"Let me tell you what the truth is!" Then the list of circumstances began. This had begun when I made the comment that it sounded like Spiritual warfare and the first piece of armor is the belt of truth.
Sometimes it's confusing when you read in the Bible about putting on the belt of truth, or, "you will know the truth and the truth will set you free". This word truth is misunderstood for the undeniable things that are happening in our life. But I don't believe that is what it means.
Sometimes the very real circumstances of my life trip me up and make me feel anything bur free. In fact they can make me feel in bondage. For instance, when I have sinned against God and the consequence of my sin has changed the landscape of my life, the truth goes beyond what I see and what I feel. I'm sure the children of Israel must have felt that they were hopeless when they were on their way to Babylon. They had disobeyed God. Not only had they not listened to the prophets they killed them! Now they were getting what they deserved. I would have felt that way if it were me. Yet, this is where I find God's reassurance,"For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 So what is the truth here? God is bigger than my failures.
Sometimes I'm not only living with my own brokenness but the brokenness of those I love. I keep going back to the story of the father who brough his son to Jesus. What was the reality that the father was living with? Over and over and over again the father witnessed his son foaming at the mouth becoming rigid rolling into the fire or water. The father had tried everything. He had even brought his son to Jesus' disciples but they hadn't been able to help. This was his reality but what was the truth Jesus confronted him with? "All things are possible for one who believes."
Sometimes the circumstances of my life bind me and make me feel helpless. Sometimes my circumstances cause me to trip and lose my confidence of ever being able to succeed. But the scripture teaches me that truth should be worn like a belt to keep me from tripping and that truth is something that sets me free. The truth I read in James 4:2 is,"You do not have because you do not ask." Sometimes my payer reflects the prayer of the father who responded to Jesus by saying,"Lord, I believe help my unbelief." The truth is he hears my prayers and he understands my human weakness.
Whenever I need to see people who based their life on truth not circumstances I turn to Hebrews 11. There I read that the fact that Sarah and Abraham were past childbearing years did not keep them from the truth that He who had promised is faithful and is able to keep his promises. What I see in this chapter is that people who base their life on the truth of God are made strong out of weakness. I want to be like them and live beyond my circumstances and take hold of the truth of God.
Lord Jesus, the truth is I have this treasure in a jar of clay. Sometimes I am hard pressed, but never crushed. Sometimes I am perplexed, but not in despair. The truth is that the all surpassing power to live this Christian life is not from me but from you and you have promised to never leave me or forsake me. By this truth I choose to live regardless of how difficult my circumstances are.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Saturday, August 27, 2011
"...but not without hope"
Her grandson sat beside her, weeping. Her voice was weak, but her words were strong. She was dying, and she was saying goodbye. She told him he didn't have to hold back the tears; it was okay for him to cry. She gently explained that her body was worn out and the time had come for her to die. Then she turned to me and said goodbye.
As I sat there, the words of Ecclesiastes 3 flooded my mind. "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die...a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn..." Yesterday, we got the call that Anne had died, and it was time to weep and time to mourn.
The sorrow is real, the grief is real, and yet we don't grieve like those who have no hope. When I think about the last time I saw Anne, and her parting words to me knowing this would probably be our last meeting here on earth I also think about how Jesus prepared His disciples for His death. "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also..." (John 14 1-3)
Last year I taught a Bible Study on Heaven. Anne was in the class. We talked about the mystery and the victory of what God has prepared for us. We talked about how the perishable body must put on the imperishable, and how this mortal body must put on immortality. Anne is the first of the class to graduate. She now knows the victory that is hers in our Lord Jesus Christ. For Anne,"Death is swallowed up in victory."
I stand on this side of eternity peering through a veil of tears. I see dimly but I believe that Anne now beholds her Savior face to face.
Lord Jesus, You are the Resurrection and the Life yet you stood at Lazarus' tomb and wept. Thank you that your plans for us go beyond the grave.
https://youtu.be/z4F_cXGQN9k
As I sat there, the words of Ecclesiastes 3 flooded my mind. "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die...a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn..." Yesterday, we got the call that Anne had died, and it was time to weep and time to mourn.
