Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, 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.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
What is important about what Jesus said is what He didn’t say.
He did not say… …Come unto me all who are weary and carry heavy burdens, unless your burdens are the result of something you did. …Unless you caused your burdens. …Unless your burdens are the result of your own bad choices. …Unless your burdens are from disobedience to God’s Word. …Unless you came to Me once before with your burdens; and you want a second chance.
O dear God… …On this day …At this hour …At this place
May I simply take You at your Word and trust your promise.
I am weary O God from carrying around the burdens from my own bad choices And You know, my burdens are not pretty O God Though You have said my prayers are a sweet smelling incense I know my burdens are a stench of rubbish that “stinks to high Heaven”
But I will trust And like I’ve done a thousand times before, I’ll do it again And I will leave my burdens at your feet
O dear God… …On this day …At this hour …At this place
And I will vow again to take Your yoke And when people see me and talk to me today May they not see the person of myself But may they see a reflection of You Because I have treated them with kindness, as you did And I have spoken to them with compassion, as you did And in spite of being wronged, may I stand with integrity, as you did Not with pride, but with humility, as you did And might my presence be a blessing, as you were
And at the end of the day, may I look back on this day And be thankful to a great and loving God And rest my head on my pillow And be at peace
George Thomas Caldbeck penned these words:
Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin? The blood of Jesus whispers peace within.
Peace, perfect peace, by thronging duties pressed? To do the will of Jesus, this is rest.
Peace, perfect peace, with sorrows surging round? On Jesus’ bosom nought but calm is found.
Peace, perfect peace, with loved ones far away? In Jesus’ keeping we are safe and they.
Peace, perfect peace, our future all unknown? Jesus we know, and he is on the throne.
Peace, perfect peace, death shadowing us and ours? Jesus has vanquished death and all its powers.
It is enough: earth’s struggles soon shall cease, and Jesus call to heaven’s perfect peace.
Verse 1: Before the stars adorned the night, Before the sun gave earth its light, The Word was spoken, creation came, Through Jesus, the Maker, who knew our name. He formed the earth, the skies, the seas, Breathed life into humanity. From dust we rose, His Spirit’s flame, To bear His image, to praise His name.
Verse 2: In Eden’s garden, peace was found, Until the serpent’s lie unbound. The fruit was taken, the fall began, Sin entered the hearts of every man. Yet even then, God’s love remained, A Savior promised to break the chain. From Adam’s sin to grace restored, A plan of redemption from the Lord.
Bridge: Oh, the cross, where mercy flows, The empty grave, the story shows. Sin defeated, love prevailed, Through Christ alone, redemption hailed. Oh, the cross, where hope is found, His grace abounds, His love profound. He bore the weight, the debt was paid, In Him, the victory’s displayed.
Verse 4: Mary, chosen, her heart so pure, Through her, God’s love would long endure. She held the Savior, her baby boy, The King of kings, her heart’s great joy. Did she know the cross He’d face, The pain, the nails, the world’s disgrace? Through grief, she trusted, through loss, she prayed, Believing in the plan God made.
Chorus: From the beginning, His love was displayed, Through every fall, His promise stayed. A Savior’s grace, a story divine, Redemption secured for hearts like mine.
Verse 6: To die with Christ, to rise anew, To walk His path, His love pursue. The cross became the bridge to grace, A gift of life in His embrace. Through history’s thread, His story flows, A love eternal, a truth that grows. My story now entwined with His, A song of hope, a life that lives.
Final Chorus: From the beginning, His love was displayed, Through every fall, His promise stayed. A Savior’s grace, a story divine, Redemption secured for hearts like mine.
Outro: His story echoes through all of time, A Savior’s love, so pure, so kind. One day we’ll stand before His throne, Forever redeemed, forever His own.
Redemption’s Story (Long Version) Chorus: From the beginning, His love was displayed, Through every fall, His promise stayed. A Savior’s grace, a story divine, Redemption secured for hearts like mine.
