Day 61
Ezekiel 24 - 35
Today was a very discouraging day in "Life with Autism."
Brandon was sleeping later than usual, which is never a good sign, but I remained hopeful as he woke up at 11am that if I can get him to hurry, (ha! that has never happened) we can make it to school for lunch, and I can speed over to the pool to swim laps before that opportunity comes to a halt at 1pm. But alas, as I went to get things ready while he was eating, he had a seizure.
So while he was resting and I was scrolling through FB, all I kept seeing were posts from people in the autism community bashing others in the autism community. Intermixed with that, were the countless posts of the missing for ten days now boy with autism who wandered from his school and has yet to be found. It was sad. Heartbreaking. We should all be united to stand against our true enemiess: Pharma, Monsanto, CDC, the Vaccine Industry, -- working toward some type of infrastructure that will care for our children when us parents are worn out and dead. Helping to ensure that no other child will be poisoned and left to suffer without medical treatment as so many like my son have. Looking for Avonte... But no. Lines drawn and innocent parents made to choose which side of a fence to be on, in a pasture that should have no fence. Lifelong friends in this autism journey, un-friended because of those lines drawn. And still, more pictures of Avonte. More stories of more Avonte's. More autism, more wandering, more bickering. And Avonte's mom....she most likely doesn't know of these fights in the autism community. All she wants is to find her son. But with all the bickering, lines being drawn, friends being un-friended, -- who is left looking?
It's all I want, too. To find my son. I want to find his health under all the toxins and poisons he's been exposed to and injected with. I want to find something for his future -- where he will live, what he will be able to do. And not anything at all in any of that negativity helps me do that. It only hinders it. And then staring at me on my desk I have my husband's health insurance enrollment package. I have yet to be brave enough to open that to see how much more I'll have to pay to get hardly anything that helps him covered. I'll have to pay a lot to have insurance, and also know that most of my expense in healing my son is not covered by that insurance. So I'll pay a lot more out of pocket. And then there is the "Shutdown" fiasco in Washington.
Discouraged, I turned to focusing on this days reading. But darn-it-all if I wasn't understanding that either! Until I came to Ezekiel 34. Like, all of it. I'll share some of it...
This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally. So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals. My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them.
That so applies to all the topics that have discouraged me today! We today, are just like they were in the writing of those words in Ezekiel. Woe to our Autism Community organizations who only take care of their own interests and not those of the whole flock! Woe to our elected officials who eat the curds, clothe themselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but who do not take care of the flock. Woe to all who purposefully scatter the autism community leaving everyone so wrapped up in that division that there is no one left to search for the 1 in 50 whose health has wandered away. The countless like Avonte who actually wander away. Most often never to be found.
We are scattered in our country because there is no credible presidential shepherd.
We are scattered in the autism community because shepherds are backstabbing other shepherds harshly and brutally.
We Christians are scattered because we have abandoned God.
Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, because my flock lacks a shepherd and so has been plundered and has become food for all the wild animals, and because my shepherds did not search for my flock but cared for themselves rather than for my flock, therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them.
I'm so encouraged by that. These past few books of the Bible have been filled with such turmoil. Much like the autism community, much like our country. But there is such HOPEISM to be found as well. The people of Israel will be reborn. God will return and dwell among his people again.
Our autism community will unite and be strong again.
Americans will take back their country.
Christians will turn their hearts and lives back to God.
For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the place where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.
I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.
I will save my flock and they will no longer be plundered.
I will make a covenant of peace with them and rid the land of wild beasts so that they may live in the desert and sleep in the forests in safety.
You my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, are people, and I am your God, declares the Sovereign Lord.
The Shepherd will search for his sheep, find them, rescue them, and forevermore look after them.
I find such REVIVAL in that. For my autism community, my country, my church.
I so want my autism community as one powerful flock united together. The 1 in 50 and counting, are counting on that. My adult sheep is counting on that. I'm counting on that.
To the HOPEISM of that!
HOOYAH
&
HALLELUJAH
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Monday, October 7, 2013
Experiencing the Names of God...
In this past weeks lesson in the Experiencing God Bible study I'm going through, it talked about the "Names of God." How we have Experienced him through who he is to us at different times in our life.
I was really touched by one verse... In Exodus 3:14 God said to Moses, "I Am Who I Am."
The author of the study explained further:
When God said, "I Am Who I am," He was saying, "I Am the eternal One. I will be what I will be." He was saying, "I am everything you will need."
I like that name of God. "I am everything you will need." Not everything I want, but everything I need. And some days, like this morning, that is such a hard thing to understand. I wanted to do all I had planned to do today. But Brandon had a seizure this morning. Yet another one. "I am everything you will need...." It's so easy to fit that name of God with things that do go my way. But ahhhh, seeing how it can when everything isn't going my way -- that's Experiencing God. Even not knowing how it does, as I often don't, yet still knowing somehow it does, is still Experiencing God. The Sovereignty of God.
Through these times I look to my most favorite name of God that I have experienced. Sustainer. I don't know so very many things about Brandon's future. I don't know how in the world Brandon has survived so many seizures that have tried to kill him, and a few times where they almost did. I don't know what more to do or how much longer they will last. All I know is that God has, is, and will sustain us all.
Each unit asks you to reflect on the thing that has most touched you for that week. I think for me it has been the name of God that I will call, "He Who Knows the Future."
The author of the study shared this:
"God's will is always best. You never have to question whether His will is best or right. It always is. This is true because He loves you and knows the future."
So many times in the past few years we have been so disappointed in things that haven't turned out the way we had hoped. After reading that, it was so comforting. His will is always best. His will is always right. Why? Because he knows the future.
I still have so many questions regarding the disappointments we have experienced. The why? Why? Why? Why? But even in that, I can have peace because God's will is always best. God's will is always right. Why? Because he loves me. Because he knows the future. Because he sees pitfalls that I can't see. Because he has seen things needed in us that perhaps aren't quite there yet. Because somehow what he has planned instead, is better. In Isaiah 46:11 it says, "What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do." That is what gets me through. That nothing, not seizures, not any disappointment, will have the power to thwart God's plans for me, my sons, my family. In all those questions I have, that statement is such a comfort. That name of God something to hold onto...
"He who completes"
In the meantime, I think God likes it when we ask those questions of why. I know he loves it when we turn to him, His word, to seek those answers of why... And most of all, as I have come to find out in this past weeks study, even when I do all that and still don't understand, it's ok. I simply need to just rely on this name of God ---
The Answer.
For all of my needs....He has been, is, and will always be -- the answer.
~ ~ ~
(Oh, how I can't wait to understand...to finally know him as, the explanation!)
(smile)
I was really touched by one verse... In Exodus 3:14 God said to Moses, "I Am Who I Am."
The author of the study explained further:
When God said, "I Am Who I am," He was saying, "I Am the eternal One. I will be what I will be." He was saying, "I am everything you will need."
I like that name of God. "I am everything you will need." Not everything I want, but everything I need. And some days, like this morning, that is such a hard thing to understand. I wanted to do all I had planned to do today. But Brandon had a seizure this morning. Yet another one. "I am everything you will need...." It's so easy to fit that name of God with things that do go my way. But ahhhh, seeing how it can when everything isn't going my way -- that's Experiencing God. Even not knowing how it does, as I often don't, yet still knowing somehow it does, is still Experiencing God. The Sovereignty of God.
Through these times I look to my most favorite name of God that I have experienced. Sustainer. I don't know so very many things about Brandon's future. I don't know how in the world Brandon has survived so many seizures that have tried to kill him, and a few times where they almost did. I don't know what more to do or how much longer they will last. All I know is that God has, is, and will sustain us all.
Each unit asks you to reflect on the thing that has most touched you for that week. I think for me it has been the name of God that I will call, "He Who Knows the Future."
The author of the study shared this:
"God's will is always best. You never have to question whether His will is best or right. It always is. This is true because He loves you and knows the future."
So many times in the past few years we have been so disappointed in things that haven't turned out the way we had hoped. After reading that, it was so comforting. His will is always best. His will is always right. Why? Because he knows the future.
I still have so many questions regarding the disappointments we have experienced. The why? Why? Why? Why? But even in that, I can have peace because God's will is always best. God's will is always right. Why? Because he loves me. Because he knows the future. Because he sees pitfalls that I can't see. Because he has seen things needed in us that perhaps aren't quite there yet. Because somehow what he has planned instead, is better. In Isaiah 46:11 it says, "What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do." That is what gets me through. That nothing, not seizures, not any disappointment, will have the power to thwart God's plans for me, my sons, my family. In all those questions I have, that statement is such a comfort. That name of God something to hold onto...
"He who completes"
In the meantime, I think God likes it when we ask those questions of why. I know he loves it when we turn to him, His word, to seek those answers of why... And most of all, as I have come to find out in this past weeks study, even when I do all that and still don't understand, it's ok. I simply need to just rely on this name of God ---
The Answer.
For all of my needs....He has been, is, and will always be -- the answer.
For now, John 13:7 will have to be that answer...
Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
~ ~ ~
(Oh, how I can't wait to understand...to finally know him as, the explanation!)
(smile)
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Alice came to a fork in the road...
Day 60
Ezekiel 13-23
I must admit that I've read this days reading twice now and am still struggling to find some words of application or insight. I so want to move on in the readings to get past all this death and destruction, but I want to stay long enough to get some sort of understanding....
The Lord is very serious about those who do not follow his commands. He is very serious about the death and destruction that follow those who do not follow Him. In Ezekiel 21:18-19 it says, "Son of man, mark out two roads for the sword of the king of Babylon to take, both starting from the same country. Make a signpost where the road branches off to the city."
Reading that verse made me think of this Lewis Carroll quote from Alice in Wonderland:
"Alice came to a fork in the road. "Which road do I take?' she asked.
'Where do you want to go?' responded the Cheshire Cat.
'I don't know,' Alice answered.
'Then,' said the Cat, 'it doesn't matter."
Oh, how it matters what road you take, as the Jews of that day found out. I don't think they really thought how much it indeed did matter what road they chose to veer off on! It matters to us, in our day, as we are finding out. We each have a choice to make in that fork in the road of our daily lives in deciding which way to go. God's way, or our way? In which choice we make. To follow obedience or disobedience?
The Jews of that day paid a very hefty price for the wrong choices they made. All they had to do was follow God's voice, but instead they followed the voices of false prophets.
As God has done time and time again in all these chapters of destruction, he offers hope. That when we choose the wrong road, there is grace and mercy and an opportunity to repent for going down it, and a new heart and a new spirit in choosing this time to go down the right road.
Ezekiel 18:30 says, "Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each one according to his ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!"
Ezekiel 16:59-60 offers me such HOPEISM as I too have been at that fork in the road where many times I have chosen the wrong path...
This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will deal with you as you deserve, because you have despised my oath by breaking the covenant. Yet I will remember the covenant I made with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you.
When the Cheshire Cat asks me where I want to go, I will know my answer ---
To everlasting...
I know just who I must follow to get me there.
And it ain't the cat.
Ezekiel 13-23
I must admit that I've read this days reading twice now and am still struggling to find some words of application or insight. I so want to move on in the readings to get past all this death and destruction, but I want to stay long enough to get some sort of understanding....
The Lord is very serious about those who do not follow his commands. He is very serious about the death and destruction that follow those who do not follow Him. In Ezekiel 21:18-19 it says, "Son of man, mark out two roads for the sword of the king of Babylon to take, both starting from the same country. Make a signpost where the road branches off to the city."
