Behind the headlines

Chronic Mental Illness and Divine Healing: A Pastor’s Personal Journey

By Tim Reside

Sunday, August 13, 2017, Tim Reside had the opportunity to share a healing message from the pulpit of Rev. Larry Morris at “Living Word Nazarene Church” in Houston, Texas.

Pastor Morris shared a heart-felt introduction followed by Tim’s daughter, Rachelle “Reside” Carrillo, singing just before his message. His wife, Nancy, beautifully prays for the congregation at the end. The message was very well received and was followed up by meaningful ministry in the lobby at the Bright Tomorrows display table. It was an opportunity to listen, weep, pray and give hurting people help and hope.

Please watch the video of that service here. The message notes are printed beneath the video segment.

NOTES:

Chronic Mental Illness and Divine Healing: A Pastor’s Personal Journey – Tim Reside

The following is the message outline as presented to the Living Word Nazarene Church in Houston, Texas on August 13, 2017.

INTRODUCTION: As a Christian, I do believe in Divine Healing and the possibility of healing cures, nevertheless, my brain-based bipolar disorder and mental health challenges have remained chronic over most of my lifetime. Through the years of my personal journey, I have come to conclude that not all healings are cures nor are all cures healings. I do believe, however, that all healings are healings. Healing is about becoming whole. Wholeness is our present celebrated position in Christ but not fully our present possession. We all remain broken in some way. Healings are the grace-gifts of God in this life that promote rejuvenation, resiliency, recovery, and restoration. Healing is always about process and progress.

TESTS / LESSONS: In school, we’re taught lessons and then given tests. In life, we’re first confronted with tests that are followed by opportunities for learning lessons. (See: Psalm 119:71; Hebrews 5:8)

HEALING LESSON ONE: “Those who have a WHY-TO-LIVE can bear with almost any how-to-live.” (See: Mark 15:34; Psalm 22:1)

A quote adaptation from: Viktor E. Frankl, “Man’s Search for Meaning”

HEALING LESSON TWO: Personal sins are not necessarily immediate CAUSE-TO-EFFECT explanations for personal pain and suffering! (See: John 9:1-3)

HEALING LESSON THREE: God wills GRACE not SHAME: We can shed shame by converting humiliation to humility. (See: Hebrews 12:1-4; James 4:5-10; 1 Peter 5:5-8)

HEALING LESSON FOUR: Vulnerability & transparency plus SURRENDER & ACCEPTANCE (not capitulation) can be our Super Powers & Secret Weapons. (See: 2 Corinthians 12:8-10)

HEALING LESSON FIVE: The best healing gift we can give another is LISTENING TO PRESENCE & PEACE. (See: John 14:27)

TIM RESIDE is the President of Bright Tomorrows. Tim has completed 108 credit hours of study in Practical Theology, inclusive of 36 hours at the doctoral level, and holds an MA in Practical Theology. Tim has been successfully coping with and overcoming bipolar illness since 1979.