Picture your favorite story place. Maybe it was tucked in under soft blankets with your mom sitting beside you or curled up in your Grandpa's lap in a rocking chair. Let the magic of the words "Once upon a time" drift over you. All right, boys and girls: today's story is The Three Little Pigs. Once upon a time there were three little pigs who had to go find their way in the world. The first little pig built a house made of straw, the second of sticks and the third out of bricks. Then along came the Big Bad Wolf. He went to the first pig and said, "Little pig, Little pig, let me in!" to which the pig responded "Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin!" The wolf then informs the pig that he will "huff and puff and blow your house down." The little pig escapes from the blown down house and runs full tilt boogie to the second pig's house. The wolf is angry at losing his dinner and quickly goes to the second pig's house. The two pigs also refuse to let the wolf in even by the hair on their chinny chin chins. He huffs and puffs and blows the second house down. The two pigs run to their brother's house. He lets them in and they apologize for teasing him about working too hard. The wolf comes along soon and tries to blow the house down, but no amount of huffing and puffing will topple it. At this point, depending on the version you read, he either goes away to eat fried chicken or climbs the roof and slides down the chimney Where he is boiled in the pot over the roaring fire he did not notice.
So aside from the obvious lessons of don't tease your brother and look before you slide down a chimney, what can we learn from this story? Actually quite a bit. What was better about the third brothers house? It was stronger and had a stronger foundation. The first two pigs houses went up quickly, which they thought was great. Unfortunately, they also came down quickly. There are many things in our lives that are that way. The first thing that comes to mind is marriage. It breaks my heart when I see marriages crumbling that I thought were sure things. Psalms 127:1-2 says this "Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. A Song of Ascents, of Solomon. Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain." If God and his will are not centered in a family it is a losing battle. Watch the news for a few minutes to see the battle the family is engaged in.
More basic than this is the foundations of our faith. Jesus told the parable of the wise and foolish builders. We all know the song but read the story.
As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. 48 They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”
If you have walked with God for any length of time you have had an experience that shook your faith down to its bare bones. If not you will. It may be a loss or a disappointment or an illness. If your foundation is strong, your faith will come out stronger for the test. all through the Bible and in our own lives we have examples of this.
The writer of Hebrews cautions us to build on that foundation in Hebrews 6:1."Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God,"
What can we do to strengthen our foundations? It may be different for different people. Maybe it would be to talk to people who are farther along in their faith walk. It might be to look back over your life and see what God has brought you through. You might try reading scriptures that you haven't read for a while, like the Gospels. Challenge yourself to read familiar scriptures, like the Lord's prayer or the twenty-third Psalm, with fresh eyes. Whatever it takes for you, find a way to shore up your foundation. There is an enemy much more dangerous than the Big Bad Wolf who would love to huff and puff and blow our spiritual house down.
Monday, November 27, 2017
Sunday, October 29, 2017
In Quietness and Trust
Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5
One of the men I work with has advancing Alzheimer's disease. Within certain parameters he does pretty well. On of the hardest times of the day for him is bedtime. He gets back to the bedroom pretty well, although sometimes it feels like a marathon race. It takes a lot of coaching to get him sitting on the bed. It seems to make sense to me but when I think about it is actually a complicated process. Then comes the most difficult part of the process. Laying down. Even with the head of the bed raised as far as it will go, it is a terrifying process to let go and trust that the bed is going to be there. One night I was encouraging him to lean over and lay down, but he wasn't having any of it. He had a death grip on his walker with one hand and the mattress with the other. I reached for the walker to put it away and he grabbed it back. I told him he needed to let me put the walker up since he was through with it for the day. His reply - "Oh, I don't think so!" Amid hollering and cussing, but stopping short of weeping and gnashing of teeth, he got laid down.
It is a frightening prospect to trust. Jesus asks us to let go and rest in Him and we tend to say, "Oh I don't think so. We have a death grip on our own security devices. There are as many security devices as there are people, because the enemy will tailor our temptations to our personalities and weaknesses. One of these is relying on our self and our own wisdom and good works. This can take different forms, including having a religious spirit and becoming workaholics. It looks like a good idea because then we have control over our salvation. (Or not!) The consequences of this choice is that we become fearful and anxious, never sure if we are good enough and never knowing if we are prepared for what is ahead.
