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Friday, April 16, 2021

Purity 394: Encouragement for the Path of Christian Discipleship

Purity 394 04/16/2021 Purity 394 Podcast

Good morning.

Today’s photo comes from Celestial Blue Photography and captures a stunning sunset on the shores of Lake Ontario in Oswego, NY.  I love the view, but I also took care to examine some of the details in the photo and realized with a closer examination that there are several people gathered on the rocks below as well as the silhouette of a lighthouse to the right of the setting sun.  What I had taken as just an awesome view of the shore, the sunset, and its reflection on the water, beneath a thick canopy of clouds was revealed to have more to enjoy.  If you zoom in, you can even enjoy the silhouettes of the trees on the shore to the left with and a couple in an intimate conversation that could be cropped and presented as a photo of its own.     

As the sun sets on another work week, I think that we can learn a lot from this photo and the stories it can tell.   First, the stunning beauty of nature should be enjoyed, and the various people gathered to enjoy this view shows us that we can do that alone, as a couple, or as a family. 

Also this photo teaches us that seeing the big picture is very important because that makes us look to the heavens and to give God thanks and praise for all He has provided us.     

But at the same time, my examination of the photos tells us that there is definitely value to be brought to our lives when we look at the details. So keep your eyes open and see what’s out there by really looking. To do that we have to get out of the world’s narrative or our own distracted thoughts and rest with God in the present moment and the peace that He provides for us there.   

And finally, in light of the fact that springtime in New York has turned colder with temperatures in the 30s and 40s, this photo from three days ago, shows us that we can’t assume that the things in our lives will be like they were yesterday. Things can change quickly.  As we go through life we have to realize that and make sure that we take advantage of the opportunities to enjoy what is before us now, because we are not promised that we will have the same opportunities tomorrow.         

So as we thank God its Friday, it is my prayer that all who read or hear this message keep walking and talking with God because when you do, you can enjoy the peace and balance that comes from seeing the big picture and enjoying all the details in the present moment and knowing that it was all provided to you by a God who loves you, right now and for all of eternity.  

(An Audio version of this message is available at https://mt4christ247.podbean.com, you can also find it on Apple podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mt4christ247s-podcast/id1551615154) and Google podcasts (https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL210NGNocmlzdDI0Ny9mZWVkLnhtbA%3D%3D).) There is more content at the restricted blog. Follow me on Twitter or MeWe for easy access.  Blog M T 4 Christ dot org – This is where the Facebook post ends.)

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This morning’s meditation verse is:

Ephesians 5:19 (NKJV)
19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,

 

Today’s verse speaks of believers encouraging one another through worshipping the Lord in song.   This verse is very timely for me because after some doubts about my ministry and the future I was encouraged by a trusted friend to bring worship to my discipleship class.  

To be honest, I did not rejoice at their advice and even complained to myself and a few friends that worship would not change the conditions of my ministry or was really suited for what I wanted to do.    

But God brought some resolutions to the conflicts that I felt I was facing, which really just amounted to me worrying about my effectiveness and my future life and purpose.  The answers to my concerns lied in the first verse of Psalm 23 which came up in my spirit and then was confirmed the following day when it was presented as the focus of a prayer meeting I had with some brothers in Christ on Wednesday night.    That’s verse says:

Psalm 23:1 (NKJV)
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

When that was “given” to me, it made me realize that my life is pretty great right now and that I should be content with it and be faithful to the ministry that God has given me without worrying about the distant future. It also silenced what I suspect was enemy’s voice that was hurling criticism, condemnation, and accusations that I was lacking something.  So in a day, I simply decided to be content, to keep being faithful, to enjoy the peace I have, and to silence any thoughts that drew me into “wanting”.   

 Because of this simple realization and a renewed focus, I decided to follow my friend’s advice and to worship the Lord in song at last night’s discipleship class and I am glad I did.  

 My worship was a sincere expression of my thanks to God and my intention to be fully surrendered to Him.  I felt that it glorified him, encouraged the people in the class, and inspired me to teach with a renewed passion and certainty of purpose.   

Our praise is a weapon that stops the enemy in his tracks and gives God the honor that He is due. It also blesses us as our hearts and minds are united in song to sing the truth about our Lord.  

So if you aren’t listening to Christian music and worshipping the Lord continuously, surrender that part of your life to the Lord.  Private praise and worship are a spiritual discipline that can bring your mental understanding of who God is into your heart and bringing you closer to the Lord.   

I’m not sure if we will worship before class next week but I wouldn’t be surprised if we do.       

I invite all to mt4christ.org where I always share insights from prominent Christian counselors to assist my brothers and sisters in Christ with their walk. 

