Homelessly Burdened

Homelessly Burdened

Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

                                                                                                      …Psalm 55:22

            In Springfield, Missouri, old Commercial Street sure would tell a bit of history, if she could talk.  Missouri Hotel has been a refuge for many, as well as Victory mission on this once busy avenue of commerce.  Springfield has spread in a different direction now, headed mostly south.

            Driving Commercial Street recently I observed a homeless traveler, obvious by his well packed gear.  One item did not fit the usual description of a homeless man though; an ironing board.  Now what would a homeless man be doing with an ironing board? 

            My first question was, wouldn’t that would be an awkward item to carry, and limit how far he could travel each day? But thinking more upon the subject, I thought maybe he is in a new beginning and is leaving the streets, setting up an apartment.  Of course, an ironing board would be the last item I would be concerned with.  Maybe he used this to lie on, or some old style ironing boards are used to cook on out at camping sites. My imagination ran wild as I pictured him still awkwardly carrying this board.

            I will never know what the purpose was for the strange but curious item laying on top his knapsacks.  I have since ceased figuring out the dilemma, but have come to the conclusion that the ironing board was an added weight, or burden.

            The weight we usually carry is a little less obvious to most than this scene I had you imagine.  If only this man had someone to carry the board to his final destination, the road would have been so much easier to travel. Interesting isn’t it?  Christian, we are not made to carry heavy loads.  Christ said to give them to him.  Some of us look pretty silly to the world because of the baggage we transport around. We hold on too many things worse than an ironing board.  Some wear houses, cars, people and past. What do people see when they look at you?  Are you so burdened, the world sees not a lot of difference in what you carry, and he carries? 

            Walk tall, not bent with the weight of this world, and help direct others to Him.  Trials we have, but Christ says, Ye shall find rest for your souls….Matthew 11:29.   Christ is the “ultimate carry-all.”  If it is a burden He allows us to carry, it will be light, not laborious, as to impede our walk.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. …Matthew 11:30

            Someone has offered to carry our burdens to our final destination for us.  Are you interested?

Homelessly Burdened

Homelessly Burdened

Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

                                                                                                           …Psalm 55:22

            In Springfield, Missouri, old Commercial Street sure would tell a bit of history, if she could talk.  Missouri Hotel has been a refuge for many, as well as Victory mission on this once busy avenue of commerce.  Springfield has spread in a different direction now, headed mostly south.

            Driving Commercial Street recently I observed a homeless traveler, obvious by his well packed gear.  One item did not fit the usual description of a homeless man though; an ironing board.  Now what would a homeless man be doing with an ironing board? 

            My first question was, wouldn’t that would be an awkward item to carry, and limit how far he could travel each day? But thinking more upon the subject, I thought maybe he is in a new beginning and is leaving the streets, setting up an apartment.  Of course, an ironing board would be the last item I would be concerned with.  Maybe he used this to lie on, or some old style ironing boards are used to cook on out at camping sites. My imagination ran wild as I pictured him still awkwardly carrying this board.

            I will never know what the purpose was for the strange but curious item laying on top his knapsacks.  I have since ceased figuring out the dilemma, but have come to the conclusion that the ironing board was an added weight, or burden.

            The weight we usually carry is a little less obvious to most than this scene I had you imagine.  If only this man had someone to carry the board to his final destination, the road would have been so much easier to travel. Interesting isn’t it?  Christian, we are not made to carry heavy loads.  Christ said to give them to him.  Some of us look pretty silly to the world because of the baggage we transport around. We hold on too many things worse than an ironing board.  Some wear houses, cars, people and past. What do people see when they look at you?  Are you so burdened, the world sees not a lot of difference in what you carry, and he carries? 

            Walk tall, not bent with the weight of this world, and help direct others to Him.  Trials we have, but Christ says, Ye shall find rest for your souls….Matthew 11:29.   Christ is the “ultimate carry-all.”  If it is a burden He allows us to carry, it will be light, not laborious, as to impede our walk.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. …Matthew 11:30

            Someone has offered to carry our burdens to our final destination for us.  Are you interested?

Sliced, Diced and Mashed/Dust Mites

Dust Mites

But refuse profane and old wive’s fables, and exercise thyself rather unto ungodliness.

For bodily exercise profiteth little; but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

                                                                                                  …I Timothy 4:7-8

            The exercise bike, untouched, sandwiched under layers of dust served only to be a reminder of one more thing we needed to be doing.    Bill was going strong until the days became long and no time or energy was left at the end of the day.  I didn’t miss though His complaining that his body screams when it sees the bike.  This passage of scripture above is one of my husband’s favorites.  He knows it by heart.  …bodily exercise profiteth little…

            Bill seems to have strong health, but he did scare me really bad one time, while holding his hand over the heart.  Gasping for air, I saw him start to go down.  I had accidentally changed the sports channel while he was on the stationary bike. That was his reaction to me changing channels.  What drama! What a fake! I didn’t fall for it, for long.

