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Can My Maker Handle Me

Burden (Spiritual) Acceptance God's Faithfulness

Source: Winston Church, as quoted by William Manchester in THE LAST LION: WINSTON SPENCER CHURCHILL

Link to Source: Click here to view source

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2023-11-15

Scripture: John 6:37

Author: Illustration Exchange
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ILLUSTRATION

"I am ready to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter." — Winston Churchill, nearing the end of his life.

 

APPLICATION

Do you ever feel like you are just too much for God? If He only knew you. If He could only see the mess that you are, the things you've done, surely He'd never want to deal with that, to accept that, to accept YOU. 

Even the great, lion-hearted Winston Churchill questionned His Maker's willingness to take on the "ordeal" of dealing with his life.

Well, gues what?! He IS ready for you. There is no mess too big that you cannot bring him. No sin that He will not swallow up in forgiveness, in mercy, and grace.

"All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away" (John 6:37, NIV).

The Weight of Christmas

Christmas Incarnation Burden (Spiritual)

Contributed By: Brad Strelau | Date Posted: 2023-01-22

Scripture: John 1:1 ; John 1:14

Author: Brad Strelau
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ILLUSTRATION

In recent years giant inflatables have become popular.

Inflatables are available in myriad variety: Santas, Grinches, Snowmen, snow families, and of course Christmas minions, and the famous Christmas dragon with a Santa hat (because nothing says Christmas like a dragon!).

The inflatables look great and robust, and they can be massive -- until it snows!!

When my wife and I went out for a walk in the first snow of the season, we came across many of these inflatables in our neighborhood. And although I had assumed the fallen snow would only enhance their beauty and grandeur, every one of them was crushed under the weight of the snow. 

Santa was no longer jolly. The snowman was flattened.

The irony was not lost on me. 

The very season they promoted crushed them, and they could not stand up under its weight.

They were flattened by the season they represented.

APPLICATION

Fortunately, these symbols of joy, peace, and love do not stand on their own!

They are supported by the beautiful story of the incarnation, Emmanuel, God with us.

Without the strength of that story, the season of Christmas, with all its busyness and ritual, would crush us.

Without the sustenance of its story, the Christmas season itself becomes a difficult burden to stand up under.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God ... The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:1,14, NIV).  

Two Monks

Resentment Spiritual Health Burden (Spiritual)

Source: Galaxie Software (Biblical Studies Press, 2002)

Contributed By: Mark Sinor | Date Posted: 2014-08-25

Scripture: Ephesians 4:31 ; Hebrews 12:15

Author: Dr. Anthony T. Evans
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ILLUSTRATION

One day, two monks were walking through the countryside. They were on their way to another village to help bring in the crops. As they walked, they spied an old woman sitting at the edge of a river. She was upset because there was no bridge, and she could not get across on her own.

The first monk kindly offered, “We will carry you across if you would like.”

“Thank you,” she said gratefully, accepting their help.

So the two men joined hands, lifted her between them and carried her across the river. When they got to the other side, they set her down, and she went on her way. After they had walked another mile or so, the second monk began to complain. 
 
“Look at my clothes,” he said.  “They are filthy from carrying that woman across the river. And my back still hurts from lifting her. I can feel it getting stiff.” The first monk just smiled and nodded his head.
 
A few more miles up the road, the second monk griped again, “My back is hurting me so badly, and it is all because we had to carry that silly woman across the river! I cannot go any farther because of the pain.”
 
The first monk looked down at his partner, now lying on the ground, moaning. “Have you wondered why I am not complaining?” he asked. “Your back hurts because you are still carrying the woman. But I set her down five miles ago.”
 

APPLICATION

The author concludes, "That is what many of us are like in dealing with our families. We are that second monk who cannot let go. We hold the pain of the past over our loved ones’ heads like a club, or we remind them every once in a while, when we want to get the upper hand, of the burden we still carry because of something they did years ago."

"Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice" (Ephesians 4:31).

Shrek the Sheep Carried a Huge Burden

Jesus, Good Shepherd Burden (Spiritual) Prodigals

Contributed By: Barnett Gushin | Date Posted: 2013-08-19

Scripture: Matthew 11:28

Author: Unknown
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Put The Glass Down!

Burden (Spiritual) Worry Rest

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2013-03-04

Scripture: Matthew 11:28

Author: Unknown
57

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God Forgets, And We Should Too

Forgiveness Guilt Burden (Spiritual)

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2012-10-30

Scripture: Micah 7:19 ; Hebrews 8:12

Author: Dr. Rich Dorst
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Could You Help Me Lift This Car?

God's Provision Burden (Spiritual) Holy Spirit

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2012-10-11

Scripture: Psalms 121:1

Author: Illustration Exchange
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Thou Shalt Not Fish

Law (of God) Sin Nature Legalism

Contributed By: Adonis Randolph | Date Posted: 2024-08-24

Scripture: Romans 7:8 ; Romans 3:20

Author:
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Mysteries on the Walls of our Faith and Worship

Tradition Worship Legalism

Contributed By: Neal Pollard | Date Posted: 2024-07-09

Scripture: Mark 7:13

Author: Neal Pollard
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When Fear Melts Into Freedom

Bondage God's Power God's Deliverance

Contributed By: Ron Michener | Date Posted: 2024-02-15

Scripture: Matthew 11:29 ; Galatians 5:1

Author: Ron Michener
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