The Burden-Bearer

A long-ago legend has it that, there once lived a man of towering strength, a giant of a man. He was a pagan whose strength perhaps led him to believe that he needed no higher power.

He made his living by carrying travelers across a broad river. One day a beautiful child came to the bank of the river. As the man bent down to allow the child to climb upon his back, the young lad said, "Are you sure you can bear my weight?"

The man laughed. "Why, I've carried full-grown men across the river. You, my little one, will be lighter than a pebble."

"Very well," said the boy. "But I must warn you. I am heavier than I look."

With a grin, the man raised the child upon his massive shoulders and stepped out into the swirling water. But the weight on his back grew strangely heavy. Soon the brawny giant was struggling not to sink.With superhuman effort he crawled up onto the opposite bank of the river and let the child down.

"How can you be so heavy?" the perplexed man asked. "Who are you?"

"I am Jesus of Nazareth," replied the boy. "And I carry the burdens of the world on my shoulders. Let me carry yours too."

And so it was that Christopher, today known as St. Christopher, was converted to Christianity. The story reminds me -- I don't need to struggle across each day on my own. There is One stronger than I. He is the Great Burden-bearer. He even carries St. Christopher, yet on His shoulders there is always room for one more.

"Lord, thank you for inviting me to come to you, especially when life is getting too difficult for me. I find comfort and peace in knowing that you are going to help me get across my river of difficulties if I just rest on Your shoulders. Remind me always of my limitations so that day by day I will remember that without you I can do nothing. Lord Jesus, please lift me up and carry me through this day."

(Author Unknown from d le lee, via 'inspirational_msgs')

Jesus is a weight watcher

For most people weight is a sensitive issue. Some women say they can just look at a piece of cake and well… they will put on some weight!

Dieting is a big part of some of these people’s lives. Most experts tell us that dieting is not the way to go, but to rather join a life-style program like weight watchers. According to Weight Watchers their program is not a diet, but a healthy way to live.

The reality is that many people are so worried about this kind of weight; they forget there is another kind of weight that can even have a bigger impact on your life!

Matthew 11:28a (NLT)

 ²⁸ Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens…

Many of us carry extra weight around – heavy burdens that makes us tired and weary. If we just keep on carrying these heavy burdens it will have a definite impact on our spiritual health and will even influence your physical health. The irony is that most people that over eat do it because of their emotional burdens!

But you can join the best weight watcher program there is. It is not a quick fix, but a life-time commitment to follow the spiritual principals of this program. The Message translation states it very simple:

Matthew 11:28-30(MSG)

 ^28-30"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

This is a life-time commitment of walking and working with Jesus. Let Him be your weight watcher and He will teach you to live freely and lightly!

Shalom!

Anina

What to do with weakness

Yesterday I referred to Aaron and Hur that held up Moses’ hands.

What is remarkable is that Moses, as the leader of so many people, acknowledged his need for help!

Francis M says we like to think of ourselves as self-sufficient, but for many of us it is easier to give help than receive help. It is even harder to acknowledge that you need help in a time of weakness. But a strong leader knows when he needs people to hold up his arms!

When Israel was fighting the Amalekites, as long as Moses held up his staff the Israelites prevailed. But when he lowered it the enemy gained the advantage. Moses became so tired that he couldn’t longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side... holding up his hands.' God not only gave Israel the victory that day, He showed Moses there are times when you need some help from others!

Sometimes accepting help will take some humbleness and acknowledging your weakness. In your weakness it is not only people that can help you, but in your weakness is where God’s power is actually shown the best!

Sometimes God will allow seasons of weakness into your life, so He can show His power through your life – but even with Him, you need to acknowledge your weakness and allow Him to work in and through you!

2 Corinthians 12:9(NLT)

⁹ Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

Paul doesn’t only acknowledge his weakness, he actually boast in it!

What do you do in times of weakness?

Shalom?

Anina

Holding our hands high

Last night we had our year-end function with the leaders of Salem Danville. Fifteen dedicated people that gave up their time to serve the people of Danville!

This made me think of the following Scripture:

Exodus 17:11-13(NIV)

¹¹ As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. ¹² When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. ¹³ So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.

