Kit Bag

I promised a series of posts about suicide in Suicide Ain’t Painless and I will deliver.  The next post will identify the most common reasons people suicide in clinical terms, as well as metacognitive dialogue from the point-of-view of suicidal ideation.

However, I also promised nothing would turn me away from the Face of Love.

Nothing shields my heart more nor gives me better access to His Love than His Word.

My own pace and need for Grace compels me to pack a Book Bag with totems to connect me to the Word over my life.

You remember those, right? When we were kids at school, and could build a Kit Bag with artifacts from a studied book along with an annotated rationale in lieu of a formal book report?

Consider packing one of your own:

Kit Bag:  The Living Word

Crayon: It is a challenge to jump into gritty, worldly content with elementary Faith skills.

And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven, (Matthew 18:3).

Band-Aid: The process of discovery may cause pain, but like sore muscles after exercise, it is from development and good use.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast, (Psalm 139-10).

Penny: Dogma struggles aside; we are all vulnerable to the pulls of a Head versus a Tail tug-of-war.

I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. ³But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ, (2 Corinthians 11:2-3).

Stone: I recognize and celebrate with relief your choice not to throw any.

So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her, (John 8:7).

Hug: I relish space and fellowship and white chocolate piping:  “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them,” (Mathew 18:20).

Deposit Slip: IMPARTATION! Invest hope: love one another.

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. ²⁵Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching, (Hebrews 10:24-25).

Exclamation Point  Sticker: “He does not need to remember.  We are forgiven but do not forget because we are wise never to lose sight of where we’ve been and how God has rescued us,” (Moore, 109).

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen, (2 Peter 3).

Lollipop: Good Ship Lollipop! Beloved Son! “That was your name all along!  Not Good or Proud.  Son!  Farewell Had,” (Moore, 147).

Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light, (Micah 7:8).

Puzzle Piece: “He only has eyes for you.  Forget your speeches.  He wants to hug you.  He wants to kiss you.  Your healing will come in your Abba’s tight and passionate embrace.  Let him hold you so close that you can hear His heart pounding from having run to you,” (Moore, 146).

So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him, (Luke 15:20).

Before my children leave home for an over night, jammie-jam adventure, they pack their kit bags.  They gather what they need to feel safe and connected to home. My girls always take their lovies so they can snuggle them tighter where they are and sleep well even in the dark of a strange home.

Packing a Kit Bag of the Word is necessary for me to embark upon this journey with you.

The Word is a Lighthouse.  It points to home and safety so we can sleep well.

And it’s not a cry that you hear at night
It’s not somebody who’s seen in the light
It’s a cold and it’s a broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah!