Barclay Quote

No one can avoid living with themselves; and when their inward self is an accusing self, life becomes intolerable.

                                       William Barclay

THe Hallway

I do believe that when a door is closed, another will open; however, while we wait, the wandering in the hallway can be painful. Lord grant us the patience to wait.

There is a story that a rabbi told his people, that if they studied the Torah, it would place scripture on their hearts. Someone asked,” Why on our hearts and not in them?” The rabbi answered,” Only God can put scripture inside, but reading the sacred text can place it on your heart, and when your heart breaks, the holy words will fall inside.”


I can’t speak for you, but for many that I know, including myself, I came to God in my brokenness, and it was then, that His words became more than letters on a page.

Seeds

Those that give advice, teach, or counsel, must remember, that we are but planters of the seed in another’s garden. It is out of personal desire for growth that cultivates the seed.

The task ahead

The Task Ahead Of You, Is Never As Great As the Power Behind you.

The Mocker

Proverbs 14:6

The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.

If we define knowledge as information gained through sight, sound or touch. Then information, if applied, becomes wisdom, which is the skill to use that knowledge.

The mocker is someone who shows contempt, not for wisdom, but the process to gain wisdom. He or She does not want to invest the time to gain understanding. They want what they want and they want it now. Before we judge the mocker, and we can recall many, we may need to ask ourselves, “Do we desire to be at 12 when we have become unwilling to pass through 1-11?”

A Question on the belief of heaven?

Do you believe that Jesus died? Do you believe that He lives? Then after death, why not you?

Compassion

Compassion avoids snap judgments-right or wrong, good or bad. Compassion is a virtue of being able to think or feel the distress of others and having the desire to help. Genuine compassion is the thoughts and feelings that we have been there too.

I must admit that I struggle with genuine compassion when I hear of the horrible choices that some have made in their addiction. I sometimes become angry with the consequences to loved ones because of their behavior. I recently read where a father, during a winter storm, stopped by a tavern to grab a beer for the road, leaving his daughter in the truck with the engine running. It was 3 in the afternoon. At 11 that evening he came out to the truck, the engine had died and he had to rush his daughter to the hospital where they amputated some of her toes and one finger.

I thought to myself, COMPASSSION, I want to place him in the freezing temperatures for a taste of what he had given. Genuine compassion is for me to admit that I have been there too, NEVER had I placed my daughters in such a situation. Forgiveness was not possible for me to feel towards this man. Everything I teach and everything I have read indicates that I must find a way. I remember a few years ago my daughter and I were talking. I ran a gymnastics school and spend a great deal of my time with other children and in that exchange I made my daughter feel as though the giving of my time to them was more important than the time given to her. I robbed my daughter of time with her father that I cannot give back. I did not hurt her with amputated toes and fingers but I hurt her just the same. How can I find forgiveness for myself and the father that stopped by the tavern, by remember the words of Jesus, “Forgive them, for they know not what they do.” In closing, it will not make any difference in what has been done, but to my daughter I need to say, “They had my time but you have always had my heart.”

How would you answer?

Am I dependent on the praise or approval of others? Do my failures defeat or challenge me? Do I use people or cultivate them? Do I criticize or encourage?

A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove…but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.

Forest E. Witcraft 

Is it Safe?

I have heard it said many times in Treatment, that for those that are hurting, the Church is the last place they turn to for help. Whether it is self-imposed shame or shame imposed by others, the Church needs to do a better job of accepting the wounded and before we quickly condemn the Church, remember we are the Church. Do we quickly judge others for their actions? Have we placed our self so high on the mountain that we deny that the valleys exist? Have we denied our own valleys for fear of what others might say or do? Is your Church a place of safety for those struggling? Is it safe for you? Is it safe for your Pastor? If not, then what can we do to change, so that we, the Church, will be the first place people look to for comfort and answers because the only comfort is in the arms of a loving God and the fellowship of His people.