When Darkness comes around

 

Many people are upset with the wickedness that happened in Las Vegas this week.  Some people who just wanted to be entertained among friends and others that like country music came for fun and enjoyment.  But the darkness came out that night. 

 

   Times like these are perfect for us to look at the words of scripture to help us understand the ups and downs of life.  As many of you know, life is not a bed of roses and we are critical of the person that tries to convince otherwise.  We know that from time to time, there will be someone who actually allows the darkness to use them to make history.  The man who planned and made this evil act happen was probably a nice guy at some time just like you and me.  But along the way of life just one detour down a selfish path can bring us to believe that darkness is our destiny. 

    Who do we turn to when darkness comes around?  Who will comfort us right in the middle of trouble?   Well, we do know one man that was not directed, influence nor was he emboldened by the likes of darkness. 

     Jesus Christ the Light of the World    

“In him was life, and that life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness but the darkness has not understood it.” John 1:4  (NIV)

 

      The life of Jesus is so full of times when he confronted darkness that we can only say that he was the very opposite.  Not cowering to it, he overcame darkness because He is the light.  The darkness of this world is so very dark and God wants us to know this deep down in our souls.  The Bible begins with God proclaiming light into the world and making all of the world very good. Yet upon the disobedience of the first man, darkness came around. 

       Do you know that the darkness is so influential that you or I can be duped into thinking that we are doing God a favor when we follow the rules of darkness.  Remember Cain the son of Adam and Eve, thinking he was justified in killing his brother because his own sacrifice was selfishly offered.  The influence of religion is a powerful thing and still affects the turning of the world today. 

   

     We have many other events that reveal how dark the darkness can be but we must turn to the light and follow the one who is for us.  

     Slavery all over the world through the centuries

    Incarceration of Jews in Europe

     Genocide in Rwanda

    Apartheid in South Africa

    The bombing of Pearl Harbor

    The terror attack on the twin towers of NY and Washington, D.C.

and now...

    The massacre of Las Vegas

When the darkness comes around it is so prevalent that we are mystified about the existence of evil itself.  Contemplating how this could happen in such a nice world. But the many occasions that history offers us is evident that the way of the world is not of the nature of a soft, warm Teddy Bear.
     Scripture offers to us some consolation regarding the darkness of this world because when we are enjoying the lovely and exciting pleasantries of the light,  it is very hard to convince us that the darkness is still here with us.

      Of olden times on the coast of Cornwall there were wreckers. These men tied a lantern on the head of an ass, and drove the animal along the heights that fringe the shore. Ships at sea saw this light, and thinking them to be guides where there was open water, ran towards them, fell on rocks, and were dashed to pieces. Then the wreckers came down to the shore, and took from the wrecked ship all that could be saved.

      There are a host of these false signals about in the religious world, leading men to destruction. What, then, are we to do? Look to the lighthouse of the Church, built by the hands of Jesus Christ. In it He has set the clear, steady light of revealed truth.  

   Do not follow the darkness or your life may shipwreck along the shore so that the devil would salvage your efforts for his purpose.  And that purpose is to devastate many lives and to place the blame upon our God. 

 There is a wonderful hymn that I sung in church this past Sunday.  In it was a phrase that I continued to think on during the rest of the day.   

‘Be thou my Vision’

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart

Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art,

Thou my best thought, by day or by night,

Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.”

       God is our best thought, Why?  Because He loves us, revealed himself to us, offers us comfort and love in this life and gave up His one and only Son so that we might have life. 

          ^KJV John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

 

Light is so lively that we enjoy the benefits of it daily.  Dark is so deadly that it makes resounding images in the minds of men and women.  Walk in the light so that your deeds can be attributed to the one who loves you. 

          May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through.  May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.  Amen..

 

Devotional Series: Practicing the Open Life

Open your heart

 “And if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.  The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame.”  Isaiah 58:10-11

            When the heart is open to the world around it, God promises to open his loving heart to those who trust him, opening their hearts to others.

  Hymn: There’s a wilderness in God’s mercy

            For the love of God is broader

            Than the measure of our mind;

            And the heart of the Eternal

            Is most wonderfully kind.

