​Greetings, Two Sparrows Ministry begins again.

This text will explain the topic of this blog:
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Act 5:38  And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: 
Act 5:39  But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. 

The battles have been many. But, my God is still on the throne, and has seen me through once again, and won victory in the physical battles with pneumonia, and shown me His will about this site. It will go on, changes may take place and new material used, but the main focus will be the same that it was from the beginning-Jesus Christ and Him crucified, risen again, and coming again; and that He alone is the healer and creator of all this universe; with the emphasis being ministering to the elderly, disabled, shut-ins, and anyone else with an interest in the things of God.

If your called by God to teach the bible, and really teach it as it's written,  Your faith will be severely tested. You'll be asking yourself more than once if you really can keep doing this-if it's worth it; rather, if HE is worth it. I've always come to the place the same as Peter, when Jesus asked if he was going to leave him too, Peter said "Lord where will we go, you have the words of eternal life." Being a Christian is not for cowards.

Joh 6:67  Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 
Joh 6:68  Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

As for those who have had the wrong assumption I started this seven years ago hoping to become famous, a star, or gain a lot of money-time has proven you wrong, and will continue to. I have no "donate" button on this site, nor have I ever asked anyone for a dime-God supplies my needs. I have no reputation to uphold, I have a testimony that's in the same league as Mary Magdalene, or the woman at the well. I can say as they did; Jesus forgives, heals, and restores. I haven't had 5 husbands as the woman at the well did- just two, and the second one, Lynn Couillard, I married twice; and stayed with him till the day he died in my arms. We made it 28 yrs. through this life together; we stayed the course. I'm looking forward to meeting him again in heaven, when my days are up. 

At this stage of my life; I'm sure I'm seen by some as a steady plodder-that's ok with me. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were shepherds; steady plodders. My faith will keep me going, right up to the day I stand on heavens shores.

I envision myself as a methodical farmer, tending his fields with his faithful team of horses, that make their rows straight and deep. When the crop comes up, the rows are a beautiful thing to behold, and the weeds are few.

This sites main focus is for the people that are for the most part invisible to the world- that can't keep up with the rat race, may be shut in, disabled, or have a terminal illness. God loves them, cares for them, and he never sleeps, nor slumbers- no matter the time, no matter the hour- He is there, and available. All we need do, is call on Him, he's just a prayer away. If this site is available to them, they might find a poem, a graphic that speaks to them at the point of their need, there's book's of the bible, music, and resources; and new material always being added.

During the years I worked caring for the elderly, sometimes I read to them, prayed with them, put their favorite music on for them to listen to, or just listened to them. This site is an extension of that, and can be a source of material for someone caring for the elderly. This is another hope; that caregivers would use this as a resource in their work. The links at the side of this page takes you to websites that are full of sermons, music, poems, and more. That's the goal of this site; to minister to those who desire to seek the Lord, and that through the material provided here-that they would be blessed, fed the word of God, and minister to them. There's much here that can sooth a troubled soul, and give comfort.

Two Sparrows Ministry came from the mind and heart of God, and He will keep using it, as long as He chooses and as long as I continue to say "yes, Lord".
Lorna Couillard

Some time was spent taking a break, and getting some guidance on what God's will is for this ministry-whether it's His will to keep going, or time to stop. Two Sparrows Ministry will continue without the use of a Facebook page for it. My blogs will be posted on my personal Facebook page, along with other material as God leads. This may be bad news for those who were hoping I had quit. That's ok-God's not through with me yet. I'll keep on giving the devil a thorn in his eye with my posts, and my websites, until further notice from the Lord.

In this blog the subject will be on suicide, how should a Christian view it and whether a Christian can be saved if they commit suicide.  Recently, before the Two Sparrows Facebook page was stopped, I posted an article about a pastor who committed suicide-and commented that it was a sad example to leave his family, and those who followed him-I still feel this way.

People in crisis need the truth-and the truth is what Jesus wants to give-to shed light in their darkness, and bring hope and healing to their condition. And, as a minister-I remind myself every day that what I teach, I will give an account to God for one day-this is a very sobering reality, I take very seriously. We're not supposed to teach our own philosophies, but what the word of God says on the matter. If your afraid of standing on the bible-you should consider doing something else.

