"....Darkness Is My Closest Friend"?

"You have taken from me friend and neighbor-- darkness is my closest friend." (Psalm 88:18, NIV)

Many have been there; many are there.  But you and I know Who is Our, "closest friend."

"....darkness is my closet friend."  I felt this way at a period in my life.  Sometimes it tries to come back.  I can honestly say, however, that it is not my strength which overcomes that, "darkness".  It is simply and powerfully the "Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ."

What about you today?  Does it seem as though, "....darkness is my closest friend," to you?  The promise of our Lord Jesus Christ to all who trust Him is that you and I have, "....the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, Who is the image of God...."  And when is seems as though, "....darkness is my closest friend", we need not fear.  The power to overcome that, "darkness" is in such promises, "For it is the God Who commanded light to shine out of darkness, Who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

So to you and me today, when it seems that only, "....darkness is my closest friend," then, as always, "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His Wonderful Face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace."  The song is just another way to continually remind us of the Biblical injunction for total-victory living, "Looking unto Jesus."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I confess that, as you said to Pilate, "You could have no power at all...unless it had been given you from above," so with me.  Amen.

***************************
Please keep our upcoming Mission to Germany, October 28-November 15 in your praying.  We pray that Sarah's sciatica will be gone by then, even sooner!

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

Knowing Or Recognizing

"But they do not know the thoughts of the Lord; they do not understand His plan...." (Micah 4:12a, NIV)

People may not, "know the thoughts of the Lord",..nor, "understand His plan,.." but we can recognize them if we are open to Jesus, if we are open to the Holy Spirit, if our desire is to know our Father's purposes.

Mostly I can say that I do not have the "full grasp" of His, "thoughts," and, "His plan."  But I have experienced that many times I can recognize them.  I think the word "recognize" is better anyway.  The "well-I-know-what-God-is-doing" mentality has too much of the "leading" attitude about it, even a smugness.  "Recognition" has more of the idea that Jesus is Lord, Jesus is leading, Jesus is in charge.  He leads; I follow, or, I recognize.

It is not, "Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be known."  It is, "Thy will be done..."  Too many want to, "know the thoughts of the Lord", and, "understand His plan," before they are "done."  The reason is that they can't tolerate any uncertainty in life.  This is not faith.  This is a desire for some sort of "guarantee" that things will work out just fine, and I will know all of this before anything happens.  It is sort of like Peter saying to the Lord as he was about to step out of the boat, "I need some guarantee that this will work."  The only guarantee Peter had was the Word of Jesus.  And that, my friend, is all you and I need.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I eagerly do want to know Your, "thoughts," and, "plan."  But I accept such knowledge in Your time.  Amen.
***************************
Please continue to pray for Sarah.  It seems to be sciatica.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"Thy Name, O Jesus, Be Forever Blessed!"

"For he looked for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God....But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one.  Therefore God is not ashamed of them to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.  (Hebrews 11:10 & 16, KJV, NASB)

I read this passage two days before Sarah's Mom passed.  I did not know that in little less than two days her name would be added to, "and time would fail me to tell of...."  She was one of whom it could be said, "....God is not ashamed of...." 

The list of those of whom Jesus says, "By faith...," has been in continual "revision" since Hebrews 11 was first written.  Yes, Hebrews 11 lists the "great" names of Salvation History.  But we must never forget that the intent of our Lord Jesus Christ is for all to be on that list; it's our choice.  Jesus shed His Most Precious Blood that we can be listed among the, "By faith..," Saints throughout the ages.  Yet, may we never forget, "He who endures to the end will be saved." 

Everyone who continues to, "....the end..," running, "....the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus,.." will be on the list.  Hebrews 11:13 says, "these all died in faith (obedience)."  Norma did that.  May it be our life's "epitaph."

Father, in Jesus' Name, "For all the saints who from there labors rest, who Thee by faith before the world confessed, Thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed. Alleluia!  Alleluia!"  Amen.
*****************
We send a hearty, "Thank you so much," to those who have expressed thoughts and words of support during these times.  You cannot know how much we appreciate you.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2