being light... seeing light...

Again Jesus spoke to them saying, "I am the light of  the world.

Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

John 8:12 ESV

Jesus is the light of the world...

He is the only true Light...

and those who believe...

receive His light...

However... we can choose not to follow...

we can choose to walk in darkness...

So being light...

often puts us in the position...

of exposing darkness...

in the life of other Believers...

Sometimes it's received...

with conviction...

and joy...

Sometimes it's blocked...

by a wall of pride... denial... 

justification... or blame...

We can be a conduit for His Light...

through obedience to the Holy Spirit...

and by walking in His light of life...

as an example to those around us...

Sometimes we need someone to be light for us...

seeing light in others...

having others reveal darkness within us...

Light... true Light...

only comes from Him...

Seeing light changes us...

lightens our spirits...

I saw some today in a loved one...

and let me tell you...

there is great joy...

in seeing another...

receive light...

to see another's spirit... 

simply light up... with His truth...

Send out your light and your truth...

Psalm 43:3 ESV

Amen...

10 words till Christmas... light...

Christmas lights line houses and streets...
lighting up the darkness...

Candlelight atop tables... altars...
shine on faces... make them bright...

Light... a Christmas word...

And an angel of the Lord appeared to [the shepherds],

and the glory of the Lord shone around them...

Luke 2:9 ESV

God's glory... it shines like the purest light...

His light filled the shepherd's field...

a glory announcing the birth of Light... in a dark world...

In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

John 1:4 ESV

The wise men... magi... saw the star...

a light shining in the night skies...

...wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying,

"Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?

For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him."

Matthew 2:1-2 ESV

Light... makes the way for you to see where you are going...

the light of the star guided the wise men to Jesus... the King...

Light... it's what Jesus came to bring...

light to a dark world... trapped in sin...

light to find the way out... the way back to Him...

light to bring knowledge... of the glory of God...

The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world was made through him,

yet the world did not know him.

John 1:9-10 ESV

Light came into the world...

but not all have eyes to see...

or hearts to receive...

But for those who do...

we become His lights...

to show others the Way...

Where do you need light in your life today...?

or to whom do you need to be light...?

Light... an Advent word... a word of Christmas...

...the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light,

and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,

on them a light has dawned."

Matthew 4:16 ESV

all things will be brought to light...

"... For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest,

nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light. ..."

Luke 8:17 ESV

Today I had a glimpse of things being brought to light...

one a joy to see...

the other... simply a revealing of this truth...

A friend shared a hidden sin...

one she didn't even recognize...

She shared how He worked in her heart... for months...

and how she chose to obey today...

It was a joy to hear her tell...

smiling she said...

I feel so much lighter...!

Freedom... that's what she experienced...

a new area of freedom...

where she didn't even know she was bound...

The second came in an email...

a family secret...

found through a paper trail...

in the preparation for a property sale...

This one simply revealed the truth...

that what has been hidden...

will be revealed...

Nothing can be kept in the dark forever...

it will all come to light...

And I think about the Day the Light will return...

and how we'll respond to the unveiling...

of what's been hidden in the dark...

Some will embrace the Light with joy...

being freed from bonds they didn't know they had...

others will simply be revealed for what they are...

what they would've rather kept hidden... forever...

I've done some revealing of my own...

at His prompting...

Sharing truths with others I would have rather kept hidden...

but what I experienced... through a hard obedience...

was like my friend's... a lightening...

a freedom... filled with joy...

So the word to you friends today...

would be to recognize...

accept the truth...

nothing is hidden... that will not be brought to light...

Seek His counsel now...

on how to bring your darkness to light...

Be willing to obey...

and find freedom and joy now...

rather than being weighed down...

by what will be uncovered... one Day... one Way...

For you save a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down.

For it is you who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness.

Psalm 18:27-28 ESV

resting in Him... to make me light...

"You are the light of the world. ..."

Matthew 5:14 ESV

Jesus told His disciples... 

in His sermon on a hill...

