I am amazed at how many of the people I meet each week are truly stressed out. I am convinced that the time in which we live is more tumultuous than any generation before us.
From the constant low voltage stress of everyday living, to the occasional unavoidable crisis, you and I live in a pressure cooker world. The constant crush of demands on every side has the potential of robbing us of our joy and energy.
All of which leads to horrible consequences – emotional breakdowns, tension in our marriages, physical ailments, and a myriad of psychological disorders.
For millions of Americans it has gotten so bad that they make it a regular habit to go to a therapist. Through that process they are seeking peace and relief from the stress that is ruling their lives.
Well, I go to a therapist too. Yes, you read that right. I talk to my therapist every day — many times in fact. And what is great is, he is always available and through my sessions with him, I have been empowered to live with greater peace and joy than I could have imagined possible.
My therapist's name is God. And He wants to be your therapist too.
How? Through prayer. In fact, He has made it clear in His Word that He wants you and me to pray so we can experience the peace that can only come from Him. To be released from the stress that so easily depresses us and destroys the joy of life.
Take a look at Philippians 4:6-7. The promise of this verse is just awesome! “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
There is a critical truth I want you to lock onto from this passage. If you do, it can revolutionize your life.
That truth is this: God has designed prayer as a stress reliever for your life. Read those verses again. God wants us to understand that prayer is not just about asking Him for things, but to unburden our hearts before Him. In fact, you will notice in these verses that there is no promise to answer your requests (though it is certainly implied), but there is a promise to grant you peace - His all-powerful peace - if you will talk to Him about your problems.
Not long ago I had a day when I got really bad news on three fronts. Not one or two, but three. It seemed devastating at first, but I remember deliberately going out and immediately talking to God. I unburdened my heart, told Him how I felt, then made my request about the situation.
And you know what? While nothing about my circumstances or problems changed immediately, I felt great. I will never forget, I slept well that night surrounded by God's peace!
I don't think it is an accident that you are reading this right now. You may be so filled with anxiety and stress that you are working on an ulcer. Perhaps you can't remember the last time you had a good night's sleep.
Whatever it is that has hold of your life and is stressing you out today, let me encourage you to go to God. Unburden your heart. Put your requests before Him - and leave them there! You will find He is the greatest therapist in the world. And you will experience peace that goes far beyond any human comprehension.
I have more I would like to share with you on how prayer can impact your life-and some simple steps to truly effective prayer. And I will be sharing those steps with you in future messages. Also please write me and let me know how I can pray for you.
Are you feeling the stress of life today? Take time to unburden your heart before the Lord. Make Him your therapist... He is a great listener!
Sincerely,
Mrs. P
Developing a Sacred Conscience - Our God given "Warning System"
1 Corinthians 2:10-16
God has given you a conscience for your protection. To develop and trust that "warning system," you must be committed to take action.
Apply the Word of God to daily living. As you learn and put into practice "the perfect law that gives freedom" (James 1:25), your conscience will grow stronger because you know God's heart better. Your spiritual instincts will become sharper regarding what pleases Him.
Arrive at decisions through prayer. Instead of choosing something merely because it looks, sounds, or feels good, bring every issue and decision before the Lord in prayer.
Agree to obey God. When you strongly desire to do things the Lord's way, you will consistently ask, What does God want me to do? This practice will enable you to discern and follow the Holy Spirit's lead.
Acquire a deeper sensitivity to the Spirit's conviction. We are no longer condemned (Romans 8:1), so we must recognize the difference between the conviction of the Holy Spirit and condemnation from the Enemy. The Spirit always shows us exactly what needs repentance-He doesn't give us a sense of vague guilt. His conviction has the purpose of turning us back to Him.
Abandon yourself to the perfect will of God. If you recommit daily to be a "living sacrifice" for God alone, your inner compass will follow that commitment and steer you toward the Lord. As you refuse to conform to this world's pattern and renew your thinking according to the mind of Christ, you will be able to "test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing, and perfect will" (Romans 12:1-2 NIV).
My Prayer to God I share with you: (an example of prayer language)
Lord, I pray You will fill me with the “knowledge of [Your] will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” (Colossians 1:9). Help me to walk in a worthy manner, fully pleasing to You, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of Your ways. Guide my every step. Lead me “in Your righteousness” and “make Your way straight before my face” (Psalm 5:8). As I draw close and walk in intimate relationship with You each day, I pray You will get me where I need to go.
Even as Jesus said, “Not My will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42), so I say to You, not my will but Your will be done in my life. “I delight to do Your will, O my God” (Psalm 40:8). You are more important to me than anything. Your will is more important to me than my desires. I want to live as Your servant, doing You will from my heart (Ephesians 6:6).
Lord, align my heart with Yours. Help me to hear Your voice saying, “This is the way, walk in it.” If I am doing anything outside of Your will, show me. Speak to me from Your Word so that I will have understanding. Show me any area of my life where I am not right on target. If there is something I should be doing, reveal it to me so that I can correct my course. I want to do only what You want me to do.
Lord, I know we are not to direct our own steps (Jeremiah 10:23). So I pray You would direct my steps. Only You know the way I should go. I don’t want to get off the path You want me to walk on and end up in the wrong place. I want to move into all You have for me and become all You made me to be by walking in Your perfect will for my life now….Amen
Sincerely,
Mrs. P
God has given you a conscience for your protection. To develop and trust that "warning system," you must be committed to take action.
Apply the Word of God to daily living. As you learn and put into practice "the perfect law that gives freedom" (James 1:25), your conscience will grow stronger because you know God's heart better. Your spiritual instincts will become sharper regarding what pleases Him.
Arrive at decisions through prayer. Instead of choosing something merely because it looks, sounds, or feels good, bring every issue and decision before the Lord in prayer.
Agree to obey God. When you strongly desire to do things the Lord's way, you will consistently ask, What does God want me to do? This practice will enable you to discern and follow the Holy Spirit's lead.
Acquire a deeper sensitivity to the Spirit's conviction. We are no longer condemned (Romans 8:1), so we must recognize the difference between the conviction of the Holy Spirit and condemnation from the Enemy. The Spirit always shows us exactly what needs repentance-He doesn't give us a sense of vague guilt. His conviction has the purpose of turning us back to Him.
Abandon yourself to the perfect will of God. If you recommit daily to be a "living sacrifice" for God alone, your inner compass will follow that commitment and steer you toward the Lord. As you refuse to conform to this world's pattern and renew your thinking according to the mind of Christ, you will be able to "test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing, and perfect will" (Romans 12:1-2 NIV).
My Prayer to God I share with you: (an example of prayer language)
Lord, I pray You will fill me with the “knowledge of [Your] will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” (Colossians 1:9). Help me to walk in a worthy manner, fully pleasing to You, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of Your ways. Guide my every step. Lead me “in Your righteousness” and “make Your way straight before my face” (Psalm 5:8). As I draw close and walk in intimate relationship with You each day, I pray You will get me where I need to go.
Even as Jesus said, “Not My will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42), so I say to You, not my will but Your will be done in my life. “I delight to do Your will, O my God” (Psalm 40:8). You are more important to me than anything. Your will is more important to me than my desires. I want to live as Your servant, doing You will from my heart (Ephesians 6:6).
Lord, align my heart with Yours. Help me to hear Your voice saying, “This is the way, walk in it.” If I am doing anything outside of Your will, show me. Speak to me from Your Word so that I will have understanding. Show me any area of my life where I am not right on target. If there is something I should be doing, reveal it to me so that I can correct my course. I want to do only what You want me to do.
Lord, I know we are not to direct our own steps (Jeremiah 10:23). So I pray You would direct my steps. Only You know the way I should go. I don’t want to get off the path You want me to walk on and end up in the wrong place. I want to move into all You have for me and become all You made me to be by walking in Your perfect will for my life now….Amen
Sincerely,
Mrs. P
PLAN A VS. PLAN B
Proverbs 3:5, 6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight
Untold numbers of believers are spiritually unaware and defeated in their daily lives. They don't realize that there is a battle going on for their minds. When struggling believers perceive the nature of the conflict and realize that they can be transformed by the renewing of their minds, they will experience freedom.
Faith is God's way to live and reason is man's way, but faith and man's ability to rationalize are often in conflict. It's not that faith is unreasonable, nor am I suggesting that you ignore your responsibility to think. On the contrary, we are required by God to think and choose. God is a rational God and He does work through our ability to reason. The problem is that our ability to reason is limited. The Lord said: "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:9). We are incapable of determining God's thoughts through human reasoning, therefore we are dependent on divine revelation.
So we can live God's way: operating by faith, which I like to call Plan A. Or we can live our way: operating by our limited ability to reason, which is Plan B. Plan B is based on our tendency to rationalize, "I don't see it God's way" or "I don't believe it," so we do it our way. Solomon urged us always to live God's way when he wrote: "Do not lean on your own understanding" (Plan B), but "in all your ways acknowledge Him" (Plan A)(Proverbs 3:5, 6).
The strength of Plan A in your life is determined by your personal conviction that God's way is always right and by how committed you are to obey Him. The strength of Plan B is determined by the amount of time and energy you invest in entertaining thoughts which are contrary to God's Word. You may really know God's way is best. But the moment you begin to entertain thoughts or ideas which are contrary to God's Word, you have established Plan B as an escape route in case Plan A should fail. Is it rational to choose our way over God's way?
Prayer:
Lord, I want to be done with self-centered, mediocre planning. I choose to submit my will to Your perfect way and trust You for the outcome
Sincerely,
Mrs. P
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight
Untold numbers of believers are spiritually unaware and defeated in their daily lives. They don't realize that there is a battle going on for their minds. When struggling believers perceive the nature of the conflict and realize that they can be transformed by the renewing of their minds, they will experience freedom.
Faith is God's way to live and reason is man's way, but faith and man's ability to rationalize are often in conflict. It's not that faith is unreasonable, nor am I suggesting that you ignore your responsibility to think. On the contrary, we are required by God to think and choose. God is a rational God and He does work through our ability to reason. The problem is that our ability to reason is limited. The Lord said: "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:9). We are incapable of determining God's thoughts through human reasoning, therefore we are dependent on divine revelation.
So we can live God's way: operating by faith, which I like to call Plan A. Or we can live our way: operating by our limited ability to reason, which is Plan B. Plan B is based on our tendency to rationalize, "I don't see it God's way" or "I don't believe it," so we do it our way. Solomon urged us always to live God's way when he wrote: "Do not lean on your own understanding" (Plan B), but "in all your ways acknowledge Him" (Plan A)(Proverbs 3:5, 6).
The strength of Plan A in your life is determined by your personal conviction that God's way is always right and by how committed you are to obey Him. The strength of Plan B is determined by the amount of time and energy you invest in entertaining thoughts which are contrary to God's Word. You may really know God's way is best. But the moment you begin to entertain thoughts or ideas which are contrary to God's Word, you have established Plan B as an escape route in case Plan A should fail. Is it rational to choose our way over God's way?
Prayer:
Lord, I want to be done with self-centered, mediocre planning. I choose to submit my will to Your perfect way and trust You for the outcome
Sincerely,
Mrs. P
PUT UP THE SAIL!
John 3:8
The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit
What does it take to be the selfless, loving person we desire to be? What is needed to move us beyond our inconsequential selfish, fleshly pursuits to deeds of loving service to God and others?
First, it requires a firm grasp on your identity with God. You can't love like Jesus loved until you accept the reality that, since you are God’s children, His divine nature is united with your spirit.
Second, you must begin to crucify daily the old sin-trained flesh and walk in accordance with who you are: a child of God whose spirit is filled with God's Spirit.
The fact that the Holy Spirit resides in us and that we can live according to His leading is an awesome but elusive concept to many. The problem is not new. Nicodemus was a learned man, but he couldn't comprehend life in the Spirit. So Jesus told him, "the wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going, so is everyone who is born of the Spirit" (John 3:8). Trying to reduce life in the Spirit to a formula is like trying to capture the wind.
Someone reflecting on the mysteries of walking by the Spirit said, "I think we need to pull in the oars and put up the sail!" I like that. When we walk by the Spirit, we stop striving. We are no longer driven; we are led. "For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God" (Romans 8:14). When we come to the end of our resources, we discover His.
Prayer:
Father, help me to quickly set aside human resources today so I may walk in the strength and adequacy of Your Spirit.
Sincerely,
Mrs. P
The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit
What does it take to be the selfless, loving person we desire to be? What is needed to move us beyond our inconsequential selfish, fleshly pursuits to deeds of loving service to God and others?
First, it requires a firm grasp on your identity with God. You can't love like Jesus loved until you accept the reality that, since you are God’s children, His divine nature is united with your spirit.
Second, you must begin to crucify daily the old sin-trained flesh and walk in accordance with who you are: a child of God whose spirit is filled with God's Spirit.
The fact that the Holy Spirit resides in us and that we can live according to His leading is an awesome but elusive concept to many. The problem is not new. Nicodemus was a learned man, but he couldn't comprehend life in the Spirit. So Jesus told him, "the wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going, so is everyone who is born of the Spirit" (John 3:8). Trying to reduce life in the Spirit to a formula is like trying to capture the wind.
Someone reflecting on the mysteries of walking by the Spirit said, "I think we need to pull in the oars and put up the sail!" I like that. When we walk by the Spirit, we stop striving. We are no longer driven; we are led. "For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God" (Romans 8:14). When we come to the end of our resources, we discover His.
Prayer:
Father, help me to quickly set aside human resources today so I may walk in the strength and adequacy of Your Spirit.
Sincerely,
Mrs. P
GOD WORKS IN THE ORDINARY
Hebrews 13:5
He [God] Himself has said, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you"
A devout believer in God heard an urgent news report on his radio that a flash flood was within minutes of entering the peaceful valley where he lived. Immediately he went to his knees and prayed for safety. The words were still on his lips when he became aware that water was gushing under his door. He retreated to the second floor and finally onto the roof of his house.
While he sat on the roof, a helicopter flew by and the pilot asked over the loudspeaker if they could lift him off. "It's not necessary since I have the Lord's protection," he replied.
Moments later the house began to break up and he found himself clinging to a tree. A police boat, braving the waters, approached him for rescue, but he assured them that the Lord would save him. Finally, the tree gave way and the man went to his death.
Standing before the Lord, he asked, "Lord, I'm glad to be here, but why didn't You answer my prayer for safety?"
The Lord responded, "Son, I told you over the radio to get out of there Then I sent you a helicopter and a motor boat!"
Nowhere in the Bible are we given the idea that God works only in the extraordinary. Much of the time He supernaturally works through His created order. Many people think God is present only when there is a miracle and that He leads only through signs and wonders.
There are people who always look for a sign. They walk by sight, not by faith. To them, God is only present in the miraculous. God was "really" at the church service if something unusual happened. Many desire and look for "visitations" from God.
But how does that square with God's omnipresence and the fact that He will never leave us or forsake us? Isn't God at every church service? Since God created the fixed order of the universe, would you expect Him to work primarily within that fixed order or outside of it? If God gave us a watch, would we be honoring Him more by asking Him what time it is or by simply consulting the watch?
Prayer:
Lord, forgive me for looking for signs when I only need to trust Your Word and live by Your promises.
Sincerely,
Mrs. P
He [God] Himself has said, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you"
A devout believer in God heard an urgent news report on his radio that a flash flood was within minutes of entering the peaceful valley where he lived. Immediately he went to his knees and prayed for safety. The words were still on his lips when he became aware that water was gushing under his door. He retreated to the second floor and finally onto the roof of his house.
While he sat on the roof, a helicopter flew by and the pilot asked over the loudspeaker if they could lift him off. "It's not necessary since I have the Lord's protection," he replied.
Moments later the house began to break up and he found himself clinging to a tree. A police boat, braving the waters, approached him for rescue, but he assured them that the Lord would save him. Finally, the tree gave way and the man went to his death.
Standing before the Lord, he asked, "Lord, I'm glad to be here, but why didn't You answer my prayer for safety?"
The Lord responded, "Son, I told you over the radio to get out of there Then I sent you a helicopter and a motor boat!"
Nowhere in the Bible are we given the idea that God works only in the extraordinary. Much of the time He supernaturally works through His created order. Many people think God is present only when there is a miracle and that He leads only through signs and wonders.
There are people who always look for a sign. They walk by sight, not by faith. To them, God is only present in the miraculous. God was "really" at the church service if something unusual happened. Many desire and look for "visitations" from God.
But how does that square with God's omnipresence and the fact that He will never leave us or forsake us? Isn't God at every church service? Since God created the fixed order of the universe, would you expect Him to work primarily within that fixed order or outside of it? If God gave us a watch, would we be honoring Him more by asking Him what time it is or by simply consulting the watch?
Prayer:
Lord, forgive me for looking for signs when I only need to trust Your Word and live by Your promises.
Sincerely,
Mrs. P
Overcoming Insecurity
Romans 8:33-39
No quick solution exists for overcoming insecurity. First, we have to acknowledge that we feel insecure. Then we should try to identify which circumstances generate those feelings. Finally, we must decide to overcome that state of mind. "Drifting" into security is impossible; we must instead work toward it.
Having a sense of security is more than simply building self-esteem. God is our genuine source of strength and confidence - if we try to overcome insecurity without Him, we will simply be masking it with our own efforts.
The way we see ourselves is not necessarily the way we truly are. Instead, we have to ask how God sees us. To shift our focus off ourselves and our mistakes, we must get into the Word of God. Therefore, to overcome insecurity, we must first deal with any doubts we may have about the Bible. Scripture is so powerful that when we read what God says about us, our thinking will start to change and we will be able to step out of insecurity's destructive mindset.
To continue the process, focus on the positive qualities in your life. Take a blank sheet of paper, and ask the Lord to guide you to an honest assessment of your advantageous traits. You will be surprised at what God shows you. But it is important not to look at others' talents to see how you measure up. No one is like you, so it is pointless to make comparisons. Our mission is to follow God in the way that He calls us individually, looking to Him for our security.
