Strength... what is it to you? Our burden, our load...

 

William Lee Payne Strength... what is it to you? Bearing your burden, or letting it go?

WHAT A QUESTION: What a wonderful young man.


I had to respond....but I hope you ask yourself the same question.


"AMAZING...I just read two days ago from Galatians 5 and 6, and thought about this: bearing one another's burdens but carrying our own load.

What does that mean? It led to an intense reaction from someone who I was trying to restore gently..., but didn't want to hear the idea. In one sense our burden is not meant to be carried alone (Jesus said His burden was light). Jesus, through our communion and our church family helps with this load. This is strength.

That said, we have a role in life, to bear our load. Who does not have difficulty? The man who is dead or asleep. Our life is not without tension, without purpose. We are not alone, but trying to escape my role (as husband or wife or worker) or entangle others could become a selfish distraction or a dangerous sin.

In forbearing much, loving much, being spit on and having our hair pulled out (Is 50:6) , we learn from and about our savior as we radiate the fragrance of His grace.

Let me know if I have missed the mark, I'd like to know."

DJs Journey: diffusing the fragrance

Today a good friend begins to live his dreams. 

DJ Scott has been sponsored to do mission work in the Philippines during the next year (DJs Blog http://djsmission.blogspot.com/).  It reminds me of the verse:

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. " 
Ps 37:4

His mother Nancy, Bill and William had the honor of seeing him off this morning.  A life event for sure that took me back a couple years to the Costa Rica Mission Trip in 2008:
Day 5 DJs Devotional
Day 6 DJ Steps Forward

I will let the pictures tell the rest:

Are you an Iron Man?

IRON MAN noun (1914) : a man of unusual physical endurance

When I asked Pastor Jeff where they came up with the term Iron man, I believe he referred to a Triathlon. Its a good picture.

My mind went to the recent movie, where a self-confident man nearly looses his life, and becomes transformed with a new heart (literally and morally) and gets a flight suit that protects him from enemies, AND empowers him to rescue and protect others. (see the pictures) 

What if somebody needs you to be there?


Colossians 3:3–4 
“For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. ”


Ezekiel 36:26–27 
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. ”


Matthew 9:38–10:1
“Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. ”


If I am a little over the top here, I trust you will restore me gently :).  Either way, I hope to see you soon.


In Christ
Brad

Believe me now

Ever been rejected?  Not that time you deserved it.  I'm talking about when you reach out to love someone, and they reject you, question your motive, leave you to be alone? I had a talk like that today....   It was a big deal.  Be strong, have courage.  I will be with you.  Some did not get that message.

I wonder how God feels when we do that to him.  Not bitter, not angry, not vengeful, just sad for our sake.  No hurt is wasted when we turn to him.




I watch you looking out
Across the raging water
So sure your only hope
Lies on the other side
You hear the enemy
That's closing in around you
And I know
That you don't have the strength to fight
But do you have the faith to stand and

Believe me now
Believe me here
Remember all the times I told you loud and clear
I am with you and I am for you
So believe me now
Believe me now

I am the one who waved my hand
And split the ocean
I am the One
Who spoke the words and raised the dead
And I've loved you long before
I set the world in motion
I know all the fears you're feeling now
But do you remember who I am?

Will you believe me now
Believe me here
Remember all the times I told you loud and clear
I am with you and I am for you
So believe me now

Believe it's true
I never have I never will abandon you
And the God that I have always been
I will forever be
So believe me now

I am God
Who never wastes a single hurt
That you endure
My words are true
And all My promises are sure
So believe me now
Oh believe me now


So believe me now
Believe me here
Remember all the times I told you loud and clear
I am with you and I am for you
So believe me now
Believe it's true
I never have I never will abandon you
And the God that I have always been
I will forever be
So believe me now
Believe me now
Believe me now


 Play Music here--->
http://www.divshare.com/download/12568915-4f5

The Rose

The most pure truth and beauty, come with pain....it is the way of the cross.

.

Some say love it is a river
that drowns the tender reed
Some say love it is a razor
that leaves your soul to bleed

Some say love it is a hunger
an endless aching need
I say love it is a flower
and you it's only seed

It's the heart afraid of breaking
that never learns to dance
It's the dream afraid of waking that never takes the chance

It's the one who won't be taken
who cannot seem to give
and the soul afraid of dying that never learns to live

When the night has been too lonely
and the road has been too long
and you think that love is only
for the lucky and the strong

Just remember in the winter far beneath the bitter snows
lies the seed
that with the sun's love
in the spring
becomes the rose

"though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing." 
1st Corinthians 13:2

Seeing the Invisible.... Or shall I avoid the pain?

 Yesterday I was at a conference for the Hoosier Christian foundation with my friend Craig, the talk was about Habitat for humanity.  While we were having lunch, I spoke with a consultant at our table, the kind of person who walks into a failing or sub-par company and says "this needs to change". 


She described the situation of "franchise", where small parts of a  company or closely related companies may have redundancy, fail follow best practice and operate well below peak performance.  I asked her "How do you persuade people to surrender control, so that they can perform better?"  She said quite simply..."I explain to them how much pain they will avoid."  That evening I came home to a news show about how burn victims "cope" with pain using medically-designed video games.



The choice we face is to "fill" or "cover" the hurt with distractions, or to deal with it. 

 
Sometimes pain can't be entirely avoided.  As you and I struggle to rest in Him, He also allows those situations which test and refine our faith. As I walk up to the precipice, I am not alone.  I believe....... that the "tragedy" is but a moment, for my good and His glory.  Pardon me, while I "preach to myself."

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. " 1 Cor 4:16-18

Kenny, an 80-something man with a sparkle in His eye told me something a month ago at Hardees I cannot forget. He had known me for a total of about 8 minutes when he said...."You are a young man, don't lose hope".  I smile because I am almost 50 (not many call me young any more), and because that's just what I needed to hear.....still do. Knowing a little about "why" helps.

Local Office: How should I answer?

How should I answer? Come quickly Lord?

Dear Brad:

Hello this is Insight Pest Solutions writing to notify you of your upcoming Quarterly Pest Control Service scheduled for 09/09/2010.  As usual we will be pest proofing the exterior of your home through a perimeter treatment, granulation and dewebbing.  

If you are in need of any interior service or would like to schedule a
specific time please contact your local office for assistance (317-495-9433).  We appreciate your business and thank you for choosing Insight Pest Solutions.

 Hmmn, 
"Insight"
"Pest"
"Exterior perimeter treatment"
"dewebbing"

"Interior service"

I did not make this up...a real vendor sent the letter above to me.  Timing is everything.

    "And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
    Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 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. ” Hebrews 4:13-16

 Dear Local office, Pray for 9/16?