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Let There be Light… and Darkness

Mart De Haan Posted by Mart De Haan
November 7th, 2009
71 Comments » 

Have been thinking that one way to understand the Bible is to see the way it tells the story of light and darkness.

The first quoted words of the God who brought something out of nothing and order out of chaos are, “Let there be Light.” Then God divided the light from the darkness in a way that implies, “Let there be light… and darkness.”

As the story of the Bible comes to a conclusion, it anticipates a day when, God brings an end to both mourning (no more tears) and no more night… (no need for the sun or the moon) for the Lord God will provide everlasting light (Rev 22:5; 21:4; Isa 60:19-20).

At the center of the Bible, Jesus comes and shows himself to be the light of the world, shining in the darkness—with the result that broken people come to him for help… while those who are trying to protect the illusion of their own strength and control run for the shadows…where they conspire to get rid of the light that is exposing them. (note: took picture of Jerusalem wall blocking sun. Reminds me of the Son of Light being tempted by the prince of darkness on the pinnacle of the temple. Matt 4:5)…

The Gospel of John portrays Jesus as both the Creator of Genesis 1 and the light of the world (John 1:1-3). The Apostle Paul links the creation of the world with what God does in individual hearts when he writes that the God who said “let there be light” now gives light to our hearts so that we can see God in the face of Jesus Christ (2Cor 4:6).

The Bible defines “light” as that which reveals and exposes something for what it is (Eph 5:13). The darkness, therefore is that which conceals.

The Apostle John says that God is light (1John 1:5), and that God is love (1John 4:8). He says that those who hate walk in darkness (1John 2:9-11).

So can we conclude that God says, “Let there be light” so that he can say, “Let there be love”?

Can we also say that for now God says “let there be light and darkness” not only to provide a rhythm of work and rest, but a way to see… a reason to love… and an opportunity to trust… for as Moses wrote, “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever…” (Deut 29:29)



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71 Responses to “Let There be Light… and Darkness”

  1. poohpity says:
    November 7, 2009 at 8:34 am

    Without the light we would have never been able to distinguish what was dark. That separation at the beginning did not even have the sun for light only the Lord. It all started with God, God continues and there will never be an end to God.

    Sometimes we allow the things in this chaotic world to push out God but God will always bring back our focus to Him if we are open to the revelation. This goes along with all the blogs lately where we want to be heard so bad we put ourselves ahead of God. God’s wisdom comes in a whisper when our souls are quiet. If we are shouting to be heard it drowns out the Love we hold so dearly to.

    How can we enjoy the Sonrise if we are so busy going about with our own agenda’s.

  2. xrgarza says:
    November 7, 2009 at 10:15 am

    poohpity,

    Good word I love when you say that God’s wisdom comes to us in a whisper. I’ve experience this.

    I once heard that a student in a physics class learned that there is no such thing as darkness, but simply what we call darkness is absences of light.

    It took me a while to comprehend that statement. As God’s light shines into our lives we reflect that light onto the part of the world that crosses our path. How much light do we need? Was my constant question, how do I know that I am shining enough light?

    When my children were young I had setup a nightlight in the bathroom for them, when I first placed it in there I couldn’t sleep because it was so bright, it virtually lit up the entire apartment, we could see it from every part of our home.

    I made the realization that a nightlight is designed to simply dissipate a couple of watts of heat as opposed to a regular light bulb that we use through out our home 60, 75, or 100 watts. So in comparison the difference in brilliance is significant but effective.

    If the light of Christ is shining through us, it doesn’t matter how insignificant that may be, when we walk into the darkness people will notice us.

    We don’t have to be a Billy Graham or a Mother Theresa to make a difference in this world.

    Have a great weekend!
    Xavier

  3. xrgarza says:
    November 7, 2009 at 10:44 am

    PS: Pooh, I responded to the post that you left on “From Jeter to Jesus”

  4. bubbles says:
    November 7, 2009 at 12:58 pm

    The way God compares Himself/Jesus to light has always been fascinating.

    I once read how the early Christians chose a day close to a pagan Roman holiday to celebrate our Lord’s birth.
    How befitting that is, if it’s true, because Christmas is near December 21: the winter’s solstice–the day of the year with the most darkness and least amount of light in the Northern Hemisphere. It’s a great day to celebrate the “Light” coming into a dark and sinful world.

    When I was 15, the pastor at my church had a candlelight service on Christmas eve. His sermon was about how the shepherds heard God speak to them because they were out in the fields being quiet. It’s so important to be quiet and allow God to speak to us. We can’t hear Him when we’re running about leading a ‘noisy’ life.
    We each lit a candle. One small candle does make a huge difference in a place of darkness. When there are many candles lit, it will illuminate an entire sanctuary. So, when all believers work together to allow their lights to shine, think of how great our testimony can be collectively.

    It’s also interesting how God chose early spring for His Son to rise again. We know that His suffering/death/rising again occurred at the time of the Passover–late March/early April. I just love how we can see new life and remember the new life and light He gives to us. We can see that parallell in nature–again the vernal equinox-the first day of spring–more sunlight, and the new life that springs forth from the earth at that time of the year.

    Mart, thank you for your sunrise photo. The Lord is so good to give us the gift of a sunrise to witness each morning!

  5. fluer says:
    November 7, 2009 at 1:05 pm

    How profound, yet simplistic. Thank you for your original post. So much of what humanity (and for sure myself) struggles with, is the presence and exsistence of darkness. Reconciling w/the truth of evil, and the truth of who God is to us, can be so emotionally difficult at times. I often remind myself that God does not mince words when he boldy tells us that satan is the ruler of EARTH. I know God is sovereign,and ruler over all!Being a follower,and tender in heart like Jesus and his disciples,this world can be such a difficult place at times.THANK YOU for your post and helping make sense, and shining the light on,God’s plan and design. Oh our minds are so finite! He tries so hard to help us understand! One day we will be in heaven…in constant light..absent of darkness,perhaps then we will fully understand! Much love to you my brother!

  6. Becky M says:
    November 7, 2009 at 5:49 pm

    Light and dark is good for now. But, what’s the scripture that refers to the light getting brighter as the day approaches? fluer you could very well be right. bubbles, what a good name for your post here. You have made me bubble reading it and I agree with you. poohpity, I always love to read your posts we think alike. Mart,thank you for this “lighter” thread than the last one cause I get a chance to shine my light more in this one,LOL.

  7. saled says:
    November 7, 2009 at 8:26 pm

    Like Bubbles, I think it so fitting that the early Christians decided to celebrate the birth of Jesus just as they could start to notice the length of the daylight getting longer. I’ve also been fascinated by the analogy between Jesus and light. It’s interesting to note that light can’t be fully explained as a particle or as a wave length, and behaves as each. Kind of like the mystery of how can Jesus be both God and Man at the same time. Fully God, and fully man. Yes, the secret things belong to the Lord, but those things that are revealed belong to us and our children forever.
    Praise God.