Oh...you are so loved, if you could only see yourself through God's eyes!!
Sincerely,
Mrs. P
No quick solution exists for overcoming insecurity. First, we have to acknowledge that we feel insecure. Then we should try to identify which circumstances generate those feelings. Finally, we must decide to overcome that state of mind. "Drifting" into security is impossible; we must instead work toward it.
Having a sense of security is more than simply building self-esteem. God is our genuine source of strength and confidence - if we try to overcome insecurity without Him, we will simply be masking it with our own efforts.
The way we see ourselves is not necessarily the way we truly are. Instead, we have to ask how God sees us. To shift our focus off ourselves and our mistakes, we must get into the Word of God. Therefore, to overcome insecurity, we must first deal with any doubts we may have about the Bible. Scripture is so powerful that when we read what God says about us, our thinking will start to change and we will be able to step out of insecurity's destructive mindset.
To continue the process, focus on the positive qualities in your life. Take a blank sheet of paper, and ask the Lord to guide you to an honest assessment of your advantageous traits. You will be surprised at what God shows you. But it is important not to look at others' talents to see how you measure up. No one is like you, so it is pointless to make comparisons. Our mission is to follow God in the way that He calls us individually, looking to Him for our security.
Oh...you are so loved, if you could only see yourself through God's eyes!!
Sincerely,
Mrs. P
Creed: Understanding the Visible and Invisible
Have you ever met a pair of identical twins and then tried to find some tiny little something that separated the two? Something that made one distinguishable from the other? Not necessarily better or worse, but different?I have friends who have twin daughters. Personally, I can see absolutely no difference in them. But their mother says to me, "When I look at Rachel, I see Rachel. When I look at Rebekah, I see Rebekah."
"How?" I asked, staring at the two young girls who stood before me grinning.
"See this little freckle on Rachel's face?" she asked. "Rebekah doesn't have one."
I cocked a brow. True. Still, they were identical.
The Nicene's Freckle
Just after "We believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth," in the Nicene Creed, is a line not found in the Apostle's Creed.
...and of all things visible and invisible.
Colossians 1:16 reads: For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.
Did you know that there is so much we don't know? For example (and this is fairly simple), there are other planets out there that with modern technology we are able to see. In the days of Paul, however, it was a different story. Perhaps Paul laid on his back a time or two and stared up at the evening sky, filled with thousands upon thousands of bright stars. Perhaps he watched the spectacular shows of meteors dashing across the sky, playing their own version of "Tag, You're It." And he knew...he just knew...there were things out there beyond what his eyes could see...or even outside the scope of his imagination.
Who made all those things? For Paul (and for me) there was only one answer: God. The Creator.
But stars and planets are not the only things invisible. One of my favorite Bible stories comes from the book of 2 Kings. The king of Aram is at war with Israel. He conferred with his officers about the best place to set up attack against Israel and they came to a decision. But God warned the prophet Elisha about the place, he told the king of Israel, and that left the king of Aram with no one to "play war" with.
This happened time and again. Finally the king of Aram went to his men and asked (in my own words), "Which one of you is the traitor? Every time we set up a place to attack, the king of Israel knows about it already."
Of course the men denied it. None of them had betrayed their king. Finally one speaks up, ""No one, my lord the king. Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel even the words you speak in your bedroom."
Well, that must have been distressing.
"Go get him," the king of Aram said, and the men set off to capture Elisha.
Now, when I say "the men" went off to capture Elisha, I don't just mean a couple of wise guys. According to the Bible, this was a "strong force" of men, chariots, and horses. For one guy!
The next morning, Elisha's servant got up and went out and saw this vast army surrounding them. He went back inside and told Elisha, asking him, "What shall we do?" In other words, "I think our goose is cooked."
But Elisha answered, "Don't be afraid. Those who are with us are more than those who are with them."
The servant must have looked at Elisha as if he'd failed Math 101, for there were only two of them. Then, Elisha prayed, "Oh Lord, open his eyes so he may see."
The Lord opened the servant's eyes and he saw...oh, boy did he see! He saw the hillside filled with horses and chariots of fire! The Lord's heavenly warriors, who had been there all along but had been invisible, surrounded them.
I believe that same army of heavenly hosts continues to surround God's children even today. But, how often are we aware of it? How much more often are we aware of our visible dire circumstances rather than the invisible authority of God over His own?
Another Kind of Army
Paul writes in Ephesians about another kind of army, one we need to be equally aware of.
Ephesians 6:10b-12 reads: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
There is an invisible world of darkness and evil that exists and is determined to bring us down. You might say, "Oh, I don't believe in all that scary stuff." And, thanks to Hollywood horror flicks and the kind of stories you used to tell around campfires and at sleepovers, it is scary...unless you know the Captain of our army.
Just because we can't see other galaxies with our naked eye doesn't mean they don't exist, and the same goes with Heavenly hosts and the spiritual forces of evil. We must be aware of one and prepared for the other. How do we do that?
Paul goes on to explain: put on the full armor of God.
Seen and Unseen
Can you see the armor of God? No. Can you sense its presence? Absolutely.
Allow me to give you an example. Years ago, when my son was in pre-school, I chaperoned a group of wee ones to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk in California. There were two vehicles packed to the brim with kids; the lead car - a van, actually, driven by the director of the pre-school - and my car, which held hardly more than two little ones, my son, and myself.
That morning, as was my typical routine, I prayed the armor of God on and asked God's heavenly angels to guide my car to its destination, some two hours away.
We headed out. In the front seat next to me was a young girl from the school named Stacy. We chatted as I drove, unaware of a looming danger in the distance. As we came around a deep curve on highway 17, I was stunned to see the van ahead swerve off the road, bounding down the shoulder. My eyes immediately cut to what had caused this mishap: a truck, pulling a doublewide load had cut them off and lost control slamming on it’s brakes.
"Hold on!" I screamed, then cut the car to the same path the van had taken.
I was aware of only one thing: my hands clutching the steering wheel at 10 and 2 as the car seemed to make it's on way.
When we finally came to a stop I looked at my passengers. "Are you okay?" They all nodded a yes; though it was obvious they were stunned. I looked out the windshield to see the pre-school director running toward us. "Are you okay?" she asked when she reached me. I said that we were all no worse for the wear. I then chuckled. "My dad would be proud," I said. "I kept my hands at 10 and 2."
The director walked back toward her van as I restarted the car, then noticed Stacy starring at me. "What?" I asked.
"Why did you say your hands stayed at 10 and 2?"
"Because they did," I answered. "If I live to be a hundred, I'll always remember the way they looked on this steering wheel."
"No," she said, shaking her head. "That's impossible. You threw your arms over me."
"Are you sure?" I asked.
"Positive."
In my mind, the question has always remained: whose hands were on the steering wheel and whose kept Stacy pinned to her seat?
I no longer have to question whether or not there is an unseen world; I have seen it with my own eyes.
Mrs. P
"How?" I asked, staring at the two young girls who stood before me grinning.
"See this little freckle on Rachel's face?" she asked. "Rebekah doesn't have one."
I cocked a brow. True. Still, they were identical.
The Nicene's Freckle
Just after "We believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth," in the Nicene Creed, is a line not found in the Apostle's Creed.
...and of all things visible and invisible.
Colossians 1:16 reads: For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.
Did you know that there is so much we don't know? For example (and this is fairly simple), there are other planets out there that with modern technology we are able to see. In the days of Paul, however, it was a different story. Perhaps Paul laid on his back a time or two and stared up at the evening sky, filled with thousands upon thousands of bright stars. Perhaps he watched the spectacular shows of meteors dashing across the sky, playing their own version of "Tag, You're It." And he knew...he just knew...there were things out there beyond what his eyes could see...or even outside the scope of his imagination.
Who made all those things? For Paul (and for me) there was only one answer: God. The Creator.
But stars and planets are not the only things invisible. One of my favorite Bible stories comes from the book of 2 Kings. The king of Aram is at war with Israel. He conferred with his officers about the best place to set up attack against Israel and they came to a decision. But God warned the prophet Elisha about the place, he told the king of Israel, and that left the king of Aram with no one to "play war" with.
This happened time and again. Finally the king of Aram went to his men and asked (in my own words), "Which one of you is the traitor? Every time we set up a place to attack, the king of Israel knows about it already."
Of course the men denied it. None of them had betrayed their king. Finally one speaks up, ""No one, my lord the king. Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel even the words you speak in your bedroom."
Well, that must have been distressing.
"Go get him," the king of Aram said, and the men set off to capture Elisha.
Now, when I say "the men" went off to capture Elisha, I don't just mean a couple of wise guys. According to the Bible, this was a "strong force" of men, chariots, and horses. For one guy!
The next morning, Elisha's servant got up and went out and saw this vast army surrounding them. He went back inside and told Elisha, asking him, "What shall we do?" In other words, "I think our goose is cooked."
But Elisha answered, "Don't be afraid. Those who are with us are more than those who are with them."
The servant must have looked at Elisha as if he'd failed Math 101, for there were only two of them. Then, Elisha prayed, "Oh Lord, open his eyes so he may see."
The Lord opened the servant's eyes and he saw...oh, boy did he see! He saw the hillside filled with horses and chariots of fire! The Lord's heavenly warriors, who had been there all along but had been invisible, surrounded them.
I believe that same army of heavenly hosts continues to surround God's children even today. But, how often are we aware of it? How much more often are we aware of our visible dire circumstances rather than the invisible authority of God over His own?
Another Kind of Army
Paul writes in Ephesians about another kind of army, one we need to be equally aware of.
Ephesians 6:10b-12 reads: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
There is an invisible world of darkness and evil that exists and is determined to bring us down. You might say, "Oh, I don't believe in all that scary stuff." And, thanks to Hollywood horror flicks and the kind of stories you used to tell around campfires and at sleepovers, it is scary...unless you know the Captain of our army.
Just because we can't see other galaxies with our naked eye doesn't mean they don't exist, and the same goes with Heavenly hosts and the spiritual forces of evil. We must be aware of one and prepared for the other. How do we do that?
Paul goes on to explain: put on the full armor of God.
Seen and Unseen
Can you see the armor of God? No. Can you sense its presence? Absolutely.
Allow me to give you an example. Years ago, when my son was in pre-school, I chaperoned a group of wee ones to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk in California. There were two vehicles packed to the brim with kids; the lead car - a van, actually, driven by the director of the pre-school - and my car, which held hardly more than two little ones, my son, and myself.
That morning, as was my typical routine, I prayed the armor of God on and asked God's heavenly angels to guide my car to its destination, some two hours away.
We headed out. In the front seat next to me was a young girl from the school named Stacy. We chatted as I drove, unaware of a looming danger in the distance. As we came around a deep curve on highway 17, I was stunned to see the van ahead swerve off the road, bounding down the shoulder. My eyes immediately cut to what had caused this mishap: a truck, pulling a doublewide load had cut them off and lost control slamming on it’s brakes.
"Hold on!" I screamed, then cut the car to the same path the van had taken.
I was aware of only one thing: my hands clutching the steering wheel at 10 and 2 as the car seemed to make it's on way.
When we finally came to a stop I looked at my passengers. "Are you okay?" They all nodded a yes; though it was obvious they were stunned. I looked out the windshield to see the pre-school director running toward us. "Are you okay?" she asked when she reached me. I said that we were all no worse for the wear. I then chuckled. "My dad would be proud," I said. "I kept my hands at 10 and 2."
The director walked back toward her van as I restarted the car, then noticed Stacy starring at me. "What?" I asked.
"Why did you say your hands stayed at 10 and 2?"
"Because they did," I answered. "If I live to be a hundred, I'll always remember the way they looked on this steering wheel."
"No," she said, shaking her head. "That's impossible. You threw your arms over me."
"Are you sure?" I asked.
"Positive."
In my mind, the question has always remained: whose hands were on the steering wheel and whose kept Stacy pinned to her seat?
I no longer have to question whether or not there is an unseen world; I have seen it with my own eyes.
Mrs. P
Creed: What Do You Believe?
I urge you to look closely at Ephesians 6: 12, which reads: For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Let us explore the specifics of the armor of God and the one place in which we do not battle. So, let's get started.
How'd We Get Here In The First Place?
Some of you may be wondering what the Nicene and Apostle's Creed has to do with the armor of God. Well, I'll tell you.
The whole point of the Creeds is to focus on what we believe. When you think about it, so much of what we claim to believe in is pretty...well...unbelievable! As I have stated before, this is the very essence of faith, to believe in that which the rest of the world would raise a brow toward.
The Bible is riddled with stories "strange" enough to make us go, "hmmmm." Worlds being created in seven days, floods destroying all but eight people and a few animals, seas parting, a city crumbling after being marched around seven times, the sun standing still, a shepherd becoming king, a King becoming a Shepherd, twelve men from a tiny country called Israel turning the religious world upside down...the list goes on and on.
Then, Paul adds to the mix by talking about things unseen. About wars going on in heavenly places. And about an armor we can't see to put on, but can see the evidence of when we don't wear it.
About a struggle against wickedness we fight every single day of our lives.
Wickedness, You Say?
Wickedness? Isn't that a bit of a harsh word?
If you look at The New American Standard Bible, you will read the passage thusly:
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Forces of wickedness.
An interesting word, especially in light of the fact that it's used only seven times in the entire New Testament.
Seven.
In Matthew 22:18, Jesus referred to the disciples of the Pharisees and the Herodians as "wicked" when they came to Him with bogus questions about taxes and the paying of them to the government.
In Mark 7, Jesus has been preaching some pretty meaty stuff. When He leaves the crowd and enters a house with His disciples, they question what He'd just said. (I suppose not wanting to sound dumb in front of the others.)
And He said to them, "Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?" (Thus He declared all foods clean.) And He was saying, "That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. (NASB)
When Jesus spoke to the Pharisee of whose house He'd been invited (Luke 11:37) about the "six woes," He said, "Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the platter; but inside of you, you are full of robbery and wickedness."
After the Gospels, poneria (Greek for wickedness) is used four more times.
Acts 3:26 (When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.)
Romans 1:29 (They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.)
1 Corinthians 5:8 (Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.)
Ephesians 6:12.
Reading those passages, we don't even have to look up the word poneria. They become self-explanatory.
In the last passage of the New Testament where the word is used, Paul boldly and plainly states that there are spiritual forces of wickedness in heavenly places.
In Heavenly Places?
One of my favorite cinematic lines comes from Gone With The Wind, where Aunt Pitty Pat says, "Yankees in Georgia? How'd they ever get in?"
I'm kinda wondering the same thing about wicked spirits in heavenly places. How'd they ever get in?
This word, Epouranios, can mean the Heaven where God and the angles dwell. But, it can also mean the atmosphere. The heavens we can look up and see. While viewing the sky with its clouds and sun, its moon and stars is easy enough for us, we are unable to behold that which is taking place within it. Literally, wickedness shooting about like fallen stars.
Years ago, author Frank Peretti turned the Christian fiction publishing world on its ear when he wrote This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness, novels with "unseen" characters - both good and evil. Readers who'd never entertained the notion of the hidden evil of the world were finally able to "see it."
To get it.
Paul got it. We must get it, too.
Let me say this emphatically: if we are going to win the battle against wickedness we must first be able to see our enemy for what it really is.
That sight takes Holy Spirit discernment.
The Enemy is Here, not There
So, where don't we fight the battle?
Paul said that our struggle is not with flesh and blood.
But...but...my neighbor is constantly attacking me...my ex harasses me...my boss picks on me...my family unnerves me...everybody's talking about me...at me....etc.
Listen. It's not them. It's the power of wickedness working through and around them.
In her book, I Told That Mountain to Move (Tyndale House, 2005), Patricia Raybon says that when you pray for or about someone, you must first look for Jesus in them. Before you pray for folks, she writes, look for Jesus in them...in that way, the heart gets softened. And God must need soft hearts to hear our prayers. Surely God must need us to look at each other as he does, seeing not our flaws but seeing Jesus in us. Even in me.
Wow. I like that. I like that so much I can't think of another word to add to it.
Warfare 101
Two simple rules I'll leave you with.
Recognize the origin of the warfare.
Recognize the One who is Greater than all that and then look for Him as you battle what you think is the painful onslaught from others. Attack the right enemy and look for Jesus in the pawn being used against you.
Sincerely,
Mrs. P
Let us explore the specifics of the armor of God and the one place in which we do not battle. So, let's get started.
How'd We Get Here In The First Place?
Some of you may be wondering what the Nicene and Apostle's Creed has to do with the armor of God. Well, I'll tell you.
The whole point of the Creeds is to focus on what we believe. When you think about it, so much of what we claim to believe in is pretty...well...unbelievable! As I have stated before, this is the very essence of faith, to believe in that which the rest of the world would raise a brow toward.
The Bible is riddled with stories "strange" enough to make us go, "hmmmm." Worlds being created in seven days, floods destroying all but eight people and a few animals, seas parting, a city crumbling after being marched around seven times, the sun standing still, a shepherd becoming king, a King becoming a Shepherd, twelve men from a tiny country called Israel turning the religious world upside down...the list goes on and on.
Then, Paul adds to the mix by talking about things unseen. About wars going on in heavenly places. And about an armor we can't see to put on, but can see the evidence of when we don't wear it.
About a struggle against wickedness we fight every single day of our lives.
Wickedness, You Say?
Wickedness? Isn't that a bit of a harsh word?
If you look at The New American Standard Bible, you will read the passage thusly:
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Forces of wickedness.
An interesting word, especially in light of the fact that it's used only seven times in the entire New Testament.
Seven.
In Matthew 22:18, Jesus referred to the disciples of the Pharisees and the Herodians as "wicked" when they came to Him with bogus questions about taxes and the paying of them to the government.
In Mark 7, Jesus has been preaching some pretty meaty stuff. When He leaves the crowd and enters a house with His disciples, they question what He'd just said. (I suppose not wanting to sound dumb in front of the others.)
