Mental Health Monday: The Demons and the Pigs

 

Luke 8:26--39 tells us the beloved story of the man who lived in the tombs because he was possessed by a legion of demons and JESUS drove them into a herd of pigs who jumped off the cliff and drowned in the lake.

Now people have several opinions of the occurrence:

     -Some people say this story is clearly saying that this man is  demon-possessed, and does not have a mental illness.

    -Some people believe that this man does have a mental illness.

    -Some people don't believe in mental illness; and that mental illness is definitely not talked about in the Bible - which it is, BTW.

    -Some people think that sin causes mental illness.

    -Some people recognize mental illness as a true medical issue, and that has nothing to do with sin. (*Side note~some sins does lead to medical & other problems*)

 Regardless, of what you believe, JESUS healed this man of his demons.

And HE can heal people who have a mental illness.

However, HE doesn't always heal people. 

Many people stop believing in JESUS if they aren't healed.

    -Some people say you're not healed because your faith  isn't strong enough.

Sometimes, JESUS uses our mental health as part of our ministry

In Luke 8:28 we learn that demon-possessed man asked; "What do you want with me, JESUS, SON of the most High GOD?  I beg you don't torture me"

Are we asking GOD what HE wants from us; what HE wants from me?

Now, I know that HE doesn't "need" anything from me EVER!!!

I do owe HIM my love and respect; whether HE ever heals me or not.  I may end up being crazier than a betsy bug, so I ask that someone please remind me to praise GOD when  I can't remember to.

Wednesday's Word ~ Peace

 Photo by Gerd Altmann

Peace is a word that has a different meaning for everyone.

When I  was finding an image for this post, my first thought was to find a peace sign.  But when I saw this, I thought of 2 people:

Noah and Jesus

Noah sent out a dove twice out of the ark, (after first sending a raven).  The 1st time the dove brought back an olive branch ~ this is where the phrase "extend an olive branch" came from.  The 2nd time he sent out the dove, it didn't come back, meaning it had found a dry place to land  

I think when the dove didn't come back the 2nd time, it was saying that GOD was giving the earth rest from the rain and the people a rest from the evil people that had been destroyed by the flood.

When JESUS came out of the water after HE was baptized, the spirit of GOD descended on HIM like a dove.

Whenever we are in agreement with and are aligned with GOD we can be at peace...No matter what chaos is going on around us

What GOD Has Taught Me Sunday: I Am who HE Says I Am

 Photo off of Pixaba 

So, today after class I had a chocolate doughnut.  Then Barrett had a deacon's meeting and I had a cookie n cream milkshake from Steak n Shake. Well, needless to say I got stuff all over my shirt.  As I sat there watching people watch me get stuff all over myself, my first instinct was to be embarrassed.  Then I started thinking about a song that we had sung that morning.  I want to say it went like this "I am because the I AM says I am."  

Being disabled, I've spent most of my life feeling like I was inadequate.  No matter how often my parents, teachers or friends told me how special, smart, or loved I am/was, I never thought I was good enough.  {it is only been since I was in my forties that I've realized most people feel  EXACTLY the same way!}  However, people have felt this way since the beginning of time.  Cain did kill his own brother because God said his sacrifice didn't equal Able's.  

Truth is, none of us measure up...We can't...Once Adam and Eve sinned and lost their footing with GOD,  we did too.  It's only the blood of CHRIST that can save us from sin so that we can be reunited with GOD and spend eternity with HIM in HEAVEN.  We don't have to try to be someone we are not.HE meets and accepts us where we are.  We can't be good enough; we can't wash a stained shirt and have it come out quite as white as it was when we first go it.  I find it uncanny that one of the elements that cause the worst stains; blood, is the same element that Jesus used to save us from our sins.  

 Better than Oxy Clean!

Friday Fall - Gospel of the Candy Corn

  Holy Trinty.pdf

Candy corn is one of my favorite fall treats - probably one of my favorite candies EVER (next to peeps, of course!!!)

The Gospel of the Candy Corn goes like this:

The yellow is the base - GOD the FATHER

The orange represents the JESUS. the SON:  GOD, the FATHER sent JESUS HIS SON to suffer and die for our sins.  HE rose on the 3rd day so that we can live with GOD in Heaven  forever

The white stands for the HOLY SPIRIT:  When JESUS ascended into HEAVEN, HE promised to send a helper, a comforter.   This Comforter is our GUIDE here on earth until it is time for us to live with GOD the FATHER and JESUS the SON .

