Forty Days: Finding Refuge in the Ark from the Storms of Disability

By David W. Anderson

When a family includes a special-needs child or adult, one thing is often in short supply hope. The burden of daily and demanding routines can settle like a damp, depressing fog over a family, causing parents and children to forget that hope is even possible. These weary families are desperate for help, and its why I am so excited about my friend David Andersons new book, Forty Days: Finding Refuge in the Ark from the Storms of Disability. In this uplifting daily devotional, families affected by disability will discover a wellspring of spiritual refreshment, as well as a few practical tips to inspire and encourage. Every cul-de-sac in America has a household that needs this book; I highly recommend that you share it with the special-needs families you know!

Joni Eareckson Tada, Joni and Friends International Disability Center

When a family includes a special-needs child or adult, one thing is often in short supply hope. The burden of daily and demanding routines can settle like a damp, depressing fog over a family, causing parents and children to forget that hope is even possible. These weary families are desperate for help, and its why I am so excited about my friend David Andersons new book, Forty Days: Finding Refuge in the Ark from the Storms of Disability. In this uplifting daily devotional, families affected by disability will discover a wellspring of spiritual refreshment, as well as a few practical tips to inspire and encourage. Every cul-de-sac in America has a household that needs this book; I highly recommend that you share it with the special-needs families you know!

Joni Eareckson Tada, Joni and Friends International Disability Center

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Apr 25, 2018
• ISBN: 9781973624875

David W. Anderson

David W. Anderson holds a Bachelor of Arts in Bible from Gordon College, a master’s in education in special education from Temple University, a Doctor of Education in special education/early childhood education from the University of North Dakota, a certificate in theological studies from Bethel Seminary, and a Doctor of Biblical Studies and a Doctor of Practical Theology from Master’s International University of Divinity. For more than fifty years, he has been involved in special education/disability studies. He is the founder and president of Crossing Bridges, Inc., a nonprofit ministry. He lives in Woodinville, Washington, with his wife of fifty-seven years. They have three grown daughters and eight grandchildren.

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Copyright © 2018 David W Anderson.

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This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

ISBN: 978-1-9736-2488-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-2487-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018904123

ESV: Scripture quotations, unless otherwise specified, are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

MSG: Scripture quotations marked MSG are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

NIV: Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

The cover illustration is original art work done by Ukrainian artist, Anastasia Taran (anastasiataran.jimbo.com). Used by permission of the artist.

Crossing Bridges, Inc., is an independent, non-governmental, inter-denominational, and nonprofit organization established in 2005 with a mission is to bring light and hope to people with disabilities and their families, around the world. Crossing Bridges partners with individuals, families, churches, schools, and other organizations to promote awareness of, and responsiveness to, the needs and abilities of persons facing disabling conditions. We seek to encourage and empower persons dealing with disability — and those who serve them — to bring about changed lives and changed societies. Our goal is to be a catalyst for reconciliation, social justice, and church outreach.

WestBow Press rev. date: 4/24/2018

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

Preface

Day 1     Time for Dancing

Day 2     Looking for Answers: a Good and Perfect Gift?

Day 3     Despair, or Hope in the Lord

Day 4     You Are Not Alone

Day 5     Deceiving Appearances: Beauty of the Disabled

Day 6     Who Sinned, This Man or His Parents?

Day 7     Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

Day 8     Who Is Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?

Day 9     The Heart of a Gifted Leader

Day 10   Am I Up to the Task? Seeing Yourself As God Does

Day 11   To Rebel or to Trust? Overcoming Through Disability

Day 12   Do We See Possibilities or Disabilities? Attitudes Matter!

Day 13   Peaceful Parenting in a Stormy Life

Day 14   The Measure of a Man or Woman: Valuing Weakness

Day 15   Where Is Our God? Psalm 115 Gives the Answer

Day 16   By the Grace of God I Am What I Am

Day 17   What About My Child? Can Someone With a Severe Disability Be Saved?

Day 18   What About My Child? Can a Child With a Disability Serve God?

Day 19   What About My Child? Worshiping in Spirit and Truth

Day 20   What About My Child? Can God Use a Child With a Disability to Build His Church?

