of this world on TV and with health or financial problems. Then a friend phones and pours their heart out, and before you know it you feel weighed down physically, emotionally and mentally.

The bible tells us in Galatians 6:2 'Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ', so we are meant to be there for our friends, and to encourage them, even if we cannot always lift the burden completely, we may be able to ease it.

However sometimes, almost without realising it, we find ourselves carrying other people's burdens in our minds and hearts and feel unable to let it go.

The writer of Ecclesiastes advises:
'In my search for wisdom and in my observation of people’s burdens here on earth, I discovered that there is ceaseless activity, day and night. (Ecclesiastes 8:16). So we see that struggles are just a part of life and will always be there in some shape or form.

The Psalmist tells us:
'Give your burdens to the Lord,and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall'. (Psalm 55:22)

We are never alone, the Lord is always with us, and wants to be included in our walk, he wants to help in carrying the load. Picture yourself placing your head on his chest and share all that worries you. Then release it from yourself, or otherwise you'll still be carrying it.

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

The 'REST' Jesus talks about is an 'inner peace'. Its a knowing deep inside, that even in the midst of a storm (yours or soemone elses), God is in control, right through the whole thing and a peace that passes all understanding will come and take root deep in your heart. Try it !

God is a great God with wide shoulders, designed and desiring to lift our burdens. So take it to him !!

Blessings to anyone who reads this - Linda FOTW

'Merge like a Zip'

In New Zealad, to help with traffic flow, we have a system called 'Merge like a Zip', for when you want to enter a busy flow of traffic. The traffic isn't going to stop, so this system allows a little opening for cars to slip into the main flow. So as I was thinking about this concept of 'merging', this slipping into something that is already there and moving,
it got me to thinking in a spiritual way.

I saw a mighty flowing river, a bright clear, warm day and many trees lining the river. Dappled light from the leaves flickers on the water and where the light and water meet in splashes, the light dances. In places the river surges with great power and then in other areas, it gathers in small pools. The river never decreases, its width and might stay the same. Unlike a normal river however, this one has no beginning or end, it continues to flow on forever, because it represents Gods love.

Each morning as I wake, I see myself dive deep into this river. The river flows so fast and I'm simply carried along, becoming one with it. I see myself 'merging'...slipping into whats already there. As a kingdom bearer, I seek to bring heaven to earth, by bearing Christs likeness within me. By taking the light of his love that I know and being that to whomever I meet. To receive others in the same way I am received by God each day.

I don't know who might phone, or come by the house. I don't know what needs will arise..but I want to contribute somehow to the flow. Because whatever we do in love, has an impact in people's lives and in the spiritual realm. It does make a difference and it helps to bring the kingdom closer, even into one life, to unveil the lovely face of the Lord. As Mother Theresa would say "A drop in the ocean may not seem much, but the ocean would still be less without that drop".

Blessings to anyone who reads this - linda Follower of the WAY