Reading that verse made me think of this Lewis Carroll quote from Alice in Wonderland:
"Alice came to a fork in the road. "Which road do I take?' she asked.
'Where do you want to go?' responded the Cheshire Cat.
'I don't know,' Alice answered.
'Then,' said the Cat, 'it doesn't matter."
Oh, how it matters what road you take, as the Jews of that day found out. I don't think they really thought how much it indeed did matter what road they chose to veer off on! It matters to us, in our day, as we are finding out. We each have a choice to make in that fork in the road of our daily lives in deciding which way to go. God's way, or our way? In which choice we make. To follow obedience or disobedience?
The Jews of that day paid a very hefty price for the wrong choices they made. All they had to do was follow God's voice, but instead they followed the voices of false prophets.
As God has done time and time again in all these chapters of destruction, he offers hope. That when we choose the wrong road, there is grace and mercy and an opportunity to repent for going down it, and a new heart and a new spirit in choosing this time to go down the right road.
Ezekiel 18:30 says, "Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each one according to his ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!"
Ezekiel 16:59-60 offers me such HOPEISM as I too have been at that fork in the road where many times I have chosen the wrong path...
This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will deal with you as you deserve, because you have despised my oath by breaking the covenant. Yet I will remember the covenant I made with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you.
When the Cheshire Cat asks me where I want to go, I will know my answer ---
To everlasting...
I know just who I must follow to get me there.
And it ain't the cat.
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Experiencing God: The Pursuit of a Love Relationship
In the Experiencing God Bible Study by Henry & Richard Blackaby, one of the units is about "God Pursues a Love Relationship." All of the units are very moving, and I hope to share something that stood out from each one -- eventually.
But this weeks really stood out. Perhaps, "smacked me upside the head" would be a better term.
It's about how a love relationship with God is more important than any other single factor in your life. How being loved by God is the highest relationship, the highest achievement, and the highest position in life. How God takes the initiative. He chooses us, loves us, and reveals His eternal purposes for our lives.
How Jesus' death on the cross settled His love for us.
How nothing can ever change that.
Nothing.
Ever.
Ever.
Ever.
I love that. I don't think I've ever really fully understood Romans 8:35, 37, 38, & 39 until this study, and how it so applies to my "Life with Autism."
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Shall autism mean that God doesn't love my son? No. Shall all the hardships we have faced, are facing, and will face mean that God doesn't love us anymore? No. In all those things, because of God's love that has sustained us, we have been more than conquerors. Nothing, not even our "Life with Autism" will be able to separate us from the love of God. That's just so encouraging to me. I know I have an entire community behind me. Many prayer warriors praying me through. But God.... God is LOVING me through. Why, that's more powerful than even my HOPEISM!
In this unit it asks us to thank God for the ways He has shown His love to us... He has sustained Brandon through every seizure. Even the one where he stopped breathing and we had to do CPR on him. God sustained him. Us. Me. He has provided for us, for Brandon. He has understood us, our anger at times, frustration, helplessness, -- where we questioned Him as to why. He has healed us, and many times in many ways, healed Brandon. Most importantly, God has heard us. Our pleas, our prayers, our times of panic. He has heard our cries and wiped our tears.
At one point in the lesson it asks that if you love Jesus with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind -- if you could only have one or the other of Jesus or 1) silver, gold, riches untold, houses and lands 2) men's applause and worldwide fame 3) be the king of a vast domain -- which would you choose? Jesus --- not because that's my nature, but because it's what Brandon taught me. It then asks that if you chose Jesus over all those worldly things, do you live that way? Yes. Brandon taught me that too. It's an all too humbling thing to admit that most likely if we didn't have Brandon, and "Life with Autism" -- I'm not sure if my answers would be the same. Brandon has taught us so much about how to truly Experience God. When your child cannot read, write, or talk ---- somehow having a fancy house, nice clothes or decorations just doesn't seem important. Keeping up with anyone isn't the mission. Keeping our son alive is.
The most humbling thing of all in this unit is that with the enormity of love God has for me, how his love pursues me daily, sustains me daily, how much I say I love Him in return --- yet fail time and time again to show Him that love in having that purposeful daily time alone with just Him....in thanksgiving and praise for all He is to me, my family. I like to think I do spend quite a large part of each day with God, in sometimes simply being in His presence, thoughts of Him and prayers to Him. As often as Brandon's situation allows, I do have very powerful "Praise & Worship Walks" with Him at the Nature Trails. Time when I listen to worship music and make prayers from them, speaking the lyrics to God. Powerful prayer times...made even more powerful when it rains and I go there because no one will be around and I can truly 'shout to the Lord' indeed! But in the sit down, purposeful study of His word -- I am lacking. If I love God as much as I say I do, then I should be studying His word a whole lot more than I do...
The author shared these statements that I was so very convicted by:
I have found this to be true in my walk with the Lord: I keep that time alone with God, not in order to have a relationship but because I have a relationship.
People who struggle to spend time with God don't have a scheduling problem; they have a love problem.
Ouch!
There's always HOPEISM that I can, and will, do better...
Taking scripture from Philippians 3:4-13
I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him....... Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
To forgetting how I have fallen short in the past and to pressing forward toward the goal of a closer walk with God ----
To winning the only prize worth winning ----
HOOYAH!
But this weeks really stood out. Perhaps, "smacked me upside the head" would be a better term.
It's about how a love relationship with God is more important than any other single factor in your life. How being loved by God is the highest relationship, the highest achievement, and the highest position in life. How God takes the initiative. He chooses us, loves us, and reveals His eternal purposes for our lives.
How Jesus' death on the cross settled His love for us.
How nothing can ever change that.
Nothing.
Ever.
Ever.
Ever.
I love that. I don't think I've ever really fully understood Romans 8:35, 37, 38, & 39 until this study, and how it so applies to my "Life with Autism."
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Shall autism mean that God doesn't love my son? No. Shall all the hardships we have faced, are facing, and will face mean that God doesn't love us anymore? No. In all those things, because of God's love that has sustained us, we have been more than conquerors. Nothing, not even our "Life with Autism" will be able to separate us from the love of God. That's just so encouraging to me. I know I have an entire community behind me. Many prayer warriors praying me through. But God.... God is LOVING me through. Why, that's more powerful than even my HOPEISM!
In this unit it asks us to thank God for the ways He has shown His love to us... He has sustained Brandon through every seizure. Even the one where he stopped breathing and we had to do CPR on him. God sustained him. Us. Me. He has provided for us, for Brandon. He has understood us, our anger at times, frustration, helplessness, -- where we questioned Him as to why. He has healed us, and many times in many ways, healed Brandon. Most importantly, God has heard us. Our pleas, our prayers, our times of panic. He has heard our cries and wiped our tears.
At one point in the lesson it asks that if you love Jesus with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind -- if you could only have one or the other of Jesus or 1) silver, gold, riches untold, houses and lands 2) men's applause and worldwide fame 3) be the king of a vast domain -- which would you choose? Jesus --- not because that's my nature, but because it's what Brandon taught me. It then asks that if you chose Jesus over all those worldly things, do you live that way? Yes. Brandon taught me that too. It's an all too humbling thing to admit that most likely if we didn't have Brandon, and "Life with Autism" -- I'm not sure if my answers would be the same. Brandon has taught us so much about how to truly Experience God. When your child cannot read, write, or talk ---- somehow having a fancy house, nice clothes or decorations just doesn't seem important. Keeping up with anyone isn't the mission. Keeping our son alive is.
The most humbling thing of all in this unit is that with the enormity of love God has for me, how his love pursues me daily, sustains me daily, how much I say I love Him in return --- yet fail time and time again to show Him that love in having that purposeful daily time alone with just Him....in thanksgiving and praise for all He is to me, my family. I like to think I do spend quite a large part of each day with God, in sometimes simply being in His presence, thoughts of Him and prayers to Him. As often as Brandon's situation allows, I do have very powerful "Praise & Worship Walks" with Him at the Nature Trails. Time when I listen to worship music and make prayers from them, speaking the lyrics to God. Powerful prayer times...made even more powerful when it rains and I go there because no one will be around and I can truly 'shout to the Lord' indeed! But in the sit down, purposeful study of His word -- I am lacking. If I love God as much as I say I do, then I should be studying His word a whole lot more than I do...
The author shared these statements that I was so very convicted by:
I have found this to be true in my walk with the Lord: I keep that time alone with God, not in order to have a relationship but because I have a relationship.
People who struggle to spend time with God don't have a scheduling problem; they have a love problem.
Ouch!
There's always HOPEISM that I can, and will, do better...
Taking scripture from Philippians 3:4-13
I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him....... Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
To forgetting how I have fallen short in the past and to pressing forward toward the goal of a closer walk with God ----
To winning the only prize worth winning ----
HOOYAH!
Saturday, September 14, 2013
Gathering the Scattered...
Day 59
Ezekiel 1-12
One of the companion books that I've been reading that help Bible beginners like me more fully understand what each book is about, has this to say about Ezekiel:
"Misery is going to get company."
Death and destruction continues, and in these chapters it seems your worse nightmares are being vividly described. But alas, even in all the death and destruction, there lies the faintest glimmers of hope...
I'm sure a few more rounds of this journey through the Bible will have me getting more Biblical application, but for now I can only relate to how verses like Ezekiel 11:12 apply to my life: "And you will know that I am the Lord, for you have not followed my decrees or kept my laws but have conformed to the standards of the nations around you."
I read that verse a couple of times and really had to evaluate my life and whether I am doing the same thing...
".....but have conformed to the standards of the nations around you."
The people have conformed to everyone elses standards but God's, and are now paying the price for that. I find myself thinking how stupid can they be - but then I also find myself asking the question, "Have I conformed to the influences around me?" Have I conformed to the worldly influences of things, attitudes, values, beliefs? Are there areas where I have conformed to excuses and justifications?
I think I've been doing good in some of those areas, --- we don't buy things just to have as things to decorate or adorn a wall with. I have held true to what should be valued, and what shouldn't be. I can thank my son Brandon who has autism, for that life lesson. But on other things, I feel I do need a major readjustment. Sometimes I let my attitude be shaped by others, or worse, I have a different attitude with different people. If I don't share some jokes with some people, but do share them with others, -- then gulp -- have I indeed conformed to a lower standard than I want for myself? Can right and wrong depend on who you are with at the moment? Can I sometimes make an excuse to not worship with the many because I've felt betrayed by a few? Can I truly consider myself transparent and honest in my Christianity if I know I do those things? Owie. Owie. Owie. I liked it better reading these passages when it was God bringing judgement on them. Not me.
I have to really think about that scripture as it applies to my advocacy as well. My Christianity is who I am, and my autism advocacy is who I am. I need to make sure one is not causing the other to conform, in particular, my advocacy not weakening my Christianity.
In all I do, I need to make sure God's scripture of Romans 12:2 overrides the world's scripture of Ezekiel 11:12!
Romans 12:2
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
As in all things, there is HOPEISM.
Even where I feel I have strayed in areas, I can be thankful that my God is a God of redemption. He loves to gather his people and bring them back, as in Ezekiel 11:17 which says, "This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will gather you from the nations and bring you back from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you back the land of Israel again. I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God."
Thank you Lord that when my Christianity gets scattered at times, you gather me up and bring me back to you...
How fitting that I am writing this on a Saturday, and National "Back to Church Day" is tomorrow, Sunday.
