Category Archives: adventures with God
Soul Remedy
Do you remember this hymn?
There is a balm in Gilead
To make the wounded whole;
There is a balm in Gilead
To heal the sin-sick soul.
Sometimes I feel discouraged,
And think my work’s in vain,
But then the Holy Spirit
Revives my soul again.
There is a balm in Gilead
To make the wounded whole;
There is a balm in Gilead
To heal the sin-sick soul
Although I can not find where scripture speaks specifically of Jesus being a balm for our soul, certainly it is implied. Titus 3 (The Message) says,
It wasn’t so long ago that we ourselves were stupid and stubborn, dupes of sin, ordered every which way by our glands, going around with a chip on our shoulder, hated and hating back. But when God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in, he saved us from all that. It was all his doing; we had nothing to do with it. He gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit. Our Savior Jesus poured out new life so generously. God’s gift has restored our relationship with him and given us back our lives. And there’s more life to come—an eternity of life! You can count on this.
Jesus is the remedy. Even when we were engrossed in our sin, in our own ways, He came and cured us.
I told my bible study this week that I started 2010 thinking “this is the year of Shane!” I lost 30 lbs, ran a half marathon, earned new fitness credentials… all in hopes of finding, or redefining, ME. Unfortunately in this pursuit I left behind my Creator, the One who ultimately defines me. I found pleasures that filled my needs but ignored the gentle callings of my true love.
In order to get my attention God allowed several personal near catastrophes to take place. In a sense, He stripped open my “year of Shane” and exposed it for all the hurt, pain, fear it really represented. Why?
It’s all about remedy.
While reading the book, “A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23″ this paragraph stopped me in my tracks.
“Wool in Scripture speaks of the self-life, self-will, self-assertion, self-pride. God has to get below this and do a deep work in our wills to right the wrongs which are often bothering us beneath the surface. So often we put on a fine front and brave, bold exterior when really deep down below there needs to be some remedy applied.”
I didn’t want a remedy. I wanted to live my pleasure-seeking life. But God, in His infinite wisdom, decided there was something better for me. As The Message puts it in Titus, “He gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit. Our Savior Jesus poured out new life so generously. God’s gift has restored our relationship with him and given us back our lives.”
My prayer is 2011 will bring about the year of Shane following God’s will closer than ever. What remedy are you looking for?
Stronger
My parents raised two strong daughters. My sister and I are so different, yet both very strong independent women. We have a solid education, good “street smarts” and proper poise to get us through any situation.
I used to rely on my own strength to get me through life. When it didn’t work, I’d fall back on my strong family.
Today, God is teaching me that my strength is nothing compared to His power.
I love Paul’s testimony, “When I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Cor. 12)
It’s really hard for me to acknowledge my own weakness. It’s hard to say “I can’t do life on my own.” I have a difficult time relying on others.
But, yet, when you surrender your life in the palm of God’s hand He makes our weakness perfect in His power.
I’ve been reading “A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23″ by Keller. He describes the Christian life through his eyes as an actual shepherd.
“Wool in Scripture speaks of the self-life, self-will, self-assertion, self-pride. God has to get below this and do a deep work in our wills to right the wrongs which are often bothering us beneath the surface. So often we put on a fine front and brave, bold exterior when really deep down below there needs to be some remedy applied.”
I don’t know about you, but it’s scary to be vulnerable. When you open yourself up to another you can get deeply hurt. But isn’t this the same place where you can also be deeply loved, deeply forgiven, deeply healed?
The soul work that God has been doing in my life has hurt. But He has exposed some needs that have been hidden due to my personal strength. God is offering me a new way of life. One where every need gets met under His perfect provision. It’s worth losing it all to gain the power of a perfect God.
This song is a favorite at our church: Stronger
Wool-filled Soul
Ps 119:173-176: ”I long for your salvation, O Lord, and your law is my delight. Let me live that I may praise you and may your laws sustain me, I have strayed like a lost sheep. Seek your servant for I have not forgotten your commands.”
1 Peter 2:25 “For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”
Psalm 23:4b “your rod and your staff, they comfort me”
A friend of mine gave me the book “A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23″ by W. Phillip Keller a few months ago. She wrote a sweet inscription inside the cover of the book: “Shane, we are stubborn, stupid and full of sin. But we are His – He won’t leave us this way! So thankful to be in a flock with you!”
At this point in my life I can’t imagine being in a flock where people do not know my stubborn ways, or where they might be scared to called me stupid, where they would be offended to hear that this little lamb, the pastor’s wife, is steeped in sin. If I can’t live in real community, then I can’t live the life God has called me to. So I thank the community of Saint Paul Mount Prospect, IL for accepting me where ever I am along this path. And I pray that I lead my ministry in the same warm, welcoming environment.
While reading a chapter this evening I came across a paragraph that made me stop and pause. After I read and re-read I tried to move on. But God asked me to stop and ponder. After a few quiet moments I kept reading but He led me back to this paragraph:
“Wool in Scripture speaks of the self-life, self-will, self-assertion, self-pride. God has to get below this and do a deep work in our wills to right the wrongs which are often bothering us beneath the surface. So often we put on a fine front and brave, bold exterior when really deep down below there needs to be some remedy applied.”
When I first read this paragraph I laughed and wished there was an entire book just on this small section. Then God gave me an opportunity to return to my blog to do just that! Today, let’s tackle the first phrase.
- God has to get below this [wool of self-life, self-will, self-assertion, self-pride] and do a deep work in our wills…
- right the wrongs which are often bothering us beneath the surface
- …we put on a fine front and brave, bold exterior
- when really deep down below there needs to be some remedy applied
This summer God began working in my life to make me aware of the wool-filled soul I was carrying around. I felt like I had given of myself to so many people and it was my turn to receive. (self-life) I had sacrificed enough of my life for the things I so desired – like longing to live near family. (self-will) Depression had taken away the baby years, the toddler years and I was fighting hard not to allow depression to take away watching my children grow in their elementary years. (self-assertion) I felt I sacrificed my own personal life for my preacher-hubby’s profession and for raising our children maybe it was my turn for something special. (self-pride)
Having a soul filled with bitterness, hurt, pride and anger was just the foothold the devil needed. I wish I could say I escaped His tactics. But the truth is I ran away with him, enjoying every moment.
What the enemy hoped to use for evil in my life God is now redeeming.
God is helping me see my desires and turn them into greater dreams which fit perfectly in His Kingdom.
The phrase from Keller’s book written above “deep work in our wills” is a fresh phrase for me today. Although my recent wrestling with God happened over the last several months, just these past weeks has He been working on my will. At times it feels like He is the surgeon, gently sectioning out pieces of my soul that don’t belong or are no longer needed. It hurts. But the healing is giving way to a renewed living with Christ. A place where I need Him more and see less of me.
