A BURDEN

FROM THE START, WHEN WRITING MY "NOTES", I HAVE BEEN BRUTALLY HONEST ABOUT MY PAST.  I AM NOT PROUD OF THE THINGS I HAVE DONE, BUT LOOKING BACK NOW, I WOULDNT CHANGE ANYTHING, NOT EVEN IF I COULD.  I WRITE THESE "NOTES" AS TESTIMONY TO WHAT GOD CAN AND WILL DO IN OUR LIVES IF ONLY WE ALLOW HIM TO DO SO.  I HAVE A BURDEN FOR OTHERS WHO ARE GOING THROUGH THE SAME TRIALS AND STORMS WHICH I HAVE ALSO FACED.  I WANT OTHERS TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE NOT ALONE, THAT SOMEONE UNDERSTANDS, AND THAT SOMEONE ELSE HAS BEEN THROUGH MANY OF THE SAME PROBLEMS.  MY HEART GOES OUT TO SO MANY OTHERS WHO ARE JUST LIKE ME.  I WANT TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS BY LETTING THEM KNOW THAT THROUGH THE FORGIVENESS, THE GRACE, THE MERCY AND THE LOVE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THEY CAN EMERGE VICTORIOUS AS WELL. 

THE WORD BURDEN BRINGS TO MIND SO MANY OTHER WORDS AND REFERENCES.  A BURDEN IS A HEAVY LOAD.  IT IS OFTEN EMOTIONALLY DIFFICULT TO BEAR.  A PERSON WHO IS BURDENED IS WEIGHED DOWN BY SOMETHING TROUBLESOME.  A BALL AND CHAIN, A CROSS TO BEAR AND A MONKEY ON ONES BACK ARE THREE COMPARISONS TO THE WORD "BURDEN."  WHEN SOMEONE HAS A MONKEY ON THEIR BACK, THEY OFTEN HAVE A DEPRESSING, CONTROLLING BURDEN.  THIS THIS TERM IS USUALLY USED TO DESCRIBE AN ADDICTION.  AN ADDICT CARRIES A LARGE, DEMANDING BURDEN WHICH REQUIRES A TOTAL COMMITMENT OF TIME, MONEY AND EFFORT TO SUPPORT.  IT IS NOTHING NICE TO HAVE A MONKEY ON YOUR BACK.  AN ADDICTION IS A HORRIBLE BURDEN TO BEAR. 

WHEN WE LEARN TO RELY UPON GOD, OUR BURDENS ARE LIFTED.  DRUGS LEAVE US FEELING HELPLESS AND BROKEN.  DRUGS STEAL OUR ABILITY TO FACE CHALLENGES THAT COME OUR WAY.  IF WE ALLOW HIM TO, GOD WILL WATCH OVER US AND GUIDE US ALONG THE PATH THAT HE HAS PREPARED FOR US.  GOD WILL NEVER LET US DOWN.  HE WILL NEVER GIVE US TOO MUCH TO BEAR.  WE MIGHT SOMETIMES THINK OUR LOAD IS TOO HEAVY, BUT GOD KNOWS US BETTER THAN WE KNOW OURSELVES.   WE NEED TO HANG IN THERE JUST A LITTLE WHILE LONGER, HOLD ON JUST A LITTLE BIT TIGHTER AND PRAY JUST A LITTLE BIT HARDER. 

GALATIANS 6:2 TELLS US TO BEAR ONE ANOTHERS BURDENS IN ORDER TO FULFILL THE LAW OF CHRIST.  JESUS BORE THE BURDEN OF ALL OUR SINS.  IS IT TOO MUCH TO ASK THAT WE BEAR THE BURDEN FOR OUR BROTHER, FOR OUR FAMILY, FOR OUR COMMUNITY?????  WITHOUT GOD IN OUR LIVES, WE ALL HAVE AN EMPTY PLACE IN OUR SOUL.  ADDICTION, OF ONE FORM OR ANOTHER, BECOMES A FALSE CURE.  THE ONLY CURE FOR THIS FALSE HAPPINESS IS THROUGH THE MERCY OF GOD.  HE ALONE CAN LIFT OUR BURDENS AND FILL THE EMPTINESS OF OUR SOUL. 

IT IS OUR DUTY TO EASE THE BURDENS OF ONE ANOTHER.  TO HELP LIGHTEN THE LOAD.

MATTHEW 24:35-40

THANKS FOR READING MY "NOTE"
LOVE,
M