There is a beautiful story in The Hiding Place, the book by Corrie Ten Boom with John and Elizabeth Sherrill. As a young girl Corrie came face to face with death and became very fearful. When her father came home she clung to him and begged him not to die because she needed him. He gently asked her "When we take the train to Amsterdam, when do I give you your ticket?" "Just before we board", she answers. He explains that if he gave it to her too early she wouldn't need it yet and might lose it. He tells her that God often gives us the strength we need to face a situation just in time, but not before we need it.
The children of Israel were relying on their own strength and understanding. It was not going well.In Isaiah 30:15, god tells them
For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said,
“In repentance and rest you will be saved,
In quietness and trust is your strength.”
But you were not willing,
In verse 18 he shows them what waits for them if they will trust him.
Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you,
And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you.
For the LORD is a God of justice;
How blessed are all those who long for Him.
In Proverbs, he tells us this.
Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Acknowledge him in all your ways and He will make your path straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6
We often quote Psalms 46:10, which is a good verse, but today I want us to look at the whole psalm.
It gives us an even better picture of what God can do for us when we trust.
Proverbs 3:5
One of the men I work with has advancing Alzheimer's disease. Within certain parameters he does pretty well. On of the hardest times of the day for him is bedtime. He gets back to the bedroom pretty well, although sometimes it feels like a marathon race. It takes a lot of coaching to get him sitting on the bed. It seems to make sense to me but when I think about it is actually a complicated process. Then comes the most difficult part of the process. Laying down. Even with the head of the bed raised as far as it will go, it is a terrifying process to let go and trust that the bed is going to be there. One night I was encouraging him to lean over and lay down, but he wasn't having any of it. He had a death grip on his walker with one hand and the mattress with the other. I reached for the walker to put it away and he grabbed it back. I told him he needed to let me put the walker up since he was through with it for the day. His reply - "Oh, I don't think so!" Amid hollering and cussing, but stopping short of weeping and gnashing of teeth, he got laid down.
It is a frightening prospect to trust. Jesus asks us to let go and rest in Him and we tend to say, "Oh I don't think so. We have a death grip on our own security devices. There are as many security devices as there are people, because the enemy will tailor our temptations to our personalities and weaknesses. One of these is relying on our self and our own wisdom and good works. This can take different forms, including having a religious spirit and becoming workaholics. It looks like a good idea because then we have control over our salvation. (Or not!) The consequences of this choice is that we become fearful and anxious, never sure if we are good enough and never knowing if we are prepared for what is ahead.
There is a beautiful story in The Hiding Place, the book by Corrie Ten Boom with John and Elizabeth Sherrill. As a young girl Corrie came face to face with death and became very fearful. When her father came home she clung to him and begged him not to die because she needed him. He gently asked her "When we take the train to Amsterdam, when do I give you your ticket?" "Just before we board", she answers. He explains that if he gave it to her too early she wouldn't need it yet and might lose it. He tells her that God often gives us the strength we need to face a situation just in time, but not before we need it.
The children of Israel were relying on their own strength and understanding. It was not going well.In Isaiah 30:15, god tells them
For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said,
“In repentance and rest you will be saved,
In quietness and trust is your strength.”
But you were not willing,
In verse 18 he shows them what waits for them if they will trust him.
Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you,
And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you.
For the LORD is a God of justice;
How blessed are all those who long for Him.
In Proverbs, he tells us this.
Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Acknowledge him in all your ways and He will make your path straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6
We often quote Psalms 46:10, which is a good verse, but today I want us to look at the whole psalm.
It gives us an even better picture of what God can do for us when we trust.
1God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.c
4There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
6Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
8Come and see what the Lord has done,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9He makes wars cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shieldsd with fire.
10He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
11The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress
Day by day this week, let's try to live in quietness and trust. Your salvation and your security depends on God and not on you.
Saturday, October 14, 2017
Power Failure
If you are living Unseen, you may have felt powerless and ineffective. If you have, read onto see what God showed me.
