God is Love
I’ve took a bit of a break since my father died. Examining things and how I can interact better with my life. I’ve taken some time to observe people and how they react to life and situations. It just amazes me that so many are so caught up in themselves. Today people are more likely to ignore someone in need then help them. Even if that help was a few kind words.
What’s most shocking to me is this happens in so many Christians as well. When I think of this am reminded of the 2nd chapter of James, specifically verses 14-18.
14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
James 2:14-18
Some people have had real problems with this scripture of the years. Some say it is in stark contrast to other scriptures that state salvation comes by faith not works lest anyone should boast. But in truth the scripture says that if you have real meaningful faith, these things will follow. When God has taken up residence in your heart you can’t help but to overflow with these things.
God first and foremost is a god of love. It was love that sent Jesus to earth. It was love that submitted to the cross for our sins, it was love that drove every aspect of Jesus’ ministry on earth. It flowed out of every part of his being. And why? Because he put his Heavenly Father above all else. He spent so much time in the scriptures and in the presence of God in prayer that the nature of God sustained him and flowed from him.
My Grandfather past away late last year. My grandfather was my hero. He was such a man of God and just having him apart of my life helped me through some of my hardest times, even when he didn’t speak a word to me. He touched so many peoples lives and listening to people speak at his funeral was very touching and confirmed the same thing I’ve felt in my life. He was a man of God and prayer. He spent time in the scriptures and in prayer like no one I’ve known. And the presence and love of God surrounded him.
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
This is why I think my grandfather had this presence. God has given us all we need in His word. By study and putting that study to work in our own lives. His Word to us is more then inspirational, it’s His promises to us. By partaking, or putting it to work in our own lives through study and prayer, we become partakers of God’s divine nature. He rubs off on us just as a close friend or loved one does. We pick up some of their traits. And that overflow of love beings. God is love. He has always been and always will be a God of love. Our walks should be as his was.
He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
Rest in Peace Dad
My father, Gary Roettger, passed away on Tuesday, April 14th in the evening. He was ready to meet his Heavenly father. He ran the race of life in such a way as to win the prize which I’m sure he’s now received. In His time working on staff at MSU, he touched many lives both students and faculty. He was much loved by all who knew him. The latter years of his life were tuff and painful as disease took its toll on his mind and body. Now, he’s at peace.
I loved my father and decided to share some moments that were my favorite with him. When I was 19 or 20, we took a motorcycle trip across country together. We could still laugh at the times we took refuge from rain underneath an overpass, and how completely soaked we were. And how after the rain let up a bit we went to Deny’s for a late meal after a long drive in wet cloths. The front half of our cloths and shoes were soaked. The back half dry. We received some looks but it was quite funny to me, in a way that everything seems so funny. I remember how we finally found a hotel room early in the am after repeated attempts to sleep at rest areas due to full hotel rooms. We slept only for a few hours but to this day, it was the most comfortable bed I’ve ever been in, and my dad agreed.
I remember sitting with my dad and grandfather as we listened to my grandfather’s World War 2 experiences. I remember how taken back we both were at what Grandpa went through. And the new found respect we both had for him for his strength and dedication to God. My grandfather was always a large figure in my life, a large influence and my father shared this.
I remember the long talks we would have as we shared experiences of this disease we both seemed to have shared. I remember how he helped me feel like I wasn’t alone. We would talk about the small things we go through from the confusion, to the problems thinking, to how hard it was to walk. He would listen even though he was in a great deal of pain. He would do his best to calm me when I was upset knowing how it would effect me if I couldn’t find some peace. I remember how much his eyes lit up when he saw his grand kids. I remember how much he seemed to love his family even when showing it was painful. And I remember how much he loved God. My father and grandfather are now both in heaven. Both are at peace and have freedom from the pain.
Rest in peace dad.
Gary Charles Roettger
May 18, 1950 – April 13, 2010
Pain Sometimes Brings Peace and Hope
So here I am, it’s 5am and I cannot sleep. I am just recovering from an extremely bad day pain wise. It is always strange once all the pain lets up. I’m always very happy to be alive. I am always very grateful to God for getting me through. I’m always filled with Joy and happiness too. In many ways it is similar to the way we come out of painful trials. They hurt, they sting, and they make us wish we weren’t going through them. But if we learned the lessons God teaches us well through them, in the end we have the same opportunity to be grateful. We get the same opportunity to be hopeful.