If you have felt scattered --- allow God to gather you up in his house of worship tomorrow and put a new spirit in you!
HOOYAH
&
HALLELUJAH
Ezekiel 1-12
One of the companion books that I've been reading that help Bible beginners like me more fully understand what each book is about, has this to say about Ezekiel:
"Misery is going to get company."
Death and destruction continues, and in these chapters it seems your worse nightmares are being vividly described. But alas, even in all the death and destruction, there lies the faintest glimmers of hope...
I'm sure a few more rounds of this journey through the Bible will have me getting more Biblical application, but for now I can only relate to how verses like Ezekiel 11:12 apply to my life: "And you will know that I am the Lord, for you have not followed my decrees or kept my laws but have conformed to the standards of the nations around you."
I read that verse a couple of times and really had to evaluate my life and whether I am doing the same thing...
".....but have conformed to the standards of the nations around you."
The people have conformed to everyone elses standards but God's, and are now paying the price for that. I find myself thinking how stupid can they be - but then I also find myself asking the question, "Have I conformed to the influences around me?" Have I conformed to the worldly influences of things, attitudes, values, beliefs? Are there areas where I have conformed to excuses and justifications?
I think I've been doing good in some of those areas, --- we don't buy things just to have as things to decorate or adorn a wall with. I have held true to what should be valued, and what shouldn't be. I can thank my son Brandon who has autism, for that life lesson. But on other things, I feel I do need a major readjustment. Sometimes I let my attitude be shaped by others, or worse, I have a different attitude with different people. If I don't share some jokes with some people, but do share them with others, -- then gulp -- have I indeed conformed to a lower standard than I want for myself? Can right and wrong depend on who you are with at the moment? Can I sometimes make an excuse to not worship with the many because I've felt betrayed by a few? Can I truly consider myself transparent and honest in my Christianity if I know I do those things? Owie. Owie. Owie. I liked it better reading these passages when it was God bringing judgement on them. Not me.
I have to really think about that scripture as it applies to my advocacy as well. My Christianity is who I am, and my autism advocacy is who I am. I need to make sure one is not causing the other to conform, in particular, my advocacy not weakening my Christianity.
In all I do, I need to make sure God's scripture of Romans 12:2 overrides the world's scripture of Ezekiel 11:12!
Romans 12:2
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
As in all things, there is HOPEISM.
Even where I feel I have strayed in areas, I can be thankful that my God is a God of redemption. He loves to gather his people and bring them back, as in Ezekiel 11:17 which says, "This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will gather you from the nations and bring you back from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you back the land of Israel again. I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God."
Thank you Lord that when my Christianity gets scattered at times, you gather me up and bring me back to you...
How fitting that I am writing this on a Saturday, and National "Back to Church Day" is tomorrow, Sunday.
If you have felt scattered --- allow God to gather you up in his house of worship tomorrow and put a new spirit in you!
HOOYAH
&
HALLELUJAH
Sunday, September 1, 2013
All Kinds of Kinds
I've been to church twice now in recent weeks.
That is a significant way to begin this story, because for the last three years we've not been able to go the majority of the time due to Brandon's health decline. The very few and far between times we could have gone, we didn't. Simply too exhausted from 24/7 autism and no help. Simply too far behind in things that must be done due to 24/7 autism and no help. Simply, satan. Allowing petty things not of the spirit to make me think that I've been gone too long, why come back now. But as God does so well, He continued his pursuit of me, and twice now I've been back. Oh, how good it has felt to be back...
I am so glad we made it today. Late, but we made it. I wouldn't have wanted to miss hearing the Holy Spirit speak mightily through such a meek young man who to the world has a disability, but to God is perhaps one of the few who have true ability. Ability to sense and respond to the Holy Spirit in a way the smartest and most perfect of us will never, ever comprehend.
As if he knew what the Pastor would be speaking about later in the message, at the end of one of the worship songs he began screaming out at the top of his lungs, "I LOVE YOU GOD!" Over and over, he cried out, "I LOVE YOU GOD!"
I was on the other side of the church and it took me a few seconds to discern what he was saying... Even as the music died down and most had stopped singing, there he was, "I LOVE YOU GOD!"
And I wondered as I stood there, how many in this church felt embarrassed that he was doing that. That perhaps visitors would be scared or freaked out about such a vocal display. I wondered who silently thought he shouldn't be there front and center of the church with his peers and friends who too have disabilities. That they should just worship together in their own little corner of the campus, so that us holy ones aren't interrupted. I wondered as I'm going through Experiencing God Bible Study myself, how many may have been bummed that their personal worship was ruined by his loudness --- or if they recognized that the interruption of their worship, was perhaps an opportunity for them to tune in where God was working and join Him there -- in pure worship where there are no barriers. Just a transparent window to God.
God was not working in that young man who the world considers 'the least of these' through a style of music, through who was leading the music, or because there was a band, a choir, or beautiful stage. God was not working in that young man because a hymn was playing, contemporary music playing, or no music playing.
God was working in that young man through worship. Pure, and simple worship. Not by the sound of the song, but though the words of the song. Words saying that God is love. God is Holy. God saves, forgive, redeems, revives...
If a young person who has disabilities can be moved by that -- those who more than any of us would have cause to question God or be angry at God for all of the challenges they must daily face -- can "get" that, what does it say of "our" grasp of the Holy Spirit when it's us who groan and grumble, not 'them'? What does that say about who or what the true hindrance in worship is? Of who is more worthy to be in the sanctuary and who should rather go sit in a corner of the church so their bad attitude doesn't disturb others? What if our thoughts during worship were heard more loudly than that young man's voice? Sometimes they are... Ouch. That's a hard one. Nice of me to squash my own toes with that one. I know at times I've needed to be in that corner. Times when my attitude was bad. Times when the feelings of my flesh ruined fellowship.
I wonder if we were all in a game of "Church Feud" and one hundred church members were polled, what the top five answers would be to the question of "What did you think about worship at church last Sunday?" I bet the answers would be something like: 1) Music was too loud 2) Music too old- fashioned/too contemporary 3) There were typo's in the on screen lyrics 4) I don't like his/her voice 5) I need to remember to send the Pastor an e-mail of complaint on Monday morning.
There are probably many answers other than the reaction of that young man I heard this Sunday so moved by the Holy Spirit that he sang out at the top of his lungs "I LOVE YOU GOD!"
Do you think it's an ability or disability that he didn't care what anyone around him thought of his actions? How many of us can say we feel so moved by the Holy Spirit that we don't think about what others think if we raised our hands up high and went down to the alter so moved by the words, -- not the song, the music, or who was singing, -- but the words. What the words say to us about who the Holy Spirit is to us and how we want to respond to that, but don't.
Who among us would dare to shout out at the end of a song, "I LOVE YOU GOD!"
What do you think would happen if each and every one of us in the church shouted, "I LOVE YOU GOD!" Why, that could lessen the importance of what kind of music is playing, or not playing. That could lessen the importance of petty disagreements. Hurt feelings. Misunderstandings. Imperfectness. It would make it not matter that our church isn't the biggest or prettiest or most perfectly run, -- because it has something much more worthy and kingdom centered than that... People who love God loudly. People who love God louder than mumblings, rumors, and gossip.
Allow me to talk at you for a moment...and by you I mean me too. Those who are most distracting to the Holy Spirit and who hinder authentic worship, are not those who have a disability and who sing too loud and too off key...
Ouch.
Ouch.
Ouch.
I am sure many of us are moved during worship service in our own silent way. I know I am moved even though I spare others from my singing. But I do allow the potential thoughts of others to hinder me when I feel especially moved and want to raise my arms, but don't for fear of what others might think. I want to shout out, "I LOVE YOU GOD!" but don't because that would be seen as weird.
That's what baffles me so much about society's view of the importance of those who have disabilities. Even to some extent, the church's view, in my own personal experience through parent networking and some churches I have contacted who simply don't feel 'called' to serve the disability community. As the Miranda Lambert song says, "It takes all kinds of kinds." And the kind of kind that young man is, is one of the most purest kinds of kinds. The kind of kind we all long to have as a friend. The kind of kind who will never betray you. Lie to you. Shame you. Make fun of you. The kind of kind who makes me a better me, you a better you, the church a better church, the community a better community, and the world a better place.
The kind of kind who can truly teach about what kind of kind Jesus is.
The message after the worship service was about "What makes a church authentic is the fullness of the Holy Spirit." I wonder if anyone else in the church today realized that the very group of people who are the most authentic and full of the Holy Spirit --- are the ones many think only of as a distraction kind of kind.
Yet they are the most blameless kind of kind within a church body.
We so desire to see the Holy Spirit at work in our church. We so desire to know Him, sense Him, serve Him, be revived by Him. We should take note of that young man and how he did all that simply by not being burdened by any other thought but Him.
Oh if in all our abilities, we could learn that type of surrender.
Today in the church I was in, I not only saw the Holy Spirit at work, I heard the Holy Spirit at work---
From who the world deems the least kind of kinds....
I will never cease to be amazed by that.
That is a significant way to begin this story, because for the last three years we've not been able to go the majority of the time due to Brandon's health decline. The very few and far between times we could have gone, we didn't. Simply too exhausted from 24/7 autism and no help. Simply too far behind in things that must be done due to 24/7 autism and no help. Simply, satan. Allowing petty things not of the spirit to make me think that I've been gone too long, why come back now. But as God does so well, He continued his pursuit of me, and twice now I've been back. Oh, how good it has felt to be back...
I am so glad we made it today. Late, but we made it. I wouldn't have wanted to miss hearing the Holy Spirit speak mightily through such a meek young man who to the world has a disability, but to God is perhaps one of the few who have true ability. Ability to sense and respond to the Holy Spirit in a way the smartest and most perfect of us will never, ever comprehend.
As if he knew what the Pastor would be speaking about later in the message, at the end of one of the worship songs he began screaming out at the top of his lungs, "I LOVE YOU GOD!" Over and over, he cried out, "I LOVE YOU GOD!"
I was on the other side of the church and it took me a few seconds to discern what he was saying... Even as the music died down and most had stopped singing, there he was, "I LOVE YOU GOD!"
And I wondered as I stood there, how many in this church felt embarrassed that he was doing that. That perhaps visitors would be scared or freaked out about such a vocal display. I wondered who silently thought he shouldn't be there front and center of the church with his peers and friends who too have disabilities. That they should just worship together in their own little corner of the campus, so that us holy ones aren't interrupted. I wondered as I'm going through Experiencing God Bible Study myself, how many may have been bummed that their personal worship was ruined by his loudness --- or if they recognized that the interruption of their worship, was perhaps an opportunity for them to tune in where God was working and join Him there -- in pure worship where there are no barriers. Just a transparent window to God.
God was not working in that young man who the world considers 'the least of these' through a style of music, through who was leading the music, or because there was a band, a choir, or beautiful stage. God was not working in that young man because a hymn was playing, contemporary music playing, or no music playing.
God was working in that young man through worship. Pure, and simple worship. Not by the sound of the song, but though the words of the song. Words saying that God is love. God is Holy. God saves, forgive, redeems, revives...
