Sitting in the Darkness

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Christmas cheer, Christmas cheer – it’s such a joyous time of year. Even those with no connection to Jesus celebrate the giving and blessings of the season.

But it’s not like Christmas and Easter are the only two times Jesus shows up each year. He’s right here with us all the time. Twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year. On our good days and in our bad times. Have you ever heard the phrase, When you can't look on the bright side, I’ll sit with you in the dark?

Jesus will sit with us in the dark.

Some may argue that in Christ, there is no darkness – so how can we sit there?

We live in a world surrounded by people who, like us, have the freedom to choose their thoughts and actions. Their thoughts and actions can bring darkness into our lives. Even our own bad decisions can bring darkness into our homes. Sickness that shows up out of nowhere brings darkness. Financial struggles bring darkness. Sometimes darkness seems to find a way in, no matter where we are; it can show up on a honeymoon, or while delivering your precious child into this world. It can show up unexpectedly, or it can creep in slowly, over time.

Starting today, let’s invite God to sit in the darkness with us and see what He can do.

Isaiah 9:6 reveals, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.”

You get to choose! Who would you rather have sitting in the darkness with you? The One who can lift the darkness? Or your own worst fears?

In John 14:26, Jesus tells us that “the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit of God, whom the Father will send in my [Jesus’s] name, he will teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said to you.”

We need to be reminded. During this season and throughout the coming new year, remember Who you’re connected to and invite Him into your presence daily.

Complaining In The Cocoon

I’ll guess our cocoon experience seems longer than that of a butterfly, but, proportionately, maybe it’s not.

Though some may find caterpillars fascinating little creatures, few would say their beauty and abilities even rival that of the butterfly. I’ll admit, I don’t have a clue what goes on in that cocoon to cause the transformation from caterpillar to butterfly. But, when life courses through the veins of their newfound wings, beauty and power take on brand new meaning.

I have no idea if the butterfly remembers life as the caterpillar, crawling on her belly in search of food, eating as if the buffet will soon be over.

I don’t know if the caterpillar knows that she’ll be hidden away in a cocoon, changing phenomenally, or if she has any appreciation for the freedoms of the butterfly. Or for that matter, if she’s ever even seen a butterfly. Perhaps her eyes are only on the task at hand, acquiring the fuel she’s driven to take in.

Does she know transformation awaits her?

Can she imagine how much of a change will occur?

Is it dark in there? Can she see at all?

Can she move in that cocoon? (Seems quite cramped to me.)

As she grows and develops, is she at all comfortable, or stressed beyond recognition?

Or – does she sleep?

Does she question what’s happening to her?

Does it hurt?

Does she know she has a future, or does she await death?

When the urge to break out overcomes her, is she afraid?

Never having had wings before, what does she think is crowding her into the cocoon?

What does she think has happened to her slimy (or furry) little body, the one she wore into the cocoon?

As her wings stretch out to their full measure, does it hurt? Does it feel good, like stretching our arms and our back after a long night of sleep?

Is she afraid of the foreign objects we know are her wings? Of their need to soar through the air?

Does she even think about what’s happening or just enjoy the newness?

The experience of the butterflies vary, some never make it out of the cocoon.

Though her story is one of rebirth and transformation, one that we can see with our eyes over a very brief period of time, does she realize it?

Ours is an ongoing story of change and rebirth, too.

What stage are you in right now?

I have no clue if the caterpillar, all wrapped up in it’s transformational habitat, can complain. I rather doubt it. But, sheesh! Us humans have that mastered!

Whether we’re still chewing leaves, crawling along on a branch, ignorant of the plant it’s growing from, or we’re closed off from the openness we previously enjoyed, seemingly trapped in a closet of darkness – change is coming; freedom and beauty and abilities await us in experiences we haven’t yet imagined.

Just as the caterpillar may have no idea what a butterfly is, or can do, we look around us and see other caterpillars or the dark looking cocoons they’ve crawled into, and may not be able to imagine what we can be.

I don’t think a caterpillar can perceive that a glorious butterfly is already in the making.

What is inside of you?

While we complain about the leaf we’re chewing on, or the darkness of our cocoon, a breathtaking butterfly is in the making!

We’ll have such freedom – to fly further than the caterpillar knows there are places to fly.

Go to a butterfly house and observe; ponder what’s happening there. 

When you rest from the busyness of your day to talk with your Maker, wait on Him; listen.

Don’t let your insatiable hunger scare you. God is there.

