Run Your Own Race

You are unique, one of a kind, God’s masterpiece, you are the only one who has your set of fingerprints. Why try to be someone else?

Sometimes in the press you will hear that a copycat crime has been committed. Well, the word copycat in essence means an imitation. Now the word imitation means the action of using someone or something as a model. God designed you to be an original so why would you want to imitate another? http://www.miraclebook.net

When you were a youngster in school you no doubt played the game “Follow the Leader.” Follow the leader is a children’s game. Players first choose a leader or “head of the line” and the remaining players (the followers) all line up behind the leader. The leader then moves around, and all the players have to mimic the leader’s actions. Any players who fail to follow or mimic the leader are out of the game. When only one follower remains, that player then becomes the new leader, and the game begins anew with all players joining the line once again. – www.wikipedia.com.

When you are a child, you do childish things and when you become an adult you are to gain wisdom and stop following the leader and branch out on your own. It is time you start to run your own race. This is the time you need to stop being an imitation and start being an original. This is why God created you in the manner and fashion that he did. Now I’m not saying that if say for example acting is your calling well of course there are going to be millions of people who are actors and actresses but have your own style and bring your own twist to the camera. Learn to be the star of your own movie. http://www.miraclebook.net

Run your own race means just be you. Every time you try to duplicate someone else you are disrespecting God’s creation of making you. God is the ultimate Picasso. Michelangelo, and all the other great artists. He put all the things in you that are necessary to become what he wanted when he formed you in your mother’s womb. Let’s look at some of the ways you run your own race:

Stop trying to fulfill other people’s dreams for your life. One of the most prevalent examples is parents trying to get their children to do what they never accomplished. Define what “success” looks like for you. Strive to accomplish your own dreams, goals, and visions for your life.
Don’t compare yourself to others. You have your own set of characteristics and God was aware of them from the beginning and approved of them. Don’t look down on yourself or think less of yourself because you are not like someone you admire. What you don’t realize is that that same person has things about themselves they would love to change and wished they were someone else also. The best person to compare yourself with is who you were yesterday, or last year or 5 years ago.
Learn to accept the things that you cannot change or maybe I should say you shouldn’t be changing. If God wanted, you to have a breast size of HH he would have given it to you. Don’t be so quick to have breast implants and then later that causes other issues. Men don’t be so quick to do penis enlargement because of who you are with. You have no guarantee that that person will be there a year from now. Use what God gave you and be content. The Apostle Paul said in the book of Philippians chapter four, “I have learned to be content in any and every situation.
Work on what you can change. In the Bible Matthew Chapter 15:18-20 says, “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: these are the things which defile a man.” Being prideful, having racial hatred, jealousy, etc. are things you can work on and change.

The Holy Spirit lives inside of all of us and if you will just call on him, he will guide your every step and help you remain uniquely you so you can Run Your Own Race daily.

Stop Disqualifying Yourself

Are you constantly playing over and over in your mind or even worst stating things like:

I am not worthy.

I am not good enough.

I am never going to accomplish that.

I am not beautiful.

I am never going to amount to anything.

I am poor and will always be that way.

I am never going to get married.

I am never going to have a business of my own.

I am never going to own a home.

I am never going to have children.

I am never going to own a brand-new car.

I am never going to accomplish my dream.

I am never going to go on a mission trip.

Wow! I don’t know about you, but I am already exhausted from all the negativity. Do you realize that those two words I Am are the most powerful words to ever be spoken? The words that you speak chart the course of your life. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” – Proverbs 18:21. http://www.miraclebook.net

Yes, there will be challenging seasons, but you don’t need to add to them by disqualifying yourself believing that you can never do great things in life. Face your fears and come out of your comfort zone and charge forward.