If a young person who has disabilities can be moved by that -- those who more than any of us would have cause to question God or be angry at God for all of the challenges they must daily face -- can "get" that, what does it say of "our" grasp of the Holy Spirit when it's us who groan and grumble, not 'them'? What does that say about who or what the true hindrance in worship is? Of who is more worthy to be in the sanctuary and who should rather go sit in a corner of the church so their bad attitude doesn't disturb others? What if our thoughts during worship were heard more loudly than that young man's voice? Sometimes they are... Ouch. That's a hard one. Nice of me to squash my own toes with that one. I know at times I've needed to be in that corner. Times when my attitude was bad. Times when the feelings of my flesh ruined fellowship.
I wonder if we were all in a game of "Church Feud" and one hundred church members were polled, what the top five answers would be to the question of "What did you think about worship at church last Sunday?" I bet the answers would be something like: 1) Music was too loud 2) Music too old- fashioned/too contemporary 3) There were typo's in the on screen lyrics 4) I don't like his/her voice 5) I need to remember to send the Pastor an e-mail of complaint on Monday morning.
There are probably many answers other than the reaction of that young man I heard this Sunday so moved by the Holy Spirit that he sang out at the top of his lungs "I LOVE YOU GOD!"
Do you think it's an ability or disability that he didn't care what anyone around him thought of his actions? How many of us can say we feel so moved by the Holy Spirit that we don't think about what others think if we raised our hands up high and went down to the alter so moved by the words, -- not the song, the music, or who was singing, -- but the words. What the words say to us about who the Holy Spirit is to us and how we want to respond to that, but don't.
Who among us would dare to shout out at the end of a song, "I LOVE YOU GOD!"
What do you think would happen if each and every one of us in the church shouted, "I LOVE YOU GOD!" Why, that could lessen the importance of what kind of music is playing, or not playing. That could lessen the importance of petty disagreements. Hurt feelings. Misunderstandings. Imperfectness. It would make it not matter that our church isn't the biggest or prettiest or most perfectly run, -- because it has something much more worthy and kingdom centered than that... People who love God loudly. People who love God louder than mumblings, rumors, and gossip.
Allow me to talk at you for a moment...and by you I mean me too. Those who are most distracting to the Holy Spirit and who hinder authentic worship, are not those who have a disability and who sing too loud and too off key...
Ouch.
Ouch.
Ouch.
I am sure many of us are moved during worship service in our own silent way. I know I am moved even though I spare others from my singing. But I do allow the potential thoughts of others to hinder me when I feel especially moved and want to raise my arms, but don't for fear of what others might think. I want to shout out, "I LOVE YOU GOD!" but don't because that would be seen as weird.
That's what baffles me so much about society's view of the importance of those who have disabilities. Even to some extent, the church's view, in my own personal experience through parent networking and some churches I have contacted who simply don't feel 'called' to serve the disability community. As the Miranda Lambert song says, "It takes all kinds of kinds." And the kind of kind that young man is, is one of the most purest kinds of kinds. The kind of kind we all long to have as a friend. The kind of kind who will never betray you. Lie to you. Shame you. Make fun of you. The kind of kind who makes me a better me, you a better you, the church a better church, the community a better community, and the world a better place.
The kind of kind who can truly teach about what kind of kind Jesus is.
The message after the worship service was about "What makes a church authentic is the fullness of the Holy Spirit." I wonder if anyone else in the church today realized that the very group of people who are the most authentic and full of the Holy Spirit --- are the ones many think only of as a distraction kind of kind.
Yet they are the most blameless kind of kind within a church body.
We so desire to see the Holy Spirit at work in our church. We so desire to know Him, sense Him, serve Him, be revived by Him. We should take note of that young man and how he did all that simply by not being burdened by any other thought but Him.
Oh if in all our abilities, we could learn that type of surrender.
Today in the church I was in, I not only saw the Holy Spirit at work, I heard the Holy Spirit at work---
From who the world deems the least kind of kinds....
I will never cease to be amazed by that.
Monday, August 26, 2013
HOPEISM
Day 58
Lamentations
Well, I guess if there was ever any question of whether or not God keeps his heavenly word, this book answers it. Yes. When God warns what will happen, you best not do what he warned about not doing because the punishment he also warned about will happen! Ha!
More seriously, God's wrath is terrible. God does judge, and render judgment. The people wept because they felt God abandoned them, yet they were the ones who abandoned him.
Lamentations 2:17
The Lord has done what he planned; he has fulfilled his word, which he decreed long ago. He has overthrown you without pity, he has let the enemy gloat over you, he has exalted the horn of your foes.
Yet even in that, God is righteous and is good to those who hope in him...
Lamentations 3:19-26
I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall....Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him, it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
Lamentations 3:31
For men are not cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.
Lamentations 3:40
Let us examine our was and test them, and let us return to the Lord.
I kinda expected this book to be a total downer. And it is because of the destruction. But still I find HOPEISM. More than I expected. Maybe I'm missing something... I guess in my own way, I've felt like I was living Lamentations for a few years now. The destruction of autism, seizures, my son's declining health -- just so much devastation in all of that. I remember all those afflictions. The choking of seizures, the sound of shattered teeth. I can taste the bitterness of them still.
Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail...
I'm sure the author meant to say HOPEISM there. And NEVER QUIT. Two words I have clung to for so long now, and now I know where they came from! The Lamentations of my "Life with Autism!"
That comforts me so much! His compassions never quit. They are new every morning.
So many times I've fallen into the trap of thinking it was his challenges that have been new every morning. But no. His compassions through those challenges have been new every morning. His unfailing love for me and my son has been new each and every morning.
I have yet to be consumed by those challenges because indeed, great is his faithfulness!
Lamentations 3:31
For men are not cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.
Lamentations 3:40
Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.
That's always a hard one to swallow...when we're in a period of seeming silence from God, when we feel we are being punished by God as they were in this book -- it's hard to have to stop and look within to see if there is any cleansing of our own sins to deal with. We may think we're cast off forever, he may indeed bring grief for our disobedience, but he will show compassion, --so great is his unfailing love for us!
I just marvel at that.
I cannot count how many time I've been in Lamentations 3:55 --- I called on your name, O Lord, from the depths of the pit. You came near when I called you, and you said, "Do not fear."
No matter how deep the pit you feel you are in -- God will always, always, always, be deeper. In the depth of that darkness, you can cry out to him and he will answer, even if in but the faintest of whispers, "Do not fear."
This book ends with Lamentations 5:20-22
Why do you always forget us? Why do you forsake us so long? Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may return; renew our days as of old unless you have utterly rejected us and are angry with us beyond measure.
I think God asks us the same questions...
Why do you always forget me?
Why do you forsake me for so long?
Restore me to your country, your community, your church, your home, your heart, that I may return.
Revive your faith, unless you have utterly rejected me and are angry with me beyond measure.
Lamentations
Well, I guess if there was ever any question of whether or not God keeps his heavenly word, this book answers it. Yes. When God warns what will happen, you best not do what he warned about not doing because the punishment he also warned about will happen! Ha!
More seriously, God's wrath is terrible. God does judge, and render judgment. The people wept because they felt God abandoned them, yet they were the ones who abandoned him.
Lamentations 2:17
The Lord has done what he planned; he has fulfilled his word, which he decreed long ago. He has overthrown you without pity, he has let the enemy gloat over you, he has exalted the horn of your foes.
Yet even in that, God is righteous and is good to those who hope in him...
Lamentations 3:19-26
I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall....Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him, it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
Lamentations 3:31
For men are not cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.
Lamentations 3:40
Let us examine our was and test them, and let us return to the Lord.
I kinda expected this book to be a total downer. And it is because of the destruction. But still I find HOPEISM. More than I expected. Maybe I'm missing something... I guess in my own way, I've felt like I was living Lamentations for a few years now. The destruction of autism, seizures, my son's declining health -- just so much devastation in all of that. I remember all those afflictions. The choking of seizures, the sound of shattered teeth. I can taste the bitterness of them still.
Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail...
I'm sure the author meant to say HOPEISM there. And NEVER QUIT. Two words I have clung to for so long now, and now I know where they came from! The Lamentations of my "Life with Autism!"
That comforts me so much! His compassions never quit. They are new every morning.
So many times I've fallen into the trap of thinking it was his challenges that have been new every morning. But no. His compassions through those challenges have been new every morning. His unfailing love for me and my son has been new each and every morning.
I have yet to be consumed by those challenges because indeed, great is his faithfulness!
Lamentations 3:31
For men are not cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.
Lamentations 3:40
Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.
That's always a hard one to swallow...when we're in a period of seeming silence from God, when we feel we are being punished by God as they were in this book -- it's hard to have to stop and look within to see if there is any cleansing of our own sins to deal with. We may think we're cast off forever, he may indeed bring grief for our disobedience, but he will show compassion, --so great is his unfailing love for us!
I just marvel at that.
I cannot count how many time I've been in Lamentations 3:55 --- I called on your name, O Lord, from the depths of the pit. You came near when I called you, and you said, "Do not fear."
No matter how deep the pit you feel you are in -- God will always, always, always, be deeper. In the depth of that darkness, you can cry out to him and he will answer, even if in but the faintest of whispers, "Do not fear."
This book ends with Lamentations 5:20-22
Why do you always forget us? Why do you forsake us so long? Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may return; renew our days as of old unless you have utterly rejected us and are angry with us beyond measure.
I think God asks us the same questions...
Why do you always forget me?
Why do you forsake me for so long?
Restore me to your country, your community, your church, your home, your heart, that I may return.
Revive your faith, unless you have utterly rejected me and are angry with me beyond measure.
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Retribution
Day 57
Jeremiah 35-52
Resuming the journey... I have fallen seriously behind in this "Bible in 90 Days" -- so much so that it's more like "The Bible in 390 Days!" But that's ok, the important thing is that I'm picking up right where I left off -- in Jeremiah. I know I should do a little back tracking first, but it's hard... I'm an impatient person and when I read this book, I just want to say, "Hurry and be done with it already!"
I guess finally God did get down to it...
Jeremiah 39 is about the fall of Jerusalem.... Jeremiah had been confined in the courtyard of the guard and the word of the Lord came to him...
Jeremiah 39:16
This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I am about to fulfill my words against this city through disaster, not prosperity. At that time they will be fulfilled before your eyes. But I will rescue you on that day, declares the Lord; you will not be handed over to those you fear. I will save you; you will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life, because you trust in me, declares the Lord.
That comforts m me on many levels - so often when we try to live the right way and do as God commands, we find ourselves held captive to negativity or shunning. All Jeremiah was doing throughout this book is being obedient to God, giving messages from him, but unfortunately not many want to hear, or heed, the truth. It's comforting to be reminded that while God never promised obedience would be easy or without "confinement" - he did promise we wouldn't be alone and that he would deliver us. As a Navy Mom -- I also find comfort in that scripture!
Sometimes it's us who put the chains on ourselves... Like me with this journey.... I've let so many other things distract me, I've let the chains of thinking I'm too far behind, why bother now, stop me many a day. I've let the chains of misplaced priorities leave no time to do this. I was really encouraged to read Jeremiah 40 on this day that I freed myself from those chains and dove back in...
Jeremiah 40 is titled simply, "Jeremiah Freed."
I like that. Perhaps I should title this, "Michelle Freed," in this first entry in like forever...
Jeremiah 40:4
"But today I am freeing you from the chains on your wrists...."
I just love that.
Free me from my chains, Lord!
Free Brandon from the chains of seizures!
No matter how the chains got there, who put them there, others or you... God can free you from them.
God always promises that he will deliver us...
In Jeremiah 51:56 it says:
"For the Lord is a God of retribution; he will repay in full."
