The Secret Power Behind the Childbirth Professional

Part Six

By Todd Rawlings
 

We have been hearing from Todd Schuchmann over the last six months, but this month you get to “meet” a different Todd:  Pastor Todd Rawlings who is the senior pastor at New Life Church of Virginia Beach (www.nlvb.org).  As most of you know, New Life of Virginia Beach is our “mother ship” that provides a covering, support, encouragement, and accountability for Charis.  Charis Childbirth Services wouldn’t be what it is today if it wasn’t for New Life, and we are so grateful for their continued involvement.

Because we have been focusing on how relationships can empower the childbirth professional, we felt that Pastor Todd Rawlings’ article below was PERFECT for this column.  Thank you, Pastor Todd, for blessing us with this truth!

 Normal Christianity

Mark 8:34 - And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.

Jesus tells us that if we wish to come after Him we have a cross that we must take up.  There would come a point in the life of Jesus when He would take up His cross.  An interesting thing happened to Him when He did this. He was unable to carry it all the way to His destination.

There He was, lying in the street.  He was bloody, beaten, and totally exhausted.  He was unable to carry His cross.  Then, the Bible tells us that another man was recruited to do it.  For the first time in His life Jesus was totally dependent on another man to help Him to His destiny.

 Galations 6:2 tells us to "Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ."
 

Simon was able to bear the burden of Christ.  I believe this is an early example of how the church is to function.  Too often we are caught simply providing counsel for another person, or praying for them, or even providing help when what we should be doing is bearing the weight of their burden.

Logan, Bret, Rena, Pastor Todd, Ricky & Alexis Rawlings