Start saying what God says about you:

You are fearfully and wonderfully made. – Psalm 139:14

God says that you are the apple of his eye. – Deuteronomy 32:10

You can do all things through Christ which strengthens you. – Philippians 4:13

You are healed. – 1 Peter 2:24

You are not fearful. – Timothy 1:7

You are not abandoned. – Hebrews 13:5

You can have an abundant life. – John 10:10

You are chosen. – 1 Thessalonians 1:4

You are more than a conqueror. – Romans 8:37

You are victorious. – 1 Corinthians 15:57

You are beautiful. – Song of Solomon 4:7

You are blessed. – Psalm 84:4

You are God’s masterpiece. – Ephesians 2:10

Now that you have these reference points from the Bible stop disqualifying yourself and get out in life and enjoy the journey because God’s got your back and go fulfill the purpose, he has for you and live your dreams. http://www.miraclebook.net

Victory Is Closer Than You Think

Unfortunately, a lot of people believe that if something is not quick and easy then they will pass on it and find the next thing. We live in a society that wants everything lightning fast and overnight victories. Well, I hate to burst your bubble but that is not the way things happen 99% of the time. Joel Osteen says, “we all live in a microwave society, but we serve a crock pot God.” Steve Harvey says, “There is no elevator to the top, you’ve got to take the stairs in the world of success.”

There is one set of people who know this very well and they are fishermen. They recognize that the art of fishing has no time boundaries. You can cast your line and catch a fish quickly or you can be there for several hours, possibly days if you go out several days in a row. They realize that ultimately victory will come but there is no timetable. http://www.miraclebook.net

Too many people give up on things too quickly when victory is closer than they think. If you are looking for success it is a disciplined, consistent, made-up mind that you must have. You cannot just give up and run away from everything that does not materialize at warp speed. You must be prepared to dig your heels in, snap on your seat belt and enjoy the journey. Victory Is Closer Than You Think.

Sight is a beautiful thing, but it can sometimes warp the way you think. If you don’t see your destination directly ahead of you then you decide to go a different route or worse, you become complacent and do nothing at all and accept that this is your plight in life. http://www.miraclebook.net

When you are watching, for instance, a football game you can clearly see when the team is on the one-yard line, and they are close to a touchdown. Where God is concerned it is not sight but faith that you must have and trust in God that he will bring you to the abundant life he has for you in his appointed time. Victory Is Closer Than You Think.

We all must acquired patience in life just like the fishermen have because most things in life we have to wait for: the birth of a baby, to board a plane and have it take off, to get a degree from school, a car to come out of a car wash, a promotion from work, a business to finally be in the green and out of the red which normally is at least five years in the making etc. There are a host of other things that I can list but you get my gist.

Don’t be so quick to give up because victory is closer than you think.

God Gives You Beauty For Ashes

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified. – Isaiah 61:3

So, you feel like you are immersed in quicksand. Well, the good thing is that when you sink all the way down to the bottom there is no place to go but up and God is your hot air balloon to elevate you.

We all go through seasons in life (yes, I did say seasons with a plural) where things are awry or abase. It happens to all of us on this journey of life. These are the times when we must press into God and cast our care or else, we can wind up in the psychiatric care unit. God Gives You Beauty For Ashes.

For those of you that love school and are scholars and enjoy testing trust me the testing that life brings are very sharp, biting, and unpleasant. However, after you have suffered a little while God will give you beauty for ashes. Unfortunately, there is no timetable or tracking device to determine when he will lift the veil, but he will.

In the Bible is the story of Job and the hardships he endured that God allowed to prove to Satan that Job was a good man and would not buckle under immense pressure and stop serving God. http://www.miraclebook.net

“Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them. And the Lord said unto Satan, whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, from going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So, Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord. And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: and there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: and the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, the fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: and behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.” – Job 1:1-19.

So, as you can see here is this righteous man of God named Job that had to deal with very severe testing however at the end of his testing period God restored to him everything that he lost and gave him double for his trouble. “So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. He had also seven sons and three daughters. And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Kerenhappuch. And in all the land were no women found as fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren. After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, even four generations. So, Job died, being old and full of days. http://www.miraclebook.net

