September 23, 2024

                                    Be the Light

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:43-45a

How do you respond to hatred? How do you react to bigotry? How do you combat lies engineered to fuel unrest?

Haitian migrants have moved to our community. No one seems to know exactly how many but the numbers are small. They’ve been here for about 10 months. And now certain people have decided to use the migrants as a political agenda based on hate.

The migrants haven’t caused trouble. They haven’t “drained” our resources. For example, one elementary school in our town has ONE Haitian child. They are working people who are trying to build a new life.

This has caused some people to react in anger. Their hostility mirrors the hate they are attacking. Their loud voices will not change the opinions or hearts of those who attack people they don’t even know. It will just create an escalation that does no one any good.

It came up before and after church yesterday. While some were focused on what we can do to help integrate the Haitian migrants into our community, others were more focused on lashing out at those who have unfairly attacked the migrants.

I am all about freedom of speech and freedom to express your opinion. I am an editorial columnist after all. But there is a way to make your point without inflaming an already bad situation.

Martin Luther King, Jr. put it this way:

Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.

I would go a step further and say that hatred begets hatred.

How much more powerful to simply love on the people who are now facing such vocal cruelty? How much better to SHOW how to live a life of faith than to try and argue with people who are filled with hate?

I know. Many of the people who are behaving so ugly are also people who are in church most Sundays. But do we allow them to drag us down or do we, by our own behavior, lift them up?

Jesus told us to love our enemies. He went on to ask what it will accomplish to love those who are good to us? The power, if you will, comes from loving people who aren’t behaving in a loving manner.

We are to be the light. It’s in the Bible. Read it for yourself. Let go of the darkness and pray for those who would do harm. God can do anything if His people will only seek from the depths of their hearts.

August 24, 2022

 

Casting Stones

 

When they kept questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” – John 8:7

 

We’re all familiar with the story of the adulteress woman. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought her before Jesus. They had already condemned her and, no doubt, stood ready to stone her to death. That was the law after all.

 

We’re good at following the law, aren’t we? At least when we’re the ones pointing the accusing finger at someone else. It’s just way easier to look at the sins of others rather than those that are within us.

 

How many times have I heard someone – a self-proclaimed Christian – throwing this scripture out to condemn someone or to justify their own unforgiveness. Jesus told her to go and sin no more, they say righteously. And, yes, Jesus did say that. But it’s important not to gloss over the rest of the story in order to get to your weapon of words.

 

Jesus told the one who was without sin to cast the first stone. Are you without sin? I’m surely not. In fact, no one who walks this earth is without sin. But that doesn’t stop us from casting stones, does it?

 

Our world has so much darkness in it right now. We blame everyone else without bothering to look within ourselves to the sins in our own hearts. We are arrogant and justified in our own eyes, failing to understand that our sins turn others away from the saving grace that Jesus offers to all of us.

 

The next time you’re tempted to condemn someone else, check yourself first.

January 19, 2022

 

Destruction

 

“Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness.” – Luke 11:35 (ESV)

 

Where is your line? At what point do you destroy relationships rather than accept what you cannot understand? What, and who, are you willing to give up in your quest to be right?

 

We are great at pointing out what we see as the sins of others. We throw Bible quotes out to prove our point. Being a homosexual is a sin. It’s unacceptable and unforgiveable. It’s a “choice,” we spew. Change and be healed, we demand. But what if God allowed this to change our own hearts?

 

It’s amazing how we pick and choose which Bible verses to quote. We all do it. I did it up above. But when those quotes are meant to harm, to condemn, to push forth our views rather than the views of Jesus, perhaps we need to look inward rather than focus so keenly on our target.

 

We gloss over the passages that condemn divorce. We slide past the words that tell us to welcome immigrants, give to the poor and bring strangers into our homes. We don’t want to share. We don’t want to extend grace. We don’t want to be inconvenienced.

 

Yes, we have to be careful. Our world is filled with people who would harm us. There are multitudes who would take advantage of our generosity. But do we use those excuses to refuse God’s will? Do we demand that we not be made uncomfortable when Jesus again and again did things that would make us uncomfortable?

 

I have watched a sweet family be torn apart by a homosexual child. The hardness, the ugliness, has broken so many hearts even as it has splintered what once seemed to be a happy, loving family. Is love only available to those who do as we demand? Does love end when people make us uncomfortable?

 

Where does your light end and darkness begin? Be careful. Sometimes darkness masquerades as light.

