Easy and light

 

“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.

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

 Matthew 11:28-30(NIV)

 

There was a time in my life when I did not think anything could be easy or light.  I felt like I was carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders…no…more like on my heart.   There was so much sadness in my life.  My heart was hurting from taking such abuse in my marriage, so much so that I could not recognize it for what it was.  But I didn’t feel like I really had a choice in that matter.  I had chosen that life so it was just the way it was going to be.  I needed to find a way to survive it.  Not live it…there was no life in me.  I just wanted to survive intact and get my children out of the house as unscathed as possible. 

I tried to be happy. I tried to pretend as if everything was just peachy! Someone close to me once looked me in the eye and said “Are you happy Sherry?” I answered “Yeah, of course”.  And she looked at me again and said “Really? Because I just can’t see how you could be.” At the time I thought she was ridiculous.  She was in a very similar situation and was not very happy.  I thought maybe she just wanted her misery to have some company.  But that opened a door in my mind. It made me start thinking.  Was I really happy? Was this the life I really wanted? Was this even remotely close to what I had dreamed of for my children and myself? I had to answer NO. 

That was heavy on my heart.  This was not the life I wanted…yet it was the life I had chosen.  I had made a very big mistake.  What could I do about it though? God surely did not want to hear from me at this point. I had messed up.  He didn’t …He couldn’t…have a place for me.

But someone very dear to me finally got me out of that ridiculous pattern of thought.  I started going back to church…even though I felt very damaged and unworthy.  But this church was designed for people like me. (shouldn’t they all be?) This place gave me a chance to admit that I had messed up.  I got a chance to begin to heal and find my footing again. 

I began the struggle to decide what I needed to do with the mess I had made of my life.  I needed to repair my life from the storm I had caused….the storm I had let continue for almost 20 years. It was very difficult and heavy on my heart.

 I started reading my Bible again.  I read across the passage from Matthew that is quoted above.  I broke down sobbing.  Light and easy? Could there really be such a thing?  This heavy burden of my life…was NOT from Him. It couldn’t be.  He told me to take His yoke and learn from Him.   Could I do that? Was it possible?  Could that be the answer?  Let Jesus teach me and show me how to fix this mess. Relief!! He could help me! He would!  I knew there was still a lot of hard work ahead of me, but I had Jesus leading me and teaching me with His word.  And it didn’t hurt that I had that dear friend helping me hear what Jesus was saying in that Word. 

That was about two years ago now and some days it seems like it was just a nightmare.  But it happened.  I escaped the marriage and I survived the divorce.  I think we are doing pretty well now. There are still some hard days, when memories or doubts wash back up.  But the good days outnumber those yuck days for the most part.  My kids are doing well in school and my relationship with each of them continues to grow.  I have a wonderful place to call Home in my church family at the OPEN.  God has been very good to me so very often that He leaves me in awe.  When I read this verse now, it makes me smile.  Easy and light? Yeah…I can believe that.  He is Faithful and True.  Teach me, Jesus, how to be more like You. 

 

Jesus fan?

I am a person that loves to take quizzes.  There is a daily ten question trivia type quiz on the internet and it is part of my routine to take that quiz.  Even if it is on a topic that I know nothing about (like the theme song to some cartoon I never watch) I will take the quiz and see if I can score at least as well as the majority of the people that take the quiz. 

Anyway, the other day the quiz was on the birth of Jesus.  And it was written more along the lines of what the Bible says as compared to the stories most of us have heard.  I was feeling pretty confident…I like Bible quizzes.  There were questions like:  Were there 3 wise men? (Bible does not specify the number) Mary or Joseph or both were told to name the child Jesus? (they were both told)  So I can see how it might be a little tricky for those that have just listened to stories or watched movies.  

After taking the quiz, there is a spot to leave comments. Most people indicate the score they made and then whether they thought the quiz was good/fair/vague or whatever.  After this particular quiz..someone left a comment that said:

1/10 i’m not a fan of jesus (devil smilie)

I scooted my chair back and said OUTLOUD in my office “I did NOT say that God…I was just reading!!”  I cannot believe that someone would actually say something like that! EEEK!

I am going on record as saying I AM A BIG FAN OF JESUS!!  I love the way He gave up His home in glory to come live as a man, to be tempted in every way just as we are, to suffer the humiliation of the cross so that I would not have to die.  I love the way He loved people.  His compassion amazes me.  He had the ability to keep caring for people when He was kept up late, awake early, sought out, followed, crowded, pressed and challenged.  I love the way He taught His disciples to be more than they thought they could be.  I love …well I could fill the web with things I love about Jesus. 

What do you love about Jesus? Name something specific.  Tell me why if you can.

Where does my help come from?

Psalm 121

 1 I lift up my eyes to the hills—
       where does my help come from?

 2 My help comes from the LORD,
       the Maker of heaven and earth.

 3 He will not let your foot slip—
       he who watches over you will not slumber;

 4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
       will neither slumber nor sleep.

 5 The LORD watches over you—
       the LORD is your shade at your right hand;

 6 the sun will not harm you by day,
       nor the moon by night.

 7 The LORD will keep you from all harm—
       he will watch over your life;

 8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going
       both now and forevermore.

When I need help,  who will help me?  When I am in a trap and feel like I’m slipping further down, who will lift me out?  When I feel alone and abandoned, who will watch over me?  When I am afraid, who is it that will not let anything harm me?

There is only one answer to all of those questions. His name is the LORD.  He is from everlasting to everlasting.  He is Faithful and True. He never fails.  His promises are the only ones we can count on.  

When I lift my eyes to the hills looking for someone to come rescue me, I will see the LORD.  He comes in the wise counsel from a good friend.  He comes in the friend that sits and listens without judging.  The LORD works to straighten my paths when I am lost…to provide a clearer vision when I am confused.  His Word will light my path.  His people will guide me.  He will save me. He will rescue me from the pit.  Thank you LORD for rescuing me.