What kind of "Sense" does that Make?

Little Bit can point out most of her body parts.  Eyes, ears, nose, tongue, toes, etc.  We will ask her who made her nose.  The conversation goes like this:
Daddy:  Who made your nose?
Little Bit:  Made nose
D:  Jesus made your nose.
LB:  Jesus made nose.
D:  Why did Jesus make your nose?
LB:  Why?
D:  Because He loves you.
LB:  Jesus loves you.  He does.

Now I know there is more than that, but I am not sure she understands that Jesus made her nose so that she can smell all the other things He made.  We will get there, just not yet.  We will get to her five senses:  sight, smell, taste, touch, and sound.  But she can use each of those senses without knowing how and why they work.

But I was thinking.  We use our five senses to define things around us.  We are able to enjoy the evening sunset with the wide array of colors due to our sense of sight.  We know Grandma is baking her famous apple pie because we can smell the deliciousness wafting out of the oven.  We are able to enjoy a home cooked meal using our sense of taste.  We are able to enjoy kind words from loved ones because we are able to hear the words being spoken.  And we can enjoy hugs from little arms because of our sense of touch.

These are all senses we enjoy on a daily basis, for the most part.  But as humans, we identify things in our life through the senses.  And we try to identify God by using these exact same senses.  We try to "humanize" God.  We limit God to what we know.  And we know what we can touch, see, smell, taste, and hear.

I don't know about you, but I have never actually seen the body of God.  He has not appeared to me.  He hasn't waved at me.  He has not sent me a picture of Himself.  I am not saying God cannot be seen.  He can.  Just not in the same manner that we see our friends, family, coworkers, and so on.  We see God through different things.  I see Him in His creation.  I see Him in my daughter.  I see Him in the miracles He has worked in my life.  But I have not seen His physical self.

I know I have never tasted God.  I actually don't even know what I taste like.  Not all that interested in trying to figure that out, either.  But I can't taste God.  But I can taste the things He has provided for me.  He has provided food on the table.  He has provided rain drops.  He has given me many things to taste.  But I have not tasted Him.

I have not heard God speak.  I do not know what His voice sounds like.  I imagine it being a baritone.  But I have no clue.  That does not mean He does not speak to me.  He speaks to me through His Word, the Bible.  He speaks to me through people I meet.  He speaks to me when I am praying.  Just not using a voice like ours.

And I know I have never smelled God.  Does He smell like roses?  How about apple pie?  I have no idea.  People can change their scents.  They can shower (which helps a lot), put on deodorant (which is good, too), spray on cologne, or even do none of the above.  When I miss my husband at night, I can take his pillow and his scent alleviates some of that.  But what about God?  I imagine through His perfection, He would smell like a garden in full bloom.  But, I don't know.

And of course feeling God.  I have never physically touched God.  Not once.  I have no idea what He feels like.  But I have felt my husbands arms around me, holding me tight.  The comfort, safety, and love I feel when I am in His arms is what I imagine it would feel like in the arms of God, only a gazillion times better.  When Little Bit wraps her arms around my neck and squeezes as tight as her little body possibly can, so much love radiates out that I can imagine that is how God would feel if I were to wrap my arms around His neck and squeeze as tight as I possibly could.  When I am lying in bed, I cover myself with a blanket that feels warm and secure.  I bet God feels warm and secure.  But I have never felt Him.  Only things He has provided for me.

So why do we hold God to our human senses when He is so much bigger than that?  Why do we say we can't feel His presence?  Why do we say we have never seen God?  We should not minimize God and identify God by human standards.  He is so much bigger than that.

I was talking to my husband yesterday afternoon.  And this was our topic of discussion.  I had just woken up from a nap.  I asked him if he could feel me while he was in the other room.  His answer was no.  I asked him if he could hear me while he was out.  He said no.  I asked him if could smell me from the living room.  Thank goodness his answer was no.  I asked him if he could taste me.  Again he said no.  And then I asked him if he could see me while in the other room.  Of course the answer was no.  Then I asked him if he could do none of the above, how did he know I was still there?  He said "Because I just knew that you were in here."

It is the same with God.  We cannot physically see, hear, taste, smell, or feel God.  It is a matter of knowing that He is here.  It is not a feeling.  It is a knowing.  It is by faith, not by sight.  We have to use our heads, not our senses.  And it is by remembering the many promises He has given us through His Word that He will be here.

We can know God is here even when we don't feel Him. This is possible By God's Amazing Grace.

Jungle Gym

The Fam and I went to the park yesterday afternoon.  After walking a few minutes, Little Bit noticed the strategically placed playground located a few feet ahead of us.  She immediately got excited and exclaimed she wanted to play.  The Hubs and I were all for it!  So we let her run ahead of us to the playground.  There was a huge slide in which you had to climb the stairs, go around the corner, crawl up a hole and another set of steps to slide down.  I asked Little Bit if she wanted to slide.  She very adamantly said no.  I don't blame her.