            My exercise is buying workout equipment each and every summer at garage sales, hauling them home, and back out for lack of use, to sell in another garage sale in the spring.  Intentions are good anyway!

            There are those who exercise their faith in this manner also. They are seasonal Christians, who appear a couple of times a year, weakened from the year’s battles, but hope to find strength in those couple of visits a year.  Not enough done in their lives to make a difference, they have good intentions, but no more than that. 

Weakened by the arrows blow, Satan has convinced many Christians this is all there is in Christ.  They become cold and calloused to the wooing of the Holy Spirit, out of shape, and out of reach. Like the exercise—2 or 3 times a year--it’s the same as no exercise at all.  If there was an emergency and had to run for help, they would prove to be out of shape, to be able to get help in time.

            Christian!  People, family and friends need you!  They are weak and literally look to you to see how you re-act to urgent situations and to see if what you have is worth wanting.  Are you so weakened that your family is no longer looking to you, or even desire to exercise their faith.  Help them find their way back by you, yourself, exercising true faith in God.  Your legacy of truth and commitment will be heard of for years to come.

            Dust the off your Bible, buried under the TV Guide, and learn from Him.  But you say, “There are too many hypocrites in the church!”  There will be one less now.

Sliced, Diced and Mashed/Talk to Yourself?

Talk to Yourself?

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

                                                                                        …Ephesians 5: 18-20

            Walking down the street talking to your self is not uncommon anymore.  In fact I have caught my self in times past wondering who the man or woman was talking to, passing in the grocery store, oblivious to other’s watching.  Looking around, there is just this young man and me, the only ones in the baking isle.  I finally figured out the young man was wearing a very small telephone as an ear phone.  This is much more common now to see, but still, I find it annoying in some places.  Especially when you’re trying to have a nice relaxed evening when all you hear are phones ringing around you.  Just what you need, is to be reminded of work, babysitter, etc.

            As I was standing in line at a supermarket the same thing happened.  A young lady lied to the person on the other end of the line saying, “No, I’m not, I really am at work.”  Funny!  I doubt standing in line at the supermarket, was actually her job.  But there she was like she was talking to someone, but it sure wasn’t me.

            A friend of ours said he has his lunch while listening to Rush Limbaugh.  To anyone walking by and looking in the classroom they might have thought someone else was in the room, but he had directed his conversation to the radio.

            Many of us have conversations with no one around, but do we speak to ourselves in Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs like in Ephesians?  I sing, but whether I make melody, I am not sure. This melody is to be in my heart.  If it does not originate there, then it is just singing and not a melody or praise of thanksgiving.   This melody of thanksgiving is to be always, for all things.  That is quite a feat in itself. 

            Go ahead, talk to yourself in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs; it’s all right.  Actually this activity would help you forget your troubles and lift your spirits high.  Try it!  Sing and make melody in your heart.  Listen! And maybe you can perceive others doing the same and before you know it, a choir of Saints is formed all around you. 

            Many others are talking to themselves, in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.  You are not alone.  Listen!  Can you hear it?  The Saints are praising God the Father, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  What a melody.  Take time to listen.

           

Sliced, Diced and Mashed/Funny Looking Bear

Funny Looking Bear

And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.

                                                                             …Luke 23:8

            The day came and hunting season arrived.  All geared up, some friends told us of their day they had so long waited for.  Days had been filled with dreams of hunting a bear, a trophy to show his friends and family.  Excitement filled the air, when even it seemed to freeze in space as the cold of winter was settling in.  Time went by, hours flew, but there were no bears to be seen.  The day was spent but all of a sudden out of the corner of our friend’s eye, something moved.  Carefully checking to see if it wasn’t one of his buddies, he aimed and shot.  He had a trophy to carry home after all. 

            His wife looking out the front window sees their arrival.  Imagining a tale and a half, she made her way to the back door to be the first to congratulate him.  The door opened and out came a laugh she could not contain.  The trophy he was awarded from the full day of hunting had feathers.  Yes, he went bear hunting only to come home holding a turkey.  He had hoped to stop a bear in his tracks, but to no avail.  Instead, he had a nice turkey to offer for a future festive dinner.

            Another hunt was on, where the man came back empty handed.  Christ’s death was inevitable, but the scene leading up to it is quite interesting to ponder.  Jesus told Pilate who He was.  Herod on the other hand, passing through Jerusalem, wanted to see more from this man.  Herod wanted to see Jesus perform miracles which he had heard so much about, but Jesus did not oblige.  Herod then joined in mocking Christ dressing Him up as an earthly king.  With no voiced opinion, Herod sends Him back to Pilate.