November 12, 2019

Prepare for Darkness

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” – John 8:12

Winter arrived today, its wind blowing furiously as the temperatures dropped. Yesterday was a picture-perfect fall day. Temperatures in the 70's with the sun shining brightly. What a difference a few hours can make.

Isn’t that just like life? We’re going along enjoying our days and basking in the merry-go-round of daily activities. Then, in what seems like a moment, everything changes. The illness, the car wreck, the shattered relationship, the job loss. Where light once had free-reign we see nothing but darkness.

Yesterday, while the light of fall rang true, we prepared for today’s freezing temperatures. We covered pipes, unhooked hoses, carried plants inside to safety. We prepared for the darkness and gloom of today. Why? Because we knew it was coming.

It’s the same with life. The time to prepare for the onslaught of tragedy and grief and out-of-control lives is when everything is fine. We know life is filled with ups and downs, good times and bad times. So we build our foundation on the rock who is Jesus Christ. That way, when the storm comes, He will be our secure and safe place to ride it out.

What are you doing today to prepare for an uncertain tomorrow? Do you read and study God’s Word? Do you pray, thanking God for His amazing blessings and asking for guidance? Do you do good where you can? Do you prioritize people, build relationships, give graciously to build His kingdom?

Life gets so busy sometimes. Too busy. We always think we’ve got another day to make that phone call or watch that flag football game. We think we’ve got ample chances to read the book or rock the baby or attend church. But sometimes that day in the future never comes. And sometimes our lives are so devastated that those wishes are destroyed forever.

Prepare for the coming darkness. Lay your foundation on Jesus. In light or darkness, cling to the One who knows the way.

December 18, 2018

Light Exposes Darkness

“For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.” – Luke 8:17

But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them. – Ephesians 5:13 (NLT)

Each of us has darkness that lies inside of us. We pretend it’s not there. We ignore the truths rather than face it and let light destroy it. But in the end, it still finds a way to reveal itself.

We are sinners. There’s just no way to get past that on this earth. We can’t ever be good enough, wise enough, blameless enough, to enter God’s Presence on our own. That’s why we so desperately need Jesus.

We try to pretend that we’re good enough. God knows our hearts. He knows we’re trying. Except we somehow find a way to pick and choose where we’ll do better and where we’ll keep on being who we are.

Sometimes the sin is great. Sometimes the sin is gathered together with many parts, none of which seem too bad, until the great multitude reveals a pattern of darkness. We don’t blame ourselves. It’s this society, this world, this media, that leads us to things we wouldn’t otherwise do, see, or hear.

Except we are to blame. We make choices, then attempt to justify ourselves. We allow our sin nature to control us and that, in turn, leads us places we never really intended to go.

It’s the excuse pattern that allows us to fudge a little here or a little there. It’s that wink that lets us think we’re sliding by without any consequences for doing what we know is wrong.

I’m always amazed at how we do what we know is wrong. We watch a movie or television show that we know has inappropriate content. We blame Hollywood for our choice. We listen to music with lyrics that idolize drinking and wild parties and sex without marriage and we blame the record labels. We do whatever we can to get that raise, even if it means telling lies or putting someone else down. It’s a game we didn’t create but we participate in it just the same.

After all, it’s all about us. It’s about what we want. It’s about what’s best for us and for our family. It’s about making choices that entertain us and help us get ahead. It’s about looking at the world through eyes that only see what we want them to see.

Except the light has a way of penetrating through the darkness, exposing the heart of an issue. It reveals our true motives. The light tells the world, and us right along with it, what we truly believe. What do you believe?

Do you truly believe God loves everyone? Then why do you put others down in a vain attempt to build yourself up?

Do you truly believe all people are equal? Then why do you think you’re better than people of other nationalities?

Do you truly believe things don’t matter? Then why do you race to keep up with or surpass the things your friends and family purchase?

The light exposes darkness. It tells the real story of your values and your faith.

July 26, 2018

Strength Comes From God

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his spirit in your inner being.”

– Ephesians 3:16

One of the worst things you can say to someone who is hurting or struggling is that they are strong. I know. You mean well. But comments like that are more to reassure you than to reassure the one who is crushed inside.

We want people to be strong. It lets us off the hook. We don’t have to worry so much about them. We don’t have to rearrange our worlds to care for them. Their strength somehow reassures us that no matter what happens, there’s a way to get through it. Somehow maybe we believe that God only calls the strong to the toughest storms.

Nope. God doesn’t give anyone a pass. That is a hard and difficult thing to accept. Shouldn’t a loving God spare us the unending pain? Shouldn’t a caring God prevent awful things from happening? That’s especially true when those things don’t have a cause or, seemingly, a purpose?