And He said to them, "Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?" (Thus He declared all foods clean.) And He was saying, "That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. (NASB)
When Jesus spoke to the Pharisee of whose house He'd been invited (Luke 11:37) about the "six woes," He said, "Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the platter; but inside of you, you are full of robbery and wickedness."
After the Gospels, poneria (Greek for wickedness) is used four more times.
Acts 3:26 (When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.)
Romans 1:29 (They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.)
1 Corinthians 5:8 (Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.)
Ephesians 6:12.
Reading those passages, we don't even have to look up the word poneria. They become self-explanatory.
In the last passage of the New Testament where the word is used, Paul boldly and plainly states that there are spiritual forces of wickedness in heavenly places.
In Heavenly Places?
One of my favorite cinematic lines comes from Gone With The Wind, where Aunt Pitty Pat says, "Yankees in Georgia? How'd they ever get in?"
I'm kinda wondering the same thing about wicked spirits in heavenly places. How'd they ever get in?
This word, Epouranios, can mean the Heaven where God and the angles dwell. But, it can also mean the atmosphere. The heavens we can look up and see. While viewing the sky with its clouds and sun, its moon and stars is easy enough for us, we are unable to behold that which is taking place within it. Literally, wickedness shooting about like fallen stars.
Years ago, author Frank Peretti turned the Christian fiction publishing world on its ear when he wrote This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness, novels with "unseen" characters - both good and evil. Readers who'd never entertained the notion of the hidden evil of the world were finally able to "see it."
To get it.
Paul got it. We must get it, too.
Let me say this emphatically: if we are going to win the battle against wickedness we must first be able to see our enemy for what it really is.
That sight takes Holy Spirit discernment.
The Enemy is Here, not There
So, where don't we fight the battle?
Paul said that our struggle is not with flesh and blood.
But...but...my neighbor is constantly attacking me...my ex harasses me...my boss picks on me...my family unnerves me...everybody's talking about me...at me....etc.
Listen. It's not them. It's the power of wickedness working through and around them.
In her book, I Told That Mountain to Move (Tyndale House, 2005), Patricia Raybon says that when you pray for or about someone, you must first look for Jesus in them. Before you pray for folks, she writes, look for Jesus in them...in that way, the heart gets softened. And God must need soft hearts to hear our prayers. Surely God must need us to look at each other as he does, seeing not our flaws but seeing Jesus in us. Even in me.
Wow. I like that. I like that so much I can't think of another word to add to it.
Warfare 101
Two simple rules I'll leave you with.
Recognize the origin of the warfare.
Recognize the One who is Greater than all that and then look for Him as you battle what you think is the painful onslaught from others. Attack the right enemy and look for Jesus in the pawn being used against you.
Sincerely,
Mrs. P
No Satisfying Substitute
John 6:60-71
"Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." For reading & meditation John 6:60-71(v.68)
We come now to what is without question the topmost rung of the ladder which the psalmist began to ascend when he entered the sanctuary of God. Here, in view of his experience, he can do nothing but give himself to the adoration of God. This is what he says: "Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you" (Psa. 73:25). The inevitable consequence of working through our problems in the presence of God is that we worship Him. Countless times I have seen people fall upon their knees at the end of a profitable counseling session and worship God. In fact, this is one of the great purposes of faith based counseling - to enlighten people about their spiritual resources and help free them to draw closer to God.
The psalmist has found that there is no one in earth or heaven that can do for him what God has done. He has come to realize that when he plays truant with the Almighty there is simply no way in which he can make sense of life; that, as Othello put it: "Chaos is come again." Have you come to this same place in your own life? Can you say that you have seen through everything in this life and have come to the conclusion that nothing can satisfy you but God? Then you are in the happy position of the disciples who, pausing to consider how they could replace Jesus, said "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." They saw, as hopefully you have seen, that there is no satisfying substitute for Jesus.
Prayer:
O Father, how can I ever be grateful enough for the realization that no one can do for me what You can do? You are my center and my circumference; I begin and end with You. May the wonder of it go deep within me today and every day. Amen.
Sincerely,
Mrs. P
"Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." For reading & meditation John 6:60-71(v.68)
We come now to what is without question the topmost rung of the ladder which the psalmist began to ascend when he entered the sanctuary of God. Here, in view of his experience, he can do nothing but give himself to the adoration of God. This is what he says: "Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you" (Psa. 73:25). The inevitable consequence of working through our problems in the presence of God is that we worship Him. Countless times I have seen people fall upon their knees at the end of a profitable counseling session and worship God. In fact, this is one of the great purposes of faith based counseling - to enlighten people about their spiritual resources and help free them to draw closer to God.
The psalmist has found that there is no one in earth or heaven that can do for him what God has done. He has come to realize that when he plays truant with the Almighty there is simply no way in which he can make sense of life; that, as Othello put it: "Chaos is come again." Have you come to this same place in your own life? Can you say that you have seen through everything in this life and have come to the conclusion that nothing can satisfy you but God? Then you are in the happy position of the disciples who, pausing to consider how they could replace Jesus, said "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." They saw, as hopefully you have seen, that there is no satisfying substitute for Jesus.
Prayer:
O Father, how can I ever be grateful enough for the realization that no one can do for me what You can do? You are my center and my circumference; I begin and end with You. May the wonder of it go deep within me today and every day. Amen.
Sincerely,
Mrs. P
The Desire for God
Psalms 42:1-11
"My soul thirsts for God, for the living God '" (v.2)
Friday we looked at the words: "Whom have I in heaven but you?" Now we examine the second part of that text: "And earth has nothing I desire besides you" (Psa. 73:25b). Personally, I find these some of the most enchanting words in the whole of the Old Testament. The first part of the verse is put in a negative, and the second in a positive form. Having looked around and seen that there is no satisfying substitute for the Almighty, the psalmist goes on to make the positive assertion that from the bottom of his heart he desires to know God. He has come to see (so I believe) that it is more important to desire God for who He is than for what He does or what He gives.
In a sense, the psalmist's entire problem arose out of the fact that he had put what God gives in the place of God Himself. The ungodly were having a good time while he was having a bad time. Why was he having to suffer like this? His trouble was that he had become more interested in the things God gives than in God Himself, and when he didn't have the things he wanted, he began to doubt God's love. Now, however, he has come to the place where he desires God for Himself. The ultimate test of the faith filled life is whether we desire God for Himself or for what He gives. Each one of us must ask ourselves: "Do I desire God more than forgiveness? More than release from my problems? More than healing of my condition? More than gifts and abilities?" How tragic that our prayers can be full of pleadings that show, when they are examined, that we are more interested in enjoying God's blessings than we are in enjoying God.
Prayer:
O Father, forgive me that so often I am concerned more with Your gifts than I am with You - the Giver. Help me to long after You, not because of what You give me, but because of who You are. In Jesus' Name I ask it Amen.
Sincerely,
Mrs. P
"My soul thirsts for God, for the living God '" (v.2)
Friday we looked at the words: "Whom have I in heaven but you?" Now we examine the second part of that text: "And earth has nothing I desire besides you" (Psa. 73:25b). Personally, I find these some of the most enchanting words in the whole of the Old Testament. The first part of the verse is put in a negative, and the second in a positive form. Having looked around and seen that there is no satisfying substitute for the Almighty, the psalmist goes on to make the positive assertion that from the bottom of his heart he desires to know God. He has come to see (so I believe) that it is more important to desire God for who He is than for what He does or what He gives.
In a sense, the psalmist's entire problem arose out of the fact that he had put what God gives in the place of God Himself. The ungodly were having a good time while he was having a bad time. Why was he having to suffer like this? His trouble was that he had become more interested in the things God gives than in God Himself, and when he didn't have the things he wanted, he began to doubt God's love. Now, however, he has come to the place where he desires God for Himself. The ultimate test of the faith filled life is whether we desire God for Himself or for what He gives. Each one of us must ask ourselves: "Do I desire God more than forgiveness? More than release from my problems? More than healing of my condition? More than gifts and abilities?" How tragic that our prayers can be full of pleadings that show, when they are examined, that we are more interested in enjoying God's blessings than we are in enjoying God.
Prayer:
O Father, forgive me that so often I am concerned more with Your gifts than I am with You - the Giver. Help me to long after You, not because of what You give me, but because of who You are. In Jesus' Name I ask it Amen.
Sincerely,
Mrs. P
"Nearer my God to Thee"
James 4:1-10
"Come near to God and he will come near to you." (v.8)
The final two verses of Psalm 73 form a conclusion and a resolution. Listen to them once again: "Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds" (vv.27-28). The psalmist has finished his review of the past and is now hammering out a philosophy with which to face the future. He is resolved that no matter what anyone else may do, he is going to live in close companionship with God. He helps us to see the importance of this resolution by putting it in the form of a contrast: "Those who are far from you will perish ' but as for me, it is good to be near God." Really, when it comes down to it, there are only two positions in life - close to God or far away from Him.
I wonder, as the psalmist penned these words was something like this going through his mind: "What caused me so much trouble in recent days and accounted for all my difficulties was the fact that I did not keep close to God. I erroneously believed that the cause of my problems was the prosperity of the ungodly, but having entered into the sanctuary of God I see that this was not the cause of my problems at all. My problems came because I had chosen not to remain close to Him. For me there is now only one thing that matters - staying close to God."
How are things with you at this moment? Do you feel close to God? If you don't, then let me put what I want to say in the words of a wayside pulpit that arrested my attention some years ago: "If you feel that God is far away guess who moved?"
Prayer:
Father, I am grateful for the promise of Your Word to me today that when I draw near to You, You will draw near to me. Help me put those words to the test by moving closer to You than I have ever done before. In Jesus' Name. Amen
Sincerely,
Mrs. P
"Come near to God and he will come near to you." (v.8)
The final two verses of Psalm 73 form a conclusion and a resolution. Listen to them once again: "Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds" (vv.27-28). The psalmist has finished his review of the past and is now hammering out a philosophy with which to face the future. He is resolved that no matter what anyone else may do, he is going to live in close companionship with God. He helps us to see the importance of this resolution by putting it in the form of a contrast: "Those who are far from you will perish ' but as for me, it is good to be near God." Really, when it comes down to it, there are only two positions in life - close to God or far away from Him.
I wonder, as the psalmist penned these words was something like this going through his mind: "What caused me so much trouble in recent days and accounted for all my difficulties was the fact that I did not keep close to God. I erroneously believed that the cause of my problems was the prosperity of the ungodly, but having entered into the sanctuary of God I see that this was not the cause of my problems at all. My problems came because I had chosen not to remain close to Him. For me there is now only one thing that matters - staying close to God."
How are things with you at this moment? Do you feel close to God? If you don't, then let me put what I want to say in the words of a wayside pulpit that arrested my attention some years ago: "If you feel that God is far away guess who moved?"
Prayer:
Father, I am grateful for the promise of Your Word to me today that when I draw near to You, You will draw near to me. Help me put those words to the test by moving closer to You than I have ever done before. In Jesus' Name. Amen
Sincerely,
Mrs. P
Take and tell
John 20:10-18
"Go ' to my brothers and tell them '" (v.17)
Today, on this day of our meditations on Psalm 73, we face the important practical question: How do we go about the task of keeping close to God? Firstly, we do so by prayer. The person who keeps close to God is the one who is always talking to God. Many definitions of prayer have been given; I add another: prayer is co-operation with God. In prayer you align your desires, your will, your life to God. You and God become agreed on life desires, life purposes, life plans, and you work them out together.
Secondly, we do it by constant study of the Scriptures. God's Word is alive with meaning, and when you read it something will happen to you, for "the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword" (Heb.4:12, NKJ). Expect it to speak to you - and it will. Faith is expectancy: "According to your faith will it be done to you" (Matt. 9:29). Remember also to surrender to the truth that is revealed: "If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know '" (John 7:17, NKJ).
In a moral universe the key to knowledge is moral response. The moment we cease to obey, that moment the revelation ceases to reveal.
We do it, thirdly, by sharing with others. Remember, nothing is ours if we do not share it. When we share, the things go deeper inside us. We must share what God is doing, both with our fellow believers and with non-believers also. The psalmist's last words are these: "I will tell of all your deeds." We take and we tell - we take and we tell; these, we must never forget, are the two heartbeats of the faith experience.
Prayer:
Gracious Father, I don't want nearness to You to be an occasional experience - I want it to be a perpetual experience. Help me to pay the price, no matter what it costs. In Jesus' Name I ask it. Amen.
Sincerely,
Mrs. P
"Go ' to my brothers and tell them '" (v.17)
Today, on this day of our meditations on Psalm 73, we face the important practical question: How do we go about the task of keeping close to God? Firstly, we do so by prayer. The person who keeps close to God is the one who is always talking to God. Many definitions of prayer have been given; I add another: prayer is co-operation with God. In prayer you align your desires, your will, your life to God. You and God become agreed on life desires, life purposes, life plans, and you work them out together.
Secondly, we do it by constant study of the Scriptures. God's Word is alive with meaning, and when you read it something will happen to you, for "the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword" (Heb.4:12, NKJ). Expect it to speak to you - and it will. Faith is expectancy: "According to your faith will it be done to you" (Matt. 9:29). Remember also to surrender to the truth that is revealed: "If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know '" (John 7:17, NKJ).
In a moral universe the key to knowledge is moral response. The moment we cease to obey, that moment the revelation ceases to reveal.
We do it, thirdly, by sharing with others. Remember, nothing is ours if we do not share it. When we share, the things go deeper inside us. We must share what God is doing, both with our fellow believers and with non-believers also. The psalmist's last words are these: "I will tell of all your deeds." We take and we tell - we take and we tell; these, we must never forget, are the two heartbeats of the faith experience.
Prayer:
Gracious Father, I don't want nearness to You to be an occasional experience - I want it to be a perpetual experience. Help me to pay the price, no matter what it costs. In Jesus' Name I ask it. Amen.
Sincerely,
Mrs. P
Go Online with God
The search for God is the most important search you can undertake. But trying to wrap your mind around the concept of divinity can be the most intellectually challenging task you ever face.
Do you long to have faith, but find that you can't quite connect to God? Perhaps you doubt that you truly could connect to a Higher Power you can't see. If so, just remember that the Internet was a farfetched concept to people just 20 years ago. But now they can log on to a world of information through a wireless connection they can't see. No matter how skeptical you are, if you truly seek God, you can go online with Him.
Here's how you can go online with God:
Sharpen your focus. Don't let the information overload of our high-tech age overwhelm you. Make your quest for God a top priority. Devote time and energy to spiritual contemplation on a regular basis.
Think of prayer like logging on to a computer. Understand that, just as the Internet can be available at any time from any computer in any place on Earth, prayer is another tool that can be constantly available to you. Know that you can pray at any time in any situation to connect with God.
Invite God to reveal Himself. Trust that God will make good on His promise to be found by those who truly seek Him. Realize that there are many ways He can choose to reveal Himself to you if you earnestly pray for Him to do so.
Be humble. Remember that all people are imperfect in our fallen world. Acknowledge your weaknesses and mistakes. Accept that you always have more to learn in life. Be aware that your human nature makes you prone to log off from relating to God and following your own will. Decide that you want to discover the God who made you and have Him program the direction of your life.
Conduct an experiment. Investigate how God might be at work in your life. Consider the times you believe in God or feel connected to Him as the treatment part of the experiment. Consider the times when you don't sense a spiritual connection as the control part. Now keep track of your experiences during these two different periods for a while, and compare them. How did the quality of your decisions change? Did you have access to greater wisdom during the treatment period? Was your conscience more active? How about the quality of your relationships? Did you get along better with family, friends, and coworkers during the treatment period? How did your sense of peace change between the two different periods? Ponder the practical benefits that faith brings to your life.
Don't discount the value of mystical experiences. Think about experiences that have deeply moved you emotionally and spiritually. Consider that God could have been speaking to your soul during those times. Remember that, while reason and logic are valuable means of searching for knowledge, they have natural limits. Know that the God who is bigger than any human mind also uses mystical experiences to reveal insights about Himself. Look for a pattern when several mystical experiences are replicated in your life and contemplate what God might be trying to say to you.
Make a genuine effort. Realize that you need to be completely committed to seeking God if you want to find Him. Make your best effort to believe (or at least assume) that God exists. Then think of the most wonderful feelings you've ever experienced, and consider those to be benchmarks for doing something of which God approves.
Think of the worst feelings you have had about yourself, and consider those to be benchmarks for being ungodly or influenced by evil. Next, take the extremes of godly and ungodly feelings and place them at the ends of a written scale, with the word "neutral" at the center. Then record your feelings for a while and notice what happens.
Whenever you make a decision that tips how you feel toward the godly side of neutral, consider that as following God's will and therefore pleasing to Him. Do the same with decisions that lead you toward feelings on the ungodly side of the equation. Think of this process like seeking God's guidance before making a decision.
Do your best to obey the guidance you believe you're receiving. When you're tempted to make a decision that you know is wrong, pray for the strength to do the right thing. Yield your will to God's will, knowing that you can't seek God and consciously not do His will at the same time. Know that if you make a heartfelt effort to discover and follow God's guidance, you will enjoy a stronger and stronger connection to Him.
Commit to God. Once you're online with God, don't surf somewhere else or log off. Make a commitment to your relationship with God by studying the Bible, praying regularly, and developing close relationships with other believers. Strive to live out your faith in every aspect of your life without holding anything back. Learn to recognize God's Spirit speaking to you, and rely on His help to become the person God wants you to be. Accept God's love for you and express your love for Him. Just as you find enjoyment and learning through the Internet, strive to find even more joy and growth from your time online with God.
Sincerely,
Mrs. P
Do you long to have faith, but find that you can't quite connect to God? Perhaps you doubt that you truly could connect to a Higher Power you can't see. If so, just remember that the Internet was a farfetched concept to people just 20 years ago. But now they can log on to a world of information through a wireless connection they can't see. No matter how skeptical you are, if you truly seek God, you can go online with Him.
