Tag Archives: Carry each others burdens

Restoration: From Grief to Glory

2 Replies

Another highlight of our recent memory maker trip was going to church with my sister at the Heart For The World church in Las Cruces, New Mexico. It was obviously a community that lived its mission: Believe – Belong – Become, where everyone was accepted and embraced regardless of appearance or background. I was impressed with the gentle spirit with which pastor Dale Walker approached people and delivered a great message called “From Grief To Glory,” based on the Book of Ruth.

Pastor Dale lovingly reminded us that God is the restorer and redeemer of our broken lives. You know how you feel when you are broken, without hope or strength, lost, perhaps confused. Great disappointments are moments when we sometimes question our value and purpose in life.  Hopelessness is the biggest destroyer of lives and the second leading cause of teenage death. But God wants to restore us and repurpose us for His glory. And it is in the crucible of suffering and brokenness that we find ourselves ready for such transformation.

Our inheritance is found when the time comes to let go of our grief and transform it to its new and higher purpose. If the grief is our own doing, repentance is God’s gift, a second chance to make right on an old hurt so that healing and restoration can come.  And just as Ruth was a steadfast friend to Naomi, and key to her restoration, so we also need to live life with friends and carry each other’s burdens. (Galatians 6:1-2)

Think about one friend who has stuck with you through the fire of grief. Name one friend who you need to stick with. What area of your life do you want God to restore? He has a restoration party ready for you (Zechariah 9:12, Luke 15:10). Come all the way home and enjoy the celebration.

I will comfort all who mourn. Isaiah 61:2-3

The Lord is my shepherd…He restores my soul. Psalm 23:2

 

 

 

Carry Each Other’s Burdens

3 Replies

imageNurse Ashley brings some of Bryan’s morning medications. Today is off to a better start; more alert and able to sit up for as much as 45 minutes. All the staff have to wear mask because of Bryan’s flu. There are also 2 blood infections they are trying to isolate. In addition to two different IV antibiotics he is also getting blood and platelets today. The report on his rare chromosomal condition showed there were NO chromosomal abnormalities identified in the last test. THAT seems to very good news.

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2

We understand is that the word ‘burden’ in this passage refers to an unusually large burden that is too large for one person to shoulder alone. Each of us has burdens we must bear on our own, but there are some that are too heavy for any one person to carry. We have to carry each other’s burdens.

Many of you have helped carry our burdens through fervent prayer. It works! We can feel your prayers releasing God’s power in our lives…power for healing and power for encouraging and reaching others for Jesus. Others of you have reached out in immensely helpful ways without being asked.

Sometimes Jesus Himself carries us through the roughest parts of the storms. We’ve written of two times when the shaking/convulsions were just too much to bear. Recalling God’s Word immediately released His power to bring, not total healing but essential relief. This happened another time in the middle of the day yesterday where Bryan was praising God out loud in Spanish, which he says is pretty unusual because neither of us speak Spanish confidently.

“En cristo solo. Solamente en Jesucristo. Tu eres Dios. Solo tu eres digno y soverano, el cordero y león.” (In Christ only. Only in Jesus Christ. You are God. Only you are worthy and sovereign, the lion and the lamb.) Again, like the other two times, the unbearable shaking stopped. Again, God carried the burden that Bryan could not bear, and left him with the burden he could bear.

Thank you for helping to carry our burdens.