Light Swallowed Darkness

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I remember being on a family vacation with my parents and siblings. Mom and Dad wanted us to experience the “gloomy splendor” of Mammoth Cave. It is quite spectacular and worth experiencing. I recall being excited to follow the tour guide deeper and deeper into the cave and imagining how horrible it would be to get lost in a dark tunnel. I was glad for the light. At some other time and place, we toured another cave, but this time the tour guide turned off the light and the darkness was suffocating and frightening. I could not see my finger touch the end of my nose. I was so relieved when the guide brought out a match and with a flick, there was enough light for us to see all around…light swallowed darkness.

“The gospel of God creates the sense of need for the gospel.” This is the opening line of my devotional reading from, My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers. We are totally unaware of our need for God until He makes this need known to us. God creates the need and God satisfies the need. God created the darkness to show us the light…to bring us to the light.  I am aware of the tension of darkness and light within myself. Instead of struggling with the tension, I’m learning to embrace the discomfort and realize that the light of world, living in me, has swallowed this darkness. Ah, the gospel!

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined.  Isaiah 9:2
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”   John 8:12

TIME used up

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“Where has the time gone?” A question that can drone on for too long and never receives an answer that satisfies. That’s because it’s a silly question that doesn’t need answering. Time moves at a steady pace. Time will not speed up and it doesn’t slow down. Time is a consistent thing we can depend on every day. If the alarm clock fails to ring at 6:00 in the morning, it doesn’t change the fact that it is 6:00 A.M. and time to get out of bed. What I do after that is up to me…while TIME continues to move at its steady and rhythmic pace.

I am jealous of time. I am envious of time. I want more time.  TIME asked, “To do what?”  “to do whatever i want,” said I.

“What do you want to do?” asked TIME.  “i want to do whatever i want to do whenever i want to do it,” said I.

“Are you not satisfied with the amount of time you are given?” asked TIME. “no, i want more time to do what i want to do,” said I.

With a resounding voice, TIME reminded me that it was created for the glory of God. TIME is arbitrary. What matters most is what I do with the TIME God has given.

I give back my want for more time to God (it was never mine) and remember how TIME is used up for His glory. Used up well!

TIME for them. Love watching them walk down the hall to KidzPraise and Children’s Worship!

Rescued from Resentful Bitterness

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On my birthday, my Grandmother gave me a beautiful gold bracelet with a single charm displaying my initials, DMG. Back in the day of the 1970’s, a simple gold bracelet (no clasp, just a circle of gold)  with a single charm was the rage. Owning a bracelet like that gave status to the person wearing it, at least that was the perception. Only the most popular girls had a bracelet like this! I wasn’t popular. What is important to know is that I did not realize the significance of this bracelet. I never wore jewelry and didn’t ask for jewelry but my grandmother thought it was special for me to have it. The gold bracelet was an incredible gift and I loved it!

I felt so special and loved by my Grandmother each time I wore that bracelet, which was everyday.  Since I wasn’t popular and didn’t care about style (unless my Grandmother coached me) I had no idea that this bracelet would be a source of discontent for someone else. One day, while in the locker room getting ready for gym class, I carelessly turned my back to the belongings in my locker basket. I had taken off the bracelet and placed it inside the basket. When I turned around, the bracelet was gone. The thief was fast and disappeared quickly…but I knew who she was. I reported the crime to the school authorities, but since they couldn’t prove that my bracelet was stolen and not lost (the thief denied the crime) I was out of luck. Even more frustrating was to see her walking down the hall wearing my bracelet with my initials on the charm.

I was seething with resent and bitterness. I chewed on it. I began to savor the sour bitter taste. I choked on that bitter flavor but managed to swallow and digest this feeling with hope that I would take vengeance on that thief.  But the resentful bitterness ended up taking its vengeance in my soul instead. I was miserable and consumed with hate towards that girl.

