Purity 298: Encouragement for the Path of Christian Discipleship

Purity 298 12/23/2020

Good morning!

Today’s photo was taken by a friend in Upstate New York who captured this “sunset- bow” near their home earlier this week.  I honestly don’t know if I have ever seen anything quite like it.  

Now that we are officially in the winter season, one of the things that we have to look forward to are those days that will not be overcast, where the skies will be clear, crisp, and blue in contrast to the winter white landscape but even when we aren’t experiencing those sunny, blue, white, days we can still capture moments of sheer beauty even when all the conditions didn’t seem quite right. 

This year’s Christmas celebration may present us with similar challenges as the normal way we do things may be significantly changed.  The challenges may reveal things about our relationships that weren’t clear before.  While some relationships will be exposed as being somewhat superficial and built upon favorable circumstances, it is my prayer that the love that we have for one another will still shine through even if we are unable to gather according to our previous traditions.    

Previous generations faced world wars and other obstacles in life, but those obstacles never stopped Christmas from coming. Our ancestors still acknowledged and celebrated Christmas in whatever ways they could, regardless of circumstances. Whether at home alone or on some war-torn landscape thousands of miles for home, they remembered the day and they remembered the love that would never die.    

So tomorrow and the next day, remember the reason for the season and the love that God showed us all in the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ. 

Remember that God is love and that He put us here to love one another, and that no obstacles before you can stop the love that He has given us. 

(There is More at the restricted blog). Follow me on Twitter, MeWe, or Parler for easy access.  Blog M T 4 Christ dot org – This is where the Facebook post ends.)

This morning’s meditation verse was:

Psalm 31:7 (NLT2)
⁷ I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love, for you have seen my troubles, and you care about the anguish of my soul.

Is it any wonder that I had this verse on an index card?  The truth in this verse is universal for all who have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.  

For those of us with a checkered past, and times of turmoil and trials, it is especially significant.

One of the joys of the Christian faith is knowing that God has seen our troubles and cares about the anguish of our souls.  

When the Lord revealed the truth of His gospel to me (that He loved me and being His was not about doing everything right), I was beyond “glad”. I was overjoyed that I was forgiven. I was ecstatic that I was alive. I was relieved that I was loved.  I was humbled that I was cared for.    

My spirit came alive and I knew it was all true.  Jesus was the Son of God and He made a way for a wicked sinner like me, regardless of my past behaviors and attitudes.

I had a lot to learn but after I said “Yes” to Jesus I would never be the same.  

When you know God’s “unfailing love” you come alive and the only way to maintain the “light” of His fellowship is to run from your darkness and to go towards Him.   I chose to follow Him and when I did, I left “my troubles” and the “anguish of my soul behind”.  

The Lord loves you. Follow Him, leave the rest behind, and live. 

Today we continue chapter 7 of Anderson & Baumchen’s Finding Hope Again, where the authors discuss “The Can-Do Spirit”.

As always, I share this information for educational purposes and encourage all to purchase Anderson’s books for your own private study and to support his work:

The Can-Do Spirit

It is a sin to take away another person's courage when they can do all things through Christ, who strengthens them (see Phil. 4:13). Those who sow the seeds of helplessness and discouragement will reap the harvest of depression. On the other hand, those who sow encouragement will reap a rich spiritual harvest. Dale Carnegie once said:

If you want to change people without giving offense or arousing resentment, use encouragement. Make the fault you want to correct seem easy to correct; make the thing you want the person to do seem easy to do....If you and I will inspire the people with whom we come in contact to a realization of the hidden treasure they possess, we can do far more than change people. We can literally transform them.

Dale Carnegie was well known for teaching the "power of positive thinking." Many other motivational speakers have also tied into that well-known axiom, and people have generally benefited from it. There is no question that what we choose to think determines what we do. You can't do anything without first thinking it. "For as he thinks within himself, so he is" (Proverbs 23:7). Someone wrote the following poem, which illustrates this principle:

If you think you are beaten—you are.

If you think you dare not—you won't.

If you want to win but think you can't,

It's almost a cinch you won't.

If you think you'll lose—you've lost.

For out of the world we find,

That success begins with a fellow's will,

It's all in the state of mind.

Life's battles don't always go,

To the stronger or faster man,

But sooner or later the man who wins,

Is the one who thinks he can.

Christians have been somewhat reluctant to buy into this "power of positive thinking," and in some cases for good reason. Thinking is a function of the mind, and it cannot exceed the mind's inputs and attributes. Any attempt to push the mind beyond its limitations will only result in moving from the world of reality to the world of fantasy.

However, one has to be impressed with what people can do if they will only believe in themselves. Most people are living far below their human potential. It is estimated that most people use only 5 percent of their brain capacity.