Verse 1: Before the stars adorned the night, Before the sun gave earth its light, The Word was spoken, creation came, Through Jesus, the Maker, who knew our name. He formed the earth, the skies, the seas, Breathed life into humanity. From dust we rose, His Spirit’s flame, To bear His image, to praise His name.
Chorus: From the beginning, His love was displayed, Through every fall, His promise stayed. A Savior’s grace, a story divine, Redemption secured for hearts like mine.
Verse 2: In Eden’s garden, peace was found, Until the serpent’s lie unbound. The fruit was taken, the fall began, Sin entered the hearts of every man. Yet even then, God’s love remained, A Savior promised to break the chain. From Adam’s sin to grace restored, A plan of redemption from the Lord.
Chorus: From the beginning, His love was displayed, Through every fall, His promise stayed. A Savior’s grace, a story divine, Redemption secured for hearts like mine.
Verse 3: Through kings and prophets, His voice was heard, Declaring His truth, His holy word. David, the shepherd, a king would rise, Through his line, the Savior arrive. Isaiah spoke of a suffering King, Who’d bear our sins and salvation bring. Elijah’s fire, Daniel’s stand, God’s faithfulness across the land.
Chorus: From the beginning, His love was displayed, Through every fall, His promise stayed. A Savior’s grace, a story divine, Redemption secured for hearts like mine.
Bridge: Oh, the cross, where mercy flows, The empty grave, the story shows. Sin defeated, love prevailed, Through Christ alone, redemption hailed. Oh, the cross, where hope is found, His grace abounds, His love profound. He bore the weight, the debt was paid, In Him, the victory’s displayed.
Verse 4: Mary, chosen, her heart so pure, Through her, God’s love would long endure. She held the Savior, her baby boy, The King of kings, her heart’s great joy. Did she know the cross He’d face, The pain, the nails, the world’s disgrace? Through grief, she trusted, through loss, she prayed, Believing in the plan God made.
Chorus: From the beginning, His love was displayed, Through every fall, His promise stayed. A Savior’s grace, a story divine, Redemption secured for hearts like mine.
Verse 5: The leaders schemed, their hearts grew cold, Blinded by power, they sought control. They called Him a blasphemer, sentenced His death, Yet love endured with His final breath. Betrayed by a kiss for silver’s gleam, Denied by a friend in a broken dream. Yet grace would triumph, death undone, Victory through God’s risen Son.
Chorus: From the beginning, His love was displayed, Through every fall, His promise stayed. A Savior’s grace, a story divine, Redemption secured for hearts like mine.
Verse 6: To die with Christ, to rise anew, To walk His path, His love pursue. The cross became the bridge to grace, A gift of life in His embrace. Through history’s thread, His story flows, A love eternal, a truth that grows. My story now entwined with His, A song of hope, a life that lives.
Final Chorus: From the beginning, His love was displayed, Through every fall, His promise stayed. A Savior’s grace, a story divine, Redemption secured for hearts like mine.
Outro: His story echoes through all of time, A Savior’s love, so pure, so kind. One day we’ll stand before His throne, Forever redeemed, forever His own.
“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
Devotional: STOP!!! And Make a Decision
Have you ever felt like life is too noisy, like the decisions and voices around you are pulling you in every direction? It’s easy to get tangled in doubts and pressures, thinking, “What’s the right move? Who should I be?” Our hearts feel restless, pulled by the need to make the right choices and prove ourselves. But God’s Word gives us a powerful reminder in Ephesians: our salvation isn’t about what we’ve done; it’s about what He has done for us.
We are saved by grace. This grace isn’t a prize we win for being good enough, smart enough, or strong enough. It’s God’s pure gift, a gift that clears the noise and helps us find true peace. When we feel lost, God reminds us that we are His masterpiece. We are loved, renewed, and given purpose—not because we are perfect, but because He is.
Sometimes, we need to pause, breathe, and simply stop—stop trying to sort everything out on our own. In that quiet place, we can hear God’s voice telling us that our identity isn’t found in the opinions of others or in our past mistakes. We are created anew in Christ, made to do good things that reflect His love and grace. When we rest in that truth, we can make decisions with clarity, guided by His wisdom instead of our own fears.
