Be A Simon of Cyrene

Being a Christian doesn't mean we don't still have troubles. Even in following Jesus we will have our share of problems, sometimes because we follow Jesus. The quote goes "we all have our crosses to bear." Jesus even said to follow him we must "take up our cross and follow him." But that doesn't mean we have to bear our cross alone.

The Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke all share the story of when Jesus was carrying His own cross to be crucified. When Jesus was no longer able to carry His cross, Simon of Cyrene carried it for Him. Now truthfully, Simon wasn't really a volunteer in this effort. He was forced to do it. But none-the-less, he came up beside Jesus and carried Jesus' cross.

When we look around the Christian community, we may see a lot of folks struggling to carry their own crosses. It is our job (whether we want to or not) to come up beside them and help them carry their cross.

Be a Simon of Cyrene. Help someone carry their cross today.

Matthew 10:37-39 -- "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me."

Matthew 16:24 -- Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Luke 23:26 -- As they led him {Jesus} away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.

This post was inspired by the testimony of a woman in my church.

Thankful Thursday

Five things I'm thankful for this week:

1. My husband. He goes into work later on Tues & Thurs so I can go to the gym without waking up the kids and/or dragging them along.

2. New Piano Teacher. My daughter's former teacher has moved, so we started with the new teacher on this week. My daughter LOVED her and we are excited to be under the tutelage of a locally renowned teacher.

3. Lazy Days of Summer vacation. We're 1 month into it and having fun.

4. Writing Opportunities. I've inquired about 3 writing opportunities this past week. I haven't heard back on any of them, but I took the step to inquiry. I'll let you know how it goes when I hear something.

5. Air conditioning. Our unit was out for about 36 hrs this week. When you don't have it, you suddenly appreciate it all the more.

Well, that's my 5 simple things I'm thankful for this week. I'm always thankful for God's love & sovereignty. What are you thankful for this week? Leave a comment or link up at Truth4theJourney by clicking the button.

Get Back Up

"It ain't how hard you hit; it's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward." Rocky Balboa '06

Sometimes I feel like Rocky. Life has hit me a few times. I'm bloody, my eye is swollen ("Cut me, Mick!"), I've been beaten up and sometimes I may think I don't have the strength to get back up.

I get down on myself and I think "Loser!" But Rocky said something I really like. Being a winner isn't how hard you hit, it's how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. When life gets me down, I keep moving forward. I may be down, but I'm never down for the count.

In the orginial Rocky movie (1976) Rocky was explaining his relationship with his girlfriend, Adrian. He said, "she fills gaps." His friend Paulie asked "what's gaps?" Rocky explained "I dunno, she's got gaps, I got gaps, together we fill gaps."

I've got gaps, but Jesus died on the cross for me. His cross bridged the gaps in my life, to make way for me to go to heaven. Jesus filled my gaps.

So even though sometimes I feel like the picture of Rocky at the top of this post, exhausted and broken down; with Jesus on my side, I'm more like the Rocky picture posted below (after he just ran up the stairs). "Went the distance, now I'm not gonna stop. Just a man and his will to survive." (Eye of the Tiger)

With the help of God, I'm not gonna stop either.




Psalm 121:1-2 -- I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth


Ecclesiastes 4:9-11 -- Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!


Luke 8:54 -- But he {Jesus} took her by the hand and said, "My child, get up!"