Illuminate

When I was younger I use to be terrified of the dark, I would be almost paralyized from what I precieved was just past my vision. I would sit in a chair in the living room waiting for Mom or Dad to come home before I would move a muscle. The only problem with that was, I like to eat! So I would make a plan of action on how I was going to get to the fridge and back with everything I needed. I would start with turning the lamp by the chair on, then the living room lights, then the dinning room lights, then just because the switch was right next to the switch for the dinning room I would to the back porch light on. I would run into the kitchen and hit the light in there, then open the fridge to let the light from inside illuminate my choices. I would get what I needed to fill my hunger and then put the extras back where they belong. I would kick the fridge closed walk backwards the path I had taken to get there shutting of the lights as I go, sliding back into my chair to watch TV. I felt as if as long as there was a lighted path for me I was safe and new where I was going.

Psalm 119:105 says this:
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path (NIV).
By your words I can see where I'm going; they throw a beam of light on my dark path (The Message).
See the word of God does the same thing for us as house lights do in a dark house. When we are paralyzed by life and its problems or decision, the word of God throws a beam of light to our path. It opens up the possibility of getting from one place to another.

The words used for lamp and light is the same word in Hebrew, it means to illuminate.
The word of God illuminates what we can't see; it expands our perception of life.
This light not only opens our eyes to see our surroundings, but helps to direct us in the right ordering of our conversation, both in the choice of our way in general and in the particular steps we take in that way, that we may not take a false way nor a false step in the right way (Matthew Henry).
God’s word is our spiritual flash light. We can turn it on or we can turn it off. It’s our choice.

Illuminate your life.

Illuminate it with Gods word.

Illuminate the will of God for your life.

ON THE THIRD DAY

As I come out of my 22nd Easter I realize this one was probably the most profound for myself.

One of the most Holy Easters? No.
Did I see a vision? No.

So what made it o profound then?

I will start with Good Friday. I began the day reading
Hebrews 9:21-22

In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

This put the whole day in prospective for me, It was what happen years ago that made this one possible for me.

I was spending the rest of the day with my new fiance and her Aunt and cousin. We got up a little late, then went to a buffet that was decent for the small town we were in. We had a good time eating and joking. We then went for a walk down a trail near by the house. We chose the 2.5 mile walk. I need more of these walks. As we walked I thought these walk for Jesus, scholars say its not nearly as far as we walked but it got me thinking any how. We walked up and down hills, through swamps, and woods, in the heat of the day. I couldn't imagine what Jesus went through on this walk. Blood dripping from his crown of thorns, skin hanging off His body. Falling down with the wait of the wood heavy cross pressing down on him, pressured to keep going.

I thought it was funny how God let me experience a moment of thinking about this experience while walking down this beautiful trail. What if we walked in a way that signified our thanks for Jesus and His walk up the hill? what if the way we carry ourselves every day was in position to Jesus and the way he carried Him self with that cross? Never staying down, bleeding, enduring, persevering.

Saturday brought more blessings, we were at an interview of sorts for a pastorate in Ozark, Alabama. I just love that name. We experienced amazing things from the time we spent with the pastor. Our hearts melt for this church and it felt as if God was showing where we were going to end up but in the end maybe not because we are #2 for getting the position, We spent a great time on our way home dreaming of possibilities and time in prayer with God about our thoughts and hopes. A really amazing feeling about this job has overcome me the past few days, constantly thinking about it, and wondering if God was going to make this happen. He might you never know.

These makes me ask what if we were to think of God being our provider in a manner that makes us so excited that we can hardly wait to see what will happen? Not just with the big stuff, but with the small stuff too? God is the God of the seemingly impossible. Please move us to think like that God?

Sunday was just spectacular! Driving to church was probably the best part. There was this think fog. But behind this fog there was the sun rising in the East. The light penetrating brilliantly through the fog. Making this gold haze every where. I just started to think of Heaven right there and then. Now I am a 20 something and have a lot that I want to do still in life, like get married! So I dont always have this feeling of just wanting to get to Heaven, but all of a sudden I just wanted to see the glory of my God in its fullness.

My last thought is what if we look for something that brings us to the place where we can turn our minds on Heaven and the wanting to be there? What if we were to think about Heaven the way some of think about what we are going to eat at the next meal?

Blessings, in His name.