my day off

I actually have several days of vacation left so I am taking them this week before all the surgeries begin.

Before my day started I sat down to begin reading the scripture that Pastor Tim will base his next series on.  I wanted to refresh my memory with the passages so that I can prepare to focus on what's next after Christmas.

As I walked to my living room to read, I noticed how foggy it was outside.  My Christmas tree cast tiny sparkling lights on the window against a foggy backdrop.

One of the verses read, "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."

It just confounds me how often God gives me a physical example to support His Words when I focus and pay attention!

Despite the fog, the darkness - His son came - The light overcame the darkness….

I cannot wait for Pastor Tim to systematically teach us these truths after Christmas.

My day off started perfectly and I'm convinced I accomplished a ton because I gave Him my first moments - my best most focused moments!  Why I don't ALWAYS give Him first place in my life I have no idea !

He waits for me to reach out of this darkness - to reach toward the Light so that I follow Him through my days, not my own earthly agenda...

in darkness hides

This morning it was with great joy I woke up to sunshine!

As Vern and I headed outside, I noticed how all the grass was brightly lit and already looking a little bit more green.  All the grass however except the grass still hidden in the dark shade of the trees.

It brought to mind how evil tries to stay hidden in the darkness, clinging to the last little bit of shade, a place where no one sees.

Pastor Tim's Easter message at Crossroads speaks to all who are trying to hide the mistakes and sin they've made in their lives.  Hoping desperately that no one ever sees.

It's time to no longer hide. 

Just as the sun eventually reveals the last remaining bit of frost hidden in the darkness, so the Son of Man exposes our sin but He doesn't just reveal - He offers Himself as the sacrifice and forgiver of our sin.  Move from the darkness to the Light this Easter weekend!

swallowed by stillness

I have been sitting completely motionless outside and was immediately swallowed by glorious silence for a handful of long summer moments.  A deep exhale and rest has begun.

It is crazy when you sit out this time of the night, you can literally watch it become dark.  Minute by minute it darkens until the earth also rests.

The silence was finally broken by a sudden burst of air through the trees in the woods that lay behind us.  So God broke His own silence - I didn't - how awesome and how unusual.

Maybe I resist stillness because of what it reveals.

The heart and all it longs to reveal is not known in noise, it can stay hidden and unknown for as long as the noise continues. Silence the noise and all is exposed.

Exposure is good.  It allows healing and cleansing and forces honesty.  Only then are we changed.

It seems a contradiction that the same God that wants me to seek rest in Him created this busy mind of mine that constantly struggles to focus and rest.  Ever moving on to something new while wishing to remain in the familiar just a little longer.  He uses my weakness and in it He is glorified - not in my strength for my strength is something I have created and it's false and wanes constantly and then is gone.

Thankfully He takes me as I am and holds me with nail scarred hands - His strength is enough to make even the stillness powerful and fulfilling and transforming.