From Darkness To Light

       A friend tells about his experience of cancer treatments including chemo, a bone marrow transplant, and months in the hospital.  He said, not only was his body exhausted, but also his mind and soul.  His world was void of any kind of sunshine or connection.  He was done.  In his despair and loneliness, like many of us do, he called on the Lord, asking for ‘something, anything’ to lift his spirit.  He wanted out of the dark world in which he’d seemed to have fallen.

To match the darkness in his soul, rain was falling outside.  Yet, as the rain fell, looking out the windows, he noticed how the drops were splashing and tiny bits of light reflected and caused sparkling into many colors against the fallen leaves.  

       The thunder that rolled above him surprisingly seemed to sound like music in perfect rhythm.  He could feel his mood lifting as he reflected on the Psalm he had read earlier in the day!  Instead of drowning in darkness, he was now experiencing a joy he couldn’t have imagined possible even hours before.

My friend isn’t alone in his perception of darkness and loneliness, when trials of many kinds, alter our world.  Everyone has issues.  Sometimes it’s medical, like my friend.  But it can be financial worries, relationship upheavals, death or divorce, an accident we are never prepared for, and even the turmoil of trying to keep our spiritual life on the right track as Satan attacks us on every turn.

We wake up and even before we begin our day, we are discouraged and defeated. We’ve given up before our feet even hit the floor. When times are hard we often lose the ability to focus on anything that is good.  We can’t seem to see beyond the pain we are experiencing even though our head knows that our Creator remains steadfast.  We stumble on the road blocks Satan puts in our path blurring the Divine Light God is shining.

When we look for it, however, we often find reason to smile, in spite of ourselves!  God knows where we are and the circumstances which have put us in darkness.  It’s really about perspective.  When we allow the Holy Spirit to reign over the darkness enveloping us, we see a glimmer of light.  As we process the Light, God can alter our thought processes and change the darkness into something welcoming, safe and much closer to His perspective.

Sometimes perspective comes from another Believer.  Other times it’s from reading His Word and placing ourselves in a state of prayer, in communion with The Father.  Other times it might come from the voice or hug from a child; or even breathing in God’s coloring book in the form of a wondrous picture of nature.  As our hearts and minds are changed with the ‘hug’ from God in whatever form it comes, we can feel our world of loneliness, darkness and sadness lifting into a place we hadn’t expected.  

If you are facing a dark, difficult time, I pray you will reach out and accept the ‘hug’ God sends in His unique way.  When accepting his love, may you be refreshed in his Divine Light.

Behind The Costume

      Halloween seems to be a holiday people either love or hate.  I enjoy the silliness or cute side of it, but am never happy with the horror side.  It’s just not my personality. 

I remember trick or treating only once when I was a child, in third grade.  We didn’t have ‘real’ costumes, so my sister and I wore a paper sack on our heads.  I don’t remember much else; not even eating the ‘treats’.  

As time passed and my own family grew, my husband and I did have costumes for our children and even went ‘trick or treating’ on occasion, even though neither of us were big fans.  The school parades with all the children dressed in their costumes, as well as the adults, always seemed harmless and even fun.

My belief system has always been pretty strong, but as I’ve grown and matured as a Christian, I can see my views being altered, as I continue to study the Word and learn scripture.  

I recently came across an article which caused me pause, regarding Halloween.  I think I always knew it began as a pagan holiday, but never thought much about it, although I’ve always hated the ideas of witches, warlocks, spells and anything ‘horror’.  These feelings have been further compounded as Halloween has become more and more dark as the ‘horror side’ of the holiday is gripping tighter as dark music, movies, costumes and even harmful events seem to be escalating every year.

The article however, in summary, suggested that participating in Halloween gives Satan complete delight because he sees this as an opportunity.  According to a former Satanist, parents (and the adults who also dress up) are allowing their children at least one night of celebrating Satan the the Satanic world.  I was totally flabbergasted—and terrified.  Never had I ever considered such a thought.  As a Believer I can’t help wonder if he’s right!  

We offer, as Christians, an alternative to ‘trick or treating’ with ‘trunk or treat’.  The concept seems right enough.  It takes children off the streets and potentially ‘scary’ neighborhoods and places them and their families within the protected borders of those who have faith in Jesus.  This also provides the opportunity to invite them to church and offer Christian material.