You are the light of the world...

And it struck me a while back...

the truth of this statement...

what He meant...

what He was saying...

you... are... the light...

I... am... the light...

in a very... dark... world...

There is no other light... in all the world...

only His disciples carry His Spirit in our hearts...

only we can let His light shine...

we alone have light to shine...

You... I... we... are... the... light... of... the... dark... world...

An overwhelming... awesome... task...

when you think of all the darkness...

come face to face with it daily...

through family... friends... community... church...

There is a great darkness...

and we... His people... are the only light...

A song sung in praise and prayer recently...

set me to wondering about being light again...

There is a candle in every soul

Some brightly burning, some dark and cold

There is a Spirit who brings a fire

Ignites a candle and makes His home

So carry your candle, run to the darkness

Seek out the helpless, confused and torn

Hold out your candle for all to see it

Take your candle, and go light your world

Take your candle, and go light your world

Frustrated brother, see how he's tried to

Light his own candle some other way

See now your sister, she's been robbed and lied to

Still holds a candle without a flame

So carry your candle, run to the darkness

Seek out the helpless, deceived and poor

Hold out your candle for all to see it

Take your candle, and go light your world

Singing... tears welled... ran down... 

You see... I feel as if darkness has been running to me lately...

frustrated brothers... sisters robbed and lied to ...

I know these people... love these people...

but feel helpless... to light their way...

So I ask Him...

Show me how... to be light... in the dark...

And I rest in this prayer...

and I listen for His way...

and I try to obey...

His quiet promptings...

give...

be quiet...

respect...

I don't do it perfectly... but I try...

it doesn't feel like being light...

because each call causes me suffering...

not a lot... but some... in small ways...

denying self... to be light for Him...

And I wonder...

Do they see it as light...?

will it make a difference...?

His Word calls His followers...

lay down your life in love...

so I find myself...

resting in Him... to make me light...

His way... not mine...

and experiencing...

some of His suffering...

I come to know Him better...

But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings,

that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

1 Peter 4:13 ESV

[click here to view on YouTube... or click post title to view on Jeremiah's Menu...]

Looking forward... to His glory... being revealed...

finding rest... even in unrest...

If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,"

even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day,

for darkness is as light with you.

Psalm 139:11-12 ESV

Today... a rest-less heart...

waiting to see how things will get finished...

Things I believe He's called me to...

but some days... I just wonder...

is it Him...? or is it me...?

who got me into all this...

One thing... needed His inspiration...

an article on temptation...

What I discovered... in my unrest... was His inspiration...

actually... experiential knowledge...

The unrest He allowed...

led me to fall to temptation...

a short temper... a harsh word... to a loved one...

which led to a convicted heart...

and words to begin... the article on temptation...

Humbled by His ability to supply...

even in my unrest...

Marveling... at the wonder of darkness...

being as light to Him...

Out of my dark restless mood...

He brought light...

Light shining on the dark still dwelling in my heart...

and light shining on words to begin a writing He called me to...

two birds... one stone...

So now I see... a new place to rest...

I can rest in my unrest...

where He reveals...

inspires...

and uses darkness...

to bring about light...

wait on Him... another thought on Psalm 130:5-6...

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;

my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen in the morning,

more than watchmen for the morning.

Psalm 130:5-6 ESV

Watchmen... their work is intense...

watching for dangers... threats... attacks...

watching... waiting... for the morning sun...

the cover of darkness no longer an asset to the enemy...

the night's work done...

Watchmen... that's who we are to be right now...

intensely watchful in our dark world...

watching for dangers... threats... attacks...

ready to sound the alarm...

As I continued to consider these verses yesterday...

the intensity of the watchmen's work caught my attention...

resisting the urge to rest the eyes... sleep... take just a little nap...

but that's not allowed... it's dangerous... 

putting the watchman and others at risk...