So, as you can see God gave Job beauty for his ashes and because God is no respecter of persons, he will do the same for you. Whether you have tried multiple times to have a baby and it didn’t happen due to miscarriages don’t give up, keep trying God has a child with your name on it or maybe you can adopt and that will save you the nine months of hormone changes. Maybe you lost a home to foreclosure, fire, or a hurricane. God will restore you and give you another one. If you had your car totaled in a wreck or had it repossessed don’t panic God has a brand new shiny one waiting for you. If you lost, you job and the door was closed on you and you though you would retire from that job God has a new door and better position waiting for you. With the loss of that job, you had to cancel your dream vacation and now you think you will never have the opportunity to take that trip again. Don’t faint in heart God has it all worked out and not only that trip but several others you will embark on. Possibly the love of your life walked away from you, or they passed away. God knows you are lonely and hurting and he will bring you love again. You have been dealing with a long-standing health issue and now the last medical report is still unchanged, and the doctor tells you that you will have to live this this condition for the rest of your life or even worst you may not live very long. Remember God always has the final say and he will give you beauty for ashes.

Stay in faith, keep believing, keep trusting God, praise and worship God for the victory in advance. Don’t do like the children of Israel did and wait until they had crossed the Red Sea and then they broke out their tambourines and started to praise God. Your victory is coming, God Gives You Beauty For Ashes.

Jesus The Way Maker

Do you wish you had your own personal Houdini? You know the great escape artist! How many situations have you been in during your journey of life and didn’t see a way out?

At one time or another we have all wished to have our own personal magician that we could whip out at those critical times when we don’t see a way out of a situation that either we created or was just sprung on us. Well, I have great news for you that person has been with you always and he is called Jesus The Way Maker.

There are many names for Jesus but that would be a blog for another time. However, no matter what situation or crisis you find yourself in just call on the name of Jesus and he will fix it. Now don’t get me wrong he may not fix it immediately or in the way you want it fixed but he will do what is best for you and his best is unmatched to anything you think you can do on your own. http://www.miraclebook.net

On this journey of life, we will all encounter challenges, trials, testing of all types but the good news is that Jesus already has your solution even before the problem arises and he will make a way out for you. The Bible says so, “No temptation regardless of its source has overtaken or enticed you that is not common to human experience nor is any temptation unusual or beyond human resistance; but God is faithful to His word. He is compassionate and trustworthy, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability to resist, but along with the temptation he has in the past and is now and will always provide the way out as well, so that you will be able to endure it without yielding and will overcome temptation with joy.” – 1 Corinthians 10:13.

We all have at one time, or another called on everybody to save us except the one person who can really help us, bail us out, and place our feet on sturdy ground and that is Jesus The Way Maker. For those of us who are daring like myself and will try almost anything once like (Octopus Salad) invest in trying the real thing. All of us if we will just place our faith and trust in Jesus will be on cruise control. “Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize him, and he will make your paths straight and smooth removing obstacles that block your way. – Proverbs 3:5-6. http://www.miraclebook.net

What Are You Expecting?

What Are You Expecting

In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. – Psalm 5:3

Wait for and confidently expect the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for and confidently expect the Lord. – Psalm 27:14

Are you expecting surely goodness and mercy from the Lord with abundance or are you the type of person who expects nothing so just in case nothing happens you are not disappointed? Well, when you are not in expectation and hoping for great abundance in life guess what you have disappointed God! http://www.miraclebook.net

Jesus said, he came to give you life and life more abundantly.” The Bible says, “Now to Him who is able to carry out his purpose and do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams, according to His power that is at work within us.” – Ephesians 3:20.

So, if God is prepared to overwhelm you with his abundance why are you not expecting it? God wants you to dream big and pray boldly! If you are asking and praying for things that eventually with lots of hard work, you will be able to attain on your own you are insulting God. He wants to be involved in all areas of your life and wants to bless you tremendously. However, if you are going to ask and pray as a pauper you will receive as a pauper. http://www.miraclebook.net

God created this whole world and everything thing in it. There is nothing that he cannot do and no amount of provision that he can’t deliver to you. Start getting your hopes up. Dream bigger, believe for abundance in all areas of your life.

Reflect on the Disney movie “Aladdin” and start making your wishes and raise your level of expectation while going through this journey of life. Remember what the genie said when he came out of the bottle, “Your Wish Is My Command!”

The Despondency Test

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. – Psalm 42:5

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. – Jeremiah 29:11

Expected – to anticipate or look forward to the coming or occurrence of. – https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expected.