Questions haunt the night. Days are filled with busyness. People abound. But it is in the quietness of night that tears flow and our bodies ache with the emptiness that fills our soul.

A sweet friend unexpectedly lost her husband. People tell her she is strong. She doesn’t feel strong. Why should she? Every plan she had, every dream, has just been shattered. Every piece of her foundation has been shaken. A week ago she was a wife and now she is a widow. How does she even begin to pick up the pieces?

There are children to comfort. There’s a business to run. There’s endless paperwork and uncertainty. She is alone. I know. She’s got family and friends surrounding her but make no mistake. She’s alone. Her life partner is gone. The person who brightened her days and was her closest confidant is gone.

God remains. When we get to the end of it all, that is what we hold on to. He is the One who remains. He sees the heart. He sees the pain. It is His strength others see, not our own.

Just breathe. How many times can a person utter those words? Just do this one thing, you tell yourself. Deep breath. You can make it through this. Just another five minutes. And then another. Whew! One more day is done. Now to face the night.

Strength is fleeting. A moment of resolve turns into tears. The slightest thing becomes a mountain. You question. Over and over you question our great Lord, asking why again and again.

The Bible tells us that His ways aren’t our ways. We can’t understand and, honestly, it’s not our place to try. But we try anyway. We want to somehow make sense of something that makes no sense.

There’s no strength in that. Just a simple faith that says you’ll get through this day. Just a firm belief that He won’t leave you in this place of despair. Just a Risen Savior who promises that one day your tears will end and the reunion will be glorious and forever.

Don’t ever tell someone they’re strong, that they’ll make it through, that they’ll be alright. Nothing will ever be the same and that’s a bitter thing to bear. Pray that the Holy Spirit will strengthen them for the journey. Walk beside them, offering a shoulder, a Kleenex, a helping hand. You can’t fix it but you can love them. At the end of the day, that’s all any of us can do. Love those who are broken inside. Be Jesus. That’s all. Just be Jesus.

June 13, 2018

Stand Out

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will. – Romans 12:2

Most of us don’t like to stand out in a crowd, as the cliché goes. We want to fit in, to belong, to be like everyone else.

Think about it for a moment. We want to wear the same brand of shirt as all our friends. We want to drive a new car like our neighbor’s do, whether we need it or not. We want our kids to participate in sports and dance and all those things other kids do. And we want them to do it well, I might add.

If we stand out, we want it to be because we excel at things everyone else is also doing. We don’t want to stand alone, either because we have voiced a different opinion or because we have made a different choice. Yet, that’s exactly what we are called to do.

How can we be a light in this dark world when we’re trying so hard to fit in to the darkness that surrounds us? We can’t. Because when we do that, the darkness slowly extinguishes the light. It’s not supposed to be like that. We’re to use our light to slowly illuminate the dark.

It’s never easy to be the person who says no, is it? We don’t want to miss out. We tell ourselves this one time won’t matter. So we go with the boys to a rowdy bar. Or we have a gossip-filled lunch with our girlfriends. Or we scream at a child who makes a mistake on the ballfield. We become one with the world.

We never consider that refusing to go to that movie might cause someone else to hit pause and rethink their choice. We don’t imagine that offering positive encouragement to a child who made a mistake might bring more of the same from other parents. We assume that our voice won’t matter.

That’s what we tell ourselves anyway. We make so many excuses. The truth is we don’t want to make the hard choice. We don’t want to face ridicule or be labeled prudish. We don’t want to defend our beliefs. It’s just easier to stand on the fence. God didn’t call us to stand on the fence.

We are to be part of the world but, at the same time, separate. We are to stand out and let our light show people a different way. We’re to use Christ’s strength to remain strong when the attacks come. And they will come. Jesus said we would have trouble in this world. He also reminded us that He has overcome the world.

However, don’t be misled to believe your way is always the only way. Or even the right way. Be careful not to condemn, to criticize, to twist God’s Word to fit your own agenda. That pushes so many people away from Christ. Love people and trust that He will show them a different way.

It is possible to rightly walk with Jesus in this fallen world. It’s hard. The attacks are brutal. Spiritual warfare is real. But we don’t walk alone. We have Christ with us and the Holy Spirit within us. We have resources to fight back.

I don’t know what you’ll face today. I do know that you’ll likely see temptation everywhere. You’ll have choices to make, sometimes with little time to weigh it all out. God knows. He’s right there. He will help you.