Spiritually... we must beware falling asleep...

becoming complacent... overly confident... distracted...

it's not time... we must remain intensely vigilant...

it's still night... darkness covers the earth...

And as I thought about waiting on the Lord...

His coming in the east as sure as the dawn will shine...

I was overwhelmed with the relief... joy... victory...

we will feel... experience... when His Light... rises above the horizon...

"... For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west,

so will the coming of the Son of Man. ..." ---Jesus

Matthew 24:27 ESV

It will be over...

the work done...

a time for rest...

joy...

peace...

But NOT yet...

Now we must remain watchful... waiting on Him for the sure promise of victory... as sure as the rising of the sun... but we don't arm ourselves with caffeine... we arm ourselves with the Word...

And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well

to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns

and the morning star arises in your hearts...

2 Peter 1:19 ESV

Stay awake... wait for His dawning Day...

wait it out in the Word...

prayerfully... obediently...

filling yourself with His promises... His strength... His Truth...

The Day is coming... the night is nearly over...

The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness

and put on the armor of light.

Romans 13:12 ESV

faith... certain of what we do not see...

Reminded afresh...
faith is being certain... of what we do not see...

Faith has to do with marrying Invisible and Visible. When we engage in an act of faith we give up control, we give up sensory (sight, hearing, etc.) confirmation of reality; we give up insisting on head-knowledge as our primary means of orientation in life.

---Eugene Peterson, The Jesus Way

These words... bring to mind my daughter's art... depicting Scripture...

And I will lead the blind in a way they do not know,

in paths that they have not known I will guide them.

I will turn the darkness before them into light,

the rough places into level ground.

These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them.

Isaiah 42:16 ESV

Hanging in the corner where I write... I look at it often...
a picture of those who are faithful...
those who know they can't see what's important...
those willing to follow... like Abraham...
going... they know not where...
just because... He said so...

Have you accepted that you are blind...?
Have you chosen faith...? in Him...?

Father God... I confess... I am blind...

lead me in Your Way... turn my darkness to light...

the rough places into level ground...

restraining lawlessness... for now...

For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work.

Only he who now restrains it will do so until

he is out of the way.

2 Thessalonians 2:7 ESV

It's no mystery that lawlessness is already at work...

we see it all around us... just spend a few minutes watching the news...

Not only is the man of lawlessness attacking people in general... those made in the image of God... lawlessness is attacking His Church... with increasing degrees of persecution... all around the world...

Contemplating this passage for another blog... I was caught by how he who restrains... the restrainer... will be taken out of the way...

It's unclear exactly who the restrainer is...

Paul told the Thessalonians while he was with them...

but he didn't repeat the information here...

Do you not remember that when I was still with you

I told you these things? And you know what is restraining him now 

so that he may be revealed in his time.

2 Thessalonians 2:5-6 ESV

Theologians over the years have asserted various ideas on what is restraining... and who the restrainer might be... but in my writing earlier today... I had a glimpse... of what might be... a revelation...

I recently studied the letters to the Thessalonians with a group of ladies... using Beth Moore's study Children of the Day... and one of the explanations she gave... the one I felt most to be true... cited the restraining "what" as the church... and named the restrainer "who" as the Holy Spirit...

With this in the back of my mind... I saw two errors Believers can fall prey to... with the increasing work of the lawless one... 

The first is the error of falling for his deception...

The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan

with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all

wicked deception for those who are perishing, because

they refused to love the truth...

2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 ESV

The lawless one comes with the enemy's power...

false signs... wonders... deception... lies...

This is the one Adam and Eve fell prey to...

and they were two who walked closest to God...

How can we expect to not be swayed...? escape temptation...?

The second error... giving into fear... dismay... despair...

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,

though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble

at its swelling. Selah

Psalm 46:1-3 ESV

Keeping our eyes on the world... and not on Him...

can lead us to be paralyzed with fear...

a la Peter walking on water... until he took his eyes off Jesus...

and focused on the wind... the waves... the storm...

