Bible – Page 2 – Jesus is for the Wounded

I Survived

Published on December 3, 2016December 4, 2016 by Jesus is for the WoundedLeave a comment

I survived. A little traumatized, perhaps, nonetheless I survived.

aliens, survived, lousy t-shirt, survival, trials, suffering, overcoming, Christian, endurance

Medical testing needs to advance to the level of the scanner once flashed on classic episodes of Star Trek. You know: the kind where the Doc runs a device much like the handheld bar code readers of today up and down all the areas of your body that are amiss. Sure would save a bit o’ grief, a bit o’ money too.

Poop and pee tests are gross. So was the Lasix Renal Scan for me this past week when I decided NOT to be catheterized. Eeeeek! Jared, the nuclear radiology technician, was as nice as he could be and even said that I “looked fit!” How sweet! But inside this frail frame of mine are weak bones and an aching backside/kidney area for largely unknown reasons. I am sad. Just when I thought that a myriad of toxicities and stealth infections were my worst nightmare, it turns out that there are other complexities to explain why I feel so unwell. But hey, the Lord still appears to be orchestrating a mysterious journey through it all. And I lived through this last event to tell my story . . . again!

I’ll bet that Joseph as described in the book of Genesis knew everything there was to know about “survival.” Sold into slavery then rising to be the head of the Pharaoh’s (President’s) household was cast into a dungeon for years when falsely accused. He still acted righteously over and over again only to be forgotten until one day vindicated; he praised the Lord for the marvelous goodness that would come after his years of suffering. Joseph is a model for me of what it means to be a faithful steward of the experiences God allowed in his life. He did not lose heart, he kept going despite severe trials then gave glory to the Lord when good things happened. I want to be like Joseph. His words to his brothers who had started his torment were:

Genesis 50:20New International Version (NIV)

²⁰You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

And the Lord’s promise to His children are that one day:

Revelation 21:4 New International Version (NIV)

⁴‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

I hope that someday my lessons from life will be centered more on the wonders of God’s creation in my garden and such than the saga of enduring a serious illness. Until that day I will not lose heart. Please don’t you lose heart either, Gentle Reader. God is still on the throne and will make “beauty from (our) ashes” one day. (They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor! Isaiah 61:3) Until then let’s look to the face of Jesus Christ who has promised to make all things new one day, one day soon. Truly this is our source of “hope beyond,” no? JJ

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Into the wintry night a knock cometh at the door

Published on February 15, 2016February 15, 2016 by Jesus is for the WoundedLeave a comment

The gals knocked on our front door unexpectedly tonight from the cold of night. Do you know where the Murphys live, they asked? We did not but sure noticed the cheerful nature of these young ladies. Could they share a special Valentine’s Day message with us just the same? Of course, answered my husband. What followed was a friendly banter of the differences between the Mormon faith and a Biblical belief in Jesus Christ alone as Lord and Savior of the world. It was too cold for the chat to go on long and our home is a safe zone for fragrances-n-chemicals so we could not invite them inside. They understood. Gratefully, I was able to locate our neighbor’s correct address before they parted which they accepted after my hubby engaged them in a sweet chat of everyone’s hometown.

Later Steve and I prayed for these two. Certainly their friendliness and encouraging messages were a breath of fresh air on a chilly wintry night in the Midwest. They were far from home on their 18-month mission trip rite of passage, so to speak, of their Mormon culture. We hope that they will look beyond their culture and traditions, however, to a saving faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ who brings eternal redemption and joy through the foundational truth found in the Bible. We find evidence of our faith in verses such as:

Romans 3:23New King James Version (NKJV)

²³for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

1 Timothy 1:15New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁵This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,

Romans 5:8New King James Version (NKJV)

⁸But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 6:23New King James Version (NKJV)

²³For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 3:16New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁶For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

In these truths we believe in Him alone as the perfector of our faith, His work on the Cross, and then build the foundation of our faith. I am proud of Steve for engaging these gals with his personable style and sharing of some key points that we hope they will reflect upon further. We hope they will find hope in Jesus Christ and not their religion. In sharing with them, Steve moved beyond standing in frigid temperatures in an open doorway and got into the most serious of conversations with two total strangers rather quickly. What topic could be more important for a Sunday night chat?