Even the Sky Isn't the Limit

Some pastors in the 1950s were saying humankind would never reach the moon. But when Russia launched Sputnik, the United States rose to the challenge. Within a few short years, we had not only surpassed the Russians, but Neil Armstrong had actually set foot on the moon. It inspired a lot of confidence in what humans could do if they only believed they could.

About the time the Apollo space program was shutting down, a new program was envisioned. Originally it was called "Shuttle Bus." The idea was to create a reentry rocket or capsule that could be used again and again. When the government issued proposals and requested bids from aerospace companies, the technology to build such a craft didn't exist. But flushed with the success of the Apollo space program, supporters of the program actually believed it could be done, given enough time and money. Today, launching a space shuttle is so commonplace that the public is hardly aware of it.

There seems to be no limit to what humans can do. Endowed by the Creator with incredible mental and physical powers, we have launched satellites that make global communication commonplace. We have learned how to transplant hearts, kidneys, livers and other organs, allowing people to live far longer than they ever have. Some have climbed the highest peaks, descended to the lowest depths of the ocean and probed outer space, going where no man has ever gone before. Others keep chopping inches and seconds off world records that were deemed impossible decades ago.

Yet There Are Limits

But there really is a limit to what finite humans can do. We still haven't solved the problems of poverty, war, crime and corruption. In spite of all our accomplishments, faith in science as the hope for humanity has actually diminished in this post-modern era.

Enter the New Age. Out with humanism and in with "spiritism." Of course, people as finite creatures are limited, we are told, but what if we are really gods, and only need to become aware of our divine nature? There would be no limit to what we could do. We wouldn't need a Savior; we would only need to be enlightened. We could create reality with our own minds. If we believed hard enough, it would become true.

This kind of thinking is nothing more then old-fashioned occultism dressed up in New Age clothing. It seems that if its practitioners are just called "channelers" instead of mediums, and if they speak of "spirit guides" instead of demons, a naive public will buy it! We have come a long way, yet returned to the beginning—all the way back to the Garden of Eden, where Satan whispered the ultimate lie: "For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil" (Genesis 3:5, emphasis added).

To have "knowledge" of good and evil implied to Adam and Eve that they could be the origin or determiner of what is good or evil, and what is true or untrue. When they ate the fruit of the forbidden tree, they were saying, "We reject God as the One who determines what is right and wrong. We will determine for ourselves what is good for us and what is true." They played right into the hands of the devil, who is the deceiver and the father of lies.

In a distorted way, Satan was right. Adam and Eve acted like gods in determining for themselves what is true and what is right. But what they determined wasn't right, and rather than embracing the truth that would preserve their lives and freedom, they believed a lie that led to death and bondage to sin.

Today Satan is up to his same old tricks, and they are dangerous because they are built on a half-truth. We are not gods, and we don't create reality with our minds. Believing anything doesn't make it true, no matter how hard we try. God is the ultimate reality. He is the truth, which means that what He says is true. It is for that reason we believe it. Both the humanist and the spiritist are playing god, and are creating disastrous results.

Yet we are created in the image of God. We are not helpless, because, by the grace of God, we can respond in a responsible way to the reality of this world. We have access to a greater power than human potential: the power of believing the truth. If we knew the truth as revealed in God's Word, and chose to believe it, it would set us free from artificial limitations. We would rarely, if ever, feel discouraged or helpless.

If man can accomplish what he has while exalting himself as the object of his faith, imagine what he could accomplish if the object of his faith were God! Jesus said, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26).

We do not determine what is included in the "all things" Jesus refers to. We cannot decide for ourselves all that we can do, or what is true, then claim this verse to say, "I believe it so I can do it." That would be playing god again. Every believer has to assume responsibility for being "transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will" (Romans 12:2, NIV).

The real issue is: Do you believe that God's will is good, pleasing and perfect for you? When we were dead in our trespasses and sins, we lacked the presence of God in our lives. In such a state we wanted and needed much more than we had, but we were unable to obtain it on our own. Without the knowledge of God's ways we developed a "learned helplessness."

Finding Hope Again: Overcoming Depression.

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

 

God bless you all!

Purity 297: Encouragement for the Path of Christian Discipleship

Purity 297 12/22/2020 

Good morning!

Today’s photo was taken by a friend in Glen Falls, New York who caught this magnificent shot of the sun shining through the trees over this snow-covered landscape.    

I share it as an encouragement to my friends to assure you that as much as the ground before you may seem cold and full of obstacles in your path, the Lord still sees you and is there to let you know that He will never leave you or forsake you and that His light shines through to you, even in the darkest night.  