  8. Bob in Cornwall England says:
    November 7, 2009 at 8:45 pm

    There is no such thing as darkness, it is just the term we use for the absence of light. There is no such thing as cold, it is the term we use for the absence of heat. Nothing can exist unless it is in light or has heat. At -247C there is no heat or light and atoms stop moving and technically cease to exist. God refers to Himself as light because nothing can exsist or persist unless it is in Him (Light)
    In the same way God did not create evil (though everything that was made is made by Him) evil is the absense of God.
    These are not my words but a paraphrase of a young student named Albert Einstein.
    He spent all his life trying to understand the universe and create one equation that would make it all make sense. He failed E=MC2 does not fit every scenario. Yet when God is put into the equation every scenario fits perfectly and the universe is complete.

  9. Elisha says:
    November 8, 2009 at 12:35 am

    I never thought about darkness as absence of light, but now when I think of it, it makes sense. If we simply do good there’s no chance we will do any bad. Likewise if light is present in us, there’s no chance for darkness in us.
    I was fascinated as a child to learn that even in the daytime stars are there in the sky but we simply couldn’t see them because the light from the sun was too much compared to the light from the stars. But when the night comes the sun goes away taking with it the enormous light so we can see the stars which are less bright than the sun. I think Christians are the stars and night is the world, which is dark. And sun is the God, and daytime is the God’s kingdom. We can’t compare ourselves with God, but in darkness the little amount of light present in us is enough to light up the area. As Christians we long for the daylight but till then we should try to be in light by simply doing what is right.

  10. Becky M says:
    November 8, 2009 at 1:46 am

    Bob & Elisha, That is profound. Elisha, your statement of daylight being God’s kingdom makes me look at His Kingdom differently. In His Kingdom He says we won’t need the light of the moon,stars or sun because He will be our light.

  11. daisymarygoldr says:
    November 8, 2009 at 2:00 am

    Bob, I used to think the same as what you said about dark and evil but had to change my mind when I came across this verse: “I form the light and create darkness… and I create evil (calamity); I am the Lord, Who does all these things.” (Isaiah 45:7).

    And Mart, it is a pleasant coincidence that during our conversations on the last topic I was also thinking about the story of light and darkness…

    Whenever we discussed the creation story in Genesis with the 6-7 yr olds in the Sunday school class, I always made it a point to mention the fact that God created light on the first day of creation, yet the sun and moon were not created until the fourth day… to help us think that light can exist without the sun… because God is light!

    I agree that when God says, “Let there be light” says, “Let there be love”. Yes, as children of light we should live a life filled with love and the Bible gives me clear instructions on how to walk in love (Eph 5: 2-9)!

    In the physical sense, yes, I agree, that for now God says “let there be light and darkness” to provide a rhythm of work and rest. However, if I just stay focused on the physical realm and consider the words of the preacher in Ecc “The sun also rises and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it rises”, life is really not worth living for anything… under the sun.

    So, now I’m changing gears to talk in the spiritual realm i.e. to look at God’s view point of “let there be light and darkness” (aside: just felt I should mention this every time I switched over to the spiritual thinking mode to assure you that I have clearly understood what you have communicated in this post:).

    Mart, not sure what you exactly mean when you repeatedly insist that the secret things belong to God. According to my understanding of the word “secret” in the Bible, I am confident in Christ like Daniel… that blessed the God of Heaven who had revealed the deep and secret things to him in a vision of the night (Dan 2:19- 22).

    As you rightly pointed out that Jesus comes and shows Himself to be the light of the world, shining in the darkness—with the result that broken people come to him for help… I also see myself as the lost dead coin that Jesus came to search… to shine His light and find me. Now that I am found and restored into His marvelous light, I no longer stay in darkness (John 12:46)

    And yes, those who are trying to protect the illusion of their own strength and control run for the shadows…where they conspire to get rid of the light that is exposing them. But as for me, when I walk in His light even at night I’m immersed in the light! It’s a fact: darkness isn’t dark to God; night and day, darkness and light, they’re all the same to Him. Ps 139

    Therefore, as children of light, I have to be careful how I walk while making the very most of the time to “be busy with His business while it is daylight; night is coming on, when no man can work.” (Jn 9:4). I cannot keep it quiet when Jesus Himself commands us: “What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when daybreak comes. What I whisper in your ear, shout from the housetops for all to hear!” (Matt 10:26-27)!

    Tears… Jesus Himself as the man of sorrows trod the lonesome path of Calvary with much blood, sweat and tears because of their sinful unbelief. His followers also toil with much weeping and tears for those who perish in unbelief…

    …but we know that God will someday wipe away all our tears… when someday there will no longer be any night. It will be daylight all the time. We will no longer have any need of the sun or the moon because the glory of God will be illuminating Heaven and Earth forever and forever!

  12. Bob in Cornwall England says:
    November 8, 2009 at 5:32 am

    Daisy
    Thank you for that scripture, I have not seen it before.
    The Amplified Bible says:

    “I form the light and create darkness, I make peace [national well-being] and I create [physical] evil (calamity); I am the Lord, Who does all these things.”

    There is a footnote that says:

    “Moral evil proceeds from the will of men, but physical evil proceeds from the will of God.”

    I can only assume it is talking about eartquakes, floods etc. As God created the earth (by whatever means) then these things were created by Him.
    Also God gave satan permission to test Job, so in a sense He allowed evil.
    The Message Bible calls the evil in verse 7 “Discords” which suggest God sometimes causes division among us. As discussed in our last blog.
    Like I said last time, we must seek absolute truth and not worry about the detail. The absolute truth is God created everything that exist, through Jesus and in Him we have life everlasting, both physicaly and spirtualy.
    So technically, the concept of Light/darkness, Heat/cold, Good/evil are a creation of God, but who am I to know the mind of God and His plans. I can only have a little faith in what He tells me via His Word and trust in Him to reveal His Truth.

  13. Mart De Haan says:
    November 8, 2009 at 6:12 am

    Daisymarygoldr when I referred to Deut 29:29 and mentioned the secret things of God, I was thinking of all that God has not revealed about what, when, or how he is working in our lives, that we cannot and should not know– because he is God, and has called us into a relationship that puts great value on knowing the importance of trusting him.

    In that sense God who is light wraps himself in darkness (Exodus 20:21)…

  14. SFDBWV says:
    November 8, 2009 at 7:42 am

    Very busy, bright beautiful day yesterday, the computer was cranky in the morning so I couldn’t share my thoughts with you all.

    Long ago in reading scripture I was awaken to the truth of Isa 45:7, and others Amos 3:6 says in part ,”shall there be evil in a city and the Lord hath not done it?”

    It is just a part of why I recognize that God is in control of every single little event and detail of all existance.

    Secret things of God… I am smiling and laughing a little. If we knew even a little about the secret things of God, could we be able to understand them? I think not.

    I know also about the science of physics reguarding light. What we don’t know is a great deal more than what we think we know.

    Dark matter is a term that astrophysisists use to help explain the unknown matter that must exist to fill their understanding of how the universe exsists.

