So, I’ll tell you the truth - I’m still trying to figure out who I am and where I fit in this crazy world we live in but I have learned something that I think you might want to know too... Life is so much easier with Jesus.

I think that I harbour an “I can do it myself” attitude more often than I should. There are many times when I decide to try and make it on my own in this life. Like Naomi in the skit, I think that I am living for Christ but through my decisions, I shut Him out of every part of my life. That’s when things go bad.

I think sometimes I want to do things “on my own” because I feel like I owe it to God. I mean, He sent Jesus, who died on the cross to bring me back to Himself. Because of Christ’s sacrifice, I can have a relationship with Him and live forever in Paradise. When I think about all that God has done for me already, I guess I start thinking of all the things that I should do to pay Him back, so I try and live for Him and do things for Him – without Him!

What I fail to understand is that I don’t have to pay God back for the gifts He gives me. Grace is a free gift – no strings attached. If I never did another thing my whole entire life after I accepted Jesus as my Saviour, God would still welcome me and love me. As Christians, we don’t do things for God or live for Him because we have to but because we want to. God’s love is so incredible and His grace so unending that it means that I can’t do anything to make Him love me more and I can’t do anything to make Him love me less!

The second piece of the puzzle is that God created me so that He could live in me and help me follow Him through my relationship with Him. The great thing about that is that God knows everything about me and still loves me and chooses to live in me! What makes God happy are not the times when I strike out on my own and attempt to accomplish something for him but the times when I ask Him to join me and help me live for Him. And here’s the kicker... God’s not the only one who gets bummed out when I try and make it on my own…I get bummed out too – it’s rotten trying to make it on your own.

From my experience... if God offers Himself to you, you’d better take Him up on his offer. Working with the creator of the universe sure beats trying to make it on your own.

“Lord, I am sorry for the times when I try to make it on my own and I reject your presence in my life. Thank you for knowing me completely and still loving me completely. Please help me to seek you each day, knowing that you created me to be who I am and long to help me live for you. You are so wonderful. Thank you Jesus. I love you. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.”

Some Cool Scriptures...

“Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yolk upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30

“My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.”
Psalm 62:1 and 2

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10

Psalm 139
Isaiah 43:1 and 2
Matthew 29:29-30

(Lisa Robinson is from St. Jacobs..)