            If our love were but more simple,

                 We should take him at his word;

            And our lives would be thanksgiving

             For the goodness of the Lord.

“Then your light will rise in darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.”    The Lord promises to offer blessings that only He can give.  God will turn the lights on in your life.   There is so much more to this world that what we see and those who believe in God must trust that through their lives, others will experience the presence of and awesome and loving God.
    May the Lord, the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth, bless you to know His presence peace and support today.  May your mind, spirit and body be renewed by the unction of grace from the Holy Spirit of God.

THE Kingdom of God: A Kingdom of Divine Support

A Kingdom of Divine Support

      1 Corinthians 4:20 For the Kingdom of God is not just fancy talk; it is living by God's power. (NLT)

( 1 Corinthians 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. (KJV)

     There are many things that can be said and taught about the Kingdom of God.  Whole volumes have been written about what the scripture says about it.  Jesus taught extensively about the kingdom of heaven which are of great value to study and understand.   The one thing that cannot be denied is the idea that the kingdom of heaven or the Kingdom of God is a certain description of God’s divine support, not just in teachings but also in real life.  This is why so many of Jesus’ teachings about the kingdom are in parables.  Parables relay more than an abstract thought but they give a picturesque illustration of how real life works and plays itself out. 

      The kingdom of heaven is dynamic and powerful because it contains the actions of the lives of people who have come to know and believe God.  They do not just know about God, they believe God because they have lived experiences that convince them of his presence, majesty, holiness and power.  They have talked and agonized with God in their prayers and are convinced that God exist.  The kingdom of the God is not just fancy talk, it is living by God’s power due to the convictions of one’s life. 

     John Ruskin said, “If you do not wish God’s kingdom, don’t pray for it.  But if you do, you must do more than pray for it; you must work for it.”

         God reveals himself to people who desire to live as citizens of a great and glorious kingdom; having been conquered by the love of God, understanding the dominion of God to overcome selfish desires to reach out to others and to know the power of God which subtly makes incredible changes for those who look to the great sovereign Lord of all creation for direction in life.    

^NLT Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. 12 And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with self-control, right conduct, and devotion to God,

The life of a citizen of the kingdom is expressed in the words of this song…

Father, lead me day by day

Ever in thine own sweet way;

Teach me to be pure and true;

Show me what I ought to do.

When I’m tempted to do wrong,

Make me steadfast, wise and strong;

And when all alone I stand,

Shield me with thy mighty hand. 

    

May the mighty power of God’s kingdom guide, comfort and support you this very day.  May God bless you to know His presence, peace and safety as you seek to extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ to our world.  
May there be a fusillade of grace, by way of direction, connecting and compassion that grant you success in your efforts to offer support and hope to patients and their families in the future.  Amen….. 

THE Kingdom of God: The Kingdom of dominion

The Kingdom of dominion
           

 For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17 (NLT)

    

     In our passage today regarding the Kingdom of God, the Apostle Paul is informing us that the kingdom is not about the believer exercising his/her freedoms just because he can but exercising the freedom to love others above how much you love your own freedom to live. 

     As we have seen so far, the Kingdom of Heaven is personal yet interpersonal interactions.  Placing great value on personal responsibility and relationships that we enjoy is an important aspect of the Kingdom.  The Kingdom of Heaven is an incredible doctrine that reaches into vast understanding about the physical, emotional and the spiritual world.  Yet, among the many other teachings about the Kingdom we find at the center a greater sense of dominion over the created  order within, to cope with life in loving God and caring for others. 

Paul W. Harrison said, "Wherever God rules over the human heart as King; there is the kingdom of God established." 

      Loving God calls for a healthy look inside to overcome the false self to know God better.  When this happens the next task is to live in such a way that you place great value upon those you meet and come to know.    The false-self is disciplined and the true-self is empowered to live out the true will of God in a world that is set against God.

       In an address in New York City in May of 1982 Mother Teresa said, “ Nakedness is not only for a piece of cloth.  Nakedness is for human dignity, for respect.  Homelessness is not only for a house made of bricks.  Homelessness is being rejected, unwanted, unloved, uncared for, having forgotten what is human love, what is human touch.” 

