Heavy Life – Part 3: Sharing The Load

Part 2 Yesterday

How much of this heavy life is our fault – and how much is God’s work?

A large part of it is down to the way we treat each other – we cause endless unnecessary suffering. For sure, so much of the burden we feel is our own fault. We are pulling against each other rather than working together; we are all, at least a bit, selfish. Going in different directions is easy because you can do what you feel like. Coming together is much harder (in our current state) because we will have to give up some of our independence.

We could certainly make our lives easier by learning to work together; conquering our feelings and doing what is right.

That said, we will not get rid of all the pressure we feel now because some of that is God’s hand working to change us. In fact these two points are very closely linked because the work that God wants to do in us will result in us coming together in harmony (eventually) – He is working to bring unity. A large amount of our burden is unnecessary and is the result of bad actions of us and others, while some of our burden is God deliberately working to change us; incredibly, even using our bad choices to help us learn.

James wrote this:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:2-4 (NIV)

And Peter wrote this:

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
1 Peter 1:6-7 (NIV)

I see no issue with this. Change requires work and there is so much needed in this world. The only relevant change required is in the hearts and minds of the inhabitants – we all need to change; we all need to learn how to get on. We also need to be cleaned because of all the bad experiences we have had which have lead us to believe or feel many things that are not true. To achieve all of that we need to learn how to trust God – He is the One that can change us.

Can we make life easier for each other?

Paul wrote this:

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

It would be easy to just ignore people in trouble and look the other way but in reality we are all in trouble. Working together is the only way to get where we should be.

The whole point of this life is to live and to share that living with other people – and to have God in the middle leading us and being with us. We have so much to live for but we have made this world a reck. This is really now a rescue mission to save us from all the problems that we have created and get us back to God. That is not an individual thing, we are all connected and it must be a community effort.

We need to help each other. That means supporting each other and also loving and forgiving one another, then we can make progress. If we want to get ourselves to the perfect life that we all crave then we have to learn to get on – that is what life is all about – that will be a lot easier when we have been cleaned and God is back in the middle, giving us Real Life – for now, let’s give each other a lift. More tomorrow.

Part 4 tomorrow

Heavy Life – Part 2: Us V’s Everybody V’s God

Part 1 yesterday

So, Paul said that creation has been subjected to frustration in order to set free the children of God. Set us free from the addiction to the things that destroy us and bring us into a new life. That is a pretty deep statement but as we said yesterday, how do you think that God would help us to get out of this mess?

Let’s look at two aspects of the reason for this ‘heavy life’ that we are living. These two aspects are quite different and also very clearly connected. The first is that we do wrong, we do things that hurt each other, things that make our lives and other people’s lives difficult, sometimes horrible. The second is that God is and has always been helping us to see right from wrong.

The first point is easy to see; we do wrong and everybody knows that – although we definitely need our eyes opened to our own contribution to that wrong. It is very easy to see other people’s errors; much harder to see our own. We also know that we are all full of feelings and emotions that motivate us and we all end up hurting others as a result, sometimes unintentionally; often we should have known better. One simple example is how so many of us power the suffering of others through the things we buy. We want to save money so we buy cheap products made in other countries. The people who make those products suffer, or at least have what we would deem, a terrible life – we would never work under those conditions but we turn a blind eye and get our cheap goods. That is one of countless examples – many are much worse.

The second point is a tad deeper but is also the other side of first point. We all recognise right and wrong even if disagree on the details. The fact is that we recognise it and that ability is built into us; we have a strong sense of justice and injustice. I believe that there you find some of God’s work; some of His characteristics in us. We are like him and part of that means that we understand right and wrong even if our perceptions have got twisted –  if our perceptions hadn’t got mixed up then you wouldn’t see all the problems that are everywhere.

The second aspect also includes the fact that God is not passive. He didn’t make us and then leave us to destroy ourselves alone. We walk away from Him with our bad behaviour but He has not walked away from us. He is trying to bring us back to Him – if you want some proof of that then just look at how His Church, since the resurrection of Jesus, has covered the entire world. If you are thinking that it hasn’t reached you, well, you’re here now.

