faithful

sunshine...

quick quotes

all about the simple things...

...

Disclaimer:

I’m a sinner saved by the grace of God. I’m a Christian and I love God and I have faith in God and I trust in God and I believe in God and I have major (clinical) depression and fibromyalgia.  Depression?  Surprised?  What about the stigma?  The shame?

First, I’ll begin with the words of a Christian who has depression:

“Despite the fact that I was fighting for my life, I did not want people to know it and the stigma and shame of depression was such that the friends and family on the short list who did know naturally wanted to keep matters close to the vest. It’s hard to imagine another reason for a hospitalization –whether for a burn, two broken legs, or for cancer treatment– that would produce such a conspiracy of confused silence.”

Now,

This past Sunday, I was watching a sermon on TV. I’ve watched him very many times.  But, Sunday, I had to back it up several times to make sure I had heard what I thought I heard. I had.

• “If we focus on our difficult circumstances and negative feelings, we can easily be drawn into despair and depression.
• But when we fix our eyes on our great, encouraging God, He lifts us up and sets us free.”
• “...every believer has a choice to either stay in a pit of discouragement or to get out.”
• “We can either allow circumstances to drag us down into depression and despair or...”
• Blah, blah, blah

So, according to this preacher, I chose the life I’m living and I chose depression and I enjoy being sick and my focus isn’t on God and I don’t have a believer’s attitude and I’m not praying for healing and...

I’ll add these to my list of comments ‘opinions’:

• Real Christians don't get depressed
• It’s your own fault
• You don’t have enough faith
• There must be something wrong with your spiritual life
• You can get over it if you repent 
• You just need to rebuke that spirit of depression and tell it to leave you
• Depression is a self discipline problem.
• Taking antidepressants is playing God, He can heal you

 I could go on and on and on...  But, I’ll end with this:

 http://billygraham.org/answer/is-it-a-sin-to-be-depressed-the-doctor-says-i-have-a-chemical-imbalance-that-can-be-treated-with-medication-but-my-friend-says-i-just-need-to-pray-and-have-more-faith/

Question:

Is it a sin to be depressed? The doctor says I have a chemical imbalance in my brain that he can treat with medication, but a friend of mine says I shouldn't do this because I just need to pray and have more faith. Who is right? I can't stand this much longer.

Answer:

Let me ask you a question: If you broke your arm in an accident, do you think your friend would claim it was a sin for you to have a broken arm, and all you needed to do was pray? I doubt it.

Neither is it a sin for you to seek treatment for a chemical imbalance in your brain. The Bible says that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14)–and it’s true: Our bodies and minds are very complex. Although doctors can’t solve all our problems, we should be grateful that God has enabled them to understand more about our bodies and minds, and has given them new ways to overcome many of our problems.

Don’t feel that you are somehow sinning by seeking treatment for your depression; it would be wrong for you not to seek treatment.

Don’t misunderstand me, however. God has given us the gift of prayer, and prayer should be an important part of your life as you struggle with this problem. Through prayer we draw near to God, and the closer we get to Him, the more we will realize that He loves us and wants to help us.

Make sure of your commitment to Christ, and then ask Him to guide you as you seek treatment. In addition, let God’s promises saturate your mind and heart. The psalmist wrote, “Why are you downcast, O my soul? … Put your hope in God” (Psalm 42:5).

delight...

Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart.  

Psalm 37:4 NIV

This verse is often misunderstood, and I definitely didn’t for a long time.  I thought if I prayed that God would give me anything I asked for or wanted.  I would pray and pray and pray and pray and then wonder why God wasn’t answering my prayers.  Was He listening to me?  I felt frustrated and defeated.  That’s what I thought when I was young.

Delight yourself in the Lord…

When looking at the context of the passage, it becomes clearer.  (I am by no means very knowledgeable, I have to have help – Matthew Henry Commentary, etc.)   When I compare the NAS to the NIV, I better understand what God is saying. 

Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.  He will bring forth your righteousness as the light And your judgment as the noonday.  Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.Psalm 37:4-7 NAS

Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.

