Creating Thought

I am in a d esperate place right now. In fact if I knew that this blog had a large following I would probably not be writing this particular post. But there are times, and this is one of them, that I become burdened to at least write a post and d ecide when it is d one if I will publish it or not. You can imagine that I have a good collection of d raft posts. That is the way it is. So what is the source of my d esperation? It is another D word. D epression. Yes that word and not the kind of d epression that is a normal part of our lives from time to time. This is Massive D epressive D isorder and it's cousin General Anxiety D isorder.  This is the kind that is very d ifficult to d eal with and to get away from. I am rarely able to d uck and d efend myself when it come d own on me.  But I am d etermined that by the grace of God and with His might it will not d efeat me. I may feel d efeated right now but I am not. My true condition is that I stand victorious in Christ and ...

"Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him." Proverbs 30:5 (ESV) Imagine, something is coming at you, something you know you are not going to like. You know you will be disturbed, upset, or even angered after you are forced to encounter it. How do you prepare for it? What is it that drives your reaction?   Fear?  Worry? Faith? Trust? This is tough. We all want to avoid the battle and the pain that comes with it but we all know that we cannot escape from all of it. Sometimes in our lives we simply have to endure unpleasant encounters and the resulting consequences. Those are the times in our words and professions prove themselves; it is when the "rubber truly hits the road" and our faith is tested. You have to believe that this is really difficult for me to even write about because I wrestle with it a great deal. It is what I am coming to call my own personal thorn in the flesh. I fear and I worry far too much about things ...

"For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted." Hebrews 2:18 "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin."  Hebrews 4:15 How many times has you wanted a "do-over"?  How many times have you wished for a mulligan in your life - and I do not mean on the golf course where mulligans are actually possible.  The idea might be attractive but really?  Do you really want to do it again - especially in view of the state we are in in this world?   I find it interesting when I hear people say "the times are changing and we just have to get used to it."  Well it isn't really the times that are changing but the people who are changing as time goes by. Of course this has always been the normal course of history for humans. There has been no time in history that society has not ex...

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6 We have been talking a lot about suffering because or for Christ. It comes in many ways and God is not shy about letting it come. Remember we have been appointed not only to believe in Him but to also suffer for him. Well, the suffering part has been my reality recently as I once again have had to face spiritual battle and attacks from the enemy in its effort to knock me down.  It is the "do not lean on your own understanding" part that really trips me up. I want to understand everything that is going on in my life - I do not want to leave any stone not turned. So when I get broadsided by the enemy, as has happened to me this week, I want to know why. I can hardly fault myself for this but it does get in the way.  There are so many things that are not understood by me about my walk. There are a...