PCM-01-05-2013 Looking to God for help with physical, emotional or spiritual challenges

The Physically Challenged Ministry

PCM-01-05-2013 looking to God for help

Having a physical, emotional or spritual challenge is a prime opportunity to look for help from God.

I look at a 'challenge' as any issue that we face that causes us physical, emotional or spiritual pain. It can be a direct and concrete as a visible illness and as evasive and invisible as a mental illness that we personally or a loved one may be experiencing. I am sure that all of us can unfortunately relate and have personally experienced all or some combination of the above.

We have the Bible as a source to look into the heart and thinking of God. We can see some things from how Jesus interacted with the multitudes of sick or “challenged” [as we will refer to it] that lead us to conclude that God does not wish us to be inflicted and that all pain is contrary to how things are in Heaven. Otherwise Jesus would have been going against God and thus himself any time he was involved in healing even on a temporary basis. [Just a reminder that earthly bodies have their limits and are designed to expire.]

The issues arise when we want to take control ourselves of the timing, method and nature of the release from our 'challenges.' I prefer to take the faith approach and let God be incontrol of the details, seeing how little control I am able to exert.

We live in a world full of questions problems and issues, no one of us here have all the answers or solutions

Romans 4:5 [The Message Version] But if you see that the job is too big for you, that it's something only God can do, and you trust him to do it - you could never do it for yourself no matter how hard and long you worked - well, that trusting-him-to-do-it is what gets you set right with God, by God. Sheer gift.

This is a principal that can and should be applied to all that God is involved with. Whether it is eternal life or our release from our 'challenges'.

With this in mind, let's take the opportunity to act on the following verse found in Psalm 14:2 MSG

God sticks his head out of heaven. He looks around. He's looking for someone not stupid - one man, even, God-expectant, just one God-ready woman.

Or as it is translated in the new century version:

Psalm 14:2 NCV New Century Version

The Lord looked down from heaven on all people to see if anyone understood, if anyone was looking to God for help.

Let's be God expectant as we live out our days here on our temporary home, Earth. Be prepared to shed all the challenges we now face and to embrace life with God-expectant faith. The best is yet to come! Stop depending on yourself for all the solutions, you and I are just not equipped to take all the challenges on alone, we NEED God!

Bill Sullivan

As with all things I write for the Physically Challenged Ministry, they are free of charge and encouraged to be freely shared. It is my passion to help those of us with physical, emotional and spirituL challenges grow in our love and appreciation of God. Share in this by sharing this.

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PCM-12-09-2012 How did they do it...this believe thing???

The Physically Challenged Ministry

PCM-12-09-2012 How did they do it...this believe thing???

Santa, cell phones, microwaves Heaven and God. I personally can not really see or explain HOW they all work. It is a little... OK a lot above my intelligence level to know all the engineering details involved. However I still use my cell phone and microwave because I have seen them function for me and for others. I believe in God and Heaven because I know life is way too short and the universe is way too big and complex for this to be all that there is to our existence

How is always the key question when it comes to your own personal belief. I believe there is a reason for everything, a balance, justice and purpose for all that we go through in life. I believe that we go on beyond our lives on earth and God will be there in ways we just cannot comprehend given our fragile containers [bodies].

The scriptures are full of examples of people living by faith, the details of your journey fit you, the details of those that have gone before us can serve as examples but remember that we are all individuals and no two journeys are identical.

The how is really the simplest part of it all, just believe. How did they do it? They saw it way off in the distance, waved their greeting, and accepted the fact that they were transients in this world. [Hebrews 11 last verse]

Hebrews 11:10 Abraham did it by keeping his eye on an unseen city with real, eternal foundations - the City designed and built by God.

1 John 5:13 MSG The Message

My purpose in writing is simply this: that you who believe in God's Son will know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you have eternal life, the reality and not the illusion.

As we get ready to celebrate the birth of Jesus, let us remember the WHY, God's eternal love feeling deeply for each of us we are the WHO that goes with the HOW.

Now about the WHEN and WHERE.... that is where YOUR FAITH lets God fills in all the blanks, even the ones you cannot even imagine....YET....

As for Santa..... As my official title of “Grampy” to my three grandchildren... and on behalf of all us children in heart.... I believe there is a bit of him that lives with everyone who gives.

Just imagine, eternity is a really really really really, great, awesome and “believable”. Hold on to Him who hold you with his heart forever, your peace will overflow beyond your understanding and your peace will calm the storms.

Love, Joy and Peace this day and everyday forever.

