SCRIPTURE VERSES
Pain. Loss. Despair. Grief. Abandonment. Betrayal. Our language is full of words that attempt to describe the dark night of the soul. The blackness of depression and loneliness. The utter loss of all hope.
We are a broken species. I suppose we have all been there in one form or another. Even if we have a good life, death will touch us at some point, and we will experience the loss of a loved one. Hardships will come, friends will betray us, we will feel alone.
As I write this, I struggle with words to say. I pray for wisdom that I might not cause anyone any more pain than they are experiencing. I don't want to offer trite answers that do nothing to alleviate the pain that others feel.
Even as believers, we are not exempt from the pain of this world. As Paul wrote, if we had hope in this world only, we would be the most miserable of men. But we know that God sees all, He knows all, and even in our pain, He is there with us. The Heavens may seem to be brass, our prayers unanswered, but we can be confident that God is still there and He is still in control. He has promised never to leave us, that there is NOTHING in this world that can separate us from His love.
We were meant for fellowship - with God, and with others. If you are struggling, please do not attempt to go this alone. The devil wants to divide, to isolate, to pick us off one by one. Please reach out to other believers, find a good church, speak to a minister. Reach out to professionals if you need someone to talk to. Get help. There are still good people out there that will be glad to help you.
He Will Carry You - Brian Free and Assurance
He Can Take It - Brian Free and Assurance
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
"I lit my candle from his fire."
Jonathan Edwards
David Brainerd was a missionary to the American Indians, serving those in Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. He died at the age of 29 from tuberculosis. He passed away in 1747 at the home of his friend, Jonathan Edwards. Edwards was so impressed by the life of his friend, that he went on to write Brainerd's biography and make the quote above.
This quote was included in a sermon I recently heard. It has really stayed with me. How is my fire? Is it adequate to light another's candle? Is my life an inspiration to another so that they WANT to light their own candle?
Lord, please help my light to shine brightly for You. If just one other person catches the desire to light their own candle for You, then my life will have not been lived in vain. Let my fire be used to light another's candle.
Someone needs YOUR fire.
Go Light Your World - Kathy Troccoli
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
I pass by a certain church on my way into town. They have an electronic sign that displays notices of the various activities at the church along with a scripture verse for the week.
As I was driving by one day, I happened to see a portion of the scripture referenced above. The sign did not have this scripture shown in the KJV version that I am familiar with. Instead, the sign talked about God's love being 'poured' into our hearts. Next to the scripture verse was a picture of an old water pitcher. The word 'poured' began to go over and over in my mind. I could see, in my mind's eye, a hand picking up the water pitcher and pouring out God's love. When you pour out something, it is usually in a steady stream. It is not just a little piece of something. It is not just a sprinkle. It comes out in a stream.
God 'pours' out His love in our hearts.
And He pours.
And He pours.
And He just keeps on pouring.
What an awesome God!
For ye see your calling, brethren, how not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
I was talking with my uncle, and he told me of a missionary from Ireland that had given a sermon in his church on "God uses nobodies". He brought out how God used Rahab the harlot in Jericho, Gideon who was hiding behind a press trying to keep the grain from being captured by the Midianites. He spoke of David, a lad who was tending sheep. God used these people, seemingly out of nowhere, those that most people would have overlooked.
After our conversation, I thought about that some more. There was Ruth, who was just trying to take care of her mother-in-law and ended up the great grandmother of one of Israel's greatest kings. There was Peter, who was just a rough fisherman, who went on to become a great apostle. There was Philip the evangelist, who talked to an Ethiopian eunuch, who in turn helped evangelize the African people.
In the verses above, we find that God uses the insignificant to perform His will. In the scripture in Joel, even the servants are included in the blessing. It's not the well known, the rich and famous, the powerful and mighty that God chooses, but those who have a heart for Him and will do His will.
As I was pondering on this, I remembered a song that was popular when I was younger. It is called Ordinary People.
Just ordinary people, God uses ordinary people.
God uses people just like me and you
Who are willing to do as He commands.
God uses people who will give Him all
No matter how small your all may seem to you.
Because little becomes much when you place it in the Master's hand.
Just like that little lad who gave Jesus all he had
And a multitude was fed with some fish and loaves of bread.
What you have may not seem much,
But when you yield it to the touch of the Master's loving hand
Then you'll understand how your life will never be the same.
We don't know the name of that little lad, we just know that he was willing to give his lunch away to Jesus. That was all he had, just a lunch. But over 5,000 people were fed that day, with leftovers!
What little thing do you have that He can use to feed others? Will you be willing to do what He asks of you so that others can see His glory? Will you be that ordinary person that God can use?
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth... And God saw every thing that He had made, and behold, it was very good.
I sang a song in church called "I'm Glad That I Know Him". The second verse goes like this:
"You've heard about the God who stepped out on nothing
And created everything
Yes, He made the universe, the stars, the planets,
And each song the little birds sing....."
If you stop and think about those words, the same God that made the vast universe and all our planets, a God so great that He could form galaxies, also paid attention to the smallest details by giving each species of bird a unique song. He is:
"The One who chose the colors of the flowers in the meadow
And the hue of autumn leaves....."
When I look at a newborn, I marvel at a God who makes a new human being complete with a unique set of fingerprints, and imparts a unique soul to a living creation. If God took the time to pay attention to such details, don't you think that He knows all about you and cares for you too?
The best part of that song is actually the chorus, which goes:
"I'm glad that I know Him personally.
I'm glad I can testify of His grace that set me free.
I'm glad that He saved me and gave me a new life abundantly.
I'm glad that I know Him personally."
Thank God He is a personal God, and He made a way that we could spend eternity with Him.
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the whiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore, take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
We are in troublesome times. The enemy of our souls is fighting on many fronts. It is not a fleshly enemy that we face, but the powers of darkness. These powers are present in our world, our nation, and our culture. As children of God, we must be prepared to fight the good fight of faith. The offensive weapon of the Christian is the Word of God. All the armour is defensive in nature, and guards the front of the body. There is no place for retreat. Stand, and be on guard. Pray, and get as close to God as You can. And the peace of God will guard your hearts and minds.
Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come.
God allowed Israel to be scattered from their land because of their sins. But in His great mercy, He always has a remnant, those that will continue to call on His name and turn their hearts to Him. For those that seek Him, He has promised to be that 'little sanctuary', a place of refuge and safety. Israel did not need to be in their own land to enjoy God as their 'little sanctuary', but He could be there in their hearts. We, too, can have God as our 'little sanctuary' in these troubled days.
Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another; and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon His name.
For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward His name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
We don't have to be 'in the ministry' to minister to the saints. We can pray for each other, encourage each other, and show our love and care for each other. God sees us, and He will remember our works of love. Let us encourage one another. God is writing a book of remembrance for us, and we will not lose our reward.
Faces - Greater Vision
Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.... How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God: how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea... And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and of either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve Him: And they shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.