    I find it interesting that God must explain things to us in ways we can understand them. All of Revelation and most all of prophesy was written by men who tried to explain what they were seeing without any reference to actually explain it. A wheel within a wheel?

    Then there are people…Some people have such a light with them that when they enter the room even though you actualy can’t see the light, their light is obvious.

    While with others the oposite is true. Their darkness is like a blanket that covers everything and that too can be felt.

    “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalms 119:105

    I pray always to be a light for others and not allow myself to be drawn into that trap of absorbing light but not letting it shine from me (black hole).

    Steve

  15. Bob in Cornwall England says:
    November 8, 2009 at 8:58 am

    Steve
    Yes, dark matter crossed my mind as soon as I sent my original blog this morning.
    There are many types such as cold mass and then Black holes.
    They say there is more dark matter than visible matter.
    It has a profound effect on how the universe is structured and influences everything we can see.
    So I have learnt something here today! That God really did create the light and the dark, both physicaly and spiritually and probably good and evil!
    Seems there is much more to God than we can ever see or understand. That is why He sent Jesus as a man, so that we could look right into the heart of God and know Him as he really is.
    Mind blowing stuff when you sit down and think about it!
    Off to parade as it is our rememberance Sunday here in the UK and our village parades at 3pm. as the Royal Navy have one at 11:00am. we have to fit around that.
    Strange here in Cornwall!!
    Have a great Sunday all…. Bob

  16. bubbles says:
    November 8, 2009 at 9:11 am

    Perhaps Deut. 29:29:the “secret” things of God is to remind us that God is God–He’s NOT like us, and there are certain things about Him we are not able to comprehend in our finite minds. But, how good it is that we can trust Him to work all things together for good. . .we can praise Him when He does allow us to see and understand a little of Him! How good it will be to be with Him in heaven, when we won’t even need the sun. It will be so good to be with Him, because then the burden of sin will be gone.

    Was thinking about the concept of light, and how the Lord says He is light. As far as I understand(that’s not a lot) light is one thing that cannot be defiled. It is pure. Nothing can be added to it to make it dirty. Pure sunlight does illuminate things that ARE dirty–just as the Word shows us where there is sin in us. James says the Word is like a mirror that reveals to us sin that needs to be confessed.

    Steve, I’m glad you and your family are okay. Was concerned when I didn’t see an early post by you yesterday. :) I really miss your thoughts when you don’t post.

  17. SFDBWV says:
    November 8, 2009 at 9:54 am

    Thanks Kathy, Matt will be saying hello later today.

    Bob, I was thinking this morning about our two countries and how we have so much in common. I did not know that today was “Rememberance Day” for England. November 11 is our Veterans Day. Of course Thanksgiving Day will be the third Thursday of November. I hope you enjoy your day.

    Reading in Revelation, there is a rainbow around the throne, like unto an emerald? Can’t have a rainbow here on earth with out a source of light. But green, like an emerald….hmmmm more secrets.

    I have read several books by people who claim to have died and went to heaven, only to return to tell us of their adventure. Wether you believe the stories or not, they all tell of bright ligh without any shadows.

    Heaven is certainly going to be a lot different than the world we know.

    Steve

  18. xrgarza says:
    November 8, 2009 at 10:14 am

    Elisha,

    You said: “If we simply do good there’s no chance we will do any bad. Likewise if light is present in us, there’s no chance for darkness in us.”

    With all due respect, we can’t rely on chance; the fact is that the bad and darkness are always there. The Apostle Paul said that the things he wanted to do, he didn’t, and the things that he wanted to do he would do.

    Like the stars in the sky that we can’t see during the day, is like the sin in us while our light is shining. Our life is a constant struggle that is why we have to continue to work out our salvation.

    Xavier

  19. rokdude5 says:
    November 8, 2009 at 10:43 am

    In regards to “Let there be love”, I would like to take what Bob said a step further. God said, “I am that I am”. Since God IS and always IS love, it wouldnt make sense to me for Him to re-create Himself.

    “Let there be love” elsewhere? Again, hate is the absence of love which is why He hates sin. Sin is the absence of Loving Holiness.

    We were created in His image but we made ourselves looking like Swiss cheese when we sin. But what cool is, Jesus filled up those holes with His Holiness if just believe in Him and let Him be Lord over our lives. Isaiah 58:10

  20. zip says:
    November 8, 2009 at 12:20 pm

    I have three comments. First one is a story. I had surgery and was on a morphine pump for a while. I don’t like morphine because it messes with my mind. But something interesting happened, I was out to sea with it, and I tried to rest, and I closed my eyes. When I closed my eyes, it was so bright I had to open them. I was aware this was morhpine and no, I’m not dying or anything else. Yet still for a second, the thought went through my head: “Is THIS all there is? A flash of brain chemistry causing me to “see the light”?’ I was so incredibly disappointed not at having the thought that there was no God, but to contemplate there being no God, nothing but chemical reactions. The brightness continued, and it was annoying that I couldn’t sleep because it was so bright when I closed my eyes. But the thought faded away, even out to see, I knew that was just a side effect of the drug. But it was also a gift to me, as usual, a multiple set of gifts from God (He doesn’t usually just give you some plain little single meaning parable). First was a confirmation to my heart that I would be so upset if He weren’t there — I had been having a faith crisis, and I realized just how fundamentally a part of my being my belief is. Second was, God’s light is so bright and so pure that I cannot gaze upon it with human eyes. And it wasn’t just because I am a sinner — it wasn’t due to any “badness” on my part. It was due to goodness on His part. His good is so light and so bright that even a saved and forgiven me could not face it full on. There are things truly too wonderful for us to know, as Job discovered.

    Secondly, Xavier is correct. I am a study in good intentions gone wrong. What if I cut somebody off in traffic, accidentally? I will never even know it, yet perhaps I ruined their entire day when they spilled their coffee on their new outfit and all over their car seat. Maybe that was the one thing to tip the scales for them.

    Thirdly, this was exactly what I needed this morning. I am no saint, but sometimes when I try (I am guilty of not giving my utmost to Him) I get frustrated and just shut down. That in itself is a sin, because I am so afraid I might sin that I don’t even live. Of course I am going to fail, every day. My walk with Christ is not about me being able to leap that chasm and reach Him, it is about Him having bridged that chasm, made it go completely away, and He is walking with me, telling me the direction in which to go, and WHEN I fall and fail, He tells me gently and sweetly and kindly to give things another shot, get back up and try again, that’s all I have to do is keep trying and He will do the rest.

    We are not here to do it ourselves. We are here to let Him guide us, and yes, even come and find us and get us and pick us up Himself when we can’t. Or if we’re stuck where we are and really can’t move, such as we’re in a hospital bed, He will simply sit beside us and sing to us.

    One of these days I will close my eyes on this world, and I will finally have the ability to see my Savior’s face. Until then, we see his face in the hurting, the humble, the sick, the poor of this world, and in the faces of others who are looking for His face.

    I was lonely when I woke up, now I am not so lonely. Blessings!

