Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Friday, May 27, 2011
Biblical Distinctions - Israel, Gentiles and the Church
To all my Christian friends – I think its important for us to understand the Biblical distinctions between
A simple rundown could be as follows:
Israel is a nation or group of people that God called out (long after Adam and Eve etc..) in order to manifest Himself to the rest of the world.
Gentile is simply a term for “everyone else”. Before Christ came they would often convert to Judaism when they wanted to follow what they believed was the one true God.
The Church is simply the group of all people , Jews and Gentiles, who have believed and received Jesus Christ – trusting in Him alone for their redemption and regeneration. The Biblical Church is blind to nationality or race.
The last but very important point is this:
God still has a plan and a promise for Israel – we see this from both the Old Testament ( i.e. Genesis) and the New ( especially Romans 10 and 11 and Revelation).
Let me claridy - this is not meant to be a commentary on the current situation in the Middle East but rather a Biblical look at the distinctions between these 3 groups.
We need to “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem…” (Psa 122:6)
Notes:
Act 7:38 "This is he who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the Angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, the one who received the living oracles to give to us….”
The word congregation here is the same Greek word for church – “ekklesia”. However the word simply means “called out ones” or “An Assembly or congregation of people”. There is no specific reference here to the Church as defined in the above article and in many other places of Scripture.
Gal 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.
Gal 6:16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
Galatians 6:15 was quoted in the article and here is included the verse that follows. Paul uses the term “The Israel of God”.
Based on the context of the New Testament we can only conclude that he was referring first to the Church (as many as walk according to this rule) and then to the literal nation of Israel.
Israel, the Gentiles and the Church
A simple rundown could be as follows:
Israel is a nation or group of people that God called out (long after Adam and Eve etc..) in order to manifest Himself to the rest of the world.
Gentile is simply a term for “everyone else”. Before Christ came they would often convert to Judaism when they wanted to follow what they believed was the one true God.
Christ was sent in
human form ( as a Jew by the way) in order to manifest God to the world
– this time as a perfect individual who was both God and man ( rather
than a nation of humans).
Gal
6:15 For in Christ Jesus
neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. (Circumcision was the sign of the Jewish
covenant with God).
The Church is simply the group of all people , Jews and Gentiles, who have believed and received Jesus Christ – trusting in Him alone for their redemption and regeneration. The Biblical Church is blind to nationality or race.
The last but very important point is this:
Even though the Church has now been established, Israel and the Jewish people have not been “replaced” by it.
God still has a plan and a promise for Israel – we see this from both the Old Testament ( i.e. Genesis) and the New ( especially Romans 10 and 11 and Revelation).
Rom
11:25” For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of
this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that
blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the
Gentiles has come in.
Rom 11:26 And so all Israel will be
saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He
will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;
Rom 11:27 For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins."
Rom
11:28 Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but
concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers.
Rom 11:29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”
Let me claridy - this is not meant to be a commentary on the current situation in the Middle East but rather a Biblical look at the distinctions between these 3 groups.
We need to “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem…” (Psa 122:6)
Notes:
Act 7:38 "This is he who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the Angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, the one who received the living oracles to give to us….”
The word congregation here is the same Greek word for church – “ekklesia”. However the word simply means “called out ones” or “An Assembly or congregation of people”. There is no specific reference here to the Church as defined in the above article and in many other places of Scripture.
Gal 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.
Gal 6:16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
Galatians 6:15 was quoted in the article and here is included the verse that follows. Paul uses the term “The Israel of God”.
Based on the context of the New Testament we can only conclude that he was referring first to the Church (as many as walk according to this rule) and then to the literal nation of Israel.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
7 x 70 - a Thought and a Song About Forgiving
I think all of us have certain places or periods of our life
that bring back bad memories and maybe some bitterness. Maybe it’s the house
you grew up in, or the town. Maybe it’s from your childhood, teen years or
somewhere in your adult years.
This song by Christ August ( which refers to Jesus’ answer to Peter about forgiveness – see below)
really captures how important it is to forgive those who may have hurt us , or
even those who we perceive have hurt us.
This is true of everyone in our lives – our brothers and
sisters in Christ, friends, co-workers – even our enemies!.
But this song refers specifically to family and these
relationships are especially important. The relationships we have with our fathers and
mothers, our brothers and sisters and our spouses and children have a very
large impact on our relationship with our Heavenly Father ( see Eph. 6 etc..) .
So is there some bitterness , anger or even hatred towards
someone that we need to forgive ? Sometimes only the Holy Spirit can even truly
reveal this to you.
And of course, the other person may never change, be sorry
or even accept your forgiveness – but this move is for God and for you. It
releases you from the bondage of bitterness and opens up your relationship with
God and others in your life!
Enjoy the song here: Chris August - 7 x 70
Mat
18:21 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall
my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?"
Mat 18:22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
Mat 18:22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
Read the parable that follows as well!
It should be clarified here that Jesus was not saying once you reach 490 times then you don't have to forgive anymore.
Taken in context of the entire Bible, this is a figurative number to really say - "indefinitely" or "infinitetly".
Peter may have come up with the number 7 in relation to this passage in Luke:
| Luk 17:4 | "And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him." |
It is noteworthy ( without getting into any fanatical numerology) that it is commonly understood that the number 7 often represents "perfection" or "completeness" in the Bible. This would make sense in this passage as well, as Jesus is talking about total, unending, "perfect and complete" forgiveness.
Monday, May 23, 2011
A Beautiful Response to An Ugly Event
“We are not here to condemn anyone. We are just here to talk to
(them), to let (them) know that false teaching and deception have always
been in the church..."
Pastor Jacob Denys speaking about his churches efforts to help and support those who bought the lie of Harold Camping and are now jobless and devestated.
Members of churches near Oakland, Calif. based Family Radio, are
pouring out in droves, offering comfort and spiritual support to the
dejected followers of false Doomsday prophet Harold Camping, who has predicted that the World will end on May 21, 2011.....
For instance, Adrienne Martinez and her husband have reportedly quit their jobs and planned to spend their “last” days in Orland. She said, “We budgeted everything so that, on May 21, we won’t have anything left,” said Adrienne.”
But with days still continuing after the appointed time, what would happen to the deceived followers who might have lost everything by now?
Some Christian leaders, such as author of “Pocket Guide to the Apocalypse” and “O Me of Little Faith” Jason Boyett, have expressed their concerns about the followers’ plight devastation.
“Camping's faith will survive the impending disappointment, as will his ministry and radio empire. He'll make excuses and set another date. I don't worry about him; I worry about his followers and their families,” wrote Boyett on The Washington Post On Faith page.
