Refuse the dark.
Fight against the dim.
Resist to blow out the match.
Keep the light shining into the darkness.
Keep the torch burning, thrice if you have to.
Never surrender.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:5
Someone shared a great thought with me this other day, and I thought I’d pass it along.
Maybe it will be one you’ll come back to throughout the week…
If we, as Christians, are the light, and we have the Light shining through us, then, we are much like a flashlight shining into a darkened place.
In a darkened space where there is no other light, when you are holding the flashlight,
You can see the light.
But you can also see the darkness all around you.
All of it.
When you are holding the light, you don’t see the light as brightly as when you are standing in front of the light.
When you’re standing in front of the light, it can almost blind you,
Nothing is hidden.
So, keep shining even when it feels the darkness is crowding in around you.
The Light within you cannot be snuffed out unless you turn it out.
The Light within you will shine brightly no matter who or what attempts to destroy it.
The Light within you is eternal and has eternal impact on all who see it.
Keep shining the light even when all you see is utter darkness with the tiniest light.
Keep shining.
Be the Light to a darkened world.
In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
John 1:4-5 NKJV
In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:4-5 NIV
No matter where you are in the climb, keep climbing.
If you’re just starting out, keep climbing.
If you’re half way there, keep climbing.
If you’ve reached the top, either climb your way down and back up again,
Or find another mountain to conquer.
Just keep climbing and never give up.
Do not remember the former things,
Isaiah 43:18
Nor consider the things of old.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
Proverbs 3:5-6
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
It has been said that you are the average of your five closest friends…
So, whose mission are you on?
And what’s your average?
Not everyone you meet is going to stay with you on the journey.
And not everyone you want to stay will do so.
Some may not be able to handle your load.
Others may not be able to carry their own.
And still others just aren’t going the same way you are.
Don’t grow angry with them and don’t hold it against them.
And by no means, beg them to stay.
Just gently, say goodbye and let them go their way.
They weren’t meant to travel along.
For if you demand they come along or stay too long,
They will hurt you, or you will wound them,
Or others will become damaged in the process.
Just let go.
Release them to be free.
You will be amazed at the freedom you will find.
Even if you have to shed tears as you move forward.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross,scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Hebrews 12:1-3
Fools give full vent to their rage,
Proverbs 29:11
but the wise bring calm in the end.
Your gaze is hard to follow.
Your glare burns me from within.
Your intensity builds the fire into an inferno.
I cannot escape or refuse. I cannot run away or hide.
I shift in the uncomfortable silence,
Hoping you’ll say something to ease the pain.
You look me eye to eye, I glance away, not knowing what to say.
You begin to speak, and I cringe, terrified you’ll find me lacking and left wanting.
And suddenly, I hear Your voice gently call my name.
All fear is forgotten.
All doubt is erased.
As I lean into Your grace.
And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:40
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
1 John 3:1-3
Your journey may not look like someone else’s, and it may feel you’re all alone.
Just keep walking.
Your path may seem hard and unachievable, with a rocky, uneven, treacherous terrain.
But just keep walking.
Your heart may be racing; your legs may be failing, and you may be breathless.
But just keep walking.
Keep walking toward your goal.
Keep walking toward your joy, your peace.
Keep walking toward your brighter tomorrow.
Never return to the abuse, the turmoil, the destruction.
Run away from the toxic attempts to reclaim your soul.
Run away from the confusion and dysfunction.
Run away from the vicious lies and conceit that thirst for your demise.
Never look back to the broken shards of those shattered dreams.
The you who was there is no more.
The you who was then can never be again.
Those expectations, desires and demands can’t fit you anymore.
You’d be as a butterfly crumbling her wings to fit back in the cocoon .
Your heart would be as the bird clipping her flight to crawl back inside the shell.
Your mind would become as the prisoner who once tasted freedom then slammed the prison door and became insane.
Just keep walking toward your hope that has become today.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord…
Jeremiah 29:11-14
Too often, we get tunnel vision, and we can’t see beyond the destination.
But sometimes, we need to pause. Take a step back and let a little more light in.
With more light comes clarity.
With more light come purpose.
With more light comes Truth.
For Truth is Light, and light pierces the darkness.
Let the Light shine in today.
It will bring forth a better tomorrow.
And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
John 1:5
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
John 8:12
When you’re lonely and feel no one cares, where does your heart go?
When you’re afraid and search every corner for harm, where does your heart hide?
When you’re broken and believe not one could mend a shattered piece, where does your heart reach?
Run to the Only One who can love unconditionally.
Hide in the Shadow of the One who can defend.
Take comfort in the Only One who can heal a ravaged soul.
He is looking, and He sees the child He created.
He is lingering, and He adores you.
He is waiting, and He loves you.
One touch, one word, one moment in His presence…
Your heart will never be the same.
He heals the brokenhearted
Psalm 147:3
And binds up their wounds.
For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold
Psalm 84:10-11
From those who walk uprightly.
The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.
Psalm 18:2-6
No matter where you are on the trail, keep walking.
No matter how you feel, keep walking.
No matter who’s around, keep walking.
Just keep moving, keep going forward.
You can do this. You can make it.
Don’t worry about finishing first or finishing best.
Those things come in time.
Sometimes, you just need to focus on finishing.
Do it. And you’ll be glad you did.
But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8Yet 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
Philippians 3:7-8
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
Philippians 3:20-21
All of us go through the struggle of feeling less than.
Less that perfect.
Less than amazing.
Less than good.
Less than we should be.
Never let those moments of low convince you to quit.
Never let those minutes of doubt persuade you to quit.
It’s natural. We’ve all been there.
But the great heroes in this world never let the failure consume them.
The courageous leaders we see never let the darkness overtake without lighting a match.
So, strike that wood. Let it spark.
And even if you have to blow in the embers,
Let the flame burn.
And keep standing taller.
You’ll eventually get there.
You can do this!
Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do,forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12-14
Scripture Musings
Writing is my midnight train going anywhere… Thanks for the Journey -hdtj
God love me thoughts and prayers Life
Fascinating and engaging book reviews and encouragement you'll want to read.
Inspiring Words, Connecting Worlds. by Dhananjay Parkhe
🍀 “Be careful of what you know. That’s where your troubles begin” 🌷 Wade in The 3 Body Problem ~ Cixin Liu
https://linktr.ee/tatterhood
living to encourage by grace
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.
Capturing the world one frame at a time
Navigating parenthood with a spouse with chronic illness.
Checking out the weird old stories that inspired our new ones
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!
tourist spot travel delicious food
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!
Pen to paper
Connecting Inner voice to External World
Keep on Going - Keep On Growing
Reading, writing, reactions, movies, scary, publishing, daily motivation
On the Way to Wholeness
the grizzle grist mill 