NSMinistries
July 31st 2005, 05:30 PM
Walking in the Natural Light of the Holy Spirit (http://www.naturalspiritministries.com/nsm/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=564&Itemid=2)
I have to admit I placed the email sent me with this article in my look at tomorrow file. I was busy and wanted to catch up on some of my other emails. I have to tell you what a mistake I made putting that off. I missed a blessing from a great friend. Please take the time to read through this article and say a prayer of thanks we have friends like Gary in our lives. -R. Adam Quigley *******************************************************************************************
I read some time ago, “It doesn’t take much of a person to be a Disciple of Jesus but it takes all of him.” At first I found it questionable after all we are all miracles of God and it never really impacted me until I discovered myself physically limited. Because of two artificial hips I am physically limited in running, jumping, walking long distances, dancing (if I could), and other things that require me to be on my feet for long periods. Had I authored the statement under my presentation situation I would write, “A person can be a Disciple of Jesus in spite of physical limitations.”
For those of us who do have physical limitations giving 100% to the Lord sometimes falls short so we must depend upon the Holy Spirit to take us our level of service to where it needs to be. The following article written by Natural Spirit Ministries Founder R. Adam Quigley serves as an example of what I mean.
Everyone has something to hide
Written by R. Adam Quigley
Friday, 22 July 2005
Frantically looking for my glasses the other morning after dropping my contact has opened my eyes as one would say. You might wonder why that would set my heart to racing faster than riding a roller coaster. Well to let you know I am going blind slowly. True my wife was just in the other room sleeping and I could have just asked her to help me out, but I am bound and determine to learn to do these things by myself. Not to say too much about why I am going blind, I will say I have lost the function of one eye and the other without the correction of glasses or contacts I am legally blind.
Because I am not blind it is impossible for me to completely understand Adam’s situation in finding his contact when he needed to see in order to do so. However, I can relate to it a couple of weeks ago I was working in the front yard and had been my knees. Because I have little strength in my legs it is nearly impossible for me to stand from the crouching position. My first inclination was to call to my grandson who was a few feet away but I told myself I didn’t need any help. Several minutes later I asked Ethan to help me up which he did.
Those of us with physical limitations have a common bond, our limitations, linked to each other through the invasion of the Holy Spirit. Through our limitations when can feel for each other, through our limitations and the Holy Spirit we can empower each other.
I have had to learn how to do many things over again just like they are the first time doing them. It is quite frustrating. I wonder how many emotions one can actually have in one day. Anger, depression, pity, and determination. Imagine having a headache that just won’t go away and add a few bumps and bruises from running into things. Having no depth perception and spilling your drink onto the counter just because you misjudged how close the mouth of the milk jug is to the top of the glass. Standing at the top of a flight of stairs and not knowing exactly how many there are or how wide they might be so taking the first few steps wondering if you might over shoot them and have to grab for the hand rail with both hands just to make sure ya don’t take that tumble for the next bruise. Oh and my favorite is turning the corner at work and running straight into someone who grumbles really loudly about watching where you are going. “Ya sorry about that a little blind here…”
One of the primary responsibilities of the Holy Spirit is to take the weaknesses of our lives and transform them into “compassion contact points” there is a great deal of mental pain and anguish accompanying the transformation process as illustrated by Adam in the above paragraph. But the end result is Adam because of his struggles with blindness will better understand and help those who with 20-20 vision are spiritually blind and they stumble and tumble headlong into life.
Reading Adam’s experience under the insightful eye of the Holy Spirit (guiding us into the truth) we can begin to comprehend what a person with newly discovered physical limitations actually goes through.
It is amazing how much it can cut to your very soul after hearing a coworker or friend ask you to do something and then have them try to take it back saying oh I didn’t realize you couldn’t do that. Its not that they are trying to hurt your feelings or anything, far from it.
Sometimes our limitations are for the benefit of others. Jesus didn’t die for himself he died for our benefit. When someone realizes physical limitations in another person they are confronted a number of choices; one, they can reject them as “damaged” and ignore them; two, they can have compassion (not pity) on them and give assistance if needed; three, they can realize their own limitations; four, they can say, “Thank you, God I’m not like that poor soul.” I wonder when the day comes and we stand before God’s throne to be judged if he’ll say something like this, “You remember my son Adam Quigley who was blind and you demeaned him because of his blindness? Whatsoever you did to him you did it to me as well.”
You have to work hard everyday trying to be like everyone else so they don’t comprehend there is anything wrong in the first place. A good friend gave me that advice early into my journey to that dark side as I call it. Even though it might be a path to no more light in the world around me I really have to thank God for somehow allowing me to keep a sense of humor about it.
It is amazing to learn you really can’t get bored during this process. Prayer begins to take on a different meaning. At a time I when I thought my Bible studies were really taking a nose dive I got so mad at God for what was happening that I remember yelling at Him saying “Fine if you are going to allow this to happen to me Ya better tell how me how I’m gonna get it done…” and a few other choice words I’m still saying sorry for.
