Harmony

How wonderful and pleasant it is

 when we live together in harmony!

 Psalms 133:1-3 (NLT)

There is something so beautiful, so wonderful when we create an atmosphere of harmony in our interactions with others.  This isn't an easy thing to do with all the stresses and offenses that can assault our relationships.  Learning to live together in harmony is a precious gift which brings blessing and refreshing to our lives. 

Think of an orchestra.  Harmony is created, not by every instrument being alike or playing the same note, but by the instruments being tuned together and playing the sounds they were created to make.  When they all blend together a beautiful symphony is formed.

Each person has a different gift and a different style.  As we accept and honor each other as we are and build each other up with words of kindness, gentleness and respect we help to create an atmosphere of harmony.

Lord, we desire to live together in harmony.  Help us to work through the difficulties and deal with the offenses that make for discord.  Grant us the gift and blessing of harmony in all our relationships.

May God, who gives this patience and encouragement,

 help you live in complete harmony with each other.

Romans 15:5 (NLT)

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Relief

Crystal Cove

 

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary 

and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 

  Take my yoke upon you. 

Let me teach you, 

because I am humble and gentle at heart,

 and you will find rest for your souls.

 For my yoke is easy to bear,

and the burden I give you is light.” 

Matt 11:28-30 (NLT)

Here we are on vacation, resting on the beach at beautiful Crystal Cove,  thinking about the rest and freedom God has for us.

Jesus came to set us free.  What do we need to be set free from?  The Bible tells us that we are slaves of sin.  The tendencies of our human nature bring us down, tie us up, making things unpleasant and unhappy.  

These are the heavy burdens that we bear, the things that we struggle with all of our lives.   All of our problems stem from our tendencies toward pride, arrogance, self-centeredness which give rise to fears, resentments, quarrels and fights.

Jesus offers us rest from the effects of all of these things.  He calls us to come to him, to unite our lives with him.  When we yoke ourselves with him his strength carries us along.  When we join ourselves to him, taking our eyes off ourselves and focusing on him we have a new perspective and a new outlook.  What a relief to rest ourselves in him.

Release Your Cares

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)

God affectionately cares for us in the midst of all our concerns.  He is concerned about everything we are concerned about.  He asks us to cast all of the worry, care and anxiety we feel on him.  He is big enough to carry it.  As we release our concerns to him, we are freed to receive creative ideas and strength to solve our problems and find the guidance and direction we need.  If we are tied up in knots worrying about something, we will not be free to receive the answer or the strength we need to deal with the issue.

Melody Beattie from her book, Codependent No More says:

We release our burdens and cares, and give ourselves the freedom to enjoy life in spite of our unsolved problems.  We trust that all is well in spite of the conflicts.  We trust that Someone greater than ourselves knows, has ordained, and cares about what is happening.  We understand that this Someone can do much more to solve the problem than we can.  So we try to stay out of His way and let Him do it.  In time, we know that all is well because we see how the strangest (and sometimes most painful) things work out for the best and for the benefit of everyone.*

Dear Lord, we release all of our care and worry to you.  We leave everything in your capable hands.  Inspire us moment by moment with wisdom to deal with every problem we face.  Guide and direct our lives according to your perfect will.

 Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you

Psalms 55:22 (NIV)

*Beattie, Melody.  Codependent No More, How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring For Yourself. Hazelden, 1987, 1992. pg. 63.

Inflated or Deflated

So encourage each other and build each other up just as you are already doing.1 Thess 5:11 (NLT)

One of our important jobs is to build each other up.  Have you ever had the experience of being around a person for a while and you begin to feel deflated like someone is letting air out of your balloon.  Then you can be around others who make you feel loved and encouraged like someone is pumping you up.

I find that those who are the life givers exhibit the fruits of the Holy Spirit:  love, kindness, patience, faithfulness, gentleness.  When we are around this kind of person we can relax and receive the grace they exhibit

We are designed to be encouragers, but often, because we ourselves are so deflated we tend to suck the life out of others around us.  We need to take the time and effort to take care of ourselves, to connect with God and other encouragers, so that we, too, will be life-givers.

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: 

love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,

 goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Gal 5:22-23 (NLT)