On this Valentine’s Day, I submit to you that the greatest love offering of all was given by our Lord, Jesus Christ when he demonstrated that love through His death and resurrection on the cross at Calvary. Salvation and eternal life come through Him alone. May He be glorified for the good that may come for being willing to stand and speak when a knock at the door cometh . . .

Gentle Reader, if you are wondering who God is and how to have a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ alone, please write to me here or comment at the Hope Beyond page on Facebook. Or just pray this simple prayer and let me know if you do, k? With love, :JJ

Heavenly Father, I know that I am a sinner and have fallen short in my life. I am sorry. I recognize that you are God and came to earth to save me from the ultimate consequences of my sin through Your death and resurrection. Please forgive me. Be my Lord and Savior this moment for always. In Jesus Christ, amen.

cross of jesus

When there are no words

Published on November 19, 2015November 19, 2015 by Jesus is for the WoundedLeave a comment

“Look up. Look waaaaaay up,” were the words of The Friendly Giant in 1986. This American children’s television host invited the viewer into his miniature living room where he pulled out a chair just for you by the fireplace. Then an image of his fake leather boots appeared 10x the scale of the scene on the television as he invited little Sissy or young Bobby to follow the camera up to the smiling eyes waiting to tell a story, waiting to introduce you to a host of characters. Rusty the Rooster was a silly-looking puppet yet their banter held my attention all the same. Even though by 1986 I was not a kiddo anymore!

We often look up to see the wonder beyond us: gazing at the twinkling stars so visible in the crisp Fall air or maybe oooing and ahhhing at the bright ornaments adorning the department store Christmas trees already on display before Thanksgiving. There is something magical about a beautiful sight just beyond our gaze, just above our smaller human frame. When that object is but ordinary the wonder may be less yet the opportunity to reflect may be just as profound too.

The ceiling above my bed of sickness holds much thought these days. On a Monday I might see a simple popcorn ceiling in the same building contractor’s white paint of every home built that very year. A few days later it may be the seam tape of the electrical lines painted to match the composite panel lining the roof of an aluminum travel trailer. Two months ago it was a bright blue shade sail floating softly up, gently down above my patio chair when the weather was still sunny and warm. Such simple forms that served to give me pause from the mayhem of the hours that dragged on before . . .

shade sail patio summer 2015

Times like these are best spent dwelling in the presence of the Lord. No words fill my mind in those kind of moments. The tears are already spent; the energy almost completely drained away. Such is the aftermath of uncontrollable seizure attacks that plague my weakened frame day after night after day for hours without end. The pattern continues despite new anti-microbial treatments, tests, consultations, prayer, tears, strategies new and old. New pains come and find a way to stay. There is nothing left to say. There is nothing left to do but to dwell, I guess.

Even love can be like this I suppose when it hurts so bad and you still can’t seem to shake the pain away. All you do is focus on the form that you knew or still know that stands in front of you when only a blank slate emptied of your future together remains. Turn to the left, turn to the right, stand up, sit down, and unlike the cheer song at the football games in 1986, there is no fight! Fight! FIGHT! when love goes away for good. Oh how I long for the familiarity of the pains I had known long ago. It would be so much easier to handle than the emptiness of my heart this night. Yup. The joy is gone! Gone! GONE!

So what’s a middle-aged gal to do in the middle of the night and there is nothing to look up to anymore? When I have written more words from every angle that my heart can imagine and no new inspiration comes to fill the page, gosh, what will I do? Not much, really. Just wait I guess. Tomorrow is a new day and it will be here before you know it. Maybe something good will happen, eh?

In the meantime, won’t you hang in there with me? Here, I have pulled up a chair for you too Gentle Reader. The Friendly Giant is now known as Immanuel and has a special story to help us end this little time together. It’s a great read for a bedtime story at any time of the day, I promise.

