West Park Baptist Church

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Counsel for the Heart: Contentment (Phil. 4:11-13)

One of the brothers from church that I miss is John McClellan Sr. Since he and I work at the church building together I often see him when I start work in the morning. Each time I ask, “How are you, John?” he sincerely answers, “Better than I deserve!”

John reminds me each time that it’s a blessing from God to be content.

Contentment is recognizing, through good times and bad, that God is dealing with us not according to what we deserve but according to His grace.

The Apostle Paul wrote about that in Philippians 4:11-13 about contentment and how we can regard whatever comes our way each day as “better than we deserve.”

Philippians 4:11–13

[11] Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. [12] I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. [13] I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (ESV)

Getting to the Heart

The Apostle Paul wrote from prison, “Not that I am speaking of being in need.” Can you imagine being in prison and unjustly treated yet saying you don’t need anything! Sometimes it seems like Paul writes from the locker room of Major League Christianity while I am still playing on faith’s elementary playgrounds.

I’ve been challenged in this area of contentment, especially during this time of extended quarantine. Typically my lack of contentment is expressed in the opposite of Paul’s statement: “If I could only have ______ I’d be happier,” or “By now I should have ______ if it wasn’t for this virus!”

Can you relate?

Since I wrote about fear earlier this week, I’ve recognized that we experience fear in two key  ways: fear of losing what we have and fear of getting what we don’t want. Both those fears are preoccupied with the future, living in the land of “What-ifs?” and losing out on the present blessings that dominate the Christian’s life thanks to the sustaining grace of God.

I will write more about practical ways to cultivate contentment tomorrow on Counsel for the Heart, but for today let me suggest a couple of reasons why our current circumstances are “better than we deserve.”

First, think of what you and I really do deserve. Honestly friends, it’s hell. Each day we wake up not in that fiery place of punishment and separation from God is a gift of grace. I have another friend who often prays, “Father, thank you for this unpromised day.” It’s true: this day was not promised to me, and I didn’t wake up this morning entitled to blessings and favor because of who I am. By myself, I’m only a sinner separated from God, and I deserve the punishment of hell. That’s one reason we are doing “better than we deserve” today.

Second, think of the Lord Jesus. He was not content to leave us in that lost and terrible state. He saw our true need and entered this world to save all those who put their hope in Him and see in Him their truest need. I know that’s how the imprisoned Paul could say, “not that I am speaking of being in need.” Paul focused his mind and heart on Jesus Christ. Actually, the whole point of Paul’s life was looking to Jesus for what He wanted of Paul that day and tackling that day’s challenge in the power of Jesus Christ.

Let’s talk it over:

  • How would you complete the following statement? – “My life would be better right now if I had ___________.” Or “My life would be better right now if I didn’t have to deal with ___________.”
  • In addition to the two reasons listed above to cultivate contentment, what other reasons can you think of to help you be content and “not speak of being in need”?

Prayer:

Almighty Father, all around and within us are enticements to want more and to be dissatisfied with our current situation in life. Forgive us, Lord. You have redeemed us to be about Your business in this life in this today of either abounding or being brought low. Strengthen us to live with great contentment in Your grace, to remember we’ve been delivered from Hell, and to rejoice this day in Your Son! Help us Lord, and thank You. Amen.

Worship in Song:

It is Well With My Soul

The link above is unique today. Clicking it will take you to a Nashville News source with a video featuring Nashvillian singers singing “It is Well With My Soul” as a choir… over their cell phones. It’s a witness to the praise that can still offered to the Lord when we can’t be where we want or even have the worship we need. It is still well with our souls.

Memory Passage for this Week:

____________ 13:5–6

[5] ____ your ___ _____ from ____ of ______, and be ______ with what you _____, for he has said, “I will _____ _____ you nor ______ you.” [6] So we can ________ say,

“The ______ is my _______;
I will not _______;
what can ____ do to me?” (ESV)

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Dealing with Depression and Anxiety

Written by James Lynch (4/29/2020)

This current season of difficulty and uncertainty with the Covid-19 crisis has brought many challenges for all Americans, and believers in Christ are not exempt. We watch the same news reports, we hear the same controversies, we experience many of the same hardships that the rest of the world is going through currently. The coronavirus is, of course, a health concern, but the measures that have been taken to slow the spread of the disease have caused additional stress to many. This is a perfect environment for anxiety and depression to take root and grow. So, how can believers cope with these challenges and uncertainties? In this article, I would like to talk about these very real battles in which many believers find themselves in their daily lives.

