BEAR A FEW

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

Galatians 6:9-10 (NIV)

And let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t get discouraged and give up. That’s why whenever we can we should always be kind to everyone.

Yesterday was a “burden bearing” kind of day for me.

I had a really good friend in crisis.

I spent time with a new an amazing team of believers burdened by the hurt in the community looking for ways to help.

There were several conversations with colleagues burdened by new challenges and with state leaders seeking answers for their addiction challenges.

Lots of burdens.

Yet lots of opportunity to fulfil an important purpose!

Friends as CHRISTIANS we are CALLED to due a little “burden bearing”.

Charles Stanley remarked that…

“The Bible instructs Christians to bear one another's burdens. Doing this effectively requires awareness, acceptance, and availability.

Awareness.

If you're not sensitive to the struggles of those around you, how can you help them? Every Sunday you sit in church surrounded by people who hurt intensely. The Lord knows the depth of their suffering and is there to release them from bondage, but He often works through His children. Thankfully, we have His Spirit to sensitize us to needs in our midst.

Acceptance. 

We are not to bear burdens on the basis of how we feel about the other person. Jesus doesn't discriminate about whom to love or help. If we want to be like Christ, we must be willing to share in the pain of others, no matter who they are. Does this describe you? Or do you limit your support to family and friends?

Availability. 

Christians sometimes relegate the work of caring for others to their pastor, figuring, That's his job, after all. Yet he, too, has burdens. Your pastor wants to help everybody in every way possible, but if he's the only one available to offer support for the church, both will crumble.

A faith community thrives when people bear each other's burdens. 

Ask yourself if there's a way you can help carry the load for others!

Scripture tells us the whole law is fulfilled in one commandment: 

"Love your neighbor as yourself" (Gal. 5:14).

Next to loving the Lord with all your heart, this is the second greatest command (Matt. 22:39).

Therefore, when we share another person's heartache and burdens, we fulfill a great law of God.”

Carry each other's burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ. – Galatians 6:2 (NIV)

The practice of patience toward one another, the overlooking of one another's defects, and the bearing of one another's burdens is the most elementary condition of all human and social activity… Lawrence G. Lovasik

Bear a few today...

Have a blessed day today!

I love you all

OPPORTUNITIES for HOPE