It is my prayer that you find that baseline of peace and joy that the Lord makes available to you even when the circumstances of life threaten to drive you into confusion and bitterness. 

Even in a storm, we can find shelter. Even in hostile environments, we can find peace. 

And if your road is clear, rejoice my friends and give your hope to someone else who desperately needs it this Christmas.     

(There is More at the restricted blog). Follow me on Twitter, MeWe, or Parler for easy access.  Blog M T 4 Christ dot org – This is where the Facebook post ends.)

This morning’s meditation verse was:

Psalm 119:71 (NLT2)
⁷¹ My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees.

 

This morning’s verse reminds us that our suffering has a purpose: to draw us closer to God.  

For myself, a lot of the suffering in life was a consequence of trying to live independently of God with no consideration towards Him as Lord, Creator, or Author of Truth.  I dismissed God and only cared about the things of this world and how I could obtain the things I wanted with as little work or effort as possible.

Although I followed the ways of the world, because I didn’t recognize God’s authority, I certainly didn’t respect man’s authority either, viewing authority to be the result of nepotism, corruption, or a lust for power and wealth.  So, I even tried to break the rules of the man-made institutions of control, both those of governmental and private institutions.   I believed in equality and pushed for change because I saw the systems in place as corrupt and “the game” was rigged.   

I eventually realized that nothing I would do would change it, so I sold out and took corporation money, giving them my obedience for the money and benefits and the things they provided.  The money and benefits are good but even within the confines of a corporation that has a code of conduct to ensure uprightness and equal treatment, I am not surprised to see individuals treated differently and co-workers insult and gossip about one another behind each other’s back or see individual bend the rules or manipulate the systems in place to appear to have better performance.  

I’m not surprised when these things happen. With a man-made system, this is the way the game is played and when you voluntarily join it you become subject to not only the system in place but the individuals who are manipulating it.  

There can be quite a bit of suffering in a system that seems above board. I have seen co-workers in tears contemplating another day of work. I knew co-workers that were on anti-anxiety and anti-depression medication in direct response to the work environment they are in.   I, myself, was a raging alcoholic and drug addict, and the stresses of work certainly didn’t lead me out of it.   But I did my best to survive and I still do. 

However, after I had suffered enough both from work and from the tragedies of life, I began searching for meaning. It took a while but eventually God let me know that He is real, and He is the meaning to life.  

So my suffering brought me to know God and His will for my life. My suffering was good for me because it taught me that there was One bigger than all of man’s systems and corruption that defined meaning in a seemingly meaningless world. 

Life still has its ups and downs, at work and in general, but when ever the going gets tough, I remind myself that I have been accepted by the Creator of the Universe. I am accepted, significant, and loved because He called my name.

God the Father, Christ the Son, and The Holy Spirit is the Truth on which I stand.  No matter what comes my way, they are higher than it all and I will follow where God leads me all the days of my life. 

 Today we continue chapter 7 of Anderson & Baumchen’s Finding Hope Again, where the authors complete their discussion on overcoming helplessness by examining Faithfulness and Encouragement.

As always, I share this information for educational purposes and encourage all to purchase Anderson’s books for your own private study and to support his work:

 

Overcoming Helplessness

Faithfulness vs. Success

The story of Elijah reminds us of a parable passed around the Internet:

One night a man was asleep in his cabin when he was suddenly awakened by the appearance of the Savior. His room was filled with light. The Lord said, "I have work for you to do." He showed the man a large rock, and told him to push against that rock with all his might. This the man did, and for many days he toiled from sunup to sundown, with his shoulder set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the rock, pushing with all his might. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, wondering if his whole day had been spent in vain.

Seeing that the man was showing signs of discouragement, Satan decided to enter the picture. He placed thoughts in the man's mind, such as, "Why kill yourself over this project? You're never going to move that rock." Or "Boy! You've been at it a long time and you haven't even scratched the surface," etc., etc. The man began to get the impression that the task was impossible and that he was an unworthy servant because he wasn't able to move the massive stone.

These thoughts discouraged and disheartened him and he started to ease up on his efforts. "Why kill myself?" he thought. "I'll just put in my time, expending a minimum amount of effort and that will be good enough." And that he did, or at least planned on doing, until one day he decided to take his troubles to the Lord.

"Lord," he said, "I have labored hard and long in Your service, putting forth all my strength to do that which You have asked me. Yet, after all this time, I have not even nudged that rock half a millimeter. What is wrong? Am I failing You?"

"My son," the Lord answered, "when long ago I asked you to serve Me and you accepted, I told you to push against the rock with all your strength. That you have done. But never once did I mention that I expected you to move it, at least not by yourself! Your task was to push!