Bill Sullivan, the Physically Challenged Ministry

http://www.irish-gifts-blessings.com/PCM-12-09-2012.html

PCM-11-20-2012 Pictures from home

Here is a snapshot of Heaven from someone who has been there. A moment in time when all things that are temporary are GONE. Let it lift the eyes of your heart to see, your ears to hear. Feel the true love God has for us.

Revelations 21: 1-4 I saw Heaven and earth new-created. Gone the first Heaven, gone the first earth, gone the sea. 2 I saw Holy Jerusalem, new-created, descending resplendent out of Heaven, as ready for God as a bride for her husband. 3 I heard a voice thunder from the Throne: "Look! Look! God has moved into the neighborhood, making his home with men and women! They're his people, he's their God. 4 He'll wipe every tear from their eyes. Death is gone for good - tears gone, crying gone, pain gone - all the first order of things gone."
...

Revelations 5:13 Then I heard every creature in Heaven and earth, in underworld and sea, join in, all voices in all places, singing: To the One on the Throne! To the Lamb! The blessing, the honor, the glory, the strength, For age after age after age.

As the words wash over you, let them replace the temporary weight your life is currently feeling.

Cathy, my Bride is recovering from yet another couple of kidney stones that had to be surgically removed, this being the third time I had to leave for work and felt guilty. I just got a part time job to help make ends meet. My second customer that night was the ER Dr. who diagnosed my wife earlier in the day at a hospital almost an hour away from where I work. No minor coincidence, just God's way of letting me know all is under control, in His capable hands.

Just remember that Romans 8 is a place of refuge in the storms. Like an "armored home" it will keep your heart and mind safe from the winds and waves this life blows your way.

We need each other. May God's love surround us all through each other.

Bill Sullivan The Physically Challenged Ministry

 

http://www.irish-gifts-blessings.com/PCM-11-20-2012.html

The Physically Challenged Ministry

PCM 10-30-2012 From the bottom of my heart I thank you

We always win when we trust God, regardless of the temporary appearance of momentary circumstances. For what today is considered a miracle will eventually fade from our minds when the next physical, emotional or spiritual challenge rears it's head our way. [remember Romans 8 and John 8]

The eternally important fact is we live forever spiritually despite the frailty of the human container. The spiritual component of each of us is what ultimately matters forever. Be forever, eternally grateful, faithful and thankful for God and His love. Live your days giving and receiving love with every fiber of your true inner you.

Psalm 86:12-17 From the bottom of my heart I thank you, dear Lord; I've never kept secret what you're up to. 13 You've always been great toward me - what love! You snatched me from the brink of disaster! 14 God, these bullies have reared their heads! A gang of thugs is after me - and they don't care a thing about you. 15 But you, O God, are both tender and kind, not easily angered, immense in love, and you never, never quit. 16 So look me in the eye and show kindness, give your servant the strength to go on, save your dear, dear child! 17 Make a show of how much you love me so the bullies who hate me will stand there slack-jawed, As you, God, gently and powerfully put me back on my feet.

Josh Sullivan is back at his house grateful in his heart for God. He shows it through his love as a father, husband, son and friend. I forever love my son.

As my silly sense of humor pops up, It would have been easier I suppose to say that Joshua is home, but I did not want to give the impression that he had yet arrived at the final destination we all anticipate. He is miraculously recovering from the latest bout with man and motorcycle vs tree. Hopefully he will NOW purchase a full sized helmet....

Bill Sullivan, The Physically Challenged Ministry

http://www.irish-gifts-blessings.com/PCM-10-30-2012.html

The Physically Challenged Ministry

 

PCM 10-21-2012 How do you explain God, illness, and death.

 

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It has been a rough period of time recently. Funerals for Dorothy Killea and Lillian Kimball. Also the deaths of Betty Sullivan [sister of Carol Hare, our beach friend], a stepfather in law of another beach friend Pete. Mary Flowers a fellow ms sufferer lost her life at 56. Also the assisted suicide of an online multiple sclerosis friend Anne......

Personally I have to defer to God in how to approach all this because it is all too much to comprehend and process all on my own. I could rely on what I see, feel, touch and understand or I can believe what Jesus has said.….. Call me a simpleton if you must, I choose to rely on the one who created it all...It is the only logical way to explain all of what we do not know. [The more I learn, the more I learn I do not know]. To those humans who are all knowing...have fun explaining yourself to God WHEN you see him...

John 8:12 MSG Jesus once again addressed them: "I am the world's Light. No one who follows me stumbles around in the darkness. I provide plenty of light to live in."

John 8:15-16 MSG You decide according to what you can see and touch. I don't make judgments like that. But even if I did, my judgment would be true because I wouldn't make it out of the narrowness of my experience but in the largeness of the One who sent me, the Father.