After a few minutes of playing, I saw an area where she could climb up the bars onto the next set of play equipment.  We have decided it is time for her to learn how to climb.  I am not too sure she agreed, though.  We talked her through step by step on how to get up to the top.  Daddy stood at the top so she could constantly see him.  I was right behind her reassuring her she could do it.  She got to a point where both of her feet were on a rung and her hands were one step ahead of her.  She wasn't sure how to get to the next step.  So I told her she needed to place her hands on the next rung and take a step up.  She wasn't too sure of that.  She looked at me and in her sweet little whine, cried "come here" (her way of saying "pick me up").  I placed my hand on her so she would know I was still there and continued to coach her on how to get to the top.  For this being her first time climbing this kind of object, she was doing a great job.

That was until she came to a point where the contraption evened out and went horizontal instead of diagonal.  She actually started to get scared.  She wasn't crying, but she was headed for it.  It was then that Daddy reached out his arms to Little Bit and took her into them.  We realized she was no longer going to move unless by force.  Didn't want to scar her for life.

That moment helped me realize that God does that for us.  We might be climbing our own little jungle gym in life and get scared.  But God is there reassuring us that He is still there.  He has not left us.  He will not leave us.  He has promised us in Deuteronomy 31:6 "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear or be afraid of them; for He is the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you.  He will not leave you nor forsake you."

Sometimes it is hard to know that God is still there for us.  There are times that we cannot feel His presence. But just because we can't feel Him doesn't mean He is not there.  There are times that I cannot feel my husband sleeping next to me.  But that doesn't change the fact that he is lying in bed with me.  Just because we are not cuddling in bed doesn't mean he doesn't love me anymore.  He still does.

It is just like that with Little Bit climbing.  I was there the whole time.  I didn't have my hand on her at all times, but I was there.  There were times I had to reassure her with the touch of my hand or the sound of my voice.  God does this with us, too.  We may not be able to feel Him at all times, but He reassures us of His presence through different methods.  It could be by a song, a verse, a phone call, or the soft breeze.

My husband tells me of times He is having a hard day.  Things just aren't going right.  But then he stops to pray.  When he finishes his prayer and turns on his music player, a song will come on that helps him through the situation.  Or He will open one of his Bible apps and the verse he needs will be the one that opens up.

Remember that God is in your corner cheering you on.  You might doubt that you can reach the top of your jungle gym, but He is there reassuring you that you can.  I wonder if God has pom-poms and He is shaking them in the air for us.  He is our personal cheerleader!

And when we feel like we are getting stuck, not sure how to take the next step, He gladly shows us how to move on.  We can find the directions in a Manual He has provided for us.  He has given us the Bible.

Have you ever tried to build shelves that you bought from the store.  I don't know about you, but I am not very fond of the directions they give in the box with the materials.  Sometimes it seems easier to just try to build it myself.  I remember one time doing that. I got the shelves built.  They looked....okay.  Not great.  Two shelves were actually turned the wrong direction, and the nails in the back did not go in properly.  I wonder if I would have just read the directions (or at least looked at the pictures), if it would have turned out better.  I will never know.  In life, it is easier to just read the manual.

We will always have to climb jungle gyms in life.  It is inevitable.  Just know while you are climbing that God is still there.  He has not left you.  He is your biggest cheerleader.  He wants you to succeed.  And He has the steps you need to get there.

We can make it to the top of our jungle gym of life only By God's Amazing Grace.

Be Still

Little Bit was on the go all day yesterday.  I don't think she stopped until she zonked out.  We had organized her toys, so she got to play with "new" toys most of the day.  I think she honestly forgot about some of the toys she has.  So I let her play with them while I was "working" on the computer.  

About 45 minutes to half an hour before her bedtime, she got awfully quiet. I figured she was just playing.  That was until I looked down and noticed she had fallen asleep under the table by my feet.  The moment was captured by the camera.  Only time she slowed down was when she was at my feet.

I don't know about you, but I have trouble sitting still.  I have trouble being still.  Just like Little Bit, I find things to keep me busy and I don't stop.  But then I remember in Psalm 46:10, we are told to "Be still, and know that I am God."

In a world of go, go, go, being still is a foreign concept.  We have deadlines to meet, dishes to wash, clothes to launder, dogs to walk, floors to vacuum, sinks to fix, sleep to catch.  When is there even time to be still?  Better yet, what does it even mean to be still?  In the context of Psalm 46, it is an imperative verb meaning to abandon, forsake, to let go, to be quiet.  

Have you ever heard someone say that it is imperative that we leave now?  What do they mean by imperative?  What is an imperative verb?  It means absolutely necessary or required.  It is also a command.  So when God tells us to be still, He is saying it is absolutely necessary.  He is not asking us.  He is not saying, "it would be a good idea".  He is commanding us because it is absolutely necessary to be still, and know that He is God.  It is for our good.  Not for His.