"Now you come to Me all discouraged, thinking that you have failed and ready to quit. But is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled; your back sinewed and brown. Your hands are calloused and your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much and your ability now far surpasses that which you used to have.

"Yet, you haven't succeeded in moving the rock; and you come to Me now with a heavy heart and your strength spent. I, my son, will move the rock. Your calling was to be obedient and to push, and to exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom. And this you have done."

If we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us, what are those "all things"? In other words, what is God's will for our lives? Paul clearly tells us, "This is the will of God, your sanctification" (1 Thes. 4:3). This means that we are to conform to the image of God, and this we can do only by His grace. We don't have any power to change ourselves; that also must come from Him. Allowing ourselves to be influenced by the world, the flesh and the devil will interrupt the sanctifying process.

We will also curb the process when trying to change the world becomes our primary focus. On the other hand, if our goal is to become the person God created us to be, no other person nor anything on planet Earth can prevent that from happening. Not even Satan can stop us.

For example, how should we respond when the government turns a deaf ear to the Church, or when other people show contempt for the Lord? Is it our job to take on the government, or try to change those who are blasphemous? Those who try will only become angry controllers or very depressed. We are called by God to submit to governing authorities and pray for them (see Romans 13:1-6; 1 Tim. 2:1, 2). We are also to accept one another as Christ has accepted us (see Romans 15:7). That does not mean we approve of sin or allow others to determine who we are. All Christians must learn how to establish scriptural boundaries to protect themselves from further abuse.

Encouragement vs. Discouragement

Word got around heaven that the devil was holding a fire sale. Some of his best weapons were going on the auction block. A couple of curious angels thought they would check out some of the items to see what the devil was up to. There, displayed on pedestals, were many of his devilish tricks.

Of course the primary tools of his trade, temptation, accusation and deception, were not for sale. They sat prominently on display for all to see. They were the parents of all the other tools. On display were petty gossip, jealousy, arrogance, gluttony, lust and many other well-known tricks of the devil that have caused defeat to many of God's children. Satan's pitchmen (those little devils) were anxious to sell these tools and to disperse them more widely in God's kingdom for others to use.

One of the angels noticed that one pedestal was empty, and asked the little devils why. "Oh, the weapon that goes there is discouragement," they said. "It is not for sale because it is always in constant use and is our most effective weapon. Most of God's children already own it anyway!"

Finding Hope Again: Overcoming Depression.

 

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

 

God bless you all!

Purity 296: Encouragement for the Path of Christian Discipleship

Purity 296 12/21/2020 

Good morning!

Today’s photo was taken by a friend in upstate New York, in the aftermath of last week’s snowstorm.   I just love the way they captured the sunrise and their red barn!

I share it because I thought it was an appropriate vision for a Monday where we have to face the reality that regardless of the circumstances of life or how we may feel, sometimes we just have to deal with it and go to work.  

Now we could go in “grinding and grumpy”, or we can choose instead to perform our daily and continuous practice of gratitude that is foundational to a life walking in the Spirit.  

There are two things that can put us on the right path today: The Truth and the way.  

The Truth is that fact that God made us and loves us and although there will be trials in life, He will provide for us and the journey is much better when we put our eyes on Him rather than the negative circumstances or feelings that are trying to grab our attention and drive us into confusion or despair.  Our “spiritual warfare” is won when we intentionally choose to focus on the good and overcome the rest.  

The second thing to put us on the right path is “the way”.  If you noticed, I didn’t capitalize it.  Recognizing the Truth and walking in it is God’s WAY, and we should definitely do that! 

But “the way”, I’m talking about is the fact that this “isn’t our first rodeo, Hoss.”  The life that God has given us has given us experience.  We have “been there and done that”.  We’ve done Mondays. We’ve done work. We’ve done winter.  We’ve done commutes. We’ve made mistakes and have learned from them.   The word says that there is nothing new under the sun and we know that’s true.  

We’ve “been there and done that “so we have experience in getting through anything that life has thrown at us before. 

We know the God that made it all and made the Way to have peace with Him. 

So instead of dreading the day, face it with confidence knowing you have a lot of experience overcoming trials in your life and, more importantly, you know the One that can give you the wisdom, power, and strength to overcome any trial that you may encounter.    

Remember the Jay E. Adam’s comment on John 12:27 which said: “Jesus did not follow feelings but acted according to His responsibilities”. 

We have to follow our responsibilities, but we don’t have to follow the feelings that would lead to discontentment, fear, anger, or despair. 

Keep walking and talking with God, and let’s go to work. 

Christmas is coming and I for one will rejoice for all that God has brought me through and for all that He will lead me to.  

(There is More at the restricted blog). Follow me on Twitter, MeWe, or Parler for easy access.  Blog M T 4 Christ dot org – This is where the Facebook post ends.)

