Tag Archives: peace

Xanax and Jesus

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A dear friend who I truly do love and respect, threw me for a bit of a loop yesterday by posing the above photo along with this question, “If the Prodigal Son had Xanax, would he have felt bad (convicted) enough to come home?”

Let me first say, this post is not a rant about my friend or a rebuttal to him…but I have not been able to let go of the question itself, so I have to get it out of my system, and this blog is my therapy. Got it? Good.

My thoughts on the subject of people who have been prescribed medication(s) for various problems:

  • I haven’t walked even a quarter of a mile in their shoes, so who I am to judge?
  • Would we have the same response to a Christian with cancer? Why or why not? Why is it okay to take loritab after a surgery, but not okay for someone who has serious anxiety and been diagnosed with depression or labeled as bipolar to take meds for their sickness? You can’t SEE either disease, but for some reason it is perfectly ok for a cancer patient to have chemo, but not okay for someone with a mental illness to take Xanax, Klonopin, or some variety of a “Happy Pill”.
  • If the Prodigal Son had been on Xanax, he probably would have never left home in the first place. He wouldn’t have been nearly as impulsive, and I’m guessing that he would have gone to his room and slept it off.
  • Look at the story of the woman with the issue of blood. Do you know that story? An incredible story of a miraculous healing that was performed when a woman simply touched the hem of Jesus’ garment. But back up…for the twelve years before the miracle, she had gone to every doctor in the area, looking for help. She went to all the physicians she could find, and then she met the Great Physician. Had she not had help for the past 12 years, she may have never had that earthly encounter with Jesus.
  • The Church (and Church people) must be very careful with our words…and our questions. Questions like the one above (and the thread of comments that tend to follow) are the very things that have caused an entire group of people to feel ostracized from the Church and have made them feel “less-than” an actual Christian.

There are perfectly “normal” Christians, and there are “not-quite-normal” Christians. There are some who medicate with a little white pill, and others who medicate with booze, food, shopping, sex, gambling, etc. If the point of the question (and/or a similar statement) is to say that anything that takes the place of God is a problem, then I completely agree; if the point is to say that prescription drug abuse is a problem, then I completely agree; however, we must be careful with our words so that we don’t make those who aren’t like us (and have a true need) feel belittled or embarrassed.

To those with mental illness: we are different, but not less. We may have experienced hell on earth from our issues, imbalances, and imperfections, but one day, the pain, confusion, fear, and sadness will all be gone. One day, we will meet our Maker face-to-face, and commune eternally with the Prince of Peace.

If nothing else, this experience has taught me a great lesson: don’t make blanket statements, and don’t judge if you haven’t been there.

I look forward to your comments. Remember: this is a safe place and a filter-free zone, so leave your responses and let’s have some healthy dialogue.

Different but not less,

Steve

Closer than MY Brothers

Brothers

I think about my two brothers quite often and pray for them both on a daily basis. I love them so much. 

Brothers

However…

I was the only child for the first ten years of my life, when suddenly, my parents were surprised to find out that Momma would be giving birth to a baby boy…two years later, the same scenario.

And then there were three…

Being the big brother came with many laughs and a whole lot of responsibility. I was a built-in babysitter, but my best friend and I also quickly learned that teenage girls love nothing more than a cute baby or toddler. We took those boys to the mall, the park, anywhere that girls might be. Total chic magnets!

During my teenage years, my little brothers drove me crazy!!! Can you imagine being twelve, thirteen, fourteen years old and going through puberty, wanting to sleep til 12-noon, and dealing with annoying little brats who always wanted something, never slept, and needed attention 24-7? WHAT PESTS! ;)

And then we grew up…

Those two little brats are now twenty and almost eighteen. Garrett is in the Army, serving in Alaska (after several months in Afghanistan), and Rich is a high school senior (Best All Around) and absolutely brilliant and super talented. I couldn’t be more proud of them. They are both so smart, funny, and incredible in their own ways. The boys are polar opposites, but I love them both so stinkin’ much.

Closer than a...