Proclaim the power of God, whose majesty is over Israel,whose power is in the heavens.
You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people Psalms 68:34-35
Hurricanes. Floods. Earthquakes. Volcanos. Besides the fact that they are all natural disasters and that we have seen them all in the last few weeks, hat do they have in common? They all cause power failures. Power failures make everything much worse. There are the obvious problems, such as no power to prepare or store food or to get relief from the heat. There is the problem of not being able to work and the problem of not being able to communicate. No jumping on facebook to reassure family and friends or using your cell phone to console a hurting friend. There are also difficulties that I had not considered. For example, I learned that without power there is no way to pump water for drinking. Transportation systems rely on electricity and are in chaos. People are having to use physical labor to do work that they could do easily with power tools.These things are all bearable for a while, but then people start to get irritable and resentful, than anxious and depressed and finally despair can set in if the problems are not dealt with.
The disasters have taken over the news, but there is an unreported problem that is just as serious. This is the problems Christians face when they try to live without the power God has made available. We can do the work he asks us to on our own power but it is much more difficult. Have you tried to love your spouse, your toddler, your teenager or your aging parent on love that you produce yourself? It works for a while but quickly leads to exhaustion and resentment. How about communication with God and our faith family? Are you feeling disconnected?
What are the power tools we have at outr disposal?
These are the ones that come to mind.
Miracles
Miracles are God's way of showing us both his power and his nature. Not done just to "show off", they are either done to show dominion over a false God (such as the gods of the Egyptian in Exodus) , to show power over a need such as the feeding of the 5000 (Matthew 14) or over nature, such as walking on the water (Matthew 14) or raising the dead (Mark 5:22) They were not an end in themselves, but called people to God.
Salvation
Sin separated us from God and we were hopeless. We could not reconcile to him, but He sacrificed Jesus and paid the price for our sins. Every other religion leaves the burden on the believer, but God came "demonstrated His own love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:8) This is so amazing that it leaves us in awe, saying as Paul did, "I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God for salvation, to the Jew first and also to the Gentile." (Romans 1:16)
Holy Spirit
Many believers have not been taught about the Holy Spirit. We are not able to use the many things he offers us because we don't know that they are available. This includes sealing us at our baptism (Ephesians 4:30), comforting us (Romans 15:13) teaching us (Luke 12:12), interceding for us (or being our go-between with God), gifting us ( 1 Corinthians 12) and many more. Take time to learn more about this third member of the Godhead and the power he provides.
Scripture
We are told in Hebrews 4:12. that "the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two edged sword and able to separate bone and marrow and soul and spirit." Never underestimate the power we have in the "Sword of the Spirit which is the word of God." (Ephesians 6)
Prayer
We are told to pray without ceasing(Romans 1:10), "to come boldly before the throne of God" (Hebrews 4:16), and that the effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much (James 5:12)
God is willing to give you his power. Are you willing to receive it and use it?
Power Failure
Proclaim the power of God, whose majesty is over Israel,whose power is in the heavens.
You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people Psalms 68:34-35
Hurricanes. Floods. Earthquakes. Volcanos. Besides the fact that they are all natural disasters and that we have seen them all in the last few weeks, hat do they have in common? They all cause power failures. Power failures make everything much worse. There are the obvious problems, such as no power to prepare or store food or to get relief from the heat. There is the problem of not being able to work and the problem of not being able to communicate. No jumping on facebook to reassure family and friends or using your cell phone to console a hurting friend. There are also difficulties that I had not considered. For example, I learned that without power there is no way to pump water for drinking. Transportation systems rely on electricity and are in chaos. People are having to use physical labor to do work that they could do easily with power tools.These things are all bearable for a while, but then people start to get irritable and resentful, than anxious and depressed and finally despair can set in if the problems are not dealt with.
The disasters have taken over the news, but there is an unreported problem that is just as serious. This is the problems Christians face when they try to live without the power God has made available. We can do the work he asks us to on our own power but it is much more difficult. Have you tried to love your spouse, your toddler, your teenager or your aging parent on love that you produce yourself? It works for a while but quickly leads to exhaustion and resentment. How about communication with God and our faith family? Are you feeling disconnected?