This morning’s meditation verse was:

Romans 13:9 (NLT2)
⁹ For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

 Here the Apostle Paul discusses some Old Testament commandments and how Christ summed them up in His commandment to “Love Your neighbor as yourself.”.  

This reveals the relational aspects that were the foundation of the Old Testament law that were neglected by the legalistic Pharisees who prided themselves on following the letter of the law. 

Doing harm to our neighbors, hurts them and obviously hurts our relationship with them.  We wouldn’t want them to perpetrate those wrong actions upon us, so we are to instead love them and consider their feelings and abstain from causing them harm (adultery, murder, theft).  

The Pharisees would balk at the suggestion that they would ever do any of the above to their neighbors because they “followed the law”.

However, Jesus rebuked them for their seemingly outward obedience because He knew the sins of their hearts, raising the bar on morality to include our thoughts and intentions. 

Why?  Wasn’t it enough, just not to do wrong?  Couldn’t I think whatever I want, as long as I didn’t act on those evil thoughts?  

Not really, not if you are God’s children, not if you are His.  As His disciples our thoughts, words, and actions are supposed to be in the process of being conformed to the image of Christ.   If we are His, we take those foul, carnal, or perverse thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ. 

That’s why coveting was a sin. Wanting something that is not yours was the definition of the sin of the conscience that leads to discontentment, scheming, and obsession if not the actual commission of sin.   Why is this wrong?  God doesn’t want your mental health to be oppressed with thoughts and desires for things that are not good.  He wants you to live at peace with your fellow man and within the confines of your own mind.  

I recently discovered an area of self-deception or coveting in my consciousness that was downright obsessive: a hope for a Christian wife.   While it is a wholesome desire at face value, the distress and obsession and scheming in my mind for various scenarios showed me that I was taking a wholesome desire and corrupting it by pushing my agenda of how these things may come to pass, but more importantly, I made this desire an idol, raising its importance to my happiness above my harmonious relationship with God.  Also my obsessive thoughts revealed previous patterns that I walked in before coming to Christ, patterns that were shortsighted and focused on my personal pleasure and the obtainment of goals rather than a thoroughly considered plan that dealt with the reality of all parties involved.  

So I renounced my obsession, dismantled my schemes, and decided to let go and let God. I surrendered and am continually surrendering to His will for my future. 

My selfish thoughts are in obvious conflict with the ways of the Lord and can easily be exposed as carnal by contemplating the consequences of my proposed actions, whether successful or not. My sinful schemes go against His word and also run the risk of causing pain, guilt, and shame.   With results like those and contemplating their impact, it is becoming easier to turn from them.  

So we need to consider our thoughts and actions and their impact on ourselves and on our neighbors.  When we abstain from those selfish thoughts and actions, we can experience what Christ said when He commanded us to love our neighbors as ourselves.            

Today we continue chapter 7 of Anderson & Baumchen’s Finding Hope Again, where the authors continue to discuss ways to overcome helplessness, examining physical fitness and “sticking to what God requires”.

As always, I share this information for educational purposes and encourage all to purchase Anderson’s books for your own private study and to support his work:

 

Overcoming Helplessness

Physical Fitness

After Elijah had eaten and rested, he was visited again. "The angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, 'Arise, eat, because the journey is too great for you.' So he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mountain of God" (1 Kings 19:7, 8).

This suggests the importance of exercise, a third ingredient of good physical and mental health. We don't want to read anything into the story of Elijah beyond what Scripture warrants, but it does suggest that he was physically fit.

Modern research indicates that aerobic exercise may be one of the best antidepressants yet to be discovered. Aerobic exercises are not particularly strenuous, but a certain energy level must be maintained for at least 30 minutes for them to be effective. Your pulse rate should double, your breathing should accelerate and you should work up a good sweat. In addition to the well-known positive effect they have on the cardiovascular system, aerobic exercises increase the production of endorphins, which are the brain's own molecules associated with natural "highs." Aerobic exercises are most effective when combined with good nutrition.

Another important health consideration was implied when the angel said to Elijah that the journey was "too great" for him. Many people suffer from post-adrenaline depression. We explained in an earlier chapter that we get an adrenaline rush in response to demanding external circumstances. When these pressures become excessive, then ordinary stress becomes distress. Our ability to physically cope is diminished, and sometimes our systems break down. That is why many people experience an emotional low after an exhausting event.

This kind of reactionary depression is common for people who have just experienced a demanding week of work. Sundays can become very depressing. The authors often feel this after a long conference, which is usually one continuous adrenaline rush.

Running for 40 days and 40 nights is not exactly observing the Sabbath. We all need to recognize the need for rest and recovery. People who are facing an especially demanding schedule should consider taking an extra dosage of B-complex vitamins to prepare for it, and for the post-adrenaline letdown.