Psalm 37:5-7 NIV

And, then the NLT: Commit everything you do to the Lord.  Trust him, and he will help you.  He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.  Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act.  Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.
Psalm 37:5-7 NLT

 Is my delight and joy in God?  Is it a priority in my life?  Do I want a blessed life?  Am I living a pure life?  Do I trust in God?  Do I daily come into His presence?  Am I patient?  Am I?

lifted me up

what if

soar high

Today, my thoughts drifted towards Bible verses pertaining to strength.  Strength is something I struggle with.  I know in my heart (with the LORD) I can make it thru times I find challenging or miserable or overwhelming or upsetting or stressful or devastating or anxious or clueless or depressing or... the list continues.  But, often my mind says otherwise. I can convince myself that I don’t know how to deal with it or it’s just too unbearable or way too consuming or emotional or demanding or it’s beyond my understanding or I’m just too tired to deal with it now.   

Interestingly, there’s always been one specific Bible verse I cling to.  I go back to it again and again and again.  It’s:

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
    They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
    They will walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31

There’s no doubt whatsoever – I completely and fully and totally believe these words are the true and faithful words of God.  They are. Period.

So, what’s my problem?

I trust God

I have faith in God

I get strength from God

Ok.

I have trust

I have faith

I have belief – belief that my strength comes from God

Now what?

Isaiah 40:31: I must burn these words into my heart and into my mind.....

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.

And, then there’s the beautiful image burned into my mind of a majestic eagle with powerful wings outstretched, gliding across a brilliant blue sky...

Because He Lives

I’m a fan of ‘Gaither Homecoming’ music and videos.  Bill and Gloria Gaither have written 600+ songs over the years. They travel all over the world doing concerts with the ‘Gaither Vocal Band’ and a large group of ‘Gaither Homecoming’ singers.

I love the ‘Gaither Vocal Band’.  They sing both southern gospel and contemporary Christian.  Members of the group have changed over the years – currently, it’s David Phelps, Wes Hampton, Adam Crabb, Todd Suttles, and Bill Gaither.  I love David Phelps.  His passionate voice can reach up to the gates of heaven.  I can still listen to my ‘former favorite members’ on YouTube.  One is Guy Penrod - his voice can rattle those very gates.  Mark Lowry and Michael English were also long-time members. 

These are a few of the classics Bill and Gloria wrote:

He Touched Me

The King Is Coming

I Bowed On My Knees

Midnight Cry

There's Something About That Name

I Believe in a Hill Called Mount Calvary

Because He Lives

Rise Again

(Others with the Gaither's have also written many well-known songs.  For instance, one of my favorite Christmas songs, Mary Did You Know - Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene wrote the lyrics and music.)

But at the very top of my favorites is Because He Lives.

 

(There is a story behind this song: Bill and Gloria were expecting another child. They were going through some difficultiesat the time. A sadness came over Gloria as she realized it's a horrible world to raise kids in and she worried about this baby's future.)

Soon after, God gave Bill and Gloria the words and melody to this song:

Because He Lives

God sent His son, they called Him, Jesus;
He came to love, heal and forgive;
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!

Chorus
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!

How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he gives;
But greater still the calm assurance:
This child can face uncertain days because He Lives!

And then one day, I'll cross the river,
I'll fight life's final war with pain;
And then, as death gives way to vict'ry,
I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives!

be kind

♥

quick quotes

God is...

It’s impossible for me to fully describe God.  I can’t.  Within the pages of The Holy Bible, many attributes of God are revealed. I don’t know, nor understand every single one.

I sometimes search the internet for other Christian’s views, feelings, and thoughts about who God is.  A.W. Tozer is one of my sources. His books, quotes, devotionals, etc. provide insights to me that better explain the attributes of God.  (The post below is a snapshot of some of his works.)

This is my list (alphabetical order).  Some from hymns and songs, Christmas and Easter programs at church, sermons, those I remember from the Bible, and...

God is...

