As I have continued to work as a clinical therapist with women who have drug and alcohol problems, some things have been revealed to me through the Holy Spirit's intervention and the truth of God's Word. Not long ago, I had the opportunity to speak with a bright, attractive, gentle, and kind woman. Her smile lit up my office, but as we talked, the guilt and shame that she had carried for years suddenly beset all of her obvious assets. She told me about her life that had been riddled with fear and the need to be in control, which led to her drug addiction. She went further to tell me about her feelings of abandonment as a result of her father's murder when she was a small child. I could partially relate, for I had once felt such utter despair. Having been in bondage to alcohol for seven years, I knew a bit about her pain. Yet, thankfully, by the grace and truth of Jesus Christ, I now knew the freedom from a jail cell not surrounded by bars, but by beer bottles. A pretty ridiculous image, but countless individuals who may read this just might relate — either directly or indirectly.

While my graduate degree is not in Christian counselling, I prayed that God would speak through me to help this desperately desperate woman. As she discussed how fearful she was of what others thought of her, and the feeling that she simply would never measure up to the likes of her pastor's daughter, who had a college degree and a nice car, I felt led to share the following Scripture:

1 John 4:4 – Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. (KJV)

She paused for a moment before remarking that it was most unusual that I had quoted this Scripture, as this verse was not only her favourite, but the very one that she repeated to herself each day, for some modicum of assurance and hope. She began to cry, and stated that she had a phone call to make to her pastor. As we ended this hour-long session, she said that her pastor would be so excited to hear from her. I couldn't help but think about how excited our Lord — even more so — would be in her decision to come back home. I also couldn't help but realize that each time we choose to get into God's will, and out of His way, He can invariably use us as humble messengers for His mighty message.

Galatians 5:18 – But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. (KJV)

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, thank You for leaving us with the Holy Spirit to guide, counsel, and comfort us. We thank You for the law of Moses, but we thank You even more for Your Son, Jesus Christ, who came after Moses to give us a future and a hope, that can only be discovered and gained by accepting and applying the grace and truth that came through Jesus Christ. We ask that You would continue to pour out more of Your Holy Spirit into our lives, so that we can better discern Your Word, and speak it boldly to those who need to hear it. For it is in the precious name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

The above quotation from my grandfather still resounds loud and painfully clear when I find myself anxious, emotionally flat, or thinking negatively. He was a remarkable man with tremendous insight. He was rather quiet and pensive, but in a very good way. When he did position himself to speak (he'd always push his glasses up on the bridge of his nose), my brother and I listened intently. He sometimes made remarks that made no sense to me as a child. What did he mean by "make yourself miserable"?

Having worked in the coal mines of western Kentucky until the depression struck, he learned to practice what was on a card given to him when he became a foreman at International Harvester in Chicago. On the card was the familiar Abe Lincoln quotation that reads, "A man is about as happy as he makes up his mind to be." (I'm sure he meant women too!)

If we are feeling miserable, hopeless, and like a failure, who has really made us "feel" this way?

"Well, my dad (or mom) used to tell me constantly I would never amount to anything."

How long does such a "dad", or someone else who influenced us poorly during those formative years, remain responsible for our intentional prolonged refusal to reject the sale's receipt? Holding on to messages of the past certainly can create feelings of self-loathing. Those who whine have no spine!

This isn't being judgmental; it's a simple and most plausible fact. The spine is still there — as are the God-provided attributes that He generously gives us: self-responsibility, self-control, and the ability to re-programme our minds.

"I know I should have, would have, could have, but —" — but what?!

2 Corinthians 10:5 – We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (NIV)

It can't be broken down any more simply than this. As one particular saint said, "I can't keep the birds from flying overhead, but I can keep them from making a nest in my hair!" It's comical, but so very true.

Changing thought patterns can be tough. Realizing that we tossed years away because we refused to come to God and accept His Son, Jesus Christ, will prove to be a much tougher reflective nightmare.

God is willing and waiting to provide strength and courage to anyone who turns his or her life over to His guidance and direction, to be freed from negative thinking irrespective of how it is packaged. Let us each move forward with a joyful heart, and disdain any and all thoughts of failure.

"When you wake up on the wrong side of the bed, roll over!"

Prayer: Gracious and loving Father, forgive us for self-pity. Help us to embrace with joy the life that you offer us in Jesus Christ, and to live in the freedom which He gives us. Amen.

Who Has The Handicap?

I'm learning each and every day, from a young man who can hardly speak.
He teaches me something new each day, as I watch him mop and sweep.
His staggered gait doesn't stop him from walking to work each day.
And every time I talk to him, he has a smile and a nice word to say.
As he struggles to open the liner, to empty the trash each night,
I am reminded of how much he has, vision cleared with true insight.
He has no degrees or education, but he is wiser than most I've met.
And tonight I saw him sitting alone, head bowed — he seemed upset
"What's wrong, Brandon?" I asked. He replied, "Nothing is wrong with me.
I feel bad for a kid I saw, he's little and can't even see!"
So when I think I have it bad, feeling down and emotionally flat
I think of Brandon and start to wonder, … "Who has the handicap?"

