There's something about the light...

"In Him there was life,

 and that life was a light for the people of the world."

 (John 1:4)

The past six months have been filled with so much "life". Some of it good; some of it really hard. I have often found myself in the "just keep up" mode. And the one thing I have really missed is writing. Oh, I've written a lot in the last few months, but it has all been papers and assignments for school. What I have really missed is just sitting and writing whatever the Lord speaks to me.

This week, my husband is on vacation and I discovered I had a week long break from school. I have spent the first few days just catching up and breathing. Today I decided I would try to write. When I opened up my blog, I discovered a post I wrote in December that I never posted. And while it may seem to be the wrong season, as I read over it I realized it is the right season in my life, and the life of others I have spoken to lately. So, here's my Christmas post in July.....

There's something about the lights...

Christmas usually comes with anticipation. Children are writing letters to Santa and making wish lists; parents are checking the ads and websites to fulfill those wishes. There are school Christmas programs, church Christmas concerts;

I have to admit that usually when I think about the upcoming holidays my first reaction is not one of joyful anticipation. While others are anxious to begin playing Christmas music and are out fighting the traffic and crowds to purchase Christmas presents, I begin to miss the big family holidays I remember as a kid; I start thinking about the family members that have left us and won't be here this year. I begin counting the pennies and looking at the budget to try and figure out what we can get for presents. I usually begin the season with dread . . .

And then we put up the Christmas tree; we string the lights and put up decorations. And soon I find myself getting in the spirit. We start playing the Christmas carols, watching the Christmas movies and I remember the reason...it has something to do with the lights.

All those years ago when Mary and Joseph found themselves in a stable with a newborn baby, there were others outside looking at the lights. The wise men found themselves following a star. The shepherds were out minding their sheep when the angels appeared and filled the sky with light. What they didn't know at the time was the light of the world had just been born.

Years later, Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12).

As we look all around us we can see there is darkness in our world. For some of us, we don't have to look far -there is darkness in our family.

But then we remember - there is a Light.

When God created the world, it started in darkness. And then He said, "Let there be light." He always intended for there to be light in the world. As sin entered the world so did darkness and we have been battling the darkness since then. So God sent the Light again in the form of a baby . . . Jesus, His Son. 

The hardest part of Christmas for me is taking down the lights; I love that soft, warm glow as they illuminate the room. It makes me feel safe, surrounded in peace and comfort. But then I remember, there is still a Light that illuminates my life bringing peace, comfort and joy, shining the light of His love on me and giving me the "light of life."

So now, Christmas is long over, the lights have been put away for months, and to be truthful, I have found myself battling the darkness again. I needed this reminder of what God spoke to me months ago. The Light of the world has come and  . . . 

there's just something about The Light.

Merry Christmas in July!

Facing the Enemy . . .

“The Lord gives victory to His anointed.

He answers him from His heavenly sanctuary

With the victorious power of His right hand.”

Psalm 20:6

I came face to face with the devil this week.

I saw the eyes of the enemy staring back at me…

Accusing me

Cursing me

Defying me

I wasn’t expecting it –

maybe I should have been.

But that’s how he operates  . . .

Swiftly

Unexpectedly

Without warning.

Many years ago the Lord gave me a dream.

In this dream,

I came face to face with the enemy;

I actually had my hands cupped around

the face of someone when it changed

into the face of the evil one.

 In a snarling voice, he said to me,

“Who do you think you are?”

I’ll tell you who I am . . .

I’m a daughter of the King!

Royalty

Privileged

Powerful

This time I wasn't dreaming.

And instead of asking me 

who I thought I was,

he told me 

who he thought I was.

A failure

Inadequate

Foolish

There was just enough truth to get my attention.

But he’s forgotten that it’s all covered.

A red fountain of blood has washed over

each and every one of them

until they have become pure white.

Today at church we participated in communion,

remembering Jesus’ precious blood, 

poured out for just that purpose –

to wash us clean.

We sang a song:

Blood of Jesus shed for me.

Precious blood, my covering be.

The only view God has of me

Is through the blood of Jesus.

I came face to face with the enemy last week.

And no doubt I will face him again in the future.

He may wound me,

but he will not defeat me.

For this I know:

"In all these things we are more than conquerors

through Him who loved us."

Romans 8:37

Sweet Friendships....

