Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - WordAction - The Foundry Publishing House of Kansas City, Missouri, United States - The Global Church of the Nazarene for Sunday, 8 October 2017 "Carrying The Weight" by Amy Crofford - Psalm 40:11-17

Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - WordAction - The Foundry Publishing House of Kansas City, Missouri, United States - The Global Church of the Nazarene for Sunday, 8 October 2017 "Carrying The Weight" by Amy Crofford - Psalm 40:11-17

Psalm 40:11 (10) I did not hide your righteousness in my heart
but declared your faithfulness and salvation;
I did not conceal your grace and truth
from the great assembly.”
12 (11) Adonai, don’t withhold your mercy from me.
Let your grace and truth preserve me always.
13 (12) For numberless evils surround me;
my iniquities engulf me — I can’t even see;
there are more of them than hairs on my head,
so that my courage fails me.
14 (13) Be pleased, Adonai, to rescue me!
Adonai, hurry and help me!
15 (14) May those who seek to sweep me away
be disgraced and humiliated together.
May those who take pleasure in doing me harm
be turned back and put to confusion.
16 (15) May those who jeer at me, “Aha! Aha!”
be aghast because of their shame.
17 (16) But may all those who seek you
be glad and take joy in you.
May those who love your salvation say always,
“Adonai is great and glorious!”
18 (17) But I am poor and needy;
may Adonai think of me.
You are my helper and rescuer;
my God, don’t delay!
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Car games are a staple for long road trips with children. In West Africa, variation in license plates is rare and billboards rarer yet. So, we played “BoB.” The first sighting of a woman with a “Baby on Back” earned points. Other points could be earned for BoHs–“Basket on Head” or “Bottle on Head.” The points mounted quickly, as these were fairly common to see. West African women are amazing because the weight of a full gas bottle can be considerable. A Beninese proverb reflects this, noting, “If you arrange your own load, others will help you lift it to your head.”
In Haiti, we also saw tremendous feats of head balancing. A Haitian prayer recommends giving your burdens to Jesus so He can have the headache.
Physical and mental stress occurs when people take on more than they are capable of bearing. The burden of sin is one that we were not designed to carry. It can give us more than headaches and backaches; it can flatten us. We need to get rid of it, and Jesus is more than willing to bear it for us. Why not let Him?
Hymn for Today:

"What a Friend We Have in Jesus" by Joseph M. Scriven
1. What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!
2. Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
3. Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.
4. Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
Thou wilt all our burdens bear;
May we ever, Lord, be bringing
All to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright, unclouded,
There will be no need for prayer—
Rapture, praise, and endless worship
Will be our sweet portion there.
Thought for Today:
“Come to me, all of you who are struggling and burdened, and I will give you rest.(Matthew 11:28}
Please pray:
For the development of Christian leaders in Jamaica.
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