The heart knows its own bitterness…Proverbs 14:10

A bitter and resentful person is like a contagious poison, spreading his resentment to others. 
(A paraphrase of Deuteronomy 29:18)

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God…Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.   Ephesians 4:30-32

The bracelet had become a golden idol while that thief was becoming more of a false god, vying for my attention. The only way I could be free from this angst was to surrender my bracelet…that golden idol to God. It was His. It was always His. I gave the bracelet to God numerous times and the more I gave it back, the softer my heart became towards the thief.  I began to pray for her each time I saw her at school and each time I missed the gold bracelet until I didn’t feel the resentful bitterness anymore. I actually had the strange kind of love and compassion for her. God was healing my heart and rescuing me from resentful bitterness and then–God showed me love. My grandmother gave me another gold bracelet, identical to the one now owned by a thief…that girl…needing to feel loved, needing to be rescued.
Years later, I continue to pray for that girl and hope she knows that God loves her and perhaps she has been rescued too. When my daughter was in college, I gave her my treasured bracelet and shared this story with her in hopes that it would be a reminder of God’s rescuing power in her life.  She wears it all the time!
the simple gold bracelet


A Worship Disorder

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Well, I tried to have a devotional-on-the-go this morning but it didn’t work. What was going to be a “take five” sort of quiet time (that’s five minutes to read, think, and pray) lasted longer with little thought of the time passing. I’ve started reading another book and quickly became absorbed with the words and encouraging thoughts and convicting descriptions on the pages. The book is about a worship disorder.  I have a worship disorder.

Addictions should be consumed as wood is for a fire. Removed from heart. Turned into ash...a beautiful thing.

A description of the book is written on the back cover:

Will we worship ourselves and our own desires, or will we worship the true God?  Scripture reveals addicts’ true condition: like guests at a banquet thrown by “the woman Folly,” they are already in the grave. (Proverbs 9:13-18)
This book is a resource for changing lives. It’s about finding hope in the power of the gospel! I’ve personalized the following quote from this book:  
          
A biblical understanding of the fear of Lord must be rooted in [my] growing knowledge that God is holy.  When God teaches[ me] to fear him, he usually does it in a way that is utterly astonishing. 
The Cross of Christ is HUGE! The cosmic event that brings liberation and freedom from myself…moves me to worship; genuinely worship my savior.

No Means Know

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“What is it about the word ‘no’ that you don’t understand?” This is a question I would ask my children after they continually asked the same question and I continually answered, No.  When would they know that the word ‘no’ was spoken for their protection, for their best, for their welfare…to be content with the word, no? Instead of persisting for the thing that is a ‘no’ (a “no-thing”) I prayed that my children would persist to obey, to know wisdom and know they are becoming more like Jesus.


It’s funny how things come back around and bite you. This time, I kept asking God a similar question and God replied in a manner that kicked:  “What is it about the word ‘no’ that you don’t understand?” 

I have come to this simple conclusion: “No Means Know.” Accepting the word ‘no’ with contentment is a result of knowing God. And this is my prayer…

Make me to know your ways, O Lord; Teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, For you are the God of my salvation; For you I wait all the day long. Good and upright is the Lord; Therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.             Psalm 25:4-5; 8-9



Garage Sale: A Grocery Cart to the Rescue

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Garage sales are not always fun, unless you can make lots of money. I helped my father with his garage sale last weekend. He had high expectations of selling all of the stuff and making lots of money.

First lesson, don’t have a garage sale and have high expectations of selling all of the stuff and making lots of money. When I opened the garage, I was very impressed with the organization of the vases, baskets and silk flowers. It was obvious that my Dad had spent a great deal of time organizing the items and pricing them slightly below what one could purchase them new at Walmart.

I’m sure it was difficult for my father to bring out the numerous vases, wicker baskets, and a garden of silk flowers. His beloved wife of nearly 60 years created amazing displays of fresh flowers, fruit baskets for gifts and lavish silk flower arrangements for their home. In case it was overlooked, one would always know when the seasons changed by the spring, summer, fall or winter silk flower arrangements Mom had in the house.