He added, “It is easy for us to sit here and to poke fun at Harold Camping...he'll get past it… But what we got to remember is that he has a whole lot of people whose lives and faith will be devastated… As a result, many of them will have lost money; many of them who quit their jobs will be in a tough spot.”
Other Christian leaders and church members have extended their support and help for those who were affected by the false Doomsday prediction.
Pastor Jacob Denys, head of the neighboring Calvary Bible Church of Milpitas, Calif., was among the first to extend his hand of support and offer counseling to Camping’s followers.
Denys, who led a group of his church members to Family Radio headquarter in Oakland, Calif., on May 21, 2011 around 4 p.m., told IBTimes it was their duty “to reach out to those people who might have bought the lie.”
“We are here to counter the message of Harold Camping and his End of the Day prediction – the Rapture prediction – that is supposed to be today. And of course we are standing here in a beautiful day, knowing that God still has given us a day to enjoy.
“But we are here to reach out to those people who might have bought the lie and who might have hurt themselves financially. What we are hoping is that we would be able to invite people who might have been affected to our church in Milpitas and hold a special service (at 10 a.m. on May 22) that would embrace them and reach out to them.
“We are not here to condemn anyone. We are just here to talk to (them), to let (them) know that false teaching and deception have always been in the church, and even it says it rises within the church. And so we want to help those people who are going to wake up tomorrow, realizing this was a bad dream for them.
“In a nutshell they are deceived, because he (Camping) has a very unorthodox way of interpreting the Bible. It’s sad to see that many people repeat this mistake over and over and over again. Here we are again, and we are here to just let people know that we are not supposed to do this as the church, but wait for the Lord. ‘Watch and wait,’ is what he says, and be ready anytime,” Denys said.
James Bynum, a deacon of the church, also shared his concerns with IBTimes about the mental anguish Camping’s followers must be experiencing now.
“He was a false prophet and his lies have deceived so many people. People have been hurt by this. That’s what we are, Calvary Bible Church. We are here, offering help to people who realized now that what they heard from this man is wrong. People who may have given away everything that they had, believing that he was telling the truth. We are here to tell them that we are going to offer counseling help.
“You know, basically Harold Camping has taught that the church – we are a small church, and churches like ours, he says, are of the devil, that the Holy Spirit left the church and all is left now is a shell. Even though this is what they’ve been believing and they’ve been teaching, we love them and we care about them. We don’t want them to be hurt. Today is a hard day for them,” said Bynum.
Who Says Queen Victoria Was a Prude?
From her diary entry the day AFTER her wedding ;)
"I NEVER, NEVER spent such an evening!!! MY DEAREST DEAREST DEAR Albert ... his excessive love & affection gave me feelings of heavenly love & happiness I never could have hoped to have felt before! He clasped me in his arms, & we kissed each other again & again! His beauty, his sweetness & gentleness – really how can I ever be thankful enough to have such a Husband! ... to be called by names of tenderness, I have never yet heard used to me before – was bliss beyond belief! Oh! This was the happiest day of my life!"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_victoria
"I NEVER, NEVER spent such an evening!!! MY DEAREST DEAREST DEAR Albert ... his excessive love & affection gave me feelings of heavenly love & happiness I never could have hoped to have felt before! He clasped me in his arms, & we kissed each other again & again! His beauty, his sweetness & gentleness – really how can I ever be thankful enough to have such a Husband! ... to be called by names of tenderness, I have never yet heard used to me before – was bliss beyond belief! Oh! This was the happiest day of my life!"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_victoria
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Rob Wilson - An Aboriginal Leader
Suicide it whispers lies
lets break them ties and start rebuilding
I got a dream to see a smile on the face of the youth today in reservations
Time to pray for the church today that's hating preaching condemnation
We want to see restoration, revelation, Lord we waiting
It's hard to reach these people hurt by residential schools and slave plantations
I know your faithful Lord I know you're in control
So I sing a song of freedom like Martin Luther king it's from the soul
I got a dream to see a smile on the face of the youth today in reservations
Time to pray for the church today that's hating preaching condemnation
We want to see restoration, revelation, Lord we waiting
It's hard to reach these people hurt by residential schools and slave plantations
I know your faithful Lord I know you're in control
So I sing a song of freedom like Martin Luther king it's from the soul
(Excerpt from the song "I Have a Dream" by Aboriginal Canadian Artist, Fresh I.E.)
Some years back now, I happened to hear that a Winnipeg Hip Hop Artist named Fresh I.E. ( Fresh In Eternity) had been nominated for a Grammy award for Best Album in the Rock Gospel category - a first ever for a Canadian Hip Hop artist of any kind.
I decided I should check out the Album called Red Letterz , a collections of songs that had come from a life of hard times on the streets of the inner city. This may sound similar to a lot of other Hip Hop albums that came out before and during this time but this was different. Not only did it have the heart, the grit , the lyrics and the beats - it had hope.
The Album title refers to the fairly common practice of many Bibles to print Jesus' words in red... and herein lies the distinction of this true gangster's story - the words of Jesus Christ had changed His life.
It didn't take long for me to realize why this album had been virtually plucked out of no where ( no offense Winnipeg ;) and hurdled onto the Grammy stage. Every track was amazing and for me it remains one of my favourite Hip Hop albums of all time - period .
As I learned a bit more about Rob Wilson, the man known as Fresh I.E., I became even more impressed with what he had overcome and how he was so passionate about helping other youth overcome their challenges too.
According to Aboriginal Peoples Choice, "Fresh spends 7 months of the year travelling to Inner Cities, Reserves and communities all over the world to reach out and inspire the youth of today. When Fresh is not travelling he can usually can be found at his home church where he is a Youth Pastor ministering to the youth of his city to pursue God and live out their dreams."
http://aboriginalpeopleschoice.com/artists/fresh-ie/
Here you can also find his personal story and testimony which I will post below. After that I have put in the lyrics (as best I can) to one of Rob's newest songs, I Have a Dream - its an amazing song with poignant lyrics - check it out!
BIO
The distress of a blind man changed the life of Rob Wilson
forever. Standing on a busy street by himself, Wilson quietly pulled the blind
man out of harms way. Later on that same day, the blind man somehow ended up
sleeping on the front steps to Wilson's
house. At the time, Wilson
was in his own state of distress. Waist-deep into illicit crime and substance
abuse. The question many people ask is how did the blind man find him? And the
answer to the question is, there isn't one. But the one thing Wilson was sure of from that night, was God
is real. And that God talking to him, sending him a sign, showing him that he
was walking blind through life and headed for disaster. The rest is history.
