Blinded Mind

Satan, who is the ruler of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don't understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. 2 Corinthians 4:4

Have you ever wondered how people can be so blind sometimes?  Why they can't seem to see the damage and destruction caused by anger, hatred and apathy?  Why they can't seem to see the pain and suffering around them?  And why they can't seem to see anything BUT the pain and suffering around them? 

Let's face it, we live in a world where we have become blinded to the true glory of Christ.  You see, because we have become blinded, we choose not to look for the Light of Christ; we choose not to share the Love that is Christ; we choose not to share...anything.  

Because we have become blinded, we seek out the things that distract us FROM Christ: That new car when the one we have still gets us from point A to point B. That "Bigger and Better Job" because we would rather chase the money than establish our loyalty. We pass by people who need someone to listen, because we're "too busy."  We pass people who are hungry because it's "not my problem."  

Isn't it time we take off our blinders and seek the glory of Christ to share with others?  

 

Unbeatable!

The light shines in the darkness,
    and the darkness can never extinguish it.

John 1:5 

 

 

How would you feel if your darkest thoughts, motives, actions, and intentions were suddenly brought out for all to see?  I can only speak for myself, but I would most definitely be ashamed.  Why? Because I don't want to admit that I have anything to do with darkness.  Yet, truth be told, I do...as do we all.  We like the dark because we think we can hide, but God sees everything because darkness cannot hide anything from His Light!

 

Now, think about this, Jesus is the Light of the World. In Him, there is NO darkness.  As a matter of fact, Jesus saw our darkest thoughts and died for us so that we could be forgiven for all our darkness.  God knows every thought and intention we have and loves us anyway.

 

I ask that you would pray with me:

 

Abba,

 

Thank You for loving me in spite of myself.  Thank You for knowing me better than I could ever know myself.  When I am tempted to try to hide in the darkness, remind me that You see through all my intentions, thoughts, actions, motives, and acts.  In reminding me, also remind me that You have told us that we are to bring all our burdens to You that You can handle them.  Forgive my darkness and fill me with Your love and light.  

Glow!

"Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven." 

- Matthew 5:14-16

In case you have ever wondered why we have toes, here's the answer: to locate furniture in a dark room. This discovery is usually followed by lots of loud words directed at the piece of furniture that we are convinced has become a living thing and intentionally moved in front of us in the dark.

We have switches in rooms for a reason...to light up the room so the pathways are seen and the furniture cannot attack us in the dark. Let's face is, you just can't hide a light with darkness. Light reveals, darkness covers.

Jesus tells us that WE, as believers, are the light of the world. WE reflect the light of God in this world. And guess what, light attracts. We have examples of this reflection in our lives. People who glow with God's light, there's just something about them that draws us to them because they radiate God's love and compassion.

How about you? How's your glow?

Light And Salvation

The Lord is my light and my salvation; I will fear no one.

The Lord protects me from all danger; I will never be afraid.

Psalm 27:1

 

As a child, I was afraid of the dark.  Not because I had been told there were monsters roaming about in the darkness, but because I could not see in the dark.  My parents always insisted that I put my toys away before I got in bed.  The purpose for this became all to clear when I got out of bed to get a drink of water and stepped on a Lego in the dark.  Lesson learned, toys were picked up before bedtime.

 

Think about this, when we are at our darkest point in life, God is our light and our Savior.  We have nothing to fear with God on our side.  God will always be our light and nothing can ever so much as dim His light.  When we are going through dark times, and we will, remember to cling to God because He loves us so much that He becomes our light. 

Split Ends?

Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.

Ephesians 4:2-4 

 

Have you ever wondered why there are so many denominations?  When I was a youngster I always wondered why that was, after all, aren't we worshiping the same God and Christ?  As I got older, and hopefully a bit wiser, I remembered that the Apostle Paul had made the comment that every body is made up of different parts yet work together for a single purpose (to make the body work like it's supposed to).  He also made the point that God has called some to be pastors, some to be teachers, some to be apostles, some to be greeters, some to be singers (which I am just a joyful noisemaker), and some to fit where they had a talent and there was a need.

 

If you look at a prism, light goes in and is broken into its various colors.  If you look at it the other way....all those various colors make the pure light!  Take away a single color and the light is not pure any longer.  Thus, we are expected, commanded, to love each other so much that we are able to work together to share the love of God throughout the world.