I always think to the future. To what may come, to my hopes and dreams. I don’t have much in the ways of dreams now days. I just want simple things. I want to get debt free, something that won’t come easy given the medical bills and debt we’ve incurred through my sickness; and my lack of real income now aside from my disability. I want to own a small chunk of land that my wife and can try to be more self sufficient with. It would have a large garden, solar power, and would want to make it a refuge for friends and family that may need it. I would even take a trailer on a small chunk of land at this point. It would be a nice way for us to try and cut the cost of living so we could live cheaper and more within our limited budget. Most of all I just want to help people any way I can. These are things that I in all logic should have no hope for at this point. Things that I should not think I will achieve even so basic of dreams. But after today, in the calm and peace of the moment, I believe I will. I believe that reason for hope has not left me.
I endure the pain for the promise of peace at it’s in. I run the race of life, for the same reason, the prize of the upward call of Christ Jesus my Lord. Endure all things, for the peace and calm that will be in the end. Keep hope alive, there is never a reason to give up.
Forgett the past, Press on
I’ve long held to the desire to walk as a bondservant. That word has significant meaning to me, it always has. I see the walk of a bondservant to be of the utmost importance to a close relationship with God. Giving up our will to completely embrace the will of God, even when it seems unpleasant. To let go of driving my life and let God can complete the work He started in us. So He can use us to show His love to the people who cannot otherwise hear His voice because they are lost in their own sins and situations.
The term bondservant is something that has different meaning to all who choose to walk that path. And it is something that is ever growing and changing as God brings you through things. I won’t lie the past few months have been a very tough trip for me. Depression has been a constant adversary. I’ve been mourning all that I’ve lost. The abilities I had to do things, such as walk without pain. I was mourning my taking them for granted.
But as I finally sat down to place God’s word above myself and seek Him in it, He showed me something in a scripture that has long been a favorite of mine. He opened my eyes to something new, and thus confirming that He hasn’t left me. That I’m not to far from him to hear His voice. That He is indeed teaching me even now. Being locked up alone in your home has some adverse effects on you for long periods.
Let me share it with you friends.
12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
15Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.Philippians 3:12-15 (NKJV)
Forgetting those things that are Behind. That is very potent if you dwell on that for a minute. Forgetting past failures, success, problems, situations. Forgetting the things that you lost. Forgetting what you cannot do any longer, forgetting all the things you should have done or could have. Forgetting past sins, repent first obviously, but move on after. All that matter is the prize. All that matters is God, and His love for you and for those you are surrounded by. Forgetting that you should have walked more when you could, forgetting how you should have related to others, forgetting how you missed things that you could have done, for yourself or for God. Press on for the Mark. Press on my friends. Push forward, embrace the love of God. Embrace the fact the he loves you and that he died for you because he loves you so much. Embrace that, and live for Him.
For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Colossians 3:3 (NKJV)
And once you have done this, press on. And to keep the focus follow this great advice.
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
Philippians 4:8 (NKJV)
Sickness Does Not Equal a Deficient Human
It is not secret that I have some major health problems. Anyone who sees me even attempt to walk across a crowed room can tell. Talk to me on a phone for to long and you’ll hear it. It has a tangible affect on most people, especially those you may have called friends.
Long talks turn into short greetings. Good times turn into palatable awkward segments of time. And to some degree respect turns to pity. Some freeze up and won’t even chat through email. Others make attempts that are fleeting and far in-between. Even those close to you stop looking at you and remembering what you can do, they look and see only that you can’t. In talking with some that have similar problems as me, I’ve heard the same stories repeated.
Church going people can sometimes be the worst. Somehow on some level its your fault your sick. You lack faith, you sinned, or some other factor unseen caused your problems. It can leave to a solitary walk. A walk down a path of life that others views are forever altered by what they see and think. There lack of comfort drives them from sanity. They forget your human. Not only that you are human, but that you are exactly the same person you were before you got sick.
I think its one of the most inhumane things to do to someone. I cannot walk far on my feet, my legs falter and tire quickly. I cannot always speak with clarity, my mind lacks memory and focus many days. The pain clouds my thinking and it becomes hard to do even simplest of tasks. Things people take for granted are things I long to be able to do, and are things that require serious consideration before trying.
But in all this, I am still me. Through the pain and discomfort, through the weary legs that can barely take me across the room, my faith is still strong. In the midst of the cloudy thoughts and confusion my love for God still stands as strong as it ever has. And my desire to live life to the fullest of my ability still is strong.
Next time you see someone with an illness or disability, try thinking of them as just human. No more, no less.