There is a lesson here for each of us it’s a lesson in pride. This may seem very strange to you but I thank God for my limitations. I remember early in my struggles of an elderly gentleman stood up in church one day and prayed that I be healed. My immediate reaction was, “Lord, don’t heal me I am growing spiritually at a phenomenal rate and I want it to continue.”
I have a friend named Robert who was born blind and one day he asked me why God didn’t make it so he could see, after all sight it a wonderful thing especially if you don’t have it. “Robert,” I said, “some people can see farther without eyesight then others with eyesight. Those who are blind can see into the heart not into the face.” Physical limitations when illuminated by the Natural Light of Holy Spirit become great blessings.
That night a friend called me said he needed to come over. Ya strange I thought. Yes we hang out and work together but he hates to drive at night and it would have been out of his way. He pulled up and came to the door carrying this TV looking thing. I was like ok he needs to have me look at it and see if I can fix what ever is wrong with it. (Kinda a hobby of mine “tinkering”). NO this was a gift from him to me. It was one of these CCTV machines that help magnify whatever is under it to help you read. By the way… Thanks Scot.
You remember a few lines ago reading, “Whatsoever you did to him you did it to me as well,” don’t you? I suspect Adam’s friend, Scot now has a “well done good and faithful servant” written in the Lambs Book of Life because he responded the whisperings of the Holy Spirit on Adams behalf.
We are all servants!
Those who do not walk the road of a servant are walking on a dead end road!
Blessing or curse loosing one’s sight tends to have a few bumps in the road. Next time you see me smile because I might be a little grumpy but I can tell you I’m smiling a little myself. NO matter how bad it gets just remember everyone has something they are trying to hide, and for once I don’t have to pretend I’m not seeing it.
Adam Q.
Adam, my friend the Holy Spirit says, “Well done good and faithful servant keep joyfully serving and serving until the day you enter the for all eternity the joy of the Lord.”
Those of us who are blessed with physical limitations and have first hand experience in placing faith in the Holy Spirit offer to those who do not have or have not discovered limitations give you words of encouragement from Jesus.
“In the world you have trouble and suffering, but take courage—I have conquered the world.” (John 16:33 NET Bible)
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be distressed or lacking in courage. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I am. I have told you now before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe. I will not speak with you much longer, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me, but I am doing just what the Father commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Get up, let us go from here.” (John 14:27 – 14:31 NET Bible)
If you see R. Adam Quigley legally blind trying to see something don’t feel for him instead feel for those who are spiritually blind and unable to detect the Natural Light of the Holy Spirit.
If you see me limping along in pain from legs that do not work like they used to don’t feel for me instead feel for those who limp along through life searching for Jesus Christ.
Grace and Peace,
Gary Piper
I have to admit I placed the email sent me with this article in my look at tomorrow file. I was busy and wanted to catch up on some of my other emails. I have to tell you what a mistake I made putting that off. I missed a blessing from a great friend. Please take the time to read through this article and say a prayer of thanks we have friends like Gary in our lives. -R. Adam Quigley *******************************************************************************************
I read some time ago, “It doesn’t take much of a person to be a Disciple of Jesus but it takes all of him.” At first I found it questionable after all we are all miracles of God and it never really impacted me until I discovered myself physically limited. Because of two artificial hips I am physically limited in running, jumping, walking long distances, dancing (if I could), and other things that require me to be on my feet for long periods. Had I authored the statement under my presentation situation I would write, “A person can be a Disciple of Jesus in spite of physical limitations.”
For those of us who do have physical limitations giving 100% to the Lord sometimes falls short so we must depend upon the Holy Spirit to take us our level of service to where it needs to be. The following article written by Natural Spirit Ministries Founder R. Adam Quigley serves as an example of what I mean.
Everyone has something to hide
Written by R. Adam Quigley
Friday, 22 July 2005
Frantically looking for my glasses the other morning after dropping my contact has opened my eyes as one would say. You might wonder why that would set my heart to racing faster than riding a roller coaster. Well to let you know I am going blind slowly. True my wife was just in the other room sleeping and I could have just asked her to help me out, but I am bound and determine to learn to do these things by myself. Not to say too much about why I am going blind, I will say I have lost the function of one eye and the other without the correction of glasses or contacts I am legally blind.
Because I am not blind it is impossible for me to completely understand Adam’s situation in finding his contact when he needed to see in order to do so. However, I can relate to it a couple of weeks ago I was working in the front yard and had been my knees. Because I have little strength in my legs it is nearly impossible for me to stand from the crouching position. My first inclination was to call to my grandson who was a few feet away but I told myself I didn’t need any help. Several minutes later I asked Ethan to help me up which he did.
Those of us with physical limitations have a common bond, our limitations, linked to each other through the invasion of the Holy Spirit. Through our limitations when can feel for each other, through our limitations and the Holy Spirit we can empower each other.
