Serving Rascals, Clumsy Disciples, and Physically and Mentally Ill Believers with the Unconditional Love of Jesus Christ
6 “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”
Philippians 1:6
When I saw this photo of a B-29 it seemed perfect to open up this post. Sometimes we return from combat ‘on a wing and a prayer’
I have been ill for a long time. My hepatitis has been aggravated the last three months. The Bipolar depression has been a bit better, but it seems to linger like an unwelcome guest. Recovery from the effects from my brain tumor has stalled. And I suppose I could go on, but I won’t.
I’m mindful that I was aware of hypochondriacs before this recent spate with a medical issues. I was pretty much annoyed by these complainers, they seemed to always be talking about themselves. Their self-absorption with problems and complaints was an irritant for me.
Until it happens to you. Lots of times there is a domino effect, with illness following illness. The doctors call this “kindling.” There can be an overwhelming co-occurrence. Things can move down hill fairly fast. And many conditions can overlap. Things cascade into another crisis. But there can be a right way to handle things.
“The moment an ill can be patiently handled, it is disarmed of its poison, though not of its pain.”
Henry Ward Beecher
Maintaining a spiritual discipleship is an obvious challenge. Having something even resembling a living faith is pretty hard. Three things have helped me. These three doesn’t mean that there aren’t others, its just these are the boiled-down essentials.
1) Prayer–
Things will often turn from bitter to sweet in just a moment. I think of Jesus turning plain, basic water into a delicious and succulent wine. When He shows up, everything changes– I change. I need him, His presence isn’t an option.
2) The Word–
Sometimes a just a phrase, a perceived inflection on the words. Simple verses, rolling through my heart and thinking create hope, and recharges me through one more day. I realize that these are our promises, for me to call my own. My enemy who hates me, is afraid when I start reading it. I need to read the Word.
3) Serving Others–
I can easily paralyze myself with the awful venom of selfishness. Self-absorbed faith will kill me. Actually, “brokenbelievers.com” has been a way for me to recover. (I’m sitting here writing from the cozy confines of my loft in Alaska— on a beat-up old laptop.) It has been a necessary thing.
Each of the three listed above work better when you mix and match them. Take prayer and combine with the Word and they will strengthen each other. Sort of a synergy happens, and things will come together for you, for one more day. And that is just how it seems to work. It’s a pretty good start, anyway.
I must confess, I am often reluctant to read the Bible.
There is a ton of what I think are reasons (we must create reasons for this negligence, don’t we?) I find that the Word is minimized, deflected, ignored, reduced and avoided. Because I went to Bible college, been in full time ministry and preached on the streets that somehow I have reached my quota of Bible reading. I will quite easily pick up a book of fiction rather then read from His Word.
Funny, I can go weeks without reading it.
Perhaps, I just don’t really fathom how desperately I need to make it part of me. Twenty five years ago, I was a “memorizer.” Today that isn’t the case. Interestingly, while the children of Israel plowed their way through the desert, they were provided food from heaven– manna. Each day they had to go out and gather enough for that day. If they got thinking that they could collect more (just in case) it would collect “manna worms.” It was simply a day-by-day kind of a deal.
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.”
2 Timothy 3:16, NLT
This verse puts the value on the Word for us. It applies to each of us as believers– young or old. The word “inspired” can be translated “God-breathed.” That dear one, is a very profound characteristic. Scripture should be considered like a sponge, something saturated with God’s very life and presence. Yet, my Bible gathers a layer of dust as it sits on my table.
“They did not welcome the Truth but refused to love it that they might be saved.”
2 Thess. 2:10c, AMP
Somehow, within my reasoning, I seldom welcome “the Truth.” I don’t know why but there is an avoidance factor at work. My mind understands that I need this, but it seems I can never really bypass what I think is true. I suppose I have issues, but it all gets confused. It seems when I do read the Word, it is to “catch up” and I simply avoid any real contact with it.
In Thessalonians Paul makes this statement, “”They did not welcome the Truth but refused to love it that they might be saved.” This verse scares me, do I really deep down love the truth? Or do I simply use it in order to imagine I have arrived? Do I love, or do I refuse to love all that is true, authentic, and real.
What we do with our Bibles has a deep and true significance. Simply understood, we either avoid or grasp all the Word is saying to us. Either we set it on our shelves, or we go after it like we truly want it.
“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1, NIV
I remember taking a ride in a glass bottomed boat in the tropics. Such a deep and vivid display rolled out before me. It was beautifully complex, and my tiny view into the depths was quite exceptional. To think, this is all unfolding even when we aren’t looking. It is a world completely beyond our own. There are several valid and living principles embedded in these verses. As we gaze into these depths we are magnificently drawn to Him in many ways. These verses are sublime. Thinking such thoughts is one of reasons we were created for.
The promises of God are really not that hidden or secret. We only have to look into this “leather bound’ book. When we look to the point of exclusion of everything else, we are sure to see things that we never dreamed of. In Joshua, chapter 1, we get a deep view of how God starts touching a human soul. Certain issues get negotiated. Joshua is brought into compliance to God’s intention.
And us. What can we say? Some of us may hold that Joshua was the exception and substantially distinct. But I think, in a most sincere way possible, he was the norm. When God deals most exceptionally with our open hearts. He will always bring us to the compliance of Joshua. What Joshua did was quite exceptional, and yet it was very ordinary and only moderately intense. Faith translates and makes the transition.
These verses somehow magnetically draw us to obedience. The command is to courageous. Courage is definitely a very rare commodity for us. Joshua is brought to this point, and he must trust to the place of personal loss, or whatever it takes.
Success is being highlighted. And than the Word, and when you mix the two, it develops into something that is spiritually elegant and complete. Meditating, or the original Heb. which means to ruminate, brings us to the delightful moment of digestion. We can never just take in God’s Word. We must “process it.” That takes not just time, but chewing and swallowing. It is not gulped, but it has to be assimilated. It must be “intelligently chewed.” We must nibble, and never try to gulp, no matter how sweet it is.
Joshua was requested to keep the Word, completely and situational in front of him. Success would come, but only come if he would simply obey. Obedience seems like such a bitter truth. I must confess, I honestly hate obedience. Christianity can be terribly hard it seems, especially so when it is active, real and “in place.” I admit I’m not 100 per cent sure. But I know enough that I should trust, but although it took me fifty years.
One of the main themes found in these verses is the idea the idea that God’s presence is that it is specifically focused on me. When He concentrates on me, when He makes me His bullseye, it has a momentum to transform me. God’s rich presence starts to foment in me, I can transform into another person. Joshua was changed as he processed rightfully the nearness of his Father. Help me Lord, to follow you into this intimacy. Give me your understanding, inject yourself into here, in my feeble thought and understanding.
Broken Believers 