PROBLEM CONSISTENCIES -Mid Week Epistole by Jim Massey

PROBLEM CONSISTENCIES

One day I was visiting with a lady that seemed to be deeply distressed. She was telling me all the things that had gone wrong in her life and when she came to the end of her list, I asked her: "Is there one thing consistent in all these things?" Her reply was, "Yes, problems!" To her with the rising of the sun, she was certain the problems of the day would arise as well.

One of my favorite cartoons is Peanuts. One day Linus and Charlie Brown were walking along and chatting with one another. Linus says, "I don't like to face problems head on. I think the best way to solve problems is to avoid them. In fact, this is a distinct philosophy of mine. No problem is so big or so complicated that it can't be run away from!"

No problem will be defeated by desertion of the battle. For Christians, the opportunity to battle the trials of our daily routines can be the most glorious battle of all for we have Christ on our side. Only by desertion can we be defeated. When Christ is present the victory is certain.

A wise man once said, "We can lose the victory by flight but not by death. Happy are you if you die in battle for after death you will be crowned. But woe to you if by forsaking the battle you forfeit at once both the victory and the crown."
Maybe this is a day of battle for you. If that is true, invite Christ to join you and I promise you the victory.

Loving Father, today we promise to meet the problems of our living with new zeal. You have promised us that nothing can defeat You, so we lay claim to that glorious Word. Remove from our hearts the anxiety and frustrations that we might feel and place there the warmth and assurance of Your holy love. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.

Mom and Birthdays

What power that word holds. Only one person can ever be that person, and no one can come along and fill that space no matter how hard they try. And yet, we are shaped by the person who fills that role. Who is mom.

I would like to say that only the last 12 birthdays have been hard, but that would be a lie. I dont know what it is about this time of year that makes me feel so miserable and hopeless. Most people enjoy thier birthday, but I hate it. Every year it becomes one terrible disappointment after the next. This year is lining up to be no exception. The only good memories I have of any parts of my birthday involve my mom. She always tried to make it so great....but yet, it seems like there was always something.

When I was turning 5, My mom was planning this party for me. My parents had finally divorced the year before...and for my first birthday, minus my father's responisibility...she was trying. Then she got sick, ended up in the hospital during my birthday. Her best friend Bev came and hosted my little party. Bev got me a little satin and lace purse and hat. Funny how you remember the little things. But, she wasnt there.

Then there was the year I was in the hospital for my 8th birthday. On my 9th it was really sunny outside. My grandpa fixed the car that day. 10, 11, ....For my 12th i had a sleep over. It was the only time in my whole childhood I was allowed to invite any friends into my grandparents house. My 14th, I had my first girl/boy party. The boy I like lied to me. I can not believe how much that lie still hurts all these years later. My 19th, my mother bought me a lace nightie and informed me...I needed it to make her grandbabies. She did not care for son-in-laws...but she wanted grandbabies.

It was my 21st that was the rock bottem. It was 5 days after it, I took a bottle of pain pills and a bottle of sleeping pills and washed it down with a fifth of Vodka. My dad showed up with my stepmom in tow...first time i had seen him in years. I had been raped a few months earlier...and my life was so out of control. My dad proceeded to make my birthday hell. The next day, mom and johnna were suppose to come down to spend the day with me. Only, Johnna showed up. Mom had a headache. Johnna stopped and picked up a cake, with whip cream icing i hate. Fought with me for an hour, and then turned around and left. It was a hell of a birthday.

I spent the next one in a psych ward for depression...my mom in the hospital for a drug reaction she was given for her migraines. Then by the time a year rolled around and I was 23, my mom was dead.

I hate this time of year. God, Please do not let me fail my kids when it comes to birthdays and please, let them remember good things.

Love and Trust

Trust is such a fragile thing. Even when you do not mean to hurt another person, you do. Just not thinking about the consequences of your actions. And sometimes, we find ourselves hurt by something ...that was never even meant for us to find out. But we do. And it causes us deep pain.

Why do people not think about how they are hurting those around them before they do things? I know that I tend to over think everything. But isnt that better then hurting someone when they told you not to do something because it hurts them and you do it anyway because you think they wont find out?

Love hurts too much. It really is better not to give your trust to anyone...because people just abuse that trust when you do. I am so tired of just hurting. Of being set up to fail. Of being the one that people walk on just because they can.

I need a long vacation from life right now. A very long vacation.

Some People Change

I dont know what it is about this song (some People Change) or the group (Montgomery-Gentry)...But it seems like every song they sing I like...and this song. Maybe it is because I have seen so many people in my life who need someone to believe they have in them the ability to change. Maybe because so many times, it was me....

I dont know.

two links to youtube...

Link One...song on MSNBC

Link Two...the actual video for the song

Adequate Shoes Mid Week Epistole By Jim Massey

Adequate Shoes
With all the disasters that are happening in the world at the present time, I want to offer some words of encouragement. Many times when we fall victim to something beyond our understanding our hearts seem to break completely into and we begin to lose sight of the ways in which God comes to us at all times.
We are reminded in Romans 8:28 - "...in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." When I read that Scripture, I once again reclaim the promise of Christ when He said, "I am with you till the end of the age."
Then I remember something I read years ago. "God will not send you down a path without adequate shoes." That means His love and assurance will always be with me. It will be affirmed by prayers, presence, and friends. Nothing will be left out of our situation that is needed. All we have to do is claim it in the name of Jesus Christ.
When you walk in the world today, praise God for the "adequate shoes" that He has supplied for you.

Holy Father, to all who have great need this day, let our words lift fallen spirits and help our presence reaffirm Your glory. We pray this in the blessed name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Next week we will talk about consistency. What happens continually in your life?