Lamenting

Believer’s Lament

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I know that my redeemer lives … He lives to hear my soul’s complaint. CW 154

“My soul’s complaint.” That is an interesting phrase. Too often, we think of things being “well with our souls.” The thought that a soul can have a complaint is interesting. David’s words in Psalm 13 come to mind:

How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and day after day have sorrow in my heart?

David expresses a sense of isolation, and even, betrayal. His heart his heavy; his soul complains. People have often called such a cry, a lament. A lament may have the sound and feel of betrayal and abandonment.

It has been suggested, however, that a believer’s lament is actually an opportunity to engage with God in making sense of things gone wrong in an effort to find resolution and hope. Even though there are unanswered questions and there is the existence of evil and injustice, the Lord is still good.

A Christian lament is grounded in the hope of future reorientation.

Consider the words of our Savior as he spoke from the cross:

“My God, my God! Why have you forsaken me?”

“Today, you will be with me in paradise.”

“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”

There is lament. There is empowerment. There is hope of future reorientation.

To sit with suffering is to also find a companion in this life. The harsh realities of this life will wage war on our faith in Christ. We have one who fights in our stead, however. He knows our laments and sings with us, even in those moments. That is because Jesus never forgets the pain of the hearts he has bought.

The Easter hymn, “I Know My Redeemer Lives” is based on a statement from the life of an Old Testament believer named, Job.

Job knew heartache. His soul complained. He lost everything in a single day. He cried for all his 10 children. Dead in a day. Dust and ashes. Sores and sadness. Seven days of silence.

And yet, Job lamented with hope. Through the eyes of faith, he saw the Lord usher in a “new day.” And his believer’s lament was transformed to a litany of praise: “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the Earth!” (Job 19:25)

Our laments are also litanies. Our cries for help in this life are grounded in the sure and certain hope of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which empowers us in faith because we have a promised, final reorientation to our heavenly home!

Prayer

I know that my Redeemer lives. What comfort this sweet sentence gives! He lives, he lives, who once was dead; he lives my ever-living head. Amen.

Guilt – A Fresh Start

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Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17

New and Improved

Sometimes you see that little stamp on a product via a new marketing campaign to try to sell the product.

Some years back Coca-Cola came out with a “new and improved” version of Coke. It went over about as well as a led zeppelin (and not the band!) Coke soon went back to it’s “original version” of this beverage and the new and improved version was shelved-literally!

When it comes to people there is a refreshing and vital change that comes to each of us as Christians through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. That is what the great Apostle Paul is referring to in the passage above. Paul would know.

Paul himself would need to take advantage of God’s gracious “sinner protection program” in which he would pick up a new identity (and a new name!) through faith in Jesus. Saul (his former name) who caused many Christians to go into hiding, because of his relentless persecution of the Christian Church would himself be found by Jesus and granted a “brand new start” by grace.

This is good news for us who have committed the same old, same old sins (cf. Galatians 5:19ff) and thus deserved the same old, same old punishment: Eternal condemnation in hell!!! Now, because we have “passed away with Christ” (cf. Romans 6:8) we will pass over to a new existence-to live with Jesus forever in glory. What a glorious and welcome change!

Because we are “new” through the renewing and sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, the healthy changes that are needed in our lives are limitless. In fact, we have access to a “host” of spiritual gifts that the Spirit of God works in us: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22ff)

New and improved (made perfect even!)-through faith in Christ. Now that is a refreshing change!

Prayer

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for all that you have done for me-so that, through faith in you, I could have a fresh start. Help me daily to live for you by dying to sin until that day that I pass away/pass over-to live with you forever in glory. In your name I humbly and thankfully pray. Amen.

