Category: mental health

Are You Getting Enough Mercy in Your Daily Diet?

Graciously, He gives us what we need

“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” Matt. 5:6

If you have been given mercy, you now should try hard to give it away!  And only those who show mercy will be those who continue to receive mercy, even a habitual, continual mercy focused right on you.   Being a merciful person doesn’t mean you’re getting sentimental or “teddy bear soft.”  But instead it looks a lot ike sympathy– that caring love that dresses up in a working servant’s clothing.

Jesus has no intention of just saving us from sin.  He saves us for something!  He has this trick, where He will start “a to live your life inside of  you, campaign.”  When you give Jesus your ‘green light” He takes it very seriously.  He involves Himself right inside of you.  And you will notice right away His presence and His activity right there in your heart, and out from your hands, and from out of your mouth.

We discover that He just isn’t a “forgiving God,”  but He is also an “empowering” or a changing kind of God! He intends to make you perfect, even as He is perfect.

Our church buildings can be beautiful places.  From Mexico, the UK, Canada and US, I’ve had the privilege of wandering into some beautiful places, that have been consecrated to the worship of the Lord God.  But I have come to this conclusion: our own lives are far more important in touching our communities, much more than our buildings and sanctuaries.  A fine liturgy can be wonderful, but it’s the laity that will touch our hearts.

People really do not care how much we know, until they know how much we care. 

They are being drawn by the Spirit’s presence in you.  They want the “real” Jesus Christ to ignite them.  They so desperately want to be touched by the living God.  They really want their lives turned upside down and inside out.  They want the real thing.

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World Mental Health Day

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This is designated as the one day out of the year when special focus is on those with mental illness. It’s a step in the right direction. I hope it might encourage and motivate people to engage this on a deeper level. Statistically, at least one of your friends struggle with a mental illness (and you don’t even realize it).

I hope that knowing this will spark you to somehow make a difference.

 

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Chart of Awareness: Mental Illness

 

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Charts and maps have always intrigued me. The one above helps illustrate the incredible issues that we must deal with. These are US numbers and don’t reflect what’s going on in the rest of the world. One can only surmise that they’re not as good. Below is a bit wider view, that includes some major countries.

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I hope that this will build awareness for those affected by mental illness.

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Psych Humor

I got very depressed so I called and got through to a call center in Pakistan.  When I told them I was suicidal they got all excited and wanted to know if I could drive a truck.

A transcript of the new answering service recently installed at the Mental Health Helpline:

 “Hello and welcome to the mental health helpline…

  • If you are Obsessive compulsive, press 1, repeatedly…
  • If you are Co-dependent, please ask someone to press 2 for you…
  • If you have Multiple Personalities, press 3, 4, 5 & 6…
  • If you are Paranoid, we know who you are and want what you want. Stay on the line so we can  trace your call…
  • If you are Delusional, press 7, and your call will be transferred to the Mother Ship…
  • If you are Schizophrenic, listen carefully and a small voice will tell you which number to press…
  • If you are Manic-depressive, it doesn’t matter which number you press…no-one will answer…
  • If you are Dyslexic, press 96969696969696…
  •  If you have a Nervous Disorder, please fidget with the hash key until a representative comes on the line…
  • If you have Amnesia, press 8 and state your name, address, phone number, date of birth, social security number and your mother’s and grandmother’s maiden names…
  • If you have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, slowly and carefully press 000…
  • If you have Bipolar Disorder, please leave a message after the beep. Or before the beep. Or After the beep. Please wait for the beep…
  • If you have Short-Term Memory Loss, please try your call again later…

 I know this is an old one.  But it is a classic!

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