Green Pastures
I was in the hospital when I was called to evaluate a 38-year-old woman with complaints of dizziness. I introduced myself and began to take a history of her medical problems. She told me she was on medications for a history of bipolar disorder. Then she began to tell me how lately she had been under a lot of stress. She paused and then she began to tell me about the plan to end her life. I looked at her and my heart ached for her. She told me that she had been praying hard lately. The only words that could come out of my mouth were “God loves you.” She looked at me and knew I meant it. When I saw her again, I knew the words had touched some part of her. Some time later she saw me and smiled. We embraced and then she said, “you saved my life”. These are words I will never forget.
As a physician I am always working to heal others and to save lives. However, this experience was unique because it went beyond the realm of physical medicine. This woman was clearly suffering in no way that I can describe.
We live in a world of suffering. People aching, longing for something…trying to fill empty spaces with all the things of this world only to end up in complete desolation. When this happens people become ill physically and mentally, and then there are no physical medicines that can help them. At this point people need spiritual healing. For there are deep wounds that can sometimes only be healed by the “Great Physician”.
God’s medicines provide healing and comfort to those in need. All He asks is a heart that is looking for forgiveness, and when we look to Him suddenly all of our problems and ailments melt away. The Holy Spirit fills us and breathes life into us. The dying corpse is restored and there is again joy in our hearts…
The Valley of Dry Bones
“Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin. I will put breath in you and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.” (Ezekiel 37:4-6)
We live in a world of sin. Many of us think we are immune to it, but it is a disease, which invades us all and ultimately leads to our spiritual death. For we are all human and fall short of perfection. We have all been in the valley of dry bones where our sin strips us bare. It strips us of who we are…It takes away our soul and draws us into the deepest despair.
At this point we begin searching. We hunger and yearn for something to take away the pain. Many of us look to things of this world to satisfy our appetites. Money, power, drugs and alcohol are just some of the many things that we use to try and fill the empty space, which looms within us. Yet, these things of the world are fleeting and like the Great Towers they all come crumbling down and become like the dust of the earth. Christ is the only One who makes us complete. He is the “Bread of Everlasting Life”.
The Lord is a forgiving God, and all He asks is that we confess our sin. For He sent His son to bear it all on the Cross. It is through Christ that in our brokenness we are made whole again. “Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions” (Ephesians 2: 4-5) When we ask for forgiveness, God’s healing begins. He forgives us and breathes new life into us. He heals our wounds and repairs the brokenness.
Am I Worthy?
It is important for all of us to know that we are all worthy of God’s love. For those of you who are deeply scarred by demons of the past know that God knows all of our pains and sorrows. He waits quietly for us to come to Him, and when we do we are always welcome with open arms. Know this: there is nothing that you have done which makes you unworthy of His Love. After all, when a weeping child looks for comfort from his or her parents, do the parents turn away?
There is only one thing that keeps us from Him…The Enemy. This is the one who wants to keep us forever tormented. For when we are lost in our sufferings, God seems too far away from us. We question how a God who loves us so much could allow us to suffer. But know that there is another force at work in the world. The Enemy has a constant influence in our society today. We do not need to believe to see that there is evil in this world. All we need to do is turn on the local news everyday to get a glimpse of all the destruction that permeates our world.
God loves us all, for we are all his children. We are all worthy of His Love. So if you are suffering know that it is not in vain. He may have placed this burden upon your heart so that you would reach out to Him. When we come to him with an open heart we can be healed in ways that are unimaginable…
The Seen and the Unseen
We live in a physical world, and in this world when we see things we believe, but in God’s world we must first believe, and only then will we see the Truth. For we must believe in our hearts and then God’s plan and God’s vision become crystal clear to us.
We are always in touch with the physical world. On the surface it seems to provide the most comfort because it is tangible. There are no questions that are unanswered, and the truth is always visible to the naked eye. However, there are distractions in the world, which are clearly not from God.