Brian G. Jett ©2000

Ephesians 2:10 – For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (KJV)

A remarkable thing occurred one night recently at work, which put into clear perspective what the term "a walking Bible" truly means. Brandon (the young man who inspired the poem Who Has The Handicap) showed me something profound and eternal. We talked during my one-hour lunch break, and I asked him how he was doing. Without a moment's pause he stated, "I am doing good. I'm thankful!" I did not solicit what he would say next — which made an indelible impact on me and those who were within listening range. "I get on my knees every night and pray and I read the book (Bible) too." He went on to talk about a Bible study he has in his home each week. "I take notes and put them in my pocket and keep them in my pocket all day."

The notes he showed me were difficult to read, as his motor skills, as a result of his cerebral palsy, make it hard for him to write. However, he knows precisely what he writes.

Although my printing is more legible, it dawned on me that, with this being the case, it made little difference, as I sadly cannot think of the last time I took notes during any Bible studies I've been involved in recently. I had no place to hide nor did I have any excuses. For a moment, I wished I could crawl under the nearest table, as I was smitten with guilt and sharply affected by his faith — his unswerving faith! I was simply rendered speechless. When was the last time I got on my knees and prayed? Desperately trying to think of the last time I had done so only further drove the stake of shame and remorse deeply into my very being. Truly, I thought to myself, who has the handicap? The mystery was clearly unfolding in terms of how God was using this spiritually fit young man!

To beat all, as he came over to my desk to clean up the garbage and replace the liner in the trash can, I felt a gentle touch on my shoulder. I looked over my shoulder and there stood Brandon with a smile on his face. He was encouraging me — non-verbally — and I could not easily dismiss the feelings that rushed through my mind during that brief touch from a young man who was fit, truly fit, spiritually. In his way, he was telling me that I was not heavy, but rather his brother. Family doesn't equate to one's progeny or bloodline heritage. Brandon is my brother and a walking (though that is difficult for him to do) Bible in every possible sense of the word!

Let us see each other as brothers and sisters. If we are to know the meaning of success, we must see one another as family, forgive and love each other unconditionally, and recognize that while we're on our way through life's journey, only together will we get there. Brandon defines success the way in which it should be defined. No burden is he, for he is my brother…

Prayer: Dear Father, we are so thankful for the many gifts and talents You have so graciously provided each of us. Forgive us for those times when we have complained. Open our eyes, and aid us in our struggle when we find ourselves spiritually handicapped. Father, we know You have a purpose and plan for each of us, and we ask that You will help us discover Your will for our lives, and then give us the power when weak to press on with passion to finish what You have started in our lives. We ask that those who are suffering will find peace through the intervention of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus Christ's holy name, we pray. Amen.

What a wonderful passage of scripture for all believers to be reminded of on a daily basis! This has been one of my mother's favourite scriptures through many tough times — most recently her battle with breast cancer.

She has told me that on more than one occasion prior to the surgeries and following required treatments, she would repeat this scripture. She found and continues to find much comfort and healing in recognizing that she has overwhelming strength through Christ even in the midst of her physical body's weakness!

The other day as she went to her father's grave, with some flowers she had bought to place near the stone, she felt compelled to feel the soil to be sure there was plenty of water, as the sun was shining brightly and it was quite warm this day. She noticed that the soil was in desperate need of water, and, knowing the cemetery closed its gates at 5:00 p.m., she became hurried in an effort to get some water somewhere in the short time remaining.

As she drove past the cemetery's gates, she became anxious as to how and where she would get the water before the cemetery closed. Without any warning on this sunny spring day, she noticed a drop of water hit the windshield of her car. Soon, the drop became much more than a single drop, as the rain began to fall rather heavily for just a few minutes prior to the sunshine re-appearing. Clearly, there was no longer a need for her to get water for the flowers that sat next to her father's grave, as God's grace was more than evident and sufficient.

While cancer and other threatening illnesses are obviously much more severe than some flowers by a grave being watered, this illustrates that no need, irrespective of how small or large it may appear to us, is overlooked by God. Many feel guilty for wanting something small and seemingly insignificant from God. They feel it must be an earth-moving event in their lives to merit God's listening to their requests and petitions brought to Him. But He clearly states that we need not look any further than the birds in the air to determine our unquestionable worthiness in His eyes! "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" (Matthew 6:26)

Whatever our concerns are, let us come to God and ask Him to meet our needs and then watch His will at work! There is absolutely nothing too small or large for God and He delights in answering the humble requests of all of His children. Be it an illness or something as simple as watering a flower, He knows our needs and will meet them with His perfect timing.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, we ask that You will leave an indelible impression on our hearts as to just how much we are worth to You. We humbly ask that the guilt we have carried with us regarding our perceived small and simple requests brought to You be eliminated at this very moment. Your grace is truly sufficient to meet any and all needs and for this. We praise and thank You in advance for the tremendous things You will bring to fruition in our lives by our simply asking. For it is in Christ's name we pray. Amen.