DEALING WITH LONG TERM ILLNESS

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP

 

DEALING WITH LONG TERM ILLNESS 

(2 Cor 12:8-9) Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.  9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 

Sometimes in life there are surprises.  Some of those are good surprises and some of those come unwelcomed.   Long term illness is one of those that can crash the party of life and seek to pop every festive balloon.  Perhaps you are dealing with being chronically ill.   Here is some encouragement from scripture for your health concern.   

Let’s talk about the apostle Paul.  As far as we know he started out as a healthy young man.  He rose through the ranks of Judaism and had the energy to fulfill his zeal by persecuting Christians far and wide.  On his way to Damascus a light shone from heaven and he fell to the ground.   He was blind for three days until he was prayed for.  The Bible records that something like scales fell from his eyes and he received his sight, was filled with the Spirit and was baptized. (Acts 9) 

Later on Paul’s first missionary journey it looks like from all accounts (Acts/Galatians) that he suffered some kind of Asian eye disease.  He even preached among the Galatian believers with this problem.  Later Paul prayed for his thorn in the flesh to be removed from him.  It very well could be this chronic and debilitating eye problem that began at his conversion and then was accentuated on his travels.   God promised special grace to live with the problem in replacement of his healing.  Paul accepted this decision and learned to live on God’s strength instead of his own.   

When illness first strikes us we pray for healing. (James 5:14-16) But what if God doesn’t heal right away?  We keep on praying (Luke 18:1-8; Eph 6:18).  If God still doesn’t heal then like Paul we see it as a thorn in the flesh to cause us to rely on Him for the daily strength we need.   

But life doesn’t stop with a long term illness!  You might be limited and not be able to do what you did before but that doesn’t mean it’s over for you.  Paul kept doing what he could.  He couldn’t do it the way he used to but it didn’t stop him from finding ways to press on and accomplish something for Christ. (Phil 4:13)  He learned to rely on the Lord and what he accomplished was all for the glory of God.  It would also prove inspirational to others who would see him carry on in spite of weakness and infirmity.  Here’s a guy who wrote half of the New Testament books, traveled on mission trips, led people to Christ, established churches, and spent time in prison. Missionary to India Amy Carmichael suffered a terrible fall and spent the last twenty years of her life bedridden where she wrote many of her inspirational books.  God still wants to use you, and others will be inspired to keep at it despite their weakness. 

Louie

REPAY YOUR PARENTS

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP 

REPAY YOUR PARENTS 

(1 Tim 5:4) But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God. 

It seems like forever that you are growing up and are under your parents roof.  Then as time goes by you get on your own but your parents are still your parents and have their role in your life.  But as time slips into the future there is the growing reality that mom and dad are getting older.  They start needing your help.  You begin to see unspoken needs.  You begin to realize that you must spend more time with them, giving them the support they need.  It happens quicker than you think so be ready to REPAY YOUR PARENTS. 

Joseph was the favorite of Jacob’s sons.  His father even made him a coat of many colors.  His brothers got so jealous of this favoritism that they plotted against him.  They sold him to traders going down to Egypt where he was sold to Potiphar, a high ranking official in the Egyptian army.  We all know the story that as time moved on Pharaoh had a dream that only Joseph could interpret.  This propelled Joseph into being number two in the land as he distributed the grain during that seven year famine.  Soon his brothers would visit the land for food and Joseph eventually revealed himself to them and without animosity chose to forgive them and promised to take care of them as well as his father Jacob.  Soon the whole family moved down to Egypt to survive the famine. 

While on the way to Egypt Jacob needed confirmation from the Lord that he was doing the right thing.  God spoke to him and said, “I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; and Joseph will put his hand on your eyes.” (Gen 46:4)  Joseph responsibly took care of his father and brothers and settled them in the land of Goshen.  During Jacob’s declining years Joseph looked after him in every respect.  When Jacob died it says, “Then Joseph fell on his father’s face, and wept over him, and kissed him”. (Gen 50:1) 

When my father was declining I knew I had to step in to help my parents.  I was in the busiest time of my life with my family and ministry but I knew this is what I had to do.  I began to visit more and call more often, offering physical and moral support.  Dr. appointments, fixing things around their home, etc.    When my dad was on hospice I needed to kick it up another level.  I had the intimate experience of my father passing in my presence.  Now it’s time to look after mom.  Lots to do but this is a part of my life now and has been for some time.   