With the vase, basket and silk flower inventory, someone could have opened a florist shop and not have overhead expense from purchasing vases, baskets, and artificial flowers. Unfortunately, none of our shoppers wanted to open a florist shop.

Second Lesson: save the time and effort…take all vases, baskets and silk flowers to a thrift store. I think the garage sale venture was finally redeemed when I asked Dad about the grocery cart he had for sale, while hoping Mom did not “borrow” the cart and forget to return it.

He said to me, “Your mother wanted one, so we bought it.”

Whew! I was relieved to know that Mom was not a thief!

I told Dad that I could find a new home for that cart. I’ll use it Sunday morning for children’s ministry!

Up and down the halls we travel with crafts, snacks, water pitchers, curriculum, toy bins…making numerous trips because our arms can not manage to carry everything from room to room. (We are a “portable church” that meets in a high school.)

“How much do you want for the cart?” I asked.

Dad said, “If you can use it for children’s ministry, it’s my gift to the church!”

The grocery cart now has a new home and my father is content that the garage sale was not a total loss. And I’m proud to show off this cart and use it every week…especially since my Mom wrote her last name on the handle.  (She didn’t want anyone to think it was stolen!)

With fond memories of Barbara Ann Newman Goodroe

The Grocery Cart

This Book & Mark

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I think I shall read the “King’s Cross” by Tim Keller over and over again. This book is for those who are looking for a closer connection to Jesus and Christianity. It is an unforgettable look at Jesus Christ, and one that will leave an indelible imprint on every reader.

“It is an extended meditation on the historical Christian premise that Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection form the central event of cosmic and human history as well as the central organizing principle of our own lives.” ~Tim Keller, King’s Cross: The Story of the World in the Life of Jesus

I’ve taken my time reading this book, underlining phrases, making notes, turning down the corner of pages while I also study the gospel of Mark…which is why this book is so alive with meaning.  Keller focuses on the gospel of Mark and describes the essence and depth of being a child of the King and how to appropriate all of that truth into the now.

Reading, King’s Cross along with the gospel of Mark has been the best thing I’ve done this summer to help develop the habit of spending time daily reading God’s Book, and meditating on His word.  Selecting a “study book” to companion my reading through the gospel of Mark was a good idea, especially since both books are a page turner.

The Giver and The Receiver

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We are blessed with friends. When I think about it, the Lord has given us many opportunities to help our friends in time of need. It’s God’s awesome gift of His grace in our lives that enables us to live out the gospel in tangible ways. It is a joy to be “the giver.” Recently we have experienced what it feels like to be “the receiver” of good things. Friends staying by our side as we experience deep sorrow and loss. Prayer support, meals, cards, and listening to us talk. Friends sending small gifts of appreciation or a gift for no other reason but “just because.”

Last weekend, friends in Florida invited us to get away for the weekend and they treated us to several hours of sailing and dinner afterwards.  We stayed in their home and we were treated like royalty. They rolled out the red carpet for us!  We said our farewell the next morning and drove to our next destination at the beach. The amazing beach front condo was another gift to us. So “the giver” became “the receiver”…humbled by the generosity of others.

Sailing near Cumberland Island
My husband’s phone rings at 3:00 in the morning. He then noticed a text message sent earlier in the night, which he had missed seeing. My husband’s friend needs him by his side. He is very ill with cancer. His family needs his presence. Without hesitation, my husband quickly begins to pack the suitcases and cooler for the long drive home. For he has been “the receiver” of good things from his friend– encouragement in his faith, an example of deep unmovable faith and love for the Lord, a passion for ministry and to change the world through world missions for the gospel of Christ, answered prayers, friendship and more and more. My husband cried and said, “I will miss my friend.”
The Giver and The Receiver. We are both. Humbled that we can give to others, only because of the generosity of God’s gift to us and humbled to be the receiver of the most indescribable gift…only because of His grace.

The Giver and The Receiver