JOURNEY OF THE ENDLESS NIGHT
by Doris Beck
My body tells me that it is almost noon but the darkness outside the
airplane window begs to differ. We have already crossed the International
Date Line and I have lost an entire day. I am reminded of the verse
from Psalm 139:12, "Even the darkness is not dark to You, And the night
is as bright as the day Darkness and light are alike to You."
How often do our lives parallel this journey of the endless night. When
God says "Go!" we easily say "Yes, Lord, I'll go." But then our
journey seems to head into the darkness away from the light and the promise
of a new day.
"Are you sure God? Was that really your voice I heard?"
"Is this really the direction You want me to go?"
"But it is so dark, Lord. Where is the hint of the sunrise? Shouldn't
it be light by now?"
It is exactly in these times when we cry out to our Heavenly Father
that He reminds us of His promise:
"If I rise on the wings of the dawn [that is before I see the light],
If I settle on the far side of the sea [this qualifies, Lord, as we fly
somewhere over Japan],
Even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast"
(Psalm 139: 9 -10).
It is you and me Lord, on an airplane where I stand out as the lone
Caucasian woman. "Why are you going to the Philippines?" they ask.
Because God told me to go.
Where are you at today, my friend? Has God asked you to be a woman of
faith and go into the darkness?
What fears are holding you back from following His voice today?
Say, "Yes, Lord, I'll go," and you will see that His hand will indeed
guide you and His right Hand will hold you fast!
~ Lord, thank You that I am not alone because you are right here beside
me, and together we can face the journey of the endless night. Even
here your right hand will indeed hold me fast and I am content to rest in
that promise. Amen
Questions to ponder: Are you ready to say, "Yes, I will go"? Is
there something that is keeping you from making that decision?
WHAT TIME IS IT?
by Gail Rodgers
When my brother visited from overseas this summer it took him a bit of
time to adjust to the time change. He was tired and slightly
disoriented until the change became the "new normal" for him.
It reminded me of the time changes that God records in the Bible. Time
changes come and go in every life at one time or another and they are
part of life. You will recognize many of them. You will have experienced
some and there will be more for you to encounter as you journey
through life. Listen:
Ecclesiastes 3: 1- 8
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under
heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
A time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
Think about the season of life you find yourself in today. Are you
resisting the time changes you are facing? Are you hanging on tightly to
something that needs to change? Is it a time to throw away something and
embrace something new? A time to build something new.....or pluck out
something old?
This unusual book of Ecclesiastes highlights the fact that man's
efforts on this earth are meaningless apart from God.
Look at the changes facing you today and put them into perspective with
God's help. Ask Him to help you find His path as you journey through
changes that bring joy and those that are hard. He is the one who can
put meaning into life. He is the one who can redeem the broken places. He
is the one who helps us face both the joy and challenge of new seasons
that bring a "new normal" to our days. He will help you journey
through your seasons with His grace.
~Father God,
Thank you that You will help me face the changes in my life. Thank you
that You will walk with me and guide me. Help me to find purpose and
meaning as You lead me through both the good and the uncomfortable
seasons of life. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.
Questions to ponder: Are you resisting the changes in your life that
are taking place? What are you hanging on to so tightly that God is
nudging you to let go of?