  21. Loretta Beavis says:
    November 8, 2009 at 12:23 pm

    Great discussions! I so look forward to the fellowship on this blog and how the fellowship “edifies” one another. I’m not always able to catch the wave of the opening topic; but I love swimming around in the water with everyone!

    … something out of nothing; order out of chaos, light divided from darkness; revelation from concealment. Supernatural strength to love, Supernatural strength to not hate. Choices and questions.

    Together or separation for eternity …

    …the Bible shows me that I have a free choice, that God won’t force a choice on me. I believe one of the mis-understandings (or lies) about the Bible is that God will eventually force His will on me. But no. I have a natural trust of light and a natural fear of the dark. I can spiritually trust The Light. Reading the Bible I gain focus on The Light (and respect for the dark.)

    Horses have vision different than humans. They won’t jump into a shadow (like from a tree) if you are jumping a fence on a course, or walk on paint on the sidewalk, over boards or things on the ground because in their vision perception, it looks like a black hole to them! It takes them about 10 minutes to just stand and focus on an the “black hole” before they move closer to it. They have to learn to trust the human asking them to do that! I’m glad I’m not a horse.

    I love my Jesus, The Light of the world.

  22. Elisha says:
    November 8, 2009 at 1:24 pm

    When I mention that we are like the stars in the sky I also mentioned about the night which is around us and which is dark and full of bad. I know it’s a continuous struggle which I experience too. I agree with you Xavieri. But God wants us to do simple things. For example, there have been situations when I have fought with my sister. Looking back I feel guilty because I could have simply walked away but I didn’t. Wasn’t it simple just to walk away? But my pride kept me, I wanted to prove my point and wanted to show I had enough courage to fight. But now I know it takes more courage to walk away than to fight. Wasn’t it simple just to stay in the land than to go to Egypt for Johanan and others (Jeremiah 42, 43)? But they disobeyed God and went to Egypt. Because simple things take more courage.
    I know it’s hard, but look at it from the third person view (look at a situation from an outsider’s view), then it looks simple. I struggle myself to be good and not to do any bad. But every time I look at myself from the third person view, I think how foolish I am. I’m not doing the simple things I can do which will make me more close to God.
    Does God count if we do something accidentally? Won’t he understand our true intentions? we all sin, we are weak and God understand us. And sometimes we ruin other people’s day accidentally, but God looks how we act after that incident. Will we admit our fault? And forgive ones who have ruined our day? Those are simple things to do, but do we do them?

    If we think doing good is hard then it becomes hard, but if we think it is simple then it becomes simple. There will be exceptions but try it. Now I don’t fight with my sister I just walk away. God knows us and he doesn’t make us carry a load more than we can bear.

    Sorry it seems I have gone away from the blog topic.

  23. poohpity says:
    November 8, 2009 at 2:53 pm

    Wow zip, a whisper from God. Thank you for sharing it was beautiful. I believe that God can even work through the morphine to show you, at a time when we needed to feel His closeness, that the light is always with you.

    As a protective parent God knew the bad but wished for us not to know. I do not fully understand when satan fell from the presence of God but obviously it was before we are told, that is another secret from God. When satan fell misery wanted company so human kind was enticed to be like God, knowing the difference between the light and the dark, good and evil.

    As parents in today’s society so many try and shield their children from seeing the bad in the world. It is there and like the horse trusting it’s rider to guide them we have to learn to trust God’s direction. If we are not aware of the darkness when we first trusted Christ for His light we would have never been aware of our own sin (darkness). So God helps us through the darkness by leading us by the hand when we trust Him.

    I wish when we walk into a room and people could see our light but I would rather have them spend time with me and see it is not my light but the light of the Lord shining through me. I need to be taken out of the equation and God needs to be put into it. Love minus me equals God.

  24. Becky M says:
    November 8, 2009 at 3:45 pm

    Zip, I came right here to comment after reading your post. That was so awsome! Talk about light, your post was filled with it that I felt the heat of your light warm my heat and from my head to my toes. Thank you for sharing that.

  25. poohpity says:
    November 8, 2009 at 3:58 pm

    I thought that some of you may be interested in the In Touch message by David Barten today about our heritage as being founded on Christian principles by our Christian forefathers.

  26. Becky M says:
    November 8, 2009 at 4:00 pm

    I just want to say that I’ve been away from this blog until recently with this and the last threads. Reading everyone’s comments edifies me and talking about light, sheds light on things I’ve been struggling to understand. I love all of you who post here. You are great teachers. You definitely share your love,thank you.

  27. firstthingsfirst says:
    November 8, 2009 at 7:37 pm

    Let There be Light… and Darkness, Posted by Mart De Haan
    November 7th, 2009

    I can see that there is a distinction between the day being the light and the nite for darkness.

  28. firstthingsfirst says:
    November 8, 2009 at 8:22 pm

    along with in some areas in the 4 conors of our creator’s earth but still the scriptures of our Lord Jesus sayings must not be ever broken because he is that same kind of GOD with his Son.

    But to me as Mart De Haan has said about:

    Have been thinking that one way to understand the Bible is to see the way it tells the story of light and darkness.

    The first quoted words of the God who brought something out of nothing and order out of chaos are, “Let there be Light.” Then God divided the light from the darkness in a way that implies, “Let there be light… and darkness.”

    As the story of the Bible comes to a conclusion, it anticipates a day when, God brings an end to both mourning (no more tears) and no more night… (no need for the sun or the moon) for the Lord God will provide everlasting light (Rev 22:5; 21:4; Isa 60:19-20).

    Walter! : of the above statement, most of the time people will be themselves day/light or nite/darkness weather the are out or in doors or for whatsoever reason/purpose under God heavens, he/our Lord do not sleeps nor slumbers.

    He is a God of all and is over all in power light/good and also darkness/evil but he has created everything for his purpose to will and do as he will. Is. 45:1-25.

  29. firstthingsfirst says:
    November 8, 2009 at 8:42 pm

    Please excuse my spelling on some words like:conors/corners, weather/whether, sleeps/sleep,slumbers/sleep, etc.

    I must have been nodding off! I do apologize, ok? please forgive me for those errors, There is a time for everything and I thank God for you all here with Been Thinking About with Mart De Haan.

  30. Bob in Cornwall England says:
    November 8, 2009 at 8:49 pm

    Steve
    We seem to connect when we comment on here, maybe we can chat one day one to one, Mart will have to arrange that.
    Yes our countries have a lot in common but we are also polls apart, that is what makes us good friends and allies. We compliment each other and both can advise the other. I have been in the USA during thanks giving and it is totally alien to me, like an early Christmas. Thank God we are different. Thank God for Light and Dark. Without sin how would we know how much He loves us. There are two sides to every argument. Black and White, we add the grey. This is why we must love one another, otherwise our arrogance would destroy us. It is nearly 2am here and I feel I am whittering on a bit. It amazes me that so few people take advatage of this blog to comment on their feelings. It is such a great forum, and when you think “Our Daily Bread” is read all over the world, why are there not thousands of people on here?
    Sorry Mart I have strayed from the subject, but I suppose that is what it is all about. Sharing!

