Blessed with a Burden

  • Pastor Duane Cross
  • Apr 18, 2010
  • Series: Blessed

BLESSED

“Blessed With a Burden”  

 Pastor Duane Cross | 04.18.2010

 

3 Questions:

1.  What is it that breaks your heart?

They said to me, "Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire." When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.          (Nehemiah 1:3-4, NIV)

2.  What is it that makes you angry?

3.  What do you care about that others don’t?


Wrong ways people handle their burdens:

1)  They whine/gripe/complain.

2)  They ignore their burden.

3)  They appease their burden.


Two thoughts from Isaiah the prophet:

1)   Let your burden ruin you.

"Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."    (Isaiah 6:5)

2)   Let your burden move you to action.

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"                  (Isaiah 6:8)

 

"May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart.  May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you can work for justice, freedom and peace.  May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, and starvation, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and turn their pain into joy.  And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done."

                                                                                    Franciscan Benediction                                                   

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