Where is Your Point of Pain?

September 17, 2014April 30, 2015 / Karen / 4 Comments

A small girl rushes through the back door of her house, slamming the screen door behind her. Her tousled blonde hair is full of scraps of leaves and dirt, and a smear of blood crosses the front of her trousers at the knee.

“Mommy!” she wails piteously. Her mother bursts into the room in response to her child’s cry and scoops her daughter into her loving arms. Instantly assessing the situation as only a mother can do, she cradles her on her lap and coos, “Honey, show me where it hurts.”

These types of hurts can be cleaned and bandaged. After a few days a scab forms as protection for the new skin growing back. A few more days and it comes off, revealing healthy skin underneath. All that is needed is patience for the wound to heal (and maybe a kiss, too, for a small child).

Whether it shows on the outside or comes from within, we have all experienced physical pain. We can ache from our backs, stomachs, ears, teeth, head, and joints. These unseen causes can produce very real suffering.

But what about the unseen suffering from wounds in your soul, which is composed of the mind, will, and emotions? What about “soul-wounds?”

Although catalysts come in many different forms, one common cause is the weapon of words. This point of pain can be long in healing or leave you with a permanent inner scar carried throughout life. I know because I carried a wound through childhood and into my teen years.

Here is how it was inflicted: “Hey, fat-so!” And “You’re too fat to play.” And “Hi, Fatty Arbuckle!” And when we chose teams, I heard, “Don’t pick her. We’ll lose—she’s too fat.”

The most hurtful remark happened when the boys would chase the girls on the playground. When caught, the boy kissed the girl on her cheek. The boy who caught me changed his mind. “You’re too fat to kiss.” He didn’t care that those words had sliced off a piece of my soul.

The name-calling went on and on, day after day, year after year. I responded with the rhyme my mother had taught me to say in my defense: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” I concluded by laughing with them, to appear as if their words didn’t hurt me. Then I went home and ate a piece of chocolate cake and a peanut butter sandwich before dinner to assuage my inner pain.

And my rhyme of defense? What a lie. Those taunts were like jagged glass cutting up my soul. No blood—at least on the outside. My smile and laughter hid my embarrassment and horror about my appearance. I didn’t know it then, but self-hatred was taking root and growing in my soul. Fortunately, I never got to the point of wishing to harm myself (although I do know of some like me who tried). This wound was the only lemon in my otherwise happy childhood days, but it colored the tone of my life since I didn’t know how to fix the problem.

The solution, however, arrived unexpectedly when I turned thirteen. My mother began taking me to a dermatologist for my complexion, and he prescribed a diet as part of my treatment. Suddenly I wasn’t allowed to eat fried foods, butter, oil, peanut butter, or desserts. Sugary, buttery treats abounded in our kitchen due to my thin mother who loved to shop at the bakery each week, making my new regime a miserable challenge. But I wanted clear skin, so I bit the bullet and was faithful to my instructions. In the course of about eight months, I had lost more than fifteen pounds. I’m not sure if the diet actually helped my complexion, but it certainly had wonderful side-effects.

The bleeding of my soul-wound was arrested.

The compliments rang out from friends and family, and my school friends looked at me with respect instead of derision.

The wound began to dry up and form a scab.

I can still see myself looking into a full-length mirror at a fancy dress shop, staring at a thin girl wearing her first pretty dress. AND NOT LOOKING FAT AT ALL.

My self-hatred shrank into a little tumor, dried up and eventually blew away–not overnight, but throughout the next few years until my soul was healed. I’m sure that it was my relationship with Jesus that made my healing complete. Without Him, I would probably still be nursing scars about my self-esteem to this day.

Where is your point of pain?

In today’s culture we suffer from all types of wounds that cannot be kissed away or solved through dieting. We suffer through the stress of broken relationships and financial burdens, to name a few, which in turn can cause serious illnesses and disease. What is the answer to finding inner-healing?