      In extending the Kingdom of God into the world we must continue to govern our lives to be personal.   The world of email, instant messages and even quick and easy face-sheet introduction we endeavor to take dominion over the technology to keep our work human.  Remembering that human love is done in an intimate and personal way taking into account the closeness of human touch. 

The Kingdom of God

Devotional Series: The Kingdom of God


  A kingdom experienced by love

Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”  Luke 17:20

            Jesus said that the Kingdom of God would come but not be observed as they were used to in kings conquering another people.  The people of ancient days would see the conquering king come in to demand, dominate, rule and make them slaves.
            This kingdom would come by the king conquering the hearts of people by the act of self-sacrifice, teaching of a new life and personal freedom that he would give them.
            As members of God's Kingdom we extend the kingdom into the world.  Sometimes when people are served by us, they will understand something of the grace of God through the subjects of the kingdom. 
            Our place is to be sure that people experience the ways of God's Kingdom while they are in this world.  

   Henry  W. DuBose said, " The kingdom of God is a kingdom of love:  and love is never a stagnant pool."

    As citizens of the great Kingdom of God, allow the World to experience the benefits of someone who knows the King.  Let the Word move you to live a great life.  

Annual Care Giver Retreat 2017

  The 2017 Annual Care Giver Retreat was a great success. 

The Care Givers loved it!!

Participants came and enjoyed food, fellowship and their calling in a beautiful and peaceful scene of nature.   Everyone that attended was given the opportunity to hear and be heard.  Attending to the renewing of souls and replenishing hearts each care giver was supported and engaged in soul refreshing. 

The Green Eggs and Ham Dilemma

I do not like Green Eggs and Ham, I do not like them Sam I am.”

      This is a great children’s book that emphasizes the fact that some people will not move forward or make certain decision due to the way they look at the person who brought the information to them.  The main character in the book, who is not named, had a dislike for Sam, “remember Sam I Am”.  At the outset of the story Sam introduces himself and the main character makes a snap decision on what Sam is saying.  His first statement in the book is, “I do not like that Sam I am.”    So, at this time, Sam goes straight to his mission, “Do you like Green Eggs and Ham?”   Then they begin to go around and around. 

My favorite part of the story is, “Would you eat them in a box?  Would you eat them with a fox?”

Getting someone to make a certain decision sometimes depends solely upon who is bringing the message.   Are you having trouble helping someone make a good decision, family or patient, may be a professional contact?  It may be because they have a preconceived misjudgment about you.  This points to the very fact that we make many decisions on emotional not logical basis.   Having this thought in your mind may help you to remember how to adjust your approach or even bring another member of the team into the mix so that the misjudgment of you will not hamper the whole deal.  We will not be able to please everyone and your persistence may not win them over like it did for Sam in the story.  As the main character finally chose to try the Green Eggs and Ham and found that he liked the Green Eggs and Ham. 

      Monachopsis is the subtle but persistent feeling that you are out of place.  Sometimes we do feel that we are out of place in this world, as care givers you may have felt that the rejection of a plan made you feel that something about you is wrong.  This feeling monachopsis, causes me sometimes to think, “why can everyone else do this and I can’t?”  I may be trying to be some else but if I step forward to be me and use my own personality and character makeup, I find that I am more satisfied with how I performed and most times people will appreciate me being me. 

Proverbs 18:16 says, “A gift opens the way for the giver and ushers him into the presence of the great.”         

This is why sometimes the lonely feeling is valid in this world to our existence because you are a gift to the world to make something change for the better.  “The gift opens the way for the giver…”  your gifts and talents were sent here by God in order to change the life of someone else for the better.  When you use your gifts and natural talents to function in life, you might be like Sam I am to someone helping them to make a choice that looks just like Green Eggs and Ham.  But it is just the right choice for them.  As that agent of change in someone’s world you may be the world to them. 

Proverbs 18:16 says, “A gift opens the way for the giver and ushers him into the presence of the great.”