What are the power tools we have at outr disposal?
These are the ones that come to mind.
Miracles
Miracles are God's way of showing us both his power and his nature. Not done just to "show off", they are either done to show dominion over a false God (such as the gods of the Egyptian in Exodus) , to show power over a need such as the feeding of the 5000 (Matthew 14) or over nature, such as walking on the water (Matthew 14) or raising the dead (Mark 5:22) They were not an end in themselves, but called people to God.
Salvation
Sin separated us from God and we were hopeless. We could not reconcile to him, but He sacrificed Jesus and paid the price for our sins. Every other religion leaves the burden on the believer, but God came "demonstrated His own love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:8) This is so amazing that it leaves us in awe, saying as Paul did, "I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God for salvation, to the Jew first and also to the Gentile." (Romans 1:16)
Holy Spirit
Many believers have not been taught about the Holy Spirit. We are not able to use the many things he offers us because we don't know that they are available. This includes sealing us at our baptism (Ephesians 4:30), comforting us (Romans 15:13) teaching us (Luke 12:12), interceding for us (or being our go-between with God), gifting us ( 1 Corinthians 12) and many more. Take time to learn more about this third member of the Godhead and the power he provides.
Scripture
We are told in Hebrews 4:12. that "the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two edged sword and able to separate bone and marrow and soul and spirit." Never underestimate the power we have in the "Sword of the Spirit which is the word of God." (Ephesians 6)
Prayer
We are told to pray without ceasing(Romans 1:10), "to come boldly before the throne of God" (Hebrews 4:16), and that the effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much (James 5:12)
God is willing to give you his power. Are you willing to receive it and use it?
Friday, September 15, 2017
Can't we all just get along?
When we live unseen, we need other people. We can't make it on our own, but it is hard to reach out and hard to trust people who reach out to us. Read on to see how God showed me a great example of friendship.
You would not expect them to be friends. They look very different. One has long brown hair, chocolate brown eyes and resembles a movie star. The other has short salt and pepper hair and piercing green eyes. They have an age difference, a cultural difference and a language difference. They are not even the same species. One is my 9 year old terrier mix, Benji, who looks like the dog in the seventies movies by Joe Camp. The other is his new cat friend, Shadow. He is a half grown gray tabby named because of his coloring and because he follows the dog around like a little gray shadow. They have had to work out some issues. The dog would try to sniff the cat like he would another dog and the cat did not appreciate it. He would respond with a swat to the dog's nose. They have made their peace, though. Any time of the day or night, Benji and I leave the house for a walk. We never get far before Shadow is either running after us or yowling. He rubs up against Benji, walks under him and switches his tail. Then he follows us on our walk. If he falls behind, Benji stops and waits for him. When we get back to the house, they sit on the patio side by side. At first Shadow didn't want me to pet him or hold him, but once he got a taste of it he decided that as long as he and Benji are friends, I can be his person.
The past few weeks have shown us at our worst and at our best. We have seen rioting over confederate statues and terrorist acts, and we have also seen people helping each other through the hurricanes and flooding. Many of the pictures show people of different races, different ages and probably different religions working side by side. It has been very encouraging to see. We have a lot of room for improvement, but every step is progress.
Unfortunately we often have the same issues in the church as in the world. These issues are not new, either. We see them raise their heads early in Genesis with Cain and Abel and the tower of Babel, and continue all the way through the Bible. In Acts Peter balks when the spirit tells him to preach to the Gentiles and is instructed to call nothing unclean that God has made clean. In Colossians 3:11, Paul addresses the issue this way.
Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter, is read at weddings, and rightly so since the kind of love described there is essential for marriage. However, it is just as important for living in peace with our brothers. Look at in this light.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
The people I find it hard to get along with you might find easy, and vice versa. We need to rely on the love that comes from God to do so, not the flimsy love that we can work up on our own.
The past few weeks have shown us at our worst and at our best. We have seen rioting over confederate statues and terrorist acts, and we have also seen people helping each other through the hurricanes and flooding. Many of the pictures show people of different races, different ages and probably different religions working side by side. It has been very encouraging to see. We have a lot of room for improvement, but every step is progress.
