The world is an interesting and sometimes strange place. Some time ago, I read an article about some strange news. Several years ago, the Copenhagen Zoo was very proud of their okapi. You don’t know what an okapi is? Well neither did I, until I read the article. An okapi is a rare mammal from the Congo river basin in Africa, related to the giraffe. One day, the zoo keepers heard some strange sounds coming from a nearby park. Upon closer listening, they discovered the sound was opera performers from the Royal Theater having an outdoor rehearsal of a Wagner opera. Their prize okapi was also listening. It was listening to something it had never heard before. The okapi became more and more agitated until finally, to the zookeepers astonishment,the poor animal fell over and died. An autopsy report indicated that the 6-year old female named Katanga had suffered a severe stress attack. That music was murder.
People get stressed out as well by getting overloaded with too many things and too much to do. The proverbial camel did all right with it’s load until one day, the final straw that broke his back was put on. That camel was maxed out with his load, he had no margin and when additional weight was put on he collapsed. We don’t want to carry too heavy a load and become overloaded in life. God wants you and I to learn how to manage our stress and reduce overload in our lives. Does your load in life seem pretty heavy? Do you think that you may be overloaded? Then this message is for you.
We’re going to look at what Jesus has to say about lightening your load. In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus gives us the secret of stress management. There are three things to do. If you learn to do these three things, your stress will go down, your satisfaction will go up and your overload will be lightened. This could be a turning point in your life today. Ask God to help you to begin to practice these three things that Jesus said we should do.
NRSV Matthew 11:28-30 Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke 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.
To hear more about this topic, listen to my October 9, 2005 message entitled Lightening Your Load
Just wanted to say that I was exploring your blog, had come in under the search words wondering where God was. Sounds like great sermons, cannot imagine an animal dying under those conditions, must have been some pretty awful music.
Heather