Spanish version: En Español

Devotion - Loneliness - Repentance 1

A Horrible Loneliness Ended

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Repentance 1

“…that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:19

The Surgeon General of the United States has declared that loneliness is a health risk to the people of our nation. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, stated in a recent proclamation, “Our epidemic of loneliness and isolation has been an underappreciated public health crisis that has harmed individual and societal health. Our relationships are a source of healing and well-being hiding in plain sight – one that can help us live healthier, more fulfilled, and more productive lives…”

I think the loneliest I have ever been was in the second year of our engagement. Mary was in Milwaukee. I was in East Lansing Michigan attending Michigan State. We would be married in less than a year. Telephone communication was about $5.00 a call at a phone booth at the length I wanted our calls to be, when the minimum wage was $1.25. So we wrote letters. I was on a campus of at least 15,000 students that summer. I was number 124,802. They didn’t even call us by our names. I lived with four guys I would be teaching with the next school year, but I did not know them well at all. On weekends I stayed in the rented home and they all went home to families. Loneliness. I did preach on weekends somewhere different each Sunday, to help pastors out who were taking vacations with their families. But loneliness was like a knife in the stomach and an ache in the head. There was no one to talk to.

Think about the clients we serve who are struggling through anxiety and depression and marital problems and addictions. They have a lot more than the six weeks of loneliness that I had that summer. Many of them have years of it – and they feel it will never end. Even thoughts of suicide race through their heads. They doubt themselves. They doubt others. They doubt God.
Let’s start with God. He knows our loneliness. Jesus said from the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Our sins separate us from God. Jesus felt the loneliness of our sins which he took upon Himself. He knew the loneliness of the human condition in a world of sin and doubt and depression and despair. Our verse uses the word, “reconciliation.”

Reconciliation is explained with the later words we quoted. “Not counting people’s sins against them.” Jesus paid for our sins! He did this for every sinner in all the world. You and I and our clients are not left out. We are a part of the world for whom Jesus suffered and died and made the perfect payment for sin. We are right with God! We need not doubt God nor His love for us.

“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.” I Peter 3:18

Christ is crucified and arisen for the world of sinners. This is the fact of God’s love. Jesus, the Righteous One, for you and me and all people, who are unrighteousness. This is the fact of God’s grace.

This is the comfort and hope of God’s gracious forgiveness in Christ. Listen to the Promise of Jesus:

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.  Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” John 14:16-20

Jesus has made us right with God the Father and the Holy Spirit. The Triune God is always with us with His love. We can go to Him for anything, even to confess our sins. Amen.

Prayer

Help us Lord to see your eternal, loving presence in our lives. Help us communicate your love for all people to all people. Thank you for your Son Jesus, our Reconciler. Amen.

Philippians 4:4-7 and Psalm 23

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Anxiety and anger often go together. We are fearful and uncertain about something and our fear and anxiety work on our emotions in negative ways.

Read more

Philippians 4:4-7

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Hope for the present and the future.

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Nonsense? The Empty Tomb

Nonsense?

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But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.” 
Luke 24:11

We seem to live in a world plagued by doubt and confusion. And Easter Sunday was no exception. St. Luke tells us that some faithful ladies brought back a confusing report from the sealed tomb: “Jesus was not there!” What? That sounds like nonsense. Angels? Empty tombs? Missing bodies? It all seemed like “crazy-talk” to the other disciples. Utter nonsense.

The disciples either forgot Jesus’ promises or they doubted his promises. It was more likely a mixture of both.

This applies to our clinical therapy as providers who serve with Christian Family Solutions. We strive to offer answers, guidance, and healing to people who are hurting; people plagued by a world of doubt and confusion. Without Christ being centered in the midst of such therapeutic work, we hope to only offer healing for just this life. In the end, that would also be nonsense.

Now, there are people who would think that integration of Christian faith into therapy is also nonsense. Some might even dare state it is dangerous. And yes! To those who doubt Christ, the gospel does seem like nonsense.

Christ removes all doubt and fear, however. His resurrection is the ultimate proof. We believe that the risen Christ is present, alive, and active in our work as therapists. Solid, evidence-based therapy married with sound, Christ-centered theology makes good sense. It provides a trajectory for lasting healing and hope. And that is the furthest thing from nonsense. We seem to live in a world plagued by doubt and confusion. And Easter Sunday was no exception. St. Luke tells us that some faithful ladies brought back a confusing report from the sealed tomb: “Jesus was not there!” What? That sounds like nonsense. Angels? Empty tombs? Missing bodies?