Use your light to make a difference. Sometimes it only takes one voice to prompt a change that turns the multitudes toward Jesus

January 5, 2018

Don't Tell Anybody

“For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.”

– Luke 8:17

“Don’t tell anybody,” she said desperately. “I don’t want my son to know.” I agreed, though a part of me wanted to seek her son out and tell him all. What good would it do? The knowledge would create a riff in an already fractured relationship.

Her great sin? Taking yet another person into her home to help him. This time it was a relative. The results were the same. This kind woman who couldn’t support herself was helping support others. Being duped, her son would likely say. Being taken advantage of is what I called it.

What bothered me most was how easily she lied. Her life was a fountain of secrets cascading down and destined to mire her in a thick mud from which she couldn’t extricate herself.

Isn’t that the way with lies? They slide so smoothly from our lips. They seem easier at the time than dealing with the consequences. Sometimes we tell the lies so often that part of us actually begins to believe our own words.

But lies don’t become truth, no matter how many times you tell them. And what we do in the dark is destined to eventually be revealed in the light.

I’m not sure why she continues on this self-destructive road. Is she afraid of being alone? Does guilt from a past she cannot erase motivate her to help others? Is her self-esteem so low that helping someone else makes her feel better about herself?

Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for helping others. I believe in opening the door and sharing food and all those things Jesus taught us to do. I also believe that we can make a situation worse by enabling someone who refuses to get their own life together.

When I asked questions I learned too much. This man, who at least works, is saving money for his own car. He’s been there a year and still doesn’t have enough money saved. Except that he loves to shop online. He has money for a vacation she could never afford to take. The list goes on. Does anybody else see what I see? Red flags everywhere but she refuses to take a stand.

Her son would take a stand. He would kick the man out of his mother’s apartment. If she got upset, he would walk away from her. Sins of her past have damaged their relationship in ways that can never be fully healed. It is fragile. He is not a bad man. He has made a life for himself and tries to do good where he can. But his mother’s self-destructive choices anger him. I understand. They would anger me too.

Did I mention that she is a strong Christian? At least that is how she sees herself. Her faith has carried her through trauma and the deaths of loved ones and a battle with addiction that she finally won several years ago. But the struggle continues. The lies reveal that.

I’m not sure how to help her. She won’t listen. She won’t seek Godly counsel. She won’t change her course. So we walk side by side with her, trying to help where we can. I bite my tongue more times than I like. I pray for God’s wisdom in what I say and do.

We are not so different, you and I. We make excuses for the “little” lies. We defend poor choices and a path we refuse to admit is the wrong one. We can’t seem to completely leave the darkness behind, choosing to believe that somehow it will avoid the light. It never does.

Maybe this is a lesson for all of us. Be careful of the “small” sins. Ask the Holy Spirit to point out ways we have and are sinning. Because it’s those “little” sins that will morph in to something huge and take us down a road we never planned to go.

March 11, 2016

Walk In The Light

10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”

15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. -- Ephesians 5:10-15

Have you ever felt like you were in a time warp with the same things happening around you again and again? It’s exasperating to see someone making the exact same mistake you watched them make before, especially when you are powerless to stop them from the sure-to-come train wreck.

It always starts with a lie. Then the lie gets exposed. Why? Because lies always get exposed. Always. Sometimes it takes longer than other times but light will always expose lies.

Then comes the denial. Then the excuse. Rationalization follows. No one buys into it. The person talks on and on and gets in deeper and deeper, oblivious to what’s coming. And it does come.

People don’t like being lied to. They don’t. Lies bring consequences. And when you lie enough to the same people sometimes those consequences are beyond anything you ever expected or imagined.

I’ve never understood it. I guess I never will. It’s like this is some type of game and they just love to play. Except when you play with people’s lives it will eventually explode all around you. Then what?

Be very careful how you live. That’s what Paul was saying here. Be wise.

Don’t get involved in schemes that have no place in the light. If something seems dishonest, it is. If someone lies to you, walk away before they suck you into their mess.

And if you’re the one creating the mess, stop it! Stop lying. Stop scheming. Stop planning destruction just so you can get your own way. It’s not worth the cost. Can’t you see that? You will lose more than you could ever gain. And you’ll never get it back. Not ever. So be wise. Be careful. Be honest. And walk in the light.