Life has been so busy - full of unexpected events, financial crises, family issues.
This time in my life find me leading three women's Bible studies, taking Psychology in school (ugh) and contemplating another book.
Then there is the regular day to day stuff: take kids to school, pick up kids from school, take kids to work, pick up kids from work. Oh wait.... what's for dinner? Do I have any clean clothes to wear? When was the last time this floor was vacuumed?

Today I was determined to get some things done. Nothing was going to take my focus off of getting my house in order and then spending some time reading my Bible and resting my brain before picking up the Psychology book again. I turned up the praise music and started in on the living room, no wait the kitchen, oops... need to start laundry. Focus, girl, focus!

Then I received a text message.... from a very special friend.

To be totally transparent for a moment, friendships don't come easily to me. I'm cautious and shy and very protective so as not to be hurt. And God has put some very important and special friends in my life that have carried me through some really hard times and some outrageous victories.

But then God sent me a very special friend. I can't even begin to explain or understand our friendship. You see, she and I have never met face to face. I was introduced to her through a blog she wrote; turns out she is related to some friends from church. For about a year, I read about the journey God was taking her through on the pages of a website. As we communicated back and forth, we soon became Facebook friends and then shared phone numbers. We shared some tears and some triumphs and kept saying, "One day we should meet; I mean, we do live in the same town."

Last year, she and her family moved to Arizona - and we never got the chance to meet. But our friendship has remained active through facebook and text messages. Today I was feeling a bit overwhelmed with all that is going on and the approach of the first anniversary of my sister's death. Silly me, I was just going to buck up and push through. Until that text message....all she wanted was a question about a recipe, but it turned out to be a bright spot in my day and strength to my soul.

I'm sharing this because I don't think we completely realize the importance of friendship, nor do we realize that sometimes what we think may be a simple question turns out to be a divine appointment. God nudges us in small ways to make a call, or give a hug, or just smile, not knowing that this one "simple act" is exactly what the other person needed.

I had to stop vacuuming today to write this and just say, "Thank you, Jetta... you were exactly what I needed today. And whether you know it or not... you were used by a merciful Father to show His love to another of His children. And one day.... we really should meet face to face! I love you!!!"

"A sweet friendship refreshes the soul."

Proverbs 27:9 

'Lena
©Be Still and Know

When Storms of Life Assail...

"Be merciful and gracious to me, O God, be merciful and gracious to me,

for my soul takes refuge and finds shelter and confidence in You;

yes, in the shadow of Your wings will I take refuge and be confident

until calamities and destructive storms are passed."

Psalm 57:1 (amplified)

This year has been full of challenges for my husband and I and our children. Each one of us have experienced disappointment, turmoil, financial difficulties, stupid cars and sometimes even stupid people. This past week has been especially hard for me with a number of things crashing down around me; add to that waking up yesterday sick with no voice and I'm just feeling done...

Today as I was waiting for my son at the high school, my phone chirped with a Facebook notification. I pulled up my Facebook page and a friend from my high school days had posted a picture. She lives in Colorado and as you may know, they have been pounded with storms and deluged with rain. But this photograph, taken from an airplane as someone flew over Colorado, was an amazing example to me of the hope we have in God when we are facing overwhelming storms.

This picture shows the fiercely dark clouds and torrential rains falling on what appears to be an isolated portion of the landscape; these buckets of rain coming straight down out of the clouds with such force you can almost see the rain bounce back up off the ground. And yet, in the midst of this storm, bright rays of sunlight break through the clouds, streak across the sky and slice right into the rain.

While I was waiting for my son, I had been praying and asking God to show me once again where He was in all of the storms we were battling. And in a moment, through a simple photograph posted by a friend I haven't seen in 35 years, He reminded me that He is there all the time. In the midst of our storms, His love and mercy and unending faithfulness breaks through even the darkest clouds and shines down, bringing warmth, love, comfort and HOPE.

And I was reminded of a song...

When storms of life assail

When I an feeling frail.

I place my trust in You, O Lord,

You never fail.

(Geron Davis)

As you look at this picture, do you notice that the rain is isolated, the storm focused on one area? Do you feel that way? Does it seem that your life is a perpetual storm and yet those around you are experiencing sunny days? Do you feel alone and find yourself asking God, "Where are You?"

Rest assured He is there right with you. He will be your shelter in the storm, your place of refuge...your safe haven. And the light of His love will break through the storm and give you peace. 

'Lena

©Be Still and Know