“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30

Many times as a preacher’s wife, I wondered about that verse. What did that mean? I needed to understand: I was serving God, I was helping others, I was studying the Bible and many other tasks at hand. It didn’t seem that my burden was light or easy. As if that wasn’t enough, everything that could go wrong did!

One of Jesus’ disciples wrote this: “We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” 1 John 5:19

So, we are working, living, and struggling in an evil environment. Christ in our lives is the only way that we will have the strength and courage  and the peace to move through our day.

Then I was reminded of words penned by David in Psalm 23. “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name sake.

Even though I walk through the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

May I be reminded daily of walking with my Savior where He is carrying the weight of the yoke on His neck!

Seventy-five years after the fact, I looked online to see if I could find the grave site of a friend. We were best friends in Sunday school class, at least as best of friends as five year olds could be. We were allowed to sit on the front pew in church together as long as we didn’t talk or giggle because her dad was the preacher.

Sometimes I got to spend Sunday afternoon at her house till church again that night. Wonder why this has been pressed into the front of my thoughts tonight? You wouldn’t think an almost five year old would remember this. It was pretty tramatic to learn that her mother had backed the car over her as she was on her tricycle behind the car.
I can’t even imagine how my mom and dad found the words to tell me. I do remember how hard it was to keep going to church with my best little buddy gone.

Then my thoughts drifted back to the year before when I almost died, or so I’m told, with pneumonia. I do remember waking up in the hospital, in a baby hospital bed in a strange place by myself. I have a picture in my mind of my mom and dad coming through the door to my room and me asking where they had been. I was terribly alone and afraid. They had only gone to the cafeteria for supper.

As I pondered why God allowed these two memories to surface, I can only think that it is so that I might share the peace and comfort that only comes through knowing Jesus and His Word because without Him there can be no peace and comfort or security when trouble hits.

Even as a 4-year-old, I knew my grandmother and parents knew Jesus, knew the power of prayer, and knew the only source of comfort was in His hand as they prayed.

Why did one four year old live and one five year old die? I do not know God’s timing on that. What I do know is that it is our responsibility to trust Him, to walk in all the light and understanding He gives us, and see that others have the same opportunity to find strength in Him.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding. In ALL your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.” Proverbs 3:5-6

“And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ.” Phillipians 4:7

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; (God)great is Your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23
This is worthy to memorize as you start a new day and a new year. God is not about the past; He is a new day of hope and compassion and undeserved forgiveness. Have a Great NEW beginning.

What a testimony of truth that 700 years before the event, God laid it on the heart and mind of Isaiah to tell the people to look for this coming event. How privileged I am to read the fulfillment of that prophecy.
Isaiah 7:14 — “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

Isaiah 9:6 — “For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

Matthew 1:21–23 — “And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. “

Did you ever notice the progression of sin as described in Psalm 1? “Walk in the counsel of the wicked.” At this point, you are still moving. “Stand in the path of sinners.” Now you have stopped, and sin has a hold on you although you are still standing. “Sit in the seat of scoffers.” Now, you are in big trouble, you have joined the group of habitual sinners.

King David advised this: “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law, he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” Psalm 1:1-4

Choices!

“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.” Psalm 42:11

I am reminded that King David, the shepherd boy and slayer of the giant, was in despair many times as it is expressed in the book of Psalm. He always looked to God for his sustenance and survival.

Life is like that, you cannot be a part of this evil and sinful world and not feel depressed, anxious or overwhelmed by what people push on your life. Accidents and unforeseen problems arise every day.

Find a Bible verse that can push your sight back to the One who can give you the strength, courage and fortitude to keep on keeping on. My go-to verse is found in Proverbs 3:5-6

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.”

What happens when we align our lives with the Lord? We are enabled to bear the burden through His strength and power. Not only that, but our lives become a witness of God’s sustaining power and love as it reflects out to others.

“We must mirror God’s love in the midst of a world of hatred. We are the mirrors of God’s love, so we must show Jesus by our lives.”

This is a quote by Corrie Ten Boom who lived in the Netherlands during the time Hitler was trying to annihilate Jews in Germany. Her family was caught hiding Jews in their home. They were sent to a Nazi concentration camp where her mother, father, and sister died of maltreatment. She was released accidentally after four months due to a clerical error! Her ability to find hope and encourage others during this time came from her relationship with God. She lived 38 years after this experience writing and public speaking of the love of God.

Bill Elliff

Do you have an enemy breathing down your neck? Are you worried that some problem, difficulty, or opposition is going to consume you? Do you realize there is something or someone who could create great difficulty for you, possibly even destroy you?

GOD SEES
God is not oblivious to your situation. He sees and knows. You can live in fear and worry. You can try to fight your battles on your own, but it is a useless exercise. But if you cry out to the God of heaven and earth in faith, He will answer and deliver you in the perfect time and the perfect way.

