LAY DOWN THE BURDEN OF YOUR HEART... GOD WILL BLESS AND COMFORT...

MEDITATION MONDAY

Our theme song this week encourages all of us to "lay down the burden of your heart". Many people are not even aware of the burdens that they are carrying. If they knew and really began to look at those burdens, it would be easy to become overwhelmed.

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It is when a person comes face to face with her sinful condition and her Savior that the enormity of her burdens becomes real. She must be convinced that there is no greater burden that she carries than the burden of her sin!

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Scripture tells us that sin separates us from God. How dreadful! Separated from God?!!??!!!! Separated from perfect love? Separated from unfathomable goodness? Separated from complete forgiveness? How can that be? We weep. We mourn. We don't want separation! Then, comes comfort! Mourning... sorrow... comfort... hope... mourning... sorrow... comfort... hope...

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Here are jthe verses that I'll be meditating on today from Romans, 2 Corinthians, and Galatians. Won't you join me for conviction... comfort... hope.... .

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Romans 3

• 23 "...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
• 24 and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. "

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Romans 7

• 13 - "Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! But in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it produced death in me through what was good, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.
• 14 - We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.
• 15 - I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
• 22 - For in my inner being I delight in God's law;
• 23 - but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.
• 24 - What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
• 25 - Thanks be to God-through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin."

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Romans 8

• 1 - 'Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
• 2 - because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. "

2 Corinthians 1

• 3 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,
• 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."

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2 Corinthians 5

• 14 - "For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, and therefore all died.
• 15 - And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again.
• 16 - So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.
• 17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, He is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
• 18 - All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
• 19 - that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
• 20 - We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.
• 21 - God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."

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Galatians 3

• 22 - But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.
• 26 - You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus,
• 27 - for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
• 28 - There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
• 29 - If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."

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Galatians 5

• 16 - "So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
• 17 - For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.
• 18 - But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
• 19 - The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;
• 20 - idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions
• 21 - and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
• 22 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
• 23 - gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
• 24 - Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.
• 25 - Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
• 26 - Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other."

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Galatians 6

• 1 - "Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
• 2 - Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
• 7 - Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
• 8 - The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. "

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"BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO MOURN,

FOR THEY WILL BE COMFORTED."

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~BLESSED~

LAY DOWN THE BURDEN OF YOUR HEART...

SUNDAY IN THE SON

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Lay Down The Burden of Your Heart

lyrics as sung by Acappella

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It's a cold, cold world,

that we're walking through,

Lay down the burden of your heart.

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But it's warm as toast, walking two by two,

Lay down the burden of your heart.

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[Chorus:]

Lay down the burden of your heart,

I know you'll never miss it.

Show your Father where it hurts,

And let your Father lift it.

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It's a fine, fine line between love and hate,

Why, it's tough to tell the two apart.

But you'll know it's love that He offers you,

Lay down the burden of your heart.

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[Repeat Chorus] (x2)

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Show your Father where it hurts,

And let your Father lift it.

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BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO MOURN,

FOR THEY WILL BE COMFORTED.

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~BLESSED~

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YOUR GRACE STILL AMAZES ME... YOU UNDERSTAND... YOU WEEP...

KETCHUP AND MUSTARD SATURDAY

Catch Up and Must Do

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Life truly is a battle! There's a war going on for your soul, my soul, and the souls of our family and friends! Each day is full of it's own challenges / struggles. Life just gets messy!

Scripture says, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God..." Ephesians 6 Last summer, we spent quite a bit of time, on this blog, talking about the full armor of God. If you have some time after reading this post, you can link here to THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD.
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These struggles are also part of what teaches us and trains us in His service. Taking something difficult and using it for good is how God does things.
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In the book, Christ of the Mount, written almost a century ago, E. Stanley Jones speaks about the vast array of things that we see in nature. Reading through his thoughts, I was able to see that just because I don't like mud shouldn't mean that will keep me from experiencing the muddy trail that leads to the most incredible view from the top of a hill.

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Jones explains how the 9 Beatitudes are separated into groups of 3's. The groups give each other balance, purpose, and connection. We're working on the first group, discussing the first two, so far.

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Jones says,

"Everything belongs to the (wo)man

who wants nothing.

Having nothing,

(s)he possesses all things in life,

including life itself.

Nothing will be denied the (wo)man who denies self."

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It does begin with an emptying of self... to offer ourselves in service to our King. Part of that emptying is understanding that it is our Heavenly Daddy's spirit / armor that will protect us and give us the strength and power to live each day.

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"Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Matthew 5:3

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Jones spoke of mourning,

"It means an active sharing and bearing

of the world's hurt and sin in order to cure it;

if it means the kind of mourning that Jesus manifested

when He wept over the city of Jerusalem,

if there is the passion of the sorrow of the cross in it,

then it is not an anti-climax,

but a necessary counterpart

(to now being in the kingdom of heaven).

The first beatitude without the second ends in

barren aloofness, but with it, it ends in fruitful attachment.

This verse cuts across those who would say that

religion is "an escape mentality... "

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With the second beatitude it becomes a selfless hurting for all to become right with God.

"Blessed are those who mourn,

for they will be comforted."

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Jesus understands! He weeps, too!

What Grace! Amazing!

~BLESSED~

YOUR GRACE STILL AMAZES ME... FOR YOUR FAMILY...