Fast-forward a decade, Rob Wilson is now better know as "Fresh I.E."
(Fresh In Eternity). Since God transformed his life and revealed to him his
purpose, Wilson
has achieved musical accolades and approval far beyond his wildest dreams. In
2003 he became the first ever Canadian hip-hop artist nominated for a Grammy
Award (Red Letterz) and followed that up in 2005 with a subsequent Grammy-nod
(Truth Is Fallin In Tha Streetz). With all of the recognition and awards you
might say Rob "Fresh I.E." Wilson's
career has reached a pinnacle... Wrong. That was only the beginning. In 2000, Wilson had a vision of a
centre with four doors. One pointing North, others to the South, East and West.
A resting place to help young people get off the streets, teaching them the
arts of music, drama and The Gospel of Jesus Christ. That dream has yet to be
realized, but in the meantime he's grateful for the following accolades. From
them he feels he's gaining the respect and authority he needs to teach others
to reach for a higher purpose through music.
I Have a Dream ( lyrics by Rob Wilson)
Verse 1
I got a dream one day we will open up our eyes remove the blinds and really see now
We can't stand by watch the young die mothers cry daddy's gone in the streets we be now
(There's so much pain inside) can we be released cause we keep on balling
Need to eat plus those kids on the block got those rocks in their socks that moneys calling
So much temptation they facing little kids they get deceived
I'm trying to lead em to a life in Christ let them dreams they can achieve
Them blessings they can receive they aint got to do them dirty deeds
They aint got to sell their bodies on the street to live and breath and get that cheese
We living in evil days where pedophiles prey on little children
Suicide it whispers lies lets break them ties and start rebuilding
I got a dream to see a smile on the face of the youth today in reservations
Time to pray for the church today that's hating preaching condemnation
We want to see restoration revelation Lord we waiting
It's hard to reach these people hurt by residential schools and slave plantations
I know your faithful Lord I know you're in control
So I sing a song of freedom like Martin Luther king it's from the soul
Chorus
Because I got dreams that kids will be redeemed dreams of hearing a child sing songs to the King
Dreams of reaching the world with a simple song even if it helps one soul move on
Got so many dreams a young girls self esteem a thugs fight to live and get a prostitute on her feet
This is my dream cause I been redeemed got give back what the Lord has done for me I have a dream
Verse 2
No limit to the things you can do get Christ get crunk I pray you
Rip mics speak life to the people who lost their life they wait for you
They seeking inspiration cant see past they desperation
So they got to life fast quick dash for the cash or its back in granny's basement
Can we make it to the promise land that's grand and filled with milk and honey?
Or we going to stay trapped in a system that got us lusting after money
Many men died so we can dream they marched up and down the streets with dreams
A place where we serve the phenes and kill each other over cream nah!
We got to get a grip lockjaw get raw get ready for in corruption
A lot of rappers from back in the day prophesied we heading for self destruction
Why can't we see the signs were to busy living that sinful life
To be living in prison and giving our seeds a reason to live this life
I give you life give you Christ give you the maker of darkness and light
Bid you to enter His gates like winter don't wait the storm could come tonight
It will be alright close your eyes and dream let your voice be heard
Put that hustle down player pick up the word
Chorus
Because I got dreams that kids will be redeemed dreams of hearing a child sing songs to the King
Dreams of reaching the world with a simple song even if it helps one soul move on
Got so many dreams a young girls self esteem a thugs fight to live and get a prostitute on her feet
This is my dream cause I been redeemed got give back what the Lord has done for me I have a dream
I got a dream one day we will open up our eyes remove the blinds and really see now
We can't stand by watch the young die mothers cry daddy's gone in the streets we be now
(There's so much pain inside) can we be released cause we keep on balling
Need to eat plus those kids on the block got those rocks in their socks that moneys calling
So much temptation they facing little kids they get deceived
I'm trying to lead em to a life in Christ let them dreams they can achieve
Them blessings they can receive they aint got to do them dirty deeds
They aint got to sell their bodies on the street to live and breath and get that cheese
We living in evil days where pedophiles prey on little children
Suicide it whispers lies lets break them ties and start rebuilding
I got a dream to see a smile on the face of the youth today in reservations
Time to pray for the church today that's hating preaching condemnation
We want to see restoration revelation Lord we waiting
It's hard to reach these people hurt by residential schools and slave plantations
I know your faithful Lord I know you're in control
So I sing a song of freedom like Martin Luther king it's from the soul
Chorus
Because I got dreams that kids will be redeemed dreams of hearing a child sing songs to the King
Dreams of reaching the world with a simple song even if it helps one soul move on
Got so many dreams a young girls self esteem a thugs fight to live and get a prostitute on her feet
This is my dream cause I been redeemed got give back what the Lord has done for me I have a dream
Verse 2
No limit to the things you can do get Christ get crunk I pray you
Rip mics speak life to the people who lost their life they wait for you
They seeking inspiration cant see past they desperation
So they got to life fast quick dash for the cash or its back in granny's basement
Can we make it to the promise land that's grand and filled with milk and honey?
Or we going to stay trapped in a system that got us lusting after money
Many men died so we can dream they marched up and down the streets with dreams
A place where we serve the phenes and kill each other over cream nah!
We got to get a grip lockjaw get raw get ready for in corruption
A lot of rappers from back in the day prophesied we heading for self destruction
Why can't we see the signs were to busy living that sinful life
To be living in prison and giving our seeds a reason to live this life
I give you life give you Christ give you the maker of darkness and light
Bid you to enter His gates like winter don't wait the storm could come tonight
It will be alright close your eyes and dream let your voice be heard
Put that hustle down player pick up the word
Chorus
Because I got dreams that kids will be redeemed dreams of hearing a child sing songs to the King
Dreams of reaching the world with a simple song even if it helps one soul move on
Got so many dreams a young girls self esteem a thugs fight to live and get a prostitute on her feet
This is my dream cause I been redeemed got give back what the Lord has done for me I have a dream
To Save a Life - Movie Review
This is a powerful
movie that deals with bullying, teen suicide, and teen pregnancy as well as hypocrisy
in the Church and yes, even youth groups. These topics seem to be at the forefront of the lives of teens these days.
It is surprisingly realistic. The
writer obviously had great insights into both the high school world and the
church world.
