I Need A Hero!

Have you noticed the increase in superhero movies in the last 10 years? It's not a brand new thing, they've been around a long time. Superman seemed to start it in the 70s and 80s, but now we have Iron Man, The Green Hornet, The Incredibles, Hancock, the Spiderman series, and more. Do you suppose there is a reason for this?

Yesterday at church it was mentioned that we live in a very anxiety ridden culture. It seems fear is rampant. What better way to deal with the threats out there than to hope for a superhero to come to our rescue! Back in the 80s Bonnie Tyler sang the questions many people are asking today:

"Where have all the good men gone

And where are all the gods?

Where's the street-wise Hercules

To fight the rising odds?

Isn't there a white knight upon a fiery steed?

Late at night I toss and I turn and I dream of what I need."

This song was hugely popular for good reason. It seems many of us resonate with the desire to be rescued. 

The thing is, we have been rescued! God sent us a hero to rescue us - Jesus Christ. Which many of you Christians already know, so that seems obvious. But if that is true, why do we Christians still find ourselves so often in the boat with those who are anxious and fearful?

In the Bible (John 5) there is a story of a crippled man who had been sick 38 years laying by a pool waiting for a supernatural healing that only happened if someone would help him get into the water at the right moment. Its a sad, sad story. You feel sorry for the bloke until you hear Jesus ask him if he really wants to get well. Then you start to see a bit of a different picture. Thirty-eight years is a long time. Do you suppose he just got used to being stuck in this predicament? In all those years, he couldn't have gotten himself to the edge of that pool and slipped in when the water stirred? Did he truly want to be healed? Or had he gotten stuck? Jesus says to him "Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!" Notice the exclamation - Jesus was stern. It was a wake up call. 

And why did that part about "pick up your mat" need to be in there? Do you suppose in his years of illness he had forgotten to take care of his "stuff"? Just got used to other people taking care of him? After all, according to him, it was other peoples' fault for why he was still there, "I have no one to put me into the pool..." 

Interesting story. I can relate to the crippled guy. In fact, recently I've been stewing about a situation and feeling sorry for myself. Now, to be clear, I have been wronged. I have justification to feel the way I do. However, to wait for someone else to come to my rescue is wrong. The God of the universe has already come to my rescue and He lives within me providing me with what I need every day! He gives me the guidance, wisdom and discernment I need to address what needs to be addressed in ways that bring Him honor and glory. 

Healing is a process. And it is often painful, but I'd rather experience the pain and be moving forward than just staying stuck with no hope, wishing someone else would swoop in and take care of it for me. I can hear Jesus saying to me, "So, what's it going to be Gina? Are you going to stay here or are you going to take My hand, get up, and walk?" I choose to walk. 

I have a HERO! His name is Jesus. He lives in me through the power of the Holy Spirit. He brings healing and wholeness as I surrender to Him and allow Him to live BIG in me. There is nothing I face that He and I can't handle! 

There will always be tests, failures, trials, pain, loss and things we DO NOT UNDERSTAND in this world. But God is ALWAYS good and He will ALWAYS be with us through these times. His love never fails. He has a good plan for those who love Him. I know this is true, I've experienced it. 

until next time

...and the greatest of these is love

A Lie Unchallenged Becomes the Truth You Live By

(The title for this blog is a quote from the The Ultimate Journey (www.theultimatejourney.org) a 3 phase course/journey from Christ-Life Ministries, Inc.)

"A lie unchallenged becomes the truth you live by." Think about that statement. Let's say as a child you experience a great deal of teasing or harassment because of something you have no control over. The statements made sink in, the child begins to believe them because no one is countering it (or not countering it enough). It happens to everyone. Not just from teasing or harassment, but other things as well. Events, situations, people in authority positions, even sometimes well-intentioned can all relay a message to an impressionable mind that is contrary to the truth.

Jesus said, "But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believes in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea." Matthew 18:6. So we know from this, that it's serious business to harm a child to the point that leads them to sin.

But it happens all the time. Bullying, abuse, neglect are all very common in our world and have been around since the fall.

God knows this and provides ways for us to expose the lies we have come to believe and to identify the root causes. Often, these well entrenched lies and beliefs are so ingrained we don't know why we think them or where they began, but God does and He will show this to us when we are ready and willing to ask Him to do so. The Ultimate Journey was a wonderful tool for this in my life. A good Christ-centered counselor can be a great help too. (yes, I'm promoting my counseling ministry Foundations Christian Counseling 641-628-9966)

It was much easier for me to admit the ways in which I had sinned, the mistakes I have made. You see, at least I had control over this. Those were my decisions, for good or evil. I could humbly repent and turn to the Lord for forgiveness and even learn to forgive myself. However, there were underlying factors that I did not have control over that greatly influenced the choices I made later in life. Those were the things I didn't want to acknowledge; didn't want to admit had happened. Those things made me feel vulnerable and ashamed; weak and helpless. But with a growing understanding of God's love, and a willingness to go back there one more time, I could take the small steps needed toward exposing the secrets and shining His light on darkness. By clinging to His promises to restore and redeem I went on the journey.

That was 3 years ago. The seeds planted during that time continue to grow and are now producing fruit in my life that is evident to those who know me. God does that. Jesus knows our weaknesses, our hurts, our past, our shame, and He doesn't stand stoic and unmoved, NO, He KNOWS what we feel and experience because He has felt and experienced it also. He says "humble yourself like a child" be willing to do the hard work - face the things you are afraid to face - I'll be right there with you.

I heard it said recently that Christians who weep a lot are close to God; they are experiencing His presence. I think this is true. The more I've felt His hands on my life healing, molding, shaping, correcting; the more tears I have shed. And someday, I'm guessing God will show me the 'bottle' (are you kidding, it's going to be a barrel!) of the the tears He's stored for me and let me see the bigger picture - until then, I rest in His love and trust His good plan for my life.

until next time

...and the greatest of these is love