I shared yesterday with you about Mary Lea, one of my heroines of faith. One thing that I know about Mary Lea is that when she sets her mind to something - it is set! Mary Lea said that she did not want to see our new building until it was finished. So, here we are in our new building to sing and pray like two blind women waiting on Jesus!





I have some heroines of faith who are not old like Mary Lea and me! One of them is "BP"! She inspires me! She's been talking for a while about becoming a christian. She wrote her reasons all out! She is such a people person, she decided not to be baptized a week ago Wednesday with DR because she wanted a lot of people there including her Grandma.
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One of the reasons that BP listed for wanting to become a christian was that she knew that she was a sinner and that it was in baptism that she would be clothed with Christ and have her sins washed away. (She was mourning her sins!) Her dad read her letter to us and then BP wanted to tell us, too. What excitement there was among all of BP's friends and family!
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Here is Sunday in pictures at our almost finished building:

~BLESSED~

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"Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

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Blessed are those who mourn,

for they shall be comforted."
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YOUR GRACE STILL AMAZES ME... TRANSFORMING LIVES...

TRANSFORMING THURSDAY
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Yesterday, I wrote something that may need clarification, "Once a person encounters the holiness and grace of our loving Creator and Friend, it is with deep sorrow that she mourns her sinfulness...". That is true as the ideal for transformation. Will it happen with every encounter with Jesus? Unfortunately, not the majority of the time.

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I have watched the video from Tuesday over and over and I am amazed at both His HOLINESS and GRACE. The sinless Savior opens His arms to sinful Sinners, asking them to come to Him. Those who choose to do so renounce their spirit for His. "Blessed are the poor in spirit..." Right along with that submission is regret, sorrow, or mourning one's own humanity.

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It is in the daily return to the cross that transformation begins and continues.

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It is briefly looking in the rearview mirror of our lives and letting it serve as a reminder of where we don't want to go again! It is the continual reminder that we are not our own. We were bought with a price!

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It is in remembering all the wonderful things that God has done, is doing, and will do.

If that is hard to do, then He has provided many remembrance stories in scripture. Why not begin by reading Hebrews 11 and finding a few heroes / heroines of faith there.

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Last night I taught elementary children, in Bible class, at our church family's mid-week Bible study. After class, I sat down at the back of the auditorium for the devotional time. A few rows ahead of me were Dwight and Mary Lea. Dwight had had cataract surgery earlier in the day and insisted on being with his church family last night. As I watched them, we were singing a song about a "vision for heaven". Mary Lea looked at Dwight's eyes, smiled really big, and pointed to the words. Watching this wonderful transformed couple reminded me of how thankful I am that God has put these two in my life. For me, knowing Mary Lea for the past 3 and 1/2 years has put her up in my own top 10 heroines of faith!

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Then, I thought of other transformed couples who's lives have been a testimony of His holiness and grace to me. One of those couples are my mother-in-love and father-in-love. Today, she (Robbie Sikes) will also have cataract surgery on one of her eyes. Yet, no matter how much trouble her physical eyes have had seeing, it is her spiritual eyes that have remained - 20/20. This is a woman who way over half a century ago said, "It is not I who live, but Christ who lives in me." Her life remains a testimony to those words! For many years, she has been one of my top heroines of faith!

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When I got home last night, I was looking through scriptures that compare and contrast the sinful life and the life turned over to Jesus. I came across these verses that I had not read in a while. As you stand at the foot of the cross today, hear the words of someone who was nearby on that day,

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1 Peter 4:1-8

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• Therefore, since Christ suffered in His body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin.
• 2 As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.
• 3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do-living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.
• 4 They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you.
• 5 But they will have to give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
• 6 For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.
• 7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.
• 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

~BLESSED~

YOUR GRACE STILL AMAZES ME... HUMBLED AND MOURNING...

At the beginning of each month, we change to a new beatitude and new scripture memory. This month, we will discuss two beatitudes, focusing on one for two weeks and then another for two weeks. We've spent a good amount of time discussing the word BLESSED. We spent the month of January trying to wrap our minds around the concept of "BLESSED are the poor in spirit..." Now, let's try mourning on for size! What did Jesus mean, when He spoke this second beatitude?
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BEATITUDE:
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Matthew 5:4
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..."Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."
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Today, I'll give you my short version:

• Once a person encounters the holiness and grace of our loving Creator and Friend, it is with deep sorrow that she mourns her sinfulness. She begins to understand that it is her sin that has separated her from her God. She humbly submits her life to Him (blessed are the poor in spirit). She comprehends that she is a sinner saved by His grace. As she daily sees her own humanity, her mourning extends to consider the humanity of others. She is overwhelmed with the condition of the lost world around her. It is because of His grace that her mourning can turn to joy!
  

It is so easy to use The Beatitudes to describe Mary, the mother of Jesus. Consider this beatitude and the one from last month as you read and memorize Mary's words today.

MEMORY VERSE SECTION FOR THIS WEEK:

Luke 1:46-48

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"46 And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the LORD

47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

48 for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant."

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~BLESSED~

YOUR GRACE STILL AMAZES ME... THANK YOU, JESUS!!!

Today, I wanted to show this video with some other comments, but since I just got home, I'll omit the comments and say,

I am so grateful for my

AMAZING

SAVIOR and FRIEND

who is so full of

GRACE and MERCY...

each day I fall on my knees!

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NOTE: Be sure and pause the playlist above before starting this remarkable video.

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~BLESSED~