January 3, 2016

Let The Light Shine

Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. -- Genesis 1:3

3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. -- John 1:3-5

 

The contemporary services at our church have been disrupted by -- drum roll here -- light. Or, rather, the lack of light. The committee decided to create a more intimate setting -- their words -- by darkening the seating area so we would be forced to focus on the band or the speaker. (Otherwise known as a preacher.) Some of us are quite upset.

A worship service is neither a concert nor theatrical production. I guess we’re supposed to forget that sometimes in our effort to draw more people in for a feel good experience. We are there to worship God and to learn and grow in knowledge of Him.

There is no longer any need to bring a Bible to church. The light is so dim you can’t see the words. It seems fine for those following along with their devices. Oh, well. No one needs to take notes anyway. Right? And, no, the words are NOT on the screen over the stage.

But that’s not why I am so offended. There’s just something off to me about worshipping the light of the world in the darkness.

I do understand that in some areas of the world, Christians must meet in darkness because their very lives are at risk. That isn’t the case in our country. We have no excuse for the darkness. What is the committee trying to hide?

The excuse is that people will be more free to express themselves. Seriously?! What are you ashamed of? We all worship differently. This isn’t a stiff traditional service. It’s a contemporary service where most things are really okay with everyone else. If you want to raise your hands, do it. If you want to clap or dance or meditate, do it. And if you don’t feel comfortable, ask yourself why. Because honestly it’s not about you. It’s about Him. So get over yourself and do what you feel called to do in order to worship our Creator.

And turn the lights back on!

January 6, 2015

Hope in the Lord

 

Why are you downcast, O my soul?

Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God,

for I will yet praise Him,

my Savior and my God.

-- Psalm 42:5

Another day in darkness. The stress is almost overwhelming. Almost. I pretend all is fine. Doesn't everyone? And yet the terror of what might come lies just beneath the surface.

I am afraid. I am not supposed to be afraid. It is lack of faith. Pure and simple. The Bible tells me again and again not to fear. God is with me. I know that. I do. But it doesn't feel that way.

Feelings have a way of going haywire. They're undependable and prone to exaggeration. I list the many, many things I have to be thankful for. I am grateful. I am. And yet here I am. Worried. Overwhelmed. Because I can't see a way and so far He's refusing to even show me a glimmer of hope.

And, yet, my hope is in Him. No matter the circumstances of my life. It is what keeps me going on these tough days, when others drain my time and energy. I desperately need to focus on earning money, on supporting myself, on taking care of my needs. Why am I the only one that can see that?
Why must I continue to sacrifice myself for a person who can't see beyond herself?

The answer isn't too hard. And it likely isn't what you think. I do it because I believe God has called me to this task. She doesn't deserve it but neither do I deserve what Jesus did for me.

Will I survive it? Probably not. I'll likely one day die from something entirely treatable because I put my needs last. Isn't that what we are told to do?

My soul is downcast. But I am reminded of the words of David. My hope is in the Lord. He can make a way even though I can't see a path. I trust Him. I don't trust anyone else but I trust Him. And He is all I need.

January 5, 2015

Hope In Jesus

 

In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an evil spirit came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.

"First let the children eat all they want," he told her, "for it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs."

"Yes, Lord," she replied, "but even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs."

Then he told her, "For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter."

-- Mark 7:25-29

Some seasons are just hard. You work and work and work. You dream and hope and you work some more. And nothing seems to change. Nothing. Things don't get worse but they don't get better either.

That's where the seeds of doubt are planted. Is this really where I'm supposed to be? Is this really what God has called me to do? Will God really make a way through this darkness?

I want to believe. I want to trust. But deep inside I am so aware that I don't deserve His help. I don't deserve His direction. I don't deserve His  love. And yet He gives freely to me.

I am so grateful. Always, so grateful. Even amid the doubts and indecision, I am thankful He is there. He hears my cries. I know He does. So where is He? I find myself looking desperately for just a word, a sign, some kind of movement that will reassure me that I'm on the right path.

Or not. Because He might close a door. But if He does, He'll open another path. I know that. Deep inside I know that. But some days it doesn't feel that way. Some days it seems as though I'm walking on a ledge, in danger of going over the side at any moment, and I'm not sure that He will catch me. Fear grips my soul and I struggle to push it down. He will catch me. I know He will. He promised and He always keeps His promises.

Faith. It's all about faith. Satan seeks to steal that from me. I refuse that path. I cry out. He is there. Always He is there.

Monday, October 22, 2012

God Provides Security, Reassurance

Where can I go from your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?

If I go up to the heavens, you are there,

If I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

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..

If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me

And the light become night around me,”

Even the darkness will not be dark to you;

The night will shine like the day,

For darkness is as light to you.

