Relief.
A few different uses of the word went through my mind, but rather than overthink this, I'm just writing tonight.
My husband just returned from an overnight business trip. Normally, at the end of the day, he is my relief of duty. He takes care of bathtime with our three sweet children (who I'm running short on patience with as they yell in the 5x8 echoing bathroom with the fan etc) and tucks them in, reads a Bible story and prays with them.
Without a cell phone, he had no way to tell me when to expect him tonight, so I kept looking out the window as the half hours ticked by. One of my three was home with a light fever today and her little sister doesn't attend school normally Thursdays, so I had extra time with them and was looking forward to his return.
Would that I could place so much of my burden as well on Jesus!
That He gladly was my relief of duty.
The message of grace has been relieving me of so many burdens lately, that I want to be sure and share the music (lyric) video of "Greater" by Mercy Me.
Most impacting is this bridge:
"There'll be days I lose the battle
Grace says that it doesn't matter
Cause the cross already won the war
He's Greater
He's Greater
I am learning to run freely
Understanding just how he sees me
And it makes me love him more and more
He's Greater
He's Greater
Greater is the one living inside of me, than he who is living in the world."
I am relieved of perfection because Jesus was perfect and I can live my life trying to glorify Him and give praise to Him for sparing me the wrath and punishment I daily deserve.
~Tammy
Oh, If I could learn to look for Jesus like that! "Would that I could place so much of my burden as well on Jesus! That He gladly was my relief of duty." Thank you for sharing your beautiful words and I LOVED the song. What an encouragement. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteKaren,
Deletethank you for your encouragement. That song has been my anthem all week! So delighted that it encouraged you as well. God speaks to me through music, more than any other way.
Thanks for the fmf visit. I'm headed over your way now. :)
~Tammy
Love this thought: "I am relieved of perfection..." Instead of it being something we strive for, it's something to be relieved of or released from. Very insightful.
ReplyDeleteLiz,
Deletethank you so much! I've been hearing that message for a while now, Lysa Terkeurst is speaking on it a lot with her "The Best Yes" book, and also a post I have pending over at oneword365 is on being set free from perfection.
(Go figure my name is Hebrew for perfection-lifetime of wrestling it)
Looking forward to hearing more from you in the future!
I think "grace" could actually be a synonym of "relief". I do hope your relief arrived home safely and you gained relief! Visiting from Kate's #FMF
ReplyDeleteSusan,
Deleteyes! I am in such agreement with you. Grace and redemption and freedom and no more burden of being Christ, but allowing Him to be Christ and us to be the transformed body of Christ. :D
White flag of surrender in your post-the surrender of our own control and our own efforts and yielding to Him!
love,
Tammy
I love that song, Tammy! I remember those days of waiting to pass the baton and being able to sigh at the sign of some relief. So great that God provides that for us and that He brings us that partner who is able to be that helpmate and relief as well. Blessed to be stopping by from FMF.
ReplyDeleteTiffany,
Deletethanks for the visit! I was able to come visit you as well. :) I have a hard time not doing a tiny refinement if it needs, but for the most part, I think I avoid type-os for this type-A personality too.
Wonderful to hear that you can relate to what He's doing for me in the physical and in the spiritual realm.
~Tammy