So back to the question.  How do we be still in an on the go world?  Faith.  We have to have faith that God will take care of all of our stresses.  We have to have faith that God will take care of our problems.  God has proven on multiple occasions that He can handle our problems, big or small.  He fed the 5,000.  What makes us thing He won't make sure there is food on the table?  He healed the men of leprosy.  Why don't we think He will our broken families?  He dies on the cross for us.  Why do we think He doesn't care enough about our problems to take care of them?  I wonder if God says to us "oh ye of little faith" whenever we refuse to give our problems over to Him.  In Matthew 6:31-34, Jesus says:  "Therefore do not worry, saying, "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we wear?"  For after these things the Gentiles seek.  For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

But to let go means we have to relinquish control to someone else.  This is a big deal for many.  This is a big deal for me!  I like to be in control of anything that affects me personally.  If something needs to be completed and I am on the committee, I will do all the work just to make sure it gets done.  I don't want to take the chance of it not getting done.  Or even worse, of it not getting done right!  So you could say I am somewhat of a control freak.  (See Control Freak in the Unmaking).  So when it comes to giving control of a problem to someone else, let's just say I start to worry.  If I am not taking care of it, then how will it ever get done?  God has asked to take over my problems.  And yours.  All of them!  Not just the big ones.  He wants them all!  You know that leaky faucet?  Yep, He wants that one!  the kids are sick?  He's got it!  The job that is stressing you out tot he point of using up all your sick days, and then some?  He will take care of it!  The only problem He has is getting us to let it go!  He can't seem to get our fingers from around it.  And He isn't going to force us into giving our problems over to Him.  He wants us to relinquish control over to Him freely.  All we have to do is give it all to Him.  (See "To the Rock that is Higher than I")

In Counsels for the Church pg 294 Ellen White speaks of God’s Interest in Little Things - "There are few who rightly appreciate or improve the precious privilege of prayer. We should go to Jesus and tell Him all our needs. We may bring Him our little cares and perplexities as well as our greater troubles. Whatever arises to disturb or distress us, we should take it to the Lord in prayer. When we feel that we need the presence of Christ at every step, Satan will have little opportunity to intrude his temptations. It is his studied effort to keep us away from our best and most sympathizing friend. We should make no one our confidant but Jesus. We can safely commune with Him of all that is in our hearts. Brethren and sisters, when you assemble for social worship, believe that Jesus meets with you; believe that He is willing to bless you. Turn the eye away from self; look unto Jesus, talk of His matchless love. By beholding Him you will become changed into His likeness. When you pray, be brief, come right to the point. Do not preach the Lord a sermon in your long prayers. Ask for the bread of life as a hungry child asks bread of his earthly father. God will bestow upon us every needed blessing if we ask Him in simplicity and faith."

So now we are still.  We have let go of the troubles, the worries, the problems.  We have become quiet.  What do we do next?  We know.  To know means to confess, to know by experience, to acknowledge.  It is more than just know OF God.  We must know God.  So how do we come to know God? 

Start with the basics.  Find time.  Delve into His Word. 

The Bible compares the relationship of the church and Jesus as a marriage.  These comparisons are found in Matthew 25:1-13, Ephesians 5:22-27, and Revelation 21:2. In any good marriage, you have to have good communication.  You have to study your spouse.  You have to spend quality time with each other.  A marriage is more than a contract.  It is a commitment. 

Professor H.W. Jurgen, a West German sociologist, claims that married couples chat with one another 70 minutes a day in the first year of their marriage. This drops to 30 minutes a day in the second year and then only to 15 minutes a day in the 4th. His research shows that by the eighth year, a husband and wife, typically, share hardly any small talk and become nearly silent with one another.  And we wonder why so many marriages end in divorce.

But if our relationship with God is likened to that of a marriage, I don’t want this to describe my relationship with God.    We are told to pray without ceasing in 1^st Thessalonians 5:17.  Of course this means to be ready to pray at all times.  Jesus found time to escape the crowds and pray. 

In Steps to Christ, chapter 11, Ellen White says Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. Not that it is necessary in order to make known to God what we are, but in order to enable us to receive Him. Prayer does not bring God down to us, but brings us up to Him.

When Jesus was upon the earth, He taught His disciples how to pray. He directed them to present their daily needs before God, and to cast all their care upon Him. And the assurance He gave them that their petitions should be heard, is assurance also to us.

Jesus Himself, while He dwelt among men, was often in prayer. Our Saviour identified Himself with our needs and weakness, in that He became a suppliant, a petitioner, seeking from His Father fresh supplies of strength, that He might come forth braced for duty and trial. He is our example in all things. He is a brother in our infirmities, "in all points tempted like as we are;" but as the sinless one His nature recoiled from evil; He endured struggles and torture of soul in a world of sin. His humanity made prayer a necessity and a privilege. He found comfort and joy in communion with His Father. And if the Saviour of men, the Son of God, felt the need of prayer, how much more should feeble, sinful mortals feel the necessity of fervent, constant prayer.

