A Time to Heal, Part Two

Grace Moment by Moment-monthly column

Scripture to read: I Corinthians 13

As with all things created, death and life are but two steps on a journey that introduces us to the beginning of an adventure leading to a possible decision to receive Christ as our Lord and Savior. If we choose Christ, the obstacles, detours, sitchbacks and curves we face everyday give us the opportunity to surrender control of our lives to God, and enjoy the ride, learning and absorbing as much as we can from the experiences we encounter and go through.

My Pastor, Dennis Ingle had this to say about freedom in Christ, yesterday at church, "It's the deails in life, at work or at home that make all the difference." So if that's true and God is in the details, what's the big picture?

If our ego-self steps out of the way God's Love will transform circumstances and people. The key is our willingness to obediently accept what's happening as God's Will even when we don't understand it.

What about you? Are you willing to take the next step to heal by accepting without

understanding?

Everything is Exposed in the Light

Words that wound instead of heal
build walls instead of bridges.
No matter how weak we become, our appeal
is still the same: “Father, take me off this ledge
Please?”
His response: “No. You need to trust me
even if you fall,
especially if you fall.”
I shudder in fear
And I wonder, ‘does He know what I hold so dear
That I would rather hide than admit it and see myself torn asunder?’
His response is, “Yes. I know
and you will confess it before Me
rather than continue to wallow in it, before you join Me in eternity.”
‘Search me O God and know my heart
if there be any wicked way in me
expose it before I come apart
even if it is something I’d rather not see.’
Jesus’ response: “My child, I already know
that in which you wallow.
I forgive you and ask you to trust Me
to perfect you day by day until you enter eternity.”
‘Thank you Jesus I know I am always in Your Presence
now and forever, I am yours. I place my trust in your Hand
and I believe even though I see no visible evidence
that you guide me step by step through life’s journey to a far distant land
where I can lift my voice in eternal praise to sing,
Thank you Jesus, You are Lord of Lords and King of Kings
now and forever You reign!
In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.”

Written on:
November 3, 2007

Written by:
Belle Anne Leslie

Scripture References:
Psalm 139 & John 1:9

Time to Heal, Part One

Grace Moment by Moment-monthly column

Scripture to read: Colossians 3:12-17

After a surprise sabbatical of three months I'm back! As the title of this series suggests I needed time to heal after dealing with some serious stuff-healthwise, as well as spiritual issues-what some Christians call "a valley experience".
This post reflects a change in the sense that I'm willing to share more openly about what's going on in my life. I know it may seem like I've done that already with other postings but like most people when confronted by pain, I tend to put a wall up to shield myself from further hurt.
There are good reasons such as a person can't be too open or someone else could take advantage of your willingness to help, or the pain you sense from others can overwhelm you and cause you to shut down emotionally. There are also bad consequences for putting up that wall, too. Like pushing people away when all they want to do is help, hardening your heart against God through bitterness and anger which prevents you from hearing God's voice or being able to reach out for help when you need it.
All of these reasons seem perfectly valid arguments for dropping friends or spouses but the real question is, "who is the one really hurt when this happens?"
Maybe this poem/song lyric can give you some ideas.

Hidden Wounds
Staring at a razor's edge
or teetering on the brink of a ledge
cold, cutting words
are sharper than a two-edged sword
and have the same effect. They wound
insead of heal, but God's Grace abounds
and His mercy stills
the pain hidden well,
and confounds those with hidden wounds
for whom looms
behind a smile, a mask of pain
that lingers covering a wealth of hidden shame;
they lash out drawing blood
in a flood
from others, to cover their own painful deeds.
Until one at last admits, there is a need
but if they don't, the specter of death looms
and they will continue to bleed from their own hidden wounds.
Chorus:
The cycle unfinished, only ends
when one makes amends
and God's forgiveness is sought
having been blood bought
through Christ
He, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.
A torn soul
can become One at last whole.
IF forgiveness is sought
having been blood bought
through Christ
He, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.
(Repeat 2 more times)
Then end with:
To heal
One must be willing to kneel
ask Jesus to cleanse your sin
and grant His Peace to live within.
Then a torn soul
can become One at last whole.

Written by:
Belle Anne Leslie

Written on:
November 29, 2007

Scripture References for poem:
Proverbs 17:5; John 3:16-17;
& I John 1:9

All Scripture used comes from the NASB Version.

In God We Trust, Part Two

Grace Moment by Moment-monthly column

Trust is an issue we all deal with at some point in our lives. We believe with absolute certainty we need to trust Someone or something in order to do more than survive each day. Yet, do we really practice implicitly trusting one another?

When Jesus and the disciples were out in the boat on the Sea of Galilee and a storm brewed up, tossing and turning the boat and its occupants every which way, only the disciples were afraid Jesus was in the stern sleeping like a baby rocked by the gentle motion of his parents' arms (Mark 4:35-38). The disciples after waking Jesus, questioned why He was not afraid. "Jesus rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace, be still." And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But [Jesus] said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" (Mark 4:39-40)

Then there is the story of a soldier on military campaign, who in the midst of battle dropped onto the ground where he stood, falling into a deep sleep. Before his eyes closed he was heard to say, "Jesus, please take guard duty for me." For over an hour as the battle continued to rage around him, and soldiers swore in fear, an eye witness reported seeing a sentinel standing guard while the tired soldier slept soundly.

Both of these ancedotes illustrate the point I'm making--to place trust in Someone or something, we need to let go of our greatest fear--failure.

We recently commemorated September 11, 2007, the sixth anniversary of 9/11. I pray none of us currently living will forget the Day America was driven to its knees before God, in recognition that absolute Evil actively works to destroy all that stands for God and good in this world.

The sobering reality we faced that day is that America is not invincible. We also lost our innocence in the sense that other nations viewed America and Americans as people that they could no longer trust. Our own ability to trust others was shattered as well. We can no longer look at each other in the eye and accept what we see at face value because we don't know if the person looking back could be out to get us killed.

That realization humbled us as a nation, but not in defeat as some might believe. Rather, it gave us freedom to surrender to Someone greater than all our perceived strength. The One who is still carrying us through the refining fire of tragedy to the Truth that our sense of security comes not from temporary measures like better weapons or tactical strength. But rather if we choose, from a relationship, with Himself, the eternal Sovereign God of the Ages, the Great I AM, Jesus Christ.

He alone can restore us as a people, a nation others can trust. But only if we place our trust in God will we be able to trust others again.

In God We Trust, Part One

Grace Moment by Moment-weekly column
Control is an illusion we try to convince ourselves we possess. What I learned is that we are never "in control" of anything. God, however, is "in control" of everything.
Here's an example: When Dad was placed on Hospice and I was confronted with his daily declining health I tried to keep my apartment clean and spotless. I reasoned that how clean my apartment was determined how much I had managed to deal with the looming reality that when Dad died I would be all alone. I didn't want to cope with all the murky memories, good and bad, of our lifelong relationship.
However after Dad's death, I began reading a journal I had kept during his prolonged illness. I discovered a simple, but profound Truth: while I was trying to comfort and prepare Dad to let go, he had done the same for me (Matthew 6:25-34).
In accepting that Truth I surrendered my will to God's Plan. True freedom of spirit, I found, lies in our willingness to trust God to know what is best for us even when it clashes with what we want or think we need.
I still struggle to trust. I find trusting God to be easier than trusting humans, because humans have become so morally flawed, they have grown careless about keeping their word. But I still try, because I know on that day when Christ returns, all of this pain-ravaged world will be set to rights again (I Corinthians 13:10-13).