Last year I read Grace by Max Lucado in which I found some profoundly good news.

Jesus does not say, “Come to me, all you who are perfect and sinless.” Just the opposite. “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28 NASB).

There is no fine print.

A second shoe is not going to drop.

God’s promise has no hidden language. Let grace happen, for heaven’s sake. No more performing for God, no more clamoring after God. Of all the things you must earn in life, God’s unending affection is not one of them. You have it. Stretch yourself out in the hammock of grace.

I’m on a private retreat – yesterday and today – but I can’t stay alone. 

To tired, weary, worn out people like me and you, Jesus Christ said, “If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest.” 1

It’s a message many of us need to hear.

Yesterday I sent this song to a friend, and today I’m leaving it with the rest of you mysilentscream readers.

“Lay ‘Em Down” by Needtobreathe keeps echoing through my mind, so here it is so it will echo through yours too.

Far too often when I feel that I am making progress my own propensity for old patterns and choices arises.

Not sure you know what I mean?

Have you had a Snickers instead of salad when you were hoping to eat more healthy?

Were you praying for patience and cursing out other drivers?

Were you still smarting from some ill-timed words when you assumed someone “gave you a look”? Only to find out they meant nothing by it!

Most of us are unwilling to be accountable. Too often we highlight the wrongs of others and dismiss or justify our own.

During our visit with Eric and Jill Lacher we marveled at their love.

Though they have similar hearts and values, they began their relationships with very different strategies for living out those values.

During our visit they shared with us that the wisdom of Emerson Eggerichs has helped them to grow deeper in love and express it more effectively to one another. On their behalf and to our benefit here’s some of what they learned.

How Does a Husband Spell Love to His Wife?

For months my son Josh would invite me to join him at the gym he works out at.  Sometimes I went, sometimes I didn’t.

More often than not I had an excuse not to; I was too tired or busy (or lazy).

When I was young and fit, fitness seemed to take so much less work.

Energy-Shaped Life

When I was “little” I was full of energy.  I’d play all day only stopping when I had to go back home.

I’d annoy my parents by getting up too early.

As I was approaching fifty years old I sought the wisdom of my elders. I sought out men and women older than I was to learn lessons on life that they had been learning.

Yesterday I began a series entitled A Treasure Chest Of Wisdom – Don’t Hold Grudges. 

The first lesson the wise would teach us is Don’t Hold Grudges

The second lesson I was taught and it was repeated several times by my wise mentors was “take care of your health.”

Take Care Of Your Health

Ken Davis unveiled, “I had not been living fully alive for a long time, but I was ready to start. First I had to change some of the attitudes that had sucked the lifeblood from my veins.”

Subtitled “a journey that will change your life”, author Davis challenges us to step up, step in and live life fully alive.

Discovery

Ken Davis’ family was celebrating Christmas at a cozy cabin in the mountains of Colorado. While sledding with his grandchildren Davis had a surreal experience.

“I blazed past my grandchildren…’Grandpa! Wait for me!’ they hollered.

I felt it while watching the Olympics.  You felt it too didn’t you?

Admiration for their courage.
Admiration for their determination.
Admiration for their discipline.
Admiration for their focus.
Admiration for their abs.

Yes, I felt it — jealousy — when I saw their abs.

Did you feel jealous too?

I’m Missing Something

Undoubtedly the recent Olympians experienced much more than the satisfaction of competition win or lose.  For instance, though I took no interest in the rowing competition, but maybe I’m missing something.

Did you have a busy Memorial Day weekend?
Did you have a hard time cranking it back up yesterday at work or school?
Me too.
I was late to my first two meetings as I tried to resume my weekday timeliness.

So what can you do when stress levels rise?

STOP

A few years ago Elisha Goldstein on psychcentral.com offered four simple, helpful stress relieving tips.

Next time you find your mind racing with stress, try the acronym S.T.O.P.

S – Stop what you are doing, put things down for a minute.