Sometimes, we step into the dark; so, we can find our way into the light. It’s not that the dark was where we wanted to be; yet, because of the dark, the light was easier to see. And the light was more welcoming when we saw that we were surrounded by the dark.
When we’ve emerged from the dark, often we find a new person has come forth as well. The old is gone; sometimes, never to be seen again. And a new awareness, a fresh vision, and a whole different perspective has been born.
Not because we planned it this way, but when you’ve gone into the deep and survived, it changes you. You discover who you really are and who you are not.
And you realize who He is, and how much He loves you. You acknowledge how much you need Him and how with Him, you’ll never again be alone.
Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:5
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
Always observing truth beyond what is said and felt.
Honesty is told in a backhanded compliment.
Integrity is revealed in a condescended reply.
Kindness is exposed in a moment of crisis.
Leadership is defined in a flash of tragedy.
Never take their word for it.
Never receive their plight without question.
Always observe. Always listen. Always reason.
Truth is crying out to you.
Just uncover your eyes and ears to understand it.
As in water face reflects face, So a man’s heart reveals the man.
Proverbs 27:19
Does not wisdom cry out, And understanding lift up her voice? She takes her stand on the top of the high hill, beside the way, where the paths meet. She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entrance of the doors: “To you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of men. O you simple ones, understand prudence, and you fools, be of an understanding heart. Listen, for I will speak of excellent things, and from the opening of my lips willcome right things; For my mouth will speak truth; Wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; Nothing crooked or perverse is in them. They are all plain to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge…”
Forgiveness only releases you from the person who did the wrong.
Forgiveness only releases you from the prison of pain that the memory brings.
Forgiveness doesn’t wipe away the trauma.
Forgiveness helps you begin to heal, and in time, that forgiveness allows you to see past yesterday and into the future of tomorrow.
Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
Matthew 18:21 & 22
For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
If we are to call ourselves Christians, then we automatically have to be becoming something that in the past, we were not. If we aren’t, then why claim to be a Christian?
Anything you read about Christ will show you that He constantly brought the questions of change to the heart and mind of everyone He met. It don’t matter if it was the woman at the well or the blind man on the roadside. He didn’t encounter people to help them remain the way they came.
So, why would we ever placate to those who want to proclaim Christianity; yet, they demand to remain in their sin? Why would we accept the pressure of rewriting Scripture to help someone feel better about their sinful lifestyle? Why would we try to stretch theology like a pretzel to create a narrative that is too far away from Truth simply to show someone we “love” him or her because otherwise our disagreement is received as hate speech?
My following of Christ created within me a desire to seek His Truth and to become more like Him, not more like myself or this world. If I desire to remain the same or to be more like this world, then, why don’t I just do it? Why would I ever demand someone else to change their belief system to accommodate mine?
If we want to be more Christlike, then, let’s do just that. If we want to be more like the world, then there is no one, including God making us to do otherwise. (He never makes us serve Him, change for Him, or live for Him. He only invites us to because His ways are better.)
So, if we are to claim ourselves to be Christians, then let us live as one. One described by Christ Himself and those who followed Him and who wrote about Him…
Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
1 John 2:3-6
Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:1
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”
I watched this trailer today, coupled with this new song titled, “I Will.” It’s so moving and truthfully, convicting, and began a series of questions within my heart and mind…
Often as Christians, we sing songs like this with bold, declarative statements of Christiansese: “I will,” “I surrender all,” “Tear Off the Roof (to get to You),” and “Champion;” yet, I then see the conflicts within the Christian culture, and I wonder are we really ready to give our all? Are we truly at the place where we’d do all it takes to be in His presence and to share the gospel to save a life, even if it cost us our own?
If I’m honest, I’ve struggled with this question numerous times; so, I’m not pointing the finger as if I’m ready and you’re not. But that doesn’t void the validity of the question. My personal struggle and prayer that I’d be ready doesn’t nullify the urgency that we all should be searching our hearts for this answer.
There will come a day soon when the liberties we now enjoy may not be so welcomed. There will come a day, maybe not as far off as we might think, that grabbing a Bible, going to church, or freely sharing the gospel with someone on the street corner might not be overlooked by those who can arrest us, charge us, and take our very lives.