The sorrow is real, the grief is real, and yet we don't grieve like those who have no hope. When I think about the last time I saw Anne, and her parting words to me knowing this would probably be our last meeting here on earth I also think about how Jesus prepared His disciples for His death. "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also..." (John 14 1-3)
Last year I taught a Bible Study on Heaven. Anne was in the class. We talked about the mystery and the victory of what God has prepared for us. We talked about how the perishable body must put on the imperishable, and how this mortal body must put on immortality. Anne is the first of the class to graduate. She now knows the victory that is hers in our Lord Jesus Christ. For Anne,"Death is swallowed up in victory."
I stand on this side of eternity peering through a veil of tears. I see dimly but I believe that Anne now beholds her Savior face to face.
Lord Jesus, You are the Resurrection and the Life yet you stood at Lazarus' tomb and wept. Thank you that your plans for us go beyond the grave.
https://youtu.be/z4F_cXGQN9k
Thursday, August 25, 2011
My Sparring Partner
From my earliest memories, depression has been my sparing partner. These are a few things I have learned along the way.
One of my first lessons in dealing with depression was taught me by my mother. When mother saw me becoming depressed, she would send me on a walk to a nursing home that was near where I lived. Getting outside, walking, focusing on someone else, all these things helped me as a child.
While visiting at a nursing home one day, an elderly lady told me how she handled depression. She told me the verse about offering to God the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. I confess, it is a sacrifice to praise and thank God when your mind is overcome with gloomy thoughts. However, over the years I have learned that I have a choice. Depression and I meet face to face; the wrestling match begins. "You have no hope.” he whispers in my ear. I combat the lie with the truth, and thank Jesus that He promised to never leave me or forsake me. On and on it goes, until at last I have the victory!
Another tactic my sparing partner uses is to try and attack me as I'm falling asleep. Sometimes he even wake me in the middle of the night. Usually in the night he comes and tries to bind me with fear. He reminds me at these times of my weakness and my failure. He is so good at this. He's like a ventriloquist who throws his voice into my mind. I counter this attack with the verse that says," I will remember you on my bed, I will meditate on you through the watches of the night." (Psalm 63:6)
Not long ago, I found a weapon he was using against me to pull me down into depression. It was my own tongue! I was letting his words come out of my mouth. This has been a very effective weapon in his arsenal. Again, I turned to the the Word of God to gain victory. "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear." (Ephesians 4:29)
Would you believe he has even garbed the weapons I'm using against him and tried to turn them against me? "You are such a failure.” he whispers in my ear. "Look at what you believe and look at yourself. You don't measure up and you never will.” This attack can really cripple me, because I see the truth of my sin. With tears in my eyes I go to 1 John 1:9 and whisper back, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
I have had a genetic dispossession towards depression since my earliest memories, and there have been times I have felt like I lost the battle. There have been times I didn't think I could hold on any more, and I was falling into a dark slimy pit that that had no bottom. That is when I discovered my greatest weapon against depression. "If the Lord delight in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand." (Psalm 37:23,24) Did you get that? It's not me holding His hand. It's HIM holding my hand. His grip is strong and sure and loving. With Him on my side holding my hand the victory is mine.
Lord Jesus, I thank you for my weakness because in my weakness I see Your strength manifested again and again and again.
One of my first lessons in dealing with depression was taught me by my mother. When mother saw me becoming depressed, she would send me on a walk to a nursing home that was near where I lived. Getting outside, walking, focusing on someone else, all these things helped me as a child.
While visiting at a nursing home one day, an elderly lady told me how she handled depression. She told me the verse about offering to God the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. I confess, it is a sacrifice to praise and thank God when your mind is overcome with gloomy thoughts. However, over the years I have learned that I have a choice. Depression and I meet face to face; the wrestling match begins. "You have no hope.” he whispers in my ear. I combat the lie with the truth, and thank Jesus that He promised to never leave me or forsake me. On and on it goes, until at last I have the victory!
Another tactic my sparing partner uses is to try and attack me as I'm falling asleep. Sometimes he even wake me in the middle of the night. Usually in the night he comes and tries to bind me with fear. He reminds me at these times of my weakness and my failure. He is so good at this. He's like a ventriloquist who throws his voice into my mind. I counter this attack with the verse that says," I will remember you on my bed, I will meditate on you through the watches of the night." (Psalm 63:6)
Not long ago, I found a weapon he was using against me to pull me down into depression. It was my own tongue! I was letting his words come out of my mouth. This has been a very effective weapon in his arsenal. Again, I turned to the the Word of God to gain victory. "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear." (Ephesians 4:29)
Would you believe he has even garbed the weapons I'm using against him and tried to turn them against me? "You are such a failure.” he whispers in my ear. "Look at what you believe and look at yourself. You don't measure up and you never will.” This attack can really cripple me, because I see the truth of my sin. With tears in my eyes I go to 1 John 1:9 and whisper back, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
I have had a genetic dispossession towards depression since my earliest memories, and there have been times I have felt like I lost the battle. There have been times I didn't think I could hold on any more, and I was falling into a dark slimy pit that that had no bottom. That is when I discovered my greatest weapon against depression. "If the Lord delight in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand." (Psalm 37:23,24) Did you get that? It's not me holding His hand. It's HIM holding my hand. His grip is strong and sure and loving. With Him on my side holding my hand the victory is mine.