  31. fluer says:
    November 8, 2009 at 9:42 pm

    Love this site,it just draws u into the heart of God.

    Hi Becky M., I am not sure what it is you were questioning about my thread?? But I would love 2 know what passage u were referring to because it sounds like one that could uplift me when I am weary.

    So interesting to hear peoples views, and perspectives! Makes me want to know more about everyone(and their lives),and where everyone is at in their journey!

    Poohpity- u stated that “you wished u could give off a light wherever u go”, well u can and should.There is a distinct difference between those filled w/the light of God,and those that are not. Of course our lives should bear witness(& our speech)but I love when Paul speaks in Corin:2 about the exquisite fragrance/sweet scent we give off, that people breathe in wherever we go!! An aroma redelent with life,love,and light!Often times it is the very thing that allows us to be able to engage w/someone to begin with.:)

    Elisha, sounds 2 me like u have a very beautiful & pure heart.Perhaps it is just a lag in communication…I am not sure. I guess it just sounds way too simplistic the way u describe things and does seem to align w/scripture. I am not trying to pick on ya, but to say “if light is present in us there is no chance of darkness in us” is just not biblical. Starting in Genesis it tells the story of the 1st women created and how Satan beguiled Eve through his subtilty and corrupted her from the simplicity, that is Christ.Infact the more determined we r 2do and b good,the more satan(&the world)will hate and come after us.Look at Job. Each disciple gives account of when they were living in the light of God,and doing his will,and their flesh/satan got the better of them. Peter denied even knowing Christ! And he loved God, and did lots of simple and good things! 2Corinthians is also very enlightening on this subject. Paul did TREMENDOUS good and was consistently confronted with darkness. Paul even tells us that a messenger of Satan sent him a thorn in his side to buffet him. The more good Paul did the more he was chased by the enemy. His own brothers in Christ turned on him. He also tells us that Satan disguises himself as an angel of lightness to try and fool us,and lead us astray. There are many barriers to doing,being,good as well as many consequences,and alot of them are very hard and unpleasant. God is sufficient however :),and it is only in Him we can remain free. But it is a constant going to Him,recognizing we struggle so w/o Him, and even on our best day we need Him to live through us.It is this very struggle that continues to grow us more complete in Christ until we are in heaven. It is what helps us become more like him.

    If I have misunderstood u, I apologize. Just in case I didn’t, I could not, not say anything ;). I love u my sister.

  32. daisymarygoldr says:
    November 9, 2009 at 1:25 am

    Bob, I absolutely agree with everything you have said i.e. Evil is in the physical sense and refers to calamity which God allows in His Sovereignty.

    Mart, I also agree that God has not revealed about what, when, or how He is working in our lives. In the OT, God wrapped Himself in darkness but the verse you quoted above says that now we can see God in the face of Jesus Christ (2Cor 4:6). Although, I have never literally seen Jesus or His light or heard His voice but the light of His Word and the Holy Spirit reveal all things pertaining to life (2 Pet. 1: 3-4).

    So I agree, we cannot and should not know the when and the how, because we walk by faith. …but then in an intimate personal relationship with God, in our spiritual senses do know about what He is working in our lives (1 Cor. 2:9-12)…that’s what gives us peace during difficult circumstances to obediently submit to His will even though we can never understand or know it with the logical intellect of our physical brains.

    Maybe I’m still not getting it:)…it would certainly help if you can provide specific real life examples to explain what is meant by “what He is working in our lives”…

  33. Becky M says:
    November 9, 2009 at 4:33 am

    Hi fluer,the statement I was referring to was—One day we will be in heaven…in constant light..absent of darkness,perhaps then we will fully understand! —
    I was thinking of Christ’s return and God’s Kingdom. That means Heaven to me. I don’t know where it’s located in the scriptures(been searching for it), I just know I’ve read it and it stuck in my head. The search keeps taking me to 1 Thessalonians and 2 Thssalonians but,there is no mention of light getting brighter in those books. I just skimmed thru them though and I’m gonna keep looking. I think that it means that we will recognize the day Jesus comes back by the brightness of the knowlege and signs we see the closer the day draws near. Well, I don’t want to confuse anyone or send any of you off the wrong direction so, please wait until I find the scripture and I’ll post it here or look for yourselves if you’ve the notion and time. I hope I didn’t confuse you fluer.

  34. SFDBWV says:
    November 9, 2009 at 7:37 am

    The older I get the more I appreciate young people. Because the nature of the young is to not believe everything they are told, they challange accepted thought.

    That may sound like a bad thing but without new young fresh thinking, we never have a chance to grow.

    Many people do not know why the “Dark” Ages were referred to as “dark” nor why the emergence from this period was called the age of en”light”enment.

    The fall of the Roman Empire put a blanket of darkness over much of the intellectual world, what was known was forgotten, the history of the world disapeared in the fires and bloodletting of many smaller conqurers.

    But the world was changing in a way none could have foreseen.

    God was growing the Church, the body of Christ was as an infant and it was during this “dark” time that the Church was able to form and establish itself as the new power in the world. Could anyone have known where the church was headed? Yes if they had read the Word and if the Holy Spirit allowed them to understand. But it is the Holy Spirit that leads us into all truth, not our curiosity.

    Like the birth of a child who emerges from the darkness of it’s mother’s womb, the church and the world awoke from the dark ages to the light.

    We may wander in darkness thinking we are in the light but it isn’t untill the dark glasses spoken of by Paul are removed that we can see clearly in the light of God’s presence. This is not within our power, but is the power of God.

    Looking foreward to that uncloudy day.

    Steve

  35. SFDBWV says:
    November 9, 2009 at 9:00 am

    Bob in England, I accept your offer of friendship, we shall see how to connect. God will make a way.

    Steve

  36. Elisha says:
    November 9, 2009 at 9:32 am

    First l need to thank everyone who expressed their thoughts about my comments without hurting my feelings. Maybe what I mentioned is not matching for everyone. Many of you might be having much complicated lives than mine. (Many of you might have faced more troubles than me). But right now, for me, life is simple. Most of the time it’s a struggle inside my head, whether I’ll believe in God and do the right thing or not. Once I made up my mind, the work is easy. Because he is with me. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters (Psalm 23), and I just have to follow. When following God my mind is at ease because in him I find rest (Matthew 11:28). See how Paul came out of the prison, he didn’t have to break the iron gate, God opened it for him (Acts 12: 6-11).
    Fluer, why do you say it’s not biblical, what about Matthew 12:33, 12:35, 7:17-18? As long as we believe and love God can we do something bad? People might misunderstand us but God won’t. He reads our hearts. In Genesis 39, it tells how Joseph walked away from evil, and at last ended up in prison. But didn’t God bring him good? Joseph was put in charge of the whole Egypt by Pharaoh (Genesis 41) later. At first it seems doing good brings troubles but if we stay patiently God will surely reward us. There are many more examples but I think I have already used too much space in this blog. Fluer I agree with you that Satan (&the world) will hate and come after us but do we really need to worry about them? Because God is with us(Psalm 23:4).As you said, God is sufficient.