It all seemed like “crazy-talk” to the other disciples. Utter nonsense.

The disciples either forgot Jesus’ promises or they doubted his promises. It was more likely a mixture of both.

This applies to our clinical therapy as providers who serve with Christian Family Solutions. We strive to offer answers, guidance, and healing to people who are hurting; people plagued by a world of doubt and confusion. Without Christ being centered in the midst of such therapeutic work, we hope to only offer healing for just this life. In the end, that would also be nonsense.

Now, there are people who would think that integration of Christian faith into therapy is also nonsense. Some might even dare state it is dangerous. And yes! To those who doubt Christ, the gospel does seem like nonsense.

Christ removes all doubt and fear, however. His resurrection is the ultimate proof. We believe that the risen Christ is present, alive, and active in our work as therapists. Solid, evidence-based therapy married with sound, Christ-centered theology makes good sense. It provides a trajectory for lasting healing and hope. And that is the furthest thing from nonsense.

Prayer

Christ Jesus, thank you removing our doubts and fears by your resurrection from the grave. You have overcome sin and unbelief. Help us to trust in your promises as you equip us to help others. Be present, dear risen Savior, in our efforts to bring your healing and hope to a hurting world. Remind us that no word from you or work carried out for you is ever nonsense. You alone have the words of eternal life. Amen.

CONFÍA – ANÍMATE

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Pero cuando venga el Espiritu de la verdad, el los guiara a toda la verdad, porque no hablara por su propia cuenta, sino que dira solo lo que oiga y les anunciara las cosas por venir. Juan 16:13

Esto va a doler, pero finalmente te hará sentir mejor”. Odio recibir inyecciones. Pero a veces recibir una inyección es “justo lo que recetó el médico”. ¡Una vacuna contra el tétanos, por ejemplo, es mucho mejor que la alternativa de contraer el tétanos (también conocida como bloqueo de mandíbula)!

Nuestro gran médico del alma, Jesús, nos explica que vivir como cristianos en este mundo “va a doler”. Puedes esperar que ser un seguidor de Jesús te traerá problemas, no muy diferentes a cómo él experimentó los problemas en este mundo. Después de todo, “el discípulo no está por encima de su maestro” (cf. Lucas 6:40)

De una manera extraña, podemos unirnos a otro “apóstol loco” (llamado Pedro) que en realidad podía regocijarse en sus sufrimientos e incluso encontrar algo beneficioso en soportar problemas: “Esto es para ustedes motivo de gran alegria, a pesar de que hasta ahora han tenido que sufrir diversas pruebas por un tiempo. El oro, aunque perecedero, se acrisola al fuego. Asi tambien la fe de ustedes, que vale mucho mas que el oro, al ser acrisolada por las pruebas demostrara que es digna de aprobacion, gloria y honor cuando cristo se revele. (1 Pedro 1:6-7)

Entonces, ¿sufrir por ser seguidor de Cristo solo sirve para validar que le perteneces? Exactamente. ¿Y los problemas pueden ser usados por Dios para refinarnos en nuestra fe y hacernos más deseosos de dejar este mundo? Ciertamente puede y a menudo lo hace.

Es un poco como las águilas hacen con sus crías: se sabe que las águilas colocan todo tipo de objetos afilados (como espinas y rocas afiladas) en el fondo de sus nidos. Luego cubren todas estas cosas desagradables con plumas suaves para que cuando los pequeños aguiluchos salgan del cascarón estén muy cómodos… al principio. Pero, a medida que las pequeñas águilas crecen y se acerca el momento en que necesitarán volar y vivir por su cuenta, la madre les quitará las plumas, lo que hará que sea cada vez menos cómodo permanecer en el nido.

