envy...

Envy... the green-eyed kind...
His Light revealed some in my heart this week...

envy... painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another joined with a desire to possess the same advantage...

---Merriam-Webster's Online

I've encountered the issue before...
but I don't know that I've ever named it...
envy...

And [Jesus] said, "What comes out of a person is what defiles him. for from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person."

Mark 7:20-23 ESV 

I'd rather pretend it wasn't there...

but that's just tucking it away in the dark...

where the enemy has room to work...

God's shined His Light on it...

now I bring it into the light... out in the open...

like an alcoholic at AA...

Hi... my name is Carol...

and I am envious...

The odd thing is...

I don't agree with the monster...

I know it's wrong...

so I shed tears...

not only out of envy...

but out of grief for my brokenness...

Today I confessed to the one I envy...

she hung her head...

said... I'm sorry...

But I'm the one that's sorry...

sorrow-full... over my own brokenness...

unable to feel joy for her...

and certainly not wanting to hinder relationship in anyway...

where she won't share a similar opportunity...

I just knew it couldn't stay in the dark between us...

so now that it's named...

I seek Him...

ask Him to reveal the root...

pull it out... and bring healing...

And I look forward to rejoicing with her...

and others...

when the same thing comes up again...

because He is faithful... to... heal...

and love does not envy...

Do you have something you need to name...?

something lingering in the dark recesses of your heart...?

Go ahead... get it out in the light...

Hello... my name is _______________...

and I am ___________________________...

wondering about all this light business...

Being light is hard...

In a dark world... light reveals a lot of evil... and much of it does NOT welcome light...

The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness

did not comprehend it.

John 1:5 NASB

"...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. ..."

John 3:19 NASB

And it's just hard... to reveal what's dark...

and have someone refuse... to receive the light...

People who by the world's standards... don't look evil...

walk in and embrace the darkness... by God's standards they are evil...

It makes a heart hurt...

I wonder about one in particular...

completely closed off to "religion"... church... of any sort...

Thinking about him this morning... reading about the Light...

the eyes of my heart see just how much this new friend... with heels dug in the dark...

would just love the Light... if he opened up to know Him... for who He is...

It makes me sad...

Then those who know Him... have seen the Light...

when you shed light in their direction... and they reject it... well...

It makes a heart break...

My heart is feeling heavy today...

seeing darkness all around...

when there is Light so near...

and I wonder...

Did He get weary...? burdened...? with being Light...? in a very dark world...?

...so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey,

was sitting beside the well.

John 4:6 ESV

Jesus... the Light of the world...

journeyed through life in this dark world...

and it wearied Him...

The Greek here means... to grow weary... tired... exhausted (with toil or burdens or grief)... (Enhanced Strong's Lexicon)

His disciples left Him at the well where He could rest...

while they went to get food... they didn't experience the same exhaustion... burden... 

You can hear the weariness in His voice... as He laments over Jerusalem...

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets

and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have

gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood

under her wings, and you were not willing! ..." ---Jesus

Matthew 23:37 ESV

In the gospel of Matthew... this follows His tirade against the scribes and Pharisees entrenched in the dark... His list of woe to you... still echoing in the air...

Yes... I believe He was burdened... grieved... saddened...

by being a Light... many refused to receive...

The prophets described Him even before He was born in a manger...

He was despised and rejected by men,

a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief...

Isaiah 53:3 ESV

I'm feeling a bit sorrow-full and grieved myself today...

yet unlike Him... I'm sure I've failed to shed light perfectly...

sinned in my anger... grief... frustration...

Praise Him...!

Who shines Light perfectly...

grieves without sinning...

loves unfailing...

Praise Him...!

Through whom all things are possible...

and calls us to rejoice in Him...

not be anxious...

and pray...

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.

The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything,

but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving

let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God,

which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds

in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:4-7 ESV

a new word for the new year... light...

For several years now... at the beginning of a new year... I've asked Him for one word to define my walk with Him for the year...

Past years' words have been...
obedience...
journey...
new...
freedom...

This year's word...

Light...

light... something that makes vision possible... spiritual illumination... truth...

---Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Ed.

He actually brought the word to my attention several months ago...

before I even thought about a word for 2017...

I've been learning He is the only source of light...

Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world;

he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."

John 8:12 NASB

He alone makes vision possible...

illuminates the spiritual reality around us...

reveals truth...

Those who follow Him not only walk in the Light of Life...

they are the light of the world...

He says to His disciples...

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

Matthew 5:14 NASB

My prayer recently...

in many situations...

How do I be light in this circumstance...?

How can I reveal Your light to this person...?

To shine His Light as a follower...

is to bring Him glory...

because what is more glorious...

than light... in a very dark place...

Have you asked Him for one word this year...?

It's a spiritual discipline which has had a surprising impact in my life...

If you get one I'd love for you to share it here in the comment box...

