Have you ever been carried away? My mom used to tell me, "Mindy, don't get carried away with that sugar." I remember being carried over the threshold on August 2, 1991. Upon arriving to our hotel, Jeff and I were given a police escort down a one way street...the wrong way in downtown Seattle. That was a fun kind of carried away!
I bet you're like me and have needed the help of another to carry you through something or to somewhere. When I was seventeen, I sprained my ankle in a softball game. I was crossing home plate and that's as far as I made it. I needed the help of my teammates to carry me to the car and into the doctor's. Traveling would have been very difficult without them.
On January 31, 2000, I relied on the support of others and God to carry me through the tragedy of the plane crash of flight 261. I had lost my best friends, heroes, pastors and parents. We went from being youth pastors with no children and a cat to having a sixteen year old, 18 horses, 18 acres, 2 dogs, being senior pastors of a church and all that goes with it. We needed help.
This reminds me of an account in the Word when the four friends carried the paralytic to see Jesus. This man who was paralyzed, couldn't eat by himself, couldn't walk, dress himself or do simple daily tasks found himself in the grasp of his friends who had taken him to the place where Jesus was. When they arrived, the house was so full of people, these friends took the roof off and lowered him in. That's what I call, "raising the roof!" The paralytic was carried away by his friends. Without his friends, he may never had seen the Healer, Jesus. We've all been carried away a time or two. I'd be a fool to think I made it where I am today on my own. Someone carried me. Someone helped me get here. In fact, I have a fantastic team around me to support and uplift me, each day.
Colossians 3:13 tells us as God's elect to "bear with one another, and forgiving one another...." The phrase "bear with one another" means to uplift or carry one another. Just as you and I have been carried thus far in our lives, someone is in need of our support. When God touches someone, He uses people. He uses you and I. I pray I can be the kind of support those around me need. This verse even goes so far as to admonish us to support our offenders and forgive just as Christ forgave us. This is powerful to me. My enemies need me to carry them. I get kind of excited because I just don't know how God will turn someone's heart towards Him and those who love Him.
Take a moment to remember areas where you been carried away. Is there someone who needs your support? Maybe there is someone you need to forgive. God is quick to answer when we call on Him. Let me encourage you to do just that. Ask God to help carry you today.
2 comments:
And isn't it an amazing sensation to be so closely connected to God in your times of trouble? And for me, there have been plenty. I'm glad I stumbled upon this entry, lately my sister is having immense health problems and I struggle with my emotions sometimes instead of helping. Thank you/God bless
I have needed to be carried a time or two(or three). Going along with the bitterness comment I made on another blog, this is yet again another stretch for me. Forgiving those who have hurt me. Reopening myself to let people close to me again. It's a scary feeling. I sometimes ask God, "Why Me?" Why can't I just find "normal" friends, who won't stomp on me and tear my heart out. But it's not all about me. I want to look at those around me and see who needs to be carried, and carried right into the loving arms of Jesus. God is always faithful to show me how we can touch people's lives and not even know it, or realize it at the time. I received an email from a girl I went to school with. To make a long story short, in 4th grade, I saved her brother from drowning. Years later, in the 90's, I ran into her in Monroe. She was at a low point in her life. I encouraged her and shared about God in my life with her. A few months ago, I received the email. The email was entitled "Thank You". She was thanking me for taking the time to talk with her and that it changed her life. At first I didn't know what she was talking about until she told me of the time I saw her in the store and shared with her. She said that I had huge impact in hers and her brother's life. I was so "wowed" by the email, I was speechless. I thank God for those huge encouragements, and the nudge to keep on keepin' on. Even when it hurts, cause you never know who's life you touch or impact.
Post a Comment