Good mental health cannot be totally separated from our physical health, which must be maintained by practicing good nutrition, exercise and diet. Many people who are struggling with depression are not physically healthy. One will have an effect on the other, and you cannot always establish which came first. Did someone's poor health contribute to depression, or did the depressive state contribute to poor health? We do not have to determine that to help someone because the proper prescription must deal with the whole person.

We are not suggesting that, in Elijah's case, the angel did nothing more than prescribe good nutrition and rest to enable Elijah to run for 40 days and nights. Scripture clearly shows that Elijah's problem began when he believed a lie. Nevertheless, God dealt with him as a whole person.

Sticking to What God Requires

God wasn't finished with Elijah yet. Elijah needed to correct his sense of "learned helplessness" with some straight truth, so God gave him a little object lesson about His divine nature, and what He really required of Elijah:

There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the Lord came to him: "What are you doing here, Elijah?" He replied, "I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too." The Lord said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" (1 Kings 19:9-13, NIV).

God asked Elijah the same question again, and again Elijah defended his motives and actions by protesting that he had fled to the wilderness because he was the only true prophet of God left. The truth is, God didn't send him there, and Elijah wasn't the only one left. There were 7,000 others who had not bowed their knees to Baal (see 1 Kings 19:18).

God was not asking Elijah to bring in His kingdom program or bring judgment upon those who did not keep His covenant. He was asking Elijah, as He asks us, to trust Him and follow Him wherever He leads. He would bring judgment in due time, and establish His kingdom His way and in His timing. That is not for us to decide nor for us to accomplish. Our response to God is to trust and obey.

Our own perceived service for God may be the greatest enemy of our devotion to Him, and a hotbed for depression. We must resist the temptation to do God's work for Him. We are not instructed to petition God to bring judgment upon the disobedient in the form of winds, earthquakes and fire. If anything, we are called to pray for mercy, that God would withhold His judgment. "I searched for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one" (Ezekiel 22:30).

God finally instructs Elijah to "go back the way you came" (1 Kings 19:15, NIV). In other words, "Get back on track, and don't isolate yourself from other people." Elijah found himself alone in the desert because he believed the lies of the enemy. Although he was very zealous for God's work, he was assuming sole responsibility for doing it himself. This is often referred to as the Elijah complex. "I alone am left, and I must vindicate the word and reputation of God." If you want to feel helpless, then try doing God's work for Him!

Finding Hope Again: Overcoming Depression.

 

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

 

God bless you all!

Purity 295: Encouragement for the Path of Christian Discipleship

 Purity 295 12/19/2020 

Good morning!

Today’s photo is from the familiar vantage point of my kitchen window “down by The River” that I took yesterday afternoon that displays the aftermath of the Wednesday to Thursday snowstorm and the magnificence of the sun blazing in the sky and reflected on the Hudson.  

This vision reminds me of the theme of “Fire and Ice” that is sometimes played out in dramas like in Rankin and Bass’s “The Year with out a Santa Claus” holiday special, in the persons of the “Heat miser” and “Snow-miser”, or at parties where Fireball and Rumple Minze or other drinks that run hot and cold may be served.  

While I might suffer through the Rankin and Bass special again, I choose to avoid the potent potables of the past but sometimes “Fire and Ice” make their way into your life without your choice, and we can only deal with the consequences when they come.  

Wednesday evening, as I was mentally preparing for the snow to come, I received the news that there was a fire at my previous residence and that my ex-wife was staying at my stepdaughter’s house.  It was mid-evening when I got this news, and I didn’t know what to do at the time. I called my ex but only got her voice mail as I later discovered her phone was lost in the fire.  With the snow on the way, I didn’t feel running over to the old house was wise and decided to wait and see. 

As part of our divorce, my ex and I have agreed to sell the house, but she could stay there until she is ready to sell it, provided that she pays the mortgage. The circumstances of our agreement and the financial realities of the situation left me to face the fact that I will see little or no money from the sale of the house, causing me to take a second job last year and to make a plan to get out.

The Lord blessed my socks off the first six months of this year in ways that were difficult to understand but I followed His leading and it resulted in my exodus to my new home “down by the River”.  So my kids and I, and all our possessions, are safe and sound in the home the Lord provided. 

My ex-wife contacted me and admitted that the fire was caused by a cigarette butt left burning in the master bedroom.  She luckily was downstairs when the fire started but by the time, she discovered it, the fire had spread and was too big for her to put out.  She called the fire department and they arrived quickly and doused it.  She describes the bedroom as “gutted” and is in contact with the insurance company to put in a claim and have the damage repaired. 

