The Weight of the World

My dad did the sermon at our church today, and of course I though it was great! :)

The Weight of the World
The "Atlas" is a well known statue at Rockafeller Center in New York City. Atlas was a greek god known for bearing the weight of the world on his shoulders. The statue is of a man straining to hold the world on his back. (I am sure if you googled it you could find a picture but I'm too lazy). The Atlas shows us a good example of how we as humas, view the world. As something that we struggle to carry for ourselves, bearing the burden on our shoulders. But across the street in NYC is Saint Patrick's Catherdral, a well known and beautiful Catholic church. Tucked back in a corner, off in the side of the church is a small statue of a child, one hand out showing "blessings", the other hand outstreached. In that outstreatched hand is the world. The world as God sees it. As something he holds in the palm of his hand. The bible teaches us a much different way to view the world.

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."

God doesn't promise an easy life void of burdens and struggles. He promiese a life that has struggles, but he also promises us help for our struggles. The "yoke" is a tool used on the back of an ox or other farm animal to help that animal to pull the weight that he is burdened with. So when God is offering his "yoke" he is offering to shoulder some of the weight so that we don't have to do it all alone. Not taking away the burden, just making it easier for us to carry.

1 Peter 5:6-7 "Be humble in the presence of God's mighty pwer, and he will honor you when the time comes. God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to him. "

How do we get the weight of the world off our shoulders and place it into the hand of Jesus?

1. Accept that you are not "Atlas".
-admit that you need help. You can't do it alone.

1 Corinthians 1:25 "For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.

2. Rely on the bigness of Jesus
-God's worst is better than our best.

Philippians 4:13 "I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

3. Be strong enough to turn loose.
-Let go

Phillippians 4:6 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

Romans 12:3 " But I say to every one of you, through the grace given to me, not to have an over-high opinion of himself"

The World's "EGO"- Edging God Out
The bible's "EGO"- Exalting God Only

Amazing Prayer

In the book The Relationship Principles of Jesus, which is the book we are reading for the 40 days or love series at my church, the author Tom Holladay quoted an amazing prayer from a book written a long time ago. I wanted to share it here. It was written in 1831 in the book The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soal by Philip Doddrige. This is the prayer:


"This day do I, with the utmost solemnity, surrender myself to thee. I renounce all former lords that have had dominion over me; and I consecrate to thee all that I am, and all that I have; the faculties of my mind, the members of my body, my worldly possessions, my time, my influence over others; to be all used entirely for thy glory, and resolutely employed in obedience to they commands, as long as thou continuest me in life..... To thee I leave the management of all events, and say without reserve, Not my will, but thine be done."

WOW!

God is big

I woke up this morning sad over the outcome of yesterdays election. It's no secret that I am a Republican and voted for McCain. I disagree with a lot of what the Democratic party stands for and I dislike Obama's "plan for America". So of course I was disappointed with the election. However at the same time I woke up this morning reminded that God is so much bigger than all of this. He is bigger that the President of the United States. And I find peace in the fact that I am lead by him. God is in control, even when I feel that other parts of life are falling apart. That no matter what happens here on this earth, there will be true peace and happiness in heaven. And no election can take that away. God will overcome all of this, and will reign forever in heaven. That is where my peace lies today. That is why I wake up each day. That is what I teach my children. That is why today I have a smile on my face. God is bigger than anything and everything that this world has to offer. Because despite what many belive, he made this world. And someday soon he is coming back.