Unfortunately we often have the same issues in the church as in the world. These issues are not new, either. We see them raise their heads early in Genesis with Cain and Abel and the tower of Babel, and continue all the way through the Bible. In Acts Peter balks when the spirit tells him to preach to the Gentiles and is instructed to call nothing unclean that God has made clean. In Colossians 3:11, Paul addresses the issue this way.
Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter, is read at weddings, and rightly so since the kind of love described there is essential for marriage. However, it is just as important for living in peace with our brothers. Look at in this light.
13 If I speak in the tongues[of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
The people I find it hard to get along with you might find easy, and vice versa. We need to rely on the love that comes from God to do so, not the flimsy love that we can work up on our own.
Thursday, August 17, 2017
Restless Heart Syndrome
Restless Heart Syndrome
Be still and know that I am God. Psalms 46:10
Bedtime is always welcome, but not always easy. The first issue is that my little fur ball of a dog is not always interested in letting me go to sleep. This is especially true if I have worked a long day. He will either crawl up beside me and "oof" for attention, curl up on the opposite corner and "oof" so I have to sit up and pet him, or get just out of reach on the floor and bark. Resistance is futile, so finally I get out of bed and follow him into the living room. A lot of the time he goes to the door, wagging his tail, and then cuts between my legs and jumps up in my spot in the bed. Once he has settled in, the next issue comes along. My leg muscles tense as I am trying to relax. My feet twitch and I feel an irresistible urge to move my legs. Sometimes just as I am falling over the edge into sleep, they will jerk and startle me awake. The diagnosis is restless leg syndrome, and medication has helped a lot, for which my husband is grateful. What has not responded to medication is my restless heart syndrome.
Symptoms of this disorder include dissatisfaction with life as it is, disappointment with God, and a sense of disquiet in the spirit. This syndrome was first seen in the garden of Eden when Eve was tricked by the serpent into believing that God was not being fair to them and they could have more wisdom and be like God. (Genesis 3) Another recorded case was seen in the people building the Tower of Babel, believing they could "ascend to the heavens," (Genesis 11) In exodus we see the tell tale symptoms in the Israelites who grew frustrated with Moses, asking in Exodus 14:11 11They said to Moses, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? One of their most dramatic episodes came when they had Aaron make the golden calf for them to worship, assuring Moses that they had just thrown the gold into the fire and that was what came out! (Exodus 32).
Cases of restless heart syndrome occur throughout the Bible and into our own lives. Risk factors include spiritual malnutrition (1 Peter 2:2) and lack of contact with the Great Physician. Recommended treatment is the following.
Be still and know that I am God. Psalms 46:10
For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” Isaiah 30:15
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5
Life is hard and most times there are no easy answers for things we face. Saying that we should depend on God my sound like a pat answer, but that is not my intention. What I do know is that in my life when I have been upset with God and feeling adrift, I have come back to the point that Peter did, saying "Where else can we go? You have the words of life. (John 6:68) If you are hurt and your heart is restless, I am sorry. It is a real problem and not something to be made light of. God, the one Hagar called THE GOD WHO SEES, has not forgotten you.
Be still and know that I am God. Psalms 46:10
Bedtime is always welcome, but not always easy. The first issue is that my little fur ball of a dog is not always interested in letting me go to sleep. This is especially true if I have worked a long day. He will either crawl up beside me and "oof" for attention, curl up on the opposite corner and "oof" so I have to sit up and pet him, or get just out of reach on the floor and bark. Resistance is futile, so finally I get out of bed and follow him into the living room. A lot of the time he goes to the door, wagging his tail, and then cuts between my legs and jumps up in my spot in the bed. Once he has settled in, the next issue comes along. My leg muscles tense as I am trying to relax. My feet twitch and I feel an irresistible urge to move my legs. Sometimes just as I am falling over the edge into sleep, they will jerk and startle me awake. The diagnosis is restless leg syndrome, and medication has helped a lot, for which my husband is grateful. What has not responded to medication is my restless heart syndrome.
