Consider

Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:2

As we share the Christmas Season with our loved ones, I would ask that you take a moment to consider those for whom the Christmas Season is a painful time.  How could it possibly be a painful time?  Perhaps due to the death of a family member; perhaps because of being new to the area and no friends have been made as yet; perhaps because there are no funds to provide even the basic essentials for their family.

You see, God has blessed each of us and we are to be good stewards of what God has provided.  Consider sharing a bit of your Christmas with someone who isn't so fortunate.  Consider inviting someone who has no family to share with your family.  Consider encouraging and sharing love with those who have family who have died. Consider remind others that the arrival of Christ brings hope, and then share your hope with someone who may be hopeless.  Befriend the person who may not have any friends as yet.

Every person's story is different and every person is in need of something, and it is God's instruction to us to share with others, and in so doing, needs are met.

We are instructed to share each other's burdens.  Therefore, SHARE YOUR CARE!!!
 

What's Stopping You?

No, dear brothers, I am still not all I should be, but I am bringing all my energies to bear on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead

Philippians 3:13 

 

 

I've been looking at some photos of my family from the time my Dad was a toddler.  Whilst waxing nostalgic for a bit, my mind began to wander to some of the events in my own past that still bothered me more than a little.  Yes, I know, "the past cannot be changed."  I've heard, and said, that more times than I can count....so apparently, I don't listen to myself or others.  Or perhaps I do, and then, during times of stress my mind responds by exhuming what I thought had been buried long ago.

 

The more I pondered (being that I like to think about things), a few reached 4 conclusions:

    1.   The past has happened.

                  It may have been painful.

                  It may have been distressing.

                  It may have been humiliating.

                  It may have been horrible.

                  It may have even been terrifying.

 

   2.  The past is no more.

                  The memories may haunt you.

                  The scars may scare you.

                  The lessons may be painful.

                  But the past is not the present.

 

   3.  The past helped shape you.

                   The bad parts act like sandpaper.

                   The good parts act like polish.

 

   4.  If you could change any aspect of your past, what would it be?  

                   This is a trick question: if you change any piece of your past, you would not be who you are now, nor who you will become.

 

Look at the photo....did the bicycle stop the tree from growing?  

 

"Every saint has a past every sinner has a future."

Inseparable!

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

~Romans 8:38-39

Ever had situations where you wondered if God even remembered your existence?  Ever felt so alone that you thought even God had abandoned you?  I have.  I admit it, I even yelled at God for leaving me to face the torments of life alone!  Even saying something to the effect of, "YOU claim that You love me!  YOU said You would be with me always!  YOU claimed that You would never leave me or turn Your back on me!  Okay Big Boy.....WHERE ARE YOU WHEN I NEED YOU?"

To my surprise, and annoyance, within my soul I heard God chuckle. Not in a mocking way, but the way my Grampa used to chuckle when I would tell him about my day.  It was the chuckle of infinite love.  

In THAT moment, my mind played the conversation: 

     God: "What's got you all riled up?"

     

     Me: "Can't YOU see all that I'm having to deal with?"

     God: "Yeah....I can see it.  I also can see how everything will play out.  I can also see how this will be helpful later on."

     Me: "Hang on!  If that's true, then WHY not skip to the 'helpful' part?"

     God: "Because you have to learn to trust Me through this so you can use this experience to help someone else later."

     Me: "On REALLY!  Who will I help with this chaos pulling my life apart now?"

     God: "First, let Me take care of the details.  Second, trust Me especially with the painful parts.  Third, remember that I love you.  Finally, stop trying to do MY job."

Here's what I learned through that absolute crushing period of life....God REALLY does know what He's doing.  Through the darkest and most painful parts of life, God's plan is working.  He's always, always, ALWAYS with us, loving us, caring for and about us, and, believe it or not, God is ALWAYS protecting us.