“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:22 (NIV1984)
Over the past few weeks I have been “weary” and “burdened”. It started with a visit to the ER and over night stay in the hospital, finding out that the chest pains I was having were panic attacks. But then depression set it. Unfortunately this had been going off and on for a few months. I couldn’t get moving on the things I needed to do nor the things I had a passion for (hence the lack of entries). There was also the lack of desire to socialize, paranoia about what others thought about comments I made when forcing conversations, and crying at the drop of a hat. Even though it hurt, I knew God was with me and had a purpose for what I was going through.
I finally sought medical help and now I am starting to feel a little better. Even cleaned my house and got the laundry done in two days. Whoo-hoo!
There are times however, I am burdened and weary from something quite different. Sin. I find myself doing some of the same “stupid” mistakes over and over again, like losing my temper. I wonder when I am ever going to change. I even ask God, “When is Jesus coming again? I’m tired of fighting the sin”. It does get me down, and my Heavenly Father has to pick me up, brush me off, and wrap His arms of forgiveness around me. Then, only if I allow Him, does He remove the feelings of guilt and replace it with peace restoring my joy.
Christmas is more than gifts, and family. I am much less stressed when I remember the true reason for this holiday.
One starry night, two thousand years ago, God left all the riches in Heaven and became a little baby born in a barn. He was perfect in every sense of the word. He had ten fingers, ten toes, two sparkling eyes and little button nose. What the world saw was just another baby. What the parents saw was the Son of God they were to raise. The only visitors he had were smelly shepherds who were told of his birth by angels and a few magi from the east a few years later.
He would prove that He was God’s Son, by healing the sick, raising the dead, giving sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf. But His ultimate goal was to bring peace, comfort, and redemption to a sinful world that could not save its self.
This little baby was God in the flesh. It tickles me when I see a baby around this time of year. My imagination goes wild. It’s amazing to me that my Savior was once a little one, who grew up and accepted the world for who they were no matter how bad or good they were.
That child brought hope, love and carried our burden to the cross because He loved each and every one of us. He extends a gift to each person. That gift is a relationship with Him and freedom from the guilt of our sin, and unconditional love and forgiveness.
If you have not accepted this free gift He extends to you. Would you consider it? I can’t promise He will take your problems away, relieve the depression or loss you may feel. But what I can promise you is that He will be with you every step of the way. He will give you the peace you may be seeking.
Take a few minutes and go to the tap “An Invitation” (at the top of the page) It will help you understand what is involved with accepting this gift.
From my family to yours, have a wonderful Christmas and a blessed New Year.
“For unto us a child is born to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulder. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 (NIV 1984)
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Solitude with the Father 