[click on the post title... scroll to the bottom... type in the box...]

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...

rest... in His shadow...

How precious is your steadfast love, O God!

The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

They feast on the abundance of your house,

and you give them drink from the river of your delights.

For with you is the fountain of life;

in your light do we see light.

Psalm 36:7 ESV

The idiom... in the shadow of somebody...

generally has a negative connotation... meaning...

receiving little attention... because someone else is better known...

more skillful...

Only in His shadow...

we find rest...

Rest from trying to gain attention for ourselves...

rest from striving in our own strength...

rest from criticism... critique...

The shadow of His wings falls over those who know His precious love...

there they find abundance... delights... life... and light...

His shadow is not overpowering...

it is empowering...

His shadow covers...

with grace...

strength...

mercy...

love...

When all we do...

is pursue His call...

stay in His shadow...

there is rest to be had...

knowing all belongs to Him...

whether praise...

or complaint...

Only in the shadow of His wings... His borders...

is there rest...

Rest... in His shadow...

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...

rest in Him... Psalm 116:7-9...

Return, O my soul, to your rest;

for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

For you have delivered my soul from death,

my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling;

I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.

Psalm 116:7-9 ESV

Sometimes... when your soul is stirred...

you just have to give it a talking to...

Soul... remember just how bountiful God has been to you...

He sent His Son... to save you...!

He delivered you from death...

turned mourning to joy...

smoothed rough paths... 

and lit the dark way...

Soul... walk before the Lord... in the land of the living...

those who have the promise of eternal life...

walk with joy... in your salvation...

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all,

how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

Romans 8:32 ESV

Sometimes... a soul just needs a talking to...

to return to rest... in... Him...

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

Lean on Him... Isaiah 50:10...

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

Let him who walks in darkness and has no light

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

Isaiah 50:10 ESV

Trusting in Him... primarily happens... when we realize... we can't trust in ourselves...

Finally understanding we have absolutely no light of our own... 

makes us realize we need help...

When we get tired of stumbling around in the dark...

when we've run into one wall too many...

or one more pit too deep...

we wise up...

We begin to cry out to God...

fear... revere Him as we should...

And fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom...

and realizing we have no light in and of ourselves...

causes us to lean on Him... trust Him...

cry out to Him... and obey Him...

Without Him we walk in darkness...

trust Him... rely on Him... lean heavily upon Him...

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

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...

a word to practice...

Do everything without complaining or arguing...

Philippians 2:14

This word comes to mind to practice...

as I go about a task I don't really want to do...

The Word convicts...

so I practice...

I seek out the Word to share it here...

and find the benefits... of the practice...

the need for conviction...

Do everything without complaining or arguing,

so that you may become blameless and pure,

children of God without fault in a crooked

and depraved generation, in which you

shine like stars in the universe as you hold out

the word of life...

Philippians 2:15-16

The practice of denying the desire to complain...?

Blamelessness... purity...

faultlessness... among a crooked generation...

the opportunity to shine like a star...

holding out the word of life... for others to receive...

Good reason to hold my tongue...

take captive my thoughts...

quiet my heart...

Thank You... Lord... for this reminder today...

I so want to be pure... a light in the dark...

one who offers life...

Is there a Word you need to practice today...? 

you're welcome to share mine... :)

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...

The Journey Readings: Week 110... and His Word is light...

"Son of man, have you seen what the elders

of the house of Israel are doing in the dark,

each in his room of pictures? For they say,

'The Lord does not see us, 

the Lord has forsaken the land.'"

Ezekiel 8:12 ESV

God took Ezekiel by the hair...

carried him from Babylonia...

back to Jerusalem...

where He showed Ezekiel...

the depth of the sin of the Jewish leaders...

The leaders of Jerusalem...

had left behind God's Word... long ago...

misplaced it... ignored it... traded it for lies...

Without God's Word...

we end up in the dark...

doing abominable things...

in hidden places...

The leaders left behind in the suffering city of God...

believed He had abandoned them...

forsaken them...

They believed they were hidden from His sight...

Had they known His Word...

been familiar with His law...

as they were called to be...

they would recognize... 

the consequences of disobedience...

They would see His hand...

in all their troubles...

Without His Word...

we know only darkness...

we run to the dark...

A hymn in worship...

reminds what we need...

Send forth Your Word... Lord...

Let there be light...

--- Shine Jesus Shine

His Word brings light...

where before there was only darkness...

His Word shines on the Way...

where before we stumbled and fell...

His Word is light...

it's what we need to see...

to find our way...

Your word is a lamp to my feet

and a light to my path.

Psalm 119:105 ESV

Without it... we are lost... in the dark...

This week's readings...

Monday                   Ezekiel 17

Tuesday                   Ezekiel 18-19

Wednesday              Ezekiel 20

Thursday                 Ezekiel 21

Friday                      Ezekiel 22

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...