Here's how you can go online with God:
Sharpen your focus. Don't let the information overload of our high-tech age overwhelm you. Make your quest for God a top priority. Devote time and energy to spiritual contemplation on a regular basis.
Think of prayer like logging on to a computer. Understand that, just as the Internet can be available at any time from any computer in any place on Earth, prayer is another tool that can be constantly available to you. Know that you can pray at any time in any situation to connect with God.
Invite God to reveal Himself. Trust that God will make good on His promise to be found by those who truly seek Him. Realize that there are many ways He can choose to reveal Himself to you if you earnestly pray for Him to do so.
Be humble. Remember that all people are imperfect in our fallen world. Acknowledge your weaknesses and mistakes. Accept that you always have more to learn in life. Be aware that your human nature makes you prone to log off from relating to God and following your own will. Decide that you want to discover the God who made you and have Him program the direction of your life.
Conduct an experiment. Investigate how God might be at work in your life. Consider the times you believe in God or feel connected to Him as the treatment part of the experiment. Consider the times when you don't sense a spiritual connection as the control part. Now keep track of your experiences during these two different periods for a while, and compare them. How did the quality of your decisions change? Did you have access to greater wisdom during the treatment period? Was your conscience more active? How about the quality of your relationships? Did you get along better with family, friends, and coworkers during the treatment period? How did your sense of peace change between the two different periods? Ponder the practical benefits that faith brings to your life.
Don't discount the value of mystical experiences. Think about experiences that have deeply moved you emotionally and spiritually. Consider that God could have been speaking to your soul during those times. Remember that, while reason and logic are valuable means of searching for knowledge, they have natural limits. Know that the God who is bigger than any human mind also uses mystical experiences to reveal insights about Himself. Look for a pattern when several mystical experiences are replicated in your life and contemplate what God might be trying to say to you.
Make a genuine effort. Realize that you need to be completely committed to seeking God if you want to find Him. Make your best effort to believe (or at least assume) that God exists. Then think of the most wonderful feelings you've ever experienced, and consider those to be benchmarks for doing something of which God approves.
Think of the worst feelings you have had about yourself, and consider those to be benchmarks for being ungodly or influenced by evil. Next, take the extremes of godly and ungodly feelings and place them at the ends of a written scale, with the word "neutral" at the center. Then record your feelings for a while and notice what happens.
Whenever you make a decision that tips how you feel toward the godly side of neutral, consider that as following God's will and therefore pleasing to Him. Do the same with decisions that lead you toward feelings on the ungodly side of the equation. Think of this process like seeking God's guidance before making a decision.
Do your best to obey the guidance you believe you're receiving. When you're tempted to make a decision that you know is wrong, pray for the strength to do the right thing. Yield your will to God's will, knowing that you can't seek God and consciously not do His will at the same time. Know that if you make a heartfelt effort to discover and follow God's guidance, you will enjoy a stronger and stronger connection to Him.
Commit to God. Once you're online with God, don't surf somewhere else or log off. Make a commitment to your relationship with God by studying the Bible, praying regularly, and developing close relationships with other believers. Strive to live out your faith in every aspect of your life without holding anything back. Learn to recognize God's Spirit speaking to you, and rely on His help to become the person God wants you to be. Accept God's love for you and express your love for Him. Just as you find enjoyment and learning through the Internet, strive to find even more joy and growth from your time online with God.
Sincerely,
Mrs. P
Becoming Best Friends in Marriage
“We’ve been married for less than two months, and my husband and I are best friends.” “I can’t imagine being married to anyone else.” These kinds of statements touch a deep chord in our hearts. Somewhere in the silent recesses of our hearts, a song begins to form. It is often a song that we have long ago ignored or abandoned. It is the forgotten melody of “best friends.” The melody takes us back to our best friends, the boys and girls that we hung out with – innocent times, free times, fun times. These were the times of shared secrets and shared dreams.
When a married couple declares their allegiance to each other as best friends, suddenly we hear our hearts singing, “I wish that my spouse and I were best friends. Once we were best friends, when we first fell in love. But somehow we’ve lost it. I really want it back!” It is at this point that God begins to rewrite the song on our hearts, a song created after His own image. For God is a Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – in which the perfect and abiding Friendship exists from all eternity.
What is a best friendship marriage like? How does God develop it? If we really want to become best friends in our marriage, we must first embrace God’s lyrics of friendship and then let the Holy Spirit fill in the melody of friendship. The first divine lyric of friendship is that we must commit ourselves to becoming best friends in our marriage, no matter the cost – we really have to want it.
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother (Prov. 18:24).
Becoming best friends in marriage means that we must become sticky friends. The word used in Proverbs 18:24 for “sticks” is the same word used in Genesis 2:24 for “cleaving”: “For this cause a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.” “Cleaving” or “sticking” is a commitment to permanency in marriage, to be glued together for life. Without such a permanent bond, best friendships in marriage will eventually disintegrate. Superficial companionships are the best for which we can hope.
The second divine lyric of friendship is a commitment to helping our mate when he or she is in pain.
A friend loves at all times, and a brother [or sister] is born for adversity (Prov. 17:17).
Oil and perfume make the heart glad, so a man’s counsel is sweet to his friend (Prov. 27:9).
When adversity comes into a marriage, as it will from time to time, the “sticky friend” is there – really there. It’s almost like our best friend was born for such a critical moment. Whatever the adversity, the “sticky friend” rushes headlong into the crisis and brings the sweet counsel of friendship. You see, a “sticky friendship” marriage is not merely formed with the best of intentions. It is forged in the fires of adversity.
The third divine lyric of friendship is a commitment to hurting our mate when he or she is in sin.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy (Prov. 27:6).
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another (Prov. 27:17).
Developing a best friendship marriage is not only based on love, but also on speaking the truth (see Eph. 4:15). All forms of deceit and lying must be abandoned. Best friends do not ignore sin. The wounds of a “sticky friend” create a healing as well as a sharpening.
At this point, a few cautions are in order. The “faithful wounds of a friend” are normally the words we share with our mates. So the following notes must temper them or marital friendships will disintegrate into marital disputes.
An anxious heart weighs a person down, but a kind word cheers him up (Prov. 12:25).
A wise person’s heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote persuasiveness. Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones (Prov. 16:23-24).
The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things (Prov. 15:28).
Not only must our words be tempered, but also the timing of our words.
A person finds joy in a fitting answer, and how delightful is a timely word (Prov. 15:23).
Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances (Prov. 25: 11).
The one who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be reckoned a curse to him (Prov. 27:14).
Added to all of this, there are also some sour notes that seek to rush in and destroy the sweet song of marital friendship:
A perverse person stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates intimate friends (Prov. 16:28).
The one who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates intimate friends (Prov. 17:9).
So if you want to become best friends in your marriage, try adding the following sweet notes to God’s lyrics:
First and foremost, embrace the Lord who is our ultimate Sticky Friend – love and obey Him as one of His disciples. Ask Him to make you best friends with your mate.
Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves. For the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you (John 15:13-15).
Go back and replay your falling-in-love days, when you and your mate first became best friends. Schedule a date. Talk to each other. Listen to each other. Play, laugh, and dream again. Read the Bible and pray together.
Always ask God to give you the right wording and timing when you need to “speak the truth in love” with your mate. “Wounding” is always remedial, never punitive.
Spend time together. Share ideas. Encourage each other.
Sincerely,
Mrs. P
When a married couple declares their allegiance to each other as best friends, suddenly we hear our hearts singing, “I wish that my spouse and I were best friends. Once we were best friends, when we first fell in love. But somehow we’ve lost it. I really want it back!” It is at this point that God begins to rewrite the song on our hearts, a song created after His own image. For God is a Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – in which the perfect and abiding Friendship exists from all eternity.
What is a best friendship marriage like? How does God develop it? If we really want to become best friends in our marriage, we must first embrace God’s lyrics of friendship and then let the Holy Spirit fill in the melody of friendship. The first divine lyric of friendship is that we must commit ourselves to becoming best friends in our marriage, no matter the cost – we really have to want it.
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother (Prov. 18:24).
Becoming best friends in marriage means that we must become sticky friends. The word used in Proverbs 18:24 for “sticks” is the same word used in Genesis 2:24 for “cleaving”: “For this cause a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.” “Cleaving” or “sticking” is a commitment to permanency in marriage, to be glued together for life. Without such a permanent bond, best friendships in marriage will eventually disintegrate. Superficial companionships are the best for which we can hope.
The second divine lyric of friendship is a commitment to helping our mate when he or she is in pain.
A friend loves at all times, and a brother [or sister] is born for adversity (Prov. 17:17).
Oil and perfume make the heart glad, so a man’s counsel is sweet to his friend (Prov. 27:9).
When adversity comes into a marriage, as it will from time to time, the “sticky friend” is there – really there. It’s almost like our best friend was born for such a critical moment. Whatever the adversity, the “sticky friend” rushes headlong into the crisis and brings the sweet counsel of friendship. You see, a “sticky friendship” marriage is not merely formed with the best of intentions. It is forged in the fires of adversity.
The third divine lyric of friendship is a commitment to hurting our mate when he or she is in sin.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy (Prov. 27:6).
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another (Prov. 27:17).
Developing a best friendship marriage is not only based on love, but also on speaking the truth (see Eph. 4:15). All forms of deceit and lying must be abandoned. Best friends do not ignore sin. The wounds of a “sticky friend” create a healing as well as a sharpening.
At this point, a few cautions are in order. The “faithful wounds of a friend” are normally the words we share with our mates. So the following notes must temper them or marital friendships will disintegrate into marital disputes.
An anxious heart weighs a person down, but a kind word cheers him up (Prov. 12:25).
A wise person’s heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote persuasiveness. Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones (Prov. 16:23-24).
The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things (Prov. 15:28).
Not only must our words be tempered, but also the timing of our words.
A person finds joy in a fitting answer, and how delightful is a timely word (Prov. 15:23).
Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances (Prov. 25: 11).
The one who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be reckoned a curse to him (Prov. 27:14).
Added to all of this, there are also some sour notes that seek to rush in and destroy the sweet song of marital friendship:
A perverse person stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates intimate friends (Prov. 16:28).
The one who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates intimate friends (Prov. 17:9).
So if you want to become best friends in your marriage, try adding the following sweet notes to God’s lyrics:
First and foremost, embrace the Lord who is our ultimate Sticky Friend – love and obey Him as one of His disciples. Ask Him to make you best friends with your mate.
Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves. For the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you (John 15:13-15).
Go back and replay your falling-in-love days, when you and your mate first became best friends. Schedule a date. Talk to each other. Listen to each other. Play, laugh, and dream again. Read the Bible and pray together.
Always ask God to give you the right wording and timing when you need to “speak the truth in love” with your mate. “Wounding” is always remedial, never punitive.
Spend time together. Share ideas. Encourage each other.
Sincerely,
Mrs. P
Love the Life You Live: Harnessing Your Wild Side - The Secret to Managing All This Power
Be still when you have nothing to say; when genuine passion moves you, say what you’ve got to say, and say it hot. – D.H. Lawrence
To put it bluntly, if your anger and sexual impulses control you, your life will become a living hell. In their natural state, these feelings are totally undisciplined, frighteningly unpredictable, and arrogantly demanding. They can make you a miserable, selfish, impossible person.
But if you tame them, bring them under strict discipline, they can transport you to your fondest goals with the speed of a rocket.
If you tame them!
To do so, you must stay in control, channel all that potent energy, and remain confident about the end results you’re pursuing. Psychologically, you must stay in command with your cognitive or thinking powers. When these urges build up steam, you need to think rationally, remaining aware that how you handle the situation will be crucial to your happiness or your sense of failure.
Here’s a word picture to help you envision this process. Imagine yourself on a stagecoach moving across the dusty plains from Kansas City to Los Angeles. You have a team of eight horses in front of you, and you hold the reins. These young and spirited horses are rearing to run, and their strength seems unlimited. The trail stretches before you – hilly, narrow, and treacherous – but the prize of reaching Los Angeles will be well worth the journey.
If you let go of the reins, these mighty horses will run way too fast. They will inevitably choose the wrong fork in the road, run too close to the edge of the hill, and ultimately wreck the wagon, destroy the mission, and jeopardize your life. But if you steadily and wisely guide these energized animals, they’ll power you right to Los Angeles – and fast!
The Potential for Triumph or Tragedy
Only as you do know yourself can your brain serve you as a sharp and efficient tool. Know your own failings, passions, and prejudices so you can separate them from what you see. – Bernard M. Baruch
This point is so critical for your own health and for your journey to unswerving authenticity and balanced relationships that we’ll say it again: Intense anger or sexual feelings can propel you like a missile toward success or failure, victory or defeat. When you experience these strong emotions, you will inevitably act either brilliantly or destructively. Therefore, how you manage your anger and sexual urges will largely determine your quality of life.
If this is you, you’d better pay attention! You may try to stay naïve and innocent, but you need desperately to grab hold of those reins. You must know precisely how you want to direct those raring horses.
Now is not the time for your horses to run free! They need clear, authoritative guidance. Staying strong and alert in the driver’s seat, carefully supervising the expression of your desires, and ending up precisely where you want to be are the primary goals of a healthy life. The rewards can be astonishing.
It wouldn’t do any good to deny your needs. They are real and legitimate. We were created with an innate longing for connection. But the facts are in: You have a much better chance of getting those sexual longings satisfied to the fullest when you stay aware of them and when you contain them within a committed lifelong relationship.
Lynn Harris, a Glamour magazine writer, recently interviewed numerous women, single and married, in her report on how women felt about their sexual experiences. To her surprise, she discovered that the woman who was the happiest said that her sexual experiences had been with one man. This attractive blonde, a thirty-year-old lawyer who has been married twelve years, had practiced abstinence as a single and now reported happily, “I’ve had more sex than most of my single friends, and I’ve been with only one person.” The truth is, all the sexual conquests outside of marriage – however tempting at times – can never measure up to the commitment of a marriage relationship.
There is no such thing as casual sex, no matter how casual people are about it. After intercourse, a couple’s relationship is somehow now what it was before. – Lewis Smedes
So the last thing you want to do is to let your impulses control you. They will press you to seek immediate gratification, and they will try to convince you to forget about any repercussions. If you let go of the reins, you will inevitably endanger your relationship, if you are single – undermine your values, and trade away long-term happiness for short-term satisfaction.
The highest level of sexual excitement is in a monogamous relationship. – Warren Beatty
As you seek healthy solutions to your sexual urges, each of you stands to benefit for as long as you both shall live. And such honesty will help you feel not only profoundly significant to each other but will also allow you to be unswervingly authentic, with nothing hidden from your spouse.
The stronger your sexual drives, the more opportunity there will be for the destructiveness of your behavior – or the enhancement of your life. That’s why emotionally healthy persons are never out of control for long when it comes to their wild side. The consequences are too enormous.
Anger Has the Same Potential to Be Helpful or Harmful
The sexual embrace, worthily understood, can only be compared with music and with prayer. – James Hilton
If you are angry, it’s a sure sign that something needs attention in your life. Something is askew, and it must be set right. Anger is like a red light flashing on the dashboard of your car. Overlook it at your own peril!
Let’s say you discovered that four of your closest friends got together for lunch and nine holes of golf last Saturday. You like all four of them, and you assumed you were equally well liked by them. Moreover, you love to play golf every chance you get. But you weren’t invited, and you are shocked. Worse, you feel hurt and rejected. The more you let yourself brood, the more enraged you become.
As your anger swells, you have five alternatives. Four will likely bring destruction; one might bring relational growth.
You can explode. You can call each of your friends and shout, “I heard what you did, you jerk! You purposely left me out. We’re through.” Chances are, this response will not foster the resolution and reconciliation you crave.
You can handle your anger underhandedly – avoid your friends, say almost nothing when you do see them, and generally pout and sulk your way to interpersonal destruction. Of course, your friends will probably have no idea why you’re acting so sullen and remorse.
You can blame yourself and assume you were the cause of the rejection. You might think, They would’ve included me if I were funnier, outgoing, more interesting, or a better golfer. The only result here is damage to your self-worth.
You can obsess over your disappointment, do nothing about it, and continue to replay the hurtful event in your mind. If you keep these toxic emotions churning, keep pouring acid into your stomach, and keep your muscles clenched, you’ll inflict physical and psychological harm on yourself.
You can do something positive, something that will likely lead to progress. You can privately incite one or two of your friends to lunch. Go with the two that you trust most, the two most likely to help you resolve this issue. Sitting at lunch with them, you can pick the appropriate time to share your disappointment and hurt. You can pad your statements with understanding: “I know how these things happen, and I shouldn’t be so sensitive.” Or, “I realize I may be misinterpreting this.”
But then ask your friends if they can help you think it through. Tell them that if you are the problem, you sincerely want to change. You simply want to face the truth and get this matter behind you. This kind of “anger management” almost always leads to stronger relationships and clearer understanding about yourself.
Perhaps you’re thinking that being excluded from lunch and a golf game is trivial. What if it were a huge problem, one that caused your anger to bubble up like volcanic lava? What should you do? Keep the reins firmly in your hands! Don’t let the horses run wild. Take much more time to act on your feelings than you instinctively want to. When your energy is bursting within you, that’s not the time to act impulsively. Strive hard to be patient.
When your anger or sexual energy is running high, you have a gigantic power reservoir available. You are capable of doing something terribly destructive, but you can elect to do something with lasting positive consequences. There are few times in life when you are in such a pivotal position to influence the quality of your future existence. If you stay solidly in the driver’s seat and think clearly and wisely, you can make a brilliant decision that will bring tremendous growth to your life.
It is easy to fly into a passion – anybody can do that – but to be angry with the right person and to the right extent and at the right time and with the right object and in the right way – that is not easy, and it is not everyone who can do it. – Aristotle
Sincerely,
Mrs. P
To put it bluntly, if your anger and sexual impulses control you, your life will become a living hell. In their natural state, these feelings are totally undisciplined, frighteningly unpredictable, and arrogantly demanding. They can make you a miserable, selfish, impossible person.