God calls us to turn to Him, to lay our burdens down and take a step toward His light. If we feel weighed down by guilt, doubt, or shame, He says, “Come to Me, and I will give you rest.” His grace is greater than any sin, any past, and any confusion. Today, let’s lean into that grace, stop striving, and make the decision to trust in His love.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank You for Your unending grace. Help us remember that we are Your masterpiece, created in Your image and saved by Your love. When life feels overwhelming, let Your voice be the only one we follow. Guide us to make decisions rooted in Your truth and grace. May we find rest in You and live each day reflecting the love You’ve shown us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Writing:
I can’t fake it I can’t shake it I can’t make them… go away The voices in my head screaming Skeletons I can’t slay
It’s as it should be It’s my fate to disown me
Am I up or am I chic Am I in or am I meek What’s right, what’s sleek What’s good, what’s weak What’s pure, who’s the freak … it’s me
I can’t seem to sort it out I just want to shout…
“Please God, help me…I pray …Release me from the fray ……Of the choices that I weigh ………Of the voices leading me to stray… away”
That’s the chaos of my life It’s the result of my strife To not know where to turn Toward the peace that I yearn So what should I do How can I be true… to myself and to you
And then your voice… the only sane voice… says to me… “STOP!! And make a decision.”
Silence… now I can hear Your voice alone is clear Lifted is the fear I can feel you… for you are near
All I have to do Is turn toward you And get untangled from the view That I’m not loved by you But that you do love me, it’s true No matter what. I know what I need to do… I just need to… STOP!! And make a decision.
When I see life from your view. I realize it wasn’t you… who flew… away.
Again I hear Your voice Just the whisper of Your voice Pleading with me to turn away from the mess I created To simply turn around and walk toward Your Truth
I just need to… STOP!! And make a decision.
And so I did turn I took one step, just one step…and then another… I heard You say, “Give me your burden And I will take care of you”
How do I trust after all these years of hardness For my shame is great, my faith is weak, and I’m tired But I heard You say, “Come to Me And I will give you rest”
Eternal rest. THAT is what I want. THAT is what I need.
There is Hell on Earth…and it’s called separation from You. There is Heaven on Earth…and it’s called Your Grace.
Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that will pardon and cleanse within; Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that is greater than all my sin!
The Rap
(Intro) Yo, I’m trapped in the noise, I’m lost in my mind, Skeletons creeping, they’re crossing the line. Doubts keep spinning, I’m running in place, But I hear Your voice calling, cutting through the haze.
(Verse 1) I can’t fake it, no, I can’t shake it, The pain in my chest, I just can’t take it. Voices screaming, got me stuck in my head, Skeletons dancing where the angels once tread.
What’s sleek? What’s weak? Who’s real? Who’s fake? I’m drowning in the questions I can’t seem to shake. I’m shouting to the sky, “God, show me the way, I’m tired of the chaos; I’m begging You today.”
(Hook) STOP! Gotta make a decision, Your voice breaks through with a crystal vision. The fear fades out, now I see You’re near, All I gotta do is turn and let You steer.
(Verse 2) You said, “Lay it down, I’ll carry the weight, Let Me take your struggle, it’s never too late.” Step by step, yeah, I’m walking the light, The chains fall off as I step in the fight.
The lies I believed, now they crumble and fall, Your love lifts me higher, breaking through it all. I was lost in my shame, but You called my name, Now I’m running toward You, never the same.
(Hook) STOP! Gotta make a decision, Your voice breaks through with a crystal vision. The fear fades out, now I see You’re near, All I gotta do is turn and let You steer.
(Bridge) Grace, grace, it’s greater than sin, It pulls me from the darkness I was living within. Hell on Earth? That’s the weight of my shame, But Heaven is Your love, now I’m praising Your name.
You whispered to me, “Give me your pain, I’ll take what’s broken and make you whole again.” Eternal peace, yeah, it’s all that I need, So I follow Your voice, let it take the lead.
