Is Your House on Fire? My thoughts on Burning House by Cam

Is Your House on Fire?

"I've come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already ablaze!

Luke 12:49 International Standard Version

"Burning House" is a song with a haunting melody and poignant lyrics that has gotten stuck in my head. I researched it, played it a lot, and found how the lyrics came. It was through a dream, thoughts a woman was thinking before she went to sleep that night, about how to make a relationship right. The song became an apology Cam was making to her former boyfriend.

"I had a dream about a burning house

You were stuck inside

I couldn't get you out

I lay beside you and pulled you close

And the two of us went up in smoke"

I feel that many families can relate to some of the lyrics when they are in a family crisis and are trying to find their way out of it. We may feel like we are in a burning house, suffocating, trying to get out, trying to breathe, and trying to save our loved ones. Sometimes we lose ourselves in the battle to save someone else. Can I get a witness out there to that? Amy Tan once said, “I did not lose myself all at once. I rubbed out my face over the years washing away my pain, the same way carvings on stone are worn down by water.” Sounds like she knows what it means to be dreaming of a burning house.

Are you dealing with someone's mental illness, drug addiction, or chronic pain issues right now? If you're one of the few who isn't, thank the good Lord for His mercy. And if you are dealing with those issues, thank Him for His mercy also because we know that He is the one who can "take what's lost and broke, and make it right." Most mornings I cry out to Jesus and say, "Show me what mercy looks like for my family today."

Some days, mercy is that we make it through another day without someone dying or being arrested. Some days an arrest might be the mercy He sends to save a loved one from themselves. Some days that mercy is an opening for a bed in a rehab or hospital. Some days, mercy shows itself through a friend calling, coming by, or sharing a meal.

Some days the joy of just watching a little child whose world has fallen apart through no fault of her own, dance wildly, boldly and without care is enough mercy to get me through the day.

Many of you are in the battle of your lives trying to help someone who seems hell bent on destruction through their lifestyle or choices.

"I've been sleepwalking

Been wondering all night

Trying to take what's lost and broke

And make it right

I've been sleepwalking

Too close to the fire

But it's the only place that I can hold you tight

In this burning house."

I think the last part of the lyrics the part about "it's the only place that I can hold you tight, in this burning house" strikes the core of my heart because when you come right down to it, the thing we as mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers and friends want to do is hold them tight from the pain of life and bad choices. Sometimes it's only in our dreams that we can do that, hold them tight, hold on to the memories, and hold on to new dreams for our loved ones. My house feels like it is on fire lately, does yours?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mNdRL3S9eo

Credit given to the songwriters:

SAMUEL TYLER JOHNSON, JEFFREY BHASKER, CAM OCHS

From The Dance to The Legacy, it doesn't get better than this!

 

I have always said that Dan Walsh really knows how to end a book and in this case a series of books. He and Gary Smalley still make me wish that they would continue this series as the characters are so compelling. I was gripped and became a fan from the very first book and actually feel that The Legacy is a book that I can give to the younger generation as a stand-alone book; a book most college age people can really relate to. Using examples of social media that is so popular among the young was something new for this series but it fit real well.

I really had no idea where they would go with a book whose main character was Doug as he seemed to be a minor character in the previous books.  I was very satisfied with exploring his journey and also Christina's. The side stories and the drama was all very emotional and kept me reading when I didn't even have time to read. But that is always the case with the books in this series.

From the back cover:
One young man is about to discover the true cost of independence!"For years, Doug Anderson has been drifting slowly but steadily away from both his family and his faith. His parents have been trying to reach him before he falls too far."

This scenario is happening to families every day and many parents are finding support groups and their small group studies at church as a way to cope.

I would've liked for Uncle Henry's character to be in the book more, as he reminds me of a wonderful dad, the kind I wish I had growing up. His advice to the family to basically "let go and let God," isn't always easy to do but wins in the end. Uncle Henry in my mind is Gary Smalley and as always Dan's interview at the end of the book with Gary gives a lot of wisdom. I've always bought some of Gary's nonfiction books as companions to this series and have really learned a lot.

I was given a copy of this novel by Dan Walsh and also a complimentary copy of the book through Revell as I am on their book review team. In return I was delighted to give an honest review of the book.

I give The Legacy five stars and hope that this isn't the end of a beautiful partnership between two gifted and compelling writers.

Help, I Need Somebody

Do you know someone who is constantly complaining that no one helps them? Perhaps addictions have taken over their life or mental disorders plague them and they seem to have lost the motivation to do anything for themselves.

I think most of us remember the old song by the Beatles, “Help!”

The lyrics could describe someone in that position:
Help me if you can, I'm feeling down
And I do appreciate you being 'round
Help me get my feet back on the ground
Won't you please, please help me

And now my life has changed in oh so many ways

My independence seems to vanish in the haze
But every now and then I feel so insecure

 I know that I just need you like I've never done before

Help me if you can, I'm feeling down
And I do appreciate you being 'round
Help me get my feet back on the ground
Won't you please, please help me?*

These lyrics remind me of a Bible story. 

 Later on there was a Jewish festival (feast) for which Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

 Now there is in Jerusalem a pool near the Sheep Gate. This pool in the Hebrew is called Bethesda, having five porches (alcoves, colonnades, doorways).

 In these lay a great number of sick folk—some blind, some crippled, and some paralyzed (shriveled up)—^[a]waiting for the bubbling up of the water.

For an angel of the Lord went down at appointed seasons into the pool and moved and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was cured of whatever disease with which he was afflicted.

There was a certain man there who had suffered with a deep-seated and lingering disorder for thirty-eight years.