Lord Jesus, I thank you for my weakness because in my weakness I see Your strength manifested again and again and again.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
HELP! There is a tick on my shoulder blade
I felt something biting or stinging but when I looked I couldn't see anything. It was my left shoulder blade and I couldn't reach it. First, I tried with my right hand reaching down behind my head, no luck. Next, I tried to reach my left hand back and up but to no avail. No matter how I twisted or contorted my body I could neither see nor reach the spot. Finally, I asked my husband for help and within moments the tick was removed.
Sometimes in my spiritual life I feel like something is wrong. I can't tell exactly what but something just seems out of place. That's when I go to one of my brothers or sisters in Christ and ask for help. When I look at the Scriptures I see that God chose to put me in a community of believers.
There are at least 59 one another verses in the Bible. Here are some of them:
"Wash one another's feet" John 13:14
"Instruct one another" Romans 15:14
"Carry each other's burdens" Galatians 6:2
"Admonish one another" Colossians 3:16
"Encourage one another" Hebrews 3:13
"Spur one another on towards love and good deeds" Hebrews 10:24
Community can be messy but community is necessary. Sometimes I just need the people around me to help me understand what's going on. It is humbling to need other people I would prefer to have all the answers and not need anyone, but that's my pride. And I've learn over and over again," Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall." Proverbs 16:18
Lord Jesus, thank you for not leaving me down here all by myself on this pilgrim's journey. Thank you for letting me be part of a family of believers.
Sometimes in my spiritual life I feel like something is wrong. I can't tell exactly what but something just seems out of place. That's when I go to one of my brothers or sisters in Christ and ask for help. When I look at the Scriptures I see that God chose to put me in a community of believers.
There are at least 59 one another verses in the Bible. Here are some of them:
"Wash one another's feet" John 13:14
"Instruct one another" Romans 15:14
"Carry each other's burdens" Galatians 6:2
"Admonish one another" Colossians 3:16
"Encourage one another" Hebrews 3:13
"Spur one another on towards love and good deeds" Hebrews 10:24
Community can be messy but community is necessary. Sometimes I just need the people around me to help me understand what's going on. It is humbling to need other people I would prefer to have all the answers and not need anyone, but that's my pride. And I've learn over and over again," Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall." Proverbs 16:18
Lord Jesus, thank you for not leaving me down here all by myself on this pilgrim's journey. Thank you for letting me be part of a family of believers.
Monday, August 22, 2011
The Dark Shadow verses the Light
I'm reading the book of Job again. Every year at this time in my One Year Bible I come to the book of Job. This book brings up the question we all ask,"How do I interpret the things that happen to me." Things happen, bad things happen but then how do we process them as Christians?
There was a song I heard when I was younger it was a funny song but the chorus reflects a way I often interpret the things that happen in my life. "Gloom, Despair, and agony on me, deep dark depression excessive misery, if it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all, gloom despair and agony on me." We live in a fallen world bad things happen but when I let this chorus interpret my life I am listening to a Dark Shadow.
The Dark Shadow tells tells me that there is no hope. In the darkness of that shadow things look bleak. A shadow is cast when something is blocking the light. This is exactly what happens when I let the enemy of my soul block the light of truth and cast his shadow on the events of my life. "What you see is what you get", he whispers in the cold darkness. "Nothing will ever change. There is no hope. Things will only get worse". What happens when I listen to the Dark Shadow's interpretation of my life is that I feel sucked into the vortex of gloom.
There is another voice that calls to me. It is the voice of light. In Psalm 36:9 I read," For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light." I think about this when I think about Jesus on the Mountain of Transfiguration bathed in light. Jesus was transfigured before Peter,James and John. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. However, when He came off the mountain He encountered a man wrapped in grief who had brought his demon-possessed son to be healed. The father was consumed with the plight of his son and did not see who Jesus really was.