I think of how many years my parents took precious care of me and laid down their lives for my comfort and well-being.  Now things have turned all the way around and here I am taking care of them.  The older you get the more you appreciate your parent’s sacrifice and all they did for you.  What a debt we owe them and no wonder the Bible says to REPAY YOUR PARENTS. 

Louie

HOW TO TREAT YOUR WIFE

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP 

HOW TO TREAT YOUR WIFE

(1 Pet 3:7) Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered. 

Men, we need a lot of help and guidance on how to treat the woman God gave us to marry.  Come on admit it, we are constantly at a loss on how a woman ticks so we tend to shake our heads on understanding them, let alone how to treat them.  But there is hope for us yet!  The Bible has much to say about marriage and about how to relate to a woman.  So take the time to read and apply this encouragement for it is written from one man to another.   

DWELL WITH THEM: This means spending time with your wife.  Men love their work but make sure you save a lot of your energy to be with your wife.   She loves when you hang out with her and it means more than you know.  Do things together.  Keep her as your best friend.   

WITH UNDERSTANDING:  This means to be considerate of your wife’s spiritual, emotional, and physical needs.  Realize the differences of the sexes and respect how God made her female and not like you.  Study her and anticipate her needs before she has to say something to you.   

GIVING HONOR TO THE WIFE: This means to respect her for who she is.  She is female, the way God made her.  She has a personality that is God-given.  Don’t ever put her down or make her feel less than.  Refrain from ever making fun of her weaknesses, insecurities, or fears.    

WEAKER VESSEL: This refers to physical or emotional weakness.  Use your masculinity to serve her and to help her in areas where she has need.  Be that pillar of strength when she is having a meltdown and let her cry on your chest when she needs to.   

HEIRS TOGETHER: Romans 8:17 says we are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.  That means God wants to bless you together.  Pray with your wife.  Read the Bible to her.  Attend church and Bible study together.  Let Christ be the foundation of your marriage always.  

GRACE OF LIFE: I love this one.  It’s loving your wife and overlooking her faults.  It’s not taking things personally when she acts a certain way or says something that rubs you the wrong way.   It’s giving her lots of space to be herself and to just be a woman.  It’s how the Lord loves us.   

PRAYERS MAY NOT BE HINDERED: Hey guys, let me tell you straight, if you’re not right with your wife it can clog your spiritual life.  So avoid being bitter towards her and keep from ever being a jerk (Col 3:19).  One day we will have to answer to God for how we treated our wives.  Enjoy her, pray for her, and lay down your life for her like Jesus did for His bride the Church!  

Louie

A 1 PETER 3 WIFE

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP

 

A 1 PETER 3 WIFE 

I would like to encourage Christian women whose husbands either are not saved or at least are not the spiritual leaders of their home.  You are in a difficult position, but be assured the Bible definitely speaks to your situation.  I know you desire to do the right thing in the Lord’s eyes, so let me share with you how to be A 1 PETER 3 WIFE.  Let’s read the passage first:

(1 Peter 3:1-6) Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives,  2 when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear.  3 Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—  4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.  5 For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands,  6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror. 

- BE SUBMISSIVE:  This means coming up under your husband’s authority.  And yes, this means even if he is not saved or is a believer but is not the spiritual leader.  Showing respect to your husband is a huge thing because they have taken polls of men who say that is what they want from their wives more than anything else. (Eph 5:23-24, 33)  Peter references Sarah and how she admired Abraham.  So ladies, study godly women of the Bible and also that you personally know, and refuse to follow the ungodly attitudes of so many of the popular women of today.    

