At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.
"All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
"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 11:25-30
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:28-31
These last few weeks, I've been burning out.
I've had too much work to do, and I've imposed too many demands upon myself. If you're a friend of mine, you've probably found that I've been fairly out of touch. Well, it comes down to the fact that I've been too fearful of our financial situation (me, Sarah, and the baby depending solely on my income) and I've become a slave to worry, grief, and work. This is not the way we were meant to live.
Last night, Sarah and I had a long talk with our good friends, Adam and Gretchen. Couple that with the sermons I've listened to in the last few weeks, I've learned quite a few things about where I am spiritually and what's wrong with it:
- I have laid down my Kingdom of God perspective and taken up a worldly perspective of discontent,
- I have become a slave to work and money instead of hope and righteousness,
- I am addicted to work,
- Regardless of my decisions, God does not want me to live a life filled with regret,
- I am judgmental,
- I am addicted to noise,
- In ten years, I won't remember the things that are upsetting me now,
- and God is not about the American Dream.
We really don't need to worry about our lives and that is almost ridiculously simple to say. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. That means that God will provide. That means I am not the one responsible for making the money. That means I need to be faithful and righteous and my worries should disappear. The things I've been struggling with must be so disappointing to God. It's so easy to focus on the splinter in my finger when the rest of my body is entirely healthy.
Whether I worry or not, my life won't be any different, but my quality of life will. And the worry in my life has been SO burdensome. And the way I've been living is so contrary to what is good for me. It's been so horrible. But, last night, I felt refreshed and freed in a way that I haven't felt since I was "saved" a few years ago. The things listed above are things I've known for years, but I haven't had the will to actually change. I've allowed the pressures of society to take me down and I didn't take action against them.
If there's ever a time for change, right now is the time. It's almost Easter and there is power and significance in this upcoming weekend. Tomorrow, we celebrate that Christ died for us on the cross for our freedom. I need to remember these things and take action. Christianity is not just about knowledge, it's about doing. It is time to take action and do. If you are a friend of mine and a brother/sister of mine in Christ, send me an e-mail and keep me accountable. I am asking you to do this. Even if I send a crabby response, please persist. The most challenging person in my life has been my friend John because he's been telling me to take a sabbath and to not work on those days. He's also been telling me not to be productive on those days. That means I can't record music, work on the yard, or do anything that will make me feel productive. It's a tough challenge.
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:25-34
On 2007-04-07 11:37:47, Russell said, "peace"
Regardless of our differences in beliefs, I am in fundamental agreement with the message that you need to live to be good and true to yourself, and the rest will sort itself out. You're not doing yourself any favors by keeping peace out of your life. Glad you've realized that and are opening the door to let it in. :) If there's anything I can do to help you out, just lemme know.
On 2007-04-07 13:17:33, Anthony said, "Thanks, Russell"
You are awesome. I appreciate all your comments and feedback on the stuff I've written. It means a lot.
There is actually something you can do to help: buy my universal audio mic pre. Hahaha!!
On 2007-04-07 14:54:21, Russell said, "hahaha"
If I only had the money... hahaha