2013 Walking in Faith: January: Divine Burden

The closer I walk to what actual scripture calls of me, the more I have what I call a "divine burden". I am happy because I have a Savior, but I am constantly troubled for those that don't, and I am constantly overwhelmed by the desperation of hurting people in our world.  I cannot handle doctrines that ignore the very suffering that accompanies Christianity. I once believed that life should be full of all kinds of Americanized blessing so long as I have enough faith, then as I asked God to show me truth over and over,  I saw that Jesus, the ultimate human, died on a cross, Paul, God's chosen instrument-beheaded, Peter, the "leader" of Christianity-beheaded, Stephen-stoned, James-torn apart literally: that certainly doesn't look like my kind of blessing, especially for the most faithful of us all.... I even recall a verse that questions why we should think we should have it easier than our Savior. I know there is much in Scripture about adoption into the Kingdom, and walking in abundance, and how God gives to us for our pleasure because of our faithfulness,   but  you literally have to ignore big chunks of scripture and our church founders lives to come to the conclusion that the American dream is part of God's plan!! I am not denying the Power of God, and the amazing Counselor we have in the Holy Spirit. And, I know my Heavenly Father loves me to no end and wants me to walk in love-joy-peace in Him,  but I also cannot deny that part of loving God is loving my neighbor as myself, and loving my neighbor as myself will mean sacrificing  and suffering. There does come a time when our material blessing hinders our ability to love our neighbor as ourselves. I live in that world everyday. It is a sin in my life that can't be solved by tithing or donating here and there. Love my neighbor as myself, God where do I start???