I thank God that she is safe and that she is taking the necessary steps to deal with the situation. I advised her that I would sign any paperwork, offer assistance, and recommend contractors if she needed it.  She said that she would pay the insurance deductible and would be in contact when she knows what she is going to do. 

Before I knew all this, I was anxious about what I was going to have to do and what role I should take in fixing this mess that I didn’t know any details of.  I went to the Lord in prayer and I felt in my spirit that I was to offer help when asked, but to not jump into things like I normally would when a problem comes – taking all the responsibility myself to fix things.  So, we will see how this all plays out as the days progress.     

This situation reminds me of times in the past, where after becoming a Christian, I would encounter people in need and would rush into help only to find out that the people in need were mostly victims of the consequences that they had put into motion.   I remember several instances in which the church I attend, other brothers and sisters in Christ, or I, myself, have poured time, resources, and money into our attempts to help someone in need only to watch all those efforts go “up in smoke” as the person eventually rejected our fellowship or further assistance when they had received the material things we had to offer.

One person I attempted to help seemed to mentally create a “wish list” of things they “needed” when I offered to help out. I discerned that they had been taking from people most of their lives and as soon as I had suggested changes in their lifestyle, I quickly found out that they were only interested in “the things” that I might give rather than any help to change their course.       

I don’t suggest that my ex-wife is like this. In fact, one of the things I admired about her in the beginning was her strength and independence.  I am hoping that this crisis will cause her to plan for the future and perhaps put the house on the market after the repairs are done.  Regardless of what happens, I am glad she is safe, will allow her to choose her course (as our divorce has been final for quite some time), and provide the help she needs if she requests it.  

But I do think that we, as Christians, have to be careful and discerning when we get a “feeling” to rush in and help someone in crisis. Sometimes the Lord causes trials in our lives to allow us to grow.   I know that has been the case for me!

Reading a Jay E. Adam’s commentary of the Bible, I recently saw this note for John 12:27 which said: “Jesus did not follow feelings but acted according to His responsibilities”. 

I thought it was a keen observation of Christ’s example that we should follow.

As my old patterns give me the “feeling” to rush on in and “save the day”, my responsibilities are no longer where they used to be. So I will wait and see what the Lord calls me to do in this situation. 

Scripture advises to help a fallen brother, but to be careful not to fall down yourself while you are trying to help them up.   So tread lightly, my friends. 

Keep walking and talking with God and He will see you through with wisdom and grace.

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This morning’s meditation verses were:

Romans 1:16-17 (NKJV)
¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
¹⁷ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."

There is so much in these verses! First – no, we are not to be ashamed of the gospel of Christ!  We have to identify as Christian.  This story of the son of God sent to be born of a virgin and to die for our sins only to raise from the dead, and to literally fly off to heaven to later return to remake the earth in the heavens is our story! 

As ridiculous as it may seem to modern man who is perishing, we know that it is a true story and that it has the power to save us!  We also know it is available to everyone (Jews and Greeks), but the catch is that they must believe it too in order to be saved.  The gospel of Christ gives us new life and life eternal.  

 So we are not to be ashamed of it – and that means we admit to believing it and we endeavor to tell others that it is true, and that it is powerful.  

Verse 17 says that “The righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith” - what does that mean?  It means that God’s righteousness will be displayed in us as we grow.

Yes, our faith is progressive – I start by having faith in the gospel, I believe. Then as I read the word, I have faith that this book, the Bible is actually the word of God and is true.  Then I have faith that God has given me the power, through the Holy Spirit, to actually live it!   From faith to faith to faith!    We grow in faith as we continuously follow Him and learn more of the word of God and apply it to our lives experientially! Our faith is alive and continuous, if we follow.  

So we believe it and then we live it – that is what “the just shall live by faith” means.  Christianity is not just a set of beliefs but is God’s truth lived out in our lives here and now.  

Our faith becomes alive when we “believe” and actively choose to apply those beliefs to our lives in all that we do. We are to forsake the ways of the world that lead to corruption and death and embrace the ways of God that are wisdom and life!     

Today we continue chapter 7 of Anderson & Baumchen’s Finding Hope Again, where the authors discuss the roots of helplessness and ways to overcome helplessness, beginning with the suggestion of proper food and rest and dietary supplements. 

As always, I share this information for educational purposes and encourage all to purchase Anderson’s books for your own private study and to support his work:

Roots of Helplessness

Most learned helplessness is the result of early childhood experiences. Lacking the presence of God in our lives and the knowledge of His ways, we learned how to survive, how to defend and protect ourselves.

