Micah 7 - Blood Thicker Than Blood

Micah warns that no shall be trusted - all will conspire against the followers of God - even one's family. Throughout my life, I have gone through many changes. At first, I naively trusted everyone. Then, I trusted no one. Finally, as I came to have a closer relationship with God, I was able, once again, to have trust in others. Not that I placed my trust in others, but that I placed my trust in God so that I was once again able to help others. I knew and know that no matter what others might do against me, God is with me for the good.

Sadly, I witness over and over again how true Micah's reminder and warning is.
"For a son dishonors his father,
    a daughter rises up against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
    a man’s enemies are the members of his own household.
But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord,
    I wait for God my Savior;
    my God will hear me." (Micah 7:6-7 NIV)

Greed, envy, jealousy; these all affect family relationships. Pride in self is a killer of families. Even among family members, one will put their own desires before another; before the good of family. When I worked at the youth correctional facility, I would warn the young men to please not move home when they were released. Many of their problems came from parents who put their own lives (often addictions) before the children. To move back home because of family blood ties would spell "prison sentence" for them in the end, as I knew that many of their family members would continue to lead them in lives of crime for the sake of their own desires. As the spiritual counselor, as well as the substance abuse counselor, I would remind them: "There is a blood that is thicker than blood and that is the blood of Christ shed for you."  

In Him we can trust.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Micah 6 - Walk Humbly

"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8 NIV)

It would be very good indeed in this world, if we all just did the good that the LORD has shown us. Can you imagine what the world would be like if every professing Christian actually made it a priority to act justly and love mercy as we walk humbly with our God?

One of my favorite descriptions of humility was written by Washington Allston. He wrote: "Humility is also a healing virtue; it will cicatrize a thousand wounds, which pride would keep for ever open."

Let us then set aside our pride as we walk humbly with our God, so that justice and mercy might prevail.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Micah 5 - Savior Out Of Bethlehem

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
    though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
    one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
    from ancient times.” (Micah 5:2 NIV)

The prophecy of the one who would be born in Bethlehem... The people of God looked for and waited for this savior to deliver them - to bring them peace. He is the one whose birth we celebrate on Christmas morning. The Christ child, Jesus, was born in a stable in Bethlehem as God, through Micah, promised. The savior has come. The bringer of peace is here. He came to bring His peace so that the people of God would be one with God and one with one another. The wall that separates would be destroyed as it has been for all who would live and abide in His name, through His death; His resurrection and His ascension.

During this Advent season, we remember how the people longed for this savior to be born. We remember and, as children of God, we prepare for Him to come again in full glory.

Remember always and prepare your hearts for He has come! He is Risen! And... He will come again!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Micah 3 - Leaders With Hearts For The Peoples' Hearts

“Listen, you leaders of Jacob,
    you rulers of Israel.
Should you not embrace justice,
     you who hate good and love evil;
who tear the skin from my people
    and the flesh from their bones;
who eat my people’s flesh,
    strip off their skin
    and break their bones in pieces;
who chop them up like meat for the pan,
    like flesh for the pot?”
Then they will cry out to the Lord,
    but he will not answer them.
At that time he will hide his face from them
    because of the evil they have done." (Micah 3:1-4 NIV)

Personally, I think these verses pretty much speak for themselves. It's seems to me it's all about personal power, authority, wealth... for many (maybe all - I can't figure out for certain) of our elected leaders. Are they really concerned about actually helping people or helping their personal agendas? It seems to be a lot about creating more mandates, more hoops to jump through and actually providing less or no services for the tax payers dollars.

There seems, to me, to be a mental health crisis in this country and specifically in the county that I live in. We have a 16% unemployment rate; the dark days of winter are upon us; people are suffering from alcohol and drug addictions as well as depression and anxiety; children and their needs are often neglected. So what to do about it? What are our leaders doing about it? Nada, Nichts,

Hичего не, Nothing (or a whole lot close to nothing)!  And... unless you are willing to go to the emergency room or call an 888 number and tell them that you plan to commit suicide or kill someone; then there is virtually no help. There is no help for those who have not yet reached those stages. With all due respect, we do have some pretty good programs in this county for substance abuse related mental health problems - through 12-step programs and the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community and there are programs for severely mentally ill persons if you can get past the call to the 888 phone number. But, for the multitudes who are suffering from countless other mental health issues - pretty much nothing.

