Suicide a lie
Withdrawn from reality
Silver lining–hope.
Monthly Archives: January 2019
“Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, made in human likeness” (Philippians 2:6-7 NIV).
I am trying to post more consistently, but sometimes life happens. I found myself growing frustrated with my day yesterday as deadlines loomed and nothing I wanted done, was done. But, a much-needed commitment to my son took center stage and revealed how off my priorities had become. I was leaning towards doing, rather than being.
How easy it is to make life into a to-do list. And while checking off agendas can be a nice feeling for the moment, just like any addiction it is only a short and a temporary high that requires more and more doing. God is looking for men and women who make themselves available to those in front of them. As long as I can remember I have always looked to do big things for God. But God is teaching me to skip stones and change the waters a little at a time, in individuals, rather than making a splash in the crowd.
So as I watched my son race around a track with his friend, I realized the depth of importance this moment has. Daniel needs solid friendships, he needs experience, and he needs to know his life is valued. My time with this growing young man is fleeting and what I do for and with Daniel and his sister matters. Turning the Page on Suicide is a big deal and I love the unique details of your purpose and lives dear reader. But speaking life into my children has far bigger implications because we are face to face, day in and day out.
Who is in front of you Page Turner? How can you spend time with them? Be intentional to speak life into their circumstances? Lean into Christ’ purpose for all you encounter.
It can be easy for us to look for opportunities to do and miss out on being present, right where God plants us. Christ was very good at being present with those in front of him. Notice his habits, where he positioned himself and who he spent time with.
- temple
- streets
- meals
- homes (rich and poor)
- outcast camps
- boat
- road (Can you imagine how many saddles he wore out)
- wells
- market place
So excuse me if I have moments of catch up, but I am being with my children, and what a delight to speak God’s life into them.
- Podcasts post every Monday at 10:00 am
- Devotionals post every Tuesday at 7 pm
- Poetry posts every Thursday at 7 pm
Turning the Page on Suicide: Jesus Can Redeem Judas https://www.chirpapp.com/post/gvNLeOQoe3
I’m never going to tame suffering. It is an ocean of unpredictable waves.
In my youth, I surfed like a barney, thinking I knew the right moves. But I was a rag doll with a Christian vocabulary tossed from my flimsy board of faith. A Maverick of despair pinned me, revealing my desperation for a savior. Still the waves kept crashing, drowning me in sorrow, Until God rescued me and set my feet on the ground solid with his love. We trained for hours. I looked silly hopping up on my board of faith, awkwardly balancing between grace and works. Up daily for dawn patrol to study the Hall of Faith surfers, men, and women, though scarred by Great Waves, who rode life to the fullest impact. They testified to the reward of daily discipline and increased my quiver. The right board for the right wave. Self-control stretched and retrained my weak muscles. Jesus taught me to respect suffering; lean into the lessons rather than fight their power surge. I now know what it is like to run my fingers down the barrel, and relax into the beautiful hollow of not being God. I use suffering from top to bottom, carving hope from impossible odds. I respect other surfing sufferers, rooting them on to ride well. I persevere when rung through the washing machine of trials. Experiencing epic peeks with God towards the glorious impact of gnarly suffering.
Podcasts post every Monday at 10 am.
Devotionals post every Tuesday at 7 pm.
Poetry post every Thursday at 7 pm.
“Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).
I have sat among the tombs with the demoniac man for a week. His arms scarred with cuts, Shackles around his ankles, bones breathing in and out in desperate hunger. I watched him day and night cry out for release. “Death, death,” he screamed. And it appeared the demons were trying to kill him.
So many questions form in my mind.
- Why did he not die?Â
- Why did this man get picked out for torture? Why so many demons?
- Were they trying to destroy the man? Kill him like they killed the pigs?
- Why did the demons want to stay in the region? Was it a stronghold? Did they hold dominion over the land?
- Why did the demons not come out immediately when Jesus commanded them to?
- Does Jesus torture demons?
- Why was Jesus in the “unclean” cemetery? Did he purposely have the boat docked here to meet this demoniac man?
Jesus does not ask for the man’s background, he doesn’t make an assessment of his sanity, or his worthiness, he just heals the man.
The demons acknowledge that he is the son of God, plead for mercy and Jesus gives it. That seems odd. Jesus showed mercy to demons. They drown themselves.
What courage the weary man had if “Legions” goal was to kill him before this encounter with Jesus. He continued to live in such agony for the moment of ultimate release. Freedom inside and out.
Can you wait? When despair rips you to shreds . . . can you wait for Jesus to free you from your suffering, and trust, though you may be chained in this life, God will relieve all your suffering? Even in despair, God fits us into his story. I watched the transformation of this earthbound, abandoned soul, and I wait expectantly. I wait for my son Jonathan’s story, and for my story to be fully revealed in Christ.
Poetry is posted every Thursday at 7 pm
Podcast is posted every Monday at 10 am
Devotional is posted every Tuesday at 7 pm
Turning the Page on Suicide—Finding Hope in the Authority of God Over Mental Illness
Read Mark 5 for next week. https://www.chirpapp.com/post/WYKQy0gKBy
Forgotten, I greeted you from the remembrances.
My home hollowed from wealth, ready to entertain kings and demons.
You crossed the unclean threshold of my grave, your royal robes billowing in the sea sworn breeze.
A crown, only seen by our eyes, testifies to us who you are.
Naked, we claw with rocks at vulnerable flesh, mutilating your earthly jewel.
We’ll make you unrecognizable too. Flesh out God.
Forsaken
Forsaken
I scream for
release from day and night horror. While they cried out to
remain fast.
I was a scarred lamb within, and
a roaring lion without.
Mighty Samson would not tame we beating beasts.
But You, the Son of God, entered my tomb and knocked
the breath out of me.
What man chained you commanded freed.
Clothed in righteousness, I now cling to you.
A demoniac commissioned to share the truth of your
love for mankind.
(Inspired by Mark 5)
Poetry is posted every Thursday at 7 pm
Podcast is posted every Monday at 10 am
Devotional is posted every Tuesday at 7 pm
Turning the Page on Suicide—Studying despair and God’s response
Read Matthew 8 https://www.chirpapp.com/audiopost/apND85dNzR
Darkness drapes
 like a thick silence
smothering thought and action
until dawn’s cheeks pink and stretch new light.
Many of you know how much I adore Haiku, so I was excited to discover a new form called
Write a Sidlak and post your link in the comments.
National Suicide Hotline
If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call the National Suicide Lifeline at 988 or go to the website at https://988lifeline.org/