Lawlessness is darkness...

it's restrained by Light...

The light of the church... its people... its spirit...

will become dimmer and dimmer...

less able to restrain lawlessness...

by falling to deception...

or giving into inaction... smothered by fear and despair...

The Holy Spirit speaks loudest in our hearts when we listen and obey... sometimes I think He keeps quiet... when He knows we won't do what He says... 

With the disobedience of the church... through deception and fear... 

with few to none... to work through...

perhaps... the Holy Spirit will be moved out of the way... 

"... when the Son of  Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" ---Jesus

Luke 18:8 ESV

Both errors can be overcome... 

by rooting ourselves in His Word... His Truth... His Way...

by faith... believing and upholding what He says is true...

by steeping in the Word... in prayer... in trusting obedience...

While we are here... let us be restrainers of darkness...

trust the One who is Truth... love... grace... mercy...

trust the One who knows... when we don't...

Pray for Him to protect you from both errors...

deception... and... fear...

Push back the darkness... be the light He calls us to be... for now... there is no other...

You are the light of the world.

Matthew 5:14 ESV

a believer's prayer...

Thoughts from yesterday... continue today... especially regarding those who want to change Him... and not be changed...

A conversation with a friend... speaking about one who says he believes... she calls him... a deceived Believer...

I think about those who say they know... or maybe just know in part... and my heart breaks for they will stumble and fall over Him...be broken... or just flat out led astray...

And His Word comes to mind...
a verse for Believers to pray...
ones who want to be changed...
and not trip over Him...

Open my eyes that I may see

wonderful things in your law.

Psalm 119:18

A Believer's prayer... for all Believers...

that we might not trip and fall...

in the darkness of deception...

Amen...

joy in His purpose...

I heard it today... a new perspective on Romans 8:28... at least for me...

And we know that for those who love God

all things work together for good,

for those who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28 ESV

In an interview... the founder of Revival Outside the Walls... attributed joy... to pursuing God's purpose... with your life...

This man found joy... only after he realized he was to live for God's purpose... not his... even though he spent years working in the church...

God's purpose... disciple-making... 

And Jesus came and said to them,

"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations..."

Matthew 28:18-19 ESV

The one purpose we are called to fulfill with our life... is making disciples... by sharing our faith... blessing others with the good news... that is also for them...

Living life for God's one purpose...

makes ALL things that He allows in your life...

an opportunity to share faith...

reveal His power... glorify Him...

and bring others to Christ...

hence... it's... ALL... good...

This man on the radio... filled with enthusiasm and joy...

was not a man with a trouble-free story...

With joy he spoke about God's call on his life...

the call he heard in an ICU bed...

a bed in which the doctors said he would die...

This man challenges Believers in severe straits...

walking in the shadow of death...

to rejoice at the adventure...

to not waste a moment of the trial...

but use it for God's purpose...

drawing others to Him... through a witness of...

trust...

faith...

joy...

Then... on another program...

I heard stories of present day martyrs...

One... a Chinese preacher... with a ministry on the border of North Korea...

feeding those who fled... crossed the river into China...

not only food... but good news...

This man would not help them stay in China...

he encouraged these new Believers... charged them...

to go back to the darkness... with the Light they now carried...

and share it with their family... friends... neighbors...

Just this last weekend...

the Chinese preacher making disciples...

sending them out into darkness...

was brutally murdered...

The remarks of the representative from The Voice of the Martyrs...

celebrated the welcome... this faithful preacher of Light...

surely received in heaven... Well done... good and faithful servant...

Joy... in being used for His purpose... do you have it...?

Can you filter all life's ups and downs through this charge...?

Have you embraced the purpose of your life...? the one to share faith...? make disciples...? wherever and in whatever circumstances He brings into your life...?

Joy in His purpose...

I just really never made the connection...

But if all things work for good...

in fulfilling His purpose...

shouldn't it bring... unimaginable... joy...?

why darkness needs to be confessed...