3 John 4 says," I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." So what is it to walk in the truth? I believe walking in the truth is to live my life interpreting all the parts of my life, both the good and the painful parts, in the light. The father who brought his son to Jesus did not see Jesus for who He is. When all the broken pieces of my life are spread out in the presence of Jesus they are spread before the Savoir and the Redeemer. When I see my life interpreted though the light of who Jesus is that I can gain true understanding.
Lord Jesus, help me today by faith to listen to the truth and walk in the light. Help me remember that although the Dark Shadow can hide the light he can never extinguish it!
There was a song I heard when I was younger it was a funny song but the chorus reflects a way I often interpret the things that happen in my life. "Gloom, Despair, and agony on me, deep dark depression excessive misery, if it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all, gloom despair and agony on me." We live in a fallen world bad things happen but when I let this chorus interpret my life I am listening to a Dark Shadow.
The Dark Shadow tells tells me that there is no hope. In the darkness of that shadow things look bleak. A shadow is cast when something is blocking the light. This is exactly what happens when I let the enemy of my soul block the light of truth and cast his shadow on the events of my life. "What you see is what you get", he whispers in the cold darkness. "Nothing will ever change. There is no hope. Things will only get worse". What happens when I listen to the Dark Shadow's interpretation of my life is that I feel sucked into the vortex of gloom.
There is another voice that calls to me. It is the voice of light. In Psalm 36:9 I read," For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light." I think about this when I think about Jesus on the Mountain of Transfiguration bathed in light. Jesus was transfigured before Peter,James and John. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. However, when He came off the mountain He encountered a man wrapped in grief who had brought his demon-possessed son to be healed. The father was consumed with the plight of his son and did not see who Jesus really was.
3 John 4 says," I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." So what is it to walk in the truth? I believe walking in the truth is to live my life interpreting all the parts of my life, both the good and the painful parts, in the light. The father who brought his son to Jesus did not see Jesus for who He is. When all the broken pieces of my life are spread out in the presence of Jesus they are spread before the Savoir and the Redeemer. When I see my life interpreted though the light of who Jesus is that I can gain true understanding.
Lord Jesus, help me today by faith to listen to the truth and walk in the light. Help me remember that although the Dark Shadow can hide the light he can never extinguish it!
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Trust the instrument panel
"He thought his plane was horizontal but in reality it was plunging toward the Ocean." A pilot of a major air line was explaining to the class I was in what the expression "flying by the seat of your pants" meant. The pilot explained how a person's instincts can tell them one thing while the instrument panels gives them a completely different picture of the position of the plane. He suggested that when the two are contradictory trust the instrument panel.
Sometimes I get confused about very basic things. It's almost embarrassing but I wonder if it's true for other people as well. One of the most basic instincts I can be confused about is how to express love. Maybe it's because I was a child in the 1960's when this was a hot topic.
Sometimes what I feel is right and what the Bible teaches don't line up. I can be going in the opposite direction of Biblical teaching and feel like I'm going in the correct direction. It's times like these I need to stop and look carefully and prayerfully at my instrument panel and change my course accordingly.
This happens almost every time I read 1 Corinthians 13. This morning I was looking at the part that says,"Loves always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." I had memorized it a little differently, "love bears all things". Either way the truth of the matter is I didn't know what it meant.
In trying to gain a better understanding I looked the Greek word and found, "Beareth all things - Παντα στεγει. This word is also variously interpreted: to endure, bear, sustain, cover, conceal, contain." It went with 1 Peter where it says," love covers a multitude of sins". It was a picture of a roof that keeps the rain out, or of a ship that keeps it's cargo safe. I see this picture of love as a vessel were something is safe and protected as apposed to Plato's picture of a fool's soul which he said was like a sieve.
One of the translations I found said," She knows how to be silent." The "she" was love. Love seems so simple but when I look at it's description in 1 Corinthians 13 I see that love is so much more than an instinctual feeling!
Lord Jesus, when what I feel is right conflicts with what your word says is right grant me the grace to obey your word.
Sometimes I get confused about very basic things. It's almost embarrassing but I wonder if it's true for other people as well. One of the most basic instincts I can be confused about is how to express love. Maybe it's because I was a child in the 1960's when this was a hot topic.
Sometimes what I feel is right and what the Bible teaches don't line up. I can be going in the opposite direction of Biblical teaching and feel like I'm going in the correct direction. It's times like these I need to stop and look carefully and prayerfully at my instrument panel and change my course accordingly.
