Tag Archives: Finding hope in the Gospel

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

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.