I do hope you enjoy it. JJ

Psalm 121

Anatomy of a Garden Bed: Luke 7

Published on September 6, 2014September 6, 2014 by Jesus is for the WoundedLeave a comment

⁴While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: ⁵“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up.

20140827_191225 — Nothing going on here at the nursery: barren ground and a dead stump provide a perch for this lone feline.

⁶Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. ⁷Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants.

20140827_202927 — In the absence of compost and amendments, nothing would grow in this soil!

⁸Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”

DSCF0575 — Compost, Canadian peat moss, hardwood mulch and fertilizer should give these newbies and transplants a head start in their new home.

When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

When we do not heed the Word of God all our efforts waste away, crumbling back to the earth like the dead plants in this compost pile. How better to thrive in the Word of wisdom! — This passage provides important lessons for our lives. When we do not heed the Word of God all our efforts ultimately waste away, crumbling back to the earth like the dead plants in this compost pile.

⁹His disciples asked him what this parable meant. ¹⁰He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.

Without the counsel of the words of Jesus Christ our lives are like chasing the wind. — Striving in our own strength, is like blindly chasing after the wind.

¹¹“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. ¹²Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.

Barren ground shall not awaken without the light of our Lord and Savior. — Barren ground shall not awaken to the truth without the light, the Words of our Lord and Savior.

¹³Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. ¹⁴The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.

20140830_161444 — Plants weaken and become subject to pests and diseases when choked together. Perennials that mature properly require care, division, replanting, water, sunlight, fertilization, and time to grow in due season.

¹⁵But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

DSCF0589 — The newly pruned and divided stella d’oro daylilies will flourish next year, finishing this season well and providing plants for the new garden bed too.

Resting in God's creation — How glorious it is to rest in God’s creation and plan for our lives!

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P.S. I’m thinking of putting together a group Skype devotional and prayer time once per week with others who are largely isolated for whatever reason. The focus would be open and based upon belief in God through the person of Jesus Christ of the Bible. Please leave me a comment below if you might be interested. I’ll do a separate blog on this soon! Take care, JJ

A Bridge Still has Value

Published on March 3, 2014March 3, 2014 by Jesus is for the Wounded2 Comments

Recently a friend challenged me on my reading of a popular devotional by Sarah Young, Jesus Calling (2004, Thomas Nelson Inc.) Since I have referenced at least two of her daily devotions in this blog, I thought I should discuss the book here. Here is my reply:

I re-read the Introduction to Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling plus a few devotionals, listened to Warren Smith’s presentation last year on You Tube about the book (July 24, 2013), and checked out Hank Haanagraf’s remarks from one of his Bible Answer Man broadcasts (November 16, 2012). I see valid criticisms. Sarah Young fails to put a clear focus on the sovereignty of God separate from us; by speaking in the first person she blurs the line. Missing is mention of a clear path to salvation (and the gifts of eternal life in addition to true peace, love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self control) that comes only through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. She tends to bring God along with her instead of placing God as head of the body of Christ; this is often the sign of a carnal Christian or new believer. The book also uses metaphors and popular analogies that are not necessarily Biblical to bring the reader into the perspective of how God might view our daily lives. Her focus on these types of experiences can be problematic for many reasons including misleading a person who tends to be led by emotion instead of the immutable truth of the Word of God. And lastly, the book does nothing to point a seeker to the Bible, a healthy well-balanced Christian church, fellowship with other believers, or educate him or her on the basic tenants of Christian faith.

If Jesus Calling were a Bible commentary, it would fail. If Jesus Calling was intended as a tool for evangelism, it would fail. If Jesus Calling was designed to be used by apologists to defend the faith, they would lose the debate. While she quotes relevant verses with each devotional, her applications might not be universal to everyone (and Warren Smith knocks down many of them). Perhaps she could be more accurate. Perhaps she was taking a little extra literary license to illustrate the softer themes of life represented with verses that are more easily understood?

