Category: journey

Let Your Light Shine: Finding Faith in Darkness

Meditation Thought: “Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. (Philippians 1:12-14)

“What has happened has served to advance the gospel” – if ever God worked in a seemingly undesirable situation to bring much good, it was Paul’s imprisonment – a pattern first revealed by Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection: the apparent victory of those who would destroy the Truth of God revealed – and then the blossoming of God’s revelation from the seed of distress.

It almost seems that the very darkness and distress were the nurturing places for the strength and light of God to burst forth in newness of health and visibility and the generation of HIs power as never before. Surely the Holy Spirit working in Jesus and in Paul was the start of the bursting forth of new growth – but the faith of Jesus and Paul – and the faithfulness of their faith nurtured the growth and expanded it once it was started.

So, we too, can allow the Spirit to plant the Truth – to plant God’s love and God’s character in our hearts and so, we too, in faith, can nurture it and cause it to grow ’til it bursts forth wherever we are in what is a prison for us.

Let Your light glow, O Lord,
Within my mind and soul,
So brightly, penetrating, invigorating
That my “prison”
Is transformed
To cozy home
For You and me –
A place where hope, and love and joy
Are evident –
And thus shock
Those who observe
The transformed place
Into awareness
Of Your power, your love, your call and your presence.

I Don’t Understand; You Don’t Desert

I suppose that is the prime distinction between the Father and the child – the knowledge of the whole.

Meditation Thought: “I give thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart… and give thanks to your name for the your steadfast love and faithfulness. (Psalm 138:1-2)

I am the child, and you are the Father. In my limited experience I cannot understand the full consequences of not obeying Your requests, nor of heeding Your suggestions. So I err – and suffer – and learn; at least hopefully.

You do not desert me in my times of need. I don’t understand Your operating procedures enough to know why sometimes You allow natural consequences of people’s actions to occur, and at other times You miraculously intervene.

I suppose that is the prime distinction between the Father and the child – the knowledge of the whole.

I need to be rescued from the sickness of downheartedness and lack of faith this morning. I trust that I shall be rescued!

I go now, Lord, to seek Your will and do it – please allow me to experience Your steadfast love and faithfulness this day. Amen.

Finding Strength Through Faith and Perseverance

For now, know that
Each choice shapes your future
And trust.

Meditation Thought: “Your name, O Lord, is everlasting,
Your remembrance, O Lord, throughout all generations.
14 For the Lord will judge His people And will have compassion on His servants.” (Psalm 135:13-14)

“Faith” is not a word,
nor a feeling
It is a determination to focus
Upon the highest, the best that you know.
It is living as if
All is right.
The very intensity
of concentration
Upon the Good, the True, the Beautiful
Generates power,
Releases the vision
From the future
And moves it
Into the “now”.

Use your gifts
Of mind, body, spirit,
Freedom of choice
To bring the vision
Of the kingdom
Into the reality of the world.

Many examples are set before you.
One Example overshadows all.
Do not despair that you are not perfect.
But rejoice that you can be as similar
In thought, in word, in deed
As you are.
In faith, in hope, in confidence
Move on: trying, experimenting, coping,
To comprehend perfection
And to desire it
Is to improve your status –
Whether you reach the goal,
Or fall short,
The effort, and the results produced
Shall be worth more
Than sitting, seeing no goal.
It is better to strain in vain
Than to atrophy in place.

One day you shall
See clearly the whole,
The movement, the results.
For now, know that
Each choice shapes your future
And trust that
“The Lord will vindicate his people
And have compassion on his servants.”

Unparalleled Companionship

Upon my invitation, God does not rule me; He nourishes me.

Meditation Thought: ““Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up.” Acts 9:34

Peter did not seek to have Christ dwell in him for the purpose of power to do miracles – he sought Christ to dwell in him because Christ promised him that he would come if the would invite Him. He didn’t know specifically what would happen when He was given priority in his life – but he knew that he could trust Him.

I too seek to yield whatever authority I have to Jesus for He brings the authority of God into my life – not to be domineering and autocratic, nor even take over everything for my own good. No, the Father’s authority is the shelter of my life.