We looked at the fact that Paul said that the creation was subjected to frustration. What does that really mean?

Let’s put it like this:

We left God but He didn’t leave us; He set things up and continues to act to give us every chance of finding Him again. He has not punished the world in some tantrum or lovers tiff; He has structured the world, that is our lives, so that we can clearly see right from wrong and He continues to move to show us. This frustration is God holding us back from going completely crazy and getting the attention of as many of us as will listen.

If he punishes evil then that is for good not bad; He wants to save us from it rather than leave us to it and, also, He does not want to allow us to keep spreading it to others – which we sometimes seem all too keen to do. 

If God says that some people are so lost to evil that He will have to deal with them, then that is a terrible fact. If you look at the atrocities committed in the world then, sadly, that is not hard to believe. No one would say that they do not want God to deal with evil. The complaint of most people is that He doesn’t; well, in fact, we are right in the middle of Him dealing with it – let’s make sure that we are set free from it, by choosing to follow Jesus, so that He doesn’t have to deal with us.

So, summing up:

We are driving the world to destruction because of the feelings and emotions that we follow. God is trying to save us; all of us. There you see the two points we looked at; our behaviour effecting us and each other and God’s behaviour effecting us. Let’s sort it out; let’s let Him help us.

Part 3 tomorrow

Heavy Life – Part 1: Frustrated

Have you ever thought about how heavy this world can feel, I’m sure we all have. It can be so difficult to make things ‘come good’. Do you sometimes feel a weight on yourself that you wish would disappear. Do you just want to understand one ‘simple’ thing: how to live your life?

There are certainly many sides to the explanation for the problems we have. For a start there is now over seven billion of us, all affecting each other in so many ways; we are subject to a whole load of confused feelings and emotions that constantly lead us astray. There is also the legacy we have received from previous generations; no one has ever got things right. Then there is God, how do you fit Him into this picture; if you even think that He exists.

If you believe me then He created this place and is All Knowing and All Powerful. I am sure of that but clearly a lot of people aren’t. I wonder why so many of us do not believe. That is a big question; If God created everything then why do so many of His creatures not even believe in Him?

Well, perhaps we need to answer that question one at a time: Have you ever tried to find Him? He says that if you do try then you will not fail.

Have you ever spent more time trying to get to know Him than you have getting to know some fictional characters in you favourite TV show? Surely He is more important and deserves some serious time and dedication.

For me, getting to know God changed everything in my life, including any burden I felt in this world. When my life was connected with His Spirit it really opened my eyes to what is going on around us. It didn’t take away all my problems or remove the contact I have with the dodgy feelings that we share but it did give me faith that He is working to save us.

Read this, it’s by Paul from the letter he wrote to the Romans:

For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
Romans 8:20-21 (NIV)

Just think about that statement from Paul.

Think about the choices we make and the problems we cause; to ourselves and to others. The feelings we have and pass around and the behaviour that those feelings drive. The greed, the lust, the pride; all that emotional stuff that we are immersed in.

How do you think that God would deal with such a family and try to bring us back to good – back to Him?

Part 2 tomorrow

Your Father

Who is your father; he may be amazing
Strong like double glazing; always grazing
In the Word; brilliant at raising
You; worth praising, forever appraising and meeting
Your needs; he’s spot on; his efforts are blazing

Then that’s good

or maybe not

He could be terrible; or barely bearable
He could be absent; leaving you arable
This no parable, some fathers bring trouble
Not adorable or flexible, just miserable
Or worse, deplorable; incurable sinners
Leaving your life unbearable; even horrible

That’s not your fault

Please listen

Because, there is more; a Father who is rather
Better than that; after nothing more than a calmer
Life for you. In fact, a perfect life; a new charter
Not bringing you unjust anger; no spiritual cancer
In Him; Nothing wrong, nothing awkward, no bother
Life changing times – yes; but always surrounding
You with armour; securing you with his eternal anchor
Giving you just what you need; always bringing the answer
Washing you clean from whatever you have suffered, no matter
What that maybe; His manner is flawless; He is the Master
Of this world; So just trust Him – The Everlasting Creator
Perfect in every way, Mighty God and Most Loving Father

Listen

If your life has been bad then that breaks His heart
He wants to know you and show what life is really all about
He is Love, maybe the love you never had; you may feel awful
You can trust Him, there is nothing bad in Him – NOTHING

Changing You

Do you think that this world is just how it should be
A perfect place of harmony; Heaven on Earth
No, of course not – but that is the plan
That is God’s plan for us bunch of misbehavers
Want to know how?

