“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources

he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.”

~Ephesians 3:16 NLT~

Great sorrow seems to have settled in with many families lately.  I don’t ever remember going to so many wakes and funerals of friends and family.  I refuse to continue to count them.  I ache for families who have lost loved ones lately, most of them in unexpected situations.  I know these times are much easier with God carrying us through the difficult days.  I cannot imagine what it would be like without that knowledge.

“Stand in the storm.  When the going gets tough, make adjustments, but keep standing.”           Unknown author

Life has given me some storms lately, but having God stand with me allowed me to seek Him more and to keep on standing.  I pray each individual and each family touched by problems of any kind will be able to keep standing because they have God walking through the journey of life with them.

I’m doing well with the storms of my life.  I can smile, face people, encourage others, etc.  Life doesn’t give “free passes” to us. We have to know God is with us and wants us to continue on.  If He is not your journey mate through life, I pray you will seek someone who can steer you in His direction.   He is the one and only way to travel through life!

That’s my sermon for today!

Baptist Press News

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Thought for the Day: Jesus will give you rest (parts 1 & 2)

I heard a story about a young mother with three children. The phone rang one day and a voice on the other end of the phone said, “Honey, it’s Mom. I called because I know that you’re busy with the kids, and I want to give you some help. I’m going to stop by to clean the house, take care of the baby, and prepare dinner for when the boys get home from school.

“I want you to get ready to go to my beautician, I’ve paid her already, and she’s going to give you ‘the works,’ your appointment is at 1:00. Give George a call at the office and tell him that you’ll meet him at Olive Garden for dinner, it’s on me…”

At that point, the young mother interrupted and said, “George, who is George?”

“Your husband.”

She said, “My husband’s name is Fred.”

“Oh. Is this 365-3212?”

“No this is 365-3213.”

The caller said, “Oh, I’m so sorry. I’ve got the wrong number.”

After a pause, the young mother said, “Does this mean that you’re not coming over?”

Do you ever feel like you could use a phone call like that? Do you ever find yourself wishing someone would just come along and take care of things for you so that you can have a little rest?

I remember back in the 1970’s, there was a big concern that computers and technology would radically change how many hours a week people would work. In fact, there was testimony given to a Senate sub-committee forecasting that within 20 years, the average American would be working only 22 hours a week. They said, “The great challenge would be figuring out what to do with all the excess time.” Now here we are, 30 years later, after major advances in technology — how many of us are wondering what to do with all the excess time on our hands?

Our world has become the world of the Red Queen of Alice in Wonderland. She said, “It takes all the running you can do to stay in the same place. If you want to get somewhere else, you must run at least twice as fast as that.”

That’s why what Jesus offers is so very precious. He says, “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.” (Matthew 11:28-29)

It’s one of the most beautiful promises in all the Bible. It was a promise made to the Israelites as they headed toward the land of Canaan — forty years they traveled and traveled in the wilderness, until finally they arrived at a land of rest. And it’s the promise made to those of us who are Christians as we look forward to heaven. The Hebrew writer says, “There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.” (Hebrews 4:9).

I don’t know about you, but one of the things that I’m most looking forward to when I get to heaven is being able to rest. I’m not talking about sitting down in a Lazy-Boy recliner with my feet propped up and a remote control to a big screen television in my hand. That’s not heaven. I just know that heaven will be a place where we won’t experience the feeling of being so tired, so utterly worn out. Sometimes when people ask me how I am, I just want to say, “I’m tired. I’m just so very tired.” Heaven is going to be place of rest.

“Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on…that they may rest from their labors.” (Revelation 14:13)

But when Jesus said, “I will give you rest”, I think he was talking about more than just heaven…..

(to be continued)

Have a great day!

Alan Smith

In 1930, something very unusual happened. It’s still an open case in the FBI missing-person file. On August 15th of that year, after dining with his family, a New York State Supreme Court Justice named Joseph Carter hailed a cab and was never seen or heard from again. The FBI thought his disappearance might be worked-related because the judge had heard a lot of mob cases. But there was no real evidence to support that theory. All the investigations led to a dead end. The only clue was a note Joseph Carter left for his wife and family. It said: “I am very, very tired. Love, Joe.” That was it. That was the last anyone ever heard from him.

I can’t help but feel that there’s a lot of us who feel the same way. And Jesus has something to say to the person who is exhausted, to the person who is worn out, frustrated and weary. He offers rest.

“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.” (Matthew 11:28-29)

As I said in part one, we are looking forward to the rest that awaits us in heaven. But I don’t think Jesus is talking about heaven here in Matthew 11. I think he’s offering rest for our souls here and now. Somebody to help carry our burden. In Galatians 6:2, Paul says to “Bear one another’s burdens” and we can do that for one another. There have been some times in my life when I’ve gone through some things that I just don’t think I could have handled if I didn’t have brothers and sisters in Christ to be there for me. But what we do for one another in a small way, Christ does for us to a much greater measure.

Whatever burden you are carrying right now, Christ says he’ll be there for you. Whether it’s problems in your marriage, or maybe your children are in trouble at school or with the law. Maybe it’s burdens of loneliness, burdens of taking care of sick relatives, burdens of disappointment, of rejection, of addictions. Maybe the burden of not knowing which way to turn next. Life is filled with stress, with cares, with worries.

The reality is that life can be very difficult. But these are the very kinds of burdens that Jesus wants us to bring to him. Jesus is saying, “Come to me all you who are struggling with life in any way and those of you who have burdens that you can’t carry alone, and I will help you with your struggles.”

Do you remember the last time you made a trip to the airport with all your luggage? A couple of years ago, we took our daughter to the airport. She had absolutely crammed her suitcases as full as she could get them because she was moving to Germany. One of them weighed 65 pounds and the other one weighed 83 pounds. Fortunately they had the little wheels on them, because I can’t imagine what it would have been like if we had to lug those things all over the airport trying to find the right ticket counter. And, I want to tell you, when the ticket agent took those suitcases from us and we didn’t have to carry them around anymore, that was a wonderful feeling. No more burden.

That’s what Jesus does for us. Jesus is always on the lookout for hurting people. People who are bold enough to admit — Lord, I need some help. I can’t carry these problems alone.” And he’s promised to do it. He said, “I will give you rest.”

Have a great day!

Alan Smith

Thankful for the journey-mate and the rest!

Anna Lee