Writing for sanity's sake

Random, insane rantings

Ditto

Every poor weak man may go on in the same condition; this requires no great amount of strength (picture a horse pulling a wagon in a deep rut on a well-traveled path). But to carry the sameness of heart towards God in a variety of conditions, this argues strength, this requires skill (the horse turning to go a different direction that the rutted path pulling all the weight over the obstacles). 

What therefore if the Lord will lead you from one condition to another, and so draw out your skill and strength, and with no design but of love upon you, will you then be discouraged?  

My answer- a) I'd better write down what I learn about my soul from my behavior or I'll forget the most of the lesson.
                  b) Though in my head I can acknowledge that this situation is for my good and orchestrated out of God;s love, the messed up chemicals in my brain are still gonna feel discouraged and depressed, though sometimes with a momentary reprieve. This then goes back to a portion of coping techniques I've learned through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (hereafter CBT), self-talk. I have to focus on the thoughts that are true and real rather than the warped, paranoid, etc. thoughts that come so easily. Verbally (if necessary) say "STOP" and forcibly decide on and think what is true.

Lessons from the Puritans

I'm reading through a truly awesome book by the Puritan preacher William Bridge entitled "A Lifting up for the Downcast". Ineffably comforting on SO many levels. 1) Depression isn't a new development of this modern age, look at David ...why are you cast down o my soul why are you disquieted within me ?(no quotation marks bcs I'm not      sure I'm quoting that Psalm precisely word-for-word)
2) This book deals with so many of the disguises worn by depression and shows how there can be meaning behind it, how much God loves us and will never forsake us                   (I'll get to that section in a later post), etc.  
3) The Puritans weren't some incredibly holy group of people that were not afflicted with the exact same life situations with which we are - and their speech isn't as difficult to read as I expected, though still requires some mulling and context to understand.

Here's an exerpt (I'll take the liberty of condensing some of the verbage):

When a person is in health, he doesn't observe his own behavior in his days of health. Therefore God leads him into sickness, and when he is sick then he observes what his behavior was while he was in health; then, says he, how wonton, worldly, vain was I when I was in health! But, when a man is sick he doesn't observe his behavior in that condition. Therefore God leads him into health again, and then he sees what his behavior was while he was sick. Then he says how froward, impatient I was while I was sick.
We cannot observe the present behavior of our soul in our present condition, and therefore God leads us into a new condition, then we see what was our behavior in our old condition.

Philosophy states that is an object is laid close to it's organ of sense, there will be no sensation (confused yet? just wait, example coming, thank you Mr. Bridge!) If a book be held close to your eye, you will not be able to read a letter of it; but hold it at a convenient distance, and then you ay read it all. Same with how God lovingly leads us. He loves us far too much to leave us in our present condition, He has better in store for us than we can fathom.

Life of tears.

Life of tears.

 This lfe is filled with difficulty and struggle. We find ways of distracting ourselves to avoid dealing with it. Watching lots of TV. Eating. Internet. Facebook. Staying always busy. Stiff upper-lip. Mary Poppins spoon full of sugar. Etc.

 When somthing big happens (WOrld Trade Center, Tsunami...)we feel we must do PR work for God and excuse Him from the situation. Naomi doesn't take any of these avenues of escape. She says that she is grieved and bitter because of what has come from the hand of God. The Biblical response is to say God is Sovereign and is at work in these situations. God doesn't say don't worry be happy, He says "I'm in control and here with you".

 Joy has to do with an abiding , resting trust and satisfaction in the covenant truths contained in Scripture, and Christs faithfulness to keep them. Has nothing do with a happy feeling,etc.
How is this demonstrated in Ruth 1?
Ruth references God by His personal, intimate name of God. How many times when ate in trouble do we cry out to Yehweh as FATHER. No, we pray "God!". Naomi would remind us that He is still personel and intimately involved. He is our loving Father who is working all these things together for a purpose.

 Naomi prays for Yahwehs loving kindness to be with them. When we're suffering we need to keep from immediately assuming God's punishing us. He still loves us and is caring for us.

 God will never leave or forsake us.

 ruth v 16-17. She uses covenant language " your people be my people... " God says you are my people, the sheep of my pasture.

 God is still working in His people, still keeping his promises.
Nowhere in Ruth do you see them trying to pretend the suffering and struggles don't exist. Rather they admit their reality but focus on the fact that the Covenant-keeping God is in control and on the move.

 Life is pain, and if anyone tells you differently they're selling you something.

 (From this weeks sermon)

  

 Sent from my iPhone