- WITNESS BY YOUR LIFE:  Notice how the apostle Peter says you can win your husband by being a woman of character.  Also observe how all this can be done without preaching to him or nagging him.   Both of those things will irritate the man and he will become angry and resentful and it will also drive him away from the Lord.  It also belittles the man and makes him feel less than.  Give him a peck (kiss) and refuse to hen-peck him!   

- POSSESS A GENTLE AND QUITE SPIRIT:  Peter is basically saying to put your emphasis on your character and not so much on your physical.  Now don’t get me wrong, men love when their wives look nice but to have that beauty of the heart really speaks to the man.  He can find a pretty girl anywhere but how many women have that precious inner quality of godliness?  Even if your husband doesn’t know the Lord he still respects the fact that you shine from the inside out.  That’s the kind of woman he is proud to have hanging on his arm!   

A further encouragement:  Love your husband.  Have fun with him.  Spend time with him.  He might not come to church with you but picture him not as he is, but as he will be. (Heb 11:1)   Don’t give up praying for him!  There’s nothing God can’t do, and that includes changing hearts! 

Louie

THREE WORDS FOR A HAPPY HOME

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP 

THREE WORDS FOR A HAPPY HOME 

A happy home.  It’s what we all want.  To not only get along, but to really love and support each other.  Our families can be the source of our greatest stress or the basis for our greatest joy.  It all depends if our home is happy or not.  So how can our homes be more joyful and content?  What can families do to come together in unity?  Well, here’s three words for a happy home.  They might not be magical words, but they sure are practical.  And there’s one word for each member to make it easy.  With God’s help we can work toward greater peace and happiness right under our roof! 

LOVE:  This is for the husbands.  (Eph 5:25) Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.  Paul said that a man was to love his wife and lay down his life for her as Christ did the church.  In other words, a man is to sacrifice for his wife to show her how much he loves her.  (John 15:13) Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.  A wife loves it when her man goes the extra mile to show his love.  The man went out of his way.  He gave up something.  She feels valued as a result and therefore has no problem coming up under his authority.   

SUBMIT: This is for the wives.  (Eph 5:22) Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.  For some women in our society this is a dirty word.  They feel it is a ticket to being a door mat and to being taken advantage of.  But it is a Biblical word and a Biblical principle.  Submit means to come up under your husband’s authority and to do it as unto the Lord.  It doesn’t mean he is above you.  It means you are both equal but one must be the leader, and God has chosen the man (1 Cor 11:3).  God the Father and God the Son are equal but the Son submits to the Father as a pattern for us (1 Cor 11:3).

OBEY: This is for the children.  (Eph 6:1) Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  Children are to honor their father and mother as it says in the Ten Commandments (Deu 5:16).  A promise is attached to it:  …“that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” (Eph 6:3)  What child wouldn’t want that?  It is natural for children to rebel because they are sinners.  But God makes it possible for children to choose the good and to do what their parents want them to do.  It might not be easy at times but the reward outweighs the difficulty! 

THREE WORDS FOR A HAPPY HOME.  Love, submit, obey.  If each person in the family would do their part, think of the family atmosphere you would come home to.  The husband is displaying sacrificial love for his wife.  The wife in turn submits to her husband’s loving authority.  The children are obeying their parents.  Harmony…melody…symphony!  God lays it all out in His Word and all we have to do is simply do our part.  Even if one person did their share the family would be that much happier.  So why wait for someone else?  Get some sunshine in that household and let’s let our homes shine for Christ!   

Louie

GOD OF JACOB

 

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP

 GOD OF JACOB 

(Psalm 46:7) The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.  

Have you ever wondered why God loves you when you have fallen short so many times in your life?  That is the mystery of the ages isn’t it?  God is so merciful and we know we are covered by the blood of Christ.  But it never ceases to amaze us how the Lord just doesn’t cast us off to the side and work with someone else who is more faithful and honorable.  Maybe it will help to review the life of Jacob.   