  37. foreverblessed says:
    November 9, 2009 at 10:31 am

    Pooh, there are people who can see the light in christians. I have heard of a wicca man, a sort of witch, who could read the thoughts of people. But with christians he could only see a bright light. No thoughts that he could read. Later he became a christian.
    We should not be afraid of these things. Christ is in us, He is greater than the power of darkness. And every morning we put on the whole armour. Ephesians 6:10-19.
    His Light is so bright in us!
    And shining in the inner parts of our heart, in all cornours of our heart, hidden places, showing secret things still there, and we see it, we admit it, we repent and God cleanses us.

  38. foreverblessed says:
    November 9, 2009 at 10:38 am

    Sorry, it is corner.

    Isn’t it so that God is much too bright for us to see? That if we would see Him we would die? Where is that verse in the bible?

  39. poohpity says:
    November 9, 2009 at 11:24 am

    Gee, you have to read the whole sentence about the light to get what I was talking about.

  40. foreverblessed says:
    November 9, 2009 at 2:01 pm

    Yes, I did:
    “I wish when we walk into a room and people could see our light but I would rather have them spend time with me and see it is not my light but the light of the Lord shining through me. I need to be taken out of the equation and God needs to be put into it. Love minus me equals God.”
    Explain your reaction please, Love you Pooh.

  41. SFDBWV says:
    November 9, 2009 at 2:08 pm

    foreverblessed, Exodus 33:20 “And He said, thou canst see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.”

    Though in verse 11: “And the Lord spoke unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.”

    Seems God will do whatever He wants to.

    Steve

  42. pegramsdell says:
    November 9, 2009 at 5:36 pm

    Isaiah 60
    The Glory of Zion
    1 “Arise, shine, for your light has come,
    and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.

    It’s weird, but sometimes it seems that darkness is heavy and a substance. But the scripture says that the glory of the Lord is our light. And I know that the glory can be heavy. Maybe it’s an optical illusion…

  43. Becky M says:
    November 10, 2009 at 1:09 am

    fluer, I don’t know where I got the words “as the day approaches” unless it was from the NWT(New World Testament). That is the Bible that I studied from when I was in that cultish church. Well, I found the verse I think that I mean and It probably was a standard version Bible that stuck in my mind with the word brighter. The scripture verse is: Proverbs 4:18.

    KJV-18But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

    TNIV- 18 The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

    NASB- 18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,That shines brighter and brighter until the full day.

    I hope this helps and yes it is a good verse to remember that will help uplift you when you are weary,I think. God bless and all here.

  44. kaliko88 says:
    November 10, 2009 at 3:15 am

    There is no joy that has not tasted of pain. Would we truly appreciate the light without having known darkness?

    Heh. For some reasons this whole conversation reminds me of “Oh God, 2”, in particular when he answered a question about good and evil, and he said that he couldn’t figure out how to make anything with just one side, with no opposites. Anyone remember that movie?

  45. Bob in Cornwall England says:
    November 10, 2009 at 5:23 am

    Thanks Steve.
    Yes, if it is of God then we will connect one day.

    I must say this has been the best topic since I have been looking at this blog. Sometimes we all get bogged down in the detail, but this time we all seem to be open and allowing His Light to penetrate our thinking.
    Steve, I was interested in your thoughts about the dark ages. Yes, after Rome the world did change. Christianity was brought to Britain by the Romans, and near my home town we still have the remains of a Roman Christian church, circa 300AD. When they left our shores about 400AD they left a vast network of roads and cities and a people who were extremly cultured. There is lots of remains that show life was even better after the Romans for about 100 years. It then started to decay in Britain. Down in Rome and Constantinople the church was growing and becoming very powerful, lots of monks etc. came to Britain and Ireland and reastablished Christian ways, but also they thought the Romans were pagans and destroyed most of their infrastructure and used it to build Abbeys and Monastries, establishing the new order. It really took another thousand years before the age of enlitenment dawned, that embraced many of the ancient principles and brought about our modern age. I know God was in all this. Just as in Babel, He came and confused their languages because the time was not right for a united world. He also destroyed Egypt and Rome because His timing was different. We are now awaiting the one world government of the anti christ and then the Glorious return of JESUS. God stopped this happening in past ages, but now the time has come.
    So again God allowed the dark ages both after Babel and after Rome to fulfil his purpose, that is, To bring salvation to the world through Jesus.
    The Light that will shine on that day will make the enlitenment of man appear as utter darkness.

  46. SFDBWV says:
    November 10, 2009 at 7:22 am

    Last night at 11:30pm a local woman whom we know called and told me that something was wrong with her husband, could I come down to her house, please, and have a look.

    When I got there I found her husband in his bedroon laying face down in a puddle of blood. He had shot himself and was dead.

    I called for emergency personel and for State Police. She then called their son.

    Within minutes fire and rescue personel were on the scene, but we had to wait for the police.

    Ricky, their son, ran past the firemen to get to his dad. By then the house was beginning to fill with family and the family Pastor.

    Even though at this point, the bedroom was a crime scene, I went with Ricky into the room so he could see his dad. He didn’t stay long.

    It was a long night for everybody.

    Darkness has once again came to this family, they lost another son to cancer several years ago and Dottie (the lady who called me) lost a sister just last year.

    Our prayers go out to this family as they search for answers, and the light of day.

    Steve

  47. xrgarza says:
    November 10, 2009 at 9:30 am

    Steve,

    You can count on me, I will be praying for this family, for peace, a sense of clarity, and that this does not become a family trend. We know that the Devil is out there roaming like a lion trying to see whom he can devour. He wants nothing else but to destroy families.

    Thanks for sharing Steve.

    Xavier

  48. daisymarygoldr says:
    November 10, 2009 at 10:06 am

    Steve, this is so sad. It is my hopeful prayer to God that the light of Jesus may shine through you… to dispel the darkness that has engulfed the lives of Dottie and Ricky who are struggling in the shadows of death…

  49. rokdude5 says:
    November 10, 2009 at 10:44 am

    What a tragic story. My heart is broken.

    My prayers are with the family and especially the son. Suicides are still in the top ten causes of death. You would think it would be on the bottom ten. RJ

  50. poohpity says:
    November 10, 2009 at 11:51 am

    Steve, you let Dottie and Ricky know that they are in our prayers and the whole family for that matter. Wow, what a painful time for them, my heart goes out to them.

  51. wretch-like-me says:
    November 10, 2009 at 12:32 pm

    Dear Friends:
    It may not seem much comfort at the time; however, I cling to the truth of God as revealed in scriptures.

    “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Rom.8:28

    Steve: In this present darkness you and your friends experience as a result of this man’s taking his own life, I pray you become the light of God and a messenger for their salvation, comfort, and enlightenment.

    As you all know, my friend (Jim) continues to struggle in ICU with H1N1, double pneumonia, and a combination of viral, bacterial, and fungal infections.

    I believe it is your prayers that are keeping him alive thru the the grace and power of God. I am thankful and rejoicing in the small things that God has granted along the way.