I highly recommend
that teens, parents of teens and anyone works with or mentors teens see this movie! I showed it to a group of 14
youth and young adults ( Christian and non) and while, at first, some of them
were quite skeptical , there were was soon intense attention paid to what was
happening.. tears, laughter and an amazing message were all experienced.. After
the movie everyone agreed that it was very well done and had a very powerful
message that is so relevant for today’s youth.
Some things you should
know about this movie:
This is a Christian
production, but unlike some others in the past, it is very well done.With great filming,
great acting, storyline and character development – this movie is not at all
cheesy or corny – seriously! No, SERIOUSLY!
Although a Christian production, it is not too
preachy. I think the values and message of this movie would be enjoyed by and
would benefit all people, religious or
otherwise.
Although the movie is
ripe with Christianity, I don’t think someone would fully understand how to be
redeemed ( spiritually speaking) just from watching this movie. A great answer
to this is to give a short, clear Gospel message at the end.
In an attempt to be
somewhat authentic, there are a few minor swear words in the movie as well as a
scene suggesting that sex is about to take place. This is all done in the
context of the character learning what is godly and what is not.
I have been able to
find this movie at Blockbuster for rental or purchase as well as Amazon and
other online sites.
Just a note on some
other very well done faith-based movies:
Fireproof – a very
realistic story of the somewhat overwhelming challenges faced in marriage.
Soul Surfer – the true
story of Bethany Hamilton , now a pro surfer, who lost her arm in a shark
attack and has inspired many many youth and others.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Thursday, May 19, 2011
James Durban, Aspergers and the Difference Between Diagnosing and Labeling
I don't know everything about this guy but what I do know so far .. is simply amazing. He was diagnosed with Tourettes and Aspergers ( a form of Autism) early in life and yet has broken through with his voice and acting.
What I appreciate about James is that not only is he willing to try all these things despite his challenges - he's willing to admit he has the challenges, he even embraces them!
He knows the difference between a diagnosis and a label.
As I wrote in on article on my own struggle with mental illness,
"Diagnosing is not labeling – please know
the difference. Correct diagnosis can free someone – like the truth. The root
problem is treated and the symptoms lessen or disappear altogether. Labeling
ignores the root problem and only brings the person down further – they often
even tend to become more like the label."
James can be ( and probably is) a huge role model for all of us but especially those who suffer with similar issues. Way to go James - way to get on stage, tics and all.
I'm pulling for this kid.
Read and watch his story here:
How James Durban is Overcoming Tourettes and Asperbergers
Perfect Peace (by Annie Johnson Flint)
Perfect Peace
by Annie Johnson Flint
I do not look back
God knows the fruitless efforts,
The wasted hours, the sinning, the regrets;
I leave them all with Him who blots the record,
And mercifully forgives and then forgets.
I do not look forward
God sees all the future,
The road that, short or long, will lead me Home.
And He will face with me its every trial,
And bear for me the burdens that may come.
I do not look around me
Then would fears assail me,
So wild the tumult of earth’s restless seas,
So dark the world, so filled with woe and evil,
So vain the hope of comfort or of ease.
I do not look in
For then am I most wretched,
My self hath not on which to stay my trust.
Nothing I see save failures and shortcomings,
And weak endeavors crumbling into dust.
But I look up –
Into the face of Jesus.
For there my heart can rest, my fears are stilled;
And there is joy and love and light for darkness,
And Perfect Peace, and every hope fulfilled.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Life is hard. God is good. So whats up?
***I wrote this as a youth devotional almost 3 years ago. What's funny is that now that I am a father, it rings even more true ( eg. the 2nd point )
Well we all learn that life is hard soon enough, life doesn’t seem fair either sometimes. I’ve been experiencing this lately a bit. The bitterness of life tends to set in – so often too early. Okay this devo is a little long but give it a chance :)
In my limited years on this planet I too have pondered the age old question: “Why do bad things happen when God is supposed to be good”. Let me be the first to say that I do not in any way have it all figured out – if I said I did, you ‘d probably stop reading this anyways. I do have a few thoughts that I’ve accumulated though and I guess I would like to share them tonight – for God’s glory I hope. There are three things I take into consideration when faced with this question.
1) Free will and sin. A lot of the garbage that goes on in our life and in the world is not God’s fault. One simple example on a world scale is that fact that there is food and enough to feed all humanity on this planet – but due to many reasons( a lot of them to do with corrupt governments in the third world) people are starving.
2) Don’t get me wrong - I don’t believe all suffering and illness on a personal level comes from sin – God is far more gracious than we give Him credit for. Here’s the thing guys and gals – for those of you wondering why God has let you go through what you are going through – try seeing it from His point of view – maybe he actually has our best interests at heart.
Sherry came home the other day and told me a story about one of her co-workers. This man and his wife and infant son were coming back from Vancouver to Vernon through the Coquihalla highway in the winter ( often dangerous if you know the area). It seems the child was in the “in-between” stage of having 2 different car seats – a super safe one for a younger kid and one more liberal one for an older child. Now the little boy had been traveling in the “big kid” car seat for most of the trip and was doing fine, it was dark, they were tired and the son was very cranky . For some reason though the father had a feeling about the car seat that night. He pulled over and insisted that the little boy go back into the “younger car seat” for extra safety – well this made the child furious – he threw a tantrum – the world was over as far as this kid was concerned. To be honest the man’s wife wasn’t too happy with him either – why bother the kid when he’s already cranky?. At any rate the father continued with the car seat change and set off driving again. It wasn’t long before they were rolling inside their car as it tumbled off the highway into the dark ditch. It took the full grown man 5 months to recover enough to come back to work and both parents believe that if it were not for the extra secure car seat - they’re baby may well not have lived. It turned out the child had not a scratch on him after the accident.
The point is this folks – when God allows us to go through something that to us seems uncomfortable – even horrible – He knows what He is doing and He is doing it with our best in mind – just like the father who wrestled his small son into the carseat.
I find that its often not right away that I understand why God allowed something in my life – its often in the long run that it makes more sense ( and it may not even be till heaven till we fully understand – cue faith)
But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel:
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
You are Mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you. Isaiah 43:2
3) The last short point I want bring up is this - Jesus died for you. He went through unspeakable torment physically, spiritually, emotionally and mentally - on the cross - just for you. So when a little ( or a whole lot ) of trouble comes your way – wouldn’t you believe that He has the best in mind for you? Cue trust.
Hbr 12:2
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hbr 12:3
For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.