The spiritual world is something, which is feared by many who are not Christian. For to believe requires faith. The intellect cannot comprehend it, and it is reasoned that it cannot exist because there is no way to explain it. But we cannot always see into God’s world, because we are not perfect like Him. However, when we do get a glimpse of His world, it is something our hearts will never forget. It has beauty beyond which can be described. It covers our souls like a warm blanket, and fills us with sense of peace, which cannot be found on any paradise on earth.
When we focus our hearts and souls on the unseen we will be amazed at what God has in store for us. For the “world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever…”(1 John 2:17)
The Journey
All around me there is death-dry bones return; withered and blown away as the dried leaves on a cold winters day. Lord I am suddenly shipwrecked on a lonely island. I long to return to your paradise-to set sail and catch the tides that will again rock me toward you. For I am lost without you…at sea without a Compass, without my Captain!
Even as Christians we can lose our way in the world. There are many distractions all around us. There are things of the world, which take control of us. Though we felt they were important at the time, we later find that we have again put God aside. When we stop praying and reading God’s Words our hearts suddenly become hardened. We then feel defeated, and the road ahead seems too long and tiresome to travel.
We must recognize that this is part of the journey. This journey is one that will bring us many places, which we may not want to be. We will find ourselves again suffering and questioning in our hearts and minds. But we must press on ahead and realize that God’s plan may not always be clear to us, especially when we have lost our way.
He gives us guidance and support every step of the way through His Words. It is the time when we are questioning why we are at a certain place in our lives when the Enemy strikes hard. We are weak and feel that the battle is too hard to fight. This is when we must put on the “armor of God”.
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms…You must stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:11-18)
The Tree of Eternal Life
“This is what the Sovereign Lord says; I myself will take a shoot from the very top of a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain. On the mountain heights of Israel I will plant it; it will produce branches and bear fruit and become a splendid cedar. Birds of every kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in the shade of its branches. All the trees of the field will know that I the Lord bring down the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall. I will dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish. ‘I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it.’” (Ezekiel 17: 22-24)
As humans we are constantly growing not only physically but also spiritually. In the seasons of our lives we have periods when we are fruitful as well as barren. It is during the difficult trials of life when we tend to lose all hope. Like the dried leaves of a tree on a cold winter’s day, we become fragile and lifeless. We yearn for something to make us grow again. We look for anything that will again brighten the darkness within us. Sometimes things we find in this world temporarily bring us hope, but we later find we are again lost in the dark…searching for something…
The fruits of this earth cannot make us grow. Jealousy, selfishness, pride, deceit, self-indulgence are just some of the things which can poison us. They are bitter-tasting to our souls, and when we eat of these fruits we become empty and lifeless.
But the Lord is always near to bring us back. His Love revives us. It shines upon us and makes us bright and full of life. Love, joy, peace, faithfulness, gentleness, patience and self-control are all the fruits of His Tree. These fruits sustain us and make us grow into something beautiful. They nurture us and bring us hope in the face of despair and darkness. It is not hard to reach the fruits of His Tree. He makes them available to all of us. We only need to read His Words to find them….
Love
“If I speak in the tongues of men and angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13:1-9)
Love is the language of the human heart. It has many healing properties. A kind word, a gentle touch, the light in our eyes. These are all manifestations of the Love that God gives us, and the love that we can share with others. It is a gift that we all possess, and it is one of the most powerful of all of God’s Medicines. For when we give love hearts are warmed, and souls come alive. Pain and suffering are replaced with joy and peace.
In this world there are so many who are craving love, lonely souls always searching and never finding the love that we all truly deserve. Sometimes we may not even realize how hurtful we can be in our actions towards others. A stinging word, a painful slap, a piercing look…these are the works of the Enemy, and they are all too pervasive in our world.
But we can overcome all that is evil if we only remember to love others the way our Father in heaven loves us all. Like a mother who kisses her child’s wounded finger, the simplest act of love is able to heal the deepest and most painful wounds of the spirit.