Jeremiah 35-52
Resuming the journey... I have fallen seriously behind in this "Bible in 90 Days" -- so much so that it's more like "The Bible in 390 Days!" But that's ok, the important thing is that I'm picking up right where I left off -- in Jeremiah. I know I should do a little back tracking first, but it's hard... I'm an impatient person and when I read this book, I just want to say, "Hurry and be done with it already!"
I guess finally God did get down to it...
Jeremiah 39 is about the fall of Jerusalem.... Jeremiah had been confined in the courtyard of the guard and the word of the Lord came to him...
Jeremiah 39:16
This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I am about to fulfill my words against this city through disaster, not prosperity. At that time they will be fulfilled before your eyes. But I will rescue you on that day, declares the Lord; you will not be handed over to those you fear. I will save you; you will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life, because you trust in me, declares the Lord.
That comforts m me on many levels - so often when we try to live the right way and do as God commands, we find ourselves held captive to negativity or shunning. All Jeremiah was doing throughout this book is being obedient to God, giving messages from him, but unfortunately not many want to hear, or heed, the truth. It's comforting to be reminded that while God never promised obedience would be easy or without "confinement" - he did promise we wouldn't be alone and that he would deliver us. As a Navy Mom -- I also find comfort in that scripture!
Sometimes it's us who put the chains on ourselves... Like me with this journey.... I've let so many other things distract me, I've let the chains of thinking I'm too far behind, why bother now, stop me many a day. I've let the chains of misplaced priorities leave no time to do this. I was really encouraged to read Jeremiah 40 on this day that I freed myself from those chains and dove back in...
Jeremiah 40 is titled simply, "Jeremiah Freed."
I like that. Perhaps I should title this, "Michelle Freed," in this first entry in like forever...
Jeremiah 40:4
"But today I am freeing you from the chains on your wrists...."
I just love that.
Free me from my chains, Lord!
Free Brandon from the chains of seizures!
No matter how the chains got there, who put them there, others or you... God can free you from them.
God always promises that he will deliver us...
In Jeremiah 51:56 it says:
"For the Lord is a God of retribution; he will repay in full."
I think that's a good way to end this day's reading. And a pretty good summary of Jeremiah, to me. God will repay disobedience in full, and he
will repay obedience in full.
We simply have to decide which category we want to be in!
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Restoration
Day 56
Jeremiah 23-34
God knew the nation wouldn't repent and their destruction served as a lesson for future generations...
Jeremiah 25:3
" ----the word of the Lord has come to me and I have spoken to you again and again, but you have not listened."
Jeremiah 25:5
"Turn now, each of you, from your evil ways and your evil practices, and you can stay in the land the Lord gave to you and your fathers for ever and ever. Do not follow other gods to serve adn worship them; do not provoke me to anger with what your hands have made. Then I will not harm you."
"But you did not listen to me," declares the Lord...."
Jeremiah 25:32
"Look! Disaster is spreading from nation to nation; a mighty storm is rising from the ends of the earth."
This summary of certain parts of the theme of this book in the Bible gives me chills as it so closely resembles the autism epidemic of today and the vast majority of those affected by autism being damaged by vaccines.
I think the current 1 in 50 autism epidemic is evidence of that disaster spreading from state to state and to the ends of the earth!
My soul just screams, "Hello Mom's of Today!!!! Hello!!!!!!!! Heed our warnings!!!!! Repent of your brainwashing that your child needs or must have vaccinations before your child's health is forever destroyed!!!!!!!"
Ahhhh.... this has been a painful book of the Bible to read as each and every thought while reading it has turned to the present day autism epidemic and warning signs ignored.
But.... as God has been known to do a time or two (smile) - there is always HOPEISM.
One of my favorite HOPEISM verses comes from Jeremiah 29:11 which says, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord, "and will bring you back from captivity."
And this from Jeremiah 30:3 which says, "The days are coming," declares the Lord, "when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivity and restore them to the land I gave their forefather to possess," says the Lord.
Jeremiah 30:17
"But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds," declares the Lord.
Jeremiah 31:3
"I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt..."
Jeremiah 31:13
I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.
I know the Lord is referring to Israel, but I'm sure he means our vaccine/environment damaged children as well!
Parents I mentor ask me all the time how I can have the HOPEISM I do -- and it's from verses like that. Plain and simple.
How do I know that He will deliver?
Jeremiah 32:17
Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.............
Jeremiah 32:19
O great and powerful God, whose name is the Lord Almighty, great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds."
Jeremiah 32:27
"I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?"
Can I have a HOOYAH and a HALLELUJAH to that?
The key phrases to me are his Sovereignty and the fact that he is Lord and there is nothing too hard for him.
His sovereignty allows him to know all things, the fact that he is God dictates that he can do all things. Nothing is out of his reach, knowledge, or ability.
Nothing.
That's where my HOPEISM comes from. That He can heal my son's autism. That with but a whisper of his voice he can command the seizures to stop and never return.
How can one not have hope in the knowledge of such power!
I just have to stop and marvel at that.
Whether God will or not, it's just the fact that he can! That's what inspires me to pray for those things for my son!
NOTHING is too hard for God.
Nothing! Nothing.Nothing.Nothing.
No better scriptures to end this day's reading than these:
Jeremiah 33:10
....there will be heard once more the sounds of joy and gladness....
Jeremiah 33:26
For I will restore their fortunes and have compassion on them.
Is there anything more than that needed for our 1 in 50 children and the fortunes we spent on healing them?
There.will.be.
I.will.
Nothing is too hard for God.
Savor that...........
Jeremiah 23-34
God knew the nation wouldn't repent and their destruction served as a lesson for future generations...
Jeremiah 25:3
" ----the word of the Lord has come to me and I have spoken to you again and again, but you have not listened."
Jeremiah 25:5
"Turn now, each of you, from your evil ways and your evil practices, and you can stay in the land the Lord gave to you and your fathers for ever and ever. Do not follow other gods to serve adn worship them; do not provoke me to anger with what your hands have made. Then I will not harm you."
"But you did not listen to me," declares the Lord...."
Jeremiah 25:32
"Look! Disaster is spreading from nation to nation; a mighty storm is rising from the ends of the earth."
This summary of certain parts of the theme of this book in the Bible gives me chills as it so closely resembles the autism epidemic of today and the vast majority of those affected by autism being damaged by vaccines.
I think the current 1 in 50 autism epidemic is evidence of that disaster spreading from state to state and to the ends of the earth!
My soul just screams, "Hello Mom's of Today!!!! Hello!!!!!!!! Heed our warnings!!!!! Repent of your brainwashing that your child needs or must have vaccinations before your child's health is forever destroyed!!!!!!!"
Ahhhh.... this has been a painful book of the Bible to read as each and every thought while reading it has turned to the present day autism epidemic and warning signs ignored.
But.... as God has been known to do a time or two (smile) - there is always HOPEISM.
One of my favorite HOPEISM verses comes from Jeremiah 29:11 which says, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord, "and will bring you back from captivity."
And this from Jeremiah 30:3 which says, "The days are coming," declares the Lord, "when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivity and restore them to the land I gave their forefather to possess," says the Lord.
Jeremiah 30:17
"But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds," declares the Lord.
Jeremiah 31:3
"I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt..."
Jeremiah 31:13
I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.
I know the Lord is referring to Israel, but I'm sure he means our vaccine/environment damaged children as well!
Parents I mentor ask me all the time how I can have the HOPEISM I do -- and it's from verses like that. Plain and simple.
How do I know that He will deliver?
Jeremiah 32:17
Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.............
Jeremiah 32:19
O great and powerful God, whose name is the Lord Almighty, great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds."
Jeremiah 32:27
"I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?"
Can I have a HOOYAH and a HALLELUJAH to that?
The key phrases to me are his Sovereignty and the fact that he is Lord and there is nothing too hard for him.
His sovereignty allows him to know all things, the fact that he is God dictates that he can do all things. Nothing is out of his reach, knowledge, or ability.
Nothing.
That's where my HOPEISM comes from. That He can heal my son's autism. That with but a whisper of his voice he can command the seizures to stop and never return.
How can one not have hope in the knowledge of such power!
I just have to stop and marvel at that.
Whether God will or not, it's just the fact that he can! That's what inspires me to pray for those things for my son!
NOTHING is too hard for God.
Nothing! Nothing.Nothing.Nothing.
No better scriptures to end this day's reading than these:
Jeremiah 33:10
....there will be heard once more the sounds of joy and gladness....
Jeremiah 33:26
For I will restore their fortunes and have compassion on them.
Is there anything more than that needed for our 1 in 50 children and the fortunes we spent on healing them?
There.will.be.
I.will.
Nothing is too hard for God.
Savor that...........
Friday, March 22, 2013
The Covenant is Broken...
Day 55
Jeremiah 11-22
What an appropriate title to this day's reading: The Covenant is Broken.
Yes, it describes this day's reading. In fact, that's how this days reading started in the title in my Bible.
But more than that, it describes this modern-day "Autism Holocaust". Just this week the CDC released numbers that say there are now 1 in 50 schoolchildren who have autism.
Indeed, the "Covenant" has been broken. The vaccine covenant, the Pharma covenant, the environmental toxin covenant, the GMO covenant.
All that has been deemed safe and sacred by the government agencies that regulate those things, has been broken.
Those 1 in 50 don't lie.
Jeremiah 11:7 starts off with: From the time I brought your forefathers up from Egypt until today, I warned them again and again, saying, "Obey me." But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubbornness of their evil hearts. So I brought on them all the curses of the covenant I had commanded them to follow but that they did not keep.
I know this book of Jeremiah is about the people of Judah and their evil, wicked ways. Their idols and their disobedience.
But it is also about our modern day autism epidemic, to me. In how we have refused to listen to common sense. In how we have set vaccines and drugs and imitation this and that as idols to replace food, the medicine God perfectly created.
In how the lies of greed and profit now drive decision making. Not truth.
In yesterday's writing from Jeremiah, we were warned. God warned the people of Judah if they didn't change their ways, a disaster of epic proportions would follow. A holocaust.
They didn't listen, now the covenant is broken and disaster will follow.
Much like with vaccines once you inject them: There's no turning back. Disaster will follow.
Just like when independent researchers warned what would happen way back at 1 in 500 if vaccine policy didn't change.
Now more children are paying the price of that sacred vaccine covenant that government refuses to break.
Jeremiah goes on to say: "They have followed other gods to serve them."
And -- "Therefore this is what the Lord says: 'I will bring on them a disaster they cannot escape. Although they cry out to me, I will not listen to them. The towns of Judah and the people of Jerusalem will go and cry out to the gods to whom they burn incense, but they will not help them at all when disaster strikes.'"
That pretty much sums up the government's response to the 1 in 50 children who have autism.
Make no mistake, the autism disaster has struck and it's because people have put their faith in those driven by greed and profit, and greed and profit alone; instead of in the God who designed a baby to be protected by his mother's milk and good nutrition that the land provides.
I think in Chapter 12 "Jeremiah's Complaint" sums up my thoughts well:
"Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?"
I suppose no matter what the Bible says in answer to that, I'll just have to keep asking it until I get to have that conversation with God in person.
I suppose until then I must continue to move forward in faith and remember the karma of Jeremiah 17 that say:
"Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord. He will be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."
I cannot believe how over and over these people were warned. How over and over we Thinking Mom's have warned others - of impending doom. Yet no one listens.