Day 21   Great Expectations: What God Can Teach Me Through My Child

Day 22   What We Will Be Has Not Yet Appeared: Living Between Two Worlds

Day 23   Can Joy Be Found in the Midst of Disability?

Day 24   Can You See Jesus? Can You Be Jesus?

Day 25   Finding and Giving Comfort

Day 26   God Is Your Abba

Day 27   Unfailing Hope

Day 28   Happiness or Holiness: Which Is Preferred?

Day 29   Weeping to Joy, Mourning to Dancing

Day 30   Coping With Daily Demands of Disability

Day 31   Slow Down and Appreciate the Moment

Day 32   Sorrowful or Cheerful Heart? Trusting in God’s Future Grace

Day 33   God’s Vision for the Disabled

Day 34   Be Still, and Know

Day 35   The Blessing of Friendship

Day 36   No Ordinary Child

Day 37   Sabbath Rest

Day 38   All Things Work Together for Good

Day 39   Inseparable Love of God

Day 40   God’s Abundant Goodness

Concluding Thoughts

Suggestions for Further Reading

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Other than God, the person who must be acknowledged is my wife, Florence, who has been my life- and ministry-companion for more than 53 years. She also served as critic and proofreader for this devotional book. Thanks also to Anastasia Taran for sharing her artistic talent by creating the illustration for the cover of the book.

The individuals referred to in these devotionals are people with whom I have ministered over the years. Some names have been changed to accommodate anonymity. I am grateful to God for brining me into contact with these people who have shared their lives and experience with me over the years. In many ways they are among my greatest teachers.

Most of all, I want to acknowledge God for his grace expressed to me in various ways each day. The journey he has taken me on as a husband, father, special education teacher, university professor, adult Bible fellowship leader, missionary-teacher, and author has been fascinating and has helped me more fully grasp who he is and who I am as his child and servant.

PREFACE

Just over 50 years ago, God brought me into the field of disability studies and special education, but not through personal connection with someone who had a disability. Shortly after graduating from college with a major in Bible, God planted in my mind the idea of becoming a teacher. I had begun taking evening courses at a local university while continuing to work in a soils lab. A Christian acquaintance from the business office of the company for which I worked, perhaps aware that I was thinking about becoming a teacher, was led by God to share a copy of a magazine with me, in which there was an article about brain chemistry and Down syndrome. I remember little of that article, but I clearly recall the accompanying photograph of a beautiful six-year-old girl with Down syndrome. God used that photograph to arouse in me an interest in special education. Since that beginning, God has given me the privilege of teaching children with various disabilities, training others to become special education teachers, and working with pastors and seminaries to promote the importance of active ministry to and with individuals and families affected by disability.

The ensuing relationships with individuals and families who deal with disabilities, particularly in Africa and Eastern Europe, has given me insight into the struggles that they experience — struggles which may be only slightly easier in the U.S. because of social and educational policies. These devotionals are the outcome of my relationships with these various individuals and families. The concerns addressed in these devotional studies are common to all families that deal with disabilities. It is my prayer that these devotional studies will draw these families and individuals into a deeper relationship with God.

The topics addressed in these devotionals, however, are not just important for families directly impacted by disability, partly because if we live long enough there is a good possibility that we might find ourselves disabled in some way, if only because of age. But most churches and seminaries fail to consider disability as an area of spiritual need. These devotional thoughts will be helpful to pastors, missionaries, and Christian education workers who need to understand or discover ways by which to minister to people affected by disability. The impact of disability is felt by the entire family, requiring the church to be sensitive to the whole family’s needs.

DAY 1

TIME FOR DANCING

The joy of our hearts has ceased; our dancing has been turned to mourning. (Lamentations 5:15)

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness. (Psalm 30:11)

Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre! (Psalm 149:3)

Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old shall be merry. I will turn their mourning into joy; I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow. (Jeremiah 31:13)

T he illustration on the cover of this book was drawn by Anastasia, a young artist living in Ukraine. Anastasia’s artistic gift is obvious to all who see her creations. But what they do not see from her