Not only is communication important, but so is our study of the word of God.  The more you study your spouse, the more you get to know them and the more you fall in love with them.  This is also true with God.  The more we study His word, the more we get to know him and the more we fall in love with Him.  And even better, the more we become like Him.  By beholding we become changed.

Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15

"And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form.  But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe.  You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.  But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life". John 5:37-40

Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness for all these things will be added unto you. Matthew 6:33 and the seek means to crave.  Again, it is an imperative verb, meaning it is a command.  So we must crave the kingdom of God.

Knowing God, his sovereignty and his power, gives us assurance, peace and stillness. He tells us to stop from all of our busy work and anxiety and reflect on God’s sovereign control over all things.  Be still and reflect on his glory and power. Be still and make God our refuge, strength and help. Then our hearts will be quiet. Then we will sing with the psalmist, “In God will I trust. Even if foundations are shaken, yet God will I seek.” 

We are able to "be still, and know that I am God" only By God's Amazing Grace.

To the Rock that is Higher than I

The World’s Strongest Man competition was taking place this past Sunday.  The competitors were lifting, pushing, pulling, throwing, and carrying multiple objects of ridiculous size and weight.  Some of the objects included a charter bus, 900 plus pound weight, large boulders, and monster sized tires.  These men usually end up with some kind of injury, which can include a torn muscle or even broken bones from dropping heavy equipment on their feet. I am competitive and all, but even I think that this is extreme.  Why would they choose to carry objects of that size and proportion?  Just for a metal or a title?  Must be crazy.

But then I realized I do the same thing.  I carry things of ridiculous size and proportion, but they are not visible to others.  I carry things like stress from my job; I worry about my daughter’s future, guilt from past decisions, and even regret.  These things are hidden, for the most part, but they can be just as heavy as some of the objects those men were carrying.  And just like those men, I choose to carry them.  And I am not in a competition.  I don’t win a prize for carrying these things around.  Just extra weight and baggage.  Not a great reward, if you ask me.

Do you carry these things around with you?  Are you holding onto a burden that is too heavy to bear? 

In Matthew 11:28, Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden…”

Are you the hardworking employee who has been passed up for that promotion yet again?  He’s calling you.

Are you the single mother who is working two jobs just to keep your family afloat?  He’s calling you.

Are you the Christian struggling with your faith and you don’t feel worthy to be called God’s child?  He’s calling you.

There is a song by Mike’s Chair that says, “You might be the wife waiting up at night.  You might be the man struggling to provide.  Feeling like it’s hopeless.  Maybe you’re the son who chose a broken road.  Maybe you’re the girl thinking you’ll end up alone.  Praying God, can you hear me?  Oh, God, are You listening?  Am I more than flesh and bone?  Am I really something beautiful?  Yeah, I wanna believe I wanna believe that I’m not just some wandering soul  That You don’t see and You don’t know. Yeah, I wanna believe, Jesus, help me believe.  That I am someone worth dying for.”  Do you feel like any of the people mentioned in the song?  He is calling you, too!

There are times we find ourselves surged over, submerged, engulfed and inundated in emotional confusion, hurts and disappointment, deadlines, financial burdens, illness, one trial after another and the list goes on and on. The waves keep coming and we find ourselves sinking and being swallowed up by the tides. We fight and fight, strategize, cry and at times we want to give up. The pressure seems like it’s too much to bear. 

In 1 Corinthians 10:13, God promises us “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” 

Let’s read Psalm 61:1-3, “Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer.  From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For You have been a shelter for me, A strong tower from the enemy.  I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings." What an awesome psalm! We are all overwhelmed during various stages of our lives and God has a place He wants to lead us to. That’s why a psalm like “lead me to the rock” is so powerful because it relates to all of us; we all at times are overwhelmed and we need to be led “to the Rock that is higher than ourselves.”

I have been carrying a burden around for a very long time.  Things have been really tough at work.  Especially this school year.  I went from teaching 6^th grade math, to being the interventionist for 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th grade, to taking over an 8^th grade teachers job.  These changes have been very challenging.  Every change came with more stresses and more problems.  By the last change, I was ready to walk out the door.  I was ready to quit.  But I knew I had a family to support.  Jesus was calling me.  He called me to the Rock that is higher than I.  So I went to Him.

So when we come to Him, what do we find?  What do we receive at the Rock?

Jesus says in Matthews 11:28-30, “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.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”  When your heart, mind, and the inner depths of your soul is overwhelmed and flooded with physical and mental distress, when it feels like you are carrying weights that are too heavy, when the demands of others are burdensome; Jesus instructs us to come unto Him. Not only did He say come unto the Rock but He promises to give us rest. 

The first thing we find at the Rock is rest. Jesus has promised - I will give you rest, meaning a pause.  Jesus wants to press the pause button and refresh your mind. The rest Jesus is speaking of is to cause you cease from any movement or mental anguish in order for you to recover and collect your strength.  He tells us in Isaiah 40:29-31 “He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength.  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.”