This happens almost every time I read 1 Corinthians 13. This morning I was looking at the part that says,"Loves always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." I had memorized it a little differently, "love bears all things". Either way the truth of the matter is I didn't know what it meant.
In trying to gain a better understanding I looked the Greek word and found, "Beareth all things - Παντα στεγει. This word is also variously interpreted: to endure, bear, sustain, cover, conceal, contain." It went with 1 Peter where it says," love covers a multitude of sins". It was a picture of a roof that keeps the rain out, or of a ship that keeps it's cargo safe. I see this picture of love as a vessel were something is safe and protected as apposed to Plato's picture of a fool's soul which he said was like a sieve.
One of the translations I found said," She knows how to be silent." The "she" was love. Love seems so simple but when I look at it's description in 1 Corinthians 13 I see that love is so much more than an instinctual feeling!
Lord Jesus, when what I feel is right conflicts with what your word says is right grant me the grace to obey your word.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Divine appointments
I don't believe in chance. I do believe in a Sovereign God. I guess that's why I believe in Divine appointments.
Divine appointments don't come with trumpets announcing them but sometimes with a simple prayer,"Lord what do You want me to do?” Once I was trying to get a photograph of my children at the mall. The photography kiosk was closed so I started praying for guidance. That's when I met a woman from out of town who was a new Christian. Her son was dying in the hospital. I ended up spending the next day at the hospital with her simply being her Christian sister. I sat with her, prayed with her, cried with her. I was with her when she said goodbye to her son for the last time. It was a Divine appointment.
Another time I was at the grocery store. My groceries were in the trunk I was driving away when I saw him. A man laying under his car. I got there the same time his wife did. She began shaking him violently. I was concerned that this might hurt him and ask if I could help. I was there, holding his head as he took his last breath. The couple had been from out of town. I spent the rest of the day with man's widow as we waited for her family to come. She was a Christian and I sat at the hospital with her, praying with her, crying with her, simply being her Christian sister. It just seemed like my assignment for that day.
Once I met my Divine appointment in the form of a thirteen year old boy standing in the middle of my path. I was taking a walk in my neighborhood. From that simple meeting came a deep friendship. Over the course of years he became part of my life. I was there when his son was born. I have been with him through his times of joy and times of deep sorrow. It all began with a prayer. I had met his mother day before and she told about her son. The next morning I had written in my prayer journal, "Lord, if you want me to be part of this boy's life put him in the middle of my path." So God did, literally, put him in the middle of my path.
Father, I do believe that You are the Sovereign Lord. Please help me live my life with an open heart. Show me how to serve You in my generation. Not seeing the interruption of my plans as an irritation but instead and invitation to a Divine appointment.
Divine appointments don't come with trumpets announcing them but sometimes with a simple prayer,"Lord what do You want me to do?” Once I was trying to get a photograph of my children at the mall. The photography kiosk was closed so I started praying for guidance. That's when I met a woman from out of town who was a new Christian. Her son was dying in the hospital. I ended up spending the next day at the hospital with her simply being her Christian sister. I sat with her, prayed with her, cried with her. I was with her when she said goodbye to her son for the last time. It was a Divine appointment.
Another time I was at the grocery store. My groceries were in the trunk I was driving away when I saw him. A man laying under his car. I got there the same time his wife did. She began shaking him violently. I was concerned that this might hurt him and ask if I could help. I was there, holding his head as he took his last breath. The couple had been from out of town. I spent the rest of the day with man's widow as we waited for her family to come. She was a Christian and I sat at the hospital with her, praying with her, crying with her, simply being her Christian sister. It just seemed like my assignment for that day.
Once I met my Divine appointment in the form of a thirteen year old boy standing in the middle of my path. I was taking a walk in my neighborhood. From that simple meeting came a deep friendship. Over the course of years he became part of my life. I was there when his son was born. I have been with him through his times of joy and times of deep sorrow. It all began with a prayer. I had met his mother day before and she told about her son. The next morning I had written in my prayer journal, "Lord, if you want me to be part of this boy's life put him in the middle of my path." So God did, literally, put him in the middle of my path.
Father, I do believe that You are the Sovereign Lord. Please help me live my life with an open heart. Show me how to serve You in my generation. Not seeing the interruption of my plans as an irritation but instead and invitation to a Divine appointment.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)