But if you tame them, bring them under strict discipline, they can transport you to your fondest goals with the speed of a rocket.
If you tame them!
To do so, you must stay in control, channel all that potent energy, and remain confident about the end results you’re pursuing. Psychologically, you must stay in command with your cognitive or thinking powers. When these urges build up steam, you need to think rationally, remaining aware that how you handle the situation will be crucial to your happiness or your sense of failure.
Here’s a word picture to help you envision this process. Imagine yourself on a stagecoach moving across the dusty plains from Kansas City to Los Angeles. You have a team of eight horses in front of you, and you hold the reins. These young and spirited horses are rearing to run, and their strength seems unlimited. The trail stretches before you – hilly, narrow, and treacherous – but the prize of reaching Los Angeles will be well worth the journey.
If you let go of the reins, these mighty horses will run way too fast. They will inevitably choose the wrong fork in the road, run too close to the edge of the hill, and ultimately wreck the wagon, destroy the mission, and jeopardize your life. But if you steadily and wisely guide these energized animals, they’ll power you right to Los Angeles – and fast!
The Potential for Triumph or Tragedy
Only as you do know yourself can your brain serve you as a sharp and efficient tool. Know your own failings, passions, and prejudices so you can separate them from what you see. – Bernard M. Baruch
This point is so critical for your own health and for your journey to unswerving authenticity and balanced relationships that we’ll say it again: Intense anger or sexual feelings can propel you like a missile toward success or failure, victory or defeat. When you experience these strong emotions, you will inevitably act either brilliantly or destructively. Therefore, how you manage your anger and sexual urges will largely determine your quality of life.
If this is you, you’d better pay attention! You may try to stay naïve and innocent, but you need desperately to grab hold of those reins. You must know precisely how you want to direct those raring horses.
Now is not the time for your horses to run free! They need clear, authoritative guidance. Staying strong and alert in the driver’s seat, carefully supervising the expression of your desires, and ending up precisely where you want to be are the primary goals of a healthy life. The rewards can be astonishing.
It wouldn’t do any good to deny your needs. They are real and legitimate. We were created with an innate longing for connection. But the facts are in: You have a much better chance of getting those sexual longings satisfied to the fullest when you stay aware of them and when you contain them within a committed lifelong relationship.
Lynn Harris, a Glamour magazine writer, recently interviewed numerous women, single and married, in her report on how women felt about their sexual experiences. To her surprise, she discovered that the woman who was the happiest said that her sexual experiences had been with one man. This attractive blonde, a thirty-year-old lawyer who has been married twelve years, had practiced abstinence as a single and now reported happily, “I’ve had more sex than most of my single friends, and I’ve been with only one person.” The truth is, all the sexual conquests outside of marriage – however tempting at times – can never measure up to the commitment of a marriage relationship.
There is no such thing as casual sex, no matter how casual people are about it. After intercourse, a couple’s relationship is somehow now what it was before. – Lewis Smedes
So the last thing you want to do is to let your impulses control you. They will press you to seek immediate gratification, and they will try to convince you to forget about any repercussions. If you let go of the reins, you will inevitably endanger your relationship, if you are single – undermine your values, and trade away long-term happiness for short-term satisfaction.
The highest level of sexual excitement is in a monogamous relationship. – Warren Beatty
As you seek healthy solutions to your sexual urges, each of you stands to benefit for as long as you both shall live. And such honesty will help you feel not only profoundly significant to each other but will also allow you to be unswervingly authentic, with nothing hidden from your spouse.
The stronger your sexual drives, the more opportunity there will be for the destructiveness of your behavior – or the enhancement of your life. That’s why emotionally healthy persons are never out of control for long when it comes to their wild side. The consequences are too enormous.
Anger Has the Same Potential to Be Helpful or Harmful
The sexual embrace, worthily understood, can only be compared with music and with prayer. – James Hilton
If you are angry, it’s a sure sign that something needs attention in your life. Something is askew, and it must be set right. Anger is like a red light flashing on the dashboard of your car. Overlook it at your own peril!
Let’s say you discovered that four of your closest friends got together for lunch and nine holes of golf last Saturday. You like all four of them, and you assumed you were equally well liked by them. Moreover, you love to play golf every chance you get. But you weren’t invited, and you are shocked. Worse, you feel hurt and rejected. The more you let yourself brood, the more enraged you become.
As your anger swells, you have five alternatives. Four will likely bring destruction; one might bring relational growth.
You can explode. You can call each of your friends and shout, “I heard what you did, you jerk! You purposely left me out. We’re through.” Chances are, this response will not foster the resolution and reconciliation you crave.
You can handle your anger underhandedly – avoid your friends, say almost nothing when you do see them, and generally pout and sulk your way to interpersonal destruction. Of course, your friends will probably have no idea why you’re acting so sullen and remorse.
You can blame yourself and assume you were the cause of the rejection. You might think, They would’ve included me if I were funnier, outgoing, more interesting, or a better golfer. The only result here is damage to your self-worth.
You can obsess over your disappointment, do nothing about it, and continue to replay the hurtful event in your mind. If you keep these toxic emotions churning, keep pouring acid into your stomach, and keep your muscles clenched, you’ll inflict physical and psychological harm on yourself.
You can do something positive, something that will likely lead to progress. You can privately incite one or two of your friends to lunch. Go with the two that you trust most, the two most likely to help you resolve this issue. Sitting at lunch with them, you can pick the appropriate time to share your disappointment and hurt. You can pad your statements with understanding: “I know how these things happen, and I shouldn’t be so sensitive.” Or, “I realize I may be misinterpreting this.”
But then ask your friends if they can help you think it through. Tell them that if you are the problem, you sincerely want to change. You simply want to face the truth and get this matter behind you. This kind of “anger management” almost always leads to stronger relationships and clearer understanding about yourself.
Perhaps you’re thinking that being excluded from lunch and a golf game is trivial. What if it were a huge problem, one that caused your anger to bubble up like volcanic lava? What should you do? Keep the reins firmly in your hands! Don’t let the horses run wild. Take much more time to act on your feelings than you instinctively want to. When your energy is bursting within you, that’s not the time to act impulsively. Strive hard to be patient.
When your anger or sexual energy is running high, you have a gigantic power reservoir available. You are capable of doing something terribly destructive, but you can elect to do something with lasting positive consequences. There are few times in life when you are in such a pivotal position to influence the quality of your future existence. If you stay solidly in the driver’s seat and think clearly and wisely, you can make a brilliant decision that will bring tremendous growth to your life.
It is easy to fly into a passion – anybody can do that – but to be angry with the right person and to the right extent and at the right time and with the right object and in the right way – that is not easy, and it is not everyone who can do it. – Aristotle
Sincerely,
Mrs. P
The Inerrancy of All of Scripture
I accept the fact that there is a great moral and cultural divide in our country that may never be healed or reconciled. What often disturbs me about this divide is when a so-called intellectual expert uses false information to explain the Spiritual persons core beliefs.
Such disertations are disappointing and disrespectful. I could give such critics the benefit of the doubt and assume their words were written out of ignorance and not malice but I expect more out of an academic in terms of research and information. They make basic erroneous theological assumptions about the core beliefs of Spiritual people and attempt to build a case against the social conscience of the Spiritual community based on this faulty premise.
Statements such as "The ultimate authority for their views is to be found in the four canonical Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. They might insist on the priority of the Gospels over other scriptures, especially the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament - except for the stories of the creation and fall of man and the Ten Commandments."
Their assumptions are that we Spiritual people do not take the whole of Scripture as Scripture, only those parts that promote our social agenda. For example:
1. Spiritual people use the first three chapters of the book of Genesis to preach and to impose Biblical creationism into our public schools. 2. The creation account of Genesis 1-3 serves the social purposes so they use it contextually. The implication is that Spiritual people do not consider the rest of Genesis as the Word of God.
Sadly, this is a flawed premise used by liberal critics in academia to intimidate and scorn Spiritual young people in the college classrooms. From this premise he proceeded to attack our social agenda on Creationism, prayer in schools, abortion, and homosexuality with a plethora of falsehoods and prejudice.
What is this source for this nonsense? I know of no Spiritual confession of faith or standard of any Spiritual church or denomination. I know of no Spiritual pastor worth his weight as a spokesman for God's Word that would hold to any other belief concerning the authority of Scripture than its verbal and plenary inspiration. I am a Beleiver and I believe the Bible to be one book made up of 66 chapters all of which are equally the inerrant, inspired, and infallible Word of the Living God from Genesis to Revelation, Old and New Testaments inclusive. In fact, that is a core belief that defines all Beleivers.
For these intellectual experts to miss that point makes for a critical flaw in the rest of their arguments. Beleivers do not insist on imposing a Christianized society. Nowhere do we preach or teach a Spiritual demagoguery. But because we insist on the inerrancy of Scripture, we take our citizenship very seriously. We take the Great Commission to preach the good news to all men very seriously. We hold to the Scriptural belief that we must be a Redemptive Presence in a fallen world.
Yes, the world is fallen. This is a core teaching throughout the Bible, not merely in the Genesis account of the fall. Yet, it is in the Genesis account we find the first inklings of the holiness of God, the sinfulness of man, and the all-encompassing love of a God Who would initiate His plan of Redemption in grace and mercy. It is there we find a thorough discussion of the origins of man, the presence of evil and the evil one, and the covenantal promises God made to His people.
It has always intrigued me that the pseudo-intellectuals take great pains to attack the Bible's message - more specifically the Book of Genesis, and even more specifically the first three chapters of Genesis. It stands to reason if those pages can be ripped out of the Bible the scoffing cynics will be able to escape the issues of sin, the fallen nature of man, and man's need for a Savior.
Beleivers do not adhere to a mythical Big Bang theory. The only Big Bang was when God said and it was! I have listened ad nauseum to the emotional arguments used against Creationism. This is not the purpose of this message. That can be done another time. I did, however, actually debate this matter before with an extreme intellectual who posited the theory on the origins of life (only when pressed by me to do so) that the first life forms arrived here on a spaceship. And this is academia at its best? Hardly! It takes more faith to believe these theories or a scientifically flawed Darwinism than it does to believe in the creation account of Genesis.
It appears the biblical values are also core values of mainstream America. We are opposed to abortion because it is Biblical to do so. But we minister in love to those who choose death over life because that, too, is Biblical. It is not the local abortion mill or Planned Parenthood that is there to pick up the pieces of a shattered life caused by the horrors of abortion. It is the Beleivers that spends countless hours weeping with and reaching out to that young girl because it is Biblical to do so. We are opposed to the gay agenda because it is Biblical to do so.
But we have reached out in love to anyone who wants help because that, too, is Biblical. We are opposed to the ban on prayer in school because it is Biblical to do so. Yet we encourage our kids to keep on praying for and loving those who mock because it is Biblical to do so. We preach against sex before marriage because it is Biblical to do so. Yet we have loved and ministered to sexually active teenagers in youth groups, Sunday School classes, campus outreaches, and we have spent millions of dollars to embrace them because it is Biblical to do so. We preach against cruel name-calling if we disagree with someone. We do not need to do so. Truth is truth, regardless of whether or not you decide that it is. We are all God’s children, and we all deserve His unconditional love equally. For we all fall short of the glory of God. Period.
So I encourage academic dialogue. But make the dialogue fair. Do not assign false core beliefs to the Spriritual People. Understand that the starting point for the Beleiver is the inerrancy of all of God's Word. We adhere to the verbal and plenary inspiration of Scripture, that every Word is God-breathed and is true. We contend for the faith and do so with vigor and determination to be that Redemptive Presence in a fallen world. For we are all beloved children of God!
Amen... Mrs. P
Such disertations are disappointing and disrespectful. I could give such critics the benefit of the doubt and assume their words were written out of ignorance and not malice but I expect more out of an academic in terms of research and information. They make basic erroneous theological assumptions about the core beliefs of Spiritual people and attempt to build a case against the social conscience of the Spiritual community based on this faulty premise.
Statements such as "The ultimate authority for their views is to be found in the four canonical Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. They might insist on the priority of the Gospels over other scriptures, especially the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament - except for the stories of the creation and fall of man and the Ten Commandments."
Their assumptions are that we Spiritual people do not take the whole of Scripture as Scripture, only those parts that promote our social agenda. For example:
1. Spiritual people use the first three chapters of the book of Genesis to preach and to impose Biblical creationism into our public schools. 2. The creation account of Genesis 1-3 serves the social purposes so they use it contextually. The implication is that Spiritual people do not consider the rest of Genesis as the Word of God.
Sadly, this is a flawed premise used by liberal critics in academia to intimidate and scorn Spiritual young people in the college classrooms. From this premise he proceeded to attack our social agenda on Creationism, prayer in schools, abortion, and homosexuality with a plethora of falsehoods and prejudice.
What is this source for this nonsense? I know of no Spiritual confession of faith or standard of any Spiritual church or denomination. I know of no Spiritual pastor worth his weight as a spokesman for God's Word that would hold to any other belief concerning the authority of Scripture than its verbal and plenary inspiration. I am a Beleiver and I believe the Bible to be one book made up of 66 chapters all of which are equally the inerrant, inspired, and infallible Word of the Living God from Genesis to Revelation, Old and New Testaments inclusive. In fact, that is a core belief that defines all Beleivers.
For these intellectual experts to miss that point makes for a critical flaw in the rest of their arguments. Beleivers do not insist on imposing a Christianized society. Nowhere do we preach or teach a Spiritual demagoguery. But because we insist on the inerrancy of Scripture, we take our citizenship very seriously. We take the Great Commission to preach the good news to all men very seriously. We hold to the Scriptural belief that we must be a Redemptive Presence in a fallen world.
Yes, the world is fallen. This is a core teaching throughout the Bible, not merely in the Genesis account of the fall. Yet, it is in the Genesis account we find the first inklings of the holiness of God, the sinfulness of man, and the all-encompassing love of a God Who would initiate His plan of Redemption in grace and mercy. It is there we find a thorough discussion of the origins of man, the presence of evil and the evil one, and the covenantal promises God made to His people.
It has always intrigued me that the pseudo-intellectuals take great pains to attack the Bible's message - more specifically the Book of Genesis, and even more specifically the first three chapters of Genesis. It stands to reason if those pages can be ripped out of the Bible the scoffing cynics will be able to escape the issues of sin, the fallen nature of man, and man's need for a Savior.
Beleivers do not adhere to a mythical Big Bang theory. The only Big Bang was when God said and it was! I have listened ad nauseum to the emotional arguments used against Creationism. This is not the purpose of this message. That can be done another time. I did, however, actually debate this matter before with an extreme intellectual who posited the theory on the origins of life (only when pressed by me to do so) that the first life forms arrived here on a spaceship. And this is academia at its best? Hardly! It takes more faith to believe these theories or a scientifically flawed Darwinism than it does to believe in the creation account of Genesis.
It appears the biblical values are also core values of mainstream America. We are opposed to abortion because it is Biblical to do so. But we minister in love to those who choose death over life because that, too, is Biblical. It is not the local abortion mill or Planned Parenthood that is there to pick up the pieces of a shattered life caused by the horrors of abortion. It is the Beleivers that spends countless hours weeping with and reaching out to that young girl because it is Biblical to do so. We are opposed to the gay agenda because it is Biblical to do so.
But we have reached out in love to anyone who wants help because that, too, is Biblical. We are opposed to the ban on prayer in school because it is Biblical to do so. Yet we encourage our kids to keep on praying for and loving those who mock because it is Biblical to do so. We preach against sex before marriage because it is Biblical to do so. Yet we have loved and ministered to sexually active teenagers in youth groups, Sunday School classes, campus outreaches, and we have spent millions of dollars to embrace them because it is Biblical to do so. We preach against cruel name-calling if we disagree with someone. We do not need to do so. Truth is truth, regardless of whether or not you decide that it is. We are all God’s children, and we all deserve His unconditional love equally. For we all fall short of the glory of God. Period.
So I encourage academic dialogue. But make the dialogue fair. Do not assign false core beliefs to the Spriritual People. Understand that the starting point for the Beleiver is the inerrancy of all of God's Word. We adhere to the verbal and plenary inspiration of Scripture, that every Word is God-breathed and is true. We contend for the faith and do so with vigor and determination to be that Redemptive Presence in a fallen world. For we are all beloved children of God!
Amen... Mrs. P
Hungry for Love
I've come across a revolutionary truth in my life: Everyone behaves in a way that makes sense to themselves.
Now that doesn't mean that they behave in a way that makes sense to me. But if we understand that they behave in a way that makes sense to them, we'll go a long way toward understanding a human being's desperate search for love.
There are a lot of theories out there that try to explain why people behave the way we do. Freud said our behavior is determined by primal drives. Adler disagreed, saying our life really revolves around self-esteem. Goldberg said it's all about stages of moral development. Maslow thought our behavior fit a certain hierarchy of needs on the road to self-actualization. Skinner argued that it has more to do with stimulus responses.
But there's one thing everyone agrees on: We all want to be somebody in the eyes of someone who loves us.
That's true, isn't it? We all want significance. It's one of our most basic drives. We need to feel important and loved, at least by someone. And because deep down we feel unworthy-a result of the Fall and our lifelong sinfulness-we develop elaborate strategies to get people to love us.
We all have different strategies. That's why when someone's behavior doesn't make sense to us, we can assume it makes sense to them. Some people are jokesters, some are loud and aggressive, some are perpetual victims, and some are people-pleasing performers. And along the way, nearly everyone has forsaken common sense and good judgment. Though our strategies differ, our purpose is universal: We long for acceptance.
The problem is that our love-seeking gymnastics often take us outside of God's boundaries. The guilt, shame, denial, and lies that result always accomplish the opposite result from what we wanted. We feel even more unworthy than before.