    Family has had the opportunity to gather.
    Friends are laying down ‘prayer’ and building hedges against the evil ones who try to undermine our faith.
    Each day Jim is granted is a blessing.
    God embraces our prayers, hopes and stays death one day at a time. (Can we ask for more?)

    In keeping with our present ‘blog theme’, I am reminded that it is always darkest before the dawn and God’s timing is perfect. He will choose to glorify Himself in Jim’s victory over death in one of two ways.

    1. Jim will recover from this illness and be returned to his family and friends praising God joyfully and loudly.

    2. Jim will be victorious over death joyfully praising God with his friends and family as they look forward to being reunited in heaven at the time God chooses. (just as loudly!!!)

    We who believe have that promise, that hope, that fact to clutch dearly. Our Savior has power over death and darkness. He is the Light, the Truth and The Way.

    God Bless You All.
    Huggs
    frank

  52. Becky M says:
    November 10, 2009 at 12:52 pm

    Seve and Frank, my prayers.

  53. Becky M says:
    November 10, 2009 at 12:58 pm

    sorry Steve for the spelling.

    fluer and everyone, I have no proof of what I read in the NWTB and I’m sorry I even mentioned it. The other versions are correct according to Bible Gateway.

  54. Hisgirl4life says:
    November 10, 2009 at 1:10 pm

    So many thoughtful and beautiful comments about this subject of light and darkness. Reminds me of so many parallels when thinking of light: the light at the end of the tunnel; the lights we celebrate on our trees during Christmas time; the light in someone’s eyes; the moonlight reflecting off the water…all reflecting of the truth that God is indeed light and love and He created us and gave us His spirit to dwell within us. He created all things.
    Steve, I don’t know you or the family represented in your message, but together in Christ, we stand in prayer; saddened that trials, suffering and hardships are so prevalent on this earth. So many others have referenced the need for intercessory prayer. I count it a privilege to come before the throne of God on behalf of others in need.
    During some recent devotional reading through the book of Job, I read in my Bible’s margin, “It is not for us to try to reason out the specific cause of a person’s suffering; God reserves that knowlege for himself.” Again, a reminder of Romans 8:28 that Frank shared…that “God works all things to good.” His plan and ways are not always in alignment with our plans, but his way is always for our best.
    During the darkest times in our lives, those times when the pain is so great it is a struggle to breathe, God wraps his arms around us and gently craddles us in his arms. He collects our tears, sees our grief, cries with us and feels our pain in his heart. I’m thankful for the encouragement of fellow believers in my life and on this site. Be encouraged today as Psalm 10 reads, “You, O Lord, see trouble and grief. You hear the desire of the afflicted, you encourage them, and listen to their cry.” May Christ’s light shine in each of us and his fame spread to a world that so desperately needs Him.

  55. kaliko88 says:
    November 10, 2009 at 1:40 pm

    So much darkness for us to try and shine our little candles in. No wonder we’re supposed to build it up to a burning fire. People around us need so much more “light” and the “warmth” of our love. Every headline, every story is turning into a prayer.

    For all of you struggling now with such terrible situations, I’ll add my prayers. Can I say, though, that you all are being lights? You’re reaching out into others’ darkness to help. That, as much as anything else you do, will be a huge comfort to those people. I pray it also gives them back some hope.

  56. jjhis says:
    November 10, 2009 at 1:43 pm

    Hisgirl4life, Amen.
    Steve, have prayed for you and the family who called you for help in their hour of darkness.
    Frank, continuing to pray for Jim.
    I wanted to share a couple of scriptures which remind us how to live in this present day. I encourage you to read them from your Bible.
    Romans 13:8-14 and 1Thessalonians 5:1-11.
    Praise Jesus the true Light!

  57. fluer says:
    November 10, 2009 at 1:55 pm

    Steve, thanks for sharing. That is so devasting. I will lift that family up,as well as you. May God bless u also as u are a source of His comfort,compassion,and love during this difficult time.

    Thanks Beky M. I so appreciate that!

    Elisha it is nice to feel like we can talk about these things with such openess and safety. I am so glad u do not feel judged! I don’t either. Thank you for that.

    I do find myself not in complete understanding of where u r coming from. Maybe it is because my life is not simple. ? I love that u identify with Psalm 23 and u can walk in that with ease,at times that is for the case with me as well. Well, it is always the case EVENTUALLY. :)

    I guess I am also very in touch w/Davids emotions and experiences prior and post Psalm 23. Before he is uplifted he cries out from his heart and speaks plainly of how difficult it is to feel/see/understand the Lord’s goodness amongst such injustice and darkness.

    And in reading the passages from Matthew u sited, I think we may be talking about different things again. ? Those verses in their context (as I undertsand them) Jesus is not speaking about our fallen/sinful nature. Rather He is describing how He and we,can know if someone is in/connected to him. Anyone can say, and even do “good” things, but the fruit(or lack of) determines what really lies in their heart. I do not think these verses are suggesting that we are no longer capable of sin.

    When u say “as long as we believe & love God can we do something bad?” For me that answer is simple..YES! Eve ate the apple, Peter denied knowing Christ, David slept with another man’s wife,etc..Just because God can work everything to our good if we come to him, and is so quick to forgive us, does not mean we don’t, or are no longer inclinded at various times to do/think/feel bad things.

    Your last comment to me, questioning if I really need to worry about Satan, and the world, is hard for me to swallow. If I am in sin because I am greatly affected by this fact, I don’t know what to do. ? I am a Counselor, and ALL day long I hear the most herendous stories of awful things that my brothers and sisters have suffered through at the hands of the enemy,and this world. I consistently engage w/beautiful souls that long for God to rescue them. I know He has, and will continue to do so, but THERE IS SOOOO much darkness in this world. I wish b/c u were saved, or a child of God’s that would make u/us immune to that, but in all my life experiences and those I am in communion with that just is not the reality.

  58. poohpity says:
    November 10, 2009 at 2:17 pm

    No matter the amount of scripture we know and use we still have that dark side to our lives. Christ knew that and still went to the Cross. That Light of Forgiveness and Love the human being will never be able to fully comprehend. It is so wonderful to be able to point others to that Light and hopefully we will able to display that to a lost world full of darkness.

    Generation upon generation has made the comment that how can it get any worse but obviously the more people there are it can and will get worse. It is so remarkable that we are given the privilege to represent that light to the world to point them to the author and creator of that Light.

  59. fluer says:
    November 10, 2009 at 2:18 pm

    Hisgirl4life, Kaliko88, and jjhis Thank you for your posts and loving empathetic hearts! I saw them after I had completed posting mine. Thank you for your kind words!

    I was really beginning to feel crazy, like I am the only person on the planet to struggle,grieve, or find this narrow path of God’s not an easy breezy journey. I can not thank u enough.

    Something quick and interesting to share… Someone once told me that one of the most repeated phrases in scripture from our Lord is ” Do not be afraid”. I love Him for that, because I know God understands being human, down here on this earth, can be a very scary and disheartening place. “Do not be afraid” is not a rebuke or command, rather a consistent reminder to us that He is with us. He knows there is much to fear.