First, let me state clearly that anxiety, depression, and other mental and emotional disorders like them are real. It is unfortunate that many who suffer from these conditions have often been ignored, dismissed, or even chastised by other Christians for feelings that they seem to have no control over. If you have ever been treated that way by another believer, please allow me to apologize for their ignorance. There has been a culture in many Bible-believing churches that seems to give a message that real Christians do not have problems and are always happy. This is simply not scriptural! David spoke of feelings that we would call depression: “Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck.  I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me. I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God.” Psalm 69:1-3.

In fact, there are other examples of God’s servants in scripture struggling with both anxiety and depression. Daniel was anxious at what God was showing him about future events (Daniel 7:15), and even the Apostle Paul wrote this to the Corinthian church in his second letter, “For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.” II Cor.1:8

Let’s take a moment and consider what anxiety and depression are, and why I have linked the two in this article. Anxiety is basically worry. Modern psychology has a term G.A.D. or Generalized Anxiety Disorder. It is characterized by constant worry, often about things that are unlikely to happen. Depression is a persistent sadness or depressed mood. The reason I wanted to talk about them both is because they often go together, and both can cause a person to lose interest in normal activities causing serious disruption in every area of life. Anxiety can show itself in many different ways. A person can be withdrawn and fearful as a result of anxiety, another may resort to excessive efforts to control everything and everyone around them in an effort to keep their worries from being realized. This can result in obsessive behaviors or unreasonable demands and angry outbursts toward others. Depression often comes into play because the anxiety causes behaviors with negative results. The fearful person is depressed because they begin to lose hope living in a constant state of worry and fear. The controlling person ruins relationships, and eventually realizes that they cannot control everything, and they lose hope as well. Both these conditions can bring a person to a place of hopelessness, and that is an extremely dangerous place to be.

As you can see, these conditions can seem overly complicated and they can have far-reaching consequences to those who suffer with them, as well as those who are around them. The fact is, they are not really complicated at all, but they are difficult to work through. If you know and love someone who has one or both of these challenges, please be patient and prayerful. You need the power of God to navigate through these issues, especially if you have never struggled with anything like this yourself. If you are a generally positive person, it may be hard to imagine why someone cannot just “ tough it out” or “get over it”. You do not have to understand to empathize, and you do not have to understand to pray. Ask God for wisdom, believing that He will give it to you (James 1:5-7).

If you are a person who fights feelings of anxiety and depression, let me tell you that there is hope! That hope is in non-other than Jesus Christ. It is not in a medication or a human counselor, but it is in Christ Himself. Don’t misunderstand, there may be a place for medicine and there is certainly a place for counseling, but the only true and lasting hope is in the person and work of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If you believe that, you can move toward a road to recovery, because that road is a walk of faith.

I cannot possibly explain all the principles you need to follow in an article. Each person and their experience are unique, but the basic problem and solution are the same. So, I will share just a few basic truths and some action points to begin with.

Four Vital Truths for battling Negative Emotions

  1. You are not in this alone. 1Co 10:13a … “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man”…  Many others have and are where you are.
  2. God will make a way out. 1Co10:13b … ”God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” Even though it may not feel like it, God has promised to make a way for you to endure.
  3. The feelings of anxiety and depression are not necessarily sin, but how you manage them is where the temptation lies. This is an especially important point. This is not to blame you for the feeling of anxiety, depression, or any other feeling. However, you are responsible for how you respond to the temptation. You may have never thought of your anxiety as a temptation, but that is exactly what it is.
  4. The “way of escape” is the path to enduring the temptation without giving in to it. Not necessarily the removal of the temptation itself…” that you may be able to endure it.”

Action Points for Dealing with Negative Emotions

  1. Recognize that this is a battle that must be fought by faith. Faith chooses God’s truth over present feelings. Rom 10:17 “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Faith is the believing response to God’s revealed Word. Just as David believed that God would fight for him against Goliath, despite all his physical senses telling him otherwise, you must learn to choose to believe God over your emotions.
  2. Make a list with two columns. In the first column, write the specific things that cause anxiety and fear in your heart. In the second column record passages from scripture that reveal what God says about those things, or just worry in general.
  3. Pray through your list, confessing your unbelief to God and asking Him to grant you faith to believe what He has said. Every time you find yourself slipping into anxiety, take it to Him in prayer (Philippians 4:6).
  4. If anxiety or depression has a grip on you that you are having trouble getting free from, please contact the church for counseling help. One of the ways that we love one another is to bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2). We are the body of Christ, and when one member hurts, the whole body hurts with you. You are not alone. You have brothers and sisters who love you.