The TRINTY is made up of GOD the FATHER, JESUS the SON, and the HOLY SPIRIT:  they are three different identities, but they make up one BEING. 

 

So next time you're eating candy corn, remember the FATHER, the SPIRIT, and the SON! 

 

THE VOICE OF RUTH - FAVORITE BIBLICAL WOMAN

 

Mary is probably the most famous women in the Bible and many people's favorite biblical heroines  She did give birth to the Savior the world, so there's that.

That being said, who is your next favorite biblical woman?

When I was a young wife and Mama I wanted to be a Proverbs 31 girl, as many others do.  But, I always fell short (I've heard biblical commentaries talking about how the Proverbs 31 Woman was probably not just one woman, but vast examples of the qualities a godly woman should have. Maybe I'll blog about this sometime.)

While the bible is full of women heroines.   Mine is Ruth: she wasn't the mother of all creation. She wasn't a queen who persuade the king to spare the Jews-risking her own life. She wasn't a judge.  She didn't give Jesus a cup of water or wash His feet with her tears...

She was a simple peasant girl; widowed, with no where else to go.  She chose to cling to her mother-in-law and vowed to follow her ever she went.  Ruth 1:16 says:

Where you go I will go and where you stay I will stay.   You people will be my people and you GOD will be my God.  Where you die I will die and there I will be buried.  May the LORD deal with me ever so severely if anything but death separates you and me.

There are two tones to the story.  The first is the story of a dutiful daughter-in-law who loves and obeys her mother-in-law.  and went to find food.  While on this pursuit, she meets Boaz who treated her kindly.  He was a relative of Ruth's late husband and a kinsman redeemer.

Now, we must remember and understand that back  then, women were seen as property and not really as humans.  They "needed" to be "taken" care of.  It was actually a business transaction and she needed someone to "buy" her in order to "take care" of her.  

Boaz wasn't Ruth's late husband's nearest kinsmen redeemer, but the male relative  that was closer kinsmen redeemer  had too much to lose to "take" care of her.

So Boaz redeemed her and they became ancestors of our LORD, JESUS.

The reason I love Ruth is she's simple and pure.  She doesn't try to be something she's not.  She's content to settle down, get married and have a baby.  I believe that this is the life GOD intended for us when HE first created Adam and Eve.

The other tone of the story is a preview of Jesus.  He is the great kinsmen redeemer; the only one who has no sin and therefore is the only one who is pure enough to stand in our place and die for our sins to regain our favor with GOD.

THANKFUL FOR JESUS; THE SON

Jesus!  God Son.  The kid that was literally born to save the entire human race from the punishment of  sin that we all deserve.  I often think if I could willing give up one of  my two kids for the good of others?  Gut reaction - no thank you. 

 As I was thinking this, my brother, Luke, immediately came to my mind.  In Mach, he had to do what no parent wants to do.  He had to say good-bye to his son, Zach.   It was very unexpected and tragic.  They really don't know what happen and probably  never will.  Zach was 22, engaged to Haley and had a 9 month daughter named Tess who is the spitting image of him and a son named Bently .  He was a beloved son and grandson.  He was an awesome big brother to Caylie, Nathan and Presley, teased by his many aunts and uncles (mainly his UNCLES), and adored by a shrew of cousins.  (In case you didn't know, we are a BIG family!)    In the midst of their heartache,  the family choose to let Zach be a organ donor.  I think that he helped six or more individuals through  the donation of his organs
.
     Jesus is perhaps greatest organ donor off all, becaussHe shed His blood so that we can have life eternally.  You can only receive the transplant if you put you trus in Him.  

CLUES TO THE PUZZLE

Today I release myself to You.  You know me inside and out, hast as Psalm 139 says.  I can't remember a time when I didn't love You or when I didn't feel loved by You.  I don't deserve Your love;  I can't earn it.  But You gave me the gift of You Son wrapped in a crimson red bow.  I'll never know what you see in me, but I'm so thankful that you see me through Christ's blood and not through my own merit.  Only you can see deep into my soul and still love me.  You alone know all my secrets, thoughts and feelings; even better than I do.  Nothing catches you of guard. There's no where I can go where You can't see me and nothing I can say  that you can't hear because You're always within ear shot.  So much of my life is a mystery to me, but You O God, hold all the clues and  reveal  one by one; when you know I can handle them.  Some how the clues complete me and fit snugly into this puzzle I call life;  a puzzle that only You can see for now.  I won't see it completed until You show me my life in review when I meet You face to face.