According to Jeremiah 29:11 God has an expected end for all of us and according to the dictionary that is something we all should be looking forward to. So then why are so despondent? http://www.miraclebook.net

Despondent – means having lost all or nearly all hope. Implies a deep dejection arising from a conviction of the uselessness of further effort.

From the time God created the world he gave us all free will and with that we believe everything should always go our way and that we should always be living on easy street. When that does not happen and when we are going through extended seasons of challenges, trials, discomfort etc. we become despondent. We all want things to happen fast, quick like warp speed for the star trek fans reading this but that is not the way God operates. He expects a degree of FAITH, TRUST, BELIEF from us all. When we do not have those, we can expect to sink into the abyss.

According to our God given heavenly assignment in life not the man-made ones we decide God is going to keep us on the potter’s wheel until we are what we need to be to complete those assignments. Being on the potter’s wheel means we are being shaped, molded, refined into what God knows we need to be. It is what you would call the HOT SEAT! Don’t try to escape it because no one does. God created all of us and either we do things his way or we will be in the gutter. http://www.miraclebook.net

Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” There are many different tests in life that we will be expected to pass and one of the big ones is the despondency test. If we are always going to moan, complain, despise when God is trying to do a good work in us and get us prepared for the abundance, he has for us then we will never attain all that he wants for us and what we want for ourselves. We will be like the children of Israel that never made it into the promise land and died in the wilderness.

So, what do you do when things are not going your way? Pray, keep doing good, keep going to church, keep helping and serving people, keep tithing, keep reading your Bible, keep up your praise and worship to God, always have gratitude. At the appointed time God will lift the clouds and bring you into the abundant life he has in store for you. We all think we know when we are ready to level up, but we don’t. You don’t want to go to a higher level of influence and success when you are not ready or mature for it because the platform that was built for you will just crumble. http://www.miraclebook.net

Trust God’s timing and pass the despondency test and make the devil mad as hell so when you are elevated like David, Job, Moses, Joseph, Abraham, Esther, Ruth and many other heroes in the Bible the devil will have to turn aside and look for his next victim, but it will not be YOU!

The Rain Falls On The Just & The Unjust – Hold On

Are you the acrobatic type? Can you visualize yourself doing a high wire circus act? Or maybe hanging from the side of a cliff? Well, this is what you are doing when you are dealing with life’s tests, challenges, and uncertainty. What do you do when this happens? You hold on. The Rain Falls On The Just & The Unjust – Hold On

God never promises us crystal clear water and smooth sailing everyday of our lives. If Jesus had tribulation when he was here on earth what makes you think you will be exempt from them? You think to yourself I am a believer, I go to church regularly, I serve at church, I pay my tithes and give offerings. Spoiler alert, The Rain Falls On The Just & The Unjust.” https://www.amazon.com/Rain-Falls-Just-Unjust/dp/B0BQ59CRW8

In the Bible there was a woman by the name of Hannah whose womb was closed up and barren. Her husband loved her dearly, but he had another wife who was very fertile and was able to have baby after baby and she mercilessly taunted Hannah because she couldn’t have children. One day Hannah was at the temple and was crying and praying to God and said that if God gave her a son, she would care for him until he was old enough and then bring him to the temple and give him back to God to use as he chose. God heard her prayer and opened her womb and a year later she gave birth to the prophet Samuel. Hannah kept her word and God blessed her with four other children. Hannah kept the faith and held on and was blessed mightily. The Rain Falls On The Just & The Unjust – Hold On

Now here in modern day there is an actor named Trevor Donovan who also had to hold on tightly to his dream. Trevor always wanted to be an actor but every time he was in front of a camera he froze up and couldn’t read his lines. He got the job of a lifetime with the soap opera “Days of our Lives” with a three-year contract but was eventually fired because he would freeze and panic when he needed to read his lines. Just when he was about to give up on acting and give up his apartment in Los Angeles his agent called him and advised him that he secured a job with the show “90210”. Ever since that time Trevor’s career has just taken off and become very fruitful.