The Big Question
Here's the question I want us to consider: Knowing that we've violated God's boundaries in our desperate attempt to get people to love us-whether it has been in a contrived personality or slavish performance-how is God going to respond? When we've missed the mark-and we all have-what ?God? will we encounter?
Are we going to be greeted by a God who folds His arms and sternly reminds us that we'll pay for our senselessness? Are we going to see the backside of God as He walks away from us in disgust? Is our craving for acceptance going to result in our ultimate rejection?
In Luke 15, Jesus addressed this very issue in three quick snapshots designed to reveal how God's heart responds to irreligious, immoral lawbreakers-people like us who were desperate for significance and sought it in all the wrong places.
A lot of sinners were gathering around Jesus. So were the Pharisees and teachers of the law. Both groups had internal problems; the Pharisees covered it up well, but the sinners had given up. Jesus wanted both groups to know what God thinks when people have blown it.
Lost and Found
The first parable (vv. 4-7) is about lost sheep. In an agricultural society, everyone understood the pitfalls of the shepherding profession. If you lost a sheep, you'd be responsible for it. Your reputation as a shepherd was on the line, and so were the financial accounts of the sheep-owner.
So if you lost a sheep, diligently sought to find it, and then found it and brought it back into the fold, you'd celebrate. That was worthy of a party.
The second parable (vv. 8-10) is about a woman who lost a silver coin. That coin would have been worth a day's wage. Sometimes 10 of them would be made into a headband for the woman's dowry. It would be precious and sentimental, either as the means for tomorrow's food or as a tenth of the dowry. If it were lost, there would be an intensive search. And if it were found, there would be a celebration.
But the best-known parable in this chapter is about a son who, against all social protocol and respect, took off with his portion of his father's wealth and wasted it on reckless living. He did what every young man's heart tempts him to do. He said, ?I'm going to be fulfilled, I'm going to take what's mine, and I'm going to get what I want to be happy and important.? He fell for the false promises of momentary pleasure. He acted in really senseless ways to find significance-and it all made sense to him.
His reckless living leads where reckless living always leads: to desperate need. After spending all he had, a famine struck the country, and the son got hungry. In order to survive, he hired himself out to feed pigs-the ultimate humiliation for a Jew. And he would have eaten even the pigs' food, if he could. But no one gave him anything. He was completely bankrupt.
As everyone does after a desperate search for fulfillment has proven foolish, the son reflected on his circumstances. And he came up with a plan: He would return to his father and own up to his own bankruptcy. It didn't matter that he could no longer be considered a son. Even being his father's hired help would be better than where he was. He planned to go back, tell his father he'd blown it, and accept what he deserved.
The arm-crossed Pharisees listening to Jesus were set up for the punch line, and Jesus delivered it. The father saw his son from a distance, was filled with compassion, and ran to him. He threw his arms around the son and kissed him.
Do you see how loaded that picture is? The son tried to lay out his plan, and the father interrupted him. He wouldn't let the repentant son work for his salvation. Instead, the father honored his son with a prestigious robe, a ring representing family authority, and . . . a party. A big one.
Honest to God
The answer for those who crave acceptance and will do anything to get it is that we don't have to. The heart of God accepts people who have blown it. That's how He responds when we've sought love in all the wrong places and done foolish things that make sense only to ourselves. We try to win the love of others, and after all our elaborate plans have failed and we come back to Him, God has a celebration. His acceptance was the only acceptance that mattered, and realizing that is reason for a party.
Do you see the pattern? Something valuable was lost, there was an intensive search, what was lost is found, and there's a celebration. That's how God will meet every single person who finds himself or herself unworthy of His love.
That's not just a message for unbelievers, by the way. It doesn't matter if you've been a Believer with a sterling record for 30 years. Somewhere along the way, you've probably hungered for love and crossed the boundaries in a foolish attempt to get it. And if you have, God has a remedy. Come to Him as a real, honest, repentant child, and ask Him to help. He will, because He always does. That's the kind of God you will find every time.
Sincerely,
Mrs. P
Now that doesn't mean that they behave in a way that makes sense to me. But if we understand that they behave in a way that makes sense to them, we'll go a long way toward understanding a human being's desperate search for love.
There are a lot of theories out there that try to explain why people behave the way we do. Freud said our behavior is determined by primal drives. Adler disagreed, saying our life really revolves around self-esteem. Goldberg said it's all about stages of moral development. Maslow thought our behavior fit a certain hierarchy of needs on the road to self-actualization. Skinner argued that it has more to do with stimulus responses.
But there's one thing everyone agrees on: We all want to be somebody in the eyes of someone who loves us.
That's true, isn't it? We all want significance. It's one of our most basic drives. We need to feel important and loved, at least by someone. And because deep down we feel unworthy-a result of the Fall and our lifelong sinfulness-we develop elaborate strategies to get people to love us.
We all have different strategies. That's why when someone's behavior doesn't make sense to us, we can assume it makes sense to them. Some people are jokesters, some are loud and aggressive, some are perpetual victims, and some are people-pleasing performers. And along the way, nearly everyone has forsaken common sense and good judgment. Though our strategies differ, our purpose is universal: We long for acceptance.
The problem is that our love-seeking gymnastics often take us outside of God's boundaries. The guilt, shame, denial, and lies that result always accomplish the opposite result from what we wanted. We feel even more unworthy than before.
The Big Question
Here's the question I want us to consider: Knowing that we've violated God's boundaries in our desperate attempt to get people to love us-whether it has been in a contrived personality or slavish performance-how is God going to respond? When we've missed the mark-and we all have-what ?God? will we encounter?
Are we going to be greeted by a God who folds His arms and sternly reminds us that we'll pay for our senselessness? Are we going to see the backside of God as He walks away from us in disgust? Is our craving for acceptance going to result in our ultimate rejection?
In Luke 15, Jesus addressed this very issue in three quick snapshots designed to reveal how God's heart responds to irreligious, immoral lawbreakers-people like us who were desperate for significance and sought it in all the wrong places.
A lot of sinners were gathering around Jesus. So were the Pharisees and teachers of the law. Both groups had internal problems; the Pharisees covered it up well, but the sinners had given up. Jesus wanted both groups to know what God thinks when people have blown it.
Lost and Found
The first parable (vv. 4-7) is about lost sheep. In an agricultural society, everyone understood the pitfalls of the shepherding profession. If you lost a sheep, you'd be responsible for it. Your reputation as a shepherd was on the line, and so were the financial accounts of the sheep-owner.
So if you lost a sheep, diligently sought to find it, and then found it and brought it back into the fold, you'd celebrate. That was worthy of a party.
The second parable (vv. 8-10) is about a woman who lost a silver coin. That coin would have been worth a day's wage. Sometimes 10 of them would be made into a headband for the woman's dowry. It would be precious and sentimental, either as the means for tomorrow's food or as a tenth of the dowry. If it were lost, there would be an intensive search. And if it were found, there would be a celebration.
But the best-known parable in this chapter is about a son who, against all social protocol and respect, took off with his portion of his father's wealth and wasted it on reckless living. He did what every young man's heart tempts him to do. He said, ?I'm going to be fulfilled, I'm going to take what's mine, and I'm going to get what I want to be happy and important.? He fell for the false promises of momentary pleasure. He acted in really senseless ways to find significance-and it all made sense to him.
His reckless living leads where reckless living always leads: to desperate need. After spending all he had, a famine struck the country, and the son got hungry. In order to survive, he hired himself out to feed pigs-the ultimate humiliation for a Jew. And he would have eaten even the pigs' food, if he could. But no one gave him anything. He was completely bankrupt.
As everyone does after a desperate search for fulfillment has proven foolish, the son reflected on his circumstances. And he came up with a plan: He would return to his father and own up to his own bankruptcy. It didn't matter that he could no longer be considered a son. Even being his father's hired help would be better than where he was. He planned to go back, tell his father he'd blown it, and accept what he deserved.
The arm-crossed Pharisees listening to Jesus were set up for the punch line, and Jesus delivered it. The father saw his son from a distance, was filled with compassion, and ran to him. He threw his arms around the son and kissed him.
Do you see how loaded that picture is? The son tried to lay out his plan, and the father interrupted him. He wouldn't let the repentant son work for his salvation. Instead, the father honored his son with a prestigious robe, a ring representing family authority, and . . . a party. A big one.
Honest to God
The answer for those who crave acceptance and will do anything to get it is that we don't have to. The heart of God accepts people who have blown it. That's how He responds when we've sought love in all the wrong places and done foolish things that make sense only to ourselves. We try to win the love of others, and after all our elaborate plans have failed and we come back to Him, God has a celebration. His acceptance was the only acceptance that mattered, and realizing that is reason for a party.
Do you see the pattern? Something valuable was lost, there was an intensive search, what was lost is found, and there's a celebration. That's how God will meet every single person who finds himself or herself unworthy of His love.
That's not just a message for unbelievers, by the way. It doesn't matter if you've been a Believer with a sterling record for 30 years. Somewhere along the way, you've probably hungered for love and crossed the boundaries in a foolish attempt to get it. And if you have, God has a remedy. Come to Him as a real, honest, repentant child, and ask Him to help. He will, because He always does. That's the kind of God you will find every time.
Sincerely,
Mrs. P
Walking With God Through the Dark Times
Genesis 39:1-23
Through the life of Joseph, we can learn important principles about challenging times.
Difficulties will continue until God accomplishes His purpose. In Joseph's case, God' plan was to prepare him to rescue his family and the nation of Egypt from famine. In order to ready him for a position of great authority and responsibility, God placed Joseph in an important Egyptian household as a slave. Here, in hard circumstances, Joseph could learn the key lessons needed for the future. Not only did he acquire important skills but his faith and relationship with God were strengthened. God operates the same way today—He equips us to accomplish the work He has planned for us. (Ephesians 2:10)
We learn more in the dark than we do in the light. Besides discovering God's faithfulness, Joseph learned how to discern God's presence, to say no to temptation, and to handle high and low positions. The principles and truths we read in Scripture are not really ours until they get tested and tried.
What we learn in the darkness, we are to share in the light. Joseph openly shared his faith and knowledge from God when he interpreted the Pharaoh's dreams. (Genesis 41:15-16) He did not let imprisonment stop him from helping others. (Genesis 40:1-23) What we learn in our trials is to be offered to those who are suffering.
None of us look for hard times, but they seem to find us regularly. Instead of fearing them, we can trust God and embrace His plan. God will use trials for His glory and our gain. (Job 23:10) We can count on it.
Mrs. P
Through the life of Joseph, we can learn important principles about challenging times.
Difficulties will continue until God accomplishes His purpose. In Joseph's case, God' plan was to prepare him to rescue his family and the nation of Egypt from famine. In order to ready him for a position of great authority and responsibility, God placed Joseph in an important Egyptian household as a slave. Here, in hard circumstances, Joseph could learn the key lessons needed for the future. Not only did he acquire important skills but his faith and relationship with God were strengthened. God operates the same way today—He equips us to accomplish the work He has planned for us. (Ephesians 2:10)
We learn more in the dark than we do in the light. Besides discovering God's faithfulness, Joseph learned how to discern God's presence, to say no to temptation, and to handle high and low positions. The principles and truths we read in Scripture are not really ours until they get tested and tried.
What we learn in the darkness, we are to share in the light. Joseph openly shared his faith and knowledge from God when he interpreted the Pharaoh's dreams. (Genesis 41:15-16) He did not let imprisonment stop him from helping others. (Genesis 40:1-23) What we learn in our trials is to be offered to those who are suffering.
None of us look for hard times, but they seem to find us regularly. Instead of fearing them, we can trust God and embrace His plan. God will use trials for His glory and our gain. (Job 23:10) We can count on it.
Mrs. P
God's Presence in Hard Times
Genesis 37:12-36
We are hurting, circumstances are outside our control, and we see no relief for the future. What can we be sure of?
God is with us in our troubles. God's presence through His Spirit comforts us because He knows us intimately. He gives us what we need—His love and strength, a sense of security, and the knowledge that we are not alone. Our Lord understands what it is like to suffer, to be rejected, or to lose a loved one. He comprehends the temptations and obstacles we face. He has assigned Himself the task of carrying His children's burdens (Psalm 68:19) and offers peace for our hurting hearts. The God who walks with us is not limited by anything, so we need not be afraid. (Matthew 19:26)
God has a purpose for allowing hard times.The story of Joseph clearly illustrates this truth. Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery, but God planned that these years would prepare him to become Prime Minister of Egypt. Joseph could not see God's purpose—and neither will we most of the time—but he knew God's character and trusted Him through his many trials. His faith was rewarded when he was able to rescue his family. (Genesis 45:1-8)
We are called to live a life of faith. That means believing God's promises even if our circumstances confound us. When troubles surround you, remember what is true. God will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5) and His good purposes will be carried out. (Philippians 2:13)
Mr.s P
We are hurting, circumstances are outside our control, and we see no relief for the future. What can we be sure of?
God is with us in our troubles. God's presence through His Spirit comforts us because He knows us intimately. He gives us what we need—His love and strength, a sense of security, and the knowledge that we are not alone. Our Lord understands what it is like to suffer, to be rejected, or to lose a loved one. He comprehends the temptations and obstacles we face. He has assigned Himself the task of carrying His children's burdens (Psalm 68:19) and offers peace for our hurting hearts. The God who walks with us is not limited by anything, so we need not be afraid. (Matthew 19:26)
God has a purpose for allowing hard times.The story of Joseph clearly illustrates this truth. Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery, but God planned that these years would prepare him to become Prime Minister of Egypt. Joseph could not see God's purpose—and neither will we most of the time—but he knew God's character and trusted Him through his many trials. His faith was rewarded when he was able to rescue his family. (Genesis 45:1-8)
We are called to live a life of faith. That means believing God's promises even if our circumstances confound us. When troubles surround you, remember what is true. God will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5) and His good purposes will be carried out. (Philippians 2:13)
Mr.s P
Our Work Versus Our Value
Genesis 2:15
The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
Man was created to have seven basic needs. Each of us has a need for dignity, authority, blessing and provision, security, purpose and meaning, freedom and boundary, intimate love and companionship. When we go outside God's provision to meet these needs, we get into trouble.
Every man has a need to work and gain satisfaction in caring and seeing something come from his efforts. Many of our basic needs are derived from our work; it was one of the first acts God did for man in the Garden of Eden. He gave him responsibility to care for and work the Garden. God knew man needed to be productive. He needed to gain satisfaction from his work.
The danger of this is when we allow our work to be our complete source of purpose and meaning in life. This leads to a performance-based life. A performance-based life says, "As long as I perform in my work, I am acceptable to myself and others." This is a subtle trap for all of us. It can lead us to become workaholics if we are seeking acceptance through what we do. Sometimes this can be on a subconscious basis.
Our value must be centered in God, not in what we do. If we lose our job or our business, this should not devastate us if we are centered in Him. It will certainly create difficulties, but God is the orchestrator of all the events in our lives for His purposes. Even difficult times have purposes.
Today, ask the Lord if you have a proper balance in your work life. Is God the central focus? If you work long hours, ask yourself why. You might discover that God may not be the central focus.
Mrs. P
The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
Man was created to have seven basic needs. Each of us has a need for dignity, authority, blessing and provision, security, purpose and meaning, freedom and boundary, intimate love and companionship. When we go outside God's provision to meet these needs, we get into trouble.
Every man has a need to work and gain satisfaction in caring and seeing something come from his efforts. Many of our basic needs are derived from our work; it was one of the first acts God did for man in the Garden of Eden. He gave him responsibility to care for and work the Garden. God knew man needed to be productive. He needed to gain satisfaction from his work.
The danger of this is when we allow our work to be our complete source of purpose and meaning in life. This leads to a performance-based life. A performance-based life says, "As long as I perform in my work, I am acceptable to myself and others." This is a subtle trap for all of us. It can lead us to become workaholics if we are seeking acceptance through what we do. Sometimes this can be on a subconscious basis.
Our value must be centered in God, not in what we do. If we lose our job or our business, this should not devastate us if we are centered in Him. It will certainly create difficulties, but God is the orchestrator of all the events in our lives for His purposes. Even difficult times have purposes.
Today, ask the Lord if you have a proper balance in your work life. Is God the central focus? If you work long hours, ask yourself why. You might discover that God may not be the central focus.
Mrs. P
How to Remain Fresh in your Spirit as You Age
Cars tell us something about their drivers. At the wheel of a speeding Spitfire is a stylish young man, new job, beautiful girl, lots of living ahead-or so he thinks. The Suburban's three kids are soccer bound. Old and reliable, the Studebaker's occupants are...well, older and reliable folks.
Our culture glorifies young, glamorous bodies. Be careful not to buy the idea that your best years are gone. More mature people are more useful to God's Kingdom. As long as the Lord keeps us here, He has a job for us.
Psalm 71
Now also when I am old and gray headed, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come (verse 18). This man was committed to using his golden years as a witness for Christ to the younger generation.
Octogenarian evangelist Raymond Riggs said his secret for staying young at heart included spending much time with young people. He and his wife volunteer to work with youth at camps and church, inviting them home for cookies, hot chocolate, and games. He talks with them a lot.
Riggs also ministers to old people as chaplain at a nursing home, and devotes lots of time to grandparenting. "It keeps us young," he said.
Psalm 92
Another encouraging passage for Studebakers is Psalm 92: The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing.
As we grow older, we can remain as fresh in our spirits as evergreens, inwardly thrive even in severe conditions, have an inner strength, majesty, poise about us, and continue bearing fruit in our old age.
As J. Oswald Sanders said, "It's attitude rather than arteries that determines the vitality of our maturing years."
But, what about the infirmities of age? Though we can reduce or retard frailty with proper exercise, rest, and nutrition, our bodies will suffer wear along the way-arteries clog, memories fail, joints stiffen, steps slow. But God's promises don't clog, fail, stiffen, or slow. So rely more on the Savior and less on self.
Isaiah 46 is a wonderful example for seniors: Even to your old age, I am He, and even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you (verse 4).