Darkness... it has no substance...
it's only an absence of light...

Light... photons... wave-particle duality...
all its lengths of color mixed together... make white...

Darkness lurks in our hearts...
the shadow of sin...
the remnants of wounds...

When Believers recognize darkness in their hearts...
when the Holy Spirit convicts...
there's only one thing to do...
confess...

Bring your darkness into the light...
share it with a trusted friend in the faith...
a sister or brother in Christ...

Today... I was reminded afresh of the freedom it brings...

Moved to confess something dark in my heart...
it's been going on a while... months in fact...
a jealousy of sorts...

I don't agree with it when it raises its ugly head...
but pride kept me from confessing...
thinking it would somehow... just... go... away...

Bringing it into the light was not something I wanted to do...
but I know enough by now... (spiritually speaking...)
to know keeping it hidden... only gives it room to grow...

I spoke it out loud... to a trusted friend...
and though there was sorrow for the darkness in me...
I soon felt lighter...
less burdened...
dare I say... free...?

And I realize... darkness cannot exist in the light...
its nothing really...

Darkness stays dark when its hidden...

Therefore... darkness needs to be confessed...
because then it has no power...

Light... overcomes... darkness...

Do you have something dark lurking in your heart...? something that makes you cringe with shame...? when you see it...?

Bring it to the Light...
first confess it to Him...
then ask who else you need to confess it to...

Confession leads to freedom...
freedom from darkness...

Breaking free is never easy...
but its always worth it...
Amen...

He uncovers the deeps out of darkness

and brings deep darkness to light.

Job 12:22 ESV

Then I saw that there is more gain in wisdom than in folly,

as there is more gain in light than in darkness.

Ecclesiastes 2:13 ESV

Again Jesus spoke to them saying,

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me

will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

John 8:12 ESV

"... I have come into the world as light,

so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. ..."

---Jesus

John 12:46 ESV

The night is far gone; the day is at hand.

So then let us cast off the works of darkness

and put on the armor of light.

Romans 13:12 ESV

Jesus came so we could see we were stumbling around in the dark... He came to make it safe to come into the light... to find forgiveness... healing... freedom...

Light... it is our armor... in a dark world...

even when the darkness is found in our own heart...

psalm 103... an Easter perspective... part nine...

About halfway through Psalm 103... wondering what we will see today...

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his love for those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west,

so far has he removed our transgressions for us.

Psalm 103:11-12

Love greater than the distance between heaven and earth...

Transgressions removed farther than we can even imagine...

Yet... this love... this forgiveness... reserved for those... who fear Him...

Let's look at what this fear of the Lord is about...

The biblical conception of fear embraces a much wider dimension than does our common English word, which simply denotes dread or terror. While this meaning forms an essential part of the scriptural picture, it is by no means the primary significance, especially when the fear of God --- an awe-inspiring reverence --- is referred to.

There is, of course, a legitimate place for the fear of God in the lower, anxious sense. We are told, "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Heb 10:31, RSV). Jesus taught that we should fear God because he has the power to punish sin and consign people to utter destruction (Lk 12:4-5). Fear has a constructive role to play in enabling men to realize both the degeneracy of their souls and their need of divine forgiveness.

---Tyndale Bible Dictionary

Jesus showed us the greatness of God's love...
Love greater than we can fathom...

He came and made a way... for sins to be removed...
blotted out... cast east and west... never to return...

But there were... are... those who reject His love...
disregard His forgiveness... for they have no fear of Him...
no understanding of what Jesus revealed...
our need for a Savior...

Those who rejected Him... crucified Him...
Those for whom He prayed for forgiveness... spat on Him...
Those who preferred their own light... to the Light of the world... stayed in darkness...

"... And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world,

and people loved the darkness rather than the light

because their works were evil. For everyone who

does wicked things hates the light and does not come

to the light, lest his works should be exposed.