-- Psalm 139:7-12

God has an amazing way of speaking to my heart when I need it most. He provides the exact Scripture, the perfect song, the perfect moment to reassure me in His special way that I am His and nothing can ever change that.

My greatest fear is that I’ll somehow lose my way again. I’m afraid that the darkness will descend and I’ll be back where I was before I truly understood who He is. Lost. Alone. My life in shambles. Hope gone.

It has been a long journey. I have traveled many miles. I have suffered the ups and downs that is depression. I have had much and lost much but I have never felt as complete, as whole, as I am with Him. God has filled that worship chip inside of me that Pastor Danny talks about. I don’t want to lose that.

My fear is that I will. There are temptations everywhere. I am surrounded by people who value money, prestige, and status as the determination of a person’s worth. I get angry and frustrated at the demands of those around me -- both at home and in church. It seems that people are always taking and sometimes I’d like to rest and receive for a while.

That makes me seem selfish and the voices go off in my head. God has blessed me so. What right have I got to complain about giving back? And so the argument goes. We are called to serve, to be His light in a darkened world. Some days I don’t feel so bright. It’s as though the darkness waits, ready for me to stumble, to fall into the pit once again.

And so the cycle goes. My fear returns and God soothes my soul. Then it begins again. When will I ever feel secure in His love? When will I ever know, all the time, that I am His and He will never let me go. No matter what happens. No matter what I do or don’t do. No matter what anyone else says. I bear His mark. I am loved. That is where I find my security, in the arms of my Heavenly Father.

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Cling To The Light

“They hate the light because they want to sin in the darkness. They stay away from the light for fear their sins will be exposed and they will be punished.” -- John 3:20

Sometimes the weight of the pain threatens to crush my very soul. Darkness bears down on me, taking away my very breath. I can’t imagine surviving the moment, let alone the endless moments yet to come.

I cry out to God and He hears me. His voice comforts me, strengthening my soul. His peace washes over me and calms me. Light rushes through me and I know that, once again, I will survive.

Some people have horrible memories that haunt them every day. Some experiences are so traumatic, so heartbreaking, that they change you forever. They force us to learn how dark a human soul can become and how bitter the taste on an innocent human being.

Other people live daily with abuse. It could be a spouse who uses his/her tongue as a whip. It could be a boss who does the same. It might be parents or siblings or, in the case of the elderly, a child who abuses a helpless parent.

It’s easy to say “get over it.” Perhaps it’s even easier to say “just leave.” But life isn’t so simple and options are sometimes not available. God never promised to keep us from bad experiences, from hatred and greed and abuse. He did promise to be with us through it all.

We are to honor those around us, particularly family members. That’s what the Bible and the preachers tell us. But for some that means honoring their abusers and that was never part of God‘s plan. How quick we judge what the darkness hides.

Jesus came so that we might have light to free us from the darkness that threatens our souls. We cling to it, to a Savior who came and will come again. But some days the darkness threatens us and we worry if it will consume us, reducing us to nothing more than what it claims we are.

The darkness tells us we are alone, suffering with no way out. Yet Jesus says to do what is right, to refuse the lure of darkness, to trust Him. And I do. How about you? Do you trust Jesus to carry you through the darkness and back into the light?

Jesus came to save us from the evil that lurks in the darkness. All we have to do is cry out to Him and there He is. Don’t suffer in silence anymore. Speak up. Cry out. Cling to the One who

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Light Always Follows Darkness

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. -- 1 John 1:7

Yesterday morning I woke up to brilliant sunshine filling the sky. It was such a welcome relief after the days of gloom and drizzle. Joy filled my soul as I started my day.

Alas, it didn’t last long. Clouds soon erased the light. Cold weather clouds, they said. The temperature started dropping and the gloom returned. My spirit sank. I told myself the weather didn’t matter but, truthfully, it did.

I feel guilty even saying that. We need the rain. I was glad we got what we did and, yes, I know it wasn’t near enough. But it didn’t rain all day. It was just overcast, the sky covered with dark clouds. If we can’t have rain, why can’t we have God’s brilliant sun?

Maybe that’s why I love sunlight so much. It’s warm and welcoming, like God’s light. It draws me toward it and leads me outside so that I can enjoy its many blessings. That’s how it is when I follow God’s light. I get to bask in the many blessings He has planned for me.

The darkness and gloom remind me of all those times I’ve taken a wrong turn. They remind me of the devastating consequences of actions not my own. They remind me of early loss and bitter betrayal. I wrap my arms around my body and remind myself that God is with me still in the darkest of times.