We find Refreshing at the Rock. The Rock is the place of refreshing, a place where the Lord will revive you with rest, food, or drink in order to give you new vigor and passion.  He provides the rest through peace—“Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.” Psalm 55:22).  He gives you food or nourishment of the Word “So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.” Deuteronomy 8:3.  And the drink He provides as a river of living water. 

In John 4:7-15, we find the story of where Jesus meets the woman at the well.  “A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.”  For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.

Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.

Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?”

Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.””

Jesus offers us this same water today.  He can give us living water which will refresh our souls.

The third thing we find at the Rock is Healing. The rock is the place where Jesus wants to gently peel or scrape the edges of a wound to promote healing.

“Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled.” Psalm 6:2

“But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing.”  Luke 9:11

The multitudes came to Him to receive healing.  They knew He could provide a healing like none other.

When I went to Jesus with my burden, my job, He gave me rest.  He gave me the strength I needed to complete my new tasks every time.  I had to pray for strength and wisdom on a daily basis.  And He provided it every time I asked for it.  He provided healing for me by changing my attitude.  He helped me accept my job responsibilities with every change.  He also made me stronger.  And He refreshed me by reminding me of His promises daily.  And He gave me the peace I needed by providing a new, better opportunity for the next school year.

How do we find rest, restoration, and healing?  How is He able to provide these to us? 

The men competing in the strongest man competition at one point must put down the heavy objects.  They must choose to let them go.  They cannot carry these objects around with them when the competition is over.  It is the same for you and me.  When we come to the Rock, to Jesus, we must let go of our heavy burdens.  We must give them over to Him.  We must surrender them.  We have to make a choice.  Do we hold on to them expecting to find rest or do we lay them at the feet of Jesus and receive rest? 

There was a little girl who bought a string of fake pearls from the store with money she had earned.  She absolutely loved the pearls.  She wore them everywhere she went, even to bed.  Every night, the father asked the little girl if she loved him and if he could have the pearls.  Her reply was the same.  She loved her father very much, but she didn't want to release them.  That was until one night, with tears in her eyes, she slipped them from around her neck and gave them to her father.  He left the room and when he returned, he placed something else in her hands.  A string of real pearls. 

We are like this little girl. We hold onto our problems, burdens, troubles and we don’t want to give them to our Heavenly Father.  He is not going to snatch them from us.  He is not going to fight us for our problems.  He wants us to give Him our burdens.  He wants us to surrender our issues to Him.  He then, in exchange, will give us rest, restoration, and healing.  He will provide something much greater than the troubles we have been carrying around for so long.

When I went to Jesus and He provided rest, restoration, and healing, it was because I gave my burden to Him.  I realized I could not carry it myself.  I had to lay it at Jesus feet.  I went to Him in prayer and told Him that I could not do this job on my own.  I told Him I needed His help.  I also told Him that I needed out of the school district.  I asked Him to open a door so wide for me that I could not miss it and to close doors so tightly so that I could not try to open them myself.  I gave it all to Him.  I asked for His will to be done.  I asked for Him to make His will my desire.  I wanted His will to be the desire of my heart.  And He did just that.

Again, Jesus says, “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.”

In this case, to learn means “by use and practice, to be in the habit of, accustomed to”.  Jesus wants us to take His yoke upon us and to make it a habit.  This is not just a one-time offer.  He wants us to take His yoke all the time.  He wants us to give Him our problems, our worries, our stresses, or burdens all the time.  He wants to make our load light.  Not just once, but always. 

So what is a yoke and what’s its purpose? It is farming equipment.  Yokes tie two oxen together so that they can share the load of plowing (and other work) and spread the burden easily across their broad shoulders. Ox and horses are often used for this purpose. The two animals work much more effectively than one could because they’re able to combine their strength and move in the same direction. They can work together to pull loads that one animal could not handle alone. 

There is a story about a farmer plowing his field with a team of Oxen.  A man noticed that one of the animals was seemingly a littler bigger than the other so he asked the farmer about it. The response from the farmer was very interesting.  He said that the big animal was an older animal that was well trained and the smaller one was a young animal that was new to the yoke. The man went on to inquire as to why he put them together and this is the answer that he got,  "Well you see, it's like this.  That older ox is the best ox that I've ever had; he knows his way around the field.  The reason I put the younger one with him is so that the older, more knowledgeable ox could teach him how to plow.  If I never put them together the younger one would never learn.  By himself the younger ox would pull himself to death, but together he learns to cooperate with and rest in the strength of the older ox."

A big difference between you and I and those men in the strongest man competition, is they have to carry that weight all by themselves.  We have an advantage.  We have Someone who has offered to help us carry the weight.  We don’t have to lug these burdens everywhere all by ourselves.  We are to continually take His yoke.  He will help us carry our load.  He will help us carry our burdens. 