Well we all learn that life is hard soon enough, life doesn’t seem fair either sometimes. I’ve been experiencing this lately a bit. The bitterness of life tends to set in – so often too early. Okay this devo is a little long but give it a chance :)
In my limited years on this planet I too have pondered the age old question: “Why do bad things happen when God is supposed to be good”. Let me be the first to say that I do not in any way have it all figured out – if I said I did, you ‘d probably stop reading this anyways. I do have a few thoughts that I’ve accumulated though and I guess I would like to share them tonight – for God’s glory I hope. There are three things I take into consideration when faced with this question.
1) Free will and sin. A lot of the garbage that goes on in our life and in the world is not God’s fault. One simple example on a world scale is that fact that there is food and enough to feed all humanity on this planet – but due to many reasons( a lot of them to do with corrupt governments in the third world) people are starving.
2) Don’t get me wrong - I don’t believe all suffering and illness on a personal level comes from sin – God is far more gracious than we give Him credit for. Here’s the thing guys and gals – for those of you wondering why God has let you go through what you are going through – try seeing it from His point of view – maybe he actually has our best interests at heart.
Sherry came home the other day and told me a story about one of her co-workers. This man and his wife and infant son were coming back from Vancouver to Vernon through the Coquihalla highway in the winter ( often dangerous if you know the area). It seems the child was in the “in-between” stage of having 2 different car seats – a super safe one for a younger kid and one more liberal one for an older child. Now the little boy had been traveling in the “big kid” car seat for most of the trip and was doing fine, it was dark, they were tired and the son was very cranky . For some reason though the father had a feeling about the car seat that night. He pulled over and insisted that the little boy go back into the “younger car seat” for extra safety – well this made the child furious – he threw a tantrum – the world was over as far as this kid was concerned. To be honest the man’s wife wasn’t too happy with him either – why bother the kid when he’s already cranky?. At any rate the father continued with the car seat change and set off driving again. It wasn’t long before they were rolling inside their car as it tumbled off the highway into the dark ditch. It took the full grown man 5 months to recover enough to come back to work and both parents believe that if it were not for the extra secure car seat - they’re baby may well not have lived. It turned out the child had not a scratch on him after the accident.
The point is this folks – when God allows us to go through something that to us seems uncomfortable – even horrible – He knows what He is doing and He is doing it with our best in mind – just like the father who wrestled his small son into the carseat.
I find that its often not right away that I understand why God allowed something in my life – its often in the long run that it makes more sense ( and it may not even be till heaven till we fully understand – cue faith)
But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel:
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
You are Mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you. Isaiah 43:2
3) The last short point I want bring up is this - Jesus died for you. He went through unspeakable torment physically, spiritually, emotionally and mentally - on the cross - just for you. So when a little ( or a whole lot ) of trouble comes your way – wouldn’t you believe that He has the best in mind for you? Cue trust.
Hbr 12:2
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hbr 12:3
For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Listen to the story of abortion survivor Gianna Jessen. I've never heard anything like it. Its both gut-wrenching and beautiful.
Gianna Jessen part 1
Gianna Jessen part 2
Gianna Jessen part 1
Gianna Jessen part 2
God and Suffering - Steven Curtis Chapman
One of the most poignant commentaries on God and suffering from Steven Curtis Chapman. He lost his daughter when she was accidently run over by his son.
Steven Curtis Chapman part 1
Steven Curtis Chapman part 2
Steven Curtis Chapman part 3
Steven Curtis Chapman part 1
Steven Curtis Chapman part 2
Steven Curtis Chapman part 3
Friday, May 13, 2011
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and OCD - Managing Compulsions and Obsessions (Dr. J.M. Schwartz)
My Intro: This article may not make sense to most people and that's okay. It is however a glimpse into my world and others who suffer with severe or even mild cases of Obssessive Compulsive Disorder. I used to joke about having "OCD" but 've since learned if you really have it, its not cool.
For Christians, if you feel uncomfortable with the idea of Mental Illness you should really look into it and talk to real believers who have real mental illness issues. In this article, you can replace words such as "facts". "reality" etc with "The Truth of God's Word" and it might make more sense to you ( they are the same thing to me).
Managing Compulsions and Obsessions*
This
page briefly describes a behavioral self-treatment program that can be used for
dealing with compulsive and obsessive thoughts, urges and behavior. This
approach has been shown effective in numerous studies conducted during the past
twenty years for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD),
compulsive overeating, substance abuse, and pathological gambling. It is also
thought to be helpful for compulsive sexual urges and behavior. Recent research
by Schwartz and others at UCLA has demonstrated that this self-treatment
program can also alter the neurochemical brain processes that seem to be
associated with compulsions and obsessions. See also the page on this WEB site
that deals more generally with Anxiety and
the Treatment of Anxiety Disorders.STEP 1: RELABEL
The first step is to learn to recognize your obsessive thoughts and compulsive urges as symptoms of a disorder. To do so, it is important to increase your mindful awareness of this pathological process at work. Some have referred to this awareness as the "Impartial Spectator" or the "Observing Ego", which is the capacity that resides in each of us to observe our behavior and recognize what is "real" as distinct from what is not real, or just a symptom. The capacity to distinguish between real needs and pathological symptoms allows us to fend off pathological urges until they begin to recede and fade. The goal of Step 1 is to learn to RELABEL intrusive thoughts and urges as obsessions and compulsions, and to relabel these assertively. It will serve you to refer to these urges in these terms - use the labels "obsession" and "compulsion". Train yourself to say, "I don't need or want to do this behavior; I'm merely having a thought that I need to do this." You must learn to recognize these intrusive, obsessive thoughts and urges as the symptoms of a disorder, and as such distinguish these from desires that are healthy for you to satisfy, and behaviors that will enable you to feel better over the long term. You must come to recognize these intrusive, obsessive thoughts and urges as symptoms that help keep the disorder in place. You might consider the urges you experience as similar to the irrational thoughts of the compulsive handwasher who believes that he must constantly wash his hands to be free of harmful germs and bacteria.
STEP 2: REATTRIBUTE
The essence of this step is to REATTRIBUTE your obsessive thoughts and urges to a disorder that involves the sending of false messages from your brain. It is important to not take your thoughts and urges at face value, and to remind yourself that "this is not me; this is my disorder at work." Research has demonstrated that individuals who develop obsessive-compulsive urges and behavior also tend to have certain brain areas (the caudate nucleus and associated frontal lobe structures) that are chronically overstimulated, which contributes to the intensity and urgency of obsessive-compulsive thoughts and urges. It is important to be aware of this underlying physiological process and to realize that it is impossible to make the thoughts and urges go away immediately. The important thing to realize is that you don't need to act on the urges. You don't need to listen to them. Don't take them at face value. They are false messages from the brain that are part of a disorder. The most effective thing you can do is to put the thoughts and urges aside and go on to another behavior. Do something else; trying to make the thoughts and urges go away will only create more stress, which serves to make the thoughts and urges more intense. The point is to not engage with the thoughts by either acting on them or trying to make them go away, but simply RELABEL and REATTRIBUTE them as symptoms of a disorder. Then move on to other things, as described in Step 3.
