Month: June 2022

Darkness

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

The room was pitch black. No lights were shining anywhere in the house. And for that matter, no lights were shining in the neighborhood. At all. It was almost apocalyptic. There was a power outage in the middle of the night. The only reason she knew of the outage was because she woke up a little after midnight. The house was so dark that she felt a little unnerved getting out of bed. Oh. She knew the layout of her house. She could walk it in the dark. But there she was. The darkness was so thick, she couldn’t see anything. It was one thing to walk in the dark of the house with a few nightlights conveniently placed. But to walk around in total darkness, even in a familiar setting, was unsettling. It was as though the place had been invaded by unknown entities. And even though she hadn’t heard any strange sounds. No doors opening. No glass shattering. No stairs creaking. She still felt uncomfortable in her own home.

Hours earlier, a small nightlight had shone as brightly as it could in the dark space. Now all lights were darkened. But that small shard of light had offered a calming effect in the darkness. What shadows were there offered affirmation that nothing sinister was lurking. Whereas, the total darkness caused uncertainty even though no evidence of threats arose. One must be careful in the dark. Stepping on forgotten shoes or an empty box can send someone into the depths of fear and panic.

But while still dark a few hours later, a low hum filled the space. Clocks blinked. Lights flickered. Power was restored. And in that moment, all felt right with the world.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. John 1:15

The dark is a frightening place to be. It’s unnerving. Unsettling. Uncomfortable. Even though our eyesight will adjust to see shapes and shadows in the dark, we still don’t see clearly. Confusion can set in, along with fear and anxiousness.

People living in darkness can’t see the path they’re on. Because of their blindness, they don’t know the pitfalls and troubles that are ahead. Darkness causes fear and paranoia. Anger. Manipulation. Panic. When we’re in darkness, we’re in a self-protective mode. We don’t know what lies ahead. The next turn in the road may do us in. So we keep our guard up. Can’t be too careful. Don’t trust others.

Imagine living in darkness all the time. Never rising to see the light. Oh. Many people do it every day. Even for a lifetime. And I’m not talking about physical darkness. I’m talking about spiritual darkness. Anyone who has not confessed their sins and committed their life to Jesus Christ is living in darkness. And their darkness will remain unless they repent.

Just a tiny ray of light is all it takes to expose the darkness. And someone living in the dark doesn’t want to get close to the light, because then they may be exposed. That might require change. Or conviction. And who wants that? Who wants to be confronted with their sins? Who wants the weight of guilt hanging on their shoulders? But that’s what the light does. Even a small pinprick of light is all it takes to expose the darkness. And shouldn’t we be relieved when there is light? Shouldn’t we breathe a sigh of relief when there is even a bit of light? Because then we can see the path ahead. We know where to turn and when to walk straight ahead.

The light is hard on the eyes when darkness is all that’s known. The adjustment to light may take time, but it’s worth the pain and discomfort. Because light brings freedom and hope.

And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants. John 3:19-21

This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:5-7

A Good Man

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

He was a flawed man, but I didn’t know it. He wasn’t perfect, but I didn’t notice. In my eyes, he was perfect. He made good decisions. He gave good advice. He was an astute business man. He always did the right thing. He was a strong leader. He was a godly influence. He had his flaws, but they will remain nameless. He had to be flawed. He was human. So he had strengths and weaknesses, like everyone else. But I saw him as the man of all men. He was the one to be looked up to at all times. I never doubted his advice. I never questioned his decisions. At least, not out loud. I followed his instructions to a T. I knew that he loved me. He was my dad.

He had a sense of humor. In my mind’s eye, I can still see him throw his head back and give a big belly laugh. He was a disciplinarian. He kept his kids on the straight and narrow. He was an authoritarian. His word was law in his household. No one in the house ever doubted that. Or talked back.

He was my father. The man of all times. He was a soldier. A welder. A farmer. He was a Christian. Father. Husband. Son. Brother. Uncle. Cousin. Grandfather. Great Grandfather. He was a man of God.

He read the Bible. He had daily devotions. He spent time with God. He served God by being involved in the church. He taught Sunday School. He was on the church board. He was the church treasurer. He was the Sunday School superintendent. He read the Bible to his kids on a daily basis. He prayed for his family. But first and foremost, he was a Christian. He loved God.

