These twisting and crooked vines with the beautiful salmon or peach colored blossoms are found on the large Cannonball Tree. It rather reminds me of life itself, with its ugliness intertwined among the various beautiful moments and memories. A lot depends on your point of view about life; a positive attitude and a strong faith in the good Lord will help you to focus on the good and not the bad. Life can be wonderful and a joy, even though we recognize there is also evil in this world. Our job is to stay away from the evil and to draw close to God instead.
"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded." - James 4:7-8
One day I ran across the following "Emergency Numbers" while surfing the Web and I saved it with the intention of using it in a blog post one day. So that day is here!
Today I would like to focus on emergency number 7: When you want peace and rest : Matthew 11:25-30. In this chaotic and war torn world we find ourselves in, we all could use peace and rest. And true peace and rest is found only in Jesus Christ. Let us just zero in on verses 28-30 of Matthew 11, which follows:
(28) "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (29) Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (30) For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light."
How lovingly Jesus spoke here to comfort those listening. In His day, the Jews were heavily pressed by the laws and traditions of the Pharisees and Sadducee rulers. But Jesus spoke primarily to the poor, the lost, and the ruined sinner. People can be "burdened" by the consciousness of their sins and trembling at their danger and hoping for deliverance. If they would just turn to Jesus and believe in Him for their salvation, He would give them rest. If they will trust their souls and concerns to Him, He will carry not only them but also their load.
Of all the yokes ever put upon people, that of the Redeemer is the lightest. Jesus' laws were reasonable and tender, and it would be a joy to obey Him. When Jesus said, "For I am meek...", He was giving them a reason why they should follow Him. He was not harsh and oppressive, like the Pharisees, but instead He was mild, and gentle, and meek , and following Him would be an act of joy and of love.
It is the love with the "yoke" that takes away the hardness because Jesus walks by our side.
Sin causes a burden upon our souls. We need to confess and repent of our sins. Any other burdens as well will be taken care of by Jesus, the Burden-bearer; the Sin-bearer. Do not forget Who is carrying your burden with you, for you, and in you. Jesus will thereby give us rest....rest from our sins, from the nagging guilt of our conscience, and from the fears of hell.
Following is a moving song by Dennis Jernigan titled "My Yoke Is Easy". It is 5 minutes in length.
"Christianity is not consistency to conscience or to convictions; Christianity is being true to Jesus Christ." - Oswald Chambers
"We are here guaranteed that obedient-hearted man shall be sustained in every step that he takes. ........Holy action is always the most prudent, though it may not at the time seem to be so. ......The Word of God has never misled a single soul yet its plain directions to walk humbly, justly, lovingly, and in the fear of the LORD are as much words of wisdom to make our way prosperous as rules of holiness to keep our garments clean. He walks surely who walks righteously." - Charles Spurgeon
The following video is not a song, but instead has words of encouragement concerning Matthew 11:28-30. It is well worth reading and is only 2 minutes long.
How lovingly Jesus spoke here to comfort those listening. In His day, the Jews were heavily pressed by the laws and traditions of the Pharisees and Sadducee rulers. But Jesus spoke primarily to the poor, the lost, and the ruined sinner. People can be "burdened" by the consciousness of their sins and trembling at their danger and hoping for deliverance. If they would just turn to Jesus and believe in Him for their salvation, He would give them rest. If they will trust their souls and concerns to Him, He will carry not only them but also their load.
Of all the yokes ever put upon people, that of the Redeemer is the lightest. Jesus' laws were reasonable and tender, and it would be a joy to obey Him. When Jesus said, "For I am meek...", He was giving them a reason why they should follow Him. He was not harsh and oppressive, like the Pharisees, but instead He was mild, and gentle, and meek , and following Him would be an act of joy and of love.
It is the love with the "yoke" that takes away the hardness because Jesus walks by our side.
Sin causes a burden upon our souls. We need to confess and repent of our sins. Any other burdens as well will be taken care of by Jesus, the Burden-bearer; the Sin-bearer. Do not forget Who is carrying your burden with you, for you, and in you. Jesus will thereby give us rest....rest from our sins, from the nagging guilt of our conscience, and from the fears of hell.
Following is a moving song by Dennis Jernigan titled "My Yoke Is Easy". It is 5 minutes in length.
"Christianity is not consistency to conscience or to convictions; Christianity is being true to Jesus Christ." - Oswald Chambers
"We are here guaranteed that obedient-hearted man shall be sustained in every step that he takes. ........Holy action is always the most prudent, though it may not at the time seem to be so. ......The Word of God has never misled a single soul yet its plain directions to walk humbly, justly, lovingly, and in the fear of the LORD are as much words of wisdom to make our way prosperous as rules of holiness to keep our garments clean. He walks surely who walks righteously." - Charles Spurgeon
The following video is not a song, but instead has words of encouragement concerning Matthew 11:28-30. It is well worth reading and is only 2 minutes long.
I hope this information has blessed you and that you have a Christ-filled weekend !
(ps, I have no idea why my computer insisted on typing red ink for so much of this post. I have no idea how to change it -- I did try to --and I don't want to type it all again. Pardon the error.)
(ps, I have no idea why my computer insisted on typing red ink for so much of this post. I have no idea how to change it -- I did try to --and I don't want to type it all again. Pardon the error.)
