Healing

Did you know a brain freeze is actually caused by warmth? The cold touches the roof of your mouth then your nerves respond with a rapid constriction of blood vessels to prevent the loss of body heat. When the roof of your mouth warms the blood vessels relax which quickly increases the blood flow to the brain and pain strikes.

Did you ever notice that the brain freeze happens after the cold substance is swallowed? We blame it on the cold but it’s actually the rush of warmth that causes the pain. Well, admittedly it takes both cold and warm.

Often where there is pain in our life we look for the cause. Yet, the cause or root of the problem can be masked. It is likely more than just one thing. Getting to the root of our pain is difficult.

So, we do stuff to make ourselves feel better. Maybe:

Order a pizza and watch an old comforting film? Get a drink with a good friend (or more than one drink)? Go for a run? Sit down with a big bowl of ice cream? Call a good friend? Take a few deep breaths?

All of these immediate reactions feel good, but are not long lasting. There is one surefire way to heal pain… and that is through time well-spent with your Creator. The Creator who formed you from the dust of the earth and breathed life into you. The potter who molded you from clay into the beautiful piece of art you are to the world.

Connecting to the Creator is where true healing begins and ends.

Holding on to God's love

By: Joseph Murdy

Lent is without a doubt, one of the darkest and most penitential seasons in the church. We switch our colors to purple and black. We hear stories of Christ’s suffering. We come face to face with the reality of our sinfulness. Needless to say, Lent is a depressing time of year. With Lent also comes the opportunity to reconcile for the wrong we’ve done, turn our lives around, choose life with God, and embrace the forgiveness of Christ that comes ultimately with his resurrection. At some point during Lent, maybe before or even after lent, you may come to realize that God really does forgive us…and God really does love you. The problem is that as quickly as we see how much God loves us, we eventually lose sight of God’s grace. Then it’s back to feeling sorry, guilty, and full of shame…unable to bring ourselves to approach God for forgiveness once again. How do we hold on to the love of God? How do we live our daily lives immersed in God’s love and mercy? The answer is as easy as it is challenging, keep your eyes on Jesus. When we look to Christ, we will see the love of God given to us immeasurably and unconditionally. Henri Nouwen once said, “God’s love for us is everlasting. That means that God’s love for us existed before we were born and will exist after we have died.” This is how we hold on, we look to Christ. When you fix your eyes on Jesus, you will never lose sight of God’s love.

Oz Syndrome

By: Joseph Murdy
Have you ever felt like a tornado came spinning through your life, picked you up and dropped you somewhere? There can be times in our lives, spiritual or otherwise, when we feel as though our lives have changed so dramatically we find ourselves wondering through what seems like Oz. This is what I like to call, Oz Syndrome. Oz Syndrome is the progressive or instantaneous feeling of utter loss, confusion, and bewilderment. The inspiration for this diagnosis, is of course inspired by Dorothy and Todo’s experience in Oz. Although fictional, if we are honest with ourselves we can all relate to Dorothy and her time in Oz.

Have you ever felt like you were in Oz? Maybe you are now, or maybe you know someone who is. Oz can be a scary, especially if you feel alone. When we find ourselves in situations where we seem to be following a path leading to an unknown place those are the times we can no longer rely on our own sense of direction. The only way out of Oz is by trusting in God to guide you. We can click our heels; walk to the emerald city, and back to the beginning. The truth is, when we are lost, the only one who knows the way is God. We are not all lucky to have ruby slippers, but fortunately we have a God who we can pray to at all times. We have a God who is always with us, even when we find ourselves in Oz. As I was thinking about Oz, I was reminded of the parable of the lost sheep. How incredible is it, that we have a God comes to us and rescues us when we find ourselves lost and afraid. “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices.” Luke 15:1-7

Dance in the Rain

This past Christmas, I was given a gift of a small picture frame with a little child walking in bright yellow rain boots. All you can see are the feet walking in the rain. The caption says, “Anyone who says only sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain.” Then it quotes scripture, “You fill me with joy in Your presence. Psalm 16:11”

Many would say the gloomy season of the church has arrived today. It is Ash Wednesday when we are reminded, “You are dust and to dust you shall return.” The looming rainy clouds of the 40 days of wandering in the wilderness are here. What are you going to give up? What new spiritual discipline are you going to take on? As you wander through the wilderness of this Lent are you going to let struggle and the gloom of life overtake you?

Or are you going to let the season of Lent restore the wilderness of your heart?

The looming rainy clouds can replenish and water the soul. The wandering in the wilderness can provide new and clear direction. This season is not gloomy. It is actually a victorious season because we are Easter people. Jesus did not give into temptation in the wilderness, but said, “Away with you, Satan!” He didn’t do that for himself. He did that for God’s children, for Easter people. It is with that joy in our heart we welcome the looming rainy clouds of Lent so we can find joy in the darkest of places. Yes, we can find joy even in death. You are dust and to dust you shall return. We dance in the rain; we dance in the face of death knowing that Jesus went before us to prepare a place.

Stewards of God’s Mysteries

By Joseph Murdy

“Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries.” 1 Corinthians 4:1

“Where is heaven?” A young child asks you as they are leaving the church. “Why did my husband die in that horrible accident?” A grieving wife asks you as you comfort the family. “When is Jesus coming back?” Asks the curious confirmation student. “How does that bread and that wine become the body and blood of Jesus?” Questions without answers is part of the package when you become a child of God.

We live in a society that demands answers, we sit in pews waiting for all to be revealed, and we lose sleep at night thinking about the grand mysteries of the universe. At least I do. We can sometimes allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by the lack of answers, rather than finding comfort in the questions themselves. What if you knew exactly where heaven was? What if you knew exactly when Jesus was coming back? What if you knew how the cosmos ran, or what God looks like?

This past Sunday we read 1 Corinthians 4:1-5, which says that we are “Servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries.” The words, “Stewards of God’s mysteries” continues to comfort me as I seek to embrace the mystery that is God. Being a steward of God’s mysteries means trusting in God unconditionally. As servants of Christ and children of God we are given the mysteries of God not to be answered but to be comforted in knowing that God’s ways our not our own. Jesus tells us, “Nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known.” We can rest with assurance in God’s abundant grace knowing that, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him.”