But whoever does what is true comes to the light,

so that it may be clearly seen that his works

have been carried out in God." --- Jesus

John 3:19-21 ESV

To truly know God... 

even an inkling of the reality of Him...

is to fear Him...

Jesus came... to reveal the reality of His love...

mercy... compassion...

Where fear of the Lord drives us to follow the law...

His love... compels us... to follow Him...

His love... enables us to trust...

trust enables us to walk out of the darkness...

Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of his servant?

Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light,

trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.

But now, all you who light fires and provide

for yourselves with flaming torches,

go, walk in the light of your fires

and of the torches you have set ablaze.

This is what you shall receive from my hand:

You will lie down in torment.

Psalm 50:10-11

Those who refuse to fear the Lord...

see Him for who He is... and who they are before Him...

will not receive... experience... His love... or... forgiveness...

Those who fear Him... know Him... trust Him... receive...

love beyond comprehension...

forgiveness unimaginable...

all in Jesus's name...

Father God... fill me with a proper fear of You...

without You I'm lost in the dark...

I trust You... Lord... show me the Way...

use me to shine Your Light in the life of others...

that they may find the Way too...

sometimes... obedience feels... like walking in the dark...

Sometimes... trusting obedience... feels like walking in the dark...

Yesterday's thoughts on His Word is light...
and thinking about Ezekiel...
all the strange things God asked Him to do...
to try and reach the hearts of His people...

• Eat a scroll...
• Build a model of Jerusalem under siege... then bind himself... laying north... then south of the model... for hundreds of days...
• Shave his head... taking a third and burning it... attack a third of his hair with a sword... and scatter the remaining third in the wind...
• Prophesy to the mountains...

Made me think of those who trust and obey... when it doesn't really seem to make sense to them...

Abram... Abraham... the father of the faithful...
left his homeland... for he knew not where...
because he trusted and obeyed God...

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go

out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance.

And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

Hebrews 11:8 ESV

Sometimes... obeying His Word... 

feels like walking in the dark...

The key... trusting He is Light...

He knows the end from the beginning...

nothing hidden from His sight...

nothing is darkness to Him...

Obedience to His Word...

even when we cannot see...

brings encouragement to others...

bringing them light...

I've experienced it myself...

during a worship service...

anticipating a hard call...

the worship leader explained to the congregation...

the inclusion of a song... they wouldn't usually do...

but a member of the team insisted God had placed it on their heart...

and someone needed to hear it...

It was me...

Thankful for those who trust His Word... as light...

even when it feels like... dark...

Thank You... Lord... for those who are obedient without question...

without knowing why... but trusting You...

Bless me with the faith... to obey... 

when it doesn't make sense to me...

returning home after dark...

Returning home after dark...
it's not my favorite thing to do...

Dark makes it feel late...
too late to accomplish one more thing...
even if it's just a little after 6 pm...

Dark makes me feel tired...
sometimes I think I'm solar-powered...
after dark... it's just time to shut down...

But today...
anticipating returning home after dark...
with a car full of groceries...
and chores to do at home...
I consider...

This is the message we have heard from him

and proclaim to you, that God is light,

and in him is no darkness at all.

1 John 1:5 ESV

...even the darkness is not dark to You.

The night shines like the day;

darkness and light are alike to You.

Psalm 139:12 HCSB

So... tonight... I return home in Light...

He in me... and I in Him...

... in Him there is no darkness at all...

I praise You... Lord... as Light...

Light shining in the darkness...

Light to which I can always return...

Amen...

The Journey Readings: Week 103... and... five days...

Christmas... just five days away...
how much more of Him can we uncover...
in just five... short... days...?

How much more can I get done...?
in just five short days...?

He came as Light... to a dark world...
a land of great darkness...

The reading through... again this week...
affirmed... highlighted... the truth of yesterday's writing...

He came for the blind...
for those who knew they could not see...

He came for those...
prepared to receive...
based upon their need...

And I will bring the blind by a way that they know not;

I will lead them in paths that they have not known.