Almighty

the Beginning and the End

Bread of Life

Bright and Morning Star

Compassionate

Counselor

Creator

Deliverer

Eternal

Everlasting

Faithful

Forgiving

God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit

the Great I Am

Holy

Immanuel

Just

King of Kings

Lamb of God

Light of the World

Lilly of the Valley

Lord of Lords

Love

Master

Merciful

Messiah

Mighty

Miraculous

Omnipresent

Powerful

Prince of Peace

Provider

Redeemer

Righteous

Savior

Shepherd

Teacher

True

the Way, the Truth, and the Life

the Word

Wonderful

olympic gold

✞

from one end to the other

We had a visitor last night.  It was an enormous eye-opening experience for me. 
   

The young man came over to tell us about his work with the ‘The Jesus Film Project’.  The ‘JESUS’ film is a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ.  It's based on the Gospel of Luke.  This film is reaching far and wide and people near and far are coming to Christ.  This film is reaching the unreached, in their heart language, and helping them grow.  The sheer number of people who fulfill the numerous jobs and positions to produce this film is staggering.

The ‘JESUS’ film has been translated into 1,200 languages (some are ‘tribal’ dialects) and has been shown in 200 countries.  The young man relayed several stories about producing the film, the effects on some who helped translate, and about those who were saved in the process.  It was awesome!   He shared other accounts about the film that were pure miracles from God! 

Then there was this other story.  An awesome story.  Somewhere in northern Africa, a jeep broke down.  There ‘happened’ to be a tree along the road they used for shade.  In the distance they could see a man running towards them and shouting loudly.  They figured they would be robbed at best.  But, no.  The man told the jeep guy, ‘You are the one in my dream!  You are the one to tell me the truth!’  But, that’s not the end of this story. When the man watched the ‘JESUS’ film, he told the jeep guy, ‘He is the one in my dream! He told me you were the one to tell me the truth!’  .....hubby, hand me a Kleenex....

But how can any single film reach so many people and touch so many lives?

It is the power of the Word of God in their heart language.  Amen!

This website tells it all: http://www.jesusfilm.org/

A.W. Tozer

A.W. Tozer (1897–1963): He was an American Christian pastor, preacher, author, magazine editor, and spiritual mentor.

 

Here are glimpses of four of his books:

‘The Pursuit of God (The Definitive Classic)’

Written during a train trip in the late 1940s, The Pursuit of God shows how God pursues humans to draw them into a relationship with Himself, while humans thirst after the things of God—though they attempt to fill this thirst with things other than worship of their Creator. Tozer explores different aspects of this desire within the human heart, calling readers to examine what they believe and put aside preconceived ideas that disrupt this relationship with God. “It is a solemn thing,” he writes, “to see God’s children starving while actually seated at the Father’s table. This book is a modest attempt to aid God’s hungry children so to find Him.”

‘The Knowledge of the Holy’

The Knowledge of the Holy by popular evangelical author A.W. Tozer illuminates God’s attributes—from wisdom, to grace, to mercy—and in doing so, attempts to restore the majesty and wonder of God in the hearts and minds of all Christians.

‘The Attributes of God Volume 1 with Study Guide: A Journey Into the Father's Heart’

God's Infinitude, Immensity, Goodness, Justice, Mercy, Grace, Omnipresence, Immanence, Holiness, Perfection all answer, what is God like? For A.W. Tozer, there is no question more important.  In fact, Tozer's desire to know God and His fullness consumed his entire life and ministry.

Originally preached as sermons at Southside Alliance Church in Chicago, this first volume of The Attributes of God examines ten attributes of God. A study guide has been added for an in depth look at each attribute. This all important book deals with the most important subject matter of God's traits. We should esteem Him stricken, smitten and afflicted, yet see Him as our Creator and King in awe, wonder, and fear with righteousness and amazement. How can we even be allowed to have a glimpse of His beauty, compassion, and grace? 

‘The Attributes of God Vol. 2: A Journey Into the Father's Heart’

This second volume of God’s attributes is written for all walks of Christian faith. Tozer discusses and illuminates God’s character, self-existence, transcendence, eternalness, omnipotence, immutability, omniscience, wisdom, sovereignty, faithfulness, and love.

reflective reads

quick quotes

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul
And sings the tune without the words
And never stops at all.
~ Emily Dickinson

Hold fast to dreams,
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird,
That cannot fly.
~ Langston Hughes