O weary, worried, Wobbly One,
We have an enemy around us as we walk out our life in Christ. He and his minions are not so thrilled when we are walking in peace and rest. And so, there are those dark forces around us that seize any and every opportunity to distract us, discourage us, disturb us and cause us to distrust the Lover of our Souls.
Read MoreToday I would like to share with you what has become my "spiritual survival image."
Why?
Because life can be overwhelming, frustrating (people and circumstances don't always cooperate with our "plans"...amazing!), and stressful to the point of sending us "over the edge."
So here is where the Lord always seems to take me, even in the dark, even in the not-knowing...perhaps especially in the not-knowing.
Read More"Letting go" is a lesson I need to continually learn. While on this earth, my "people helper" self tends to go too far by jumping in to rescue and fix. Or I take on grief too deeply because of the wrong choices of loved ones, and such grief tampers with my soul-stability.
Read MoreIf you have been following my last few blogs, you know that I have become more aware of the enemy around us as we walk out our life in Christ. He and his minions are not so thrilled when we are walking in peace and rest. And so, there are those dark forces around us that seize any and every opportunity to distract us, discourage us, disturb us and cause us to distrust the Lover of our Souls.
This week, our beloved son Jeremy told us that he was scheduled for a biopsy in the area where he had thyroid cancer almost 20 years ago.
Read More
I have this recurring image. It began in worship one Sunday years ago. I was struggling emotionally about some issue. Then out of the blue, I had a sense, not a literal vision, but rather a picture in my spirit. The picture was of Jesus and me climbing a mountain. He had me by the hand and was carrying a "Santa-like" sack on His back.
Suddenly He stopped climbing and turned to me saying, "We can't go up any higher until you throw that burden you are carrying into my sack. You need to let ME carry it!"
So I threw it in! And oh, the JOY and peace...and we kept climbing together!
Now often when I'm struggling with an offense, a disappointment, a slight, a rejection, whatever, I see and hear my Traveling Companion, my Guide, my Empowering Savior say, "Okay, Jan, throw it in! We can't go any higher if you don't!"
And when I throw my burden in Jesus' sack, freedom and JOY flood my soul! Then we can go on climbing hand in hand together, why? Because...
...the JOY of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10
How about you? Do you have a burden that you weren't meant to carry? Throw it into Jesus sack! Return to JOY and keep on climbing hand in hand with Him!
Lord, take me higher and higher in my experience of YOU and all there is of Your Fulness! The world has a downward drag! But I cling to You, rejoicing in my Risen, Indwelling Son of God! Amen!
It is God's will that I should cast On Him my care each day; He also bids me not to cast My confidence away.
But oh, I am so foolish That when taken unawares, I cast away my confidence And carry all my cares. T. Baird
...casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 NKJV
Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. Psalm 55:22 NIV
Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. Hebrews 10:35 NKJV
My thanks to my friend Durinda, who slipped me this little treasure when we were studying the letter to the Hebrews...many years ago!
Jesus carrying the cross
It is God's will that I should castOn Him my care each day;He also bids me not to castMy confidence away.
But oh, I am so foolishThat when taken unawares,I cast away my confidenceAnd carry all my cares. T. Baird
...casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 NKJV
Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. Psalm 55:22 NIV
Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. Hebrews 10:35 NKJV
burdens
Jesus carrying burdens
Janet Renner Loyd has been a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ most of her life. Her formal education includes a degree in education from the University of Arizona and also a degree in Bible & Theology from Moody Bible Institute. For more than thirty years, she has been involved in teaching and leading women’s Bible studies, retreats, and meetings…most notably Precept upon Precept and various studies that she has personally developed. Professionally, Jan recently retired from teaching language and writing to GED and adult ESOL students.
About her life, Jan says, “The most important thing about me is my relationship with my Father God through my Lord Jesus Christ. I am forever grateful to Him for His love, mercy, and grace to me and my family and friends...and the world.”
Jan has been happily married to John Loyd for more than forty years. They have two adult, married children and five lively young grandsons.
