Have you ever been mistreated, lied to, or taken advantage of? Have you ever hurt so much emotionally that you just limped through life? You could be one of the walking wounded I've written about. You've been deeply scarred and hurt by cutting remarks, haunting memories or deep wounds of rejection. And now you are saying, "Okay, here I am. I'm wounded, but what can I do?"
We've just closed a chapter on another wonderful summer of grand parenting. We were so privileged to have our 10 year old granddaughter, Myanna, with us since the beginning of June. Many of our family and partners are blessed with ten-twentysome grandchildren…we have only two, but there's enough love for twenty! For the past 15 years we've taken one, or both, of our grandchildren with us on the road; living with us in the motor home and being with us for two-three months.
Our hearts go out to the hundreds of parents we meet who lament tearfully, "What went wrong? We raised our children up in a good, God-fearing home. We took them to church, taught them about God, read Bible stories to them, did our best to show them a Godly example and still, after all of that, they turned against God and rejected our faith."
The events in the life of Jesus bring meaning to the events in our own lives. I'm certain Jesus would have loved to skip Calvary and would rather have been ushered up into heaven in a dynamic glorious whirlwind to be with His Heavenly Father, but that wasn't part of the plan and that wasn't how it happened.
Jesus faced a dark week of challenges which included a dark night of the soul in Gethsemene: a cruel and torcherous cross, death and resurrection. Now that is what I call a full week.
How often do we feel like we are going through a week like that?
Jesus faced a dark week of challenges which included a dark night of the soul in Gethsemene: a cruel and torcherous cross, death and resurrection. Now that is what I call a full week.
How often do we feel like we are going through a week like that?
I sat in the bus almost oblivious to the hurry and scurry of the team members trying to push their way through the crowded aisle. Suitcases, briefcases, shoes, books, boxes, clothes, and clean-up bags strewn all over the bus aisle from the previous bus ride made it nearly impossible to walk without tripping over something. We were in Binghamton, New York, and there were thirty minutes until the evening service. As usual, we were fighting the clock to meet for pre-rally prayer time. I sat crumpled up in a heap on the couch in the front of the bus where I hoped I was safe from being trampled to death by the "hooves" of nine people, all trying to get out of the bus at the same time.
There are times when things are going crazy and the pressure is on that my heart needs a jumpstart to make my face cheerful. I chuckle at the way God often brings that to pass. A few weeks ago I was in a huge Walmart. As usual, we were on a tight time schedule so I scurried in, grabbed my grocery cart, and raced up and down the aisles as if I was participating in the Indy 500. I had just gotten to the dairy aisle when I remembered that I had forgotten to pick up bread and bagels in the bread section. I zipped back through several aisles, picked up the forgotten items, threw them in the cart and raced off once again. I then left the cart for a few seconds to pick up bananas. When I stepped back to the card, a man was just beginning to push it.
I don't know if I've ever been honest with you about my drug problem I faced in my early childhood. Yeah, I was drug out of bed in the morning when I would've rather slept 'til noon, I was drug to the bathroom to wash up; I was drug to the kitchen to help set the table, and do dishes when I would've rather run off to play. I was also drug to the old damp basement to help sort and wash clothes.
Unfortunately, "pressure" of one sort or another has become the American nightmare. In article after article doctors state, "Migraine headaches, chest pains, high blood pressure are the result of a fast pace and pressured life. Mental tensions, frustrations, insecurity and aimlessness are among the most damaging stressors. Insurmountable pressure can cause not only physical and mental anguish, but also total hopelessness and suicide."
"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline" (2 Timothy 1:7). Even though we have this promise in the Bible, fear still keeps Christians from God's blessings in their lives. If Satan can implant fear within people, he soon can rule them through those fears.
When fear begins to enter our hearts and minds we begin to panic. The only way to get rid of fear is to hold on to God's promises as given to us in the Bible.
When fear begins to enter our hearts and minds we begin to panic. The only way to get rid of fear is to hold on to God's promises as given to us in the Bible.
"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline" (2 Timothy 1:7). Even though we have this promise in the Bible, fear still keeps Christians from God's blessings in their lives. If Satan can implant fear within people, he soon can rule them through those fears.
When fear begins to enter our hearts and minds we begin to panic. The only way to get rid of fear is to hold on to God's promises as given to us in the Bible.
When fear begins to enter our hearts and minds we begin to panic. The only way to get rid of fear is to hold on to God's promises as given to us in the Bible.