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Counsel for the Heart (Introduction)

Years ago during seminary I attended a church that memorized scripture together over the course of one year. Of all the excellent content I received in seminary, that year of memorizing scripture was one of the things that most rooted me in the Faith.

Consider what has helped you to grow most as a Christian. What would you attribute to your endurance in following Jesus?

No doubt if you traced those lines of help and influencers down to the source you would see again and again God’s Word has been your lifeline.

Over the course of the next couple of weeks I will be writing a new devotional series called “Counsel for the Heart.” Each weekday I will focus on a common area of heart need that is commonly coming up in biblical counseling during Covid19. Fear, anxiety and worry, depression, anger, addictions, feelings of abandonment by God, and so much more comes up as people have reached out to me and others. As much as we tire of hearing about Covid19, it has provided many opportunities for us to renew our faith and come back to confidence in God by His Word.

In addition to my devotion series you will see accompanying articles written by the biblical counselors of our church. They want all of us to see that life is blessed as we submit to the Lord Jesus and live in obedience to Him.

Above all we know that God’s Word is life-giving! And as I conclude this brief introduction of the series I invite you to memorize a passage with me this week. Work on these verses, meditating on them, asking the Holy Spirit to help you internalize the message. You and I will need this passage always, but especially for times of fear that come up out of seemingly nowhere. I will write more about fear tomorrow and the rest of this week.

Hebrews 13:5–6

[5] Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” [6] So we can confidently say,

“The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear;
what can man do to me?” (ESV)

Getting to the Heart:

In this section each day I will ask a question or two or offer a reflection of my own for you to meditate on. For today, consider what this verse says: we can put our confidence in either money or God. One of the draws of money is that if we just get enough of it we can potentially live without fear. The Bible says that is a false assurance. Why?

  • Why is trusting in what money can provide a dangerous hope?
  • According to these verses, how do we know we can trust the Lord?

Prayer: 

Holy Lord, Maker of every human heart, we seek Your blessing on your Word in our lives. Your Word leads to life! To whom else can we go but You? Please use this series on Counsel for the Heart to bring about good in our lives. Please change us to be like our beloved Lord Jesus. Help us by Your Holy Spirit to walk in Your Word with faith. Lift up those who are struggling and tempted by sin. Lead none of us into temptation. You are worthy of our undivided hearts, Father, and we give ourselves again to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Worship in Song:

Christ Our Glory

I’ve had this song on repeat recently. It has gospel-rich truths in it, and these lines stick in my head:

“Our rest is in heaven, our rest is not here
Then why should we tremble when trials draw near?
Be still and remember the worst that can come
But shortens our journey and hastens us home”

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Local Perspectives on Coronavirus – Pt 7

This week I had the privilege of interviewing Nancy Cross. I’m so encouraged every time I talk with Nancy. When you meet her you may first see the wheelchair she sits in, but Nancy’s joyful countenance and confidence in the Lord will leave you seeing Jesus Christ.

Nancy has been married to C.W. for almost 26 years and has two children by a previous marriage. She had been divorced almost 10 years before she met C.W. at work. All their married lives they have prioritized the Lord and faithfulness to Him in a local church. For 20 years they have been glad to call West Park home and are faithful members of the Fruitbearers ABF.

May God be glorified in your life as you read Nancy’s perspective today.

Nancy, thank you for talking with me today. I’d like to know what your current experience is during this time of the Coronavirus.

Probably during this period of time the thing CW and I, even though we do the online services and everything, miss is the physical fellowship of the believers. We just really do. It’s like it’s given us a new appreciation for the church body. It’s more than a building, and I know I’m not telling you anything that you haven’t told all of us, but it’s a fellowship. And I understand why God’s Word says, “Don’t forsake the assembling of yourselves together with other believers,” and I understand that. When I say we feed off of each other, God gives each one of us gifts to share in a body, and that’s why we need to be one in the body. Not only in what we say but what we do and how we love one another. And that’s what we have so missed!

And you know, the other thing we’ve talked about also is that this period of time has given us a new insight into what believers in other countries who do not have the opportunity for open fellowship with one another, what they have experienced all along! I don’t think God wastes anything, does He?

Nancy, people describe those in our elderly community as “at-risk.” Do you consider yourself to be at-risk during this time?

Honestly, no. I guess the reason I say that is I don’t go out and do things that our authorities have said don’t do, because not only would I be putting myself at risk but I could harm somebody else. I don’t fear; I’m not afraid. That’s just bottom line. Although I’m sure if people looked at me and saw my age and that I’m in a wheelchair and everything they’d say I’m at-risk. But I don’t think about that. We’re trying to live our lives as normally as possible under the guidelines of what the government has said.