Jeremiah 19:11 says, "I will smash this nation and this city just as this potter's jar is smashed and cannot be repaired."
And again in Jeremiah 19:15 with "This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: 'Listen! I am going to bring on this city and the villages around it every disaster I pronounced against them, because they were stiff-necked and would not listen to my words.'"
1 in 50 innocent children's health has been smashed!
When? When will the government listen?
So many of us feel like Jeremiah in verse 20 --- "....the chief officer in the temple of the Lord, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things, he had Jeremiah the prophet beaten and put in the stocks...."
That is essentially what is happening to doctors and parents who speak out. They are losing their license, they are losing custody of their children.
Jeremiah is referred to as the "Weeping Prophet" -- I think we weeping warriors can relate!
Jeremiah 20:7
"....I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me. Whenever I speak, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction. So the word of the Lord has brought me insult and reproach all day long. But if I say, "I will not mention him or speak any more in his name," his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. I hear many whispering, "Terror on every side! Report him! Let's report him!" All my friends are waiting for me to slip, saying, "Perhaps he will be deceived; then we will prevail over him and take our revenge on him." But the Lord is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced; their dishonor will never be forgotten. O Lord Almighty, you who examine the righteous and probe the heart and mind, let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you I have committed my cause."
And so that is how I resolve the question of why.....
By simply saying as Jeremiah did, ".....for to you I have committed my cause."
I have committed to follow Christ and to advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves. In proclaiming the truth even when no one listens.
And parents of today ---
You best listen before your children's health is broken.
Jeremiah 11-22
What an appropriate title to this day's reading: The Covenant is Broken.
Yes, it describes this day's reading. In fact, that's how this days reading started in the title in my Bible.
But more than that, it describes this modern-day "Autism Holocaust". Just this week the CDC released numbers that say there are now 1 in 50 schoolchildren who have autism.
Indeed, the "Covenant" has been broken. The vaccine covenant, the Pharma covenant, the environmental toxin covenant, the GMO covenant.
All that has been deemed safe and sacred by the government agencies that regulate those things, has been broken.
Those 1 in 50 don't lie.
Jeremiah 11:7 starts off with: From the time I brought your forefathers up from Egypt until today, I warned them again and again, saying, "Obey me." But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubbornness of their evil hearts. So I brought on them all the curses of the covenant I had commanded them to follow but that they did not keep.
I know this book of Jeremiah is about the people of Judah and their evil, wicked ways. Their idols and their disobedience.
But it is also about our modern day autism epidemic, to me. In how we have refused to listen to common sense. In how we have set vaccines and drugs and imitation this and that as idols to replace food, the medicine God perfectly created.
In how the lies of greed and profit now drive decision making. Not truth.
In yesterday's writing from Jeremiah, we were warned. God warned the people of Judah if they didn't change their ways, a disaster of epic proportions would follow. A holocaust.
They didn't listen, now the covenant is broken and disaster will follow.
Much like with vaccines once you inject them: There's no turning back. Disaster will follow.
Just like when independent researchers warned what would happen way back at 1 in 500 if vaccine policy didn't change.
Now more children are paying the price of that sacred vaccine covenant that government refuses to break.
Jeremiah goes on to say: "They have followed other gods to serve them."
And -- "Therefore this is what the Lord says: 'I will bring on them a disaster they cannot escape. Although they cry out to me, I will not listen to them. The towns of Judah and the people of Jerusalem will go and cry out to the gods to whom they burn incense, but they will not help them at all when disaster strikes.'"
That pretty much sums up the government's response to the 1 in 50 children who have autism.
Make no mistake, the autism disaster has struck and it's because people have put their faith in those driven by greed and profit, and greed and profit alone; instead of in the God who designed a baby to be protected by his mother's milk and good nutrition that the land provides.
I think in Chapter 12 "Jeremiah's Complaint" sums up my thoughts well:
"Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?"
I suppose no matter what the Bible says in answer to that, I'll just have to keep asking it until I get to have that conversation with God in person.
I suppose until then I must continue to move forward in faith and remember the karma of Jeremiah 17 that say:
"Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord. He will be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."
I cannot believe how over and over these people were warned. How over and over we Thinking Mom's have warned others - of impending doom. Yet no one listens.
Jeremiah 19:11 says, "I will smash this nation and this city just as this potter's jar is smashed and cannot be repaired."
And again in Jeremiah 19:15 with "This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: 'Listen! I am going to bring on this city and the villages around it every disaster I pronounced against them, because they were stiff-necked and would not listen to my words.'"
1 in 50 innocent children's health has been smashed!
When? When will the government listen?
So many of us feel like Jeremiah in verse 20 --- "....the chief officer in the temple of the Lord, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things, he had Jeremiah the prophet beaten and put in the stocks...."
That is essentially what is happening to doctors and parents who speak out. They are losing their license, they are losing custody of their children.
Jeremiah is referred to as the "Weeping Prophet" -- I think we weeping warriors can relate!
Jeremiah 20:7
"....I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me. Whenever I speak, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction. So the word of the Lord has brought me insult and reproach all day long. But if I say, "I will not mention him or speak any more in his name," his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. I hear many whispering, "Terror on every side! Report him! Let's report him!" All my friends are waiting for me to slip, saying, "Perhaps he will be deceived; then we will prevail over him and take our revenge on him." But the Lord is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced; their dishonor will never be forgotten. O Lord Almighty, you who examine the righteous and probe the heart and mind, let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you I have committed my cause."
And so that is how I resolve the question of why.....
By simply saying as Jeremiah did, ".....for to you I have committed my cause."
I have committed to follow Christ and to advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves. In proclaiming the truth even when no one listens.
And parents of today ---
You best listen before your children's health is broken.
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
You've been warned...
Day 54
Jeremiah 1-10
Some describe this book of the Bible as being the worst disaster in history. A holocoust-sized disaster. I think the people of Judah would agree.
It's hard for me to sort out the many references to life today these readings in this book bring about. Much like us Americans, we think that just by the fact that we live in the United States of America is protection enough. That God, our 'temple,' will protect us no matter how far we stray from the principles our forefathers founded our great country on. No matter how far we stray from God's commands.
I think even Christians fall into this trap in thinking that just because "they are Christian" they will be spared from judgement. Spared from judgement day when they are asked to give an account of what they did for God. How they served. Who they served.
I think our country is modern-day Judah. I think we are the modern day people of Judah.
And the further in this journey I get, the more questions I have. God's ways and God's plans are simply not always easy to understand. I've never experienced that more than I have this week.
But that's ok. God does understand.
Jeremiah 1
"The word of the Lord came to me, saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."
"Ah, Sovereign Lord," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child."
But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the Lord.
I cannot recall how many times I tried to use excuses to not be an advocate. To not put myself in a position to cause such harsh criticism at times. When God appoints you to do something, stirs in you to do something, or just calls you completely out-of-the-blue to do something, you simply do it and trust that God will indeed rescue you.
I have an internet friend who is an autism advocate. A pretty fearless one at that. She knows what it's like to be called to do something and have to at the same time endure such hardship and criticism in doing it. Her daughter, who is but a child still, wants to start talking about her brother with autism. Educate her friends. Her mom is rightly concerned. She knows what lies ahead for her daughter on that path. I hope that above verse comforts her in that if God called that "I am only a child" to want to speak up for her little brother, then God will indeed be with her and rescue her.
Jeremiah 1:19
They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the Lord.
I have been so heartbroken for the huge step backward in autism awareness with the admission of a young man with autism to a psychiatric ward for drugs, drugs, and more drugs; and not a medical center for bio-medical testing and treatment. I have such hope in Jeremiah 1:10 that says, "See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant."
Oh how I pray Jeremiah 1:19 for all the Alex's and all their parents. It's worth repeating, again and again and again:
They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the Lord.
The autism community is Jeremiah in that sense. We have been appointed, like it or not, to uproot, tear down, destroy, and overthrow all that is wrong in the medical, pharmaceutical, and vaccine industry. The destruction of our children's health by their callous disregard was our calling.
In this book of the Bible it is about the worst disaster in history --- and it is exactly what our children are facing now in modern times. The vaccine program, Pharma, and closed-minded doctors - are all the worst health disaster.
My only hope is that so very often, disasters lead to hope rekindled, even in the midst of flames.
I'm sure prophets in the Bible times were hated much like autism advocates are in modern time. Poor Jeremiah had to warn everyone of impending doom and gloom. Impending judgement for their sinful ways.
Jeremiah 1:16
I will pronounce my judgements on my people because of their wickedness in forsaking me, in burning incense to other gods and in worshiping what their hands have made.
All we autism advocates seem to do is share bad news as well. Discrimination, abuse, death. Vaccines maim, Pharma is corrupt, Medical doctors are ignorant.
Their judgement was because of abandoning God and putting their trust in something as useless as a cracked pot to carry water.
Jeremiah 2:13
My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water."
I know we have done the same. We have allowed our government to brainwash us into putting our trust in man-made medicine vs God's perfectly designed immune system.
Jeremiah warned the people of that day they would be wiped out, that a holocaust was coming.
I wonder if Autism is ours.
Our idolatry of drugs, profit, greed. Our too busy lives in putting more time, energy, and thought into our next car purchase than what we allow to be injected in our children and for what reason. Our insistence in trying to outsmart God's perfect design.
Jeremiah 2:21
I had planted you like a choice vine of sound and reliable stock. How then did you turn against me into a corrupt, wild vine?That verse brings such mommy guilt! I gave birth to a perfectly healthy baby boy. Why did I turn against that and put my faith in man telling me I had to inject this perfectly healthy baby with poison?
God had been trying to warn the people of Judah, but they refused to listen. Much like our government today, and much like our children's doctors today who are told what to think, what to believe, over thinking and researching for themselves.
Jeremiah 5:21
Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear.....That is us! The 1 in 88 are screaming out yet our government does not hear!
In so very many ways I can just hear God saying these things in Jeremiah 7:
Hear the word of the Lord, all you people of Judah who come through these gates to worship the Lord. This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place. Do not trust in deceptive words and say, "This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord!" If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly, if you do not oppress the alien, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your forefathers for ever and ever. But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless. "Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, "We are safe" -- safe to do all these detestable things? Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! declares the Lord."
OOOPSIES!
I think the vaccine industry, Pharma, and the medical establishment with regard to the cause and treatment of autism - is that den of robbers.
And parents have been watching. And they've started thinking. And acting.
Jeremiah 7:23
Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in all the ways I command you, that it may go well with you. But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts. They went backward and not forward.
Jeremiah 7:28
Truth has perished; it has vanished from their lips.
Jeremiah 7:30
The people of Judah have done evil in my eyes, declares the Lord. They have set up their detestable idols in the house that bears my Name and have defiled it.
I can't separate the disobedience of the people of Judah then, from the greed, corruption, and callous disregard of the people behind Pharma, GMO's, CDC, Vaccine Industry of now.
God wasn't going to take Judah's disobedience any longer.
Jeremiah tried to warn them.
Nor will we take the destruction of our children's health any longer.
You've been warned.
And though I write many of these with regard to my autism journey, make no mistake, this book applies to all of us, in all ways.
We've been warned...
Jeremiah 1-10
Some describe this book of the Bible as being the worst disaster in history. A holocoust-sized disaster. I think the people of Judah would agree.