Not only did Jesus give me His yoke and help me to carry my burden, He provided so much rest for me.  He opened a door so wide that I was not able to miss it.  He provided a new job for me this next school year that has been a desire of my heart for many years.  My family and I will be moving to another state and I will be working at one of our church schools.  I did not just go to Him once.  I came to Him continually.  I took His yoke upon me and learned from Him.  I made it an everyday process.  And He provided that rest that I so desperately needed.

In Desire of Ages, page 330, Ellen G. White says, "There are many whose hearts are aching under a load of care because they seek to reach the world's standard. They have chosen its service, accepted its perplexities, adopted its customs. Thus their character is marred, and their life made a weariness. In order to gratify ambition and worldly desires, they wound the conscience, and bring upon themselves an additional burden of remorse. The continual worry is wearing out the life forces. Our Lord desires them to lay aside this yoke of bondage. He invites them to accept His yoke; He says, "My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." He bids them seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and His promise is that all things needful to them for this life shall be added. Worry is blind, and cannot discern the future; but Jesus sees the end from the beginning. In every difficulty He has His way prepared to bring relief. Our heavenly Father has a thousand ways to provide for us, of which we know nothing. Those who accept the one principle of making the service and honor of God supreme will find perplexities vanish, and a plain path before their feet."

There’s a Rock that is higher than your issues.

   It’s time to press the PAUSE button!    Visit the Rock.  Give Him your problems and He will give you rest.
   If you continue without making a visit to the Rock you will be rendered powerless by the excessive and abundance of perplexities and trouble in your life. 

   The Rock came to take your yokes and heavy burdens.  We all wear yokes of one kind or another but the Rock has a yoke that's easy and His burdens are light.  When your heart is overwhelmed, God will lead you to the Rock that is higher than I.  Jesus is bidding that you come and receive what He was to offer at the Rock.  He offers this By God’s Amazing Grace.

Miracle of Forgiveness

Do you believe in miracles?  I do.  I have heard of many medical miracles.  Someone was healed and science could not explain the healing.  It could have been a healing from cancer, paralysis, pain, or other disease.  There are also miracles that have happened in the mission field.  God formed a hedge of protection around the missionary.  They were in harm’s way, but He protected them and got them to a safe place.  There are miracles everyday on the road ways.  It is a miracle I get to and from work safely.  And there are many miracles recorded in the Bible.  Jesus healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, cast out demons, calmed the sea, and raised the dead.  But of all the miracles that have occurred, the one that I want to discuss now is the miracle of forgiveness.  I know someone personally who has experienced this miracle.

There was a boy who was about seven or eight years old who lived with his father and younger sister.  He already believed life was not fair.  He was taught this very early due to the fact that he became a motherless child about three years prior.  Because he believed life wasn't fair, he became very angry.  He wasn't sure how to express his anger, so he took it out on his sister.  He would toss her around like a rag doll, throw things at her expecting damage, and hitting her causing bruises, black eyes, jammed fingers, cuts, and stitches.  The beatings were occurring almost daily for 10 years. 

 Peter was one of the first disciples Jesus called to become fishers of men (Mark 1:16-20).  He had a very close relationship to Jesus.  He walked on water during the storm (Mathew 14:22-32), went up with Jesus to the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-13), and was the first to acknowledge Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” (Matthew 16:13-20).  So when Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter was angry.  So angry he tried to use the sword and cut off the ear of the priest’s servant (John 18:1-11).  Then all the disciples ran away, including Peter (Mark 14:50).

But it wasn't just the beatings that occurred.  He treated his sister as an experiment.  He did with her as he pleased.  He forced her to watch adult movies and look at adult magazines.  He then began experimenting on her. He forced her to do things only adults should know about and do.  His sister learned things she did not need nor want to learn.  He forced an adult education on a very young child.  This continued for around three years.

 Peter was waiting outside the door of the courtyard as Jesus was on trial.  I can only imagine that he wanted to know what was going on without being seen.  And “as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came. And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with Jesus of Nazareth.”  But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are saying.” And he went out on the porch, and a rooster crowed.” (Mark 14:66-68)

Things only got worse.  His anger grew into hatred and jealousy.  He was jealous of his little sister.  She made all A’s in school without having to study.  He was lucky to make C’s.  Her teachers bragged on her in school.  His teachers had to call home continuously.  He believed his sister had it made.  So he tried to remove the competition.  There were many times he tried to drown his sister.  But God gave her the fight she needed to survive.  He tried handcuffing her and locking her up in the tree house and leaving her for dead.  But God provided a way for her to become free.  There were many times he tried to become the only child, but his plans were always foiled. 

Instead of eliminating his sister by his actions, he began to use his words.  He would belittle his sister.  He would tell her she was ugly, fat, worthless, no good, unloved.  His words cut deeper than any sharp object he had tried to use.  He used his words so much that his sister began to believe it was true.  He cut her self-worth so low, she could barely hold onto what she had left.