Nancy, what difficulties have you faced in your life, and how have those difficulties prepared you for what you face today?

You know, I grew up in a very difficult emotional situation. My dad was an alcoholic for much of my early years, and that was a really difficult time both emotionally and financially for us growing up. But now that I’ve experienced breast cancer and then the spinal cord situation, they have been difficulties, but I almost look back at that, Joe, and think, you know, in a way, all that was difficult for me in my early years has somewhat served me well for now because this doesn’t feel as difficult as maybe those years did, and some of the things that I learned then were how to be emotionally dependent on God and also to be wise in how we deal with our finances. So I know all that sounds like a fairy tale but really when I look back on my early life, and it was really painful for me and my siblings and my mom as well, somehow or other the scripture that says “God uses all things for the good,” He has! He has in my life, and it’s not to say there aren’t difficulties at times. Of course there are. I’m human just like everybody else, but I know that all those years of hardness that I dealt with then as a much younger person has shown me how dependence on God and then opening up to people in my life that I need to talk to that can help me deal with things… and it’s not to say things now aren’t difficult, but it’s not as difficult as [it may be] for someone who hasn’t experienced the things I did growing up. And that doesn’t mean that I’m all excited that I had all that difficulty! It’s just I’ve looked at those things as things that can useful for me today.

May I ask, what is the name of the condition that requires you to be in the wheelchair?

I have transverse myelitis, and it is a spinal cord disease that… can be caused by a virus or you could have some kind of immunization that can settle in the spinal cord area, and then it just takes over the spinal cord. It shows how marvelously and wonderfully God made our bodies and then because we live in a world that is affected by sin, that sin has affected everything around us, our environment and everything, so that you’re susceptible to getting anything.

Nancy, thank you for sharing what God has used to prepare you for these times of suffering. Last question, if you were to sit down with someone from our church, maybe someone young experiencing lots of difficulties right now who doesn’t have the background that the Lord gave you, what would you encourage them to focus on? What lessons from the Lord, in addition to how He works all things for good, would you encourage them to be thinking about?

I love young people, Joe, and I love young women and men, married couples, and I look at them and recall being like them, raising children, and it’s not really easy. There is so much going on, even in the church and in the communities and everything, and I pray for the young people in our church, I pray for all of them. It’s not easy emotionally, spiritually or financially, and especially in relationships.. that can be really tough!

I would encourage them to think on a daily basis about how God will lead them through that day through the power of the Holy Spirit within them. If at the beginning of that day they sit down and have time with Him before they rush out into the world to see what’s going on and seek His guidance in His Word. Joe, I know when I pick up God’s Word… most of the time there’s something in that scripture that speaks to my day or to my life at that time that I could use. And I know better than I did when I was thirty years old, how important God in my life is. I mean every day. You have to get up every day and intentionally seek His fellowship with you that day.

 

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Local Perspectives on Coronavirus – Pt 6

Today’s perspective comes from Lauren Kappel who describes herself as a mom, wife, daughter, and one who is immunosuppressed. This article helps those especially affected by Covid-19 due to their own immunosuppression, but the main point is applicable to us all.

____________________________________________

 

This past year has provided many opportunities for growth in my life which has also prepared my heart for these days of the pandemic and quarantine. Early in 2019, I was struggling to deal with the realities of my dad’s stage IV cancer prognosis followed by his complications with heart disease.  In the midst of dealing with the fragility of my Dad’s life, I began to have my own medical issues. While trying to sift through all of my symptoms, two different physicians prepared me to deal with the fact that I too may have cancer. Needless to say, this was a lot to take in at one time. My mind raced and I quickly imagined going through cancer treatments along with my dad and I wondered God’s plan in that for us. Fear and dread also weighed heavily as I thought about this possibility.

Thankfully, after further tests, I found out that I did NOT have cancer but, rather, ulcerative colitis. This diagnosis came as a relief; we rejoiced that I didn’t have cancer, but, in time, we realized that this diagnosis does dictate a new way of life for me and my family. I had to face the realities of being immunosuppressed.  This means that my immune system is not working properly. It is easier to catch illnesses and when I do, it takes longer than usual to heal. It could also easily lead into other infections. Last year, I was on a medicine that suppressed my immune system further and also made my ulcerative colitis worse. I had to stop volunteering in children’s church and Awana during the flu season which was not easy as I knew there was a great need for volunteers and I enjoyed being with the children. Along with my own issues, I also did not want to pass on any germs to my dad that could affect him when we visited from time to time. While I was learning all the implications of living with ulcerative colitis and also struggling with the fact that my dad was dealing with cancer, the daily struggles with fatigue and stress weighed heavily.

