The Holy Spirit Delivers in Matilda

Cover of MATILDA

This weekend I found myself listening to the movie Matilda.  I say listening, because my special son watched it while I worked.  I resisted the temptation of leaving my desk and viewing it with him (except on occasion, of course).  The movie is a combination of absurdity to the point of funny, and truth about the survival of a little girl in an evil world.

Matilda develops supernatural powers, of course, which develop under extreme duress and abuse.  You see, if you haven’t watched or read Matilda, she is born into a highly dysfunctional, abusive family.  However, Matilda is the shining light in their ugly world.  She quickly learns with her intelligence, and her heart, to fend for herself.  She finally goes to school at her own insistence even though her parents did not think that it was important.  She continues to grow and become a kinder, gentler person in spite of her circumstances.

Yet, what she finds at school is not a much prettier picture than what she lives in...except for Miss Honey, her teacher.  Miss Honey quickly identifies Matilda’s capabilities, and after an attempt to speak to her parents, decides to mentor Matilda on her own.  Her family’s meanness and isolation of her worsens, however it brings out a gift in Matilda.  She develops super powers to stop their attacks!

You will have to watch the movie or read the book to find out what she does…

So, okay, we may not be capable of super powers…

But, God is the author of the miraculous.  The amazing, and really, miraculous aspect of Jesus Christ is that we have do have supernatural power in Him.  When we hear stories of people’s illnesses and diseases disappearing into thin air; it seems that it simply could not be true.  Yet, it is.  When we hear prophetic words of future events or words about someone‘s life that others could not possibly know, we simply cannot believe with the rational mind that this could happen; yet, it does.

In our modern culture, we look around and think that we can fix things with our mind.  Like Matilda, we decide that with the wiggle of a finger, we can make things move and shift…er, should I say, with the touch of a button on our smart phones…Someone just needs to develop an app and our current problems will be solved!

I am kidding, of course.

But, don’t we have that mentality about medical science and our children‘s healing?  Yet, when our backs are up against the wall, and we see no other recourse, God steps in if we call Him.  But I wonder, do we give Him room to carry out a supernatural miracle?  Do we have faith for a miracle to happen?  Or, do we allow worldly logic and thinking to define our faith?  It goes beyond our human logic.

No, the Lord does not always answer our prayers the way that we want, but I am always left with a question.  Am I aligned with God’s will?  Am I listening to what He wants from me?  I mean, really, He knows better than I do how to run the Universe…Am I hearing the Lord?

This pill goes down hard with our special children.

I mean, really, did the Lord not create our children for His glory?  Then, where is He?! When we look at His healing of numerous people throughout the Gospel of Jesus Christ, they experience supernatural healing.  Yet, our children are born without limbs, genetic anomalies, malformed organs, and then some have debilitating conditions that cause regression over time, and then death.  Some do not make it out of infanthood.  When we look at it through our eyes, it does not seem to bring glory to Him…

BUT Wait!

Does your child light up a room?

Does your child work diligently to overcome?

Is your child a fighter to the end?

Does your child speak the words of God?

Does your child draw pictures or illustrations that reflect His Creator?

Does your child know many Bible verses and stories by heart?

You fill in the blank….

Even if things are still dark, 

I encourage you to believe for a miracle.  The road of grief is never easy.  It pushes us to dig our roots down, and yes, sometimes question God.  Where are you?!  We wonder if He cares, or if He hears us.  The end may be on its way, and we are waiting.

God is the Deliverer.  He created our children for His purpose.  I want to tell you that they will all live long, happy lives, but again, I am not the conductor of the universe.  Some of our children struggle every step of the way.  Some do not remain in this world very long, yet others live long, challenging lives.  I want the fairy tale ending too, like Matilda, but we are in Special Needs Land.

There are some of you who are begging God for a miracle already.  

You are angry because He does not seem to hear your prayers.  Things get worse, not better.  Life is raw and bitter.  You may have even given up hope that the God of the universe really cares about your child.  Tell Him. Tell Him you are angry.   It is okay.  He can handle it; trust me.  It is the beginning of His ability to work.

He is the source.    He is the power.  El Shaddi. The Most High God.
He is light.  He is Rapha.  He is Adonai.  Jehovah God.  Jehovah Nissi (The Lord, My Miracle). He is our shepherd.
He delivers.   He is El Olam (The everlasting God).

Grab that mustard seed. 

Plant it.  Water it.  Pray over it.  You can try to wiggle your finger like Matilda, but I doubt that it will work.  Be angry at Him.  Yell at Him if you need to.  Cry out some more.  Allow God to grow and change your heart before Him.  Allow Him to gift you.  Believe!

Then, watch your plant grow.  Who knows what God can do?

As He walked along, He saw a man blind from birth.  His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"  Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him."  John 9:1-3

The Holy Spirit Builds My Father's House

Church of the Nativity of Our Lady (in front) - Vitoslavlitsy wooden museum, Novgorod (Photo credit: w0LD)

There is a house on a hill.  It is timeless and stands with its face to the wind.  The front porch beckons visitors to come, and the door remains open to those who follow Christ. The large oak tree in the front of the house, offers shade in the heat of the day, and strength for a swing.  The birds flock there because they know where to find shelter, and the animals too.

Each room contains walls papered with history, and wood floors from a timeless tree of long ago.  The house has stood in this spot for many years, through changing seasons.  Sunlight streams in through each open window beckoning the day.  Yet, a fireplace beckons warmth in the cool of evening. A warm glow of light radiates through the windows at evening time, and the front porch light is always on.  It is the Lord’s provision.  It is my Father’s house.