But it makes me wonder.  Are we sending mixed messages?  Are we saying it’s okay to partake of the ‘dark world’ as long as we ‘partake' in the right environment?  I don’t know.  Perhaps none of this makes sense.  Perhaps you even think I may be over reacting.  Maybe I am.

I reached for the Bible to find answers.  I found a few verses which helped me, and may or may not help you.  Please understand, I’m not here to judge your participation or feelings on Halloween.  I just wondered about mine. 

Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.   Ephesians 6:11-12

.... the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons.  You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons.   1 Corinthians 10:20-21

There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 11or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.  Deuteronomy 18:10-12

God's Surprises

  My all time favorite movie is, “Facing The Giants.”  There’s a scene in the movie that discusses two farmers ‘preparing fields.’  Then the question is asked of the two farmers ‘Which field will God more likely bless?’  —the answer is ‘The one who readies his field.’

There are so many ways we prepare our field.  As a gardener, it’s obvious if I expect food in my garden, then I need to plant seeds, water them and remove the weeds.  But what happens when deer come along and eat everything I’ve planted; or we have so much rain right after planting, all the seeds are washed away, or the opposite: we experience no rain and have drought.  Or perhaps a violent storm comes through after the crop is nearly ready for harvest and everything is destroyed?

Stuff happens all the time.  It’s the way of nature; the way of life.  Does this mean we should give up and not try? I believe God expects us to try and trust him for the results!  God promises to take care of those who are faithful.  Sometimes this comes in surprising ways.

We may lose all our food in our garden, but neighbors, family or strangers will provide what we need—-or those crops we thought sure were lost, will reseed and produce food just a while later than we expected!   Or the Lord will provide money or other creative means to see to our needs.

I think we forget that God is creative.  Consider all the imagination he used creating this great Universe!  If God can figure that out in ways Scientists still find a mystery, then why is it so hard for us to expect God to supply what we need in an unorthodox way?  

Sometimes we forget or assume that God doesn’t really care about all our needs and therefore don’t bother to take our problems to him unless they’re the great big ones.—-You know——  a surgery, loss of a job, serious illness, natural disaster or other catastrophic event well out of our hands. 

He cares about the ‘small stuff’ too.  In fact I’d go so far as to say, he cares about every facet of our lives.  And while he knows everything that’s going to happen, he wants communication from us; just the way we want communication from a spouse or a child, friend or neighbor!  And I believe he wants us to do our part with the gifts and abilities he’s given us to prepare ‘our field’ while we wait.  

And we need to praise him and thank him for what he’s already done, as well as, whatever it is he is going to do.  And that doesn’t mean things are going to work out just the way we planned.  God uses circumstances to teach, disciple, discipline, witness, and more.   It’s in these ‘unsteady’ times we need to be ‘more steady’ with Him!

It’s Fall and the colors that arise from the leaves turning a vibrant red, lemon yellow, pumpkin orange and all colors in between can be startling, and beautiful!  Even in my expectation, I’m always surprised and filled with joy at the color!  

This same thought process can be applied to our lives.  God brings color and other surprises to our lives sometimes when we expect; and sometimes when we don’t.  He is in control and knows just what we need and when we need it!

I serve a Creative God!  I love God’s surprises.  What surprises will you see today?

Childlike Faith

       A Pastor friend of mine tells the story of the time his son and he were playing outdoors with a frisbee.  It was just dusk and the frisbee landed on the rooftop of the house.  Pulling a ladder from the garage and armed with a broom, the effort began to retrieve the frisbee.  As darkness fell, all hope seemed lost for the night, as the broom was about six inches short of reaching the frisbee.  

Retrieving the toy, the pastor decided, would have to wait till morning.  His son was horribly disappointed and gave many reasons why it should be rescued that evening. Patiently the dad explained, it just wouldn’t work, given they could no longer see well.  

The son, after watching during his growing up years, seeing his father’s belief in prayer, suggested praying for the answer.  Given his own belief system, the father agreed and allowed the boy to pray.  It was a simple prayer, just asking God to help them retrieve his favorite frisbee from the roof.  Just as soon as he finished, the boy’s face lit up and placing his young finger in the air said, “I’ve got it!  We need a longer broom!”

Going to the garage, sure enough, there was a longer broom, just the right length longer, about six inches.  Climbing the ladder once again, with the boy navigating from below, since darkness was now fully on, the pastor was totally able to whisk the frisbee off the roof with the extended ladder.