The answer begins with a universal spiritual wound every human being shares. Because of Eve’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden, everyone’s spirit is born into sin. Think about it—do you have to teach a toddler to share…to be obedient…to be truthful? These sinful traits are inbred in everyone.

But the good news of the gospel saves us out of our original fate. That is why making a decision about Jesus is crucial to our lives on Earth and especially in eternity.

Where do we start? At the beginning, of course. We first must have a personal relationship with Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. It’s not a denomination issue—rather, it’s a relationship issue. Anyone can come to the cross of Christ from any religion–or none at all–to meet the living God.

“If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9 NASB).

At the point of salvation we receive the Holy Spirit, who leads us into all truth. He is our comforter and our teacher. Through daily prayer and study of His word, we develop that spiritual relationship where He will provide the answers we seek. We will find healing for our soul-wounds at the feet of Jesus. He comes running to us, picks us up, and lovingly asks us where it hurts.

When Jesus touches us, soul-wounds stop bleeding…. form a scab…and in time, disappear.

There is healing in the name of Jesus. Just ask Him now and see what He can do.

“…and (they) brought to Him all who were sick; and they implored Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak; and as many as touched it were cured” (Matthew 14:35-36 NASB).

Depression: Is There a Cure?

August 15, 2014April 30, 2015 / Karen / 4 Comments

August 11, 2014, will be a day that we will not easily forget. That is when Robin Williams took his life by asphyxiation. Such sad news about a much loved and admired actor and comedian shocked the country and the world. How could a man who brought so much laughter and joy to everyone have been so tormented?

The answer is reportedly that he had been suffering for years from deep depression, worsened by the diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease. His dwelling in a spiritually black place took him captive and threw away the key. If only he could have clung to the hope of being free someday, if only someone had spoken the right word at the right time, if only someone had made contact with him before that climatic moment…if only. Now all we have left is regret.

Depression is a common malady that has mantled mankind for millennia. The Bible, in fact, cites stories of several people who were plagued by it. How did these people overcome it? Let’s look at one man in particular.

To me, the man who stands out the most is Job. He lost his ten children, his cattle and flocks, most of his servants, and even his health. His friends accused him of having some hidden or unknown sin he had committed–or else why would God punish such a righteous man like that?

But Job did not curse God—in fact, he blessed Him in the midst of his trials.

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of The Lord” (Job 1:21 NAS).

Even his own wife argued against him as she passionately cried out, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!” (Job 3:8 NAS).

Could Job’s wife have been suggesting that Job deny God by taking his own life? Here is how he responded to her prompting on that point:

“You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” In all this, Job did not sin with his lips (Job 2:10 NAS).

As Job searched for answers from God about why he had to suffer and be punished for no apparent reason, he pushed aside the negativity from his wife and his friends. It paid off. God replied by questioning Job, zeroing in on how proud Job was of his carefully manicured righteousness. He felt that being righteous somehow exempted him from calamity, almost as if he were God’s “teacher’s pet.” I’m sure Job didn’t expect to be raked over the coals as God addressed him.

“Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Now gird up your loins like a man, and I will ask you and you instruct me! Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me if you have understanding.” (Job 38:3-4 NAS).

After four chapters of intense questioning that shamed Job speechless, God made His point. Job understood just how small he was in comparison and showed his humility by repenting of his rebellion.

“Hear now, and I will speak; I will ask Thee, and do Thou instruct me. I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees Thee; Therefore, I retract and I repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:4-6 NAS).

Initially, Job didn’t know that God had taken His hand of protection away for a short time to allow Satan to prove Job’s character. Satan had been permitted to do whatever he chose, short of taking Job’s life. As a result of Job’s spiritual tenacity, the test ended and God’s hedge of protection was once again tucked snugly around him and his family.

The story closes with a glorious symphony of love and restoration. Not only did God restore all of Job’s wealth, but He also increased it twice over. He had the comfort of the love of his friends and family restored, and God blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning. Sheep, camels, oxen, and female donkeys were multiplied back to him by the thousands.