Well, it starts with you; whenever you want it to
It starts with change; change inside you
And it doesn’t stop until the end
Until everything that needs to be done, has been done
And it’s not just you; there are billions like you
All wondering and wandering and doubting
God has got some job on His hands; lucky He’s perfect
He does not want to lose anyone
So, what are you doing; go and find Him
He’s waiting for you

Walk on the Water by Britt Nicole – I love this song

The Narrow Path

Once, life was spotless; a long time ago
Maybe that was before the first human thought
Or perhaps a short time after; but not now
Now we are different; someone confused us
Somehow, someone tricked us into thinking
That evil things are good; twisted our minds
Now we see death as life; destructive behaviour as good
That is the story of our world

We want the best life; but we are blind to what is best
We strive for success and crave for a ‘good’ future
All the while destroying more and more life
Let us remember where we came from; let us just stop
Stop and return to the Truth; The Way to Real Life

Do you have directions; have you heard from Him
I will tell you the Way; let me share what I know

The path is narrow and not many find it; so I am told
But I would like to see that rule broken – smashed
Let us all find it; let us fill it with people

So, the Way is this: Jesus Christ and everything He said
And this is His promise: If you seek it, you will find it
And when you find it He will be there; and He will stay
He will help us until the end of all that is to come

It must be true that the path is strewn with many things
Things that the people who walk it have had to leave behind
But all those things are bad; no matter how shiny
No matter how attractive they are; the King knows best
So let’s find the path; trust our lives to Him
And let’s not get confused if it doesn’t always feel so good

He told me that the path brings joy; inexplicable joy
But it also is a challenging walk; sometimes quite uphill
He said that I had gone so far in the wrong direction
That I had got out of shape; that I had changed
And that He needed to change me back but that would take time
It would take effort and I would have to be willing
Then he would change me and that change would bless me
Not just here but bless me with an everlasting life with Him

That is what waits for us; that is our future, if we want it
So let’s walk the path and stick with it no matter what
Let’s embrace Him now and go through those changes
Let’s receive His blessings; even when they feel tough
He knows what He is doing and whoever said it was easy
If they did – they were lying

Blessings in Disguise by Laura Story – excellent

Love Is

Love is and Love does
Just what is right
Love is and always was
Everything Bright

Love has and Love gives
Only what is good
Love gives and always does
Exactly what He should

Love talks and Loves sings
With perfect words
Love causes and Love will bring
A flawless world

Love spreads and Love shows
The Truth of Life
Love wants and Love sows
The end of strife

Love stops and Love takes
Only things that are wrong
Love Crushes and Love Breaks
Only things that need to be gone

Love desires and Love needs
To be listened to
Love develops and Love feeds
Me and you

Love longs and Love directs
Us to move
Love wills and never neglects
Himself to prove

Love does and Love is
Nothing bad
Love always was and still is
The Perfect Dad

This is a brilliant song by Brandon Heath

Rubble

Since the beginning of this world
We have caused a lot of problems
We have littered the surface of the planet
And, more importantly, filled our hearts
With so much rubbish; rubbish that needs removing

There are huge mountains of greed everywhere
Pride heaped up to the sky
Filthy piles of Lust in every corner
Rotting jealousy ruining this beautiful planet
And all these constantly added to
By our so many, very confused, actions

Who could deal with all that; surely it is a mammoth task
But there is One; only One, Removal Man
One Disposal Expert; One Salvage Team
One Person that can deal with all this rubble
His name is Jesus; His name is Mighty God

If you think that you can purify yourself
By some other means – it just won’t happen
All kinds of superficial changes can be made
But if you would like a perfect, everlasting life with God
There is only one way; only one Counsellor