I think about all the times I’ve prayed and asked God for ‘something.’  I know without a single doubt God is all powerful, over all the earth and everything in it, including the whole universe.  Yet, after hearing the story of the boy and his frisbee, I wonder if the child’s understanding and faith in prayer isn’t stronger than my own!

We are told to come as children to Christ—-with child like faith!  As we grow into adults, we become just a touch jaded, and perhaps even cynical—even if not done so deliberately!

Prayer is a mighty tool when our motives and heart are in the right place.  (See James 4:3)  I wonder if we just become glib about our prayers and not believe with our whole heart that God has this incredible ability to answer our requests?  It’s true, God doesn’t always answer our prayers the way we want.  Sometimes it’s because it’s totally the wrong thing for us and God has something better in mind.

Other times it is not only because our motives are off kilter, but our hearts aren’t right with Him. (See Jeremiah 29:12-13)  But sometimes we lack faith!  

James 1:6-8 also tells us if we doubt, God won’t answer.  That little boy didn’t doubt for a moment that God would somehow get that frisbee off the roof.  God didn’t provide a huge gust of wind to blow it off—-but he could have—-!  But he did provide an ‘idea’ that when followed through on, absolutely caused the frisbee to be retrieved.  

What are you asking God for today?  Have you made sure your heart is in the right place?  Are your motives pure?  Do you have the faith to see God make it happen?  Will you listen to see how God responds?  Will He provide a miracle? (Yes he can!)   Or is he asking you to do something (even something simple or small) that will precipitate the ‘miracle’ you need?  

God is still in the business of providing ‘miracles’.  Are you ready for an answer to prayer?

Photo Credit: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/little-boy-playing-frisbee-50708830

When Doubt Attacks

  “I feel like I’m lost,” my friend said.  “It’s hard to describe, but my head is all over the place.  I know I’m stressed and it’s not even about work, yet working is a struggle.  I just want to cry, and I have, though not much.  I’ve prayed, I’ve yelled and I’ve read my Bible.  I’ve asked for direction and even ‘What’s wrong with me?’    I’m not sure I can even describe how I really feel.  I don’t know what to do,” she added, with tears streaming down her face.”

I identified with my friend.  I’ve found myself in the same place, although likely for entirely different reasons.  But that kind of sadness borders on depression or a severe case of anxiety, because life seems out of control.  There just doesn’t seem to be any clear answers to the problems swirling around in my mind.

In an effort to battle the onslaught of negativity, I find my trusty notebook and pen and begin a “plan” to help me focus!  I create my worthy “to-do” list in areas of cleaning, studying, exercising, writing and any other area I feel like focus should be enhanced.  Writing seems to be the one area that suffers the most (well, exercising, too.  But that’s always a battle!)

Writing requires thought; a good deal of thought.  The process can be arduous, even though I completely love it!  But when attacks happen on my purpose for writing, I begin to sink.  I ask myself, ‘Who cares if I write or if I don’t?’  ‘Does it make a difference?’  ‘Will anyone even notice if I don’t post this week?’   ‘Am I good enough?’  The questions pummel me like a giant hammer chiseling away (sometimes in large chunks) my ability to see that it’s worthwhile; that I am making a difference, even if it’s a small one!

I stare at the empty page before me on the computer screen, willing myself to write—something—anything—that might get my mind working.  This morning, as I write this, (and yes, this is a time of struggle for me), I came across the scripture in Esther about ‘such a time as this.’  (See Esther 4:14) Esther faced great risk by doing the right thing.  It couldn’t have been easy making the choice needed to save her people.  But when reflecting on Mordecai’s words, and in prayerful attitude, she faced her demons and doubts, and moved forward.

The passage made me cry, even though I’ve read it many times.  God has also, given me, and you, a purpose!  We were created to carry out God’s plan.  He absolutely can have someone else do what we were called to do.  But when we choose to allow doubts to become giant fear, we choose to miss the blessings that come with being obedient to our calling, regardless of how we view their value.

We visited an arts festival recently and I was awed by the huge variety of gifts many people have been given.  Some of the work seemed simple but was exquisite.  Others certainly spent hours making a single piece to be shared with those who crossed their paths.  Each had something special and unique to share. Each had distinctive beauty.  God provides this gift to every single one of us.  I wonder how often we ignore the nudges and signals He provides, while we wallow in frustration and doubt.  

Is doubt stealing opportunities to use the gifts God has given you?  What will you (or I) choose to do about it?

Photo Credit: https://www.pexels.com/search/doubt/