John 8:50b–51 MSG God intends something gloriously grand here and is making the decisions that will bring it about. I say this with absolute confidence. If you practice what I'm telling you, you'll never have to look death in the face."

Much of my thinking was shaped by experiences and the views of those I grew up with. It is important for me to differentiate between others opinions and the reality of who EXACTLY God is to me as well as who I am to him.

I view God as perfect, good, loving, caring and a lot lot lot smarter than I am. I see him as all powerful, all knowing and eternal. I know enough to know that I am limited in knowledge, power and time spent in the current state of life as we know it.

I know enough to perceive and know that there is a lot beyond the less than 120 years we may get here on earth with the temporary, fragile bodies we dwell in.

I have seen people die and can attest that their bodies stop working as much as a flashlight does when the batteries are taken out. It is just the container, not the contents. As useless as a Dunkin Donuts cup without your favorite beverage in it. Not even worth the nickle that an empty soda can is....

You however, the very contents of your heart and soul are invaluable to God who created you.

Something to ponder as you go about your day to day life.

See you all someday!

Love in Christ, Bill Sullivan The Physically Challenged Ministry.

PCM 09-30-2012 That is so unfair...

Fresh off the real battle field where all this took place two days ago and will continue...sometime in the future.

It is a dire situation pitting the sharp, dark cold claws of despair against the fragile membranes of our minds, bodies and souls weakened by prolonged multiple hardships and illnesses.

As hope fades away and it seems the overwhelming, inevitable forces will shred our weakening remnants of faith and sanity.

It is so unfair....

Every situation we face seems worse than the one before and it always seems to me like the odds are stacked so much against the balances of justice and fairness.

What I almost always seem to forget is that God has been battling for us, the circumstances that are so beyond our control. I have to trust

Of course I should have remembered, time after time, hardship after hardship, He always wins, gets the last word and has never lost a battle.

The unfair advantage then shifts to us when we rely His words. Read the entire chapter when you need it. [they should have copies of Romans 8 everywhere like fire alarms...in case of crisis read this]

Romans 8:31 [NIV] What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Romans 8:31 [The Message version] So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose?

Talk about who should be fearful! In all of eternity God ALWAYS wins. No matter what it looks like to our uninformed eyes....GOD ALWAYS WINS.

I'll tell you today that we should not be in fear, just remember to remind me again when I face my moments of forgetfulness and tremble once again in fear. It will happen and I will need your help at that time. Let us bring a smile to God's heart as we encourage each other to and beyond the finish line.

It is always a daring rescue, keep Romans 8 handy ALWAYS.

If you think about it, it is so unfair that God wins every time < grin > ;~)

Bill Sullivan

The Physically Challenged Ministry

www.pc-min.com

http://www.irish-gifts-blessings.com/PCM-09-30-2012.html

PCM 9-23-2012 Why? The impossible question...





There are accidents, illnesses, crimes and injustices all over the world. I dare say that all of us are personally suffering through something totally unfair. Why is this happening? Why me, why now???

As any parent of a two year old can attest to... "WHY" is the dreaded question we all face because there is no end and no answer that satisfies....WHY???

"Why" is simply beyond our ability to comprehend. We just do not have the full picture. We do not have the knowledge of the future, past and present along with the intricate details of how things seen and unseen truly work and interact. We are unprepared, under informed as well as ill equipped to solve life's conundrums and fully answer even the simple question of why.

Of course this begs the question of why.....

We are here on earth for a really short period of time when compared to eternity. I am assuming if you have gotten this far into the article you are a believer in the eternal and logical enough to see that human life is brief when compared just to the recorded history we are aware of.

1 Corinthians 13:12 NIV Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

1 Corinthians 13:12 MSG We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!

Combine these with the following:Hebrews 11:1 MSG The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see.

Hebrews 11:1 NIV Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Romans 4:5 MSG But if you see that the job is too big for you, that it's something only God can do, and you trust him to do it - you could never do it for yourself no matter how hard and long you worked - well, that trusting-him-to-do-it is what gets you set right with God, by God. Sheer gift.

By choice, living a life of faith, we put our trust in our unseen God with the belief of His words of love and His ability and willingness to fulfill all He has said. This is how I have chosen to live my life. Which brings us right back to trusting-him-to-do-it faith. How we practice our faith comes down to belief and trust, not just a 'warm fuzzy' feeling when things are going our way but an implicit trust that He has our eternal best interest ultimately as His.





Trusting in God with my life, no matter what the circumstances, one day at a time with love for God our eternal Creator.

Bill Sullivan