The fact that we have messed up this place
Is plain to see for everyone; right in front of our faces
And the only living things in this world
Are the hearts and minds of all us ‘crazy’ people
Those are the things that need to be changed
That is where the problem lies – and only One has access
Only One can get in there and make the necessary changes
But you have to grant it; you have to ask Him in
Do yourself an eternal favour; Trust in Jesus
He will change your life and ultimately set you free

Awesome God

No matter how bad your hand in this life has been so far
No matter what you’ve been through
No matter how much you’ve suffered
God’s doesn’t want that for you
Not in the everlasting world that He is making for us

So many of us have been through horrible times
So many of us have suffered at the hands of others
We dish out pain very easily; sometimes without even thinking
That’s is not what God want for us
Not in the eternal world that He is building right now

God is Awesome; He knows everything
He knew what we would do – BUT IT IS US THAT DO IT
It is us that have gone astray; we are the disobedient ones
It is us that do all the wrong and cause the pain
We do it; we do it to each other
God does not want that for us
Not in the perfect world that He will ultimately roll out

If He let us go through this, then this is the only Way
The only Way to make people; people rather than robots
We may think that things are terrible here
But this is just a moment at the start of an everlasting life
We have allowed evil to live in us and now it must be dealt with
That is exactly what God is doing; trying to set us free
God does not want evil; He is Perfect
Evil will not be around for ever; not in God’s domain

We all doubt each other and rightly so
We are all looking for someone to trust
We are all searching for the way to make our lives better
If you are going to trust anyone –Trust God
God is the Creator of the entire universe; that includes you
He will have his way; He is just being patient because He Loves us

If you think that this world is a mess – that’s because it is
But there is a perfect world hidden beneath the rubble
And God will eventually shake off all that rubble
So just make sure that you are holding onto God
Whatever you do, do not make your life in that rubble
God will have His Way and you can trust Him – COMPLETELY

This short song (written by Rich Mullins) is incredible:

Our God is so Awesome; and in fact He is the only True God
If you are going to trust anyone; TRUST HIM
Trust Him with your whole life
Do it now; I wish I hadn’t waited so long!

Making People

Do you have a problem with God
Or think He doesn’t exist
Because you see a world full of pain
So many people suffering

I know it looks bad out there
But the fact remains and can’t be denied:
We do the things we do, to ourselves
No one ever told us to do evil – did they?

So, how exactly, do you think
That people are made
And then helped to become good
When they seem dead set
On a life of destruction
Doing whatever the hell they feel like
Regardless of how many others they hurt

Even in a more ‘innocent’ way
Not only talking about robbers and murderers
Just people being people; normal everyday life
Eating too much; being greedy with everything
Smoking and drinking; poisoning ourselves
Flirting and stirring dangerous feelings
Driving too fast; only slowing down for speed traps
This list would be endless

We choose to walk a tightrope everyday
Not that we don’t know how to balance properly
If we wanted to; we could easily make things safe
But we just don’t seem to care
Taking needless risks with every step
Is it any wonder that so many of us fall off

Then we blame God or deny His existence
Because we have developed the ability
To completely ignore common sense
And fly in face of what is obviously right

For some invisible reason; hidden from our eyes
But apparently in control of our minds
We just can’t be bothered to be sensible
Someone, somehow has convinced us
That being sensible is something to be ashamed of
Tell me: is that God’s fault or yours and mine – or who’s
And just how would you deal with all our nonsense
If you think that He can’t do it or isn’t fair

The bottom line is this:
If it were you or me in the Creators chair
We would have given up a long time ago
And wiped out the lot of us; look at us
Can you image how annoying we must be
With all our logic defying antics
Causing problems beyond belief

I am sure that I would not be able to put up
With the human race for very long
It’s a good job that I’m not in charge
The proposition would break any man in minutes
Yet we easily anger at God for our own disobedience

So, if you’ve come to the conclusion
That there’s no God – or that He is not good
Because you’ve been looking
At all our mess, that we made; think again
The only way that, things will ever be good
Is when we are following Him