I have had to learn how to do many things over again just like they are the first time doing them. It is quite frustrating. I wonder how many emotions one can actually have in one day. Anger, depression, pity, and determination. Imagine having a headache that just won’t go away and add a few bumps and bruises from running into things. Having no depth perception and spilling your drink onto the counter just because you misjudged how close the mouth of the milk jug is to the top of the glass. Standing at the top of a flight of stairs and not knowing exactly how many there are or how wide they might be so taking the first few steps wondering if you might over shoot them and have to grab for the hand rail with both hands just to make sure ya don’t take that tumble for the next bruise. Oh and my favorite is turning the corner at work and running straight into someone who grumbles really loudly about watching where you are going. “Ya sorry about that a little blind here…”
One of the primary responsibilities of the Holy Spirit is to take the weaknesses of our lives and transform them into “compassion contact points” there is a great deal of mental pain and anguish accompanying the transformation process as illustrated by Adam in the above paragraph. But the end result is Adam because of his struggles with blindness will better understand and help those who with 20-20 vision are spiritually blind and they stumble and tumble headlong into life.
Reading Adam’s experience under the insightful eye of the Holy Spirit (guiding us into the truth) we can begin to comprehend what a person with newly discovered physical limitations actually goes through.
It is amazing how much it can cut to your very soul after hearing a coworker or friend ask you to do something and then have them try to take it back saying oh I didn’t realize you couldn’t do that. Its not that they are trying to hurt your feelings or anything, far from it.
Sometimes our limitations are for the benefit of others. Jesus didn’t die for himself he died for our benefit. When someone realizes physical limitations in another person they are confronted a number of choices; one, they can reject them as “damaged” and ignore them; two, they can have compassion (not pity) on them and give assistance if needed; three, they can realize their own limitations; four, they can say, “Thank you, God I’m not like that poor soul.” I wonder when the day comes and we stand before God’s throne to be judged if he’ll say something like this, “You remember my son Adam Quigley who was blind and you demeaned him because of his blindness? Whatsoever you did to him you did it to me as well.”
You have to work hard everyday trying to be like everyone else so they don’t comprehend there is anything wrong in the first place. A good friend gave me that advice early into my journey to that dark side as I call it. Even though it might be a path to no more light in the world around me I really have to thank God for somehow allowing me to keep a sense of humor about it.
It is amazing to learn you really can’t get bored during this process. Prayer begins to take on a different meaning. At a time I when I thought my Bible studies were really taking a nose dive I got so mad at God for what was happening that I remember yelling at Him saying “Fine if you are going to allow this to happen to me Ya better tell how me how I’m gonna get it done…” and a few other choice words I’m still saying sorry for.
There is a lesson here for each of us it’s a lesson in pride. This may seem very strange to you but I thank God for my limitations. I remember early in my struggles of an elderly gentleman stood up in church one day and prayed that I be healed. My immediate reaction was, “Lord, don’t heal me I am growing spiritually at a phenomenal rate and I want it to continue.”
I have a friend named Robert who was born blind and one day he asked me why God didn’t make it so he could see, after all sight it a wonderful thing especially if you don’t have it. “Robert,” I said, “some people can see farther without eyesight then others with eyesight. Those who are blind can see into the heart not into the face.” Physical limitations when illuminated by the Natural Light of Holy Spirit become great blessings.
That night a friend called me said he needed to come over. Ya strange I thought. Yes we hang out and work together but he hates to drive at night and it would have been out of his way. He pulled up and came to the door carrying this TV looking thing. I was like ok he needs to have me look at it and see if I can fix what ever is wrong with it. (Kinda a hobby of mine “tinkering”). NO this was a gift from him to me. It was one of these CCTV machines that help magnify whatever is under it to help you read. By the way… Thanks Scot.
You remember a few lines ago reading, “Whatsoever you did to him you did it to me as well,” don’t you? I suspect Adam’s friend, Scot now has a “well done good and faithful servant” written in the Lambs Book of Life because he responded the whisperings of the Holy Spirit on Adams behalf.
We are all servants!
Those who do not walk the road of a servant are walking on a dead end road!
Blessing or curse loosing one’s sight tends to have a few bumps in the road. Next time you see me smile because I might be a little grumpy but I can tell you I’m smiling a little myself. NO matter how bad it gets just remember everyone has something they are trying to hide, and for once I don’t have to pretend I’m not seeing it.
Adam Q.
Adam, my friend the Holy Spirit says, “Well done good and faithful servant keep joyfully serving and serving until the day you enter the for all eternity the joy of the Lord.”
Those of us who are blessed with physical limitations and have first hand experience in placing faith in the Holy Spirit offer to those who do not have or have not discovered limitations give you words of encouragement from Jesus.
“In the world you have trouble and suffering, but take courage—I have conquered the world.” (John 16:33 NET Bible)
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be distressed or lacking in courage. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I am. I have told you now before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe. I will not speak with you much longer, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me, but I am doing just what the Father commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Get up, let us go from here.” (John 14:27 – 14:31 NET Bible)
If you see R. Adam Quigley legally blind trying to see something don’t feel for him instead feel for those who are spiritually blind and unable to detect the Natural Light of the Holy Spirit.
If you see me limping along in pain from legs that do not work like they used to don’t feel for me instead feel for those who limp along through life searching for Jesus Christ.
Grace and Peace,
Gary Piper