Before my Dad and I got sick, death wasn’t as much of a weight upon my heart. I knew that when I do die, by the grace of the Lord, I would be with Him and being with Him was my greatest desire. However, after feeling the pain of my illness, seeing my Dad’s suffering from cancer, the sudden nearness and the reality of death left me gripped with fear. The fatigue, stress, grief, and fear were more than I could handle. In my day to day life, I was weary, more easily annoyed, and impatient, with those I love most. While dealing with all of this in my own heart, I continued to homeschool our kids and sought the Lord during this “new normal,” but I lacked the joy that comes with a life fully surrendered to the Lord.

Now fast forward to the COVID19 crisis and quarantine. Needless to say, all of the talks about the virus attacking those who are immunosuppressed didn’t help my problems with anxiety. I had already been dealing with the fears that come with cold and flu season. My kids and I had been sick for a couple of weeks leading up to the quarantine, so the thought of a deadly virus made things worse. I knew I had to prepare my body and home life in any way I could. I began a restrictive diet in hopes to help my body heal and have been learning what types of food can affect me in the wrong way.

I also signed up for an online “30 day de-clutter challenge” put on by a lady that has raised and homeschooled 8 children. I knew she would provide me with the perspective I needed to help me clean up areas in our home that had been neglected far too long. To my surprise, her first area to address was “decluttering your heart.” She wrote a list of things that can fill our hearts with clutter: pride, discontentment, anger, unforgiveness, selfishness, bitterness, worry, negative thoughts, grudges, and past hurts. She advised us to ask God to reveal the sin in our hearts, ask His forgiveness, get rid of wrong thinking and replace it with truth, and to give God our expectations. I quickly went through the list, was thankful that I was doing okay in these areas. I think I did ask God to search my heart but then skipped quickly to step #2 of the decluttering challenge…I was ready to gain some control and clean up our home!

It was a week later, while glancing at the list again, that the Lord lovingly convicted me. The Lord showed me that I had been excusing sin again and again and called it: “being annoyed, weary, sick, and in a hard circumstance.” As the Lord revealed this to me, I began to search my heart and write out my list of sins. I then wrote out scripture I can meditate on instead of the negative things that I had been playing over and over in my mind. I asked the Lord’s forgiveness, and also asked Him to continue to search my heart. After this, I found myself rejoicing in the grace and forgiveness of the Lord. Now, when I’m faced with the temptation of discontentment, I know I must run to the Lord for His truth instead of giving into the pattern of thinking and sin that entangled me before. When I am impatient or angry, I know I can’t just blame it on feeling weary! When I am fearful, I know I must not give in just a little bit as it is a thief to my joy in Christ. The joy of the fellowship of the Lord has been such a blessing to me when I do repent and turn to Him.

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:24, ESV)

I have been praying for those that are considered to be in the “high risk category” in our congregation or are caring for someone who may be. I know that many of you are in different seasons of life and have your own struggles in the midst of the COVID19 crisis. I pray that you know you are needed and valued among the body of Christ, specifically here at West Park. As the quarantine mandate will be lifted, I know that you are seeking to learn from the Lord what that means for you specifically. You may wonder what life should look practically for you. The Lord will give you wisdom as you seek Him. My prayer at this unique time is that you will know the riches of God’s fellowship and peace.  I pray that you will allow the Lord to search your heart, and show you the areas where you can easily excuse sin in the midst of this hard time. I pray that you will surrender to Him and know that obedience to the Lord refreshes the body of Christ. Even in the struggles of life, your decision to seek after the Lord despite your feelings matters to so many. Your fear of the Lord brings honor, peace, hope, and happiness. Your testimony for your love of the Lord points us to the glorious riches we have in Christ. Your hunger of the Word is so much sweeter as you turn from sin and to the One who loves you so. Your prayers are the means of God working in our lives. You are known, you are precious, you are loved immensely, you are not alone, and you are desperately needed in the body of Christ. May He be glorified as we turn from our sin and walk in the Truth of God’s Word. We don’t want to miss the fellowship of the Lord and of His glory in the midst of this trial.

So whether we we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please Him. 2 Corinthians 5:9

Those who look to Him are radiant and their faces shall never be ashamed. Psalm 34:5