Letting Go
“Come to me all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11: 28-30).
Work is the center of our world. We strive, we excel, we are driven. However, we are only human, and we all eventually tire out. When this happens we feel it physically. Our bodies ache, we are plagued by fatigue. We know then that we need a vacation. So we rest our bodies until we feel rejuvenated.
Like our bodies, our souls can also become weakened. Our hearts become heavy and burdened, and we know then it is time for a spiritual “vacation.” This happens often when we do not rely on God for His support. Many of us are strong-willed and though we pray we continue to do things “our way”. Our souls then become weighed down with all the troubles of this world, and it then becomes much harder to carry on.
But God’s Way is so much easier. He is always willing to carry our burdens. All we need to do is give it up to Him. When we “let go” of all of our problems they no longer plague us, and our souls finally find peace again….
The Power of Prayer
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)
We should never underestimate the power of prayer. Prayer is communion with God. He wants us to speak to Him. For we are his children, and He longs to hear our voices. Just like any parent He wants to shower us with many blessings. All we need to do is ask in His name, and we will freely receive all of his many gifts.
Sometimes when we ask we may think He does not hear us. Perhaps it is because we did not receive the answer that we were looking for. But realize that sometimes we may receive a gift even more beautiful than what we had dreamed of. Although this is not what we wanted in our minds, our hearts know that it was a gift that was meant to be.
When we receive one of His gifts, we must always remember to be thankful. When we praise Him our hearts and souls cry out with joy. This is our gift to Him: The gift of thankfulness.
The real test of faith is to give thanks to Him when we are empty and void of blessings. When the well has dried up and we are thirsty, it is hard enough to carry on, never mind give thanks. But when we are lost in prayer we will find that the storm within our restless hearts is calmed, and we find one of his most precious gifts…the gift of peace.
Salvation Through Suffering
“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12)
Suffering is something which is known to all of us at some time in our lives. Whether it be physical or mental, it is a disease which plagues our souls. When we are in the midst of it, it seems that there is no hope. We are caught in a web of despair. It is like a wild storm which wells within us tearing away at our foundations.
It is hard to understand why we suffer. As children of God we question why we could be hurt so deeply by One who loves us so much. But God never brings suffering on us directly, for He is a gentle spirit who disciplines but never punishes. We must remember that in our suffering we also become more like Christ. It is through His suffering and physical death that we receive new Life.
Though we may not believe it at the time there are blessings to be found even when we suffer deeply. For this is when we can find peace from nowhere here on earth and we must rely on Him. As the Great Physician He is always willing to take up our infirmities and carries our diseases.” (Matthew 7:16) We only need ask for His forgiveness and guidance. We will always find comfort through His Words, and His love repairs even the most deep and tender wounds….
Pearls of the Soul
We all want to be beautiful. For in this world physical beauty is equated with perfection and immortality. Many of us would do anything to transform our bodies into that perfect mold which society would like us all to fit. But we must realize that this version of beauty is not from God.
For the beauty of the flesh is ephemeral. On the surface it seems to be perfect. It is soft and smooth but as time goes on it dries up and peels away leaving only a skeleton behind. It cannot last forever. It is mortal.
God’s beauty emanates from the inside not the outside. It comes from deep within the spirit. Like the pearl of the sea which is locked away in its shell, it can only be seen when we open up and let our radiance shine forth. For God’s beauty is brighter than the most perfect gems of the earth. When it is unveiled it is the Light that brings hope and peace to all forever.
When we are alive in the world we will always be tempted by the jewels of the earth. But we must realize that there are always flaws in the beauty that the world creates. When we live through the spirit, we are made perfect through God’s beauty. It shines forth in our eyes, and when others see it they stand in awe….