God does not rule me; He nourishes me. When I know this, and when I recognize God as the One who
Cherishes me,
Protects me,
Encourages me,
Comforts me, and
Guides me into the best places for me to be, then I can yield my authority willingly, trustingly and knowledgeably to the authority of Jesus Christ within me.

He is the most desirable companion possible with whom to move through the years of life in this world. If God is for me, who can be against me?

Finding Your Haven

Listen to yourself. Watch yourself. Would your words appear logical if they were reported in the New Testament as having spoken by Christ? Would your actions appear to be appropriate if reported as His actions by the gospel writers?

Meditation Thought: “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:2-3)

Your mind, your will, your personality: all transformed by Christ through the Spirit whenever you are thinking on ‘things above’. ‘Things above’ are the eternal values, the ‘treasures in heaven’. To concentrate on these is to change your words and actions at the worldly level, through your mind projecting into words and actions – Christ’s words and Christ’s actions.

Listen to yourself. Watch yourself. Would your words appear logical if they were reported in the New Testament as having spoken by Christ? Would your actions appear to be appropriate if reported as His actions by the gospel writers?

You know Christ’s words. You know Christ’s actions. People he knew were no different than people you know. Despite the years since Christ walked the earth, it is possible to follow Him as a contemporary, as far as the problems posed, and the actions and reactions possible. Only the names have changed!

How did Christ interact with his friends, his enemies? His mind was on things ‘above’ – He prayed to His father seeking His Father’s will – and then He spoke and acted.

When your mind is ‘hidden with Christ in God’, in meditation and prayer, then shall your words and deeds be the Son’s and the Father’s for your will has died to be raised up and transformed by the will of the Son which was totally yielded to the will of the Father.

Jesus left his imprint for you to follow. As you follow that imprint, as a child imitates, you reproduce His imprint on things below. You feed the hungry, heal the sick, forgive, don’t judge, minister, clothe the naked, encourage the downhearted. In other words – you love! You give your ‘life’ (selfish desires) to be killed for others, that they might come to find your ‘hiding place’. You – and they – envisioned it as a grave. But your hiding place is not a grave; it is a haven.

Wherever God is, wherever Christ is, that place is a ‘haven’ – a ‘heaven’ – a safe place and a glorious place.

Step-by-Step: Seeking Lord’s Guidance in Decision Making

Do not make complications where none are intended.

Meditation Thought: “Moses answered them, ‘Wait until I find out what the Lord commands concerning you.'” (Numbers 9:8)

Look before you leap. Look to the Lord – where? You have His Word, you have His life – both as a record and His strength within you. Do not make complications where none are intended. Step by step, do what seems right After
1. Prayer
2. Listening
3. Analyzing for
a) priorities
b) the details of the situation
c) likely consequences – both positive and negative.

And, when the deed is done, pray the Lord’s will be done – and trust that it will, and do not speculate any further.

Finding Joy

My emotions, and my circumstances, are not the whole of my life – they are only as great a part as I permit them to be.

Meditation Thought: “You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence” (Psalm 16:11)

I know the ways of life. I will be full of joy with God’s presence. His presence is always with me. I am not always full of joy – but the hope that sustains me is the knowledge that I will be full of joy. In the meantime, I can remember the times I was full of joy and I can anticipate the times when I will be full of joy again.

My emotions, and my circumstances, are not the whole of my life – they are only as great a part as I permit them to be.

“The Lord is the strength of my life”: to the extent that I base every decision, every action, and every reaction upon this conviction, to this extent do I live in the kingdom.

A Journey of Faith

Only one think is required of you:
The placing of your hand in Mine,
Signifying your willingness to go.

I hear your soft, low moan, my Child,
As the struggle begins anew.
Fear not, fear not!
Imagine not nightmarish things,
For not such is the plan.
Only for a little while,
A focusing upon
A new exercise in faith:
A further revelation of what lies beyond.
It is good.
The journey you started toward the Kingdom
Shall be completed.
But it must be taken step by step.
I shall be your guide, your aid.
Trust Me. Hold to Me.
Move with Me.
As earthly terrain is varied,
And the traveler adapts,
So is the way to the kingdom.
I shall see to your proper equipment.
I shall see to your building of strength.
I shall see to the best itinerary.
Only one think is required of you:
The placing of your hand in Mine,
Signifying your willingness to go.