En 2 Corintios 4:17 el gran Apóstol Pablo escribe: “Pues los sufrimientos ligeros y efimeros que ahora padecemos producen una gloria eterna que vale muchisimo mas que todo sufrimiento. Asi que no nos fijamos en lo visible, sino en lo invisible, ya que lo que se ve es pasajero, mientras que lo que no se ve es eterno”. Note su “perspectiva eterna” sobre los problemas. ¡El problema es “ligero y momentáneo”, especialmente en relación con el castigo “pesado y permanente” que nos hemos ganado al pecar contra Dios!

Jesús, nuestro Salvador, experimentó problemas debido a todos los “problemas” que nosotros habíamos hecho al quebrantar la ley de Dios. Y Su sufrimiento estuvo lejos de ser “ligero” ya que llevó los pecados del mundo entero sobre sus hombros sin pecado mientras sufría el infierno en la cruz.

¡Relájate, esto solo va a doler por un rato!

ORACIÓN

Gracias, SEÑOR Jesucristo, por el sufrimiento inimaginable que soportaste voluntariamente como mi sustituto que cargo con mis pecados. Cuando llegue el momento de partir de este lugar, prepárame y disponme a “volar” con gusto para estar contigo para siempre en el cielo. Mientras tanto, ayúdame a mantener una perspectiva adecuada sobre los problemas y a soportarlos con paciencia y sin quejarme mientras espero ansiosamente tu regreso seguro.Amén.

English version: En Ingles

Trust - In Him All Things

CONFIAR – EN EL

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Él es anterior a todas las cosas, que por medio de él forman un todo coherente. 1 Colosenses 1:17

¿Alguna vez alguien trató de alentarlo diciendo: “¡Aguanta!”? Sin duda tenían buenas intenciones. Pero si te detienes y lo piensas, ese no es un buen consejo para ofrecerle a alguien, ¡especialmente si está pasando por dificultades en esta vida!

La implicación detrás de la frase es que tengo que hacer algo para mantener todo en control por mí mismo. ¡Qué agotador sería eso! Imagínese tratando de mantener unidas todas las moléculas de su cuerpo, tratando de mantenerse pegado al suelo para no salir volando del planeta tierra. ¡Ay! ¿No es lo mismo cuando se trata de mantener unido un matrimonio en problemas o cuando se trata de problemas de salud o enfermedades mentales?

Afortunadamente, como cristianos, hemos llegado a saber que alguien más está manteniendo todo bajo control, ¡incluyéndonos a nosotros e incluyendo todo en nuestras vidas! Ese alguien es Jesús.

Como nos recuerda el Apóstol Pablo (parafraseado), Él estuvo aquí antes de que nada existiera . De hecho, sabemos que participó en la asombrosa obra de nuestro Dios Trino de crear nuestro universo y todo lo que hay en él. Otro Apóstol llamado Juan, señala, “Por medio de él todas las cosas fueron creadas.; sin él, nada de lo creado llego a existir.” (Juan 1:3)

Jesús participó activamente en la creación de nuestro mundo. ¡Incluso fue parte de la creación de la gravedad! Eso es impresionante, especialmente cuando consideramos que estamos girando (con respecto al centro de nuestro planeta) a aproximadamente 1,000 millas por hora (en el ecuador) ¡incluso mientras giramos alrededor del sol a 67,000 millas por hora! (¿Ya estás mareado?)

¡Además, nuestro sistema solar gira alrededor del centro de nuestra galaxia a 490,000 millas por hora! Sin gravedad, saldríamos volando del planeta tierra. Y, sin la intervención de Dios en la historia humana (debido a nuestra pecaminosidad), ¡estaríamos volando al infierno!

Y así, Aquel que “co-creó” la gravedad, vendría bajo su propia ley de gravedad (¡y también bajo la ley moral de Dios!) Tomó residencia temporal aquí en el planeta tierra, para solucionar el problema creado por nuestras muchas fallas para mantener la ley de Dios. En su carta a los creyentes en Galatas (4:4-5) Pablo nos recuerda… “… Dios envió a su Hijo… nacido de una mujer, nacido bajo la ley, para rescatar a los que estaban bajo la ley, a fin de que fueramos adoptados como hijos.”

