The Works of God

We have been blessed at Bethlehem with leadership who wants the church to know about and get involved with disability in a variety of ways.  Last month, of course, every family received a copy of Just the Way I Am.  This month I was delighted to learn that the feature article for the Family Discipleship newsletter was written by Brenda Fischer, our disability ministry coordinator.

July’s Feature Article is by Brenda Fischer, Coordinator for Disability Ministry.

The Gift of a Suffering Believer’s Wisdom

I’m sitting here with a big stack of books in front of me overwhelmed with gratefulness to God for his work in the lives of those who have written these books or have lived the stories in these books.  Most have been through deep waters of suffering and come out on the other side with an understanding and wisdom richer and more valuable than much gold.  James uses the phrase “the meekness of wisdom” (James 3:13b).  The word meekness means humbly patient and long-suffering.  I would use these words to describe the life stories in this collection of books making up the New Disability Section of our Bethlehem libraries.

Here are a few examples:

*The precious book Bright Valley of Love by Edna Hong shares the story of Gunther, an abused and disabled boy living in Nazi Germany.  Society scorned the disabled and yet meek and compassionate followers of Christ saw through his broken body and nurtured Gunther’s soul.  This is a book you will never forget.

*Joni Eareckson Tada wrote the book, A Lifetime of Wisdom: Embracing the Way God Heals You. To read this book is to drink of the richness of the wisdom God freely gives to those who seek him in their suffering.  It is a tear jerking, faith-filled testimony.

*Finding Your Child’s Way on the Autism Spectrum by Dr. Laura Hendrickson is more than information, it is an encouragement to families who face the diagnosis of autism and a real help in seeing God’s hand in the process.

*Same Lake Different Boat-Coming Alongside People Touched by Disability by Stephanie O. Hubach is one of the best books I have read about ministering to people with disabilities.  Stephanie shares her faith and her life experience as a mom with a child with Down syndrome.  The Disability Ministry volunteers were given this book last year and the feedback was very positive.

*Our own Krista Horning’s book Just the Way I Am uses delightful pictures of some of the Bethlehem children with disabilities, scripture and simple truth-filled statements to highlight the certainty that God is our great designer.  Her story at the end of the book is a testimony of God’s good work in using hard things to bring growth in wisdom and directing us to Jesus. What an amazing way to share God’s sovereign goodness with children (and adults).

*List and brief review of all the books in the Disability Section of the Bethlehem Libraries.

The Bible says that the parts of the body that are weaker are indispensable (1 Cor 12:22).  One small piece of this indispensability is the wisdom we are able to glean and learn from those whose lives has been hard and yet they have trusted Jesus and been richly blessed with insight.  To read these books and share in the growth of another’s testimony is a great gift.  Your faith will be strengthened by those who have walked through some very difficult times.

In addition to faith-inspiring books, the new Disability section of the library includes books on teaching people with disabilities, care-giving, encouragement for parents and befriending those with disabilities. May we as a church reach out to those who are weaker and ask God for the blessing of the meekness of wisdom.