But nothing can ever replace the light. God’s light. Some days I go for a walk, watch the sky and think of our Creator. Have you ever noticed the white clouds swirling in the sunlight? It’s just so beautiful. God is the ultimate artist. I am inspired and awed by His creation.

But that was not yesterday. That day needed a heavy coat, gloves, and a strong persevering attitude to get through the hours. I counted my blessings over and over, refusing to give in. Why do dreary days just seem to take more effort?

Today the weather forecasters have promised sunny skies to contrast the cool temperatures. The sun always comes out after a storm. Like my friend holding her newborn granddaughter or my little cousin being declared officially in remission from the cancer that threatened her life. Light follows darkness.

I don’t know where you’re at in your life right now. Some folks are no doubt celebrating their blessings. Others are grieving and struggling and in pain. For those I offer the reminder that God is with you no matter the circumstances of your life. Look toward Him and you will see a faint light in the darkness. Follow it. As you draw closer to God, the light will become stronger and stronger until you one day find yourself basking in the glow of warm sunlight and realizing you made it through to the other side.

　

Thursday, October 13, 2011

God’s Light Penetrates Darkness

I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night -- but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are both alike to you. -- Psalm 139:11-12

The woman smiled brightly at the world. She seemed happy, carefree, full of life. Except the brightness never reached her eyes. The vibrant blue was clouded in sorrow and despair. I worked with her for a number of years. It never changed.

She was an adult who’d been cast aside by her family when she rejected their cult. I call it a cult because even though they professed to know and love Jesus, He had no part in their mind games. This young women had been sexually molested throughout her childhood. Her parents knew and refused to intervene. When she became an adult, she left them. The scars she carried with her.

Oh, she’d seen a number of doctors. She was on anti-depressants and participated in weekly talk therapy. But she couldn’t shake the past. She couldn’t believe herself worthy of anything but the labels her family had pinned on her: demon, jezebel, worthless.

They had denied her self-worth when she was vulnerable and without a champion. And, as an adult, she carried that with her. She couldn’t seem to separate the wonderful person she was from the child who’d suffered at the hands of people who preached the gospel in public and lived as Satan in private.

I wish she’d reached out to God but she couldn’t seen to separate God from her abusers. She couldn’t understand a God who would allow such horror to happen to her. She couldn’t believe that He loved her and still allowed such awful things to take place.

How can any of us ever understand or explain what happens in this fallen world? We know that God is all-powerful and can save us from all evil. But the truth is usually He doesn’t intervene in the choices we make, even when the choices of a few destroy those around them. Instead, God takes what is horrible and turns it into something good. If we let Him.

God would have offered her a safe haven, a healing touch, a way out of the darkness. He waited for her to cry out to Him but she never did. At least in the years I knew her. She preferred to pretend that everything was okay. That she was fine. That the past was where it belonged.

Until the day she didn’t show up for work. I called a mutual friend, who found her suffering the effects of too many pills washed down by alcohol. Our friend walked her around and kept her awake for hours. Why didn’t the friend call an ambulance? Why not make a fuss?

I called her doctor the next day. I know. I was sticking my nose in someone else’s struggle. I don’t know if she ever received the peace she deserved. I do know she never forgave me for making the call. I’d do it again. I just wanted her to live. And she just wanted the pain to end.

We forget sometimes that darkness can never, ever hide God’s light. When we’re in the midst of something so horrific, so bleak, so unyielding that we can’t see our way out, God can and will provide the light if we’ll only call out to Him. It takes a lot of courage. It takes hitting rock bottom and admitting that you’re there. It’s not easy but sometimes calling to God from the darkness is the only way to make it back to the light. I sometimes wonder if she ever figured that out.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Hold On To God

Even in the darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man. -- Psalm 112:4

I knew the storm was coming. The weather reports predicted it. Any hopes that the storm might go north or that I might make it home before it hit faded as the wind intensified. I'd barely left the interstate when I had to turn on the windshield wipers. The storm had arrived.

Debris soon littered the roadway. I drove slowly but I wasn't alarmed. The rain was steady but not hard. The wind was brisk but not overbearing. I was competent and confident. I could handle it.

That thought changed about 20 minutes later. The wind picked up again. The rain came in torrents. At times I stopped completely on the two-lane road because I couldn't see to move forward even a few feet. Lightening flashed repeatedly in the sky. Once it hit incredibly close. It felt like the vehicle shook but probably it was just me.