Symptoms of this disorder include dissatisfaction with life as it is, disappointment with God, and a sense of disquiet in the spirit. This syndrome was first seen in the garden of Eden when Eve was tricked by the serpent into believing that God was not being fair to them and they could have more wisdom and be like God. (Genesis 3) Another recorded case was seen in the people building the Tower of Babel, believing they could "ascend to the heavens," (Genesis 11) In exodus we see the tell tale symptoms in the Israelites who grew frustrated with Moses, asking in Exodus 14:11 11They said to Moses, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? One of their most dramatic episodes came when they had Aaron make the golden calf for them to worship, assuring Moses that they had just thrown the gold into the fire and that was what came out! (Exodus 32).
Cases of restless heart syndrome occur throughout the Bible and into our own lives. Risk factors include spiritual malnutrition (1 Peter 2:2) and lack of contact with the Great Physician. Recommended treatment is the following.
Be still and know that I am God. Psalms 46:10
For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” Isaiah 30:15
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5
Life is hard and most times there are no easy answers for things we face. Saying that we should depend on God my sound like a pat answer, but that is not my intention. What I do know is that in my life when I have been upset with God and feeling adrift, I have come back to the point that Peter did, saying "Where else can we go? You have the words of life. (John 6:68) If you are hurt and your heart is restless, I am sorry. It is a real problem and not something to be made light of. God, the one Hagar called THE GOD WHO SEES, has not forgotten you.
Wednesday, August 2, 2017
Freedom!
Welcome to Unseen today. It has been a week of ups and downs, or Highlights and Lowlights as we say at Faithworks. I was caught up in insecurity and I found the answer in a strange place. Read on.
FREEDOM!
Where the
spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17
I saw them
again this week - “free” tickets to the circus. We fell for it once. I took my
children to the circus with their free tickets. My ticket was fifteen
dollars. We went in and sat in an empty
section near the center ring. We were excited to find a seat so close to the
action. After a few minutes a woman with a money belt come and told us that it
would be four dollars apiece more to sit there. Rolling our eyes, we moved to
another seat. The circus started and
there were other money making opportunities, such as elephant rides that cost
twelve dollars and lasted about two minutes, and pictures with a sci-fi looking
version of a cartoon character that gave me the willies. I enjoyed the trapeze and high wire acts but
the animal acts were my favorites. I was especially impressed with the
elephants that were so easily controlled by a whistle and baton.
How do these
great beasts learn so much control? I found out that when an elephant is very
young it is tied to a post with a heavy rope that it is not able to break. As it
grows it quickly becomes strong enough to break the rope or rip the post from
the ground, but it is so used to being bound that it does not try to break
free. By the time the elephant is full grown, it can be tied with only a thin
cord.
This is a
sad commentary on mankind and the way we treat animals but there is a deeper
lesson to be learned. We are often held back in life by things that we can
actually overcome. We may be held back by fear or by guilt or by self-defeating
attitudes. We are vulnerable to these anyway and the Enemy of our souls is more
than willing to supply them. One of his names in First Peter is the “Accuser of
the Brethren.” For example I am filling out applications for jobs and every
time I write down a job, he is in my ear saying, “Remember the things you did
wrong at that job.” I am trying to counter with the things that I did well or
things that I learned.
This is not
something that we can overcome on our own, but it is something we can overcome.
Guilt is a common trap that the enemy sets for us, but in Romans 8:1 Paul tells
us that “there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the
law of the spirit of life in Christ has set me free from the law of sin and
death.” Isaiah 54:17 tells us this good news. "No weapon that is formed
against you will prosper; and every tongue that accuses you in judgment you
will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their
vindication is from Me," declares the LORD. We also need to remember that “greater is he that
is in me than he that is in the world.” He has promised to complete the work
that he started in us. (Philippians 1:6)
Don’t fall
for the lies you are told. “Gird you loins with truth” (Ephesians 6) and let
God help you to break free from the things that bind you.