STEP 3: REFOCUS
This step involves taking action to refocus your attention to another subject. This ordinarily is the automatic work of the brain - specifically the caudate nucleus - but because the caudate nucleus is not functioning properly, this shifting of focus is something that you must do "manually". In REFOCUSING, the idea is to work around the intrusive thoughts and urges by shifting attention to something else, if only for a few minutes. This may involve making and following through with plans for the remainder of the day. It should lead to an activity that will absorb your attention, and that you will find satisfying and enjoyable. Hobbies can be particularly good. For example, you may choose to take a walk, exercise, listen to music, read, play a computer game, or practice a sport that you enjoy. The goal of treatment is to stop responding to the obsessive thoughts and urges, while acknowledging that, for the present, these uncomfortable feelings and urges will continue to bother you. You begin to "work around" them by doing another behavior. You learn that, even though the thoughts and urges are present, they do not have to control your behavior. You make the decision about what you're going to do, rather than responding to thoughts as a robot responds to commands. By REFOCUSING, you reclaim your decision-making power, and as a result the dysfunctional biochemical reverberations of the brain no longer dictate what you do.
It is important to acknowledge that REFOCUSING is frequently not easy. It can take significant effort and even require tolerance of some very painful feelings. Therefore, it is important to observe the "Fifteen Minute Rule", which basically states that you will not act on an obsessive-compulsive thought or impulse without allowing at least 15 minutes to pass. During this 15 minutes you should work on RELABELING, REATTRIBUTING and REFOCUSING. In time, as you practice this, the process will become easier and will lead to greater reductions in the intensity of the compulsive thoughts and urges. Sometimes, however, the thoughts and urges will be too strong and you may find yourself performing the compulsion. This is not a time to berate yourself for succumbing to the obsessive-compulsive behavior. Simply acknowledge that your compulsion and disorder "won this round", and that your practice will make it more manageable the next time. It is also helpful to keep a JOURNAL of your successful REFOCUSING efforts. This will help to remind you of your successes and to identify which behaviors are most helpful to the process of refocusing. Also, as your list of successes gets longer, it will become inspirational and will be a place you can turn when the thoughts and urges "heat up." Record only your successes. There is no need to record your failures. You will be assisted by learning to give yourself a pat on the back, which is often difficult for people who experience compulsions and obsessions.
STEP 4: REVALUE
The Revaluing step comes into play after much practice of the first 3 steps. After you have had experience with relabeling, reattributing and refocusing - identifying your compulsive thoughts and urges as part of a pathological process - you will begin to REVALUE - actually put much less value on - the feelings that go along with this process. This is further assisted by two substeps to STEP 2: REATTRIBUTION: these are ANTICIPATE and ACCEPT. Anticipate means that you are prepared for the thoughts and urges to recur; you are not surprised by them, and you do not spend energy beating yourself up because you have them. You know what causes them and you work around them. You refuse to let these symptoms shock you, and you refuse to let them become a source of negativity about yourself. Obsessive thoughts and urges may occur hundreds of times each day. There is no need to dwell on them. This is where the second substep, ACCEPT, comes into play. Simply anticipate and accept that you have these thoughts and urges, and do your best to get on with other things. REFOCUSING is like a martial art, and a little like meditation. An obsessive thought or a compulsive urge is very strong, but also quite stupid. If you stand right in front of it and take the full brunt of its power, trying to drive it from your mind, it will defeat you repeatedly. Once you learn to step aside, acknowledging the thoughts as you work around them, you will find it progressively easier to move on to the next thing. You are learning to keep your wits about you in the face of a powerful opponent, an opponent that will also wither and die from your unwillingness to imbue it with attention and energy. Eventually, by taking charge of your actions, you will take charge of your mind and ultimately take charge of your life.
QUICK SUMMARY
STEP 1: RELABELRecognize that the intrusive thoughts and urges are the result of a DISORDER, which includes a reversible brain dysfunction that makes it difficult to automatically shift your focus.
STEP 2: REATTRIBUTE
Realize that the INTENSITY and INTRUSIVENESS of the thoughts and urges is also caused by dysfunctional brain processes.
STEP 3: REFOCUS
Work around the intrusive thoughts and urges by focusing your attention on something else, at least for a few minutes. DO ANOTHER BEHAVIOR.
STEP 4: REVALUE
Do not take the compulsive thoughts and urges at face value. These thoughts and urges are false messages from the brain that do not merit your active attention or concern. THEY ARE NOT SIGNIFICANT; acknowledge them for what they are and move on!
Maryland Institute for Individual & Family Therapy
7307 Baltimore Avenue, Suite 208, College Park, MD 20740
11249C Lockwood Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20901
301-277-3250 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 301-277-3250 end_of_the_skype_highlighting*Adapted from Schwartz, J.M. (1996). Brain Lock: A Four-Step Self-Treatment Method to Change your Brain Chemistry. New York: Harper Collins.
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Cognitive Therapy errors in thinking:
Ø
Emotional Reasoning ( How you feel instead of
facts)
Ø
Catastrophizing ( Imagining worst case scenario
and reacting as such)
Ø
Dichotomous Thinking (Either / Or , Absolute
perfection or total failure)
Ø
Personalization ( Making everything that happens
related to yourself and your actions)
Ø
Selective Attention ( The tendency to notice
only certain aspects, usually negative, of a situation)
Ø
Exaggeration of `normal` concerns about a
situation
Ø
Hyper – Responsibility
Ø
Overestimating negative outcomes of a situation
Ø
Having unrealistic expectations of performance
Grace Elizabeth - The Story of a Birth
Its been 1 month today since Grace Elizabeth first entered the outside world or as Dan Haseltine put it “Since I first saw her breathing on her own”…
Its been 3 and a half years since the rather monumental decision to begin trying to have a child.
About 2 years since we lost our first child Chay at 14 weeks into pregnancy… that was on a Father’s Day.
I may not have seen Chay born into the outside world but I saw his little heart beating, via ultrasound, while God was yet forming him in the womb and my heart beat with it.
Chay
Chay
After that there was a dark time in our lives. When it was safe we began trying again but it seemed like it took forever, every month a bitter sweet expectation; every menstrual period, a mourning period. And then it happened and we looked at each other and we had no idea how to feel. We were scared a miscarriage might happen again. I was scared what that might do to my wife and we were very very cautious.