Peter moved closer to the fire to stay warm.  He did not want to be recognized.  He just wanted to be there close by the trial.  As he was standing there, “the servant girl saw him again, and began to say to those who stood by, “This is one of them.”But he denied it again.” (Mark 14:69-70)

 Throughout the ten years of abuse, his actions filtered outside of the house.  He was on drugs, hung out with the wrong crowd, dropped out of school, and had already been in and out of jail.  His relationship with his sister was severed.  She refused to have any contact with him.  And he is currently in prison as we speak.

 Peter was still outside the doors in the lower courtyard.  He was still trying to stay warm, when a servant of the high priest saw Peter.  This man was actually a relative of the servant Peter had cut the ear off of.  When he saw Peter, he said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed. (John 18:26).  Peter had denied his best friend three times, just as Jesus had predicted. 

But that’s not the end of the story.  The sister finally decided to write her brother after fifteen years since the last time he physically hurt her.  She not only wrote her brother, but she offered genuine forgiveness.  She told him it wouldn't be easy and it wouldn't happen overnight.  He accepted responsibility.  He offered to help her forgive him.  Almost five months after the first offer of forgiveness, my brother and I are still writing each other, I am still forgiving, and we are building a new relationship.

 Jesus had been crucified on the cross and laid in the tomb.  It was the third day and “Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him.”  When they arrived at the tomb, the stone was rolled away.  As they approached the tomb, “they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.  But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.””  But go and tell the disciples.  And Peter.  Jesus said his name.  What forgiveness Jesus offered.  What grace was given to Peter.  Peter denied he even knew Jesus.  Yet Jesus forgave him and offered him grace.  Jesus gave Peter the miracle of forgiveness. (Mark 16:1-7)

Miracles still happen today.  This miracle of forgiveness is all from God.  God not only worked on my heart so I could forgive, but he also worked on my brother’s heart so he could accept the forgiveness.  God gave my brother the same forgiveness He gave to Peter.   He gave the same grace.  He worked the same miracle.  A miracle that is only possible By God’s Amazing Grace. 

Blessings and Miracles

I remember when I was told to take over the eighth grade math position with just a few short weeks until they had to take the state test.  With eighth grade, they have to pass the test to go on to the next grade.  I remember thinking, “What are they expecting?  A miracle?”  I went in doing my job not expecting to see the results they wanted to see.  I went in as me, a teacher who is passionate about her kids and wants what is best for them.  I gave them everything I had.

When I went in, the students had just taken a practice test.  The results were not pretty.  Only seven percent of the students passed the test.  I felt there was nothing I could really do except get the class under control and get their minds in the right place for the test.  I honestly believed that the actual results would be just as bad.

But I never quit.  I never gave up.  I kept teaching.  I gave them all the knowledge I could.  I never cast them out as a hopeless cause.  I treated them like I had all my classes previously. 

Then the day of the test came.  I assured my kids that they could do it.  They just needed to believe in themselves.  They needed to try and not give up.

We anxiously waited for the results of the test.  Everyone wanted to know how they did.  Everyone was sitting on pins and needles. 

And finally the day arrived.  The results were in!  I analyzed the data.  Then I reanalyzed the data.  Then I had to look at it again.

God had used me to perform a miracle!  Not only were my students comparable to another teacher at the school, but 48% of the students increased their scores from the practice test to this real test!  The average score increased from the practice test to the real test. 

God used me to perform a miracle, but not just with the test scores.  I was able to give the kids hope.  I was able to show them they could do it.  I was able to give them confidence.  They had none of that before I went into the classroom.  I could not have done that on my own.  God worked through me!

So when you are put in a situation, remember, God is in control.  He put you there for a reason.  He knows what your strengths are.  He knows how to use your talents.  He will put in a place to utilize this talent.  He has a purpose for everything.  We serve a mighty God!  Instead of asking why you are there, ask “How can God bless others through me while I am here?” 

God was able to not only bless me in this position, but He was able to bless others through me.  This was possible only By God’s Amazing Grace!

Story of the Talents

Samuel was the CEO of a large corporation.  He had built the company from the ground up.  It was his baby and was very careful about who he hired and who he put in charge.  After 15 years of long nights, lost sleep, and no vacation, Samuel decided he needed some time off to relax.  He called in three of his employees.

Andrew was the first employee he had called into his office.  Andrew had been with the company for 10 years.  He knew the ins and outs of the company and Sam knew Andrew would be reliable.  He didn't want to leave just anyone in charge of the company while he was gone.  He explained the situation to Andrew and told him he would be in charge of most of the company.  Andrew would have 10 people under him and he would be in charge of the finances.  Andrew agreed and was ready for his new responsibility.  Samuel reminded him that this company was his pride and joy and not to mess up anything.

Ramon was the second employee to be called into Samuel’s office.  Ramon had been with the company for 6 years and was pretty comfortable with the way the company worked.  Samuel told Ramon he would be in charge of 6 employees and the scheduling.  Ramon agreed and was ready for his new responsibility.  Samuel reminded him that this company was his pride and joy and not to mess up anything. Ramon became a little nervous but nodded anyway.