And best of all, the Lord gave him ten more children—seven sons and three beautiful daughters. His life was extended for 140 more years, and he lived to see four generations of his grandchildren.

God went above and beyond to bless Job at the end of his trial. His days of black depression were replaced by sublime joy.

So what is the remedy for depression? How do we work through it and not let it overwhelm us when we are living in those dark days that seem like they will never end?

Job’s belief in God is what strengthened him so he could persevere and come out on the other side. His strong faith was the gate to his supernatural encounter with the God he had always believed in. Seen or not, God had always been present in Job’s life through the good times and the bad.

What if…you met God?

How?

Simple. Meeting God personally is available to everyone. He is found in the person of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16 NAS).

And another verse says,

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9 NAS).

Job discovered that a personal relationship with God is the answer to all of life’s trials. Our faith doesn’t eliminate our trials, but the Lord will victoriously take us through them.

Count it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (James 1:2-4 NAS).

Lures: Biting the Bait

June 19, 2014April 30, 2015 / Karen / Leave a comment

Be careful little ears what you hear…

The first in a series

Have you ever watched an episode of Duck Dynasty? This reality show is about a Louisiana family that produces superior-sounding duck calls. An interview recently aired where one of the family showcased their handmade products, touting the best one named Duck Commander. They claim to have the most authentic-sounding calls of any other manufacturer, boasting that ducks are fooled into believing that they are hearing another live duck. This sound of trickery then lures the poor, unsuspecting birds into a death trap.

So what is the exact meaning of the word lure? Merriam-Webster defines it as:

1. An appealing or attractive quality, and 2. A device used for attracting and catching animals, birds, or especially fish.

A duck call deals solely with the sense of hearing. Perhaps ducks can be fooled, but can the enemy also trick people in the same way?

A good example flies off the pages of ancient literature through the story of the hero Odysseus in The Odyssey. One of his adventures as he sailed home took him by the island where the Sirens dwelled. All sailors knew that their sweet, hypnotic singing was like a fishhook that slowly reeled in its doomed prey. Many wrecked ships attested to this fatal end, and not one of them escaped alive. In order to sail by and not be caught in this deadly trap, Odysseus first used earplugs to deafen his sailors. Next, he instructed them to tie him to the mast as they sailed by, giving strict orders that they not unlash him, no matter how much he pleaded. He wanted to be the first man to hear the luring songs without also losing his life.

Odysseus beat the evil Sirens at their game with the help of his loyal crew. But on another front, can people beat Satan against his luring games? Unlike The Odyssey, these deadly temptations are not fiction.

Satan has an arsenal of “sirens” that call out to everyone, tempting them with sweet sounds that are hard to resist as they lead to spiritual and sometimes physical death. What are they? In part one of this series, we will specifically target music.

Before God expelled him from Heaven, Lucifer was the leader of the angelic choir who created beautiful music of praise and worship to God. So is it any wonder that through gifted musicians he now creates and leads satanic music on the earth—music that glorifies him–the devil– with lyrics of death, destruction, and despair? This music certainly causes separation from God. At best, it may influence people to fill their minds and hearts with evil ideas that can negatively impact their lives. At worst, we read and hear about so many young people who are influenced to commit murder and suicide because of specific lyrics, which lure them to commit these horrific crimes.

If Satan is trying to lure you with his lies wrapped up in music such as heavy metal or rock, can you escape? Or do you believe–as do so many young people and teens– that you are immune to becoming hooked? Do you listen because it is the cool thing to do? Do you fear rejection if you don’t go along with everyone else?

Whether you are simply flirting or have already bitten the bait, there is good news. God has provided a way of escape from all of Satan’s sweet-sounding lures. Like Odysseus, we do not have the power to resist such strong temptation without help—but our help is from the Lord God.

No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it (I Cor. 10:13).

The bottom line is that God will help you as you guard your ears from evil. Here is a clip of some of my favorite music by Chris Tomlin– to free you from the enemy, uplift and draw you closer to God– called Our God (Live).

God bless you!