 

So let's think for a moment, what part in the spectrum do you play to form the pure light?

Shine On!

¹⁴ You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ People do not light a lamp and put it under a basket but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16

 

  When I read this passage as a young(er) person, my first thought was, and I kid you not, "What kind of idiot would WANT to put a lamp under a basket?".  Later on, when I had more sense and learning stuffed into my brain, I realized that Jesus is not teaching us about fire safety, but about how we should live.

 In verse 14, Jesus calls us "the light of the world" because, as believers, we should be as different as light and dark. And just as you cannot hide a city on a hill, our "differentness" also cannot be hidden.  Let's face it, if we hide our "light" how will anyone know that we are different.

I really must bring out a couple of thoughts to be pondered:

FIRST, the lamp never has to make a sound to draw attention to itself.  It doesn't have to announce itself.

SECOND, the lamp simply serves others by being different than the darkness.

THIRD, others notice the lamp because of the quiet service it provides.

Consider that. 

If It Seems To Be Too Good...

And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

2 Corinthians 11:14 

 

 Several years ago, Robin Williams did a wonderful movie called "Mrs. Doubtfire" in which he disguised himself as a woman in order to keep close to his kids...at first.  Then his purpose became to sabotage his ex-wife's relationship.  This entire scheme seemed like a good idea...at first.

 

Isn't that how temptation begins with us?  As a good idea?  Yet once we step on that road we quickly discover it seemed too good to be true and, it turns out, takes us on a downward spiral.  Now, I will say this...if the tempter appeared in his true form, we would probably not have too difficult time avoiding temptation.  Yet we seldom see the true nature of the tempter until he's already got his claws into us.

 

It seemed like a good plan at the time.  I had my quarter and my 10 pieces of bubble gum when a thought popped into my head, "This store has a gazillion pieces of bubble gum!  They won't care if I take a few and put them in my pocket."  So I stole 5 pieces of bubble gum.    I wish I could say I got away with it.  But truth be told, two steps out of the store and I felt a hand firmly on my shoulder.  When my parents arrived to collect me, that "good plan at the time" became my nightmare.  I was severely punished!  And my all my reasoning would not alter the fact that I had done wrong.

 

Yes, this story is true.  To some, it might seem silly.  The truth of the matter is that sin almost always seems like a good idea at the time.  So we must keep our guard up.  Scripture tells us that Satan prowls around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.  The roaring lion is the one who gets the prey to run into a trap because it seems a better idea than standing one's ground and resisting.  But we are told to "resist the devil and he WILL flee from you."

 

Take that for what it's worth.

Hide And Seek

I could ask the darkness to hide me
    and the light around me to become night—
    but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines as bright as day.
    Darkness and light are the same to you.

Psalm 139:11-12 

 

I remember playing Hide-And-Seek as a youngster with my cousins and friends.  The best time to play was always at night because it was easier to hide and harder to seek. Then there was the time when one of my friends decided to level the playing field a bit...he brought his Dad's flashlight.  It wasn't just a flashlight, it was a Police Officer's flashlight which could light up the entire yard!  So much for being easier to hide because the night was a bright as day.

 

I used to believe that I could hide things from God.  I would play Hide-And-Seek with Him, or so I thought.  I figured if it's dark, then God can't see me.  And I was wrong!  God knows everything and sees everything or else He wouldn't be God.  We can't hide anything from Him, so why try.  We have been given access to go boldly to the throne of grace and seek His face...so why don't we?  Could it be we are too angry?  Could it be we are too embarrassed?  Could it be we are ashamed?  Could it be we just don't want to face it?  Truth be told, God already knows and, here's the kicker, LOVES US!!!!  Let's embrace His love for us and be bold!

But It's Only One Light

You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.

Matthew 5:14

I remember, as a small child (stop laughing, I was young once), hiding under my covers with my flashlight and read books.  Took me a long time to understand how my Dad figured out what I was doing.  After all, I was hidden under the covers...how did he know I was reading after lights out?

Here it is years (and years and years) later and I'm beginning to understand a little bit more about light.  