Understanding Time: A Divine Perspective on the Present

Time as minutes ticking off is unimportant. Time as revealing the status of a minute is important. Time is only a tool which I use to reconcile My children to Myself.

Meditation Thought:  “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8)

“The beginning, the end, the past, the future, and always the present – for what is the present but that which will become past and lead to future?

I am – time as you perceive it has no meaning for Me, for it is not a restriction to My works. I am everywhere, at all times, and as I am allowed free expression of Myself by a yielded will, a perceptive mind, a receptive heart, My purposes are fulfilled. Time as minutes ticking off is unimportant. Time as revealing the status of a minute is important. Is that moment one wherein I am perceived, received, conceived as an addition, a force, a catalyst? Or am I ignored, rejected, rendered ineffective by your free will?

Time exists only as life exists. It is defined and takes shape and substance only within movement, only when evolvement is taking place.

There is a phrase “quality time”. It refers to the extent of the commitment, purpose, direction and effectiveness of the activities performed during this period.

I am interested only “quality time”. I can function for your good only in “quality time”. When there is no movement, there is not time. When there is no movement in a positive direction (meaning toward the more complete expression of Myself through a yielded will, a perceptive mind, a receptive heart), then this moment is not “quality time” and is a moment unrelated to Me. A moment unrelated to Me is so foreign as to My purposes for creation as to be considered non-existent.

When you are sufficiently perceptive, wisely motivated, practicing your skills faithfully and to the best of your abilities, you come into more complete understanding of the concept of the true nature of time, and the purpose of time.

Time is only a tool which I use to reconcile My children to Myself. It is only a showcase for My character to be revealed. It is only a floodlight to illumine the Truth – the Truth of our relationship, of the nature of creation, of the meaning and purpose of your life – to you – and to Me.”

The Path to Lasting Peace and Joy

Do not anticipate where the Father instructs Me to lead you. Look to Me, follow Me, for with Me you are in the right place at the right time doing the right thing.

Meditation Thought: “My sheep listen to my voice: I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life.” (John 10:27,28)

My voice reveals My love, and guides my sheep to hope. No more are you lost in the briers, but I shall lead you to nourishing pastures – to protected places. You need fear no more, when you follow Me, I am the resurrection and the life – your resurrection and your life. I came – and I come – that you may live within My loving care, that you may be – and feel – secure wherever we are together.

The way is simple, but not considered “easy” for it requires obedience and discipline. The way dictates that you not run off to places other than where I lead you – for I lead you where the Father has first led me. But in your choosing obedience and discipline rather than bearing the consequences of the alternate path, you will gain. You will gain the peace of obedience to the very best hope – the Father’s ultimate will. To suffer in struggle is not as painful as to suffer in conscience for realizing that there was a path which could have been a way to feed the sick, clothe the naked, love the unlovely – and transform the woes of the world into the joys of the kingdom – and you chose another path, a path which left the world in as sad a condition as you found it – perhaps even a worsened condition.

Do not anticipate where the Father instructs Me to lead you. Look to Me, follow Me, for with Me you are in the right place at the right time doing the right thing. What is ‘right’? ‘Right’ is the process of the cohesive working of the Father’s will: the process of wooing His children, who have strayed foolishly in their freedom, back into His loving Presence. He does not force them – for that would negate their freedom to, of their own choice, love Him – or reject Him. And love forced is not love at all, but coercion.

The Father sent Me to bring His message: “I love you. All is forgiven. Come home to Me, where I will welcome you with open arms, and prepare celebrations of our reunion. Fear not that you have rebelled against Me, disappointed Me, distrusted Me. All that is in the past. I desire – I have always desired – only that you allow Me to love you, for when you allow Me to love you, it follows as day follows night that you will love Me. Our mutual love and understanding expressed as we once again dwell together is My plan for the ‘fullness’ of time. It happens at the time you understand that My desire to lavish My love upon you is compatible – in fact, is identical with your desire to have Me do so, knowing that My love shall wash you clean, heal your wounds, bring joy to your heart and peace to your soul. And when My child is clean, healed, full of joy and peace, then is My will done. Then am I well pleased.”