He once caught a man stealing his farm tools and drove him to the police station in the middle of the night. He was a man of courage. He served four years in the Army during the Korean war. He defended our freedom and our rights. He was a man of valor.

My dad loved his job. He loved farming. It was his life. Planting. Harvesting. Raising pigs. He loved his life on the farm. He would have been content to work the land until his dying day if his health had permitted. But with age came heart issues, causing him to slow down and retire. It was a sad day for him to sell the farm equipment and lease the land to an up and coming young farmer.

Those who fear the Lord are secure; he will be a refuge for their children. Proverbs 14:26

After every Sunday dinner, my dad would get up from the table and kiss my mom on the cheek and thank her for a delicious meal. He was a man deeply in love with his wife. He spent the last years of his life making sure my mother was taken care of as her memory slowly faded. He waited eleven days to take his final breath once he knew she was safely secured in heaven. And then he quietly joined her.

Oh. My dad never brought flowers to my mom. He rarely bought her a Christmas gift. But he gave her his undying love and devotion. He provided a godly influence to their family. He was a faithful, loving husband.

My dad has been in heaven for eight years now. I’m sure he’s having the time of his life. I’m looking forward to the day that I join him, and then we’ll never be separated again. It will be a glorious time.

Oh. If only we had more men like my dad today. This world would be a much better place. It still wouldn’t be a perfect world, but it would be a more secure, productive and kind world. It would be centered around God, the church, a satisfying career and a loving family.

I miss my dad.

Following

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

I’m a follower. Of people. I follow people on social media. I’m not a stalker. I just like to see what is happening in their lives. I follow one who is into fitness. One who is a follower of Jesus Christ. Another is a cook who is now feeding four young children trying to be an influencer of moms with young kids. Another is an influencer who uses her clout to inspire others to purchase products that she has endorsed. Still another speaks biblical truth to the current cultural lies. They’re from all walks of life. And I see a glimpse into their lives on almost a daily basis. It’s fascinating.

The person who is into fitness just opened a micro gym. She is now able to offer one-on-one fitness lessons to anyone willing to pay her price. Oh. She takes her fitness very seriously. If you look at her photos, you can see the results of discipline and sacrifice. So. If she can become fit at her age, then she believes anyone else can do the same.

The Jesus follower recently had a new book published. It appears to be all the rage for her fan base. She’s introduced a study with videos that people can use to dig deeper into this latest book of hers. She shows beautiful photos of her family and home life for the world to see. But deep down, I wonder if she’s in agreement with her country’s leadership. She lives in another North American country that has been hit hard with mandates and tyranny. Oh. She never says a word about it on social media. And perhaps that’s best. But she shares how to live a solid Christian life in an unchristian world.

The young mom I follow intrigues me. She’s had four kids in four years. The last two are identical twins. Her brand started as a cooking blog, where she created plant-based recipes. Oh. I’ve never tried any of her recipes. I just watch from the screen. And now she’s expanded to cookbooks for child eaters of any age. She’s also partnered with financial institutions and cleaning product companies, all in the name of expansion for her growing list of followers. I follow to see the cute photos of her kids. No. I don’t agree with all of her political and cultural leanings, but I don’t have to.

Then there’s the influencer who earns a living strictly on endorsing products that she uses. She creates product and gift guides so others can buy the items she suggests. And then she makes money off of each purchase. And she earns lots of money. She has seven employees who help her in this business. Is this really a job?

The one who speaks biblical truths to the cultural lies does so in a very public way. She’s on social media defending truth and cutting through the lies. She walks closely with the Lord. She shares biblical truth as if it’s her job. And it is her job. She has taken to the task in a bold fashion and is not backing down. She is a faithful warrior fighting a battle that few believers are willing to fight. She says she isn’t an influencer, but her message influences masses.

Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me. Psalms 119:133

And then there’s the ultimate One I follow. Oh. He isn’t on social media. He seems to have no social standing at all in this world. But yet, he’s everywhere. His impact is of a spiritual nature. And it’s clear when his plan is being followed. Or not. It’s noticeable when his selfless, sacrificial gift to all mankind is being rejected. We see that rejection every day. We just call it by a different name.