It's hard for me to sort out the many references to life today these readings in this book bring about. Much like us Americans, we think that just by the fact that we live in the United States of America is protection enough. That God, our 'temple,' will protect us no matter how far we stray from the principles our forefathers founded our great country on. No matter how far we stray from God's commands.
I think even Christians fall into this trap in thinking that just because "they are Christian" they will be spared from judgement. Spared from judgement day when they are asked to give an account of what they did for God. How they served. Who they served.
I think our country is modern-day Judah. I think we are the modern day people of Judah.
And the further in this journey I get, the more questions I have. God's ways and God's plans are simply not always easy to understand. I've never experienced that more than I have this week.
But that's ok. God does understand.
Jeremiah 1
"The word of the Lord came to me, saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."
"Ah, Sovereign Lord," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child."
But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the Lord.
I cannot recall how many times I tried to use excuses to not be an advocate. To not put myself in a position to cause such harsh criticism at times. When God appoints you to do something, stirs in you to do something, or just calls you completely out-of-the-blue to do something, you simply do it and trust that God will indeed rescue you.
I have an internet friend who is an autism advocate. A pretty fearless one at that. She knows what it's like to be called to do something and have to at the same time endure such hardship and criticism in doing it. Her daughter, who is but a child still, wants to start talking about her brother with autism. Educate her friends. Her mom is rightly concerned. She knows what lies ahead for her daughter on that path. I hope that above verse comforts her in that if God called that "I am only a child" to want to speak up for her little brother, then God will indeed be with her and rescue her.
Jeremiah 1:19
They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the Lord.
I have been so heartbroken for the huge step backward in autism awareness with the admission of a young man with autism to a psychiatric ward for drugs, drugs, and more drugs; and not a medical center for bio-medical testing and treatment. I have such hope in Jeremiah 1:10 that says, "See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant."
Oh how I pray Jeremiah 1:19 for all the Alex's and all their parents. It's worth repeating, again and again and again:
They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the Lord.
The autism community is Jeremiah in that sense. We have been appointed, like it or not, to uproot, tear down, destroy, and overthrow all that is wrong in the medical, pharmaceutical, and vaccine industry. The destruction of our children's health by their callous disregard was our calling.
In this book of the Bible it is about the worst disaster in history --- and it is exactly what our children are facing now in modern times. The vaccine program, Pharma, and closed-minded doctors - are all the worst health disaster.
My only hope is that so very often, disasters lead to hope rekindled, even in the midst of flames.
I'm sure prophets in the Bible times were hated much like autism advocates are in modern time. Poor Jeremiah had to warn everyone of impending doom and gloom. Impending judgement for their sinful ways.
Jeremiah 1:16
I will pronounce my judgements on my people because of their wickedness in forsaking me, in burning incense to other gods and in worshiping what their hands have made.
All we autism advocates seem to do is share bad news as well. Discrimination, abuse, death. Vaccines maim, Pharma is corrupt, Medical doctors are ignorant.
Their judgement was because of abandoning God and putting their trust in something as useless as a cracked pot to carry water.
Jeremiah 2:13
My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water."
I know we have done the same. We have allowed our government to brainwash us into putting our trust in man-made medicine vs God's perfectly designed immune system.
Jeremiah warned the people of that day they would be wiped out, that a holocaust was coming.
I wonder if Autism is ours.
Our idolatry of drugs, profit, greed. Our too busy lives in putting more time, energy, and thought into our next car purchase than what we allow to be injected in our children and for what reason. Our insistence in trying to outsmart God's perfect design.
Jeremiah 2:21
I had planted you like a choice vine of sound and reliable stock. How then did you turn against me into a corrupt, wild vine?That verse brings such mommy guilt! I gave birth to a perfectly healthy baby boy. Why did I turn against that and put my faith in man telling me I had to inject this perfectly healthy baby with poison?
God had been trying to warn the people of Judah, but they refused to listen. Much like our government today, and much like our children's doctors today who are told what to think, what to believe, over thinking and researching for themselves.
Jeremiah 5:21
Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear.....That is us! The 1 in 88 are screaming out yet our government does not hear!
In so very many ways I can just hear God saying these things in Jeremiah 7:
Hear the word of the Lord, all you people of Judah who come through these gates to worship the Lord. This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place. Do not trust in deceptive words and say, "This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord!" If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly, if you do not oppress the alien, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your forefathers for ever and ever. But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless. "Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, "We are safe" -- safe to do all these detestable things? Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! declares the Lord."
OOOPSIES!
I think the vaccine industry, Pharma, and the medical establishment with regard to the cause and treatment of autism - is that den of robbers.
And parents have been watching. And they've started thinking. And acting.
Jeremiah 7:23
Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in all the ways I command you, that it may go well with you. But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts. They went backward and not forward.
Jeremiah 7:28
Truth has perished; it has vanished from their lips.
Jeremiah 7:30
The people of Judah have done evil in my eyes, declares the Lord. They have set up their detestable idols in the house that bears my Name and have defiled it.
I can't separate the disobedience of the people of Judah then, from the greed, corruption, and callous disregard of the people behind Pharma, GMO's, CDC, Vaccine Industry of now.
God wasn't going to take Judah's disobedience any longer.
Jeremiah tried to warn them.
Nor will we take the destruction of our children's health any longer.
You've been warned.
And though I write many of these with regard to my autism journey, make no mistake, this book applies to all of us, in all ways.
We've been warned...
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Honoring the Sabbath and House of Prayer
These verses were in Isaiah, but I felt they warranted their own little post because of their significance...
No explanations necessary, these scriptures say it all.
Isaiah 56:7
For my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.
Isaiah 58:13
"If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord's holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob."
The mouth of the Lord has spoken.
No explanations necessary, these scriptures say it all.
Isaiah 56:7
For my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.
Isaiah 58:13
"If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord's holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob."
The mouth of the Lord has spoken.
Come just as you are...
Day 53
Isaiah 54-66
The common theme seems to me, how God is asking us to come to Him, or come back to Him. It reminds me of a song with these beautiful lyrics:
Come just as you are
Come just as you are
Hear the spirit call
Come just as you are
Come and see
Come receive
Come and live forever
Life everlasting
Strength for today
Taste the living water
And never thirst again
Come just has you are
Don't you hear the spirit call
Come just has you are
Come and see
Christ my king
Come and live forever more
I've done that once in my life, asked the Lord into my life so that I would have life everlasting.
But in so many other ways, I still hear that beckoning, Him asking me to, "Come just as you are..."
I think that's one of the most profound things that my son with autism has in common with God. That unconditional love that says, "Come, just as you are," I don't care if you are perfect, I don't care if you are black, yellow, red, or white. Rich or poor. Beautiful or ugly.
I don't have to pretend to be anything or anyone I'm not with God, nor do I have to with my son who has autism.
In Isaiah 54 I see that a lot, where for whatever reason, for whatever sin, God asks us to simply come to him....
Come, just as you are ---
"Do not be afraid, you will not suffer shame."
"Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated."
"...my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed."
Come, just as you are ---
Isaiah 54:17
"...no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me," declares the Lord.
Come, just as you are ---
Isaiah 55
"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! "Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live."
So many times I've come to God in this "Life with Autism" and asked so many questions. So many "Why's?" and I suppose that Isaiah 55:8 is the answer I'm just going to have to accept until that life everlasting opportunity to have a good sit down with God!
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."
Isaiah 61 is a beautiful picture of what God promises to those who simply come to him...
He binds up the brokenhearted.
Proclaims freedom for the captives.
Releases prisoners from darkness.
Comforts all who mourn.
Provides for those who grieve.
Bestows a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
Gladness instead of mourning,
Praise for despair.
Rebuilds ruins.
Restores places long devastated.
Give a double portion instead of shame.
Inheritance for disgrace.
Have any of you ever needed comfort for any of those things?
I sure have.
That's why I love this days reading. Because when you come to Him with any of those things, Isaiah 58:11 says that "The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail."
He asks you to simply come just as you are....
Thank you Lord.
Click here to listen to "Come Just As You Are" song.
Isaiah 54-66
The common theme seems to me, how God is asking us to come to Him, or come back to Him. It reminds me of a song with these beautiful lyrics:
Come just as you are
Come just as you are
Hear the spirit call
Come just as you are
Come and see
Come receive
Come and live forever
Life everlasting
Strength for today
Taste the living water
And never thirst again
Come just has you are
Don't you hear the spirit call
Come just has you are
Come and see
Christ my king
Come and live forever more
I've done that once in my life, asked the Lord into my life so that I would have life everlasting.
But in so many other ways, I still hear that beckoning, Him asking me to, "Come just as you are..."
I think that's one of the most profound things that my son with autism has in common with God. That unconditional love that says, "Come, just as you are," I don't care if you are perfect, I don't care if you are black, yellow, red, or white. Rich or poor. Beautiful or ugly.
I don't have to pretend to be anything or anyone I'm not with God, nor do I have to with my son who has autism.
In Isaiah 54 I see that a lot, where for whatever reason, for whatever sin, God asks us to simply come to him....
Come, just as you are ---
"Do not be afraid, you will not suffer shame."
"Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated."
"...my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed."
Come, just as you are ---
Isaiah 54:17
"...no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me," declares the Lord.
Come, just as you are ---
Isaiah 55
"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! "Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live."
So many times I've come to God in this "Life with Autism" and asked so many questions. So many "Why's?" and I suppose that Isaiah 55:8 is the answer I'm just going to have to accept until that life everlasting opportunity to have a good sit down with God!
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."
Isaiah 61 is a beautiful picture of what God promises to those who simply come to him...
He binds up the brokenhearted.
Proclaims freedom for the captives.
Releases prisoners from darkness.
Comforts all who mourn.
Provides for those who grieve.
Bestows a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
Gladness instead of mourning,
Praise for despair.
Rebuilds ruins.
Restores places long devastated.
Give a double portion instead of shame.
Inheritance for disgrace.
Have any of you ever needed comfort for any of those things?
I sure have.
That's why I love this days reading. Because when you come to Him with any of those things, Isaiah 58:11 says that "The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail."
He asks you to simply come just as you are....
Thank you Lord.
Click here to listen to "Come Just As You Are" song.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Turn to me...
Day 52
Isaiah 42-53
I'm sharing some verses from this day's reading out of order because something I read in the middle of the reading, caused many of the other passages before and after to come together in my thoughts as applied to my "Life with Autism."
Such simple words of Isaiah 45:22 with "Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other."
Turn to me...
...and be saved.
So much is implied in those simple words. Turn to me.... Not your family, not your friends, not your neighbors, psychic's, psychiatrist's, Pastor, or your pet; not your child's teachers, therapists, doctor's, Sunday School teacher, etc.
Sure, God uses those things to help and certainly they do! My family and friends and Pastor and pet have helped us tremendously!
But above all, first and foremost, we are to turn to Him...
Simply turn to me. Look at me. Focus on me. Run to me. Cry to me. Come to me.
And be saved... Be healed, helped, forgiven. Find grace, mercy, strength. Renewed faith, hope, love.
The moment we look to Him, turn to God, we are transformed as no other can transform us. We are helped as no other can help us. Healed as no other can heal us. Strengthened as no other can strengthen us. Forgiven as no other can forgive us.
Because as it says in Isaiah 45:24, "They will say of me, 'In the Lord alone are righteousness and strength.'"