I was scared. I was alone in the dark with no safe place to go. I cried out to my Abba. My Father. My God. Because He was there with me on that dark road. I kept driving. The rain eased off a little. The lightening became distant. I passed a tree that blocked the other lane, thanking God that it wasn't blocking the entire road.

Slowly the rain stopped. The town came into view, bringing with it lights and other cars. The storm had passed. Some damage remained but I'd made it through. Isn't that how it always is? We feel consumed with whatever is going on in our lives. It seems the darkness will go on forever. We are alone and afraid. Sometimes we can't see that God is right there with us.

Don't ever let the darkness consume you. Call out to God. He's right there. Give Him your hand nad hold on tight. He'll lead you through the storm.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

He Is There

"I lift up my eyes to the hills -- where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth."

-- Psalm 121:1-2

It's amazing how quickly our lives can change. Sometimes in ways we could never imagine. None of us expect a 44-year-old in good health to have a debilitating stroke. The sadness is only multiplied by her aloneness. No husband and children making daily visits. No family eagerly waiting for her return home. Just an uncertain future and a scary reality.

My greatest fear come to life. What is yours? We all have a great fear that goes beyond the death or illness of a loved one. It's that deep fear of what might happen to us. Is your fear being unable to recognize the people around you? Being unable to move? Fighting an incurable disease and all the pain and suffering that comes with it? Being homeless? Being alone?

Sometimes in life dark days descend and it seems like the sun will never rise again. Hope is something far away, something we can't quite grasp anymore. Others may be present but they can't quite grasp the depth of our agony and despair. God can. He is ever watchful, kind and compassionate, reaching out to help lift us up in our darkest hour.

Sadly sometimes that dark hour is when we feel most separated from God. We don't understand. We feel abandoned. The hurt goes so deep. We are certain that He has left us to face this tragedy alone. But He is there.

Why do things happen the way they do? Why do some people seem destined to suffer, while others glide through life relatively unscathed? It's not fair but, then, we were never promised fairness. What He promised was help in the dark days. He promised light when the darkness closed in. He promised we would never, ever be alone.

None of us know what the future holds. Life is fragile at best. I am grateful that we have a God, a Savior, a Spirit, who love and care for us on this journey. Light has seen the victory and that is something we can always hold on to.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Look Toward The Light

"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."

-- Isaiah 9:2

The skies turned dark yesterday afternoon. Rolling clouds moved across, bringing much needed rain to an area scorched with drought. I was grateful for the soaking though a part of me always watches the sky for signs of a storm. I asked God for protection even as the cooling rain fell down.

That's the thing about storms. They can bring much needed rain -- insights into a life that maybe has gotten a little off track. Storms bring us closer to God as we seek the shelter of His protection. At least, I hope it's that way. Some people use storms as an excuse to venture further from God. They go it alone. They become bitter and angry and have no hope. How sad.

Of course, some storms are all about Satan. Those storms remind us that we live in a fallen world where people often make the wrong choices and face disastrous results. But God is in those storms too. Like Peter when he left the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus, we can survive so long as our focus remains on the One who gave His life for us. It's when we look away that the waves threaten to drown us. Life can be overwhelming when we don't remember that we have an anchor in every storm.

The sun is shining brightly now. It's healing light will help the water nurture and grow the plants and our souls. Because God is the light in every storm. We may not see it in the darkest night but it's there just the same. And as the clouds fade away, as we cling to the hope that is Jesus, the light slowly appears. Brighter and brighter it shines, surrounding us with wonder and a renewed spirit.

...God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.

1 John 1:5

How quickly life and circumstances can change. My friend began her week as she usually did. She taught Sunday school. She laughed with friends. She cared for her children and grandchildren. Two days later she kept vigil at the hospital as her daughter began her journey toward death.

People ask why. How could she, they demanded to know. Two children. A mother and sisters who adored her. Yet she chose to end her life, distraught in the very real belief that all those who loved her so desperately would be better off without her presence.

I kept my silence. How can anyone who has not suffered deep depression understand the darkness that invades the mind of the sufferer? It isn't something you can shrug off. It isn't something you can toughen up and face. It is an agony beyond explanation. It is an inability to see the light of Jesus and the hope He offers to us all. It is failure to grasp the promise that as His children He will give us strength and healing.

Her illness momentarily separated her from her heavenly father. But she is no doubt singing in the heavenly choir praising Him just as she did in the bright days of her life. As those she left behind struggle to move forward, they draw comfort from that even as they struggle to understand.