Dan was the third and final employee to be called into Samuel’s office.  He had been with the company for a year and half.  Samuel had enough confidence in Dan to give him some responsibility, but not too much.  He would be in charge of 2 employees and for ordering supplies when they started to run low.  Samuel reminded him that this company was his pride and joy and not to mess up anything.  Dan swallowed hard and he started sweating. 

The next day, Andrew, Ramon, and Dan began their new positions.  Andrew began his day by gathering his 10 employees and explaining how things were going to run while Samuel was gone.  They were divided up in to teams of two.  Each team had tasks they needed to complete.  They could have an hour and a half lunch and a fifteen minute break.  They also would have one vacation day, that Friday, as long as they completed the tasks for the week.  Andrew’s workers immediately got to work and he began working on the finances.

Ramon called in his six employees.  He divided his group in teams of two.  They each had certain tasks that needed to be completed by the end of the week.  They were told they could have an hour lunch each day and they could have two fifteen minute breaks.  If they completed their weekly task, they could leave early on Friday, with pay.  His employees immediately got to work and he began working on scheduling for the next week.

Dan called in his two employees.  He told them they need to complete a list of things by the end of the day Friday.  They were told they had to each complete a different list of items and could not team up.  They should not have time to fraternize while at work.  Dan also told the two employees they were not allowed to leave for lunch and they only had thirty minutes each day.  And under no circumstances were they allowed to take breaks or leave early.  In fact, they had to stay an extra hour that week.  His employees slowly walked down the stairs and went their separate ways to complete their tasks.  Dan stood at the window and watched each one work.  He made notes on a clip board every time he saw something he disapproved of.

By the end of the week, Andrew’s employees not only completed their tasks, but found time to do extra things they knew needed to be done as well.  Each employee worked hard for Andrew and was grateful for the paid vacation they received that Friday.  And not only that, Andrew increased the profits for the company by 25%.  He also cut some areas of spending and saved the company $800 a month.

Ramon’s employees also finished their tasks.  They each worked hard to make sure everything was done to perfection.  They were very grateful for half a day off that Friday.  Ramon was able to finagle the schedule in a way to make sure there would be coverage for every shift.  He also looked at the books to know which days were the busiest to make sure there was extra coverage during those times. 

Dan’s employees barely finished the tasks they were given.  They worked long hard hours but still did not finish.  Not only that, but they had to be paid over time, which cost the company extra money.  By the end of the week, the bathrooms were out of soap and paper towels.  Other supplies were so low that Dan’s employees were not able to complete a task or two.  For the supplies to be ordered in time, the company would have to spend $120 in expedited shipping.

Monday morning, Samuel walked back into his office with a nice tan and a great attitude.  He called Andrew, Ramon, and Dan into his office.   Samuel looked over the books and asked a few questions.  “I see that Andrew was able to cut spending in areas that I never noticed before.  Great job!  But I am confused as to why there were extra expenses this week that I have never had to have before.  Can you explain that Dan?”  Dan began stumbling over his words and explained that he was busy supervising his employees and not paying attention to the supplies. 

“And I see that your employees were able to finish all their normal tasks and then some in less time than normal, Andrew.  But, Dan, can you explain why your employees worked longer hours and still did not finish their jobs in the allotted time?”  Dan was sweating by now.  He tried to explain that he made sure they were working and he treated them in a way that he expected Samuel to treat them.

Samuel was very confused.  He did not understand the extra expenses, the limited supplies, the extra hours, and the incomplete work.  He looked straight at Dan.  “I am very disappointed.  I gave you very few responsibilities in hopes that you would step up and do great things with what I gave you.  But not only did you not do what was expected of you, you cost this company even more money.  Today is your last day.  Clean out your office.  You are fired.”  Dan hung his head and walked out of the office.

“And Ramon, you did a great job.  You worked hard and diligently.  Your employees did a great job this week.  I will keep you as supervisor over those employees and you will also stay in charge of scheduling.  You proved yourself worthy of this job.  Along with that you will receive a raise.”

“Andrew,” Sam began, “not only did you get your employees to work hard and finish their tasks, but you increased profits and saved us money.  You will stay supervisor over these ten employees and Dan’s other two.  Not only that, but I am promoting you to CFO of this company.  Congratulations!”

Just like Dan, Ramon, and Andrew, we are asked to be responsible in different aspects of life.  God has given each of us different talents and gifts.  He has entrusted us with them.  He wants us to use them for His glory.  He might have given you leadership, discernment, economical insight.  He might have given you the ability to speak, to write, to sing.  Whatever He has given you, He wants you to use.  Don’t sit on your gifts or talents.  Don’t hide them.  It is like the saying goes, “if you don’t use it, you lose it.”  That is very true. 

We can glorify God and edify man with the talents and gifts He has given to each of us only By God’s Amazing Grace.

(Based on Matthew 25:14-30)