Chasing The Wind
“The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes, ever returning on its course…” (Ecclesiastes 1:6)
We can all get caught up in life’s storms. There are things in the world which distract us from what is truly important. Like the thrashing waves of the sea it surrounds us and tries to pull us into the depths of despair and hopelessness. Although the storm passes many of us continue to follow in its path of destruction. We set sail and chase after the winds hoping to find that perfect dream. But later we find that the wind has left us behind, and we become lost in the doldrums of everyday life.
We must remember that when we start our journey without our Captain we are bound to become lost at sea. We must rely on Him to gently carry our ship to its final destination. The journey may be rough at times, but we must rest assure that as our Father He knows what is best for us.
This is the struggle for many of us. When we are a slave to the physical world we will always end up spiritually stagnant. For we get caught up in what we think is important, and we lose our spiritual sight. When we rely on the Spirit to gently guide us through the storms of life, we will not drift away with the winds. For our roots will be firmly planted in His Words, and we will be unshakable….
Standing Alone
“Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.” (John 16:32)
We are creatures of companionship. We live among circles of friends and family and this provides us security and comfort. Yet as part of our journey as Christians we may find ourselves alone in the world. For the path of the Lord is one which is not traveled by those of the world.
During our journey we may need to leave loved ones behind. If they have not given their hearts to the Lord they are traveling on a road which leads to destruction, and we know that to follow them would leave us empty and lifeless. So instead we must press on ahead alone praying that our loved ones will find their way Home.
This trip is not an easy one; it is full of obstacles which are created not by Him, but by the world. Often the path becomes difficult to see, and we feel lost and alone in the dark. But we must realize that He never leaves us alone. For His presence is everywhere. His touch is like a warm gentle breeze on our body. His voice is in the songs of the birds in the air. His Spirit is in all of His believers, our Eternal Family, who surround us with unconditional love and fellowship. His Love lights the way on our journey, and when we arrive our Father greets us with open arms and welcomes us Home….
Fear of The Lion
“Hear me, you who know what is right, you people who have my law in your hearts; do not fear the reproach of men or be terrified by their insults. For the moth will eat them up like a garment; the worm will devour them like wool. But my righteousness will last forever, my salvation through all generations.” (Isaiah 51:7-8)
When we walk in the wilderness of the world we our bound to come upon those who seek to destroy us. For they are ravenous for all the things of the world, and when we do not join them in the feast, we become their prey. They stalk us because we are different; like an innocent doe among a pack of hungry lions.
The walk of a Christian is often a treacherous one. We are bound to come upon those who will insult us for what we believe. But we must not be afraid and cower among our enemies. For when our fear overtakes us, then we are left maimed and open to attack. But when we stand firm in our faith we will find that all of our fears melt away, and are replaced with warmth of His Eternal Peace. For “nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.” (1 Samuel 14:6). When we have Him by our side even the most ferocious attacks will not injure us….
The Gift of Giving
The physical world glorifies the “self”. When we live in the midst of this world it is hard not to focus on our self-desires. We can become self-indulgent, greedy and competitive. Many of us would do whatever it takes to get what we want no matter who gets hurt along the way. This is the road to destruction. For when we leave this world none of what we have accumulated here on earth leaves with us. Like our physical bodies it becomes the dust of the earth.
When we serve Him we become filled with the Holy Spirit and all of the temptations of the self pass away. Our hearts then burn with the desire to serve others. There are so many beautiful gifts that we are capable of giving; love, joy, peace, fellowship. They are gifts of the heart which illuminate the spirits of all that receive them.
The most important gift that we can give Him is our love and devotion. For when we give ourselves completely to Him, and allow Him to work in our lives we will be blessed with the gift of Eternal Life….