Don’t let apparent darkness overwhelm you. God is there.

When you feel the urge to stretch and spread out your newness – use bold force! God is right there, too! He’s waiting on you. Crawl out onto His finger and begin to explore and enjoy your freedoms and all you discover you’re capable of.

Trust Him with the preparations of today.

Trust Him with the darkness that closes in around you.

Trust Him with tomorrow, He’s already there.

Closets in Paradise?

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One day, while my children were still preteens, in the midst of a hectic day, I fled to the bathroom for some alone time. While sitting there, I cried; I prayed. I realized my helplessness and gave it all to my Father. Yes, He’s even with me in the bathroom.

I use visuals to help me process, so as I prayed, I saw myself frantically running around in a maze. I lifted the 3-D maze, as if a drawing in a coloring book, and placed it in a box of some sort. I gave the box to God, imagining placing it in His giant hand.

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“So you won’t live there anymore,” I heard in reply.

Stillness. Quiet. Relief!

I need visuals. But, that’s me. They help me grow.

What if the kingdom of heaven is right under your nose?

How many times have we been carried away by a movie or novel that paints the splendor of a magical kingdom, whether in a far off sphere or within the minute world of fairies and such?

As children, we may have marveled at the thought or hope of such an existence. Who knows, perhaps even as adults we marvel at such thoughts. (I do.)

What if there is a kingdom with such promise that our human minds can barely conceive what it might be like? Yes, it might compute to us as a magical kingdom; a place where love reigns and doesn’t even need to triumph, because that’s all there is in this kingdom of Love.

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This human lifespan, a blip on the radar of eternity might seem quite without purpose. What could we possibly achieve in this lifetime that will impact forever? Or – are we even supposed to be striving to accomplish such achievements?

And what if this kingdom or paradise is right under our noses?

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How many inches is it from your nose to your heart?

It amazes me that our minds can think we believe certain ideas, yet sometimes our hearts can override those thoughts. How can our heart and our mind act so independently of each other?

Sometimes we wish something to be true so fiercely that we cannot imagine life in any other paradigm. Wrapping our heads around a reality so opposed to the one we imagined would unfold as we journeyed through life can be as simple or as complex as we make it.

If given the news we or a loved one has a terminal illness, we may choose to live in denial for as long as evidence permits. Or, we may choose to tackle it head on and seek out what we can do to minimize suffering or hope to find a different prognosis.

I’m discovering the answers to so many of my questions are simmering in my own heart, waiting for me to see them there, begging to be uncovered, as if God’s hidden them there for me.

I’m finding that built into us is the basis for healing, for comfort and for peace and love beyond what we thought was capable. All of this and more, because built into our hearts is a throne we can give to the One Who created everyone and everything; and He has all the answers and all the healing and all the love we need.

Personally, I think we’re sometimes afraid to look into our own hearts. I know that at various seasons in my life I’ve been fearful of what I might find there.

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Good, bad or indifferent, if it’s in there, it’s a part of me. Avoiding it won’t make it disappear. Embracing it and exploring it allows us to see beyond thoughts that have held us captive in the concept of who we’ve thought we were supposed to be or what an ideal version of us could look like.

We are who we are. And we were created to be the ‘us’ we are – on purpose and as part of a plan far greater than we can fathom.

Exercise for the day – or week – or as long as it takes: Look into your own heart and allow yourself to see what’s there. God already knows the contents; you don’t have to be afraid. He’s the ultimate Protector, He knows what you’re ready for, He’s been preparing you. He’ll go there with you. For those of you who are “Friends” fans – this is Monica’s secret closet.

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What we uncover may not all be pretty. Some may use the word courage to describe what it will take to venture into the darkness. It’s only dark because we’ve not let light shine there yet. Some might use the word surrender. But, eventually we’ll discover paradise.

God’s Word gives us great assurance over and over again. Here’s a taste of His goodness:

“For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.” – 1 John 3:20-21 (KJV)

With the visual of placing you into God’s loving hands, I bless you…. “and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:7 (KJV)

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” – John 14:27 (KJV)  

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Light of the World

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Without light, man cannot see. We can’t see what lies in our path, or our hand in front of our face. Neither can we see God, or into His spiritual realm.

Jesus speaks to us, as He spoke to His disciples when He says, “You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:13 (NKJV) But, before we could have that light, He announced, “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 NKJV) He then went on to say, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (John 9:5 NKJV) Through His death, burial and resurrection we’ve become the light of the world when He lives inside of us.

