Darkness and Light

     Shining with Christ’s light will often include walking alongside a hurting brother or sister. We will all struggle and go through trials.  Allowing someone to sit with you while you grieve eases the burden and assists in the healing process. We need to let our feelings out, to let the tears flow, to tell our stories.

     There will be times when we are overwhelmed and frightened, lost and filled with sorrow. Be ready to listen and pray. Shy away from a quick answer or a trite comment. Just be there. One of my favorite quotes is from Henri Nouwen’s book, “Out of Solitude.”

     “When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving much advice, solutions or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a gentle and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing, and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.”

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Romans 12:15

     Be there with the love of Christ.

Jesus,

We don’t have all of the answers, but we have You. We are grateful for each other and for those with the ability to share in pain and in joy, those who listen and tend to our hearts.

Amen

Darkness and Light

     Our deepest love and our first love should be Jesus. When we take the time to develop a personal relationship with Him and dig into the deep things of the Word, our lives fill with light and hope. Our lives will reflect His light. As His love fills us, we have enough to overflow onto others.  We have the light of life.

When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, “I am the light of thw world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. John 8:12

     Live, then, as children of the light. Our glorious Savior lives in us. Shine!

You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 1 Thessalonians 5:5

Lord,

You promise us we will never walk in darkness. We have the light of life. We are children of the day, not of the night. Let us live to reflect Your glory.

Amen

Darkness and Light

     As the apostle, John, is given the vision to write of the events of the very last days on earth, He witnesses the glorified Christ. Our Jesus sits in heaven. He is alive and well, watching over us. Are you sitting in darkness? Is there a huge burden on your soul? Are you bearing a grief and sit in deepest sorrow?

     Jesus sees through your darkness. Nothing is hidden from Him. He understands your pain and will heal your deepest need. Let Him comfort you. He will penetrate the darkness with His unending love for you.

He reveals deep and hidden things; He knows what dwells in darkness and light dwells with Him. Daniel 2:22

Even the darkness will not be dark to You; the night will shine like the day for darkness is as light to You.  Psalm 139:12

     John’s vision of the glorifed Christ include these Words from the book of Revelation.

The hair on His head was white as wool, as white as snow and His eyes were like blazing fire. Revelation 1:14

     The pure and holy Christ has eyes like burning fire, penetrating, wise eyes, filled with love. Allow this bright and burning fire to shine through your darkness. The light of Christ will comfort, cleanse and heal. He is with you in your darkest night. He sees right through to your tear-drenched soul. Allow Him to be your Savior.

Jesus,

You have suffered. You understand. Your everlasting, glorified light is available to those in deep hurt. Shine Your light in the darkness today.

Amen

Darkness and Light

     Do not be overcome by the darkness around you. We can be burdened with fear and anguish as we listen to the news. But the light will not diminish. And that light is within us! We are, corporately and individually, the church of Jesus Christ.

The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1;5

     We want to share that light with others, but remember. There are those that will continue to love the darkness.

This is the verdict. Light has come into the world; but people loved darkness instead of light, because their deeds were evil. John 3:19

Jesus,

We thank You for bringing us into Your glorious light. We pray today for those in need of Your love and light. Satan deceives us and can appear as an angel of light. Keep us in the true light of faith in You.

Amen

Darkness and Light

     Violence and terror surround us. Are we becoming numb to the murder and mayhem? The news is filled with tragedy after tragedy. The value and respect for life is diminishing. Why are so many people without hope?

But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness. They do not know what makes them stumble. Proverbs 4:19

All their days they eat in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger. Ecclesiastes 5:17

     Their hearts have become darkened. They are frustrated and angry and as King Solomon says, “They do not know what makes them stumble.”

     Hope comes from our Creator. I pray for those with no fear of God, with no sense of hope, with darkness surrounding them. Jesus brings light into the hopeless heart, into the darkest night. I pray for new light to break into the night of the soul.

You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. Psalm 18:28

Father,

We pray for those seeking violence and terror. Turn their darkness into light. Help them to see hope in the face of Jesus. Bless the families that have been touched by evil. Give them comfort.

Amen

Christ Over Everything

     God restores, grants grace, shows mercy and gives us freedom. Count on His all-sustaining presence and love whatever life will bring. Recognize His presence around You in the eyes of a child, in the rising and setting of the sun, in the love of a friend, in the safety of a spouse, in the delight of off-spring, in the comfort of a mom, in the fellowship of a church, in the living Word of God.

     Seek God. Ask for His help. Pray for His guidance. Make your greatest desire to be obedient. Your faith pleases Him. He loves being with you. He tells you not to fear. He is everywhere and everything is His. Recognize His sovereignty even when life spins out of control. He will set you on a steady path once again, through it all. His foundation is secure. Being legally blind, I need to count on those around me. But most of all, I count on my Savior. Listen to these beautiful Words.

I will lead the blind by ways they have not known; along unfamiliar paths I will guide them. I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do. I will not forsake them.  Isaiah 42:16

     God will take you on new paths, to places you may not have chosen or sought. Some may be frightening and uncomfortable. But He will bring You through them, smooth out the rough spots and turn your darkness into light. He will do it. Count on it.

Jesus,

We don’t understand so much of life, but we trust You to see us through. Shine light on the darkness within and without. Your glory shines through the deepest, darkest nights with the glimmer of a star. You are right there, even when it is hard to see.

Amen

Joy Over Mourning

     There are times of great suffering in our lives, those times when we wonder how to take one more step. We groan in the pain of the grief, the loss, the agony. Will we ever witness happiness again?

     God promises us a deep and abiding joy. Someday soon, we will live in paradise. Keep your salvation with you at all times. The suffering will last but a moment. Eternity, in perfect bliss, will last forever. Count on these promises from God.

For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5

You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.  Psalm 30:11

     Praise Him from the depths. It is easy to sing His praises when all is well and good. Can we praise Him even in the deep valleys of this life?

But let all who take refuge in You be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread Your protection over them; that those who love Your name rejoice in You. Psalm 5:11

     Finally, allow Him to restore you and to sustain you. Remember your salvation.

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me. Psalm 51:12

Father,

We pray for those who mourn today. Sustain them and restore them. Give them Your deep joy as they take refuge in You. You alone bring eternal joy. We praise You.

In Jesus name,

Amen