Its been a bit of a journey for us but I know so many other stories now from other people who have been through so much more, so much longer…. And it touched me deeply how merciful and supporting they were to us when they had so much of their own suffering.
And so we waited. We had the first ultra sound and things looked good, I was still very nervous and I think Sher was too. We gave each other knowing glances but didn’t speak aloud too much of our fears.
Time marched on and things kept looking good and yet I was still very scared inside, worrying about the actual birth and the health and safety of our child. I wrote to a friend and mentor of mine at the time expressing my fears and asking for prayer. Something he said in his reply stuck with me…. “Just remember you don't have to know what God is doing, just remember Who He is. He loves both of you very much and wants the best for you.” I know this can be easy to say but the truth of it is real and it reminded me of where I should be putting my trust and what I should be resting in - God’s character, not just what He is apparently letting happen in my life. Like I said, not easy, but true.
Then came March 13th . The due date was the 15th and we were pretty prepared for an overdue baby as we had been warned many times that the first one was usually late. Sherry had had some minor cramping the night before but had barely spoke of it (being the somewhat stubborn warrior she is). As it was Sunday we headed off to church, marvelling at the size of Sherry’s belly. That Sunday, the focus was on youth and as leaders in that area we were asked to come up to the stage. Pastor Larry encouraged us in our ministry, joked about the baby being ready and suggested we take a bumpy car ride to hurry things a long. He then committed us to God in prayer.
We enjoyed the morning and Sherry showed no signs of stress nor mentioned anything out of the ordinary, so we continued on with our usual routine and went to Wendy’s for lunch with our family and friends and then went home for a rest before the youth would come over that evening for “Koinonia” ( a Greek word meaning fellowship), the name of our little group get-together for Bible study, discussion and prayer.
Did I mention that Sherry did not say that anything was out of the ordinary?
All of a sudden I notice Sherry bent over the kitchen island in what looked like significant pain. I asked what was going on and she told me she had been having cramps all morning but didn’t want to ruin the day, now they were getting worse - oh Sherry darling. We decided we were in pre-labour (see your Baby’ Best Chance handbook!) and decided we should probably go up to the hospital to at least get checked out.
I had to admit I was a little surprised and a little happy about this (as I am not the most patient person in the world) . So I fairly calmly grabbed our “Hospital Bag” (Gentlemen, do not be without one!) and packed the car, still thinking in the back of my mind this was just a pre-caution. I called one of my youth leaders up and said I would put a key to the house in the mail box just in case we weren’t home in time.
Arrival at the Hospital. By now Sherry is in massive pain and scared and saying “I don’t think I can do this, I don’t think I can do this”, thinking of the hours and hours she would still have to go through (I thought of repeating what one of my old pastors had said to his wife when she was in labour – “Are you sure you still want to go through with this?” but I thought better J) .
We are put into a check up room and a very nice nurse named Susan comes in to look at the vitals. She heeds that labour is very long and not to get too excited, then she sees Sherry’s stomach almost reach out and slap her as Sher has a contraction. Seeming somewhat taken aback by the very visible movement she says “Well we better do an examination just to make sure”. Okay, that’s cool (by now I’m getting used to strangers invading my poor wife’s privacy – its takes a while guys, at first you just want to give them a knee to the head). The nurse fiddles around a bit then pops her head up “Oh my, you’re 5 centimetres, I think I‘ll give the doctor a ring” Yes, please do.
So by now all 3 of us are quite aware that Sherry is in Active Labour (again see Baby’s Best Chance handbook) which explains Sherry’s earlier lament – she didn’t realize she was right in the thick of things, she thought it was only beginning and was going to be infinitely worse etc…. Once again it was confirmed to me that my wife is a warrior… a princess warrior really.
And so birth begins. Nurse Susan suggests I grab her other leg, with adrenaline running, I grab it like I’m putting someone in a headlock. I was in there like a dirty shirt and I didn’t even have time to think about it. All of a sudden I was a full blown coach spurring my wife on to the end of the marathon….
This goes on for a while then, in the background somewhere, I hear someone yell down the hall for help. In a moment I am gently but firmly squished out of the inner circle as all kinds of nurses contort my wife’s body and I, rather oblivious to any threat, grab my camera and start taking pictures – pictures you will never see by the way. Apparently our little daughter’s shoulder had gotten stuck and the umbilical cord was also dangerously near her neck and head. But alas, The Lord and the doctor worked this out …
…. and Grace was born.
8 lbs 6 oz. 5:51 pm – about 7 hours since we had been on the stage at church, about 3 hours since we first came to the hospital, about an hour before Bible study was to begin. She is thrown onto mom’s chest for a few minutes then checked over and handed to me while Sherry is looked after.
Birth was the most beautiful, intense, physically violent and spiritually mind-blowing thing I have ever seen. The feeling of seeing my daughter enter the world was … well it was all that everyone said it would be and more. All the hype was true. And that rarely happens in this world.
I have written another little note concerning the meaning of our daughter’s name but in short God’s grace is a concept that few people have fully grasped. In the Bible, it can be a greeting or a gift. Most importantly though, it refers to the work of redemption and transformation of a person’s life through Jesus Christ.
As the song puts it, “Grace, its name for a girl. It’s also a thought that changed the world.”
Elizabeth means an oath to God or worshipper of God. When we understand grace, we can but worship the One from Whom it flows.
I think I have always had a pretty high degree of respect for women but that degree was added to big time as I saw Sherry go through the process of pregnancy from first to third trimesters, deliver a child (in what has to be nature’s most painful experience) and then continue to nurse that child every 2-3 hours with little sleep - and yes I know there is much more to come for both of us!
And I don’t just say this to get brownie points with Sher or the fairer sex in general – but her stamina, toughness, patience, perseverance and love were and are something amazing for me to behold. God Himself compares His love and comfort to that of the mother:
Isa 66:13 “As one whom his mother comforts, So I will comfort you; And you shall be comforted in Jerusalem."
And the Lord takes it even further when He says:
Isaiah 49:15 "Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you.
As a father I am only beginning to grasp how much my Heavenly Father must love me… from a child’s perspective my parents have done an amazing job and now my infant daughter will be teaching me His love….
1John 4:18-19 “ There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
We love Him, because he first loved us.”
We love Him, because he first loved us.”
Ephesians 1:6 “…to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.”