We may feel frail, yet God designed and created us-body, mind, and soul-and can care for us as we get gray. God can be trusted. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He will take care of you and use you.
Facing mandatory retirement from missionary service at 70 after 40 years in China, Bertha Smith didn't want to leave, finally feeling qualified to serve. However, God assured her He had a plan to care for and use her.
Bertha returned home and then got invitations to tell her experiences. For 30 years, she inspired churches across America, challenged youth on college campuses, and mirrored Christ around the world-still going at nearly 100.
Look around. See what you can do. Find a need. Fill it. Though it seems small, "Little is much if God is in it." No matter your age, you can make a priceless contribution to God's plan. You're made to live forever, a timeless creation. And, you've never had as much experience as you have now nor walked with the Lord as long as you have now.
Keep your spirit strong. Remember what Pearl Buck said at age 84: "I am a far more useful person than I was fifty years ago…or even ten. I have learned so much since I was 70."
Like the Studebaker, we may have been odd and unpopular when we were younger, but now we're classics. Don't be afraid to honk your horn and step on the gas. You might just pass up that Spitfire.
Mrs. P
Our culture glorifies young, glamorous bodies. Be careful not to buy the idea that your best years are gone. More mature people are more useful to God's Kingdom. As long as the Lord keeps us here, He has a job for us.
Psalm 71
Now also when I am old and gray headed, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come (verse 18). This man was committed to using his golden years as a witness for Christ to the younger generation.
Octogenarian evangelist Raymond Riggs said his secret for staying young at heart included spending much time with young people. He and his wife volunteer to work with youth at camps and church, inviting them home for cookies, hot chocolate, and games. He talks with them a lot.
Riggs also ministers to old people as chaplain at a nursing home, and devotes lots of time to grandparenting. "It keeps us young," he said.
Psalm 92
Another encouraging passage for Studebakers is Psalm 92: The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing.
As we grow older, we can remain as fresh in our spirits as evergreens, inwardly thrive even in severe conditions, have an inner strength, majesty, poise about us, and continue bearing fruit in our old age.
As J. Oswald Sanders said, "It's attitude rather than arteries that determines the vitality of our maturing years."
But, what about the infirmities of age? Though we can reduce or retard frailty with proper exercise, rest, and nutrition, our bodies will suffer wear along the way-arteries clog, memories fail, joints stiffen, steps slow. But God's promises don't clog, fail, stiffen, or slow. So rely more on the Savior and less on self.
Isaiah 46 is a wonderful example for seniors: Even to your old age, I am He, and even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you (verse 4).
We may feel frail, yet God designed and created us-body, mind, and soul-and can care for us as we get gray. God can be trusted. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He will take care of you and use you.
Facing mandatory retirement from missionary service at 70 after 40 years in China, Bertha Smith didn't want to leave, finally feeling qualified to serve. However, God assured her He had a plan to care for and use her.
Bertha returned home and then got invitations to tell her experiences. For 30 years, she inspired churches across America, challenged youth on college campuses, and mirrored Christ around the world-still going at nearly 100.
Look around. See what you can do. Find a need. Fill it. Though it seems small, "Little is much if God is in it." No matter your age, you can make a priceless contribution to God's plan. You're made to live forever, a timeless creation. And, you've never had as much experience as you have now nor walked with the Lord as long as you have now.
Keep your spirit strong. Remember what Pearl Buck said at age 84: "I am a far more useful person than I was fifty years ago…or even ten. I have learned so much since I was 70."
Like the Studebaker, we may have been odd and unpopular when we were younger, but now we're classics. Don't be afraid to honk your horn and step on the gas. You might just pass up that Spitfire.
Mrs. P
Exiting the Emotion Locomotive: God Can Heal All Our Wounds
Bipolar disorder is the third most common mood disorder after major depression and dysthymic disorder (morbid depression and anxiety with accompanying obsession). It affects about 1 percent of adults during their lifetime. Studies have indicated that bipolar depression is genetically inherited, occurring more commonly within families.
Symptoms typically begin during adolescence or early adulthood, and continue to recur throughout life, with both men and women equally likely to suffer. Without effective intervention, bipolar illness leads to suicide in nearly 20 percent of cases.
There are treatment options. But because bipolar disorder is often not recognized by the patient, relatives, friends, or even some physicians, people with bipolar disorder may suffer needlessly for years... perhaps for their entire lives. Depression is not fully recognized by most health care insurance providers; most will pay only 50 percent of treatment costs for outpatient care, as well as limiting the number of visits.
I have come to believe that, at least to some extent, a young teenage girl I knew had been experiencing this bipolar train ride for all of her life; She lived in a perceived world of surreal highs and devastating lows. Very early on, this created for her a feeling of separation from others and from the world, a phenomenon she would later try to numb with drugs and alcohol.
This is, in fact, very common; an estimated 60 percent of all people with bipolar disorder have drug or alcohol dependence. It is my belief that fellowship-oriented substance abuse recovery groups are inhabited by an inordinate number of those who suffer not only from their very real addictions, but also varying levels of bipolar disease.
Shame a Factor
Sadly, shame also plays a factor with many of who don't want others to know about their secret suffering. Where does this irrational shame come from?
I can spout lots of technical jargon and use psychoanalytical language to describe some things science can understand and some things it does not. I'm supposed to have some understanding of neurotransmitters and receptor molecules, but all that cannot completely explain how people sometimes become lost to themselves and lost to the rest of us.
And I believe in unseen darkness and demons, too, and I'm not at all sure where one set of beliefs leaves off and the other takes up. All I know for sure is that God exists, that there is a world beyond what we can see and touch and feel, and that within that world evil exists, too.
And I believe that for some of us in obvious ways and probably all of us in more subtle ways the disease thrives and makes its home in more than just our flesh, and medicine alone rarely cures us.
For a few years this young teenage girl I knew recklessly tried to fulfill this false destiny with the most destructive of behaviors, and attempted to take her own life. But then... then something happened. She discovered that at the source of her aching emptiness lay a soul dying of loneliness. And, crying out to the God she had spent her whole life running away from, she discovered He had been there all along.
Returning to the Flock
Why are we so afraid to open ourselves to others, to uncover our wounds and let them see, let them touch? Why do we so often succumb to this shame that keeps us in bondage? I believe it is because we allow the shame to isolate us, to cut us off from others and therefore perpetuate the illusion of our being alone. Only by culling us from the flock, so to speak, can the enemy kill us.
And so, the lies draw us deeper into the deception of self-loathing. Christ - and those who truly share His nature - wait to welcome us Home. But lost in this darkest of places, on this seemingly unstoppable train barreling down the mountain, we simply have trouble believing we can ever jump to the safety of His arms.
How do we abandon ourselves to such trust? We must learn to reach out.
First, we need to seek professional help. The new generation of psychotropic drugs is far less dangerous and much more effective than those drugs used in the years past. We look for doctors who understand the multiplicity of this disease dynamic. These professionals, if they fully understand that drugs alone are not the ultimate answer, can give those suffering from depression a fighting chance, a helping hand out of the pit, thus enabling them to do the physical, emotional, and spiritual work necessary for long term recovery. Ultimately, those who battle this thing can re-engage with the world, with life... with Christ.
Then, we need a support system, a fellowship, a safe place for connecting with those who have lived some part of their lives suffering from the pain of similar wounds. We move beyond our comfort zone and, one day at a time, seek the healing face of Christ, often in the faces of strangers who are seeking their own recovery. This is a biblically sound principal, yet one sometimes looked down on by those in the Christian church.
These days, some of the people I work with both inside and outside the church walls have trouble with the whole "recovering" thing, as if true healing is somehow less miraculous when performed as a process rather than an event. But to me, nothing could be more beautiful or meaningful than a God who is willing to meet me on my knees every morning, and to walk with me one step at a time, this friend Jesus who seeks intimacy rather than waving a magic wand. And, by connecting with others suffering from similar hurts, we open ourselves to His deeply relational - and uniquely beautiful - healing.
Come Aboard
This Bipolar Express is indeed like a runaway train. Often, it is little more than a far-away whistle, a faint rumbling through the wooded night. But sometimes the brakes fail, and the black machine lunges forward, out of control. It is then we learn we cannot face this thing alone. We need help.
I encourage you to reach out. The ride can be scary. But there is always hope in Jesus...there is always healing for the broken spirit. Jesus never tells us that the journey will be without suffering. But He promises that, should we but dare to fall into His arms, we need never again travel alone.
Come aboard. Together, we're heading Home.
…A dedication to Jessica who is in my constant prayers.
Sincerely,
Mrs. P
Symptoms typically begin during adolescence or early adulthood, and continue to recur throughout life, with both men and women equally likely to suffer. Without effective intervention, bipolar illness leads to suicide in nearly 20 percent of cases.
There are treatment options. But because bipolar disorder is often not recognized by the patient, relatives, friends, or even some physicians, people with bipolar disorder may suffer needlessly for years... perhaps for their entire lives. Depression is not fully recognized by most health care insurance providers; most will pay only 50 percent of treatment costs for outpatient care, as well as limiting the number of visits.
I have come to believe that, at least to some extent, a young teenage girl I knew had been experiencing this bipolar train ride for all of her life; She lived in a perceived world of surreal highs and devastating lows. Very early on, this created for her a feeling of separation from others and from the world, a phenomenon she would later try to numb with drugs and alcohol.
This is, in fact, very common; an estimated 60 percent of all people with bipolar disorder have drug or alcohol dependence. It is my belief that fellowship-oriented substance abuse recovery groups are inhabited by an inordinate number of those who suffer not only from their very real addictions, but also varying levels of bipolar disease.
Shame a Factor
Sadly, shame also plays a factor with many of who don't want others to know about their secret suffering. Where does this irrational shame come from?
I can spout lots of technical jargon and use psychoanalytical language to describe some things science can understand and some things it does not. I'm supposed to have some understanding of neurotransmitters and receptor molecules, but all that cannot completely explain how people sometimes become lost to themselves and lost to the rest of us.
And I believe in unseen darkness and demons, too, and I'm not at all sure where one set of beliefs leaves off and the other takes up. All I know for sure is that God exists, that there is a world beyond what we can see and touch and feel, and that within that world evil exists, too.
And I believe that for some of us in obvious ways and probably all of us in more subtle ways the disease thrives and makes its home in more than just our flesh, and medicine alone rarely cures us.
For a few years this young teenage girl I knew recklessly tried to fulfill this false destiny with the most destructive of behaviors, and attempted to take her own life. But then... then something happened. She discovered that at the source of her aching emptiness lay a soul dying of loneliness. And, crying out to the God she had spent her whole life running away from, she discovered He had been there all along.
Returning to the Flock
Why are we so afraid to open ourselves to others, to uncover our wounds and let them see, let them touch? Why do we so often succumb to this shame that keeps us in bondage? I believe it is because we allow the shame to isolate us, to cut us off from others and therefore perpetuate the illusion of our being alone. Only by culling us from the flock, so to speak, can the enemy kill us.
And so, the lies draw us deeper into the deception of self-loathing. Christ - and those who truly share His nature - wait to welcome us Home. But lost in this darkest of places, on this seemingly unstoppable train barreling down the mountain, we simply have trouble believing we can ever jump to the safety of His arms.
How do we abandon ourselves to such trust? We must learn to reach out.
First, we need to seek professional help. The new generation of psychotropic drugs is far less dangerous and much more effective than those drugs used in the years past. We look for doctors who understand the multiplicity of this disease dynamic. These professionals, if they fully understand that drugs alone are not the ultimate answer, can give those suffering from depression a fighting chance, a helping hand out of the pit, thus enabling them to do the physical, emotional, and spiritual work necessary for long term recovery. Ultimately, those who battle this thing can re-engage with the world, with life... with Christ.
Then, we need a support system, a fellowship, a safe place for connecting with those who have lived some part of their lives suffering from the pain of similar wounds. We move beyond our comfort zone and, one day at a time, seek the healing face of Christ, often in the faces of strangers who are seeking their own recovery. This is a biblically sound principal, yet one sometimes looked down on by those in the Christian church.
These days, some of the people I work with both inside and outside the church walls have trouble with the whole "recovering" thing, as if true healing is somehow less miraculous when performed as a process rather than an event. But to me, nothing could be more beautiful or meaningful than a God who is willing to meet me on my knees every morning, and to walk with me one step at a time, this friend Jesus who seeks intimacy rather than waving a magic wand. And, by connecting with others suffering from similar hurts, we open ourselves to His deeply relational - and uniquely beautiful - healing.
Come Aboard
This Bipolar Express is indeed like a runaway train. Often, it is little more than a far-away whistle, a faint rumbling through the wooded night. But sometimes the brakes fail, and the black machine lunges forward, out of control. It is then we learn we cannot face this thing alone. We need help.
I encourage you to reach out. The ride can be scary. But there is always hope in Jesus...there is always healing for the broken spirit. Jesus never tells us that the journey will be without suffering. But He promises that, should we but dare to fall into His arms, we need never again travel alone.
Come aboard. Together, we're heading Home.
…A dedication to Jessica who is in my constant prayers.
Sincerely,
Mrs. P
How to Pray for the Soul - Yours or Another's
For thoughtful people, how they pray for the soul is governed by how they believe God acts. So, for example, if they believe God changes people's souls so that they make new and right choices, then they will ask God to make those soul-changes through evangelism and nurture. But not everybody is thoughtful about the way they pray. They don't think about what view of God is behind their praying.
So what I suggest is that we learn first to pray for the soul from the way the Bible prays for the soul. If we do that, then our prayers will probably be good prayers, and in the process we will also learn about how God acts. Here is the way I pray for my soul. I use these prayers over and over again-for myself and my children and husband and all my beloved. This is the meat and potatoes of my prayer life.
The first thing my soul needs is an inclination to God and his word. Without that, nothing else will happen of any value in my life. I must want to know God and read his word and draw near to him. Where does that "want to" come from? It comes from God. So Psalm 119:36 teaches us to pray, "Incline my heart to Your testimonies and not to gain."
Next I need to have the eyes of my heart opened, so that when my inclination leads me to the word I see what is really there and not just my own ideas. Who opens the eyes of the heart? God does. So Psalm 119:18 teaches us to pray, "Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your law."
Then I need for my heart to be enlightened with these "wonders." I need to perceive glory in them and not just interesting facts. Who enlightens the heart? God does. So Ephesians 1:18 teaches us to pray "That the eyes of your heart may be enlightened."
Then I am concerned that my heart is fragmented and that parts of it might remain in the dark while other parts are enlightened. So I long for my heart to be united for God. Where does that wholeness and unity come from? From God. So Psalm 86:11 teaches us to pray, "O Lord, I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name."
What I really want from all this engagement with the Word of God and the work of his Spirit in answer to my prayers is that my heart will be satisfied with God and not with the world. Where does that satisfaction come from? It comes from God. So Psalm 90:14 teaches us to pray, "O satisfy us in the morning with Your lovingkindness, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days."
But I don't just want to be happy in my own little private world with God. I want my happiness to be as full as possible for spreading and expanding for others. I want to be strong in joy. This will make me durable in the face of threats or adversity. Where does that strength and durability come from? It comes from God. So Ephesians 3:16 teaches us to pray, "That God would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit inside us."
Finally, I want my strength in God to produce good deeds for others so that the glory of God will be seen in my life. Who produces these good deeds? God does. So Colossians 1:10 teaches us to pray, "That [we] will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord . . . bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."
All this I pray "in Jesus' name," because God gives these things to my soul only because Jesus died for me and removed the wrath of God so that the Father might "freely give me all things" (Romans 8:32).
To remember some of these prayers, I use an acronym-IOUS-almost every day in praying for those I love, asking God to give us an inclination to his Word and not to money or fame or power (Psalm 119:36), and to open our eyes to see wonderful things when we read his Word (Psalm 119:18), and to have hearts united in the fear of God rather than fragmented over a dozen concerns (Psalm 86:11), and to be satisfied in his steadfast love (Psalm 90:14).
Sincerely,
Mrs. P
So what I suggest is that we learn first to pray for the soul from the way the Bible prays for the soul. If we do that, then our prayers will probably be good prayers, and in the process we will also learn about how God acts. Here is the way I pray for my soul. I use these prayers over and over again-for myself and my children and husband and all my beloved. This is the meat and potatoes of my prayer life.
The first thing my soul needs is an inclination to God and his word. Without that, nothing else will happen of any value in my life. I must want to know God and read his word and draw near to him. Where does that "want to" come from? It comes from God. So Psalm 119:36 teaches us to pray, "Incline my heart to Your testimonies and not to gain."
Next I need to have the eyes of my heart opened, so that when my inclination leads me to the word I see what is really there and not just my own ideas. Who opens the eyes of the heart? God does. So Psalm 119:18 teaches us to pray, "Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your law."
Then I need for my heart to be enlightened with these "wonders." I need to perceive glory in them and not just interesting facts. Who enlightens the heart? God does. So Ephesians 1:18 teaches us to pray "That the eyes of your heart may be enlightened."
Then I am concerned that my heart is fragmented and that parts of it might remain in the dark while other parts are enlightened. So I long for my heart to be united for God. Where does that wholeness and unity come from? From God. So Psalm 86:11 teaches us to pray, "O Lord, I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name."
What I really want from all this engagement with the Word of God and the work of his Spirit in answer to my prayers is that my heart will be satisfied with God and not with the world. Where does that satisfaction come from? It comes from God. So Psalm 90:14 teaches us to pray, "O satisfy us in the morning with Your lovingkindness, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days."
But I don't just want to be happy in my own little private world with God. I want my happiness to be as full as possible for spreading and expanding for others. I want to be strong in joy. This will make me durable in the face of threats or adversity. Where does that strength and durability come from? It comes from God. So Ephesians 3:16 teaches us to pray, "That God would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit inside us."
Finally, I want my strength in God to produce good deeds for others so that the glory of God will be seen in my life. Who produces these good deeds? God does. So Colossians 1:10 teaches us to pray, "That [we] will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord . . . bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."