I was driving and crying and praying for Garrett and Rich yesterday, thanking God for the young men they are becoming and asking for His blessing, provision, and protection in their lives, while thinking of how much they mean to me at the same time, when I heard a nearly audible voice saying, “And I love you even more”.

The voice of Jesus. 

There’s no voice like His: as calm as a gently flowing stream, as powerful as thunder, as beautiful as a coastal sunset.  The voice of my Savior, my Lord, my Creator, Healer, the Mountain Mover, the Wall Breaker, my Comforter, and the Friend that sticks closer than a brother.

Jesus loves me, this I know!

My heart overflows when I sit back and realize that Jesus adores me!  He sings over me, He dances with unspeakable joy at the thought of me!  I belong to Jesus and He belongs to me!

Jesus loves you, too!  When you’re feeling beat up, burned out, stressed, strained, helpless, hopeless, fed up, and furious, calm yourself down and realize just how much Jesus loves you!  So much more than your own family or your very best friend.

ATTIC,

Steve

““I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.” John 10:14-15 NIV

“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”  Proverbs 18:23-24

A Silent Soul

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“My soul waits in silence for God only ; From Him is my salvation. 2 He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold ; I shall not be greatly shaken.” (Ps. 62:1-2)

The first thing that strikes me from this passage is the fact that David’s soul was waiting in SILENCE.

Dictionary.com defines the soul as: the emotional part of human nature; the seat of the feelings or sentiments.

How often is your soul silent?  I can tell you now, I regularly take a little pill to assist mine in shutting up!

The confidence that David exudes in this passage is absolutely amazing to me.  The strength of his commitment, the level of his trust, and the depth of his faith.  David had fought a lion and a bear and a giant and he was quite a stud, from what it seems.  He defeated the animals in the flesh, but his own flesh defeated him, when he saw that infamous bathing beauty, Bathsheba.

He had a man murdered.

He was chased by Saul.

He had to humble himself and let Solomon lead in the building of the Temple.  It’s not often easy for a natural-born leader to play second fiddle.

All of that to say what?

David was flawed.  Big time.  Yet he understood, in the midst of it all, that without God as his firm foundation, his salvation, and his protection, that his soul would be in constant turmoil.

Today’s prayer: God grant me the grace to trust in You when times are tough, to lean on you when I don’t understand, and please help me to “selah” and rest in the fact that my only salvation is from You.

ATTIC,

Steve

Enjoy my current favorite worship song, “10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)” by Matt Redman:

I am a Thief!

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Gigi and I had the unique opportunity to tour the Historical Gorgas House Museum on the campus of the University of Alabama yesterday, as part of a contract job.  It’s a beautiful old home and the oldest building left from the original campus (built thirty years before the Civil War).

Confession time: When I am in some super old, historical place, with artifacts laid out for all to see, this evil spirit rises up from my toes and I have this burning desire to take something.

I want to steal something.

Seriously.

The sewing kit with the ivory animals on top, the wooden lap desk (would’ve been hard to hide), the kneeling bench (would have been close to impossible to hide), or at least one of the super old books (I have quite a collection of old books–none of which have been stolen…yet).

I wonder if that’s how the Enemy is with our souls.

Do you think that’s how the Devil is with our minds?

He knows he really shouldn’t be there in the first place, but we open the door and he opens the lid of one thing that doesn’t belong to him and then this passion rises up from his guts and he says, “Oh my gosh!  I want this stuff!!!!  Look at that old dusty trust!  Check out the faith that is over there on that shelf!  I’d love to get my hands on that hope and if I could just sneak away with his Peace…”

He’s sneaky.

Clever.

Quiet at times.

And absolutely out to steal everything good we have.  Every bit of legacy and purpose and all the riches we’ve stored up in our spirit…Satan would love to walk right out the front door with them like nothing ever happened.

He’s a thief.

Don’t let him steal from you.