Think about this, when people go into places so dark that they cannot even see their hand right in front of their face, what do they do?  First, I don't know what anyone would want to go somewhere they can't see, but that's another discussion.  But think about this people bring a light.  How do we describe a person's face when they have that "Ah-Ha moment" and the smile grows? We say their face just "lit right up!"  

So when we are faced with the darkest moments in our lives, who comes in to make us feel a bit better?  The person who comes like a light in the darkness.  Jesus reminds us that WE are that light in this ever darkening world.  Light shares its warmth.  Light shares its light.  Light is SHARED!  And those who bask in its glow are happier.  We are called to BE the light in the lives of others!  We are called to share our light with others that they may also see the path.  You see, darkness hides many things, but it can NOT hide a light no matter how hard it may try.

BE someone's light today and see how their life changes!

Lessons Learned In The Dark

[God said]   "I create the light and make the darkness.
I send good times and bad times.
    I, the Lord, am the one who does these things."

Isaiah 45:7 

 

During the recent storm, power was lost in many places, my office being among them.  However, force of habit led me to flip the light switch and then bump painfully into the corner of my desk.  The light did not come on when I flipped the switch because there was no power and I didn't have the power to make it work.  I considered yelling at the light switch, laying hands on the light switch, in the end (due to the mishap with the corner of the desk) I sat in the dark and prayed.

 

You see, when we try to do thing in our own power, we fail miserably.  How many times have we tried to "fake it till we make it"?  How many times have we tried to make our plans work, even if the purpose was to honor God?  How many times have we tried to live life without God's power?

 

When we realize that God is God and He is the one in control, then life becomes a little easier to take.  When the good times come, be grateful and ask God for those with whom you can share that with.  When the trials come, be grateful and ask God to teach you. 

 

When God's power is at work in our lives, others will notice because we reflect Him.

God Has A Purpose For You, Part 2

II. God’s Purposes And Plans Take Time

Wait patiently for the Lord.
    Be brave and courageous.
    Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

~Psalm 27:14

  

Ever wondered what your purpose for being on this Earth could possibly be and wish God would just go ahead and show it to you?

May I be honest with you?  Too bad, I'm going to be honest with you anyway.  If God had shown me at age 7 what I would be doing at age 54, I would have become catatonic!  I NEVER imagined that God's purpose for me would be to try to get to know some of the most suspicious people ever, ride with them as they deal with the worst incidents imaginable, attempt to help them realize that they do have love to share with others (especially their families), try to help them make some sense of what they deal with, and try to be God's representative of love and caring for them in the face of all that is portrayed in the media outlets.

What has God purposed you to do?  Maybe it is to show just one person that they are loved.  Perhaps it is to reach out to help someone who is struggling.  Could be that you get in the trenches with someone and walk with them through a tragedy.  But the one purpose we all have is to BE the reflection of Christ in an ever darkening world.

It Ain't Easy......Is It?

Hatred stirs up quarrels,
    but love makes up for all offenses.

Proverbs 10:12 

It's all around us every single day.  If you read, hear or watch the news, it's pounded into us with the force of a pile driver into our very way of thinking.  "It you disagree with someone, HATE them until THEY change!"  We are a society of lots of HATE groups each seeking their own interests while degrading the interests of others.  We have groups that HATE us so much that they believe theirs is the ONLY way to live. As a matter of fact, we seem to love to hate each other, yet we disguise it all as "love."

I have friends from a wide variety of different perspectives, yet even though we may disagree on many topics, love still holds us together.  You see, HATE is not the opposite of LOVE and LOVE is not the opposite of HATE.  Why?  Because they are both extremely powerful emotions!  The opposite of LOVE and HATE is this thing called APATHY (don't care).  As a matter of fact, the worst thing you can tell another human being is "I don't care."  Why?  Because you have just devalued them to the point of irrelevance. 

One of the first lessons I learned early in ministry is that not everyone is going to like me.  Some will even hate me, and try to run me off.  But God's love is stronger than any love and stronger than any hatred and even stronger than any apathy.  Darkness cannot hide even the smallest light, so too will love not be covered by hatred.

Remember what Jesus said when He was asked which commandment was the greatest? "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as you love yourself.'"  Watching the actions of some of these special interest groups....they don't like anyone (including themselves).

Light Isn't Loud!