If the world cannot see God it’s not because they’re walking around with their eyes closed. They have their eyes wide open. The day I walked through the Cave of the Winds here in Colorado Springs, and the day I explored the Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico, each tour guide turned off the lights when we reached the deepest point he could take us. Scary? Yes. Praise God, the lights were only off momentarily. But, in that moment or two of complete and utter darkness, you could hear folks moving around, perhaps feeling edgy, or perhaps to startle the rest of us. I was paralyzed, sure that if I moved, I’d trip and fall. I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face. It took my breath away. It was exciting, only because I could anticipate the second the lights came back on. My eyes were wide open, but I could not see a thing. The longer the light remained off, the more paranoid I became that something evil might happen in the darkness, like in a whodunit movie. Relief flooded over me when I could once again see.

No, most every lost soul roaming the Earth has their eyes wide open, and whether they realize it or not, they’re searching for answers. But, until the light of God is shed on their path, they’ll continue to walk in darkness, not seeing all the incredible things around them. They may become delusional from paranoia, or they may just accept that darkness is all there is to walk in. Like the blind, they begin to perceive things with their other senses, and not always as they really are. Some reach into the spiritual realm, feeling their way around and not recognizing the God that was and is and is to come; their own Creator.

While Jesus walked the Earth draped in flesh, He was the Light of the world. But, now He’s entrusted that Light to each of His followers, sending us out into the world to shine! If the world can’t see God, it’s because we’re hiding our light under a bushel. We have no one to blame the darkness on but ourselves; the darker the darkness, the brighter the light shines. It’s time to shine!

I’ve heard it said that the “sin of the desert, is to know where the water is and not tell.” How much greater is the sin of man to know the Truth, to walk in the Light – and keep it a secret?

Has our enemy put so many distractions in front of us, that we forget to shine or place that priority on a back burner? What is our Great Commission?

“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. – Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJV)

Enjoy this song by Ashley and Carlton Banks - Fresh Prince

This Little Light of Mine

Hidden Treasures?

(video courtesy of youtube.com)

“I will give you hidden treasures,

riches stored in secret places,

so that you may know that I am the LORD,

the God of Israel, who summons you by name.”

~Isaiah 45:3 (NIV)

Since I have precious little of your time, today I’ll be brief with my words and ask you to watch the video inserted above and answer this question: Are the treasures He’s hidden for you (not from you) not worth risking your life to find?

“Fear not….”

Found 63 times in the King James Version of the Bible

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

~II Timothy 1:7 (KJV)

“For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”

~Matthew 16:25 (NIV)

Marvelous Light

The stained glass windows were beautiful. The statues held me spellbound, wondering if they could really see me whisper with my sister in the choir loft. I sang loudly because I could. The man regally dressed in robes down front seldom smiled. He looked to languish through his routine, from memory. I’ll bet he could do it in his sleep.

And Jesus, the ultimate martyr, though I knew He’d risen from the dead, perpetually hung on the cross, agonizing over every little thing I did wrong.

The scene vividly comes to life in my memories as though I was fidgeting there now. As far as memory serves, this is where it all began. Though I know now that God was loving me, wooing me and calling me since before I was born, my mind doesn’t take me that far back.

I’m no longer surrounded by the colors that fall from the brilliant, stained glass windows that filled the room with a demand for respect of the authority represented therein. I miss the reverence; the aura of holiness. But today my understanding of the power of God lifts me up higher than where I sat in that choir loft. My childlike innocence faded away with my youth and I’ve learned many lies over the decades. But with Jesus renewing my life and as I renew my mind through His Word, innocence is not a thing of the past, but a new thing every morning, should I choose to embrace it.

Some mornings we wake up with a cloud over our heads. Who brought the cloud of discouragement? Who brought the empty, weary thoughts of meaninglessness? Does it matter? Sometimes they’re just there.

In the tabernacle of my mind, where God reveals Himself to me in new facets all the time, there are stained glass windows; there is an air of holiness; there is excitement and reverence and power and joy waiting for me. I miss out on all of that when I relinquish my right to go there. This is my place. This is my piece of heaven on earth.

The same foe that brings sorrows and emptiness brandishes his lies to keep me from fellowship with the God of the universe.

All I need to do is push past him. His authority is only that which I give him. Sometimes I give him a lot as I sulk.

With me, push past the gray into brilliance; push past the darkness to into God’s glorious, marvelous Light.

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;” 1 Peter 2:9 (KJV)

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