 

Today we continue to share from Dr. H. Norman Wright’s “Experiencing Grief

As always, I share this information for educational purposes and encourage all to purchase Dr. Wright’s books for your own private study and to support his work. If you need this title you can find it online at several sites for less than $5.00:

Chapter 9.
The Expression of Tears

In the midst of this turmoil, God has a plan for your pain. It's called tears. We refer to it as crying or weeping. Sometimes we hide our tears or try to block them or apologize for them. But why should we apologize for something that is a gift from God? Perhaps you're one who never learned to cry. Some are afraid to let go with their tears. Fear and reservations block their expression. And if for some reason it happens, they refer to it as, "I broke down." Cars and refrigerators break down; people don't. We shed tears, cry, or weep. We were created to cry. It's a fitting response to sorrow.

Nicholas Wolterstoff, who lost his son to a climbing accident, said, "But why celebrate stoic tearlessness? Why insist on never outwarding the inward when that inward is bleeding? Does enduring not require as much strength as never crying? Must we always mask our suffering? May we not sometimes allow people to see and enter it?"

"How long did Jesus grieve? He wept. He let the pain of the death of his friend Lazarus overcome him. And he knew the separation was temporar.... Go on and cry a river. Let it rain down like tears from heaven. And let it cleanse and carry you to the arms of those who will be strong for you."

If you try to hold your pain and grief inside, you'll find it's like trying to build a dam across the ocean. Pour out your grief to a trusted friend. Pour it out to God.

When the loss first occurs, you may cry as though the heavens have opened with a forty-day flood. And you think it will never end. One day the clouds part, and there's a bit of rest from the moisture. Then the storms return. It's hard to remember what the sun and stars and sky look like. But little by little they return.

Your tears are not just helpful; they're needed. If you didn't cry, your eyes would be dry, and soon blindness could set in. If you sob and weep, you won't suffer permanent damage; you will live through this pain—if you're allowed to talk about it. Christians grieve over our losses with both real tears and real hope. We rest in what the psalmist said:

He reached down from on high

and took hold of me;

he drew me out of deep waters.

He rescued me from my powerful enemy,

from my foes, who were too strong for me.

They confronted me in the day of my disaster,

but the Lord was my support.

He brought me into a spacious place;

he rescued me because he delighted in me.(Ps. 18:16-19)

Do you hear how God regards you? He not only loves you; he delights in you. During your darkest hour hold on to those words. Not only that but God moves "near to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit" (Ps. 34:18 NASB).

Many of your tears will be for yourself, but they will also include other family members and friends. This can add to your own burden. Max Lucado describes our tears:

Tears.

Those tiny drops of humanity. Those round, wet balls of fluid that tumble from our eyes, creep down our cheeks, and splash on the floor of our hearts. They were there that day. They are always present at such times. They should be; that's their job. They are miniature messengers; on call twenty-four hours a day to substitute for crippled words. They drip, drop, and pour from the corner of our souls, carrying with them the deepest emotions we possess. They tumble down our faces with announcements that range from the most blissful joy to darkest despair.

The principle is simple; when words are most empty, tears are most apt.

So much is distilled in our tears, not the least of which is wisdom in living life. From my own tears I have learned that if you follow your tears, you will find your heart. If you find your heart, you will find what is dear to God. And if you find what is dear to God, you will find the answer to how you should live your life.

A promise for your future is found in Psalm 126:5-6:

Those who sow in tears

   will reap with songs of joy.

He who goes out weeping,

carrying seed to sow,

will return with songs of joy,

carrying sheaves with him.

 

Some have found help in this Prayer for Courage:

Help me, O God.

 

Give me the courage to cry.

Help me to understand that tears bring

freshly washed color arching across the soul,

colors that wouldn't be there apart from the rain.

 

Help me to see in the prism of my tears,

something of the secret of who I am.

Give me the courage

not only to see what those tears are revealing

but to follow where they are leading.

 

And help me to see,

somewhere over the rainbow,

that where they are leading me home.

If others attempt to guide the conversation away from your loss or don't seem to know what to say when you cry, you could simply suggest that it's all right to bring up the subject and talk about it. Your mind fluctuates from being blank to thinking again and again about the one you lost. They come to mind hundreds of times. You feel as though your mind is talking.

Your mind may be flooded by images you can't stop. It's as though your mind won't stop talking to the person. As this happens, begin to discover what is triggering the thoughts. Sometimes the more you try to fight them, the more they persist. Give yourself permission for them to exist, for in time they'll diminish. This process of ruminating is part of your healing and recovery. You feel especially needy at this time, almost impoverished.

What do you need most at this time? Someone to listen, just to be there to hold you, talk to you, go somewhere with you. Everyone needs something. Let others know what you need. They may even cry with you. And remember, one day there will be no more need for tears. "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" (Rev. 21:4).


Experiencing Grief.

----------------------------more tomorrow-------------------------

 

God bless you all!

 

Join our Victory over the Darkness Discipleship Class via the mt4christ247 podcast!

at https://mt4christ247.podbean.com, You can also find it on Apple podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mt4christ247s-podcast/id1551615154) and Google podcasts (https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL210NGNocmlzdDI0Ny9mZWVkLnhtbA%3D%3D

Email me at mt4christ247@gmail.com to receive the class materials, share your progress, and to be encouraged.

 

 

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