“But I can carry you!”
Barb Roberts | Wednesday, January 22, 2014 at 12:35PM I’m not big on New Year’s Resolutions – in fact, I don’t really think that way. Rather, I like to remember things I already know that apply to a new year – things like:
“God is a God of new beginnings” …. Whether in the new year or on this new day. “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
“He will never leave us nor forsake us.” Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
“Live in the Present.” “Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
“Keep doing what God calls us to do.” “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”
“Don’t forget those who have less.” “We should continue to remember the poor.” From the Jason Gray song, “We bring the kingdom come with every act of love.”
“God loves us no matter what.” “I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge.”
“His grace is enough.” “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” From the Phil Wickham song – This is Amazing Grace – “This is amazing grace; this is unfailing love, that you would take my place, that you would bear my cross, you would lay down your life that I would be set free. Jesus, I sing for all that you’ve done for me.”
“I need to be a dispenser of God’s love and His grace.” “And this is my prayer, that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight.”
We have a New Year’s Eve tradition (and the two evenings leading up to NYE) of watching the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy – one movie each evening, culminating in the “Return of the King.” What amazing life lessons there are to learn from J.R.R. Tolkien’s writings. Each year as we watch there are ‘new’ things that strike me, as though I had never seen nor heard that particular thought or phrase or analogy. This one from Samwise Gamgee in a dialogue with Frodo was particularly powerful for me this year (from “The Fellowship of the Ring”) -
Come on, Mr. Frodo. I can't carry it for you... but I can carry you!
And another from “Fellowship of the Ring” –
I made a promise, Mr Frodo. A promise. "Don't you leave him Samwise Gamgee." And I don't mean to. I don't mean to.
So….this year I want to be faithful, and loving and grace-filled and honoring to God – and though I can’t carry the burdens God has given you to carry, I CAN come alongside of you and share those burdens.
May God bless us as we walk together into 2014.
Reader Comments (1)
We can hear the dramatic musical themes as we read lines you quote from LOTR, Barb. No less gripping or resounding themes accompany your quotations from the Word of God. Thank you.