During the years working with the elderly the subject and problem of suicide came up consistently. People have many belief's and views on suicide that come from depression, mental illness, chronic pain, selfishness, and even trying to manipulate people. Sometimes suicide is used as a tactic to cause other's to live in fear and guilt-that they are causing the person to do this to themselves-while at the same time they are hoping to be talked out of it. When this is an ongoing situation-it can be devastating to a family, spouse, and children. Some points that must be faced concerning suicide are:

1. If it is the last act and decision a person makes in life- it is in rebellion against God. If the person succeeds, it is irreversible. There is no purgatory, no limbo, it is appointed once to die, then the judgment.
2. We are deciding to take our lives in our own hands-our life is not our own, it is God who made us, it is He who has the right to choose when we die.
3. When a person takes their own life-family members may be left living with guilt and feeling they hold some responsibility for their action. 
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Example: When my father was dying of cancer, he suffered tremendously from the pain of surgery to remove his lung, and the ongoing treatments afterward. This went on for almost 5 years. Several times he commented to me and other's in the family that the only reason he didn't kill himself was knowing that he'd leave us with this guilt-and he wouldn't do this to us. He also acknowledged that it was a cowards way out-he decided to endure the suffering, until his last day. Pain medications were used, and increased as needed to help as much as possible. He died on Christmas day, in 1977-with many of us at his bedside at home. His courage, and many other's I've witnessed over the years, has given me the courage to endure until God decides to take me. I've decided to honor God with my life, as much as possible, to the end.

4. When you decide to commit suicide you are playing with fire - not just any fire but the ETERNAL fire of hell. Suicide is never the right option. Why?

a. If you die in your sins as an unbeliever-hell is your sure destination.
b. If you kill yourself as a Christian-your playing Russian roulette, your state of rebellion could also place you in eternal hell.
c. If you kill yourself and are a Christian, and make it to heaven-the first thing your going to have to do, is face Jesus. What will you have to say? Think about it.

Life can be very tough at times but the bible tells us that during difficult times we must persevere (James Ch1).  


Jas 1:2  My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 
Jas 1:3  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 
Jas 1:4  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 
Jas 1:5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 
Jas 1:6  But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 

Suicidal thoughts do not come from God. He does not tell us to sin by committing suicide. These thoughts are from the enemy - John 10:10 tells us that he comes to steal, kill and destroy.

Joh 10:10  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 

John 8:44 tells us that he is the father of all lies:

Joh 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 

Depression can be a constant, uphill struggle which is often plagued with very dark thoughts. 2 Corinthians 10:4,5 tells us that we need to take these thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ.
 
2Co 10:4  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 
2Co 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

I believe we do this by  seeking  God  in prayer and in His Word to tell us whether there is any truth in these thoughts that we are having. If we do this we'll see just how precious we are as children of God. When we seek God for our identity and assurance, we WILL have victory over our darkest thoughts. 

Lastly, I have seen some people using the verse from Romans 8:35 to justify that suicide will not separate us from God. 

Rom 8:35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 

I believe that this is taking the verse out of context. Paul is specifically referring to death by persecution for our faith in God; he is not talking about death by suicide. Please read the verses before it and after it so that you'll see the context for yourselves.


God's everlasting love:

Rom 8:31  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 
Rom 8:32  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 
Rom 8:33  Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 
Rom 8:34  Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 
Rom 8:35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 
Rom 8:36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 
Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 
Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 
Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

     Our body is the temple of God we have no rights to destroy.

1Co 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 
1Co 3:17  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. 
1Co 6:19  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 
1Co 6:20  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 

God tells us that we have to take our thoughts captive, which means if you begin having thoughts that you should die, then you have the authority to reject those thoughts and choose to think thoughts of living a great life instead. 

Thoughts that are depressing, discouraging and ultimately try to bring destruction in your life are thoughts from the enemy; but he does not have authority over you. He can only try to give you a negative thought and see if you will agree with it. We have ultimate authority over our thought life. 

Take up the sword of the Spirit, and learn to use it and appropriate it in your life-you will find the victory if you do. 

Eph 6:17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 

Heb 4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 

Lastly, consider this fact: Jesus knows of every form of suffering we go through down here, he endured it. More importantly-He suffered it willingly, for you and I. Whatever your going through-He knows, He cares, and He can help you endure, He will hear and answer your prayer (perhaps not the way you expect), and He will be with you until your last day on this earth, He promises to never leave us nor forsake us. I've learned over the years, that He keeps His word. 

Heb 4:14  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 
Heb 4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 
Heb 4:16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Heb 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Rather than take your own life-why not give it to Jesus, and see what He can do with you, and your circumstances? At the start of each day-invite the Lord into it, ask Him to give guidance, direction, and strength for the journey. He loves you, and I can say with assurance, He answers prayer-let this be the beginning of a new direction, and taking God at His word.

Instead of being your own god-let God BE GOD, in your life.
Lorna Couillard

Links to sound bible teaching on suicide:

​Just click the link, it will take you to the teaching-
What Does the Bible Teach About Suicide? | Little Lessons with David Servant- https://youtu.be/DNqW9qh6JbQ
Can a Christian Commit Suicide? by Tim Conway- https://youtu.be/wVIqvSqPcjo
Suicide: The Impact on Believers – Dr. Charles Stanley- https://youtu.be/VvGYacyllKk