Aaron and Hur held up Moses’ hands when he grew tired. James Smith says Aaron signifies "stability," and Hur signifies, "fire or zeal”.

Our leaders held up our hands in 2011 – especially in the times we grew tired. They brought in stability and zeal and they made sure we were sitting on the Rock, Jesus Christ. With Him we overcame the enemy and gained the victory!

The victory belong to the Lord but He will always use people that stand together in unity with one purpose in mind.

Our purpose is to bring His Peace into the broken lives of the Danville people. A job we can never do alone!

Thank you to every leader for helping us fulfilling this purpose of God – you did not only hold up our hands, but you are holding up God’s hands and you bring honor to His name with every victory we gain!

Shalom!

Anina

Half full!

This time of the year is always a busy time with functions, getting sponsorships and the joy of seeing children and people receiving gifts they would never be able to buy themselves!

On Friday evening we took 26 teenagers for ice-skating, for some of them a first time experience. Each one of them also received a back-pack full of gifts!

There is a joy in seeing young people forgetting their circumstances for a few hours and enjoying life, just as they are supposed to be doing as teenagers.

One of our teenagers stays in a place without water and electricity and look after his older sister and her baby. He makes money by washing cars. The rest of the time… he is at school! On a Friday night he walks about five kilometers to attend the churches’ teenagers group!

But when you see him and ask him how he’s doing, he will always reply with a: “Aahh, it is good!”

He is a walking example of what contentment means:

Philippians 4:12(NIV)

¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

Have you learned to be content, despite of what you circumstances might be? It is so easy to rather see the glass half full and complain about the half that you don’t have…!

Rather see the half that you have, be thankful for that half, then you have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation!

Shalom!

Anina

Keep on playing

Wishing to encourage her young son's progress on the piano, a mother took her boy to a Paderewski concert. After they were seated, the mother spotted a friend in the audience and walked down the aisle to greet her. Seizing the opportunity to explore the wonders of the concert hall, the little boy rose and eventually explored his way through a door marked "NO ADMITTANCE."

When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat and discovered that the child was missing. Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway on stage. In horror, the mother saw her little boy was sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano, and whispered in the boy's ear, "Don't quit. Keep playing."

Then, leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part. Soon his right arm reached around to the other side of the child and he added a running obligato. Together, the old master and the young novice transformed a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience. The audience was so mesmerized they couldn't recall what else the great master played. Only the classic "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."

That's the way it is with God. What we can accomplish on our own is hardly noteworthy. We try our best, but the results aren't exactly graceful flowing music. But with the hand of the Master, our life's work truly can be beautiful. Next time you set out to accomplish great feats, listen carefully. You can hear the voice of the Master, whispering in your ear, "Don't quit. Keep playing."

Feel His loving arms around you. Know that His strong hands are there helping you turn your feeble attempts into true masterpieces!

Shalom!

Anina

Walk in safety and victory

I have a few mottos in my life that I live by. One of those mottos is very straight forward but very important:

“Believe in God; believe in yourself; and get someone who will believe in you!”

The first two is obvious and most successful people believe in God and themselves. The third one might sound strange but it can make a big difference in your life.

Proverbs 11:14(NKJV)

¹⁴ Where there is no counsel, the people fall;
      But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

Proverbs says that with no counsel you will fall. The primitive root literally means to be lost, thrown down or be inferior.

Counselor in the Hebrew context is seen as advice and guidance. In a sense the Bible is saying that without the advice and guidance of wise people you will fall. If you don’t have somebody that believes in you, you’ll feel inferior and it will be difficult to believe in yourself!

Although God needs to be our greatest guidance, Proverbs states that there is safety in a multitude of counselors, spiritual mature people that is willing to impart their wisdom in a younger generation.

I have a few of these counselors in my life. I see these ladies as my mentors; spirit filled ladies that teach me wisdom and keep me accountable. At times in my life when I did not believe in myself, they kept on believing in me, showing me the heart of the Father. Helping me to feel safe enough to believe in myself again!

Do you have a counselor, a mentor or an accountability partner that believe in you? Then you will walk in safety and victory!

Shalom!

Anina