I will make darkness into light before them

and make uneven places into a plain.

These things I have determined to do [for them];

and I will not leave them forsaken.

Isaiah 42:16 Amp

He came to lead the blind...

in a way they don't know...

could not know...

apart from Him...

He makes the darkness light...

uneven places... He smooths out...

no stumbling... no tripping...

He will not leave us alone...

He will not forsake us...

But understand...

He came for the blind...

not the smart...

not the clever...

not for those worldly wise... who have all the answers...

not for those who know the way...

He came for the sick... the needy...

the lame... and the lost...

And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold,

many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus

and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this,

they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat

with tax collectors and sinners ?" But when he heard it,

he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician,

but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means,

'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I came not to call

the righteous, but sinners."

Matthew 9:10-13 ESV

He came to the blind... so they could see...

but to those who think they see... blindness overtakes them...

Jesus said, "For judgment I came into this world,

that those who do not see may see, and those who see

may become blind."

John 9:39 ESV

The Light makes those who don't know they are blind... cringe...

it hurts the eyes... to stand in light... after so much darkness...

In their blindness... those who believe they see... love the dark... 

they have been deceived into believing... they are right...

"... And this is the judgment: the light has come

into the world, and people loved the darkness

rather than the light because their works were evil.

For everyone who does wicked things hates the light

and does not come to the light, lest his works should

be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to

the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works

have been carried out in God."

John 3:19-21 ESV

Light... truth... do you love it...? or hate it...?
Does it make you cringe...? lash out...? when truth is revealed...?
about you...? or a loved one...?

Do you love His Word...? His truth...? is it a light to your path...?
or are you all about your own way...?

Consider... He came for the blind...
he came for sinners...
He came to seek and save the lost...

How well do you think you see...?

Lord... I know You... I thank You for seeking me...

and finding me... but I also confess... I am still so blind...

so much I don't know... don't understand...

I need You to lead me... make the darkness light around me...

smooth out my way... as I follow You...

This week's readings...

Monday                   Isaiah 48-49

Tuesday                   Isaiah 50-51

Wednesday             Isaiah 52-54

Thursday                 Isaiah 55-57

Friday                      Isaiah 58-59

six days...

Six days... till we celebrate the birth of our Savior...

What are you doing to celebrate Him...?

The One who came... poor and needy...
a Babe in a feed trough... no place for Him in the world...
came to show us who we are...
and how to live in response to that truth...

He came to reveal the great love of the Father...
who knows we are poor and needy...
who loves us in our rebellion that led to poverty...

He came to bring Truth... Light...
to a dark... blind... world...

The people who walked in darkness

have seen a great light;

those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,

on them has light shone.

Isaiah 9:2 ESV

Darkness... an absence of light...
metaphorically... a place of ignorance... and stumbling...

Light... something that makes vision possible...
metaphorically... understanding... knowledge...

Light... obliterates darkness...
they cannot exist together...

Shadows only exist... where something blocks light...
where there is misunderstanding... perverted perception...

Jesus came to bring truth... knowledge...
clear up misconceptions about God...
His love... and His law...

Walking in a land of deep darkness...
previous to His coming...
mankind's perception of himself...
and the Creator...
became terribly skewed... twisted...

Jesus came to reveal... bring light... be Light...
so we would no longer have to stumble around in the dark...

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying,

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me

will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

John 8:12 ESV

Who knew...? the brightest light in the universe... on the night of His birth...? lay in a manger... on a dark night...?

Father God knew...! He sent His heavenly host to proclaim the glorious good news...

And an angel of the Lord appeared to them,

and the glory of the Lord shone around them,

and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them,

"Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy

that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day

in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby

wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger."

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude

of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace

among those with whom he is pleased!"

Luke 2:9-14 ESV

...good news of great joy... we no longer have to walk in the dark...!

In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness

has not overcome it.

John 1:4-5 ESV

Lord... at times it feels very dark around me...

like I'm stumbling in the dark... remind me...

this is not a place I have to stay...

following You... there is light...