And we need to be prepared NOW for that probability. We need to be searching our hearts NOW. We need to be allowing God to refine us of the self preservation in which we live and drawing us closer to Him to become the soldiers of the cross whom we claim to be in this present day, rather than live under the pretenses that we might be that person.
If we don’t prepare now, we will never become tomorrow what we aren’t becoming today.
So, let me end with these heart checks. It’s not for me to know, but I’d love to know maybe you struggle with these honest questions, too.
Yet, if for nothing more, my prayer is these questions will awaken your soul to any slothfulness that might hiding in the recesses of your heart. My prayer is these might cause us all to do a deep heart evaluation and “report for duty,” if you will, to a King who is coming to take His children home and Who has commissioned us to win the lost because He desires to take more than just you and me…
When’s the last time you invited someone to your church? And they came?
When’s the last time you shared your faith with someone who doesn’t know Him?
When’s the last time you prayed the “sinner’s prayer” with someone and watched God transform their life?
When’s the last time you discipled a new convert? And stuck with him/her through the highs and lows of their faith)?
When’s the last time you saw someone veer from the Truth, and you confronted them with that truth?
When’s the last time you saw someone living in sin, and you confronted them of the wrong and the dangers of it to help them see the Truth?
…and the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2:47
And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added tothem. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
What brings you joy? I’m not talking about the happy go lucky, goofy smile you plaster on while your heart is shattered. I’m not talking about the stoic half grin you portray as darkness closes in. I’m talking about the deep down, overwhelming joy that overflows into that guttural laugh that can’t be quenched. I’m talking about the pure “spring in your step” that only gets lighter when the rain begins to fall.
That kind of joy is everlasting. That kind of joy isn’t man made. That kind of joy can’t come from any other source but in the depths of your soul where faith is born. That kind of joy can only come from the One who created you, loves you, died for you and longs to redeem you and take you to eternity one day. That kind of joy is worth everything you’ve got.
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
What unsettles you? What brings you panic? What brings chaos to your mind?
What disheartens you? What brings you deep sorrow? What brings you guttural pain?
What creates apathy within? What brings aloofness? What brings neglect and avoidance to your soul?
The answers to these question can be found more in your actions rather than your words. As the old adage goes, “Words are cheap…. (But) Actions speak louder than words.”
Seek out those answers with passion. And then, turn to the One who can bring peace that surpasses all understanding. He can settle all that unsettles you.
…and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7
You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.
Is it in the stock market, your bank account, or you job?
Is it in your friendships, your families, or your loves?
Or is it in your education, your wisdom, or your intellect?
All these things will pass away on this earth. All these things will be in vain.
If you will but trust in the One who created all things.
If you will but trust in the One who gave you breath and strength to breathe.
He will be all you need. ❤️
But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
My thoughts for the day… If we are to be Salt & Light, how salty and how bright should we be? Salt cures food from rottenness (dying). A light shines to dispel the darkness. If we are to be Salt & Light in this lost, dying and dark world, we may need to evaluate our hearts and our intent.
If our intent is to live without conflict, peace with everyone, never causing a stir, we may be serving the wrong God. Jesus was so bold and told so many of their wrong that they killed Him just to get Him to shut up.
Salt can bring life, flavor, and enjoyment to a midday meal. It can also be bitter, irritate and bring sting to a wound, but it will bring healing through the pain. Light can bring comfort, strength, and clarity to eyes in a darkened room. It can also be glaring, burning, and explosive to those same eyes when concealment is desired.
May we be the Salt & Light that brings life, that brings healing, that brings strength, and ultimately, brings redemption and hope to a lost and dying soul.
You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men,that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
My journey didn’t stop with mere time travel or writing; it led me to become one of the most sought-after empaths, a soulful psychic who reads the hidden depths of the human spirit. I’ve been blessed—or perhaps burdened—with an ability that allows me to feel the emotions of people from every corner of time.
I am a licensed psychologist based in Greece. My love for housekeeping has inspired me to create this blog about home management and family relationships. I hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing!
Dedicated to movie nerdom, nostalgia, and escape. In the late 90s, I worked at Blockbuster Video where they let me take home two free movies a day. I caught up on the classics and reviewed theatrical releases for Denver 'burbs newspapers and magazines. Today, while raising two young, beautiful daughters with my amazing wife, I look forward to anything rated R and not Bluey. Comments and dialogue encouraged!
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