This One I follow is the Creator of the universe. He’s the lover of my soul. He’s the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. His only and only Son came to earth as a babe. He gave his life on the cross so that I could have eternal life with him. Why wouldn’t I follow him? Why wouldn’t everyone follow him? But so many don’t. And others only follow halfheartedly. And he gave his all for each of us.

So. As I follow the Leader of my life, I too must give him my all. No shirking. Following the leader requires constant obedience. No turning to the left or to the right. Just following the one who is guiding my every step. Sounds simple enough. Until my selfish nature gets in the way. Until I want what I want and my want doesn’t match the One I say I’m following. Oh. Then life gets sticky. I either bow to his way or I bow out of his will. Either decision is life changing. If I choose to bow to his way, then I feel the peace of submission and obedience. I draw closer to him and have a deeper desire to always obey. But if I choose to bow out of his will, then I am claiming that I know best for my life. I’m saying his plan isn’t good enough for me. I know what I’m doing. Oh. What a tangled web we can weave if we don’t stay fully surrendered to him.

Since He has placed me in this world at this appointed time, I must use my gifts and talents to honor him. As his follower, I must walk the path he has laid out for me. Oh. There will be moments the path looks too steep and treacherous. It may be rocky or full of potholes. Or it may be newly paved. Regardless of the condition of the road, I must keep plodding forward. One step at a time. Because he is walking with me each step of the way.

As I follow the Giver of Life, I must be willing to lay down my life for him as he sacrificed his for me. I must obey his leading at all costs. Oh. The price may be high. No one ever knows until it’s time. But for this time, I am called to live humbly, justly and obediently.

We must be faithful to what He asks us to do, to what He asks us to believe, and to how He instructs us to live.

John Stonestreet

Attributes of God

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

We’re tempted to complain that life is unfair and God is not good. Especially when we’re going through a rough patch, or we don’t get what we want. But sometimes we just need to be reminded of how awesome God really is. In the darkness of the world and the evil that is played out on a daily basis, we need to stop and be still. We need to take a serious look at the goodness of God.

God is righteous. He is morally correct and justifiable, free from guilt and sin. God does no wrong. His decisions are always correct. His judgments are fair and right. He is far more than an upstanding citizen. His goodness goes beyond our wildest imagination. His deeds are kind. There is no other God. He listens to our cries for help. His righteousness will never end. God is blameless and holy. You are righteous, Lord , and your laws are right. Psalms 119:137

God is trustworthy. He keeps his promises. His word is truth. He doesn’t lie. He judges everyone based on his standards. God is fair. God has no part in sin. He is not deceptive or manipulative. There is nothing false about God. He has all wisdom and knows everything. God knows everything about us and doesn’t tell a soul. God alone can save us. No one else can. For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does. Psalms 33:4

God is truth. God’s law is truth. He’s honest to the core. It is impossible for God to lie. He speaks truth and peace and mercy and grace and kindness and correction. His word is above all others. He always keeps his promises. He has nothing to hide. I am the way, the truth, and the life. John 14:6

Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world. Psalms 46:10

God is faithful. His timing is his own, but he fulfills every promise he makes. He will never abandon us. His mercies are new every morning. He will strengthen us and protect us from the evil one. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us. Every time. He will not forget his covenants. Every one of God’s promises to Israel were fulfilled. He is faithful in all he does. Lord , you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago. Isaiah 25:1

God is unchanging. God’s laws and actions are consistent. He never wavers. His character never changes. What God has said he will do. His plan for the world has never changed. He keeps his promises. All of them in his own timing will be fulfilled. His love for us is constant. He who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8

God is eternal. God has always been and will always be. He has always existed. He will live forever. He is everlasting. He is the beginning and end. He is our God forever and ever. He cannot be destroyed or defeated. He is the great I AM. He includes all time. Past, present and future. There is no time without God being in existence. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. God’s invisible qualities can be clearly seen in everything he made. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Revelation 22:13

God is light. There is no darkness in God. He shines in glorious radiance. Chaos reigns in darkness, and God has no part of chaos or darkness. God’s light will guide us if we let it. He is the light of the world. His life brought life to everyone. The darkness can never extinguish light, so God as the light of the world can never be extinguished. His word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. 1 John 1:5