Recently, I contacted two of our elected leaders from Michigan (one Democrat/one Republican) regarding this. Both responses were very lacking in any real understanding of the real needs of the people. One of the responses to my queries from those in authority lately has been that Obamacare will eventually fix the problem. When I asked "how long," I was told that it would probably take a couple of years...

So, thinking that maybe our elected official aren't the answer and we might have to turn to a grass roots, community effort; I checked out government web-sites for grants to implement counseling or treatment programs for those who are not yet in the crisis stage; yet, are still not living lives anywhere near to full. I couldn't find one. You can get grants to research mental health and illness. You can get grants to start community coalitions to talk about the crisis. But, I could not find one grant that would actually help a community set up a treatment program/counseling service for those who are not in the crisis stage. You know... the kind of counseling that might help people who are heading toward being non-functional due to depression or anxiety; counseling for people who are having a hard time getting out of bed in the morning; or leaving the house; counseling for people before they get to the stage where they are contemplating and planning to committing suicide or even murder.

Our LORD does ask of us to help and serve one another. So where's the help from the leaders that we, in good faith, have elected? If our leaders will not do it, who then?

Right now, I'm praying that God will figure out (and reveal) a plan for us that doesn't include elected political leaders; unless He has a mind to change their hearts and minds. In the meantime, the only answer that I can give anyone is one I overheard my granddaughter give a friend of hers who was heading into more trouble than he was already in - who was constantly complaining how life was treating him: "You really just need Jesus." That is true - a closer relationship with Jesus would help us a whole lot - in fact it would save us. But, God also gave us gifts, gift to be shared with those in need. Those gifts include professional counselors and therapists who can help us better to understand how to live life more abundantly.

I have often been asked to counsel people in the community. I am trained in substance abuse counseling. I am trained in spiritual counseling. Beyond, that... my gifts at counseling are very limited. Years ago, I use to be able to refer people to other counselors when it went beyond spiritual counseling; but, the places I can refer you to now are really limited and you might have to travel quite a ways to get those services. 

May God lift up leaders who have a heart for the people's hearts.

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. I read Michigan's Mental Health Act the other day. If you live in Copper Country of Michigan and are in crisis, even though the people at the 888 number, during your telephone assessment, have deemed you not in crisis - ask for a second opinion. They will, according to the act, set you up with an appointment, locally, for a one on one assessment. This means you will actually get assessed in person rather than over the phone!

Micah 2 - Follow the King

"Woe to those who plan iniquity,
    to those who plot evil on their beds!
At morning’s light they carry it out
    because it is in their power to do it." (Micah 2:1 NIV)

The word of the LORD through the prophet Micah. How many would prefer to hear this word; this prophecy of woe, or as Micah tells it like it is, would prefer to hear a prophecy more on the following lines?

"If a liar and deceiver comes and says,
    ‘I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer,’    that would be just the prophet for this people!" (Micah 2:11)

Woe, indeed! When we spend our lives planning trouble for others and worldly indulgences for ourselves. Even more woe to those who spend their time in a bar planning iniquity, publically, against others. Woe, indeed!

But, Micah has some breaking good news. The time will come when all this will end. "In Heaven There Is No Beer." No, sorry, that's not the good news - couldn't help but throw that in. The good news of deliverance is prophesied to come through Jesus Christ, our LORD and King.

“I will surely gather all of you, Jacob;
    I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel.
I will bring them together like sheep in a pen,
    like a flock in its pasture;
    the place will throng with people.
The One who breaks open the way will go up before them;
    they will break through the gate and go out.
Their King will pass through before them,    the Lord at their head.” (Micah 2:12-13)

Let us follow the King who has broken through the gateway of death and destruction for you.

God's Peace - Pr. J