            What this “tetrarch of Galilee” expected, he didn’t get (3:1).  He assumed Jesus would do all these things if he could, to save His skin.  If no miracle is performed, no loss; to him this would just confirm his doubts about Jesus.

            Interesting, Herod’s motives were to see miracles performed maybe to see how he himself could benefit from them.  After all, he would be able to have Christ in his courts to make Herod look good; by having “this man of Galilee” be great, he too would be considered great.  Why, wouldn’t he look good? If Christ could provide food automatically just at a whisper like He calmed the sea, then the kingdom would never face hunger.

            Jesus answering not, showed power under control, not weakness.  The men still would not see Jesus for who He really was—the “Son of God.”  His silence would seal His plight.  Herod physically sees Jesus, but didn’t recognize Him to be the Son of God.  What made him think seeing miracles performed would change his mind? The greatest of all miracles right before him; the cross, the darkened sky and the stone rolled away still wouldn’t do it. 

            This man of power went to take down the power of all powers—but came back with a mock robe left from the hunt.  Herod didn’t recognize Jesus the King of Kings.  He was satisfied to be left with a trophy of only an earthly crown.  Just like our friend that went hunting, he too hoped for one thing and would bear another.  

Sliced Diced and Mashed/Not All Girls

Not All Girls!

And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I am the Lord their God.

But I will for their sakes remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the heathen, that I might be their God: I am the Lord.

                                                                                                           

                                 …Leviticus 26:44-45

         While watching a Garfield movie with our grandsons, seven year old Jordan watching with anticipation and the museum owner moved down the highly decorated family photos expressing once again the importance of family, “Don’t forget, these sire, your ancestors of over 400 years!”

            Jordan pops up with, “There were boys too!—There weren’t just girls in those pictures!”  We looked at him as if to say “what?” Jordan then repeated back to us what he understood the butler to say. He thought him to say, “These are your Aunt-sisters of over 400 years.” This actually shows what a thinker and observer he is.  Even he knew, to have a family tree, there must be a man and a woman involved, not just aunts and sisters. Now I can’t say much for his hearing.

            Jordan actually understood a basic truth that many adults don’t get.  How do we think we have ancestors?  Maybe not all we are proud of, but all had to have a mother and father, or male and female to be here today.  How can we expect God’s blessing on us as a nation, when we have turned to our own ways.  We are doing just as Israel had done so many times …did that which was right in their own eyes.

            Jordan misunderstood what was said in the Garfield movie, but Scripture is very clear in what God expects from our behavior.  If we carry the name of Christ to the next generation, then we will have something to write home about, when we look down the halls of our ancestors.  Remember it is not aunt-sisters, or uncle-brothers, it is honor thy Father and thy Mother, to have the correct ancestors.  Of course, you ancestors may not be from the prestigious Garfield line or feline!

Sliced, Diced, and Mashed/Camel Spider

Camel Spider

For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a  storm against the wall. 

                                                                                                        …Isaiah 25:4

            War is inevitable.  Desert Storm took our men to the desert.  This was much different than most of our young men were used too, with the sand and blistering heat beating on them daily.  One interesting creature some of our soldiers came upon was the Camel or Sun Spider known to this particular region of the world.  Solpugids are not actual spiders, but named, because appear and jump as spiders.  Uniquely camouflaged the Sun Spider blends in with his surroundings making it harder to be seen by his predators.  Most of the numerous species are non-venomous, but can make you ill when dehydration is an already possible factor.

            When the camouflaged spider becomes too warm in the sun, it runs or tries to jump in the shadow of anything or anyone passing by.  The spider begins to chase after you trying to cool in your very shadow.  I would be running for sure if I saw this huge spider chasing me.  It can be a frightening occasion if not expecting this normal occurrence in the desert.  I would be chasing your shadow too, if I were in the blistering heat needing to find comfort. 

            Isaiah talks about running to the shadow of the Almighty.  In this verse he is praising God for His faithfulness.  Lord you have been a strength, a refuge,… and a shadow from the heat. When the weight of the world hits you full force, and the blistering heat of trouble takes your strength away, run to the shadow of the Almighty.  There awaits you renewed strength, complete restoration in the safety and comfort of Almighty God.  Run for the shadows! Run for a renewed commitment!  Up till now, it has been the Holy Spirit wooing you to His care.  You heard it, now it depends on you to obey and run to his open arms.  Christ is waiting.  Don’t be drawn and satisfied with little patches of shade when you can be completely in the Shadow of the Almighty.

How excellent is thy loving kindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.…Psalm 36:7