ATTIC,

Steve

John 10:6-10 (MSG):
“I’ll be explicit, then. I am the Gate for the sheep. All those others are up to no good—sheep stealers, every one of them. But the sheep didn’t listen to them. I am the Gate. Anyone who goes through me will be cared for—will freely go in and out, and find pasture. A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.”

For Baby Jack and the Adults who Love Him

Get ready for a paradigm. This one is twisted.!

His Peace FIGHTS for us.

I’m still digesting FB Meyer’s little book “Peace, Perfect Peace” from 1897.

On page thirteen, the old British pastor and author starts to dissect the familiar (but often misunderstood) verse, “His peace passes all understanding” (Philippians 4:7). Here’s what the author says:

It cannot be put into words. It defies analysis. It must be felt to be understood. The thing most like it is the gladsomeness of a child in its father’s home, where wealth and love and wise nurture combine to supply all its need; but even that falls short of the glorious reality.

I think of little Benjamin Thomas, our baby. I want him to have a comfortable home that’s cool in Summer and cozy in Winter. I want him to eat until he’s full and have soft snuggly clothes to make him happy. I want my child to grow up with all the comforts of life and never be lacking anything. All of that should allow a child to grow up in a peaceful home, but even THAT “stuff”, even all the earthly comforts I can provide as his Daddy, cannot compare with the peace that comes from a lifetime of walking with Jesus.

F.B. Meyer goes on to say this:

…we may say, that this peace will sentinel our hearts and minds, going to and fro, like a sentry before a palace, to keep off the intruders that would break in upon the sacred enclosure. Oh that we might be ever protected by a guardianship so benign and watchful and invulnerable to attack.

Talk about a change of perspective!

The peace of God, that can truly only be understood with faith and feeling and experience and RELATIONSHIP…that peace FIGHTS for us. My Pastor’s wife, Diane Rogers, said the one word that describes God’s peace, in her opinion, is “security”. Well, according to this author, she is right on target! God’s peace, through the power of the Holy Spirit, keeps our minds secure, like a sentry guard who protects a fortress from outside invaders.

Y’all may laugh, but it makes me want to sing that old song, A MIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR GOD!

Check out this modern version, by Christy Nockels…

“We will keep our eyes on You! We will keep our eyes on You!”

That is how we experience the security, which results in the serenity (thanks Big Poppi) of His overwhelming peace. We keep our EYES on Him! 1 Corinthians 2:9 says, “Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him; but God has revealed them unto us by His Spirit. We have the mind of Christ.”

So, we experience the overwhelming peace of God, by having the mind of Christ. We receive the mind of Christ, by fixing our eyes on “…Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). It’s all about a daily walk. A relationship. We keep the lines of communication OPEN with our Father in Heaven, our Abba, Who wants good things for us. And then, when the storms come, when tribulation hits, we are able to stand, secure and serene, in the middle of it all, because He has given us His mind. His peace. The overwhelming peace of God.

I’ll end with the same verse, from The Message, to make it a bit easier to read. Here ya go:

1 Corinthians 2:9

The Message (MSG)

6-10We, of course, have plenty of wisdom to pass on to you once you get your feet on firm spiritual ground, but it’s not popular wisdom, the fashionable wisdom of high-priced experts that will be out-of-date in a year or so. God’s wisdom is something mysterious that goes deep into the interior of his purposes. You don’t find it lying around on the surface. It’s not the latest message, but more like the oldest—what God determined as the way to bring out his best in us, long before we ever arrived on the scene. The experts of our day haven’t a clue about what this eternal plan is. If they had, they wouldn’t have killed the Master of the God-designed life on a cross. That’s why we have this Scripture text:

No one’s ever seen or heard anything like this,
Never so much as imagined anything quite like it—
What God has arranged for those who love him.
But you’ve seen and heard it because God by his Spirit has brought it all out into the open before you.

As my sweet wife, Lindsey, said, “I have a word for His peace…confound…it confounds the wise. People with conventional wisdom just don’t get it.”

I’m so thankful for the overwhelming peace of God.

ATTIC,
Steve

*Originally posted as “Overwhelming Peace” on June 7, 2011.