Jacob.  He was Abrahams’ grandson and Isaac’s son.  He had a twin brother named Esau.  He pulled his brother’s heel at birth and so won the name Jacob which means “heal catcher”.  When they grew up the twins became rivals.  Jacob first stole his brother’s birthright (Gen 25) and then his blessing (Gen 27).  This is what his brother Esau said of him: (Gen 27:36) And Esau said, “Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has supplanted me these two times. He took away my birthright, and now look, he has taken away my blessing!”…  So the name of Jacob not only means heal catcher (from the cute birth story) but also deceiver (from the adult stories).   

Jacob had to flee the wrath of his brother.  On his way north he stopped in Bethel and slept with his head on a rock for a pillow.  He had an amazing dream of a ladder that reached to heaven with angels ascending and descending on it.  God then spoke to him in that dream and said his descendants would be plentiful and that He would be with him and bring him back safely to his land.  (Gen 28:16-17) Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.”  17 And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!” 

How merciful is our God!  He didn’t ball Jacob out.  He offered him grace and it was just what Jacob needed.  For the next twenty years God refined him and purged that tendency of his flesh from his life.  On the way back he wrestled with the Angel of the Lord.  From the incident Jacob had a limp the rest of his life (Gen 32).   

Now would you believe it that the phrase “God of Jacob” is found twenty three times in the Bible?  How cool is that ?  It sends a strong message.  And that message is this:  God loves you no matter what kind of traits you have or how much you have fallen from His will.  It’s a message of grace that we all need.  We all have things in our lives that trip us up.  But God is so patient with us.  As long as we keep going to His mercy seat we will be alright (Heb 4:16).  That’s what Jacob did.  He never ran from the Lord.  He knew who he was but He also knew who God was in His mercy and forgiveness.  And that is what changed his life!   

God of Jacob.  God of Louie.  God of you.  It all fits, doesn’t it?  Hallelujah to our merciful God!  

Louie

SETTING GOALS

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP 

SETTING GOALS 

(Phil 3:12-14) Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.  13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,  14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Sometimes it gets confusing as a Christian as to if you should set goals in life or should you just let the Lord lead you?   On the one hand you don’t want to be so goal oriented that you leave God out of your plans.  But on the other hand you feel like if you just say the Lord is going to lead you then you might feel that this is just an excuse for being lazy and never getting anywhere.  Like the saying says: If you don’t  have a target you will never reach anything in life.   

Paul was very goal oriented.  He seemed to always have a plan.   But it seemed to fit into an overall master plan he received from the Lord.  Notice how he said his life goal was to receive that prize in fulfilling his calling from the Lord.  Then from the book of Acts we see him traveling and writing and making plans to visit people and churches as all under that wide umbrella call of his service for his Lord.

So what might be that main calling on your life?  Let’s start with our relationship with Christ:  (Phil 3:10) that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.  That was Paul’s passion and that is the supreme goal of every believer in Christ.  Everything we do or pursue in life fits under that umbrella.   That helps me make decisions.  Does this pursuit in life fit into the purpose of knowing the Lord and being like Him in the world?  If it does then I can surely pray about pursuing that.  If not then I will ax that out of my life instantly as it will sidetrack me.  

Once we have established that master plan/purpose/pursuit then we are ready to dial into that specific plan God has for us and start setting goals toward that.  The Lord has a unique calling for each and every one of us.  It will be different than anybody else’s.  No need to be jealous of others and what God has called them to do.  If we pursued their calling we would be miserable.   

Moses had a calling to lead Israel out of Egypt and into the Promised Land.  God took him up to Mount Sinai and gave him the law and the commandments for Israel.  Then he gave him the blueprint  for the Tabernacle.  Here’s what God said:  (Exo 25:40) And see to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.  The rest of the book that is exactly what he did.  So pray about what God would have you to do in life.  Then when He shows you then go for the goals that fit under the goal of knowing Him!  And don’t get sidetracked by all the things along the way.  Stay focused and watch yourself advance in life! 

Louie