“‘COME TO ME, ALL YOU WHO ARE WEARY AND BURDENED, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST,'”  I remember reading above the entrance of a Gospel Hall in Bottrop in GERMANY.  That was many many years ago and I was a young believer at that time.

Are there any words in that verse you would like to emphasize or underline? I would like to underline three words, namely “weary, burdened and rest.”

I have noticed for a long time that “shared burden quotes”, “a burden shared”, “a burden shared is a burden halved”, are frequent  search terms on the internet. They are not only frequent but they continue to come up.

I have also noticed that “a burden shared is a burden halved” is one of the top search terms.

There are burdens. We need help with our burdens. The Lord Jesus Christ knows about that. That’s why he says, “‘COME …'”

There is a Community and Worship Centre (Salvation Army) here in KAITAIA in the north of NEW ZEALAND. Only a couple of days ago I noticed  that Matthew 11:28 was written on one of the walls of the Centre:

“Jesus said,

‘Come to me all you who are weary

and burdened

and I will give you rest.'”

Matthew 11:28

It is easy to see the words “weary, burdened and rest in the text!

“NGATIKAHU SOCIAL & HEALTH SERVICES SUPPORTS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK 2012,” is written on the back of the shirt I received today.

But I am more interessiert in what is written on the front of the shirt. There I am reading five things:

1. “GIVE”

2. “KEEP LEARNING”

3. “BE ACTIVE”

4. “TAKE NOTICE”

5. “CONNECT”

Point number five is of uttermost importance to me. That’s why I have point number five underlined.

“CONNECTING …,” I am reading again and again on the monitor screen of my laptop, when I turn it on. And I know that I am now connected to the internet.

Being connected to the internet is actually important to me. But there is one connection that is of uttermost importance to me and that is my connection with my creator. And I know that I am now connected with my creator, just as I know that I am now connected to the internet.

Do you know that you are connected to your creator? You can! Read more posts on this blog.

“TAKE FIVE FOR FAITH” was a Christian broadcast I was listening to many many years ago in Thailand, while I was working there as a missionary.

MY MESSAGE IS TAKE FIVE FOR READING THE BIBLE.

Time – Out! Take a rest. Take a break of five minutes to read the Bible, the word of the Living God.

The Bible is a lamp. Psalm 119:105

The Bible is food. First Corinthians 3:2

MY MESSAGE IS TAKE FIVE FOR PRAYING.

Time – Out. Take a rest. Take a break of five minutes to pray.

When you pray, you are talking with Jesus. When you pray your soul is talking to God.

If you have done something wrong, repent. If you have any requests, ask. Be thankful for everything. And don’t forget to praise the Lord.

I am not talking here about “The Quiet Time” in the morning. I am talking here about five minutes any time during the day.

TE ARAROA – THE LONG PATHWAY

“Te Araroa  is a 3000-km trail stretching from Cape Reinga in the north of New Zealand to Bluff in the South.”

Cape Reinga

Mountain WHANGATOATEA in AHIPARA

These two young men from England are on the trail right now while you are reading this.

I met them some time ago in Ahipara.