Our Burden Bearer

Last night ended up being a late night for me. Our County Commissioner Lew Gaiter invited me to come to the Larimer County GOP Central Committee Meeting. I haven’t connect with very many in the political arena Fort Collins so I thought I would drop by for 30 minutes and meet some people. During the meeting Lew looked at me and said, “do you wSAM_0924ant to run for bonus member?” I wasn’t sure I was qualified, but found out that I could be a candidate. So I said, “why not?” So that required me to stay around until 11:30 p.m. when the teller committee gave its report. I found out that I was actually one of the seven bonus members elected.

Today, I took the grandkids to Greeley to the Buxman Dairy Farm for a field trip. Debbie and I would visit the dairy farm forty years ago when we were in college. The grandkids saw the milking process, the “maternity ward” the new calves and while we were there a new calf was born. It was a great experience and was good to be back “at the farm” and connect with longtime friends.

BIBLE VERSE Y FOR TODAY… Praise the Lord, who carries our burdens day after day;  he is the God who saves us. Our God is a God who saves; he is the Lord, our Lord, who rescues us from death.” Psalm 68:19,20

This morning as I was reading my scripture reading for the day; my grandson Riley was looking over my shoulder and asked, “what are burdens?” I wasn’t sure why he was asking so I needed to take a closer look where I was reading and realized he was reading ahead of me in Psalm 68.

I told him that, “burdens are things in our life that weigh us down. They could be worries or difficulties or the challenges of life.” Someone once said, “the problem with life is that it is so daily!” Even Jesus recognized this in teaching His disciples about worry when He said, “…Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:34)

Because the burdens of life can be daily, we need a God who “carries our burdens day after day.” Moses said to the Children of Israel, “….[I pray]…your strength lasts all your days.” (Deuteronomy 33:25) I am thankful that the Lord is with us each day and that He promises to give strength for each day and to be the one carries our burdens for us.

That is why the invitation of Jesus can be so meaningful,

“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.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

As we face daily challenges, we can be thankful for the daily provision of the Lord to save and rescue us. He promises that the “fires [of life] will not consume and the waters will not overcome..” (Isaiah 43:2) As a result our response each day can that of the psalmist,

“Sing to God, sing praises to his name; prepare a way for him who rides on the clouds. His name is the Lord—be glad in his presence!” Psalm 68:4