  60. fluer says:
    November 10, 2009 at 3:16 pm

    Oh Frank, that is lovely, beautiful, and true. Thank you.

    Also, I just feel the need to apologize. I am in the midst of some heavy junk in my life. My spirit is heavy, and I am not feeling the presence of Christ as much as I desire to. I AM REALLY SORRY if my sharing/questioning has offened or harmed anyone. I fear my weariness is getting the better of me.

  61. Hisgirl4life says:
    November 10, 2009 at 4:50 pm

    Fluer, it is in the valleys of life you hear about each day, (our darkest times) that God stretches our faith, grows us up, gives us emphathy and compassion for other and draws us deeper to Himself. We all have seasons of our lives when we never want to come down from the mountain experiences of life; but eventually each of us journey through the valleys (those times that may even leave us questioning God). God is big enough to understand our heavy spirits, our grief and pain. God is at work, ALWAYS, in our lives and the lives of every life he created. The Bible tells us the “joy of the Lord is our strength,” but we are all human, and not immune to suffering. Even Job sat in the ashes picking at his wounds. For awhile, his friends sat quietly near him, a quiet and a comforting presence to him. As the story goes on, Job felt very much alone and in deep despair. Fluer, may God continue to give you strength in Him to sit in the ashes with those that are hurting (we are all called to have compassion), and may He bless you for the compassion you show others.

  62. poohpity says:
    November 10, 2009 at 6:04 pm

    fluer,

    I am very sorry to learn of your struggles and trust me many of us are right there with you. Hopefully we can be an encouragement to you on your journey to understand how much you are loved and wanted here. I know that sometimes one may feel like everything is against them but those times really help our faith grow because the Lord wants to be your sole provider for all comfort and peace. I will ask Him to let you know without a doubt you are right there within His Love.

  63. daisymarygoldr says:
    November 10, 2009 at 6:15 pm

    fluer, This is my prayer for you that God’s light will shine through all of that heavy junk in your life and to lift up your spirit by the peace that is possible only in the fulfilling presence of Christ. Keep sharing your love…you are much loved in the Lord!

    Frank, God is so good and worthy to be praised. Jim is very much in our prayers…

    pegramsdell, it was actually your comment in the last blog that set me thinking about light vs. darkness. Thank you for Is 60!

    Hisgirl4life, you are right, we are called to have compassion! Just like the Good Samaritan. If we only had compassion and empathy to love our neighbors as ourselves… our neighbors namely: our parents, our siblings, our spouses, our children and our brothers and sisters in Christ…

    … then our families will not split but will stay strong, our unconditional love will not cause our marriages to break as we will not give up on our spouses to jump from one to the other, our mercy will not allow us to passively see our children being crushed to death in the claws of sex, alcohol, drugs and porn… our forgiving grace will prevent our churches to divide as we will not encourage bitterness against brothers and sisters who have hurt us.

    If we only walk in His light to love, then His light in us will surely overcome the darkest darkness existing right within our homes and church communities.

    Elisha, when I read your first comment on this page, it reminded me of the following verse: “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the sky. Those who lead many others ‘to do what is right’ will be like the stars for ever and ever. (Dan 12:3 NIRV). Keep doing good…you are much loved in the Lord!

    “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in Heaven” (Matt 5:16)

  64. SFDBWV says:
    November 10, 2009 at 8:48 pm

    The Reel family is overwhelmed and thankful for all of your compassion and prayers on their behalf.

    Thank you all

    Steve

  65. Bob in Cornwall England says:
    November 11, 2009 at 4:04 am

    Steve

    Just read all that has been happening!

    I am about to go for a long walk and will pray and lift This family to God.
    So much is happening to you at this time?
    May The Holy Spirit strengthen you and your family.
    God Bless You! :-)

    Bob

  66. SFDBWV says:
    November 11, 2009 at 6:47 am

    This morning is Veterans Day, I would like for everyone to remember the soldiers, sailors and airmen that sacrifice and witness the horrors they do on our behalfs.
    Also remember the public servants who stand in the gap for us, the police, the firemen, the people who do for us all so that we may sleep peacefully and in safety.

    This is a good group, you all do well in showing the face of Christ.

    Steve

  67. Elisha says:
    November 11, 2009 at 9:43 am

    Oh, Fluer I’m so glad you didn’t feel judged. I wanted to let you know that, but I couldn’t come up with a sentence to describe it. From my own personal experience, we all sin, but that’s when we forget God’s love and doubt his power. It’s when we grow sleepy (not physically but spiritually) so we should watch and pray(Matthew 26:41-42).Why do we love God, isn’t it because we know He loves us much more? His great love for us is our weapon when we are weak, remember His love, and remember that Jesus laid down His life for us. You won’t go against God’s will and make him sad as long as you remember His love.
    As for passages from Matthew which I mentioned, I think if tree is the man then what he does is the fruit of the tree. Since it’s a parable there are so many ways to look at it.
    Yes, it’s hard to continue in our faith when we see all the bad things happening around us. But that’s because we don’t look at the whole picture. We humans trend to concentrate more on negative side than the positive side. Yes, David, Peter and many other good people in the bible did something bad at a moment or another but look how many bad things they have avoided. Talking of David, in 1 Kings 1:1-5 it says that he didn’t repeat his sin.
    I guess remembering The Beatitudes in Matthew 5 will help us in our difficult times.
    ” Do not be afraid” is one of my favorite phrases too.

  68. pegramsdell says:
    November 11, 2009 at 12:01 pm

    DMG, you are welcome. Glad I could help you out. Have a great day.

    Also….printed a copy of the history of “Taps”. The story and the song. Very interesting reading. I read it to a few of our veterans here at work, and it brought tears to my eyes. I am so very thankful for all the veterans for their sacrifice and service. :)

  69. fluer says:
    November 11, 2009 at 12:35 pm

    Happy Veterans Day :) :(
    I feel like it is a day filled with many different emotions at once such as elation, gratitude ,happiness, joy, and deep sorrow. May the fallen be enjoying God’s amazing presence in heaven, and may the living seek and feel God’s healing touch and abundant grace.

    Hisgirl4life- when u write i feel such a warm flow of God’s love and amazing grace. Thank u for your warmth and compassion.

    Poohpity-(where did u get that name from? Lol!) Seriously though, thank u sweet friend. It’s such a powerful thing when we walk in God’s 2nd commandment,I felt our Father through your words.Thank u.

    Daisymarygoldr- I love you too! Ha. Thanks sister.

    Xavier-Appreciate your input when I see your posts. Would love to hear more from ya!

    Bob and Steve- Your manship is precious.It is nice to see 2 God fearing men :)

  70. poohpity says:
    November 11, 2009 at 1:49 pm

    Fluer,

    That was my favorite dog’s name. It was a two year old’s rendition of poor pretty thing, pooh pity sing was what she said. I use it because you have to find a name not already used and nobody uses it, lol. I wonder why, lol.

    Love Deborah

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