All this I pray "in Jesus' name," because God gives these things to my soul only because Jesus died for me and removed the wrath of God so that the Father might "freely give me all things" (Romans 8:32).
To remember some of these prayers, I use an acronym-IOUS-almost every day in praying for those I love, asking God to give us an inclination to his Word and not to money or fame or power (Psalm 119:36), and to open our eyes to see wonderful things when we read his Word (Psalm 119:18), and to have hearts united in the fear of God rather than fragmented over a dozen concerns (Psalm 86:11), and to be satisfied in his steadfast love (Psalm 90:14).
Sincerely,
Mrs. P
THE POWER OF THE BELIEVER
John 8:32 You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free
When I was a girl growing up in San Jose, CA my brother and I would visit our neighbor's house to share stories, candy and pop that we bought with the money we earned each weekend doing yard work around the neighborhood. The neighbor had a yappy little dog that scared the socks off me. When it came barking around the corner, my brother stood his ground, but I ran. Guess who the dog chased! I escaped to the top of our orange Datsun pickup truck while the little dog yapped at me from the ground.
Everyone except me could see that the little dog had no power over me except what I gave it. Furthermore, it had no inherent power to throw me up on the pickup; it was my belief that put me up there. That dog controlled me by using my mind, my emotions, my will, and my muscles, all of which were motivated by fear. Finally I gathered up my courage, jumped off the pickup, and kicked a small rock at the mutt. Lo and behold, it ran!
Satan is like that yappy little dog: deceiving people into fearing him more than God. His power is in the lie. He is the father of lies (John 8:44) who deceives the whole world (Revelation 12:9), and consequently the whole world is under the influence of the evil one (1 John 5:19). He can do nothing about your position in Christ, but if he can deceive you into believing his lies about you and God, you will spend a lot of time on top of the pickup truck! You don't have to outshout him or outmuscle him to be free of his influence. You just have to outtruth him. Believe, declare, and act upon the truth of God's Word, and you will thwart Satan's strategy.
I have learned from the Scriptures and my experience that truth is the liberating agent. The power of Satan is in the lie, and the power of the believer is in knowing the truth. We are to pursue truth, not power.
Prayer:
Father God, when Satan is badgering and confusing me, remind me that Your Holy Spirit within me is greater than all the evil around me.
Sincerely,
Mrs. P
When I was a girl growing up in San Jose, CA my brother and I would visit our neighbor's house to share stories, candy and pop that we bought with the money we earned each weekend doing yard work around the neighborhood. The neighbor had a yappy little dog that scared the socks off me. When it came barking around the corner, my brother stood his ground, but I ran. Guess who the dog chased! I escaped to the top of our orange Datsun pickup truck while the little dog yapped at me from the ground.
Everyone except me could see that the little dog had no power over me except what I gave it. Furthermore, it had no inherent power to throw me up on the pickup; it was my belief that put me up there. That dog controlled me by using my mind, my emotions, my will, and my muscles, all of which were motivated by fear. Finally I gathered up my courage, jumped off the pickup, and kicked a small rock at the mutt. Lo and behold, it ran!
Satan is like that yappy little dog: deceiving people into fearing him more than God. His power is in the lie. He is the father of lies (John 8:44) who deceives the whole world (Revelation 12:9), and consequently the whole world is under the influence of the evil one (1 John 5:19). He can do nothing about your position in Christ, but if he can deceive you into believing his lies about you and God, you will spend a lot of time on top of the pickup truck! You don't have to outshout him or outmuscle him to be free of his influence. You just have to outtruth him. Believe, declare, and act upon the truth of God's Word, and you will thwart Satan's strategy.
I have learned from the Scriptures and my experience that truth is the liberating agent. The power of Satan is in the lie, and the power of the believer is in knowing the truth. We are to pursue truth, not power.
Prayer:
Father God, when Satan is badgering and confusing me, remind me that Your Holy Spirit within me is greater than all the evil around me.
Sincerely,
Mrs. P
Our Concept of Happiness
This is my happy way of life: obeying your commandments. - Psalm 119:56
Philosopher Eric Hoffer wrote, "The search for happiness is one of the chiefsources of unhappiness." Someone else once said, "There are two sources of unhappiness in life. One is not getting what you want. And the other is getting it."
So for many people today who are searching for happiness, the cold hard truth is they will never quite find it. You look at all of these people in Hollywood - with all of the accomplishments, fame, and money - and so many of them live miserable and empty lives. They are searching for happiness in the wrong way. True happiness is always a byproduct of holiness. You get your life right with God and happiness will soon follow.
That is why the nonbeliever will never know true happiness. They will go after the devil's cheap counterfeits, but the counterfeits are shallow, because they possess no deep well from which to draw. The world's concept of happiness is dependent on good things happening. The believers concept of happiness depends on a good God.
Mrs. P
Philosopher Eric Hoffer wrote, "The search for happiness is one of the chiefsources of unhappiness." Someone else once said, "There are two sources of unhappiness in life. One is not getting what you want. And the other is getting it."
So for many people today who are searching for happiness, the cold hard truth is they will never quite find it. You look at all of these people in Hollywood - with all of the accomplishments, fame, and money - and so many of them live miserable and empty lives. They are searching for happiness in the wrong way. True happiness is always a byproduct of holiness. You get your life right with God and happiness will soon follow.
That is why the nonbeliever will never know true happiness. They will go after the devil's cheap counterfeits, but the counterfeits are shallow, because they possess no deep well from which to draw. The world's concept of happiness is dependent on good things happening. The believers concept of happiness depends on a good God.
Mrs. P
How to be a Wise Guy (and Gal) ... When Falling in Love
Falling in love is a dizzying experience. Once the spark of attraction catches flame, love quickly turns into a raging fire of unreasoned passion. Engulfed by its heat, couples sometimes sacrifice all sound judgment in the interest of bonding their relationship. The Song of Songs says, "Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away" (8:7). Love, by its very nature, is extravagant.
We read recently about a man who hired a helicopter to drop 2,500 carnations and 10,000 love letters on the lawn of a woman he loved. Apparently the woman failed to share this man's affection and had him charged with littering. She told reporters "he had lost his mind."
Love really can cause some people to lose their heads. They become "crazy in love." They become compelled by the emotional force of love and forsake their analytical ability. It's a common danger. The compelling emotional force overrides our capacity to think clearly if we let it. That is why Scripture urges us to "be careful, then, how you live-not as unwise, but wise" (Eph. 5:15).
Have you thought much about wisdom -- the ability to reason with insight? You should. It is essential to the success of your relationships. Sure, the emotional side of love is vital, and you will need to stoke the fires of passion over the years, but don't neglect the cool calm of wisdom.
Wisdom is not about saying wise words or doing wise deeds. It is concerned with being, not doing. So how do you cultivate wisdom in marriage? Or, as Job asked, "Where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell?" (28:12). The writer of Proverbs compared searching for wisdom to mining and said, "If you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand" (2:4-5).
After nearly two decades of being married in my life, I am still on an expedition for more wisdom. Daily I seek to avoid being unwise, and have discovered two tools that are essential in my pursuit.
First of all, I have learned that wisdom only comes when humble. As Socrates said, "The wisest man is he who knows his own ignorance." Without humility partners fall victim to pride, and "when pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom" (Prov. 11:2). Be humble enough to ask for help. Learn how to ask a good question. According to Francis Bacon, "A prudent question is one-half of wisdom."
The second tool for mining wisdom in relationships stems from the first-ask God to share his wisdom with you (see James 1:5). Human wisdom on its own is inadequate (see 1 Cor. 1:19; 1:21; 3:18-19). We need the wisdom that comes from God, for "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Ps. 111:10; see also Prov. 9:10; Matt 12:42, 13:54; Acts 6:3).
So enjoy the dizzying emotions of love when they come, but never neglect the importance of wisdom in your relationships. It is a shared pursuit for soul mates, and it will bless your union.
Sincerely,
Mrs. P
We read recently about a man who hired a helicopter to drop 2,500 carnations and 10,000 love letters on the lawn of a woman he loved. Apparently the woman failed to share this man's affection and had him charged with littering. She told reporters "he had lost his mind."
Love really can cause some people to lose their heads. They become "crazy in love." They become compelled by the emotional force of love and forsake their analytical ability. It's a common danger. The compelling emotional force overrides our capacity to think clearly if we let it. That is why Scripture urges us to "be careful, then, how you live-not as unwise, but wise" (Eph. 5:15).
Have you thought much about wisdom -- the ability to reason with insight? You should. It is essential to the success of your relationships. Sure, the emotional side of love is vital, and you will need to stoke the fires of passion over the years, but don't neglect the cool calm of wisdom.
Wisdom is not about saying wise words or doing wise deeds. It is concerned with being, not doing. So how do you cultivate wisdom in marriage? Or, as Job asked, "Where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell?" (28:12). The writer of Proverbs compared searching for wisdom to mining and said, "If you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand" (2:4-5).
After nearly two decades of being married in my life, I am still on an expedition for more wisdom. Daily I seek to avoid being unwise, and have discovered two tools that are essential in my pursuit.
First of all, I have learned that wisdom only comes when humble. As Socrates said, "The wisest man is he who knows his own ignorance." Without humility partners fall victim to pride, and "when pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom" (Prov. 11:2). Be humble enough to ask for help. Learn how to ask a good question. According to Francis Bacon, "A prudent question is one-half of wisdom."
The second tool for mining wisdom in relationships stems from the first-ask God to share his wisdom with you (see James 1:5). Human wisdom on its own is inadequate (see 1 Cor. 1:19; 1:21; 3:18-19). We need the wisdom that comes from God, for "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Ps. 111:10; see also Prov. 9:10; Matt 12:42, 13:54; Acts 6:3).
So enjoy the dizzying emotions of love when they come, but never neglect the importance of wisdom in your relationships. It is a shared pursuit for soul mates, and it will bless your union.
Sincerely,
Mrs. P
The Best Part of Snuggling
The sun has just risen outside. Soft pits and pats against the window ... rain ... and I pull the blanket closer, sinking back into the couch. A hot cup of coffee rests at my elbow. It is my favorite time of the day.
In the new morning hour, I think back to other special mornings, nearly 16 years ago. Wrapped in my blue plush robe, rocking back and forth, it was many a quiet new morning sunrises when I would slowly sense the presence of another person. My son, a toddler of three, had padded into the living room, up next to my chair, with his small eyes fixed on me (Mommy loves you Zachery).
Wordlessly, in agreement that the peace of the morning was large enough for both of us, I would open my robe. Knowing what to do, he climbed onto my lap, and I pulled the robe around us, a snuggling of two. In many a early morning, so many years ago, we kept the peace together.
Snuggling ... it's hard to know the best part. Is it the new morning, the quiet, the soft touch of a hand on the shoulder? Is it protection, comfort, acknowledgement, relationship? Safety? Is it the promised assurance between human beings that what happens to you will happen to me because I share your heartbeat?
I was jarred to attention last week. I was asked to consider the first time I ever snuggled, my earliest snuggle of life, and the question brought me up short.
Was it inside the warm white blanket wrapped around me as I was laid into the arms of my mother in the hospital? Or was it later ... close against her as she nursed me, her firstborn? Maybe my father was the first to snuggle me, peering intently, measuring the smallest eyes and lips of a baby ... his ... held in the crook of his arm.
Maybe ... but the magic of science has opened the window on snuggling, and I think it must surely have been weeks, even months before my birth, when I knew I was safe, a knowing of safety available to all living beings even before they can explain it in words.
Surely, weeks before birth, wrapped into a bundle of baby, between my bursts of pushing and kicking against the walls of the womb ... surely there were quiet moments shared with my mother where we snuggled and dreamt. Already at this stage I had fine hair, teeth, and eyelash fringes around eyelids that opened and closed ... and opened again ... for infant eyes that looked around. When she spoke, I knew my mother's voice ... outside ... serenading me as I waited my time.
Certainly, even weeks earlier, when the womb was large enough for me to swim and stretch and turn somersaults, I took time to rest and sleep and snuggle. Inside my mother's quiet belly, worn out from my infant gymnastics, curling my toes, I would have stuck my thumb into my mouth and felt the safety of darkness ... protected and safe.
One thing is certain. I know I snuggled long before I made my first appearance under bright hospital lights. No matter what some want to claim I was back then ... a blob, a mass of cells, an embryo, a fetus ... a product of conception ... I was, without a doubt, a flourishing child of my parents, thriving and growing.
Today, cloaked in a battle of terminology, creating labels devoid of humanity, there are those who wish us to forget that we once snuggled in the womb. They will not have their way with me.
I claim my existence, refusing to be dehumanized at any stage of development. Supported by the miraculous development of four-dimensional ultrasound, doctors and parents can follow the development of babies like me. At eight weeks, I was fully formed, a human of one inch in length, every organ present, with a strong beating heart.
At nine weeks, my fingerprints were already engraved, and my fingers were ready to grasp an object placed in my palm.
At ten weeks, my body was sensitive to touch. I squinted and swallowed. I puckered my brow and frowned.
And then I smiled ... at eleven weeks. And if I could smile, it is certain that I smiled because I felt safe, snuggled inside, nurtured and protected ... my life ahead to be enjoyed and cherished.
So many years later, watching the dawn break outside my living room window, I follow the beads of rain that trickle down the glass. Another beautiful day outside, crisp and damp. The garden will sparkle when the sun breaks through the clouds. I take a sip of coffee and pull the blanket up under my chin.
If there really is a best thing to snuggling, this would have to be it ... revived by thoughts of long ago ... a bundle wrapped together, two of us sharing the morning ... the best thing of all surely being the promised assurance between human beings that what happens to you will happen to me ... because I share your heartbeat.
This is the thought that enters my mind whenever I lay my head upon my love Matthew's chest each night and listen to his heartbeat. It is such a beautiful noise.
This message is dedicated to the many committed educators who are not afraid to teach our children about their earliest days of life inside the womb. May these faithful teachers be encouraged and blessed in their work.
Sincerely,
Mrs. P
In the new morning hour, I think back to other special mornings, nearly 16 years ago. Wrapped in my blue plush robe, rocking back and forth, it was many a quiet new morning sunrises when I would slowly sense the presence of another person. My son, a toddler of three, had padded into the living room, up next to my chair, with his small eyes fixed on me (Mommy loves you Zachery).
Wordlessly, in agreement that the peace of the morning was large enough for both of us, I would open my robe. Knowing what to do, he climbed onto my lap, and I pulled the robe around us, a snuggling of two. In many a early morning, so many years ago, we kept the peace together.
Snuggling ... it's hard to know the best part. Is it the new morning, the quiet, the soft touch of a hand on the shoulder? Is it protection, comfort, acknowledgement, relationship? Safety? Is it the promised assurance between human beings that what happens to you will happen to me because I share your heartbeat?
I was jarred to attention last week. I was asked to consider the first time I ever snuggled, my earliest snuggle of life, and the question brought me up short.
Was it inside the warm white blanket wrapped around me as I was laid into the arms of my mother in the hospital? Or was it later ... close against her as she nursed me, her firstborn? Maybe my father was the first to snuggle me, peering intently, measuring the smallest eyes and lips of a baby ... his ... held in the crook of his arm.
Maybe ... but the magic of science has opened the window on snuggling, and I think it must surely have been weeks, even months before my birth, when I knew I was safe, a knowing of safety available to all living beings even before they can explain it in words.
Surely, weeks before birth, wrapped into a bundle of baby, between my bursts of pushing and kicking against the walls of the womb ... surely there were quiet moments shared with my mother where we snuggled and dreamt. Already at this stage I had fine hair, teeth, and eyelash fringes around eyelids that opened and closed ... and opened again ... for infant eyes that looked around. When she spoke, I knew my mother's voice ... outside ... serenading me as I waited my time.
Certainly, even weeks earlier, when the womb was large enough for me to swim and stretch and turn somersaults, I took time to rest and sleep and snuggle. Inside my mother's quiet belly, worn out from my infant gymnastics, curling my toes, I would have stuck my thumb into my mouth and felt the safety of darkness ... protected and safe.
One thing is certain. I know I snuggled long before I made my first appearance under bright hospital lights. No matter what some want to claim I was back then ... a blob, a mass of cells, an embryo, a fetus ... a product of conception ... I was, without a doubt, a flourishing child of my parents, thriving and growing.
Today, cloaked in a battle of terminology, creating labels devoid of humanity, there are those who wish us to forget that we once snuggled in the womb. They will not have their way with me.
I claim my existence, refusing to be dehumanized at any stage of development. Supported by the miraculous development of four-dimensional ultrasound, doctors and parents can follow the development of babies like me. At eight weeks, I was fully formed, a human of one inch in length, every organ present, with a strong beating heart.
At nine weeks, my fingerprints were already engraved, and my fingers were ready to grasp an object placed in my palm.
At ten weeks, my body was sensitive to touch. I squinted and swallowed. I puckered my brow and frowned.
And then I smiled ... at eleven weeks. And if I could smile, it is certain that I smiled because I felt safe, snuggled inside, nurtured and protected ... my life ahead to be enjoyed and cherished.
So many years later, watching the dawn break outside my living room window, I follow the beads of rain that trickle down the glass. Another beautiful day outside, crisp and damp. The garden will sparkle when the sun breaks through the clouds. I take a sip of coffee and pull the blanket up under my chin.
If there really is a best thing to snuggling, this would have to be it ... revived by thoughts of long ago ... a bundle wrapped together, two of us sharing the morning ... the best thing of all surely being the promised assurance between human beings that what happens to you will happen to me ... because I share your heartbeat.
This is the thought that enters my mind whenever I lay my head upon my love Matthew's chest each night and listen to his heartbeat. It is such a beautiful noise.
This message is dedicated to the many committed educators who are not afraid to teach our children about their earliest days of life inside the womb. May these faithful teachers be encouraged and blessed in their work.
Sincerely,
Mrs. P
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