Extravagant Devotion
To you O Lord, I give my heart completely. You are my Life, my Love, my Soul. When all else fails in this world, You are there by my side to bring me Hope. When I am weary, I rest my head upon You and receive Your Eternal Peace…
My heart sings to you Lord, the most perfect melody, for I am Your instrument…My soul burns for You, for You are my Flame…The Eternal Flame which Lights a Fire within me and warms my spirit forever…My life longs for You, for You are my World, a world of wonder and awe…My faith sustains me, in the physical world of uncertainty, Your Way brings Truth…
Reflections
I had a dream about a river. The river began as a shallow wading pool, as I looked down upon the clear water I would often catch a glimpse of my own reflection. I began to wade deeper into the water. It immersed me, and the gentle current carried me downstream. The water was now black and deep. I could no longer see my own reflection but only that of the sun which shone upon my face. It warmed me throughout. Along the banks of the river were the brightest and most beautiful flowers and the surrounding earth was green and rich with life….
Now as I look back I realize how much I have learned about this dream. The journey has carried me so far. It has brought me to a deeper level, beyond the superficialities of everyday life and into the Depth of His Powers. It never ceases to amaze me how much He continues to show me on this travel. As I reflect back on earlier years I am now very much aware of how little I knew. I was always searching and striving for perfection. I was never quite happy with all of the gifts that I had so blindly received.
Somewhere along this journey there has been a reawakening for me. A loss of self which has opened up the door for Him to enter my life more completely. It is often only when we have lost something that we discover how really blessed we are. These losses in life bring us closer to Him for He becomes our strength when we no longer thought we could carry on. We wade through this river of life and some of us never leave that shallow pool where we feel safe. But when we let go we are carried away to a place where we become immersed in the depths of His Beauty. Our hearts and souls are warmed by His Eternal Light. It is this Light which shines within us and brings hope to those who are despondent. It brings comfort to the those who are lost, and it brings wisdom and enriches the lives of those who choose to follow in The Path….
Songs of the Spirit
My mind goes astray leading me far away from You
Yet there is a gentle tugging on my heart and I long for
the Spirit to descend upon me like the Heavenly Dove...
When I have been away for so long my heart aches ever more for Your Gentle Healing Touch
For I know that You are always patiently waiting for me to find my way Home...
You never cease to amaze us for You work in miraculous ways in our lives
Always showing us a little more of You
Opening our eyes to the Truth
Removing all of the obstacles which cloud our true sight
You bring us Peace in our distress and Hope in the times of need
Your Love is everywhere-it shrouds us like a light and airy feeling which
overcomes us
and shows us You are near
For Your Words remind us of the Truth
They lead us to that place of perfect peace and prosperity
None of the riches of this world compare
For if I lost those simple pieces of life You would replace them with
something more complete
Something which could never be found on this earth
For it is far greater
The walk becomes easier
less treacherous
I do not fear that mountain any more
I do not become weary for You are my Strength
You lift me up and deliver me where I need to go
You clothe me with Your Heavenly Shroud
My heart is lifted
I long to sing the Songs of the Spirit
My heart knows the melody
For the rhythm of Your Love beats with me all the while
You are my King, my Love, my Hope, my Savior
I praise You with all of my heart
Deliver me through all my trials
Give me strength to help those in need
Help me to show them Your Way
I have become Solid as the Rock on which I was built
You have created the passageways where I will find myself
I have been healed of past wrongs and my heart now searches for the ways
of the righteous
All my suffering has not been in vain
For You have taught me much on this Journey
You have lead me to the roots of the Tree
It is firmly planted and Your Words spring forth
Like buds from the branches
For they are green and full of Life always
There is no decaying from Your Roots
For they are nurtured always with Your Love
The Fruits are sweet and ripe from this Tree
All who eat of it know of You and they are blessed....
Green Pastures
For those of you who are suffering remember these Words, for they will bring you peace which you will not find anywhere in this world. His world is one of Green Pastures; it is rich and full of Life. When you follow Him, you will never be lost. When you praise Him you will be blessed. When you love Him your spirit will be at peace, for this is all that He wants for you. He is your Father and He waits quietly for you to embrace Him…
“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall
not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet
waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his
name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I
will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort
me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint
my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
(Psalm 23)