You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Matthew 5:14-16 

 

 

When I was in the Army, we had to sing cadence and we were expected to sing it LOUD!  As a matter of fact...about 90% of everything we did was LOUD! Especially sleeping which sounded like a cave full of hibernating Grizzlies.

 

When I was growing up, I remember hearing pastors preach (yell, brow beat, shout) sermons reminding us (hammering with much guilt) that we should ALWAYS announce to the world that we are believers and that if we don't then the world won't know and cannot become enlightened.  I will admit, the guilt weighed very heavily on me being that I was painfully introverted.  I struggled with this for years.

 

Let me ask you something: When was the list time you turned on the lights and you heard: "I AM LIGHT AND I AM BRIGHT AND I AM HERE TO ILLUMINATE YOUR WORLD!"  While it's true some cars will remind you that "lights are on" should you forget to turn the headlights off before exiting the vehicle.  I have never heard even so much as a flashlight announce itself to the world.  EVER!

 

Jesus tells us that we are the light of the world.  But He didn't tell us we have to go around announcing it.  Because here's the thing about light....it can be seen in the darkness without anything being said.  Jesus reminds us to let our good deeds shine out for all to see, He doesn't tell us to go around proclaiming: "LOOK HOW AWESOME I AM FOR DOING ALL THESE GOOD THINGS!"

 

This is why I love the quote accredited to St. Francis of Assisi: "Preach the Gospel every day!  And if you must, use words."  

Leave A Light On

Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.

Matthew 24:35 

I've already discussed it with my Bride and we both are of the same mind, we have decided that we don't want a funeral, or any fuss really, when our time comes to leave this life.  While some might disagree or even be offended, this is our choice and we have the same reason for making this decision: We want the people in whom we have invested ourselves into to carry our memory forward.  No muss, no fuss, no extraneous expense.  

When the time comes, let the light of my life be taken up by others.  Think about this, Jesus left us with His teachings and all these centuries later, His light still shines.  Hmmm......

There's A Light!

The Lord is my light and my salvation—
    so why should I be afraid?
The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,
    so why should I tremble?

~Psalm 27:1 

 

What is the purpose of light? To illuminate the area around us so we can see where we are going and what we are going.  That's part of it.  

 

Light is also used to guide and draw others toward it.  If you are lost and see a light, chances are you will make your way toward the light.  Light gives direction to ships at sea as well.  A ship sees the light and knows that there is land close by and it also is a good idea to check the charts to see if the light is warning of rocks, wrecks, and other hazards.

 

God is our light!  He guides us, shows us where the dangers are, draws us to Him, shows us the path we should take.  

 

What is the purpose of a fortress?  To keep the things out that seek to do us harm or destroy us.  Inside the fortress, we are safe and have no need to fear.  Fortresses in the time of the Psalmist were places of protection where the citizens could enter and be safe from marauders.  Fortresses took relatively few soldiers to defend it, in comparison to the vast armies it would take to conquer it.  And God's fortress is manned by God Himself!  Who or what have we to fear!

 

Yesterday, we were reminded to Armor Up and today we see God's light so we can enter His fortress and feel safe and secure.  But here's the point:  Light only works if you look for it.  Fortresses only protect those who enter it.  Let's not stand idle!

Shins Are For WHAT?

I praise you, Lord,
    for being my guide.
Even in the darkest night,
    your teachings fill my mind. 

I will always look to you,
    as you stand beside me
    and protect me from fear.

Psalm 16:7-8

I think I have told you before, but my mind is more of a crayon instead of a tack nowadays, that I have discovered why God gave us shins....to help us locate the corners of furniture in the dark.  I can't tell you how many times I have been in a darkened room and, sure enough, my shins are the ones that find everything there is to bang into.

It's no fun being in the dark.  And, quite honestly, I don't know how people live in the areas where night lasts for 6 months.  

I know I have told you about some of the darkest times of my life.  We all have such times when wonder if we will ever know happiness again; where we doubt we will ever be able to face others again; where we know our lives no longer have purpose...those are some of the darkest times.  Yet, even in the darkest times, God has a way of reminding us that He is with us.  Whether it is through a person, a quote, a book, a movie, a pet...God always has a way of reminding us.  And in those times, when we accept His offering of caring, it's like a light begins to glow in the darkness.  And eventually, that glow will grow until we see that our darkness was of our own making and the light of life really is within our grasp because God has brought us to it.