Sunday, July 16, 2017
Ashes, Ashes, We All Fall Down
On our honeymoon, we visited Capulin Volcano on a whim. We decided we might not ever get to see a volcano again. Capulin is just across the New Mexico border coming back from Colorado.As we were driving up we saw scrub brush and cactus and lots of gray dirt. When we got to the rim, I couldn't believe my eyes. The inside of the crater was bursting with life. It was green and lush with dozens of different kinds of plants. One bush was completely covered in ladybugs. Every step brought new amazing sights. When we mentioned this at the visitor's center, the workers told us that the volcanic ash makes the most fertile soil. It was astonishing that so much beauty and growth could come from something as destructive and catastrophic as a volcano.
Isn't that just like God? Not only is he the Creator that formed the volcano in the first place but he recreated something beautiful out of the ruin He can do the same for us What areas in your life has he redeemed? Sometimes it looks like a situation is so painful and bitter that nothing good can ever come from it. For me some of those have been a miscarriage, an angry, destructive teenager and struggles with depression and anxiety. These were things that were so hard that I was sure that God could not use them for good. I know the verses but for some reason I decided that either these things were not included in the list of "all things that God works together for good." (Romans 8:28) Either that or I had not done enough good deeds to balance the scale. I was wrong, though, and God has used them. Some of them have been used to shape me and teach me dependence on God. Some have been used to make me more compassionate and helpful to others in the same situation. I have been able to listen to them or give them a hug and prove that it can be overcome. I have also received hope from others who have been in similar situations, who probably felt the same way I did.
One of the verses that got me through these times was Isaiah 61:1-3.It reads like this.
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,[a]
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.
One of my life verses is Isaiah 43:1-3.
But now, this is what the Lord says—
he who created you, Jacob,
he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
3 For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior
Another of my favorites is one you may not have seen. It is in Micah 7:8.
8 Do not gloat over me, my enemy!
Though I have fallen, I will rise.
Though I sit in darkness,
the Lord will be my light.
9 Because I have sinned against him,
I will bear the Lord’s wrath,
until he pleads my case
and upholds my cause.
He will bring me out into the light;
I will see his righteousness.
10 Then my enemy will see it
and will be covered with shame.
So many other verses echo these thoughts. If we release our hurts to God he can make them fertile soil for growth and service. I urge you not to fall in to the trap of holding onto anger and resentment, as tempting as it is for all of us. These are the scrub brush and cactus of our spiritual lives. may your ashes be turned into beauty.
Isn't that just like God? Not only is he the Creator that formed the volcano in the first place but he recreated something beautiful out of the ruin He can do the same for us What areas in your life has he redeemed? Sometimes it looks like a situation is so painful and bitter that nothing good can ever come from it. For me some of those have been a miscarriage, an angry, destructive teenager and struggles with depression and anxiety. These were things that were so hard that I was sure that God could not use them for good. I know the verses but for some reason I decided that either these things were not included in the list of "all things that God works together for good." (Romans 8:28) Either that or I had not done enough good deeds to balance the scale. I was wrong, though, and God has used them. Some of them have been used to shape me and teach me dependence on God. Some have been used to make me more compassionate and helpful to others in the same situation. I have been able to listen to them or give them a hug and prove that it can be overcome. I have also received hope from others who have been in similar situations, who probably felt the same way I did.
One of the verses that got me through these times was Isaiah 61:1-3.It reads like this.
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,[a]
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.
One of my life verses is Isaiah 43:1-3.
But now, this is what the Lord says—
he who created you, Jacob,
he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
3 For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior
Another of my favorites is one you may not have seen. It is in Micah 7:8.
8 Do not gloat over me, my enemy!
Though I have fallen, I will rise.
Though I sit in darkness,
the Lord will be my light.
9 Because I have sinned against him,
I will bear the Lord’s wrath,
until he pleads my case
and upholds my cause.
He will bring me out into the light;
I will see his righteousness.
10 Then my enemy will see it
and will be covered with shame.
So many other verses echo these thoughts. If we release our hurts to God he can make them fertile soil for growth and service. I urge you not to fall in to the trap of holding onto anger and resentment, as tempting as it is for all of us. These are the scrub brush and cactus of our spiritual lives. may your ashes be turned into beauty.
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