The Bible says in the book of Proverbs the book of Wisdom, “If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.” – Proverbs 24:10. As soon as adversity rears its ugly head most people want to scamper, run, and hide. Most of us don’t like to be outside of our comfort zone, but you will never receive all God has for you if you don’t stretch yourself. Remember what God tells us, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” – Isaiah 41:10. Hold On. The Rain Falls On The Just & The Unjust – Hold On

Christian Books – Donna Louis – Obedience

Obedient – submissive to the restraint or command of authority: willing to obey. – https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obedient

Are you obedient and submissive to God? Well, if you are miracles will happen. Everyday we have the choice whether to be obedient to many things. If you are a driver you must be obedient to the traffic signs and signals. If you are an employee, you need to be obedient to your superiors or else you will be fired. There are many other examples but the biggest one of all is to be obedient to God. http://www.miraclebook.net

After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, we also go with thee. They went forth and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. Therefore, that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, it is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes. As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus saith unto them, bring of the fish which ye have now caught. Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. – John 21:1-11. Christian Books – Donna Louis – Obedience

Now the above example clearly shows how obedience pays off. Jesus instructed the disciples to not only cast their nets but that they must cast them on the right side of the ship. If they didn’t obey and decided to cast the nets on the left side of the ship, they would never have gotten any fish. http://www.miraclebook.net

And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? He saith, yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, what thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, then are the children free. Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee. – Matthew 17:24-27. Christian Books – Donna Louis – Obedience

What was the obedience factor here? Jesus told Peter to take up the first fish. If Peter had decided to wait for a different fish, then the tax money would not have been received to pay tribute.

People who have dogs sometimes send them to obedience school to get trained when they are unruly. Obedience will bless your life, but you have to listen to that still small voice from God and obey.

Christian Books – Donna Louis – Blessings Disguised As Burdens

Blessings – the act or words of one that blesses, a thing conducive to happiness or welfare. – https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blessing

Now you might not say exactly God bless me. Instead you may say God I want a new car,need a new job with better pay, want to own my own business, want to own a home of my own, desire a spouse so I’m no longer lonely, want to have a baby, etc. The list is endless but when we say these things, we are asking God to bless us. http://www.miraclebook.net

Now a days we get what they call alerts to our phones. Especially if it is an AMBER alert. What is an amber alert? The AMBER Alert System began in 1996 when Dallas-Fort Worth broadcasters teamed with local police to develop an early warning system to help find abducted children. AMBER stands for America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response and was created as a legacy to 9-year-old Amber Hagerman, who was kidnapped while riding her bicycle in Arlington, TX, and then brutally murdered. Other states and communities soon set up their own AMBER plans as the idea was adopted across the nation. – https://amberalert.ojp.gov/about

Well God’s alerts are blessings disguised as burdens. Every time you encounter a challenging situation it is a test that God is putting you through to determine if you are ready to receive the blessing you have been asking about. Now since none of us like to be away from our blanket like the one Linus had in the Peanuts cartoon and we always want to be comfortable God is not going to allow that to happen. If you want great things, you must take great risks and go through many tests and struggles. The more you ask for and the bigger your dreams then just strap yourself in because it is going to be a long ride. If Jesus had to endure the cross what makes us believe we are above reproach? Christian Books – Donna Louis – Blessings Disguised As Burdens

In the Bible Joseph was told in a dream that he was going to be a high ranking official but what he didn’t know is all the burdens he would have to endure and how long it would take to reach that pinnacle and be living that dream. His brothers threw him in a pit, and he was picked up by a caravan and taken to Pharoah. He was placed in jail because Pharoah’s wife lied and said he tried to be intimate with her when he didn’t. One of the people in jail became friends with Joseph and promised to speak with Pharoah about releasing him when he was released but he forgot, and Joseph remained in jail until Pharoah had a disturbing dream and since God had blessed Joseph to interpret dreams, he was called by Pharoah, and he interpreted the dream and finally he was released and Pharoah made Joseph second in command behind him. http://www.miraclebook.net

Don’t try to pray away all the unpleasant things that happen in your life and the burdens you have to bear because they are actually the things that are going to elevate you to the blessing you have been asking God for. Christian Books – Donna Louis – Blessings Disguised As Burdens