Many people have felt defeated from the beginning because the messages they received from the world were often negative: "You can't do that, you'd better let me do it"; "You're not big enough or smart enough"; "You'll never amount to anything"; "It's a dog-eat-dog world out there, so be careful and watch your backside." Upon hearing these kinds of messages, it is no wonder that we start to believe in our own helplessness.

It has been estimated that 95 percent of the world's population is pessimistic by nature. Even the weatherman says, "There will a 35 percent chance of rain tomorrow." He never says there will be a 65 percent chance of sunshine. The news anchors don't tell us about the good things that happened that day, they only tell the bad news. Three news helicopters and 25 policemen will follow a fugitive in a car pursuit for hours, but nobody follows the good guys who set about their day encouraging others. That cannot help but give the general population a distortion of reality.

Blessing snatchers can be found everywhere. "Oh, I see you bought that brand of car. I bought one once, and it was a lemon." Even in churches, people are prone to point out the imminent dangers and the sad state of affairs in the world, rather than to encourage one another to live above difficult circumstances by having great confidence in God. "I heard that you have just become a Christian. Congratulations—now you have an enemy you never had before!"

 

Overcoming Helplessness

Proper Food and Rest

We mentioned earlier the research by Dr. Henn (as reported by Papolos), which concluded that just as neurochemistry affects behavior, changes in behavior affect neurochemistry. In such cases, a physical intervention may need to take place to jump-start the process of recovery. Such may have been the case in the Bible account of the prophet Elijah, as he fled from the wicked queen Jezebel.

Elijah showed incredible confidence in God and was even recognized by the king's men as the "man of God" (2 Kings 1:9, 11, 13). Elijah had witnessed the incredible power of God displayed against the prophets of Baal (see 1 Kings 18). But when Jezebel heard of it, she responded, "So may the gods do to me and even more, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time" (1 Kings 19:2). Elijah was afraid, and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba, in Judah, he left his servant there while he went a day's journey farther into the desert.

Why did Elijah flee? This great man of God believed a lie, just as any one of us can. Then he cried out in despair, "'I have had enough, Lord,'...'Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.' Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep" (1 Kings 19:4, 5, NIV).

Elijah was exhibiting all the classic signs of depression. He was afraid and fatigued, and felt that he was a helpless failure and all alone. That can potentially happen to the best of us—especially after a mountain-top experience. We are most vulnerable when we are brimming with confidence but our energy is sapped from victoriously fighting the good fight. That confidence in God could easily turn to self-confidence when we let down our guard. "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall" (1 Cor. 10:12).

Back to Elijah, in the midst of his depression: "Behold, there was an angel touching him, and he said to him, 'Arise, eat.' Then he looked and behold, there was at his head a bread cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again" (1 Kings 19:5, 6). God in His mercy prescribed some food and rest for His discouraged servant.

When our electrolytes are depleted and our body is malfunctioning for lack of nutrition, then we need to address these deficiencies through good nutrition, rest and exercise.

What About Diet Supplements?

Many health-food experts recommend supplementing our diets with amino acids for depression. The most common is DLPA (DL-phenylalanine), which is available in capsules at health-food stores. It is nontoxic, but it may increase blood pressure. Authorities usually suggest taking DLPA along with vitamin C, vitamin B6 and fruit or fruit juice about 45 minutes before breakfast.

Taken on an empty stomach, DLPA is absorbed into the blood, then the brain, which uses it to synthesize more of the neurotransmitters that increase wakefulness and energy. Another amino acid, L-tyrosine, has a similar effect on brain chemistry.

A common herbal treatment for depression is St. John's wort. Researchers have shown that this herb can improve the mood and the quality of sleep in depressed people. It can be bought over the counter, but we recommend that you consult a nutrition-trained doctor or health-food expert for proper dosage.

God created many fruits and vegetables that were intended to be cultivated and harvested to preserve human life. Isn't St. John's wort created by God? Probably many other natural cures were created by God that are waiting to be discovered. Because of the pressures of living in these last days, the proper balance of rest, exercise and diet is even more essential. Couple that with the fact that the soils that produce our grains are becoming more and more depleted of their mineral content. Thus it may be more necessary than ever to supplement our diets with vitamins and minerals.

Another nutritional remedy that should be considered for depression is vitamin B12. A B12 deficiency is notorious for causing a variety of changes in the way our nervous system functions. This deficiency can be corrected in some patients through a B12-rich diet or nutritional supplements, but often this will not be sufficient. That is because the deficiency is frequently caused by the person's inability to absorb the nutrient in the intestines. So the vitamin needs a more direct route into the body through monthly injections, which have helped many people who had symptoms of depression. Blood tests can verify B12 deficiency if they are specifically asked for.

Finding Hope Again: Overcoming Depression.

------------------------------more on Monday-------------------------

 

God bless you all!