Dead Free

How is your life
Going to plan
Husband and wife
Or single man

Good job, nice pad
Maybe some children
Even so, is it bad
Is your world your prison

Freedom can deadly
We do what we please
We’re all too ready
To follow the breeze

Did Your Freedom
Kill itself one day
Has your ambition
Lead you astray

Listen friend
So many are trapped
And just pretend
They’ve got it wrapped

There is only one Way
To really be Free
By trusting your life
To the One Who can See

Truth they say
Will get you there
Don’t be swayed
By evil’s flair

Everywhere you’ve stood
Bright lights have said
This is good
But they’ve left you dead

So, now you’ve Heard
Just agree
Obey the Word
And you’ll be Free

Mess

This world is such a mess
I wish someone would tell me how to live
I have to confess
I can’t seem to get things right; I’d give
Anything to relieve the stress

I can’t see us fixing this place
We’re all to proud and greedy
I thought we were a ‘human’ race
But we look at the needy
With selfish thoughts – not with grace

This world is such a mess
It looks so pretty with its bright
Lights and so much ‘success’
But that is just a blight
We’ve become hooked on excess

We need help to fix this place
Help to find a different Way
To change the thoughts behind our face
We smile but our hearts are grey
Let’s seek help from the Owner of Grace

God of War

Our God is a God of War (not that He want’s to be)

But, tell me, what do you think it is that He is fighting?

We all think (and rightly so) that He is coming to save us; but from what exactly?

Perhaps we think:

He is coming to save us from our circumstances, bad neighbours, outstanding grievances that need settling, people that upset us, people that don’t see things in the same way as we do.

He is coming to save us from everybody else; they are clearly always in the wrong.

I am sure that it is easy to think like that – even if only subconsciously.

Think about this:

Our God is a God of war but not a war against people. We are certainly in the war too but most of us aren’t aware of it; and many of the ones that are have been tricked into thinking that the problem is with everyone else, rather than an internal condition that we are all subject to. ALL OF US.

God is fighting against the unseen forces that fill us, His family, with all the feelings and emotions that make so many of us live in pain and suffering. Pride, greed, lust, jealousy, selfishness and all the other behaviours and motives that we often seem only too happy to obey. We follow those feelings and the result is that so many of us die or suffer as a result.

So:

God is coming to save us:

Save us from ourselves. Save us from the crazy behaviour that we are being deceived into.

That is the war that He is in; a war for His very children, his lost children. That’s us. Let’s stop obeying all those negative motives that we all feel. Let’s join this war and defeat that evil. Let’s take up the most deadly weapons that the evil forces operating in this world have ever seen:

– Patience
– Forgiveness
– Compassion
– Sympathy
– Selflessness

and, above all:

– Love – no matter what.

One more thing: We will only be able to do this with our Father’s help.

Let’s trust Him and ask Him to save us – let us lay down ourselves and follow Him.

That way, evil doesn’t stand a chance.

You Could Be

You could be fast
Usain Bolt could envy you
It won’t last
You can’t run past God into the after-life

You could be so beautiful
A super-model if you like
You’d never be truly full
Just that hollow pull leaving you always empty

You could be the hardest geezer
A gangster or the next Mohammed Ali
But would that make you a God pleaser
Here’s a teaser: there’s only been one Real Man

You could be really smart
Einstein they might call you
But what about your heart
Only Jesus can start to change that thing

You could be so many things
The world is your oyster
But only one way brings
You life: If you’ve never sought God then Do it

Money Problems

Why do we look to money to solve our problems?

We think:

If I had money I would be able to sort things out
If I got rich I would be able to do good in the world
If I had enough cash things would be easy

In reality:

People behave badly when poor, trying to get rich & rich
Money doesn’t even exist unless we say it does
And all money does do is give us control over other people

Someone once said:

If I had all God’s power I would change things
But…
If I had his wisdom too, then I would leave things to Him

The Truth is:

We barely know what we are doing with our own lives let alone with everyone else’s.

If we want to sort things out then the best thing that we can do
Is trust God and keep trusting Him – not matter what
And that involves getting to know Him and learning to doing what He says

That is really not a bad thing to do – in fact, it is the only thing to do