I know this is a very personal testimony of my own faith that others may not share, but truly in my "Life with Autism" it has been "In the Lord alone are righteousness and strength." There is so very, very little in autism that is righteous anything. In even life anymore it seems. On my own, I am so very, very weak. But through Christ, I find such strength to fight ongoing battles that I must fight.
I think Isaiah 46:12 should have preceeded Isaiah 22 that I quoted above. It should read like this, (for me at least):
"Listen to me, you stubborn-hearted, you who are far from righteousness."
"Turn to me and be saved..."
Oh how very many years I stubbornly tried to do things my way. On my own....
Then Isaiah 46:4 which says, "I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you."
Can I have a HOOYAH to that?
There is nothing in this world that has sustained me through autism more than my HOPEISM. My faith, my salvation.
My autism community and prayer partners a very close second.
It is God who sustains Brandon through days of recovery from seizures where he doesn't eat or drink. It is God who carries him over each and every obstacle. It is God who will rescue him according to his timing, his plan.
It is God who will save in him what man has destroyed.
Turn to me and be saved ---
Isaiah 43 --- "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze..."
"Do not be afraid, for I am with you..."
Turn to me and be saved ---
Isaiah 43 --- "(I) made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters..."
Turn to me ---
Isaiah 43 --- "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
And be saved ---
"I am doing a new thing! I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."
Isaiah 49:25 "Yes, captives will be taken from warriors, and plunder retrieved from the fierce; I will contend with those who contend with you, and your children I will save."
I must do all I can in daily advocating for my child and in fighting all those who have plundered my child's health -- but isn't it such a comfort to know that God is right there over your shoulder as the One who will ultimately contend with those who dared contend with you? Your child?
For all the weeping I've done lately for my child - I so needed to read this day's message of such HOPEISM!
I will contend with those who contend with you, and your children I will save...
Can I get a HOOYAH & HALLELUJAH to that?
Isaiah 51:7 "Hear me, you who know what is right, you people who have my law in your hearts; Do not fear the reproach of men or be terrified by their insults. For the moth will eat them up like a garment; the worm will devour them like wool. But my righteousness will last forever, my salvation through all generations."
Turn to me and be saved ---
Isaiah 51:6 --- "My salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail."
Is it just me that needs to be reminded of that? Is it just me that has experienced the failure of the education system, the failure of the state support system, the failure of insurance, doctors, and even at times churches when so many do not provide a place for a family of a child with a disability to belong to?
Turn to me and be saved --- I will not fail you...
Yes, Lord, it was you who in Isaiah 51:10 --
...dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep.
...who made a road in the depth of the sea so that the redeemed might cross over.
...who caused gladness and joy to overtake them -
...and sorrow and sighing to flee away.
All - who turn to him, are saved.
How?
Isaiah 53 tells us.
"He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed."
I have died for you - so that you may turn to me, and be saved...
For life.
In life.
Wow.....
I love that in the autism community I can be someone who helps others. Who maybe because of my journey, inspires others. I'm not sure I agree with the fact that I'm considered a leader - because I know only too well my faults and foibles, and I sure as heck don't want to mislead anyone because of my ignorance and imperfections.
But I do hope that if I can lead anyone to anything -- it's to follow God. Not me.
Turn to me, and you'll often be disappointed or led astray.
Turn to Him, and you'll be saved...
Isaiah 42-53
I'm sharing some verses from this day's reading out of order because something I read in the middle of the reading, caused many of the other passages before and after to come together in my thoughts as applied to my "Life with Autism."
Such simple words of Isaiah 45:22 with "Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other."
Turn to me...
...and be saved.
So much is implied in those simple words. Turn to me.... Not your family, not your friends, not your neighbors, psychic's, psychiatrist's, Pastor, or your pet; not your child's teachers, therapists, doctor's, Sunday School teacher, etc.
Sure, God uses those things to help and certainly they do! My family and friends and Pastor and pet have helped us tremendously!
But above all, first and foremost, we are to turn to Him...
Simply turn to me. Look at me. Focus on me. Run to me. Cry to me. Come to me.
And be saved... Be healed, helped, forgiven. Find grace, mercy, strength. Renewed faith, hope, love.
The moment we look to Him, turn to God, we are transformed as no other can transform us. We are helped as no other can help us. Healed as no other can heal us. Strengthened as no other can strengthen us. Forgiven as no other can forgive us.
Because as it says in Isaiah 45:24, "They will say of me, 'In the Lord alone are righteousness and strength.'"
I know this is a very personal testimony of my own faith that others may not share, but truly in my "Life with Autism" it has been "In the Lord alone are righteousness and strength." There is so very, very little in autism that is righteous anything. In even life anymore it seems. On my own, I am so very, very weak. But through Christ, I find such strength to fight ongoing battles that I must fight.
I think Isaiah 46:12 should have preceeded Isaiah 22 that I quoted above. It should read like this, (for me at least):
"Listen to me, you stubborn-hearted, you who are far from righteousness."
"Turn to me and be saved..."
Oh how very many years I stubbornly tried to do things my way. On my own....
Then Isaiah 46:4 which says, "I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you."
Can I have a HOOYAH to that?
There is nothing in this world that has sustained me through autism more than my HOPEISM. My faith, my salvation.
My autism community and prayer partners a very close second.
It is God who sustains Brandon through days of recovery from seizures where he doesn't eat or drink. It is God who carries him over each and every obstacle. It is God who will rescue him according to his timing, his plan.
It is God who will save in him what man has destroyed.
Turn to me and be saved ---
Isaiah 43 --- "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze..."
"Do not be afraid, for I am with you..."
Turn to me and be saved ---
Isaiah 43 --- "(I) made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters..."
Turn to me ---
Isaiah 43 --- "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
And be saved ---
"I am doing a new thing! I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."
Isaiah 49:25 "Yes, captives will be taken from warriors, and plunder retrieved from the fierce; I will contend with those who contend with you, and your children I will save."
I must do all I can in daily advocating for my child and in fighting all those who have plundered my child's health -- but isn't it such a comfort to know that God is right there over your shoulder as the One who will ultimately contend with those who dared contend with you? Your child?
For all the weeping I've done lately for my child - I so needed to read this day's message of such HOPEISM!
I will contend with those who contend with you, and your children I will save...
Can I get a HOOYAH & HALLELUJAH to that?
Isaiah 51:7 "Hear me, you who know what is right, you people who have my law in your hearts; Do not fear the reproach of men or be terrified by their insults. For the moth will eat them up like a garment; the worm will devour them like wool. But my righteousness will last forever, my salvation through all generations."
Turn to me and be saved ---
Isaiah 51:6 --- "My salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail."
Is it just me that needs to be reminded of that? Is it just me that has experienced the failure of the education system, the failure of the state support system, the failure of insurance, doctors, and even at times churches when so many do not provide a place for a family of a child with a disability to belong to?
Turn to me and be saved --- I will not fail you...
Yes, Lord, it was you who in Isaiah 51:10 --
...dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep.
...who made a road in the depth of the sea so that the redeemed might cross over.
...who caused gladness and joy to overtake them -
...and sorrow and sighing to flee away.
All - who turn to him, are saved.
How?
Isaiah 53 tells us.
"He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed."
I have died for you - so that you may turn to me, and be saved...
For life.
In life.
Wow.....
I love that in the autism community I can be someone who helps others. Who maybe because of my journey, inspires others. I'm not sure I agree with the fact that I'm considered a leader - because I know only too well my faults and foibles, and I sure as heck don't want to mislead anyone because of my ignorance and imperfections.
But I do hope that if I can lead anyone to anything -- it's to follow God. Not me.
Turn to me, and you'll often be disappointed or led astray.
Turn to Him, and you'll be saved...
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Of woe's, weariness, weeping, and a wonderful warrior.
Day 51
Isaiah 29-41
This day's reading started off much like my everyday challenges of late with autism and seizures and the warrior fight we must all fight daily ---
Isaiah 29:1-3 "Woe to you, Ariel, Ariel, (Michelle, Michelle) the city where David (Life with Autism) settled! Add year to year and let your cycle of festivals (autism, seizures, GI issues) go on."
As this current Legislative session goes on, as more and more bills are introduced that either do nothing to help our children, or do more to harm them or take away our parental rights concerning them come across my e-mail - it's so easy to get discouraged. Woeful. Weary.
And as I have personally experienced a lot of this past week -- Weepy.
Not only must we fight our own battles in our home, it's also up to us to fight them in our city, state, and nation!
Sometimes it's just too much.
But as God always does, in the midst of all that, he brings words like in Isaiah 30:19 - O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with you own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."
That comforts me so on days like I've had lately.
And words like Isaiah 30:26 which promise - The moon will shine like the sun, and the sunlight will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven full days, when the Lord binds up the bruises of his people and heals the wounds he inflicted.
I hear the song "I Can Only Imagine" playing in my head right now. No, sadly not imagining heaven, but imagining a stress-free, care-free, spontaneous day of no autism, no seizures, no advocacy alert to take action on. No government corruption to end, no Pharma to put out of business, no vaccination wrongs to right. No institutions to shut down, abuse to end, cameras to get in classrooms.
Today's reading probably had a greater meaning that hopefully a few more spins through the Bible will teach me - but for now what today's reading is saying to me is that without all those issues being placed in the right person's hand -- it will be a woeful and weary existence for me and I will weep.
Isaiah 31:1 "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the Lord."
If I rely on my own strength, I will get nowhere.
But if I rely on His????
Isaiah 40:28-31 "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
Isaiah 41:10-13 "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you."
Thank you Lord.... for being the wonderful warrior you are.
I know... I hear.... and I will try my best not to fear....
Isaiah 29-41
This day's reading started off much like my everyday challenges of late with autism and seizures and the warrior fight we must all fight daily ---
Isaiah 29:1-3 "Woe to you, Ariel, Ariel, (Michelle, Michelle) the city where David (Life with Autism) settled! Add year to year and let your cycle of festivals (autism, seizures, GI issues) go on."
As this current Legislative session goes on, as more and more bills are introduced that either do nothing to help our children, or do more to harm them or take away our parental rights concerning them come across my e-mail - it's so easy to get discouraged. Woeful. Weary.
And as I have personally experienced a lot of this past week -- Weepy.
Not only must we fight our own battles in our home, it's also up to us to fight them in our city, state, and nation!
Sometimes it's just too much.
But as God always does, in the midst of all that, he brings words like in Isaiah 30:19 - O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with you own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."
That comforts me so on days like I've had lately.
And words like Isaiah 30:26 which promise - The moon will shine like the sun, and the sunlight will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven full days, when the Lord binds up the bruises of his people and heals the wounds he inflicted.
I hear the song "I Can Only Imagine" playing in my head right now. No, sadly not imagining heaven, but imagining a stress-free, care-free, spontaneous day of no autism, no seizures, no advocacy alert to take action on. No government corruption to end, no Pharma to put out of business, no vaccination wrongs to right. No institutions to shut down, abuse to end, cameras to get in classrooms.
Today's reading probably had a greater meaning that hopefully a few more spins through the Bible will teach me - but for now what today's reading is saying to me is that without all those issues being placed in the right person's hand -- it will be a woeful and weary existence for me and I will weep.
Isaiah 31:1 "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the Lord."
If I rely on my own strength, I will get nowhere.
But if I rely on His????
Isaiah 40:28-31 "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
Isaiah 41:10-13 "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you."
Thank you Lord.... for being the wonderful warrior you are.
I know... I hear.... and I will try my best not to fear....
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