 When Jesus noticed him lying there [helpless], knowing that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, Do you want to become well? [Are you really in earnest about getting well?]

The invalid answered, Sir, I have nobody when the water is moving to put me into the pool; but while I am trying to come [into it] myself, somebody else steps down ahead of me.

 Jesus said to him, Get up! Pick up your bed (sleeping pad) and walk!

 Instantly the man became well and recovered his strength and picked up his bed and walked. John 5:1-9 Amplified Bible (AMP)

Sometimes a broken mirror gives a fractured reflection just as a broken heart reflects a distorted image. This man had laid there for 38 years gazing into a distorted image reflected from the pool, an image that confirmed to him that he had no power for living. He needed help! Gazing into that pool heightened the deep-seated thoughts of helplessness within him. The next thing you knew he was battling thoughts of anger and frustration that no one would help him and people were getting in his way.

The first thing I note about these verses is, "No one will help me." On the heels of that is "Someone gets in my way." It is nearly impossible to help someone who is still in the victim mode of behavior. I notice that Jesus didn't let the man get away with excuses, He said, "Get up! Pick up your bed and walk!" He didn't say "Let me help you up, let me do it for you," He put responsibility upon the person that they be a part of the recovery process. Another translation reads, "Rise up!"

The work of the Holy Spirit even before the person is encouraged on a recovery walk can be a powerful thing. Some people may need a miracle and that is where prayer and intercession come in. Blanket that person who you know needs healing in unrelenting, incessant, and non-stop prayer!

This scripture goes along with another of my favorite stories where Peter heals a lame beggar:

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon.  Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts.  When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!”  So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Acts 3:1-6  (NIV)

Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 

The man gave Peter his attention, expecting something from him, perhaps a donation to keep him going and alive one more day. But Peter had the power of the Holy Spirit and knew temporarily "fixing" him or his momentary situation was not what he needed. The man needed healing to walk in wholeness and have purpose for his life. It may have seemed that he got a "quick fix" but really the daily gift of meeting the man's needs instead of looking deeply at the heart of the man and the matter was really hindering him.  We need to remember we can help, but we can’t do the work of recovery for someone else.

“Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk,” is one of my favorite verses and so often I feel like saying it to people. I don't always have money to help everyone, I can't always find the right resources for everyone even those in my family, but I can pray that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, they can walk. Walk how, you say?

Walk in wholeness of spirit.

Walk with clarity of mind.

Walk with resources that are so readily available when pursued.

Walk with Jesus

Walk with the Holy Spirit's power.

And walk forward in prayer, not looking continually at the past. Just take that next best step even if it is a baby step, walk!

"Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.  He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.  When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him." Acts 3:7-10 (NIV)

We know that we are powerless to change another but sometimes we may need to take them by the hand until their ankles become strong. Strengthened, then they will know who gave the healing and leap about praising His name. Walk, I say in the power of the Holy Spirit. Today, just walk forward!

Instead of “Help me if you can, I'm feeling down
And I do appreciate you being 'round
Help me get my feet back on the ground
Won't you please, please help me?”

Perhaps the song lyrics might be changed to:

“You helped me,

I no longer feel down

I appreciate that you were around,

When I fell on bended knee,

My help was found.”

Support groups show us how to let go and let God do the work that we can’t do. Eventually the person who brought you to this place of need, will be glad that you respected them enough to back off and let them do the work of recovery themselves. If they aren’t pursuing it, they may not be ready. It might just be a part of their journey. Jesus can still take their mess and turn it into a message. They may say, “Thanks for helping put the ball right where it belonged; in my court. You helped me to help myself.”

“You helped me,

I no longer feel down

I appreciate that you were around,

When I fell on bended knee,

My help was found.”

 Donna Collins Tinsley copyright 2014

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rW2OBT-5qfc

I thought of this song while writing this; it is talking about the Breath of Heaven, which we need daily.

*Help, by the Beatles:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Q20QuQaMYI

We Forgot How To Be Family

We Forgot How To Be Family

I’ve had this title in my mind for some time now and have wanted to write an article but I haven’t been able to get my thoughts together. For now, this is all I could put on paper, as sometimes the sadness pertaining to the title is overwhelming. Yes, there are a lot of extenuating circumstances that led us to this place and every family member has their own story. I can only work on mine.

Sometimes we all wish we could have that picture perfect family. But along the way of life something tragic happened to mine.

We Forgot How To Be Family

 So shall they fear

The name of the LORD from the west,

And His glory from the rising of the sun;

When the enemy comes in like a flood,

The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him. Isaiah 59:19 (NKJV)

We forgot how to be family.

Lord, we need help,

We forgot how to look

At each other with love,

Lord, we need help.

The many years, the tears

The toil, the pain,

Made us feel

That we could never regain

Never be true family.

Lord we need help!

It seemed so simple

Way back when

We were innocent

We had dreams but then…

We had no real role models

For how to do it

Only Jesus

To help us through it,

How can we forget

To live the Golden Rule?

How could we allow the enemy's tools

To prevail?

Like a flood He came in

Through the anxieties

Of the world,

Like a flood he came in

A tornado of pain swirled.

But the Spirit of the Lord

Will set a standard,

An escape

No hooded hero

With a cape.

But a God/man,

Christ Jesus, our Lord.

We forgot how to be family

Lord, help us remember

Help us now, I pray.

Donna Collins Tinsley

There once was a little girl who believed in Fairy Tales. She not only believed in them she loved them so much. Her book by Hans Christian Anderson both thrilled her and scared her. But she read on. She laughed, she cried, she dreamed and danced pretending to be some of those characters.