¿Cómo nuestro Dios “nos mantiene unidos” cuando se trata de las cosas aterradoras que nos suceden en esta vida? Él nos da la fe en Jesús. Nos cimentamos a través de la fe en un Dios que nos ama y un Salvador que vino a nuestro mundo para hacernos justos con Dios. ¡Jesús es una “fuerza estabilizadora” en nuestras vidas! Recordemos lo que nos dice, “nadie podra arrebatárselas (sus ovejas) de su mano. (cf. Juan 10:28)

Entonces, ¿por qué no dejarlo ir? Deja ir tus miedos y preocupaciones. Deja ir tus problemas y preocupaciones. Como dice el refrán: “Dejar ir/Dejar a Dios”. Su Salvador “aguantaría allí” por usted, literalmente… ¡mientras colgaba de una cruz para pagar por cada uno de sus pecados! Tenemos un GRAN Dios que nos salvó de una manera GRANDE debido a Su GRAN amor por nosotros en Cristo. No “aguantes allí”. ¡Déjalo ir!

ORACIÓN

Gracias, Jesús, por “aguantar alli” mientras colgaba de una cruz. Podrías haber bajado de esa cruz. En cambio, soportaste la ira de Dios para que yo pudiera estar bajo su favor y bendición. Acompáñame hoy y todos los días. Guárdame de la ansiedad y llena mi corazón de tu paz. Es en tu santo nombre que pido esto: sabiendo que solo tú me das acceso a Dios. Amén.

English version: En Ingles

Devotion - Good is Good. Man with Dog - christiantherapisthetwork.com

Thankfulness – God Is Good

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God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” Genesis 1:31a

National Puppy Day is on March 23. Apparently, it was established as a way to bring awareness to the inherent goodness pets brings into our lives as well attention to the fact that many animals still live in cruel conditions, notably dogs. There is something naturally good about a dog. There are many essentially good things in creation even though it is subject to this fallen reality. Now you may have your preferences and you are allowed your choices. For example, you may be very dogmatic about your canine’s characteristics or you may hold a ferocious catechesis towards your feline’s frisky features. And that is all good.

Let us focus on the goodness of a dog for a just a moment. Why is it that dogs make such good companions for people in crisis? What is it that makes a dog ready made to provide needed support to those in need? They are naturally attuned to human the condition. Now, some may reflect on that thought and offer the jaded reply that dogs are just being conditioned to a response.

That may be true. It is a conditioned response, however, because God conditioned that response. That is because God is good.

What is good? Are there things that can still be good even though we live in this world of sin? God is constant in his goodness. He is impeccable in his providence. The God who gave his Son for all is also the one who still provides the sun to shine and the rain to fall.

The quiet loyalty of a dog serves as a gentle reminder that God is good. And there are still many “goods” in life that we can turn to remind us of our Savior’s abiding love. What a wonderful exercise to share with a client in crisis or a couple in need. Walk that person through a survey of life and help them to find gratitude in the “goods” of God — in his impeccable and predictable and regular everyday mercies.

Martin Luther has been quoted as saying this about the loyal goodness of a dog: “The dog is the most faithful of animals and would be much esteemed were it not so common. Our Lord God has made His greatest gifts the commonest.”

Our Lord God made his greatest gifts the commonest. In love, God has fashioned you in the likeness of Christ. You are now made new. The Lord God looks at you through his Son, Jesus, he sees what he has made, and it is very good.

It is also very good how we are now able to express this newness of life. What beauty lies in the common, shared gift of compassion! How soothing are the caring words of a loved one or the support of an empathetic heart! With common, regular, consistent love, God still provides the world with good. And you, dear friend, are one of them.

Prayer

O, give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Amen.