I NEVER have to walk in darkness...!

[email subscribers click here to view on YouTube... or click the post title to view on Jeremiah's Menu...]

difficult transition...

After spending the weekend in a place of light...
returning to my usual place made for a difficult transition...

Today... I awoke grumpy...
I couldn't quite put my finger on why...
till a conversation with a friend caused me to reflect on my attitude...

Returning from a place of joy and light...
one of those spiritually thin places...
makes for a difficult transition... to a darker shade of gray...

I long to live among what I was blessed to experience for a weekend...
and it should be considered a time of refreshment... encouragement...
a picture of what might be... hope...

But that's not what happened... initially...
now that it's identified...
I'll trust in Him... to be my Light...

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me

will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

---Jesus

John 8:12 ESV

Fill me with Your light... Lord...

overshadow the darkness...

preparing...

On a morning of preparation... I'm reminded...
those who believe in Him... are the only light in the world...

And [Jesus] opened his mouth and taught them, saying...

"You are the light of the world. ..."

Matthew 5:2-14 ESV

He was speaking to those who followed Him...

yet... we can no longer physically follow Him...

So I'm wondering... How do I prepare...? to be light... the only light... in a very dark world...? today... and the days to come...?

He said...

"... As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

John 9:5 ESV

His Gift... made the way for Him to continue to be present in the world... through those who believe...

I'm beginning to see... even greater than before... the importance... of the Gift of His Spirit... the importance of laying down my life... for His... the importance of knowing the love with which the Gift was given... to have the confidence... to let Him lead...

By learning to boldly listen and obey His Spirit... prepares one to be light in the dark...

Lord... prepare me to shine for You today... and every day...

Be light in me... light up my life...

"...let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." ---Jesus
Matthew 5:16 ESV

He's behind it all... [from October 27, 2013...]

If things look gray... dark...
remember... He is behind it...

Who can speak and have it happen

if the Lord has not decreed it?

Is it not from the mouth of the Most High

that both calamities and good things come?

Lamentations 3:36-37

He may allow... darkness for a time...
but in Him... there is no darkness at all...

Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,

so great is his unfailing love.

For he does not willingly bring affliction

or grief to the children of men.

Lamentations 3:32-33

Trust His presence... even if it seems unseen...

He is good... and all He does... is good...

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;

his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100:5

He divides light from darkness...

"And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness." --- Genesis 1:4

What He began from the first day of creation... He continues today... in every Believer...

He is the Light... and when He enters the Believer... He begins the process of dividing... separating... light... from... darkness...
evil from good...
right from wrong...
truth from deception...

We are called to walk in the light... as He is in the light...

...for at one time you were darkness, 

but now you are light in the Lord.

Walk as children of light...

Ephesians 5:8 ESV

His work of sanctification... is the process of shining His light... into our dark... and removing it...

The same process He will ultimately use through all creation... dividing... all darkness... from all light...

And I saw no temple in the city, 

for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.

And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it,

for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.

Revelation 21:22-23 ESV

Jesus is the life and light of men...

All things were made through him,

and without him was not any thing made that was made.

In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

John 1:3-4 ESV

He came to show us the light... through His fullness of grace... and truth...

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us,

and we have seen his glory,

glory as of the only Son from the Father,

full of grace and truth.

John 1:14 ESV

Grace... brings the light of freedom... and joy...

Truth... brings the light of knowledge... and freedom from deception...

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying,

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me

will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

John 8:12 ESV

Each of us walking in His light... should be growing in both grace... and... truth...

During the course of my day... I heard division mentioned as a bad thing... yet I wonder... If it is a division of light... from darkness... is it bad...? or necessary...?

For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness?

Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

2 Corinthians 6:14 ESV

Myself... I long for Him to continue... dividing... light from darkness... in me...

As painful as the process may be... I look forward to being like Him... full of grace... and... truth...