(Chorus) Grace, grace, God’s grace, Pulling me out of my darkest place. Grace, grace, it’s a holy embrace, Now I’m running with Your love, set a brand-new pace.
(Outro) So I STOP, and I make the decision, To follow Your path, walk the perfect vision. The shame is gone, my heart feels new, I’m stepping in faith, God, I’m trusting in You.
The proud warrior stood in the face of his enemy
To battle with all of his might
The crowd gathered round
They were filled with intensity
To see who would win in the fight
Now most folks would cheer for the proud warrior’s legacy
Hoping for bloodshed and death
The time was approaching
The battle was almost here
When from the shadows the lamb now appeared
Offering a rose to the warrior that day
In total humility and love
But the proud warrior offered no more than a sword
As the battle had finally begun
The news spread like wildfire
The warrior was victorious and strong
But history would prove that his victory wasn’t victory at all
And pride goes before a fall
The lamb died that day for us all
The masses continued to follow the warrior
So proud of the wars he had won
But for those who believed in the humble contender
They bowed the knee for what he had done
They sang “Jesus Rose of Sharon bloom here within my heart
Bloom here with radiance, humility and love
Bloom here within my heart
Just as I Am, oh Lamb of God”
(Repeat)
The proud warrior stood in the face of his enemy to fight
Giving it his all with every strength, every weapon and all his might
The crowd gathered around as the intensity did grow
Waiting to see what weapons they would choose; who would deliver the final blow
Most cheered for the proud warrior, much fewer for the contender
They were hoping for bloodshed and violence, and that the other would have to surrender
Chronos…the battle time came near
The time was approaching as the intensity grew stronger
When will the battle start?, they asked…how much longer?
As the lamb of God in starking humility approached the proud warrior from the shadows
He reached out his hand and simply offered the proud warrior a rose
And with one blow after another, the proud warrior offered to the crowd a slaying
The crowd cheered in delight; but there remained a handful who dropped to their knees and started praying
The news spread like wildfire; how the proud warrior was victorious and strong
But history would prove this victory wasn’t a victory at all, as the score of this battle was called wrong
Kairos…the battle was not over
The masses continued to follow the proud warrior because they themselves were proud
But the lamb of God had a remnant of believers, and to him they humbly bowed
Galatians 5:22-23 New International Version But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
A Prayer:
Lord, our eyes are on you
To accept the love of your grace
Fully embracing joy and its healing power
Seeking your peace amidst today’s chaos
Showing others patience even when we are wronged
Treating others with the kindness we wish to receive
Being an example of goodness in the face of evil
Living out integrity as you exemplify integrity in your faithfulness to us
Granting others gentleness instead of judgment
Walking hand-in-hand with the Spirit of self-control
(Verse 1) In the quiet of the morning, Lord, we seek Your face, Through the shadows and the stillness, we receive Your grace. Guide our hearts with patience, let Your mercy flow, In the beauty of Your presence, may our spirits grow.
(Chorus) Oh Lord, You are our refuge, shelter from the storm, In Your arms of mercy, keep us safe and warm. With Your Spirit guiding, we will trust and sing, In Your love unending, we find everything.
(Verse 2) Teach us kindness, teach us the grace, show us how to be, A reflection of Your goodness for the world to see. When the path is heavy, and road is long, Let Your truth sustain us, and Your joy be our song.
(Chorus) Oh Lord, You are our refuge, shelter from the storm, In Your arms of mercy, keep us safe and warm. With Your Spirit guiding, we will trust and sing, In Your love unending, we find everything.
(Bridge) Grant us hearts of gentleness, hands that freely give, May our lives be offerings, in the way we live. Through the trials and the triumphs, faithful we will stay, Walking in Your footsteps, on the narrow way.
(Chorus) Oh Lord, You are our refuge, shelter from the storm, In Your arms of mercy, keep us safe and warm. With Your Spirit guiding, we will trust and sing, In Your love unending, we find everything.