I am sad that a warm and friendly book that greases the seeker’s heart with a beginning understanding of the nature of God cannot also be more direct about essentials of the Christian faith too. Perhaps a Max Lucado book would do better? He uses poetry and prose with loving imagery to reach the broken hearted as well. Maybe at some level both authors are similar? You could say that their feel-good books distract a person from delving into the Bible yet they could also give another person a place to go when the Bible is just too intimidating. A scholarly book (i.e. the Bible or a commentary) and a scathing review by a New Age fear-monger such as Warren Smith, will not comfort the heart of a person in crisis!

Sarah Young’s book could use some other improvements. I don’t know why her testimony in the beginning does not include a salvation story per se. Does this mean that she is not saved? We just don’t know. Again it is often literary license that an author uses more general terms of faith so as not to scare off wounded seekers that really need Him! Jesus Calling may still be useful as an introduction to a more personal God for a lost soul who may have been hurt by religion or a skewed view of who He really is. Seeing how God really does understand, cares about the details of one’s daily life, and is ever near is clear on these pages. Reading this could help old wounds to heal. Women often need this most. Their minds will still need truth so the seeker should not end his or her search with Jesus Calling, however. The book should have ended with an invitation to a closer relationship with God through His son, Jesus Christ and encourage the reader in his or her next steps as noted in my first paragraph. It does not.

Is it New Agey? The fact that Sarah does not go deeper into essential matters of Christian doctrine could make it look like just another feel good book about a generic God. One might begin to pick apart themes in the devotionals and say that the God in Jesus Calling is not the God of the Bible. And if the God in the book is not the God of the Bible then it must be about Satan or some New Age alternative that is neither one. So the next step could be to claim that Jesus Calling is a New Age book because of this and because of its use of terms reflective of popular culture, the New Age movement. Yes all of this could be true and indirectly move a seeker away from the One true God that he or she had hoped to find in an empty book. Or maybe not. I have more faith in the Lord’s plan for those who earnestly seek after Him. He calls His own. Her or she will find Him in a babbling brook if that is His will!

Many would criticize my own bridge to faith in Christ that was built through the 12 steps of Al Anon Adult Children of Alcoholics. The daily devotional, One Day at a Time, is quite vanilla. The God of the 12 Steps is generic albeit consistent with the basic tenants of a Christian faith from the Bible. Tis sad that many stop at “recovery” and faith in a Higher Power in these meetings and never find the God of the Bible. But the Lord had a plan for me from that feel-good experience and used those 9 years for His glory. I would have never approached the throne of grace had I not healed from so much while sitting around the tables, held in the basement of many churches and not in the sanctuary.

I make two references to Jesus Calling in my eBook, Hope Beyond Lyme: The First Year. In the first I quote a nice encouragement Sarah Young gives about: 1) many of us seeing only a part or the “tip of the iceberg” when faced with confusing situations and 2) our needing to trust God for that which we cannot see or comprehend: mysteries. The second time I quote the book I name both Mrs. Young’s devotional along with a secular book of comedy as books with some wisdom but that both are second to the Bible. I wonder if my friend misunderstood me: Jesus Calling is not my second favorite book! I read Jesus Calling over these past 2 years when I was in crisis every day and struggled to hold a heavy Bible let alone concentrate on it. Because it comforted me I included it when writing the eBook. I read my Bible most days anyways, of course! The centrality of the Bible for me and for the eBook should be clear by the over twenty passages of scripture quoted and referenced.

No book is a replacement for the truth, hope, and eternal significance of the Holy Bible. Today I am grateful to have a Bible App on my smart phone that I can easily hold in the palm of my hand in bed during trying times. The Lord has opened my mind to more of His Word and the ability to concentrate on it too. I am grateful for a temporary tool, a small devotional book, that the Lord used to comfort my heart until I could read His Word again. I pray for spiritual armor to protect me and wisdom to discern any unsound doctrine that would harm my relationship to my King, my Savior, Jesus Christ. I also pray that the millions of readers of Jesus Calling would continue to seek the Lord and find Him in the person of Jesus Christ alone. Thank you Lord for my friend’s willingness to dialogue on this important topic. May it all be for Your glory, in Jesus’ name. Amen.