We are in a season where interest rates for homes are at an all-time low.

Many people have been laid-off and jobs are scarce, with a higher than average number of applicants.  Medical insurance premiums and copays are higher.  Some have had to walk away from their homes, and some are living with relatives.  There are a few that do not have a home.  The immediate view of the current economy around the globe right now is bleak.  The Church is not immune!

Yet, there is hope.   We do not live in the economy that we see in our present vision, we live in God’s economy.  It is a season where we pray, we seek the Lord to find out where we put out our nets, and how many jars we fill with oil.  The answers may not come right away, but they will.  When there is a need, there is the possibility for multiplication!

There is a reason Jesus preached to the poor.

The poor have little, but must put their faith in God.  They cannot simply trust in their bank accounts and assets.  They cannot simply cash in a mutual fund to cover their debts.  They had to put their trust in the One who provides all.  They must give where the Lord leads, so that they can multiply what they have!

Somehow, when we have physical and emotional needs, we are more pliable before the Lord.  Yet, if we do not have needs, we are challenged to give to those in need.  It reminds us of where we could be…

How can you leave the porch light on?

There are many people crying out to the Church for help with basic needs.  It is the state of our national and world economy.  It is the result of all the cumulative choices we have made as individuals in life.  It is the world we live in!

So, what we can we do?  Can we share what we have with those within our sphere of orbit?  Do they have a physical need?  Can we use what we have to share with them?  Can we pray for them?  Can we listen or be a friend?  Can we start a nonprofit or a foundation?  The Lord has given each of us gifts in the Body of Christ.  He has called each and everyone of  His people to serve.  He has called us to love our neighbor.

The needs go across cultures, denominations and countries.  How can we bridge that with the power of the Holy Spirit?

In my Father’s house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  John 14:2

The Holy Spirit Brings Our Neighbors

This is my son’s sign for the cardinals (Yes, too you).  He began making a nest for them…in the chair of his swing.  Never mind that cardinals do not build mud nests.  Or, further, that they use dog hair and grass, or even let humans build the nest for them…His plan is to make the nest larger each day.  He appears to believe that it is his duty to not only feed the birds, but to make them feel at  home in the tree in his backyard.

Then, we encountered the same issue at the local garden center.  Her name is Sheba, and she is a very large Great Dane.  My son looks for her every time we visit, and she appreciates the attention while he dotes on her.  Yesterday in the midst of one of these loooove sessions, someone made the small statement that Sheba would like it if he gave her a dog biscuit.  Boy, he latched on to that like peas and carrots.

Unbeknownst to me, my son decides that we have to feed Sheba dog biscuits, and he would not leave until he did.  Once I found out what happened, I asked the owner if she could help me, and she gave me dog biscuits so that he could we could feed Sheba.  We were able to leave in peace, because she helped her neighbor…

That song Love Your Neighbor keeps ringing in my head.

You know, that Veggie Tales song sung by Larry the Cucumber, which speaks volumes to the Church.  Although my son’s idea of loving his neighbor typically includes food, because of his genetic syndrome; the truth of the matter is that we should all follow his example in some way.

There are many in need right now, because of the economic crisis our country has been enduring.  People are in need of jobs, food, shelter, and more.  They have to put up with abuse they would normally not tolerate.  It is a dark season in some ways, yet, a calling to use our gifting in the Holy Spirit.

To help our neighbors, we pray first, and then we can better see how the Lord wants us to help provide physical or emotional needs.  The Lord does not just call us to walk away when he speaks to our hearts about certain individuals who cross our path.  The Christian walk of love is not for the faint of heart.

Some of these families are the Special Needs Church.

We have a rise in the number of diagnosed special needs children who darken the doors of the church.  We all know the amount of time and money it takes to care for a special needs child.  They are the vulnerable part of the Body of Christ, yet often the most shut out.  Too many church programs avoid serving special needs children, and the people who care for them.

Although there are many churches that have been working to serve our population, unfortunately, we are costly and a small part of the church.  In times like this, they are the first to lose funding.  Meanwhile, we as parents, find ourselves on the outside of a physical church door.  We seek out new avenues to fellowship with the Body of Christ. Here are some of the ways that you can find fellowship with the Body of Christ and your special needs child!

Reach out in the Holy Spirit!  

1) Participate in Christian social activities that will allow and include your child.

2) Remember that the Body of Christ is fluid, and is not bound by four walls.  Pass out personal cards to those Christians whom you meet.  One time we passed out bandaids that said Jesus Heals!

3) Look to larger churches for groups that work with or care for special needs children or adults.

4) Be open to letting the Holy Spirit connect you with other special needs parents.  You will be surprised where and when you meet them!

5) Share your testimony with other people, special or not.  It particularly surprises the typical church that you are doing all that you do.

6) Reach out to those in need, even if you think that you cannot do anything for them.  A word of encouragement and prayer can go a long way.

7) Continue to practice kindness to those who persecute us simply for having a special needs child, and what that entails.

8) Do a Google search for online churches; the numbers are growing, and some even offer online chats.  You can be choosy about their mission.

9) Many of us do this already, but connect with Christian social media groups and individuals.  Share scripture, and exchange in conversation.

10) Make phone calls during your child’s quiet times, or a free moment, even planning get-togethers with other families, or even a Bible Study.

You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.  For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.  James 2:8-10