Chay
As some of you know, Sherry and I recently suffered the loss of our baby due to a miscarriage. We had a scare at 6 weeks but all had turned out well so we thought we might be out of the woods by the time we hit 13 weeks, but alas it was not God’s plan.
I realize in writing this that many many people have experienced similar things and worse. This is simply a tribute to our son or daughter who went before us.
Some may say that a miscarriage is just nature’s way of stopping a life that has something flawed in it and I guess that is one reason. Of course I replace “nature” with “God”. As for the reasons God would do this, I do not speculate too much. There are many possibilities and I have learned enough to know my Heavenly Father makes His decisions with sovereignty and lovingkindness and I’m learning to trust that.
At our 6 week visit when there was a possibility of a miscarriage, we became somewhat frustrated with the comments of one of the nurses. The words of comfort offered to us were that “Its only 6 weeks, its barely the size of _________ (fill in the blank)”. While I understand the nurse probably sees this everyday and was being sincere, the fact remains that it doesn’t matter to us how old or large our baby was – what mattered is that that baby was a life, it was a person. This is what we believe… that life starts at conception, and that it is sacred ( See Psalm 139 at bottom of note)
Something good happened out of this 6 week visit though. Because of the complications, we were given an ultrasound and as we held each others hand we saw life before us… the beating of a heart. The ultra sound tech pointed this out to us even though he was not supposed to and I am so thankful he did…. That moment was a gift from God.
I realize in writing this that many many people have experienced similar things and worse. This is simply a tribute to our son or daughter who went before us.
Some may say that a miscarriage is just nature’s way of stopping a life that has something flawed in it and I guess that is one reason. Of course I replace “nature” with “God”. As for the reasons God would do this, I do not speculate too much. There are many possibilities and I have learned enough to know my Heavenly Father makes His decisions with sovereignty and lovingkindness and I’m learning to trust that.
At our 6 week visit when there was a possibility of a miscarriage, we became somewhat frustrated with the comments of one of the nurses. The words of comfort offered to us were that “Its only 6 weeks, its barely the size of _________ (fill in the blank)”. While I understand the nurse probably sees this everyday and was being sincere, the fact remains that it doesn’t matter to us how old or large our baby was – what mattered is that that baby was a life, it was a person. This is what we believe… that life starts at conception, and that it is sacred ( See Psalm 139 at bottom of note)
Something good happened out of this 6 week visit though. Because of the complications, we were given an ultrasound and as we held each others hand we saw life before us… the beating of a heart. The ultra sound tech pointed this out to us even though he was not supposed to and I am so thankful he did…. That moment was a gift from God.
Our second visit to the emergency room and our second ultra sound was not such a happy ending. It showed that there was no heartbeat, that Life had left the womb. But we do not believe that it was extinguished but rather gathered up by our Heavenly Father. Let me say something here… I know that it is common for people to say their loved one is in heaven – but this is something we know to be true by faith. By the Word of God… this is what we put our hope in. When King David lost his baby he had this to say ….2 Samuel 12:23 “…I will go to him, but he will not return to me.” I take this to mean that David would go to see his son in the afterlife ( and again see the passage from Psalm 139 below).
When it was all over and I was sitting by Sherry in her hospital bed, the thought was brought up of naming our baby ( something I now realize that many many people who have had miscarriages have done). It reinforces the sacredness of that life and brings some peace and closure for the parents. After some thought, prayer and research one of the names we gave our baby was “Chay” (pronounced Shay) . This is the Hebrew word for “life”, and the name was inspired by that moment of seeing the heart beating, strong and clear.
The next week was difficult for both of us , especially Sherry, but the Lord was so very good to us. Our family and friends came out in droves to support us in anyway they could and for that we are eternally grateful. Thank you to all for your kind words, shared experiences and gifts of love. It has been a hard journey but one we have walked with God and those He has sent along… I don’t fully understand how Sherry has suffered from this, as she carried the baby in her own body, but she has been strong when she has needed to be and weak when she has needed to be…. His strength is made perfect in weakness. The male Gynecologist at our second visit pulled me aside and told me that for the woman, it is as if she had carried the baby to full term – he is also the one who suggested naming the baby. My Aunt told me the only way she could really get over the loss was to truly give her baby to the Lord (emotionally, mentally and spiritually) and trust Him to take care of them.
When it was all over and I was sitting by Sherry in her hospital bed, the thought was brought up of naming our baby ( something I now realize that many many people who have had miscarriages have done). It reinforces the sacredness of that life and brings some peace and closure for the parents. After some thought, prayer and research one of the names we gave our baby was “Chay” (pronounced Shay) . This is the Hebrew word for “life”, and the name was inspired by that moment of seeing the heart beating, strong and clear.
The next week was difficult for both of us , especially Sherry, but the Lord was so very good to us. Our family and friends came out in droves to support us in anyway they could and for that we are eternally grateful. Thank you to all for your kind words, shared experiences and gifts of love. It has been a hard journey but one we have walked with God and those He has sent along… I don’t fully understand how Sherry has suffered from this, as she carried the baby in her own body, but she has been strong when she has needed to be and weak when she has needed to be…. His strength is made perfect in weakness. The male Gynecologist at our second visit pulled me aside and told me that for the woman, it is as if she had carried the baby to full term – he is also the one who suggested naming the baby. My Aunt told me the only way she could really get over the loss was to truly give her baby to the Lord (emotionally, mentally and spiritually) and trust Him to take care of them.
I think we both still feel the sting of emptiness at the loss of our baby and all of the dreams that went with him or her. I still feel that kind of “punch to the gut” that hits me every once in a while and brings me to my knees .But we press on and God gives us grace for each day and of course hope for tomorrow. We made a deal with each other that we wanted this to bring us closer to each other and closer to God – and only Gods grace can accomplish that, we continue to praise Him for that.
I was talking on the phone to my mom one day afterwards (they were in Ft. St. John at the time), when she handed the phone to my Grandma, and she said to me with tears in her voice “Joe, I have three boys playing on the Streets of Gold, and now you have one too”. I couldn’t keep back the tears at that point. Not just tears of sorrow but tears of joy as well… for he is with our Heavenly Father and, like David, we are going to him.
Psalm 139:13-16
For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.
My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.
I was talking on the phone to my mom one day afterwards (they were in Ft. St. John at the time), when she handed the phone to my Grandma, and she said to me with tears in her voice “Joe, I have three boys playing on the Streets of Gold, and now you have one too”. I couldn’t keep back the tears at that point. Not just tears of sorrow but tears of joy as well… for he is with our Heavenly Father and, like David, we are going to him.
Psalm 139:13-16
For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.
My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.
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