As of July 30, 2014 we have surpassed a half of a million (500,000) views. Brokenbelievers.com started in September 6, 2009 when I made that first post, “Sunday Funnies”. You can see it here, http://www.brokenbelievers.com/2009/o9/06/sunday-funnies/. We have reached a lot of people, and I look forward to reach even more brokenbelievers.
This site really grew once I understood what God’s heart was. As you can see at the very beginning, I haven’t a clue. There was no focus; I blogged simply to stay out of the hospital. Many early posts were written while under some serious clinical depression, and were my therapy. But the Holy Spirit redeems our failure and feeble attempts to His glory.
Thank you to each who prayed. Thank you for visiting brokenbelievers and your (almost) always kind comments. Thank you to each who passed on BB to others in need. I’m very much humbled by your kindness. Our by-line remains:
“For the Struggler, the Rascal, the Mentally Ill, and All Who Follow Jesus With a Limp”
Thank you for your support. “May it be the real you who encounters the real God.”
“Who is this sweeping in from the desert, leaning on her lover?” Song of Solomon 8:5
“At the center of all religions is the idea of karma. You know, what you put out comes back to you: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth… It’s clear to me that karma is at the very heart of the universe. I’m absolutely sure of it. And yet, along comes this idea called grace to upend all that “As you reap so you will sow” stuff. Grace defies reason and logic. Love interrupts, if you like, the consequences of your actions, which in my case is very good indeed, because I’ve done a lot of stupid stuff.”
I think ‘fallen men’ automatically try to convert God’s grace to a thing more palatable. We gravitate to making it work; we feel that He expects us to do this, at least. Grace is not logical, and that makes it hard to explain. The fact that we have received a gift of grace grates at our very core.
But we can only enter His kingdom by grace alone.
We deserve nothing, but are made sons and daughters anyway. Karma is what we want. We understand it; It makes logical sense. We have settled on this in our minds. We have the hardest time accepting this grace. For the most part, we believe we are saved by grace through faith, but we often think we must work things out ourselves. He saves us, and we ‘reason out’ we now have got to crank out something acceptable with the ‘rest of our lives.’
We want to prove we are worthy, by our good deeds. But God’s grace is radical, and we are saved by grace– being saved, and we will be saved by grace alone. We will start and finish by His mercy and grace, “not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
8 “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.”
Ephesians 2:8-9, NLT
We can only enter His kingdom by grace alone.
I desperately want grace, and not karma. To a massive degree, I have this atrociously bad habit of sinning. I can find no comfort in sanctification by my effort. I’m not consistent enough, strong enough, or good enough to enter in on my own merits. I must have God’s grace or I’ll be lost. “What can I offer the Lord for all he has done for me?”
Psalm 116:12
The person who has been serving the Lord for 70 years still must come into the Kingdom by grace and mercy. All of their accumulated good deeds, and saintly demeanor cannot purchase their salvation. God’s grace through faith is the ‘narrow way’ to life. Just give me Jesus.
What a difficult struggle the last several days have been. I have tried to function but have been broadsided by several things at once. I have asked God to draw near, He has made me a promise that He would never leave me, or forsake me. I hold on to this and will not let go. Where would I be without them?
The Bible is full of God’s promises, especially the Psalms. I believe the Psalms have a special meaning for those who struggle with issues (like a mental illness.) Many times when troubles have been abundant, I have opened my Bible and found a precious promise waiting for me that has proven to be a great comfort.
But we don’t have to go through troubled times to appreciate God’s promises. His blessings are new every morning. Thank God! The Lord has promised us freedom from anxiety, along with His peace that passes all understanding. Here are the ‘top five’:
If we simply trust Him with everything (Philippians 4:6-7).
He promised to supply all our needs (Philippians 4:19),
With supernatural joy to His followers (John 15:11),
an abundant life (John 10:10)
answered prayers (John 14:14)
“How I relate to the promises in the Word often we will determine the dimensions of my depression.”
Its length, and depth, and width are determined by my action with the promises. By squeezing out His promises I can find hope to continue on with life. For me, the Word is more important than life.
Some have described depression as the ‘common cold’ of the mental illness world. If that is true, then God’s Word is the Vitamin C. I can’t prevent a cold, but I sure can reduce its impact. How severe will it get this time?
I woke up this morning, and before I even opened my eyes I could feel the oppression of depression. I want to die, why did I wake up? Maybe if I close my eyes I will be able to go back to sleep, and not wake-up. To the depressed, sleep (death’s cousin) is easiest way to escape. It provides a profound release from the anguish of depression. But there isn’t a 24 hour sleeping pill yet.
I find I want to deal with my depression in two ways: Escape or deny. Both avoid the real world. And both have a tremendous impact on the way I function. God’s promises to help you are real and profound. Properly administered, they offer hope and life beyond taking an anti-depressant. Consider them to be the medicine your soul needs!
18 “I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you,19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’
Luke 15:18-19, NLT
“In the same way, when you obey me you should say, ‘We are unworthyservants who have simply done our duty.’”
Luke 17:10
I admit it. I am flawed. I am a contradiction inside of an enigma– at times more a devil than an angel. And today I fancy no pretenses to righteousness. But I can tell you all about sin, I’m thinking that maybe I’ll sell tickets. I’m the spiritual version of “the elephant man.” But yet, I still know that I’m completely loved and secure through faith.
I’m convinced that God’s ability to hold me outweighs all of my sin. His mercy is continually refreshed and continues to exceed my iniquity by a massive margin. I can try to blame my erratic behavior on my mental illness, as I’m reasonably certain that it has something to do with things.
“At best we are but clay, animated dust; but viewed as sinners, we are monsters indeed. Let it be published in heaven as a miracle that the Lord Jesus should set His heart’s love upon people like us.”
Alistair Begg
I will never have it together. At best I can only keep coming back to this Grace that has decided “to never let me go.” I only stand, only because He makes it so. I’ve given up trying to be worthy enough. I seem to chase a ‘laser pointer’ like a over-caffeinated cat, and it is starting to get a little old. (But maybe this time I’ll finally catch it.) Writer Anne Lamott wryly explained her own issues:
“I thought such awful thoughts that I cannot even say them out loud because they would make Jesus want to drink gin straight out of the cat dish.”
Anne Lamott
The Holy Scriptures never put human beings on a pedestal. We are never seen as noble or excellent specimens of righteousness. We sin in deed and in thought continually. The parable of the Pharisee and the Tax-collector tells us that a consciousness of sin and a holy God is the only way to be declared just. Both men were rascals, but only one admitted it.
We sin sins of commission and also of omission daily. In fact, I have determined that I have sinned more as a believer than I ever did as a non-believer. This shouldn’t be a surprise, but it is. I’ve been pretty busy the last 32 years. I have been ‘ungodly,’ on more than one occasion.
I want to encourage you today in Him. Life can be such a grind, and your hope anemic. But consider Him who has come for you. Let Jesus take your heaviness, ask Him for His peace. A fair exchange, don”t you think?
Broken Believers 