Translate This Page
I am including continuing devotions to insire and encourage you.
........................................................................................................................................................................
It had been one of those nights and days we all have and it still feels like it now as it has only been today. I had had several epileptic seizures during the night and I woke up on the floor disorientated and confused after falling out of my wheelchair as i was trying my best to cope in the early hours of the morning. I ended up in hospital but wasn't admitted and... Thank God things seemed to be looking up. I began to read my bible and these inspiring verses were on the pages of Philippians 1 verses 18 - 25.
'Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the spirit of Christ Jesus, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eargely hope and expect that I will not be ashamed, but will have suffient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For me to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labour for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more neccessary that I remain in the body. Convinced of this I know that I will remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ will overflow on account of me.
All of those verses were relevant to me in so many various ways as if they where written directly to me. At times I have wanted to depart and be with Christ but I have had to learn many times over that 'it is more necessary that I remain in the body.' It has been a long lesson and one I am still learning. The biblical authors were real people too and new what it was to long to depart this life for a better life or in old testament times "The promised land".
Don't feel alone if you feel desperate, we all have those days, even me, even Timothy and Paul the writers of Philippians...even Jesus too. You are in good hands. Put your hands in Jesus nail pierced hands. He won't let you down.
Colourful Dave 10 November 2009
.......................................................................................................................................................................
How going into a wheelchair has been a blessing! Another way of looking at things.......
When talking to a specialist one day we talked about the advantages I have in being disabled....not glamorising it by any means but rather trying to see the good coming out of an otherwise bad situation. Here are some of the things we came up with together:
* It has taken me out of constant below knee to upper spine and ribcage pain.
*It has from the above mentioned greatly, reduced my number of falls, ambulance trips and hospital visits from falls.
* In Australia I have a pension. In poorer countries I would have to beg for food.
* There is sheltered and supported employment.
* There is some government housing, even though there is a wait, it does exist unlike in poorer countries.
* In Australia I can buy a wheelchair, I don't have to sit on the streets hoping some charity will give me one.
* We have hospitals even though we complain about them, they are there.
*We have ambulances and affordable cover for them through insurance affordable on the pension, saving possible big bills.
*There are more and more public disabled access parking, ramps, toilets etc being put in public places by law.
*There are more and more disabled friendly public transport being put in more places.
I suppose it goes to show my favourite scripture to be true again........"For we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, those whom he has called according to his purpose. Romans 8 .28 We just need to sow his love to those less fortunate than us in Australia and overseas through organisations like Christian Blind Mission who help the poorest of the poor disableed all over the world and through other organisations like them. Details about them elsewhere on the site or phone them toll free in Australia on 1800 678 069 or visit www.cbm.org.au
...........................................................................................................................................................................
Colourful Dave's thorn in his flesh and how God spoke to me in the silence of a city church.
I went into my local church one day to put some business cards in about this website and some others I run. They were getting low which was good to see that people had been taking them. I refilled them in the foyer of Wesley Uniting in the City of Perth. They are also available from the church office free, and with traditional church mission playing in the main church part I decided to go in and spend some time alone with God. I soon started going with my regular complaint.....
Why God, why won't you take away my moodyness. I get so grumpy at times and other people like family and others I love like my ministers have to put up with me. I know it's a mental health condition for me, the doctors have confirmed that over and over but HOW do I cope with it? His response?
My grace is sufficient for you. But my response was sure Lord, it's difficult for me but what about the others how do my ministry team expect to cope despite it all. Again he said My grace is sufficient for them too.
Often churches particuarly in the central business district of major cities yet also some suburban/rural churches have an "open church" approach having volunteers staffing churches during the day. They aren't asking for money, just are open for silent prayer and meditation. For details on when some are open in Perth WA contact admin@ucic.org.au or Ph 08 6103 4222. Or just drop in. You never know who you will meet...maybe even God....
...............................................................................................................................................................................
A thorn in my flesh Why wasn't it removed? A modern parable based on the verse from scripture as if written by the Aposle Paul. With help from Colourful Dave.
To keep me from becoming conceited bececause of the surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me Three times i pleaded with the Lord to take it from me. But he said to me"My grace is sufficient for you for my power is made perfect in weakness."Therfore I will boast all the more glady about my weaknesses so that Christ's power may rest glady on me.That is why for Christ sake I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12 verses 7 - 10
In the earthly life I had a thorn in my flesh that was in the earthly life why it was left there but in the all surpassing knowledge of heaven I now understand.But I chose to stay in the earhly life till my time was up as some quite sadly can't cope and leave hoping for a better afterlife. Seeing their pain I understand where they come from from as I say elsewhere in your scripture, some of my letters to the early struggling church that I longed to leave that life and be with Christ but longed even more to help the early church and help spread the message of Jesus love for a dieng world. Sadly some can't cope and give up. My prayer is that there is more to help such desperate people.I just wanted to be with Jesus and am now.
Yes I knew "a thorn in the flesh, a torment" and it was very difficult like yours are. The distance and time of heaven doesn't allow me to tell you exactly what it was apart from your scripture but all torments are just that - torments.
My advice in this limited communication. Keep strong in the Lord. Keep your eyes on Jesus, not your problems. Never lose sight of Jesus all sufficient death on the cross for you and a dieing world. And remember that everyone has "thorns in the side", even those considered giants in the faith like me. It doesn't mean your'e any less of a person. The Apostle Paul as helped by Colourful Dave "interpreting" September 2009.
