I set out with my bagged goodies and receipts, which was quite a feat in itself, and proceeded to chart my course - not with a list of things to buy but to return. Several stops later and a trunk lighter, I declared "There's a gold mine in my trunk!" Last week I was able to put $250.00 back into my account. Armed with enthusiasm and the desire to begin a new trend I began to scour my home for all the bits and pieces of projects that were not needed and could be returned - coming across several more items I was able to return another $70.00 - after I figure that I have paid tax on that money it really is the equivalent of about $400.00 - that had been riding in my trunk and hiding in my closet.
How often do we saddle ourselves with clutter and unwanted items because we do not take the time to unload. Not only does this happen with the physical but also with the emotional. We are so busy running and doing and thinking "we will get to it later" we don't realize how many times we have moved that return bag and what value there is in just letting go and making a return. Sometimes we need to slow down and take care of the items in our trunk to realize there really is a gold mine there. We need to take stock of what we have and are blessed with and not be burden by the items we don't want or need or even possibly relationships that are too heavy. Sometimes it takes the return to realize the true value. As you enter this holiday season may you be blessed with all that you have and especially by letting go of the things that burden you.
Amplified Matthew 11:8-30 “28 Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. 30 For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good – not harsh, hard, sharp or pressing, but comfortable gracious and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.”
Jesus gives an invitation to everyone of us who are weary, fatigued, heavy-laden and overburdened – because we have been working hard, toiling, and laboring in our own strength – to come to Him. He offers help and a solution. He was not talking only to us about physical labor alone, but also about mental, emotional and spiritual labor.
There are some burdens that we were not designed to bear. We were not designed to bear the burden of sin and everything else that hell has to offer. We were designed, by the Father, to live in His presence and to draw our life from Him and to be sustained by Him, not to be lone rangers – struggling and limping along under the weight of our heavy burdens.
There is no help, no salvation, no relief from our burdens in anything that is in our wisdom, strength or ability – nothing we can do ourselves can come close to what the Father does for us if we will humble ourselves to receive from His hand all that He has already provided for us.
http://www.rodneyhoward-browne.com/2008/11/my-yoke-is-easy-and-my-burden-is-light/
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