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Listen while you read: "We Give Thee But Thine Own"1 (Lyrics) |
It was one of those Sunday mornings to wake up sleepy, tinged with disinclination and reluctance to get out of bed. My sleepy head was offering me one excuse after another that it did not matter if I slept in and missed going to church. After all, I have been to church on Sundays alone more than 3,300 times. What else would be new to hear or sing or pray for?
I pulled the covers over my head and hoped to fall back to sleep. Not so! After a few minutes of being wide awake, I looked at the clock and saw that I had plenty of time to make it to the worship service — with time to spare.
I sat on my usual pew thinking, Here I am, ready for the usual. But the God of light and the Lord of the living had something special for all who were seeking eternal life for their everyday struggles and issues.
The pastor's sermon was entitled "The burden of responsibility". It was a powerful lesson on how to walk with Jesus. It was wonderful to hear that whatever burdens we have, Jesus gives us His invitation:
Matthew 11:28-30 – Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (NIV)
Praise God! was my response. Jesus will walk with me –- with us. I thought back to my eye surgeon visit, when I was told that my eyesight is in jeopardy: "Nothing more can be done!" For days, I had been digesting this and dealing with the issue. On my way home from the eye doctor, a totally blind young man sat next to me on the bus and in no time we were in conversation. God works in mysterious ways is all I can say. The young man was a wonderfully-equipped blind person who saw more to life than many with good eyes. In that half-hour, I found out that he was a Christian, and our handshake with God's blessings was one to remember. It truly was strength to move on. Walking with Jesus had lifted my burden.
I was glad to be in that particular service finding joy and peace for my issues. The love of God is so close with Jesus walking with us every step of the way! This is why I was nudged big time to get out of bed and go to church to hear this particular sermon and be blessed by it! What if I had missed it? What else have I missed?
Our need to walk with Jesus never lessens — quite the opposite. God empowers us in the daily issues that get thrown at us with setbacks and trials. Jesus empowers our walk with Him step by step. Praise God!
Prayer: Lord of the living, we thank You for Your lasting love. Thank You for walking with us step by step and for inviting us who are weary and burdened to learn from You and to leave our burdens in Your keeping. We love You, Jesus, our Lord and God! Amen!
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Wonderful story and application Kirsti.
Amen and thank you for words I needed to hear. They gave me the push I needed for today and the weeks ahead. Blessings to you.
Kirsti – it’s interesting the way God always seems to put someone in your path for a reason. Thanks for sharing these encouraging testimonies.
Kirsti – thanks for your devotion and thanks for being a faithful writer and sharer of things that stir our hearts.
God bless.
Dear Kirsti,
I really enjoy your devotional “Sunday Morning”.
Thank you.
I felt just like you this AM. It would have been easier to stay in bed but I got up and made my achy joints move so I am getting ready to go to church.
Thanks for the message and know that I am not alone.
Hi Kirsti,
Thanks for such a meaningful devotional, it certainly reflects my experience of God’s activitie in my life and it is encouraging and uplifting to hear how God is at work in yours. I pray God will continue to bless you so richly!
Many thanks for your encouraging words. They helped me to get going and attend to the business at hand! You always have a special appeal to those in need. You are indeed one of God’s blessed encouragers. That is a gift you you have and share with others. I do hope the issue with your eyesight is one that will become manageable with God’s help. Many thanks!
Good Sunday Morning Kirsti!
Thank you for writing/sharing this Devotional – like meeting the blind man on the bus. Just what I needed. God is SO good! Like you, I have been having problems getting myself to church. Like who cares if I’m not there, etc.? Thanks again.
Blessing Kirsti,
Your devotional is a great reminder to us. I believe we have all felt that way one time or another — Even Thomas. The verse comes to mind in Isaiah 55:6
“Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.” Living in the last days We need to feed on The Bread of Life more than ever.
Bless You.
Hello
Yes, a “Life” worth more than the entire world could give. Oh child of the living God, rejoice in His Son Jesus! Pray that God will, by the working of His Holy Spirit, draw many unto Jesus in this the last day. Continue to pray for the rulers over the nations, as we pray for one another. At the appointed time, whatsoever was, or is, shall be dissolved in a moment.
A Gem from your Bible, John 3:16-18.
(USA)
A precious devotional, Kirsti.
Keep writing.
It was wonderful to hear that whatever burdens we have, Jesus gives us His invitation in Matthew 11:28-30.
I love to be reminded of the wide inclusive, expansive ideas of the Christian faith.
Kirsti, I began reading from the beginning of Matthew’s gospel recently, several chapters, and was amazed at the wide inclusive, expansive ideas of the Christian faith that Matthew includes. I began noting words and phrases.
What a wonderful, glorious WAY OF LIFE Jesus Christ brought into the world!
Jesus even went to the extent of broadening, by including in his “greatest commandment,” all of the ten.
Just trying to say what a great God we have.
Thank you, Kirsti, for your wonderful uplifting devotional.
Bless you and keep writing.
How often I have struggled to get out of bed and off to the Sunday morning worship service! My usual prayer is “Lord, if You want me to go, please wake me up in time..” And He always does.