AN UNFORGETTABLE REMINDER

God had led the Israelites out of 430 years of Egyptian slavery, and they were headed to the Promised Land. He was leading them by a circuitous route on purpose, and they were confused.

This was amplified when they realized the most powerful army in the world was in hot pursuit, and their backs were against the Red Sea.

As Pharaoh drew near, the sons of Israel looked, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they became very frightened; so the sons of Israel cried out to the LORD. (Exodus 4:10)

But Moses had God’s assurance and stood to calm their hearts and give direction.

But Moses said to the people, “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the LORD which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. The LORD will fight for you while you keep silent.” (Exodus 14:13-14)

A COMPLETE DELIVERANCE
You know the rest of the story. God brought a mighty wind and parted the sea so the people (millions of them) could walk across on dry land.

The sons of Israel went through the midst of the sea on the dry land, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. (Verse 22)

The Egyptian army followed them into the sea bed, but at the exact right moment (God is always precise and accurate in His timing), God brought the army into confusion and then unleashed the sea upon them.

The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen, even Pharaoh’s entire army that had gone into the sea after them; not even one of them remained. But the sons of Israel walked on dry land through the midst of the sea, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians. (Verses 28-30)

The “entire army” was destroyed. Every obstacle was removed, and every enemy was overcome, never to bother Israel again.

THE SAME GOD
God can always be trusted. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He loves those who follow Him with everlasting love and cares for all who look to Him. If you cry out to Him, He will deliver you at the perfect time and in the perfect way.

It may not—probably will not—be a deliverance accomplished in the way you would assume, but deliverance nonetheless. The uniqueness of the deliverance reminds us that He is God and assures that only He should be glorified for what was accomplished.

God knows what He is about with your life. Trust the God who is before you and take your eyes off the enemies behind you.

“Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.” Luke 1:6

One day as Zachariah was carrying out his appointed job to burn incense to the Lord, the angel Gabriel appeared to him. He told Zachariah that he and his wife had been chosen to have a son who would be the forerunner of the Messiah. They were to consecrate their son and give him the name of John. Zachariah was unable to reason what the angel had spoken to him because he and his wife were very old and beyond childbearing years. Because of his unbelief, the angel told him he would be unable to speak until the baby was born. This happened immediately because Luke recorded that when he went home, he was only able to communicate through hand gestures.

It happened just as the angel said and Elizabeth became pregnant with a child. The story moves forward to tell that when she was about six months along, her cousin Mary visited her to tell her about the blessings from God that she too would have a son. As Mary was sharing the news with Elizabeth about the angel Gabriel’s appearance to her telling her she would be the mother of the Son of the Most High, and that he would reign over the house of Jacob forever and of His kingdom, there would be no end. At the moment she was telling this, the baby Elizabeth was carrying leaped in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth was now able to believe and comprehend the magnitude of what Mary had just said.

“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her.” Luke 1:45

There was great rejoicing between the two ladies as they marveled at what God was doing in their lives. Mary stayed with Elizabeth until the baby was born.

On the eighth day, Elizabeth, Zachariah, and family were at the baby’s ceremony of circumcision. This was also the time to name the child. Everyone wanted to call the son after his father’s name, but Zachariah wrote on a writing tablet that the boy’s name should be called John. As soon as this happened, Zachariah was able to speak, and he began praising God. His word “John” indicated a remembrance of the angel’s words spoken to him in the temple nine months before.

Luke records that the child grew and became strong in spirit and that he stayed in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel at which time he began speaking of the prophesy of the Messiah’s coming and preaching repentance of sins. Luke 3:15, 16

During this time, John was hearing word of a man who was healing people and performing miracles, so he sent two of his disciples to inquire as to whether he was indeed the Christ, the promised Messiah. One of the reasons for John the Baptist ministry was to preach of the coming of the Messiah and as it turned out, God had a special blessing for John because Jesus came to him to be baptized. Can you imagine this extraordinary opportunity to baptize the Son of God? Read in Matthew 3, about the baptism of Jesus and the confirmation by God Almighty that this was, is, and will ever be His Son.

As John preached repentance and didn’t shy away from calling sin what it was, he reproved the acts of a Jew called Herod, who had been appointed to be a Roman ruler over the area of Galilea. Because John was very vocal about the evilness of Herod, and that Herod was breaking God’s law by being married to his brother’s wife, Herod had him placed in jail. That wasn’t enough for Herod’s wife, Herodias. She and her daughter plotted a scheme to please Herod with their actions so that he would grant them their wishes. Their wish was John’s head on a platter.

What can we take away from this story today about John the Baptist? John was bold, he was resolute, and he was obedient to God. Even in the face of opposition and danger, he stayed true to his calling and God’s purpose.

Jesus gives John the highest compliment when he says, “Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist, yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” Matthew 11:11